“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”

          -Psalm 100:4

I’m not against Black Friday. I wasn’t a big proponent of many local stores beginning their sales on Thanksgiving Day, but I did nonetheless serve as chauffeur and cart pusher in-chief to those in my family who had their eyes on some special bargain. Every year I diligently fulfill my assignment, waiting near some tall, brown pallet of merchandise to (hopefully) help a loved one snatch a deal without losing life or limb in the process. Even if you’re able to escape without injury, however, dealing with disgruntled employees and angry shoppers during the holiday season is inevitable.

But even though I’m not against Black Friday per se, I’m certainly not a fan. Just as the Christmas season seems to be more about lights and gifts than the birth of our Savior, it seems Thanksgiving, a day which once upon a time was about gratitude and contentment, is now the greediest day of the year. People were diving over other shoppers, pushing, shoving and yelling – all so they could save $20 on luxury. I understand the need to save money, but is 50% off really worth giving someone a black eye on Thanksgiving? Even though the scene was no less violent and chaotic than I’ve seen in years past, something about the fact that these people weren’t even waiting until the turkey had settled in their stomachs really put a knot in mine.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

          -Colossians 3:15

Even if you’re someone who stays a mile away from the nearest department store when Thanksgiving rolls around, what’s the first thing you think of when the holiday is mentioned? Traveling to see family you really don’t like? Eating lots of food? Having a few days off work? It seems that very few people have been able to preserve much of what Thanksgiving was originally intended to be: a day to express our gratitude to the Giver of all good things (James 1:17).

So, no, I’m not preaching against Black Friday. As I’ve pointed out, I’ve generally participated in it to some extent myself (although I vowed after Thursday’s events to avoid it completely next year). My conviction is not that we should wait one more week to do our Christmas shopping; it’s that we cannot fail to give God thanks and expect His blessings to continue. So will you join me in seizing today’s opportunity to express our thankfulness to God? In the words of the Psalmist, “it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (Psalm 92:1).

As a Christian, at the very core of your spiritual walk should be the faith that God has ransomed you from sin by grace through faith in His blood (Ephesians 2:8). You understand that, even though your sin had alienated you from the fellowship of the Lord, the mighty love of God was strong enough to break the yoke of sin from your back and set you free from its bondage (Colossians 1:21). It’s likely you are aware of many answered prayers and see countless evidences every day that God is still on the throne. You are blessed more than anyone could deserve – and you know it.

I won’t say that failure to recognize one’s blessings is never a problem, but generally it is not. On Thanksgiving none of us scratch our head and say, “Hmm…what good thing has God done for me this year?” We’re usually good at spotting the fingerprints of God in our lives; the problem is that we’ve become so accustomed to luxury that we treat God’s goodness like electric lights or running water: most of us have never lived without it, so actually taking time to magnify Him for it often seems unnecessary.

But what does it really mean to magnify God anyway? Does saying a brief, silent prayer of thanks count? I suppose to some extent it does, but truly magnifying the Lord consists of much more than a mere “thank you” is able to accomplish. Consider this excerpt from a sermon by John Piper:

“The word "magnify" can be used in two different senses. It can mean: make something appear greater than it is, as with a microscope or a magnifying glass.
Or it can mean: make something that may seem small or insignificant appear to be as great as it really is. This is what our great telescopes help us begin to do with the magnificent universe which once upon a time spilled over from the brim of God's glory. So there are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.

When David says, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving," he does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than he is. He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is." We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes.”¹

So, then, your calling to magnify God is not fulfilled unless you are actively doing your part to share His glory with others. If your “magnified” version of God is still small enough to fit in your pocket, then all you’ve succeeded at is hiding Him from those who most need His love. To glorify God is to do everything within your power to make His name renowned, known by all nations and trusted by all people. As David wrote in Psalm 22:22, “I will declare Thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee.” This is the only way to truly magnify God, especially as we see the day of our Lord’s return approaching, and is the best use of time you will find. So go tell someone about the power and goodness of God. When we each do our part, not only are we being obedient to what Scripture commands us to do, but our hearts will overflow with joy as we begin to comprehend just how great our God truly is.

1 http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/i-will-magnify-god-with-thanksgiving

As I write this on a Friday night, I’m very aware that the last thing most of you want to hear or think about as you begin your weekend is work. You’re probably either looking forward to spending the next two days with your family doing things you wouldn’t otherwise have time for, or, as in my case, are counting on a restful Saturday and Sunday to end one week and begin another. But as I’ve learned by way of experience over these last several months, living for a two day weekend is a tragic waste of the gift of life. If you wake up every Monday morning with a sigh of reluctance and drag off to work, already wishing it was Friday, then you’ll spend more than 70% of your life unhappy. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning – not just on our days off.

