An Uncommon Joy

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!  Philippians 3:1

From Guest Blogger Amy Cox:


The day of my young son’s surgery had come. I was a bundle of nerves, but my toddler’s face was filled with a special peace and joy I later realized was rooted in a simple faith. Finding peace during the difficult moments of our lives can be tough, but with God we can have it abundantly and in uncommon ways.

It’s easy to forget what was going on in Paul’s life as he wrote Philippians. It is thought to be one of his “prison epistles,” written during his captivity in Rome. Yet despite facing an unknown future and the possibility of lengthy imprisonment or even death, we see uncommon peace in Paul. More than that, from his confines he tells us multiple times that he rejoices. Paul rejoices at the spread of the Gospel and over the Spirit’s work in his current circumstances (Philippians 1:18). He rejoices because he and the believers in Philippi are able to sacrifice for the good of others (Philippians 2:17-18). And his rejoicing continues through the end of the epistle, as we’ll read next week. It is safe to say Paul has an uncommon trust and attitude toward rejoicing.

Paul’s uncommon way of thinking, made possible by his relationship with Christ, clearly surfaces again in Philippians 3:1 where he tells his readers “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” Paul’s words can be read as a calling to adopt and maintain the same attitude and behaviors Paul demonstrates (Philippians 3:17), which are ultimately modeled after Christ. The Philippians had contributed sacrificially to Paul’s ministry, aiding greatly in the growth of the church throughout the region. Their sacrifices were different than Paul’s, but they served the same purpose — the spreading of the Gospel — and Paul’s hope was that they too would experience the incredible peace and joy God gives his people.

Yet, quick on the heels of his rejoicing Paul addresses those who fail to trust in the Lord (Philippians 4:18-19). Too often an uncommon attitude is hard to come by. The voices of the world contradict God’s truth, question His care for us and even His existence, and breed doubt and fear. These voices lead people, as Paul writes, to the place where “their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” May we heed Paul’s warning, embrace God’s peace and joy, and live the uncommon life!

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for giving us reason to rejoice no matter what our current circumstances. Help us to listen for your voice, trust your Word, and live in your peace. Amen.

Don't Worry About Me

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. Phil 2:25

As Philippians 2 ends, we meet Epaphroditus. Here’s a man very different than Timothy. Epaphroditus is the one who brought the gift from Philippi, and the one who bore this wonderful letter back to the Philippian church. His popularity is evident from the fact that he was chosen by the church for this difficult task. He was probably one of those whose natural disposition makes him popular and prominent in any group.

Paul says the quality he most appreciates in Epaphroditus is helpfulness. Notice he says, “I’m sending back to you…my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my need.” All these wonderful titles add up to one who is a marvelous helper who demonstrates a selfless concern that’s the distinctive mark of a believer in Christ.

Verse 26 says, “For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.” Word had gotten back to Philippi that this man had been terribly sick, and Epaphroditus is concerned that they be over-anxious about him.

I couldn't help contrasting that with so many today who become distressed because we haven’t heard they were ill! I meet people like that occasionally. Now and then I’ll greet someone and notice there’s a bit of coolness. Finally it comes out and they’ll say, “Didn't you hear that I was sick?” I say, “No, I didn't hear that.” Then, “Well, I expected I’d have a visit, but no one came.” I wonder just how people expect to have a visit on that basis. It's interesting that when people are sick, they’ll call a doctor; but they expect the pastor or their Christian friends to get the news by osmosis, and then get upset because word hadn't arrived.

Well, there was no such self pity in Epaphroditus. His concern isn’t one of self pity because he was so desperately sick, but of anxiety lest they be over-wrought in their worry for him. Even in the midst of his own personal distress, he continues to exhibit selfless concern for others. What a beautiful picture! You can see the character of Christ in him.

Prayer: Lord, give me a spirit of helpfulness. I know it doesn't come naturally, but rather by a quiet dependence on you and a readiness to be used by you and for the work of your kingdom. Amen.

To Live is Christ

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  Philippians 1:21

From Guest Blogger Colin Proft:

Paul had a victorious vision for his life. He didn’t fear death and he saw each day as a blessing from God. To live was to be with Christ on earth and to share in the encouragement, love, and joy of his fellow brothers and sisters. To die was to receive the crown of glory which Jesus had won on Calvary. In short, Paul couldn’t lose. Neither can we.

