Asleep in Jesus

Three words - Asleep In Jesus!  How comforting is that thought?

Capture these thoughts real quickly!

Stephen utters a prayer and then, "he fell asleep." - Acts 7:60

Jesus speaking to the disciples says, "our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep." - John 11:11

Paul writing to the church in Corinth, "behold, I am telling you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed" - 1 Corinthians 15:51

In each one of these references, we fall asleep just for a little bit and then we are awakened to an eternal resurrection.  Completely restored.  Completely at rest.  Completely made new.  Isn't that a refreshing thought?

What I want to continue to strive for, long before my death and resurrection to my eternal home, is learning to fall asleep in Jesus today.  I love that scene in Mark 4, while a storm is happening and all the disciples on the boat were freaking out, where was Jesus?  Let's take a look:

"and yet Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion." - Mark 4:38  

He was sound asleep.  Like, He was out of it.  It was nature rocking and keeping Jesus asleep.

Do you remember those days when you were in a dilemma and you needed mom, but she was taking a nap and you were like, "I don't want to wake her up, but I don't know what to do...uggh!"  Yeah, I don't think the disciples were thinking that.

And it said, the disciples woke Him up.  But!  What would it have been like if they thought to themselves, "if He isn't worried about this storm, then why should I?  Heck, maybe I should snuggle up and fall asleep myself!"  Wouldn't it be great to have that kind of peace in life?  I think we can.  It's a matter of learning to spend more time with Him and less time on the "storms" and the "waves."  I mean, they are all around us non-stop.  But they don't have to control us.  

I genuinely take lots of naps.  I am notorious for taking 15-20 minute naps.  I survive off of naps.  What's amazing, is how refresh I feel even from those short naps.  I can go on...for a bit.

There is coming a day when we will truly fall asleep in Jesus and it will be great, right and peaceful.  In the meantime, let's find ways today, to fall asleep in Jesus...so that we can continue to go on...being useful for His Kingdom.  Then, one day, after we have been asleep in Jesus, we will hear the words, "well done good and faithful servant...enter into the rest that I have prepared for you!"  Wow.  Until then...let's go

What If?

Just a simple little thought this morning about what if? There's no way to know for sure, but if we at least take a few moments to think about it, it actually makes us think about certain things differently. What am I talking about? This: 

What if the servant girl, who called out Peter about being with Jesus during the 1st of 3 denials, was actually interested in hearing more about Jesus and wasn't accusing? What if the conversation could have gone like this: 

"you were with Jesus the Galilean too." What if Peter could have been the rock at this moment and bravely said, "yes, I am." She could have asked, "what's He really like? Tell me about His miracles, were you amazed? What does He mean when He says that 'the kingdom of heaven is near?' What is He really about?" What if? 

What if you and I could at least learn from this moment and ask the Spirit to make us braver? Jesus, would you give me the courage like the disciples had in Acts 4:23-31, instead of praying for ease, they prayed for boldness in the midst of persecution. Lord, let me not be intimidated by men, but give me the Spirit of power to love, forgive and serve. Like Peter, we will have opportunities to deny Him or praise Him. Let's choose to praise Him, on the other side of it could be a powerful moment that could be missed.

Lord!

Exodus 6:3-8 God does something very beautiful and powerful in these few verses. He repeats His covenant name, Lord, and then acts on that Name on behalf of His people. Check this out: "I am the Lord...I will bring you out. I am the Lord...I will deliver you. I am the Lord...I will redeem you. I am the Lord...I will take you to be my people. I am the Lord...I will be your God. I am the Lord...I will bring you into the land. I am the Lord...I will give it to you for a possession." Do you know how all this started out? By God saying to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" and "I WILL DO WHAT I SAID I WILL DO." It is almost as if God is saying, "I AM...whatever my people need." "The Lord is My Shepherd, He is all that I need!" Is God your Lord? He wants to be your Lord, right now. Embrace Him!

