The Other Line

We just returned from "the happiest place on earth."  This particular amusement park has a fabulous new feature that saves your place in line.  One simply runs an admittance ticket into the hold-my-place-please machine and returns an hour or two later to be ushered to the front.  Each time our family walked past the sweaty, impatient, foot-shifting line I felt a twinge of guilt and secret indulgence.  I had to remind myself that we all had the same access, but we spent it on different rides, at different times.

During one of our quick trips I overheard a British teen (what a lovely accent!) ask his father why we got to go and they had to wait. "Because they've paid money for special tickets."  What?  No, we haven't! I wanted to protest.  Their conversation nagged at my thoughts as we zigged and zagged through the cue line.  I wondered if it they would have listened to me, "You can too!  Just take your tickets--the ones you came in with--and run them through the hold-my-place-please machine!"

God's gift is very much the same.  Those of us who know God, who believe Jesus died in our place and took our punishment, trust Him.  We converse with Him daily, experiencing a joy and peace unknown to the rest of the world.  The majority of people watch as we travel through life enjoying good things and bad, living by faith, living with fewer worries or cares, loving and caring for one another. How often they wish for the beauty of forgiveness, not realizing they have the same access, the same opportunity.  God has revealed Himself through His Word.  He is accessible through prayer.  We must simply let go of our way and cling to His.  This is not a ride that takes longer for some than it does for others--it's for now, for eternity. I've banked my life on it.  If you haven't, please take time to read the questions and answers in the margin on the right side of this blog.  If you have, how willing are you to share with others?  Are you living fully, to the honor and glory of God?

My Purpose

I haven't shared from my personal daily readings for a long time.  But this morning I can't help it.  This captures our reason and focus for living--and I continue to be incredibly blessed by my journey through the book of Revelation.

Here's a thought from today's reading:

Monday, July 23, 2012 
Revelation 15

v. 4-6: Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”  After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened.  And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and
having their chests girded with golden bands.

Impression:  God’s judgment results in our worship.  And those who administer His justice do so in holiness and righteousness.  There is nothing dirty, shameful, wrong, or self-exalting in the angels God sends to deliver His wrath.

Application:  I am not God’s instrument of wrath.  God has agents designed for that purpose.  My purpose, along with all the saints is to fear, glorify and worship God (v. 4).  I am a lowly creature whose vision is limited, whose ability is finite, whose loyalty is divided.  But God has chosen me to glorify Him.  I have the opportunity each day, each hour, to honor and exalt Him with what He’s given.  Am I willing to do that in my home?  In our marriage?  Our community?  Our church?  With my gifts? With our resources?

Oh, God, grant me a heart of worship, hands of service, and wholehearted devotion.  I am incapable of any of these apart from your faithful, loving, guiding Hand.

"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Vacation Bible School

We are hosting Vacation Bible School this week.  When someone in our neighborhood or church mentions Vacation Bible School (VBS), we don't just nod and say, "Oh, yes, it's about time for VBS."  We say, "VBS sure is fun!" and think of the explosion that 's about to take place.

Pastor Waldron has a vision to reach children.  The children of our neighborhood specifically.  We run an all-day, every day VBS for about 150 children each summer with about 40 volunteer staff.  We're not a large congregation.  We may have 180 for Sunday worship, so VBS numbers rival our total attendance.

Yesterday the emphasis was on sin.  Defining it, giving specific Scripture and examples.  At one point, a fellow worker came and got me to help counsel a young girl who responded to the Bible story.  As we talked about sin, tears rolled down her face and she hid behind her fists. We looked at 1 Peter 3:18 where Peter wrote about Jesus, the just, dying once for the unjust, to bring us to God.  After asking for God's forgiveness and confessing belief in Jesus she looked at me with large wet eyes, "I just don't want to be a sinner anymore."  I couldn't agree more.  What a beautiful picture of redemption!

God is doing a work.  It's not our work, it's His, but we are laboring in partnership with Him for the gospel this week, for the eternity of souls.  Please pray with and for us.