Today I was walking through one of Bishkek’s beautiful city parks, here in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. The morning had been very cold; but by noon, an Indian summer day had set in. I had time to spare before my next meeting, so I sat down on a bench to enjoy the heat of the sun on my face, the sound of the fountains spraying water, and children running and laughing.
One young couple was walking in my direction. Their little girl, about four years old, was running ahead of them. Right in front of me, a gorgeous selection of flowers were growing close together, all bright, all in full bloom. Bees and butterflies were flitting about.
The little girl’s father squatted down beside her and said, “See the butterfly?” She seemed excited as she peered into the bed of flowers, asking, “Where?” Her father pointed and said, “There.” “I don’t see it,” the little girl was obviously troubled because she couldn’t find the butterfly.
I admit, I could barely see it myself. It blended in so well, with the colors of the flowers, that it was camouflaged. The little girl’s father kept pointing , and the little girl kept looking. She was straining to see the butterfly. Finally, “There it is! I see it!” She looked proudly into her father’s smiling face, so pleased at her accomplishment, and delighted in the beauty of the butterfly.
As I strolled away, a thought came to my mind. We are just like that little girl at times in our spiritual world. We find ourselves in some situation of difficulty. As promised, our Heavenly Father speaks to guide us; His still, small voice whispering, “This is the way, now walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 We strain to see the way He is pointing, but everything is all blended in with the troubles of this world. We become disappointed; perhaps, we even give up. We stop looking, but that never, ever helps our situation.
Like the little girl, trusting her father to help her find the butterfly, we must keep asking, “Where, Father? I don’t see the way. Where is it?” Be assured, when we ask, we are shown the way. Just don’t give up easily. You may be unnecessarily detained, or miss it, altogether. “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7
Just as the little girl’s father was determined, that her desire to see the butterfly be met, so your Heavenly Father determines, that your desire to hear His voice, and to know His guidance is met, also.
At church this past Sunday I was talking with many friends after the service. One particular lady and I were in a long conversation, when her little girl tugged at her mother’s sweater and said, “Mommy, we have to get ready for Daddy.” The mother replied to her child that there was plenty of time, and explained to me that her husband had to work every other Sunday, and would be home later in the afternoon.
We carried on with our conversation for several minutes, when again, the little girl tugged at her mother’s sweater and said, “I want to bake something sweet for Daddy. He likes sweet things. Can we bake something for Daddy?” The mother told the little girl to wait just a minute and they would go home and bake something for Daddy. “She’s really a Daddy’s girl,” the mother said to me. We ended our conversation then, and I watched a very happy little girl, quickly walking away, her hand tucked in her mother’s. She was going to get ready for Daddy. He would be coming soon, and the thought filled her with great joy.
As I walked home a bit later myself, a thought shot into my mind — Jesus will come again one day, and He will take all of us who know Him, to be with our Heavenly Father, for eternity. The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Thessolonika that he was pleased to know that they had “continual anticipation of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 1:3. He also said in 5:2 of the same book, “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly.”
When I think of His unexpected return, like the little girl getting ready for Daddy, I want to be certain that I’m ready, too. Therefore, I desire to: keep my heart clean, my motives pure, my thoughts — His thoughts, and may everything I do or say be pleasing to my Heavenly Father.
The little girl had great fun in getting ready for her Daddy’s return. Being ready for the return of Jesus is no burden to bear, but is a great joy to imagine what it will be like to suddenly see Him face to face. As John encourages us in his letter, I John 2:28, “Continue to live in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame.” Let’s be ready, together.
I returned to my Bishkek home last evening after another wonderful day in Kyrgyzstan. It was still daylight. As I walked past my window, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a very small white something glisten. I looked, and there I saw an outside light had been left on. The smallest of white light could be seen through the glass globe of the light fixture. As night time fell, the light shone brighter, making it easier for anyone to see their way in the dark.
