Men of God

I've been spending time recently reading through Genesis. As I do, I have been focusing on the men Moses writes about. There are a lot of men listed in Genesis, but God has been leading me to study Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

This morning I finished. There is some good stuff here for us guys. Here are some lessons for us men (and for some women) out there.

• It doesn't matter if we start out in the wrong direction as long as we end up in the right direction - Jacob began as a con-man - a swindler - but ended up being used by God
• Some men were meant to leaders from birth - Joseph
• It was intended that all men lead their families - spiritually, provisionally, & relationally
• Living out an adventure is all part of our makeup - Noah, Abraham
• Men, we need to fight for our beauty - Jacob fought for Rachel, he worked 14 years just for the privelege of marrying her
• Even though we may be arrogant, we need to learn to be humble (yours truly fits into this one) - Jacob & Joseph - like father, like son
• We need to pursue the heart of God - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph

These were incredible men. Men who made mistakes, just like we do today, but they continued to serve and pursue the hear tof God. They listened to the voice of God. They served God, in spite of their circumstances. They clung to Yahweh. And they modeled for their sons God's desire for men to be leaders of their families.

Listen up men!! If you have a wife who is expereincing a valley time right now, she needs you to fight for her. Lift her up in prayer - privately and openly. She needs to hear you and see you fighting for her. And lead your family - stop allowing her to do it. It's your responsibility.

I remember when Karen was sick. I would pray for her - her healing, her comfort, her encouragement. I often prayed privately for her. But I also prayed openly for her and with her. She needed to know that I was fighting for her. She needed to know she wasn't alone in this fight. I remember when God told me she would die of cancer. I told God he wasn't going to get her without a fight. I was not letting go of her that easy. I never told Karen God told me she would die of cancer, but I did let her see me fight for her and she knew of it.

If you're experiencing a valley time in your life right now remember to be obedient to what the Lord is telling you. Be found faithful. And trust God for the details. Continue leading your family. Continue serving God. Let your wife and children see you struggle, but let them also see you trust God. It will scream volumes to them about the importance of a relationship with God -especialld in the midst of the valley.

There probably haven't been too many days that I haven't struggles since May 12, 2003, when Karen was diagnosed with cancer. Whether during Karen's illness, her death, or with life after Karen, I have struggled. And there have been days when I wasn't faithful to God (always faithful to Karen), when I didn't follow God, when I didn't listen to His voice. Thre were times when I didn't want to lead anymore. I was tired. I was worn out from the fight. At times, I was ready to give in. But I didn't. I continued to fight, to lead, to provide, to serve. I continued to trust God, even if I couldn't see His hand. I let Karen into my struggles - women pay attention here - and in doing so I know Karen prayed for, encouraged, and supported me as a husband and a leader. I allowed her to see my fight and my trust.

Ok. . .enough about me. Men, this is about you! For some of you, I want to encourage you to keep up the fight. If you need someone to pray for you email me and let me know - please incude your name and your fight. For some of you, it's time you stepped up the plate. Quit letting your wife lead and fight for your marriage and family. Stop being such a wuss. You're in a battle for your family and the longer you wait to take the lead the greater the chances your family won't survive. C'mon man, grab that sword and take on the enemy!! If for nothing else, for your wife and your children.

You may be hearing more on this subject in the days ahead. The passion to see men become what God designed and desires them to be is something God has really laid upon my heart recently. I may even choose to start another blog or web site devoted to this issue.

Let me know where you are, how I can pray for you, or how I can help you.

Taking up the sword and fighting the good fight,
Mike

Noah

Reading Genesis 6:1-8:17 and a few things occured to me. Here we have Noah - a man minding his own business, taking care of his family, but caught the eye of God. Of all the people on earth only one man was pleasing to God - Noah.

Noah then embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. No man before or since has ever been on such an adventure. He would experience something no man before him had ever encoutered. Hold up a minute. Let's think this through for a moment. Why would this simple man risk it all for a flood to destroy all the earth? Because God made man for an adventure to live and Noah was a man of God. A man who heard the voice of God, no matter how eccentric the message. And he obeyed . . . and survived.

After reading account of events a few things occurred to me:

1. Noah was righteous in the eye of God
2. Noah obeyed the voice of God
3. Noah was protected by the hand of God
4. Noah was blessed by the heart of God

FYI - You need to read the account of events to have an understanding of these points.

Here was a man who lost everything - house, all his earthly belongings, everything! But in doing so he gained the favor of God. God protected he and his family. When everyone else was suffering the horror of death, Noah and his family were beneath the caring hand of God.

