Mar 31 - "Our Slight Momentary Affliction"

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 -- “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”

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Do you have something you are looking forward to right now? Are you excited about an upcoming event? How about a different question; are you in the midst of a painful situation or difficult stretch in your life? The truth is, you can probably answer ‘yes’ to both of these questions, the theme of which Paul is speaking in these verses.

The good news about the tough times is that eventually, they do go away. They may not come to an end in the way we anticipate: a long battle with illness for a loved one who succumbs to its affliction; a financial struggle which ends a loss of savings; a precarious relationship which breaks apart. But, they do come to an end and we are given the opportunity to look back and reflect on their lessons and value as the pain of that moment, starting bright and hot, fades and diminishes over time.

However, let’s not be mistaken. It is really hard while we are living through those very tough times which cause us to question our existence and the assurance of God’s steady hand in our lives. If you are in the midst of one of those moments right now, my heart goes out to you in prayer and encouragement. It is easy for people to say “don’t worry...it will be all right...hang in there”. They, nor I, am experiencing the pain you feel right now. It is personal and unique to you and no amount of words can allow someone else to know exactly what you are going through.

Paul’s words are interesting in the sense that maybe he is just not talking about a tough time he and the Corinthians are going through. This verse always strikes me that he might be referencing something larger; the entirety of our time on this earth. In general, life is a bit of a slog. In the scheme of things, it is a constant struggle. Of course, we have times of great joy and periods where it seems at least that things are going better than worse. But let’s face it, life is tough!

The good news is that, even though we can become discouraged by life’s long march, we all have something to look forward to. When we have a taste of something larger, when we can feel or see just a glimpse of what might be the bigger picture, aren’t we more excited about its impending arrival? Surprises are great, but when they come, our joy is instantaneous and quickly becomes happiness derived from looking backward. The anticipation of what is to come, an eternal life with God in Heaven, can help us get through the harsher moments. This time on earth provides experiences, both good and bad, which allow us to build an appreciation for what is to come. Our pain refines us and our joy fills us.

So, remember, this too shall pass. But, while we are living in this time of struggle...a life of struggle...recognize that there are also great joys around us and to which we can look forward. The refinement we are experiencing through this time can be a means to bring us enrichment and strength. We look forward to the great joy to come despite this momentary affliction, whether it lasts 90 seconds, 90 days, 90 months or 90 years. It is temporary; focus not on the temporary, but the eternal and the great joy it will bring.

Mar 30 - "The Servant Leader"

Mark 10:42-45 -- “So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ ”

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It is one of the more difficult things to do, to be a “lord” and a servant at the same time.

Each of us at different times in our lives, especially related to work and career, have most likely had the opportunity to be in a position of leadership. This same example of serving and leading can also apply to our family lives as older siblings, parents or grandparents, aunts or uncles. How good are we at leading and serving at the same time? On our best days, we do a great job of being available to provide support and guidance. Our directions are clear and founded in logic. We take the time to explain our actions. We teach. We help those whom we are leading and they see we are truly serving them and their needs.

But at times, we can slip into a mindset that our position as a leader has power and, as we know, power can corrupt. We restrict our presence, limiting access and falling into the trap of self-importance. We give arbitrary commands, barking out orders which may come from the fear of appearing incompetent or inadequate. We start to believe that the actions we take from our position of power do not require explanation or justification and take offense when questioned. We become selfish, focused on serving ourselves, leaving those whom we are supposed to serve feeling abandoned and on their own.

In the part of Mark’s Gospel, just before these verses above, we see Jesus predicting His own death a third time. A week from today, we will be reminded again of His torture and death in our observance of Good Friday. Yes, even though we continue to celebrate His life and in a couple of days, rejoice in His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, being praised as a King on Palm Sunday, we know His death is soon to come. Jesus, in His conversation with the disciples here, speaks very specifically about the connection between being “great” and taking on the mantle of service.

Jesus us gave us the ultimate example of servant leadership. During His time on earth, He used His power for good by healing, teaching and feeding thousands of people. He washed His disciples feet. He took on a thorn of crowns, was beaten, mocked and nailed to a cross. He purposefully remained in pain, blessing those around Him...even those who were responsible for the brutality committed against Him. He gave up His life for us, taking on the sins of the world -- past, present and future -- in order for us to have eternal life with our Father God.

Are we capable of such service? There are certainly those who come close. Men and women who have voluntarily entered the fray as a soldiers, policemen, firefighters and other first responders, and then gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives in order to save others are examples of this. But we also have the opportunity to serve in much more simple and abundant ways. Our actions every day in the little things we do for those around us are the ways we serve. We don’t have to think that service only comes in these giant efforts or intense sacrifices of time, talent or treasure.

So, how will you serve? How will you lead? Take time today to lend an ear or a helping hand. Commit that anonymous act of selflessness of which only you and God are aware. For we have the example in Jesus of the ultimate servant leader. Rejoice in the knowledge that He served us in order that we might be encouraged to pass along that same service to others, putting ourselves last and Him first.

Mar 29 - "Freed"

2 Corinthians 3:7-18 -- “Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside, how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory; for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory! Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”

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Do you feel free? When you think about the options you have available to you every day, at any given moment, do you believe the choice on how to act is yours alone?

