In His Image

My kids have no blood relationship with me. All four are adopted - one from one mother, and the youngest three from another couple. Still, when people see us together or see pictures of us, they will say something like - "Boy, I can see that he/she is your child! They look just like you!" I used to feel compelled to correct people, but now I just smile and say "Thanks." It's meant to be a complement, and I take it as such.

I have trouble sometimes reading Genesis 1:26, for there are times when I just don't feel very "godly".

In fact, there are many days that I am acutely aware of just how far I fall short of the perfection of a very holy and perfect God. This manifests itself in the ways I treat others, through my inmost thoughts, and the ways I act (or don't act) in certain situations.

Yet, God says we were made in His image.

It's true that as we read further we realize that, through the sin of Adam and Eve, the image of God has become marred by sin and we are far removed from God's original intent for our lives due to that sinfulness. Yet God forgives, God redeems, God gives "second chances". Throughout the Old Testament we read of the horrific failures of those people who were called "God's Chosen People", yet still He loved them and would not leave them even when they left Him.

The New Testament tells of the ultimate solution for the problem of broken relationship with sinful man and holy God. It tells the unbelievable story of redemption, of hope; of how God stepped out of heaven, and became one of us...just so we can have relationship with Him.

He became like us, so that we can become like Him - to restore that "image of God" once again.

I was not born into the Family of God. Many claim that we are all "God's children", but that kind of pithy saying has no Biblical support. In fact, according to the Bible, in order to enter into the Family of God we must be adopted in to it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. I don't look much like my Heavenly Father in my own estimation, but over the years I've been told by some that they see the image of God in me. Isn't that incredible?

I'm glad that I don't have to feel "godly"; I am godly. Not because of who I am, but because of Who He is and the work that He has done and is continuing to do in my life. I am a "Child of the King", not simply because I'm part of the human race, but because I've been bought with a price, I've been redeemed, I've been adopted into God's Family!

And I want to look more like my Daddy tomorrow than I do today.

Do you know what that's like? Do you want to?

Father God,
Help me to realize that there is NOTHING within me that looks like You,
EXCEPT that which I allow Jesus Christ full reign
and the Holy Spirit complete control in my life.

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!

Pastor Howie

God Works Out All Things For Our Good

We've all been there.

You know what I'm talking about...the times in our lives when we can't seem to get a handle on things. The times when everything comes crashing down around us. The times when the world seems to be spinning crazily out of control. The times when we wonder just where God is. The times when we cry out, "Why me, God?"; "What are You doing?"; and "Oh, please, God - just make it stop!"

We've all been there...
Maybe you're there now.

The truth of the matter is, life is cyclical - as much as I would love to live life skipping from mountaintop to mountaintop, that's just not reality. Both the Bible and experience tells me that life is more properly interpreted as a series of ups and downs; with both mountaintop experiences as well as valley-dwelling (and all of the climbing and descending that is necessarily inherent in the process). Actually, if anyone wanted to, most could honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as currently in the state of a valley experience, coming out of a valley experience, or gearing up for a valley experience. (Sound too negative? You are more than welcome to look at it the other way. The converse is also obviously necessarily true - i.e. most people can honestly "map" themselves at any given time in their life as being currently in the state of a mountaintop experience, coming down from a mountaintop experience, or gearing up for the next mountaintop experience. But for our purposes of our study today, I am intentionally affirming the "negative" side of this - the fact that we all go through hard times.)

When we recognize that we are in a "valley-dwelling time" in our lives, the devil will whisper strangely seductive nihilistic thoughts: "All hope is gone, everything is useless, all is lost, and no one cares - not even God." It is very important that, in those times, we remember God's promise that He is near - He has not abandoned us. In fact, the Bible tells us clearly that when we "draw close to God, God will draw close to you". (James 4:8).

Right now...
in the middle of your circumstances...
in the midst of your pain, your fear, and your grief...
in the center of your trials and your tribulations...
in the wash of overwhelming uncertainty...
God is as close to you as you allow Him to be.

Relax for just a moment and meditate on that last sentence and on James 4:8. Let the soothing peace of Christ wash over you today. Trust Romans 8:28 that says that we have a promise that we can "know" to be sure: that He is working "all" things (He's still at work; even in the worst thing you are going through) "for the good of those that love him"; those who are "called according to His purpose."

He's working out good things in your life today.
Can you perceive it?
If the honest answer is that you cannot
(which is where many of us are when hard times hit),
will you at least trust in His goodness,
knowing He's working that situation out for your good
even if you can't see His hand?

"Father God, Help me to sense Your presence in good times and in bad. Help me to trust Your whole Word and all of the promises contained within; that You are working out ALL things for my good!

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!"

Pastor Howie

God Answers

With apologies to Andy Rooney, you know what gets on my last nerve? Two things have got to be in my top ten annoyances in life: 1) when I call family or friends and leave a message, and they don't call me back within a reasonable (read: a day or two) amount of time, or even at all; and 2) when I write family and/or friends an e-mail and they don't respond within a reasonable (read: two to three days) amount of time, or even at all. Wow, that burns me! To me, this is the height of insensitivity and rudeness. There are times (especially after being repeatedly ignored) when I almost want to never call or write that person again - if they want to talk with me, let them take the initiative. While I may think that, I rarely ever actually do that, because that would be rude. And to behave in that manner would make me just as guilty as the person I'm upset with.

I suspect the reason why I (and many others I've spoken to on the subject) feel so strongly about this is because when this happens to us, somewhere deep down inside we feel rejected...unimportant...disrespected...ignored...unloved. This offends our sensibilities because we obviously held that person in high enough regard to communicate with them in the first place, and even that small, basic respect wasn't reciprocated.

While this happens often in life with fallen, imperfect people, what would life be like if God were that way? What if when we spoke with Him, He "snubbed" us? What if He didn't respond with loving grace to our pleas and our cries? What if God were always silent, always distant, never answering when we call to Him?

I love the way Psalm 4:3 begins - "You can be sure of this!" What can we be sure of? Two things: 1) God has set the godly apart for Himself, and 2) He will answer when I call to him. God answers! Isn't that great? He not only hears our cries, but His answer is a guarantee - we can be "sure" of it!

Knowing this truth encourages me. It gives me faith and hope. It reminds me that I shouldn't ever give up on talking with God regularly - every day, several times a day, "never ceasing" as Paul put it! Because He hears. He cares. And He is already answering - the question is: can you hear it?

"Father God,
Help me to trust the Truth from Your Word
that You not only hear me when I talk with You, but You ANSWER as well.
Give me eyes to see and ears to hear
ALL of the creative ways that You choose to answer me throughout the day.
Cause me to hear Your voice and see Your handiwork
in the manner in which You choose to reveal the answer to me.

In Jesus' Name - AMEN!"

Pastor Howie