God and work

In cleaning my office today I discovered a very nice journal in one of my stacks. It has only a single entry on its opening page. The date was June 25, 2007, and my entry follows:

God tells us to rest in Him. He tells us not to fear. We are to surrender all to Him, including our fears about "providing." That does not change when we take a job, marry, become fathers, assume leadership roles in the body. We are still -- always -- to seek His will and to enter into His plan with our eyes fixed on Jesus, after Whom we are to model our lives, and place our hopes for the future (eternity!).

Our work, meant by the enemy to be a source of stress and separation from God, should be delivered over to Him so that it, like the rest of our earthly endeavors, can serve to glorify Him. Our "job" should be to seek continued opportunity to worship and glorify "I am."

'Become like children'

In a season of my life that now includes grandchildren, I have developed a deep appreciation for parents who are committed to introducing their children to Jesus. To walking out their faith with the young ones as they grow, both literally and spiritually, in a culture that is increasingly hostile to the truth who is Jesus Christ.

I am blessed to know many families who are serving the LORD, including some who have opted to home school their children.

My heart was touched this week by the blog of one such mom, a young widow who has courageously elected to juggle work, parenting and home schooling responsibilities. Whew!

The blog post that moved me referenced her two boys and their relationship with a neighbor boy. When her youngest discovered his new friend did not believe in Jesus, he was upset. A wise mother responded to his anguish, noting that there are many people in this world who do not believe in Jesus. We are called to "explain God" to them, she said. When she asked how he might do that, her son "rolled his eyes and threw up his hands and said, 'Duh! Just look around at all this nature. It didn't just happen!"

A few days later mom overheard her two sons talking outside. "Hell is a lonely place," said the elder. "You don't wanna go there."

When the younger son came in the house he was visibly upset. Pointing to his heart he said to his mother: "It hurts in here, like I'm twisted up inside. I really don't want him (new friend) to go to hell."

As I noted in a response to my sister in Christ, I was convicted as she was by her son's heartache. She posed the question at the end of her blog post: "Do I ache like that for those who are lost?" She then gave praise to God for the boldness her sons have to talk to people about Jesus. "May that never change!" she wrote. "And LORD, give me a heart like yours."

I "second" that prayer, and add an intercessory appeal that the Holy Spirit will continue to teach, strengthen and encourage all Christian parents as they walk with the LORD through this joyful but challenging season in their lives.

"And He (Jesus) called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said,“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2 (NASB)

Link to Lisa's blog: "Learning Life's Lessons."
http://nwneufelds.blogspot.com/ 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26

Swallowed up in His will

Technology has its rewards. My day started off with a precious blessing Monday when I received this text from my daughter:

"Praying your day is filled with surrender to our Lord with each new situation that unfolds. I pray that your heart will be swallowed up in His will in order that your life in Christ would continually reflect His glory. Love you…"

Colossians 1: 10-11

“… that you may walk (live and conduct yourselves) in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God (with fuller, deeper, and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition). We pray that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory.”

Through it all, He is with me

I woke up recently with a renewed clarity that I believe was sent from the LORD. I faced a particularly busy day, with even more varied assignments scheduled for coming days.

My understanding that morning was this: Life with Christ is an adventure, but the reality is that we must be prepared for challenges as well as peace and tranquility as we "walk" with Him through this life.

On one day I will enjoy our LORD's company as "He leads me beside still waters." On another, I will cry out His name and desperately seek His hand of support as I find myself in "the valley of the shadow of death."

I have experienced the grip of fear as a father who has just lost his job. I have suffered the anguish associated with selfish decisions that impacted the lives of others. I have lived in mourning in the wake of the death of a loved one.

I have also experienced the joy of a wedding day, and the births of healthy children. I have witnessed the power of Christian fellowship, and been on the receiving end of powerful intercessory prayer.

So how do I live a life prepared for not only the "strolls" with the LORD but for the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that I encounter?

I recall that God, the LORD Almighty, is a God of relationship as demonstrated so lovingly in Christ's life on this earth. I recall details of the incredible journey that began when I surrendered my life to Christ

Our God, dear brothers and sisters, is a faithful God, and He is love. We are pilgrims, walking in faith in this life as we prepare for life eternal with the Father. Christ miraculously dwells in our hearts, ALWAYS with us no matter the circumstance.


"Though I walk through the valley of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me." (Psalm 23)

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

Special delivery

I created this e-card this morning, marrying an image I took last year on a family adventure with a Scripture sent by son Brian as my wife prepared for a medical procedure. Brian was "team leader" last year on an unforgettable mountain adventure that yielded many beautiful images. We truly experienced God's creative genius that day. When I shared this e-card with a friend today I initially noted the Psalm was delivered by Brian to my wife at the perfect time. Correction: It was delivered at the perfect time by a loving, ever-attentive Father who used his loving servant Brian as courier. He is faithful! He is our Rock!

Mother/Teacher

I received a special treat this morning in response to an email I sent to my daughter featuring Thomas Boston's statement on "Praying in the name of Christ." She emailed me a photo of the latest message on her giant home school chalkboard. (left click on image to see larger version)

The central passage on the board is 1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Among other elements of the message are examples of wise counsel to young and old alike: "Fix your eyes upon Jesus" and "Let Jesus be Jesus in you."

What a precious privilege, an awesome directive, to be called to reveal Christ to others in our words and actions. As Boston wrote, we can take our encouragement from Jesus: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through many heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

God's will. In Christ, depending wholly on His merit and intercession. Jesus Christ, Redeemer King, is indeed the Way. The only way.