Pioneer

        In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, the satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter’s magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target. 

  

     But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter’s immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; and Neptune at nearly three billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun. 

     And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. "Perhaps most remarkable," writes Jaroff, "those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and takes more than nine hours to reach Earth."

That satellite wasn’t supposed to do what it did.  It was built to last 3 years... it went over 25.  It’s 8-watt transmitter... underpowered even at its launch... continued sending signals and data back to Earth at an unexpected rate.  Tiny power... big results.

If it had disintegrated after it’s expected 3 years, we would have lamented it’s demise but applauded it’s efforts.  After all, that’s what it was supposed to do.  Launch...Jupiter data... done.  But it didn’t.  It kept going.  Never quitting.  Always pushing ahead.

So many of us have settled for what others have told us we’re designed for...  

You are average

You are ordinary

You are plain

You are medium

Do what you get to do in your life... but don’t expect much more...

You’ll never make it.

You don’t have the contacts...the skill set... 

The dream is dead... buried... disintegrated 

Don’t listen to them.  Keep going.  Push past the limits others put on you.  Go beyond people’s expectations and prove to the world that God knows far better than anyone what you are capable of.  

The engineers at NASA built Pioneer 10 for three years of usefulness.  It went thirty...

You were built by the Creator of the Universe for a lifetime of excellence... and have the opportunity to spend an eternity in His presence.  

It doesn’t matter where they say you should stop.

It doesn’t matter if they think you’ll never make it.

It doesn’t matter what others say about your dream.

It doesn’t matter how young or old you are...what your past looked like...or their definition of your success.

It matters where you are headed and what it would take to stop you.

“So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.”  Galatians 6:9

Stop at nothing.

Keep going.  

Blessings are coming.

Don’t quit. 

Prime

I once heard a story of a man who got lost in the desert. After wandering around for a long time his throat became very dry, about that time he saw a little shack in the distance.  He made his way over to the shack and found a water pump with a small jug of water and a note.

The note read: "pour all the water into the top of the pump to prime it, if you do this you will get all the water you need". Now the man had a choice to make, if he trusted the note and poured the water in and it worked he would have all the water he needed. If it didn’t work he would still be thirsty and he might die. Or he could choose to drink the water in the jug and get immediate satisfaction, but it might not be enough and he still might die. After thinking about it the man decided to risk it. He poured the entire jug into the pump and began to work the handle, at first nothing happened and he got a little scared but he kept going and water started coming out. So much water came out he drank all he wanted, took a shower, and filled all the containers he could find. Because he was willing to give up momentary satisfaction, he got all the water he needed. Now the note also said: after you have finished, please refill the jug for the next traveller.” The man refilled the jug and added to the note: “ Please prime the pump, believe me it works”! 

We face the same choice everyday.  Hold on to what we have in case we need it... or give it all up to God so that He can come through on His promises.  Drink all the water we see or pour it in and trust?  Temporary satisfaction or long-term provision?  Here and now or now and later?  

What are you afraid to give up?  Are you holding on to the water you have or taking a “risk” that God will come through?

-  Do you want to run your own life for fear that God can’t or won’t?

-  Are you holding on to 100% of your income because tithing makes you nervous?

 What are you doing with your talents and abilities?  Pouring them out for others?

When was the last time you asked yourself... “Do I really trust God?”

We claim to.... we tell others we do... we want to... but isn’t it risky?

Trusting God is not a risk.  

“Those who know your name trust in you,

    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”  Psalm 9:10

“O Lord, I give my life to you.

   I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

    or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

    but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.”  Psalm 25:1-3

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

    do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do,

    and he will show you which path to take.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

“See, God has come to save me.

    I will trust in him and not be afraid.

The Lord God is my strength and my song;

    he has given me victory.”  Isaiah 12:2

Verse after verse we are reminded that trusting God is important.  But how?

Pour out what you see in front of you... give Him what you have and all of who you are.  Not only will He come through... scripture tells us that He will provide more than you could ever produce on your own.  

Give up trying to be God.  Instead, allow yourself to trust.  I know people around you can (and have) let your down.  But God is not like that.  He is trustworthy, proven, and bigger than the situation you face.  He is worthy of our praise, King of all Kings, and takes great joy in watching His children succeed.  He makes streams in the desert and mends the hearts of the hurting.  

