Pastor's Thoughts Over Morning Coffee 

September 2, 2008

Only God

We plan the way we want to live, but only GOD makes us able to live it (Prov. 16:9, The Message).

            I spent many hours as a teen planning my future. I thought about the woman I wanted to marry, the children we would have, the home we would live in, and the vocation I would pursue. I dreamt of the cars I would own, the trips I would take. As you can see, I spent many hours of my youth daydreaming. Don't we all? We plan for our future. We put money in retirement accounts; we save for that new car; we map out the best routes for our coming vacation. We tell ourselves, "Not this year, but next year I will be in the home of my dreams." But we are not the ones who control that future. God does!

            Jesus tells a story, found in Luke 12:16-21 (go ahead and read it). The last verse says: "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." The parable tells the story of a person who plans for his future, but does not even think about God. The point of the parable is not: DON'T PLAN AHEAD! The point of the parable is: MAKE SURE GOD IS CONSULTED WHEN PLANS ARE BEING MADE!

            We must always remember life is not about "me". The Church is not about "me". My home (job, future plans) is not about "me". All these things are about God! He is to be the focus of all we do. We can plan, and we should, for our future. But always, ALWAYS, we should pray before we plan, and once the plan is completed, we should place the plans at the Cross and confess our need for God's help and direction in what we are about to do. God alone can help us accomplish His purposes for our lives.

            So, what are you planning? What is God's role going to be in accomplishing your plans? Send a note, tell me what you are thinking, bobr@yakimanewhope.com. I always look forward to hearing from you.

Just Love ‘M',

Pastor Bob

August 27, 2008

Make Our Plans Succeed

May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May He remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the LORD grant all your requests. (Psalm 20:1-5)

            How do you respond as you read this prayer? Do you quiver in anticipation of God's promised intervention? Do you nod your head in affirmation and look around to find God's answer? OR, do you say, "Oh, sure, as if God would do that for me!" Yet, that is David's message here. He is praying that the people of God would see God's hand at work in their lives and witness Him fulfilling all His promises.

            Now, read with me, verses 6 and 7-"Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."  

            God answers the prayer of those who live for Him. We, who trust Him as our Savior, are His anointed. The prayer we pray is not for "stuff that disappears". We do not ask selfishly for things which pass away. Rather, we seek God's will and purpose. We longingly pray, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done..." This is the prayer God answers, this is the request God grants. So, LET'S PRAY!

            Share with me God's response to your prayer. How has God answered you? Send me an e-mail at bobr@yakimanewhope.com.  I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Just Love ‘M',

Pastor Bob

August 19, 2008

The Gift-Giver

            Our children went through a stretch in their young lives where they thought we, their parents, were made of money. Every where we went, they asked us to buy them something, anything. They would point out how well-mannered they had been, and ask for a gift. They would pout, reminding us how they never were given anything and all their friends were always getting something, and ask for a gift. They would point to the child over "there", whose mother or father had just purchased them that extra-special something, and ask for a gift.

            We, my wife and I, decided to hold firm. We believed gifts should be for special occasions, only. We told our children to let us know what they wanted and promised them, that at the appropriate time and in just the right situation they would receive the correct gift. This did not appease them at the moment, but later they came to appreciate our position, and now, as they have children of their own, they are learning how important it is to hold to a similar arrangement.

            Our God is the Gift-Giver. But His gifts come at the right time, in the right place, and for the right reason. Jesus speaks of Him, describing Him as our Father, who knows what is best for us. He gives us what is needed, what will help us to live for Him, what will make us better witnesses of His Grace and mercy.

            Read Luke 11:9-13-"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" 

            Tell me what you think. Send me an e-mail at bobr@yakimanewhope.com. I look forward to hearing from you. Remember...

Just Love ‘M',

Pastor Bob

August 12, 2008

When Things Don't Go as Planned...

          I have been reading the book, D-Day, by Stephen Ambrose. It presents a detailed account of the events leading up to what he calls, "the climactic battle of World War II." The story details the intense planning which went into the day of battle. There is one statement which stands out in my memory. One of the generals stands before his troops with the plan-book in his hands, it is hundreds of pages thick, at first he tries to tear it in half, finally he simply throws it to the ground and says, "All these plans, go out the window on the day of battle." Sure enough, when the day of battle arrives, most of the events do not go as planned. The story of D-Day's success is the story of soldiers reacting to situations on the ground and doing what needed to be done. What will we do when things don't go as planned?

          Read Acts 16:6-40. Here, we find Paul and his companions responding to a series of challenges, where things don't go as planned. First, Paul wanted to go with the Gospel into Asia, but the "spirit of Jesus would not allow them..." So, what do they do? They seek God's direction and in the night a man appears to Paul in a vision, begging him to come over to Macedonia. They follow the leading of the Lord and go to Philippi. Second, Paul goes to the riverside trying to find a group of Jewish men (there evidently weren't enough Jewish men in Philippi to form a Synagogue), instead he finds some women gathered there. So, what do they do? They share the Gospel with the women gathered in that place and Lydia is saved and opens her home to them. Third, they find themselves being hounded by a girl possessed of a demonic spirit of prophecy. After putting up with her disruptions for many days, Paul commands the spirit to come out of her. Her owners are incensed and have Paul and Silas imprisoned. They are beaten and placed in bonds in the innermost prison. So, what do they do? They sing and pray and God sends an earthquake which provides their release. This allows them to share the Gospel with the jailer (not to mention the other prisoners present in the jail with them) and his family. They, too, are saved. God opens the door for the Church in Philippi to be started in a powerful way.

          What do we do when things don't go as planned? We sense God leading us to do some thing for Him. It does not proceed in the way we think it should. Our first inclination is to think we missed God's leading. Then, we are prone to give up and leave. But God has other plans for us. He wants to take us through the difficulty, and the disappointment, and on to greater things. When things don't go as planned, know this, God is not defeated. He can and will work with us through the situation and as we trust Him, He will bring us the victory. Remember, He is able (read Phil. 3:12-14)!

          So, what do you think? Drop me a line at bobr@yakimanewhope.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Just Love ‘M',

Pastor Bob