“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

I don’t know if I’ve seen any particular scripture reference used more poorly than the one above. In my own life, and in the lives of many others, people used this verse to suggest that God allowed, even caused, bad things to happen in order to accomplish something good.

When my father suddenly abandoned our family when I was 14, numerous people quoted this verse in a strange attempt to comfort me. They kept implying that, if I waited, I would see that God caused this situation so that something better would happen. I can assure you this created anything but comfort. All I could think as I pondered these comments was, “Really, the all-powerful God of the universe could only accomplish a good thing in my life by putting my family through pain?” It didn’t inspire much faith.

As a pastor, I’ve listened as people quoted this verse to others in the midst of grief and tragedy. I am sure it is meant well, but it hardly represents the compassionate God who stands with us in our pain, who is broken-hearted by our suffering, and who grieves the pain of sin and brokenness in the world. It is a cold word that comes all to easily from a “everything happens for a reason” theology. The truth is, sometimes the reason is that there is evil in the world.

At the same time, we cannot simply negate this verse. While we were never meant to use it to dismiss someone’s pain, there is a promise of hope that lies within these words. God does not need bad things to produce good. God is the source of all goodness. However, it is God’s power and goodness that works in the midst of evil, suffering, and pain to redeem every situation. In our times of struggle, God is with us, comforting us, and speaking life over us, even in the face of death.

I see this loving power of God in situations small and large. Sunday, I caught the flu, which is also why I missed Tuesday’s post. I hated being sick, and I was disappointed in the way it disrupted my plans. I missed out on things I truly value. At the same time, left with little I could do, I found time for some much needed rest, time to pray, listen to God, and saturate myself with Scripture. I did not need to be sick to accomplish these things, but the days of sickness were not lost or wasted because the presence of God redeemed them.

I’ve seen God do even bigger things, in more extreme circumstances. I’ve watched cancer survivors become support for others facing the disease. I’ve seen people who walked through the darkness of great grief become light to others traveling a similar path. I’ve watched those who go without provide care for those with less. The list of such occurrences is long, but in each case I know I am watching God work for good in every situation, as people comfort others with the same comfort they received from God. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Not every circumstance is good, but God works for good in every situation, and it is for our good. This is why we can rejoice always, because God is always near and at work. We may not choose our circumstances, but we can choose faith, hope, and joy in the midst of them, because God is at work and that is always good.

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As laughable as it was, it is also quite the reality for just about everyone I know. It seems many people around us are convinced that they know what we should do, how we should feel, and what our priorities should be. Unfortunately, these people rarely agree, making their combined list of expectations even greater. They also rarely spend time listening to our situation and our heart, choosing instead to impose their own thoughts and feelings on us.

What is most unfortunate is that their comments are not rooted in revelation from God. Instead of prayerfully considering what God might be asking of us, they bypass that reflective process to speak out of their own agendas and desires, certain that they know what is best for us. The question for us is, “how are we going to respond?”

In our modern day of politically correct, sensitive responses, many of us feel the need to fit in to the expectations of those around us. We don’t want to respond to these inappropriate intrusions in a way that seems mean, so we often allow guilt to pile up as we add more things to our “To do” list. As kind and loving as that response may seem, it is actually a form of codependency that encourages unhealthy behavior. It may be that our best response is a different response.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now does that sound as if I were trying to win human approval? No! I want God’s approval! Or that I’m trying to cater to people? If I were still doing that, I would not be a servant of the Messiah.” (Galatians 1:10) He could not be clearer. His goal is not human approval, but God’s approval. He addresses those who would seek to direct his life without prayerful reflection and guidance by saying, “So what? Think what you like. Say what you like. I am seeking God’s approval.”

You and I must seek God with the questions, “Did I do what you wanted? Am I doing the right thing? Are you pleased with me and my direction?” We can allow the comments of others to lead us to seek God’s opinion, and we can maintain a teachable spirit, but our goal is not to please people, but God.

