Can't Turn It Off

I was driving down the road with my sweet Rachel and one of her friends.  Accidentally I brushed up against a switch and turned on my rear windshield wiper.  It surprised me because I never use the rear wiper.  And it frustrated me because I could not figure out how to turn it off.  For a few miles I was pushing buttons and messing with controls to stop the wiper.  Rachel and the other little girl got a good laugh at me over it.  Finally, after a while, I found the right button and brought it to a halt.

It was hard to figure out how to turn the wiper off.

Do you know what is even harder to turn off?  God's amazing love for you and me.  It's just mighty tough to turn His heart away from us.  And that, my friend, is an awesome thing!

I love these words of Paul from Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Amen to that scripture!  There's no better way to phrase it than that.

God loves you and me.  He always has.  He always will.  And there's just nothing you or I can do to stop that.  Nothing.  It's just who He is and what He does.

I'm glad I could turn off the back and forth motion of the rear windshield wiper.

But I can promise you I never want to turn off God's love, even if I could.  It's the greatest treasure I've ever received.  My desire is to enjoy it for all of eternity.

Smile!  You are a recipient of God's amazing, deep, everlasting love.  And nothing or no one will ever turn it off.  So enjoy it, and just love Him back.  It'll be the most satisfying, life-changing relationship you ever experience.

Never Forget

Steven is a good guy who lives here in Sebring.  Yesterday, he invited me to meet him for lunch today.  It sounded great to me, so I agreed.  This morning I was getting ready to go meet him when I got a text.  It was from Steven.  He was wondering if we were still on for lunch.  Then it occurred to me:  I forgot we were meeting at 11:30.  And it was 11:40!  I was thinking lunch was at noon, but his text reminded me we had agreed on 11:30.  Quickly, I apologized and told him I would be there in just a few minutes.  I felt bad that I forgot the time we were scheduled to meet.  But when I arrived, he laughed it off and was a good sport about the whole thing.  We still ate a delicious lunch and enjoyed a great visit.

Sometimes we forget things.

This reminds me of what was written to a church in Revelation 2:4.  It was here that Jesus stated, "I have this against you, that you have left your first love".  What was supposed to be their first love?  Well, GOD was supposed to be what they treasured, adored, and loved more than anything or anyone.  They had forgotten what their top priority should be.  In the next verse, Jesus said, "Consider how far you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first".  He was reminding those forgetful Christians to remember how God used to be number one in their lives, make a change in their hearts and minds, and get back to making time for that all important relationship with God.

I won't beat up on the Ephesian church.  At times, I too have forgotten my first love, which should have been The Lord.  It can happen if I'm not careful.

Let's always remember what time we are supposed to meet our buddies for lunch.

But even more so, let's always remember to love God first and foremost.  He is to be that which is most important in our lives.  We must be more devoted to Him more than we are to anyone or anything else.

If our priorities have been a little out of whack, God will forgive us if we confess it to Him and repent.  Also, He can gently help us get our priorities back in order.  Like a loving Father, He will help His children when we go to Him for help in getting our heart and mind back in the right condition.

Let's never forget!  God comes first.  He deserves to be number one in our lives.

Jamie Greening's Novel "The Little Girl Waits"

Are you looking for a top-notch mystery novel to read?  If you are, then check out "The Little Girl Waits" by Jamie Greening.  Trust me:  You'll be more than glad you did!

The plot revolves around a little girl, Tamara, who gets kidnapped outside of Seattle by guys who specialize in selling children. Yes, it's about human trafficking.  A pastor, Butch Gregory, feels compelled to take a leave of absence from his church to go find and rescue her.  Alliances are formed, a search is launched, and an unforgettable story unfolds.

I loved reading this book!  Never having read anything about the all too relevant problem of human trafficking, I was fascinated to get a glimpse into a world many of us choose to never think about.  So the story line definitely held my attention.  Also, Jamie Greening's writing style just clicked with me.  All I can say is it moved me in many ways.

Jamie used to be a Southern Baptist pastor on the West Coast.  Now he's a full-time writer living in Texas.  I met him in Birmimgham, Alabama in 2005 and instantly connected with him.  He's a great Christian guy who is well-read, insightful, funny, caring, and an amazing story teller.

I encourage you to get this book as soon as you can.  It's not expensive, under 200 pages, and easy to read.  Even if you're not a big reader, you'll start this story and not want to put it down until you see what happens with a little girl who needs rescuing and a man who risks everything in the attempt to save her. 

To visit the website dedicated to Jamie's book and learn how you can order it, go to http://thelittlegirlwaits.com .

To visit Jamie's blog, which is updated regularly and a favorite of mine, go to http://jamiegreening.com .  

To follow him on Twitter, go to https://mobile.twitter.com/jamiedgreening . 

Uncle Dave's Bob Dylan CD

My youngest brother, Wyman, is a big fan of Bob Dylan's music.  His collection of tunes is really quite impressive! If you want to know anything about this musical icon, just ask Wym.

I, on the other hand, never really got that into Dylan earlier in my life.  I didn't have any specific problems or hang-ups with him at all.  He was just not a singer I ever though much about.

But one day I received a package in the mail from Wyman.  I opened it up and found a cd inside.  It turned out that my good brother actually put together a collection of Dylan's best songs.

On the cd was a picture of Bob Dylan and this message:  "Uncle Dave's One And Only Bob Dylan CD With Songs Lovingly Selected By His Brother Wyman Lewis Richardson From Various Bob Dylan CD's, January 2005".  What an awesome surprise and gift that was!  And after listening to it, I grew to like Dylan's music too.

When it comes to songs by any singer, we get to focus on what we like and ignore what we don't like.  We can make our own "greatest hits" albums by picking and choosing what suits us.  It all depends on what makes us feel good.

When it comes to doctrines and theological truths about God, however, we do not get to focus on what makes us comfortable and ignore what makes us squirm.  We don't get to pick and choose what we like and accept about Him.  Everything the Bible says about Him is true, and it all needs to be accepted into our belief system.

For instance...

We like to focus on the love of God, but we must also remember His wrath.

We like to focus on God being a Father, but we must also remember He is a judge.

We like to focus on God forgiving us, but we must also remember He disciplines us.

See the point?

We get to choose what suits us about Bob Dylan or any other singer, and we then can ignore the parts that don't suit us.  But we do not have the freedom to do that when it comes to God.  We have to take all of Him as He is.

Let's be complete and thorough when it comes to building our belief system about God.  Let's not build a smorgasbord theology of picking and choosing a "little bit of this" and a "little bit of that."  Let's accept embrace and celebrate all truths about God.

Airboat Adventure

My boy and I were on an airboat with a friend of ours.  We were having a ball while flying around the lake.  All of a sudden, the airboat broke down.  The good news was the guy driving the boat reached land.  The bad news was the land was a snake-infested, gator-dwelling, mud-filled swamp.  We were told it was time to make the long hike through the swamp to our leader's home.

So off we went.  It was an long journey!  I had to carry Emerson part of the way.  Of course we were looking around to make sure no snakes or gators were headed our way too.  I had absolutely no idea where we were or where our destination was.

But I did know this:  If I trusted and followed our leader, he would guide us through and see us home.  He knew the swamp.  Many times before he had ventured in and out of that dark, mysterious place.  So I kept my eyes on home and followed his footsteps.

Finally, we made it through the swamp and reached his home.  We all were hot and wore out.  But we arrived safely, and that's what mattered.

My airboat adventure was kind of like the journey of life for most of us.  On our own, we are lost and hopeless.  But if we trust and follow Jesus Christ, the greatest leader and guide of all, we will make it through and reach His home!

Jesus Christ experienced temptation, endured trial, blessed people, entered death, and enjoyed resurrection.  He entered and exited this world.  So He knows everything about life.  That makes Him a leader worth trusting and following.

Let's lock our eyes on Jesus Christ.  And let's walk in His footsteps.  When we follow Him, He will see us through our life on this Earth, and He will guide us home to Heaven.

Follow Jesus.  He will lead the way for you.  It will be the best decision you ever make!

Dale Jr., Worry, And The Rest Of Us

The February 18, 2014 edition of USA Today featured a neat interview where Jeff Gluck asked NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. twelve good questions.  It was an insightful discussion.  This was my favorite part:

" Q:  If you could give the younger version of yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
A:  I'd probably tell myself not to worry so much and to enjoy each little chapter of life."

That quote has me thinking...

Not only is Dale an amazing driver.  He's also a smart guy.  This interview proves it.

He has learned not to worry so much.  And if I were a betting man, I'd bet you it has made a positive difference in his life.  What a great lesson he has learned!

Jesus dished out the wisest words ever on worry in Matthew 6:25-27.  Specifically, He made three awesome points in three quick verses that we all need to keep in mind.  These points will help reduce our anxiety and increase our peace.

(1).  We have the option to live without worry.  He said "Do not worry" in verse 25.  We have a choice on whether we worry or not.  We do have a say in the matter!  Jesus calls us to say "No" to worry, and the last time I checked, Jesus enables us to do what He calls us to do.  So here's the good news:  We do not have to live like worry warts.  We are free to choose another way of life.

(2).  We have a God who cares deeply about us.  He said the following in verse 26:  "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns; and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?"  Since God looks after little birds and takes good care of them, we can easily conclude that He will look after us and take good care of us on a grander scale.  God has proven more than once He loves us.  We (and our needs) do indeed matter to Him.  So we can focus on trusting Him rather than worrying.

(3).  We must remember worry accomplishes nothing.  That's right.  Nothing.  "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" is what Jesus asked rhetorically in verse 27.  The obvious answer is "No, worrying will not do a single, solitary productive thing in anyone's life."  In the history of mankind, worry has never once come even remotely close to fixing problems or curing ills.  So there's no point in us wasting time worrying because it will in no way resolve any of our dilemmas.

Dale Jr. learned a valuable lesson that Jesus taught centuries ago, and here it is:  Choose to trust in the caring God who meets needs rather than engage in crippling worry which accomplishes nothing.

May God help us all worry less and trust Him more.  When we do this, our peace and joy increase, we enjoy the stages of life more, and we are free to fulfill our purpose on this Earth.  Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!

Home

Yesterday, my son went over to play at another kid's house and spend the night.  But, as it normally happens, we got a late night call.  My boy wanted to come on home and sleep here.  So, like usual, I drove half way, met the other parent, brought my boy back home with me, and put him to bed.

On the way home  I asked him, "Buddy, why didn't you want to stay?"  With sleepy eyes he looked at me and said, "I don't know, Dad.  I'm just most comfortable at my home."  I rubbed his head and replied, "It's ok.  I understand.  You can come on home with me any time."

I guess it's true.  There really is no place like home.  And our heart always longs to be there.

Christians, one day we will go home.  It's in a place called Heaven.  And our Lord is getting it ready for us.

In our Heavenly home, we will never deal with

pain

tears

fear

sickness

danger

or death.

Our eternal home will have joy, peace, safety, and life.  It will be a happy, warm, healthy home.  Yes, it will be perfect.

One day, God, our Heavenly Father, will take us home.  He will protect us and provide for us.  And we will be happy, like my boy was when I got him home.  What a day that will be!

Life on this Earth is temporary.  And the hardships we endure are only for a season.  A better day is coming.  Our home in Heaven is waiting.

No, we're not home yet.  But one day we will be.  And when we get there, everything's going to be just right.

I look forward to that.

The School Where Nobody Ever Graduates

Graduation.  It's that time of year when guys and girls all around our great land walk the stage and get their diploma.  And it's a thrill for them and their parents.

I'm sitting here this morning thinking about something my late grandfather, Leon Richardson, once told me.  We were visiting in his home one day in Sumter, South Carolina, when he looked at me and said, "David, there are no graduates in the school of Christ.  There never comes a time in your life when you know it all about The Lord and have it all figured out."

He was so right!

After we meet certain criteria and reach certain goals, academic institutions basically tell us, "Ok, you're done.  We expect nothing more of you.  So you're free to leave now with our blessings."

But Our Lord doesn't operate like that.  There's always more for us to learn and more for us to do.  He never looks at us and says, "Wow, you've got the Christian life mastered and down pat!  There's nothing more for me to teach you."  Nope, that just will not happen.

When it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ, there is always

more truth to learn

more character to develop

more bonding to experience

more areas to serve

and more growing to do.

We Christians are works in progress.  As long as we have breath in our bodies, school's in session.  And that's a great thing!  It means God lovingly and patiently works with us day in and day out.  It proves He cares.

Let's stay humble, Christians.  We all have more learning and growing to experience.  None of us have this spiritual life totally figured out.

And let's stay hungry for growth.  We need time in Bible study, prayer, and worship.  God matures and develops us more fully when we engage in the Christian disciplines.

Grandaddy was right.  Our Lord's school does not hand out diplomas and send us away on our own.  And that's a good thing.  It's just one more way He reminds us how much we truly matter to Him.

Find A Match

I was about to leave for work this morning when my wife started laughing and stopped me.  "Do your shoes match?", she asked me.  Then I took a look down.  In fact, my shoes were not a match.  I had an old, outside shoe on my left, and a newer, cleaner shoe on my right.  She was right!  So I quickly got the right shoes on that matched and raced out the door for work.

That got me thinking about the spiritual life...

2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

Paul was writing to Christians.  He was telling them to be careful about who they connected with emotionally and spiritually on an up-close and personal level.  His desire was to see children of God form their most meaningful relationships with other children of God.

This is still true today.

I've learned in my life that I need to love everyone.  (Easier said than done, but that's the goal.)  All people should be treated with kindness and compassion.  But, when it comes to my closest relationships, I need to surround myself with people who are living for God and who can help me do the same.  I need to have my tightest emotional bonds with people who will inspire me to be a good man, rather than with people who would be happy to see me live as a self-centered, ungodly man.

Yes, I have friends who are not Christians.  While living in the Carolinas, one of my friends was a Muslim.  I get along just fine with people who are not saved.  And I think it's important to do that!  It has become apparent to me that if we desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, we need to interact lovingly with people who are far from God.  But when it comes to close relationships, I have learned I must be careful.  I must find a good match for me on a spiritual level.  And friend, the same is true for you.  This is true for all of us.

When we're getting ready for the day, let's make sure we find shoes that match.

More importantly, when we're forming our closest relationships in life, let's make sure we find a spiritual match.  Let's pair up with people who love the same God, have the same values, pursue the same goals, and are headed the same direction.  This spiritual match will inspire and motivate us to be the men and women we were created to be.

Mistakes

I read a great editorial written in the Sunday, June 1, 2014 edition of the News Sun.  It was entitled, "Remember, Graduates:  Mistakes Are Part Of Life".   Besides the normal words of encouragement and congratulations to the class of 2014, it made the following point:

"Most of all, we hope you move on through your lives knowing how to learn from your mistakes because making mistakes is inevitable.  The brightest and strongest among us - even the most spiritual and thoughtful - all make mistakes.  We are human, after all."

How true!

Mistakes are a part of life.  It's sad, but true.  That's because we are a fallen, imperfect people that are prone to wonder away from what is right.  Yes, some people make more mistakes than others.  And yes, some mistakes have far greater consequences than others.  But at the end of the day, we all make mistakes one way or another.

In my 43 years on this Earth, I've made my share of mistakes.   Some were big and some were small.  Some were private and some were public.  So I have some experience in this area.

Here is what I've learned about making mistakes:

[1]  It's best to be honest, come clean, and admit it when you do wrong.  Hiding it or covering it up only makes things worse.  The first step in recovering from a mistake is to own it and be real about it.

[2]  Take personal responsibility for mistakes.  Never blame other people, tough circumstances, or anything else.  Be willing to say, "I did wrong, and it was 100% my fault."

[3]  Confess it to God and ask for forgiveness.  Open up to Him about it with humility and sincerity.  When you do this, He will pardon you and take your guilt away.

[4]  Apologize to people who were hurt by your mistake.  They may listen and forgive you, or they may not.  That's their choice.  But do your part and offer necessary apologies in an attempt to make peace.

[5]  Learn from your mistake.  Reflect on where you went wrong, and figure out how to live better the next time you are tempted to do the same dumb thing all over again.  Allow your mistakes to be growing opportunities that make you a better person.

[6]  Move on.  Don't spend the rest of your days beating yourself up over it.  Don't keep replaying your mistake over and over again in your mind.  Put it behind you.  Let it go.  Leave it in the past.  And launch forward enthusiastically into the next chapter of your life!

Mistakes.  They happen.  But you can recover from them.  So can I.  With God's help, we can heal and live after we do wrong.  And we can move forward into a better, brighter life in the days and years to come.