Connected - Can You Hear Me Now?

A little over a week ago, I moved from a suburban area just outside the city of Richmond, Virginia to Stafford, Virginia which is a booming area just south of the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. I thought that I was moving into an area that would have been near the pinnacle of technological advancement and would certainly have no problem remaining connected to the outside world. After all, I had gotten pretty technologically savvy – I received my email and my internet from a wireless router that was connected to a cable modem from which I received phone calls, faxes and access to the web. On the web I was connected to people through email, Facebook and through this blog. I also have a Blackberry from which I can receive mobile phone calls, my email and Facebook updates throughout my day. Then I arrived at my new home in Stafford, Virginia. It’s a beautiful place with wonderful scenery. I can sit in my office and watch deer come through my yard. I can see, even now, two rabbits chasing each other just outside my window. The squirrels are darting back and forth enjoying all that God’s great planet has to offer. But apparently, no matter how picturesque my little piece of Stafford County, Virginia is, there are many who do not come here. Comcast does not come here. Verizon will come but they will only bring their old vehicles. No Fios. No DSL. Just good old land line dial up if you want it. Did I also mention that if I want to connect with someone through mobile means, ie a CELL PHONE – I have to stand on one foot with my elbow cocked at an unnatural angle and hold it there and only then if I leave the house and stand on the front porch. After a week and a half I feel DISCONNECTED. Yesterday at church someone asked if ‘everything was ok.’ They told me that I seemed “down”. And the truth was I felt “down” – I felt depressed and then it dawned on my – I felt DISCONNECTED.

Over the last few months I had really been connecting to a lot of folks and after a week and a half I started to really miss those opportunities to touch base, to get involved in the lives of those that I care about. And unfortunately, no matter how many trips to Panera Bread I make – I always feel like somebody is looking at me going, “Just leave and give up that table. Besides you’ve got the plug that I want.”

I think that as humans we have a natural inclination to be connected with other people. We have a need for it and unfortunately when it does not exist, we feel isolated, alone, and depressed. I was praying this morning and I thought how terrible it must be to live life disconnected. I always laugh at people who say they want to get away and leave their cell phone and their email and their internet behind and just not be bothered. It sounds like a great idea, until they actually have to do it and then they are constantly wondering what’s going on back at home. We need to be connected.

Depression is in our world at an all time high. Anti-depressants are the most prescribed medications on the market today. I am afraid that much of this stems from people choosing to lock themselves into their homes, perched in front of their televisions, camped in front of their computers and not connecting effectively to other people. Churches spend millions of dollars, going to thousands of conferences, reading hundreds of books put out by numerous authors and seminar speakers all in an effort to do one thing – connect people to one another. Churches have tried small groups – they’ve tried large groups – they’ve tried picnics – they’ve tried family activities. We try to force people to connect because we know that it will help them. But for the most part a forced connection is like shoving a round peg in a square hole. It very well may fit but it’s not a natural connection and the fit is never as good as it could be. So then – how do we get people to connect?

I don’t have a solution – but I do have a suggestion. We are created in the image of our Creator. Our Creator loves being connected with His Creation. If then, we are like HIM, doesn’t it stand to reason that we too will want to be connected to other members of His Creation. So in my line of thinking – to get truly be connected to others – I must first be connected to God. If we can somehow get ourselves connected to God, we will naturally connect to others that are around us. We will be drawn to others like a moth to a flame. I wonder how many people are mired down, living lives at a level less than God wanted for them, struggling with depression and frustration when at the end of the day, they just need to connect with God and watch God renew their mind and their heart and give them a passion about connecting with others.

Connecting with God is more than just showing up at church and sitting through the preaching. I hate to say it but it’s more than shouting and jumping and leaping in expressions of praise. Connecting with God is what happens in your life when nobody’s watching and nobody’s listening. Is your life truly connected to him? The last few weeks, I’ve felt like I was a Verizon Wireless commercial in reverse. “Can you hear me now?” “No!” “How about now?” “No!” -- “Hold on, I’m running to the front porch!” But then I thought that in the midst of that time of disconnection – how many times has God said – “Rodney, can you hear me now? – I’m trying to connect with you. I’ve got some stuff I want to talk to you about. Are you listening? If you will just stay connected to me, then you’ll be connected to my body – other believers – and then you’ll connect to my mission, my plan for your life.”

