Archive for May, 2010
May 31st, 2010 | 
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Smoke
Before the Years Take Their Toll
7-8 Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.
9 You who are young, make the most of your youth.
Relish your youthful vigor.
Follow the impulses of your heart.
If something looks good to you, pursue it.
But know also that not just anything goes;
You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.
10 Live footloose and fancy-free—
You won’t be young forever.
Youth lasts about as long as smoke.
Ecclesiastes 11:7-10
Searching For Him
In my previous blog, I made a comment that we often hear that our walk with Christ may seem like a roller coaster ride. Well, have you ever noticed when you are running after God, it does seem like a roller coaster ride? And, all the while, your life seems to be going up and down. You witness someone who gets radically saved by the power of Jesus Christ, and you begin to watch them bloom and blossom in the love of Jesus. I mean a person who is strung out on drugs, or bound by sexual immorality—a person who was living completely in death—they are brought back to life! They keep growing and growing, and we stand back in awe, amazed at their transformation in Jesus Christ. But, yet we wonder, “God, it’s awesome what you are doing in their life, and their growth is amazing, but why am I not experiencing that kind of growth?” Have you ever been there?
I believe through the life of the disciples, we can learn a valuable lesson. Mark 1:35-37 tells us, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He (Jesus) prayed. (36) And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. (37) When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for you.” Note that this was right after Jesus had chosen some of His disciples. Skip forward to Mark 14:32-34, 37-38, (32) “Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” (33) And He took Peter, James, and John with Him. (34) Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” Verse 37, “Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? (38) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing but the flesh is weak.”
In the beginning of their relationship with Jesus, Jesus went off to a place of solitude very early in the morning to pray. Well, Simon and those who were with Him began to search for Him, and explained that everyone was looking for Him. Notice that when they searched for Him, they found Him! Three years later, right before Jesus would enter into His greatest moment of triumph, He takes Simon Peter, James, and John to the garden to pray. Jesus comes back and finds His disciples just sleeping. What I see through the life of the disciples, they would once run after Jesus and search for Him in the morning hours. Now, that they were with Him all the time, they would fall into a place of complacency and fall asleep! Sound familiar?
Listen, we have all been there. Jesus comes on the scene of our life and completely wrecks us. We feel as if we are on fire; we run and search for Him. But, slowly, as we are with Him, we get too comfortable and do not search for Him as hard as we once did. We can become so content in our relationship with Him, so casual, that it seems we fall asleep. After falling asleep, we feel that we have tried so hard, but missed the mark. Everything that we had worked for seems to be lost. We feel that our life has been shattered into pieces. But, once again, you will see His face, and you will find everything that you thought you’d lost before! He calls our name. We come to Him in pieces, so He can make us whole! Always remember—when the disciples searched for Him, they found Him!
There is a Season
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4, NLT)
It’s graduation time! Some will be happy; others will be sad. Some will be thankful that school is behind them, and they are looking forward to a job in the marketplace (get real, right?) Others will be graduating from high school, only to be going for more schooling—college. Some are happy that this marks yet another milestone down the “road of life”. Some will be sad because they are leaving their friends behind to pursue interests elsewhere. Whatever your case may be today, just remember that this is your life—make the most of it!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Don’t take another step if you’re not taking God with you. He wants to be an intricate part of your life. And, why wouldn’t you want Him there? He already knows your future. He already knows the plan. You just have to seek Him and find out for yourself what His purpose for you may be.
We, here at Hillside, would like to congratulate each and every graduate upon your accomplishments, and pray that God bestows many blessings as you embark on another season of your life.
Questions – This One Thing I Desire
I have been asking Jesus a million questions lately. Will I ever trust You with all of me? Will I ever quit worrying about tomorrow? Will I ever not return evil for evil? Will I ever truly look like You? Will cars and houses ever stop being the things that catch my eye, and will the poor, lost, hurt, broken, drug-addicted people be the thing that catches it? Will people in wheelchairs ever bring me to tears again? Will I ever carry my cross and never put it down? Will I ever live the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle? Will I ever be holy like You are holy? Will I ever give more of my money away than I spend on myself? When will I love the Father like You did? Will I ever see You just the way you really are and not just the way I’ve been told you are?
