I’ve started teaching my daughter to drive. It’s been a great experience and I have cherished every moment with her behind the wheel. I can tell with each day she sits down in the drivers seat she is gaining more confidence.

In Andy Stanley’s message, “Pray until the peace comes,” he asks, “What drives your prayers?” I answered, “Fear and worry.”

As my daughter got behind the wheel for the first time I know she was afraid. I’m not sure what she was most afraid of (the car, messing up, or how I might react to her messing up). Over several days she has gotten better with more and more confidence.

As I’ve observed and coached my daughter, I’ve thought about my own fears and how often I don’t allow God to coach and train me through my fears. I am not like my daughter learning to drive as I tend to grip the steering wheel of life too tightly, step on the gas too hard, and when it comes to braking – I haven’t quite managed how to delicately apply them. I’m getting concerned that maybe I’m frustrating God with my inability to overcome my fears.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and want be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who ‘worry their prayers’ are like wind-whipped waves.” (James 1:5-7, The Message).

“…get serious, really serious. Get down on you knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet,” (James 4:8b-9, The Message).

2009 has been a great year for me. It has also been a very difficult one. I know a week ago God began leading me to focus on prayer for the remainder of this year. A much different kind of prayer.

“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” (James 5:16b, The Message).

The title of the talk I heard Andy Stanley give, “Pray until the peace comes” has become my personal theme for the rest of this year. I must let God in on what my deepest fears and desires are.

The words of Paul sum it up,

“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers. Letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” (Philippians 4:6-7, The Message).

I’m praying until the peace comes.

Do you ever watch the news and wonder what was really said? I do. I want to know the context of the sound bite the networks show us.

I recall attending the Inauguration for George W Bush’s first term. I was amazed at my experience! It is by far one of the greatest moments of my life. If you weren’t there then you didn’t really see and hear what all I got to see and hear. You saw what the networks wanted you to see.

To a degree lately I’ve been living my life feeding off of one sound bite after the other. I’m not talking news but rather small little quotes from books and Twitter. My journal is starting to gather quite the collection.

Most that make the journal are powerful bites that are more like an energy drink (I guess… Although I’ve never had an energy drink). They are great for the moment until the next one comes across my eyes and makes me stop and think for a minute.

We can’t live our lives and remain healthy if all I do is eat little snacks all day long. There comes a time when one has to sit down for a meal. It’s the same for our spiritual lives. We need to take time daily to dine with our Heavenly Father. Then take what He gives us to someone else.

So, in this world of sound bites and Twitter that we live in – remember – that when Jesus says, “Come be my disciples. I will show you how to fish for people.” He didn’t show his disciples how in 140 charcters or less. It was a painful process that took getting involved in the lives of others. It involved courage and risk that led to him giving his life for them and us.

Let me leave you with a “sound bite” from Bill Hybels book Holy Discontent,

“If something is worth giving your life to, it will inherently involve a high level of risk.”(86).

I’m watching the Tour de France and am amazed at the strength of the riders.  I am blown away at the thought of how much training these guys have gone through in order to ride their bicycles the distance and at the pace that they will go over the next several weeks.

It’s remarkable that Lance Armstrong is making a comeback after being out for 4 years at age 37.  Not to mention he has already won the Tour 7 times after his fight with cancer.  He is in 3rd place now after the 3rd stage.  Amazing!

I think about the training that I must go through as a Christian in order to live the life Christ has placed before me.  As I see these well conditioned cyclists, I ask myself, “Is my spiritual life as well conditioned as these guys are physically?”  Paul exhorts us, “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.” (1 Corinthians 9:24).

Are you running the course of your life to win?  Are you conditioned in such a way you will finish strong?  Do you have someone who is running with you to push the limits of your faith?  Are you on a team (a part of a small group) that will help you get to the finish line?  None of us can finish this life on our own.  We need each other if we are going to live and finish strong.

Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery, courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, July 7).

I’m having a beautiful moment with the Lord. I’ve wondered if this is one of those moments I should keep to myself or not. Obviously, I’ve decided to share a bit of it.

I’m worlds apart from the person I am to the person I dream of becoming. I wake everyday hoping that today I become more like the man I have entrusted every bit of hope I have… The man is Jesus Christ.