Standing In The Rain

 I have the privilege of writing a couple of grief support letters per month for my VNA family members who have lost loved ones.  I am thankful for that opportunity to encourage and bless them through their season.  This is one that hit me pretty hard in my own reflection, so I thought I would post it.  I haven't done anything with this blog in awhile, but I am trying to get back to it.  Here are my thoughts today:

I was listening to a sermon earlier in the week and there was a part of the sermon that literally wrecked me.  In fact, I had to wait to get to the office to listen to it again and write it down, because I knew it was a thought that I wanted to share with all of you, my grieving family.

So John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, had a friend in his congregation who battled depression.  And when I say depression, it was a very crippling depression.  This individual had 4 bad cases of it in his life and John Newton walked with him through each one.  Newton, when his friend was going through depression, would tell him to write hymns during his time in this dark season and his friend did.  In fact, Newton and his friend wrote many hymns together and you can find them in a Hymnal called the Olney Hymns.  This friend also went on to write some amazing poetry over his lifetime.  The man’s name is William Cowper (pronounced Cooper).

But here is the line that struck me to my core.  Newton knew that words could not do anything for his friend, but here was his thought:  “I knew that I couldn’t make the cloud depart from Cowper, but I knew I could stand in the rain with him.”  Are you kidding me?  Newton wouldn’t even try to say anything to Cowper, he would just stand in the rain with him.  I love that dearly.

It reminded me when Job lost everything he had in life, his wealth, health, and children.  In his darkest season, he had three friends who came and for 7 days, stood in the rain with him.  And then they tried to use words and it was bad.

I think of a guy by the name of Ittai.  David’s own son was trying to kill him and David was completely overwhelmed by the happenings of life and yet, you find a foreigner, standing in the rain with David.  In fact, 2 Samuel 15:21 he says to David, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.”  I call that standing in the rain.

I think of Naomi who lost her husband and her two sons.  She was bitter and wanted people to call her bitter.  But then there was Ruth, her daughter-in-law, standing in the rain with her.

I literally had the joy, before covid hit, of watching two ladies in the Cape office show me what it looks like to stand in the rain with and for each other.

“I knew that I couldn’t make the cloud depart from Cowper, but I knew I could stand in the rain with him.”  Man, that is so good.  So it has led me to these two final thoughts.

1.       I really am praying for you and the season of grief that you are in.  I taste it often in my own cup and somedays it is a bit overwhelming.  But I am so grateful that Jesus stands in the rain with me and He stands in the rain with you.  Isaiah 41:10 says, “do not fear, for I am with you; Do not be anxious, for I am God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  Shew!!!  I need that, how about you?

2.       Are you standing in the rain with someone right now who needs it?  You know the pain.  Allow that pain to lead you to being a blessing for someone who is in pain.  I’m telling you, John Newton knew pain and he used that pain to stand in the rain with Cowper.  And the fewer words you use, the better.

One could say, as I finish this letter, Jesus left the Glories of Heaven to come to earth, to stand in the rain with us…

Time With Spurgeon

While working two jobs, I don't have much time for reading like I want too, but when I do get a chance, I usually try to shut my phone off and take about 12 hours to read.  Last night and this morning I got my chance and it was beautiful.  So right now, I am spending almost all of my time reading anything by C.H. Spurgeon or Scripture.

I am doing the Robert Murray McCheyne Reading plan, which is my 5th time through and a list of Spurgeon books:

Beside Still Waters, Spurgeon's prayers, Wicket Gate, No Tears in Heaven, and Delighting in the Sunlit Upland's of Grace.

Here are some golden nuggets I got from my reading, hope you might find something to grab onto and chew on it:

Beside Still Waters - Spurgeon wrote this - "The Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, "do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."  (Gen. 15:1).  These words were spoken shortly after Abram had given his nephew Lot the choice of territories.  Lot chose what appeared to be the best, Jordan's well-watered plain.  Abraham, however, looked to the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.  Thus, he lost nothing.

Every time I come across this story in my reading time I would be so frustrated with Lot for not showing respect to Abram and for being selfish choosing the best and not letting Abram have it.  But Spurgeon definitely showed me a new angle on this story.  Lot was choosing physically while Abram was choosing spiritually.  What a powerful lesson for me to wrestle with.  How about I start getting to the point in life when I focus more on spiritual decision and less on physical decisions?  And I love what God is basically communicating to Abram:  you focus on me and me alone and I'll take care of you.  Jesus would say very many years later, "seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all the other things will be added unto you."   Can you imagine the Lord coming to you and saying, "do not be afraid, __________________ (your name).  I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.  What physical thing could take the place of that spiritual truth?  That was how I started off my evening, and it was only going to get better.

Spurgeon's Prayers:  Spurgeon wrote in regards to Psalm 139:  "but now, O Lord, we desire to find Thee.  Our longing is to feel Thy Presence and it is the heaven of heavens that Thou art there.  The sick bed is soft when Thou art there.  The furnace of affliction grows cool when Thou art there and the house of prayer, when Thou art present, is none other than the house of God and it is the very gate of heaven."

I just simply wrote, Jesus makes all the difference.  If the Lord is calling me to something, He is also promising to be with me and to provide for me.  So if it is to endure affliction, it is for my good and more importantly, for me to know that He is present.  It is like I am digging my faith roots deeper into His faithful soil.  If it is prayer, then He is showing me that He longs for my presence to be centered on Him and He longs to be with me.  He just wants me to know that He delights to be on this journey with me and I respond with being joyful to be on this journey with Him.  And then listen to this prayer, is this not a great prayer for our nation right now:

"And now that we have Thine ear, we would pray for this poor world in which we live.  We are often horrified by it.  O, Lord, we could wish that we did not know anything about it for our own comfort.  We have said, "Oh!  for a lodge in some vast wilderness."  We hear of oppression and robbery and murder, and men seem let loose against each other.  Lord, have mercy upon this great and wicked city.  What is to be done with these millions?  What can we do?  At least help every child of Thine to do his utmost.  May none of us contribute to the evil directly or indirectly, but may we contribute to the good that is is in."

May we simply not add more fire to the brokenness here on earth, but may we shine with joy and love in this dark place.

No Tear In Heaven:  Spurgeon writes:  "I shall be well contented to have made the joy-bells ring in one heart at least, to have set one eye flashing with joy, and to have made one spirit light with gladness."

That is a good prayer to pray for how we can contribute to this broken world.

Also Spurgeon writes, "Not so the Christian in heaven.  For him there are no nights; and if there be times of solitude and rest, he is ever filled with ecstatic joy.  His river floweth ever full of bliss, without one pebble of sorrow over which it ripples, he has no aching conscience, no 'aching void the world can never fill.'  He is supremely blessed, satisfied with favour, and full with the goodness of the Lord."

There is an end to this madness friends and what awaits us is simply unbelievable.  He made the promise and He will fulfill that promise, so may we keep at it until our time is come.  I can't wait to sit by the river full of bliss.  I will have my feet in delighted in His Presence never ever remembering or give a care to the struggles of this life on earth.  It will be forgotten and all will be well in my heart and soul.  I CAN'T WAIT.

Delighting In The Sunlit Uplands of Grace:  If you want to read a great sermon, which is what I read Friday morning, here it is:  https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/joy-a-duty/#flipbook/

No thoughts, just quotes:

Spurgeon writes:  "what a gracious God we serve, who makes delight to be a duty, and who commands us to rejoice...we are to joy, and then we are to re-joy.  We are to chew the cud of delight; we are to roll the dainty morsel under our tongue till we get the very essence out of it.  'Rejoice, Joy is a delightful thing."  WOW

"God never commanded us to do a thing which would really harm us;" (and may I add) His commands are always for us to taste and see that He is good and He is God.

