Monday Morning Memo: Hope in Jesus

The seventh and final truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

7. My God turns evil into good.

 

Life doesn’t always work out as you hope.  You’re living on a broken planet.  But no circumstance can hinder the seeds we’ve just discussed from being cultivated in your mind.  No hardship or disappointment or disease or divorce or darkness or desert can stunt the growth of godly thoughts from becoming mighty trees in your way of thinking.

 

So plant this in your mind: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 

I think we can all relate to this last truth.  Life isn’t always easy.  Our carefully made plans sometimes seem to blow up in our face and we are left stunned, frustrated and discouraged.  We think we know where life is going to take us…only for it to take a drastic detour which we never saw coming.  

 

So, what can we do when living on a broken planet is what we are destined to do?  Until we walk the streets of gold, we are imperfect people living in a far from perfect world…so it is imperative that we figure out what will make a difference.  Because if we as Christians don’t have a clue what can make a difference in our daily life…why would those who don’t know our Jesus want what we have?

 

As our truth today states, it really comes down to our mind and what we fill it with.   I had something happen recently that helped me understand this concept in a practical way.

 

Here in the Midwest, we had a very rainy, cold, windy spring. It was miserable.  We sat out at our grandsons’ baseball games with 3 layers on, including a winter coat, gloves, earmuffs and a hood.  And we were still cold!  We weren’t sure warm, sunny days would ever return, and I found myself becoming more and more discouraged.

 

Finally, a beautiful day arrived.  I was so anxious to feel the sun on my face, I went outside to walk around our property.  As I perused our landscaping…I was overwhelmed.  Our flowers were gorgeous…even though I had been unable to do anything with them yet this year.  The rose bushes were flowering, the bushes were blooming and the grass was a deep shade of green.  That’s when I felt a quiet whisper from my Jesus.  He said, “LuAnn, see what can happen when times have been difficult?  See what can take place during those times in your life when you think the sun won’t shine again?  If these beautiful flowers can bloom as a result of cold, dreary days…what more can I do in and through you when you go through a dark valley.  I care much more about you LuAnn than I do those flowers…keep your eyes on me and you will see beauty again.”  I then thought about the verses in Luke 12:27-28, “Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown in the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.  Why do you have so little faith?”

 

As Giglio said, “So plant this in your mind: “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Even in the storms…God is working.  Even in the darkest valley…God is planting seeds.  We need to remember that nothing we will face can stunt the growth of godly thoughts from becoming mighty trees in our way of thinking.  Nothing can stop Him from making everything work together for our good and His glory. 

 

I don’t know what you are facing today…but you may feel like all hope is lost.  I’m here to remind you that there IS hope in Jesus.  No matter how dark things look right now…your Savior is working behind the scenes, and He is going to make something beautiful out of these days of discouragement.  Remember, He is able to do far more than we can even imagine so hold on…because I believe brighter, warmer, sunnier days are on the way 

Monday Morning Memo: Firmly Planted

The sixth truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

6. Jesus is Lord, and Jesus is my Lord.

 

Your God is stronger than anything, higher than anything, and worthy of all praise.  Your God is the Great King.  His kingdom is forever; His plans are unassailable and sure.

 

Plant this thought by memorizing these verses:  “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

 

When I first read this sixth truth…I sort of skimmed through it and thought yeah, yeah, yeah…I know all that.  Then…I took a few moments to slowly read it again to absorb the truth into my mind and soul.

 

Two things spoke to me.  The first was the beginning, “Your God is stronger than anything…”.  After all I have been through the past three years, I had to ask myself if I truly believed this statement.  If I don’t believe it…I have reason to fret…wring my hands…and give up in despair. If I don’t believe it…then no one would blame me if I said, “My God is stronger than most things…but throw in two torn Achilles tendons, double pneumonia, MRSA double pneumonia, months and months of severe coughing, severe pain, pansinusitis, more MRSA and then throw in some back and neck issues…and well…He isn’t THAT strong.”

 

We can laugh at that…but I know there have been times in the past three years when I have conveyed this message by the way I acted and reacted.  I know my witness has not always been that He IS stronger than anything…my actions showed I thought He was stronger than just most things.

