“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.”
~Malachi 3:16-17

This passage really jumped out to me this morning as I was digging in to find out more about this “book” that my days were written in before I was born (Ps. 139). My searching landed me here in Malachi. Malachi was not quite as touchy/feely as David… not one for poetic word pictures. Today’s nugget comes just after the passage that is very familiar to anyone who has been in church their whole life… the one about bringing the tithe into the storehouse, not robbing God and whatnot.

So it’s this context that makes this segment jump out like salsa on a white shirt. God obviously has the writer here worked up about “evildoers” and the arrogant… and “THEN, those who feared the Lord spoke with one another.”

When they did this, THE LORD PAID ATTENTION and HEARD THEM… and wrote a book of remembrance about them! The passage doesn’t even go into what they spoke to one another about! There are just two elements that seem to grab His attention: 1)They “feared” the Lord & 2)they spoke with one another.
Fearing the Lord
“Fearing” the Lord is a term that I think is greatly misunderstood by a lot of well meaning followers of Christ. If not misunderstood, just skimmed past quickly. Fear is one of those things that we stand firm against, right?! Perfect love is supposed to cast out fear… but at the same time, I’m supposed to FEAR the Lord… the essence of PERFECT LOVE?!

This is not the type of fear the Lord requires of us. Fear of the Lord is a deep sense of awe and reverence that wells up from the deep parts of your being when you think about the reality of WHO God really is… He holds the UNIVERSE in the span of His hand, He spoke the world into existence… He yelled into a tomb, and a former dead guy walked out…He has a whole world to take care of, and yet he PAYS ATTENTION TO ME?! Here, we must insert a bit of David’s fluffy words…”Such knowledge is too great for me!”

David’s response there seems to put into words what “Fearing the Lord” is all about. It’s that “awe” factor of “you’re so huge, comprehension of your true identity won’t even fit in my brain… but I’m going to try to get closer to you anyway!”
Authentic Community
The second element seems almost TOO simple to catch the Lord’s attention: they “spoke with one another”. It took me three paragraphs to try to give a feeble attempt at my understanding of the fear of the Lord… but this… “they spoke to one another”… and I’m thinking “AND????”… that’s it?!… what’d they say, so I can say something like that to get your attention?!… what did they SAY, so that I can write a book on what to say that grabs the attention of the Lord… so that I can go on a speaking tour that teaches people the words to say to grab the Lord’s attention!

AND, that is likely why He didn’t go into what they said to each other at all. What they said was irrelevant, it was that they FEARED HIM, AND SPOKE WITH ONE ANOTHER regarding the current situation. I’m sure He was concerned with what they were saying, but what I think he wants us to see as important here is that they “spoke with one another”.

Community. Accountability. Friendship. Intimacy. Kinship. Like-minded. Unguarded. These people didn’t try to excuse or avoid the correction of the Lord… they listened and came together and discussed it among themselves. They worked it out together.

To me, I think this is why he took notice of what they were saying to the point of wanting to make a permanent record of it. He’s a proud daddy watching his children acting on knowledge and wisdom they got from Him… they’re putting into action what they’ve learned by being close to Him… they are displaying a glimpse of what it means to be “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image of God.

Oh, how I love the simplicity of God’s heart for me. He simply LOVES.

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“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” ~Romans 8:26-27

It’s a very strange thing for me as I am now at the age when my friends are dealing with the type of real life challenges that are only supposed to happen to other people’s friends. I’m struck by how recently it feels like since I was invincible.

I had the opportunity while I was home a few days for Christmas to have dinner with one of my best friends from high school. While we were revisiting some of our escapades, I asked him, “Wasn’t it just yesterday that we ruled the world?!” The concept of weakness was such a foreign thought back then, you would read Romans 8:26 about the Spirit helping us and think “that’s cool.”

Fast forward… past college… past your first few decades of mission and ministry adventures… past the “paying dues” time of your career… past your early marriage before kids… to NOW.

Now I look around, and it’s not uncommon for someone close to me to be going through a fight for their lives… whether physical, spiritual, mental, marital… you name it.

