Get Ahold of God

My Utmost From His Highest

 “If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means “I must have it at once.” Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer.” CHAMBERS

Our culture thinks of lust in the sexual context .. but lust is not that limited .. lust is demanding … our self-will or ‘flesh’ or old nature is demanding,  Our old nature wants what it wants when it wants it.  Our old nature will do whatever it has to do to get it. (James 1:14-15) “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires (lust) and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  The result of pursuing lust is always the same … death … separation from God because of sin and that results in depression or sorrow.

Lust is not just about worldly things …. Chambers is saying that we can lust after spiritual things as well.  We want an answer from God .. a problem resolved … an illness healed … whatever it might be … Maybe we want to use God to satisfy the lust of our flesh.  I am reminded  of a song that Janis Joplin sang

 Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
Oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
I'm counting on you lord, please don't let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.

 (James 4:2-3)  You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

 “Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer.” CHAMBERS

 In Matthew 22, Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength … the second is to love others … The great revelation is that Life is about the pursuit of God and a relationship with Him.  Jesus turned the world upside down … God demonstrated His love for His creation through Him.  He did that so we could ‘get ahold of Him’. 

(Hebrews 4:14-16)  …. we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 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. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 Have you ever thought about prayer the way Chambers describes it? It is not about the object of our prayer but the One to whom we pray that is the purpose.

I could go on and on .. but I won’t … enough for today … Amen

Trust God - First!

MUFHH

“Once you have experienced the crisis in your will, you will take no thought of the cost when it begins to affect you externally. If you don’t deal with God on the level of your will first, the result will be only to arouse sympathy for yourself.”  CHAMBERS

Our response to God and life should be one that we have prepared for not one that is a reflex action to some event.  If we surrender our will to God .. put our full trust in Him, abandon ourselves to Him, then when “things happen” they do not cause us to stress out .. lose hope … our full trust is in God and not in our own strength … we have given our lives over to Him … (1 Peter 5:7) Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” The idea is that we put our trust in Him before we have some issue in our life … not like the man who waits to buy a fire extinguisher until he has a fire in his kitchen … when he returns .. his house has burned down … many people don’t even think about depending upon God until their “kitchen is on fire” and then they get upset with God for not being there when they needed help …

“You must be willing to be placed on the altar and go through the fire; willing to experience what the altar represents-burning, purification, and separation for only one purpose-the elimination of every desire and affection not grounded in or directed toward God. But you don’t eliminate it, God does.” CHAMBERS

The trials that we face in life actually have a greater purpose … (James 1:2-4) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The Bible is not a self-help book.  It is not about what I stop doing and start doing so my life is pleasing and useful to God.  It is God who brings the change in my life.  It starts with my giving up my right to myself …. (Romans 12:1-2) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Then continues with my living out my life .. building my relationship with God through His Word and Worship

“After you have gone through the fire, there will be nothing that will be able to trouble or depress you. When another crisis arises, you will realize that things cannot touch you as they used to do.” CHAMBERS

But becoming fireproof does not happen at once … like learning to read … you learn the alphabet … then words … then sentences … then paragraphs … then books …. Learning to lean on Jesus is a process … but it is a proven process … this is not a “it might happen” it is a “it will happen” if you place your trust in Him … You don’t have to go to a foreign land to have this relationship … and strength …. (Zechariah 4:6)  (It’s) 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Will I Follow Where He Leads Me?

My Utmost For His Highest

"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ’Well done.’ “  It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet."  CHAMBERS

When you serve God it must be without condition.  I will serve you but if it means that I have to put up with … whatever or whomever … then I will say, “That is not God.” And not do it.  Having done so I will have failed in my service.  God shapes us through service … the whole point is to be more like His Son, Jesus.  When the man told Jesus he would follow Him but first he had to bury his father, Jesus replied .. “Let the dead bury the dead” 

(Luke 9:60-62)   Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Jesus had left Heaven to do His Father’s will … He was going to the cross …. So why do we think that leaving our family in Alabama, for example, is asking too much of us? 

Recently I was asked to do something that didn't fit exactly with my view of what I am supposed to do, and my first response in my heart was … “I didn’t come all this way to do that!”  But as I prayed about it, I realized that it doesn’t matter what I do for God … if it is God, I am committed to serving Him … and it goes back to Chambers’ question .. “Am I willing to sacrifice myself for the work of another believer .. or do I want to tell God how I will serve Him?”  Am I willing to be seen as “nothing” by men in the service of the Lord.  I am used to being out front … in the lead … but not so here.  In the book “The Practice of the Presence” the author describes the attitude of Brother Lawrence

“so likewise, in his business in the kitchen (to which he had naturally a great aversion), having accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything easy, during the fifteen years that he had been employed there.”

