Ever feel surrounded on every side?  Trapped?  I do too. 

That's what happened to Moses and the Hebrews.  God sent great miracles/plagues (depending on whose side you were on) to Egypt and the Hebrews were released from slavery.  God was with the Hebrews!  But as the Hebrews were marching out out of Egypt boldly, Pharaoh changed his mind and set out with his army to destroy the Hebrews.  

The Hebrews were against the sea with fortifications on either side of them and Pharaoh's army coming at them on the fourth side.  Surrounded.  Then they cried out in fear and terror to Moses, "Why did you bring us here to our death?"

Marching through life with God in boldness to trembling in fear.  Because the situation changed.  That's me.  Maybe that's you.

But God was still with them.  He is still with me.  He is still with you. 

So why would God lead us boldly into trouble?  Why did he do that to the Hebrews?   The answer is found in Exodus 14:4.  God said, "I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am God."

We often have difficult tasks set before us.  We often feel we are marching boldly with God, being led by Him, and then BAM!  He sent us straight into the corner.  Surrounded.  He is not doing it to hurt us.  Quite to the contrary.  He does it to refine us.  And more importantly to make himself known.  Just as he did with the Hebrews, refining their faith  And with the Egyptians, making himself known.

It's not about us.  It's about Him.  It's entirely about Him.  His glory. 

And we have a choice.  We can cry out in terror when we feel cornered and surrounded or we can continue in boldness through that difficult situation.  Why?  Because we know that our God is with us.  And He is mighty.  He is powerful.  He is greater. 

We find ourselves in that place now as Christians in the United States.  The same place many thousands of Christians have found themselves in time and time again all over the world.  Surrounded.  Cornered.  But we need not fear.  Because we have an Almighty God!   (Oh.  And I'll let you in on a not-so-secret secret: No matter what happens... We win!)

Paul was once asked to give a "word of encouragement" to a gathering of people at a synagogue.  What was his word of encouragement?  He started with this reminder... "The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their staying Egypt, and with mighty power he led them out of that country." (Acts 13:17)

Stay bold.  Even when surrounded.  Not in yourself.  In God.  He is mighty. 

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Difficult topics.  Calling all Christians... don't run from them. 

We are to touch the world with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.  That includes the difficult topics.  The hard conversations.  Not for our sake.  For those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their savior. 

In these conversations and topics, we must be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19).  This phrase is often spoken about, but sometimes we don't mention the following phrase... for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:20).  James speaks directly regarding the believer who shows the anger.

I'd put forth this additional thought... As a believer in Jesus are you being effective in the great mission that God gave you to make disciples if what the other person sees is anger rather than righteousness in the quickness to listen and the slowness to become angry?   Here is our mission... every one of us who follows Jesus... Go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). 

By all means we should have protection in our country from those who would hurt us.  That is the role of the government.  That is their job.  (How I hope they would do it!)  But whether they do their job or not, our job is to share the love of Jesus Christ to all those in our reach.  And the "nations" are coming to us.  Headline... they are already here.  The Muslim.  The refugee.  The lesbian.  The transgender.  The picture perfect mom who loves her kids and husband, but simply doesn't know Jesus.  They are all the same.  If they don't know Jesus, they are all the same. 

And our job is to bring Jesus to them.

I am grateful that I help to pastor a church which is willing to jump into these difficult topics.  These hard conversations.  All for the sake of the gospel.  For that must remain central.  I know many of you who read these posts are not from Community Bible Church, but perhaps this is something which as a believer in Christ Jesus, interests you.  Here is a link which will allow you to listen in on our current message series on Politics, Islam & Refugees. 

We are willing to have these discussions for HIS glory.  For HIS purposes.  It is an act of worship to do so.

worship Him 24/7...
scott

graphic created by Tenli Andersen for Community Bible Church's message series Politics, Islam & Refugees

There is so much discord around us. Transgender bathroom issues.  LGBT.  ISIS attacks.  Concerns of Islam.  Election woes.  As a result, there are many many worried, anxious, concerned people. 

I'd lie if I said I have no concerns or worries.  I have two small boys.  However, seeing the distraught nature of people, many of which are born again Christians, believers in Jesus Christ, my concern often flows in a different direction.   The attention of so many seems to lead towards fixing the establishment government and working to construct laws to curb evil.  Allow me to be clear: I believe these are good things.  And I applaud those believers who work in such a capacity to see them happen.  But, hear is the direction of my concern...

Many good, well intentioned, Bible believing, born again Christians have their focus on attempting to "fix" what can never be fixed.   Never by this particular means at which they attempt.  And in the result may not be spending time and energy pouring into what I believe, correction, what I know is the only real "fix".  Evil man will always be evil without the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is only ONE way in which evil will be curbed.  Salvation in Jesus Christ.

It is only in God whom I place my trust. He is my hope. My only hope.

