Family Camp

Like a lot of other churches ours has an annual camp. We call ours "Family Camp". It is a wonderfully inexpensive way to get away with family and friends. But for me it was not always that way.

This will be my very first Family Camp without anger. This time I am only taking what's on the list. So you won't see me with my U Haul full of bitterness. I'm packing light! I am really looking forward to it. I used to spend so darn much time being mad at folks. And not just one at a time! No way! I multi-tasked. I'd juggle my resentments between a couple or more fellows at a time. I was good at it. Then, after my Heavenly Father touched me in April of 1012, I found that I was free from the smoldering resentments and anger that I nursed with a dedication and commitment that would shame the best Amway Rep. (If I sold Amway with the same dedication I'd be a millionaire.)  I told someone that this new relationship with God was like being on vacation from myself and that's still true. Sometimes, most of the time, I feel so good that I think I must be cheating!

It is so wonderful to be going to camp with so many lovely folks all in one place. It will be a real special time for me, for us all,  and I hope that we all come back having become more like our Messiah Jesus!

PRIDE

       I asked God to show me my sin and He was gracious enough to do so in a way that didn’t rub my nose in it but still got the message across. How good He is.

In the book of Luke Jesus told the story of the Guests. Chapter 14:7 reads:

“Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Do I take the place of honor? Do I desire or think I deserve the place of honor. Do I want to be friends with people because I like them or just because they are important? And just how entrenched is this in my life?

The other day I stepped over to talk with two men (both in leadership positions, both whom I admire). The one paused and gave me a greeting, a bit of small talk and then turned continuing with another conversation. I found myself resentful at what I took as a snub. (See what a snob I am?)

After I got home I was rethinking the whole scenario. Why would I be offended?  As I thought about it, I realized that I am such a prideful man. Why should I gain an intimate audience with either of these two anyway? My function is not the same as these men so why did I want a "place of honor"?  Why did I try and take a “chief seat”? Pride! Why did I take offense? Pride. Why did I even interpret the situation as a slight? Pride. So I have a pride problem.

Pride is an awful sneaky sin, masquerading itself in all manner of righteous or justifiable actions. I wonder how long it will be before I am free of this beast? These men need real friendships. A pride filled man makes a lousy friend. It makes us into hypocrites and tears everyone down. It makes us angry and resentful towards folks who don’t deserve it. It causes significant social problems, in short: it is a killer. It is the sin of Lucifer and is at the root of all sins. 

So God has answered my prayer! He has shown me my sin of pride and I will praise Him for it. He wants only His very best for me. He wants me to function in the body of Christ in a way that only I can but first He and I have to deal with the sins in my life. So I pray to Him in thanks, for forgiveness  and ask for His help in coming against the sin of pride in my life. He is still my Heavenly Father and He loves me. Like the saying goes: “He loves me too much to leave me the way I am.”

One thing I have come to know is that when I am offended, overly sensitive or having  anger issues it is likely a problem of pride no matter how I try to paint it otherwise.  God says that, "Where there is contention there is pride." (Prov. 13:10)  If I am having trouble getting along with others, if my opinion is always the right one, if I am always certain about everything then I need to check it out... it's pride. Pride hides under many guises and so rooting it out is something that we must get help from God on. David said, "Search me, Oh God, know my heart..." and we must do the very same thing. 

The exciting part of all this is that God will keep His promise to make us new. He has only good in store for us as we honestly come to Him desiring to be more Christ like. Once He has touched the area of sin then, and only then, will He be able to use us to the fullest extent in the way He has specifically designed us to be used. We are His workmanship and He has specific plans for each of us if we will make ourselves available. Only once we have found that "sweet spot" of service that He designed for us will be truly happy. God has a job for me and for you! Now if that doesn't excite you I don't know what will.

Nearly a year

It has been nearly a year now since God, my loving Father, touched me; He told me He loved me and would never leave me. It is still an essential part of the good news, it brings to my mind verses of promise that sustain me: They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. He makes all things beautiful in His time. Do not be weary in well doing. Verses like that. My friend are you discouraged? Go to Him and ask Him to defend you against bitterness and frustrations. In this world we will have tribulation but be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. He will lift you up.

I, just recently, was feeling anxious and frustrated. Over things that had not happened. You see my sin had separated me not just from God but also from loved ones. I had been a traitor in the relationships and had not kept the spoken and un-spoken promises that are basic in those relationships. I felt as if everyone would forgive me and restore me, that there was an obligation to do so. But that does not always happen. In addition, other relationships between brothers in the Lord had not panned out the way I thought they would. I was in a situation where bitterness could easily become real. 

My relationship with my Heavenly Father manifested itself in immediate and wonderful changes but those changes did not transfer to my earthly relationships. What can I learn from this? First of all, we are all in a state of growth and change. Second, some things do not heal. The consequences of sin, of disobedience, are sometimes permanent. This is the very sad news of sin. When things do change it is a gift from God and when they don't that is also a gift from God. To make us grow. To allow us to give thanks in everything!  Only God can cause love and forgiveness to abound in the hearts of those we have wronged. They must allow God to do a work in them. But the schedule for this is not posted anywhere. And this can make us grow impatient.

It took sixty years for me to come to an end and allow Him to work in me. He was patient and very kind to me. Should I not allow that same goodness, kindness and patience from Him to me towards others? How long has He been good, kind and patient with you? It was even His kindness that led you and I to repent.  So I pray to my Father: "Oh God please take from me every bitter thought and word. Let me forgive others as you have forgiven me. Allow me to show the goodness, kindness and patience towards others that You show towards me and help me to remember Your promises!"

God's promises are more sure than the present circumstances. Will the circumstances ever change? He does not promise that; they may not change in our life time. Some changes are reserved for eternity. But they will come, of that we can be sure. In the meantime think on these things: the just things, the pure things, the lovely things, things of good report; think on virtue and praise. Think on these things.