So we start out with a natural inclination and preference.  Then God calls us to a place of His choosing and we are immediately faced with a conflict. Do I want to serve God or serve myself?  It is presumptuous to think that God will only ask us to do things that we ‘like’ to do.  Brother Lawrence spent 15 years in the kitchen … to which he had naturally a great aversion …. Brother Lawrence was sought out by many people because of the reflection of Jesus in his life.  Even while serving in the kitchen .. but actually more because of his serving in the kitchen …

So the question we must answer is this. Are we prepared to serve God not matter what and no matter where?  Or do we have preferences and priorities that trump what God wants?  Our truthful answer will determine our service and the quality of our life.  Like Brother Lawrence, I must pray for His grace to do my ‘work’ well. 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Charley

January 2012 Update

Greetings from Jacmel Haiti.

 

Martie and I have been in Jacmel since the 28^th of January.  It is good to be where God wants us.  I have shared this before, but while we were in Mississippi, someone asked if we ‘liked’ being in Mississippi.  At the time I thought it was an odd question, but on reflection I answered … “There is nothing better than being in the center of God’s will for your life; geography really has nothing to do with it.”  That is what they call an axiom … it is a starting point of truth from which other truths flow.

We continue to serve alongside Children’s Hope staff as we build the orphanage in Jacmel.  That is not without its challenges.  What we have is a couple who knows a good bit about a lot of things but also have a very good understanding that this is a spiritual quest and not the work of man.  Martie and I are in the deep end of the pool without our water wings … but when we look up we see our Father standing at the edge with His eyes fixed on us.  We are so thankful He doesn’t just toss us in the pool and walk off! 

One of the challenges has been to ensure that the sanitation system is adequate to support the number of children that Children’s Hope wants to take in after the construction is completed.  While I was in Alabama in January I met with several ‘experts’ and enlisted the assistance from men who have experience in excavation and sanitation systems.  I know more about septic tanks and how they work that I ever thought I would! 

Martie will be here with me for the month of February.  Jessica is in California while Martie is here.  We have some wonderful friends who are ministering to us by hosting Jessica … actually doing more than that … treating her like family.  God is Good – Bondye Bon. 

While we are in Elmore County, we are attending Santuck Baptist Church.  Pastor Gary Miller is leading an Experiencing God study and I was able to sit in on a couple of sessions and brought the book and videos with me to finish here.  We first studied Experiencing God in the early 90’s.  It was catalytic for us ... Launching us into a life of ministry that we had never imagined.   Blackaby says that we should “adjust our lives to God and pursue the kind of relationship in which you follow Him wherever He leads us…”  

My first project when I returned to Jacmel was not the septic system though, it was building a chicken coop for the orphanage so the children can have eggs in their diet– I am so thankful for Google.  Through the power of the internet,  I now understand the planning considerations necessary for chicken coops as well as septic systems.  A regular renaissance man.  Or not!

We are praying that we will have opportunity to build into the lives of the Haitians in the spiritual context as well as the physical of building an orphanage.

When we arrived one of the first things I heard was, there are a lot of Haitian men asking for you .. looking for work.  So the word is out!  If you want work .. talk to Pastor Charley. (The Haitians use Pastor as a distinction for those who are ordained .. not so much in the stricter definition that we use in the U.S.) With 80% unemployment in Haiti there is desperation in their eyes and in their voices.  I believe that same desperation is in their hearts.  When John Turnbull and Doug Moyer were here with me last December, we did a skit for the children based on Acts 3:1-11 .. Peter healing the lame man … “Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth…”  Offering a job is important, but offering life through Jesus is even more important.

We received a donation last month that will purchase 10 Haitian Creole Bibles.  As many of you know we distributed hundreds of Bibles in Mississippi and plan to continue that here in Haiti.  What rekindled that idea is this.  Last fall I was riding with Junior, our Tap-tap driver, and noticed a New Testament (in English) on the dash.  Knowing he does not read English I told him I noticed his Bible at which his face broke out in a broad smile.  He was proud of his Bible even though he could not read it.  How much more would he rejoice with a Bible he can read.  It is not my intent to teach him my language but to learn his … I am in his country, he is not in mine!

 Prayer Requests

Although we are not pressed to leave the home we are in, at some point we will need to find another place to call home while we are in the States.

We must sell the properties (our home and the mission house) in Mississippi.  A friend in Waveland has agreed to work with a Real Estate Agent to get them listed.  God will provide.

We still lack the funds to purchase the block press that we want to use in Jacmel.  The total cost of purchase, shipping and importing the block press from India to Haiti is $8000.  Rather than delay the construction, we intend to start building with conventional blocks and improved construction methods. 

Transportation costs to Haiti are about $1000 per trip per person.  Between Martie and me, we will make 7 to 8 trips in 2012.

Our Health Insurance costs continue to increase every year. 

Martie’s hip is really challenging her mobility.  Please pray for healing.  She plans to see another doctor next month for a second opinion.

We want to expand our spiritual impact in Jacmel. We are not completely sure about the scope of that so we are asking God for clarity.

