Life is Easy?

Life is easy. That's kind of an oxymoron. Life is far from easy. Yet we take great steps in trying to make our paths in life as easy and trouble free as possible. I'm sure your saying, "What's wrong with that?" In a sense nothing; but it's how we go about it, and what we try and prevent is the problem.

Everyday we see things that are marketed to make our life simpler, easier and hassle free. We are lulled into a state of complacency. We get to a point where we are comfortable, then put forth little effort to make our situations any better. Yet once troubles appear in our path, instead of pushing through, we just switch to an easier path.

I recently saw a commercial for Metro by T-Mobile, that had two bears trying to catch salmon in a river. The commercial itself was about switching your cellular service. But what stood out to me was while the other bears were trying to catch the salmon, the one bear says he's going to hit the sushi restaurant. So in essence instead of working toward catching the fish which takes time and could be difficult, he decided to just take the easier path and go to the sushi restaurant. So the commercial got me thinking about the treacherous journey a salmon must make.

You see, salmon were designed by God to return to the place of their birth. They will travel many miles upstream against the natural flow of things to get there. But instead of reaching their true destination many of them end up in a can on a supermarket shelf. So your calling as a believer is very much like that of a salmon. You are meant to go against the natural flow of the flesh, the world, of hate, of sin, discouragement, and darkness. You have the power to swim upstream. Your life has the potential to be a miracle.

It won't be an easy path; but that's why Christ said in Matthew 7:13-14-“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. It's a path that few will take. It's a path that is filled with hardships and sufferings. But it's a path that leads to the ultimate reward. The reward of returning to the place we were created, in the arms of our Father.

But the enemy will do everything he can to have you end up in a can. He wants your potential; the miracle in your life, the blessings, the ministry, the joy, and the victory that God has for you. If the potential in life is on a shelf somewhere in a can, God’s Word is still good, and His power is awesome. Spiritually you’ve got the power of God’s Spirit to go against the flow and reach your full
potential!

God's message for the path in your life can even be seen in secular music. There is a highway to hell, but only a stairway to heaven. So get set on the unworn path. It may look hard. It may be filled with temporary sufferings; but it's filled with eternal joy. So get going uphill, upstream, against the flow and out of that can.

May You Be Full Of Eucharisteo

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Grumbling can be described as the accent of hell and gratitude as the accent of heaven. But as many of us prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s take a longer look at gratitude. More specifically, how is it possible to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and “give thanks in all circumstances,” especially if our circumstances are horrible? What fuels thanksgiving when life seems to be one discouragement, disappointment, disease, disaster, and death after another? There is only one way. And Jesus both is the way and shows the way.

The best place to see Jesus showing us the way is in the upper room where he “took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’” (Luke 22:19). The Greek word for “thanks” in this verse is eucharisteo. The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy. Now, let’s think for a moment about what Jesus’s eucharisteo meant.

Thank you, Father, that my body, symbolized by this bread, is about to be brutally broken and I am about to be momentarily damned by your wrath (Isaiah 53:10) so that you will receive supreme glory in being able to forgive undeserving sinners (Philippians 2:11) and I will share eternally full joy (John 15:11; Psalm 16:11) with hundreds of millions of forgiven sinners made righteous through my sacrifice (Isaiah 53:11). Jesus’s thanks was not based on his present circumstances. He was about to endure the worst possible horror. He felt thankful to the Father for the grace and glory that was coming because of the cross and this gave him joy. Eucharisteo. Jesus’s eucharisteo was fueled by his belief in future grace. That’s what the author of Hebrews meant when he wrote that, Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith . . . for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus’s eyes were on his future joy. He got through the cross by not focusing on the cross but on the promised joy that would result from it.

That’s where God wants your eyes: on the future joy he has promised you. And what is your future joy? The very best possible future you could ever imagine; if you will believe it.
You will have the free gift of complete forgiveness for all your sins extending into forever (Romans 6:23). You will never have to merit your justification by keeping the law (Galatians 2:16). You will have all your real needs provided while on earth (Philippians 4:19). You will receive all the grace you need at all times so that you will abound in every good work God has for you (2 Corinthians 9:8).
God will complete the good work he began in you (Philippians 1:6). You will be raised from the dead and never, ever die again (1 Corinthians 15:52–53). That means someday soon you will see Jesus, be with him (2 Corinthians 5:8), and be like him (1 John 3:2). In that day you will know for the first time full, unpolluted joy (Psalm 16:11). You will be completely free from all corruption (Romans 8:21).
You will have God forever (1 Peter 3:18) as your exceeding joy (Psalm 43:4).

