general

In our busy world there is noise everywhere.  Horns honking, planes buzzing, people talking, it is hard to get away from it all. Likewise there are internal voices and doubts swimming around in a murky mess.

How to get away and sort chaos? Deep calls to deep. When the cacophony around you is too loud. It is time to seek solitude.

What is Solitude?

Solitude is a spiritual practice where one goes to a lonely place to be with God. Taking a journal and a Bible the person can take hours or even days away from the normal routine to answer some of the deeper questions in life. Or it may be a time to just find out what those deep questions are.

Why Solitude?

Our souls are made to be in communion with God. However the noise of everyday life drowns out His still small voice.  Solitude puts us in a place away from the outer voices of society and allows us to seek God’s direction for our heart.

After twelve hours of traveling through the desert the day before, fixing a blown radiator hose, and unpacking in the dark; I was ready to be restored. And God had the perfect remedy for me. 

The next morning on a houseboat in the middle of Lake Powell, He was waiting for me. The monsoon clouds overhead caught the first rays of sunrise. Glorious! I awoke to this incredible scene with the words on my heart. “You are my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” The God of creation uses the universe as His palette. And His paintbrush is light itself. He shares his masterpieces daily with us. The skies are new every moment and the nature reflects his handiwork. 

New
In the same way He renews those who choose to listen to Him. Every morning He gives new strength to those who ask.  New creativity to be like the creator.  New love, new joy, new purpose are all there for the taking. What God asks is for us to come to him to be replenished.

Give
As we immerse ourselves in God’s love He gives us all we need in abundance to give to others. Like Lake Powell itself, the rains flood down to fill what has been given away. If no water is let out then the lake floods and causes tremendous damage all around. God overflows our lives with love so that it flows into those around us.

So jump in. Renew your life moment by moment in God’s presence. Let His love fill you up so that you can fill others up in a dry land.
  

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Some days I am encouraging others. Other days I need encouragement.  After an incredible trip across the Southwest it is hard to get back into a normal routine. And I received some sad news of a roadblock in my plans. That tends to take the wind out of my sails.  It seems so trite but the emotions can become overwhelming. Discouragement, longing, aimlessness are signs of an unmet desire that runs deep.  And that is where encouragement from others is so vital.  it is easy in our human frailties to lose sight of what really matters.  Millions of teenagers need to see Jesus lived out in front of them and be equipped to share with others.  Suffering is rampant globally and there are so many needs.  So how do we overcome the down feelings and be encouraged?

Focus on the target
As it says in the verse above, the day is approaching. Jesus will come back to be with us. The one who loves us most and best will be there face to face. The time is now to share the truth with others regardless of how we feel. As I refocus on build relationships that change eternity my emotional blinders are lowered. I see faces all around me of people who need Jesus.

Spur one another on
When I am able to refocus, then I need to do what I can to encourage somebody else. the best way to overcome a low mood is to help somebody out. Serving others gets my mind on what I can do and off of what I do not have.

Meet together
A real human voice that says “Hang in there, I care for you.” is so valuable. That is why we are commanded to meet together. Following Jesus is a team sport. No lone rangers will make it.

So be that voice of encouragement for someone else today. Or call a friend if you need encouraging!

In Duck Creek, Utah at my parent’s cabin I am staring at the marvelous Ponderosa pines and listening to the birds wake up.  These vast huge trees grow up from a single seed that they spread indiscriminately. They last for hundreds of years and produce thousands of seeds.  It reminds me of my theme verse for the year, Jeremiah 17:7. It says:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord ,
whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

In this verse is the secret to making disciple makers, to leave a legacy that lasts longer than the lifespan of a Ponderosa.  So how do we multiply?

Trust in the Lord
It is not a formula. It is a relationship. To produce fruit I must rely on God to fill me needs and direct my paths.  In loneliness I reach out to Him. In plenty I give praise to Him. When I am suffering I give my pain to Him.  Lost? Find direction in Him. Needy? Find you fulfillment in Him. 

Place your confidence in Him
Not only do we trust God, we place our confidence in Him.  Confidence takes something for granted.  You trust it so much that you automatically rely upon the fact. The climber is confident in his belayer.  The eagle is confident in his ability to soar.  We are to be confident in our partnership with the living God. Confidence is based on verifiable fact and personal experience.  God has pulled us through before. He has provided for our needs.  We can be confident that He will do so in the future.

Do not fear
The tree does not fear because it has all it needs.  When drought comes the tree is still green and produces fruit.  It’s roots go deep into the living water that sustains it through dry times.  In the same way, when we are rooted in Jesus we to have nothing to fear.  He sustains and directs us.  When doubt comes we rely on our confidence in God.  I am afraid of heights.  When I am at the edge of a cliff I e this feeling in the pit of my stomach of danger.  The fear can paralyze me and I panic. instead I heed to have confidence.  Likewise, in life I when I am outside my comfort zone I lack the do evidence I need. However I need to place my trust in my partnership with God and allow Him to give me strength and direction.

Bear fruit
The natural outcome of my dependence on God will show others the source of my strength.  As God shines through me others will see that I place my trust in the Ultimate Provider.  They too will trust Him as they see it lived out in our lives. 

It all comes back to one word…. trust.  Live in Him and you will bear fruit.  Trust Him and others will trust Him.  And the process will continue. Just like the trees.

Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:8-10 MSG

What an adventure over the last week. With my wife and family we have been hiking the Grand Canyon, stepping over a rattlesnake in Bryce, enduring 105 degree weather in Zion,  ATVing through a hailstorm in Duck Creek and enjoying the great outdoors in so many other ways.  In this time I have realized that everyday is an adventure in my relationship with God. He wants to give me more and better life.  So how do we live the adventure everyday?

Connect to the source
Jesus is the source of eternal life in eternity and abundant life on earth. We all need to live in His presence moment by moment by talking and listening to Him. On this journey I have been in constant communication with my family to discern where we want to go and how we get there. We formed a plan and lived it out.  in the same way we need to listen to our Shepherd and work out the plan together for our lives.

Prepare for pitfalls.
There is a real danger out there.  My brother in law, Jeff, almost step on a rattlesnake eating a chipmonk in the middle of the path.  We had lightning strikes almost on top of us and dealt with the effects of dehydration.  Without proper preparation like boots, a plan and gallons of water,  each of those could have b devastating.  Likewise, in life there is a real danger from the spiritual battle going on around us.  There are spiritual forces that want to steal, kill and destroy us. Self doubt gnaws at our bones. Indecisiveness leaves us paralyzed. Travesty leaves us devastated. By keeping connected to Jesus and preparing our plan we will overcome these obstacles to the incredible life we are to live.

Choose wise companions
We need to sorround ourselves with people who will encourage us on our journey.  The support Cindy and I have from friends and family is tremendous and helps us overcome our obstacles.  Who are in your inner circle? How have you cultivated those relationships to be mutually supportive? There are too many sheep stealers out there who would take us down.  I trust my family with my life and they trust me. 

So go out an live the adventure!  Connect, prepare and choose wisely  and you will have more and better life than you ever dreamed of.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

Freedom is a powerful word.  Nations fight for it. People die for it. Today we celebrate the Fourth of July as a nation. Our founding fathers lost lands and lives and family for this one concept. Freedom.

Freedom’s fight
But our freedom is under attack. There is a spiritual war for our hearts that has physical consequences. Our souls are enslaved by lust, greed, license, legalism, laziness, arrogance, spitefulness. Like cancer, these insidious practices pervert what is good and true and cause us to die from the inside out.  We must act against these tendencies or our freedom will be lost.

Freedom’s choice
Freedom is the ability to chose what is right, to do what is good for everyone. Freedom is the ability to act selflessly and take interest in our neighbor’s needs rather than being chained to our own vanities. Yesterday, as I stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon I realized how awesome freedom is. I can come to such an incredible place because Theodore Roosevelt chose to protect the freedom of all to access the Grand Canyon. His choice allowed of us the freedom to enjoy this incredible national park.

Freedom’s price
In the same way, it is for freedom that Christ died for us.  Our selfishness caused a rift with God that only Christ could surmount. Selfishness has a price tag and it is death.  So Jesus allowed Himself to be tortured and murdered to pay that price. So that we may be free to choose Him. 

Freedom’s actions
And now it is our call to act. To fight for the freedom God has given us. To fight against our own selfish desire and free others from their bondage to sin.

In my life I need to engage in my freedom by choosing what is selfless. At the same time helping others to be free. Sharing the story of Christ’s gift in all of my choices to those I meet.  I must also live that out internally by replacing lust with love, arrogance with humility, laziness with diligence, spite with grace, license and legalism with redemption.

It is 5 am and everyone is asleep. But I can’t wait to go outside. We are at the Kaibab Plateau just outside the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the sun is rising. The air is a crisp 50 degrees in July and I put on my Merino wool sweater for an appointment with God.

My divine appointment
As I step outside I see the glowing sky with the pink and blue hues. The birds are starting to chirp. The scent is of pine and freshly cut grass with an earthy flavor. But my appointment is even greater than the view. The God of the universe wants to meet with me. his canvas is the sky and his vastness is beyond galaxies. But He is here now and gives me an audience.

Listening to God
As the deer walks across the meadow, I realize that I am on holy ground. My Savior wants to speak with me. He shows me by the beauty all around. What will He say? The mystery unfolds around me as I am warmed by the sun. He is here. The Warrior, the Dread Champion, the Lover, the nurturer, the Father, He meets with me and is present. He whispers my name and calls me to be still. He wants me to experience His Joy, His love and grace. He wants to remind me that I am His son and He is my God. The sun is rising further and sounds emanate from inside my cabin. My time with God alone is coming to a close. But I know He is with me all day long. And I look to meet with Him again tomorrow morning. For His mercies are new every morning. And when I wake up He is there waiting for me.

Many time we think of travel as the means to an end. However, for the Christian the journey is where God meets us and goes with us. God is just as interested in our process as our arriving. We see God in action when we are moving. So how does God want us to enjoy our journeys?

Look Around
On our journey is where we see incredible sights. On the road today I saw the muddy Virgin River flow down an incredible gorge. I saw pink sands, red rocks, green pine trees and blue skies. Seeing Aspen trees growing together, looking at the ominous storm clouds on the horizon, stopping for deer in the middle of the road, all these things remind me to see what God is doing.

Interact with people
Also on our journeys is where we interact with interesting people. The guys from Europe asking for directions. The hotel owner telling you about hail in July. And I enjoyed great conversations with my wife. Much of the time that Jesus was on earth he spent traveling around. On the road to Jerusalem he would walk and teach his disciples on the way. Even after his resurrection he still spent hours of His time walking with two of His disciples to Emmaus. And he talked with them the whole time.

Smell the aromas
The forest after the rain, the earthy grass of the meadow, fresh asphalt, an excited skunk. All these things give you a memory. And we need to engage fully with all of our senses in the moment. In the same way, God wants us to be fully engaged with Him every moment of our journey. He desires a deep relationship with those He created. He gave us smell to interact with His creation.

Listen to God speak
The rolling thunder, the swishing of wiper blades, people in conversation, the tires on the pavement. As we enjoy the journey each sound is a recording of the goodness of God. He is intimately involved in the details of our lives. The journey is for us to enjoy the greatness of God and see Him in action. He calls us to be with Him every mile we travel.

So I am on my first day of my sabbatical. What is that? Well, church organizations give their ministers an extended opportunity for rest, renewal, and retooling. It is a journey both into the soul and the body.

The Spiritual Journey
After 20 years of youth ministry, I will be getting my first sabbatical and will use it to prepare for the next 20 years. I want to deepen my roots with my relationship with God. To align my commitments, deepen my character, develop my competencies and strengthen my connections is what I desire.

The Physical Journey
So I will be blogging on my journeys of transformation in this four week period.  Also,  I will be taking physical journeys across the southwest to experience holistically how God is working in my soul.  The Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Lake Powell, the Kaibab Plateau, and Duck Creek are just some of the destination points along the way. I will talk about how the physical journey interacts with my spiritual trek.

Join me on the Journey
So I invite you on the journey.  May my story inspire your story. And may it guide you into taking journeys with God to destinations He has awaiting you.