image of Fakarava dock courtesy of Rotoava

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

For many the Christian life is anything but rest. We are encouraged each Sunday with spending daily time with God in prayer AND Bible study. We have two or three meetings a week at church. Of course there are prayer meetings, men/women's groups, accountability times, etc. Then we have our day jobs. And, don't forget to spend time with the family. Where are we to squeeze in the promised rest?

Jesus' example doesn't give us much hope either. He spends long hours ministering to people then pulls away for extended prayer. He seems constantly busy.

He also seems to lead the disciples into the same busyness. Look at Mark 6. Jesus sends out the twelve for them to try some ministry on their own. They see success, but when they come back to share their success stories, they hear news that John the Baptist is beheaded. Unfortunately there were too many people around for the disciples to get time with Jesus, so Jesus promises them some time alone and rest. As they go to separate themselves from the crowd, the crowd followed them and Jesus gave a day long sermon. The disciples try to encourage Jesus to send the crowd away, but Jesus gets them to feed the crowd. After this miracle, Jesus tells the disciples to go across the lake. The simple act of rowing was even difficult because of a storm that Jesus knew was coming. Battered, tired, and confused the disciples get to the other side to be rushed again by the crowds bringing the sick to Jesus. Where is the rest?

The problem with rest is that we have the definition wrong. When we think of rest, we see ourselves on a hammock at the beach sipping a drink with an umbrella. We think rest is doing nothing.

Jesus' definition of rest is different. He says come to me and I will give you rest. At the very least we have to have motion towards Jesus. It is not the absence of doing anything. Rest redefines work, not replaces it.

• Work has been our striving to accomplish tasks.
• Rest is allowing Jesus to lead us into the work He wants to accomplish through us.

Jesus exemplified this rest by doing only what He saw His Father doing (John 5:19).

None of the items at the beginning of the post are bad. In fact it is good to to spend time with God in prayer and Bible study. It is good to do your day job well and spend time with your family.

The problem arises when you see these things as tasks to check off in hopes of getting to your rest. Invite Jesus into your tasks. Look for Him. When you find Him, your tasks will no longer be a burden but will be a source of life.

John 4 starts with Jesus tired from His journey (ever think of Jesus being tired?). The disciples are off trying to find him some food. Jesus starts to minister to a lady by the well. Revival starts. And, Jesus is refreshed. Jesus says our food is in the spiritual not the just the natural. O Lord, open our eyes that we may see the work you are doing around us. Help us to do only what we see You doing and not strive to do things in order to find you. You are a good Father. We believe You will take care of us as we follow You.

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image courtesy of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Episode 2 of Star Wars shows the Anakin and Amidala relationship develop. Many times in their interactions you see Anakin struggling to say, “Sorry, my lady.” While this was painful for many to watch, it does show something very important. Swallowing pride and saying your sorry is not easy.

The idea of this series came to me this weekend as my wife and I noticed a strain in our relationship. As we discussed what we were seeing, one thing I noticed was I wanted to keep the discussion in theory. I was not hearing my wife’s feelings and not willing to say I was sorry. Part 1 of this series spoke to the fear of death from outside circumstances; part 2 will discuss the fear of dying to yourself.

Christians give plenty of talk to “dying to yourself.” We have been told we should do it, and we joke about how hard it is. But, I think many of us do not understand why it is hard or why it is important.

First of all, “dying to yourself” that we as Christians talk about is really the process of transforming our minds. Galatians 2:20 says I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 1 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (Thank you Navigators for your Bible memorization plan.)

If we are a new creation, then there is nothing bad in us we need to die to. What we do have is patterns of living that are not in congruence with our new nature. These patterns have been formed by years of life experiences that we have mis-interpreted or mis-applied. But, those life experiences feel so real that changing our thinking regarding them feels like little deaths. This why much of our spiritual warfare takes place in our minds and why we need to take every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5).

The promise of God is that these little deaths generate true life in us. It frees our minds to agree with God and allows His truths to come forth in our behaviors.

This weekend I was not willing to say I was sorry to my wife. Somewhere in my subconscious I was feeling that if I did then I was denying my right to be heard or my desires to be fulfilled. In short, I believed that both God and my wife did not care about my desires. This is a lie. Both God and my wife care about me and my desires. God has placed desires and passion within me that He wants to fulfill. He is a loving Father who delights in the success of His children. He has also shown me that my wife also cares deeply for me. The lie though was birthed in my fear of abandonment which was formed in me from a young age.

