Thank God for Dip Sticks!

By now many of you guys have patiently endured the continued laments I’ve given about my transmission leak.   That dip stick has been pulled more times than a train whistle, yet this past week I lost it!   Not the transmission, the dip stick.   Panicked, I called my mechanic buddy and he borrowed one from a friend.   Then George began a frantic search of the junk yards for me.   (I have an old 97 Ranger.)   For the last few days I’ve been adding fluid, but unsure I was getting the right amount.  I had no standard to go by.  If I put in too little it could burn up the transmission or even the engine.   Yet, if I put in too much I could have created a fireball or inferno. 

For us Christians, The Bible and The Holy Spirit serve as our guides and standards for life.  Without them both we waiver from the principles and values God has for our lives.  I had to ask when was the last time I panicked that much missing my morning quiet time, church, hour of prayers, or even grace said at a meal.  In the gospels Jesus is always either reminding or declaring what the scriptures say.  They were His gold standard.  In Acts 17: 11, we see that the apostles searched the scriptures often to get God’s council on a matter.  In Acts 18:28 we see them using the Word of God to refute teachings of the Jews.    2 Timothy 3:16, reminds us that all scripture was given to correct and teach us.   

I’m so thankful I found my dip stick this morning. wedged between the battery and the fan.   All day I found myself instinctively making the spiritual analogy and thankfully choosing to direct my thoughts to devotionals, a Christian song, or verses I could remember.   Without the scriptures our lives loose their sense of what is ordinary and normal.    You may think it’s dorky to be thankful for something so lame as a dip stick, but without such things both my work life and spiritual life hits a tailspin.   How are your dip stick readings lately?   Have a great evening. 

Going it ALONE:

Last fall, I sensed God leading me to get a small group of guys together and study the book called, “Healing is a Choice,” by Stephen Arterburn.   Two old friends and I agreed to meet each week for that purpose.  If you’ve never read the book you should.   In a nutshell, the book helps you examine your hurts and issues of the past, confront or grieve them, and then become a better connector with people.

Even though I had read –“Healing Is a Choice” a year ago, it was something I wanted to share with others.   Little did I know before we began our study that my Dad’s health would take a nose-dive and that he would pass away in three short months.   Now almost eight months later, words can not express how God used these two fine men and the book HIAC to support me during my time of grief and loss.   A dear Pastor once said, “Friends multiply joys and divide sorrows.”   A synonym for the word divide here is to “carve up.”   Making a choice to bring my issues and pain to these guys helped me slice up the issues and my grief.   My problems became less intense though the process of sharing and becoming venerable.   These brothers, Dennis and George were part of a men’s group from many years ago.  We no longer see each other often, yet still keep in touch.   As Christian brothers we often refer to ourselves as the Brothers-Of-Another-Mother.”   We all need friends.

I’m often amazed that Christ, as our leader, was an emotional man.   He made our entire universe and yet wept over the fate and wrong choices his creatures were making.  He cried when his friends died and celebrated at wedding feasts.    In scripture, this mighty creator and sustainer Jesus is often found running to Father God in prayer.    What kind of losses have you experienced lately?   Are you processing and grieving these with others so that healing occur – Or do you just kick the can down the curb waiting hoping your problems will go away over time?   I challenge you to make the investment and choose connect with God and others.   Choose to heal! 

Graduation!

Oh no you might say after returning from the mail box, “Someone else is graduating.”   Right away you might think of the card you’ll have to find or the money you sometimes feel obligated to send.  One more hassle right?  Well, probably not for the graduate and certainly not for the parent.   As a parent whose only son is graduating soon from high school, it’s a time of extremes.  It’s extreme relief, sadness, joy, and everything in between. 

Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve often wondered as a father how God views our graduation.   Early this year my Dad graduated to his eternal reward in heaven.  I had no problem imagining the great joy he experienced seeing his heavenly father, the angels, and being reunited with loved ones.  His new timeless existence marked fresh vistas of opportunity we can never garner here on this earth.   

One author put it this way as he walked among the tombstones in a cemetery, “Life is what we make of it between the DASH from birth to death.”   Ecclesiastes chapter three tells us there is a time for everything: birth, death, planting, harvesting, killing, healing, tearing down, building up, crying, laughing, grieving, dancing, scattering, gathering, embracing, turning away, searching, quitting, keeping, throwing away, tearing, mending, quiet, speaking, love, hate, war, and peace. 

Our accomplishments down here are simply the rewards of striving, reaching, and growing.   These attainments can be seen as markers of success in the journey.  Today, I’m forced to look at my own spiritual goals and objectives.   Am I pursuing God’s objectives or looking for a senior skip day?   What time is it for you today?

                                        Tornado Proof? 