The lyrics of Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay are more beautiful than anything I could ever write on my own:

I pray… “To rid myself of all but love, to give and die… Take my world apart – I am on my knees – take my world apart – broken on my knees… All I am for all you are because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart.” (Jars of Clay).

I pray God takes my world apart and uses me for His glory. I ask him to use the breath He has given me to glorify Himself however he chooses.

I’m understanding today a little bit about obedience thanks to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I am am rejoicing today with the words of David found in 2 Samuel 22:21-25,

“God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him. When I cleaned up my act, he gave me a fresh start. Indeed, I’ve kept alert to God’s ways; I haven’t taken God for granted. Every day I review the ways he works, I try not to miss a trick. I feel put back together, and I’m watching my step. God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.”

God take my world apart and let me change the world for your glory…

It’s been too long since I have posted anything here! Way too long! I’ve made the decision for awhile to not have cable or internet. It’s my hope that we will see some help with our finances as a result.

So, I figured tonight I would see how difficult it would be to post something from my BlackBerry… This may be another way to cut back too! Who knows?

Hope. Where does your hope come from? Is your hope centered on the external things of life? Or is your hope found on something that is much deeper?

I have hope that comes from within. This hope does not come from me… It is a hope that only comes from faith in Jesus. He gives me hope when life all around appears hopeless. He gives me hope when I don’t feel like there is any hope to be found.

This kind of hope comes from the Cross and what Jesus paid for all of humanity. Jesus is our only hope. He gives hope that can change the world…

Thanks to my good friend Joel, front man for Even Adam, I have been challenged by this word integrate.  I highly recommend reading his post, Integrating Worship.

After reading his post I began to ask myself, “What have I been integrating into my life?”  I’m not thrilled with the findings.  There’s a lot of worry that has come into my life in recent weeks.  To be totally honesty - worry has overcome the worship.  Oswald Chambers helped me as I began to ask myself the above question.

“. . . do not worry about your life . . . .” Don’t take the pressure of your provision upon yourself. It is not only wrong to worry, it is unbelief; worrying means we do not believe that God can look after the practical details of our lives, and it is never anything but those details that worry us. Have you ever noticed what Jesus said would choke the Word He puts in us? Is it the devil? No— “the cares of this world” (Matthew 13:22 ). It is always our little worries. We say, “I will not trust when I cannot see”— and that is where unbelief begins. The only cure for unbelief is obedience to the Spirit.

Are you being obedient to the Lord?  Are you living the life he has called you to?  Are you taking the cares of this world upon yourself?  Or have you integrated worship and prayer into your daily life? 

God’s purposes and plans will always prevail.  Don’t trade worship in for worry.  I read the book of Ruth in the Bible today.  You need to read the book to get the context of Ruth 2:20,

Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Why, God bless that man!  God hasn’t quite walked out on us after all!  He still loves us, in bad times as well as good!” (The Message).

While reading in The Message this morning, there are three verses that stand out to me:

• Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master (2 Peter 1:2).
• Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic Glory spoke: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight.” (2 Peter 1:17).
• The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion.  And why? Because it’s not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God’s Word. (2 Peter 1:20-21).

If we are to “Rise to the Occasion…“, we must have these three truths found in 2 Peter evident in our lives from the inside out:

1. We must be deepening in our experience with God and Jesus.
2. We must be marked by God’s love.
3. We must speak when prompted by the Holy Spirit. Not holding back but speaking God’s Message with love and grace.

I love these two words used together, “inside out”.  Our lives are hungry…  There is a deepening desire within us all to be changed from the inside out.  There is a hunger that can only be fulfilled by God’s love and grace found in Jesus. 

As I read 2 Peter this morning, I was reminded of the ways sin tries to destroy us and to keep us focused on feeding those desires of our flesh.  The Holy Spirit comes and changes us from the inside out.  I didn’t realize this until someone took the time to speak God’s love to me with love and grace.  Are you making the most of every opportunity?

As you go through this day and the rest of this week ask yourself:

1. Am I deepening in my experience with Jesus?
2. Is my life being marked by God’s love? 
3. How can I be used by the Holy Spirit to speak of God’s love and grace with words and actions?

Have you ever ridden the log ride at Six Flags or at some other park? 

Lately my life has seemed much like I am riding a log ride (just not as fun).  My life is in motion bumping up against the parameters (or shall I say the principles) of life.  All the while, I know there is a destination out there that I will arrive at.  As Oswald Chambers puts it, I’m living my life based on principles rather than vision.

