When Bad Things Happen to Good People

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. "Bad things happen to good people" that is a statement I have heard often usually attached is the word why. I guess it leaves one to wonder should bad things not happen to good people? What makes us think that we are exempt from sin and the effects of sin upon this world. The fact of the matter is that sin has effected the good and bad, sin effects us all. It is inevitable that bad things are going to happen. Even Jesus said it Himself, "In this life you will have struggles". The question shouldn't be why, rather, what or how, what will I do when bad things happen, how will I respond when trails come my way. According to this passage we should turn to the God of all comfort not away from Him. We cannot blame God for the bad that comes, that happened as a result of man's choice not His. We should turn to God who is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. Then as we move beyond any trial God expects us to be a agent of comfort to those who need it. It has blown me away how many times I have had the opportunity to share my brothers testimony and how that has been a comfort toward others. My brother had leukemia for nine years he struggled with it and then lost the war on Christmas Eve of 1993. That was a long trial and a very difficult one but God was glorified and many came to know Christ and still are coming to know Christ through the testimony of my brother and family. I praise God for the trial because it was through this trial that God called me into ministry and now am able to live out this passage day in and day out. Yes bad things will happen to good people but the key is how you respond to the trial.

Psalm 103:1-6

Psalm 103:1-6 1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. I have been reminded the last few days of the sacrifice that Jesus paid for me. I have been reminded of the goodness of our God and His love that He shows toward me everyday. This passage again is a reminder of that love and of the work that only God can do in my life. I am so thankful for the work He has done in my life and continues to do year after year. It is hard for me to believe that I am almost 40 and have been in ministry for almost 17 years. The time has flown by and I have no idea what the next season of my life will be like but one thing I do know is that I want to strive to live for Christ. I want to strike a blow toward evil and make a dent in this world. I am so thankful that God opened my eyes to this truth and to the need of the world around me. My hearts desire is to enable as many people to join me in this journey as possible especially my family. I love what I recently heard about our kids that they are like arrows. Psalm 127:4 "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth." I have a quiver of 5 arrows. My prayer for them is that God would give me the wisdom to point them at the right target and the ability to release them at the precise moment. If I read this passage correctly then my God is fully capable of doing just that but I must rely on Him and not myself.

Nothing to Be Said

Isaiah 53:3-11 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

Eternal before Temporal Part 2

1 Timothy 4:8 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. There is little question that temporal things like sports, exercise and many of things that this life has to offer are of value. I know that for me personally I have to exercise in order to be healthy. I know that doing these things is not wrong. The problem is that to often we get this verse backwards. For many it reads, "For godliness is of some value, but physical training (temporal) has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." We live in a day and time where there is so much emphasis put on the temporal that for many families, individuals they have very little time to focus on the eternal and instead of the verse from Timothy becoming a reality the Borton paraphrase is lived out. Notice what Paul said to Timothy about "godliness (eternal)" that it has value for this life and the life to come. Please understand that temporal things in and of themselves have no value for the life to come (eternal). Regardless of how wealthy, well rounded, physically in shape you are you are going to die and none of those things will matter when you stand before God. Now in saying that I also believe that in those temporal things you can do great eternal value. I have seen many students take the talents that they have and use them to glorify God has they stood for godliness with their peers, teammates, coaches. I have seen students focus on the eternal and use the temporal as a means to glorify Jesus and proclaim his name. But for the majority of those students is was because it started at home. I have had some ask what would you suggest for us practically in order to put the eternal before the temporal. First understand there is no magic formula or set way of doing things. Second you have to be obedient to how God leads you as an individual and family. With that said I do believe the Bible gives us some help. Enter Deuteronomy 6:4-8 4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. For our family here is how that translates practically. We use "Keys for Kids" (www.cbhministries.org (Google it) as a resource to help us. In the morning we gather as a family and read the passage of scripture that "Keys" suggests for reading that day. We then discuss the passage together as a family. We then spend time praying for the day, for each other and also pray for a country of the day provided by another resource Operation World (www.operationworld.org). Both of these resources will send you a daily email. Then at dinner and yes we eat dinner most every night and do our devotional from (Keys for Kids). Then just before bed we gather everyone again in the living room and pray together as a family typically having two of our kids pray and then my wife and I will alternate nights and close in prayer. Again this is what works for us and may not work for you. But to do something is better than to do nothing. Also please understand that we know that even though we are doing everything we can to create an atmosphere for the eternal that ultimately our kids have to choose and by the way we have to choose to put the eternal first. I hope and pray that this will help you as you strive to draw closer in your relationship with Christ.

What If Your Name Was in the Bible?

Acts 9:36-43 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon. I realize that what I am about to write is not the main point of this passage. But check out what Luke writes about Tabitha: She was always doing good and helping the poor. As I read that this morning I thought to myself wow this lady I do not believe is mentioned anywhere else in scripture, but what is said about her, makes me wonder if somehow my name was mentioned in the Bible what description would follow. All through scripture we see names of people, with a description attached. If Luke had known me what would God have inspired him to write about me? I know maybe it sounds selfish but it just really got me to thinking about my life and what is my life all about?

Eternal Before Temporal

2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. As I think about this passage I reminded of the value of living Duet. 6 out in my family. That the greatest investment in my children's lives is eternal not temporal. That the time we spend in reading scripture, praying, having family devotions is far more important than the time we invest in their education, recreation. Our society has placed so much emphasis on the temporal that there is very little time left for the eternal. But for us as Christ followers this cannot be the norm. If we put the temporal over the eternal our kids will not be "thoroughly equipped" for whatever God capacity God calls in their lives. We cannot buy into a system that frankly is failing. We cannot buy into the trap that our kids must have these temporal things in order to be successful in life and forsake the eternal. The eternal according to verse 17 will lead them to be "thoroughly equipped for EVERY good work." Too often I have seen family after family choose the temporal over the eternal to what end. Their kids graduate from high school and graduate from their faith. However I have also seen those families that have put the eternal before the temporal and have watched their kids graduate from high school and continue to grow in their relationship with Jesus. And of course have seen exceptions to both because regardless of how much one focuses on the eternal we as parents cannot change a heart and each of our children will choose for themselves which direction to go. But honestly that is not what God will hold us accountable for, where we will stand accountable is whether or not we were faithful in doing our part. Please do not get me wrong I am not saying that our children's education, recreation are not important but they pale in comparison to the value and importance of the eternal. Do we want kids who love and want to serve Jesus? Which emphasis is more likely to help them choose Christ, temporal or eternal?

You Are My Witnesses

Isaiah 43:10-13 10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” "You are my witnesses" and again the Lord says "you are my witnesses." I have often heard it said that when something is repeated in the Word of God especially something directly said by God that this means its really, really, really important. "You are my witnesses" of what? As I look at this passage, witnesses of his deity, his power to deliver, his sovereignty and supremacy as the only true God. I wonder does my life give testimony of those things? Do others see in my and in my ministry those things? Today may I just reflect on my witness, today may I find myself intentionally thinking about God and about his power at work in my life.

Make Every Effort

2 Peter 1:5-9 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Wow what a great passage! However sometimes a very difficult to practice. Two key phrases leap out of this passage: 1. Make every effort and 2. Possess these qualities in increasing measure. Make every effort means intentional, means work, means I have to make a decision to do something about it, means I cant just sit back and hope I will. Make every effort means I need to do whatever is necessary to add to my life spiritual qualities listed here in this passage. Possess in increasing measure means not only do I need to be intentional, work, choose and not be lazy about it but I need to be increasingly doing these things. Why? Two reasons, first because then they will keep me from being ineffective and unproductive in my relationship with Christ. What is is that causes us to be ineffective and unproductive, it's sin. Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. These qualities are qualities that do not just come naturally but supernaturally. These are qualities that the Bible makes clear will help us in our relationship with Christ. Second if we dont is nearsighted and blind, another words unable to see the God given Passion that he desires for us to follow, the path will become extremely difficult to follow. Your Word is lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. We ignore the relationship we will be unable to discern the path of God in our life. What a scary place to be, depending on ourselves to direct our lives. UGHHH!

Why Worry

Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. I love it when I read a passage of scripture, while I am facing a roadblock in my path that potentially I think could keep me from doing what God is calling me to, and that passage like the one above dismantles that roadblock. It's so easy to get our focus on all things around us instead of the one who can meet all of our needs. It's so easy to get our focus on the why, whats, when's and how's that we lose focus of the one who can answer all of our questions. It's so easy to forget that God never forgets and that He knows my needs really even before I do. Thank you God for the reminder this morning that you know all my needs, that you are in control and that I have nothing to worry about it in my life. I must learn to seek first your kingdom and your righteousness and as I do you have promised to meet all of my needs. May I rest in you today knowing full well that these verses are true and point me to the one who is all truth.

2 Chronicles 20:1-30 Part 4

Today we conclude our story of King J. In verses 24-30 we find what happens to the armies that are coming to attack. The Bible says all were dead not one escaped. Then the people began to take their plunder from the armies. This was what happened after and army defeated another they would take their gold, and weapons and horses, whatever was left over. The Bible says that there was so much it took three days to remove it all. After that the people rejoiced and spent time praising and thanking God. Wow what an incredible story of a man who relied on God, God spoke, King J listened and obeyed and God blessed them far beyond what they ever expected. God will do the same for you. But the catch is that we listen and obey God. As we do God pours out His blessing upon us. Today are experiencing God’s blessing or not?

