Laying it Down

After listening the other night to a talk that Rick Warren gave to TED, I returned to Exodus chapter 4, the story of Moses' "commissioning" by God, to re-read it for myself. Something that Rick said about Moses' reaction to the call struck a chord with me.  I now realize that God has been dealing with me in much the same way that he did with Moses. Yahweh had asked Moses to lay down his staff...the symbol of his life as a shepherd and the instrument of his livelihood.  Sixteen months ago I was asked to step down from a leadership position that I loved and thrived on, to lay down the staff, as it were.  For a long time I was very hurt and angry and the first year away from those responsibilities has been very difficult for me both spiritually and emotionally. 

In retrospect,  I understand now that I had viewed this as a personal failure and a rejection of my leadership abilities and true calling. A lot of my self-worth was mistakenly wrapped up in that position and responsibility. Much of the performance and failure angst that I had been experiencing these last months was directly related to that brokenness.  I was unwilling to lay down the staff, or when asked, to pick up the snake it had become.  Like Moses, I reacted reluctantly out of fear instead of confidence in the Lord's wisdom, provision and plan.  

However, God was waiting patiently for my obedience and complete surrender.   As I have learned to lay it all down at the feet of the cross, some amazing things are beginning to happen in our life in Squamish and the ministry that God has called us to.  Why is it, I wonder, that it we have to experience so much pain before we learn what should be a simple lesson?  God really does know best! He really does, as Jeremiah tells us, have a plan to bless us and not to harm, to give us a hope and a future.  


Please take some time to re-read Exodus 3 & 4.  Ask yourself if there is something in your hand the God has been asking you to lay down so that he can put something else in it.  Then have the courage, even in the midst of fear and trepidation, to take that first step and say..."Not my will, but thine....oh Lord."
 

My Ways Are Not Yours

The Lord tells us that His ways are unlike ours, but we...in many cases, behave as if we are God. "His ways are perfect." (2Sam.22:31) They are, "..the way of wisdom" (Prov.2:20); His path is, "...the way of holiness" (Isa.35:8) We are none of those things.  God's way is, "the way of excellence" (1 Cor.12:31). In it we are provided to means to "escape" from sin & death. (1Cor.10:13) That way is Jesus. (John.14:6) ...and there is no other!
I was reading in Genesis the other day, the story of the great famine, where Josephs brothers come to Egypt seeking food. It occurred to me that if the humans in this story were to have had their own way, things would have turned out much differently. God had a plan to bless and build through the younger, and even the machinations of his jealous siblings couldn't keep that plan from being fulfilled.  Even Joseph, who was himself the younger, later had to be shown God's will for blessing to be bestowed not on his eldest, as was the tradition, but once again the younger.  
Jacob knew God's plan.  It had been revealed to him, and he continued to live according to what the Lord had shown him, even as he drew his last breath.  Why?  Because Jacob knew that his human perspective was incomplete, clouded with sin & coloured by the fallen world around him. So, he depended on the only thing that he knew for sure. God's perfect plan, His wise, holy & excellent plan.
Father, give me the wisdom of Jacob, that I may not presume to know better than you, the obedience of Jacob...to act according to what you have revealed to me, and the courage to witness to others the wonderful truth that You really do know better!

A Believer's Influence

When the righteous fall prey to temptation, we bear responsibility not only for our own sin, but also the sin of those who have been led astray through our inattention or deliberate disobedience.  "...but woe to the one through whom they come. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Luke 17:2 (ESV)
Those who have accepted Jesus as Lord have a responsibility that extends well beyond their own self-righteousness. One of the marks of a believer is that he/she become other-aware, other-centered. We are called to acknowledge the wider influence we hither-to-fore ignored, and adjust our behaviour to demonstrate Godliness, as opposed to worldliness. As Rick Warren said in the first line of 40 Days of Purpose, "Its not about you."  When we become believers, the conduct of all our remaining days is to become about others rather than self.  
Lord, help me today and in the days to come to become increasingly away of how my behaviour impacts others, so that I may be an instrument of grace rather than sin.

New Intern for MVM

Mountain Valley Mission is pleased to announce that Mark Hird has been appointed as our new Intern. Although Mark will be experiencing the whole range of pastoral ministry, he has been given specific responsibility to help create a Young Adults Ministry. Mark, a first year Regent College student, comes to MVM from St. Simon s, North Vancouver. We are excited to have him on our ministry team. Please pray for Mark as we develop this new relationship, that he will quickly find acceptance in the community and be gifted by the Holy spirit to raise up a vibrant Young Adults ministry.

Musing on Aging

While in my 50s, I could still claim "middle age" even though there were a few merchants that extended me the "seniors" discount. As the 60th fast approaches, I realize that regardless of how much I may wish it otherwise, I am rolling over into the age of seniority and with it comes not inconsiderable wondering about what the pudits call "finishing well." I suspect that in order to finish well, one does not wait until the waning hours of their 50s to make their mark on the world...as it were, but will have pusued calling, be it family, friendships or career, with passion long before. The question before me now is, "Have I done that?" Will the Lord be saying, "Well done good and faithful servant?" Will my family speak with fondness of my commitment to them and their well being? Will my friends be glad that I was among them? Will my community be better because I have been a part of it?

I am not trolling for compliments, so please refrain from answering my musings. However, I do hope that my questions will cause some others to reflect, and if changes are needed, to redirect. In Psalm 90:12, the writer prays for the Lord to, "Teach us to number our days that we might get a heart of wisdom." (NIV) That would also be my prayer for each of you.

James Teaching Series: Faith Known By Fruit

Mountain Valley Mission presents a teaching series on the Epistle of James, Faith: Known By Fruit, Sundays January 9th to March 6th. Please join us at 37739 Second Avenue, Squamish Sundays at 10:00 am for Anglican Holy Communion & great fellowship. Why not come along and bring a friend?

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath

With these few words Jesus began to deconstruct the sin-filled traditions that had become the God of Israel. So many so-called "good" things get suborned by man to become idols. Even our worship and our piety can begin to occupy the God place in our lives.
Why? because it is much easier to control and manipulate a thing that we have created than to be in a relationship with the God who created us. It is easier to shape our lives around a pattern that we have constructed than to allow God to shape us and then hold us accountable for how we respond.
That is why His love for us is often difficult to bear...and why, even in the face of such kindness, forgiveness and provision, we balk and seek our own sin-laden pathway. It is precisely because God's forgiveness requires a response from us that we run and hide from Him. We know instinctively that if, no...when He sees us, all will be laid bare. We only think that we can hide. But, alas, we cannot! He is indeed the Lord, not only of the Sabbath, but of all that surrounds it.