minimize and then recognize…

we are dealing here on the front porch with loneliness and how you deal with it.  first of all you utilize your time.  make the best of a bad situation.

and then you minimize the hurt.  you play it down.  you don’t rehearse it.  you don’t go over and over it.  that just makes it bigger and more painful.  you refuse to become resentful.

paul who was in prison writes in 2 timothy 4.16 (niv), at my first defense no one came to my support but everyone deserted me.  his response: may it not be held against them.  he is not going to be bitter.  resentment only makes you lonelier.  it builds walls around your life.  nobody likes to be around a cynic or critic or resentful person.  it just makes you more lonely.  it drives people away.  minimize your hurt.  play it down.  you don’t make a big deal about it.

after that you recognize GOD’s presence.

where is GOD when you’re lonely?  HE’s right there with you. there is no place that you are that GOD is not.  GOD is everywhere.  you just need to open your eyes and see, “he is here with me.”  verse 17 (niv), but the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength.  JESUS said, i will never leave you.  no matter where you go, GOD’s presence is with you.  open your eyes!

there is no place that you are that GOD isn’t.  when you’re lonely, you utilize the time.  make the best of a bad situation. you make the most of it.  utilize your time and minimize the hurt.  don’t make a big deal about it.  play it down and pray it up as schuller says.  minimize the hurt.

then recognize GOD’s presence.  paul says, “i’m here all alone.  i’m in a roman prison, dark, dank roman prison.  at the end of my life, i’m going to die, and all of my friends have left me.”  but the LORD stood at my side and gave me strength.

prayer is a powerful antidote to loneliness.  david got very lonely.  read the psalms.  david would say, “GOD, i’m lonely!  i don't like it!”  and he poured out his hurt to GOD.  some of the most beautiful psalms were written in times of loneliness.  david said, where can i go from YOUr presence?  if i go up to heaven, YOU’re there.  if i go to sheol, YOU’re there.  if i take the wings of a dove, where would i fly?  YOU’re there!  you can’t get away from GOD’s presence, so open your eyes and recognize.

amy grant wrote a song, “i love a lonely day, because it forces me to focus on GOD.”

you minimize, you utilize, you recognize.

just a thought from the front porch…

prolonging the delays in life…

when you're going through the delays in life, waiting for an answer to prayer there are some things GOD says don't do because they prolong the delay.  one of them is don’t fear.

deuteronomy 1.26 + 28 (tev), they…would not enter the land.  they said... “we are afraid ... the people there are stronger and taller than we are”. 

this is the first mistake the israelites made in their trek to the promise land. 

now there are a lot of reasons for the delays that happen in your life but this one is your own fault.  GOD says, don’t be afraid.  they would not enter the land.  they said, “we are afraid... the people there are stronger and taller than we are”.  they had enough faith to move out of egypt but they didn’t have enough faith to move into the promised land.  they were afraid. 

the problem with fear is that it keeps you in the wilderness, in the desert of life, the barren stage.  it prolongs the delay. 

many of your dreams have never been fulfilled, not because of GOD, but because of you.  because you wouldn’t step out in faith.  “one of these days…”  the bottom line is fear.  GOD says don’t fear. fear causes the delays in your life and keeps you from moving ahead.

what should i do instead of fearing?  instead focus on GOD’s presence.  realize that GOD is with you.  when you’re afraid to go after the dream GOD has given you, you need to focus on GOD’s presence. 

isaiah 41.10 (tlb), fear not, for I am with you.  do not be dismayed.  I am your GOD, I will strengthen you and I will help you... and uphold you. 

HE says, I am with you.  there will never be a time in your life when GOD is not with you.  HE’s with you now, HE always has been and HE always will be.  HE’s with you on your good days and your bad days.  HE’s with you when you feel it and HE’s with you when you don’t feel it.  GOD says, I am with you.

there are 365 “fear nots” in the bible – that’s one for every day of the year.  GOD is saying, “no matter what you’re facing don’t be afraid”.  fear not, for i am with you.  not because of positive thinking or motivational tapes or pulling yourself up by the psychological bootstraps. 

you’ll never face any situation in life that GOD isn’t facing it with you.  we tend to forget that, and when we do, we start being afraid.  don’t fear but focus on GOD’s presence – HE’s with you all the time.

just a thought from the front porch…

a fresh awareness of HIS presense…

in fighting depression in your life, get a fresh awareness of GOD's presence in your life. 1 kings 19.11-13 (niv), the LORD said, “go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. after the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. after the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. and after the fire came a gentle whisper. when elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and [he knew it was the LORD] went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

GOD said, elijah, i've got something for you to see. elijah stood there and GOD put on a fireworks show. first HE did a wind, then HE did an earthquake, then HE did a fire. it was showing HIS tremendous power as a reminder to elijah. the interesting thing is it says that GOD wasn't speaking to elijah in any of those. what really got elijah's attention was the still small voice, the gentle whisper.

the fact of the matter is, GOD usually speaks to us in stillness and quietness. not in some big dramatic demonstration of fire or power. GOD reminded elijah that HE was still right there beside him.

if you're depressed, get your bible and go out to nature, a quiet spot and read the bible. get alone with GOD and just let GOD love you. let HIM speak to you. let HIM meet your needs. let yourself feel HIS presence.  that is the greatest anti-depressant there is.  get a fresh awareness of GOD's presence in your life.

when we're depressed, we think GOD is a million miles away. you say, “i feel HE is so HE must be” but HE's not. HE's still just as close to you when you don't feel HIM as when you do.

just a thought from the front porch…

just invite and thank HIM...

GOD is present whether you're aware of it or not. HE wants you to know HIM. HE wants you to feel HIS love. it's nothing spooky or scary or mystical that i’m talking about here. it's just a part of life that maybe you haven't been aware of.

HE has been around your life since you were born. HE's always been around you. it's a fact of life that you need to tune in to. just say in your heart, “GOD, i'd like to know YOUr presence in my life.” then just be quiet. take a deep breath and relax. tell GOD what's on your mind. aches? pains? feel good, worried, tired? tell HIM what's on your mind right there where you are.

if you've never done so would you invite JESUS CHRIST to come into your life. because GOD is a SPIRIT HE can move in you. radio waves go through your life all the time. GOD can come into your life. JESUS said in revelation 3.20 (niv), behold, i stand at the door and knock. JESUS says, “I'm knocking at the door of your life. if you'll open it up I will come into your life and live with you and you with ME.

say, “JESUS CHRIST, come into my life right now.” then thank HIM in your heart. thank HIM for all the things HE's done for you. that's praise. think of two or three specific things that you thank GOD for. thank HIM that HE's going to be with you all this week. thank HIM that when you're lonely HE wants to be your companion; that HE's there with you. HE'll cheer you up. thank HIM that HE's promised that when you go through deep waters HE's going to be with you and you're not going to drown. HE will give you confidence and stability and not forsake you. thank HIM that HE can calm you down when everything is uptight at home or the office or on the work site. thank HIM that when you face temptation this week, HE's going to help you out and there will be a way of escape. if you're discouraged and brokenhearted, GOD is with you. HE loves you and HE's going to see you through this time in your life. thank HIM for that.

FATHER, i thank YOU for YOUr word and that it is relevant. thank YOU that YOU are with us. help us this week to sense YOUr presence and realize that there is no point we will be that we cannot say “the LORD is in this place.” thank you for the confidence and the comfort that gives us. in JESUS' NAME. amen.

just a thought from the front porch…

GOD is with you...

another secret in practicing the presence of GOD is to develop the habit of praise.

praise simply means to thank GOD for who HE is and what HE's done for you. psalm 100.4 (niv), enter HIS gates with thanksgiving, enter HIS courts with praise.

we move into an awareness of GOD's presence. nothing will help you become aware of GOD and HIS presence in your life faster than developing the habit of praise. nothing helps you tune in to HIM than beginning to praise GOD. GOD is always around us. HE's always present. but sometimes we sense HIS presence more than at other times. HE's equally present no matter where you are – office or wherever, when you're tired or happy – HE's always present. but sometimes we sense HIS presence more.

we talk about entering his presence through praise. that simply means “tune in!” since GOD is everywhere you can praise HIM everywhere. you can worship GOD in your car driving down the road, singing some of the songs you sing in church. you can sense GOD's presence. do the same things you do on sunday morning. you will have the same experience of feeling close to GOD during the week that you do when you're together on sunday morning. GOD is everywhere so you can praise HIM everywhere.

a whole new life is about to open up to you if you will grasp the simple truth that i have shared with you this past week. if you will become aware that GOD is always with you it is going to change your life. it will cheer you up, it will calm you down, it will help you out, and it will see you through when you become aware of that. no matter where you find yourself this week, GOD will be there, in advance, with you when you get there – school, vacation, traffic jam, flying 35,000 feet high – GOD is everywhere. HE's in the jail, in the bar – everywhere.

some of you are going to do business this week and find yourself in a room with people who make no pretence of being a believer. they may even be anti-GOD. it's a cut-throat business and they're trying to compete for business. just stop, set down, and say, “the LORD is in this place.” because HE is. HE's there.

to those of you who are tired or discouraged or frustrated, hurting, afraid, worried, sick, depressed i want to say to you: GOD is with you.

just a thought from the front porch…

be quiet and then talk...

there are some secrets to practicing the presence of GOD, and the first one is to invite JESUS into your life. and then you need to be quiet. just be quiet. close your mouth and don't talk.

i believe the reason why so many people never feel GOD's presence is because they're too busy. they're too distracted. they've always got their radio or ipod on. too much noise. the bible says in psalms be still and know that i am GOD. paschal said, “most of man's problems come from his inability to set still.” just be quiet.

several times a day, “tune in and drop out”. tune in to GOD's presence and drop out of the environment around you. just say, “GOD i realize that YOU are present with me right now, that YOU are by me, with me, and in me” if i'm a believer. tune in to HIS presence. take these little breaks during the day to be quiet and recognize that no matter where you are GOD is with you.

the bible says in james 4.8 (niv), draw near to GOD and HE'll draw near to you. as you tune in to HIM you'll begin to be aware. HE's always there but you have to be aware of it.

and then talk to GOD about everything. just pray about anything and ask him for help. the bible says in 1 thessalonians 5.17 (niv), pray without ceasing. pray continually.

how do you do that? how can i get on with life and be continually in prayer? do i walk around fumbling a rosary all day or stay in the lotus position? how do i do that?

it's talking about maintaining a continual conversation with GOD. talk to HIM about anything. walk outside in the morning, “LORD, it's a beautiful day!” you get in your car, “oh, LORD, i'm low on gas.” as you're driving, “GOD, these are some things i'm thankful for.” talk to him about everything. – a continual conversation with the companion who is always with you. that's what it means to pray without ceasing.

the bible says in psalms 62.9 (niv), trust HIM at all times and pour out your heart to HIM. you maintain an ongoing conversation with HIM at all points.

some of you say, “when i pray i feel like my prayers never get above the ceiling.” surprise! GOD is below the ceiling. HE's right next to you. HE reads your mind the moment you think it. HE knows what you're going to think before you even think it. you don't have to have these super duper pious prayers that blast off from earth and get a million light years away up to GOD in heaven on HIS throne. HE is right there. you don't have to feel like you're getting them up to heaven. you just think it; HE knows it. so you talk to him about everything.

just a thought from the front porch…

how to cope to stress…

psalm 116.8-11 (tev), the LORD stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. so i walk in the presence of the LORD. i kept on believing, even when i said, “i'm completely crushed” and even when i was afraid and said, “no one can be trusted.”

the presence of GOD not only cheers me up when i'm lonely and calms me down when i'm worried and helps me out when i'm tempted but it sees me through when i'm discouraged. that's what GOD's presence can do to your life. but you have to tune in.

now the key to tuning in, to keep on keeping on, to overcoming discouragement, is the phrase i walk in the presence of the LORD. how do you do that? GOD is present all around us but most people are totally unaware of it. how do you walk in the presence of the LORD?

well there are some secrets to practicing the presence of GOD, and the first one is to invite JESUS into your life if you haven't done that already.

