Wisdom is a voice

I began my Bible Study in Proverbs this morning.  I was struck as to how the author of Proverbs described wisdom.  I've been praying James 1:5 for years.  I've asked God to give me wisdom based on that verse.  Proverbs is all about wisdom.  The author describes the wise person as one who listens.  Wisdom is described as something that speaks. In Proverbs 1:20-21 it says Wisdom calls, Wisdom raises her voice, Wisdom cries out and makes her speech. In Proverbs 2:1 it says turn your ear towards wisdom.  Proverbs 2:6 it says God gives wisdom and knowledge and understanding come out of His mouth.  My prayer today is I hear wisdom. 

Why can't I have a floodlight?

I was doing my Bible Study in Psalm 119 today.  I came across a verse I've heard hundreds of times in vs 105.  It says:

Your word is a lamp for my feet,a light on my path.

When it is dark, a lamp will give me just enough light to see just in front of me.  Sometimes I wish God would give me a floodlight so I could see way out ahead.  But God chose to let me see just ahead.  I guess it is so I will depend on Him more. 

Yet

I’m doing my morning devotions in Psalms right now. I noticed the same thing I observed in Judges—well actually the whole Bible. The Hebrews had cycles of sin, discipline from God, cries to God, deliverance, and peace. I think my life has been guilty of this too. This morning the Bible says in Psalm 106 that despite their sin God saved them. The term David used was “YET.” I’m glad no matter what I do, God “YES’s” me.

Give me a sign

I've been praying for the same thing for over 3 1/2 years.  It isn't a selfish prayer either.  It involves me but it is about a place of serving.  My wife actually had a dream about it first.  I have heard God give me a date but that date has passed twice.  Does that mean it is on a date in the future or the decision was made on the date that passed?

I've prayed for God to give me a sign on a few occasions.  Most of the time it is kind of a traumatic or drastic answer.  Years ago, I asked God to give me a sign about going to seminary and our whole sales team was let go three days later.  I laughed because I knew that was a sign from God.  God told me in no uncertain terms to go to Highlands College and Luther Rice Seminary at the same time.  Has it been overwhelming? Yes.  But make no mistake, I heard the voice of God telling me to do both.  I'm trusting that He will sustain me.

I've heard some say that putting out a fleece like Gideon did is not showing faith.  Maybe.  But King David was called a man after God's own heart and he asked God to give him a sign of His goodness.  That is recorded in Psalm 86:17.  So if a person who is considered a man after God's own heart can ask for a sign, can't I?  I have prayed daily for God to answer.  I've been teased on several occasions.  I have prayed through at least 6 if not 7 21 Days of Prayer asking God to answer this prayer.  Obviously, my wife's vision was wrong or it is not time yet.  God has not even given me a hint of this happening.  With that in mind, I asked God to give me a sign.  Our 21 Days of Prayer ends tomorrow.  I've been faithful to participate 100%.  I'm expecting God to answer.  But He is God so he can do it when He sees fit.  But I wait expectantly.

Children have no rights

Last night my wife shared with me the horrific news that New York State is allowing abortions up to until the birth date.  You can read about it here.  What kind of world do we live in where babies can be killed up until they come out of the mother's womb?  What adds insult to injury is that the Governor and supporters of the bill rejoiced.  Who rejoices over the death of another person?  Our daughter was born a month early. If we had lived in NY, my wife could have aborted her.  Thankfully I have a Godly wife and that was never an option.  I know no one reads this but I can't believe how far our sins as a nation have come.  Come quickly, Lord!

Rest

We live in a busy world.  It is only going to get busier.  I come across people every day who are stressed.  I've been stressed myself the last few weeks. I wonder if I've bitten off more than I can handle.  However, God told me to do what I'm doing so I am going to trust that He will give me the strength and the rest I need.  Psalm 62:1 says, "Truly my soul finds rest in God." It is repeated in vs 5.  Jesus talked about rest in Matthew 11:28-30:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

So my prayer today is that I find rest.  Rest is only found in Jesus.

IS

Have you ever noticed how often God is described using "IS" or "BE?" The Lord Almighty is.  God is.  It is nice to know that God is with me and that he is God.  It is comforting to know that God will be with me.  Nothing profound today, just a reminder that God is.

Life is short

The older I get the more I realize that life is very short.  Young people die early.  In Alabama this last week we saw two officers killed.  King David talked about how brief life was in Psalm 39.  He asked God to number his days and said that everyone is just a breath.  I don't know if I want to know my days. I think it would make me delay things if I knew I was going to live for many more years.  I want to live like there is no tomorrow.  I want to see people come to Christ and experience the peace I have in God.

Silence

I'm not a fan of silence.  Ironically, I sleep with a fan on and have since college.  I used to have a radio or tv or something on at all times.  In recent years, I have learned the value of silence.  I drive around town often in total silence.  Last week when I came back from Atlanta, I drove the entire way back in silence.  I stopped listening to talk radio over 2 years ago.  I do listen to podcasts, worship music, and audiobooks while in the car.  However, it is not uncommon for me to drive in silence.

What I don't like is when God is silent.  I've posted about the many times God has spoken to me.  But there are times when I feel He is silent.  That is when I do introspection and see if there is sin in my life that I need to confess.  But often times God is silent and I've done nothing wrong.  I mean I'm all confessed up.  Why would God allow us to go through extended periods of silence?  I wish I knew the answer.  I believe it is to teach us.  King David dealt with the silence of God.  In Psalm 35:22, David asked God not to be silent. 

I feel like I've never been closer to God.  But at the same time, I sense He is silent.  Silent because I would like some direction on vocation and ministry.  All I can do is do my best and know that God is silent for some reason.  I don't have to like it.  God doesn't owe me an explanation.  But I can also ask God to speak.

He Delivers

One of my pet peeves is when people don't do what they say they will do.  Last year I emailed a person or I thought I did.  There were actually two people with that first name and so I sent it to the wrong one.  The person I emailed to was no longer with the organization so the email went to the leader at that location.  He called me immediately to see what he could do for me.  Then gave me the proper email.  Ironically, that leader now leads the organization I spend a tremendous amount of time serving.  He delivered.  Now, since then I've had several others who have not delivered on responding back to me.  The sad thing is I'm not after anything.  I just want to see where I can serve. 

One thing about God is that He always delivers.  I was reading in Psalm 34 today and I was struck by vs 19 where it says that righteous people will have "MANY TROUBLES."  At first, I focused on the troubles.  But the real story is that the Lord delivers.  Psalm 34:19 says He delivers.  Verse 4 says he delivers.  So, I may fail people God delivers.  People may fail me but God delivers. 

Wait

I confess I'm not a good waiter.  I don't mean a server at a restaurant.  I just don't like to wait.  My wife is not on time very often.  I'm always on time and usually early.  Very early.  At church, they show a video every week before the service starts and it counts down to the start.  I consider us late if we aren't in our seats when the video starts.  I hate to wait on roads even if I know I have time.  I just don't wait well.

That isn't good in a spiritual sense.  In Psalm 27:14 David says,

Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

I know I'm supposed to wait for God, but I don't like to wait.  I'm waiting right now for something.  My wife had a vision about it 3 1/2 years ago.   I really want it to happen.  I sense God does want it to happen, but it hasn't yet.  Not sure why.  I'm making preparations for it to happen.  I'm doing my part.  For some reason, God has had me wait. I don't have to like it.  I'm not God. My prayer is that I will become a better waiter. So I will wait.

Who is your trust in?

When I was growing up in the 1970-80's I got pretty interested in politics.  I didn't want to be shipped off to Afganistan or Iran.  I was involved in a pretty cool program at my high school called "American Studies" my senior year.  It was an unusual program that wasn't tied to a set schedule.  We had days where we would spend more time in English. Other days especially in 1980 we spent a lot of time in Political Science.  Our teacher was also an Assistant Principal. He was a huge part of the Republican Party.  At that time in Alabama, Democrats were very conservative.  But the Republican Party was starting to become a power in Alabama and still is today.  Our American Studies program allowed us the opportunity to go out an campaign for the Presidential Candidates as part of our class.  A few friends of mine chose to campaign for Ronald Regan.  The night of the election we were invited to the Republican headquarters in Tuscaloosa to watch the election results.  Because of Jerry Falwell's "Moral Majority," Regan and the Republicans swept the country.  I was excited about it and soon left for Samford University with all intentions of getting a Law Degree and entering politics. I thought that God would use me in Politics to change the world.

Fast forward a few years and I became disillusioned with politics.  It seemed like pastors and church leaders were more concerned with winning elections than winning people for Christ.  The Moral Majority gave way to the Christian Coalition and if you were a true Christian you would vote for the candidates that the prominent pastors told you to vote for.  As God began to give me more grace in my spiritual gifting, I became apolitical.  I'm conservative, but I began to notice that most people serving in politics didn't actually "serve."  They just wanted to get elected.  So, they may check off the boxes from the Christian Coalition, Moral Majority, and any other group, but they didn't actually vote that way.

I actually got off of Facebook for almost a year in 2016 because of politics.  Politics divides.   That is why Jesus didn't come as a political leader.  In Psalm 20:7 it says, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord or God." (NIV) I don't get why men and women who have been called to reach people for Jesus get involved in politics.  I'd like to meet one Christian who actually lives by their Christian principles as a public servant. I've never met one.  And what is worse, we have prominent pastors and college presidents going all-in on our current president no matter what he does.  I didn't like the alternative we had in 2016 but I would never say, as the President of a large Christian University in Virginia, that the President can do no wrong.

When are we as the church going to put our hope in God instead of politics? 

He answered

I started my Bible study in Psalms today.  I love how in Psalm 3:4 David called out to God and He answered David.  I know a lot of people want God to speak to them.  I think what they want is an audible voice from God.  I've never heard an audible voice but have had God speak to me many times.  The most recent was Saturday as I was leaving for 21 Days of Prayer and I sensed God asking me to put on a Salvation band around my wrist.  One of my friends gave it to me a few months ago and God told him to give it to me then.  That same day I led someone to Christ using it.  I gave it to the person I led to Christ.  So my friend gave me another.  I was convinced when God gave it to me that I would hand it to someone else that day but I didn't.  However, God used our team to lead 8 people to Christ so maybe God just wanted to get me thinking about sharing my faith.

Accept Good Without Trouble?

I started my Bible Study in Job this morning.  What a depressing start to a book.  Job had everything and was blameless before God.  Because of how he served God, God allowed Satan to attack him.  When God asked where Satan had been, he said roaming the earth.  That is so true when you see all of the evil in the world.  We had a police officer killed in Birmingham yesterday.  I doubt he expected that to be his last day.

After Job lost everything his wife urged him to curse God and die.  I would be lying that I haven't thought about letting God zap me. I have never thought about killing myself but wonder if it would be better to go on to heaven.  But I don't think God is done with me yet.  After Job's wife asked him to curse God, Job said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" (Job 2:10b)

I have had nowhere near the trouble that Job went but I've been a whiner and wondered why God would allow stuff to happen to me.  I need to take the words of Job to heart.  Another great part of Job 2 is in vs 13 when his friends just sat with him and mourned for 7 days without saying a word.  That is what is called the ministry of presence.  The best thing for people in grief is just people to be there for them.  We don't need sermons and Romans 8:28.  Why Romans 8:28 is true, it needs to be heard later. Let people grieve.

Overwhelmed

Do you ever feel like the world is closing in on you? This past year had to be the most stressful of my life. We moved into a new house and it flooded with sewage. My mother in law moved in with us & caused the flood. Then my job & pay changed drastically and not for the good. Now, I’m not sure if I have taken on more than I can handle. I guess that is where God wants me. I sure can’t do all of this on my own.

Training

God has gifted me with the Spiritual Gift of Evangelism. Today was my regular 2nd Saturday to be part of the door-to-door evangelism team. What I’ve loved about this ministry is that I get to share my faith on a regular basis. Because God has used me to lead people to Jesus, people want to come with me to learn. Today, two people came with me. One was one that has been with me before. I was excited to see her lead 3 children to Christ. The other was new student in my Evangelism Class. I was able to train him and he led someone to Christ. I get more excited seeing other people I’ve trained lead people to Christ than when I do. Cool day!

A Time As This?

Have you ever wondered why certain events happen in our lives?  Have you ever wondered why you are in the job, city, church, friendship, marriage, etc at this time?  I wish knowing God's will was an easier thing.  I've realized over the years that it isn't about finding God's will but doing God's will.  Sometimes I've been put in positions that are very hard.  I ask God, "why?"  But the real question is are you here for a time as this?

Esther became Queen because of her beauty.  The problem was she was a Jew and no one knew.  One of the King's executives Haman got angry at Esther's cousin, Mordecai because he refused to bow down to him.  Mordecai asked Esther to let the King know what was going on.  But Esther said no one approaches the King without an invitation.  She feared she would be killed.  The King already got rid of one wife.  But Mordecai asked if Esther was put in her position "for such a time as this?"

It got me thinking why I'm in the position I am now.  About this time last year, I voluntarily took a demotion.  I won't go into all of the details but after being away from my family for the last week, I know I made the correct decision.  I don't think it is healthy for marriages and families to be separated for a week at a time.  Why even get married if you aren't going to be with your spouse? 

But the point of this post is why am I in the position I'm in now?  I eat, sleep and breathe leadership but I'm no longer in a leadership position.  Why would God have me in this position for this time?  I don't know the answer but I'd like to know. 

Do I have a sign on my forehead?

