Remember!

Today, the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy will host a Law Enforcement Memorial Service.  This is a time when we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for Law Enforcement.  We remember the names, as they are called, who have joined the memories of those who have gone before, and we are grateful to them for their service and their sacrifice.

Being a Law Enforcement Officer isn't as easy or "fun" as portrayed on the television or in the movies.  Being a Law Enforcement Officer is a calling.  It is a lot of listening to many sides of an issue (sometimes all at the same time), sorting the facts, writing reports, make a positive impact on the communities, the occasional high speed chase, arresting someone, all with a host of cellphone cameras pointed at you and social media scrutinizing your every glance; as well as, trying to juggle a family life, trying to keep healthy, trying to relieve stress and anxiety... So you see, being a Law Enforcement Officer is not for the faint of heart or those who believe it to be a "nice change of pace."

Therefore, I am asking each of you to pray for our Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies, that they may have discernment, patience, protection, peace, encouragement, pray for their families, and loved ones.  And should you see an officer out and about (not while they are dealing with an issue), Thank Them for protecting us as we go about our lives mostly unaware of their presence.

Father,

Each of us has been called by You.  Thank You for those who have answered Your call to become Law Enforcement Officers.  Theirs is not an easy assignment, yet You have chosen them to serve.  Thank You for their sacrifices.  Thank You for their families.  

Remind us to be grateful for these men and women who Protect And Serve the communities.  Remind us to pray for them.  Remind us to care about them.  Remind us that without them our lives would be FAR different.

Keep each Officer and their loved ones in Your heart and protect them.  And, Father, should and Officer begin to feel overwhelmed, help them to reach out for help.  Remind them that they, too, are human and in need of releasing the things that bother their hearts and haunt their minds.

Most of all, Father, love them!

Thank You and Amen.

What Can Happen?

The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
    What can mere people do to me?

Psalm 118:6 

Ever wonder why God allows some storms to come crashing through our lives?  Let's look at how God has so set up nature: lightning strikes the dry grass of the Great Plains starting fires....the fires clear the plain of the dead grass so the new grass can grow and the buffalo has fresh food to eat.  Lightning strikes a forest and the forest catches fire burning the dead trees and undergrowth making room for new growth.  

You can't expect to grow if you have lots of clutter in the way!  God sometimes allows storms to get rid of some of the clutter so we can grow.  

Now what has that got to do with other people?  Simply this, God sometimes uses people as the conduit for our clutter removal.  He uses people to sharpen us.  He uses people to be an example for us.  He uses people so we can set the example (and be very conscious of the example we set).  He uses people to remind us that we aren't perfect, holier than anyone else, or better than anyone else.

Now consider this:  God also uses us in the same ways in the lives of others.  So why fear what mere man can do when God is the one in control? 

What If No One Notices?

When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:15-18

 

Ever wonder why you do the right thing and try so hard when it doesn't seem as though anyone notices?  It really is frustrating, at times, when you are doing your best and no one seems to care.  Let me offer a bit of perspective: Should we slack off just because we don't think anyone notices or cares?  And here's one more nugget of perspective: If you are reading this, then I presume you are a believer, so ask yourself 'who am I trying to impress?'

 

You see, we can spend all sorts of time and be as inventive and creative as DaVinci, but that doesn't mean we will please everyone.  In fact, we will usually tick someone off!  Investing yourself wholeheartedly has a reward and a toll.  That toll may be your family or your health.  Before trying to impress people, count the cost and see if the reward is worth the toll.

 

You see, in reality, we are working for God.  And God makes it very clear that if we work to impress people, then we have our reward and it is fleeting.  But when we work for God, we aren't showy with it, we don't seek publicity or notoriety or recognition.  When we do God's work we just do it humbly, quietly, and remembering that God sees us whether anyone else does or not, and God's rewards last a lot longer than anything people can bestow.

 

Now for a confession.  I realize this may shock most of you, but I like being quiet.  I like quiet places that spark my mind to think. I rather believe I would have made a good Hobbit at some point in life because I like the peaceful quiet found in introspection and, being an introvert, the ability to ponder and contemplate in secret.  You see, when we do God's work remembering that we are working for God, then we are doing it in secret and God sees us in our secret places and rewards us openly.

 

Psalm 91:1-2 "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  

 

Think on that.

