Prerequisite for a miracle

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C.  His latest book, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible, spotlights seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John.  Each miracle unveils a different dimension of Jesus’ power.  Seven miracles are seven signs, each pointing straight to Jesus.

Pastor Batterson stresses that this book is more than a course in miracles.  The focus is on Jesus, the only One who can perform them.  At the outset, the author offers a word of caution:

“Don’t seek miracles.  Follow Jesus.  And if you follow Jesus long enough and far enough, you’ll eventually find yourself in the middle of some miracles.”

Everyone, Pastor Batterson observes, wants a miracle.  But there’s a catch- the prerequisite for a miracle is a problem.  Yet, problems present the perfect opportunity for God to reveal His glory.  God can make our impossible possible!

Mark  relates the story (Chapter 2) of world-class violinist Joshua Bell and his three-hundred-year-old Stradivarius worth $3.5 million.  Playing incognito outside one of the busiest stops on the Washington Metro line and filmed by a hidden camera, only seven out of over one thousand people who passed by stopped to listen.  Similarly, Mark states that miracles are happening around us every day, but we will miss them if we don’t know how to look for them.

Today’s question: What is your response to Pastor Batterson’s word of caution concerning seeking miracles?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: the latest addition to the Annotated Bibliography, “Waiting on God”

 

Prerequisite for a miracle

The best is yet to come

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived- the things God has prepared for those who love him- these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. . . . we have received the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”- 2 Corinthians 2:9-10, 12

As Charles Stanley concludes Chapter 7 of Waiting on God, he states that if we truly cherish our heart’s desire- respecting and honoring the Father- we will exhibit patience, faith, and obedience as we wait for the Lord to act.  We never should give up, especially when we’re on the brink of blessing from God and His answer is closer than ever.  We’ve invested a great deal of time, energy, prayer, and confidence in God.  We must not abandon our hope.

Dr. Stanley began Waiting on God with a list of “nevers.”  He prays that the principle and biblical truths he presented in this book will strengthen us in our time of delay:

“You can and should endure expectantly with the joy of knowing God will never let you down.  You can and should keep hoping even when the nevers of life bombard you, realizing that the Lord is the One you really hope for, and He perfectly cares for all that concerns you.”

We can know with certainty that the best is yet to come . . . always!

Today’s question: What sections of Dr. Stanley’s book have had the greatest impact on you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Prerequisite for a miracle”

Coming Monday: the Annotated Bibliography of Waiting on God

 

 

 

The best is yet to come

Soar on wings like eagles

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”- Isaiah 40:31

Charles Stanley loves to photograph eagles because they are beautiful as well as extremely interesting to watch.  Dr. Stanley marvels at the wonderful way the Father has created eagles to traverse the sky.  In Chapter 7 (“The Joy of Waiting: Reaping the Rewards”) of Waiting on God, the author observes that eagles would tire quickly if they relied on their own power to say aloft.  They wouldn’t travel as far.

Instead, eagles ride air currents to move effortlessly through the sky.  Just as the wind current carries the eagles, our trust in God carries us through every trial and delay.  When we attempt to use our own power to accomplish our goals, we experience a feeling of “utter, internal exhaustion.”  Dr. Stanley explains that, just as eagles wait for the right air current, we need to wait on God:

“When we wait upon God, He will become the powerful current beneath our wings- lifting us to new heights, supporting us in the journey, and taking us to our desired haven.”

Today’s question: What Scriptures have been instrumental in strengthening your resolve to wait upon the Lord?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “The best is yet to come”

 

 

 

 

Soar on wings like eagles

Courageous praise

“Give thanks in all circumstances. for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Charles Stanley concludes Chapter 6 of Waiting on God with the final principle for persevering through dark times-courageous praise.  On the basis of our relationship with Christ, we express our thankfulness to Him regardless of our circumstances.

Dr. Stanley readily observes that it seems absolutely counterintuitive to praise God when “the stresses overwhelm you, your dreams are shattered, all seems lost, and you struggle just out get out of bed in the morning.”  Yet, without exception, Scripture admonishes us to praise God in every situation, for only praising God will minister to our spirit and lift our heart.  Our perspective changes.  We actively look for God’s help and deliverance rather than ruminating over the negative aspects of our life.

Especially during our darkest moments, giving thanks to God enables us to keep our focus on Him rather than dwelling on our circumstances.  As we find more and more areas of gratefulness, before we realize it we will be thanking the Father for the trial itself.  The greater the hurt we experience, the closer we draw to Him, as Dr. Stanley explains:

“You can express your gratefulness that He is teaching you to think as He thinks; love in the unconditional matter He loves; and forgive freely the way He forgives you.  Because when you do, it honors the Lord greatly, refreshes your spirit, and helps you endure courageously and victoriously.”