You can trust Him.

See what you have now?  That little jug of water?  Give it up to Him completely and watch Him flood your life with blessings.  

Finding the Lens

Brenda was a young woman that wanted to learn to go rock climbing. Although she was scared to death she went with a group and they faced this tremendous cliff of rock. Practically perpendicular. In spite of her fear, she put on the gear and she took a hold of the rope and she started up the face of that rock.

Well, she got to a ledge where she could take a breather. As she was hanging on there, whoever was holding the rope up at the top of the cliff made a mistake and snapped the rope against Brenda's eye and knocked out her contact lens.

You know how tiny contact lenses are and how almost impossible to find. Well, here she is on a rock ledge, with who know how many hundreds of feet behind and hundreds of feet above her. Of course, she looked and looked and looked, hoping that she would be able to find that contact lens. Here she was, very far from home. Her sight was now blurry. She was very upset by the fact that she wouldn't be anywhere near a place where she could get a new contact lens. And she prayed that the Lord would help her to find it.

Well, her last hope was that perhaps when she got to the top of the cliff, one of the girls that was up there on the top might be able to find her contact lens in the corner of her eye. When she got to the top, a friend examined her eye. There was no contact lens to be found. She sat down with the rest of the party, waiting for the rest of them to come up the face of the cliff.

She looked out across range after range of mountains, thinking of that Bible verse that says, "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth." She thought, "Lord, You can see all these mountains. You know every single stone and leaf that's on those mountains and You know exactly where my contact lens is."

Finally, the time came when it was time to go down. They walked down the trail to the bottom. Just as they got there, there was a new party of rock climbers coming along. As one of them started up the face of the cliff, she shouted out, "Hey, you guys! Anybody lose a contact lens?"

Well, that would be startling enough, wouldn't it? She had found the contact lens! But you know why she saw it? An ant was carrying that contact lens so that it was moving slowly across the face of the rock.  [by Elizabeth Elliot in “Keep a Quiet Heart”]

A giant rock wall... hundreds of thousands of rocks... millions of ants...  

...and the contact lens is transparent.  

The hikers at the bottom catch a tiny gleam of light bouncing off the rock and actually take the time to investigate it.   

Can you imagine what they thought when they found it?  Where did this come from?  What are the chances we’ll find the owner?  Why didn’t it break on impact?

And then the team comes down the mountain... and owner gets reunited with lens.  

Something that was extremely unlikely happened.  Sound unbelievable?  I know.  When I read this story, I quietly wondered if it was true.  To our finite minds... things like this just don’t happen.  Lenses break.  People give up.  Things become irretrievable.  Marriages fail.  People leave.  Tests come back positive.  Friends reject.  

Good thing God doesn’t think like us.  God is magnified in the details of situations we give up on.  He specializes in catching the towel we throw in and nailing it to the cross.  

He never gives up.

He never stops looking.

He never says “you’re on your own”

He sends an ant to carry a contact lens back to its owner.  We don’t understand it.  We don’t deserve it.  And we didn’t earn it.

God notices the small stuff and He does the impossible.  

Does He really see it when I cry out?  Yes.

Can He really put people in my child’s life to get them back on the path?  Yes.

Is He paying attention to my finances?  Strengthening me during the doctors visits?  

Making it obvious when a boyfriend/girlfriend isn’t “the one?”  Yes, yes, yes.

Here it is Tuesday and you’re ready to stop looking for that contact lens...  to give up...  to move it over to the impossible column in your mind.   God has a word for you today:  

“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”  Matthew 10:29

“Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”  Matthew 6:26

What do these two verses have in common?  Two words:  God cares. He sincerely does.  

Some of you have carried a very heavy burden for many long years.  Just when you think it’s getting better, the enemy chuckles and knocks you back down.  What you used to call a temporary problem has devolved into what you now call pain.  Life hurts... but God loves.  God does the impossible.  God changes things.  God’s eyes are on you.  God knows.  God cares.  

Look down today... see that contact lens that you’d given up on?  It’s there... unbroken and supernaturally perfect.  So is the peace, power, and perseverance for the next time something seems impossible.  Reach down... claim them.   It may seem like you face long odds today... but fortunately for you... His eye is on you... and the unlikely is where He flourishes.   

