Jacob was going about obtaining the blessing the wrong way. The desire that was in his heart was right. But his method was terribly wrong. O' there are so many Jacobs in our world. Seeking the blessing yet pursuing it in terribly wrong ways. Hungry for something they don't quite understand, searching in the wrong world. Let us reach them, let us re direct them. They're not as far away as they appear.
Why would God so love this deceiver. It could only be his desire for the birthright & the blessing. Why would he so hate Esau, it could only be his despising of it. Though Jacobs faults were many,
something was in him that sought both the blessing and the birthright. Let the lesson be clear. If your heart desires the things of God, many faults can be overcome.
And the hated Esau, was it that Esau wanted the blessing yet not the birthright. He sought to be blessed in the way he chose, rather than finding Gods will for his life, and being blessed therein.
Esau mourned the loss of the blessing. Yet never do we see him mourn the loss of the birthright.
Jacob had strong desire yet his faith was weak. As Grandpa Abraham, he felt he needed to help God out. He continued supplanting as if he could not wholly depend on God till the day of the angelic wrestling match. Sometimes we refuse to depend upon God, even the God we desire, until we are backed into the corner and are stripped of all other options. Jacob was learning step by step, that he could fully trust God. for Jacob had a promise through the birthright, and a blessing. Total trust is only developed in time and experience. God will prove Himself faithful, He hath said, I will not leave you or forsake you, so that we might say, I will not fear...
God will work with our fears, he will work with our faults; dishonesty, pleasure seeking, and many others. But if we, as Esau simply care nothing for the glory of God, care nothing for what life God is offering, what can he do?
The blessing was to be blessed.
The birthright was to be a blessing.
We all love the blessing. But how hungry are we for the birthright, that makes us a blessing?
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Beyond Rejection
There are many disappointments in life. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." -Proverbs 13:12 There will be seasons when our hopes fail. Hopes for a healing, that end in the grave. Hopes for a marriage, now destroyed. Hopes for a womb that never bares. Hopes for love, for friendship, for companionship. Although some will invest their hopes in material things, Most people realize that the fulfillment they seek is relational. We sing..."Money can't buy me love!" and "Love is all you need" There lies an innate undeniable truth in the preeminence of love. We come out of the womb craving it. And we always will. Under the heading of real love comes all the things we want; friendship, companionship, intimacy, honor, respect, bonding... fulfillment.
This is why the hope of these things being deferred, makes us sick to the heart. We realize that we have very few people that really love us, so when we put one in the grave, it hurts immeasurably. Live a little while and you will see that day. I've seen a father and mother bury their firstborn son, and with him, a part of themselves. I will never forget that father's wailing for his lost hope.
Yet it is not only the grave that bereaves us of our hope of love. Sometimes hope dies first. I attended the funeral of a friend a while back. He died a young man, murdered by his own hand. What a tragedy. Although I knew him well, I had never met his family. They were estranged. As the funeral went on I realized that they didn't even know the man I knew. Many hadn't seen him in years, and even then, only occasionally. They had lost him, before they lost him. What immense regret.
Who have you lost? Not to death, for that is done, but to life? Relationships are fragile structures that can be demolished by unkind words and deeds. We can forgive, but if we never invest the time to rebuild, the relationship will still lie in ruins. We've all been there. We've seen some thoughtless act rip the roof off a relationship, leaving it exposed to the elements. Maybe it was just something inconsiderate. Or maybe it was utter betrayal. But somehow we have all seen relationships turn to rubble. In the ruins of every relationship there is a common element: Rejection. The reason you can find rejection somewhere among the ruins, is because it is rejection that strips us of the desire to build again. Rejection defers, and eventually destroys, hope. Relationships have been known to weather an incredible amount of diverse storms only to rise stronger than before. But rejection strips us of hope to rebuild. So we simply walk away.
All rejection hurts:
"I'm not interested in you."
"I don't care about you."
"You don't matter to me."
