Heard from an old friend

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

This past week I found myself riding the roller coaster of “what if” worry and “what now” doubts. I have always been one who expects the best, but plans for the worst. Unfortunately at times I get overly focused on the planning for the worst.

I am so thankful that God doesn’t allow me to wallow in these times of shaken confidence and rattled faith. During my greatest time of doubt this week I was blessed by a phone call from a friend. The Bible has many thoughts on friendship and today I wanted to share this with you:

Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

My friend Don is a fellow pastor from Kansas. He called me out of the blue to let me know I had been on his mind. We talked, laughed and caught up on what was going on in both of our lives. Even though Don gave me no advice, just our time of connecting boosted my spirits and refocused my perspective for the day.

Over the years I have seen this same scenario play out on a couple of occasions. I consider the friendships that God has allowed me to form over the years to be some of the greatest riches that God has given me in this life. I am blessed to know that I can send out an email or make a few phone calls and immediately tap into the prayers and counsel of men and women who care deeply for me and my family.

Today I encourage you to give thanks for your friends. I also want to challenge you to be the kind of friend who is by nature a blessing to others. You never know how God may use you to refresh, renew and encourage a brother or sister in need.

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

Carl

You've Got a Great Guide

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

Have you ever wondered where you are going? My family and I are currently in the midst of a transition where the future destination is not clear yet. There are times when I find myself questioning the path and direction. It is with this thought of direction that I want to speak to you this morning.

I am a firm believer that life is not a series of random circumstances, but instead a divinely crafted and planned journey. When I look back at the course my life has taken I see where the dots connect. Steps that didn’t make sense at the time are now perfectly clear in meaning and importance. Each experience fits perfectly into place with the others. The Bible speaks to this divine design:

Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you.

I once went through a retreat that dealt with discovering your purpose and mission in life. One of the keys that we looked at in our lives was “destiny pointers.” Destiny pointers are events in our lives that point towards God’s divine purpose. As I reflect I see many destiny pointers in my life. Throughout my life I have seen God’s hand pointing in the direction that my life has taken.

It is the assurance of God’s guidance and care that give me peace during times of ambiguity. I know that God has carefully laid out the course of my life and that He will reveal the next steps when the timing is right.

Today you may find yourself in a time of uncertainty. I encourage you to take comfort in the fact that your course is already known and your Father in heaven sees every twist, turn, hill and valley. Trust His leadership and enjoy the journey.

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

Carl

Who's Speaking Into Your Life?

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful and that your week is off to a dynamic start. Today I want to speak with you about the issue of accountability.

In today’s world very few people really choose to make themselves accountable to anyone. They go through life haphazardly not really giving much thought to how their words, attitudes and actions affect others. They never really have incentive to change course until a situation gets out of control or the damage inflicted becomes catastrophic.

One of the things I have maintained for many years is a group of people who hold me accountable for the way I conduct my life and the way I lead my ministry. These men and women are given the task of speaking to actions and attitudes in my life that are detrimental to either my ministry or the ministry of the church.

The Bible speaks to this type of relationship in the book of Proverbs:

Proverbs 27:6 (KJV)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

This past week I had to face the wounds of a friend. I had allowed careless words and actions to cause pain and harm to others around me. Fortunately, I have this group of leaders surrounding me and they were faithful to the task. They spoke the truth in love and through them God opened my eyes to the reality of what was going on within me.

Now I will be the first to tell you it is no fun to be held accountable or to have to seek the forgiveness of those you offend, but there is healing and cleansing in both.

Imagine if you doctor didn’t tell you that he/she had found cancer in your body, because they didn’t want to hurt your feelings. They would be considered negligent. You would want the bad news, because at least you could work towards a solution. To ignore the problem could lead to greater complications and even death.

Too many times we don’t give people permission to be honest with us about what they see in our lives, but we should. The objectivity of another often reveals things about ourselves and our actions that we never even realized were present.

Today I encourage you to hold yourself accountable to someone. This could be something as simple as accountability for a diet or exercise, time with your kids or even deeper spiritual accountability. The transparency may be a little uncomfortable at first, but in the long run you will be a much better person because of it.

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

Carl

If At First You Don't Succeed....

