I don’t sing.

OK, maybe when I’m alone in the car and some rockin’ tune comes on. And on Sunday mornings. But that’s pretty much it. It’s just not my “gift”.

But yesterday God took me to these two passages…

Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done wonderful deeds.
Psalm 98:1, NLT

Sing a new song to the Lord!
Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!
Isaiah 42:10, NLT

What caught my attention in both of these verses is not that we’re commanded to sing to the Lord…but that we’re commanded to sing a new song. Not a song that we already know. A new song.

Hmm…

As I read it I started to wonder, “What’s the significance of the song being new?” I assumed there was something there or God wouldn’t have said it that way…twice (it actually occurs three more times in Psalms). Why a new song? What’s wrong with one that I already know (and that list is small…I can’t remember lyrics to save my own life).

So I started to pray and ask God to shed some light on this little nuance. If He caught my attention with it, then it must mean something (at least to me). And He came though (duh!). Here’s what I journaled…

I can’t just look to the past—what God has done in my life and other’s. I need to focus on what He’s doing right now. God’s story in my life now. I need to sing that new song—the ever evolving story God continues to tell in my life. I need to tell it. I need to sing this “new song”. It doesn’t belong to anyone else. It’s new. It’s the song God is writing in my life and I need to sing it!

For me, this “new song” is the story God is writing for me. He’s writing the song of my life and it’s always brand new. That may not be theologically accurate…but it speaks to my soul. It’s what I needed yesterday and today.

Now, I just need to start singing…

You’ve probably asked this question yourself. I can almost guarantee you’ve heard someone ask it. I’ve done both…asked it and heard it just this week in fact. It’s one of those “questions for the ages”…it has been asked ever since mankind got thrown out of The Garden on our ear…

Why does God allow bad stuff to happen to people?

We know deep down that God could stop all of the bad stuff…the stuff happening in our lives, to the people we know, around the world. He has the power, but why doesn’t He do it?

People come to different conclusions. Some think it’s because He’s mean. Some say it’s because He doesn’t care. Some that He doesn’t even exist.

There are “deep” theological answers (think “free will”), but I’m not getting into that today. This whole topic came up while I was reading a passage out of Hebrews this morning. The answer given there is specifically for those who are following Him. Why does God allow stuff to happen to those who are trying there best to follow Him?

Why?

Because we’re His children, and that’s what a good Dad does…

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children.
Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children,
it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us,
shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
Hebrews 12:7-9, NLT

When I read that this morning I wanted to know more about the word “discipline” used here. It made me think of how I discipline my own children (a common occurrence…just ask Kyle), punishing them to change their behavior. And it’s close…but it goes beyond how I typically think of discipline. God is using what goes on in our daily lives…the good and the bad…to shape and mold us. He lets the stuff happen because He wants it to train us…to change us. The word is more akin to the idea of instruction and training—not just punishment.

And God’s does this all throw His perfect filter of love and grace. He isn’t allowing these things to happen because He’s mean or doesn’t care. Quite the opposite…He allows it because He knows it’s good for us…it will develop our character and draw us to Himself (if we let it). I don’t know about you, but I want to be a legitimate child of God. And He’s been using plenty of “stuff” in my life to discipline/train me. I just wish it wasn’t so painful sometimes (as does Kyle), and I wish I would realize what’s happening when I’m going through the battle.

This morning God is asking me if I’m a mountain man or if I’m His man. I am His man, but let me explain.

I was reading in my devotional book this morning (and I need a new one for next year if anyone has any recommendations) and the author made a profound statement that God is using to challenge me.

The challenge focuses on this verse:

Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt,
you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain,
‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen.
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”
Matthew 21:21-22, NLT

That’s a powerful promise from Jesus…one that most of use struggle with living up to. Jesus says we can move mountains if we have faith and don’t doubt. And that’s where the challenge comes…

No one ever gets mountain-moving faith by obsessing about the mountains.
We get it by focusing on God.

I don’t know about you, but I am too often the guy worried about the mountain in front of me…whatever current stress, fear, or struggle that may be…instead of focusing on God. But He’s teaching me this lesson and I am slowly beginning to learn to trust Him, lean on Him, and have faith in Him alone and stop worrying about the mountain.

It’s a hard lesson…but the mountains are starting to move already…

The first verse of Hebrews 12 gives us a serious challenge as Christ followers…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a
huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1, NLT

In other words: you’ve heard about the spiritual giants such as Abraham, Moses, and David so start acting like them. Easy to say…not so easy to do. On the one hand, most of these “spiritual giants” had their share of problems (i.e.: lying, cheating, and murder) so they are as human as you and I are. On the other hand, they had great faith and walked close to God in spite of their weaknesses (and maybe because of those weaknesses).

Any way you look at it, it’s a tall order. How do we do this? Well, that’s why you have to keep reading to verse 2…

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,
the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Hebrews 12:2, NLT

How do we run the spiritual race? How do we endure it? How do we act like the spiritual giants of the past?

By keeping our eyes on Jesus. It’s not about us. It’s about Him. It’s not about our strength or our weakness…it’s about His power demonstrated in our lives. We do not initiate or perfect our faith…Jesus does (sometimes we get that one backwards).

So….who you lookin’ at?

We’re all guilty of it. I know I am. We start out on the right path, but somewhere along the line we get off track. Sometimes it happens slowly…sometimes quickly. Sometimes it happens on purpose….usually it happens unintentionally.

But it does happen.

The problem is that we are too confident in our own abilities. We think we have what it takes. In many cases this might actually be true. But not in this case. In this case our abilities fail us miserably. They always have. They always will. You would think we would learn.

But we don’t.

The good news: we’re not alone (everyone has done it).
The bad news: it just doesn’t work that way.

And when it happens we need to fix the situation…well, we need God to fix it because we can’t (that’s the problem)…

How foolish can you be?
After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit,
why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Galatians 3:3, NLT

I read an interesting passage this morning out of Deuteronomy. One phrase in particular caught my attention…

Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.
Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make.
Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God,
obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him.
This is the key to your life.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NLT

“This is the key to your life”…now that’s a phrase to pay attention to…especially when it’s coming out of Scripture. Aren’t we all looking for “the key” to our lives? Don’t we wish someone would write it down for us?

Someone did…right there.

The key? Making the right choices in our life. Choosing life instead of death…blessings instead of curses. Loving, obeying, and committing ourselves to God.

Choosing God.

That’s the key to life!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything here on the good ol’ blog, and I haven’t been on Facebook much either. Other “stuff” has just been a bigger priority. Life is changing…for the good…and I’ll tell that story soon (gotta love the anticipation).

Over the past couple of days, though, God has been working on me about the topic of us knowing Him and Him knowing us. It’s what the Christian walk is all about…a personal relationship with Him. He wants to know us. We get to know Him. And we’re not talking about some superficial, “Yeah, I know who God is” thing. We’re talking about actually getting to know God…having a personal, authentic relationship with Him.

As I was reading Scripture this week, it became even more clear how important this is…it’s the only test we get in the end:

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom,
for many will try to enter but will fail.
When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late.
You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’
But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from.
Get away from me, all you who do evil.’”
Luke 13:24-27, NLT

What’s the real test at the end? It’s not about how much good you did versus how much bad you did. You don’t get a screenplay of your life played out before you. There’s no record of how many times you went to church or didn’t fall asleep during a sermon. There’s no mention of which denomination you belong you (or which political party).

It boils down to one simple question: Does Jesus know you?

In other words, do you have a relationship with Him? Does He know you and do you know Him? That’s it.

Simple.

Not easy.

Over the past few weeks I have been reading through 1 and 2 Timothy. There is some great instruction there from a seasoned veteran of the faith to relative newcomer to the hardship (and rewards) of ministry. Given my current station in life and wait awaits me in the near future, much of Paul’s words to Timothy are encouraging and instructive.

This morning…instructive, not so encouraging…

Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News,
and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
2 Timothy 4:5, NLT

I don’t think Paul understands how we American Christians function. Suffer? I don’t think so…just need to pray harder or figure out what we’re doing wrong. If we’re suffering…something must be wrong. And we don’t really suffer much anyway…can’t remember the last time I really suffered for God (especially within the context of what Paul considers suffering).

This whole idea of suffering…and not being afraid to suffer for His Kingdom…has me thinking about how I pray. I pray too much for my own comfort. I search for it…I strive for it. Frankly, I’m afraid of being uncomfortable, much less suffer. But there it is, in black and white: Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.

And I can make no mistake…He was talking to me this morning. Who knows what He has around the corner…what He’s trying to prepare me for…but I’m in His hands and I will continue to work and carry out the ministry He has given me.

That’s in black and white too.

Yesterday I got some sleep and was back into the mode of listening to God’s voice. It’s still not an “easy” process (I wonder if it ever will be…and maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be). This morning God led me to a curious verse in James:

Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church,
for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
(James 3:1, NLT)

This verse has always been a little bit curious to me for a couple of reasons:

1. I am called to be a teacher…so there is a certain level of direct, personal warning here. God is saying that I am walking right into the frying pan…that I am one of the few who will be “judged more strictly”.That’s serious business…but it’s also my calling and my passion.
2. I never really fully understood how this verse fits into the third chapter of James which is focused on the power (and destructive nature) of the tongue. Yes, teachers speak so it applies, but the chapter isn’t focused solely on teachers. It just never quite seem to fit…but it still speaks to me directly.

Now, why did God take me to this verse? Not sure. Still meditating on that one. Is it an admonition or a warning (or both)? Simply a reminder that the path He has me on is serious business? He and I are talking about that…probably will be for a long time.

Do you have a verse or passage of Scripture that stands out…makes you nervous or curious? Something that you wrestle with often? Let’s hear it…

This morning was Day 3 of my journey in listening to God this week…and it proved once again that I have a long way to go. I got a call at around 2 in the morning for a work issue and had a tough time getting back to sleep. I also have a funeral to prepare for on Friday. I was tired and my mind was racing in a thousand directions…except towards God.

Plain and simple…I just couldn’t quiet my spirit long enough to hear God. There was too much noise…too much distraction. I decided not to push it too hard. And I know that God isn’t going to hammer for it. Because I know he loves me. And I know He was with me all day…at work…at the home of a family that has just lost their dad…at home after it all. He was with me as I started putting together the memorial service.

It’s comforting to know that God is always there, even when we aren’t at our best. So, I plan to get some sleep tonight and get right back into the saddle tomorrow…I know He’ll be there waiting for me with the right word(s). And at least I’m learning not to feel so guilty when I don’t live up to my own expectations…guilt is not fruit from God (it’s from that other dude!).

More to come…