Today’s question: What has most helped you to endure your vocation loss with courageous praise?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Soar on wings like eagles”

Courageous praise

The sword of the Spirit

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”- Ephesians 6:16-17

As Charles Stanley continues Chapter 6 of Waiting on God, he reminds us that we courageously can face times of waiting by remembering that God is with us and has an important purpose for all we’re experiencing.  But there is a third principle that is crucial if our season of waiting is to end victoriously.  Dr. Stanley stresses we must realize that we are in a spiritual battle.  Disheartenment strikes at the depths of our soul because Satan strikes at the very core of our personhood- through what we think and believe.

The most effective time for Satan to torment us, Dr. Stanley states, is when we are waiting on God:

“He (Satan) know exactly how to pinpoint the most painful, vulnerable places in your life: the areas of fear, insecurity, rejection, anger, bitterness, pride, and guilt that so readily lead you to despair.”

When Satan moves in, we must confront his lies with the truth of Scripture- the sword of the Spirit.  As the Holy Spirit works in our heart, the Lord will identify Satan’s lies one by one and each us how to overcome them with His truth.  The Holy Spirit will lead, counsel, and strengthen us.

Today’s question: What powerful truths of Scripture have enabled you to confront Satan with the sword of the Spirit?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Courageous praise”

The sword of the Spirit

Enduring dark times

Today Charles Stanley completes his presentation of five reasons why the Lord allow us to experience enduring dark times.

2.  To prepare you.  Dr. Stanley notes that throughout Joseph’s thirteen years of enduring dark times in Egypt, God positioned him perfectly and spiritually for what would come next.  Dr. Stanley explains that is true for us as well:

“The Father readies your character and places you exactly where you should be, when you should be there, for maximum impact.”

3.  So others can witness His work through you.  It was obvious to all the Egyptians Who was helping Joseph.  The Lord completely orchestrated the events that led to Joseph becoming second in command under Pharaoh.

4.  To raise you up and place you in a position to bless others.  The Lord tirelessly refined Joseph’s character for those thirteen years so Joseph would be ready when his God-centered leadership was needed.  The same is true for us, as Dr. Stanley notes:

“Never underestimate the awesome encouragement you can be to another person or the example you set as a follower of Jesus during the difficult times of your life.”

5.  To change your perspective.  During his dark times, Joseph learned the importance of forgiveness and mercy because of the Lord’s great grace to him.  The author applies the lesson Joseph learned:

“If you are to endure courageously, you must center your attention on the fact that the Lord is responsible for your future and all that affects it.”

Today’s question: Which of Dr. Stanley’s five reasons strike a chord with you?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “The sword of the Spirit”

Enduring dark times

My Lifesong

“He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.  Many will see what he has done and be amazed.  hey will put their trust in the Lord.”- Psalm 40:3 (NLT)

“God is never a God of discouragement.  When you have a discouraging spirit or train of thought in your mind, you can be sure it is not from God.”- John Ortberg

My seventh-grade teacher at Timothy Lutheran School in Chicago was Mr. Werner von Behren, who also ministered as Timothy’s organist and choir director.  One morning, quite unexpectedly, Mr. von Behren called me to his desk.  Knowing my piano-playing skills from school talent shows, he popped the question: “David, the school band needs a tuba player.  Are you interested?”  I eagerly accepted and was introduced to Mr. Richard Daugherty, the band director and expert “teach a seventh-grader how to tie a Windsor knot” instructor.  The anaconda-like sousaphone he brought in could’ve swallowed me whole!  Eventually he found a dented, E-flat tuba with a tarnished brass finish- case not included.  I dubbed it my “Civil War relic”.  After grade school I took a twenty-two year sabbatical, until I joined Divine Shepherd’s (Milwaukee) brass band.  The director opened the case to reveal a gleaming, silver tuba!

Playing the tuba created a Lifesong that led to many joyful experiences, like being in the kid’s band in Luther South’s production of “The Music Man” as an eighth-grader.  Yet this pales in comparison to God’s joy.  John Ortberg (The Life You’ve Always Wanted) writes that God’s basic character is joy.  He is the happiest being in the universe- and since we are made in His image, we are to reflect that “fierce joy” in our life.

Satan, however, desires that we live in sorrow and despondency, a state he’ll live in for all eternity.  Misery loves company.  We cannot buy into the deception that our joy is dependent on your circumstances.  We must take responsibility for our joyfulness, exulting in monotony:

” . . . perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. . . . It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike, it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.”- G. K. Chesterton (Orthodoxy)

May we sign Jesus’ name to the end of each day, knowing that we’ve been faithful to Him, trusting in His promises and provision.  Let my Lifesong sing to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEwB0pkes7U

 

 

 

My Lifesong