What are YOU Afraid of?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1

"The fear of the Lord "- what does that mean? 

Fear conjures up many different things in our hearts. One person has a phobia of something that others make a living doing. The sky scraper window washer is a great example of someone who can't be afraid of heights. The reptile man can't be afraid of snakes. The motivational speaker can't be afraid of public speaking. But is this the kind of fear that Proverbs is talking about?

Are we to be afraid of God in the same sense as these previous examples? What does a God fearing man look like? God is holy, righteous, faithful, loving, sovereign and good; just to name a few. 

What does it look like to fear a holy God and does that look different than fearing a God who is characterized by tender love and affection for His people? Look at this next verse.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me. Psalm 23

"Fear" is in the verse but in this case David is saying that he will "fear no evil". Evil is often feared after we have seen its affects. We are not intrinsically afraid of walking down a dark street until we have seen this situation go south for ourselves or for others. After we have seen evil work and even as we come to a place where death seems to be knocking at our door we can take comfort in knowing that His rod and staff are there to protect and guide us. Not His arms but His instruments are there to comfort. 

As a father I know something about fear. There have been times my children have feared me as they have had occasion to be disciplined and that is never fun. I hope that those fears are long out of their hearts and heads and it is a respect of time and position that they acknowledge rather than me coming down on them today. This can be a kind of "fear" but it's all wrapped up in the person of God. 

We know Him and His power-

 to heal and to bring low

 to protect and provide and to take away as needed

 to trample armies and not break a wilting blade of grass 

 to prune and cultivate for fruit production

This is the same God, with the same end in mind and yet His ways are different for each circumstance for the good of His children and His glory. When we fear Him rightly He brings our hearts closer to Him. That comes in many forms. 

Think about "kindness leading to repentance". It seems counter intuitive but it is so true. We know He is right and so our hearts are drawn to Him even when we are wrong because we know He is kind in His judgments and He forgives His people. 
The angel of the Lord encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34

That is a great promise to those who fear the Lord and in our human hearts does that look like the same fear is our enemies would have when they see the "angel of the Lord"? That same angel looks very different to them than it does to those who fear Him.

My heart is heavy these days as it seems like the valley floor is nowhere in sight but I continue to descend. The fear of night doesn't bother me nor the fear of winter but the fear of the unknown. As I posted not too long ago, the fear of pruning is fine with me but it's harder when we don't know if the end result is going to be a stump that remains. 

He takes us into valleys for our good and His glory; I know that in my head but right now my heart is not too happy about being having to look straight up and still not seeing light. The thought that the valley is where I might remain is troubling and yet He says that even in the valley of the shadow of death there is comfort. 

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack! Psalm 34

No Lack. 

Heritage a Year and a Half Later

I wrote this in January of 2012 and forgot to post it. I reread it and I have to say that God's timing was perfect for me to read my own words.

I have been thinking a lot as of late about the idea of leaving a heritage for our children and children's children. Of course maybe thats bc our little Job has flooded our lives with joy and gratitude or maybe it's bc of the events of the past year or so, either way, I think it's good to reflect, consider and plan.

This morning I was in an email conversation with a friend of mine who owns multiple businesses; very diverse in nature and all surrounding one thing, but in today's economic climate there are so many things that can bring a business down that there is no way to consider all of them while still trying to run those business ventures. SO what do you do? How does one know where to spend their money or not spend it, how do we know if God wants us to be in this endeavor or if it's time to move on? Hard questions that have no Bible reference linked to them and no multiple choice, as we know it, answer.

So, connected to working the opportunities that God has given you charge of- work like it all depends on you, pray like it all depends on God and rest in knowing that HE cares more about your heart than your wallet, but He understands your need and He promises to provide for those needs. If your rest is dependent on whether I can keep my promise or if you can work hard and smart enough you, my friend, are in trouble. But as a believer it doesn't depend on those things, it depends on whether you know and trust Him.

Connected to heritage- you and I may be thinking that the heritage we leave for our children and grandkids is in some bank acct, property or even the business we are trying to keep afloat and make successful. Maybe that is part of it, but as believers it had better be just a part and maybe a small part. What we are leaving as a heritage is how we live, how we love and how we teach- which is filled up with the previous. We teach the following generations what is important and how to live by example. If we say we trust God to provide but are often worried then we are not teaching that at all. If we say we are teaching love for God and the majority of time others see us they only hear us talking about "I" rather than "Look what God did here" we are not teaching what we think we are teaching bc we are not living what we say we believe.

Imagine- kids who know who God is by watching us old people right now, in the middle of life and crashing waves, blowing winds and hot fires. Imagine them seeing us old people trusting that God is good, in control and waiting on Him expectantly and ever ready to rejoice in His kindness and faithfulness. Imagine the heritage that will leave. Imagine the value of that rather than an inheritance that can rust, be stolen or fades away with time.

Present and Timely Help

You are my refuge--my portion in the land of the living! Psalm 142:5

Another timely reminder from JR Miller-

"Often we do not learn the depth and riches of God's love, and the sweetness of His presence--until our earthly joys vanish out of our hands, and other beloved presences fade away out of sight.

The loss of temporal things seems often to be necessary to empty our hearts--that they may receive unseen and eternal realities. The heart's door is never fully opened to Him--until the soul's worldly joys are removed; then, while it stands open, He enters bearing into it immortal joys! 

How often is it true, that the sweeping away of our earthly hopes reveals the glory of our heart's refuge in God! Someone has beautifully said, 'Our refuges are like the nests of birds: in summer they are hidden among the green leaves--but in winter they are seen among the bare branches.' Worldly losses but strip off the foliage, and disclose to us our heart's warm nest in the bosom of God!"

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble! Psalm 9:9 

God is our refuge and strength--a very present help in trouble! Psalm 46:1 

Getting Hacked- Necessary Not Fun

We worked on our raspberries this past week and cleaned them all out for next year's crop. Raspberries grow on last year's canes and so the idea is to clean out the canes that produced fruit this year and only leave the canes that will produce the following year.

Pruning is kind of a strange thing. Cutting something back so that it will give you more fruit. It seems like it would be the opposite; if the plant were larger it would give you more fruit. In most cases this is untrue.

I'm all for fruit production and pruning; in the garden. I'm all for getting rid of that old stuff and keeping the productive ones. Unless it's in my own life and then I'm not too excited about it. I get that this is what God does and He tells us the reasons are the same as they are in the garden but what I want is for Him to prune off a leaf or two that are kind of ugly and then leave the rest of the plant alone. Hacking entire branches hurts.

I've had my fair share of hacking lately and I can't say that I am growing fonder of the process. From my head and my mouth I will say that God is good and I know that He doesn't make mistakes but there is a fear inside me that is wondering if He is going to hack until there is just a little stump left.

Again, I know that this plant, whatever it is, will probably grow back up to be more amazing than it was before and grow lots of fruit but right now it is "feeling" pretty crappy. Like David when he was humiliated in front of his people, this plant looks pretty ridiculous. 

God prunes for more fruit and if we are not bearing fruit then we are of no use for His purposes anymore. That's a hard saying but worthy of consideration. 

Another interesting thing I have been considering about these pruning cycles is that not only is my pruning for fruit production but also for the good of others and the glory of God. We encourage others when we bear up under the pain of pruning. 

The Father is the "Vine-dresser" or pruner and He knows what He is doing. Thinking about the pain of pruning itself is not productive but thinking about the process of pruning with an end to fruit production is working in the right direction. 

God prunes those He loves and He loves to see His branches bear LOTS of fruit. As much as I don't want to say it, if He decides that it's best for me to look like the plant above then I am supposed to be not just ok with but excited about the opportunity to be pruned by the best. That's a new spot for me to be in.

I acknowledge my dependence but I want to add my 2 cents in too. Bad program on my part. Dependence is not knowing that "I don't have all the answers" but rather that I don't have any of the answers and that I have to lay down my life and let Him prune as He knows best. 

Please pray that I would look towards the fruitful end rather than at the clippers. Pray that I would see that He is doing what is best even though watching those whole branches fall to the ground it is painful. 

As Long as You are Glorified- Sovereign Grace music. 

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings 
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long 
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper 
And true only when I’m filled
Are You King only when I’m carefree 
And God only when I’m well
You are good when I’m poor and needy 
You are true when I’m parched and dry 
You still reign in the deepest valley 
You’re still God in the darkest night

So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You

A lot of talking and singing to my soul lately.

Broken, Trampled, Torn!

I just thought this was very good and thought I'd share it here. 

"Life may seem a failure here, crushed like a lily under the heel of wrong or sin--broken, trampled, torn! But it may yet become a glorious success. Many of the truest and best of God's children, know only defeat in this world. They are ever beaten back and thrust down. The burdens are too heavy for them. They are overmastered by sorrows. The world's enmity treads them in the dust. They are not worldly wise, and, while others march by to great earthly success--they live obscurely oppressed, cheated, wronged, and lie buried away in the darkness of failure." JR Miller

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians4:16-18

Do You Need Roadside Assistance?

Here's Your Sign
It seems the signs of the times are all over the place but the signs I am talking about right now are probably not the signs you are thinking.

This is a sign that I'm talking about. They seem to be popping up not just on every street corner but multiple times on every corner.

Now we have grown steadily accustomed to seeing them and we hear of the fraudulent cases where people stand with a sign and then get in their luxury car when they're finished for the day, but I am guessing that is not the norm. In life a few bad apples still spoil the whole box. 

This is not a post about whether or not you should give to the person holding this sort of sign. This is a post about actually looking and listening for signs that people around us really do need help but without holding an actual sign. 

We Live In CrazyTown
We're in a hurry these days. We are trying to get things done and there's more month than money for many. Obamacare is not fixing anything. Budget deficits are out of control. The government is printing currency faster than we can make it and the list goes on.

But what about your neighbor? What about your kids? What about your parents? 

We are all in this crazy mess together and guess what- we need each other. We are all different and uniquely talented and yet God has us here, in the place where we are today, for a specific purpose. That purpose is NOT for ourselves; it's for others.

Let me jump into your world for a moment so you can understand what I'm talking about with perspicuity- that means more clarity. We learned a new word this last Sunday:)

One of THOSE Days
I don't have to ask if you've ever had "one of those days" because we all have. It's the day that the cat gets sick and yacks up a honker fir ball as you're trying to eat your breakfast and then the dog runs out of the house and you can't catch him. You have a flat and your spare is also flat. You bump into someone car in the parking lot. You're late for work and it would have been much more convenient yesterday when you had far less to do. You forgot your lunch and your wallet is empty and it's not even noon yet. You get the point.

The man or lady on the street corner has a sign that tells people they need help. We don't take a piece of cardboard out of the trash and make a sign when we have those kinds of days. Maybe we should, but we don't. What kind of sign do we really make though? 

Focus, Phones and Flop
The normally chipper person is focused on getting to their task. The phone is answered in a lower tone. When they take their seat they flop down with little control. There is an inordinate amount of sighing. Head in hands for a few minutes. Staring off into space. You get the picture. They are not themselves- the person you know them to be.

How do we help? Do they need a dollar bill? Maybe, but probably not. Do they need your protein bar? Actually maybe they do but you won't know until you ask them something. Most likely any form of a kind gesture will get the conversation started and you will be able to tell how you can help.

Healthy Eats- Raised Countenance 
The other day I went into a business to see a friend and he has been very stressed out lately and I noticed he was not eating lunch when the others were and there was no food sitting around. I went and got a protein bar and some coconut oil from my car and offered it to him. He was very thankful and the cost to me was minuscule. 

Here's the thing. I'm not the hero here I was just paying attention to my friend. Again, we all have different strengths and gifts. Teresa says that I have a tire changing ministry. I actually like to help people change their spare out when they have a flat alongside the road. It's really not a big deal for me because I can do it super fast and you would be surprised what 4-5 minutes of my time is worth to some young mom with a baby or 2 in the back seat sitting along the road. They didn't have a sign that said, "please stop and help me change my tire". They didn't need one.

Here's the deal. I want to emphasize this again. I am NOT the hero. 

I have super hard days too. I don't get a piece of cardboard out either and I hope that someone notices and helps. Just because someone is the one who is generally the encourager doesn't mean that they don't need it returned every once in a while.

My Turn
Actually yesterday was one of those days for me. I didn't have a flat because that really wouldn't have been an issue for me. I wasn't late. I didn't forget my lunch but there was a lot of stuff that happened and my "car was sitting alongside the road"- figuratively.  

I tried to stay away from people as I didn't want to drag them down. I want to be the one blowing wind into the sails of others not blowing holes into their sails. I think, "If I am down then what must everyone else be feeling?". 

What did it take to "help me"? Not too much really. I read some Pilgrim's Progress. I got a sweet text from my wife. I talked to my kids. I got a short but very kind email from a pastor friend. I helped a business owner think through their web presence problems. Those were all small steps but the biggest help came at the very end of the day. A friend came over and blew some wind into my sails and just told me that they appreciated me. That's it. It was "free" to them and yet meant so much to me. It actually brought tears to my eyes and to Teresa's eyes, as she knew the kind of day I was having.

This person didn't know what kind of a day I was having but they knew me well enough to know that I needed a lift and they were there to give it with just a few kind words. 

Who really Wins?
Here's the kicker in all this. When I stop to help someone alongside the road, who gets the biggest encouragement? Them or Me? I am encouraged that I can help them. It's better to give than to receive. Although I was really encouraged last night by my friend I'll bet they were at least as encouraged as I was when they saw how much it meant to Teresa and me for them to care enough to say a few kind words.

Look around today for someone that is NOT holding a cardboard sign but might be showing signs that they need YOUR help.

Capricious Faith

Imagine what it's like to stand in the middle of a ring, with 1000s of people around you, and have them all watch as you duke it out with your opponent. Now imagine if it's you against 450. Imagine those same odds and going into the contest as the lone person so confident that you will be victorious that you mock the 450 relentlessly. 

Age and experience bring things that no other teacher can bring. Some people never get those experiences no matter what their age while others get it earlier in their calendar. It's been said "trials are God's way of growing us faster", but generally we are not that excited about being in those same progress-generating, sanctification-working circumstances. At least I am not.

1 Kings 18-19 is a story about great faith and then almost no faith. As a reminder, this is the place where Elijah taunts the 450 prophets of Baal, throws water on his alter before it is consumed by fire and then prays for rain to come after a 3 year drought and it rains. After all this it seems like minutes later he is running for his life from a woman.

As a younger man I couldn't figure this out. How could Elijah go from a place of amazing faith with God showing Himself off in the most incredible way with fire and rain, to a place where he is afraid of Jezebel? How does that really happen in a matter of minutes?

These days faith seems capricious; changing often. The story in 1 Kings still is a head scratcher to me and yet in my own life I see the same exact tendencies and frankly, it's irritating. Up and down. Down and up. Conquering nations and afraid of the smallest things. 

I've heard the words "Your faith encourages me" more times than I can count and while it is an encouragement that others are able to see God's hand at work through the circumstances we are going through, the outside doesn't often tell the entire story. What others see is not always what I see myself.

Have you ever prayed for something, in abundant faith and knowing that God is the only One Who can deliver your request, and then watch Him not answer or answer with a "no" when it seems like the only way out is a "yes"? How about knowing that you need this answer right away and then crickets? "Crickets" means that there is no sound, no answer, but the sound of crickets.

I know that God can and does do amazing things, I've seen it too many times to deny it. I've seen Him work over and over again in ways that only could be Him. I do trust Him. I do know that I am completely dependent and yet...

Maybe in these times we need to go out into the wilderness for 40 days like Elijah and speak to our souls. The encouraging part is that God's faithful people of days long past seem to have had similar struggles to what we have today. Yes, they didn't have the full Canon of Scripture and they didn't have multiple copies they could carry on their iPhones but in this case Elijah could see right in front of him and in front of a great cloud of witnesses a 450/1 victory and then be fearful minutes later.

God still used him in a mighty way and God knows our limited and weak frame. We can rest in His care knowing that He will continue to work even when our faith is all over the map. He cares for birds and grass and He cares for His people. 

I'll be praying for peace in the storm for you and please do the same for me.