_________________________

_________________________

Son, we are living in difficult days for faith. I remember George Müller writing about so many people in his day not really believing that God still answers prayer. Maybe we are once again living in such a time. Many of our prayers lean toward playing it safe when it comes to asking God for anything. There are definitely prayers of desperation that we cry out when our backs are against the wall, but where is the faith that once boldly asked and saw the apostle Peter miraculously delivered from a Roman prison? Where is the faith that enabled Paul to know that nothing could harm him until his work for the kingdom of God was finished? Where is the faith, like George Müller, to say, God, I am going to ask you and no one else. Reveal yourself as the God who still answers prayer.

When you read this, you will remember that we are in such a season. Everything within me is telling me to get out there and put in the effort to make my own way through this situation. That is the world’s wisdom. Your mom and I have decided that we won’t listen to anyone but Jesus in this. We are choosing to believe that God will come through as we remain faithful to look only to Him. It’s not easy. It feels a little scary and sometimes a bit crazy, but we will hold on. It is our prayer that you, too, will be foolish enough to “Have faith in God.”

_________________________

_________________________

Son, the biggest struggles I’ve had in my life all stem from having a divided heart. I have loved God, and I have loved the world. I wish I could say that I’ve always loved God more, but the reality is, I often looked for a shortcut to anything that would bring relief in the moment. Hear me say this now, relief is not healing. Healing comes in Christ alone.

In the first days of the church in Acts, they experienced nothing short of amazing. Miracles were happening, needs were being met, generosity flowed, people outside the church had so much respect for how they were living, and everyday people were coming to faith in Jesus. Like I said, amazing! We have access to the same things they had, maybe even more. Good teaching from God’s word, fellowship with other believers, and a life-line connection to God through prayer. So, why aren’t we seeing what they were seeing? They had one more thing, a devoted heart.

Another way of saying a devoted heart is the idea that we would be wholehearted. The great enemy of devotion is division.

__________________________

__________________________

To experience true joy, peace that defies reason, and a depth to life that is rare in this broken world, we can look to only one source. God moves freely when the path is made clear by a wholehearted devotion.

__________________________

God loves his people. He wants to be our refuge and place of safety, but as long as we continue to look for other options, He won’t be our refuge and place of safety. We literally have to put all our eggs in one basket. It’s not that he is jealous and chooses not to help us. It’s that we can’t find rest in his shadow and desperately look for other options at the same time. The position of God’s shadow is right where it has always been, close by his side. The question is, where are we?

Notice that the Psalm writer, Moses, in this case, does not say, “those who drop in for a visit from time to time.” He says, “those who live (dwell, make their home in) the shelter of the Most High.” If we want to experience the rest and refuge and safety that God offers to us, then we have to change where we choose to live. We can live in the world and have the rest, refuge, safety, and peace of the world, or we can live in Christ and have the rest, refuge, safety, and peace of Christ. This sounds like a no-brainer, right?

Unfortunately, the lost and believers alike search for answers in a world redesigned by our greatest enemy. Adam and Eve were given the responsibility to rule and reign here on earth. Then, they traded what they had to Satan for a substitute offer of something they didn’t need. As Pastor Levi Lusko says in his book Blessed Are the Spiraling, Satan offered them something that would make them more like God, yet they were already created in His image. Don’t be deceived. The hope and refuge you’re looking for is already available to you. You just need to run to where you know it awaits you.

__________________________

Don’t divide when you’re trying to multiply. There is nothing more important than sharing the gospel with the world. Let me say that again. There is nothing more important than sharing the gospel with the world. NOTHING.

So, why then do we let our differences drive the bus? Don’t get me wrong. I realize that many differences are born out of a genuine desire to know, understand, and teach the truth. I am not saying that we can’t differ in our interpretation of the Bible, but back to math for just a second, the difference is defined as the result of a subtraction problem. So, why would we highlight our differences and diminish—subtract from—the common purpose we share in reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Unity, built upon love, puts God’s wisdom on display for all of creation to see. Every time we allow division to enter the conversation, we create another barrier to belief.

In the following verses, Paul was specifically talking about how God was bringing together the Jews and the Gentiles, but I believe the principle applies to us today. After all, to bring together Jews and Gentiles God would unite the whole world. That’s us!

_________________________

We all have some sort of inner monologue going on every day. In a way, it’s our thinking process as we replay memories, solve problems, or play out scenarios in our mind. But how often do our thoughts suddenly turn negative? A distracting memory flashes across our mind and criticism is there in an instant. The criticism becomes accusation, and we beat ourselves up for even having those thoughts. Then a wave of depression or anxiety wash over us. The next thing you know we are completely confused, feeling hopeless or apathetic or worse. What happened?

Let me say this again here, and it won’t be the last time you will hear it from me: We have an enemy. Many of the intrusive thoughts are not coming from somewhere within our mind. They are strategically dropped on to us from an outside source who wants to rob us and destroy us. Satan is a liar and intrusive thoughts are one of his strongest weapons. He can hurt us through accusation and then lure us toward self-destruction through temptation. We must learn to recognize this for the attack it is and stop these thoughts before they begin to take root. Satan and his forces will go after the wounded places in us. Places formed by experiences we would rather leave forgotten or hidden. Like any good villain, he won’t allow that, so what are we to do?

__________________________

__________________________

Fight. Take these thoughts captive, then, invite Jesus in. Let the truth set us free. Let him clean our deepest wounds. Jesus wants to heal us body, soul, and spirit, heart, mind, and will.

One of the most important things we can do for our children is pray for them.

___________________________

December 31, 2019 – What will the new year hold for us all? Lord, I consecrate this new year to you. May it be a year of dreams come true, a year of victory over the darkness. May Jared hear your voice. May he dream wildly with you and pursue it with all his heart. May the heart of the warrior be awakened in him. May Logan find peace and comfort in you. May he experience your presence in his life every day. May he grow strong in you and find adventure in you. May he become a warrior and develop a deep love for you this year. Lord, may he also have permission to enjoy this stage of life he’s in and be fruitful in it. May Brodie dream dreams of battling for your Kingdom. May he know he is loved. Build in him the foundation of all you have in store for his life. Like the saints of old, may he know that you have plans to prosper his life as he keeps his eyes on you. Lord, bless our family and may all our time together be very special this year. In the name of Jesus and for his glory, AMEN!

___________________________

The Witness Security program was created to provide protection for individuals, and their families, if they will agree to provide evidence and testify against major criminal elements such as the mob/mafia, drug cartels, or terrorist groups. According to their website:

“The U.S. Marshals Service has protected, relocated, and given new identities to more than 19,250 witnesses and their family members, since the program began in 1971.”

“No Witness Security Program participant, following program guidelines, has been harmed or killed while under the active protection of the U.S. Marshals Service.”

Following program guidelines is an important phrase. It involves turning away from their old live and stepping fully into their new identity. To go back in any way, to associate with old friends, to visit favorite places, will put their security at risk and potentially get them taken out by the enemy. Hmmm. This sounds familiar.

______________________________

______________________________

We have been set free from our old life of serving our enemy, and even better, we have been set free to a new life and purpose in Christ Jesus.

Jesus wants us to live fully in the new identity we have in him. Don’t try to live half in and half out. That is a sure way to fall right into the hands of your enemy.

______________________________

December 29, 2019 – I love my sons. I don’t like the feeling that sometimes we’re not connecting. It is difficult as they grow up, to become less and less the voice of influence in their lives. Every once in a while, I hear a thought or attitude that is so opposite of how I think and feel that I am truly taken aback. It is right for them to do this as their thoughts, feelings, motivations, and convictions become their own. I may not embrace every conclusion along the way, but I do affirm the process. God, grant them wisdom and guide us all!

________________________________

Being a parent is often a balancing act between providing guidance and allowing you to grow into and through your own experiences. This is hard, and we certainly haven’t gotten it right at times. Your mom and I have never wanted to hold you back, but we also love you and don’t want to see you get hurt.

Craig Groeschel rightly once said, “You can have control, or you can have growth, but you can’t have both.” We want you to grow into everything God created you to be. To that end: Be careful of the voices that you allow to speak into and over your life. Choose God’s word first. All other voices either align with God’s word or they don’t. Gray areas are a myth. Truth is not something God made up. It is who he is, his nature, his character, his love. Paul warned us that these days would come.

________________________________

________________________________

_____________________________

What is God’s word? How do we understand and interpret it? What makes it different from any other ancient document? Are these words from Paul to Timothy still true today?

People have a lot of questions when it comes to understanding the Bible. Growing up and into your faith you’ve asked questions like these as well. I came across this entry in my journal after one of our conversations:

_____________________________

December 28, 2019 – We must not be guilty of evaluating the stories in God’s word based upon the opinions and reasoning of man. We must evaluate everything in light of these truths: God, you are good. God, you are love. God, you are just. These aren’t just things you do; they are truly who you are. You protect and provide. This is your nature—your character.

_____________________________

Since then, I have learned to see God’s word in a new light. Yes, it contains many stories and teachings and wisdom for life, but most importantly, God’s word is God’s story. He is the main character, and everything contained within reveals to us who God is and the depth of his amazing love for us. Think of the stories of people like, Abraham, David, and Esther. When you see God as the main character and everyone else as supporting cast, you see how God reveals his nature both to and through people. Paul wrote his letters to the churches to pass along all he was learning about God as he walked with him and served him. When we learn to read God’s word in this way, we begin to see the bigger picture that has been HIS story all along.

______________________________

What immediately flashed through your mind when you read that question? Now, I have to admit that I am making an assumption here. First of all, it’s my assumption that you want to pursue God with your entire life. It’s also my assumption that you’ve probably reached a level of maturity where you often dream about new and creative ways to share your faith and make a difference in people’s lives.

Let me give you some dangerous advice. Go for it! One of these days you will be like your mom and me, where you will lament over days passing you by and saying things like, “Well, it’s now or never…,” which frustratingly it really is. But hey, don’t count us out! We’re on the move and plan to make the last 100 years of our lives the absolute best we’ve ever had.

Listen. I can give you plenty of reasons to consider this question seriously:

First of all, it honors God. We shouldn’t allow money to stand in the way of pursuing his call on our lives.

Secondly, the number of yesterdays is always increasing and the number of tomorrows… not so much. There will never be a better day to start than today.

Third, you are always setting an example for everyone who comes after you to follow. Imagine yourself passing along advice to your children. How do you want to teach them to live out their faith?

And lastly, why not? We’re not talking about doing dumb things. We’re talking about taking a risk for the Kingdom of God. I’m in. Are you?

______________________________

December 25, 2019 – It’s Christmas morning and I alone am awake this early. In a little while, presents will be opened and the day will be filled with much laughter and joy. I don’t have toys to assemble anymore. Today, I want our sons to know that they each are, and always will be, a beloved son.
 
May they find in you their personal legend. May they always have a childlike faith. May they step boldly into the gifts and talents with which you have endowed them. My they take their place at your side as one of your mighty men. My they fight fiercely for life and love and liberty in the name of Jesus. My they never fear the enemy. May they learn to love by falling in love with the One who is true love. May they be stirred with passion for the mission and calling you’ve placed on their lives. Bring to each of them an ezer-kenegdo whom you have prepared to run this race with them. One who will embrace this adventure and who will rule at their side with grace and dignity in the kingdom you have given them. May they walk humbly before you always. May their kingdoms serve you alone. May they have the strength they need to stand and lead. May they have wisdom and grace as they love others. I pray your kingdom over their kingdoms. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. May they walk under your authority, covered by the blood of Jesus, raised with him to walk in newness of life. Protect them from evil and bring joy and comfort in the midst of every sorrow. For your Kingdom. For your glory. Forever and always. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Somewhere along the way the word “coaching” has become the buzz word of the 21st century. Even as I understand the call God has on my life of making disciples and shepherding people’s hearts, coaching is the best way to describe what I do. Here’s what I want to pass along to you (there I go, I am coaching again):

Being coachable paves the way for growth in your life. The heart of spending time with God, is all about getting to know him so we can grow our love for him. Coaches help us dig deeper and shine a light into hidden spaces. They warn us when our attention drifts or dangers approach unseen.

Being a coach is equally valuable. In Paul’s words:

___________________________

___________________________

We remain coachable so that we can, in turn, coach others. Every generation depends on the one before. Over time, our contentment, joy, and confidence grow as the wisdom of the ages elevates our starting point because we don’t have to make the same mistakes. We can improve our coachability and our coaching ability at the same time.

And to that end I have to say, abuse is not coaching. No matter how a person might justify harshness, abuse always wounds. You can’t address a deeper issue while you are trying to stop the bleeding. We must not praise coaches who produce desired results at the expense of destroying hearts.

Coaching is about healing. Son, choose to be a coach—whatever else you choose to do in life, coach others well. Make visible the path that your grandchildren will someday walk.

December 24, 2019 – I have sensed your presence, God, as the Holy Spirit, yet I long to truly walk in the Spirit continually. I don’t want to live another moment of my life in my own strength, isolated in my own thoughts, guided by my will. You came to this earth to accomplish your work through the cross and resurrection. You chose to come as the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and work in us. Help me learn how to walk with you!

_________________________

We tend to always look for the big picture of God’s purpose and plan for our life—how it’s all going to work out. God desires total trust from us. If he told us all the details of our lives at once, we would find our security in our story, and not in him.

When you were growing up, I taught you how to throw a baseball one step at a time. I showed you how to hold the ball, how to position your body, where to look and step. I demonstrated the arm motion as you watched intently. Playing catch with you over the years has been such a joy. I knew you could do it long before you believed in your ability. That is how we learn to walk with God. We trust him completely when all we can see is the ball and where he tells us to place our fingers. We can’t see the knuckleball we will one day throw, but we know for certain in our heart that day will come. That is because we trust. We take the one step the Holy Spirit has prepared us to take, and then he will show us the next one. This is the only way to live.

_________________________

__________________________

This truth is so… awesome. Why?  Because everything changes. The only thing consistent about life and humanity is our inconsistency. We talk about ups and downs, mountains and valleys. One day a friend is as close as a brother and the next day… well, just is not. My ups and downs are pretty apparent as well.

__________________________

December 21, 2019 – Once again, I took a pretty bad spiritual beating, and honestly, I fell apart emotionally.  Self-loathing was the latest evolution in my breakdown. But this one thing I have learned, even when I don’t live up to who I truly am in Christ as a son of the King, God still loves me. I actually heard God say to me, “Just because you (Bruce) have taken leave of your true nature, it doesn’t mean that I ever will. I never stop being who I AM.” Father, you lift me out of the pits I dig for myself and don’t hold it against me. I could sit here a thousand years and never fully express the gratitude I have.

__________________________

Do you feel the weight lifted from you as you sink into this truth, and it sinks into you? God’s love is in no way tied to my daily performance. God’s grace is not a response to my goodness. It is God’s unchanging love and nature that draws me toward consistency in my walk with him. I want to love him more because he never loves me less.

__________________________

According to National Geographic, hermit crabs derived their name from the behavior of sheltering alone in shells. However, this is  a misnomer for these crabs because they love to be social, sometimes living in large groups of 100 or more in the wild.

Okay, so why am I talking about hermit crabs? In several of my journal entries at the end of 2019, I wrote about how the busyness and pace of work for both your mom and me led to us becoming “hermits” in our downtime. It became our coping mechanism, and it was unhealthy. Yes, you heard me correctly. It was unhealthy for us to allow our lives to become so busy, that we did not make room for our emotional and mental health needs to be met through relationship. Yes, of course, we can bring all these things to God. Healing is found in him, but in His wisdom, he created the church as the vehicle through which we are healed.

____________________________

____________________________

When we withdraw, we remove ourselves from the very medicine we so desperately need. No matter what our personality traits are or how introverted we can be, God uses relational connection to meet our deepest needs and heal our most painful wounds.

Here's my point. If you are feeling so busy you want to withdraw, don’t. Instead, make adjustments in your daily schedule and work life so you welcome your regular trips to the medicine cabinet for relationship.

____________________________

December 9, 2019 – Today, memories of the end of 1999 stir so many feelings within me. We had sold our home and were living in the mission house that belonged to the church and celebrated Christmas around our very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The years have been filled with so many ups and downs--three steps forward and two steps back at times. I can say though, we are better people today, not because of all the things we did right, but largely thanks to what we did wrong. Oh, rest assured, I would change a few things if I could, but I am thankful for the growth that our mistakes forced us into. Our future will be better than our past, that’s for certain, because we will continue to listen to the lessons we’ve bought and paid for with our lives.

_____________________________

We often have the wrong perspective on the things we get wrong in life. Mistakes are unfortunate, but they only become bad when they are repeated. Learning and maturing, forgiving, relationship strain, all these things are good for us, IF we listen and learn. They are used by God to refine us. Was it David’s haste with Uriah that developed in him the patience to endure the cursing and stone throwing of Shimei? What are you learning from your haste and other mistakes? Will you allow them to develop in you the character of “a man after God’s own heart”?

For greater context read, 2 Samuel 16:5-14. Here is an excerpt:

_____________________________

That’s really all we have to give, right? We do our best and hope for the best. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn’t. When it does, we call it success. When it doesn’t, we call it a mistake. Thus, we say things like, “we learn from our mistakes.” Maybe instead, we should state it more positively and say, “we learn from our best efforts.” Here’s why:

__________________________

__________________________

Instead of learning and understanding the true context of moments in history, our culture has the tendency to criticize the decisions made by previous generations. We tend to lack gratitude for those who stood as imperfect men and women in the midst of impossible situations and gave their best effort to do what they believed would propel us forward in the right direction. We also lack humility when we believe we would have done differently if we had been in their shoes. Naïve, to say the least.

Okay, deep breath. I know these indictments sound pretty harsh. I guess all I am trying to say is, let's stop this trend. We have to be willing to learn from the wisdom of our elders and those who've boldly gone before us. Let's value what others have bought for us through their blood, sweat, and tears. Let's be thankful we're not in their shoes, and let's become builders by taking the foundation laid for us, make improvements where necessary, reinforce the weak places, and humbly work to create strong shoulders for our children to stand upon.

So, why have this conversation in a daily devotional? Because the Bible isn’t merely a collection of highlight-reel stories pointing to the natural growth of knowledge and wisdom over the ages. No, it’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of a people, chosen by God, through whom he would accomplish his purposes. Real progress comes through putting God first, working hard as if you are working directly for him, and picking up where the best efforts of others carved out the beginnings of what will one day become a well worn path onward and upward.

__________________________

__________________________

Jesus and Paul after him, taught us that humility enables us to honor and glorify God like nothing else. It is the central force driving our best efforts.

_____________________________

Inspiration. Emotion. Resolve. This is what every commander intended when the army of Texas shouted these words at the battle of San Jacinto. Eighteen minutes later, Santa Ana would be defeated and the deaths of those who fought at the Alamo would be avenged.

_____________________________

December 4, 2019 – People talk about getting older and losing your memory and maybe I am starting to feel the effects of that, but, in reality, life has become so fast paced that I can’t keep up without to-do lists and lots of reminders. I am thankful for the one-minute pause app from Wild at Heart. Twice a day, my phone vibrates, reminding me to bring my thoughts back to God and refocus my attention.

_____________________________

It seems like such a simple thing—staying focused on God. But… distraction is real, and priorities even more so. How do you know your priorities? Make a list.

No, not a list of how you would like to prioritize everything. Make a list of what you did today, and the amount of time invested in each activity. Don’t leave anything out. Now arrange them from the most time to the least time. Those are your priorities. You doubt me? Make another list of activities and time invested in each from the past week. I bet your lists are similar, aren’t they?

This is why reminders are so valuable. They stir our emotion, refocus our attention on our intention, and bring us back to where we want to be.

_____________________________

_____________________________

When you read the title for today’s devotional, what was your initial response? Did you roll your eyes? Were you tempted to skip today and just come back tomorrow? Listen, I totally get it. When we think of holiness, we either think of God alone, or as something we can never be. Well, why then did Peter tell us to be holy as God is holy? There must be something more to the story here?

____________________________

____________________________

____________________________

In his own words just prior to the verses above, Jesus said he came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. In other words, right and wrong did not change because Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It could not! Universal truth comes from the nature and character of God. The call to be holy is the call to be a reflection of God’s holiness in the way we live. Paul told us that we are “predestined to be conformed to the image of his son.” The authenticity comes as we acknowledge our weakness, grow in our maturity, and choose to walk with God, becoming more and more like Jesus in the way we think and act every day. I will say it again, authentic holiness lies in the grace between license and legalism. The grace between… this is where the eternal perfection of God draws us upward and out of our selfishness into a new way of living. Here we have the ability to choose the life God has for us. Here grace and truth meet in perfect harmony. It is a “wholly authentic” way of life.

Me: I sure am glad I don’t worship idols the way they did back in the Old Testament.
 
God: I am glad for that, too, but why did you invent new ways to worship idols?

___________________________

Idolatry comes so naturally to every one of us because we are confused by the goodness of God. He has filled this earth with amazingly wonderful things. He has given us creative minds and skillful hands. We are witnesses to the rising and setting sun, stormfronts moving across the plain, the beauty of the mountains and rivers and all of God’s creation. We are participants with one another in every kind of relationship. And what do we do? We worship everything that has been made rather than the One who made everything.

The worst part of all is that we are often oblivious to the fact that we have given our hearts over to idolatry. Love for this world and created things can come at us so subtly, but here’s the game changer. Worshiping God never happens unintentionally. We may find ourselves caught up in a moment or giving our time an energy to a person or activity without really thinking about it, but to worship God we must make a conscious effort. It is an intentional expression of devotion from our truest self. We can get lost enjoying all that is made, but we must be present as we enjoy the maker. Love is not an emotional response to something, it is a choice, and that choice is at the heart of worshiping the one, true God.

___________________________

____________________________

Do you ever do something that you know you shouldn’t do? It’s a crazy feeling when that happens, almost shocking, but then you do it again. In such moments our brain declares, “Inconceivable!” Deep down, you just think, “Why?”

____________________________

November 22, 2019 – Why? Sometimes you just have to ask the question. Why are there deep and strong desires that are difficult to resist? Why are they so easily ignited and so difficult to douse? Why do they touch on all levels physical, spiritual, and emotional? It definitely feels like more than just temptation at work. I do not wish to give in to the embers of rebellion in my bones!

____________________________

All sin is addictive. That’s right. All sin works to produce the same drug-like effect in our mind and body. Everything from the release of pleasure chemicals and endorphins to the craving it creates afterward. It seems unfair that this is a weapon our enemy has to use against us.

However, it produces one more thing in us that our enemy didn’t count on, dependence. Not dependence upon sin, but dependence upon God. No matter how much we love the short-term pleasures of sin, our truest self, created in the image of God, reaches toward the eternal reward of peace and restoration in Christ. Like David, we begin to long more to be in a right relationship with God, than to experience any temporary feeling this world and our enemy has to offer.

____________________________

____________________________

As I type these words, I have this image of running line drills in my mind. It feels like that’s the way most people live—constantly in motion, back and forth, wearing down because they have to keep coming back to the same point over and over again. This is also the way some people walk with God. They seem to cover a lot of ground, but never get anywhere. This is why God speaks in a still small voice. If he shouted, we’d just keep running. When he whispers, we have to stop everything and listen.

______________________________

November 21, 2019 – Listening prayer is one of the most essential disciplines for leading others. In order to lead others well, you must be led. The whole world says, “push on, don’t wait, move forward, opportunity is passing you by!” What I’ve learned is that not all opportunities are equal. Some are worth missing. All too often we act in the name of God, but never really ask Him if what is before us is actually what he wants us to do. Well, we might ask, but we certainly don’t stick around long enough to hear his response. We run on ahead and then ask him to bless whatever we decided to do.

