He was one of those quietly efficient men who always did more than his job demanded or than its payscale justified.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Man Who Rode Midnight)
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
–Galatians 5:25 (NKJV)
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One of my favorite writers is Fenelon (it seems as if I have lots of favorite writers). Fenelon was bishop in France in Louis XIV’s court. There is a quotation of his that I want to ponder more closely today.
“When we are really abandoned to God, all that we do we do well, without doing many things.”
Yesterday I wrote about sharing secrets with God and Him sharing secrets with us. When we get to that point we have found not only friendship, but true worship. But the question is, do we really want to be that intimate with God? Fenelon is saying the same thing. To be truly connected with God we will do our best in everything. We will not just get by, things will not be haphazard in our lives, we will not live a mediocre lifestyle.
Many times I have written that worship is not only music! I emphasize that again. Music can be a form of worship, but true worship is abandoning ourselves to God. True worship is a lifestyle, not a feeling. A question is then, if you don’t “feel” anything can you worship? See, emotions and feelings are not worship. They may come from time-to-time when a person does worship, but don’t mistake them for worship.
Worship is relative to life. A person who really understands what worship is will worship while doing dishes in the kitchen. They will worship while driving down the road and are cut off. They will worship in all legitimate activities of life for they have done everything with purpose and unto the Lord. We don’t give Him mediocre work, that is not true worship. (see, Colossians 3:17,23). Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24, NKJV). Truth here means reality. In the midst of the virus worship, for that is reality right now. Worship then is obedience, worship is service, worship is loving God with all our mind, our soul, our will. Yes, and worship is adoring Him at the altar.
Now to the second part of that quotation, “without doing many things.” This in no way can mean a life of sloth and laziness. The question becomes what is “many.” That must be determined by the individual and it is constantly changing due to the “thing” and the time. This is why prioritizing is so important. Don’t get caught up doing “many things” or in other words “busy-work.” When teaching leadership I would give the following when prioritizing:
1) urgent and important
2) urgent
3) important
4) busy work
5) useless work
The things that are urgent and important MUST be done! However, do not neglect busywork. For example, emptying the trash can might be busywork today, but if it is not emptied for a couple of weeks, it might become urgent and important. A host of varmints may have invaded, and the aroma may have become atrocious. In all of these categories we are not mediocre because of the category for we do all for the Lord.
One more thought in regard to “many things.” I cannot do the same things today that I was able to do thirty years ago. I cannot do as many things as I did thirty years ago. I have to be more select in the things I do, yet in those things do it unto the Lord. Do not forget the words of Solomon, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Ecclesiastes 9:10, NKJV).
Month: May 2020
Echoes From the Campfire
We’ll face it then. Nobody lives their life without having to face things from time to time.”
–Louis L’Amour (Hondo)
“If that is our case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
–Daniel 3:17-18 (NKJV)
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I have always enjoyed anything I’ve read by Phillips Brooks from little quotations, to poems, to his wonderful Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” He had a special knack of looking at things. To my surprise and delight, Annie gave me a book of his sermons for my birthday. Today I want to share with you something that I have pondered over for many years, and with the help of Brooks try to share with you.
Are you good with secrets? To whom do you share your secrets? Some folks are just plain old blabbermouths, but guess what, even they have secrets hidden within them. A person will not confide in another the deep secrets of their heart unless that person is someone they respect. This goes both ways; you respect the person in whom you would confide because they have already shown respect for you.
Take time to read Psalm 25:14, read it several times before going on to the rest of the morning’s thought.
“The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.” (NKJV)
The Lord has a secret; does He respect you enough to share it with you? First of all do you want to share in the secrets of the Lord? Some have delighted in this, others have run away. God will give it to those He respects. Phillips Brooks states, “Love without respect has lost the substance and the essence of itself… You cannot love God unless you fear Him.” This is one spiritual truth that the church has forgotten. Hopping and swooning in a “worship service” is not necessarily showing the fear of the Lord, nor that you sincerely love Him. This is familiarity. People want a “pal” and it is in this “easy familiarity which God loses His secret.” There is something missing when reverence is forgotten or removed.
Abraham was a man in whom God shared His secrets (see Genesis 17 and 18). He was a man who deeply loved God and greatly revered Him. “Love deepens every hour, but reverence is always deepening with it, and to this ever-deepening reverence and love the nature and purposes of God are always opening.” (Brooks) This love/reverence combination is why at times you will feel a great grieving when you see things happening amongst God’s people.
Are you one who will refuse to hear the secrets of God? Or will you cling close to Him? To know His secrets you must spend time with Him, having serious talks. You must read His Word, and there must be obedience. “By true obedience understand what He is, and then the fearfulness of God, the greatness of His nature and His love will take possession of you, and in that atmosphere the secret of the Lord shall come to you and be with you.” (Brooks)
Be a friend of God, seek Him, and He will share with you His marvelous secrets.
