Tag: Obedience

Today’s Word Is UNLIKELY

Tue-Jul-21-2020

There are times you are going to be called on to accomplish something that you don’t think you’re suited for. God doesn’t use our normal criteria to pick someone for a job. You or I would choose someone with talent in the desired area and available time to commit to the project. We might also go for someone with high self-esteem who is well respected, someone who would answer “yes” with great confidence.

Not God … He has a flair for performing the impossible with the unlikely! In the Book of Judges, the land of Israel is being harassed by the Midianites. The Israelites could be overrun and destroyed if something didn’t turn around and soon. I’ve been there a few times, things are falling apart, and I feel hopeless. How about you?

But God had a plan and sent an angel to tell Gideon he had been chosen to pull off the necessary turnaround. Of course, to Gideon this didn’t seem like divine orders, it seemed like nonsense. He thought this angel was a strange traveler who didn’t know what he was talking about. So, his response was two-fold … “I don’t know what makes you think God cares about us; he has abandoned us!” … and then … “Even if this could happen, you’ve got the wrong guy! I am not a leader or a warrior.” Judges 6:15… “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

So here is the take-away for today. God uses willing people, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses, their high or low station, or their level of confidence to accomplish the following purposes:

First, he comes to resolve a serious need and accomplish a kingdom purpose, especially if it seems impossible to us. He wants to achieve the victory, and to create joy, thanks, and celebration.

Second, he wants to do it in a way that creates faith in you and others. Sometimes that means using the seemingly least qualified candidate, otherwise we would all praise that person for the success. God wants us to know that we can’t do it without his divine help. That way the praise goes to God, not any of us.

Finally, God wants to demonstrate that he can use you to do amazing things with his help. This requires humility plus faith plus courage.

If God is tapping you on the shoulder about something that he wants to accomplish, listen up. It might be simple … help one person in your world (at home, at work, wherever) to experience a turnaround that they desperately need. Or perhaps he sets your sights on something much bigger and intimidating. If you list all the “worldly” reasons you’re the wrong person for the job, you could miss a chance to bless one person or many.

If you think you’re the least qualified, the least likely candidate … well, there you go … it wouldn’t be the first time God took that approach! You could draw out the argument for days and days, like Gideon did, or you could go for it!

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PRIORITIES

Mon-Jul-6-2020

“When we have our priorities in order, we feel the love God intended us to feel, for Him and for our families.” – Matt Holliday, Former Left Fielder, Colorado Rockies, Now on the Coaching Staff at Oklahoma State University
“I try to spend as much time as possible with God and my family. That’s more important than anything I’m doing in baseball.” – Albert Pujols, First Baseman, Los Angeles Angels

Your work life is important, but not the most important. You will not look back at the end of your life and say, “I wish I had spent more time at my job.” You are more likely to be thinking, “I could have spent more time with my family, developed my faith more, known God better, accomplished more kingdom things, and influenced the next generation in a more positive and powerful way.”

Priorities change throughout life, and the priorities that are most important are our priorities right now. In hindsight, I have lost time over the years that could have been spent on a higher priority. I would tell myself, “I will wait until later to do that.” But right now, it is best to repent of the past, be refreshed and forgiven, then adjust our ways, and live more consistently to God’s priorities for this time in our lives.

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)

Self-criticism has no place in this process. Lay down the old way. Pick up the new way. Don’t look back. Don’t entertain regrets. Move on in faith. God has some important things for you to do, maybe some of which you have known about for quite a while, or maybe new things. If you should have acted on certain things long ago, that’s OK, that moment is gone … not to worry … look ahead not back. Act now.

God is more concerned about “this day forward” than “what you missed.” Once you are faced forward with a renewed attitude, God may have a new direction for you, one He has yet to reveal. Perhaps God has been waiting for a day like today, when you stand up, listen, feel a passion rise up within yourself, and make a declaration: “Yes, Lord. It is time. I am ready.”

Have a blessed day!

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is IDEA

Fri-Jun-12-2020
It’s Humor Day!

Frank and Beulah don’t get out much at their age, but one day Frank gets this idea that he is going to ride horses with his best friend, Ralphie. Beulah thinks this is a bad idea. “Frank, you haven’t ridden horses in decades! You’re going to get yourself hurt, and then you’ll be out of commission for weeks!”

Nevertheless, the next day Ralphie comes by to pick him up and off they go to ride horses. After two or three minutes of riding, Frank falls off! “Oh my gosh!” Ralphie exclaims. “Are you OK?”

“Sure, I’m fine,” replies Frank. “Just a little shaken up. I’m a little rusty, you know.”

“Let’s quit and go home,” Ralphie suggests. “Maybe Beulah was right. This was a bad idea.”

“No way,” insists Frank. “You know we did this a lot when we were younger, and we always got back on to show the horse who’s boss. I can do it. I know I can.”

So, Frank gets back on and rides some more. But wouldn’t you know it, he promptly falls off again! Ralphie is concerned, of course. “Frank, that’s enough. You’re going to really hurt yourself, just like Beulah said. She will never let you hear the end of this!”

“Now Ralphie,” Frank starts. “I know this is a little unusual, but I used to be so experienced at this. I am going to try one more time. I just know I can do it.”

Back on the horse, Frank holds on tighter this time. It looks like he might last longer than before, but no, off he goes again. “That’s enough, Frank,” Ralphie says firmly. “We’re going home!”

“Aw, come on, Ralphie,” Frank pleads. “Have some confidence in me. Just one more try. P-l-e-a-s-e.”

So Ralphie explains, “Look, Frank. I know I agreed to this, but we’re done. Besides, if you want to try one more time, I’m going to have to go back into K-Mart and get some more quarters!”

Some things are just bad ideas. Did you ever have one?

In Exodus 32, the Israelites, having escaped Egypt through the Red Sea, were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, waiting for Moses to return from an encounter with God on the mountain. While Moses was in the presence of God receiving the Ten Commandments, the people below were getting restless. Moses had taken so long that they were beginning to think he might not be coming back.

So, they appealed to Moses’ older brother Aaron to take control of the leadership. They knew they were supposed to have an encounter with God. They knew they were headed for the Promised Land. So, an idea emerged.

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”  So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!”  (Exodus 32:1-4)

Bad idea. Have you ever rushed into something because you couldn’t wait for God’s plan to play out? Theirs was a tragic mistake. And lo and behold … Moses showed up as they were dancing and celebrating the golden calf that was their new god.

And Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?” And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil. For they said to me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ So I said to them, ‘Let any who have gold take it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” (Exodus 32:21-24)

If it weren’t so tragic, this could but one of the most humorous statements in the Bible! In verse 4, Aaron is “fashioning” a golden calf with a tool. But in verse 24, Aaron says, ”and I threw [the gold] into the fire, and out came this calf.” Really? That sounds like an eight-year-old trying to explain something to an adult who knows full well, that’s not what happened!

There is a phrase in this passage that describes what their impatience with God really was. Aaron said, “You know the people, that they are set on evil.” True. And obviously Aaron was not going to shoulder any of the blame. It was their fault! If you are a believer, you know that the truth will prevail. Bad ideas are just that … bad ideas. And there are consequences.

Don’t go for the bad idea. And don’t be afraid to tell someone else, “That’s a bad idea.” Be patient. God’s idea is best.

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is AWARE

Mon-Jun-1-2020

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way through the sea and a path through the mighty waters, “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:16,18,19)

There is a song that says, “God will make a way, where there seems to be no way.” I hope you believe that. Just like the Israelites facing the Red Sea, we often look forward and mistakenly think there is no way. We think about “former things,” about what worked and what didn’t work. We conclude that those things which worked will still work, and what didn’t work still won’t work. Not so with God.

Let us read this verse carefully, because “remembering” is an important biblical principle. Isaiah is not telling us to forget the past. The book of Deuteronomy repeats many times the need to remember God’s faithfulness in the past as we proceed forward in our faith journey into the future.

