March 14, 2018
It starts early. Every dad knows that he's going to start getting the question from his kids as soon as they have cognitive thought.
""Are we there yet?""
That longing to get to a destination is in all of us, and it never seems to go away. It was true of the Israelites who were being led by God from Egypt to the Promised Land.
""Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey"" (Numbers 20:4)
ENJOYING THE RIDE
Our family loves to travel. Particularly to go west. There's something about the mountains and the vast expanse of the western states that expands my soul. I love the drive as much as the destination, for there 10,000 things to see and learn along the way.
Most Christians lose the value of each common day. The relationships we can enjoy and cultivate for the glory of God. The friendships that enrich our lives and the means to enrich others. The faith we can grow in every day by simply being faithful. The experiences that God longs to use each day to grow us. Jesus spent three years in such days with His disciples. And each day bore lasting fruit.
THE ISSUE IS NOT THE ISSUE
When I had just graduated from seminary, Holly and I had a number of churches that contacted us in one summer. Every week, it seemed, was a grueling decision that had to be made about our future. I got frustrated with the process. My brother, Tom, called one day and reminded me that ""the issue was not the issue."" He wisely counseled me that God had daily purposes and that the process was teaching us something about how to hear and find the will of God. ""The process is as important as the end result,"" Tom said. I've never forgotten that counsel and it has helped me be more patient with the journey.
God was teaching the Israelites how to trust Him. These were valuable days that would prove incredibly fruitful as they entered the promised land. They needed to realize that each day was building dependency which they would need later.
They needed to be patient in the journey … and so do we.
April 24, 2025
This is only possible with God’s aid. He tells us to draw near to Him, and He will draw near to us. But that approach begins with a plea for His help in this foundational task. It is our most important step of every day and throughout the day. We must be aware of God.
April 15, 2025
A simple, life-changing formula to keep a clear heart and be mightily used by God … for you are never more like Jesus than when you forgive! Perhaps we all need to begin today.
April 11, 2025
Are you coming to God like this today? If not, what adjustments must be made to enter into His presence with such humble joy?
