Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.

Scripture:         These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. …And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:13, 39-40

Observation:    Hebrews tells us of men and women who held on to hope in the midst of horrendous situations.  Many of these people died never having received, but having seen.  The reason they did not receive is that God had provided something better.

            There is great power in hope.  Emily Dickenson once wrote: “Hope is the thing with feathers/That perches in the soul/And sings the tune--without the words/And never stops at all.”  It is from that perch in our hearts that hope sings the tune of redemption, the song of salvation.  The notes that remind us that this is not our home, that something better for us is out there with Christ.

Application:    This has been a difficult fall season for me, filled with tough conversations and circumstances.  I needed to be reminded today that things I have only seen with the eyes of hope, I will hold with the hands of faith.   Just around the corner of this year, I believe that I will begin to receive things I have only greeted from afar.  I must continue to sing the tune of hope and never stop at all.  God is good and he will do it.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair. ("After the Storm" Mumford and Sons)

Prayer:             God, give me the song of hope today.  Hope that one day it will all be made right with you.  But also the hope that you are at work and that some of the seeds sown in the last few years will be ready for the harvest in 2012.   I trust you to get me over the hill with grace in my heart and flowers in my hair.

Possess Your Own Vessel.

Scripture: …each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor... 1 Thessalonians 4:4 

Observation: Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to not fall back into their pre-Jesus ways of living, especially in regards to sexual purity. He encourages them that now, in Christ, they ought to know how to “possess their own vessel.” To demonstrate self-control over their bodies, that their bodies might help them live holy and honorable lives.
   Though the context is primarily the relationship between the body and sex, the larger principle here seems to be that believers ought to control their bodies, and not let their bodies control them. This has application not only in sexuality, but in diet, health, addiction, sleep. The larger principle is that believers ought to control their own bodies.

Application: Nibbling at the edge of my soul these last few months has been the question: What obligations do I have to God with my body, other than sexual purity? I know I am overweight and out of shape. Is that something God cares about? The reason I am in this situation is that I am not controlling my body, but letting my body’s cravings and desires control me. I think that God wants me to control my own body in the area of health, not just purity. I do not know what this means fully yet, only that it has implications for me and our church as well.

Prayer: God, I want to control my own body in holiness and honor. Will you show me what that means and then how I can trust you for the power to do so?

Go to God, and Get Back to Work!

Scripture: Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. Nehemiah 4:1 Observation: So much work had been done on the wall Nehemiah was rebuilding. Gates rehung, towers restored, breaches repaired. It was close to half-way finished. Nehemiah and his team were close to carrying out the task of the Lord. And then opposition arises. Sanballat begins to taunt them and accuse them. This does not deter Nehemiah, however, who takes this issue straight to God, and then gets back to work. Goes to God, and gets back to work. There is a wall to be built, after all. In the next few verses we see the people rallied and finished that stage of the wall--1/2 done, because they had a mind to work. Application: When you are getting close to accomplishing the task God has set before you, opposition will rise. It may be in the form of a person or a problem. It might be financial or medical. It may be something that affects the whole team, or a personal issue. But obstacles are not evidence that wrong has been done. Sometimes they are a blockbuster sign that something right is happening. The enemy will leverage whatever tools at his disposal to slow down God's work. I need to take seriously Nehemiah's example of praying, and getting back to work. I probably tend to focus on all the wall-building aspects in my life, and not remember that projects need prayer. Prayer: God, I thank you for the wall building you let me do. Please guard these walls and build them up for your people and your glory. May my heart turn again and again to you, and may I keep at the work, that I might see you finish the wall.

Walking Like Esther

Scripture: Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. Esther 2:15

Observation: The Persian king has divorced his wife for not obeying his command to come to him. Now, he is looking for another woman to be his bride. He has brought to him a group of virgins, who are treated to a 12 month beauty regime. Out of this group, he will choose Esther. This selection quickly proves wise, as her cousin Mordaci is able to uncover and foil a plot against the king.
There is much that disagrees with me in this story—the casual dissolution of a marriage, the forced enslavement of young women. But in spite of the circumstances, one thing shines through: Esther. She is determined to willingly serve in tough circumstances. She is wise in her ability to listen and follow the advice of others. Slowly she is winning over all those around her, including the king himself. And as we will see, it is for such a time as this that Esther sits on the throne.

Application: Sometimes in the worst of circumstances, we have to continue to do what is right. We have to continue to serve, continue to get back up, continue to fight for the cause. Esther determined that she would not change who she was, but would continue to let the favor-winning grace of God shine through her life. Who knows, perhaps the situation that seems so bleak and helpless, is merely God setting the stage for a huge reveal of His deliverance? Ester could not have known her selection would assist in the saving of the king’s life.
It can be hard in trying times to give in, give up. But the smart money is on continuing to do what is right, and trust that God has a plan. Until that plan becomes clear, we walk in and by his favor-winning grace.

Prayer: Today, God, I trust that you are working behind the scenes. Just like you are present, but not named, in Esther’s life, I know that you are behind the scenes in my life. You are using all kinds of circumstances for your good and your glory. Help me keep my chin up and walk with grace in such a way that I am winning favor among all whom I serve.

You Become What You Pursue

Scripture: They went after false idols and became false… 2 Kings 17:15

Observation: The author describes the reason for Israel’s enslavement and exile—they had abandoned the Lord and pursued evil. One phrase caught me… “They went after false idols and became false.” This word, false, is also translated “vanity,” or “emptiness.” There is a progression here. You become what you pursue. If you pursue the emptiness of hollow priorities, you become hollow. If you pursue shallow goals, you become shallow.

Application: What emptiness am I pursuing? I think one area is television. Jessica and I have some shows we watch together, as we do with the kids. While that is fine, I think we can also easily settle in to the empty routine of television each night before bed. Jessica has been asking me recently about my leadership at home in the area of Family Night. I think I let nights sneak up on me with no planning. I think we need at least one night a week that is TV free for the family—where we play games or ride bikes or cook out. I need to incorporate this into my family night planning.

Prayer: God, I don’t want to pursue emptiness and become empty. Help me see empty areas in my life that could be replaced with things of true value and weight.

Planning on and Standing on Noble Things

Scripture: But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands. Isaiah 32:8

Observation: Isaiah speaks of a coming day when the failures of all human leaders will be forgotten in the triumph of the Messiah. He will reign in righteousness. This is in sharp contrast to the foolish rulers who set God aside and neglect the needs of their people. Then, Isaiah reminds leaders that those who are “noble,” who carry the nobility of leadership, ought to pursue true nobility by planning on and standing on noble things. Noble things such as declaring truth, fostering purity of heart, regarding the needs of those in one’s care, hearing the pleas of the needy. Noble leaders aim high, and plan on and stand on these things.

Application: What are the noble things I am planning for and standing upon in my leadership? Where am I “aiming high?” At work, I believe our call to love people to Christ and help them in their journey with God is a noble thing. Our vision to pursue God, build community, extend Christ, and leave a legacy are noble things. They are the big rocks. I need to keep them front and center. At home, I believe the noble things are to love my wife and kids, to help them listen to God. To provide and provision for them. To pursue glorious masculinity in my own life.

These are some of the noble things that I need to plan on and stand on as a leader. But even in my drive to work this morning, I sensed the call to get distracted, to elevate less important things and miss out on the noble ones.

Prayer: God, I want to be a man of noble things. Help me see your heart, what you declare to be noble. And help me keep these as the big rocks of my life. Protect me from the distraction of folly, of things that ultimately waste my life and squander my leadership.

Be An Example of Progress

Scripture: …set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity…Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 1 Tim. 4:12-15

Observation: Paul is encouraging the young pastor, Timothy, to focus on teaching the truth to his people, setting an example for them in life, and to continue to make progress in his Christian life.

Application: This text embodies a major leadership principle of my life. I am going to lead people out of the example of my own progressing life, not out of my own perfected life. My hope is that they will be inspired to see that they can progress along with me, that we are in this journey together. This requires openness, willingness to risk not having it all together. It means allowing people into your home and life. This can be a challenge for me, but these verses encouraged me to continue to be diligent in my progress, and continue to be open is letting others see that progress as I lead them.

Prayer: God, help me continue to progress. Give me opportunity to share my advancing with others, in a way that encourages their speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Thanks for the opportunity, and protect my progress.