Stop Running with Weights on your Legs!

Another "jog/walk" today. June really threw our schedule off. Between VBS, Camp and rain...we majorly missed our goals! So July we determined to start off differently. It has been going pretty well, until today!

I had a great idea: Walk for 1/2 mile, then run all out for a 1/2 mile...wash rinse repeat until we got home. Sounded like a great idea at the time. The first run was fast (for us) and it felt great! Then the next walk happened. What happened was amazing. My speed at walking was at a pace 2 min/mi slower than my first leg. Before I knew it, it was time to run again. This pace was almost 3 min/mi slower than my first run! My good idea was not working.

I felt great as I prepared for the run and the sprint of the first 1/2 mi was awesome, but after that it felt like I had a 10 pound weight on each leg. It didn't matter if I was walking or running...it was harder than normal. I wasn't that winded. My pulse wasn't racing, my legs were just dragging.

As I muscled through it the Lord kept bringing to mind how often we do this in our Christian walk. Have you ever felt the tug of God on your life? Maybe multiple times throughout life? You "stretch" out and prepare for His Direction, then He gives you a glimpse of His plans and "Pow!"... it's like you just heard the starting gun go off at an Olympic sprint...you're off! It feels great running so hard for the Lord. The only problem is after a short time, you need a break, your spiritual legs feel like weights are on them, and all of the sudden not only are you "not sprinting" you are hurting, tired, and questioning the Lord.

 In this time ask yourself, "Did God ask you to Sprint? Did he ask you to follow or lead?" Sometimes we are so "ready" to be done waiting that when we get a glimpse of God's plan we take off with a smile...but if God isn't finished speaking, then we are running FROM Him not FOR Him. (and we don't even know it!)

The word persevere ran through my head as I struggled with my legs!

Over and over in scripture God calls believers to persevere! His desire isn't for a man who tires himself out with short sprints of faithfulness, but a man who steadily follows the PACE that God, Himself set for him. 

Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

1 Timothy 4:16

 

I see way too many brothers and sisters in Christ running their spiritual life, looking like they are toiling with weights on their legs as they make their way. You can take those off now. Our race is a long one, not a sprint. Persevere, listen closely and let God set your pace!

 (You get to the goal MUCH quicker!)

 

Enduring the Heat

It is getting hot in Houston! In reality, I think a lot of people are struggling with the heat in a different way. I was reading Psalms 119 this morning (yeah, the really long chapter!) and stumbled across v. 83. It says:

               Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your statutes

Now, quite honestly, I have never seen a wineskin in smoke, but as I considered what The Lord wanted to convey to me...the imagery was pretty beautiful. When that wineskin hit the smoke and the heat, it was enduring a process. The heat has to be enough to produce smoke, but not so much that it would scorch the wineskin. In order to dry the wineskin out, it was going to have to endure the heat and smoke slowly, over a period of time before it would be pulled out.

How many times have you felt like you are suffocating in the smoke produced by the heat, the trials in your life? Have you been caught in a time of pressure, not so much to destroy you, but enough to wear you down? Maybe the worst part of it all is that it feels like you have been in the smoke and heat forever with no end in sight. Every Christian I know (me included) has faced times like this. The temptation is to quit or take matters into your own hands. To give God an ultimatum...you have been holding out for as long as you can, and He hasn't pulled you out...so you take matters into your own hands. 

I know this temptation...failed that that test a few times.

                                   But we need to see things as they are, not as we feel. 

How? The Psalter says," I do not forget your statues!" Better yet, in verse 97 he puts it this way, " O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day!" Or maybe you know verse 105 better, " You word is a lamp into my feet or a light to my path." I told Ashley I was in Psalms 119 this morning as I was walking out the door and she says, "have you gotten to verse 109 yet!" "My life is conintually in your hand, Yet I do not forget your law!"

The way that we endure, even find delight in our long trials, droughts, and tribulations is to be saturated by the Word of God. Being filled with his Word is like constantly filling a wineskin with moisture as it spends time in the heat. You won't become brittle...you won't scorch, you won't even dry out because the well spring of living water that is saturating your life. 

