Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Priorities

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. - Psalm 1:1

"I really don't know what's wrong with me," said forty-two-year-old Tyrone to his counselor. "I've attained many of my personal and business goals. But I'm still breeding ulcers, trying to climb up the ladder. With all my success, I'm still bummed out when someone else beats me to a big sale or a new account. I have a wonderful wife and two great kids, but I kind of feel like an outsider when I'm with them. I'm often around people and have lots of friends. But I don't enjoy it, and I don't think they're really enjoying me. I'm afraid my dark moods are distancing me from the ones I love. But I don't know what to do about it."

Tyrone looks and acts like the American Dream personified. By all outward appearances he's succeeded in the areas of life that really matter in our society: family, friends, career, finance. But like so many men, Tyrone's warm smile and confident exterior mask a deep sadness and uncertainty. He often wonders what's really worthwhile in life. Despite all the trophies he's accumulated indicating he's a winner, he always feels defeated.

Can you relate to Tyrone? The pursuit of the American Dream has left many feeling alone and angry. Why? Because prosperity cannot be measured by money or even family. Who does the Bible teach is prosperous or blessed? Only when you seek to find joy in your Creator and not in His creation, will your soul begin to find significance and true happiness. Stop and assess where you seek your joy.

"God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there." - Billy Graham (1918-    )

[Judy Harder]

Surrender or Fight

But if serving the Lord seems undesireable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. - Joshua 24:15

Saul was the first king of the Israelites. He was a man with great potential for leadership. Unfortunately he failed miserably. He allowed his fearfulness, disobedience, and self-sufficiency to come between him and God's plan for his life. I think we can all resonate with Saul's struggles, so why not learn from him.

At the beginning of his career, Saul was a shy and reluctant leader. He was found hiding in the baggage when Samuel called the people together to publicly anoint him as king. Saul's humble, restrained style worked well in the early days of his rule, but he came to a point that many of us come to:  he had to decide to either follow or fight against God's authority in his life. Unfortunately, Saul made the wrong choice.

During his reign, Saul had great successes when he obeyed God. His greatest failures resulted when he acted on his own. Even his weaknesses, though, could have been used by God if Saul would've confessed them and left them in God's hands.

Just like Saul, you're faced with the choice of surrendering your life and will to God or continuing to fight God's plan for your life. Saul was a people-pleaser. He surrendered to outside pressure rather than surrendering to God and it cost him his kingdom.Today, you are faced with the same choice. Will you surrender to God or go your own way? Just like Saul, your answer to that question will set the course of your life. 

"In any project the important factor is your belief. Without belief there can be no successful outcome."  - William James (1842-1910)

[Judy Harder]

Build a New Life

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Your past sometimes gets in the way of your vision for the future, doesn't it? If you allow yourself to dwell on the areas where you've failed or on losses and disappointments that hurt you, you might find it difficult to look forward to the future God has for you.

King David is a man who dreamed of building a magnificent temple. When he commissioned his son Solomon to do the work he said, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the Lord God, my God is with you." (1 Chronicles 28:20)  Many years later the apostle Paul said, "We who believe are carefully joined together, becoming a holy temple for the Lord." (Ephesians 2:21)

Just as David dreamed of building a magnificent temple, you can dare to dream of building a new life. God has the blueprint already drawn up: just follow it by faith. You may be afraid that you will start and fail, but in the words of David, "be strong and courageous, and do the work." As someone once said: Beginning is half done. In other words, take the first step, it's the toughest.

What dreams have you been quietly suppressing? Dreams of becoming a missionary? Maybe you have dreams of adopting. Or dreams of starting a new career. Maybe you've been dreaming about building deep friendships or making an impact on your community. Don't be frightened. When God begins a good work, He is faithful to complete it. 

