Imagine that you woke up this morning to find plaster crumbled on the living room floor and a small hole and crack in the wall. Not how you wanted to start your day. You sweep up the crumbs so your cats don’t track them all through the house. The damage appears to be minor; you plan to fix it yourself after work by filling the hole, patching the crack, and then sanding and repainting the damaged area. The repair took longer than you hoped, but once done, you are pleased how it looks.

However, several weeks later, much to your dismay, once again there is a crack in that same wall. This time, rather than fix yourself, you call a professional. This handyman comes to your house and after a lengthy inspection tells you that your problem isn’t with the wall, but rather it is due to a shifting foundation. Your house’s foundation is cracked, thus causing it to shift, which in turn causes the plaster to crack. You need to stabilize your foundation first and then fix the cracks in the walls. If you do not first fix your foundation you will forever be repairing the cracks in your walls.  

Just as an unstable foundation in your house can cause all kinds of structural and interior problems, if you build your life upon the wrong foundation, you too will experience all kinds of “cracks” in your walls. So often we rely on man and manmade things – job, financial security, investment portfolio, good health, good looks, family, reputation, government, etc. – only to have them fail and then we find ourselves sitting amongst a pile of bricks that has crumbled all around us.   

Are you following God or are you following the yellow brick road? This principle of building our lives on Jesus’ foundation is about an attitude and a willingness to be obedient to God and God’s Word. It is the answer to this question, “Do you trust more in God and His promises or man and manmade things?

Jesus taught on this principle. In Matthew 7:24-27 we read these words – “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”

Today I encourage you to look at your own life and before you repair the cracked walls you should check to see that your foundation is on solid ground. Without a solid foundation the walls will just crack again and again. Where is your foundation weak? What do you need to do to shore it up? Did you know that “shore” has two very different usages? When used as a noun it usually references the land at the edge of the body of water. But, as a verb, it typically means to prop up, as in “We used wooden beams to shore up the damaged wall.”   

I will end with these lyrics, “On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand,” from the hymn “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” written by Edward Mote. Is your foundation built upon solid rock or shifting sand? Ask God today to give you a faith that helps you anchor yourself to His firm foundation, to shore you up. Then you can begin to repair the cracks in your walls. 

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Ben Franklin

That adage, or some version of it, has been used over and over throughout the years. I am not here to debate the validity of that statement, but I trust you agree that in life not much is guaranteed. Your “till death do us part” marriage suddenly ends in divorce. The job you have had for a decade unexpectedly ends because your company suddenly closes its doors. You have kept yourself in good physical condition, only to find yourself now facing cancer. A lifelong friendship is ruptured over a seemingly meaningless disagreement. A loved one who you just talked to a few days ago is killed in a tragic accident. A dream you poured your heart and soul into for six years ends unfulfilled. You get the idea; here today, gone tomorrow.

Today I want to look at a two-letter word that offers us a certainty that is here today and here tomorrow; a promise that withstands the test of time.

In the beginning verses of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us that he has an affliction, the precise nature of it we do not know. Paul pleaded with God to have this affliction taken away, but his “thorn” remained. That takes us to these words we read in v.9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”     

Notice what God says to Paul, and to us today – “My grace is sufficient for you.” Did you see that little two letter word? My grace IS sufficient for you. The Lord does not say, it might be, it could be, or maybe it will be. Instead, the Lord promises that His grace is, and always be will, sufficient for us. He is all we need as we walk through life, facing everything thrown our way. His grace has no limits, it has no measure, it simply “is sufficient.”

That little two letter word is an unequivocal and unequaled guarantee, exceedingly more so than even death and taxes, that withstands the test of time.

So, my question isn’t whether you understand that truth, instead, my question is, do you, and will you, fully embrace that truth, and walk out your journey knowing and trusting that God is all you need? [God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and they often don’t make sense to our human minds. We are called to trust in the Lord and not rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).]

Right now, no matter what your circumstances, God says to you – “My grace is sufficient for you.”

You have probably heard the saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” We all are products of our environments, and it is true that what goes in also eventually also comes out. A real good illustration of that truth is the hydrangea flowering plant.

