Did any of you watch tightrope walker, Nic Wallenda, on television as he walked between tall buildings in Chicago recently? He went from one building to another with the rope inclined. Then he went from one building to another while he was blindfolded. I kept discovering that I was holding my breath, such was the intensity of his balancing act. He crossed both tightropes successfully.
Nic Wallenda is an expert, coming from several generations of tightrope walkers. There is no doubt he has been practicing his craft for years and continues to practice in order to keep his precision. Practice is a necessity, but I have noticed there is something else he does with regularity. Whenever Nic is walking a tightrope, he is holding onto a very log pole. That pole helps him to maintain his balance. I’ve never seen him walk a tightrope without the aid of his balancing pole. Therefore, I conclude, since he is the professional, that the pole is an absolute necessity to his success.
I have to further conclude, when I think of successful Christian living, that we too, must hold on to something very important in order that we maintain our balance through the difficulties of life. Do you ever feel that you, too, are walking a tightrope? Perhaps your tightrope is one of great stress. You’re trying to balance important aspects of your life: relationships, church, work,health, a list of all sorts of responsibilities. Maybe, like Nic Wallenda, you feel blindfolded. Fear grips you and you sense you may fall. You can’t keep up the act of balancing the aspects of your life anymore. Is there a secret to continued success? Can you keep balancing without falling?
There is indeed something very real we can do. We’ve already established that Nic practices in his physical world. It’s the same in our spiritual world. We must determine to keep practicing, doing the things God has told us to do. Pray often, worship often, give God your worries every time you have one. This practice is imperative to successful Christian living. It’s a habit that must not grow slack. We may fall if we don’t keep up the practice.
Then, in Nic’s world, there’s that noticeable balancing pole. He grabs hold and not once does he let go until he reaches the goal. You will never see Nic attempting to walk a tightrope without holding onto his balancing pole.
It’s no different in our spiritual worlds. The writer in the book of Hebrews tells us in 10:23, “Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.” As you and I walk the journey of our lives, we must hold on to our balancing pole, lest we fall. We must hold tight to the hope we have in God, not letting go, knowing of a certainty, that He can be trusted to get us to our destination in safety. There may be fear. There may be uncertainty, but as long as we hold on to our faith in God, choosing to focus on His truths, then of a certainty, we will not fall. Instead, we will grow stronger in our trust in Him. We will grow wiser in our use of His Word to strengthen ourselves in times of difficulties in our lives.
The writer of Hebrews says not to waver. Therefore, don’t do it! Instead, hold on to all your hope in God! Are you losing your balance? Hold on! Remind yourself that God has never made a mistake in anyone’s life — He’s not going to start with you! Our trust in God is our balancing pole, promising to get us safely to our intended goal, everyday of our lives.
Keep practicing. Keep holding on. It has been critical to Nic’s success in his physical world. Such determination is critical to our success in our spiritual worlds.
Last weekend, my mother and I had the great joy of spending a few days with dear friends in north Alabama. I was there to speak in their church. They live on a wonderful farm complete with horses, dogs, cats, chickens, a one-eyed rooster, a pig named Darla, a goat that no one knows where it came from, and a peacock.
Their log house is surrounded by an assortment of trees with pasture land stretching out for miles around it. At the end of their road, a mountain looms upward, thick foliage hiding a myriad of horse trails and hiking paths. It really is what so many would call — a land of dreams.
When we arrived, a fire was already crackling in the fireplace, the first one of the season now that autumn temperatures are making itself known. Each evening it was sheer delight just sitting, watching the logs turn red in the cozy flames. Often I would back up to the open hearth, letting the heat warm me through and through.
More logs would be added as the old ones burned and turned to ash. That’s when a thought hit me — we who call ourselves a part of God’s family should be like logs in the fire. In Hebrews 10:24 we read, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” The next verse instructs us to “not neglect our meeting together, but to encourage one another.” When there was only one log in the fireplace, it didn’t take long for the room to noticeably grow cooler, but when several logs were added, it was equally noticeable the warmth that displaced the cold.
It’s the same for those of us who call ourselves a part of the family of God. When our church attendance lessens, and we keep ourselves apart from other Christians, it’s much harder to stay warm to the things of God. Throughout the Scriptures we are reminded that we are to pray for one another, love one another, encourage one another, bear each others burdens. God made us to need each other. When we do as the Scriptures teach, and meet regularly together, we naturally, like the logs in the fire, burn brighter. When we meet together, we have opportunity to worship together, learn Biblical truth together, and support each other.
