I Can Ride In On My Own Abilities - Can't I?

This story is absolutely true…  My father’s older brother – my uncle – wanted to be a great architect and, although he was from a small town in South Dakota, he left home to study at a fancy school “out East.”

Discovering that most of his fellow students were from the upper-classes, he quickly began to feel very much on the outs as the country bumpkin.  He couldn’t play tennis; he didn’t know how to golf or play bridge, so when it came to the finer social activities, he was left out.

He desperately wanted to “belong” so one day, at a fancy country club, he knew he had his big opportunity.  As my uncle was following a group of his school mates, a screaming young girl on a runaway horse rushed away from the stables.  He thought, “Finally, something I know how to do… I’ve been riding since I was a kid.  I’ll show these snobs what riding is all about and save the girl to boot.” 

 

Looking around, he saw a horse grazing quietly next to the riding club and took off at a dead run yelling, “I’ll save you.”  He confidently sprinted up to the horse, placed both his hands on its rump and vaulted up onto the horse’s back grabbing its mane in a single movement.  Thinking this looked like it was right out of a movie scene, my uncle was confident he’d be seen as a real hero by his classmates and finally be accepted into their social circle.

It turns out that the horse was a very old, very gentle child’s riding horse that had been put out to pasture a long time back and as this big man ran up, slapped its rump, landed full on its back, and screamed “HEYAH!” it was too much.  In shock, the old horse passed gas and died where it stood – leaving my uncle sitting on a stinking, dead horse with its mane still clutched in his hand.  So much for playing the hero! 

I’ve been thinking that every time I perceive a circumstance that I believe I can handle in my own strength and with my own abilities, I end up sitting on a stinkin’, dead horse.  

This happened to Israel.  God had been showing them His wonderous power by defeating the enemies of His people… against huge odds God had provided victory over Jericho.  Obviously it was totally God – but Israel got cocky.  One day Joshua sends some spies to look at a little town called Ai.  The story is recorded in Joshua 7:2,3.     

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 

In other words, the spies said, “Ai is just a little town.  We can handle this battle.  Let’s just send a few guys up there and we’ll defeat ‘em.”  So, trusting in their own military ability they attack and end up sitting on a dead, stinkin’ horse of defeat. 

Look at Joshua 7:4,5.  So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.  

When it comes to being used of God for anything, even the smallest service or ministry, I must always remember NOT to rely on my own talents and abilities, because without Christ I’m nothing and able to accomplish nothing.   

Jeremiah 9:23 sums it up for me,  Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches…

It’s not what I know (wisdom) – it’s not what I can do in my strength (might) – it’s not what I have (riches).   

They only thing you and I have for successfully living the Christian life is summed up in the next verse Jeremiah 9:24… but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.  

Do you notice who does the “exercising” in that verse?  That’s right – God does it all.  I can only rejoice and glory that I know God personally through His son, Jesus. 

If you ask me how I’m going to accomplish something in my life, my answer will be Philippians 4:13 and ONLY Philippians 4:13… 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  

NO DEAD STINKIN’ HORSES FOR ME!  How about you?

 

Think about it….

Why Does God Allow Flat Tires?

We’ve all been there.  The scenario is familiar.  We’ve got an incredibly busy day planned.  It’s a brutal schedule but if everything goes just right, it will be a real day of accomplishment.  You’re looking forward to that great feeling of satisfaction at getting so much done – and then – a flat tire!  Oh man! You look at that thing and feel like it looks… deflated. 

You pray, perhaps with a little exasperation, God! Didn’t you know that this was going to be a really productive day?  Didn’t you want me to be successful?  Are you really going to be that mean – to let this stupid flat interrupt my entire plan? 

In reality the disruption may not be a flat.  It could be bad weather, traffic jams, illness, mechanical failures, family emergencies, or a thousand other things that keep us from functioning through the appointments and chores of the day.  Also in reality, we too often get very angry at the Lord for these kinds of interruptions.  Many of us can “lose our religion” in the middle of traffic, or having a long wait in a doctor’s office. 

But the next time something like this happens to you – AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN – stop and think about God’s love and His plan for your life.  It might even be a good time to pray and thank the Lord for being in control of the circumstances that seem to move our lives in unseen ways along unseen paths. 

We shouldn’t allow our plans to interfere with God’s direction for our lives.  He knows what He’s doing.  Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”  So, when our precious plans are interrupted, we can stop and thank God for the three gracious words in the middle of this verse, “But the Lord.”  At that moment in time, God has a better idea of what you should be doing.  And, after all, He is God. 

Today is September 11^th – you may have read of the scores of examples where God interfered with people’s plans and ultimately saved their lives.  The woman who forgot her lunch and went back for it, the man who stopped at a drug store because his new shoes gave him a blister, the flat tire, the broken down car – all were late to work and missed the tragedy.  There’s a great chance that many of these folks were upset that their plans were messed up by seemingly trivial events.  “But the Lord” had other plans for them.   