One way I’ve been able to realize God’s grace on a daily basis is to make the most of my commute. There are numerous ways to get to work from my house, but I make it a priority to take the scenic route whenever possible. Something about seeing the beauty of an autumn sunrise with worship music playing on my car stereo is able to dissolve that longing to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head. Of course if you live in the city the picture above may be the closest you’ll ever come to a scenic commute, but that’s not what matters; simply find a way to start your day off on the right foot by giving God the opportunity to reveal His love to you afresh.

“Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee.”

-Psalm 143:8

Finding 30 minutes to spend in a prayer closet every morning may be next to impossible for some people, especially if getting up at 4 AM barely gets you out the door on time. But the point is not for me to set in stone how you should spend your day with God; it’s for you to identify the often subtle, daily opportunities you may now be overlooking to spend time in prayer and fellowship with your heavenly Father. For me, this means not taking the interstate; for you, it may mean opening up the Bible during your lunch break and feasting on what Job valued even “more than [his] necessary food” (Job 23:12). If your love for God and desire to serve Him is sincere, He will provide and reveal more opportunities to serve Him than you ever realized you had. You just have to keep your eyes open.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

               -James 4:14

Over the last several years, one thing God has made me increasingly aware of is the uncertainty of life. At any given moment your time on this earth, or that of a close loved one, could be eternally ended. Perhaps today you awoke from a comfortable sleep to the sound of a favorite song playing on the radio. Perhaps tomorrow everything you’ve ever worked for will crumble like castles in the sand. Even if the things you value most are in fact worthwhile, tomorrow is not a promise and neither are any of the temporal blessings we usually assume will come along with it.

As the Scriptures state in Ecclesiastes 5:15, “As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.” In other words, we were born with nothing and when we die we’ll leave with nothing. All of the treasures we could ever hope to accumulate along the way are, according to Solomon, “vanity and vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 1:14). What are you pursuing?

When I picked up this book for the first time, I was mostly expecting a 100+ page lecture on forgiving other people. But the very first chapter made it clear John MacArthur’s main focus was not going to be someone else’s sin and our responsibility as Christians to love them anyway; he instead chose to target humanity’s sin and our desperate need for Divine grace. As he aptly points out, however, modern psychology has done a great disservice to our culture by ascribing to almost every sin a “scientific” explanation. Murderers, rapists, drug addicts, thieves and liars are no longer pointed to the cross; instead, their actions and addiction are often explained as some kind of social disorder, which then erases any guilt or sense of responsibility that may otherwise lead them to repentance.

Once a solid foundation is laid in support of our need to be forgiven, MacArthur explains God’s willingness to forgive and exactly how He is able to do this justly (“The Necessity of Atonement”). He did get a little distracted for a few paragraphs by predestination, but for the most part he kept everything short, sweet, and to the point. He also shares some beautiful insight into the story of the prodigal son, painting a good historical and cultural backdrop that sheds greater light on Christ’s most popular parable.

My biggest problem when reading theology is that most authors think repeating themselves again and again gives their work greater meaning, while I tend to find it redundant and boring. MacArthur, on the other hand, did a great job of condensing the doctrine of forgiveness into a very readable devotional (only 114 pages) that left me hungry for a deeper understanding of God’s forgiveness, not burnt out and ready to study something else. If you’re intrigued by the title, then you’ll probably be just as intrigued by the book itself and should seriously consider picking up a copy of this worthwhile read at your local Christian bookstore.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all expressed opinions are my own.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

-Ephesians 1:5

The sovereignty of God in predestination is really one of the most debated issues among Christians today. On one hand you have those who believe humankind is a slave to the will of God and that each of us essentially are without any choice in the matter of our personal salvation, while on the other hand there are those who would rather not give any consideration whatsoever to what the Bible has to say about individual election. The most common response is to label oneself a Calvinist or Arminian, find a local church with the same message, and do your best to avoid confrontation with those who hold to a different interpretation of Scripture. Sounds a little like politics, doesn’t it?

The most prevalent argument I’ve heard against predestination as a whole is that it’s incredibly unjust on God’s part. And certainly it would be, if the mind of God was as limited as human intelligence. If without any knowledge of the future the Lord sat in heaven and randomly chose names out of a hat, awarding those lucky few the assurance of eternal life in heaven while damning all others to an eternity of torment in hell without any hope of redemption, predestination would indeed be the epitome of prejudice and injustice. But this is not the case. God is altogether beyond time (Ps. 90:2) and His wisdom and knowledge are infinite in nature.

I say this to point out that, even before the foundation of the world, Jesus Christ was fully aware of the impending fall of man. In eternity past His plan of salvation was already in place, insomuch that He was even then aware of what your personal response to the Gospel would be. He knows where you will spend eternity and how many others will follow you there. Nothing escapes our Lord’s awareness, and to portray Him as a nervous onlooker wondering whether or not we’ll “receive Him into our hearts” is to essentially attack His sovereignty.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

-Revelation 22:17

But to say none of us have any say in the matter of our salvation is equally as dangerous. If one’s eternity is entirely beyond his control, then why should we invest in outreach ministries or world evangelism? If a choice made by God long before I even existed is the only determining factor of my future, then shouldn’t I enjoy every sinful pleasure this world would offer me and trust that, if I’m lucky enough to be one of God’s chosen, He’ll figure out a way to save me moments before I die? Not only does this view undermine the holiness of God, but it often undermines the individual Christian’s commitment to holiness.

