Imagine this scenario. You arrive at the doctor’s office after taking a fall, with sharp pain in your arm. The doctor examines you, runs a few tests, and takes X-rays of your arm. After looking at the results, she informs you that your arm is broken and that is the cause of your pain. You wait but nothing happens. You ask about your broken arm, and the doctor confirms that it is broken. You are waiting to hear about the treatment, but there is only the diagnosis. Every time you ask, you are simply told that you have a broken arm, and you end up leaving the office aware of your problem, but with no solution.

Of course, this is not what actually happens. If it did, the situation would be intolerable. In a situation like this, we want the diagnosis, but we also want a treatment plan. Understanding the problem, even how it was created is important, but fixing the problem is our greatest need. Information is not enough. We need action. This is true in every aspect of our lives. Evaluation, diagnosis, and understanding are all valuable, and necessary, components of healthy change, but we need implementation to see any actual change.

It strikes me that all of this points to an important struggle in our current situation. Everyone wants to point out the problem, even share all of their opinions regarding it, but few choose to become part of the solution. Telling people that the world is broken is hardly news anymore, yet that is what saturates our lives. The media informs us of the issues, but leaves us waiting for answers to the real problem. Social media is full of opinions about the state of the world, but 140 characters and memes rarely provide the space for substantive solutions. It is no wonder that so many people are stressed, confused, and angry.

The church is not immune to this struggle. Christians also seem to have a penchant for decrying the evils of the world, pointing out broken lives and systems, yet failing to offer tangible solutions that lead to healing transformation. It is easy to point out sin, at least in others, but far more challenging to come alongside people and lead them to the wholeness God desires for them. If all we have to offer is commentary on the world’s problems, it is not surprising that the world finds us irrelevant.

Thankfully, the Gospel message does not stop at identifying brokenness. We have so much more to offer. The Gospel is “good news!” It is true that people may need to hear the hard truth, the “bad news,” in order to recognize the problem, but the message does not stop there. In the face of brokenness, God’s truth is there is a way to restoration and wholeness. People were drawn to Jesus, not because he told them what was wrong, but because he healed them. As followers of Christ, imagine what would happen if we did the same.

The truth is, people already know things are broken. They are not looking for information, rather, they are seeking transformation. As a United Methodist, I cannot help but comment on our denominational mission, “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. It is that last phrase that makes the difference, and even if you are not United Methodist, the goal is just the same. Followers of Christ embody the Gospel so that the world can be changed by the power of God’s love.

So, what do we do? What is our prescription? First, we must let God heal our brokenness. We cannot help the world be whole if we are not on the journey to wholeness ourselves. Letting God transform us may be one of the greatest gifts we can offer a hurting world. When we begin to be conformed the image of Christ, we will also begin to act like him. Our heart will begin to reflect God’s heart, and people we see in us the answer they seek.

Second, we can lose the hearts of judgement and replace them with hearts of compassion. The stories of Jesus tell us frequently that he had compassion and healed. Imagine what would happen if we began to have God’s compassion for everyone, not just those we like and agree with. If we begin to pray for God’s heart toward others, we would begin to see people with an immeasurable love, and sharing that love would go a long way toward healing hurting people.

Third, we can set aside our agendas for God’s purposes. It is easy to make God a supporter of our beliefs and desires, but the real call is to make our beliefs and desires what God supports.

Fourth, we can stop yelling and start listening. Instead of trying to force others into our vision, we can help lead others into God’s destiny. People don’t need our opinions, they need truth, grace, compassion, and hope.

In spite of its frequent use, there is great revelation in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son. That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God has such love for the world that God is willing to give everything to give it life. That kind of sacrificial love is exactly we are called to reflect and live out. It is easy to judge the world, to point out all the brokenness, but the real call of our faith is to love people as God loves them, to walk with them in the way that leads to the wholeness of eternal life. It is a daunting task, but a rewarding one, and thankfully, we can do it through the grace and power of Christ in us.

The post More Than a Diagnosis appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Yesterday was challenging. Mid-afternoon, we received a call from my wife’s new doctor informing us that that her recent tests showed that she was in serious condition and that we needed to go to the emergency room right away. It was a life-threatening situation. You can imagine the fear, and a host of other emotions, that flooded us in that moment. Things can turn upside-down in a moment.

