Nothing (Romans 8:31-39)

31What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” (Psalm 44:22)

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ever had a rough day? Me, too. Week? Yep. Year? I guess so. Life? I sure hope not. When trouble comes, where do we turn? When we're being burdened on all sides, to whom do we look? When feeling like we're being tromped down into a bottomless pit, by whom are we rescued?

This is not a “cheer up; it's Christmas,” writing. I hope this reaches much deeper than that. Everyone has had a bad day at least once; it's just one of those things we have to shrug off. I'm talking about when we feel surrounded by darkness, when every ounce of ourselves wants to scream out, “GO AWAY!” to whomever comes around or calls. We feel isolated, depressed, beat down, exhausted.........banished. It's in those moments when these words from God ring most true. If God is for us, then truly nothing can be against us.

God is the one who judges, who calls us all to answer. Paul emphasizes that Christ didn't just die; he was raised to life again! He is at God's right hand! In trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and sword, WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM! Philippians 4:13, the main point in context is not “I can,” it's, “through Christ.” Praise be to God the Father for His grace for allowing us sinners to crawl towards Him and find rest in His strength. Praise God for His love for accepting us in all of our transgressions and weakness. Praise God for His justice and righteousness in always holding true to who He is and judging the world (us included) in all rightness and truth.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Does this answer the question of once-saved-always-saved? No. But it does mean that God will love us no matter what, and we can always turn to Him for peace, love, and discipline, a very important part of love. That is a true gift of God.

Praise be to God our Father for who He is: Savior, Judge, unchanging, righteous, holy, powerful, light.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” ~John 1:5

Thank You, God, for Your light. Thank You for Your hand, and might, and power in rescuing us from ourselves. You sent Christ to be a willing and perfect sacrifice. To live with us here on Your footstool, and to die for us by our selfish, unloving hands. It is only by Your grace that we can live. Only by Your power that we can breathe. Your love, Your righteousness is truly amazing. Thank You for You. Amen.

I Will Be Exalted, Psalm 46

1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8Come and see what the LORD has done, the desolations He has brought on the earth. 9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

11The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Most people can agree that we are currently in a time of tumult. Elections, storms, jobs, schedules all keep our attention from focusing on God. For most of us, it’s simply a state of busyness trying to get from one place to another to do this thing or see this person. For some (currently the eastern coastline) there is actually some fear involved. A threat to safety and well-being is quite obviously present with the next step outside or the next howl of the wind. For others, every day comes filled with questions that don’t have answers: how am I going to stay warm today; where am I going to sleep tonight; what am I even going to eat to quiet my stomach down? There really is no break to rejuvenate, to relax, to rest.

The authors (the Sons of Korah) paint a morbid picture of the world: mountains falling into the sea, waters roaring, mountains quaking. Granted, with as much natural phenomenon craziness that has happened in the last few years, they’re really not that far off. But still, many of us have only seen it on TV, the internet, etc.

In the middle of everything, there is a place to go. “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall.” Phew. I can easily picture a quiet, babbling brook on a beautiful summer day with no clouds in the sky and the softest grass anyone could ever imagine. I just lay back into the grass, soaking everything in. “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Fortress? Wait, that’s a little different from the mountains and natural disasters. That has a different connotation…

Unfortunately for understanding, we (read: most of us) don’t really have physical wars going on in our own home turf on a daily basis. About the most danger I run into in a daily basis is the commute to and from work, not really a reason to fear for my life. These authors really knew what war was. Israel had been through significant expansion, division, subjugation, rule, and militaristic force over the course of history, even to this point. And God led them into and through all the different battles.

Yet the author makes a switch in verse 9 when He says that God makes wars cease. God: the peacemaker. How does He do it? “He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields with fire.” Hmmm…that seems awfully oxymoronic. Break, shatter, burn. That’s exactly what everyone else is doing, but God does it bigger, better, and for a greater purpose.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Read verses 9 and 10 again to yourself, and really try to see and hear and feel everything that’s happening around you when you read. Everything builds, and builds, and crescendos, to the final clang!



Silence



All our weapons have been destroyed. Everything attacking us has been ceased. Stop fighting. It’s not gaining anything. And the only one who can bring peace is God. And when He brings it, it’s awesome. Anyone who has ever dealt with spiritual warfare knows this. I have personally heard demons and angels yelling at each other, louder, and louder, and LOUDER until God yelled, “YOU CAN’T HAVE HIM!” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....................................................................

