Archives for June 2017

Acts 8:9-10,13,18,20 – “A man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria…they exclaimed, ‘This man is the divine power known as the Great Power’. Simon himself believed (in Jesus) and was baptized. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostle’s hands, he offered them money. Peter answered: ‘may your money perish with you because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money.’”

We’ve all heard stories like the one involving Simon before, right? We cross paths with people who seem to have ‘abilities’ that come from God himself. Some will even confuse people by claiming to be God. Most of the time they are not.

They, like Simon before them, are practicing black arts, magic or sorcery of some sort. All intended to deceive.

I went to a conference some years ago and witnessed one of these people with my own eyes. This man was claiming to possess unique and magical skills, when in fact he was only seeking to deceive people into giving him money.

My business partner at the time listened closely and uncovered the scam with just a few questions. Hopefully, we prevented at least a few from being ripped off by the guy.

In many places today, we have ‘doctors’ who claim they can heal painful injuries with pain medications. They prescribe them liberally to those who end up amazed that they can no longer feel their pain. Sadly, they wind up addicted to opiate drugs and end up far worse than when they started. Some even take their addiction too far, and find it so difficult to recover from it, they end up committing crimes and in prison.

Others, when the pain clinic has been closed by authorities and cannot get more of the ‘magic pills’ end up addicted to heroin and die of an overdose.

So is there someone who can really heal? Actually, there is. His name is Jesus. He’s the Son of God. One of his nicknames is “Great Physician”.

I can speak with confidence because he healed me of my addictions. One day I was hopelessly addicted to alcohol and the next I was freed of it. Not under treatment, but healed.

I know this because 25 years later I have not had a drink. One other time, I prayed for relief for an old arthritic knee. I then went more than 3 years without an ache or pain in that knee as if there was no injury.

A friend of mine was once diagnosed with terminal cancer. One day she had a group of priests and nuns pray for her healing for hours and hours. When it was done, she fell into a deep sleep that lasted more than a day.

When she awoke, she physically felt much better. Visiting the oncologist soon after, a series of images showed no cancer in her body at all. The doctors tried to explain it by saying that there must have been a mistake and that the previous images must have been mixed up with those of another patient. Years later, she’s alive and doing well. Healed of her cancer.

So if you’re in pain, if you need healing, seek Jesus. He’s the real healer.

Psalm 23:1-3a – “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He make’s me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Green pastures, quiet waters, a restored soul. Isn’t this what you really truly want for your life?

But think about it. How much of the situation you find yourself today resembles that?

For many, life resembles a desperate sprint through the streets of Baghdad. Bombs falling from airplanes, guns going off in every direction. Wounded or dead bodies piling up everywhere.

Not literally, mind you but in my own life, the challenges of each day are more like a war zone than a quiet meadow. Maybe it’s true for you as well.

So is it possible to live in a war zone and still find a quiet place and shelter from it all? Is there someone who can assure that there is always some peace and rest in your life? Yes.

The first line of David’s Psalm told us the secret. He has a shepherd. You can I can join his flock too. It’s easy and works every time.

You simply tell Jesus (the true shepherd) that you’re going to put your trust in him instead of thinking that you can do life on your own.

Ask him now to guide you and lead you in this life. Ask him to please provide you with his peace – the peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

Here’s what’s so great about such a request. He’ll do it. Jesus said so and his words are captured in Luke 15. He told us, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

It’s in this context that I’ll always remember my baptism. I was 40 years old, was raised in the church and did believe in Jesus – but had never turned my life over to him. That morning I stepped into the water and was baptized – when I emerged, I could hardly believe the applause from those assembled to watch.

I’ve given talks all over the US on various subjects and polite audiences almost always would applaud the messages I shared. But it was nothing like this. And in the distance, I could hear the sound of angels rejoicing that I, a lost sheep, had been rescued by my Savior and Shepherd, Jesus Christ. It was my first glimpse of that green meadow and quiet water King David spoke about so long ago.

1 Peter 1:6b-7 – “For a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine.”

Have you ever watched a trial on TV or in the courtroom? If you have, you may have seen one of the attorneys in the matter ‘object’ to something the other side was doing. In some cases, you’ll hear them say, “Asked and answered, your Honor”.

