Posted in Hope, Humor on December 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »
One of my favorite Christian comedians is Tim Hawkins. I ran across this clip and was reminded of how we often sing words and don’t even think about what we are singing.
This Christmas, don’t let the routine get in the way of the meaning of Christmas. Stop and think about it. Remember that Christmas is the celebration of God’s stepping into this world physically in order to illustrate for us how we should live.
Christmas – Immanuel – God with us!
That is what we celebrate.
Posted in Grace, Hope on December 2, 2010| 1 Comment »
I have the exciting opportunity to speak to the South Plains College BSM (Baptist Student Ministries) luncheon today at the Reese campus. I have been thinking about this opportunity for a few days and what I should talk about. Obviously, the thoughts of Christmas are on all of our minds. However, I don’t really know why but I have been thinking about scars. I have talked about scars in the past. You can take a look at that post here.
In the context of Advent (the coming of Christmas), I am reminded that God decided to come personally to a hurting and scarred world. All of us have scars. Some of them are physical, visible scars and some are possibly a little less noticeable – emotional or even spiritual scars.
In the midst of our scars, today we need to remember that God loves us in spite of our scars. In fact, it is not unusual that our scars give us an understanding of the depth of God’s love. You see, God loves us regardless of our past mistakes.
Remember that God loves us with all our problems and rebellion, with all our bad decisions and self-centeredness. So much so that Jesus actually came to live among us and teach us about God’s forgiveness and grace. This is the story of Christmas. This is what I will think on today as I look upon my own scars.
How about you?
Posted in Family, Hope on November 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in America. A day when family comes together to eat too much and spend a wonderful time reliving memories and making new ones.
My prayer for each of you this Thanksgiving season is that God grants you clarity in seeing all the ways you are blessed. Give thanks this week.
I have one favor to ask of you. Holidays are a wonderful time but they can also be very difficult, particularly for those who have recently lost someone close to them. For some, tomorrow will be a big reminder of who is no longer at the gathering. If you know someone who has experienced a loss this past year, reach out to them and let them know you care. That will go a long way to making their holiday a bit brighter and I have a sneaking suspicion it will brighten yours as well.
Count your blessings!
Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on November 23, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Yesterday, I talked about the instructions in James chapter 1 that tells us we should be joyful when we encounter trials (you can link to that post here). We talked about the difference between joy and happiness.
This morning as I sat down to have my prayer time, I read a blog post from Jim Dennison. I ran across his blog, God Issues, a couple of weeks ago and have been reading it pretty regularly since. Today, his post goes right along with this idea of joyfulness in the midst of struggle (you can link to his full post here).
Jim makes a very interesting and helpful point in his discussion of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. He points out that Paul did not say, “Give thanks for all circumstances.” What Paul said was, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Isn’t it amazing what a difference one little preposition can make! We don’t have to be thankful for the trials and struggles that will come our way. But we do need to remain thankful for God’s provision even in the midst of them.
Regardless of what life throws our way, God is still in control. Psalm 11:4 says, “The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.”
So today, no matter where you are or what you find yourself dealing with, give thanks for there is a bigger picture being created and God is the one holding the brush!
Posted in Formation, Hope on November 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Several weeks ago, I began a small group for young adults, 25 and younger. It has been a true blessing to get to know each of the folks more deeply. Yesterday, we started a new study – on the book of James. We made it all the way through verse 3 (this may take a while).
The reason for the amount of time spent in those first three verses comes in verse 2. It says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
Let that verse sink in for a minute – the writer says we should think about it as joy when we have to endure difficult things. Our first reaction is to think, “What was the writer of this book on when he wrote this?” I mean, how am I supposed to be pleased when my water heater goes out and I have to spend half of a day replacing it – or when the heater goes out on my car and it spends two days in the shop and is still not fixed (yes, that was a picture of last week in my life). How are we to be happy when things like this occur?
One of the first things to understand is that there is a difference between happiness and joy. The author of James does not say we should be happy and bubbly when things go wrong, he says we should have joy. Happiness is an emotion that comes when things are going our way. While joy incorporates an element of happiness, it is much deeper. Joy involves an inner peace that comes when we have a glimpse of the bigger picture. Joy, for a Jesus follower, is the result of knowing to whom you belong. It is the liberation that we have in knowing that we don’t have to worry about tomorrow because God is in control.
This verse is evidence in scripture that we must realize that trials will come. When we commit our lives to Christ, we are not suddenly and mysteriously protected from bad things. Bad things happen to good people – that is life. But what the verse does say is that we should have joy when they do come because come they will.
The reason for the joy can be found in the next two verses. We are told that these trials will produce perseverance (patience and endurance – true experience) and this perseverance will result in maturity.
So here is the question for you today? Are you experiencing a trial that seems overwhelming? If not, stop and thank God and then realize a trial will come. But if you are, remember that God is in control. God has a plan. And if you focus on the big picture – maturity and experience – you can have joy even in the midst of it.
Be blessed today!
Posted in Church, Hope, Missions on November 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The response from the day of fasting for Mexico has been great! I had a friend tell me on Wednesday that she participated in the fast and prayer for Mexico on Tuesday. She shared that she had never fasted in her life. It was a good experience for her reminding her of just how much God has blessed her.
I have fasted before (not regularly as is pretty obvious by my physique) but this time was different. With the added component of scheduled prayer times and ideas for prayer, my day and my thoughts were more focused. My primary experience was mixed. It was a combination of gratitude for the way God has blessed my family and me and a deep and profound brokenness for the people living in continual fear just across the border from my state. I came away from the day even more committed to continue to pray for our neighbors along the border.
My request is that you continue to pray for them as well.
As we enter into the Thanksgiving season, my challenge for each of us is this: spend time thinking about how truly blessed you are and take a moment or two to stop and thank God for those blessings. As you walk through this exercise, remember that there are people along our border not nearly as blessed and offer a prayer for them. Ask that each individual – man, woman and child – feel God’s presence in an overwhelming way. Pray that God’s peace would envelope each person and that they might find rest in knowing that no matter how bad their situation may be, God is in the midst of it with them.
Thank you for your continued concern for our brothers and sisters!
Be blessed today!
Posted in Church, Hope, Missions on November 16, 2010| 2 Comments »
For those of you who have been following my thoughts over the last several days, you know that today is the day that I have called for a fast for Mexico – particularly for the people along the border between Mexico and Texas.
I appreciate all of you who have left comments here or on Face Book or sent emails voicing your support. Even if you can’t fast today, I have put some thought into some intentional prayer needs with some suggested times to pray. Follow if you like or simply pray for these folks in a manner that best fits your journey.
8:30 am – Pray For The Refugees In Miguel Alemán And All Living In Daily Fear (For protection and peace)
10:00 am – Pray For The Pastors And Ministers (Men and women who could leave but choose to stay)
12:00 pm – Pray For The Mexican Government And Relief Efforts
2:00 pm – Pray For Softening Of Hearts Within The Members Of The Cartels
5:00 pm – Pray For God To Intervene In The Situation And Work A Miracle
Thank you for your prayers today. I would love to have feedback as to how God works in your life throughout today!
Be Blessed!
Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on November 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The news reports have not changed. The violence in Mexico continues. The refugees of Cuidad Mier are still living in a shelter in Miguel Alemán, just as they were over a week ago.
Last week I shared about what is going on in the area just across the Mexican border from Roma, Texas (a community just outside McAllen) – you can link to those posts here and here. Last Friday I announced that on Tuesday, November 16, I am asking all who read my ramblings to consider fasting with me for Mexico. Tomorrow is the day.
One of the purposes of a fast is go without something as a means of reminding ourselves how dependent we are on God. There is no question that the situation along the border is beyond our control. We are utterly dependent on God to intervene.
Please join me in fasting and praying for our brothers and sisters along the border – particularly in the shelter in Miguel Alemán. Tomorrow I will give you specific things to pray for so check back in the morning. Today, please help me spread the word that tomorrow is a day to fast for Mexico.
Be blessed today!
Posted in Community, Hope, Missions on November 12, 2010| 2 Comments »
I am still without a real sense of understanding of what can be done – and still without words to describe what I am feeling. After being so close to the horrific situation in border towns near McAllen and yet not being able to do anything about what is going on over there, I am left frustrated and numb. And of course, it is not just McAllen. This paralyzing situation stretches the length of the border. Juarez, Mexico has become one of the most dangerous cities in the world.
There are families that live in constant fear for their lives. Small children don’t understand what is happening but they live in turmoil and fear. I can’t imagine raising my sons in that environment.
I also think of the pastors who, even if they have the means to leave, choose to stay to minister to the people. What true servants of God!
The only thing I know to do in this moment is pray. I ask you to pray as well. Would you stop in this moment and ask God to intervene. Ask God to bring peace and comfort to those living in fear today.
I am not one to regularly practice the spiritual discipline of fasting, but Tuesday, November 16, I am setting aside to fast and pray for God to move along the border. I ask you to consider doing the same. Would you join me in fasting on that day and in place of eating, spend that time in prayer for the situation along the border – for those people who live in constant fear for their lives?
I know God will honor your heart cries as we fast for Mexico.
Posted in Hope, Missions on November 11, 2010| 1 Comment »
Finding the words is difficult for me right now. I am writing this on a plane back to Lubbock from Harlingen, Texas. Late yesterday afternoon, I was visiting with a good friend of mine who works with Buckner International in the valley. As we were talking about possible mission opportunities both in the valley and in El Paso, we were made aware of an urgent plea coming from a pastor in a small village just south of the border.
The violence had escalated to the point that one of the cartels had gone through Cuidad Mier and told all the residents that they had to leave or be killed. 300 children and adults fled to the neighboring community of Miguel Alemán. They have been there as refugees with little food, water or supplies for a couple of days, staying in a plaza and make-shift shelter.
The plea came to help with food, water, diapers and formula. The Buckner organization along with some help from the Texas Baptist Convention sprang into action and I got to go along for the ride. We spent about an hour at Sam’s club on Tuesday night, purchasing rice, beans, baby items and water. Then early on Wednesday morning we carried the supplies to Roma, Texas – the border town immediately across from Miguel Alemán.
Because of the violence and instability of the area, the original plan was to carry all the supplies by hand to the center of the bridge and then Mexican government officials would send people to pick them up from the drop point. But by the time we arrived, they had decided that even that would not be safe, so they sent two pick ups across to Roma to pick up the supplies.
So there we were, half a block from the border crossing in the parking lot of a Church’s Chicken restaurant transferring 500 pounds of beans, 500 pounds of rice, diapers, 34 cases of water and other supplies from a trailer into the two vehicles. All the while knowing that just a few hundred yards away, over 300 people were waiting desperately for the items.
I have not completely processed all of it in my mind even still. As I do, I will be writing more about it here. Until then, pray for those folks. I cannot begin to imagine the lives they live daily in the shadow of the sheer evil all around them 24 hours per day.
Clay in the Hands 