 

The second part of this truth that jumped out at me was, “His plans are unassailable and sure.”  Hmmmm.  Do I believe that?  I looked up the word “unassailable” and I found, “Unassailable refers to something that cannot be doubted, attacked or questioned.  It describes a state of being so strong or certain that it is impervious to criticism or challenge.  It leaves no room for skepticism.”

 

WOW.  Am I so firmly planted in the soul of my Savior, that I can trust His plans…His ways…without doubting?  Do I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that He knows what is best for me?  Do I believe that whatever happens in my life is ordained by Him for my good and for His glory?

 

Oh, I have so much to learn and I am so thankful that my Savior loves me…with all my doubts, faults and failures.  He doesn’t scold me when I fall into discouragement, nor does He tire of my many questions.  He patiently leads, encourages and answers in ways I may never understand this side of heaven. But again…if I am firmly planted in His soul…then I should be able to wait until the day when I see Him face to face.  In the meantime…I need to hold onto the fact that He IS stronger than anything…and His plans ARE unassailable and sure.  There is NO reason to fret, wring my hands or give up in despair.  Because Jesus IS Lord…He is MY Lord…and worthy of my praise! 

Monday Morning Memo: Being Dispatched

There is a saying I’ve heard many times over the years, and I think there is a lot of truth to it.  It is, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”  Of course, the premise is that if you enjoy what you do at your profession…going to work won’t be something you do with drudgery.  

 

The problem is that many people don’t love what they do to earn their paycheck.  In fact, as I talk with people, it is obvious many hate their job.  Every morning their alarm goes off, and they say it is pure torture to make themselves get up and go to work.  Throughout the day they are continually looking at the clock…counting the minutes until they can escape…until the next morning when they do it all over again.

 

I’ll be honest, this breaks my heart.  Life is so short…and to spend every day wishing it to end…is a tragedy.  Life is hard enough as it is and to throw in the fact that where you spend most of your day isn’t where you want to be…is so sad.  Whether it is the actual work you do which you dislike…the people who you work with…or maybe even both…it makes for some very hard, long days.

 

The fifth truth that Louie Giglio shared in his book, Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table, states:

 

5. I serve at the pleasure of the King.

 

The work of Jesus transforms your work.  You don’t merely work at a job.  You serve Jesus Christ, the King of kings.

 

In light of this truth, here is a new personal vision statement, one you can remind yourself of each day:  I am dispatched by the Holy Spirit, on kingdom assignments, to be light in a darkened world, so others can see Jesus.

 

Plant this thought by memorizing this verse: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).  

 

I have a friend, Lisa, who really wishes she had a different job.  Honestly, I don’t think she dislikes her job as much as the fact that she has to drive close to 40 miles one way five days a week in all kinds of weather (trust me, the Midwest weather can be brutal!).  She pursues any leads she gets for a different job that would be closer to home…but at this point…no doors have been opened for her.

 

While Lisa has a right to complain because her circumstances aren’t ideal…she has chosen to live out the fifth truth I listed.  She believes she serves at the pleasure of her King.  She believes that the work of Jesus transforms her work and she doesn’t merely work at a job.  She serves Jesus Christ, the King of kings.  And above all, she believes she is dispatched by the Holy Spirit, on kingdom assignments, to be light in a darkened world, so others can see Jesus.

 

So you see, while Lisa doesn’t love her current circumstances…she loves her Savior…so she is using this journey she is on to be a light to those she meets every single day.  She cares about her co-workers and where they will spend eternity…so she makes the choice every day to be a light for her Jesus.  

 

What about you?  Are you currently working at a job or in a profession which you loathe?  Are you struggling to get out of bed each morning, because you know you will hate every minute until you come back home?  I wonder what would happen if this month, you started every day with this prayer:

 

“Father, help me to remember that where I clock-in today, is not just a job…

but an opportunity to serve you, the King of kings.  Bring to my mind, throughout the day, that I am being dispatched by the Holy Spirit, on a kingdom assignment, and I need to be a light in a dark world, so others can see You.  I know I have been chosen by You to impact eternity.  May I make you proud today, Jesus.  Amen.”

 

I can’t help but think your day might go just a little better if you start with this prayer before you even get out of bed.  Trust Him to lead you every step of the way today as you serve the King of kings!