Year: 2014

Categories
Christian Living

Our Nation Still Needs Prayer

The American Flag - symbolizing our need to spend more time in prayer for our nation
Today, I share with you a call to prayer for our nation, the United States of America. Can you guess how long ago it was written? The language will give away the age a bit, but you will have to admit that the message sounds like it could have been written yesterday:

“The truth announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history is that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

What was your guess?
The answer: One hundred and fifty years ago.
By President Abraham Lincoln.

He signed this proclamation to appoint April 30th, 1863 (a Thursday) as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. The proclamation also stated:
“I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord…. All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope…that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace.”photo of president Abraham Lincoln who reminded us that we needed to have prayer for our nation

It is amazing to read this proclamation 150 years after it was written and realize that we find ourselves in a similar place now. We have not been faithful to repent as a nation. We, the Christians in the nation, have failed to be prayerful for our nation. Our greatest act of service for our country is to fast and pray for it with humble hearts seeking that God would turn our nation’s hearts back to Him. One of our early presidents realized the important need for us to do so. I pray that we will realize our need to join together 151 years later and answer this clear call to serve our nation through prayer.

(These words are from Proclamation 97 – Appointing a Day of National Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer – March 30, 1863 – Abraham Lincoln)

Categories
Relationships

Parenting Expectations And A Helpful Idea

picture of a dad, mom, and a baby - reminding us that the role of parents is to be disciplemakers for their childrenA few posts back, I mentioned that expectations in parenthood sometimes are not met the way we had hoped.
(Anyone care to share some examples? I’m sure you have plenty!)

Though they are more precious than you thought possible, and though they allow you to love in ways you didn’t know you had within you, it does not take long to realize that your children are not perfect angels. But then again, once you do some self-examination, you also quickly realize that you aren’t a perfect parent. Parents need help and guidance and direction to help be the best disciplemakers possible for the precious ones in their care. Let me share something I read not too long ago that might be helpful as you continue down this road of disciple-making parenthood:

“Children must be impressed with the awesomeness of Christ, with His nature and character. They must see in their parents a sense of awe for the beauty and attractiveness of Christ. They must see what it means to treasure Christ more than anything else. Children are perceptive, and if they see parents and leaders talk with boredom and apathy about faith yet become overtly passionate about sports teams or shopping malls, they will think the sport or the mall is more attractive than Jesus.

The gospel is impressed on children by what they see in parents and leaders; thus, those who lovingly live a godly life in front of children are heroes. If children see husbands who love their wives and treat them with respect, they learn that Christ, the Bridegroom, pursues and loves His bride unconditionally. If they see leaders and parents hungrily devouring the Scripture, they learn that adults need Jesus for strength each day. If they see leaders forgive someone else, they will learn that their heavenly Father is eager to forgive.”

What lessons about Christ and the Christian life have you tried (or are trying) to show to your children using your own life as the example?

(Quotes from ‘Creature of the Word’ by Matt Chandler)

Categories
Christian Living

In Light of the ISIS Genocide and Unmet Expectations

gold letter Nun in support of the Christians facing persecution by ISIS and who may be dealing with shaken faith thru unmet expectations
The tragic ISIS genocide we are reading about brings up additional questions regarding unmet expectations. When we see what our brothers and sisters are experiencing due to their faith in Jesus Christ – whether it be killing at the hands of Islamic terrorists or imprisonment such as what has happened with pastor Saeed Abedini – then it can make us wonder about the character and love of God. How can God be called good in the face of such evil atrocities taking place on this earth He created?

We aren’t the first ones to ask these questions. We find the same questions in Jesus’ day. Even John the Baptist had a season (or moment) of questioning. John had baptized Jesus. He had called Him “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” He said about Jesus – He must become greater and I must become less. He had great expectations regarding his cousin who He had baptized as the Christ, as the Expected One, as the Lamb of God. He had seen the Holy Spirit descend onto Jesus. He knew who Jesus was and was expecting great things from Jesus. But where did he find himself? He was sitting in a jail cell awaiting possible execution. This was not what he expected!

How could the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world be Jesus if he (John) was sitting in a jail cell? Why is this happening? God, where are You?

Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever questioned God about what life has thrown at you and wondered if God was still sitting on His throne? Wondered if God was still in control? Wondered if God even cared about you? John had these same concerns.

I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t chastise him for his questions. Instead, Jesus knew just what to say to John to comfort him and to help him realize that he had done exactly what God wanted him to do. “John, I am the Messiah. My works and the scriptures prove it. You were right in calling me the Lamb of God. You can be at peace that you lived out your calling to God just as He desired for you to do.”

That brings us back to us. When we are questioning our life circumstances, many of us get discouraged about the life we have versus the one we expected. I’m sure that some of the people in the midst of these on-going persecutions are experiencing the same thoughts, concerns, and doubts.

Jesus spoke words of comfort to John. But what can He say to us who are weary and discouraged by our circumstances? He doesn’t chastise us either – rather He simply says: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

God knew we would become weary, distressed, disappointed, frustrated, and unable to see a light at the end of the tunnel. He knew that many of our expectations for our lives would not be met and that these unmet expectations would put us into a tailspin. He never said this life would be easy – it is full of evil that we have invited into His perfect world. But instead of leaving us to deal with it on our own, He brings us into a relationship with Him so that He will walk with us in the midst of the messes we have made.

Jesus said “my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” He never said there wouldn’t be a yoke or burden. But He did leave us with the great news that if we will choose to have a relationship with Him, then even when life may not be as we expected, we can still learn peace and contentment with Him – no matter the circumstances.

And pray for those in the midst of real persecution to feel the comfort of His love as He walks with them through the evils of this world.

Categories
Ramblings

I Might Have Made An Error

In response to my previous post on unmet expectations, my wife Paige has informed me that I made a grievous error in something I stated.

Her informing me of the error went something like this…
As I was getting ready to go for my morning jog, I had gotten out of bed, changed into some running clothes, and stepped back into the bedroom. Standing beside the bed, I bent down to give her a kiss on the cheek, and then told her: “I’m going running. I’ll see you when I get back.”
      She slightly opened up one eye, glared at me with it, and said to me in all seriousness: “I am not a blanket-stealer.”blanket symbolizing my possible error

Her further defense:
She says she does not steal the blanket, but that the fault rests completely on me, since I kick the covers off of myself and throw them onto her in the middle of the night. She asserts that at that precise moment the blanket becomes fair game for her to do with as she pleases, and I have no right to re-claim it or complain.

She might have a point. What do you think?

Categories
Christian Living

My Unmet Expectations

There are times when we have “great expectations,” but when the expected event arrived, the reality was much different. For example,

Hands on Steering Wheel symbolizing Unmet Expectations drivingI remember the joy of getting my driver’s license – I had GREAT expectations. Expectations of freedom… of traveling all over town with my friends… of going wherever I wanted to whenever I wanted. And then reality smacked me in the face, as I heard such statements as:
“Go pick up your brother from soccer practice.”
“We are out of milk. Drive over to the grocery store and pick up a gallon… and while you are there, pick up some bread, and some cereal, and also a newspaper, and…

Instead of Mr. Independence, I found I’d become Errand Boy!

Or take marriage for example (don’t worry, I’m going to tread LIGHTLY here!)
But we often have an expectation of marriage that is quite different from reality.

I was told about marriage that: “You will find that you will never be as happy with another person, AND you’ll never be as angry at another person.” Most of us find this to be true. We find that our spouse can take us to both extremes easier than anyone else. Also in marriage – we have these romantic ideas, such as sleeping soundly snuggled up to our spouse. But the romantic expectation is not often the reality. In our house, we have at least two problems that prevent sleeping soundly in our bed like they show on the Sleep Number bed commercials:

#1. My wife, Paige… is a blanket stealer.
She does the grab & roll move, so that I wake up I at 4am in the morning and find myself shivering because I am having to use my pillow as a blanket.
#2. My wife, Paige… says that her husband is a snorer.
But I have never heard it, so I am not sure I believe it. Can you really trust the word of a blanket stealer?

Another Unmet Expectation that I have not experienced personally, but which I know occurs often is in regard to parenting. The expectation that OUR children will be perfect angels – unlike the wild banshee children who live next door! Before you have your own children you say such things as: “I would never let my child act like that. I can’t believe that parent is letting their child do that. I would never be a parent that does that.”

Before you become a parent, you have all the answers of how parenting works… as if it is some simple formula like 2+2 always = 4. Your expectation is that: All you have to do to parent properly is follow the formula and everything will work out fine and your children will be perfect angels. We think all these other parents are just blockheads that have decided not to follow the formula.” But then that precious baby shows up on the scene… and all our expectations are thrown out the window!

The main problem seems to be that all parents fall under the curse that their own parents put on them during childhood by stating: “When you have a child, I hope he/she is JUST LIKE YOU!” And that curse ALWAYS comes true. At which point all parenting formulas go out the window.

As one man said: “When I had no children, I had six different methods for parenting. Now I have 6 children and no methods – I just try to get through each day.”

The problem with Unmet Expectations in these areas and many others is that when our expectations are not met, doubts set in. We might even begin having doubts if we were really cut out for driving, marriage, or parenting. Why aren’t things working out like I expected them to?

Sadly, many people have their faith in God shaken when their expectations are unmet. “I’m a good person. Why is this happening to me? God can’t be a good God if this is happening.” But our unmet expectations do not negate the goodness of God. We have to learn to trust God even when our expectations are not met. Our role in this world is not to have our expectations met as if we are the stars of the story, but rather to exalt the One who is the Center of it all – the true Star of all History.

How do you keep from doubting God when reality sets in and your expectations are not met?