April 7- Be a Chicken Hawk

I love the old cartoon of Foghorn Leghorn and the little Chicken Hawk. Foghorn Leghorn was the senior rooster of the barnyard, and little Chicken Hawk was the small sophomoric predator.  His many attempts of devouring old Foghorn Leghorn always ended in failure; but what he lacked in size and strength, he made up for in passion.  Little Chicken Hawk was always ready for a good fight.

I certainly am not advocating violence; but it is certain,  there are some things worth fighting for.  Our culture, our country, our children, and our churches are worth the fight.  We are called to earnestly contend for the faith in these last days; however, we are seeing more and more believers give in to the ebb and flow of secularism and carnality.

What we need is some “Chicken Hawk” courage.  We need some fearless and courageous Christians to stand against the wiles of the enemy. One person demonstrating their conviction in the face of opposition can cause multitudes of others to stand.  William Shedd said, “A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for.”   As soldiers in the army of God, let’s rise and be accounted for.  Be a chicken…hawk that is.

A ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are made for” – William Shedd

April 6- Seeing the Big Picture

One of our favorite things to do as a family is put together jigsaw puzzles.  We typically buy a new puzzle whenever we go on vacation and spend an evening putting it together.  We normally take out all the pieces, group them by color, form the outer edge and then the hard part- fill in the middle.

If you have ever put a jigsaw puzzle together you know the hardest part is filling in the middle.  All the small pieces start looking like one another and it is hard to distinguish each part.  That is why we always take the picture on the top of the box and prop it up so that we can occasionally glance back and forth to get an idea of what goes where.  If you constantly look at the details of the puzzle and fail to consistently look at the big picture you will definitely get frustrated.

I wonder how often in life we fail to look at the big picture?  We stress over the small minute details and spend countless hours trying to figure out where each little piece goes.  Now, I am one for details, but what I have discovered is if I don’t occasionally take a look at the big picture I become aggravated, annoyed, and unproductive.  If you feel stressed out over the details of life, stop looking at the particulars and take a look at the picture.

I cried because I had no shoes until I met a man who had no feet” – Unknown

April 5- He Knows My Name

Everyone likes to hear the sound of their own name.  Dale Carnegie, the late-great leadership guru said, “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”  Being called by your name may sound like a simple and insignificant gesture; but everyone knows the feeling of being called by the wrong name.  Being called by a different name makes you feel undervalued and unappreciated.  On the other end of the spectrum- nothing is more embarrassing than forgetting someone’s name.  John Maxwell states in his book, 25 Ways to Win with People, “The name sets the individual apart; it makes him or her unique among all others.”

The Lord never forgets names.  All throughout Scripture you will find the omnipotent God of all creation calling the names of His people.  He understands the intimacy involved with our name.  He values our life and recognizes our significance.  He records our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and keeps record of our name in Heaven.

I believe God values His name being called as well.  As a matter of fact He instructs us to call upon His name, worship His name, and preach His name.  It’s great to know His name- and greater still that He knows yours.

He who filches from me my good name, robs me of that which not enriches him, and makes me poor indeed” – William Shakespeare

April 4- Reverence in God’s House

When you consider and study the dwellings of God throughout history (the tabernacle, the Holy Place, and the temple) you discover that these institutions were divinely designed to unite God and man. Such places were always associated with reverence, awe, consecration, and even fear. The priest dare not enter the Holy of Holies without clean garments and shed blood. Strict laws were given, applied, and enforced upon those who even considered drawing close to the House of God. The parishioners did not casually or carelessly approach the presence of God with a flippant or relaxed attitude. They understood they were going to meet God and therefore prepared accordingly, or paid the price.

I wonder how the Lord feels about our frivolous approach to worship in these modern times? Further, I wonder what He thinks about our treatment of His House? There was a time in our society when the House of God was the most respected and revered place in the community. It was a refuge of righteousness and a habitation of holiness; but over time we have tried to “evolve” the House of God into something that is more suitable to the world. For some convoluted reason we want people to feel like they are anywhere BUT the House of God. This casual, come-as-you-are approach may bring in the masses but what does it do for the Master? I wonder if He would turn over the tables of the New Age Church because of our lack of respect and honor?

For the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God” – The Apostle Peter

April 3- Unusual Accounting

There is nothing joyful about trials.  No one wakes up and thinks, “Man, I hope God sends a trial in my life today.”  Such a notion goes against every inclination of the flesh.  We want peace, comfort, gladness, and assurance.  The trials of life seemingly oppose and challenge our faith.

But the Bible teaches us to “Count it all joy” when we fall into divers temptations (or various trials).  Whenever I read that verse I am conflicted.  There is nothing about a trial that makes me happy or joyful- nothing except the end results.  God uses disappointment, heartache, and tribulation to strengthen and develop our faith in Him.  It’s not the trial that makes me happy as much as what the trial produces.  James, the half-brother of Jesus said this of trials, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect, entire, and wanting nothing” (James 1:4)

If we know that God uses trials to ultimately strengthen us, we will have no problem “counting it all joy.”  The difference is our attitude.  You see, the world rarely sees our affliction in the trial, but they will always remember our attitude in the trial.  It may initially seem that a particular trial is challenging your faith, but God is using it to cultivate your faith.

