journey onWord with us

I love reading the Bible!  I love being reminded over and over how even the earliest of stories speak directly into our lives and our “right here, right now, today” sort of circumstances.  Did I mention I love reading the Bible?!  I value the effort and result of reading over hearing.  It can be so easy in our strapped-for-time lifestyles to crowd out time with God, simply reading his Word.  Instead, we often rely on the once a week words of another to translate its truth for us.  How blessed it is to simply read.  There is something that happens to us when we simply read.  Regardless of what level of self-assessed “ability” you have in understanding the words of the sacred text, I firmly believe the truth of Isaiah 55:10-11 always applies when we simply read.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;  it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (ESV)

In light of that, I found myself reading the story of Joseph today with new eyes.  Subtle details literally leapt off the page that had either escaped my notice or had long been forgotten after experiencing the story over and over through someone else’s teaching.  The fact that Israel (Jacob) actually made the ornate coat that he gave to Joseph.  The fact that when Joseph shared his dreams with his father, he “rebuked him” … even, being the favored son.  This made me think of how easy it can be, even when we love someone, to feel threatened or jealous of how they have been blessed, or in seeing what God is doing in their lives. 

There was Israel sending Joseph out to the distant fields to check on his brothers to see if they were alright and report back.  This was just after he had rebuked him, and in front of his brothers.  Did he not sense any of the animosity the other brothers had for him?  And then there was Reuben, and his attempt to manage the circumstances in hopes of rescuing his brother.  I guess I had forgotten about the guilt or compassion that motivated this brother to save Joseph.  So many “little” things that speak directly into our lives and our “right here, right now, today” sort of circumstances.

But perhaps the truth that rang loudest to me was found in the events immediately following Joseph’s brothers selling him to the caravan of Ishmaelites that was passing by on their way to Egypt.  The brothers slaughter a goat, take Joseph’s ornate coat and immerse it in the blood, and then return it to their father.  They ask their father to examine the coat to determine whether it is Joseph’s.  They watch him tear his clothes and mourn for days.  They allow him to sit with the picture of Joseph being mauled and devoured by a wild animal.  Then they have the audacity to join their sisters and attempt to comfort him. Take a moment and stop to consider the absurdity and mockery and pure evil that is at work here.  Go ahead; I’ll wait; it’s important that we do.

No, really … I’ll wait.

OK … It’s hard to stomach the thought of this scene, right?!  A group of blood brothers (that term certainly seems to fit well here), who have hatched a plan to deceive their father into thinking his youngest son has been brutally killed.  Perpetrating a fraud based on innocent ignorance of the treasured garment that they tore from the body of their brother before throwing him in a hole.  Crafting a cover-up they intended to be the final punctuation on ever seeing or speaking of their youngest brother again.   How awful and evil and intentional is this scene?!  Another pause, please…

I’m afraid it’s as awful and evil and intentional as every occasion you and I sin and then lie in an attempt to deceive others or God.  See, God is no sliding-scale judge of deception or sin.  He does not judge the hearts and actions of Joseph’s brothers any more harshly than yours or mine in even the most “minor” of untruths or misdeeds.  In the suggestion of, “Go ahead; I’ll wait; it’s important that we do”, there is recognition of the imperative that we allow Scripture to be a mirror or a searchlight; the imperative that we never see the sins of a group of blood brothers or, how about Roman soldiers, as more grievous than our own.  How many times have I sinned and then lied, crafting a cover-up as absurd, or worse, than a bloody coat?

But, oh how Scripture doesn’t stop there!  The story of Joseph doesn’t end with the punctuation the brothers intended.  Oh the grace that restored the brothers, and profited the nation in the impending scarcity of food.  Oh the good that God worked through the sin of jealous and angry hearts.  That grace and that good are for us too!  Oh the promise that we can never be thrown, or throw another, into a hole so deep that God cannot see into or rescue from!  Praise God that he is equally present in our distress and our deliverance!  Simply read … and taste that He is good!

Twenty-one days have now come and gone in the new year.  Resolutions that were ripe with anticipation just three short weeks ago are now wrought with reality; were my commitments based on wishful thinking or deeply held values?  For most of us, the answer is probably somewhere in between those two extremes. But the truth remains that after twenty-one days we all have a decision to make. Will this year be different, or will the diet go from chicken and fish to hamburgers and fries?  Will our exercise program go from rigorous to I’ll do it tomorrow? Will our personal and professional goals be achieved this year?  If so, we must keep going!  As I look at my decisions after twenty-one days, I am convinced that this year can be different, but it won’t be easy.  My goal in this post is simple; from the heart of a fellow struggler, I want you to be encouraged.

During the last week, I have been knee-deep in my reading of Genesis. There is much I could write about while viewing the lives of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac, but I have sensed that maybe a picture from my twenty-one days could resonate with your journey.  One of the commitments that I made at the beginning of January was to slow down, and live life at a different pace. I have actually tried to quantify what slowing down means to me.  In my past, words like being type A, or having a driven personality could be a badge of honor.  In viewing my journey now, I want to live as I perceive Christ would have walked this earth — busy, but always ready to listen and never in a hurry.  But trying to live this way is causing me to reflect on how much I trust Him vs. how much I want to control my life.

Last week, I was in Florida working with a friend.  We were intensely working on some issues, and I had the grand notion to make a point with him about slowing down.  At that moment, I was thinking about him slowing down, not me.  On his property there is a twenty acre pasture, and I suggested that we should take a break and head out to enjoy the wide open spaces.  We started walking and I met a goat named Pedro, ate cane juice (new experience), fed three horses, dodged some cow pies and eventually ended up in the midst of about 20 sheep and a donkey.  My friend slowed down, but so did the mastermind of my plot.  We had worked together many times before while looking at that pasture, but never had taken the time to slow down and enjoy it.  Why?  Because with ill-conceived thinking, we find it easier to drive ourselves, and try to control life.

In meditating on the pasture experience, and trying to slow down personally, professionally and spiritually, my battle has been with trust.  By slowing down, will I hurt my business?  Taking time to work out, walk in a pasture, and listen without being in a hurry all contradict my emotional instincts of building my business.  Do I believe He is in control? Do I believe that if I work at His pace (slower than mine), that He can make up the difference?   So, if I really feel slowing down is a value that my Lord approves, then can I trust Him?  The answer is yes…yes…yes!  My choice is, will I?

My purpose with a personal illustration just twenty-one days into the new year is for your encouragement. You, like me may have some strong valued commitments that are easier recited than completed.   If you believe the Father is pleased with your desires, then trust Him (even when you want to quit), and keep going just one more day, and then one more … I know there will be days that I revert to the fast and furious, and that you struggle with your commitments, but by His grace, this year will be different.

Her name meant “My Princess,” and sometimes she could act just like one … a spoiled rotten one!  I am talking about Sarai, Abraham’s wife.  Scripture repeatedly refers to her beauty, even at the age of 65, but she also exhibited temperamental traits of jealousy and unreasonable behavior.  She threw the occasional tantrum.  Some have called her manipulative; she certainly could be a nag.  Sarai, whose name was changed to Sarah at the age of 90, not long before she gave birth to her first child, was many things; one thing is certain – she was the matriarch of the great Hebrew nation.  Sarah had her faults, but Scripture commends her on more than one occasion.  Peter wrote about her as the example of a faithful and excellent wife.  The book of Hebrews names her in the Hall of Faith chapter.  She gave birth to one child and started Hebrew history.

I like Sarah.  She has her faults, but I like her.  And one aspect of her life has been of great encouragement for me – Sarah wanted one thing more than anything in this world … a child.  But Sarah was barren, and time was not on her side.

Genesis 11:30
But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Sarah was consumed with having a child.  Almost every outburst (tantrum) of hers recorded in Scripture was connected to this very personal struggle.  In ancient times, a woman who could not have children was considered under punishment from God !  Finally Sarah really blew it by talking her husband Abraham into fathering a child with her housemaid.