There is a difference between holding on to a principle and having a vision. A principle does not come from moral inspiration, but a vision does.

Our own idealistic principles may actually lull us into ruin. Examine yourself spiritually to see if you have vision, or only principles. (My Utmost for His Highest, May 9).

How do you live your life?  Do you get up everyday and hop onto the log ride of the expected routine in life or do you live it a bit more dangerously with a spiritual vision?  I know it seems like I have settled into the log ride and today am being challenged to get off of the ride and jump into a raft and conquor an uncharted river.  The Holy Spirit will be the guide and he will provide the vision.

Many years ago I went white water rafting on the Ocoee River in Tennessee.  I was nervous and stressed the entire time.  The water was freezing, the rapids were rough, and I had to trust the guide.  At times, I even got angry with the guide because I thought he was intentionally sending us through rougher water when it wasn’t necessary.

I realize in life I do the same thing.  At times, I get upset and angry with where this course is taking me.  I want to point a finger at the Holy Spirit and say, “Why didn’t you tell me to dig earlier?”  I’m quick to forget that He is teaching me as I go.  He allows the rough waters in my life and I need to learn from them. 

I have come to know when He is telling me to do something.  I have learned His voice.  But I haven’t overcome my fear of taking risks in following Him.  I like the log ride.  I know what I will experience in the log.  As for the the raft, there’s a risk and I will have to trust the Guide.

Have you lost the excitement for living?  Your job? Ministry? Family?  Read Proverbs 29:18,

  If people can’t see what God is doing,
   they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
   they are most blessed. (The Message)

I know the following quote is from a message on marriage.  But it is applicable to any aspect of life that pertains to personal passion.  Job. Family. Ministry.  Whatever!  We all get involved in doing something based on how it makes us feel but to keep it going and alive there must be a plan… a vision.  It’s the plan that will keep you moving forward.

“Falling in love requires a pulse, staying in love requires a plan.” (Andy Stanley).

Are you following the vision for your life?  Or have you decided to remain comfortable with where you are?

Everyday that we live - each of us have opportunities that come before us to help us grow.  It is what we do with those opportunities that determine to what extent we will be developed.  Do you embrace the challenges and with the fear of the LORD move forward?  Or do you worry and fear the barrier?  As I finished up reading Joshua this weekend, I saw a man who took the most of his opportunity to grow and be developed.  He had a tremendous job taking Israel into the Promised Land and establishing her boundaries.

I wonder how he felt at the moment he knew what his task was going to be?  I wonder if he ever worried or feared the job before him.  Joshua stayed true to God’s leading.  Joshua ends with this challenge to the people of Israel,

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15, New International Version).

I suspect Joshua’s fear of the LORD far out-weighed the fear of the task before him.  Joshua lived with a proper perspective of his life and his service to the LORD.

If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go . . . both to prison and to death” ( Luke 22:33  ). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.  (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, April 26).

What is the barrier in your life? 

Whatever the barrier hold fast to the truth you have gained from God.  Fear the LORD way more than the barrier.  Keep your eyes on Jesus – pray without ceasing and allow His Spirit to fully develop you to be the person you are created to be.

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:13, The Message).

“Why Worry?” is the series we are in the midst of at Tapestry Church.  Sunday nights message was great.  Andy Stanley has such a great way of communicating whatever he is talking about.  As I was leaving the church, I told Richard, ”This was a great message but it stressed me out!”  I kept catching myself rubbing my neck and shoulder throughout the message.

At the end of the message we were encouraged to read Matthew 6:24-34 for the next 5 days.  I began reading it today.  Every time I’ve begun to worryI’ve thought about those birds that Jesus talks about in this passage.  Then the next thing I knew I was back to the worry.  Yesterday I was read ing Oswald Chambers.  Once again he hit me right between the eyes.

Have we been falsely accusing God by daring to worry after He has said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”? ( Matthew 6:33  ). Worrying means exactly what this servant implied— “I know your intent is to leave me unprotected and vulnerable.”  (My Utmost for His Highest, April 20).

This week prayer has been on the front burner for my own life as I walk through the worry mine-field of life.  Since Sunday I have come across several people with overwhelming circumstances.  I now have a new way to pray for them as I focus on Matthew 6:24-24.