Moses said, " Now show me your glory." And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you..." (Ex 33: 18,19)
Wow! What must that have been like? God's glory displayed by all His goodness. We continually see and experience God's goodness, yet I think that we only recognize it in snatches. We attribute this blessings and that provision we receive to God's goodness. We proclaim the delight of experiencing God's creation in a fresh snow or brilliant sunset as His goodness to us. I think that I tend to look at God's goodness as a dividend here and a dividend there, yet he is always good, all the time. It is His character. "You are forgiving and good, O Lord." (Ps 86:5) When I fail to recognize God's goodness at all times, then I am failing to recognize the extent of His glory. For it was the manifestation of all His goodness that was God's means of showing His glory to Moses. Oh, that I might not be short sighted. Oh, that I might recognize all of God's goodness, all of the time, so that I might behold His glory!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Raised Hands
Three times (Ex. 23, 24 & Deut. 16) God makes this amazing exclamation. "No one is to appear before me empty-handed."
How do I come before my Lord, my God? Too often it is with wanting hands. Yes, those are empty. Oh that I may first come with hands filled with praise, adoration, exclamation, admiration, and proclamation to my God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is to do. Then as He receives my "sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) I will have hands ready to be filled with His goodness.
How do I come before my Lord, my God? Too often it is with wanting hands. Yes, those are empty. Oh that I may first come with hands filled with praise, adoration, exclamation, admiration, and proclamation to my God for who He is, what He has done, and what He is to do. Then as He receives my "sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) I will have hands ready to be filled with His goodness.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A Friday Night Teen Night talk
On Friday nights, The Coffee Oasis in about two things: a fun safe place and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. God has given us the privilege of providing that two-fold emphasis for almost 12 years now. Wow! Over that time God has brought hundreds of kids through the doors. Sometimes kids have come back after "outgrowing" the Friday Night Teen Night to thank us for providing a safe place. Some have come back to thank us for telling them about Jesus.
Ten years ago a young man, John, came just about every week. He found Teen Night to be a fun safe place as he was weathering those difficult years of high school. John wasn't a particularly popular kid. He was slight in stature and was finding his niche in the ROTC as Bremerton High School and was most excited about his involvement in the Orienteering Club. We weekly hung out with John: played pool and table games, talked about his life and most importantly we talked about Jesus, lots!
John will never come back to thank us for a fun safe place. Nor will he come to thank us for talking to him about Jesus. John committed suicide a couple of weeks ago.
In the book of Psalms God describes people in two ways: a tree that flourishes by the stream or as chaff that is blown by the wind. What is it that makes the difference in what a person becomes? It is what they do with God and His Word. That same Psalm (1) identifies people with one of two labels: righteous and wicked. Romans 3:23 says that we all start out wicked; "All have sinned..." I was there, many who come through the doors of The Coffee Oasis are still there. Romans 6:23 says there is one penalty for that sin which we all have and that is death. Yet, John 3:16 says that God loved us so much He send His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty of death. But, we must accept it.
John didn't ever accept that gift of life and without it, the burdens of this earthly life became too much for him. He never found God's hope and forgiveness.
Acts 16:31 simply says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." We do not have to dry up to chaff that is blown about by the wind. Jesus offers life and hope. Believe.
Ten years ago a young man, John, came just about every week. He found Teen Night to be a fun safe place as he was weathering those difficult years of high school. John wasn't a particularly popular kid. He was slight in stature and was finding his niche in the ROTC as Bremerton High School and was most excited about his involvement in the Orienteering Club. We weekly hung out with John: played pool and table games, talked about his life and most importantly we talked about Jesus, lots!
John will never come back to thank us for a fun safe place. Nor will he come to thank us for talking to him about Jesus. John committed suicide a couple of weeks ago.
In the book of Psalms God describes people in two ways: a tree that flourishes by the stream or as chaff that is blown by the wind. What is it that makes the difference in what a person becomes? It is what they do with God and His Word. That same Psalm (1) identifies people with one of two labels: righteous and wicked. Romans 3:23 says that we all start out wicked; "All have sinned..." I was there, many who come through the doors of The Coffee Oasis are still there. Romans 6:23 says there is one penalty for that sin which we all have and that is death. Yet, John 3:16 says that God loved us so much He send His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty of death. But, we must accept it.
John didn't ever accept that gift of life and without it, the burdens of this earthly life became too much for him. He never found God's hope and forgiveness.
Acts 16:31 simply says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." We do not have to dry up to chaff that is blown about by the wind. Jesus offers life and hope. Believe.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Not Forgotten
"God remembered Noah and all the wild anaimals and the livestock that were with him in the ark..." (Genesis 8:1)
Sometimes when we are in the middle of what God has called us to do and things are just carrying on and on, we feel like God has sort of forgotten about us. We would like a bit of reassurance that we are where we are supposed to be and doing what God is still wanting us to be doing. I think that is how Noah was probably feeling 150 days into God's flood as he carried on his daily duties aboard the ark. As we know, God hadn't forgotten Noah and all the animals and neither has He forgotten us. Faithfulness is all He asks of us. He will not forget, He will remember. And as He sent the wind over the earth for the waters to recede, He will continue to minister to us through His Holy Spirit as we carry through the task that He has set before us. Praise God.
Sometimes when we are in the middle of what God has called us to do and things are just carrying on and on, we feel like God has sort of forgotten about us. We would like a bit of reassurance that we are where we are supposed to be and doing what God is still wanting us to be doing. I think that is how Noah was probably feeling 150 days into God's flood as he carried on his daily duties aboard the ark. As we know, God hadn't forgotten Noah and all the animals and neither has He forgotten us. Faithfulness is all He asks of us. He will not forget, He will remember. And as He sent the wind over the earth for the waters to recede, He will continue to minister to us through His Holy Spirit as we carry through the task that He has set before us. Praise God.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Basking in God's Goodness
Every good and perfect gift is from above...(James 1:17) Wow, have I felt poured down upon. Remember the old hymn, There Shall be Showers of Blessings. Beside the beauty of the snow that we have delighted in this past week, I have been filled to the full with the delight of family. To begin with, our Coffee Oasis family is so excited about Jesus. The worship and praise times have been bonding to our Lord and Savior. And the excitement of proclaiming Him to the individuals that God brings along our paths is invigorating. I can't put words to the excitement of seeing others grasping God's salvation and amazing goodness. Our larger Hope in Christ family has enthusiastically entered into God's moving to provide the drive thru to expand the Coffee Oasis business and training. God's provision has been unbelievable. It is on Him alone that we depend and He alone has provided! Showers of Blessing!
Then yesterday (Christmas) we were warmed to the depths of our hearts as we spent the day with our children, grandchild(!), parents, siblings, neices and nephews and 4 "extra" family. Oh, the blessing of a godly heritage. Oh, the sweet fellowship with those with whom we have shared life for so many years. God has been, is, and will be truly good, always!
Then yesterday (Christmas) we were warmed to the depths of our hearts as we spent the day with our children, grandchild(!), parents, siblings, neices and nephews and 4 "extra" family. Oh, the blessing of a godly heritage. Oh, the sweet fellowship with those with whom we have shared life for so many years. God has been, is, and will be truly good, always!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
They Found Him
"So the shepherds hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child." (Luke 2:16,17) "'...a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'" (2:11)
I am constantly challenged in my heart to "spread the word concerning what has been told to me about this child." Yet sometimes I feel so inept. How do I turn a conversation to what is so important to me. It's easy to talk about anything else that I'm jazzed about. And I am jazzed about Christ the Lord. Oh, that I would be bold. Oh, that I would glow from the edges just as the photo of our lawn display shows.
I am constantly challenged in my heart to "spread the word concerning what has been told to me about this child." Yet sometimes I feel so inept. How do I turn a conversation to what is so important to me. It's easy to talk about anything else that I'm jazzed about. And I am jazzed about Christ the Lord. Oh, that I would be bold. Oh, that I would glow from the edges just as the photo of our lawn display shows.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Fullness and Emptiness
"Futility of thinking...darkened in their understanding...hardening of their hearts...lost all sensitivity...given themselves over...with a continual lust for more." (Ephesians 4) Bleak! I felt surrounded on Friday night as I sat on the edge of the stage next to S.
"Are you still with L.?" I asked her. "I saw him walking downtown this afternoon and you weren't with him."
"Oh, no," was her immediate response. "He was too controlling."
Did this surprise me? No. I honestly can't count the number of boyfriends I have seen come and go in S.'s life. Each one is her hope for the security, love and care that she so deeply longs for. Friday night she was cozy with D. Two weeks ago D. had proposed to another girl while he was drunk and that was the drama going around our Teen Night Outreach. Now, he kept kissing S. every other sentence as we were trying to talk. Totally distracting and meaningless!
At the same time, right in front of me, M., a street mom, in her 30's was cozying up to C. who is a young gal just 20. The physical affection was uncomfortable. Actually, it was sickening. Futility, dark, hardened, lost, given over, continual lust for more! (Yes, we have rules regarding the public display of affection, but at this moment, it was out the window.)
I felt crushed in upon by the depravity around me. It was ugly. It was empty. Actually, I would say that it was "full" of emptiness! There was no room in these kid's lives on Friday night for anything but the emptiness that they were given over to. Any words of truth spoken fell on dull ears. Ephesians 4 talks of this way of life as being corrupted by deceitful desires.
In sharp contrast, the beginning of Ephesians 4 directs our thoughts to a life that is completely humble, patient, bearing with one another in love. God's people prepared for works of service. The purpose being so that we can built up the body of Christ. The ultimate goal: attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. It was that manifestation of the fullness of Christ in the early believers that earned them the title of "Christian" from the world around them. What am I manifesting in my life? What am I full of? Am I full of emptiness as I chase after futile things that lead me to continually lust for more? Or am I full of Christ? What does Christ see? What does the world around me see?
"Are you still with L.?" I asked her. "I saw him walking downtown this afternoon and you weren't with him."
"Oh, no," was her immediate response. "He was too controlling."
Did this surprise me? No. I honestly can't count the number of boyfriends I have seen come and go in S.'s life. Each one is her hope for the security, love and care that she so deeply longs for. Friday night she was cozy with D. Two weeks ago D. had proposed to another girl while he was drunk and that was the drama going around our Teen Night Outreach. Now, he kept kissing S. every other sentence as we were trying to talk. Totally distracting and meaningless!
At the same time, right in front of me, M., a street mom, in her 30's was cozying up to C. who is a young gal just 20. The physical affection was uncomfortable. Actually, it was sickening. Futility, dark, hardened, lost, given over, continual lust for more! (Yes, we have rules regarding the public display of affection, but at this moment, it was out the window.)
I felt crushed in upon by the depravity around me. It was ugly. It was empty. Actually, I would say that it was "full" of emptiness! There was no room in these kid's lives on Friday night for anything but the emptiness that they were given over to. Any words of truth spoken fell on dull ears. Ephesians 4 talks of this way of life as being corrupted by deceitful desires.
In sharp contrast, the beginning of Ephesians 4 directs our thoughts to a life that is completely humble, patient, bearing with one another in love. God's people prepared for works of service. The purpose being so that we can built up the body of Christ. The ultimate goal: attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. It was that manifestation of the fullness of Christ in the early believers that earned them the title of "Christian" from the world around them. What am I manifesting in my life? What am I full of? Am I full of emptiness as I chase after futile things that lead me to continually lust for more? Or am I full of Christ? What does Christ see? What does the world around me see?
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