Tag: purpose

In His wake up call

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.  I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.”  Psalm 86:11-12 (NKJV)

“There are no ‘if’s” in God’s world.  And no places that are safer than other places.  The center of His will is our only safety.”  Corrie ten Boom

We often wonder, “Why is it sometimes so difficult, if not impossible, to hear God?”  Yes, this question is familiar to all, myself included, especially lately I might add.  We strain mightily to hear Him, yet His voice sometimes seems faint or nonexistent.  In those times, it’s as if we’re in the uncomfortable, disquieting soundless vacuum of space.  And make no mistake, as we all know it’s a tough spot to find oneself.

To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock:  Do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.  Psalm 28:1 (NKJV)

Before we dive in, please understand we’re approaching this issue solely from the perspective of a believer and not that of a non-believer.  The Bible is crystal-clear in its distinction between the two in this regard.

He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”  John 8:47 (NKJV) 

As believers, we expect to hear from God, so it’s particularly alarming and disquieting when we don’t.   In these situations, typically, the next question out of our mouths is, “God, where are You?”  It’s a heartfelt, emotional inquiry often stemming from our circumstances but one that is not rooted in Biblical truth.  How I wish I had recognized this error in my thinking much earlier in my life.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered.  Proverbs 28:26 (NKJV)

When searching for the truth, we shouldn’t rely on our feelings, especially during difficult situations.  Instead, we should look to the scriptures for the clarity we seek because God’s Word is trustworthy, and as we all know, our emotions resemble the ever-changing weather at times.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Where hope is concerned, our negative emotions are a dead-end street, and we must not allow them to bind us in chains, no matter how loudly they demand our attention. The hope we seek exists when we stand on The Rock of Age’s promises and nowhere else.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  Matthew 7:24-25  (NKJV)

Putting aside the supposed truths your emotions are trying to get you to buy, what does the Bible say about where we stand with God?

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

If reading Paul’s heartfelt conviction about God’s presence and intentions towards us isn’t enough, Jesus, our Savior, assures us we are by no means alone, now and forever.

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  Matthew 28:20 (NKJV)

Rest assured, sister and brother, God is indeed present with His children, even if our feelings vigorously proclaim otherwise.  Do not fall for the enemy’s lie that God has abandoned you leaving you all alone. 

Friends, it’s time for those tempted to think they’re no longer on our Father’s radar to change their understanding and perspective by knowing God more deeply through His Word.  Embrace that He sees you and trust that He loves you and is with you!

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

The Lord gave me this memorable quote a few years ago.  I’m just now beginning to appreciate the refreshing, hope-filled perspective it offers.   Here’s the thing, it’s taken a while, but I’ve finally accepted that I tend to be more emotional than most guys.  I don’t work as hard to hide it as I used to, which is a good thing, but now that I know this about myself, I’m more aware that I’m particularly vulnerable to my emotions putting a bit in my mouth and controlling me.  In the past, whenever they spoke, I listened with a mindset already pre-conditioned to give them the lead.  That’s been my MO for about as long as I can remember, and it’s no easy ride, I can tell you, as they’ve taken me over some pretty rough terrain.

Being carried away by your negative emotions is a perilous place for any believer to be.  Why?  Because nothing less than your relationship with God is at stake.  The loudest voice in the pit is often our emotions:  “Woe is me!  God has abandoned me!” As I’ve already said, listening solely to your feelings is a quick way to find yourself unmercifully bound and gagged in the pit with hope nowhere to be found.

Employing the wisdom in CHM’s quote, flip-flops one’s thinking in all the right ways so that when you find yourself in a dark hole, you are no longer the easy pickings for the enemy you once were via your emotional state.  In wonderfully stark, hope-filled contrast, the Bible promises that He is still present, loves me, and has only the best intentions for me.

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,  and saves such as have a contrite spirit.  Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)

So, we can rest knowing God is with us, but given this truth, why is He sometimes silent? Remarkably, who other than God has so much to say, even through silence?  His silence speaks volumes at times and grabs our attention.  When He is silent, we know something is amiss.  Indeed, how we long to hear our Heavenly Father’s voice, for we are as though dead without it.