Things can also turn in good ways just as fast. After some time at the hospital, and consultation with a previous physician, we discovered that there was a misunderstanding in the interpretation of the data. My wife was completely fine, and she was able to return home with me a few minutes later. It was a wild ride and, while we may not be happy about the process, we are elated at the end result.

As I processed my emotions last night, I took some time before we went to sleep to read some Scripture and to pray. I typically work my way through the Psalms before bed. I opened to where I left off, and began reading right at Psalm 91.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

It is funny how God provides just what we need to hear when we are attentive. As I read through the remainder of the Psalm, I found my peace increase, and I gave thanks for God’s presence in every circumstance.

As I approached the end of the chapter, I found the closing words especially helpful. I know these words were probably written for the king of Israel when they were composed, and I strongly advocate reading the Scripture in context. Still, last night, I felt these same words applied to our situation and so I claimed them for our lives as well. So, pardon me as I change the pronouns in the text, and I pray that you might find hope in them as well:

“Because she loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue her;

I will protect her, for she acknowledges my name.

She will call on me, and I will answer her;

I will be with her in trouble,

I will deliver her and honor her.

With long life I will satisfy her

and show her my salvation.”

The post Words of Comfort appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Please forgive the delay posting this morning’s post. I awoke today, with a passion to write something more timely.

I keep watching as hurricane Florence approaches the Carolinas, watching in awe of the size of the storm, and in deep concern for all that is within its path. I am thankful for the downgrade in intensity, but profoundly aware of the damage it will cause. I continue to pray for safety for people who will feel its destructive force: those who stayed in their homes, first responders, members of the military, and others. I pray for people who are displaced, seeking shelter and protection, unsure of what they will experience now, and what they will return to once the storm passes. I pray for communities that will be affected for years to come, long after the national meteorologists and news media move on to other stories and most of us forget about the long road of recovery. I pray for my own family and friends who need safety and direction. I look upon this vast storm and I pray.

This is not the only storm in my prayers this morning. I am also praying for families that are walking through the storm of grief, storms of physical struggles, along with storms in thought and spirit. These are not just generic prayers for nameless people who are struggling, they are prayers for people I love, for whom my heart breaks, and, beyond my prayers, I feel helpless. Storms remind us of our vulnerability and our weakness, yet I offer what strength I can as I hold each person and situation before God.

I know that many in our current culture remain unimpressed with the offering of thoughts and prayers. I realize that they see this as nothing more than words, and sometimes they are right. When we are honest, we know that the offer to pray for others can be the ultimate Christian brush-off, that keeps us from being truly invested in the needs of others. However, that does not mean that all prayer lacks power and significance. Yes, for some, an offering to pray may be an act of avoidance, but for many of us, our prayers are a sign of our deep, and passionate, investment in the lives of those who matter to us, and to God. Praying may be some of the greatest work we do, for while we cannot change every storm people experience, God can.

I’ve been privileged to share in prayer with people who profoundly care about the needs of others. I listen to the deep cries of their hearts, and see the tears that flow from their eyes as they carry those they love to Jesus. They know their weakness, but they trust in God’s strength. There is nothing passive about their prayers, instead, they are putting all of their trust in the Jesus who speaks to storms and they obey him. Like the story in the Bible of the people who tore the roof off of a house to get their friend in front of Jesus, they are committed to carrying the ones they love into his presence, with the unwavering belief that he can make a difference.

Part of what makes today’s thoughts timely to me extends beyond the pending impact of a hurricane. It is also timely because my wife and I are about to go for her two-year, post-cancer check up. At this time in 2016, we were in the midst of a powerful storm. We were weak, and fighting our fears as we faced the struggle ahead. We had faith, but thank God we were not alone. There were people in many places who were fighting with us in the storm.

You may ask, “did those prayers make any difference?” Absolutely! We felt them in countless ways. God gave us peace in the storm, offered miraculous provision and direction, and brought us safely though. I am not denying the gifts of the medical community and others, but there were just too many moments where we saw God move in our circumstances where there was no other explanation than the power of prayer. God responded to the prayers of God’s people, and this was not the only time. God is faithful, and our prayers make a difference.

