I'm sitting in my office and wow things are noisy outside my window! The reason? The contractors are busy digging up our land and getting it ready for the day we will build our new Worship Facility! The interesting thing is, prior to their being on-site, we spent several years in meetings with city engineers and planners, along with the contractors to make sure we followed all the proper guildlines and rules so everything was done correctly. You see, as much as we want to see this new facility built, without the proper preparation and the proper foundation we could never build. Without a sturdy foundation, a house could collapse, twist, or sink. There are so may possibilities for failure, and depending on the environment you are living in, it could happen sooner or later. Without question, the foundation is the most important part of your house because the entire structure depends on it. A house can not stand up without the foundation. It would just cave right in. Ouch!
Reflecting back on all the meetings, listening to all the noise outside, and watching the contractors work on our land reminds me of what Jesus said almost 2,000 years ago about having the right foundation. Not only is having the right foundation vital for the safety, health, and longevity of a house, it's also true for our lives. In Matthew 7:24-27 Jesus said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had it's foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
It's interesting that the same storms came to both houses but the only one that was safe and remained standing was the house that had the right foundation. If you're not facing any storms right now, that's awesome, but sooner or later we all will. The question is, Will you be standing afterwards? If you have the right foundation . . . you will!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
His Love, His Grace, His Care
I recently attended our Annual Conference in Yakima Washington and while I was there I heard an incredible testimony from author and speaker Carol Kent as she shared about the story of her son Jason, who was convicted of murdering his wife’s ex-husband, and how God through his grace and his mercy has turned an unbelievable tragedy into something good. As I listened it was hard for me to imagine how any parent could live through what she has lived through and still have a strong faith in God; and yet she does. I was absolutely amazed at how God used this tragedy to impact and influence so many lives and to turn it around for good.
As I reflected on what she shared I realized afresh that God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s care stays consistent no matter what we go through. He really is the same yesterday, today, and forever. GOD’S LOVE….His love is unconditional. He loves me as much on my good days as he does on my bad days; and he will never love me more than he does right now. That last line is a little hard to comprehend and yet it is so true. His love is different than human love. It’s consistent! GOD’S GRACE ….His grace is available to me no matter what I do or what I face or what I go through. I love the fact that God has made it possible that I don’t get what I deserve; but I’m able to get what I need; His grace! I don’t have to be “good enough” or “work hard enough”; He’s simply made it available. It’s consistent! GOD’S CARE… this one at times is hard to see. What God is teaching me is that sometimes what I think is a lack of God’s care; is really the exact opposite. He knows exactly what I need in my life. My job is to trust him by casting all my cares upon Him; and to know that he really does care for me all the time. It’s consistent!
Most of us will never face the kind of tragedy I mentioned at the beginning of this blog; but we ALL do face tough circumstances and it’s comforting; it’s reassuring; and it’s encouraging to know that the love, grace, and care of God is real, it’s available; and it is life changing. Are you facing a tough time right now? Tap into what He’s made abundantly available to you, His love, His grace; and His care. You’ll be amazed at what God can do when we trust Him!
As I reflected on what she shared I realized afresh that God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s care stays consistent no matter what we go through. He really is the same yesterday, today, and forever. GOD’S LOVE….His love is unconditional. He loves me as much on my good days as he does on my bad days; and he will never love me more than he does right now. That last line is a little hard to comprehend and yet it is so true. His love is different than human love. It’s consistent! GOD’S GRACE ….His grace is available to me no matter what I do or what I face or what I go through. I love the fact that God has made it possible that I don’t get what I deserve; but I’m able to get what I need; His grace! I don’t have to be “good enough” or “work hard enough”; He’s simply made it available. It’s consistent! GOD’S CARE… this one at times is hard to see. What God is teaching me is that sometimes what I think is a lack of God’s care; is really the exact opposite. He knows exactly what I need in my life. My job is to trust him by casting all my cares upon Him; and to know that he really does care for me all the time. It’s consistent!
Most of us will never face the kind of tragedy I mentioned at the beginning of this blog; but we ALL do face tough circumstances and it’s comforting; it’s reassuring; and it’s encouraging to know that the love, grace, and care of God is real, it’s available; and it is life changing. Are you facing a tough time right now? Tap into what He’s made abundantly available to you, His love, His grace; and His care. You’ll be amazed at what God can do when we trust Him!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Remember!
I admit it….I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Opening presents! The chaos! The food! The fun! Lot’s of noise! More noise! And then more noise! Isn’t it great? There’s nothing like getting together with those you love. Each year we have a tradition that on Christmas morning all our children and their families come over for Christmas brunch and then we open presents and spend the day playing games, eating and just enjoying being together. Once again everyone came Christmas morning and gathered around the table, ( actually three tables as our family is getting so big.) Sitting there I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and gratitude for God’s incredible blessing to me . . . my wife; my three children; their spouses; and my incredible ten grandchildren! I felt so blessed! This was definitely a “do over" day for me!
Since that time as we've entered this new year, I’ve spent a lot of time rehearsing the goodness and the faithfulness of God in my life. It’s so easy in the midst of a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, and pressures that life brings; to forget to give thanks to God not only for today’s blessings but for God’s past faithfulness in our lives. Why is this so important? Because God’s faithfulness in the past casts a shadow of hope for our future! So, now that Christmas is over and we're beginning this new year, why not grab a cup of Starbucks, a pen and paper, and take the time to think back as far as you can in your past; and list every detail of God’s faithfulness in your life. Remember . . . God’s faithfulness in your past casts a shadow of hope for your future.
Since that time as we've entered this new year, I’ve spent a lot of time rehearsing the goodness and the faithfulness of God in my life. It’s so easy in the midst of a hectic, fast-paced lifestyle, and pressures that life brings; to forget to give thanks to God not only for today’s blessings but for God’s past faithfulness in our lives. Why is this so important? Because God’s faithfulness in the past casts a shadow of hope for our future! So, now that Christmas is over and we're beginning this new year, why not grab a cup of Starbucks, a pen and paper, and take the time to think back as far as you can in your past; and list every detail of God’s faithfulness in your life. Remember . . . God’s faithfulness in your past casts a shadow of hope for your future.
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