Tag: calling

“To live Coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, to the glory of God. This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of God.” R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries

Psalm 23 (NKJV)

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

What if this is the last post I ever have the opportunity to write?

What if reading this is your last opportunity to do anything?

In just a few hours I will undergo surgery.  It is a minor surgery that doesn’t involve matters of life and death as so many others will endure this very same day all across this globe we all call home.  Yet, it still causes me to pause and take a longer, deeper look at what is most important.

What thoughts run through your mind after reading these questions?  Are they balls and chains that weigh you down, buzz-kills if you will, or do you view them instead as unlikely wings that, when firmly attached to Him (“Grounded Flight of Freedom”), allow you to soar in ways and into places you never imagined possible?  When the latter occurs, a whole new world of previously unrecognized opportunities to be “Flying with God”presents themselves.

To live absent or oblivious to the underlying truth behind such questions is to miss out on living abundantly.  To live in their sweet presence, however, is to experience “a life danced to the rhythm of God’s wisdom in a Byrd’s song.”  Indeed, acknowledging this truth allows us to live each day to the fullest.  This understanding ironically ushers us into a previously unseen world of incredible possibilities.  What seems at first blush to be uncomfortably confining is ultimately found to be incredibly liberating.

Can nature’s song sound any purer than if you consider it from the perspective of recognizing you may never hear its captivating melodies again?  Can the sky be any bluer than with such a mindset?  The night stars twinkle so brightly?  A flower’s bloom smell any sweeter?  Can the touch, the look, the sounds of those you love be any more profoundly moving than when you humbly acknowledge it could be your last time?

My friend, this post has continued to grow far beyond what I originally envisioned.  At first, I strongly resisted this expansion, wanting to keep this post as concise as possible, which admittedly is always an ongoing challenge for me.  However, what began as a bubbling spring on a hillside has blossomed into a full-fledged waterfall.  It is a captivating sight.  I cannot look away.  The vibrant current transports me along its purposeful path towards adventures only it knows at this moment.  I am like a child on Christmas morning.   My smile stretches from head to toe, and back again.

With renewed vision, I see that He would have me paint a much different picture than I originally intended.   Quite frankly, it’s a picture I have needed to see as so often I’m prone to see the tree but not the forest.  “It’s the view from 20,000 feet high” as my mentor, 2Tim, likes to say from time to time.  After all,  the Lord cannot be constrained to the earth-bound muddlings of the likes of someone like myself.  The great I AM is thankfully so much more than my small-minded, narrow “God-in-the box” notions.

Each post I make addresses something He is teaching me, something I need to understand more fully.  This latest endeavor continues in that vein.    My hope and prayer are that you, as a fellow voyager, will walk away from this journey with a more profound and revolutionary awareness of His sweet presence in your life as well.  In turn, may you be “contagious, unstoppable, and revolutionary” in your walk of faith, as John Eldredge notes in his book, “All Things New.”

Sprinkled throughout this post are links to past compositions already present on this site.  Alone, these posts are but singular notes.   Considered together, however, they become a captivating melody, if you will allow me to be so bold as to use that description.  Yes, the view from 20,000 feet is quite extraordinary and humbling.  In moments like this, I enjoy telling people, “Nobody weaves a quilt like the Lord, nobody!”

“We are the sum total of our experiences. Those experiences – be they positive or negative – make us the person we are, at any given point in our lives. And, like a flowing river, those same experiences, and those yet to come, continue to influence and reshape the person we are, and the person we become. None of us are the same as we were yesterday, nor will be tomorrow.”B.J. Neblett

Embracing a grander perspective is vital to ensuring our walk with Him remains headed in His direction, and not one of our choosing.  If we focus solely on the tough times as completely individual pieces with no interconnectivity, we risk losing sight of not only the larger quilt He is weaving, but even more significantly, the Weaver Himself.

My fellow adventurer, where is hope to be found under a narrow, fragmented perspective?  If we are to experience “tapping into hope,”  then we must remain vigilant, trusting that there is a much bigger picture than the circumstances staring us immediately in the face.   Hearts aligned with the Lord are then able to discover and embrace the hope lying just beneath the surface within the “Beauty is in the ayes of His beholders,” for example.

Walking with the Lord through the garden of your life, can you imagine a more breathtaking lifetime adventure than this?  Surely there is nothing more mysterious, more beautiful, more revealing than this remarkable experience shared with the Living God, your Creator, your Salvation, the Author and Perfecter of your faith.

Each step, each bend, each vista, both large and small, is like a breath of fresh air after a cleansing summer rain when He is by your side.  It’s seeing things as if you’re gloriously experiencing them for the very first time as a wide-eyed child.  “Three in one” was such an experience.  Yes, this odyssey with the Lord is nothing short of extraordinary.  It overflows with sacred and noteworthy moments that span the variety of seasons that add vibrant color and meaningful depth to our lives.  It’s like Dorothy stepping out of her former black and white world into the spectacular explosion of color, sights, and sounds that is the Land of Oz.

As you explore the winding path with the Lord, there inevitably comes the time when He pauses, puts His arm around your shoulder, and looks off into the distance.  Pointing with His finger towards the distant horizon, He says to you with great anticipation in His voice, “Look there, my child. Do you see that?”

Squinting mightily, you peer off in the direction of His outstretched finger. “Lord, I’m looking, but I’m unable to make out what it is that You want me to see.” “I know, child. It’s OK that you can’t see it yet, but I wanted you to know I have already provided and planned something marvelous for you.  The closer we get to it, the clearer it will become for you.  It’s so lovely and magnificent!” He replies. “Oh! It sounds spectacular!  How I wish I could see it, Lord!” you exclaim. “You will not be disappointed, I promise!” He whispers into your ear as He grasps your shoulder even more tightly.  Gazing off into the distance, an ever-broadening, glowing smile of immense satisfaction appears on His face as He turns His attention back to you.  It’s a smile that instantly warms your entire being.

Continuing, He adds, “I’m excited for you to see it and to share this adventure with you.  It’s a long journey to get there, but I’ll be there every step of the way with you so you’ll never be alone.  I must tell you, though, that there may be times when the temptation to think and feel otherwise might present itself.   There will also be times in which you seem not to be making any progress.  Don’t worry, though, because (S)Parking Lots have their good purposes.   Remember to pursue My Word that it will always be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105.) Welcome My presence moment by moment with open arms so that you may enjoy its full and “sound affect”on you.  Surround yourself with brothers and sisters of spiritual character and integrity (Hebrews 10:25.)  Allow their iron to sharpen your iron (Proverbs 27: 17)  Be encouraged by their stories like “Truck stop rescue”in which they have experienced My presence (Joshua 4:4-7) and unfailing kindness (Jeremiah 31:3.)  Listen carefully, my child, fear not for I will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6.)  Have faith that I’m always there beside you working on your behalf “behind the seens.”  Together, we will go on this quest that will be incredibly challenging at times but immensely rewarding.  Keep your eyes always on Me so that you stay the course and do not falter (Hebrews 12:1-3.).  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul.  (Matthew 11:29, NKJV)  In the end, the effort will seem light when compared to the great reward I have in store for you (Philippians 3:13-15.)   You will not be disappointed. How does that sound to you?”

Listening intently, you subconsciously rise on your tip-toes in hopes of obtaining a more precise view only to come up short in your effort yet again. “Lord, I still can’t make out what You want me to see. Is there something wrong with me that I can’t see it?” you ask with a slight bit of uncertainty in your voice.  “No, my child,” comes His soothing voice.  “Many others also find themselves exactly where you are now standing. They also express similar concerns.   You are a “diamond in the rough” just as they are.  The time has come for you to move forward if you want to discover what lies in the distance.  You must move beyond this place in which you have become comfortable.  You must move courageously in faith towards what is unknown to you but known to Me.”

It’s fair to say that so long as we’re comfortable most of us are quite happy to stay exactly where we are.  Two of my favorite quotes come to mind.  The first is from the movie, “Morgan” in which Dr. Alan Shapiro, played by Paul Giamatti, says, “I have found comfort to be a possible thorn in the side of revelation.”  The second quote is by John Maxwell.  It reiterates the same basic idea as the first.  “If we are growing, we are always going to be outside of our comfort zone.”

Of this much, I am sure: His plans and purposes for our lives are far more significant and grander than you or I can imagine.  To allow us to languish in comfort when we are as yet unfinished lumps of clay would fall well short of who He is and who He has purposed us to be.  His love for His children presses us onward and upward toward mountain peaks instead of little hills.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

To grow, you have to go; it’s as simple as that.  An old familiar saying puts it like this:  “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”  Stagnation is quite unlikely to happen when you’re moving.  No way is the Lord going to allow His people to become covered in moss.  Even God’s own Son, our Lord, and Savior, Jesus, was always on the move.

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’”  Luke 9:58 (NKJV)

Ironically, we all strive mightily to be comfortable, but once obtained, it is comfort itself that too often hinders and thwarts our spiritual progress.  We have misunderstood “happiness.”

In Desiring God, John Piper explains, “The very longing for contentment that ought to drive us to simplicity of life and labors of love contents itself instead with the broken cisterns of prosperity and comfort.”

“Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches-feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.”  Proverbs 30:8-10 (NKJV)

“Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing…”  Revelation 3:17a (NKJV)

What is the remedy for our chasing of things that offer only temporary relief in our search for happiness?  How can we avoid falling into the deadly trap of filling the “broken cisterns of prosperity and comfort?”  The answer? We must be firmly grounded in Him.  Cultivate your relationship with Him with all your might.  The better you know Him, the more you will experience His peace and joy and the things of this world will lose their grip on you.

“Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.  I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.” Psalm 119:92-93 (NKJV)

The Psalm 119:92-93 author experienced a life-threatening event.  Ironically, in the throes of his wrestling match with death, however, he miraculously found life.  The thorn of affliction, although unidentified, was the catalyst for such an epiphany.

This much is sure:  the truth and wisdom found in verses like this were purposefully wrought on the rocky shores of adversity and desperation far, far away from the safe, moss-covered harbor of comfort.   “Faith rubber meets the rowed”  happens outside the bounds of a comfortable sanctuary.  To enjoy the abundant life God intends for us, we must look beyond the walls of comfort.

What do you think?  Was the Psalm 119:92-93 trial too great of a price to pay for such a life-altering revelation?  For something that creates deeper trust, intimacy, and dependency upon the Father?  For something that ultimately glorifies God?

Let’s consider Joseph’s story, as told in Genesis.  He unexpectedly found himself at the bottom of a dark pit at the hands of none other than his brothers, who then sold him to strangers.  His treasured coat of many colors had been stripped from him.   And what about those marvelous dreams he had boasted so freely about to his family?  Instead of his brothers bowing down at his feet as foretold by the dreams, he now found himself staring up at their feet.  Surely at that moment, he must have felt as if his whole world had suddenly collapsed around him.

Yet not only did Joseph survive this and other challenging situations that followed, but he thrived.  How was this possible?

How we view troublesome circumstances that we encounter along life’s path dictates whether we survive and thrive, as Joseph did, or experience ruin and heartache.   When we face setbacks, do we see the pits as bottom-less, or as bottom-more?  It would be easy and for an excellent reason to call such a place, “despair.”  Or perhaps it would be better named “prepare?” Our answer to these questions is critical and reflective of one’s perspective, one’s worldview.

“It’s time that you take a close look at your God concept.  Your God concept is what you think about God and how you feel about Him.  These beliefs and feelings become a type of filter in your brain.  Inevitably you will not live with the facts of your life but the interpretation of the facts of your life.”  Paul Marc Goulet

“Never interpret God’s love by your circumstances, but always interpret your circumstances by His love.”  C.H. Mackintosh

The world, apart from God, is predisposed to view such dreadful pits as dead-end roads lacking hope that ultimately leads to nowhere good.  Alternatively, an eternal perspective that embraces the sovereignty and flawless character of God believes there is ample reason to hope and, therefore, not give up, regardless of the circumstances.

Astonishingly, this hole was the improbable and unlikely beginning of his Coram Deo journey to becoming the much-admired, God-centered “Genesis 50:20” Joseph.  Therefore, wisdom accompanied by faith instructs us, His children, to not be too hasty regarding our perception of our circumstances at any given moment, and instead beckons us to view our conditions in this world with Romans 8:28-30 in full view at all times.   Why is this viewpoint so critical?  Joseph became humbly teachable at the bottom of that pit, and so must we in order to become useful in God’s Kingdom.

To what end, such a profound transformation as Joseph underwent?  And for what purpose?  The Westminster Shorter Catechism #1 answers these questions:  Q1-“What is the chief end of man?  A1-Man’s chief end is to glorify God, by enjoying Him forever.”

Unwavering faith grows when a person experiences first hand His intimate presence and ongoing provision.  Trials amplify this learning process.  As the saying goes, “Faith isn’t fact until it’s tested.”  Tested faith joyfully proclaims and shares what it knows to be true.  It is no longer a mindless faith that timidly whispers of what it does not genuinely know, but rather it becomes a passionate voice crying out in the wilderness that He is none other than who His Word proclaims Him to be.  He has come to set the captives free!  Yes?

Psalm 23 is an overflowing fountain heralding God’s Kingdom built upon King David’s tested faith and personal relationship with Him.  We are to be fountains overflowing with His living water, as well.  I can’t speak for you, but the still, small Voice in my heart whispers, “How well does your fountain flow?”

“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

A loaf of bread can momentarily satisfy a person’s physical hunger, but the Word of God nourishes the starving soul forever.

“When our body needs energy, we eat food. But when our soul needs hope, what do we feed it? Promises…. Our souls are designed to be nourished by God’s ‘precious and very great promises.’” (2 Peter 1:4, NIV) Jon Bloom

How priceless, then, are situations that teach this ageless truth and create deeper intimacy with Him?  If you have been to such a heavenly place wherein you have been entirely dependent upon Him, then this portion of the journey is familiar to you.

Genuine freedom and wisdom are not acquired cheaply.  What price an authentic life?  What price freedom? Our Savior paid the ultimate price to secure our freedom.  Is it any surprise, then, that our transformation into His likeness is costly as well?

“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”  Luke 9:24 (NKJV)

Judging from my own life experiences, I can confidently attest that the Lord is the actual source of such wisdom regarding the importance of our moving beyond our comfort zones.  What, then, are the circumstances that have taken me outside the comforts of a hammock gently swinging beneath lush shade trees?  What is the landscape of the pit I am now experiencing?

I am momentarily stepping aside from the plot to tell you a portion of my story.  It is not to whine or complain, mind you.  No, not at all.  Nor is it to elicit pity.  Instead, I feel the need to inform you of my immediate circumstances, given its relevancy to this discussion.

I am at an age that is generally perceived to be associated with retirement.  Retirement in the foreseeable future is off the table for me, however.  About three and a half years ago, I was laid off by my former almost two-decades-long employer as a result of a severe downturn in the oil and gas business.  Three days after my layoff, my partner experienced the same fate.  A half-year later, my partner and I were blessed to most improbably give birth to a drilling and exploration company.  We have primarily provided the “sweat equity” while a group of investors has provided the funding for this startup company.  The life expectancy of this enterprise was for two years, based on our partners’ level of financial investment.  Miraculously we are now one year beyond that expected expiration even though we have yet to produce one dollar of revenue to date despite our best efforts to the contrary.

As you might guess, COVID-19 has only served to compound our problems like it has for so many.  My partner and I have given everything we have and more to this effort, yet we stand on the brink of a cliff.  The hourglass sand is trickling away with scant few grains remaining as you might correctly surmise.  If grains of sand each represent a month, then we are down to only two remaining grains.  The dream will become that distant “Wylie Coyote” puff of smoke and dust at the base of the cliff from the Roadrunner Cartoon series if we’re unable to establish a revenue stream quickly.  Financial ruin is on our doorstep.   At my age, how can one possibly hope to ever recover from such a devastating loss?  Will my wife and I find ourselves living under a bridge for the rest of our years?  These are questions that growl more loudly with each passing day.  In short, we need a parting of the Red Sea sort of miracle.

My relationship with the Lord has deepened remarkably throughout this experience.  I can honestly tell you that the reward of intimacy with Him I continue to receive is well worth the price.   Truthfully, I wouldn’t change any of this part of my journey if it meant losing Him.   I have gained so much more of Him through this valley.   He is my Rock, my Refuge, my Strength.  It is He that keeps me in unlikely peace amid this storm-filled pit.  I am blissfully dependent upon Him.

“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”  Psalm 94:19 (NKJV)

And so we return to where we earlier left our journey gazing at the distant horizon.  There is but one remaining question that must be asked: “Do you trust Me?”

That is THEE question before all of us, His children, wouldn’t you say?  How do you respond to Him?  Will you go with Him to discover this distant, unknown beauty so that He may reveal it to you?  Or will you play it safe according to your understanding and remain firmly planted right where you are?  Will you be “per-sway did or per-sway-dead?”

The great I AM now knocks at the door of your heart, beckoning you to follow Him.  Perhaps your response to the question is predicated upon your knowing how this adventure ends.  For those that need an answer, I have good news for you.  You don’t have to remain in the dark any longer.  He has already given to each of us, His children, the remarkable answer to that question.  Be encouraged by His words.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”  Romans 8:28-30 (NKJV) 

The Transformed You, my brother, and sister in Christ is the distant, gleaming beauty on the horizon at the end of the trail that He seeks to show you.  It is your metamorphosed beauty bearing His Son’s likeness and clothed with His righteousness that He aims to bring to your attention.  What was once unknown and unrecognizable to you has all been graciously revealed beforehand!  Therefore, consider solemnly “the few-ture”awaiting you.  Regardless of your current circumstances, do you now sense the heartbeat of hope and meaningful purpose rising within you?

“to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:3 (ESV) (emphasis mine)

There is but one true beauty responsible for this life-changing transformation leading to our being “(br)oak(en) for righteousness.”  Jesus, the “unfading Rose,” the One who has redeemed us and set us free, the One to whom we owe all, the One who willingly took our place that day on the cross, He is the reason.  Rejoice friends for He has made our destiny sure.  I say again, rejoice!

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

Will you accept His offer to lovingly guide you through the hills and valleys of your lifetime as King David declares in Psalm 23?  The first and last steps of your Coram Deo adventure in search of the destiny He has purposed and planned for you can successfully begin and end only one way:  trusting Him.

In the end, He is what matters.  Do you trust Him?

“Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns from the album “Only Jesus”