Mal 3:6 KJV For I [am] the LORD, I change not; 

Heb 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our world seems to be in a state of constant movement, always shifting and turning with every wind that blows. These are the winds of personal opinions, cultural trends, political pressures, and social extremes just to name a few. At times, you and I can feel the pressure of this change bearing down on us like a strong wind. This is especially true when we find ourselves standing alone. 

I am so thankful that our God does not change. He is not swayed by popular opinion, current trends, or cancel culture. He is the same, forever and always.

When the wind of change is blowing hard, it is good to find an anchor point to hold on to. My mind goes to that old song we use to sing when I was growing up in church. “I go to the Rock of my salvation, I run to the stone that the builders rejected.” Most of us know this song was taken from the Bible… from one of David’s psalms. Psa 62:7 In God [is] my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, [And] my refuge, [is] in God.

In this day of cancel culture, strong winds of change are blowing. I encourage you to run to the Rock and allow Him to be your refuge. Even the strongest among us need rest from time to time. Blowing wind doesn’t seem to be that bad at first, but stand in it long enough, and it will wear you down. If you are feeling a little thin, a little weary, a little worn out today, run to the Rock!  

Psa 118:29 NKJV Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for [He is] good! For His mercy [endures] forever.

God is Good; this I know without any doubt or reservation. I am not always good; this I also know for certain. There are some days I wonder if there is any good in me at all, but God is good. He is always good!

His mercy is new today. How incredible is that? Today, you and I have new mercy waiting for us. When I stop to process these two things, God’s goodness and His mercy, I wonder what have I ever done in my life to deserve this? Nothing. Absolutely nothing have I done to deserve all that He has done already for me. 

No matter what you face today, He is good. No matter what you have done, His mercy is new today. His goodness and mercy do not come and go based on what you and I do or do not do. They are a truth independent of us, yet they are there for us every day. 

Rest in His goodness and mercy today. Let it settle down on you, wrap itself around you. May His goodness and mercy comfort and encourage you today.

Jhn 10:14 NKJV“I am the good shepherd; and I know My [sheep], and am known by My own.

There is something that is so comforting about those words… “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep”. One of my favorite things about God is how personal He is. He knows you. He knows where you are, and He knows what you are facing. He is the Good Shepherd.

With this knowledge, why then do we find ourselves being so anxious about life? Why do we end up living in a constant state of “hurry”? I am convinced that “hurry” is robbing you and me. It is robbing us of the life our Shepherd has for us. Hurry is a thief!

Here are a few things I know about hurry. Hurry never really speeds things up. It usually causes you to slow down. Hurry gives birth to mistakes. It was hurry that gave birth to Ishmael. Hurry caused Saul to offer sacrifices he was not qualified to offer. Hurry caused a runner to go to the king without a message. Hurry can cause people to look good on the outside but be full of dead men’s bones on the inside. Hurry gave a false security to the hare, for he thought he had plenty of time to win his race. Hurry is a thief!

David writes in his famous 23rd Psalm… “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters”. David was talking about his Shepherd… the Good Shepherd. David says that the Shepherd’s desire is to make us lie down… to lead us beside the still waters. That does not sound like “hurry” to me. That sounds like the opposite of hurry. It appears that the Good Shepard desires to lead us to places of rest and peace. I feel strongly that we must be ruthless in eliminating “hurry” from our lives. I believe it is robbing the joy our Good Shepherd desires for us to have. I believe that hurry is a thief. 

I encourage you to find a way to slow down and enjoy His Presence in your life every day. Stop at some point today and just be still for a moment. Take in all the good that our Shepherd has for you. Be aware of His Presence around you, and get lost in the beauty of His creation. Do not allow “hurry” to rob any more than it already has. Oh God, help us remember that they that wait upon the Lord, will renew their strength.

Jer 6:16 NLT This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’

So much “noise” & “distraction” in our world today. It feels like there are crosswinds blowing constantly in our lives, trying to push us off course. It can be very easy to drift and quickly miss the path God desires us to walk.

In this passage, Jeremiah has instructed Judah to “stop at the crossroads and look around”. Jeremiah had seen the decisions Judah was making and understood the consequences behind those decisions. Judah was dealing with political fighting and social trends that caused them to drift away from God. They still attended church, but it had just become a ritual to them. There was no relationship. Jeremiah cries out for them to “stop”… “ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it” for he knew what they needed. They had drifted off course.

I pray for you to travel the path of the old, godly way. It will “bring rest for your soul”. Do not get caught up in trying to be relevant with today’s trends and drift off course. The Word of God still saves… the Word of God still delivers… the Word of God still accomplishes all He intends for it to accomplish. 

Dive into His Word. Devour it, and apply it to your lives. If you find yourself standing at a crossroad, look for the old paths. They will always lead you back to where God is. And where He is, all things are possible. Stay the course, and allow God to finish the work He has begun in you.

It feels like we have reached the point in society where we are known more for what we stand against instead of what we stand for. Especially when it comes to social media, it seems to have a way of polarizing us. In many cases, it feels like it brings out the worst in us.