It’s just not cool any more… it’s for real. Time for the gloves to come off and get serious!

But what does that look like? What can I possibly do to even stir up any faith and hope within myself, much less enough to make any impact on the reality of the person I’m praying for?!

This is when today’s passage really comes alive. The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness! Personalize that and think about it for a minute… The same Spirit that breathed the world into existence… that raised Jesus from the dead… that turned the lives around of EVERY person that came into contact with Jesus… THAT Spirit is available to ME… more than just available… He desires for me to lean into Him and allow His help!

When I can’t find the words because it’s just  too overwhelming… the Holy Spirit himself intercedes on my behalf to the Father!

I have decided to take on this phase of my life determined to take the Lord at His word. Like I said above, it’s not “cool” anymore… I am pressing into the comfort of the Spirit and finding the Faith and Hope on behalf of my friends that are in the middle of the fight. I’ve already seen miracles happen right in front of me… and I’m believing more are just around the corner!

In what areas are you needing more hope and faith? Take this passage at its face value, accept His comfort… and if you would like, share in the comments how I can pray for you.

The post Sweet Comfort appeared first on topherthoughts.

For God so loved the world that He gave his only son…

Wow! Can’t believe my last post was a month ago. Very sorry for letting the craziness of December interrupt the flow. But on this Christmas morning, as I listen to my Mom and Dad downstairs preparing for the onslaught of my brother, sisters, nieces, nephews, and even a great-nephew, I’m reminded of how incredibly blessed I am. No matter the number of gifts under the tree or the amount of money in the bank or the lack of either of these can take the place of being surrounded by the ones we love and the ones who love us.

One of the great things about Christmas is the gifts! But I don’t mean that in the same way I meant it when I was a kid… I love that Christmas can bring out the giver in even the biggest of Scrooges! I love the joy on Anamieke’s face when she opens every gift… giving to Jeanna something she loves… being generous with my parents who have always done so much over and above for me!

This year, I was introduced to a new giving platform that I’m really excited about. You will be seeing more about it on this blog in the coming new year. Something a great pastor friend always said keeps running through my mind today…“We are never more like God than when we GIVE…For God so LOVED that He GAVE!”

So, in the midst of the turkey, dressing, pies, gifts and naps, I would like to ask you to ponder what you are grateful for in your life… freedom? family? home? job? church? new car? whatever! Got a clear picture in your mind?

Now, I challenge you to consider what ministry, charity, relief organization, etc. might offer those very things to someone in the world who does not have access without someone GIVING.  If you can’t think of one, click here for some ideas.

You’re already in the giving spirit for Christmas… let’s see if we can keep it alive as we accelerate into 2013!

Merry Christmas to you! I am very grateful for every one of you who click thru and read, who share and who leave comments. If you have a cause or something you love giving to and would like to let others know about, feel free to post in the comments

The post Merry Christmas from Topher! appeared first on topherthoughts.

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY NIKOLAI!
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…”
Romans 8:14-17

Just this past week, my sister and her family celebrated my nephew’s “Gotcha Day”. There were tons of Facebook posts, pictures, and no doubt a party celebrating the day Nikolai came into our family. The first 20 months of his life, he spent in an orphanage in Siberia… no love, no touch, already fending for himself before he was two.

But, when he came into our family, all of that changed. He now had a mom and dad that loved him, sisters and brothers, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and more! No one in our family ever looked back… To see him today, you would swear he’s as much blood relative as anyone else.

He is loved… He is ours… and there’s nothing he can do to ever change that. PERIOD! We “got him!”

I have always loved the aspect of adoption Paul talks about in our passage today in Romans 8. I usually think of it in the context of being much like Nikolai was when he first arrived… the wonder of it all… the “this is too good to be true” and “when is the penny gonna drop” feelings.