As with all plants, hydrangeas need the proper soil conditions along with the right balance of sunlight, shade, and water to grow and bloom. Unlike most other flowers, the hydrangea is unique in that it is a litmus test for soil conditions. Just as our genetic makeup determines the color of our hair and our eyes, the pigment of the flowers of most plants is based upon the hereditary genome of the plant, or in other words, its genetic makeup. The color of the flowers of the hydrangea is determined not so much by genetics, but rather, by the soil conditions. The color of the flower is based upon the plant’s cultivar (variety) and soil pH. In most cases, acidic (low pH) soil will produce blue flowers, neutral soil will produce purple flowers, and alkaline (high pH) soil will produce pink flowers.

So, for hydrangeas, it is true that “what goes in does comes out” in the color of the blooms. Horticulturists and amateur gardeners alike can determine the condition of the soil just by looking at the color of the hydrangea flowers.

Just like the hydrangea, the condition of our souls can also be determined by the color of our flowers. Along with regular exercise and sleep, what we eat and drink and ingest into our bodies affects our weight and physical health. And while keeping ourselves physically healthy is very important, keeping our souls healthy is just as important. John the apostle, in the opening words of 3 John, penned this to his friend Gaius – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” (1:2).

Our souls need constant care, and the condition of our soul is determined by just about everything going on in us and around us. God cares about the condition of your soul, and it is God who can help change the condition of your soul (soil). We find this invitation to the thirsty in Isaiah 55 – “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David” (v.3). To read in context, click here.

Scripture gives us a list of the colors of the flowers that come from healthy soil. Those colors are found in Ephesians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Not only will your flowers be beautiful by having healthy souls, but having a healthy soul will help you have a healthier body and live a healthier life.    

What we eat, drink, watch, read, believe, say and do, really does affect the condition of our souls, and thus the color of our flowers. I encourage you to look at your lifestyle and your relationship with God, and then look in the mirror at the color of your blooms, and ask yourself, “Do I like what I see?” If not, begin changing your soil condition and watch the color of your flowers change too.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous these past few days. Yesterday we went to our local lawn and garden store to get bags of mulch. The store was jam packed with people buying flowers and plants, topsoil, mulch, decking materials, new weed whackers, anything and everything needed to do some work around the yard to get it ready for summer. As we put down our mulch, occasionally dodging an errant golf ball or two, a neighbor was planting flowers, and down the street someone else was power washing their house.

Maybe today you plan to work outdoors. Regardless of the work you plan to do, you need tools, and not just any tools, but the proper tools, to complete the project. Take for example, if you are finishing up that new wooden deck you have been working on for weeks, your toolbox probably has both hand tools and power tools. Or maybe, like me, you leave building projects to the professionals, and you will be working in your flower beds. In this case, hopefully your wheelbarrow has a trowel, shovel, soil cultivator, hoe, dibber, and a watering can. [If you are a gardener, you know what a dibber is. If not, then Google it.]  

[As I sit out on my back patio writing this post, the golf course grounds crew is hard at work, all on different pieces of equipment, each intended to do a specific function, getting the course beautifully manicured for today’s golfers. Each person is using the proper equipment to do his intended function. Imagine what the course would look like if the guy on the lawn mower used that to smooth out the sand traps.]

Having and using the proper tools and implements helps make the job easier. You make them work for you. We often view the Bible in that same way; seeing it as some sort of spiritual toolbox. We want to take things out of Scripture and make them work for us, just like those carpentry or gardening tools. However, we do not use Scripture, but, instead, God uses Scripture to change us and carry out His will and His plan in and through us.

The process of becoming more like Jesus means that we come before God, who becomes present to us in and through the Bible. And, it is through His Word that we begin to be transformed. Hebrews 4:12-13 tells us that the Bible is what we are to use to calibrate, measure, and judge our thoughts and attitudes. We read, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all of creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

In The Message, the contemporary rending of the Bible written by Eugene Peterson, the words of Jesus read like this – “You have your heads in your Bibles, constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And I here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want” (John 5:39-40).

So, are you allowing God to use His Word to continually retool and remanufacture you?

You are probably familiar with the old adage, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” I was a sprinter in high school and college and I never won or lost a race at the starting line. How I started the race did often help in my quest to cross the finish line first, but ending well determined whether or not I won the race.

In the 100 meter dash, a good start is very important, but without proper running form, lightning fast speed, and a smooth finish, you will not win the race, unless your name is four time Olympic gold medalist Jesse Owens or the now retired eight time gold medalist Usain Bolt, the current world record holder at 9.58 seconds, both of whom had a gear most others only wished they had.

