I am not much of a thrill seeker. I have no desire to step out of a perfectly safe airplane or jump off a cliff tethered to a harness only secured by a rubber band. Fast motorcycles, not my cup of tea either. I do however like roller coasters, so long as the lap bar keeps me safe and secure in my seat. Let me explain.
 
When my wife and I were dating, we often went to Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which was near her hometown. We enjoyed riding the wooden roller coaster known then simply as The Coaster, built in 1924 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, one of the oldest and most predominant manufacturers of roller coasters in the United States. (The coaster has since been renamed the Thunderhawk.)

One beautiful summer evening we boarded the ride as we had done many times. We sat in the first car. Prior to the ride leaving the station, the attendant checked that all the lap bars were locked in place. We snuck a quick kiss as the coaster began its chug up the first hill. Near the top we heard a click and suddenly our lap bar unlocked. We looked at one another with fear in our eyes as we anticipated being thrown from the car as it sped down the first hill. I cannot remember much about the thrill of the ride that evening, but needless to say, we survived, probably no worse for the wear, and it sure does make for a great story.

Life is like that roller coaster. One minute you are slowly chugging up the hill and then the next minute you are plummeting down the other side at breakneck speed with the g-forces pushing you into your seat. Then, suddenly you whip around a turn, and even with the lap bar tightly securing you, you are lifted out of your seat, feeling if you are about to be launched into the air. After several more minutes of being bounced around, the ride comes to a rapid screeching halt, and you jerk forward before being snapped back into your seat. You get off dazed and dizzy only to get in line once again. Sound familiar?
 
While life constantly changes like the movements of an amusement park ride, and we tend to be happy or sad, excited or discouraged, energized or exhausted based upon whether the roller coaster of life is traveling up the hill, down the hill, or flying around a turn, one thing remains the same through it all, and that one thing this – God is forever loving, faithful and unchanging. The theological word is “immutable,” which simply means not changing or unable to change.
 
There are numerous references in Scripture to the immutability of God. One such reference is found in Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” This unchanging nature of Jesus also gives a measure, a model, for our conduct as well. Conduct that should not change with the shifting tides of culture.

In Malachi 3:6, God affirms, “I the LORD do not change.” The context (v.7) of this verse is that while unfaithful Israel deserved annihilation, survival is not due to their own merit. Quite the opposite; the only reason they have not been wiped out like Edom (Malachi 1:1-4) is because God is faithful, He does not change, His promises are both unchangeable, certain, and eternal (Hebrews 6:13-20). In that Hebrews passage, v.19 tells us, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.” That one verse changes everything. I have written extensively on its significance. Click here to read one of those writings.

 
So, whether you are slowly chugging up the incline or rapidly speeding down the hill, whipping around a turn, being pushed into your seat, or lifted out of your seat, you can be assured that while life’s lap bar does occasionally come unlocked, failing to keep you safe, in God, through Jesus, you always have a safe and steadfast anchor for your soul.

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Sometimes in life we face situations that while challenging, we can handle without too much fear, much like walking through a shallow creek. Maybe our feet will get a little wet, but we aren’t worried about being swept away by the gently flowing waters.

However, other times, we stand on the riverbank and look out at a river that has overflowed its banks, one that is rapidly flowing, has flooded everything in its path, and is not easily crossable. We wonder how we will get to the other side without getting soaked, or worse, drowning. We break out in a cold sweat while rolling up our pant legs, staring out at the raging waters. Ever been there? I know I have.

A story in the Old Testament paints a similar picture. Moses had been leading the Israelites, but he has died. Joshua is chosen by God to lead the people as they prepare to cross the mighty Jordan River and enter into the Promised Land. I am sure that Joshua was feeling overwhelmed and not up to the task. His knees were likely knocking and his palms sweaty. His heartbeat was rapid and sweat rolled off his face. In his fear, he probably wanted to go back to his “prior life,” and not be faced with this daunting situation. (Prior to leading the gang into Cannan, Joshua was Moses’ assistant, tasked with, among other things, guarding the tent of meeting, that central place of worship and communication with God. He was also one of the twelve spies sent to scout the land of Canaan.)