This is significant as we embrace God’s vision for our life. God may ask things of us that are not what others want us to do, and we will undoubtedly need to say, “No,” to many things people ask of us. This is not because we are mean, but because we are wise. What value is there is trying to live up to the expectations of people who will never be satisfied, especially when that means we might neglect the greater things God is asking us to do. Certainly, chasing down what it takes to please the people around us will drain our energy for the things we should be doing, and may cause us to lose focus on our calling.

Saturday night, as I watched my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers lose a playoff game to our rivals, I had a lot so say as an armchair quarterback and coach. Comfortably sitting on my sofa, I was certain I knew what needed to be done to win the game. The truth is, I was not there. I did not have all the information the coaches had. I am not trained to coach a professional sports team, and it is not my job. All of this is exactly why there is not a single player on the team that is remotely concerned about my assessment of their game plan or performance. I can have an opinion, but the reality is, my opinion does not matter.

The greatest goal of our lives is not the approval of others, it is the approval of God. When our lives on earth are complete and we stand before our God, whose eyes blaze like fire, we want to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This will be the affirmation from the One who truly matters, not from the onlookers who had opinions.

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Sometimes, the greatest gifts come in the smallest packages. They often seem common, and their value may only be captured by those who truly realize what they have. I feel this way about this passage in John. A common Christmas Scripture, its depth and significance could easily be missed.

I recently received presents from my children. They included homemade coasters and a homemade coffee mug sweater, a homemade piece of art with one of my favorite sayings, and a bottle of ink. To me these are treasures, though others might not give them a second glance. What makes them important is the thought that went into them: appreciation for my love of coffee, a quote that warms my heart, and a a fountain pen ink that I thought I would not find. These gifts are not big or fancy, but they mean so much to me because they represent the thought and the love of the givers. John’s words represent the thought and the love of God.

In one simple verse, one sentence, he depth of he Christmas story is revealed. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to take on our humanness so that he could dwell with us and reveal the glory of God to us. There is much more to the life and ministry of Jesus, but the core of the Christmas message is found in this one statement: Jesus became like us to show us the glory of God.

Consider the amazing significance of that truth. Jesus, the Living Word of God, the One through whom, by whom, and for whom all of creation was made, chose to take on the limited form of humanity to reveal the glory of God and share life with us. This is the Son of Almighty God who we are talking about. Sometimes we use words like “God,” ”Jesus,” “Son,” so much that we lose sight of their real meaning. Jesus, Son of God, chose to dwell with us.

Consider the limitations of taking on human flesh. Imagine the constraints God would experience in becoming human. I look at all the ways my human flesh fails me and hold me back, and I have lived with it my whole life. What an amazing sacrifice Jesus made to be found in human form and to live as one of us.

All of this was to reveal God, and the heart of God to us. Jesus shows us who God is is, what the glory of Hod looks like radiating through human flesh, and what we can be if we allow his Spirit to fully live in us. What an amazing gift, and what a wonderful opportunity to see the face of God in Jesus and be forever changed.

Here, on the fifth day of Christmas, we celebrate the amazing love that sacrificed so much to deepen and define our relationship with God. This is more than enough reason to rejoice. And to share the great love of God with those around us today!

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I try embrace the guidance of the well-known axiom, “if you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” It is typically a good standard to live by if you want to live peaceably with others, and make a positive impact on the world. It was in this truth that I wrestled while you waited for another update from me. How could I post something positive and constructive when most of what I wrote was quite the opposite?

For several months, I’ve been bombarded with ideas and comments that caused my philosophical and theological skin to crawl. Much like the distracting discomfort felt after someone mentions lice, or following a surprise encounter with a giant spider, I found myself distracted, unnerved, and, I must confess, angry at the level of the emotional terrorism, deception, and shoddy reasoning I continued to encounter. I was slightly fixated, and very frustrated.

I produced very little writing that was fit to share, though I am sure my efforts were personally cathartic. By God’s grace, I was able to preach and teach without the same concerns, but my creative writing suffered greatly. I know many people say you should blog about what makes you passionate, but there are some passions that are best to keep between yourself and God.

Throughout this season, I continued to reflect on King David’s heart, as he navigated his way through difficult seasons by opening his heart to God, and expressing himself openly in that relationship. I was especially drawn to the words of Psalm 63, “When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches. Because you have been my help, therefore in the shadow of your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind you, your right hand upholds me.” (Ps. 63:6-8).

