how to face 2012…

we are finishing 2011 here on the front porch with what james in his nt letter has to say about cleaning up some of the hurts in our relationships through mercy and forgiveness.

clean up the past and now look to the future.  james here in chapter 4 shows us how to face the new year, 2012, how to face your future.  he says there are some mistakes that are commonly made and that we should be made aware of.  

he illustrates the first mistake with a typical conversation between a couple of business men.  one guy has his mba from the university of jerusalem and the other is a ceo of a tel-aviv 500 company.  and we drop into their conversation here in verse 13 as they’re talking and discussing their plans.

(msg), today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. we’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.

the bible doesn’t condemn making a legitimate profit.  the bible talks a lot about planning too.  these men have planned everything; their purpose, the place, the progress.  they’ve got all the bases covered.  so what’s wrong?

james says the first common mistake we make is we plan without GOD.  there is not a single mention of GOD in the entire business plan.  they knew what they wanted, they knew how to get there but they didn’t check it out with GOD first.

don't misunderstand.  the bible talks about planning.  no man goes out and builds a house without considering how much it’s going to cost.

and the book of proverbs says over and over again that if i don’t plan i’m a fool.  it’s wise to plan.  he’s not talking about planning; he’s talking about presumption without GOD.

it’s great to have dreams, it’s great to have goals – as long as you include GOD. as long as you pray about it.  there’s nothing wrong with what they did – all of these things are fine.  it’s what they forgot to do.  they forgot to include GOD.  their attitude was one of self-sufficiency.

just a thought from the front porch…  

our attitude, struggle and pain about time…

if i’m going to use my time as a gift i’ve got to have the right plan, the right schedule.  psalm 90.12 (nlt) talks about this, teach us to make the most of our time so we may grow in wisdom. 

and this is where we spend most of our energy on time management.  this is what hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of books are written about.  it’s pretty telling some of these titles.  they indicate some of our attitudes, struggles and pain for us about time. 

like the art of stress free productivity – wouldn’t it be great if it were stress free?  or 21 ways to get more done in less time – if that were seven ways i would get more done in less time.  the time trap – a classic on time management and how we feel about it.  7 day get organized program for overworked, overbooked, and overwhelmed people.  here’s a good one, the complete idiot’s guide to managing your time, 2^nd edition.  why do they need a second edition?  wouldn’t one be enough for “complete idiots”? 

there’s a book called how to live on 24 hours a day.  i guess that’s a good idea!  however, somebody read that title and thought “i can top that!”  so a title came out how to live on 26 hours a day.  squeezing 2 more hours out of every day, as if that’s possible.  somebody read that and thought, i can top that!  there’s a book out the 48-hour day.  pretty soon there will be the 98-hour day.  see where this is headed?

but all those titles miss the point.  the point is GOD has given us enough time to do what HE wants done in this world?  24 hours is quite enough to do what HE has given me to do in this world.

now we are attracted to these kind of titles because this is a place of pain for most of us.  we struggle to keep up with what’s going on, to maintain peace in the midst of all the activity, to take pleasure in the work that we’re doing.  we’re frustrated because we’re not getting enough done, we feel guilty because we’re not doing the right thing – we wish we could spend more time with our family or more time with GOD.  and we feel anxious about the fact that our goals are never going to be reached.  we struggle with these feelings constantly. 

there is a reason why scheduling books, program, ipads are top sellers all the time.  we are desperate people in search of solution in our lives.  we look at ourselves and think, my life is a mess but at least i have an ipad.  like that’s really going to solve everything.  it doesn’t.  we need a plan.  and that plan certainly includes scheduling and managing your time. 

just a thought from the front porch…

following a crazy plan…

daniel burnham’s famous statement, “make no little plans.  they have no magic to stir men’s blood.  make big plans.  aim high in hope and work.”  the truth of the matter is all of our plans, as human beings, are little plans.  all of them.  you may be thinking, “not mine!  i have big plans.”  and compared to everybody else, you may have big plans.  you may have tremendous plans, huge plans.  but compared to the plans of GOD, all of our plans are little plans.  HE’s the GOD of the universe.  HE made it all.  HE sees all time in a moment.  GOD’s plans are the biggest plans. 

the bible says in proverbs 19.21 (msg), we humans keep brainstorming options and plans but GOD’s purpose prevails.  you can count on that.  so plan based on what you can count on because that’s where the hope comes from.  that’s where the hopes aren’t dashed.  plan based on what you can count on.  make GOD’s promise your plan. 

something funny happens when we’re hopeless.  when we’re hopeless any plan seems good enough.  have you noticed this in your life and in the life of some people you love?  when you’re hopeless you’ll chase after just about any plan because you’re hurt.  because you’re trying to find some hope.  so you chase after anything and everything.  you run over here and get involved in this scheme.  you waste your money on this.  you do the craziest things and pick up and move in a day.  just crazy ideas because you’re trying to find some hope. 

in fact some of you this last week, some crazy idea came into your mind and you’re thinking about doing that.  hoping that it will make you feel better.  “i’m going to leave my husband (or wife).  it’ll make everything better.”  no, it won’t.  “i’m going to abandon my kids.”  i’m sure some of you even thought this last week, “i’m going to take my life.  i don’t have any hope left.” 

don’t do it!  don’t follow that crazy plan.  make GOD’s promise your plan.  GOD brought you here to the front porch to say to you, “i’ve got a better plan so make my promise your plan.”  instead of rushing off to do just anything, get on board with what GOD is doing in the world. 

just a thought from the front porch…

personal and practical…

the bible says in 1 john 5.14-15 that when we pray according to GOD's will then the answers come. you pray a prayer and GOD says, “that's exactly in line with what i want to do.” when you form a partnership with GOD, GOD grants our requests. the attitude must become, “LORD, THY will be done. this is what i want, but thy will be done.” like JESUS in the garden of gethsamene, “LORD, if it be possible, let this cup pass from ME, nevertheless, THY will be done.” this is what i want, this is my desire, but THY will be
done because you know what's best.

let's apply this to your life in a practical way.

your plans. do you include GOD in your plans? which of these words best describe your attitude: presumption or cooperation? do you make your plans about what you're going to do without even consulting GOD? or do you get up in the morning and think, this is what i'll do today.

many CHRISTians are practical atheists. they live as if GOD were not in control. that's why there is so much frustration in your life. when you check in with GOD and ask, “what is your will for my life?” and you ask GOD for wisdom, then life is so much smoother and satisfying and fulfilling instead of frustrating. do you pray about your problems and plans or are you presumptuous?

some of you are saying, “one day i'm going to become a CHRISTian. i'm just waiting for the right time. someday i'm going to commit my life to CHRIST. i've got a husband/wife/brother/friend/parent/child who is a CHRISTian. one of these days i'm going to make my peace with GOD and ask forgiveness and make sure i know i'm going to heaven when i die. i'm going to settle this and really commit myself. i'm planning to do it.”

that is presumptuous! none of us have any guarantee of any tomorrow. the bible says don't boast about tomorrow, you don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. don't presume upon the future. now is the day of salvation. today is the accepted time. do it now while you know you're still here!

problems. do you look for GOD's purpose in your problems or do you throw a pity party? instead of asking “why me?” ask, “what do YOU want me to learn?” maybe you won't actually see the purpose at this point. that might come later on. maybe GOD just wants you to trust HIM, to trust HIM without question, to trust HIS goodness and graciousness and HIS control.

if you lost everything, like job, how would you respond? would you have the maturity of faith to say, the LORD gave me everything i had, and they were HIS to take away. blessed be the name of the LORD.

just a thought from the front porch…

be flexible in your plans...

we need to be flexible in our plans.

wrong attitude: presumption. that's when i say, “i don't need GOD and i can figure it all out. i know exactly what i'm going to do.” i just assume that everything is going to go the way it's intended to go, that's presumption.

the bible says that since life is uncertain we should not presume on it. james 4.13-15 (niv), now listen, you who say “today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make money.” why, you don't even know what will happen tomorrow! instead, you ought to say, “if it is the LORD's will, we will live and do this or that.”

it's ok to make plans as long as you understand that they are tentative. a mature person makes his plans flexible. some people make plans and if anything varies in the plan they get an ulcer. mature faith is changeable. i make plans but i realize ultimately that GOD calls the shots in my life.

right attitude: cooperation. i include GOD in my goal setting. how? you pray. anything without prayer is presumption.

instead of saying, “GOD, i want you to bless what i'm doing” we should say, “GOD, help me to do what you're blessing.”

people used to write at the end of letters “dv” which stands for DEO vilente – “GOD willing.” “i'm going to come see you LORD willing. i realize that ultimately my plans may be changed.” that's the right attitude.

proverbs 16.9 (tev), we should make plans counting on GOD to direct us. that's cooperation. make plans but realize they are tentative. GOD, what do you want me to do? pray about your plans. ask him for wisdom.

since GOD is in control my plans have a limit.

just a thought from the front porch…

GOD can change our plans…

now i want us to take this idea – that GOD is in control – and look at some practical ways this applies to your life. how does it make an impact on my life that HE is in control?

well for one the bible says that since GOD is in control, my plans have a limit. they are tentative.

you've heard the phrase, “the sky's the limit” but the fact is the sky isn't the limit. GOD is. HE decides what are the limitations in your life.

proverbs 19.21 (niv), many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

proverbs 16.1 (tev), we may make our plans, but GOD has the last word. it says, GOD has the last word.

have you discovered that things do not always go the way you planned them? at best your plans are tentative because you can't see ahead. you make plans but they really are changeable. many times GOD has a better idea.

how many of you did not marry the first person you intended to marry? the first career you intended to go into? GOD changed your plans.

when i was 21 i thought that i was suppose to marry someone other than my wife, margaret. i was engaged to someone else but GOD changed my plans. we broke up and went our separate ways and at 27 GOD brought margaret again into my life and we got married the week she turned 18. my plans were to get married at 22 but GOD's plan was 27. margaret wasn't old enough yet, when i was 22 she was 13 and GOD knows best.

i also made plans to be a very successful secure staff minister in a large church where i didn't have to worry about all of the problems of being a lead pastor, especially the matter of preaching. i wasn't ever going to preach. that was my plan but GOD changed my plans and this blog represents 20+ years of preaching and i'm glad he did.

just a thought from the front porch…

a time to pray...

FATHER, you’ve promised to meet all our needs. but we often get in a hurry and we get impatient and we come up with our own plans. we try to dig our own wells. you offer us free, unlimited living water but instead we try to make our own plans and dig our own wells instead of trusting YOU. JESUS, i have no doubt that many people here on the front porch are having their faith tested in one of these ways. i pray that in the test they will turn to YOU instead of turning away from YOU.

would you just pray this in your heart, your mind, to GOD. ”FATHER, thank YOU that YOU want to meet all my needs. forgive me for all those times i’ve tried to meet them in my own way, on my own timetable. i ask YOUR help with the stresses in my life. help me to turn to YOU instead of to others or other things. i want to look to YOU and not others to be my SAVIOR and my HELPER. i want to put my hope and confidence in YOU. help me to see that my disappointments are a part of YOUR loving plan in my life.

also, i ask for YOUR help in keeping the commitments that i’ve made to other people and especially the commitments that i’ve made to YOU. i’m choosing on this day to give YOU first place in my thoughts and in my money and in my time. from this day forward. and i thank YOU in advance for promising to meet all my needs here and for the rewards YOU have in store for me in heaven. thank YOU that these tests are not in vain. in JESUS’ name. amen.”

just a thought from the front porch…

will you trust HIM?...

jeremiah 2.13 (ncv), MY people have done two evils. they have turned away from ME, the spring of living water and they’ve dug their own wells, which are broken wells and cannot hold water

GOD is not going to bless all those other plans you’ve tried to force on HIM, all those other wells you have tried to dig.

some of you right now are struggling with financial pressure in your life and the temptation is to cut corners, to be unscrupulous, stop tithing, cheat on your taxes, do an unethical business deal, anything to get out of debt. you’re building a well that isn’t going to hold water.

some of you right now have tremendous sexual tension and pressure in your life. you think you’re going to explode that you’ve got to have a mate! even though GOD has been very, very clear and says sex is only for marriage (HE’s very clear in scripture about this) you come up with every kind of rationalization you can think of: “we’re both CHRISTians… we love each other…” etc., etc. you’re digging a well that’s going to break your heart. count on it. GOD is not mocked.

some of you are under enormous emotional pressure. you don’t turn to GOD. you reach for that bottle! or you go to the medicine cabinet for those prescription medicines. and you’re digging a well that’s not going to hold any water. it’s a quick fix. it doesn’t solve the problem.

what’s the antidote? isaiah 50.10b (nlt), if you’re walking in darkness without a ray of light, trust in the LORD, and rely on your GOD.

this is a test! GOD is going to see when you’re under stress are you going to turn to HIM or are you going to turn to other things? it’s a test. will you trust HIM?

just a thought from the front porch…

please bless my plans...

jeremiah 2.13 (ncv), MY people have done two evils. they have turned away from ME, the spring of living water and they’ve dug their own wells, which are broken wells and cannot hold water.

imagine this: you’re walking through the mohave desert for two days with no water and no shade. your throat is parched. you’re dying of thirst. your tongue has grown thick. you think you’re going to die if you don’t get some water.

now as you come up over a sand dune after a couple of days and you see this road side stand with a big neon sign and arrows pointing down that says, “GOD’s free unlimited, everlasting, fulfilling, living water.”

but you don't walk up and ask for a drink? no! you walk right on past it and say to a guy standing there, “can i borrow a shovel?” and you start digging your own well. you’re going to get your own water, your way.

even worse than this, we have the audacity that as you’re digging the well you ask GOD to bless your well. have you ever done that? yes, you have!

you go out and get into some relationship you know is wrong and then you pray, “GOD, please bless this relationship.”

or you go out and buy things you don’t need with money you don’t have to impress people you don’t like and you get over extended in credit and deeply in dept and then come back and say, “GOD, bless my finances. i have this financial need.”

who got that need there? you tried to turn a desire into a need. GOD didn’t promise to bless your desires. you got overextended with things you didn’t need then prayed, “bless my finances!”

we do this all the time. abraham was promised a baby, a son, who would be the father of a great nation. as abraham got older, nothing happened. he had no kids. his wife sarah was infertile so he thinks, “i’m going to dig my own well. i’ll make my own plan. i’ll take matters into my own hands.”

so he took sarah’s handmaiden, her servant girl and had a child through her. hagar got pregnant and had a baby. they named him ishmael and he holds him up and says, “GOD! here’s the miracle boy!” GOD says, “no! that’s your plan. that’s the well you dug. I’ve got a baby over here named isaac and he’s coming next year.”

how many times do we do this? we get in a hurry. we figure out our own plan to meet our needs and ask GOD to bless that plan.

GOD isn’t going to do it. GOD is not going to bless that relationship that you’ve tried to force on GOD. GOD is not going to bless all those other plans you’ve tried to force on HIM.

just a thought from the front porch…