So then what are we supposed to believe? I’m not saying we should find a comfortable middle ground and compromise any facet of the truth, but my own prayer and Bible study has led me to believe there are certain spiritual truths which even the wisest of Christians can never fully comprehend. Knowing from Scripture I have a personal decision to make that will ultimately determine my eternal home, while also understanding that there is a God “Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:11) seems like a contradiction, but it certainly wouldn’t stand alone as the only paradox in God’s Word. For instance:

• We’re exalted through humility (Jas. 4:10).
• Strength is found in weakness (2 Cor. 12:10).
• Through death to sin we find true life in Christ (1 Pet. 2:24).
• We’re to be in the world, but not of the world (John 17:15).

Certain things are simply beyond our full understanding and best serve as gentle reminders of God’s omniscience. Predestination and free will were not revealed to us for the purpose of creating church splits and relational discord; they are there to point to our Creator’s infinite wisdom and understanding. Let’s not allow Satan to turn them into stumblingblocks.

For the last four weeks I’ve been privileged with a front row seat to the miracle of life. One of my ducks, Dorothy, spent the hottest part of this year so far tending to a nest of eggs laid in late June and she now has three newly-hatched ducklings to show for her patience. What I didn’t realize until I started raising these animals a few years ago is that successfully incubating duck eggs is no small achievement; it takes 28 days of constant nurturing if there is to be any hope of success. More than 20 hours every day are invested in sitting and waiting, with God-given instinct and love as the expectant mother’s only motivation.

This is the perfect picture of unconditional love. Not only can we see the faithfulness of God exemplified in a mother who sacrifices every comfort to give life to her unborn offspring, but we see that same love reciprocated by hatchlings that are completely dependent upon her continued care and provision. Even when the time comes for them to leave the nest, they will go only where she leads. Their only shelter is in the shadow of her wings and their only comfort in the reassurance of her presence.

“We love him, because He first loved us.”

          -1 John 4:19

Many Christians take great pride in their commitment to God and love for Him, as if they were the pursuer in the greatest love story of all time. Certainly this is not the case. However faithful we may be in our prayer life, our Bible studies, or in any other facet of our walk with God, our goodness pales in comparison to the One who came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). We love Him only because He first loved us. We pray only because He prayed, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through [the apostles’] words” (John 17:20). We have hope only because our souls have been ransomed by His blood (Hebrews 9:12, 22). As Paul wrote, “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived…but after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us” (Titus 3:3-5).

There you have it. Regardless of how magnificent a transformation occurred when you were born again in Christ, you can’t take credit for any of it. It’s all God’s work. He’s the Author of our faith, and, as we read in Ephesians 2:8, even such saving faith is a Divine gift. Every good and perfect gift comes from the hand of God (James 1:17), so anything we give Him in return is only our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). May we all learn to give Him our all, not for recognition, but to bring honor to the one who gave His all for us.

Fear has many names. You can call it insecurity, anxiety, worry, angst or apprehension, but its effect remains the same. Scientists tell us that “to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” and this same principal finds its way into our spiritual lives as well: for every ounce of fear you accommodate in your heart there can be found that much less room for courage and boldness. Jason Gray puts it well in his song, No Thief Like Fear:

“Fear will take the best of us
Then come back for the rest of us
Its raging hunger never satisfied
It's closer than a brother
And more jealous than a lover
It holds you while it swallows you alive
Let down your guard
And it will steal your heart"*

Those last two lines say it all. Fear gives you a thousand opportunities every day to entertain it: the evening news reports rioting in the Middle East; the “experts” predict a hike in gas prices and – do you hear that? – it sounds like the car is making that funny noise again! No matter how hard you try not to care, you do, and fear seems like your only logical reaction to the unknown. But this kind of fear isn’t logical! In Matthew 6:27-29, during His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus posed this question to His audience: “Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” We seem to grasp the fact that worrying about our height will never make us taller, but that the future is just as much beyond our control is a lesson many of us have yet to learn.

“Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.”

             -Proverbs 3:25, 26

Fear is essentially the enemy of faith, which is why I believe the devil has looked for ways of imparting it to the hearts of believers since the beginning of time. With Eve, he caused her to fear God was holding out on her and then tricked her into eating forbidden fruit. With David, he caused him to fear the consequences of his own actions and then to believe murder was the only solution. Why did Peter deny Christ? Why did Israel cower before Goliath for 40 days before a young boy stood before him in the name of the Lord with five stones and a sling? Why did only one disciple go out to meet Jesus on the raging sea? Why did the Pharisees crucify the Messiah they’d so long been waiting for? Fear. Fear of persecution, fear of defeat, and fear of shame. 

