Why Pray when you can worry?

It seems that Worry is my spiritual gift. It's the one thing that I generally do quite well. (Calm down, you internet trolls, I know worry isn't a gift…)

For as long as I can remember, I have always exercised this gift. 

I’m not prejudice against worry. That is to say, I will worry about big things, and I will worry about small things. I will worry about a particular situation-- I would wonder how it would turn out: good or bad? I had no idea, I would just worry about that. 

I worry about going back into the hospital— this is, probably more fear that worry, but still. I’m worried about when/if I will ever work again. I’m worried about the kind of people my kids will turn out to be. 

So, what do I do about my worry? I worry! No, not really. Ok, sometimes I actually worry more than I pray. I'm a work in progress. 

I’m trying to remember a few key verses like these one:

John 14:1: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.” For Jesus to have told us not to let our hearts be troubled, He would have to have known that we would, one day, be in a position where our hearts would be troubled. So He told us not to let our hearts be troubled. Instead, we are to trust God. Trust that God knows what He is doing with/in our lives. Trust that He sees the entire picture of our lives, and is making sense of the sometimes senseless. 

Here is another verse that I remember quite frequently: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27, NIV)

Of course! Worry doesn't add to our lives, it steals from our lives, and does no good at all— “But, I’m soooo gooooodddd at it…” Well, stop! It does nothing to add to your life… it only takes away, and why would we want to take away from our lives???

Here is another one, this time from the teachings of Paul: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7, NIV)

How do I defeat the giant called worry in my life? I pray. A lot. This is what I'm supposed to do, (pray not worry) The same with you. If you are worried about anything— and I mean anything— we are invited to pray about it. 

There is a lot of junk going on in our world today that will cause a person to worry; there may be a lot of junk going on in your world that will cause a person to worry…. So, take a few moments when you feel yourself starting to worry and just pray. 

Maybe pray something like this: “Dear Lord, I’m worried about ___________. Please help me to deal with this, and to trust in You. 

Give it a try, and see how less time you spend worrying.  

Bitter or Better

My friend Denn Guptill (@pennofdenn) has often said to me “People have a choice. they can either be bitter or better. Choose better.”

I think there is a lot of truth in this statement. We do have a choice. Two actually. We can be, no matter what happens to us, bitter or better. 

If we get stuck in traffic, if our car blows up, or if we have to deal with a difficult person at work, we can either respond by being bitter at them— getting mad at them, ripping a strip off of them—  or we can choose to be Better— take the high road and bless them, instead of cursing them. 

This even applies in our spiritual lives… (most everything does BTW)

Take a read from the Book of Job: 

“One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

17 While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

18 While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. 19 Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

    and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

    and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (NLT2) 

I find this passage interesting. With as much bad that happened to Job, or his family, or his “stuff” there was always one person who snuck away to tell him about the “badness” that had just transpired. Always one. How would you have liked to be that one who brought the Job the status update? 

The next ‘thing” that I find interesting about this passage is Job’s response to what just happened. 

He didn't get mad. He didn't didn’t “hulk up” and “hulk smash” everyone around him. He choose better. 

Look, again, at his response to the complete devastation of everything— 

20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said,

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

    and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

    and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.” (NLT2) 

Things would get worse for Job a bit later on, and he still responded the same way. He would not sin against God. 

Job chose better. 

Sure, he had his days where he questioned everything under the sun, and even questioned God, but through it all, Job chose better. 

After a recent hospital admission, I had more than one nurse remark to me that I was keeping a positive attitude. I simply told her what Denn had told me a long time ago: “You can either be bitter or better” 

Believe me, being bitter all of the time gets you nowhere. It does no good to cry and yell and “hulk smash” your way through life— especially in hospital, and I suspect it could be the same way in your workplace. No one wants to associate with a bitter person, because they are a drain on people. 

(sometimes one needs to unload but find a safe person to unload on, but everyone doesn't need to feel your wrath…)

You always have a choice: bitter or better. What will you choose?

Just being Honest.