The world rarely sees our affliction in the trial, but they will always remember our attitude in the trial” – Kenneth Kuykendall

April 2- Treadmill Theology

If you are like most Americans, when it comes to working out you go through periods or cycles in which you enjoy it; and then at other times you give no thought whatsoever to bodily exercise.  I must admit, I have to really encourage myself to use the treadmill.  Not long ago I mustered up the mental fortitude to clean off the cobwebs and start walking.  As I began my exercise I related some spiritual truths to my treadmill:

1. It can be extremely difficult to get motivated. Like any other discipline in our lives, we must work hard at staying positive and encouraged as we progress our relationship with the Lord. Oftentimes, the hardest part about walking with God is getting started.

2. We must get plugged in. Without the proper power point there will not be any activity. Spiritually speaking we must get connected; we must get plugged in if we plan on walking with the Lord.

3. Sometimes it feels like we are going nowhere. The Christian life can sometimes feel the same way. You may work extremely hard at your walk with God and feel like you are absolutely not moving forward an inch.

4. It pays off. I know that walking on the treadmill is good for me. It strengthens me. It helps my heart, my breathing, my mood, my quality of life- so does walking with the Lord!  Dust it off, plug it in, charge up some good music, and start walking!

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things” – The Apostle Paul

April 1- Show Them a Bigger Jesus

As a child I remember getting a small, cheap science kit for Christmas one year.  In that kit was a telescope, microscope and a host of other plastic instruments.  My favorite was the magnifying glass.  Me and my brother would go outside and try to catch bugs and examine them before we burned them with the sunlight.  I was always amazed at the detail of the bugs once we put them under the magnifying glass.

The apostle Paul must have been familiar with such an instrument.  In his letter to the Philippians he said, “…that Christ should be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (1:20).  What did he mean when he said “magnify” Christ?  Do we make Christ bigger?  Obviously we do not make Christ bigger.  He is God- forever omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent God.

Consider the bugs just for a moment.  When you put them under a magnifying glass you do not change their size.  You do not alter their nature.  You do not modify their makeup; but you do make them more visible for others to see.  As believers we certainly do not make God any bigger than He already is- He is God and “changeth not.”  As instruments of God we can cause others to see Him more clearly.

Many small people, in many small places, do many small things that can alter the face of the world – Anonymous

March 30- A Rose Among the Thorns

I will never forget the first time I took my children out in the woods to shoot their BB guns.  Getting to our desired location required marching through a briar patch. Like unwelcomed guests in the forest, we were suddenly surrounded by the piercing and penetrating plants. Before we knew it our flannel shirts were caught on the bushes. Trying to untangle ourselves from the grip of death it happened- the briar patch tasted flesh. Ripped to pieces we finally reached our destiny. After we made our way back home I asked the boys how they enjoyed their first hunting adventure. They said they loved it but both of them agreed that they hated one thing- the thorns.

I must agree with them. I do not like thorns either. Thorns bring pain and remind us that we live in a sin-cursed world. Thorns hurt, and they teach us that sometimes life hurts.  As much as I dislike thorns, I must admit that I do enjoy the fragrance of the rose. It’s ironic that one of the sweetest smells on earth is associated with the curse of mankind. It reminds me that Christ wore a crown of thorns….our thorns, our curse, our pain, our hurt, our sin.

You see, thorns may hurt for awhile, but they are ultimately designed to bring us into the presence of the Rose of Heaven. Today you may be going through a “thorny” trial…you may be walking through the briar patch of life…may I encourage you- find the Rose among your thorns.

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain” – C.S. Lewis

March 29- Pull Up a Chair

I have fond memories of my grandparents, many of which occurred around their kitchen table. It was just a brown maple table, nothing fancy, nothing large, nothing expensive.  When I visited them that is where we would spend a majority of our time.  There we talked about life and its problems.  We prayed at that table, discussed the Bible at that table, and even worshipped at that table.  We cried at that table, we laughed at that table, we ate at that table. We shared holidays at that table; I even drank my first cup of coffee at that table.

I now realize what made the table so special was not really the table at all but the people that gathered around the table.  A table speaks of fellowship and intimacy with those you love.  In the Word of God there are many different tables, and all of them point us to communion with God.

There is nothing like pulling up a chair at His table.  He daily prepares a meal for His people.  He lavishes goodness and grace before us and prepares a table in the presence of our enemies.  The more you eat at His table however the more you realize the greatest part is simply being with Him.  Go ahead and pull up a seat, He’s been waiting on you to arrive!

We are, at this moment, as close to God as we chose to be” – Oswald Chambers

March 28- The How-Long Song

The Bible is full of answers.  If you look hard enough you will find answers to every area of life.  However, the Bible is also full of some pretty intriquing questions as well: “Adam, where art thou?” “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” “What must I do to be saved?” “If a man dies shall he live again?”  One of the most sobering questions was asked by King David in Psalm 13- simply “How long?”  Not once, but four times David asked this question to God:

• “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD?”
• “How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?”
• “How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?”
• “How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?”

Have you ever wondered “how long?”  How long until the trial ends?  How long until the answer comes?  How long until the victory is won?  One thing is certain in this life- God doesn’t work on our time table.  He is not committed to our date book; but I assure you, somewhere in the shadows of your despair God is working out all the details.  Remember when you are waiting, God is working.  The answer is on the way.

All things come to him who waits- provided he knows what he is waiting for” – Woodrow Wilson