Beautifully Broken

Warren Haynes has a song that is titled Beautifully Broken with a haunting (at least for me) chorus:

Beautifully broken

Shaped by the wind

Dangerously twisted

Here I go again

Here I go again

I know that I often feel this way on my walk in this broken world. But we have a very real and a very comforting assurance. Hebrews 2:11 assures us as follows:

…For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers…

This verse show us that with the help and presence of our loving and perfect big brother, we can turn from our present imperfections toward a less imperfect path with faith and trust in the future grace we will need.

What assurance we have, assurance that we now stand perfect and complete in the eyes of our Good, Good Father not because we are perfect now,  or because we are complete, but entirely because of the perfect and complete work of our big brother who is shaping us (sanctifying, setting apart, being made holy) step by step…day by day.

This is the perfect picture of oneness in Christ…the perfect picture of our perfect and holy and loving big brother leading us from beautifully broken to more beautiful and less broken! We know we are now traveling in grace and we can trust in future grace along the way!

Safe travels for sure…

Grace and peace!

Utter Dependence

Psalm 121:1-3

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Oh Father, in these crazy days I have become so aware of my (our) utter dependence on you! Forgive me  Father God for thinking I could do it on my own.  Yet how hopeful that my (our) help comes from you, the maker of heaven and earth!

So Father I cry out for help…help us with pandemics and variants, with political, social, economic, and racial divisions, with so many environmental and climate issues and for us on the Gulf Coast with this thing called red tide. 

Help me (us) be a little more like Jesus, inch by inch…step by step. Help us all to be kind to one another, to love and forgive and just care about others. 

And Father I don’t pretend to know your ways and I don’t know if you will help like I think of help, but I sure do know you can!  

Abba Father, trusting you and praying these things in the most beautiful and wonderful name of Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen! 

Dazed and Confused

 

Father God,

Psalm 138:7-8 says:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”

Oh Father, in a time, at least for me, of feeling lost and not a losing faith kind of lost as my faith seems to be growing, I am more amazed by you every day, my love for you is growing as I come to terms with the sacrifice you made to love me first.  This lost feeling is more a dazed and confused kind of feeling with all that is going on in the world, it’s a feeling of which direction and wondering what’s next.  

At times (lots of times) I do feel like I am walking in the midst of trouble filled with enemies while also recognizing that most of these so called troubles and enemies are of my own making. Yet you preserve my life, you deliver me and even more astounding is that you love me and will forever, and because of that love my purpose will be fulfilled even if I don’t see it or understand it right now. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

So, my prayer today is for the sojourners of this broken and crazy world (and aren’t we all sojourners). That we would continue to seek you first, that we would continue one step at a time despite the circumstances of life, the negative, the divisive, the concerning. That we would move forward by trusting you and not our understanding, that we would in all ways acknowledge you and your grace, your love and your oh so tender mercies. May we all press on in the knowledge no matter our path that you are with us always. May we all press on knowing that Christ has gone before us. May we all press on empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Abba Father, I love you too and pray in the astonishing name of Jesus Christ. 

Amen and Amen!

Joel - which way to turn

Continuing through the minor prophets I recently completed the book of Joel. I found it to be a story of repentance and redemption; a story of grace and restoration. Boice reminds us that “the goal of Joel’s writing, of course – to lead people to repentance.” And this repentance is a recognition of our need of rescue resulting in a turning back to God. Boice says repentance is “essentially an about-face.”

So what did I learn from Joel? What is the big idea helpful for today? The takeaway for me is that in our brokenness, in this broken world, in our stubbornness and pride, as we face trouble, famine, locust, pandemics, even division, and as we recognize it, our proper position is a turning to – better yet running to God. And as we turn just like the prodigal son we will see our Father with open arms running to us.

Hadjiev encourages us with these words. “As for those who bow the knee before the Lamb, God will wipe every tear from their eyes as he ushers them into his holy presence and settles them in a land flowing with wine, milk and water.

I recently tweeted that we have a God that loves the broken, messed up, ragamuffins of this world. You know someone like me…and He loves us so much that He sent his only Son to our rescue and because of this we can rejoice in the living and certain hope we have in Christ!

May we all turn to God and rest in his mighty arms! Exodus 33:14 tells us: And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Rest easy my friends...

Grace and Peace!

Hearing From Hosea

In his commentary on Hosea, Derek Kidner poses the age old question: “If God is all-powerful and all-good, why does he not rid the world of evil?” Kidner maintains that Hosea helps us examines this from God’s perspective.

If we listen with open eyes, Hosea shows us the complexity of the puzzle, the complicated mess of brokenness in the world, he shows us the entangled mess of family. Hosea shows us that the answer for us, the broken children of God is thankfully not an either/or, but the answer is a humbling, self-examining, mixture of recognition, amazement, failure, restoration, repeat.