Paul didn’t draw his joy from his circumstances. If that were true, he would have had a rotten life. He wrote to the Church in Corinth:  “Five times I have received from the Jews forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” (2 Cor.11:24-27)

No, Paul’s source of joy was found in Jesus. He fully understood that this world was fleeting and that he had everything he could possibly want or need in Jesus Christ. That is the true meaning of Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who strengthens me.” Paul considered everything else as loss for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ. He bought the pearl of great price (Matt. 13:44-46).

Rather than complaining about the circumstances he found himself in, Paul continued to rejoice and worship God. Through his obedience, God used Paul to reach the entire palace guard where he was imprisoned. It’s incredible.

As you go through your day today, look for how God is moving in your life. Place your fears and frets in His hands; trust Him to deliver you from each snare and difficulty. Wait patiently for the Lord. And live this day through His power and love.

Prayer: Father God, I will fix my eyes on You. With you by my side, I will not be shaken. You are my portion and my cup. You are my strength. You lift me up when I am discouraged. You are my ever-present help in time of need. As I go throughout this day, I pray that You would strengthen me by Your power and fill me with Your love. Come, transform my faith and life. I love You. Amen.

Joyful, Patient, Faithful

Be Joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12

From Guest Blogger Colin Proft:

The first time the Gospel was shared in the city of Philippi was when Paul and Silas visited there on their first missionary journey (Acts 16:11-40). Later, Paul and Timothy wrote a letter of encouragement and exhortation to the Christians in that region — what is now in our Bibles as “Philippians.” Read through Philippians 1, keeping the words of Romans 12:12 in mind.

Joyful in Hope. Paul was continually rejoicing before God. He knew what God had in store for him and the Philippians — he has his heart and mind fixed on heaven. Paul knew that God had given them both a new life in Jesus Christ while on earth and the promise of eternal life with Him in paradise.

Paul had treasure in heaven. He knew that, no matter what happened, He had eternal life because of Jesus Christ. And he had Jesus! Whether he continued to live on the earth or was taken to heaven, he had joy. And that joy was rooted in his relationship with God and in the fellowship of other Christians. “I thank my God … for all of you … because of your partnership in the Gospel” (Philippians 1:3-5).

Patient in Affliction. Paul wrote this letter from prison. If anyone had a reason to complain, it was Paul! Yet he fully believed God would rescue him. Whether his imprisonment ended in life or death, Paul chose to worship God. His confidence came from this astounding truth: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). It was because of his imprisonment that Paul was to share the Gospel with the whole palace guard.

Faithful in Prayer. Paul constantly prayed for his fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus. He knew them on a personal level and loved them deeply. Again, they weren’t simply acquaintances to him; they were his family and friends. He longed for them with the affection of Jesus Christ! (Philippians 1:8).

Paul’s prayer was simple: he prayed that their love would overflow and that their knowledge of Christ would increase (1:9). And the source of this love and knowledge is abiding in Jesus. We do not produce the fruit of righteousness from our own strength; the nourishment comes from Christ. As He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Prayer: Gracious Lord Jesus, I ask not simply that You be with me today but that You lead me also to join You in the work You are already doing—in me and through me for the sake of others. Amen.

Party

I'm not exactly sure what it looks like, but it's got to be impressive, right? When heaven throws a party, I mean. When the angels celebrate, it has to be powerful.

I can't say what it looks like, sounds like, feels like. But I'm sure it happens. In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son (prodigal son). And with each one, there's an all-out party to celebrate the finding of what was lost. "In the same way, I tell you," Jesus says, "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10).

Those words are seared into my heart. They are deeply personal. At a time when I was far away from God, He used the words of Jesus in Luke 15:10 to tell me of His deep, deep love. When a pastor shared those words ... the angels PARTY over ONE SINNER who turns to God ... I thought: they are having a party ... for ME?!! Ever since, I've compared the feeling to what happens when you break into space in a vacuum. My heart was a vacuum. Empty. Cold. Lifeless. Then God pierced my heart; and His love rushed in. And the angels partied.

I trust that party is in full swing again ... if it has ever stopped. I just wish I could have seen it from heaven's side. It was powerful enough from my view. How much more in the view of angels?!