Live

In the book Scully, there is a dialogue between Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Computers and John Scully, who at the time was president of Pepsi. Jobs was attempting to recruit Scully for the top job at Apple and he asked Scully, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Great question. But Jesus asked a similar one centuries before to Peter and Andrew...

“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20

...and to Matthew 

“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Matthew 9:9

Essentially, Jesus asked... Do you want to spend the rest of your life fishing, tax collecting, etc. or do you want to change the world? Do you want to make an impact here on Earth... or for eternity? 

He’s asking the same thing to us. Think about yesterday... was it lived for Christ? Did you extend grace? Help someone in need? Share the Gospel with someone? Donate, sacrifice, or assist? 

Pray?
Read the Bible?
Make a change that will improve your quality of life?

Who did we choose to follow yesterday? Are we selling sugar water or changing the world?

If you choose Jesus... what does that mean? How does a world-changer live?

- Live unselfishly

Give what you have to those in need - even if they can’t pay you back. World-changers sacrifice willingly so that others can succeed. They are servants here on Earth because they remember that their reward is in Heaven (Matt. 5:12)

- Live intentionally 

Remember that every decision leads you closer to Christ or further away... there are no neutral outcomes. World changers know this and think through every choice. 

- Live hopefully 

Keep your head up. Remember that what you are going through is for a season and will change. Jesus is the Hope of the world and will see you through... remind and reassure others that by following Christ they will make it through their trials as well.

- Live gracefully 

Extend the same grace to those who have hurt you as you have received from Christ. There will be many who are looking for another chance to get it right... be the one who makes it possible. (Matt. 18:22)

- Live purposefully 

Actively pursue your purpose. Don’t let the enemy convince you that you don’t have one. You were created for a reason... don’t stop until you uncover what that is. Your diligence and determination will inspire others to push on to discover their own destiny. 

- Live lovingly 

Many people will cross your path today... love them. See them as God does... not as challenges or strangers... but as fellow masterpieces sculpted by a loving God.

Sugar-water sellers do what they did yesterday. Clinging to the status quo like a security blanket... choosing survival over sacrifice. They tread water in an ocean of mediocrity.

You weren’t born for that. You’re meant to be a world-changer.

World-changers are called by Jesus to stand out... to give everything to Him. 

“Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Luke 17:33

Today... choose Christ over convenience. Break the mold of yesterday and emerge stronger... ready to drop everything, follow Him, and be a living example of Christ’s heart. 

When He calls you to be His disciple... how will you answer?

God Knows

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”  1 Peter 5:10

Maybe you woke up today with the weight of the world on your shoulders.

Sometimes it’s what life throws at you.  Sometimes it’s discipline for a bad decision.  Every time it’s tough.  Really tough.  Hard to believe that you’ll be able to bear up under it.  Stresses, confusion, anger, bitterness, worry, and wonder... all mixed together in the soup of our day.  Life gets very very hard.     And in the midst of our pain, the devil sits nearby whispering...

“If God loved you...you wouldn’t be going through this.”

That voice sounds so familiar.  It’s the one that tells you that you aren’t good enough... or that God has left you... or you don’t matter.

He just doesn’t let up.
 
The saddest truth is that some of us have become convinced this is true.  It’s far easier to believe we are being punished for something than it is to think that God is allowing it to happen for us to grow.  We don’t like discipline.  We don’t like not knowing.  And if we’re being honest... we don’t like to wait on God’s timing when our own seems like a better plan.

God knows what He’s doing.

He truly does.


I know this... You will be victorious over what is holding you down.   How do I know?

1) What you are feeling is for a SEASON.

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”  1 Peter 5:10

That pit in your stomach. The tears that sting your eyes.  The lies.  The abandonment.  The loneliness.  You won’t feel these forever.  Look at the verse... it says your suffering is not a permanent condition.  Of course, a little while to God may seem like an eternity to us….but God’s timing is perfect... and we need to keep in mind that there is a purpose to the pain.  It may feel like Winter now... but Spring is coming.   Endure the season... but while you are going through it... thank God for His continued love and protection.

He is building you... one season and one challenge at a time.


2) What you are feeling is for a REASON.

