God is in the midst of it all! You may know the Bible verse that comes from Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” This is just one of the many verses that use this comforting message. There are upwards of twenty-five other verses that also remind of the fact that God is always with us. Another verse that some have dubbed their life verse is Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  

Just this past weekend, I had the extreme privilege to get away with our middle school youth — my oldest daughter Faith is one of them — on the winter retreat. This was my second time going and I truly was trusting God to be with my wife and my other two kids. The theme for this year’s Winter Meltdown was “Out of Control”. WOW! That sounds like this was going to be a crazy and wild weekend for sure, right? Well, knowing that this retreat would be filled with opportunities to experience God’s love and get closer to Him, I wasn’t thinking that at all. However, I was certainly curious to find out where the River Valley Ranch team would be going with this.

The weekend began on Friday night with some time of worshipping and general crazy fun. . .fun that IS RVR! They are very gifted in making the whole experience fun for the students and us leaders, too. In addition to the great time of singing worship songs along with the guest band, Pastor George Hopkins, who shepherds a church in center city Baltimore, spoke to everyone about God being with us even in the chaos. Aha! So, THAT’S the idea behind the title for the theme. When things may seem out of our control, we can rest assured that God is still with us. When everything has us swirling around and feeling overwhelmed, God is with us. He may reveal Himself in unexpected ways while we are facing one of the difficult situations in life that have us feeling out of control. He may reveal Himself in just a whisper. Have you ever heard from God in a whisper? Pastor George challenged us to be quiet with him for just thirty seconds. The students could not just sit for thirty seconds and not make a noise or talk back to him, as he stood in front not moving around or saying a word. He then made the point that God may be trying to talk to you and trying to get our attention in a whisper. If we don’t slow down and take time to listen for Him, we may miss hearing from Him. Therefore, we may feel that God has abandoned us in times of chaos, because we don’t allow ourselves to let Him speak.

Have you ever felt that God had abandoned you? His Word tells us that we can take comfort in knowing, over and over again, that He reminds us of His truth. The truth that when we trust in Him, we will know that we can always turn to Him and let Him speak to us and guide us. His Word is truth. His Word is unchanging. He never leaves us or forsakes us, so we are never abandoned.

The spread of happiness is absolutely contagious, with spreading patterns very similar to communicable diseases like the flu. This year, we have seen a lot of contagious diseases. I believe that all things that are contagious are not negative and painful! There is a tiny word (joy) that is misunderstood in a big way. It is easy to confuse “joy” with “happiness,” as they do have similarities. Where you find one, you often find the other. Ecclesiastes 3: 12 says, “Nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and do good in their lives.” True joy, I think, is much deeper into the soul than any amount of happiness. Happiness, after all, is fleeting. We can be happy one minute and unhappy the next minute. But that tiny word, joy, comes from the Lord; it lasts forever and is consistent regardless of the situation or circumstance.

I feel better when I am exposed to joy, even in small doses. Nehemiah 8: 10 says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” To be honest, I think that all of us have plenty of room in our lives for more joy! We can experience more joy as we spend more time in God’s presence and let the Holy Spirit steer us to pure joy.

Some people have had the privilege of being around others who share the joy of Christ. They are optimistic and positive, kind and full of peace. Just being around these people make you feel more helpful and encouraged in your own faith. It’s easy to get caught up in things that will pull you down. Trust God and He will keep you lifted up.

Joy is contagious! Purposely look for people who have “the joy of the Lord” flowing from them. The joy doesn’t always have to be shared verbally. The smile on your face, a pat on the back or even the tears you may share with others will rub off if you keep surrounding yourself with these joyous people. The amazing thing about joy is that it does not depend on circumstances or other people. It finds its roots in the Lord, who is never changing. Galatians 5: 22-23 tells us that “joy” is a fruit of the Spirit working in every Christian’s life. 1 Chronicles 16: 27 says that “joy” is in the Lord’s dwelling place. Psalms 16: 11 reminds us that the Lord’s presence can fill us with joy.

What part does the joy of the Lord play in your own life? If your attitude is contagious, the people who are around you will “catch” it! No doctors needed. Since joy is contagious, take some time this week to purposefully spread joy to others. You can encourage someone, speak positively to a person, write a note or send a card to a friend, or smile at a stranger. In other words, spread your joy that you have received from the Lord. Contagious joy will build you up and not tear you down. Doesn’t that sound exciting?

1 Corinthians 1:2 (NLT) – “I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, [a] to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, [b] just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”

I am never more aware or humbled by God’s love than when I realize I have an appointment with Him.

A while back I was reading one of my go to devotionals written by In Touch Ministries with Charles Stanley. A morning devotional encourages me to stay rooted in God’s word and instills growth, challenge and passion to my faith and Christian walk. But if I’m really honest, instead of sitting at a table with my Bible and devotion open studying over God’s word for the day, I’m relaxing in an easy chair, sipping hot coffee, reading the devotion from my phone. But you know what; God doesn’t care how I am sitting, what I’m wearing or even if I’m fully awake. If He wants my attention He has every intention of getting it.

I’m not sure about you, but when the opening sentence to a devotion reads “Many Christians are experiencing an identity crisis”, I’m pretty sure the word “many” includes me. He goes on to say, “They know they’re saved, but they don’t really know what to think about themselves.”

To give credence to this thought, the writer gauged a test with this question, “Do you consider yourself a sinner saved by grace, or a saint who occasionally sins?”…And this is where I put down my coffee, sit up a little straighter and give God my full attention. Sometimes God shows me something that He needs me to take seriously because in His plan to grow and empower me He also has a plan to use me in a whole different way.

Although Charles Stanley goes on to say both answers are correct – and I must say I was relieved there wasn’t a chance to answer the question wrong – I knew that God was specifically speaking to my heart about this. Charles Stanley went on to say “The first statement dwells on your past identity, whereas the second focuses on the Lord’s perception of you.”

So if both statements are correct, why would God make such a point of stirring my soul about this?   I think for me, it is because it is easy for me to believe that I am a sinner saved by grace. But a saint ….well that is a stretch. When I would read in the Bible the word saint in reference to Christians it is one of those things that I would just skim over as not really relevant to me. (Yikes…that sounds really bad now that I actually said it out loud.) God knows what I leave out of the equation, and it matters. God wants me to be passionate about all of His Word, because with passion comes purpose.

When I confessed my need for a Savior, in God’s great mercy and grace He provided the only means for turning a sinner into a saint: the Lord Jesus Christ who came to “give His life as a ransom for many”. Matthew 20:28

Christine Caine is another person that I listen to on a regular basis. She said something about Jesus that I never really put together before with as much emphasis as she did. The final thing Jesus did was to make a “pit stop” on earth.

“After He was crucified on the cross, after He was separated from the Father and died for three days, after He rose again from the dead, instead of bypassing everything and going straight to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, He made a pit stop on earth and walked among us. And His last command to us while on earth was to make disciples of all men.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:19-20

Over twenty years ago, Brian and I were in a small group where we learned about God sightings-when we are sensitive to the Lord being all round if we are just looking, aware, listening and asking to see Him. Those coincidences, those words, the perfect scripture you needed or the line from a worship song on the radio that soothes your soul. I’ve seen many God sightings over the years-some people would think I am silly, but a gorgeous sunrise or new fresh fallen snow, a gentle rain that feels like He is washing away our sins. Finding two twenty dollar bills out in the middle of nowhere when walking with a friend who really needs the money. Meeting a stranger that turns out to be a Christian and speaks to your heart when you need it most. I pray for God sightings.

Little did I know that that many of my God sightings have come from the Junior/ Senior High Sunday School class. I am blown away by the kid’s answers. I feel God speaking through them. I have God sightings that I can share with my believing and non-believing friends that will listen because it comes from the wisdom of teenagers.

I think God is very contemporary. He gets Snapchat and Instagram and the challenging world these teens are faced with. He loves teenagers and so do I. I thought I was too old to relate, but God has shown me He will provide.

When I pose a question they don’t know the answer to, they jump on their phone to get the answer. They understand the power of resources and love to teach each other and me.

When we read scripture, it is often on their phone. So that means that since they have their phone with them all the time, they have the Bible also! One even has an app on his phone to check how many times he has opened the Bible a day and it was a lot more than me!!! So no longer do I feel that technology is an evil, it can be used for good.

Last week we talked about death and how they wanted to be remembered. One said she just hopes she will be remembered. Pretty profound for a Junior in High School! Another said they won’t care because they will be focused on heaven and not care about earth. Out of the mouths of babes.

