We are all scrapping for a place in line; we would prefer to be in first place, but second will do in a pinch. Nobody really wants to give up their place in line; I don’t see too many people deferring to others. We have lost our sense of putting others first and are settling for putting others in their place.

I saw a snapshot of this played out at the airport. Some of the airlines are now doing what I would call organized random boarding. This means that it is organized because each passenger is given a letter and a number, but it is random because no seats are assigned. So, when boarding begins you are supposed to get in a line according to the group (A, B or C) and number. Then when you get on the plane you find a seat that suits you. Sounds good doesn’t it? Yes it does, except when people “jump” the line. For example, if you have B30 you don’t line up with the A group, at least you’re not supposed to. But you know what? Yes, people go on ahead and scramble for a better “place” so they don’t get stuck on the back of the plane in seats that don’t recline.

With that off my chest let me just say that this is not the way God intended for His children to live. Many of our problems of anxiety, frustration, envy and pride could be solved if we just simply follow the teaching of Paul:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 ESV)

Put others before self. Think of others before thinking of self. Make sure someone else’s needs are met before ours. I think you get the picture. And just think about it: we all got on the plane and made it to Spartanburg; it didn’t really matter who got out of the airplane first.

Grace & Peace,

Trust is a pretty fragile thing. If we trust in the wrong doctor we will suffer physically. If we trust in the wrong automobile maker we may end up on the side of the road. If we trust in the wrong builder the roof might leak. But, what if we trust in the wrong person, idea, thing, or program for eternal life? Or how about misplacing our trust after we’ve been saved? You know, we believe in Jesus to give us eternal life, but we don’t trust Him for everyday living.

It’s amazing how I have to fight this trust battle all the time. Does that sound like you? God has rescued us through Jesus’ death and we are secure; we know we’re going to heaven one day. But when the stock market plunges 400 points we panic and question whether we’ll ever be able to pay the bills – financial ruin. Or, when someone abandons us we freak out because we just don’t know how we’re going to make it through another day without him or her in our lives. Or, we mess up big time and beat ourselves up thinking God can’t make anything beautiful out of all the ugliness we’ve created. Think about what God said to Judah who was quickly drifting away from Him:

“…Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD” (Jeremiah 17:5 ESV).

He goes on to describe him in verse 6 like a puny shrub in an unoccupied, salty wasteland. Those who trust in man and manmade inventions for security will not thrive. In fact, God states very clearly that they “shall not see any good.” Ouch, right?

But, then God tells them,

“Blessed is the man who trust in the LORD…” (Jeremiah 17:7 ESV).

In this case He doesn’t describe them as a puny shrub but as a vibrant, leafy, green, fruit bearing tree that is flourishing even in a drought because it is by a body of water that will nourish its roots. This is a beautiful picture of a believer’s life whose trust is continually in the Lord and not in self or things or other people or whatever.

I’m not saying this is a life of guaranteed ease and rainbows and unicorns. That’s just delusional thinking. What I’m saying is that when we keep our eyes on God He will not disappoint even when things go dark and scary. He is the One who sustains us in the crashes of life when everything is upside down, or when others aren’t playing by the rules and seem to be having a blast and we’re not. Remember, looks can be deceiving. The life of continual trust in God is the life God chooses to bless and causes to flourish.

Grace & Peace,

As I write this I can look out my office window on this cold and misty day and see the handiwork of God as the leaves begin to turn orange, red and yellow. I’m thankful that God is both great and good. He is great because He is incomparable. I’ve always had a hard time staying inside the lines when I colored a picture as a little boy. I was impatient, wanted to move on to the next crayon, and just couldn’t concentrate on the details of the picture I was coloring. However, God in His majestic beauty colors each leaf on every tree varying shades of beautiful colors. This puts me in awe of who God is. He is beyond imagination in His creativity. He not only has the ability to turn leaves a different color each year, but He is also able to turn a cold and hard heart into a warm and soft one. He creates worshipers out of rebels; He takes what is ugly and makes it beautiful!

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” (Isaiah 40:12 ESV)

God, that’s who!

God is good because He shares with us. We love because He loved us first. We give because He gave. We are merciful because He is merciful. And the list goes on. Because of God’s influence in our hearts through the life-transforming gospel, the world is a better place to live. The world isn’t better because we have intrinsic goodness; the world is better because God re-creates in us goodness. We mirror the image of God best as we are reformed after the likeness of Jesus.

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:29 ESV)

So, as you take a walk or trip to the mountains and see the beautiful tapestry of colors let it remind you of God’s grace that changes our hearts every day. Let it also remind us that we are to submit under the gracious hand of God who is changing us from glory to glory.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

Grace & Peace,

October is breast cancer awareness month. As a church I want us to bring this issue to forefront of our hearts and minds by remembering those we’ve lost, celebrating those who’ve survived, and encouraging all of our ladies to get tested. I’ve proven that I’m not a doctor and so I’ll not attempt to write about what I don’t know. However, after some research here is what I’ve come to discover…

The church needs everyone to help spread the fame of God throughout our community and the world; the responsibility of making disciples cannot be accomplished without our ladies. We need you and want you around for many years to come. Early detection is one of the keys to keep you ladies in the game. We will be setting aside Sunday, October 19, 2014 for Pink Sunday! Wear pink to show your love, support and commitment.

Grace & Peace,