He alone is my Rock and my Salvation.  He is my Fortress.  I will never be shaken.  My salvation and honor depend on God. He is my mighty Rock, my Refuge.  So, trust in Him at ALL times, people!  Pour out your hearts to Him.  For God is our Refuge. (Psalm 62:6-8)

We carry HIS name.  That is the only hope for us. And for the world at discord around us.  And rest assured... My God will finish what he began in Jesus Christ.  The world will come to salvation or be reckoned with my Almighty God.  But I am not the Reckoner.  I am the carrier of HIS name.  That is my mission.  It's the only mission he gave all of us who call on Jesus Christ.  In Him alone I will trust. 

worship Him 24/7...
Scott

The song below is In God We Trust by Hillsong worship.  Lyrics follow.  

lyrics for In God We Trust

Overwhelmed but I won’t break
Through the battle I will say
Your grace will be enough
Your grace will be enough

Under fire but we won’t fall
We will never be alone
You’ll always be enough
You’ll always be enough

Now in God we trust
In His Name we hope
I know God will not be shaken
God is here with us
He’s already won
I know God will not be shaken

We will follow where You go
We will trust through the unknown
I know You go before
I know You go before

Lead my heart now in Your ways
For we’re carrying Your Name
Your promise never fails
Your promise never fails

You finish what You begun
Forever strong in Your love
Your Name is sure
And You will fight for us
Our hope forever secure
In You alone

I had a bad week last week.  You have a bad week sometimes, right?   (If you don't, just say yes and make me feel a little less alone.)   The truth is... we all have bad weeks.  Sometimes bad months... or even worse... bad years. 

We get busy.  People push us.  People crowd us.  But let's face facts... we push ourselves too.  We crowd ourselves.  We make life around us busy to the point where we run low of gas.  (Gas = patience, time, love.)  We concern ourselves with things out of any semblance of our control.

This past week had been the culmination of a long few months of being on the go.  December's hectic Christmas schedule in planning various services at church, trips in January and February, Easter planning in March, and a plethora of other really, really good things.  Then last week there were a few things, a few pressure points, which "broke the camels back".  

I was running out of gas. 

Then God hit me with removing one of the aforementioned pressures.  That was Wednesday.  Uh.  Thanks, God.  One less thing.  Then on Thursday he surprised me greatly with a huge answer to another pressure point.  Okay, God.  Wow.  Maybe  you know what you're doing.   Then Friday came.  One more pressure point eased.  Actually eased twice in the same day.  I distinctly had the impression of God saying... "You of little faith.  I love you.  Just trust me."  (Matthew 8:26) 

Yeah.  Easy in the saying.  Hard in the doing. 

But being open to his gentle nudging and reminders, my bad week ending really well.  

In my fatigue, rather than resting, I pushed on and began hold to tightly to controlling what was happening around me.  To look at situations in life as "out of control".  At least... out of my control.  But I needed to remember that it's not in my control.  God's in control.  Jesus is in control. 

In Jesus everything was made... everything in heaven and on the earth.  He came before all things.  He is before all things.  He holds all things together.  (Colossians 1:16-17)   I can trust the guy who stops storms, walks on water, created the storms and the water in the first place, and holds it all together.   Maybe he can hold me together too.

And he does.  I still need to trust him in the midst of the busyness.  I still need to obey him in the midst of the fatigue.  That's when bad weeks become good weeks.

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Here's a modern twist on the old favorite Trust & Obey by Big Daddy Weave.

Trust & Obey (by Big Daddy Weave)

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey

But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
For the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey

Lord, I love You
Please help me to trust and obey
Lord, I love You
Please help me to trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey

Georgia governor veto's bill which would protect Christian liberty not to marry homosexuals.  Pennsylvania governor to veto bill which would keep bathrooms gender specific.   Two examples in a long, long, long list of recent news.

The question was posed to me recently... What in our culture is acceptable for me to take part in and what isn't? 

Wow.  I wish there was an easy answer to that question.   Here is the most simplistic answer I know...  If the Bible, God's Word, says not to do it... don't do it.   Everything is game, unless you personally know the God's Spirit is calling you to refrain. 

Jesus said if you love him you will keep his commands (John 14:15).  God says that we must keep his requirements, decrees and laws at all times (Deuteronomy 11:1).   So the Word of God is t he final authority for us.  Nothing of God will go against his written Word.

Jesus also gave us the Guide, the Holy Spirit, to show us how to live and guide us by truth in the things we are to do and not do (John 16:13).  When we live in the Spirit we are to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).   Notice here it is the Holy Spirit which leads us.  Not the "added" commands of men... the legalism that we as humans box around us.  That is not of God.  Freedom is.

All that said.... the long answer is very long indeed.  Much longer than this blog. 

One mention here: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13.   Many people claimed that any food that was sacrificed to idols would be sinful to eat.  Paul stated this as truth... Eating it would not be sinful.  Because the idol is no god.  It is just food.  What would be sinful is eating it in a way which would cause other people to stumble.   So where do I draw a line in the sand?  After searching and obeying God's will and the Holy Spirit's leading... how what I do leads other people, particularly in public.  

The world is not for us.  It might be attractive, but we are not of the world (John 17:16).  And we need to remember that as Jesus followers.   I do.  It gives me hope.  Real hope.  Far more than I could ever dream of on this earth. 

Where do you draw the line in the sand?  Honor God by His Word.  Follow the Spirit's guiding in your life.  Is that not worship?

worship Him 24/7...
scott

PS - Fun Note: the often used phrase "drawing the line" is a reference to Jesus himself drawing a line in the sand when a woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned for her sins.  He drew the line and said... if you are without sin be the first to throw the stone.  Everyone walked away (John 8:1-11).  Point: let's not be so quick to condemn.   Let's love.  In truth and grace (John 1:14-17).