The Saga of Miles Forrest
Charlie was talking to one of them taking McCall’s body to Parker’s undertaking services, and was just entering the doorway. Doc had already come in to sit with Molly and me. Marta was busy cleaning up the tables where customers had been sitting before exiting the back door. If they came back, she’d just give them a fresh plate.
“Have a seat, Charlie, I’ll get you some coffee,” I said with a laugh. “What were you doin’ hidin’ behind that tree?”
“That’s because he’s not a fool like you!” exclaimed Doc. “He has some sense! What do you mean walking down a street with a man shooting at you?”
Molly’s eyes widened the she remarked, “You did what?”
I couldn’t figure out all the uproar. “I just reckoned it was the straightest and fastest way to get to him,” came my response.
“Hmpf,” grunted Doc. “A good way to get yourself killed, is what it was.”
“Well, I didn’t, and it all worked out,” I responded. “Any pie to go with this coffee?”
There was another “hmpf” from Doc, and Molly just gave a deep sigh looking at me with malice. I turned my eyes upon her, “What?” Her frown slowly turned into a small smile.
“Marta, could you see if there’s some pie in the kitchen?” asked Molly.
Charlie interrupted, “Hon, bring me a piece, too.”
We sat there sipping our coffee in the silence that came suddenly. We were thinking about what happened and what could have happened. Thinking about how the good Lord takes care of us.
“He said it was for the money,” I said breaking the short silence. “I didn’t know the man, but I vouched for him. Never heard anything bad said against him.”
Marta was bringing our pie, holding it out for us to see. “Chocolate and butterscotch,” she offered with a smile. I reached for the butterscotch.
“Sit with us Marta,” Molly requested. “Pour her some coffee, will you please.”
Getting up I reached for the pot filling a cup for her, then refilling everyone else’s. “Are you all right, Marta?” I questioned.
She nodded, the gave a small smile. “Senor Miles, did I ever tell you that you live a very, shall I say, exciting and charmed life?”
That made me smile, so I nudged Molly with my elbow. “See, told you I was charmin’.”
“Oh, brother,” grunted Doc, “you’re making me sick.”
He started to get up then saw Foster and Newsome enter the diner. “Don’t reckon they’re coming in to eat,” he declared, then turned back around in his chair.
I sat there, pulling on my moustache, waiting to see who would speak first. Both were good men, but followers. Neither was bold, so I wondered who’d take the lead. Doc welcomed them and offered them chairs.
“Let me get you some coffee,” I offered.
“Nah, nah, we’ll only be a minute,” stated Newsome.
They looked at each other. “We heard you’ve arrested Martin Olson. Is that correct?” inquired Foster.
“That’s correct,” responded Charlie. “He attempted to murder a federal marshal, my friend and hopefully yours. Fortunately the shotgun wasn’t loaded or he wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
They jerked their heads toward Charlie when he spoke, they looked at each other again. “On top of that we have a signed affidavit.”
“Is McCall dead?” inquired Newsome.
“Yes,” started in Molly, “he…
Interrupting her, I said, “I killed him as he was shooting indiscriminately in the diner bring several citizens into risk.”
“So, it was in the line of duty?” asked Newsome.
I glared at him, “What are you gettin’ at?”
He pulled on the edge of his collar. “I, uh, uh, we, were just…”
Echoes From the Campire
If he be a man indeed, he must always go on, he must always endure.”
–Louis L’Amour (Galloway)
“You said, ‘Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.’”
–Jeremiah 45:3 (NKJV)
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In Psalm 39, we see David trying to cope with some situation that has brought him severe distress. Maybe it was one large event or a series of setbacks. Whichever, he is not handling the situation very well. He goes so far as to blame God.
8 – Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the taunt of fools.
9 – I am speechless; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.
10 – Remove Your torment from me; I fade away because of the force of Your hand.
11 – You discipline a man with punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is precious to him; every man is only a vapor. Selah
12 – “Hear my prayer, Lord, and listen to my cry for help; do not be silent at my tears. For I am a foreigner residing with You, a temporary resident like all my fathers.
13 – Turn Your angry gaze from me so that I may be cheered up before I die and am gone.” (HCSB)
One of the things David does here is to recognize his need to talk with God. Many when faced with unsettling situations get bitter and turn from God. David continues to pray, seeking the Lord. He does not try to hide from God as Adam did in the Garden, but earnestly seeks for the Lord to hear his prayer.
This Psalm is different from others for David does not end on a high note. He is so overwhelmed in his despair and depression that he says, at least don’t be angry before I die, then you can leave me alone. George O. Wood puts it this way, “The final sentence in this psalm shows us that we can sometimes get up from a place of prayer without real victory or without good theology in our heads and heart.”
I see this Psalm as one about reality, about life. We pray and hear nothing from the Lord. Life, our situation, goes on with no answer. But there is something here–we see the faithfulness of God for despite David’s situation, and the seemingly no answer, God was there. That should give us hope, as David confessed in verse 7, “Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”
“I once was an outcast stranger on earth,
A sinner by choice, and an alien by birth;
But I’ve been adopted, my name’s written down,
An heir to a mansion, a robe, and a crown.”
–Harriet E. Buell