Are you, right now, faced with an unknown future; one that looks like a muddy mess, one that is deep and dangerous, one you wish you could avoid? Listen to what God said to Joshua thousands of years ago as he likely trembled in his sandals. In Joshua 1:9 we read, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

You might be asking, why did that verse begin with, “Have I not commanded you?” Well, that’s a good question. God had twice previously told Joshua to “hang tough,” in v.6 and v.7, and would say it again a few verses later, in v.18. The fact that God said it four times suggests to me that Joshua really needed strong and repeated encouragement. I always encourage us to read small sections of scripture within their bigger context, so click here to read the entire chapter.   

What God promised four times to Joshua in his moment of high anxiety, He also promises to you today. God promises to be with you right now as you stand on the banks of your Jordan River wondering how you will ever cross it. There is no guarantee that it will be easy, or that you won’t get wet, maybe even very wet. But there is great comfort in knowing that God will be with you every step of the way.

So, today, if you are standing on the riverbank, fearful of the rapidly moving waters, God says to you, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Right now, ask God to be with you as you cross your Jordan River!

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We are an artificial society. Not only do we pretend in our relationships, always putting on our Sunday best to hide our flaws, we see artificial things all around us. Think about that little dish on restaurant tables. What does it contain? Various colored packets of artificial sweeteners, all intended to replace real sugar. The science of artificial intelligence has grown exponentially as computers are now capable of performing complex tasks that once required human (natural) intelligence to perform.

In addition to artificial, the world is full of fakes as well. That “Rolex” watch the street vendor flashes you from under his jacket lapel, odds are in is fake. Same for that Gucci or Louis Vuitton handbag. Before pictures were on driver’s licenses, many young people had fake identification cards, so I’m told, hoping to be allowed to buy or consume alcohol before they reached the legal drinking age. A limb prosthesis is an artificial limb. And these days we seemingly have two kinds of news – real and fake.

Fake is seen as not genuine. Counterfeit. Forgery. On the other hand, artificial is made to imitate what is natural. While artificial is not always bad, it is usually marketed as “better than the original.” Rarely though is artificial better than what is natural, genuine, or original. Easier maybe, but rarely better. More visually appealing, possibly, but better, that is debatable.

Not only do we live in an artificial society, but we are also sometimes artificial people. It is human nature to want to look good to those around us. While we once only saw ourselves briefly in the mirror, while brushing our teeth or washing our hands, we now see ourselves in virtual meetings, from endless selfies, and based upon the boom in cosmetic surgeries, many people do not like who they see. Somehow, looking better is equated with feeling better. Usually however just an artificial and temporary feeling better because nothing of substance has really changed.

Cosmetic surgery, focused solely on enhancing appearance, is vastly different from plastic surgery that focuses on repairing dysfunction or reconstructing defects caused by birth disorders, trauma, burns, or disease. Cosmetic surgery is simply for aesthetic purposes while plastic surgery is reconstructive in nature.

We are artificial in that our outward appearance doesn’t always line up with our inner reality. Think back to when you asked someone out on a date for the first time. Did you “say and do all the right things,” even artificial things, in order to get that person to say yes? Just look on the social channels. By what gets posted, everyone’s life appears always better than yours. You can wash your clothes, hang them on the line to air dry, but if you put them back on over your dirty body, they don’t stay clean for very long.   

While we can often easily clean ourselves up on the outside, we cannot, due to our sinful nature, on our own, clean ourselves up on inside. We can play a part in cleaning ourselves up by the choices we make, but the power to change comes only from having a relationship with God. King David knew this to be true. After his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and his ordering the murder of her husband as a coverup was exposed by a prophet name Nathan, here is what David cried out, found in Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in me.”

Today, are you desiring to discard whatever is fake or artificial in your life and move toward genuineness? If so, like King David, cry out to God, asking for a clean heart, one that leads to a right (steadfast) spirit in you. There is nothing fake or artificial about that!   

