The events of the last couple of weeks have demonstrated how volatile our world is, and the public forum suffers from no shortage of rhetoric as it relates to current events. Through our use of words, we have the potential to either heal or deepen the hurt.
Careless words make matters worse, while carefully chosen words can mend fences, brighten hopes, and soothe hurting hearts. With the abundance of social media, email, texting, and other forms of electronic communication, we have more opportunities to use words now that ever before and with the increased opportunity comes increased responsibility to use those words wisely.
I recently took a Facebook quiz design to determine the size of my vocabulary.Through my identification of synonyms and antonyms of 50 different words, the quiz determined I have a vocabulary of just over 30,000 words.I am not sure how accurate the quiz is, but whatever words I use, I must choose in every situation how useful and beneficial my words will be.
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Edward Young famously wrote, “Procrastination is the thief of time.”Every moment we waste in procrastination is a moment we can never retrieve.It is time lost forever.I believe that procrastination is the leading cause of most people never realizing their potential.
Most of the time, we put off doing things that would most benefit us.We continue to short-change ourselves by putting off those things that we know really are good for us – things like beginning a personal Bible study and prayer time, eating a more healthy diet, exercise, tithing, or any number of other beneficial life disciplines.The devil uses procrastination to keep us ineffective by tempting us to put off those things that will make us stronger and move us closer to the Lord.
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Church signs provide an excellent opportunity to spread information and share encouragement.Unfortunately, many swing and miss.At two former churches I pastored, I was at least partly responsible for creating and changing the messages on the church sign, so I know how challenging that is and I try to cut the sign people at churches some slack.
Trouble arises when we try to come up with a cute sound bite for the church sign, often at the expense of good theology.The sign ministry people have good intentions, but something gets “lost in the translation.”I saw an example of this scenario just the other day.
When we read the account of the temptation and eventual fall of Adam and Eve, we see the devil’s trick, and he hasn’t changed in the 6000+ years since.He hasn’t needed to change; we still fall for the same trick. He uses three insidious lies that we fail to recognize and manage.
When I played baseball in high school, I could hit anybody’s fastball – no matter how hard they threw it, but I could corkscrew myself right into the ground in the batter’s box trying to hit it. The sad part is that I would still do that even when I knewthe upcoming pitch was a curve ball.I knew it was coming but fell for it every time.
Such is the case with the devil’s tricks to derail us in our walk of obedience. He hasn’t changed his strategy since the beginning of time, so we need to know his scheme, look for it, and respond accordingly.
The Devil’s Three Lies
In Genesis 3:1-7, the devil successfully lures Adam and Eve into disobedience against God.The three lies he told them are the same three lies he tells us today.
I know a lot of people experiencing difficult circumstances in their lives.For some of them, their current situation is the latest in what seems an endless stream of misfortune and heartbreak.For others, the heartbreak is fresh, but painful nonetheless.Christians are not immune to struggling, in fact, it seems we experience more than our fair share sometimes.
Today, I want to offer some words of encouragement to those who are hurting, broken, disillusioned, and/or discouraged.Let’s be sure to pray for one another regularly and encourage each other often.Romans 8 provides for us 4 encouraging truths we need to remember in our times of struggling.
“It was in the last place that I looked.”Sadly, I have uttered that ridiculous statement more times than I care to admit.Of course whatever I was looking for was in the lastplace I looked; only a complete idiot would keep searching after they found it…right?Be careful how quickly you agree with rhetorical question.
The answer to the literal question above is most certainly YES. No one keeps looking for keys, glasses, a note, or whatever once they find it. When it comes to some of the more intangible things in life, however, often we search tirelessly when we already hold the answer in our hands…or more accurately, in our hearts. Consider God’s Word to His people through the prophet Amos:
In another blog, I mentioned that prayer is hard work, and indeed it is.For many of us, stilling our minds to quietly focus on any one thing is difficult enough, and when you add the reality of spiritual warfare – with the devil doing all he can to keep us from praying – the task is even more challenging. Today I want to share with you some practices I have discovered that help me stay focused and communicate with God.