Think about how Isaiah phrases it. “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.” He is warning us against intentionally dredging up memories of failures. Because new challenges call for new approaches, and God constantly presents us with a new way forward. God knows that if we rely exclusively on  what worked or didn’t work before, we can easily lose focus on him. He wants us to trust him!

Isaiah is pointing out that if our thinking excludes God’s power to do new things, then we may turn back instead of moving forward. God wants you to make it. You are his beloved. There is a difference between being “aware” of the past and being “confined” by the past. And as we are aware of former things, so must we also be aware that God is greater than former things. He has new things.

On the other side of the Red Sea, there was going to be a kingdom purpose for the people of God to fulfill. Thus, the Red Sea had to relinquish passage to those called to the Promised Land. Beyond our obstacles are purposes and dreams. Not selfish ones. Big ones. Kingdom-sized and kingdom-focused.

God will move obstacles and part waters for those who pursue his preferred future. Moses believed in the promised future land. But when driven into a trap in pursuit of that dream, what would he do? An army behind him, a great sea  in front of him. Would Moses be aware of God … of his presence, his purposes, his power, his promises, his plan? Are you aware of all these things in your present moment? It’s the key phrase of this passage … “Will you not be aware …?”

So, Moses listened to God’s instruction to hold up his staff toward the obstacle, the Red Sea, thus declaring that what should not have worked … was going to work … crossing the sea without a boat or a bridge … because his thinking took God’s purpose and ability into account.

Stop looking at how things used to be, used to work. The past is behind you. The future is on the other side of that obstacle. What are you going to be most aware of … the past behind, the obstacle ahead, or God above? From your vantage point, the promise out there may not be visible. But from God’s vantage point, it is.

Now occasionally, God says to live with things as they are for now, but more than we are aware, he says to move on, trust him. And when he speaks for action, take your staff, and hold it up in defiance against the obstacle. Yes, that can be a risky, scary act of faith. But it is your signal that you are aware … aware of the past, aware of the dream, aware of the obstacles, and most of all … aware of God’s ability to do a “new thing.”

If God has a purpose in mind for you, you must not be limited by the way things have been working up until now. In your wilderness, God will make a road. In your desert, God can make a river.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark


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Today’s Word Is CONSEQUENCES

Fri-May-29-2020
It’s Humor Day!

In the Prohibition days, “revenuers” would go out into the mountains looking for illegal moonshine stills. One such revenuer was trying to track down a particularly well-known moonshiner. He came to the house where he thought the man lived. Outside the house there was a young boy clothed rather raggedly and sitting in a tree.

“Hey there, young fella,” the revenuer said from a distance.

“Who you and what you want?” replied the boy.

“I am looking for a man named John Smith. Do you know him?”

“Yessir, I do. That’d be my grandpappy.”

“Is he at home?”

“No sir.”

“Could you tell me where I could find him?”

“Well, sir, he’d be down at the still about now.”

“Could you give me directions to where that is?”

“Yessir, for five dollars I could.”

“OK, son, I can do that. Tell me where to find him.”

“First you pay me the five dollars.”

“Now, son. The way it works is that you tell me how to find him, and if he’s there, then I’ll come back and pay you the five dollars. Is that a deal?”

“No, sir, that won’t work. The five dollars first.”

“No, son, first I go find him and then I come back and pay you.”

“The five dollars is first, Mister, ‘cause you ain’t coming back.”

I heard that story from the wonderful Nell Mohney, author, speaker, and newspaper columnist, whose husband Dr. Ralph Mohney was the long-time pastor of First Centenary United Methodist Church in Chattanooga. She was a treasure who inspired many.

Here is my application of Today’s Word … There are some sure things about sins. They have consequences. There are certain decisions we make such that if we go down that road, we will not be coming back to the way things were. Fortunately, if we are in right relationship with God, we can be forgiven. But the blessing of being forgiven will not undo the consequences we caused regarding our own future nor the damage caused in the lives of others.

