Second Verse Same As the First

It occurred to me after writing Foggy Mountain Discovery a few weeks ago how similar the principles given for finding God’s direction are to the trials of life. It’s a “second verse same as the first” perspective. Indulge me in a rewrite of the original post to make my point.

While traveling through Pennsylvania last fall we crossed over a foggy mountain and came face to face with the unexpected difficulty of driving through a huge storm. Just ahead of us the tail lights of an 18 wheeler became our guide. With steering wheel gripped tightly, my concentration remained fixed on those lights until we were finally out of it. What a trial that was and what a relief to get through it.

Unexpected storms can be scary. It can be as equally scary when dealing with the personal storms of life – loss of job, unrealistic expectations, difficulties in marriage, unreasonable teacher, strained relationships, failing health, financial burdens, church problems, disappointment.

Recently I have discovered the benefit of trials. Because of the storms, the problems I begin a journey of seeking the face of God – lingering, enjoying, acknowledging, worshiping, wrestling, listening, surrendering, returning. In the end it increases our intimacy together and gives me an opportunity to walk by faith. And those benefits are more valuable than storehouses of gold.

I have further discovered that in the difficult times as I seek God, He intervenes with - godly counsel, a specific Scripture, an unexpected encouragement, patience, His shepherding, unexplainable peace, praying friends, a new perspective, just the right book. Seldom does a trial go away overnight, but instead it’s a one step at a time journey that eventually leads to change in us and maybe a change in our circumstances too.

Sometimes we will become discouraged and fail to see God’s hand in these gentle interventions. That’s okay. We’re all human enough to become discouraged during the trials of life, and He is gracious enough to continually send encouragement ….multiple times. We so want life to be trial free, but life doesn’t work that way, neither does the integration of the spiritual life. Both can be messy. Thankfully we have a God who understands the messiness, the storms of difficulty and our need to discover Him in the process.

Makes me wonder how many other life themes fit within the principle of seeking His face, walking by faith, and recognizing His hand at work.

The Ultimate Checklist

I don’t do it very often, but I actually purchased a book recently because it represents exactly what I don’t believe. It was akin to purchasing The Book of Mormon or The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. The Ultimate Checklist for Life gives us 949 “I Will’s” and “Things to Do” to help bring some extra structure and guidelines to follow in our Christian lives.

Here is a sampling: “Make a list of practical ways to serve people you do life with and then commit to those actions; reduce the numbers of worries I currently have; be diligent about getting to know God; introduce yourself to a new person in church; be aware of others who may be struggling even if they look like they have it all together; take an exercise class; listen to Scripture CD’s in the car on your way to work; list twenty things you are thankful for today; do my best and trust God for the results; the next time you find yourself getting impatient, take a time out; stay focused on, and committed to my key life goals; share my goals with God and ask Him for the wisdom and the will to achieve them; strive to develop a thankful heart; make a personal commitment to develop habits that will help you persevere in your relationship with God; chose a close friend to be a prayer and accountability partner; remember that sacrifice is not an option for one who truly loves Jesus; rate your spiritual life by giving yourself grades; serve your family rice for breakfast, lunch and supper; print BE LIKE GOD on a card and put it on your mirror, rely on God to help me help my kids manage their emotions; surround yourself with equally committed people; remain joyful despite the obstacles; rely on the Word of God and His Spirit for guidance; encourage someone who is having a rough time staying committed; know when to quit.......”

Good things indeed. As was the law that served as a guardian and protector until it had fulfilled its purpose. It kept the Israelites from a lot of bad consequences. It gave them some really good ones. It helped them to see their need. It didn’t nourish their souls. Rule-keeping has never had power to create life in us.

Whether intentional or unintentional the Christian life is often conveyed as our best disciplined effort to follow Biblical principles, to follow the rules, to meet expectations as more and more are piled on. It’s a trap as old as the Christian faith itself. "“You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

In time our human effort to live a good Christian life becomes burdensome, and we feel so weighed down. It’s not as uncommon as we might think. I remember well being approached with the question, “Don’t you ever get tired of doing the right thing?” Yes, I do. And so will all of us, unless or until we move into an authentic relationship with the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Only then we will experience the freedom for which we have been set free.

Read Any of These?

It doesn’t take much poking around our house to discover that we love books. They take up space in almost every room in the house including the………uh-ummm, bathroom. We read on vacation, in waiting rooms, in bed, in coffee shops, on planes, on trips and in used bookstores. Hardback or kindle, internet or magazine, audio book or paperback any will do. Here are some of our favorites that have been shaping our lives and thinking over the last year. Have you read any of these?

The Indwelling Life of Christ – Major W. Ian Thomas
In this All of Him in All of Me subtitled book, Thomas reminds us that our best efforts to live the Christian life fail because it takes Jesus Christ living His life through us by His Holy Spirit. Thomas and his wife are the founders of Torchbearers Schools, one of which Daniel attends.

The Cross Centered Life – C.J. Mahaney
Keeping the Gospel the main thing is easier said than done. Mahaney not only encourages us to let the cross define our lives but also gives some practical suggestions to center every day around the cross.

The Grace and Truth Paradox – Randy Alcorn
“Truth without grace breeds a self righteous legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ.” Alcorn reminds us that both are essential and inseparable.

The Prodigal God – Timothy Keller
While we often consider the idea of “prodigal” in negative terms, by definition it means recklessly extravagant and can apply to the Heavenly Father’s extravagant love for us. Both sons were alienated from the father, but Keller particularly focuses on how the Elder brother’s legalistic morality was just as self-seeking.

The Emotionally Healthy Church – Peter Scazzero
Scazzero contends that, “It is not possible for a Christian to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” He then gives helpful ideas for individuals and church leaders to take an honest look at themselves and encourages them to live in vulnerability.

What’s So Amazing About Grace? – Phil Yancey
Yancey is a word artist who paints a beautiful picture of God’s grace toward us. He reminds us as children of God, “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

Grace Awakening – Chuck Swindoll
Wanting Christians to live in grace and be released from legalism, Swindoll writes to awaken us. He encourages us to be ministers of grace as well and asks, “1. Do you add to others’ guilt, or do you lessen it? 2. Are you the type who encourages another’s liberty or restrains it?”

Passing It On

So much of what we are has been passed on to us by our parents. And so much of what our children are has been passed on from us. Thinking about it is enough to take us to the heights and to the depths in the same split second. Graciousness and grouchiness; service and selfishness; love and lust; trust and fear only scratch the surface of the characteristics that are passed down generation after generation.

I came across a story recently by Phil Yancey highlighting this reality. He writes: “I have a friend whose marriage has gone through tumultuous times. One night George passed a breaking point. He pounded the table and the floor. ‘I hate you! He screamed at his wife. ‘I won’t take it anymore! I’ve had enough! I won’t go on! I won’t let it happen! No! No! No!’

“Several months later my friend woke up in the middle of the night and heard strange sounds coming from the room where his two-year-old son slept. He padded down the hall, stood for a moment outside his son’s door, and shivers ran through his flesh. He could not draw a breath. In a soft voice, the two-year-old was repeating word for word with precise inflection the argument between his mother and father. ‘I hate you….I won’t take it anymore….No! No! No!

“George realized that in some awful way he had just bequeathed his pain and anger and unforgiveness to the next generation.”

I remember the dull thud that hit my stomach in a moment of realizing some of the ugly things I have passed on to our kids. And I remember the wise advice that came my way at that time. “Focus on what God is doing in your life not what you have failed to do in your children’s lives.” The best way to turn the tables is by our children seeing the unrelenting power of the gospel continually transforming our hearts. That’s certainly worth passing on.