In this book, we can see we have an all-knowing God that at the right times withdraws, at the right times displays displeasure, but above all else we see that we have a God that always provides his tender mercies, his amazing grace and his eternal and divine love. So what can we take from this book of trials, disappointments, failures and hurts? 

For me I see so much hope and encouragement. I see:

1) That no matter the circumstances in our lives God is with us; no matter our failures God is pursuing us always.

2)  That we have a God that loves the broken, messed up, worthless, failures; the ragamuffins of this world. You know; someone like me. And He loves us so much that he would send his only Son to seek and save; to pay our debt in full and for all time.

3) And that despite all the negative in this world, we can rejoice in the living and certain hope we have in Christ.

Hosea 14:4-7 NLT

"The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon."

Oh what a good and gracious God we have…a God that is with us always, that opens the eyes of our hearts, a God that heals and loves and restores. Should this surprise us about God? To quote James Boice, “it should not, because God is the source of every good gift and all fruitfulness. Beauty! Strength! Value! Delight! Abundance! These are in him. He is beauty, strength, value, delight, and abundance. He is the answer to our need.”

Finally, when I think of all Hosea went through, when I think of all Christ went through; the pain, the hurt, the disappointment, the humiliation, all for Gomer, all for us; I know we can keep moving. We can keep moving despite the circumstances, the negative before us, despite our failures over and over again, we can keep moving…moving toward God. And along the way we can know, trust and live with eternal and certain hope, we can live with joy because Christ has finished it all for us, we can live in the assurance that like the old hymn says; “it will be better farther on.”

When my faith took hold on Jesus,

Light devine within me shone,

And I know since that glad moment,

“It is better father on.”

I have plunged into the fountain,

Flowing free for everyone;

I am saved and Hope is singing,

“It is better father on.”

Grace and Peace!

What’s Next?

 

Recently, I have been wrestling with a nagging question.  The simple question of what’s next keeps coming to mind and heart. I know it is a deep question that will take much time and prayer to come to terms with, but I do feel the tug to tackle an important part of the Bible that I have never really, I mean really studied - the Minor Prophets.  

And it just so happens (imagine that) that I recently got as a gift a commentary series on the Minor Prophets by James Boice (there’s your sign). In the preface, Boice points out that the Prophets highlight and emphasize and remind us of three things. 1) the sovereignty of God, 2) the holiness of God, and 3) the love of God. He continues by saying; “We need these emphases today. We need them as individuals...We need them as a nation...We need to learn - deeply - and in a way that changes us...”

Needless  to say I am very excited (and honestly a little nervous) for this tiny first step in my effort to see just what is next on my spiritual journey!

Grace and Peace!

Keep on Smiling

 

1 Peter 5

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,  not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;  not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. 

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Keep on Smilin’

Song by Wet Willie

Well you say you got the blues, 

Got holes in both of your shoes, 

Feelin' alone and confused, 

You got to keep on smilin', keep on smilin'

You got to keep on smilin', keep on smilin'

Keep on smilin' through the rain, laughin' at the pain 

Rollin with the changes til the sun comes out again 

Keep on smilin' through the rain, laughin' at the pain 

Rollin with the changes, singin' this refrain

Big Idea

Peter concludes his first letter with a summary for living while knowing it will be so much “better farther on.”  He reminds us to live lives caring for, serving and protecting others, to move forward ourselves and to lovingly guide those we love onward toward the unfading crown of eternal glory.  Peter reminds us to live humbly casting our anxieties on our mighty God because he cares for us. He reminds us to be cautious in this broken world, to know that there will be trials and tests, temptations and suffering, but to also know we are never alone.

Peter reminds us to keep the faith, to press on (thanks Paul) because the God of grace is with us always and will restore, confirm, establish and strengthen us no matter the circumstances of this world.

And with that: to him be the glory forever and ever!

Amen and Amen!

No Surprises - Happy

 

1 Peter 4:12-19 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Happy

Song by Pharrell Williams

Here come bad news talking this and that (yeah)

Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back (yeah)

Well, I should probably warn you, you'll be just fine (yeah)

No offense to you, don't waste your time

(Here's why)...

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Big Idea:

This week as I was reading, I came to Job 23:10-11  - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

- and I started to see how these verses could help me better understand 1 Peter 4:12-19.  

It occurred to me that in this broken world there will be times of tests, trials, and suffering and we should not be surprised by that - that’s life. But, the good news is we can know and trust that (Emmanuel) God is with us.  It means we can imperfectly follow in the steps of our Savior (sanctification) and we can “entrust our souls to a faithful Creator while doing good” (V19), while bringing joy and love and kindness to the world around us.  