Often, we find that our foolish desires may have a temporary benefit, but afterward a great cost. It can be said of the temptation to sin, that it will “take you further than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay!” Let’s help each other not to go down those roads from which there is a great cost and no coming back to the way things were.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is PREPARATION

Tue-May-26-2020

KEY THOUGHT: Sometimes we think we should be doing a bigger job, or a different job. Thus, we can get frustrated and impatient with what we are doing right now. We want to get on with “doing my dream” and this doesn’t seem to be it. But … you could very well be going through this job or this season to prepare you for something that God has in mind … something you don’t know about yet.

For instance, in the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel was sent to Bethlehem to the home of Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel, even though it would be many years before this king would be put in place.

Samuel was presented with 7 different sons to choose from, but one by one the Lord whispered “no” as each was presented. Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him to me…” (1st Samuel 16:11)

The 8th son was named David, apparently not regarded by his family as kingly material or a candidate for greatness. But … you guessed it … Samuel had him summoned and he was the one … the future King David. When did he become King? … 15 years later! Meanwhile, he worked hard, was faithful to God, and patiently did what was before him.

Have you ever felt like you were doing something menial or without purpose, like tending the sheep? And there was no likelihood of a higher calling or purpose? Well, in David’s case, the tasks that make up shepherding were actually miniature versions of the skills needed to 1) defeat a giant named Goliath with a slingshot, 2) serve in the present king’s court, playing the harp, 3) battle enemies with his sense of confidence, and 4) care for a nation of people, like a shepherd cares for his sheep.

I had a discussion about this topic yesterday with my older daughter, who lives in California. We have both worked through the tension between seeing greater things and living in the present faithfully, trusting God for what we do not see.

My wife and I have also lived out this scenario, working in places where unfair things sometimes happened. We were constantly asking God for endurance and patience, questioning the reason for having to continue in something that seemed to have no purpose in the larger plan. We have both been released from jobs by bosses who seemed callous. And we have both continued in other situations for longer than seemed necessary.

Then there came times for all of us when God opened a new door. When that happened, we realized that the difficult time we had in a certain place was the vey thing necessary to give us the training, experience, and endurance to step into an opportunity we could never have had without those frustrating phases, lessons learned, and skills gained.

The season of life you are in right now, the job you are doing, the situation that seems like you are spinning your wheels … might very well be preparing you for something yet to come. Don’t despise where you are. Be faithful to your present situation. God has a plan. Give him time. Serve him well in small things … and wait … the best is yet to come.

Keep on keeping on,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is GIANTS

Mon-May-4-2020

My mom was afraid of spiders. She would tell my dad, “There’s an enormous spider in the bathroom!” He would take care of the problem, but he was aware that the word “enormous” really gave the spider more credit than it was due. That’s the key today – giving an obstacle more credit than it is due.

In the Old Testament we read of the Israelites escaping from Egypt and being led by Moses to a Promised Land from God. When they got to the border of the Promised Land, Moses sent out 12 spies to check out the prospects of taking the land over from its present occupants.

This should have been a formality, right? After all, God had brought them out of Egypt by miraculously parting a sea. He had provided miracles of food and water, even though they were stubborn and disobedient. But even with Moses leading them, and with an assurance that God is surely with them, you and I know what happened when those 12 spies, one from each of the 12 tribes, ventured into this new land to see who and what was there. They saw fruitfulness, spacious land, several towns of regular folks, but then there were those GIANTS!

When they returned to Moses and the people, after 40 days of exploration, they told of a land of “milk and honey and much fruit” (Numbers 13:27). However, 10 of the 12 spies advised against going in and completing the “mission.” The reason? … “There also we saw the Nephilim [giants] … and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33)

And who were the two spies who disagreed? … Joshua and Caleb. So, Caleb stood up and delivered what we would call the minority report. “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” (Number 13:30)

How could 12 spies take the same journey, see the same things, and report opposing conclusions? Surely Joshua and Caleb saw those giants! But obviously, they also saw something else – something bigger than those giants – because they didn’t just look out, they looked up! They saw the hand of God at work – leading them this far – and now farther.

Do you tend to report the obstacles? … or the opportunities? … Do you focus on the strength of the opposition? … or the power of the Spirit? Are you intimidated by big problems? … or confident of the problem solver?

