from Webster's Dictionary (1828):
SOVEREIGN, a. suv'eran.
1. Supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of the universe.
2. Supreme; superior to all others; chief. God is the sovereign good of all who love and obey him.
3. Supremely efficacious; superior to all others; predominant; effectual; as a sovereign remedy.
4. Supreme; pertaining to the first magistrate of a nation; as sovereign authority.
SOVEREIGN, n. suv'eran.
1. A supreme lord or ruler; one who possesses the highest authority without control. Some earthly princes, kings and emperors are sovereigns in their dominions.
"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." - Exodus 3:14 (KJV)
What does it mean to say God is sovereign? It means He rules and reigns. It means God is in control. No matter how lousy life may appear. No matter how out of control the world seems to be spinning. In good times and bad, lean times and prosperous, sorrow and joy, clarity and confusion... God is in control.
Always.
This can be one of the tougher truths to wrap our minds around. When things are good, it is easy to say, "God has surely blessed me!" Yet when trouble comes (and into every life, at one time or another, trouble comes), it isn't so easy. We must remember the very first thing James related to believers in his epistle:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." - James 1:2-4 (NIV)
I think the root of the problem for we humans comes in finding our joy in circumstances. Rather than allowing our lot in life define our joy (or lack thereof), we should find our joy in God Himself through Jesus Christ. God is sovereign over all! He loves us, bathes us in His goodness and pours His grace upon us. This is why Paul had the confidence to write, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (! Thess. 5:16-18, NIV).
Paul understood that God is sovereign, He is in control, and His will is going to be done. And, for those of us who belong to Him, that is far greater news than we could ever receive on this earth!!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Things We Sometimes Forget #1: Let God
I've been thinking long and hard for some time now about how to proceed with E-ncouragement and The View From Down Here... I knew it had to be personal, heartfelt and relative. All that thinking has produced a lot of inactivity, a fair amount of frustration and one or two false starts.
Here's the conclusion all that thinking has produced: just do it. Just be me, pray, trust God to speak through these words and let Him bring the results in the hearts of those who read. Don't sit and stew about "what if" or "maybe I should" or "who will." Just do it. Just write. Just trust God.
Its easy to forget the "trust God" aspect, isn't it? When life gets busy and we're trying to achieve our goals and the results aren't forthcoming, we tend to want to seize control and do what we feel needs done ourselves. "It's OK, God... I know you're busy. Let me handle this one."
How amazingly - stupefyingly - arrogant! I say this from experience, because I have that tendency. "God, you're just not working fast enough. I want results now! Let me do this one..."
Of course, every time I try to take over what I once turned over to God, the results end up a disaster.
And I eventually find myself on my knees, crying out to God to clean up the mess.
Sometimes we forget that we need to do our best, but leave the results to God. We need to plan, but - far more importantly - we need to pray. We need to trust Him to direct our paths and cover our mistakes (He is perfectly omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, after all!). We need to wait when God says, "Wait." We need to go when He says, "Go."
We need to - gulp! - yield. Oh, man, what an unpopular notion in our "You Have The Power Within You To Do Anything!" society. We need to remember these words from Paul:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) (italics added for emphasis).
Amen indeed!
Here's the conclusion all that thinking has produced: just do it. Just be me, pray, trust God to speak through these words and let Him bring the results in the hearts of those who read. Don't sit and stew about "what if" or "maybe I should" or "who will." Just do it. Just write. Just trust God.
Its easy to forget the "trust God" aspect, isn't it? When life gets busy and we're trying to achieve our goals and the results aren't forthcoming, we tend to want to seize control and do what we feel needs done ourselves. "It's OK, God... I know you're busy. Let me handle this one."
How amazingly - stupefyingly - arrogant! I say this from experience, because I have that tendency. "God, you're just not working fast enough. I want results now! Let me do this one..."
Of course, every time I try to take over what I once turned over to God, the results end up a disaster.
And I eventually find myself on my knees, crying out to God to clean up the mess.
Sometimes we forget that we need to do our best, but leave the results to God. We need to plan, but - far more importantly - we need to pray. We need to trust Him to direct our paths and cover our mistakes (He is perfectly omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, after all!). We need to wait when God says, "Wait." We need to go when He says, "Go."
We need to - gulp! - yield. Oh, man, what an unpopular notion in our "You Have The Power Within You To Do Anything!" society. We need to remember these words from Paul:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) (italics added for emphasis).
Amen indeed!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Does God Really Expect Us To Sit On Our Hands and Wait?
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. - Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
Let me put a little spin on the phrase "wait for the LORD." I've always understood it to mean, "Sit around, pray and just wait for God to move."
In both Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31, the Hebrew word is קוה (qâvâh), which is better defined as "expect" (or, as the NIV renders it in Isaiah 40:31, "hope"). In other words, EXPECT the Lord! Be strong, be courageous, and expect God! Go do what He has called you to do, and know that He is with you. After all, God is our "ever-present help" when trouble comes (Ps. 46:1).