All these can be summed up in one question: Will I ever truly be like you, Jesus? I long to live like He did. He was full of love, trust, holiness, devotion, compassion and truth. I don’t want to waste my life worrying about gaining “things” on this Earth, but I want my love to grow to maturity and to live like Jesus did here in this life so I can be confident on the Day of Judgment (1 John 4: 17). Nothing else is really important. Nothing else matters but forming the nature and image of Christ in me.
The Power of the Tongue
Kind words heal and help;
cutting words wound and maim. Proverbs 15:4
1 a : an injury to the body (as from violence, accident, or surgery) that typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane (as the skin) and usually damage to underlying tissues b : a cut or breach in a plant
usually due to an external agent
2 : a mental or emotional hurt or blow
MAIM-
2 : to mutilate, disfigure, or wound seriously
— maim·er noun
synonyms maim, cripple, mutilate, batter, mangle mean to injure so severely as to cause lasting damage. maim implies the loss or injury of a bodily member through violence <maimed by a shark>. cripple implies the loss or serious impairment of an arm or leg <crippled for life in an accident>. mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function
Kind words heal and help…cutting words wound and maim. Wound and Maim? According to Webster, that would mean to cause lasting damage. Or, let’s look at the synonym mutilate. I do believe this one explains it best. I’ll repeat it again here:
mutilate implies the cutting off or removal of an essential part of a person or thing thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function
I think that is exactly what happens when a person endures a series of “cutting words” in their lifetime. It literally removes an essential part of their heart and soul, thereby impairing its completeness, beauty, or function. I have witnessed this in people. A lifetime of negativity on a person causes them to lose a part of themselves.
However, let’s not forget the first part of this verse. “Kind words heal and help.” I believe God, the ultimate Physician, has given us the prescription right here to reaching those who have been wounded by words in their life. He has told us that kind words heal and help. Every time you approach someone who has a mental wound, offer them a kind word. Every time that you see someone that is sad, offer them a kind word. Every time you know of a situation that you can’t fix, you can still offer a kind word to that person in every opportunity that you get.
It’s the power of the tongue. We see from this one verse that the tongue has the power to disfigure someone for life or the power to heal them. Our words are permanent. They can not be taken away. Our words have power behind them that we don’t even realize, but they can be used both positively or negatively. It’s your choice.
Having talked with some young people, seeing the power of the tongue has even caused me to start watching what I say to my own children. You see, what I think is correction may be a wound to them. I should correct my child, but how I word it is essential. I have learned that whatever I say to them and however I say it is going to stick with them for the rest of their lives. I understand now that there is great power in that, and I pray to use it wisely. It is the same with your friends. You can alter the very way that your friends look at life just by choosing your words wisely. Use this power to build them up, not tear them down.
As you enter Hillside this week, remember that you bring healing power with you. All you have to do is speak kind words to someone, and you have already started the healing process in their life. Look around you—many are wounded. Many are disfigured emotionally. You may be one of them. Begin the steps of healing by speaking kindness and goodness into the lives of those who are in your path. It may just be one of the most important things you ever do for a friend.
Signposts
“One very dark night, a man drove along a deserted road on his way to a place he had visited only once before. As he drove, he suddenly became uneasy, thinking he might have missed a turn two or three miles back. He drove on mile after mile. Several times he slowed down, overcome by indecision. Should he turn around and drive back to that intersection, now then miles behind him? If he was wrong, turning back would cost him an additional twenty or thirty minutes, and he was barely on schedule as it was. 
Slower and slower he went. The tension built in his body as his hand gripped the steering wheel and a knot of stress between his shoulders began to throb. He began to think, ‘Even if it’s a mistake, I have to go back to reassure myself.’ Just as he was about to turn around, his headlights reflected off a white marker in the distance. He increased his speed and soon was the familiar shield that marks U.S. highways. The number 82 was clearly visible, and that was the road he needed to take. He continued on his way with confidence.
Sometimes in the dark night of travel through life, we feel we’ve missed a turn or read a sign incorrectly. Knowing our indecision, God often gives us reassuring signs to help us reestablish our heading and our confidence. If you find yourself confused and directionless today, God has placed bright signposts in your path — the cross and the empty tomb of Jesus Christ. In them, you can see the greatest markers of His love, and you can continue on the path He sets before you with full confidence.”
“When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.” (Psalm 142: 3, NLT)
***The above article was taken from the devotional book, Coffee Break with God.
We Don’t Have Time to Maintain These Regrets!