While no one has asked, my purpose in writing these posts, is two fold. Number one, its to keep my skills sharp; that is to study a passage of Scripture and write and reflect on it. But, secondly, my purpose in writing and posting is to be helpful. 

Chances are if I’m thinking something— or even struggling with something, I am probably not the first person to do so, nor will I be the last. So, I am trying to be helpful. Hence this next post. 

I realize that an on line post may not be the best place to air my laundry; but 1) I’ve not killed anyone and 2) I’m on a journey with Jesus, and life is not meant to live alone, so.. 

the last few days I have been struggling with my identity. For the last 15 years I have been a lead pastor. I have been on the front lines, doing ministry, seeking life change, helping move the church from here to there. Have got up out of bed, and left my house and went to an office and did stuff. 

Now, I’m not. I’m sitting at home, trying to fill the time. and its killing me. I know that I am not able to work. I sometimes have a good morning, only to be followed up with a terrible afternoon. Or a terrible two days. Or even a week. I understand— at least in my mind— that I can’t be counted on for anything of significance. 

To make matters more interesting, when/if I am asked to speak, I have to inform whomever is doing the asking of the “Nick Clause”. ( You need a back up for your back up, because I could back out at the last moment.) 

So, I have been struggling with my identity. Who am I? When you have gotten up and gone to work just about every day for the last 15 years, and then slowly stop doing that, it messes with one’s head. 

TBH, I have been praying a lot more, asking God to fill me, or use me, or whatever He wants to do with me, but nothing. I still feel like I am alone on a deserted Island somewhere. Like Tom Hanks in castaway, but without Wilson.

Then, I opened up the Bible. I started a bible plan yesterday that is taking about finding God in unemployment and it talked about God love for me no matte what. If i am working or not. If i am in the middle of an operation or not. God loves me if I am working or not. 

God loves me just because of Who He is. read it for yourself: 

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NLT2)

There it is. Just because I don’t have a “job” right now, doesn't mean that God is finished with me, or even forgotten me. I am still at the top of His mind, and He still has a plan for me, one that I obviously need to stop trying to figure out, and live one day at a time. (Which, I think is Biblical anyway…)

So, what does all of this mean? I’m not sure. Tomorrow I will still get up and wonder what in the world God is doing with me; I’ll still wonder if I measure up… so maybe you can pray that Who I am in Christ will take over more than my doubts. 

There is nothing that I can do, nothing that you can do, there is nothing that we can do that will ever diminish God’s love of and for us.

Click here to see your identity in Christ. 

Needing to Trust...

CONTEXT- 

The following post was written several months ago. I don’t know the exact day, but it was when I was finishing up my time as Lead Pastor of MRWC… 

Today was an interesting day. At least part of the morning was. We had to move the things out of my office at the church. You see, I am no longer the pastor at the church, meaning my stuff can’t stay in the office, so, after weeks of packing, this morning was the day to move it. 

Life has a way of getting real: when you see all of your stuff coming out of the office and going into a storage trailer. 

As the final box was removed, and as I turned out the lights and closed the door one last time, my mind jumped to the lyrics of a song… 

Letting go of every single dream

I lay each one down at your feet

Every moment of my wandering

Never changes what you see

I try to win this war

I confess, my hands are weary, I need your rest

Mighty warrior, king of the fight

No matter what I face you're by my side

When you don't move the mountains

I'm needing you to move

When you don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When you don't give the answers

As I cry out to you

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you

Truth is you know what tomorrow brings

There's not a day ahead you have not seen

So let all things be my life and breath

I want what you want Lord and nothing less

When you don't move the mountains

I'm needing you to move

When you don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When you don't give the answers

As I cry out to you

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you

I will trust in you

You are my strength and comfort

You are my steady hand

You are my firm foudation

The rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher

You plans are always good

There's not a place where I'll go

You've not already stood

When you don't move the mountains

I'm needing you to move

When you don't part the waters

I wish I could walk through

When you don't give the answers

As I cry out to you

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you

I will trust in you

I will trust in you

I will trust in you

Songwriters: Lauren Daigle / Michael Farren / Paul Mabury

Trust in You lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol Christian Music Group

https://www.google.ca/search?site=&source=hp&q=I+will+trust+in+you&btnK=Google+Search

This song talks a lot about trusting in God. It also serves as a reminder that I need to trust in God. I didn’t want to move my office, nor did I want to move from my house, but I have to trust that God knows what He is doing, and that He has the plan for our family all worked out, and I just need to trust in Him. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says is this way:  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.6 Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.” 