No words can describe that peace. God is the only one who can bring that peace. God is truly, truly the only source of anything good (James 1:17). What do we do when something that incredible happens? We talk about it.
God is Almighty, greater than anything we can ever face, and when He says, “Be still.” Everything listens. Then we go and talk about His love, peace, power, and justice to everyone we meet. God says, “I will be exalted in the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Everyone will praise God, especially if we talk about Him. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

I pray that every one of you would find that peace today. Rest in God. And, in doing so, glorify Him among the earth.

Aliens, Hebrews 11:13-16

(13)All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. (14)People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. (15)If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. (16)Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

This passage comes from the so-named “Hall of Fame of Faith.” The passage before this talks about the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and it is followed by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel. Hence the name “Hall of Fame.” Any story presently used in Sunday school (and some that aren’t) is referenced in this passage. Every single explanation the author of Hebrews uses begins with the phrase “by faith.” And at the end of the chapter, he says that the people mentioned didn’t receive what was promised because God had provided something better.

Did the people mentioned stay true to God the entire time? Not everyone. But the focus of their life, their faith, was centered around their relationship with God. They kept their eyes on what is unseen, not what is seen.

This particular section really speaks about the heart of every single person mentioned. Abel was focused on God when he presented his offering from his flock. Enoch walked with God, which is a huge complement in the Jewish culture, and God actually took him to heaven directly. Noah didn’t know what sort of a world he was going to find after the flood, or even what would happen during it. But he kept his faith in God and his eyes on God’s kingdom. Abraham simply left where he had lived for a land that God promised Him.

They all knew that they were made for God and His kingdom and searched for it with all they had. Do we? I, unfortunately, forget this all the time. Despite all the messages, songs, and blunt reminders, I still forget that I’m not meant to live for this world, but for God and His kingdom. This encouragement goes out to everyone: living for God’s kingdom is the only way to truly find a home, and when home is found in God’s kingdom, life means so much more!

Here are a few songs about this. Feel free to pick your genre.

We're all the Same, Romans 3:21-31

(21)But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.(22)This righteousness is given through faith in[h] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,(23)for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,(24)and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.(25)God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—(26)he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
(27)Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.(28)For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(29)Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,(30)since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.(31)Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Most of you have probably heard verse 23 in this passage. However, I’d like to look at the broader context to see how it plays in with the rest of its sentence and paragraph. Paul is speaking to his Jewish readers at this point in the letter, and his purpose in verses 21-24 is to say that they aren’t any different from the Gentiles. It is faith in God that saves, not the Law. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. There’s no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. It really gives a new meaning to verse 23 than how I’ve always heard it used. Instead of “YOU have sinned, and YOU have sinned, and so have YOU!” It’s actually “You’ve sinned, but so have I. We’re no different because we both sin and we’re both saved through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Verses 25-26 add some additional explanation of Paul’s message that his Jewish audience would have understood. They were well familiar with the sin offering that was set up in Leviticus 16:15-16 where a goat would be sacrificed in lieu of the people bearing the brunt of God’s wrath (hence the word scapegoat). God waited and “passed over” (sound familiar from the plagues on Egypt?) the sins of the people so that Christ could be the sin sacrifice once for all. Then and only then would the sacrifice be accomplished. God and God alone judges because only through God are we saved.
Paul ends this section with a Q&A session with himself. He refutes some arguments that people may choose to use against Him. The law is about faith, not works. God is the God of everyone. We declare the law by keeping the faith. That last part can be a tad confusing, but we proclaim God’s love and forgiveness when we uphold the way and demonstrate our faith, so law and faith go hand-in-hand.
We are not alone in our sin. Even though we all sin, we are all also justified freely and equally through Jesus’ blood on the cross. Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice for us. Walk by faith. In doing so, uphold the law. Christ is our righteousness.

Gifts and Passions, 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)

(7) Now to each one of the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (8)To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, (9)to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, (10)to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. (11)All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

This is probably a familiar passage to a lot of us. Those of us who have grown up in the church have heard several sermons about how to find your gift and how to best use it in the church. For the record, this is not nearly a complete list, but it is the longest contiguous list in Scripture. The second longest comes at the end of the same chapter, just in case you were curious.

I don’t intend to try to define and dissect every spiritual gift in Scripture or even here. There are several additional resources available if you’d like to look around some more. The Bible talks a lot about when/when gifts are to be used within a church service, and it also provides examples throughout of people who display those gifts. Solomon is promised in 1 Kings 3 that he will essentially be the wisest person to ever walk the earth. Jesus was called Rabbi/Teacher (was that too easy of a reference?). Genesis is full of people who walked faithfully with God. Peter and John are healing people all through the book of Acts. Moses and Aaron performed incredible miracles in front of Pharaoh. Aaron did most of the actions (staff turning into a snake, the Nile turning into blood), and Moses actually did most of the prophesying. God placed prophets like Samuel in Israel to judge the people and get them back on track. Acts 2 records the primary example of tongues at Pentecost, when people from all around the region with different languages suddenly heard the Word of God being spoken in their own language.

So the Spirit was definitely active in the Old Testament as well as the New, and the people were using their gifts outside the church/synagogue as well as in, and that’s my primary focus this week. Finding where each person’s spiritual gifts are to be used outside the church. As many gifts as God has given, He has also given passions to individuals. The question is how do your gifts come into play with your passions?

For example, I think my primary gifts are service, hospitality, encouragement, and teaching. If anyone disagrees, please let me know. Those are the activities that really get my juices flowing; I love making sure people feel welcome and comfortable when I’m around and will go out of the way to make sure they’re ok. If they’re not, I like to encourage them and teach them some ways to be more comfortable, whether it’s people’s names or how to do an activity better. That plays out in my job a lot on a day-to-day basis by going into random people’s houses to work on their U-Verse services. I’m there to serve; they have to want to invite me in; I help them know that everything’s going to be ok, and I explain in words they understand what I did and what the problem might have been. Outside of work, I love having people over (hint, hint) and hosting anyone and everyone. Even with Frisbee, whenever people are nervous about playing, I get a huge rush from helping them get comfortable with other people first, then the sport by teaching them how to adjust what they are or aren’t doing. That is a primary method of interaction for me and a primary mission field because that is my passion. Helping people feel welcome and wanted brings the biggest smile to my face and warmth to my heart because that’s how God has wired me to be. Those are my gifts. That is what God pushes me to use for His kingdom.

My encouragement and challenge to everyone this week is to find your gifts through prayer, action, and reflection. I have learned that administration is a weak area, and only through prayer and God’s grace can that be strengthened. Once you have a hint towards your gifts, look for opportunities to use them in the church, as that is their primary purpose. God’s kingdom comes first. Then look for ways to use those gifts outside of the church body. How can your gifts be used within your passions to bring people to God?

A Call to Security, Psalm 59:14-17

(14)They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. (15)They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. (16)But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. (17)You are my strength, I sing praise to You; You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.


David had originally come into King Saul's service as a musician to play the lyre whenever "an evil spirit from the Lord came upon Saul" (several references beginning in 1 Samuel 16). David would be called in from the fields to play for Saul to calm his nerves and remind him that God is in control. Saul, however, began to get more and more jealous of David as God used him to lead the armies into several victories and make David's name greater than Saul's. Eventually, Saul began trying to kill David almost any opportunity he had. David would be playing the lyre as normal, then "an evil spirit from the Lord (would come) on Saul," and he would try to pin David to the wall with a spear. It got to the point where David had to go into hiding most nights because Saul would send out assassins to kill him, and anyone they ran across would either lie on David's behalf or, in Samuel's case, they would begin prophesying, which is pretty cool to see God working in very adverse situations.

So David wrote this psalm either during a time of hiding or reflecting on said time. He goes back and forth about being worried about death and praising God for deliverance. He ends the song with these lyrics, with verses 16-17 being the final ending punch. In the midst of people trying to kill him, David knows that God is his Savior. Look at what he calls God: fortress, refuge, strength, God. David's total dependence is on God the Father, and God delivers for His kingdom.

And the persecution doesn't end with David, or Jesus, or even the apostles. If any of you have ever heard Dr. David Platt speak during a service at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, during a Secret Church (next one in April 6!), or if you have read Radical, you've heard stories about persecuted Christians all over the world dying because of the Gospel. People are being put in jail, tortured, and killed simply for believing in God. These families need prayer. These people are in desperate need of prayer and supplies in many cases, so they can continue to spread the Gospel. There's an organization called Voice of the Martyrs whose aim is to assist the persecuted church worldwide. If you're interested you can check out their website and read stories of people who have prayed through jail and sung to their deaths, knowing that God is their fortress, refuge, and strength.

In middle class America, it's kind of hard to get a full grasp of what's going on without having seen it myself. I may complain about a very stressful day at work and lose sight of God's love and what He is planning. Who cares if the computer systems go down? Who cares if I can't find a cable in the middle of someone's total mess? Who cares if a DVR won't hook up to a 72" LED TV? I shouldn't, and God definitely doesn't. All He is concerned with at that point is my heart and whether or not I'm giving Him the glory. Humming is a great way to relieve stress, and if people ask about the song, there's a ministry opportunity right there. Yesterday, two of those "who care" questions happened. At the beginning of the day I sent out some texts asking for prayer, but after 9 hours at one house, I had honestly forgotten about it. Then I read my brother's text:

"'Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds because the testing of your faith develops perseverance.' -James 1:2-3. Try to stay patient today and find God moving in whatever you do today. Hope your day gets better man."

Wow. I just had to sit back and let that soak in. Consider it pure joy. Find God moving in whatever you do today. I had forgotten that God is my fortress, refuge, and strength. I praise God that in the smallest of things He is still moving. When tiny little things go wrong, God still calls us to rely on him. When we're being imprisoned, beaten, and murdered for God's name, we still rely on God solely. Asia Bibi has been in solitary confinement in Pakistan for two years for her protection while awaiting a death sentence appeal. So what does she do all day? Pray. Jail officials and superintendents have come to like her and are very sympathetic to her case now. They've promised to bring her any books she wants and are taking very good care of her.

That's what faith can do. That's what true reliance on God can do. When in prison, hiding from death, or watching our team lose a preseason exhibition game, God is still our fortress, refuge, and strength. Forever and always, let us remember that He is God, and He is with us.

Faith Like a Child, Mark 10:13-16

(13)People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. (14)When Jesus saw this he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (15)I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (16)And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

I hate to admit this, but I had never been backpacking until Rebecca and I got engaged. Even then, it was just a one-nighter going up a mountain in Colorado, so not a backpacking trip by most hikers’ standards. When we were planning the trip, she was giving me tips on what to pack and how to pack it to make sure everything that we needed fit. I was so excited to actually go on a packing trip, especially with my new fiancé, her brothers, and her dad, that I was way more excited than I should have been starting off. The next day, I couldn’t wait to do another one, even though the rain and sleet were not the most fun things to happen in July, coming down from a mountain.
The same excitement happened at the Canyon. We both went down to the river, although at separate times, and we agreed that we will need to come back for two weeks minimum just to do all the hiking we hadn’t gotten the chance to do in our time there.
Several people on our ACMNP team and some locals wanted to hit every trail by the time they left last summer. I had the opportunity to go with one of my coworkers on her first hike ever. Not just at the Canyon. Ever. For me, that’s kinda hard to grasp, but it was also hard for Rebecca to grasp that I hadn’t backpacked for 22 years. The thing is that people doing it for their first time love it, usually. They initially can’t wait to go however far down, even though they might be a little nervous. Many people have a cap that says, “The Canyon is calling, and I must go.” That’s so true. Yes, we marveled at the fantastic gorge, but we also have an innate drive to explore, to find out something new, even though it may just be from hearsay.
People in our Scripture lesson had heard about Jesus’ miraculous healings, so parents were pushing through the door of the house the disciples and Jesus were staying at just so Jesus could touch and bless their children. The disciples were tired. They had spent all day discussing and debating with the religious leaders of the area, and they just wanted to rest. However, Jesus had told them just a few days prior to welcome children in His name. He has to reemphasize the point just so the disciples will start to listen.
Children take a huge role in Scripture, especially for Jesus. He’s constantly saying that we should welcome children and train them in the proper way of life. Teach them properly and don’t lead them astray from His truth. Why does Jesus place so much emphasis on teaching children and using them as examples for faith?
Children have a lot to learn about life. Jesus taught them so they could begin to learn the Christian life and pass it down to other generations, much like a hiker will share experiences so others can strive to go. But what about the kingdom of God belonging to children, or an adult receiving the kingdom of God like a child? Personally, I wouldn’t trust a lot of children I know with a kingdom. All the scientific research would be dedicated to bringing dinosaurs or unicorns back to life, and there would be mandatory recesses every day. Ok, that part would be great, but when it comes to decision making, especially with other kingdoms and ruling over people, children aren’t exactly the most suited for the job.
They can be really distracted by looking at only what they want. They can be narrow minded and singularly focused. They’re out for what they want and nothing more. This can be too obvious during the Christmas season when children pester their parents about that new thing, whatever it might be.
Whenever they get that thing they’re looking for, though, they get extremely excited and can’t wait to show it off to everyone. One of my mom’s favorite things to do whenever my brothers and I bring new friends over is pulling out the old baby videos…yay… and one of her favorites is birthdays. She watches the three of us react to what we were opening from “Whoooooa!” to “Oooooh!” to completely screaming at the top of our lungs in excitement. Most people who watch them, especially females, think they’re inexplicably cute, having about the same reactions, and the three of us try to hide while they’re going on. However, the videos she shows are a great example of how God calls us to receive His kingdom. It’s a gift he gives to us freely. Just like children have technically done nothing to earn the gifts they may get, we’ve done nothing at all to deserve God’s kingdom. God allows us to receive it as a gift from Him. We’ve done nothing to deserve it, and there’s nothing we can do. The love that God shows in that is something we can’t help but share!
The kingdom is exciting, enthralling, and something we can’t wait to go exploring in. The fact that God grants it to faulty people like us is extremely humbling. It’s something we can’t wait to share with everyone. We want to soak up everything we can from God and learn as much as we can about Him. We should want to go around screaming at the top of our lungs that God has saved us. That is the level of excitement, at least, that we should have about the kingdom.
As we go throughout our exploration, we have to remember that children need to be shown the way, much like new hikers. In our Scripture lesson, the children at the beginning had to literally be carried in to see Jesus. That could have been because they were too young to walk, or didn’t have the strength to manage for themselves. Either way, they needed a guide or helping hand. Many people are just like that. They need that helping hand, that guide, to get to God, because many don’t know how. They really want it, but they don’t know how to get there or what to look forward to.
Children don’t know what to expect when something new comes around, either. They’re excited about the new idea, the new thing, whatever. The anticipation of the new thing drives many kids crazy. After seeing it or getting it, they can’t wait to share about it. In Luke chapter 10, Jesus sends out followers to go ahead of Him and proclaim that the kingdom of God is near. They came back filled with joy exclaiming that even the demons are subject to them in the name of Christ. They have truly accepted the gift of the kingdom, and are completely enthralled and what they’ve learned from it. They can’t wait to share with everyone what just happened. Jesus later thanks the Father for revealing His power to little children, those who are new to faith. The followers accepted the kingdom of God with excitement and couldn’t wait to tell everyone. The kingdom was new, and they were filled with joy upon receiving it. That’s how we, as adults, receive the kingdom like a child: humility and excitement.
Back in our Scripture lesson, after the children had been brought to Jesus by their parents, Jesus blessed them and healed them. He showed them that God’s blessings are given freely, and they accepted His gift with open arms and probably left the house singing praises. In the same way, when we go to God to find His kingdom, He heals us from sin. He blots out our stain and makes us clean. That’s what we can get excited about. We are freed from bondage and can go living our lives to the full for God’s glory. We can spend our lives exploring the Kingdom of God. We can run, we can dance, and we can live for Him. It’s amazing freedom! Think back really quickly to your elementary school days and the first day of summer. You were free from the bondage of school, and you couldn’t wait to go romping around with friends, enjoying your very extended weekend. We can let ourselves go back to the freedom of childhood and romp around God’s kingdom, exploring and finding out new things, telling everyone we see about it.
Take a look around. The kingdom is calling. God is calling. And we must go; we must explore. The kingdom of God is near. It’s calling all of us. The trail map is right in our Bibles. Take a hike.

Jesus Loves Me, Romans 8:14-16

(14)For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. (15)The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (16)The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

These lyrics should sound familiar: "Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong."

We sang this in "big church" on Sunday, and it was a wonderful reminder of the extent and simplicity of God's love. God loves everyone. For believers, it goes one step further. We are His children. We can cry out, "Abba, Father," to Him and He listens.

Remember that for this upcoming weekend: God loves you.

This is a wonderful example of a father's love that doesn't come close to the level of God's love.



Derek Redmond had 5 Achilles surgeries between the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. Now heavily favored to win gold, his right hamstring blows halfway in. He tries to finish, but his father jumps through security to help him finish, showing his incredible love for his son.

Where is Home?, Psalm 84:1-4 (NIV)

(1)How lovely is your dwelling place,
LORD Almighty!
(2)My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
(3)Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
(4)Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.

