A Paddle Board Santa (Dec 23)

In December of 2011, I made a trip down to Orlando, FL, to work on a project at one of my company’s offices.  Before we really got into the thick of the project, I had a little bit of spare time to drive around a see a few sights.  Shortly after I arrived, I drove out to Daytona Beach, and then went up and down the coast.  While I was there, I got out and was walking around in one of the parks and taking some photos.  The city was gearing up for some sort of holiday cultural festival, and there were all sorts of things in the park.  Then as I looked out over the water, I saw Santa on a paddle board, out in the river.  I had never seen such a thing.  Santa is supposed to be in a sleigh, surrounded by lots of snow.  Later, as I headed over to my hotel on International Drive, I saw a huge Christmas tree, all decorated with ornaments and lights, but it looked so out of place with no snow.  When I got to work on Monday morning, the office was all decorated for Christmas.  Even though it was December and Christmas was fast approaching, I guess it was something about seventy five and sunny that it just didn’t feel like it was Christmas.  As I talked with folks that live down there, I realized that this is perfectly normal for them.  To them, in their situation, this is Christmas.  I was in an unfamiliar environment and climate.  It was not a place or situation where I expected to see Santa, but he showed up, all the same.  It was, after all, Christmas.

The same is even truer of God, of course.  You see, God meets us in all situations.  He understands all circumstances.  God has a provision for all needs.  You may be in a place or in circumstances where one might not expect to see God, but He has a way of seeking out and saving the lost.  I know that God is above all circumstances that I might run across in my life.  But I also have to believe that He is above all completely different circumstances that you might run across in life.  I expect to see Santa bundled up in a blustery blizzard.  Floridians expect to see him paddle boarding in the sunny surf.  Neither is more “correct.”  Christmas comes to all corners of the world.  Just as Christmas comes to warm climates and cold alike, God pours out His Spirit on all flesh.

Your situation is not too difficult.  Your circumstances are not too foreign.  Your culture or personality is not too incompatible.  God loves you.  He has a place and a purpose for you.  And He has provision for your need.  So turn to Him.  It doesn’t matter if you’re in the darkest, coldest place in life, or if you’re experiencing bright skies and clear sailing.  God will meet you and draw you into His heart.  You will have Christmas in your heart—the coming of the Lord!

Just Come on Down (Jun 17)

Over the past several weeks, I have been working on a project in Niceville, FL.  Originally, the plan was to fly down there and complete the project in about four days.  With budget cuts, I was required to complete the project remotely.  Concerning me at first, I quickly realized that this should not be much of a setback.  I put a considerable amount of planning into the project, figuring out how I could accomplish all of the tasks from several hundred miles away.  When the scheduled week came, things were all set, and I jumped into the project.  A couple of days into the project, things were going swimmingly well and I was checking tasks off the list as planned.  On the last day of the project, I had one more critical task to complete.  Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.  I had to scramble to overcome each roadblock.  Even though I had sent many things down to them ahead of time, I was finding that with the change in strategy, I didn’t have the tools that I needed.  Guys had to bring things in from home.  I had to ship more things down there.  I had guys in the office doing all sorts of things for me and trying everything I could think of.  As days turned into weeks, additional tasks kept piling onto the project, making it appear that our initial estimate of a week was wrong.  With each task added, more problems arose.  At times, it became quite frustrating and stressful.  At least a few times, I said, “You know, if one more thing goes wrong, I’m buying a plane ticket and going down there.”  You see, after that much frustration, the cost of the trip would be worth it to me because I would be able to get my hands on the situation and just take care of everything in a day or two, as I had originally planned.

Friday night, I was working feverishly to get one last thing complete so that I could call the project a wrap.  I had a piece of hardware that needed to be installed.  I setup a conference call with the vendor in Massachusetts and a helper in Florida.  She connected up a laptop to the equipment, the vendor was controlling the laptop, and I was viewing the screen.  Once again, we were running into some trouble, and the ladies down there didn’t always understand exactly what it was we were asking of them.  At one point, the office manager said to me, “Joel, why don’t you just come on down here?  It’s really nice here.  We’re just five minutes from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  We’ll treat you well.  You can come in and just fix everything out and also have a great time.”  She went on extolling the wonders of Niceville, FL.  This is when I explained that she didn’t have to talk me into it.  I wanted to come, but just couldn’t.  In fact, I’d pay for the trip to alleviate all the stress and frustration of the past few weeks.

Today, I think it’s God in the position of saying, “Come on down.”  He wants us to come into the center of His Will, be filled with His Spirit, and do His Work.  How often do we instead try to work from a distance?  Do we try to work without the right tools?  Do we think to ourselves that if we just scramble around, we can pull off a Macgyver and kludge something together enough to get the job done?  You know, if we’d just go down there and be in God’s presence, receive the tools and strength that we need, and see clearly what it is that God has planned for us, it would work out a whole lot better.

