Keeping the Momentum

Scripture:
Psalm 57:1-3
Philemon 1:1-9

Recently I have had thoughts that my life is half over keep popping into my mind.  As the years keep creeping by I often think about what will I be doing when I reach the so called golden years?  Someone I know goes every week to visit a friend who lives in a nursing home.  He and his wife travel all over the world every chance they get.  They covet every moment they have with their grandchildren.  I also think about a Sunday school teacher I once had.  She was an older woman who lived her life for God.  We can all look back and see those who are older who fervently served the Lord.  

All too often we think that as we get older we lose our value.  The truth though is we do not lose our value but gain value.  We have a legacy to leave behind.  Our story is one for the next generation to learn from.  Even in the golden years we can honor and glorify God.  Paul in Philemon 1:9 states “…It is as none other than Paul an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”  Even though Paul was elderly he didn’t stop or slow down the ministry God set before him.

In all things let us give thanks to God trusting in Him.  Psalm 57:1 “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You;”

Time to Wait, Time to Go...

Scripture:
2 Samuel 2:10-11
1 Timothy 2:8-10

One of the areas in my life that I seem to struggle with time after time is waiting on God’s time.  Several years ago I had thought God was calling me to be a pastor.  I had it all planned out.  I would finish my degree and then it was off to seminary.  When that didn’t work out I thought maybe I just need to be a Methodist Local Pastor, part time.  So I started the process for that.  When that fell through I started to think I was wrong in God’s call.  Nancy and I went on the Walk to Emmaus and I caught a fresh glimpse in the right direction.  I thought great I am ready lets go.  It was time to get started, so I thought.  God however, had a different plan.

David was faced with the decision to wait for God or do it himself.  Several times David had the chance to kill Saul but David waited on the Lord.  How much better things turned out when David waited upon the Lord.  I can say the same for my life.  Had I done the work that God showed me in my time I would have failed.  It would have ended in a disaster.  Nancy and I were not ready at that time.  God is still working in our lives preparing us for His work.  As we prepare we are still working God’s plan.  We are still doing His will.  We cannot just sit back and wait.  We must continue to work towards the goal.  David was anointed King when he was a young teenager.  It wasn’t until he was thirty before he became king.  God spent all those years preparing him to be king.  David didn’t just sit on the farm tending sheep until the appointed time.

What can we do to prepare ourselves?  Some things that come to mind are reading the Bible, attending worship services and Bible studies, Fellowship with fellow believers.  Most importantly we must pray, be in constant communion with God.  1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV) “Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.”  Let us all lift up our hands.  Let us each encourage one another.  Let us dress appropriately, not just our physical clothes but our spiritual life as well.  God’s will for each of us is simple we all are told to “Go and make disciples of all nations…”  If you are unsure what God’s will is for your life start with Matthew 28:18-20…

What's Your Attitude?

Scripture:
Nehemiah 2:1-9
Philippians 1:12-18

The bible is full of persecution against God’s people.  We read about Israel falling to their sin.  Nehemiah faced a hard decision in asking the king to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.   In the end Nehemiah trusted God and he rebuilt the wall.  Paul writes about being in prison and that his imprisonment glorified God.  Both men trusted God and put their faith in Him.  Because of their faith they accomplished great things.

How do we view our circumstances?  Will we honor God and allow Him to be glorified?  We have the choice in how we react.  Our actions can be either positive or negative.  We can be a light for Christ in what we say or do or we can hide our light under the lampshade.  I often struggle with my attitude.  I want the right attitude that will honor God.  Instead I find my attitude blocking my spiritual walk.  Paul looked at being in prison as being positive.  Through his imprisonment others came to believe in Christ.  He kept his attitude positive and looked for the good in all things.  He did his best to glorify God in all things giving Him credit to everything.  Because of his attitude he was a positive witness to countless people over many generations.  

How will people see you?  How do people see me?  I pray for God to help me change my attitude and that I can glorify Him in all I say and do.  I pray for His help in my unbelief, Mark 9:24 (NIV) “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Vows, Easy Come and Easy Go...

Scripture:
Genesis 2:18-25
Deuteronomy 11:18-28

We all make vows of some sort in our lives.  I wear a small metal band around my finger to remind me and show everyone I made a vow.  I was recently talking with one of our pastors about families.  During which I mentioned that before I married Nancy I told her that divorce is not an option it doesn’t exist.  I stated that now is the time to back out if she wanted.  I somehow managed to persuade her to marry me anyway.  We have had over seventeen years of marriage.  Some of which were the most wonderful years of my life.  Some of which have been a hard struggle to get through.  Our vows said “for better or for worse” we have had both.  Sure there were times when it would have been easier to quit and go our separate ways.  In Mark 10:6-9 it says:

“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.’  For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”  

Through thick and thin Nancy and I have managed to have a wonderful marriage.  It isn’t because of what I have done or not done.  Our marriage is a wonderful marriage because we strive to keep God in the center.  Our wedding vows are more than words and go deeper than a promise.  We made a covenant not only with each other but with God.  Our covenant that we made is a holy and sacred between Nancy, myself, and God.  Marriage was designed in this fashion right from the beginning starting with Adam and Eve.  

Something that has taken years to sink into my thick skull is true intimacy.  Genesis 2:25 (NIV) “Adam and his wife were both naked and they felt no shame.”  For years I took this verse at what it says on the surface.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized and learned it went deeper.  True intimacy is when you are completely open in all things with someone.  All feelings, thoughts, dreams, good and bad are openly shared.  True intimacy goes beyond the flesh to include the spiritual aspects of your relationship.  Can we truly be naked and unashamed with our spouses?  Can we show our inner most thoughts and feelings?  Recently I started to wonder how intimate am I with my wife?  How can I make it better?  God is the beginning of all things…