God's ways do not change

I've been feeling under the weather, battling a bit of a cold, fatigued and more mellow than usual but it's a time of reflection and relying on God's strength from day to day.

I wanted to share briefly from J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". May this encourage you today.

"God's ways do not change. He continues to act toward sinful men and women in the way that he does in the Bible story. Still he shows his freedom and lordship by discriminating between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it, and moving some of those who hear it to repentance while leaving others in their unbelief, thus teaching his saints that he owes mercy to NONE and that it entirely of his GRACE, not at all through their own effort, that they themselves have found life.

Still he blessses those on whom he sets his love in a way that humbles them, so that all the glory may be HIS alone. Still he hates the sins of his people, and uses all kinds of inward and outward pains and griefs to wean their hearts from compromise and disobedience. Still he seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself. Still he teaches believers to value his promised gifts by making them wait for those gifts, and compelling them to pray persistently for them, before he bestows them."

Our God is constant, and we too are to be steadfast and immovable (1 Cor. 15:58) when it comes to living our lives out based on Biblical Truth. I pray that you are fighting sin in your life, and pursuing that path towards holiness, in order to endeavor to be more like Christ in thought, word, and deed.

Grace and peace to you.

God that gives

What can I say but that God never ceases to amaze me. I am not who I used to be.

How many of you wake up with a song on your heart? And it's such a joy to praise corporately as well. I was so blessed by the rich teaching and worship at the Resolved conference...which continues as I attend various 310 and Grace activities.

Our God works in mysterious ways...and I find life to be a constant exercise of faith. As I'm eager to see where the next steps are for me, I just can't help but chuckle along the way.

Over the past week or so, I've learned how God puts people in our lives, ahead of us, to give us guidance, advice from experience, and for that I'm so grateful. That seems to be a common theme these days, huh?

And I've also thought deeply about why God would choose me, why He continues to put up with my shortcomings, and impatience, and why He loves giving us gifts we do not deserve. When the world is complaining, wallowing in their negativity, and feeling helpless, hopeless, we often try to ignore that and put on a face of "things are ok"...but if we look at Matt. 7, it's a whole different story, God wants to give good things to us, if we would ask of our dear Father. Isn't that wonderful?

I don't have as much time to blog these days between work and activities with 310 folks, but I intend to get back into the swing of things...so I hope you are all enjoying the blessings that God continues to grant, even in the most surprising and interesting places, and to savor it as something from your dear Father who is always looking out for your best interest.

Stay tuned...

Grace and peace to you.

Getting to know...

I'm so amazed by how awesome our God is. There are new things I'm learning everyday! I'm comforted by the fact that although life can be unpredictable sometimes, we're have a God that is consistent, unchanging. And although we don't understand, or don't want to accept things as they are, God is working in His mysterious ways, ways that I trust are for my good, for His glory.

I'm currently working through J.I. Packer's "Knowing God". It's excellent so far, as he explains that knowing God is so much more than head knowledge, so much more than doing things, so much more than an "ends". He describes how complex "getting to know" can be, especially when the object/person is complex. And it's this God that draws us and opens Himself up to us, to know, to "experience" so to speak. Isn't that wonderful?

I was listening to KKLA this morning and the guest was Ed Underwood, senior pastor at Church of the Open Door in Glendora, CA. He was sharing about his "gift" of lymphoma, and how God has used this to bring warmth into his ministry, to unify his church, to bring God more glory...and I'm so humbled by yet another example of this sort of "everyday" surrender and great faith.

I am blessed to be around people who also demonstrate this with their struggles/crosses and feel so fortunate to observe and learn from their examples.

And he made one comment that really struck out in my mind, something that reminded me about how much theology affects our perspective and worldview: "that as a father, he's not smart enough to orchestrate pain/discipline/trial into the lives of his children, but that we have a Heavenly Father that does."

What an excellent observation. It's not until we're broken, or the edges smoothed that we're able to deal with our pride, idolatry, waywardness, and get to a place where God has our attention...and I'm loving it!

I'm at this place in my spiritual journey, really eager and hungry to learn more, but cautious to take this with the understanding that getting to know God is my top priority, to delight in my Maker, Savior, and Shepherd.

Yay, very excited about Resolved! Will keep you posted.

Grace and peace to you.

God provides

For those of you who have been Christians for a while, isn't it interesting when you look back on those times in your life - times when you felt like God had maybe abandoned or forgotten all about you, times when you really struggled, or were in pain, or crying out of desperation - that you realize were the most profound seasons of change and growth?

I know it's been a crazy road for me. But I'm getting to this place where I'm good again, happy again, "whole" in many senses of the word. I have a really solid, wonderful set of friends (both new and old), wise counselors that I've chosen to surround myself with, and I wouldn't trade it, to go back.