When we separate ourselves from regular fellowship with Christian brothers and sisters, it won’t take long at all before we’re doing lone log imitations, growing colder toward the things of God. Then, if we remain alone, we’ll become as spiritually useful as ash in the fireplace that gets swept away at the end of the day.
Never forget the joy and the comfort that comes from following God’s instruction to “meet together, encourage each other, thinking of ways to motivate each other to love and good works.” Doing so is as wonderful and cozy as enjoying the warmth of logs crackling in the fireplace.
To those of you who know the story of Job in the Old Testament of the Bible, you will know that he had a tough time in life. There will be no argument when it is said of him, “Job went through the fire.” Job had every reason known to man to get mad at God for allowing the terrible times he endured in his life. Yet, Job made a choice to keep on trusting God. Even his closest friends did not understand that trust. Feeling alone in his situation couldn’t have helped; even so, Job clung to his decision to trust God with the outcome of all he was going through.
No one on earth is exempt from going through the fires of trouble in this world. It’s the attitude we maintain that gets us through unscathed, emerging even better than when the troubles began. We can learn something most valuable from the words of Job. You see, Job did not rely on his feelings, and that’s a good thing, because Job felt rather abandoned. These are his words, recorded in Job 23:8-9, “I go east, but He is not there. I go west, but I cannot find Him. I do not see Him in the north, for He is hidden. I turn to the south, but I cannot find Him.” In other words, Job felt all alone in this world — alone with his troubles. But here’s what we learn from Job. He made a decision not to operate in the realm of his feelings. He operated within the realm of what he trusted. Let’s read the next verse and we see the attitude that Job took, “But He knows where I am going. And when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job chose to trust in God’s care for him, even when, at the moments of his greatest trials, he could not even sense God’s presence with him.
Have you ever had opportunity to watch a blacksmith at work? Metal is put into a blazing fire. If you glimpse into that fire, what you see is not pretty. It’s just a blob of molten nothing. However, the blacksmith is skilled. The blacksmith molds and cools the metal; what emerges is something beautiful. If left a blob in the fire, it would never be useful, but the master blacksmith knows just how to handle what’s in the fire. The blacksmith knows that what will come forth is something fit and useful.
It’s the same when we trust our lives into the proficient hands of our heavenly Father. Like a skilled blacksmith, when the fires of trouble turn us into a blob of nothing pretty, our Father’s loving and caring hands are molding us. He knows that if, like Job, we choose to trust Him even when the fires of trouble hurt the most, we are going to emerge better than ever. We are going to be something beautiful, and more useful than we could have ever imagined possible.
When we, like Job, take on the attitude of trusting almighty God, when it doesn’t feel like He’s around; when we keep our eyes on Him, even when it seems all the light of any joy has faded away; then, we can proclaim with the certainty of all hope, that — My God knows where I am going! He knows I’m in the fire. He knows what He is molding me into through these great difficulties. Therefore, I know — I know — I know — I will emerge triumphant, full of joy, and blessed to overflowing! That’s how my God works!
When that certainly becomes the attitude of our hearts, we will know, that whatever comes across our paths, whatever tries to burn us and hurt us, our God is constantly watching over us. Our God is taking anything the world meant for bad, and He is turning it into our good. That’s the Father heart of God. He loves to bring His children through the fire and present them blessed and joyful to the world!
May the attitude of Job live in you and in me — the attitude of absolute trust, even when the troubles of this world have set us on fire. Then, we will be blessed in the joy of hope fulfilled; we will, as Job proclaimed, “come forth as gold!”
When we hear the words, “the beauty of the cross,” we may understandably think of a silver or gold cross dangling from a necklace. Sadly, even among Christians, the cross has become nothing more than an Easter subject or a jewelry selection. I write today to encourage us all, do not forget that without the cross, all humanity would be lost and without hope.
You see, if not for the cross, humans would attempt to fill the void in their lives with points of religion that entail rules and regulations. Of course, no one can perfectly maintain rules and regulations. We will slip up somewhere along the way.
