Monday Is For Meditation

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[12] Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
[13] Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
[14] Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
(Isaiah 40:12-14 ESV)

Answer: No one.

He is great and worthy of praise.

He is amazing and in complete control.

Everything is His and in His hand.

Frequently, I find myself needing reminders like this.  Maybe you do too.

Christ is all,
Jason

What I’m Reading in 2012

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Here’s what I’m reading in 2012 (aside from the Bible).  I’ll try to provide some sort of a review after I complete each book.

2012: Many Goals, ONE Resolution

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Everyone sets goals for a new year.  I do it too.  Sometimes I accomplish them, sometimes I don’t, but I always start with the best intentions.  2012 is no different.  Here are a list of my goals this year.

  • Lose 35 lbs.  Why 35?  I don’t know, it seemed like a good round number.  About 3 lbs a month for 12 months.  Really, I just want to be healthier and figure that working out more regularly and really watching what I eat will cause some weight loss.
  • Publish a book.  My wife and I are working on a devotional that we’d like to publish.  Something simple, but something to help people walk well with Jesus.
  • Read 15 Books.  We aren’t talking War and Peace here or Pillars of the Earth or anything.  I’ll publish this list tomorrow if you are interested in keeping up with my reading plan.
  • Contribute 15% to my retirement account…(I hear you snoring out there).
  • Start my doctorate.  This has been a goal for a while.  Still not sure I’ll be able to pull it off, but we shall see.
  • Study the book of Isaiah.
  • Increase my blog readership.  You can help by sharing this blog on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email, etc. I’d REALLY appreciate it.
  • Develop an iPhone App to help people set goals (seriously, I’m working on this with a friend who’s developed some other cool apps at Boom Pow).

That’s my personal list among other family and church goals.  I have many goals this year and will set sub goals and share with my accountability partner these goals to help me hit my benchmarks and ultimately accomplish my goals for 2012.  I have many goals, but only ONE resolution

ONE Resolution: The Gospel on my lips

I have one thing that I am resolved to do in 2012.  There is one thing that I want to be known for this year.  It isn’t accomplishing my goals, it isn’t being a great husband, father, pastor, leader, or human.  The one thing that I want to be targeted on is having the Gospel on the tip of my lips.

I want the Good News of Jesus constantly flowing out of me.  I want it to be flowing out when talking to people who aren’t believers in Jesus.  I want it to be flowing out when speaking to believers in Jesus.  I want the Gospel constantly flowing out of me.  The Gospel is not just the thing that saves us.  The Gospel is also the thing that grows us.

This year I’m resolved to run every part of my life through the filter of the Gospel.  I want 2012 to be a year centered on the Gospel.  I mean if the world is ending (thanks Mayans for not finishing your calendar) then shouldn’t this year (and all years really) be spent on the ONE thing that really matters, the ONE thing that will change eternity for people?

I think so.

Christ is all,
Jason

 

Why Do You Obey God?

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Last night I had a conversation with my son about a question I ask him before bed?  The question is: “Should we obey God?”  The answer is “Yes”.  Drew is in that stage where he loves to ask “why” about everything.  I thought this would be a good jumping off point for another blog series.  So please answer the poll question below.  Don’t worry all answers are private.  It’s completely confidential.

Thanks for answering!

Christ is all,

Jason

Thankful, but STRESSED!

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Do you know what today is?  Monday, November 21, 2011.  It’s not my birthday (January 5th, if you were wondering).  It’s not your anniversary (most likely, but maybe you should check).  It’s not Christmas (December 25th).  Today is the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season and that means…STRESS!!!  What’s stressful about the holidays (some of you are thinking, “What isn’t stressful”).

  • Traveling – car rides, car sickness, car problems, airports, airplanes, air sickness, turbulence, lost luggage, etc.
  • Traveling with kids – See Traveling and multiply by 10 for each child you have.
  • Cleaning – pick up the house, vacuum, scrub, mop, dishes, etc.
  • Cleaning with kids  - See Cleaning and multiply by 10 for each child you have.
  • Cooking – what do people like? will they like this recipe? did I buy enough? did I buy too much? is someone allergic?
  • Cooking with kids – See Cooking and multiply by 10 for each child.
  • Decorating – fake tree or real? find stuff in storage? get the right boxes? outdoor lights or not? where do you hang the ornaments? which ones are prominently displayed (Michigan is at our house)? where does the garland go?
  • Decorating with kids – See Decorating and multiply by 10 for each child.
That list could go on and on.  I don’t know about you, but when I get stressed I get irritable and short-tempered.  I get frustrated at things when there is no earthly reason to be frustrated.  Stress breaks down my defenses and my mental filter.  That filter usually keeps me from saying everything I’m thinking.  Before I know it I find myself speaking when normally I wouldn’t.  I find myself grunting when normally I wouldn’t. I’m upset when I shouldn’t be.

