Stuck between a Rock and a Hard Place

Lately, the legs have been weak and the times have been slow. I even feel like I'm trying to overcome some physical struggle. This all feels like being stuck between a rock and hard place - but it may be just where God wants me right now.

 

Psalm 105.41

He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a stream in the desert. 

Ever been between a rock and a hard place? Life can place us in some interesting circumstances. Okay - life can be hard. Even Christians are bound to get into difficulties from time to time. 

I think one of the reasons philosophers call it “rock and a hard place” is because it appears that no matter what you do there is no soft way out. There is no way to dig through or short cut around. You may even have trouble blasting your way out. But blast we do, and most of the time upon the ones we love the most.

Have you ever considered that the Lord may have ordained the hard places in your life? Sure it’s not a concept we wish to dwell on long. The Lord has a way of moving us into the arena of the difficult so that we can see how faithful He is while He is seeing how faithful we are. (Oh too convicting sorry). 

Let’s remember that when God’s people are between a rock and hard place we still have hope. The wandering Israelites found themselves at a rock in the desert needing water. A lot of water! Rocks can be awesome. But when you’re thirsty you need a pool not a petros, right?

Hang on don’t forget Jehovah. A rock is all He needs to provide for you. Sure it’s a biblical miracle. Sure the people had not seen this happen before. Sure you may never have seen God move this way in your life before. Trust Jehovah, He knows what you need and when you need it. He owns the water and the rock.

“…the Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions. The Lord helps all who fall; He raises up all who are oppressed. All eyes look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145.13(b)-16) 

So go on walk on over to the ROCK and get what you need from the Lord.

Finishing a race with the Overflow

Psalm 45

Overflow, what a great word. Just think for a minute of all the things that can mean. Let’s ponder for a minute and see if we cannot produce a smile.

Overflow bowl of homemade ice cream from Bluebell. Overflow cup of lemonade. Overflow plate of bar-b-que and stew. Overflow room in church full because the worship center is packed (every preacher smiled on that one). Overflow heart that is rushing over the edge with wonderful thoughts of Jesus.

Overflow is a wonderful expression for passionate worship of the Lord. The sons of Korah came to a place of overflow in their service of the Lord. Almost in a tremendous moment of exuberance, like they could not help themselves, they took up pen to compose a shout to the Lord.

“My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (45:1). They could not help themselves but praise His name. They could not help themselves but to dream of the glorious wedding day when King and Bride will be united. In the words of the old spiritual I love – Oh Happy Day!

Allow your heart to get full today. Do not fight back the thoughts, emotions, and dreams of your Lord. Go ahead Overflow with praise to the one who is “…fairer than the sons of men…the Mighty One with…glory and majesty – your throne, o God, is forever and ever!” (3-6)

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When my Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
He washed my sins away

He taught me how (oh, He taught me how)
To wash (to wash, to wash)
Fight and pray (to fight and pray)
Fight and pray
And he taught me how to live rejoicing
yes, He did (and live rejoicing)
Oh yeah, every, every day (every, every day)
(oh yeah) Every day!

Winning over Temptation

Gorgeous day here today. Finished up track practice working with some great 4x100 middle school athletes. I was inspired by their work effort. All day I had prepared myself for the moment that practice let out and the last student was picked up. This would be my moment. The moment to run!

The last two days have been tough for running. Weather perfect and quality of air fantastic but the old muscle proved to be tired and a little weak. Today was going to be the day of the break through however.

Then it happened. Yes sir, it happened. My mind began to remind me of the aches and pains. My thoughts raced to all those things I needed to accomplish. TEMPTATION crept upon me like a well oiled machine ready to run me over.

The Bible says, James 1: 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

Temptation comes from my own "lazy" desires. Temptation does not have to be sin. In fact, it only becomes sin when we act upon that by which we are being tempted to do (or not do). I was reminded of what a cool preacher said Sunday in his sermon - "Sin presents short cuts to roads that lead to nowhere."
If I had taken the short cut on not running I would have found myself on a dead end road that left me aching with regret.

So run I did! Run, Coach Run! And you know what? It was an awesome run, the best in days. Here's the rundown: Ran 2 miles, 1 miles of sprint intervals, stadium steps x 10, 5 Min of Core (Mountain climbers, crunches, high planks - rinse & repeat), stretched for 20 minutes.

So glad I didn't fall prey to the temptation not too - I would have missed out on a great day.
Don't miss out on the good stuff in life by reaching for the short cuts.

Crossroads and God's Sovereignty

There is a story of a Scottish woman who earned a modest living by peddling her wares along the roads of her country. Each day she would travel about, and when she came to an intersection, she would toss a stick in the air. Whichever way the stick was pointed was the way she went. On one occasion an old man stood across the road from her as she tossed the stick into the air once, twice, three times. Finally the old man asked, “Why are you throwing that stick like that?”

I’m letting God show me which way to go by using this stick,” She said.

“Then why did you throw it three times?” the old man asked.

“Because the first two times, He was pointing me in the wrong direction,” was her reply

I pray that I trust the sovereignty of God in every circumstances and that I will follow his leading unquestionably.

Psalm 139: 23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

(Source of the Story from John Maxwell Partners in Prayer) 

Keep Breathing

Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes? This is a question that men wrestle with sometimes. Do you ever get overwhelmed with, well let’s just say – LIFE? Do you ever feel isolated, lonely, or inadequate? When you feel this way I want you to BREATH.

Moses evidently felt this way in his encounter with God recorded in Exodus 3. He experiences the burning bush, encounters the living God, and all this in the middle of nowhere while taking care of wandering sheep. At this point in his life if you could “Google” his name it would reveal who he was – murderer, deserter, wanted, and unfound. God saw a different image of the man.

He called Moses to a task that was a bit overwhelming. God allowed him to ask two questions. “But Moses said to God, “Who am I{?}” This question is one of internals. Do I have enough? Can I do this? God answers him in reassurance by affirming “I will certainly be with you.” Breath Moses, Breath!

Still uncertain Moses asks the second question. It rolls out something like this – Who are you?  Specifically he asks “What is {YOUR} His name?’ what shall I say to them?” This question is one of eternals. I’m so glad he asked. Up till now no one has openly asked this question of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The awesome wonder is that God answered this question directly. “And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

I AM. Hebrew, the language and sound Moses heard, Yahweh! Yah-Weh, say it slowly and lowly; Yaw-Weh, say it with reverence and a whisper. Can you hear the sound? Yah-Weh. Yah-Weh. Yah-Weh.

This is the sound of inhaling and exhaling. Breath! This is the sound of a heart-beat. Yah-Weh means to be, to exist, to have and cause life. Breath!

God says to us I am life! I am your life! I am your source! I am ENOUGH!

Do you have what it takes? Yes, because He says you do – BREATH!

Can you do this? Yes, because He says you can – Breath!  

So whatever you do please keep breathing.

Start 2014 Off Right!

Hello Campers!
Hope that you ended 2013 in a big way. We had kind of an emotional end to the year. But through it all running became my solace, my peace, and my diversion. I've taken to the streets more and extended my distances.
The new challenge for me as a novice runner is adapting to the colder temperatures. Layers have become extremely important to the run. Speed and increasing speed has given over to endurance and longer distances. Motivation is still high and guilt sets in whenever I even think about missing a schedule day to run.

This reminds me of how important it is at this time of year to practice our spiritual disciplines. We must keep moving both physically and spiritually. I wish to share with you these words  of encouragements.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

Charles Spurgeon wrote about the necessity of prayer in our lives this way. “We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray…Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master. The motto for this year must be, “Continue in prayer.”