It is all too easy to throw our anger and frustration out in the world. We may even feel quite justified in our actions, but such actions can often become accelerent on an already raging fire, wounding others in the process. Often, the best place to pour out those deep emotions is to the One who knows and understands them even before we speak, and who is able to heal us as he leads us to share such healing with others.

I still get frustrated, even a little angry. Some of the issues will be there for a while, but I am surrendering those struggles into the hands of the God who orders my steps, declares the end from the beginning, and calls me friend. The invitation to take this step greets me every day, every moment, and it is there for you as well. Together, as we place our focus on Christ, chaos will lose its grip, and we will experience more of the abundant life Jesus gives.

What can you surrender today, that will make room for more of God’s peace in your life?

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The Apostle Paul warned Timothy, the young pastor he was mentoring, that a time was coming when people who claimed to be following Jesus would have, “a form of godliness, while denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5). He knew, even at the early stages of Christianity, that there would be great temptation to leave behind the truth and the power of God, for something that seemed safer and easier. In our day, many hold to forms of faith, practicing rituals and attending services, but one has to wonder, “Where is the power?”

Is it possible, that we have lost faith in the story, or its Author? Do our frustrations and fears hold us back from believing in big things? Have we begun to view life through our own limitations, instead of the limitless possibilities of God?

I confess that, at times, this has been very true for me. I can easily lose sight of the promise from Philippians, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:13) In its place, I begin to look at my own strength and abilities, and quickly discover that I come up short. Trapped in the walls of my own ability, I begin to accept my circumstances, and try to do my best to make things a little better.

This, however, is not the life of faith, it is the life of belief, and that is not my (or your) calling! God’s invitation is to a life filled with faith in what God can, and will do. It is so much more than simply believing God exists. It is the opportunity to experience the awesome, life-transforming, circumstance-changing power of God!

A number of years ago, when I was taking martial arts lessons, my instructor had a sign he loved. It was the word “Can’t” written in bold letters, crossed out by a large red line. At the bottom, the sign read, “Can’t is a Four-Letter Word.” This was good motivation, but with God, it is the truth. There is nothing God call us to do, that we cannot accomplish in his strength.

How will people know that the story is true? It will happen as we demonstrate our trust in its authenticity, and as God begins to move in response to our faith.

One of my favorite promises comes from the blessing found at the end of Ephesians Chapter Three, “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine…” (3:20) Think about it – abundantly far more that we can ask, or imagine, and God does it through his power at work in us.

Our God is greater than we imagine, and we are stronger in him than we believe.

How do you strengthen yourself in God?

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The past two months were full of surprises and ministry needs that left little time for me to write something meaningful. I experienced enough to provide material for many days of writing ahead but, unfortunately, the free time I carved out of my schedule, usually came while experiencing the impact of sheer exhaustion. Frequently, I thought about how much I missed blogging, but the effort to create a good post seemed like too much to give.

I would love to say that things slowed down, but my schedule is every bit as busy as it was, with a few new things added in. I simple came to a point when I realized that I needed to take action to pursue something I love. It was not going to happen on its own, and waiting for a time that worked was a losing proposition.

In Revelation 2:4, Jesus is speaking to the Ephesian church and he says to them, “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” This sounds a little harsh at first, but when we realize it was said as a healthy challenge, in the midst of other affirmation, it becomes clear that Jesus is calling them back to something important they left behind. Some people believe that Jesus was talking about their love for him, but it is more likely that he was addressing the heart of love they had for God, each other, and the world. Their love was growing cold.

It is not always easy to love. When we are tired and drained, the energy to look outward can be hard to summon. When time is short, compassion can be as well. When we are hurt, wounded, or offended, love can be a very elusive thing. The power to let our love grow cold is ours to wield, but so is the power to fan it into flame. It may not be easy to love, but we can choose to do it anyway.

I realize that making time to write a blog post is quite different that stirring up love for others when the weight is heavy on our heart, but the answer is often very much the same. We simply must choose to do it. We must acknowledge our feelings, and all that stands in our way, and choose to love anyway. It may not be an easy choice, but decisions of value rarely are.

