Seeing Clearly, Above the Clouds

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Life has a way of unfolding in seasons, some filled with sunshine and others shrouded in the dreariness of cloud-covered days. It’s during these gray moments that our spirits can feel weighed down, as if the very light that guides us has dimmed. Yet, an experience this week reminded me of a profound truth, one that mirrors the steadfast presence of Jesus in our lives, even when obscured by life’s trials.

The Sun Was Always There

On my daily walk, which began under a blanket of dreary clouds, I witnessed a beautiful transformation. As I tread the familiar path, the clouds began to dissipate, gradually revealing the sun that had been there all along. The landscape around me, once muted, was suddenly aglow, bathed in morning light. This moment was a powerful reminder that, despite the overcast skies that occasionally loom over us, the sun—ever constant and warm—remains.

Above the Clouds

This revelation brought to mind numerous takeoffs from Denver International Airport, particularly on days when snow and gloom seemed unyielding.

On some of the grayest of gray days, we allow ourselves to wonder if the sun is really there. Had our previous sparkling glimpses been just a figment of our imagination, fueled by our emotions?

And yet, as we continue our tumultuous ascent through the layers of clouds, we finally reach that breathtaking moment when the plane emerges above the cloud cover into the brilliance of unobstructed sunlight. It’s a vivid illustration of how, beyond the temporary veil of clouds, the sun shines as brightly as ever. It was there, I just couldn’t see it.

An Analogy for Our Journey with Jesus

Both of these experiences serve as poignant analogies for the presence of Jesus in our lives. Much like the obscured sun, there are times when Jesus may seem distant or hidden from our sight, veiled by the clouds of our circumstances, doubts, or pain. But the truth remains—He is always there, His love and light constant and unwavering, even when our vision is clouded.

The clouds in our lives can take many forms: grief, disappointment, uncertainty, anxiety, fear. These are the layers that can momentarily hide the face of Jesus from us. Yet, just as the sun continues to shine above the clouds, so too does Jesus remain present, His light piercing through the darkest of skies, awaiting the moment we break through the clouds to see clearly once again.

The Breakthrough

Breaking through these clouds often requires faith—a belief in what we cannot see but know to be true, as the author of Hebrews points out:

It’s a faith that says, even on the dreariest of days, the Son is still there, His warmth and guidance a constant force in our lives. It’s in these moments of faith that we experience our own “takeoff,” rising above the doubts and fears to bask in the radiant truth of Jesus’ love for us.

The Invitation

Let this be an invitation to look up, even when the clouds seem impenetrable. Remember the sun that shines above and the Son who is always with us. May we find comfort in the knowledge that the clouds are temporary, but the light of Jesus is eternal. Just as the sun waits patiently to greet us beyond the clouds, so too does Jesus wait, ready to illuminate our lives with His grace and love.

In every cloud-covered walk, in every ascent through the gray, let us hold fast to the promise that the Son is always there, working for our good. And in this truth, find the strength to keep moving forward, knowing that clarity and sparkling sunshine await us, just above the clouds.

P.S. At church this morning, I met new friends, Reverend Tim and Reverend Cheri, who are striving to plant a new church nearby. They requested prayers for this new journey for them, so please join me in lifting them up in prayer for this important work for God’s Kingdom.

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Don’t Miss It!

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

In the unfolding story of our lives, there are moments that shimmer briefly before fading into the backdrop of our daily routines. These are the moments that, unless we pause to observe and appreciate them, slip quietly by, unnoticed. For example, February 29th stands out as a quadrennial curiosity. Once out of every four years, we get an extra day! But do we make the most of that leap day? This special day challenges us, asking us not only about this one 24-hour period but also more generally regarding how we are spending our most precious resource–time. Yet, even rarer than a leap day is the passage of Halley’s Comet, a celestial event that graces our skies just once in a lifetime, if that. If you missed it, you may not have another chance.

The Rarity of Time

February 29th serves as a gentle reminder of time’s precious nature, offering us an extra 24 hours to reflect, act, and appreciate the world around us. It’s a day that begs not to be wasted, for it won’t return for another four years. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a nudge to cherish every moment, every day, because time, once passed, is something we can never reclaim.