So, I am going to continue to pray for those facing storms today. I am going to keep believing in God’s ability to be peace in the storm, and speak peace to the storm. I am going to keep tearing the roof off buildings and pressing through whatever walls I need to in order to bring those I love, and the whole world before God. I will be relentless in my petitions, because I know the heart of God, I know the power of the Holy Spirit, and I know that God moves in the mightiest of storms. I will be God’s answer to prayer where I can, and where I am helpless, I will put my full hope in the One who is not. I will continue to trust the Jesus of great compassion, who looks at the immensity of the storm and says, “Peace! Be still!” I pray you will join me.

The post Peace in the Storm appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

I hear it frequently, and have many times over the past 30 years of ministry, “We just cannot get enough volunteers.” It seems like most churches wrestle with this issue. How can we get more people to volunteer for the various ministries we offer? Sometimes, this leads to a place of great frustration where leaders begin to believe that nobody cares about the ministry of the church.

I am not convinced that is the problem. I believe people deeply care about Jesus Christ and his mission in the world. Numerous people I talk with are filled with passion. They love God, and they want to see the world transformed. When they pray the Lord’s Prayer, they really do want God’s name to be made holy, God’s kingdom to come, and God’s will to be done right here, right now, on earth as it is in heaven. They see the vastness of the need, and they believe God wants to answer that need through the church, but something is missing. I contend that the missing piece is found in the language we use.

Words have meaning. Yes, there are definitions for every word we use, but there is also the meaning we associate with those words. Combined, these definitions and meanings lead to assumptions and understandings about our communication. Use the wrong words and people envision the wrong things, and act accordingly. The proper words, however, elicit a vibrant response that releases powerful beliefs and actions.

So, what word is the problem? The surprisingly common and deceptive word, “volunteer.” Let me be honest and straightforward. I never volunteer at church, not as a pastor, nor as a Christian. I am not even sure it is possible. I volunteer to help a number of organizations and causes, but I never volunteer for ministry. Why? Simply because any action of ministry, no matter how small, is not volunteering, it is serving. Before you dismiss me and accuse me of an argument of semantics, take a moment to hear me out.

Volunteering has everything to do with me offering my time to something I value or believe in. Serving recognizes my life is a gift from God, and the time I offer is actually God’s time given to me to use to fulfill God’s purposes in my life and the world. When I volunteer, I am in control, and I am giving someone else what belongs to me. When I serve, God is in control, and I am responding to God’s grace in my life, sharing what God already shared with me. Volunteering is about helping out with something important. Serving is about being a part of something bigger, believing my part is connected to God’s vision for the transformation of the world.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” In these simple words, we are reminded that, as followers of Jesus, what we do is not about us. It is not about our personal tastes, our private agendas, or even about the traditions of our local church. What we do is about Jesus, and his plan for the world. When I serve, I am connected to something so much greater than I could imagine. My actions are no longer about how I feel, or what I get, including the affirmation and appreciation of others. As a servant, I am acting to please God, to show my love to the One who loves me most.

I often think of the comparison to marriage. I do not volunteer to help my wife with projects that matter to her, or to care for our family. I choose to give myself as an act of love. That may be the act of making the bed, listening to a story, or any number of little things that express my heart’s connection to my wife and children. Not once have I said, “Okay, I will volunteer to care for you when you are sick,” or, “I volunteer to clean the house.” Instead, I choose to do such things because I am in love. I want to respond to the love I receive, and show the love I have.

My relationship with Jesus is no different. I do not preach on Sunday because it is my job. If that was the motivation, it would be a terrible job. I don’t visit people in the hospital, help with our youth, teach, lead, or anything else because I must. Instead, I do all the acts of ministry because I love Jesus, and I love the people I am called to serve. I do not volunteer to help the church, or the community. I serve people because of the passion, and compassion, in my heart. Acts of ministry are not just tasks, they are expressions of love, opportunities to value others through our service.

Maybe the reason we seem to always need more volunteers is because we actually don’t need any volunteers at all. Maybe we need servants who understand how great God’s blessings are, and what a privilege it is to share those blessings with others. Maybe we need to help people see how our acts of ministry are signs of our love for God, and our love for people. Maybe we need to help people reconnect to Jesus, who said, and showed, that he came to serve others out of the vast, compassionate heart of God. Could it be that when we do, people will begin to see their own actions as following in Jesus’ footsteps, becoming like him in what they do?