Paul makes an interesting and important comparison between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant in his second letter to the church in Corinth. He talks about the Ten Commandments and how the rules and laws (all 613 of them, the Mitzvah) put in place by the ancient Hebrews pushed down and restricted them. The complexity of the rites, rituals, sacrificial requirements...pigeons for this sin, bulls for that sin, wheat for yet another...made for a labyrinthine path to righteousness. Contrarily, when Jesus came, His sacrifice fulfilled the Law and it was no longer necessary.

When I was younger, I remember thinking that I could not wait until I grew up and could eat whatever I wanted...and not eat what I did not want...stay up all night, do the things I wanted to do. I felt like the restrictions my parents, teachers and others in authority put on me were unfair and kept me from enjoying the life I wanted to live. Don’t we all feel this way as kids, especially as teenagers or young adults still living at home? Believe me, as parents of a sixteen year old daughter, Greta and I fight that battle every day, coming from the other direction.

I often chuckle when thinking about some of the dietary requirements associated with ancient rules and laws. Honestly, I do believe they came from God. I picture God saying to Himself thousands of years ago, “OK, I created these things called Lobsters and, when cooked properly, they taste awesome. If My Chosen People figure this out, they’ll want to eat it all of the time. But, I’m not sure they can figure out how to cook and eat these weird creatures in the right way without killing off most of their families. I’ll just put it on their hearts that they are not supposed to eat lobster. Once they figure it out in a few centuries...and by the way, I send My Son to fulfill the law...I’ll make it OK to eat lobster. Oh yeah...I need to do the same thing with pork because of that little Trichinella bug I created. That could be bad too.”

Sorry for the little bit of heretical familiarity with how God may think, but, it does help make the point that there are times when we need to follow rules and do things in ways that don’t seem to make sense at the time. We ask “why?” We can’t wait for the time when we will become unfettered from these rules. And yet, as we grow older and gain wisdom over the years, we start to realize that all of those restrictions had their importance at the time. They were the means to form us and steer us in the right direction, often keeping us from harming ourselves.

The glory of Christ’s sacrifice and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives takes the early laws established by Moses and his people, laws focused on things external to our being, and frees us to focus on what is inside. Why do we feel guilty or bad about ourselves when we do something we know is wrong? I’m not necessarily talking about when we break the speed limit or roll through a stop sign. I’m talking about when we say a hurtful word, when we don’t seize the opportunity to help someone in need or when we turn away from the Divine creation God has allowed and encourages us to be. We have these feelings of unworthiness because the Spirit is in us. When we made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into us and the veil is removed. We turn around and see God in all that we are and in all that we do. When the Spirit is in our bodies and our being, but we turn back to our old ways at times, the Spirit does not allow us to enjoy our sin any more. With freedom comes responsibility; to ourselves and to others. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)

So, I’ll ask again: do you feel free? It is a hard thing to consider. We feel free in the sense that we have immeasurable ability to make choices...good and bad...every day. But remember that the glorious blessing that comes with with freedom is the equal blessing of being given great responsibility, to ourselves and to others. Be encouraged by the fact that with our freedom, we are no longer bound by Laws which restrict our ability to love, to give, to provide help and to care. The law of death is gone and we are freed, glorious in the law of eternal life.

Mar 28 - "Stupid Questions"

Mark 10:2-9, 13-16 -- “Some Pharisees came, and to test Him they asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ They said, ‘Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, “God made them male and female.” “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’ People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.”

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Sometimes, we humans, when questioning the Divine, ask all of the wrong questions. Due to the often petty nature of our concerns and fears, we can spend time worrying about things which, in the scheme of things, do nothing to build up our faith or further God’s Kingdom.

Look at the Pharisees. They have Messiah standing in front of them, but they do not want to or cannot believe. Their hearts have been hardened. Because of their hearts of stone, they are focused on the wrong things. Instead of seeking a genuine understanding of the teaching and words delivered by God in human form, they spend time on the inane. Their goal of questioning is not to develop or embolden their faith. They are just trying to trick Jesus (as if they could). Their faith has become so complex and twisted that they are unable to see the simple and beautiful Holiness right in front of them.

Is this silliness, bordering on the heretical, left in the past? Unfortunately no. We still see today the battles fought even among Christians, related to what we believe. Arguments are pervasive and deep over sacraments and liturgy or translations of the Word. Vicious debate splits church communities over questions of sexuality and whether gay or lesbian brothers and sisters should be able to serve as ministers, clergy, priests or bishops. Let us not forget that one of the first major divides in the Church, splitting the Body of Christ into the Orthodox and the Catholic, was over one word (“filioque”) stated in the Nicene Creed (“...from the Father and the Son...” vs. “...from the Father and through the Son...”). What would Christ have to say about that?!?

There are many times when in a conversation, a person will begin a line of inquiry with, “This may be a stupid question, but...”. People who preface their comments in this way most often already know that what they are about to ask is either meaningless or not germane to the dialogue in which they are participating. They are usually asking the question for another reason; maybe to try and make an obvious point, trick the person presenting the information or derail the conversation in some way. Regardless of the intent, very often the questions are not genuine, seeking to understand, but are merely some kind of head fake with an ulterior motive.

One of my favorite funny websites is www.despair.com, which takes the traditional motivational posters we see everywhere and puts a cynical twist on them. There is one poster with a picture of a lightbulb, stating underneath it, “There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots.”

