From Famine to Harvest

I have always had a struggle with my ups and downs with God. There are times when I think and feel like I am walking side by side with the God and other times when I think and feel like He has turned His back on me. Like when I pray asking Him to help me, guide me, give me wisdom and discernment and I don't see an answer.

I was reminded recently that there are spiritual droughts and spiritual harvests from a lesson in agriculture. Everyone knows that a tree needs water and sunlight to survive, but what happens when one of those runs out? In particular if there is a drought and a tree is lacking for water.

In those times of drought during a famine, tree roots are forced to drive deeper into the soil to find water. They are forced to go deeper to find their life source. As is the case for us; spiritually speaking.

When we are going through "it" - you know those times where the rain is blowing in our face, the whole world is on our case, when everyone seems to be absent to help (even God), when we are losing loved ones, when our addictions take hold of us and we can't seem to shake them, when our health is deteriorating - these are the times when we are in a spiritual famine.

I was encouraged this week to press in to God and what I mean is don't give up. Keep praying, keep reading, stand on His promises that He will deliver you, never leave you, that no weapon that forms against you will prosper, that He is always there. For ever down there is an up. For every fall there is a rise. For every Winter season, follows Spring. Press in for in those times of famine and perseverance God is creating the jewel that you are.

That is why we can have true joy in the midst of a famine and with all confidence say, "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5:3-5)

Let your spiritual roots grow deep and wait on the fruit that is to come of your famine.

Sharing Christ in the every day things

As I have been considering some of the more practical aspects of how we go about glorifying and enjoying him forever, I was reflecting on what I call "new self" events - the kind that tear-jerking testimonies are made of.  As a young Christian, growing up in a seeker-oriented mega-church, each month would be framed by a Sunday morning visitor telling us a story of how God saved him/her through the most unimaginable circumstances.  I even went so far as to think "Well, I can never share my testimony because it's not that interesting."  For now let's just file that thought under the "Be Careful What You Wish For" chapter of my life and move on.

What about the every day as we press forward in the battle between flesh and spirit?  THESE are the things that we can and should be witnessing,  These are the things that are easy to share because you don't have to to share a deep dark memory, be a good speaker or have hundreds of pages of bible verses memorized.  These are the things that come to you each day that you can share with the people you come in contact with as readily as you share your comments on the weather or the latest sports news.

My prayer for us today is this:  That, through the power of the Holy spirit, God would grant us the ability to see this work taking place each day, in things that would otherwise seem so very mundane and ordinary.  I pray that you would be excited and encouraged, and really start to see that God has already given you everything you need to share him with others - it's YOU and your life as it is right now, with that mountain of laundry piling up and all.

So go forth and share the good news!  The new self is here, whether or not it's worthy of a Hallmark Movie of the Week screenplay.  God is with us every day and he wants us to tell everyone.

Why are we here?

This question comes in many flavors: What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do? All of these share a core theme and many people believe there is no answer to this question or that it’s something we are supposed to define for ourselves through our lives.

But there is an answer to the meaning of life and it is found in the Bible. The answer is most easily understood and memorized by the phrasing used in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God,[1] and to enjoy him forever.[2]

Yes, I know, we could spend the rest of our lives discussing *how* to go about glorifying him and enjoying him forever, and I look forward to that task – for that is the type of healthy discussion and introspection that each of us as brothers and sisters in Christ should be pursuing.

My hope and prayer, especially to all who read this who have a “fear of witnessing” that you would consider the following thought: Observe how many times the theme of the meaning of life comes up in casual conversation. It’s always there somewhere because it’s the driving force behind why people do what they do. How great would it be that you could speak up and say “Hey, it says in the Bible that the reason we are here is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. I’m not sure exactly what that looks like, but that’s what God and I are working out right now.”

So, for today, I leave you to enjoy the rest of the year with a renewed sense of purpose and an encouragement to speak the simple truths of God to your friends and neighbors.

Merry Christmas!