Mission Faithwalk

                       “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)   What do you do when you talk to God, and don’t get an answer? One option I tend to use too often is panic. “Something’s wrong with me! What did I do wrong now ?” Another option is to reverse the idea with attitude. “What’s wrong with You, Lord? Why aren’t You talking to me?” In Experiencing God , Henry Blackabee suggests that God’s silence at least can be lull before the curtains open and God reveals Himself to us in some way. The seemingly prolonged silence is designed to get our attention. Rather than fussing, we should perk up and pay attention. Years ago, I took my mother to a Phantom of the Opera performance by a local theater group. Part way through, I noticed the orchestra conductor ducking down. I don’t ...

                 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)   Let’s return to the issue of wisdom. I’ve said before that wisdom is understanding how the universe works and living in accordance therewith. The problem is that sometimes our understanding of how the universe works is inaccurate. There are things that we think of as normal because we’ve been exposed to them all our lives. What are success and failure? What are love and hatred? What does it mean to be true to yourself, and is it a good thing? Would you be as valuable if you lost your spouse, child, job, sight, an arm, or mind? What constitutes a good life? Answer these honestly then look up what...

                 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)   Years ago, someone asked me about the freedom I could have if I rejected Christianity. He was disappointed to hear that I wouldn’t immediately take up smoking, drinking, swearing, sleeping around, and petty theft. They aren’t a part of my life and I don’t see any reason why taking them up when I don’t want to makes me free. When Paul write this passage, he was referring specifically to people coming into the church and insisting that Christians must follow Jewish laws (e.g. circumcision) in order to be a real Christian. But recently, the question of what my life would look like if I were free has come to mind, and I’ve told myself, “I don’t have the time to contemplate that” and gone on my way. Today seems to be a day to consider it. What would my life ...

                 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down… Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people. (Psalm 14:1 & 34)   Both the verses above say the same thing. One sort of person does good, another sort of person does harm. They don’t say that the person who does harm is some master villain who gets a thrill out of doing evil. The person tearing down her own house, and the sin that condemns a people can seem and even be quite “innocent.” Allow me to reiterate my definitions for some of these words. Someone who is wise learns about and understands how things work. She works within reality. Someone who is foolish ignores how things actually work in favor of what he/she wants or wishes. Righteousness refers to living in a way that brings together and does good. Sin is living in a way that separates or does harm. Those aren’t the dictionary’s definitions and you...

                 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Shakespeare wrote, “How do I love thee, let me count the ways.” When it comes to our hearts (AKA: wills), we can replace the word love with deceive . I doubt I’ll come close to an exhaustive or comprehensive list, but here we go… You’re good enough. (Or not good enough.) You’re better than _______. (Or worse than.) You’ve worked hard. You deserve it. You can handle it. It’s been a hard day. Everyone else…             You’re a good person, therefore, what you want must be OK.             No one will know - or care.      ...

                 “ But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16) “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.   I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” (Joshua 1:2-3) “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .” (Matthew 5:1)                                     One of the things that Henry Blackabee wrote about in Experiencing God is that God reveals Himself when He is going to do something and that when He reveals Himself, He reveals His name and/or H...

                 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13) If you’re like me, at times you look at your life and think that you are so far from being even 10% of the way to what you’re supposed to be.  Your life is such a wreck that those who might try to help you bring brooms and dustpans, not screwdrivers or a tow truck. Those are the bad days, usually, they’re bad days because we’re not getting our way, we’re not performing to the level we want to, and/or no one is telling us how wonderful we are. If you’re like me,  you might even be in the habit of whining to God about what a miserable louse you are. (Yes, I know, we shouldn’t do that!) And we go to the doctor to complain about this or that, and he focuses on something we hadn’t even noticed or that we were proud of. Today’s verse brings to mind a video I’ve watched more than once of a doctor who wa...