April 8, 2023

Holy Week Israel Reflections: Four Silent Saturday Lessons in Waiting Well as Leaders

The Silent Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday seems to be skipped over. We want to skip over the agony and pain of Friday to quicken the miracle and joy of Jesus’ Resurrection, the event that defines us as Christians.

Now is the time to talk about it, talk about how to wait well in the silence.  Each of us is waiting on something or someone. 

Jesus was still and silent, after His agonizing crucifixion the afternoon before, with

Darkness falling over the whole earth;

the curtain of the temple tearing in half from top to bottom;

the earth shaking;

rocks splitting;

tombs opening;

dead bodies of the saints waking up and coming out of their tombs. (Matthew 27: 51-53)

The whole world was shaken. Sound familiar?

Jesus’ bloody body had been taken off the cross, wrapped in a clean linen shroud and embalmed with spices, “as is the burial custom of the Jews.” (John 19:40) Jesus’ body was laid in the new tomb of the rich man Joseph of Arimathea, which was positioned in a garden. (John 19: 40-42)

Even the minor detail of Jesus being laid in a rich man’s tomb in a garden fulfilled a 700-year-old+ prophecy:

“And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” –Isaiah 53:9

Matthew is the only Gospel to mention much activity on the day after crucifixion.

“The next day, that is after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that imposter said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise. Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead, and the last fraud will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” –Matthew 28:62-66 ESV

What lessons can we learn from Jesus and the activities around His silence on Holy, Silent Saturday?

  1. When you are in God’s Will, there will always be nay-sayers. It’s not surprising that the chief Priests and Pharisees weren’t silent and continued to bash Jesus, even calling Him an “imposter.” I love that Pilate said make it as secure “as you can.” Deep down he knew no big stone or guard of soldiers could keep Jesus from rising on the third day.
  2. When Jesus seems silent and we wait, Jesus is still at work. Waiting is hard. Jesus is working as we wait. Keep persevering. “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14 ESV.
  3. Experience peace and rest after the agony and before the miracle. I heard once the night is darkest right before the sunrise. Darkness and stillness precedes the miracle. The Gospel of Luke mentions rest after the crucifixion and right before the Resurrection passage that “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandments.” –Luke 23:56
  4. Prevent analysis paralysis. In the silence we can be tempted to question and doubt God and ourselves. Is God mad at me? What did I do wrong? Why doesn’t God do something about this? In the silence and waiting is where trust in God is strengthened. Faith is stretched. Miracles are coming. Wait well, friend.

I’m thankful God saw fit to insert a Saturday between our Easter Fridays and Sundays. May we enjoy the silence. The miracle of Resurrection is upon us.

 

Reflection:

–How do we respond to the waiting in our lives?

–Are we waiting well?

Renew:

–“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” –Isaiah 40:31

June 14, 2022

Keeping the Passion Burning in Our Hearts

I’ve been going through some tough extended family issues right now. It’s been a struggle for me to stay focused. This message I wrote and delivered in 2018. May it encourage you as I needed to hear it again and be encouraged.

 

Mary Lou Retton, the 1984 Olympic Gold medalist and Christian, said “Each of us has a fire in our heart for something. It should be our goal in life to find it and hold on to it.”

What is your passion?

Webster’s Dictionary describes “passion” as:

  1. a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept;
  2. the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death.

Harriet Tubman, the courageous abolitionist, said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

Any good leader has passion and fire in his/her belly for a cause. Nehemiah in the Old Testament is a leader who definitely had passion. I love learning from him. His name means “The Lord comforts.”

I normally am a pretty passionate person. It is an honor and joy to serve our ministry clients through Blessings Brokers Christian Donor Consulting Firm. When opposition and obstacles get in the way, how can we keep the passion burning in our hearts and minds?

Four Leadership Lessons of Nehemiah we can draw from on how he kept his passion are:

  1. Prayer, fasting, mourning
  2. Participation from others
  3. Protection from opposition—half to watch, half to work
  4. Prompting of revival

Nehemiah was the cupbearer in King Artaxerxes’ court. His position was one of high honor. Even with his title, he remained humble.

While Nehemiah was on duty, brother Hanani and several men came from Judah, and Nehemiah asked him some questions. I love that Nehemiah was so inquisitive. He was compassionate about his roots.

The Jews had not been back home to Jerusalem in close to 100 years. Their enemies made it virtually impossible to build Jerusalem back after King Nebuchadnezzer had broken the walls down in 586 BC.

The report Nehemiah received was that the survivors were in trouble.

“The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and it gates have been burned with fire.” –Nehemiah 1: 3b.

Nehemiah sat down and wept when he heard this news. Then he prayed fervently.

Nehemiah was humble. He mourned and fasted for days, then prayed fervently before the Lord. His prayer is one of the most humble, sincere prayers in the Old Testament.

Prayer is the first leadership lesson we learn from Nehemiah to maintain passion. Prayer is the cornerstone of passion and leadership. It’s truly the cornerstone for everything .

President Abraham Lincoln said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.”

Nehemiah heard a vision from God. Nehemiah cast the vision to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and created passion among the Jewish people.

In Chapter 2 Nehemiah not only casts the vision to rebuild the wall, he humbly enlists participation from others.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding. So they began this good work.” –Nehemiah 2: 18b.

