Dependence

Lately, I've been reading one of the Moody Classics on the life of George Mueller entitled, Answers To Prayer. If you don't already know, George Mueller lived in the 1800's in Bristol, England. He opened many orphanages that ministered to thousands of children. The amazing thing about him was he started with little or no money and he never told anyone his needs. He simply prayed and asked God to supply. By that he was totally dependent upon God to meet his needs. He never depended upon himself or other people, but God alone. He said that what prompted his total dependence upon God and not man was the fact that he saw so many believers who did not really believe in a LIVING GOD. His desire was to encourage other's faith in a LIVING GOD and that God would receive all the glory for doing what he and no one else could do. One of the statements that George Mueller wrote was this: "Either we trust in God, and in that case we neither trust in ourselves, nor in our fellow-men, nor in circumstances, nor in anything besides; or we DO trust in one or more of these, and in that case do NOT trust in God." These and many other statements have caused much introspection. Do I really trust God? Sometimes I don't, I have to say. I sometimes come up with my own solutions or a plan B if God doesn't come through. Sometimes I trust in others and what they can do for me. When it comes to God's provision for my financial needs I can easily call someone, a friend or family member, when I get in a bind instead of simply praying and trusting God to provide. I have to admit that sometimes I get scared and think that He's not going to come through and I begin to try and figure things out on my own. How much of what we do as a church involve truly trusting God completely? How much of the money and support we raise comes from truly trusting God or is it trusting in man? These are things I'm struggling with and trying to work through. I believe God is using these times in my life to grow me into more dependence on Him. If God doesn't come through, then I'm sunk. When it comes to Mosaic Church, if God doesn't come through, then we're done. Dependence. I think this is exactly the place he wants me to be.

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all---how will he also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32
Duane

Running

Today is Easter. Today we celebrate the very pinnacle of our faith, the resurrection of Christ. What a glorious day that gives us all hope. The awesomeness and divine power displayed in the resurrection of God's Son is hard to express in words. Yet, this morning, as we read John's account of the most important event in history, I had to laugh. Wait a minute, before you cast me off as a heretic, hear me out. As we stood in church and read John 20 it stood out to me that twice in the passage John points out that he beat Peter in a race to the tomb. I had to laugh. Sorry. But it just struck me funny that right in the middle of retelling the story by the inspiration of the Spirit, John feels the need to point out that he "outran Peter and reached the tomb first" (v.4). Isn't that funny? Well, to me it was. Why the need to point that out? It's like John was saying, "So Peter and I started to the tomb to go see if Mary's story was true, and, oh, by the way, I outran Peter and got there first..." I've been thinking about this today. Why the interjection? I can't really say for sure because I'm not John, I can only give my own commentary. To me, though, it speaks of the humanness of the resurrection. These are real people involved in this story. They're not made up! We all know about and focus on the divine power of the resurrection. But, there's also the human side, the finite side to the story. Christ rose again to give us new life. To give us His life. To give John new life. The guy who could outrun Peter any day of the week. Christ, the Divine Son of God died and rose again for human beings, even competitive guys like you and me and John. He did what we couldn't do ourselves because we are mere mortals. Humans who are competitive and pacifist, philanthropists and selfish, over-achievers and under-achievers, moral and immoral...human. He rose again to give life to us ALL. Thanks John for bragging about your race to the tomb. Thanks Jesus for giving me, a mere human, Your life.
Duane

Growing

I'm being taught so many things on this journey. It seems that I encounter situations and people everyday that Father is using to bring about either changes in my life or deeper understanding of Him or greater insight into what it means to be a Christ-follower or being light in darkness. I'm learning to live out Philippians 2 where Paul tells us to put others needs above our own. Now I have found that somewhat easy to do around my family...most of the time. I mean I really do put my kid's needs before my own. I have gone without so that my kids could have. Most of the time I put my wife's needs before mine...not always...but most of the time. I can be selfish. Okay, some of the time I put her needs before mine. But, where I really struggle is with those I really don't care for. You know...those hard-to-get-along-with people. Sometimes they can be the person you work along side of everyday. Putting their needs above my own can be difficult. I struggle with it sometimes. In my job at Sears we work on an hourly wage plus commissions based on sales. It can be very competitive. There is a temptation to be dishonest with my fellow employees. For instance, when someone calls and wants to buy an appliance, but they want it put under my fellow employee's number so that they get the commission. I have a choice. I could put the sale under their number or not. The customer would never know. So, I have a choice. Put their needs above my own or not. I'm growing. I learning to put my selfish desires aside and let Him live His life through me. It's not easy. I haven't always been honest. I have failed, but God in His grace is growing me. Thank you Father for your grace.
Duane

Relentless Pursuit

What does God want from me? What are His expectations of me? These are questions I have thought about often. More often than not, I usually answer these questions with something I have to do. What is it God wants for me to "do"? What's my "to do" list from God? That list that will make Him happy with me if I complete or at least attempt. Maybe if I share my faith with more people or be a kinder person or love my wife more or think less bad thoughts or say less bad words about others, or etc... The list could go on infinitely. Even though these are good things, is that really what God cares about? What I do or don't do? I don't think so. Don't misunderstand, even Jesus had a "to do" list. In John 17:4 Jesus prayed, "I have brought you (Father) glory on earth by completing the work you gave me (Son) to do." There is work to be done. But is that what Father wants of us? Is God helpless and just can't get things accomlished without us? Am I that arrogant? God gently reminded me again what He desires from me. I haven't been able to get away from these verses in John 17 lately. In verse 3 Jesus prays, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." There it is. Father wants me to know Him. That's what we are called to do. That's what this journey is all about. Knowing Him! My job, your job is to relentlessly pursue knowing God. Nothing else matters.

Duane