24 Hours

What can happen in 24 hours? If you watched that series you know that 24 hours can seem eternal. Those sixty minute segments can hold an amazing amount of suspense. What usually happens in a normal 24 hours is that we sleep about eight of those. When sleep is removed more stuff happens.

Just a week ago at 6:00am our own version of 24 hours started with the whooshing sound of Helicopter blades about 50 above our bedroom. That sound is good if you are being Medi-Vaced from the scene of an accident. When you are groggy from REM sleep it can set your nerves on edge. It did the later to me.

I got dressed and got the dogs ready for their early morning devotion time. Well, they don’t do the devotion time. I do that. They walk with me to the place where I do my God and I time.

I was abruptly greeted by a neighbor lady who read me the riot act! “You can’t leave! The police have the neighborhood blocked off. This is an alert!” I kicked the dogs back into the garage area and went to see what all of the hub-bub was about.

I quickly discovered that this was a major operation involving several police vehicles, the helicopter and the cavalry. Yes the cavalry! It was a neighborhood wide drug raid. I waited for about a half an hour and went out to walk the dogs. This wasn’t the wisest thing that I’ve ever done. Time with God is good. Time with God is necessary. However, the timing and place of that that “time” is crucial.

I went to my normal spot which is about 10 minutes from the house in a big field under a mango tree. This is usually a wonderful location. It is quiet and has a great view.

This morning my view as I looked back toward the neighborhood was one of chaos. There was a tremendous line of traffic because of the police blockade. Looking up that line I came to the blockade itself. There must have been 15 to 20 police, most heavily armed with sawed-off shotguns, machine guns and pistols. I sat on the opposite side of the big tree that morning.

As I read of Joshua’s victories I heard distant helicopter noise again. Humm. Was I in trouble? I wondered. I imagined myself explaining to the grim faced officer with the Uzi, “I was just reading my Bible officer.”

All of a sudden I heard a blood curdling scream in the distance, “MIKE!!!!!!” That snapped me out of my lame explanation and into almost sudden panic! What on EARTH had happened to bring Dawn to my “secret place”? It was now 7:00am (boom boom, boom boom 24hr theme noise). (to be continued)

Rain Drop

The other day I talked about how God places SLOW driver in front of me on a regular basis. With that thought I developed a tiny bit of what I understand about God’s sovereignty. “Tiny bit” is an understatement. TINY TINY bit multiplied one billion times one billion might better describe how little I know about God’s Omni qualities.

I can’t remember if I’ve shared this before or not but it fits this post. I was trying, in my simple way, to do what a great preacher of the past once described as, “Putting the cookies on the bottom-shelf” so that his congregation could understand doctrine. My preaching is bottom shelf by design because I consider myself a “bottom-shelf” person. I’m rather simple and still learning everyday.

With the “bottom-shelf” idea I was trying to explain how I understand God’s Sovereignty. It was a Wednesday night prayer meeting and pastor had let me preach. Just as I was in the middle of my discourse pastor entered the auditorium and sat in the back. I about passed out.

After the service he came up to me. He said, “MIKE, you were trying to explain in FIVE minutes what some men have spent FIVE HUNDRED PAGES trying to explain! How did you think that you could do that?”

In my “bottom-shelf” way I thought to myself, “I tried to explain the unexplainable in five minutes and didn’t succeed. These other guys probably spend years and five hundred pages and didn’t succeed either. So, whose further ahead?”

Just yesterday I got a really simple but abrupt illustration of God’s Sovereignty. Now, before you theologians begin to salivate let me again warn you that it is a very, “bottom-shelf” illustration. I promise.

I went to the bank and it was raining. I parked my car about a block away. I usually have to do that here because there is rarely any parking near where you want to go. Anyway as I walked I rounded a corner to the main street. Just as I passed under an awning a LARGE, COLD and Well-aimed rain drop smacked the bridge of my nose. It startled me and woke me up!

“OK Mike. SO, what?” I just read your thoughts didn’t I? I’m getting to the sovereignty part right now. Don’t you see it? It’s as plain as the nose on my face. That rain drop was meant for me!

I walked Fifty-Seven years to get to that exact spot at just the right moment so that that drop could land smack-dab on the bridge of my rather large nose!

“O PLEASE. STOP IT! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!”

Nope I’m not. My God is so big and so in control that he saved that drop for little old me. Going light on the “Old” part.

I know that I’ve used these verses before but they bear repeating. Note them and memorize them for when you are feeling lonely, left out or forgotten:

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Psalms 37:23

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Psalms 37:24

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24 

For in him we live, and move, and have our being.… Acts 17:28a

God is so intertwined in my world that he know everything about it. The very measurement of each step that I take is exact. When I stumble God is there. When I have near misses in traffic He knows. When I pass a flower in the woods who do you think that it was put there for, the ants? Nope. It was put there for me.

Don’t give up my friend. God knows everything about your world too. He wants you to know that He knows! He wants you to know Him in a “Bottom-shelf” way. It is really the only way we can know Him. We’re so tiny and He’s SO AWESOME!

That Guy is God’s Will for My Life!

lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3.5)

I believe in God’s Sovereignty. Sovereignty means that God is never out of control and always IN control. God knows what I need. He knows when I need it and He knows just how to deliver the dosage that I need. However, when thinking about sovereignty the waters often become muddled when we throw “Man’s Choice” into the picture.

I make choices every day, some good and some bad. Is God responsible for those? Yes and no. Now there is a safe answer for you!

For centuries theologians have debated the topic of, “God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Choice” and are still in the dark. This devotional will not answer that question either. You can ask God when you meet him face to face. What I want to do here is to help you think about how God’s Sovereignty works out practically in the choices we make.

Through the years I’ve noticed something peculiar. Every time that I get behind the wheel of a car there is a greater probability that my demeanor will change. It doesn’t always happen but it’s happened enough that I see a pattern. It is a choice I make.

The funny thing that I’ve noticed recently is that when I’m on my way to work my path literally gets plugged. By that I mean, I’m driving along on a four lane and all is well. When I come to the stretch where the road narrows, however, there always seems to be a slower vehicle ahead of me.

I mean, just as I get to that part of my quick trip invariably a truck loaded with, bricks, dirt or pigs lumbers into the picture. It is not always a truck. I could be a 1972 Beetle or an 84 Ford. Or even that rarely slow motorcyclist who decides to take a “Sunday drive” on Tuesday.

[Side note. Motorcyclists here in Brazil are NUTS! They drive between cars. They often run red-lights and they take treacherous risks with their own and other people’s lives. I’ve seen several of them dead along side the road. One so mutilated that.. well enough about this.]

So, where am I going with all of this? The day before yesterday I came to that stretch and there was that 84 Ford and it hit me, “That guy is God’s will for my life!”

As mentioned, God knows what I need and He knows how much I need. God knows that I need patience. I hate patience with a passion. Except when others are patient with me of course. People tell me that they’re praying that God will give me patience and I tell them to mind their own business!

However, out of the blue, God brings me to that “straight and narrow” passage that few find and I chomp at the bit to pass that little old man with a hat that can barely see over the steering wheel driving that piece of junk in front of me! Wow. That felt good.

I have a choice. I can “p a t i e n t l y”, that was hard to type, plod along behind that God placed individual or I can be a jerk and tailgate, beep my horn and fume.

God is in control but the choice is mine. Do you see my point? I know that you do. Unless you are that little old man!

Naked and No Shame

and they were both naked… and were not ashamed (Genesis 2.25)

Years ago when I was eight or nine I was getting dressed one morning when I asked my mom an eight-year-old’s question.

“Mom.” “What?” “When I get married will I have to get undressed in front of my wife?” I waited breathlessly for her response as I heard a tiny snicker from the other room and her grinning reply, “If you want to.” I quickly responded, “I DON’T WANT TO!”

Funny isn’t it? I was petrified by the thought of having to take my clothes off in front of female eyes. Why? Shame.

In Genesis 2 Moses writes that God created Adam and Eve as perfect people in a perfect world with perfect everything. The weather was right. The food wouldn’t fatten and there were no weeds nor mosquitoes, at least biting ones. Best of all there was no shame.

When, however, Adam and Eve broke God’s only rule and demonstrated the rebellion of disobedience, what was the first thing that they did? They ran for cover. Their eyes were opened and they realized that they were naked.

Did you see how the eye-gate was involved in the whole process? Look at it and see my translation of what transpired:

The Serpent said, “God has blinded you! Hissssss! God knows that if you eat thissssss fruit you’ll sssssee both good and evil as He seesssss them.

Eve saw the fruit. She saw that it was good for food. My question is how does one see that something is good to eat? I’ve seen plenty of pretty things that aren’t good for you and plenty of ugly things that are.

Anyway, the fruit looked desirable as something to give her wisdom.

Think on that one. Eve lacked wisdom? She had no worries. She live in a perfect garden. She had a perfect husband and a perfect relationship with him. She walked daily with God. Yet she saw wisdom in a piece of fruit? Please!

In a way she was right. She became, “street-wise” just after that first bite. Never a good thing. The first thing that she did with her new found wisdom was to give the fruit to her best friend. Adam, the big lug, was right there beside her. Why did he take it? I’m going to ask him some day. If he’s in heaven that is.

Adam ate and, “POW!” History’s first two sets of blackened eyes. Adam looked at Eve and she at him. They then looked down at their own bodies in stunned silence. In shocked shame they both grabbed for their newly discovered “private parts” and dove for the nearest fig tree. Paradise was lost and Mankind with it. Shame began it’s cruel reign.

The fun and fellowship were over. The world is still reeling from their horrific choice. Why didn’t they eat from the Tree of Life instead? We may never know.

How is shame lost? By allowing the Creator to become your spiritual tailor. If you let Him to clothe you with His righteousness He adds a stunning and unforgettable ensemble to your spiritual wardrobe. It is called Salvation. It allows one to face the New Year a lovely smile and no shame!

Who Are You (Conclusion)

The LORD… formeth the spirit of man within him (Zechariah 12.1)

As the fireworks begin to celebrate the coming of another New Year I am reminded of the fleeting nature of my life. If I were not a part of a grander plan I would see hopelessness and helplessness all around me. I still see both but know that God will have his way in the end. Will this be the year that the Savior returns? Hope so! May I share his Gospel faithfully until he returns.

Ending our look at Zechariah 12.1 I want to focus on the last of the three statements that God seems to mention in passing. It is here that I am overwhelmed with wonder and emotion. Jehovah God who has just stated his vast power in the creation of the universe and what we call planet earth, now turns our attention to the inner universe of our spirit.

I am always fascinated by “Nature” or God’s creation. Just the other day I was looking at our passion fruit plant. It has grown like a weed in the last three weeks and has a nice little fruit already forming.

As I looked closer I noticed two wonders of God’s creativity. The flower of the passion fruit is spectacular. I’d never seen one before but it is lovely. While I was looking at that flower I noticed a very strange but lovely bug. I had never seen anything like it either. It was intricate in color and design. That little creature and lovely flower are yet further proof that God spared nothing while using his vast imagination in the universe’s formation. Yet in it all God formed my spirit.

When God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils it was a magic moment. It was the beginning of something eternal. That spirit has been passed from Adam to Mike through birth. Adam’s spirit is still alive today whether with God or not I don’t know.

My spirit will live forever too. What is involved in forming a spirit? I don’t know. But one thing that I do know is that when this vast universe and whole wide world is gone my spirit will still be around. Though vast the universe will pass away. Though huge the earth will vanish. Though invisible my spirit is eternal and safe in Jesus!

The Holy Spirit is the deposit that guarantees my place with the Savior. As you start this New Year won’t you allow your Creator to have his place in your spirit? It is a good question that needs an answer today! Say yes Lord thy servant hearth and allow him to take the center of your universe.

Who Are You (Part 2)

With the New Year upon us tomorrow most of us think about the possibilities it presents. It is a perfect time to take stock of life and make necessary changes and tweaks. I challenged you with Zechariah 12.1 yesterday. It is a short verse in an often overlooked book but its ramifications are momentous concerning your future.

Just so it is fresh in your mind let me put it here in print again:

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

The verse easily breaks into three parts as follows describing God’s actions,

• He stretches out the universe
• He lays the earth’s foundation
• He forms my spirit

It is an amazing statement. As I mentioned yesterday it describes God’s immensity and intimacy. Let’s look further at this relationship.

This master piece of literature deserves a lot of ink and paper, or megabytes if you will. But let me just share one article that I read earlier this month. It is about the Voyager Space probe that was sent out by NASA way back in 1977.

The Voyager results will be presented Tuesday at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco.

Launched in 1977, the nuclear-powered Voyager 1 and its twin Voyager 2 toured the planets and kept going in different directions. Voyager 1 veered north while Voyager 2 headed south.

Hurtling at 38,000 mph, Voyager 1 is currently 10.8 billion miles from the sun. Voyager 2 is traveling slower at 35,000 mph and is 8.8 billion miles from the sun.

When Voyager 1 finally exits the solar system [in four years], scientists expect to see a telltale change in the wind. Interstellar wind is slower, colder and denser than solar wind.

Read more: http://goo.gl/9pPyL

Stuff like this is fascinating to me! This thing has been traveling at 38,000 miles per hour for THIRTY-THREE YEARS and is still in our solar system! We tend to say, “Man! Can you imagine that! We have put a man made probe at the edge of our solar system!” When we should be saying, “MAN! Can you imagine how BIG our GOD IS?”

How many solar systems are there? Get this! It is estimated that there are about 20 billion… IN OUR GALAXY alone (according to Yahoo! Answers)!

God told Zechariah that he simply “stretched out” the Universe, with ALL of it’s Galaxies, like a bed sheet on a clothes line. A similar statement is found in Isaiah 42.5 where God says

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:

In Isaiah 44.24 God explains it in a slighly different way when he says,

Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

So, my friend, what does this New Year hold for you and me? I don’t know. I’ve got my plans and I’ll do my best to see that they happen. But in the end it is my Father who spread out the Universe who will determine how my plans turn out. This thought should cause me to want to know him better. Then I’ll know myself better too! Let’s continue our look at this passage next year! See you tomorrow!

Who Are You?

…the LORD … formeth the spirit of man within him. (Zechariah 12.1)

Facing a new year can be daunting. Not only does it bring reflections of the year past but apprehensions of the coming three-hundred-sixty-five days.

Google is an interesting concept, whether or not you like and use it, but it can’t predict the future. For example try this search, “Will I die in 2011?” It should bring up, among other things, “The Death Clock.” OOooooooo scary.

I decided to give it a try and inserted my information. It gave me, Sunday, April 11 2027 as my date with the Grim Reaper. Its weird to see a proposed date for your death.

I’m a skeptic. So, I put my dad’s information into the Death Clock. Dad was born in 1907 and died in September of 1993. The Death Clock promptly said, “Your time has expired. Have a nice day.” However, it gave November 25, 1980” as his death date. OOops.

We laugh at Death Clock type scenarios. We know that death is an important subject but we rarely dwell on it as far as we are concerned. Newspapers use buzz words like, “bloody, grizzly, ghoulish, morbid, cruel, sudden and unexpected” to grab our attention. And those key words usually grab us as we read about the grizzly deaths of Joe Blows all over the place daily .

Let’s think for a minute about our own life and death. We find a fascinating look at life in, of all places, the book of Zechariah chapter 12 and verse 1. There the prophet receives a vision from God that he is to pass on to Israel. In the introduction of that vision we read an astounding statement.

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Jehovah God talking to Israel and everyone else for that matter, says some amazing things about both himself and you! Be careful how you read that verse or you’ll miss its full impact. It says that the LORD:

• Stretcheth forth the heavens
• Layeth the foundation of the earth
• Formeth the spirit of man within him

Did you grasp that? The LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, the earth and all that are in them, formed your spirit. In this sentence we see some fascinating aspects of both God and us.

God begins the description of his creative powers in the vastness of the Universe. He then moves to planet earth and finally into the innermost reaches of man, our spirit. The text shows the immensity and intimacy of our God. Whether or not you know him personally.

I want to literally explore more of this thought tomorrow but let me leave you with this for now.

NEVER, NEVER consider yourself a worthless speck in our huge universe. Whether that universe be the Galaxy or your cubicle. God knows you and he wants you to know him. If you have never asked him to save you from yourself and sin, turn to him now. Ask him to help you into an intimate relationship with him. It will be something that you will not regret nor forget. It will make the New Year one of purpose and promise! I promise.

Did God Suffer Empty Nest Syndrome? (Part 2)

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3.17)

The Holidays bring with them not only much anticipation of church programs, choir presentations and time with family and friends, they also bring anxiety. Those who are separated from aforementioned traditions find adjusting to their new surroundings difficult.

Thus I began the article yesterday. I’m just imagining here so bear with me. Did God suffer with Jesus departure from heaven and birth in Bethlehem? Let’s look at a few examples from the Scriptures of what I believe are demonstrations of His feelings .

Remember his words to Mary just before Jesus birth? They were delivered by the Angel Gabriel. However, they were God’s words:

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end… And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Luk 1:32,33,35).

Of course the Angel was explaining who Jesus would be but do I hear a twinge of Fatherly pride here? “This is MY SON! I want everyone to know who HE is! He will reign. He is great. He is eternal!” That’s silly. It can’t be. God never twinges.

What about at Jesus’ baptism? You remember the scene. Jesus comes up from the muddy waters of the Jordan and is greeted by his Father’s voice from heaven which says, … This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Mat 3:17).

Again that Voice was announcing who Jesus was to all the onlookers. But do I hear another twinge of Fatherly pride in that Voice? Mike you are imagining things! God is immutable. He never changes.

What about the time when Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mount where he was transfigured before their eyes? Peter begins to babble about making tabernacles when a cloud covers them and again the Voice says, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him (Matthew 17.5).

This simply cannot be another seeming twinge of pride and, “I’m missing You My Beloved Son!” Because, again, God doesn’t miss anything. Missing means lacking and God never lacks.

We can say that none of these incidences moved the Father in any way. But, I think that they did! What’s my proof?

