Tom’s father had been gone for a long time.  He wondered how his father was and what his father was thinking.

Every day when he collected his mail, there was another letter to him from his father.  And every day he tossed the letter unopened onto an ever-growing pile on his coffee table.

“I wonder if my father loves me?”  he said on the way to the mailbox.  “I wish he were here so I could get his advice.  I wonder how my father would feel about these choices I’m making,” he said as he laid the latest unopened letter from his father atop the stack on the coffee table.

“If only he would give me a sign.  If only I could look up in the sky to see clouds in the shape of ‘thumbs up.’  If he could only let me know somehow that I’m on the right path.”  And the pile of unopened letters continued to grow.

How often are we like Tom.  Wondering if God loves us, wishing he’d give us a sign, unsure of his will, when all the while God’s love letter to us – our Bible – lays unopened on the coffee table.

What a treasure God’s Word is.  It’s filled with hope-fueling promises and assurances of God’s love, especially demonstrated at the cross.  It’s a lamp to our feet, a thousand comforts, a shield and a sword, an unfailing spiritual GPS to guide us on the highway of righteousness.  And it contains hundreds of descriptions of our beautiful Savior.

We don’t need signs.  We need to open the mail.

photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

Other times God takes away our spiritual feelings so that we learn to rely on His word and His promises more than feelings. William Gurnall says:

God in wisdom conceals the comforts he intends to give you at the various stages of your life, so that he may encourage your heart to full dependence on His promises now. (Voices From the Past, pg. 43)

Where does God have you right now?

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (IS 55.10-11)

Last night I almost got hopelessly stuck when I tried to plow my van through a snow-filled alley behind my father’s house. For about 30 minutes I was mired in the snow, rocking the van back and forth, spinning my tires until they smoked, hacking and digging out around the tires, then repeating the whole process several times. Eventually I purchased some traction and slid/skidded the 30 yards to the end of the alley and onto a plowed street. Today those pesky meteorologists are predicting another major dump of snow and possibly the end of life as we know it.

I like snow between Thanksgiving and Christmas, then I’m ready for the robins to return. I don’t like cold, shoveling, salting, scraping my windshield or digging my van out of snow mountains. But you won’t hear me complain. I encourage myself with this thought: “I’ll be glad for this snow next August when it’s time for corn on the cob.”

I remember that snow accomplishes something. It waters the earth. It builds up the water table, which makes the ground “bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” And mouthwatering corn on the cob to me.

God compares his word to rain and snow. Just as he sends them to accomplish a purpose, so does he send his word. When the rain and snow first fall, nothing seems to happen. It’s later, when the crops sprout that we see the power of the rain and snow. Same with God’s word. Often when I read it, I don’t feel it’s power. It seems hard going and dry. But it works in my life – imperceptibly and powerfully.  It transforms me.

Read God’s word. Regularly. In faith. Water your soul and wait for the fruit.

photo by wmacphail

METHUEN, Mass. —  A Massachusetts woman who recently separated from her husband, had her hours at work cut, and moved into an apartment, says an image of Jesus Christ she sees on her iron has reassured her that “life is going to be good.”

Mary Jo Coady first noticed the image on Sunday when she walked into her daughter’s room.

The brownish residue on the bottom of the iron looks like the face of a man with long hair.

The 44-year-old Coady, who was raised Catholic, and her two college-age daughters agree that the image looks like Jesus and is proof that “he’s listening.”

Coady tells The Eagle-Tribune she hopes her story will inspire others during the holidays. She says she plans to keep the iron in a closet and buy a new one.*

………

When I first read this story,  I shook my head in disbelief.  To me the residue looked as much like the Sphinx or a poodle as it does a person.  To me, I thought, it would reassure me I needed to clean my iron.

But then the Lord convicted me of my condescending arrogance and lack of compassion for this poor woman.  Recently separated, work hours cut, having to move into an apartment, probably from her home, and desperate to be reassured that “life is going to be good.”  How sad, lonely and hopeless she must feel to be starting life over at 44 without a husband.

How heartbreaking that her religion seems to have failed to inform her that God speaks through his Word, and that she’d be so desperate she’d look to a smudge on an iron for hope.