I lived in Mississippi until I was 18; then went to college right next door in Alabama. I would still make trips home frequently, even when living elsewhere for a summer or three. The South is where I find connections; it’s where I find family. One strange thing that Rebecca and I noticed after living at the Grand Canyon for a year is that the more time we spent there, the more it started to feel like home. We met tons of awesome people and got a sort of pseudo-family, and it started to become a slight part of our identity. After moving back to the South (Atlanta), I'm honestly not sure where to call home. Family and a majority of friends are still here in the South, but it's hard to turn down the call of nature and openness.
If we jump back into history for a minute, many different Native American peoples have called the Grand Canyon home. Originally, hunter-gatherers came through chasing the game that we see all over the place here. The first group to establish houses here was a group called the Ancestral Puebloan who lived within the Canyon. They learned irrigation in this part of the nation and held ceremonial rituals. According to historians, they left the canyon around 1300 A.D. and moved south and west to find more natural resources. Their descendants are now called the Hopi.
Even though they had houses, the Ancestral Puebloan couldn’t necessarily call the Canyon their permanent home. After centuries of living here, there wasn’t enough food or supplies for them to continue their life. They still had to travel from place to place to find sustenance.
After about a century, more tribes began to move into the Canyon. The Hualapai tribes were here first, then the Havasupai, the Hopi, beginning their new culture, and most recently the Navajo. They all occupied a different part of the Canyon, normally at different time frames. For example, while the Havasupai were dwelling within the central Canyon, the Hualapai were making homes further to the west.
When you think about it, the Canyon really is a fantastic place to live in. There’s year-round water at the bottom, tons of wildlife for meat, clothing, and shelter, vegetation for further nutrition, and many different climates for summer or winter dwelling. If it’s too hot at the bottom, you can come to the top, and if it gets too cold at the top, just head on down. And in the midst of all of that, it’s one of the natural wonders of the world, and absolutely beautiful!
In our Scripture Lesson, the psalmist describes God’s dwelling place as lovely. This is something that gets lost in translation, but the real meaning of the word would be closer to well-loved or beloved. The psalmist is longing for God’s home, His dwelling place. He’s saying that he would love to be in the midst of where God dwells, where He abides. He knows that God’s home is the only place where he can find true life and true sustenance. He mentions birds finding their homes near God’s altar. God takes care of them just the same, too. Jesus used birds as an example when telling people not to worry about their life. The birds have a deep connection to God in reliance on food, water, and young. They can do nothing without God, whether or not they realize it.
That’s what home is: a place of deep connection. It’s where you find the highest relationships—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Right now I honestly still call the South, particularly Mississippi and Alabama, my home. It’s where the rest of my family normally is and most of my close college friends are. The common phrase “home is where the heart is” is absolutely true. It could be with family, friends, cultures, or even coworkers.
How do we build those connections to Heaven, in order to call it home? It’s right here: the Bible. We can start by reading about what God has done to show Himself to us. We can then look closer to get to know who He is. As we pray through Scripture, which is a really helpful practice by the way, we really see God. As we start to see who God is, we start to see His hand all over the place. Last night we were watching the sunset at the geology museum, and people began applauding after the sun went down. At first we were a little confused, feeling like it was a show performance. But they may have actually been onto something. We’re not entirely sure of their motives, but it’s an incredible way to think about seeing God work. They saw beauty in nature, and they showed some sort of gratitude, appreciation, and praise.
The psalmist says, “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” The more we make our home in God, the more we can’t help but praise. Those who make their home in God will find pure joy, real happiness. Their heart is with God, and their primary desire is His glory. Nothing brings greater joy for them than to be in His presence praising His name.
There’s an old Southern gospel song that opens with “This world is not my home; I’m just a-passing through.” Earth is just our temporary house, but our dwelling, our family, our home is with God. It’s what our soul longs for. God has blessed me to know a person who was the embodiment of this desire.
At the church I went to in Mississippi, there was a man named J.R. Pegues. He taught fifth grade boys Sunday school for more than fifty years, and he was one of the most incredible teachers ever. He encouraged all of us to memorize and truly learn Scripture and really work on quiet times, and he set that example himself. One Sunday he was in the hospital, and he had the guys brought to his room so he could teach the lesson from his hospital bed. He coughed one time when praying and said, “Excuse me, Lord,” because he was really having a conversation; his heart truly was with God. When people would ask him if he was going to retire from teaching, he would always say that he would teach until the Lord called him home. Not until he died, or until he felt like he couldn’t, or until he got tired of it. Until God called him home.
Well, one day in the fall of 2003, Mr. J.R. was called home. We had gotten word that morning that he was in the hospital, so we were praying all day for God to heal him. When we heard after school the same day that he had passed away, we were absolutely dumbstruck. The man who had had such a major impact on all of our walks of faith, and for some, our dad’s and granddad’s walks, was now gone from the Earth. At the visitation and funeral, though, it was more mixed feelings than I had ever seen or felt. No one wanted to see Mr. J.R. go because we didn’t want to lose such an amazing example of faith. At the same time, everyone, even his wife and children, could have a slight hint of joy in the Lord in knowing that he was where he always wanted to be.
Heaven was home for Mr. J.R. His soul yearned, fainted, cried out for God. His desire was to know God and to see Him one day. Now he is dwelling in God’s house and ever praising Him. I would like to encourage everyone here to strive to have that same desire, that same longing, to make Heaven your home. Home is not where we currently live. It’s not where family or friends are. It’s not where we are most comfortable. If God has forgiven us, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior, our home is in Heaven, an altar that cannot be shaken.

Drastic Renovations, Galatians 5:19-24 (ESV)

(19)Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20)idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21)envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (22)But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23)gentleness, and self-control; against such things there is no law. (24)And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Food Network has a show called Restaurant: Impossible, in which Chef Robert Irvine is called into failing restaurants and given two days to change them into places that people go out of their way to eat at. Irvine has decades of experience in all dining establishments and understands every single aspect from back of house to front of house. In one particular episode, Rascal’s BBQ and Crab House in New Castle, Delaware, had been handed down from father to son, and it was absolutely terrible. The front was messy, disorganized, and full of business papers. People visiting could see all the workings of the office because they were strewn everywhere. When Irvine stepped into the kitchen, he caught a whiff of something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. In digging through trash, dirt, and grime, he found a patch of dead mice. Thirteen in total. He decided to shut the restaurant down at that point and begin the renovation procedures.

He trained the owner, the chefs, and the wait team on how to do everything properly and efficiently. He changed the interior and made it more guest-friendly. The kitchen got a deep cleaning and updated equipment. Most importantly, the owner got an updated list of instructions regarding how a restaurant should be run, from cooking to cleaning to serving. All the old bad habits that had gotten the restaurant into the state it was in were completely broken and done away with. People in New Castle now wanted to visit Rascal’s and spend more time there than ever before.

That’s what happens when Christ comes into our lives. Old habits are broken, and a new life is laid out before us. Every believer has a new life and is, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians, a new creation. The story of how it happens is different for every believer, and it’s called our testimony.

In my church youth group, students would occasionally be asked to share their testimony, their story of how they came to know Christ. Most of us weren’t very used to public speaking by that point, and a lot of us didn’t think we had that “powerful” of a testimony. Nothing emotionally driving, nothing about years of darkness. Most of us had grown up in church and had been Christians for a few years. But still, we were nervous to talk about it. So the leaders gave us a general overview to help us out and know how to plan.

First, talk about the time in our lives before we knew Christ. We didn’t fully understand the miracle of salvation, so we didn’t realize how dark our sin was. We didn’t realize how much we needed Christ, even at that young of an age. However, we still did.

Next, we were told to talk about how we met or heard about Jesus Christ. Whether it was from family, friends, coaches, church members, or television, we heard God calling us to follow Him. When and how that happened was the second part of our testimony.

Finally, they advised us to talk about our life after Christ. We could share how He made our lives different. Possibly how he drew us away from the huge sin that some students had been through. But the main point they encouraged us to share was how God was evident in our lives since the conversion.

Paul, in this passage, is challenging the Galatians with their own testimony. A lot of members in the churches at Galatia began to take advantage of the presence of grace. They saw freedom in Christ the same as freedom to sin because they were already forgiven. As long as they had grace, they thought they could do whatever they wanted to, and Paul was quick to negate that mindset.

In the verses immediately preceding this passage, Paul is setting up a contrast between life in the flesh and life in the Holy Spirit. He actually states that they are “in conflict with each other” in verse 17. People are either on one side or another.

Both Greek and Roman cultures had lists of what are called “vices and virtues” by historians. Philosophers would declare what things were “good” and what were “bad.” However, Paul goes one step further by offering a solution on how to stop living with the vices and start living with the virtues: the Holy Spirit. Looking at the two lists, we see that he creates a stark contrast between living by the flesh and living by the Spirit. If you were to try to make a Venn diagram with the first list on one side and the second list on the other, they would in no way intersect.

All sins mentioned in the first list are attitudes and actions focused on the self. Sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery all have to do with worship and satisfaction of self. Idolatry and sorcery are worship of something other than God. Enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, and envy have to do with interpersonal strife, something all too common in Galatian culture. People in each church were teaching different “rules” for Christianity, such as circumcision vs. no circumcision and following the Mosaic Law vs. not doing so. Drunkenness, orgies, and things like these were part of celebrations honoring the god Bacchus.

Even though not all activities are necessarily publicly seen, they all stem from living for the sinful nature, or flesh. Paul doesn’t include a full list here, but these are the most common in the Galatian cities. Bluntness was never a weakness for Paul, as demonstrated here. He lets the Galatians know the truth, plain and simple: they are living in a way that is displeasing to God. There is no place for them in Heaven.

Then, just like Robert Irvine helps owners know what a good restaurant operation is, Paul explains to the Galatians what a life led by the Spirit is. He gives them the “fruit of the Spirit,” the result of a life lived for God. Notice how Paul doesn’t say “fruits.” The things in this second list come as a package: one given by the Holy Spirit alone.

Love is pure, full, and unwavering. It is the same type of love that Jesus demonstrated to the people of His time, and God continues to show us that love today. We are called to love all equally and unconditionally.

Joy is happiness to the extreme. In the Old Testament, joy was always used during times of celebration and praise. Everything is right with the world, and nothing can take away the attitude of praise.

True peace is something that comes from God alone. We can find different ways to relax, take a load off, and chill, but there’s a reason Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Peace is in direct contrast to the vices of enmity, jealousy, and fits of anger.

Patience is one of the hardest fruits for some people, myself included, to show. The song “I Want it All” is a prime marketing tool because people can get the immediate satisfaction they think they want. However, it does nothing but wane within a few minutes, hours, or days. One author comments that the only way to get patience is to practice it. Whenever someone’s holding you up, say in a store line, thank God for giving you more time to focus on Him.

Kindness will stem from patience. A general concern for the welfare of all is what drew some people to the first century church in the first place. Acts 4 and 5 give examples of disciples giving to all as they had need. A lot of people can see this as just “being a good person,” but there’s always something more genuine when Christians show kindness. So much more than just being nice.

Goodness is simply the state of being good. Living a life led by the Spirit is one of the best things a Christian can do. People notice when a person displays the fruit of the Spirit, and almost never negatively.

Faithfulness is displayed in a twofold way. First, it is unwavering dedication to God. The believer led by the Spirit is full of faith and cannot be shaken. Secondly, a believer can be trusted by others. People can rely on that person and feel assurance that he will follow through. As Jesus said, “let your yes be yes and your no be no.”

Gentleness is frequently seen as gentleness of spirit, or humility. Gentleness draws others as well as kindness.  It keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves and keeps our focus of praise on God alone.

Self-control is the only fruit that doesn’t have to do with actions toward others. It could also be called character, who we are when no one else is around. We have discernment to stay focused on God and what He calls us toward.

These virtues make up the list of what will flow from a life lived by the Spirit. Before Christ, people needed the Mosaic Law to know what was right and wrong in God’s eyes. Paul continues his statement of our freedom in Christ by saying that there is no law against the fruit of the Spirit. Mosaic Law doesn’t forbid any of it, and neither does local law.

Paul wants to continue to preach Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, and he points out that the crucifixion is when the shift for everyone took place. By accepting His resurrection, which we celebrated last week, we now have a new life, a new identity, in Jesus Christ. Earlier in the letter, Paul says that he had been crucified with Christ, and it was no longer he who lived. Once we place our sins on the cross, Christ takes them away and makes us a new creation.

Our testimony is not finished. God is continuously moving in each and every life. Even if you’re not a believer, God is working in your heart right now. He’s rummaging through the trash, changing how the business is run, and updating the interior so the front of house can be evidence of the change. Drastic renovations, if they haven’t already happened, are very soon to.

We are reminded today of how Christ has changed us and of the new call we have for our life. It is through His sacrifice that we are able to bear fruit. Our sins have been crucified with Christ, and it is now the Spirit living through us. He lovingly went to the cross and willingly loved us to death so we could have life centered on Him.

Please hear these words and make them your own. This is part of Rick Warren’s Declaration:

Today I am stepping across the line. I'm tired of waffling, and I'm finished with wavering. I've made my choice; the verdict is in; and my decision is irrevocable. I'm going God's way. There's no turning back now!

I will live the rest of my life serving God's purposes with God's people on God's planet for God's glory. I will use my life to celebrate his presence, cultivate his character, participate in his family, demonstrate his love, and communicate his Word.

They're coming!

Welcome, welcome to the page, and thank you for swinging by to read. The first post should be available tonight or tomorrow, with subsequent posts coming every Thursday. I hope to hear from you and be a vessel of encouragement and challenge!