Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 108 - Dream dashers Scripture focus: People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord you have a sure thing. Isaiah 26:3, 4 The Message A sure thing - sounds good, doesn't it? Too good to be true? One Saturday night after our weekly service, I was standing around listening to a few of our NSC kids talk about their big dreams. One kid in particular had a bunch of really big and wildly inconsistent dreams. Basketball stardom, spaceship travel, and extreme skateboarding were just a few of the items on his big dream list. This didn't set well with another one of our pint sized friends. "You can't do any of that!" He said with an angry tone and far more rage than seemed called for in the moment. "Can to!" "Cannot!" Hoping to interrupt the bantering and avoid the throwing of fists, I asked the naysayer, "Why can't he?" "Because! It's not realistic! He's just a kid, and a shrimp! He will never do any of those things." Long pause, and for effect he adds, "And he's stupid!" Off he stomps. I realized that this kid long ago gave up on the possibility of dreams coming true. But he doesn't know that about himself - yet. Instead, he rages at another who dares to dream. Fortunately, my big dreaming buddy was undeterred, "What's his problem? He doesn't know nothing." And he too, runs off to practice his jump shot, leaving me with a mixed bag of emotions. Two kids - both in tough circumstances - one with big dreams and the other with big fears. In a flash, I wondered if cold dreams and hot tempers go together like peanut butter and jelly. If Isaiah is right, and "in the Lord we have a sure thing" - then no wonder we're mad! Many of us have bought the bill of goods that says, "Cannot!" - when all along, we had God to depend on to deliver the big "YES! You can!" But we ignored that soft, quiet voice of encouragement, distracted by the harsh, loud voice of "less than" living. Who wouldn't end up afraid and mad with all that conflict going on in the soul? What does it take to turn our doubting into dreaming? Set our minds on God. Focus on our big dreams, grand plans, and future adventures? Nope. Set our minds on God. Ferret out our defects of character, "less than" living, bad habits, limiting hurts, and crushing hang-ups? Nope. Set our minds on God. God doesn't fulfill the dreams of the sound and steady! He takes those who set their minds on Him, heals them and steadies their gait, and in the process, big dreams, grand plans, epic adventures, defects of character, "less than" living, bad habits, limiting hurts, and crushing hang-ups - all of that and more, gets worked out and worked through. Recommended reading: Joshua 15 in the morning; Psalm 86 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 107 - Perfect peace Scripture focus: You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 GNT I love today's scripture focus! I appreciate the promise of perfect peace. I need to pause and ponder when I realize what isn't found in this verse. It doesn't say that perfect peace is contingent upon purpose fulfillment. We have peace when we know our purpose, but success is not guaranteed. It doesn't say that perfect peace is accessed through the perfect plan. A clear purpose inevitably leads to the making of a plan - but trusting the plan isn't what this verse encourages us to do. Trust in God, rely on the plan to guide. But if you must choose, choose God over the plan. It doesn't say that perfect peace is achieved through knowing the plan. It says that we are given the gift of perfect peace when we make a decision to stand firm, once we know our purpose. It's possible to know our purpose, and abandon it at the first call of a brain craving. It doesn't say anything about trusting in equipping, abilities, strengths, gifts, talents, or even outcomes. It says - trust God. The implications of this verse are enormous. I hope you'll have time today to ponder this, asking the Holy Spirit to grant you access to a clearer view of purpose, commitment, and trust. Do you know your purpose? Are you committed to that purpose? What plan(s) do you have for achieving fulfillment of that purpose? Where have you deposited your trust? Recommended reading: Joshua 13 and 14 in the morning; Luke 18 and Psalm 85 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 106 - Soul longs for purpose Scripture focus: Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isaiah 5:20 NIV "what can settle your mind will not settle your soul." Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 23 Destiny. At NorthStar Community we spend A LOT of time talking about the physiology of addiction, stress, and the neurology of the brain. We talk about it, because our physiology matters. When our physiology is agitated, it demands a response. And sometimes we feel calmer when we think we know stuff - whether or not we're right isn't even the point. We like feeling in control. The truth is, we're not in control of anything. There's tons of stuff we don't know! There are a few things we do know, and they are very, very important points for us to grasp, if we're going to live reasonably happy in this world. "Your soul longs to find its ultimate purpose. It will not rest until you do. Your soul craves its destiny. Your soul desires. It always will. You were created as a creative being. You were made to grow, to dream, to achieve. Your soul is letting you know you come from God and your life is intended to be God-sized and God-inspired." Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 23 Destiny. Hold on, there is a clarifying point that must be made! "The problem, of course, is that we have raging passions and desires without the character and inherent good of God to channel them properly. Nevertheless, the solution for God has never been to neuter us or move us toward living apathetic lives. The goal of spirituality is not to extract from you all desire and passion. The call of Jesus is the exact opposite - delight in him and he will give you the desires of your heart. . . Jesus kept inviting those who seemed to think it was too good to be true to follow him and experience nothing less than life, and life beyond measure. Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 23 Destiny. So - in order to live the abundant life, we're going to need a big heart. We're going to need to strengthen our character. In small and medium and large ways, God needs to refine and reshape us. The great, amazingly cool truth is - He loves his job! Recommended reading: Joshua 11 and 12 in the morning; Psalm 83 and 84 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 105 - Week at a glance Scripture focus: A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. Proverbs 14:29-30 NIV Spiritual fitness is going to push us to our limits - and beyond. Recovery fit people will need to develop spiritual muscles. We're all going to have to learn a lot of languages, so that we can speak to any hurt, habit or hang-up that presents itself in our community. We must become a people who trust God more than our strengths, skills or tools. We need to learn how to appreciate our strengths and preferences, but develop a willingness to work out of our weaknesses, too, if it be the Lord's will. We need to learn how to trust God, especially when we don't understand his ways. We need to become spiritually savvy - God is creative and doesn't follow protocol. God uses the most unlikely people and circumstances to reveal his glory. Pay attention. Prepare to be surprised - I'm surprised by the willingness of God to continue to redeem the supposedly unredeemable. If this is his way, I suppose we're to follow. Whatever excuses we've used to let ourselves off the hook of passionate living - we're busted. God can do anything, use anyone. We have no excuses. We do, however, have a host of opportunities. We are God's ultimate recycling project! This completes the first one hundred five steps of your 365 step journey; I pray you are nearer to God as a result of the steps you've taken this week. Recommended reading: Joshua 9 and 10 in the morning; Luke 17 and Proverbs 13 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 104 - The "less thans" Scripture focus: Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Proverbs 3:5-8 The Message "When Jesus spoke to the crowds in what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount, he described the masses in a way that no one else saw them. The thousands who pressed against each other to listen to the teachings of Jesus were the social outcasts of their time." Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 22, Destiny Who are the social outcasts of our time? "They were the unwanted, the poor, the criminal, and the sick. Yet when Jesus described them, his words were filled with both affection and admiration. "You are the light of the world," he told them. Their lives should not be hidden, but open for the world to see". Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 22, Destiny What secrets have you been keeping about your personal "less thans"? What "strengths" have you been counting on to make you a person who counts? These masses were the invisible. They were part of the countless number of people who are lost in the shadows of great civilizations. They were the throwaways. They were seen as liabilities, burdens to society, but not to Jesus. He saw them as lights hidden under a bushel. He knew that there was something deep inside them waiting to come out, something beautiful, something breathtaking. They were created by God to be luminous if only Jesus could make them see it." Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 22, Destiny I received one of those emails this morning that I hate to read. Another person in our community has become a social outcast. Caught in bad behaving - and trust me, it's bad - he's been asked to leave his church of thirty years and never return. As a leader in their midst, his "less than" living has proven more than his community can stomach. And they want him out of sight and out of mind. I understand. I don't blame them. I feel their pain. The unwanted, poor, criminal and sick aren't always loveable - but they are redeemable. It takes a big heart and an ability to see as Jesus sees - to take in these "less thans" and hold their hope for them while we wait. We wait to see if they'll be willing to say, like Balaam, "I have sinned." We wait to see if they meant what they said, or only said what they knew we wanted to hear. We wait to see if they're willing to believe. And in believing, come to trust. Trust in the God who saves, the God who gives us soul cravings. Will they fight the good fight, and do what it takes to beat back the cries of a distressed mid-brain - craving for more of the same - the same thing that cost them careers, families, and social standing? Will they? Will we? Will you? Recommended reading: Joshua 7 and 8 in the morning; Luke 16 and Psalm 82 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 103 - A donkey speaks Scripture focus: You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book! Psalm 139:16 TLB Read Numbers 22:21-41 - but only if you want to be wowed! God uses a donkey to reveal himself to Balaam. This is ironic; as a pagan prophet, Balaam specialized in animal divination - but in this case, his donkey was way more aware of the spiritual world than Balaam. The Lord opens Balaam's eyes, and Balaam "bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him." Why did God arrange such an encounter? "I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me." God is angry. God is powerful. God could use his power to smite Balaam. Instead, he goes to great lengths to block Balaam's stubborn resistance, and turn Balaam around. I don't understand a God who restrains his power in such an awesome, humble way. He could have put Balaam (unethical, unbelieving, immoral, bad behaving Balaam) in his place. Instead, he is angry but he does not sin. Balaam, appropriately contrite, acknowledges his sin. He offers to return home. God sends Balaam on his way, but reminds him to only say what God tells him to say. Ultimately, the glory of God is revealed. Balaam refuses to curse the Israelite people. Instead, he blesses them. He doesn't sneak the blessing in, he warns Balak that his mouth will only speak the message that God provides. He behaves, in this moment, ethically. And he accomplishes God's prevailing purpose in this situation. Balaam understands that God is and will. "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!" Numbers 23:19-20 NLT And so it is with us. God has promised us an abundant life. He has called us to live a life of purpose. Do you trust him? "Your soul was starving for hope - not just to have it, but to give it. . .God never intended for us to live hopeless lives. When we treat the future as something that happens to us, we become passive, apathetic, and even paralyzed. When we embrace our unique place in creation, when we believe that God has created us to create, it begins to change everything for us. It not only empowers us to live, but it holds us responsible for life. Not only our lives, but the lives of everyone we could affect for good. To live an aimless life is to live an unfulfilling life. You're just not wired to give up on life. The best evidence that your soul craves a destiny is that when you no longer believe you were created with a purpose and for a purpose, your soul is never satisfied with the life you have. You can't get enough, make enough, or buy enough to pay it off. Your misery owns you. . .To be a follower of Christ is to believe that everyone's life can be different. No one is defined by the status of birth. Our destiny is not limited to our pedigree. Every human being is of equal value to God. No one must remain a prisoner of fate." Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus, entry 20, Destiny Donkeys talk; pagans progress the purposes of God; wounded people become healed AND healers. You can trust this - because it is all part and parcel of the prevailing purposes of Almighty God. Recommended reading: Joshua 5 and 6 in the morning; Luke 15 and Psalm 81 in the evening

Having Heart In A Sometimes Heartless World Day 102 - Is God capricious? Scripture focus: You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Psalm 139:15 The Message I was in a bible study class where a friend of mine became absolutely convinced that Numbers 22 proves that God is whimsical, capricious, and unpredictable. I saw her point - I disagreed with her conclusion. It appears as if God is giving approval to Balaam in 22:20 to go with Balak's team. But in verse 22 it says, "But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the lord stood in the road to oppose him." My friend thinks that this means you can't trust God. He'll offer a divine "Yes!" one day, and rescind it with an angry "No!" the next. Recall a couple of previous verses of scripture that might shed a bit of light on things. But my people would not listen to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own desires. Psalm 81:11-12 NIV He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:15 ASV I don't believe that God is changeable; I suspect that all this confusion is cleared up when we realize that God knows each of us - inside and out. He knows every bone in our bodies. He knows how we were made. God knew the real intentions of Balaam. He wasn't so interested in what Balaam said, or even what he did, so much as he was aware of the intentions of Balaam's heart. And Balaam's heart was several sizes too small for the accomplishing of God's prevailing purposes. So God had to enlarge his heart. What happens next is an incredible story. But before we read on, think about this. God is and God will. His purposes always prevail. No mere mortal will ever come between God and a prevailing purpose. God was committed to the Israelite people and was unwilling for anyone to curse them. Thus, saith the Lord. The end. Commentators doubt whether Balaam initially understood who he was talking to - and I don't doubt that one bit! I don't think we understand that either. When we pray, we're talking to Holy God - the God who is and will. We've gained access, direct access, to his throne of grace. We can climb up into the lap of God any hour of the day or night. We can talk with God. We don't have the power to change his mind. But we do have the capacity to have the mind of Christ ourselves. Sometimes we're not going to understand his reply. Trusting God will require us to accept his heart and intentions, even if we can't grasp his ways. Recommended reading: Joshua 3 and 4 in the morning; Luke 14 in the evening