I think the mission statement for the church should be – “Connecting people: To Jesus Christ, To Others, and To Their God-given Mission.” What a difference our lives would make if we’d just do it in that order. Get & Stay connected to God – Get & Stay connected to each other – and Get Connected to the thing that God equipped you to do and use to touch the lives of those around you. Connection is so important and you don’t realize it until you don’t have it . . . so take it from me – STAY CONNECTED!!!

Until next time – or at least the next time I can get connected J --- RP

Finding My Place

Have you ever spent hours and hours putting together all of the pieces to a really large puzzle and just as you are finally finishing you realize that. . . there's a piece missing? How frustrating . . . aggravating. . . disappointing . . . agonizing. That feeling that you get when you realize that all the time, energy, effort - it was all in vain because the picture that you were trying to complete can not be finished. The work that you were trying to do cannot be done because one piece was out of place. And isn't it true, that if there is a single piece missing - we don't notice the picture. We don't notice the WHOLE - instead we notice the HOLE. One missing piece makes a huge difference.

True in puzzles - even truer in the kingdom of God. God has placed within each of us abilities and gifts and amazing talents that were designed to be utilized within the kingdom. But many times for various reasons there are HOLES within the fabric of the kingdom of God. Maybe it's because we don't know what our gifting and our talents are. Maybe it's because we don't see what we bring to the table as needed or wanted. Maybe it's because we've never been asked or maybe it's because we don't see ourselves as worthy of a piece of the puzzle. For others, it's because we see ourselves as too busy or too fearful or too unprepared. Whatever the case is, there are Christians throughout the kingdom of God who are living lives that are unproductive and unfulfilled because they've yet to discover their place, their spot on the puzzle.

Paul described the kingdom as a body. Christ is the head but we are individual members of the body fitly joined together so that every joint, every bone, every muscle, every organ is needed and supplies for the needs of all the others. Therefore, when we see ourselves as part of the body, we understand that our function is necessary and needed whether it is small or great. Because the elbow can't say to the bicep muscle, I have no need of you. The femur bone can't say to the big toe, I have no need of you. The nose can't say to the ear - your function is not important. Nor can the mouth say to the hand - of what purpose do you serve? We are one body joined together for HIS purpose and we desperately need every part. Oh, we can survive without certain members of the body. . . you can live with some missing parts. BUT the body will never be what it could be until every piece is in its proper place.

The key to finding your place in the kingdom is to first recognize and realize that YOU are a vital and important piece of the puzzle. Without you, God's kingdom would be less that it could be with you serving in it. There is no small role nor large role - only opportunities to make Jesus look great. When we serve in the kingdom, we do so by utilizing those things that God has placed in our life. And so - you are an important piece of the kingdom. Determining your place is not always simple. Sometimes we're not quite sure how to be most effective in the kingdom. To truly determine your place, you just have to get started. Sometimes when you're putting together a puzzle, some pieces get tried in numerous places. You twist it and turn it and attempt to position in various places. Sometimes it's just a little bit off. Sometimes it may even fit but the pattern doesn't fit that section of the puzzle. Sometimes it doesn't fit at all and you move on to the next spot. But eventually, if you're willing to try, you discover the tailor-made spot for the puzzle piece that is in your hand.

There's a man in the book of Acts - his name is John Mark. When Paul left on one of his early missionary journeys, Barnabas and John Mark were traveling together with the great Apostle. At some point on the journey, there arose a disagreement between Paul and John Mark. Apparently John Mark was homesick and really wanted to return to Jerusalem and Paul great angry and frustrated with him. So Barnabas took John Mark and Paul found a man by the name of Silas and they parted ways. Years go by - Barnabas and John Mark, with anointing on their life had discovered all sorts of areas of ministry for them to thrive in. And well, Paul & Silas had some wild stories to tell themselves. All had discovered their place in the kingdom although the original places they tried didn't quite seem to fit. Late in life, the Apostle Paul sends a letter and in his letter, he says, "Tell John Mark to come to me because I have need of him." The man that the Apostle Paul had sent away in shame - suddenly was in need. Sometimes, we don't understand why things happen the way they do. Sometimes we don't understand why hurts come into our life or experiences happen that don't make any sense. Maybe you tried to accomplish a ministry - you tried to serve in the kingdom and it just didn't work out the way you thought it would. Recognize that, just like John Mark, your ministry is of value - your place is needed. It just may be that the experience that you are having to go through right now, is designed to place things in your character that will make you better able to serve and to a blessing in the future.