There is a time to wait for God to move. "I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him" (Isaiah 8:17, NIV). However, I do not personally believe the Lord is "hiding His face."
So... what is it God is calling you to do? Whatever service He has designed for you, go and do it, knowing He is right there with you the whole way.
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
Let me put a little spin on the phrase "wait for the LORD." I've always understood it to mean, "Sit around, pray and just wait for God to move."
In both Psalm 27:14 and Isaiah 40:31, the Hebrew word is קוה (qâvâh), which is better defined as "expect" (or, as the NIV renders it in Isaiah 40:31, "hope"). In other words, EXPECT the Lord! Be strong, be courageous, and expect God! Go do what He has called you to do, and know that He is with you. After all, God is our "ever-present help" when trouble comes (Ps. 46:1).
There is a time to wait for God to move. "I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him" (Isaiah 8:17, NIV). However, I do not personally believe the Lord is "hiding His face."
So... what is it God is calling you to do? Whatever service He has designed for you, go and do it, knowing He is right there with you the whole way.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Psalm 42:8
Today, I saw these words, and they just lifted my spirit:
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:8 (NIV)
I was struck by the beauty of the simple message. God directs His love ("commands His lovingkindness" as the KJV renders the verse) and cares for / carries me through the daylight, and His song - His promises, His protection, His guidance - sees me through the hours of darkness. He gives me the reason to praise Him, and makes my life a prayer to Him!
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. - Psalm 42:11 (KJV)
Hallelujiah!!
By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life. - Psalm 42:8 (NIV)
I was struck by the beauty of the simple message. God directs His love ("commands His lovingkindness" as the KJV renders the verse) and cares for / carries me through the daylight, and His song - His promises, His protection, His guidance - sees me through the hours of darkness. He gives me the reason to praise Him, and makes my life a prayer to Him!
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. - Psalm 42:11 (KJV)
Hallelujiah!!
The Word for the Day is Covet (or Gee, What A Nice Ox You Have)
"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. " - Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
Coveting. We've all been there. And it's not a good thing. The Bible warns against coveting a lot of stuff. For example, your neighbor's house (easy for me - we live in a townhouse, my neighbor's homes all look like mine). Your neighbor's wife, servants, ox and donkey. (I have no use for an ox or donkey, nor any room to store them.) Don't covet false idols, or even the precious metals they are made of. Don't covet anyone's fields or silver or clothing or finery. In Romans 13:9, Paul reduces Exodus 20:17 down to three simple words: "Do not covet."
So what exactly is coveting? Basically, it is the step beyond admiration. It is "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does" (1 John 2:16, NIV). It's when "that's a nice bike you have" becomes "I just gotta have that bike! Or one just like it! Or one even better!!"
Coveting leads to a lot of bad places: envy, lust, general unhappiness with one's station in life. Coveting goes beyond mere real estate, spouses, precious metals and oxen. We can covet someone else's position. Do you remember the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? Would anyone have ever watched that show had it been about Joe Average and his ordinary family, living in their three-bedroom rambler on Maple Avenue? (Perhaps... if someone in a two-bedroom house were really coveting a three-bedroom rambler.)
Coveting is just bad news. Remember that God blesses all of us, and to some He gives certain gifts He doesn't bestow on others. While we are not all equally gifted (meaning what he gives to you may not be what he gives to me, and vice versa), we are each uniquely gifted, which is much more meaningful. Likewise we are also not all equally burdened. (Look at the Hollywood starlets whose antics fill our news. They look fabulous, they live in fabulous homes, they drive fabulous cars, their dogs have fabulous collars... but would you honestly, for one minute, want their troubles?)
When we are striving for a particular career, it is easy to covet those who have already "succeeded." When we can't afford what the Joneses have, we feel cruddy about what we "possess." However, God has a plan for each of us. The career heights we hope to achieve may not be in God's plan (or perhaps just not yet). And it just may be that the Joneses really can't afford all that nice stuff they have, either. As Paul wrote, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).
The stuff of this world - possessions, status, oxen - is all temporary. The one thing that lasts is God. When we have Jesus, what else matters? "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NIV).
'Nuff said.
By the way... that sure is a nice ox you have.
Coveting. We've all been there. And it's not a good thing. The Bible warns against coveting a lot of stuff. For example, your neighbor's house (easy for me - we live in a townhouse, my neighbor's homes all look like mine). Your neighbor's wife, servants, ox and donkey. (I have no use for an ox or donkey, nor any room to store them.) Don't covet false idols, or even the precious metals they are made of. Don't covet anyone's fields or silver or clothing or finery. In Romans 13:9, Paul reduces Exodus 20:17 down to three simple words: "Do not covet."
So what exactly is coveting? Basically, it is the step beyond admiration. It is "the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does" (1 John 2:16, NIV). It's when "that's a nice bike you have" becomes "I just gotta have that bike! Or one just like it! Or one even better!!"