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Wisdom is a precious commodity. Everyone wants it. Not everyone has it. Knowledge and wisdom often get interchanged, but, in my opinion, they are very different. Knowledge is simply “knowing,” information storage, gained through education, studying, reading, memorizing, etc. Wisdom, on the other hand, has to do with insight. It is applying knowledge in everyday life, understanding how to use that knowledge effectively to make sound judgments. Knowledge is knowing that the stove burner is hot whereas wisdom is not putting your hand on that hot burner.

Having wisdom is important for navigating the treacherous roads of life, and finding the proper source of that wisdom is of paramount importance. The Bible tells us that human wisdom is foolishness – “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God” (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). And since God is the creator of all wisdom (Proverbs 8:22-31), it seems prudent (wise) to tap into his wisdom above all other sources.

How do we gain God’s wisdom? I believe it comes by the Holy Spirit helping us understand the ways and works of God. It comes by spending time with God and in His Word. It comes by prioritizing our walk with God; a walk that begins by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. I see God as the initiator, Jesus as the implementer, and the Spirt and the energizer of faith and everything that comes in and through that faith.

Proverbs 3 is a wonderful chapter that gives us the rewards (blessings) of seeking and having proper wisdom, the wisdom of God. We find this challenge and promise in vv.5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He with make your paths straight.”

To me, those verses say to not try figuring out life solely with human wisdom, but instead, tap into the true source of wisdom, and by doing so, you can find “true north,” which will greatly help in navigating life. Notice these verses do not say you can avoid all turbulence by having this wisdom. In fact, Jesus tells us that life is full of rough air (John 16:33). Nor do I think Solomon was saying to ignore wise counsel from others. God sometimes speaks to us through other people. The primary way God guides us in through his Word and he never guides contrary to what is found in His Word, so discernment (wisdom) is needed when hearing from others.

As I stated, Proverbs 3 lists a number of “godly wisdom” rewards. Here is just a sampling – healing for your body, refreshment to your bones (v.8), your barns will be filled with plenty, your vats overflowing with new wine (10), God’s wisdom is better than silver, fine gold, more precious than jewels (14-15), your foot will not stumble (23), your sleep will be sweet (24). I think you would be wise to read the entire chapter. To do so, click here.

Do you lack God’s wisdom? Do you need more of God’s wisdom? Right now, what decision are you about to make that requires a dose of God’s wisdom? Here is what we find in James 1:5 – “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” As I always do, I encourage you to read this verse in its context (James 1:1-8).

Are you looking to the true source of wisdom?

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On a daily basis we engage in many activities – sleeping and waking, going to school or work, sitting in from of our computers, taxiing kids, caring for aging parents, exercising, watching TV, grocery shopping, household chores, the list goes on and on.

And throughout the day you also find yourself repeatedly getting hungry. This is your body’s way of triggering the normal physiological need to eat. Eating provides our bodies with the fuel and energy needed to remain healthy and active. There is another sensation other than hunger also associated with eating; the desire to eat, called appetite. Sometimes our desire to eat is due to hunger, other times, simply because we’ve seen or smelled appealing foods. What causes us to feel hungry? When you eat, the hormone leptin is released into your body, causing a decrease in the motivation to eat. As your body begins to run low on fuel, leptin levels decrease, triggering another hormone (ghrelin) to be released, increasing your sensation of hunger.   

It is our appetite (desire to eat) that so often gets us into trouble, not our hunger (need to eat.) Next time you say that you are “hungry,” ask yourself if it is your body telling you it needs refueled, or is it just a craving, habit, the availability of food, or some other social or emotional factor?