I do not volunteer at church, but I will willingly give my life in service to God and others. There is but a small reward for what I volunteer to do, but my service, in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit can quite literally change the world. That is something I can be passionate about. That is something that I do not want to miss, and I know that I am not alone.

Today, we can choose to ask God for a servant’s heart. We can begin to change our words, our thoughts, and our motivations. We can exchange doing something nice for people, or just helping out, for the privilege of partnering with God in God’s work in the world. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, the Apostle Paul refers to us as God’s coworkers. That is so much more attractive and meaningful than church volunteers.

So, let’s embrace a new vision. Together, let’s open our hearts and minds to embrace something greater than ourselves or a program, and let’s become servants of the Most High God, ambassadors for Christ, and emissaries of the kingdom of God. It is time to believe that, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can can fulfill that great prayer Jesus taught. May it be so!

The post Why I Never Volunteer at Church appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32

Clutter, it accumulates easily, and as it does, it becomes a bigger impediment to our lives. Spiritual clutter, restricts our growth and hampers our faith.

One person who commented on the last post, raised an important point. Some things that clutter our lives can actually be fodder for growth and creativity as we mature. This week, I spent some time unpacking my studio. There were boxes of art supplies for me to go through. There still are, but what I did sort through revealed many things I forgot I possessed, and a few things I thought I disposed of. Many of these items provided some fresh inspiration for new projects, and I am glad they were still there to be found.

Not everything that appears to be clutter actually is, however, many things we become accustomed to may be more of a hinderance that we actually know. Looking for space in my studio revealed a number of things that were merely taking up valuable space. I feel attached to them because they were with me for quite a while, but it may be time for me to embrace greater simplicity. Maybe simplifying will be a good topic for the future. For the moment, let’s further consider our spiritual clutter. Tuesday, we looked at some of the larger pieces of spiritual clutter. Today, lets consider some other negative things that take up valuable space in our hearts.

Anger – We all get angry. People and things frustrate us, they hurt us, and from those initial emotions, anger develops. Anger is always a secondary emotion, but it is a powerful one, and when we harbor anger in our hearts, it damages our relationships. There is a place for righteous anger, but all too often we use that exemption to maintain harmful forms of anger adorned in righteous coverings. Real anger separates. It fuels division, and restricts healthy relationships. It affects our relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves.

Anger is toxic, and it is contagious. As the old axiom goes, “hurting people hurt people.” That is why the Scripture enjoins us to put it away along with bitterness, slander, and malice. Harboring these emotions, or acting on them, leads to great pain for everyone involved. The more we nurture them, the larger, and stronger, they become. This is a form of clutter that can choke the life out of our spirit.

Unforgiveness – Closely related to anger, the lack of forgiveness fosters pain in our spiritual life. People do harmful things and it is hard to release those experiences, and even harder to forgive those who caused them. However, our inability to forgive will never right the wrongs, nor will it lead to healing. Ultimately, it will attack and consume us without justice or restoration. As someone once said, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” When we forgive, we do not condone harmful actions, nor do we excuse the people who did us harm, however, we stop the cycle of harm in our lives and free ourselves from the grip of our wounds. It is not easy to forgive, but the more we realize our own need for forgiveness, it becomes easier to extend it to others.

Bitterness and Hate – These are burdens that are simply to heavy to carry. They cause us to elevate ourselves above others. We begin to embrace an attitude of superiority which leads to judgement, discrimination, and destruction. Slander and gossip follow, as we seek to demean someone else in order to feel better ourselves. Many, if not all, of the “isms” we face in our society find their roots in bitterness and hate. When we pull up these roots, we destroy their fruit as well. The more that we embrace the Biblical call to be kind, tenderhearted, and loving, the more that we reflect the heart of God and find peace in our lives.

As I reflect on these harmful forms of spiritual clutter, I am reminded of all of the broken things I kept in my life because they were familiar, or filled with emotional connections. No matter what memories I connected with them, they were no less broken. Likewise, holding on to places of spiritual brokenness is equally unhelpful, and only prevents us from receiving the wholeness God designed for us.

There are numerous, other pieces of spiritual clutter that affect our faith journey, and there are things that may be obstacles in each of our lives that may not be issues for others. If we truly desire to live in God’s hope and peace, we ought accept the challenge to do the necessary, personal house cleaning. The Psalmist said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:22-23) Maybe this should be a regular prayer.

If we will let God shine the light into our lives, God will reveal any grievous thing that needs to be removed. Then, we can trust the love of Jesus to cleanse us, and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to release the clutter, giving greater space for the Sprit to fill us. It sounds intimidating, but it seems like a very good trade to me.

The post Removing Spiritual Clutter – Part 2 appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

It’s been two months since we moved into our new home. While many things are in their proper place, plenty of boxes remain unpacked, and many of our belongings still need a space. Our home is functional, but we are still working around the clutter of boxes and displaced things. Every day brings improvement, however, we will be glad to be completely settled.

Clutter is expected at times, yet it is challenging to our senses and our functionality. Many people claim that it is a sign of creativity and boosts the creative spirit. I do not know how true that idea is, but practically, clutter is a distraction that inhibits our effectiveness. Time spent hunting through the mess to find what we need is wasted. Homeless items can be significant obstacles, and numerous studies reveal that our clutter is a cause for anxiety.

Spiritual clutter is no less significant and distracting. When our spirits are messy, we wrestle to find deep, inner peace. We were not designed to function with such spiritual distractions and we can find difficulty maintaining our sense of centeredness and we impede our growth in faith. As we allow spiritual clutter to accumulate, we invite further difficulties into our faith journey, we lose momentum in spiritual development, and we can easily become discouraged. We need to take time to clean our the clutter in order to have a more dynamic relationship with God.

So, what is this spiritual clutter and how do we get rid of it? While there is no way to create a comprehensive list, there are some common culprits and the methods used to address them reveal ways to deal with other areas as they arise.

Sin – Sin is not a popular word in our modern vocabulary. It sounds condemning, and we prefer to avoid discussing it. Jesus, however, thought it was significant and worthy of our attention. Sin inhibits our relationship with God. When we choose actions that strain our relationship with God, we create unnecessary obstacles to our faith walk, and we hamper our spiritual life. Thankfully, God does not want us to live in our brokenness, but provides us with a way out through the gift of Jesus Christ. Sin does not have to have authority over us. The Bible tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9) The solution is as simple as honestly confessing our sin and receiving God’s forgiveness in Jesus.

Self-condemnation – Too often we replay the tapes in our minds that tell us we are not enough. We rehearse our failures and reflect on the voices that speak poorly about us. Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. We accept the lies that we are unlovable, too flawed, even rejected by God, but that is not how God sees us. We are created in the image of God and made perfect through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We are deeply loved and desired by God. We may not be perfect, but we are on the path to perfection, and we are worthy because God says so.

Guilt – It is easy to believe that our past failures prevent us from experiencing God’s goodness. The good news is that God does not consult our past to determine our future. Rather, God declares our future in spite of our past. It is never about our ability to measure up. It is always about abiding in Christ and being found in him. Our past is just that, past. Here, in the present, we are new creatures in Christ. The old is gone. The new is come. Carrying our faults and failures is too great of a weight for our shoulders. We cast those things on Christ and walk in the freedom he gives us.

Spiritual Busyness – “If only I was doing more,” we tell ourselves, “then I would be the right kind of Christian.” It is certainly good to challenge ourselves to grow, and to be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit, but it is not good to judge ourselves by what others do, or by an expectation God did not set for us. Perfect Sunday attendance, participation in every church event, and religious activity are not the litmus test of our faith, neither is how much of the Bible we read or memorize, how long we pray, or how many devotionals we read. We can fill our schedules with a myriad of religious activities and grow no closer to God, while making ourselves less available to what God is actually calling us to do. We need to be wise in the stewardship of our time, dedicating enough to have the resources to grow and serve, while leaving room for our relationship with Jesus. We do not need to prove our faith, we need to live it.

Imagine what would happen in our lives if we removed these, and other, obstacles so the fruit of the Spirit could grow freely in us. Imagine what would happen in the world around us. We were meant to experience the wonder and blessing of a life with Christ, a life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Not only is this possible, it is God’s perfect design for our lives.

So, as we embrace this new day, let’s remove the spiritual clutter to make room for the Spirit’s presence. Together, we can let go of the things that choke the life out of our faith, and we can take hold of the blessings God has for us. As the clutter clears, we will find greater freedom, greater clarity, and a greater life. Cleaning is never easy, but when we are done, it is worth it. So, let’s take the first steps today.

The post Removing Spiritual Clutter – Part 1 appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

Worry, it affects us all at various times in our lives. Some experience it more than others, and its impact varies from person to person, but in every case, worry steals from us. It steals our joy, our energy, and our peace. The worst part is worry has no power to make any impact on our future situation. It only changes our present.

The late Corrie ten Boom said, “Worrying is carrying tomorrow’s load with today’s strength – carrying two days at once. It is moving into tomorrow ahead of time. Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strengths.”

During vacation, there was a sign just outside of my bedroom that read, “Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.” At first, I thought it belonged inside the bedroom, to be seen as you began the day, but as the days passed, I realized it was in the perfect spot, serving as a reminder before sleep that whatever worries consumed the day were already lost time, and carrying them to bed was only a prescription for lost rest. God willing, tomorrow would come, and no amount of worry would change the day in any way.

It was a powerful reminder for me each night. I tend to default to more worry than I wish I did. It is an area of growth I continue to pursue in prayer and action. That simple, wooden sign became a reminder for my evening prayers to relinquish tomorrow into the hands of God so that I could enjoy a peaceful rest and embrace a deeper trust in God to be greet me in the morning with all I needed for the day ahead. No matter what awaited me, fretting over it would not prepare me to overcome, it would only weaken my ability to meet the challenges in the strength of my faith.

The Bible repeatedly declares, and illustrates, the call to release our anxiety and place our trust in God. It is too easy to envision the negative possibilities that may arise, but far more powerful to contemplate the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in us, and in our future. God is not surprised by the circumstances in our lives, nor is God fretting over the solutions to possible problems. God is the answer to those problems. If God is not worried, and the Spirit dwells in us, we are more than able to face whatever life brings our way.

Often, during funerals, I quote selected verses from John 14. One of the most powerful points Jesus makes is in the words, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” These are deeply comforting words, but they were not spoken just for time of mourning. The peace of Christ is a promise for every moment in our lives. The very peace that sustained Jesus in the midst of everything he faced, is lovingly given to us so that we are not captive to fear, anxiety, and worry. With his help, we can be anxious for nothing.

God’s track record in our lives is perfect. When we look back at the things that once consumed us with worry, we can see the many times we came through. What we thought would be our undoing, is now a testimony of another victory in Jesus. The journey may not have been easy, but the result is no less affirming. God is faithful.

I would love to tell you that the sign I came to love changed everything, that I no longer worry and live in Christ’s perfect peace. I still have a long way to go, but that nightly inspiration was another reminder, another God-sign, inviting me to remember that when I worry, I am not to be anxious. Instead, I am invited to share my concern with the Savior and trust my future to him.

Today, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday, but here you are. The possibilities are before you. Yes, the possibility of difficulties exist, but so do the possibilities of blessing. The potential for suffering is present, but so is the potential for joy. Best of all, whatever comes our way, we are not alone, nor are were meant to face it alone. The power of almighty God is with us.

So, let’s embrace this day. Let’s savor all the beauty it has as we allow our souls to be at peace with the very peace of Christ. Our worry will not help us, but God will. Above all, let’s not try to carry two days at once. We need our strength for today, not today and tomorrow. When we find anxiety creeping into our thoughts, we can turn our worry into a prompt for prayer,. As we pray, we can release our worry into the hands of God, and we can receive divine strength for moment we are in. God will guard our hearts, and the peace that passes all understanding will be given to us. It is a holy, and wonderful, trade, and it is ours for the asking.

The post This is the Day appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

We always seem to be searching for the extraordinary. There is a sense that we almost crave what is new, different, and more unique. That desire fuels creativity and invention, and pushes us to explore new frontiers. That same desire can lead to pain and destruction, and can cause us to miss the blessings that are already ours.

During our recent Adirondack vacation, we decided to go out for pizza. The pizza shop we chose had tables outside, and a decent size arcade attached to the building. While we were enjoying our food, two families sat down at a nearby table with their’s. The parents were busy talking and making plans for the next day, while the children were eating as quickly as possible so they could go play in the arcade. I am not sure they tasted their meal as they focused on games to be played and prizes to be won.