Not only is fear the enemy of your faith, but it’s the enemy of your soul, your relationships, and your very salvation. This is why we must guard our hearts against it. May we all learn to trust God with our tomorrows and be confident in the promise that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). You’ll still go through the same trials as before, but will be able to stand and say with David, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

*© 2011 – Centricity Music Publishing

I didn’t plan to write about romance when first starting this series, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that few things have a more direct line to one’s heart than love itself. The Bible tells us that love is a beautiful and noble thing (1 Corinthians 13), but romantic love has several unique qualities – most of which are obvious – when contrasted with the “brotherly love” spoken of in Hebrews 13:1. Although both were created by God and are in some way a reflection of His Own goodness, romantic love should always be combined with discernment and maturity whereas Christian love should be had toward all people without prejudice.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

             -2 Corinthians 6:14

The first and most important thing to consider about a person you’re attracted to is whether or not they are a believer. Don’t make the mistake of disregarding his or her beliefs now with the intention of changing them later; this rarely happens. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:39 that “the wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” Why this stipulation? Because according to Matthew 11:28-30, the burden of the sinner is heavy while the load of the Christian is light. When a believer and nonbeliever are joined in marriage, thus becoming in the eyes of God “one flesh” (Mark 10:8), it becomes exceptionally difficult to “stand fast…in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1) That’s not to say those already in such a situation should by any means leave their spouse (see 1 Cor. 7:13), but it’s best not to put yourself in this position if at all possible.

Secondly, don’t take for granted that you are supposed to pursue a relationship with somebody just because they meet the above criteria. The facts that the girl next door calls herself a Christian and that you find her attractive doesn’t mean God has predestined her to be your wife. Does she share your values and doctrinal beliefs, or do you disagree on issues which may prove controversial in the long-run? Of course you shouldn’t be so critical that you’re impossible to satisfy – it’s probably okay if you read different translations of the Bible – but keep in mind that deeper issues such as the necessity of baptism and tithing will likely prove contentious unless you see eye-to-eye on them.

Finally, understand that any decision of this magnitude made without prayer and fasting will likely be wrong. Even relationships that never consummate in marriage will generally have a very lasting effect on those involved and so rushing into romance without first seeking God’s will is never advisable. You may be sure you have found the one God has for you, but don’t spoil His perfect plan by taking things impatiently into your own hands; seek His guidance and accept His timeframe, even if it differs from your own (it probably will).

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

              -Proverbs 4:23

My intent in writing this series is to prepare you for the daily war fought for the attention of your mind and the affection of your heart. Not only does your heart influence the decisions you make, but it determines the very emotions you feel and the thoughts you entertain. This is what Solomon meant when he said “out of it are the issues of life.” And yet despite our general awareness of this I see too many Christian young people willing to grant a place in their hearts to anybody who will take it just so they can change their relationship status on Facebook. This is too small a thing to live for. First make sure you’ve given top priority to your relationship with God, otherwise your every pursuit will be a wasted effort to fill an emptiness only He can satisfy.

Disagree with me if you want to, but I believe music is one of the most influential things we allow into our lives. Even on rare days when I don’t tune in to my local Christian music station or pop in a favorite CD on my way to work, the song I wake up to in the morning or what I hear playing at the grocery store always finds a way to get stuck in my head. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing depending on what kind of music is involved, but the fact of the matter is that our thoughts, and therefore our actions, are directly affected by what we spend time listening to.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”

-Ephesians 5:19

Now I’m not one of those people who think it’s sinful to listen to anything but Southern Gospel, but I do believe most Christians are far too liberal in their choices of music. I’ve seen too many friends who once lived respectable, Godly lives begin a terrible downward spiral by deciding to compromise in this single area. I know the simple fact that a song isn’t about God doesn’t make it sinful, but we must ask ourselves whether its lyrics and overall message are truly worthwhile and consider what kind of lasting effect it will have on us. Even if you stay away from profanity and punk rock, filling your mind with lies about life and love can be just as harmful in the long run. Can you honestly say what you listen to meets the criteria for Godly thought found in Philippians 4:8? If not, then it’s time to clean out your iPod.

At this point I’m sure I’ve already offended some of you, but know this is not my intent. I just believe we need to be aware of just how much influence music wields in our life and emotions, and yet too many people seem to think they can partake in the very things the world takes pleasure in without being negatively affected by any of it. Proverbs 6:27-28 lets us know that, when you play with fire, getting burned is unavoidable. It doesn’t matter how strong you are in Christ; it’s impossible to daily and willingly place yourself in the devil’s line of fire without getting hit. “But what’s wrong with this song or that band?” you say? Perhaps instead of asking “Is it wrong?” you should ask “Is it right?”. Comparing darkness to light provides better contrast.

“Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.”

-Psalm 25:15

Four years ago when I got my learner’s permit, one of the first things I learned about driving was not to watch the cars around me. I know keeping your eyes on the road sounds like common sense to most people, but as a new driver my natural tendency was to keep an especially close eye on the surrounding traffic. The passing SUV, the oncoming 18-wheeler, the pedestrian in the crosswalk – all of these were things which demanded my attention, but the moment I made them my primary focus I would inevitably begin to swerve in that direction. It didn’t matter how much I intended to avoid them; if my eyes weren’t on the road ahead, it became impossible for me to drive straight.

Four years ago when I became a Christian, one of the first things I learned about serving God was not to be distracted by the world around me. I know keeping your eyes on Christ may sound like common sense to some people, but as a new believer my natural tendency was to keep an especially close eye on the things of earth. The evening news, our failing economy, my future – all of these were things which demanded my attention, but the moment I gave them preeminence to my walk with God I inevitably began to lose sight of eternity. It didn’t matter how much I desired to be spiritually minded; if my eyes weren’t on the path ahead, it became impossible for me to walk the straight and narrow (Rom. 8:6; Matt. 7:14).

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

-Isaiah 45:22

Perhaps you, too, have learned the hard way what happens when you take your eyes off of God. The tug of secondary priorities seemed a lot more noticeable than the still, small voice of God and now you’re stuck in a rut with no idea how to get out (1 Kings 19:12). If this is you, understand that getting out of a mess is as simple as getting into one: simply look in the right direction. “The LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1) All He asks is that you turn to Him (Deut. 4:29-31).

“Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles
of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

-Ephesians 6:11, 12

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”

-2 Corinthians 10:3, 4

My part of the country is currently experiencing a severe drought. Water use is being restricted in surrounding communities, Independence Day firework displays are being cancelled, and brushfires are appearing left and right. We’re not necessarily in a state of panic yet since our life doesn’t depend on the success of our garden and drinking water is still easily accessible, but a 107° day with an even hotter forecast still ahead is enough to catch anybody’s attention.

Fortunately, the local media and governments are doing their part to make sure everybody understands their responsibilities during the drought. No unnecessary water usage, no bonfires and, as long as the excessive heat wave persists, no avoidable outdoor activity. Rain has basically been a stranger to our area for several weeks now and shows no signs of returning any time soon.

A drought of this size and intensity can hardly go unnoticed, especially when farmers play a significant role in your state’s economy. Is it possible, though, that we find it easier to worry about these natural inconveniences than our own spiritual health? How come rainfall totals can headline every newscast for a week straight, while the average person goes about their everyday life seemingly indifferent to their spiritual depravity and need for living water (John 4:10)? It’s not because either of the two are more apparent than the other; our nation has simply contented itself with ungodliness for so long that we’ve stopped seeing the need for it.

“My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

-Psalm 42:2

However much our country’s need for God may be underestimated, we cannot afford to overlook the need for more of Him in our lives. He’s the only one capable of providing our spiritual needs and refreshing the dry and thirsty ground we’ve become so used to walking on. Just as the leaves of an old oak tree stretch toward the sky when in desperate need of rain, the solution to our barrenness can only be found by looking up.

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of
thine heart.”

-Psalm 37:4

If you’re a Christian, then just reading the above passage of Scripture likely caused you to stop for a moment and reflect on the goodness of God. To think that an all-knowing, all-holy God would extend to us anything but His wrath – let alone His love – should be enough to fill anybody with gratitude, and yet we find countless promises just like this one throughout the pages of God’s Word. Like the Israelites who were allowed to inherit “a land for which [they] did not labour and cities which [they] built not”, we have been made “partakers of the Lord’s table”, not by our own merit, but solely by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Josh. 24:13; 1 Cor.10:21).

And although this particular promise is as beautiful and as valid as any, it can be easily misunderstood if we’re not careful to consider its context. Receiving all the desires of our heart is surely a thought worth getting excited about, but only when our priorities are first in the right place. Can you imagine the mess we would so quickly make of our lives if we got everything we wanted, no exceptions? You see, God isn’t offering us the satisfaction of every selfish desire, but the quenching of every Godly thirst (Matthew 5:6). If you make Him the center of your life and the focus of every ambition [i.e. your “delight”], then the desires of your heart will also be Godly in nature.

The fact is, there is a direct relationship between the delight of our heart and the desires of our heart. This means that if you’re not quite sure what the delight of your heart is, the desires which consume it on a daily basis are likely a good indicator of your spiritual condition. A person who delights in money desires more wealth; someone who delights in acceptance desires friendship; and those who delight in God desire “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report.” (Philippians 4:8)

“I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.”

-Psalm 81:10

The obvious advantage to the Christian is that, unlike those who look for lasting happiness in temporal things, the desire of our heart is sure be granted so long as we put Christ in His rightful place by making Him our soul’s delight. How often do you think those who delight in earthly things find complete satisfaction? According to Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” Those who have fixed their eyes on the eternal and desire God with all their hearts are the only ones who won’t be disappointed.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.”