And that’s just a small sampling! The joy set before you is the same joy Jesus had set before him, because you are an heir of the kingdom with him (Romans 8:17). So right now you have trouble. That’s okay. Jesus said that you would (John 16:33). And Jesus really understands (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, the trouble that you endure has a purpose: in it you are displaying the reality of Jesus to the world in a unique way. The kingdom of God is most clearly shown on earth when Christians gratefully suffer present trouble because they see a future weight of glory coming that makes everything this world throws at them as “light momentary afflictions” in comparison (2 Corinthians 4:17).

So, how can you give thanks in all circumstances? There’s only one way: Jesus’s way. Look to the joy set before you. Look to the joy! If the future joy Jesus promises is real and you believe him, there is no circumstance that can steal your thanksgiving. May all your Thanksgiving celebrations be soaked in eucharisteo.

Say "Thank You" Today

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families, I'm reminded of something that happened on one of our trips to New York. We were on our sixteen hour trip when we pulled into a rest stop. The day before Thanksgiving was a busy time at the rest area. As I walked in, I noticed that, despite how busy it was, the restroom was sparkling clean. I saw a woman hard at work, scrubbing the floors and sinks amidst others walking in and out. It struck me that, while most other people were home preparing turkeys or traveling to visit family, she was doing a thankless job. The bathroom was remarkably tidy and, as anyone would be, I was grateful.

I should say something to her, I thought to myself. When I came out of the restroom, she had disappeared. For a minute, I felt a sense of relief that I could avoid a possibly awkward interaction. But while walking toward the door, I felt a nudging within me to go find her and express my thanks. I walked around the corner to the other side of the restroom and found her reloading her supply cart in a closet. I slowly walked up to her and said, “I just wanted to thank you for doing such a great job cleaning this restroom. I really appreciate it.” A warm and curious smile spread across her face as she looked at me. I wondered if anyone ever thanked her for her diligent work.

Why is it that we often think thankful thoughts, but don’t express them with words? Are we afraid of looking foolish or weak? Are we too preoccupied with our own agenda to take the time to offer a word of encouragement? Are we concerned that giving too much praise to someone might inflate their pride? Most people seem much more freely speaking critical words. Encouraging, thankful words can bring life and refreshment to a weary soul. The Bible also exhorts us to give verbal thanksgiving to God. Hebrews 13:15 tells us, “Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Continually offering up praise to God means we must be continually looking for evidences of his grace in our lives. We can thank him that we didn’t cry over the spilled milk at breakfast, or for the sunshine after a bleak winter day, or for the negative answer to our medical tests. Our private prayers and our public acts of praise will turn our hearts heavenward as we count our blessings and give thanks to the one true God.

Psalm 105 exhorts us to not only give thanks to God, but proclaim to others the mighty works he has done. Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! (Psalm 105:1–2) A central aspect of bringing up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4) is simply to share with them our gratitude for the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives. As we verbally pour out our admiration and gratitude of our great God, our children will catch a vision of the magnificent Lord we are worshiping. Our enthusiasm and love for Jesus will be evident through our words. Likely we all could stand to grow in recognizing all the reasons we have to be thankful, they are all around us. But simply becoming more grateful in our hearts is just the beginning. If gratefulness rises up in our hearts, but never spills out of our mouths, we are only experiencing the beginnings of joy. Gratitude is only fully enjoyed when we share it with others. As C.S. Lewis said, “We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation.”

So, the next time you find your mind dwelling on a thankful thought, here are three reasons to put those thoughts into words: 1. Expressing gratitude to God can strengthen your faith.
What new mercy has God given you? Did you sleep well at night? Were the bananas perfectly ripe for your breakfast? Is the baby you’re rocking a long-awaited answer to prayer? Did you avoid speaking a frustrated word to your spouse? Don’t let the hours of the day pass you by without stopping to consider what you can give thanks for. The more you see God’s faithfulness in your life, your family, your spiritual growth, the more confidently will you rest in that faithfulness in the future.

2. You will stir up God’s people to love and good deeds.Your friend who is willing to drop what she’s doing at a moment’s notice to help when you’re in need. Your mom who sacrificially gives her time and resources to your family. Your pastor who diligently prepares and preaches the word every week. Tell others in your life what you appreciate about them and why. It will bring fresh wind to their souls and spur them on to keep serving (Hebrews 10:24–25).

3. You will create a climate of gratitude. Psalm 145 tells us to commend our works to the next generation. Sharing how God answered a prayer, provided a necessary resource, or replaced your sorrow with joy will encourage others to find their hope and satisfaction in God. Gratitude can be as contagious as complaining. Work to cultivate the right climate in your home or workplace.

Our words of praise and thanksgiving have the power to lift wounded souls and point our hearts afresh to God. Speak your words of thanks and let God transform your life and soul.

Suffering Is For The Overcomer

Diana was only nineteen when her father was sent to prison for his faith. She and her sister Floarea were left in charge of the family, but soon they lost their factory jobs because of their father's imprisonment.

With a sick mother and four younger siblings at home, Diana and Floarea were desperate. So when a young man called them and said he could get Diana a work permit, they were ecstatic. She met him for dinner, where he gave her plenty of wine and then seduced her. Afterward, he gave her some money, and this became a pattern. Nothing more was said about a work permit, and Diana accepted the money because she was so desperate.

Diana continued to prostitute herself in order to support the family, although she was filled with guilt. Soon her sister became involved, and together they hid their shame. Now, as they looked into the face of their mother, they said, "How can you forgive us? We thought you would be disgusted."

She offered them words of love and comfort, "You feel shame over what you have done, and so you should. But this sense of shame and guilt will lead you to a shining righteousness. Remember, the soldiers not so much pierced Christ's side as "opened" it, that sinners might easily enter his heart and find forgiveness."

Being sorry for our sin and feeling sorry for ourselves are two different things. Many people who go through suffering feel sorry for themselves. They are all too eager to blame others for their misfortune. How tempting it would have been for the girls in this story to blame their mistakes on their father. "If he was not a Christian, then he would not have been arrested, and we would not be in this mess." Yet they came to their mother with true shame and repentance for their willful disobedience. And they found forgiveness.

Many times in life, our sufferings can take a toll on our lives. Suffering that is allowed to fester can send you into a dark place. Instead of releasing our pain to God, or even our family and friends, we begin to relish in it. It becomes part of us. A part that is a detriment to our lives, but we feel we can't live without it. Our sufferings and our pain become our existence. But Godly sorrow leads to repentance, which leads to forgiveness.

If we hand over our sufferings to God, take ownership of our mistakes and not push the blame on others, then true rehabilitation can begin. From true repentance comes the ultimate salvation from our sufferings.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Are you feeling sorry for yourself in your sufferings? Watch out! It can quickly lead you to disobedience.

Is It Real Love?

I started this as a note to my wife. It's something I often did when we were dating, but the responsibilities of life always get in the way. I feel sometimes, as I'm sure many of you do, that I don't always show my love like I once did. But what is love? Is it only in the value of the things we buy or in the activities we do? Is it only in the words we say? Those three little words are meant to say much more than just a daily reminder. Or is it in the daily, sometimes meaningless sacrifices we make to just help? Many times I sit down with the aspects of writing on something specific, only to find my path directed somewhere else. And quite often where it's directed, helps me as much as it may help one of you. So I broke down that one simple word into what real love should be.

 L: Love is Life; because if we have true love for someone, our entire life will revolve around that
One we've been joined to.

O: Love is One: You are One heart, One mind, and One soul.

V: Real love is a vibrant, vulnerable, and virtuous union; where there is not a hint of vanity, viciousness, vulgarity, vile, or a vengeful tone to it.

E: It is an Eternal, Eager, Earnest, Ecstatic, and Elaborate togetherness; that Elevates each other and Eliminates any sin the other has.

This is love, true love. The type of love that was intended from creation. A love given freely to us by God. The same love we are to show to the one that has joined with you to form a new entity. The same love that we will experience one day when we are joined with Christ as one. The love we should have for one another I feel can be expressed best in this verse from Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Even though we were wretched sinners; even though we didn't know him or except him, Christ died for us. His love for all was so great, he laid down His life. Can we truly say we show that kind of love to those we know, or those we don't, or even those that may have hurt us? I, as well as most of you, would probably have to honestly answer no to that.


I'll leave you with one of my favorite verses. 1 Peter 4:8-Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. You see, any other love will not suffice, because if it doesn't show these aspects, as God has shown us, then is it really love?

Forgiveness Is For The Blind

In Genesis 27, Isaac is blessing his sons. He wants to bless Esau, but Jacob comes to him in disguise. Due to his poor eyesight, Isaac blesses Jacob instead, thus fulfilling prophecy. Are you having a hard time blessing, loving, or forgiving someone in your life?

When you look at them, do you see all their faults and all the things they've done wrong, and you can't forgive or bless them? The problem is that your eyesight is too good. It's hard to bless when you have good eyesight. In order to bless them, you have to have faith, not to see their sin, but to see the blood of Messiah.

In Matthew 6:14-15, Christ says, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

C.S.Lewis has a great quote on forgiveness when he said: . . . "you must make every effort to kill every taste of resentment in your own heart—every wish to humiliate or hurt him or to pay him out. The difference between this situation and the one in such you are asking God’s forgiveness is this. In our own case we accept excuses too easily; in other people’s we do not accept them easily enough.

As regards my own sin it is a safe bet (though not a certainty) that the excuses are not really so good as I think; as regards other men’s sins against me it is a safe bet (though not a certainty) that the excuses are better than I think. One must therefore begin by attending to everything which may show that the other man was not so much to blame as we thought.

But even if he is absolutely fully to blame we still have to forgive him; and even if ninety-nine percent of his apparent guilt can be explained away by really good excuses, the problem of forgiveness begins with the one percent guilt which is left over. To excuse what can really produce good excuses is not Christian character; it is only fairness. To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.

This is hard. It is perhaps not so hard to forgive a single great injury. But to forgive the incessant provocations of daily life—to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son—how can we do it? Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night ‘forgive our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us.’ We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse God’s mercy for ourselves. There is no hint of exceptions and God means what He says."

God has blessed you and chosen to not see your sins through the blood of Messiah. That's God's grace. Learn to have His grace towards others. Look through the blood of Messiah in order to not see all of their faults. The eyes of your heart need poor vision so that you will see only the face of God and you will be a blessing. For you are not only blessed by what you see but by what you don't. Today, have faith to not see the sins of others, but to see the blood of Messiah. Then speak a blessing over them.

You Won't Know Unless You Try

In Communist Romania, every prison had a doctor who would often be present during the interrogation sessions and direct the torturer in the best methods of inducing pain without causing death. But some doctors took their oath seriously and despised what the Communists were doing.

One such doctor was a Christian woman named Margareta Pescaru. All medical personnel were frisked when entering the prison, but Dr. Pescaru, at great risk to herself, was able to smuggle medicine in repeatedly. Her selfless efforts saved many lives.

Once she was assigned to a prison hospital that was especially designed for tuberculosis patients. During this time, the Communists assigned men as “reeducators” to use whatever means necessary to convince a person to denounce everything they believed and pledge complete allegiance to Communism.

These reeducators were ruthless, and many Christians died under their tortures. When Dr. Pescaru heard the news that they had arrived at the prison hospital to begin their destructive work on the tuberculosis patients, she did the unthinkable. She went to the top officials of all the prisons and pled the case of the helpless prisoners. No one knows how, but Dr. Pescaru gained favour with the officials.

For a time in Romanian Communism, the torture of innocents by the “reeducators” was stopped, thanks to her bold efforts.

Try. It’s the difference between advancing forward and remaining still. Trying. It’s what Christians are committed to doing when they are focused on the gospel of Christ. Tried. Saying at least one tried is the only way believers agree to meet failure. It’s true, we just never know what will happen unless we try it. Perhaps we too quickly dismiss the creative ideas that come to us concerning advancing the gospel message at work, at home, or in our community. We think they’ll never work. We convince ourselves that the opposition would be too strong. But we won’t know for sure unless we try it. Are you willing to try obeying Christ at any cost, starting today?