These miracles of interruption in no way diminish the pain of the families and friends of those who did not survive the terror of that day.  If anything they drive home the need for each of us to be ready to submit to God’s direction – no matter where it takes us.  We know of some believers in Christ who had divine appointments in the stairwells and offices… appointments which God had scheduled to over-ride whatever plans they might have made for that day.

 

When I was new in my faith in Jesus, I was riding to a ministry appointment with a pastor friend and we had to pull off the road because of a flat tire.  I clearly remember starting to get upset that we were going to be late.  But, I observed that my friend was calm, cool, and relaxed as he started to cheerfully change that tire.  I asked him why he wasn’t mad about the delay.  His answer set my mind on a completely new train of thought.  He said, “God is in control of my life and, as far as I know, by delaying us here with this tire He has saved our lives by keeping us from some terrible accident that could have happened up ahead.”  Then my friend quoted a verse I’ve since memorized and often consider when “irritating stuff” happens to my plans… And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28  

From that day on – even on September 11^th, I realize that my job is to love God, study His purposes in my life, and listen for His call.  His job is to cause everything to work together for good.  

So the next time you’re interrupted in your plan for the day, don’t get angry and sit fuming at the circumstance.  Think of God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s grace.  Rejoice that He’s in control, knows what He’s doing, and works everything out for good.   

Obviously on this day of remembrance, not everything that happens is good.  Families can have sad, sad circumstances of loss and pain – in and of itself not good.  But from the sorrow lives are focused, changed, and in some cases enhanced with purpose – all of which can work out for the ultimate good.  And can, in the hearts of Christians, give glory to a loving, merciful, sovereign, and mighty God. 

“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”                       Job 42:2  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.                                2 Corinthians 1:3–5  

Think about it….

 

 

Sometimes A Whisper Is Enough

The Whisper 

Once upon a time there was a young Indian boy who dreamed, as most boys do, of being a man. When he became a man of the tribe he knew he would have respect and honor and be offered opportunities to do great feats for the benefit of his tribe.  

The only thing standing in his way of becoming a man was the “test of manhood.”  During this much-anticipated and feared test the young boy would be blindfolded, have his hands bound and then be taken into the deep forest. There the youngster would be left sitting on a stump with his eyes still covered and hands still tied. To pass the test, he must sit through the night braving the unknown, the unseen and perhaps dangerous beasts of the forest. If he survived the night he could return to the tribal elders; they would then declare him a true man and true brave.  

Well, the time came for the young boy to be tested. His father bound his eyes and hands and took him to his destiny. They went around and around, through bushes, around trees, across streams. The boy didn’t know where he was or even how far they’d come. Just before the father left him he leaned over and whispered into the boy’s ear, “Son, be strong, be brave, and don’t give in to your fear.”  Then, he was alone. The night sounds were terrifying. All night his imagination ran wild. What terrible thing was creeping upon him?  How could he survive the worst?  Yet he sat in his fear like a stone. He had never felt so alone, so abandoned. He heard the panther and bear nearby. He could feel the eyes of the hungry wolves surrounding him. A number of times he thought he must cry out. Becoming a man wasn’t that important!  He could go back to being a boy. All he had to do was tear the blindfold from his eyes and wiggle loose from his bindings. He could do it. Then he’d be safe from all the surrounding dangers. But, he thought of his family and their shame if he showed his cowardice. So, he stayed all the way through the night.  

When he felt the sun on his face in the morning he knew, although he had been left and could have been so easily killed by all the animals of the night, he’d made it. He had passed the test. He felt lucky, fortunate to have survived, and a little proud of his own courage. It was time. He took his blindfold off and looked around. There, just a few feet away, was his father standing with bow ready and arrows at hand. His father looked at him and said, “I’m proud of you son, you are a brave man.”  The boy became angry and cried out, “Didn’t you think I could make it on my own?  Didn’t you believe in me?”  The father smiled and exclaimed, “You I trusted, but I love you and I was not going to leave you defenseless before all these dangers. You were brave. But I was here all night keeping guard.” 

This story illustrates that even when it seems we’ve been left all alone out in the darkness of the trials of life, our loving Father is standing nearby on guard for our safety. Even though He loves us, He wants us to go through the dark experience of seemingly being all alone and seemingly being unable to move. He allows our imaginations to run into paralyzing, disheartening fear. Sometimes the encouraging word He gives us is only at the beginning of our trial. He whispers in our ears, “Be strong, be courageous, and do not despair!”    [“The Whisper” is taken as an excerpt from the book, Unemployed: Life in the Wilderness by Len M. Allen]

1 Chronicles 28:20   

Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.   

Joshua 1:7

“Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.”  

Philippians 4:11–13

… I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

 

Think about it….