               -Ephesians 4:1

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

               -1 Timothy 1:15

“And [Jesus] said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.”

              -Luke 12:22-23

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all expressed opinions are my own.

The following is the speech I delivered on 5/19/12 at my homeschool graduation ceremony:  

“Thank you everybody for coming. I’ve been extremely encouraged over the past several weeks as so many of you have offered your prayers and words of encouragement as I enter this new and exciting chapter of my life.

I remember starting school 13 years ago and thinking of this day as if it was an eternity away. Things like driving a car, having a job, and standing here today receiving my high school diploma were all things I looked forward to, but I could hardly imagine what life would be like without my daily studies and summer vacation. Life has changed drastically for me over the past twelve months, and I realize this trend will only continue over the next several years. Yet unlike many graduates, I don’t fear what lies ahead; instead, I am excited to learn what blessings God has in store for me as an adult and trust His promise in Jeremiah 29:11 applies to me: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.”

In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul wrote “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” As I’ve prepared for this day and new season of my life, this is one verse God has reminded me of time and time again. I understand that many of the things I’ve become accustomed to throughout my school years will no longer apply to me as an adult, such as the privilege of having an answer book to explain everything I don’t understand. Life will no doubt present me with many challenging situations throughout my future, but I resolve today to trust God in those times to fulfill His promise in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Of course the accomplishment of my graduation would not even be a reality without the patience and determination of my mother over these past 13 years. She has taught me everything from learning how to read to learning how to tie my shoelace, and she deserves all of the credit for making this day a reality. I can’t begin to describe how much I appreciate her faithfulness to me and to the calling God has placed on her life to homeschool me and my sister.

I would also like to thank my sister, Bethany, for being a great sister and classmate; my aunt Shelley for coordinating so many great homeschool events with our local homeschool group; the Homeschool Foundation; and our state government for acknowledging the right of parents to educate their children at home.

Again, you’ll never know what your prayers have meant to me over these past several months and what it means to me to know I can count on your prayers in my future. I pray and trust that the days ahead will be as blessed as days gone by, and I thank God for the assurance that He will be with me every step of the way.”

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

               -Romans 8:28

More than six months of car shopping culminated yesterday afternoon with the purchase of my first car….Well, my second first car that is. Back in January I had a not-so-pleasant experience with a ‘99 Ford Taurus that I owned for a grand total of three full days, discovering after less than 100 miles that it had a bad transmission that would ultimately cost more to fix than the car was worth.

Of course just like any other guy my age, owning my first car has always been a dream of mine and one I was excited to see become a reality. And even though the bank preapproved me for a sizable loan without requiring a cosigner, no amount of prayer could give me peace about starting off my adult life in debt. (Thankfully I have a great mom who let me drive her car to my part time job while I saved up enough to pay cash.)  So I worked and saved for six months, and then all of my prayers led me to believe I was supposed to buy the car that I had to return less than a week later. I was confused, angry and very discouraged.

Some would say I misunderstood God’s leading. After all, where does a bad transmission fit into Jeremiah 29:11? Even after grappling with this question for the past 2+ months I’m not sure I can give the perfect answer to that question, although I do think God had a purpose in all of what took place. Didn’t God say that the trial of our faith worketh patience (James 1:3)? Without trying to sound sarcastic, I certainly think patience is more important than a seamless transition into my first car.

Maybe you’ve never had a car go bad three days after buying it, but I’m confident a large majority of my readers have faced their share of situations they didn’t understand. Even after “praying it through”, know that you still won’t understand all of the unexpected curveballs that come your way in life. But even when nothing is falling into place the way you think it should, trust that God has a purpose much higher, wiser, and greater than you thought He did (Isaiah 55:9). He usually does.

Wow. I just saw this video and it’s very possibly the most anointed three-minute sermon I’ve ever heard. There are no words to describe the glory of our Savior, but this man comes as close as any man can. Watch and be blessed.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

               -Matthew 5:11, 12

I recently received an email from a follower that contained a very thought provoking question about heaven. In fact, her email has occupied so many of my thoughts over these last two days that I decided to go ahead and respond publicly rather than via return email as I usually do. Here is her question:

“When I read about Heaven, I get the idea that there are different rewards in Heaven. My pastor says all the time that what we do on earth, we will get rewarded for in Heaven. Why is that? There is no jealousy in Heaven. No one will envy another. So why would anyone care what rewards they will get in Heaven? They will be delighted and happy in Heaven because possessions and houses won’t matter. So why will our Heavenly experience matter by how much we do for God on earth?”

Any pastor who preaches various degrees of heavenly reward is absolutely correct in his thinking. Not only does it make sense that God would reward His children according to their individual obedience, but the Scriptures clearly indicate  that “every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.” (1 Corinthians 3:8) Just as Christ taught that the Pharisees would “receive greater damnation” for their wickedness and hypocrisy (Mark 12:40), the doctrines of Scripture also teach that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Of course, as it was so aptly pointed out above, there will be no jealousy in heaven. It’s certainly hard to imagine my fellow brother receiving more treasures and authority than myself without harboring feelings of anger and resentment, yet we know that heaven is a place where “the former things [including jealousy!] are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) In accordance with Romans 12:15 we will join others in their heavenly celebration, not pout because we’re discontent with what we were given.

I’ll admit, the idea of additional rewards in heaven seems redundant. Isn’t heaven itself enough? Yes, but I also believe that our heavenly Father’s ways are much higher, wiser, and greater than our own (Isaiah 55:8, 9). It didn’t make much sense in humanity’s eyes that God would choose a stable as the birthplace for His Son, or a poor, small-town couple to serve as His foster parents. Yet this is what pleased the Father and the very way He chose to author our salvation (Colossians 1:19; Hebrews 12:2). I can’t help but think the same is true when it comes to eternity and its rewards; God doesn’t owe us anything, but chooses to give us “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” because we are His children in whom He delights (Ephesians 3:20; Proverbs 12:22).

Regardless of whatever treasures we may have waiting for us in heaven, my heart tells me  that I’m utterly unworthy of it all. Any Christian who serves God for material gain will one day realize they’ve not gained a thing, while those who go about doing their “reasonable service” will find riches beyond all comprehension (Romans 12:1; Luke 17:10).

This week I had the great pleasure of getting to see and meet Matt Maher and Audrey Assad. Of all the concerts I’ve been to over the years, I must say this was one of the best and most-memorable yet. They’re both such talented musicians and play some awesome music on stage, so definitely consider picking up a few tickets next time they come to your area. This is a video I shot of them playing a beautiful rendition of “I Need Thee Ever Hour.”

Depending on where you live, snow may or may not be something you get to see very often. Our winters here in Missouri typically consist of several light snows with one or two “heavy” snowfalls (5”-8”) throughout the season, although this year has been exceptionally mild and we’ve only been hit with a few inches thus far. I know a few people who are hoping for that sled-worthy snowfall to come before spring, while I’m personally just thankful I haven’t had to drive in the stuff too much.  

Of course anybody who enjoys nature has to admit that snow is the most beautiful form of precipitation God has designed. Sometime when you’re not slipping and sliding on the highways, you should take a few minutes and actually enjoy the beauty of our Lord’s handiwork. There’s something about the resilience of a snow-covered evergreen and the intricacy of each snowflake that reminds me life is about more than the problems I’m facing or the latest news headline. God has surrounded us with untold blessings, and yet I’m often too busy to notice them.

So today let me encourage you to stop and consider the things that truly matter, and then take some time to thank God for them. Watch the sunrise. Build a snowman. Play your guitar under the stars. There are so many things we take for granted, and even more things we just don’t take the time for. Don’t spend your whole life wishing for what you don’t have and thus miss out on what you’ve already been given. After all, the greatest gifts of all come without a price tag.

Photo © 2012, Dakota L.

So how are your New Year’s resolutions going? You know, those commitments everybody made a few weeks ago that they’re already trying to forget about? My guess is that, if you’re anything like the rest of us, your vision of the future probably isn’t a reality quite yet.

How do I know this? Because life never goes as planned. Just as you are gathering the courage to go on that mission trip, a family member will suddenly take ill and need a caretaker. The very month in which you plan to increase your giving will always be the month that the car breaks down, and spending more time with God is a lot harder when your boss asks you to take on an extra shift.  Life happens, and it usually does so at the most inopportune times.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

          -Genesis 50:20

The worst part of it all is that many of us become so discouraged when things don’t go our way that we give up on change altogether. Just because you’re struggling with reading through the Bible in a year is no reason to quit studying the Scriptures, nor is a rocky start to your diet an excuse for another year of unhealthy living. As David Brinkley once said, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” By giving up in the face of adversity, we’re actually losing out on the opportunity for growth that far surpasses what we could have planned with a pen and paper.

Maybe life has thrown quite a few bricks at you over these last four weeks. Maybe “successful” is the last work you would use to describe the month of January, and you don’t yet see any silver linings or light at the end of the tunnel. If this is you, don’t be discouraged by the obstacles you’ve encountered. Instead, learn to view every hardship as an opportunity for growth and realize that God’s plans for you are far more significant than your own. What you may view only as another brick to dodge, God may see as building material.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

               -1 Peter 3:15

I’m someone who enjoys debate. Not that I enjoy disagreeing with another person over trivial issues, but, especially when it comes to God and the Bible, I always welcome the opportunity to defend what I believe. An ability to defend the Faith is one of the most important skills a Christian should have, not only because it deepens his personal understanding of spiritual things, but because it enables him to be used by God in revealing these things to others.

