Do you realize how much God loves you? I need to know quite often. When I disappoint Him, I need to know. When I feel down, I need to know. When I feel good, I need to know. Pretty much all the time, I need to know.

I am reminded that in the movie “Hook”, Peter Pan had grown up, became old and overweight, and looked nothing like the Peter the lost boys knew. In the midst of the boys shouting that this was not Peter, one of the smallest boys took him by the hand and pulled him down to his level. He then place his hands on Peter’s face and proceeded to move the skin around, reshaping his face. The boy looked into Peter’s eyes and said, “There you are Peter”.

We bring a lot of stuff to the table, and at times, God puts His hands on our face, pushing away all of the stuff we bring to Him. Then He says, “There you are”.

Why does God love us so much? The same reason the artist loves his paintings or the boat builder loves his vessels. We are God’s masterpiece. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Ps.139:14)

I am fired up and excited about Jesus Christ. If you are like me, you have more on your plate than you can accomplish. Maybe we aren’t supposed to accomplish it all. Maybe we are to trust God for all of it. Sounds like a peaceful place to be in our spiritual life. I hope this day finds you trusting in the peace and joy of Jesus.

Today I choose to become better, not bitter. Today I choose to let go and let God. Today I choose to rest in His arms. Why? Because He is able to do above that which is expected or above that which I can comprehend. “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Hope you do also”.

C.S. Lewis said that “joy is the serious business of heaven. I like that.

I have 11 grandchildren, and each one of them is special. When I am around them, it makes me feel and act younger. They make me feel good. They know how to practice celebration. They may start singing or dancing at any given moment. At times, when the weight of the world is on my shoulders they usually do something that causes me to lighten up. They are just expressing the joy in their heart.

As I reflect on these priceless occasions, I realize that we tend to divide our minutes into two categories: living, and waiting to live. Most of our life is spent in transit: trying to get somewhere, waiting to begin, driving someplace, standing in line, waiting for a meeting to end, trying to get a task completed, worrying, or being angry about something that didn’t happen.

These things, often keep us from experiencing joy. They are driven in our preoccupation of self. The very selfishness that keeps us from pouring ourselves out for the joy of others, keeps us from noticing and delighting in the many small gifts God offers each day. Walker Percy describes boredom as “the self stuffed with the self”.

I realize that every moment of life is not happy. There are times that call for tears. But each moment is pregnant with possibility.

Joy is at the heart of God’s plan for human beings. The reason for this is worth thinking about. We will never understand the significance of joy in human life until we understand its importance to God. I believe that most of us seriously underestimate God’s capacity for joy.

Isn’t it interesting that whenever a person on television talks about the christian faith, it makes some people mad? It is just another reminder that Christianity is not welcome by many in our country.

American Idol has come under fire since its beginning. In 2005 Mandisa Hundley sang the song “Shackles”. This was the shows first gospel song. Her statement that “God is bigger than lifestyle” prompted a gay boycott. In 2007 contestants sang “Shout to the Lord”, dropping “Jesus” for “Shepherd”. After complaints, a second airing restored the original lyric. Again, in 2005, Carrie Underwood’s Grammy winning “Jesus Take the Wheel” became one of the best selling post Idol singles.

Millions of people watch Idol every week. What an awesome spot to declare Jesus to our country. Six of the eight top contestants have ties to Christian music. Four lead worship at their churches, including season winner last year, Kris Allen, and Bo Bice the former Hope Cumberland Presbyterian worship leader who came in second to Carrie Underwood.

I am thankful for music artists that take a stand in our culture today. Joanne Brokaw, who blogs on American Idol for Beliefnet’s gospel Soundcheck states, “There was a time when a worship leader performing on a show like American Idol would have caused Christians to question his faith. But with the culture of celebrity becoming more common in the Christian community, the idea of a Christian making it big in the mainstream isn’t so distasteful anymore. Ya think?

I am reminded of what Proverbs 22:28 says. It says, “Do not remove an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.” I know this is written in a religious context for it comes from God’s Word, but if this country is founded on biblical principles, could it apply to some of our culture today?
I believe it does in many areas. One, reversing its own 2002 ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rule that the phrase “under God” can remain in the Pledge of Allegiance because the phrase is religious but does not represent a prayer. The court issued a similar ruling about the motto “In God We Trust” on currency, saying the use of “God” is ceremonial and patriotic, not religious. In 2002 the Court ruled that “under God” was unconstitutional. All three lawsuits were filed by Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow, who says the phrase alienates nonreligious people in U.S.
I ask you, Is this not moving ancient boundaries? Stay alert! We are seeing many of our ancient boundaries challenged and changed.

Help us if our country is not “under God”, and if we don’t “trust in Him”.

I have always been drawn to worship. I feel like  David in Psalm 122:1 when he said, I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord”. I realize that you can worship privately and publically. I am very sensitive to public worship, mainly that of the church.

I was not shocked when I read a recent remark made by Miley Cyrus in Christianity Today. She said, “My faith is very important to me. But I don’t necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday. Because now when I go to church, I feel like it’s a show”.  While I am not a Cyrusite, I think she has said something important for us to think about. While I don’t agree with her theology of not needing church, I am challenged by her statement that for her worship is like a show.

Many churches feel the need to have shows and performances in order to entice people to come. Since we live in a performance oriented society, many in the church feel like this is necessary.

Worship is not a show. It is like a play where God is the audience and we are the actors. Until we decide that God is the One who is supposed to get the attention, we will continue to give a good show. Worship is to Him and for Him.

I would rather hear someone with an average voice sing if it is done for God, than someone with a great voice sing for the applause of men. God will honor the one who sings for Him.

In Proverbs 1:8 it says, “Listen my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching”.  Notice the different words of instruction and teaching.

Webster defines instruct as to communicate knowledge. It defines teach as to show how to do something. I find it interesting that the word instruct is simply telling knowledge. Teaching involves showing.

As I think of Mother’s Day, I am reminded that fathers and mothers are wired differently. Fathers tell, mothers show. I know this is not always true, but it makes sense to me. Traditionally, mothers spend more time with their children than do the fathers. They not only tell, but also show. My point: Mothers serve a role that many times cannot be duplicated by a father. This came to light after my first wife, Lynn, died unexpectedly 7 years ago. After her death, I found it frustrating that the children were looking for things in me that Lynn had always provided. Some of these I couldn’t fulfill. Why? Because God made both for special purposes. Put together, they make a wonderful blend of what God meant for us to be as parents.

I think of the special role that my mother played in my salvation and my calling to be a minister. I think of the way that Lynn and Diane have played in their childrens lives to shape them. In all three of these cases, I saw each of them show, not just teach.

I honor all mothers this Sunday. I pray extra blessings on you and yours. For those of you that don’t have your mother alive this year, may God add to your life blessings of the past, and the hope to be reunited someday with your mother.

Mother’s Day is approaching fast. It seems the older I get, the more I reflect on my own mother and father. Both have gone to be with Christ, but I still miss them greatly.

In 1969, I played quarterback for Elon University. The starting quarterback got hurt with about four minutes left in the game. It was my first pressure situation in college football. We were trailing on the scoreboard by ten points. I went in and threw an interception and the opposing team scored another seven points. I went in a second time and the opposition intercepted it and scored another seven points. Needless to say, I was devastated. Everyone looked at me ugly after the game, and I just knew everyone was talking bad about me. People treated me as if I had contacted leprosy. Ever felt like that?

After the game and in the days that followed, I found out something about my mother.
1. It was as if she didn’t know everyone else considered me unclean.
2. She wouldn’t join in the recriminations.
3. She didn’t add to my guilt.
4. I don’t remember her even being embarrassed. (She knew most of the other parents of my team mates.)
5. She just kept encouraging me.
6. She still loved me.

Sounds like a woman who knows her Father, and who is secure in His love, and knows how to love as He does.
May all mothers be blessed this year all year-long, but especially on this special day.

What does a mind focused on hope look like? I recently read about a lady who had been diagnosed with cancer and was given three months to live. Her doctor told her to make her arrangements. She contacted her pastor and met with him to arrange her funeral service. She told him which songs that she wanted sung, what Scriptures to be read, what words to be spoken, and she wanted to be buried with her favorite Bible.
But before he left, she called out to him, “One more thing.”

“What?”

“This is important. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand. She explained, “In all my years going to church functions, whenever food was involved, my favorite part was when whoever was cleaning dishes of the main course would lean over and say, You can keep your fork.
It was my favorite part because I knew that it meant something great was coming. It wasn’t Jell-O. It was something with substance, cake or pie-biblical food.
So I just want people to see me there in my casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, What’s with the fork? Then I want you to tell them, “Something better is coming. Keep your fork.”

Lesson? Every time you sit down to a meal, take a look at the utensil on the side of your plate, and give thanks for the food, and lastly give thanks for your hope as well. Remember, something better is coming.
Jesus says that to all who labor and are heavy laden, to all who get discouraged or fall into temptation, to people like you and me who are tempted to despair or lose hope,  Don’t look down. Keep your fork.

Have you noticed that life just isn’t fair? Is it fair that a divorced mother of three preschoolers should have to work two part-time jobs and raise her children alone while her irresponsible ex-husband parties and neglects the child support? A 34 year old missionary and father of two little girls should die suddenly of a heart attack while on vacation with his family? A child has an operation on his appendix and gets AIDS through a disease-infected blood transfusion?   Most of us face unfairness on less tragic levels. Fact, life isn’t fair, but God is.

I have found three things to remember to help face situations that seem unfair:
1. Remember what you really deserve. Remember, He gives me everything that I have. Scripture reminds us that what we deserve is hell, not heaven.

2. Envy begins when we compare ourselves with others. Our eyes betray us. Can we look at what others have and be glad? Or does the green film of envy blur our vision?

3. We must ultimately trust God, who owns everything, and be convinced He knows what He is doing. He not only knows what He is doing, but He also loves us. He can be trusted.

Everything that occurs in our life will either come directly from God’s hands or be gently sifted through His fingers. Circumstances, events and problems may not always appear to be fair, but they have permission to occur from our loving Father.