A Little Prayer Spirituality

It's Sunday - so today is a good day for something spiritual. Of course, other days count for things spiritual. But for today, let's really get to some spiritual stuff. Something called prayer.

Recently I read a compilation of actual prayers offered up to God by children. They were funny and refreshingly candid. Like Angela, age 8, who said, “Dear God, could you give my brother some brains? So far he doesn’t have any.” Or “Dear God, thanks for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man.”

One entry on the list captured perhaps the most foundational truth about prayer. Diane, age 8, offered up this communication to God…

“Dear God; I am saying my prayers for me and my brother, Billy, because Billy is six months old and he can’t do anything but sleep and wet his diapers.”

Diane was praying on behalf of her baby brother because he was helpless to do anything on his own.

Someone has wisely noted that, “Prayer is the language of totally helpless creatures.” This is a foundational truth about prayer. In the middle of our self-reliant, self-help, independent, pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, make our own way in the world attitudes, the fact remains that we are, in the things that matter most, totally helpless creatures. And it's good for us to remember that even that which we obtain through our responsible work ethic and effort come directly from the hand of God.

When we pray, be it a prayer of thanks or praise or confession or grief or petition or fear or joy or confusion, we are acknowledging that we are indeed helpless creatures. We are created beings and we desperately need our Creator. We need God. To be sure, this is true.

But what if we turn the question around? Think about it. Does God need us?

Actually, in a word…no.

God doesn’t need anything or anyone. God is self-sufficient. Self-reliant. Self-fulfilling. God is the only One who could stand on stage, accept any award and say with complete integrity, “I’d like to thank no one because it’s all about Me.” God is God. And God is all God needs.

Having said that, if God is everything in Himself, then how does prayer fit into that? Logically speaking, it doesn’t. When we think seriously about prayer and what’s in it for God, from our human perspective it doesn’t make sense. Our prayers don’t offer God anything that He needs.

God needs nothing from us. God doesn’t need our money. God owns everything so He lacks nothing. He made it all in the first place. What do you buy for the God Who has everything? He owns it all.

God possesses all knowledge so there’s no college course you can sign Him up for that would help His resume look better.

God is perfectly content in relationship with Himself so there’s no names you can drop and no one you can introduce Him to that would help Him expand His network.

God is all powerful. He speaks to the ocean waves, hung the stars in the sky, names them all, nations are but a drop in the bucket, islands are like fine dust. So there’s no political office or military position you can offer that would increase His influence or power.

God is immutable, He never changes. So there’s no self-help book you can suggest to Him that would help bring consistency to His life.

God is perfectly balanced in His perfections of love and justice, mercy and wrath, so there’s so anger management course you can enroll Him in that would improve His judgment.

You get the point. Simply put, God doesn't need us. Now, before you feel to lousy about that, think again. There is a wonderful twist to the truth that God doesn’t need us. A twist that makes no sense at all and is at the same time a most hilarious surprise.

God doesn’t need us. God wants us.

I'll admit that is a lot to get our head around. The fact that God wants us. It’s true. Prayer from God’s perspective is all about relationship. It can’t be anything else. It’s the only explanation that makes any sense. Why else would a perfect God want to involve Himself with imperfect people like us? We don’t have anything to offer. The only possible reason God has for involving Himself with us is because He wants to.

When my wife asks me to help her with dinner, it’s not because she's incapable of doing that on her own. And it’s certainly not because my helping her with dinner is actually going to speed up things. It's not because I have a better working knowledge of how to fix dinner. If speed and efficiency were the goal then the best thing for me would be to stay out of the kitchen.

But that’s not the goal. My wife asks me to make dinner because she desires the relationship I have with her. So what if she has to tell me how to fix the food. So what if she has to tell me which bowl to put the food in. So what if I have to ask her how much of the ingredients to add. In the end it’s the mutual satisfaction of relationship that counts.

She don’t need my help, really. She wants our relationship.

The perfect God of the Universe wants and desires relationship with us. We are His creation, created in His image. When we better understand our worth to Him, we’ll better understand why He values our prayers.

