Three Days

Psalm 31:1 " In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry and should be kept free from fear and apprehension. These two days can either make or break you depending on how you let them dominate your life.

One of these days is Yesterday, filled with all its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, and its aches and pains. It has passed forever beyond your control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. You can't undo a single act you performed or erase a single word you said. Yesterday is gone forever, but will haunt you if you let it.

The other day you should not worry about is Tomorrow with all its possible adversities, burdens, promise and possible poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond your immediate control. Tomorrow the sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, you have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet to be born.

This leaves only one day, Today. Any person can fight the battle of just one day. It is when you add the burdens of Yesterday and Tomorrow that you break down in fear and trepidation.

It is not the experience of Today that drives a person mad, but the remorse or bitterness of something which happened Yesterday and the fear of what Tomorrow may bring. That's why you should live one day at a time, resting in the arms of Jesus.

The Psalmist reminds us all of three important things in this simple verse of scripture. They are not complex, but skillfully detailed to help us all understand how to deal with Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow:

-Put your trust in the Lord.

-Never be ashamed of your relationship with Him.

-Know deliverance comes every day through His righteousness.

One more time let me remind you Yesterday is gone and Tomorrow will come, so live Today in the fullness of His grace and glory. In three days Jesus did enough to cover all the days of your life. Never forget that fact and worship Him for it. 

Life Is A Journey, Not A Destination

Life is a journey and not a destination, so enjoy the trip!

Psalm 23 says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil..."

When we were in California a few years ago we stopped at a local state park to view the scenery. This was right out of Los Angeles. At the bottom of the trail was a sign that said, "BEWARE OF MOUNTAIN LIONS," and then gave instructions on how to avoid an attack if you encountered one. The first thing it said was not to run, but stand perfectly still. Yes, I'm sure that if I had seen one I would have not moved a muscle. NOT! I would have broken the world's record to get out of there.

My point is life is a journey and not a destination. Forrest Gump said in one of my favorite movies, "Momma always said life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." Yes, it's true. If life were a destination you would one day arrive-but it's not. You will never arrive, because until you die there is no end to your journey.

So you will have happiness and joy, sadness and sorrow, along with pain and loss. They'll be good days and bad days, days of fullness and emptiness, days of hope and days of despair. You will experience success, failure, new beginnings, opened and closed doors, and adventures beyond your wildest imagination, but you will never complete your journey until the Lord is finished with you.

The best thing you can do is decide right now that you're going to make the best of this life that the Lord gives you. Don't take anything for granted, but enjoy every experience possible. Laugh, cry, smile, frown, pout, get excited, be grateful and humbled by every step you take forward-just enjoy the ride.

Will it be perfect? Nope! Will it be what you expected? I doubt that. Will it be impactful? Could be; you just never know about those things. Your journey will become what you and God let it be. So take your first step-it could be a long walk to the finish line.

You Will Never Have It Together In Spite Of What You Think

You will never have it all together in spite of what you think. You are an unfinished project that the  Lord works on everyday like the Hemphills old song, "He's Still Working On Me". That would be a good theme song for most of us today. It's hard to swallow someone who appears to have it all together with no flaws in sight. It's almost a relief to find out they are not as perfect as they seem.

Too many people are affected by Christians who claim to be perfect and without flaw. The Bible tells us to "Be ye holy as I am holy" and also to "Strive to be holy." It also says the way to heaven is the "Highway of holiness." Yet, how many believers have flaws in certain parts of their lives and weaknesses they have to pray for help in every day of their Christian walk. Show me someone who says they have it all together all the time and I'll show you somebody who needs to return to the altar.

We are the perfect examples. We judge people mostly on appearances rather than actions. If they look sinful in our opinion, then they must be sinful. I mean even in 2016 we still have some church members who "strain at gnats and swallow camels." We are not judges or appointed to be as such in the Kingdom. We are supposed to be family, helping one another until we cross into eternity. If we spent more time working on ourselves rather than trying to perfect others, I'm sure we'd be a whole lot better off.

Those folks who think they have it all together try to put the rest of us to shame. I admit I pray every day for grace and ask if I have failed spiritually for forgiveness. I'm not ashamed to admit I don't have it all together. I've gone through enough junk in 45 years of ministry to write a book about and most of the stuff non-church people wouldn't believe. Most of it had to do with people who thought they had it all together and couldn't handle a pastor who admitted that he didn't. 

Just remember there is a day coming when all of us will be judged. Some will like it and others won't. It would be much easier to admit that you "were the chief of sinners" at one time and in your weakness you found strength in Jesus than to say you had never failed or stumbled in your journey. Remember, it's the truth that will set you free.

When You Dock Your Vessel

I wasn't ready to dock my vessel, but I was told if I wanted to live to see my grandchildren grow I had to retire from pastoring full-time. I never expected in a million years to have a stroke, but I did. I never thought about retiring at 62, but when the doctor says its imperative it changes your thinking.

The saddest part you learn is that when you dock your vessel you have to be willing to unload it. The hardest thing for any pastor worth his salt is to give up a pulpit, separate from a congregation, and learn to be good church member. It's also devastating on your companion, who in my case, for almost 45 years served as a pastor's wife and loved the congregations she served. So as you can see it's still a time of adjustment for both of us even after 9 months.

