Posted on August 24, 2008 at 7:04am.
One of things that age has taught me is that all of us need help from time to time. The more of life I live I realize that I need the help of others more frequently than I once thought I did. When you are young you think you can do it all. My grandson will tell me - “Pop, I can do it myself!” He says that whether he can or not. Young people think they are invincible and young adults believe if they just try harder they can do it. Somewhere along the way most of us come to realize we need the help of others. Israel went up to Jerusalem once a year and while going they sang songs of ascents. In one of those they asked the question of where their help came from? Listen to the answer -“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” The Lord is our help, not just for the old and not just once a year but for all of us and for each day.
Posted on August 23, 2008 at 6:07am.
I have never been a morning person, especially when I was younger. I always found those “Good Morning” happy, happy people way too perky. As a result I would find an excuse to push my personal time with the Lord to another part of the day. I would argue that you didn’t have to be legalistic about it being in the morning, that God could speak to you at any time of the day and so on. I am coming to learn however that there is something unique about meeting God in the beginning of my day. I was reminded this week of a verse in Isaiah that says it so well.
“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears,...” (Isaiah 50:4,5)
I always have my cup of coffee (OK 2 or 3) to get me moving in the morning. I am learning that my time spent with Jesus is better than coffee.
Posted on August 22, 2008 at 8:15am.
I love the book of James. One of the reasons is it is straight forward. You don’t need to spend much time guessing as to what James is saying. Where you spend the time is in figuring out how to make the truths part of everday life. As we get ready to study this book together in a couple of weeks, I want to focus in on what I believe to be the key verse of the book. In chapter three and verse thirteen we read: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” The challenge - to live in humility. One of the rarest qualities of life is humility yet James tells us it is a necessity for living wisely.
Posted on August 21, 2008 at 6:51am.
I woke up today truely grateful for the gift that each day is. I also wondered why I don’t recognize that every morning I wake up. Perhaps it is the fact that most days I am up, showered, dressed and out the door before I take the time to think let alone be grateful. What is different this morning is that I am on vacation so I’m not rushing to a meeting or an appointment. I can find the time when I am away not to rush but I am not sure how to slow it down when it comes to everyday life. The noise and the chaos of life seem to win the battle most mornings, maybe the time has come to change my strategy.
Posted on August 19, 2008 at 5:44am.
I am sitting this morning at the Billy Graham Training Center - The Cove, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. We are here on a staff retreat as we prepare our hearts to serve in this coming year. It is such a treat to be here and I am so grateful for the staff I serve with. I am a mountain guy not a beach guy (it is all yours Mark). I love the vastness of the mountain tops. It is here, for me, that I gain a picture of the greatness of God and the firm foundation he provides in my life. King David says it this way in Psalm 18 - “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.” I hope you find yourself running to the rock who is our firm foundation.
