Are there people you can be with that bring you joy simply by being in their presence? Are there places you can go that bring you peace and calm simply by being there? There are people in my life, my wife being at the top of that list, who by their very presence are satisfying. We can be sitting at home watching tv, enjoying a quiet evening on our back patio, or chilling at the beach, and just by being near her, my soul is at rest. It is being in her presence that first and foremost calms my soul. It is then in that presence that I get to witness, or be a recipient of, her good works. 

And being in the vicinity of the ocean is our happy place, and often as we walk through the dunes, just hearing, smelling, and seeing the surf and sand, we say to each other, “feel the crap flying off yet?” It is not doing something at the beach that brings us peace and calm. Those come solely by being at the beach.

The word satisfaction comes from two Latin words – satis (enough) and facere (to make, do, perform). Its origin (satis-facere) means simply to do enough. Satisfaction, being satisfied, is not completely dependent upon feelings or attitudes. There are other factors at play. Satisfaction is sometimes found in doing enough. Other times, however, to do enough is found in the being rather than in the doing. Wow, think about those last few sentences for a minute.

Now let me ask this – are you satisfied in God? Isn’t it true that our delight is sometimes based solely upon whether or not God has done what we asked, when we asked it. Yes, God is a good, good Father who meets our every need, but He is not some sort of bellhop, standing by, at our beck and call, always willing to do whatever we ask. Notice that I began this paragraph asking if you are satisfied in God rather than satisfied with God. I believe in focuses on who God is (being, presence) while with points to God’s marvelous deeds (doing). Both God’s proximity and deeds bring joy and satisfaction, but it is in that presence that we then find His power. Not vice versa.

In order to find lasting peace and joy no matter what life throws our way, our satis-facere must come from simply being in God’s presence. That satisfaction is rooted in who God is, not in what He does. We find these words in Psalm 16:11 – “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Elsewhere, still in the psalms – “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Be careful here. The focus of this verse is on us delighting and not in God giving. Taking delight in Yahweh means that we find our satisfaction in Him. If we truly do that (delight in the LORD), our desires will begin to parallel His desires, and those parallel desires of our heart will not go unfulfilled.

Keeping in the psalms, we are told that there is nothing better than being in the presence of God. Psalm 84:10 begins this way – “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”

Ask God for a faith that is grounded in, rooted in, His presence. Your satis-facere is found in that presence. It is truly enough. Let me end with lyrics from the worship song “I Love Your Presence” – “In the glory of your presence, I find rest for my soul. In the depths of your love, I find peace makes me whole.”

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Have you ever thought about what your legacy will be? After all the kind words said at your funeral, what will it be weeks, months, even years later that people say about you? How will history remember you? Before you discount those questions, let me just say, every one of us will leave a legacy, maybe not on a national or worldwide scale, but to those who know us, we will leave some sort of legacy.

This week college football begins its 155th season. It cannot come soon enough for me! The game today looks nothing like it did back in 1869 when the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) Tigers and Rutgers Queensmen played the first intercollegiate game. You do not need to be a fan or historian of college football to know the name Knute Rockne. The Rock was a legendary football coach at Notre Dame from 1918-1930. He is considered one of the greatest college football coaches of all-time. His Fighting Irish teams won 88% of their games, and Rockne’s winning percentage is second all time, behind only Larry Kehres who coached 27 years at Mount Union (Ohio).

One of Rockne’s star players was George Gipp, nicknamed “The Gipper” In 1920, three weeks after his last intercollegiate football game (ND was 9-0 that season), Gipp died of complications from strep throat and pneumonia.

As the Gipper lay dying in the hospital, Coach Rockne visited his friend, and according to Rockne, the young man said this – “I’ve got to go, Rock. It’s all right. I’m not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock. But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.” Historians doubt Rockne’s version of Gipp’s last words are true, but it makes for a good story, and a famous halftime speech.

In 1928, Notre Dame had one of Rockne’s worst teams, finishing the season 5-4. On November 10, after a scoreless first half against an undefeated Army team, Rockne, in trying to salvage the season, made that famous halftime speech. In the second half, the Fighting Irish rallied to upset the Black Knights 12-6. Since that day, “Win One for the Gipper” has been infused into the lexicon of American society.  

Tragically, the ever-popular Rockne died in a plane crash on March 31, 1931. His untimely death sparked a national outcry. Newspapers all across the country carried the story and his funeral was the first to be broadcast live on network radio. Because of Rockne’s popularity and the outrage over his death, the crash was investigated with a thoroughness that would become the criterion by which all future aviation accidents would be investigated, triggering sweeping changes to airline safety, something anyone who flies today greatly appreciates.     

How we live life makes a difference in our lifetime and in the lifetimes of those after us. Psalm 145:4 says this – “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.” And in Proverbs 3:35 we find – “The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.”

While it is true that most likely your death or my death will not be broadcast live, or because of our death sweeping changes will be made that impact future generations, it is true that each one of you reading this post has the opportunity to touch, impact, and change the lives of those you come in contact with. And that is of no less significance than the legacy left behind by the rich and famous.