On the other hand, the 400 meter race is a brutal race. It is one lap around the track and involves speed, stamina, and tactical strategy. The last third of the race is the worst. Every ounce of energy is gone – your muscles are screaming to stop, your legs feel like rubber, your mouth is dry, your breathing is labored, your body has shut down. But the 400 is most often won in that last third; the runner who has one extra drop of gas left in the tank often outruns the competition in the last few yards and crosses the finish line first.

For some, life is more like a marathon, pacing yourself for 26.2 miles, striving to maintain a steady and comfortable pace up and down the hills, slowing now and then for a drink of water and a suck on an orange slice, finally crossing the finish line with your tank empty.

I learned that my speed or endurance only got me so far on my own. I needed good coaching, along with commitment and hard work, to help me maximize my strengths and minimize my weaknesses. Isn’t it true that so often we try to be both athlete and coach and we don’t look to those who can help us become the best we can be?

Committing your life to Jesus and following Him does not guarantee that you will win every single race – unemployment still happens, marriages still fail, cancer still shows up, sin still tempts you – but it does promise that you will always have a coach who can help you overcome a bad start, or a stumble in the middle of the race, so you can finish well.

God has given us the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and direct our steps. When you invite Jesus into your heart you also get the Holy Spirit as part of that transaction: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) 

[The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a runner focusing on the race still in front of him rather than what lies behind. You can read it by clicking here.]

So, regardless of your slow start (your past), or current messed up race strategy (your present), with the God the Father as the initiator of your faith, through Jesus as the implementer of that faith, and by the Holy Spirit as your faith energizer, your future is hopeful and you can finish the race well. If you’ve never asked Jesus into your heart, you can invite Him in right now. If you are already a Jesus follower but you feel the race slipping away, right now ask God to re-fill you with His Spirit, because we all leak and need to be refilled over and over again.

When we lived in eastern North Carolina we experienced numerous storms that caused flooding. The city we lived in was at ten feet of elevation, and on the confluence of two rivers, so the area was very susceptible to flooding from any sort of rain event. In preparation for those potential high rain events, particularly hurricanes, one of the important steps needed was to put anything in low lying places up on higher ground. Lawn furniture was either brought inside or put on raised decks. Due to the low-lying elevation, homes do not have basements. Therefore, to avoid water damage in first (ground) floor living areas, furniture was put up on blocks and items sitting on the floor put on countertops or shelves. You could say that anything in a low place was lifted up to some place higher. Things were safer and more secure in those higher places.

From time to time, in life, we find ourselves in low places, in a valley. All we see are the mountains all around us or the once lush riverbed that has all but dried up. In those low places we are more susceptible to being swept away by flood waters. If we are not swept away, we find ourselves standing in mud and muck. And mud, it is slippery and it is sticky. If we fall into a pit where the walls and bottom are mud, it is difficult to climb out. You ever been there? I have.  

Let’s look at these words of King David, found in Psalm 40 – “I waited patiently for the LORD he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (vv.1-2).

I so often write about waiting on God. Waiting on Him is not a passive ho-hum kind of waiting. Instead, it is intently waiting, attuning your heart to Him. It is waiting expectantly.

Turned to me seems to imply that God purposefully bent down toward David, not just to listen but also to reach out His hand to lift David up out of his current low place (slimy pit, mud, mire) with the purpose of securing David’s footing (rock, firm place).     

Waiting on God is also trusting in Him completely – “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods [run after lies]” (vv.3-4).

Notice that sandwiched in the middle of those four verses, we are told that David’s faith and patient waiting (v.1), along with God’s deliverance (v.2), is an effective testimony (v.3), inspiring others to see (perceive), fear (reverence) and trust (assurance) in the Lord. And in v.4, David declares that happiness (blessing) comes when we trust in God and do not bend toward empty blusterers (proud) and those who engage in lies (false gods, deception).

If you are like me, when I find myself in the low places, in the pit, standing in the mud, you want out hurriedly. I am not a patient person; I want to quickly climb out, shower off, and run to the lush green pastures. (God leads us there as well; Psalm 23). But I’ve found when I cry out to God and wait upon Him, in my moments of deep distress, that He has lifted me up, time and time again. He will do the same for you!