We can rejoice knowing, being sure of the glory that was, the glory that is and the glory to come and whatever we encounter in this world, we can live in the now, with the certain hope of the not yet.  As believers, come what may, we can persevere because “God rests upon you” (V14)…All for the glory of God!

Grace and Peace!

We’re Gonna Make It

 

1 Peter 4:1-11

We're Gonna Make It

Song by Little Milton

We may not have a home to call our own

But were gonna make it, I know we will

We may have to fight hardships alone

But were gonna make it, I know we will

Cause togetherness brings peace of mind

We can't stay down all the time

I've got your love and you know you got mine

So were gonna make it, I know we will

Big Idea:

Because ‘Christ suffered in the flesh,’ because of the sacrifice Christ made for us, because sin no longer rules, we can live for the glory of God.  We can focus on the will of God, we can live for something greater than the passions of this world.  We will not be perfect on this journey, but because of the grace and mercy of God we can press on.  

And many times this will not be a stroll in the park, but a life of sacrifice, of struggle yet we are protected by the full armor of God.  And armed with that love and grace and mercy, armed with forgiveness, we can (again imperfectly) follow in the footsteps of Christ; always loving, being hospitable (generously welcoming),  and helping others.  

Loving others because he first loved us, being welcoming because of the warm embrace of God for all us prodigal sons and daughters, helping others because of the cost of our rescue, the helping hands of Christ. Doing these things in a world in dire need of love and hospitality and help…doing these things all to the glory of God.

Doing these things as Peter says; “in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Grace and Peace!

A Reason For The Hope

 

1 Peter 3:13-22

Bridge Over Troubled Water

When you're down and out

When you're on the street

When evening falls so hard

I will comfort you

I'll take your part

Oh, when darkness comes

And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down...

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will ease your mind...

Paul Simon

What a tough and challenging passage.  In his commentary on this passage Kistemaker said, “Indeed, this passage is one of the most difficult to interpret.” Also, Martin Luther concludes, “This is a strange text and certainly a more obscure passage than any other passage in the New Testament. I still do not know for sure what the apostle meant.” I’m not sure either, but this I know...no matter what this world throws at us and as tough as it may be, we can be encouraged, more we can be fueled by the gospel so much so that we can share the gospel. We can share the reason for the hope!

Big Idea:

We are born into a broken, filthy, messed up world and as such will face trials, tribulations, division, pandemics, economic stress, inequality, racism…you get the picture…but because ‘Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous’ we have a great and certain and eternal hope.  

And as that hope, as the love and grace of God fills our hearts we are able to persevere, to move forward, to share the good news in kind and gentle and respectful ways.  We can move forward in certainty, trusting and knowing the inheritance that awaits because we know how the story ends.  

We can move forward through the troubling mud of this world, because if God is for us, who can be against us!  And even though in this broken world there will be those that throw that mud on us, it will not stick and they will come to see that they are the ones that need a bath - that are in need of rescue (The Message). And we will be there to help.

Grace and Peace!

Perfect Harmony

 

1 Peter 3:8-12

I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land.

The New Seekers

Big Idea:

Because “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (v18);” because of all Jesus has done for us, may we all imperfectly ‘press on’ striving to live in peace, in harmony with sympathy, loving our neighbors tenderly and humbly, blessing (praising, celebrating, helping to prosper, making happy) because of the blessing we have in Christ.

May we all persevere in these qualities growing/maturing spiritually.  May we attempt this with our speech - in prayer and in person; edifying and encouraging. May we move forward in our actions - more than lip service but acting gently and humbly lending a helping hand.  May we grow with purpose; the purpose of bringing light to darkness.  May we persevere in peace, with the grace of God as our motivation and the love of Christ as our assurance.

Grace and Peace!

Winning Without A Word

 

1 Peter 3:1-7

This is such a challenging passage especially in the context of our current culture/worldview…but maybe that is part of the point. Maybe because we are followers of Christ we are to be at times “other worldly.” Maybe we are to be a witness to the beauty of Christ.

Big Idea

And because Jesus submitted to the cross for each of us, because of his grace, mercy and love for each of us…as aliens and exiles in this world we should be different than this world in winsome ways.   Because we are called to “do good and suffer” as it is “gracious...in the sight of God,” because we have been called so that we “might follow in his (Christ’s) steps. (2:20-21), we should strive to have this voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and a willingness to carrying a burden, to treat those we love with respect and honor, to treat others with respect and honor.  And can we do this understanding that real beauty "comes from the heart.”  Can we do this with adoration for God, for Jesus and for the Spirit as our motivation. Can we do it all for the purpose of giving glory to God and pointing others to Christ, “that they might be won without a word.”

