NOW! It isn't always the right time.
1 Peter 5:6 says to “Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”
WAITING is perhaps the hardest thing to do. In our hurry up and get ‘r done attitude with our instant-everything, microwave, fast food eating and tivo entertainment we expect that our personal lives should function the same. In reality, it just doesn’t work that way!
We may thing that the problem is within ourselves. We feel guilty if our problems carry over into tomorrow or even next week. We think that we ought to “have it together” all the time. But, some things just take time! There are times when we just have to wait on God. He patiently develops perseverance and trust during these times. He reveals His nature and plan during those times when life seems to be on-hold.
Peter has it right, in due time God will lift you up. In His time table not ours. God knows best. William Cowper once wrote; “Events of all sorts creep or fly exactly as God pleases.” Be sure, God who is in control is also just on time. He is never too late or too early. He, who created the universe through the spoken word and holds the stars in place by His mighty hand, can surely handle your grief and suffering.
We may desire instant solution and demand an answer NOW! This may not be the right time. Be patient, draw near to God and He will unfold His works in due time.
In Keeping With Devotional Life - Practicing the Presence of God
Today I read my devotions and made a discovery that caught my attention. In working with people who are dealing with difficult times and crisis in their lives, I often have consoled people who believe that God has abandoned them in their time of need. Many in Biblical days like Job and David have felt that God has abandoned them. Their grief was so over whelming that their interpretation of God’s presence was misunderstood.
In one scene you find David contemplating the immeasurable greatness of God. In Psalm 139:7-10 you find his narrative. He asks the question, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” See the end of this blog for the complete passage. It seems that at this time in David’s life the reality of God’s greatness is clear. In keeping with this, Meister Eckhart wrote: “God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and the presence of God.”
The part that caught my attention is the thought that if God isn’t near that many assume that He has not moved but that we have somehow gotten away from Him. Well, this thought, while rational, isn’t exactly accurate. If God is capable of being near always, should not we assume that He tracks our ever subtle movement away from Himself. While this may be semantics, I think that we should realize that as humans, we are may feel like God is far away when in reality He isn’t. Because we are self-centered and narcissistic creatures we loose focus on the reality of God’s presence but He is never far away. No matter where we may go! The problem of God’s presence isn’t found in God but in ourselves. We “loose touch” with Him and believe that somehow God takes a vacation away from us.
God isn’t always interested in our good times. He is interested in our bad times too. He isn’t afraid to draw near to us in sad times. He, in fact loves to reveal His presence to us even in bad times. The next time you ruminate over this issue of God’s presence, realize that it is impossible to escape God’s presence! The only separation many will realize is in eternity but in this life, He is near. No matter if we recognize, ignore or attempt to deny the presence of God. HE IS ALWAYS NEAR AND NOT THAT FAR AWAY!
| New International Version |
| 1 O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in--behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you. 19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. |
| New International Version |
Being An Influence!
Ezekiel 33:7-11 tells us a message that we must proclaim. God has sent
us as a watchman for those in need.
There are many courageous deeds we can do that changes a life for the
better. Even if our acts are not dramatic or life-changing, we all have
contributed good-will for others.
Ezekiel tells us that there is a message we know that changes the lives
of others. He says that there is a message we carry in which we are
responsible to communicate. We are not responsible for the choice
someone makes but we have a duty to communicate the message. God says
that while he will hold us responsible for another's choice, we have an
obligation to announce God's good news.
As we encounter those in need, we have the power over the life and death
of another. Your decision to love another possesses the power of
influence! Your act of kindness releases the extraordinary power of
influence! Your gift of time or talent unleashed the incredible power
of influence! You, yes you, when you take your watchman responsibility,
will change a life for the better!
Our message is not of judgement but that of love. Our message is not of
rebuke but of a hope of life eternal. Our message is not of my will but
of a Will and plan God has for those in need of life everlasting.
Today, what message will I no longer resist telling? What person will I
now influence? What will I sacrifice that will give and support
another?
Am I a lighthouse - life-saving station? Do people know me as a
spiritual hospital aid? Am I too busy to give for the sake of others?
Ezekiel provides us with a purpose and meaning to our influence. Not
that I gain but that others received because I didn't.
The Hoitie-Toitie!
There they are, those lesser ones. They are not like us! They have a different lifestyle and make choices that aren't like ours. They are not as fortunate as we are. Thanks be to God that we are not like them.
The Hoitie-Toitie are an elite group of people that view the world as seperated and lower breed of people. These are proud and often pious, religiously pure people. Ever met one you would know it. They deliberately set themselves a part from the "impure" neighbors. You may have even been slighted by them yourself.
While these people are a special group, they lack a special love for the lost, hurting and neglected.
Today, I challenge you to examine youself. Are you part of the "Hoitie-Toitie" society? Have you seperated yourself from the calling of God to reach those in need?
Paul purposed himself to reach those in need! 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 tells us that Paul reached people by serving them and caring for the "least of them." Paul says that he worked to find common ground with all.
Today, mark your week's schedule to reach someone in need by serving them in the Name of Christ.
See all Matthew 25 as another reference.
Courage!
Doing what Jesus directs us to do takes courage! In recent days I have taken a step of faith that has been challenging. In June, 2006 I have made a move to Indiana. Through prayer, God has led me and my family to take a risk for His Glory.
Cindi has taken a position at Taylor University while I waited for God to show me what He wants me to do. For two months I have remained in prayer and trepidation about what God wants me to do. I have discovered that it is not so much what He wanted me to DO but what He wanted me to BE. Interesting enough, God has been teaching me this for nearly two years! (Long story but basically His leadership in my life has taught me dependence and truth.)
Most recently I have accepted a position at Indiana Wesleyan University as Alumni Director. How awesome God is! God needed to develop a missing lesson in my life. This lesson is that is is more important to follow God than to DO my own thing! Not that I chose poorly in my life but that I must chose His more perfect way!
Some lessons are hard to learn.
A Hurricane of Compassion – By Rev. Rick Carder, Executive Director
Time and time again I heard the phrase, “If it weren’t for the Church….” In March I had the incredible opportunity of joining the thousands who provided Hurricane Relief throughout the Gulf States. Serving as community chaplain with Samaritan’s Purse organization was an experience I will never forget. I, like many others, was overwhelmed by the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The devastation was incredible. The poor in those communities seemed to be impacted the most. Hurricane Katrina took lives, destroyed property and disrupted the lives of thousands of people in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Mile after mile I drove along the Gulf shore and witnessed homes and businesses leveled to the ground because of the Hurricane’s impact. No one could imagine how destructive a storm could be.
As I spent time with local Police Departments, city leaders and residents I heard over and over again the impact that the Church has made. There have been hundreds of Churches and Church groups that have participated in the clean up and human services. I was impressed with the commitment of many who “stuck it out” through enormous circumstances. Many who stayed in their homes during the storm shared dramatic stories of survival. Many shared inspiring stories of everyday heroes who took incredible risks and displayed outstanding courage to help those in need. One resident spoke of how local first responders went above and beyond the call of duty to rescue a victim. There were many who spoke of powerful examples of a local community coming together to provide basic services until national help arrived.
One day I held a meeting with the Deputy Chief of a Police Department. His comment surprised me. He described that after the storm their basic services were overwhelmed. They soon realized that they had to come together and meet the basic needs of people. He talked about creating a “make shift” cafeteria to feed the people. “But soon our resources ran out,” he commented. “But, at that moment, help arrived.” He described the support that arrived first was a church group from Georgia. They were loaded with water, food and cooking supplies. “If it weren’t for the church, we could not have hung on!” He added. The church represented a hurricane of a different kind; a hurricane of compassion! Hundreds of church-based groups and thousands of people have emerged to meet needs.
I left Mississippi inspired. I gained a new motivation for working to unite churches together to meet needs. The witness of Christ’s compassion and Church cooperation was revealed to me in a whole new way! What a powerful example the body of Christ at work in a community! We can do this here in DuPage County. Churches can work together to serve the needs of the poor. LOVE Christian Clearinghouse is the networking resource for reaching needy families locally. We can have our own Hurricane of compassion!
Chaplain experiences from the Gulf Coast
For information and updates about my mission trip as a chaplain to the Biloxi and Gulfport, MS area take a look at my daily blog site report at: http://rickcarder.blogspot.com
Rev Rick Carder