"Joy!  Joy!  Why, it speaks for itself!  It is like a candle lighted in a dark chamber; you need not sound a trumpet, and say, ' now light has come.'  The candle proclaims itself by its own brilliance; and when joy comes into a man, it shines out of his eyes, it sparkles in his countenance.  There is something about every limb of the man that betokens that his body, like a well-tuned harp, has had its strings put in order.  Joy - it refreshes the marrow of the bones; it quickens the flowing of the blood in the veins; it is a healthy thing in all respects.  It is a speaking thing, a demonstrative thing; and I am sure that joy in the Lord ought to have a tongue."  He then spoke of an elderly man in his church who fit this description and said, "what a lump of sunshine that man was" and I thought to myself, that is exactly what I would love for people to say of me.  Wouldn't it be great if people said of you, "what a lump of sunshine he/she was."  It is all about choosing Jesus as your joy and nothing else.  And friends, when we choose Jesus as our joy, "it makes us like God."

And Jesus should be our joy because look at what He did:  "Jesus, incarnate in your flesh, dead for your sins, risen for your justification, gone into glory claiming victory for you, sitting at the right hand of God interceding for you, reigning over all worlds on your behalf, and soon to come to take you up into His Glory that you may be with Him forever.  Rejoice in the Lord Jesus.  This is a sea of delight; blessed are they that dive into its utmost depths."  Come on!!!

Last thought although I had many more.  Spurgeon writes, "you see it is joy, joy, joy, joy.  Paul seems to go from stave to stave of the ladder of light, as if he were climbing up from Nero's dungeon into heaven itself by way of continual joy."

So today, I rededicated myself of being a person of joy not for your sake but because it is what the Lord longs of me.  My joy is not in anything of this world, because any of it is going to fade away.  No, my joy is in Jesus because He is constant.  He is good.  He is joy.  He deserves it.  Life is hard and it is easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed, but that is why we must look to Jesus and remind ourselves of what is to come.  No one can take that away from us.  May it be said of me, "what a lump of sunshine he was."

Blessings.

Sleeping With Jesus!

So back in April of 2016, my encounter with Jesus in Mark 6 would have a tremendous impact on my life.  I won't use a lot of space in this moment, but I came to realize that the storms I'm facing in life, even if they are created by me, I never face alone.  I came to a firm understanding that He is with me through everything and never does He ever shame me.  Shame by the way, does not come from Him.

Mark 6 is when Jesus sends the disciples out and a storm kicks up and they are afraid of what could come down.  Jesus walks out to them and eventually enters into the boat and is with them...but He was even with them when He wasn't physically connected to them.  Ok.  Check it out for yourself, but it is a powerful story.

Now, when I was wrestling with Mark 6 years ago, I also came to a place of thinking to myself, ultimately what I really desire is to be so close to Jesus that you could find me sleeping with Jesus during the storm like He is in Mark 4.  The disciples are freaking out over the storm and where is Jesus?  He is sound asleep because He is not shaken by anything.  Isn't that the place that we want to be?  Don't we desire to be so close to Jesus that we aren't shaken by anything either!  I mean it, I want that.  The only way to get that is to be close and trust Him at all areas of our lives.  So, in the midst of the storm, not only do I want Jesus in "my boat" with me, but I even want to be so peaceful that you can find us napping together. 

So this morning my mind was blown open watching Passion City Church online and there was a reference that I had never connected to Mark 4.  Acts 12:6 - "when Herod was about to bring Peter out for trial, that very night Peter, bound with two chains, was what?  SLEEPING.  Sleeping between two soldiers..."  Why was Peter sleeping?  Because He had and is with Jesus or He knows that Jesus is in "his boat."  Boom.  Now go back to Mark 4 and while the storm was happening and Jesus was asleep, one of the disciples (could have been Peter) said, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die? I can hear people stating that comment today in the midst of our chaotic world.  Jesus got up (rubbed His eyes) and rebuked the wind."  Ummm, what just happened?  Then said, "why are you afraid?  Do you still have no faith?  And they were terrified...who is this?"  Haha.  Peter was there.  Now, it would take Peter awhile to get it, but I am so thankful that Peter stayed at it.  Did Peter get it?  According to Acts 12:6, I would say yes.  He was sound asleep waiting trial between two soldiers.  And the beauty of Acts 12, is that God acted.