Wonder what Mrs. Noah thought early on when Noah came home and told her God said to build and ark and get two of every kind of animal on it? Wonder what she thought when the rains came? Wonder what she thought when it kept raining and the ark began to move, then float? Wonder what she thought when the waters receded and she realized they were the only humans on the face fo the earth?

If you're in the valley - or not - and God speaks to your heart, guess what? It probably won't make sense. Probably didn't make sense to Noah, nor the Mrs. I would imagine it definitely didn't make sense to his neighbors or community leaders. In spite of everything, Noah was obedient. And becaude of his obedience he not only experienced the adventure of a lifetime, but the blessings of God.

Listen. No, I mean it. Listen . . . listen to the voice of God. There's more there than meets the eye, including blessings you never imagined. All it takes is obedience.

I can imagine,
Mike

Can You Imagine?

Romans 8:20-22 (NLT)

Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God's curse. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

**********************

Don't know about you, but imagining a place and/or a time where there is no death or decay is pretty hard for me. Not that I don't believe it exists. I do. I really do. But trying to envision a place where there are no hospitals, doctor's offices, emergency rooms, or funeral homes is kind of hard for me.

You have to understand that growing up my brothers and I practically lived in the emergency room. As we got older we just started patching ourselves and each other up - saved time and money. So thinking that I won't need a doctor. . .there won't be a need for funeral homes. . .hmmmmm.

Then again, won't that be amazing? C'mon, think about it. It's not like being out in the middle of jungle and need a doctor and can't find one. It will be like we won't NEED one. Now that's cool!!

It's there, you know. That time and place is there. It awaits all who are called sons and daughters of God. There is a day coming where in the glorious presence of Almight God we will no longer experience death and decay.

It gives me great hope, and while my heart longs for Karen at times, my soul rejoices in knowing she is no longer suffering. She no longer is hurting. Her body is no longer withering away. She is in the presence of the ultimate healer - dancing with Jesus and worshipping her God!! (her words, not mine)

So while I continue to experience death and decay here on earth at this time, there is hope that one day I will be liberated - set free - from this current bodnage and worship my God for all eternity!!

What about you? What about you, valley experiencer? What about you, flock? Struggling with earthly death and decay? Remember, a day is coming when it will be no more and you will be set free from the bondage of hurt, of disease, of the painful experience of this earthly existence.

Can you imagine?
Mike

Our Present Sufferings

I'm getting ready to teach this Sunday on Why do Good People Suffer? Going through some Scriptures I this morning I read Romans 8:18.

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. (NLT)

The NIV calls what we suffer now "our present sufferings." Thinking on this passage and "our present sufferings" in view of the glory that is to come, here are some questions to ponder:

• How are you responding to your "present sufferings?"
  
  
  
  • To tell you the truth - I stink at at it. There are more times than I care to count when I'm just really tired of my "present sufferings." I'm ready for them to be over. Then, again, that's just me.
    
  
  

• What are the benefits of enduring suffering (see v. 17)?
  
  
  
  • It's what I often forget - I have the wonderful privilege of sharing in Christ's glry as co-heirs with Him. Is that not the coolest thing ever?
    
  
  

• Do you find it difficult to view today's trials with eternity's rewards in mind?
  
  
  
  • Most definitely! I'm carnal - part of fallen humanity. That side of me desires relief and healing now. I don't think I'm mature enough in my walk to think "eternally." Maybe I should be.
    

Sometimes I think it's difficult for me to have an eternal perspective because I have so much going on in the here and now. My mind, my heart, my eyes are focused on all the stuff around me. I'm afraid that if I take my eyes off of the stuff something will slip through the cracks - it will sneak up on me. Then what will I do?

What about you? How are you handling/viewing your "present sufferings?" Where's your focus?

Father, give me an eternal perspective. I know, in my mind, that today's "present sufferings" don't compare with the glory that's to come. Help me see the comparison in my heart where it really matters.


Gloriously adopted,
Mike

God's Seasons

Do you ever think of God's seasons? I did. I mean. . . we experience different seasons of life. Like new chapters in a book that keep the story going, seasons reflect periods of time in our lives. God has seasons - not like fall, winter, spring, summer - He created those. Im talking something along the lines of chapters in history.

Ever think God does something just for the heck of it? Mmmm. . .come to think of it, I don't ever remember thinking along these lines. You may have. I may have. I just don't remember.

