Renewal

Living in Florida it is sometimes hard to appreciate the changes of the seasons. This weekend I am in New Jersey, then on to New York and Connecticut. The trees are gloriously green in their fresh new coats. Gone are the grey twigs and dry fallen leaves. In their place are freshly mown  grass and flowers of every variety.

God promises that even as the soil bring forth and the garden causes seed to grow, God will also cause righteousness to spring up ...(Isaiah 61:11).

If you have just come through a period of winter, wait for the renewal. Spring is on its way. 

Are we there for Him?

It's funny how we expect God to be there for us whenever or wherever.  But what about us? Is that expectation reciprocated? Can God, to as much as is humanly possible, expect us to be there  for him? Think of the excuses we make and the genuine reasons or obstacles which make our response no, later, or maybe. A servant is first of all required to be faithful. Lord, make us so. Help us to be there for you. 

Trusting

Today once again I'm reminded to trust God's purpose, his love, his plan, and his timing. I think the timing is hardest because every prayer has a "now " in it whether spoken or implied.  That's not how God works though. He is a God of timing or doing things in the fullness of time. In  the mean time, purpose is being worked out in the process. And tribulation brings about patience ...

No Shortcuts

There are no shortcuts in God.

That may sound like a kind of a bummer in a society geared to the need for speed. So let me break it down.

There is no shortcut to being saved. The 1.0 version of the early church is the same as today - believe in the Lord Jesus Christ because there is no other source of salvation.

There is no shortcut to growing in grace. The very word "grow" brings to mind plants all of which start as seeds. In much the same way we enter into grace when we become followers of Christ. But you must admit, it would be odd to know no more about Christ today than when we met him years ago. Or, to know no more about him ten years from today as we do now.

There is no shortcut to knowing God's Word. I don't mean just memorization but the kind of knowledge that results in a changed life. That kind of transformational knowledge comes from studying the Word line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little - as the Bible says.

Last, there is no shortcut to being strong in the Lord. We can't expect the strength of the prophets without doing the things they did. For starters, they were unashamedly counter-cultural or politically incorrect. They spent time in fasting, prayer, the study of the Word, and fellowship with other believers. For the most part, they saw themselves living under a Theocracy with God as their Sovereign Ruler. Not a popular viewpoint, I know. But look at the footprint they left behind. Signs, wonders, miracles, and most of all, you and me as products of the faith for which many gave their lives.

So, there's the evidence, what do you think? The world's shortcuts and dangerous detours or following the old paths?

Death was Only the Beginning

Shock, confusion, disillusionment, and hopelessness all rose with Jesus' followers to greet the Sabbath morning, over 2000 years ago. The one on whom they had placed their hopes for deliverance was dead. Dead like the many false messiahs who came before him.

Oh, the shame if it! He did not die like his predecessors,  stoned according to the Law. No. His was fate was that of a criminal, hoisted exposed on a Roman cross. Cursed under the Law. 

What next? Maybe after the dust settled to slip back into the synagogue? Go back to fishing? See if the old jobs were still open and simply go back to life as it was. Blot out the whole memory as if it never was.

Ah, but what triumph silently waited to be revealed! Not even Satan knew of his own defeat. Sure, Jesus was in the tomb and his Spirit walked the land of shadows. But only as a traveler, only in transition, only to dismantle the grip of hell, only as LORD of both the living and the dead.

Death won a brief battle but in three short days resurrection would soon win the war, forever. 

Real Power

I have been guilty of praying "Lord, send your power" as if power was something separate and apart from the Holy Spirit himself. We get our concept from the first Pentecost when there was sound, sight, and utterance signifying the coming of the Holy Spirit.

But Jesus promised power WHEN the Spirit comes not the Holy Spirit and something else.

We do much better to seek the Spirit himself in his fullness. Find a place to wait or tarry until he comes. As always, the Word, prayer, and worship are the vehicles to usher in God's presence. As we get deeper,  the Word washes and sanctifies until we are fit vessels for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the power he manifests.

It's no cliche to remember to seek the Giver and not merely the gift. 

Suicide Prevention

The shrill and incessant clamor of politics often leads one to believe there is nothing else of importance on which to focus attention. But while we remain distracted, the world continues with its pain unabated and even neighbors die unnoticed. We are not talking about wars or disease, but about people who arrived at "wits end" and found no solace or saw no recourse but to end their pain  by suicide. 47,000 Amricans died by suicide in 2017, which is 2, 000 more than 2016. And the rate is rising (data from cdc.gov). Think about this:

Do you know an older person singlehandedly taking care of an older spouse or a forever child? They are at risk.

Sexual or domestic abuse victim? They are risk. A veteran? They are also at high risk. Single parents with limited socio-economic support may be equally at risk though not saying anything at all about any part of their situation. 

What can we do as individuals?

First, be a friend - the kind of friend you would want someone to be to you.

2. Ask the hard questions and refuse to accept the scripted, glib, religious answers. Drill down to specific questions. 

3. Offer specific help. "Do you want me to sit while you go get your hair done or while you simply take a walk?" May I cook for you this weekend or offer a specific day. Toss out, "if there is ever anything I can do ..." Its a useless cop out.

4. Just be available and show your interest by random phone calls, care packages, whatever. 

Support is one of the best antidotes to suicide. Can anyone count on you?

Your timely and consistent intervention help someone to enjoy another sunrise.

Suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255

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