I often joke to my friends that I must have a sign on my forehead that says “ask me for help.”  I often get people to stop me and ask them for money. Tonight on my way home from my doctoral class in Atlanta I stopped at the Dollar General to get a Powerade. On my way in a man named Sarah asked me for some change. He was a tall man and I just felt led to give him what I had on me.  I don’t normally do that. I usually just offered to buy them something but I don’t like to give away money. I asked him if he had a relationship with God he said yes he was sabed. But that’s not what I meant. He said that he did have a relationship with God and I went to the convenient store next-door to get some gas. As I was pumping my gas a lady name Chris was trying to get my attention. I had just given her all of the cash that I had on me to Cyrus.   Chris told me that most people won’t even look at her or acknowledge her and she thanked me for just acknowledging her. I listen to her story about how she had been in a bad car accident on interstate 20 and then after that we came home. She said she used to make $120,000 a year. I asked her if she had gone to any churches and asked for help or even the Salvation Army? She said yes and that she was actually staying in a hotel with another lady. I asked her about her relationship with God and she said that she was a believer. I asked her if I could pray for her and she said yes. So at the Citco in Lithonia prayed with Chris.

Something Chris said to me haunted me.  She wasn’t upset that I had no money on me.  She said she was glad that I just acknowledged her. I wonder how many people I ignore or a daily basis? Maybe that is all the people I want is to be noticed. I don’t know, but it makes me wonder. This incident I hope will change me. I pray that I will notice everybody and aknowledge them.  I can’t imagine how lonely it must be to be ignored by people.

Disappointment

Life never goes exactly like we plan.  Most of my life has been full of blessings.  However, not everything goes the way I had hoped.  I think God allows disappointment so that the when we have victories they are sweeter.  Also, think about the lessons and humility I’ve had to learn from my failures and disappointments.  If had never failed, then I don’t know if I would have ever learned resilience.  I don’t like to be disappointed or fail, but I do know there are reasons God allows them to happen.

Remember

There are certain events that mark people.  December 7th is a day that those who grew up during  World War II remember.  The assassination of JFK was an event that people a little older than me remember.  The assassination attempt on Reagan and the Challenger  disaster were events that marked my life as well as 9/11.  

Often times we remember events like those because of something tragic.  These events are instrumental in leading people back to church. As I was reading in Nehemiah this morning I noticed that as Nehemiah was leading people to rebuild the wall, they experienced opposition.  I don’t think anyone who has done anything great has done so without opposition.  One of the things that I noticed is what a great leader Nehemiah was.  He aknowledged the opposition but he had the people focus on God.  He said in vs 14, “Don’t be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families.”

I hope that I will remember that God is great and awesome instead of the opposition that is in front of me.  Our church began 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting today.  It is a challenge to get up early every day to pray.  It is hard to fast.  But remember that the Lord is great and awesome.  The word I will take today is “REMEMBER.”

Make the Big Ask

Today my Bible study led me into the book of Nehemiah.  I've heard plenty of sermons on this and remember reading a book by Chuck Swindoll on this book.  A few things struck me about my study today.  First, it was apparent that Nehemiah had a good relationship with the King.  The King saw that Nehemiah was downhearted.  After the king asked what was wrong, Nehemiah prayed right there at the moment.  That made me realize I need to be praying all of the time. I wrote about that a few weeks ago. I've tried to become better praying-- even asking God what direction to go on my commute to my companies that I serve?

The second thing I noticed was that after the king how old Nehemiah go and rebuild Jerusalem, Nehemiah made the big ask.  I wonder how many times that God has laid something on my heart and I was afraid to ask somebody to let me do what I felt God was calling me to do? Now when we planted a church I did make some big asks. 

How do we know if God is with us? Well, I think it becomes apparent by how God opens doors.  Nehemiah was granted his requests.  I think there are times when God gives us what we ask for we think it's going to be smooth sailing. However, in chapter 2 verse 10 of Nehemiah, he faced opposition. I think we need to always expect opposition.  Now I don't think we should be seeking it out but we should be looking for around to see where it is because it is there.

Another thing I noticed, was that Nehemiah didn't come storming into Jerusalem acting like the savior of the world.  He surveyed the situation for 3 days at night so he didn't draw attention to himself.  When he finally told the people of Jerusalem his vision they replied, "let's start rebuilding."  I think people are drawn to vision. I know I am. It is frustrating to be part of an organization that has no vision or it is a confusing vision and or you don't understand the vision or you don't like the vision.

After the people agreed to rebuild, the opposition began to mock and ridicule them. So this let me though realized that opposition doesn't stop just because people see the vision.  One of the things I've noticed from great leaders is that they keep the vision in front of people.  They remind them of the vision over and over. 

