Human Disappointment and Rain

“Elijah was a human being, even as we are.  He prayed earnestly that it would not rain….” (James 5:17) Wow can I relate to this!  In Elijah’s case it had to do with God bringing both blessing and punishment on Israel for their wacky ways under the leadership of King Ahab.  For me, it has to do with “enough rain already!”  Like Elijah, I know the human frailties of my personality, the bouts of feeling down when the clouds are gray, and the desperation of “God, where are you!”

Last week my wife’s family all came out to New England to spend a wonderful week on a lake in Maine.  And, needless to say, we had these expectations of sunny skies and warm weather.  Instead, we got rain nearly every day and cold temps.  My humanness was very disappointed.  I had expectations and God didn’t deliver on them.  Considering this was the first time that the entire family came from the Midwest to spend a well planned out week- a family reunion…couldn’t God stop the rain and send the sun?  What’s up with that?  After all I do for God as a pastor and as a faithful follower, shouldn’t it just work out the way my wife and I want it to?  [Oh, by the way, to make matters seem a little more discouraging, I ended up in the ER with a Kidney stone midweek.  Fun, huh?]

Actually, realistically, looking back- it was one of the best weeks we have had in a long time.  We still enjoyed the lake, the beautiful lake homes we had rented, and mos of all- we enjoyed one another.  It was a blessing to be together and talk and eat and pray together.  The kids and adults hung out and played and rested and laughed.  There was one very special night when we gathered together to talk about mom, who went to be with the Lord about a year ago.  I have a feeling that she made sure we spent lots of time together last week.  It was what she loved.

We made memories- great memories.  The rain could not damper the love that was in that place all week.

Lots of times when people refer to this Scripture in James 5, they take it from the perspective that even though we are only human, we have this incredible authority to use the name of Jesus to get whatever we want.  “We can pray that the rain stops, and it will,”  is the thought.  Maybe not.  Maybe the real point is that like Elijah, we are human beings who serve a God that knows exactly what it is we really need.  They needed famine back then, because God had to get their attention.  Even Elijah needed the course correction of God out on the mountain when He met with him.

Last week, our family needed each other- rain or shine.  And thank God we received this blessing from Him.

Clear Thinking

We are about to break new ground.  This evening, in fact, the church that I am honored to pastor will embark on a new journey building a youth center to be a blessing to the community.  We’ve never been a people to hold tightly to buildings or facilities, but we do have a responsibility to say yes to God, even in the everyday material things of life.

Proverbs 4:18 says that the path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining brighter and brighter till the full light of day. In other words, the more you walk it- the more clear it will become.  Several months ago our plans and our budget for this facility were bigger.  As we walked it out, sought godly counsel, prayed together and planned together- God scaled us back.  [Even when God turns our corners and readjusts our original thinking, we must say yes to Him!]

Vision must be progressive, not stagnant, otherwise we become stubborn and resistant to change.  This is not only true in the scaling back of our building design…but it is even more true in the re-adjusting and tweaking that the Lord does in us.  I can’t tell you how many times the direction that I was going, which was clearly given by the Lord, changed.  It’s as though God Himself changed his mind about things.  I think He should have that perogative, considering He knows the beginning from the end.  That’s a concept that we aren’t too comfortable with, but if we were to think about it honestly, He’s probably not so much changing His mind as changing His timing and ufolding things in a fuller dimension.

I just got back from Rwanda.  The time frame and schedule in Africa is quite different from what I am used to.  Hakuna Matata is not just a Disney song from The Lion King, but a Swahli expression meaning “no worries.”  It’s also a way of life for folks in Rwanda.  We worry because our plans are laid out and ready to execute.  They don’t worry because they have accepted the fact that plans, in and of themselves, are not the thing.  African people find it much easier to walk the path of each day, believing that the plan will reveal itself as it goes on.

Clear thinking is the result of waiting and trusting and obeying- even when obedience means uncertainty and change.  After all, it’s not just about me, but about what God wants to do in and through me.  I’m excited to see what’s around the bend.

Faces Like Flint

There is saying that is not used that much anymore, but perhaps it should be.  “Keep your chin up!”  I don’t know if it’s old fashioned or if it just seems impossible in the face of life’s challenges, and so we just don’t say it anymore.  I like it better than “hang in there” because that sounds kind of desperate- like your barely hanging on and hoping that somehow you don’t let go and end up at the bottom of a canyon somewhere.

There’s also a statement that the prophet Isaiah made thousands of years ago that resembles this encouraging word that we rarely use today.  After realizing that the Lord’s call is upon him, not only to follow God but to be used as a source of encouragement to the people, he reflects on how to sustain himself.  He says,

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.

I have set my face like flint. That’s even less likely of a saying to be used today than “keep your chin up,” but it basically means the same thing.  Isaiah was saying that he wouldn’t be moved or discouraged or become weary with the way things were going, the way people may have treated him, or even with his calling.  Do I set my face like flint?  Am I able to have the kind of resolve that is hopeful even when things seem kind of hopeless.

This really speaks to those of us that are not only trying to keep our own chins up but are trying to encourage others to do the same.   It’s the very context of Isaiah’s words that have profound meaning.  You see, he’s been commissioned by God to speak words to “sustain the weary.”  It can truly become wearisome if the ones we are trying to bring hope to just don’t want it.  And yet, we can’t stop.  We have to set our faces like flint and be an encourager no matter what.

I feel compelled to do that for anyone who is reading this.  Stay strong!  Don’t give up! Keep your chin up! Look right into the storm and set your face like flint! It won’t be long until you see the answer to your prayer come to pass and it can be as soon as this moment when you sense the hope of God even during the waiting.

-peter

Chariots and Horses

This morning I was reminded of a statement made by a King.  He wasn’t a perfect King, although we are told that he really had a heart for God.  David had his share of ups and downs; sin and holiness.  There were days when the Lord was first in his life and days when he became complacent.  He was a king, a leader, a man who knew that the only reason he had such a position was because God chose Him.

I wish that all of the leaders I know had this kind of an attitude.  First of all, that they understood that they were only human and subject to weakness, failure and mistakes.  This is a key to having integrity, for as soon as a leaders (spiritual or political leaders) become filled with pride, they set themselves and those who they lead up for a fall.  I see this happening in the state of New Hampshire where I live.

Same Sex marriage is a huge issue in our state right now and those who lead us in the house and senate are making nonsense decisions.  They are pandering to uncommon sense arguments and taking on attitudes of arrogance and pride.  I even had one senator tell me that she was going to vote in opposition to Same Sex marriage, only to do the opposite.  Somehow our leaders think that they are not serving people anymore, and that they don’t necessarily have to have integrity or be people of their word.

David made this statement, “Some trust in chariots and horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  In saying that, he was saying that he understood that we can all get caught up in personal power.  If there was anyone who had the chariots and horses to lean upon, it was King David.  He built Israel’s army and saw his share of great military victories.  I imagine that the thing that kept him from swaying too far from God was reminding himself of the early days.  He knew what it was to see God’s hand defeat the lion and the bear and the giant Goliath.  He didn’t take on an arrogant attitude.

Chariots and horses will come and go, but God’s name will stand forever.  I want to be the kind of leader that does not pander to opinion and does not take on personal power.  I’m grateful for grace, because I have failed in this at times.  In saying that, I also want to hold other leaders accountable for riding on their own chariots and horses without regard to God’s will.   We should do that by praying for them and speaking the truth in love.  You have permission to do that to me as well!

-Peter

In The Waiting Room

Depending on where you are in life, waiting is either an inconvenience or an annoyance.  To me, it’s mostly a waste of time.  I was reading somewhere about how many hours and days and months we wait in lines or are on hold on phone calls.  A few weeks ago, we went to a theme park and I think our kids were permanently cured of wanting to go back- the lines were terrible.  90 minutes for a 60 second ride.  If you put that in dollars it would be like paying $90,000 for something worth $1,000.  What a waste!

Yet, all of us know that there are some things that are really worth waiting for.  Our three children are perfect examples.  In addition to the time leading up to their conception, they had another nine months in the womb and then labor.  We waited and it was well worth it!  Some of you ladies out there may question the waiting involved in the labor pains, but I hear that moms usually forget the pain enough to have more children.  So, if this is true, the waiting and the pain were both worth it.

One of the things that I have been thinking a lot about lately is how God tells us to wait.  Through the prophet Isaiah, He says that when we “wait upon the Lord, we renew our strength.”  I think many of us don’t know how to do this.  There’s no ticket line or hold button with God.  It’s not like someone is on a recording saying “your wait time will be between five and ten minutes.”  I’d like that if there were!  Instead, we are encourage to wait and be renewed with His strength.  It’s in the waiting that there is renewal- not in the fulfillment of the waiting.

Jesus told his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come to them.  This was as He was making his great departure after the resurrection.  He gave them instructions to go into an upper room- a waiting room- and wait.  What must that have been like?  I’m sure they thought, “for how long?”  and “how will we know when it’s time?”   Whatever they thought, they obeyed- they waited and the Holy Spirit showed up in a way that was undeniable.  Each of them recieved a touch of God that they had never expereinced before for this was a personal meeting and filling of God’s spirit into them.  The waiting paid off because God never disappoints.

I wonder if we are more willing to wait for a table at a restaruant than we are willing to wait for God’s Spirit to show up?  Could it be that we get less antsy in a waiting room where our car is being fixed (which is exactly where I am as I write these words on my laptop) than when being still and silent before God?  I need to get better at waiting upon the Lord and waiting in His waiting room.

In this season of difficulty and uncertainty in our nation, followers of Christ can truly become a light to the world by learning the secret of waiting with faith and hope and patience.  This kind of waiting brings no sorrow to it and never disappoints us.  Come Holy Spirit!

-peter

Ask, Seek, Knock

What does it mean that most people say they pray?  Do they whisper thoughts to the Lord throughout the day, or do they actually set aside time to hear from Him.  Prayer must include both seeking and finding- it cannot be a one sided conversation.  How often do you pray?  (take the survey below)

I knew someone who could talk for an hour straight and not let you get a word in edgewise.  They were really sweet as a person, but not a good conversation at all.  Often I found myself trying to jump in and make a comment only to be cut off by their ongoing verbiage.  I never want to be like that with others, but I really have been like that with God on many occasions.  Haven’t you?

You know- it’s like we have our list, our one-sided desire list and we send it to God like kids do their Christmas lists to Santa.  I don’t think God has this growing frustration with us if we don’t stop and listen, it’s just that we miss out on what He desires for us.  I think He waits for us to settle down and stop talking long enough to listen.

It says in Revelation that He stands at the door and knocks, if anyone will hear His voice and open the door then He will come in.  So, it makes sense that he’s waiting for us to respond to His voice…and that starts with hearing it first.

So, the next time you hear someone tell you that they “pray everyday” ask them what it means.  Do they hear God speak everyday through His Word?  Do they spew out their list or get in His presence to hear Him.  I’m wanting to hear Him more because I know that as I do the questions and requests and desires I have will either lessen or become less important.

-Peter

Reflect

Today I was reading from the book of Luke and was reminded of what it must have been like when Jesus said goodbye to his friends and disciples.  It wasn’t a time that he packed his bags and found a new job in a new city, but a time when life was literally cut short.  Voluntarily, Jesus went to the cross- but that didn’t make it any easier.

There is a particular passage that I caught for perhaps the first time.  It’s when the women are weeping as Jesus passes them by on the way to Calvary.  He looks at them and, with a word of both comfort and challenge, tells them that they should be weeping for the generations to come. It’s as though He is saying, you think it’s bad right now?  There will be a day when the tree (the cross) is not green, but brown- and on that day things will even be worse.

As I have been reflecting on this past year, I can’t help but to notice how things have gone from bad to worse in our country.  Of course, the obvious place to look is the economy, the infighting politically, wartime, and family turmoil.  But that’s not what I mean.  People have become more and more oblivious to the love and grace of God.  They have managed so well at avoiding the most obvious source of all that is good- Jesus himself.

As I reflect, I also think of the church that, in many ways, has become just as oblivious.  We sit around weeping for ourselves, while the world around us has no one to intercede for them.  It’s much easier for us to judge them and live our own “blessed” lives.  At least it has been…but maybe not so much anymore.  In fact, the stuff that is is affecting all of us on the outside may be just the thing we need to shake us up on the inside.

As I reflect, I think of Jesus passing us by as we’re weeping for ourselves, our financial issues and things not going as we wanted them to go.  Maybe we are weeping because we are afraid of what this means for us.  And then Jesus passes by and says- don’t just weep for Me, and don’t just weep for you- but weep and intercede and care for those who have no concept.

As I reflect, I want to go into 2009 with an attitude of intercession, love and hope.  As the government is creating bail-out plans, let’s remember that the greatest bail out ever took place on a cross and that the way is open to anyone who would say yes.  Reflect with me.

-peter

Peace, Man

If there’s ever a time we need it, it’s now.  Since peace has a Prince, let’s enthrone Him anew and trade our stale version of what it looks like for the real thing.

Lot’s of people talk about peace as the absence of war, but unfortunately war is not always visable and definable.  We are told that wars are waged within us- in places where no one else can see.  They rage and storm and bring unrest.  So we cover up, fill ourselves up, make things up and come away “beat up” by all of our striving.

Can peace come any other way?  Does the Christmas season offer us peace beyond sale prices, holiday lights and yummy food?  There is another way.  Really only one way to true Peace.  I think I am finding the way…or a better way to put it…I think I am releasing myself to that way.

In Ephesians it says that Christ himself is our peace.  That means I don’t get peace when everything is peaceful.  What a new way to let go!  I am not bound by getting everything situated and happy.  I can find peace by letting Christ become what He really is- my peace!

This season, be drawn by the Prince of Peace.  Join with the angels who told us that this is the way to Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward men.  Let’s go after Him…and the Peace comes as a byproduct of that!

-peter

Aftermath

I’m contemplating the last several months of busy and focused activity at our church.  Many people came together to do something that no individual could do on our own.  We served on various teams and made lots of contacts and pulled off a time of commitments together.  Last Sunday, it was all capped off with a combined Sunday Celebration where every family came together in one place at one time for one purpose.

After the service I was a mess.  I just kept on reflecting on how we actually got where we are in such a relatively short time.  The reality of the changed lives and the enormity of the impact we have had hit home in a major way for me.  Part of it was because of the grand scale of the service; finally seeing everyone together instead of in two different services on Sunday.  That was amazing because it reaffirmed the very reason we are moving ahead with a facility expansion.  So many of you said, we should do this more often because there was something significant about that “all together” gathering.  The worship was intense, the atmosphere was Spirit-filled and the fellowship was truly deep.  I agree!

The days leading up to last Sunday were also filled with an incredible amount of prayer and intercession.  We came together for seven straight nights to hear from God and for God to hear us.  And we all did.  What began as a time to focus on the Greater Impact campaign became an opening to the deeper importance of prayer for our church as a whole.  I was reminded of our “all night prayer meetings” and weeks of prayer and fasting from the years gone by.  I was encouraged by our commitment to praying on Friday nights, Sunday mornings and early on Wednesday as we walk the streets of the city of Concord.  In the aftermath of our focused prayer, I think we are re-committed to all of that and more.

This weekend our elders are on a spiritual journey to hear from God for the upcoming days.  What will the Lord say to us?  Where are we being led?  What is the direction for GCC for 2009?  Are there particular messages from His Word that he wants us to focus on?  Are we doing things that have come to the end of their season?  Elders are spiritual leaders that intercede and walk ahead of others, not to be recognized but to uplift and encourage the ones they serve.  Please pray for us as we seek and knock.

Here we are in the aftermath of a great move of God.  Unlike a hurricane or a tornado that leaves destruction and ruin, the aftermath we are experiencing is bringing hope and vision for the future.  It’s as though God is rewarding hard spiritual work and finding us faithful enough to take on a greater impact.

I am grateful for everyone on the journey.  I am praying for those who may still be on the sidelines to get in the game.  I am looking ahead to those yet to come.  This is the aftermath.

-Peter

Home But Not Forgotten

I’m still catching up on sleep.  That’s what happens with jet lag and with the feeling of disengagement.  The trip to Rwanda seemed to go so quickly, probably becasue of how busy we were while there.  It was a good busy- a better busy than the American life offers us.

I want to thank all of you for praying for me on this trip.  I also want to thank the team from Grace Capital Church for making the mission so successful.  Thank you to the Smyths who are doing the most incredible job as missionaries and friends of the Rwandan people and the church.  We are so proud of you guys!

If you ever get the chance to go to Rwanda, please prayerfully consider it.  Your life will be changed forever. I’m home now, but I was at home among the believers there, and you would be too.

-Peter