Why Blaming It On The Rain Won't Work in Life

Fellow Believers, 

Back in 1989, I was a huge fan of the pop band Milli Vanilli. They came out with their hit song that year titled "Blame It On The Rain." The idea behind the song is when things do not go your way you have to blame your problems and shortcomings on someone or something else. There should never be a reason to accept blame for your own failures. I do not know if it is just me getting older, but more and more often in society I do not see people willing to stand up and take responsibility for their own action. The desire to blame others for our shortcomings and mistakes in my opinion is getting out of control. 

In Luke 6:41-42 (NLT) Jesus addresses our desires to shift the blame without first addressing our own problems and challenges. This is how the scriptures read, "And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."

First, if we are to follow Christ plan for our lives we must learn to be critical of ourselves. Therefore, it is pointless to blame others for our shortcomings and faults. It is only when we are able to see ourselves as Jesus sees us that we will be able to correct the problems in our lives which cloud our judgement in all things. 

Next, we must all acknowledge everyone on planet Earth is far from perfect, and we each have flaws and faults. Some of them we are able to address on our own, and still others other believers need to help us in addressing. It is only when we enter into a trusting and loving Christian community that we become able to open up and share with others who are capable of helping us. 

Finally, Jesus desire is for us to help one another through life and not tear each other down through blaming them for our mistakes. If you see a brother or sister in Christ in need, stop first and examine your own life first, and then seek to give them help. It is important for Christians today to be involved in the ministry of the Church outside of the physical structure of the church we attend each Sunday. 

I challenge each of you to pause as you begin your day and to remember to be Christian believers committed to the body of Christ. Do not seek to tear down others or the church by being involved in blaming others, instead seek to build others up. I will close with these words from Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend." Be a friend today. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Mike 

I Am Who Your Looking For

John 18: 1-8 (NLT) After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples. The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked. “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) As Jesus said“I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.” “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”

This season as I was getting ready for Easter, I found myself reading John 18 late one night to my kids as I put them to bed. Even though I have read through the New Testament a number of times and attended more Easter Sunday services than I can remember it felt as though I was reading this passage for the very first time. The words just jumped of the page like they never have before. There are a few simple truths I found as I read this passage I want to share with you this evening. 

First, Jesus knowing fully what was going to happen later in the evening took time in prayer with God in a quiet place. The Garden of Gethsemane was a place Jesus came to often to escape the chaos of his daily life to spend time talking with God. Judas knew where to find Jesus, because Jesus went to the garden often to be alone with God. Where is the place you like to go to hear God's voice?

Next, I love Jesus playfulness in this passage. You see Judas did not come with just a small group to get Jesus. Judas had with him Roman soldiers as well as temple guards armed with torches and swords to arrest Jesus. Think for a moment Jesus had gone to the garden to pray and as he stands up he sees all the lights and people entering the garden coming to get Him. Yet, he playfully ask who they are looking for. The stunned mob says they are looking for Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus answer is simple and to the point. I Am he. What happen next blew me away. Everyone in the garden including all those who came to arrest him fell to the ground at Jesus feet. Again, Jesus ask who are you looking for, and I wonder if those who have come to arrest Him have even had time to get to their feet to reply to him a second time. Why was His answer so powerful?

"I Am," is how God identified himself to Moses and to the Egyptians. It was the great "I Am" who parted the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to pass through, yet crushed the Egyptians in the waters of the Red Sea as the waves washed over them. It is "I Am" who was the protector of Abraham as he left his own country to follow God. You can see the name "I Am" carries with it tremendous power, and is used throughout the Bible (http://www.freewebs.com/brucedurbinonlinescripture/7iamsofjesus.htm). Even the Roman soldier fell at Jesus feet because he spoke with amazing authority. 

So, prior to being put on trial and beaten and hanging on a cross one could not help and acknowledge Jesus is God and is the ruler of all. Who is God to you today? Is He your great "I Am" that you praise or have you pushed Him aside for the things of this world? It is clear to me with this passage Jesus makes it clear who He is and who He will always be. The question that remains is what will we do with Jesus. 

Your brother in Christ, 
Mike 

Too Busy to Listen to the Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NLT) “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Have you ever felt so caught up in the busyness of life that you forget to make time to hear the gentle whispers of God's voice speaking to you? I know I have felt that way many times before, and if you have too you are not alone. The prophet Elijah after having soundly defeated all of the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel ran away in fear and hid in a cave. God sent a mighty windstorm, earthquake, and a blazing fire to get Elijah's attention, but he was not in any of these great displays of power. He instead chose to speak to Elijah in the still small quiet voice of a whisper. Psalm 67:10a (NLT) says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Jesus provides us with one way to hear the still small voice of God, and I will provide you with another way I have learned through the course of my life. Scripture repeatedly tells us of Jesus breaking away from those around him both morning and evening to spend time alone in prayer and meditation with God. I firmly believe in the chaos of our daily lives it is vital to make time for reading scripture and engaging God in prayer. In my life, I have best heard the still small voice of God when I was committed to daily reading of His word and journaling the small messages he provided me. It is in the multiplication of those small messages where His truth in my life has been revealed. I know if you devote yourself to studying the word of God everyday for thirty days He will let you hear His still small voice. Are you ready to take the challenge?

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Awesome God!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Recently, I was given the opportunity to visit Israel and walk much of the ground Jesus did during His lifetime and ministry. I saw Calvary and the tomb the laid him in Jerusalem, and even the manger He was born in Bethlehem. While it was wonderful to see where He died and visit His tomb and even see His birth place for me it was even better to know my Savior is alive today. 