Father I want follow after you. I admit that at times it is difficult. The pull of this world upon me is great. The pull of my own human weaknesses is greater. I praise you because you are greater than both. Give me the strength to obey and the determination to follow no matter the outcome.

1 Samuel 17 Part 3

Today as we conclude this week on David and Goliath we also conclude our month of looking at God’s character. Today look specifically at verses 49-58. God comes through just as David said. God delivered Goliath into the hands of this young man. God always comes through no matter the circumstance or issue. God always prevails, always comes through just in time. You may say why does this matter in my pursuit of Godliness? Understand if you pursue Godliness, if you pursue God He will come and meet with you. When we pursue Godliness in our life God will always work all things to good. That what Romans 8:28 if all about. God works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Just as David pursued God and trusted God to do as He said. We also can trust God that as we pursue Him, He will come through for us. Just remember that sometimes we limit the good He promises to only things that make me feel good or seem to better me in some way. Don’t forget God’s ways are not ours nor His thoughts my own. Example my brother Nathan that passed away from cancer. We had prayed for years that he would get better, and then he died. Some said that God did not answer our prayer. In some ways they were right, he did not answer it the way we wanted it answered. In some ways they were dead wrong. When my brother died he was completely healed of cancer. Sure I miss him, but God’s plan was different from mine and yet it turned out to the good.

Father help me to keep your will in mind as I seek you. Thank you that you promise that if we will pursue you, you will work all things out to the good. Help me to see the good you have for my life and not limit you to the good I only think is possible.

The Path to Truth

Proverbs 1:1-5 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. I asked my kids yesterday as we were discussing an issue how they knew what they were saying to be true, they replied with various answers, but it led to a discussion about how we can know what is true. The above verses Solomon exhorts his readers that Proverbs is for gaining wisdom and instruction and so on. The Word of God is truth without any error and what it says we can trust. Another words for me if God's Word says it then that settles it and what I need to do is align my thinking with God's Word not the other way around. Today in our culture the later part of what I just said is becoming more and more true. Its sad but instead of leading to the above things that Solomon said this kind of practice is leading to foolishness, lack of understanding. I love how one of the mantra's of being PC is unity, peace and harmony. However what I see is completely opposite of that, why because the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so I believe its safe to say that disregard of God is the beginning of foolishness. If we think we can have love, peace, unity apart from God then we are sadly mistaken. Why? Because God is love, God is peace, God is unity and to experience these we must experience God. Father help me to pursue you today, help me to be an expression of your love today so that others might see you in me.

The Spiritual Body

1 Corinthians 12:12-22 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. Think about that God himself placed the parts of the body. As I think about my own body it causes me to praise Him because even though I do not understand fully how my body works, I know that it does. Even though I cannot see how all the parts are working together, I know that they must be. Each part doing its part to complete a given task, working together in just their God given capacity to accomplish a bigger goal. As a follower of Christ this passage gives me great encouragement especially this verse as I know that God has gifted me and has purposefully placed me in the body in order to function as a part of the Body of Christ to complete a much bigger goal than just what I can do. I am so thankful to be a part of a local body that is allowing God to use each one of us to accomplish his mission. Give me strength and help me to function properly so that the body may succeed. Father thank you for placing me in the Body just where I need to be and doing just what I need to do in order to accomplish your goal. Give me the strength to each day serve you and allow you to work through me!

You Are Gifted

1 Peter 4:10-11 New International Version (NIV) 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. This verse is my greatest desire for my children, myself, my family, my friends and all those who call Jesus as brother. Some may say well shouldn't your desire be for them to fulfill the "Great Commandment" or the "Great Commission". Think about this passage if you and I were to use the spiritual gifts that God has given us, if we were to use those natural talents that God has given us to serve others, to speak the very words of God, wouldn't those to calls on our life be fulfilled. My greatest desire is to see the people of God use the gifts of God to bring Glory to God. I believe if every Christian would allow God to work in and through their lives then the "Great Commandment" and the "Great Commission" would be realized and fulfilled. God has given each of us certain spiritual gifts and natural talents weaved together with experiences, our temperament to shape us into a tool to be used by Him to make His Glory known all around us. You may say I'm not gifted, I do not have any talents and to that I say not true. According to the Word of God even in the verse above you are gifted and God's intention is that you use that gift to Glorify Him. You may not know what it is or how to find it, but it's there and ready to be used. I want to suggest something to you, get involved in ministry(serving). Get involved in a ministry at the church, go on a mission trip, begin looking at wherever you are at as an opportunity to serve, to Glorify God. Over time and effort you will discover how God has gifted you and how that gifting can best be used to glorify Him. The question is not whether or not you are gifted the question is to you want to put it into practice. Father help us to recognize that you have gifted us for serving you, help us to take that gift that you have given and glorify you with it. May you give us understanding to discover it, and strength to practice it and the desire to glorify you with it.