I could not help but think of the light of Jesus available to all who know Him. Why is it that, at times in our lives, when the troubles of this world brings darkness across our paths, we forget to look to the Light to show us the way? When things are going well for us, we don’t notice the Light so much. It’s always there, but it’s in the darkness of our days that it shines brightest.
By nature, we don’t like the dark. We want light. We want good times and happy times to fill our days. We want less struggles and more ease. However, our heavenly Father, who loves us so very much, He knows it’s often in the dark that we cling the closest to Him.
The light always shines brightest in the dark — therefore, we need not fight against the hard times, or turn from Father’s face in difficulties. The light of His love and grace and guidance is always available to us. It’s ours for the asking — focus and see the Light.
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10
Yesterday I flew into London from Atlanta. We arrived on time but the pilot explained that we were in a holding pattern and would land momentarily. Sitting by a window I looked out and saw below us another plane. I looked up and there was a plane flying there, too. I looked straight out the window and a smaller plane was going by. Wow! Wow, was all I could think. I was mesmerized by the thought of several planes in such close proximity, flying around at the same time.
In moments we landed and began the slow drive towards the terminal. We came to a stop and the pilot explained we had to wait before crossing the runway in front of us as it was “active” just now. Again I looked out my window. A colossal plane came roaring down the runway. About 100 feet away it’s massive nose lifted off the ground, taking the bulk of metal body with it, higher and higher, and out of sight. Then another, and another, took off in rapid succession. Fascinating.
Then the runway seemed clear so I thought we’ll be moving soon, but we remained stationary. I looked out the window to see a plane, not taking off, but landing. It just appeared suddenly through the clouds and touched down. It rolled to a near stop and then began to turn left. When this happened, our plane started to move slowly forward. We crossed the runway and made it to our gate where a large, square , metal gangway, like a giant’s arm, swung out and attached itself to our plane. The door was then opened and soon enough we all filed out.
I kept thinking about all those planes in the sky — some in a holding pattern, some landing, others taking off, still others waiting on the runway for their turn to go to the terminal. I greatly admire the skill of the Air Traffic Controller. It’s one of the most stressful jobs in the world. With precision they direct several aircraft all at once, and all for one purpose — to get it safely to it’s destination. I emphasize the word safely. The Traffic Controller knows what type of aircraft is flying, knows what size, how many people its holds, how long the runway must be for it to takeoff or land, and where several planes are at the same time. Amazing!
It’s also amazing with our Father God. At every moment of every day He is looking at the lives of millions of His children. He knows where they are headed, He knows the flight plan for their lives. He knows when, for safety sake, to keep a child of His in a holding pattern or waiting on the runway. He knows when it’s safe to move again to get to the proper destination. We can try to maneuver ourselves but, oh! that can be dangerous! We may surely crash. Best always, to let Father be our Traffic Controller. After all, He sees all the other planes at the same time. You and I are just sitting in the seat and looking out the window.
“Oh Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold Oh Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:1-5
I am reminded this week that there are times in our lives when plans change or get halted altogether. Sometimes we don’t actually like the plans that have been arranged. In those situations we rejoice and perhaps heave a sigh of relief when it doesn’t come together. At other times, a changed plan can be a huge frustration and great disappointment.
I have faced many situations that included a changed plan. It happened again this week, but different from being a frustrating situation, I was pleased with the change. I was due to make an international flight, but my mother had unexpected surgery, so I changed my flight plans. As I said, this has not been frustrating in the least. I love my mother, love being in Alabama enjoying the country life, so a delay in departure has been peaceful for me. But what about those times when a changed plan makes one want to scream in exasperation?
For the Christian, there is a wonderful reminder from our Father’s Word: “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” Jeremiah 29:11 Isn’t that truly beautiful? Just think about it — Father God, Creator of the universe, has also created a plan, taylor-made for you and for me. Contemplate even further — no matter how aggravating or downright infuriating a change of plans may make us feel, let us remind ourselves that the plans of our Heavenly Father are always for our good, always with our future in mind, and always to give us hope.