POST SCRIPT- 

Today, I am having a difficult time understanding things. I’m having a difficult time understanding what God is doing.. 

I would love to be working; love to pastoring, love to be preaching, love to be teaching, love to be on the front lines, believing for Changed lives… but I’m not. I’m currently waiting. It's the waiting that makes me nervous... or question. 

It seems that I need the words of song more today than I did when I originally wrote this post. 

Or, how about the words found in Luke 12:25-32: “ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

27 “Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 28 And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

29 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT2)

I’m making the choice today to trust that God knows what He is doing, even when I don’t— or can’t see it. 

Believe it or not, God is looking after me, God is looking after us. It might not be what I had imagined, or what we had imagined... (I'm looking at you third Liver Transplant and subsequent healing time...) But I have to believe that God is God of all, or He's not God at all... I'm just questioning. Maybe, you could say a word of prayer for me as we continue in this wilderness... 

What about you? Is there an area of your life that you need to trust God more? It’s not easy, but if we focus on Him, He will provide for us.

God can be trusted.

Last week, I was listening to a podcast of sorts. It was a sermon that I had heard live at the Brooklyn Tabernacle way back in 2013 by Dr. Ben Gutiérrez, of liberty university.

Dr. Ben was speaking to a group of pastors on the subject that God can be trusted. 

His text for the day was John chapter 11. It’s a passage that several of us had read many times before and many of us have preached about it. 

What stood out to me from this sermon— again, maybe for the first time; a lot of water has gone under the bridge since I heard him speak live. 

He stated that the main verse, the key to understanding the events of John chapter 11 is verse 5. If, he said, you don’t understand verse 5, nothing else in this story will make sense. If you don’t grasp that verse 5 of John chapter 11, you will never know that God can be trusted. 

Here, are the first few verses of John 11, taken from the NIV:

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days…” (You can read the entire passage here.)

Jesus and Mary and Martha and Lazarus were BFF’s. No question about it. He often found himself at their home. 

On this particular day, Jesus received word that His BFF Lazarus was dead. Jesus received this message by way of messengers and they had made sure to include in this note that “the one you love is sick”, almost to remind Him that Lazarus was his BFF.

When Jesus heard this, He said that Lazarus’ sickness will not end in death, and then He proceeded to STAY WHERE HE WAS for an extra few days. 

What? Jesus received word that His friend was sick and he has the gaul to hang around where He was for an extra few days. 

This is why, Dr. Ben said— and after thinking about it for at least a week— I’m starting to agree with him, that verse 5 is the pivotal point in this passage. 

Let’s look at it again Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

In the original language, the word “Loved” used here is different that the word “love” that the messengers used to tell Jesus his BFF was sick. 

in verse 3, the word for love is more of a Brotherly love. a Deep friendship love, but in verse 5, Jesus used another word for love.. its a deep deep deep deep deep deep love. an agape love. So much more than just brotherly love. He Loved Him. He loved him with an unconditional live. He loved Him to the core of His bones. He loved Lazarus. 

As the story progresses, Jesus makes His way to Bethany, and is confronted by Martha, who makes a statement something to the effect of, If you had been here Jesus, by brother would still be alive…” (When Mary meets up with Jesus, she said the exact same thing.. leading us to believe that Martha was a leader, and her sister followed what she did very closely… leaders, be careful what you say.. people are watching)

Jesus then proceed to heal Lazarus. Much more than heal him actually. He brought Lazarus back from the dead. 

this miracle, would be the tipping point that would lead Jesus to the Cross. It would be the “red line in the sand” that Jesus had crossed that would begin the beginning of the end… or the end of the beginning.

Anyway, what does this have to do with your life today? 

Always remember John 11:5. “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”

Nothing in this world—in your world— will make sense unless, and until you understand that Jesus loves you more than you will ever realize. 

When all hell breaks loose; when you happen to be in the ICU wondering what in the world is going on, God will show up in the form of a sermon that was recorded 5 years ago and have you listen to the whole thing and have you understand that yes, life may not be what you’re expecting right this moment, but God still loves me and can be trusted to do the right thing, all the time, because He LOVES you. 

Not with a brotherly love. With an agape love. An unconditional love. a love that doesn't change based on your circumstances. A love that remains constant in your circumstances. 

The Key to understanding John 11 is verse 5 and the Key to understanding our lives is John 11:5. God loves us. 

If you are having a rotten day, a good for nothing, a I want to stand up and Hulk Smash someone, or even if you are having the best day, the best week, the best month you've ever had, God loves you and He can be trusted. He can be trusted to do the right thing at the right time in the right place. Even if He's four days late. 

Just for fun, this miracle happened to be number 30 in Jesus’ life up until this point. The people that had been with Jesus, and had seen all— or at the very least heard reports about all 29 miracles. 

You would think that they would think back and remember all the 29 miracles that He had preformed, and think that ‘if he had the Power to do that miracle, then He has the Power to do this miracle.” 

The same goes for us. When we are in the midst of our storm, we would do well to pray for help and then reflect back on how God came through in the past, and how He will come through in the present and the future, because He loves us. It might not be how we had in mind, but it will be exactly right, because God doesn't make a mistake. 

God could be trusted then, and God can be trusted today. Because He Loves us. 

Take some time today and commit to memory John 11:5 “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” 

The same love Jesus had for His BFF’s He has for you. And He can be trusted.

Don't get mad...get Praying!

It seems that I am posting some of my favourite Scriptures this week.. might as well keep it going. 

As I may have mentioned in a previous post, I have been working my way through the Book of Acts. This morning’s reading came from Acts 16…. but before the Scripture, let me ask you something…

What do you do when you’re in a jam? 

What do you do when you’re having a bad day? 

What do you do when nothing seems to be going your way?

Do you swear? Do you drink? Do you get mad and yell at everyone around you?

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas found themselves in a tight spot. Specifically, a jail cell. 

They ended up there because Paul had commanded a spirit to come out of a girl, who was following them around. 

After realizing that “their moneymaker” was no longer able to make money by predicting people’s future, the girls parents had told the authorities in charge that Paul and Sails were up to no good, and telling the Romans that they were to follow rules and regulations that they really weren't talking about. (Fake News perhaps) 

After sustaining a beating, Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. 

One would think that they would be upset about this.. after all, they really hadn't done anything wrong, they were just speaking the Truth about Jesus. 

this brings me back to my original question.. what do you do when you're in a jam? Or, in this case, what would you do if you happened to be Paul and Silas? Would you be complaining about the situation you’re in? 

Would you be calling your lawyer trying to get out? 

If Paul and Silas did this, we're not told about it. 

What we are told is this: Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25, NLT2)

That’s it. They didn’t worked up over being stuck in jail. They didn't cause a scene..(that would come later…)

They simply prayed and sang songs.  

The take away— for me at least— is the next time I end up in a position I don’t want to be in is to Praise the Lord. 

How might your situation change if, instead of getting mad— or even— you just took some time to sing and pray and leave it in the Lord’s hands? 

Give it a try today and see how the Lord changes your perspective, as you Praise Him. 

its as the song says:

Turn you eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace.

May it be so, Lord. 

Post Script-

The afternoon after I wrote this, I ended up in the hospital again, with the possibility of another infection. 

As I was in the hospital, this verse was in my mind. 

I can be honest with you when I say it works. 

Instead of getting mad, upset and angry at everyone around you, you can actually do what this verse tells you to do: pray and sing a song to the Lord. 

It's amazing how doing this will change your mood as well. Give it a try. It works for me, and I’m sure it will work for you.