Synchronized

Our son received a used iphone to use as an ipod for music.  I tried to syncronize it to my wife’s laptop so I could transfer music.  After an hour or so I gave up.  I cannot get it to work.  I guess I will have to take it to someone that knows more about these things than I do.

As I was thinking about this failed procedure I began to think about the Christian life.  Then I began to think about how I can synchronize my life with my Heavenly Father.  One thing came to mind quickly.

If I want to be like Jesus I need to spend time with Him.  They say nearness is likeness.  I can start by spending time in God’s Word.  It is His love letter to His children.  Well, there you go.  Look at II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

So, how are you doing?

Why Me?

When I was growing up there was a popular country song titled, “Why Me”.  I remember singing it at the top of my lungs many times.  It was performed by Chris Kristopherson.  I can remember hearing him sing, “Why me Lord?  What have I ever done that was worth even one of the kindnesses you have shown?”American

Well, I think I can answer that question.  If you take a walk through the Bible you will find out that we were created to bring pleasure to God.  Look at Psalm 43:7, “Even every one that is called by my name:  for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yeah I have made him.”  This means that God created you and I on purpose with a purpose in mind.  He is not some slave driving Master.  He is a loving God and He wants to spend time with us.  Imagine that.

I don’t know of any other system of beliefs like this.  It is reported that muslim men fear American men because their women are seeing that they can be treated better.  This is a choice that does not require a brain if you ask me.

Who would have thought that our Big Creator God would love to spend time with us and ultimately created us to be with Him.  This is mind blowing, really.

The sad reality is that most of us do not take the time to spend with Him.  We do not think it is important enough to set aside time with Father.  How sad.  One day it will be too late.

So, how are you doing?

The Glory Is Departed 6

The other day I took some friends to the airport.  As we were driving along in the area of the interstate there were some birds flying around.  They seemed to be in some kind of duress.  While the conversation flowed along I was watching the birds while driving.  I was a dispatcher for many years and I have the ability to multitask.

All of a sudden I shouted, “Wow!”  We watched as a hawk swooped in and grabbed another bird right out of the air.  Feathers flew for sure.  It was amazing to say the least.  My thoughts then went to the Scriptures.  Look at I Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

You might be asking what this has to do with our current series.  When we walk with God and know His glory I do not believe that we are as prone to this kind of attack.  What I mean is that we are yielded to the Holy Spirit and He warns us and guides us.  He also uses the Word of God to protect and guide us.  When “The Glory Is Departed” and we are just out there wandering around we are vulnerable.

So, how are you doing?

Building

I remember as a very young boy being at my grandparents house while my Dad was working there.  The telephone rang and my Dad ran full steam ahead for the back door.  I was holding the outside or screen door open for him.  It slipped out of my hand and he ran his had through the bottom pane of glass in the door.  I can still see his hand with the blood running off and landing on the concrete patio.

My Grandfather was a well-known carpenter in our area.  My Dad can build anything he puts his mind to.  I cannot even build a wooden boat that does not sink.

Here is the thing.  We go about building barns, houses, garages, decks and even large commercial structures.  This is needed.  Is it really?  In some cases it is needed.  In other cases it is just to show that I have more toys than you.  Sad.

King David had his faults as documented in the Word of God.  One thing he did was make preparation for Solomon.  David was not allowed to build the temple because he was considered a bloody man.  Since king David could not build it, he made provision for his son Solomon to build it.  In this process I believe he built some things into Solomon that made him a man of character.  He was flesh and blood like his father.  This is evident in all his wives, etc…

We need to take a look at our children and the others that God has entrusted to us and see if we are truly building into their lives or are we just using them like a “cash cow”.

So, how are you doing?

II Chronicles 5:1, “Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.”

Thanksgiving 21

We live in a day of fragmentation.  No, I am not referring to computers.  We see advertisements for our military that tell us we can be an “Army of one” and the like.  Families no longer sit down and eat dinner together.  The kids have sports, this and that activity and we just don’t have time for such an old-fashioned idea. Wrong!

We make time for whatever we really want to do in life.  If we truly wanted to spend time with our families we would move mountains to spend time with them.  The problem is that we are so self focused and so apathetic (which makes us pathetic!) that we just blow it off as we are too busy.

If you are too busy to spend time at your kitchen table with your family having a meal together you are too busy.  I enjoy spending time with my family.  I even go and visit other members of my family to see how they are doing and what they are up to.

The best part of my family is that most of them are part of my Heavenly family also.  Just the other night I sat with my cousin and we talked about many things; but, every conversation led right back to something about Jesus Christ.  I love it!  I love my family too!  Look at Ephesians 3:14-15, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

So, how are you doing?

Let’s Dwell Together

The other day I had the opportunity to preach at a Church that we have never been to before.  Wow, what a day!  The people were so loving and kind.  It took all of five (5) minutes for me to feel like we were members of the Church.  I giggled to myself as I looked at my wife playing the piano and some of the Church ladies were standing around her at the piano in a half circle as she played after the service.  What an awesome group of people.  Their kindness was shown in their honorarium  and in taking us to lunch after the service.  We had lunch with a couple that we found to have so much in common with us.  This is unusual.  They fed us well too!

While we were driving home I remarked to my wife that I felt like we were coming home from vacation.  I felt relaxed and recharged.  It was awesome.  As I was driving I teared up while thinking about our day and the truth of Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

We need to quit fussing and fighting over stupid stuff and get back to the serious things of the LORD.  We need to serve Him with all the fervor that we have.  He is coming back soon.  When He comes back if I am not already in Heaven, I want Him to find me on the battlefield with the smell of battle smoke in my nose.

So, how are you doing?

Jubilee

Yesterday was an amazing day!  I had the privilege of going to Illinois with my dear friend and his wife to a jubilee meeting. This was the second year I have attended this jubilee meeting.

Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth (50th) year.  During this year slaves were to be set free, alienated property restored to the former owners and the land was to be left lay and not tilled. I understand the modern day concept of Jubilee.

Every sermon preached was right on target and they all melded together perfectly.  This happens when you allow God to control things.  It was refreshing and uplifting to spend time with other people who have the same beliefs as you do.  The love flowed deeper than the sweet tea also.

Most people associate fellowship with food in our circles.  This is not fellowship.  Fellowship is partnership, i.e. (literally) participation.  It is coming together and encouraging one another to keep pressing on in the Christian life.  The sermons were of the same.  Look at Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Families of children with special needs are in desperate need of true fellowship.  They often call it things like play group and many different adjectives.  The fact is that it is simply fellowship.  If you are a parent of one or more of God’s Special Children make sure part of you plan for life includes time away with other adults getting refreshed.  I know it is easier said than done because I live this every day.  Make a concentrated effort to do this.

So, how are you doing?

Knew Not The LORD

The other morning while reading  my Bible I read the following passage of Scripture in Judges 2:10, “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”  As I was reading this I thought to myself, “This is America’s problem.”  We have raised at least one generation, if not two that do not know Jesus Christ.

The average Christian only spends two (2) minutes per day in prayer.  The sad reality is that this average includes Pastors.  This ought not to be. My friend Jim Kilgore does a fantastic job addressing this issue in his blog post at The Great Commission Blog site.  You can read his blog post here.

It boils down to the fact that we do not take time to be intimate with God.  We want to be intimate with our spouse; but, we fail to be intimate with the One who created you and I.  People, I am not talking about sex when I say intimate.  I mean setting aside the time, ahead of time to spend with God so that you can know Him more deeply.  Don’t you want to do that? We do not know the truth of Philippians 3:10, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”  Oh, we want all the blessings that God can pour out on us; but, we don’t want to put any effort into it.

I know it is especially difficult for families of children with special needs to make time for anything.  We have to make this a number one, high priority in our lives.  Our children are depending upon us to be Dads and Moms who walk with God.

So, how are you doing?