Why do we have hurts? Why does pain come? Why does bad things happen to us? Sometimes we wonder, if we are supposed to be a part of the body of Christ, why do we have to face struggle. There's no easy answer to that question. But I do know, that struggle always bring strength and your ability to touch the lives of others is improved by your opportunity to share your experiences. God never wastes a hurt. If it happened to you, you can rest assure that at some point, you will have a chance to assist in the healing process of someone else who in the future will go through the pain you experience today --- if you're willing to find your place and get right in the middle of it.

If God has called you and brought you into His Kingdom - He intends to utilize those things that He has placed in your life. Spiritual Gifts, Abilities, Personality Traits, Experiences, the things that you love to do - they are all placed in your life by GOD - and He will utilize them to minister and to touch the lives of others - if you're willing to find your place.

The most unfulfilled Christian is an unserving Christian. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure it's possible to be an "unserving Christian". To be like Christ means to serve - and I want to find the fulfillment of serving in the body of Christ. Find your place in the puzzle - get plugged in and discover the joy of serving and living your life in such a manner that you impact all those around you. What is it God is asking you to do? What is it that you would do for the kingdom of God if you knew that you couldn't fail? Today - begin looking for those opportunities to plug your piece into the puzzle. . . Find your place and get right in the middle of it - and discover the joy that only Jesus can bring.

Love all of you - pray for Davina and I - we will be moving over the next few weeks and we are so excited to soon be on location with our wonderful church family at Church on the Move. We are endeavoring with all that we have to find our place and hopefully help others find their place as well in the kingdom of God. Until next time - even if it's through trial and error - look for ways to serve in the kingdom and to impact our world! -- God bless - RP

Amazing Love

Today, I've just had on my mind how truly amazing the love of God is to all of us. I've been replaying this wonderful Chris Tomlin song over and over, some of the lyrics of which are:

"Amazing love, How can it be
That You, my King, would die for me?
Amazing love,I know it’s true.
It’s my joy to honor You, In all I do, I honor You.

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken,
I’m accepted, You were condemned.
I am alive and well, Your spirit is within me,
Because You died and rose again."

Truly what amazing love we've all experienced from Jesus Christ. The 8th chapter of Romans, Paul shows us just how amazing the love of Christ is as he begins to show the inability of anything to separate you & I from the Love of God. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing that you and I go through, struggle with, allow to even at times over take us, none of those things have the ability to separate us from this amazing love of Jesus Christ.

You know - there are not a whole lot of people that I'd willingly lay down my life for. If you'd be honest, you would say the same thing. As a matter of fact the Bible, in the 5th chapter of Romans says, "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The Love of God is so rich and pure and unassuming and undeserving and unconditional in that WE who were bound in sin, locked in misery, chained in calamity and hell-bent on destruction were still recipients of such great love.

Many I believe struggle with the idea of the Love of God. Because many feel as if they don't deserve God's love, therefore they have a tough time accepting the fact that God loves them. In part, this faulty concept is due to the fact that we believe God loves in the same manner that we love. As humans, our love is a performance based love. If you do those things that I like and if you perform well, then I will love you. BUT if you don't comply to my wishes OR you act in a manner that is in anyway contrary to my desires for you, than I will withhold my love. Isn't that really how we as humans love? BUT not God - while we were still sinners, God's love was demonstrated to us by His willingness to die in our place. God's love is pure. You can't do enough to earn it. You can't perform well enough to deserve it. It's already been extended when you were at your lowest point - dead in your trespasses. And so if extended then, how can I accomplish enough to earn what has already been given.

