My whoopings as a child were almost always for my smart mouth. I’ve always been a smart aleck. I try to use my powers for good and not for evil, but it is hard sometimes. After I became a Christian, … Continue reading
What do you delight in, in life? What is it, in life, that is truly beautiful? That is truly good? That truly gives life and purpose? Our world spins ever so quickly, it seems doesn’t it? There needs to be … Continue reading
We live in an age that is in turmoil. We live in an age that is overloaded with information, where everything seems to be hurling at us at warp speed. We get information on our phones, through social media, through email, … Continue reading
Rich Mullins was one of my favorite Christian artists of all time. He wrote a song entitled “While the Nations Rage” that is inspired by Psalm 2. That song has led me to a deep love of this song over the … Continue reading
You ever felt like God is not listening? Like God has forgotten about you? Like God is ignoring your prayers and pleas? We’ve all felt that way at some point. But, just because we may feel that way, does that … Continue reading
I am a man that rarely sits still. People enjoy commenting how on Wednesday night at St. Matthew’s when we are eating, I never stop moving. I’m up, I’m down. I walk across the room, talking, laughing, visiting. I enjoy … Continue reading
In our readings this morning, I was drawn to one of my old favorites, Psalm 130: 1 I cry out to you from the depths, Lord— 2 my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to … Continue reading
Today in our readings, we read one of those beautiful Psalms that recounts all that God did for the people in the Old Testament. Many Psalms do this. But I really like the ending of what it says in Psalm … Continue reading
What determines today if you are a success? Is it our preparation? Is it our hard work? Is it just luck? Today, what determines our success? What is it that makes us a success?
I was thinking about that today when I read one of the Psalms for this morning. Listen to what David writes in Psalm 127: 1-2:
1 Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
You can build the biggest house you want. But unless the Lord builds it, it is in vain.
You can stand guard. But unless the Lord keeps watch, it is in vain.
You can wake early and work and worry. But don’t fret, the Lord gives sleep.
Success doesn’t come from our hand alone. But it comes from the Lord. Now, this isn’t a thought not to work hard. No, work hard, be faithful. Give your full effort. In the Garden, one of the first things the Lord did was He gave Adam a task. Work is good. Having a purpose is very, very good.
But life is not just about our efforts. It’s about living out of God’s strength and God’s purpose and God’s mercy. Remember that.
And I’ll tell you what happens to me. When I remember that all I have to do is do my best, and leave the rest up to God, it makes me more efficient. It helps me accomplish more. it helps me work even better.
Why? Because I know it’s all His. It’s all up to Him. It’s His world, we are His people. I know it’s all for His glory, so I’m going to do the very best that I can in all things. For Him. For His glory and praise. As my act of faithfulness to Him.
So today, don’t worry. Don’t stress. Don’t obsess. Just be faithful. Do your task, do you duty, do what you should.
Don’t eat the bread of anxious toil. It is God that is at work in all things. Trust in Him, lean on Him and He will be the world that enables and empowers us in all things!
Be faithful. Trust God. All will be well.
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As we walk together through 2015, we are memorizing the Word of God. Each week we are memorizing a different passage. Today we continue memorizing Psalm 121 looking at verses 5-6. Listen to what this passage says:
5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
Here’s what I love so much about that passage. The Lord is your keeper. He is your shade. He will keep you safe in the day and the night. God will keep you. He will guide you. He will protect you.
He will be your God.
Trust. Your safety and protection, it comes from nowhere else but God. Man oh man, this is one of those passages that I’ve loved for so many years. It’s one of those passages that I’ve allowed to really go deep into my heart.
I don’t have to be afraid. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to fear.
Because the Lord is my keeper.
And He is yours. Trust. Lean on Him. He will keep you. He will.
Trust.
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