What Is Your Greatest Moment?

Can you imagine if we could somehow fast forward to the end of life, and look back? As you review life, what would be the single greatest moment? Before you read further, ponder this for a moment or two.

The great moments of life may not have much to do with accomplishments, promotions, and goals met. But it may have more to do with relationships, kind words, generous actions, and acts of grace.

I doubt the single greatest moment of life would be lived in the 'comfort zone'. Very possibly it could be at the point of greatest trial, when you feel weak and vulnerable. And at that moment you reach deep inside to find a strength previously unknown. I believe this is what is referred to as a walk of faith.

Now rewind to the present; with that view of destiny in mind, how different would the decisions of today be? Walking with a sense of destiny may cause us to rise and make the most of every circumstance and relationship.

Truth At Work

I have recently picked up a copy of Conversation, which is 'The Message' translation of the Bile with Eugene Peterson's comments and notes. Great stuff!
In John 8, Jesus said that 'you will experience for yourself the truth, and the truth will set you free'. Powerful words to be sure. Its not just knowing the truth, it is experiencing truth that makes the difference. And once truth begins to work within us, it creates an appetite for more truth. It becomes freeing in our lives to let truth invade into more and more of our lives. We truly become free people.
When I let the insanity of the world, get exposed to truth, and then apply it, I face the challenge to let truth work in me, or to continue to live under false assumptions. My choice; but as I choose truth, I find I become free!
Just prior to these awesome words of Jesus, he opens a window into his humanity. Verse 18, speaks of Jesus judgement or decision process on a matter 'I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience, but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father.' We let so many of our decisions, opinions and values be shaped by our experience. That becomes our framework of truth. But is it really true? We think our opinions are true, otherwise we would not hold on to them. Is everything we believe true? If not, then what part is true? We think our relationships are based on truth, but many times we painfully discover hidden agendas, and false expectations.
These are hard questions and issues, and tells us that we really must let God's Word become active within us, and become our experience. When truth is at work within us, it causes us to become free people.

A New Challenge

Its been awhile since there have been any new entries; a new ministry assignment has dominated my attention in the past few months, and just now finding level ground again.

Here is a great challenge from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

What would your world be like if you practiced this for one week; always joyful ; prayed continually; and gave thanks in all circumstances?

Before you dismiss this entirely, perhaps it would be helpful to be reminded, that each of these practices are a choice we make. And each of these are commands from the Scripture, not recommendations. God never commands behaviour we cannot do, so this is within the reach of all of us.

So try this for a week; seven days, and see the if practice of these verses create a changed environment for you.

When Experience Goes Beyond Theology

Churches tell us to stand firm on our theology when life’s experiences are contrary. I want to go on record to say I believe the worth of our faith is proved true in the crucible of testing. After all, it really is not faith when all is figured out and settled.

Recently I was asked what the difference was between trust and faith. Faith is acting on what
we trust. I may have trust without faith, but I could not exercise faith without trust.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence; it is obeying in spite of consequences.” So without doubt, we must stand firm in what we believe, and when adversity tries us, grab onto the anchor of faith.

But I have been challenged a great deal lately from the Gospel of Mark. In fact a sermon series is brewing called the ‘Power Series’. On two occasions Jesus disciples were in a boat during a storm. From my limited sailing experiences, I can appreciate the anxiety of the disciples in such moments.

In both instances, Jesus calmed the storm by His spoken word. Amazing! So amazing in fact, the disciples became fearful, not of the storm, but of this One so powerful that he could control violent storms by a spoken word.

They were introduced to another dimension of Jesus. And here is my point. The disciples were serious, and seasoned followers of Jesus. Yet they did not fully understand this God they followed. Neither do we. Perhaps the reason we do not fully comprehend what God is doing, is
that we do not fully understand Him. He is bigger than our best attempts at theology.

Life is all about growing, learning, adjusting and refocusing. So while we do not discount our belief in God for understanding of the moment, we do add depth of understanding of God because of the life’s experiences. My finite mind does not comprehend an infinite God. But I follow beyond understanding. Faith then becomes real, and leads me to learn something more about Jesus than previously known.

The theology of many Christians is flawed not because it’s not true, but because it does not address issues of real life. We are content to know a God we understand; how about a God who is bigger than our understanding. I am not content or challenged by a theology I fully comprehend. I am however powerfully challenged by a theology of a God whom I am becoming acquainted with and who stretches me to new levels of understanding.

Storing Treasure

Over the past few days, I have been contemplating losses we experience in life. A close friend contacted me with the sad news of the death of a family member. Just a few days prior to my friend’s loss, we had an uncle pass away.
Loss is a part of life. I began to consider Jesus’ words “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-20
We can view the losses of life as only that. Or we can see opportunities to store treasure in heaven. Lost relationships, opportunities, possessions, all can become treasures we store in heaven, if we commit them to the Lord. Proverbs tells us ‘Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.’ 34:4-6
The Apostle Paul cited the example of the ‘grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.’ It appears to me they had grace to turn extreme hardships around, and rather than seeing things as a loss, they stored up treasure in heaven. Instead of seeing what has been taken from us, lets become more invested in heaven. Lord, help us to day to filter the events and circumstances of life, and rather than keep record of the losses, commit them as investments in heaven.

The Appointed Time

Throughout scripture this phrase is repeated. It speaks of a season more than an event. But it has impact upon events. It is an appointed date on a calendar, but it only happens at the fulfillment of an appropriate season.

Genesis 1:2 talks about the Spirit of God hovering, or brooding over the waters. The image is that of a mother bird nesting and incubating eggs. When the time of development has been completed, the young bird breaks through the shell. James 1:3-4 says ‘because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Here is the process of development, and when completed, at the appointed time, ‘break-out’ occurs.

Premature birth creates complications. Aborted vision is tragic. Paul tells Timothy (and us) that Hymenaeus and Alexander made shipwreck of their faith because they rejected the working of God (1Tim1:18-20). It appears they broke ranks with what God was incubating in their lives. It does not indicate they were never disciples, but rather they were disciples who lost their faith. Disappointments with the outcome of circumstances can cause any of us to question why God allows such things. It can even cause us to question God himself. Jesus said in Matt 11:6, ‘Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.” If any had reason to question God’s calling, and the implication of the outcome, it was John. God’s purposes for John were not anticipated. Disappointment and shattered expectations were real emotions for John as he sat in the prison. He could have aborted the vision, got swallowed up in disillusionment, and lost faith in God’s plan. Although the outcome did not change and he was still executed. He was however, not just another victim of a corrupt system. He realized he was an intricate and critical part of God’s overall design. The bigger picture was hatching. At the appointed time Jesus steps into His appointed place.
Make no mistake, extreme leadership is incubated and hatched in extreme conditions. The challenge? Don’t loose sight of the bigger picture. Don’t abort the vision prematurely. At the appointed time, when development is completed, breakout from the surrounding shell happens. All around us, our world is desperate for leaders who have been fully incubated and matured. Allow me to speak a word of encouragement to leaders in the incubator. All of us will appreciate the leader who has the endurance to outlast circumstances. Breakout happens at the appointed time!

Reading The Map

A Scripture that has been rattling around in my brain lately is found in Exodus 33:13 '...show me your ways, so that I might know you...' We gain greater understandings of God as we understand His ways. Then in Hebrews 12 from the Message "... God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training...". So life is all about being trained to read the map, so to speak, so we can know the ways of God, which leads to knowing Him. And that is the destination: to know Him!