The Great Commission...

When Jesus was finished with His work here on earth, one of the last things He did was to give His disciples a final word -- we call this the Great Commission.

Just seven chapters into the book of Acts, Stephen became the first disciple to give his life for the unapologetic preaching of Christ and of the Salvation that His death and resurrection made possible.

In the centuries since this Great Commission, countless Christians have suffered and even died for their obedience to this command!  Many have dedicated their lives to obeying these "last words" of Jesus here on earth.

Over the last few weeks, God has been in the process of bringing me to a place where I realize that my life has not been so dedicated...

Of course, I could personalize this (and I do), but that would be difficult and challenging, so I'll speak for a moment in that all-inclusive plural -- "we"...  I'll share this conviction -- "if the shoe fits" and all that...

Here we are in our great free country where the Bill of Rights has declared that government cannot prohibit us from practicing religion freely.  Yet, the tide is turning -- we are told that this "right" simply means that government cannot have anything to do with religion.  Then, we are told that it means we must be tolerant of every other religion.  This is interpreted to mean that we cannot share our beliefs with other people because it is intolerant of their beliefs.  Some in our country are pushing ratifying the UN rights of the child, which would tell us that teaching our children about the Lord Jesus would be a violation of their rights.

We are right on the verge of completely losing this great freedom that we have to "practice" our religion -- because for the Bible believing Christian, sharing Jesus with other people is a crucial part of practicing our religion...

We think we have convictions -- that we would tell others about Christ even if it was against the law.  We believe this is a conviction -- meaning that we would be willing to die for this cause of all causes.

And yet, now, while we still have freedom -- and for the past (how many?) years, we have become absorbed with our lives -- our comfort.  We tell our children, "I just want you to have things a little better than I had them" -- probably stemming from the Great Depression era when that really meant something!  It might have been worded "I don't want you to have to beg in the streets for food" or "I want you to be able to have a job so you can provide for your family".  But, we don't mean that at all -- we mean "I want you to have a TV in every room", "I want you to have fun", "I want you to have a nice house".  Cell phones, computers, cars, you name it...  We have lost track of Christs "last words".

One day recently God hit me with this thought -- "If you are not telling people about Christ while you are FREE to do so, what makes you think you're going to tell them if it could mean you are imprisoned or killed?"

More than half of my life is now in the past.  I have loved God and learned about Him.  I have gone to Church and dressed nicely (to represent my desire to give Him my best).  I trust God for Salvation, and for my daily needs.  I believe He has a plan for my life, and I want His plan and only His.

I have worked and earned money and spent money and acquired for myself things and for my family that we wanted.  And, I conclude with Solomon that it is empty.  It just does not matter.  It is nice and fun and comfortable, and I thank God for these things.

But, have I missed something -- have I been so busy making myself comfortable in this life that I have failed to obey Christ's last and greatest command...  Have I laid up treasures on earth, or in heaven...

Lord, I have certainly passed up many, many opportunities to share Your Gospel with people you have brought into my life.  I ask that you would give me the wisdom to recognize opprotunities you bring and the courage to share You, my Savior, with the world around me.

Silence of The Lamb

I have been silent here on this blog for a month now. That is because we have been experiencing God's Silence...

What do we do when God is silent? Obviously, this depends on the nature of the trial and the nature of the silence... Well, I can't say that I have any real answers, but I have some thoughts -- some are not spiritual, but are reality...

• Pray
• Cry
• Wait
• Search the Bible for answers
• Panic, but with nothing to "do" to fix anything
• Worry
• Repent from Worrying
• Search in vain for some "Magic Formula"

Some trials have no "deadline" associated with them. My wife and I have both experienced the death of a spouse. This was a trial that just went on and on, but there was no date or time that something bad was going to happen. It was simply enduring the loneliness and grief of loss. Well, it wasn't "simply" anything, but we could just trudge along day after day waiting, waiting, and more waiting until we could see God provide comfort and relief from grief in various ways. He was and is faithful!

But, this present trial is much different and doesn't merely require "endurance". The truth is that our severance pay has now run out, and (even with unemployment, gifts, and other forms of income) we are going to run out of money to pay our basic bills. Waiting means something entirely different than it did after we each lost our first spouse. Waiting means running out, potentially losing the home we just built, having to find family or friends to let us live with them until we can find a job to begin the rebuilding process.

I have been told -- and I can see on the news -- that we are not alone. There are a lot of people across this "land of opportunity" that are on the verge of losing everything they have worked for. It may give a little comfort to know that others share the same dire circumstances that we are experiencing, but then, this is not really "comforting"...

