Life’s Roller Coasters

June 30

Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.

Jeremiah 32:19

“How’ve you been, Oren?” Tyrel said as he hugged his friend, eager to catch up on what had happened since they’d last seen each other.

“Good,” Oren responded. “But it’s been a little disappointing. I recently lost an opportunity to expand my business. I met with a new investor several times, and everyone seemed satisfied. They called, saying things were almost complete on their end. That was four months ago. I haven’t heard from them since.”

“I’m sorry, Oren. But don’t give up. Who knows? Maybe they’ll call today.” He tried to encourage his friend with a metaphor. “It sounds as if you’ve been on a roller coaster ride. They’re thrilling and frustrating. But we learn a lot from taking the ride.” 

He continued, “Just seeing the coaster elicits a thrill! Kinda like you, looking forward to growing the business. The first big hill is scary, but anticipating the drop is thrilling! The next thing we know, we’re falling at breakneck speed. We involuntarily scream and feel like we’re losing control. We get freaked out and want to jump. But that would be suicide! Oren, the hardest part of the ride is trusting the operator. God knows what’s best for your life. Just hang on and trust Him.”

“I do. But sometimes I wish the ride wasn’t so wild,” Oren said.

†

We can all identify with Oren. We’ve been on life’s roller coasters, where the rides have been some of the toughest lessons we’ve ever learned. Yet apart from these disappointments, we gain no appreciable experience, and our spiritual growth becomes stunted. Learning to lose gracefully pays dividends.

Coaster rides are difficult, frustrating, and sometimes even perilous.

But know this: God will never harm us. He wants to purpose our lives by leading us to the center of His will. Sometimes that means riding the coaster when it’s the last thing we want to do. Have faith! His Word assures us that He is trustworthy.

Would you risk a wild ride with God for His promise of great and mighty things?

Prayer

“Sometimes life scares me, Lord. I need reassurance. Take away my fear and replace it with the faith that knows You’re near. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Laughter-Filled Prayer

June 29

A cheerful heart is good medicine.

Proverbs 17:22

This group was a sampling of the community: pastors and their wives, church members from several different denominations, laymen and women alike. And everyone was welcome.

This group believed that corporate prayer with likeminded people was more important to their community than their inconsequential doctrinal differences. A testament to their commitment was that they had been meeting together for over eight years.

But there was something even more compelling at work that drew them together each Tuesday at noon; they loved each other with the love of the Father, and they laughed a lot, and not just the occasional chuckle or smile. These people knew how to laugh together. They had grown to love each other so deeply that it showed in the way they picked on one another. No one was exempt from spending time in the hot seat. And none of them seemed to mind.

They had learned to share their lives, the victories and defeats. This was a close-knit group. And the more they laughed, the more they loved. The more they loved, the closer they got. They spent time praising the Lord and lifting the needs of the community before the throne. They were dead serious when it came to what they felt God had called them to. But they were never far from the laughter.

†

It’s not a sin to laugh, even during prayer. Today’s text directs us to have a cheerful heart. It’s hard to imagine being any cheerier than when we’re laughing. God loves to hear us laugh. He is not affronted by, nor does He disapprove of, laughter-filled prayer.

When we come before the throne, we are to come in reverence. My dictionary defines reverence this way: “A feeling of awe and respect and often of love.” None of the three are out of line with laughter. When we laugh with our friends, it’s not an act of irreverence; it’s sharing our joy.

God wants to be our closest friend. Prayer is spending quality time with Someone we love. And although there are times to be somber as we approach His throne, God wants to share our laughter too.

Prayer

“Lord, You are the author of laughter. May you find me willing to share mine with you. Amen.”

 Before We Speak

June 28

The tongue is also a fire.

James 3:6

“Have you heard about Jeremy?” Katrina asked her brother. 

“No. What’s up?” Phil responded. 

“Well, I’m not sure … ” she hesitated, then said, “I heard he was back on pain pills.”

“That’s too bad. I like Jeremy,” Phil replied.

A week later, Jeremy was called into his employer’s office and immediately terminated. They gave him no explanation other than he was no longer a good fit for the company. Jeremy repeatedly asked for a more defined explanation but they would say no more.

Shaken, Jeremy determined to put it behind him. But finding suitable employment during the economic downturn took more than six months. In that time he lost his car and used up his entire savings as well as his retirement fund.

Two years later, Jeremy ran into a co-worker from his former employer. In the course of their conversation, the man asked Jeremy if he was still having trouble with pills.

A little surprised by the question, Jeremy told him, “No, I’m great. I’ve been clean for six years.”

The man seemed surprised by the ‘six years’ and proceeded to tell Jeremy that he’d been part of a conversation with Jeremy’s old boss and Katrina’s brother, Phil, the week of Jeremy’s termination. “Phil told the boss you were back on drugs. I guess he assumed Phil knew what he was talking about and didn’t think it warranted further investigation. I’m really sorry man. I always enjoyed working with you.”

Jeremy was sorry, too. But at least now he had the truth.

†

We are never to be careless with our words. Yet, many find fulfillment in spreading gossip. Although untrue, Jeremy’s life was devastatingly impacted by gossip. 

When we speak without concern for the consequence of our words, we are taking someone’s integrity, welfare, and quite possibly their life in our own hands.

Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” 

When we hear gossip we have two choices: to lovingly confront the gossip, suggesting they refrain from the practice of spreading rumors; or remove ourselves from their presence, refusing to take part. 

What we say matters. At the peril of others, we must consider our words.

Prayer

“Lord, guard my lips that I would not harm another. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 Check the Salt

June 27

But if the salt loses its saltiness … it is no longer good for anything.

Matthew 5:13

“Ahhhh!” Rebecca was infuriated. “When was the last time you put salt in the softener?” she hollered.

Instantly, Hank knew what had happened. Oh, no! Rust spots in the white clothes! Way to go, Hank! He derided himself for not checking the salt level in the softener recently. Actually, he wasn’t as concerned about the rust-spotted clothes as he was the grief his oversight created. The next week would be miserable; that was about how long it took Rebecca to forgive him.

Getting out of the chair, he headed to survey the damage that would certainly be referred to as his fault. He decided to sow a seed of goodwill, an olive branch of sorts. “Honey, I’m really sorry,” he said ahead of his arrival. “It just slipped my mind.”

As he entered the laundry room, he realized his apology had been a mistake. It was having little to no effect. “How bad is it?” he asked, making his second mistake.

Her answer had all the earmarks of a torch for his olive branch. “Not too bad … if you enjoy wearing orange underwear!” she said, holding a pair aloft. They were a mottled mess of reddish-brown and rusty white.

Realizing there was only one thing he could do, he said, “I’ll take care of it right now.” And with that, he sheepishly turned and headed to the basement to dump a couple bags of salt into the brine tank.

†

In the same way a constant source of salt is needed to condition rusty water, our spiritual lives need a constant filtering to keep unwanted impurities from soiling our spiritual being.

The level of salt must be maintained in a water conditioner, just as the intake of godly things in a Christian’s life must be maintained.

By reading God’s Word regularly and meeting on a regular basis with other Christians for encouragement and insight, we can stop the accumulation of unsavory buildups that cause us to lose our solid footing and effectiveness.

We must regularly check the level in our spiritual salt tank.

Prayer

“Thank You for Your Word that provides life-giving wisdom. Help me to be diligent in my actions concerning my Christian walk so others and I might benefit. Amen.”

 Make Me Pure Again, Lord

June 26

Create in me a pure heart, O God.

Psalm 51:10

Russell turned off the computer, feeling defeated. It had been six weeks since he’d given into the temptation, and now he felt horrible. He didn’t understand how he could love his wife and still do this.

He tried to control his impulses, yet he couldn’t seem to help himself. He always seemed to end up at a porn site, committing adultery with women he would never meet. And when it was over, guilt and shame replaced denial and desire; he hated not being able to resist the temptation.

The next morning, he called a friend who happened to be a Christian counselor. “I don’t understand this, Paul. I get this urge that won’t be satisfied until I give in. I love Barb. Why can’t I stop?”

“It’s a complex problem, Russ,” Paul began. “Men are visually stimulated. They catalogue every image they see. If the image stimulates sufficiently, it is retained. Pornographic images cause a hormonal flood in the brain, which creates heightened desire because it alerts the procreation instinct, which feels the need to respond immediately. It’s the same as being addicted to heroine. The only way to stop the process is to delete the images from your memory, and that’s not humanly possible. Only God can recreate your mind and remove those images from your memory. Let’s set an appointment to talk further.”