It’s all about relationship.

People of the Mud

Once upon a time in a place not so far away lived the Mud People. They lived under a big blue sky like you and me. They worked and ate and drank and slept and lived their lives in ordinary ways.

At the top of the High Hill, with a view of the entire valley below lived the High Mudders. Of all the mud in the land, theirs was the best. It had no rocks or debris. It didn’t smell bad. It was smooth and felt good to the touch. It was a mud made from the best topsoil and snowmelt water from the Peaks. The High Mudders were good people. They worked hard, went to church and cared about each other. They looked often toward the Peaks and wondered what it would be like to live beyond. They also looked down, glad they weren’t living below.

A bit farther down lived the Side Hill Mudders. They didn’t have the view that the High Mudders enjoyed, nor was their mud the best. Their mud was bad. It was lumpy, made from clay and water that wasn’t very clear. Their mud smelled like mud and it had rocks and sticks and debris mixed in. The Side Hill Mudders were good people. They worked hard, went to church and cared about each other. The Side Hill Mudders looked often toward the Peaks and wondered what it would be like to live where the High Mudders dwelled. They also looked down, glad they weren’t living below.

At the bottom of the valley in the Swampy Place lived the Muck and Mire Mudders. They didn’t have a view at all. Their mud was the worst. It was ugly. It was gloppy, green and slimy and smelled bad because it was made with stagnant water. The Muck and Mire Mudders were good people. They worked hard, went to church and cared about each other. The Muck and Mire Mudders looked often toward the Peaks and wondered what it would be like to live anywhere but the Swampy Place.

The Mud People lived each day in their mud. The High Mudders lived in their good mud. The Side Hill Mudders lived in their bad mud. And the Muck and Mire Mudders lived in their ugly mud. Thus the Mud People lived in their mud.

One day the High Mudders looked up to see someone coming down from beyond the Peaks. The place He came from wasn’t muddy. His clothes were white and clean. He waded into the good mud of the High Mudders and announced, “I am the Messenger. I bring good news from the Crystal Palace beyond the Peaks. You are all invited to the grand feast. Come as you are.” The High Mudders were thrilled. They had heard of the Crystal Palace and dreamed often of life beyond the Peaks. The Messenger waded out of the High Mudders’ good mud and left them to anticipate the grand feast.

The Crystal Palace was more magnificent than they had imagined. The Messenger greeted them at the door. “Welcome! Enter in to your joy and join in the celebration!” The High Mudders took their places at the tables. Yet the banquet hall wasn’t full. There were empty chairs. Lots of them. Who else could possibly be invited to the grand feast?

The doors swung wide and in came the Side Hill Mudders. The High Mudders didn’t recognize them at first as they had only seen them from a far distance. But the dried lumps of clay that crumbled from their clothes and fell to the pristine white marble floor confirmed who they were. What were they doing here? Had not the Messenger came to the High Mudders to invite them to the feast? The High Mudders wondered about this as the Side Hill Mudders found their seats, some of which were right next to theirs.

The doors swung wide again. It was the Messenger, pointing and directing the Muck and Mire Mudders to their seats. The High Mudders had never seen the Muck and Mire Mudders for the High Hill was far removed from the Swampy Place. Yet they could tell the Muck and Mire Mudders by the smell. Their shoes squeaked on the white floor leaving a trail of green slime and gloppy mud. The Muck and Mire Mudders found their seats next to the Side Hill Mudders and High Mudders.

Everyone was seated. The Messenger stood at the head table and said, “Thank you for accepting my invitation. It is my joy to welcome you to the grand feast. You are each one my honored guest. Eat, drink, and enjoy the banquet set before you.”

Delicious food and vintage wine were brought to every table. Joyous music filled the air. The feast had begun. The Messenger made His way from table to table. He warmly greeted each Mud person with a hug and a kind welcome.

The High Mudders wondered about this. Talking among themselves they decided to pull the Messenger aside. “You waded into our good mud and invited us to the grand feast. But we’re wondering why the Side Hill Mudders and the Muck and Mire Mudders are sitting at our tables.”

“Because I waded into their mud and invited them, too.”, answered the Messenger.

“But, their mud…it’s so bad and ugly.”

Sunshine of the purest light streamed through the windows and fell on the muddy footprints now covering the white marble tile. The Messenger answered, “When the feast is over, I will mop the floor. And when I do, be it good, bad, or ugly…mud is mud.”

What I Learned at the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra

Have you ever wondered if what you do is important? Have you ever pushed away from your desk at 3:35 PM on a Wednesday thinking, “What’s the point?” Have you ever told yourself that significance begins with the next pay raise or promotion? Have you ever thought you could make more of a difference if only you played on a bigger stage or in front of a larger audience?

Not too long ago, I made a wonderful holiday memory. My wife and I attended the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre. Just the two of us for an evening of spectacular music performed by an exquisite orchestra. Music just happens to be one of my loves (my wife's too, since she's a music teacher) and I’ve listened to everything from blues in downtown Kansas City to a steel drum reggae in the French Quarters of New Orleans.

I'll admit that during the first couple songs I was simply overwhelmed by the sound. Listening to music on your stereo and being a member of a live audience is the difference between talking on the phone and speaking face to face. Communication is 90% non-verbal. Music is no different. The movement and synchronicity of an orchestra is its captivating non-verbal message. To hear a melody is to hear a voice. To see the conductor’s dancing baton and to watch rows of wrists slide horsehair bows across the strings of violins and cellos is to look into the eyes of a song; to see and sense the mood.

I'm really intrigued by the significance of every instrument. There is only one piccolo player in the Sioux City Orchestra. Tiny instrument it is - this piccolo. Fits easily into a good sized jacket pocket. The instrument voted “Most Likely To Get Lost On The Bus.” Yet the musical story of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” wouldn’t tell nearly as well without the piccolo’s rapid and timely arpeggios.

And what about the harp? It's defined as an instrument that “takes 14 hours to tune and remains in tune for twenty minutes or until somebody opens a door.” It sat quietly on the end of the stage behind the second violins, thankful for a microphone just to have a chance against the trombones. Without the harp, “Silent Night” would be “Empty Night”.

Are sleigh bells and temple blocks really instruments? In a day care center they’d be tossed in the toy bin with the rattles and Lincoln Logs. In Christmas music they are the sounds of horses and motion; the brisk open air trip down snow covered roads ending with hot cider at Grandma’s house. Musically speaking, “Sleigh Ride” without sleigh bells and temple blocks is “Let’s You and Me Sit In This Wagon Without Wheels and Freeze.”

Could the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra play without the piccolo, harp, sleigh bells and temple blocks? Sure. Everyone would still recognize the melodies. Yet the audience would go home saying, “Something was missing…it didn’t sound quite right.”

The word is that night that the Sioux City Symphony played at the Orpheum for over 2,000 people. They could have crammed into an elementary school gym and played to an audience of 200. In either venue, without the piccolo, harp, sleigh bells, and temple blocks, the music isn’t complete.

Which reminds me. It’s not about the size of the stage on which you perform. It’s about the importance of the role you play. Whatever your life’s stage, make sure you trill, pluck, jingle and clip-clop your best this week. People are listening for your part. Without you, the music isn’t complete.

Cockleburs, Beans, and Crops

It's so fun to be rural America. Really, it is. I love hearing these people talk about what it's like in these corn and bean fields in rural Iowa.

Back in the day, before farmers relied solely on herbicides in their Iowa soybean fields, the preferred method of weeding was “walking beans”. I've never done it in Iowa - but I did do it in south Missouri. My wife is a native of Iowa and she tells me she has done it in these fields. Maybe you have, too. It was always a quite predictable summer job. You’d get your crew together, spread out and walk down the field getting rid of the weeds that grew. Each person would be responsible for the two rows on either side of them. Sometimes you carried a hoe. Sometimes a corn knife, the Iowa farmer’s equivalent of a machete.

