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May 2, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Nature

Accepting Help

accepting helpListen to my pleading, Lord! Be merciful and send the help I need. [Psalm 27:7 (TLB)]

There it was, smack dab in the middle of the road: a Florida softshell turtle. Since softshells rarely leave the water except to bask in the sun at water’s edge, I think this one was on her way to dig a nest and drop her eggs. Unfortunately, every time a car came along, she tucked herself back into her shell. Just about the time she felt confident enough to stick out her neck, along would come another car and she’d retreat again into her shell. At that rate, I knew it was highly unlikely that she’d make it across the road before becoming road-kill. Florida softshells are big and can be aggressive; this one was about two feet long and probably weighed forty-five pounds. My concern was that, if I tried to pick her up, I’d end up dropping her before getting her to safety, especially if she got feisty about being carried. The best I could do was caution the oncoming cars to swerve around her. Fortunately, a landscaper stopped, reached in his truck to get a shovel, gently scooped her up, and carried her into the bushes.

What did I learn from all of this? First, if we ever want to get somewhere, we’ve got to stick out our necks. Second, sometimes we have to accept a little help to get where we need to go.

Lord, we are often more willing to offer a helping hand to others than to accept the hand that offers help to us. Please guide us to know when we are able tough it out on our own and when we need some aid. Keep us from hiding in shells to conceal our vulnerability. Don’t ever let us be too proud to ask for help; keep us from rebuffing assistance when it is offered. Thank you for the help you send that comes from friends and strangers.

Be brave enough to accept the help of others. [Melba Cosgrove]

Pride goes before destruction and haughtiness before a fall. [Proverbs 16:18 (TLB)]

 

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May 1, 2014

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Holidays & Holy Days, Prayer

National Day of Prayer: Let Us Pray

Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. This is true because if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them. [Matthew 18:19-20 (NCV)]

Today is the 63rd National Day of Prayer. The theme is “One Voice, United in Prayer.” Today, this one prayer, written by Anne Graham Lotz will be read simultaneously throughout the nation. Perhaps you will join in saying this prayer today.

Then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, if they will pray and seek me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land. [2 Chronicles 7:14 (NCV)]

Lord of the Universe. Lord of this planet. Lord of the nations. Lord of our hearts. On this National Day of Prayer, we look to You…

In the darkness, You are our Light.
In the storm, You are our Anchor.
In our weakness, You are our Strength.
In our grief, You are our Comfort.
In our despair, You are our Hope.
In our confusion, You are our Wisdom.
In time of terrorism, You are our Shield.
In time of war, You are our Peace.
In times of uncertainty, You are the Rock on which we stand.

We make our prayer to You using the words of the prophet Daniel:

O Lord, You are the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and keep His commandments. You are merciful and forgiving. You are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because we have sinned against You, and done wrong. We have turned away from Your commands and principles. We have turned away from You.

Yet You have promised in 2 Chronicles 7, that if we–a people identified with You–would humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, then You would hear our prayer, forgive our sin and heal our land.

So we choose to stop pointing our finger at the sins of others, and examine our own hearts and lives. We choose to acknowledge our own sin–our neglect and defiance and ignorance and even rejection of You. This day we choose to repent.

In response to our heartfelt repentance, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Father of Jesus Christ, in keeping with all Your righteous acts and according to Your promise, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from the United States of America. Hear the prayers and petitions offered to You on this National Day of Prayer, as we give You our full attention. Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see. We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.

For the glory of Your Name hear our prayer, forgive our sin, and heal our land.
We ask this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ who offers us salvation from Your judgment, forgiveness for our sin, and reconciliation with You through His own blood shed on the Cross. Amen.
[2014 National Prayer by Anne Graham Lotz]

 

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April 30, 2014

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God's Word: The Bible, Wisdom & Guidance

Who Built Your House?

2014-4-30Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. [Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)]

We can establish our careers, our homes, and our families, but without God at their center, they won’t flourish; they might even crumble and fall apart. We can try to protect our lives, but without Christ as our foundation, we may collapse at the first challenge.

There is only one secure foundation: a genuine, deep relationship with Jesus Christ, which will carry you through any and all turmoil. No matter what storms are raging all around, you’ll stand firm if you stand on His love. [Charles Stanley]

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April 29, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Obedience, Worry

Will We Rest or Resist?

