Our Life Is Our Ministry – Considerations for Workplace Ministry, Part III

Posted on May 18, 2013 by admin

So how shall we then live?

God’s word is complete, providing instructions and illustrations as to how we shall live.  His Word covers every human institution, reveals God’s character and His perfect love toward us.  As Christ followers or disciples of Christ we seek to model the life that Christ lived for us.  The entire new testament and specifically Paul’s letters to the church and his friends are full of exhortations and specific instructions how to follow Christ’s example.

 Romans 6:4 – Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 Ephesians 4: 17-24 – So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

In our family we have established a list of core values or core beliefs.  It is those statements that describe what we believe and what we stand for.  It is impossible to categorize these or separate these from how we live our lives.  We cannot have one set of core values that we believe in on Sunday and another that we follow during the week. We cannot have one set of values we believe in at home and another in the workplace.  Core values establish who we are and are unchanging.  If our actions are not reflective of our core beliefs then we at a minimum deny ourselves and as Christians deny our faith.

When graduating from college I had a fear that the workplace would challenge my values and relatively untested faith.  I had a fear that I would be required to participate in activities or be faced with temptations that would lure me into decisions contrary to my values.  I determined that I would strive to operate in a way that I would not compromise the values that I stood for and try to learn how to properly live out my faith in the workplace.  In my various roles in sales and management and in the various companies and cultures that I operated in I have considered and practiced this strategy.  I have made many mistakes and course corrections.  I have had men who have walked beside me for decades that I could share my thoughts about how to appropriately live out my faith in a secular workplace.  The circumstances of my responsibilities and influence have changed and, as such, my strategies to appropriately live out my Christian faith in the marketplace have evolved.  I would submit that there is no “one size fits all” approach to properly being a disciple of Christ in the workplace.  The position you hold in the company, the culture in which you operate, the size of the company, the rules of the company, the people in which you work, and the influence that you have all impact the way you should act.  In my personal journey located in the “Bible belt”, where being a Christian is common and in my position of leadership in a small privately held company I have come to agree with a few guidelines.  Guidelines that are consistent with my calling as a Christian and as a business leader.  Guidelines that I believe are appropriate for other men and women in the workplace who wrestle with the question of how then, being a Christian, can I be consistent to the calling of Christ to be His disciple and be an effective producer and leader in the marketplace.  Fortunately the Bible has much to say with how we are to operate in the workplace.  The early church was made up of laymen.  Men who were fishermen, farmers, blacksmiths, herdsmen and other trades that came together as a “church” or body of believers for worship, fellowship and instruction how to be a “Christ follower.”  There was no category of “full-time ministry” as if there was a higher calling to be a preacher or pastor.  There was no separation between their vocation, community and faith.  Family, friends, neighbors, laborers, managers, and landlords came together under the common goal of being Christ followers.  They followed the instructions of Christ and the apostles and lived out their faith in all of their lives.

So, How shall we then live?  The following are six points to consider and follow to help you be a disciple of Jesus in the workplace.

1.  There is no distinction between “full time ministry” and living out our daily life at home, work, worship or recreation.

2.  We all have been given gifts by God and are responsible to exercise our gifts and talents to the best of our abilities.

I Corinthians 12:4-7 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

3.  We are first called to love others.

I Timothy 1:5 – “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

4.  We must earn the right to be heard.

 5.  We must be living testimonies – I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.

John 13: 13-15  13 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and [b]you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

6.  Work to a high standard Colossians 3:23 – ”Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”

The last part of our 4 part series provides some of my own personal experience and the practical ways I have sought to apply these principles in my workplace.  I hope that these provide ideas and inspirations to see your ministry be effective in the life and the relationships you make in every area of your life and work.

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Our Life Is Our Ministry – Considerations For Workplace Ministry, Part II

Posted on May 4, 2013 by admin

Following a conversation with a friend regarding faith in the workplace I realized the considerable amount of thought, prayer and effort I have put into aligning my faith and talents into a lifestyle of ministry over the last 25+years.  Upon reflection of my own journey and the things I have learned and continue to learn I thought I would present a 4 part series to share some of my thoughts and experiences with the hope that it will encourage and inspire you to think about how your Christian faith and God-given talents permeates your church, family, vocational and recreational life.  This writing is Part 2 in the series, You Have Been Set Apart.

