EVEN THERE!

 

Friday, February 27, 2026

 

EVEN THERE!

 

Ps 139:7-10

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

 

There are two aspects to God being everywhere at once. On the one hand we cannot escape from him and on the other hand he will never leave you alone. We are the difference. Our own current set of circumstances makes his presence either a precious thing or a problem for us.

 

If there is sin in my heart, and I want to run away from God’s piercing gaze, I learn quickly that I can’t. I speak from experience. He is everywhere convicting me of my sin and wooing me back again. I cannot be comfortable sinning because He is there.

 

If I am disappointed with my God and want to leave him like a pouting child, I find that I can’t. Oh, yes, we often become disenchanted with a God who does only as He wishes. Our plans are cut off, and our expectations are dashed because they are not HIS plans for us. We pout and whimper and try to run away but we can’t find a place where God is not. There is no place to hide. We are forced by His presence to reconcile.

 

On the other hand, He is the friend that sticks close. We feel him in the gentle breeze upon our cheek. We hear Him in the robin’s song. He wraps his huge arms around us when we are afraid. He is always there. Both are blessings, the God I can’t escape keeps me clean and the God who will not leave me alone keeps me safe.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for being with me today. AMEN

 

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

 

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Gen 22:6

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

 

Matt 27:32

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

 

Mark 15:21

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 

 

Isaac was a type of Christ; he carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. This type was fulfilled when our Lord was led forth carrying His cross.

 

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the habit, like others, of going frequently to Jerusalem. Little is known about him, except that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus. But his name was Simon and that makes carrying the cross very personal.

 

We are forever inviting people to make Jesus their “personal” savior and yet the word “personal” is found nowhere in the Bible. The concept is certainly present, however. If I say that “God so loved the world” as we see in John 3:16 then I can easily discount the personal nature of it. But if, with the Apostle Paul, I say that “Jesus died to save sinners of whom I am chief” then I can not avoid the personal implication of salvation.

 

Indeed, the difference between Jesus preaching to the thousands and sitting on the lip of a well talking to a single woman is glaring. As far as we can tell by the stories the multitudes were not greatly changed but the woman at the well was never the same. Indeed, the whole of Samaria was never the same. It was personal.

 

The personal nature of close contact with Jesus challenges and changes all our other relationships. One of Simon’s sons was perhaps well known to the believers at Rome.

 

Rom 16:13

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

 

Dear Lord, carrying your cross removes me from being a spectator to a player. I feel the weight of it; I smell the scent of it and the drops of blood fall upon me. It is personal – and I am glad. AMEN

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

1 Tim 3:2-6

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 

          The word “novice” in verse 6 is the Greek word neophutos and literally means “newly planted.” New plants are tender and have not weathered the storms and trials of a more mature plant. Their “systems” are not functioning as they eventually will. Their fruitful season is still ahead of them.

 

          Experience and proficiency are demanded of us. Teens who long for their drivers’ license are tested to assure that they know the rules of the road and are able to handle a vehicle. They are frustrated to see the question of experience on employment applications. They are eager for experience, but they don’t have much. They quickly learn that experience matters.

 

          Today, experience and age are dismissed as irrelevant in a world that is rapidly changing. Things no older than yesterday are considered antique. Everything is made of shine and plastic. Even the ministry comes packaged in slick smiles, bright lights and positive affirmation. Pastors grizzled with age and churches weathered by time are often shunned, but we instinctively gravitate to experience when we are in trouble. We want our doctors to be not only experienced but experts in their fields of medicine. We don’t want a neophyte cutting into our bodies. When our lives and our homes are falling apart, we want a pastor who is mature. Experience matters.

 

          Experience is the knowledge and wisdom derived from long practice and observation. If you are newly planted, the first thing you must learn is patience and the next is to pay attention. If you are an aged old sage, then find a young one to mentor. Pour yourself into him so that experience comes more quickly because experience matters.

 

1 Peter 2:2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Dear Ancient of Days, thank you for being patient with me while I have grown. Let me pour myself into others that they may become fruitful. AMEN