 

Are You UNAFRAID?

Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Matthew 6:32-33

Every day we are challenged to worry and be afraid of what may or may not happen.  Did God create us to worry and be afraid?  How many times in Scripture does God remind us to "Fear Not"?  How many times do we see in Scripture where God supplies the needs of His people?

How much time and energy do we expend worrying about things we can't control or really don't pertain to us?  We worry about what other people are doing or saying, but can we control any of that?  We are afraid of what in our past may suddenly come to light, yet can we change it?  We lose sleep over whether or not we will make it until the next paycheck, yet doesn't God honor a plan?  We fear losing our jobs; we worry about getting sick; we are full of fear, worry, anxiety and anguish...why?

Don't worry, I'm right there too.  I pray a lot about these things and God constantly reminds me that He's got everything under control.  This morning I was prompted to actually pray this prayer: "Abba, thank You for loving me and putting up with me.  Today, help me stay out of Your way and to be grateful as I witness Your care for me.  PLEASE keep me from trying to do Your job!"  And I have not felt such a peace as in that moment!

Adopted

God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Galatians 4:5 

 

I don't like the photos and advertisements with all the sad animals who have been neglected, abused, and abandoned.  I just don't.  They break my heart and I just want to adopt them all!  If I could, there would never be another abused, neglected, or abandoned dog ever because they would have a home with me.  I don't believe my Sweet Bride would be so willing, but I want to adopt them all. 

 

God is the same way with us. He wants to adopt us all as His children.  Yet He also knows that not all of us want to be adopted by Him.  Some of us choose not to become His child.  Some believe getting adopted means lots of rules and regulations, (grace and forgiveness aren't considered).  Some believe God is a hard taskmaster who just wants to punish us and make us miserable.

 

Fact is, that's exactly what the Pit Dweller wants us to believe.  God is not harsh.  God is the epitome of love and caring, that doesn't mean our life here will be smooth and easy, but when we leave this life, we will live as perfect children of the Most High King!  

Fearful?

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians4:6

"Don't worry" they said.  "It's going to be all right" they said.  But "they" were wrong!  I did worry and it didn't turn out all right.  I thought back through the process to see if I missed anything.  All my boxes were checked, so why did it not work out right and why am I not afraid! What should I have done different?  After looking through my list again, I realized that I had missed the very first item of any project: pray about it and leave it with God.

Fear triggers one of two responses: despair (this will never work, why even bother) or prayer (Abba, this will never work unless You decide it should work.)  Jesus reminds us to "Keep asking, Keep seeking, Keep knocking" (Matthew 7:7) because there is NO uncertainty in that promise.  Jesus promises that when we keep asking, seeking, and knocking, then God WILL answer us!  And if you don't ask, you cannot receive....so ASK!

Whose Idea?

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

Psalm 139:17-18

 

One of the things I get to do is listen.  I listen when people tell me things and sometimes I overhear things people are saying.  Guess what the number one category of the conversations I have had or overheard?  NEGATIVE!  That's right, we say things like "I can't"..."I'll never"..."Nothing I do makes a difference"..."No matter how hard I try, no one seems to notice or care"...

 

Why do we think like that?  "Because it's true"?  Says WHO?  Let me give you a nugget of wisdom:  Anything you do for 10 days in a row becomes a habit.  This includes the way we think, act, speak, and the way we treat each other. 

 

 So why do we focus so much on the negative?   Could it be we have been influenced by negative people?  Those who only seem to notice you when you make a mistake; those who simply refuse to acknowledge a job well done; those who simply find some reason not to like you and take it upon themselves to find fault in everything you do; those who play favorites and aren't shy about letting you know that you are not on the "favorites" list.  

 

When we rely on the opinions of others, we condemn ourselves to a negative outlook and that is the outlook we pass on to others.  Let me ask you something, are these negative people the ones who looked down through time and created you specifically for their purposes?  NO!  Do these negative people care enough about you to number the very hairs of your head? NO!  Do these negative people love you enough to die for you? NO!  So why do we put so much validity in what these negative people think about us?

 

Listen, Psalm 139:14 reminds us that we are "skillfully made" by God for His purposes.  Psalm 139:17-18 reminds us that God loves us so much that He cannot stop thinking about us.  Why does God love us so much?  Because YOU are HIS idea...And God only has GOOD ideas!