Mat 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  (30)  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Joh 6:35-40  And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.  (36)  But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.  (37)  All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.  (38)  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.  (39)  And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.  (40)  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 15:1-8  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  (2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  (3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  (4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  (5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  (6)  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  (7)  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  (8)  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Unplug Those Ears! (Jun 3)

The other day, I was riding down the trail.  It wasn’t very busy, but I did pass several people.  As I approached one woman from behind, I rang my bell. Then I rang again and again.  I even called out my intentions to pass.  I slowed way down because there was no response or acknowledgement at all.  As I slowly crept by, the lady jumped out of her skin: “Oh my!”  I had to laugh later because there are always people posting on the trail’s Facebook page complaining about how some bicyclists or runners won’t return a greeting or complaining about how some of the “racers” will fly past you without ringing a bell or calling out to get your attention.  These posts now make sense to me: it apparently isn’t that people aren’t saying hi, ringing their bells, or calling out to people; it’s just that some of the walkers are deaf or plugging their ears! Over the past few weeks, it seems like quite a few people that I’ve passed are surprised or startled by my presence. I ring my bell, I call out to announce my presence, my allergies make me cough or clear my throat, etc.  But people just don’t hear.  I think they just don’t pay attention.

But it got me to thinking.  People say they listen and complain that people don’t speak to them when, in fact, they’re not really listening at all.  How often do we say that we are seeking God and listening for His voice, but we don’t hear Him because we’re not really listening?  We ask for guidance.  We want to know His will.  We want to respond to what He’s going to tell us: perhaps pointing out areas of sin in our hearts or showing us where we can serve Him better.  But we don’t hear His voice.  We blame it on Him: He’s not speaking, He’s showing us the way, or He’s not answering prayer.

You’ve got your ears plugged!  YOU are the one ignoring God!  YOU are the one that is listening to something else instead!  YOU are the one that isn’t listening!

Rev 2:5-7  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  (6)  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (7)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Act 7:54-59  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.  (55)  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,  (56)  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.  (57) Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,  (58)  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.  (59)  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Zec 7:9-13  Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:  (10)  And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (11)  But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.  (12)  Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.  (13)  Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

Unplug those ears!

Leaky Christians (May 20)

On Saturday, I participated in a group ride from Butler to Freeport for lunch and back. On my previous ride, I had a pinhole slow leak on my back tire, which caused me to have to add air several times and ultimately cut my ride short. On the morning of the group ride, I patched the pinhole leak and was seemingly good to go. About halfway down the trail, my back tire blew out—pshhhhh—completely flat. I carry tools and a spare tube, so I replaced the tube, filled it, and was on my way. After having lunch in Freeport, we headed back up the trail. My tire looked a little low, so I added air. About a mile and a half up the trail, I had another flat tire. Out of spare tubes, I added some sealant, refilled with air, and headed back to the nearest trailhead to get picked up. I had to bail on the ride.

There is a lot to be said about a leaky tire. It's good for awhile, but then before long, it becomes useless. You can fill it again and get some more use out of it, but it's only temporary. It isn't trustworthy—you can't count on it. You just don't know how long it will hold out before it's flat again. Sure, I could have kept riding, but with twenty miles ahead of me, I would have had to stop and refill the tire quite a few times. I wouldn't have been able to expect anybody to keep falling back and waiting for me. And perhaps after a few miles, the leak would have gotten worse to the point that refilling wasn't an option. A much better situation would be to have a good tube in your tire that can hold air forever. You'd never think about it. It would always be full and would get you where you need to go. It would do what it was intended to do, consistently and constantly.

This idea can apply to a few areas of life:

• You attend church and various Bible studies throughout the week. Each time that you meet with other Christians, you hear God's word: the pastor preaches a sermon, a teacher shares a lesson, a friend tells you about something that God spoke to his or her heart that week, etc. Don't let these things easily slip away. God's word strengthens you and gives you the wisdom that you will need on a daily basis. It's important that this doesn't just 'leak' out and we forget His word in times that we need it.
• God gives us His Spirit so that we might know His will and be empowered to live righteously in all situations. It's important that we don't forsake fellowship with God and find that we are distanced from Him and our hearts are emptied of His Spirit.
• We must be consistent and constant in our walk with God. This will result from a life committed wholly to God.
• We must be committed to one another. As God's people, we are to be there for one another and encourage each other in the faith. We don't want to be empty or absent when our friend needs us the most.

Ruth 1:16-17 And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: (17) Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

2 Timothy 1:16-18 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: (17) But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. (18) The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

2 Timothy 3:1-17 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (4) Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (8) Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (9) But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. (10) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (11) Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. (12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (13) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (14) But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; (15) And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Hope (Apr 29)

Psa 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Rom 12:9-18 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (12) Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; (13) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. (14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (16) Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (17) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Lam 3:25-26 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. (26) It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Psa 146:5-6 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: (6) Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Despite God's promises, despite Christ's love, and despite our countless blessings, we frail human beings can still lose hope from time to time. When we do, we need the encouragement of Christian friends, the life-changing power of prayer, and the healing truth of God's Holy Word. If we find ourselves falling into the spiritual traps of worry and discouragement, we should seek the healing touch of Jesus and the encouraging words of fellow Christians. Even though this world can be a place of trials and struggles, God has promised us peace, joy, and eternal life if we give ourselves to Him. And, of course, God keeps His promises today, tomorrow, and forever. [Author unknown]

Today, Dear Lord, I will live in hope. If I become discouraged, I will turn to you. If I grow weary, I will seek strength in You. In every aspect of life, I will trust You. You are my Father, Lord, and I place my hope and my faith in You. [Author unknown]