When Things Get Hot

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" -1Peter 1:6-7 (NASB)

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." -1Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)

One of the most amazing creations God has ever put on this earth are the Giant Redwoods and Sequoias trees. These trees, when fully grown, can reach heights of well over 300 feet and live THOUSANDS of years! However, just like everything else on this earth- they are born tiny and must endure trials along the way. One point I noticed in the reproduction of these trees that I thought was particularly interesting was the way they react to and even DEPEND on fire to grow. The sequoias rely on fires to burn and destroy competing vegetation when they are younger to allow them more sunlight to grow; the hot air from fires opens the cones still in the trees to release seeds; and even the ashes on the ground may protect the seeds from damaging ultraviolet rays. The redwoods have both a large quantity of water stored in their tremendously thick bark and a chemical known as tannin that helps guard against fire. In fact, some redwoods have been known to survive multiple fires throughout their lifetime and still stand tall.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we can learn a lot from these examples. We must allow God to rain fire on us periodically, and even rejoice when they hit. Just like the sequoias, a fire can destroy anything that is competing with allowing the fullness of Jesus' light shine in our lives. This includes worldly temptations, trials, and even relationships that may hinder our walk. And, new life can always grow out of the ashes. I had a discussion the other day with a lady pertaining to fires in our lives, and the refining process that goes along with them. Just like the refining of gold: when heat is applied, it removes all impurities. What is left is pure, undefiled, and extremely valuable. As I described to her, "What doesn't burn, stands." In reference to the thick and fireproof bark of the redwoods, we are to put on that thick and impenetrable armor of God daily and keep ourselves filled with the living water of Christ that extinguishes those fiery darts from the enemy. When we apply these principles to our walk and hold tight to the Cross when we're in the middle of a fire, what's left will be exactly what God intended for us all along: pure, holy, and priceless!

True Relationship

" A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." -Prov 18:24 (NASB)

I just finished reading an article on Yahoo! that basically stated the more time people spend on Facebook, the less happy they are with their lives. Now, I'm sure everyone reading this blog is completely blown away and shocked by this breaking news- not! The article states, "Those who have used Facebook longer agreed more that others were happier, and agreed less that life is fair, and those spending more time on Facebook each week agreed more that others were happier and had better lives." One of the main reasons, according to the research, is due to the fact that on sites such as Facebook one can post thousands of happy and fun pictures. This may give off the impression that your life totally rocks, and may cause others to feel inadequate compared to your life. In other words, you don't have to be yourself online. In fact, you can be whoever you want to be! This is where technology can fail us, and can even be dangerous. We lose that valuable human intuition that we were created with through avenues like social networking sites, texting, and so on. It's not personal, and there definitely is no transparency.

I once worked with a man who was a former mason. He would tell me stories of how they would build these huge, towering brick chimneys for condos and homes. If the boss didn't like the work, or if the chimney was tilting- they would tie a chain around the base and rip the whole thing down to the foundation! Then they would start over. When we come to the Cross, God does the same with us. Obviously we can't hide anything from Him, but He wants us to expose ourselves to Him completely as well. God desires that true one on one intamacy with us through Jesus. Unless we are willing to finally surrender and let Him take the reigns, He can only do minimal work with our lives. WE must be ready and willing to allow Him to do so. So, forget about how many "friends" you have on Facebook and don't worry about what everyone else seems to be doing with their lives. Rather, spend more personal time with God and with other believers! We were created for worship, but God also gave us the need for other human relationships. According to Webster's dictionary, the word "virtual" means "being such in essence or effect though not formally recognized or admitted." It's not real. I believe that is one reason so many people are scared to become a Christian, they know there will be a refining process and require vulnerability. We need to encourage them that God will walk with each one of us through these times, and let them know just how truly amazing this walk can be once we give our Lord the control. Listen to the apostle Peter's words in his first epistle: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen." -1Peter 5:6-11 (NASB)

So keep those relationships open. If you aren't already, get involved in a small group. Find an accountability partner and/or mentor; go have a cup of coffee with someone you haven't connected with lately and find out what's going on in their life. Sit down with your kids and hang out with them for a while! Play games, talk, or go to a movie with them. Most importantly, connect with God in one form or another today, and be sure to make that a daily priority. Once you've established that perfect and eternal relationship with our Father, other relationships and friendships will grow and flourish as well. Be blessed.

Stay on Guard

" It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
-C.S. Lewis "The Screwtape Letters"

A coworker of mine was telling me the other day about a movie he recently saw. It is entitled "Devil". Now, I've seen the movie in the video store, but obviously never rented it. He went on to tell me about the movie: basically seven people trapped in an elevator, one of whom which is Satan himself. Throughout the movie, random things happen, lights go off, people die, etc... The movie seems to portray Satan as this gruesome, violent, and murderous monster. No one knows who's doing the killing in the movie, and I guess it has a twist at the end. My coworker explained to me that movies like this really get him thinking, that maybe Satan really IS for real. Well, he's half right: Satan definitely is for real, but hardly ever does he show up like that. Rather, he often will show up in ways that we never even know we are being deceived. For example, our enemy can use something such as a relationship, our jobs, even our kids to knock us-and keep us-off track. Basically, whatever keeps our eyes off of the Cross is to his advantage.

Peter tells us to "be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1Pet 5:8 NIV) He's looking for chinks in our armor, for vulnerability and weaknesses, such as a lion looks for his prey. However, sometimes it's even more difficult to discern than that. As C.S. Lewis stated in the quote above, sin can be extremely gradual and with nothing flashy. Thus, the whole "angel of light" disguise. Even the strongest of Christians and believers can be fooled from time to time, but it becomes more difficult for the enemy as we grow in our walk with Christ. If you have not read The Screwtape Letters, it is basically about a veteran demon training his nephew in the damnation of a human. Lewis uses the analogy of believers who are completely walking in the Spirit being immune to demonic attack in the following conversation between the demons: "As you ought to have known, the asphyxiating cloud which prevented your attacking the patient on his walk back from the old mill, is a well-known phenomenon. It is the Enemy's most barbarous weapon, and generally appears when He is directly present to the patient under certain modes not yet fully classified. Some humans are permanently surrounded by it and therefore inaccessible to us."

I often write or discuss about the importance of staying committed to our personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, and quiet time. Whether you choose to use the metaphor of the two foundations, the armor of God, or anything else, the fact of the matter is that anyone who is walking solid and in complete obedience with our Lord really has nothing to fear from Satan. Yes, he will attack us. Yes, bad things may happen and we will go through all sorts of seasons in life. However, when we stay strong in the Spirit, "test all things" (1Thess 5:21-22), and remain sold out to the Lordship of Christ, we've already won the battle in a war that was won 2000 years ago. And, if you are young in your walk with Jesus or not a believer, I would encourage you to seek answers through God's Word. There is a very real battle for our souls, with either eternal rewards or eternal consequences. Be encouraged though. Salvation is for everyone. Instead, rejoice that you have a Savior who died, rose from the grave, and has reserved a seat- just for you in His Kingdom!

Announcements

Hey everyone,

I just want to fill you in on a couple really cool things God is doing through A Father's Walk. First of all...my book got sent into editing today! If you didn't know I was writing a book, it's a Christian based resource for single fathers. The book is compiled on my experiences as a single dad, the ministry, and national statistics. Of course, it is strongly based on Scripture, as I included over a hundred different Bible verses in it. With God's help, it should be ready to go and able for sales by mid-March!

Second, myself and a friend of mine are putting together a single parenting expo here in GR on March 17th, 2012. This is a first-time event for us regarding something of this nature, so keep us prayed up please! You can find more information about the expo under our new section entitled "events" on the AFW website.

I pray you all have an amazing start to your new year, and keep your eyes on Jesus for guidance throughout! Have a blessed week.

Matt