We are not grasshoppers – we are God’s people. But those Israelites were allowed to make their choice. They spent 40 years in the desert until an entire generation was gone – all but Joshua and Caleb. Everything really comes down to faith, doesn’t it?

When you are facing something difficult (like today maybe?), remember that when God is part of the picture, the discussion sounds different, the thinking changes direction, and the results will confirm your faith.

Don’t give the big spiders – or the giants – more credit than they are due. Instead, see God and take courage.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is BETRAY

Wed-Apr-8-2020

This is about Judas. But it’s not just about Judas. It’s about what he represents. Betrayal is a harsh word that we wouldn’t want to use lightly or mistakenly label someone with. Betrayal is the last step of a process that probably had what seemed to be a noble beginning or at least a harmless purpose.

It starts with the idea that “I have a better way of doing things.” And that is a pride issue. In the case of Judas, this was complicated by the fact that he thought he had Jesus’ agenda figured out. This created a license in his mind to make judgment calls about what Jesus should be doing to fulfill his purpose.

Prior to the betrayal of Jesus, there is only one Gospel narrative that involves Judas. In the text below I am going to replace the words “300 denarii” with the value of today, which would be about $54,000.

John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for [$54,000.00] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Judas clearly thought Jesus had made a mistake in allowing this usage of the perfume. Judas had a better idea – give it to the poor. After all, doesn’t that reflect more of what Jesus is all about? And there’s the problem. Judas did not know what Jesus’ high purpose was. And John was right … Judas did not care about the poor … he cared about having a better idea … he cared about looking good in the eyes of others … he cared about himself.

A self-centered person can easily justify their words and deeds as acceptable, and then look at you like, “Don’t you get it?” I’m sure you know people like this. Their statements and actions often leave you baffled. How did you come to such a mistaken conclusion!?

Fast-forwarding to the final week that we call Holy Week, Judas has a better idea again. I can set up a confrontation and we will find out some things, and I can make a little money in the deal. Will the Pharisees really destroy him? And will Jesus really let that happen?

You know the rest of the story. Jesus calls him out at the Last Supper. After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21) It is Judas, and Jesus hands him some bread dipped in wine as a sign. Then after [Judas] had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (v. 27)

Obviously, this did not all work out as Judas expected. Was he thinking Jesus would rise up and defeat the enemy and take over? Who knows? But he took the betrayal money back and went and committed suicide.

Here’s my point for today. The heart of faithfulness and belief is to trust God to set the higher purposes and guide the course of our lives, even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Our world is full of people who have ideas about how God could do things differently and better. The Israelites fleeing from Egypt couldn’t resist confronting Moses at moments when God didn’t seem to care. Moses certainly had some difficult exchanges with God, raising his own questions at times. But the difference between Moses and the people was that Moses obeyed because he trusted.

I hear this all the time … and you do, too … How could God let this happen? Why doesn’t God fix this and change that? I have also had such questions along the way. But … although I can’t identify the exact moment it happened, nevertheless, I changed. I began to trust the story God was shaping. I learned that if anything needs changing, it is me. I realized that what I don’t understand will make sense someday … if not in this life, then in heaven.

People ask why would Jesus be the only way to God? Doesn’t God love us enough to let us get to heaven in these other ways I’ve heard about? That is not faith. Faith says, “God knows why.” Faith says, “Let go and let God.” Faith says, “God’s Word is true.”

The road to betrayal starts with thinking, “I have a better idea than God does.” Don’t go down that road.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is COLLABORATE

Mon-Mar-23-2020

Do you sometimes feel like giving up on something? … Even though it is very important? But it just isn’t working out?

Maybe your usual way of solving things is not getting results. This happens to folks who compartmentalize God. Although He has promised to “walk” with us, never forsake us, it is like we keep him in the back seat of our “car.” And thus, it is a bit misleading to tell people that “I know God is with me” … if “with me” means he’s just a silent passenger (who would really like to say something if invited!).

