God's OCD

2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

The last few weeks have been some of the best ones I have enjoyed since January 2009.

My thoughts -- which can get caught, like an old record, on bad and scary things -- have for the most part been quiet. I've enjoyed nearly a month of peace -- peace that is not coming because of medication (I'm on such a minimal dosage of it, it is almost negligible) but I believe, because God has given me rest. And my gosh, it is a treat.

The last week though has been tough... thoughts and fears are back, anxiety is up and brought with her that ugly sister of hers known as depression... it's like a bad movie. Only difference is in the last few weeks when things have been going so well, I've actually forgotten what it was like to have to contend with episodes of intense OCD.

But that's the thing, isn't it -- regardless of where we are at in life, we don't have to "contend", instead we have to trust, rely and have faith in God. It's difficult - some days, it feels darn near impossible - but it is what we must do in order to get through whatever ordeal we may be facing.

My ordeal is OCD. Perhaps yours is a broken marriage, an empty bank account, a sick child or an abusive spouse. Whatever the case may be, we need to trust on the One who delivers for His children better than anybody else, to rely not on our own strength, but on the strength of the One who asks not that we wallow and worry about our problems but instead find refuge from the storm in His open arms:

Matthew 11:29-30: "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Can I suggest something a little nutty -- all of you out there, develop a case of OCD... no no, not the type of OCD I have, but the One that can give you a comfort in the midst of your storm when you think you have to do it all on your own...

God's OCD is explained this way:

O - Only

C - Christ

D - Delivers

Only Christ Delivers. Not you, not me, not your parents or spouse, friend or boss.

Christ.

His strength. His purpose. His love. His deliverance.

Christ.

When we choose to have that type of OCD, it can make every storm feel like little more than a drop.

However difficult the problem you face, choose to embrace God's OCD. It's both a hope and a promise, one that will never let you down.

Take that example of Christ on the boat in the midst of the storm mentioned in Mark 4:37-39.

Disciples screaming. Wind howling. The boat listing. Water crashing overboard. The sound of straining boards threatening to come apart with every lurch.

Where was Christ?

Sleeping. Calm in the midst of a storm.

And He rose at the disciples cries and said to the storm: "Quiet! Be still".

And it was.

Only Christ Delivers.

Then, like now. In the midst of their storm, and in the midst of yours.

Take up your shield!

Ephesians 6:16: "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one".

"Incoming!"

A distant cry rises up from the battlefield  -- you raise a weary eye towards the heavens in time to see a flaming arrow coming your way... it's bee-lining straight for you... for your heart... for your mind... for your soul... you cower in fear... hands raised towards the sky in the hopes -- however in vain they may be -- that you can stop this one from making contact... 

You've seen this arrow before haven't you?

- Flaming arrows of depression, a broken marriage, alcohol, lust or greed?

- Rocks of insults, shame, slander and anger?

- A sharp stick of inequities, surrounded by catcalls of indignities and reminders that "you're not good enough"

- A spear of hurt, past regrets, broken hearts, poverty, a failed job, a bad investment...

You cower at the thought of the arrow -- and yet, over and over again, you've allowed it to make contact, to push into you, opening up an old wound or, worse yet, breaking open another new one when you have yet to heal any of the other open sores you carry on your soul.

Let me ask you something: Aren't you tired of trying to fend these weapons off on your own? Isn’t it time you stepped behind something better than the feebleness of your own hands? Are you tired of letting the enemy get the upper hand with the same old tricks?

If you can answer yes to any of those questions, then my friend, you're ready to take up one of the most important weapons in the Armor of God:  The Shield of Faith!

Can't you see it there... gleaming white gold, bejeweled in splendor, with a crown -- His Crown -- of majesty in the centre.  It carries with it not only your protection, but the promise of better days.  It's a shield that is glorious enough to light up our every celebration and strong enough that we can lean against it in every moment of angst or uncertainty.

That, in a nutshell, is what it means to have FAITH in Christ... and to use that Faith as our protection or guiding principle in every situation we face.

Oh but you worry -- what if He doesn't come through? How will I know that He is there? How can an unseen God possibly understand what I'm going through right now?

Friends, your faith tells you that that "unseen God" not only knows -- but feels -- for every moment that you are going through.  He understands it better than you do, and His promise of comfort and protection is greater than you could ever comprehend.

How do I know this?

Because He's been there -- He's stood on that battlefield, He's weathered the arrows, the hurts -- and He's emerged VICTORIOUS:

Hebrews 2:17-18, 4:15: "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin."

A general never rises to the top of the military if he has never experienced the fight.  Point being, that God is the ultimate general -- the King of Kings and Lord of Lords -- He's fought every battle, He's beaten the scourge of death and it is faith in this God that you have the choice to hide behind when your times are toughest.

But it is -- ultimately -- your choice.  You can choose to pick up the shield when you're face-to-face with your personal nightmare... you can choose to feel the weight lifted off your shoulders and onto God's when you lift that shield... Or, you can choose to leave the shield leaning against the wall and try to swat your way through life with your wits and your weak hands.

If you choose the latter, you may succeed in knocking a few arrows down, but you'll experience a lot more pain... and eventually you will lose.

Faith in God promises NOT that what we are going through will not hurt or be tough.  Rather, God's Shield of Faith simply promises that it will "... extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one".  Take it at face-value: a shield that will be impermeable to the enemy and to whatever other junk comes your way... or a shield of your own making, fleshly, worldly, temporal....

If you choose to get behind the Shield of Faith that God provides, you're choosing to get behind a God that will cloak you under the shadow of his wings to help you weather the storm.  You're choosing to worry NOT about the next incoming arrow because you're opting to be safe behind an eternal shield that will see you through to victory.  And with every successful "thunk", "thud", "bam" and "ping" of the Shield of Faith deflecting arrows from you in the midst of battle, your faith grows... allowing you to trust more, to fear less and to experience a rejoicing at every victory you experience with God, be it small or large.

Faith is about standing strong regardless of the battlefield, regardless of the challenge. Seizing opportunity by confidently pushing ahead knowing that God has both your back and your front. (Psalm 91:11-12). 

But you have to want that victory -- you have to want to pick up that Shield not only when you are in battle, but each and every day... because you never know when an arrow may land.

I understand how tough it can be to just trust... to wait upon the Lord to lead you to victory... but true faith demands that we do just that... that when God hears the cry of our heart, He will answer... and we just have to have confidence that He will come through.

Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see".

I encourage you to take some time and read through Hebrews 11 and to see for yourself the examples of faith  of others who have stood in battle before you.  See for yourself how the might of God can deliver you through whatever trial you are facing.  He will.  He has.  He always does.

Do yourself a favor -- quit swatting at arrows.  They sting.  They hurt. Your efforts will prove useless.

Instead, pick up the Shield of Faith that God is offering you -- it will get you through better than you can ever imagine and will leave a lot less scars.

Diagnosis

Last Wednesday I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, a condition that manifests itself in various ways, including through the sufferer engaging in repetitious acts or routines, as well as in -- some cases -- the person suffering from intrusive thoughts that they can not get out of their head. From what I have been reading -- and I am still in the very early days of understanding this -- people with OCD often compare what is going on in their mind to being similar to a record that hits a scratch and keeps repeating itself... over... and over... and over. The difference being is that the routines or the intrusive thoughts cause a great deal of anxiety to the individual suffering.

I was not sure if I should post this but I decided that I should post something about this because I do not want to wallow in shame about this condition. I don't think anybody, including myself, is served by hiding the fact that I suffer from this illness. And yes, it is an illness.

However, my desire to share this with all of you is based on the following 4 reasons:

1. Ephesians 5:13-14 calls on us to bring things out in the open so that the light of Christ might shine brightly on them: "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, or it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." I could, because I do feel ashamed, hide that this is happening. But I choose to share this with all of you so that you know what is going on -- and so that you can stand with me in prayer. I would rather that the Light of Christ is focused brightly on this part of my life so that people know what is going on, how they can pray and support me and my family, and because we are commanded to bring it to the open by God. Hiding things is not only disobedient, but adds to the discomfort and fear I feel going through this. I am not alone. God is on my side, my family and friends are on my side, and a great body of believers is standing with me as well.
   
   
2. By sharing this suffering, I am not only being comforted but setting myself up to be able to assist others who may be going through something similar. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort". I would rather use this situation to glorify God and His plan, as opposed to wallowing in self-pity about my lot in life. I was wallowing pretty deep this morning, feeling sorry for myself, going through an episode, asking "why me" and "where is God". But God is there and uses everything we go through -- every joy, every trial -- "... for the good of those who love the Lord". If you are suffering through this, then let's stand together. In fact, if you are suffering through anything, let's stand together in unity and understanding, knowing that God brings peace, healing and comfort to ALL who ask for it. But sometimes we need to reach out to grab hold of it.
   
   
3. It gives me a better understanding of "The Shield of Faith" -- which I will blog about later this week as part of our ongoing series on the Armor of God. What better shield to stand behind during my moments of weakness but the shield that is God -- the one that will protect me, will comfort me and will guard me against any arrows that come my way. It doesn't mean that some arrows will not be a bit bigger than others, but it does mean that when I am behind the shield, they won't hurt nearly as much as if I had no protection at all.
   
   
4. Because, ultimately, sharing what I am going through helps me not to be afraid... and writing this blog, digging into the Word helps me to ground myself in the realization that I do not stand alone. For example, had I not felt the need to blog today, I would never have found this wonderful verse from Isaiah 41:13: "For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you". Fear can, and does, cripple you. If you let it. And sometimes, it seems easier to let it cripple you then to face it head on. But if a gangly kid named David can face a hulking mammoth named Goliath and swallow his fear by relying on the Great I Am, then surely I can do the same. I may not have a slingshot the way David did, but we both have the same rock: God.
   

Whether the illness or adversity you are facing is depression, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, lung ailments or even just a simple bad mood, remember you never walk alone... and what you are going through will not be anything more than you can bear, nor will God ever leave you.

This week, my friends, I ask you to remember myself and my family in prayer -- and to continue to pray that God will pour His strength, His blessings and His comfort on us. I also ask you to join me in praying for those around us who suffer -- publicly or in silence -- and who desperately need the comfort of God.

I've quoted this verse before, but I will quote it again: 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and a sound mind".

We do have a choice to face our battles with fear -- an emotion not of God... or we can face it not only with our Armor, but with the power, the love and the soundness of mind that comes with it.

God walks with us -- maybe we should hold His hand a bit tighter to remind ourselves.

A Timeless Lesson

Today an individual who I once considered a friend posted something on her blog about both my wife and I -- it was very hurtful, nasty and meanspirited.

My first instinct was to pound out a letter being equally as hurtful -- but I stopped myself before pressing send... even though every element of my being wanted to deliver some hurt through email.

My wife laughed it off and encouraged me to pray for this person. I fumed.

And while I fumed, washing my cup in the office kitchen, I was reminded of this:

They spat at Him. They beat Him. They crucified Him.

And He loved them still:

Luke 23:34: "Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing"

It's a hard example to follow -- but one that I will.

I guess it's no longer a mystery to me why, last night, after I had prayed I felt the need to read 1 Thessalonians 5:15: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else".

It's a verse I had read years ago and nodded to every so often... but last night I felt the need to turn to it... little did I know why... until a couple hours ago... until I nearly pressed send.

So I turn the other cheek -- not because it is easy, but because it is right.

Because His example is worth following more than my own pride.

He set the standard for us all.

Wearing our shoes of peace

Ephesians 6:15 "... and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace"

It's almost been a month since my last entry on this series and as I thought over the course of the last week about coming back to write something, I always found myself getting distracted, finding something else to do or, as we can all attest to at some points in our lives, putting it off and resolving to "get to it tomorrow".

Aha.

Today as I was giving thought to what it was that I would write about feet fitted in readiness, a question kept coming to my mind in light of my absence from blogging:

Where are your feet taking you? 

Are your feet taking you towards God in times of challenges and opportunities, or are they taking you through the meaningless drift of everyday life... washing the car, a busy work schedule and social life, money issues, going to the gym... in other words, are your feet running you into the ground so to speak with the worries of the world versus the promise of the Kingdom?

The reality is that too often we face life's most challenging battles with feet suited up with the world's sneakers as opposed to God's own Nikes.  The world's sneakers don't fit half as well, they provide no real stability and, frankly, after you wear them a few times your feet get sore and it drags you down.

By contrast, God's Nikes -- built by the Gospel of Peace -- ground the wearer in wisdom, in confidence, in strength and in comfort.  Everyone wants that in a shoe... especially when they are facing a battle.  Paul himself talked about the need to press on (Philippians 3:14) in the face of every difficulty because the prize (eternal life with our loving Father) is so worth it.  But, he says, you ultimately need to stand (Philippians 4:1).  With His peace.

I love the imagery of kicking off those old worldly sneakers in that ante-room off the Throne Room of Heaven... Angel Gabriel jumps out of the way as your old sneakers get booted across the gleaming marble, and you push your feet into a new pair -- a lasting, eternal pair -- of knowledge, of abiding love, of salvation.  

Can't you see yourself -- you have to face another day of monotony or hardship... your feet, your very soul (no pun intended) are weary, you don't think you can face or literally stand, another minute... and then God pulls out a pair of shoes... HIS PEACE... that give you a new lease on life, on energy and on strength.  It's what good shoes do. It's what God DOES. All. The. Time.

But there's more... with the privilege of wearing those shoes, that critical piece of the Armor of God, comes the realization that with the "readiness" (read: stability, strength, certitude) of the gospel of peace comes the need to not only stand your ground but to ensure you are moving His will forward with every step you take.  Because, yes, shoes help you stand strong and to be grounded... but shoes help you to move too... and that's what God wants -- commands -- you do ... to move His Word among the family you love, the friends you hang out with, the colleagues you share 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week with... He wants you to use His shoes of the gospel of peace not only to ground yourself but to spread yourself so as to ensure that the knowledge and hope you have from knowing Him is shared with as wide a circle as possible.

And what exactly are these shoes -- or rather, how does one define a term like "the gospel of peace"? Simple: Jesus.

Ephesians 2:14-18: "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit".

We have confidence in the gospel of peace because we have accepted Christ as our Savior... it means every battle has been won, including the ultimate one which is the one where Christ defeated death, sin and destruction so that we might enjoy the eternal gift of life with Him.  As you wear these shoes, don't you feel the need to spread the peace that you know? People are hurting all around you .  We must exercise our responsibility to share that peace God has given us -- it's one of the requirements of our salvation primarily, but also something we recommit ourselves to whenever we dress in God's Armour.  

Each day is a battle, my friends... one side seeks nothing less than the destruction of man (John 10:10), while the other seeks more and more children to bring home to eternity with Him (Luke 19:10)... if we're wearing the Armour the way we should be, we need to point our shoes in the direction of sharing the truth and move that way for God.

Which gets me back to the beginning... 4 weeks without blogging... without sharing what God places on my heart is not what I am called to do.  Wearing those shoes of the gospel of peace have grounded me, and ground me daily, but I have a higher responsibility beyond just focusing on what it has done for ME... I have to use that peace that grounds me and share it around me, through all the talents and means God has blessed me with.

At the end of the day, when you're wearing the shoes of God, you are never too busy to go in the direction He points us.  When He wants us to stand, we stand.  But we always have to be looking for the next path on which we can walk with our special special shoes.

Pray for Noah

Dear Friends,

I was referred to this website by a friend's profile on Facebook.

This is truly a heartbreaking story about a baby boy - Noah (pictured above) - who is laying in a coma after having been shaken by his daycare provider.

The website has been put together - and is being updated - by his Mom and Dad.

They need our prayers and we know God hears and answers prayers. We also know how much God loves to heal and how He loves the little children.

Please pray that Noah will feel the healing touch of the Great Physician and that those big, beautiful blue eyes will open again. God reveals himself in many ways, including in situations of unspeakable hardship and hurt.

Please pray for Noah and his parents, Mike and Erin.

For more information about Noah and his family: http://www.noahsroad.com/.

Psalm 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble".

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Ephesians 6:14: "... with the breastplate of righteousness in place..."

Years ago, I read a book by Agatha Christie called "And Then There Were None". At one point in the book, the characters are gathered in a room trying to work out a part of a mystery they find themselves in. As part of that discussion, they begin to share intimate details about their lives -- sharing long-held secrets, grievances, past hurts or attitudes. Everyone in the room shares their story or situation with the exception of Emily Brent -- a lady who bills herself as a Christian, beyond reproach, and whose pious behaviour and attitude towards others indicates an attitude far from that which is Christ-like. I want to share with you a few lines from that book to help set the scene for the discussion about the breastplate of righteousness:

"There was a silence in the room. Everybody was looking, covertly or openly, at Emily Brent. It was a minute or two before she became aware of the expectation. Her eyebrows rose on her narrow forehead. She said:

"Are you waiting for me to say something? I have nothing to say." The judge said: "Nothing, Miss Brent?"

"Nothing."

Her lips closed tightly.

The judge stroked his face. He said mildly:

"You reserve your defence?"

Miss Brent said coldly:

"There is no question of defence. I have always acted in accordance with the dictates of my conscience. I have nothing with which to reproach myself."

There was an unsatisfied feeling in the air. But Emily Brent was not one to be swayed by public opinion. She sat unyielding."

Are you like Emily Brent? Do you wear a real breastplate of righteousness or do you wear one of righteous indignation? There's a difference. But few of us ever realize it.

So we're back in that dressing room, just off the Throne Room of heaven. God is at the door, smiling as you prepare for battle. You're marveling at the Belt of Truth that you've just donned, and start feeling a sense of confidence... a strength you didn't realize was even inside you until now. You nod to yourself: "Yep, I'm ready! Let's do this!" You turn to the door, chest puffed out, arms back, eyes closed, chin in the air... the stance of a warrior, you think and you walk.

"Wait my child -- you're not ready yet!" God says and motions you back towards the mirror. You turn around and gasp...

Michael and Gabriel are holding the Breastplate of Righteous -- it is laden with 10 large sparkling sapphires, each one inscribed with one of the Ten Commandments. But behind the sapphires on the white, crystal gold, are the words from Mark 12:30-32: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."

You stand, arms outstretched, as the angels buckle the breastplate into position and you instantly understand something that for years you have never realized before:

That righteousness is not just an attitude -- it is not an Emily Brent display of piousness -- but a living, breathing shield of right living. Righteous is not, as the Pharisees would have you believe, a litany of things you must do to innoculate yourself from eternal damnation, but instead it is living out the mission that God has for you as His child -- his Ambassador on earth.

The world says that you have been hurt by the same person so many times, its better to write them off? Matthew 18:21-22, via the Breastplate of Righteous, reminds that you forgive and forgive and forgive again -- even if it hurts each and every time. The arrow of hurt may hit that breastplate and take your breath away, but your choice to forgive means it bounces off without leaving a dent.

