A Troubled Heart

Luke 19:41

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes…

This week my heart weeps for some of the things I have seen and heard in the lives of those around me. It is so difficult to look around and see people making decisions that cause pain and hurt--not only to themselves, their families, their friends--but also to the heart of God. My quota has been filled and is now overflowing with the stories of God’s people being distracted from the truth and buying into the lies this world and Satan are telling. For those of you reading this who claim to know the Lord as your personal Savior, please read and evaluate where you are at. If you are currently standing where you should, then praise God! But if, when you look around, you become aware that you are not on the right path and not facing the correct direction, please take some time with the Lord and ask Him to forgive you and bring you back to where you should be. God’s plans for us are so much better than what this world and its lies are offering to you.

Listed below are six thoughts that have been bouncing around my mind all week long. 

The Difficult Truth

1. Sin is always pleasurable for a season!

But when it is all said and done, sin will return to demand from you more than you can ever pay. Do not be fooled!

2. Do not trust your feelings!

Though feelings are very important they can also be very misleading. Before you react to your feelings take a few steps to make sure they are leading you down the right path. Bring your feelings to the Lord, share them with someone who will hold you accountable, and know that tomorrow there is a great chance that you will feel differently; so maybe wait until then to jump off the cliff.

3. What you do affects everyone around you!

Most people think that their little sins have no effect on anyone else. Yet that is the farthest thing from the truth. Every decision, both small and large, will either bring life or death to those who surround us--especially to those who are closest to us.

 

The Wonderful Truth

1. God will lead you out of the mud!

There is a way out of that situation that you are in, or that habit that has you in bondage. Jesus made the way! He is waiting for you to cry out to Him and surrender. 

2. God has made a way for you to be clean once more!

Jesus came and died for our sins, and now we do not have to walk around burdened by our shortcomings.

3. There is nothing that you can do to mess up the love that God has for you!

No matter where you are at and what decisions you are swimming in, God loves you. The book of Revelation tells us that Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to open the door. He is knocking on your door and wants to help bring life where there was death. All you need to do is call to Him!

 

Dear Lord,

Today, I pray for my friends and for myself. I pray that we do not lose focus and will strive to serve you. For those who are married, please keep their hearts soft towards one another. Help them serve each other and not become selfish. For those who are parents, help them be patient with their children and remember that we are to be the example for them. For each of us at our jobs, please help us be the best employees as we consistently represent you. And for those people that are watching us to see if our faith is genuine, Lord, please help us shine for you. If there is anyone reading this that needs to make a 180 degree turn and change their ways, help them feel your love and guidance. Be with your people, as it seems that the enemy is finding ways to enter in and wreak havoc. I pray for your protection.

 

In the name of Jesus!

Amen

Even If...

Do you ever find yourself saying this about situations in life?

Even if…

Even if he or she is not honest… I will be!

Even if everyone else has decided to jump off the proverbial bridge… I won’t!

Even if I get scared… I won’t run!

Even if I don’t understand… I will trust!

Even if they are all crooked… I will walk straight!

Even if it isn’t fair… I will forgive!

Even if it costs me my life… I will not bow!

All of these are wonderful statements and promises of faith. But what happens when it is time to face one of those horribly difficult situations that life produces and, no matter what you pray or how you beg, you are not only asked to continue to face the fire but are also being forced to climb into the furnace?

In the book of Daniel, the Bible tells us an amazing story of how three young men chose to not bow their knee to any but God, and in turn was forced to literally walk into a furnace. To some, it may be a surprise to learn that Jesus was sitting in the furnace with them and that, because of His presence, the flames didn’t scorch them. Yes, that part of the story is miraculous and is the part that would be the climax if a movie were being written. But there was a conversation that took place before the flames ever licked their flesh. This conversation took place between the three young faithful Jewish boys and Nebuchadnezzar, the nemesis King that was demanding of them worship or their very lives. These young men had a choice to acquiesce to the demands before them and do what the crowds were doing, or they could choose to follow through with their promise of the “even if…”

 

Daniel 3:16-18

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

 

The part of this story that hits me square in the middle of my heart has nothing to do with the fact that they are facing the fire, as we all will have fires to face. It is not that there are evil men and woman who will cause pain and fear, as we are all capable of becoming the ones inflicting that kind of destruction. But the difficult part for me was the part where they were going serve their God even if He did not rescue them. They were sure that God had the power to do so. They were staking their whole existence on the fact that God was able. But even if God did not use His power to save them, they would not bow. Now we are dealing with an amazing subject. Why would God not use all of His immutable power, His infallible wisdom, and all of His omniscient knowledge to assure that these faithful young men did not have to walk through the fire?

 

In this story, He did save them; but for every story we read about Him stepping in and altering the situation, there are many where He does not. Why is this so? In truth, we will never have a good answer to this question until we meet Him face to face and understand more than we do while in this broken human form. But scripture gives us a glimpse of His purpose. And for now a glimpse will have to be enough.

 

1. To Bring Maturity and Completion

James 1:2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

2. God is untameable and does not work according to our plan

Just think of this awesome song we sing based out of Genesis 1, Psalm 19, and Psalm 150.

 

“Indescribable.” Written by Laura Story

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation’s revealing Your majesty

From the colors of Fall the the fragrance of Spring

Ev’ry creature unique in the song that it sings

All Exclaiming

 

Indescribable uncontainable

You placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name

You are an amazing God

All powerful untamable

Awestruck, we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim

You are amazing, God

 

Who has told ev’ry lightning bolt where it should go

Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?

Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light

Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?

None can fathom

________________ 

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea

Creation’s revealing Your majesty

From the colors of Fall the the fragrance of Spring

Ev’ry creature unique in the song that it sings

All Exclaiming

 

3. Worship comes in many forms

Hebrews 11:32-40

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.  39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

There are many attitudes, memories, unfulfilled expectations, and situations that daily ask me to bow to them. But I decided long ago that I will bow my knee to my God and my God alone.

 

So today I find myself quoting these amazing two words, “Even if…”

Even if I can’t see the future… I will not bow!

Even if I experience pain… I will not bow!

Even if I get scared… I will not bow!

Even if I don’t understand… I will not bow!

Even if it isn’t fair… I will not bow!

Even if it costs me my life… I will not bow!

Even if God does not do all that I think He should… to Him alone will I bow!

As you read Daniel, chapter 3, I challenge you to act as if it were you speaking to the king, and I want you to picture the king as being the very obstacle, habit, attitude, sin, or any other distraction from God’s plan you may be facing. In fact, fill in the blanks with your own name, attitude, sin, memory, pain, or life situation that currently stands before you.

"O _______________, I do not need to defend myself before you in this matter.  If I am thrown into the blazing furnace, the God I serve is able to save me from it, and He will rescue me from your hand, O ____________. But even if He does not, I want you to know, O ___________, that I will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

The Lord is a great God, with a great plan for your life. Run to Him and He will always be right there with you- no matter what brought you to the furnace you are facing. He is only a call away. He loves you, just as you are!

Timely Intrusions

Melissa and I were having a decent morning. All week long we had many conversations regarding our future: where to live, where to work, and what to do with ourselves. These conversations have some moments of fun and excitement (and silliness), but they were also stressful and left us seeking the Lord, hoping that He would just spell it out so clearly for us. That particular morning, we decided to leave a few minutes early to drop her off at Virginia Tech and stop at Starbucks to take advantage of her wonderful discount as an employee. When we walked in to Starbucks, the pastor from the church we are attending was sitting there with another pastor. His name is not important to the story, but for the record, he is a leader in our denomination and one of the leaders that I have always respected and appreciated. Melissa and I said hello and went outside to read our devotional. (Now remember that we have been praying for the Lord to speak to us. We are asking Him to make it so clear that we can’t possibly mess it up.)

We begin reading our devotion and the message is talking about walking through the fire and how the Lord is there with us through the flames.

Isaiah 48:10

See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

The writings also spoke about the flames changing and reshaping us into looking more like our Lord. As Melissa and I talked and tried to apply this wonderful and yet painful truth, the visiting pastor came out and asked if he could share something with us. Of course we said, “NO!” Ok, not really. We invited in the intrusion and allowed him to speak into our lives. The words of wisdom, the vision, and encouragement he shared with us were exactly what we had just read. After he left, we had to laugh (that is after we stopped crying) because the Lord’s message was as clear and concise as it possibly could be.

Do you need the Lord to speak into your situation? Or do you just want reaffirmation that He is still present and cares that you are alive?