How tragic that she doesn’t appear to know that the Bible is filled with promises from God – wonderful, bright promises that he’ll never to leave us nor forsake us, that he will never cease doing good to us, that he causes all things to work together for our good.

How pitiable that she doesn’t seem to know that though life isn’t always good, God is.

And how heart-rending that she believes some residue on the bottom of her iron would prove that “he’s listening,” that she wouldn’t know “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry,” and “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (PS 34.15, 17, 18).

How merciful God has been to reveal to me that the Bible is God’s very word, his love letter to me, by which I can fellowship with Christ.  How kind God has been to give me his “great and precious promises,” upon which to build my faith, and not “signs” on irons.  How merciful God’s been to assure me by his Word that he cares for me and will provide for me.

Let’s give thanks today for the gift of God’s Word, and pray for this woman and multitudes of others to come to a true knowledge of Jesus and a hope that is sure.

*Foxnews.com, AP

Maybe body surfing was not such a good idea.

Tropical storm Danny had just passed by and the waves were approximately the size of bulldozers.  But being the adventurer that I am, I found myself atop a boiling wave accelerating toward the beach.  Suddenly the wave flipped me over and did a Hulk Hogan atomic leg drop on me and slammed me on my back on the hard sand, giving me a fresh appreciation for the word “excruciating.”  That pretty much ended my ocean time for our vacation as I spent the last two days in a deck chair or creaking about in slow motion like a 102-year old.

After two weeks passed and not much improvement I scheduled an appointment with a chiropractor.  Wouldn’t you know it, the day of my appointment my back actually started to feel a little better.  So when I entered the office, I said to the secretary, “I’m feeling a little better — maybe I don’t really need to see the doctor.”

To which she replied, “Oh, we always need an adjustment.”

“Of course you would say that,” I teased her, “You’re the secretary. That’s what every good chiropractor’s secretary would say.”

But I stayed, and received my “adjustment.”  Boy did it hurt.  When I left the office I felt worse than when I came in, which the doctor told me would probably happen.  It would initially be painful, but eventually improve.

My wife Kristi asked how it went.

“The doc really put the hurt on me,” I said.  “But he says I’ll be much better in the long run.”

Next day it really did feel better.  A couple days later I returned, and once again the doc put the hurt on me and I hobbled out in more pain than when I came in, yet by evening was better than before my appointment.  Guess the secretary was right — we always need an adjustment.

This is true spiritually as well.  I’ve been a Christian for around 35 years, yet still need Scripture to correct my thinking and bring me back to the plumb line of God’s truth.  I need to regularly read God’s word, have friends to speak God’s word to me, and hear God’s word preached, which is why Paul encouraged Timothy:

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 TI 4.2).

Sometimes God’s word puts the hurt on me – it rebukes or reproves me.  Sometimes it exhorts or encourages me to get back in line with the Word.  Sometimes its teaching realigns what I’m believing.  But I’m always in need of adjustment.  Early the very morning of my first chiropractic appointment I met for accountability with my fellow pastors Joe, and Stephen my son, who gently adjusted me in some areas of unbelief I’d been drifting into.  But I’ve experienced increased faith and joy since then.

We always need an adjustment.  How about you?  How has God has adjusted you with his powerful word recently?

photo by vergenceranges

“I don’t know what God wants me to do with my life.”  “I’m not sure I’m in the center of God’s will.”  “What if I miss what God has for me?”

Christians often talk about God’s will like it’s the rare and elusive Blue-Tailed Eastern Moon Moth that might suddenly flit out of the forest the moment they set their nets down, and escape them forever.

We wish God would just speak audibly to us.  “Go to art school and become an Abstract Expressionist,” “Move to Mozambique,” or “Marry Lou Lou.”  We want signs in the sky or in the grease stain on the driveway.

But if we pray and trust him, God promises to guide us.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (PS 32.8).  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1.5).

Simple.  Ask and you’ll receive.

We make God’s will so complicated.  Like the young engaged man who asked me:

“What if I marry the wrong person?”

“Are you attracted to her?” I asked.