Who heard God’s voice and was against him? It was all those people Moses led out of Egypt. And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert. And to whom was God talking when he promised that they would never enter his rest? He was talking to those who did not obey him. So we see they were not allowed to enter and have God’s rest, because they did not believe. [Hebrews 3:16-19 (NCV)]

Although we all appreciate a good night’s sleep, the rest we find in God doesn’t come from a Serta mattress or a sleep-number bed. In God’s rest, our frustrations, exhaustion, fears, and doubts are replaced with the comfort of His presence, renewed energy, hope and peace. This rest, however, depends on our willingness to accept God’s will and follow His way. It was recently pointed that the words “rest” and “resist” are similar; the only difference is the letter “i.” As long as I resist giving up my burdens and as long as I resist His will, I will have no rest!

I find rest in God; only he gives me hope. [Psalm 62:5 (NCV)]

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April 27, 2014

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Church & Worship, Sharing Our Faith

PUT OUT THE WELCOME MAT

4-27-14 everglades community church-webWhen we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly. [Acts 21:17 (NLT)]

While walking yesterday morning, I noticed a decal on my neighbor’s car window. It said, “Welcome to Florida – Now Go Home!” Below this sentiment was a skull and crossed rifles! Being a “snowbird” here in Naples, I can understand the locals’ annoyance during “high season” when the population swells, traffic stalls, restaurants overflow, and parking is near impossible. “But, come on,” I thought, “Even on a bad day, this place is paradise compared to most other places. You’re blessed to be here; share it.”

I then realized we sometimes have the same attitude when it comes to our churches. I imagine most of us had to leave for church at least thirty minutes earlier Easter Sunday just to hope for a seat in the back rows. Maybe we even got stuck on the folding chairs in the narthex or, worse yet, were left without a seat. Even though extra services and chairs are added on Christmas and Easter, there never seems to be enough room for everyone. Those of us who attend church regularly tend to get a bit annoyed at these “Birth and Resurrectionists.” Don’t worry; they won’t be at church today. Unfortunately, there will be plenty of room at every service this morning.

Some of the people my neighbor would like to send back up north are the very ones who regularly volunteer at the hospitals, homeless shelters, nature preserves and resale shops. They are the people whose money helps build the hospitals, theaters, schools, Habitat homes and museums of Naples. Could some of the people we resented at church last week be the very ones we need in our church family to help spread God’s word and do God’s work?

We need to find a way to make our church population swell every week, not just twice a year. It’s not only the official greeters who should offer a welcome; we should, too. Do we need to make more effort to reach out? That’s not just the job of the Evangelism Committee! Is there someone we should invite to join us at worship? Let’s remember that church is God’s house, not ours. Everyone is welcome: all shapes and sizes, races and nationalities, saints and sinners alike. Church visitors aren’t strangers; they’re the guests of God! Let’s welcome everyone to God’s house! The welcome mat is out!

Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. [Philippians 2:29 (NLT)]

 

 

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April 26, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Salvation: A New You

SAY IT AIN’T SO, JOE

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. [1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT)]

Yesterday’s news included the story of a Major League baseball player caught blatantly cheating; unfortunately, it is an all too common occurrence. It’s not just pitchers using pine tar, but also Olympic sprinters using steroids, champion cyclists blood doping, baseball players using performance enhancing drugs, athletes taking money to throw games, and NFL football players accepting money to deliberately hurt opposing players. Back in 1980, a Boston marathon runner even took the subway just to win the race!

This got me thinking about Louis Zamperini and his experience in the 1938 NCAA track championships. In Laura Hillenbrand’s book Unbroken, the author relates how Zamperini’s track opponents attempted to injure him during the race to keep him from winning. In spite of having a cracked rib, both shins punctured and one of his toes impaled by sharpened track spikes, Zamperini won, setting a new NCAA record, having run the mile in four minutes eight seconds.

These all were gifted athletes, among the best of the best, but that was not enough for them. Why were they not satisfied simply by doing their very best? What joy could possibly come from a win that is accomplished by cheating?

I’m not sure we’re all that different from some of these athletes; it’s just that we’re not in the limelight and our tactics might be a bit more subtle. Do we ever want to win an argument at all costs? Are we ever more interested in proving the other person wrong than in finding the right solution? Have we cut corners to give ourselves an unfair advantage? Does our sense of competition come from the desire to show someone else how weak they are? Has it become more important to defeat others rather than defeat what is weak within us?

Lord, help me defeat the enemy within. May I always meet my challenges with integrity. Run with me, Lord, run with me!

The Challenge is from within. The Opponent is yourself. The Reward is private. The Victory is having met the challenge! [Anonymous – seen on the back of a race event t-shirt]

And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? [Mark 8:36 (NLT)]

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. [2 Timothy 4:7-8a (NLT)]