Remember, too, our God is the master of change. He changed the leper’s sores into clean flesh, water into wine, Lazareths’ death into new life, the tyrant Saul into the Apostle Paul, a storm on the sea into calm waters, and He changed you and me from being bound by sin into freedom through the blood of Jesus.
When we take time to ponder upon God’s own thoughts about His plans for us, it puts the changes that come our way into proper perspective. Humanly speaking, we might say, “the apple cart has been upset,” but spiritually speaking we have to say, “Father’s changing something into good for me.” It’s what our Father does — takes what we think is bad, and makes it a blessing.
No one on earth escapes hard times. Perhaps difficult situations cause us to feel stressed, frustrated, rejected, angry, trapped — or — perhaps nothing has happened at all. Perhaps life is going well for us, and yet, feelings of despair and loneliness come upon us. We have the unexplainable “blues.” When we get the blues (and we all do at times) we might question, “Does God really care about how I’m feeling?” In answer to that, let me share this beautiful verse in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
It’s easy, when we are feeling low, to forget that God cares. In fact, we can quickly turn our thoughts away from God, in order to concentrate more fully on our misery, but one thing is for certain — misery begets misery. We can become our own worst enemy when we are dealing with any level of depression. When misery attacks, the one thing we need to do, call upon our Father, becomes a last resort. Misery grows, and feelings of rejection from God and friends, takes on a false realism in the recesses of our mind. The “blues” likes to feed on misery. Therefore, the deeper we go into misery, the fatter becomes the blues. Before we know it, we’re rolling in melancholy and feelings of desolation. We have one big, fat problem, and we don’t know how to lose it.
I encourage each of us, when misery begins feeding on our inner turmoil — begin to starve it! How do we do that? It’s a training of our minds and it takes practice, but like anything that is practiced, we become skilled. In this case, we become adept in knowing how to better choke the blues away. Take a look at instructions given to us in Philippians 4:8, “And now dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” This is such an important instruction that, when adhered to, helps to bring our thoughts out of the doldrums, and back into joyful thinking.
I can share from personal experience — when I feel down and choose to think on “what is true,” despondency begins to lift. If, on the other hand, I continue to think on the misery itself, then despondency grows. We can feed it or starve it. Never forget, you are not alone even when you feel you are; your Father in heaven “is close to the brokenhearted and ready to rescue those whose spirits are crushed.” Let us take command of our minds. Be the one who takes the reigns of your own depressing thoughts that want to run wildly in the wrong direction. Lead your horse of despair to quiet waters and there reflect on “what is true and honorable, and right and pure and lovely and admirable.” Think on Jesus and His love for you. Think of His heart’s desire to rescue you. Then, envision your rescue. Imagine crawling into your heavenly Father’s lap, and rest there. Remind yourself of His love. Recall the times He has shown His care for you. Practice thinking on those things, and watch unexplained despondency melt away into peace.
Contemplating God’s will, and trying to determine what that will is for our individual lives, is a question that comes to every Christian. We ask things like: What job or career does God want me to pursue? What church should I attend? Who should I marry? Where should I live? Should I go to college? Should I teach a Sunday School class? What does God want me to do? How does He want me to pray? What should I pray for concerning myself and the people I care about? The questions continue for the whole of our lives. We so want to get it right; stress levels can rise with worry. We put ourselves under great pressure with thoughts that we may miss the boat of God’s choice, and land in a sea of chaos, because of our own bad decisions. Therefore, we ask, is it really possible to know God’s will? Does it have to be so hard?
There is good news — but not easy news, in answer to the question of knowing God’s will. God’s Word gives us the answer in Romans 12:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” There we have the answer to knowing God’s will; we must let Him change the way we think which will transform us into a new person. What kind of a person? A person who resembles Jesus Himself by the way he or she talks, behaves, responds to people when they are kind or unkind, and by the attitudes they maintain when trouble strikes. When we let God transform us to be like His Son, then we begin to have the mind of Christ. Is that even possible? Yes. Philippians 2:5 tells us, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.” Will we ever be perfect? No, not until we get to heaven, but on earth we can certainly get better. Like an athlete in training, the more we practice, the closer we get to our goal. No training — no goal reached.