“Yeah!”

“Did you pray about the relationship?”

“For weeks.”

“Did you get counsel?”

“From my pastors, parents, and D.A. Carson.”

“Does she have godly character?”

“If she were any more godly she’d be raptured.”

“Then she’s the one for you.”

“But what if we get married and someone else comes along who’s more attractive?”

“It will probably happen.  But the one you marry is the one God has for you.”

God’s will isn’t a deep, dark mystery we have to solve.

He isn’t playing hide and seek or throwing out red herrings to throw us off the track.  “Aha!” we can almost hear him saying, “You thought I was calling you to be a nurse, but I really wanted you to teach music.  Now you’ve got to settle for plan B.”

Here’s how to know God’s will.   It’s sitting on your coffee table.  Or in your backpack.  It’s there in your Bible.

Sorry to be so unspectacular.  But knowing God’s will is just this simple:  Open Bible.  Read.  Do what it says.  In fact, at times the Bible comes right out and says, “This is God’s will.”  For example:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor (1 TH 4.3-4).

Here’s God’s will: grow in holiness and purity.  Don’t selfishly use others.  Increase in self-control.

But that sounds like effort.  Like raking leaves.  We’d rather pull God’s will from a fortune cookie than do the hard work of sanctification.  Here’s another verse:

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 TH 5.16-18).

Learn to pray and praise God in every situation and he’ll let you know if you should move to Mozambique.  Lay down your life for others and he’ll direct your career.  Take care of the depth of your character and Christ will take care of the breadth of your ministry.  Read your Bible, pray, devote yourself to a local church, serve, share the gospel any way you can.  Jesus won’t let you miss his will.

photo by Stuck in Customs

Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there (1 KI 19.1-3).

“The shock of Jezebel’s resistance after Mount Carmel has led Elijah to forget to think theologically, so he flees from Jezreel in the North to Beersheba in the far South of the promised land – as far from Jezebel as he can get.”  (ESV Study Bible comment on 1 KI 19.3)

It’s amazing how quickly we can flip flop in our Christian walk. God had just responded to Elijah’s faith by sending fire from heaven and consuming his sacrifice – a water-drenched bull – as well as everything beneath the bull – the stack of wood, the altar made of stones, the ground beneath the altar, and the trench filled with water around the altar. Poof. Gone. Big smoking hole in the ground. Baal and his 450 prophets humiliated. Major revival breaks out as the people all shout, “The Lord, he is God over and over.” Could God be any more real or powerful?

Yet when Elijah hears Jezebel’s threat, instead of trusting God, he takes off in terror. Where was Elijah’s all-powerful Lord now? Couldn’t this God whose fire consumed the sacrifice and the altar protect Elijah from a woman? Of course God could, but Elijah isn’t thinking theologically, but naturally. He looks at his circumstances and panics.

We must think theologically. We must think accurate, biblical, true thoughts about God and our lives. Our circumstances are a poor barometer of the truth as are our feelings. Thinking theologically means when Jezebel threatens my life, I say, “The God who heard my prayer to send fire yesterday will hear my prayer for protection today. The God who is sovereign over all other gods is surely sovereign over this woman. The God who was faithful in the past will certainly be faithful in the future. If I could trust him yesterday, I can trust him today.”

What are you believing about God in your circumstances? Do you believe he’s sovereign, loving and wise? Do you believe he’s working all things for your good? Do you believe he’ll be faithful tomorrow?

Think theologically.

photo by Kevin

With great excitement I began my lessons on a shiny new rented guitar.  The velvet lining inside the case smelled better than a new car. I was on my way to stardom.

But, surprise – learning guitar takes work!  Hours  practicing hand-contorting finger positions, learning scales and rhythms.  And the “F” chord – even when my spasmodic fingers reluctantly agreed to go where I wanted, I could only produce from the strings a dull plunk.

But slowly, tediously, discipline became delight. I eventually learned to play, formed a band, made lots of music in high school and college and to this day still enjoy playing. Never did run through the streets of Liverpool…

The principle applies to the Bible as well as guitar.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart… JE 15.16

First, discipline: We must “eat” God’s word – take it in, chew on it, seek to apply it to our lives.  Delight will eventually follow as we know God and experiencing his blessing.