Thank God the cross is not about religion, nor rules and regulations; the cross is about relationship. The cross held upon it’s roughly hewn timbers the embodiment of love, because it stretched upon those timbers, the life of Jesus that spilled out the blood of forgiveness for all mankind’s sins — no matter what those sins may be. The cross is the key to freedom. The cross is the way of hope. The cross points to the way of forgiveness. The cross is the revelation of the heart of God.
If Jesus had not died on the cross, life would be senseless. However, since Jesus did take our place for the payment of sin, everyone has opportunity to receive, not only forgiveness of all sins, but also to receive a promise of eternal life in heaven, where there will be no more tears or sorrow. Because of the cross, we have available to us, the power of God working in our lives, showing us the way to successful and joyful living. How weak we would be if not for what happened on the cross. Our own attempts at triumph in life would be futile and depressing. Thank God, that through the love of Jesus on the cross, He conquered death, gaining victory on our behalf.
The way of the cross was cruel and painful, painted in blood, leading to death — enter Jesus — and the way of the cross becomes the most beautiful object because of the love that was nailed there. When we understand the way of the cross, we can say with Paul as he said in Galations 6:14, “As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the cross, my interest in the world has been crucified, and the world’s interest to me has also died.”
Without the cross, our eyesight is limited; with the cross, our eyes are opened to the glory of heaven. Therefore, how beautiful is the cross.
Just today I was thinking about swimming and treading water. If one doesn’t know how to swim, or if they choose not to swim, then the instinct in the water is to tread. It’s amazing how, with continual gliding movements of our arms in the water, we can stay afloat. When I was a child, my cousins and I would have treading water contests to see who could tread the longest. There were never any winners; we all gave out about the same time, our strength fading fast.
As those childhood memories came to my mind, I thought to myself, that’s what we so often do in our spiritual worlds. We should be swimming in the peace of Jesus at all times; too often, we are treading in the water of our own attempts to get to shore and stand on solid ground. When we find ourselves in difficulties, why do we tell ourselves that we can survive and get to shore simply by treading water?
I love God’s Words to us in Isaiah when He was talking with the people of Israel. They were going through a terrible time. God says to them in Isaiah 43:1-3 “But now, Oh Israel, the Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up. The flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.’”
Those wonderful words are for us, today! God sees our troubles and He cares. He knows all about our treading attempts to save ourselves. He is always on the ready to be our lifeline; to pull us to shores of safety; to pull us into His arms of love. He is ready to put us on a solid path that leads to our good. Our own efforts, time and again, will surely lead to our destruction. Never forget, God is always on the ready to take us to shore. He is ready to swim with us, being our peace and strength in the water.
The choice is always ours. God never forces His guidance and care on us. We must reach out and grab hold of His lifesaving arms. Or — we can tread water.
Our friends from the UK are having their last week with us before returning to the UK tomorrow. This week we took them to the Smokey Mountains. While there, we took a day to spend at Dollywood, which was hosting their annual Gospel Singing Fest. What a huge blessing it was, sharing with hundreds of other believers, worshipping through song.
We were especially blessed by singing artist, Karen Peck. In fact, we went to all three of her performances. Each one was a bit different in song, but the same in sharing the joy of Jesus. She sang a particular song that I had never heard before. It touched me deeply, It’s called, “Everybody’s Going Through Something,” from her newest album named, “Revival.” In the chorus are the words, “If I have to go through something, I’d rather go through something with Him.” Oh, yes!
I have often speculated in life — how do people who don’t know Jesus get through all the troubles of this world? How do they get through pain, hurt, rejection, grief? Somehow they do survive. Even so, in my own experience of surviving, I’m so glad I’ve never had to muddle through in my own strength. Jesus told His disciples, just before He went to heaven, “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 The times I have called upon the truth of that verse is innumerable, and the help that would come, was always there.
When I have felt misunderstood; when I have felt there was no way out of some dilemma; when I have felt the agony of loss — I have never had to face any of those emotions alone. I can testify of a truth that in every trouble of life, when I would call out for the help of Jesus, like a breath of cool air on a sultry afternoon, He has swooped in with His peace, guidance, and assurance to get me through to a good end.
I am so thankful that, not only does Jesus not mind when I call to Him for help, but He adores it when I do. Are you hurting today? Whatever is breaking your heart or bringing pain into your life, Jesus longs to help you. Like a mighty eagle, He is ready to sweep down in love to bring His aid into your life.
I close with another of Jesus’ promises to us: “I will not leave you comfortless — I will come to you.” John 14:18
Never forget that His help is only a call away.
My mother and I took our visiting friends from England to New Orleans this week. As I strolled about the French Quarter, I noticed a statue being renovated. The passing of years and of weather had made the statue dull and splotchy in places. It was easy to see, that with the renovation, the statue was going to be made to appear as it did when it was made — it would look like new.
A thought came to my mind — thoughts about the person who becomes a Christian. Two things happen:
First, we are told in II Corinthians 5:17 that, “Old things are passed away and all things are become new.” What a wonderful promise. Jesus begins His work of making us into His own image. He puts His thoughts into our minds. He puts His desires into our hearts. He gives us His own peace to face all situations. He gives us courage and joy. He fills us up with His love. We are indeed made new, but not like the statue, restored to it’s original state; no, we are made even better because we are forgiven of all our sins. The things that made our hearts blackened by sin, Jesus cleans up and presents us before God as if we had never sinned at all. What love!
Second, we are given a promise of what is to come when we leave this earth. II Corinthians 5:1 tells us, “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down, that is, when we die and leave this earthly body, we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.” What a hope. Life for the Christian is filled with promises from God to give us all the holy assistance we need as we travel the road of our lives; then, when we reach the end of the road, our eternal home awaits us. It’s a home where there are no more tears, no death, no pain — it’s a place of eternal peace.
When God does His restoration work in our lives — nothing at all compares to the wonder of it all! How amazing is that!
This week I had the pleasure of spending several days at Panama City Beach, Florida. My mother and I took friends visiting from England. It’s their first time to come to America; naturally therefore, their first time to set eyes on the Gulf of Mexico. What joy to watch their reactions to all they saw — dolphins leaping into the air, stingrays swam around us, a pelican did some fishing nearby, and of course, sea gulls filled the skies.
Each morning I awoke early, making my way to the beach. Night had given way to daylight. Only a few other people strolled along, enjoying warm waves gliding over feet. I walked a while, then sat in the sand and stared in wonder at the beauty before me. The vastness of this ocean always amazes me, reminding me again and again of the majesty of our Creator.
As I watched waves coming toward land one at a time, I was reminded that each individual wave, unique in itself, is still a part of the whole ocean. The ocean gives life to the waves. The ocean is the source of strength and mightiness. Storms may brew upon its waters causing waves to crash onto shore, but still they are one. The ocean may be calm and still, sending waves gently pushing onto the shoreline, but they are one. The waves cannot exist apart from the ocean.
It’s the same in the life of God’s children. Storms may brew in our lives but we are one with our Father. Our Father is our source of strength. Our Father gives spiritual life to each one of us. We are one. Jesus said to His disciples, “…apart from me you can do nothing.” How true. To attempt anything apart from God’s guidance and wisdom is like a wave trying to move apart from the ocean. It can’t be done.
I love the picture that is painted in the words of Colossians 3:3, “…your life is hidden with Christ in God.” How amazing is that! When someone becomes a child of God, they are no longer alone. Like the waves of the sea, they are a part of the family of God and of God Himself. You are hidden in Christ and Christ is in God!
What comfort to be reminded that, just as no wave can be separated from the ocean, neither can any child of God be separated from Father God. You are His and He is yours — forever.
Forever He will guide you. Forever He will give you strength to face anything. Forever He will love you. Forever He will fill you with peace in the midst of all storms. Forever you will grow stronger in holy confidence — as you understand more fully — you are in Him and He is in you.
Many of you will remember the stories I have told of our partially blind cat, Kitty, who lives on the screened in front porch. She’s happy in her little world. She knows where everything is around her; all is familiar. It’s safe. She’s satisfied with her world. However, I saw that it could be better. Kitty’s porch needed a coat of paint.
Therefore, early one morning this week, I came out onto the porch with a gallon can of paint, some old newspapers to scatter around, and a paint brush. I wondered how Kitty would react. As I took the lid off the paint and dipped in my brush, Kitty approached cautiously. I began to apply paint — up and down went the movement of my arm. Kitty was doing her best to focus on my movements. What was it? What was happening to her little world where everything had been in order? What happened to the two rocking chairs? Where was her bed?