The closing of this section in Mark’s gospel, related to the faith of children, is not an accident. Whether the scene with these little ones approaching Jesus occurred immediately after the dialogue with the Pharisees or not, is irrelevant. What does matter is the juxtaposition of these two examples of “faith”; the complex and the simple. Do young children ask questions such as the one asked by Pharisees? Are they caught up in the silliness of petty concern? No. They approach Jesus with open hearts and smiles; they approach Him with love. Their faith in Him beautiful and genuine. Maybe this is because they are much closer to the time when their souls were with Him in Heaven before they were born, than we who have lived many years, where time has allowed our faith grow in sometimes cynical ways.

So, look into your heart and inquire, “Am I asking the right questions? Am I focused on the wrong things, when it comes to my faith?” Asking questions to build our faith is not wrong; God has given us inquiring minds which He wants us to use in a discerning manner, enriching our belief. But, we can’t allow things of this world to turn our hearts from genuine seeking to a position of asking the stupid questions.

Mar 27 - "Building Up"

1 Corinthians 14:26-27 -- “What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.”

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How much of your day yesterday was spent commenting, complaining, criticizing, gossiping or otherwise using words to do something besides speaking in a positive way? I certainly have days like these where it seems like I do nothing but spew out an unending stream of negativity. Every person I speak with on these kinds of days hears me complain about whatever is going wrong.

But does all of this negative talk help me? Venting can be an important cathartic activity when done genuinely in that way. “Getting it off your chest” can be a means to release the anger or frustration pent up inside, allowing a healthy cleansing of sorts. There are dozens of emails I have written and thankfully never sent, but the processing of putting down the words, reading and then promptly deleting them helped me work through the situation. It probably saved my job or a relationship on a few occasions. However, when we spend time in this gloomy and harmful state for too long and drag others into it, the value of the release can turn against us.

I have written previously about the power of words (Mar 2 - “Watch Your Mouth”). The spoken or written word can become powerful truths when repeated often enough. This is what Paul is telling us today. Our words can and should be used for building each other up. I do not think he was saying that we should make false statements or tell white lies in order to make someone feel good, even if we know the things are saying are not true. He is saying that when we are together, at all times, there is a way to use words to create a spirit of genuine support for one another.

The power of a person’s words, in my opinion, comes directly from the Spirit. Yes, words of anger and hate can come from the wrong kind of spirit, but the good ones, the ones which uplift, support and encourage certainly come from the Holy Spirit. When we hear a great speech, funny joke, an awesome song or other positive words, isn’t it funny how our first response is to share them with someone? We immediately forward a web link, call a loved one to tell the story, text to a friend or jam our earphones into the nearest family member, saying, “You’ve got to listen to this song!”. We know that the uplifting feeling we have is best when shared with others.

Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.”; truer words were never spoken. When a person takes the time to offer us genuine words of encouragement for something we have done well, it makes us want to do more of that good thing. I don’t think the way this is described as “building up” is accidental; the kind words make us stronger, enabling us to continue down a positive path.

So, today I offer you words of encouragement. You are perfect in the eyes of your Creator. You have been given gifts of grace and intelligence that are unique and special to you, even if the world tells you differently. Your smile is a thing of beauty. You have value. You are loved!

Mar 26 - "Let God Take Care of the Rest"

Romans 12:9-21 -- “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (a favorite)

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There are a few places in the Bible where a bunch of really good things are packed into one area. The fourth chapter of Philippians, 1 John and Colossians are examples of this, in my opinion. Believe me, there are also long stretches, like the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, where I struggle to find meaning in three whole books and dozes of chapter. It’s too bad that the writer of Ecclesiastes 6:11, who intimated “The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?” had not come before the author of the these books. However, this section from Romans is not one of those; here, less is more.

Paul seems to be writing this in a fashion that is almost a random stream of consciousness of sorts. These verses fall in a section of Romans which some translations (this one is the NIV) have entitled it “Love in Action”. To describe the gift of Love and how to transform it from being just more than a “feeling”, we see a list of all the things we can do to put our Love to work. Many of the things Paul lists are what you might call common sense: “Serve the Lord.”; “Live in harmony with one another.”; “Do not claim to be wiser than you are.”. There are others, however, which might not normally make the list of things you’d think about when describing how to put Love into action.

One of my favorites from this section is “Do not lag in zeal”. Don’t we all know that person who seems to be on fire with the Spirit 24/7? Every time we see them, they are full of joy, vibrant and alive. When a good thing happens, they are the one who cheers the loudest. These are the people we know and love who are the first on the dance floor at a party or the ones at the beginning of the line to belt out a tune at a late-night session of karaoke. They seem fearless. Their passion and zest for life is admirable, wonderful and beautifully contagious.

Another one I like is also the one I probably struggle with the most: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”. I tend to leave this one behind all too often. Whether it is someone I struggle with at work or in another personal situation, my first inclination is not to “kill them with kindness”, as this verse directs us to do. My actions to them do not reflect Love, but are the opposite. Does this make the situation better? Will these people to become my friends by treating them as my enemy? Certainly not. This is me trying to take control over a person as opposed to letting God handle it.

So, remember, all we are asked to do is love. Give Love...be Love. When we are truly living in the Spirit and walking along God’s path and plan for us, Love abounds out of our being. Know that focusing on all of our petty challenges, trying to control outcomes and dwelling to long in sadness puts a dark veil over our light of Love. Just love, and let God take care of the rest.

