I recently met a young man who introduced himself with the pronouns they/them. It challenged everything I may have learned in English class, so I apologize for modifying his (their) pronouns for the sake of literary clarity. It was difficult referring to him as “they”, but we are called to love and respect others; not to judge less we be judged. And no one wants that.

Perhaps he (they) found some identity in his (their) choice of pronouns; a part of who he is (they are?). This is not going to be easy.

Consider names rooted in tradition as in Arthur Pennington the Third, an “Arthur” in a long line of “Arthurs,” or Mr. O’Reilly meaning Son of Reilly. Titles, too, like General or Sergeant, are certainly earned.

My high school basketball coach had become a professor at my daughter’s university, and we met again at her orientation. He said I hadn’t changed, but there’s no doubt his vision had. I had a problem, though. My father, a PhD, taught us that if someone puts in the effort to achieve such a degree, we should address them as Doctor, so I didn’t know how to address him. He said, “Just call me Tom” … that I could not do. Doctor, professor, or coach was what he did, not who he was. It only became part of his identity out of my respect for him, or for how many times he yelled, “Get to the line!” (If you know, you know).

My name has no fancy prefix or suffix. I do share it with the second and sixth President, and my middle name is my grandmother’s maiden name so there is history. But do an internet search and hundreds of others will appear well before mine. Names, titles, and achievements may contribute to how others perceive us, but they do not define the core of who we are.

The Bible offers a powerful perspective on identity.
… God testified concerning him, “I have found David son of Jessie, a man after My own heart … Acts 13:22
Oh, to have such a heart that God Himself would consider me that way.

John the Baptist was a voice calling in the wilderness, “prepare the way for the Lord.” Isaiah 40:3

In John’s Gospel writings, John referred to himself as “the disciple Jesus loves.” Not apostle, nor Saint, nor me, myself or I, just the one Jesus loves. What greater identity could we claim than being known and loved by God?

Whatever we call ourselves may serve a purpose, but it is only temporary. What truly matters is who we really are … and Whose we are.

I pray I may reflect a man after God’s own heart, a voice crying in the desert to prepare the way, or simply one who Jesus loves, because I am. You are too.

 

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Jesus had healed many and the crowds continued to gather, so He said, “Let’s go across the lake.” On their way, a violent storm blew in, splashing and almost swamping the boat. Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat on a cushion.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Matthew 8:25

… “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Mark 4:38

I suspect it was either Matthew or Luke who posed the second question as they conveniently excluded it from their version of the story.

Jesus got up and said, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was calm. He may have also been talking to the disciples.

The men were amazed and asked “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him.” Matthew 8:27

If the boat was rocking and waves were splashing, how did Jesus remain asleep? Perhaps the Father provided a quiet, dry refuge for His Son’s well needed rest.

If Jesus had not been awakened and did not command the storm to be silent, would the boat have capsized, drowning all aboard? I doubt it. They all still had much more work to do, and it wasn’t their time.

How often did Jesus face a threat before His time and was delivered by the Father? When He began to reveal Who He really was, they tried to seize Him, stone Him, or throw Him off a cliff,

But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way. Like 4:30

Quite the feat with every eye on Him. It had to be the Father’s Hand. Jesus did not fear the storm or the crowd, for He was attuned to the Father’s will. The Lord protected Jesus and His followers even in distress.

Does that mean we should row foolishly into the path of the storm expecting the Lord to rescue us? Certainly not.

Jesus answered, It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Luke 4:12

Besides, the Lord may decide to let you suffer the consequences of your own stupidity.

When angry winds blow and mighty waves threaten to drag us into the depths, we can cry out to the Lord:

“Master, the storm is raging around me, and I am afraid. I could use some help; a miracle would be nice about now.”

Be assured: Jesus is always by your side. It is then He rises and calms the storm, or takes you by the hand, carrying you to the water’s edge, placing your feet back on solid ground, the sun warming your face.

The Lord Almighty is in control.

 

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And let me know what your think, in what way a story touched your heart. I value your thoughts.

There is a moment when the world stands still and mercies are made new, whether sleep was pleasant or troublesome, whether worries left sweat on the pillow or the Lord graciously lifted them from my shoulders. Placing warm feet on a cold floor, I offered praise to the Lord with my first cognitive thought. I inhaled a moment of peace for the world had not found me.

Mounting my chariot, I searched the radio for news of much needed rain, or a glimpse of the traffic in my path, yet I was greeted with the ugliness that existed just outside my windows. The world was lurking in the darkness, waiting for me to step into the ring once more. Turning down the noise, I regained a sense of calm, and prayed peace would extend beyond the confines of a warm truck cab, and well beyond my vision.

