Truly love your neighbor

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness." Psalm 41:1-3

Reading this Psalm this morning, I'm reminded of how focused I am on my life, my comfort, my families financial security, my schedule... I am so quick to focus immense amounts of time planning my future and trying to sustain my (fill in the blank with just about anything).

If I'm honest, my heart has been drifting away from the poor, from the weak. Not maliciously, not even intentionally; but by focusing so much on myself and the things this world tells me are important for me and my family, I think I might have lost focused of where God wants to use me in terms of planning and financial provision; which is the weak. God has already promised to take care of me, and HE most certainly has over my past 30-some years... Now he wants to use me in the process as He brings restoration to others who are weak.

God, thank you for the slap in the face this morning. I am not naturally generous, I am not naturally sacrificial. I have come so accustomed to the things of this world that I have lost sight or reality of the things of Your kingdom. In this advent season, I'm even more reminded that You gave up all of the comforts of heaven to come down and live among us, suffer among us, die for us,... Help me begin to live that story out as well among the weak and broken of this world... by the power of Your Spirit.

Timing in the Kingdom

Psalm 37

Wow, what a great Psalm for me this morning. What a strong reminder of God's control over all, His sovereign hand over all the world. It's a great reminder to be patient before God, and to trust in His kingdom and not the kingdom's of this world.

God, help me have a patient and trusting posture towards you and towards your kingdom. Spirit help me commit my ways to the Lord and trust in Him. I confess I compare myself often to the world and long at times for what the world has, but I know I have immensely better in you... you are my stronghold, help me take refuge in you.

True Team

"...Next to him the repairs were made by..." Nehemiah Ch3

By my count, there are about 36 different teams of folks that Nehemiah rallied, built, and then released to accomplish the task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. That's amazing, considering he arrived in Jerusalem without a team at all, he just had a vision and a calling from God.

The other thing that stuck me is that it was an all hands on deck kind of project. v.8 says "one of the perfume makers make repairs [to the wall]..." This was a community wide effort, this was not the work of a select few or just the folks who had building skills, it was an entire village responding (even perfume makers) to the vision and calling from God (as communicated and lead by one man, a former cup bearer).

It's exciting to think of the teams that we are currently building and releasing in the church plant. God is building a church, and His people are starting to respond to the call with heavy lifting and faithfulness. Amazing what can happen when a team of folks respond to a God-sized vision.

Jesus, I yield to you. Riverside is Your church we are Your people. Use us as you see fit to build Your church and expand Your kingdom.

Adventure

Just think—you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.

1 Cor. 1:7-9 (the Message)

This has been a season of "a lot" for me... a lot of joy, a lot of stress, a lot on my plate as a transitioning executive pastor at one church and the lead/start-up pastor at another. It's been a wonderful season, but it's been a real hard season on many different levels.

I tend to read theology books instead of the "contemporary christian" books. Nothing against the latter, I just like the former. So I find it funny that this morning I think God brought to my mind a quote from John Eldredge's book "Wild at Heart." I feel like the Lord said to me that one of the major reasons that I am feeling overwhelmed is that I'm viewing all of my roles and responsibilities right now as just that, as responsibilities and "a job" or an obligation. Then I think He said that, instead, I need to view all this as an adventure with Him. That my role in all of this is to be obedient and follow Him, rely on Him, and just enjoy this adventure, and to approach this season as an adventure and not a responsibility. And that shift won't lead to me putting in less time or effort, I think it's more of the posture and expectation that I need to have as I go forward.

God, thanks so much for your patience and faithfulness. These two churches are Your churches, my family is Your family, I am Yours... Thanks for the peace that only comes from Your Son Jesus,... and thanks for using me and including me in this adventure of life.

The Journey

You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Ps.30:11-12

As I was reading the Bible this morning, I came across this passage above. These two verses were the foundation for one of the first songs I ever wrote as a new believer 13 years ago. It is humbling and exciting to see how far God has brought me in 13+ years, as well as how exciting the journey has been. But Ps.30 also reminds me how hard the journey can be. I love the "real life" that is found in this Psalm. There is v.6-7a where God and His mighty power is so evident to David (the writer), and then in 7b the reality that the journey of life and the journey of faith can be hard. It also reminded me this morning of Psalm 13 (ironically one of my favorite psalms) where David is absolutely wrestling with the silence of God... how awesome it is to see real life in the Bible, not some phony everything is honkey dory religious smoke screen.... man I love the Word of God!

God, I'm so thankful for your continued faithfulness, for the fact that you are a rock that is steady and always in control, even when I don't always "feel it." Your love and grace and mercy are new every morning, and I thank you for another morning today. I'm so thankful that you rescued me 13 years ago from my sin and from my separation from you, you truly turned my wailing into dancing. God, continue to mold me into the man you want me to be, continue to cause my heart to sing and not be silent about your great mercy and love, and I will give you the thanks and the glory forever.

Fear vs. Confidence

Though an army besiege me,

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me,

even then will I be confident.

One thing I ask of the LORD,

this is what I seek:

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD

and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm27:3-4

Things right now in the church plant (www.RiversideCommunity.org) are going so well. Folks are plugging into genuine community. New folks are coming around to our weekly Sunday night gatherings. Our home groups are starting to explore how they can be outward with the Gospel,... it's been a real encouraging time.

This morning, my time with the Lord included the above Psalm. I'm reminded that while things are going real well right now, that probably won't always be the case. In fact, as we progress towards the next season for our church, I think it's fair to say there will be significant opposition. What amazes me from Ps27 is the response (from David) to significant opposition. If I were attached/pursued by an army aimed at taking my life, I would be freaked out; David did not fear. If a war broke out against me, I would probably second guess my calling; David maintained his confidence in the Lord. David sought the Lord in the mist of great opposition, he pressed into God even more. I would have asked for protection or deliverance, David simply asked one thing, to see and be in the presence of God.

Jesus, move in and through me and my family and our church plant. We long to see more of you, to see your kingdom expand, to see lost and hurting people restored. I thank you for the encouraging season you have us in right now, and I pray in advance for boldness and confidence, through the power of your Spirit, as we journey towards this next season. We long for more of you, to see more of you, to experience more of you...Come and have your way...

Resources/Tools vs. Idols

He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak... It is man’s fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.”

From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me; you are my god.”
Isaiah 44:14-17 (see also Is. 46:4-9)

I’m reminded this morning of the balance/line between using the resources God has given me for sustenance/blessing vs. worshiping or relying on these resources for security. I find myself so often chasing after the idols of this world (money, security, social standing,…). The key isn’t to simply reject the world and run away from all things worldly, rather it is to use what God has given or blessed us with for our needs as well as for His Glory, for His kingdom.

I find that the more I chase after God, the more my worry of what is to come as well as my desire to worship the idols of this world fades.

“God, save me from my desires that are contrary to Your ways, YOU are my God. I give you back the things of this world, teach me to use them to bless people and bring You glory.”