God’s Way

Isaiah 55:8 says:


“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways”, says the Lord.



I have read this verse or heard it quoted many times before. I have heard sermons on it and being a Sunday school teacher I have even taught lessons on it. And it seems like most of the time the verse is used it is used in almost a negative way.

It seems when someone faces a tragedy in his or her life, like losing a loved one, or when something terrible happens to a young child that can’t be explained any other way. Or really anytime we are facing a tough situation and we are not sure why. We seem to turn to this verse to kind of explain it away.

Now I am the first to admit I don’t understand all the reasons God allows struggles to come into our lives. Why the innocent suffer and the guilty seem to go free. Why this or that disaster happens. And there are truly times in our lives where the only answer is that God’s way is different than our way.

But what about the positive side? What about God’s love for us? I think the verse also applies here too. And I think it applies a whole lot more often to the positive than when it applies to the negative stuff.

Bad things happen in our lives. Always have and always will. But if we are honest most bad times are for a moment, or a day, or at worst a season.

But God’s love is for every moment, every day, and every season. And God’s love for us is something else I don’t fully understand. But I don’t have to. That is the great thing about God’s love.

As humans we tend to love those that love us. We show love to those that show love to us. And then we think this same process applies to God’s love. But God’s love is not like our love. His “ways” are truly different.

God is love. So He loves us all the time. He loves you and me even if we don’t love Him. And He shows His love to us no matter if we ever show our love to Him. I know He does this. This morning’s sunrise and this evening’s sunset says, “I love you.” My last breath and my next breath says, “I love you.” (Even if it is my “last” breath.) The smile on my son’s face each day says, “I love you” from my son and my God.

And just when we think we might have God’s love figured out He crawls out of the little manger in Bethlehem and walks toward the cross at Calvary. And says, “I told you My ways are different than your ways.”

Bad times will come. It’s guaranteed. But before they get here let God’s love prepare you. And while the bad times are here, let His love protect you. And then, when they pass, and they will pass, let His love comfort you.

God is love. So let Him love you today. And let Him do it God’s way.

Shortly after turning 50 this thought came to mind.


Going to Wal-Mart
(For guys only)

You are in the middle of some kind of project around the house. Mowing the lawn, putting a new fence in, painting the living room, or whatever. You are hot and sweaty. Covered in dirt or paint. You have your old work clothes on. You know the outfit, shorts with the hole in crotch, old t-shirt with a stain from who knows what, and an old pair of tennis shoes.

Right in the middle of this great home improvement project you realize you need to run to Wal-Mart to get something to help complete the job. Depending on your age you might do the following.

In your 20’s:

Stop what you are doing. Shave, take a shower, blow dry your hair, brush your teeth, floss, and put on clean clothes. Check yourself in the mirror and flex. Add a dab of your favorite cologne because you never know, you just might meet some hot chick while standing in the checkout lane. You went to school with the pretty girl running the register.

In your 30’s:

Stop what you are doing, put on clean shorts and shirt. Change shoes. You married the hot chick so no need for much else. Wash your hands and comb your hair. Check yourself in the mirror. Still got it. Add a shot of your favorite cologne to cover the smell. The cute girl running the register is the kid sister to someone you went to school with.

In your 40’s:

Stop what you are doing. Put a sweatshirt that is long enough to cover the hole in the crotch of your shorts. Put on different shoes and a hat. Wash your hands. Your bottle of Brute Cologne is almost empty so you don’t want to waste any of it on a trip to Wal-Mart. Check yourself in the mirror and do more sucking in than flexing. The spicy young thing running the register is your daughter’s age and you feel weird thinking she is spicy.

In your 50’s:

Stop what you are doing. Put on a hat, wipe the dirt off your hands onto your shirt. Change shoes because you don’t want to get dirt in your new sports car. Check yourself in the mirror and you swear not to wear that shirt anymore because it makes you look fat. The cutie running the register smiles when she sees you coming and you think you still have it. Then you remember the hat you have on is from your buddy’s bait shop and it says, “I Got Worms”.