First let me say that in no way will I ever surrender any of God’s power, majesty or sovereignty. However, notice the intricacy with which He cares for me His adopted son. He knit me together in my mother’s womb. He guards my tears in His bottle. He watches over every step I take and He knows my thoughts from afar.

He who wrote my name in His book and who knows when every sparrow falls, could it be that He was unfeeling when the eternal intimacy changed with Jesus birth? I don’t know. I’m just imagining.

Usually when our baby’s are born we rejoice. When they graduate and leave the nest we mourn. With Jesus birth the “separation” began for God. True Jesus said, “I and the Father are one!” But could it be that because God is SO great that he can be one with Jesus and yet feel separation as Jesus departs for Bethlehem. Again, I’m imagining but note Jesus words on the cross as he somehow feels separation from the Father for the first time in history, “My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken ME!”

I know that the theologians probably have the answers to my imagination. And I am sure that God didn’t experience what we know as “Empty Nest” syndrome. But God did feel something!

He can identify perfectly with me now. Want some proof? Look at how Paul, using God’s words, describes Jesus’ homecoming in Philippians 2.9-11:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Empty Nester, God knows how you feel and he cares. Meditate on that truth and he’ll fill the void you feel! I know from personal experience.

Did God Suffer from Empty Nest Syndrome?

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3.17)

The Holidays bring with them not only much anticipation of church programs, choir presentations and time with family and friends, they also bring anxiety. Those who are separated from aforementioned traditions find adjusting to their new surroundings difficult.

Soldiers, for example, find themselves a million miles from home and familiar holiday happenings. The “other-culture” of their new home away from home lacks the feel of Christmas and the hugs from loved ones. Not only do they fight a foreign enemy they fight their very foreign emotions and emptiness.

Missionaries too struggle with this drama. Their feelings are pacified some what when the whole immediate family is on the field together. When the nest becomes empty those feelings run raw. We’ve been through this choice experience for two year now and have earned a new facet on the jewel of our lives. We can identify with those who have or will soon experience these feelings.

With Christmas upon us once again a thought came to me, “What was it like for God when Jesus left heaven to be born in Bethlehem? Did the Almighty feel ‘Empty-Nest’ syndrome?”

I can hear the theologians who read my blog sighing collectively just now. All one of them! Or are they snickering? I don’t believe that there are many theologians who read my blog. And that is just fine with me.

A theologian would be quick to remind me that God cannot “suffer”. God is above suffering. He is outside of his creation and time. God is immutable, which is a theological term meaning, “unchanging.” God has no needs, he is unaffected by anything but himself. Our God is sovereign. He is in complete control of everything all of the time. He is never taken by surprise by any one, any thing or any circumstance. He is omnipresent. Which means that he is everywhere present in all of his being. How could God feel alone?

Amen! With my limited theological studies I would have to acquiesce to the learned theologians. But I still wonder. I hear God speaking in the Word at times and I wonder. I’d like continue this thought tomorrow? Hope that you’ll come back to hear the rest of my musings.

Feliz Natal

Wishing one a Merry Christmas often seems a trivial pursuit. “Wishing” seems so fantasy like. However, my WordWeb dictionary assures me that wishing is a valid way to Invoke upon you all the very best of this lovely day.

Wherever you find yourself remember to look to the Savior. He loves you and thus left Heaven to rescue you from yourself. He gave himself up for you so that you might give yourself back to him.

Think about that one. Jesus the Creator, King and God left heavens glory to be born into a fragile, limiting and humble body because he loves you. He suffered the weakness of infancy, the dependence of childhood, the awkwardness of the teen years and the poverty of adulthood to demonstrate his love.

He mounted a rude cross and let spike, whose molecules he was holding together, be driven into his wrists and ankles. Then he died. Why? It was the ultimate demonstration of his love.

Just last week a little girl from our church came up to me after Sunday school and shoved a roughly folded and crumpled piece of paper into my hand. I hesitated to take it at first but when she said, “Take it! It’s for you!” I couldn’t resist. I opened it and looked at the childish scribble. There was a sun between two clouds an ocean and scrawling words that read, “Feliz Natal Pastor Miguel.”

That simple act from the hands of a little girl who comes to church in rags was a tear-jerker. It was an expression of love. It probably took her all of five minutes to think it up and draw it out yet it touched my heart greatly.

How much more should what Christ did be received and cherished. If you have the privilege of holding a baby today or in the coming week, think of Jesus the Christ child. He was that frail for you. If you know Him cherish your relationship. If you don’t know Him, why not? He couldn’t have done anymore than he’s already done to help you to have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. So then, Merry Christmas from our family to yours!