So, as I take time to welcome myself back to writing, I am challenged to welcome back the more important love I had at first. Maybe, you need to welcome back your love as well. Could it be that God is calling all of us to remember our first love, and kindle its fire till it blazes once again? Could it be that the first step is saying, “Yes?”

May the love of God rise within you that you may be God’s love to the world.

The post Welcome Back appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

As I mentioned in my previous post, my schedule has seen a lot of transition recently, that led to more early morning time for devotion and prayer. In the brief time since these changes occurred, many positive results are showing up in my life. The list that follows is not comprehensive, but may give you inspiration to look for similar results in your devotional life.

Natural Blessings
Thankfully, the weather cooperated the past few weeks allowing me to enjoy my devotions and coffee on the deck. My meditation was accompanied by a chorus of birds and frequent visits by rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. I now have a chipmunk and a catbird that like to sit in the deck and watch me read and pray.

Not only do these visitors amuse me, but, along with the rest of the natural beauty that surrounds me, they point to the awesome creativity of God. The power of spending time in contemplation while observing the diverse beauty of the natural world extends far beyond the ability of words to express. Such reflection forms an unspoken dialogue with God and with the world around me.

A Heavenly Perspective
Allowing time for conversation with God as the day begins helps to capture God’s perspective on the day ahead. As I open myself to more of God in my life, I increase my ability to see my life, and the context in which I live, from heaven’s viewpoint. This shapes my prayer and reflection, and then influences my actions as I move throughout the day.

Finding what I are looking for
Beginning early affords the opportunity to declare good things over the day ahead. The power of positive confession cannot be overstated. When I speak good things over my life, my circumstances, and my community, I join God in the creative power of blessing, I train myself to be a person of blessing, and I direct my mind and spirit to be looking for blessings around me. Like the ability to suddenly see the vehicle I purchased all around me, when I start my day focused on blessings, I will find what I am looking for throughout the day.

Listening Before the Noise Comes On
One of the things I appreciate the most is the ability to listen to God and to my heart before the chaos of the day creeps in. Once I’ve checked my email and social networks, the noise of the world makes it mor challenging to hear the still, small voice of God. It also makes it harder to be honest about my own thoughts and feelings. The stillness of the morning heightens my spiritual awareness throughout the day.

I hope these early reflections on the benefits of making time for holy meditation at the beginning of the day will inspire you to consider trying it for a season in your own life. I would love to hear your experiences and results.

The post Early Impact appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

What if there really is a hidden spiritual value in quiet, early mornings? I’ve been asking myself this question recently, and I am afraid that the answer might be, “Yes.”

After some recent dental surgery, my schedule turned upside down. Sleeping on the sofa and wrestling with a little pain and discomfort made it very difficult to keep my normal routine. I found I needed sleep in the middle of my day and, unfortunately, I was awake early in the morning. Rising before dawn with little to do and nothing worth watching on television, I began to give some more concentrated time to reading my Bible and to prayer. This led to more reflection, journaling and, ultimately, to some significant spiritual growth.

All of this was a huge departure from my typical preference and action. I once saw a piece of artwork that captured my life motto when it came to early mornings. Across the background of a beautiful sun-filled landscape were the words, “If God wanted us to see the sunrise, he would have scheduled it later in the day.” All I can say is, “Amen!” Yet, I cannot miss the impact these recent early mornings made on my spiritual life.

As I read the Gospels, it seems Jesus frequently arose early and went off to pray. While I always recognized this highlighted the significance of prayer, I attributed the early mornings to Jesus being a “morning person.” Since God did not make me that way, I adapted my prayer life to fit the schedule of my personality. I am beginning to believe, there was more to Jesus’ timing than I first understood.

Time with God at the start of the day, engages our spirit before the rest of life and the world have an opportunity to intrude on our thoughts. Here, before the needs of family, work, and a myriad of distractions beg for our attention, we can engage God with an undivided focus. In those early moments, there is nothing we must do, leaving a block of uninterrupted time to savor the presence of God.

