A Fresh Wind!

As I look back on my past and then turn and look the other way toward my future, I see a reoccurring theme and/or truth that has repeatedly shown itself in my life… all along the way!  The Pastor seemed to put it all in perspective yesterday as she stated: “OBEDIENCE is the blueprint for the foundation of every dream that was ever fulfilled!”

One of my favorite topics that is worth reviewing once again, is how Piper and I had decided early on in our marriage, that we did not want to just be spectators of the Christian walk and watch others play the game… we wanted to not only be on the team… but be part of the first string that actively participated in every play!

With that decision made, we quickly came to learn that OBEDIENCE to our OBEDIENCE to the call and leadings of God was the most important and key element to the continued maturing of our Christian walk.  In other words, once we obeyed a directive of God, we needed to stick with it throughout all the ups and downs in the natural realm that came along while following the command!  To stay in the Word, to stay stirred up, to stay in fellowship with like-minded Christians, to support each other and to keep checking in with the Boss!

But let’s pause for a moment here and let me explain, that while all of that may sound like a lot of extra work and pain and could possibly persuade other Christians to steer clear of attempting to go after the seemingly impossible in their lives… that Jesus said He can turn into possibilities (See, Matthew 19:26)… OBEDIENCE definitely does have its rewards.

In Psalm 51:11-12 the Psalmist cries out to God saying, “Do not force me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and provide me with a spirit of willing obedience.” (God’s Word ©)  When I first read this verse this morning, it immediately dawned on me that there is a sense or maybe better said, a PLACE of JOY in our OBEDIENCE to God!  And I easily recalled how Piper and I always felt a stabilizing and calming JOY in the midst of the ups and especially the downs we went through while staying the course of OBEDIENCE to something that we knew that He had called us to do.

The more I think about it, I have to believe that this JOY has two important roles that it plays while we persevere and stay OBEDIENT to our OBEDIENCE to His leadings.  The first being in line with the Psalmist’s heart-felt request to the Lord in Psalm 51:11 when he asked God to not force him away from the awesome presence of the Lord or take His Holy Spirit from him.  You have to understand that this was before Jesus’ coming and making a way for the Holy Spirit to reside in us.  At that point in time the presence of the Holy Spirit only came upon the Prophet, Priest or King.

We though, don’t have to wait for His presence, because as a Born-Again Christian, we’ve got His presence all the time.  But… we can also experience times when His presence comes upon us as it did on many occasions in the book of Acts.  So, in the midst of staying true to our OBEDIENCE to the Lord, there are times where His JOY can help us to push past the down feelings and stir-up the power of God to the point when we experience a tangible anointing upon us.

I can vividly remember four such personal experiences.  The first occurred one night in my bedroom at my parent’s house shortly before Piper and I got married.  We had been to a church service that had really touched my heart and after I dropped Piper off at her house and climbed into bed… I didn’t want that feeling to leave.  So, I began to quietly praise the Lord (I didn’t want to arouse my very Catholic parents who might have not have understood what I was doing) and within a few moments, the presence of the Lord filled that room!  I can still feel His personal awesomeness as I laid there in amazement over that tangible anointing in the room and I prayed that it would never leave!

Another time was when Piper and I were at The Inn at the Tides in Bodega Bay, California enjoying one of our two night mini-vacations.  On the second night we entered into prayer together over an upcoming VBS that we were putting on at our church.  His presence filled that room to the point where we both felt it and saw what seemed to be a blue haze that floated along the ceiling and dimmed the mood lighting that shined forth from the cam lights in the ceiling!

Then there was the time after preaching one Sunday morning in place of our vacationing Pastors, when I saw that same haze in the back of the auditorium and physically felt the power of God going through me and into the people that I was laying hands on for healing and other needs at the end of the service… which went on for an hour extra that day… simply because I didn’t know what to do except following the leading at the time!

Finally, was when I was alone in the house one day as Piper and the kids must have been on a school field-trip and I was feeling a little down.  So, I decided to stir things up a bit and put on one of my favorite worship CD’s, cranked up the volume and began to worship the Lord right there in the living room.  There was one song in particular that seemed to be bringing me closer and closer to the Lord and I must have recycled through that song at least ten times!  It was wonderful to be in His presence right there, in the middle of the day, in the middle of our living room!

The other role (amongst others I’m sure) that JOY plays, is in setting one free from the pressures that come against us to try and foil our OBEDIENCE to the Lord.  The King James Version translates Psalm 51:12 as “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”  While the Message Bible has the Psalmist asking of the Lord to, “…put a fresh wind in my sails!”  That tells me that our OBEDIENCE to God releases an uncanny freedom in us that seems to put a “fresh wind” in our steps along the way!

I can attest that every time that Piper and I stepped out in OBEDIENCE to Him, that we almost immediately felt what can be likened to a “fresh wind” come over us… and that “fresh wind” helped to carry us through some of our most difficult of experiences… even or especially when others around us were lost in and yielded to fear!

Therefore, it is with His promise of JOY, FREEDOM and a “FRESH WIND” that I encourage each of you to be OBEDIENT to His callings and leadings in this life.  It is not always the easiest road to follow, but it is definitely the most scenic and rewarding!

Have a good week and keep expecting God’s best in your life!

I'm NOT Crazy... am I?

Have you ever been told that you were crazy… and not as a comment of jest?  I have!  And just about everyone of those times was in reference to a stand of faith that Piper and I felt led to take throughout our 48 years together.  As I’ve written about in past blog posts, the worst of these comments came once we locked on to the course of action that we decided was best for Piper’s worsening condition and began to step out in faith, trusting that the hand of the Lord was guiding us along the way.

In the beginning I found that I had to constantly repeat myself and/or re-explain what we were doing and why.  After a few very frustrating years, I felt the Lord directing me to limit the amount of information that I shared with certain individuals… and in doing so, to keep the information as positive as possible.

I had one of those “A-Ha!” moments the other day when I was running a word search on my Bible study computer program and discovered that Paul knew exactly what I had been going through… having experienced the same thing!  I heard a Christian evangelist that I greatly respect say the other day, that the devil always uses the same tricks… but just changes the wrapping paper!

In Acts 26 we find the account of Paul making his defense before King Agrippa and Festus the Governor of Judea.  By the time we get to verse 24, Festus has had enough and “interrupted Paul’s defense, blurting out, ‘You’re out of your mind! All this great learning of yours is driving you crazy.’”  But Paul doesn’t take the bait from Festus, stays in control and gently “replied, “No, Your Excellency Festus, I am not crazy. I speak the words of truth and reason.” (The Passion Translation) 

I had to stop and wipe the spittle from off my computer screen after I read Paul’s comment because I laughed so hard that I sprayed the screen!  My emotions were so pronounced because I had found myself in that very same position over and over again!  But a couple of things caught my attention.

First was Paul’s calm demeanor in the midst of Festus’ anger and his reply (in my thinking) that “No, I’m not the one that’s crazy here, for I’m speaking the words of TRUTH and REASON!”  In Paul’s mind, his testimony of the miraculous events of Christ WAS the truth and made “perfect sense” as the Easy to Read version puts it.  Paul was at the place in his life where he fully believed that the Word of God was the only thing that really mattered… it was the only TRUTH in the midst of everything happening around him.  Piper and I had come to a similar place by the time we returned to California in order to face the battle that was ahead of us… and when people inferred that I was naïve, stupid or crazy… it ran off of us like water runs off the back of a duck!

The other point I noticed was that even though Paul totally disagreed with the Governor and I’m sure was somewhat bothered by the way Festus talked down to him, demeaned him and then on top of all that called him “crazy,” that he still honored the man and his position by respectfully calling him “Your Excellency Festus.”  I appreciated the way that Paul not only kept his cool in the midst of a heated situation, but also submitted to the line of authority in the room.

I am not sure that all my motives in keeping my feelings in check were always as noble as Paul’s!  To be honest… there were many times where I basically kept my mouth shut and a smile on my lips when certain comments were made, and then keeping lines of communication open when we moved out of state… simply due to my love and respect for Piper!  Paul was the one on trial in that courtroom that day… he was the prisoner with very little control of the situation… but yet, he was most definitely the leader in the room!