Cautiously she came closer; then she jumped back. Her anxiety was obvious. I talked soothingly to her, calling her name, but I kept painting. Finally, after much heedfulness, Kitty approached close enough so that I could reach out and touch her. Oh, yes, that was better. Her body, rigid with fear, relaxed to my touch. It was me, of that she was now certain. She came even closer. After more minutes, Kitty was walking with ease around the paint can, around me, and then — Kitty was helping me paint. She walked between me and the wall. When she emerged, she was no longer all black on her body. She now displayed a side of white. I brushed over the place where Kitty had helped me paint.
More minutes passed, and Kitty lost interest in what I was doing. She went to her perch, jumped up, and even took a little snooze. She still didn’t understand what I was doing, but just knowing it was me took her fear away. Whatever I was doing, Kitty trusted me. In truth, I was indeed making her porch, comfortable to her liking, even better. It is now fresh and white. The rocking chairs are painted, too.
As I spent the morning painting, I contemplated how we often respond to God when He sees that our worlds need improving. He enters and shakes things up. What is He doing? We like things the way they are; nothing needs changing. We become fearful because we don’t understand what God is doing or why He is allowing something to take place in our lives. Like Kitty, we approach cautiously, distrusting. Fear grabs hold.
However, also like Kitty, when we choose to come close to our heavenly Father, in spite of the fear; in spite of the fact that we don’t understand why He is allowing certain things to take place in our worlds — then like Kitty, we sense His touch. We know it’s Him. We can trust Him. Maybe we even try to help God paint. We might mess up, but He will fix the smudges. Our heavenly Father delights when we come close to Him. He loves it when we desire to take part in what He is doing; when we trust that all will turn out just fine, because He is in charge.
I made Kitty’s world better for her. I would never hurt her even though I knew she would experience some fear at first. It’s the same with our heavenly Father. He would never hurt us, even though He knows that we may experience fear when He begins to change things around. He has our best interests in His own heart at all times. Isn’t that amazing! What pure love.
God is always working things to our good — even when it hurts. We can trust Him with everything that we don’t understand. God will always paint our world to His glory and to our good, and He will do it in perfect time. The Psalmist says it well in the following:
Oh Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” Psalm 40:5
I’ve had some blasts of energy the past few weeks, channeling it into some fruitful work. I’ve painted the bathroom, the back porch, and our cat, Blackie’s house. If I do say so myself, it has all spruced up nicely — lookin’ good. Tomorrow I plan to paint the front porch, and on Saturday it will be time to saddle up on the tractor lawn mower. How I love being in the outdoors.
As I’ve gone from one task to another, a flood of memories began to fill my mind and touch my heart. You see, many times over the years, it was with my Dad that I painted things, or cut grass, or trimmed trees. We would work side by side, and in our working, all sorts of conversations arose. Sometimes we talked of very serious matters; sometimes we talked of things that made us laugh long and hard. Often we talked about the things of God.
This week, I was surprised at the recollections that came back to me; things we discussed that I haven’t thought about in a long time. It felt good and warm to my heart to recall my Dad’s words. Sometimes they made me smile and even laugh. Other times, I reflected thoughtfully as memories of our conversations played in my mind.
I thought about the deep joy and sweetness that comes to me when I recall my earthly father’s words. Continuing in my pondering, my thoughts switched to my Heavenly Father. When I recall His words — words that I have hidden in my heart over the years — those words are also sweet to recall. The words of my Heavenly Father bring me comfort when I hurt; they bring me peace when I am troubled; they bring me guidance when I don’t know which way to go.
I had such joy when I talked with my earthly Dad. When I engage in conversation with my Heavenly Father, my joy is doubled as I share with Him a thankful heart for all His goodness to me. You see, the words of my Heavenly Father is what I need every day of my life, because, as it says in Psalm 119:105, “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Therefore, it stands to reason, if I ignore my Heavenly Father’s words — words that are a light to guide my way — then I may find myself walking in darkness. In the dark, I will lose my way; I will lack confidence to move as fear paralyzes me. Joy will fade away as anxiety and worry fill the space where joy once resided.
My personal prayer is: “Dear Father, help me to remember, whether in the best of times or in the most troublesome of times, give me your own sweet reminders to choose light. It is in the light that I will always see clearly. The darkness is blinding. Help me to remember, dear Heavenly Father, the sweetness of Your words.”
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