"You fool."
Feel that? It hurts, does it not?
So how do we react to rejection? Usually with... rejection. "Well... I don't care about you either" It seems silly, but that's exactly what we do. Why? Its our defense.
So what's the answer then? Relationships are of too great value to waste. How do we deal with the rejection? Only the "man of sorrows" can help you love deep enough to weather rejection. "He was despised and rejected of men."-Isaiah 53:3 No one has ever faced rejection like the man of sorrows. The governor sought to kill him as a child. They tried to throw him off a cliff in reaction to his first sermon. Mocked, derided, scoffed, falsely accused, betrayed, forsaken, tortured and crucified, yet his love marched on. He can help you love beyond rejection, because he's been there. He can help you build again. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."-John 2:19 Your hurt is real, you've been damaged, hope may have been killed. But he is the resurrection, you can love again. You can love beyond rejection, rebuild, and hope again.
This is why the hope of these things being deferred, makes us sick to the heart. We realize that we have very few people that really love us, so when we put one in the grave, it hurts immeasurably. Live a little while and you will see that day. I've seen a father and mother bury their firstborn son, and with him, a part of themselves. I will never forget that father's wailing for his lost hope.
Yet it is not only the grave that bereaves us of our hope of love. Sometimes hope dies first. I attended the funeral of a friend a while back. He died a young man, murdered by his own hand. What a tragedy. Although I knew him well, I had never met his family. They were estranged. As the funeral went on I realized that they didn't even know the man I knew. Many hadn't seen him in years, and even then, only occasionally. They had lost him, before they lost him. What immense regret.
Who have you lost? Not to death, for that is done, but to life? Relationships are fragile structures that can be demolished by unkind words and deeds. We can forgive, but if we never invest the time to rebuild, the relationship will still lie in ruins. We've all been there. We've seen some thoughtless act rip the roof off a relationship, leaving it exposed to the elements. Maybe it was just something inconsiderate. Or maybe it was utter betrayal. But somehow we have all seen relationships turn to rubble. In the ruins of every relationship there is a common element: Rejection. The reason you can find rejection somewhere among the ruins, is because it is rejection that strips us of the desire to build again. Rejection defers, and eventually destroys, hope. Relationships have been known to weather an incredible amount of diverse storms only to rise stronger than before. But rejection strips us of hope to rebuild. So we simply walk away.
All rejection hurts:
"I'm not interested in you."
"I don't care about you."
"You don't matter to me."
"You fool."
Feel that? It hurts, does it not?
So how do we react to rejection? Usually with... rejection. "Well... I don't care about you either" It seems silly, but that's exactly what we do. Why? Its our defense.
So what's the answer then? Relationships are of too great value to waste. How do we deal with the rejection? Only the "man of sorrows" can help you love deep enough to weather rejection. "He was despised and rejected of men."-Isaiah 53:3 No one has ever faced rejection like the man of sorrows. The governor sought to kill him as a child. They tried to throw him off a cliff in reaction to his first sermon. Mocked, derided, scoffed, falsely accused, betrayed, forsaken, tortured and crucified, yet his love marched on. He can help you love beyond rejection, because he's been there. He can help you build again. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."-John 2:19 Your hurt is real, you've been damaged, hope may have been killed. But he is the resurrection, you can love again. You can love beyond rejection, rebuild, and hope again.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Cursed Comfort
Cursed Comfort, Cursed Contentment.
As a subtle garden snake, carnal comfort has slithered in and deceived us into forsaking the heavenly treasure for worthless trinkets. Cursed comfort, you have eased the sting of guilt. A sting so sweet. A sting that's drives to our knees in holy repentance. Cursed comfort has numbed our conscience, a conscience of unmeasurable value. The birthing place of the deep cry for mercy and deliverance. Cursed comfort has redirected our treasures to this moth corrupted earth. Cursed comfort, you have blinded our eyes from the true treasure, the glory of the nail scarred hands, and deceived us into devaluing Him to 30 pieces of silver.
Where are the days of Luther, Wesley, Finney, Edwards, Brainard, and Bounds. The holy unrest of the Monravians, of which one third were missionaries. Where are the days of Seymor, Parham and Bartleman, where is that holy discontent that drove them to long hours of weeping on there knees until entire nations and generations were transformed by the power of God.
As a subtle garden snake, carnal comfort has slithered in and deceived us into forsaking the heavenly treasure for worthless trinkets. Cursed comfort, you have eased the sting of guilt. A sting so sweet. A sting that's drives to our knees in holy repentance. Cursed comfort has numbed our conscience, a conscience of unmeasurable value. The birthing place of the deep cry for mercy and deliverance. Cursed comfort has redirected our treasures to this moth corrupted earth. Cursed comfort, you have blinded our eyes from the true treasure, the glory of the nail scarred hands, and deceived us into devaluing Him to 30 pieces of silver.
Where are the days of Luther, Wesley, Finney, Edwards, Brainard, and Bounds. The holy unrest of the Monravians, of which one third were missionaries. Where are the days of Seymor, Parham and Bartleman, where is that holy discontent that drove them to long hours of weeping on there knees until entire nations and generations were transformed by the power of God.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Winners & losers
Who is a winner?
Who is a loser?
Is the winner the richest or the most famous? The most accomplished or the most powerful? Or maybe the most liked? Is it the man drunk with fame or is the one full of success? Is the winner the family man, or the businessman? Self realization, awareness, education, expression, or attainment? Which one wins?
Can we live a life of attainment and yet lose?
Somehow we all realize deep down that none of these things really constitute a win in the game of life.
So what does?
simple.
Finding and knowing and doing exactly what you were created and set here on earth to do. Your call if ya will. Or to make it even easier.
God.
Only the creator can reveal his purpose in us. Only the creator can truly optimize the use of his creation.
Fame is vanity, lust is a lie. Money brings emptiness. Entertainment is a smoke screen. Power corrupts, education is always incomplete, friends come and friends go. But our God-crafted eternal destiny sits on high, as the one true success. Seek it, Seek Him, and win.
Who is a loser?
Is the winner the richest or the most famous? The most accomplished or the most powerful? Or maybe the most liked? Is it the man drunk with fame or is the one full of success? Is the winner the family man, or the businessman? Self realization, awareness, education, expression, or attainment? Which one wins?
Can we live a life of attainment and yet lose?
Somehow we all realize deep down that none of these things really constitute a win in the game of life.
So what does?
simple.
Finding and knowing and doing exactly what you were created and set here on earth to do. Your call if ya will. Or to make it even easier.
God.
Only the creator can reveal his purpose in us. Only the creator can truly optimize the use of his creation.
Fame is vanity, lust is a lie. Money brings emptiness. Entertainment is a smoke screen. Power corrupts, education is always incomplete, friends come and friends go. But our God-crafted eternal destiny sits on high, as the one true success. Seek it, Seek Him, and win.
Till Christ be formed in me.
How deeply do we desire for Jesus to live in our world? Do we really believe him to be the hero this generation so needs? If he were to personally visit my town, how would he impact it? Would His power-filled preaching and miracle working sweep my city with salvation? How excellent would it be?
I don't believe I could even imagine all that would happen if Jesus Christ were to meekly walk these streets where I live, in the flesh. So many lives changed; deliverance, peace, healing, reconciliation, joy, restoration.
What could he do in one week? One month? One year? How about a few decades? How much do we believe His personal visitation to be worth? If we new a certain work, a certain action, could bring Jesus to town, how quickly would we give it?
Do I hunger to see it a reality? Do I really want it to be? Do I want it enough to offer me?
You see Jesus is perfectly willing to come, just not without you and me.
Here's a body, here's a mind, stripped and cleansed.
Gone is all Ive ever been.
Stripped of my passions both good and bad.
Stripped of all dreams and ambitions I've ever had.
Clean from agendas that once lifted up me.
I present my life to thee.
I must seek to lose what is mine, to gain Christ. So he can walk this city in this body. So he can see its needs through these eyes. So he can heal its hurts with these hands. He can come. Its a reality. But first I must move out. So he can move in. I must die so he can live. What a travesty to stop him from coming here, because I refuse to get out of his way. What a crime. I abhor the part pf my carnal self that hides the glorious Christ. Let the cross prevail! Let me pray, until I'm out of his way. Let me start today. Let ever empty face I see haunt me for its redemption, till Christ be formed in me.
I don't believe I could even imagine all that would happen if Jesus Christ were to meekly walk these streets where I live, in the flesh. So many lives changed; deliverance, peace, healing, reconciliation, joy, restoration.
What could he do in one week? One month? One year? How about a few decades? How much do we believe His personal visitation to be worth? If we new a certain work, a certain action, could bring Jesus to town, how quickly would we give it?
Do I hunger to see it a reality? Do I really want it to be? Do I want it enough to offer me?
You see Jesus is perfectly willing to come, just not without you and me.
Here's a body, here's a mind, stripped and cleansed.
Gone is all Ive ever been.
Stripped of my passions both good and bad.
Stripped of all dreams and ambitions I've ever had.
Clean from agendas that once lifted up me.
I present my life to thee.
I must seek to lose what is mine, to gain Christ. So he can walk this city in this body. So he can see its needs through these eyes. So he can heal its hurts with these hands. He can come. Its a reality. But first I must move out. So he can move in. I must die so he can live. What a travesty to stop him from coming here, because I refuse to get out of his way. What a crime. I abhor the part pf my carnal self that hides the glorious Christ. Let the cross prevail! Let me pray, until I'm out of his way. Let me start today. Let ever empty face I see haunt me for its redemption, till Christ be formed in me.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Landmark of resurrected dreams
Some things emanate from the very depth of our being. These are more than hobbies or interests. Bike racing is not one of Lance Armstrong's interests, its not even his employment, it's tied to his soul. Swimming is not something to do on a boring summer day to Michael Phelps. He lives to swim. We are endowed by our creator with a potential for passion. Every Olympic or professional athlete must "live" their game to climb that high. Pick any name from the top athletes of our day. You will find their sport is part of everything they do. Their diet, exercise, rest, it is all centered around the passion they live for. Just imagine Michael Jordon living as a donut-eating couch potato. His talent would die. Golfing's not leisure time to Tiger Woods.
As children we dream of living our passion. Go ask any child what he wants to be when he grows up and he will select from the highest rungs of society. I want to be.... President, Ambassador, Pro athlete, Firefighter, Doctor, Teacher, Actor... basically they say, I'm gonna be a hero! I'm gonna save the world. People will stand in awe of my accomplishments. I bring world peace, cure aids, cure cancer, make diet soda that tastes good, eliminate mosquitoes, make all fat people skinny, short people tall, remove all calories from donuts and candy, eradicate racism, and fix the weather! Ha! And that's just the beginning. Come on now, think back, (for some it's way back) you used to dream too. That fire once burned in your innocent soul. But what happened? Read that again slow. But... what... happened...? What happened to the dream? What happened to the passion? Where went the fire? Was it buried with a loved one? Crushed by a friend or parent? Stripped from your heart by a series of disappointments? When was it replaced by more "realistic" goals and less costly ambitions? You may not remember the day your dreams died, only to be replaced by mundane duties of life. You may not be able to remember the season but you know what I'm talking about.
Life will crush our dreams. Yep, I said WILL. There will be crushing pressure on your innocent passion. But that is the process of making a dream a reality. Just ask Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, (most of which wanted to kill him). Falsely imprisoned, betrayed and forgotten. But the very trial that came to crush him landed him smack dab in the will of God. Every passion will go through the fire of mocking persecution. It will be derided derailed and defamed. But if it's from God, it will live again.
I know what your thinking. Its too late for me. I'm to far along the road of life. That's what 80 year old Moses said at the burning bush. But God proved him wrong. He can prove you wrong too. He delights in it. But listen up, this is the difference. It may well be too late for "our" dreams, but it is not to late for "His" dream. You may not ever become Mr. Universe (the speedo would be scary!) It may be too late to be Ms. America. The athlete, doctor... cowboy or super hero may be a bit out of reach. But God's dream is not out of reach for you. God has a dream for you. A soul gripping passionate life encompassing dream.
This is the secret, "your" dreams are subject to the corruption of moth and rust. Your dreams can die to never live again. But the dream of God is as eternal as God himself. Though mocked derided, persecuted, beaten, scourged and crucified, the dream of God will rise again.
Have you answered the unreasonable, unrealistic, call of God. Have you warmed yourself at the burning bush of purpose only to walk away and trade for a demeaned token of religion? Gods dream for your life is never an interest, hobby or token. It is always a life consuming passion. Many will choose an easier less expensive road and thus accomplish little. But high on a distant hill stands a landmark to an unmovable dream. A landmark of terrible crushing that molded the greatest success. A landmark of a dream that stood the highest test of all of men's cruelties. All the way to the grave. All the way to Calvary. Where every dream died, but rose again. Won't you come to that cross, and let your dream live again.
As children we dream of living our passion. Go ask any child what he wants to be when he grows up and he will select from the highest rungs of society. I want to be.... President, Ambassador, Pro athlete, Firefighter, Doctor, Teacher, Actor... basically they say, I'm gonna be a hero! I'm gonna save the world. People will stand in awe of my accomplishments. I bring world peace, cure aids, cure cancer, make diet soda that tastes good, eliminate mosquitoes, make all fat people skinny, short people tall, remove all calories from donuts and candy, eradicate racism, and fix the weather! Ha! And that's just the beginning. Come on now, think back, (for some it's way back) you used to dream too. That fire once burned in your innocent soul. But what happened? Read that again slow. But... what... happened...? What happened to the dream? What happened to the passion? Where went the fire? Was it buried with a loved one? Crushed by a friend or parent? Stripped from your heart by a series of disappointments? When was it replaced by more "realistic" goals and less costly ambitions? You may not remember the day your dreams died, only to be replaced by mundane duties of life. You may not be able to remember the season but you know what I'm talking about.
Life will crush our dreams. Yep, I said WILL. There will be crushing pressure on your innocent passion. But that is the process of making a dream a reality. Just ask Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, (most of which wanted to kill him). Falsely imprisoned, betrayed and forgotten. But the very trial that came to crush him landed him smack dab in the will of God. Every passion will go through the fire of mocking persecution. It will be derided derailed and defamed. But if it's from God, it will live again.
I know what your thinking. Its too late for me. I'm to far along the road of life. That's what 80 year old Moses said at the burning bush. But God proved him wrong. He can prove you wrong too. He delights in it. But listen up, this is the difference. It may well be too late for "our" dreams, but it is not to late for "His" dream. You may not ever become Mr. Universe (the speedo would be scary!) It may be too late to be Ms. America. The athlete, doctor... cowboy or super hero may be a bit out of reach. But God's dream is not out of reach for you. God has a dream for you. A soul gripping passionate life encompassing dream.
This is the secret, "your" dreams are subject to the corruption of moth and rust. Your dreams can die to never live again. But the dream of God is as eternal as God himself. Though mocked derided, persecuted, beaten, scourged and crucified, the dream of God will rise again.
Have you answered the unreasonable, unrealistic, call of God. Have you warmed yourself at the burning bush of purpose only to walk away and trade for a demeaned token of religion? Gods dream for your life is never an interest, hobby or token. It is always a life consuming passion. Many will choose an easier less expensive road and thus accomplish little. But high on a distant hill stands a landmark to an unmovable dream. A landmark of terrible crushing that molded the greatest success. A landmark of a dream that stood the highest test of all of men's cruelties. All the way to the grave. All the way to Calvary. Where every dream died, but rose again. Won't you come to that cross, and let your dream live again.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Unfair
Unfair.
We have all heard or said at one time or another the phrase, "who said life was fair?" Yet when faced with injustice, we never cease to ponder why, or weep why, or scream why? Really, we do want life to be fair. And we somewhat expect it to be fair. And when some wrong slaps us across the face we are perplexed. Why, why me, why her, why now, why so soon, why so late. So life then is not fair, but is God? If God is fair and life is not, then is God not authoring life. So we ponder, is it my mistakes that brought this tradgedy? Is it my weakness, my faults? We look in, we look out. Its his fault, their neglect! And we look up and say God why? Some shake their fist at heaven, some grow bitter. Some bow their knee, and grow better. Yet still the why's go unanswered. Job was forced to face the unfairness of life. Left alone with boils and finger pointers, he respectfully pondered, wept, and screamed... why. He asked it from every angle, he looked in and out and up. Opinions flew like the hailstorm that killed his sheep. Emotions shook like the earthquake that killed his kids. But answers....? Not until the 38th chapter does Gods step in. But he doesn't give an answer. He gives some questions of his own. "Where were you when I made the heavens and the earth?" He asks Job about everything from stars to babies, from hail to sea creatures. Thus giving Job an unending list of things Job did not understand, that God fully understood. A list of things Job could not explain, that God could. A list of things completely out of Jobs hands, but safely in the hands of God. God's own list of hows, whats wheres whens and why's. To which Job could only reply " I do not understand ".
Is that ok with you and me. Are we ok with the idea that the list of things which only God understands is infinatly long. Can we with Job come to grip with the fact that God is not obligated to explain things to us? Can we survive not knowing? Will we grow bitter or better? Will we blame, or will we trust? That's the answer by the way, did you catch it? Gods answer to Job is the same answer he gives to you and me. A simple 3 words...
"Just trust me".
We have all heard or said at one time or another the phrase, "who said life was fair?" Yet when faced with injustice, we never cease to ponder why, or weep why, or scream why? Really, we do want life to be fair. And we somewhat expect it to be fair. And when some wrong slaps us across the face we are perplexed. Why, why me, why her, why now, why so soon, why so late. So life then is not fair, but is God? If God is fair and life is not, then is God not authoring life. So we ponder, is it my mistakes that brought this tradgedy? Is it my weakness, my faults? We look in, we look out. Its his fault, their neglect! And we look up and say God why? Some shake their fist at heaven, some grow bitter. Some bow their knee, and grow better. Yet still the why's go unanswered. Job was forced to face the unfairness of life. Left alone with boils and finger pointers, he respectfully pondered, wept, and screamed... why. He asked it from every angle, he looked in and out and up. Opinions flew like the hailstorm that killed his sheep. Emotions shook like the earthquake that killed his kids. But answers....? Not until the 38th chapter does Gods step in. But he doesn't give an answer. He gives some questions of his own. "Where were you when I made the heavens and the earth?" He asks Job about everything from stars to babies, from hail to sea creatures. Thus giving Job an unending list of things Job did not understand, that God fully understood. A list of things Job could not explain, that God could. A list of things completely out of Jobs hands, but safely in the hands of God. God's own list of hows, whats wheres whens and why's. To which Job could only reply " I do not understand ".
Is that ok with you and me. Are we ok with the idea that the list of things which only God understands is infinatly long. Can we with Job come to grip with the fact that God is not obligated to explain things to us? Can we survive not knowing? Will we grow bitter or better? Will we blame, or will we trust? That's the answer by the way, did you catch it? Gods answer to Job is the same answer he gives to you and me. A simple 3 words...
"Just trust me".
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