CALM IN THE STORM

                As I write this, I am waiting for a promised blizzard to arrive. I can see it on the weather maps, and its arrival is inevitable, but right now it is calm. So life goes on as normal. Snowstorms and even blizzards are not uncommon for those of us who live in Minnesota. We prepare and take precautions (all the area schools are closed today), but we don’t panic. We have learned to be calm in the storm.

                Our daughter is attending college in North Carolina. They are not so casual about snow storms, because they are a more rare occurrence. When we attended orientation for our daughter, before her freshman year, the chief of police informed us that, if there is any snow, the whole community will shut down for three days. For some reason, whenever there is a threat of snow, there is a rush on bread and eggs. The store shelves will be empty, even though in a day or two, at most, all of the snow will be gone.

                These contrasting examples are a microcosm of our world. We live in a world filled with storms and threats of storms. The western world is facing the challenges of the storm that rages in Syria and surrounding areas. As refugees flood north into Europe, everything is disrupted. There are many people who are panicking in the face of this storm. There are also some who are taking a more calm approach.

                Nationally, we are facing a storm of a different kind. It is called a Presidential election. The first real winds of that storm brewed up yesterday at the Iowa caucuses. Right now, that storm is still  taking shape, as the pool of potential candidates begins to thin and become more clear. I have already heard much panicked conversation about the “what ifs” of the coming election. It is hard to be calm when such a monumental decision looms on the horizon.

                As followers of Christ, we have been called to be calm in the midst of the storm, and not give in to irrational panic. This does not mean that we sit idly by and watch what happens. We must be diligent to do what is necessary to prepare for our part in this story. But at the same time, we need to put our trust, not in political systems, but in God. This is true, not just about a Presidential election, but about the major world events we face as well.

                As followers of Christ, we can remain calm in the storm, because we know that ultimately God is in control. Jesus told us that we can find a secure place in Him, no matter what the storm. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 We will face the storms of life, but we will not be overcome by them.

                So often the negative forces in our world seem so large and powerful. We can get discouraged and disheartened. But again the Bible assures us that we have the power to overcome through Christ.    You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4

                We can trust God to direct the events of our world, even a Presidential election, to accomplish His purposes. Sometimes that means that God allows us to face times of testing and trials to refine our faith, as he did for the people of Israel. At other times it means that we will prevail for His glory. In all things, we know that Christ has authority, power , and dominion.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,  which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:18-23

                It is very easy to get disoriented in the midst of a storm. That is one of the greatest dangers in a blizzard. We can lose our sense of direction and wander aimlessly. That is a very dangerous place to be. As we face the storms of life, we can, and should, remain calm, because our trust is in Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-6

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

    in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

   

STANDING ON GOD’S PROMISES

Hebrews 10:23

    Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

                We live in a challenging world. The very foundations of civilization seem to be crumbling. The rise of violence, the erosion of morality, the fragmentation of our world, all work together to undercut our sense of security and well-being. Our faith in Christ is being attacked from multiple directions. Satan constantly sows the seeds of doubt and discouragement. Satan would have us believe that God has abandoned us, but He has not!

                In the face of all that is going on in our world, we need a solid place to stand. That place is on the promises of God. What God promises, God will accomplish. The more that we hold onto the promises of God, the better equipped we will be to face the challenges of life. So here are just a few of God’s promises for you to contemplate today.

                In Christ, we are secure for all of eternity. We have the very life of God within us. We have been made new in Christ and have been given the gift of eternal life.

                Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

                And this is what he promised us--even eternal life. 1 John 2:25

                Nothing can separate us from the love of God. One of the ways Satan undermines our faith is to suggest that God does not really love us. He causes us to doubt God’s sincerity. But the Bible makes it clear that God’s love is constant, abundant, and always available.

                Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

                No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39

                We are not victims of our circumstances. Temptation is the common experience of all people. We are all tempted in different ways. Satan is constantly looking for some way to trip us up or sidetrack us. We do not have to become victims to Satan’s tactics. If we will turn to Christ, he will lead us out of temptation. Remember that temptation is not sin. It is when we yield that we have crossed the line.  

                No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

                When we do sin, there is forgiveness. Just as we all face temptation, we all, from time to time, fail and fall into sin. When that happens, Satan puts the pressure on us. He accuses us of our sin, and then suggests that we have crossed some line, and God will no longer forgive us. At those times we must remember that Christ dealt with our sin on the cross. The door of forgiveness of always open to us.

                If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

                God has promised to lead us through the challenges of life. Life can be confusing at times. It is easy for us to lose our way. God has promised to be present for us to guide us in the way we should go. He has given us the Holy Spirit as our constant companion to help us know how to respond to our world.

                Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

                There have been several times in my life when I was feeling spiritually disoriented. Satan had bombarded me with doubts that loomed large. At those times, I sat down with a piece of paper and I began to list all of the things I knew for sure. As I rehearsed the many promises that God has given to us, my doubts subsided. God does not want us to give in doubt and uncertainty. He has given to us many promises that we can hold onto. It is in those promises that we can find courage and strength.

This is the Lord's sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised: Isaiah 38:7

STANDING FIRM AS THE DAYS GROW SHORT

                I recently had a challenging conversation with a person who came to me for council. This person was disturbed by what they see as an erosion of the Christian faith. He gave me example after example of what he saw as major offenses to the truth of the gospel. He was genuinely distraught and at a loss to know what to do. He saw in all of this clear signs of the end of time and the return of Christ.

                Although no one knows the time of Jesus’ return, the signs all seem to be pointing in that direction. The time is growing short. Jesus may come in our life-time. So what are we to do?

                First, we must understand the times we are in. Paul warns us that there will be major distortions of the truth. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4) I had a recent experience were I encountered several religious leaders who openly espoused a distorted gospel. The trend today is to adapt the Gospel to the culture so that it is palatable.

                We also need to be aware that, as the days grow short, Satan will double his efforts to deceive people. Paul’s depiction of this in Romans 1:18-32 could have come right out of the pages of our newspapers. He ends that section with these telling words. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:32)

                So what are we to do? More than ever we need to stand firm in the faith. When Paul warned Timothy about the challenges before him, he told Timothy to be diligent in fulfilling his calling. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:1-2

                Satan wants to sow the seeds of fear and discouragement among believers. He wants us to focus on the evil all around us. God wants us to focus on Christ and the power of the Gospel. Instead of living in fear, we need to boldly stand for the truth. I don’t mean being arrogant or obnoxious, but faithfully living out the truth of the Gospel in our everyday lives. We are the light of the world. The early Church transformed their world by being the Church in practical ways. We may not be able to affect what is happening globally, but we can make a significant difference locally. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:12)

                When Jesus taught about the end times, He put his focus on being faithful to our calling. "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (Matthew 24:45-46)

                So instead of giving in to fear, let us stand firm in what we know to be true. By doing this, God will use us to change our world for His glory. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58) 

WATING ON GOD

                One of the hardest things for me to do is wait for God to reveal the next step to me. I don’t need to know all of the details, but I would like to know the general direction. Throughout my life, there have been several times when I have felt like I was in spiritual limbo. I sensed that God was preparing to do something in my life, but I had no idea what it was. At those times, I find myself speculating about what God might have in store for me. I even start making plans for how I will proceed. Then I get frustrated and upset when my plans don’t become a reality.

                At the beginning of every year it is customary to peer into the cloudy future and think about what might be and what we would like to be. This is not wrong. It is important for us to be intentional about facing the future. It causes us to evaluate where we have been and where we would like to go. If we have no idea of where we want to end up, or what we want to accomplish in the new year, we will just repeat what has happened in the past. We will coast along in our comfortable, undemanding routine. In fact, we can become so dulled by routine, that we can just go through the motions without really engaging life, as God would have us do. So we make plans. We dream dreams. We make bucket lists.

                Here comes the hard part for me. I want my life to be in line with God’s plan, but I am impatient for God to reveal it. So I tend to mentally run ahead. As I struggle with discerning God’s next steps for me, there are three things that I must always keep in mind.

                God’s plans will always prevail in the end. We can make many plans, and even act upon them. But many of those plans will never truly be fruitful, if they do not align with God’s plans for our lives. Solomon understood this very well. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) It is not wrong for us to make plans, but we must always remember our plans are secondary to God’s plans.

                God wants what is best for me. Sometimes we can begin to believe that God is holding out on us. We set our hearts on something and then it doesn’t happen. We feel that God is being cruel, or that He doesn’t really care. But that is just not true. The Bible continually reassures us that God is for us, not against us. Like a loving Father, He desires our very best, even if that means saying no at times. David assured us that if we will align our hearts with the heart of God that He will fulfill our desires. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

                As hard as it is, we need to patiently wait for the Lord. We are usually in a hurry. Our whole environment fosters an attitude of immediate gratification. But God is not bound by our sense of the urgent. God’s timing is always perfect. We need to patiently wait for Him. Waiting does not mean we do nothing. Biblical waiting is actively pursuing what we already know to do; being faithful to what God has called us to do. We are to be like the faithful servant, who the master found doing his work when the master returned from a long absence. So we are called to watch and wait. I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

                I don’t know what this new year will bring. I have my own set of hopes and dreams, but I must learn to wait for the Lord. As James says, if we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up in due time.

THE POWER OF CHRISTMAS

                There is something about the Christmas season that stirs up my emotions. I find myself getting teary eyed over relatively insignificant things. Every time I hear “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” I get choked up. A beautiful light display can bring tears to my eyes. On Sunday, as we were singing some familiar Christmas songs, I had to stop several times to catch my breath and regain my composure. There is something very powerful about this season of the year.

                Although having my emotions stirred up makes me uncomfortable, I am thankful for it as well. It demonstrates the power of the Christmas story to get behind our defenses and touch our heart. One of the big problems with Christmas is not the commercialism, but the familiarity. It is a story known around the world. People who have nothing to do with the church can tell you the Christmas story. Because this story is so familiar, it can lose its significance. For many people, the Christmas story is a nice fairy tale to tell to children, but not something to be taken seriously. The message of Christmas has been diluted to peace and love, with no mention of a need for a Savior.

                The amazing thing about Christmas is that God won’t allow it to fade into the shadows. He continues to work around people’s defenses to reach callused hearts. Christmas makes people think. It catches them off guard at times. It stirs a long forgotten emotion within them. The truth about Jesus won’t go away.

                Matthew and Luke give us the details of the story. They are the framework upon which Christmas hangs. But it is John who goes behind the story to give us the heart of God’s message to us. This was no ordinary baby born in a stable. This was the very Creator of the world, taking his place within His creation. This was no sight-seeing trip for God’s amusement. This was a spiritual invasion, with the purpose of recapturing the hearts of humanity. This is not a nice children’s story, but an escalation of the struggle between good and evil; between God and Satan.

                In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5

                He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

                The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:10-14

                The central message of Christmas is not peace on earth. It is “unto you today, in the City of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.” 

LISTEN

                We live in a world filled with noise. All around us is a cacophony of sound. We are bombarded with many conflicting messages. We live with constant information overload. As a response to this attack on our ears, we have developed several defense mechanisms.

                One of the most common defense mechanisms is selective hearing. We develop a sophisticated set of filters that only allows certain things to penetrate. The rest is filtered out. This is very common in the political arena, as well as common discourse. Paul warned us about this in 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

                Another defense mechanism is to just shut out all of the noise. We see people doing this in a very tangible way. We have all seen someone walking down the street, ear buds in place, oblivious to what is going on around them. Bose has developed noise cancelling head phones that will allow a person to sit in virtual silence, even while surrounded by noise. In a spiritual sense, many people have done this very thing. The writer of Hebrews warns us against following this course of action. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." Hebrews 3:12-15

                The third common defense mechanism is to fight noise with noise. It is common today to just shout louder than the other guy. Instead of meaningful dialog, whoever can broadcast their message the loudest wins; or so they believe. At the end of Paul’s summary of our world’s spiritual condition, he hits on this tactic. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. Romans 1:32  It has rightly been stated that a lie repeated enough times is taken as the truth.

                The counterpoint to all of these approaches is to learn to truly listen. Listening is far more than hearing. It is taking in the information, processing it, and responding in appropriate ways.

                The place where we need to start is tuning our ears to the voice of God. The Psalmist understood this clearly.  "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10 Until we take the time to listen to God’s voice, we cannot put anything into its proper order.

                God reinforced our need to listen on the Mount of Transfiguration.  After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

    Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

    While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:1-5

                Peter and the other disciples with him were overwhelmed by what they saw. They didn’t really know how to act. So in true form, Peter decided to take matters into his own hands. God stepped in and stopped Peter in his tracks. You can almost hear God says, “Peter, stop talking and listen!”

                Our need to genuinely listen must be transferred to our relationships with others as well. We most often get into trouble when we fail to listen. James challenged us to listen first and act later. My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20

                It is easy to hear, but hard to listen. We all need to develop a listening ear so that we can hear the Master’s voice when He speaks.  "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." John 10:1-5

   

KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME

My wife and I just returned from some vacation time. We visited our son and daughter-in-law and got to meet our first grandchild, Levi Spencer. It was awesome. As a part of our trip, we visited another close friend in Cincinnati, Ohio. We went to church with him and heard a challenging message about responding to the Holy Spirit. As I have reflected upon that talk, I thought about how important it is that we keep our head in the game, spiritually. So hear are just a few thoughts along that line.

****************************************************************************

                We are rapidly coming to the end of the college football season. A sad time for some of us. Most teams are already looking ahead to next season. Some are looking ahead to next week. One of the dangers for every player in college football at this time of the year is to get distracted. They may get distracted by the possibility of going to a Bowl Game. They may get distracted by the disappointment of a less than great season. Whatever the cause, a distracted player makes mistakes that often cost his team.

                This time of the year, it is very easy for us to get distracted by all the busyness and demands of the season. The Christmas season is amazing; it holds many delights for us. It is a time when people are more open to spiritual things. It is also, at times, overwhelming.  We can get so caught up in the season that we lose our perspective. We can lose our opportunity to shine the light of Christ into our world.

                I think it is great that Thanksgiving precedes Christmas. It gives us a reason to stop and reflect upon our lives before we rush into “The Holidays.” Thanksgiving can help us adjust our perspective on life. It can help us keep our head in the game.

                In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul challenges his readers to keep their head in the game. Look at what he has to say.

                Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

                Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.

                May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

                As Paul concludes this letter, he uses a number of short, pithy statements to help his readers stay focused spiritually. In these statements are words of encouragement, challenge and instruction. They are the final words of a coach before he sends his team onto the field. You can almost hear Paul saying, “People, keep your head in the game.”

                With all that is going on in our world today, it is imperative that we keep our head in the game. We need to counter discouragement with the joy and hope we have in Christ. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to light a spiritual fire within us that will move us from paralyzing fear to bold encounter with our world. We need to yield to the sanctifying work of God in our lives, as He reshapes our lives for His glory.