trust

Sharing with a friend last night I reminded him something we all know but fail to rest in way too often. After hearing his circumstances I remembered what I tell me from time to time and reminded him this simple truth… “God is your source”.
We tend to lean on what we do, what we know and get secure on our ability to be “self sufficient “. The difficult part of self sufficiency is the word “self”. It maybe just me but too many times our friend “self “ tends to shine like a rock star then in one moment it shows up non- sufficient.
God reminded us through this passage on Isaiah
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD. Isaiah 31:1
When we are making the cash and rolling at work and home we get this independent feeling and false sense of security that WE have done all this! Here lies the foundation for two ugly emotions to roll. One is pride. We get this haughtiness and sense of accomplishment. The other ugly emotion is the bookend of this play. After you have placed confidence in your self sufficiency and hit the inevitable wall of lack, fear comes in and puts demands on your “self” that in the end our “self” is found wanting!
Don’t get me wrong, God places gifts in our lives to have success in life and if we are smart, we use our talents and time to honor him and live in fruitfulness. But we are thinking best when we know there is only one who is all sufficient. This thinking gives us two better bookends of emotion. One is humility, always thanking God for fruitfulness and the other is trust, giving us an anchor in times of need.
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

I heard a minister say one time God judges’ nations in terms of generations, families in terms of decades, and individuals in terms of a life! I like that, and have always tried to use that measuring rod from time to time. That should free you up from having a bad hair day every now and then!
On December 31, 2009 at 11:59 pm we will put the Y2K decade to bed! Remember the entrance of this decade and new generation? We started with “Y2K” and experienced pretty amazing earth shattering events throughout this decade.
Think about it? We had 9/11 and saw a whole nation shaken by fear. We had a presidential election with a split vote (those hanging chads!) determined in a congressional vote. Enron’s chapter 11 became a vivid sign of cooperate America suffering. We entered into a war on “terror”. A massive tsunami kills 290,000 people! We have hit an economical wall not felt in decades! And fear seems to be riding on the economy, H1N1, and who is in control? But hey, the techies gave us play station 2, Xbox, Mac, and incredible gadgets as coping tools!
We had the roaring 20s where life was good, and then the 30s was best described with the “Great Depression”. What will history call the “naught “(00s) decade?
But this I know about this decade; I have seen my family grow and succeed. In this “fear” decade I still trust God, and His word. The “naught” decade has allowed to enjoy the love of my life! It afforded me to see those awkward adolescences we had in our home to grow into beautiful people. This decade gave me perspective to be grateful and stand confident that “nothing shall separate me from the love of God’!
What did these last ten years do for you?

You ever had someone in authority use this rhetorical question; “do you understand me? “. They do not really want an answer …just acknowledgement! You know what is real dangerous? Thinking you understand something and you don’t! Years ago Michel had a friend go with her on summer vacation and they had reached an age that allowed them rent and DRIVE those scooters you see going back and forth on Front Beach road in PCB. Well this story includes our debate as to our ability to drive and afford this activity. Once we came to an understanding, we procured these scooters which included a thorough briefing on the use and safety of driving these scooters.
So while final instructions are given I am watching the body language of our soon scooter aficionado and she looks like a mule looking at a new gate! After the briefing and the paying of deposit I ask the question; “do you understand? “ With a nice smile and nod we mount the bikes and our guest with her limited understanding twist the throttle and run across the parking lot and plow into an outdoor sitting area of a café blowing over umbrellas and chairs! Thank God there was no dinner guest outside!
It is so true we often think we understand something clearly till we get in the middle of it and we realize our limited thinking is not enough.
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

God wants us to trust Him for two simple reasons! He understands without limits. We are entirely limited!

I have been a lot places and seen a good bit in my life and hope that more is to come indeed. I have traveled around the world enough to know there are not many places that compare to where I live now. I have met people from all over the globe and have enjoyed their culture and food. I am grateful to have been able to travel and experience things like walking in small villages in southern India, or walking the streets in Frankfurt Germany with Dusty trying to find something to eat other than rice and CURRY!
I have stood on places of incredible history where men wagered their lives in hopes to secure a dream or a cause. I have been in Anne Frank’s home where she and family hid from Nazi oppression. I have stood among the most impoverished countries only to be saddened for their plight and grateful for mine.
But today I am at a place I have never been before. I am standing at the corner of four way crossing. One side is Familiar Circle. Then opposite to that is Hope Highway. Behind me is a much traveled road called Fear Expressway. But up ahead is this small one way street that is intriguing but makes my throat dry and palms sweat a bit. It is called TRSUT Street. If you had asked me down through the years, “you trust in God?” I would have boldly said YEAH! Ok, I may have been there a time or two but I had training wheels on for sure.
Today I stand here looking at my future with nothing but trust that that little street ahead of me will take me to places of both adventure and success. I have never been here before. Not here, not this dependant, not this unsure, but amazingly never more excited of what is ahead.
Where are you standing?
Peace and Love!

Mike asked me to write about the journey. I started thinking about my journey. At the age of 5 my father led me into a loving relationship with Jesus. At age 15 God asked me to follow him with the rest of my life. I said yes. My senior year of high school I was the starting nose tackle for the best football team in the state. 3rd game from the final I broke a bone in my foot and lost all of my scholarship opportunities. A few months later God told me to go to Bible College and study youth ministry. I finished my degree and spent the next 16 years building my dream student ministry. I stepped down to try and rebuild a broken marriage. I took a job as a cashier at a fishing store. In a months time I was promoted to manager. In a years time I was up for a promotion and I went in to accept it and was told that I was being let go from the company. I took a month off trained my dog and started my own part time business. I missed being around people so I went back to being a cashier at the fishing store. After being at the fishing store a month I received a call from another retail store asking me to come be a manager for them. I took the job, I am still with that company now and am up for promotion…
Ha! What a journey. Since the age of 15 even in the midst of change one thing has always remained consistent. God has always allowed me to learn something and be a witness to someone. I have ministered to the thousands. I have ministered to the individual. I have talked with a cashier at the fishing shop, I have been cursed by a witch doctor in Haiti. I have had the greatest career and the worst. I have had times with money and times without. The thing that remained consistent was the spirit of God ministering to people because I was in the location and circumstance that He put me in. I was in that location at that time because that was His plan for me. As I look back it is easy to see Gods hand throughout my life. In the middle of some of those times it was hard to see, hear or feel him. God has taken me to places I would have never gone on my own doing. Even though I can look back and see the impact on me and what He has taught me I might never know what impact was made because I was there. What part of the journey are you in? Are you in a learning stage, teaching stage, or ministry stage? Do you recognize that you are there for a reason and a season? What is the reason, and how long is the season? Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed I think about what the apostle Paul wrote when he was defending himself…

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Ok so compared to Paul my journey has been pretty swell! I am excited to see what comes next for both you and me let us hear your stories… BTW I am super excited to meet all you eagles soon!

The Time in which we live!

I am preparing a talk to submit to the FWB chamber of commerce for a lunch roundtable they are providing during the next several months. Any member can submit a subject to better give detail to your particular business. Since I sell faith, hope and love I have to turn my attention to giving solid thoughts for a businessperson to gain value out of this lunch. Here are my points I am considering:

- Create a sense of credibility

- Make trust be the centerpiece of your product.

- Focus on what matters

- Separate who you are by what you do

- Distinguish your business with excellence

So, tell me if you had the opportunity to teach savvy business folk what would tell them!!

Peace and Love!

My friend Dusty in her morning blog announced her PLACE of writing her post was in her tub due to the threat of the tornadoes hitting south Oklahoma last evening.
First I am glad to say that the Takle family including the dog survived another tub endeavor. Apart from the concern for my bud Dusty, her brood and the dog (well if they love the dog you got to be pleased he survived as well) I would love to been a “fly on the wall”.

It is horrible to imagine the loss of life in those storms that hit that area each year. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered loss!

Now, reading the tub sea scrolls by Dusty brought me to this thought. She was in a specific place giving us a feel for the moment as she always does so well in her blogs and we felt the moment because of the setting portrayed in the post.

How often we fail to express our “place” we are in and allow others entrance into what we are feeling. We all felt the urgency of the moment because of the setting Dusty clued us in on.

All of us are in many “places” or settings in our lives and not until we get a bit transparent with the place we are in, people will not know our struggles and our subsequent victories.

Now Dusty is a unique bird for sure, what she feels we will know. She will uncover herself and invite her friends into places because of a unique trust that the place she is in she is not alone!

What place are you in right now? Does anyone know where you really are? What fears or hope you have in that place? Be like Dusty grab a laptop, embrace the tub and tell the someone you trust, so they can identify with your place and have hope theirs too!

Peace and Love!

Security!

Proverbs 27:24 (NLT)
for riches don't last forever, and the crown might not be secure for the next generation.

There may not be a passage more felt by many in our nation right now than this passage! I see it on faces, I hear it in their talk, and see it in our actions. The “ rug” may not be pulled out from our feet yet, but it feels like someone is tugging.

God rebuked Israel many times for misplaced trust and confidence. They were tempted to trust the number of warriors, chariots, bows, and money. But every time they got a lesson to bring them back to square.

The professor maybe stepping to the podium and ready to embark on our next lesson on trust. Life comes to us in revisits of history maybe it looks a little different but it still the same lessons in it.

Proverbs 14:26 (NLT)
Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a place of refuge for their children.

True security is a bit more foundational and we know it, we drift from it often and need a little reminder. Sooner we get then sooner we go to on to the next lesson.

Peace (real peace) and Love!

Ok, there is a kink in superman’s armor and Moses need a few arms lifted! It has been a push and man I am getting a bit weary.

You ever fight and dig and seemingly you hit walls then fear and doubt become present; I seem to be in that mode right now! I know “ it will be alright”, but let me commiserate a bit. Along with the weary mind and body I feel a bit vulnerable right now.

Most who know me has seen me operate at a high level of confidence and predictability……but right now I am being educated in navigation in the dark with a Bic lighter.

I am learning to find a place in me that is apart from anything except my core trust in Christ to hold me on task till I see a “next step”.

We all expect human relationships, or vocation, or self worth to stable us but when it comes down to it we don’t have many bargaining chips when the doctor wants a deeper look.

Here are some staples for me right now!

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Ephes. 3:20 (NLT)
Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

You ever get weary? What do you find as an anchor?

No one read too much into my psyche by this blog! I will make it…might even be highly educated once I LARN a few things!

Psalm 18:31 (NLT)
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?

Psalm 27:5 (NLT)
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Isaiah 51:1 (NLT)
"Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut!

Most of us are very aware of this sense of instability in our culture today. We are seeing Fortune 500 companies scramble to stay alive; we have seen society become divided over war and politics. Things that I thought were “rock solid” have crumbled before our eyes.

We are left to find a security in things we believe will shelter, cover and sustain us. We now know security may not be in a 401K, or a political persuasion. Consider the chaos in India this past week; here a five star hotel was taken by ten thugs totally shook a nation, and reminded us all of what we felt on 9/11.

Those passages I added are just a few of many that point us to stability that comes from an abiding trust that goes beyond circumstance or situation. But notice this again, "Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance—all who seek the Lord! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut!

The inference is huge, we are told that we are to look at where were discovered; we come from the ROCK and therefore ROCK-likeness is to be our persona. In fact if we realize our potential in these unstable times not only will we have a secure place for ourselves we offer hope for security to those whose faith are in arenas that are being shaken.