"It's a shallow life that doesn't give a person a few scars." -Garrison Keillor (1942-    )

[Judy Harder]

Restoring Relationships

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. - 2 Corinthians 5:18

Are you living with a strained relationship? Restoration of human relationships doesn't happen instantaneously. If you've broken someone's heart or trust, you have a responsibility to face your failures. And you also have the tough responsibility of avoiding the urge to blame others for the problems you've caused. It may take some time before you're able to face up to your failures. Expect the process of restoration and regaining trust to take time.

The prophet Hosea was a remarkable man. He was told by God to marry a prostitute. His marriage was to be a living example to the nation of Israel of her infidelity toward God. It must have hurt Hosea deeply when his wife returned to her life of prostitution. Hosea said, "Then the Lord said to me, 'Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery. For the Lord still loves Israel even though the people have turned to other gods, offering them choice gifts.'" (Hosea 3:1)  Hosea needed some time before he could be close to his wife again, for such deep restoration takes time.

It's your responsibility to wait patiently while God helps you restore your broken relationships and the hearts you may have broken. God can give those you've hurt love when love has been lost; he can help you trust and become trustworthy again, but these things take time.

"When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves." - William Ward (1921-1994)

[Judy Harder]

Overcoming Expectations

He went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. - Matthew 14:23

One of the subtlest enemies of spiritual life and growth is the influence of other's expectations of you. The world expects you to continually seek possessions and prestige. It expects you to fill your time with busy activity, whether meaningful or not. 

Are you allowing the world's expectations to dictate your life? How often do you act in order to please others rather than because you want to please God? Sometimes pleasing God may actually require that you disappoint others because you can't fulfill their demands on you.

What do people expect of you? What do you do when the world's demands are pressing in on you? Solitude can help you break free from other's expectations. When you spend some time quietly alone you can see more clearly what the world is asking of you. In solitude you're more able to evaluate these expectations in relation to God's desires for you and then decide which demands should or should not be fulfilled. 

Following one of the busiest days - and nights - of his ministry, the book of Mark tells us that Jesus "awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray." Is your life busy? Are you feeling pressure from your work, your spouse, your friends, or your kids? Follow the example of Jesus. Make solitude a priority in your life today. You'll be better for it.

"In solitude, where we are least alone." -Lord Byron (1788-1824)

[Judy Harder]

Rest for the Weary Soul

My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. - Psalm 38:4

There are plenty of roads in life that promise joy, health, peace, or transformation. Most of them, however, don't lead in that direction. You can literally exhaust yourself seeking spiritual refresh-ment. And that doesn't make any sense.

We work hard at building a good life, but instead of joy on the journey, we often feel weighed down by life. Have you grown weary going down one wrong road after another? 

Proverbs tells us, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." (Proverbs 14:12) The fact that a way looks right at first glance doesn't mean it's leading toward spiritual renewal . . . it could be leading to a dead end. If you're someone who has taken many paths but still finds yourself weary, turn to Jesus. He said these words for you: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Any spiritual path that doesn't lead to Jesus Christ won't lead to true spiritual renewal . . . no matter how right it seems at first.  In fact, Jesus Christ himself is our way. Remember, the burden he calls you to bear on your journey is light, and the yoke of his expectation fits you perfectly. When you do this, he promises rest for your soul. 

"The time to relax is when you don't have time for it." - Sidney J. Harris (1917-1986))

[Judy Harder]

 

Regret and Restoration

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. - 3 John 4

"If only . . ." is a haunting phrase. It implies that you failed and that you wish you could go back and do things differently. 

When you dare to see the truth and accept responsibility for your life, you may feel sad and ashamed. You may regret your irresponsibility and destructive behavior, and wish to erase the past. The Bible is full of stories of regret. Take for example the Old Testament book of Zephaniah. The prophet Zephaniah condemned the idol worship and self-center living of the nation Judah. If only they had obeyed and trusted God instead of going their own way!

This book shows us how many of our troubles are a direct consequence of our irresponsibility. The nation Judah was irresponsible in her relationship with God. She worshipped false gods and ignored God's laws, which were intended for her own good. But Zephaniah made it clear that their irresponsibility would carry heavy consequences. 

