God Is With Us

I haven't posted in a solid four months. I know that is lame, but I've been busy with student teaching and other things.

Merry Christmas! My wife bought me an expensive gift for Christmas that I love. I can never repay her. The items I bought her cost about 2% of what she got me. Because of the circumstances she bought the gift under, it can't be returned.

It's done my soul a lot of good too. I've felt pretty worthless lately, but this gift reminded me that it is not how much I think I'm worth that counts - it's how much I am worth in the eyes of the One who loves me the most. I've been angry and sad. I've felt I am all alone, but that has got to stop because God gave me the most expensive gift imaginable, when He gave me Christ. My Savior is a gift that tags me with more value than I could ever repay. Because of the circumstances my salvation was bought under, it can't be returned. No matter how unworthy I feel of it and no matter how much I wish God wouldn't have spent so much of Himself on me, the gift remains being offered to me everyday; quietly pressed into my hands. Thank you Jesus! Open my eyes and let me see You as the gift I could never pay for. Let me find my worth in You!

Merry Christ-loving-Christmas!

My Hope Is You

Psalm 25:4-5

"Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long."

I've been marvelling at what I have thought of as a persistent peace on the inside of me. When I read this verse, I realized it was actually hope. What's the difference? From my perspective, they are similar. This is my working definition of hope: Hope is peace about the future. At any rate, These two verses sum up what I have been experiencing. God has been showing me how to please Him and how to follow Him; I have been worshipping Him as my Savior; and this has placed in me a deep sense of peace about my future.

I recently realized that my anxieties were rooted in my own selfishness. There was a fear in me that I would not get what I wanted. I given up my wants and rested in the faith I have that God "rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6). It is foolish for me to insists on what those rewards should be. I am a friend of God and that is the greatest reward I could wish for.

Pacemaker

Romans 3 (The Message)
27-28So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counter-claims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we've learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We've finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.

God, help me to walk in your ways. I ask for your wisdom and your discernment, so I will see clearly the path you have designed for me. I want to keep step with you.

This verse is pretty straight forward. The whole goal of Christianity is to know God and to make Him known.

Gear Up!

Ephesians 6
" 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

I'm so excited! Camp is starting next week and I can't wait. I believe that God has something special planned for me there- and something for my campers.
I selected these verses because they are the camp verses for our upcoming camp. I've found a lot of strength in these verses and from meditating on them. I want these kids to see that they can be mighty warriors in Christ.

Dream

I had a vivid, disturbing dream last night. I was at my old high school. I was hanging out with a grandmotherly old woman and her young Hispanic grandson. We were talking and she seemed frightened and world-weary. Her grandson, who was about seven, seemed apprehensive as well. There was another group of people there who I could not see because they were in another room, but I knew it was a group of my friends. I had to leave and started to drive my car on a highway. I looked over and, in the seat, was something that looked like a teddy bear. It was cover in short, shaggy, amber-colored fur similar to that of an antique teddy bear. It's body looked like that of a kola bear and it appeared to have seams in it's skin like those sewn into a stuffed doll. It's head was oblong like a horse and covered in the same fur, but, where the nostrils would be, it had the beady, black eyes of an insect and a second set of eyes above them in the spot where one would expect them. This set of eyes were the haunting eyes of a despondent toddler.

At this point, I looked away back at the road. I saw a small brown paw reach over the front hood of the car followed by the head of the strange creature as it began to crawl up my car to the windshield. It leaped onto the window blocking my view and causing me to swerve. It seemed to have grown in size because it covered almost the whole front of the car. I tried to brake and I look down and saw that it was under my foot; it was now tiny and was pushing my foot. I managed to stop the car and get out, scurrying to the ditch. I felt something on my shoulder and brushed off a fist-size version of the creature. It was as if it wanted to cuddle with me. It was not trying to kill me directly.

I tried to walk back to the car, but ever other step, the creature would appear under my foot and cause me to stumble. With these hindrances, I managed to drive back to the school, hoping my friends would help me. When I got there, I felt like I was losing my mind. The creature was playful, but malicious. It acted like an excited puppy, but seemed to deliberately try to cause me harm indirectly by distracting me or messing with objects around me.

