Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Steps of Faith


"This situation is nothing but a bump in the ground and another step of faith in life that you WILL GET THROUGH!!!!!!" ~Jonathan David Allison

The above quote is taken directly from our 10 year old son's email to, Lori. He was encouraging her in the midst of a great trial. I love the clear and compelling truth in it. Unwavering and sure faith.

I have been thinking of Peter's trek on the water and I think for the first time I really understand the whole sinking thing. All it takes to prevent us from sinking is "another step of faith." Just a step. Jonathan get's it!

As I am learning to navigate perilous times, I begin to sink when I "look down" and focus on the reality that I can't "walk on water." Of course you can't! That makes perfect sense, right? So why am I still afloat? Simply....Jesus! It's that "step of faith." Just a step.

It's not denial of the facts. But if like Peter, I look down at "reality", I sink. So I keep my eyes on Jesus and the impossible becomes possible! The crushing weight of trial and suffering is lifted and I walk on another step. The insurmountable mountain becomes a "bump in the ground."

Thanks to Jonathan for that reminder! And yes, we "WILL GET THROUGH!!!!!!"

stepping,
john

Monday, October 19, 2009

Hope


On a cloudy day, the pessimist gets up and heads out the door without sunglasses. The optimist grabs the shades thinking, "the sun will surely shine today at some point." Guess who I can be?

Recently, I headed out of the house on a rainy morning. As I was leaving, it occurred to me that maybe I should take my sunglasses. I quickly dismissed the thought sure that I wouldn't need them on such a dreary day.

As I drove, the image you see here emerged from the sky (I snapped a picture with the cell phone). And me without my sunglasses! The glorious sun stayed out the rest of the day. Yet another lesson in optimism. I am learning!

5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God. (Psalm 43:5, The Message)

When the day is at it's darkest, the Son is shinning. Always.

grab your shades,
john

Monday, October 12, 2009

Life’s A Maze!


I read this definition of a maze: an area of interconnected weaving paths that it is difficult to find a way through.

I spent nearly an hour and a half with our son, Jonathan in a corn maze yesterday. Actually it’s called the AMAZING MAIZE MAZE! And pictured above. I can tell you it was incredibly difficult to find the path out. Once you’ve seen one cornstalk…you’ve seen ‘em all! After awhile, they serve no purpose in assisting you on your journey. Trust me!

The only way you could find the end was by locating various mailboxes throughout the maze. Each mailbox had a piece of a map that was needed to help you navigate. With each piece came some sense of location and clarity. Without these markers, it was pretty much just a guessing game.

It was crazy as people passed one another in different stages of “lostness.” Everyone had the same agenda…to get out! It was chaos and a lot of fun. Well, until it got cold, and the sense of walking in circles became increasingly frustrating. You could keep playing the game or simply call out for help and a worker (high above the maze on a platform) would give you directions home.

Yes…after nearly an hour and a half, Jonathan and me were ready for some intervention. I looked up to the worker in the sky and in earnest I shouted up, “We are ready to get out of here now.” With a few quick directives, we were on our way. It still took some time but now we had a sense of direction and purpose. Our attitude changed quickly for the better. We found the end of that maze soon thereafter and it was glorious! Tired and frozen but happy!

Life’s a maze. It has a beginning and end. Along the way, much can happen to disorient us. We look for clues to make sense of it all. If you are like me, you have or will discover that you simply must call out to the one who has a perspective beyond our own, one who sees things from above.

I am asking the Father for perspective these days. I know He sees the beginning from the end. I truly believe when we call upon Him in our trouble, He’ll lead us all the way home!

amazed,

john

HerThe

Thursday, October 8, 2009

But God.

Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." Exodus 4:10 (NIV)

I know there is great importance placed on credentials and qualifications in our society. Preparation, study, testing, practice, and experience all go into qualifying us for specific tasks in our world. We rarely get jobs, if ever, that we lack the background and necessary pedigree required to perform the tasks of the position.

But God. I believe He always asks us to serve in areas we just don't have the goods for. Like Moses. "Hey Moses, I want you to be my spokesperson." says God. Moses', response, "I am lousy at public speaking." "No, worries, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." replies God.

God is leading me on a journey that I am not capable of undertaking on my own. I am weak and feeble in many respects. I lack the talent and eloquence. Like Moses, I want to protest and advise God that I am not His man for the job. But like with Moses, God's not accepting "no" for an answer.

I personally believe God delights in leading us in over our heads. To places where we look around and say, "What in the world am I doing here?" He loves to confound the wisdom of the day by working through the unlikeliest of candidates. I hope you aren't misinterpreting me. I do believe God honors hard work and preparation. It's just I believe to accomplish things for God is a superhuman matter. We just will never get it done...but God.

I have a feeling you are like me. The thought of walking through situations that eclipse our mortal strength is daunting and frankly, unsettling. If like me, God has led you to such a place today, take a deep breath and understand this: He's got us right where He wants us. Totally dependent on Him. You know, we can't do this! But God can, in and through us.

Once again, I am speaking from the crucible of my own experience at this time. I am walking on the water these days. And it's Him keeping me above the waves. Each step I am tempted to think I may sink. Guess what? But God! I am walking, me and my family.

So you are in good company. We all are in over our heads. It's almost laughable isn't it? To think that God calls upon each of us to work in arenas whereby ourselves...we don't belong. But God can carry us through and accomplish His galactic purposes through us!

thank God!
john

Sunday, October 4, 2009

God's Promise.

"I'm putting my rainbow in the clouds, a sign of the covenant between me and the Earth." Genesis 9, ~The Message

Yesterday as Jonathan, my son, and I drove out of a rainstorm I noticed a rainbow in my rear view mirror. It was the most intense rainbow I have ever seen. I stopped and snapped a picture with my cell phone camera (which doesn't remotely do justice to the colossal sight). Jonathan and I were both stunned. As we went on our way, it stayed in sight via the mirror for sometime. What's more fascinating to me is that I have seen at least 3 rainbows recently. Last week, I got caught in the rain while running. As I headed home, there before me was another giant complete rainbow. I was in awe as the last mile was me running straight towards that rainbow...all the way home.

I am now taking these sightings personally. Why? Because life is a raging storm at the moment. Lori's breast cancer diagnosis and the loss of our jobs have created a great tempest. Here's the thing, we have cried out to God for rescue. He's right here with us, keeping us afloat, guiding us along and giving us signs everyday. I believe in Father God with all my heart. I am just bold enough to think that He's calling my attention to these rainbows. They are majestic, glorious things that mark the end of a storm and serve to remind me God is very much a promise keeper.

Evidences of His promises are all around. They come in a loving gesture from a friend, a kind email, an unexpected gift, the prayers of others and the appearance of rainbows. We often call them coincidences and far too often take these happenings as of human origin or natural occurrence. Really? I submit they are God's fingerprints of his promise to care for those who place their trust in Him.

Father God has been pointing out to me that He's not left us uncared for. I am just crazy enough to believe he's been giving me rainbows as signs. How about you, seen any rainbows lately? God is all around us.

promise,
john