The Father's Love

How deep the Father's love for us...He calls us to Himself. It is an invitation to intimacy. That unity of hearts that brings the shalom of God into our daily existence. That closeness that drives fear and uncertainty away. It is an invitation to relationship, to life, hope, peace, joy. A holy God inviting sinful man to come home. An invitation to leave the pig pen and sit at the Father's table and eat the Father's Bread. The Father waits to welcome the prodigal. The Father's love is the crucified Son reaching out His arms to embrace the world. As Wesley stated, "Amazing love how can it be that Thou my God should die for me?!" The Father calls us to himself, accepting us as we are and invading our emptiness with Himself. The woman at the well, Zachaeus the tax collector, the woman caught in adultery, Nicodemus the religious one, Saul of Tarsus, Judas Iscariot-all were called by the Father, all were loved, all had the opportunity of life.

A Prayer

The following is a prayer from Henri Nouwen and his book, A Cry For Mercy. May its simplicity and beauty be encouragement to you. "I call to you Lord, from my quiet darkness. Show me your mercy and love. Let me see your face, hear your voice, touch the hem of your cloak. I want to love you, be with you, speak to you and simply stand in your presence. But I cannot make it happen. Pressing my eyes against my hands is not praying, and reading about your presence is not living in it. But there is that moment in which you will come to me, as you did to your fearful disciples, and say, 'Do not be afraid, it is I.' Let that moment come soon, O Lord. And if you want to delay it, then make me patient. Amen." Let us continue to pray, He is listening. He is closer than we know-Thank you Jesus!

Joy

Recently I heard a freind say, "I know nothing about joy and have no joy." This individual is a believer and knows the Word of God, but senses they are missing a primary gift of Christ's presence and provision. In John 15 Jesus speaks of His joy being in us and our joy being full. Maybe one of our sources of frustration concerning joy is attempting to manifest it in our life through a feeling. H.Nouwen says this joy is a sign of new life. For Christ's people we awaken to this newness every day-outwardly wasting away but inwardly being made new (2 Cor.4:16.) For Jesus this joy was a result of being one with the Father and doing the Father's will. We have the same privilege. This joy is independent of circumstances and finds its source in relationship. The fruit of the Spirit is joy-a result of His presence in us. Going back to John 15, Jesus exhorts us to 'abide/remain' in me. The relationship is the source of joy. This joy is a result of being loved by others and loving others(Jn.15:17). This is the joy of knowing it is well with our soul. It is the overflow of the witness of the Spirit that we are children of God, loved by God, cherished by Him. Too often we work to attach joy to objects and circumstances. Joy cannot be purchased. Neither can peace, hope, life-these are gifts of God in Christ to those who believe. These are 'spiritual blessings' that flow out of the Spirit within. David cried out, 'restore the joy of your salvation' (Ps.51). The Christian has the joy of being alive in Christ and dead to sin. We feed this joy by abiding in the vine, walking in obedience (harmony) to Father's will, and remaining humble in heart. Joy, like salvation, is a gift. We must learn to be receievers of all Christ has provided for us. Stand on His promise, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete (Jn. 15:11)." "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow (Jn 15:11 NLT)!" Claim your joy in Christ-refuse to allow the thief to steal this gift.

Him

One of my favorite scriptures is the prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3:14-20. Verse 20 is the peak of the prayer as Paul declares that Christ is able and His people should not doubt His ability to transform them into His image and implant a new heart within them. Verse 20 begins, "Now unto Him". That's really what life is all about, "Him". That is what the gospel is all about, "Him." That is what each day is to be all about, "Him". A subtle confusion works its way into our lives concerning two critical areas of life: *Who we think we are vs who God is *What I want vs the will of God. In each of these the center is off. It has shifted from "Him" to me. When that happens life does not work, and we struggle to put things together according to what we want. It is the picture of our world around us-what mess. It is a man-centered mess. We have forgetton that it's "Him" not us. We have rejected His will for our ways. In another passage Paul states, 'whatever we do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:16).' Now unto Him...let that be our daily focus.