And I'm tasting just how wonderful and great our Lord is, how good He is TO ME. And it is sweet, my dear brothers and sisters, to be near to my comforter, healer, and most loyal friend.

So the thing I thought about today was how David, a man after God's own heart, took a mighty fall, when he committed adultery, and then added murder to that mix, and it took about ONE FULL YEAR for him to come around (please note how sin leads to more sin and brokenness)

...until he finally confesses and repents after Nathan's rebuke...and yet, that's how God sometimes must deal with us, putting us in times of crisis or breaking us hard, to get our attention back on Him, in full reliance in Him, to bend us back after a horrible straying into idolatry (of something, someone, or self) after a season of disobedience, or rebellion, or fear.

I believe that God also brings us down before He lifts us up...all for His glory. And with as much studying and analyzing, I still don't and won't fully understand.

Of course, I realize that I am not the boss, God is, and He's the only one that knows and directs what happens, how it happens, and when it happens. And I find rest and peace in trusting that it's all for my ultimate good (Rom. 8:28, Jer. 29:11).

Just fyi, the job search is on-going...but God provides, as the student becomes the teacher. If you're interested in finding out more, please just feel free to email me. :)

I am anxiously waiting for the next chapter to unfold in my life, just taking things little by little, surrendering to God's leading, making the most of every opportunity, and sharing this with whoever will be gracious enough to listen.

In the meantime, I'm just soaking in everything, savoring this time to learn more, grow more, and love more, so that I can be more like Christ in all that I do, think, say, and how I behave.

May you be filled to overflowing with joy in your heart and found content with the blessings God has given, even when you feel uncertain or face difficult circumstances!

Grace and peace to you.

Church family

Quick post today - what I'm learning - spiritual growth and what church "family" is all about...enjoy!

The following is a brief selection of excerpts from “9 Marks of a Healthy Church” by Mark Dever. Not only has it helped me to identify things to look for in the church I choose to attend, it has also helped me figure out where I, as an individual can fall short and how I need to take on some personal responsibility for my spiritual growth too…but more importantly, how “I” fit into the church community as a member, how God wants us to operate as a healthy family and body together.

A church full of growing Christians is the kind of church growth I want as a pastor. Some today seem to think that one can be a “baby Christian” for a whole lifetime. Growth is seen to be an optional extra for particularly zealous disciples. But be very careful about taking that line of thought. Growth is a sign of life. Growing trees are living trees, and growing animals are living animals. When something stops growing, it dies.

Growth may not mean that you negotiate this rapid in half the time you negotiated the last; it may simply mean that you are able to continue in the right direction as a Christian, regardless of the adverse circumstances. Remember, it is only things that are alive that swim upstream; the dead things all float along with the current.

Good influences in a covenanted community of believers can be tools in God’s hand for growing His people. As God’s people are built up and grow together in holiness and self-giving love, they should improve their ability to administer discipline and to encourage discipleship.

If we are to grow as individual believers and as churches, we must sit under the Word. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to plant and to weed the gardens of our hearts. This spiritual growth is not optional; it is vital, because spiritual growth indicates life. Things that are truly alive, grow.

There are only two types of people – those who serve Christ as LORD in their life, with Him on the throne, and then non-Christians. There are no “middle-category” carnal Christians – that would be an oxymoron like hot ice. It just doesn’t make sense. You can’t live your life in a manner that is different from what you profess.

Consider what it means to be a Christian. It’s not that you’re perfect, but that your heart does intend to seek the Lord. If you are a Christian, it is because GOD, by His own gracious actions in your life, has grown a desire in you to live a life that pleases Him more and more. Such growth is a sign of true spiritual life.

For an individual, this means that you are to take an ACTIVE part in your church, not simply by attending, by praying, and by giving (though you SHOULD do all those things); more than such things…

you should be ACTIVELY getting to know your church family, you should be praying through the list of those other people with whom you have covenanted to serve God.

You should listen as other members of the body tell about what God is doing in their lives or about their concerns – and then PRAY WITH THEM.

You must realize that part of your obligation and privilege as a member of the church is to get to know other believers and to make yourself known to them. Study God’s word together! Learn to think as a church about God’s Word! You should be growing in grace yourself, and in the knowledge of God’s Word, in the knowledge of your own heart and of the hearts of your brothers and sisters, and in awareness of the opportunities God is putting in front of your church!

I do pray that you're all finding yourselves immersed within a healthy, vibrant, loving church community. It's so sweet! Praise the Lord that we don't have to, can't go at it alone!

Grace and peace to you.