The type of weed determined how you killed it. Corn, milkweed, lambs quarter, pig weed, and water weed could all be chopped. Nightshade had to be pulled. As did velvet leaf, a.k.a. “button weed”. One button weed could have a hundred seed pods, each containing at least 700 seeds. When it’s ripe it explodes, sending on the wind a “be fruitful and multiply” scenario that anyone in a John Deere hat cringes to see. So you pull the button weed to make really sure it will die.

One thing I didn't like in some of these fields is cockleburs. Sometimes there were huge patches of cockleburs growing in the soybeans.

You need to know that cockleburs definitely fell into the “pull” category. Only they weren’t as easy to pull as velvet leaf/button weeds. Some things are like they sound. Velvet leaf is soft. A warm fuzzy in the weed kingdom. Pulling cockleburs is like grabbing sandpaper. Itchy. Scratchy. Irritating.

On some of this "walking the beans" stuff, I'm told that sometimes the cocklebur patches were so thick you had to get down on your hands and knees to look under the soybean plants to be sure you got them all. When you're doing that, you aren’t walking beans. You are crawling them.

Sure enough, under the leaves are small cocklebur plants that, if someone had not looked, would have grown up to mock the "walkers" as they drove by the field two weeks later. And when it comes to weeds and cockleburs, just when you think you've got them all, you find some more.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how I, and some others I know, live the Christian life. Some weeds are easy to see. And because they are easy to see they are relatively easy to get rid of. Walk and chop as you go along. An obvious unkind word? Yank it out. A little short-tempered and make a fool of yourself? Whack it hard and it probably won’t come back. It’s not hard to walk along and get rid of the weeds you see.

More difficult are the weeds growing underneath. The cockleburs of an arrogant spirit. The velvet leaf of pride that, left to grow to maturity, will explode into seeds of destruction.

The only way to find them is to get down on your knees. It’s awkward at first. You even resent the fact that you’re having to kneel. It seems so, well, beneath you. But once you’re down there, the more you look, the more you find. And when you find, you have to pull. Don’t chop at it. Small weeds, left to grow, will later mock you.

It's always disconcerting and even embarrassing to drive by a field and see one lone button weed, five feet tall and waving at you in the breeze. You have to go back and kill it. But this time the stalk is an inch thick and the roots are set. Much harder to pull out. A back breaker.

If only it had been pulled out when you were down there on your knees.

As we walk, look back and look under to see what we’re missing. Time spent on our knees pulling weeds makes for a cleaner field.

A cleaner field makes for a better crop.

A better crop makes for a great harvest.

Praying for you as we pull together. “He who wants his garden tidy doesn’t reserve a plot for weeds.” - Dag Hammarskjold

On Rocks and Piles

Let me stray a bit from my usual here. This is on rocks. Yes, you read it right. Rocks.

All you have to do is to poke around the shady groves of farms in the Midwest (the heartland of America) and you’ll find them. They are tucked behind the barn or under a tree. They are quite unnoticed monuments to decades of hard work and sweat. Added to and rarely subtracted from. Simply known as rock piles.

I guess it sort of depends on the lay of the farmer’s land. But before planting crops, it’s sometimes necessary to harvest rock. The freezing of winter and the thawing of spring brings to the surface of the ground stones that were previously hidden. Some are hand-sized. An easy grab and pitch into a skid loader bucket or onto a flatbed trailer. Others require two hands, a knee bend and a strong back. And on rare occasion, one needs to be pulled out with a tractor and a log chain.

All you have to do in these parts where I live is say the phrase “pick rock” to an Iowa farm kid and they know exactly what you’re talking about.

Let's think about it. The reason for picking rock is actually quite simple. Here in Iowa, come harvest time you don’t want a field stone to go screaming through the internal gears of a John Deere combine that could be traded even up for one of your nicer homes in Scottsdale, Edina, or Lake Forest. So to avoid costly down time and expensive repairs, you walk the field and move the rock to an out of the way place.

Joshua 4 is a favorite of mine in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. The story there is that the miracle-working God rolls back the waters of the Jordan River to allow the people of Israel to walk across on dry ground. And this same God instructs them to build a monument of 12 stones to mark the event. He had a specific reason. “…in the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

The fact is that God knows that we created beings have short memories. That’s why He wanted these people named here to set up 12 stones as a reminder of the miracle He did. You got it. That rock pile was for remembering the great work He had done for them.

When I think about my journey of life, it often occurs to me that I’ve done more than my share of worrying. And most of my worrying was tied to things that I certainly had no control over. A lot of asking God why He seems so slow to respond in certain areas of my life. And if I’m honest, no small amount of doubt and anxiety. Wondering sometimes silently and sometimes in full voice, “God, are you really gonna take care of me?”

Of course, the irony in all this is that I’ve come to understand that I've done my worrying and doubting and whining while sitting squarely on top of my little rock pile. Those stones of good health, food to eat, a place to live, a car to drive, healthy children, opportunities to earn a living, friends old and new, wonderful parents, a church family, and multiple moments of God’s grace and mercy, dropped into my life at a point of need and always above and beyond what I could ask or imagine.

Such audacity of me! To sit atop my rock pile of blessings - lifetime proof of God’s faithful provision - and wonder if He will come through for me this time?

I'm really beginning to wonder at this part of my journey if there is more symbolism to the stones than I realize. Could it possibly be God’s inside joke of what a blockhead I can be? God must be laughing on the inside while I'm squealing on the outside.

So this simple prayer I pray. God, please forgive my arrogance of distrusting You while surrounded by your tangible blessings. Help me to be mindful that You are forever faithful, my Source and my Provider. When I wonder, when I doubt, remind me to look at the rock pile that You’ve built in my life and renew my faith and trust, because You are faithful and true.

From me to you - here’s hoping you take a good long look at your rock pile. Yes, I have one, too. You're not alone.

“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need He saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” - Psalm 116:5-7

Something for Sunday - In the Waiting Room

Have you ever had a dream that seemed lost and dashed to pieces on the rocks of disaster or disappointment? Take heart. Many great men and women have had such experiences. But they believed that good things come to those who wait. They learned valuable lessons in God’s waiting room that could not be learned anywhere else.

Abraham was 100 years old before the promised child Isaac was born. Joseph, the dreamer, was sold into slavery by his brothers, unjustly accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife, and thrown into prison for 13 years before seeing his God given dream become a reality.

David, John the Baptist, and Paul spent time in God’s waiting room before seeing God’s call and promises fulfilled in their lives. Jesus had his wilderness experience where he was tempted by the devil. He spent 30 years in the waiting room before beginning his public ministry and fulfilling his mission of redemption for a lost world.

I must admit that I don’t like waiting. As a pastor, I’ve spent my fair share of a lot of time in waiting rooms. It isn’t easy.

It is not easy spending time in God’s waiting room. In these uncertain times, here are some tips to help us redeem the time and prosper. Remember these R's.

REFOCUS. There is a saying that has been around for awhile that says, “Yard by yard, life is hard; inch by inch, life’s a cinch!” A little simplistic, admittedly - but, there is truth in it. How do you walk around the world? Take one step at a time. Don’t focus on the long range goals as much as the short range goals. Instead of a yard, try an inch.

God is more concerned about our character than our immediate happiness. Focus on eternal things rather than temporal, transitory things.

REJOICE. The Good Book says, “Rejoice in the Lord and again I say, rejoice! And it urges us to, “Give thanks in all things, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Rejoicing will liberate your soul.

REST in the Lord. God doesn’t want us to be full of anxiety. Worry changes nothing. Worry robs you of faith and peace. So, rest.

REDEEM the time. I remember some times in my life when I wished it was a future time. How many times do we wish our life away? Time goes by fast enough. So, enjoy and savor the moment. Don’t waste your time always wishing for a future time. God gave you today to live. Be useful. Make use of the opportunities that come your way.

REMEMBER your Redeemer is working in you while you spend time in God’s waiting room. The Divine Potter is molding and making us while we spend time in God’s waiting room. It is God who “both wills and works for His good pleasure” in our lives. Be patient like the farmer waiting for the seed to produce.

RELATIONSHIPS are vital to help us in God’s waiting room. God made us to need and to relate to the people He puts in our lives. Cherish your friends. Cherish your family.

In the end, be reminded of words of one Jesus of Nazareth who said, “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Sounds refreshing, doesn't it? It makes the waiting room a whole lot more endearing - and enduring.

Food for Thought

“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.

What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

- by Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005 (founder of Love Worth Finding and now deceased pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, TN)

Don't Ever Give In!

Yes, I know just as much as you do. I see the same headlines you do: mortgage and credit crisis, Wall Street bear market and worse, stimulus package, health care reform, embryonic stem cell research, gun control, fairness doctrine.

Believe me, friend. Liberty, life, decency, and the fruits of our labor are all under assault, but eventually we become desensitized.

So, if you're someone reading this today, I say to you - don't let apathy or resignation kick in. Remember who you are: a free citizen of the American Republic, not a slave and worshiper of a liberal empire.

Protest. Resist. Think.

Keep fighting for your God-given rights. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

When an issue bugs you, don't just complain to your family; try to find some like-minded people and get out in the street with signs. Get some attention. Have a march or a rally. (Or a tea party.)

Also, don't forget to let the Republican Party know that in the next election, you want a real candidate to represent your values, not a moderate to appease the opposition.

Never give up! We are not at the end of things. There's more work to be done. Never give up!

The Wise Man Has Something to Say

Since I'm a man of the cloth, I think that it's time to offer up some wise words in this season of crisis marked by wasteful spending, tax hikes, "porkulus stimulants", the bear market, bad mortgages, bailouts - well, you know the picture as well as I do. We're hearing it every day and there seems to be neither any getting off point nor brakes on this run-away train.

Now, the wise words really don't come from me - they come from the Good Book, otherwise known as Holy Scripture. You'll find there some sage wisdom from someone named Solomon. Except for one Jesus of Nazareth, Solomon is considered the richest man and the wisest man who ever lived. So, I think it's time we hear what he has to say, since he being dead yet speaketh. I'd say he's qualified to offer up some sound financial advice and hopeful words for these troubled times.

Here goes. Maybe just think of these as some financial lessons from someone wise. You can find your Bible somewhere nearby and check it out. It's all found in a rather obscure book called The Preacher, or the book of Ecclesiastes. If you can't pronounce that big word, that's okay. The words found therein are still good enough to follow and understand, even if you can't get right the name of the book.

First lesson. Money does not satisfy. Now, you've probably figured that out by now, but Ecclesiastes says that he who loves money will not be satisfied with money. Loving money is a dangerous thing. True satisfaction doesn't come from getting married (as much as I enjoy being married), it doesn't come from a bigger house, it doesn't come from a mil in the bank, or can you believe this - from being retired. What is interesting is that when we get our focus off of getting more money and more things, then they seem to start appearing. I guess this is what is meant by seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Not a popular message - but it's still the truth anyway.

Second lesson. Diversify your investments. The Preacher says to divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur in the earth. I think I get a couple of things out of this instruction. I like the balance of having seven or eight eggs in the basket rather than just one that leaves us with nothing if things turn out bad. But also, I think not 200 miniscule eggs either that are worth next to nothing individually. Get it? In this case if any one investment performed very well, it would make little impact on the entire portfolio. But if you had seven investments and any one of them performed well, it would have a decent impact on the entire portfolio. Think about it.

Third lesson. There is never a perfect time. This obscure book reminds us that he who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. Some of us find ourselves waiting to do something because we are waiting until there is no risk involved. Hey, I guess that's just human nature. We want to avoid the risk of bad things happening to us. Truth is, no matter how much we try we cannot totally eliminate all risk in life. Any time we step out into anything there will be some level of risk, but that is not an excuse to avoid action. Step out and be one of those people who realizes that the perfect time is now.

Fourth lesson. Work smarter, not harder. That's nothing new. The wise man reminds us that if the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Sometimes the most effective thing we can do in life is rest or take a break. It's really not counterproductive. Resting allows for more production on your productive hours. My best successes in life have been during those times when I asked myself if I was working hard or working smart. If we only focus on working hard without actually thinking whether or not it's the best thing to do, then I'd say you could be wasting your time with a dull axe.