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to squeeze its body through the tiny hole. Then it stopped, as if it couldn’t go further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bits of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch it, expecting that any minute the wings would enlarge and expand enough to support the body. Neither happened. In fact the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required by the butterfly to get through the opening was a way of forcing the fluid from the body into the wings so that it would be ready for flight once that was achieved.

The butterfly was meant to go through struggle to make it capable of thriving in its life.

Look again at today’s verse:

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”  1 Peter 5:10

The very reason you hurt is because there is something in it that will refine you...  You will learn something about the depth of your faith...the strength of your God... and how very much He loves you.

Pushing through builds perseverance.  Enduring under the weight brings strength.  Leaning on God when it hurts develops faith.

You’ll need all three to become the person that God has created you to be.  Perseverance...strength...faith.  If life were always easy, you’d struggle with all three.

You were designed by a loving God to stand strong in the face of adversity.  To fly.  Instead of running from the troubles or looking for shortcuts around the trials... embrace them.  It won’t be easy... Maybe you’ll want to be a martyr... or blame yourself or someone else... or feel like a victim.

You aren’t.  God is bigger than anything you will ever come up against.  The season you are in has been long and difficult... but you’ll make it.  Never quit.  Keep moving forward... even tiny steps if you have to.

And when the clouds part and the sun comes back out... break free... spread your wings and be a living testimony of Christ’s goodness and love.

It Isn't Over

Ephesians 5:21, 31, 33 “And the Spirit makes it possible to submit humbly to one another out of respect for the Anointed.  ‘And this is the reason a man leaves his father and his mother and is united with his wife; the two come together as one flesh.’ Nevertheless, each husband is to love and protect his own wife as if she were his very heart, and each wife is to respect her own husband.”  

In over twenty years in the ministry, I’ve talked with many married couples in trouble.  Each pair have their own unique circumstances, but there are common threads that run throughout as well.

Fairytale wedding... erosion of intimacy over time... spouses become roommates not marital partners... “grass is greener being single” thoughts...  distrust... arguments over petty things... control issues... 

all eroding into divorce.  

And nobody knows it’s happening.  Like a tooth with a cavity in the back of your mouth.  Looks healthy on the outside... but the hidden decay rots away at the integrity of what once made it strong… Both sides hurt and the blinded world never sees it.   A maiden name re-surfaces.  Wedding ring grooves appear where a golden band was once placed.  

I do becomes I used to.  

How do spouses turn it around?  It’s not easy… but it happens… four life-changing transformations take place which make what seem irreparable into something whole again.  Let’s quickly look at all 4.

 Commit together

The first and most important thing couples do is give their lives to Christ.  He is the centerpiece of successful marriages.

Many will say... “I’m a Christian and he/she is not... how can I make them choose Christ?”  Fact is... you can’t.  They have to make that decision on their own.  Simply live out your faith in front of them...and never quit praying that the Holy Spirit would help them see the importance of a relationship with Jesus.  If you are a Christ-follower... the tendency is to let your non-believing spouse drag you away from God. Be the exception.  Stand strong in your faith and provide the same grace and mercy toward your spouse as God is doing in you.  

 Pray together 

Successful marriages commit to grow spiritually together.   Having the same quiet times, reading scripture together, coming to church regularly all matter in the restoration of Godly marriage. 

If you are in a struggling marriage and you are both Christ-followers... commit to spending some time together each day with God.  Pray for each other... lift each other up... journal about your successes and failures... God wants to say something to both of you through your time with Him...be sure to listen.

Serve together

There’s nothing like giving time to God each week together.  Getting involved in a ministry...helping people..is extremely fulfilling and helps each person in the marriage grow.  By pouring into the lives of others, we gain perspective on our own problems and see blessings where we once saw barriers.  

Obey together

Obedience is not a natural behavior.  Often, we do things our own way and things eventually fall apart.

Once a couple accepts Christ as Lord... things change.  God blesses... but not automatically.  People’s behaviors have to move from selfish to selfless... God-absent to God-honoring... us-centered to Christ-centered.  And when this transformation happens, and God is honored in obedience, blessings come... and the purpose of the marriage shifts in many ways...

No longer just raising kids... but raising Godly future husbands and wives
No longer putting my spouse on a pedestal... but Christ.
No longer defending against divorce... but moving forward in beautiful marriage.

