Strength too Small

Proverbs 24:10 (NLT) If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

This particular verse has always baffled me a little bit. At first it seems like sort of a statement that is made to taunt you. It doesn't give you a warm and fuzzy feeling that’s for sure. At its core wisdom is practical skill for living. It is taking tried and true knowledge and applying it to real life. 

We are all going to encounter pressure at some point in our life. It could be financial, spiritual, physical, or emotional pressure. Other words Bible translators use for the word 'pressure' in this verse are: adversity, trouble, and crises. We don’t always know when we are going to encounter adversity or find ourselves in a crisis, but I can guarantee that in this life they will find us. 

I have found a couple of nuggets of wisdom hidden within this verse.

1) The Boy Scout Motto is “Be Prepared”. Preparation is usually not glamorous or fun, but it is needed when when facing adversity. Strength is not built in one day. Physical strength is built with hard work, commitment, and resistance. This same principle can be tied to many other aspects of our life. Maybe it’s building an emergency fund for a financial rainy day. It could be shedding some extra pounds at the gym before you have a health issue. Maybe it’s finding daily time in the Bible to know the promises of God to cling to when in trial. By nature I am not the most disciplined person, but as I get older I have learned that living a lifestyle of strength gathering provides for stable living. I remember years ago when I was going through a rough time as a new manager my boss gave me a nugget of wisdom. He said that as I grew the things that are hard for me now will be nothing for me to handle in the future. He also said that in the future there would be bigger trials to overcome. He was right....Strength builds upon strength.  

2) This verse also shows us that adversity or pressure is a true test of what is really inside of us. In my early twenties when I lived in Texas I was apart of a large and dynamic college ministry. I lived with Christian guys and basically my life revolved around this ministry and my walk with Christ. When I took my first career job in Portland, Oregon all the structure I had around me was gone and I was tested by trial. That trial came from loneliness, disillusionment, and temptation. I did not pass the test. I found out that without the external structure around me my faith was not as strong as I thought. Actually, those years of failure and trial have now led to a faith in God that has deep roots. Not that He has changed at all, but my level of trust in Him has grown. If you read 1 Peter you will learn that your faith will be tested but it is to prove it to be true gold. Some adversity is meant to make you stronger and sort of the gunk in your life. 

God does not desire for you to fail under pressure. He desires you to grow to be strong and healthy just like any good Father would. I don't love adversity, but I know that my heavenly Father is my strength and my strength builder.

It time to bulk up...you know whats coming. 

Knowing Whose and Who

So some of you may know that we started a new ministry late last year called Equip. Our desire is to see people Equipped for the work of ministry. I believe every person who is a believer in Jesus is also called to the ministry. We are each called to be ambassadors and  representatives of His Goodness. The "Gospel" means "good news" and it is not just a select few who are called to spread this news...it is all who belong to Jesus. I don't subscribe to the philosophy of clergy and laypeople. Sure, some may be in full time ministry and others may function in an office in the church (teacher, pastor, evangelist, bishop,etc.) But when Jesus gave the great commission and said go into all the world and preach the good news of the Kingdom... he did not add a clause that said (only if you have a theology degree and serve in full time ministry!) We are His hands, feet, and voice.... he chooses is US!

So....with all that said, I do believe that we need to be equipped for the work of ministry, and that not only involves correct thinking but should also translate into the practical experience of a demonstration of Gods power. Jesus method of teaching the Kingdom of God was show and tell. God Loves you...and let me show it by healing the sick and casting out evil. It is very effective...this show and tell method. We live in a society that promotes knowledge above actual experience and thinks knowledge transfer without practical application is enough. (I know this is not always the case) Leading a Muslim to the knowledge of Jesus is much more effective after his daughter just got healed by Jesus. But...that is not what this post in about. I believe the first step in this process of becoming an equipped minister of the Gospel is - Knowing Who He is Knowing Whose We Are-  We watched a teaching about this last week and afterwards the Holy Spirit showed up in such a way to demonstrate how much he loves us and demonstrate how God views us. It was pretty awesome.

For this Blog post I want to talk about Knowing Who He is.This statement talks about having a proper view of who God is. Growing up as a Pastors kid I remember feeling like I should be better and had this overall feeling that God was displeased with me most of the time. I could never measure up. I knew I sinned and quite frankly sinning seemed better to me than hanging out with some folks who followed God. It seemed there was this unending list of things that I should be doing, but did not do, and whenever I had an inkling of doing something good it seemed futile because my bad list was far longer than my good list. Frustrating. I thought the Gospel was "Repent, God is coming back for His church and you will be left behind to face Hell!" It was very effective as scaring the living daylights out of me, but not so effective at transforming me to follow Jesus. I finally gave up and put two middle fingers in the air and just walked away. This God business was lame and Christians did not seem so cool...they were kind of not really happy people and seemed condemned. (I later met real joy filled believers) I went to a Christian School and we were encouraged to get rid of "bad" music because it had demonic messages in it. Maybe it did...but at the time I really loved that music and dealing with the external fruit of someones life is not the most effective way to present the Gospel. Deal with the Heart in the Way of Love.

1 John 4:8 - Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

My view of God was very much an Old Covenant (Testament) view of God. Do things right and you will be blessed. Mess up and suffer the wrath and Judgement of God. Ironically, Jesus came to SAVE us from the wrath of God. Jesus tells a story of Father God that talks of a son who blew all his inheritance and went and partied like a rock star. Ended up in the projects eating out of In&Out dumpsters. Then he realizes his Dad's employees got it better than this. Maybe his dad will take him back as a low end employee? He comes back and Dad is stoked and gives the kid a new Armani suit and throws a huge block party to welcome back His son. He was lost, now he was found! His older brother (who represents the mindset of religion...you gotta earn it) is not happy because his brother did not deserve that treatment. I mean he did blow all his money at the clubs on Red Bull&Vodkas and high end weed.... ( OK I am paraphrasing Luke 15:11-32... read it for yourself)

God is Love and does not pay us back for what we deserve. The Father reaches out to us and wants to bring us home. Our true home is the Love of the Father made available through Jesus. Jesus takes your report card with your measly C's, D's and so many F's and does a great exchange. He will trade you His straight A's for your jacked up report card. See, Jesus was the perfect one that towed the straight line on our behalf. He did the hard work for you....he measured up so then you can measure up. Our work consists in believing that God is really Good and he wants us to come back home. Man...high end weed is nothing once you know the love of the Father. (Note: I challenge you that this love should not be just a head knowledge thing..but by the Holy Spirit we can really experience His love NOW)  Our work is to believe in Jesus's perfect report card that He give to us. That's so awesome..and really is Good News. He not only takes us back but brings restoration. Who is God? He is love, He is a perfect Father, He is Good, He is Almighty, He is Holy... and He wants to adopt you into his family.

My prayer is if you have drifted away from home you will find your way back. Just ask Him and he will listen and bring you Home again. Much Love - Now..isn't that Good News?