Was reading the first chapter of Titus this morning and this phrase kept sticking in my craw, "His appointed season." For the entire passage and it's context click [here]. Basically, Paul was speaking of the God's use of Paul's preaching of the gospel at God's appointed season, or time.

Make no mistake about it - God doesn't do stuff just for the heck of it. He always has a plan and a purpose for everything He does or allows. Take Jesus' coming, for instance. In Galatians 4:4 Paul writes, " But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son." In other words, Jesus didn't come to earth until God was ready for Him to come. For in God's timing, His season, Jesus came to redeem us - not a "season" sooner or later.

It is also no mistake to think we are tested and tempted when we are. It is not by fate, coincidence, or just plain bad luck when we encounter valley times in our lives. He (God) has appointed us to enter into the valley at His appointed season.

And just like the seasons of the year, our seasons in the valley have specific time frames. Now these time frames, these seasons, may be dependant upon our learning and applying specific lessons to our lives or a need for growth and dependence upon God. I don't think we can just sit around and wait it out. Try that and you/I could be spending a long time in the valley - much longer than we care to.

So. . . what do I do? What do you do? Let me suggest. . .pursue the heart of God. Asking Him to show me, to show you, the lesson(s) we are supposed to learn - AND LEARN IT!! I'm here in this valley for a season. I'm here because God appointed me to be here. I'm here because God loves and and desires me to grow in my faith in and knowledge of Him.

So. . .make no mistake. . . it's no accident. . .no coincidence. . . that I'm in the valley right now. So, I should thank the Lord for loving me enough to want me to learn and grow.

Thank you Lord!
Thank you for this season of life in the valley
May I learn and grow as you desire

May you do the same.

Mike

Equilibrium

I am NOT, let me repeat, am NOT a person of balance. All my life I have given my all to whatever I do, often at the expense of something else. I think it's a combination of my drive to be the best, the fear of missing out on something, and the pursuit of constant affirmation. Whatever the reason(s) my tendency is to completely jump into something with both feet.

Yesterday I was having my quiet time and encountered this struggle - quiet, meditating, writing with God or getting up and doing the things that needed to be done.

For some of you it's a no brainer - time with God. For others it would be getting up and doing. For me it's difficult to find balance - equlibrium. I don't know how to quite explain it so those on either end of this continuum can understand. Let me see if I can help you guys out.

I love hanging with God. I love reading His Word. I love just sitting and thinking about things with God in mind. I love writing. I love talking to God.

I also love getting up and getting stuff done. Though I am a procrastinator by nature, when the time comes I HAVE to get things done. That's the OCD in me. They will drive me crazy until I get them done. Yesterday was cleaning house, having to register the cars, laundry, and other things that have been put off to the point that they drive me crazy.

So what did I do? I had my time with God. . .wishing it could last longer than it did. Then I got the house cleaned, laundry done, loaded up the Harley to drive downtown Mobile to register the cars, hanging out at Barnes & Nobles, the mall, then to see a movie with some friends, and wrap up the night at Starbucks.

Let me ask, is it important to find balance? Is it ok to move from one end to the other at times? Maybe so, just so long as you don't remain there. I think, knowing my tendency, this is my greatest danger. So I must continue to wrestle with this.

Now. . .am I the only one who struggles with these two things? Am I the only one in the valley that hates trying to find this equlibrium. . .this balance? What about you? To which end do you lean - time with God or get stuff done? I'm sure there are some of you who serve as my hero - you don't struggle with finding equilibrium. For you it's all about balance. Congratulations!!

For the rest of you let me know what you think and where are you in this battle.

Mike

Pursuing the Heart of God

My-o-my, how time flies when you get caught up in the business of life. Sorry gang, but that seems to be what has happened to me this past week. Hopefully it's all behind me and I can share some lessons God has recently been speaking into my life.

Take a look at 1 Timothy 6:11-12

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

There is some good stuff in here. First, Paul commands us to flee from all this - in previous verses he speaks to greed and false doctrine (see here). Both of which moves, or sways, our focus away from God and places it squarely on us.

* * * Valley experiencers - might want to take a look to see if one of these might be the reason for your valley right now. * * *

Then Paul contrasts these with where our focus should be. I love the word he uses - PURSUE - actively chase - these things:

• Righteousness
• Godliness
• Faith
• Love
• Endurance
• Gentleness

Then we are to fight the good fight of the faith. We are to persevere and trust God. We are to cling to our faith in God.

Next we're to "take hold of the ternal life to which you were called." Hang on - put the death grip on your hope, your assuarnce, in the eternal life you have in Christ Jesus.