Good morning! I hope you had a restful weekend and have hit the ground running this morning. I spent a good chunk of my weekend working on my house. As fall settles in my opportunities to wrap up my house painting project are fading quickly.

Today I want to speak to you about the issue of persistence. It is said that Thomas Edison did not successfully invent the light bulb until he had made 10,000 unsuccessful attempts. Studies also show that some of the most successful business people in our nation have had at least one business fail prior to their success. Had these individuals given up at the first sign of failure we might not be beneficiaries of their persistence.

Now I realize you may not be looking to start a new company or invent the next technological miracle, but the concept of persistence is just as important for you. Maybe your issue is getting a date, getting a promotion or making a job change. You may have been seeking resolution for some time now, but the answer continues to be “no” or “not now.” Today I want to encourage you with these words from Jesus:

Matthew 7:7 (NLT)

"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.

If you find you are losing hope over the seemingly endless stream of “no” answers, I want to encourage you that your “yes” is coming. With each no, not now or later you are another step closer to a yes.

When Thomas Edison was asked about his failed attempts at creating the light bulb he replied: “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” The challenge for us is the similar, to find the lessons of our wait. I have found that when God tells me no, He always has a better plan for my life than whatever situation I am pursuing. I have seen this happen in both professional and personal situations.

Today if you seem to keep hitting walls everywhere you turn, take heart. Your “yes” is near and God has something much better in mind. Keep seeking, keep knocking, keep asking…when the time is right your answers will be clear.

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

Carl

Postcards from God

Good morning! I hope your weekend was restful and that you have hit the ground running this morning.

This past week was a difficult week for me spiritually, mentally and physically. As I arrived home from India a week and a half ago my family was getting over head colds. So as I finished off the jet lag I found myself coming down with the same head cold. Unfortunately for me I have asthma so most colds don’t stay in my head long, but instead go straight for my chest and this one has been no different. Emotionally I was simply drained by the pressures of my current transition in ministry and the uncertainties of my professional future. Spiritually I had hit a low point and wondered if I was truly strong enough to see things through.

I’m sure you’ve had times like this as well. Times like these are often lonely times for me when my normal avenues of strength and encouragement just aren’t available to me.

It is precisely at these times that God shows some of His greatest care for us. For me this past week it was a passage of scripture that I want to share with you this morning:

“I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’

Isaiah 41:13 (NCV)

A friend of mine calls these “postcards from God,” those times when God reminds you of His closeness during your times of pain, fear and uncertainty. This verse was special to me, because it reminded me of my own children.

There are times when we go to busy, bustling places or places that are unfamiliar to my children. When we make such journeys my youngest daughter and son (the 16 year old is a little past this now) generally will take my wife or I by the hand to guide them through. The grasp of our hand is a reassuring sign of safety for these young children. They may not know where we are going, but they have confidence that when they are hand in hand with us no harm will come to them.

As I looked at my own situation this past week, I found myself speaking to my Heavenly Father. I admitted that I was a little scared and uncertain, but I extended my right hand with confidence, knowing that God, being faithful to His word would hold on tightly. In the following days after I received this “postcard from God,” I began to see my situation in a different light. Answers that had not been apparent in the beginning were now clearly visible. Walking hand in hand with my Heavenly Father, I now had confidence that I would make it through these current hardships safely.

If you are going through a time of great difficulty I hope you find comfort in the postcard that I received. Reach out your hand, because the hand of God is reaching for you.

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

Carl

Contagious Attitudes

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

While I was away the past couple of weeks my family came down with a cold. One by one each of them got the sniffles, the runny nose, the cough and the sore throat. Over the weekend they shared that with me. So this morning I sit here with Kleenex close by dealing with the affects of a head cold.

It is amazing how quickly a cold can spread even when you have taken appropriate precautions. No matter how much you wash your hands, avoid close contact and up your vitamin intake you are still likely to get sick.

It is with this thought in mind that I want to talk to your about infectious attitudes. Have you ever noticed that we are people who often allow our attitudes to be shaped by consensus? When those around us are negative we often follow them straight into the path of negativity. When those around us are discouraged we often reach the depths of despair ourselves. When those around us are filled with joy we can’t help but feel our spirits rise.

