The Grass Is Always Greener Over The Septic Tank

But I realized they were plotting to harm me, so I replied by sending this message to them: "I am engaged in a great work, so I can't come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?"

Nehemiah 6:2-3

God had told Nehemiah to rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, and put all the pieces in place to make that happen.  However, as the wall was being built, two troublemakers didn't like what was going on and decided to put a stop to it.  So they sent Nehemiah a message asking him to come meet with them to discuss the wall.  Nehemiah refused them because he knew they really wanted to kill him so they could attack Jerusalem.  These two troublemakers were persistent and sent four more messages to Nehemiah, and he gave them the same response every time.

Now that you have the context, let's discuss the point. Just like Nehemiah, God has given each of us a great work to do.  While we may not think it is a great work, it really is because God has given it to us.  It might be the work as a clerk, perhaps a custodian, maybe it's a cop, or maybe trash collector or a dump truck driver; every work God has given us is HIS assignment for us.  When everything is in place for the next phase of God's work for us, He will move us.

I couldn't understand why I had gotten passed over for promotion to manager.  True, I had some things I needed to improve on as the Administrator, and, yes, I had made it clear that I felt underutilized, but I still couldn't understand why I had been passed over.  So I made an appointment with the Division Director to discuss the issue.  My Director listened to me lay out my case.  When I had finished what I believed to be a brilliant position, my Director looked me square in the eye and said, "You didn't get the promotion because you weren't ready.  Instead of whining, yes I said whining, about how you are underutilized, work on doing your current job to the best of your ability and with the best attitude!"

Well, that was a bit of a gut punch.  I fumed about that meeting for the rest of the day, and when I went to Bible Study that night I was still fuming.  After our study, one of the members pulled me aside and asked why I was giving into the temptation to push God's plan for me into MY timetable.  I was stunned, to say the least.  I hadn't thought about that.  He went on to remind me that our enemy, much like the troublemakers that tried to lure Nehemiah away from the work God had given him, by giving into the tempting desire of being promoted I had been pulled away from doing the work God had given me.  Guess what?  The very next day, my attitude changed and I focused on doing my best where God had put me.

Let me tell you something, you may not be in the position you think you want; you may not be doing what you believe you have been called to do, but the fact remains you are where God has put you in preparation for the next phase of His plan for you.  Therefore, do your best wherever you find yourself, and do it with your best attitude.  It's God's job to get you where He's planned for you to be, so relax and do your best.

On Purpose

When God created us, is was ON purpose and FOR a purpose.  Before God ever spoke the first speck of the universe into existence, He had already worked out His plan for each of us.  He already knew all we would face and need and had a plan in place, as well as, people available to help us.

We are God's handiwork and no one else's!  God created each of us as a masterpiece...HIS masterpiece.  Each of us has been perfectly created for God's purposes. NO ONE can take that from us unless we let them.

If nothing else you remember from this bit today, burn this on your soul: God has a plan for each life, so we must choose to rebel or live and look to Him to fulfill His plan in us. 

In The Way?

Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”
Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”
Matthew 16:21-23 

Did you know that we have a tendency to get in God's way?  In Matthew 16:21-23, Jesus gave His disciples a "heads up" as to what was going to happen to Him.  Jesus wanted them to understand that He was the Messiah and that His death was necessary to pay for our sins.  Then we see Peter pull Jesus aside and reprimand Him.  Can you imagine having the nerve to pull Jesus aside and try to correct Him?  Me either, but Peter did it.  Why? Because Peter was actually opposing God's plan with his human reasoning.

Guess what? We are just like Peter because we are also guilty of putting our own interests ahead of God's Plan.  Why do we do that?  We don't understand that God already knows the WHOLE story!  Peter didn't understand that Jesus' death was essential to God's plan of salvation.  Sometimes God's will seems so bizarre from our human perspective because it takes us out of our comfort zones and may even involve pain, illness, suffering or even loss.  But God's plan is incredibly better than anything we could possibly think up, because it is His Heavenly plan.

We may not see that the hurt we endure is actually God's tool to accomplish something in our lives. We seem to have this idea that the Christian life is supposed to a stroll along the beach with no trouble or struggle.  When our lives become uncomfortable, we try to be like Peter and reprimand God because WE think His plan is flawed.  Yet, God is the one who knows what it takes to complete His plan for our lives.

When Peter reprimanded Jesus, what did Jesus say to him?  “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”  Remember, God already knows the WHOLE plan...we don't. Let God do His job!

Never Alone!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:6 

 

Have you ever felt as though God had brought you to a certain point and then left you there?  Have you ever felt as though God had forgotten where He put you?  Have you ever gotten impatient with God's timing and tried to do it yourself?  How did that go?

