2 Peter 1:3:  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

I've been a bit tired lately.  I work a 40-hour a week job (my part time job) in addition to being pastor at The Way Assembly of God in Middleton, Idaho.  When I get tired I don't focus very well -- actually I don't do anything very well.  Visions of a nice soft bed flash in and out of my consciousness throughout the day interrupting every train of thought.

Peter in the above verse reminded me recently that God's divine power has given me everything I need for life and godliness. So I have been praying for strength and focus and a host of other things I assumed I needed to get through the day.

Then I noticed the word "godliness."  And I asked myself the question, "When was the last time I prayed for godliness?"

When was the last time I asked God to make me righteous and holy?  When was the last time I asked God to help me live a godly life?

I get so focused on my needs (more strength, better health, etc.) that I forget to look deep inside my heart and see how much my heart reflects the heart of my Savior. So this week I've changed my prayer a bit ... this week I am praying with David:

Psalm 139:23-24

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts. 

See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

God's eyes range throughout the earth

There is a story that I love centering on one of the kings of Judah. It is the story of Asa, King of Judah. Asa was in the lineage of King David. There was David, then Solomon, then Rehoboam, then Abijah, and then Asa. He was a pretty good king, Scripture says he “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God.” At least most of the time.

Toward the end of his reign as king, Baasha who was king of the northern kingdom of Israel came against Asa. Instead of turning to the Lord for relief and help, Asa decides to hire Ben-Hadad king of Aram to help him fight Baasha.

Ben-Hadad turns Baasha away from the southern kingdom of Judah and King Asa, but it was not a victory for Asa. God sends Hanani the prophet to Asa with a message: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” [2 Chronicles 16:7-9 NIV]

For the eyes of the LORD range (some translations use the word roam) throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

Today I am reminded that He is ever vigiliant, ever on the alert to prove Himself faithful to those who are His. His eyes roam the earth looking for times to strengthen His own who are in trouble, who are weak, who are worried or anxious.

That verse has always been one of my favorites from the first time I read it. I realize that I am to pray, and to study God’s Word, and to put on my armor to battle the enemy of my soul. But I also know that there are times in my life when I don’t have time, don’t have the foresight, don’t have the wisdom to cry out to the Lord for help. Things happen in a flash, I am blindsided by trouble, storms burst upon me without warning, in those times I am reassured that God’s eyes have been roaming throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. He is fully aware of my predicament, He is ready and present to provide everything I need to get through.

Remember Well ...

When the nation of Israel stood on the brink of entering the Promised Land, Moses prepared them for what was ahead by reminding them to remember well what was behind them. He reminded them of all that the Lord did for them when He brought them out of the mighty nation of Egypt. {Deuteronomy 7:19b-21}.

By remembering well what was behind, they would find preparation for what was ahead. "The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear ... Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God."

I like that. What Good as done before for us, He will do again. There is no need to fear, there is no need to be terrified by what we see ahead. The SAME GOD is still at work.

There is much to fear in our world today. From the flu to the economy to the stupidity of governments and societies and an increase in crime as people become more desperate, fear assaults us from every side. Yet the same God that proved Himself strong in our behalf in the past will continue to prove Himself strong in our present and in our future.

Do you have things to fear? Illness? Finances? Hatred? Loneliness?

We have a God who promises that His perfect love will cast out all fear. We have a God who promises that no matter what illness we face, in Him we are victorious -- even if it kills us. We have a God who promised to provide for us according to all His riches in glory.

We have a God who loves us with an unconditional love, not based on our merit, but on His nature and proven at Calvary -- while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

We have a God who has given us a family -- the family of God -- and has placed us there to care for and be cared for by others.

Has not God already done many of these things in our lives? Will He not also continue to do so? Do not fear! "The Lord your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.!"

Jesus' Legacy of Peace

I hate the recent tone of this world, one of fear and threats. “More bad times will come if we don’t act now.” “Hurry up, or even worse will befall us.” “We must act now, or everything we know will come to an end.”

You cannot read a paper, turn on a TV or radio without being threatened and made fearful about what is happening with our economy, with jobs, and inflation or deflation, or unemployment, or terrorism. There are few rational voices. There is little hope. There is only turmoil and confusion and uproar.

I find comfort, however, in the Gospel of John as Jesus prepared His disciples for his death. Jesus’ disciples were facing the unthinkable. He was soon to die. Every hope, every dream was about to come crashing to their feet. Fear would soon be the emotion of the day.

So as Jesus began to comfort them that night before the cross, He reminded them of this: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” [John 14:27]

I love what Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary on this verse. He said that as Jesus was about to leave this world He made His final will and testament. He bequeathed His Spirit to God, his body to Joseph to be buried, and his mother to the care of John.

What he gave to His disciples and to all who would believe in Him through their message was His peace. He left His peace in possession of His disciples. This isn’t just a blessing of peace; it is a legacy of peace. The world can’t give it, and can’t influence it. The world can’t steal it or take it from us.

But we can give it away. Jesus began this comfort, “Do not let your hearts be trouble.”? He ends it the same way, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Whatever this world is selling right now, I will not trade my legacy of peace to accept its misery.

Worry, Anxiety and Birdfeeders

I've been thinking a lot about birds, little birds; in fact, I've been pre-occupied with sparrows lately. One winter Bob make a number of birdfeeders which now sit on the fence in our back yard. He stocks them every day, sometimes twice a day, with birdseed. Lately the feeders have been full of birds, little sparrows, blacks birds, doves, etc. They sit on the fence waiting their turn, others are in the trees waiting to follow. They empty the feeders each day, sometimes twice a day and search the ground for the seed that may have fallen.

Every time I look out the back windows I see sparrows. And every time I see the sparrows I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 10 and Luke 12.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Our Father knows each of those little birds in my backyard. He knows if any will "fall to the ground" today and He cares for them. Jesus used the example of the sparrows to confront the worry and anxiety in our lives.

We are worth more than many sparrows to our Father, so much so that He knows the most intimate details about each of us, even the number of the hairs on our heads.

We are a very anxious society, and truthfully, this life offers much about which to be anxious. Lately, I've battled some health issues, nothing life-threatening, just issues that may be here to stay and demand some work to manage symptoms. And that can make me anxious, nervous and uncertain about my abilities to do what I need to do.

Sparrows. Those tiny birds in my backyard gather every morning and wait for Bob to awaken and replenish their feeder. They are not anxious. They sit in trees and swing on branches and sing their praise to God. Somehow they know that Bob won't fail them. He'll be there with their daily supply.

Me. I need to remember every morning that God will not fail me either. He'll be there with my daily supply. I can sit and swing and praise Him certain that He cares for me!

Simplicity

I've been thinking a lot lately about simplicity. Our lives are so complicated on a daily basis, at least I know mine is. Just going to the grocery store anymore is a task that requires a lot of thought and planning. Add in work, church, thoughts of retirement, relationships, politics, studying, and a 50 mile round trip commute to work five days a week, and you can sense how complicated my life can be.

So thoughts of simplicity carry great favor. I believer my Savior loves simplicity. The Good News He brought can even be understood by a child. In fact, He said we all had to receive that Good News like a child.

Children without exception are helpless and dependent. They must be carried and fed and taught before they are capable of walking and cooking and teaching others.

I believe God wants the Body of Christ, His Bride, His Church to be simple -- absolutely and utterly dependent upon Him for everything.

I believe God wants us to depend upon Him in faith for everything we have and everything we do.

I want "The Way" in Middleton to grow, but I cannot make it grow. I must be absolutely and utterly dependent upon Him for every soul that comes through our doors. When visitors come, or even when they don't, I begin to think of all the things I could do -- should do -- must do -- to bring visitors to our church ... until I realize that I'm trying to take over God's work instead of picking up my own.

God grant me the wisdom to NOT try to do his job, the faith to trust Him to do it, and the peace to know that He is doing it. God grant me the strength to do my own job, to pray, to believe, and study and share the Word, and comfort the sheep and love His family.