This was not always the case with followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, they were made famous by what and who they stood for.

Act 4:13 KJV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

I know that most of us desire for life to return to some semblance of normal. We all are growing weary of this pandemic, but what exactly is the normal we want to see return? What is it that we desire the most? It’s a sad reflection on our hunger for God when Christians voice their desire for “normal” but are usually referring to the normal routines of being able to eat inside a restaurant or go through a checkout line without a mask. Have we lost our desire for a close relationship with God? Are we more concerned with convenience instead of conviction?

When I read the book of Acts, I find myself feeling as though I come up short in my devotion and dedication to a relationship with God. They faced cultural division, religious hypocrisy, prejudice, and outright persecution from their government, but they also experienced the supernatural working of the Holy Ghost! I desire for that kind of normal to return to the church.

So, what was normal for the first century Apostolic Church? In my study, I discovered the norms of the first century Apostolic Church were prayer, praise, and proclamation. This was the normal in which they lived, and I believe these same things are what we should be known for also.

These three activities, prayer, praise, and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, aren’t reserved for certain people or only practiced by the spiritually mature. They make up baseline discipleship, and they are the normal of Christian life.

Let’s not give up on the essential aspects of our faith. Let’s not allow current events to disrupt the basics of our love and loyalty to Jesus and His church. Let’s get back to being known for what we stand for. 

On the top ten list of things I do not like to feel, right at the top of my list, is the feeling of being robbed. How about you? Have you ever had something stolen from you? In that moment, there is this sense of vulnerability and insecurity that floods your mind. The craziest thing is, just a moment before you realized something had been taken from you, you were feeling just fine. 

Corrie ten Boom once said, “If the devil can’t make you sin, he will make you busy.” Her logic is so truthful. Busyness and sin have the same effect: they rob you of some of the most important things in life. Many of us are too busy to live the emotional and spiritual lives God intends for us to live. We have been robbed by a “sneaky thief”.

Now, do not misunderstand me, there is a healthy busyness where life is full of things that matter, not wasted on empty pursuits or leisure. Jesus Himself kept busy with Kingdom work. The problem is not having lots to do; it’s having too much to do and the only way to keep up is to hurry. When we get in a hurry, things start falling apart.

When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus responded, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself ” Mat 22:37-39 NLT. 

Let’s be honest, love is time consuming. We all know this to be true, there are no short cuts when it comes to real love. It takes an enormous amount of time to love well. Love and hurry do not mix. Almost all of my worst moments as a husband, father, neighbor, and friend happened when I was in a hurry and tried to cram too much into my day. I allowed tension, anger, and criticism to flow out of me.

Don’t believe me? The next time you are trying to get your type-B wife and three daughters out of the house, and you are running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), pay attention to how you interact with them. Does it feel or even look like love, or does it fall more in line with anger, agitation, and bitter words?

No wonder the Apostle Paul begins his definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 with the words “love is patient”. God moves slowly because He is Love, and Love has a speed. I believe this is the reason people view their relationship with God as “walking with God” instead of saying “running with God”.

Life is filled with many interruptions, and there is no doubt in my mind that you will face some today. But what if we looked for ways to be present in the moment instead of just rushing through. Be present in love… be present in love, and refuse to give an opportunity for the sneaky thief to rob you of your most precious commodity… time! 

1Th 5:16-18 NLT – Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

This is my favorite time of year. For me, there is just something special about fall. I love everything about this season. The colors, temperature change, and feelings that come flooding in make fall simply amazing. 

I also enjoy that my favorite holidays are just around the corner. Soon there will be Christmas music playing, hopefully not until Thanksgiving Day, and the feeling of Christmas cheer. I know I am looking forward to some cheer. What a year 2020 has been! If ever we needed Christmas cheer, it is this year.

But before we get to Christmas, let us not quickly pass over Thanksgiving. If we are honest, we all have something… many things we should be thankful for. Even in the middle of this crazy year, God has been faithful to me. He has kept me and provided for my family. What a good God we have. I hope you feel the same way.

There is something about living with a thankful heart. We have instructions in the Word of God to be thankful in all things. 1Th 5:18 NLT “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”. Now, we must be intentional here because it can be difficult to maintain an attitude of thankfulness in “all circumstances”. But this is our instructions, to be thankful in everything. 

I feel like the key to living in a state of thankfulness is found in the verses leading up to the command for thankfulness in all circumstances. You see Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica and before he gets to the “thankful in all circumstances”, he first instructs you and I to “be joyful” and to “never stop praying”. 

Never stop praying may sound like an impossible task, but Paul is not expecting you and I to walk around praying out loud all the time. He is letting you know that it is possible to be aware that God is with us everywhere we go. We can have God presence with us always and for that we should be thankful in all circumstances. Thankful because no matter what we face, we are not alone.

I pray you are more mindful of the presence of God in your life during this season. Be thankful in all things, for God walks with you. 