The Bible gives warning to those with a root of bitterness in their lives:

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many.

Hebrews 12:15 (HCSB)

The danger of the bitter seed is its potential to harm others. It is so critical that we always examine the “health” of our attitudes. Our attitudes rub off on those we come into contact with, no matter how well hidden we think they may be. If you are struggling with negativity, bitterness or despair I encourage you to surrender those negative thoughts before God this morning. Ask Him to give you a healthy attitude so that your influence might also be healthy.

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

Carl

Preparing for the Journey

Good morning! I hope you are enjoying your extended Labor Day weekend.

This is an exciting week for me as I will be traveling to India later in the week to work with another pastor for 9 days. A trip like this is not planned and undertaken in a matter of days. I have been diligently working towards this week for over 9 months now. Planning for health issues, day to day needs, cultural differences and climate differences have been a part of this planning. It is with this thought of making preparation that I write you this morning’s encouragement.

All of us are preparing for a journey too. For us the journey is life. Each day is a new adventure with unforeseen twists and turns. At times the journey is sweet and at other times the journey is hard. The journey leaves you satisfied and other times the journey leaves you wanting more. There are three main needs all of us have: Food, clothing and shelter.

Let’s look at each of these for a moment. Your body needs regular nourishment and your soul is no different. Many of us unfortunately allow our souls to go malnourished. We don’t take regular time to refresh our inner being. So how do we get nourished? Look at the words of Jesus:

⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4 (AKJV)

We need to daily take time out for God’s word. You would be surprised just how much nourishment a verse or two a day of Scripture will bring you.

Secondarily we all need clothing to protect our bodies. Spiritually we are no different we need to cover our lives to protect us from the attacks that come our way. Look at the following passages pertaining to our attire:

¹¹Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Ephesians 6:11-17 (WEB)

Lastly we need to prepare for shelter from those stormy times in our lives. Where do you go when life begins to rain upon you? Where do you go when the hurricanes of circumstances come ashore? Again look at the sanctuary that is offered to you in God’s presence:

¹⁹Oh how great is your goodness,
Which you have laid up for those who fear you,
Which you have worked for those who take refuge in you,
Before the sons of men!

²⁰In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man.
You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 31:19-20 (WEB)

Today as you consider the journey you are undertaking, take inventory of your preparations. Have you properly nourished your soul? Have you packed the appropriate attire for the journey? Have you identified safe shelter for the storms?

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

Carl

Back to School

Good morning! I hope your weekend was relaxing and that you have hit the ground running this morning.

Did you hear it this morning? Listen closely! Did you hear it? If you are like me you heard the groans of children officially telling summer goodbye as they return to the schoolhouse. I remember those days of “forced” schooling. I thought they would never end and often times I wondered how in the world what I was learning would ever be of value to my life.

But looking back I am thankful for everything I learned. School taught me more than reading, writing and arithmetic. Maybe even more importantly, school taught me how to deal with life, with people, with success and even failure.

Sadly many of us turn our backs on learning when we graduate from high school or college. Consider the words of Proverbs:

Proverbs 23:12 (NLT)

Commit yourself to instruction; attune your ears to hear words of knowledge.

I find that when I think I’ve arrived in my areas of knowledge that there is always more to learn. There is always someone who has a little more insight, experience or skill than I do. As an adult I have found that I have to continue to be a learner or I fall behind.

With each new area of learning I broaden my horizons. Many of my favorite hobbies these days are things which I have learned over the past few years. It required me to once again become a student. To listen to those who had experience and knowledge. Sometimes it required me to get my hands dirty so I could learn a new skill set.

This week I want to challenge you to take out your spiral notebook and your #2 pencil. Sign up for the school of life and choose some electives to broaden your horizon. Seek out a mentor to teach and coach. Most of all enjoy the journey.

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

Carl

Working Smarter

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

Our family is currently undertaking the repainting of our home. Our house was built in 1882 and as you might expect over the past 124 years has accumulated many layers of paint. One of the “joys” of this project is removing the old layers of paint. Originally we started with a scraper which required a lot of muscle and was rather slow and somewhat ineffective.

We next added a heat gun which bubbles up the old layers of paint making them easier to strip off. This process is much more effective than the first, but still is very tedious and time consuming.

A few weeks ago a friend from church was over helping me scrape. After a few hours of scraping, he suggested I use his pressure washer to knock off the old layers of paint. Fortunately I took his advice and this past weekend put his pressure washer to use. What a joy it was having the water do all of the work. Not only was the paint coming off, but it was coming off in half the time it took with the other two methods.

This reminded me of a verse from Proverbs:

Eccles. 10:10 (NLT)

Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

For many years now I have been a practitioner of the “work smarter, not harder” principle. Sometimes we lose our effectiveness, because we work inefficiently. We expend unnecessary energy or take up time that could be better used elsewhere, because we simply refuse to use the right tools or sharpen our skills.

I was amazed when I first began using a day planner by the amount of wasted time I had in my schedule. I would waste precious time getting ready to get ready. When I took the time to organize I found myself becoming much more productive and effective in my tasks.

So how can you “sharpen the blade” in your life? Look for training opportunities to sharpen your skills. Look for areas where time is being used ineffectively. Evaluate the tools that you are using and see if there are not more appropriate tools available for your use.

This week focus on keeping your blade sharp.

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

Carl

Driver's Ed

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that your Monday morning is off to a great start.

This past week my oldest son turned 16. With this milestone of age has come the time honored tradition of learning how to drive. This was a memorable time in my own life. When I was his age, my dad was regularly taking me behind a local shopping center to teach me the basics of vehicle operation.

Following my dad’s lead, I have been doing the same. Taking my son to a local shopping center and teaching him the fundamentals of driving. As we work on his driving, we talk about the rules of the road, safe following distances, blind spots and any other topic that relates to being a safe driver. With my son at the wheel, I give him direction about where to turn, park, back up and yield right of way.

With that thought I want to draw your attention to the following passage of scripture:

Psalm 119:102 (NLT)

I haven't turned away from your laws, for you have taught me well.

For my son, his learning occurs in two formats. He learns first of all from the Pennsylvania Driver’s Handbook. In this book the rules of the road are explained along with safe driving practices. The knowledge he gains from the manual is put into practice when gets behind the wheel for his times of hands on training.

Life is very similar. God has given us His word to guide and direct our lives. We have the examples of God’s interaction with others to show us the cost of sin, the abundance of God’s mercy and the finality of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. In the pages of God’s word we find encouragement, rebuke, admonition and direction.

But just like driving, without hands on application, the words are simply information. God wants us to be complete in our walk with Him. So He takes us on the road course of life. Every day we have opportunities to put the word of God into practice in our lives. We are faced with challenges that require us to draw deep from our knowledge of God and His desires for our lives. With each challenge we come to know God on a more personal and intimate level. We see His hand guiding us through the challenges and we find the reassurance of His affirmations.

Today you may find yourself in a new situation, facing challenges that you’ve never encountered before. Take courage, God is with you and He will guide you safely through.

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

Carl

Don't Get Burned

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

This past week I had the opportunity to spend a few days camping with friends. During our trip a few of us went tubing down the Clarion River. I started out my float trip with a t-shirt on, but halfway during the trip, decided to shed the shirt and get some sun.

Here I am 5 days later regretting that clothing decision. My normally “pastie-white” skin is lobster red and sore to the touch. A few moments in the sun has left me with a painful reminder of bad judgment.

This has me thinking about the fire many of us choose to flirt with. Sin is often very appealing. We are tempted by thoughts of pleasure and gain. We know that the ideas and actions we are entertaining are dangerous, yet we take the risk anyway.

Look at what the following two verses:

Proverbs 6:27-28 (NLT)

Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned? [28] Can he walk on hot coals and not blister his feet?

I know many Christians today who dabble with danger. They take the position that “it could never happen to me” and “no one will ever know.” They assume they can safeguard their soul and that they can manage their weaknesses.

Unfortunately sin leaves a stain and painful consequences. Few people knew I was in the sun with my shirt off last Wednesday. But now, nearly a week later it is painfully obvious. In my lifetime, I have seen time and time again when the hidden sins of man became painfully exposed. In almost every instance, there were plenty of opportunities to change behavior and flee temptation, but the warnings were ignored.

My sunburn could have been easily prevented by either leaving my shirt on or applying sunscreen to my skin. The same is true spiritually. If you will take time to prepare your hearts with time in God’s presence through prayer and Bible study, you will find that the temptations are much easier to avoid and resist.

Today you may find yourself flirting with danger. You continue to dabble in things you know are not beneficial or upright, but you think you can handle it. Remember, sin comes with a price….and the pleasure is not worth the price of the pain that follows.

If this describes you today, ask God to give you the courage to change your direction. Make a commitment to flee the temptation and ask God for the strength to follow through. Immerse yourself in His presence and take pleasure in Him.

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

Carl

Time Away

Good morning! I hope you’ve had a great weekend and that your week is off to a running start.

Today I am preparing to head out to the woods with some friends for a few days of camping. I look forward to these opportunities to get away. These retreats give me the opportunity to turn off my cell phone & email, to decompress, dream, pray and rest.

We live in a day and age where constant activity is the norm. Even when we take days off, we still work ourselves ragged. For people like me who lean to the workaholic side of the scale, we even give up what should be our sleeping hours for a few more hours of productivity.

Unfortunately, we allow ourselves to get so busy that we lose sight of what is most important. As a pastor, I find that there are times when I get so busy doing “God’s work” that I neglect my relationship with God. I have at times found myself so busy doing ministry that I didn’t take time to be still and listen to God’s voice. I’ve seen other times when I’ve loaded my schedule with meetings and ministry activities, but didn’t build in time for God’s word.

So how did Jesus do it? When the crowds were pressing in and everyone wanted his attention, how did he keep first things first? Here is a great example:

Mark 1:35 (NLT)

The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.

Jesus knew the demands that would be placed upon him, so he planned accordingly. Instead of grabbing a few extra minutes of sleep, Jesus instead arose early and headed out to a secluded place. Jesus knew that he could not focus on intimacy with God, if he was being bombarded by demands and distractions. So Jesus went to a place in which he could slow down and focus his full attention on God. There were no other conversations to manage, no unplanned visitors, no urgent phone calls…only quality time seeking the heart of His Father.

This week, I encourage you to steal away for some quality time with your Heavenly Father. Find a place of seclusion and quiet. Go expectantly, seeking an intimate encounter with him and prepare to be refreshed.

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

Carl

Home Improvement

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a running start.

Over the last few weeks our family, with the help of many friends, has been working on remodeling several rooms in our home. As we renovate each room the landscape of the room changes. Furniture is removed, cracks in the wall are opened up and cleaned out in preparation for repair, woodwork is taped over and the order of the home is turned upside down. To walk into our home right now, you would observe a hodge-podge of paint brushes, drop clothes, sheetrock, plaster repair compound and paint.

Life can be this way sometimes as well. When God determines that a room of our life needs some renovation things can go topsy-turvy. I find that there are many times God has to remove the “stuff” from a room in my life. Once the contents of the room are removed He sets out to repair the damaged walls. This often requires further exposure of the blemished area. These times can be painful. Things that we cling to are taken away from us. Areas that we don’t want God to pry into, He exposes:

Hebrews 4:13 (NLT)

Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.

Once the flaws are exposed God begins the loving process of repair and remodeling.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

The damaged areas are filled in with the truth of His word and the presence of the Holy Spirit. God begins to refine our life so that we become a more accurate reflection of His glory. The room of our life that was once riddles with sin, guilt and selfish desires now reflects the perfect touch of the Master’s hand. When we see the change we are left awestruck, hardly recognizing this to be the same room of our life that was there before.

Perhaps today you find yourself in the middle of a time of inner remodeling. Trust God’s movement in your life. Know that even though He has removed the furnishings and is making repairs, in the end your life will shine.

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

Carl

When It Rains...It Pours!!!

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

A few weeks ago I wrote about my home computer crashing. That was one of many adversities that have come our way in the past few weeks. Over the last 6 weeks we have had to replace a refrigerator, repair two vehicles, had the computer crash, and received a letter from the IRS that we owed more money on our taxes. As I am writing this my car is sitting up at the church needing repairs again.

