A God-Incident

 "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14

I know that you are familiar with the term "co-incident". Two or more incidents that occur at the same time but are not necessarily related to each other. One did not happen because the other did. Random events - unrelated to each other. Well, there is something that I refer to as a God-incident. The distinction is that its occurrence could not have been planned. That the probability of it occurring is, well, improbable. But it happened anyway. I am about to tell you about one.

You know that we are in Florida following the call of God. It is the 5th time that God has called us out of where we were to a new place to accomplish His purposes.  Right now we are setting up our base of operations. It has not been without its challenges.  And, frankly, we have been asking God if we had heard Him correctly. Today we received a resounding "Yes!"

Mandi is getting her RV setup. She came to the door of our RV and told me that there was someone outside in a truck and I should come out to see if they were looking for me. So I did.  Actually the guys were looking at some damaged electrical equipment that occurred during the Hurricane.

I introduced myself and was talking to a man named Tom Haberkorn.  I thought that I had heard that name before but dismissed the thought. I soon discovered that Tom was a deacon at a local Baptist church and he gave me his card. I gave him mine. Co-incidentally, Martie had mentioned that she had wanted to attend his church when we drove past it earlier that week. I told Tom we would come to the church on Sunday. 

Later in the day, I got a text from Tom saying he had called his son to see if he knew us. It seems Tom's wife, Debbie, remembered my name when Tom told her about meeting me. His son, Tom, said yes. It seems that Tom, the dad, and Debbie had sat in one of the Sunday School classes that we taught at Gateway Baptist Montgomery, AL in 2015 or 2016. His son, Tom and his wife Jennifer were members of our class. And that is the God-incident. We had not asked for a sign, but we got one anyway - by the grace of God.  Yes, we are supposed to be here.

Experiencing God - Reality or Principle #4 - God speaks! He speaks by the Spirit through His Word, prayer, circumstances - or incidents, and other Believers.  For us we are hearing God Lima Charlie - Licken Chicken - Loud and Clear!  

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

A Friend In Need Is

"And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. Luke 11:5-8

There is a difference between being a friend and being friendly.  Actually, in life, we have few "friends". People who are more like family than people you like to be around.  People who, although being inconvenienced, are willing to be a help in time of need.  I am certain you have heard the saying, " A friend in need is a friend indeed." Catching phrase. Frankly I had not thought it through for many years. Like the man who was awakened in the middle of the night in Luke chapter 11.  It was not a convenient time but his friend was in need so he helped him. Why because he was his friend.

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." - John 15:13-14

Jesus said the greatest expression of love is to sacrifice for a friend. Time, money, compassion, companionship. Walking through the difficulties of life with someone. I was talking with my daughter about this the other day.  So many people have said they wanted to help in some way, but when the time came, "crickets".  I am supposing they saw the offer as being the "good thing" and had no intention of actually doing it. It is not about feeling good about yourself for even thinking good thoughts towards someone. Laying you life down means that you actually are going to do it.

"A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

We all know many people who are friendly. Being friendly doesn't cost you anything and even makes you feel good. But being a friend - well that can be very costly. There are few who are willing to pay the price. The question for each of is, I suppose, is "What kind of friend am I?" The friendship I have been referring to has spiritual roots. Born from our love for God and love for others. Willing to bear the burdens of other.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Listening To The Sounds Of Grumbling

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" -  Philippians 2:13-15

"And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." - 1 Peter 4:8-10

"These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ" - Jude 16-17

These are but a few of the references in the Bible to children of God grumbling. You know about Israel on their way to the Promised Land and their attitude. Do you recall the phrase "God loves a cheerful giver"? Why do suppose that is?

Well let's imagine that God has our best in mind. He asks us to demonstrate our love for Him by our willingness to set aside earthly comforts and "treasure" in favor of showing our devotion to Him. Not just giving money - although the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. Possessions can become our "Precious"! No, we are asked to lay our lives down as living sacrifices - Romans 12:1-2. Without grumbling. Have you heard the saying "You can make me do it but you can't make me like it"? That would come from the mouth and heart of a grumbler.

Was Jesus being unreasonable when he told the young man to sell everything he had and follow Jesus? That is what God asks every Believer to do.  Abandon your devotion to the things of this world and devote your heart fully to God. Without grumbling. Without regret. Lot's wife was a grumbler.

When the preacher tells you that the local church needs your tithe - do you resent having to give up money you could spend or hoard for another purpose? 

Grumblers can be very pious.  "mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage." When they are really whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones.

Lest you are thinking that I am referring to someone else and their name has come to your mind. Recall Jesus' words.

"And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." - Matthew 7:2-5

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

 “What does the Lord require of you, O man. But to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” - Micah 6:8

Have you ever heard that expression? Normally the phrase is used to raise an awareness of a contribution or act performed by someone whose praises were yet unsung.  Most everyone wants to know they have value and are favored by others.  In a world that is dominated by “bad news”, the acknowledgement and even glamorizing of the evil that prevails, to hear of good things is rare.  Micah 6:8 asks this rhetorical question and then provides the answer. 

Walking humbly is what I am addressing today.  It is OK that people recognize your achievements, your character, your acts of kindness.  As Christians, we are to walk humbly.  To walk humbly means to live with an awareness that God is the source of all good things.  If you have any ability, it is because God formed you that way.  You may nurture that ability and apply it, but its source is God.  