Many have suffered at times through the love of family that was conditional. Dare I say, many have been presented love from a church that was conditional. If you do these list of rules or this list of accomplishments, then you will feel love from the Pastor and the saints of this congregation. What a shame, that so many in Christianity have been forced to live in captivity in an effort to perform in such a manner as to acquire love. We were made to love and to be loved. If there is anything that we can learn simply by observing the generation of teenagers that is alive and well today, is that people will do just about anything to earn acceptance and love --- even those things that make no sense whatsoever. What a shame it is when those in power and authority within the church, utilize those same methods to dispense and withhold love and acceptance in the kingdom of God.

At the end of the day, God's love is unconditional. It is never wavering. He can't love you anymore than He already does. Regardless of your mistakes and regardless of what others think, the love of Christ has been shared with all who are willing to be loved by Him. His death at Calvary was the most amazing act of love ever known - and it cannot be earned because it's already been given, it cannot be acquired by certain actions, because it was offered while we were certainly unworthy of it. So today - accept the Love of Christ. Not based on the works that you've accomplished - not based on the approval of man - but simply because you are His creation, you are His child and there is nobody He wants to share His love with more than You.

One last thought - it is a statement that has gotten me through some of the darkest days of my life, when I questioned everything I'd ever done and wondered if God's plan for me had been scrapped because of what others thought and what others were saying. "I am not who others say I am. I am who God says I am. In Christ, I am forgiven. In Christ, I am secure. And In Christ, I am free." Today, you can be free - because if Jesus says, "You're Free", you are truly Free. And His love will never be able to be separated from the object of His affection - namely YOU!

Until next time - May God bless you as you explore the depths of HIS AMAZING LOVE - Be all that Christ wants you to be and never be defined by the box that others would shove you into - Dream Big - Roam Free - and Love others the way He loves you!!!! ---- RP

I Will Bless The Lord at All Times

David writes in Psalm 34 "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . ." In order for David to have written such a verse, he must have been having a whale of a day. He must have had life by the tail and everything must have been going his way. He must have just killed Goliath, been married to the king's daughter, and heard all the ladies in town singing about his military prowess as being even greater than that of King Saul. He must have been having a great day. Because surely, if he had been having a day like many of us have had at one time or another, there is no way possible he could have written, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. . ." RIGHT? Actually - WRONG!

David, what are you doing? I'm pretending as if I've gone mad. What? Why would you do such a thing? I mean you're frothing at the mouth and beating your head against a wall and talking to yourself. You are the next king of Israel - and you're appearing before King Achish, the monarch at Gath. Why would you do such a thing? (Time for Evangelist Creativity - or story-telling if you like) Well, David must have said - Let me tell you a story. You see, I was sent to deliver some cheese and some bread to my brothers who were serving in the kings army. When I got there - I discovered that the army was afraid and the king was terrified and nobody was standing up for the name of our great God. So I did - I killed a giant of a man named Goliath. I cut his head off and I killed his brothers too. My celebrity status as a military giant gave me credibility with the people and power with the king -- BUT they meant nothing to God - He already knew my name and knew that the King's time was short. It wasn't long until the King who had applauded me was now trying to kill me. And after barely escaping the edge of his javelin throw for the umpteenth time, I figured it'd be safer on the road -- until at which time God chose to call me back home. So we've been living in caves, out in the middle of fields, whereever we could find cover and shelter. We've been hunted, sought for, chased, and surely would have died were it not for the protecting hand of our great God. One day we were so hungry, that we stopped by the temple and the priest gave me bread from the table inside the holy place and allowed my men to have food. Realizing we were in trouble, I led my men quickly to this town called Gath. But King Achish wants to kill me because he sees me as a threat - so rather than die at his hand and my destiny be squashed - I think it might be necessary for me to act like I have rabies - so I think that's what I'll do. And so even though it's been pretty lousy of late - I remember a time not so long ago when I killed a bear and I killed a lion. I remember a time not so long ago when the prophet Samuel came to my house and poured oil on my head and told my Daddy that I was going to be the next king of Israel. It may seem like a pipe dream considering all we've been through but I remember. Although, things are rough right now, I've never seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed beggin for bread so, while you may think I've lost my mind - and King Achish is going to send me away rather than kill me because he thinks that there is something wrong with me - forgive me, but I think I need to write a song. . .

"I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears." (Now go read the rest of Psalm 34 for your self - it's a cool song when you know the background.)

So is it possible to, as David says, bless the Lord at all times? Can His praise CONTINUALLY be in our mouth? In good times? In bad times? In glad times? In sad times? In good weather? In the midst of the storm? When life has treated you great? When all hell has broken loose in your home? Can we say, as Job said, standing in the face of all the evil that had befallen him on his fateful day, "The Lord gave, the Lord has taken away, Naked I came into this world and Naked I'm gonna go -- Blessed be the name of the Lord." Can you say as David did - "I will bless the LORD at all times. . ."

It's easy to bless and to praise God in the midst of a sunshiney day. But boy, when the wind starts to blow, the thunder rolls, the lightning strikes, the rain beats all around us, it certainly is much tougher to stand and say - Blessed be the name of the Lord. I met a new friend a little over a month ago. We were looking for a new home and he was the agent showing one to us. As we met, we began to talk and share things, we discovered that we had something in common. We both are absolutely crazy about Jesus Christ. I am confident that I met my new friend, Chad, by divine appointment. For you see 15 minutes before we met, he had received a phone call from his wife who was letting him know that she had just been diagnosed with cancer. After he showed me the house, we exchanged information and he sent me an email. He told me that he could feel the presence of the Lord around my family and God had told him to have me pray. He shared with me his families dilemna and His confidence that God was able. A month later, we've continued to pray and believe God for His very best in the life of Chad and Terry. We've asked God to heal Terry and we believe that He is going to do something amazing there. Today, I received an email and to be honest in my flesh I wanted to be down. The doctor has set up a chemo and radiation plan and it doesn't seem at this point that God has done what we asked. But as I read the report and I read his wife's response, my whole attitude changed. Chad and Terry, in faith, said, we don't understand but we know that it will work together for the good and that if nothing else good had come from this, there were some people who had started coming to church to be with Terry during this ordeal. They chose to Bless God no matter what. They chose to take on the spirit of David - and have praise continually in their mouth. You see, they've come to the conclusion that whether he answers with a "YAY" or a "NAY" - He is still God and His name is worthy to be praised.

And so - I will bless the LORD at ALL TIMES - His praise shall CONTINUALLY be in my mouth. Am I in a storm? Yep! Has everything worked out the way I thought it would or should? Nope! But regardless of how things are - I'm gonna bless the LORD. God is good - God is great - God is worthy - God is love - God gives me hope - God protects my family - God is ABLE - God knows my end from my beginning - He knows the plans He has for me - He knew what I would face today LONG BEFORE I got to this place and He who began a good work in me WILL see it through to the day of it's completion.

Are you facing a battle right now? It's ok to admit it. But in the midst of the battle, why don't you take a moment and give credit to the one who gives you strength to fight on? Why don't you take a moment and honor the one who clothed you in spiritual armor so that you could withstand the fight of the enemy? Why don't you, right now, offer thanksgiving and praise to the one who gives you the ability to stand when everything around is sinking sand? Why don't you just take a moment and give some worship to the one who is worthy of all? In case you're confused - His name is Jesus - there is none like Him. He can build a highway in the dessert, walk on top of crashing waves, ride on the wind, breath life into those things that are dead - and today He is able to do more in your situation in a moment than you could do by investing a lifetime. Why not take David at his word - and say - "I will bless the LORD at all times."

Love all of you - thanks for continuing to read with me on this journey - God bless - Until next time - RP

God's Perfect Design

About 9 years ago Davina & I sat down with a realtor for a new subdivision in our area and picked out a set of plans. We had several different floor plans to choose from. Each set had their own pros and cons. Finally we settled on one but to make it perfect for us, we requested some changes to the plans which they were willing to make. Add a bay window here, delete a door way there, a closet here, a storage area there and finally our design was perfect. Or we thought it was perfect 9 years ago when they began construction. But after 8 1/2 years of residence in our perfect design, we've discovered a lot of things that if we had opportunity to do it all over again, we'd do it differently. Nothing major - but my wife would have preferred a pantry, maybe an island in the kitchen, bigger bathrooms, a walk-in closet. If I'd had it do again, I would have spent the extra money to build the garage instead of just trying to get by with what we had. Like I said, nothing major, just the realization that what we thought was once a perfect design, over time has become, shall we say, flawed, imperfect, less than what we thought it was going to be.

