Inside-Outside-Upside-Down

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.
“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. Matthew 5:3-8 (MSG)

Jesus gave these principles to a crowd of people sitting on the hillside. He was trying to explain how God saw things. This would still apply to us today.

We are so trained to make everything look good on the outside. We want people to see us as successful, financially stable, no problems at all. We only let people see what we want them to see, the good stuff. We hide the problems, the sadness and the messiness of our lives from everyone because we want people to approve of who we are.

But Jesus said in this sermon that all that messiness, all the stuff we are trying to stuff on the inside is the good stuff. It's in that messiness, in that chaos that God works. God doesn't care what we look like on the outside. He wants us to take a good look at what he can see on the inside. That's the good stuff. That is the stuff that will give your life meaning.

So, when you are at the end of your rope, when you feel like you've lost everything, when you just don't care anymore what people think -- then you are blessed. Because it's during the chaotic, messy, down-right scary times in life that God shows up and heals your heart.

Changing Status Quo

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 (NLT)

Matthew. A tax collector. He was hated by the people because he worked for Herod and Herod taxed the people heavily. On top of that, it was widely thought that the tax collectors charged more than was needed to skim extra off the top for themselves. Matthew would have been ostracized by his community. He would have been despised.

Somewhere along the way though, he met Jesus. He probably wanted to spend more time with him but anyone would have known that he would not be accepted. He wouldn't pass muster. Look at his career choice and the way he lived his life. Certainly not that of a disciple. So he went back to work and believed that anything more wasn't for him.

Jesus walked by and said "Follow me." Notice, he didn't say follow me and I will provide everything, give you a new career and make sure life goes smoothly. All he said was "Follow me." Matthew then had a choice. He could sit in his tax booth, continue to become more and more wealthy and live life in status quo or he could get up and follow. He chose to get up and follow.

In each of our hearts God puts a longing. He puts a longing for something more, for something better. He doesn't lay out the plan so we will feel safe. As a matter of fact, he usually doesn't share any details. He doesn't promise that everything is going to be fine but he extends the invitation anyway because he knows in the end, it will be perfect.

Matthew needed to choose. He needed to step out of his comfort zone and step into the unknown. He needed to know what he wanted more: status quo or to follow Jesus.

Each of us has to make this choice. Will you or will you not follow Jesus? One will keep you safe and secure; the other will be an unpredictable adventure. One will leave you feeling empty. The other will fill you up in ways you can't even describe. So which is it? Will you say yes to the invitation?

Created To Be......

This weekend I was watching a show about a group of people that rescued wild animals, rehabilitated them and then released them back into the wild. On this particular show, they rescued a bobcat. Cut little thing but he was fierce and he was only 8 weeks old. The commentator said "Even at 8 weeks old, he knows he's a bobcat. There is no doubt in his mind."

A bobcat knows he can climb trees. He knows that he should hunt at dawn and dusk. He knows that he mainly eats rabbits and hares but he can also eat rodents and even adult deer if he gets hungry enough. He can bring down an animal several times his size. He knows where to make his home and he knows how to protect his territory.

Made me think of us. God created us for so many things. What do we know about who we should be? So, I looked it up. Here are some of the things the Bible says we were created to be and do.

Be fruitful and multiply and govern the earth.
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground. Genesis 1:28

Praise God!
They are the people I made for myself, and they will sing my praises! Isaiah 43:21 (GNT)

Obey and serve God with all your heart.
Obey the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 (GNT)

Share what you know about God.
In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (GNT)

Love God with everything you have.
Jesus answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22-27: (GNT)

To share God's plan of love with everyone
I know. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels! Ephesians 3:9-10 (MSG)

There are more but these are a good start. You see, bobcats are born knowing who they are and what they are supposed to do. We were created to be close to God, to worship and serve him. When we don't, we become restless and start filling our lives with other things trying to fill that yearning in our souls. It doesn't work. Maybe it’s time to get back to basics and learn to be what we were created to be – in a relationship with God.

A Minute In It - It's Hot In There

A little time in the Word every day changes you. Take a few minutes, put yourself in the story and ask yourself a few questions.

King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge golden statue of himself and ordered all the people to bow down to it and worship it. He said whoever didn't bow down the statue would be thrown in the fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused and the threatened them with their lives. (Daniel 3:1-15 NLT) Here is the rest of the story......

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” Daniel 3:16-29 (NLT)

How would you have felt if you were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as the decree was being made? Would you have known immediately that you wouldn't bow down? Would you have weighed your options? After you decided not to bow before the idol, would you have been able to say "King, God can save us but even if he doesn't we will worship him anyway"? What do you think Jesus said to the three men as he walked with them in the flames? And then after you stepped from the fire, how do you think you would feel looking back on how God showed up?