Support for our ministry.  It takes money to do what we do.  God has been faithful to provide what we need when we need it, but He always provides through believers.  Either corporately through local churches or through individuals and families.  Pray about how you might help us reach out to the people of Haiti. For more information go to our web site …

http://www.pathfindermission.org/Donations.html

 Pathfinder Mission

P.O. Box 240185

Eclectic, AL 36024

www.pathfindermission.org

 Bondye Beni Nou (God Bless You All)

Just Jesus!

MUFHH

When a moral person is confronted with contempt, immorality, disloyalty, or dishonesty, he is so repulsed by the offense that he turns away and in despair closes his heart to the offender. But the miracle of the redemptive reality of God is that the worst and the vilest offender can never exhaust the depths of His love. Paul did not say that God separated him to show what a wonderful man He could make of him, but “to reveal His Son in me. . .” CHAMBERS

Do you remember the last time someone did something that displeased you?  How did you respond?  With an attitude?  Did that change the way you ‘felt’ about that person?  Did you think ‘I will have a hard time forgiving that person’?  or worse … I can’t ever forgive that person!   If Jesus is to be revealed in us … What would His response be?  Understanding the person’s inability to be anything but what they are aside from yielding their lives to Him … or … condemning them for what they are and believing that they will never change … That is tough isn’t it?  There are people in your life that have hurt you deeply and you might ‘feel’ that they don’t deserve anything ‘good’ to happen in their life because of it.  Jesus said ‘Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing’ (paraphrased) (Luke 23:24) He was hanging on a cross!

Do not be deceived … you cannot live the Christian life in the strength of your flesh … it is impossible to do what only the Holy Spirit can give us strength to do … ‘I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength.’ (Philippians 4:13)

We normally think if this in terms of our personal struggles within ourselves .. not with our relationships with other people, especially those we don’t like very much …

You may have noticed I have used the word ‘feel’ a number of times …. That is because our feelings or flesh drive most of our attitudes toward others .. not our faith in Jesus.  That is what Chambers is saying Jesus wants to change in us … that Jesus would be revealed in the way we respond to life … No more mean thoughts, no more harsh words .. no more excuses like “I am not perfect!”  Just Jesus!

Responding to the Call of God

MUFHH

Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16  Paul’s words have to do with our being made servants of Jesus Christ, and our permission is never asked as to what we will do or where we will go. God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means being able to hear the call of God (Romans 1:1). Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” CHAMBERS

No matter what the role we are called to serve in – once you have received the call … you cannot turn back  … there is nothing that will satisfy you…. You may try to ignore it, it may grow feint because of all of the things you let into your life … but the call will not go away … there is a knowing that there is something greater for you than to just sit in a pew … or worse … just live as if there was never even a relationship with the Lord … Do not quench the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Once someone begins to hear that call, a suffering worthy of the name of Christ is produced. Suddenly, every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains— “. . . separated to the gospel. . . .” Woe be to the soul who tries to head in any other direction once that call has come to him. …… Beware of competing calls once the call of God grips you. CHAMBERS

 I was saved when I was 26 years old.  I knew soon after that I had been called to serve the Lord.  I don’t know if I was supposed to wait for almost 20 years or not .. but during those years, I always knew that I was called to something more than what I was doing.  Now as I type this sitting in a dark room in Jacmel Haiti .. I know that there is nothing better than where the Lord has me.  I am fulfilling His call … and yet I sense there is even more to do .. God is like that … He is the Creator … we are like ants .. less than ants by comparison .. and yet He wants to work through us to accomplish His purposes … why He has chosen to do things in that manner, I don’t know … no one does but the Father … yet at the same time He has given us the capacity to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to joining Him in His work. 

What is the Lord saying to you?

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Charley

Be a Witness

MUFHH

Paul states here that the call of God is to preach the gospel. But remember what Paul means by “the gospel,” namely, the reality of redemption in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are inclined to make sanctification the goal of our preaching. Paul refers to personal experiences only by way of illustration, never as the end of the matter. We are not commissioned to preach salvation or sanctification— we are commissioned to lift up Jesus Christ.  CHAMBERS

Jesus said “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”  John 12:32

We are not all called to be preachers …we are not all evangelists … but we are all called to be witnesses.  Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The one passion of Paul’s life was to proclaim the gospel of God. He welcomed heartbreak, disillusionment, and tribulation for only one reason— these things kept him unmovable in his devotion to the gospel of God. CHAMBERS

Isn’t that strange?  That difficulty would be a good thing?  But like the butterfly emerging .. if there were not difficulty in getting out of the cocoon, it could not fly when it emerged. 

James 1:2-4 “….count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The point ……  don’t look at problems you face with disappointment but see them as opportunities to trust God and see Him at work.  That requires you to go beyond trusting your feelings .. and walking and living by Faith … that's right where God wants you …

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Charley