In your 60’s:

Stop what you are doing. No need for a hat anymore. Hose off the dog crap off your shoes. The mirror was shattered when you were in your 50’s. You hope you have underwear on so nothing hangs out the hole in your pants. The girl running the register may be cute but you don’t have your glasses on so you are not sure.

In your 70’s:

Stop what you are doing. Wait to go to Wal-Mart until they have your prescriptions ready too. Don’t’ even notice the dog crap on your shoes. The young thing at the register smiles at you because you remind her of her grandfather.

In your 80’s:

Stop what you are doing. Start again. Then stop again. Now you remember that you needed to go to Wal-Mart. Go to Wal-Mart and wonder around trying to think what it is you are looking for. Fart out loud and you think someone called out your name. The old lady that greeted you at the front door went to school with you.

In your 90’s:

Stop what you are doing.

Words Left Unspoken
(Inspired by the passing of Marty Ingram)

We are left
With hearts that are broken
And with so many words
That are forever unspoken

The time was too short
We hoped it would be longer
Please dear Lord
Use this to make us all stronger

I’ve been told not to
But I have to ask why
I want to see Your hand in this
At least I want to try

But thank you God
For the great reminder
To live each day in love
To be nicer and to be kinder

Yesterday is over
And tomorrow isn’t a given
Today may be all we get
So make it worth liven

Say what needs to be said
Love deeply, those that you love
And may all you do with today
Point to the Father above

So if tomorrow brings you sadness
And your heart is all broken
I pray you won’t find
You have words left unspoken

Seeing Jesus
Last night I returned from my fourteenth trip to the Orient. After a four hour flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo, an eleven and a half hour flight to Dallas, then a thirty minute flight to Oklahoma City, I was finally home again.
After being gone ten days I was ready to get home and see my family again. And it is always great to see their smiling faces in the crowd of people greeting everyone getting off the plane. As usual there was a pretty large crowd of people but in an instant I could find Janice and James. I didn't really notice any of the other people in the crowd because I was focused on them. And they make sure I can see them. Janice smiles and waves and James usually makes his way to the front of the crowd so I can't miss him.
The reason I can see them so quickly is because I am looking intently for them and because they want to be seen. I think the same is true when it comes to seeing Jesus.
I see Jesus because I am looking for Him. When I am searching for Him and focusing on Him, I can see Him wherever I look. I can see Him in the scriptures. I can see Him in a smile from a stranger, or when He is dressed up as "the least of theses" as a crippled child in China. When I truly focus on Jesus, the rest of the "crowd' or the things of the world seem to disappear. And I only see Him.
And I see Jesus because He wants to be seen. This is probably the most important reason I can see Him. He does all He can to get my attention. He gives me peace when there shouldn't be any. He shows me forgiveness when I don't deserve it. And He holds me in His arms when I need it most. You might say, He smiles and waves and moves to the front of the line, just so I can see Him.
I can see Jesus when I am looking for Him. And I can see Him because He wants to be seen. I pray that you will look for Him today. I know He will be looking for you.

Walking with God


I took a step in Your direction
A step into the great unknown
Not knowing where the journey would lead
But feeling I would never be alone

Some days are full of rain
And a struggle to get through
And many are a blessing
But all are a gift from You

As I travel along
On this journey of wonder
I thank You for the freedom
And for the grace I walk under

Your eyes ever watching
And Your hands always holding
My life of salvation
Without end and always unfolding

And I will continue this walk
Until the road takes me home
Thank you God for walking with me
Because I hate to walk alone

Listen to the Whisper

Last week at church I noticed something that really caught my attention. I walked into the sanctuary and after shaking a few hands and talking with a couple of people I took my seat. My wife was still making the rounds and visiting with her senior adult lady friends so I was sitting there by myself for a few minutes.

The church was starting to fill up as other people made their way in and started taking their seats. Of course being a good Baptist church it looks like we have assigned seating since everyone usually sits in the same spot each week. Myself included.

Before church starts there is quite a bit of activity in the sanctuary. People were talking, music was playing, and kids running around and laughing.

