Walking Thoughts

"Were Jesus not my best friend, I'd be a very lonely person." 
-- Anonymous

Whenever I go to the movies, I always ask myself the question, "How do I see God in this movie?"  In what ways did I see the grace of God, or people pursuing God, or God pursuing them?  How did I see failure from a lack of pursuit of God and Jesus?  Sometimes the answers to the first questions are stretches and the answers to the last one are abundant.  Just recently, however, I watched a movie - a real movie - about real Chrstian life.  it's called Facing the Giants.  If you haven't seen it, go now - yes now, stop reading and go see this movie... now.  If you've already seen, go see it again!

It's a story of a man who is struggling at being a football coach, a husband, and a man.  He surrenders his life to Jesus and learns to love Him because he was first loved by Him.  It's full of lessons, full of encouragement, full of His grace and glory.  And to my extremely overflowing satisfaction, it was a movie about "How do you see God?"

Now I always make it a point to warn you guys when I'm going to give away things in a movie.  So if you haven't seen it yet, I strongly encourage you not to read on so you may be truly blessed by seeing it yourself rather than reading a subpar commentary on a divinely anointed picture.

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As I was saying, the movie focused on how you see God.  First it was the coach.  How did he see his life in relation to God's plans - How did He see God in his life, as a religous matter just "there" or as the very point of his own existence.  As he grappled with this, the kids on the team began to learn to see their whole lives, every word they spoke, every action, every victory and every defeat in light of who God is, pure, holy, and worthy of praise.  They learned to see that God loved them and would bless them.  They learned to live for God and be blessed by God, relying on His strength and sovereignty.

Nothing is impossible for God they learned, but first they had to believe as much.  So often we know God blesses us as His people, but since we don't believe that He will, we don't receive because of our own unwillingness!  In the final climactic scene, a scrawny field goal kicker David is called to the field to kick a 45 yard field goal that could win the state championship game.  He's second string, he's scared, he doesn't belive that he can do it.  He says it several times - he believes he will miss. 

Providentially, the opposing team calls a timeout and the coach confronts David and asks him if he really believes that God can make this field goal for Him.  David's response, "He can if He wants to."  Oh how often we fail in faith with that simple "right" answer.  Yes, He can do things in our lives as He wants to, but it wasn't the answer to the question the coach posed.  Did he believe that God would do it; yes or no were the only available responses.  David's answer, though right, was faithless.  The coach encouraged Him to remember who God is, His power, His love and to believe that God would be faithful.  In faith, believing that God would do it, he called on the Lord and nailed the final kick to win the state trophy.

It's a shame to see so many Christians living faithless walks because they don't act in belief of what God has promised to do - bless them!!  We, I include myself in this category, walk around discouraged because I'm not receiving the blessings that I'm keeping myself from in unbelief - being unwilling to live in a manner of complete faith that He will provide.  

For me personally, I always struggle with thinking that because I desire it, it must not be God's will for me to have it.  That is wrong and faithless, because His word says this,

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Many of you at this point are probably arguing this in your mind, "Yeah, that's all good, but it says in James that you don't receive because you desire it for you own selfishness and this verse in Psalms really says that if you follow God He will change your desires to meet His own."  I used to think the exact same thing, but it's a faithless response that's doubley faithless becuase it uses scripture to reject God's blessings.  Consider this, where in Psalm 37:4 does the word change appear at all?  It doesn't say anywhere in there that your desires will change.  It says that He will give you desires of your heart.  At what point will you accept that the desire in your heart is the very one He has given you?!?!  Now if we live in faith and our fist desire is to see His glory in our lives and glorify Him in everything we have (even the things we love), He will give us what we desire because when we receive them, who will get the glory in your hearts? GOD!  In James it says,

You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James 4:1-3

The verse doesn't qualify what we are allowed to receive and what we aren't allowed to receive, but it targets our hearts.  our motives - do we want to receive so that we can glory in it or that we can give to and glory in God because of it?  Even in this verse it says nothing about Him changing what we ask for from God, it speaks on what our desires are in receiving it!  Should we receive the blessing, whom or what would we glorify?

In Facing the Giants, the coach wanted to win, he wanted to go to state, he wanted to give his wife the children she desired, David wanted to make the field goal - but they had to first recognize that whether they received it or not, they had to glory in God and recognize Him.  They had to believe in faith that God would do it, and they had to ask Him.  It came down to if they believed that God is the loving Father who knows how to give good gifts, who deserves their complete praise and adoration, apart from the gifts, in all areas of their lives.