Here’s some Scripture to consider: James 1.19-20

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

When faced with stress and even trials James wants his readers to know four things.

  1. Be quick to hear.  God gave you two ears and one tongue.  Someone observed that the ears are out in the open and the tongue is walled in behind teeth and mouth.  When faced with stress, trials, big discussions, and the like we need to be listeners first.  We need to hear what’s going on first.  Occasionally, there are disagreements in families.  Occasionally, these things happen around the holidays.  Occasionally, we don’t always listen to what is going with our family and friends?  Occasionally, we make things worse by not listening completely.
  2. Be slow to speak. When speaking about this thing.  Whatever it is be careful what you say and when you say it.  Formulate your thoughts well.  Pray.  Think about the Gospel and how it would have you speak into this situation.  Don’t respond with your rushed first feeling.  Speak carefully.
  3. Be slow to anger. Everybody knows the guy who flies off the handle quickly.  They get crazy in no time.  If you don’t know that guy then maybe you are that guy (just a thought or maybe you don’t know any angry people).  We all can be like that when our sensibilities are offended.  Don’t let anger overtake you.  Be careful in your responses to others.  Anger isn’t wrong, but anger can lead you to sin.  Be careful.
  4. Man’s anger doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.  When we are stressed and slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to anger then we are forfeiting a chance to look more like Christ.  We are giving up our opportunity to showoff who God is.  God wants His people to look like Him.  So slow down.

So before stress overwhelms you during these holidays determine to know these things.  Determine in your heart to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.  Submit to God in these things and see what happens.  Maybe you could even memorize it…just a thought, don’t let it stress you out.

Christ is all,

Jason

Good Gifts – James on Trials #7

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My son LOVES ketchup.  He has a shirt that says “I put ketchup on my ketchup”.  He really does.  Sometimes at dinner he will get ketchup for whatever meat or potato we have there and then stop eating the meat or potato and just eat the ketchup with his spoon.  We consider it a thick tomato soup.  I like ketchup.  Drew LOVES it.  He loves it so much that when he gets a smiley face on his conduct in Pre K3 my assistant gives him Chick-Fil-A ketchup packets.  He gets so excited about it.  Everyday after he gets his conduct grade, and it’s good, he goes to Jill and gets his ketchup packet.  On another note, I think Jill really likes ketchup too if she has so much in her desk.

Drew loves getting the gift of ketchup, to him it is a good and perfect gift.  It’s delicious.  This is also the way that we are supposed to view our trials.

[16] Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. [17] Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
(James 1:16-17 ESV)

The trials that we face: sickness, job issues, family issues, financial problems, school hurts, relationship messes, etc.  All of those trials are from God.  All of those trials that strike us are from God and meant for our good and they should be viewed as gifts.  Why are they gifts?  They make us stronger.  They make us look like Jesus.  They draw us closer to God.  The mold us into His character more and more.  They make us steadfast.  Steadfast IS what God is.  I love the end of verse 17.

with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1.17b)

God doesn’t change.  He doesn’t move from who He is or His intentions for you.  He doesn’t become a different guy from one day to the next or one hour to the next or one year to the next.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13.8).

The 2 Laws

I have two laws, (I explain them in great detail here), they help me cope with everyday life:

  1. People are ALWAYS stupid.  You know this is true.  If you doubt it just remember the last time someone pulled out in front of you in traffic, or maybe the last time YOU pulled out in front of someone in traffic.
  2. GOD NEVER CHANGES.  He is totally and completely consistent in all He does.  He does good things, even when they SEEM like bad things, they are good.
I don’t know what trial you find yourself in as a believer in Jesus.  I don’t know what is covering you up, breaking you down or making you cry.  I don’t know what it is, BUT rest assured that it is coming down from a GOOD God who means it for your good and His glory.
  • Trust Him in the middle of it.
  • See how it is molding you to look like Jesus.
  • Draw close to God through it.
Christ is all,
Jason

God, Why? – James on Trials #6

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Ever ask that question? I know that I have. I know I did about 5 minutes ago.

I’m asking for wisdom like we talked about in the fourth installment of this blog. But more than that I want to understand the big picture. I want to get that thing that is going on here that I don’t understand now. God, What is the chief end of trials? What is the purpose?

Ok, a Quick Recap:

  1. Trials make us steadfast (James on Trials #2)
  2. Trials make us look like Jesus (James on Trials #3)

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE

James 1:12 ESV

[12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

This verse promises a few more things to the one remaining steadfast under trial.