GOD is around you, GOD is by you, and HE wants to be in you. HE wants to put HIS SPIRIT inside of you so you can handle the stress.

whenever you get under stress and you feel all of this pressure coming in on you, you must have an equal amount of pressure from the inside enabling you to cope.

whenever people get under pressure, they always begin to fill themselves with something to equalize the stress: food, alcohol, drugs... they put something on the inside to equalize the pressure on the outside.

yet the bible says real clearly, don't get drunk with wine, but be filled with the SPIRIT. instead of being filled with spirits, be filled with the SPIRIT. as you are filled with GOD's presence in your life it equalizes the pressure on the outside and you can cope. you can handle stuff. it doesn't cave you in.

the starting point is to invite JESUS CHRIST into your life. the bible says that what JESUS has done for us on the cross has made possible for us to come in the presence of GOD with freedom and confidence. ephesians 3.12.

just a thought from the front porch…

HE strengthens and motivates…

i see all kinds of reactions that people have in life. i see the reactions at funerals, the hospital stays, the crises that come that nobody can predict or plan.

i don't know how people make it without the LORD. they don't make it. they have scars and they don't get over things as quickly as people who depend on the presence of GOD do. they hurt much more deeply and much more severely than those who know that GOD's presence is there. HE's there to encourage them.

psalm 116.8-11 (tev), the LORD stopped my tears and kept me from defeat. so i walk in the presence of the LORD. i kept on believing, even when i said, “i'm completely crushed” and even when i was afraid and said, “no one can be trusted.”

that verse has only been applied in my life a couple hundred times. time after time when i have been discouraged and ready to quit, i thought i was in the wrong direction, without the presence of GOD's encouragement in my life i would not have made it. times when you think, “i'm defeated. i'm completely crushed. nothing can be relied on. everybody lets me down.” that's when you need to recognize the presence of GOD in your life.

the presence of GOD not only cheers me up when i'm lonely and calms me down when i'm worried and helps me out when i'm tempted but it sees me through when i'm discouraged. it gives you the motivation to keep on going, the power to keep on keeping on. it renews your strength. it lifts up your heavy heart. it gives you a new vision.

that's what GOD's presence can do to your life.

discouragement or comfort...

another benefit of GOD’s presense is when i'm discouraged, HE is my COMFORTER.

look at this verse. psalm 34.18 (tev), the LORD is near to those who are discouraged. HE saves those who have lost all hope. HE is near.

if you're discouraged, one thing i can say with all confidence: GOD is with you. the new international version: the LORD is close to the brokenhearted. is your heart breaking? the LORD is near you.

the book, where is GOD when it hurts? came out a while back. the answer to that question is HE's with you. HE feels your hurt. HE feels your discouragement. HE knows when you're not making it, when you're frustrated.

some of you are going through some rough times right now and you're ready to give in or give up or throw in the towel: "i'm not going to put any more effort into it. i'm going to chuck the business, or marriage, or kids." you don't know if you want to keep on going in the direction you're going. you may be ready to give up.

i don't know what you're going through but whatever it is GOD is going through it with you. you are not alone. HIS presence is there because HE wants to be your comforter. GOD is not some impersonal force. HE is not some far off, far away power. but HE's very personal and HE's right there with you.

JESUS said in john 14, the FATHER will send you a COMFORTER who will never leave you and HE is the HOLY SPIRIT.

no matter what you're going to go through this week, GOD will go through it with you. when the roof caves in, GOD is with you. HE's never too busy to listen. HE never says come back later, the line is busy. HE is sympathetic to the stress that you are feeling in your life.

some of you are reading this, thinking of this as intellectual truth and you're filing it in your mind. others of you know exactly, from experience, what i'm talking about. you've been through some deep waters in the last two or three weeks and you have felt GOD's presence in your life. HE has comforted you. HE has given you the strength and encouragement to keep on going. HE's an encourager.

just a thought from the front porch…

not just will power…

the real benefit of GOD's presence that not only cheers me up and calms me down, is that GOD's presence also helps me out.