A Celestial Spectacle

Then there’s Halley’s Comet, a rare visitor from the depths of space that swings by Earth only once every 76 years. Its last appearance in 1986 captivated millions, and it won’t return until 2061. The comet’s journey through our solar system is a testament to the universe’s grandeur and the fleeting nature of our own experiences. Witnessing Halley’s Comet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most, a chance to connect with the cosmos in a direct, personal way. To miss it is to miss a rare spectacle of nature, a reminder of our place in the broader universe.

An Allegory for God’s Work in Our Lives

This infrequency and the anticipation of celestial events like Halley’s Comet serve as a poignant allegory for recognizing God’s work in our lives. It’s not that these divine interventions are rare, but rather that our attention to them can be fleeting. God’s handiwork is evident in the everyday miracles that sustain us, from the complex mechanisms that keep our bodies functioning to the natural processes like photosynthesis that are essential for life. These are constant reminders of God’s presence, His creativity, and how much He cares for His creation, which includes us.

Missing Out on Gratitude

In overlooking these daily wonders, we also miss the chance to express our gratitude to God, the most extravagant Father. Each heartbeat, each breath, each green leaf soaking up the sun, is a gift from Him, an expression of His boundless love for us. Failing to notice, to appreciate, and to thank God for these blessings is to overlook the vastness of His generosity. And if we miss those everyday blessings, we are probably missing the bigger things He is doing or has done in our lives. If you have loved ones, friends, a church family, a job, a place to live, hope for the future, then you have many reasons to express your gratitude to God.

The Call to Attention

Let us, therefore, be vigilant. Let us attune our senses to the divine presence in the ordinary and the extraordinary alike. As we await the next appearance of Halley’s Comet, let us also cultivate a mindfulness of the miracles that unfold around us every day. For in the grand design of the universe, as in the minute details of our existence, there is evidence of God’s provision and His desire to connect with us.

In recognizing these moments, in giving thanks for them, we acknowledge the profound relationship we have with our Creator. We affirm that every day is a gift, every moment a chance to experience the wonder of God’s creation. So, don’t miss it! Let’s embrace each opportunity to witness the divine in the world around us and to live our lives as a continuous act of gratitude towards the most extravagant and generous Father who ever lived. Let’s thank Him every day, and not wait another four years!

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God Gives Us Faith to Trust that He Will Provide

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

As the pages of our lives turn, each chapter filled with its own set of triumphs and trials, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of the moment. Just a few weeks ago, I shared reflections on how God is in the business of making all things new, drawing from personal experiences and the timeless truths of scripture. Today, I stand in awe of the ways in which this renewal has manifested in my life since then—securing a new job, the removal of my cast following a fractured wrist, and the gradual (ongoing) journey of shedding my extra weight. Each of these milestones, though varied in their nature, speak to a common thread: God’s unwavering provision.

However, embracing God’s provision requires a faith that is both nurtured and revisited daily. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge His ability to provide; we must actively trust in it, drawing from the well of faith with a heart that is both thirsty for reassurance and overflowing with gratitude.

A Testament of Provision

The Bible is replete with examples of God’s provision, each story a testament to His attentiveness to our needs and His power to meet them, often in ways we least expect. Here are just a few examples.

  • Jehovah Jireh and Abraham: In a moment of profound faith and obedience, Abraham was tested to sacrifice his son, Isaac, only to be stopped by God at the last moment. God then provided a ram as a substitute for the sacrifice on Mount Moriah. Abraham named that place Jehovah Jireh, meaning “The Lord Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14). This story not only illustrates God’s provision but also His foresight and faithfulness in meeting our deepest needs. It also shows us Abraham’s unwavering faith and dedication to God, since it appears that he was willing (although reluctantly) to sacrifice the son of God’s promise to him since it seemed to him that that was what God was expecting from him. Interestingly, God would not have been able to show Himself as the Lord Who Will Provide if Abraham had not demonstrated his absolute trust in God.
  • Manna, Quail, and Water in the Desert: When the Israelites found themselves wandering in the desert, their futures uncertain and their stomachs empty, they cried out to God. He responded by raining down manna from heaven (Exodus 16:4), providing quail for meat (Exodus 16:13), and bringing forth water from a rock (Exodus 17:6). This miraculous provision was not just about satisfying physical hunger; it was a lesson in daily dependence on God’s provision. Not only that, but since the manna would turn rotten the next day if too much was collected (except when preparing for the sabbath), it also taught us that we need to trust God today that He will provide for us tomorrow.
  • The Gift of Jesus: In a time of political turmoil and spiritual longing, the people yearned for a leader to free them from Roman oppression. God provided Jesus—His Son—to do just that. But not in the way they expected. They wanted a political revolutionary, but what God gave them (and us) is a way to bring heaven to Earth day by day, enabling us to live above our circumstances even as we endure them. In the same way, the Jewish people of Jesus’s time wanted to know the magical formula that would enable them to be accepted by God, but what He gave us is a path to God Himself, the ultimate sacrifice for our sins that allows us to come into His presence. This act of provision went so far beyond immediate expectations or understanding that many people missed it. Sadly, many still miss it today. But God still offers it again and again, trying lovingly and desperately to address the deepest need of humanity: reconciliation with God, to be fully known and yet still be fully loved.

Drawing from the Well of Faith

As we reflect on these stories, and as I ponder my own recent experiences, it’s clear that God’s provision is not always about granting us our desires on our timeline. Rather, it’s about meeting our deepest needs in His perfect timing. The journey from a fractured wrist to healing, from joblessness to employment, and from weight gain to health is not just a series of personal victories. It’s a narrative of faith, a reminder that when we draw near to God, trusting in His provision, He meets us where we are.

Returning daily—or even more frequently—to the well of faith is not an admission of weakness; it’s an act of strength. It’s acknowledging that our understanding is limited, but our trust in God is limitless, bound only by our own weakness and lack of trust. In moments of doubt or when the path ahead seems unclear and/or overwhelming, let’s return our attention to Jehovah Jireh, the Lord Who Will Provide. Just as He provided for the Israelites in the desert, offered salvation through Jesus, and intervened in Abraham’s test of faith, He continues to provide for us in ways both seen and unseen. God may not always make sense to us, but as the pastor at church this morning pointed out, that’s why they call it faith.

As we journey into the week before us, let us do so with hearts full of faith, eyes open to the ways God is working in our lives, and a spirit ready to declare, just as Abraham did on Mount Moriah, “The Lord will provide.” May we find comfort in the knowledge that our needs are known, our cries are heard, and our faith is rewarded by the One who makes all things new.

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Emotional Support God

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

My son, now grown and living with his wife, recently faced a poignant loss—the passing of his pet ferret, Ollie, who had been his emotional support animal for many years. Despite Ollie’s surprisingly long life for a ferret, his absence left a profound void. Witnessing my son grapple with his grief from afar caused me to reflect on the complex journey of seeking solace and the places and beings we turn to for comfort.

This experience got me thinking about the true nature of comfort and support. Pets, with their unconditional love and presence, offer a tangible source of comfort. Yet, their inevitable departure often leaves us confronting the impermanence of such sources of emotional support. They take pieces of us with them when they go.

Timeless Comfort

This turned my thoughts to the timeless comfort offered by God, a source of solace that transcends the physical world. He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Also, as the Apostle Paul points out in his letter to the church at Corinth, God is the God of all comfort:

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Further, David reminds us about God’s enduring presence and support in Psalm 34:

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Unlike our earthly comforts, God’s support is unwavering, boundless, and eternal. Peter the Apostle points out that God is fine with us dumping our concerns on Him because He cares about us so deeply:

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In moments of loss or despair, the realization that we have a divine Source of comfort that will never leave us in any way and that is available at any time offers us a profound sense of peace and hope.

Reflecting on Jesus’s promise in Matthew 11:28, I see a clear invitation to seek solace in His presence. This invitation extends to you and me, regardless of our past or the depth of our current struggles. He wants to help us, to give us peace and rest.

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I feel so sorry for my son. I’ve loved all my pets deeply, so I can empathize with his profound sense of loss. However, his situation is even more challenging, I think, because of how much he relied on Ollie to give him emotional support, to help him make sense of the world. What will he do now? He needs Ollie to process the loss of Ollie, but he’s gone.

This is what concerns me about his current inability to accept the comfort that God offers him. It’s never easy to lose a beloved pet or (worse) a person you love. For me, one of the most important things that has given me strength for a rough journey like that, to find my way to healing, is the solace of God’s comfort, and knowing that He is not subject to the confines of time or life’s circumstances.

In remembering Ollie and the joy he brought my son, I also want to celebrate the infinite, unchanging comfort provided by our emotional support God. He’s there for us now, and whenever we need Him. He loves us, comforts us, heals us. And He will never leave us.

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Staying Steadfast on the Solid Rock

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Renewing a Steadfast Spirit

Last week, I wrote about God making us (and all things) new. An ongoing, continuous process. We’re like old-fashioned wooden pencils — God sharpens us and we write nice and cleanly, crisply, again. But over time, we get dull. We get distracted, we lose our focus. We forget about the miracles of parting the Red Sea and manna, and instead focus on our brief and temporary thirst. We wander in the wilderness, complaining that God has abandoned us.

But then, when we recognize our wayward ways, we must turn back to our loving and patient Creator and ask Him for His help, to make us new.

Thankfully, He welcomes us back when we go crawling back to Him. In fact, He runs out to meet us and wraps His arms around us, hugging us like we never left.

Also thankfully, we’re not alone in this cycle. We all know “real” (i.e., honest) followers of Christ who have gone through the same thing, who have traveled similar circular paths. That’s one of the reasons I shared that part of my journey last week.

And as I thought about it over this past week, I realized that the Bible is full of stories of people who have followed the same journey of clinging desperately to God, falling away, and then returning to Him begging for forgiveness.

One such case is David, perhaps Israel’s greatest king. A man after God’s own heart. He had killed Goliath with nothing but a stone and a complete and utter dependence on God. But over time, he became more full of himself than he was with the Spirit of God (like we all do). He really blew it with Bathsheba, then had her husband killed to try to cover it up. Talk about falling away!

But then he wrote the fifty-first Psalm, which includes this heartfelt plea:


Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

David, in Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)

Building on Solid Rock: A Call for Renewal and Steadfastness

Thousands of years later, Jesus came along and spoke of building our house upon a solid rock:

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The juxtaposition of these two passages offers profound wisdom for us. These verses not only highlight the importance of foundational strength but also remind us of the constant need for renewal in our walk with God.

A Heart Renewed

In Psalm 51:10, David begs God for a renewed heart. At the same time, he asks for a steadfast spirit, the ability to stay close to God so he wouldn’t keep stumbling. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of our need for God’s transformative work within us. In a world that often pushes us toward instability and doubt, the plea for a steadfast spirit resonates deeply. It’s an acknowledgment of our human frailty and a declaration of our dependency on God’s renewing power.

A Foundation Unshaken

Jesus’ parable about building our house on solid rock (Matthew 7:24-27) complements this plea beautifully. It’s a vivid illustration of the life that withstands trials and storms, rooted firmly in faith and obedience. This story encourages us to examine the foundation of our lives: Are we building on the shifting sands of worldly values, or are we grounded in the eternal truths of God’s Word?

Interweaving Themes for Today

In our pursuit of spiritual growth, these messages urge us to build our lives on the solid rock of Christ’s teachings while seeking a heart renewed by God’s grace. They teach us that true stability comes from a steadfast spirit and a life built on faith. Through personal reflection and commitment, we can navigate the challenges of life with confidence, knowing our foundation is secure.

A Journey of Renewal

As I mentioned last week, I’ve begun my journey of renewal, recognizing that God is making me new. And things are looking up. But even if they weren’t, I would keep doing at least one thing differently each day until they were. And I would keep asking God to make me new.

We should all embrace the journey of renewal, for to travel through life with Christ is to be made new as He chisels away our old selves so that we, bit by bit, can look more like Him. If we ask God to create clean hearts in us, He will grant that. How long will each of us let our hearts remain that way? If we ask Jesus to renew our steadfast spirits, to help us ground our lives in His unshakable Truth, He will help us do that, too.

He wants to prepare us to weather whatever storms crash upon our shores. He will guide us on a path of continual spiritual renewal, if only we let Him.

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Behold! God Makes All Things New! Even (or Especially) You and Me!

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Introduction

We all have moments in our lives when we burst into flames. Or drown. Or bury ourselves. Pick your metaphor for getting beaten down by this life, this painfully broken world.

I hate to admit that I’ve been dealing with that myself lately. My consulting contract (and therefore my job) ended in early December, and I haven’t found my next job yet. Not long after that, I fractured my wrist, and I’m still in a cast (and in pain) from that. I have gained back some of the weight I worked so hard to lose over the last few years, and I’m struggling to get it back off. It pains me to confess that I’ve had more than my share of moments recently where I have felt defeated.

But there’s hope. Thank God, there’s hope.

Over the last few days, I have experienced a phoenix moment, rising from the smoldering ashes. Coming up from the water, out of the grave.

In the tapestry of scripture, few promises are as profound and hope-inspiring as God’s declaration in Revelation:

“Behold, I make all things new.”

Jesus, in Revelation 21:5 (NKJV)

This promise stands as a testament to God’s infinite creativity and His transformative power in our lives. It’s not just about the grand cosmic renewal but also a deeply personal call to each of us. When He says this, there’s no reason we should assume that we should be excluded from the list of all things that He is making new, is there?

Let’s explore how God’s creativity captures our attention and how His power is making us new, leading us away from our old, self-destructive ways.

God’s Creativity: A Call to Attention

The Bible begins with a narrative of creation, a powerful display of God’s creativity. From the vastness and agelessness of the universe to the intricate details of a flower that whithers in a few days, everything speaks of a Creator with an endless imagination. God’s creativity is not a past event but a continuous, dynamic process. It’s evident in the changing seasons, the diversity of life, and even in our daily experiences. This creativity is God’s way of capturing our attention, drawing us to marvel at His works, and recognizing His presence and power in the world around us.

Yesterday I went to a botanic garden called Sunken Gardens near my new home. This experience was restorative to my soul. But anyway, since moving to Florida, I’ve seen several more varieties of palm trees than I knew existed (I thought a palm tree was a palm tree). However, at Sunken Gardens, I saw even more varieties of palm trees than I see each day walking through my neighborhood or driving around town. So, out of curiosity, I looked up how many varieties of palm trees exist, and I found that there are more than 2500 unique types of palm trees! We have a creative God, and I think He wants us to notice.

Personal Renewal: Becoming New Creations

So what? Well, if God will spend that much attention on variations of a single type of tree, imagine the effort He spends remaking you and me. More than just transforming the world, God is deeply committed to renewing us. As Paul reminds us through his second letter to the church at Corinth:

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This personal renewal is an integral part of our spiritual journey. God’s creative work in us involves reshaping our thoughts, desires, and actions, steering us away from self-destructive patterns. It’s a process of being molded into the image of Christ, growing in love, grace, patience, and kindness.

The Excitement of Transformation

But let me back up a few days. My most recent phoenix moment began when I attended a 3-day “Time to Rise 2024” seminar given by Tony Robbins, a famous author and coach who is known for helping people transform their lives. By no means am I comparing him to God, but his message is similar to the idea that God will make you new if you let Him. Tony affirms that our old story does not need to be – indeed, should not be – our new story. Robbins shares one example after another where someone had been beaten down, but then, with encouragement and help, they rise above their miserable circumstances to reach heights they never thought possible. And he gives seminar participants the tools they need to achieve similar outcomes.

The whole seminar jarred me back into remembering that I can’t control what happens in my life, but I can control how I respond to what happens to me. Further, Robbins also reinvigorated my mindset by saying, “What if God is challenging you to rise above what’s happening to you?”

What if, indeed. What if God is making me (and you) into something new, someone who overcomes our current challenges?

In case I still wasn’t getting the message, God drove home the point in the praise music at church this morning. All of the songs (Raise a Hallelujah, Same God (Oh God My God I Need You), O Praise the Name) spoke to trusting in God for victory. Grateful tears streamed down my face when we sang the lyrics:

I raise a hallelujah
Heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive

“Raise a Hallelujah“, by Bethel Music, Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser,

There is a profound excitement in this process of becoming new. It’s not merely about self-improvement; it’s a divine transformation. It’s Jesus making us into overcomers, more like Him. As we let go of our old ways – our fears, our sins, our selfishness – we discover a life that is richer, more meaningful, and more aligned with God’s purpose. This transformation is a journey filled with moments of revelation, growth, and, importantly, joy. It’s about discovering our true identity as children of God, created in His image and called to a life that reflects His glory.

Embracing the Newness in Christ

Embracing this newness requires faith and surrender. It means trusting in God’s plan for us, even when the path is uncertain and difficult. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us, to renew our minds and hearts. In this journey, we find that our once self-destructive paths and negative self-talk are replaced with pathways of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17, NIV). This is the essence of living in the newness of life that God offers.

Conclusion: A Continuous Journey of Renewal

God’s promise to make all things new is both an assurance of a future-perfected world and a present reality in our lives. As we journey with God, let’s remain open to His creative work in us and through us. Let’s celebrate the transformation He brings and eagerly anticipate the new things He is doing. Remember, in God’s creative hands, we are being made new, day by day, into a masterpiece that reflects His love and glory.

By His grace, we rise from the ashes we created. Like being baptized anew, He pulls us up from the water that had overtaken us. Like Lazarus, He calls us out of the grave.

This is our time to respond to our kind and creative God, to step forward as bold new creations.

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Our Long and Winding Roads

Posted on January 21, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

We may think of our journeys from cradle to grave as long and winding roads, and that’s entirely appropriate. We can also break our lives into smaller segments, which can seem lengthy and circuitous, especially while we are going through them.

Particularly when we are waiting to see God move in our lives somehow, the wait can seem endless. Sometimes the extra twists and turns can be of our own making, resulting from dumb decisions we’ve made. But other times, the delays (or perceived delays) could be due to God’s actions or timing.

Why would that be? I don’t have a good answer, other than to say that God’s ways are often beyond our ability to understand (Isaiah 55:8-9). When we wait for Him, it might be because He is working on something else (maybe even with someone else) that needs to happen before our desired outcome can be achieved. Or maybe we need to wait because He is teaching us to be patient or that nothing is more important than our relationship with Him.

And at the end of the day, that’s probably it–that the most important thing for our eternity is our relationship with God. We can and should lean on Him, lean into Him. We need to trust that He is working for our good, as Paul points out in his letter to the Romans:

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I know we want what we want, and we want it now, but our desired timing is less important to God than our relationship with Him. One of the really effective ways that we can develop our relationship with Him is by developing our trust muscles, our faith in Him.

Because God knows the plans He has for us, and in the end those plans are good. He gives us hope and a future. Let’s thank God for that, in spite of our long and winding roads.

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Running toward Heaven or Fleeing from Hell?

Posted on January 14, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

There are, of course, many different reasons people choose to follow Jesus, but I would assert that most of them can be reduced at their core to one of two driving forces: running toward heaven or fleeing from hell.

For running toward heaven, I think of people who are motivated by the idea of spending eternity in paradise, face-to-face and arm-in-arm with the Triune God. They are eager to enjoy abundant life, both now and forever, and are perhaps looking forward to being reunited with loved ones who also accepted Jesus as their Lord.

On the fleeing from hell side, the motivation is more likely to be an overwhelming desire not to spend eternity suffering unimaginable agony.

I know I’ve made these out to be mutually exclusive, as though you have to be purely in one camp or the other. But I know the reality is probably that we can fluctuate between the two key motivators daily, and sometimes even more frequently than that.

However, I’ve made the distinction to give our minds and hearts something to ponder. Let me add the caveat, though, that at the end of our days, it won’t matter what path we took to become followers of Christ–the important thing will be that we became His followers. Having said that, I’ll suggest that our daily walk with Jesus might be more fulfilling and enjoyable if we make a conscious effort to allow our continuing faith to be motivated by running toward heaven.

Why do I say that? Well, running toward heaven is about love. It’s about wanting to be in God’s presence because we love Him so much, because we are so grateful for the countless ways He has blessed our lives. It’s about yearning to be welcomed home by a cloud of witnesses, which will hopefully include loved ones who have gone before us.

Whereas fleeing from hell is about fear. It’s about being terrified of eternal torment, about eternal separation from God. Imagine being able to see the people enjoying everlasting life with our Creator in paradise, but not being able to cross the chasm separating you from them (as Jesus suggested in His story of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16:19-31, which was the subject of a great sermon today by Pastor Johnny Scott at Generations Christian Church).

Now, don’t get me wrong. We should be terrified of those things. But if we’re motivated mostly by fear, our faith might become twitchy and jumpy, waiting for judgment to crash down on us the next time we screw up.

That kind of outlook misses the greatest gift God offered us: His grace.

I like the way the Apostle John put it in his first letter:

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So the question is this: would you rather live a faith and life motivated by love or fear?

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Even Abraham Didn’t Always Get It Right

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Since the Daily Audio Bible’s annual journey through the Bible returned to the starting gate at the beginning of the year, we’re once again getting reacquainted with Abraham, who is basically each of our father in the faith. This is what the Apostle Paul wrote about him:

So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)

But here’s the thing–even with these glowing credentials, not even Abraham got it right every time. In Genesis chapter 12, God promises Abraham (Abram at the time) that He will make Abram into a great nation and that all peoples will be blessed through him.

Jumping ahead to chapter 15, though, we see Abram asking God for clarification about that prior promise. He had not yet had a child through whom God could create a great nation, so he’s wondering aloud whether God may have meant that the great nation would actually come through Abram’s servant and not his direct lineage. But God reassures him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” (Genesis 15:4, NIV). To this God adds a covenant and a promise that his own descendants will be as numerous as the stars.

Sounds good, right? There shouldn’t be any reason for Abram to doubt that commitment, should there?

Well, not so fast. In chapter 16, we see Abram and his wife Sarai wonder if she might be the reason Abram still has no heir. Sarai helpfully suggests that maybe her servant Hagar could provide Abram with a son. Hagar succeeds, and Ishmael is born. The problem is solved, right?

No, not really. In fact, more problems are created, which we’ll come back to in a moment. By the time we get to the seventeenth chapter of Genesis, we see God telling Abram that Ishmael was not the answer He had in mind. He clarifies that Abram’s wife Sarai will bear him a son, whom they are to name Isaac. And both Abram and Sarai receive new names from God: Abraham and Sarah.

However, before we reach that happy resolution, Abram receives the prophecy from an angel of the Lord that Ismael “will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” And that prophecy has rung painfully true, since the abrasion between Isaac and Ishmael formed the root of the Israeli/Arab conflict that persists even to this day. And all because Abram/Abraham didn’t quite understand the direction God had been giving him.

Why do I point this out? Certainly not to paint Abraham in a negative light. Not at all.

My goal in going through all of this is to give us all hope in our relationships with God. I’m making the assumption that you are like me in that you don’t usually have a clear picture of what God is saying to you or how He is directing your life. Like me, maybe you’re trying your best to live true to God’s calling for your life, but it’s not usually clear what that is. So what should we do? Give up?

By no means! Reading through this story of Abram/Abraham, we see that he has what appear to be some very direct conversations with God. But even then, he doesn’t get it right. He misunderstands what God is telling him, but it doesn’t really matter.

Why not? Because he remains faithful to God, even when what’s going on makes no sense. His faith is counted as righteousness, and God works with that. In the end, God achieves the outcomes He was after all along. In the end, God wins and Abraham wins.

And we can win, too, if we’ll let God work in us and through us, the way Abraham did.

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Hope for 2024

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

It’s time to flip the calendar over to a new year. For me, I’m glad to bid farewell to 2023. While there were blessings this year, it also came with its fair share of challenges.

As we turn the calendar over to the new year, it’s a good time to reflect on the year that was–but then let it go. It’s useful to remember. Looking back, it’s helpful to reflect on how God blessed you as you reached mountain peaks. Carry those memories with you as you move into 2024. It’s also a good idea to reflect on how God comforted you when you traversed the shadow of the valley of death.

In both cases, it’s helpful for us to remember the moments when we were aware of God’s presence. We should leverage those remembrances to give us hope in 2024–God is and will be with us throughout the year. But other than hanging on to the hope we glean from remembering, we need to let go of all of our other baggage as we move into the new year.

Here are some encouraging verses to keep in mind as we head into 2024:

Borrowed from YouVersion

I got some discouraging news last night, but then God reminded me of this verse 3 different times this morning! I first saw it in my morning devotional, and then it came up twice in the church service I attended this morning. God wanted to make sure I was listening! I’m thankful for that, to be sure.

Borrowed from YouVersion

I love this picture, but it doesn’t tell the whole story of the reason we can be strong and courageous–because of God’s presence with us wherever we go. Here’s the whole verse:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Borrowed from YouVersion
Borrowed from YouVersion
Borrowed from YouVersion
Borrowed from YouVersion

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)

So, let us all remember to walk with God in the best of times and worst of times throughout 2024. We can trust Him, that He is working for our good. He blesses us and comforts us. Thanks be to God!

Happy New Year, friends! I wish you all a 2024 full of the richness of God’s blessings.

Warm Regards,
Dave
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