Desires

How much is enough? John D. Rockefeller was once asked a similar question and responded; “one more dollar”. I think that speaks volumes to human nature; more, more, more! I know I spent years trying to reach goals and once there it was never enough. I believe human nature just has this insatiable quality.

As such, we just spend lifetimes striving, seeking, earning, gaining, searching only to find it is never enough. But wait, there is hope! There is a way to quench that insatiable desire. That is through a real and loving relationship with Christ. That brings to mind Psalm 73;

23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isn’t that so satisfying? Earth has nothing I desire, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Pastor Scotty Smith recently wrote a prayer on this passage and what a fitting way to end this blog.

"Even if I lived in the climate of my choice, had all the money in the world, and had the church of my dreams … Even if I had a trout on every cast, sank every putt, and could run a marathon a day… Even if I could eat all the chocolate I want and not gain weight… spend time with all kinds of people and never have a disagreement… move my entire family and favorite friends to Switzerland… it would not be enough.

Jesus, you are heaven to me, period. Though I may want a bunch of other stuff, you alone are the One I desire. You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Keep me sane by the gospel… keep me free of all bitterness… keep me broken before you and make me a better man by knowing you. So very Amen, I pray, in your most glorious and gracious name."

Grace and Peace!

Worship

The Book of Job is revealing some amazing things. I am still in Chapter 1 and have been awestruck. Job has been tested; he has lost everything, he lost his wealth, his herds, his servants and even his children. So how did he react?
Job 1:20

20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

He worshiped! Simply amazing…concerning this passage David Atkinson writes; “Even in all this Job sees the hand of God. Amazingly, and significantly, his first instinct is to react Godwards – in worship. How few of us find that worship is our first reaction even at the best of times. But here is a man who is coping with a multiple bereavement. He has been afflicted with loss after loss. His sorrow is real and very great. How difficult it is to worship at such a time! Yet worship is Job’s reaction.”

So hard, but what lesson for us all! A lesson that no matter what we should rejoice, we should worship, we should love God because he is God! Amen.

That brings to mind Psalm 95:1-7;

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Grace and Peace!

Giddy with Excitement

I have been concerned lately with my focus and came to realize my vision was a little blurry. I have been focused lately on task and getting away from God’s word. It came to a head recently and I am refocusing and what a wonderful thing it is. I once heard a young theologian introducing a well respected theologian saying he was “giddy with excitement” for the opportunity to hear this highly regarded speaker.

As I refocus, a window opened for me to be part of a study of the book of Job and I must tell you all I am “giddy with excitement” about this opportunity. My heart is just filled with enthusiasm over this and it is hard to explain. This is a book with such great wisdom, but a book that deals with some pretty tough issues. Yet, I am still so looking forward to this study.

I find myself reading more and more and just everything I can find on Job. I discovered that Tullian Tchividjian has just started a 10 week sermon series on Job and I am listening along as well. Pastor Tchividjian explained he was so caught up in preparing for this series that he was marinating in Job. That is how I feel as well. It is almost electric.

I am so thankful that my vision is clearing, my focus is getting better and I am just filled with energy. I can’t wait to see where God takes us in this study; it is a great group just itching to learn and grow.

Father, thank you so much for clearing my clutter, for helping me turn to your Word. Thank you that your Word is alive and active, thank you that your Word is there for each of us. Father, let us be immersed in your Word and as we are help us to understand; help us to apply; help us to help others all to your glory and in the most precious name of Jesus Christ - Amen!

Grace and Peace!

The Good Shepherd

My last blog talked about focus and has caused me to examine just what I am focused on. I was shocked. There is much going on, transition at church, busyness at work, a friend suffering emotionally, a friend in medical crisis. However, what I came to see that I was focused on task, self-reliance. I am trying to refocus and ensure that Christ is at the center of all. As I am doing this I have been lead to the first 3 verses of the 23rd Psalm;

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

So just to quickly share what has come to light (come into focus) in those 3 verses

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want – describes where my focus should be – on the Shepherd and if it is I shall not be in want – the phrase shall not be in want in Hebrew means not in need of anything.

2a He makes me lie down in green pastures – thinking contextually this was not a land of green pastures and green pastures would require the sacrificial and loving work of the Shepherd and then; oh my goodness, for me to be able to lie down in my Shepherds pasture – what comfort. Read an interesting thought concerning this verse that for a field to bear fruit it must lie fallow – it must rest – not so reliant on my efforts.

2b he leads me beside quiet waters – Quiet waters just complete this Oasis provided by the Shepherd where the sheep can lie down in what John Piper describes as restful security – no worries!

3a he restores my soul – He, the Shepherd – restores my soul – not me; not my efforts; not you and with just a little focus on the Shepherd; oh how my soul is being restored! The phrase being restored in Hebrew has this connotation of refreshed, revived, restored!

3b He guides me in paths of righteousness – how are we guided in paths of righteousness – by the Shepherd, by His word, by study and by worship – Amen.

3c for his name's sake – All this done out of love, out of mercy, by His grace and for His names sake – all for His Glory – Amen and. Amen!

Father – You are so amazing, so glorious, and so wonderful. Please forgive me my lack of focus, my worry and my lack of trust. Thank you that we have a Shepherd, a Shepherd that provides; a Shepherd that will restore. I pray for each of us that we will have maximum clarity and even with all we have going on, the trials, the needs, the activities, and that our focus will be on our Great Shepherd – praying in the name of our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ Amen.

Grace and Peace!