journey onWord with us

Can you imagine a more frightful or frustrating surprise than to be awakened out of a sound sleep by a phone call? Your mind races as you fumble to find the phone in the pitch dark. Will it be serious or just another annoying wrong number? Fourteen years ago this fall, the phone rang at 3 a.m. and our daughter was crying and quite upset. She had just moved to New York City for college and was living on the upper west side of Manhattan in student housing. She was not prone to homesickness and had never given us a late-night scare. But this was different; it was the rats!  They had invaded her building, and she and her roommates were scared to death of them. So what did I do? I went to NYC the next day and rat-proofed the dorm room … just what any other caring father would have done. The Bible is full of stories of how God cares for His children. One of Christ’s parables gives us insight into the heart of our Father.

After Christ had finished praying in a certain place, one of His disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus gave them a model prayer and then launched into a story.

Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’  The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’  But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
Luke 11:5-8 (NIV)

Always study parables in their period
context. Remember they are told in the
experience of daily life in the first century
and not our 21st century Western culture.

From my study, I have surmised that the bold request would have been a result of wanting to show hospitality (part of the culture). Picture the person knocking at the door of a friend living with his family in a one room peasant’s house. I can picture the scene and the frustration that would have ensued. Jesus explains that although he would be reluctant, the sleepy neighbor would respond to this boldness and persistence. Please be careful not to interpret this story as a parallel of our Father’s care for us when we come to Him, but as a contrast. We have an un-weary Father who desires that His children come with their burdens. Can you believe your Father wants you to continually come to Him? Do you believe He will answer? Have you given up hope? 

After sharing the parable, Jesus, invites His disciples (and us) to come boldly to the throne of grace. His words are timeless, and we don’t have to wait for midnight emergencies. He is waiting for His children to call on Him. 

Here’s what I’m saying:  Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open.
Luke 11:9 (NIV)

In studying this passage, we find the intent of these admonitions is to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking. Are you living persistent in prayer, with a settled confidence that He is committed and faithful to meet your needs? If not, start by faith today.

If my daughter calls at midnight with another rat emergency, I will be on my way quickly. I’m guessing you would too! With great power and divine care, God is ready for our emergencies … and every other need. Don’t hesitate to truly and persistently seek Him. If you are in Christ, know that you have a good and loving Father who is not reluctant to answer your prayers.

We all have preconceived notions about other countries and other people groups. Over the last several days, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit the Canadian Rockies. It was a prearranged business trip that I would have never taken unless it was company sponsored; plus the location was on my wife’s bucket list. Was I surprised? It may have been the most beautiful place we have ever visited with majestic scenery and wonderful people. My biased perceptions were certainly laid to rest.

At the airport on our way home while checking our baggage, we had an interesting conversation with a nice Canadian woman. Before long, we were challenged with a perception of our country that stunned us. The conversation went something like this. The nice woman said, “Don’t you feel safe here?” To which I answered “yes,” having no idea what she truly meant. Then she said, “We are afraid to go to the United States … because of the guns.” Her words rendered us almost speechless! But that was her perception of our wonderful country. Different countries, different people … vastly different perceptions!

We all also live with perceptions about the people in our lives. It is especially easy to let our feelings become skewed in an unbiblical manner toward those who have hurt us. Once they do, it is easy for our minds to emotionally shut them out, hold on to anger towards them, and respond in a manner contrary to the will of God. Make no mistake, we all have those people in our lives and we battle our emotions and will in dealing with them. It is easy to let our perceptions of those hurtful people become very biased.

In the Beatitudes listed in Luke six, Christ taught about loving our enemies. His words go straight to the heart of how Christ-followers should respond to enemies, and those who hate, curse and hurt us. Quite frankly, the way many Christians perceive enemies, haters, cursers and hurters cause those same Christ-followers to violate God’s plan for dealing with them.

But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you. If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:27-36 (NLT)

Towards the same kind of people we perceive in a very negative way, Christ gives us the commands to do good, bless, pray for, be kind and be compassionate. It should be noted that living like this will not be easy, but it will be Christ-like. And could it be that some of those very enemies, haters, cursers and hurters will be affected and perhaps forever changed by the gift of your love?  — that is not normal, but very biblical. Also, just maybe, some of our perceptions will be changed when God uses us in the healing work He is doing in their lives.

The Canadian Rockies now rate high on my list of places to visit, and our Canadian airport friend is still a bit afraid of the guns in America. The difference is, my wife helped change my perception to reality! If you and I will live Christ’s model in the beatitudes, our prior perceptions will change to a blessed reality.

In reading this week, i was reminded of a story that is one of my favorites in all of the Bible.  It’s central character is the one i most see in myself.  i would guess there are many who would/could say the same.  Peter was a glorious mess.  In his sold-out self, he was everything we desire to be in following Jesus.  In his broken self, he was everything we can immediately relate with.  In his most visible failure we see every well-meaning, yet broken promise we’ve ever made to God.  “Even if all fall away, I will not,” Peter said. (Mark 14:29)  And in the very next verse, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”  i can feel the immense weight of those moments and words with every fiber of my being.

As darkness blankets Golgotha, the curtain in the temple tears in two, the earth violently rumbles and shakes, and the last breath leaves the lips of our Savior, we expect it to be as He shouted … It is finished!  Jesus took the incalculable weight of the sins of all for all time on His own body and died as their only ransom.  Sin’s power — and Peter’s wretched denial — they are over!  It is finished.

Yet this is nowhere near the end of Peter’s, Jesus’, or our story.  Jesus died and was buried, yes, but He rose again and He lives!!  In His rising, Jesus broke the power of death.  In His rising, He completed the work of redemption and its glorious gift of life.  In His rising, He erased the period at the end of Peter’s story.  Peter denied, the rooster crowed, and Satan began the work of locking Peter up in the prison of that single sin.  But there was more story to be written, and very soon the angels would begin it again as they announced Jesus’ resurrection to the women who had gathered at His tomb.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Mark 16:6-7

Whom should they tell?  “… go, tell his disciples and Peter.”  In the immediate aftermath of Peter’s denial, God began the work of pursuing and restoring him.  It was no random detail or flippant mention by the angels, it was an intentional and purposeful step by the God of the Universe in Peter’s direction.  And God wasn’t finished yet.  Jesus appears to His disciples several times after His resurrection and before He ascended into heaven.  On one of those occasions, He specifically turned to Peter and asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter quickly answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus asked again, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter answered once again with the same words.  Then Jesus asks a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  This time Peter seems a bit injured, but answers “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” (Conversation from John 21:15-17)

Was Jesus looking to make sure Peter loved Him?  Was His deliberate repeat an attempt to make an example of Him?  i am certain Jesus did not need assurance, but i do believe an example was part of the point.  Asked intentionally three times, this was a powerful and meaningful statement to Peter … and to us all.  Jesus sees through to the very heart of Peter and knows the hole which remains from his devastating denial.  In the intentional asking, Jesus heals the hole, restores Peter and invites him to “follow me!”  A broken servant, a healing Savior … what a perfect picture of who we are, and who He is.

For me, there is no more notable or enduring story when i think on the person of Peter.  Whenever i recall it, the countless instances of God’s forgiveness and restoration in my own life are replayed.  i am reminded of how deeply Jesus loves me (and you).  Praise God that Peter’s story is also my own.  May we never forget how beautifully and bountifully Jesus loves, forgives, grants grace and restores.  He leaves the 99 to go searching for the one who is lost.  He asks intentionally three times.  He sees the holes which need healing.  He knows us and calls us by name.

How must it have been to be an ordinary fisherman approached by the One who breathed the world into existence and to hear the very voice of God invite you to come follow Him?  What would it have been like to be a pedestrian standing on the street corner catching a glimpse of the God of the universe in human flesh as He walked by?  Can you even imagine looking into the face of Jesus?

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time in His earthly life.  The time has come for Him to walk the final steps of God’s great redemptive plan.  The journey to Jerusalem passes through the city of Jericho, and Jesus has sacred appointments to keep.  As I think about both (and especially the one we will consider today), i am reminded of Jesus reading from the scroll of Isaiah one Sabbath day in the synagogue.

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
Luke 4:17-18 (ESV)

As Jesus is leaving the city of Jericho, a blind man sits along the roadside.  As the group who is following Jesus passes by, the blind man asks someone near him what all the commotion is about.  He is told Jesus is walking by, and immediately the blind man begins calling out to him.  “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47b)  Those gathered in the crowd near the blind man attempt to quiet him.  “Don’t make a scene!” they are likely thinking in their hushes to the blind beggar.  “This is Jesus!  This is the Master!  He has a schedule to keep, more important places to be, and more important people to be with!”  But the man who was only blind physically, cries out even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48b)  He will not be silenced, because He believes in the power of the Great Healer.  In reading his conversation with Jesus, it is clear Bartimaeus has spiritual sight.  The loss of physical sight was his condition in this life, but He knew of Jesus and already believed.  In answer to his cries, Jesus stops and heals Bartimaeus’ physical sight.  In his choice to get up and follow Jesus after being healed, Bartimaeus’ spiritual sight is confirmed.

There is a brief and beautiful passage in a book I have from my grandfather Robb’s personal library.  Bible Characters contains excerpts from the sermons of three great preachers of the 1800’s.  In D.L. Moody’s section, there is an entry for Bartimaeus.  Mr. Moody tells a short fictional story based on the exchange between Bartimaeus and Jesus.  In it, Bartimaeus is speaking with a friend who is suggesting “There is a man of Israel who can give you sight.”  Bartimaeus quickly responds, “Oh, no!  There is no chance of my ever receiving my sight.  I never shall see.  In fact, I never saw the mother who gave me birth.  I never saw the wife of my bosom.  I never saw my own children.  I never saw in this world, but I expect to see in the world to come.”

Mr. Moody’s story suggests Bartimaeus never believed his healing would come on this side of heaven … but he did believe it would come.  The story of Jesus and Bartimaeus has multiple layers of resonance and application in our lives, and one of them reminds us of that truth.  If you have placed your faith and trust in Jesus and you are suffering on any level today, your healing is coming.

I can vividly remember standing in support of a deep friend and brother who lost the love of his life in this world to cancer.  I remember him confidently declaring to person after person that although God did not choose to heal his beloved wife here, she was healed now.  What an incredible and indelible message of courage and faith.  The faith of one who sees beyond the darkness and brokenness in this world.  Take heart, all you who are suffering and yet remain faithful.  Your healing is coming.

Over the years, I have heard masterful teaching on the topic of how to handle storms. I have even had the opportunity to do some “storm teaching” myself. Over the last couple days, I have thought about my own storms — or trials, if you prefer that word. If not careful, it is easy for me to know a strategy but miss the application of faith during those trying times.

I believe it’s a safe assumption that you are also facing some faith adventures this week. It could be a health journey, a job scenario, a relational struggle, a financial mountain, or just an everyday “Will I trust Him?” moment.  Storms, after all, come in many shapes, sizes and strengths. God in His wisdom uses these “refiners” to help us learn (and re-learn) dependence. As you read the next few paragraphs, let your mind travel back to a stormy day in the life of Jesus and His disciples. Faith will rise to the forefront and we can certainly relate to the dilemma.

Our context is found in Mark 4:35-41. After a day of teaching, Jesus takes His disciples on an adventure in trusting Him. He informs the group they’ll be heading across the Sea of Galilee. He is leading them into the storm! Sometimes storms result from our disobedience, but at other times, the Father’s design is to send us headlong into troubled waters … but never without an anchor.

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41

Scripture tells us this was a fierce storm.   It was so intense that waves broke into the boat. The text makes it clear the disciples had serious concerns about drowning. Can you believe that Jesus was sleeping while all of this was going on?! You may not mouth words like those of the disciples, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”  But you (and I) have had similar thoughts. They had waves and we have our “storms.” As you view this week’s faith adventure, are you looking with eyes of faith or do you have that drowning feeling? Christ’s rebuke of the storm and to His disciples is instructive, even today.

With the words, “Silence! Be still!” Jesus calmed the wind. The Creator of the Universe was in control of nature. It is amazing that Christ-followers accept His control over our eternal destiny, yet we struggle with the daily storms. If you are anything like me, you have met some stormy days with strong faith. But in many others, drowning seemed inevitable. It is rhetorical to say we should never doubt that He is in control, but we do. Preparation for the rough waters will determine how we respond when the storms come. Are you allowing Him to prepare you?

Jesus also had strong words for his disciples after calming the storm. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” His rebuke gives us a clear indication that they were not responding with faith to His teaching and miracles. We all have an opportunity today to respond with faith in the midst of our storms. In your strategy of faith, remember three principles to hold fast to in the storms: He knows what you are going through; He wants to help you grow in the storm; He offers wisdom for the moment.

I often find (even after safe passage) I still get that drowning feeling in response to my storms. But today is new, God is still in control, and you and I can choose to view our personal storms with eyes of faith. Whatever storm you are facing right now is under the watchful eye of your Lord. Respond in faith!

Not much that happened 42 years ago in the summer of 1975 remains in my conscious memory. Oh … except for one event! On one particular Sunday, I showed an outrageous bit of youthful enthusiasm combined with a bit of immature logic. While working for my home church during summer break, I wanted to motivate some children. They were given a goal, and once it was accomplished I willingly bit a goldfish in half and swallowed it (yuck!). Please don’t think I’m crazy, because at age 62, it also sounds sickening to me (I still blow great bubbles). My intentions were noble in working for the Lord, but a more mature me would never have done something like that! Although it was completely impulsive and only happened once, a friend remembered it almost four decades later! Just yesterday, I was looking at a special anointing from Matthew 26 that, in a small way, reminds me of my youthful energy.

You, too, have probably read the story and know of Mary’s (sister of Martha) devotion. The scene was in Bethany as Christ was nearing the time he would willingly submit to the cross. There were several people gathered at the home of a man named Simon the Leper where Jesus was eating. A woman approached him with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. You can imagine the response. The disciples were indignant! This perfume was highly valuable and could have been used to help the poor. One account of the story explains that the perfume could have been sold for more than a year’s wages!

Her impulsive act was surely out of the norm but was uniquely honored by Christ. You and I would have likely aligned ourselves with the indignant disciples and rebuked her. We would have thought of the value of the perfume and missed its divine significance. But Christ didn’t miss the beauty of her devotion. We pick up the story in Matthew 26:10.

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured out this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

I don’t understand the full depth of this passage, but this woman was symbolically preparing Jesus’ body for burial. Her act of devotion was not casual; it was expensive and sacrificial. None of us reading the story of this event centuries later would classify her gift as wasteful. But in the moment, the disciples did! Christ, however, never classifies giving our best for Him as a waste. In fact, look at her legacy: “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” And it still lives on today!

Eating goldfish doesn’t appeal to me today. But I can’t remember much else from that summer 42 years ago. With youthful enthusiasm, I did the unthinkable. By sacrificing expensive perfume, Mary did the unimaginable! My stunt is remembered as a silly act. Her’s is remembered with eternal significance. Could it be that in our desire to be mature and logical, we have lost the joy of being radical for Christ?

Sometimes I miss the spiritual spark of my youth, and maybe you do too. This week, if the Father places you in a position to stand out for Him (even if it is radical), do it! It may just add to your spiritual legacy…. I just wouldn’t recommend the goldfish!

Performance-based living is the norm in our 21st century culture. And make no mistake, almost everyone is caught in the performance trap. From a very young age we are all challenged to succeed, which is a noble aspiration. But often, the desires to perform well and succeed become primary ways in which we value ourselves. When our value is based on what you or I do, there will always be disappointment. Why? Because good can always be better, and inevitably someone will outperform us. And graduating from childhood to adulthood doesn’t lessen these desires for performance or success. We see it in every facet or corner of our lives – even spiritually!

With full candor, I can tell you that if I am not careful, performance and winning can be too important to me. I hate to lose at anything. If I’m playing golf, winning is my goal (although I lose more often than I win). In business, I am not interested in being second. Having a healthy desire to achieve is noble, but performance-based living can too easily consume us all. When I take inventory of my spiritual journey, I have often seen too much focus on performing well and too little emphasis on resting in Christ. Performance-based living in the spiritual realm is an adversary of the restful soul. Rest is available and essential for all Christ-followers.

Recently, I have been reading a book entitled, Thirsting for God by Gary L. Thomas. His writing captured my attention concerning a quiet heart, and living in a relationship with God that is not performance-based. See if the quote below gives you a sense of the problem that we all face.

Undo fretting leads to “soul sadness,” or despondency, or, as Francis de Sales put it, “inquietude.” Soul sadness is the result of a performance-based holiness, and it often plagues those who most want to serve God.

DeSales wrote that true holiness is cultivated with “patience, meekness, humility, and tranquility, expecting it more from the providence of God than from [our] own industry or diligence.”

Patience, meekness and tranquility are not the fruits of performance-based living. God’s grace in salvation is through faith, not works. Those of us who know Him should not live or serve with a performance-based mindset … as if that was a way to win His favor. He already loves us, wants us to enjoy His rest, and undoubtedly will guide us to His definition of successful living if we seek Him. Unfortunately, we too often turn serving, giving and helping others into performance-based holiness.  The result?  We experience “soul sadness” (as de Sales describes it) because our performance is about gaining favor instead of resting in our God who loves to favor us. Serving, giving and helping others should flow from the well-source of our relationship with Jesus as He guides our choices and actions (performance).

Performing well and living with patience, tranquility and meekness are challenging things to achieve. I still want to win at golf and do well in business, but those things should never define me. When my (your) relationship is honoring the Father, rest will come, and our performance will cause “soul gladness.” If you are a serious Christ-follower, think about what drives your performance.

We all live with a set of beliefs. As believers in Christ, we definitely have core values that guide our lives. They are non-negotiables! One deeply held value for Christ-followers is that we are committed to the authority of Scripture. But that is where the concept of unbelievable believables enters the picture. From a human standpoint, we also live with unbelievable believables. Intellectually, we all know that we have the capacity to lose — pounds, worry, bad habits (we all have some), and on and on the list goes!   Yet we don’t! Unbelievable believables!! When it comes to our spiritual journey, the contrast between what we believe and how we practice those same principles has a real effect on our effectiveness for Christ.

Most believers in Christ know worry is wrong. It is sin. In a message from Matthew 6:25-34, David Jeremiah called worry inconsistent, irrational, ineffective, illogical and irresponsible. I agree … and I’m guessing you do as well.  So then, why do we worry? What we believe intellectually and biblically is easily unbelievable emotionally and practically. Even a casual look at Matthew 6:25-34 gives us the Father’s view. We believe the words of Jesus in this passage, but often our experience is different from our belief.

Take the time to read Matthew 6:25-34.  They are the very words of Jesus telling you and me how to handle worry. For any Christ-follower, the words of Jesus are do-able.  Why else would He have spoken them?

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?  Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

I purposefully italicized certain words for emphasis. Jesus’ words are believable. So then, why do we practice it as unbelievable? I certainly don’t know your circumstances, but the Father does, and He desires for us to live today without worry. Believe it!

For just today, intentionally live with faith (trusting Him for everything), embrace the thought that Jesus doesn’t want you to worry, and simply seek Him and His will first. You may just find that, even for just that one day, living without worry isn’t unbelievable. And then repeat the practice tomorrow!

We’ve been vacationing this week with my Mom and Dad, sister and her family in the Great Smokey Mountains.  A week in the trees (a beautiful cabin nestled in the forest near the very top of a small mountain ridge) to honor and celebrate fifty years of marriage.  One of the most treasured activities of the week has been to sit on the second level deck first thing in the morning, looking out over the forward valley and layer upon layer of mountains in the distance.  The most pronounced feature of our daily observations has been the “smoke” that defines these mountains.  Low-level clouds seem to “appear” or move in (predominately from stage left) and float between the distant “channels” formed by the mountain ranges, pushed along by a soft and unseen current.  Our cabin has one of the best views of the mountains, valleys, and the smoky dance.

This particular morning, we experienced something we hadn’t all week.  As varied as the movement of the “smoke” has been, it was startlingly unique today.  As my sister gathered cups for a second round of coffee, the wind freshened and a “tall” and thick mass of smoke rolled in from our right.  It was the most substantial single gathering of smoke we’ve seen all week.  It made us sit up in our rockers and take notice.  At the same time, another wave of smoke began to spill over the ridge that runs along the right side of the cabin.  All were moving at the pace of the freshening wind.  It was the first time this week the smoke was pushed so severely by the palpable force of the wind.

We couldn’t take our eyes off the tall column of cloud.  It moved organically in and through a nearer channel.  It changed shape, but stayed together.  It commanded the valley as it glided softly across the swale and ridges.

As i sat, then stood, and observed, my mind and heart went to the nation of Israel being led by the great cloud that was God’s presence as they “wandered” through the wilderness.  The wandering was from their perspective, not that of the great Cloud.  As the cloud moved, they moved.  When it stood still, they stopped and waited with it.

As i sat down to write (even while the great column of cloud was still visible to our left) i experienced the very breath of the Spirit with each inhale.  Have you ever “heard” God?  Have you “seen” Him?  i’d suggest you have, because i know i have.  And i believe i did this morning.  i am not necessarily suggesting He was in the tall column of cloud, but how big is your God to believe that He was?  And while He may not have been in the great gathering of smoke this morning, i’ve experienced Him with every inhale as i’ve typed.  My God is big enough to absolutely believe that.

How big is your God?  How close is He … right at this very moment?  Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8) … who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke!” (Psalm 104:32)

Has the following scenario caused conflicted emotions for you? While focusing on a project, someone interrupts you with the words, “Do you have a moment?” or “Are you busy?”  Internally your emotions scream, “No. I don’t have time!”  But instead, you whisper the words, “Sure. What can I do for you?”  Most caring people want to help others, but it seems that the interruptions of life disrupt our perfectly laid plans.  It’s so easy to build a model for what needs to be accomplished in a day, only to have it interrupted by a myriad of issues and people. It is instructive to view how Christ handled a life of disruptions compared to the frustration of those “Do you have a moment?” minor irritations that we face.

As I begin a new study of Matthew this week, the words of Jesus will be a main focus of my study. His words and actions are invaluable guides as I travel my own journey. Again, from my vantage point, Christ lived a very interrupted life.  I am certain His daily inconveniences would have taxed my preconceived plans . In the next few days, I will read again instances that show Christ handling moments of disruption with grace. It will be as instructive as the other times I have read the same portions of Scripture … but I am praying it will be so in a new and fresh way. The key for me (and I trust you) is to intentionally embrace those God-ordained moments. There are people who need what you and I have to offer, and what we do when interrupted can have lasting impact.

In reading The Rest of God, by Mark Buchanan, words about the life and interruptions of Jesus struck a nerve.

“He lived life with the clearest and highest purpose. Yet he veered and strayed from one interruption to the next, with no apparent plan in hand other than his single, overarching one: get to Jerusalem and die. Otherwise, His days, as far as we can figure, were a series of zigzags and detours, apparent whims and second thoughts, interruptions and delays, off-the-cuff plans, spur-of-the-moment decisions, leisurely meals, serendipitous rounds of storytelling…….

No, Jesus didn’t seem to keep time. But he noticed. So many people along the way—blind men, lame men, wild men, fishermen, tax men, weeping whores, pleading fathers, grieving mothers, dying children, singing children, anyone—captured his attention. He stopped to tell a lot of stories, many of which arose out of, well, more interruptions.”

Christ was far busier than you or me. Yet we become so enamored or absorbed in our schedule and our plans that we don’t —notice — like Christ did. This is not a call to spend our days singing Kumbaya, and missing what has to be done. At the same time, if you and I look at interruptions selfishly, then we’re certain to fail to notice meaningful opportunities given to us by God. We must look at interruptions with eyes which are wide open and with a heart full of His wisdom.

“My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted,” Henri Nouwen said near the end of his life, “until I discovered that interruptions were my work.”  Could it be that the daily interruptions that so often irritate us are moments of great value?  Moments of God-value!

Tomorrow, most of us will spend some time with family and friends, and there could be a moment of interruption. Be sure to embrace the moment … and do what Jesus would do! Happy Independence Day!!