 

Remember Abraham?  God had promised that he would have descendants that would out number the sands of the sea shore and the stars of the heavens.  Abraham was getting on up in years and still the promise had not been fulfilled, so at Sarah's urging, Abraham decided he had to make it happen himself and took Hagar (Sarah's servant).  The result was Ishmael.  However, Ishmael was not the promise of God fulfilled, and Abraham had to admit to God that he had gotten impatient.  God DID fulfill His promise in Isaac, but only when God's timing was perfect!

 

There have been times in my life when I have gotten SO impatient and SO frustrated that I decided that God had just dropped me off at some bus stop in the middle of nowhere and forgotten about me.  The fact of the matter was that God had not forgotten me, God waited until everything was in its perfect place before bringing me into the storyline once again.

 

When I tried to "move things along" because I was impatient, things didn't work out the way I imagined they would and I would end up feeling worse than I did by being impatient.  I felt as though I had disappointed God.  Truth be told, God isn't mad at us, but His timing is the only timing that matters.  That's a tough lesson to learn!

 

God has a plan for each of us.  That plan is the perfect plan for us.  God will take His time to make sure everything is perfect.  God NEVER forgets you!  

 

Father,

There are times when we don't understand; There are times when we can't see Your hand moving and we get impatient.  Forgive us for our impatience!  Forgive us for the times we try to do things ourselves.  Help us understand that You love us so much that You want to make sure we will prosper and give You all the praise.

Amen.

Need A Fresh Start?

For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Fresh Start....sounds good, doesn't it?  As we approach the new year, some will be making "Resolutions" whereby they resolve to make some changes in their lives. 

 Here's a good change to make: Let go of the past!  You cannot get a fresh start by clinging to the past.  Can any amount of worry, frustration, fussing, cussing, or banging your head against the wall going to change anything that has already happened?  No.  So what are we to do with the past? Learn from it and keep moving forward.

Want to make a fresh start? Accept that you are imperfect.  Beating ourselves up because we don't conform to a certain image will drive you mad, so stop it!  Accept that you are imperfect AND accept that everyone else is imperfect as well.  When we become accepting instead of judging we will see that fresh start.

Want to make a fresh start?  Invest yourself in others.  You see, when we invest ourselves in others then they will take part of us with them.  When we "pay it forward" it will go a LONG way and have more of an impact than we could ever imagine!

Want to make a fresh start?  Focus on the important.  Why is it that we disagree over the most idiotic things?  Ask yourself, is this important enough to impact my life a year from now or will I even remember it next week?  Save yourself a LOT of grief and aggravation by focusing on the things that are important.

I've given you just a few ways to make a fresh start in the coming year.  I will be taking several days now to rest my mind (if possible).  May God bless you and your families!

You Have A Purpose

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
    Before you were born I set you apart
    and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1:5 

 

Remember being asked "What do you want to be when you grow up"?  My answers included such things as "cowboy" and "pirate" or "mad scientist" and such as my young mind tended to bounce from thought to thought.  Never did I ever think that I would be where I am and doing what I do now.  BUT God had planned His purpose for me before I was even a thought.

 

I've heard many people ask "Why am I here?".  While I can't tell them their purpose in life, I can tell them that God does have a purpose for everything and promises that everything will work out for our benefit and His glory.  

 

So.....what's your purpose?  Let's start with a few of the daily purposes we have: encourage others, share our lives, serve others, bring comfort where needed, add to the celebration as needed, build each other up, listen, care, love.  These are just a few of our daily purposes.  God has promised that He has appointed a purpose for each of His children.  We miss opportunities to help others when we focus on trying to figure out what God's ultimate plan is for us, when that answer is simple...to accept His grace and mercy; love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength; and to love others as we love ourselves.  God will bring the rest to pass at the right time.

God Has A Purpose For You Part 1

I.  God Made Us With Purpose And A Plan

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

~ Psalm 139:13-16

Think about this, before you the God spoke creation into being, He had already looked down the plane of time and saw YOU.  Not only did He see you, but He loved YOU.  Not only did He love YOU, but He made a plan specifically for YOUR life!  As a matter of fact, before He gave you your first breath, your purpose was already being worked out.  

Now....consider this:  The same One who so carefully planned everything planned YOU for a specific purpose!  Everything in your life (good, bad, seemingly neutral) leads you toward your purpose.  And it all starts with "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself."

How can you care for others if you don't let them care about you? Just food for thought.

From Our Beginning

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You were there while I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!

Psalm 139:13-16

 

When we were in our mother's womb, God had already had a plan in place for us.  When we were nothing more than a fertilized egg, God formed us and shaped us (and stop laughing at His handiwork with me).  God is truly amazing! Science has developed a method to imitate God's process, but God has been in the miracle business for a lot longer than any of us.  