So, is there any consolation? Is there any comfort? Well, I can list some things that I believe, but they sound very hollow when I think of the possibility that we might have to find friends to help us move those things that we don't want to part with -- though we know not where to store them -- and have our credit ruined while we go "beg" family and friends to help us. And, when we think about wanting to provide some sense of stability --- or even just food and shelter -- for our teenagers, who have already experienced the loss of a parent... Here are some thoughts that might be considered "comforting", though it does seem increasingly hollow:

• We have trusted in the blood of Jesus for our Salvation. Though our home, our "things", or even food can be taken away, NO ONE can take away the gift of eternal life that God has promised. Yes, this is definitely a comfort.
• We know that God "will never leave us nor forsake us." Of course, getting an understanding of what this means in this particular circumstance is definitely a challenge. Allow my humanness to show through for a moment -- It isn't Jesus in Flesh here with us. He doesn't require food or shelter. I know, He has a plan, and in His plan for us, He has not "forsaken" bringing His plan for us to fruition. (Though a different context) He who has begun a "good work" in us is faithful, and He will continue it to the "Day of Jesus Christ" -- He will not forsake His "Good Work" in us.
  
• James tells us that we KNOW that the trying of our faith will bring forth patience, ultimately making us "perfect" or "complete". Of course, it feels like a slap in the face to read (or be quoted) the verse to "consider it all joy"... I have to read these verses to say that we should consider the final result joy -- the result of maturity -- that is where we find the "joy" -- not in the trial itself! Yes, I know that in this trial, God has considered us "worthy" of these trials, and through this, He will bring us to greater maturity. Well, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it...
• We know that our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, walked this earth and experienced all the different sorts of temptations and testing just like we experience, and yet he did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). And, we also know that He knows the infirmities we have in this life (Romans 8:26)

My prayers have become childlike. Maybe that is what my Daddy in Heaven wants. I have certainly been brought low. I pray as David did in Psalm 142:6 (though his persecutors were trying to kill him) -- Lord God, Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.

Heavenly Father, Daddy, please help us! Please, Lord Jesus, hear our cries, see our tears, and feel our longing for your help. We feel helpless. We try to do what we know to do, but doors continue to slam in our faces. We pour out our broken hearts before you. We thank and praise you for saving us from eternal damnation in Hell! We need deliverance here on earth today... We need a job that will allow us to be faithful to pay our living expenses -- to work for our food and shelter. We are truly incapable of fixing our current dilemma without your help...

In Jesus name -- through whom we have Salvation and whom we desire to serve -- Amen

Keep On Keeping On...

Well, this has surely been an interesting week in our lives.  It is like we are just on the verge of seeing God work great things, but just not quite yet...  We certainly see how He could bring this all together in the next week or month...

I have a job interview today, and I know that this could result in a job offer -- probably won't know until later this week, but I'm surely praying that He will allow me to KNOW that I will be offered this job TODAY!  That would surely be abnormal, but He is able!

And, we continue to work on our new home.  Many final details have come together in the last week -- the electrical boxes are all either done or covered with blank covers, the stairway has the rail on it, had the kitchen cabinets measured for the countertop, the deck skirting is finished (not to mention the railings), disinfected the well with chlorine, put the vent pipe through the roof over the weekend (still not sure if I'll have any leaks to fix),and today we put on the shutters out front...  It is coming together...  Still some things to do -- waiting on the water test (sample to be taken on Wednesday), kitchen and master bath countertop / sinks to be installed, and some details on the kitchen cabinets need to be finished.

And, we also have our pastor back in Knoxville working on fixing problems in the house we need to sell.  We have not had any contact with them in the nearly three weeks since we were last in Knoxville, but we will be driving back to get one last load of "things" this week, and we will find out the status then...

We are definitely in a position where several things could come together here in the next weeks, but there are no guarantees.  We don't anticipate any problems with getting the new house finished, but I have to leave room for the unexpected...  The job opportunity and the selling of the house in TN, on the other hand, are no where near sure at this point.

So, what do we do?  How do we proceed?  We keep on keeping on, and we pray that God will perform His work -- that He will clearly demonstrate His Sovereignty!  Just as He calmed the sea when He chose, He brought down fire from heaven when He chose, He brought the very universe into existence when He chose, He rose from the dead when He chose!  He will work out our relatively minor life problems when He chooses!

So, we will continue keeping on...  We will do those things that are within our power to do -- I will (and have) tried to prepare for this job interview, we will (and have) continue to work at those details to complete the house, we will (and have) continue to have our house in TN repaired and prepared for selling, and we will anticipate the Mighty Hand of God fulfilling all of those things which we are absolutely powerless to bring about!

Our Father, Lord Jesus, You indeed are the Almighty, the Faithful God, the Loving Savior, and the Sovereign Planner of all that is and all that will be!  You have sent your Holy Spirit to be our Comforter!  It is all we can do to admire Your plan and Your working out of that plan!  We ask today that (if it were possible) we would not "get in the way" of Your plan.  We ask that we would continue to rely on You.  And, we rest in those Everlasting Arms of which you speak in Deuteronomy 33:27.

Ye Have Not Because Ye Ask Not!

As I mentioned earlier this week, we have received an answer to prayer this week, but the prayer was vague, and so the answer is wonderful, but in itself, it is not going to pay the bills!

I also mentioned that I was going to begin praying more specifically this week -- I'm praying for the job -- full closure!

Well, I have been thinking about the verse in James that says "ye have not because ye ask not".  Now, I realize there is more to the context than just that phrase alone.  However, the statement is certainly true -- Jesus says in John 16:24 "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

So, I have decided to ask my Heavenly Father for what I really need -- or is it want?  Well, I'll let Him decide -- if I don't ask...

Here is my prayer, and we know He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think"...

Heavenly Father, I ask today that You would provide not only a job, but also a buyer for our home in Tennessee, and that we will also be able to complete the new house -- all before the end of August -- even before my severance pay runs out!  Lord, finishing the house in itself may not be miraculous, but if You will answer all three of these requests, then You alone will be praised!  We will praise You no matter the outcome.  We thank you and praise you for the way you have already planned to work out all things!

God Answers Prayer...

So, we know that God does answer prayer, but it is nice every now and then to see very specific answers to our prayers.  And, then sometimes, our prayers are not specific themselves!

Late last week and over the weekend, we (and I'm sure most of you who may read this) have been praying that God would give us some light at the end of our tunnel.  That He would show us that He is listening and that He will provide.

So, some interesting things have indeed happened already this week.  I'll briefly itemize them here:

1. First, the guys came to measure for the countertop in our new kitchen, and one of them was an owner of the company.  He was an interesting man -- very sharp, though he is interested in living "simple" in terms of reducing his dependence on the "system" -- living off the land, generating his own electricity, etc.  So, he gave me the name of a recruiter that he said specializes in placing people in technical fields.  So, I have called her and set up a phone interview with her for Thursday.  This is not for a job, but so that she can see if she can help "place" me.
2. Second, I received a phone call from another recruiter, this one out of Chicago, who works in the midwest, and specifically places a lot of people with my skillset -- or so she said.  She has no specific jobs in mind at this time, but she will be looking also.
3. Third, this afternoon, I happened to check our phone messages even though the light was not flashing, and sure enough, there was a call from a recruiter in a particular company (not a headhunter, but employed by this company).  So, I called him back, and we had a short discussion, and he indicated that a hiring manager in his company is interested in talking with me face to face.  So, I am looking forward to a phone call from his coordinator to set up an onsite interview.  This should happen late this week or early next week, depending on their schedule.

Now, my first response to these developments is, Thank you, Lord, for answering our prayer for some sign or  indication that You indeed are listening and that you can provide a job even in this dismal economy!

Yet, I know that the first two recruiters could well go for months without finding a job that really fits my skills, and this company is likely interviewing many people, and I know they don't need much of a negative indicator in order to decide that I'm not the right person for the job!

Actually, yesterday, I made the decision to make my prayers more specific -- I don't want (or should I say NEED) just an indication that He is listening...  I NEED a job so that I can provide for my family.  I am praying that, whether it is one of these possibilities or another that He has yet to reveal, that He provide a job -- an offer and full closure -- a paycheck.  I am praying that through His provision, I will be able to provide for the NEEDS of my family.

We do serve a great God, and He is indeed capable of supplying our needs in mighty ways.

Please pray a more specific prayer with me this week, and until He answers...

Lord, we do humbly thank you for showing that You are at work!  Please, Lord, now transform one of the opportunities into Your specific provision for my family!  To God be the Glory!

Encouragement from God's Word...

The Bible teaches us that we should hide His Word in our hearts and that we should meditate on it -- making God's Word a very integral part of our thinking processes.

In my young years, I was able to be a part of an AWANA club and also attend a Christian school, where Scripture memorization and Bible study were a primary focus. As I have encountered circumstances of life, particularly trials, God has brought His Word to mind -- the right passage at the right time...

In the last weeks, we have truly struggled with the temptation to lose faith in our Savior. We are being tried and tested, and our hearts are heavy with the burden of not knowing how He will provide. We do know He will provide.

This has brought to mind that passage in Romans 8 where Paul tells us the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with "groanings which cannot be uttered", as the King James Version puts it. I particularly like that translation -- it seems to be a clear description of those times when all that comes are tears -- and then sometimes there are not even enough tears. We are emotionally drained. We are truly beyond ourselves. God must be our Provider and Sustainer because it certainly isn't me!