Failure

Failure is a word that arouses emotions of all types within each of us. I just talked this week with a friend who is swimming in the sea of failure. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and a haunting in your spirit. Scripture is replete with stories of failure. From the murder of Abel, to the denial of Jesus by Peter, failure finds its place in the markings of history. The failure of Adam and Eve in the Garden paved the way for rest of us. King David failed to remember who he was and made choices that piled failure upon failure. King Solomon prayed for wisdom, then failed to utilize that wisdom to follow God's directives for the king. Judas Iscariot failed to trust in Christ and found himself overwhelmed with his own failure. Praise the Lord for grace. Praise the Lord for His patience toward us-He does not treat mankind as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). God's mercy and grace to us does not negate our responsibility regarding failure. King David was responsible for his sins. Peter's failure led to tears of repentance. I believe the Lord wants us to move forward from the failure. Satan would seek to establish a stronghold of shame, false guilt and doubt at the point of failure. The Lord would have us to move forward in faith, confident of His amazing grace. Hebrews 10: 39-we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. 2 Peter three speaks of 'looking forward'. The ability to fail forward is the result of the Good Shepherd who walks before us, with us, and behind us.

Jesus Is

During this month I have been privileged to fill pulpit for a church in Amarillo. Together we have jumped into the first chapter of Revelation with its extraordinary description of Jesus Christ. Our tendencies in life often get us into trouble. We have a tendency to look for other solutions, listen to other voices, follow other persons, instead of fixing our attention completely upon Jesus Christ. John is calling the early church to focus all their attention upon the One who holds the keys of death and hell. The early church was presented with the reality of persecution on a daily basis. The Roman Empire, the voice of Caesar, the godless masses and their unending noise all created a challenge when it came to focusing on Someone they had never seen. Jesus is the Faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, the ruler of the kings of the earth. HE IS the one we must give all attention to. Let's build a new tendency into our daily journey-the tendency to look first to Christ, and only to Christ. That tendency will bring strength, peace, and courage to the daily challenges. John was calling the early church to faith. He is coming again and we will not be in the crowd that mourns (Rev. 1:7). We will rejoice as the end to all that brings sorrow and destruction, death and mourning are vanquished.  P.F. Bresee (founding leader of the Church of the Nazarene) said it well, 'nothing to the left, nothing to the right, Jesus only.'  Get up in the mourning and say it with conviction, "Jesus Is!" Then live it out each day with a renewed sense of hope and joy.

Waiting -The Perfect Activity

Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite tutors. In his devotional, 'Still Higher For His Highest', he states the following regarding the challenge and call of waiting on the Lord. (June 21).

"To wait upon God is the perfection of activity...resting in the Lord is the patience of Godly confidence."

He builds further thought around the passage in Isaiah 30:15. A stunning passage in itself, calling Israel to submit to the enemy and trust the future to the Lord God Almighty. The response of many in Israel to this directive was to fight, and run and hide and be destroyed. Those who 'waited' upon the Lord for His working and His restoration following His judgment of Israel's sin, found salvation.

The perfection of activity...I am an activity junkee. Always having to do something. Through the years I have setteled some, but it is still easier to be doing something than waiting on 'whomever' it might be. Oswald is stating the obvious...there is nothing more important, nothing that carries such power for renewal and restoration, nothing that opens the door of the mind for insight and understanding, nothing that increases faith, enlarges vision and empowers obedience like waiting on the Lord. Going into His presence with undivided attention upon His Person is the activity I most need. The willingness to lay aside my agenda and focus upon His holiness. The willingness to 'be still and know God'.  The willingness to 'shut the door of the closet' to get alone with the Source of all life.

Isaiah stated it well...'those who wait upon the Lord will.... (40:31).

It could be a dangerous thing to pray-Lord teach me to wait, totally confident in Christ