I had the amazing privilege this week of baptizing Timothy, a guy I've been praying for and talking to for the last nine months. Now, I can hear our Father saying: "Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:23-24). Party on, heaven!!

Stepping Stone

It's pretty universally accepted that you do not want to be someone that gets stepped on. It's a sign of weakness. It's humiliating.

But my conclusion today is:  maybe it's not so bad. Maybe I should make it my goal to be "stepped on."

I was reading in 1 Kings 1 about what was going on toward the end of King David's life. David had had quite an amazing life--a man after God's own heart. Despite his own low points, missteps, and battles of many kinds, David had become Israel's greatest leader. He represented the pinnacle of Israel's whole history. Abraham had been promised a land. Moses had led Israel out of Egypt. Joshua led them into the land. But it wasn't until David that they truly controlled all that land that God had promised. David conquered Jerusalem and made it the great capitol city Israel had long-needed. He expanded Israel's territory and had such great success in securing her borders that few dared even to threaten them anymore. A thousand years later, at the time of Jesus, people still thought of David when they considered Israel's glory days.

But then, David gets stepped on. TWICE. And he seems to be perfectly fine with it. (Stay with me here.) In 1 Kings 1, the servants of King David are trying to get David to name his son Solomon as king instead of Adonijah, who had "put himself forward and said, 'I will be king'" (v.5). The plan all along had been for Solomon to be king, so David agreed to name Solomon as successor. Twice, David's servants speak up:  "As the Lord was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make his throne EVEN GREATER than the throne of my lord King David" (v.37). Again: "May your God make Solomon's name MORE FAMOUS than yours and HIS THRONE GREATER THAN YOURS!" (v.47).

I know those statements were intended as compliments--a way of saying: "Yes, what a great decision, sir! May God bless that choice, my king." But it got me thinking. Thinking about my own life and my own role as a leader, as a father called to lead ... and as a pastor, called to lead.

I've spent some time in the last couple of weeks checking out the candidates who are running for president of the United States. There's probably a ton that can be said about them; but I want to make one observation. When you're campaigning to become President in our age, you have to do a lot of self-promoting. You have to be comfortable with complimenting yourself, touting your successes. You have to make yourself known to people. That's understandable in a campaign environment, perhaps. But sadly, this is quite normal for everyone else too. JOB NUMBER 1 for most of us seems to be racing to the top, seeking to become the best, with little care or concern for others.

But I'm reminded of something I learned recently about the Pilgrims, when they came to establish a new colony in America. William Bradford wrote this about them: "[The Pilgrims] cherished a great hope and inward zeal of laying good foundations, or at least of making some way towards it, for the propagation and ADVANCE of the GOSPEL of the KINGDOM of CHRIST in the remote parts of the world, EVEN THOUGH THEY SHOULD BE BUT STEPPING STONES TO OTHERS in the performance of so great a work."

I had to ask myself ... and maybe you have to ask yourself ... AM I CONTENT? Am I content with being just a stepping stone. Not a grand, beautiful monument to myself. But a stepping stone, used by our God as a way by which those behind me advance the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways and in places I could never dream of.

I want to be a stepping stone for my kids. In God's grand plan, I want to do my part so that my kids exceed me -- so that the Kingdom of God advances in great ways in THEM (and through them).

I want to be a stepping stone for the people of our church. I want to inspire and empower them, not so they like and affirm ME ... but that they move closer to God and closer to living for HIS purposes.

In service to God and His infinitely greater purpose, I want to get stepped on. How about you?

Soul Revolution

It's time for a SOUL REVOLUTION.

Tomorrow evening (June 3rd) celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver will appear on ABC for the third episode of his second season of FOOD REVOLUTION.  If you haven't seen the show, don't feel bad.  I haven't either.  Apparently, it's not the greatest success as a TV series.  But ... BUT ... the CONCEPT really got my attention last year and has had me thinking ever since.

Here's the idea:  Jamie believes we are killing ourselves and our kids with WHAT WE FEED OURSELVES.  We are eating JUNK!  No surprise, I guess.  But he's absolutely right.  I'm guilty too, but we put serious GARBAGE into our bodies!  So ... Jamie Oliver is promoting the "FOOD REVOLUTION" -- a call on America to change ... to REVOLUTIONIZE what we eat.  More natural produce; less processed, fatty, chemical-laced trash.  Jamie says:  "Our kids are growing up overweight and malnourished from a diet of processed foods, and today's children will be the first generation ever to live shorter lives than their parents. It's time for change. It's time for a Food Revolution.  This Food Revolution is about saving America's health by changing the way people eat.  It's not just a TV show; it's a movement for you, your family and your community."

Okay, so here's what I'm thinking:  having concern for our physical health is great.  It's commendable.  But I'm even MORE CONCERNED about our SPIRITUAL HEALTH!  And quite frankly, we continually feed our souls loads of GARBAGE!  We think that we'll be fulfilled by having success and having some accomplishments to show off (all type-A's, take note!).  But success and achievements are not real SOUL FOOD.  Neither are friendships.  Or alcohol.  Or having a nice house or kids that behave ... or whatever else we try to fill ourselves up with.  You're not going to be filled up because your favorite team wins the championship.  Ask Tom Brady.  He won the Super Bowl three times in four years with the New England Patriots.  But he still hungered for more.  AND HE WAS THE QUATERBACK OF THE TEAM!

What I'm saying is that you won't find the answer to that deep longing in your soul by finding just the right guy/girl ... by getting just enough money in the bank account ... by getting noticed because you said the right thing, did the right thing, or whatever.  The secret is not getting your spouse to change or finding a better job.  The secret is not in shedding more pounds or in pushing your kids to accomplish more than you did.

A famous Christian leader of the late-4th century, Augustine, once wrote of God:  "You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you."  Perhaps with that in mind, the 17th-century philosopher Pascal wrote:  "What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him ... though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself."

What Jamie Oliver says about FOOD, I say about SOUL FOOD:  we've got to stop feeding ourselves TRASH!  Our spirits are malnourished because we try to fill up on success, stuff, sex, and all other things that can never fully satisfy.  We need to fill up with Jesus!

Paul to the Philippians:  "I consider everything a loss ... RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ and be found in him" (3:8-9).  Jesus:  "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

It's time for a SOUL REVOLUTION!  A change from junk food to REAL, HEALTHY, FULFILLING FOOD for the SOUL.  It's time we fill up with God -- more specifically, the LOVE God offers in Jesus Christ.  We will never rest until we are filled with Jesus.  Find Him in the WORD today.  Open your Bible.  Get to know it.  Take it in.  Let your spirit digest every word of hope and promise!  And you'll be part of the REVOLUTION.

What do you think?!  Comment below.

Impact!

On Sunday, May 1st I was privileged to be part of an army of 800 volunteers who stepped out of the regular routine of church and served in over 60 locations around our community.  What we called "Impact! Sunday."  It was amazing!  We had people visiting residents of two nursing homes and the Wisconsin Veterans Home.  We had volunteers--adults and kids!--picking up sticks and trash in four city parks, the local nature preserve and community gardens.  We had people cleaning the sidewalks in downtown Appleton.  We had volunteers sorting donations and doing other "odd jobs" for Bethesda Thrift Stores and Harbor House, the local domestic abuse shelter.  We had families cleaning outside three of our local public school buildings, others spreading mulch and staining playground equipment for local child care centers that serve low income families, and children and adults with developmental disabilities.  We had teams of volunteers serving meals, not just on Sunday but all week, at the homeless shelter.  We had 30 volunteers packing care kits for World Vision, which will be shipped to Africa to serve 500 people infected with HIV and AIDS.  And we had 19 teams of people who were all over town raking and cleaning at the homes of residents who are elderly and/or disabled.  It was a truly inspiring day!  Eighty percent of our average weekend worshippers ... EIGHTY PERCENT! ... serving on one day!

We learned a lot about the heart of God's people through this event.  1) People of God KNOW what God is calling us to do:  die to ourselves in order to live for others.  We are called to give and bless and care.  Sometimes, however, we don't know where to begin.  2) Living the "incarnational life" -- getting our hands dirty in the lives of people in our community -- is rewarding ... even if it's not easy.  3) If everyone gives a little, no one person is overwhelmed, but the whole body makes a significant impact!  4) "Impact!" need not be just a one-day church event.  It is the LIFESTYLE of every follower of Jesus.  We are an influence on our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our community ... and even on strangers.  We've heard lots of stories this week of families changed by serving ... of strangers touched by the outpouring of giving ... of people asking to know more about this Jesus who gives us such overflowing love that we would share it with others.