The headline of today’s post asks a question that each of us must at some point deal with. The passage from Peter answers the question.

Today, let’s talk about grief, trials, and suffering. If it’s not in your life now, chances are that these have recently left you or are just a short time from arriving.

While we tend to focus on the trial itself, God is focused on much more. He’s working out his plan for our lives and part of that is to deepen our faith that he is who he says he is.

I tell you this because I’m now, and have been for a time in a period of trials. I’ve suffered some sleepless nights. I’ve had my share of physical pain. As one day led to the next, though, I find my faith is greater today than it was yesterday.

Sometimes we must also share in the trials and grief of those close to us. As I write, someone close to me is suffering her own trials. Her body has been sick for awhile and it seems that time is catching up with her. For both members of her family and her friends, we all must suffer as this process unfolds.

But there is a bright side. There always is with God. He’s asking me again today to believe and to have faith that he is in control. Our faith to him is more valuable than gold.

If you’re going through trials – if you’re suffering in any way, please do the one thing that may seem to be counter-intuitive. Rejoice. And in faith know that the Lord has a plan for us. It’s a good plan. Even if we can’t see it, or project that what we’ll get from this isn’t what we wanted, rejoice, anyway.

Galatians 6:7b-9 – “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Is it really true that we reap what we sow? Yes, it’s one of those unbreakable laws of the Universe that is unchanging and will remain unchanged. If you take a portion of your yard and prepare it to plant vegetables in spring, at the proper time, those veggies will be ready for harvest.

If you plant carrots, it’s carrots you will reap. If you plant corn, it’s only a matter of time before corn is ready to pick and eat.

Imagine the shock you’d get if you planted tomatoes and a few months later found green peppers growing on the tomato plants. It might make the news.

These laws apply to all of nature too. If two human adults were to come together and conceive a third life – it’s assured that what will be born will be human too. What would you say or do if you gave birth to a baby porpoise?

Fortunately, that will never happen.

But the law applies to much more than produce or even people. In our day to day lives we have many opportunities to cross paths with other people, right? In each case you have the opportunity to “plant” something in that person, that will ultimately grow and reach harvest.

Last week, while traveling I found myself speaking with a young woman at the front desk of the hotel where I was staying. She had an unusually pleasant demeanor and with her bright smile and sunny attitude, she planted into me a renewed spirit. I was happier just to have spoken with her.

The next day I met a woman at the conference who’s job it was to clean up the break area where everyone was eating. I asked her if there were any toothpicks available and as she told me “no”, I sensed that she was not having the best of days. So I thanked her for making the place we were eating much cleaner and nicer.

I asked her what she thought the place would look like in an hour if she wasn’t there. The thought made her smile as she realized that she was important. In planting that quick seed of encouragement, I could see that it was quickly growing into a renewed spirit in her.

So as you go through your life today and in weeks to come, consider what you’re planting as you go – particularly if you care about what you’ll harvest later. Because if you sow good seeds you’ll receive a good crop. How do I know? It’s Universal law.

Ephesians 6:10-11 – “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

I have a secret. Want to hear it? Ok, my secret is that I am weak. I’m flawed. I regularly mess up even the simplest of tasks. This happens more than I’d like to admit.

Somehow, I suspect if you were telling me your secrets, you’d admit to something similar in your life.

So if it’s really as bad as I say, how is it that a perception exists that I’m totally the opposite of this? People look at me and they think, “He’s so strong. So brave. Takes such bold action.”

Well, that would lead me to tell you another secret. This secret is that apart from God I can accomplish nothing. When I feel weak, when I see flaws and even when I mess up it’s because I’m pursuing my will and not God’s.

When you see me and think that you’re seeing someone strong, what you’re really seeing is a man who’s dressed in the full armor of God. When I’m in my suit of armor, I’m able to thwart the schemes of the evil one, quickly and easily.

He gives me strength. He provides courage. He is where I turn for provision. Yes, the Lord provides all this for me and also for you.

When you feel weak, or see your own flaws, or worse, when others point them out, simply put on your “armor”. The armor of God will protect you and keep you secure. More importantly, you’ll appear as impervious to life’s challenges as Bat Man appears in the face of his enemies.

But you and I will not take credit for it. Instead, we’ll quietly thank God and praise him for his protections and blessing. Amen?