Righteousness

One of my favorite Scriptures, and a great reminder of the wonderful news in Jesus Christ:

http://bible.us/Rom3.21.ESV But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—

He did what I was unable too... Yes, and, Amen!!

ALL Things, ALL the Time

Yesterday I spent some time looking for some part-time/full-time work. As we launch our own business, our plan is to find a steady job that will flex with our business schedule, to help supplement our income in this season.

While I was out, I got to stop and talk with a friend of mine, Steve Keck, about life, business, stresses, etc. It was a great conversation with a man who launched his own business from nothing years ago. Today, that business is a highly sucessful one in the recycling industry, employing over 100 people in this area.

As we talked about the emotions and pressures and stresses of starting a business and that go with this season of life, he reminded me of Romans 8:28:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

He also reminded me that Romans 8:28 is in effect, all the time.

Not only do all things work together for good, ALL things work together for good, ALL the time.

Including right now.

Lost

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Have you ever lost your way? As a man of course I have never gotten lost, nor ha...

I better stop right there. Because it simply isn't true.

I've been lost on the highway before, no doubt about it. But have you ever felt lost on the highway of life?

I wrote about it the other day, how the animated movie Cars surprisingly provided some comfort in my journey called life. Yet, I still feel I have more to share on the subject.

What do you do when things don't work out quite the way we had planned them to? What happens when a detour is thrown into our path and the dreams we had seem to be derailed? It seems that's where my family has been for the last little while. Do we abandon the dream? To we change the course? Is God wanting us to do something different?

For my wife and I, we have had a heart for ministry. Now, before I bleed my heart out anymore, the reality is that those who call themselves Christians are in ministry. We are the light of the world, and you don't need ministry to be an occupation or minister to be your title to reach out and love others the way Jesus told us to. We are the Body of Christ. But we have felt a specific longing for ministry. Full-time. Maybe it's a calling, maybe it's just pursuing our heart, either way, it's what we have gone back to. And more importantly, it's the direction it seems the Holy Spirit is leading us in.

So what do you do when things aren't looking the way you anticipated? Do we throw in the towel? Has God changed His mind? Did we miss it somehow? Do we really have anything to offer anyone?

I don't know the answer to these questions for you - I have difficulty answering them for myself sometimes.

But here is what I know...

Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

and

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

and

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

and

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.

So... what do you do... But trust?

Problem is, that's easier said than done. It's more natural to trust in myself than Him. It's easier to trust in myself who is finite and limited and flawed, than the One who sees all, knows all, created me and can see the bigger picture. Doesn't make a lot of sense but it's the reality of my life at times.

OK, a lot of times.

So today, I choose to trust. As best I know how, I trust.

Even though I may feel lost, I know that in Him,

I am found.

One of My Favs

One of my favorite portions of Scripture in the Bible comes from my favorite book, the book of Romans. The Scripture is found in Chapter 3, verses 10-12:


as it is written:

   “None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
   no one seeks for God. 

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
   no one does good,
   not even one.”

It's a good reminder, and pulls me off my self-righteous throne, whenever I might think I am somehow earning my keep and favor with God. It reminds me that my righteousness is like filthy rags, and of my desperate state before Christ.

Be encouraged of your desperation today too.

Perfect

I think I can live life perfectly on my own efforts. I wouldn't generally admit to that, but its what I [try to] do. I can feel it when the Holy Spirit or my wife calls me out on it. I'm caught up trusting in my own efforts and righteousness.

Romans 3:10-12 states,

as it is written:
   "None is righteous, no, not one;
 no one understands;
   no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
   no one does good,
   not even one."

Generally, this isn't an encouraging verse. And, it isn't. It's the bad news that precedes the good news in Christ spoken of later in the chapter. For me, the fact that no one is righteous, not even one, is also good news. It's good news because I can stop striving. Stop trying to live on my own accord, my own merit. Stop trying to earn His favor or acceptance, and instead receive it as a free gift.

While spending some time with the Lord this morning, this thought came to me:

Instead of trying to live this life perfectly; I need to trust in the Perfect One.

I read something similar to this in a tweet from someone I follow on Twitter yesterday. I don't know exactly what it said, but this truth came back to me at the right time this morning.

I. Can't. Do. It.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

It's never a burden to me to revisit the gift of God's grace. I'm accepted and declared righteous because of Jesus Christ this morning, not because of my own efforts. And it is by His grace, that I am empowered to live a holy life.

Ahhhh....

So once again, this morning, I surrender to your grace, Lord Jesus.