Watching this unfold made me smile, as I remembered similar times with our children, but it also made me think about how easily I become so captured by what is coming next that I forget to enjoy what I am doing now. I think we all have our versions of missing the moment while striving to get to the next one.

“Living for the weekend,” is a way of life for many people. Mondays are despised, and we celebrate completing “hump day,” all in the desire to get to our brief time off before we do it again next week. Look closely, and you realize that people are trying to power through almost two-thirds of their lives to enjoy what is left. I wonder how often those weekends were worth the rush.

Ordinary seems boring, but ordinary is a blessing. Ordinary is what makes some of the most meaningful experiences in marriages and vocations. When we only strive for the extraordinary, we can suffer great dissatisfaction with our lives and relationships, believing there is something better somewhere else. If we are not careful, we stop caring for what we have while we pursue an elusive dream. Ordinary is the source of structure and a sign of some stability. Ordinary makes up most of our lives, and those parts are no less valuable than the exciting, extraordinary moments.

The early Christians sought to mark the year with days and seasons that helped retell the gracious message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The set aside Easter Day and Eastertide to celebrate the power of the Resurrection. They affirmed the 40 days of Lent to prepare for that celebration. They marked the birth of the Savior with the Christmas season, and gave us the season of Advent to discover the deeper meaning of anticipation. Still, in all of the church calendar, the longest single season is, you guessed it, Ordinary time. It is a season that covers the time following Pentecost in late May, till the first day of Advent in early November. The ancients knew that life, even the Christian life, was mostly ordinary time.

Jesus taught the blessing of the ordinary as well. When he taught, he used illustrations from the daily lives and experiences of the people to convey powerful truths about the kingdom of God. Agricultural references, experiences with friends and neighbors, and symbols of creation made regular appearances in his teaching. Perhaps the greatest example is found in the moments of the Last Supper, when our celebration of Communion was instituted. With all the resources and options at his disposal, Jesus chose the ordinary, basics of life, bread and wine, to represent his life broken and poured out for all the world. In these simple gifts, we find the most extraordinary truth: God takes ordinary things and ordinary people and makes them beautiful expressions of God’s love.

Something else happened during our pizza shop experience. I saw a deer, a beautiful doe who wandered through the parking lot, nibbling at some grass along the edges. Seeing deer in the mountains is not surprising, nor is how easily everyone else missed the ubiquitous visitor. Still, just because she was ordinary, she was no less beautiful and, while I’ve seen many deer, I never saw this one before. What some would call “ordinary,” I call a blessing, one more sign of beauty and a great memory.

Maybe, it is time for us to stop running from the ordinary and embrace it instead, as the place of God’s great blessings. Instead of striving to get to something else, we can appreciate what we have right here, right now. Maybe we need to be more intentional about seeking, “eyes to see and ears to hear,” in order to celebrate what God is doing and saying in the present moment. We can still rejoice in extraordinary times, but we can find peace in ordinary moments with an extraordinary God. Together, may we realize how rich we truly are with God’s ordinary blessings.

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I love the smell of rain, especially when mixed with the ionized air of a thunderstorm. I enjoy the sound of the falling sheets of water, and the raindrops on the roof. Watching them dance on the road, or falling on the leaves, pausing only a moment before continuing their descent to the ground inspires awe at the vast simplicity of nature’s beauty, and God’s creativity, and it is a beautiful creativity with a purpose.

The sights, sounds, and smells that I enjoy in these moments are signs of the heavens refreshing the earth. Each raindrop brings life to grass and trees, to wildflowers and potted plants. Animals will cool off in the showers and refresh themselves with these waters. All living things will be nourished through the life-giving rain. Even I will find future blessings as well water is replenished, and the natural beauty I love is sustained. Far beyond Doppler images and weather forecasts, such storms are the fingerprint of God upon all life.

Simultaneously, these rainstorms are a force of great power. As I watched the rain falling Friday night, in sheets off the roof of our front porch, not far away, people were being evacuated from campsites for safety, and streams and rivers were rising to dangerous levels. In some places these waters were causing significant damage. Basements flooded, and cars, homes, and businesses were destroyed. This is powerful beauty.