I don’t know if I’m the only one, but doesn’t it just seem that this walk with Christ can sometimes seem like a roller coaster ride! As a teenager, my life seemed like I would do good for a while and run after God, but then slowly fade back into the same ole junk that I had been forgiven of. I believe the biggest issue is when we make up our minds to serve God, it seems like no one else is. I will tell you this from past and present experience, and it will be true in the future. When diligently running after Christ, it can get lonely sometimes. I believe that’s why many of us run back to our old habits, wrong crowds, wrong relationships, because we cannot handle loneliness! You need to face the fact, that the truth of the matter is, you are never alone. . . He is always there!
Currently in my life, running after God, serving in ministry, sometimes it still seems like this can be a roller coaster ride. It doesn’t always have to be sin that makes it seem like we are coasting down hill. We feel that all is well in our relationship with God, but situations arise and we have to stop, pray, and evaluate out heart. We have to check our motives and evaluate decisions we are making. Do we do the things we do truly for God, to experience Him, to bless Him and to bless people? Or, do we do good deeds for ourselves just to make our self feel better? Listen, Jeremiah 17:10 proclaims, “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” 1 Chronicles 28:9 also teaches us, “For the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of thoughts.” I believe it is safe to say, that no matter how much we try to justify what we do, God sees and knows the true intentions of our hearts.
What I’m trying to express to you today is, that even though we are living our best for Him, and things seem to be going well, situations will occur and we will realize that there may still be some areas in our hearts that are not right! We do our best to live righteously, then the Lord reveals some issues in our hearts and it hurts. We want to put ourselves down, beat ourselves up, and the enemy will grasp hold of these emotions and keep us feeling unworthy! I want you to know that you are growing! Maybe the Lord was testing your heart, and maybe you failed, and you feel down. Remember, failure is not always a bad thing as long as you learn a lesson from it! So, do better next time!
In Revelation 3:19, Jesus says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent!” He chastises all whom He loves. Remember when you were a child and you were out of line, and your parents had to spank that tail! Just because they were disappointed and frustrated with your behavior, that didn’t change their love for you! It is the same way with Christ. He loves you, and He is disciplining you so that you may be more like Him, falling more in love with Him!
Isaiah 40: 30, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who WAIT on the LORD, Shall Renew Their Strength!” So what is it in your life that has you feeling down and discouraged? Is it a form of habitual sin, loneliness, depression, fear of failure, financial situations? Bad friendships and relationships? Is it trying to figure out your future, attempting to make your dreams come true? Or have you just been tested, feeling like a failure after making some bad decisions, and you just feel separated from the love of God? Listen, it does not matter what you are going through. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Flip the pages of that precious Word to Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Verse 37, “Yet, in all of these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” I am a believer and know from experience, that through Him who loves us, we can conquer the things that once conquered us! Romans 8:38-39 explains, that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus Our Lord! We just don’t have time to dwell on the past, or maintain regrets! Why? Because HE LOVES US!
Happily Ever After
We are now at the conclusion of our Snow White story. The wicked stepmother once again asks her looking glass who is the fairest of all. It replies, the new-wed Queen, Snow White. “She (wicked queen) snarled with rage, her eyes bulged, and and her blood turned to ice, and she fell down dead. Everyone was glad that the evil queen could cause no more harm. Snow White and her prince lived happily ever after. So, too, did her seven dear dwarfs.”
Oh, if life were only a fairy tale! If those that cause us harm would suddenly disappear, then we would be glad. If we could find our Prince Charming and marry him, then life would be complete. But, that is not reality. Life will bring trials and temptations. There will be heartache. But, God offers us hope. He wants our happiness and joy to be dependent upon Him. God doesn’t want our circumstances to dictate our happiness. Our true joy is found within—found in the depths of our soul—placed there by our one true lover, Jesus Christ.
Aaron and Cherrish will be getting married shortly, and I’m sure they will have a ‘fairy-tale’ wedding. Cherrish will be a beautiful bride; Aaron will be the charming prince. They will look forward to many hours and years of happiness. But, the truth remains that there will be days when things are not so “happy”. That’s where a strong commitment to Christ and to one another come into play. That’s when they can honestly say, the ‘happily ever after’ is only found in fairy tales. But, true joy can be a reality, forevermore!
“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10b)