Well, I believe that is a very good word for us today facing this virus.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and the forever more.  This virus is going to run its course but I am praying that you will find me "sleeping" with Jesus through this.  He is greater than any storm.  He is greater than any virus.  He is even greater than death.  With my job, I have the privilege to not only remind myself, but to remind our people to wash our hands and be wise but at the same time, let's continue to "wash feet" as we usher people to glory as they face death in their last days.  Jesus is in "our boats."  We have nothing to fear.  Be wise and may you and I be found "sleeping" with Jesus.

If you have not asked Jesus into your boat, to be in control of your life and to forgive you of your sins, or you need prayer for something, please let me know how I can help you.  I really am praying that today you make a declaration to deepen your faith in Jesus.  I am praying that you would be so at peace and believe that He is in control that you are "sleeping" with Jesus.  I was so thankful that my heart was stirred today by the Word of the Lord and I'll leave you with this.

David wrote in Psalm 119:164 - I praise the Lord 7x a day.  Think what our lives would look like today if that is exactly what we discipline ourselves to do each day.  Spend more time with Him than the news.  Yes, it is important to have knowledge of what is going on, but boy be very careful with allowing too many voices into your head.  There is only One Voice that you and I truly need rolling around in our souls and that is Jesus who is screaming right now, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

NOW CLING TO THAT and enjoy "sleeping with Jesus" because God is still acting today.  Trust Him and Believe!  Don't lose heart!  Peace!

Come on God!

God, why won't you answer my prayer?  Why are you silent?  Why does it seem that you are working in that person's life but not working in mine?  You are not alone with those questions.  But check this out and I hope that you find some peace with what I am about to share with you.

Let's spend some time in Dothan.  Dothan is only mentioned twice in Scripture.  The events that happened there are so different and yet, there is one thing that is true about both and we will learn that together, but before we do, let's get some context.

Genesis 37:17 - Joseph's brothers are hanging out in Dothan when they see their much hated brother Joseph coming their way.  They wanted to kill him and when you are way out in Dothan,  you can do what you want and no one is going to hear about it.  So they said, "let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns.  We can tell our father, a wild animal has eaten him."  That's the plan but thankfully Reuben, who doesn't like Joseph either, doesn't think this is a good idea at all.  We can throw him in the cistern, but let's not have any blood on our hands.  Also, it should be noted that Reuben had secretly decided in his mind that he would come back and rescue Joseph.  So they took his 'coat of many colors' off of him and threw him into a cistern.  So let's just stop because I just want to imagine what is going through Joseph's.  What is he thinking?  Is he screaming to let him out?  Does he just sit down and allow his circumstances to consume him?  Is he praying?  And if he is praying, what do you think he is praying?  I would be praying, Lord, if there is anyway for you to get me out, please get me out.  I mean, what else are you going to say?  And guess what?  God doesn't!  Instead, as the brothers are eating their meals, a caravan of Ishmaelite traders are headed to Egypt so they come up with a brilliant plan to sell him into slavery.  Also, Reuben has wandered off at this point as well, so no luck for Joseph.  He is now a slave who will be sold to the services of Potiphar down the road.  Let's just cut straight to the point, God didn't rescue Joseph and now Joseph will be a slave in a foreign land.  What the heck? 