Your temper is out of control... you blow up all the time, you're know to throw a few punches and don't care who or what you hurt in the process... The Breastplate of Righteous when we make that choice to follow its precepts -- God's precepts -- reminds us of the words of James 1:19-20: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires".

You drink too much -- so much sometimes that you find yourself staring into the mouth of the porcelain bowl, and with each flush you drain a little bit more of your livelihood, your self-respect and your family life, down to the depths... Ephesians 5:18 -- as reminded by the breastplate - reminds that we should be filled with something more lasting, more fulfilling, more life-giving than anything alcohol or drugs could provide: "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit".

You're known as a gossip -- you enjoy the stories about Liz's indiscretions, Dave's money problems, Jada's attitude problem and surgery mishaps... it goes on and on... you tear people down to build yourself up, but in the end all that you really have is a stronghold of slander, malice and innuendo to overcome. The Breastplate of Righteous offers a better way -- it tells you that honor in the way you speak is the better part of valor: Proverbs 21:23: "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity".

For years I tricked myself into believing that righteousness was just talk -- that it was piousness not right-living. I thought if I guarded myself from every kind of problem, everything the world flung at me, and held myself to a standard of not sinning then I would emerge the victor. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Righteousness - as God wants us to view it - is holding ourselves to HIS standard and allowing HIM to work through us to achieve His goal. Frankly speaking, we don't have any sort of power on our own to changes our lives. You can resolve to stop gossiping, but I guarantee you that unless you release that to God, the first good story that comes your way will have you running your mouth. You can say a million Hail Marys and resolve to get a handle on your temper by yourself, and then watch yourself explode the next time you get caught in a traffic jam.... point being is we can resolve to do all these things but we can not live for God if we are not living in community WITH God. Part of that comes from reading the Word. Part of that comes from fellowship with other believers. Part of that comes from prayer. But part of that is applying what you READ, HEAR and KNOW to be the Will of God to your everyday life. That is, you allow the beautiful weight of God's breastplate of righteousness, to direct your path.

James 1:22-25 reminds us: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does".

The Breastplate of Righteousness (Right Living) is resolving to action the very things in the Word of God that you know to be true. Loving your neighbour. Holding your tongue. Forgiveness. Each one forms a shield over a part of your heart and with each arrow that comes your way -- arrows of anger, temptation, hatred and malice -- the more you have lived out the Word of God and applied it to your day to day life, the more able you will be to stand and remain standing during your battles.

satan wants to kneecap us in terms of how we live our lives. God wants the way we live our lives to kneecap the schemes of the evil one.

If you're wearing the Breastplate of Righteousness in the way God has asked you to -- over your heart, guarding your actions, protecting your honor -- I guarantee that any arrow flung your way will be broken by the power of your Christ-like example.

Resolve to allow your righteousness to be dictated by the conscience of God.

Don't be an Emily Brent.

Next up, we're putting on the shoes of peace.

The Belt of Truth

Ephesians 6:14: "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

Your choice to wear the Armor of God is a good one - it is the best choice you will make when it comes to living a life worthy of imitation... a life where your eyes are fixed on hope eternal and salvation everlasting, and where you strive - each day - to battle on behalf of a God that needs each and every one of us to tap into our inner warriors.

But that first time you go to pick up the Armor, are you a bit nervous? Do you size it up and wonder how this glittering piece of workmanship -- the very embodiment of the strength of God -- could ever fit onto the frail frame of a simple human? If you're like me, perhaps you feel like a bit of a klutz as you try to put it on the first time... flitting and flopping every which way as you struggle to figure out how the breastplate of righteousness tucks into the belt of truth or why the shoes of the readiness to spread the gospel of piece are a bit snug while your sweaty palms make that sword of the spirit slip in your grasp... point being, you're not sure what to do first... the strength of God, every part of it, is so special you long to wear it right there and then... and you will... but as with all things that God intends, each piece is intended for a specific purpose and His Armor is no different. He spells out what needs to be put on first -- and then leaves it to us to seek Him more to determine why each piece goes where it does.

I love the way He lays out - like an instruction manual - how that Armor is to be worn:

v.14: "Stand firm then..."

Picture yourself - you're standing in heaven's dressing room, the Armor is to your right and you have a couple of angels -- let's say Gabriel and Michael -- charged with dressing you... they've seen a few battles, they're regaling you with tales of stomping on the devil's head... but instead of feeling confident, you feel a bit morose... holy cow, you think to yourself, what have I gotten myself into... you start to wince a bit as they continue telling their stories, you start to shrink as they continue talking... your back bending bit by bit... and then a voice from a doorway booms so loud it shakes the very mountains to their knees... "Stand firm then!"... it's God, He gives you a wink and a smile... and there's something in that one moment -- that one command -- when you realize that this is a battle you're brave enough to fight... and He needs you to remember that... "Stand firm then my son/my daughter... I've got your back and we don't just toss Armor onto those who can't wear it... we're going to be right there with you, we've been there, we've done it, and we WILL succeed" is what He is saying... And so you do, you stand a little taller, toss a few laughs in the direction of Gabriel telling you how he took down the spirit of depression and anxiety and you take that belt of truth from Michael's hand....

v. 14: "with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."

No sooner has that buckle clicked than you realize exactly WHY that belt is the first piece of the Armor -- because the belt of truth is Jesus Christ... it is the one piece of the Armor that holds every other part together... it is made of gold as white as a million lambs to symbolize the purity and sinless character of Heaven's greatest warrior, and of rubies to symbolize the blood He shed on Calvary for the sin's of all mankind... into the belt are inscribed the following words:
John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

Way. Truth. Life.

You wear the belt because it not only holds your Armor together but also because it is the guiding compass toward God's ultimate prize: eternal life and rest with Him. With the belt around your waist, you can measure everything that comes your way - in ANY BATTLE - against what you know to be TRUE through Christ... let's think about a few examples....

The enemy tells you that you're all alone and that nobody cares -- that he's got you cornered and you're about to be defeated? The Belt of Truth - through Deuteronomy 31:6 - tells you something else: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Or in other words, shut your mouth satan... cause my re-enforcements are about to kick you and your discouragement into the lake of sulphur.

Consider what the Belt of Truth reminds you of... The Battle is wearing and you think it will never end... you're too tired to go on? 1 Peter 4:12-14: "... do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you". How awesome is that -- "... the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you..." -- and here you just thought you were getting pummeled for nothing... once you remember this, once you look at the example of a Christ who suffered every sling, arrow, whip, humiliation that mankind and the enemy could throw His way, how can you not help but be inspired to continue going on? Jesus had to battle and it was not until He had realized the ultimate purpose God had for Him -- death on the Cross, salvation of man -- that His work was done... (John 19:30). So every struggle you are in, every battle, every moment is but part of the grand work God has planned for you... seize that truth and move - like a lion - in that direction: Hebrews 12:1-2: "... and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God".

The enemy telling you that you're no good? Perhaps you believe it... maybe you've said it to yourself a few times as well, or your family has, or your peers have... whatever the case might be... you are good... and what's more, you're even better BECAUSE of what Christ did for you on the Cross... so you don't need to listen to the discouragement of a fallen angel or of an angry boss or a critical parent, you need to tap that Belt of Truth and remember 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!". God doesn't - and never did - create garbage. You are not garbage, nor are you worthless or useless... A great trick of the enemy is to prey on our view of ourselves to beat us down and to defeat us... but remember, you are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and last time I checked, the image of God was not a piece of rubbish to be discarded, insulted and demeaned. Pick yourselves up and recognize the truth: God made you, adores you and has a purpose for you. Why else would He send His Son - the Living Belt of Truth - for you?

The great thing about the Belt of Truth is its versatility. You can - and must wear it - when you put on the Armor of God, but you can also wear it with any outfit you have. Pair of jeans? Top it off with the Belt of Truth. That plaid skirt in the back of your closet? Spice it up with the Belt of Truth. Bathing suit? Belt of Truth would look great on it too! Christ IS the Belt of Truth. You can measure every lie, every insult, every wound you have against the eternal truth and promise of Christ dying on the Cross to find your strength to keep going in your battle and in this life.

Cheating spouse? Tap the Belt of Truth. Cancer-stricken body? Belt of Truth has something there for you too. No money but mounting bills? The faith that comes from wearing this Belt will feed you long after the cupboards and wallet have gone bare.

Take heart my fellow warriors... that Belt of Truth has been the anchor for many Christians before you, and will be for many after you... but it must be worn, and worn with pride. Pick yours up and wear it.

The Belt of Truth -- the love, sacrifice and example of Christ -- never goes out of style.
Next up... breastplate of righteousness....

Visualizing the Armor

Ephesians 6:10-12: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".

What's your routine when you get up in the morning? Do you stumble out of bed, rub those sleep-filled eyes, shower, eat your breakfast and then get to work in just enough time to make that morning staff meeting you'd rather avoid? In your morning routine, I'm sure, you have a certain pattern -- maybe you start with brushing your teeth before moving onto shaving, showering or getting dressed... or maybe you get dressed, then shave and then brush your teeth... but when you suit up for a day at the office, are you preparing yourself with the spiritual armor that you need to get through your day? Or are you content to just go through your day with the very clothes on your back and leave it to God to make sure He has your back if anything challenging comes your way?

Up until a couple months ago, I was definitely the latter. I'd wake up, get ready for my day, eat my breakfast with a 10 second prayer thrown in for good measure, and then head out for another day at the office. Now, however, I make it my routine to add another more important layer to my daily uniform.

The Armor of God.

Over the course of the next six entries, I am going to outline for you how each element of the Armor of God should be utilized to the benefit of your spiritual battle. From the Belt of Truth to the Helmet of Salvation, we'll go through them together, suit up and get ready to rock and roll the enemy and his minions.

But before we get to examine the uniform, let's break down what the Bible says in the introduction to the pieces of the Armor of God:

v.10: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power".

Be "strong in the Lord and His mighty power". What a great line -- but, if you're like me, you need help in visualizing what that looks like. Strength is easy in the human form -- it normally, physically at least, takes the form of muscles, agility and speed. But in its heavenly form, what exactly does the "strength of God" look like?

Visualizing the strength of God is a hard thing to do -- afterall, when you can not see God or touch God in the same tangible way that you can other things, learning to visualize, depend and grasp onto His strength is bound to be a difficult thing to do.

But I think that is precisely why God describes His strength as being an "armor":

v.11: "Put on the full armor of God...".

Picture it with me, won't you?

It's there just outside God's throne room, against the wall of heaven's largest mansion -- the Mansion of God, Yahweh, the Great I Am. It looks at once like the lightest and strongest armor imaginable. It radiates a light that could eclipse a thousand suns and yet sparkles with the intensity of an infinite number of stars. Worn in millions of battles with the enemy by scores of Christians, martyrs and others since Creation, yet not a single dent or tear in it. Engraved with every word of Scripture and the promise of eternal life, it is all at once the most perfectly flawless uniform made to be worn by God's most special, if flawed, creations: man and woman. Built by God himself it stands ready to be given to any of His earthly warriors -- His children -- who ask for it.

When you take a moment to visualize that armor, aren't you eager to put it on? Can't you see its strength and don't you desire to feel it?

Then why not wear it -- and why not dress yourself in it, daily, just as readily as you do the very clothes on your back. You may not be able to see it with your eyes, but I promise you, it's on you as soon as you ask for it.

It is God's own armor, provided from His heavenly barracks for His earthly children, to be used not just when we face trials, but daily so that we are prepared for any sort of warfare that the enemy may launch our way. God wants us suited up for anything satan (and I use lower-case purposely) catapults our way. Afterall, isn't that what He makes abundantly clear in the rest of verse 11?:

v. 11: "... so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes"?

What schemes, you may be asking yourself? I'm just a simple office drone or construction worker or retail clerk... friends, you're exactly what satan wants to trip up... maybe it's the incessant demands of an impatient boss... you swear to yourself if they say one more thing, you're going to lose it -- and maybe your job in the process... maybe it's endless fighting with your husband and a very friendly co-worker at work who says he understands and why don't you get together over drinks and talk about it?... or maybe it's using that paycheque not to pay bills but to try your luck at the casino... maybe it's that extra drink before you get behind the wheel of a car... whatever it is, you had better realize that you fit perfectly into the devil's desire to seek and destroy:

1 Peter 5:8: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour".

For the devil, you're an easy mark, an irritance that he'd love nothing more than to destroy... and how easy it is to do if you are not prepared for battle. No matter how nice you are or how innocent you look, you are in satan's line of fire and he'd love nothing more than to pummel you with bullets.

As verse 12 reminds us:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms".

And the battle is a tough one -- consider this reminder from Daniel about the strength and tenacity of the enemy:

Daniel 10:12-13: "Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia".

That was spoken to Daniel by an angel -- an angel basically saying, I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner to help you out but I was in one heck of a battle with beelzebub that lasted for 3 weeks and which I needed re-inforcements to help me out with.

So if an angel - one of the toughest guys this side of heaven - has this much trouble with the enemy, why would we think we are immune enough from satan's arrows to walk on our own?

Your battle may begin and end quickly. It may last a long time. Whatever it is, if you're wearing the armor, you've got God and the armies of heaven working with you. And that beats that suit and tie you were planning on wearing today!

Just because you can't see the battle with your eyes doesn't mean it isn't going on around you. Indeed, that is very clear in verse 12 -- the battle is SPIRITUAL! It may manifest itself in other ways but it begins and ends in the spiritual realm. Arm yourself.

Friends, that armor is in the hallway -- and the battlefield is strewn with men and women who chose the blue tie or the pink dress over the inpenetrable armor of the King of Kings.

Do yourself a favor -- ask God to suit you up tomorrow morning. Pray Ephesians 6:10-20 over yourself. And then do it at least once more throughout the day -- like every armor, it may shift a bit during battle, so make sure you're always wearing it the way you should be. You'll be glad you did. And unlike most armors, it isn't heavy to wear - but light! (Matthew 11:30).

Next we'll take a look at the belt of truth.... in the meantime, here's some music to dress to:



Battle on!

My First Series: The Armor of God

Starting on Easter Monday I am going to begin this blog's first series: The Armor of God.

As you know, I believe that I have been caught for awhile in a bit of spiritual warfare and one of the things I have said consistently to myself and others is that I wish that someone had given me a bit of a manual so that I knew how to fight back. I know that we have the Bible -- the written, living, Word of God. But at the same time, I wanted some sort of road map to inform me how to wield the weapons outlined in Ephesians 6:10-18.

The Armor of God is a powerful - in fact, the MOST powerful - thing we can cloak ourselves in next to the blood of Christ. The Armor is effective not only in spiritual warfare but also in our day-to-day lives. However, sometimes, it's difficult to know what each piece is for and how we can be using it in our walk with God and in both the challenges and opportunities we face.

I don't claim to have all the answers but I do believe that God uses our experiences to speak hope, encouragement and direction into the lives of others while at the same using those very same experiences to teach us something special about the plans He has for our own lives.

I hope you'll join me for the journey. I'm looking forward to it.

It starts, here, on Easter Monday.

Martha, Martha...

Her house is the cleanest one on the narrow, dusty, street. It should be -- you can see her on the step, every morning, sweeping at the crack of dawn, shooing away birds that gather on her stoop.

Her cooking is renowned in Bethany -- nobody knows how to make fresh bread and lamb the way Martha does.

When a neighbour is ill or feeling under the weather, she's known to prepare a basket of her famous treats and bring them over.

She's always busy -- if you want to catch her, it's best to do it at market when she is picking up food for the week. A picture of calm in a sea of chaos and loud voices bartering for the best deal on everything from baking supplies to wine.

At temple socials -- or in fact, any social -- you can feel the weight of Martha's stare and the tell-tale click of her tongue if you aren't pulling your weight. Those blue eyes bear into a person... those pursed lips and disappointed shaking of the head make everyone work just a touch harder.

While Martha is an example of what every hostess should be, she has a short fuse when people let her down.

Such is the situation we find her in on the day Jesus pays her a visit:

Luke 10:38-40: "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Can't you just sense her frustration? She knows how important Jesus is -- she understands He's the Messiah -- and so her normal diligence in preparing her home to host a guest has increased ten-fold. That tongue of hers has been clicking all morning - she's clanging pots in the kitchen, trying to get Mary's attention, all the while her sister sits there looking up at Christ, sitting at his feet, enjoying the presence and wisdom of the King of Kings.

This week the idea of writing about Martha came to me when I saw this passage -- but I didn't quite know what to write about until I heard a song called "In the presence of royalty". The song talks about appreciating the complete majesty of being in God's presence and as I heard these lyrics I started to think about the story of Martha and Mary and how it relates to my own life:

"We're in the presence of royalty. It's our sovernign God and King, we're before your throne, we bow at your feet. We worship you holy king. It's in your presence that I find joy, it's in your presence that I find peace. I find rest for my soul and strength for my life lying here at your feet".

I know in my case I am a Martha - I find myself running around, trying to be perfect, the best host, the best clothes, the best food, the best, the best, the best... and like Martha, if Christ walked into my home, you would probably find me in the kitchen banging pots trying to catch the attention of my wife... I'd want her to help and not to waste time sitting around lolly-gagging. But that's the beauty of what Mary is doing in this passage... she's finding peace, joy and strength at the feet of Her King. Her ears are turned to His words of wisdom and she's too caught up in the moment of having the Son of God sitting in her living room to worry about taking the bread out of the stone hearth.

What does Jesus think of this moment? Is he angry at Martha for asking Him to scold Mary for sitting around while she does all the work? For clicking that famous tongue in His direction? I don't detect anger in the words that Jesus spoke... I think Jesus appreciates Martha's hospitality, the desire to do good through doing works, but he does give her a gentle reprimand:

Luke 10:41-42: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

I love how that begins -- "Martha, Martha...". He's heard this before, hasn't he? Martha scolding Mary and anybody that hasn't pulled up their socks? But His words to her are spoken in love and He reminds her that for all her hospitality, her gifts of service, that the only thing that is needed in THAT moment -- indeed, in all of life's moments - is the very thing Mary has found: peace, wisdom, strength and love. In other words, He is saying... Martha, come find some rest... you are always on the go, always working, but if you work without concentrating on me, you will have missed the whole point. We don't know Martha's reaction after those words... but something tells me, her face would have flushed and she would have wiped the flour off her hands pretty quick and sat down. Embarrassed? Maybe slightly... but probably grateful for the reminder that love and devotion are as much found in obediently listening and enjoying God, as they are in serving Him directly.

Let's not forget that Martha was one of the first people to acknowledge that Christ WAS the Messiah:

John 11:25-27: "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?". "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Martha, like all of us, knew Christ as Her Saviour. But she had a tendency to allow her God-given gifts to get in the way of appreciating being in the presence of royalty.

Do you do that? Do you, like Mary, sit at the feet of your King and just take Him in? Content to sit and absorb His love, His wisdom, His glory? Or are you like Martha - like me - someone who loves Christ so much that you think works are a better way to demonstrate your love?

There is nothing wrong with serving, nothing wrong with embracing your gifts... but remember, focus on the things that are lasting -- God -- and you'll find that balance that Christ wants us all to have. Your focus should always be on Him -- enjoy the presence of royalty... it's okay if that bread is a bit overcooked.

It only takes One

1 Samuel 17:40: "Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine".

The stream tumbles across millions of stones beneath its surface, the sun glints off the water making a thousand perfect rainbows dance against the sand on this hot afternoon, a young boy of 16 kneels by the stream and - in silence - plunges his hands into the cool water, scooping up five stones to place into his satchel. In the distance, the sound of taunting, fury and ignorance beckons the young warrior to battle.

David is about to face his Goliath.

He picks up the first stone, feels its edges, maybe weighs it a moment in his hand... then drops it into his sack. The second stone he grabs is sharper on the edges though its surface is smooth. In it goes. The third and fourth rocks are heavier, but good rocks for a slingshot. Plop. Plop. The fifth is flat, about 1/2 inch thick and 1 inch wide... it's smooth and almost perfectly rounded... David feels its surface a moment and ponders his situation and then, swallowing his fear and offering it to God, goes to face his giant.

When David knelt in that stream to gather the five stones - the arsenal - he would use to battle Goliath, I wonder what was going through his mind. There had to be a certain amount of fear -- he was just a boy afterall, and he had only ever battled in defence of his sheep... never in defence of his people. But at the same time, what outweighed the fear, was the faith -- the faith that comes from the best rock there is: the Rock that is God.

What do you do when you are about to face a giant? Do you plunge your hand into that creek, grab about under its surface for anything -- anything -- that could possibly wound the giant, without any real thought as to how you can destroy it? Or do you, like David, patiently select five stones, praying all the while, confident that one of those stones will fell a problem bigger than yourself?

Before January 2, I would have been in the former category -- my hands were damp from many years of reaching into many a pool, reaching for sticks and bramble to try and fend off giants different varieties... and never really succeeding.

On Sunday, my friend Hope, gave me a stone -- I call it David's stone -- that made me think of David in the moments before he was to face Goliath. I imagine the stone David used was much like this one -- flat, smooth, the perfect weight, not too big, not too small. Was he scared? Yes, but his faith in God to deliver him gave him the will to win a battle by claiming the victory he already knew God had won.

It is no secret that the last few months have been a big battle -- horrific thoughts, anxieties, fears and just plain depression -- have been my giant. I have used the best rock I knew how to use: God... through prayer, reading the Word, the Body of Christ. It hasn't always been easy -- battles never are -- but it helps to know that the Rock is there and the foundation is strong, especially when you feel anything but:

Deuteronomy 32:4: "He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he".

Psalm 18:2: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold".

Psalm 144:1-2: "Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me".

Is my giant defeated? I would say yes and no. Yes in the sense that it is defeated because I know, now, how to fight back: prayer, the Word of God, the blood of Christ, solid Christian advice, the Body of Christ. No in the sense that I still have to fight. Perhaps we always do have to battle -- but when the battle you are fighting is God's, it's a battle worth waging for as long as it takes to overcome. I will tell you this though, every day - EVERY day - I gain ground... and that's because everyday I am choosing to run my hand over that perfect Rock to remind myself that it only takes one (in the words of my friend) to make a giant fall.

The smooth stone. The perfect stone. The round one. The rock that can trip up the littlest of ogres to the largest of foes. The last one that David selected from the creek but the first one he grabbed from his satchel when he was face-to-face with an ogre.

Thanks to my friend Hope, I am holding a rock just like that right now... a rock that reminds me that, in any battle we are in, that it only takes One Rock, and a little faith, to knock down a giant of any size.

Friends, whatever giant you are facing, do yourselves a favor: Grab that Rock and use it.

You don't have to entertain those thoughts (Philipians 4:8).

You are not too weak to overcome (Philippians 4:13). 

Your fears are not too much for Him to carry (1 Peter 5:7).

He is stronger than even the mightiest and foulest of giants (1 Samuel 17:45-50).

You are perfect in His image (Hebrews 10:13-17).

It doesn't mean that your giant isn't scary or that the battle isn't tough -- but you are victorious. 

Giants - all giants - fall if they are battled properly and with the might of God. Count on it.

Take it from me: Choose to feel the strength of the stone. Not the weight of the giant.

With one small stone and a whole bucket of faith, David watched Goliath fall to his knees.

Don't you want to watch your giant do the same?

Giants

I wanted to share with you all the song that has been ministering to me for the last two weeks or so. You know the battle I am in right now and so I cling to every piece of encouragement that God brings my way. This song is one of those encouragements. One day as I was listening to a c.d. in the car, it was like God opened my ears to this song. That is quite a feat as I often struggle to understand the lyrics in faster songs -- I often like the beat of the music but I will get the lyrics wrong because the words just sound jumbled to me.

Until this song.

I love it -- as the song says: Giants do die... the bigger they are, the harder they fall... Just walk around the Jericho wall.

If you're facing a giant or giants today, close your eyes and be encouraged.

Remember -- there is power in a slingshot.

Just ask Goliath.

Quelling the storm

If you're anything like me maybe you enjoy sitting in a warm house watching a blizzard outside -- coating the world in layer upon layer of white. Or maybe you love the way lightening flares up the sky, the boom of thunder and the sound of a billion splashes of rain against the roof. Or perhaps you like knowing you are safely inside when howling winds batter the siding of your house. Storms are great to watch, aren't they? It's fun to sit there and watch the majesty of God on display.... but storms are not quite as enjoyable when we get stuck in them. Who among us likes getting stuck in that beautiful blizzard... the wind clipping your face, while thousands of snowflakes blind you... or drowning in the rain just as you are half-way to a meeting in your best suit... or trying to walk home in the face of an onslaught of wind, as dust gets in your eye... yes, storms are beautiful when observed at a sheltered distance, but less fun when you are among the things being pummelled.

So let me ask you: how do you handle storms in your life?

Are you more likely to sit and watch it happen -- safe and secure in the knowledge you don't have to go outside?

Or are you the type that thinks you can handle the storm -- and the mess that comes with it -- on your own? Do you think yourself fearless... able to battle back against the elements?

I'm probably a bit of the latter -- to tell you the truth, I have often embraced doing things on my own versus asking someone for help. Frankly, until the last couple months, asking God for help would have seemed so silly to me... I claimed to have abiding faith, and yet when faced with some of my biggest issues or challenges, I relied on my own strength to get me by.

While reading the Book of John recently, I was struck by the idea of storms and the idea of how the strength of God can be used to conquer ANY of them:

John 6:16-21: "When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

Those verses stood out to me because I can relate -- as I am sure each of you can relate -- to the disciples. Going about our lives in calm waters, doing what we always do... mapping out a goal and moving towards it... then getting caught in a storm, not sure of what to do but paddling like crazy in the hopes you don't capsize.

That's what the disciples are doing.

Can't you see them, a band of men struggling to right the boat in the midst of churning waters and gale-force winds? Peter is yelling at Andrew to paddle harder? John's paddle just broke from the sheer force of the waves... James' calloused hands are torn and bleeding from trying to hold the sails into place... a scene of chaos... and then, when things can't look any worse, they see some guy walking towards their boat... Jesus! But, like us when faced with the help God offers, we need reassurance, don't we? When the force of the winds, the slap of the waves, the bleeding of the callouses on our hands hurt so bad, we can become confused... frightened... unsure whether to let anybody into the boat... but watch what happens... "But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading".

We tend to do the same thing when we are in a storm: Demand God prove himself to us before we allow him to set foot in our boat to right the ship. But look what happens when we do... "... immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading". This verse doesn't say that after Jesus got in the boat, the storm knocked them around a few more hours... no... it says they IMMEDIATELY reached their destination.

We need to start asking God to get into the boat without questioning Him about who is He, what He will do and where He will take us -- when we do this, we can be assured that we will get to the best destination imaginable: HIS destination. The waters may still be choppy from time to time, but we'll get there and be the better for it with Him in the boat.

It is worth saying that storms in your life aren't always big and noticeable -- storms can also be the small ones as well... maybe it's a debate between yourself and your spouse about whether you want to get a dog... or perhaps you lent a friend $5 dollars and haven't been paid back... or maybe it's somebody who cut you off in traffic... whatever it is, sometimes these little gusts of wind can turn into a bigger storm if we proceed to row our boat without thought. That is why it is so vitally important that we have a seat in the boat for God at all times and we stop peppering Him with questions before letting Him take His rightful place at in the captain's chair.

Let Him quell the storms in your life -- ask Him into your boat. You'll not only reach the right desination, but you'll do so without getting alot of sand and rain in your eyes.

Are you an Andrew or a Phillip?

I am really struggling in my life to determine the direction I feel God is leading me -- I am not completely satisfied in the job I am in right now, but at the same time, I don't want to leap into another job just because I might make more money.  No.  The next job I get I want it to mean something -- I want to go to work every day knowing that I am furthering God's will not only for my life but for HIS Kingdom.  It's hard to determine what that is - afterall, we all have preconceived ideas of what we want to do and how we want to get there.  But sometimes, like now, we wait and wonder: what is it all for and to what purpose does God wants us to work towards?

This is when faith is so necessary -- so very very necessary.

This week I was reading the Gospel of John and I was struck by a few verses that, I believe, God laid on my heart -- these are not verses that I would normally gravitate towards because on their surface I am not sure how much meaning there is at first glance.  However, God has really been focusing my mind on these verses and to me these verses speak to the very real need for us as Christians to have FAITH in what God has planned for us -- FAITH in his infinite wisdom and timing to reveal His plan for us.

John  6:5-9: "When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"  He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages[a] would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

I love that scene - scores of people hungry after a long day and Jesus turning to His group of disciples to ask them what to do -- seeing if they would rely on what they thought to be right... that is to say the tangible things around them: lots of people, no food, no money.  Or, instead, if they would turn to God and put their faith in Him.

Phillip's response is interesting because I think it characterizes how we often react in situations that call for pure faith and confidence in God: "Pft..." he grunts, "Are you kidding me? Jesus, there is no way we can feed these people... not only do we not have any money but all of us put together working night and day still wouldn't have enough cash to feed them.  Good luck bud... we're going to have us a riot because nobody thought to plan ahead!"

Are you like Phillip? Is your first instinct when you are faced with an issue that requires faith - that is a "test" as Jesus knew in His own heart was the case with the 5,000 - to think that all hope is lost and that there is no way out of the problem you are facing?

If you are, can I encourage you to look at the next verse and to take your example from Andrew (v. 8-9):  "Okay wow... there are tons of people out there and I don't have a clue what to do here... That kid over there has a few loaves of bread and some fish... barely enough food for the 12 of us let alone all the rest... but you're the miracle worker Jesus... so work your magic my friend".

Andrew doesn't have the answers either -- like Phillip he has absolutely no clue how to feed the scores of hungry (and likely, grouchy) people.  But he differs from Phillip in that he doesn't try to solve the problem himself -- he doesn't try to mathematically equate how much money they would need in order to feed these folks, instead he presents an option to Christ and asks HIM to solve it.

So let me ask you this: who are you more likely to be in a problem situation? Are you like Phillip, trying to solve your problem with reason but without God? Are you immediately dismayed at the present circumstances and unwilling to look to the ultimate problem solver for help? Or are you like Andrew, unsure of how to solve the problem, but willing to let God take hold of the options in front of you and to use them as HE sees fit for your life?

As tough as it is to do, we need to be more like Andrew and a lot less like Phillip -- we need to put our faith in Christ to use the loaves and fishes in our lives to HIS glory.  We have to have faith that He WILL use them and He WILL multiply them as He sees fit.  Consider your talents, your skills, your passions, your beliefs and your possessions.  When you see ALL these things as God-given, then you can truly begin to allow God to utilize these loaves and fishes to the glory of His Kingdom.

In my job, right now, I'm not completely satisfied.  But I have to trust that God will reveal His plan in His time... and that, like those 5,000 people who ate five loaves and 2 fish, I too will be nourished by the plan He has for me and WILL reveal to me in His time.

How do I know this?

Because to paraphrase what our Pastor said today at church: The God that fed 5,000 people 5,000 years ago, still feeds His people in 2009.

Remember what we know to be true from John 6:6 - Jesus already KNEW what He was going to do... He was testing Phillip to see if he had faith in Him.  If He already knows the outcome for us, isn't it best to just stand back and watch as he multiplies those loaves and fishes?

Resolve to be an Andrew -- I guarantee you, you will have plenty to eat!