It's not that we are easily dissatisfied or even hard-to-please - it's just that we have the same issue as all the rest of humanity. Because we are flawed, we are incapable of creating perfection. We are incapable of discovering on our own a perfect pattern. But God never makes mistakes. His pattern is flawless. His plans are incapable of error. He creates a perfect design. Unlike us, He has the advantage of seeing how it is all going to turn out. And so He knows that we'll need a closet here or a larger bathroom there or a large front porch or a patio out back. According to scripture, He knows what we have need of before we even ask and so when He lays out the pattern for us, He builds what is necessary for us into our life, EVEN when we don't know why it's been drawn on the pattern in that particular spot.

God has always been into patterns. Patterns are important and they are found throughout the Bible. In Genesis, God used a pattern to create the universe. He set in the sky a sun that controlled the day and a moon that controlled the night. These two large objects still remain in the sky operating according to the same pattern that God designed in the very beginning. It is a perfect pattern that controls seasons, weather, sunrises, sunsets, wave patterns, animal migrations, etc. God set a pattern in order and it is fool proof - everyday the sun rises, the sun sets, the earth rotates on its axis creating a perfect 24 hour day.

When God got fed up with His creation, He gave Noah a pattern - a perfect pattern to navigate the stormy waters and save not only his family but an entire zoo of animals. When Israel found themselves trapped in Egypt, God gave a pattern to Moses that became known as Passover. He was exact in His instructions as to the preparation of the Passover meal, how it was to be prepared and eaten and how the blood was to be applied. If the pattern was followed exactly, deliverance would come to those households that obeyed. It was a perfect pattern for deliverance. After delivering an entire nation out of the clutches of an Egyptian Pharaoh, he gave Moses a pattern for a tabernacle in the wilderness. This pattern for the tabernacle in the wilderness was a flawless design that went from a physical pattern in the Old Testament to a spiritual pattern in the New Testament, ultimately providing for our salvation and access to the very presence and power of Jesus Christ. 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ came and fulfilled the exact pattern of the passover lamb. His death, burial and resurrection, becomes an exact pattern which when we follow, through repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and the infilling of His Spirit, gives us access to the amazing gift of salvation. God operates in patterns.

If patterns are this important to God, doesn't it stand to reason that God has a pattern for the lives of every individual in His kingdom. I am convinced that Jesus drew up a blue print for my life and for your life and the life that He is constructing is a flawless design. His design is perfect - it has everything that I will ever need built into the plan. He knows every trial I'll face. He knows every obstacle I'll need to clear. He knows every mountain I'll need to climb. He knows every river and every valley I'll need to cross. He is very much aware of every struggle and every pain that will come into my life, long before I ever had to face it. And because He did, He compensated for EVERY hurdle with a part of the design. Those items that you thought must have been flaws, must have been mistakes, are simply God's way of preparing us for those things that we'll face later in life. He has prepared for every thing that we will face - He included it in HIS design.

So today - are you facing things? Probably. Are you going through some stuff? More than likely. It's not because God has made a mistake. It's not because God's plan is flawed. It's not because His pattern is imperfect. It's simply that He's seen a little farther down the road than you have. What feels like pain right now is just a design on the blue print that is going to give you victory tomorrow. What feels like a hurdle today, is simply a spot on the plan that calls for some extra reinforcement for the JOY that you will need tomorrow. After all he promised that the weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. Or as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17, ". . . For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a for more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. . ." So don't judge God's plan now - know that His design is flawless and therefore this affliction is just for a moment - it's actually working for us, giving us an exceeding and eternal treasure. It's only a little while before we see the completed project. We can't see it right now - because as Paul described it, it's look like looking through a darkened piece of glass - but eventually we'll look our Designer in the face and when we see HIM our perfect design will be complete. And we'll understand it all - better by and by.

Keep your chin up - the plan is perfect - the design is flawless and the life God is building in you will be perfected in HIS timing. Until next time, keep working God's pattern in your life and let Him get glory out of you - God bless - Love you all - RP

Trust - Even When It Doesn't Make Sense

Yesterday, my daughter Abigail and I were driving on the western side of Caroline County, Virginia. Along a rural country road, we travelled between what felt like mile after mile of corn fields. Beautiful corn stalks, blowing in the breeze, field after field after field. I pointed out the window and said - "Abigail, look at all that corn." Her reply, "Did somebody have to bend over and plant all of that?" I said, "No, baby, they have all kinds of great machinery now that make it easier for the farmer to be able to plant his fields." She then said - "But how does he water it all." My response, "Baby - farming is really an act of faith. He plows the ground and then he plants the seed - but he has to trust God for the rain."

It's awesome the things that we can learn by just observing the day to day events in our lives. Farmers are amazing to me. They invest in a field that promises them nothing. They believe in a product that lies dormant beneath the ground. They prepare for a harvest that they can not guarantee. They faithfully go out and work fields, even when the return is unknown. They do everything that they can to insure that they will have sufficient in the end. And yet, their are variables that they cannot control. No amount of work on their part can insure sufficient rain, sufficient sunshine, lack of storm damage or destruction by flood. They really don't know about the fluctuating changes that could occur. No - they just do their part and they have to trust God for the rest.

How many times have I screamed at the heavens - "God this just doesn't make any sense. What are you trying to do? What is your plan?" You probably have to. I mean, we plowed the field. We planted the seed. We seemed to do everything right. We followed the Farmer's Almanac. We planted at the right time. We've done all we know to do - and now Lord - where's the rain. Where's the growth. I don't seen any green sprouts bursting through the surface out in my field. Did I misplant? Did I do something wrong? Am I not the farmer I thought I was?

Of late, in midst of all my questions, I've been hearing a voice coming back to me. It's sweet and gentle - not harsh or rude. I haven't gotten the "How dare you question me?" routine that sometimes I've probably deserved. Instead, I've heard the words of an old Sunday School lesson which are really the words of Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount. "Consider the lilies of the field - they don't labor - they don't make clothing and yet have you ever seen anything arrayed as beautifully as them. Consider the birds of the air - they don't sow - they don't reap - they don't have a barn or a bank account and yet God feeds them. Aren't you more to God than birds and lilies."

Trust is such a tough lesson to learn. In our modern world, we're taught that if we are going to make it - if we are going to survive, it is going to be based on our own abilities, our own merit. I am not an advocate of the welfare system. We have too many who are constantly waiting and believing that someone should bail them out and God should be their sugar-daddy in the sky. We have too many preachers preaching a prosperity gospel that is no more biblical than pigs are aeronautical engineers. BUT - Jesus did tell us that we should not be so consumed with day-to-day concerns that we miss the big picture. Don't get so caught up in what you will eat, what you will drink, what will you wear, where will you live because He knows what you have need up before you even ask.

And so today, I'd like to propose a modern day parable. Consider the corn farmer - he plows his field - he insures that the land is prepared with necessary fertilizers and nutrients. He goes to the grain supply house and he purchases sufficient seed to plant his field. He sends out the tractor, pulling the seed spreader and he drives in the late spring sun throughout his field spreading the seed. He has done his part. There's really nothing else that He can do. He returns his equipment to the barn and he simply is forced to trust. Will the rain come? I trust God. Will too much rain come? I trust God. Will the sun shine enough or will there be a drought? I don't know but I trust God. Would if a tornado destroys my field? I don't know but I trust God. Does farming make sense? I don't know but people are counting on the grain that I provide. Somewhere someone is preparing a pot to boil the ears of corn that I will produce. Somewhere someone is pulling out the butter and the black pepper and the salt and their about to get that greasy corn on the cob face that looks gross but tastes so good. And so I'm not sure if it makes sense or not - but I trust God - even when it doesn't make sense.

Some of you as you read this are going through things that just don't make sense. I wish I could tell you all the answers that you're seeking because the truth is, I need some too. But since I don't have the answers, I am left to return to the one who knows the end from the beginning, the one in whom all truth originates and in whom there is no shadow of turning. In Christ I place my trust - and in Him today you can lean and trust even when it makes no sense to do so!

Love all of you - hope you have a great weekend - until next time - I TRUST GOD! --- RP

Strength Through Struggle

Have you ever noticed those guys at the gym? You know the ones I'm talking about. The ones who all seem to gather together in a corner of the gym. They have muscles on top of their muscles and they push each other to do one more rep, one more set, a few more pounds. They push their bodies to tremendous levels , through tremendous resistance, not necessarily because they enjoy it but because of the strength that is gained through the struggle. True of a weight lifters struggle -- even more true in life.