As I read that verse, it is interesting to review the context of the passage. Going back to verse 1 of Romans 8, the context is really about the struggle we as Christians (but first as humans) have with sin, and that the struggle has ultimately been put to rest by our Savior. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Paul picks up this idea again in verse 33 and following -- that sin can no longer separate us from Christ because that has been dealt with on the cross.

But, in the middle of the chapter, Paul spends some time considering the struggle that we have here in this flesh -- not directly with sin, but with the difficulties of life -- that are indeed a result of the sinful, fallen world we live in.

Here are verses 18 through 32 (KJV from the BibleGateway.com):


¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
¹⁹For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
²⁰For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
²¹Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
²²For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
²³And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
²⁴For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
²⁵But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³²He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?


This passage uses that word "groan" several times -- first, the creation itself groans because of the bondage of corruption -- we live in a fallen world. Then, we ourselves groan in anticipation of having a redeemed body -- that is, we currently live in a fallen world, but we know there is a perfect heaven which awaits us (Christians -- since the context is the Church at Rome).

Paul then says in 24 and 25 that we have hope! The same "hope" we have in Salvation is the hope of the completion of our Salvation -- the full redemption of our bodies in heaven one day! This hope is obviously not the "nail biting" hope we usually refer to, but the surety that we will indeed spend eternity in heaven if we have trusted Him as our Savior.

Then comes that verse that God has brought back to me this week -- "Likewise, the Spirit itself also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."


This is where I find myself right now. I am at the end of myself. The Holy Spirit knows my heart, and He takes those unexpressable pains and "groanings" and, knowing the will of God, brings them before the Throne of Grace on my behalf...


And then Paul puts an exclamation point on this comfort in that more popular verse 28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."


Yes, these trials, or sufferings, are for some purpose that we may not understand. But, we know that these are not some random events that surprised God as much as they did us. Even being terminated by my former employer did not in some way thwart God's plan. No, this is His very plan! We are still living through His plan, but the plan itself is complete...


He does love us, and so we know that the working of this plan is ultimately for our good!


My Savior, I ask today that you would help us first to trust that your Word is true. And then, Lord Jesus, I ask that you would allow your plan to be revealed enough to strengthen our weakening faith. For, we still live in this fallen world. As you tell us in Psalm 103:13-14, you have compassion on us as a Father on His children because you know we are frail, but dust -- formed from the dust of the ground...

Trust and Obey...

We had a missionary speaker at church this week, and as we often find, the sermon seemed to be custom made for our ongoing trial...


He spoke today about the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand as recorded in Mattew 14:13-21.  I won't try to record the sermon here, but will focus in on a couple of the details that are particularly relevant to our situation...


The disciples had a tough job.  They had at least between 10 and 15 thousand people gathered to listen to Jesus, and the people were getting hungry...  Reminds me of everyday when my three kids start two or three times a day -- "What's for lunch" or "What's for dinner"...  But, this was a huge crowd.  They didn't have fast food or even the grocery stores like we have today with prepared foods and microwaves.  They had a real problem on their hands.


In fact, when the disciples thought the only solution was sending people home so they could feed themselves, Jesus told them to feed the people!  We may get all pious and think the disciples should have had faith or something, but how would we respond?  Feed 10 to 15 thousand people!  That would be like feeding 100 to 150 people all three meals for a full month!  This was no small task for these men!  The word impossible seems rather appropriate...


What I find interesting about how God chose to work this out is that Jesus required the disciples to take this small lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and actually go through the motions of starting to hand it out.  Now, we don't know just exactly how God caused it to multiply, but it would seem that they probably looked at this food that didn't even fill the first basket, and as they handed it to the first person, they thought that would be it.  Surely, the second person will be holding an empty basket and looking back up at the disciples...  But, Jesus made them go through that process -- no doubt thinking something about being doomed to failure.


Of course, they were wrong, but it sure looked like a silly plan...  But, somehow, when the next person in line reached into the basket, there was food.  And the third.  And so on...


I don't see God working this way with my checking account -- that would be nice!  But, He is requiring us to continue going about our daily life -- feeling like we are doomed to failure.  I am expecting Him to fulfill His promise to provide.  I can apply for jobs.  I can finish the construction of our home.  I can do what I can do.  I can even go to the government and get unemployment and maybe even food stamps.  But, I can't give myself an income.  God is going to have to provide that.


Lord Jesus, this is your Name that is on the line.  You have promised to care for us as a Father cares for His children.  As we take the steps that we can see, we continue to plead with you to bring us to a place of deliverance from the stress of having no idea how or where we're going to live.  We do love you and we have experienced your tender love for us in the past, and we so long to proclaim how you once again have delivered us!