So, what will be your legacy? It is never too late to begin to create one that enriches those you love and those who come after you. 

(I took this picture of Rockne’s statue outside Notre Dame’s football stadium when visiting their campus in 2012.)

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Think of a time when you said yes when you really wanted to say no. Or maybe you said “no” to someone or something when the best thing to do would have been “yes.” After a long week at work, you want to come home and prop your feet up. But a neighbor invites you to a cookout. You really want to chill at home, but they’ve asked you several times before and you turned them down. You don’t want to send the wrong message, so you say yes when you really want to say no. Your coworkers frequently gossip about the new hire. You know what they are saying is both mean and not true. But, to stay popular in the office, you remain quiet. Instead of saying “yes” to squelching the gossip, you say no(thing).   

We regularly push back against doing or saying certain things because we don’t particularly like the probable outcome. It is also true that we sometimes push back on what God is asking us to do because we do not like what that outcome might be. The story of Jonah is one such instance. God asked Jonah to visit the wicked Ninevites, who were a constant threat to the Jews. The opening two verses found in the Old Testament book of Jonah read like this – “The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittal saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me’” (Jonah 1:1-2).

Jonah despised the Ninevites and did not want to go. He really wanted them destroyed (4:2). If Jonah visited them and they repented of their wicked ways, what if merciful God showed favor to the Ninevites. So, instead of heading to Nineveh as the LORD asked, Jonah headed in the opposite direction, to Tarshish – “But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD” (1:3). Jonah said no when he really should have yes.

You know the story. On the way to Tarshish, Jonah’s boat encountered a great storm, one that his shipmates blamed on him (vv.1:4-15). Jonah got tossed overboard and was swallowed up by a great fish – “And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights” (1:16-17).

While in the belly of this great fish, Jonah has a change of heart. He agrees to go to Nineveh (Chapter 2). The fish vomits him up. Jonah says yes (probably reluctantly) when he likely really wanted to say no once again. Chapter 3 of the book of Jonah tells us that the Ninevites did repent, causing God to hold back the calamity which he had declared he would bring on them. This displeased Jonah. Chapter 4 is God rebuking Jonah for his disobedience displeasure.

Even though Jonah did eventually say yes to God, he did so with a reluctant heart. God is not interested in hard reluctant hearts. He is wanting us to have soft obedient hearts; a desire to not just say “yes,” but a yes that comes from our longing to serve and obey. Not simply yes out of duty or obligation. Sometimes God desires us to say “no” to what the our selfish desires say, or world says to us, which by default is saying “yes” to Him.

Say yes to God and leave the results up to Him. What are you right now saying no to that you should be saying yes to? What do you need to say yes to even if no is easier?   

Note from Dave: Last year I wrote about Jonah using a slightly different backdrop. In that writing I also answered why I believe this “fish story” to be true and not simply allegory or myth. Click here to read that post.    

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Close your eyes for a minute. It is August 15, 1969. Okay, maybe you were not even born in ’69, but just pretend you had been. Months ago, you planned a surprise romantic weekend getaway to Bethel, a quaint little hamlet ninety miles northwest of New York City. You and your sweetie would just enjoy some quiet time together in beautiful Sullivan County.  

As you neared your B&B, traffic was at a standstill. What’s up? You soon find out that hundreds of thousands of people are making their way to the Woodstock Music and Art Fair being held on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm, also located in Bethel. Considering the massive traffic jam, and after discussing the situation with your sweetie, you ditch your original plans (and quite possibly, soon ditch your clothes as well) and head to the festival, one that promises “3 Days of Peace & Music.” Okay, open your eyes.

For those of us old enough to remember the 1960s and 70s, the word “peace” likely conjures up a picture of the anti-war movement – Hippies flashing peace signs as they protested the Vietnam War or the “make love not war” anti-war phrase that was voiced not only by hippies and college students but also by average American families and even some who were engaged in the actual fighting in Vietnam. And by all accounts, along with an excess of drugs, both make love not war and peace also flowed freely at the music festival.

While peace is most often thought of in the context of a lack of conflict or violence, today I want to dig into another kind of peace, the kind of peace that only comes from Jesus. I am talking about an inner peace that brings calmness and a sense of safety, a sense of serenity, even in the midst of a warring and divisive world all around us.

On the night before He was crucified, Jesus delivers what is known as the Farewell Address (John Chapters 14-17) to the remaining eleven disciples. Early in that address Jesus tells them that he will going away to the Father (14:1-11), which I am sure created quite a bit of consternation within each of them. In today’s language, maybe we say, “He rocked their boat.”

Immediately after dropping that bombshell, Jesus then tells his guys that he will be sending the Holy Spirit to guide them (14:15-26). But Jesus goes even further in trying to calm their fears. Here is what we find in v.27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Those comforting words are bookends to the entire section, as Jesus began his address like this – “Let your hearts not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me” (14:1).

