running late...

I am running late today... but it is not a problem. If you know me - even if you barely know me... you know that being late is something I do not do well. I HATE being late... I'll "break my neck" to not be late.

Today I am late. I am late by choice. I am not talking about being a fe minutes late... at least one hour. Why does it not matter today when it matters so much any other time?

Today is Raegan's birthday. Usually I leave on Wednesday mornings before she is even out of bed. Not today. Today I took Katelynn to "See You at the Pole" after Raegan opened her birthday presents. I picked up Raegan's favorite breakfast... we hung out for a little bit... THEN I took her to school.

When I said it was not a problem - that's not completely true... it was a problem. When I got here I felt some pressure... when I got into my office I was a little stressed... but I stopped and thought about it. This was a good decision... it was really not a big deal... at least to me... there was nothing that I really HAD to take care of right now (yes, there were a few people who THOUGHT it had to be done)... the big deal is that it was a big deal to Raegan - she thought it was really cool that I stayed to take her to school.

Today... what little thing to you could be a big deal to someone else? What can you do for someone that would bless their life so much and we require so little from you?

Today... don't wait. I have a terrible habit of doing it later - which so often does not come... so TODAY - do it! I'm on my way right now. Since I am already late (and it feels so good!) I'm going to be a little later... put a few more things off... I will not have this moment EVER again... so I want to use it the best way I can... gotta run!

gripped...

I just got home... Sonya and I just took a little ride on the motorcycle - it is a great way (at least for me) to unwind... to relax... we enjoy riding - especially together. I have to admit something though - I was nervous. I was not completely sure I wanted to ride. My leg was hurting... my back was hurting... my confidence was hurting.

Why? I did something this afternoon I have not done in a long, long time. In fact I do not remember the last time. Looking back now I am still unsure what happened. I was riding in a parking lot... it was not a paved one, just gravel... I was going slow... taking it easy... and the next thing I know... I have laid the bike over. It just happened.

When I got home Sonya asked about us taking a ride... I was not sure I was up to it... laying a bike down is bad... but it does not begin to compare to crashing with the love of your life on the bike.

You already know what we did... we rode. In the seconds that I thought about whether to ride or not I was reminded of class today. We were studying in Exodus 14. The Israelites have been delivered from Egyptian bondage. They are still singing the song of Moses... they are being led by a cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night. They are camped beside a mountain and the sea. This is it! This is what they had longed for. Life is finally back on track... at least it appears that way until someone notices a cloud of dust on the horizon. Who could that be? It can't be... what... the Egyptian army?

With no hesitation the whining is on... Moses... we told you to leave us alone... did you not think there were enough graves in Egypt... did you lead us out here to be slaughtered? Their eyes... their hearts are set on going back to Egypt. Being a slave was not all that bad... really we kind of liked it. Never mind that they were crying out to God for a deliverer... let's retreat. Moses told the folks to quit crying and just be still... but that was not God's plan... it was just better than crying out and going back...

What did God want? "Why are the people crying out? Tell them to go forward!" Go forward? There is a sea in front of us... how can we go forward? Their concern did not need to be how... just stop crying... stop standing around... start moving!

Are you ever gripped with fear? Do you ever find yourself on the brink of something new... something big... something different? Can you feel your heart pulling you back? Do you want to just turn around? Do you ever get paralyzed by fear?

Our situations and circumstances have incredible power... they can cause us to be focused only on them... what Israel needed... what we need is not just to see the problems... we must look past them... over them... through them... we must see God.

Today... don't back up...

Today... don't stand still...

Today... go forward!

look again... what do you see?

We just finished studying Genesis in my Old Testament Message class. I was blown away again by Joseph... it seems to me the only way that you aren't just floored by Joseph is if you leave him as a flat, little b "bible story" character... One of the things we talked about in class was - if it was you what would you have done.

Imagine what it would have been like... your brothers grab you and stick you in pit... and they leave you there. Maybe at first Joseph thought it was a joke... "OK guys, real funny - now get me out of here." Who knows what they might have said to him. Could he hear them when they said, "what will we get out of it if we kill him, let's sell him... after all, he is our brother." Did Joseph say, "Come on, that's not funny. Get me out of here." As the Ishmaelites carry him off, Joseph cries out, begs for his own brothers to rescue him. They don't.