 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10

Now and again, people may want to recognize you for your good works.  The natural world has no spiritual discernment, so they see acts of kindness as being the same whether motivated by God or not.  And if  you give God the credit.  If you give Him the glory. The world says, “isn’t that special!” As a matter of fact it is.  To give God the credit when you are praised is not false humility.  It is the real deal.  

“Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” - Psalm 96:3

We have the amazing opportunity to see God at work.  People may marvel at the work done, but without spiritual eyes, they will not have understanding that God is at work.  It will seem like an amazing coincidence.  Or perhaps that act of an amazing person.  When in fact it is because of an amazing God.  

The bottom line on the bottom line is this.  Be careful that you don’t rob God of His glory. Give all glory to Him.  Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Christoph Graupner would signify that the work was produced for the sake of praising God with “Soli Deo Gloria”. That should be at the heart of every act – everything we do. 

That is one of the 5 Solas of the Reformation.  

Sola Scriptura  - “Scripture Alone” : The Bible alone is our highest authority.

Sola Fide - “Faith Alone” : We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Sola Gratia - “Grace Alone” :  We are saved by the grace of God alone.

Solus Christus – “Christ Alone : Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

Soli Deo Gloria – “To the Glory of God Alone” : We live and do for the glory of God alone.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

What You Can and Cannot Control In Life

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

We have been experiencing no small amount of adversity as we press forward with what we are confident is the calling of God. In the face or should I say the midst of it, a thought occurred to me. "I may not be able to control what happens to me/us, but I can control how I respond to what happens to me/us." (Charley Elgin) Read through the fruit of the Spirit again. It is the description of the life of the Christian walking by the Spirit of God. Submitted to His leading. When "life" lands on his doorstep he/she responds with peace, patience and self control. That would be your spiritual self control that is born out of the presence of the Spirit and not your human effort to obey what the Bible says. So you might say control that is born out of yielding to the Spirit and not to the flesh.

"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." - James 1:2-4

James says that trials test our faith - uh - yeah! and that testing when experienced while submitted to the Spirit yields patience.  In fact it seems that enduring trials are a necessary part of our spiritual shaping.  Hopefully this will give you a different perspective on the trouble that will surely come your way.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God." - Psalm 42:11

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Why Do I Love Thee There Is Only One Reason

 "Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Matthew 22:37-39

Driving on I-10 today from 0500 to 2100 - yes some stops along the way - but plenty of time to reflect on the why's of this journey and some eternal truths that often ping around inside my brain :)

The one that stuck today was the question of "Why do I love others?" Because I am commanded to is the easy answer. But, what is the reason for loving others - especially the ones that are a bit like porcupines - just really hard to hug!

There is a chain of events - God loves us - we love God - we love others because God loves them and we love what God loves.

Of course there is a flip side to that. God loves us - we don't love God - so we don't love others that God loves because we don't love what God loves. Even if we pretend we do to gain acceptance from others.

You know Micah 6:8 says essentially the same thing.

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

Why do we do justly? Because God is just. Why do we love mercy. Because God is merciful. Why do we walk humbly in reference to God? Because we love God. Why do we love God? Because God first loved us.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

When God Shows Up

"When it pleased God…" —Galatians 1:15

“As servants of God, we must learn to make room for Him— to give God “elbow room.” We plan and figure and predict that this or that will happen, but we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. […] Keep your life so constantly in touch with God that His surprising power can break through at any point. Live in a constant state of expectancy, and leave room for God to come in as He decides.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Do you expect God to show up, personally, for you?  Maybe you do or maybe you think that was for another time or for more spiritual people than you. What does God showing up look like in your mind?   A burning bush?  The Shekinah glory as a cloud or pillar of fire?  Or perhaps a still small voice?

“And he [the Lord] said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?””  -  1 Kings 19:11-13

If you are looking for God to show up .. well the fact is, He is already here.  When we gather to worship, we don’t have to ask the Lord to show up.  His Spirit is in each believer.  People may not be willing to admit it, but they would really prefer that God show up in the wind or earthquake or fire. 

I was on staff with Promise Keepers for a time.  I attended the PK Pastor’s conference in 1995 in Atlanta.  There were about 40,000 ministers in the Georgia Dome.  As we all prayed in silence, I peeked.  I confess it!  I was wondering how God would show himself in this glorious event. Perhaps the roof would open and God’s Shekinah Glory would once again appear.  As I looked up, I saw a single dove flying in circles above the crowd.  I closed my eyes, opened them again and the dove was gone.  So I thought – get a grip Charley, you were seeing things.  After the Amen … a man standing next to me said “Hey did you see that Dove flying over the crowd?”  Is it OK if God doesn’t answer your prayer in the way you would like?  By the way, for weeks after, Doves were following me around.  Sitting on the porch rail watching me. Standing on the curb next to the road I was driving by. I won’t go into details … but it was not my imagination.  At the time little unnerving if I am honest.  But I thank God for the reminder. 

 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” - Jeremiah 29:13

Have you ever known someone who was not really interested in you, but only in what you could give them?  Why are you interested in God?  Is He merely your personal first responder or is He the source of life?  He has already given you the greatest gift that can be given – eternal life in His Son.  He has sealed you with His Spirit.  He has blessed you with every spiritual blessing.  (Read Ephesians 1 and 2) That, my friend, is a reason to rejoice no matter what comes your way in this life. No matter how God shows himself.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone