Keep an Open Hand

1 Samuel 13:14:

“But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

The middle chapters of First Samuel tell the story of Israel’s first anointed King, Saul, and his replacement, David. The stories of these two kings are in stark contrast of each other, and the main difference between these two is obedience to God. Saul became more disobedient over time, and grew more fearful of man’s perception than God’s wrath. By contrast, David is described as a man after God’s own heart, which despite his own failings cared more about being right with God than what people thought of him. David was patient, Saul was impatient; David was obedient, Saul was disobedient; David confessed his sins, Saul made excuses for his sins.

The picture that comes to mind for me when I think of Kings Saul and David is that of a simple open hand before the Lord. David lived with an open hand, and let the Lord fill it. David waited for the Lord’s direction, timing, and provision even when it didn’t seem to make sense to do so. David gave the Lord everything in his life, because he trusted God to mold him into what He wanted him to be.

However, Saul was paranoid and narcissistic. Saul lived life with a closed hand before the Lord, fearing that he would lose his position, authority, and wealth. The irony is that God is the one who gave all of these to Saul in the first place. By refusing to obey the Lord, and instead seek man’s approval, God ultimately removed His blessing from Saul, and stripped him of the authority and position that Saul so desperately tried to cling to in his own power.

Ouch. Comparing the lives of these two men challenges me to make sure that I approach my life with humility and obedience to His Word; to live life with an open hand allowing God to fill it with what He knows is best for me. I don’t always hit the bull’s-eye, but I’m always aiming for it. Present your life openly to God and let Him make you into what He designed you to be. Wait on Him; trust Him; obey Him.

posted by:
Kevin Goldstein
Director of Worship

Towering Above the Trash

Philippians 3:8-9:

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him."

Thousands who travel by cruise ships through the inside passage of Alaska annually journey inland to visit the old gold rush town of Nome. But few visitors would label it an attractive tourist spot. Garbage lines the streets. Due to the harsh winters, permafrost, and limited landfill area, litter is left in front of many houses. Wrecked cars and broken down snowmobiles sit and rust on grassless front yards. Abandoned appliances, outgrown toys, and assorted refuse contribute to the unsightly landscape until the winter snow blankets them.

Amid the trash and litter that has come to define Nomes landscape is the community’s Christian radio station that broadcasts biblical teaching, praise and worship songs, as well as Russian programs (that are heard 150 miles to the west in Siberia). KICY’s transmitter tower stands 250 feet above the towns refuse and debris. The contrast between the garbage on the ground and the purposeful tower in the air is striking!

According to what Paul is saying in these verses, our firsthand knowledge of Jesus elevates us to a level of living that is to tower above everything else in this world. We have a choice each day to preoccupy ourselves with the “garbage” of this world- career advancement, material possessions, and wealth, pleasure- or we can reach upward to what truly counts: a life as a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ.

All our other pursuits (including job, education, hobbies, personal ambitions and future plans) are like the litter in Nome, Alaska. They may represent valid experiences and meaningful accomplishments, but they are an eyesore in contrast to the beautiful relationship the Lord has invited us to experience as Fully Devoted Followers of Christ.

Charles Wesley wrote, “Thou, O Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find.” Take out the garbage today - remove all the litter that prevents you from living the fully devoted life for Jesus today.

Prayer of the Fully Devoted Follower
"Lord, I’m ashamed to admit, but you already know it’s true. I am more apt to focus on the routines and relationships that characterize my life than to look up in your direction to remember what’s really important. Forgive me, Father. Cause me to remember where my worth really lies. Amen."

posted by:
Dan Wade
Congregational Care Pastor

Stand Strong & Stay Close

Read John 15:1-6.

Everyday, we seem to hear more news about the financial crisis; banks closing, businesses going bankrupt and homeowners struggling with their mortgage. Then there is the state of California, let’s not even go there.

We also hear of cultural challenges in government, education, taxes, business, morality, sexuality and media, with change happening so fast it seems impossible to keep up with it all.

Then there are our personal challenges and family trials and blessing thrown in the mix as well.

God’s word has much to say about our need to stay closely tied to the strong foundation.

I Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Our faith must be placed not on the things of this world, but on our Lord Jesus Christ and His promises and ways.

I asked you to read John 15. This is a powerful passage because it teaches us that we MUST stay closely connected (tied to or grafted into) Jesus who is in turn our direct access to God. Verse 5 tells us we can do nothing without abiding in Christ; in fact we will wither and bear no fruit.

God is communicating to us that:

1. I know you: I created you, knitted you together before you were born, I am intimately aware of what you are going through. Psalm 139
   
2. God cares: John 11:35 – Jesus was deeply moved and troubled by the needs, hurts and fears of His children.
   
3. God is willing: Philippians 4:19 – God WILL meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
   
4. God is able: Ephesians 3:20 – He is ABLE to do something about what He knows and cares about.

The theme for the men’s conference in September is “The Perfect Storm: Stand and Deliver,” and we will be talking about the winds and waves of life and how we can stand strong and then deliver light and encouragement to others. I hope today that you will be encouraged all the more to stay in close connection with Christ and stand firm in your faith and trust of Him during these turbulent times.

posted by:
Jeff Koons
Pastor of Adult and Men’s Ministries

Facing Your Giants

A little while back I read a good book by Max Lucado called “Facing Your Giants” in which he deals with a number of things that will strengthen us in Christ, if we will only be willing to face them. He uses many of the life experiences of King David as examples of how to do this and to give us encouragement to do the same. In one section he deals with an issue that many, if not all people must address in their lives. It is that of dashed hopes, or the fact that often what we set out to accomplish changes due to circumstances, mistakes, or God just having a different plan for us. King David speaks of this when he says “I had intended to build a permanent home for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God.” (I Chron. 28:2) We know from the scriptures that David made all the preparations for building the temple, but was prevented from actually building it. God had a different plan than David. David may’ve intended to build, but God chose Solomon to finish the project instead.

Lucado points out that David stated “I had intended. I had made the preparations, BUT GOD had a different plan.” This had to be extremely difficult for David and incredibly disappointing. Lucado asks “What do you do with the 'but God' moments in life? When God interrupts your good plans, how do you respond?” That‘s a huge question. Personally, sometimes I roll right along with God changing my plans or fiddling with my well-ordered little kingdom, but, I must confess, most of the time I prefer to do things the way I want to do things and I don’t appreciate it at all when God makes changes to my world without giving me the courtesy of asking me first!

David responded in a manner that we can all learn from. He followed the “I had intended, but God…” moments with a “yet God.” After acknowledging that he really had intended to build the temple, David stated “Yet, the Lord, the God of Israel, chose me from all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. (I Chron 28:4). Lucado concludes “David faced the behemouth of disappointment with yet God..” David decided that instead of whining and complaining, although he may have done some of that off line, he would trust in his God to do the right thing with his life. This is a great lesson for me and for all of us who desire to be a fully devoted follower of Christ. There are going to be plenty of times when we plan, prepare, and work hard to accomplish things which we have “intended” to accomplish, then, for whatever reason, God switches things up, makes changes, and sets us on a totally different road. It’s true of us as individuals, and as a church. We can choose to despair in the loss of what we wanted, or we can choose to trust God’s sovereignty in our lives.

It’s not easy, and sometimes it’s down right painful to let go of our plans, but if we can learn to relinquish control in our lives to our Lord, I believe we will find that His road leads to a much better destination than ours would have. Recently I heard a speaker quote Oswald Chambers. He said, “Beware of spending too much time looking back at what you once were, when God wants you to become something you have never been!” This is a great challenge to me and I share it with you. Let’s all look forward to see the possibilities and potentialities the God of the universe has waiting for us, if we will only trust Him.

See you in worship.

posted by:
John Plastow
Executive Pastor of Worship Arts