In all that I noticed a couple sitting next to each other towards the front of the church. At first they weren’t talking but then the man leaned over a little and whispered something to his wife. Apparently she didn’t hear him so she leaned towards him and he whispered it again. With all the other noise going on she still couldn’t hear what he said so she scooted closer to him and leaned over even closer to listen one more time. To help I noticed the man leaned more towards his wife and whispered to her again. I am not sure what he said, after all he was whispering, but apparently his wife finally did. She nodded and smiled at her husband.

While watching this I had the feeling that is how God talks to us. In a whisper. The bible calls it a “still small voice.”

God has spoken to us in a lot of ways. He has used a burning bush. A donkey. And He has sent angels to give His message. Maybe it’s just me but I haven’t seen any burning bushes, talking donkeys, or been visited by any of God’s angels. Maybe you have.

But I know God still wants to talk to you and me. We just need to listen for His whisper.

The problem with hearing a whisper is that it can get drowned out by all the activity and noise that is in our lives. Just like the woman at church that couldn’t hear her husband because of all the “noise” going on around her. We can’t hear God because of all the noise in our lives. So, we need to either get rid of the noise or lean closer to the whisperer. Maybe both would be good.

So why doesn’t God just yell out his message from the mountain top like He used to? I don’t know. I’m not God. But I do know He desires nothing more than to be close to His people. So when He whispers, He leans closer towards us and whispers into our ear. And when we truly try to listen to Him we lean closer to Him. And if we don’t hear Him the first time we “scoot” over and lean even closer.

And that is where He wants us. Leaning towards Him and listening.

But how does God whisper to us? One way might be like this. Ever read a verse or a story in the bible that you have read or heard several times before but all of a sudden something jumps out that you never thought of before? Happens all the time. I think that is God whispering to us.

We just weren’t leaning close enough before.

So watch for the burning bush or the talking donkey because God might use them to talk to you. But listen for the whisper too. It might be His way of getting us closer to Him.

Sing the Song

Have you ever heard a song and thought, “Wow, what a great song. I need to tell somebody about this.” And you can’t wait until you see your best friend so you can tell them about this great new song that you have heard.

But telling someone about a song really doesn’t work very well does it?

You can tell them about the great words in the song and how it touched your life and how the words seemed to be written just for you. And you just know that they are going to move the person you’re talking to the same way they moved you. You can even tell them your favorite line in the song or how the chorus seems to be stuck in your head and you just can’t get it out. They may smile at you and genuinely want to be excited about the song and they really enjoy your excitement over it. But it’s not the same for them. The words don’t mean the same for them.

Not only do you tell them about the words but also you tell them about the music in it. How the intro really captures your attention and how when you listen to it you just can’t keep from humming along and tapping your toes and it just made you want to get up and dance.

You are so excited over the song and what it meant to you and you told your friend every detail of the song. But they don’t get it like you got it.

Telling them about the song doesn’t work. You really have to sing it.

* * * * * * *

In a sense I think this is where the Pharisees and other religious leaders of Jesus’ day made the mistake. They told the people about the song. But they didn’t sing it.

They heard the song of God’s love. The song of God’s forgiveness. The song of God’s salvation. The song had so much in it. Compassion, grace, mercy, and tenderness. It was a great song and the song had been given to them. It touched them. It moved them. And they wanted to share the song with the people around them.

So they brought everyone into the temple and said. “We have heard a great song and we want to tell you about it.”

So they went about telling the people every single word in the song and they went over it and over it again so they could memorize it and not forget the song. They told them that these were the only words to the songs and that they couldn’t change or add any new words to the song without checking with them first. So after some time everyone had the words memorized.

But the words didn’t seem to mean as much to the people as it did the Pharisees.

Then they taught them about the music. They were so excited. They wrote out the music note by note for the people to follow. They gave them the notes, how the tempo would flow, and how the music should feel when it is played. So after some time everyone had the music memorized.

But just hearing about the music and how to play it didn’t seem to move the people like it did the teachers.

And the teachers did the same with the dance that went with the song. They told them step by step where their feet should go and how they should move in the dance. They explained that by doing this the people could dance just like the teachers danced.

Strangely though the people didn’t really feel like dancing when they heard about the song.

But for years the Pharisees and the teachers led the people in song and dance. They all sang the same song with the exact same words and the exact same music and they all danced the exact same dance. But the song didn’t bring them much joy.

But…then the author of the song showed up. Jesus. And nobody knows the song better than the author. The author knows why the song was written and how it should be played. And how it should move you to dance.

So Jesus started teaching the people the song. The real song. The way it was meant to be sung. But not only did He tell them the words to the song and how the music could be played and how the dance goes. He sang the song. And He danced the dance. When the song spoke about forgiveness He showed them how to forgive. When it spoke of compassion He showed them with tears how to be compassionate. And when the song spoke about salvation He died on the cross and showed them salvation.

He sang the song and He sang it out loud.

But the Pharisees didn’t like His version of the song.

Although many followed and listened to the song Jesus was singing not everyone sang along. Some went back to the old song. And some quit singing all together.

But the ones that did sing along. Wow, what a song. They heard the words and felt the music and danced alongside with the author of the song. Their lives were changed. They would never be the same. Oh, they still had troubles and rainy days. But now they had a song they could sing even in the darkest times. And they taught the song to other people. But more importantly they sang the song so others could hear it.

And the song is still being sung today.

The lesson learned is that we need to be sure that when we teach others the song today we not only tell them what the words and music are but we need to show them. We have to show them what forgiveness, tenderness, love, mercy, salvation, grace, etc looks like. And when we do that and when they join us in the song there is nothing that can quiet us down.

And we will all sing it. Not like we interpret it but the way the author wrote it.

And so may you hear God’s song. And may you sing along. Sing it out daily so the world can hear you. And may you dance the dance. And may Jesus Himself lead you in the dance. And may you teach others the song.

But don’t just tell them about the song. Sing the song.

Idol Worshipper
(American Idol that is.)

Ok, I’d admit it. I watched every single minute of last season’s American Idol. And yes, I voted for David Cook. Whew, I feel better getting that out in the open.

I am not sure why I was so hooked on the show this year. In the past I usually just watched the first couple weeks so I could see Simon crucify the poor souls that think they can sing. I couldn’t carry a note if you strapped it to my hip but at least I realize it. Some of those poor folks don’t have a clue. Well, until Simon enlightens them with his wonderful tactfulness.

After several weeks the contestants were whittled down to the Top 10. Then they started to have celebrities from the music world that would come in every week and work with each one of the singers. They had people like Neil Diamond, Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, and even Andrew Lloyd Weber. Each of the contestants stood in awe as they worked on songs that the celebrities had made famous.

After the week that Dolly Parton was on the show one of the singers, Michael Johns was interviewed and asked what it was like to work with Dolly and to sing one of her songs. His response struck a chord with me. (No pun intended.)

Michael said, “To be standing there and singing one of her songs to her. And to have her enjoy it. I mean, words can’t describe that.”

And I would think that would be pretty amazing. To stand before the artist that created the song and came up with the idea, the tune, and the lyrics. And then to have them say, “Ok, let’s hear what you do with the song.”

In a way I feel that God is saying the same thing to us.

God along with His Son and Holy Spirit make up the greatest trio ever and they have created a wonderful song. The song of life. They came up with the words and how it should sound. And in the song they sing about love and mercy and grace and compassion. The song also includes things like comfort, joy, peace, and kindness. There is even one whole stanza that is devoted to forgiveness.

And not only did they create this song, they sent Jesus to teach us how to sing it. For three years He walked among us singing this great song of life. He invited everyone He met to sing along. And with the help from the Holy Spirit the song has continued for over two thousands years.

So now it is our turn to sing.

And just as Dolly Parton enjoyed hearing Michael Johns sing one of her songs God himself loves to hear us sing His song.

So when we show mercy and compassion and forgiveness to others or when we truly love as we have been taught to love God is sitting there saying, “Wow, they are singing our song.”

We know the song. It is created inside me and it is created inside you. We heard Jesus sing it in the past. We have His “song book” that we can refer to daily. And His Spirit has kept the tune fresh in our hearts to this day.

So, as we all stand before the Creator of the song, He is speaking to us. And I think He is saying.

“Ok, let’s hear what you can do with the song.”