For many, the thought of struggle, the thought of pain is something that we shun. Who wants to go through trouble? Who invites pain? I've yet to meet anyone who walks out their front door in the morning, takes a stand on the front porch, looks out into the world and says, "Come on world, give me your worst. I'm looking forward to gaining strength because of the resistance that I am going to face. I'm looking forward to the struggle. Bring it on!" No - we'd rather be pampered, catered to, and treated with kit gloves in the lap of luxury rather than have to face the struggle. And yet many of us are living lives in a horrible state of weakness, not because God is not strong and not because we're incapable of strength. Rather we are weak because we resist God's allowance of us to go through the struggles in life that are not sent to kill us but to strengthen us. Strength is always gained through struggle.

It is the struggles of labor that gives us the great miracle of child birth. It is the struggles of cracking and breaking through the outer shell of the egg that causes the baby bird to have enough strength to survive. It is the effort of the crushing of the grapes that produces the wine. It is the crushing of the olives that gives us the chef's best friend, olive oil. It is the pressure of the earth that turns coal to diamonds. It is the struggle to remove the grain of sand from the mouth of the oyster that creates the pearl. It is the struggle that brings strength.

Babe Ruth is considered to be one of the greatest baseball hitters of all time. Most fail to realize that he is also one of the most prolific strike out producers to have ever played the game. Most think of Michael Jordan as the greatest basketball player of our generation, if not of all time. Certainly he was a prolific scorer and when you consider his championships and his scoring titles and his ability to play defense, the word great seems to fit. No one ever complains about how many shots he missed. Until John Elway won his first Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers in January of 1998, he was considered just good enough to win games but not good enough to win the big one. As a matter of fact, he had lost 3 Super Bowls. As with every great athlete, it is not their victories that define them but rather their response to their failure. The main difference between the good and the great is the desire to get up and keep going despite their failure. Those that keep going, accepting the struggle and gaining the strength.

Why must we struggle? Why couldn't God just give us all the strength we need? Why must we go through tough times to become what God wants us to be? The Bible describes Job as a man who was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Job seems to be a man who spiritually had it all together. Until one day God decides to allow the life of Job to face some amazing struggle. And yes, it got pretty tough. His struggle was something that no one would ever want to have to go through. And yet, because he endured the struggle and lived through the shame of perceived failure - the Bible says that the latter days of Job were more blessed than the beginning. Strength birthed in struggle.

So why does God allow us to face adversity? Paul gives us, in my opinion, the greatest explanation as to His purpose for our struggles, our hurt. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." God allows our struggle and then when He comforts us, it is not because He feels sorry for us. He comforts us because He knows the strength that we gain through the struggle gives us the ability to now comfort others in the same way that Christ has comforted us. Know that when you are facing horrible struggles that seem completely out of control, it is not designed to kill you but rather God intends to use those moments of hurt to allow you to be able to bring peace and comfort to someone else who's also going through a time of hurt that is about to overwhelm them.

I talked to a friend this morning. She and her husband went through a horrible event in their life. Their entire home was destroyed by fire and they lost everything - their furniture, their pictures, their clothing, their memories, everything. When it happened, they went through a horrible period of depression and frustration, couldn't understand why they were facing such a horrible event. A few years later, they received a call from a friend who's neighbor had just lost a home by fire. As the ashes were still smoldering, fire department was still on the scene, my friend showed up and walked up to this lady and said, "I once lost my home in a fire. . .". In that moment, she realized the joy of knowing that her hurt could now be a help to someone else. She realized that God's comfort to her was now being shown to someone else. Her struggle had birthed a strength in her that God was now using.

So why do we face struggle? So why do we go through pain and even failure? God is using them to give us strength and out of our weakness He is made even stronger in our lives. Jesus never wastes a hurt, He never waste our pain. He gives us the strength to overcome and we can then be a blessing to someone else. I pray God's best in your life - Love each of you - In the midst of your struggle, you are gaining strength - and the strength you gain will help you overcome every obstacle that you face. And having overcome, begin to look for opportunities because God will bring someone to your path who needs the comfort you received from God.

Until next time - God bless - RP