Here are some of the many ways that the Lord has intruded into my life to speak His words of encouragement…

1. The Bible
2. My times of solitude
3. My wife
4. My children
5. Friends & Family
6. Strangers passing by
7. Movies
8. Books
9. Dreams
10. Music
11. Beauty of Nature
12. Preachers
13. Worship
14. Prayer Times
15. Breathing

I hope you are beginning to get the picture that is being painted! The Lord will use everyone and everything to remind you of His love. He will actually meet you and intersect your life just how you need. The stories going through your mind of solitude and abandonment are pure lies. It is too easy to allow the depravity of circumstances, the world and its broken advice, and the twisted lies of Satan to convince us that the Lord is not near and that He does not even care. The Lord has done all that He can do to get your attention, and now it is up to you and I to step beyond the story that is being told and look for God’s fingerprints.

What is it about life’s storms that cause us to want to stop, stare and begin to run from every truth and promise? One of the most amazing parts of the Lord is how He has a way of getting our attention even when we do not know how to stop staring at the storm.

In closing, prepare your heart, as the Lord loves you so much that He has already planned how to intrude into your well laid out life this week and make Himself known once more.

By the way, the message that the Lord gave that day was for us to be patient and wait for Him. He was not done melting us down. This message from the Lord is not what I wanted to hear. But it is funny that it doesn’t upset me to continue sitting in the fire when I know He is there with me. I guess that is what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo must have felt (Daniel 3)…  

Will you take a moment and tell me how the Lord has intruded into your life and made Himself known? I would love to hear a testimony out of your daily life.

To Hear

Mark 12:28
28. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29. “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
31. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
32. “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and
there is no other but him.
33. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

I have the honor of teaching a home bible study starting this week, so I have been studying this portion of scripture in order to spend a few months teaching through it. As I was studying the first portion of this scripture called the “Shema” (which means “to hear), the Lord began challenging me on my view of traditions and how I focus on Him daily.

If I was a good Jewish boy I would pray this portion of scripture as a prayer from memory at least twice a day--once at night and once in the morning.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

The more that I have studied, prayed and pondered on the Shema I have come to this conclusion:

Too often, I allow my desire to not appear “religiously bound” as the excuse for being inconsistent with some of the most crucial elements of my walk with my Lord. Elements such as:

• Reading scripture consistently enough that I can quote it as well as some movies I have watched or music I have heard.

• Praying consistently enough that when the threat of a lion’s den or a fiery furnace comes our way, the only natural thing to do is to fall on my knees--just like every other day!

• Allowing the Holy Spirit to come and help me, not just when I think I am out of strength, but in every single moment of this life. Because what strength of our own do we really have anyway?

Here is what the Lord is showing me in this scripture as I try to truly HEAR what is being said:

“Hear me now Kristopher! I am God. I am beyond your understanding and have more compassion, love and power than your little mind can imagine. I am the one and only God! You have no need to fear, as I am here and above me there is NO other!”

I am not sure what you do on a daily basis to escape the fears of life and keep focused on the Lord, or how often you do it, but I am finding that I need to keep my life in His hands every moment of my day. It is when I begin staring at the details of life and its circumstances, and stop keeping my eyes on the Lord and His goodness, that things in my life quickly falls apart.

5 Steps to Hearing

1. Turn down the other noise!

We must consistently retreat from the loud distractions that we face on a daily basis.

2. Train your ear to know the Lord's voice!

The Lord's voice is distinct. But we must continue to train our ears or we may miss what He is trying to say...

3. Quit trying to multi-task!

It seems that our present day speed of life and technology has trained us that focusing in on one thing at a time is no longer worthwhile. So we attempt to do many things at once to keep our brains entertained. While we are seeking our Lord, we need to set things aside and give Him our full attention!

4. Listen even when we do not like what is being said!

As I watch my children tune me out each time I tell them to do a chore or finish a task, I am reminded of the many times that I have ignored the Lord and His promptings. It is almost like I have the ability to convince myself that He is not speaking at all, when Jesus went to the cross to assure that His message of love and hope would actually be heard.

5. In those moments when the Lord seems distant press in and stay consistent!

This is so important! It is through our consistency in focusing on the Lord and keeping our heart's desire to know and serve our Lord that we can survive the darkest night. The enemy of our souls would like us to believe that the Lord has deserted us and has nothing more to say. But it is in those hours of questioning that our faith grows and our testimonies about who our God is get polished!

Lord,

I pray for each person that will read this small teaching. I pray that, through the words that have been written, the reader would be challenged to set aside the agenda of his or her day and trade it for your plan. Please teach them how to hear your voice and how to hear your truth. The world tries to offer its version of truth, but the ideas are incomplete and broken. Keep the desire to know you and hear your direction on a moment-by-moment basis ever before myself and others.

Amen