          The recent tornadic events have left many of us shaking our heads in dismay and unbelief as thousands come to terms with their horrific losses.  Experts tell us that while it is impossible to make your home “tornado proof”, many steps can be taken to make it “tornado resistant.  FEMA recommends that homeowners living in tornado prone areas reinforce entry doors with heavy duty dead bolts and door hinge screws with longer ones.  Furthermore they suggest not planting trees close to the home, adding stiffeners to garage doors, brace gable end roofs, and reinstalling protective windows and storm shutters.  

          What about the frequent circumstantial and emotional tornados which blow into our lives.   These storms of life will inevitably come, yet there are steps we can take to make ourselves resilient to trying times.   In John 15, Jesus presents Himself as the vine and likens us to the branches.   As long as we stay united and connected to Him we have provision, nourishment, and everything we need for life.   In Psalm 8:9, David refers to Him as our refuge in the time of trouble.  In Psalm 61:3, He becomes the place of protection where his enemies couldn’t reach him.  The prophet Isaiah in 25:4 refers to Him as “a tower of refuge for the poor, a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat,”(NLT)

          George Muller once said, “Work with all your might, but never trust in your work.  Pray with all your might for the blessings of God, but work at the same time with all diligence, with all patience, with all perseverance.  Pray, then, and work.  Work and pray.  And still again pray, then work.  And so on all the days of your life.  The result will be abundant blessing.  Whether you see much fruit or a little, such kind of service will be blessed.”  Stay connected and bear fruit! 

God Thoughts

The famous Theologian, A.W. Tozer once said, “The most important thoughts we will have will be God’s thoughts toward us.”

Do you see Him as merciful, loving, and forgiving? Does He appear as a kind Father? Have you forgotten that He’s so delighted to be with you that He dances in your presence? Can we forget that He is the God of all hope? Anxious to keep us reconciled to Himself by becoming our mediator and attorney? Do you forget that He has a purpose for your life? Are you cognizant of the fact that He sees you as victorious and wants to restore us to a condition better than we’ve ever known before?

A wise unknown author reminds us that our “Words must be weighted, not counted.” Focus on God’s thoughts and we’ll think and speak on a higher level. Have a great evening!

Spiritual Amnesia

years ago Joyce Meyer published an extensive list outline exactly who the Bible says we are when we are “IN CHRIST.”  If you’re like me, you may wonder through life with Spiritual Amnesia forgetting who we are. 

            So on days when you don’t feel bright remember 1 Cor. 2:16 promises that you have Christ’s mind.   When you feel half dead don’t forget Eph. 2:5 confirms we have life in Him.  Philippians 4:17 assures me that we have peace in Jesus that surpassing understanding.  When I feel insignificant Romans 8:17 guarantees that I’m a joint-heir with Christ.  What’s more Ephesians 2:10 tells me that I’m His workmanship created in Christ for good works.  When I long for a makeover 2 Cor. 5:17 declares that I’m already a new creature in Christ.   If I start to feel depressed Eph. 2:6 reminds me that I’m raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places.  Lest I feel confused, 2 Timothy 1:7 pledges that I have power, love and a sound mind.   And if after knowing all this still feel overwhelmed, Romans 8:37 comforts me by proclaiming that I am more than a conqueror in Christ.

            I’ve heard Joyce say many times that we are all just “Everything Nothings.”  What she means is through our position, IN CHRIST  we have everything, yet apart from Christ we are nothings.   C.S. Lewis once said, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sun-house does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the son shines on it.”   Have a great evening.

Recovery Time

          Picture it.  You’re at the gym and you’ve done your best.  You feel great.  You’re pumped!   Yet, the next morning comes and you no longer feel so great.   The lactic acid had done its thing.  Now your muscles are screaming in pain.   So what’s your recovery time?   How many hours or days does it take for you to get back at it?

            Have you ever thought of how the same thing happens in the emotional arena and spiritual realm?   We experience “church hurt,” or an emotional wounding and we instinctively pull away.  How long we choose to distance ourselves from the hurtful person or situation will depend on several factors.  However, the point is that for every pain there is a recovery time.  As Christ followers we shouldn’t we be looking for ways to shorten our Recovery Time?     

            In Psalm 30:2 we see David crying to God for help and He restores his David’s health.   God nurses and restores those who are kind to the poor, (Psalm 41:1,3)  In Psalm 103:3 we see God’s promise to forgive sins and heal all disease.   According to Psalm 147:3 God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.   A revenant fear and respect for God brings healing and strength, (Proverbs 3: 7,8.)  Jealousy can be like cancer, but Proverbs 14:30 reminds us that a peaceful heart leads to a healthy body.   And finally, our bodies stay healthy when we refuse to worry.  (Ecclesiastes 11:10.) 

            Harry Crews doesn’t discount that we will all have to endure a degree of pain and suffering, yet consider his take on scars.  “There is something beautiful about all scars of whatever nature.  A scar means the hurt is over, the wound is closed and healed, done with.”  Let’s all aim toward improving our recovery times!  What do you think?