There continues to be more in the news everyday about the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque near Ground Zero in New York City. We all have our opinions. But I think it’s interesting that the American people and media have turned this into a time to decide whether President Obama is a Christian or a Muslim. I’m sure you’ve watched the polls as people weigh in.

I must admit that I found myself weighing in with MY thoughts…I never participated in the polls. But in that, I realized how easy it is for me to be judgmental, if I’m not careful. Whether we should decide what our President’s faith hinges upon…is not the intent of this message. But it does remind me of how fast we judge the attitude and condition of each others’ hearts, and that is weighing heavily on my heart today.

The Bible tells us not to judge others. We’re supposed to leave that up to God, lest we are judged ourselves. Sadly, I can rationalize my own judgmental tendencies by thinking I am simply making a wise assessment about someone. But oftentimes it’s my way of disguising judgment, which is wrong.

Yet there is a brighter side to all of this. You and I can challenge ourselves to take the higher road when the tendency to “make a wise assessment about someone” tries to take the wheel. Instead of giving up the wheel, how about seizing the moment to ask God to show us what He sees and how to pray for that person. It’s a challenge…for sure. But one worth taking on. And if it keeps me from falling into a judgmental trap…then I’m all for it.

A few nights ago, I happened to be awake at about 4:30 in the morning when suddenly there was an eerie, popping sound in the house. We had a power failure…everything was out. My neighborhood has a lot of lighting, so with the power out, all the lighting outside went with it. I’ve never seen that happen because typically power outages happen during the day. So it was very, very dark inside and out…pitch black.

I had a sobering thought. What if this is IT? What if something terrible has happened and lights are out everywhere? Is this the beginning of the end? With all the news lately and the uncertainties of the future, you might understand why those thoughts came to mind. And in the wee hours of the morning; I wasn’t fully awake, so thoughts are plentiful while lying there trying to sleep.

But later that evening, I wondered whether or not I’m prepared if something like that happened. Am I prepared physically, emotionally, and spiritually to handle the drama when all the comforts of home suddenly go out with the lights? I’d like to think I’m prepared, but I think I still have some work to do. Yet the work isn’t physical…it’s emotional and spiritual.

Is my relationship with God where it should be? Am I confident that I’ll hear His voice clearly to direct my steps if something very challenging occurs? Do I trust Him like a little child would? Would I fall apart if stability is no longer a word in today’s vocabulary? I ask you the same questions. If the lights REALLY go out tonight…where are you?

Oftentimes I hear myself say…“Well God, if you don’t want me to have this, then take the desire away.” There’s nothing wrong with that little prayer. But sometimes I wonder if God might choose to work in other ways before He takes the desire away or answers the prayer.

What if God wants you to let go of your desire and give it to Him? What if He’s waiting for you to abandon the idea so that the desire will go away, or so that He can give it back to you in His timing? It’s hard to know. But when I pray and pray and pray…to no avail, I wonder how to proceed.

In the Bible it says to cast our cares upon the Lord…to give Him our loads. I think that sounds a lot like the fifth ingredient in Living and Secrets… abandonment. It’s a scary word, but a powerful tool in our Christian lives. It’s the word that takes worry and fear away… it puts the burden and pressure on God instead of on yourself. It makes you feel lighter and more free to enjoy life as it is right now.

When we let go and give it to God, it isn’t ours anymore. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have your heart’s desire someday. It just means that the burden and pressure of it all isn’t yours anymore. God can take desires away forever, or for a while only to bring them back when the timing is right. We don’t stop hoping, but we do stop letting it drive us crazy. We let God do His business.

What are you praying diligently for that hasn’t happened yet? Continue on and don’t lose hope. And give it to God to decide what’s best. It’s so freeing when we chose to live that way.

I was thinking about the lyrics of a song that said something about how all creation waits for what’s in store each day. Creation has to wait on God’s plan for the day because it can’t make things happen on its own. Wouldn’t you love to be able to live like that? “No worries…God has something in store for me, and He’ll reveal it today.” Those words already make me feel optimistic about tomorrow morning!

You and I don’t have to drum up our life’s plan moment by moment. We don’t have to be the creative ones, because we have the Creator painting our masterpiece. Think about it? Think about the perfect masterpiece of His creation. The mountains, oceans, flowers, and much much more. Everything waits for God’s provision…for Him to send rain and whatever is needed to sustain life and beauty.

The Bible says that if God takes good care of His creation…even the little birds, wouldn’t He also take good care of us who mean so much more to Him? Of course He would, and He does. But we can get in the way. With good intentions of running the show, we let many things destroy God’s best plan for us. Oftentimes we are settling for less than His best.

Tomorrow can look different if we are willing to let it. Let’s get up and eager await what God has in store for us. With that, we can wave good-bye to worry, doubt, fear, and much more. It’s already sounding pretty good to ME!! “All creation” means everything God has created…even you and me. Let’s eagerly await for God to send His rain and sustain life and beauty for us tomorrow and always.

If you’ve ever been stuck in snow or mud, you might be familiar with the term, spinning wheels. Living in Colorado all my life, it’s so frustrating when the wheels of my car are rotating but I’m getting nowhere. In fact, the more I accelerate, the further my wheels dig into the snow. I can’t get enough traction to pull the car out because my wheels are in a rut instead of on solid ground.

It’s summer now, yet I still find myself spinning wheels when I’m not careful. I accelerate to get the gears going, but sometimes I go nowhere. Today is one of those spinning days for me. I have lots to accomplish. People are waiting for my response, a scheduled meeting, an email, or a phone call. I’m working hard, but I’m not moving forward.

Out of frustration, I hurled an SOS to God. “God…I’m trying to get it all done, but I’m in a rut and getting nowhere. What should I do first, next, and last?” God gave me the answer I didn’t expect. I wanted a “to do” list, prioritized and sealed with His approval. Instead He said, “ Spend some time with Me…alone.”

I logged off my computer, went to a quiet room, and simply sat in His presence. The Holy Spirit calmed me down, and suddenly I was on solid ground instead of in the rut I created by accelerating too fast. If you’ve been spinning YOUR wheels, then “log off” and grab some alone time with God. He’ll put you back on solid ground again where you’ll have good traction, you’ll actually move forward, and get where you need to be.

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to capture great and lasting peace and then bottle it up for sale? You couldn’t manufacture it fast enough…the orders would come flooding in at all hours of the day and night. People everywhere are waiting for such peace to come onto the markets.

Life is packed full of challenges and hurdles. Most people, even some of God’s children, are running their races exhausted from the previous challenge, yet determined to jump the new hurdles and find peace of mind somewhere in their midst. It’s never ending when you have to do it on your own. You simply won’t find lasting peace that way.

There is a difference between peace of mind and the peace of Christ. Peace of mind would be okay if it lasted, but it’s tough to manufacture and doesn’t always endure. The mind struggles with circumstances and can’t always come up with lasting peace; it seems to come and go. But the peace of Christ is more like a gift from God. It endures the circumstances, braves the storms, and never comes up short. It is long lasting, and it sustains. All you have to do is simply ask God for it, and He’ll give it to you freely.

It isn’t a matter of IF the challenges will come…they will come alright, and oftentimes quite unexpectedly. WHEN they come, what will happen? Will you snatch a temporary fix of peace of mind? Or will you accept a fresh batch of God’s gift to you…the peace of Christ? Both sound good, but only one comes freely and endures the test of time. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.”

This year more than ever, I’m really grateful for our country’s independence. With the constant barrage of events and the uncertainties we face, I realize just how wonderful my freedom in this great country really is. It is not to be taken for granted…that’s for sure!

Then, when I ponder my freedom in Christ, I realize just how amazing THAT is. I am free to live and enjoy life as God created it to be…through the eyes and life of His Son. What does that mean? It means…fireworks!! It means starry eyes and wonder when I enjoy the freedom I have in Jesus. But the key is, “in Jesus.” There’s no real freedom outside of Him.