I can't tell you when a trail, especially a long one, will end. One thing I can be sure of is that when those trials are upon you...seek God in His word, and follow the light it puts out in your life...it may only be a lamp unto your feet or it could be a bigger light unto your path. Either way, it will always be enough! 

Are you Running Behind?

Many of you know that Christi and I have started running together since March. We have run over 100 miles since we returned from Israel! This is a big deal for both of us! If you would have met Christi when I did (5th grade Sunday School) you would have never thought that a word that would one day describe her is "runner." We love joking about it! I really am not a big fan of running either. I know I need to stay fit and I know that being disciplined in areas that I am not naturally disciplined is a big deal!

That said, Today I needed to be in the office a little early. So when we went running, we didn't have time to do our normal route. As we are running (Christi starts in the lead, and about half way through we switch places), about 1/2 mile in Christi turns around, begins jogging in place, waiting for me to catch up. When I get close enough she asks, "What do you want to do? Which way do you want to go?" Basically, Lead me...

No kidding, I as saw my wife jogging in place, waiting for me to catch up so that I can lead, the Lord opened my eyes! How many times do men (me included) let their wives lead and are happy just to follow? How many wives are running in place hoping that their husbands will get close enough simply to shout out some little bit of leadership in their family life, in their spiritual life?

I think between the shouting of the world at how unimportant gender roles are and the comfortable spot of not having to lead that many men find themselves in...we are leaving our wives out on a limb. They are stunting their spiritual growth because they are waiting on us. Having a good idea of what the plan should be, but longing for their partner, their husband to utter the words and lead.

Listen to what the Lord says in 1 Peter 3:7--

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

 

Men, we are not to put our wives out there to test the waters (Like Jacob did with his as he was approaching Esau). We are to show them honor! We are to value, lead, and protect them as we would a fragile, expensive, valuable vessel.  We can't do that from the back of the pack. We can't do that by letting our wives go their own way or even by letting them run in place. 

 

Maybe our prayers are being hindered by our lack of leading and caring for our wives. So let's neglect the movements that devalue God's commands for us. Let's be a little more disciplined in our lives so that we aren't always playing catch up with our wives. Pick up the pace, dare to lead and put yourself out there first... 

 



Late Night Revelations

Just a little insight into me, I cannot eat dinner late at night, it keeps me from sleeping.

Throughout my life I have had countless nights where I woke up an hour or two into my rest and couldn't go back to sleep. If I am being honest, one of the things I look forward to in heaven is that my body won't need the rest that it needs today, and that there is no night! Christi and I talk about this a lot, because she loves sleeping!

One of the reasons I have an aversion to the night is because of my lack of rest many nights. I will wake up and then for 2-3 hours will sit in the silence and think. I think about all kinds of things: that are weighing me down, things that need to be done, and even things out of my influence. I have told myself many times to "stop thinking" so that can go back to sleep...yeah, that never works!

Over the past year or so I have decided that when I have restless nights, I have to focus on something and not just random thoughts. So I open my Bible and look for the RED LETTERS. Well, last night was a RED LETTER night. I read Matthew 9, a passage that I have read any times, but really landed on Matt. 9:37-38.
It says:
                The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, 
                    therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Every good pastor knows this passage and loves it, but last night I was caught by the word "earnestly." I don't know if it is because I learned it first in the KJV that says "beseech the Lord," but I wanted to know what the deep meaning of that word earnestly was. So I looked to see what the word was in the Greek. Well, I found that the word earnestly wasn't there. It was simply a word that the translator used to unpack and give the meaning of what Jesus was trying to convey. The Greek word is deomai which means to pray or plead. When I looked deeper into things, I found that the majority of the time this word was used in scripture that it was translated "to beg or begged." This is where the Lord moved in me...

He is calling me to be a beggar! As a pastor I find myself constantly praying for a harvest! Yet, Jesus tells me that what I am praying for is already there! I am praying for the wrong thing! Instead of begging Him for a harvest, I need to be begging Him to send out laborers into the harvest! ME! I need to plead with and beg God to let His kingdom come, and plead for the grace and mercy to be one who labors with the bountiful harvest that He has prepared!

This has changed the way that I will move forward. I don't know how long I begged the Lord to send out laborers, specifically this laborer, last night, but I fell asleep doing it.

It is strange when you realize that a passionate prayer that you have been praying was the wrong prayer. It is also wonderful when the Grace of God wakes you up in the night to fix you and set you on His course...

I want to be a beggar. The Harvest is already plentiful....just not enough beggars...

A Different Holy Week for the Adams

This Easter week is different than most for my family. We have our traditions and church activities that we love. We have a wonderful family and great friends to share in this Holy Week, but this year is different. There is a new twist that my family is facing this Easter.

Today, Christi's "Pop" (grand father) went to be with The Lord. This was not a suprise. For the past few days, we knew that he would soon be home, and I am glad to say that he was ready in every way. I have known Pop well for the past 16 years, ever since I was embraced as part of the family. He was a deacon. That is the way that I would describe him....yes he held the "office," but really that was just who he was. (Some pastor or group of people were just blessed enough to see it and give that title to him one day.) He was a servant of The Lord, Jesus Christ. I got to see this through the eyes that only a few ever did. 

Before I was a part of Christi's family, I didn't know him as Pop, just Christi's grandfather. From this point of view, I saw a man who coveted his family as a gift from The Lord. It seemed as though his ministry was dependant on having his house in order...I mean that in the best possible way. His wife, children and grandchildren alll loved their Pop deeply. His infectious joy for The Lord was a continuous gift to them, and it was displayed in a variety of ways. 

After I married Christi, I was part of the family, an adopted grandchild by Granny and Pop and I became a recipient of the joy from the inside. As a minister, having a Pop has been a major blessing. Oh, Pop always had ideas and wanted to talk shop, but once those talks were over, he would reveal his real goal of the conversation...to encourage me in the faith and share his pride and joy that we were living out the call that The Lord had placed upon our lives. 

Losing him this week has been a joyful burden at the Adams' home. We will miss him dearly, but the joy of The Lord that he helped sew in us is still evident in this time. Christi, Ashley, Connor and I have talked a lot about Pop this week and sadness has never been a part of our conversation. Connor thinks it is amazing that Pop will get to spend Easter with Jesus...both risen and residing in Heaven. Ashley has joined in with Christi talking about the celebration that will be had on both sides of eternity- in Heaven and the one we will have on our side. It is simple to mourn, but not easy. Pop knows the full love of Christ now and his mirror is no longer dimly lit, but bright as the noon sun! I love that part of Pop's life and legacy...his joy in the love of Christ, was passed to his children, grandchildren, and my children. The gift of having a family that smiles joyfully through their tears when saints fall asleep is beyond repayment. 

When Connor became a Christian he asked why people don't just end their life so they can get to heaven? We laugh about that now, because my answer was that "we are not supposed to cut in line!" Connor, all these years later knows that "cutting in line" is not part of God's plan, because he has seen what it means to "live is Christ." Yet my children, nor anyone in my home, fears death because we know the same Savior that Pop met all those years ago, Jesus Christ. 

"Death, where is your sting?" Jesus destroyed it on that very first Easter and today, His saving work is evidenced in the homecoming that Pop is enjoying today. 

You may or may not have a "Pop" in your life, but this Jesus....our source of joy...He is just as available to you this Holy Week. 

God doesn't compromise...

There are a lot of things that I compromise on... The color of the car I want to buy, the amount of playing time I want to give Connor in football, what we should eat for dinner. Compromise in some areas is actually a good thing. It keeps the peace. There is one area where compromise is not only a bad idea, it puts us on the wrong side of righteousness.

I have been reading Exodus for my morning quiet time this week, and do you know what? God never compromises. Now, some might say, He did with Abraham over Sodom and Gomorrah. Not really, Moses was trying to compromise, but God did exactly what He had determined to do. God doesn't bend to the will of men. There may be no better example of this, than when God called Moses to tell Pharoah to Let His people go. Look at all the places where God was called to compromise.

Chapter 5- Moses first approaches Pharoah with the message. Pharoah's response? The people have too much time on their hands, make their burden heavier! Verse 20-25, the people and Moses say...Why? stop! You have made it worse....compromise. Basically they called for The Lord to settle here with Pharaoh's new terms. But Gid will not compromise.

Chapter 8- After the third plague and with the threat of the fourth, Pharoah offers a compromise. (V.25) go worship, but IN the land. Now this is way better than his first offer! I can imagine the people saying, "take it, this is way better than what we've had." The problem is God's word is God's word. What He says He means. He will not compromise.

Chapter 10- The threat of the 8th plague has bent the resolve of Pharoah. He offers a compromise (v.8-11). You may go out of the land, but only the men. This is a big step! What a deal! The men could leave and worship in the promised land?! The problem was, God word's is not up for compromise, even with such a "great" offer of hope.

(Later in) Chapter 10- after the 9th plague, Pharoah offers his best deal yet. All the people can go, just leave your stuff! Wow! The world today would kill Moses and attack his Lord for denying such an offer. How greedy can you be?  Don't use women and children as pawns to be casualties to your heard headed faith convictions! How much you must hate the people to hold to God's word in light of the harm that you will cause! Heartless, spiteful. God's word was not up for compromise.

Chapter 11:31-32- God's word is filled completely! If the poeple of God would have rejected the truth of God in exchange for peace with Pharoah, not only would they have made the God they worship their enemy, they would never have know the full blessing, the full freedom that comes when we are unwilling to compromise His standards.

In our country churches, Christian charities, moms, dads, and young adults are compromising God's word because of pressure, feelings, desires...a little peace somewhere (inside themselves or with those around them.) The world around us is saying "compromise." You can serve God and use His words however you please. Get the best deal that helps you sleep at night, raise more money, fill more seats at church. The problem is, although we think we are making a good deal for ourselves and God, when we do these things we are actually sell God out, and then pretend that He affirms our word/wants over His. This simply doesn't work. The peace that you have comes because "Pharoah" isn't attacking and the "Egyptians" are smiling, not because God's will has been done. 

I understand. No one wants to be at war. Especially with their child or friend. All indicators point to the fact that if we don't compromise, if we don't tweak God's word, then we will have war. Check this out, the people of Isreal never lifted a hand! In Fact, God tells them in Ex.14:14, don't fight, be still, I've got this! We are called to love and live by the Word of God. Don't steal your own joy by compromising on the Word of God. Don't make yourself and "unintentional" enemy of God by taking a deal that compromises His word. His plans for you and I are too bright! He will  provide, trust Him to not only sustain you, but the protect and let you thrive when you follow Him all the way. (Those whispers that say otherwise are not a new tactic, they've lost the battle many times over, but what else can a dying foe of The Lord do but whisper his threats as he sees his life slipping away?) Don't be afraid....smile, The Lord will fight for you, too!

Back at Home, and Ready to Move!

Well, we made it back home! It was a wonderful trip, but my bed feels better than a hotel any day! We had no problems on our way home (other than enduring a 13 hour flight!) 

No kidding, if you have an extra $150, definitely upgrade seating to premium economy, don't know how I

would have made it home otherwise! Mom and the kids picked us up and I can tell you...I loved seeing my children! Jet lag is still leaving a mark, but hopefully that will end soon. 

I have been considering the best way to share it with you all! If we were to sit down in one session, we wouldn't move for hours! SO---Starting this Wednesday night, on Wednesday Nights and Sunday Nights at North Woods we will walk through the scriptures together! Using Pictures, Stories, and God’s Word we hope to bring to Bible to life in a personal way!

So the Dates of our journey together will be:

Wednesday, March 19^th – First Impressions / Culture / Introduction

Sunday, March 23^rd – Our time in Jerusalem (Outside the City Walls)

Wednesday, March 26^th Jerusalem Continued (Inside the City)

Sunday, March 30^th – From Jerusalem to Galilee (Caesarea to Nazareth to Tiberius)

Wednesday, April 2^nd – Around the Sea of Galilee (Jesus’ Primary Ministry Area)

I really hope that you will join us for one or all of these special times! I know that many of you "made" the trip with us, and we want to make sure that you hear it from the source and give you the opportunity to ask questions and hear all the things that we couldn't fit in the blog! 

Thanks again for staying with us on this journey! I can't describe how much it meant to us to know that so many of you joined us!