Scripture tells us that we should be hungry for reading and digesting God’s Word. We need to regularly ingest (take it in, absorb it) scripture in order to digest it (use it for our benefit). When God was instructing Joshua about how the Israelites would take possession of the Promised Land, He included an important instruction to Joshua. Here is what we read in Joshua 1:8 – “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Jesus called himself the “bread of life” (John 6:32-35), promising that whoever comes to Him will never be hungry or thirsty. In what are known at the Beatitudes, Jesus says this – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6)” “Hunger and thirst” vividly expresses a deep longing. It is more than just a casual desire; it is an active desire. The Greek word used in this verse for filled is “chortazo;” which comes from the root word for a place where grasses grow and animals go to graze. The image is “to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten.” It implies filled to the point of being satisfied.

After Jesus had fasted in the wilderness, Satan, just as he does with us, tempted Jesus at his point of weakness (hunger). Here is what we read – “And after fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread’” (Matthew 4:2-3). Satan suggested to Jesus that he (Jesus) had the power to satisfy his own needs. But Jesus did not take the bait. Instead, he boldly responded, quoting directly from Scripture – “But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by the every word that comes from the mouth of God’’” (v.4). Jesus was pointing back to when God fed manna to the Israelites in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:3). We must recognize our utter dependence on God’s word.

As a side note – After Jesus had refused to satisfy his hunger by miraculously turning stones into bread, we see in v.11 that he is fed supernaturally by angels who ministered to him.      

If we hunger and thirst after the right things, we are promised to be filled (Isaiah 55:1-2).

So today, I ask you two questions – What are you hungry for? And are you hungry for the right things?

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Summer’s unofficial kickoff, Memorial Day weekend, is here. For many, that means celebrating the holiday with family or friends. You might be one of those, maybe traveling to another city or simply walking down the street to a neighborhood gathering.

The host of the picnic has asked each guest to bring a dish to share. Amid greasy burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans, and potato chips, you decide to add a healthy option to the food table: spinach and strawberry salad. You put the spinach in a bowl and add crumbled feta cheese, sliced fresh strawberries, onions, and walnuts. For the dressing you mix some white wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped fresh basil leaves, sugar, salt and pepper. Right before the meal you pour the vinaigrette dressing over the salad, tossing it all together.

Once mixed and tossed into the salad, no part of the salad is untouched by the dressing. It fully coats all the ingredients – the spinach leaves, strawberries, onions, and the walnuts. Now I want you to keep that image of fully coated in mind.

Maybe you are not the picnic type, but instead are heading to your local swimming pool or nearby beach town. If either of those is you, then consider this image – fully coating yourself in sunscreen in order to avoid sunburn and skin damage.

If you are a follower of Jesus, He wants to be in, to touch, every part of our lives. He needs to be in us, and with us, not just on Sundays, but also Monday through Saturday. Not just in the good, but also in the not so good. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus desires to fully coat us. He wants to give us wisdom as we decide on a career or which college to attend. He wants to give us peace as we sit in the doctor’s office looking at those spots on our kidney. He wants to help you and me walk away from the water cooler chatter that has turned to gossip and slander. He wants to be in our addictions, bad relationships, stupid choices, messed up finances.

He wants to be in it all! And the truth is, nothing is hidden from God anyway. Want proof? – Hebrews 4:13; Job 28:24, 34:21; Proverbs 5:21; Psalm 14:2. There is great freedom and hope in the reality that the Triune God sees us and knows us, and wants nothing more than to be intensely intimate with us! Not to ridicule or demean, but rather, to lead, guide, and direct, helping us become the people He so desires us to be.

Psalm 139 is good place to see this intimate relationship we have with Jesus. The psalm begins with these words, “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely” (vv. 1-4).

A few verses later we see this question, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” (v.7). We then get the answer in verses 8-10, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand with guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

I now encourage you to read Psalm 139 in its entirety. It is such an encouraging chapter. It paints a beautiful picture of God’s intimate and pervasive presence in our lives! You might be familiar with these well-known words but didn’t know they are found in this psalm – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

So, I ask you today, are you only allowing Jesus to touch certain places and keeping Him out of others, or are inviting Him to be the “dressing on your salad” or the “sunscreen on your exposed skin,” fully coating and touching every aspect of your life?

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