______________________________

We’ve said it time and time again, prayer is a conversation with God. Yes, you can hear the voice of God. Maybe it happens differently for each of us, but when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart, He longs for us to talk to him. He wants to provide counsel and comfort. God really does want us to walk with Him in the cool of the day like Adam and Eve did in the garden. We can’t walk with God and live at break-neck speed. We have to stop. Stop, and give God our full attention. He can handle “mobile” communications when he needs to, but he prefers time that is set aside, dedicated moments, for Him alone. We often quote Psalm 46:10 which says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Take a moment to read and reflect on all of Psalm 46 today.

When we go hiking, we have a list of items that are always in our pack. We take water, a snack, the good ole, JIC (aka toilet paper), and a first aid kit that contains survival gear. We have rarely had to break into the survival gear, but we would never be caught without it. Too much is at stake. Why then, do we attempt to walk through life without survival gear for our soul?

I’m not talking simply about the Bible, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. Those things are essential, period. They are our water and compass and hiking boots. Survival gear is something we pull out for a different reason. Maybe we’re suffering from exhaustion, or a storm moves in, and we’re caught out in it. Survival gear is used to protect and restore and make it out of a situation alive. So, where does beauty fit in?

___________________________

November 16, 2019 – What a wonderful time we had along the South Fork of the Teton river yesterday. My heart needed such a day. In truth, I cannot go so long without time spent in the beauty of God’s creation. All my problems were not fixed, but now there is joy where there was none.

___________________________

There is healing power in beauty. Whether it’s a day in the mountains, listening to music, or visiting an art museum, beauty can be breathed in and drank deeply to restore something that has been lost. Most of the time we blow right by beauty every day without taking notice, then we find ourselves weary and overburdened. Learn to slow down and see the beauty God has placed along our path every day.

___________________________

Do you remember those old cartoons that always show a giant elephant freaking out and scared by a tiny little mouse? How could something so big be afraid of anything, much less a mouse? Horses are the same way, though that’s not how we portray them in movies. We are used to seeing these noble beasts ridden by kings and warriors into battle, not the years of training that go into developing this ability. In reality, horses are extremely skittish. Their huge eyes, ears, and nostrils are designed be an early warning system. Horses are intensely aware of their world and are always ready to run.

The fact that we can catch these creatures and ride them is a miracle. Despite having been domesticated for hundreds of years now, horses are still very fearful. Almost daily, they need interaction and assurance to keep them calm. The whiff of a predator, a loud sound, or a movement in their peripheral vision can have them bolting out from under you in a heartbeat to find safety.

It just doesn’t make sense that powerful animals like horses and elephants can live such fear-filled lives. I could say the same of followers of Jesus.

___________________________

___________________________

Why do we live in fear? The answer is simpler than we might think. We love the world that we can see, and we don’t really believe in the God that we can’t see. Horses are calmed when they spend time with their master, feeling his touch and hearing his gentle voice. Hmm. I wonder…

Coaches and drill sergeants come up with the most interesting motivational phrases.

____________________________

November 14, 2019 – There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to stop complaining that life is hard. Instead, he must see the hard things as God’s program for basic training. I’m not saying that we want to invite more difficulty into our lives, and recklessly plunge headlong into dangerous situations or needless risks. What I am saying is that rather than complaining, which accomplishes nothing, we need to actively shift our focus from the difficulty to what the difficulty is producing in our lives and what God is doing through it. Every hard time is an opportunity to learn and grow.

____________________________

Can you trust that God is up to something good when the world around starts to fall apart? Can you trust that God has your best interests in mind when the people around you are hateful or demeaning? Can you trust God? That’s really the question here.

Suck It Up Buttercup doesn’t mean, “just get over it,” but rather be like a sponge and soak it all in. God uses difficulties to grow our character and mature us. We have a choice, hate the process and just get through, or embrace the hard parts of the journey and posture our hearts to receive all that God is doing.

____________________________