I had a great father.He wasn’t perfect, and like any father-son relationship we had our good days and bad days, but he was a great dad.My dad went to be with Jesus a little over 7 years ago and never does a day go by without a memory or thought. He left a legacy of doing the right things the right way. Never does a day go by without a thought or memory, and Iwish I could be half the father to my daughter that he was to his son.
During this Father’s Day weekend (just like at all other times), my dad will hold a prominent place in my heart and thoughts, but my primary focus will be my infinitely greater Heavenly Father. I have a high view of God as my Heavenly Father because of the lofty view I have of my earthly father.
I understand the concept of “father” is not necessarily a positive impression for some.Maybe your relationship with your father was not good, or maybe your earthy father fell way short in being the man he should have been in your life.If that is you, I understand your hurt and I hope my words today encourage you.
If you, like me, had or have a great paternal relationship, I want my words today to enlarge your heart and bring you to a new height of worship.As good as your dad may have been or is, God is even greater and His presence in your life, as unimaginable as it may seem, does more for you than even the greatest earthly father.
God as Our Father
Consider these ways God excels as our Heavenly Father.
He Brought Us into the World
Some fathers play a role little more than a sperm donor while others are guiding influences in their kids’ lives, but all of us owe our existence to a male person somewhere.God, however, not only created all there is generally speaking, He designed you – specially, uniquely, and purposefully.You are His masterpiece.(Psalm 139:13-16)
He Is Our Infallible Authority
God gives us fathers as authorities, but since they are human, their authority is less than perfect.No matter how hard I try as a father, and no matter how badly I want to do it right, the fact remains I fail more times than I succeed.God never fails us.His Word guides us down a perfect path (Psalm 19:7-11).
He Is Our Provider
My dad worked hard to meet our family needs.Looking back, we really didn’t have a lot, but at the time it seemed we had everything.Even more so, God has given to us all that we have and need.James 1:17 reminds us that God has given us everything that is good for us.
Regardless of our relationship with our earthly father, God fills in the gaps and excels as our Heavenly Father in these few ways and many more. During this weekend, let me challenge you to spend some time reflecting on the goodness of God and worship Him for all He is to you and thank Him for all He does for you.
To get your worship started, click on the video below and enjoy this awesome Chris Tomlin song about our Good, Good Father.
Some people have a fear of asking a “stupid question.”I believe the only stupid question is the one raised but not asked.Questions provide a way for us to learn, and as long as we are unwilling to ask, we will remain unlearned.As we read and study the Bible, questions prompt us to dig more deeply to learn and apply God’s Word you our lives.
Ask Questions. Take Notes.
Let me encourage you to keep a notebook and pen handy when you read and study the Bible.Not only can you use them to record truths you want to remember, but you can also write any questions that arise as you read and study.
3 QUESTIONS THAT HELP APPLY THE BIBLE TO LIFE
Three questions can help me understand a Scripture passage’s intended teaching and its specific application to my life at a given time and place.Consider asking these 3 every time you study the Bible.
I hear a lot about “the good old days,” but I have noticed that many people have selective memories about them.Either they remember the days in a better light than they were in reality, or they only remember the pleasant things while conveniently ignoring the more unpleasant parts. While I think it is beneficial to reflect fondly on our pleasant past, if we become so preoccupied with the past that we fail to engage today and look with faithful anticipation toward the future, then we have done God a major disservice.
Don’t Look Back
While we may not consciously think of it this way, when we think our past is better than our present or the potential in our future we fail to trust the sovereignty of God.With only the wisdom that God could have and according to His great pleasure, He brought you into the world WHEN and WHERE He did, and He has brought you to this point in your life to serve His great purpose.Preferring a past that seemed more enjoyable places our wants and pleasures ahead of God’s grand design and His awesome purpose in our lives.
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Three Ways to Live for Today and Look Forward to the Future
In Ephesians 5:15-18, Paul gives us great direction for living in the moment and preparing for God’s future for our lives. From these verses we can see three perspectives to incorporate in our lives.
Church signs provide an excellent opportunity to spread information and share encouragement.
“It was in the last place that I looked.”