HE knows exactly the struggle going on in my mind. HE's pulling for me. HE sees it coming before i see it coming. HE knows i'm walking right into it. HE's already preparing an escape route for me to get out of it. it's not just my will power but HIS power and HE's promised to help me. that's good news!

job 13.27 (niv), you, GOD, keep a close watch on all my paths. he says, close. because GOD is everywhere HE sees everything. listen, GOD is an eyewitness to every single thing i do.

psalm 139.11 (niv), if i say surely the darkness will hide me and the light of the night becomes night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to YOU for the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to YOU. GOD has night vision.

the bible says, men love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil. a lot of things go on at night that don't go on during the day because they think they are being hidden. but the bible says, GOD sees everything. HE can see through the darkness. HE created darkness. HE created light. HE doesn't need either one. HE can see right through it. HE can see everything that is going on in my life.

have you noticed that it is so much easier to control yourself when you know other people are watching?

let’s say you are at a buffet in vegas... you see this huge bowl of chocolate moose. you think "i'm going to take the whole thing" and you begin to heap it onto your plate. then you look and see an attractive, slim lady standing next to you – and she has that look of "what a pig!" and you heap it back into the bowl! because somebody's watching!

or you are in school... you don't ever attempt to cheat on a test when you know the teacher is standing over you watching you. would it be a correct assumption, when you were dating, that you were less affectionate with your date when you were around your parents than when you were alone?

when people watch us, it is a motivation. well, GOD is always watching you. when i am tempted, HE is my counselor. HE says, "I'm making a way out. I'll help you. I'll help you control that anger or... " if you'll just rely on HIM. HE's there to help you out.

when i am aware of GOD's presence it helps me to maintain more control. i am more alert to the things i say. the bible says everything i say i'm going to give an account of.

have you ever had anyone swear in front of you or take the LORD's name in vain and then ask your pardon for it? i always want to say, "you ought to ask GOD to forgive you. it's HIS name you're using. HE's the one you're offending. HE's listening right now because HE's there." we need to be more careful when we realize HE's present at all times.

just a thought from the front porch…

HE calms me down…

the fact that GOD is omnipresent, that HE is everywhere makes a difference when I’m lonely and when i’m worried?

psalm 16.8-9 (tev) says, i am always aware of the LORD's presence. are you always aware of the LORD's presence? i'm not always. but if i were, look at what the results would be. HE is near and nothing can shake me. i'm so thankful and glad and i feel completely secure.

so when i'm lonely, GOD's presence cheers me up, but when i'm worried, GOD's presence calms me down. it gives me stability. it's a stabilizer. it's a stress reliever. i have confidence because i know i can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. HE's with me. i can handle anything.

i can even handle death. psalm 23.4 (niv), even though i walk through the shadow of death, i will fear no evil, for YOU are with me.

that kind of confidence does not come from psychology. it comes from knowing that GOD is with me. HE's with me all the time. HE says, nothing can shake me. i'm completely secure.

when i'm lonely i have a companion and when i'm worried i have a confidence.

and when i'm tempted, GOD is my counselor. HE is ready to give me advice. HE is ready to help me make it through the temptation.

1 corinthians 10.13 (niv), no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. and GOD is faithful; HE will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. HE will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

that is an encouraging verse! when GOD is with you, HE provides a way out. when you're tempted, HE's your counselor.

there are several things about this verse. first, it says temptations are common. they are common to man. we all have the same problems. people think they have a unique problem but they don't. and if there are some common problems it means there must be common solutions. they're in GOD's word.

then it says GOD is with me when i'm being tempted. HE's right there when i'm being tempted. that's a motivation for me not to give in. i don't want to sin right in front of GOD. every time i do sin it's as if i do it right in front of his throne.

just a thought here on the front porch…

do you want to feel better?...

in this matter of being lonely here is an awesome fact, john 15.15 (tev), JESUS said, i call you friends. HE's a friend that knows more about you than any other friend. HE knows more about you than you do. HE understands you.

