The Smell of Death

A viewer called me the other day wanting the forecasted wind speed for the coming day because he was going duck hunting. I found myself having a flash back to my days growing up at home. My dad and brother would go duck hunting and bring back their find and commence to plucking feathers. Afterwards, the worst smell of singed feathers and flesh would permeate the outside. I can still smell that stench to this day. Yuk!

I wonder if the Old Testament temples smelled with their burning sacrifices? Figuratively speaking, the more death God smells, the closer He can come. The New Testament equivalent of death is repentance, brokenness and humility. It brings the manifest presence of God near. Acts 17:30 says, "These times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent." But we often avoid repentance because we don't like the smell of death in our lives or our desires. Although the smell isn't enticing to us, it is very enticing to God because it is a signal that He can once again draw close to those He loves.

What do you need to put on the altar to sacrifice? What do you need to get rid of in your life--a lying tongue, an extramarital relationship, a habit, an attitude? Even Elijah didn't ask for the fire of God to fall down on the altar until he had loaded it down with a worthy sacrifice. We've been praying for the fire to fall for too long, but we haven't put anything on the altar!

Not As 'All Together' As I Thought

I'm a go-getter. If something needs to be done, I'll do it. If something mechanical needs fixing, I can't promise I'll fix it, but I'll at least try (and sometimes make it worse). My parents raised me to be independent and not to rely on anyone else to "fix" my life or my situation.

However, this personality trait of mine can sometimes be my biggest downfall.

I get tired of trying to make things happen, don't you? For some time, God has been convicting me to stop being in the conductor's seat and let Him take over. Now He wants to make it happen! In the same way you and I might feel embarrassed in a restaurant or grocery store when we see someone's children acting up and getting away with it, God feels the same way about our self-righteousness or pride. God is uncomfortable with it--in our home, in our workplace and in our church. We are not "as together" as we think we are.

Philippians 3:12 says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Paul was basically saying, "Father, what are You doing? That's what I'll do."

But that takes quite a bit of repentance on my I'll-do-it-myself attitude. Repentance is the answer because it prepares the way for God to move and makes the road of my heart straight. Repentance prepares for His presence. In fact, you can't live in His presence without repentance.

How long has it been since you laid down everything that you've been trying to "fix", everything that occupied you, and ran down the road of repentance to pursue God?

(Barbie will be the guest speaker at Brandon Baptist's ladies brunch this Thursday.)

All You Need To Do Is Rest

"I feel like you are a lot closer to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. That's why I'm asking you to put me on your prayer list. I've had so many things go wrong in the last 2-3 months that I don't even feel worthy enough to pray for help. I try to do things by helping others and it always seems to backfire on me. I'm not doing something right or at least the wrong way. I don't feel comfortable telling anybody my weaknesses so I'm asking you to pray for help and healing for me."

I received the above email this week from a viewer who is obviously struggling. We all have issues that come up and hit us out of the blue; trials we weren't expecting.

The reason the children of Israel wandered in a small, triangular piece of land for 40 years was because of unbelief and restlessness. Hebrews 3:12 says, "See to it that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God." Verse 19 says, "So we see that they were not able to enter (the Promised Land), because of their unbelief."

If you are a child of the living God, you must believe that He has a perfect plan for you and your best interest in mind. The children of Israel didn't "get that" because they were too busy second guessing God's ways. The Israelites thought they had a better plan in mind.

The next chapter of Hebrews tells an even greater message. Hebrews 4:1-10 are a just a few verses but it mentions the word "rest" a total of 8 times. The children of Israel didn't have faith, or believe, in God's guiding hand which got them stressed out, worried and frazzled, which did not allow them to rest in Him! Are you seeing the correlation here?

The stressors in life are going to come. It's a given. But if you believe God will get you through, even on the toughest days, you can rest (and have peace) that He's in control.

Limping Into 2012

As I was driving to Neshoba County yesterday afternoon to spend the day with the family, in the quietness of the car I reflected on the past year. I began to think of what the Lord has been dealing with me on this coming year, the areas of which He wants to see me grow on a deeper level and the areas in my life He will be increasing, I couldn't help but notice a dog up ahead. The dog was limping and had it's front paw drawn up. The other dogs walking in front of him were able to navigate the roadway without hesitation, but he was being left behind. His lack of endurance was getting the best of him.

Although the New Year causes many to get excited in anticipation of the coming months and the changes ahead, some are already limping. They were limping at the end of 2011 and now they find themselves limping into 2012 and it's just a few hours old!

Romans 15:5 says, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourself as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Our God will give you endurance to hold on and keep believing and encouragement to square your shoulders and move forward.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Our God will give you hope and a settled confidence that the God who loves you will work night and day on your behalf as you trust in Him.

Whether you find yourself running or walking into 2012, you have God's Sovereign Word that He will help you climb the upward path, one "limp" at a time.

The Story in Nestor The Long-Eared Donkey

Last night, I pulled up YouTube for my children to watch one of my favorite Christmas claymations--"Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey". I remember watching this special on television as a child and I've noticed over the years it is no longer shown (probably because it talks of the Christ child?).

It's the story of Nestor, a donkey born with extremely long ears. Nestor was constantly made fun of by the other animals in the stable. Through some circumstances, he and his mother found themselves on their own, kicked out of the stable trying to survive a blizzard. Nestor's mother dies in the cold and he's all alone. Tilly, a cherub, falls from a cloud and is sent on a mission to help guide Nestor out of the wilderness. On their journey, Tilly tells Nestor all he has to do is be obedient to the sounds he hears with his long ears because his ears hear sounds other won't. Tilly guides him to another land where Nestor is taken in by an animal trader. The animal trader quickly finds out he has "a dud" of a donkey in Nestor because of his long ears. However, Joseph and Mary happen upon this animal trader's tent needing a donkey to make the long trip to Bethlehem. They pick Nestor because he's short enough for Mary to climb onto; not because of his ears. Through a sand storm, Nestor hears the guidance from above and makes his way to Bethlehem. While there, it's obvious the inns are full. With ease, Nestor remembers how warm and cozy the stable used to be when he was younger and guides Joseph and Mary to a stable where baby Jesus was born.

It was a sweet story and I obviously appreciate it more as an adult than I did when I was a kid.

In your life, there will be various trials and hardships that will come. There will be plenty of nay-sayers and wrong decisions made along the way. Through all of the confusion and frustration of life, we must go back to what we know. For Nestor the long-eared donkey it was the stable. For us, it could be the simplicity of one of my favorite children's songs:

Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus love me
The Bible tells me so!

Merry Christmas!