1. Happiness – There is a lot of talk that Christians are supposed to have joy and not be happy. Christians aren’t happy people, they are joyful people. I say that is half right. Christians are supposed to be joyful, absolutely. There is a deep abiding sense that God cares for them so when things are bad we have that to get us through and give us joy. BUT (and that is a big but) Christians who remain steadfast are also “blessed”. That word is hard to understand in our modern vernacular. Let me tell you how Greeks understood it though…HAPPY! It’s one of the the Greek words for Happy. One things that trials are supposed to make you is HAPPY. I know that is crazy. Don’t worry you don’t have to be a lunatic and act happy in the middle of the trial. God promises that the person who remains steadfast DURING the trial will be happy. When you come out on the other side, having endured well. You will be happy.

2. Crown of life- Today football players compete for the Lombardi Trophy, hockey players compete for the Stanley Cup, and golfers compete for the Green Jacket (kind of an odd competition for a really ugly sport coat). Back when the New Testament was being written athletes competed for laurel wreaths or crowns. What James is saying here is that coming through tests and trials leads to victory. It leads to…the crown of life. He’s bringing us back to the fact that these temporal trials have eternal consequences. Maximus from the movie Gladiator has it right: “what we do here, echoes for eternity”. At the end of our days, when we have been steadfast in trials here, we receive eternal life. Believers in the Jesus of the Bible will gain eternal life, but between belief and eternal life there will be trials. Remain steadfast and receive the prize. Remember Hebrews 11.6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

3. You are loved – God promises eternal life to those who trust in His son, to those who love Him. Follow this train though.

  • We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4.19)
  • We love Him and get the crown of life
  • We get the crown of life because we ENDURE TRIALS STEADFASTLY

So, what does it mean when you are face with trials of various kinds? What does it mean when you are pinched and squeezed over and over again or when you suffer horrible, unspeakable tragedy? I want to say this carefully, and not flippantly, so we are going one word at a time.

Trials

Demonstrate

God’s

Love

For

You

Let that sink in. Your trial is there because God loves you as you are, but is not content to leave you like that. He wants you better. He wants you stronger. He wants you to look more like His Son. Meditate on that for a while. Consider your trials as God’s love to you, He is more concerned with your character then He is with your comfort.

Christ is all,

Jason

Poor is the New Rich – James on Trials #5

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Poor is the new rich.

You didn’t know that?

I bet some people out there struggling to pay their bills are thinking “great, tell my mortgage, electric, and credit card companies that”. That’s not exactly what I’m talking about. Let’s jump back into James 1.9-11.

[9] Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, [10] and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. [11] For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

2 SPECIFIC TRIALS
1. Poverty

Everyone understands that poverty can be trial. Everyone gets that not having enough money is a trial. Not enough money for the bills, or a lost job, mortgage foreclosure, etc. Just writing that list is stressful and gets me a little worked up. God says that the poor should boast or be happy because they are exalted.  That doesn’t seem to fit reality does it?  The poor are not exalted in society.  They are belittled, thought poorly of, or talked down to.  This doesn’t make sense in our world system.  Which means it must be pointing to a different world, a different reality, an eternal perspective.

2. Wealth

I’m sure a lot of people who are poor are wishing they had the trial of wealth.  Life must be so hard as a multi-million dollar athlete, high-rolling lawyer, venture capitalist or successful business owner.  Well, I think that it is.  Why?  They’ve got money they don’t have to worry about anything…WRONG.  Now, instead of not having enough money, they have to protect their money or they have to get more money and the REAL danger in the spiritual realm goes a little deeper.  The REAL danger is that you begin to depend on it.  You begin to depend on your money and wealth to overcome your obstacles and you rely on yourself, rather than your Creator, Sustainer, Savior.

THE POINT

Whether you have a lot or a little.  Whether you have much or what feels like not enough.  I think God is pointing to something different in the differing trials of wealth and poverty.  I think He is saying, your identity is not in money (whether your account has a lot of commas and zeros or a decimal place and all zeros).  Your identity is not in this world.  Your identity is beyond this place.  Your position is not a tax bracket or level in your 401(k), 403(b), or IRA.  It isn’t a number in a saving account or real estate that you own.  Your identity is drawn from a different place.

[17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV)

According to this verse the old has passed away.  You know what that “old” is in this situation?  Financial status.  Whether poor or rich God is challenging us to understand that this place is not our home.  This place, this earth is not a destination, but just part of a greater journey.  We need to realize that our financial status is a trial that God has allowed.