 

We are the Masterpiece of THE MASTER! There is no other person who is exactly like you.  There is no other person who has the exact experiences as you.  There is no other person who can live the life given to you.  There is no other person who take you place.  Each of us is similar yet unique.  That is AMAZING and a little scary.  But God has a plan for each of us and no one else can fulfill that plan the way only you can.

 

Therefore, be grateful for your life.  Be grateful for your place in this world. Be grateful for your experiences.  Be grateful for being able to share yourself with others.  

 

 

Waiting

Wait and trust the Lord.
    Don’t be upset when others get rich
    or when someone else’s plans succeed.

Psalm 37:7

Have you ever prayed for something and it seemed that your request just hovered at the ceiling?  I have.  

 

Have you ever thought "God's just not working fast enough"?  I have.

 

Have you wondered why someone else seems to move up faster than you when you believe that you are working twice as hard as they are?  I have too.

 

Something I have learned, and am still learning the hard way, is that God always answers our prayers according to get us in a position where His plans for us will work as perfectly as He designed them.

 

Think of it this way....you have a hankering for an orange.  You plant a seed and you can have all the oranges you want.  You water the seed and tend to the soil and check every single day to see if the oranges are ready yet.  You get angry because you wanted the orange but the orange tree hasn't given you any.  Why?  Because all the processes to make the oranges, make the limbs strong enough to hold the oranges, and for the oranges to ripen enough to eat, have not been completed yet.

 

We live in a world of instant gratification.  If I want something to eat, I can go to the store and get it.  But if I want to advance my career, I can't just go to the store and walk out with a promotion and a raise.

 

You see, God has orchestrated everything in the entire universe and time to put you in just the right place to fulfill your place in His perfect plan.  This does not mean that will like having to wait.  We probably won't like waiting while all the pieces get put into place.  We may not like waiting....  But the end results will blow your mind!

Life Falling Apart?

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.

Psalm 3:3-5 

Have you ever felt like your life imploded and you are dropping bits and pieces of yourself as you walk through your day?  Have you ever thought "No one can help me"?  Have you ever been envious, perhaps even jealous, of those who seem to have everything float into their laps on gossamer wings? (Yeah, I want to punch them too).

Where can we find help?  Where can we find that boost to help us make it through life regardless of our circumstances?  Where can we find a sense of calm and comfort?

Look at today's passage!  When we put our complete trust in God, amazing things happen if we pay attention.  When we focus on Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, a new life will emerge that we thought to be impossible. 

My life seems to have crumbled many times, and that reminds me where I need to seek comfort and where I need to put my focus (and my focus should NOT be on me).  Then slowly, day by day, things began to change, beginning with my outlook and attitude.  I am not so stupid as to tell you that your life will suddenly become everything YOU hoped and dreamed, but I will tell you that "He who began a good work in you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day Jesus Christ returns" (Philippians 1:6).

My Point: God has a plan for each one of us and NOTHING can stop Him from completing that plan for you. 

Laundry Money!

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

~Philippians 4:12 

 

 

We've all said it and we've all experienced it....when there seems to be more month than our salary can cover.  I'm with you on this one.  

 

Saturday is usually laundry day at our house.  There have been times where I literally had pocket change to survive on until payday.  Mostly because I had not planned adequately and partly because when you can least afford it, things start breaking or leaking or just quit working and the urgent expenditures begin snowballing.  But there have been a times where I have been SO stressed about finances (yes, Chaplains can get stressed too.  We're learning just like everyone else), that all of my prayers were for help making ends meet.

 

So imagine my ecstatic joy when I was folding my clothes and $10 landed on the floor at my feet.  Now for some, ten dollars isn't much, but for me it was the wealth of Solomon!

 

Here's something I have learned and God still reminds me of almost every day: Focus on the ONE who provides rather than the provision and my perspective will change to appreciation.  God is the God of ALL creation!  He owns it all.....every last bit of everything.  And He loves us!  He has promised to take care of us.  All He asks in return is that we put Him first ("Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.") and you will be astounded by the results.

 

 

God Is How Big?

And we know that God causes everything to work

 together for the good of those who love God and are 

called according to his purpose for them.

~Romans 8:28

 

 

This verse seems to be unclear for many, so let's take a look at it.  How big is God to you?  Is God only God when you think you need Him?  Is God only God when you find yourself on the horns of a dilemma? Is God the one you say "thank you" to at mealtime?  Is God the one you call to when things are not going according to your plan?  Is God surprised by the things we do, think, or say?  Is God ever taken off guard?  Can we hide from God?

 

Let me be blunt...

     * God is the God who spoke the entirety of everything into creation.  

     * God is the God who took dust, shaped it, and breathed life into it and called his breath bag "Adam."  

     * God is the one who told the sea that they can only come so far and no farther.  

     * God is the one who named every single star.  

     * God is the one who knows exactly how many hairs you have.  

     * God is the one who satan has to report to, and God also has set limits on satan (not to mention has already defeated him). 