How do you see God in your life?  What things do you believe He will or will not do?  In your job, in school, at home?  Do you see God as worthy of your praise at all times?  How do you see God?

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead.  Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.  This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:18-22

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:14

Imagine That Many Twinkies

"Think of the biggest number you can. Now add five. Then, imagine if you had that many Twinkies. Wow, that's five more than the biggest number you could come up with!" This quote was by a six year old, reportedly from an actual newspaper contest where participants age 4 to 15 were asked to imitate "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey (Saturday Night Live)." I doubt that the child was trying to quote scripture; but it is a pretty good paraphrase of a verse from the Bible book of Malachi. "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'"


Think Like a Child

Now, without getting into all the deep issues of this verse, I would like to think on the level of the six year old for a moment (ok, maybe that's how I always think). How many Twinkies did you imagine? (If you like, you can insert something in place of the Twinkies. My favorite would be anything with chocolate - do they still make chocolate covered Twinkies?) Think about it - - - God loves you and desires His best for you. He wants you to trust Him and He will "pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Now that may or may not be in the form of Twinkies; but Matthew tells us, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" -Matthew 7:9-11. And you can mark it down; God knows how to give good gifts. He gave the greatest gift, His Son.


Where Are All the Twinkies?

Now as much as I like Twinkies (with chocolate), I know that there is a limit to what is good for me. God knows which blessings are good for us and how much is just enough. Even so, He says it will still be so much that we won't have room for it. Yet, there are times when I wonder where all the Twinkies have gone. Has God forgotten about me? When I am in the midst of problems, it is hard to remember that God's plan for my life involves everything that happens to me. He will bring good out of the worst situation. So whatever circumstances come, I can stop and think of the largest number that I can - - - add five to it - - - and know that, WOW! That doesn't even come close to the blessings God has planned for me.

-- Steve Klusmeyer

We don't give up on something because it's hard.  Working through and completing difficult tasks builds dependence and greater faith in God.  If we were allowed to complete difficult tasks with ease, what would prevent us from taking credit for own achievements - what would keep us from becoming self-reliant, and prideful in our own abilities?  What would keep us from glorifying ourselves?

The word of God says this,

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

How can it be pure joy when we are faced with difficulties? By having faith that God, by grace, will give us the strength, understanding and wisdom we need, we'll see His glory in our lives.  He will pour out His grace in blessings and good gifts.  Also, since we'll know that it was His work, His hand, His faithfulness and love for us that allowed us to accomplish the task, and we will love Him even more because we will have seen His love for us in fuller degree.

The next time you're working on a goal (whether it's studying for a test, working toward a promotion, fixing a relational problem, etc.) and it's hard, or you don't feel like you can do it - or you're just flat out failing, don't get frustrated or angry, but become dependent on God.  Glorify Him by giving Him your best attempt at it and have faith that He will bless it as you do it for Him.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9

I've noticed that time seems to go by faster now-a-days.  Months feel like weeks and weeks feel like days.  In one regard, it could be due to my life being so busy.  I have more responsibilities and demands on the limited time I have each day. One of my co-workers, however, made a good point. Although a lot of it is how we use our time, a great deal of it also has to do with the law of diminishing returns.

For example... when you're ten, a year is 10% of your life, it feels like an eternity!!! Ofcourse it's also a huge chunk of time in relation to what you know. By the time you're 30, one year is only 3.3% of your life, so it carries less weight and really feels like less time only because you know more time... if that makes sense.

In light of all that, consider eternity with God. What little time we have here on earth, precious time we can use glorify God and share the good news with others, because in heaven, we will never again have the opportunity to point someone to Jesus so their soul may be saved...  When we get to heaven, we'll never have another opportunity to love God in choosing Him over sin.  There's so much here today that God wants to use to show His love and power to us and those in our speheres of influence.  If I'm not careful, with those ever-quickening years and days, I could have it all go right by me and miss all of it! Little victories, grace in failures, fun and bad times with friends and family, worship in the menial work of life, all of it - it will go by faster with the passing of time, yet I have the choice to redeem the day and see God's glory in everything.  What will I choose?

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16

I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-19

Have you ever tried to be more to somebody than you were capable, either spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, etc.? I have, and sometimes still do. It leads to, among other things, many frustrations and pains. The reason is simple, no matter how much we desire it, we cannot satisfy another person's soul. I cannot be the fuel for another person's engine, in fact, I myself am an engine in need of fuel. The fuel of the Holy Spirit.


