Chai & Shiloh

Our "puppies" Chai and Shiloh are now almost 1 year old.  They are brothers; Golden Retriever/Labrador mix.  Chai's name is short for La Chaim which means "to life!" and Shiloh's name means "peace!"  We sure do enjoy them!  They are so cute even though they are now 50-60 pound "puppies!"  Chai has a classic Golden Retriever color and Shiloh is black.  

We have a 100 foot cable run set up in our back yard so they don't have to stay penned up all day.  It gives them a lot of freedom without having to worry about losing them in our heavily wooded surroundings.  Every day our Grandson Caleb takes them from their pen and hooks them both up to the cable pulley before he goes to school.

There were a few problems when we first put the cable run in place.  You see both dogs are attached to the same pulley that runs along the cable.  This means that they must agree as to which end of the cable run they want to go to.  Shiloh will usually win out by "tugging" at the cable until Chai joins him in heading one way or the other.  Also, they would easily get all tangled up because in playing with each other and just moving around, their individual leads would get tangled together.  When I would go out to untangle them, I would have to unwind the mess by making them move one way or another.  They didn't always agree with these "backward" movements.  They usually wanted to go one way while I was having to make them go another in order to straighten out the mess they had gotten themselves into.  (Do you sense an example happening here!?)

I know God sometimes has to help us unravel the messes we get ourselves into.  We can get all tangled up, and when He is helping us get untangled, He sometimes has to make us go backwards for a time, or in a direction we don't want to go or we may think is wrong.  But He knows what He is doing and what it takes to get things straightened out, even if it doesn't seem like the direction He is asking us to go makes sense to us in the moment.

So to expedite the process, what do we (and Chai and Shiloh!) need to do?  Cooperate and willingly go in the direction we are lead without fighting against it.  We must trust that God is patiently working with us to get us free so we can move again!

Have a great week.....and don't resist the leading of the Lord!

Two Signs of Trust

Imagine that you are in the Garden of Eden. (Humor me, ok!) You are surrounded by wonderful sights and smells! There are trees of every kind there with more fruit than you can imagine to choose from and eat.

Then you come upon this one tree which also has great looking fruit on it, but there is a sign hanging from a branch saying"Do Not Eat from this tree." If you're like most people, your first reaction would likely be "Why not?" Am I right? You may start feeling like something good is being withheld from you. You might even feel a little angry or jealous. "So who is this fruit being saved for if not for me?"

Now let's imagine the exact same scenario except that now the sign hanging from this one tree reads "A terrorist has sprayed this tree with deadly poison. If you eat this fruit, you will die." Now what is your reaction? You would probably try to get far away from this tree right away lest you somehow get the poison on you! No questions asked!

I guess the message here is one of simple trust. We know who put the first sign in the tree right? Do we trust Him? Do we believe that He is protecting us in His instructions to us? Do we know that He ALWAYS has our best interests at heart in the way He deals with us? Sometimes we don't always want to obey His instructions to us but "Our's is not to question why. Our's is just to do...or die." I don't know where this poetic line came from, but I understand it now better than ever.

Have a great week.

STOP!

Recently (just in the last couple of weeks) I was seeking direction from God about several pressing issues.  I was pleading for an answer from Him and was getting desperate that I was not hearing His voice.  In my pleading and crying out to Him, I finally fell silent to wait again for His Word to me........and it came!  One Word!  That word was "Stop."  Now I had a real dilema.  What was "Stop" supposed to mean anyway?  How did this apply to the questions I was asking?

Over the next few days, the fullness of what He was saying to me began to unfold.  Every so often I would get (and am still getting) a second word to go with "Stop."  Words like "complaining" and "begging" and "worrying."  Other words came too like "forgetting", "disobeying" and "wasting."

As I meditated on what He was (and wasn't!) saying to me it began to be clear that He isn't willing to do for me what He expects me to do for myself.  If I spend my time arguing with Him and others, that is time that I am not spending in simple faith.  If I am complaining to Him or to others, it's more of the same.  In fact complaining and worrying are opposites of trusting and believing!

He has ALREADY told me what to do in His Word so why does He need to tell me in some special way what He has already said?  My job...and your's...is to know His Word and thus to know His Will.  So....what is the conclusion here?  Don't stop asking, don't stop believing, don't stop expecting, but do so in the confidence of His revealed Word for YOU.  Trusting God means there are no shortcuts, only suddenlies!

More on this topic later.  Let me know if these messages are a help to you.

Criticizer or Encourager?

Why is it that our first thought or reaction to a person or situation is usually negative?

I have been pondering this thought for some time and checking myself and my motives here. I find that I spend more time than I care to admit researching and rehearsing the faults and shortcomings of others.....even my own family members and brothers and sisters in Christ! With a friend like me, who needs enemies!?

