Kilimanjaro

On December 28, 2016 I did something I don't usually do.  I wrote down goals for the year.  An invite to Tanzania to teach pastors just a couple weeks later led to the fulfilling of one of those goals.  I wanted to invest in the life of at least a dozen pastors.  I try to do that regularly - but this would be yet another opportunity - and on a continent I had never visited.  I would go in May and that week would profoundly impact my life.

My first trip to Africa would be to teach at a small college in Moshi, Tanzania.  We would be staying at a Lutheran conference center that would have a view of one of the greatest mountains in the world - Mt. Kilimanjaro.  At 19000+ feet it is called 'The rooftop of Africa'.  We were in the territory where many come from all over the world to tackle a bucket list item - climb that mountain.

As the week wore on, it was cloudy every day.  Our trip was during the rainy season.  I remember asking my class one day for a small request - would they pray with me that the skies might open one day and the clouds disappear and we would be able to see the mountain before we left?  Well as the week wore on - we didn't get that view - but one student offered  to drive us on Saturday to an area where he had grown up and we could see perhaps a glimpse of the mountain from a different side.

We made that trip and caught a glimpse, and I must admit it was breathtaking.  I can't imagine what it would be like to see that entire mountain on a sunny clear day.  I must admit God taught me a powerful lesson that week however.  I learned that though I couldn't see the mountain it was still there.  The same is true with our Lord - I don't see Him - though I often see His work - but He is there - of this I am sure.

I was teaching the class 'The Inner Life of the Leader'.  Here's the lesson - trust Him - even when you don't see Him.  He's there.  A few years ago God told me I had more mountains to climb.  I've climbed some since then (not literal - but life mountains).  I'm sure there are more.  This much I know - the one who created the mountains is greater than my mountains.  I'm grateful for the lessons He taught me that week.

When God Heals

I just finished listening to a message by Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.  As I listened it took me back to a day a few years ago and then I also thought of today.  This morning, I saw on social media the plea of a fellow pastor to pray for his grandson and surgery this morning.  I called and prayed with that brother and for his family.  Two days ago I stood in the hospital with a family from Northside and prayed for them and all who would be involved in a very challenging surgery.

God is a healer.  I have no doubt.  He can heal instantly or He may choose do so by surgery.  Now to be sure, I've prayed for people to be healed, and they weren't.  That doesn't mean God is not able.  It does mean He is God and He knows what He is doing and I trust Him.  This post was triggered by the memory of being at the Brooklyn Tabernacle somewhere around 2014.  That night I gave a huge request to the Lord for the healing of one of our daughter's who was battling scoliosis.  It seemed in the months to follow that God did not heal.  But a few months later He did - through surgery.

Whatever you are believing God for - keep praying!!!  This morning I read '. . .  for I am the LORD your healer.'  Exodus 15:26  God is able.  God has a plan.  Call on His name.  It may not turn out the way you anticipated, but He will hear and answer - and when He does - He will get the glory! He is perfect in all of His ways!  Maybe it's physical healing, or emotional, or relational, or any number of other needs that may be flooding your soul right now - the Lord is your healer.  Trust Him.  Turn to Him.  He loves you.  He always has and He always will.  Don't give up now!  Call upon the Lord!

Seven Minutes a Day

Recently, I've been preaching on the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-12.  Rick Warren calls this passage 'Keys to a Blessed Life'.  I've called it 'From Broken to Blessed'.  This world throws away what is broken, but God knows not only how to fix it, but even make things better!

Last weekend I preached from the verse where Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be satisfied.'  (Matthew 5:6)  To be sure, the satisfaction that comes from salvation in Jesus is without rival.  As we walk with the Lord, we continue to feed our souls with the precious instruction manual He has left for us - the word of God.

I challenged people last week, and want to do this again through this blog, to simply begin feeding their souls by spending 7 minutes a day with God in prayer and Bible reading.  7 minutes is less than 1/2 of 1 percent of our day.  Do it for 21 days and it will be a habit.  Begin with the Gospel of John - there are 21 chapters - so here is the plan.

Begin with a prayer that expresses praise and thanksgiving to God.  Take a moment to confess sin and thank Him for forgiveness.  Express to Him your overwhelming gratitude for His mercy and grace.  Pray that He speaks to you through His word - and take your burdens to Him.  Then read a chapter in the gospel of John and maybe underline one verse in particular that spoke to you and reflect on why it impacts you.  Then close with another minute of prayer that is a response to that time with the Lord and put the day in his hands (if in the morning) - or the night and coming day (if at night).

This plan stems back to my college days when I was on staff as youth director of a wonderful church in Penfield, NY on the east side of Rochester while a college student at Roberts Wesleyan.  I wanted to encourage the young people in my youth group to connect with the Lord and keep it simple.  I want to encourage you to do the same today.

To be sure there may be days that 7 minutes turns to 15 or 30 or an hour (which is still less than 5% of our day - we have 24 of them!).  But know this - God's not watching the clock.  Just like a loving Father loves to spend time with his children - so does our loving heavenly Father - and our lives will be so much richer for the time we spend with Him!  Take the challenge!  Go for it.  The result?  You will be satisfied.