Solomon put it right. We do well to listen.

An Endless Supply

Hold on with me for a bit. Let me talk heart to heart with you. The Bible is the endless supply of encouraging truth.

Everyone needs a bit of encouragement from time to time. Thankfully, we have the Bible as our ultimate source of encouraging words. Even with the financial crisis we are in the middle of, we can remain hopeful and encouraged if we keep trusting in God. And that's not a trite little thought either.

I have found that the key is to finding specific Bible verses and meditating on them. According to the Word, this is how faith comes. The more we soak up the truth of God’s Word, the more assured we become that He really is going to take care of us!

I know some people whose lives have been dramatically and profoundly affected already by this financial crisis and I think as it progresses we will all know people who will go through struggles as a result. The important thing to remember in the midst of the chaos is that God is in control. He is not surprised by the events and He is not unsure how He is going to take care of his children. We are just as safe putting our trust in Him when things are going great as when it looks like everything is falling around us.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” - Phil 4:19

Notice the verse says “ALL.” It doesn’t say “some” or “most,” but it says that He will meet all of our needs. It doesn’t say how He will meet our needs and I have found from experience the way He does it is often not what I expected. But the bottom line is that God is faithful and He does what He promises.

Take heart from some encouraging Bible verses that I have found helpful. Here's what I share as a good word.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Psalm 46:1-3,7

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. 2 Tim 1:7 (AMP)

I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8 (AMP)

Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). Psalm 55:22 (AMP)

He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6 (AMP)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)

The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 (AMP)

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3

Take heart.

Holes in the Darkness

Remember the story of George Bailey? He's the character of note in that classic It's a Wonderful Life. It was Christmas Eve, George is standing on the bridge, staring into the icy water, and feeling his life was a failure. He'd been an example of light in a dark world, but he felt it was a wasted effort. Then appeared that angel named Clarence. He's trying to earn his wings (like some of the rest of us) and he showed George what his hometown of Bedford Falls would have been like without George's light. His brother would have died, if not for George. His wife would have been a lonely spinster, if not for George. And greedy Mr. Potter would have destroyed all the good in town, if not for George.

One man's life touches so many others. When he's not there, it leaves an awfully big hole. So said Clarence the angel.

The lesson is timeless. Shine brightly. Be a candle in the darkness. One Jesus of Nazareth taught the same thing. Edward Everett Hale put it right, too. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something . . . I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

Come to think of it, every person has influence and yours is probably much bigger than you think it is or will ever realize. Think about who has had a bright light shining for you – a parent who believed in you, a teacher who challenged you, a coach who motivated you, a friend who stood beside you. I know. Because light from somebody else has happened to me.

I think we should just simply act as if what we do makes a difference. Because it does. And it really doesn’t take a whole lot to brighten your world – a positive word, a simple smile, a good deed. In the end, example is not the main thing in influencing others. It’s the only thing. Words are powerful, but I have come to believe that people are changed more by the light of example than by anything else.

Everybody needs light. Light wakes us up, ignites us, energizes us. Light gives us life. It chases away darkness. It opens up a world of possibilities.

Light is warmth. A smile, a hug, a compliment, a positive attitude, a simple gift, or an encouraging conversation provides light that warms somebody all the way through. I’d just offer up that if the world seems cold to you (and it probably is), try kindling some fires to keep warm.

Living a good life of love, generosity, and kindness is to be a light in a world of greed and selfishness. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. Oh, the immortal words of Shakespeare himself.

So, all along the way each of us is like a candle. Many have never been lit or have been blown out. Others are a mere spark or are flickering. Only a few shine brightly enough to light the world and pass that light on to others.

In a world of darkness, light makes a big difference. People like to have some light, even if they may squint when they see it. Let’s get this right. To shine takes more than well-intentioned words. Don’t just talk about light; produce some.

It’s not at all a political statement, but the statement of a lighted life. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a light. As a leader of the civil rights movement, he was beaten, kicked, and pummeled with eggs and rocks. He was spit at, thrown into jail, humiliated, and threatened, but he refused to retaliate. No matter how unfairly treated or abused, Dr. King was consistent in his light – his words and actions. Do to us what you will, and we will still love you. Throw us into jail, and we will still love you. Bomb our homes and threaten our children, and we will still love you. Send your hooded perpetrators of violence into our communities at the midnight hours, and drag us out on some wayside road and beat us and leave us half dead; and as difficult as it is, we will still love you.

The words of Dr. King march on like a beacon in the night.

Light will be remembered. When asked how he’d like to be remembered, the same MLK thought that when people mentioned his name, he’d hope they’d think that he tried to give his life serving others . . . to love somebody . . . to feed the hungry . . . to clothe those who were naked . . . to visit those who were in prison . . . to love and serve humanity. He learned that from one Jesus of Nazareth. Not immortal words, but eternal words.

In the end, lights put holes in the darkness. Find a hole and fill it with light.

Priceless

This by Jerry Holbert.

Words With Face

Along with doing this blogging stuff, every day I am bombarded by thousands and thousands of words. There are newscasts, telephone calls, e-mails, music lyrics, conversations, movie and television dialogue, newspapers, books, radio, letters, billboards, and the list goes on. Unless you're alone on a deserted island, you can't escape words. Unless, of course, you're talking to yourself on the island.

Words are how we share our thoughts and feelings. Words shape how we think, how we perceive the world, how others see us, how successful we will be, how peaceful we are, how we relate to others.

Words are strong, but they are also fickle (rhymes with pickle!). Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of the demons. So said Aldous Huxley.

By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach. That's right, Winston Churchill. Ever think of a time when you wished you'd have kept quiet? Once the words leave our mouth, we can't get them back. A sign in front of a church here in Iowa where I live was even more direct: "Lord, please keep one hand on my shoulder and the other over my mouth."

Dangerous words come in all varieties. Some sound meaningless and harmless, but they aren't. Words I find the most dangerous are: cruel, confusing, dishonest, offensive, foolish, explosive, empty, divisive, insensitive, discouraging, abusive, and arrogant. Through dangerous words, trust is betrayed, friendship is broken, family is divided, churches are split, nations slaughtered, and communities fragmented. So, please beware.

Words can build bridges or break hearts; they can give hope or steal peace; they can be a glorious present or a deadly poison. So let's do as Dan Nelson suggested: "As soon as you see someone doing something good, tell him about it."

We can each bring healing or harm. Kind words are the best currency available to us. The rule of friendship means always using friendly and sincere words. Well spoken, Cicero.

The five most powerful words in the English language are: "Thank you," "Would you, please?" "What do you think?" "I am proud of you." "I love you."

With a little effort you will never run out of good things to say. I've come to the conclusion as Goethe did, "Be generous with kindly words."

There is a tale of a poor boy who was born with a terribly disfigured face. When most people saw him, they whispered and stared. This boy would have been doomed if not for his beautiful words. If people heard his words without seeing his face, they were drawn to his gentle, kind and refreshing words. He soon learned to cover his face and use only positive words. His words brought him great success. By his 30th birthday, he was the wealthiest most respected man in the kingdom. He married and had three beautiful children.

One day his wife, who had never seen his face, begged him to remove his mask. "But if I let you see my face," said he, "you will no longer love me." She insisted this was not true - in fact, his failure to show his face she said was a sign he neither trusted nor loved her. Finally, on a bright spring morning, with trepidation, he removed his mask.

His wife gasped and the husband quickly covered his face. "No!" she said. "Let me look again." Slowly he uncovered his face a second time. His wife sighed, placing a mirror before him. "Do you see?" she said. "Your face is the most handsome I have ever seen." As others in the kingdom saw his face they agreed, and many wondered how an ugly boy became such a handsome man.

Yet the man knew the secret. Beautiful words create a beautiful face. Therefore watch your words. They have great power. Words with face. Interesting thought.