so when i am lonely i need to remember that GOD is my companion because HE says “i'm always with you.” HE never asks you to do anything by yourself.

david got lonely sometimes. psalm 16.1 (tev), david said, your presence fills me with joy.

so that's a benefit of recognizing GOD's presence. HE says if you recognize it, GOD's presence cheers me up. it makes me feel better. when i'm lonely, GOD's presence cheers me up.

and then when i'm worried, GOD is my confidence.

isaiah 42.2-3 (nlt), when you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. when you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! when you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up.

reminds me of the three hebrew children, shadrach, meshach and abed-nego who walked through the fire. GOD walked through it with them. when they came out the ropes were burned off. they were protected.

you're going through a fire – some of you are going to go through difficulty this week. none of us can predict the problems we're going to face. none of us saw what was going to happen when we woke up on that tuesday, september 11 but in each day one thing we can be certain of: GOD's going through it with you. GOD is with you! when i'm worried, GOD is my confidence.

GOD told moses one day, you're going to lead the children of israel out of egypt into the promised land. moses started making excuses, “GOD, i can't do that! i'm insecure! i'm nothing! i can't speak!” GOD gave one answer to his excuses, “i will be with you. i will be your confidence.”

just a thought from the front porch…

the power to keep going…

GOD says, forget the past, focus on the future. your past is past. it's water under the bridge. you can't bring it back. everyone of us have skeletons in our closet and we say, “i wish... what if... if only... i wish i could change that...”

the good news of easter is when JESUS CHRIST came back to life HE shows up with the disciples and HIS very presence gave them the energy, the power to start over. they went from the bottom of the pile to now billions of people are CHRISTians because of 11 men. obviously something happened. what happened was GOD's presence gave them power to start over.

and GOD's power gives me the confidence to keep going. after you start in the right direction, you need power to continue.

everybody wants power. notice all the books on power, how to dress for power, how to eat for power, how to shower with power.

ephesians 1.19 (phillips), how tremendous is the power available to us who believe in GOD. that power is the same divine energy which was demonstrated in CHRIST when HE was raised from the dead.

HE says two things in this verse.

1. the resurrection which billions of CHRISTians are going to celebrate on sunday all around the world, demonstrated how powerful GOD is. JESUS CHRIST resurrected HIMself from the dead.

2. and that same power is available to us.

if GOD can raise JESUS from the dead, then HE can handle any problem i give him. there is no problem too big. and HE specializes in hopeless cases.

but you say, "you don't know my finances." GOD does. "you don't know my health problem... how my marriage is that far away from divorce…what my kids are into." GOD does. and HE specializes in hopeless cases. that's the message of easter. that's the power of easter.

just a thought from the front porch…

the power to start over...

so if fatigue, failure and fear rob us of confidence then what restores it?

for one GOD's presence gives me the power to start over.

look at what changed the disciples. john 20.20 (niv), JESUS came and stood among them and … the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the LORD.

acts 4.13 (lb), when the council saw the boldness of peter and john and could see that they were ordinary men they were amazed and realized what being with JESUS had done for them.

these guys weren't phd's. they were just common, ordinary people. but they were bold. before the resurrection, they are cowering in fear in a room with the doors locked. now they're back out on the streets a few days later taking on the enemy, the opposition. what happened?

they had been with JESUS. not merely knowing HE's alive, but being with HIM, having a relationship.

are you aware that GOD is always with you? you lose your fear when GOD is near. HE's with you. GOD says, I'm always with you. JESUS said, low, I am always with you... i will never leave you nor forsake you.

that gives you confidence to start over. you can say, “LORD, i know YOU're with me. help me handle this.”

proverbs 14.26 (tev), reverence for the LORD gives confidence.

the secret of confidence. i think it's basically a SPIRITual problem. there's a lot of phony, baloney advice out there on how to build your confidence. it doesn't work. building confidence is a SPIRITual problem. GOD's presence encourages us to try again. the secret of confidence is to get in tune with GOD everyday.

just a thought from the front porch…