As I endeavor to follow what I believe to be the Lord’s direction for me… in this totally new day, in this totally new chapter in my life that is unfolding before me, in this totally new season of my life, I pray that I can walk in that same confidence that I did when Piper’s life was on the line.  I find that it was easier to walk the walk when it was for someone else… rather than for myself!  Do any of you feel that same way?

But I realize that as I continue to follow His directions, saturate myself in prayer, in the Word, in His grace, and in praise of Him… that His peace continues to lead me and I sense His confirmations that I’m doing the right things… even when I may not feel like it at certain times!  Sounds like a plan… RIGHT?

Hey… if it worked for Paul and worked for me… then I am certain that it will work for you as well!

Have a great weekend and keep expecting God’s best to unfold in your life today!

An Acceptable Level of Fear

Has your television viewing been bombarded with commercials for Medicare supplemental insurance plans?  With the open enrollment period ending next month, all the insurance companies want to get their two cents in!  I caught one of the commercials yesterday with the fast-talking announcer telling the viewer how confusing everything was with the many changes in Medicare next year, and how you needed to call their company for their knowledgeable explanation and “guarantee” of the best deal possible.

What I also noticed was that most insurance commercials seemed to underscore the FEAR that you are going to lose out on great deals, FEAR that you’ll get stuck with the wrong coverage and the FEAR that you are too stupid to understand and need someone smarter than you to take care of you! 

A couple of nights ago I was watching a TV show that I had recorded a week before the Presidential elections.  The channel was running many ads for the candidate that I did not vote for, and since I hadn’t listened to many of his ads, I decided to not fast forward through it and see what he was saying.  It became immediately apparent to me that everything the he stood for was based on a false narrative and this his proposed solutions were non-existent answers to non-existent problems.  From what I could see… his party’s entire platform was based on and fueled by the FEAR that their false narrative projected upon our country.

When I thought about it, I realized that most of the commercials that are seen on TV use some type of FEAR to sell their products.  The FEAR of not having something.  The FEAR of looking old.  The FEAR of not living the best and most exciting life possible or the FEAR of not being a member of the “in-crowd” because of what you drive, wear, drink or even how you might smell!

When I was watching the Medicare supplemental insurance commercial, I suddenly had a revelation moment when I stopped and had to ask myself if most people live with some confusion and FEAR in their lives.  Then I got kind of philosophical and wondered if most people actually think that it is just normal to live with an ACCEPTABLE LEVEL of FEAR in their lives… That this is just how life goes…

I can remember times when some people in the different churches we served in, asked if I could help them figured out different health, disability or senior benefits that they had applied for.  Most times they were confused and FEARFUL about making a mistake.  Looking back now, I wonder if that was simply a response that the world had been programming them for when the time arrived?

What also opened my eyes was the realization that I have been pretty naïve about it.  When I see commercials like the Medicare ones, I tend to laugh because they seem way over hyped to me!  I just don’t think like that.  Piper and I seemed to have learned early on in our Christian growth together, about the negative effects that FEAR can have on anyone’s life… and especially that of a Christian’s.

I like the Easy to Read Bible’s translation of 2 Timothy 1:7 where Paul wrote to the young Pastor Timothy declaring that “The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.”  The Passion Translation states, “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.”   The characteristic of “self-control” is also translated in other versions as “discipline, sensibility, temperance” and “good judgement.”

The Baptist Theologian John Gill wrote in his mid-1700’s “Exposition of the Bible” concerning this verse, stating that FEAR is, “A pusillanimous, cowardly spirit, so as to be afraid of men or devils, of what they will say or do; and so as to be discouraged in, sink under, or be deterred from the work of the Lord, the preaching of the Gospel… such a spirit is not from God, and such a fear brings a snare.”

I am of the definite opinion that FEAR is one of, if not the greatest weapon that the enemy of our faith uses against us.  It produces doubt and unbelief.  It can cause good people to freeze up when quick decisions are needed and can make one susceptible to incorrect or false information… something we currently see all around our nation today.