     * God is the one who knows everything about everything because He made everything.

     * God is the one who tells us not to worry because He has everything under control.

     * God is the one who reminds us to let Him fight our battles for us.

     * God is the one who has never lied.

     * God is the one who cannot be defeated.

     * God is a LOT smarter than we could ever hope to be.

     * God is ALWAYS with us even when we can't see Him because we are focused on our storms.

     * God is the God who takes our screw-ups, mistakes, blunders, and outright defiant rebellion and works it all for OUR good.

     * God is the one who woke you up this morning (and let you see the world around you).

     * God is the one who created all those amazing place we dream about going to relax.

     * God is the one who put the mountains in their place in such a way as to direct the winds.

     * God is also the one who put beaches at the edge of the ocean to draw us there.

     * God is the one who CALLS US BY NAME and loves us more than we will ever understand or appreciate.  He loves us IN SPITE of ourselves.

 

So let me ask you again, "Just how big is YOUR God?"

Horrible Boss?

Don’t leave your job
    just because your boss is angry with you.
Remaining calm solves great problems.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 

 

Ever had a boss who made you absolutely miserable?  You know, that boss that during staff meetings you dream of their ultimate excruciatingly and very public demise, possibly involving boiling lava, pitchforks, and some ravenous carnivorous brain beetles ?  The one that makes you yell vile profanities in your mind and you are afraid that one day you will say them out loud.

 

I've had bosses like that before.  As a matter of fact, the absolute worst one was the senior pastor of a church where I once worked.  When he entered the building, you could sense a disturbance in the force.  The closer he got to the office area, the birds outside would flee.  This person was OCD about being OCD and not afraid to berate the staff for the slightest perceived error.  It was a situation where I dreaded going to work.  My sweet bride would remind me that I didn't have to agree with the pastor, just do my job to the best of my ability. The best day I had in that position was the day I left.

 

But as horrible as that person made the job, I learned some valuable lessons.  

•  Chances are the horrible boss is not going to change.  But I can change MY interactions with the horrible boss. 
• Realize that they are the way they are for a reason.  Perhaps God is reminding me that I need to make some changes.  Perhaps it is so I can learn patience under fire.  Perhaps it is so I can learn how not to act.  Perhaps, and this is the truly painful part, I really am in need of correction for my attitude, performance, timeliness, accuracy.
• If my boss is upset with me about my attitude, I need to look at the attitude I show toward others as well (who haven't said anything to me about it, but have become distant).  Everyone likes to believe they are in the right and anyone who disagrees is in the wrong (we are NOT perfect and shouldn't act as though we are).

Here are the words of wisdom shared with me by a very wise person: "Only person you can change is you! So make the changes you need to make and don't be stupid enough to think you have nothing that needs changing. You can't change anyone else, but you can change how YOU react to THEM! Don't be resentful.  Don't be angry. And for goodness sake, don't let your mouth run free!"

Have a horrible boss?  Think on this...you are someone else's boss, so take care.  Could be your spouse who adores you, could be your child who needs to learn to become self-sufficient, could be your pet.  You are the boss to someone else, so make sure you set the example!

 

 

When Evil Seems To Win!

Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed!
Do not envy evildoers!

For they will quickly dry up like grass,
and wither away like plants.

Trust in the Lord and do what is right!
Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!

~Psalm 37:1-3

 

"What do we do when evil seems to win?"  This is a question I hear over and over.  It is usually followed by, "What's the point of doing the right thing when it doesn't seem to do any good?"  These are good questions.  Tough questions, but good ones nonetheless.

 

What should we do when it seems evil prevails?  Should we do nothing? Should we get angry and start a fight?  Should we bury our heads in the church and pray for the best?  Well....NO actually.  

 

Then what does God tell us to do?  

•  Do not fret!  Now understand the word translated FRET is the Aramaic word Charah which means: to be hot, furious, burn, become angry, be kindled.  God is telling us not to let it burn us up.
• Trust in the Lord! That seems fairly straight forward on paper. The word translated TRUST is the Aramaic word BATACH which means: to have bold confidence.  So we are to have BOLD CONFIDENCE in God!  Remember, God is the God of all creation and is far more powerful than anything we will face.  Also remember that even Satan himself had to present himself before God in Job.  Satan may seem as if he is winning, but he has already lost!
• Do what is right! This means exactly that, do what is RIGHT not what is easiest or most expedient.  Do what is right even when you think no one notices because, believe it or not, your actions are noticed by God and by others.
• Maintain Your Integrity!  My Grampa once told me that Integrity is like a candle in the dark.  The candle shines and isn't concerned who sees because the candle is doing the right thing by sharing light!  That is integrity!

 

Keep calm, trust God, do what is right, and keep your integrity intact.  That is what we are to do all the time and especially when it seems like evil is winning.