  1. Your Identity In Christ
  2. You Have Been Set Apart
  3. So Then How Must You Live
  4. Practical Applications To Share

Part 2 You have been set apart:

 Romans 10:9 says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved:” 

We have been saved from the consequence of our sin and set apart as a child of God.

 Romans 8:14-17 – 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Titus 2:11-12 “ For the grace of God has appeared ,bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age.”

Romans 12:2  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Do you believe you have been set apart?  If you have been set apart by the almighty God do you recognize yourself as a child of the king and fellow heir to the kingdom of God?  Do you recognize the power given to us through Christ’s sacrifice and giving of the Holy Spirit? Focus on the Family’s, Truth Project, challenges us with the saying “Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?”  If you really do then it should have a profound impact in every aspect of your life.

This week I had the opportunity to share with another Christian business owner how God provided for our business in ways nothing short of miraculous.  I shared my vision and confidence for the future that involved a belief that God is actively involved in shaping the future.  He looked at me as if he did not understand.  The whole notion that I would actually believe that God could be involved in my business was foreign to him.  We pray that God would be active in resolving problems and shaping the future.  We say that we believe that God is active in the circumstance of our life and even acknowledge every once in a while that a near miss was possibly God’s mercy, blessing, or even a miracle.  But do we really believe it?  Do we march forward with the confidence that God really does have a hand in the circumstances of our life and business?  Many of us have claimed our business life as our domain.  We take sole responsibility for the results of our hard work, determination and perseverance.  God may be there at church on Sunday or maybe there to comfort us during loss or even providing some kind of mysterious “hedge of protection” over our family.  But could God have an active involvement in directing the circumstances of our work?  It is this faith that makes us different.  It is this confidence that lets us make decisions that are not understood by the world and be recognized as different, possibly even as a “light to a dark world”.  When you stand on your faith and operate in a chaotic world with confidence that God has a plan (Jer. 29:11), and willingly accept the success and the times of waiting or suffering as ways to grow you and shape you for a better purpose, then you really live.  Do you believe that you have been set apart?  Do you make decisions that reflect the fact that you have been set apart?

I Thessalonians 3:8 “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord”

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Our Life Is Our Ministry – Considerations For Workplace Ministry

Posted on April 28, 2013 by admin

Following a conversation with a friend regarding faith in the workplace I realized the considerable amount of thought, prayer and effort I have put into aligning my faith and talents into a lifestyle of ministry over the last 25+years.  Upon reflection of my own journey and the things I have learned and continue to learn I thought I would present a 4 part series to share some of my thoughts and experiences with the hope that it will encourage and inspire you to think about how your Christian faith and God-given talents permeates your church, family, vocational and recreational life.

  1. Your Identity In Christ
  2. You Have Been Set Apart
  3. So Then How Must You Live
  4. Practical Applications To Share

Part 1 Your Identity in Christ

When you recognized your sin, inadequacy and inability to have a relationship with a pure and Holy God, realized the need for a savior from your sin, accepted Jesus’ death and resurrection as the perfect plan for redemption of man and invited Jesus in your heart you were changed for eternity.

Romans 10:9 says “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved:”

II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

As a Christian you have been “born again”.  Born again as a new creature with God’s Holy Spirit residing in you, giving you access to God’s power to fulfill His commandments.  In the book of Acts, Luke gives an account of Jesus telling of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church following Jesus’ ascension and day of Pentecost.

 Acts 1:8 –  “,but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 

Are we so entwined with this world that we fail to recognize the power that has been given to us through the Holy Spirit?  Through the blood sacrifice and resurrected Son, we have been given privileged access to bring our petition to God Himself.  Matthew records the instruction of Jesus to the first disciples of Christ instructing them as models how to act in the power given to them through the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 10: 5-8 – “These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”

We have been saved from the consequence of our sin and set apart as a child of God.

 Romans 8:14-17 – 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him

God’s mercy and grace has been bestowed on you and redeemed you as a child of the almighty God.  This provides the foundation for your life and ministry.  Once we recognize whose we are and the power that has been given to us through the Holy spirit we are in the right frame of mind to consider our talents and gifts and how God can use us in our family, community and career to accomplish His purpose for His glory.

Next we will see that you have been uniquely gifted and set apart for His work and can begin to consider how you can accomplish His work in your life.

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I Got a Car and I Bought A Car

Posted on April 7, 2013 by admin

First CarThe first of our three children is turning 16 and we have been surveying and considering all of the strategies our friends have used in helping their child get their first car.  At the school our children attend many, if not most, are given a new car of their choice.  This is not a standard that we wanted to follow or could afford to follow for 3 children over the next six years.  We knew our first priority was safety and wanted to find a car with good safety ratings.  We also wanted reliable, affordable, good gas mileage, insurable and something he would like.  My mother offered her 10 year old Toyota Camry with 75,000 miles.  It seemed to fit all of our criteria, but our son was not excited about driving Grandma’s car.  After talking with several friends we came to the following strategy.

  • Budget of $10,000.  We figured that $10,000 could get a dependable later model car that would last through college.
  • We pay half and our son, Drew would pay half.  Drew pays a minimum of $500 down and $150/month, but can pay off faster if he wants.  This gives him ownership in the vehicle and teaches him about responsibility of making payments on time.  If he misses a payment, he loses the keys.
  • Let Drew pick out a car with our veto authority.   This ensures that he finds something he likes and is likely to take good care of the vehicle. The Jeep was vetoed.

We would add him to our insurance.  We transfer gas money to his checking account monthly to cover travel to school and some afterschool activities.  He will be responsible for the cost of any extra gas required.  He landed on a Nissan Xterra and has been thrilled with the purchase.  The one thing I did not expect that has been a good surprise is his pride in participating in the purchase.  Most of his friends may announce that they “Got” a new car.  While at another family friends home for dinner Drew announced that “He Bought a new car”.  I did not expect the reaction to the subtle difference.  “So, you BOUGHT a new car?”  I enjoyed listening to Drew share his pleasure in participating in the ownership of his new vehicle and believe he will enjoy and care for his new vehicle.

We never forget buying our first car and all that comes with the new freedoms of driving.  It is a milestone that marks your son or daughters progress to independence and it is a great opportunity and privilege to help them think through the options and make good choices.

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This is my son in whom I am well pleased

Posted on March 2, 2013 by admin

 

Matthew 3:17 "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased"

Matthew 3:17 “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased”

This week I had the privilege of celebrating my son Drew.  Drew is growing up to be a very fine young man and I planned to do something with just him.  Drew is a few weeks from his 16th birthday.  I am so proud of him and want to recognize his good choices and introduce him to some other men that I look up to and have shared deep friendship for many years.  So we travelled to  Aspen Colorado for a long weekend.  These men are three of the men that have invested a weekend of retreat, reflection and planning for 16 years together.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry immediately following His baptism by John, God the Father announced from heaven “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased”.  God provided His affirmation and blessing on His Son in a public way.  So I also was pleased to present my son to these men.  I shared with Drew the characteristics of these men that I admired and allow each of these men to speak a word of affirmation and encouragement to Drew.  I really had no formal agenda or ceremony, but allowed it to happen naturally over the 3 days we were together.

8" new powder and no lines

8″ new powder and no lines

We stayed with one of my friends with his family and he really went out of his way to roll out the red carpet to maximize our ski time and make us comfortable.  What a privilege to invite us into their home and let Drew experience their family and witness another family committed to following the truth of Jesus in their lives and in their community.  We could not have picked better days to ski.  We knew we had hit it right when all the locals were taking the day off to get the 8” of fresh powder.  We had 3 days of great snow, no lines and even got what the locals call a “bluebird day” of clear blue skies.  What a blessing!  Following our second day of skiing our friends invited us to hike to the top of Buttermilk mountain at sunset and swiss bob down.  If there was a right of passage test this was it.  We hiked for over an hour straight up to the top.  The sunset was beautiful, but the ride down was CRAZY!  Sitting on 12 square inches of plastic like a bob sledder flying down the mountain totally out of control and mostly blind from snow.  What a blast!

When you try to think of all the things you want to share in a time like this it can be intimidating so we let the conversations happen and the circumstances direct our discussions.  I don’t think I could have planned or scripted a richer time together.  Some of our discussions flowed from a book that I received in a Christmas gift exchange that I had not idea how well it work for stimulating meaningful ideas.  The following are a few highlights from The River by Michael Neale that served as great food for thought and good advice for a young man.

  1. We are made for so much more than we often realize.  Don’t settle for what is familiar or safe.  We cannot let our fear of the unknown hold us back.  The only true joy and fulfillment in life comes from living out our purpose and destiny in the greater story of life.
  2. We were not made to walk alone.  We were made to journey together.
  3. When I am weak, I need another to help me go on.  When someone else needs help, I need to get out of myself and do what I can to lift the load.
  4. Connect with things bigger than you.  It’s part of what makes life beautiful.  If you stay connected only to that which is small enough for you to understand and control then you have nothing. – no adventure, no destiny, and no purpose.
  5. The pursuit of “things” can get in the way of what life is all about.
  6. Dare to leave the safety of what you’ve always known for a better place…a place you were destined from the beginning.
  7. Life is not merely to be survived – it is meant to be lived.
  8. You are here for a reason.  Don’t ever think you’re not vitally important to the mission.  Whether you are doing a big job or a very low job do your best.
  9. Yesterday is gone and you cannot change it.  There are no guarantees for tomorrow, so save it.  The best stuff is now, so live today and don’t dare waste it.
  10. True love can and will bring out the very best in us.
  11. Live with adventure! Love with abandon! And to be Loved!

As John baptized Jesus, God the Father blessed His son and proclaimed His pleasure in sharing Him with the world. So are we Fathers to have the great privilege to introduce our sons and give them our blessing.  This is my son in whom I am well pleased.

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Big Tree + Rope = Fun For All Adventurers

Posted on February 17, 2013 by admin
rope swing

Rope +Tree = Fun

Some of the best memories of my childhood are the great swings that we made.  My dad started this journey by hanging a rope on a huge pine tree that grew on a steep hill across the street.  That led to a childhood filled with adventures searching for perfect trees to hang a rope and a series of bigger and better swings that provided many thrills, danger, and great memories.  As a parent, I want my kids to have the share in the same experiences.  The only difference is a healthy respect for safety and the importance of managing the risk of a big swing.

With small children we started with a small swing over a creek that provided a good thrill and a few wet afternoons falling into the creek.  We graduated to bigger swings and have ended up with this great swing on an absolutely gorgeous live oak in the middle of the forest.  It is our secret place that is about a quarter-mile hike into the woods.  We have spent many hours together hanging out and swinging with friends.  If you are up for a little adventure, grab a rope, find a good tree and build some memories that you will share with your family for a lifetime.

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Finding Treasure in Small Windows of Time With Our Children

Posted on February 3, 2013 by admin

Psalms 127:3-5 "Behold, children are a [a]gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them"

Psalms 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them”

Today’s blog is another in the series I have named “Camp Applegate” to provide simple ideas to be intentional and to have fun with the limited time we have with our children.  It is Saturday and my wife, Julie and our daughter Summer are at a gymnastics competition in San Antonio.  Our oldest, Drew is at a friend’s house all day and  I am at home with our middle son Ben, who is feeling a little left out.  I have a list of to-do’s calling me to pick up medicine at the pharmacy, installing a fan, vacuuming the pool, and cleaning the terribly dirty windows.  What’s more important?  The errands will always be there, but missing the opportunity to spend a day with Ben will soon be gone.

How do we make this day one we will carve in our memories and communicate to Ben how much I enjoy his company and desire to spend time him?  It’s a beautiful cool morning and looks to be a perfect day to be outside.  For Christmas, we got Ben a metal detector to look for treasure so off we went to explore some of the many closed in wells that are in the reservoir in west Houston.  We live close to the reservoir and have discovered these wells over the years of exploring and spent a couple of hours walking from one to another.  Ben would get the signal and I would begin digging until we found the object.

gift of Lord

Psalms 127:3 “Children are a gift of the Lord,”

We found nails, wire, a pot handle, pieces of broken painted dish, and a few other chunks of metal and relics we could not identify.

We hit Subway for lunch, ran by CVS and came home where I got a couple of hours to vacuum the pool and wash the windows.  Then we loaded our bikes and headed off to the Buffalo Bayou where we rode the trails through the woods along the bayou.  If not for the number of other bikers on the trail you would never know you were in the middle of the 4th largest city in America.  We did not find any gold nuggets, but we did find some time and make memories that we can treasure for a lifetime.  My friend Joe White once told me that kids spell love-T I M E.  It doesn’t take lots of money or planning, just be purposeful with the time we have and grab those windows of opportunity that we find ourselves in and make the most of them.  My hope with “Camp Applegate” is that you will find inspiration and fun ideas to do with your family.  As always I would love to hear what you are doing with your family that we can also try.

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The Importance of Collecting Memories

Posted on January 23, 2013 by admin

creating family memoriesHow important are memories?  Can you imagine life if we did not have the ability to treasure life’s experiences and learn from our memory?  Our life is a collection of memories.  The more that we create the richer our lives.  Memories don’t have to cost much, but the collection of them provides riches of joy, wisdom in learning from our mistakes, and a well of stories to entertain and share with those we love.  As a parent one of our greatest privileges is getting to start our children’s collection of memories.  Simply living life together will provide many memories, but we also must be careful in our busy world or routines that life and the memories that make our lives and the lives of our children rich are not lost.  Much of our time is spent in providing for the basics necessities such as sleep, eating, grooming, errands and driving.  Another big chunk is spent in relatively non-memorable activities at school and work.

Life really happens in the chunks of time between the mundane where we experience memorable events in the mundane or plan and create memories with the our classmates, co-workers, family, and friends.  I am a big believer in being “intentional” about creating memories.  A weekend can flash by with errands and lost time without a trace of a memorable event.  If we would stop for just a moment and think how we can make a memory today.  Make a memory that can be recalled and treasured forever.  I have included many of these intentional events in my blog and grouped them under Camp Applegate.  Picking berries in the field behind the house, going on a blow gun snake hunt, building rope swings, selling lemonade to the neighbors, taking our sugar gliders to the mall, climbing a tree at night and calling coyotes, or spotlighting bull frogs at the ditch are all examples of some of the fun intentional memories we have done over the years.

This weekend was a rainy cold weekend and the kids were restless.  What a great time to think up something out of the norm to create a memory.  So, off we went to Wabash feed store in downtown Houston where we bought two full-grown Rhode Island Red hens.  The kids picked out their hens from a group of 20-30 hens.  We bought some feed and a water bottle and were off.  Upon returning home we set up an old dog cage, built a nesting box and got them settled in.  They are friendly little hens that let the kids hold them.  They coo and seem to have a little personality.  They are surprisingly clean and I hear will even follow you around once they get to know you.  Don’t tell the neighbors.  I would guess farm animals are not welcome in our neighborhood.

We will try them out for a time and if they don’t work out then they may be an expensive chicken dinner.  No matter what happens the $32 spent and a few hours together will create a memory.  When our kids are old and grey they will always remember the boring rainy day that Dad decided to take us out and buy a couple of chickens.  Be intentional.  Use your surroundings.  Do something unexpected and build a memory that your family will treasure forever.

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Living The Dream, Do What You Love and Love What You Do.

Posted on December 23, 2012 by admin
Living the Dream. Do What You Love, Love What You Do.

Living the Dream. Do What You Love, Love What You Do.

If you ever listen to talk radio when callers call in they all seem compelled to politely ask the host, “How are you doing?”  Most hosts ignore or have developed a quick response to keep the conversation moving.  Rush responds with “Ditto”and Hannity has “You’re a great American”.  Personally, I like a Houston talk show host Joe Pags who answers “Living the Dream”.  Leadership author, John Maxwell, defines the dream as an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will, and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it. How great is it to be living the dream?  To be pursuing a vision with all your will and all your emotions and living out the pursuit of your dream every day.  Do you have a dream?  Do you wake up every day looking forward to moving the rock a little further ahead?

God has blessed me with a couple big dreams.  While working at Kanakuk Kamps during college I saw the great need for fathers to be involved in the lives of their kids and lead their families.  After working in the public market for many years and making a bad career move for the wrong motives, I hit the “reset” button.  With the help of a good friend, I retreated to Aspen Colorado and outlined five characteristics to capture another dream.  The dream to architect and build a great regional custom manufacturing company.  Those five characteristics include.

  1. Meaningful Relationships – Employees, customers and suppliers are the ones that I share my dream and hopefully help them achieve theirs.
  2. Entrepreneurial – To be “in the game” and lead a company to evaluate business opportunity and pursue those that provide profitable returns.
  3. Control – To have the responsibility for all decisions and
  4. Adventure to Live – To love what I do and do what I love.  Designing, engineering and building great products for our customers
  5. Challenge to conquer – The satisfaction that comes from seeing your dream become reality.

With the publication of Good to Great Families I have been able to bring the passion of family leadership and business together.  Have you considered your dream?  Are you taking the steps to move you in the direction of your dreams?  Going to school, learning a trade, doing your research, taking the risk, believing in yourself, trusting in God.  What would it look like if we had a world of people who understood their God-given talents, applying their talents to a dream, and were waking up every day to realize their dreams?  I am not there yet and certainly have my share of set backs, but I find a day of living the dream by working and struggling toward seeing the dream come together is far better than living someone else’s dream for me.   “Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer.  Do what you love and love what you do.

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The Heavens are Telling of the Glory of God, Psalm 19

Posted on December 16, 2012 by admin

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

“Our family will first recognize God as our creator and redeemer.  We will put our trust and confidence in Him and obey His word as the instruction and authority as how we are to live our lives.”

 This is one of the Core Values or core beliefs that we have established as a foundation to build our family and stand on as we navigate life.  David writes of the testimony God provides to us, the right instruction and perfect truth that God has provided for us, and his reaction to the encounter with such a God in Psalm 19.  I is likely David wrote this psalm while being pursued by Saul and living in and under God’s wilderness.

Psalm 19

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their [a]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from [b]one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the [c]other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The heavens so declare the glory of God, and proclaim his wisdom, power and goodness, that all men are left without excuse.  God forms the light and creates the darkness, Isaiah 45:7, and sets one against the other.  God is the Sun of righteousness and is symbolized as the bridegroom coming in love and bless his bride, the church, which he has espoused to himself.  His plan and His purpose is powerful like the sun, determined to run his course to bring light to all mankind.  We often live between our houses, cars, offices and malls and seldom take the opportunity to witness the testimony of God’s creation that he provides to us every day.  The awakening of the earth in the morning sunrise and the uniqueness and beauty of the setting sun.  The engineering marvels and perfect design in the way the eco system cleanses and purifies itself, the strength of trees to give with the wind and shed their outer most branches to survive in drought, and the power revealed in the skies with lightning, thunder, and expanse of a starry night.  God has placed numerous testimonies of His perfect love demonstrating the necessity for death of a seed in order for life to be born and bear new fruit.  All men are left without excuse to recognize God.

7 The law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

The law is perfect, the statutes are right, the commandment is pure, Holy fear of the Lord is clean and the judgments bear Truth.  The promises He gives to us is a restored soul, to make wise even the simplest of minds, to let our hearts rejoice in the discovery of God’s love to sinful men, to enlighten the eyes of our minds, to experience Holy fear and reverence of our creator and redeemer, and recognize His judgments are righteous and true.

11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be [e]blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

David’s reaction to this revelation and so should be ours is to experience Holy fear and live in a way to practice His commands so that we may know and experience the blessings of obedience to our creator.  There are a few times recorded in the Bible when man had a direct encounter with God Himself and all the reactions are the same.  Isaiah 6:5 Then I said, “ Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”  When standing in the presence of a Holy God we will be overwhelmed with our sinfulness and inadequacy and recognize our desperate need.  Woe is me for I am ruined.  Psalm 19 ends with our reaction to ask God to forgive us of our willful known sins as well as those that we are unaware.  David goes on and completes the psalm with His prayer and can be our prayer also as we recognize our God, realize His love and our inadequacy and express our desire to be right with Him.  “Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Our family will first recognize God as our creator and redeemer.  We will put our trust and confidence in Him and obey His word as the instruction and authority as how we are to live our lives.

Take a moment today to watch the sunset, contemplate the stars, or simply observe the order and work of bugs, the lowest of his creation, that serve great value in consuming and cleaning our environment.  All of God’s creation testifies to His greatness.  He greatly desires to bless us and express His love to us as the bridegroom loves His bride.  We are without excuse.  If we are obedient to His instruction our souls will be restored, our eyes enlightened, and we will know Holy Fear.  We will recognize our inadequacy, pray for forgiveness and seek to live our life in a way that is acceptable to Him, our rock and Redeemer.

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