Posted on June 30, 2009 at 10:48am.
There is a lot to do, a lot ahead of us, so much to accomplish for Christ.This summer already has found me with limited resources. We are down a couple of staff positions, volunteers and staff alike are vacationing (as they should), and there seems to be less hands on deck. I have been wrestling with times of depletion - in the tangible stuff of work, and home, but also of heart and mind. Last week I jumped off the train, and pulled away, journal-ed until my hand was numb, and surrendered once again. The circumstances did not change, but God changed my perspective ever so slightly, but the time gave me the hope and stamina to jump back on. I was reading about Gideon this morning at the springs where he witnessed God depleting his resources, so that it would be clear that it was not human effort, but God who would overcome. And I was encouraged to know that the God of Gideon, is my God, and He will do His work. So I kneel before the springs, recognizing the depletion, and confident that God will provide and deliver.
Posted on June 22, 2009 at 3:41pm.
I feel old and tired today. I have to ask for “readers” at restaurants, I have pains that I am learning to live with, and I don’t sleep much at night, which is probably-why I am tired. But today, I was praying for my girls on the church missions trip, and it dawned on me that after this summer zips by, and it will - I have two upper classmen, classwomen. A junior and a senior. How can this be? Terri and I are still kids, how can we have kids getting ready to launch. Beyond the aches and pains, having adult women carrying my name makes me old. When I see the girls drive away from the house in MY truck, which has been the deal for a while now, I seem to go into some state of denial. Though on one hand I hate that it is all passing so quickly, I have to say what a blast it has been to see them grow up, and grow in their love for the Lord. I feel old and tired today, but I am grateful.
Posted on June 17, 2009 at 7:16am.
Reading in Joshua today, and desperately begging God for “something”. So much going on in both ministry and family, a full plate no matter how intentional the plan to manage. Been away for a week, and spent a great amount of time driving, and usually that means alone time, as my three women sleep the miles away. And as I spent a ton of time alone, I had opportunity to look at the inside. Not too pretty. I am a middle aged man, with a middle aged heart, and lately feel like I have lost heart a bit. Just working like mad to get in front of everything only to realize I am further behind. So this morning, overcome with my stuff, and deeply burdened for some friends. I dragged myself out to the den with a pot of coffee and begged God for a word. I read today that Caleb was a man who was halfheartedly committed to God. Wholehearted - a great word, used 3x in this chapter about Caleb. He was wholehearted at 40, and wholehearted at 85. I am both challenged, and encouraged by this life, this word. I God, I want to be wholehearted, all in, today. I want to go the distance, and be a man of 85 who loves you with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength. I thank God for Scriptures, and their power through the Holy Spirit to realign.
Posted on June 9, 2009 at 9:15am.
Not trying to make an argument for deception, but in my Joshua readings today, the theme keeps emerging. The Gibeonites deceive Joshua and the people, and in so doing preserved their lives - now they were forced to hard labor, but they lived. Our famous lady of the evening Rahaab deceived the leaders of Jericho, and helped the spies escape to save herself and her family. And her actions were praised. Achan however deceived his own people by stealing and hiding what he stole. A deception that led to the loss of many lives, and to the assumption and appearance that God’s army was not to be feared. This deception set the stage for Joshua and the troops to deceive Ai, and lure them out and ambush them and their city. It’s tough to know sometimes. “I’m just saying” it is not always real clear.
Posted on June 8, 2009 at 7:41am.
Been reading in Joshua. Jericho came down with trumpets and shouts, and the plunder was to be gathered for the Lord’s treasury. After seeing the miracle and power of God, a man named Achan could not resist a robe and some metal, so he took and hid these coveted possessions in the floor of his tent. God’s people send a smaller army to defeat a weaker foe, and find themselves being chased out, and thirty six lives are lost, not just lost, but taken, killed, dead. Sin was in their camp. Tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, person by person, and Achan is revealed as the culprit. He and his family and all their belongings are destroyed, and burned up. We often do not think of the private worlds we live, the secret sins that are left to linger from the view of others, have the effect they do - but they do. They take a piece out of us. our worlds, and our communities. May God find us surrendering these areas, exposing them in the light of His grace, destroying the power of secrecy, and the grip of sin itself.