Coveting leads to a lot of bad places: envy, lust, general unhappiness with one's station in life. Coveting goes beyond mere real estate, spouses, precious metals and oxen. We can covet someone else's position. Do you remember the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? Would anyone have ever watched that show had it been about Joe Average and his ordinary family, living in their three-bedroom rambler on Maple Avenue? (Perhaps... if someone in a two-bedroom house were really coveting a three-bedroom rambler.)
Coveting is just bad news. Remember that God blesses all of us, and to some He gives certain gifts He doesn't bestow on others. While we are not all equally gifted (meaning what he gives to you may not be what he gives to me, and vice versa), we are each uniquely gifted, which is much more meaningful. Likewise we are also not all equally burdened. (Look at the Hollywood starlets whose antics fill our news. They look fabulous, they live in fabulous homes, they drive fabulous cars, their dogs have fabulous collars... but would you honestly, for one minute, want their troubles?)
When we are striving for a particular career, it is easy to covet those who have already "succeeded." When we can't afford what the Joneses have, we feel cruddy about what we "possess." However, God has a plan for each of us. The career heights we hope to achieve may not be in God's plan (or perhaps just not yet). And it just may be that the Joneses really can't afford all that nice stuff they have, either. As Paul wrote, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV).
The stuff of this world - possessions, status, oxen - is all temporary. The one thing that lasts is God. When we have Jesus, what else matters? "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs" (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NIV).
'Nuff said.
By the way... that sure is a nice ox you have.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Quiet Down and Loosen Up
I find myself often praying for answers. "God, why this?" "God, why not that?" "Lord, please, show me the path..." As I was praying this morning, the Lord reminded me of Psalm 46:10:
"Be still, and know that I am God..."
The word still comes from the Hebrew "râphâh" (רפה), which means to rest, relax, quiet oneself or, more literally, to loosen up. This comes from the same psalm that opens, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2a, NIV).
Perhaps God is trying to teach us something here. Maybe it's time to ease up on trying to be in control of every little facet of life and let Him have the reigns. Maybe instead of fretting about the future, we should live in the here and now and leave what lies ahead to God.
Maybe this is the answer to all the worries that plague us.
When we (or someone we know) gets bad news from the doctor...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When life isn't going quite as planned...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the job market isn't what we hoped for...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the month outlasts the money...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the family (or friends or co-workers) are giving you grief...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the kids are giving you grief...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Whenever anything goes sour or awry or circumstances become difficult if not near-impossible to bear...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Stillness is vital, because when we let go of the worries and stresses in life, we are unblocked and better able to hear from God. In stillness with God, we find we don't necessarily need the answers, we just need the Lord.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved. Please share this message with someone today, and visit our website: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
"Be still, and know that I am God..."
The word still comes from the Hebrew "râphâh" (רפה), which means to rest, relax, quiet oneself or, more literally, to loosen up. This comes from the same psalm that opens, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2a, NIV).
Perhaps God is trying to teach us something here. Maybe it's time to ease up on trying to be in control of every little facet of life and let Him have the reigns. Maybe instead of fretting about the future, we should live in the here and now and leave what lies ahead to God.
Maybe this is the answer to all the worries that plague us.
When we (or someone we know) gets bad news from the doctor...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When life isn't going quite as planned...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the job market isn't what we hoped for...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the month outlasts the money...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the family (or friends or co-workers) are giving you grief...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
When the kids are giving you grief...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Whenever anything goes sour or awry or circumstances become difficult if not near-impossible to bear...
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Stillness is vital, because when we let go of the worries and stresses in life, we are unblocked and better able to hear from God. In stillness with God, we find we don't necessarily need the answers, we just need the Lord.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved. Please share this message with someone today, and visit our website: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Rich Toward God
"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." - Luke 12:18-23 (NIV)
Pondering today: am I truly rich toward God? Am I trusting Him enough? What's more important - doing what He has called me to do or maintaining my barns?
"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes." - Luke 12:18-23 (NIV)
Pondering today: am I truly rich toward God? Am I trusting Him enough? What's more important - doing what He has called me to do or maintaining my barns?
Friday, August 15, 2008
Trust and Turbulence
“I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” – Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV)
“That’s the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies.” Jay, our traveling companion, was pointing out the window at about 30,000 feet. Besides that, all we could see were grey clouds.
All the way to Japan.
We couldn’t make out any other landmarks. We flew over Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Alaska… majestic scenery beneath, to be sure. But with the exception of one sight of the very tops of the Rocky Mountain range, all we could see for the entire eleven hour trip was cloud cover.
Yet, we knew where we were (roughly). We knew where we were going (Japan, then China). And we felt very confident that we would arrive at our destinations safely.
When we trust in God, life is a bit like that flight to Japan. There were moments of discomfort on board that 747. There were bumps and turbulence during the flight. There was boredom. There was frustration. There were the 3’x3’ toilets.
But there was also adventure. There were moments I’ll never forget. There was Jay, a perfect stranger seated beside us who was a delight to get to know (and, having once lived in southeast Asia, a God-send of information and advice).
Life, too, is filled with all these things. Bumps and turbulence. Frustration. Boredom. 3’x3’ toilets. But these are not what we should concentrate on. Think about the adventure, the people God puts in our lives, the destination ahead. Ponder all the wonder God has in-store for you. It is often cloaked in stressful situations. But once we peel away the trouble, we realize that, despite the grey clouds that obscure our view, we know there is beauty and wonder in our lives at any given time. We just have to look for it.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved.
If you know someone who might be blessed by this message, please share it! And please visit our blog: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
“That’s the high peaks of the Canadian Rockies.” Jay, our traveling companion, was pointing out the window at about 30,000 feet. Besides that, all we could see were grey clouds.
All the way to Japan.
We couldn’t make out any other landmarks. We flew over Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Alaska… majestic scenery beneath, to be sure. But with the exception of one sight of the very tops of the Rocky Mountain range, all we could see for the entire eleven hour trip was cloud cover.
Yet, we knew where we were (roughly). We knew where we were going (Japan, then China). And we felt very confident that we would arrive at our destinations safely.
When we trust in God, life is a bit like that flight to Japan. There were moments of discomfort on board that 747. There were bumps and turbulence during the flight. There was boredom. There was frustration. There were the 3’x3’ toilets.
But there was also adventure. There were moments I’ll never forget. There was Jay, a perfect stranger seated beside us who was a delight to get to know (and, having once lived in southeast Asia, a God-send of information and advice).
Life, too, is filled with all these things. Bumps and turbulence. Frustration. Boredom. 3’x3’ toilets. But these are not what we should concentrate on. Think about the adventure, the people God puts in our lives, the destination ahead. Ponder all the wonder God has in-store for you. It is often cloaked in stressful situations. But once we peel away the trouble, we realize that, despite the grey clouds that obscure our view, we know there is beauty and wonder in our lives at any given time. We just have to look for it.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved.
If you know someone who might be blessed by this message, please share it! And please visit our blog: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Time to begin again...
THE VIEW FROM DOWN HERE…
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Back in the summer of 1999, I was facing a major life change. We were preparing to move from Chicago to Minneapolis. I was leaving the company where I had been employed for a decade. I had said “yes” to God’s call to ministry. It was in the midst of all this turbulence and turmoil that I began E-ncouragement.
Life got quite busy. New job. School. Adoption. School. Teaching adult ed at our church. School.
In all the busyness of life (and, trust me, there are some weeks I think I may go mad with all the busy busy busy – way too busy - of life!), I have forgotten some things.
Important things.
Basic things.
Things I wrote about for almost nine years in E-ncouragement.
This summer, I have faced another set of major life changes. Traveling to China. Becoming first-time parents to an incredible toddler. Changing the emphasis in my master’s degree studies. Brett Favre flip-flopping between Green Bay, Tampa Bay and New York.
The stress of life has hit a fever pitch. Feels like 1999 on steroids.
It feels like the time is right to refocus. Now that the life decisions have been made and the course (somewhat, though certainly not entirely) set, it feels right to strip life down to the important aspects and focus on what I had lost sight of in all my goal-reaching and planning.
Seems like a good time to start writing again. A time to expand in teaching and ministering. A time to grow, and help others grow. There will still be stress, and very stressful times. There will still be busyness. But I need to learn how to stop and rest in the Lord. I need to not worry about the results, but only the task at hand.
And I believe I’m not the only one.
So… today, I pick up where I left off quite some months ago.
I pray you will join me on this journey as well. I won’t blog every day, but I will write on a consistent basis. It may be a struggle at first. But I pray and believe it will be a blessing.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved.
If you know someone who might be blessed by this message, please share it! And please visit our blog: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
Back in the summer of 1999, I was facing a major life change. We were preparing to move from Chicago to Minneapolis. I was leaving the company where I had been employed for a decade. I had said “yes” to God’s call to ministry. It was in the midst of all this turbulence and turmoil that I began E-ncouragement.
Life got quite busy. New job. School. Adoption. School. Teaching adult ed at our church. School.
In all the busyness of life (and, trust me, there are some weeks I think I may go mad with all the busy busy busy – way too busy - of life!), I have forgotten some things.
Important things.
Basic things.
Things I wrote about for almost nine years in E-ncouragement.
This summer, I have faced another set of major life changes. Traveling to China. Becoming first-time parents to an incredible toddler. Changing the emphasis in my master’s degree studies. Brett Favre flip-flopping between Green Bay, Tampa Bay and New York.
The stress of life has hit a fever pitch. Feels like 1999 on steroids.
It feels like the time is right to refocus. Now that the life decisions have been made and the course (somewhat, though certainly not entirely) set, it feels right to strip life down to the important aspects and focus on what I had lost sight of in all my goal-reaching and planning.
Seems like a good time to start writing again. A time to expand in teaching and ministering. A time to grow, and help others grow. There will still be stress, and very stressful times. There will still be busyness. But I need to learn how to stop and rest in the Lord. I need to not worry about the results, but only the task at hand.
And I believe I’m not the only one.
So… today, I pick up where I left off quite some months ago.
I pray you will join me on this journey as well. I won’t blog every day, but I will write on a consistent basis. It may be a struggle at first. But I pray and believe it will be a blessing.
© 2008 by Chris Courtney. All rights reserved.
If you know someone who might be blessed by this message, please share it! And please visit our blog: http://contemplativeencourager.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Substance of Faith
I've had quite a lot on my mind these days. And I find myself pondering life more than usual (which is considerable, considering the fact that, over the years, I have honed the craft of inward navel-gazing to a fine art - I am a self-taught master).
One of the subjects I've been thinking about is faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1, ESV). I actually prefer the King James rendering of this verse better: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The reason is this: I really like that word substance.
Why do I like substance so much? Because it is a weightier word than assurance. Don't misunderstand me, I need the assurance that faith brings. But the meaning is much deeper, much more real, when we consider faith to be substance.
When I consider faith as substance, that tells me faith is real, tangible... not just a hope or a pipe dream, but reality. The substance of faith gives the ability to rise from the grave, to heal the sick, to walk on water. The substance of faith puts pay to the promises of God. The substance of faith means my life goes far beyond what I can comprehend with my cognitive abilities (limited as they are).
The substance of faith means, simply, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, ESV), for "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26, NIV). And I don't know about you, but I really need that substantial assurance.
One of the subjects I've been thinking about is faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1, ESV). I actually prefer the King James rendering of this verse better: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The reason is this: I really like that word substance.
Why do I like substance so much? Because it is a weightier word than assurance. Don't misunderstand me, I need the assurance that faith brings. But the meaning is much deeper, much more real, when we consider faith to be substance.
When I consider faith as substance, that tells me faith is real, tangible... not just a hope or a pipe dream, but reality. The substance of faith gives the ability to rise from the grave, to heal the sick, to walk on water. The substance of faith puts pay to the promises of God. The substance of faith means my life goes far beyond what I can comprehend with my cognitive abilities (limited as they are).
The substance of faith means, simply, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, ESV), for "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26, NIV). And I don't know about you, but I really need that substantial assurance.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thoughts on Opportunity
Opportunity.
The word keeps rattling around in my head today.
For Christians, opportunity should be a big word. An opportunity is a chance, a moment, perhaps even fleeting. It may only come around once.
And we may never see it.
For me, I wonder how many opportunities have passed me by - silently, swiftly, without my feeling as much as a breeze on my cheek as it passed. I'm not talking about opportunities to further my career or get ahead in professional ministry or anything like that (although this lesson certainly applies in personal matters as well). I'm thinking of opportunities to help someone. Reach out to someone.
Bless someone.
How many hurting people pass me by each day who could use a smile or a kind word?
How many lonely people pass me by who could use a friendly recognition that they even exist?
How many chances have I let slip by to help a friend or a stranger with my talents, or just some encouragement?
It saddens me to consider it, and puts a sharp new focus on my life. If I truly stop and consider the opportunities God places in front of me every day - multiple times every day - would I ever turn on the television? Would I waste my time in some frivolous entertainment or activity? Would I sit and worry about my troubles (real and imaginary - most of them falling into the latter category)?
Or would I invest my time to reach out to others? Would I invite a friend to dinner? Would I offer to lend a hand? Every situation in life has its opportunities - chances to help, to learn, to teach, to grow, to bless and be blessd.
Inward navel-gazing closes our eyes to the world around us. When we concentrate on ourselves, we are blinded to our surroundings. And we miss so much... so many opportunities to reach out and fulfill God's will for our lives. Our education, talents and abilities are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. The "end" is found in these words of Jesus: "Love one another... as I have loved you..." (John 13:34, NIV). Paul tells us to "be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10, NIV). "Serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13, NIV). "Love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22, NIV). "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24, NIV).
Opportunity. I pray I never miss it again.
The word keeps rattling around in my head today.
For Christians, opportunity should be a big word. An opportunity is a chance, a moment, perhaps even fleeting. It may only come around once.
And we may never see it.
For me, I wonder how many opportunities have passed me by - silently, swiftly, without my feeling as much as a breeze on my cheek as it passed. I'm not talking about opportunities to further my career or get ahead in professional ministry or anything like that (although this lesson certainly applies in personal matters as well). I'm thinking of opportunities to help someone. Reach out to someone.
Bless someone.
How many hurting people pass me by each day who could use a smile or a kind word?
How many lonely people pass me by who could use a friendly recognition that they even exist?
How many chances have I let slip by to help a friend or a stranger with my talents, or just some encouragement?
It saddens me to consider it, and puts a sharp new focus on my life. If I truly stop and consider the opportunities God places in front of me every day - multiple times every day - would I ever turn on the television? Would I waste my time in some frivolous entertainment or activity? Would I sit and worry about my troubles (real and imaginary - most of them falling into the latter category)?
Or would I invest my time to reach out to others? Would I invite a friend to dinner? Would I offer to lend a hand? Every situation in life has its opportunities - chances to help, to learn, to teach, to grow, to bless and be blessd.
Inward navel-gazing closes our eyes to the world around us. When we concentrate on ourselves, we are blinded to our surroundings. And we miss so much... so many opportunities to reach out and fulfill God's will for our lives. Our education, talents and abilities are a means to an end, not an end in and of themselves. The "end" is found in these words of Jesus: "Love one another... as I have loved you..." (John 13:34, NIV). Paul tells us to "be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10, NIV). "Serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13, NIV). "Love one another deeply, from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22, NIV). "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24, NIV).
Opportunity. I pray I never miss it again.
Monday, March 10, 2008
So Much To Do, So Much Mismanaged Time...
Life has been quite busy these days. Its taken a while to get myself prioritized and on track. In fact, I'm not 100% certain that I am entirely "on track" these days, but... its getting better.
Jennie and I have started studying John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. I picked up the small group study at Piper's church (Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis). The title leapt out at me as I perused the bookstore.
I thoroughly believe the Bible is the most economical book on the face of this earth. There is not one word wasted, not one syllable of filler. Every line has meaning, every word important. We skip over so many seemingly unimportant details in Scripture. For instance, did you ever wonder why John (in telling us about the miraculous catch of fish when Jesus reappears to the disciples) goes into the great detail of explaining that, "Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn" (John 21:11, NIV). I mean, look at that... they are not just any fish, they are large fish. And there are not a lot of them. There are not multitudes of them. There are not over a hundred. There are, precisely, 153 of them. (None of them, by the way, being used by Jesus to cook their breakfast.)
Here is my point. God is not a waster. Everything with Christ has purpose, meaning and reason. He lived His life with great meaning. Jesus was focused: He had a purpose, and He fulfilled it - without getting sidetracked or derailed. Troubles didn't trip Him. Busyness of life didn't ruffle Him. Opposition didn't slow Him. He stayed on topic, stayed the course, stayed steady and steadfast. He knew when to rest and eat and pray. He knew when to get away and recharge His batteries. He knew when to hit the road.
I look at my life, how I spend / burn my time. And I'm not happy.
Not happy at all.
Life is busy enough with school and work and teaching and family and... and... and... And there is so much more I want to do - so much more ministry, teaching, learning, writing... Yes, there must be time for rest and regeneration and prayer. Still... I could do better.
I could do much better.
I hope to do much better.
"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." - 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (NIV).
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Jennie and I have started studying John Piper's Don't Waste Your Life. I picked up the small group study at Piper's church (Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis). The title leapt out at me as I perused the bookstore.
I thoroughly believe the Bible is the most economical book on the face of this earth. There is not one word wasted, not one syllable of filler. Every line has meaning, every word important. We skip over so many seemingly unimportant details in Scripture. For instance, did you ever wonder why John (in telling us about the miraculous catch of fish when Jesus reappears to the disciples) goes into the great detail of explaining that, "Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn" (John 21:11, NIV). I mean, look at that... they are not just any fish, they are large fish. And there are not a lot of them. There are not multitudes of them. There are not over a hundred. There are, precisely, 153 of them. (None of them, by the way, being used by Jesus to cook their breakfast.)
Here is my point. God is not a waster. Everything with Christ has purpose, meaning and reason. He lived His life with great meaning. Jesus was focused: He had a purpose, and He fulfilled it - without getting sidetracked or derailed. Troubles didn't trip Him. Busyness of life didn't ruffle Him. Opposition didn't slow Him. He stayed on topic, stayed the course, stayed steady and steadfast. He knew when to rest and eat and pray. He knew when to get away and recharge His batteries. He knew when to hit the road.
I look at my life, how I spend / burn my time. And I'm not happy.
Not happy at all.
Life is busy enough with school and work and teaching and family and... and... and... And there is so much more I want to do - so much more ministry, teaching, learning, writing... Yes, there must be time for rest and regeneration and prayer. Still... I could do better.
I could do much better.
I hope to do much better.
"I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." - 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (NIV).
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
Friday, February 15, 2008
For The Huskies
Back in our Chicago days, we lived about a half-hour west of DeKalb, just off the same highway that forms their main street and on which sits the campus of Northern Illinois University. Many Sunday afternoons were spent on country drives to get away from suburbia. I can remember driving to DeKalb one summer day and thinking, "What a quiet, wonderful little town this is." The backdrop of memory makes yesterday's tragedy at NIU all the more shocking and saddening.
Our prayers and hearts go out to all the victims and their families and loved ones, the students at NIU and the town of DeKalb.
Our prayers and hearts go out to all the victims and their families and loved ones, the students at NIU and the town of DeKalb.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Confession of a Disorganized Reactionary
Time management has never been my forte. In fact, my all-around organizational abilities stink on ice, to say the least. I'm always in a hurry, always late, always losing stuff. I have tried for years to get my act together when it comes to being organized, and... well, I've come to the conclusion that it just ain't in me to have "my act together"!
My problem is this: I am a task-oriented person. Couple that with a propensity for disorganization and you come up with a very frustrated individual. A very harried and hurried person.
A grump.
Being a grump causes me a theological problem because, according to Paul, I should "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Phil. 2:14, NIV).