Verse 10 in the book of Jude talks about those who "speak evil of whatever they do not know."

Criticism, many times, stems from ignorance. People tend to criticize things they do not know anything, or very little about. Most of the time we form opinions and attitudes about others based on assumptions instead of facts. Too often we are quick to criticize, even when we don't know the whole story. Sometimes things can appear to be obviously one way only on further investigation of the facts to be found to be the exact opposite.

Be careful about criticizing others. Too often what you hear is just rumor. A rumor can have an element of truth in it, however usually it is a truth that has a twist to it to make it appear to be something else. Just look at all the stories we are hearing in these charged political times we are living in!

I am working at not being a criticizer but at being an encourager. Let's be a people who are known for always seeking to lift and bless, not speaking evil of whatever you do not know. You will be surprised at how what you give out is what you will get back in return! I'll choose blessings and encouragement thank you!

Have a great week!

Don't give up trying!

A friend sent me this amazing story.

A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often.

One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board.

As he turned his back to the pool, on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross. Suddenly, he felt a strange feeling, like someone was speaking to him. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life.

As the young man stood in deep reverence before the Lord, a maintenance man walked in and turned on the lights. The pool had been drained for repairs.

Mm. Sometimes we get frustrated. It seems like our words are falling on deaf ears and that our loved ones will never see the truth. But we never know how God is working in those for whom we've been praying. He often has a plan we know nothing about!

Let's not be discouraged when we don't see the fruit right away. God knows the day and the hour and He will be faithful to follow through. Keep praying. Keep sharing. Keep sowing the seed! There's so much work to be done!

SUDDEN WHITE

Today we were doing some purging (arg!) in the basement and Nancy came across this poem that I wrote not long after moving to Michigan from California in 1992. I awoke one morning to the leftovers of a night time winter storm, the first I had witnessed after about 10 years in sunny Southern California! What I saw inspired me to write these words.

I know it is the middle of summer, but who knows.....maybe the timing is just right! Let me know. Have a great week!

SUDDEN WHITE

I have been here before

And I've seen the fresh white snow:

A canvas with no brush strokes

A virgin scene, a blissful glow!

I have wondered in amazement

At the change my eyes behold:

How a dark and muddled landscape

Now sees newness, hope unfold!

This bright scene before my eyes:

What of all that lies below?

What has happened to old paths and trails?

Are they there beneath the snow?

Days of old saw dirt and holes

Of wrongs I've done to You:

Tattered hopes and broken dreams

...And promises untrue...

But now the snow! It's white and clean!

The sinful scene is covered,

And like the blanket of His Blood,

What's lost can be re-covered!

I have been here again

And I see the fresh white snow

Now angel's wings and pristine things

Instead of rocks and holes.

--R.Williams

Why the wait?

We had the privilege of spending last weekend at the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC. We really enjoyed this time away and they took great care of us there. The food was great and the environment, nestled in the North Carolina mountains, was beautiful. It was a great weekend!

We heard Dr. Tony Evans speak on "When You are Between a Rock and a Hard Place." There is so much that I could share about this topic. I could probably teach it from my own real life experiences going way back when I was a child! I grew up in some real hard life experiences and have had many since.

Tony gave a great illustration about waiting on God. He said that when he and his wife go through the drive through at McDonalds, he orders a number 2 or a number 3 or maybe a 2, 3 and a 4 depending on how hungry he is! But his wife doesn't order that way. She wants her meal prepared differently. She might want them to hold this item or add this item or combine things and mix things up. She wants hers made special. Now McDonalds is set up for mass production, not special orders. They are asked to pull over while they get their order ready. They have to wait. But while they are waiting, they know that it is because inside McDonalds, things are happening and someone is making something special just for them. When it is brought out to them, it is different than the regular menu items. No one else gets this food because it was made special, just for them.

When we are waiting on God, it is not because He has forgotten about us. It is because He is working on something special. He is working on something personal and unique, just for us. When the time is right, and what He is preparing for us is ready, we will know that it was worth the wait! We will appreciate the uniqueness of what He has for us. He didn't prepare it for others, He made it just for us!

Have a great week!

The Divine Exchange

When Nancy and I were studying for our Associates Degree in Biblical Studies, we were very taken by the concept of "The Divine Exchange" which was taught by Terry Law from World Compassion. In this teaching from 2 Corinthians 5:21, he talks about how as joint heirs with Jesus we have all that He has. But also, He has all that we have. This sounds simplistic, however let's take it deeper.