Shhhh, Don't Say A Word

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NIV)

A few years ago I was having some personal difficulties with someone. If I am to be honest in my feelings, this person was just downright mean. He said mean things and was about the business of shaming people. Not only that, he was in a leadership position in an organization where I volunteered. Man, did I want to give him a piece of my mind. Not only that, many other people wanted to share pieces of their mind as well. His behavior was toxic and was causing the organization to flounder.

I prayed and prayed asking God how I should address this. Could I tell him off? Could I share how hurtful he was? Could I let him have a piece of my mind? God only ever responded with one word "Mercy." Oh come on! Seriously? But the response every time I prayed was the same "Mercy." To be honest, I wasn't totally sure what "Mercy" meant but I did know I was being told to do nothing. What was super hard was when other folks came and said "What are we going to do? We should report him! We should do something!" I had to share what God said and I had to do nothing. I couldn't get on the bandwagon.

Recently I discovered what mercy actually means. I was reading something (sorry, I don't remember what it was) and it said that grace is getting something you don't deserve and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. I remembered this story and wondered why God wouldn't give this person what they deserved. And then it hit me, he does that with me every day.

Every day he extends grace and mercy to this soul who doesn't deserve either. Every day he overlooks my behavior and my not so kosher thoughts and shows me mercy. When I processed this, my heart overflowed with gratitude.

God is always about growing us and others. As I look back on this situation I am really thankful I didn't say anything. It wouldn't have changed a thing (honestly) but it did allow me to show God's love with my words (or lack thereof). No matter how I feel about someone's behavior, that is always the most important thing.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)

Not What I Hoped For But Better

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

This morning I saw this text in a new way. The words "confidence in what we hope for" popped out at me.

Confidence in what we hope for....does that mean confidence that the surgery will go well, that sick loved ones will recover; that the job will come through; that the car will keep running until there is enough money to fix it? If confidence means full trust and belief, does it mean we can fully trust that everything is going to be OK? And by saying "everything is going to be OK" does it mean that it will turn out like we want or the way God knows is best?

What about the second half of the text "and assurance about what we do not see?" Assurance is having conviction. Is what we do not see is what's going on in the background? Is what we do not see really what God is doing on our behalf that we are completely oblivious to?

Could all this be simplified to say "Faith is full trust and belief that the surgery will go well, that the sick loved one will recover, that the job will come through, that Jesus is who he says he is and God will do what he promises with a conviction that we do not see everything going on in the background?

How about even simpler? "Faith is full trust and belief that no matter what is going on in our life Jesus is who he said we was and God will do what he promises. You can be assured that even if it doesn't look like it now God is working in the background on your behalf."

Having faith doesn't mean all will be rosy but it does mean that God is in it....no matter how it turns out.

An Exercise in Thankfulness

Praise the Lord!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1 (NLT)

Ever wake up and think "Nothing is going right. Everything is wrong. I don't want to adult today?" Me too. I've discovered something that helps me get past the "my life is terrible" blues. Giving Thanks. Seriously, it works. I'm going to list a series of topics below. You fill in the blanks.

Yesterday, I was thankful for: _______________________________ (think over yesterday and pick one (or more) things)
Today, I am thankful for: ____________________________ (even if you can't think of anything else you are breathing)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about where you live)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about your family)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a person in your life)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(something about God)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a part of your body)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a possibility)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(a dream you have)
I am thankful for: _______________________________(fill in with anything you want)

Each day, I'd like to challenge you to start out thanking God for what happened yesterday and for being alive today. Then, start thanking him for the possibilities. It adjusts our thinking so we realize that there is a lot to be thankful for and sometimes all it takes is a little shift of focus.

Who's Driving?

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. John 8:12 (NLT)

This morning, I remembered a song I heard many years ago. It is called I Am the Lighthouse by the Gaither Vocal Band. Here are some of the words

In the midst of World War II with tensions running high...
Off the eastern seaboard, one dark and foggy night...
The captain sighted out ahead, just off the starboard side, the beacon of another ship.... The two would soon collide.

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the north," he radioed ahead.
Much to his amazement, the 'ship' replied instead...
"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south."
The captain felt a chill.
His eyes grew cold and narrowed, and the two drew closer still.
"I'm the captain of this vessel, and this is a command.
Adjust your course ten degrees to the north, or receive a reprimand."
Again, the voice replied, as calm and smooth as glass...

"Adjust your course ten degrees to the south. I'm a seaman, second class."
I'm a U. S. Naval Destroyer," snapped the captain with a shout, "Now adjust your course, ten degrees, no discussion. Over and out."
They drew unnervingly closer; his eyes fixed on the light.
This time the voice ripped through the air like lightning tears the night.
"I am the lighthouse.

How many times do we set our course and announce, "I am the captain of my own life and I will do what I want." only to steer ourselves toward a rocky shoal? The next verse of the song says:

The path you choose is perilous
Destruction lies ahead if you delay
But if you'll trust me
I will lead you through safely
Adjust your course and you'll be on your way.

If you'll trust me......God says that to us all the time. Trust me. Trust me. And still, we think we can see the path clearly when in fact we can't see a thing.