The call on John’s life is like no other—he is to prepare the world for God’s only Son. From the womb, the Holy Spirit directs John that he will be great in the sight of the LORD. (Luke 1:13,15 NIV) Later as John meets crowds of people at the Jordan River, they wonder if he is the Christ. He answers, “I baptize you with water...but one more powerful than I will come...” (Luke 3:15-16 NIV) To the priests and Levites John says, “I am the voice calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (John 1:23 NIV) Throughout John’s ministry his consistent message is, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 KJV) John expresses doubt only when he is in prison and sends his disciples to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who was to come...?” (Matthew 11:3a NIV ) Jesus replies... “...The blind receive sight , the lame walk...” (Matthew 11:4-5a NIV) As John’s disciples are leaving, Jesus explains to the crowd that John is more than just a prophet in the desert. “Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Malachi 3:1 Jesus continues, “I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist;...( Matthew 11:7-11a) John spends his life in focus with the call from God. His Nazarite vow and mission to turn many sons back to the Lord their God is accomplished. He receives the highest praise from Jesus. Think about always being known as “the other one.” That was John’s life. Are you in a secondary position? How does John’s life encourage you? Jesus must increase and I must decrease. What a wonderful life verse. Post it everywhere. Write ways to accomplish it in your life. In prison John has doubts, but Jesus is not offended. Jesus says, look at the results of My life. It is okay to have doubts and ask questions. Jesus says to you, look at my record—the changed lives around you and in my word, the Bible. Have you felt guilty about having doubts? Read Matthew 11:2-5 as a prayer to Jesus. Continue praying to Jesus about your feelings of guilt when you have doubted. Let Jesus pour His love over you. Sing praise songs to Him. Bask in His love for you. If you continue to feel guilty, talk to your pastor or a Christian counselor.

Samson’s life story is in Judges 13-16, and John’s is revealed in Luke 1-3, Matthew 14:10. Central to Samson’s life is that “he will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.” (Judges 13:5 NAS) God’s plan for John’s life is that “He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:16 NAS) With and without their obedience, God’s plan is fulfilled. In Samson’s early years “...the child grew up and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him...” (Judges 13:24b-25) In John’s early years we learn, “And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts. “...his food was locusts and wild honey.” (Luke 1:80 NAS; Matthew 3:4a LB) As we follow them into adulthood we see the example of John the Baptist who is a devoted follower, and Samson who struggles with obedience. In his adult life, Samson epitomizes the prodigal son Jesus describes in Luke 15. Samson wanders aimlessly through life except for three times when the spirit of the Lord comes upon him for a specific purpose. In two instances, Samson uses the enormous physical strength that God has given him to rescue Israel from the Philistines. Other times he uses his strength for personal gain. Ultimately, in spite of his prodigal life, Samson does help his people as God prophesied. On his own Samson make dubious choices. —Because an “uncircumcised Philistine” woman “looks good to me,” he demands that his parents, “now get her for me as my wife.” (Judges 14:1-3) Normally the parents would arrange a Jewish bride for their son, especially true for one with a Nazarite vow. —Samson sees honey in a dead lion, and he uses his hands to get the honey to fulfill his hunger. (Judges 14:8-9) As a Nazarite he should not touch anything that is dead. —Samson returns to marry his bride and learns her father has her married to Samson’s best friend. Out of anger Samson kills many Philistines, not at God’s direction, and then hides. (Judges 15) The spirit of the Lord helps Samson in three situations thus fulfilling prophecy. —A lion attacks him as he walks; the spirit of the LORD comes upon him, and Samson rips the lion apart. (Judges 14:5-6) —Because of a riddle Samson tells before the wedding and a wager of 30 linen garments and 30 sets of clothes, there are ensuing problems. (Read about it in Judges 14:14-19) Because of the unresolved problems, The “Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power.” Samson then kills 30 Philistine men. (Judges 14:19 NIV) —The Philistines come to avenge the men Samson kills, and the “Spirit of the Lord came upon him in power,” and with “a fresh jawbone of a donkey” he kills 1,000 Philistine men. (Judges 15:14a-15 NIV) Samson seeks God’s help for selfish reasons. —“Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD. You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” (Judges 16:18 NIV) God opens up a rock and water comes out. —For the second time in his life, “Samson prays to the LORD, ‘O Sovereign LORD, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’” (Judges 16:28 NIV) Pushing on the pillars with all his strength, they collapse killing 3,000 men and women. Samson kills more at that moment than he slays during his lifetime. This occurs in Gaza at the temple of the Dagon, the Philistine’s god. Samson is in the temple of Dagon because he is in love with another Philistine woman, Delilah. While Samson is with her, she convinces him to reveal the reason for his strength. Once he explains the Nazarite vow and his hair is surreptitiously shaved that night, the Philistines capture him and gouge out both of his eyes. Samson spends his life without direction. However, his Nazarite vow and strength begin the rescue of Israel from the Philistines in spite of Samson’s lust for Philistine women and inability to follow God’s plan for his life. Discussions about Samson usually focus on his strength and his destroying the pillars in the temple. Write down two areas in Samson’s life that are new to you and that you identify with. Samson calls out to the Lord only two times. Both times are for selfish reason. How do you think God felt? Think about your own prayers—how often are they for selfish reasons? Do you need to ask God for forgiveness? Have you ever made a vow to God? Are you married? That is a vow to God. Many say vows lightly, but does God still take them lightly? Look up Numbers 30:2; 6:1-8. Write down your thoughts.

Psalm 120: 6-7 "Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war."   “I’m coming home. Tell the world I’m coming home. Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday. I know my kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes. Tell the world I’m coming home!” Sean Combs The description of the life without Christ is like an alien or stranger in a foreign land.  All of us will find ourselves embroiled in a conflict between light and dark, good and evil, truth and lies. We can’t ignore the spiritual war. We must stand up and fight!! Paul writes …” remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away were brought near through the blood of Christ.” We must come home! Leaving our comfort zone is not enough. We need to get out of Dodge and head for the hills of the Holy Land. We must call on the Lord, the King of Heaven and earth. God alone can deliver us, take us to Jerusalem. The Father of the prodigal in all of us stands waiting to welcome us with open arms. When we begin to despise the far country, we’re ready to yearn for the joy of coming home to God’s love and forgiveness. We recognize God’s open-door policy, made possible by Jesus. It’s the first step in our journey. Does a person have to take this first step of discomfort and desperation before he can come to Christ? In what ways are you bringing your hurt, inadequacy, or distress to God?

Psalm 121: "I lift up mine eyes to the hills— Where does my help come from? help comes from the Lord, The Maker of Heaven and earth.. He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber; Indeed, he who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep." Verses 1-2 describe the beginning prayer life of a baby Christian.  When he senses a need, he is learning to bring it to God in prayer.  He learns God is Creator of both the physical and spiritual world and interacts with every part of life.  He discovers the hand of God in creation. He discovers God as creator of heaven…that there is a whole world in another dimension-a spiritual world that he cannot see, but must appropriate by faith. "He will not let your foot slip,” Ps.121:3. The keeping power of the Heavenly Father also has historical significance.  When the traveling Israelites trekked to Jerusalem three times a year, they faced many perils along the way.  Robbers, wild animals, and brutal heat were three of their enemies.  Perhaps they sang this comforting psalm around their evening campfires. The vocabulary of this poem also implies that the pilgrim must climb (ascend) toward his Heavenly Father.  From every other part of Israel, the Jews said they must travel or “go up” to the Holy City.  “Moving feet”, “lifting eyes”, “going out”, “coming in” all imply movement toward a goal.  The love of God draws His child to His heart.  Nevertheless there is a godless yet seductive gravitational force relentlessly pulling him downward.  The world system is always a hurdle the traveler must overcome.  The Christian must not look back.  On his old life, or he will experience the paralysis that Lot’s wife did when she vacillated and was transformed into a pillar of salt in Genesis.  The spiritual child must run to the loving, sheltering arms of his Daddy.  God promises this as our guide and protector: “To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of His glory with rejoicing, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, be the glory.” Jude 25.

Why should I hope in heaven instead of this dark world? Remember that eternal life starts now.  Jesus said in  John 17:3 : “Now this is eternal life; that they may know You, the only eternal God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Jesus’ presence will fill you full of joy and pleasure ( Psalm 16:11 ). Quiet your heart, mute your cell phone and let His love wash over you today. 2.       Jesus will be glad to see you .  Matthew 25:23  expresses God’s absolute delight in your celestial arrival. He says “Well done, good and faithful servant….Come share your Master’s happiness.” Have you spent your life trying to please God and others? You will find forgiveness, grace and rest in heaven. ( Psalm 103:12 ,  Hebrews 4:10 ). Picture God smiling at you, welcoming you with open arms instead of shaking His finger at you in reproof. 3.      Bored? You will have fulfilling work to do.  The cream cheese commercial featuring “haloed” angels lying on cloud pillows and strumming harps is a myth. Revelation 7 and 22 states that we will not work riddled with fatigue and frustration (the result of the Fall), but will fulfill all of the potential God placed within you with unlimited resources and energy. 4.      Those you love and miss are watching. Hebrews 12:1  describes the crowd of witnesses cheering us on in our earthly struggles.  Revelation 6:9  and  Luke 16:19-30  give us an indication that our dear ones do see us but through an eternal lens. What joy to reunite with them! If “a thousand years is as a day, and a day is as a thousand years,” then your husband may die and you follow him ten years later. That’s about fifteen minutes in “heaven” time. He sees you and quips, “Hi, Honey! Late as usual…” 5.      The worship will be awesome!!!  Revelation 4:1-11  depicts the glorious scene of unceasing worship before God’s Throne. All are singing “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” I don’t care how much or little you enjoy worship now, sing, shout, thank and praise God during your day. God’s presence hangs around when you praise. (Read about the Ark of God and His smoky glory). That should get you going! Hoping in heaven gives you a different perspective on life.

Children are a gift from God; they are his reward.  4  Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows to defend him. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. That man shall have the help he needs when facing his enemies." Psalm 127: 3-5 Verse three describes the benefits of walking in faith and God-dependence: physical and spiritual children. Sons are a heritage from the Lord: the fruit of the womb a reward.” Sons were absolutely indispensable in Biblical times. Women couldn’t easily provide for themselves. The blessing of family described in verses three through five connotes a legacy, a family heritage. Hebrew children were considered God’s gifts and wealth. Sarah, Rachel and Hannah all prayed to have sons. Childless widows in the Bible were pictured as helpless and destitute. A man’s sons were his social security. They tilled the land and carried on the family name. They nursed Mom and Dad in their twilight years. The heritage of the family was entrusted to them. Heritage implies an identity, a culture, a set of values, and a lifestyle. A close family is a precious treasure. Memories are made. Values are imparted. Community is implicit. When we lead someone to Christ, we become spiritual mothers and fathers. We impart life to those we lead to Christ. We must not dunk’em and drop ‘em (an old Baptist cliche), we love, teach and train our spiritual children. Psalms 127:4 states that children are like a warrior’s arrows. The psalmist refers both to quality and quantity in this poetic phrase. The king’s symbolism was not lost upon any Hebrew reader. Every Israelite understood that a plethora of arrows provided protection and food for a family. Archery was used everyday in ancient times. Warriors drew their bows to stop aggressors on their home turf. Hunters wielded bows and arrows to kill prey and feed their faces. Even primitive Neanderthals knew that arrows must be carved carefully to hit the target. A crooked arrow whittled by a haphazard hunter could cost him his life. Don’t enrage an elephant by shooting him in the foot! Accurate aiming produced a tasty dinner. Missing the mark meant death. Today, a person who lives a lifestyle of uncompromising integrity is a “straight arrow”. Adult children who lead lives that are focused and effective bring joy to their parents. Parents who have carefully invested in the lives of their children will be happy and fulfilled when they “shoot their arrows” into society and watch them soar successfully. “Sitting at the town gate” (verse 5) was an ancient custom first mentioned in the book of Genesis in reference to the stellar career of Lot as lukewarm judge presiding at Sodom’s gates. Moses tells us Lot tried cases for the citizenry at the city gate. Obviously, Lot didn’t stay the tide of decadence and immorality in his hometown. God had to fry the city to a crisp and turn Lot’s wife into a saltine because of the depravity of the Sodomites and Gomorrahettes! In Moses’ day, his father-in-law assisted him by advising him to delegate some of his governance to trusted leaders of each tribe. Moses heeded Jethro’s word and appointed judges to assist with administering justice among the wandering Jews. Judges resided at the city gate to solve domestic disputes, forge con- tracts and make treaties. Boaz bought Ruth as his bartered bride with a dusty sandal at the city gate. (Ruth 4:1-7.) Peace was kept by deft negotiators practicing diplomacy among warring tribes and nations. If the judges at the gate were savvy arbitrators, if they were men of their word, then peaceful coexistence ensued. If the ambassadors were corrupt or capricious, the community’s safety and prosperity were compromised.

In my troubles I pled with God to help me and he did! Deliver me, O Lord, from liars. O lying tongue, what shall be your fate?  You shall be pierced with sharp arrows and burned with glowing coals. My troubles pile high among these haters of the Lord, these men of Meshech and Kedar. I am tired of being here among these men who hate peace.  I am for peace, but they are for war, and my voice goes unheeded in their councils. Psalm 120:1-6LB Sin is like quicksand—it suffocates our souls. The pathetic protagonist of Psalm 120 had learned valuable life lessons. He was fed-up from living a lie and he needed to change his life-direction. Like the New Testament’s tale of the prodigal son, the Psalm 120 man is wallowing in pig slop and he wants to go home. Some people spend their whole lives in deception and never see what they are missing. A little child, beaten by an abusive father, will sob when the child protective service worker arrives to remove him from his home. The little boy grieves because he knows nothing better. The pain of abuse is just a regular part of his dysfunctional family life. Until an unbeliever sees the abuse he is enduring at the hand of Satan, he will not be motivated to leave the pig sty. The blows of Apollyon, the pain of Satan’s arrows piercing the back of the God-rejecter seem normal until he realizes that there is something better: a life of love and forgiveness, mercy and grace. The poet learned three things as he turned toward Jerusalem. He faced the truth that he had swallowed a pack of lies. He resolved to act. He is motivated in verse six to move. “Too long” has he been living life his way. He is disgusted by this lousy lifestyle and he wants out. Finally, the psalmist calls upon the Lord for his life. He is ready to head for home. The analogy of this poetic portrait is crystal-clear. The first step toward God (I call- He answers) is a cry for salvation. Turning from a purposeless, meaningless life without Christ is like coming home from a foreign land. Paul describes this turning to God in Ephesians 2:12-“...remember that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away were brought near through the blood of Christ.” The writer has discovered that God wants to interact with him. He must learn to express his heart to God without hiding. The call of “distress”-is the psalmist’s recognition of his hurt, anger, bitterness, and fear (those things inside his emotional cup). He must make the step of faith to bring his hurts honestly to God as his initial step toward salvation. Such self-disclosure is not man’s work, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in us. To confess our sin is to agree with God and to hate our God-rejecting ways. That’s the next step of faith toward the Savior. The conscience, described in scripture as sun oido, means to see together with God the true nature of fallen behavior. This conscience is the interface between the soul and the spirit. Apart from God’s revelation, man cannot truly know himself. A key step in emptying the “cup” of hurt and pain is seeing what is inside. As we stand at the juncture between heaven and hell we finally learn that meaningful relationships apart from God are not just shallow and difficult, they are impossible. Moving out of Meshech and Kedar is not enough. We need to get out of Dodge and head for the hills of the Holy Land. We must call on the Lord, the King of Heaven and earth. God alone is able to deliver us, to take us to Jerusalem. The Father of the prodigal in all of us stands waiting to welcome us with open arms. When we begin to despise the far country, we’re ready to yearn for the joy of coming home to God’s love and forgiveness. We recognize our Father’s open door policy, made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood for our sin. This happy reunion begins a love relationship with God that lasts forever. It is a homecoming none of us will want to miss!

Paul, in his first epistle to the Thessalonians, clarified further what the concept of “being ready for the coming of the Lord” is all about. He used the same analogy-being awake instead of asleep-and then described what “being awake” looks like: “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 NIV Jesus used the “thief in the night” imagery in the Olivet discourse (Matthew 24:42-43) and in Luke 12:35-40. The burglar’s approach is sudden, unexpected, and surprising. John the apostle stated the profound truth that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5-7). The beloved disciple also taught that we are “children of light.” Walking in the light connotes that we are open to the conviction and revelation of the Holy Spirit-we live clean lives with no “secret skeletons” in the closet. Christians of integrity have nothing to hide. What you see is what you get. A person who walks in the light also lives in the light of God’s truth. If Jesus taught us to be “in the know” about the signs of His coming, we would be informed, watching and waiting. A well-trained hunting dog remains on point until the hunter commands him to retrieve the prize. As believers, we must live with such alertness and sensitivity to God’s commands. Why must we be ready? John tells us in 1 John 2:28: “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” NIV We have an opportunity to make every day count before Christ’s return. We can be confident when we walk intimately with Jesus. Living in the light of the urgency of our call and the hope of His rewards changes everything. Instead of walking in fear of future tribulations, we look forward to a bridegroom who has prepared a place for us! What are your greatest fears about the future? List them here. God says that “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18) How would your daily priorities change in light of Jesus’ immediate return? Who would you see? What would you say? What opportunities would you take? When you love someone who is away, you often call send them a card saying that you miss them and can’t wait to see them. Write a letter to Jesus and tell Him that in your own words. APPLYING THE SCRIPTURES Read the following and write your observations on the back of this sheet: Genesis 3:1-14; I Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 23-25; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-4; Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:13-14; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:28; 4:18; John 10:27-30

Jesus gave us a clear picture of what “readiness” looks like in his parable about wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-8: "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'” (NIV) Jesus then described the desperate attempt of the foolish virgins to obtain oil from the wise ones. They were unsuccessful, and while they left to buy oil, the Bridegroom came. The parable concluded with the five foolish maidens unable to attend the feast. Understanding Hebrew wedding customs of the time is essential to applying Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25. In Christ’s day, the wedding would commence when the bridegroom arrived and he would appear at the time of his own choosing. His coming could be within the range of certain days or weeks, so the bridal party had to be prepared at any moment. Often, the bridegroom would delight in trying to catch them napping. The ladies would often have a lookout who would stay awake during the night to warn the party of his approach. They then would meet the groom on the street, and then proceed to the festivities. The lesson of Jesus is that there are some things that cannot be left to the last minute, and there are some responsibilities that cannot be transferred to someone else. Each of us is responsible to be ready for the coming of Christ, regardless of the day or the hour. The oil that the wise virgins saved was the oil of the Holy Spirit, a common reference in the Old and New Testament. In Romans 8:9, Paul wrote that the indwelling Holy Spirit prepares us to meet Christ at His return. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us that the Holy Spirit is the “engagement ring” or “deposit” for the believer that promises Christ’s commitment to His bride when we arrive at the heavenly wedding: “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV The Old Testament word `arab describes a security deposit, or an engagement pledge. The similar New Testa- ment word arrhabon connotes part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest. This wonderful word picture assures us that if we have the Holy Spirit inside of us as believers, we are guaranteed a seat at the Wedding Feast. Do you ever struggle with assurance of your salvation? Read 1 John 10:27-30. Have you invited Christ into your life? Then you are His little lamb, and He will not lose you. Spend some time thanking God for that promise. If Jesus were to return today, would you be excited, ashamed, calm, or fearful? Why or why not? • Do you have other “bridesmaids” in your life who are walking in the power of the Holy Spirit? Who are they? What character qualities do they demonstrate?

To some, the dark tone is Psalm 130 seems incongruous with the victorious praise you would expect from a “spiritual young man or woman.” The difference between a maturing Christian and a spiritual child is that difficulties do not push the committed believer into a quandary. In deep tragedy or depression, the godly man’s cry is not just for help or victory, but for intimacy with the Heavenly Father. Standing in God’s exalted presence in the throne room caused John, Job and Isaiah to have a deep awareness of their own sin. When God unveiled His great glory, each of these godly men had the same reaction: they were overwhelmed and broken (Isaiah 6:51, Revelation 1:17, Job 42). Paul called himself “the chief of sinners.” Such revelation of God’s holiness and our sinfulness might seem futile and discouraging on the surface. However, look at the glorious results. Moses, leader of a nation, was God’s giver of the law. Isaiah was the fiery prophet of God who impacted all of Israel by his grand plea for repentance. Paul, the author of much of the New Testament canon, pioneered the ministry to the Gentiles throughout the known world. John the apostle was the seer of the expansive vision of the end times. Great brokenness produces miraculous ministry. Psalm 130:1 is a desperate, raw out- pouring to God: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD; O Lord, hear my voice. If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” NIV Verse five gives us genuine insight on how God and man interact. The growing Christian knows how to have patience (waiting), how to hope in God (His reliable character), and understands his own record of sins (who can stand?) And his understanding of redemption and man’s need for grace results in humility. He places no confidence in self-but in God. In this intimate bonding, the psalmist clearly reveals that God is in control. The Father’s love never wavers or falters. The concluding verse of this psalm is prophetic: “He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.” Psalm 130:8 NIV The poet concludes the psalm with a deep assurance of God’s redemption. God will personally get His world back. The growing worshipper is transparent before God, and yet remains confident in His Father’s love and perfect plan. Remember a time when you felt great desperation and pain. Were you able to express that pain to anyone? Were you able to take that pain to God? Are you still hurting? Take some time to honestly voice your hurt to God knowing that He will listen and understand. Peruse this psalm and list the progression of how the poet processed his pain. He talks about waiting on God. What would that look like? How did he reach his conclusions at the end of the poem? What did He mean when he wrote about God’s forgiveness, redemption, and unfailing love? What do these words really mean? How can receiving those wonderful gifts really impact your life?

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24) Forgiveness and a Converse Tennis Shoe Here is a short and true ancient story. Godspell was a musical from the early 70s and has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance over the past few years. The first time I saw it back in the 70s, it was performed by a high school youth group at a large church in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. When the Christ character would be doing some teaching, preaching or sharing a parable, the remaining actors would become sort of living props. So, when Jesus was reciting this above passage, two teens got on their hands and knees, locked arms and became the altar. Christ stood behind the altar, and along came a young lady joyously walking up to the altar with an old Converse tennis shoe in her hands. As she knelt and sought to extend the Converse tennis shoe to the altar, Jesus said, “First go and be reconciled.” She placed the tennis shoe at the foot of the altar, stood up, walked across the stage and approached the one that had something against her. They grabbed each other by the lapels, shoved each other, rocking back and forth; stopped, put their hands down and then hugged each other. One girl went happily off one way, and the other joyously went back to the altar and re-offered the tennis shoe. A couple of weeks later, I was talking to my friend who was the music director at this church and was also the director and ran the rehearsals for Godspell; he told me a story about someone in his choir. After church was over, a man approached my friend and said, “I couldn’t get that stupid Converse tennis shoe out of my mind.” My friend said, “What do you mean?” “Well,” he replied, “There was someone that I had to be reconciled with, and I had to do it before church this morning. And so, I did.” Mission accomplished — by an old worn-out Converse tennis shoe. Today’s One Thing: Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians to “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Take time to pray and ask the Lord if there is someone in your life with whom you will you need to be reconciled.

Change is inevitable, and it can be a difficult thing in life. Over my 25-plus years of leadership, I’ve learned six critical moves to solving life problems and I want to share them with you. They come directly from Scripture. When we go through change, the quality of the questions we ask – about life, family, ministry and finances – make all the difference. So, let’s get started with the six critical moves we should make to solve life problems. You have to ask the right questions. In the Book of Nehemiah, the people have lived in captivity for 70 years, as a result of their disobedience to God. Nehemiah served in a high position in the palace of the Babylonian king. And Nehemiah asked some of his fellow Jews a question – the right question – that started a series of powerful events in his life. Nehemiah “questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 1:2 NIV). You have to own the problem. The reply Nehemiah received to his question disturbed him. They reported to him that his homeland was in disarray; Jerusalem’s walls had fallen. The gates had been burned with fire, and the people were in trouble.Nehemiah owned the problem. He said, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven” (Nehemiah 1:4 NIV). He refused to walk away from it or deny it; he owned it.When we go through change, it’s a loss. A loss always creates feelings of grief and a need to mourn. We can become stuck sometimes in periods of loss. As we try to move ahead, we struggle because we drag the loss along with us. Over a period of three or four months, Nehemiah took time to mourn, to weep, to pray and to plan. He owned that problem. He wrestled with it. Create a picture of a better future. After four months of praying and planning, Nehemiah went to the king he served and created a clear picture of the future of what he wanted to do for his people. He said, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it,” (Nehemiah 2:5 NIV).When you create a better image, it will change your focus and your priorities. Own the plan. Leaders cannot delegate the plan. As mothers, fathers or business leaders, we have to own the plan. After the king gave Nehemiah permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls, he developed his own plan. He got up at night and went to see the problem himself. He inspected the condition of the city, so he could own the plan (Nehemiah 2:11-16). It’s vitally important to assess the reality you’re facing. Nehemiah needed to see the reality of what he heard. He heard the walls were down, and the gates had been burned, but he needed to see it for himself. Share the vision intentionally. This was true for Nehemiah. At this point, if we were to stop the lesson right here, it sounds like a rosy ending to a very difficult process as he’s now rebuilding the walls, and he completed it in 52 days. Expect opposition but keep going anyway. In Nehemiah 2:19, it begins with the word, but, which means something is coming that interrupts the flow. Right after the people began the process of rebuilding the walls, opposition showed up. “But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. ‘What is this you are doing?’ they asked. ‘Are you rebelling against the king?’” People will rise up to oppose whatever it is that God has laid on your heart to do. www.theintentionallife.com.