These early moments also shape our thoughts and our day. Instead of diving into the chaos of the news or being sucked into the business of the our schedule, we can wait upon God to give us heaven’s perspective on our life and our plans. If we pause long enough, the heartbeat of our lives will begin to embrace the rhythm of the heart of God.

When Jesus went out on those early mornings, he went in the dark to a deserted place, and there he prayed. Free from all distractions, he gave God his full, undivided attention. Here, his life and ministry reclaimed the imprint of the Almighty, and set the agenda for what really mattered. Imagine the impact these times had on Jesus’ ministry. Imagine the impact they could have on ours.

In my next post, I will share the impact I am beginning to see as a result of these early times of meditation. For now, I pray you will consider what God might do in, and through you, if your day began soaking in undistracted attention to God’s divine presence. If this is already a part of your spiritual practice, I would love to hear your experiences in the comments.

Be blessed as you seek to experience and share the loving heart of God!

The post Blessed at the Beginning appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

I have a list of experiences I regret. Actions and choices that seemed to fulfill at the time led to personal pain, and often had a significant negative impact on the people around me. There are words that were better unspoken, choices that were tremendously unhealthy, and actions that were based in great selfishness.

Like many others I know, I frequently commented on how I wish I made better decisions, often pondering the, “If I had it to do over again…” thoughts. Certainly, I can see many ways I could have made better choices, but I see those options because of what I learned by making the wrong choice. In fact, it is these very painful experienced that shaped me into the person I am and demonstrated the immense, transforming love of God.

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesian Christians, said he prayed that they would, “know the love of Christ that surpassed knowledge.” (Eph. 3:19) What a powerful and important prayer that was, for it is one thing to know about the love of God, but is something quite different to experience the greatness of that love. Far beyond knowledge is the awesome gift of God’s gracious, forgiving, and transforming love!

Too often, I try to fix the broken places in my life which leads to even greater feelings of frustration and regret. Maybe you can relate to those feelings. What I really need is not another round of trying to work harder. I need to experience God’s healing grace that renews the wounded, broken places of my life and frees me for the new life that lies ahead. Instead of lamenting my past failures, I can allow God to help me leverage them to shape my future.

All of the guilt, regret and sorrow we can muster will never change the past and will only hold us captive where are. The touch of the gracious love of God will free us from the bonds of our history and the present and prepare us for a future of destiny. God does not want to hold us captive to the sin and mistakes of our past. Instead, we were meant to see the door that is now opened to a redeemed and renewed life in Christ.

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Personally, our family, like so many others, is making its own preparations for the celebration. Food and presents are being purchased, plans to be with family are being made, and some decorating has begun. There always seem to be more details than time, but even that craziness is part of the preparation.

Things and events that really matter require preparation. A great holiday with family rarely springs forth from planning the day before. In fact, when we neglect or procrastinate our preparations, we are usually forced to make other, less desired arrangements. Yet, with adequate planning and action, we can find all that we need and maybe even a little more. Then, when the celebration arrives, we are able to enjoy it to the fullest.

This is the reason for Advent. Despite the carols being played in grocery and department stores, the Santas we see everywhere, and even the numerous manger scenes with the baby Jesus already present, we are not celebrating Christmas yet. We are preparing for that celebration, and it involves much more than scheduling and decorations. The season of Advent is a preparation of the heart and spirit; a getting ready for what God is about to do in our lives and the world. Yes, we know that the birth of Jesus already took place historically, but in preparation for celebrating that event, we make ourselves ready for his continued arrival in our world and look toward the day when he returns in final victory.

It is tempting to leap ahead and miss all of the waiting, but part of the blessing is found there. Like the blessing of delayed gratification in so many other parts of our lives, waiting for the full celebration of Christmas makes its celebration all the more special. It also gives us time to reflect, to contemplate, and to make ready the mangers of our hearts for a fresh experience of the Incarnate God in our lives.

I know it is tempting, but can we be patient and wait? Can we avoid scouring our spiritual homes to find our presents early and not peek at those wrapped gifts awaiting Christmas Day? It may be hard, but it will be worth it when, like children rushing down the stairs to see the magical display, we embrace the revelation of God with wide-eyed wonder. May we be blessed in our giving and receiving, but also in our waiting.

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