The fireworks only go off when we’re in His presence, His will, and His pleasure. Everything outside of that is a counterfeit of the real celebration…a celebration of dependence upon God. In this world of a “do it yourself” and a “make it on your own” mentality, some would argue and say that dependence upon God takes your freedom away. But I caution you about their worldly woes. They bring no peace or assurance of heaven.

Your only peace and assurance comes when you live in a right relationship with God, knowing Him for Who He really His. In that place of intimacy with God…sitting in His lap like a little child, you are filled with His purpose and love. I could spend days commenting on purpose and love…but for now, simply climb into the lap of your Father and be fulfilled. Celebrate your dependence upon His Son and let the fireworks begin, for this is definitely not something to take for granted…that’s for sure!

I wanted you to know about an obvious move of God to protect a man who could have been executed for his conversion to Christianity. His name is Mosab Hassan Yousef, author of Son of Hamas. Mosab was a leading terrorist, the son of one of the founders of Hamas. But Mosab renounced Hamas and risked his life to work for the Israeli secret service against it. He helped Israel stop many terrorist attacks and arrest droves of jihadists.

Mosab became a follower of Jesus Christ. He has lived in the U.S. and is speaking out here and around the world against Hamas and Radical Islam. He speaks in favor of the United States and Israel and has been a courageous witness for his Savior, Jesus Christ.

U.S. officials believed his previous role in Hamas was too great a risk to our country to allow him to remain in the United States. Because of that, he would likely be deported back to the West Bank where he would probably be killed for renouncing Hamas and embracing Christianity. A court hearing was held on June 30th to decide his fate. Thousands prayed for God’s favor on Mosab. God miraculously intervened, and Mosab was granted the right to become a US citizen.

Today, let’s give glory to God for rescuing Mosab and bringing him into His kingdom, for giving him a deep love for the United States and Israel…using him in powerful ways, and for saving his life. May God continue to protect this good man. Even when things look grim, it’s never too late for a miracle. And God is always in control.
(Many thanks to Joel Rosenberg and his blog, from where I retrieved this information)

Oftentimes when I pray, I find it helpful to go to the Bible and pray directly from God’s Word. I’d like to think that I always have the right words to pray, but that isn’t always the case. That’s when it’s a comfort to know I don’t have to come up with the right thing to pray…God’s Word is readily available.

It’s easy to take a passage or even one scripture and personalize it for prayer. Jesus prayed to the Father on our behalf, and His prayers are recorded for our benefit. Wouldn’t it be reassuring to know you are praying just as Jesus prayed? How about the apostle, Paul,? He prayed for divine revelation and love, spiritual empowering, protection, prosperity, and more.

I’d like to pray one of Paul’s prayers for you right now. It is found in the first chapter of Colossians. And I will personalize it for you.

God’s will for your life…
May God fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. May you live a life worthy of the Lord, and may you please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and may joyfully give thanks to the Father. Colossians 1: 9-11

For the past few mornings, I’ve been reading in my Bible about how God’s promises bring hope. Abraham had to wait a long time to receive what God promised him. Did he struggle with doubt and discouragement? Perhaps. We mostly know that God was pleased with his patient waiting. About all Abraham could do is count on God’s promise to bless and guide him. Even when challenged, I think Abraham still counted on God and didn’t lose hope. And his faith grew.

What about you and me? Certainly we’ve had challenges that seem like mountains we will never scale. Yet we have God’s promises to guide and bless us along the way. It’s so easy to lose our focus. We tend to dwell on the mountain instead of the hope we have in God. “In God” now that’s something to ponder.

We don’t need to muster up faith or hope. Then it would be like having faith and hope “in ourselves.” But when we have faith and hope “in God”…then we crawl up inside of Him and abide while He takes care of business and brings about what He has promised. Does it mean that we will receive what has been promised in our own timing? Unfortunately, not always.

But we hold onto the promise that God will never leave or forsake us. That He desires to bless and not harm us. And that He will guide and direct our steps. Sounds a lot like what God promised Abraham, doesn’t it? So like Abraham…let’s not lose hope. Let’s ask God to give us the faith to believe and to live for Him each day. Then we can wait patiently to receive the promise that we hold near and dear.