Hungary Here I come

I've been frantically trying to get ready to leave for Hungary--8:00 a.m. tomorrow is departure time from Albert City. I'm trying to meditate on Psalm 143:8b--"Teach me the way in which I should walk; for to you I lift up my soul." and verse 10--"Teach me your will for you are My God."

I won't be able to blog for a couple of weeks and I'm sure there will be plenty to do when I get back so who knows when I'll be posting anything. I'm just asking the Lord to teach me how to walk and to teach me His will. I'm always excited to leave on the trip and also a bit apprehensive as I never know what is in store.

Blessings.

Pre-Mission Trip Madness.

I haven't posted anything for a few days--and what a few days they have been. Of course the fact that I leave on Tuesday for Hungary seems to accentuate the issues at hand, but currently there is a flood of ministry opportunities pouring in--difficult counseling sessions, a major undiagnosed illness in a young lady from our church, domestic issues, VBS is going on right now, a couple from our church is in the middle of some serious grief counseling after two young men lost their lives in an accident while taking part in a ministry that this couple is helping with, and I'm trying to prepare my heart and mind for 2 weeks of ministry in Hungary. I'm not complaining--this is the broken world we live in, but it seems that when it rains, it pours. Fitting that I read this morning from Psalm 138:8--"The Lord will accomplish what concerns me." There is truth to cling to in these trying times.

Real Rest

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 131 for in it David looks back over his long life and makes what I consider to be some profound statements--"my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me" (vs.1). After years of following the Lord and serving Him. After many mistakes and many victories David comes to the end of his life and understands what it is to truly rest in the Lord. He's way past trying to impress others, in thinking more highly of himself than he should. He understands all too well the reality of his own depravity (that major incident with Bathsheba comes to mind as does the fact that David had taken numerous wives over his life, and he refused to discipline his own wayward children, namely Absalom the rebel). David knew that it was the Lord who took him from being a shepherd to being King of God's people in spite of his depravity. He grasped clearly his own depravity and God's abundant mercy. He didn't "involve himself in great matters, things too difficult for him." Now there is a lesson for many of us to grasp. I understand him to say that he had turned his back on trying to impress others and himself with what he could accomplish, with trying to "take on the world" and prove that he was a "real man." He had come to a point of realistically understanding who he was, what he was to do, and what his human limitations were. He is not lazy, or unwilling to take up a challenge. What I understand him to say was that he wasn't living to impress, to try and prove he was something he really wasn't. He was free from any performance pressure. The next verses describe the extent of his contentment. "Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me" (vs.2). It's been nearly 10 years now since we've had any children who needed to be weaned so I have to "jog the memory" to remember how upset a child who is being weaned can be. I still remember standing in the basement with my wife as the weaning process took place telling her that despite the wailing we heard from our child's bedroom that this was necessary and the child would survive. The difference between a weaned child resting against it's mother is a drastically different picture than one of a hungry baby screaming for something to eat. David describes the contentment of his soul as that of a weaned child--peace, tranquility, settledness, serenity. Well, if you are no longer trying to impress, to win the "performance" war, to "make a big splash" in life it can be very freeing. David knew that freedom and I long to know it as well. In the busyness and hurry of life, with all of the expectations and demands on our time, energy, and resources it is difficult to rest, to trust, to completely rely upon the Lord as a weaned child resting against his/her mother. I want to live in the "sweet spot" David found. He gives the key in verse 3--"...hope in the Lord." Trust in God not in the applause, approval, accolades of men. Trust in the Lord not in my ability, talent, wisdom, skill. Trust in the Lord that he is working through me and in spite of me. Be willing to say NO, to limit commitments even if others view my decisions with skepticism, criticism, and/or rebuke.

Lord, help me to trust in you and to know the serenity of soul that David had. May the soul of each of us be like a "weaned child resting against his mother."

The Work of the Word

I don't think it was coincidence that I was praying for my children today that God's Word would become precious to them--"more precious than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Ps.19:10). As I was spending some time in the Scriptures I read Paul's words to the church of Thessalonica in 1Thessalonians 2:13 Paul gives a reason for thanking God for this local body of believers--"when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs it's work in you who believe." I believe that many of us approach the word of God as if it is the word of men and not for what it really is--THE WORD OF GOD. After all, if what we read is the word of men then it is certainly not authoritative, definitive, or sufficient. We can find flaws, disagree, and justify behavior inconsistent with what it says if it is the word of men. But if it is the Word of God then most of us will have to grapple with the fact that our behavior doesn't consistently reflect submission to the authority of God's Word. We like to do what we like to do and we don't like being told to do otherwise. But think about it--God's Word to us. God actually speaks to us through the Word of God. His promises will be fulfilled, His power will be manifest, His punishment will be experienced by those who rebel, His mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and love are genuine. Not only that, but His word "also performs its work in you who believe." God is at work in us to "will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). He uses His Word to perform His work. Do we truly want to be Christlike? Do we truly want to be transformed into the image of Christ? It is God's word that works in us. So each of us needs to see that time in the word is essential if we are to be transformed.

Spending time with God in His word is not some legalistic mandate, but the desire of every believer who wants to be conformed into the image of Christ.

Good to be back.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday of this past week traveling back from Montana. After a gorgeous drive on Wednesday from Bozeman to Rapid City I spent some time with former members of the congregation Everett and Sandy Nordine. Everett graciously gave me the abbreviated yet wonderful tour of the Rapid City area and then we all gathered for supper. It was a joy to reconnect with this great couple.

I left Thursday morning early and traveled to Albert City arriving in the afternoon in time to prepare for board meetings that evening.

It was late when I finally connected with my family and the last two evenings I've been up later than I would normally choose but it has been good to catch up on what is happening with my family.

I'm looking forward to sharing from the pulpit tomorrow.

I read this morning some great verses from Psalm 125:1-2. "Those who trust in the Lord are as mount Zion which cannot be moved. As the mountains surround Jerusalem so the Lord encamps around those who fear Him." In these uncertain political and economic times it is comforting to know that the Lord is in control. It is comforting to know that God is watching out for us. In the middle of the chaos those who trust in the Lord are able to remain steady, unmoved, calm and confident because the Lord surrounds us with His protective and powerful presence working out exactly what He knows is best.That doesn't mean we are exempt from trial or difficulty, but that in the middle of our struggles we can stay steady knowing that God is watching over us. In Iowa we like to say that the only thing about the weather that is certain is that it will change. Every person trusting in the Lord can have confidence that His watchful protection will not waiver--His watchful care is as certain As the mountains that surround Jerusalem.
Those who are trusting in the stock market, in a particular political candidate, in their houses to appreciate in value, in the security of their job, and/or in the defenses of America to keep them safe have all been shaken, rattled, unnerved by falling stock prices, the fickleness of politicians, the bursting of the housing bubble, unexpected unemployment, and/or the vulnerability of being harmed as an American here and abroad. All of the things we are so eager to trust in prove to be fleeting, fickle, and faulty, but those who trust in the Lord cannot be moved. The secret to tranquility in the face of trouble, to peace in the midst of problems, to confidence in the midst of chaos is for us to truly trust the Lord--to actively believe that He is in control and that He will work what is best. Lord, help us overcome our doubts and fears so we can trust you fully.