Finding a table where the food was warm, and the tea was sweet, as were the smiles of who prepared it, I pulled out a chair for the Lord to join me. We spoke of the battles of the days previous and how He carried me through each and every one. Thank You, Jesus. We glanced through the open door at the day ahead, binding my sword and shield, mending my sails, and reinforcing the hull for the storm that undoubtedly awaited. As my timepiece signaled the games beginning, we climbed into the vessel, my hands at the ready, Jesus firmly grasping the steering oar.

The seas were calm, allowing time to talk about everything and nothing until the waters began to churn beneath me. Holding firm, we cut through the maelstrom, but as I lost sight of my Captain, and a great wave slammed me overboard. I struggled to the surface with barely the strength to stay afloat. The Lord was still at the helm, but it seemed beyond my reach. Fighting the current, I reached the boat rail, the Lord helping me aboard. As I rested for just a moment, He took full control.

But the sea was angry and not satisfied. Regaining my sea legs, I shouted defiantly at the wind, and it answered by dragging me back to the depths. Fighting for breath, I took hold of a lifeline tethered to the ship. The Lord took my hand and saved me. Wiping the salt water from my eyes, He said,

It is best if we face the storm together.

And suddenly, the seas were calm.

Pulling into safe harbor, He carried my weary body to a quiet place. He laid me softly on a pillow, tucked in the covers, and brushed the hair from my face, gently whispering, “Love you. Sweet dreams.”

Drifting off to sleep, He held my heart until mercies were made new once more.

 

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Is uncertainty a product of confusion or does confusion stem from uncertainty? Is being unsure an excuse to cower – or, worse yet, to forge ahead blindly?

You are not a God of confusion, and as flawed creatures, our fear of the unknown breeds anxiety which certainly is not from You.

We lean on our own understanding though You have taught us not to. We worry though You have said it cannot add one hour to our lifespan, in fact, it probably shortens it, if not making our allotted time here more difficult.

You have instilled in us the capacity to consider the options, to discern right from wrong, but on our own, we remain unsure.

Can you pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. Matthew 7:16-17

A watermelon may be the proper green and have a perfect “thump”, but its true sweetness can only be known by cutting it and taking a bite. So how do we know if fruit with the right color, shape and sound is truly good, without being face deep in it?

You said not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear for You know we need these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God, with every concern, every “fruit”. For Who else can impart such wisdom but the Lord our God?

The Psalms are filled with moments when David was uncertain, overwhelmed, feeling abandoned as if his cries were going unheard. But in each case, his heart would return to the Lord.

Oh Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart? Psalm 13

Yep, I’m there.

But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because He is good to me. Psalm 13

It is okay to struggle, Jesus said we would. It is okay to cry out in anguish. God would rather hear our broken cries than nothing at all. But in all things, return to Him, trust Him, thank Him for He has delivered us from more than we may ever know, and He will continue to do so.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4

 

If these words have been a blessing, pass them along to another who needs to hear. If you would like to read more, subscribe below or email me at John@LiftedKeys.com and we can find a way.
And let me know what your think, in what way a story touched your heart. I value your thoughts.

“Empty nets lying there by the water’s edge”
For the Sake of the Call – Steven Curtis Chapman

First line, second verse. Forgotten by many, myself included. Yet in a moment of endless multitasking, the words suddenly broke into my consciousness.

Imagine those nets, what they have seen, the stories they could tell. They watched as Peter and his brother Andrew grew, casting and tending the nets, learning the craft from their father. They could feel the rawness of worn and torn hands until calluses formed into grips of leather. They could recount every tear, and how the young men labored to mend them. They knew the rhythm of being tossed into the sea, the weight of hope as they sank into deep water. Some days they returned heavy with fish, other days, empty and lifeless.

One such morning, boats stood idle as fishermen cleaned and mended their nets. A crowd had gathered to hear Jesus speak. He stepped into a boat, asking that it be put out a little from the shore so all could see.

When He finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:4-6, 10-11

Jesus took their lifelong skill of catching fish (or not catching) and transformed it into fishing for the hearts of men. Empty nets of the old ways were cast aside as He taught them new ways, new nets as it were.

We spend our lives honing our abilities, providing for our families; calloused hands pulling at what we think we control. Yet we fail to acknowledge it is the Lord Who directs fish into our nets, (or sometimes away from). And when we come up empty, we are frustrated that our efforts were in vain, our time wasted. So, we continue the task at hand, cleaning our nets and preparing for the next day.

