Appreciation

Some friends of mine have 2 sons. Their oldest son is about 3 and a half which makes him just a couple months older than Evan (my youngest). About a year ago, this oldest son was diagnosed with autism. I got to spend some time with them over Christmas break and he was dramatically different from the last time we saw them just 8 months ago. You don't have to spend much time with the mom to tell that it is really really really hard. My heart just breaks when I think about them. I've got three healthy kids and it makes me feel guilty for times that I've taken them or their health for granted.

This week our prayer topic is appreciation. Too often we lament what we don't have and take for granted what we do have. Let's pray that we learn to appreciate the many gifts God has given us - children, significant others, material things, salvation, etc. It's hard in our affluent society because our abundance breeds apathy. Sometimes it takes hardship to wake us up to what's truly important. Since hardship wakes us up, we can come to appreciate hardship as Paul did - "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3. He knew that even when his situation was dismal by worldly standards, God was still doing a work in him. Ultimately, what he is appreciating is God's love.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob

The real deal

The Rio Grande flows right through the middle of Albuquerque. People who've never seen the Rio Grande assume that the river is big simply based on the name. However, the name is deceiving. The reality is that the Rio Grande is no bigger than a big stream back in Pennsylvania. In short, the reality doesn't live up to the label.

As Christians, we wear the label "Child of God". This Wednesday, we are praying that our reality lives up to this label. We are praying that we are indeed walking the talk.

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

A couple questions to think about this week:
1. Am I seeking Him… Seeking His will… Seeking His ways? Or am I doing my own thing and hoping God's will matches up with my will?
2. Would a complete stranger suspect that I'm a Christian after spending a short time with me? Would they see love, mercy, faith, compassion, peace, etc.?
3. Am I the same person outside of church as I am in church? Or do I let the world's ways creep in and crowd out God.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob

Fellowship

Today is the last day of my Christmas vacation. We fly back to Albuquerque early this afternoon. We had a great time visiting, spending time with, relating to, and conversing with family and friends. There were many deep conversations on a variety of topics which is one of my favorite things to do.

Yesterday, I got the opportunity to have lunch with one of the list members. It was a great time of connecting and talking about a wide range of topics. One topic that came up is how we both have people in our lives with which we never seem to have deep conversations. And it's not from a lack of trying. These conversations always seem to just stay in the safe ground of the superficial. Weather, sports, work, etc. You can probably think of some relationships in your life that fit this profile. People who you love dearly but don't feel like you really know them. People who you wonder if anybody other than God really knows them. People who you wonder if they really know anybody.

In order for "iron to sharpen iron", it needs to rub together. When one of us refrains from deep, intimate fellowship, we not only hinder our own maturity, we also hinder the maturity of those around us. This Wednesday let's pray for our fellowship. That it is deep, intimate, honest, loving, authentic, biblical... And that all of the people in our lives who never seem to get past the superficial, come to understand the gift that true fellowship is.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob

Resolutions

I've been here in Pennsylvania for more than a week and it has been wonderful seeing and spending time with family and friends. It really was a great Christmas. One common lament of this time of year is the extra weight people put on from the overindulgence of food and drink. I don't think I escaped those extra pounds this year… Everybody I visited felt the need to fatten me up... I've come to the conclusion that my family must think there is no food in New Mexico :)

With New Year's resolutions right around the corner, this Wednesday we are praying about change. I think a lot of us tend to make the cosmetic type of resolutions - "I'm going to lose 10 pounds"… "I'm going to start working out again"… etc. But what about the heart-change type of resolutions - "I'm going to become more forgiving"… "I'm going to become more patient"… etc.

Whatever the resolution, prayer is an essential element in any decision for change - before, during, and after:
Before - "Lord, does this change fit with Your will? Is it biblical? Is there some change You wish me to make that I am not seeing or that I don't want to admit to?" Remember how Paul had asked God to remove the thorn from his side but it wasn't in God's will.
During - "Lord, help me make this change. I can't do it without You. I rely on You for everything." Read the Psalms for many examples.
After - "Thank you Lord. In the process of changing me You have taught me even more about losing myself and depending on You." Read the Psalms for many examples of this as well.

One last thought on this topic. You may be one of the many who can point to your childhood or some trauma from your past and link it to current behavior. Maybe it affects your patience, how you trust others, how easily you become angry, etc. No matter what it is, too often, we let the link to the past be the final step in the process. We've figured out why we're angry, impatient, un-trusting, and assume the stance of "well that's just who I am." Let's pray that we don't fall into this trap. Let's not use the past as an excuse when it should be a catalyst. The process of self discovery should lead to the question - "Now that I know why I am the way I am, how do I change?" To summarize this another way - the past is never an excuse for not doing God's will in the future.

Have a great week and a great fast.
Your brother,
Bob