Uh-oh. Do I have an out here? I decided to check the ESV, the latest favorite Bible translation to see if I could find a loophole. What I found was this: "Do all things without grumbling or questioning."
Bummer.
OK, how about that old standby, the King James Version: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
Sighhhh....
Maybe Eugene Peterson can help me out: "Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!" (The Message).
OK. I'm beginning to see I need to make a fundamental change. I recently heard for the umpteenth time an old adage that says life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to life. I thought about how true that is, then I turned my eyes upward a bit in my Bible and found this: "...it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13, NIV). In other words, God is in control. There is no sense beating my head against the wall, because God can handle what I cannot.
That certainly helps me relax a bit. But now I have to run off to the next stop on my schedule.
More soon.
My problem is this: I am a task-oriented person. Couple that with a propensity for disorganization and you come up with a very frustrated individual. A very harried and hurried person.
A grump.
Being a grump causes me a theological problem because, according to Paul, I should "do everything without complaining or arguing" (Phil. 2:14, NIV).
Uh-oh. Do I have an out here? I decided to check the ESV, the latest favorite Bible translation to see if I could find a loophole. What I found was this: "Do all things without grumbling or questioning."
Bummer.
OK, how about that old standby, the King James Version: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
Sighhhh....
Maybe Eugene Peterson can help me out: "Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed!" (The Message).
OK. I'm beginning to see I need to make a fundamental change. I recently heard for the umpteenth time an old adage that says life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to life. I thought about how true that is, then I turned my eyes upward a bit in my Bible and found this: "...it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13, NIV). In other words, God is in control. There is no sense beating my head against the wall, because God can handle what I cannot.
That certainly helps me relax a bit. But now I have to run off to the next stop on my schedule.
More soon.
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Enthusiasm of Simon Peter
Let me start by stating, here and now, that I firmly believe the Holy Bible to be infallible and inerrant. It is the inspired Word of God, and as such is indelibly intertwined with the Lord Himself.
'Nuff said there.
We had our company Christmas shindig this past weekend and, boy - what a blast! Unfortunately (for me, at least), I allowed myself to be cajoled into singing a little karoke. (My boss informed me I had a nice voice. Trust me - I proved him wrong.)
The song selected for me to warble: "Born to be Wild." The choice was ill-fitting, to say the least. It is not a song that fits me in the least. Indeed, I was born to be mild.
As I prepped to teach last week's second installment of our Peter class (Flawed Yet Chosen), I pondered this. Peter had a zeal, an eagerness, that I really crave. What was it that made Peter so excited about following Christ?
We dug into the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' calling the four disciples. Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:14-20 basically tells us Jesus called Peter and his brother, Andrew, and "at once they left their nets and followed him" (Mt.4:20, Mk. 4:18, NIV). They didn't just abandon their boats. They left everything . Consider that for a moment. If some stranger came up to you at work and said, "Leave your livelihood behind and come follow me," would you do it? People would say you were nuts, wouldn't they? (If you think I am trying to say Peter or any the apostle were unstable in any way, purge that thought from your minds and read on...)
Luke 5:1-11 fills out the picture somewhat. We see Jesus on the shore, teaching a crowd. He has Peter take Him out in his boat and produces for the weary fishermen a net-busting bounty of fish. This after a long night of toil for Peter and his fellow fishermen that produced a catch of exactly zero fish.
Nil.
Nada.
Nothing but net [and maybe some seaweed]).
Peter's reaction: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken..." (Lk. 5:8-9, NIV).
John 1:35-42 tells what appears to be a different story altogether. In this account, which apparently takes place before the encounter noted above, Andrew (Peter's brother and a follower of John the Baptist) came to Christ first. Then, "the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter)" (Jn.1:41-42, NIV).
How do we account for such different accounts of essentially the same event? Consider this: Mark was most likely the first gospel written. It only makes sense that Matthew and Luke would have had access to John Mark's gospel as it circulated throughout the churches. I believe Matthew and Luke are, in a sense, both expounding on and confirming what Mark wrote. Likewise with John, whose gospel was written perhaps 30-50 years after the other three synoptic gospels. I believe that the purpose of John's gospel was, in part, to fill in the gaps from the other three gospels. Therefore, if you take all four gospel accounts together, you have a cohesive whole. You see the bigger picture.
To demonstrate what I meant, I sat a soda bottle down in the middle of a round table and asked the people sitting at the table to look at it. Some could see the trademark on the label. Some could see the list of ingredients. Some could see the Iowa / Michigan 5 cent deposit box. Some could see the barcode. If you turn it, you get the full picture. The same is true with the gospels. If you look at all four gospels, you will get a much fuller view.
So... as for Peter. He heard about Jesus through his very enthusiastic brother, Andrew. Perhaps Simon Peter was skeptical at first (this may in part account for the shame Peter expresses in Luke 5:8). If he was, Jesus eradicated the doubt with a net brimming with fish.
Of course, Peter had just looked our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the eye. I cannot imagine the glory one would have seen in those eyes!
'Nuff said there.
We had our company Christmas shindig this past weekend and, boy - what a blast! Unfortunately (for me, at least), I allowed myself to be cajoled into singing a little karoke. (My boss informed me I had a nice voice. Trust me - I proved him wrong.)
The song selected for me to warble: "Born to be Wild." The choice was ill-fitting, to say the least. It is not a song that fits me in the least. Indeed, I was born to be mild.
As I prepped to teach last week's second installment of our Peter class (Flawed Yet Chosen), I pondered this. Peter had a zeal, an eagerness, that I really crave. What was it that made Peter so excited about following Christ?
We dug into the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' calling the four disciples. Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:14-20 basically tells us Jesus called Peter and his brother, Andrew, and "at once they left their nets and followed him" (Mt.4:20, Mk. 4:18, NIV). They didn't just abandon their boats. They left everything . Consider that for a moment. If some stranger came up to you at work and said, "Leave your livelihood behind and come follow me," would you do it? People would say you were nuts, wouldn't they? (If you think I am trying to say Peter or any the apostle were unstable in any way, purge that thought from your minds and read on...)
Luke 5:1-11 fills out the picture somewhat. We see Jesus on the shore, teaching a crowd. He has Peter take Him out in his boat and produces for the weary fishermen a net-busting bounty of fish. This after a long night of toil for Peter and his fellow fishermen that produced a catch of exactly zero fish.
Nil.
Nada.
Nothing but net [and maybe some seaweed]).
Peter's reaction: "When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken..." (Lk. 5:8-9, NIV).
John 1:35-42 tells what appears to be a different story altogether. In this account, which apparently takes place before the encounter noted above, Andrew (Peter's brother and a follower of John the Baptist) came to Christ first. Then, "the first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah' (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter)" (Jn.1:41-42, NIV).
How do we account for such different accounts of essentially the same event? Consider this: Mark was most likely the first gospel written. It only makes sense that Matthew and Luke would have had access to John Mark's gospel as it circulated throughout the churches. I believe Matthew and Luke are, in a sense, both expounding on and confirming what Mark wrote. Likewise with John, whose gospel was written perhaps 30-50 years after the other three synoptic gospels. I believe that the purpose of John's gospel was, in part, to fill in the gaps from the other three gospels. Therefore, if you take all four gospel accounts together, you have a cohesive whole. You see the bigger picture.
To demonstrate what I meant, I sat a soda bottle down in the middle of a round table and asked the people sitting at the table to look at it. Some could see the trademark on the label. Some could see the list of ingredients. Some could see the Iowa / Michigan 5 cent deposit box. Some could see the barcode. If you turn it, you get the full picture. The same is true with the gospels. If you look at all four gospels, you will get a much fuller view.
So... as for Peter. He heard about Jesus through his very enthusiastic brother, Andrew. Perhaps Simon Peter was skeptical at first (this may in part account for the shame Peter expresses in Luke 5:8). If he was, Jesus eradicated the doubt with a net brimming with fish.
Of course, Peter had just looked our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the eye. I cannot imagine the glory one would have seen in those eyes!
Friday, January 11, 2008
WWPD?
As I prep for teaching a series on the apostle Peter, I find myself trying to mentally walk in his shoes and thinking, "How would Peter react to a given situation?" I say react because Peter had a real proclivity for being reactionary (as opposed to proactive). Forethought wasn't Peter's forte.
For example: Jesus calls Peter out of the boat. Peter reacts by walking on the water.
Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah. Peter reacts by offering to build them a tent.
Roman guards arrive at the garden to arrest Jesus. Peter reacts by lobbing off a centurion's ear.
Scripture doesn't tell us Peter considered these things and then acted. Peter worked off impulse.
And, boy, did he ever mess up!
And yet... "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19, NIV).
Why would Jesus choose such an impulsive individual to be "the rock" upon which He builds His church? Generally speaking, while Peter's actions tended to be wrong / mistaken, his heart was right. He wanted to please Christ. He wanted to do right. But Peter tended to get in his own way.
Don't we all.
Maybe God isn't looking for the most able. Maybe what's more important is who is the most willing.
(c) 2008 by Chris & Jennie Courtney. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
For example: Jesus calls Peter out of the boat. Peter reacts by walking on the water.
Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah. Peter reacts by offering to build them a tent.
Roman guards arrive at the garden to arrest Jesus. Peter reacts by lobbing off a centurion's ear.
Scripture doesn't tell us Peter considered these things and then acted. Peter worked off impulse.
And, boy, did he ever mess up!
And yet... "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19, NIV).
Why would Jesus choose such an impulsive individual to be "the rock" upon which He builds His church? Generally speaking, while Peter's actions tended to be wrong / mistaken, his heart was right. He wanted to please Christ. He wanted to do right. But Peter tended to get in his own way.
Don't we all.
Maybe God isn't looking for the most able. Maybe what's more important is who is the most willing.
(c) 2008 by Chris & Jennie Courtney. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
The "NIV" and "New International Version" trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society.
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