Peter said, “Lord, because You say so, I will let down the nets.” We need to seek the Master, Lord God Almighty, and allow Him to direct us to where the water is deep, and the catch is abundant. In the time and place of His choosing, our nets, both old and new, will be filled to overflowing.

Amen…

 

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Amber rays danced through the window as I awakened from somewhat restful slumber. No pre-dawn alarm, no screaming rooster, just a moment of peace watching my better half of thirty-seven years breathe deeply of her beauty sleep.

A moment of nothing. I cannot recall the last time there was a moment such as this. Soaking in silence, even the distance sounds of various modes of transportation in their hurried paces faded into the stillness of my heart. I inhaled a calm I had forgotten existed.

Picking up My Utmost for His Highest (yes, real ink on real paper) the wisdom of Oswald Chambers poured into my morning.

The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private communion we have with Him … we have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be.   January 6 – 736R

A lesson in simplicity when the Lord is my focus.

A moment is but a moment and like that, it was gone, the earth began to spin again at its normal pace. The weight of the outside world, banished from beneath cozy covers, found its way in. My thoughts spiraled into a tailspin, yet the aroma of peace lingered softly in the air. Reaching back to that moment, I released the white knuckled grip on my worry to He who holds me in His Hands.

Even the very smallest thing that we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is completely sufficient to account for spiritual confusion, and spending all our time thinking about it will still never make it clear.  September 14.

 

As the world weighs heavily on my shoulders, relentlessly pressing on my chest, breathing deeply of the Holy Spirit restores me, rejuvenates me, reminding me that such peace still exists.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

 

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I awoke with a dark cloud over my head like a Saturday morning cartoon. It is not unusual to arise with a song in mind, but this morning it shook me. The song was Homesick by Mercy Me.

You’re in a better place I heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I’ve rejoiced for you.

It’s a funeral song. No! I won’t let the darkness overtake me. So, I faced it and sang it through,

In Christ there are no goodbyes.
In Christ there is no end
So, I’ll hold on the Jesus with all that I have
To see you again, to see you again.

 I close my eyes, and I see your face
If home’s where my heart is then I’m out of place
Lord, won’t you give me strength to make it through somehow,
I’ve never been as homesick as now.

I don’t believe in omens, but I do hear God whispers, and I am terrified that I will need the song today. I got up as soon as I could to get the day started because standing still would only add to the anxiety.

Returning from morning chores, I woke my wife with a kiss to make sure she was still breathing. A daughter too far away and a father-in-law in his 90s held my heart in their grip. I’ll be holding my breath until I hear from them.

I asked the Lord to carry this weight and hold us close no matter what the day had in store.

A sweet friend told of her sister who is fighting the battle with cancer. All we can do is pray and let God do the rest. While it is true, it did not ease my heavy heart.

Pastor Greg Laurie once said, “Because of our belief in a risen Savior, in the love of Jesus who defeated death, our future with those we’ve loved and lost is infinitely longer than our short past.” We will see them again.

In Christ we have hope if we truly believe what we say we believe. But it is little comfort for the darkness that grips me now.

Lord, hold my heart. Carry this burden. Take my fear. You are Almighty, Lord of all things. You know what stands before me today and tomorrow, and You will carry me through. My heart is heavy, but You know its weight.

 

Hold me Jesus ‘cause I’m shaking like a leaf.
You have been my King of Glory
Come and be my Prince of Peace.
                        – Rich Mullins

Amen …

Sitting in the same old spot, in the same old lot, I faced the same old day ahead. A dry summer left a layer of dust across the pavement. Inside my truck, the same old workload, the same old struggles, even the same old prayers, my heart covered in the same old dust that layered my windshield. Stepping into the morning noise, a whirlwind spun my way, swirling dust and debris as I ducked back inside.

Last night’s dreams were a replay of troubled memories, some I hadn’t visited in decades, delivered only by the Grace of God. I awoke feeling bruised from reliving the pain. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, dirt of days past clung tightly as debris of the day threatened to pull me into the maelstrom, pushing me to places I did not want to be. Closing my eyes I cried, “You are not a God of confusion, but of peace.” 1 Corinthians 14:33

I had stepped out of the boat and found myself thrashing in the waves. It was then Jesus took me by the arm.

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. Mark 4:39

Chaos succumbed to order; pieces fell into place. The tempest continued but with Jesus as my anchor, it had little effect. When the storm had done its worst and faded back into the shadows, I remained, with the Lord at my side, holding on.

Weakened by the struggle, I continued the journey, walking when I could, being carried when I could not. I have no doubt countless whirlwinds were cast aside well before they blew my way, because God is always two steps ahead, if not more, clearing my path.

His voice echoes in my heart, “Be Still.”

 

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