So why am I telling you all of this? Not to have a pity party, but instead to focus our attention in on those difficult times of life. It is these seasons of life that have made the following verse one of my life verses:

Psalm 34:19 (NLT)

The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.

I don’t know about you, but some weeks it seems like I have my own personal rain cloud. No matter where I turn, something seems to be going wrong. We’ve all had times like that haven’t we?

We shouldn’t be surprised though. Look at the first few words of this verse: “The righteous face many troubles…” It didn’t say the righteous may face many troubles, but that they will face many troubles.

Why would life be so difficult? May I suggest that we do some of our greatest growing under duress? It is in these difficult times that we learn to trust. Our confidence is no longer in our own abilities and solutions, because quite frankly we are over our heads. The circumstances force us to bend our knees in prayer, seeking the mighty hand of God to pull us through.

This brings me to the promise of this verse and the thing that has made it so special to me: “…but the Lord rescues them from each and every one.” Think about this promise for a moment. No matter what the adversity is you are facing, God has promised to bring you through it. There is no obstacle too big, no circumstance too devastating, and no valley too low that God cannot bring you through it. I can face each trial with the confidence that God will see me through to the other side.

So what do I gain from such times of testing? The effort required to face the trial builds strength and perseverance. The time of waiting for God’s answers builds patience and trust. The lessons of the trial bring wisdom and understanding. The deep reliance upon God builds greater intimacy.

Today if you are facing difficult times, remember that God has promised to see you through. Look for His mighty hand moving in your circumstances and take comfort in the fact that He is with you every step of the way.

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

Carl

Are You Still Amazed?

Good morning! I hope you had a tremendous weekend and were able to take advantage of the beautiful weather.

This past Friday, I had the privilege of taking my children to watch a practice run of the Navy’s Blue Angels at the local Air Force base. This group of fighter pilots put on a breathtaking display of teamwork and precision flying that left the crowd applauding and wanting more.

Today I want us to focus on this idea of awe and wonder. Do you remember the first time as a child you saw a train or airplane? I remember being filled with amazement at those sights. The power, the noise, the size…they all seemed so large in my young mind. Now I must confess, I still am a kid at heart and I love to watch airplanes, trains and boats….I still find them fascinating, but because of familiarity I am no longer awestruck.

That brings me to this thought: Do I still find myself filled with awe and wonder when I think of the glorious power and majesty of God. Consider the following verses:

Luke 5:24-26 (NLT)

I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!"

[25] And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped to his feet, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. [26] Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe. And they praised God, saying over and over again, "We have seen amazing things today."

When I first gave my life to Jesus Christ, I was filled with amazement. The newness of life and the joy of forgiveness permeated every ounce of my being. Now I am much older and I find that often I get complacent. I have allowed my familiarity, even though I have barely scratched the surface on knowing God, to get in the way. My heart is not always stirred, because I look at life through jaded and hardened eyes expecting I know how God will move.

Watching my children on Friday was a tremendous joy. They had never seen the Blue Angels before, so they had no expectations. Each part of the demonstration brought with it new opportunities for amazement. I see more clearly why Jesus spoke of the importance of having a childlike faith.

Today I want to challenge you to put aside your expectations and “knowledge” of God and instead approach this week with the faith of a child. Ask God to leave you in wide-eyed amazement at His presence and power. Let Him wow you with his glory and leave you wanting more.

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

Carl

System Diagnostics

Good morning! I trust you’ve had a great weekend and hope your 4^th of July holiday is a time of refreshing.

This morning I find myself wearing my computer repair hat. My home pc began crashing last night and I am currently in the process of doing diagnosis. It is with this thought that I want us to focus on our own lives.

Whether we would choose to admit it or not, each of us has issues in our lives that prevent us from being all that God has created us to be. These issues include such things as pride, bitterness, unforgiveness, complacency, etc… The presence of these things in our lives is a hindrance to the work of God within us. Many of these things are buried deep, because we are not ready to deal with them. Others we have just grown familiar with and are no longer troubled by their presence.

On my computer I use diagnostic software that looks at the integrity of the registry, the hard drive and the file structure. During this diagnosis even the hidden files and system files which are not normally seen are analyzed for trouble.

It is critical in our lives that we allow God to diagnose our heart on a regular basis. Look at what was written by the Psalmist:

Psalm 139:23 (NLT)

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my thoughts.

When we allow God to search our heart and our thoughts, He will pinpoint those issues that need to be dealt with. He will take inventory of all that is housed within us, nothing will be left unchecked.

This is not always an easy process. We don’t like seeing some of what lies within us, but in the long run, the freedom of grace and cleansing far outweighs the burden of carrying sin’s guilt and shame.

Tomorrow is Independence Day. I encourage you to allow God to search out your heart and set you free from the bondage of what lies hidden.

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

Carl

Being Torn Down

Good morning! I trust you had a good weekend and that your week is off to a running start.

My oldest son, Christopher, is currently away from home attending “boot camp” as part of his Navy Sea Cadets program. This boot camp is a two week sampling of the full boot camp that our military men and women go through.

Over the weekend we received our first letter from him since he had left. Christopher was definitely feeling the stress of the demands being put upon him. Some days are like that for us as well aren’t they?

This morning I want to talk to you about the humbling process. In the military it is necessary for the recruit to be torn down, so they can be built back up. Recruits come to basic training with a multitude of ideals, values and habits. Those who run our military know that they must rewire the thinking of the individual for that person to be an effective soldier on the battlefield.

Over the course of training the recruit no longer asks “why?”, but simply responds to orders with a quick “yes sir!” The recruit transitions from being self reliant to being team reliant. Ultimately the recruit no longer sees obstacles as something to be feared, but simply as something to be overcome. The recruit is equipped and familiarized with the tools of the trade and practices with regularity until they are proficient in their useage.

Sometimes God takes us through tearing down and building up process:

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people need more than bread for their life; real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord.

My mentor once told me, “Carl, God often crushes the man He uses.” The process of refining is not always easy. But with each instance of heat and pressure we come more pure and the glory of God becomes more radiant. Just like the soldier in boot camp, we learn that we alone cannot succeed. It is only when we rely fully upon God’s strength that we overcome and “soar on wings like eagles.”

I can identify several places throughout my life where God has taken me through boot camp. Each of those times has been painful and stretched me to my very limits. Looking back though, I see where God equipped me with some of my greatest strengths and skills during those times. On the backside of those times of breaking down, I have seen God work through my life in ways that I could never imagine.

Today maybe you feel like you are in boot camp. Everywhere you turn there are obstacles and people demanding much of you. Take heart and realize that this time of being “torn down” is for the purpose of building you back up, only stronger and more confident with a new found reliance upon God’s strength.

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

Carl

Points of Transition

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend.

A couple of nights ago, my wife and I went for a drive along the Ohio River. We decided to stop at a lock and dam and watch the towboats and barges go through. It was fascinating to watch the process of moving the boats from one level of the river to another. With each transition forward progress stops, while the lock is flooded or drained to raise or lower the level of the boat.

It is with this thought in mind that I would like to talk to you today about those transition points in life. If most of us had a choice we would choose to maintain a level course that doesn’t require change. Unfortunately for us, life is not a smooth level course it comes with a variety of ups and downs. With each change in level comes a time of transition. Sometimes this takes a day or two and other times it goes on for years.

One of the greatest examples of this in the Bible comes from the life of Abraham. God promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation, but it would be nearly 25 years from the time the promise was made until Abraham and Sarah saw the birth of their son Isaac.

Hebrews 6:15 (NLT)

Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

We know from scripture that the wait wasn’t always easy, transition times rarely are. For a person like me, waiting is sometimes worse than torture, but it is in the waiting that God molds me and prepares me for His purpose in my life. This is where trust and faith must take the lead. God is always faithful to His promises!

Imagine if one of these boat captains got tired of waiting for the lock process and just decided to push forward. It would be a total disaster. The captain would likely lose his vessel and his cargo over the spillway, because he was not ready to push forward safely. When the captain waits for the lock to raise or lower the water to the same level as the river, he can move forward safely without loss of cargo or crew.

Today you may find yourself at a point of transition. I want to encourage you to wait patiently upon the Lord. You will eventually be at the proper place to move forward, but be thankful that God is not allowing you to move forward without his provision for your transition.