There are folks who rarely discuss things with God throughout the day. It’s no wonder that things frequently don’t work out so well. Our best friend, the wisest of all, is waiting for the invitation not just to help, but to be our guide, our wisdom, our everything. Instead we go about solving daily problems without Him, and sometimes give up on important things too soon.

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples didn’t know what to do next, so several of them went out in their boat fishing (their old career). They were having no luck, when a man called to them from the shore. (At first, they didn’t realize it was Jesus.)

So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. (John 21:5-6)

God wants us to collaborate. “Co-“ means together, “labor” means work … work together!! And not just occasionally … all day … every day. God doesn’t need to be a passenger; he needs to be driving our car!

Often, we are throwing our nets on the wrong side of the boat. We have our own habits, methods, and solutions. If we listened to God, there is another way … a “God way” that is outside our logic. Don’t be afraid to cast your nets “one more time” before you give up. And listen to God, because he may not have you cast your nets in the “same old place.”

My guess is that the disciples remembered this scenario happening before, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he called Simon, Andrew, James and John to follow him. They had fished all night with no catch.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:4-6)

There may be a “catch of fish” waiting under the water, but you keep coming up empty. Maybe your first job is just to believe it is there. The success God wants you to have is not just to catch the fish, it is to “co-labor” with him in doing it … to “collaborate” in the success. What are you facing that in your mind has no reasonable solution? For me … well … I have this stormwater problem under my driveway that is threatening our property, and I haven’t found a solution yet. But I am not giving up, because God knows where the answer is, and in his good timing he will reveal the solution.

In these uncertain times, you may be dealing with a looming financial crisis. Even though the answer is not visible to you, it is visible to God. And this fact applies to any problem, not just financial ones. Do you have a problem child? Difficulty at work? Health issues? Keep listening to the voice of Jesus. He is right there in the situation with you. And at the right time, things will work out, probably in a manner you do not imagine, and you will confess the name of Jesus as the supplier of your need. As Simon said, “… because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Have a blessed day,

Chaplain Mark

Today’s Word Is FOLLOW

Thu-Mar-19-2020

Several years ago, my friends Harry and Belinda sold their house in an upscale East Brainerd neighborhood and purchased a farm across the mountain. Harry had grown up on a farm in Middle Tennessee, so this move was a return to a familiar life and a closeness to the land. He now has “100 head of cattle.”

Harry told me one time, “It doesn’t work for me to drive these cattle into a pasture. If I am behind them trying to force them in a certain direction, they go every which way. But if I get out in front, they will all follow me around anywhere.” The same could be said about flocks of sheep, which are depicted in artwork as following a shepherd toward a new pasture. And this is how the life of faith works … following.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. (Matthew 9:9 NRSV)

There is an excellent group study by Henry Blackaby called Experiencing God, which you should definitely experience. One of the principles he teaches is to watch what God is doing and then participate. Too often we get involved in what may be good things, and then ask God to help us. But the life of discipleship should have a different approach. Instead of asking God to “bless what we are doing,” it is more in line with the teachings of Jesus to “do what God is blessing.”

For instance, suppose you want to start a prison ministry, but find it hard to get organized and recruit volunteers. This goes on for a while with minimal progress, and you are constantly praying to God for help and direction to make this work. Meanwhile, there are teenagers at church or among your friendship connections that seem to have an affinity toward you. They ask you questions and seem to trust you. Maybe God is trying to tell you something. If you are paying attention, you would see that God is working on teenagers in your presence, while you are spending your time trying to start a prison ministry. It would appear that God wants you to mentor teenagers, not prisoners.

Pay attention to what God is doing, and then follow. Let him lead you. You and I are the sheep. We don’t need to be out front, leaving the shepherd behind. The notion of “I did it my way” that is glamorized in a popular song sounds alluring, but it is self-centered. My version of that song would go more like, “I did it my way, and messed things up!” I would rather sing it like this, “I did it God’s way, and amazingly it was much better.” That ought to be obvious, or as Homer Simpson would say, “Well, Duh!”

It is not really our job to figure out what to do, or even to figure God out. It is our job to follow him and to watch what he is doing and do that! … Follow … Watch … Join.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark