As the year winds down, there is much to look back and consider. For me it is easy to focus on the negative things and I am often reminded that I need to see what I am thankful for. So here it goes:
1. God's faithful mercies. Romans 11:30-32 and 12:1 has come to mind often when I consider that my calling to be a follower of Christ is not just some duty but it is a gift of God's mercy. When I consider the miserable sinner that I am, it truly is God's grace that gives me hope because there would be none without it.
2. God's gracious gift of my wife. Proverbs 18:22 says "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord." In my case, I have found more than just a good thing, I have found a wonderful and beautiful thing in my wife that fears God and seeks to live to His glory and who supports me in all my craziness. She truly is a gift of grace and she makes marriage, which is the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7), one that I treasure and enjoy. This year I was able to enjoy date nights probably more consistently than I ever have and it really was something that I have come to cherish all the more as I grow closer to my precious wife.
3. God's gracious gifts of my four daughters. To have four daughters indeed is a super-abounding gift of grace as I am constantly reminded daily of how blessed and loved I am by my four very unique but equally precious daughters. It is something that I have come to appreciate all the more this year as I realize that I am getting closer to the point where I will have to start releasing them. Each one is precious in their own way and I enjoy having each one of them as they bring a spark and flavor to life that is distinct and yet complementing of each other so as to contribute to oneness in the family.
4. The elders of LBC. To have worked together this long and have gone this far was not without its challenges. Indeed, the past two years have probably brought the biggest tests yet and I am so thankful that God has blessed me with men who have become very dear to my heart as we have had to wrestle through various issues, even to the point where things got very difficult. But God has been faithful to help us help one another and their support and encouragement to persevere have been very helpful, especially in the past several months.
5. The Single Life Ministry. I have truly enjoyed working alongside a growing staff of 20+ who are growing into a team that has been very exciting to work with as the Single Life ministry has been growing significantly over the past year. The staff have particularly been an encouragement through their faithfulness and enthusiasm to serve and minister to the single adults at Lighthouse and their commitment has been contagious. There are many new singles that have become a part of the church family and it has been a blessing to see their hunger to grow in God's Word and take their faith seriously.
6. Meeting with men who desire strong accountability. There are a number of men that I meet with on a somewhat consistent basis because they desire to meet and I can honestly say that I truly look forward to times with them because of their teachability and humble attitude in wanting to learn. One of the greatest traits that I look for in a person is teachability because without there is nothing that I can really do to help them.
7. The faithfulness of godly pastors. I can say that the past couple of years have really tested my resolve in wanting to continue in the ministry but one thing that encourages me to endure and continue are the examples of pastors who are personally encouraging to me. John MacArthur, who was my senior pastor growing up from junior high through college years, has shown an amazing consistency and faithfulness that truly humbles me yet challenges me to continue striving. Ever since first hearing him preach in 1978, he has been a constant in my life and now almost 30 years later he continues to be a role model of what a preacher should be through his preaching ministry but also a shepherd through his personal care. I am amazed that he would even have time to communicate with me but through short conversations and notes and greetings, I am all the more thankful for his influence and impact in my life.
I would also say the same for my junior high and college pastor, Chris Mueller, who has been a mentor and counselor since my 9th grade year (1979). His fiery sermons in college addressing the roles of men and women as well as dating made an enduring impact in my life which has lasted to this day. Through his joys and trials in ministry, he has shared openly with me in such a humble way that I am constantly amazed at his investment in my life. The past couple of years has especially been a blessing as he has moved to Temecula and has become more available to meet with - this was truly God's gift to me as I was sorely in need of counsel and encouragement.
8. Encouragement notes. It seems that when I feel pretty down, God is gracious enough to have someone send a timely note of encouragement, whether through e-mail or on one of the encouragement slips.
Proverbs 15:23 - A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!
Proverbs 16:24 - Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 25:11 - Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.
The book of Proverbs really does charactize the one who walks in the wisdom of God as one whose tongue is particularly distinct in the character of its contents. An encouraging word goes a long way and I often am amazed at God's grace in providing timely words of encouragement just when it gets to the point where I feel like I'm about to go under with discouragement.
9. Laughter. I know that laughter on its own is useless (Ecclesiastes 2) but when one gets to laugh with those that you love to be with, I think it is a healthy sign. I love it when Angela laughts - it is contagious and just causes me to be happy. I love hearing my girls laugh, even if they are laughing at me. Hearing Olivia laugh is such a joy - it really is so cute that I can't bear it for her to grow older. Being able to laugh with family and friends and partners in ministry - I really value being able to enjoy relationships and I think the absence of laughter is a tell-tale sign that things are not that enjoyable.
10. Overwhelmingly gracious and generous people. The past couple of years has provided some experiences with those who have been just over-the-top generous and gracious to our family by providing things that I know we would never be able to afford on our own. Supporting us on our annual summer mission trips. A family trip to Italy last year. Passes to Sea World. Gift cards to nice restaurants. Being treated to lunch or dinner to anywhere from Sombreros to Soup Plantation to even home-cooked meals. Having our auto maintenance taken care of. Providing nice clothes for our children. Giving gifts in various forms. Others who were willing to make time every week to help my wife and children. People bringing food over to feed our large family. Padres and Charger games. Taking our kids out to places. While I have heard of people doing these kind of things for people like John MacArthur and others, I never thought our family would experience such gracious hospitality and care. It really makes me feel all the more unworthy and that such gifts are truly a reflection of the super-abounding grace of God in a way - I don't deserve and I could never come close.
11. God's Word. While this is mentioned last, it is by no means least. The power of God's Word is truly amazing and I have learned that I need to spend more time to let it do its work in my heart before I preach it to affect others. Going through Romans has especially been challenging as it is really one of the most theological books to go through. I probably have only scratched the surface and will have to go through it again. Studying Titus through the summer was a blessing as well. Reading what others have written concerning the Word of God is helpful as well as I have enjoyed reading works by Jerry Bridges, John MacArthur, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and others. Reading about the lives of those who have been transformed by the Word of God, like George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, and D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones especially challenged me this year. I hope that I will humbly submit myself to the truth of God in my life all the more in the upcoming year and be teachable to it with the help of the Holy Spirit.
I probably could go on and on but despite the challenges that this year has brought, even most recently, I realize that being thankful really is helpful in giving balance to perspective in life.
Please pray for me to continue practicing thanksgiving in my heart in the days and weeks to come as I trust the Lord to provide healing and recovery in light of recent events. I have hope in the Lord's faithfulness to restore and revive my heart to trust and delight in Him no matter what the circumstances may bring.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Dwelling on the Word
“How is your time in God’s Word?” This is a common question we ask one another in the church when we meet up for accountability or when we want to know how someone is doing spiritually. Typically, the answer to this question is, “I’m doing fine,” or maybe more often, “It’s been a struggle.” Perhaps for many of us, the problem is that even when we are not doing ok, we do not know enough to recognize it. What do I mean by this?
If you’ve known me long enough, you know that I never have liked the term “quiet time” when referring to your time spent in God’s Word. You’ll rarely, if ever, hear me ask, “Have you been doing your quiet times?” The reason is that when I think of “quiet time,” as Christians understand this term, I think of a check off box on a list of accountability questions. You read your Bible for ten minutes in the morning, check off your box, and then move on in the day. Now you can meet with your small group and tell them that your time in God’s Word has been going well or that it has been “consistent.” But this is not the approach to God’s Word that God wants us to have.
Listen to the words of Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
[6] "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. [8] "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. [9] "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Without going into the minute details of this passage, the general message is that God wants His law to be on His people’s hearts. This is to be all day – morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Whether you’re sitting in your house or walking along the way, you should be dwelling on His Word. It is the first thing on your mind when you get up in the morning and the last thing on your mind before you lay down to sleep. If I were to come to you at any point of the day and ask you what you read earlier from God’s Word, it should be readily available on the forefront of your mind. How sad that this is not the experience of most in today’s church.
We think reading God’s Word is all it takes – as if it was like a magic book that you just have to get some time in before the day is over. An apple a day keeps the doctor away? How about a verse a day keeps the devil away? The Bible doesn’t work that way. When we allow Scripture to dwell in our minds, we allow the Spirit to teach us specifically. What does God want me to learn from this passage today? How is it particularly applicable to me? The problem is that we don’t dwell on God’s Word. We just read it and wait for it to work its magic. It’s no wonder so many Christians find their times in the Word dry and unfulfilling.
This is what meditation on God’s Word is all about. It’s emptying your mind of all the distracting thoughts of the day and then filling it with thoughts of God – His character, His works, His ways, and His will. Spending time in God’s Word is more than a duty to be checked off a list. It is supposed to be an encounter with the God of the universe! It sounds so much like sixth grade Sunday school, but maybe it’s just that we’ve forgotten that we are in constant conversation with the Lord. We speak to Him in prayer and He answers us through His Word. He’s given us His Spirit who works in our hearts, but His Spirit works particularly through His Word. We need to get back to the discipline of meditation – to dwell on God and His principles from Scripture so that we can have a more confident trust in His presence and His work in our lives.
When was the last time you were able to say, “I met with God and He taught me through His Word today”? So often instead we say something like, “I read something interesting,” or “I made some wonderful observations today.” While reading God’s Word is invaluable and making good observations is essential, it is critical that we take time to dwell on what we read and observe to understand how it instructs, guides, and challenges us, and how it applies to us.
Are you feeling dry in your walk with God? Perhaps one reason is that although you have been spending time in God’s Word, you have not allowed Him to really teach you what He wants you to learn. One practical way you can cultivate this is by keeping a journal about what you read. Don’t just summarize the passage. Jot down more specifically how the passage applies to you and what you learned from it. This will force you to think about the passage you read because you’ll want to write something worth writing. I hope that you will remember that we seek not only the Word but the God of the Word. Pursue Christ by meditating on His Word day and night.
If you’ve known me long enough, you know that I never have liked the term “quiet time” when referring to your time spent in God’s Word. You’ll rarely, if ever, hear me ask, “Have you been doing your quiet times?” The reason is that when I think of “quiet time,” as Christians understand this term, I think of a check off box on a list of accountability questions. You read your Bible for ten minutes in the morning, check off your box, and then move on in the day. Now you can meet with your small group and tell them that your time in God’s Word has been going well or that it has been “consistent.” But this is not the approach to God’s Word that God wants us to have.
Listen to the words of Deuteronomy 6:6-9:
[6] "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. [7] You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. [8] "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. [9] "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Without going into the minute details of this passage, the general message is that God wants His law to be on His people’s hearts. This is to be all day – morning, afternoon, evening, and night. Whether you’re sitting in your house or walking along the way, you should be dwelling on His Word. It is the first thing on your mind when you get up in the morning and the last thing on your mind before you lay down to sleep. If I were to come to you at any point of the day and ask you what you read earlier from God’s Word, it should be readily available on the forefront of your mind. How sad that this is not the experience of most in today’s church.
We think reading God’s Word is all it takes – as if it was like a magic book that you just have to get some time in before the day is over. An apple a day keeps the doctor away? How about a verse a day keeps the devil away? The Bible doesn’t work that way. When we allow Scripture to dwell in our minds, we allow the Spirit to teach us specifically. What does God want me to learn from this passage today? How is it particularly applicable to me? The problem is that we don’t dwell on God’s Word. We just read it and wait for it to work its magic. It’s no wonder so many Christians find their times in the Word dry and unfulfilling.
This is what meditation on God’s Word is all about. It’s emptying your mind of all the distracting thoughts of the day and then filling it with thoughts of God – His character, His works, His ways, and His will. Spending time in God’s Word is more than a duty to be checked off a list. It is supposed to be an encounter with the God of the universe! It sounds so much like sixth grade Sunday school, but maybe it’s just that we’ve forgotten that we are in constant conversation with the Lord. We speak to Him in prayer and He answers us through His Word. He’s given us His Spirit who works in our hearts, but His Spirit works particularly through His Word. We need to get back to the discipline of meditation – to dwell on God and His principles from Scripture so that we can have a more confident trust in His presence and His work in our lives.
When was the last time you were able to say, “I met with God and He taught me through His Word today”? So often instead we say something like, “I read something interesting,” or “I made some wonderful observations today.” While reading God’s Word is invaluable and making good observations is essential, it is critical that we take time to dwell on what we read and observe to understand how it instructs, guides, and challenges us, and how it applies to us.
Are you feeling dry in your walk with God? Perhaps one reason is that although you have been spending time in God’s Word, you have not allowed Him to really teach you what He wants you to learn. One practical way you can cultivate this is by keeping a journal about what you read. Don’t just summarize the passage. Jot down more specifically how the passage applies to you and what you learned from it. This will force you to think about the passage you read because you’ll want to write something worth writing. I hope that you will remember that we seek not only the Word but the God of the Word. Pursue Christ by meditating on His Word day and night.
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