Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The Prayer God Answers

"Their cry for help...went up to God." Exodus 2:23 NIV

Just when the Israelites thought life couldn't get worse, it did! Pharaoh withheld their straw and ordered them to produce the same daily quota of bricks. At that point three things happened:

(1) "The Israelites groaned in their slavery" (v. 23). It's what we do when we feel so bad that words can't express it. We groan, first within ourselves, then to whoever will listen, finding relief in venting our frustrations. But lasting help requires more than just talking to yourself and others. So, they raised the decibel level and:

(2) "Cried out...for help." God had seen them grit their teeth and white-knuckle it through another day. But since they were talking to everybody but Him, nothing changed. However, as soon as "their cry...went up to God...[He] heard their groaning" (v. 24). He just wanted a prayer to answer. David declared, "He hears My voice and...has inclined His ear to me...I shall call upon Him as long as I live" (Ps 116:1-2 NAS). Instead of complaining, pray! Give God a prayer to answer and He'll answer it. "Why would God listen to someone like me?" you say. Because:

(3) "God remembered His covenant with Abraham...and...took notice of them" (Ex 2:24-25 NAS). God answered their prayers because of a covenant He made with their father. He took notice of them because they were Abraham's children. They got it "on credit." So do you!

"God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph 4:32). God's mercy and favor is yours today because you belong to Christ.

"My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name... Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete" (Jn 16:23-24 NIV).

How good is that?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Succeeding on the job

"He who looks after his master will be honored." Proverbs 27:18

Another Bible characteristic to acquire for job success is thoughtfulness. That's so, whether you're a general in the army or a "GI Joe," the company president or the nightshift janitor. Character is not class-conscious. You don't demand respect, you earn it every day. If you're in a leadership role, the Bible says: "Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds" (Pr 27:23 NAS).

Good employers and supervisors make it their business to know the needs, strengths, weaknesses, potential and motivational levels of their workers. As a result employee sick time is reduced, morale improved and quality and production soars. A pay increase isn't always the best motivator. Sometimes your thoughtfulness, understanding and interest in your employees are a more powerful motivator. The old "kick them in the pants" philosophy is a sure-fire way to generate resentment and undermining. Respect and caring invites cooperation, makes allies, not adversaries of employees and employers, and brings out the best in everybody.

If you're an employee God promises, "He who looks after his master will be honored." It's not cool to bad-mouth the boss, even if your peers egg you on. Ultimately those around you will distrust you because they know that at some point you'll do the same to them. Speak well of your boss, honor him or her and submit to their authority (See Ro 13:1-7). If you can't, say nothing and look for another job; otherwise you'll be judged for undermining them. In the parable of the talents Jesus said that the workers who took care of their boss's interests were rewarded richly. Yes, God will honor you for respecting even a difficult boss!


Definitely something to think long and hard about. Much reward hangs in the balance!! Blessings

Monday, February 16, 2009

Succeeding on the job

"Go to the ant...consider its ways and be wise." Proverbs 6:6 NIV

When it comes to having a work ethic, "Go to the ant, consider its ways and be wise." These tiny giants of industry teach us valuable principles for living. Observe three things about them:

(1) The ant "has no commander, no overseer or ruler" (Pr 6:7 NIV). Nobody has to get it out of bed in the morning or coax it to get moving. Nobody supervises its work or enforces quality standards on it. Nobody needs to micromanage its time on the job or make sure it starts punctually, puts in a full day, pulls its weight and doesn't quit early. It's self-motivated and driven by its own high standards, not by rules, regulations or the fear of being fired.

(2) It "stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest" (Pr 6:8 NIV). While everybody else is complaining about the heat (the weather, the economy, politics, etc.), the hard-working ant just keeps preparing for the future. Later, in the more moderate temperatures of harvest time, it continues gathering. Disregarding the conditions, it works. Then while others are struggling to survive it feasts on the fruit of its labor. "Watch and learn," is God's counsel.

(3) The ant is no haphazard, disorganized drifter wandering around aimlessly, looking for something to do. He knows exactly what he's there for and where and how to do it. He's goal-directed, focused, determined and unstoppable. You can't keep a good ant down! "Consider...and be wise."

"But my job's a dead end," you say. As long as you're in this job do it "heartily, as to the Lord" (Col 3:23). Prove yourself where you are and God will promote you to better things.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Be a "builder-upper!

"Encourage and strengthen him." Deuteronomy 3:28 NIV

God knew that Joshua would need all the help he could get in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. So He told his mentor, Moses, "Encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land" (v. 27-28). God recognized that Moses was the best man to strengthen and encourage Joshua because he'd dealt with pressures and "people problems" at the Red Sea, and again in the desert when Israel grumbled against God - and him.

Everybody needs encouragement, including you! You need others to cheer you on when you've been battered by setbacks and circumstances. German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, "Correction does much, but encouragement does much more." It rekindles your spirit and gives you the oomph to keep going. One well known pastor wrote, "Nothing can uplift more than the encouragement of a friend or loved one. It's the oxygen of the soul. Having run two miles, a person may need to pause and catch his or her breath before running another two. Before facing a formidable task, or even the wearying routines of life, a person needs to pause for encouragement before tackling the work ahead. So become oxygen to the souls of those around you. Strengthen them to persevere for the Kingdom. Encourage them with God's promise to work good in all things."

Stop and think about somebody who could use a little encouragement, and before today is over, make it a point to get in touch with them. "Let us pursue the things...by which one may edify [build up] another" (Ro 14:19 NKJV).

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Learn to be content

I found this article on contentment and it was a real blessing to me. I wanted to share it with you and hope it will be a blessing to you as well.

Sometimes contentment means:

(1) Learning to be happy with less. A hard-charging executive decided to spend a few days in a monastery. "I hope your stay is a blessed one," said the monk who showed him to his cell. "If you need anything let us know. We'll teach you how to live without it." Happiness isn't getting what you want, it's enjoying what God's given you. Paul said he had learned to be content, "Whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

(2) Reminding yourself things could be worse. Snoopy was lying in his dog house one Thanksgiving Day, mumbling about being stuck with dog food while all those humans got to be inside with the turkey and gravy and pumpkin pie. "Of course, it could have been worse," he finally reflected, "I could have been born a turkey." Reminding yourself "It could be worse" can be a powerful developer of contentment.

(3) Understanding that what you seek is spiritual, not material. Paul says to beware of "greed, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5 NIV). Our problem isn't just that we want more, it's that the condition which underlies all our wanting is that we really want God. As Augustine said, "Our souls will never rest, until they rest in Thee." Why would God let us feel at home, when this world is not our home? Our dissatisfaction, if we let it, can sharpen our spiritual hunger and cause us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt 6:10 NIV).

Michael Drosnin wrote a book about a man who wanted more wealth, so he built one of the biggest financial empires of his day. He wanted more pleasure, so he paid for the most glamorous women money could buy. He wanted more adventure, so he set air speed records, built and piloted the world's most unique aircraft. He wanted more power, so he acquired political clout that was the envy of senators. He wanted more glamour, so he owned film studios and courted stars. Drosnin tells how this man's life ended: "He was a figure of gothic power, ready for the grave. Emaciated, only 120 pounds stretched over his six-foot-four-inch frame...thin scraggly beard that reached its way onto his sunken chest, hideously long fingernails in grotesque yellow corkscrews ...Many of his teeth were black, rotting stumps. A tumor was beginning to emerge from the side of his head...innumerable needle marks...Howard Hughes was an addict. A billionaire junkie."

So here's the question: If Hughes had pulled off one more deal, made one more million and tasted one more thrill, would it have been enough? The illusion of gratitude is that we will experience it more, if we get more! No, making sure a child gets everything they want destroys their initiative and dulls their sense of gratitude and contentment. Don't you find it interesting that the man who wrote, "I have learned the secret of being content" also wrote, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1Thess 5:18)? You cannot make yourself a more grateful or contented person, but you can pray for it and open your heart to it.

"I have learned the secret of being content." Philippians 4:12 NIV

Monday, February 2, 2009

Deal With Unhealed Wounds!

Physician, heal yourself!" Luke 4:23 NKJV


A few years ago, while playing softball, I slid into second base and ripped the skin off my right leg. A week later, it got infected and I had to swallow my pride (guys don't like going to the doctor) and go to the doctor to get medicine. The doctor asked me if I had considered taking up a less dangerous sport, considering my age. The nerve of that guy!! A few weeks later, our family went on a previously planned vacation with our friends Ryan and Jen Scott to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We were so excited to take the kids white water rafting as one of the activities. We chose the extreme river to get the most thrill out of the adventure, actually the kids did the choosing. While shooting the rapids,(I've always wanted to say that) I hit my now scabbed over leg on this post in the center of the boat. It hurt so bad, that all I could do was hold my leg. Forget holding onto the kids, it's every hurt Dad for himself.

Did you know that in the Old Testament a priest could not serve in God's house if he had a scab, which is an unhealed wound or a bleeding sore (See Lev 21:20)? Why? Because when you've got a scab you're not up to par. You can't get close to others in case they bump into you and knock the protective cover off it. You're not at your best because the pain-drain is sapping your strength. You're afraid to talk about your scab in case people reject you, so you wear a mask, live on two levels and become insecure and controlling. Worst of all, you're so busy working for God and taking care of others that you don't think you've time to stop and take care of yourself. The Bible says: "Physician, heal yourself!"

Does this mean people with "issues" can't work for God? No, quite the opposite. It's the broken, who become masters at mending. But first you must take time to be healed. Jesus said that when the blind lead the blind they both fall into a ditch (See Mt 15:14). It's hard to talk about victory to others when you yourself are living in defeat. It's hard to bring emotional healing to others when you're still battling the unresolved issues of your past. When you are still bleeding, you can't treat people's problems with the same kind of aggressive faith you'd have if you'd already worked through the problem.

Is it wrong to have a wounded heart? No, but it's wrong not to deal with it. So, spend time with God and let Him make you whole so that He can use you to minister more effectively to others. Start by reading your bible everyday this week. I believe like the eunuch in Acts 8, God will send answers your way. Let the healing begin and lets shoot the rapids!!!