The "Bathtub"

"All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."  Acts 10:43

      On a recent night in Pittsburgh, I was at work helping to drain the "bathtub".  The "bathtub" is a section of the Parkway East that floods almost every year when the Monongahela River floods as the winter snow begins to melt.  It got me wondering.  Why do we spend millions to build highways in areas that we know are going to flood.  And once we have built them why are we surprised and upset that we must pump them out each time they flood.  And why don't we take proactive action to resolve the problem before it happens again. Couldn't we just put in some type of automatic pump that would begin to work as soon as the water begins to rise.
     I wonder if God ever feels like that about us.   He created man without sin, but He gave us free will.  Adam and Eve exercised their free will, and from that point on we have been sinful by nature.  God provided for us a proactive solution when He sent His Son to die for our sins so that our sins would be atoned for and so that we could live in His forgiveness.  And yet so many of us don't take advantage of that solution.  All we need to do is believe and we can be the children of the King, and our sins will be forgiven.  Why don't more people just accept the solution.   We will still sin, because we are human, and yet we will have forgiveness.
     I think it all boils down to being able to accept responsibility.  The city and state leaders do not want to accept responsibility for taking care of the flooding problem.  It would cost them money.  How much easier it is to send folks out to deal with it each time it happens so they (the politicians) can get kudo's for clearing the roadway.  And as for us.  I think that most people just aren't willing to accept responsibility for the sin in their lives.  That would require change.  Most folks are all about "me".  After all this is the "Me Generation".  To accept responsibility would require one to make changes and most people do really resist change.  
     Someone once told me that it's hard to tell a teenager who is making a hundred dollars a day selling crack on the corner that he would be much better off if he took a job at McDonalds making six dollars an hour.   That is where we as a nation are right now.   People see only the immediate benefit, but don't look at the bigger picture.  God sees it all.  He "knows the plans that He has for us".   We only see the here and now. It's got to make you wonder....
     Dear Lord, please help my friends and I to remember that we only see the "here and now" and that You do see the bigger picture.  Please help us to accept responsibility for the wrongs that we do. And help us to be part of the real solution.  Thank You for sending Your Son to be the role model that we can follow.   Thanks for always being there...

Praying Out Loud

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."             
                                                                                             Romans 8:26


Are you comfortable praying out loud?   I am most definitely not!  I am always afraid that someone will laugh at me or make fun of me for the way in which I interact with God.  
          I once read that when you are praying you should talk to God as if you were having a face to face conversation with Him.  The writer said that you don't have to be formal with Him. Just talk to Him as if you were talking to anyone.  I thought that sounded like it made a lot of sense and took it up as a practice.  
       When I pray, I have a conversation with God.  Much like when I write this blog, I try to do it as if I were speaking to you in person.  It is not uncommon for me to say to God "hey Man" or "but Dude"  after all God is "the Man", He is "the Dude" and that's not meaning any disrespect.  It's a two way conversation.  I talk and I also listen.   I am very comfortable praying silently for people even when I am right there with them, but I wince at the thought of having to pray out loud.  On occasion, if moved by the Spirit I will offer up some verbal words, but on my own I would rather not.
         Dear Lord, please give us the ability to listen to You as we pray for others.  To follow Your guidance and not our own.  Sometimes we let our fears get the best of us.  Help us to not let that happen but to trust in You and to follow Your lead.  Sometimes the one being prayed for needs to hear the words and sometimes not.   You know.  You always know. Just help us to do as You wish us to.  Thanks.