To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.  Psalm 28:1 (NKJV)

Could God be speaking, but for some reason, we don’t hear Him?  Perhaps there are times He is not as silent as we perceive.  Maybe the problems we experience hearing from the Lord sometimes result from our whereabouts relative to Him.  Or, as realtors like to remind both buyers and sellers alike when it comes to property values, “Location, location, location!” 

If you look closely just to the left of the center in the photo, you’ll see a woman walking in the opposite direction on the sidewalk.  Admittedly she’s hard to see, but even from this distance, I could still hear the music she was listening to on her cell phone when I took the photo.  “Hmmmm.  That’s odd,” I thought, “I could barely hear the music when she had passed me by only steps away a few minutes earlier, but now I hear it quite well from way up the street.” 

Why, do you suppose I could hear her music more plainly some distance away as opposed to barely being able to discern it when she was mere feet away from me?

The science of sound waves tells us the difference maker was the wind.  The volume level I heard depended upon whether I was upwind or downwind of the source of the music.  I could easily hear the music playing when I was downwind from a considerable distance away.   Yet when I was upwind, even though only a few feet away, the volume of the music was noticeably lower and, therefore, much harder to hear.    

How well we hear the Lord’s voice depends upon our location relative to Him.  Are you downwind, or are you upwind of our Father?  Are you in His will, or are you not?

Hearing from God is best accomplished downwind, which places us securely in His wake instead of the lonely, harsh silence experienced from being upwind, running ahead of Him, and plowing new ground the Lord has not trod.   Let us always be mindful that He, not us, is the One supremely qualified to carve and craft new pathways.

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)

Construction zones are usually noisy and busy with activity.  If you’re hacking your way through the wilderness with a chainsaw, is it any wonder you can’t hear the Lord when He’s speaking?  Or how about the noise of the backhoe you’re operating while digging the new river’s course?  Furthermore, even if you do manage to excavate the river channel, where will you get the water to fill it?  It is a desert, after all.  It’s worth saying again, “He is well qualified for this task, and we are not.”   

Where exactly are God’s construction zones located?  Where is this wilderness and desert the Lord intends to make both accessible and livable?  To be sure, He has many construction projects in the works, but one, in particular, is pivotal to His plans.

Oh yes, you know what I’m talking about here because it is the wilderness of our untamed hearts and the parched, inhospitable deserts of our minds He seeks to repurpose. 

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

To be sure, we are no small transformation project, but our Heavenly Father is more than able to accomplish the task at hand.  Simply put, “The Lord is unwilling to leave us as He found us.”  Now that is something all of us “works in progress” should all be excitedly shouting about from the rooftops with a hearty “Amen, praise God!”

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. 29 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.  Romans 8:28-29 (NKJV)

For these dramatic changes to take place within us, He must lead…

And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”  Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)

…and we must follow in His footsteps…

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also.  If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.  John 12:26 (NKJV)

…trusting He is directing our steps for His good purposes…

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

…even in the face of evil.

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.  Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

Buoyed by our lack of comprehension and swept away by our unbridled enthusiasm, we are prone to impetuously run ahead of the Lord, which interferes with our ability to hear and understand Him clearly, even if we’re only a few steps away.

The famous saying from the vintage TV series, Get Smart comes to mind when agent Maxwell Smart says as he’s holding up his thumb and finger to help emphasize the point, “Missed it by THAT much!”  Continuing this thinking, it’s also worth mentioning another famous expression, “An inch is as good as a mile,” regarding the importance of being on target.  In other words, close to the bullseye is still a miss.  The bottom line is if we desire to hear what the Lord is saying, the place to be is downwind in His wake and not upwind, even in the slightest, running ahead of Him.

Running ahead of God, now there’s a subject I can speak about with some authority of late.  For the past month or so, I’ve given much thought and prayer to the differences between “audacious faith” and “presumptuous faith” and how they have impacted my life over the past five years.  I’ll not get into the details here, as that will be the subject of a later post.  I only mention it because this tendency to take the reigns (purposeful misspelling, think about it) from God is, I fear, not something uniquely “me” but something many, if not all, struggle with in our lives at various times.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Robert Robinson, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

However, lest we become discouraged by our shortcomings, it’s noteworthy to recognize that even the Apostle Peter was guilty of getting out in front of the Lord, supposing he knew Jesus’s destination.  Here’s how that all played out:

“You are the Christ. The Son of the Living God.”  “Jesus answered him and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’  Matthew 16:16-18 (NKJV)

Boom! Peter nailed it, culminating with Jesus lauding his audacious faith.  And just like that, Peter finds himself in cotton so tall it’s easy to become lost if he isn’t careful to check his ego at the door.  Let’s see how Peter handles things following Jesus’s uplifting commendation. 

“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. 22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”  Matthew 16:21-23 (NKJV) (emphasis mine)

As it turns out, Peter became lost in the tall cotton of his vanity, exchanging his audacious faith for presumptuous faith that egotistically dared to presume to know God’s will and intended destination.  In a short period, Peter experiences Jesus’s affirmation only to be followed up by a stern rebuke in which he’s associated with Satan and his evil plans.  Wow, talk about extreme high and low bookends!

Yet, as we all know, all was not lost with Peter despite such failings.  He was not cast aside and abandoned as worthless in Jesus’s eyes.  No, far from it; Jesus’s steadfast love and godly plans for Peter remained.

And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Mark 5:37 (NKJV)

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.  John 21:15-17 (NKJV)

Let’s be encouraged that there is a way forward upon realizing we are upwind of the Lord’s will.  Though they may seem impossible to overcome, even the giant monkey wrenches we’ve managed to throw into the works from our self-appointed leadership role are incapable of derailing God’s plans.  How small would you have to believe God is if our mistakes could do that?

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

Thankfully, He is graciously willing and more than able to overcome our failings and even use them for His glory when we approach Him in a posture of genuine humility and repentance.

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

My fellow “Lead Dogs,” it’s time to get back in line downwind and in the wake of God Almighty where we belong so that when He speaks to us through the Bible, we hear His voice loudly and clearly.  He has much to teach us, lest we think otherwise.

“We do not so much search the Word of God as the Word of God searches us.”  Barry Black, US Senate Chaplain

Paradoxically, a life continually laid bare before the Lord for His name’s sake devoted to following Jesus makes such a person a much-needed leader among God’s children and in His Kingdom.

So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”  Matthew 20:16 (NKJV)    

Indeed, what about David caused God to call him a “man after My own heart?” (1 Samuel 13:14)

And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’  Acts 13:22 (NKJV)  (emphasis mine)

My friend, let this be His wake up call to His beloved children that we may live in the exceeding abundance of His will.  As we take our place in the wake of the Lord’s glory, delighting in His presence, let’s begin this day anew, refreshed and filled with hope, eager to follow as He leads, for when we do, we’ll once again hear the sweet sound of His voice say, “This is the way, walk in it.”  (Isaiah 30:21, NKJV)

“Get into the habit of saying, ‘Speak, Lord,’ and life will become a romance.” Oswald Chambers

Just imagine the possibilities!

He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”  Matthew 13:9 (NKJV)

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“The Sound of Your Voice” by Third Day from the album “Move.”

said apart

 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,”  Ephesians 1:17-18 (NKJV)

Shhhhhhhh, close your eyes and be mindful of the whispers of your soul.  There…do you feel it…that unmistakable longing found in the wellspring of your heart? Ah yes, that call.  You know it as well as I do.  It’s a yearning for beauty, truth, and purity that beckons you to move ever closer.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.  He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

Dorothy of Kansas expresses this deeply embedded desire for eternity within all our hearts in song in the beloved movie “The Wizard of Oz.”  It’s an upward call to experience the vibrant, heavenly colors of a life lived abundantly that eclipses the uncomfortable sterility of an all-too grey world focused on self.  For non-believers, that call to “somewhere over the rainbow” is to be with God; for believers, it is the call to become the person God intends you to be through an ongoing intimate relationship with Him.

“Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland from the album “Over the Rainbow, The Very Best of Judy Garland”

“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:15-16 (NKJV)

“May I view and long after holiness as the beauty and dignity of the soul.”  The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett

Before moving on, we need to pause a moment and consider the difference between righteousness and holiness; it’s a mistake to speak of these two terms as if they’re the same because they are not.  We become righteous when we accept Jesus as our Savior through double-imputation:  our sins are placed on Him while His sinless nature covers us.   We will never become more righteous than we are at the moment of our salvation.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV)

Holiness, however, is the Holy Spirit-led process of sanctification that begins at our conversion.