Mar 25 - "His Majesty"

Psalm 8 -- “Lord, our Lord, how majestic you are! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, who am I that you are mindful of me, that you care for me? You have made me a little lower than the angels and crowned me with glory and honor. You made me ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under my feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic you are!” (a favorite)

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Last evening, our family and friends celebrated the life of my Grandma Bonnie. The service was a beautiful remembrance of all the joy, wit, care, lessons, but especially...love...that she brought to all of our lives. The time we spent with many people yesterday sharing memories and stories, joy and tears, was a blessing for all who were there.

My cousin Kristin read Psalm 8 as a part of her tribute to Grandma Bonnie. Although I have read it before and heard it more than a few times...that it has been hanging in a frame at my parents house in the upstairs hallway for almost 30 years...the words came across to me in a new a special way. The power and humility of this Psalm brings to mind the fact that even though God created the most formidable forces in the universe, the stars, the planets, oceans and continents, He still cares for us above all else.

We so often discount our importance as God’s creation in this world. He has given us the ability to do great works. When we are at our best, we make amazing things happen. Whether it is a large group of people coming together behind a noble cause and changing the lives of thousands or a simple act of outreach by a single person anonymously to another where only they and God are aware of the gift given, all of it comes from the power God has created in us.

Yet, so often, we are not at our best.

Who am I that God is mindful of me?!? I am a flawed man, full of selfish thoughts and sinful action. Aren’t there more important things for Him to be focused on? I fail Him over and over again, and yet He still considers me of immense value, desiring that I always return and am close to Him. He has the ability to strike me down and return me to dust without a second thought. Why should he care for me?

All I can do is sit in sheer awe of His majesty. His ability to continually reconcile my failures and allow me again to be with Him is awesome and beyond my understanding. The fact that He would send His own Son to be a sacrifice for me, when I did not deserve such a gift humbles me to my core.

So, dear friends, recognize the fact that God has chosen you above all creation to be in His special care. He has given you power to change things for the better; to love; to bring joy; to spread happiness. Know that He will always watch over you, no matter what, and that even when we feel like we are at our lowest, when we fail Him, we can return to Him and His majesty will not fail us.

Mar 24 - "Our Unbelief"

Mark 9:20-24 -- “And they brought the boy to Him. When the spirit saw Him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ And he said, ‘From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out, ‘I believe; help my unbelief!’ ”

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Consider the father. Aren’t we all just like him, at times? Honestly, aren’t we just like him much more often than not?

Admittedly, this is a scary situation. For those of you who are reading this and have children of your own, it is easy to relate. This child has an illness, a disorder, which has remained uncured for his whole life. As a father of three girls, it is a very unnerving situation to think about. What would I do in this same situation? If doctor’s and their means have failed, would I not also seek out the miracle? A man has been roaming the countryside, healing all who come to Him. Would I not also take the chance that this might be the way to heal my precious child? But, I’ve been disappointed so many times, for so many years. I would probably come to this Man, this Great Healer, filled with doubt.

The father’s statement, his heart, is one we all share. We believe, yet we are unwilling or unable to live in the fullness of our faith in God and the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. Our faith is strong, but it is not complete. A portion of unbelief remains with us at all times. No matter how strong our belief, we still struggle with turning ourselves over completely to His plan for us. We hold onto this world, we maintain a frightful grip on using our own efforts to accomplish our goals, provide for our needs. Our faith grows faint because we are scared that when the miracle is needed, it won’t come.

But if we really think about it, there are miracles all around us. Some of them are bright, brief flashes. A small child escapes his mother’s grasp and runs into the street, but she catches and pulls him back the instant before he enters an oncoming car’s path. This is a miracle of seconds. Some of them take longer. The friend who goes through a long and arduous struggle with illness, at times seeming like she will lose the battle and slip away from this world, but the doctors’ treatments and care bring her back to health. This is a miracle of months. Others seem to take forever. The relationship between a parent and child, torn asunder in their early life together due to a divorce, but reconciled back together in relationship as the blessing of this parting is revealed over time. This is a miracle of years.

Then why do we struggle? Why are we just like the father? When we pray, our own hearts are often shouting out in fear, “I believe; help my unbelief!”.

Consider Jesus. Despite the heaping portion of the father’s unbelief, He does not hold His blessings back. Yes, He does take the opportunity to rebuke for just a brief moment, reminding us that “All things can be done for the one who believes.”. But blessedly, He is perfect and does not let the father’s lack of full faith get in the way of bringing the boy back to complete health. He does heal the boy, adding another miracle to the long list of those seen during His time on earth. A miracle which He knows will bring more hatred from the Pharisees and cause them to arrest, torture and kill Him.

We believe in God and His power to make miracles happen, but we need that extra bit of help to overcome our unbelief. Jesus is that extra help. We can call on Him to bring us the final distance from the end of our road of faith, along the broken path of doubt, gloriously to our Father God at the destination of our journey. Jesus is our friend, our teacher our brother, but most importantly, our Savior. He heals our wounds of fear, uncertainty and confusion.

So, when we find ourselves in that frightening position of doubt, call on Jesus to help your unbelief. He is the one who can bring us home to our Father God. He completes our faith and delivers miracle upon miracle upon miracle, no matter how many times we ask, or how many times we fail to fully believe.

Mar 23 - "More Than Meets the Eye"

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 -- “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

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These verses from 1 Corinthians are some of the best known in all of the Bible. Rarely is there a wedding ceremony where these words are not read. I’m sure anyone reading this today is very familiar with Paul’s words about Love.

Regardless of whether it is a Bible verse or other well known saying, when we hear something over and over again, it can run the risk of losing its meaning. How many times have you heard, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” or “Many hands make light work”? These sayings are repeated so often that we almost ignore them. When people say them to us or write them in an email, we can find ourselves rolling our eyes at the cliche.

Our desensitization can apply to the Bible just as well. Well known verses such as John 3:16 (“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...”), John 1:1 (“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God...”) or Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...”) can lose their meaning if we continually brush over them because we think we know them so well.

The message of Love in 1 Corinthians is timeless, important and beautiful. Read them again. These words call out that there are many wonderful ways for us to give and serve; yet none of them are of true value to us and to others if they are not done with Love. We can do great things, but without Love, we are merely going through the motions and our service can be missing the crucial element which enriches the server and the served.

It’s all about Love.

Going back to the 23rd Psalm for a moment: “He makes me lie down in green pastures...”. I’d never really thought about this verse. Why is it “makes”? I had always thought of it as more like He “lets” me lie down in green pastures. My interpretation was about the words implying a sense of comfort, beauty and peace. But there is more here. This Psalm starts out noting that the Lord is our Shepherd. It is a practice of shepherds that, when they have a lamb who continually strays, they actually take a hind leg of that lamb and break it over their staff. This forces the lamb to stay near. The shepherd then carries the lamb from field to field, taking it to water and nourishment. The Psalmist is saying that sometimes, God puts us in a “time out” in order for Him to keep us close and care for us more intimately. We talk about this verse in our prison ministry interactions. Many times, God has given our incarcerated brothers a literal “time out” and they have the opportunity to become closer to Him as he has done this to protect them from harming themselves or others.

So, I encourage you, my friends, return again to that well-known verse, that part of the Word with which you may think you are overly familiar. Is there more there to learn? Is there a new message for God to give you? Don’t let the Word become cliche, for many times, there is more than meets the eye.

Mar 22 - "Unworthy Yet Worthy"

Mark 8:27-33 -- “Jesus went on with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He asked His disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered Him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered Him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And He sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about Him. Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ ”

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It’s good that we can see examples of people in the Bible, especially those chosen by Christ Himself to go out and do His work, who make mistakes every once in awhile.

You gotta love this guy, Peter. He is all about trying to do and say the right thing. Of all the disciples, he comes across as the most human, down-to-earth bloke of the whole bunch. I picture Peter as someone who tries really hard, but just can't seem to get it right some of the time...just like me and you. In this conversation with Jesus, he thinks he answers Jesus' question correctly of who He is: "You are the Messiah!". Peter is probably thinking, "Yes! I know I got this one right!". But then Jesus comes back with a warning about Peter's answer. I imagine Peter slapping his hand against his forehead in a "coulda had a V-8" moment, realizing he got the answer only partly right.

After this dialogue, it seems that Peter pulls Jesus to the side for a private conversation. We don't know what he said to Jesus, but it was probably something about what could be done to avoid the pain and death Jesus has just foretold. Once again, his heart is in the right place. He may have said, "Jesus, look...why don't we go off to another part of the country, avoiding this local group of Pharisees who seem to have it out for you? Or maybe, let's just lie low for awhile, stop all the miracles for a bit? The local bakers are really upset about all the bread you've been creating and giving away lately. Maybe all of this can blow over if we keep it cool for awhile?"

How does Jesus respond? He basically tells Peter that he is the devil. He rebukes Peter for putting his mind on short term goals...things of this world...not on things eternal. Poor Peter. He probably slunk away from the group, saying to himself, "I am SO stupid!! Why do I say those things?!? Arrggh!"

Haven't we all felt this way?

We should take comfort in the fact that even though we don’t always get things right, Jesus still loves us and accepts us. He calls us to Him as we are, with no desire to make us be something that we aren’t in our most base, core and truest selves. God uses imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will. Look at what God did with Peter. Even with his faults and foibles, he became one of the most important early leaders of Christianity. Look at what God did with Saul, before he became Paul. The first systematic persecutor of early Christians actually held the cloaks of men who were stoning to death the followers of Christ. Even though he carried a hatred for those who followed Jesus, his letters to early Christian communities now make up a large portion of the New Testament.

So, it is OK when we have days where our words make us feel like Peter; times when we carry anger and hatred like Saul. God can see through all of our issues, He still loves and cares for us when we miss the mark. Fortunately, our Loving Father can break through the shell of inadequateness with which we often surround ourselves. He knows that we sometimes feel unworthy of His work. All we have to do is believe what He believes; regardless of when our Walk becomes a crawls, we are worthy.

Mar 21 - "Gifts" The Light and the Dark"

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 -- “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”

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What is your gift? You think you don’t have one? C’mon...think a little harder. We all have at least one.

The beauty of gifts we received from the Holy Spirit is that they come in so many different forms. And that is a good thing because there are so many different needs for the application of our gifts. Are you good with your hands? Go build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Do you have a talent for sewing or quilting? Make blankets for babies. Are you good at teaching? Volunteer for Junior Achievement or as a Sunday School teacher. Is organizing and coordinating your passion and gift? Believe me...you are needed. I have sat through enough meetings at service organizations and churches over the years, led by people who did NOT have have a gift for coordinating and organizing a meeting or project.

Gifts are meant to be used, not held onto for our own benefit. We all enjoy the feeling of a job well done, when we have applied our particular talent to a situation. This feeling comes, I believe, because we are aligned with God’s plan for us. He bestows these gifts on us with the intention that they be put to the good work of furthering His kingdom here on earth.

But, as we consider these gifts and put them to use, we also have to be careful. Gifts, even those which are applied with the most simple and humble intentions, can be turned to dark purposes. I think my parents would agree that I can pretty much talk my way out of any situation. This gift of persuasion can certainly get me into trouble at times.

When this type of gift is used to convince people of something that may not be altogether true, or an outright lie, the gift becomes a poison. We’ve seen powerful “leaders” throughout history turn this gift to evil intent. We see it in our own country every day, in Washington, D.C. Regardless of political party or belief, the new rule has become disingenuous dialogue, spin and the propagation of half truths. Gifts, when turned to self promotion and dark purposes, become tools of evil.

But the good news is, we more often see gifts put to good use and miraculous impact every day of our lives. We receive the benefit of those around us who offer their gifts to us openly and with love.

So, recognize that you have a gift. Give it to others with joy. Be encouraged that somewhere inside of you, God has planted a seed which He intends to spring forth in beauty.

Mar 20 - "A Little Goes a Long Way"

Mark 8:1-10 -- “In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, He called his disciples and said to them, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way – and some of them have come from a great distance.’ His disciples replied, ‘How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?’ He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have?’ They said, ‘Seven.’ Then He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks He broke them and gave them to His disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd. They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, He ordered that these too should be distributed. They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there were about four thousand people. And He sent them away. And immediately He got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.”

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Today we see the second time in the Gospels where Christ has fed many with little. He takes a minimal amount and, after blessing, breaking and sharing it, makes it much greater than the small portion with which He started.

Although the miracles of feeding four thousand people with just seven loaves and a few small fish is an awesome thing to witness, there is more here for us to see. The act of sharing might be the most interesting part of this miracle. The meal, having been offered up in thanksgiving and shared becomes plentiful and an immensely larger blessing than how it started.

When we hear about a friend who needs support through his wife’s illness, a family torn apart by grief or a community brought down by a natural disaster, why is our first inclination to ask others to pray? Once news of a prayer request has been shared with you, don’t you often send out an email or call a friend, asking them to pray too? From where does this compulsion come? I believe that deep down, we recognize that a burden shared is a burden lessened. Prayer is powerful. The more people who are praying about a need, the more powerful that prayer becomes.

Let’s also not forget that we can offer prayer in praise and thanksgiving for the good things. It is not hard to see that joy shared in prayer is joy multiplied. Think about that feeling you get when you hear good news, when you become aware of a blessing someone received or even a prayer answered. You are filled with joy and want to pass it along. When we offer thanksgiving and praise to God our Father in prayer, we are making the joy associated with that prayer more powerful as well.

We all get the emails on a regular basis where someone we know is personally effected by struggle or become aware of a stranger for whom prayers are needed. If you get a lot of them, it is easy to push them aside, almost discounting them as unwanted distractions. But really, how long does it take to say a simple prayer for someone in need? 5 seconds...10...30...one minute? We often say to someone who has asked for prayer or whom has shared a concern, “I’ll be praying for you”. How often do we stop right there...right at that very moment...and offer this up to God? I know I don’t. I think, “OK. Later today I’ll pray for that person.” Alas, the business of the day and demands on our time push that prayer into the background. Maybe at best we remember a couple days later to pray for that person. All it takes is a little prayer, a tiny moment to take up and share the burden.

So, are you carrying a weight, a burden or pain that is pressing you down? Share it with others in prayer. Many hands make light work. “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” (Philippians 4:14). Have you been given a great gift, joy or answer to a prayer? Pass the joy along to your friends and loved ones. “Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.” (Luke 1:58). Have faith that your joy is multiplied and your sorrows diminished when you share each of these with friends.

Mar 19 - "All for Glory"

1 Corinthians 10:31-- “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

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Why do we feel so great when reflecting on a job well done? As we sit back, looking at something we’ve worked hard to accomplish, relishing in the joyful nature with which we undertook its effort, where does that sense of satisfaction come from?

As many of you know, I am a runner. When I am out for a run (as I was just before writing this today)...especially one where I have no specific training goal I am trying to hit, with no watch on my wrist and hours of time at my disposal...I truly believe I am glorifying God. On that day, in the midst of His beautiful and awesome creation, working my body physically and often using my mind for working out some issue, His glory abounds.

People often ask, when discussing running, if I wear an iPod or other device, listening to music on my runs, especially the ones lasting 2 hours or more. When I first started running I tried this, but found on a couple of occasions, when accidentally leaving it at home, I enjoyed the time to think things through. Today when I run, I try to solve various issues presented to me at work or in my personal life instead of being distracted by the music in my ears. I often find myself in prayer, having a conversation with God about what may be troubling me or giving thanks for a blessing. I always tell people that I never come back from a run with more problems than I left with. By using this time in this way, I believe I am glorifying the gifts...my mind, my body, creation...which God has given to me, exactly for the purposes for which they were intended.

Paul’s word to us today, prior to this specific verse, is focused on his message to the church in Corinth about how they should view eating certain foods, especially those which have been sacrificed or offered up to other gods. But, I find his words in the verse quoted above also speaking to me about what we do to our bodies and minds on a daily basis. Speaking as a person who, over eight years ago weighed almost 100 lbs. more than I do today...who used to be very undisciplined about the things I watched on TV, viewed and read on the internet or listened to on the radio...I recognize the amount of “junk” we can put into our bodies and minds on a regular basis. I occasionally find myself slipping into old habits now and then. When I do, I certainly don’t feel very good about myself. There is no glory in the slow poisoning of mind or body.

To me, Paul is speaking about the importance of focusing on the fact that we have the opportunity to glorify God in literally all things we do; every minute of every day of every year. When we feel good...truly good...about something we have done, when we have that joyful sense of accomplishment inside, it is evidence that we have glorified God in that task or endeavor.

So, today, how will you glorify God? Will it be in the way you drive down the road? Will it be in the way you sweep the floor? Will it be in preparing a meal for your family? Will it be the way to speak to a coworker or even a stranger? Maybe you will glorify God by sitting quietly in the bright sun, reveling in His glorious creation, peacefully reflecting in quiet gratitude on the blessings in your life. In all of these things, we can feel the peace and grace of God, recognizing that when done honestly, gratefully, joyfully and well, all things can be done for His glory.

Mar 18 - "Our Daily Bread"

John 6:35-40 -- “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’ ”

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I am continually amazed at the ways reading the Bible brings new insight to me on a regular basis. As my life progresses and I hopefully get a little smarter each year, become more open to messages God has been sending and take time to recognize His daily miracles, it is awesome how I am blessed to see the Word in new ways.

Over the course of my life so far, I have probably prayed the Lord’s Prayer many hundreds, if not thousands of times. The prayer Jesus taught us to pray has been threaded through my existence for longer than I can recall. At some point in the very recent past...maybe even just a couple of months ago...I remember connecting a part of the Lord’s prayer to this scripture. The part of the prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread” had new meaning for me.

Until that moment, that gift of clarity, I had always taken the prayer very literally. I thought I was praying to make sure I did not go physically hungry, that God would provide food, nourishment for me. I can even remember a pewter serving plate at my Grandma Bonnie’s house, with a picture of men harvesting wheat engraved on it. Below the picture are the words “Our Daily Bread”. As a child, seeing this, how could I not interpret this part of the prayer as God providing Crunch Berries, Spaghettios and sugar cream pie to me every day? Sometimes the symbols which get associated with the Word can confuse the message.

But fortunately and blessedly, God provides us the opportunity for a continuing renewal of our minds and our souls as we spend time in the Word. When we read, reflect, share and discuss scripture in the spirit of love, new things come to us. Words we have seen many times and heard on numerous occasions become something new. People whom we think we know well, those whom we have just met, others we may have discounted for some reason, bring us the gift of our Daily Bread in so many ways. Jesus can come to us from any direction. If we ask for His presence, as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, He will come to us. We just need to look around for and be open to the surprising places we can find Him.

For many of you, my reflection today may be a huge statement of the obvious. You may be saying to yourself, “Duh...how could he have missed that one for so long?!?” For others, maybe it is shared moment of realization. In either instance, I am happy to have been given this new awareness and share in it with you.

So, today and every day, have a little Jesus. When you pray, ask God to keep Jesus and His love, miracles and sacrifice on your mind. As you go through your day, bring Jesus to others in your words and actions. In every face you see, person you meet and friend you embrace, look for Jesus. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but in receiving Jesus, our daily bread today, we can be fed and never be hungry again.

Mar 17 - "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff"

Mark 7:1-2, 5-8, 14-16 -- “Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of His disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

‘You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”

Then He called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’ ”

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There are many things I love about this exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees laid out in Mark’s Gospel.

The boldness with which Jesus speaks, calling out the Pharisees for how wrong they have gotten things over the years for the sake of their “tradition”, makes me love Him all the more as my Lord and Savior. There is no lack of clarity here.

He also, goes straight to scripture, as He does many times in His words, lessons and parables when making His point. He cites Isaiah and rebukes them for the path they have followed, making sure they are aware that it is easy to become focused on the wrong things and end up forgetting what it important about what God has spoken to us over the centuries; it also reminds us how we must be careful to not forget what Jesus has taught us. Above all else, we should love each other despite disagreements, whether minute or immense.

It is very easy for us to get caught up on the little things. Earlier this week, when I was spending time with my brothers at Hamilton County Jail, one of them mentioned a discussion he had with another person where the topic of Bible translations came up. He was told that the New International Version was “not really the Bible” and that the only real version was the King James. This is a bit silly and misses the point of the Word.

While were were talking, I mentioned the season of Lent. My friend asked, “What is Lent?”. We are supposed to stay very non-denominational in the jail setting. But, without thinking I immediately jumped into a description of what the season of Lent represents, in my faith tradition, as well as its culmination in Holy Week. Even though I felt like I was describing this in a very ecumenical way, I sensed just the slightest bit of tension in the room from a couple of others because, even though fellow Christians and brothers, not all believed as I do about the meaning of this season. But I have to turn this examination on myself a bit too. By speaking about Lent in this way and not turning the discussion towards the larger message of repentance and reconciliation, I myself was focusing on human tradition and not the commandment of God.

What other things do we find ourselves in disagreement on with our fellow Christians? This list is unimaginably long. There are thousands (not exaggerating) of Christian denominations, all with minor variations on the same theme. There are dozens of translations of the Bible, just in the English language. Even within our own small communities, within our own churches, we can find things to disagree about. It is so easy for us to get caught up on the small stuff.

The big picture is this: when asked about the greatest commandment, what does Jesus say? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew Matthew 22:37-40)

It’s all above love. Simply, beautifully and solely.

So, don’t sweat the small stuff. When we find ourselves arguing about versions and traditions and laws and rites, stop. Turn the conversation to Love. Focus on the thing we all have in common, that Jesus loved us and He has called us to do all, and no more, that He did for us. Love.

Mar 16 - "Mysteries"

Mark 6:47-56 -- “When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land. When He saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, He came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. But immediately He spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then He got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”

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I sit here this morning a little baffled. Today is one of those times that I read a bit of scripture and have more questions than answers.

Why would Jesus be walking on the water towards His disciples who were struggling against the storm, but “He intended to pass them by”? For His closest friends, Jesus was never shy about having them experience His miracles and healing power. It seems He could have just calmed the waters from the shore where He was standing, avoiding the potential of scaring them. Why the walk on the water?

After letting them know who He was, not being a ghost, why didn’t He just keep on walking to wherever He was headed? Why get into the boat? Obviously, He did not need it.

And then there is this bit at the end: “And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”. I totally get that they were amazed to see Jesus walking on the water and His ability to make the wind stop blowing. But, why add this part at the end about their lack of understanding because they were hearts were not ready or willing to receive His message? How is it related to the miracle of the loaves and fishes, which had occurred earlier that day?

One of the fun parts of spending time in the Word with others, whether in a Sunday School setting, weekly Bible study group or other setting, is sharing our individual perspectives on what these stories and words mean. Each one of us come from a different set of experiences, traditions and backgrounds making our perspectives unique. When I have been in these settings, sharing in the Word, I love hearing what others have to say, bringing a different interpretation and insight that only they can possess.

So, I ask each of you this morning; what do you think? Do you have insight into this story from Mark’s Gospel? The Holy Spirit comes to each of us and speaks to our hearts in a way that is unique, relating to the specialness of our individual experience. I encourage you to reflect on what God is telling you and share it with me. I’d love to hear what you think. Wisdom and discernment are gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we pass along these gifts to others, we allow the Living Water to flow through us, not only quenching the thirst of others, but refreshing ourselves as well.

Mar 15 - "A Way Out"

1 Corinthians 10:13 - “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (a favorite)

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Temptation. It is all around us. Every day and in so many ways we have opportunities to make the wrong choices.

If we are being honest with ourselves, each of us realizes that we have something, that secret sin, which we carry as a burden every day. Do you like to gossip? Are you carrying hatred for someone in your heart whom you need to forgive? Has money become your idol? Is there a lie you have told, over and over again? Have you become self-centered, boastful and prideful, worshipping yourself instead of God? Is your heart full of unhealthy lust, with the images of the internet and pay TV becoming your focus? All of these things and more represent weaknesses we have as humans and there are plenty of ways these secret sins get presented to us each day. We are tempted.

Because God has given us the gift of free will, He can’t keep us from seeing those those temptations as attractive. We yearn after them at times and then act. How do we feel when we give into temptation? Not very good. We beat ourselves up, tell ourselves we are worthless.

The good news is that God does give us a way out, a means to step aside from our temptation and not be drawn in. The way out can be a simple as a compelling Spirit, speaking to us and giving us words of encouragement which manifest themselves as thoughts in our heads: “You are strong! You can resist!” The way out can come in a phone call, email or message from a friend that snaps you out of your thoughts just at the moment before they move you from temptation to sin.

In my own life, one of my biggest struggles is always having the need to bring attention to myself, having this strong desire to be the center of things. If I were to use the most dramatic words to describe this temptation, it is the desire for people to praise and worship me. This is hard to write...it feels so very dark and sinful, but it is true. Why is it a sin? It is one because it is about putting myself before God; being full of myself and not being full of the Holy Spirit; seeking praise for myself and not for God. The need may come from the position of being the oldest child and grandchild in my family, always feeling the need to be “the example”. Maybe it is because somewhere down the line I began to believe the marketing messages we are shown every day, or that I am supposed to be successful and by focusing on myself, I will be able to climb the corporate ladder, make more money, have more power and authority. Who knows?

Whenever I feel myself falling into this sin, I can hear the Holy Spirit telling me, “Be careful. Who are you really focused on?” God will typically give me the opportunity to focus on something else or show me how powerful and glorious He is. This is the way out. It’s there all of the time, I just have to be willing to set myself aside and look for the exit door He has provided for me.

So, brothers and sisters, I ask you to consider, what is your secret sin? Do you know what it is? Recognize that the best way for us to be able to set aside temptation is to be aware that it exists in the first place. When we admit it to ourselves, confess it and own up to it, we have almost won the battle. As we feel ourselves slipping into that dark place of temptation, transitioning from thought into action, look around. God has provided a light to point you to the way out. Walk towards that light and not into darkness, for He has given you the strength to do it, if we only make that choice.