There were people on my trip who were excited when we went to the Wailing Wall where the Jews go to pray during the Sabbath. Yet, I was overwhelmed with joy that my God listens to my prayers whereever I am. I am not bound to pray at a wall. Nor do I have to have the Mother Mary interceed on my behalf with her son Jesus., because as a Christian I have a direct line to talk with Jesus whenever and whereever I am.

My final observation is many of the crosses sold in Israel still have Christ on the cross. My Lord and Savior has trimuphed over the cross. As the old song says, "He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me, and talks with me. Along life's narrow ways. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. Ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart."

We do serve an Awesome God. He is alive and He is coming again.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike

Because of All That the Son Is

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Tonight, I asked my kids what we should do our Bible study on, and my son said on John 1:18 not really knowing what he was saying or even if it was a correct passage in the Bible.  After a brief moment of looking it over I led my kids in the following study on John 1:16-18 (CEV), “16 Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another.17 The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth.18 No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.”

The first thing I talked to them about was the power found in the simple two letter word “is” in verse 16 as it relates to who Jesus is.  We discussed all that Jesus is.  He is love, grace, peace, kindness, the creator of everything, our Savior, and He is also God.  Stop and thing about all that Jesus is and see if you are not as amazed as I am.  It was hard to go on after getting so much out of the first part of the verse.  Yet, we see in the second part of this verse that Jesus has given us so many blessing.  I explained to the kids we have been blessed with each day, snow, wind, rain, friends, family, and the list goes on and on, because Jesus blessings are endless.

After building the base of who Jesus is and how he has blessed we discussed what verse 17 meant.  I told them it was the difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  The law Moses provided in the Old Testament was given to convict us of our sins as well as provide us a way to honor God by obeying His law.  This is contrasted with Jesus in the New Testament who came to relieve us of our sins.  Jesus willingness to die on the cross for our sins is the undeserved kindness John is talking about here.  It is I that deserved to be hung on the cross for my sins and not Jesus, but He took on all my sin and yours and endured extreme pain and suffering because of His love for us. 

John closes these verses in verse 18 by reminding us Jesus is God.  God sending his Son to earth allowed us to have a brief glimpse for God in the flesh.  The value of this for us is that it was recorded in the Bible for us to study and follow.  But, if you are like me you will take a moment as I did with my kids and think about what it would have been like to walk along a dusty street with your friend Jesus or be invited to His house for dinner or a sleep over.  

I rejoice in the fact that Jesus lives and he is coming back again, and then I will be able to walk and talk with him.  My charge now is to live my life so that others will see Jesus in me.

Your brother in Christ, 

Mike 

God Knows What We Need

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

This morning as I read Proverbs 3 during my quiet time a few verses really spoke to me.  Those verses are Proverbs 3:5-7 (NIV 1984) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." 

After meditating on these two verse all day their meaning really hit home late this evening as I was dealing with my own frustrations of trying to figure out where we will live later this year.  I was reminded that my timing is not God's timing, and He will answer me in His own time according to the plan that He laid out for me long ago.

I want to leave you with three simple truths and a promise that I found in these verses.  I believe if I follow them God will keep me in his graces and allow my family and I to be in the place we can do the most work for His kingdom.  

The first truth is that in all things I have to trust in God.  It is not good enough to just know He is God even sinners know that, but I must wholeheartedly trusting in the Lord in all things that is the different.  This requires us to forgo our earthly desires and trust in Him.  

The second truth is that I cannot count on my own abilities to get it done.  I know that anything I would do without God in my life would simply fail and not be worth it.  Therefore, I have to be willing to humble myself before God so I am able to hear his direction for my life.

The third truth is we are to acknowledge God in all we do.  As I go throughout my day I should be praising God for who He is and all that He has done in my life.  God deserves our praise for all things from the simple beauty of a sunrise, to the brief quiet moments of our day, to the food we eat, and the fact that we got out of bed in the morning.  In all things we should give God thanks and praise.

In light of these three truths there is a glorious reward waiting for us, if we are able to follow through on the first three.  That reward is in His perfect timing He will guide us along the path we should follow.

I do not know about you, but these three truths and amazing reward refocused my from being earthly focused to heavenly focused.

God you are amazing!

Mike 

Be Still So We Can Listen to God

Fellow Believers in Christ,

I have been mediating for weeks on the first part of Psalm 46:10.  Specifically the first part of the verse which says, "Be still and know that I am God."  I do not know about you but the Christmas and New Year holidays are often busy for many Americans.  The church and all its workers have been extremely busy this time of year with plays, musicals, and special songs to make the season bright.

Yet, how often do we stop in the midst of the chaos of our busy lives and make time to listen to God?  I am reminded that despite being busy Jesus always took time to be still and listen to God away from the junk that we have allowed to fill up our daily lives.  Examine the life of Jesus and how lived on Earth and notice no matter who was around Him he always made time to be still and listen to God.  Spending time with God was something the Jesus cherished, and He chose to make his top priority.

I would suggest that we would all do ourselves a favor by first placing God in our lives.  Yet, simply placing God in a place of prominence does not mean much if we ignore Him and live our lives according to our own rules.  I firmly believe we must not allow the world around us to control us and should fight everyday to spend time with God.  It is in those still quiet moments when God will direct you where to go and how He expects us to live.

So be honest with yourself are you doing well "Being Still" with God.  I know that when the Lord laid this verse on my heart I was not as good as I am today at it.  That also means that I still have millions of miles to go before I get it close to be perfect.  As the Apostle Paul said I continue to press on to receive the prize.  Each day I try to give more of my day back to God and honor Him with my life.

I hope this not helped you in some way.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike