Early In The Morning

I realize what’s late for some is early for others.

But when I feel like I’ve slept late, it’s still too early for many!

It’s not light yet, but this is my anticipated view from my back yard.

This morning, as with most Sunday morning’s, I rise a little earlier than normal so as to spend time with my prayer, devotion and preparation for Sunday. Many want to sleep in, and many have nothing planned for the day that gives them prompting to get and move. I seldom have a day like that! Sleeping in may get me close to 7am, but that’s about all!

Of all my days, Sunday is the one that requires the most out of me. More focus. Energy. Getting out of my comfort zone. Greeting. Meeting. Delivering. Retreating. And finally rest. Hours and hours after the day started.

To support my early rising, I turned to scripture and find a number of times where the bible talks about getting up early.

Abraham got up early and went to the place where he stood before the Lord. (Genesis 19:27) This was the morning after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. His nephew Lot had escaped just before the destruction, but only with his two daughters. Not by persuasion alone, but with gentle (?) force (Genesis 19:16-17).

Jacob arose early after of dreams and visions and promises from God.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. (Genesis 28:16-19 NKJV)

Several times Moses was commanded to rise early and go face Pharaoh…but then he finally rose early to prepare to hear from God on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 34:2-5).

Of all the reasons why man rose early, there is none so special as that resurrection morning. After fearful and restless hours, those that came early to finish caring for the body of Jesus, stood at the door of the tomb. He was not there…

Early morning lessons are often won after a night of restless sleep. Something pulls you awake, from the comfort of your bed, and drives you to seek the reason for arising early.

What do you expect to do today? It’s the Lord’s Day… Arise…

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12 NKJV)

I Will Speak

Have you ever struggled with speaking out?

It’s almost as if you are afraid to speak up, and speak out. Embarrassed? Shy? Unsure?

If I have learned anything over the past 30-40 years, there is a time to speak out, and a time to be quiet. Almost ecclesiastical. You know, Solomon-isc?

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 KJV)

Learning when it is time to speak, and time to be quiet… A hard won lesson at time. Martin Luther King made a comment that has stuck with me for a long time.

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

There is a time to be quiet, and a time to speak out. Do you know the difference? Incessantly chattering about nothing is stressful to those around you and it puts you in a strained position of friendship.

It was a stressed time of family. Abraham and Lot had split from each other, one to the plains and the other to the left overs. You would think the elder would have won the best place to be, but it was Lot who was allowed to chose. He chose the plains. He chose the cities.

But there came a time of trouble for Lot. His life in the cities had turned into a total mess. When it was time for God to judge and mete out necessary punishment. God said, “Shall I hide from Abraham this thing which I do?” As the sin and the punishment unfolded before Abraham, he spoke up to God:

“Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ” (Genesis 18:27)

I have taken it upon myself to speak to God.

It takes a pretty big person to stand up to God, and then to bargain for the salvation of someone close. Someone who is guilty, and far from the place they should be. And if you find yourself in that position, realize that you need to know how far you can go in speaking out.

Just like our kids learn how far they can go in speaking out to us! Or the hired labor to the boss. Or how far I can go speaking out to my wife!

Even God took a moment to consider whether he should speak out to his friend, Abraham.

Take a moment. Think about the words you would like to say. Are they helpful, or hurtful? Do they lift up or tear down? Are they for your benefit, or for the recipients?

If it is not a positive, then learn the lesson. Don’t speak out.

 

Be Careful Little Hands What You Do

Do you remember this children’s song?

Care for the hands, mouth, eyes, ears… All teaching us to be careful what things we involve ourselves with, because there is a Father up above who is looking down in love.

What is your view of the Father? Some think of him as a stern judge simply looking for an opportunity to dispense justice. Others think of him as a doting parental figure that gently guides us day by day. Still, others live a confused life thinking of him as big brother, always spying into our lives.

Regardless of your view, a thought came to me early. Part of it is a result of a tweet, another is this view of God.

The Tweet:

“Angry people have good memories; They never forget perceived wrongs
Angry people have poor memories; They never recall received mercies” ~@RevKenGurley

The View from Scripture:

It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. (Lamentations 3:22 KJV)

The Reconciliation:

We are made in his image and fashioned in such a way that we have had the freedom to choose life the way we want to experience it. Whether it be Judas (Matthew 26:14, 25, 47), Demas (2Timothy 4:10), or the Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32), there are those who make certain choices and must pay the consequences of their chosen path. We have all chosen a path that will lead us to certain destination.

