Hope For The Future

 

Recently as my mind was wandering, I came face to face with my mortality. I realized that I am a short 11 years away from turning 60. Now I am not saying that 60 is old; but when we think of impacting the world, most people impact the world at a younger age. However, the loving Father that He is, God reminded me of how just in the past few years my life has changed, my influence has grown far beyond what I could ever have imagined.

See, since 2009 I have had the opportunity to: teach at a Bible school in Mexico twice; pray with and encourage pastors in Mexico; pour into and pray with pastors in Kenya; see hundreds come to Jesus in evangelistic out reaches in Kenya; build a school in one of the poorest towns in Kenya.

For some reason, it is easy to forget things we have accomplished for the Kingdom. I suppose it is because our focus is on Him and not on our glory. As it should be. But God wasn't through with me. About two hours later, He brought a single sentence out of a devotional I read. It said,

I give you hope--hope that the best part of, your life is not behind you.

A slap in the face! I get it, God. We are not through until YOU say we are through. While the world may say my best days are behind, YOU say my best days are ahead. YOU say there is Hope For The Future!

 

Trusting in the Negative

 I am currently reading @MarkBatterson 's book The Circle Maker. Even having not finished it, I heartily recommend it.  

Tonight I read the following line:  If you can trust God when the answer is no, you're likely to give Him praise when the answer is yes.

That is a powerful statement.  But it is often hard to practice.  We approach God expecting Him to answer in the affirmative.  Before you start yelling, I understand faith. I teach on it frequently.  But there are times when we misunderstand what God desires to do in our lives.  It is then, when God has plainly said "NO!", that we must trust that He knows best.

And why would we not trust Him? The One Who created the universe. The One Who spoke and atoms formed, molecules coalesced, the electro-magnetic spectrum sprang into existence.  The One Who sent His Son to die for humanity.  Why should not we trust Him? 

But when our prayers go unanswered, at least in our thinking, our trust becomes shaken.  But it is then we must press in.  It is then we must listen for that still small voice.  For negatively answered prayers are the real indication of our Father's love for us.  If we always got our way, we would be most ungrateful.  But having heard our Father say "NO!", when He says "YES!", we are truly grateful.

So relax and REALLY trust God.  Listen for the "NO!"  For it brings forth the fruit of gracefulness in our lives.

What Are You Giving?

And a lame man from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

Acts 3:2 ESV

In Acts 3:1-10, we find the story of the lame man sitting at the Beautiful Gate.  This was the gate that was the entrance to the Temple. It separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Temple proper.  If you were on your way to the Temple to worship, you passed through this area.  

It was here that this man sat for years. He was 40 when he experienced the healing power of God (Acts 4:22).  Since a boy entered manhood around 12 or 13, this man probably had been sitting at the gate for 27 years. Think of it...twenty-seven years of begging for enough money to buy something for each day.  Every day he was there. In the rain, sunshine, heat and cold.  Watching the people move about. Hoping they would take pity on him as they made their way into the Temple to worship.

He sat and watched as the priests entered the Temple to serve.  He watched the scribes on their way to the Court of Israel.  He watched as the Pharisees pompously walked past him, probably on the other side for fear he was unclean.  He watched as the religious entered to worship, some giving to him and others ignoring him. None bringing him what he truly needed or desired--healing.

What about us? What are we doing with knowledge with have.  What are we doing with our relationship with Jesus?  Are we so focused on "going to the temple" that we ignore those in need around us? Do we give out "token" bits knowledge or even money when they need something much more?

Purpose today to NOT be like the religious who passed this man by.  Purpose today to be like Peter and John:  "what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus..."  They didn't give him a temporary fix. They gave him Jesus.

A Season to Sit

      But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.                                                                  

    Luke 10:41, 42 ESV

 
Often we accuse Martha because she was in the kitchen and Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus.  But before we place the blame we must inventory our own lives.
 
Martha was excited to be preparing for the Lord.  After all, she had invited Him to their home (Luke 10:38).  But when her sister, Mary, decides to sit in the presence of Jesus, Martha’s self-absorption shines through.  She complains to Jesus about Mary’s lack of service.  Then Jesus kindly speaks to Martha the words listed above.
 
To be sure, there are times when we MUST be serving.  In fact, serving  should be a MAJOR part of our life.  However, there are seasons when we MUST sit at the feet of our Lord; when we must FOCUS and LISTEN to what He is saying to us.  
 
Beginning Wednesday, January 18, we will once again enter 40 Days of Fire.  This time of prayer and fasting is our chance to be Mary—to sit at the feet of Jesus and LISTEN to Him.  A chance to quiet our spirits and seek His face.
 
We encourage ALL of you to join with us as we pray for the church, pastors and missionaries around the world, the nations and our families.  You can sign-up for meals and days by filling in the calendar at the altar, contacting the church office, or email at: dryfork.assembly@ymail.com
 
Additionally, we are encouraging everyone to fast something for the entire 40 day period.  This can be dessert, coffee, meat, internet, television;  anything that is important to you.  As we do this—laying aside distractions and things of importance to us—He will speak into our lives. 
 
Now is the time to be still.  Now is the time to listen.
 

Changes of Life

Twelve years ago my oldest son, who was eleven at the time, went to Peru on a missions trip. He went with a group of 5th and 6th graders from our church and a LOT of adult supervision. My wife and I were NOT among the adults. However, there were very good friends in the group. People we trusted with our eleven year old. Hey...they were going OUT of the country!!

My wife and I stood at the departure gate at Columbus International Airport. We watched our firstborn walk down the long corridor. We watched the 747 that would carry him 3591 miles begin the process for departure. We were standing at the gate, watching our son take his first plane ride. Not just any plane ride, but one out of the country.

This is somewhat fresh in my mind because earlier this year I took a missions trip to Kenya. My wife and youngest son dropped me off at the terminal door of the Pittsburgh Airport. I then made my way through two layers of security to my departure gate. I sat for and hour and a half (because you have to be there 2-3 hours early) by myself. I texted my wife. Quite a contrast to twelve years earlier when we talked with our son until he boarded the plane.

Why the difference in twelve years? The date of change was 9/11/2001. On 9/11, our lives were forever changed. We do not view the world with the same childlikeness we did on 9/10. Family going to the boarding gates in airports to see their loved ones off became a thing of the past. It is a distant memory like 8-track tapes and the test pattern on TV.

One thing for certain is that life brings change. Some good, some bad. We cannot prevent change. It is part of the existence of our world. But our hope is not in this life. Our hope is in an unchanging God. He is an everlasting rock, unchangeable, immovable.

No matter what change life brings, we can trust in the Lord forever. He NEVER changes.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4


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