If you are reading this... and your marriage is in trouble.. God wants to remind you of something.

It isn’t over.

Is there work to do?  Will it be difficult?  Does it seem like he doesn’t care anymore?  Has she withdrawn from you?   

Don’t quit.  The road back may seem long... but it’s well-traveled.  You won’t be alone.  

God still restores.  People still change.  Healing still takes place.  

I’m praying for you... take the first step today.

Missed?

Some years ago at a Resort Area along the East Coast, a small community was having an open town meeting about some financial problems that they were facing.  Among the two dozen or so people was one man no one seemed to know who was apparently visiting in that area & had just dropped in on the meeting.  He started to make a comment once as various projects were considered, but he was interrupted; so for the rest of the time, he kept still, and he left early.

Just as he went out someone arriving late came in, and said breathlessly, “What was he doing here? Is he going to help us?”  The rest of them said, “Who are you talking about? Who was that man?” 

The person who had just arrived said, “You mean you don’t know? That was John D. Rockefeller.  His yacht is in our harbor!  Didn’t you get his help? 

In despair someone said, “No, we didn’t get his help; we didn’t know who he was!”

Adjusted for inflation... John D. Rockefeller is considered by many to be the richest man (other than King Solomon) who ever lived.  

Have you ever missed an opportunity?  Kicked yourself for letting something (or someone) get by you?  Done something that ruined a chance to move forward or be rewarded?  If so, you aren’t alone.  Let’s take a look at one example from scripture... this one from Moses:

“In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. While they were there, Miriam died and was buried.

There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron. The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!  Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?  Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”

Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them, and the Lord said to Moses, “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”

   So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.  Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?”  Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”  This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there he demonstrated his holiness among them.”  Numbers 20: 1-13

God wanted Moses to speak to the rock to produce water...

Moses struck it.

Game over.  Moses would never see the land that God had promised.  Opportunity missed.  Never to return. 

Unfair?  Many might think so.  After all, wasn’t the result the same?  Yes, water did pour from the stone... but the end doesn’t justify the means.  Moses blew it... and as a result would miss out on what he had dreamt about for 40 years... the promised land.

A textbook case of disobedience to God.   Moses was told something... had the opportunity to obey and follow through... and chose to do what HE wanted instead.  He  wasn’t the victim of circumstance... or had bad luck... or in the wrong place at the wrong time...  He CHOSE to disobey.  And because of that choice, he lost the opportunity for God to do something truly special through him.  

Do we do the same thing?  Do missed opportunities happen because we aren’t prepared or don’t do what we know we should?   Let’s look at a few scenarios:

What if I meet a man/woman?... What are my standards?  What will I do or not do that will honor God?

If someone I met today asked me how to have a relationship with Jesus... would I be able to explain it clearly?  

What does God want me to do in my family?  Have I shared Christ with all of them (even those hostile to the very thought of “religion”?)

Am I taking care of myself physically so that I can be fit enough to help people in and through my retirement years?  

Do I continually read, study, and grow by studying God’s Word?  What if I am in trouble... will I even know what God wants me to do?  

People pass away, circumstances change, aging happens, spiritual lives grow stagnant... and ultimately...  opportunities are missed forever.   But it doesn’t have to be that way for you.

Here’s are a few quick things I ask myself when figuring out how to not miss an opportunity:

Is this something God wants me to do or is it something that I want to do.  God’s requirements always take precedent over my own.  If it is something God wants me to do... I move to step 2.

What is God asking of me?   Is it clear what my objectives are?  Do I know what He requires?  I do this through prayer, the counsel of very close Christian friends/family, and my own understanding of scripture.  

What do I need to change, give-up, alter, put on hold, or sacrifice in order to do what  He’s asking me to do?  Am I willing to pay the price that obedience requires?

I find that when I run life through this filter, I am able to better seize opportunity and be obedient to God in the process.  I pray that today, when a chance to honor God comes, you will be able to do so.  Regret hurts... guilt lingers... disappointment will swallow you up.  

But those things are preventable.  

Live life... don’t just react to it.  Look for chances to let God shine through you.  Stay in tune to His nudges... and before long you will yourself blessed beyond belief and an expert in making the most of every chance.