I’ve heard a number of praise songs and prayers that invite the Holy Spirit to rain down upon us. It is a fitting image of the beauty of God’s refreshing grace. It is also an invitation to be filled with God’s awesome power. These images overflow with meaning, but when we speak them, do we really consider what we are asking for? We desire refreshing, and strength to walk victoriously through our lives, but are we ready for all the Spirit will unleash?

A woman in a church I served once said to me, “Pastor, I feel like the Holy Spirit is in our church, but I also feel like we keep him under glass. We want his presence, but we are cautious about letting him move.” I shared this reflection with our leaders and from our conversation came an initiative we titled, “Take the Lid Off.” It was a bold decision, and a bolder request. What would happen if we let the Spirit do whatever he wanted?

A few weeks after we began sharing our vision with the whole congregation, a man came to see me. He was worried. “If we do this thing… if we take the lid off of the Holy Spirit, things could get out of hand,” he said. He was more insightful than he knew. I wanted to comfort him, assure him that everything would stay in order, but I knew better. We were asking God to release the power of the Spirit. In some places, that would be a gentle, refreshing rain. In others, it would be a flood that would destroy the things that held us back from God’s best for us. Unlike the recent, powerful thunderstorms, the results would all be beneficial, yet similarly, the experience would be anything but easy, in some places.

Clearly, God is not the source of calamity in our lives. Jesus demonstrated God’s heart was one of compassion. Repeatedly, in the Gospels, it says, “he had compassion on them…” Still, the Holy Spirit is not to be played with, as if the Spirit were merely an agent of God to make us happy and give us what we want. The Holy Spirit is God. He works in us to produce God’s will for our lives and for the world. The Spirit is the powerful beauty of God intimately at work in human lives.

Inviting the Holy Spirit to rain down is an excellent, and worthy prayer. Such a prayer is much more than seeking spiritual goosebumps or expecting some cosmic good vibes. Asking for the rain of the Spirit, is asking for the manifest reign of God. It is trusting God for what is best, and yielding every part of our lives to God’s desire and and design. God loves to manifest the Spirit in our lives, but never does so on our terms. God does not perform for us, rather, God produces spiritual fruit in us. This may come in the form of refreshing rains upon the soil of our heart, or it may result in the stripping away of what is lifeless so that new life can spring forth. Typically, like awe-inspiring thunderstorms, it is both. When the powerful beauty of God is released in our midst, that creative force will remake us. As Jesus said in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.”

This may sound frightening, but God is not the source of fear. God is, however, worthy of our respect and awe. It is no small thing to invite God into our lives, but when we do, we will see the true goodness of God’s powerful beauty at work. We will become reflections of God, powerful in the Spirit, and beautiful in Christ.

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“Remember, I am with you always” – Matthew 28:20

Today, is a good day! It’s not a holiday, or a family celebration, and I have idea what it will bring. So far, the morning included a shower, breakfast, and some coffee, but I know it is a good day. You may wonder how I know and the answer is simple, Jesus is with me.

It is all too easy to let the external circumstances of our lives dictate our feelings and beliefs. We are often encouraged to believe that the quality of a day is based upon what is, or will be, happening. However, that is not the true test. There is something (someone) greater at work in the moments of our lives that matters far more than our schedules, our successes, or our obstacles.

On one of our international mission trips, I sat with a woman from the local area. It was clear that poverty was pervasive there, and there were numerous needs for everyone in the community. It was also obvious that the people were filled with great love and joy. I confess I was a little dumbfounded by the juxtaposition of those two realities, and apparently, it showed. My new friend looked at me and said, “You don’t get it do you?” I confessed that she was right. With that her smile grew and she replied, “We have everything, because we have Jesus!”

Life is full of challenges, numerous things that work to steal our joy, yet those things are not the final word. That privilege belongs to the one who says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Our creative God, who speaks things into existence, calls forth each day, and calls the creation “good,” promised, though Jesus, to be with us always.

So, as this day begins, it is not how we feel, or what awaits us that determines if this will be a good or bad day. Rather, it is the One who breathed into us the breath of life and is with us always that declares the goodness of today.

Today, is a good day, because, through Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, God is with us. With that knowledge, we can all go forth and see the day for what it truly is.

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