I can remember as a kid instances where I felt the fear of abandonment enter me. I remember waiting after sport practices well after the other kid’s parents had come. I remembered the lights of cars going past as I stood on the dark field alone wondering if I was ever going to be picked up. I remember another time being in the car at a rest area on some trip. My dad was trying to get my brother in the car by saying he was going to leave him there if he didn’t hurry up. I remember thinking that if they were willing to leave my brother, then they would definitely be willing to leave me. In other instances, I remember getting lost at the State Fair year after year for hours at a time and wondering if my parents would realize I was gone or if they even cared. My young mind interpreted these events as I was the only one who would take care of me. I could not fully trust anybody, even God.

The problem is that unless I “die to myself” and reject this lie I was holding onto I will slowly distance myself from my wife and my God. When I do “die to myself” and choose to believe that God and my wife are for me, then I will naturally move closer to them and enjoy the blessings of intimacy with both. And, we are told that intimacy with God is a prerequisite for fruit (John 15:5).

Why is “dying to self” important? For me in this example, by choosing not to say I’m sorry, I created separation that was not intended and distanced myself from the fruit God wants to display in my life.

Why are Christians afraid to die in this way? It goes against how they have lived their lives. Choosing death may promise life, but it also guarantees a change to our understanding of life works that some of us are not willing for God to reinterpret.

For we who are alive are always given over to death for Jesus sake,
so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. - (2 Corinthians 4:11)

image courtesy of Star Wars: A New Hope

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. – Tertullian

The original Star Wars movie has Obi-Wan Kenobi addressing Darth Vader with the famous words, “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.” While this is a fanciful story, the idea has basis in church history. The quote from Tertullian above was an observation he made as he witnessed the early church. The Roman persecution was harsh and gruesome, but the early church did prosper. This is similar to the response of the current Chinese church. They requested that the universal church to stop praying for persecution in China to end, for it is through persecution that the church has grown.

God has not called the many Christians to the life of martyrdom. Most of us will never face the question of choosing physical death or life with Christ. But all of us will be asked to do something that feels as close to death for us. Maybe it is working in the soup kitchen downtown where you are fearful to park your car. Maybe it is taking in a troubled child as a foster parent not knowing if your valuables will be there in the morning. Maybe it is picking up that hitchhiker and taking them to their next stop. Each of these scenarios ask us to share the love of Christ in situations that may put us in danger. What do you do?

Being foolish is no answer to how to live the Christian life. But as we listen to the Spirit’s promptings we may feel we need to do something that is not “safe.” Fear is a great obstacle in the Christian walk. Jesus applauds great faith, and great faith often asks us to walk on water. Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). And whether we like it or not anything done or not done because of fear is sin. Because you can be motivated by fear and walk in faith and everything that does not come from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

The only way to overcome fear is to be willing to die – to value following Christ more than saving your life.

This is not to say that you are to be reckless. But your life may look reckless to those who have not heard the Spirit directing your life. God may have you quit your job without having a backup plan. He may have you give a substantial amount of money to someone when you had planned on it for groceries. The point is God’s wisdom is not man’s. When we rely on what we think is right, we are limiting what God may what to do through us. We cannot live an extraordinary life if we are limiting ourselves to only what we think is possible. God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose. – Jim Elliot

Here is another thought sequence from Sunday worship. We were singing Phil Wickham's Always Forever. It was the first I had heard the song but was loving it. I'm not a musician, but it sounds like a waltz. We had a girl up front dancing to the song, and I just imagined Jesus coming and dancing with her. It was sweet and beautiful at the same time. The thing that really got me was the chorus. As I had this mental image of the Jesus and the girl dancing, I thought that as I sung the chorus, Jesus was singing it back to me.

Jesus is so in love with us. We are His bride. We are His helpmate. We are His companion. He loves us.

At the end of the song, the words go into a repetition of hallelujahs. My heart just wanted to sing out, "How He loves us, How He loves us, How He loves us, forever." We don't earn God's love. We receive it.

As we later came back to the hallelujahs, my heart was ready to respond with, "How I love Him, How I love Him, How I love Him, forever." Once we get a hold of how we are loved, then we freely give back to Him. And, once we get a hold of how we are loved, we come before the throne with confidence because we know that as Jesus sees us coming His heart says there's the one I love. Why would we ever hide our desires from the One who loves us so much?

Always Forever
Phil Wickham

You are the hand that catches my fall
You are the friend that answers my call
You are my day, You are my night
You are my love and all of my life

CHORUS:
You are the love I need
You are the air I breathe
You are my love my life always forever
I would lay down my life
Just to be by Your side
You are my love my life always forever

You are the grace that covers my sin
You’re everything the beginning and end
You have my soul, my heart and my mind
You have my love and all of my life

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, forever

Always Forever video

image courtesy of Beverly & Pack

Our Heavenly Dwelling

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 5:1-7

I have been stuck on this passage the last couple days enjoying things I was getting from it. For instance, the line about longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked brought up some interesting thoughts. Were Adam and Eve clothed with a heavenly dwelling before the fall? Later the verse says that the Holy Spirit is a deposit of this clothing of heavenly dwelling. So were Adam and Eve clothed with the Holy Spirit as a deposit or did they have the full thing?

While I find this line of thinking interesting, I am inspired by the phrase that we were made for this very purpose. This gets us beyond theological musing into the intent of God for our lives. We were made to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling and the Holy Spirit is a partial deposit of what is to come. So what does this mean? If we were made for this, I want to know what it is.

I think Paul follows with a practical explanation of what it means. He uses two analogies of contrast to bring light to this concept.

1. Home in the body; away from the Lord
2. Live by faith, not by sight

This second phrase is something I have heard throughout my Christian experience with varying levels of understanding to what it means. At times it has had the mystical weight that is often put on the phrase, "faith as big as a mustard seed". Is this faith in whatever we want to happen? How much is enough faith? Should we ignore the things I see because it is all about whatever I am imagining in my mind?

Obviously those questions do not lead into what God has for us and often takes us off track in our Christian walk. I think that following the flow of the entire passage brings clarity to what Paul/God is trying to communicate.

Being at home in the body is equal to being away from the Lord. Being home with the Lord is being clothed in our heavenly dwelling. Therefore it is important to know what being at home in the body looks like. This is allowing the things of our physical lives to take precedence over the things of heaven. Or, to put it another way, it is allowing our understanding of how the world operates take precedence over what God says is true. It is trusting in our five senses instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit... that deposit of the heavenly dwelling.

Our five senses are not only sight, but hear, smell, taste, and FEEL. I know that the fifth sense is touch, but calling it feel opens it up to more. Touch tells you stepped on something sharp; feel is the pain mixed with worry of how bad it is cut. I have highlighted feel because this is the level that fear resides.

These five senses are based and controlled by the circumstances of life and our past experiences that define those circumstances. For instance, when you touch a hot stove, you learn not to do it again. Therefore if you have tried something in the past that has caused you pain or embarrassment, you are not likely to try it again. If a circumstance in your life comes up that feels like a past experience that caused pain, you will approach it with caution. If you have had a friend betray you in the past, you are not as likely to open up to someone else. Similarly if you have done something in the past that has made you feel good, you are likely to go back to do it again (e.g. addictions).

God is saying that basing our lives off our five senses keeps us away from Him.

Isn't that irresponsible? Isn't that the definition of futility, to try the same thing over again and expecting a different result? There is something different here. If Peter had trusted in his five senses, he would not have gotten out of the boat to walk on water. The difference of faith is God calls us to something different, and as soon as He calls us to it, that is to be our new reality. And, since He has called us to it, we can and should expect different results.

So faith is not in whatever we want to get. Faith is living by what God says is true, not what we have experienced as true based on the past.

As long as we believe sight as our true perspective, our prayers will be limited. When we operate on sight we think:

• that person will never come to Christ
• we can't afford to take time off work to spend time with my family
• I'll never overcome my sin
• the doctor said she only has 6 months to live

God may just have a different reality. Do not be limited by sight, but ask God for His will and pray accordingly.

What situation in your life are you trusting in sight and not even asking God His perspective?

While in college I read a booklet by Robert Boyd Munger called My Heart - Christ's Home. It had you imagine taking Jesus through different rooms of your heart. Jesus would ask about certain rooms or closets to show His interests were all of you. He never pushed His way in, but you knew His desires.

I was reminded of this in worship the other day. There was this song that had an invitation for the Holy Spirit to make His home in us. As I sang I thought about the house guest that my wife and I have staying with us. I thought about how different it would be if they not only guests but if our house was truely their home.

• They would be able to trash it if they wanted.
• they could invite people over they wanted to have.
• They could empty the fridge eating whatever and then fill it with things they liked.
• They could hang pictures up of things they were interested in.

Then I thought, does the Holy Spirit have this open invitation in my heart? Can He invite the people over He wants to be with? Sure He would invite Jesus and God the Father over some, but He would probably also invite over some who are needy and emotionally draining.

Can He spend the resources of my heart on the plans He has? Or, do I tell Him what I have time and energy for? What if He schedules something over the big game? What if I was saving something for myself?

My mental dialogue with this idea ended with me thinking of the Holy Spirit hanging up pictures in the "living room" of my heart. And, in the focal point of the room, He hung up an 8x10 picture of Jesus. I laughed and then the worship team transitioned to another song.

I was reading my daughters' children Bible to them the other night regarding the Israelites complaining before God. It mentioned how God rescued them from Egypt, had parted the Red Sea for them, and had given them bread in the desert. And yet, they grumbled to God. This got me to thinking about a sketch I doodled the day before (above).

Why is it that the Israelites, who saw so much of God's goodness to them, doubt His continued goodness? In Numbers 14:2-4 they desire to even go back into Egypt because they did not believe God would provide for them to enter the promised land.

The thing is - God was providing for them all along the way, but it did not look like how they wanted to be provided for. He had sustained them in the desert. He had led them by cloud and fire. It is the joy of the Lord to bless His children. Blessings flow freely from His throne onto those He loves. He lavishes us with every blessing in Christ. Yet, we think we know what those blessings should look like.

How many people are being pursued by God's love and provision that think God is out to get them?

One thing I have thought about a lot is Jonah first response to God's call to go to the Ninevites. Quite often we are taught that Jonah did not want to go because he was scared. The real truth is in Jonah 4:2. Jonah knew that God's heart is for repentance and restoration, and Jonah did not want God's grace to come to them. His view of the way things should be did not line up to what God wanted to do, and He despised it.

The last three weeks, my wife and I have been going through a move. It is one that we both feel God has been leading us to take. But the move has been full of trials along the way. Our belongings kept being delayed by the movers and them not giving us any information. We had to adjust our living arrangements and pay extra money to stay longer in a place that was furnished while we waited for our furniture. We had to delay our move dates and keep others in limbo. It would have been real easy to question God in this process. "You wanted us to move. Where have You been in this process?"

But when we stepped back to watch what was going on around us, we could see His provision in many different ways. We had flexible owners in our temporary home and the more permanent home who were understanding of our plight. Our kids were also very flexible with adjusted schedules. We were forced to take free time with the family as there were no home items to set up. And, God kept reassuring us He was in the process, which allowed us to go through the whole ordeal with little stress.

If we had maintained our focus on the circumstances surrounding us, we would have never been able to receive the provisions God had already given us. Also, God's ways are not like ours. His goodness abounds. He does not get surprised by the events of our lives, nor is He restricted by them. As Christians, we are His sons and daughters. He loves us. If we come to Him, He will give us good gifts.

This does not mean life will be easy. We are to take up our cross daily. But, we have hope and joy because we know the heart and character of the One in control of everything. We know He loves us, and whatever we suffer for Him will be redeemed. Therefore we can take heart even if we are in the middle of the sea with waves all around us. Jesus may be on the shore watching us, He may be on the boat asleep, or He may be walking by on the water. Whatever He may be doing, He is ready and not anxious about our circumstances. He has got something up His sleeve.

If you are in one of these situations, go to God in prayer. Ask Him His interpretation of the events. Grab another believer to pray with you. Whatever you do, do not let the circumstances dictate what your reality is. Only Jesus can determine that. And, it is good.

image courtesy of saturn ♄

I was going through an old journal yesterday looking back at time where I was confused by the actions of a close friend. It was a very difficult time and was affect my work, my home life, and my hope for the future. The journal entry came at a time I was thinking through Hebrews 6:19 talking about this hope that we have that is an anchor for the soul. I was asking God what did He want me to hope. After immediately realizing that my hope is Him, I asked what it looked like. The following is what I wrote in my journal. I pray that you find it as helpful as I did when I wrote it and as I did yesterday when I read it again.

“Your whole life is defined by Me. Circumstances of life seem random and without knowing why they occur they bring doubt, discouragement, despair – death. Look to Me and have Me define and explain the realities of what is really going on. On earth things appear to be dying. You might go through tough situations and become depressed. Take heart! I am with you. I am taking you through the events of your life to grow you, teach you, bless you, and reward you. The things that seem to be the straw that broke the camel’s back is really the sand that tips the scales in your favor. Your faith is strengthened. Your love is unconditional. And, your ministry is effective. I am your hope. Without Me there is nothing. Heaven is eternity with Me. Eternity with perfect love, understanding, and joy. Now your awareness is dimmed. It will improve. In heaven, it will be perfected. It will be worth it. Devote your life for the things in heaven.”

Truth is whatever God says is true. And, it is true that God is always in control. He is for you. He loves you. And, He can work through every circumstance for the good of those who love Him. He redeems. He restores. He is for you. Take heart. He will never leave you alone. He looks on you with love. Bask in His love for you right now and give Him thanks for His hand on your life.

Have you ever considered the implications of God asking Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? Sure everything ends up wonderful and Isaac is spared. Sure it is a profound analogy of God offering up Jesus. But, have you ever considered that God asked Abraham to do something God did not want him to do?

God told Abraham to offer up his son as a sacrifice. Then God stops Abraham before he could follow it through. How many of us would have continued with the sacrifice holding on to what God originally said?

The thing that gets me is that God seems to lead us into situations and even leads us into decisions through prayer that He does not want us to ultimately follow through on. He seems to be getting us to a point of obedience that we would go and do whatever and then because of our willingness to do that first thing, He leads us into something even better. This is what happened to Abraham.

This is also what happened to David. He is getting chased all over Israel by Saul. Then on two separate occasions God gives Saul into David's hands. Both times David could have easily ended all of his running around. Both times he feels that God does not want him to harm Saul.

The funniest example I have heard about this is Jesus before He is betrayed tells His disciples to get swords (Luke 22:36-38). Then when Peter tried to use one later on to protect Jesus, Jesus tells him to put it away.

I don't claim to understand all of God's ways. What I do know is that He is intentional with us. He is leading down a path where we will have greater freedom from sin, greater power over the enemy, and greater joy in our lives. He is a loving Father that want His best for His children.

I have been thinking about this lately because, my wife and I feel God leading us to slow down our adoption. We are currently on the second attempt to adopt a little girl. Our first attempt was postponed by the announcement that we were pregnant with our second child. Both times we have felt very clearly that we were to start the adoption process. Both times we have given a lot of our time and money into trying to be obedient. We may have mis-heard His direction. We may also have heard Him correctly, but He did not want us to finish the adoption. Maybe the answer is another unknown alternative. I don't know the answer to that yet. I do know that God loves and rewards faith and obedience (John 14:15 and Hebrews 11:6).

I do not know what God is doing at this time, but I know He loves me. I know that He will take care of me and my family. I am know that He has already blessed me with more than I ever would have dreamed possible. So, I will press on with where I feel He is leading, and I will continue to press in to Him to enjoy this wild ride He has me on.

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I have been stuck thinking about the Where's God? theme for the last couple weeks. Lately this has turned to what have we not asked God because we are afraid to get our hopes up? Let me set this line of thinking with a couple examples.

For the first example, there is a leader I know who had trusted God to bring healing for a dying loved one, yet the loved one still died. After which he continued to talk about God's love and desire to act of a Christians' behalf, but he did not seem to want to take people to that point of trusting God to actually come through. Every personal experience of God from that point on he ever mentioned was past tense. I imagine there are also other things going on, but you can see dilemma.

What are afraid to ask God for? What are afraid to place in God's hands for fear that He will not take care of it? What if God really seems to not come through?

The second example comes from the media. At a young age Ted Turner wanted to become a missionary. Then as a teenager his sister became seriously ill. He spent an hour a day praying to God for her to get well. She eventually died a painful death. Turner thought, "how could God let my sister suffer so much?" This experience seems to have been the impetus for his atheism.

What do we do? Sometimes God doesn't heal. People do eventually die. There is evil in this world. How do I pray with faith and hope not knowing if God is going to come through for me?

We need to allow every encounter of life be an opportunity to draw us closer to Jesus and allow Him to interpret the events for us. So often we assume that the thing we are praying for is best. That may or may not be the case. But if we are too upset with God for what happened or if we are too afraid to know God's answer, we will not move towards Him. We will choose to believe that either the Bible is wrong about God, or that He is not trustworthy of things that matter the most to us.

Joseph had every right to think that God was out to get him. He had been separated from his father he loved and who loved him. His brothers turned on him and sold into slavery. When he was starting to make a living for himself, he was unjustly accused and sent to prison. Then you get to the end of Genesis and you see that he knew somehow through it all God had meant if for good.

If we have gone through pain, how do we trust God again? You need to have God interpret what had happened for you. Truth is whatever God says is true, and that truth will set you free. This is not power of positive thinking, because your mind won't buy it. You need Jesus to speak to you about what He was doing during your painful situation. It will be different for each person. Sometimes He is crying with you. Sometimes He shows you He is with you. Sometimes He gives you a word of hope and encouragement. You may not be at a place to hear God for yourself if the situation is too painful. If so, have someone pray with you to support you. Where two or three are gathered He is in your midst. Whatever you do, don't distance yourself from God. He loves you more than you know. Go to Him. These are the touches we need to get us through. These are the touches we need to get us to believe again that He is good.

If you do not see God is good, you will not ask Him for things you care about. If you are afraid He will not come through, you will not persevere in prayer. If you are making excuses for God, you will believe in a God that wants to give you more than you even ask or imagine. Don't let past unanswered prayers linger in your mind. Go to God and allow Him to interpret them for you.