Dashed Hopes

“I had intended …” David had wanted to build a temple. And who better than he to do so? Hadn’t he, literally, written the book on worship? Didn’t he rescue the ark of the covenant? The temple would have been his swan song, his signature deed. David had expected to dedicate his final years to building a shrine to God. At least, that had been his intention. “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God. So I had made preparations to build it” (1 Chron. 28:2 NASB).Intentions. Preparations. But no temple. Why? Did David grow discouraged? No. He stood willing. Were the people resistant? Hardly. They gave generously. Then what happened?A conjunction happened. Conjunctions operate as the signal lights of sentences. Some, such as and, are green. Others, such as however, are yellow. A few are red. Sledgehammer red. They stop you. David got a red light. I had made preparations to build it. But God said to me, “You shall not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and have shed blood.… Your son Solomon is the one who shall build My house and My courts.” (1 Chron. 28:2–3, 6 NASB, emphasis mine)

David’s bloodthirsty temperament cost him the temple privilege. All he could do was say: I had intended … I had made preparations … But God … I’m thinking of some people who have uttered similar words. God had different plans than they did. One man waited until his midthirties to marry. Resolved to select the right spouse, he prayerfully took his time. When he found her, they moved westward, bought a ranch, and began their life together. After three short years, she was killed in an accident. I had intended … I had made preparations … But God … A young couple turned a room into a nursery. They papered walls, refinished a baby crib, but then the wife miscarried.I had intended … I had made preparations …But God … I had intended … I had made preparations … But God … What do you do with the “but God” moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond? The man who lost his wife has not responded well. At this writing he indwells a fog bank of anger and bitterness. The young couple is coping better. They stay active in church and prayerful about a child. And what about David? When God changed David’s plans, how did he reply? (You’ll like this.) He followed the “but God” with a “yet God.” “Yet, the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be a leader; and in the house of Judah, my father’s house, and among the sons of my father He took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel.” (1 Chron. 28:4 NASB) Reduce the paragraph to a phrase, and it reads, “Who am I to complain? David had gone from runt to royalty, from herding sheep to leading armies, from sleeping in the pasture to living in the palace. When you are given an ice cream sundae, you don’t complain over a missing cherry.David faced the behemoth of disappointment with “yet God.” David trusted. His “but God” became a “yet God.”Who’s to say yours won’t become the same? (from Max Lucado's book Facing Your Giants)

Honesty

Honesty. I wasn't the most honest person in grade school. It took a lot of talkings, punishments, and tears to help me realize the value of honesty. God cares so much about truth that he gave us a walking, talking, living, breathing example of it. His Son came to earth "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Jesus frequently said, "I tell you the truth," or as some translations put it, "verily, verily (truly, truly) I say unto you." Honesty was Jesus’ policy even when it was unpopular. He refused to let the crowd manipulate his message or re-direct his priorities. Jesus was honest with his enemies. He unmasked the Pharisees and called them hypocrites because that’s what they were. He called Herod a "fox" because that’s what he was. He challenged longstanding religious traditions that were doing more harm than good. Jesus was honest with his friends. When the Twelve engaged in quarrels, he confronted them with the hard truth that in God’s eyes servanthood always trumps self-promotion. Jesus was honest with everyone. He didn’t woo potential followers with sugar-coated promises of how easy their lives would be if they believed in him. He told them right up front about the cost of discipleship. Anyone who proclaims God's truth has a big responsibility to be honest. We are to be honest in every situation in life. Can you say that your actions and speech are honest and straightforward? Would you say that you tell people what they want to hear so that you can get ahead or to get what you want? When we stay honest to the Word of God and His calling...His kingdom will flourish.

A Servant's Heart

What makes a servant heart?  I have often wondered this very thing.  There are people I know who exemplify this very thing.  A servant...not because they have to be, but because they want to be.  A servant’s heart has more to do with your relationship with God than it has to do with your desire to be recognized for your good deeds. Having a servant’s heart is one the most beautiful expressions of love I know. It’s showing your love to another human being by simply being who God intended you to be. It’s about seeing a need and fulfilling it without any strings attached. It’s about making yourself uncomfortable so that someone else could be comfortable. It’s about showing Christ’s love through your actions and words. And finally, it’s about touching the lives of those around you with such a gentle kindness that your act will be remembered for years to come. 
Pay attention when God calls you to serve others. Listen with your heart, not your mind. Hear what God wants you to do...not what you think should be done. You might think a check to pay a bill will solve someone’s problem, but that might not be what God wants you to do. God may want you to teach that person how to budget his income so that he’s not in the same boat next month. You might think a prayer is all that is needed, but God might want you spend quality time with that person. Taking the time to listen to what God wants you to do, humbling yourself to do what He has called you to do, and then faithfully following Him regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you is truly what a servant’s heart is all about. It’s selfless love at its best and God couldn’t ask for a better gift or testimony of your relationship with Him.

Psalm 107:1

It is now about 10:30 on Tuesday evening and I'm sitting at the kitchen table pondering over many different things to write about. So much has happened over the past few days that my mind is racing in many different ways. I thought about the church's mission statement. I thought about sharing thoughts on unity in the church. I thought about the song "Open Arms" by Michael W. Smith. I wanted to share something that people could ponder and take to heart. But then...but then came Psalm 107:1. It reads, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." A simple prayer...a simple statement, but powerful are those words.
What a great reminder of what we need to be doing. It is so easy to dwell on all the bad times, on all the hardships in life...on all the things that we feel have been unfair to us or others. But Psalm 107 reminds us that in all things, we should, "Give thanks to the Lord". Look around you. There is so much to be thankful for. Loved ones...give thanks to the Lord. For our church and opportunity to worship...give thanks to the Lord. For the people around us...give thanks to the Lord. For life, food, clothing, gifts, talents...give thanks to the Lord. We should be giving thanks for everything, even during hard times in life. Why...because the Lord is good! He is good. Through all things, His love has never left. His love is always with us...His love endures forever. When we struggle...His love endures. When we lose focus...His love endures. Hard times, good times, all times...His love endures. Step back...take a deep breath. God has blessed each one of us. He has blessed the church. He has blessed our ministry. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever".

Truly Touched

I have had one of the greatest honors this past weekend. It was the end of Lutheran Schools Week. Many schools and churches were celebrating what Lutheran Schools have to offer. Many had choirs sing...school children were involved in worship...celebrating Lutheran Schools. Back in 2009, I had the opportunity to work on a piece for Redeemer Lutheran School in Ontario, CA, based on Exodus 15:2. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:2). And as I pondered on this school theme verse...I came up with the song title, "And I Will Praise Him".

So now I had one of the greatest honors...this song was sung in California at Redeemer Lutheran Church and School. It was sung with excitement. It was sung with heart. It was sung as praise to God. Not only did I know it was one I had written, it was one that was lifted up to God in honor and praise to His glory! Thank you, Redeemer Lutheran Church and School for allowing me to be part of Lutheran Schools Week with you. Thank you for singing this song with excitement and pride. Thank you for uplifting my heart with this powerful bible verse. He has become my salvation and I will praise Him!

I Am...

I want to start this out by asking a simple question. Who are you? I want you to start to list all the things that you are...So to demonstrate, I will give you a few "I am" statements about myself. I am a father. I am a husband. I am a music leader. I am a good cook. I am good at golf (ok -- I am ok at golf). Now it is your turn. Take a few moments before reading on to think of some "I am" statements about you. I'll wait.

Now that you have listed a few, which on came first? Was the first one I am a Christian or I am a child of God or some form of this? Did you look at all the things you are on this earth? I am a father, husband, music leader, cook, and sometimes a good golfer, but first and foremost, I am God's child. All the other things that "I am" are opportunities of ministry that God has blessed me with. I'm blessed with a wife and children. It is a ministry to treat them right and help lead them in the faith of God. I am a music leader. It is a ministry to lead songs of praise and worship. I need to use all these things God gave me as a ministry. We have a church with wonderful ministries. We have a school ministry, music ministry, prayer ministry, stitching ministry, youth ministry, bible studies...so many different ministries. Each ministry is important. Each ministry makes us who we are and whose we are. God blessed each of us and this church with ways to share ministry. None is less important than others...but together, each builds up His kingdom.

Representing and Proud

The Olympics are now over. For two weeks, we watched and cheered on our country and its athletes. For two weeks, athletes competed in their sports, not only for pride in themselves but also pride in their country. For two weeks we listened to the news share the countries medal counts and talked about the tremendous stories of the athletes. It was fun to listen to the athletes take pride in who they represented. They were proud to be known as an American, Canadian, Russian, or wherever they were from.

Can the same be said of us? Can people see us and say that we represent the One who created us? Can people hear us say that we are proud to represent our God? We come to church and worship. We read the Bible and pray. We take the sacrament of Holy Communion and we sing songs. All these things are wonderful and can help us build up our faith walk, but...when you are out in the world, can people see who you represent? Do your words and actions reflect Him? For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10). You and I are God's workmanship. We are His -- created by Him to do His work! Share it, show it, live it! You are representing God...Are you proud of this?