We all pull in close.

I grew up in a very small town of 900 people. Every Sunday my family attended Concord Missionary Baptist Church in White Plains, Kentucky. It wasn't just my brother and parents who attended but my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins attended as well. My father, after passing away from pancreatic cancer at the age of 33, is buried on those church grounds.

Every Sunday afternoon my friends would come home with me after church and we would play on the farm. The whole church was really my family. The morning after my dad passed, Brother Carl Boyd (the pastor) was at my bedside to comfort me and my brother, Travis. Our house was filled with church people and one of those church people sent my brother, my mom and I on a trip to Disney after my dad passed. Sitting through prayer meetings every Wednesday night was sometimes torture but God used those prayer meetings to shape who I am today. The Spirit of the Lord was there. The Spirit of the Lord lived among the people. After all, the church will always be the people - not a building.

The horrific news out of Sutherland Texas has not left my mind. I believe it's because I see myself in that story. I haven't stopped praying for that church. This could have been my family. There were families holding hands with their heads bowed in prayer when a stream of bullets hit their backs. Young and old were worshipping a loving God when evil walked into the room. In times of tragedy, the church in White Plains, Kentucky taught me that in suffering we all pull in close! We hold each other so the darkness doesn't hold us.

Ann Voskamp says, "You can count on it. Aloneness widens suffering but togetherness weakens suffering."

Lord, be close to the people of Sutherland Texas!

Losing with Grace

I have possessed a few titles in my years, but none more important than that of "mom." Tonight, I had a front row seat to another proud mom moment. The District Championship game was tied 2-2 and the whistle blew three times signaling the end of play.  I sighed because I knew what was next.  Yes. Penalty kicks. And, Max was playing goalie for  his Meyzeek Middle School team.  This isn't his normal position but he had stepped up to the challenge.

The penalty kicks were set into motion.  The crowd was intense. Parents, friends and family yelling for their respective team.  Now, I wish I could tell you that Max stopped every penalty kick as the goalie but I can't.  At the end of play, Max's team came up short. When they lost 5-4 in the penalty kick shoot out, Max sat down in the grass and cupped his hands around his face and began to cry.  The whole team was heartbroken. They had given their best. Max had stopped at least 10 shots on goal. However, he couldn't sit there very long as both teams began to shake hands and congratulate one another on a great game.

Coach then asked all the parents to circle around the team as most of them lay on the ground with their hands covering their faces.  Well, Max was sitting on his soccer ball with tears still running down his face.  Now I know this is just middle school soccer but these boys wanted to win.  And, they just came up short to a very good team. After Coach said a few words and gave them their medals, most of the boys sat there for a little while longer.  It's hard to lose.

I then saw Max stand up and walk over to the other team as they celebrated their victory.  I saw him go and congratulate two of his friends who played for the other team.  He said a few words to them and gave them a hug. Then, I started crying.  Proud mom moment.  Isn't that what we hope for our children?  That they will learn how to lose with grace.  Because God knows this will not be the only time he loses. Honestly, it isn't easy to watch your child lose but it sure makes you happy when they do lose with grace.

The car ride home was quiet.  And as I drove, I thanked God that no one got hurt and that Max's character grew a little stronger.  Philippians 4:13 is a popular verse that says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."  And, tonight I reminded Max that this verse means we can lose with grace because God gives us the strength to do so.

Stay In Your Own Lane

"Stir up the gift of God which is in you" (2 Timothy 1:6, emphasis mine).

While driving today and then reading my Bible  in the passenger seat, I was reminded of the importance of staying in your our own lane. You be you! Run your own race. Nothing good happens when you compare and compete. God does not judge you according to the talents of others. He judges you according to yours. You are responsible for how you use your gifts.

You be you! Don't be your best friend or your parents. You can admire them, appreciate them and learn from them. But you cannot be them. You aren't them.

Look for ways to align your job or your volunteer work with your skills. This may take time but don't give up!

You Be You!

A Table For One

Lenten Reflection on Psalm 23

Loma De Luz, Honduras

I love eating with family and friends. I love a good dinner party.  And every once in a while, I enjoy getting a table for one. Whether this table is at home, a restaurant or on a mission trip, I enjoy the calmness of a table for one.  There are no expectations or awkward silences. The table for one usually involves some of the following: a legal pad, pen, coffee, my water bottle and my Bible.

As I engaged in my lenten reading for last week, the verse "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" keeps coming to mind.  What if this table is a table for one?  What if this table is just for me and God, face to face? What if I sit at the table in the presence of my enemies that lie within?

What if the enemy is my own selfishness, my own apathy, my own comfort, my own pride?  What if I sit at the table in the presence of my enemy and can only confess to God that I have fallen short? What if at the table for one I am reminded of Romans 3:23, that all have fallen short? I believe that at that table for one, there is confession. There is forgiveness. There is grace.  There is bread for me to eat and a cup overflowing.  There is oil being poured out on my head.  There at the table for one I learn that goodness and mercy are following me. Even when I get so comfortable that I am unwilling to sacrifice my time, talent and treasure for His Kingdom, there is grace.

Maybe you can find grace at a table for one.

Heart of Worship

Weekly Lenten Reflection

Today, I chose to focus on the Gospel reading from the Lectionary as I did last week.  For many Christians, John 4 is a familiar passage.  As I have reflected on this passage, I keep returning to the phrase "you must worship in spirit and truth."  The greatest times of worship in my life have not occurred because of an awesome worship band or the ambiance of the room.  The most life changing times of worship have taken place when my heart was ready to receive whatever God desired to give me.  Trust me, I do enjoy great authentic worship in song. During a song, my hand is usually raised once or twice - even when hymns are being sung. It is important to remember that worship is not only feel good emotion. Worship is not only singing to God. I must remember that it's not what I do (or don't do) with my hands but worship is what I do with my heart and mind because of the one who has captured my heart and my mind.

Germany 2005

We must worship in spirit (heart) and truth (mind!) Finding a quiet place or admiring God's creation

directs my heart and mind to the right place. I challenge you to consider what helps turn your heart and mind to the right place so you can receive what you need from the Maker of all Good Things!

I love the song, The Heart of Worship. Here are the lyrics....

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
that will bless your heart.

I'll bring you more than a song, for a song in itself
is not what you have required
You search much deeper within through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus!

God So Loved the World...

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD...

Meet Roberto...A kid we've known for nearly 10 years now. In his darkest hours, we remind him that God loves him so much...even when he is hostile to God

John 3:16 was the first Bible verse I memorized as a child.  I can recall how this verse brought me comfort and hope as a young kiddo.  Today, it still brings me comfort and hope. In the face of death, it has brought me comfort and hope. In the face of disease, it has brought me comfort and hope. In the face of confusion, it has brought me comfort and hope.  In the face of failure, it has brought me comfort and hope. And, I have witnessed how it has brought comfort and hope in the face of addiction and depression.

Who is this "world" that Jesus loves?  I first want to point out that it may be helpful to remind you that the Greek word for “world” – kosmos – designates throughout the rest of John’s Gospel a group of people that is hostile to God (see, for instance, John 15:18-25; 16:8-10, 20, 33; and 17:9-16). This means that we might actually translate these verses, “For God so loved the God-hating world, that he gave his only Son…” and “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn even this world that despises God but instead so that the world that rejects God might still be saved through him.” 

When I began to understand who the world really was, I began to witness that God’s love is audacious and unexpected. (Which is why, according to Paul, it probably seems both scandalous and a little crazy – see 1 Cor. 1:18-25.) And that audacious, unexpected, even crazy character of God’s love is exactly why it saves!

As Christians we must remember that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing in their sins - their self righteousness, their hate, their idolatry, their addiction - but to us who understand that God's grace is available to all people even those who are hostile to God - it is the manifestation of the power of God.

Servant Leadership

Thankful for these great reminders from Senior Pastor, Tyler McKenzie at Northeast Christian!

As leaders, we forget:
-It's not our kingdom we're building, it's His.
-Leadership isn't currency owned, it's a divine investment.
-Talent doesn't make you special, it makes you responsible.
-Influence isn't yours to keep, it's yours to give.

We forget there is a kind of greatness that you descend into. It's the greatness of servitude, the greatness of God.

Discovering God

Lenten Reading:  Matthew 4:1-11

"If you are the Son of God..."

Have you ever struggled with your identity? Have you ever questioned your role as a friend, a student, a parent or an employee? Maybe you have said, "If I am a great student then I would make straight As or score perfect on the ACT." Maybe you have said, "If I am a good friend then I would not be bullied, right?" Maybe you have said, "If I am an exceptional employee then I would get a raise." Or, maybe you have said, "If I am a good parent then my child would be different."

Here in this passage, I am reminded that Jesus knows who he is by remembering whose he is. Might it be that a part of being human is being aware that we are insufficient. As Christ followers and as beloved sons and daughters of God, our identity is rooted in Christ. It is not rooted in our identity as a student or friend or a parent. Blaise Pascal once described the essential condition of humanity as having a God shaped hole. This story for me illustrates that my relationship with Christ (having his peace, joy and love) is the only thing that will fill that hole.

When we are tempted to chase after an identity other than one rooted in a relationship with God through Christ, the hole will not be filled. Success and power in any position we hold (whether parent, coach, friend, employee) will leave us restless until we find rest in God.

I'm thankful Jesus refused to establish his own worth and identity on his own terms (by turning the stone into bread, jumping from the temple, worshiping another) but instead remained dependent on God!

You see, every time we place our complete trust in God and not in ourselves - we discover God amid our needs and learn that God's Grace is sufficient.

Saying No; Saying Yes

Ash Wednesday Meditation

Rising from the ashes...

The kind of Lent Jesus desires for us is the kind that prepares our hearts for a Savior who rises from the ashes of death to bring new life.

The ashes on the forehead remind me that human life has limits, that it comes to an end, that we all die. The ashes speak of my need for a Savior, my need for God.

Lord I need you, oh I need you, every hour I need you.....

Many people see Lent as "giving up something." But I think it's more than saying "no" to chocolate or sodas for a few weeks.  When we answer Christ's call to say no, we should answer his call to say no to destructive practices. Saying no means there is energy to say yes to positive disciplines. We can fill the space and time left by our saying no with some positive disciplines to help us respond to God's love more intentionally. John Wesley called them the means of grace: prayer, searching the scriptures, fasting, acts of kindness aimed at justice, and regular attendance at corporate worship where we participate in the sacraments of baptism and communion and meet God as the scriptures are read and proclaimed.

Will you prepare your heart for the Lenten Journey?

Examination

Examination.  When I hear the word examination, I usually think about about my yearly "physical" given by my primary care doctor or my son's sport's physical or my son's final exams at school.  What about you?  I wonder if anyone upon hearing the word examination thinks of a spiritual check up - a soul detox if you will.  I was reminded today that our prayer life can be the place where we examine our lives.  I enjoy praying.  I enjoy when prayer brings about the ability to meditate on God's Word, God's goodness and God's creation. I enjoy praying for my family and for others.  But, I don't enjoy  examining my life - my heart.  It's uncomfortable.  It's difficult.

Martin Luther advised regular mediations on the Ten Commandments. Google "the Ten Commandments" if you have forgotten them or find your Bible and read Exodus 20.  Luther's method of meditation included thinking out the way in which you have been violating each commandment in deed and attitude of the heart.  Then, consider the free grace of Jesus. (Prayer by Timothy Keller)

Another guide, other than the Ten Commandments, for self-examination could be the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-24.  This requires that one studies and understands what each of the spiritual fruits are, whether love, joy, patience, humility, self-control or some other.  Then, one examines what each fruit looks like in his or her own life and also what its absence of looks like.  

Examining the Sabbath, a commandment, may look like this...

Sabbath. Examination.  Have I ordered my life in such a way that I no longer have time to rest in God's love and grace?  Is my health declining because I am not resting?  Am I so busy that I can't  find time to honor God on the Sabbath?  Have I been "on the go" with my family and kids that I am no longer productive or finding joy in the everyday? Consider the free grace of Jesus - find joy and balance in my life. Consider the free grace of Jesus - commit to honor God on the Sabbath and find rest in him. I reflect upon the free grace as I think of how to reorder my life so that I preserve time for God. 

Examining love, a fruit of the spirit, may look like this...

Love. Examination.  Have I spoken or thought unkindly of anyone?  Am I justifying myself by caricaturing someone else in my mind?  Have I been impatient and irritable?  Have I been self-absorbed, indifferent, and inattentive to people?  Consider the free grace of Jesus - think of the sacrificial love of Christ for me. Consider the free grace of Jesus - think of his patience with me.  I reflect upon the free grace as I think of how to love as God first loved me.  

Would you like to give this type of spiritual examination a try during 2017?  Examining your life is essential to your growth.  But, be careful not to let the self-examination  pull you down into self-condemnation and despair. We all need God's love.  No one is perfect. His grace is enough.

God's Best to you in 2017