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

Carl

Are You Sure We Aren't Lost?

Good morning! I trust you had a good weekend. My family and I returned from our bi-annual trip to see family. Over the past 9 days we drove over 3,000 miles, but the opportunity to spend time with family was well worth the effort.

Today I want to speak to you about your own journey. Each one of us is on a journey and no two people’s journeys are exactly alike. For some of you, the journey has had many twists and turns. For others, your journey has been over rugged terrain with many peaks and valleys. Still others of you have journeyed through vast deserts filled with intense heat and barren stretches. For others still your journey has taken you through the fruitful plains. No matter where life has taken you, you’ve also encountered the detours and roads under construction.

It is during some of those difficult times that we find ourselves asking the questions: “God why have you brought me here?” and “God have you forgotten about me?” Even great men of faith have had these types of moments; consider the following two examples from Moses and Elijah:

Exodus 5:22-23 (NLT)

So Moses went back to the Lord and protested, "Why have you mistreated your own people like this, Lord? Why did you send me? [23] Since I gave Pharaoh your message, he has been even more brutal to your people. You have not even begun to rescue them!"

1 Kings 19:10 (NLT)

Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

All of us eventually face the slow downs, the barren times, the times of being disoriented and even the detours in the road of life.

The new thing today is to use GPS navigation, so that even when you are uncertain of your location, the navigation system knows right where you are at. Did you realize that your life is no different? Look at the words of one of my favorite verses:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God knows right where you are at all times. That trip through the desert of despair was already planned for. Your stop at the Grand Canyon of grief was planned for too. Your detour down the road of loneliness has already been taken into account. In each of these situations, God was not caught off guard. He has been aware of what lied ahead, even before it came into your view and He has prepared you for just such times.

Ultimately God has already planned out your final destination. He knows the twists and turns that lie ahead. They do not lead to a place of despair, but instead to His glorious presence. Just as a trip of 3,000 miles is worth every mile to be with family, the journey of life will be worth every good time, bad time and all points in between when God welcomes you home with open arms.

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

Carl

Monday Morning Encouragement

Good morning! This morning I am writing to you from Oklahoma City where I am visiting with family.

As a pastor, one of the things that you don’t get to do very often is go to “church” and see things from the viewpoint of a parishioner, so when I am on vacation I look forward to those opportunities.

Yesterday, I had the unique privilege of attending the inaugural service of the internet campus of Lifechurch. Lifechurch is known as one of the most innovative churches in the country, using satellite technology to take the church to multiple locations. Their ministry has been life transforming and the church continues to see the blessings of God upon their ministry.

Something that struck me as I participated in this online church service was the idea of taking risks. This blessing for me yesterday came about because someone had been willing to take a risk. The history of Lifechurch is a story of taking faith risks.

Often times, however we miss out on God’s blessings because we are fearful of what a step of faith might bring. We become paralyzed by the “what if” scenarios of the mind.

Look at what happened when the Israelites were paralyzed by fear:

Deuteronomy 1:28 (NLT)

How can we go on? Our scouts have demoralized us with their report. They say that the people of the land are taller and more powerful than we are, and that the walls of their towns rise high into the sky! They have even seen giants there—the descendants of Anak!'

God had promised the Israelites victory and deliverance of the promised land and yet they were paralyzed by stories of “giants in the land.” Ultimately it would cost the Israelites another generation of wandering in the desert.

Think with me for a moment about all of the technological and medical advances that make your life better. What if Thomas Edison hadn’t taken a risk? What if Henry Ford hadn’t taken a risk? What if Dr. Jonas Salk hadn’t taken a risk? What if Bill Gates hadn’t taken a risk?

The reason most of us don’t venture out in faith is fear. Fear of failure. Fear of ridicule. Most of all we fear the unknown. We become comfortable in our comfort zones and the thought of getting outside of those boundaries is paralyzing.

Lifechurch took a risk yesterday and by the conversations online after the service, the risk has already paid off. Many lives will be touched and many will receive the teaching of a church, because someone was willing to take a risk.

Today you may be at a crossroads of faith. I encourage you to trust in God’s guidance and step out in faith with Him.

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

Carl