I've been asked to share our "Impact! Sunday" materials with others.  "Can we have your resources so that OUR church can do this too?"  Uh ... ... I'm not sure how to give anyone our material.  It's not a packaged program.  There's just the time-intensive work of getting to know the community, getting out of the office to meet the leaders of support agencies and leaders of the community ... knowing the NEEDS in your particular community.  And then it's inspiring people with a vision for being Jesus-in-the-flesh for people and giving them permission to go.

This was a movement of God.  I have no doubt about that.  The Spirit has moved and roused His people to go and serve. How exciting is that?!

Juggler

I was thinking today of all the "things" I try to juggle in life. Responsibilities as a husband. Responsibilities as a dad. Responsibilities as a pastor. There is just so much to do, things to get done! Then, add on top of the "to do list" the weight of all the expectations. Whether it's true or not, I sense that different people expect that I'll attend certain events, that I'll give attention to certain details, that I'll 'be there' when they're in need. And, of course, there is the expectation that I live in a god-pleasing way.

There are my worries and fears. There are my regrets. There are all the ways that people have hurt me ... and all the pain and resentment that go along with that. There are the tragedies and losses that are part of living in a broken world. There are my dreams for the future ...... Each one of those things is just huge, if you think about it.  And I'm trying to juggle all of them. But honestly, how in the world can I keep it all going?! How can I keep all the balls in the air?!

There is that statement you always hear people say:  "God will not give you more than you can handle." Supposedly that's in the Bible somewhere. Somehow that's supposed to be a comfort.

Let me just say it:  NONSENSE!! People say that's what the Bible says. But it doesn't! And I think it's actually quite the opposite of what the Bible teaches. True, 1 Corinthians 10 says "he will not let you be TEMPTED beyond what you can bear." But I don't believe the Bible teaches that our BURDENS will be limited to what we can bear.

I have friends whose children have died tragically. I have friends whose spouses died way too young ... and so they're left to raise their children as widows. I have friends who carry the weight of betrayal (a cheating spouse or an abusive relative), the deep pain of addiction (alcohol, drugs, pornography), and the shame of failure (businesses they couldn't keep going, children who have walked away from their faith). Every single one alone WAY BEYOND what they can carry themselves! Yet God, in His wisdom, allows those burdens in their lives.

Why?? I can't fully say, because I am not God; and the Bible does say that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55). But I believe that in part, God allows those burdens (that are bigger than our ability to carry or juggle them) SO THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO TRUST IN HIM AND NOT IN OURSELVES.

From the beginning of the Bible to the end -- it seems from my reading -- there is ONE THING God asks of us:  TRUST.  It is why He used a runt named Gideon ... why He chose the scrawny kid named David ... why He called a pride-filled murderer named Paul. Anything they accomplished was not by their own strength or knowledge or wisdom but by GOD'S POWER.

I don't know what you're burdened by today. But I know what I'm facing. And I am thankful for His invitation (1 Peter 5:7): "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." And I hold on to His promise (Psalm 146:5): "BLESSED is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God." So I'm listening to His words of wisdom (Proverbs 3:5-6): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge HIM, and he will make your paths straight."

Spark

I don't know much about him. Not even sure if he's still alive. And I'm pretty certain he has no idea who I am or that he had such a powerful impact in my life. I only know him as "Pastor Lange"; and that in the mid-90's he was a guest preacher at a Lutheran church in Muncie, Indiana. I wasn't a member there. Hardly ever went to worship there. For all of high school and college I hardly ever went to any church, but I had grown up in a Lutheran church. So when I was struggling with life ... I went to check out the nearest Lutheran church.

Pastor Lange was filling in that day ... and as a preacher, he probably had his routine. He had obviously been doing this for years. He preached on Luke 15, the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. And afterward, he went back home to wherever home was (which I think was out of state). Maybe it was the only time he ever preached in that church, I don't know. Probably he has long forgotten that sermon. But I haven't!

Pastor Lange shared these words of Jesus (v.10): "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Angels ... REJOICING! Over one sinner ...... over ME! Those words touched my spirit in a way that few words ever have. Those words ignited a fire in me that ultimately led me to be a preacher myself ... and to devote my whole life to touching the lives of other people with the GOOD NEWS that Jesus loves them too ... and throws a party in heaven when they come to Him!!