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture.  It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment, hating what He hates, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.”  J. C. Ryle

As we travel the life-long path towards holiness God has set out before us, the fruits of the Spirit are to be made manifest within His children.

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,”  Matthew 3:8 (NKJV)

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  Ephesians 5:22-23 (NKJV)

Let us praise God that He is unwilling to leave us as He found us.  He has placed this quest for holiness, our call to Christlikeness, within each believer’s heart. 

“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.” Romans 8:29 (NKJV)

For what purpose does God pursue our holiness?  Jesus says we are in the world, not of the world, yet here we purposefully are as God’s heralds.   The truth is the more you look like Christ, the less you will look like the world.  And that’s not only good but necessary under His plans.

“They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”  John 17:16-18 (NLT)

According to His purposes, God uses holiness to “set apart” us from the world.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”  1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

“Let your Christianity be so unmistakable, your eye so single, your heart so whole, your walk so straightforward, that all who see you may have no doubt whose you are, and whom you serve.”  J. C. Ryle

Can we be truly effective as His ambassadors, His voices crying out in the wilderness if we resemble the world?  As believers, it’s essential to ask, “How does the world see us?”  Are we recognizable as different, as “set apart” from it?  As holy?  If not, then why not?

While we could discuss various lifestyle areas that would prove helpful in answering these questions, let’s look at just one today, namely our manner of speech.  Does what we say or talk about cause the world to see us as “said apart” from it?  Or, do they hear us as one of their own?  Do the words coming out of our mouths confirm or deny our claim of being a child of God?

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Take a look at this post’s introductory photo again.  I spotted the toothbrush in a hotel’s landscaping early one morning while I was out walking our dogs.  Can you imagine how filthy it must be?  Beyond the nastiness of its surroundings, the brush’s history is entirely questionable, too.  The idea of ever using it as an actual toothbrush is repulsive.  Yet, considering how abysmally low our society has stooped in its manner of speech, isn’t it reasonable to wonder how many would ever notice how disgusting this brush is if used as intended?

“It is when we notice the dirt that God is most present in us; it is the very sign of His presence.” C. S. Lewis

The truth is the world is awash with “four-letter” rhetoric and angry, hateful discourse.   When unleashed, it takes all within earshot unwillingly captive as if it’s a raucous chainsaw violating the serene solitude of an alpine meadow at dawn.  Safe havens removed from its grip are few and far between these days. Unfortunately, the world’s influence is so strong that it has managed to creep into some professing Christian’s lives as well, myself included in days now mercifully long past.  Given these circumstances, perhaps we should call this misplaced brush a “truthbrush” instead?  Brothers and sisters, we are called to the higher ground of beauty and not to a quagmire of ugliness!  Do you know this to be true?

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”  James 3:10-12 (NKJV)

As God’s children, we are the “happy little bluebirds” Dorothy sings about so longingly.  Our heavenly Father calls us to much more in this life than to wallow in the darkness of some murky, oppressive, and stagnant swamp.   It’s a noble call to aim high and choose His beauty over the world’s standards, to choose His ways by speaking in such a way that leads and points ourselves and others to the top of God’s mountain high above the swampy lowlands.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

But how do we proceed, Lord?  How do we stay true to the path that leads to higher ground?

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

“Take my heart and hold it in Thy hand; write upon it reverence to thyself with an inscription that time and eternity cannot erase.”  The Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett

Yes, Lord, may my heart be Yours!

When we speak, friends, let it be for God’s glory.  Let us delight our Father with our voices at all times and in all circumstances.   So, what say you?  Will you determine to be “said apart” for His glory?

“May every part of my character and conduct make a serious and amiable impression on others, and impel them to ask the way to the Master.”  Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur Bennett

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”  Ephesians 5:24-25 (NKJV)

May it be ever so, Lord! In Jesus’s name, amen!

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“Let the Words of My Mouth” by Fernando Ortega from the album “The Shadow of Your Wings:  Hymns and Sacred Songs.”

Coram Deo: an unparalleled adventure

“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.

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

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

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