I noticed was in chapter 2 verse 20, Nehemiah remembered his call. There are so many times it seems like it will be time to quit, but I have to remember my calling.

Still Hope

We live in a society of depression and despair. Over the last few years, I have been discouraged to see so many people take their own lives. What is really amazing is that some of them are strong Christians and even pastors. The hurts that these people deal with is real.  If somehow you were reading this and you are feeling depressed or in despair, I encourage you to get professional help. I would never discount what you're going through.

Today I read through the book of Ezra in the Old Testament. It is an interesting story about rebuilding the temple for the Hebrews. When I got to chapter 10 the last chapter, the people repented of their sins.  Took total control for what they had done.  In Ezra 10:2 I was struck by this line: "But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel."  I started thinking about my life and the life of others. No matter what we've done or how bad we've been there is still hope. God doesn't give up on us. We may give up on ourselves, or we may give up on others, but God never gives up on us.

Some of our despair is our own fault and we must do with the Hebrews did in chapter 10 of Ezra, repent which is simply a word that means term. But sometimes are despair comes from nothing that we did. There is still hope.  That Hope comes from a relationship with Jesus. I'm not talking about religion, I'm talking about a personal relationship with the God of the universe. So no matter what you're going through please remember that there is hope and Hope has a name and it's name is Jesus.

Again & Again

I finished my Bible study in 2 Chronicles this morning.  Thankfully, the last few verses gave a little hope when Cyrus was instructed by God to build a Temple in Jerusalem.  But that was one of the few bright spots in this book.  Today I started in chapter 34 and it was good to see a King who tried to follow God and renewed his covenant to God.  But even he didn't listen to what God had to say from Necho.  The part that struck me this morning was how the Lord sent word through his messengers "again and again" in 2 Chronicles 36:15 and they didn't listen.  In fact, it says in verse 16 that there was "No Remedy." 

I wonder how often God tries to warn me over and over, again and again?  I pray that I listen and heed his warnings.  I pray for my own life it never gets to the point where there is no remedy.  Now I'm not one that thinks that the US is like Israel in any way.  However, I wonder if any blessing we have had has been removed because our nation has no interest in God.  Even some of the Evangelical leaders have sold their soul to get ungodly people into office.  One prominent leader said that the President could never do anything for him to remove his support.  Really?  Nothing?  I will never follow anyone blindly except God.  I hope that we get some new Evangelical leaders who embrace goodness and godliness not what's best for them.  I'm a small voice.  In fact, I have no real voice that anyone would listen to.  But I do have a relationship with the ONE who can change the outcome of the world.

Serving God doesn't mean an easy life

I get annoyed by pastors who teach if you give your life to Christ and all your problems go away. That's not what Scripture teaches. That Jesus said that if we follow him went to pick up our cross daily which means death. I have been studying in second Chronicles today in chapter 32 It says that Hezekiah had been faithful, yet the king of Assyria invaded Judah.  And got me to thinking that serving God does not guarantee a stress-free life.  In fact, after this happened King Hezekiah showed strength and leadership and told people not to worry that God was with them.  The king of Assyria tried to make the people of Judah doubt God's ability. But because of King Hezekiah's leadership and faith they trusted God.  In verse 21 it says the Lord sent an angel and annihilated Assyria. Verse 22 it says that the Lord saved Hezekiah.

Even after this great victory that God provided, it says that Hezekiah became proud.  When God disciplined him Hezekiah repented. There are times that God does amazing things even in my own life.  I'd be lying if I said the pride doesn't creep into me too. As I reflect on this past year, not a whole lot to be proud of. Maybe that is God's way of humbling me.  I'm not sure what the future holds but I am trusting that God will fight my battles for me.

Resolutions?

This time every year people make New Years Resolutions. I have made them myself in the past. I don't know what the research is but I'm sure that very few people keep their resolutions before the end of January. Last night my daughter asked me if I had any resolutions?  I'm not knocking anyone has resolutions, but I make my resolution as I go along every day.  Why would I wait until an arbitrary deadline to make them? God told me to make some changes in my life my Spring when I was doing the Freedom Curriculum at my church. Why would I wait to make changes at the first of the year that I should have made immediately? 

I'm already a pretty organized person.  I guess you have to be to have a full-time job, teach as an adjunct and working on two college degrees at the same time.  I'd like to think that I'm tuned in to the Holy Spirit so that I make changes as I'm convicted and challenged.  Sometimes it takes a book I'm listening to, a podcast I'm listening to, a sermon I'm listening to, a friend or a family member to point out things that I need to change.  So did I make any resolutions?  I make them every day.