†

Pornographic images stimulate and trigger the release of adrenaline, testosterone, endorphins, and oxytocin, a stimulus package sufficient to cause tremendous euphoria. Pleasure receptors override common sense. Once viewed, you cannot stop uncensored recall of the images. Only blocking the ability to remember can inhibit recall.

Had David taken the images of Bathsheba to God when he saw her bathing (2 Samuel 11:2), he may not have given in to his sexual desire. Instead he chose to entertain them, and he and many others paid the price. In his sorrow, David asked God to renew his heart.

As with David, God would set us free if we would ask. For those who fight this battle, Christian counseling is a good place to begin.

Prayer

“Make me pure again, Lord. Lead me in the steps necessary to bring about true freedom. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 At the End of Each Day

June 25

We have different gifts according to the grace given us.

Romans 12:6

“How do you deal with the accolades?” John asked Marlie. “I’ve always felt like I was supposed to downplay my part. You know, give all the glory to God.”

Marlie chuckled. “I struggled too until my father gave me this advice. ‘Just say thank you. I love to sing, and it blesses me when someone is touched through my gift.’ Then give the glory to the One Who deserves it at the end of each day.” Marlie continued, “If we declare, ‘It wasn’t me,’ we negate the gift of God, a gift we are meant to share. It also extinguishes the work of the Holy Spirit. But if we allow them to share what God has done through us, we give credibility to the gift.”

She continued, “Paul taught that we have different gifts, and we are to use them. Our songs are a source of encouragement to many. Through our singing, people are lifted above their trials and into the worship of His presence. If you were a renowned artist and someone told you that your painting stirred him deeply, would you feel a need to say, ‘I didn’t paint this; it was God’? Of course not. Just remember, when you lie down for the night, tell Him thanks and that you’re ready to do it all again any time He calls.”

†

Every good gift comes from God. Not one of us could perform in our daily lives apart from His grace. He has gifted us, equipped us for the work He ordained for us to do.

To the banker who works late hours making sure the figures balance, you are to take comfort in the fact that without your abilities given by God, our financial institutions would suffer collapse. To the waitress who smiles for each customer, you bring lighthearted joy to someone who may be going through a rough time; you are a servant.

Whatever your gift, say thank you and give glory to the One Who deserves it at the end of each day.

Prayer

“For what You do through me, Lord, thank You. I give You the praise I have received this day. Continue to bless and use this gift of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

 An Uncommon Servant

June 24

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21

George lived out loud. There was no façade, no exterior trimming; what you saw is who he was—and mostly you saw Jesus. Some said his approach to sharing the Gospel was a bit over-the-top, and that he needn’t be so forthright. You see, George did nothing quietly … his unambiguous passion was conspicuous. George always greeted the Brethren with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16). “Victory!” and “Wonderful!” were staples in his inspirational vocabulary.

When George prayed or sang, he did it with his whole heart at the top of his lungs, holding nothing back. And because of his fervency and enthusiasm some felt a bit uncomfortable around him. But for those who called George, Friend, they expected nothing less. They understood how George felt about Jesus … he was in love. And this love is what George exhibited unconditionally; in this he was uncommon.

George lived passionately until he died. So much so that the staff at the hospital where he went home to be with Jesus will never forget how he introduced himself to each one: he grabbed their hands, and asked “Is there anything you need prayer for?!” He prayed unashamedly, speaking to his Father on their behalf. He was an uncommon servant, living completely, squeezing every ounce of life from each day, leaving nothing in reserve.

†

George and Paul are much alike; while on earth they loved Jesus with all their hearts, and didn’t care how they looked doing it! They both longed for the day they would begin the face-to-face portion of eternity; yet while among the living, they lived lives of purpose, speaking on behalf of their King, telling everyone they met about His love and saving grace.

As Christians—recipients of God’s Greatest Gift—our purpose is to carry the cross of Calvary wherever we go, telling people about the Man Who hung there on our behalf, and the cleansing power of His blood. We should not sit idly by, waiting to die to be with Jesus. We, as George, should be passionately living for Him as uncommon servants.

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, help me to be uncommon in Your service. Cause the world to disappear in light of Your presence that I might witness Your love without reserve. Amen.”