There are so many people out there who dock their vessels, yet leave their belongings on board. They forget that even in the bad times the Bible says they have a future and a hope. I must admit I have forgotten that a few times. I've had to unload my vessel several times, because some waters were left unstable due to the load that was heavy and taxing in the past. I'm learning that the best way to unload your vessel is to hold on to the good times and expunge the bad. I'm learning that people you helped along the way were worth all the sacrifice as you see them continue on in the faith. I'm also learning God still has a purpose for Becky and I with a new perspective. That's it-I'm still learning-but it didn't begin until I started unloading my vessel.

Being in the safety of the harbor won't do you a bit of good if you leave your belongings on the vessel. I talked with a well known gospel singer a few days ago and he shared some of the same things about this subject in our conversation. He told me that it wasn't about holding on, but his life really changed when he learned to let go. 

So my advice to you today is that when you dock your vessel, unload it. Leaving your stuff on a docked vessel won't do you any good. Get your cargo off and press on. Your vessel will sail again into a different territory guided by the Holy Spirit. Often times it's not what you expected, but your Heavenly Father has a reason for it all. 

It's Never Too Late To Change

It's never too late to:

-Change the way you live.

-Change the way you think.

-Change the way you act.

-Change the way you treat others.

-Change the way you do things.

-Change the way you respond to family.

-Change the way you deal with your past.

-Change the way you view your future.

-Change the way you look at today.

The Bible says that, "Today is the day of salvation." The writer speaks about the extreme urgency of making change before it's too late. Have you ever regretted a decision to procrastinate rather than act? Do you have to deal with a bad memory because you failed to engage in what needed to be done and something tragic happened? Many live in despondency due to their failure to assume their responsibility of living today.

Friend, it's never to late to change. Change is scary and frightening. Change is very difficult to accomplish. Change is exceptionally extreme for someone who has lived a certain way for years. Yet, according to the Bible, it's never to late to change today. With Jesus all things are possible. You won't be perfect overnight, but if you'll make the effort, change will come.

Don't wait until tomorrow to start developing the changes you strive for in your life. You and I are not guaranteed any certain amount of time. If we have today then we are very fortunate. Many of my childhood friends have already passed away with promises of change that never took place. Members of churches I've pastored have gone into eternity hoping for changes they never had time to make. It's never too late today to begin that new journey of change. It just takes a willing mind and a committed heart.

The writer said in Hebrews 12:1, 2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

You opportunity to change is now! Will you be man or woman enough to do it?

The Light

Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Most people on a journey will leave a light on at home while they travel. They do this so their house will look occupied even when their gone. It makes good sense when you think about it because the light keeps the darkness from prevailing and hiding intruders. The cure for any darkness, doubt, or despair is to let the light shine.

Scientifically the light prevails over depression, fear, gloom, and other attacks against your mind. Light changes your physical and mental outlook and brings optimism instead of pessimism. People that live in darkness live in fear and frustration. They refuse to change their perspectives because of their refusal to accept the benefits of the light.

When sin shrouded the world there was no light bright enough to pierce it. For over 400 years the people lived in darkness and were consumed by it. Their lives were filled with fear, doubt, and sorrow because they heard no fresh word from God. They had lost their way and wondered if they would ever find it again. Then in Bethlehem a light broke forth that shattered the darkness. A prophecy fulfilled that would change the world for all eternity. The birth of a child who would end up being the light of the world-Jesus Christ!

When the Psalmist wrote this passage I don't think he realized the implications it would have in 2016. Our world lives in a spirit of fear. Last week the small community of Townsville, SC faced terror and loss for some unexplained reason. Only the brave actions of a volunteer firefighter saved the community from more tragedy. That spirit of fear is in every walk of life. I've faced it and probably so have you and, but for Jesus, we would be of all men most miserable. Yet......

Jesus is the light of the world today!

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Jesus is the doorway to salvation today!

John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." 

Jesus is the strength of your life today!

Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." 

Jesus gives you boldness today!

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The words of that grand old hymn ring even truer today-Jesus breaks every fetter. My chains are gone because of His amazing grace. His light pierced my darkness and brought me my salvation. His strength has carried me through some very difficult places and is still prevailing over the darkness today. I don't have to live in fear because his light has shown me the way to the end of my journey. He is the light that ends the darkness.

Running The Race

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

Nobody in the recent Olympic Games went to the starting line of a race expecting to lose. Each individual went to the mark with one thing in mind-a gold medal. Not the silver, or the bronze; no sir, they wanted that gold medal. They knew no matter how many opponents they had to face if they did their very best they may achieve their goal and win that prize set before them.

Paul said the object of the race was to receive the prize. Too many today settle only to compete, but that was not Paul's instructions. It's important to participate in the race, but you have to run it with purpose. What good is running if there is not a reason to race. You might get a good cardio workout, yet never accomplish what you desire to because you had no specific goal in mind.

You run to obtain a prize!

Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

You run to obtain your objective!

Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us..."

You run to finish your race!

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ..."

Racing, without the desire to win, is like fishing and wanting to catch no fish. No fisherman enjoys going to a lake, pond, or river and catching no fish. Sure, it's relaxing, but they didn't go there to relax-they went to catch fish. Running a race to win takes will power, intestinal fortitude, and endurance. You train constantly to be the first to cross the finish line. You focus on your goal and then do your best to attain it.

In our society today we tend to give up if we don't be successful the first time. A runner never gives up until the end unless there is an injury during the race. Some even overcome them because of their sheer desire to cross the fish line. Maybe that's why Paul concluded his journey with these words:

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...."

Will you be able to say the same thing?