With the help of Zephaniah and King Josiah the people confessed their sins, took responsibility for their lives, and turned back to God. As a result, they received substantial healing and restoration. When you are irresponsible in your relationship with God and others, your situation will grow progressively worse. The process of your spiritual renewal may start out painfully. When you confess the truth about yourself, it hurts. But as you begin to see the truth, speak the truth, and accept responsibility for your life, you'll discover the great relief and hope that God offers.

"My one regret in life is that I'm not someone else." -Woody Allen (1935-    )

[Judy Harder]

True Forgiveness

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. - Acts 5:31

Without true forgiveness, bitterness will inevitably tear our relationships apart. No relationship or family will hold together for long if the people involved are unable to grant forgiveness. I don't just mean saying the words "I forgive you" but actually relating to your spouse, child, parent, or friend with your actions that display forgiveness. Giving voice to forgiveness might create peace temporarily, but when that forgiveness isn't evidenced by the way you live, true reconciliation will never result. 

Let's learn from a man who went before us. Absalom, the third son of King David, suffered much and also caused much suffering because forgiveness wasn't a part of his life. When Absalom discovered that his sister had been raped by his half brother, anger and hatred built up in him for two years until he finally killed him. Then to avoid the wrath of his father, he was on the run for a period of three years. And even after he returned he and his father, David, didn't speak to one another for two more years. And you thought your family had issues!

Well, Absalom never regained the love he had for his father. In fact, Absalom spent the rest of his life scheming against his father, King David. His life ended while he led a rebellion against his father. Absalom is an example of the wasted years and broken hearts that can result when we harbor bitterness and are unwilling to forgive.

"To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness." - Robert Muller  (1923-    )

[Judy Harder]

Expressing Grief

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. - John 14:27

Grief is the process that helps you release your pain and losses to God. In your grief, you come to terms with your past and you find freedom to live in the reality of the present. On the other side of grief, you'll find hope for the future. So if you harden your heart and refuse to grieve, you're likely to get stuck both emotionally and spiritually. 

The prophet Jeremiah shared his grief and tears with God. Jeremiah lived with God's people and pleaded with them to return to God. But his pleas fell on deaf ears, and his heart was broken. So in his grief, the prophet penned the words of the Old Testament book, Lamentations. When you read it, you'll find that Jeremiah didn't mince his words or hide his pain. He weeps openly and fully, releasing his emotions to God. It's a great example for us when we grieve our own losses.

Lamentations doesn't provide pat answers for the suffering you'll experience. If you'll read it, you'll discover that it's all right to be real, to be angry, to be disappointed with life, and to be concerned about what tomorrow holds for you. God accepted Jeremiah being angry, tired, and discouraged, and he will accept you as well. Just as God honored the tears of Jeremiah, he'll honor yours if you share your pain and sorrow with him. It's likely to be the first step to bring healing for the present and hope for the future. 

"Grief is itself a medicine." - William Cowper (1731-1800)

[Judy Harder]

Welcome Back

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live. - Ezekiel 33:11

The Bible tells us that all have sinned and gone their own way. No matter how far you've gone in the wrong direction, when you turn around God always welcomes you back. Are you living beyond your means? Have you given in to the world of Internet pornography? Maybe you're failing your spouse and kids, crushing them with your anger or solitude. Is your free time filled with television or email?

God is ready to welcome you back. His arms are open, and his promises are sure. He will transform your worst failures into a blessed future, if you'll ask him to. 

There is hope for you. God is gracious and will forgive you no matter what you've done or failed to do. He will even turn your past around and create a new life . . . a life of hope, peace, and an ongoing relationship with him. But you have to take the first step. It's a paradox of our faith: seek God and He will find you! Whether it's the first time you've sought Him or you have strayed over and over . . . He's there with His arms wide open!

"We can't become what we need to be by remaining what we are.'' - Oprah Winfrey (1954-    )