Worth the Wait

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start.

Over the weekend I took some time out to enjoy one of my favorite pastimes…fishing. What made this even more special was the fact that my daughter wanted to go with me. Over the last few years Caitlyn has become my little fishing buddy (even though she has no desire to touch the bait or the fish).

I especially enjoy fishing here on the coast, because you never know what to expect. The fundamentals of fishing on saltwater aren’t much different than freshwater, but the outcomes are much different. On any given day you may reel in a drum, a shark, a crab, a stingray or any number of other unique sea creatures.

This brings me to the point of today’s encouragement. None of these experiences with God’s creation would be possible if the line was never cast into the water. Many people drive past those waters each day, but miss out on the magnificence of the marine life contained within. Only those who commit to being on the water, preparing the line and patiently waiting are rewarded with these encounters.

Psalm 27:14 (NLT)

Wait patiently for the Lord.

Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

One of the lessons that Caitlyn is still learning about fishing is the need for patience. Caitlyn gets restless and goes off to dance, skip and twirl. Unfortunately for her this generally happens as her bobber goes underwater. This weekend she got tired and went home with my wife only to miss out on the crab that I caught a few moments later (she likes to see crabs).

All too often in life we get impatient for God to move. We try to confine a timeless God into our time constrained box. We want solutions and gratification at the very moment we ask. When God doesn’t immediately answer we begin seeking our own solutions. In then end we often miss out on what would have been God’s best for us, because we have chosen our own path.

Today I want to challenge you to wait upon the Lord. In the busyness of day to day life it is not easy to sit still and wait, but for those who wait the rewards are worth the difficulty.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Opening the Containers

Good morning! I hope your day is off to a great start.

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of spending time with the Christian band Ornan’s Floor. Last night was their final concert in our area before they headed to Denver, Colorado. Once their set was finished it was time to tear down. I was fascinated watching a stage full of instruments and sound equipment being packed into large rolling crates and containers. Before long the whole setup was loaded into a small cargo trailer and the band was ready to move on.

This process got me to thinking about life. As a person, my heart has many compartments. Some compartments are readily accessible to those around me and others I keep well hidden. More importantly there are compartments that I willingly allow God to have access to, but others that I try to keep under lock and key.

These locked areas can contain a wide assortment of feelings, emotions and experiences. Some days it’s a deep hurt. Other days it’s a feeling of guilt and yet others it’s prideful arrogance. It is these locked containers and compartments that hold my hidden sins and spiritually destructive attitudes.

One of the most difficult things for any of us to undertake is a complete inventory and revealing of those compartments…yet it is also one of the most liberating things we can do. Take a look at David’s prayer as recorded in Psalm 139:

Psalm 139:23 (NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my thoughts.

When we give God permission to search our hearts, He will do a very thorough job. He will point out those compartments that have been locked for a long time. He will bring those things that are hidden into the light, allowing us the opportunity to deal with them.

In the end, all that remains are those things that deepen our relationship with God and give us greater strength and vitality for life.

Today I want to challenge you to open up the compartments of your heart. You may find a few busted guitar strings and worn out drum heads. Turn those things over to God and He will make you ready to play great music on the stage of life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Wisdom of Experience

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and have hit the ground running this morning.

This past week I had the pleasure of conducting a sports camp at our church. I always enjoy doing sports camps, because it is a time to teach the basics and fundamentals of a game to a group of children. It is also a time when I pass along my own experiences as a player in conjunction with the knowledge and wisdom of my coaches from years past.

The passing on of knowledge and skills is seen in Scripture as well:

Job 8:10 (NLT)

But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you from the wisdom of former generations.

One of the greatest sources of wisdom and insight that we have is the experience of those who have gone before us. Military officers study the tactics and outcomes of past military strategists. Law enforcement officials study past crimes and schemes. The lessons of life lived are powerful. They give great wisdom and insight into the challenges of today.

In today’s world we are encouraged to be self sufficient, but unfortunately all too often we end up re-inventing the wheel. We make mistakes that could have been avoided by studying the past undertakings of others.

This week I want to challenge you to tap into the wisdom of those who have gone before you. You may want to have lunch with someone from a different generation and let them share with you the struggles of the Great Depression or World War. Perhaps you could learn from that grandparent who raised many children and has now watched the raising of grandchildren. Find someone who was a pioneer in your career field and ask a few questions that open the doors their vault of experience.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Flood of God's Spirit

Good morning! I hope you’ve had a great weekend and that you are refreshed and energized as you begin this new week.

Last week many parts of the United States experienced severe flooding after multiple days of drenching rainfall. Farmer’s fields, roads, parks and even homes have been swallowed up by rising flood waters. Nothing is exempt from the water’s touch. As the water rises it gains momentum and flow sweeping away everything in its path.

Today I want to focus on this thought from a different perspective:

Amos 5:24 (NLT)

Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry.

One of the most amazing things I have ever watched is the floodwaters of God’s Spirit move over a person’s life. During my time as a pastor I have seen the drug addict set free, the broken marriage restored, the unloved child accepted and the soil of the hard heart softened by God’s love. When the Spirit of God is allowed to flow freely the landscape of our lives is going to change.

The floodwaters of God’s love sweep away the seeds of bitterness, doubt and loneliness. The soil of the heart becomes moist and pliable as it is softened. In the end the landscape of our lives is nearly unrecognizable, as we have now been transformed from the inside out.

Today I want to challenge you to look for the flood of God’s presence in your life. Thank Him for the change that is taking place within you.

Until next Monday may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Celebrate Your Independence

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend.

This week in the United States we will be celebrating Independence Day. This holiday commemorates the signing of our Declaration of Independence from the Great Britain. For most Americans this is a very patriotic day filled with cookouts, fireworks and celebrations of freedom.

Today I want to spend a few minutes talking about freedom:

John 8:36 (NLT)
So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.

One of the greatest tragedies in life is living as a prisoner when we don’t need to. In my early days in law enforcement, I remember trying to release a prisoner one night who simply didn’t want to leave. Even though he had been set free by the court, he found the confines of the county jail familiar and was not willing to be released (we had not choice but to set him free, so he went outside and smashed the window of squad car and came right back in).

Sadly many people live their lives just like this man. Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. The record has been cleared and God has declared us innocent. Unfortunately many of us still choose to live as a prisoner to the past.

We allow past sin to haunt us, constantly living in fear of being exposed. At every corner we wonder if anyone knows what lurks in our past. This chain of guilt, shame and doubt hold us captive every day of our life, but is this really necessary?

Let me walk you through this thought. When Jesus went to the cross, the shedding of His blood paid the price for all of our sin. This means that there is nothing that we have ever done, are doing or could ever consider doing that would require Jesus to die on our behalf again. When Jesus said “it is finished,” that is exactly what He meant.

This week as you celebrate Independence Day I want to encourage you to remember that you have been set free from the bondage of the past. Grab hold of the freedom that you have been given and thank God for loving you enough to make it all possible.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl