Joy in the Journey

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites; ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 In the course of my faith walk, I have been asked if I have doubts. Uh, yes! There are often follow up questions. What about when this happens? Why do you think that happens? Why does God, a loving God, allow [fill in the blank]? More often than not my answer to the follow up questions is that I simply don’t know. While I love being God’s ambassador, a witness to his unending, enormous love, grace and power, I do not pretend to understand him fully or even semi-fully.   This I know, God is real. His love is real. He is absolutely in my corner and if you will invite him in, he will absolutely be in your corner. I know that I am saved by grace, by the all-encompassing sacrifice made by Jesus on the Cross. Much like my brothers in faith before me, I have doubts and I take great comfort in Matthew 28:17. “When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some d...

  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Luke 2:10 Christmas music! I love it. It’s playing in my house now that Thanksgiving is over. It’s been playing in stores for a few weeks now. Technically it shouldn’t be playing anywhere yet. It isn’t Christmas. It isn’t even Advent but the world isn’t so much concerned with those facts, so there’s jingling bells and reindeer paws and ho ho hoing everywhere. Do you know what else there is everywhere? Joy, Jesus, light, angels and hope. Everywhere! What happens is that all kinds of public places put on “Christmas” music and while five songs may be about grandma’s untimely demise, cookies or bells at least one or two in the mix are going to be about the actual point of Christmas, which is Christ. I love it! All of those people who choose to actively avoid any connection with Jesus are now wittingly or not, singing about him. Think about it. You’re wal...

  Lord you are my God: I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? Psalm 8:4 I just read a quote that says, “God is at work in the mess. That’s the message of the Bible.”   Isn’t that great? If you don’t feel, at least sometimes, like a bit of a mess, please contact me. I really want to learn your secret. Personally I more often than not feel a bit like a mess, a productive mess, a loveable mess but I mess all the same. I am very fond of the verses in Romans where Paul talks about his behavior. “For I do not do the good I want to do—but this I keep on doing.” Romans 7:19 In my quiet time in the morning, after any time of prayer, I feel pulled together, ready to obey with alacrity, ready to be “good.”   Unfortunately, much like Paul, it doesn’t take long before I find myself doing s...

    Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? if I go up to the heavens you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there, If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10   My granddaughters Faith and Isabelle are just five weeks apart in age and are both just became teenagers. Somehow this milestone in their lives reminded me of the days when they were just two years old. They discovered a game they just loved. It was their own version of chase. They ran together across the kitchen and straight to the utility room door. They squealed with delight when they reached the door and then ran back again. Every now and then there was a little twist that sent the game in a different direction. That happened when the door wasn’t tightly closed. Two little balls of energy hurled themselv...

  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:14   The children in my class love to do an activity called, “Run the Red Carpet.” It’s geared to getting them up, out of their seats for a couple of minutes to help them refocus.   The object is to get down the red carpet in spite of obstacles in the way. There are commands to jump, duck, dodge to the left or right, all along the way. This morning while praying for direction I thought of that little activity.   We are called to walk on the narrow path to life in Christ. The path is identified as narrow but not as smooth. I am often bothered by pastors or Christians in general, who suggest that once we’ve chosen to take the journey with Jesus all will be well. Not true! All will be protected (Psalm 91), all will work for our good (Romans 8:28) but all will not be well. The path we walk with Jesus is full of potholes and obstacles, just like my kiddo...