When faced with a difficult, confusing or potentially FEARFUL situation, I like to immediately change the course of my thinking to line it up with the Word of God which tells me that “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 God’s Word ©) That “greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4 KJV) and that I am “strong, vigorous, and very courageous and am not afraid, dismayed or discouraged, for (I know) that the Lord my God is with me wherever I go.” (Joshua 1:9 AMP)  And last but surely not least, “my God will supply all my need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (EMTV)

When push comes to shove… I could probably stand there all day, making truthful confessions of WHO the Word says that I am in the face of trouble or difficulty and of WHAT the Lord says is mine… contrary to what ANY FEARFUL situation is trying to throw my way!  How about you?

I firmly believe and history and experience (and not just mine… read Hebrews chapter eleven) will agree that this is EXACTLY the WAY that God WANTS us to respond when the deceitful enemy of our souls rises his ugly head and gets in our way!

Do you live with an ACCEPTABLE LEVEL of FEAR in your life?  God’s Word says that we don’t have to accept that lie!

Give Thanks... all the time?

The guys were out mowing the commons area next to our house along the golf course path that we walk every morning, so Fiver and I were forced to delay our morning jaunt by about an hour today.  The dog does not like loud sounds and tends to get spooked around the mowers which are zooming in and out all around the place!  But on the positive side, by the time we walked out the front door, the blue skies were beginning to show themselves through the cloud cover, and even though we were being buffeted by 14 mph winds that kept trying to blow my hat off, the walk turned out to be very pleasant indeed!

I have been training myself to enjoy all of the many facets of Oklahoma weather.  In fact, I find myself thanking the Lord in the midst of the various changes we have already experienced this fall.  A few weeks ago, it turned very cold with wind-chill factors into the low twenties.  We didn’t get any snow then, but most of Oklahoma to the north and southwest of us did. Lately its been in the mid to high sixties and very pleasant!

I had to laugh early this morning when a good friend called me from our hometown in California.  He’s been in the hospital and calls me soon after I arise everyday to report in on how he is doing… and like he did again today, to wish me a fantastic and gloriously blessed day.  He’s an early riser so I can’t complain that he calls me at 7:30 my time… when I remember that its 5:30 in the morning where he is!  The first thing he asked me today was how our weather was.  Then he went on to tell me that it was freezing where he was, explaining that with the wind-chill factor, the temperatures were in the low fifties! 

Ah… them Californians!  I remember complaining about the cold in our hometown when we lived there and then got the shock of my life when I found myself unloading a truck of trees in front of the garden department at the Home Depot out here at Christmas, when the high for the day barely made it to 12 degrees!

So yeah, I’m learning to be thankful for the winter winds that come down from Canada and seem to go right through any amount of clothing one might have on, or for the snow and worse yet, the occasional ice storm like Oklahoma City got a few weeks back.  The summers also get a little warm with the added effects of high humidity… but all that tends to make the fall and spring really sweet times to enjoy the great outdoors!  After all… I did choose to move here and what can I say, the people are friendly, the life style is a lot more relaxed than the west coast, the gas is cheap and the cost of living is much more reasonable than the coastal states on either end of our country!

So, I can’t complain!  The Word of God also tells us to not complain but instead encourages us saying, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV)  We’re told to not only give thanks to God for the good things in life, but also in the midst of the more difficult times that occasionally come everybody’s way in their lives.  The first key word at the beginning of this scripture is “IN”... notice that it doesn't say “FOR”.  I checked through many of the fifty plus translations I have in my personal library, and I couldn’t find one that instructs us to thank God “FOR” whatever is happening to us.  As the Bible clearly shows, He is not the source of sickness, disease or any of the bad things in life...  The devil is (see John 10:10) 

The other key part at the end of this verse is the phrase “IN Christ Jesus.”  From the point of my training and experience, I believe that the Apostle Paul is teaching us the importance of taking our eyes off of what is physically going on… be it good or bad, and focusing our attention on God and the TRUTH of His Word.  This action is especially important when the situation is not a positive one.  In this circumstance, Paul is telling us to NOT focus on the PROBLEM that besets us, but on the ANSWER in the Word of God… or as the King James version puts it, “IN Christ Jesus.”

The Contemporary English Version clarifies it even more by stating: “Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. (or because of what Jesus has done for us in His death, burial, resurrection and assentation unto the right hand of God)  This is what God wants you to do.”  And I believe that He wants us to follow this prescribed course of action because it sets in play a number of ways in which God can perform His Word for us… remember that Jeremiah 1:12 informs us, “Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.” (KJV)

When we put our trust onto the Lord in the midst of the situations that arise in our lives, it activates our faith and faith is the door in which God can send His miraculous answers through to us.  Our faith in God assures us of the things that we begin to expect from Him (Hebrews 11:1).  In addition, “Faith worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:6 KJV) and since “God is love” (I John 4:16 KJV), our faith frees up the hand God to personally do whatever He needs to do to help us! 

Ephesians 3:19 tells us of the intimacy in which Jesus loves us… and if you’re anything like me, then you want as much of that depth of love as you can receive!  At times I’ll think about how much my wife loved me when she walked at my side throughout the 48 years of our relationship and then realize that even though we had a deeply intimate relationship… that it really can’t compare with the intimacy in which the Lord knows and loves me… and you!

He’s the One that I want to put my trust in!  He’s the One in whom I want to thank for His solutions to my needs!

What do you think about that?  Kind of makes you want to shout doesn’t it?

Have a wonderful week… and keep on EXPECTING God’s best answers for you and your life.

Principals and Practices

While I was doing some research online yesterday afternoon, I came across an advertisement for a little old book that Piper and I had read in the early years of our relationship back in the seventies.  That tiny literary work of barely 100 pages captured our hearts and soon became one of the practicing foundations of our faith life.  The book entitled “Prison to Praise” by Merlin Carothers, was written in 1970, just about the time that Piper and I started dating.  Somewhere along the line it became a popular read in the Christian circles that we hung with and we went to the Christian bookstore downtown and excitedly purchased a copy for ourselves.

If I remember correctly, the book is written from the premise of 1Thessalonians 5:18 where the Apostle Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV)  I do recall that the book stirred up a lot of conversations and maybe even a few arguments from those who agreed with the author’s point of view and from those who did not!  Piper and I were among those who did, even though we had a few reservations concerning the way the author understood certain scriptures.

I purchased another copy of the book yesterday and look forward to reading it again in order to refresh my memory of it. (I’m sure that I have the original copy of it snuggled in one of the bazillion boxes of “Piper’s Stuff” piled from floor to ceiling in my guest bedroom… but I’m not sure I can do that alone as of yet!  My girls have promised to help me with that duty!)  I’ve come a long way in my Christian growth, experience and training since I first read that book… so it will be interesting to see what, if any, difference that makes! 

What I do know is that I am still a firm believer in the power of praise and thanksgiving in the midst of any circumstance, because my trust continues to be entrenched in the truth of God and His living Word to help me through any and all situations, be they positive or negative!

I realized while praying in the shower this morning, that it is pretty evident that the Lord is working to reestablish in me, the pivotal principles and practices that were the building blocks of the foundation of Piper’s and my faith life.  It would seem to be important to have His firm foundation under me as I re-enter life.  I have a list of things that I have been praying over that I have felt are important base ingredients to my new life without Piper… as a single, 67-year-old widower (specific steps that I believe the Lord gave me to believe for).  I’ve always considered myself to be a patient man… but sometimes I get frustrated when it seems like the Lord is taking too long in helping me with my requests… I bet NO ONE else has ever felt that way before!

But then, I have quiet moments during the day when the Lord will show me a little something… a hint or maybe even a tease that proves that He is still diligently at work on my behalf.  At times like these, I am reminded of all examples of His working behind the scenes for me throughout my entire life… only to drop the answer in my lap when I least expect it!

So, getting back into “Praise the Lord” mode as my first response to just about everything in life, taking the time to watch, read and participate in many of the ministries that excited, challenged and built Piper’s and my faith over the years, following the ministry call on my life and seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (see Matthew 6:33) while trusting in the Lord with all my heart and not leaning on my own understanding of anything (See Proverbs 3:5)… all seem to be parts of the puzzle of me in this new day, in this new chapter within this new season of my life… in a new house, in a new city, in a new state!

Ah… piece of cake, right?  I heard a Christian leader that I highly respect, once say that if its not impossible… then God would never ask you to do it!  Well… I’m into the impossible with the One who makes the impossible possible… how about you?

I hope that you’re having a terrific weekend and keeping your focus and faith upon the Master puzzle maker who has His loving hand on you!

Celebrating An Event!

 I couldn’t help but to recall an old family tradition this morning that occurred whenever we had a gathering when I was a kid growing up at my parent’s home and then continued on when I became an adult.  You see, coming from a 100% Italian family meant that the extended family or guests coming over for dinner were not just going to enjoy a meal but be part of an event!  The planning, preparation, serving, eating and even the clean up afterwards was all a part of breaking bread together.

At my parent’s home, when you entered the front door, most of us would make an immediate left turn into the kitchen in order to feast our olfactory senses on the delicious fragrances, check out all the wonderful foods being prepared and smile at their large dining room table decked out in fine china, silverware and normally a centerpiece filled with a beautiful bouquet of their home grown flowers.

The memory that I recalled this morning as I sat in my desk chair with a freshly brewed cup of java, was what always occurred after my Mom shooed all the guests out of the kitchen and had them all comfortably seated in the living room.  The coffee table there would be lined with large serving platters arrayed with all kinds of mostly homemade hors d'oeuvres and a stack of small empty plates.  Once everyone was settled, my Dad would come in through the wide opening between the living room and kitchen with a container of mixed drinks (that he had mixed up previous to everyone’s arrival) for the adults and usually a bottle of Sprite soda for the kids and those who chose not to imbibe.

After making sure that everyone’s glass was filled, a sense of anticipation would fill the atmosphere.  Then my Dad would raise his glass and make a toast for the holiday or event being honored or to the guests with whom they were sharing a meal with that evening.  From that point on my Mom took over, by gregariously telling us to fill our plates with a selection from the goodies on the table and then proceed to get everyone feeling comfortable, laughing and enjoying themselves.

When I sat in my chair this morning, I leaned back looking over the myriad of pictures of Piper that I have arranged all over the wall in front of my desk and suddenly found myself lifting my insulated mug with a big smile and making a toast saying, “Here’s to you Piper... my beautiful, fun Piper!”  I sat there kind of frozen in that position with my right arm raised up, while I soaked in all the history that those pictures represented.  The memories on that wall range from her childhood, the teenage years before and after we met, our college days, wedding our family’s beginnings, ministry, homeschooling, vacations and just about everything else in the ensuing 43 years of our marriage.

I think that the two words of “Beautiful” and “Fun” perfectly sum up my feelings of Piper.  And like I said, I couldn’t help but break into a great big smile as I became enraptured by the wonderful memories that each and every picture stirred up in me.

When I finally broke free from that special moment, I found myself smiling again as I opened up my Bible and was quickly snapped back into my current reality when I began to read from Psalm 40:1 in The Passion Translation where the Psalmist begins by writing, “I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me…”  Have you ever felt like that?  Most of us could probably say that concerning the current debacle with the Presidential election vote counting!

But for me… well, that’s been my story for the last two years since Piper’s homegoing.  I wait patiently while the Word of God assures me that He is working behind the scene preparing many new and wonderful things for me and if I’ve learned anything throughout the years, it would be to not try to get ahead of His plan or to attempt to make it work on my own!  So, as I wait and wait and then wait some more, I find myself focusing my effort and faith on the last part of the next verse where the Psalmist goes on to happily report that, “(and) Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path.” 

But the true pièce de resistance is served in verses four and five when writer excitedly declares from personal experience of how, “Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord. They will not fall away, for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud.  O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you! And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love—far exceeding our expectations!” 

I mean… like all I can say is a resounding “WOW!”  How about you? 

So yeah… While you and I might find ourselves in the position of waiting and waiting and waiting some more… we can both look forward, with great anticipation, expectation and in strong, unmovable faith KNOWING that our God is a great big God (see: Isaiah 40:12) and is currently working behind the scene, preparing the next meal event of our lives that we will soon discover to be a delicious feast that far exceeds our expectations!

Hummmm… I don’t know about you… but my mouth is watering at the thought of that FEAST! (see: Psalm 23:5 and Psalm 91:15)  So, why don’t you join with me in raising a hand (or two) in praise of our God and for His faithfulness to us… His favorite kids!

PTL!

Through a set of seemingly unrelated experiences over the last few weeks, I've been drawn back to a very special scripture that both empowered and enlightened Piper and I through some ups and downs in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.  At the time we were a part of the leadership team of a small Foursquare church that was meeting at the local YMCA.  We were in the early stages of developing our Children’s ministry, leading the Praise and Worship and holding a youth Bible Study on Saturday mornings at a low rent housing development in western Santa Rosa.

Psalm 40:3 just seemed to capture the essence of Piper’s and my Christian walk and family life at that time.  The Psalmist wrote, “And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and revere, and put their trust in the Lord.” (NASB)  We spent a lot of time singing our praises unto the Lord, writing children’s songs of praise and just simply doing much praising around the house, the church and most everywhere else we found ourselves! 

Whenever something unexpected occurred, you could just about bet that our first response was an automatic “Praise the Lord!”  I would say it unknowingly at work and get some of the weirdest looks from my co-workers, while Piper would do the same around her fellow homeschool teachers… many times with the same results as mine!

When I quit my secular job at Hewlett Packard in 1991, we started a business called… you guessed it… “The Praise Works!”  Within the format of that company we put on Christian Book Fairs at Christian schools as well as marketing our original songs, plays, bookmarks, a children’s devotional, scripture confession cards and I even wrote a children’s adventure novel.  And yes…  just about everything we wrote had a lot to do with the simple but powerful act of praising the Lord. 

We ended up putting “The Praise Works!” business on the back burner when I went back to work for Hewlett Packard in the mid-1990’s and with everything that happened since then… never got back to it!  But lately… well, I keep finding myself being drawn back to that particular verse of scripture.  I watched a powerful live teaching seminar by Dr. Jerry Savelle a couple of Friday’s ago where he used Psalm 40:1-4 as his topic scripture… and WOW!  Did it ever excite me!

It got me to thinking that even though we may have put “The Praise Works!” business plan away some twenty plus years ago… that we never quite put the lifestyle of praise on the back burner, but kept it somewhat alive and healthy in the midst of the roughest time in our lives.  At the very onslaught of Piper’s physical deterioration, when my head and heart were spinning as I tried to make some rhyme or reason about what was happening, I surprised myself one night at work when I accidently dropped a pallet of loosely packed slate flooring while unloading a Home Depot freight truck.

What popped out of my mouth that night not only surprised me… but scared me!  That shocking event got me to repent very quickly while I stood alone in the receiving department.  I realized immediately that I needed to get myself fully back to where the proper thoughts came to my thinking in the stressful times ahead and that the right and uplifting words of God’s truth, praise and honor unto the Lord were the first things I found coming out of my mouth!

As I listened to Dr. Savelle, I could see how the Lord used that eventful and sort-of-reality-TV night back in 2008 to make the necessary heart, head and determination adjustments in me.  I was reminded of how those automatic words of praise were… many times… the only thing that got me off the road to giving up and self-pity and back into the same lane as the road our stand of faith was on!

I like the way the modern Passion Translation declares Psalm 40:3, as it perfectly describes how I’ve learned to live my life in this new day, two years after Piper’s homegoing.  The Psalmist states “A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him!” 

I find myself praising the Lord a lot more lately, while I ponder all that He did for Piper and I throughout the 48 years of our time together and then especially in the last two years without her.  Sure, it’s hard… definitely the hardest thing that I have ever had to deal with in my 67 years… but I can’t help but somehow KNOW that He still has a plan in motion for me and that His best is still yet to come!

Is that the way that you feel about your life today?  If not, then I would encourage you to pick up your Bible, turn to Psalm 40 and then repeatedly read and study verses 1-5… until you see that the Psalmist is talking all about you!  Once you see yourself in these verses you won’t be able to stop yourself from praising the Lord aloud throughout the day and realize the new song of expectancy that is building up in you!

Have a great new week!