Now, let's look at the second event that happened in Dothan:

2 Kings 6:13 - So the King of Aram is fighting against God's people and every time he is about to attack, Elisha, a prophet of God, would warn the King of Israel what was about to happen.  The King of Aram was starting to get really ticked off.  How on earth are they always prepared when we attack.  King of Aram is even starting to wonder who is leaking his plans out.  But eventually the king comes to find out that Elisha is helping the King of Israel by telling him the plans, so now, King of Aram wants to destroy Elisha.  Where is Elisha?  He is in Dothan.  So the army goes after 1 guy.  It is like trying to kill a cockroach with a 12 guage.  So the King of Aram and his army find out exactly where Elisha is retreating and they surround him.  Next morning, Elisha's servant goes out to grab the newspaper off the front porch and looks up and is overwhelmed with fear at the sight of the enemy surrounding them.  He runs into the cabin and tells Elisha the bad news.  We are dead meat.  We are surrounded by hundreds of people ready to kill us.  Elisha's response:  "don't be afraid, for there are more on our side than on theirs.  O Lord, open his eyes and let him see."  You know the servant has to be thinking, "ummm, what?  Are you kidding me?"  I love it.  I know I would be thinking that.  But it notes that the servant looked again and when looked, he was amazed to see the Army of God surrounding the King of Aram and his men.  Elisha prays again, and the men go blind so then Elisha tells them that they are at the wrong place and that they should follow him to the right place.  He leads them to Samaria and they all become prisoners to the Israelite Army.  God answered Elisha's prayer twice.  We like this story much better than we do Joseph's experience in Dothan don't we?  Let's just ask the question, why did God ignore Joseph and answered Elisha's prayed while they were both in Dothan.

The truth is that many of us have been to "Dothan" many times before.  We've had moments where it seems like God answered his/her prayers, but not mine.  I keep trying to do the right thing only to keep falling deeper in a dark place while they seem to continue to bask in the blessings!  What the heck?  I don't understand you God.  What am I to do?

So these two stories take place in the Dothan.  They take place at different times in history and yet, there is one thing that is true about both experiences that will bless us if we will just lean in.

Here is the one truth:  God is faithful in both situations.  Sure, he didn't answer Joseph's prayer like Joseph wanted him too, or even like we wished God would have, because God had a bigger plan for Joseph.  You see, we only see here and now (see what I did there).  Our vision really is very limited.  I can only see in the present moment.  That's all I can do.  Sure, I could have my day planned out and more than likely will get to fulfill it, but I also know that it could change in a heartbeat.  All I am sure of is right now.  God, well, He sees differently than we do.  He is present now and present later...now.  Wrap that around our pea size mind.  He sees now and He sees the future played out and He had a big plan for Joseph.  And what was that big plan?  It was for Joseph to literally save his family from a famine that would take place years later.  How?  By not answering Joseph's rescue plan in Dothan, so that he would be sold as a slave in Egypt.  He then would have Joseph get falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit only to end up in prison for at least 10 years and be ignored when he helped other people out of prison.  Then Pharoah had a dream and needed someone to interpret it to which led to Joseph being remembered in prison.  So Pharoah called on him, was impressed with his wisdom and placed Joseph in charge of all the food during a what?  A famine, and guess who's family comes looking for food that Joseph happened to be in charge of?  Only God knew what He was doing.  Was it worth it for Joseph because I'm not sure that would be the route that I would have wanted.  What do you think Joseph would say?  Genesis 50:20 - "you meant to bring harm to me, but God used it for His good."  So did God answer Joseph's prayer back in Dothan?  Yes, but in a very long way.  You see, just because you call out to God and things don't go the way you thought doesn't mean God ignored you.  Oh my friends, listen, God is for you and wants the best for His Kingdom through you.  And sure, why didn't God show up for Joseph like He did for Elisha and his servant?  It just simply is not how God works.  But whether we are facing life like Joseph is in Dothan or like Elisha, one thing is abundantly clear, God is faithful to both.  He knows what He is doing.  He is God.  He has His reasons and His reasons are always good. 

So when you are in "Dothan," don't lose heart.  He is working in you.  It might happen in that very moment or it might take 12-13 years to play out.  But we just keep our eyes on Jesus.  We just keep trusting Jesus.  We do not let "Dothan" control us, we let God control us.  Amen?  Amen!