I don’t know about you, but I love fall weather! The sight of falling leaves, pumpkins, warm cups of coffee, and cooler temps for running just makes me a happy guy. During this season, I see more individuals out being active and enjoying a cool down from the summer heat. There is just something special for me when it comes to a cool morning and the quite of the early hours. I have grown quite found of early morning runs.

The Bible often speaks of living a life committed to God as if it we were running a race. Following Jesus is more than a relaxing stroll in the park. And the issue is not whether you will run the race, because when you are filled with His Spirit, you were put in the race. So, the question is not WILL you run, but HOW will you run?

Tips for Running Well

First, stay in shape. I like Paul’s perspective in 1Co 9:24 NKJV Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain [it]. In other words, you need to have a mindset to win, and, like any race, winning requires discipline. As spiritual runners, we must discipline ourselves in the exercise and habits of prayer and reading God’s Word. Daily prayer and reading God’s Word gives us strength and motivation to run and win.

Secondly, obey the rules. Like all races, running to win means staying in the boundaries. Paul committed to living his life by God’s rules. 1Co 9:27 NKJV But I discipline my body and bring [it] into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. He did not want to do anything that would disqualify him. As good runners, we need to embrace this same attitude. 

Thirdly, learn how to run light. Heb 12:1 NKJV Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, What is it that distracts you and what is the sin that slows you down? Take them off, ask for forgiveness, so you can run light!

This race of life is more than a few laps around the track, it’s a long-distance marathon. Yes, life can be stressful, and sometimes the weather is bad, obstacles may show up in your path, and life may even bring a pandemic to stand in our way. There will be times when we may trip and fall, but you must get back up and push on. Whatever the case, runners that win never give up. Keep your eyes on the finish line… Jesus is there! When you run for the honor and glory of His name, He reaches out with the victor’s crown and says, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Psalms 1:1-3 (CSB) How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

We encounter all types of people in life… wicked, sinners, mockers, and other unsavory types. I do not believe it is possible to be completely free of those who want to distract or cause us to stumble in our walk with God. We cannot live in a cave… or maybe I should say we should not live in a cave.

God has called you. Yes, you read that correctly. God has called you! We are to reach for the lost and pray for the hurting and broken. We give our time, talent, ability, and money in pointing them to God. This can be exhausting, and even the best of us get tired and weary.

But our delight is in the Lord… in His instruction. Yes, when our relationship is where it needs to be with God, we will delight in His instruction. We will find strength in His Word, and we will find ourselves meditating on it throughout the day.

When we lose sight of this, we will not meditate on it. This causes us to have weak roots, and life’s circumstances then have the ability to make us fall! The smallest wind can knock us down and even leave us for dead.

The psalmist understood this principle, and in the very first chapter of Psalms we are encouraged to not be distracted. Distractions take us away from God’s instructions. I think it is safe to say that when life is the hardest, we should lean in and listen to what He has to say to us. We will find strength to endure.

Song of Songs 2:15 (CSB) Catch the foxes for us — the little foxes that ruin the vineyards — for our vineyards are in bloom.

The morning started off well. Everything was going as planned. They started off the day with me and I was happy to have them, but something happened about an hour or so into our time together. To say who was to blame is hard, for I do not remember the exact moment when I realized there was a problem. Needless to say, I had a problem.

I was in mid-conversation with my second appointment of the day when I noticed. I tried to remedy the problem myself using subtle movements to not draw attention. I tried in vain to fix the issue, but no matter what method I employed, they were determined to go their own way.

I know I am not the only one this has happened to, and I am sure some will think it is no big deal. Yet I was uncomfortable and found it hard to concentrate on the conversation I was supposed to be in. Yes, my socks were rebelling, and I was loosing the battle. They both, in what appeared to be a synchronized mission, started turning their seams from the top of my toes where they belonged to a sideways slant running across my big toes, and drifting in a downward track, passed my second toe to the underside of my foot. This choke hold was sending panic signals up my leg to the stem of my brain begging for an intervention.

Concentration was difficult, and all I wanted to do was pull my shoes off and put the socks’ seams back in their rightful place. How awkward would it be for this wonderful saint of God to witness their pastor bend over, take both shoes off, and start a wrestling match with his socks? So, I did what every person who trusts in God does in situations like this – I said a prayer in my mind and asked God to help me get past this little aggravation in my day.

Why is it that life seems to bring little foxes into our everyday routines to ruin our vineyards? For me, the little things can sometimes cause me to struggle more and act in ways that I shouldn’t than any major offense or temptation can. I am convinced our enemy knows exactly what little foxes he can send into our everyday situations to make the biggest impact.

This is why you and I must be diligent to not let the little foxes ruin our witness. Little aggravations have a way of stacking up and causing us to react in ways we are not proud of. I feel confident that Jesus never struggled with the seam of His sock turning sideways on His toes, but I am sure He experienced a pebble or two in His sandals.

The writer of Hebrews says this – Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin. Even in the little aggravations of life, He managed to make it through each of them without sinning. He refused to let the little foxes of life cause Him to stumble. That same power that lived in Him now lives in us. That means we too have the ability to keep our vineyards from being spoiled by little foxes.