Category: Uncategorized

Categories
Uncategorized

Just a Little Bit More

It is a story worth revisiting. Business tycoon and founder of Standard Oil, John D. Rockefeller, was fabulously wealthy, America’s first billionaire. Think Warren Buffett or Bill Gates today. When asked one day, “How much money is enough?” Rockefeller replied, “Just a little bit more.”

Can there be a more profound description of human desire? It’s what we all want—just a little bit more. Another way of saying this is, more is never enough. It mocks us but never sates us. Regardless of our personal currency—be it money and means, accomplishment and adulation, position and power—the supply of more never meets the demand for more; there is no point at which the two intersect.

But what if we discovered “enough” were attainable, that we’d just been chasing the wrong things all along? What if our desires were to align with God’s desires, where mercy is more valuable than money, peace is more fulfilling than possessions, good is more precious than gain, and faithfulness is more treasured than fame? When it comes down to it, aren’t these the things that satisfy us? Don’t these reflections of God’s character soak deeper into our souls than the external pursuits of this world? Aren’t true contentment and rest found in these priceless things of God?

The psalmist said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). It’s not that God is some sort of cosmic vending machine that spits out whatever we want; rather when we draw near to Him, the temporary things of this life are exposed for what they are, and our enlightened heart turns toward Him who said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

He himself is enough; we need nothing more.

Jesus, send your Spirit to me today, that I would set aside my desires and rest in yours. May I be fully content in you. Amen.

[Read today’s Scripture in Psalm 37:1-10.]

Categories
Uncategorized

Fly Again

He will cover you with his wings. And under his wings you will be safe. He is faithful like a safe-covering and a strong wall. (Psalm 91:4 NLV)

One Spring, our neighbor determined to witness a hatchling’s first flight. She stationed her lawn chair by a nest-bearing tree and brought along a book to pass the hours. The awaited time arrived soon enough, and unmistakably so, for a momma robin began to urge her young-‘un to launch. He, on the other hand, wanted no part of it. So while Momma continued to chirp, Junior stood at the edge of the nest—frozen, looking down, unconvinced. After an hour of parental prodding, though, the little guy decided it better to plunge into thin air than to listen to this all day!

The baby bird went into a glide, the neighbor’s green grass passing beneath him like a scroll, then the street, and in no time the first-timer was in our air space and over our lawn. At that point, it became clear his approach vector would not serve him well. I wonder what went through his mind as our house grew ever-larger and quickly filled his entire field of vision. Thud! (Or Thud-lite?) He hit our house and fell to the ground. The plumed pilot was only stunned, fortunately, and when he came to, he found his feet, got his bearings, turned around and headed for home. Walking. The entire way. Enough flying for today, thank you.

The psalmist marvels at God—a shelter providing rest, a fortress securing refuge, a wing offering cover. And so He is. But it doesn’t always feel this way, does it? Like the momma robin, God sends us out into a world with “thud” moments awaiting—small ones that leave us smarting and big ones that send us reeling. The question is, what do we do then? Do we let our ruffled feathers keep us away from God, or do we wobble back to where we will find love, protection, and, yes, sound correction and instruction for another launch, another day? Our grounded aviator had much yet to learn about flying, but he knew enough to head home and fly again … tomorrow, perhaps.

Father in heaven, as you send me out to engage the world around me today, assure me of the promise of your love, instruct me in the wisdom of your Word, protect me in the shelter of your wing. Amen.

[Read today’s Scripture in Psalm 91:1-8.]

Categories
Uncategorized

The Power of Words

I was swapping stories with a friend of mine; he also was from a small town, so even though our experiences were different, we could relate to each other from a vantage point only small-town folks can share. He played high school basketball, and his overachieving team had reached the regional tournament, only to find themselves opposite an urban powerhouse—a legendary team known throughout the state. From tip-off, the underdogs played hard and played well, down by a mere two points at the half. The hometown boys bounded into the locker room, heads high, confidence swelling, victory possible. So when the coach gathered them around, they eagerly awaited the game plan and pep talk from their leader. “If you continue to rebound and don’t turn the ball over,” he said, “you won’t lose by more than 10 points,” That was it. Confidence exited the room before the now-deflated team could even pivot toward the door. They lost by six.

Words are mysterious things. We cannot see them, but there may be no more powerful force on earth than these outward expressions of the innermost soul. With words, we build people up or tear them down. With words, we instill confidence or inject fear. With words, we glorify our God or berate our family. With words, we uphold others’ honor or shackle them with shame. We give voice to the hope in our heart and others take courage. We confess our wrongs and people are freed to forgive. We speak truth to a lie and justice reigns. Our words change the world, even if only the sliver that surrounds us. Powerful, powerful things, our words.

So the apostle Paul writes, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. . . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32). Tend to your heart, he seemed to say, and your voice will follow.

There was an epilogue to my friend’s story. After the game, the coach took ownership of his leadership lapse and called his team together. He said, “I did you a great injustice. If I had told you at halftime you would win, you would have.” The game was forever lost, but everyone had experienced this lesson for life—the power of words.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,”1 that by your grace my words would bring blessing to others. Amen.

1 Psalm 51:10

[Read today’s Scripture in Ephesians 4:17-32.]