This peace Jesus speaks of is a mystery, it surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). This peace that Jesus speaks of is not being exempt from internal or external troubles. In fact, Jesus himself had been troubled by his pending crucifixion (John 12:27). Instead, what I believe Jesus is offering is a different kind of peace. Notice Jesus offers not just any peace, he offers my peace, which I truly believe gives us an untroubled and unfearful heart in a world that is full of trouble, in a world that gives us much to be fearful about. 

The world fights for peace, it negotiates for peace, but ultimately the peace found in this world is only temporary. It is a false peace, one based strictly upon circumstances. Jesus does not fight for, or negotiate for, peace, but instead, He is peace, and he freely gives it away to all who trust in Him. You can have that kind of peace in the midst of whatever trouble swirls around you today, regardless of whether that trouble lurks right on your doorstep or is halfway around the world.

So, today, make it a priority to pray for a reassuring faith that will allow you to have not just some temporary peace, like those three days at Woodstock, but a permanent peace that is offered to you by Jesus, who among other things, is called the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

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What would you ask for if you had but only one wish? It is believed that the tradition of candles on a cake can be traced back to the Greeks, who adorned cakes to honor the goddess Artemis. It is thought that candles represented light from the moon, a symbol associated with Artemis. And it was believed that smoke carried prayers to the heavens, thus the tradition of making a wish before blowing out the candles might be traced back to that belief. History has recorded that in 1746 Count Ludwig Von Zinzendorf celebrated his birthday with a cake that had the number of candles equal to his age.

Regardless of whether or not you blow out birthday cake candles, for most of us, if we only had one wish, we would ask for some form of health and wealth. You might use different words, but boil it down, and we all desire health and wealth, two things that often allude us.

As King Solomon was establishing his rule over the kingdom, he was granted “one wish” by God. In 2 Chronicles 1:7 we read – “That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’”

It would seem that God had just given King Solomon a free pass to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon was wealthier than every other king (1 Kings 10:23), but would he desire more wealth? We are also told that he had 1000 women (1 Kings 11:3), but maybe he still wanted more? Isn’t it true that you sometimes have enough but deep down you desire more? Maybe in addition to all his wealth and all his women, Solomon desired to be the strongest man alive or to live many more years. It appeared that Solomon could ask for any or all of those and God would grant his wish. 

But instead of asking for more worldly things, Solomon desired only godly wisdom. Here is what we find in the verses directly following the “Ask for whatever you want” verse above – “Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” (2 Chronicles 1:8-10).

It took great humility to simply ask for wisdom. And because Solomon only desired wisdom, he got so much more than he asked for –  ^“God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have’” (2 Chronicles 1:11-12).

What’s the takeaway? If we desire the right thing, having the heart and mind of God, seeking after the things of God, we get that and so much more! We are to ask God for goodness not goodies.

So, I ask you, what is your one wish?

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Think about the meaningful friendships you have. Maybe right now you think of your spouse, college roommate, neighbor, classmate, teammate, coach, that lifelong friend, or maybe someone else. Now ask yourself; did that relationship happen by accident or did it take work? The phrases “I know him like a brother” or “I know her inside and out” imply that you have spent countless hours cultivating and building the relationship, and today because of that hard work (and yes, real relationships are hard work) you have a real intimacy with that person.

Think of you and that person sitting down over a cup of coffee and having an intimate one to one conversation, talking about more than just today’s weather or last night’s sports scores. The two of you sit at a quaint little café, laughing together, crying together, catching up on life’s activities, leaning on each other, encouraging one another. Nothing else matters in those special moments as you simply share life together.

You can have that same kind of intimacy with God. In Isaiah 1:18 we read these words from God, inviting the prophet Isaiah to a one-to-one conversation, “Come now, and let us reason together.” (Some translations use different language, so your Bible might read differently.) God listens to those who turn to him with a contrite heart, “If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would not have listened to me. But God has indeed heard me; he has listened to my prayer” (Psalm 66:18-19, GNT). 

Do you regularly talk to God? Do you take time to listen to Him? Is Jesus your always present friend or do you only run to Him when there are no other options? The main way we can have a conversation with God is though prayer. A dialogue between you and God, sharing real life stuff using real life language. Prayer is also quieting yourself and allowing God to “speak” to you as well. He is the best friend that you will ever have.    

The Bible tells us that we need be aware that God is always with us, and we can have a conversation with Him at any time. In one of the shortest verses in the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we read this short and to the point message, “Pray continually.” In addition to those “as needed” prayers, you should also set aside some time each day to pray for your needs, the needs of others, as well as seeking God’s wisdom and direction for not just the life-changing events you sometimes face but also for your daily routine, those day-to-day things.

The more time you spend with God, talking and listening, the more intimate your relationship with Him becomes. And the more time you spend with God, you not only learn more about God, but you also learn more about yourself. And despite what you might have been told, there is no magic formula or training required for prayer, or even the need for those big theological sounding words.

Prayer is nothing more than having a conversation with God. Just you and God, one to one. In the process of spending time with God, I encourage you to open yourself up to the possibility that God really does have something to say to you! Nobody knows you better than God, nobody loves you more than God, and nobody desires to see you live life to the fullest more than God.

So, take time today to have coffee with God. Or, if you don’t like coffee, substitute your favorite beverage.

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