We, very often, attempt to be the Holy Spirit to another person's heart and soul. Whether it's motivating them to lead a righteous life, to see the glory of God in humility and fear, to hold them up in struggles by being their source of fulfillment, or being the Helper and Comforter of their soul. When we do that, we in essence desire to be God to them rather than pointing them to the One who is God and can, or rather, does - the Holy Spirit.


The disciple John records Jesus's words,


"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you... These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your rememberance all that I have said to you."
John 14:16-17, 25-26


You see Jesus makes it very clear, it is the Holy Spirit He sends us who will be with us, deal with our hearts with His word. He is the one who writes the word on our heart and teaches us and leads us into righteousness. He is the Comforter of our soul, the Helper of our lives who gives us strengths in trials. When we try to be that to somebody we point and lead people to ourselves rather than to Christ. Jesus makes it clear, He died, rose and went back to the Father, not for us to be God to people's souls, but to give all of us, individually, the Holy Spirit. In His awesome grace, He allows us the opportunity to point others to the comfort and help that He, the Holy Spirit, can provide.


Very often, I get frustrated because I see sin and try to bring conviction to that person's heart and soul. Again, I get frustrated because Jesus says this:


"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you see me no longer; concerning judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged."
John 16:7-11


And again He says,


"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that He will take what is mine and declare it to you."
John 16:12-15


With my words and actions, I cannot convict a persons heart - I cannot be the Holy Spirit to another man's soul. Yet, I can acknowledge the Holy Spirit's work in me, that He, the Holy Spirit, is the One who even allows me to see sin by teaching me to discern it and leading me to righteousness. Then, I can allow His work in me to minister to others in love through service thereby demonstrating Christ to them, encouraging them to turn from their sins, follies, and transgressions to follow Christ. I can serve them by pointing them to the One who can and will heal their soul, bind up the wounds in their heart, give them the strength to sustain them, and save their souls. I can love them in serving in Christlikeness - living the Gospel.


When we try to be more to somebody than we are, we are acting in pride and foolishness. We are making ourselves God by pointing to our own abilities (that we do not possess) rather than glorifying and magnifying God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who is the fuel for each of our engines. Let us all be filled with the Holy Spirit and show others where and how to find the fuel for the engines of our souls.

But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:25-28

Through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:13c

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11

"While we do not know what the future holds, we know the One who holds the future." -- Unknown

A man was walking through a forest pondering life.
He walked and pondered, walked and pondered.
He felt very close to nature and even closer to God,
so close that he felt if he spoke, God would listen.

So he asked, "God, are you listening?"
And God replied, "Yes, my son, I am here."

The man stopped and pondered some more.
He looked up to the sky and said,
"God, what is a million years to you?"
God replied,
"Well, my son, a second to me is like a million years to you."

So the man continued to walk and ponder... walk and ponder...
Then he looked to the sky again and said,
"God, what is a million dollars to you?"
And God replied,
"My son, a penny to me is like a million dollars to you."
It means almost nothing to me.
It does not even have any value, it is so little."

The man looked down, pondered a bit,
and then looked up to the sky and said,
"God, can I have a million dollars?"
And God replied, "In a second."

I was walking down the street the other day during my lunch break and I heard something go SPLAT on the sidewalk.  I stopped for just a second wondering if somebody was throwing something and the next thing I knew I received two gritty brown deposits on my shoulder and arm.  I never saw the feathery culprit, but there was no mistaking it, I had been tagged and I still had a half day of work left to go...

I made the trek back to my building wondering how many people's eyes were looking at me.  I managed to cleanse my shirt in the bathroom, and fortunately, my shirt was tannish brown and hid the evidence of my tagging well.

Later that day I was thinking about how fortunate I was to be wearing a brown shirt and realized, that morning it was really placed on my heart to wear that brown shirt.  I wasn't planning on it.  I was actually thinking of going with white or blue, but I saw the brown shirt and was compelled to wear it that day.  It was all by God's grace.  He already knew one of his winged creations would be crowning my arm with its digested lunch - and in His grace, He allowed me to wear a shirt that would not be blatanlty brandished with the splat.  He still allowed it to happen so I could glorify Him with my attitude in response to the situation, but He loved me so much that He alleviated the circumstances by allowing me to choose a shirt that matched the bird's ammunition!

So often we can get lost in the "splats" of life.  We become concerned about all the people watching us, being humiliated, taken out of our way and inconvenienced to deal with the circumstances.  Rather than being so self-centered, we have the opportunity to glorify Him in our responses and see His overflowing grace through the small provisions.  When you get splatted on in life, rember to look for His grace and glorify Him through it!

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15