Family Affair

My wife and I traveled to Florida this weekend for the very special wedding of someone I have known since she was a toddler. Her father has been a mentor, colleague, and friend for many years and I was deeply honored to be part of their family's day. The conditions were almost perfect and  the details came together in a harmonious blessing for the couple and all of us in attendance as well.

The weekend carried another special blessing as I was able to spend time with many of my friends from Mainland High School. These are people that have been an influential part of my life for 30 years—first as a student, then as a co-worker, and ultimately as close friends. We have endured so much together in that time. We have shared high peaks of joy, deep valleys of sorrow, frustrating seasons of growth, and great life change. There is a history of rolling laughter, sweat equity, kind generosity, stubborn disagreement, and a shared passion for making a difference in our community. Together we have made a mutual investment in thousands of lives and most importantly in each other.

These people are family to me. We know each other—the good and the bad—and we love each other deeply. We have seen each other at our best and our worst while loving each other for the complete picture of who we are. There is a bond between us all that encompasses so much of our life history and is strong enough to unite us across the miles and years. We may not share bloodlines, but we have shared so many other parts of our life forging relationships that bring great joy to my soul. My heart is full from time together with these wonderful people and I am grateful our lives have intersected in so many ways.

Hide It Away

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Why do we hide things? So others can't find it? To protect it? As an act of preservation?

We most likely wouldn't hide something of little or no value. We would only make the effort if it was something of great worth. I would think that our expectation would be to hide it for some future purpose.

That's why we should commit ourselves to studying God's Word. It's not so we can impress anyone with our knowledge and ability to recall long passages. We do this so that the power of the right path is there when we need it.

Set It

He (King Rehoboam) did evil because he had not set 
his heart on seeking the LORD.     2 Chronicles 12:14

I don't think that I am an evil person. I am far from perfect (ask anyone who knows me even a little bit), but I don't believe that I am inherently awful and ill-willed. The scary thing however, is that the slippery slope from "not bad" to evil isn't that far of a journey. Decisions made with a lack of conscience will certainly expedite that progression, but that isn't the root of the problem. When we choose to passionately seek out anything except God we are on a dangerous pathway. Our desire for satisfying personal ambitions, pleasing other people, or finding personal happiness can be toxic when we remove a desire for God from the heart of our search.

I don't believe that all of my decisions will be right or work out perfectly, but I do believe that my motives will be more pure when I search for God above all else. This isn't always easy, but by regularly questioning my desires and intentionally striving to honor God I can feel more secure in the outcome of my decisions.

Guarded-Part 2

Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

What things do we need to protect our hearts from? We each have areas of personal sin that cause us more difficulty than it does for someone else. There is still a root of sin that has the potential to damage each of us if we are not careful. We have to learn what we need to guard against so that we can be successful in our protection. What do we need to guard against?

• Gossip: needless conversation about others that is not encouraging or uplifting
• Lust: fixating (even briefly) on others & allowing your mind
• Envy: becoming so desirous of someone else & their status/possessions/abilities
• Pride: giving ourselves the credit instead of honoring God
• Apathy: resigning ourselves to not caring 
• Superiority: a hardening of the heart as we elevate ourselves above others
• Self-worship: seeking our own satisfaction instead of looking to honor God

Determining our areas of vulnerability and developing a plan of protection will help us be successful in guarding our hearts. We may find that that old adage is true: sometimes the best offense is a good defense.

Guarded

Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

The heart is our most vital organ. While we can live (for a while anyway) with any other organ malfunctioning, we won't survive if our heart doesn't work. All other bodily functions are dependent on the heart and its ability to pump blood. Physically, our rib cage protects the heart from incidental & intentional damage by deflecting a blow that could potentially kill us. Our bodies are intentionally designed with this bony shield in place to keep our hearts protected.

On a spiritual level the heart is also where all of our emotions and desires flow from. It is what drives us to take action, to pursue relationships, change careers, and be passionate about making a difference. Our heart is the center of who we are and it fuels all other things--both healthy & unhealthy. What do we use to protect our heart spiritually? What barriers do we put up that keep us away from harmful thoughts & actions?

• Accountability partners: allowing other people the right to speak truth and help us stay focused
• Honest communication with our spouse: sharing struggles & working together in love
• Daily prayer & confession of sin: constantly asking God to cleanse & heal our heart
• Internet filters & reporting software: practical tools that will help us avoid potential pitfalls
• Avoidance of tempting places & people: learning new behaviors and avoiding old ones
• Consistent spiritual disciplines: practicing the habits of the Christian faith to maintain our commitment

Guarding your heart isn't a passive activity, but something we have to earnestly & diligently pursue. Our heart is valuable enough that the effort is worth it.

See Me

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; 

Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I'm about; See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong-- then guide me on the road to eternal life. Psalm 139:23-24 (The Message)

God, You already know my heart. I am the one who struggles with its condition. You know me far better than I know myself and while I wallow too often in my own insecurities and fickle spirit, I pray that what You see is a man that wants to love You.

Please remove from me those things that offend You and create in me a willing heart to let those things go. I submit to You and Your authority in my life. My hindrances are of my own construction as You have removed the barriers and obstacles between us. While I may imagine a wall to overcome, I am the one who keeps building it up. 

Renew my mind today, Father. Refresh my spirit and fill me with a powerful sense of Your presence. I desire to know You as intimately as You know me.

You Alone

I'm always thinking about what it means to be a better husband, father, friend, and pastor. I can see how much work God has done in me and yet realize how much more is still to be done. I struggle with the big sins that most men do--pride and lust--and have to be diligently focused on the Spirit or they will overwhelm me.

I was praying today and thinking about the things that hold me back from future growth & maturity. I prayed, "Lord, please change my heart so that I can be a better pastor and leader." I heard God's answer to me, but it was definitively different from my prayer. 

"I want to change your heart, but not so you can be a better pastor & leader. I want it changed so that you know me more. I want you transformed for your own relationship with me and not for the sake of anyone else. Everything else will flow out of this. Let me search your heart and make you new so that you can be with me." 

This wasn't a shocking revelation, but it was a message I obviously needed to hear. My desire for transformation is genuine, but my motivation continues to need work.