Growing in Grace

God allows tough situations in our lives in order to refine us and bring us closer to him. We should approach these times with a right attitude and seek wisdom from God. When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it "sings" it's ready. If it "thuds," it's placed back in the oven. The character of a person is also checked by thumping. Been thumped lately? Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt Meals. Flat tires. "You've got to be kidding" deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat footed. They aren't big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor. . . Thump. Thump. How do I respond? Do I sing? Or do I thud? Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). Ther

Here is a story James would have liked. Francis of Assisi once invited an apprentice to go with him to a nearby village to preach. The young monk quickly agreed, seizing an opportunity to hear his teacher speak. When they arrived in the village, St. Francis began to visit with the people. First he stopped in on the butcher. Next a visit with the cobbler. Then a short walk to the home of a woman who'd recently buried her husband. After that a stop at the school to chat with the teacher. This continued throughout the morning. After some time, Francis told his disciple that it was time to return to the abbey. The student didn't understand. "But we came to preach," he reminded. "We haven't preached a sermon." "Haven't we?" questioned the elder. "People have watched us, listened to us, responded to us. Every word we have spoken, every deed we have done has been a sermon. We have preached all morning." James would have liked t

Faith is more than a belief in God. It is also a way of life. Heroes of faith, although imperfect, trusted God and gave their lives to him. Faith is the belief that God is real and that God is good. . . It is a choice to believe that the one who made it all hasn't left it all and that he still sends light into the shadows and responds to gestures of faith. . . Faith is the belief that God will do what is right. "Blessed are the dirt-poor, nothing-to-give, trapped-in-a-corner, destitute, diseased," Jesus said, "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:6, my translation). . . God says that the more hopeless your circumstances, the more likely your salvation. The greater your cares, the more genuine your prayers. The darker the room, the greater the need for light. . . God's help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it. Nothing results from apathy. . . Compared to God's part, our part is minuscule but neces

Life is difficult. . . really very little more than an endless series of problems. Do we want to moan and groan about them or face them? Do we want to teach the next generation the disciplines involved in accepting and solving them or encourage them to run and hide from them? . . . The tragedy, of course, is that the substitute itself ultimately becomes more painful than the "legitimate suffering" it was trying to avoid. And, adding insult to injury, the avoidance of legitimate suffering means we also avoid the growth that problems demand on us. Our determination to push pain away instead of meeting it head on creates a vicious circle. Could this explain why God's wisest saints are often people who endure pain rather than escape it? Like their Savior, they are men and women "acquainted with grief." I recall that Jesus "learned obedience from the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8), not in spite of those things. Do you have a problem? You'

As we grow to become more like Christ, our behavior grows more distinctive from the world. Now I see why powerful people often wear sunglasses - the spotlight blinds them to reality. . .They are under the impression that earthly authority will make a heavenly difference (it won't). Can I prove my point? Take this quiz. Name the ten wealthiest men in the world. Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners. Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest. Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize. . . How did you do? I didn't do well either. With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well. .  . Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one. Think of three people you enjoy spending time with. . . List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school. Name a half-a-dozen heroes

I enjoyed seeing Mary Poppins the musical last weekend. I couldn't help but take a few mental notes during the show about some of the ideas that were communicated. Here are some of the lessons I gleaned from Mary Poppins the musical. . . What's better - a good idea or a good man? Mr. Banks has to make a choice between two investments. He must consider what is better - a good idea or a good man? In the end, the good man was a better investment. Proverbs has some things to say about integrity. "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out." Proverbs 10:9  "The integrity of the upright guidest them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by duplicity." Proverbs 11:3 When are you going to learn to look past what you see? Jane and Michael look down on the servants because of their lower social status, Bert because he's dirty, and the bird woman because she is wearing rags. Mary Poppins challenges them

For you to rest - that is, to live in total acceptance of God's way - demands quiet. . . To rest in God permanently means to hand over each activity, each situation of your life, to Him and to learn the habit of trusting Him to work for you. We don't naturally rest. Naturally we are stewers, tinkerers, and fussers. . . Have you too much to do? Are you pushed, rushed, harried? Said George Fox long ago, "Come out of the bustlings you that are bustling." To guard your inner life, you must guard your outer life. How's your pace? Are you too busy? . . . Does your pace allow you to keep in touch with yourself - with your inner needs and feelings and longings? Does it allow you time to think, plan, make changes? Does it allow you time to observe carefully the dear ones around you and care for their needs - physical and emotional? Do you have time to really live? . . . Asian theologian Kosuke Koyama says that in human affairs God moves at something like thre

I have found that the casual Christian has little or no influence upon others. I am finding that it is only the Christian who refuses to compromise in matters of honesty, integrity and morality who is bearing an effective witness for Christ. The worldly Christian is prepared to do as the world does and will condone practices which are dishonest and unethical because he is afraid of the world's displeasure. Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the spirit, by daily dying to self, by a full dedication to Christ and constant fellowship with Him, are we able to live a godly life and have a positive influence in this present ungodly world. -From Unto the Hills by Billy Graham; part of The  Inspirational Study Bible: New Century Version  by Max Lucado But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. Our offering to God is this: We are the sweet smell of Christ among those who a

A deep personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ will transform every area of our lives. If people love you at 6:30 in the morning, one thing is sure: They love you. They don't love your title. They don't love your style. They don't love your accomplishments. They just love you . . . Sounds like God's love. "He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy," wrote another. Underline the word perfect . Note that the word is not better . Not improving . Not on the upswing. God doesn't improve; he perfects. He doesn't enhance; he completes. What does the perfect person lack? Now I realize that there's a sense in which we're imperfect. We still err. We still stumble. We still do exactly what we don't want to do. And that part of us is, according to the verse, "being made holy." But when it comes to our position before God, we're perfect. When he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfec

As we know Christ more, we discover the insignificance of worldly treasures. Our true goal should be to know Christ and His power. I was glad to see the plastic ball pit. . . It's a large, covered, shady, cool, soothing pavilion. . . But rather than being filled with water, it's loaded with balls - thousands and thousands of plastic, colorful, light-weight balls. Three-year-old Andrea, however, had a few difficulties. As soon as she took one step into the pit, she filled her arms with balls. . . Andrea took a step and fell. .  . She began to cry. I walked over to the edge of the pit. "Andrea," I said gently, "let go of the balls, and you can walk." "No!" she screamed, wiggling and submerging herself beneath the balls. I reached in and pulled her up. She was still clutching her armful of treasures. . . Andrea's determination to hold those balls is nothing compared to the vise-grips we put on life. . . Try prying our fingers away from o

Jesus deliberately stripped Himself of everything - His divine rights and privileges - and crossed the unthinkable chasm between God and man. Try to imagine the span of that chasm. . . The unlimited God became limited man. . . Jesus Christ is God. . . . From the world's viewpoint, Jesus had descended as low as man - to say nothing of God - could go. But there was one more downward step, in heaven's eyes the deepest descent of all: from sinless to sin stained. . .Truly, He could go no lower. . . . He knowingly and actively embraced a life of giving, serving, losing, and dying. What was, and is, really hard for Jesus' followers to swallow is that we are called to do the same. To make ourselves nothing. . . We must believe that as painful as it sometimes feels, descending is the only way to greatness. . . Jesus obeyed for the sake of love. And we, His followers and the recipients of His love, are called to do the same. When asked about the two greatest commands, Je

Should a man see only popularity, he becomes a mirror, reflecting whatever needs to be reflected to gain acceptance. . . He is everyone and no one. Should a man see only power, he becomes a wolf - prowling, hunting,and stalking the elusive game. Recognition is his prey and people are his prizes. His quest is endless. . . As a result, he who sees only power is degraded to an animal, an insatiable scavenger, controlled not by a will from within, but by luring from without. Should a man see only pleasure, he becomes a carnival thrill-seeker, alive only in bright lights, wild rides, and titillating entertainment. With lustful fever he races from ride to ride, satisfying his insatiable passion for sensations only long enough to look for another. . . Seekers of popularity, power, and pleasure. The end result is the same: painful unfulfillment. Only in seeking his Maker does a man truly become man. For in seeing his Creator man catches a glimpse of what he was intended to be. He who w

The summer movies at the local theater started this week. The first movie was "The Lorax". It  does have that environmental "save the trees" theme going; but I chose to focus the kids' attention on the failed character of the Once-ler. The Lorax told the Once-ler that trees fall the way they bend; so to be careful which way he leaned. The Once-ler quickly got caught up in the success of his business and the money he was making. In order to make more money faster, he broke the promise he had made to the Lorax. He didn't bother to think about how his actions would affect other people or things. In the end, he lost everything, ruined the land and negatively affected the future generation. God's Word says to store up "treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." The next verse says that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:210-21) Warren We

Sometimes I feel lonely Sometimes I feel sad Sometimes I grow weak But I always know that you're there Sometimes I am so selfish Sometimes I fill up with pride But I always know that You're right there by my side If I had to do it over I'd have met You long before I'd have given my whole life to You I'd have given my whole life And now my only question How can I love You more I want to give You All that I am I give You all I am Chorus: So take me down the corridor That leads me to the cross Take me to where You are Lord I want to be where You are Take me down the corridor That leads me to Your house Take me to where You live Lord I want to be where You live Sometimes I question my existence Sometimes I wonder why I'm here But when I realize Your ability to use me It becomes clear, so clear And when I look into the eyes Of my child so innocent There's e