I love how Chapter 3 of Nehemiah describes all the builders of the walls, including those who didn’t work hard, like in verse 5. One guy named Shallum in verse 12 is mentioned because he used the help of his daughters. Another guy Baruch is mentioned in verse 20 because he zealously repaired his section. He was passionate.

In Chapter 4 we see opposition and Nehemiah’s protection from that opposition. Nehemiah kept praying, stayed humble. “So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half of its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” 4:6.

Protection is the 3rd Leadership Lesson we learn from Nehemiah. “Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other.” Nehemiah 4: 17.

When we are in the middle of God’s will, we will experience opposition and spiritual warfare. The Lord protects us with wisdom and the Ephesians 6 armor of God. Helmet of Salvation. Breastplate of righteousness—integrity. Belt of Truth. Absolute Truth. Shoes of peace. Shield of faith. Sword of the Spirit. It all faces the front as we face our opposition.

Some of those opposing the rebuilding of the wall began wanting to meet with Nehemiah.

I LOVE how Nehemiah responded. It’s one of my favorite passages.

Nehemiah responded by saying, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?’ Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.’” –Nehemiah 6:3-4

That is like us as leaders. No matter what the enemy throws at us, will not waiver from His Vision. Don’t let the enemy squelch our passion.

As God guides us and progress is made, the Holy Spirit will Prompt revival, as it did with Nehemiah. Prompting of Revival is the fourth leadership lesson we learn from Nehemiah to keep the passion fueled.

In Chapter 8, the book of Law is read from dawn till noon.

”…and all the people lifted their hands and responded, ‘Amen! Amen! Then they bowed down and worshiped.”—Nehemiah 8:6

One of my life verses comes next. A few verses later in Nehemiah 8:10 they are repenting so much, Nehemiah says, “This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The day in Nehemiah was sacred to the Lord because His people repented from sin and turn back to Him. Today is also sacred to the Lord.

Is there anything we need to repent from? Let’s examine our hearts and make any necessary changes in us as He prepares us for our sacred day. The Holy Spirit will change our hearts, refueling our passion even more and prompting revival in countless hearts.

Let’s keep the fuels of passion burning in our hearts for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

The good news is that that Jesus Christ is our ultimate Repairer of Broken Walls and Restorer.

“Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls; Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” –Isaiah 58:12

The same God for Nehemiah as the Repairer of Broken Walls is the same God who will continue to lead us passionately in our God-sized visions.

Reflection:

  1. What is your passion?
  2. What obstacles are you facing that are tempting you from coming down off the wall?
  3. Who is participating with you to accomplish the vision?

Be encouraged friend. God is doing a great work through you. Keep standing on the wall as you and others build.

March 9, 2022

Struggling with Being Whole-Hearted or Hole-Hearted

It has happened to me and I am guessing you have or you are experiencing it. I had said yes and over-committed myself with too many activities, too many volunteer opportunities—Boards, church groups, community committees, etc.  They all seem worthwhile. None of them were bad. Isn’t it my best yes, though, to have more margin in my life?

Why do we do it? Why do we say yes with our heart and mouth when our mind is trying to clearly say no?

It seems like everywhere I turn in the Bible I find more and more verses on being wholehearted versus half-hearted. Ouch.

Do we fulfill some kind of hole in our heart with these activities? Are we hole-hearted?

Here are only a few:

  • “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.” –Deuteronomy 30:6
  • “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”—1 Chronicles 28:9
  • “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deed.” –Psalm 9:1
  • “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.” –Psalm 119:2
  • “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” –Jeremiah 29:13
  • “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” –Mark 12:30

So how do we know when we are not giving it our all, when we are half-hearted or hole-hearted?

Here are signs that you might be half-hearted or hole-hearted::

  1. Dreading the next meeting with a particular group.
  2. Being snippy or kurt with your loved ones.
  3. Neglecting quiet time and prayer because you’re too busy
  4. Neglecting to eat properly and exercise—taking care of mind, body, soul, spirit well—because you’re “too busy”
  5. Preparing for the activity/meeting at the last minute and/or minimally
  6. Working solely out of our flesh and not feeling the need to rely on God
  7. Taking credit for all the success and blaming others for any losses or setbacks

Now ask yourself these questions:

  • Why do I participate if I am responding in these ways?
  • Is it value, acceptance, need for belonging I am seeking?
  • What are my pure motives for saying yes?

Spend some quiet time to reflect on your “why.” As we evaluate how we spend our 168 hours in a week, may we be careful not to let our feelings guide our faith. Some days are not stellar, which is no reason to quit or give up.

“Do the things that interest you and do them all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying attention to you.” –Eleanor Roosevelt

So how we are all in with our whole heart?

  1. It makes our eyes sparkle
  2. We get nervous because we know some of it is outside our comfort zone, our gifts and talents
  3. We are relying on God’s help.
  4. We can’t wait to tell our family and others about the people we are experiencing and what we are learning.
  5. We are learning healthy life lessons
  6. We are empowering others to continue the legacy
  7. We are resting well and taking care of our mind, body, soul and spirit with healthy margin.

“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.” –Francis of Assisi

One of my favorite life passages is this:

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

In the last few years I have been circling the word “ALL” anytime I see it in my Bible. In every translation “All” means “All.” This is one of those life verses. Trust with ALL your heart…in ALL your ways acknowledge Him…

May we be authentic as we seek to live life with ALL our heart, our whole heart.

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