Bigger isn't always better

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In our culture of super-sizing, bigger isn't always better. Size isn't important at all, especially when it comes to faith. That is, the amount of our faith not in the situation, not with the problem, and/or not in the person. Rather, faith in (knowledge and understanding) of whom we are praying to. So, faith is a clear comprehension of who our God is, not how big our problems are. As we see from the image above of the foggy path ahead of us, "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1 ESV).  We need not worry about the fog or trying to figure everything out. God has that part already figured out. 

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We only need such a small amount of faith in our HUGE God.  Faith the size of tiny grain will suffice. Jesus said, "if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20 ESV). Even Jesus tells us to not be concerned with the size of the mountain (our problems), but rather focus on the source of our faith, our very BIG God, who can easily move mountains, because NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE for GOD (Luke 1:37 ESV).

"For whatever we focus on gets bigger: if we focus on our problems, they get bigger, if we focus on our God, then our God gets bigger than our problems." (Deep Waters: Lift Your Gaze by Kim Clark)

Make sure you and your family are focused on the right thing for 2018. May the Lord continue to richly bless you and your family in the new year.

The Gift

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It was something everyone had wanted for so long. Each person had their own idea of what the gift should look like, what color the wrapping paper would be, the size and shape of the present, and the perfect colored bow.  They even smiled every time they thought about it. It gave them hope.

It was going to be beautiful once they received it!  They couldn't wait. Patiently they longed for it. And they even prayed for it. 

Then it came...not in the packaging, wrapping, or shape they expected,and the bow definitely wasn't right! And goodness, the delivery was ALL wrong! It wasn't supposed to come like this! It was promised to be perfect! And this clearly wasn't!

The waves of disappointment washed over each person and some were even angry! Enraged enough to murder! All because their gift didn't come as they envisioned it!

The gift came in the form of a baby, born from a virgin, unwed mother in a foul-smelling stable with animals mooing and snorting all around them.  

Then to make matters worse, the first people to be notified of this momentous occasion that everyone had been praying for centuries was not the nobles nor the religious leaders and scribes. Rather, the angelic host birth announcement came to a band of uneducated, dirty nomads who-hadn't-bathed-in-months caring for some dumb, smelly sheep in the middle of nowhere. That's who heard it first. Those were the Savior's first visitors to call upon him.  Not his extended family, not the rabbi's or religious leaders, but a rough-looking group of unshaven, stinky shepherds. That's who, in a excrement-filled stable of animals, first welcomed God in the flesh into this world.

That how, where, and through whom God chose to give mankind the greatest gift of all humanity.

What is your gift you are waiting for?  

Maybe it will also be delivered in a packaging, form, or wrapping that you are not expecting?  

Maybe it's in a form a trial, illness, or painful relationship? 

Whatever the form, God will give you the gift that is best for you at this time in your life.  

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Trust him with his gift to you this holiday season as you gaze into the stable, find the manager, and fix your gaze on glowing baby, your Lord and Savior. 

"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32 ESV)

Merry Christmas dear friends as you remember the true meaning of Christmas: "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 ESV)

"Would you annul my judgement?"

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I was desperately praying for someone I love.  Praying God would be merciful with them. Praying this would be the final stop in the valley of the shadow of death and they would repent, turn from their sin, and run to God.  

After days and weeks of fervent prayer and fasting, on one of my runs, I heard the Lord speak to my heart...

"Would you annul my judgement?"

Sheepishly I hung my head low as the tears of sweat seeped into my eyes. The tears, like the Lord's words, burned. I wiped the sweat away from my eyes and bit my lower lip.

Then I heard...

"Am I not their eternal father?"

My stomach sank as the Lord continued...

"Would you interrupt an earthly father disciplining his child?"

I looked away as if I could avert his gaze, but Lord pressed...

"Would you question his ways?"

I just shook my head and murmured, "No."

My shoulders drooped as the Lord spoke...

"Then why are you questioning my ways, asking me to truncate the process, and lift the consequences?  These are the very things I am using to bring them closer to me."

My only recompense was silence.

"I've got this. I am big enough to work all things out for good, including this situation.  I am that BIG of a God."

"Trust me."

Smiling, I walked the rest of the way home, my gaze lifted, and prayers were now, "Your will be done, my God, your will be done."

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