Agreeing With God

1 John 1:9

It's been a while since I got caught doing something I shouldn't have been doing.  But I remember how it felt.  I remember Mother talking to me in no uncertain terms.  I remember being told to go wait in my bedroom till Daddy got home.  That was the worst wait, knowing judgment was coming in the form of a tired father who had worked all day and was coming home to a boy who got caught.

Whether it was at home waiting on my dad, or at school waiting on the principal, confessing never came easy for me.  I've never enjoyed admitting I was wrong.  That it was my fault.

Took me a while but I learned, as a much older person, that confession is a way of cleansing the soul. After I get over the embarrassment of getting caught and the humiliation of being talked to and the frustration of knowing what I should have done so I wouldn't have gotten caught... Confession actually felt good.  At least it was out in the open.  I did it.  I admitted it.  Now move on.

As a believer in Christ, confession has taken on more and deeper meanings.  Confession is a way of agreeing with God.  It's telling God what he already knows.  It's responding to conviction.  It's a pathway to freedom.  It's a step toward repenting.  It's recognizing God's opinion and agreeing with Him.  ...I seldom enjoy discovering God's opinion about my sin, my pride, my reckless decisions.  I seldom am quick to agree with Him.

But when I do, there is immediate peace.

If I will confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive me and cleanse me.  If I will confess my sin.  If I will tell God what He already knows.  If I will agree with God.  MM

Your Arms Are Too Short

Luke 15:11-32

James Weldon Johnson wrote, “Young man, Young man – Your arms are too short to box with God.”  Johnson’s poem about the Prodigal son is more than rhyming words and a clever imagination. His words are prophetic for many today that are trying to box with God…thinking they will win. 

The Prodigal resisted and rebelled and ran away, bound for a better place in the far country.  It was a place far from home, far from his father, far from everything he’d ever known to be right.  It was a place far from God – with crowded streets, bright lights, and loud music.

Johnson writes more, “Young man, Young man - Smooth and easy is the road that leads to hell and destruction. Down grade all the way. The further you travel, the faster you go. No need to trudge and sweat and toil, just slip and slide and slip and slide, till you bang up against hell’s iron gate.”

What some describe as hitting rock bottom, the poet describes as a “bang up against hell’s iron gate.”  Either way, the pain of running out of money and friends was overwhelming for the Prodigal.  He was in a place where no one cared about him.  No one loved him.  He had walked away from everyone and everything that mattered.  What would he do?

He could go home – but it would mean admitting he was wrong.  He had failed.  How would he be received?  Would his father and family mock him?  Not his father.  Most of his family would run out to welcome him back.  But there’s an elder brother in every family who’s not willing to forgive or forget.  His father was more than eager to have his son back home.  It’s a picture of sufficient grace.

Friend, your arms are too short to box with God. Quit fighting a fight you’ll never win.  If you’ve left home – come home.  Leave the crowded streets of nameless faces and come home where you belong – where you’re loved and wanted.

Come home.  Your family has missed you.   

Barking Blind

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Recently I was staying at a home near the place where I was preaching for the week.  The couple I stayed with had two dogs.  One was a young dachshund, running and full of life.  The other was an old dachshund slow and tired.  And blind.

I walked past the pen where the old dog lived at least twice every day.  He always barked but he never looked in my direction.  He was barking blind.  It was all he knew to do.  Just because he was blind didn’t mean he couldn’t bark. 

Sometimes we have to bark blind.  When we can’t see the enemy...but we know he’s there.  The Devil is good at what he does.  He is the tempter, the adversary, a liar, a deceiver, and given the opportunity he will devour us, our homes, and families…and everything we value. 

All that old, blind dog could do was bark.   

…If you know something is wrong…  It doesn’t feel right…  Speak up.  Stand up.  Just because you can’t see the Devil doesn’t mean you can’t sense his awful presence.

Do what you can with what you have.  You may think you're too old.  You may think you're too young.  You may think no one will listen to you.  You may be the only one barking...Bark anyway.   M

People Watching

1 Timothy 4:15
"Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all." 

Do you ever participate in people-watching?  I think we all do.  We sit and watch and talk and make comments about people and the way they dress...they way they walk...the way they do what they do.

"Look at what that lady is wearing...can you believe that?"

"Look at that guy's hair...it's purple!"

"Oh my goodness look at that...they have their son on a leash..."

"Oh my..."  "Oh me..."  "Can you believe that?"   "That's ridiculous."

Paul said to Timothy to walk in such a way that other people could see his progress.  That they could see his commitment to Christ...  Paul seemed to have been saying to young Timothy that it matters what others think of you.  Your reputation is important.  As a Christian...it matters that others "see your progress."

While we may enjoy watching people - We need to be reminded there are people watching us.  God help us to let our light so shine - that our progress may be evident.  M

Thanks For The Acorn

1 Thessalonians 5:24

I was listening to Dr. Kevin Elko recently.  He said, "If you’re praying for an oak tree God may give you an acorn.  

But most of us don't want the acorn.  We want the tree.  We're impatient.  Growing an oak takes a few years.  

And if you've ever cut an oak tree for firewood, you've probably counted the rings in the stump.  Those rings represent years.  They tell of storms the tree endured.  Droughts it survived.  Winds the tree withstood.  

Having a mighty oak in your front yard will take some time.  Becoming an oak means you must be strong in the midst of storms.

Billy Graham is an oak but he was once an acorn.  You can't grow an oak overnight.

The acorn is the seed.  What you do with the seed is up to you.  Its up to you (me) to plant the seed…water the seed…care for it...and then nurture the young oak… and watch it grow for the rest of your life.  And one day you'll enjoy sitting in its shade.  Your children and grandchildren will enjoy its shade…  But it begins with you.  

What will I do with what God has given me?  I could have the acorn framed and hang it on my wall proudly displaying what God gave me…. Or I can plant it.  

I don't blame you for praying for oaks...even praying to "be" an oak.  But today - Thank God for the acorn.  

Faithful is He who called you...  He will finish His work in you.  Be patient.  MM

There’s A Camel In The Tent

1 Peter 5:8-9  “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”

My Guatemalan friend, Lazaro, told me a story that he often uses as he preaches.  As the story goes, years ago a traveler was passing through, and with him was his camel carrying the man’s belongings.  As night fell, the traveler unpacked his tent and prepared to sleep.  As the man slept he felt a nudging at the door of his tent.  Much to his surprise his camel was sleeping with his head inside the tent.  The traveler insisted that the camel get his head out of his tent.  The camel spoke up and said… “Just let me rest my head inside the tent and I won’t bother you...”  So the traveler let the camel sleep with his head inside the tent.

Later in the night the traveler was awakened to find the camel had moved at least half his body inside the tent.  The man spoke harshly to the camel insisting he get out.  The camel spoke again, “Just let me rest as I am and I promise I won’t bother you.”  So the traveler allowed the camel to sleep with at least half his body inside the tent.

In the early morning hours the traveler was awakened again.  This time he was shocked to see the camel had moved entirely in to the tent.  There was barely enough room for both the traveler and his camel.  The traveler begin to push and shove and insist the camel move out.  The camel looked at the man and simply said, “If you don’t like me sleeping in your tent then you’ll need to get out.”

Isn’t that just like the Devil… Too many of us have allowed the Devil to sleep with his head inside our tent.  And for many of us he has moved in and rooted us out of the way.  Peter warned, “Be awake…be alert..!”  “Resist him…!”  He has one goal – to devour and destroy everything good. 

I heard a preacher say yesterday, “If sin worked I’d encourage you to sin…but sin never works.”  I agree and add that sin always leads down a dead end road.  Sin always goes downhill.  And the Devil never takes a day off. 

If you let the Devil sleep with his head in your tent -  it won’t be long before he moves in.    M

Guatever

Philippians 1:3  I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I like the way the NIV translates that verse: " I thank God every time I remember you..."  I just spent two weeks in Guatemala.  I was a part of two mission teams who built houses, did medical and dental, and did our best to love and learn from the good people of Guatemala.  It was wonderful.  As much good as we may have done for them, I left a richer man.  The Guatemalans that I have gotten to know are, honestly, some of the best people on the face of the earth.  Our only barrier is language.  They have a heart for God.  They are trusting and optimistic.  No pretense.  Genuine, loving, sincere, and generous... simply good people.  

Lazaro Surey and his wife Glendie and their children Josh and Marsha have become some of my favorite people in Guatemala.  Lazaro is a pastor, a minister to the hungry and homeless, and works with Grace Ministries feeding and ministering to over 75 children at the Dream Center.  Lazaro and his family amaze me at their commitment to God and their level of hard work.  Like most Guatemalans, they were not born into riches.  But their lives have been transformed by the grace of God.  They in blessed in so many ways and are eager to share their blessings with others.  I'm glad I know them.  

I went to Guatemala with Grace Ministries out of Friendship Baptist in Grand Bay, Alabama. The teams that I served with were made up of folks from Alabama, Michigan, Mississippi, Arizona, and maybe a couple other states I can't recall now.  I worked with Lazaro and his family at the Dream Center most days.  I served as the Team Pastor for both weeks.  I preached nineteen times in fourteen days.  I'd go back next week if possible.

I will be back this fall in either El Salvador or Guatemala...or both to help lead Pastors Conferences.  These are also made available through Grace Ministries.  My heart has been warmed toward the people of Guatemala.  I see myself being more involved in the years to come.  The fields are white unto harvest.  

For those who help provide the finances for me to go, thank you.  I am a better man for having spent two brief weeks of my life in El Tejar, Guatemala.  

On another note...I was beyond blessed this past Thursday night to arrive at the Huntsville Airport and be welcomed by my family.  I had so many friends praying for me while I was gone.  But I so missed my family.  Crystal and I are not perfect, but with the help of God we created two really good kids - Alyssa and Garrett.  It was good to be in Guatemala and I look forward to going back.  But today - It's good to be home.   MM