I know you are confused – what could possibly be of great encouragement for me through this awful situation? Well, it is based on these verses in Genesis 15:

And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”  Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.”  He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”  (v. 3-5  NIV)

So God had promised Sarah’s husband an heir and innumerable descendants.  Every indication is that Sarah was devoted to her husband … and her God.  Yet she could still not rest in this promise that came directly from God to her husband!  And the promise was reiterated by God to Abraham several more times!

Why couldn’t Sarah just believe?  Why can’t I just believe?  Why can’t you ?

We have the promises directly from God in His Word to us … and like Sarah, we still cannot stop ourselves from taking matters into our own hands.

Sarah really messed up.  I have, too.  But God has never turned His back.  He has never walked away.  Sarah gave birth at the spry age of 89 (Abraham was just short of 100!) … the promised heir finally arrived … after Sarah made a mess of things. We will all mess up again-guaranteed.  But if we can keep our eyes on the promises in our reach from our Bibles, maybe our mess-ups will be fewer, our trust stronger.

Did I mention Sarah made the Book of Hebrews Hall of Faith?  Yesterday ended at midnight.

I wonder how many times in my life the words “with friends like that, who needs enemies” have exited my lips? Over the last week, I have seen a dramatic picture of friends that easily judged a man who had lost his family, wealth and health in direct attacks by Satan himself. My honest opinion of these condescending judges has been less than favorable. But then on Saturday morning as I was reading about a younger man (Elihu) who was weighing in on Job’s situation, my thoughts turned inward. My conclusion: I am also guilty of too easily judging others. How about you?

There were four men that gave strong diatribes at Job. Their words were laced with truth, but in my opinion were often misplaced.  Three of Job’s friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) felt that his suffering came because of sin. These men are an example to all of us of what not to do when we want to help a struggling friend. When words of care and comfort were needed, these men quickly became condescending and calloused. Their responses are admittedly a strong illustration of judging, but my concern is that I too can be more of a judge and less of a care giver.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to have strong opinions about a friend’s situation? You and I most certainly wouldn’t go to the limits that Job’s friends took him, but our opinions (even unspoken) can still be pretty ruthless and uncaring.  Have you ever seen someone you love in a dilemma, and before you catch yourself you have sized up the problem, given clear directions about a solution and missed the opportunity to really care. I have!  I must confess that it is easy for me to look at a friend or family member and have all the answers. The problem is I don’t, but I know someone who does. In the suffering of Job, God finally spoke. And believe me, His answers are far better than mine.

I can tell you for sure how I want to be treated when a rough patch comes to my life.  I want friends who listen, care and aren’t interested in judging me, but loving me instead.  I’d be shocked if you didn’t feel the same way. If that is the way we want to be treated, then we should take the counsel found in Matthew 7:1-5 (MSG). The words remind me of Job’s verbal executioners, and they remind me of how I should respond to those I love and care for.

Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, and criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

My goal in life is never to play the judge. I have just been reminded this weekend that I don’t have all the answers. This week you and I will have the opportunity to judge someone we care about. Their faults, weaknesses, misplaced views, etc… may enter our mind, but we can use that very moment instead to intervene in their time of need. We can sit, listen and be an encourager. Isn’t that what we would want?

God still speaks … and we should let Him!

Paul Harvey brought smiles to millions with the rest of the story. But his humorous and profound stories are no match for the rest of the story found in Job chapter forty-two. What we see of Job’s life through the pages of Scripture, causes us to “feel his pain” and genuinely hurt for him. Losing his family, being directly attacked by Satan, and the condescension of his friends, all took their toll. We catch a glimpse of his pain through his emotional and passionate words. But then something happened: God spoke! And the rest of the story is a picture of grace, forgiveness, healing and restoration.

If you have read the book of Job, you know God speaks in chapters 38-41. The counsel of others brought hurt, not help in the midst of Job’s plight. But when God moved in, Job was deeply moved. Principles from Job chapter forty-two provide a dramatic conclusion. Let the rest of his story give hope for your journey.

Job 42:2-3,5-6
2 I know that you can do all
things; no plan of yours can be
thwarted. 3 You asked, ‘Who
is this that obscures my counsel
without knowledge?’ Surely I
spoke of things I did not
understand, things too wonderful
for me to know.

5 My ears had heard of you but
now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself and
repent in dust and ashes.

For lack of a better way to say it, after God spoke, Job got the message. He acknowledges God’s sovereignty and speaks to God’s wisdom. And although I cannot know the depths of verse five, I believe Job was now seeing with eyes of faith and understanding that gave him the ability to accept God’s plan. Can you remember a time where your hearing became seeing, and your view of God’s plan became clear? And then when Job’s eyes were opened, repentance came. Whether at the moment of salvation, or along the spiritual journey, when our eyes are opened to our sin, repentance is needed.

As the rest of the story nears its conclusion, reconciliation between Job and his friends is in full view. God gave strong instructions to Job’s friends, and Job prayed for them. It was after this prayer that God restored to Job prosperity and blessed him again with ten more children. I sensed a heart of forgiveness in Job as he prayed for those who abused him. I sensed a heart of grace from God to restore Job’s wealth, and give him children. I am profoundly touched by the words of verse twelve. “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (WOW!) When we face trials, do we really believe that what God has for us is the better than anything we could imagine or wish for ourselves outside of that trial?

God knew what He was doing with Job. He knows what He is doing with you. He knows the rest of your story. So when your seasons are tough, hold tight to our Sovereign God.

Difficulties in life come in various shapes and sizes. I may not easily understand your struggles, and you might have trouble relating to mine. When we are confronted with chaos (Aurora Colorado, Sandy Hook or hurricane Sandy to name a few) or particularly personal pain, a wide range of emotions can overwhelm our spirits. Thoughts such as “does God care?” tend to invade our minds even if the words never exit our lips. God’s Word can give us confidence of His control, and our faith will help us through those seasons of difficulty. Recently, a few verses from the book of Job have given me fresh perspective on how real people really hurt.

For just a moment, look with me at Job’s plight, and maybe to a lesser degree, some emotions that may have invaded you mind and heart. As you read this, think of someone in your life that may be dealing with a Job complex even now. God allowed Satan to attack a man whom His Word called blameless. He lost his children, his wealth, and health. Why didn’t God step in sooner? Why were his friends so condescending? As Job journeyed through the pain, see if his words resonate…

Job 23:8-9
But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
When he is at work in the north, I do
not see him; when he turns to the
south, I catch no glimpse of him.
[Have you ever felt like God was hiding?]

Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take; when
he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
[Often during the struggle you have probably
spoken with words of faith, just as Job did.]

Job 29:2
How I long for the months gone by,
for the days when God watched over me.
[Although you know God has not
stopped watching over you, have
you ever felt like Job did?]

Job 30:27
The churning inside me never stops;
days of suffering confront me.
[Often we wonder if the suffering will ever stop.]

Our journey struggles can cause the same heart cries as those of Job. But lest we forget, God eventually blessed Job’s life abundantly again. Trying to figure out all the reasons for our suffering, or the pain of those we love is a waste of time and a drain to our faith. By a choice of the will, we can have peace through pain. And because of that choice, others will see hope. From experience, let me share a few thoughts that I believe will help.

• Always hold fast to the promises of God’s Word.
• Remember how God has intervened for you in the past.
• Tell the Father exactly how you feel. (He can handle it!)
• Remember to let your faith look beyond today.

God wants joy for our lives. He will, however, allow tough seasons. He alone knows the incredible worth of what they can teach us! Our challenge will be in trusting Him through the storms, knowing He is working for our good. Job said it well: “when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Take hold of it, and believe it!

Do we serve an intentional God?  Is God involved in the details of a single person on a single day?  Does every day really matter?  I wish you could feel the weight and spirit of my “Yes, Yes and Yes!” answers to those very real questions.

Just two short days ago we tore off the last month on the 2012 calendar, and hung a fresh new one.  The parallels to the new beginnings that God’s grace and mercy gift us are obvious, but is January 1st just another day?  I had a close friend of mine text me something to that effect this year on New Year’s day.  It was in response to me texting that I must be getting old, as I didn’t make it to midnight to see the ball drop the night before.  “Maybe you’re getting wiser”, he said, “It’s just another day.”  I remembered stopping for a second and feeling a bit of remorse when I read those four finishing words.  I don’t know that he meant it to have a tone of defeat, but I couldn’t help thinking that there are people who genuinely feel that way.  People on one end of the scale who have been touched by deep tragedy and are lost in its aftermath.  People who have been repeatedly buffeted with the seemingly innocent daily pressures of work and family to the point where they are completely exhausted and their spirit has been broken.  People who have been let down or abandoned by others they trusted, or who said that they loved them.  To these people, January 1st may genuinely be just another day … just another day they cannot cope with, and one where God feels distant or non-existent.

I grieve and pray for those people, and want more than anything to offer them hope.  Hope in the story that we are reading right now as we journey chronologically through the Bible.  Hope in the midst of a story that seems completely devoid of it (like the lives or circumstances of those who feel God is distant or non-existent).  Hope in the deliverance and redemption that God offers every single day in the lives of individual people just like them.

I wrote a post just a couple of months ago that seemed so right to revisit and be reminded of in the context of our reading and our theme for this year … Every Day Matters.

A close study of scripture and the history of the Jewish nation shows 7 major events directly connected with God’s deliverance and redemption that happened on the very same calendar date … Nisan 17.  The events begin with the story of Noah.  And while the naming of the month in the scriptural account is different, the ark coming to rest on dry ground on the peak of Mt. Ararat happened on the very same date in the calendar year as six others (God reoriented the Jewish calendar after Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt to emphasize its importance).

Israel crossed the Red Sea … on Nisan 17.  The first day of seven that the nation walked around the city of Jericho, the day that the Lord promised to deliver Jericho into Joshua’s hands was … Nisan 17.  Sticking with Joshua, Nisan 17 is the first day that the nation eats of the first fruits of the Promised Land.  On Nisan 16, God’s provision of manna ended and they ate anew on the 17th.  Hezekiah begins consecrating the temple on Nisan 1.  The work lasts 16 days.  On the 17th, sacrifices begin again in the temple.  Haman was hanged on Nisan 17; a pivotal event in the story of deliverance for the people of Israel because of Queen Esther.

And last and also greatest, is the seventh and final event that happen on this blessed and intentional day on the Jewish calendar … Our Savior rose on Nisan 17.  Deliverance for all of humanity, for all time happened that exact calendar date.

A mathematician calculated the odds of all these events happening on the exact same calendar date.  The odds were 783,864,876,960,000,000:1.  That’s one in 783 quadrillion, 864 trillion, 876 Billion, 960 Million!  My point when I wrote on this previously was, when God is involved, the odds are 1:1.

In being reminded of this as I read the story of the Flood this week, I was overwhelmed with the words of our 2013 journey theme … Every Day Matters.  And the initial impulse of defeat in the words “just another day” was completely washed away in the remembrance of God’s redemptive work and the intention of Nisan 17.  In the midst of a story that appears completely hopeless, God steps in on a single day and begins a strand of intentional deliverance and redemption.   One that was authored before time began, and that has its possibility in each one of the numbered days he blesses us with.  No matter who you are, or where you are today, today matters … every day matters; and He is ever near in each and every one of them.

Tomorrow it all starts again.  Every day will matter, and we will have choices during each and every one of them.  Not one of us knows what 2013 will hold for us individually, or in our world globally. However, there are some aspects of life that we can control, and I want to implore you (yes implore) to let 2013 be a year that you discipline yourself to read Scripture on a daily basis.  There is nothing (nothing!) that can take the place of God’s Word infused into your life.  To get the point, take a lesson from this true story about an old Harley Davidson, and what happened one ordinary day.

In his book Meeting God at a Dead End, Ron Mehl tells the story of a garage sale guru named Bob. Bob hailed from Downey, CA and obviously was enthralled with the weekly opportunity to find a diamond in the rough in the midst of someone else’s junk. On one particular Saturday morning, an old motorcycle caught his attention.  Bob asked about its price, but the owner tried to discourage him, explaining that the motor was frozen and repairing the old bike could cost as much as a new motorcycle. But Bob, the garage sale guru, won the day and the motorcycle for thirty-five dollars.

In a few days Bob reached out to Harley Davidson to get information on prices for some new parts.  He gave the registration number of the vehicle, and after a wait, received an odd response from the other end of the line. “Uh, sir… I’m going to have to call you back, okay?  Could I get your full name, address, and phone number, please?”

Bob was rightfully concerned, and wondered if the bike had been involved with an accident or even a crime? A few days later the answer began to unfold. He received a call from an executive with Harley Davidson. His odd request was, “Bob, I want you to do something for me. Take the seat off your bike and see if anything is written underneath. Would you do that for me, Bob?”

Bob moved to his bike, removed the seat, then went back to the phone and told the executive what he found. “Yes,” Bob replied, “it does have something written there. It’s engraved, and it says THE KING.” There was moment of silence on the phone and then Bob heard these words, “Bob, my boss has authorized me to offer you $300,000 for that motorcycle.  How about it?” I can’t imagine what Bob was thinking at that moment, but the garage sale guru let the executive know he would have to think about it, and hung up.

The very next day Bob got another call from someone you have undoubtedly heard of … Jay Leno. “Bob,” Jay said, “I’ve heard about your motorcycle and want to offer you $500,000 for it.”  By now you must have figured out that Bob had stumbled upon an old motorcycle that had been owned by THE KING, the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. It’s a safe assumption that Bob would agree that Every Day Matters on the garage sale circuit.

Think about it; on one ordinary day, what looked to be a broken down and useless motorcycle became a treasure to behold.  Now please accept my challenge in the right spirit.  You hold within your possession a priceless Treasure. It may be on the shelf, in a closet, on a coffee table, or even left in your car from week to week. In contrast, many reading this article may have held this Treasure in high esteem during 2012. Good for you! But tomorrow, we all begin a new journey, and every day will matter.  The question we must all ask for 2013 is this; how will I view and what will I do with this Treasure?

Comparing a broken down motorcycle owned by the king, Elvis Presley, to the Treasure of God’s Word (given to us by the King of glory) may seem trivial, but I hope you get my point. It’s all about understanding value. When we do, the Word will become a priceless treasure to us. For 2013, I can make you a promise … daily infusion of His Word will change your life.  And remember, Bob would certainly tell you and me that Every Day Matters!

This is a great week to reflect on 2012, and begin preparations for 2013 in earnest. The highs and lows of the past year may be fresh in your mind, but what should our posture be for 2013? At dinner an evening ago my wife, daughter and I talked about one thing we each need to change for next year. To help challenge your thinking, let me share one of my 2013 goals that I shared with them over dinner. It was something that I articulated in a post earlier this year.

Without much effort, I can create too many options for too little time. And then I find myself frustrated with the quick pace, crammed schedule and being mentally distracted. Well, who is to blame for all of that? … I think you know the answer. To live in the moment is a phrase I could speak convincingly about, but too often they are words that resonate in my soul more as cliché than reality. It is my assumption that your schedule, pace and mental distractedness may, in a small way, resemble mine. Therefore, I would like to challenge you with a radical shift that causes you (and I) to embrace God moment by moment.

Let me illustrate my point. During a vacation/part business meeting last summer, I found myself not enjoying the moments as much as I was trying to control them (still recovering as a type-A personality). But then something happened that brought living in the moment to the forefront of my mind. At a big party on the last night of the meeting, my daughter grabbed my hand and then cajoled and badgered me to come out onto an already crowded dance floor with her and her mom. Nothing could be further from my comfort zone … NOTHING! Nothing on that trip will be remembered as much as the laughter (at non-rhythmic dad) and fun that we had in those few moments, and to think I almost missed it. Remember, a moment lost is just that … lost.

Living in the moment seems elusive in our fast-paced world. My daughter’s dance lesson illustrated to me the awesome power of a moment, and also how easily it can be lost by our frailties and fears.  Now, every week is not a vacation or big party, but every week is filled with countless moments given to us by God to be cherished. It is easy for all of us to use the pace of our life and busy schedules as an excuse. And it doesn’t take much energy to be diverted by yesterday’s failures and tomorrow’s fears. But when I (and you) live in the moment, excuses aren’t necessary. In his book, God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg shares that the greatest moment of your life is right now. We cannot change yesterday, nor control tomorrow.

So how are we to live in the moment when the pace of the world we live in is not likely to slow any time soon? Our schedules will be full, demands will seek to overwhelm us, our minds will be pulled in a hundred directions and we will have a million reasons to excuse our weariness. But if we choose to relish the moments, perspective can come, our minds will relax and our souls will quiet down. Believers in Christ are to be people of joy, radically embracing God’s design for each moment. It is a matter of faith to enjoy Him with each moment, while trusting Him with all of the demands we face. Another quote from God Is Closer Than You Think gives us clear perspective on understanding how to live in the moment.

We are not meant to embrace moments, but to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything else but good. Moments are simply the place where we meet Him.

Not tomorrow, but right now, embrace God in each moment. It’s all we are guaranteed. I illustrated my crazy dance lesson because I struggle, just like you. God gave me a moment to enjoy my daughter, and I almost missed it!

When you and I consciously seek to embrace God in each and every moment, something will be different. It will be challenging, but when we embrace God’s design for each moment, we’ll not be as bound to the issues of yesterday and tomorrow. We will all battle our fast-paced world until He comes. But we can seek to embrace Him in each moment!  Remember a moment lost is just that … lost!

In 2013, I will seek to embrace God in each moment … will you join me?  Our emphasis at Journey onWord is to encourage and provide opportunity for you to be in God’s Word daily.  Our chronological reading through the Bible in 2013 will do just that.  Will you join us in our desire to capture a moment(s) each day to meet Him in and through His Word?  Sign up today (if you don’t already get our weekly notices on the Daily Bible reading schedule) at the JourneyonWord.com site.  You’ll find a section on the right menu, titled “Subscribe”.  Click the link in that section and enter your email name when prompted to receive the weekly Bible reading schedule as well as automatic email alerts for our twice weekly devotional posts.  God bless as we begin anew in 2013!

Children around the world are filled with wonder because of this day. Families give presents, presence, and love on this day. Music about this day resonates from churches to malls, and even office buildings. Retailers build their yearly budgets to hinge on this day. Laughter, joy and even tears seem to be magnified on this day. Every year’s journey starts with this day in mind. But have you ever imagined in a larger context, that the journey of all mankind was directed to intersect on this day?

Isaiah prophesied, that “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14b)  We celebrate that on this day. Prophecy tells us in the book of Micah that He would be born in a place called Bethlehem. Some simple shepherds had their journey diverted by an angel that told them, “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)  What must have changed in the shepherd’s journey because of this day? Some wise men came from the east, when they saw His Star. They came to worship the one who had been born on this day.

Mary and Joseph were chosen by God to parent the Child born on this day. Stop and consider how a simple journey towards marriage took a divine turn that would affect all mankind. Young Mary would give birth to the Son of God, and Joseph would be obedient to the call of God. And to top it off, they had to journey eighty miles to Bethlehem because of a decree from Caesar Augustus. It fulfilled Scripture that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, and it happened on this day. Imagine how the child born on this day profoundly changed forever the lives of Mary and Joseph. Parenting the Son of God, WOW!

Jesus, who was born on this day, lived by His Father’s design and died for all of our sins. History hinged on the events of this day. He had to be born of a virgin. He had to be born in Bethlehem. God’s Word had to be fulfilled, and it was on this day. All who have placed simple faith in Jesus as their Savior have great reason to smile about this day.

Tomorrow, December 25^th is the day we celebrate Christmas. But reflect today on why we celebrate. Gifts, and toys, and family are special. But the reason to celebrate is the birth we honor on this day. Centuries ago, Isaiah 9:6 gave us a great picture of who the Baby born on this day really is: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

As you celebrate tomorrow, stop for even a brief moment in the middle of this day, and meditate once again on what it means. Let your mind reflect on the wonder and eternal glow of this day.

Remember, this day is the day that changed the world forever.

Merry Christmas from Journey onWord!