So when faced with poverty or wealth we:

  • consider it pure joy (1.2) – totally counterintuitive, but how we MUST think. (James on Trials - Part 1)
  • because this financial trial is making us steadfast (1.3) – steadfast, Christ-likeness is what we are going after, not ease. (James on Trials - Part 2)
  • let steadfastness have it’s COMPLETE effect so we can be mature (1.4) – God is molding us in this to look like Jesus, if you don’t get it’s full effect then don’t be surprised if it comes back around again and again.  (James on Trials - Part 3)
  • if you don’t get the financial trial (which no one will get completely), you ask God for wisdom in it (1.5) – He always delivers.  (James on Trials - Part 4)
  • ask BELIEVING that God will give the wisdom we desperately need (1.6-8) – ask correctly, don’t God.

Hope this is helpful!

Christ is all,

Jason

P.S. if you think you are poor consider the graphic below…

UA-26684642-1

 

James on Trials #4

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I have a 3 year old son.  His name is Drew.  Everyday at his preschool he gets a conduct “grade”.  This “grade” is either a happy face or a sad face.  Based on Drew’s conduct he gets treats or no treats.  The main treat we employ is….ICE CREAM.  That’s enough to get anybody to obey their teachers.  When Drew does well he gets ice cream that night.  We started using this workable tactic after we had multiple sad faces stemming from talking when the teacher talks, being disruptive, and my personal favorite…standing on the lunch tables and singing.  Allie and I disciplined, but we needed some positive incentive as well.

I remember the first night when we started this he said sheepishly, “daddy, can I have ice cream?”

I said, “what did you get on your conduct grade?”

He said very cautiously, “a happy face”

I said, “what do you get with a happy face?”

He said carefully, “ice cream?”

I said, “RIGHT ON BUDDY! Let’s go get it.”

CUTE, WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH TRIALS?

That little story has to do with our next few verses, James 1:5-8.

[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

If you are having trouble understanding your trial, if you are lacking wisdom as to what is going on in the middle of it or what you are supposed to be gaining as a result of it.  The next verse tells you what to do.  ASK for wisdom in it.  God gives it.  He promised it.  Just like I had promised Drew ice cream if he got a happy face, God promises to give you wisdom in your trial.  One thing my wife, Allie, and I try to do is always keep our promises to our children.  This makes us careful to only promise things that we can deliver.  God promises wisdom for us in trial and He can and will deliver that.

He doesn’t promise ease.

He doesn’t promise YOUR resolution to the situation.

He doesn’t promise a pretty bow on the end of it.

He promises wisdom.  Wisdom as to how to handle the trial so that steadfastness can have it’s full effect.  Wisdom as to how to endure it well.  Wisdom as to why we are going through it and what we are to gain from it.  He promises wisdom if you ask.  AND if you ask a certain way…

THE RIGHT WAY TO ASK

As a married man I learned early that my tone matters.  I can say the same words or phrase to my wife, but the tone makes all the difference.  If I ask for Allie to wash something for me and say it quickly and curtly the reaction I will get is not going to be a good one.  Maybe my white boxers will come back pink…BUT if I ask kindly, lovingly, recognizing how much she has to do in her day normally and how this could put her out then she responds much better.  There is a right way to ask for things from my wife and there is a right way to ask for things from God.  Here’s how we are supposed to ask:

[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
(James 1:6 ESV)

ASK…BELIEVING that God CAN and WILL give you the wisdom you desperately need in the middle of the trial.  It isn’t a casual request.  It is an intense, blood earnest request asking God for wisdom in trial.  Asking Him to make it clear.  Asking Him for the wisdom and ability to persevere.

WHY DOES GOD WANT US ASKING LIKE THAT?

[6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
(James 1:6-8 ESV)

He doesn’t want His people being unstable or easily moved.  He wants His people steadfast.  He wants them steadfast in trial and He wants them steadfast in where they go for help.  He wants them rock-solid steadfast in knowing that He is good and that He gives good things to His children.  He wants His children single-minded on Him, not questioning, not seeking out other answers.  He wants His people stably focused with heartfelt reliance on Him.

BRINGING IT TOGETHER

1.  God is going to put His children through trial.  It’s going to happen, that’s just the way it is.  Determine to be joyful in it.  Determine to do it.  Let’s face it your way of dealing with trials really isn’t working, is it?  To review this go check out the First Day of this blog series.

2.  That trial is going to reveal what you are really relying on and begin to make you steadfast.  To catch this idea go beach to the Second Day.

3.  That trial is going to make you mature.  Christian maturity is looking like Jesus Christ and God is not content with His people loosely resembling His Son.  To think through this idea again go check out the Third Day.

Finally, know that God isn’t making you go through the trial by yourself.  he is walking with you EVERY step of the way.  He wants to provide you with wisdom.  he wants you to understand the point…you have to ask.  You have to believe.  You have to be single-minded and gritty in understanding what is going on.

Christ is all,

Jason

P.S. I’ll be writing again next week.