Something sparked that memory in me today ... and got me thinking of all the unheroic things we do every day. Things we don't think much about ... but just may be the spark that ignites faith in someone.

Jesus told his disciples: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Mt. 5:16). Perhaps it is as simple as a word of encouragement to a coworker or a shoulder for a friend to cry on. A small gift or a random act of kindness to a stranger. Maybe a prayer with your six-year-old who woke up scared from a dream. I believe it doesn't have to be big ... just letting the grace of Christ shine through you. But who knows! Maybe it's the spark that ignites a spiritual fire in someone ... and you won't know it ... until they run to thank you in heaven someday.

Rhythm

I know I'm not alone in this: my spirit has always had a rhythm. Like the tide that is sometimes high and sometimes low, I have times when God seems close and other times when He seems farther away. Like the seasons, there are 'summer' times when I am alive and awake. Then I have 'winter' times of discontent, sadness, anxiety.

For a long time it really bothered me that I allowed myself to fall back into a slow, wintry period. I would beat myself up for being more vulnerable to temptation, more prone to anger, less consistent in reading and praying. But I've more recently come to appreciate that this is part of the God-given rhythm of our spiritual life.

In his book, The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg describes this rhythm as times of consolation and times of desolation.  "In times of consolation," he says, "we pray because God seems close, the Bible seems alive, sin looks bad, and stoplights all seem green. Times of desolation are just the opposite: the Bible seems dry, prayer grows hard, and God is far away."

C.S. Lewis, in his fictional book The Screwtape Letters, describes how God will at times send us a strong sense of His presence and desire to be with Him. "But He never allows this state of affairs to last long. Sooner or later He withdraws, if not in fact, at least from their conscious experience, all those supports and incentives. He leaves the creature to stand up on its own legs--to carry out from the will alone duties which have lost all relish. It is during such trough periods, much more than during the peak periods, that it is growing into the sort of creature He wants it to be."

There's something to this! Think about it: when we have success, our tendency is to forget. Forget that it's God's Spirit and not our strength that has given us success. So, if we were always on a spiritual high ... we would fall into the trap of self-righteousness and pride. But by withdrawing, God keeps us from becoming conceited ...... and makes us hunger for Him. And that, more than anything else, is what God wants from us: that we would hunger and thirst for Him.

I hope, like me, you're growing in your appreciation for the rhythm ... because God is using both seasons for unique growth. Question: If consolation is the peak and desolation the valley, where would you say you are today in your walk? For me ... I'd have to say I'm on the upswing. Certainly out of the valley, but not yet at the peak.

Messy Spirituality

One of my favorite books is called Messy Spirituality. Here's what the author, Michael Yaconelli, wrote:

"I often dream that I am tagging along begind Jesus, longing for him to choose me as one of his disciples. Without warning, he turns around, looks straight into my eyes, and says, 'Follow me!' My heart races, and I begin to run toward him when he interrupts with, 'Oh, not you; the guy behind you. Sorry.'
"I have been trying to follow Christ most of my life, and the best I can do is a stumbling, bumbling, clumsy kind of following. I wake up most days with the humiliating awareness that I have no clue where Jesus is. Even though I am a minister, even though I think about Jesus every day, my following is ... uh ... meandering."

Wow! How often I feel like that. I am a pastor--entrusted with telling people about Jesus and offering spiritual advice and direction. But sometimes ... okay, often! ... I feel more like the spiritual equivalent of Charlie Brown than a spiritual guide and mentor. More of a spiritual clutz than a hero of the faith.

BUT ... from everything I know about Jesus ... He chooses messed up people ALL THE TIME! It seems to be a prerequisite for following him. You have to be a wreck. No perfect people allowed. You get the occasional saintly person, like Mother Theresa. But everyone else is a clutz. So ... I'm in good company. And so are you!

I think Jesus set it up that way so that we would trust HIM and not ourselves. In fact, I believe that's the whole point. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 sometime. He's chosen us in spite of our foolishness. He's chosen us in spite of our weakness. He gives us heaven as a free gift ... and then says: "Follow me!" Not just the guy behind you, but YOU!

Are you utterly amazed by that?! I am. And that's why I follow him ... mostly because I know I don't deserve to ... and he's called me anyway.