Jesus is the Boss

We may think we are the boss. We may make our plans and schedule our time but at any moment our lives may veer off course. What we think will happen today might be completely wrong. Remember it is God who orchestrates the events in our lives. Things may go smoothly or your well-laid plans may be thwarted.
God is in control ... even when (or especially when) the unexpected happens.
Many Christians quote Jeremiah 29:11 as their favorite Bible verse, " 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not calamity to give you a future and a hope.' " Few go on to read the next verse,
" 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.' "
We see the trees. He sees the forest. We may think He has sent us a calamity but he always has our best interests at heart. I especially like how The Message paraphrases Romans 8:28, "That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." 
As long as our lives are lived as a love letter to God, He will make sure all that happens will be for our good. Not that we'll like everything He does. Sometimes discipline and hardship are good for us. Sometimes trouble and pain help develop character and perseverance in our lives. But often, He gives us something even better than we were expecting.
Isiah 55:9 and 11 tell us, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than you thoughts.  So My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
Jesus' job is to send the commands. He's the boss. We are the workers. Our job is to keep on trusting ... keep on loving ... Him.

Jesus Will Displace Worry with Peace

What is at the center of your life and who controls it? Do fear and worry fill that pond in the center? Do you try to handle everything all by yourself? It doesn't have to be that way. Jesus can replace the worry with Peace and He is much better at managing your life than you will ever be. Don't try to go it alone.
Seek God and you will find Him. He is asking you to search for Him. Psalm 27:8 tells us, "When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.' "
Ask Jesus and His Spirit to live in you and just watch the changes. Doubt is turned into Faith; Fear is turned into Trust; Worry is replace by Peace; Emptiness is filled with Love. Jesus longs to be invited in ... but He won't force Himself on you. You must do the seeking ... you must do the asking ... you must knock. Just ask Him; you don't have to beg or bargain or plead. He's only a whisper away.
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for me with all you heart." Jeremiah 29:13. It does mean opening your whole heart; it does take sincerity. The new life you receive will be beyond your wildest dreams. A life fully devoted to God is rich and rewarding: full of hope and purpose. Don't wander around in the darkness. Come to the Light that Jesus offers. I've yet to meet a follower of Christ who has ever regretted the decision to let The Spirit take control. Live radiantly ... don't let anything dampen your search for Jesus.

Rocky Path Ahead? Jesus Gives You Deer Feet.

Our journey through life is bound to hit some rough spots. No life is completely free of bumps along the road. We each face our own particular stumbling blocks and challenges.
But take heart: God doesn't want you to face that rocky road alone. Habakkuk 3:19 paints this encouraging picture: "The Lord is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet. And makes me walk on my high places." (If you're wondering what a 'hind' is, the word refers to a female red deer.)
While I'm not a Biblical scholar, I am curious why God chooses the image of  female deers' feet. Why not a Billy Goat or a strong buck? Maybe because a female's legs are more fragile ... they are slender and more easily broken. That is certainly how my legs feel when I walk through rough territory. Because I am weak, I have an even greater need for God's help. He is the strong one, not me.
When we keep our eyes lifted up, looking into the eyes of Jesus, the rocky path doesn't seem so treacherous or scary. And look where he's leading us. Not on the smooth valley floor but up into the mountains. Our 'high places' are where we meet the most rewards and joy. It is from the heights that we can appreciate where we've been and see what's ahead. There is something thrilling about reaching the summit. When Jesus makes the journey with us and stands beside us at the top, it is even more exciting.
Some of us are afraid of heights: both physically and spiritually. We prefer the safe and secure route. But with Jesus holding your hand, you don't have to be afraid. II Timothy 1:7 assures us, "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." Don't cling to the tried and true. Have courage. Strike out for the high ground ... with Jesus at your side.
A note: there is a wonderful book by Hannah Hurnard, "Hinds Feet on High Places." This story about Much-Afraid, Sorrow and Suffering in their struggle to follow the Chief Shepherd to the High Place is a beautiful allegory about changing weaknesses into strength and fear into faith. I highly recommend it.

Why Worry about Stuff That Won't Happen?

I do it. You do it. We all do it. We fill our minds with worry over things that are not even likely to happen. As if we don't have enough to worry about already, we waste our time thinking about stuff that's unlikely to occur.
Yesterday we talked about dwelling on the past: holding onto grudges and resentment about unfair circumstances. Today, let's look at our habit of living in the future ... a future that may never materialize. 
We worry about work: what will we say if the boss asks us to defend a decision. We worry about relationships: what will happen if friend A learns what we told friend B about them. We worry about our health: what if that mole turns out to be skin cancer and that cough turns into pneumonia. We worry about finances: what if the check bounces or we don't save enough for retirement and we wind up homeless. We worry about our safety: what if that new neighbor turns out to be a serial killer. Small things. Big things. Serious things. Ridiculous things.
We rehearse dialogue in our heads: "Well if he says this, then I'll say that." We make up dramas and play all the parts in all the imagined outcomes. Does any of this sound familiar?
Let's look at what the Bible says we should be thinking about instead. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." Philippians 4:8
If we spent our time thinking about these things, we wouldn't have time to spend worrying about things that haven't happened and most likely never will.
I'm really good at "worst case scenario" thinking. But so what if the bottom falls out or the proverbial s_ _t hits the proverbial fan? I can't change anything by worrying about it ahead of time.
In the verses just prior to telling us what to fill our minds with, Paul says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice! let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:4-6.
The next time you catch yourself starting to worry about the unknown future, turn you mind toward Jesus. Start giving God thanks for the present moment. The past is over and done with ... we can't change the past. The future, for good or bad, hasn't gotten here yet ... we can't know the future. Live in the "now" ... with a prayer on your lips, thanksgiving in your heart, Jesus by your side and peace in your soul. It's the best way to live.

Holding a grudge? Forgive and Forget.

Did someone say something unkind? Did you suffer an injustice? Did a friend slight you or slam you? You're not alone. We all experience petty insults. There is a saying, "I can forgive, but I can't forget." But really, can you say you've forgiven someone when you still hold a grudge?
I believe Jesus calls us to both forgive and forget. How much time do we waste going over and over some unfair circumstance? How much 'soul-energy' do we use ruminating on an injustice? We need Jesus to take control of our minds and erase all trace of that sting.
Look at the life of Joseph in Genesis 37, 39-40. If anyone ever had reason to complain about the unfairness of life, it was Joseph. Hated by his brothers, sold into slavery by them, wrongly accused of rape, imprisoned unjustly ... and just when he thinks there is hope of release, the cup-bearer whose dream Joseph interprets, forgets all about him. Joseph had every reason to be depressed and resentful. But what do we see? Joseph relies on God through it all. He forgets the circumstances of the past. He doesn't wallow in self-pity. Instead, he meet every day with a spirit of thankfulness and does his best to excel at every task he's given. He is a leader whenever he goes, no matter what the situation. And God rewards him.
Later, when he is the ruler, directly under Pharaoh in the government, he meets his brothers again. They've come to Egypt because there is a famine. They don't recognize their brother at first. Is Joseph resentful? Has he held a grudge against them all those years? Does he try to make them feel guilty? No. He greets them with tears and hugs. He's not only forgiven them, he has even elevated their evil against him in his mind. He tells them in Genesis 50:20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 'So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.' So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them."
Can we follow Joseph's example. Can we let those insults and slights roll off our backs? Jesus will give us the ability to do so. Ephesians 4:31-32 says it all, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just a God in Christ also has forgiven you."
Let's learn to forgive AND forget.

Riding the Big Waves with Jesus

Does it sometimes seem that you will get caught in the undertow of a big wave? Do you feel like a tiny speck in a huge ocean of trouble? Do mammoth waves of doubt, financial ruin, broken relationships, poor health ... even waves of worry about the violence and turmoil in the world around you ... threaten to suck you under?
There is an answer: keep you eyes focused on Jesus and he will save you from the crashing surf. He will still the waters, just as He did for his disciples on Lake Galilee as told in Mark 4 37-41. Now, as then, Jesus speaks and the water becomes calm. Jesus says, "Be still," and the waves recede.
And again, in Matthew 14: 25-33, we have the story of Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus. Jesus invites Peter out onto the water where He is walking toward the boat. Verses 29 says, "And He said, 'Come!' And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus." What happens next? Peter takes his focus off Jesus and starts to worry about the wind and the waves. Verses 30-31 continue," ... he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' "
He asks you the same: why do you doubt? Jesus is the ruler of this world ... nothing is beyond his command. When you keep your eyes on Jesus, no wave is too big to handle. But even when you feel like you're beginning to sink, if you cry out to Jesus "Save me!" he's not going to let you drown.
Jesus doesn't promise smooth seas all the time. We all have troubles, we all have doubts. Yet, what a thrill, when you look to Jesus and you're able to ride those big waves. Instead of wiping out, you can know God's peace. Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

There's No Use Pretending with Jesus

We all try to make a good impression on the people we meet. We use clothes and scents and creams and make-up to look our best. We want the world to see the version of us that puts us in the best light. But sometimes we don't really feel as 'together' as we like to appear.
I Samuel 16:7 tells us, "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature ... for God see not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."  
When you're dealing with God, trying to put a good face on things is pointless. He sees you as you really are ... warts and all. He knows your deep dark secrets and your greatest fears. You may manage to fool all the people all the time ... but you don't fool God.
And you know the amazing part? The part that's really hard to understand? He loves you anyway. He knows the worst, yet still want to be your friend. What a relief to hear the astounding news of Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
This is the essence of the gospel. This is the Good News. God didn't wait to send you a savior until you had your act together. He didn't wait until you could prove you were worth saving. God sent his son to die for you while you were still covered in the dirt of every lie you've told, every petty theft from your employer, every mean thing you've said about a friend, covered in the dirt of every sin ... big or small. He loves you that much. He takes your weaknesses and makes them into strengths. He reforms your faults so you can help others. He knows you better than you know yourself.
Yes, truly, there's no use pretending with Jesus. He wants you to be the person you were always meant to be.