When we make the choice to obey God’s instruction in Romans 12:2, and ask Him to transform us in behavior and attitude, then the way we think becomes more and more like Jesus. When our mind becomes more like Jesus, we can better determine what God’s will is for our lives.
Too many Christians, sadly, don’t want to work at living according to God’s instructions. Too many Christians don’t even know what God’s instructions are because they don’t want to take the time to read and study His wonderful, holy words to us. These same Christians will be the ones to complain that God isn’t answering their prayers, or showing them what to do in various situations.
One thing for certain: we cannot ignore God, refuse to learn about Him, and then expect to know His will for our lives.
Another thing for certain: we can talk to Him, read about Him, meditate on His instructions, and fully expect to know His will for our lives.
It’s not easy, but it’s wonderful and exciting. It’s a lifelong adventure. There’s no joy to compare. I encourage each of us: determine to pursue God; then His will for your life will unfold as you go along the way.
I was able to take an afternoon this week and do something I love to do — work in the yard. Yes, I love it. I cut low hanging branches from my mother’s pecan and cedar trees, got rid of weeds around the fence, and took off on the tractor mower to cut the grass.
After I cut the limbs from the trees, I began dragging them off, to pile them up to be burned. The task took longer than expected. I lost count after the tenth trip of going back and forth across the yard to the limb pile. It didn’t matter; the sun had slipped behind clouds, making the air more comfortable, so I trekked on in the enjoyment of my outside work.
However, after some time, I became aware of something uncomfortable. Immediately I knew what it was — a little piece of grit had found the inside of my shoe and was pricking my foot. It hurt just a bit. I shook my foot, knocking my shoe against the other one, in hopes of moving the unwanted object from beneath my foot. No, that didn’t work. I could still feel it, but it had moved so it didn’t hurt as bad. I walked on, gathering limbs, and taking them to the growing pile in the field near our house.
Back and forth I went with my tree limbs, taking care of a needed task to be done. The piece of grit in my shoe did not give up it’s own mission of making the walk difficult. Finally, after several trips, I stopped, took off my shoe, turned it over and gave a good shake, and out fell the piece of grit. It was so little but made it’s presence known in a big way. No one could have known by looking at me that I had a painful piece of grit in my shoe, and I certainly didn’t have to put up with it as long as I did, but I was busy. I was busy doing a good thing, so I ignored what was hurting me. It was only small.
As I walked on to finish my gathering of tree limbs, I noticed the immediate relief to my foot. Oh, how delightful it felt to walk unhindered. The thought then came — it’s the same in my spiritual walk. I can be doing something good for the love of Jesus or for the love of someone else. Then, somewhere along the way of doing good things, a little piece of transgression can slip into my shoe of walking in godliness. No one can tell. Perhaps it’s just a little misdeed. I can still walk on to complete the task at hand. But wait, someone can tell. My Father in heaven can tell, and I can tell, too. It’s then that I notice my joy level has subsided just a bit.
I stop then, remove my shoe and shake out the little piece of transgression. Oh, how delightful to walk unhindered. When we become aware of a transgression, no matter how little, let us not delay in shaking out our shoes, asking Father to “Create in me a clean heart, Oh God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 Then walk on as joy returns!
I turn on the television news and immediately see that it’s another typical week of watching evil unfold around the world. There’s continued uprising in Egypt, chemical attack in Syria upon their own people, a teenaged girl kidnapped but found in the mountains, a little child abducted from a playground and found in a shallow grave nearby, an attempted shooting at an elementary school in Georgia, jihad declared upon Christians in Egypt for not following Islam. The list goes on and on about evil around the globe today. Evil reigns in the hearts of many.
The question then gets asked, usually by those who don’t know God personally: Where is a loving God in all of this? The question is asked with accusation, and sometimes anger and bitterness. To those of us who do know God personally, we know the answer: Where is God when evil is hurting innocent people? He’s right there doing as He has always done; He is offering the one and only way to a better world — He is offering Jesus who is “The way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
Long ago, God gave His only Son to pay the death penalty for our sin. When we accept what He has done for us, recognize it was our sin that put Him on the cross, and ask His forgiveness — He not only forgives us, but He makes us a new person. He puts aside the past and sets us on a new path. He gives us a cleaned up heart. Like a car with an oil change we can run with hope along our journey in life, and leave behind the days of merely bumping along, wondering if we would really get to a good destination.
Today’s world is full of trouble, and intelligent people are asking, why? They outlaw God from every element of society, forbid prayer in public places, refuse His commands for moral living, and then get all upset when, as they say, “God isn’t doing anything to help in evil situations.”
God has clearly said, “Whoever is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30) God is everything that is good and pure, lovely and beautiful. It stands to reason that, if we are for Him and choose to follow His ways, we will see goodness and purity, loveliness and beauty, fill the hearts of mankind. Such an outcome could only lead to goodness in the world. Instead, governments and other judicial powers, declare that God is no longer allowed in certain public places. They are against Him being the center; God is told to take a back seat. By this very declaration, they put goodness and purity and love on the back seat, leaving everything that is opposite of God to reign. Evil, then, takes a seat up front.
To every follower of Jesus, each one of us is only one person — or so we think. We must never forget that — one plus God is a majority. Never think that you cannot make a difference in the part of this world where God has placed you or where God sends you. I encourage each of us, when evil raises it’s ugly head, be ready to always answer the question: Where is God in all of this? “Be ready to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.” (I Peter 3:1) When you walk in the light, and point to the light, you might be the very person to lead someone out of the darkness.
This past week I took a flight from London to Atlanta. I’m in the States for six weeks taking speaking engagements in various churches. I’m also happily looking forward to working two days a week with the veterinary staff at Jones Animal Clinic in Brundidge, AL. Being with them is always a tremendous joy.
When the airplane took off in London, all the passengers were seated and ready to go. Well, I should say, all the passengers except one. A young man stood up as the plane literally left the runway. It was difficult for him to stand as the plane was ascending and had not leveled. A steward called out for the man to “return to your seat, sir!” The man seemingly didn’t hear. He opened the top luggage bin and proceeded to remove his bag. At this point the steward was at the passenger’s side demanding that he sit down. Thankfully the man did as he was told.
Throughout the rest of the flight, I could not help but be aware of this particular passenger. He was constantly doing the wrong thing. When the seat belt sign came on because of turbulence, he chose that moment to get up and proceed to the bathroom. The steward told him to get back to his seat. During another instance of turbulence, the steward was walking up the aisle making certain the passengers had their seat belts buckled. It was no surprise that the passenger in question was not wearing his seat belt. The steward stood there while he buckled up. During preparation for landing we were instructed to bring our seats to an upright position. Of course, this passenger had his seat fully back. The steward had to tell him to bring his seat forward.
I couldn’t help but think to myself, what a pain this passenger was to both the staff and his fellow passengers. Even so, I was impressed with the steward who constantly dealt with the unruly man. He was always gentle, even when he had to be stern.
Immediately I was struck with the comparison of how we react to God’s instructions for our lives. He gives us directions to follow that will bless us if we follow them. If we don’t obey them, Father God in His love for us, gently but sternly, guides us back to the right path. If we get back on the path, all is well; if we do not, there are consequences. God will discipline His children because He so wants the best for them.
If we are all honest with ourselves, we have to admit there have been times in our lives, spiritually speaking, when we’ve ignored the instructions of our Father, and proceeded to do things our way. Spiritually speaking, sometimes we are each one, the unruly passenger.
How thankful we can be that Father never gives up on us no matter our mistakes or rebellious attitudes to His directions. He loves us in spite of ourselves, and remember: “God’s discipline is always right and good for us because it means we will share in His holiness.” Hebrews 12:10b
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