Of course no person, however knowledgeable of the Scriptures, is able to impart saving faith to another (Rom. 2:4). We can preach night and day of justification and propitiation, and yet there will always be those who disagree with us regardless of how plainly the truth is presented (1 Cor. 2:14). I’ve met professed-Christians through the blogosphere who hate what I have to say about salvation, yet will contradict me without the use of even a single Scripture and  insist that everybody goes to heaven. It’s during these times that discernment must be exercised so we are able to avoid fruitless conversations with a person who simply refuses to see the light (Matt. 7:6). Certainly God may lay it upon our hearts to continue reasoning with them for a time, but at some point we must redirect our energy toward reaching those truly hungry for truth.

The key, as Peter wrote, to being a successful defender of the Faith is not a huge reservoir of head knowledge. Yes, knowledge undoubtedly helps, but it doesn’t save people. Before all else, we must “sanctify the Lord God in our heart’s”, knowing that our efforts to evangelize are vain if we have not first presented ourselves as living sacrifices before the only One Who can reveal the Father in all His fullness (Matt. 11:27; Col. 2:9). Once we have Him working in us and through us, the task of reaching people for the Kingdom suddenly gets a lot easier.

Perhaps there’s someone you’d love to reach for Christ, but your words just don’t seem to be getting through. This might be because you’re too close to them, like the father who shares Christ with his rebellious son every time they meet but to no avail, or because you are trying to sell them a faith that you yourself have neglected. Pray about what your next step should be and be prepared to respond to God’s direction. Whether it’s to continue defending your faith to that person or simply cultivate it through prayer and fasting, God knows how to make us most effective in His service.

I played this song in church yesterday and thought I’d share it with you guys. It’s probably one of my new favorite songs to play on guitar, easy to learn and easy to sing.

I’m a big fan of devotional books. Perhaps it’s just something about the 40-day format that intrigues me, but each time I’ve read a devotional like this it always ends up becoming a new favorite of mine. Author Jerry MacGregor could easily have ruined this book with legalism and false doctrines, yet instead was able to very well illustrate the need for both grace and personal discipline in one’s life.

Each day MacGregor focuses on one important aspect of the Christian life. Early on, practices such as prayer and Scripture memorization are introduced, being punctuated by a daily challenge that forces you to enact the truths you just studied. As the book progresses these challenges seem to become more and more creative, though it would honestly be difficult to complete all 40 of them. Perhaps the most challenging one I can remember came on day 12: “Sit down and read one of the gospels in its entirety.” Obviously this is an achievable goal, but is certainly not for everybody.

All in all I consider this book to have been worthwhile investment of my time and hope to read it again someday. If you’re looking for spiritual growth throughout this new year (and I hope you are!), then definitely think about moving this title near the top of your reading list. It held my attention for a full 40 days, which, especially in our fast-paced and electronic age, is not an easy task. It won’t change your life, but can help lead you to the One Who can.

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all expressed opinions are my own.

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow…”

             -James 4:14

Can you believe the holidays are almost over? It seems like just a few short weeks ago that we were carving turkeys and putting up Christmas lights, yet my calendar tells me that the old year has just ended and a new one just begun. 2012, now officially upon us, offers us a fresh start at things we may have done less than succeed at in 2011.

I typically don’t make an official list of resolutions for the New Year, but I do of course have a few things I’d like to improve on throughout the months ahead. Things like buying a car and graduating were fairly simple goals for me to come up with, whereas some soul-searching was required to realize the areas that need changing on a much deeper, spiritual level. Add my name to the list of Christians determined to pray more, study harder, and live a godlier life this year than ever before.

What changes have you slated for 2012? Regardless of what goals you’ve set, let me encourage you to take proactive steps toward making that happen. Do you want to get in shape? Then sign up for a 5k run in August. Do you want to start praying more? Then turn off your computer and go pray. As simple as it may sound, changing something in your life requires actually changing something in your life! You can’t expect to do the same things you’ve always done and get closer to God or lose weight; a positive change requires decisions to be made and action to be taken.

The mistake we often make with New Year’s resolutions is in believing they are one-time decisions – something we commit to once and then can simply watch for the results. If you’re really serious about accomplishing something, however, then it’s probably a commitment you’ll have to renew at least 366 times throughout the coming year¹. Tomorrow when you wake up, the will to improve your relationships or get out of debt won’t greet you with a morning kiss; you’ll have to again remind yourself of just how much change is truly needed and pray for the strength to make progress in your war against complacency.

Tomorrow is a day which always holds the best intentions, yet never does any good because it’s always 24 hours away. The worst mistake you could make next to discarding your resolutions altogether is to put off making a difference until tomorrow. Decide now to fulfill the resolutions you talked about yesterday and make 2012 a year to remember, not for failed attempts, but for fulfilled commitments. This could be your best year yet and it starts today.

_____________________

¹ It’s leap year.