JESUS CARES ABOUT YOU

On my way to do some preparation for this week’s message on the subject of prayer, I saw a scene that I believe God sees all the time from us.

I was walking and drawing close to a downtown coffee shop, and out of the Post Office came a mom and her little boy who must have been about three years of age. He was old enough to walk, talk and resist his mother’s urgings to cross the street and get in the back seat of the car. As she was pretty much dragging him across the street, the boy was crying loudly, "I want a cheeseburger; I want a cheeseburger; I want a cheeseburger, etc." I sympathized with the boy for I kind of wanted a cheeseburger too right then.

Then as mom got him to the car, got the door opened and began to buckle him into his car seat I heard him declare, "But I be good boy; I be good boy!" I thought, “Son, you lost that fight about ten minutes ago.”

Then it dawned on me how similar we often are in prayer as we stomp our feet and declare our demands to God, and when all seems to be lost, we try to remind God why we deserve what we are asking because, after all, we have "been good.” Really?

No, we haven't changed much since we were all three, except we are asking for a lot more than a cheeseburger.

Blessings. 

I had the unique and first-time experience of sitting at Starbucks this morning writing out Alec and Allison's wedding ceremony.

It was a very different experience than the dozens of other times I sat down to write out a ceremony. Not because this wedding ceremony is any more important than any other as marriage is an institution created by God between a man and a women and knits our society together since creation. So in God’s eyes, all marriages are of equal importance to him.

This was different as I have never teared up before in writing a ceremony.

I have never felt so proud of a groom.

I have never felt so deeply grateful for a bride.

I have never felt so blessed for my own bride Annette Simmons.

I have never felt so amazed at God's goodness.

I have never felt so aware of the "letting go process.”

Marriage is a unique thing that I have witnessed bring such incredible joy, but at the same time I have witnessed it bring such indescribable pain.

May God bless Alec and Allison this weekend.

May God Bless all of you married couples.

May God heal all suffering marriages.

May God Bless each of you desiring to be married to an amazing spouse.

That's my prayer today. 

I had an interesting experience today watching a scene take place. As I was sitting in a crowded coffee shop doing some work, I observed two men in what appeared to be a business meeting and they were apparently done with their coffee. They were sitting in the only two comfy armchairs in the store. Many of the tables and chairs were full but there remained a few spots, but not nearly as appealing as the comfy side chairs by the window. A few minutes later, two ladies buy and receive their drinks from the coffee bar and turn to see where to sit. One lady sets her eyes on the comfy chairs and clearly wants to sit there for a chat with her friend. The two men continue on with their meeting and the women stands nearby glaring at them, and I mean glaring. It is that look that says, "By the sheer power of my glare you will get up out of those chairs so I can have them." But the glare doesn’t work. After several sighs that have no affect, she approached the men and asked if they were done, that her and her friend would like their seats. The men say they are not done but would be soon. The woman declared that they will be sitting right over there and they will take their seats when they leave. The men look bewildered and politely say "OK?"

The attempt and purpose of the woman seemed obvious. She actually was hoping that the two men would feel ashamed for sitting in those seats and would move to the table, leaving the chairs for the ladies. The men did not move. The ladies walked to the table and sat down, occasionally glaring over at the men. The men did appear to notice the death glare coming at them.

After about 10 to 15 minutes, the men stood shaking hands; the women looked to gather their things and dashed over to the chairs, but simultaneously two new women entered the store and abruptly plopped into the comfy chairs. And these two new ladies didn't even purchase any coffee! The original two women stayed right where they were, apparently conceding that the comfy chairs will not be there on this day. After a few more minutes and a few more glares, the ladies rose and left the store having not obtained the comfy chairs and possibly ruining their coffee experience for the day.

I’m not sure the moral of this story but it sure is funny watching people exhibit behaviors of impatience when they do not get their way. Well it’s funny when it’s not me anyway.

About 3 hours ago I was sitting outside drinking some coffee with my Bible and computer open listening to some great worship music well on my way to a sunburned face. Then in a matter of minutes the clouds rolled in and it was a mad dash by myself and others to get inside as a strong breeze came up and minutes after that a total downpour. No worries! I got inside, got a nice spot, got a refill and continued my most blessed privilege of studying for Sunday. And then low and behold after about an hour of winter-type weather, the rain stops and the sun comes back out again. No, it isn't as nice as it was this morning but nicer than about an hour ago. For us Washingtonians, we just realize it's just our third weather pattern in three hours and we will see what the rest of the day will hold.

Come to think of it, we Washingtonians should be more equipped than most because our weather is so much like life—the roads of life are filled with so many curves and unexpected turns that we make our plans lightly. For example, whenever we plan any outdoor events we always plan for "What happens if it rains?"

I think it’s a good way to move forward in life. Believe for sun, be prepared for rain and enjoy the journey. Jesus is Lord regardless of the weather our life is currently experiencing.

What a difference a couple of days can make. Think back to that first Easter. Peter was caught in despair and shame. Judas had betrayed Christ and was in a downward spiral of disgrace ending in him taking his own life. The rest of the disciples had scattered and some strangers saw something in Jesus so special that they took charge of His body along with the his mother Mary and bound him in burial clothes and placed Him in a tomb that was not his own. Then a large stone is rolled in front of it and guards are posted to be sure that Jesus followers do not whisk him away. That same day as he died on the cross Matthew 27:45 says, "At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until 3 o'clock."
 
Talk about a bad day! But thanks be to God that is not the end of the story. Just a few of days(3 to be exact) later Jesus rises from the dead and turns a terrible day into the most joyous event heaven and earth has ever seen.
 
I know at times our days can get so dark and there can seem to be no hope in sight but this same Jesus that came out of that tomb after a few days can turn your dark skies into hope in a matter of a few days. Don't give up, give in or let go of your hope. Sunday is coming!!!!

The definition of the circumstance is "A condition or fact that determines, or must be considered in the determining of, a course of action.” A simpler definition (which I like better - yes I am a simple guy) is "The sum of determining factors beyond our willful control."

Kind of sounds like a definition of our daily lives doesn't it? It does to me and I want to try harder to change that in my daily life.

When we live by our circumstances, the things out of our "willful control," we are often settling for what comes at us as our roadmap for life. It’s like driving without a destination in mind and waiting for the flow of traffic to determine your direction. Yes, when traffic is heavy, the "circumstances" can make getting to your destination a challenge; it can take you longer than you thought; it can cause you to have to take an alternate route, but you get there because you have a vision of where you are headed in your relationships, careers, callings, etc.

One of my biggest frustrations is watching people sniff the air of circumstances and declare that as God’s will. If the circumstances are too difficult, challenging, or painful, then it cannot be God. God's will is not circumstantial. Jeremiah 1:5 says this about us, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." And 1 Peter 1:20 says this about Christ, "God chose Him as your Ransom long before the world began."

We should try to live with a stronger sense of destiny and determination than simply being shaped by circumstances, allowing the winds of life to direct us. Wind can blow a ship but that's why they have rudders and sails.

May God help us to live as people of destiny and vision.

I saw a little boy fall down. When he fell, he stayed there on the ground crying in the dust and mud. The Dad came over and picked him up and put him on his feet and immediately began to dust the little boy off. As I saw it, I had flashbacks to my kids when they fell down, got knocked down, fell off bikes and such, and I smiled. I remember picking them up and brushing the dirt off their clothes and hands and knees and face. One great memory was of my Dad playing football with my son in the backyard and hitting him so hard Alec got knocked into the bushes and could not be seen. Grandpa rushed over and pulled Alec out, brushed off his clothes, straightened his little helmet and went right back to playing.

I got to thinking how in life we fall down or get knocked down and our tendency is to stay on the ground waiting for someone to pick us up and dust us off. Sometimes we will get up but don't dust ourselves off.

It made me think of Isaiah 52:2 "Shake yourself from the dust and arise.."

There will not always be someone there to pick you up and dust you off. Life is very good at tripping us up and sending us face first into the mud and dust. Get up and shake the dust off. Shake off the offense. Shake off the shame. Shake off the embarrassment. Shake off the disappointment and walk on.

That little boy got back on his feet and he walked on and I didn't see him fall again. He will, I am sure, fall again. But right there it dawned on me, we too will fall again but thanks be to God that we spend more time on our feet then in the dust.

Shake it off today! 

I was in a bummer mood about this weather, and a few other things that were going on in my life, and happened to look out the window and see a beautiful blooming bush (have no idea what kind of bush so don't ask) and I was reminded of the old rhyme "April showers bring May flowers." Now I know it’s not April yet, but the rhyme cheered me up so I decided to look it up and found that it is a rhyme that dates back to the 1500s! It’s believed to be coined by a man named Thomas Tusser who practiced Husbandry (no it is not the practice of being a good husband). It is a word used to describe farming or raising animals or crops.

The original rhyme goes like this, "Sweet April showers, do spring May flowers." It is true in agriculture and it is true in life as well. It is the rain that waters the good seeds that have been planted; it is the storm that strengthens the roots in our life to keep us grounded; it is the winds that often blow us in a direction that we would not have gone otherwise.

Paul tells us, "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18.

So look through the rain and spot the flowering bush out there; it’s there — you can count on it.

I am so grateful for earphones. I love to sit and study while listening to worship music with my earphones in, as many of you know. But occasionally while studying at this Starbucks, I have to take my earphones out for one reason or another. Immediately I become aware of the conversations around me, when previously they were just people whose mouths were moving. It never ceases to amaze me as I have been in earshot of a variety of conversations involving different people, that so many of those conversations have one thing in common—NEGATIVITY! What is it about us that makes thinking negative and speaking negative about ourselves, others, circumstances, spouses, work and life in general so easy to do?

Oops! I just did it, didn't I? See how easy it is to slip into the negative. I heard negative conversations and immediately began to think negatively about the people and their words.

So I am going to put my earphones back in and simply say how grateful I am for Starbucks’ I’ve got a great seat facing the beautiful day outside. I am fortunate to have a profession that makes this part of my job. I have an awesome wife, great co-workers, three incredible kids, free refills with my Starbucks’ gold card, etc., etc. You get the point.

Think positive - LIFE IS GOOD!

I was thinking today about the value of worship, and what I mean by worship is the disciplining and directing of our thoughts toward God as we listen to music and sing songs unto God. I have been in several discussions this week where the huge difference in people’s situations and life experiences was the simple step of committing to position themselves in a worship environment. God made us to be worshippers of Him.

·       Worship will clear your thoughts in times of confusion.

·       Worship will calm fears and settle anxiety.

·       Worship will change your mood.

·       Worship will lift your eyes above your circumstances.

·       Worship will alter your negative opinion of others.

·       Worship will help you overcome temptation.

·       Worship will move you from happiness to true joy.

·       Worship will help you make a tough decision.

·       Worship will change you from the inside out.

·       Worship will heal your emotions.

·       Worship will correct you before someone else does.

·       Worship will help you pray correctly.

Wow, I could go on and on with this list. Feel free to add to this list in your own words, but if you are not regularly committing yourself to Jesus-honoring music, meditation and song, you will miss these great benefits.

Psalm 92: 1-4 ~ It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.