Finally, I stopped. I raised my foot and waited for the creature to appear under my foot. When it did I stomped on it. There was no squishing, but I felt it shrink under my foot and disappear - only to reappear a few seconds later with what sounded like a giggle. Despair filled me. I was at the point of giving up and accepting that I was going to have to live with this strange exhausting creature the rest of my life, then something rose up within me. Strength seemed to fill me from my toes up to the top of my head. I lifted my finger and pointed right at the creature and said, "In the Name of Jesus Christ, I curse you!" and instantly the creature stopped and slowly melted into the floor with a hissing scream.

I then woke up. I realized that I was being attacked by a demonic force. I prayed and rebuke the spirit, but I began to sense that the spirit was departing from my presence. I was shaken up and prayed quietly over myself, my wife and my house and property.

I still feel this was a warning. That I was leaving areas of my life unguarded and the enemy was trying to get access to destroy me.

Keep Count

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I think I'm going to live forever. I know that I probably have somewhere between 40 and 60 years here on earth, but I could also die tommorow. For simplicity's sake, I tend to over estimate my time on earth as being "forever". I keep a snowballing list of things I'll work on later with no guaruntee that I'll ever see the day I'll get to those items finished. This is foolishness.

I chose this verse to meditate on because I realize that I am living foolishly and I'm not quite to the point of changing. However, I know that mediating on the Word of God has the incredible power to change my heart. I can move from indifferent to passionately commited just by choosing to bring this verse into my mind several times a day. "Teach me to number my days realistically so I will seek You in my heart... Teach me to realize I'm not on earth long and to be wise by living for you, God... Teach me... Teach me..."

Not a Day That Goes By

Psalm 89

15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

16 They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.

"They rejoice in your name all day long."

I know what that feels like. I called being intangled with gratitude toward God. I've reached a point where I was in the habit of praising Him and could not stop. I had an internal song in my heart toward Him all day long.

Holy Spirit, put in my heart a new song of praise for you oh God.

By the way, this is what the song "Feelin' So Fly" off of Toby Mac's "Portable Sounds" album is talking about. I'd just like to say that this is my favorite album right now. It is so funky and upbeat that if you can listen to the whole album and not get up and dance then you are clinically dead! Check it out !

Long Undivision

Psalm 86

11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

An undivided heart. A heart that longs for God and God alone. I have to admit, I'm having a day where I don't feel like I'm praising God with all my heart. I've devided my attention among things that don't matter and given Him the smallest share.

The Great Debate

Psalm 85

8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints—
but let them not return to folly.

I use to struggle with whether or not I could give up my sin - if God was worth letting go of some temporary pleasure. I still struggle with this sort of short-sightedness, but now I find the debate is whether I am willing to give up my peace for my sin. It would be nice to say that I feel constant unending love toward God, but the truth is that my love towards God is not unfailing. There are times when I forget for a moment how great God is, but I am not so quick to forget how wonderful the peace of God is. Living in that peace means living apart from willful sin. It is not that God takes His peace from me when I sin. No, but rather I let the confusion of sin into my mind and that truly is a "return to folly".

Doorman

Psalm 84

10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

This verse needs no explanation. The least that God has to give us is greater than all the world has to offer.

You Come Knocking

Psalm 80

17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

Here it is, a prophecy thousands of years before Christ, longing for Him to come. That love, that desperate longing for Christ has always existed in those who sought God. It's natural that those that seek God find a desire to seek Christ. It is as natural as someone who wants to enter a house looking for the door to enter by.

What's unnatural is to find that God is looking for us, but this is what Christ showed us: That God was looking to "seek and to save that which was lost". It is a great shock to discovery that when we find the door, there is God, knocking on the other side, waiting for us to open it.

Over and over again, when I am in the presence of God, I find that He has been preparing for our time together - that He has something to share with me - while I have been distacted. That I've carelessly locked Him out. He wouldn't have to knock if I'd just leave the door open!

Bonus verse!

Revelations 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

His Glory in Our Shame

Psalm 79

9 Help us, O God of our salvation!
Help us for the glory of your name.
Save us and forgive our sins
for the honor of your name.

It crushes me to think that God forgives us our sins. God is righteous and awesome. He is so pure and so powerful, that even knowing that sinful beings like us exist should be an insult to Him. Acknowledging us, even to judge us, He should consider a disgrace to His majesty. Instead, He has forgiven us our sins and it has required Him to humilate Himself. He has done this for His glory and more glory is due Him for these miraculious deeds.

Tell Children

Psalm 78

4 We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

I selected this verse today because it contains the mission of children's ministry. It is my purpose to tell children about how great God is. I want to teach them to delight in the goodness of God!

God is Good - All the Time

Psalm 77

11 But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
12 They are constantly in my thoughts.
I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

I've been here. I've been terribly discouraged and thought that God would never do anything good again in my life, but He always has. Faith pleases God. We complicate faith sometimes. We get this idea that to have faith we have to know exactly what we are believing for and be able to specifically name it. We say we are believing for this specific thing, then we are disappointed. I think faith is simpler. It's what is being demonstrated in the verses above. Faith is simply recalling what God has done and the promises of His Word till you become convinced that God will not fail you. Faith is the constant conviction that God keeps His Word and you don't have to worry. Faith rest in the wonder of the goodness of God, even when you can't see how what He is doing is good.

A Portion Forever

Psalm 73

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

I'm not sure why I picked this Psalm. I guess I haven't felt close to God the last few days and just wanted to remind myself of how important He is to my existence. I must remember that He is the only investment that lasts. He is life.

Example

Psalm 71

7 My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
8 That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.

I selected this verse today because it is about what I want to be: I want to be an example.

Looking into the words used here and the chapter as a whole, I see that the life that pleases God is not a life free from conflict or trouble, but the the life where adversity is overcome by relying on the strenght of God. I love how it simply speaks of the graditude that wells up in a person who puts their trust in God.

New Video From Switchfoot!

Alright, so this isn't very spiritual, but it's a cool song by a band I like a lot. The song is about trying to wake up from a routine existance and live for more (and, if the leadsinger/songwriter Jon had the guts, it would be about waking up to a life in Christ, but that's too overt for this band). Some day I hope Jon wakes up kicking and screaming out the good news of what Christ has done for us all. Till then you'll have to download the free track that talks about Christ from their website cause it's not on the album:

http://www.switchfoot.com/revenge/



Wake up!

Bogota now online!

I'm sure I can change this message later. For all interested parties the Bogota pics are now on my online photo gallery with Picassa.

Pictures from South Africa

If you would like to see more pictures, follow the link under "important links". Here is a sampling and some explainations. This is me with two fine young gentlemen that attended the children's club program.

The next picture is my wife and I sitting on the steps of the church and posing with a willing crowd of children. These kids loved having their picture taken! Really. It doesn't look like it, but they did.

Last we have Jen and two of the kids at the Children's club program.

A South African Update

This is my first attempt to use a program called Picassa to post pictures from my drive to my Blog. We'll see how it goes. This is a picture of Thive's facilities in South Africa. Nice!

Spirit Into Wine

John 2: 6-10
Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, "Fill the pots with water." And they filled them to the brim.
"Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did.
When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!"
Warning! This is kinda deep theological stuff. If you don’t have a high tolerance for that high-fallootin’ talk, feel free to skip this one.
I was reading this passage one day and I asked myself, "Why did Christ perform this as his first miracle?" I mean, really! Did the Son of God lack the Public Relations skills to avoid having a miracle that involved a beverage that can be enjoyed while fasting turned into booze as his first public miracle? It's a ridiculous miracle. Our savior would later raise the dead, cast out demons, feed thousands with a few loaves of bread and heal the blind, but to warm up: turn water into wine.
I have an answer to that question. Let's look at the "end" of his earthly ministry right before his death. It's the last supper: It's a similar scene, Jesus is enjoying a good meal with his disciples. He then conducts what we've now contorted into the ritual of communion:
Mark 14
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
So wine was used to represent the blood of Christ, the blood that would be poured out as a sacrifice for our sins. Wine = Blood of Christ. Check.
So what does water represent? The Spirit of God. This one is not so overt. The parallel to this can be found in the ministry of John the Baptist. John says in Luke 3:16, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come .... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." It's insinuated here that water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Water = Spirit of God. Check.
Alright, two down one to go. Let's not overlook those six stoneware pots. Yeah, the pots are important too. You see in Jewish culture, stone could not be made "unclean" (think unsanitary). If you used a pot of clay and put something unclean in it, it became "unclean" and you had to destroy the vessel. An interesting side-note is that the Bible describes our bodies as "jars of clay". When we became unclean by sin, we had to be destroyed to become clean, which unfortunately means we have to die physically. That's a big problem if your eternal element, your spirit, is also in a permanent state of death. However, the Bible refers to Jesus as "the Capstone" or the "Stone" (Acts 4:11 ). He is a stone vessel that can never become sinful or unclean. He could contain all our unclean, lethal sin and not be defiled by it.
I hope you see where this is going. Jesus was a vessel like the stone jars. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, he was God incarnate and he transformed spirit into blood. He washed and cleansed us by transforming the righteousness of God into a blood that could cover our sins. If you really think about this, it's endless. Over and over again, Christ uses his miracles as symbols of his ministry for all people.
If Jesus used bread as a symbol of his body, what does the feeding of the five thousand mean? Think about it.

You're Welcome, God.

Mark 9

33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."

36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

I teach a Sunday school class for pre-schoolers, so I pay attention when the Bible talks about kids. When it's not talking about children I completely ignore it (joking - you don't need to pray for me). This verse is a challenge to me and also a great comfort.

This was Christ response to an argument of who was the greatest. I don't know what the disciples were arguing about exactly, but I do have an educated guess; looking back a couple of chapters, we see Jesus sending out the twelve in groups of two and giving them authority over demons. The disciples had just returned from a super-powered missionary trip. This is a guess, but their discussion might have gone like this:

James: "Hey, John, how many demons you cast out?"

John: "I don't know, James, I didn't keep count. Maybe ten."

James: "Yeah, I cast out ten, too ... out of one guy! Give me a break! What about you Peter?"
Peter: "Oh, at least sixty! There was this guy that I raised from the dead, too!"

John: "I think that guy might have been sleeping..."

Peter: "Shut up, Mr. Only-Can-Cast-Out-Ten-Demons."

James: "What do you have to brag about, Petey? Between me and my brother, we easily cleared 200 demons and healed at least that many sick. Don't worry, we'll put in a good word for you when Jesus sets up His Kingdom."

Christ wanted to redirect their focus. They thought that casting out demons, healing the sick and doing "big things" for God was what impressed Him. So Jesus, flips everything on its head. He shows the disciples that they are not doing big things for God, but are doing small things TO God. He brings out a child, an individual in that day that had no social significance, and declares that when they welcome a child they welcome Him and His Father.

I like how the "The Message" translates these verses: "He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, "Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me."

We're not to just heal. We are not to just cast out demons. We are to love. We are to embrace. Christ shows us that "scoring points" for the Kingdom is not as important as loving others. When we embrace and welcome the smallest and most insignificant people, we embrace and welcome God.

Give What You Got

Mark 6
37But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
38"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."
39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

There are three simple thoughts here that I want to log for posterity. First, I want to point out that the five thousand people were part of the miracle. Jesus did not sit and prepare meals for five thousand people. He had them sit down and then He blessed the bread and it was passed into the crowds. Each person there participated in this miracle. It should be noted that these people were already excited about Christ. He had healed the sick among them. They were in that isolated place because they had chased him around the lake on foot. The people in this crowd were so enthusiastic about Jesus that they told people in the towns they went through as they ran around the lake how incredible this man was and convinced others to join them. Their hearts were so preoccupied with this Messiah that they seemed to have forgotten to bring food. They came expecting miracles and they received what they expected.

Second, the disciples weren’t thinking about miracles. The disciples were tired. Jesus had taken them there to refresh them because he had seen how worn out they were from ministering to the people. They were not thinking supernaturally - even though a few hours earlier they were anointing the sick with oil and casting out demons. I want to highlight their excuse: money. They explained that they didn’t have enough money to do what Jesus was asking them to do and they weren’t expecting to be able to do miracles so they obviously weren’t filled with faith and expectation. They came dangerously close to missing a miraculous intervention because they tried to hide behind a lack of money and faith.

This leads to the third point. Even though they lacked money and faith, Jesus asked them for the food they had. He took what they had and used it.

So even it you don’t think you have the money or the faith for God to use you; make sure you offer Him what you have. He may add His own faith and His own riches to it and touch thousands through you.

Just Believe

Mark 5

35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"

36Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

I was so impressed by this passage I just felt I had to post this.

"Don't be a afraid; just believe."

On the surface, this is a wonderful command from Christ. It is a wonderful response to a severe problem: This man's child was dead. There is no more serious issue than death. No crisis is more terminal than someone dying. Yet, Jesus encourages this man to believe. If this is Christ's answer to a trial of this magnitude, then I'm sure it is his advice for any problem of less severity.

It is also compelling that Christ sought to protect this man's faith. He saw that this man had the faith to believe that his daughter would be raised and did not want Jarius to listen to his friends and give up his hope. Christ does not silence the friends, He just encourages Jarius. I also do not think that Christ would have done this if the faith of Jarius was not required to do this miracle! Think about that! God may be trying to solve your problem today, but needs your faith to do it! Don't be afraid; just believe!

Think Tank

Below are some of the favorite verses of some of my friends. These submissions do not include all my friends so if your favorite verse is not here please do not take it as a sign of the end of our friendship. If you want to tell me you favorite verse you can email me at rublepro@gmail.com. I encourage you to pray through and meditate on these verses with me.

Group Meditation Verses for January 9, 2007

John 10:9

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Psalms 35:27

May those who delight in my vindication
shout for joy and gladness;
may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,
who delights in the well-being of his servant."

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Psalms 2:8

Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.

John 5:14-15

14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Galatians 6:7 - "Intercede for the seed"

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Matthew 11:12

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Romans 2:4

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?"

Isaiah 43:22-29

22 "Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.

23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
nor honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with grain offerings
nor wearied you with demands for incense.

24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,
or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
and wearied me with your offenses.

25 "I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.

26 Review the past for me,
let us argue the matter together;
state the case for your innocence.

27 Your first father sinned;
your spokesmen rebelled against me.

28 So I will disgrace the dignitaries of your temple,
and I will consign Jacob to destruction
and Israel to scorn.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

11 "I know the plans I have for you," announces the Lord. "I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come. 12 Then you will call out to me. You will come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. 13 When you look for me with all your heart, you will find me.

Hebrews11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Psalms 1:1-3

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

1 Timothy 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

OR

2 Timothy 1:12

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Reaching Out

Exodus 4
1 Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."
This is really cool. In this passage, Moses is trying to convince God not to use him because he is scared and does not believe he can do what God is asking him to do. God responds to Moses with this miracle.

The staff turned into a snake. It was a scary snake. It was scary enough to scare the bejeebies out of a guy who had lived in the desert for four decades! We know this because it states that Moses ran from the snake! Then God tells Moses to reach out and grab the snake by the tail. I guess Moses was more afraid of God than the snake because he did it.

A staff is symbol of support or power. For a shepherd it is a symbol of authority. It is what he uses to keep his sheep in line. The staff was in Moses’s hand but he dropped it. Once it was out of his hands, it intimidated him to face it and take it back up again, but, because he believed God, he overcame his fear and took up the staff again. Here’s the point I’m trying to make - Moses had the authority and the position of power in Egypt, but he let go of it. God was calling him to take up that position again, but he was scared. God told him to take it up again and he had to overcome his fear to take back that authority.

After this point, the staff is referred to as God’s staff. Moses was able to carry God’s authority after he overcame his fear. I sense that God is often trying to lead me to do things in him and I have to admit, more often than not I’m scared. I look at who I am and remember how I have failed in the past and try to talk myself out of it. Then, I look at the demands of the role I think God is calling me to and I am terrified.

Then I hear God saying, “Reach out and grab it by the tail.”