But God’s mercies are never consumed so much that they will ever fail! Just like his Grace that is constantly affirmed in the New Testament of being without end, so too the mercies of God will never cease… That is, until we cease.

Here’s how I chose to live:

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  (2 Corinthians 4:15-16 KJV)

What happened to me just moments ago, his mercy and grace covers me with an abundance of love. This is what Lot found as he fled the vile cities of the well watered plains.

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; … (Genesis 19:19 KJV)

He chose his pathway, but Abram negotiated with God for his ultimate salvation from the sins of those cities that existed in the plains of Jordan.

This begs an answer to this question: Are you renewing your life with God daily? Who is negotiating in your favor today? Life can be long, or short. There may not be as much time as you think to prepare for the ending. What choices are you making right now?

Praying for you!

…And the beat goes on…

Yes… I know you are humming the tune…

A day past my 12th birthday, this song by Sonny and Cher made it to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 song list. I am not even sure that at this time in my life that I knew who Sonny and Cher were, much less listened to the popular music of the day. (I will tell you that as I look back over the list of top songs for 1967, I know every single one of them today. (Click Here))

Then, as now, my mind and heart followed a different beat.

I was more into Gospel music with a little bit of Country from the likes of Eddy Arnold and Jim Reeves, and a little bit Folk music from the likes of The Kingston Trio. There was a time when the more modern beats of “light” rock was enjoyed, but for the most part my focus never took up residence on those radio dials.

Waking this morning after a 6 hour sleep, I wandered the yard with my dogs, enjoying the coolness, wet grass, and the sun making an appearance. Both dogs found an apple to chomp. The horses were in hiding. Cattle are lowing in the distance, and I think I hear some of the sheep bleating.

It’s a beautiful and quiet morning. The sun is whispering through the trees and mist, slowly making its appearance. I dread the thought of the day getting away from this lovely time. My plate is full of tasks that must be accomplished today, and this weekend. And I think…

How do people live with out this quiet morning experience?

It is somewhere between the dark of night, and that early blush of morning, a time that we may call “very early” that I find to be the most productive of mental and self evaluation. Throughout scripture we find this to be a common time of standing before God, as Abraham did the morning after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD.  (Genesis 19:27 NKJV)

We no longer find Abraham contemplating his negotiation with God over the status of Lot and his family. Nor do we find Abraham to be in anguish as he sees the smoke rise over the plain where once stood Sodom and Gomorrah. Nor do we find him stressed. It’s almost as if this calmness of standing before God quiets the rumblings of his soul. And he finds peace.

There is something very calming about the early morning. Before the day beats the “ever living daylight” out of you (!!!), or the phone, social media and emails start to crowd your peace, take a morning to simply stand before God, and let the morning waken you to a freshness. Let the calm still your soul. Strength is garnered in these precious moments. And there is a peace to be found.

It is in these early mornings that I find my place of utter calmness before God. The stresses of career, church, family, and life in general are submerged below the horizon. The sweetness of His presences gives me confidence to face the day.

How about you? Did you enjoy your early morning time of refreshment before God?

What Does Your Story Say About You?

Over the past few years I have transitioned…

No longer am I browsing the brick and mortar book stores, hungry for something to read. These days I have my list of authors that I am busy converting to digital tomes. With my electronic devices I can carry hundreds, no, thousands, of books with me wherever I go!

This has helped in my recent past as a student. As I travel, digital books pack much better than big text books!

Still, I was thinking about all the millions of books over the years that have shared millions and zillions of stories. Some make it to the popularity list and it seems like everyone wants to read it. Think about the Potter books, and then movies, that made adults and youth alike want to dress the part and then take part in the story of a fictional young wizard type of person!

When I was in 4th grade, Mrs Winters made a habit of reading “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” to us every Friday afternoon before we went home. I can tell you I enjoyed the story, but not enough to invest my pennies in the book… I was into Hardy Boys and Tom Swift at this time and could imagine being any of the characters in these stories!

While perusing some material I found reference to a writer that was busy writing the “Story of his life” that would be made into a movie, Donald Miller by name. The producer of the movie says, “The story of your life is boring!”  Thinking it through, the author sums it up: “Life is staggering – and we’re all just used to it!”

Think about it… Life is boring, and staggering at the same time.

When you consider how each person is a creation and extension of DNA from countless generations, and with each step you take in life you are only able to progress because some sacrifice in the past made it possible. We never made it to the moon without those investigators into flight, or those science students that gazed at the stars, or those teachers that challenged minds to think bigger.

If one person in the present was tasked with telling your story, then it is true that there is so much boring activity. But when looked at over time, then that boring becomes the backdrop for mighty big steps and changes in life.

“Newton took a long time to flesh out his theory on gravity. Some “eureka”moments cover decades of time!” ~me

In the midst of the success stories are hundreds of thousands of failure stories. We often pay them no mind, but look to those who have made the strides from nothing, to something. We all know the story of Thomas Edison, repeatedly making attempts at creating something new. Failure was found more often than “eureka”… and it covered much of his adult life.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”~Thomas Edison

Give up… This is the solution of many. They take the easy path that leads them no where specific, with no expected arrival date, and with no guiding light to get them from point “A” to point “B”…

An internal war between tribes, back in the days of the 12 Tribes of Israel, pitted two leaders against each other. On one side was Israel and the rebellious ones. On the other side was Judah, the “praisers” of God. Israel had 800,000 fighters. Judah had only 400,000. Rebellion against praisers. In a short chapter we find the story line, but the thought for today is the telling of the story of the ruler over Judah – Abijah…

“The rest of the acts of Abijah, his ways and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.” (2 Chronicles 13:22 ESV)

His story of success is said to be told in other works. Someone took the time to record and relate his life. This makes me want to go and get the next book in the story line and follow through!

I love a good story. Much of my desire for story comes from the search for adventure and wonderment.- stories that give me insight into a time period or a location, stories that give answers for questions that I have.

I’ve concluded that writers like Louis L’Amour have found a format for story and can tell the same format over and over, only the names and places and circumstances are changed, and people will buy their stories for years and rave over the books.

Yet, to satisfy my own needs of knowledge and exploration of the world around me, I look for stories and authors than can bring the world alive. Give me something that I can live in for the moment of the story and learn about this world we live in. There are several author’s that help me be in the moment.

• James Michener penned saga’s involved with people, places and things that seemingly covers the entire globe. He covers generations of time in 1000 pages. For example, he wrote a book on Hawaii. The first 150 pages were nothing more than the description on how these islands were formed. In another book he writes about an archeological dig in Israel, and for about 1200 pages he writes a story of each level of excavation, giving me insight as to how that time period might have lived. Still, in another book he explains the spawning cycle of the Pacific salmon in such a way that Scientist have concluded he’s nailed it!

• Bruce Feilor, who wrote a number of books about his heritage as Jew and his travels through the Middle East to discover and document his roots. There is even a PBS special on this that I bought on Amazon and I enjoyed watching him make the trek of a lifetime, interviewing locals and discovering the land.  After reading nearly 3000 pages of his writings I can appreciate the hardship of the Jewish nation from the perspective of a Jew trying to understand why all “this” has happened to his people.

At the end of our lives, we are going to sit before God and He’s going to open the book that sums up our lives. Perhaps embedded within the pages of His book will be every single moment of our lives. Will there be recorded all the drama and excitement of our lives alongside all the boring and uninteresting moments? Perhaps. But the most important thing will be our summation. Will we hear the words: “Well done thou good and faithful servant…” Or perhaps those dreaded words will say: “Depart from me, I never knew you…”

What will be the summation of your staggering life?

I believe some of us are struggling with the story of our lives and how to make it more meaningful. We are caught up with the drama of day to day stuff and we’re missing the staggering beauty and hope of our existence. We fail to see that our choices are telling stories about us that write our very existence on the pages of someone’s book. At the end of our life, someone will stand over us and read a few of our pages. That will matter so little, we are gone and will not hear the words of others!

What will matter more is what God says…

Let me share a contrast of two different stories in scripture.

First Story:

The great leader, Moses, is non longer around. The challenge to the new successor, Joshua, is to lead the nation of Israel forward. Listen to what God tells Joshua at the beginning of the book that bears his name (emphasis are mine).

• Joshua 1:1-9 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Thus begins the story of Israel crossing the Jordan River and entering into the land of promise. It is not always a perfect story; there are many failures along the way. But at the end of his life, Joshua can encourage the people one more time and give them clear focus upon the continuing story of their lives.

• Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Everyone was given a choice of how to choose the pathway of their story. With one voice, the people make a choice!

• Joshua 24:16-18 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods; For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed: And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

Joshua then instructs them that they must amends their ways, and turn completely to God. He even writes a covenant describing their wish to turn to God, places a stone under an oak by the Sanctuary of the Lord, and reminds them of their commitment.

Second Story:

The youngest son comes to his father at the appropriate time of life and demands his inheritance. The father gives him what is due and the young man flees from his father’s house to live in a far off place. Perhaps years stretch by and the young man finds himself having spent all that he had on “riotous living.”  The good years turn into bad years. The perceived good choices of choosing his own way and living his own life show his lack of planning and care and he ends up living in the arena of pigs. (Luke 15:11-32)

His life is really no different than Abraham’s nephew – Lot.

• Lot “Pitched His Tent” as far as Sodom … Genesis 13:12
• Lot “dwelt in” Sodom … Genesis 14:12
• Lot was “sitting in” Sodom … Genesis 19:1

But something was different in this young man’s life – something caused him to come to himself!

I’m not sure how you take accounting of your rotten life and decide that what you had before must be better, but that’s exactly what this young man did. He wished to return to his father’s house and live as a hired servant, and not in the privilege of son-ship. He begins the journey home.

We find his father looking continually for him.

This is perhaps the difference for many of us today. Our story board gets rotten with life, and even still the Father is always looking for us to return to Him. How many of us are standing in place of the Father and looking for our own to return to the fold?

In neither story do we get the ending completely written for us.

In the first story, we have to keep reading and deciphering all the generations of living to see where the people are for the remainder of the Book.

In the second story, we only know that the Father has rejoiced in his lost son’s return and is willing to have a great celebration and restore him to his place as a son.

How do you choose to live your life?

You can write a story that is full of pain and suffering and there’s no hope or solution for your situation. Or you can write a story of a child of the Most High God living in Grace.

You can live like a pig, or you can live like a King!

The pig is happy, dirty, smelly, dependent upon someone to feed, and is doomed to be slaughtered someday with no hope of ever living in the palace.

The Fathers’ house has rooms of plenty, and even during the lean years there is a protection around you that the pig never gets to enjoy.

Jesus teaches a parable about a Sower. (Matt 13, Mark 4, Luke 8) The seed represents the Word of God. Mathew leaves an impression that the receiver of the seed is a single person. (Matt 13:19) Within any one of our lives we can find segments of each of these soils condition.

• Way Side – The trampled pathways of our lives separating us from other areas. Hardened path ways that cannot have any understanding of the Word because we have trampled it down and trodden over it and not sought after making it productive ground.
• Stony Places – The hardened places that have no depth of soil – we hear the Word, we rejoice with it, but we have no depth of soil so no root can survive.
• Thorns – Our lives are full and prickly with the deceitfulness of riches. The Word has no chance because our focus is not upon the Word, but rather it’s upon life.
• Good Ground – It Produces FRUIT…

To live in the pigpen causes us to forfeit living in the “Father’s House.“ God has provided for us in the “here and now.”

Look at what our Father has given us (provisions).

• A place where God can be found … Ex 33:21
• A place where there is no lack … Jud 18:10
• A place where there is no oppression … 2 Sam 7:10
• A place of refuge … Prov 14:26
• A place of future hope & residence … Jn 14:2-3
• A Place of Dwelling

Psalms 27:5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

• For Hard Times … 2 Corinthians 4:8
• For Weary Times … Matthew 11:28
• For Scary Times … Psalms 56:3
• A Place of Trust

Psalms 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.

Trust God to protect us. Trust God to provide for us. Trust God to prepare us for the world.

• A Place of Triumph

Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

God gives a song of deliverance. God gives a song of praise. God gives a song of confidence.

The “Place” God has provided for us in the here and now is His Word. We find the place when we lean on, trust in, and rest with the truths in the Bible.

What is the story of your life? One final thought about this for you to consider…

Gal 6:7 – Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap