Monthly Archives: January 2020

The level of unbelief

Mark 9:23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Yesterday at work I had an estimate I just knew I had to prioritize, I needed to “work it in.” It turned into an incredible God experience as I heard of his miraculous healing of an incurable cancer, and how I was able to encourage them through our business ministry. I shared how it reminded me of India, where God changed my life forever, when I saw and felt the presence of God so deeply it is still hard to talk about it today without being in tears. God dumped out the box I had put him in, let me see and feel evil on a tangible level, then let me see his power over it, and miracles many would not believe. I played a small intercessory part in a healing, laying hands on someone else with that gift as they prayed over someone, and I felt God move through us…….. that left me in uncontrollable tears, for I had been in the presence of God (only a few understand). I will never limit God, never doubt evil, and never be the same after my trip to India where God is doing a visible work in what many call the last frontier (until all have heard).

The passage above is close to my heart. On what level is our belief limited, what box have we put God in? The man was pleading to Jesus to heal his son, to take away the demon possession that had tormented him from childhood. Jesus’ disciples had failed, and there are many sermons within the context of this passage. You can almost hear Jesus laugh, “If I can?” You can feel the fathers exhaustion, his heartfelt last cry for help, how he didn’t know what to do any more; you can feel he is at the end of his rope as he pleads for Jesus to help him, and his son. God so many times lets us go much farther into the trials of life than we choose, than we would ever even venture, for when we reach exasperation, it is there that it is a true hearts cry for God’s help.

Mark 9:28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” There is much depth when you begin to search scripture and commentaries on this passage, on the entire context of this story. What depth are you willing to go with God, are you relying on simple prayers at the time of need, or seeking him every day? Where is your walk with God, is it abiding with him daily, going where he is already at work, or asking him to join you? The only way you get through the trials of life is through the preparation for them, the seeking of one’s heart daily through prayer and his Word in the good times, not pleading for help just when you need him. God will still perform miracles today, still heal the sick, the blind see, the lame walk, but it is up to God’s sovereignty, and relative to the level of unbelief in your heart.

My life is a typo

1 John 1:4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

My ministries have changed in recent years. These 1MM have went from religious daily duty, to when He lays them on my heart. My social media ministry evolved into excerpts, short direct examples of God’s Word in my daily life. Those that follow, see my typos, my own language, my personal way of communicating my thoughts and explanations of God’s revelations of my faith through my daily life. Many times I am able to share about personal conversations and times spent where God let’s me listen, speak, encourage or be encouraged, seeing God work through others lives in my circle. Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.My mind is slipping with age, many times not able to get the words to my lips, or even the wrong words coming from them (a funny story on stage recently comes to mind). My life is a typo, but through it I know my faith in my God come through clearly.

John was writing from the same heart in the text above. John is fighting the Gnosticism of his day, a blend of spiritual and physical, the separation of the two to justify sin, and claim a greater knowledge than those who hadn’t come to “know” God. There are many blends of religion today, many preachers talking of the blessings of heaven, without the condemnations of hell. Many teach universalism, all paths lead to god, many teach of not offending, yet denying the clear penalties of sin. 1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. Way too many people are being led astray by the false prophets of our day, preaching watered down gospels and not the righteous King who will return to judge the world of it’s sin. When Jesus returns soon, we will all bow before him and answer for all of our lives, what we did, what we didn’t do, and what we thought about the reasons why for both. Christianity is a matter of your heart, and Jesus knows the condition of it.

Do you desire to share your faith just as John? Charles Spurgeon said, “You are either a missionary, or an impostor.” One of the assurances of your salvation is the desire of your soul to share your faith. Many fear they will do it wrong, fear of not being able to answer questions, fear of what others will think, but God did not plant that fear within you. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Speak up, or write it out, but be bold in your faith. Ignore the typos and mis-spoken words you can’t find, and know God will make it perfectly clear to those he has prepared to hear.

Tell em’

Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Who else lies in bed with racing minds? Either we are trying to go to sleep, or awake early before rising to start the day. It is amazing where our minds go when left to drift, unoccupied time focusing on seemingly random things, life’s struggles, at any time in life plucked from memories, pondering or deep reflections, torments and thanksgivings, the list is personal and endless. Yesterday was an incredible day in business ministry, followed by some bad business news at the end of the day. This morning brought deep thoughts in the early hours, then Satan seemed to take the bad news and run with it. I would not give him the victory, so I arose and sought God in prayer and his Word. The VOTD was perfect, then the passage above confirmed the call to live my life spreading the Good News, and leave the day to day to my CEO; he will work out the details of the business if I will just focus on my faith, and not my failures.

At this point in the book of Acts, it is following up on the heels of the murder of Stephen for his faith. Saul had held the coats of those beating Stephen to death, and the church was forced to scatter because of the imminent persecution. Christianity could have seemingly “failed” in the earliest stage, everyone could have kept quiet from fear, denied their faith, and been safe, but Philip went where no Jew would go, to the Samaritans, and preached Christ. In their town even a great magician heard of this Jesus, and believed in him. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. There is no place, no person, no one so evil or seemingly so good, that does not need to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ. In a world preaching tolerance, telling us all paths lead to god, we must take a stand and preach of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) We must do this in love, not lofty condemnation, but clearly present our faith in the Word of God.

I heard yesterday the testimony of a past where faith was only from the pulpit, of how the Bible was not to be owned, much less read, but only heard from the priest. That religion is still prevalent today, many still think they attain heaven through church alone in any number of ways. One of the most touching times I had this race season was a talk I had with a probably six year old boy. He was feeling condemned for not being at church, and I spoke to him about Jesus being inside of him, in any building or anywhere he went. Jesus encouraged that young boy through my words, his countenance changed, and I pray his faith grew. Take your faith outside today, wherever your feet find you is your ministry for the day. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Winning with no effort

Ephesians 6:4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

I am hard on my boys….. I am raising them to become strong men, amongst a confused spineless society letting them decide what they will identify as this week. I don’t let them say I can’t, but push them to failure so they understand it, then the reward of success is much sweeter. I don’t believe everyone gets a participation trophy as a child, and those lives will be much harder as they learn the truth from their weak childhoods. In the sport we have chosen, it requires pushing yourself past your limits, failing, getting up, and trying again, again, and again. It is a solo sport, one you cannot blame your team, but the success is much sweeter when you accomplish your goals. Being a motodad always will strain relationships as you develop their skills into victories, ones that it may take later in life to appreciate.

Jesus was as direct in his ministry on earth as anyone ever could be. He told people the truth, because he is the definition of the truth. Jesus was the epitome of “tough love” because even his condemnations at times were wrapped up in love. All throughout the Bible are the teachings of tough love, of telling others the truth, yet many times helping them to learn from it. Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Are we exemplifying to our children the love of the Lord if we are letting them think life comes easy, everyone gets trophies, and rebuke is an evil thing that will offend?

Though I may push my boys through sports, or work and life, I will never force them into religion. I grew up in religion, and rebelled against it when the opportunity came. I turned my back on God and ran from Sunday’s as fast as I could. Your relationship with God is a heart thing, not a checklist of duties required by the church; Jesus condemned the religious who thought they received salvation by their works. Show your children your faith by how much you pursue it, by your life filtered through your faith in the sovereignty of God. Life is hard, winning is sweet, but grace and Heaven are the greatest victory you never have to work for.