It's about our focus - my focus. . .your focus. There are so many things that can be a distraction to you and me that shouldn't be distractions. If I want to maintain my focus on God, then I'm to make the things of God a part of my life. Things like . .

• Righteousness
• Godliness
• Faith
• Love
• Endurance
• Gentleness
• Fighting the good fight - standing up for my faith
• Grabbing hold of the eternal life - the hope - I have in Christ Jesus

As I look back on this list I see Karen's life right in front of my eyes. She was such a woman of righteousness, godliness, and faith. She loved God and everyone she came in contact with. Her endurance and gentleness in the midst of her valley was so obvious. She definitely fought the good fight as she pointed us toward Christ and gave God the glory in spite of her circumstances. Lastly, she clung to the eternal life promised her through her Lord and Savior. Thank you, Father, for such a wonderful example of a woman who pursued the heart of God.

What about you? Do you exemplify these qualities in your life? What's keeping you from being the example of these qualities? Karen didn't begin exhibiting these qualities in her life when she was diagnosed with cancer. They were always a part of her life with Christ. I do think her battle with cancer just brought them to light. That's what the valley does. It brings our true character to the forefront for others to see.

What do others see in you?

Fighting the good fight,
Mike

Wounded

I'm leading a single men's Bible study on Thursday nights. We're walking through the study, Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. This is the second time I've gone through it with a group of men. It's been a good study for me.

Eldredge speaks of "the wound." It's the wound that men receive from their fathers. It's the wound that tells sons, "You're not good enough." "You don't have what it takes to be a man." "You don't measure up." So these sons grow up, living with this wound, never to be the men God had designed them to be - men who desire a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.

This got me to thinking about valley experiencers. We're wounded, too. Sometimes by circumstances beyond our control. Sometimes by bad decisions we have made. And sometimes by those close to us. For whatever reason, we're wounded.

Eldredge reminded us of a verse in Isaiah that Jesus read when He began His public ministry.

Isaiah 61:1
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to the prisoners;

I love what it says, He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted. Did you get that? Jesus has come to heal our inner wounds! To comfort our broken hearts!!

I want to encourage you this morning. If you find yourself in the midst of the valley and you are a Christ-follower, take heart, Jesus came so you may find healing and comfort in Him.

Recognize your pain, your wound. Identify its source. Then try these steps (I'm borrowing them from John Eldredge).

1. Surrender your life and your wound to Jesus - quit hanging on to it, give it up.
2. Invite Christ into your wound - allow Him access to your pain and the deepest parts of your soul.
3. Confess how you've mishandled the wound - many of us don't know how or don't want to face our wound so we mishandle it.
   
4. Grieve the wound - it's ok to feel the pain of your wound, if you don't you will live with it for the rest of your life.
5. Let God love you - allow God to get very close to you, quit acting like He doesn't already know about it and open yourself up to Him.
   
6. Ask Christ to set you FREE!! - That's why He came, remember?

I hope this helps. It is a wonderful feeling to be set free from the pain of a wound. It's glorious to see and feel the healing take place. Don't waste another moment hurting and carrying around a wound Christ came to heal.

Stop hurting and start healing
Mike

Hope

. . . that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. - 1 Timothy 4:10

As Paul says, this is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (v. 9). So, if it is trustworthy - something I can put my trust in - and it does deserve full acceptance - no partial acceptance here - the I must ask myself, Where is my hope?

Is it in the living God or in my abilities? Is it in the Savior of all men or in the desire of a mate? As a believer, is my hope in the one who has redeemed me or in the affirmation of men?

Where is my hope?

As far as hope goes, I'm not rattling on about wishes or something that turns into desparate exasperation. No, what Paul is talking about is the hope built on assurance that leads to expectancy. It's the same word Peter uses in 1 Peter 3:15-16

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

It's having my assurance in the living God, knowing He is the living God. It's having an assurance that He is the Savior of all men. As a believer I have the assurance that He is God - living, active, caring - and He is the Savior of all men.

My part in this relationship is to put that assurance to work, living a life of expectancy. It is up to me - no one else - to live my life with that expectancy. It's not up to my parents, my friends, my pastor, or even God. It's up to me! It's up to you to live that kind of life.

Listen. . .I know what it's like to be in such a place and know such a depth of despair that you start placing your hope in anything and anyone. I've been there. I know. I also know the blessing of living my life with an expectancy. . .an assurance. . .a hope in the God who created me and redeemed me.

If you're in the valley and things are looking pretty bleak ask yourself, Where is my hope. . .my assurance? If it is any place other than the living, caring, loving God of this universe I encourage you to stop what you're doing, confess to God that you've placed your hope in someone or something else, then ask Him to help you place your trust. . .your hope. . .your assurance in Him, and Him alone.

Whether you know it or not, He's waiting for you to do this very thing. I don't guarantee it will make things easier or better, at least not right now, but I do know there is a peace that comes with a hope placed in God that doesn't come from anyone or anything else.

Today, while it is still called today, place you're hope in Him.

Mike

What's love got to do with it?

Oh yeah. . .I know I'm not the only one who remembers this song. Some of you remember it as well. It's an oldie, but goodie recorded by Tina Turner. For those of you who don't remember it, well. . .sorry. Go to iTunes, download it and enjoy it.

Ok, regardless of whether you're familiar with it or not, this is a great question for those of us in the valley. Read Lamentations 3 and God pierced my heart with verses 21-26 -

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;

26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.

The writer begins with the word "Yet." Which translates "In spite of." In spite of what?, you may ask. In verses 19-20 he says

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.

20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.

What he is saying is that in spite of all the stuff I've gone through and am going through. . . YET! He's stating that now matter how deep my valley gets. . . YET!!

We all go through valley times in our lives. Each of us will, at some point, experience the valley of life. If you haven't or are not now, you will. Jesus' brother, James, reminds us of this. It's the "whenever" in verse 2 that tells us that this is a when, not an if statement. So take it to the bank - you're going to have valley times in your life.

Now that that's settled, let's move on to the purpose of the question, What's love got to do with it?

In verse 21 we find that we have hope. So many of us are looking for a glimps of hope. Let me assure you it's there for you. Why? Because of God's great love. It all hinges on God's great love for you and me. I'll show you.

Because of God's great love we have God's fresh, new mercy, or compassions, each and every day - no left over mercy here.

Because of God's great love His compassion never fails - it's always there.

Because of God's great love we receive God's faithfulness and He is our portion - He'll never let us down or walk away from us.

Because of God's great love we can wait on God - and stop trying to force or manipulate things on our own.

Because of God's great love He is good to those whose hope is in God and seeks, or pursues His heart - He takes care of His children.

Because of God's great love we can wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord - we can wait for his rescuing and leading us out of this valley.

Don't know about you, but those are some powerful words. They speak truth about God. They teach you and me that because of God's great love we have hope in Him.

Thank you, my Lord, that in the midst of my valley you still extend your great love and with it, its many blessings. . .its benefits. My life, nor my situation, is too far from you and your great love.


So what DOES love got to do with it? Everything.

Valley experiencers thank the Lord this morning for His great love.

Mike

Tears

Reading through Lamentations this morning this verse jumped out at me -

She sobs through the night; tears stream down her cheeks. - Lamentations 1:2 (NLT)

These are the cries of Jerusalem after the fall and exile to Babylon. These are deep words. . .deep wounds. They are wounds that can only be expressed through tears.

For some, even me at times, it seems the valley is full of tears of those who tread its paths.

There were so many nights I cried myself to sleep - my pillow soaked with tears of sadness. . .of distress. . .of desparation. . .of pain.

There were the tears I cried the week after Karen's death. They accompanied the "Why?" question, along with the gaping hole her death left behind. There were the tears that were shed later on that partnered with the hurt & pain I finally realized I was experiencing. There were tears of struggle as I worked towards putting my life together without Karen. Tears also flowed as I realized God would not give me the desires of my heart. Then, finally, came tears of healing - the sweet drops of cleansing and setting things in God's perspective.

Tears are good. Tears signal pain. They let us know we hurt. They bring cleansing and, ultimately - for me - usher in healing. And with healing comes the journey to an "other side" of the the valley. Don't be afraid to allow them to flow. Sometimes it could just a trickle. At times a full-blown raging river. It's alright, take it from someone who knows.

I continue to have tears of sadness. At times I still miss Karen. It could be when I hear a song, see a visual reminder, or think of a situation and I think of Karen - and I cry. These times usually sneak up on me. They're not bad times, just "missing" times - tearful times.

If you're in the valley, there may be times when the valley seems flooded with your tears. It's OK, let them flow. And as you do pursue God's heart. Remember, Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with night (Ps 30:5, NLT). There is hope. There is a morning. There is a new day bringing refreshing and healing.

Thank you, Father, for such wonderful tears and the seasons of the valley they represent to me.

Where's my hanky?
Mike