Matthew 27:31 – “After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.”

Sometimes I use the word “they” when referring to another group of people. Much of the time it is an innocent “they” and I don’t put a lot of thought into it. It is a “they” that I am not a part of and just making it known. No big deal. However, sometimes the “they” is a bad group of people (in my mind) and I want to make sure everybody knows, for sure, I AM NOT a part of that particular “they” group.

When we read those passages of Scripture in the gospels about the crucifixion of Jesus, you see a lot of verses which speaks of “they.” In reading Matthew 27, you will find that “they” equates to the Chief Priests and Elders; it equates to the crowds of people shouting “crucify Him!” to Pilate; and finally, it refers to the soldiers who mocked and crucified Jesus.

As we read this story in all four of the gospels, it is always “they” that “mock” and demand the crucifixion of Jesus. I read this account of the crucifixion and often think to myself, “how could “they” do such a thing!” Aren’t you glad you are not a part of a “they” group like that!

What were “they” doing? The gospels tell us that Jesus was mocked with a crown of thorns and the soldiers began to refer to Him as “King of the Jews” even though “they” did not believe it. The “they” crowds wanted to trade the life of Barabbas, a convicted criminal, for the life of Jesus. “They” were mocking Jesus.

Are we any different? We may not make and place a crown of thorns on His head, we may not pull His beard or put a purple robe on Him, but are we guilty of mocking Him in other ways. The word “mock” means “tease or laugh at in a scornful or contemptuous manner:” I don’t do that and I am sure not any (or many) of you do either. But “mock” also means “not authentic or real.” Do we show our authenticity as believers when it is not convenient? When it might be embarrassing? When people might think less of us? To be authentic or real, it must meet the same standard every time. I cannot be one way at Church or with my believing friends and another with my friends who are not followers of Christ. That is mocking Christ. When I do that, I am as much a part of “they” referenced in Scripture as those in the crowds that crucifixion day. I may not be shouting “crucify Him, crucify Him” but I am saying or thinking “ignore Him” or “don’t speak of Him” or something similar.

Thankfully, Jesus said “Father, forgive them for “they” don’t know what “they” are doing.” I am a part of that “they” as well! Thank you Jesus!

Romans 12:3a – “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,…”

I have been blessed beyond measure, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. Both my parents were strong Christians, and both sets of grandparents were believers as well. I grew up in a solid home that was built on the foundation of Christ, and at the age of three my mother led me to the Lord. Growing up, I was fortunate to have wonderful pastors, teachers, and youth leaders that poured into me and allowed me to question and explore the truth about Christianity. And even after a period of walking away from my faith, God drew me back and allowed me to build an even deeper relationship with him.

I give you all this background because even though I have been very privileged, that doesn’t mean that I always get things right. To be perfectly honest, I get things wrong most of the time. Having been a Christian most of my life, I often take things for granted…things that should never be taken for granted like God’s grace, mercy, and love. His forgiveness is something I’ve had since I was a child and so the weightiness of what He did for me sometimes fades in magnitude. Over time, I begin to see myself “more highly” than I ought with the mindset that I have somehow attained these things on my own.

When I read the Bible, a lot of times I tend to identify with the wrong person in the story. In the parable of the prodigal son, I have always sided with the older brother. For some reason it took me a long time to realize that Jesus was talking to the Pharisees when He told this parable. They had seen Him with tax collectors and sinners and began grumbling about the company He was keeping. This parable was Jesus’s response to them. The older brother is a mirror image of the Pharisees. The brother has served his father faithfully but with the wrong motives. The Pharisees have kept the letter of the law but have done so out of pride rather than submission to God.

Jesus ends the parable with the father speaking to the older brother. “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” (Luke 15:31,32) And that’s where Jesus leaves it. It is then up to the Pharisees to decide how they react to the “younger brother” (the sinners and tax collectors).

This was (and is) such a huge point of conviction for me. How many times had I looked down on someone or felt that I was worthier because I have always “been with Him.” I have been blessed to have not known a time without Christ, and yet I have sometimes turned that into pride rather than being cognizant that I had absolutely nothing to do with the grace He’s bestowed on me.

My attitude should not be one of pride but should be like Philippians 2:5-8: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”