     

A Square Peg in a Round Hole

"Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep….strengthen and equip you with everything good to do His will".   Hebrews 13:20,21 


       Have you ever played with one of those children's toys that is a big ball with holes in it.  You have to put the pieces into the correct hole?   Well I have finally realized that doing God's will in your life is kind of like putting a square piece into a round hole....  it's pretty much impossible to do on your own....  We are just not capable of making it fit.  Oh, we might try and force it, but it won't go.... at least without breaking....   
       Our lives are kind of like that square piece...  We might want to do God's will.  But on our own, we can't do it.  No matter how much we try to force it; it just isn't going to happen.   However, with God, everything is possible.   If we give Him the pieces He can make it fit.  Every time.  Always.   No force needed.  Of course, the shape will change.... It has to change to fit.  But God can change it, and it will end up stronger and better than it was before.   (you know that if we tried to change the shape we would surely end up breaking it....)  
        God will "strengthen and equip us with everything good to do His will."  If we are doing it, it is because of what He has done for us.  How He has prepared us.  How He has guided and directed us.  How He has protected us.  
         It's like we are the lump of clay.  God is the Potter.   If we let Him mold and shape us and don't try to fight it.... we will be the beautiful product that results.    Changed from what we were.   We will have a purpose.  We will be able to be used to do His will.  How cool is that.... It's got to make you wonder....
         Dear Lord, mold me.  Make me what You will.  Help me to want to put Your will before my own.  Help me to patiently wait out the molding process and rid me of all that is not good.  I want to be the best product You put out there.... Form me, shape me, make me what you will.   I want to fit in that round hole and I can't do it on my own.  I need You.  Thanks for being there and doing what You do.

The Biggest Loser

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."       Philippians 4:13


     I was watching the television show "The Biggest Loser" the other night and something struck me funny.  Well, actually it wasn't funny at all...   In my younger days I was skinny.  Really skinny.  I used to wear "slim" jeans and my mom would still have to take them in... but then the first of many knee injuries happened.  And years later, I am no longer skinny.  In fact I am the opposite of skinny.   I think they call it f.....f.....funny...... (you thought I might say "fat" didn't you?   Nah, can't do that...)   But anyway on the television show "The Biggest Loser" everyone wants to be the biggest loser.   But then the wheels started turning, the smoke started coming out of my ears and my nose and I realized that this was quite odd..... but it made me think.... in a way we are all "the biggest loser".   Don't you think?   Let me explain...
      As I go through daily living I tend to screw things up a lot.   Sometimes it seems like I practically screw up everything I try to do.  Many days I am convinced that no one on Earth screws things up more than I do.... It seems glaringly apparent and I am often sure that everyone else knows what a screw up I really am.... but then I realize that is not the truth... that is just one of the many lies that I sometimes listen to in my head.   And at that moment I realize that each of us listens to the very same lies.  At least I hope I am right cause I would hate to be the only one who feels like this....   But I think that we all screw up the things we try to do.  I would venture to say that everyone probably feels like the whole world knows what a screw up they really are.... but in reality we rarely even realize that you have screwed up (unless you find a way to bring attention to it).   So I think that in a way each of us is "the biggest loser" at least in our own minds...   and it is precisely this that helps to humble us, and to make us open to allowing God to  mold us into something better.   Think about it.  If we could do it on our own, would we even ask God to take the helm?   We turn to God because we know we can't do it on our own.    The bible says "if you want to be first, be last.  If you want to be the best, be the lowest.   That is where we need to be to get us to go to God willing to be molded.  Willing to be changed.    We go to God as the "biggest loser" and He makes us into what He will have us be.... and then; we win..... it's got to make you wonder...
   Dear Lord,  I know that You are as aware as I am of all of my faults... hey, You probably even know some that I have not yet acknowledged.   But You also are working on me all of the time.  You are working to mold me into more of what you want me to be,  a reflection of Your love.  I thank You for this as I can see the difference already and yet I know that there is still much to do as I am still a long way from perfect.   I look forward to the day when Your work in me is completed.   I also know that You are working the same miracles in my friends lives.   Thank You for the reminders that we are not as hosed up as we sometimes feel.  Please help us to keep focused on You and not to focus on ourselves.  And remind us to NOT listen to the lies.   To recognize them when they try to sneak in there.... and please help me to remember that I can do all things through you..... Thanks much....