However, this year, Nikolai’s “Gotcha Day” really got me thinking about our adoption as Sons & Daughters from the aspect of the Father & of Christ & the Spirit. The scripture here is meticulous to acknowledge that each member of the Trinity is fully onboard here… We’re not being brought into God’s family as a slave. “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”… “and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ”

Pause for a second to let the fullness of what this is saying sink in…

While you’re pondering that, think about these parallels in modern adoption and what God is talking about…

Adoption is very expensive…
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of paperwork, red tape, hoop jumping, and when adopting from some countries, the corruption you have to navigate in order to get to Gotcha Day. Not to mention the trips to and from ahead of time… spending weeks at a time in a strange country. I think it’s not uncommon for an adoption to cost in the neighborhood of $25K-$50K.

Christ paid the ultimate price. He gave his life in order to open the bloodline for us to be brought in. He did this before we had even set foot on the earth! “here is love: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Adoption is a risk…

There is obvious risk in the up front costs of adoption. There’s no gift receipts, exchanges, or money back guarantees. When you sign on to adopt, you are taking on the responsibility of caring and providing for a child whose history is what it is… take it or leave it. If you take it, you’re saying, I’m committed to tackling head on whatever issues, scars, behavioral challenges that stem from the time before you were grafted into our family.

Christ never reminds us of how he found us… he only ever reminds us that we are with Him! Joint heirs… not second class citizens of some kingdom… but joint heirs.

Gotcha day is worth it!
It’s hard to imagine our family without Nikolai. I have no doubt that my sister and brother in law would do it all again… even knowing the costs… because nothing compares to the joy of the love of your child.

The Bible says that for the joy that was set before him, Christ endured the cross. Even knowing how we take Him for granted at times, throw tantrums at times, or flat out reject him at times… Christ would still endure the cross to achieve Gotcha Day.

My “Gotcha Day” was on September 29, 1990. I had grown up in the church before then, and I knew enough about Him to look the part. But, it wasn’t until that night that he really could look at me and say, “Happy Gotcha Day Topher!”

What’s your Gotcha Day story?

The post Happy Gotcha Day! appeared first on topherthoughts.

“And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13

In the last post, we ended with Elijah running 40 days & nights to get into the presence of God. We pick up the story with Elijah, now taking refuge in a cave waiting for what comes next.

When the Lord comes to Elijah, he simply says “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Now, when I was in high school, I was usually pretty careful to avoid confrontation with my dad. My dad is loving, kind, selfless… and terrifying… especially to a strong willed, always right teenager like myself. However, when that confrontation did arise, it was not unusual for me to test just how many of his buttons I could push without going too far. But, there was a certain tone that signaled the exact moment I had pushed one too many… That “Son!” that made the world stand still.

So, when I see the Lord’s response to Elijah’s curt reply, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.”… I sense that same tone I used to hear in my dad’s voice.

What follows is such an amazing expression of God’s power and intensity… His dynamic being expressed just after each “BEHOLD!”

BEHOLD… the Lord passed by…BEHOLD… there came a voice to him.

Presence to tear mountains into pieces and rip the earth apart…infinite power restrained in a gentle whisper to a frightened child… restating the same question…”What are you doing here Elijah?”

I’ve heard many describe this as a tantrum that “cost Elijah his ministry”… to me, I see the gentle comfort of the Father to his scared child… Elijah’s life truly was in danger… people were actually looking for him to kill him…

I pasted only verses 11-13 in the picture caption, but to get the full context, you really want to read verses 9-14. I’m really struck by the repeating of the same words by both God and Elijah… God comes to Elijah in the cave…Elijah responds… probably heatedly, much like I did as a teenager to my own dad… God calls him to come out and stand before Him… puts on a show of MASSIVE power… as if to say, I’m bigger than all that but, then whispers the same question… implying… in light of your understanding of my power to overcome anything… “what are you doing here, Elijah?” Then, to my amazement, Elijah repeats his first answer that was probably initially laced with anger and sarcasm… though this time, I’m sure it was more thoughtful, contrite…”I get it Dad, but I’m spent. I don’t know how much more I can take and bring you glory in my actions.”

I don’t see God’s response as a rebuke… I see it as an “OK… here’s our transition plan. You can do it Elijah… Just a little bit longer.”

What a good God…awesome Abba…loving daddy.

The post Run to the Hills – Part 2 appeared first on topherthoughts.

“Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
1 Kings19:1-8

It’s so hard to remember that the biblical characters in the halls of faith were real people just like you and me. They just seem to take on these mythical superhero personae in our minds. It’s hard to imagine Elijah running for his life.

One day he calls down fire from heaven, kills all the prophets of Baal, prays for rain and sees it answered ending a drought… And now this?! Jezebel, who definitely pulled the strings in that kingdom, swears a pretty convincing oath that she is going to hunt Elijah down and kill him right away.

What a roller coaster for Elijah here. For some reason this reminds me of the commercial that asks, “wanna get away?”

Elijah is spent… he’s had enough. He literally asks God to go ahead and take his life. Have you ever felt this overwhelmed? Maybe not to the point of death … or maybe to the point of death sounding like a preferable outcome to your current situation. You’re not alone! Elijah felt the same way…heck, when my business was failing in 2010, I felt the same way.

But in my mind, now I’m hearing one of those great black tv preachers… like TD Jakes… saying “BUT GOD!”(but really enunciated… Buuuut Ghawuduh!)

Sorry, got caught up there for a minute…. Back to Elijah ….

He literally ran to the hills… and cried out to God in his desperation ENOUGH! And he laid down under a tree and fell asleep.

Lesson 1…Allow God to give you rest.

God sends an angel to make him breakfast… Elijah gets up and eats, and goes back to sleep.

Don’t rush this part! Take the necessary time to allow him go refresh you. Receive his provision and allow him to refresh your strength.

The angel wakes him up again with another hearty meal…encouraging him to eat up …he’s gonna need it for the journey.

Lesson 2. Just because you don’t feel the breakthrough yet doesn’t mean its not time to get up and start running again!

He went for 40 days and 40 nights on the nourishment of those two meals? The angel knew the trip ahead was going to be difficult… Elijah went full stop to pursue the presence of God here.

Just like you don’t want to shortchange yourself of the rejuvenating power of rest… You must not overstay your time in this rest…because productive rest will become stagnant slumber, opening the door for paralysis of self pity.

Finally, don’t stop until you reach the “mountain of God”.

Get into his presence…. fight for it! Settle in for the long haul… and wait. When you’ve entered the court of the King, rest in the presence that fills HIS atmosphere… He’ll be with you shortly.

In the next post, we’ll take a look at one of my favorite recorded God/man encounters in the Bible. Elijah and God have a little “come to Jesus” time

By the way, comments are open… I’d love to hear any thoughts you have. And, as always, if this post has connected with you, please share it.

The post Run to the Hills – Part 1 appeared first on topherthoughts.

“a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks” ~John 4:23

It seems to be a common trait among humans to have an invisible line in our psyche that draws the limit of just how far we can be pushed. I suppose that line is the thing often referred to when you hear of someone having a “short fuse”.

I like to think that my “fuse” is endless… that I exude a countenance of unabashed patience and grace for others. However, I know reality is not quite that way. Especially when I have multiple projects coming to a head at once, all demanding my devoted attention, my beautiful wife reminding me one more time to take the trash to the curb, my awesome daughter saying “Daddy, can you just not go to work today?”… and BAM… detonation!

As I’ve gotten older, I have gotten pretty good at internalizing the explosion of frustration to minimize the collateral damage. But the question that’s screaming inside is “What do you want from me?!”

It seems that becomes a common question of God as well. I go to church, I sing on the worship team, I give tithes and offerings, I go to home group, I have a quiet time, I spend time getting to know my neighbors…”WHAT ELSE DO  YOU WANT FROM ME  GOD!?!”

Inevitably, in the aftermath of the meltdown, I find myself quieted… just catching my breath. It is in these times that I finally shut up long enough to listen to see if there might be an answer coming… and there’s an answer that is so simple and obvious, but doesn’t quite compute in my task-mastering mind. “I only want your worship”

But what is worship?