Perhaps it could be said that I sort of avoided the specifics of how a wife might submit even to an unbelieving husband, but couldn’t it be said that by having an attitude of deference, cooperating, assuming a responsibility you might not want with a willingness to carry a burden, just as Christ carried our burden, wives; and husbands for that matter, can submit.  And perhaps it could be said, I sort of avoided the specifics of how a husband should treat a wife, but couldn’t it be said that treating those we love (including wives) with respect and honor (the word means the same honor bestowed upon an emperor; to treat as precious) is how husbands and wives for that matter should treat their spouse, it is how we should treat everyone.  

Could it be that moving forward in this way brings honor and glory to God and is gracious in his sight?  May we all move forward in ways that honor God and display our love and gratitude to a world desperate for such examples.

Grace and Peace!

Follow Me

 

Follow Me (UNCLE KRACKER)

All you know is when I'm with you

I make you free

And swim through your veins

Like a fish in the sea

I'm singin'

Follow me

Everything is all right

1 Peter 2:18-25

Big Idea:

Because Jesus unjustly suffered for us, because in the midst of his suffering he said, Father forgive them, because we live in a broken and unjust world, because we all suffer, as followers of Christ we should suffer reflecting on the hope of the cross, on the knowledge that one fine day all will be made right and perfect, we should suffer with the love and grace of Christ as our foundation and motivation, we should turn to God in our suffering.

Looking to the cross, understanding, really understanding how our Savior suffered unjustly and with the divisiveness of our times, with the injustice, with Pandemics, with personal struggles; we can see we all suffer.  For me as I am currently suffering (barely - when reflecting on the suffering of Christ), I am somehow made aware of the blessings, the grace, the love of Jesus for me a sinner.  Somehow it makes me see and understand the call to suffer, it helps me “so that you might follow in his steps (v21).”

With Covid and currently with an extended flare-up of arthritis, I more clearly see glimpses of grace and the many blessing provided.  As I currently walk with pain and a limp, I smile thinking about how wonderful it was when I could walk along the beach, it filled me with gratitude to God for the grace, to Jesus for his rescue and to the Spirit for helping me along the way.  

What keeps us going?  Christ and him crucified! So I know one fine day we will all be walking pain-free again.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Abba Father, help me delight in weakness, hardship, persecution, difficulties, even pain.  Help me always know that in my weakness, with you, I am strong.

Grace and Peace!

Honor the Emperor?

 

1 Peter 2:13-17

This passage is a great reminder, perhaps even a convicting reminder.  While at the same time it is somehow so comforting. A reminder that as sojourners and exiles in this world, where we may never fit in, we still are loved, cared for and guided by the ultimate King, Jesus.  And as such we need not fall into worry (or worse) if our worldly side is not in power.

Because Jesus submitted to death even death on a cross for each of us, because he made the ultimate submission for us, we can trust in our risen King.  And with that trust, with that freedom, we can respect and honor all people including those in office; those in power. We can begin to see beyond political party and submit to worldly governments knowing that it will be so much better farther on.  

We can begin to see that all are created in the image of our loving God and knowing the love God has for us maybe just maybe that will humble our hearts, maybe just maybe we might begin to do good, to be generous, to love others as Christ loves us.  

May we all as believers move forward in gentle and kinds ways, and may we spread good in a hungry, thirsty and needy world. May our actions and conduct proclaim the name of King Jesus to the world.

Grace and Peace!

Living Stones

After Advent and Christmas, our church is moving back into the series on 1 Peter.  This weeks passage is 1 Peter 2:4-12.  This passage struck me as encouraging, and hopeful for those that might feel a little out of place in this crazy world.  This passage provided a humble sense of assurance.  

 

This big idea from this passage, the takeaway for me is:

 

Because of the complete and finished work of Christ, we; diamonds in the rough become acceptable – more than that – we become the precious stones of God.  We the broken, the ragamuffins, the exiles of this world have been chosen for this royal priesthood, we have been called out of the darkness and into the marvelous light that is Jesus.  And as such, we rough stones are being polished and shaped, by the astounding love, the staggering mercy and the amazing grace of God through Christ all by the power of the Holy Spirit! We are being prepared for an eternity of glorifying God and enjoying him forever.  And as exiles in this world and no matter what we encounter in this world (riots, politics, division, pandemics, injustice) we will experience this love and mercy and grace; we will experience the very presence of God every step of the way, and we will experience it in such a way that our hearts overflow with that marvelous light, with this good news and it will overflow into a world desperate for just a little good news.

 

Grace and Peace!