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If we were to speak with complete honesty and full disclosure, there is no doubt that all of us would admit there are some individuals who are a thorn in our side, or a pain in the neck. It’s that person that always seems to get your goat. You find yourself going out of your way to avoid them. The issue even gets thornier when that special person is a member of your family. You repeatedly tell yourself, “I am not going to let him/her get to me”, but they always seem to push the right buttons. But as much as we struggle with people who are thorns in our side, I believe the bigger battle is with the thorn in our flesh.

It’s easy to name those who irritate us, and it is very easy for us to identify the thorns in our flesh. We may not speak often of our thorns, but I believe we all have issues that are an irritant to us. There is almost universal identification among Christ followers with Paul and his admission of his thorn. Although his problem is not spelled out (many believe it to be an eye ailment), we understand why Paul would pray for it to be removed. There are times when we would do anything for our particular thorn to be taken away. But we must conclude that God knows best, and then glory in our own weakness as Paul did.

II Corinthians 12:7-9
To keep from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

God chose to let Paul live with his thorn when he could have removed it. Satan used it to torment him. In the Father’s design for Paul, He knew a thorn was needed. I can’t speak for you, but He knows what I need, and evidently a thorn(s) can be part of His oversight. Satan wants to torment us, but God’s grace is as sufficient for us today, as it was so long ago in the life of Paul. No matter what thorn you seem to continually battle, there is grace for the moment, and the power of Christ is available.

Although I am not sure who will be reading this, sound logic tells me you struggle with a thorn in your flesh. You may even be a bit weary on the journey. Do not lose heart, my friend, grace is available … boundless grace. Paul embraced his weaknesses, and he’s been used for centuries to encourage those with thorns. In conclusion to my challenge, please read carefully the passage above from The Message …

Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into it’s own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness …

Great perspective! Will you embrace it?

Every week tends to have a series of ebbs and flows. We can all look back and clearly see the blessings and trials that made up each day. If not careful, however, the trials that seem to linger will weigh us down. Sure, we are thankful for the blessings, but they seem to fade into the distance while our trials grow clearer by the moment. Just tonight, I talked to a friend that was going through a very difficult week. He was in physical distress because his eyes were inflamed, and he was in emotional distress because of being deeply hurt in business. It helped me to focus on the truth that trials come to all, we all need perspective, and we all need each other.

Reading the phrase, “so that we despaired even of life” would get anyone’s attention. Obviously a situation so dire that would cause a person to mouth such words is worth examining. Paul, in describing the hardships he endured in the province of Asia wrote these words to the church at Corinth. He also used the words, “…under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure…” (2 Cor. 1:8b) to describe a bleak situation. Most of us probably haven’t experienced the depth of Paul’s difficulties, but we all have had our own “under great pressure” moments. And quite frankly, there have been times where we all wondered, “Can I get through this?”

Paul’s perspective on his hardships has great meaning, and is wrought with wisdom. “…But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Cor. 1:9)  Isn’t constant dependence on God how we should be living anyway? The friend I talked with tonight knows that he needs to rely on God to get beyond his current struggles. Truthfully, that is how we should all live every day.  Only in truly relying on our Lord will there be sufficient energy to endure well. And don’t forget, He has the power to raise the dead! A full reading of the first chapter of II Corinthians relays a confidence that can be ours. Paul had no doubt that God who had delivered them from deadly peril would continue to do so. How is your confidence about your trials and your tomorrows?

There is more to our trial story. Namely, that we need each other. I doubt anyone would debate that point, but how do we need each other? Look at what Paul told the Corinthians. “…On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers…” (2 Cor. 1:10b, 11a). Paul wanted them to know that their prayers would play a part in deliverance. I don’t know about you, but the words in bold have escaped my attention when reading this passage, maybe a hundred times. Paul made it crystal clear that he needed their help, in the form of their prayers. As you see others walking through trials, they need your help … your prayer help. Paul looked for the supernatural provision of God to come through prayer. So should we!

We may not feel like our prayer time will have that much effect on another’s situation. But we need to leave the results to God, and simply pray. Others need us … in prayer. Just as my friend needs me to pray for him, someone needs your prayer time. And we all need to learn the lesson Paul conveys – to rely (truly rely) on God.

Trials will beset all of us; God can be trusted, and prayer really does work!

I wonder what the next three and a half weeks will hold for each of us?  Black Friday and Small Business Saturday have passed. Today is Cyber Monday. But every day between now and Christmas can give you and I an opportunity to reflect on the Promised Birth, and also find ways to gift others. Intentionally looking for the chance to bless and gift others is noble but rare.  During this season, I trust that all of our Journey articles will help motivate you to gift others in response to the magnificent Gift given to mankind over two thousand years ago.  With those words as a backdrop, I want to share with you a story that I read just this morning.

My wife and I are on a forty day reading journey together. We are using the book, Draw the Circle, by Mark Batterson.  The following true story culminates on Christmas Day 1908, but the results are eternal.  God is no less interested in leading you and me than he was John and Jessie Perkins.  But are we listening?

In 1908, two new missionaries, John and Jessie Perkins boarded a steamship circling the coast of Liberia. They knew God had led them to Africa, but didn’t know where. So they did something a bit radical for most of us.  They bought tickets and trusted that God would let them know where to get off!  When the ship rounded Garraway Point, they sensed the Holy Spirit’s leading to get off the ship.

They had no idea that a young man named Jasper Toe lived in this region. He was God-fearing, and practiced religious rituals, but had never heard the name of Jesus. One night he looked to heaven and prayed, “If there is a God in heaven, help me find You.” That very night he sensed God speaking to him. “Go to Garraway beach. You will see a box on the water with smoke coming out of it. And from that box on the water will come some people in a small box. These people in this small box will tell you how to find Me.”  Hmm!

Jasper went seven days by foot to Garraway beach. He arrived on Christmas Day. He saw the box (a steamship) floating on the water with smoke coming out of it. That is when John and Jessie sensed God telling them to get off the boat. When they approached the captain of the ship, he wasn’t obliged to let them off. He informed them that it was cannibal territory, and that people who went there didn’t come back.

John was adamant, “God wants us to get off the boat.”  In a canoe with all of their belongings, this brave couple headed to shore in a small box.  Guess who was on shore to meet them… Jasper! He took them to his village and they eventually learned the language of Jasper’s people. They started a church and Jasper Toe was the first convert.  His life was changed and those who knew him shared that he was one of the Godliest men they had ever known. And his legacy – hundreds of churches that he helped establish in the country of Liberia.

John and Jessie Perkins could have found lots of excuses not to give the gift of themselves. But they listened to our God — who speaks.  They didn’t know where He would say, “Get off!”  But they trusted that God would tell them. Think about Jasper Toe’s Christmas Day in 1908.  The Perkins gave their gift (themselves) and Jasper received the Gift!

While the world races toward Christmas 2013, will you listen for the gift that God may want you to share with someone?  It may be a gift from your treasures, or maybe it will be the gift of your time — but most of all, it will be the gift of you. Be willing to give it.  Let your gift reflect the Gift!

Simply amazing! Something less than one-third the size a dime turned my world upside down.  Last Monday I was in a relaxed mood going through the airport on my way to Florida … but everything changed in a moment.  I was next in line to send my luggage through the scanner when it happened.  As I reached into my travel case to remove the 3 ounce items, my finger made direct and forceful contact with a brand new razor blade. I didn’t just nick the skin; I sliced a small portion completely off (sorry for the details). Pain and blood both erupted simultaneously, and I had yet to go through security.  You can imagine trying to pick up your supplies, put your shoes on,  and fix your belt all while painfully bleeding all over the place (I am a drama queen). A TSA agent got me to the bathroom and the cleanup began. One man gave me a whole pack of band-aids, and I made it to Florida with four band-aids gripping a little spot on my finger. How could something so small create such chaos for me?! My reading this morning reminded me that something small can create chaos for any of us.

Has a small thing called the tongue ever turned your world upside down? It may have been a heated comment or just a selfish one, but from the moment the words were spoken, you were looking for band aids. And the unintended consequence of misspoken words is that they seem to linger and are not easily forgotten. If you have ever been on the receiving side of painful words, you realize that the quick fix of a band-aid is often not enough. I am convinced that everyone reading this article has felt the pain of damaging words, and probably also inflicted the same. Over the next five weeks, all of us will experience the joys and stress that come with preparing and enjoying Christmas. There may even be some family issues during the season that could easily cause words to be spoken that are painful.

The reading that caused me to compare my momentary pain to the damage that can be wrought by a small thing called the tongue was from James 3:5-10: 

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.  And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! (NLT)

Without knowing most of the people who will read these words, I feel impressed to come along side of you with a challenge. You and I both know what our tongues are capable of! There is no question that we also agree with the insight from the verses above. The key is, are we willing to be prepared emotionally and spiritually to live with a tongue full of grace during the next few weeks? You and I will both be tempted to speak our mind, which usually means creating a wound for someone else. Who wants to be putting band aids-on the wounds of painful words this Christmas season?

It took a few days this week before I removed the band-aids. Only minor pain still remains from my chaotic few minutes. But I will never open a travel case without remembering that moment. And my hope for you and for me is that no band-aids will be needed because of our words this year. One of my favorite verses in Scripture is Psalm 19:14:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (NLT)

Will you commit with me right now to let the words from your tongue be pleasing to Him during this stressful, but wonderful season? NO BAND-AIDS NECESSARY!

Recently, my husband was on a business trip in a rural part of northern Florida. Now, that part of the state’s geography could actually be included in the southern “Bible Belt” because there are so many churches in the area. Mike was travelling through a very small town on a back road, and he couldn’t help but notice the words on the sign of one small church. It read, “There are 3 things you need to know about eternity – location, location, location.” We both chuckled over that statement, but I have not been able to get it out of my mind. A statement that we have all used in some fashion, a simple, and humorous thought, yet truly profound…

When it is time for us to step into eternity, what will be our new location?

We all understand the concept behind the importance of location. McDonald’s spends millions on the study and selection of their next new store – and you know Wendy’s will be building nearby soon. Lowe’s conducts extensive demographic studies in order to choose their next spot – and you know Home Depot will be breaking ground soon nearby. Location is everything in the business world. What about to us? I taught a Bible study a while back based on the book by John McArthur entitled Twelve Ordinary Men; it was all about the twelve disciples. In the account about Thomas, there’s an incident where Jesus is trying to explain to the twelve that He will be leaving them soon. He, of course, was referencing His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to Heaven, but the twelve did not understand at all. Thomas asks a question in John 14:5-6…

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

And there it is – the simple, yet truly profound truth. The Way to choose our location for eternity is not through giving money, it’s not through volunteering, and it’s not through being a “good person.” It is through Jesus Christ, God’s son! I recently heard a now-famous TV preacher being interviewed; the newsman asked him point-blank, “how does a person get to Heaven?” I was thrilled. I thought God had given this preacher a golden opportunity to tell millions of people the Way, through Christ. Instead the preacher talked in broad generalizations, never answering directly. I was so disappointed in him. So often in this day and age, we are afraid of offending someone or making them feel bad.  This is a person’s permanent location we are talking about! Let’s keep it simple, direct and profound.

The way to get to Heaven is through Jesus Christ God’s Son. Location, Location, Location

Last Wednesday morning, I had what felt to be a divine encounter. Just writing those words sounds so hyper-spiritual that it makes me uneasy. When someone conveys a divine encounter to me, it’s easy to either feel a little jealous of God’s work in their lives, or discount the so-called spiritual event. Sometimes I even have the skeptical response of “yeah right,” when someone talks about a direct encounter with the Divine.  But I believe in divine encounters, I believe they happen often, I believe that I have missed sensing them, and I believe that you may feel exactly as I do. There is noise in my life and there is noise in yours, and if we are not careful, we just may miss the significance of moments that are designed by God for our good.  As you read about the small divine encounter that penetrated me last week, will you simply have the faith of a child to believe that God still speaks, and He has a lot to say to you?

A couple of weeks ago my reading took me to a passage of Scripture that is very familiar. You have probably heard and read of mountain-moving faith. The problem for me, and presumably for you, is that I often look at my mountains as more powerful than my faith. Therefore, there are too few mountains in my life that are cast into the sea! As I read over Mark 11:22-24 and considered it in my prayer time, something penetrated me. There is a particular area of weakness in my life I had never really looked at in light of that passage. But on that specific day, I determined that it was right for me to apply the passage to the specific issue of struggle that I sensed God wanted me to overcome. The context of saying to the mountain, “Go throw yourself into the sea,” became personal.  It became for me a burning bush kind of moment.

Mark 11:22-24
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

This passage is contained within the broader context of the withered fig tree that Jesus cursed.  In a seemingly abrupt turn, He speaks of mountain-moving faith.  Obviously there is a purpose in how God designed this passage with a fig tree, the concept of faith, mountains cast into the sea, believing and not doubting… all contained in a few verses.  A mountain being removed has affected me deeply over the last couple of weeks.  My view of this passage had always been … the big “out there” sort of mountain, not my personal internal mountain.  So I determined to pray believing that God’s will was for the mountain to be removed.  The passage came to mind again last Wednesday morning and I reviewed it … then my divine encounter!

I was driving to work and turned on a new Sirius satellite station my wife shared with me on vacation.  I heard only the end of a song. The words went like this – “Wait for the mountain to be removed!” The lyrics were spoken twice and the song was over.  You may be skeptical, but to me it was a divine encounter. To top it off, Thursday night late I was preparing for a meeting, and I looked at a book on prayer — wouldn’t you know, I turned to pages that quoted the Matthew passage relating to the same issue.  Then Friday morning on the way to work (this is truthful), I was listening to a song on my new favorite station and the song said words like this – “The Lord will move mountains if you’ll only ask.”  I had to pull over and write those words down. You may think I am just looking for something to validate what I believe God is doing in me (that’s okay), but He has got my attention … and I believe in divine encounters.  And I believe that through faith, He can remove my mountain.

I guess the best challenge from my experiences to your heart is this … Do you have any mountains that need moving? Do you believe that the mountain can be moved?  If so, would you stop right now, and with a yielded heart to His will, turn the mountain over to Him. I can’t tell you His answer, but I can tell you, He will honor a yielded heart … and I know He is bigger than any mountain … and divine encounters do happen.

He had been privileged since birth, living in the lap of luxury.  He attended only the best schools and had excelled in science, literature, mathematics, military tactics and hieroglyphics, the most difficult language ever written.  He commanded his own company of soldiers, never losing a battle.  Everyone knew his name, as he was most assuredly in line to be the next king.  But at the age of forty, that life of privilege and fame was gone in a moment’s action.  It started out as a day just like any other, except on that day, Moses lost his temper and murdered a man in cold blood.

You remember the story – Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Jewish slave and he killed the Egyptian, burying him in the sand.  Through the constant winds and shifting sands, the body was discovered.

Acts 7:29-30
When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

Moses was forty years old, and I bet that on many days he wondered, “How did this happen?  How did I end up like this?  God can never use me now.”  The difficult life in Midian became his; the riches of his life in Egypt were gone forever.  He lived in the home of his father-in-law and tended his flocks.  He owned no home, no livestock, no land…nothing.  He had become . . . well, a nobody.

There is no record of God communicating with Moses for the next forty years.  But at the age of 80, God speaks …

Exodus 3: 2
There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.

… continuing in verse 4
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”  And Moses said, “Here I am.”

The time had come and Moses answered the call.  I believe it is so obvious in Scripture that God can use anyone, of any age, of any position, at any time for His glory, even those, like Moses, who have “blown it” in the past.  Not convinced?  Let’s look at these names you may recognize. . .

• Abraham was a liar, yet he was called “the friend of God.”

• Jacob was a cheater, yet he received the new name, Israel.

• Rahab was a prostitute, yet her name is in the Hebrews Hall of Faith. . . and her lineage is traced to Jesus Christ.

• Peter denied Christ 3 times, yet he preached to 3000 in Acts.

• Paul ordered the persecution of many Christians, yet was specifically chosen to take the Gospel to many parts of the known world.

We share something in common with Moses and the rest of these pillars of the faith. . . FAILURE!  Yet we also share the common thread of usability.  I think Charles Swindoll wrote it best when he said, “Any bush will do – you just have to be burnable.”