“I believe that the one chief reason that I have been kept in happy useful service is that I have been a lover of Holy Scripture.  It has been my habit to read the Bible through four times a year; in a prayerful spirit, to apply it to my heart, and practice what I find there.  I have been for sixty-nine years a happy man; happy, happy, happy.” – George Mueller

We must seek God’s grace for discipline.  Delight will surely come.

photo by nemusns

This year let’s celebrate July 4 as DEPENDENCE DAY.

Before we fire up the grill and fire off the bottle rockets, let’s pause and remember our dependence on Christ for life, breath and everything else.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).

We can do NOTHING apart from abiding in, continuing in, and fellowshipping with Christ. “Apart from me you can do NOTHING.” Not some things – nothing. Literally.

Apart from Christ we can’t overcome sin, or become more like him. We can’t love God, make it through trials, or live the Christian life.

How do we abide in Christ? There’s a distinct link between abiding in Christ and abiding in his Word:

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7).

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love (John 15:10).

Abiding in Christ’s word is a major component of abiding in Christ. We abide in Christ’s word when we take it in, meditate on it, apply it to our lives, and obey it.

Therefore, apart from continuing in Christ’s word, we won’t bear the Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, and peace. We’ll lack patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

When people come to me for counseling, often one of my first questions is: Are you regularly spending time in the Word of God? Because if they fail to do this, though I’m happy to counsel them, in the long run my counsel will be of little benefit because they’re not abiding in Christ.

I’m convinced that a large amount of counseling would be unnecessary if believers sought to faithfully read, meditate on, and obey the Bible.

When life puts the squeeze on me, I’m tempted to neglect the Word. I think things like: I don’t have time to read the Bible, I need to get working on this problem. Or, I can’t afford to read the Bible today, I have so much to do at work.

The truth is, we can’t afford NOT to read the Bible. Because if we neglect his word, we neglect Christ, and apart from him we can do NOTHING. But if we abide in him, we’ll bear much fruit. If we seek first his kingdom, and not our own pursuits, God will add all things to us.

So let’s resolve this Dependence Day to be more dependent on Christ and to seek to abide more consistently in his Word.

photo by Sue

• Write as you read. Writing out my thoughts as I read my Bible has probably been the best thing I’ve ever done when it comes to meditating on the word of God. It forces me to carefully think through each verse, keeps me from being distracted as I read, and helps me clearly articulate my thoughts. When I get distracted, I can simply look at the last thing I wrote and pick up my train of thought where I left off. Here’s some practical advice: get a journal and pen that makes it fun to write. Don’t use a twenty cent Bic pen and sheet of construction paper. Go get yourself a Moleskine journal and a nice pen, it’ll be worth it.

• Pray as you read. Praying through God’s word has also been extremely helpful for me. The Holy Spirit speaks to me as I’m reading scripture, and prayer is the only fitting response. For example, recently I read Colossians 1:13-14, which says, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” As I read these verses, my heart was filled with gratefulness to God for delivering me from darkness, leading me to pray prayers of grateful adoration. I didn’t wait until after I was done reading to lift my voice in gratitude. I prayed as soon as I became aware of God speaking to me.

• Memorize scripture. This is the area I’ve struggled the most in recent years. It feels really difficult, and even boring at times to memorize scripture. But in His kindness, God has recently shown me the need to memorize scripture, to store it away in my heart. So for the past month or so, I’ve started every devotional time by taking a few minutes to memorize a scripture, with the goal of memorizing one verse a week. What’s been the effect of this? I now have the sweet truth of God stored away in my heart, ready for quick access in my time of need. When I’m weary, I remember that I can do all things through Christ. When I’m tempted to be proud, I remember that God is drawn to the humble. The Holy Spirit uses these verses to speak to me and convict me. Now I’m seeking to take these verses that I’ve memorized and meditate on them at the mundane points of the day, like when I’m falling asleep, or in the shower, or driving to work. I want to store God’s word in my heart.

What about you? What are some practical things that have helped you to grow in meditating on God’s word?