1. Jesus took our punishment and offers us remission of sin!
2. Jesus took our sickness and pain and offers us healing and health!
3. Jesus took our sin and offers us His righteousness!
4. Jesus took our death and offers us His life!
5. Jesus took our poverty and offers us His abundance!
6. Jesus took our shame and offers us a share of His glory!
7. Jesus took our rejection and offers us acceptance in God's family!
8. Jesus took the curse and offers us His blessing!

God took all the bad that was due to us because of our sin and laid it on Jesus. Then God took all the good that was due to the sinless obedience of Jesus and offers it to us, free of charge, when we put our faith in Christ. That's the principle of 2 Cor 5:21. When we walk in covenant with God, all that He has is ours and all that we have is His. Such a deal!

Let's no longer be content with second best, OK? Have a great week!

The purpose of life?

Years ago, while living in California, I was in a weekly meeting with my Pastor and was sharing a verse with him that I had read the night before from the NIV. He said: "Let's take a look at that verse in the Amplified." which we did. When he read this verse out loud to me, it was one of those "rhema" moments when God's Word became alive and very real in my heart. Since that time, I return to this verse often for comfort, direction and just to draw closer to Him. It is very full of deep insight into His intended purpose for us and it has really given my life meaning and assurance.

God's Word is replete with meaningful verses. I think it is so great though that God personalizes His Word for each of us to give us just what we need, just when we need it like He did for me those many years ago.

Here's the verse:

"All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man."

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Amplified Bible)

Have a great week!

Change takes time

Nancy and I recently bought a Gaither DVD set from the South Africa Trip they took a couple of years ago. One song written by their son Benji, which has a wonderful South African feel to it, really impressed me. They perform the song with a South African Children's Choir. It's a great song with a great message. The lryics are below:

We're as different as night and day
But we're the same in different ways it's true
Just look at me and you
We can change the way we are
The power lives inside our hearts
We can be anything we wanna be

If coal can turn to diamonds
And sand can turn to pearls
If a worm can turn into a butterfly
Then love can turn the world
Oh, love can turn the world

The God who made you made us all
Big and little short and tall and that's fine
'Cause it takes all kinds
If He had made us all alike
It sure would be a boring life
But He knew
What a little time could do

If coal can turn to diamonds
And sand can turn to pearls
If a worm can turn into a butterfly
Then love can turn the world
Oh, love can turn the world

How does coal turn into diamonds? With heat, pressure and lots of time. How does sand turn into pearl? Dealing with something very irritating for a long period of time. And how does a worm turn into a butterfly? By spending a long time isolated, constricted and alone and allowing the true beauty on the inside to struggle to be freed from the tight space it is in. The process of change is never pleasant, but the product of change is always something of real value and beauty. Time for a change?

Have a great week! By the way, here is a link to a YouTube video of this awesome song.
Enjoy!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfDKwL-Na6k&feature=related

Dead or Alive

During church yesterday, God was dealing with me about the gifts He has given me and how He expects me to be using them. One of these gifts is exhortation which can be widely defined but in this case it simply means to be an encourager. I hope this will be an encouragement to you!

In Israel, the biggest river is the Jordon. It originates in the mountains and feeds into the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is teeming with life: abundant fish, lush vegetation surrounding it and is a principal source of fresh water for the nation.

The Jordon then continues out of the Sea of Galilee and finally empties into the Dead Sea. It is called the Dead Sea because nothing lives there. The salt content in the water is very high, even higher than the oceans. It is also the lowest spot on earth, hundreds of feet below sea level.

It is the same river that feeds these two bodies of water, so why the big difference? The Dead Sea receives water only. Other than evaporation, once the water gets there, it has no where else to go as there is no place lower to flow to. The Sea of Galilee is constantly refreshed because it takes water in and flows water out. It is cleansed and replenished daily, but it has to give water up so that more can flow in.

Like these bodies of water, our lives can either get very stale and stagnant if we keep everything we get to or for ourselves, or we can be renewed and refreshed every day if we take whatever we get and give it away.

Hope you have a great week!! Don't keep it....give it away!

Chasing Time!

Hello again! My last post was about two months ago. Where does the time go? It evaporates!

The first month of 2008 is ready to close. I had a friend years ago who liked to say "Tomorrow is the fourth of July and the next day is Christmas!" Kind of sums it all up, doesn't it.

I guess the point is: prioritize! If I don't give priority to the things that are important, then my time will be consumed by that which isn't. And guess which things scream the loudest: it's the little things, the trivial pursuits, the a-musing. Things of real import are more silently patient. Waiting to be sought out, not crying to be heard. It's as if they know that they are treasures and will not give themselves to just anyone, only to those who truly seek after them diligently.

Make the most of every day....this life is no dress rehearsal...it's the real deal!

Later..........