Tuesday, July 8, 2014

""Why You Trippin?"

I was working a while ago at a call center here in Fresno and came upon an issue with a customer.  I wasn't sure how to take care of their issue and was frantic in trying to find a solution.  I went to one of my co-workers, my friend Tyrone Redick, and presented their issue to him.  He took one look at it and said, "Why you trippin?"  He had already found the solution that I couldn't see.
I followed his advice and instruction and the issue was solved.

As I read the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19, I could hear his words once again.  But this time the words were not from him to me, but from God to Elijah.  

Elijah had received a death threat from Jezebel because he had killed the prophets of Baal.  Elijah, the prophet of the Most High God, ran for his life apparently in fear of Jezebel's threat.  After a days journey the angel of the Lord came to him twice and said, "Eat because the journey is too great for you."  Elijah ate the food the angel brought to him and in the strength of that food, travel forty days and nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.  Upon his arrival there, God asked him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  Elijah's response was "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life. - 1 Kings 19:10"  What happened next was interesting.

It says that God told him to come out to the opening of the cave he was hiding in.  After which, a mighty wind blew through and ripped the rocks into pieces, but God was not "in" the wind.  Next, an earthquake rocked the mountain, but God was not "in" the earthquake.  After that, a wild fire burned through the area, but God was not "in" the fire.  Lastly, a still small voice was heard and it doesn't say God was not in that voice.  Elijah then covered his face with his mantle and went to the opening of the cave again.  The next thing we see is God speaking to Elijah asking him the same question as before, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  Elijah's response had not changed even after all he had just seen and experienced: "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

God then simply assured Elijah that He had everything under control and a backup plan was already in place.  He had Elijah anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elish as a prophet to pick up where Elijah had left off.  Furthermore, He assured him that He had 7000 prophets that were still totally devoted and committed to Him.  God never appeared to be upset with Elijah for his stance and decision to call it quits.  He instead seems to denote that it was all good and that His plan would not stop with Elijah.  

Here's what I see in this.

God was demonstrating His surpassing great power as an answer to the threat of Jezebel with the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but He demonstrated His heart to Elijah in the still small voice.  In other words, the wind, earthquake and fire are what God would do to Elijah's enemies including Jezebel and was giving Elijah an opportunity to change his mind (i.e. asking him the same question before and after the demonstration of His power).  When Elijah did not change his response, God put plan B into effect.  In essence, God was asking Elijah, "Why You Trippin?  I got this!"  But Elijah had to decide if he was going to continue or quit.

I find that this is the same with us. "Oh God, they're coming to take away my car."  "Oh God, they're threatening eviction."  "Oh God, we're facing bankruptcy."  "Oh God, we can't pay our bills."  On and on our prayers go, and rightly so.  This is no way minimizes whatever current circumstance you may be facing.  But God is attempting to display His great power on our behalf, perhaps not by removing the issues we face, but by reminding us of His ability and His heart toward us.  The question is, after we have been reminded of His ability regarding the enemies of our peace and His heart toward us, will we quit?  Either way, God's got this.  

So to you I present the same question my friend Tyrone Redick presented to me, "Why You Trippin?"

Be encouraged today and be reminded of Who it is that fights for you.

God's got this.



Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014

Well, here we are in a new year.  God has graciously allowed us another year to experience His presence, love, mercy, grace, and power.  He has allowed us more time to expand and extend the kingdom to all those willing to receive it and to represent Him better than we did the year before.  This is really an incredible privilege when we think on it honestly.  I'm in London at the time of this writing and actually got to experience a new birth year as well as a new year.  It was good, but not the same without my precious family around, though.

My friend and brother, Michael Randle and I, were talking last night.  With the travel, time change and schedule, things can sometimes get a little confusing.  I was trying to figure out specifically when I was set to return home as weary as I was (and still am).  The more we talked, the more confused I seemed to make things!  I couldn't get out of my mind that even though it was after midnight this morning of Jan 1, it would not be Jan 2 when I woke up later today (lol)!  Blame it on jet lag!  Michael looked at me and said, "Bro, when you wake up, it's still gonna be the 1st!"  We laughed at that for a little while.  

Then, in typical Mike Randle style, the profound began to come forth.  He said, "You know, Man, here we are trying to figure out a time of day and the day itself and getting confused.  Yet GOD has all of eternity rapped up in the palm of His hand.  He knows intimately every issue that well over 200 billion people on the planet has.  He know every hair, sees every tear, listens intently to every prayer, and has mapped out every life.  And here we are trying to wrap our minds around a day!"  Then it dawned on me.  In light of the fact that we now embark on a new year, consider the mercy of God.  Consider how after all the wrong things we all have done and fallen short regarding, we are STILL here and He STILL gives us yet another year to do better.  Consider all those times that we have felt forsaken by Him or have felt like we have done too much for Him to love and care for us, and then consider the fact that He kept us safe and alive during the entire time of the previous year.  

Now let all those words, what Mike said and what was just written, sink in.  What is it that is plaguing your thoughts right now?  What are you having a hard time understanding and figuring out?  How amazing is God to take all the stuff that we throw at Him, both good and bad, right and wrong, sinful and righteous, and still love us enough to take care of us?  How amazing is it that He is not governed by the actions of His kids, but deals with each one as a loving, just, and righteous Father that only wants the absolute best for His children?  Mind blowing, if you try to wrap your mind around that.

So my encouragement for you in this year of 2014 is simply this: UNBOX GOD IN YOUR LIFE.  Secondly UNBOX YOURSELF TO BELIEVE HIM AND RECEIVE HIM EVERYDAY.  Let everyday be a new day of acceptance of His lordship in this year.  Will you understand everything?  Absolutely not.  Will everything go well and perfectly for you?  Maybe not what WE would consider well and perfect, but it will regarding the purpose of God regarding you.  Will it be easy?  No.  But will it be worth it?  YES!!  Worth betting your life on.

Be blessed!