Worship is the language of love for God. Worship is a love response to love received. ~Jeff Wells

True worship is doing all  that we do for the glory of God. Not adding another task or duty or responsibility…it’s approaching whatever is already on our plate with an attitude of gratitude and carrying it out with a strong intention to glorify Him. Like Brother Lawrence in Practicing the Presence of God, “he was always pleasing himself in every condition, by doing little things for the love of GOD.”

This is true Worship… doing all to the glory of God… for the love of God!

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“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ~Romans 10:8-15

The Psalms tell us, “The Lord is good to all… He has compassion on everything that he has made. As far as the east is from the west, that’s how far He has removed our sins from us!”

EVERYONE who BELIEVES (Rom 10:11) in him will not be put to shame… The Lord is not in the business of putting his creation to shame… He is kind… This reminds me of the conversation in the Chronicles of Narnia between Mr. Beaver and Lucy:

Lucy: “Is he safe?”…
Mr Beaver: “Safe?! NO!… But He is KIND.” 

Like Aslan, our God is not safe… but he is kind.

EVERYONE who CALLS (Rom 10:13) on the name of the Lord WILL be saved!
While there is no doubt that the ENTIRE work of Salvation is in the hands of the Sovereign God, there are definite actions that are required on our part to receive His grace.

In these verses, we are shown that we must believe & call on his name. It is in this way that we are invited to participate in God’s plan for our life. The Sovereign God draws us, the Blood of Christ saves us, and the Holy Spirit prompts us to participate.

Also, we are invited to participate with God in bringing the good news to those who have not heard. It says, they cannot believe what they have not heard…. can’t hear without someone telling them… how can we tell unless we are sent…How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!

Thank you Jesus for including me in your plans and promises. Thank you that I am invited to participate in loosing the chains of others… doesn’t mean I get to take credit for their salvation just because I participate… any more than I would dare take any credit in my own salvation… but you allowed me to participate in the process.

You are altogether good.

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Let that sink in a minute…that fleeting thought… as disgusting, enticing, exciting, or humiliating as it may be… is NOT sin.

The post The Truth about Temptation appeared first on topherthoughts.

Psalm 42“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.“

This is such a familiar Psalm to me, in large part due to the simple song written utilizing these great words… “As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longs after you… You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you…”

David was such a master of capturing the perfect image to illustrate his emotion… a deer panting for water… Most times, when the tune comes into my head, I’m just picturing a sweet love song, pretty words, and simple worship.

This morning, as I read, I realize that the heading of the chapter is “Why are you Cast Down, My Soul?” Just after the panting deer comes the phrase, “My tears have been my food day and night, while they (David’s enemies, no doubt) say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

This Psalm wasn’t simply born out of a rote quiet time… a happy little tune while sitting under a tree… This Psalm was born in the wilderness! David is pouring out his soul to the Father and crying endlessly as he remembers leading the people in worship into the house of God… shouting… praising… dancing… only now, his soul is cast down within him.

David was the master of bringing his soul and emotions into submission… He has no fear of stating plainly his struggle with such power and beauty… but he doesn’t stay there in a melancholy minor key. He begins to transform right when you think it’s over…

“Deep calls to Deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me”

WOW! He just reached down within the depths of himself to pull that one out. “Waves and breakers” are not just a gentle shower washing your day away… they are violent forces sweeping you off your feet and into their fury.

Surfers, white water rafters/kayakers, etc will tell you that a sure way to drown when you get trapped in a wave is to struggle against it. The way to survive is to simply relax, go limp, and let the wave take you where it wants… you’ll pop up directly.

It’s the same with the cleansing rush of water over us in God… our tendency is to bitterly fight it… but our salvation is to simply give into it… Notice in the Psalm, it doesn’t say that the breakers and waves “crashed into me”… it says “all your breakers and your waves have gone over me”… David wasn’t standing against the waves… he was laying down… allowing the roar of the waterfalls to wash over him.

This is why he is able to end the Psalm saying… “Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him!” If you’re down and out, take courage from this… David was down but not out… He started out panting for water, and finished submersed in the waves of hope. If you feel you’re drowning, the waves and breakers you’re kicking against may just be the waves of hope you need.

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