Imagine what it would have been like... sold into slavery. Would you have been a good slave? Would you have tried to escape? Would you work hard? Would you blame God? Joseph did his work so well that he was promoted... finally he is in charge of everything... he is trusted... When his master's wife starts whispering in his ear - "come lie with me," he refuses her day after day... finally she grabs him - he fights her off. "My master trusts me... I cannot sin against God... NO!" Is he rewarded for his integrity... for doing right? NO! He's thrown in prison.

Imagine what it would have been like... a prisoner. What kind of prisoner would you have been. Would you have moaned and groaned to everyone you met about how unfair this is... how you don't deserve it?

Joseph's story could go on and on. I am not only amazed at how he responds each step of the way... I am most amazed by what he believes along the way... the conclusions he draws about his life - and all of the bad things that have happened. "God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives... it was not you who sent me here, but God... you intended to harm me, but God intended it for good."

What incredible faith. It is as if Joseph looks at his life - all the bad... all he could have been upset by... all the folks who treated him poorly... and then says - look again. What do you see? What he saw was God... a God so big... so powerful... that He can overrule the evil work of men - that He can acheive His purpose - that He can intend it for good and make it work out that way.

Today... is there any bad... hard... painful thing in your life? Something in the past... or something right now?

Today... will you look at it again? Don't look at it to see who is to blame... or to remember how painful it was and is... or to remember how you did not deserve it - or why you did...

Today... will you look again... and see... imagine... dream... what can God do with this? How can He turn it - all of it - into something good.

God intended it for good!

the older brother...

I love it! I love that we never quit learning! I am often amazed by how little I know. It does thrill me that I can keep learning... it keeps me reading... thinking... stretching... growing.

This morning I was reading my friend Rex Boyles' blog http://rexboyles.com/blog/ and he taught me, as he has done literally countless times before, something I never knew. He was writing about the welcome home the Father... and all who have His heart for those that are lost... gave the younger brother... the sinnner... you and me.

Here's the section that caught my attention with my own emphasis added...
"May God work through my weaknesses and through your graciousness to build a fellowship of sinners, who have come to our senses, made our apologies, seen God run, celebrated our return, and ignored the elder brother, so that we can provide a safe place … a welcoming place for any and all others, who are coming home … or wanting to come home. Help me welcome them home, please. "

WOW! When I've seen the older brother I have wanted to straighten him out... to deal with his hard heart... I have missed lots of celebrating and enjoying the love, grace and forgiveness given by our Father because I have not simply ignored the older brother. (By the way - I am sure I have been the older brother in need of the straightening out as well - if it was with you please forgive me).

Today... remember God's grace in your life!

Today... thank Him!

Today... let's be sure our hearts are like our Fathers.

how is your ax?

Man - I am dragging today. I know many - maybe most of you will understand when I mention the terrible pace of life - and how we are going non-stop.

I walked out of the house at 6:40 this morning - heading to Lubbock for a day of teaching. I will get home in time to grab a little supper and then run over to Hobbs to preach there tonight. You have to understand... most of you already know... I love this. I love teaching... I love preaching... but I have to say as I walked out to the car this morning I thought...

I thought... I am not ready for this. I am tired. My mind is not refreshed... my body is sore... I've got a headache... oh it went on and on. I had a few minutes in the word this morning and "found" just what I needed - I blog today in hopes that maybe you - not someone else - you will be blessed... helped... encouraged...

"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharepened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success."

I've got too much to do to slow down... I can't wait... if I don't get started now I'll never get through... I've got all the excuses down - and then God said, "if the ax is dull..."

There's no doubt as we are busy... as we are living life... loving God... loving others... serving God... serving others - the ax will dull. The question is will we - will I - take the time to be sharpened? To be refreshed? Will you?

Today... take a break - even if it is short... even if you have lots to do... even if you are behind already... get your Bible -read... pray... stop.

When the next Today comes... start it with the Lord...