2008
IN
REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
July
21, 2008
"LET GOD HANDLE IT"
Have you ever lost sleep over a situation because
you were just filled
with worry? Most of the
things we worry about
will never happen. We
can’t change the past
and worrying about the
future only causes us to
miss the present. So why
do we worry? It’s an
attempt to control the
uncontrollable.
But the more we
worry, the less able we
are to control even the
controllable. Worry is a
lose – lose situation.
Jesus said it’s not worth it to worry because God
has everything under
control. Therefore you
need not worry yourself
with worry
Matthew 6:25-30 (English Standard Version) "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you
will eat or what you
will drink, nor about
your body, what you will
put on. Is not life more
than food, and the body
more than clothing? 26
Look at the
birds of the air: they
neither sow nor reap nor
gather into barns, and
yet your heavenly Father
feeds them. Are you not
of more value than they?
27
And which
of you by being anxious
can add a single hour to
his span of life? 28
And why are
you anxious about
clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how
they grow: they neither
toil nor spin, 29
yet I tell
you, even Solomon in all
his glory was not
arrayed like one of
these. 30
But if God
so clothes the grass of
the field, which today
is alive and tomorrow is
thrown into the oven,
will he not much more
clothe you, O you of
little faith?
Next time you begin to worry, step outside and take
a lesson from the birds
and the flowers.
Worried? – Let God have it!
How?
1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV) 6 Humble
yourselves, therefore,
under the mighty hand of
God so that at the
proper time he may exalt
you, 7
casting all
your anxieties on him,
because he cares for
you.
Notice a couple of things about this passage.
First, we are called to
humble ourselves before
the MIGHTY HAND of God.
Whenever we try to carry
our own problems through
worry, we are actually
acting in pride as if we
can control the
uncontrollable, which
only God can control.
Therefore, we should
look at the situation
over which we are
worrying as a signal to
humble ourselves before
God by calling upon Him
and secondly, cast all
our anxiety upon Him.
Thirdly, fall back on
the promise that He
cares for us.
Let’s think about that passage - casting all your
anxiety upon Him.
Fishermen who cast a
fishing line or cast a
fishing net will tell
you the key to
“casting” is knowing
when to let go. As you
toss your concerns to
God in prayer, know when
to let go. Instead of
taking it back – give
the concern to Him, even
if it takes multiple
casting. Whenever you
feel like you’ve
pulled it back, like a
yo-yo, give it back to
Him.
Instead of pulling the worry back when you cast it
upon Him, we should
really be bringing back
the promise of His care
and love and allow that
to fill our hearts and
minds where the worry
had taken up resident
before we cast it upon
Him.
The same principle is outlined in another place.
Philippians 4:6-8 (ESV) do
not be anxious about
anything, but in
everything by prayer and
supplication with
thanksgiving let your
requests be made known
to God. 7
And the
peace of God, which
surpasses all
understanding, will
guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ
Jesus. 8
Finally,
brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any
excellence, if there is
anything worthy of
praise, think about
these things.
As you cast the worry upon God, focus on His care
with an attitude of
gratitude both for what
He has done in the past,
what He promises in the
form of peace, and what
He is going to do about
the situation which has
caused you worry. In
return, you will enjoy
peace in place of
anxiety.
Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV) 33 But
seek first the kingdom
of God and his
righteousness, and all
these things will be
added to you. 34
"Therefore
do not be anxious about
tomorrow, for tomorrow
will be anxious for
itself. Sufficient for
the day is its own
trouble.
Knowing and seeking after God, rather than just
knowing about God and
just giving Him the
leftovers of your life,
will lead to a lifting
of the burden of trying
to control the
uncontrollable. The more
you know Him, the more
you’ll be able to rest
upon the fact that He
has everything under
control and He has your
best interest in mind
– so why worry?
Let God handle
it.
GODSPEED!
Bob
Brubaker
www.bobbrubaker.com
email: bob@bobbrubaker.com
July
14, 2008
"OVERCOMING - AGAINST ALL ODDS"
One of the highlights of every July for a good
number of people has
been the tracking the
Tour de France, and a
good reason was the way
Lance Armstrong overcame
cancer and dominated the
race for seven years.
Even though Lance is no
longer racing in Tour de
France, the influence of
celebrating an
over-comer resides.
There are plenty of
stories in this year’s
Tour, including a team
of cyclists who decided
to take the high road to
make sure they were
beyond the realm of
performance enhancing
drug abuse that has
plagued professional
cycling and other sports
for the past few years.
Team Highroad or as they
now have assumed the
name of their sponsor,
Columbia, are a
demonstration of a real
team who overcomes. Of
course, not all the
over-comers in life get
as much recognition as
Lance or Team Columbia,
there are many people
outside the sphere of
professional cycling who
are over-comers. Maybe
that includes you as you
take on life’s
challenges on a daily
basis. Why not see
yourself as an
over-comer? You have the
challenges of your daily
duties, along with those
sudden confrontations
but if you have a
relationship with God,
you have what it takes
to overcome any
challenge.
We celebrate stories of
overcoming because it
gives us hope. “If
they can do it, then I
can overcome.”
One reason we
have all the accounts in
the narratives of the
Bible is to give us
hope.
Romans 15:4
(English Standard
Version) For
whatever was written in
former days was written
for our instruction,
that through endurance
and through the
encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have
hope.
One of the beloved narratives of overcoming is the
account of David and
Goliath. You probably
know the story from
childhood but let me
refresh your memory.
David was not a warrior
and did not have
adequate armor or
military equipment.
David was small in
stature. David was a
very young shepherd.
Goliath was a giant,
over nine feet tall.
Goliath was heavily
armed and very
experienced in military
tactics. When David
heard how the army of
Israel was held at bay
by the giant and how
Goliath cursed God,
David stepped forward to
fight the giant
single-handed. When King
Saul questioned David's
brave gesture, here's
how he replied:
1 Samuel 17:34-37 (New
International Version)
But David said to
Saul, "Your servant
has been keeping his
father's sheep. When a
lion or a bear came and
carried off a sheep from
the flock, 35 I went
after it, struck it and
rescued the sheep from
its mouth. When it
turned on me, I seized
it by its hair, struck
it and killed it. 36
Your servant has killed
both the lion and the
bear; this uncircumcised
Philistine will be like
one of them, because he
has defied the armies of
the living God. 37 The
LORD who delivered me
from the paw of the lion
and the paw of the bear
will deliver me from the
hand of this
Philistine." Saul
said to David, "Go,
and the LORD be with
you."
Notice: David's
confidence was based
upon the little
victories along the way.
He had learned to depend
upon God and to
recognize God's hand
working in his life.
Therefore as the greater
challenges came, he
could just fall back on
what had been his
strength and confidence
in the past. Likewise as
we go through life's
challenges, and we all
have little ones and big
ones everyday, if we
could learn to recognize
those little victories
and give thanks to God
it will prepare us for
facing further
challenges.
David’s story of
overcoming all odds gets
better.
As David
approached Goliath, the
giant laughed and cursed
at David. David,
however, never left his
focus or his source of
confidence.
1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NIV)
David said to the
Philistine, "You
come against me with
sword and spear and
javelin, but I come
against you in the name
of the LORD Almighty,
the God of the armies of
Israel, whom you have
defied. 46 This day the
LORD will hand you over
to me, and I'll strike
you down and cut off
your head. Today I will
give the carcasses of
the Philistine army to
the birds of the air and
the beasts of the earth,
and the whole world will
know that there is a God
in Israel. 47 All those
gathered here will know
that it is not by sword
or spear that the LORD
saves; for the battle is
the Lord's, and he will
give all of you into our
hands."
You know the rest of the
story. It took just one
stone in David's sling
that hit Goliath in the
one point of his armored
head that was most
vulnerable. You wonder
how it got there? Later
in life, David recalls:
Psalms 116:1-6 (NIV)
I love the LORD,
for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for
mercy. 2 Because he
turned his ear to me, I
will call on him as long
as I live. 3 The cords
of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave
came upon me; I was
overcome by trouble and
sorrow. 4 Then I called
on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, save
me!" 5 The LORD is
gracious and righteous;
our God is full of
compassion. 6 The LORD
protects the
simplehearted; when I
was in great need, he
saved me.
You may not be facing a
giant like Goliath, but
you may be facing the
giant of cancer or any
of the other
discouragements that
life can bring. You,
like David, can
overcome. God is there
to help you, too.
Recognize his help in
the little things and
trust Him in the greater
challenges. You'll be
amazed and you'll
overcome all the odds.
GODSPEED!
Bob
Brubaker
www.bobbrubaker.com
email: bob@bobbrubaker.com
July
7, 2008
MORE POWER
The television show,
Home Improvement,
featured Tim Taylor who
loved to manipulate
whatever he was doing to
create more power.
Wouldn’t it be great
to experience more power
in our lives? One thing
for sure the Bible tells
us that more power is
available but not by
manipulation.
This power is
available by the one
thing we hate to admit
– weakness. Moments of
weakness, defeat,
discouragement, and
setback are never
welcomed. In fact, we do
our best to avoid them
and try to get out of
them as fast as possible
whenever we find
ourselves in such a
time. Although the Bible
tells us those moments
are inevitable and God
will use those moments
for our good, human
nature wants to guard
against anything painful
or unpleasant.
Jesus warned us life
would not be perfect.
Our hope is not
in what happens, but in
holding on to Him and
His strength.
John 16:33 (ESV) I
have said these things
to you, that in me you
may have peace. In the
world you will have
tribulation. But take
heart; I have overcome
the world."
In
the book of 1st
Peter we are told that
some of the stuff we are
going though is
“necessary” in our
faith building process.
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
6
In
this you rejoice, though
now for a little while,
if necessary, you have
been grieved by various
trials, 7
so that the
tested genuineness of
your faith—more
precious than gold that
perishes though it is
tested by fire—may be
found to result in
praise and glory and
honor at the revelation
of Jesus Christ.
In
Psalm 23, we are told
that even our walk
through the deep and
dark valley of the
Shadow of Death will be
followed with good, just
as we are told in Romans
that God will work
things together for
good.
Psalm 23:4-6 (ESV) 4
Even
though I walk through
the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no
evil, for you are with
me; your rod and your
staff, they comfort me. 5
You prepare
a table before me in the
presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with
oil; my cup overflows. 6
Surely
goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days
of my life, and I shall
dwell in the house of
the Lord forever.
Romans 8:28 (ESV) And
we know that for those
who love God all things
work together for good,
for those who are called
according to his
purpose.
So
what is God doing to us?
Among other things He is
perfecting power.
Wouldn’t
you like to have power
in your life to keep
going? Of course! From
where does that power
come? We try to harness
power from a variety of
sources, including the
lie we are told to dig
up the power within us.
Jesus however, has
another way. This is the
lesson of power
perfected:
2 Corinthians
12:7-10 (ESV) 7
So
to keep me from being
too elated by the
surpassing greatness of
the revelations, a thorn
was given me in the
flesh, a messenger of
Satan to harass me, to
keep me from being too
elated. 8
Three times
I pleaded with the Lord
about this, that it
should leave me. 9
But he said
to me, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect
in weakness."
Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly of
my weaknesses, so that
the power of Christ may
rest upon me. 10
For the
sake of Christ, then, I
am content with
weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions,
and calamities. For when
I am weak, then I am
strong.
Power
is made perfect in
weakness. It doesn’t
sound right, but this is
God’s way of showing
us what real power can
do when it’s perfected
in us. When is it
perfected in us? When we
quit trying to do it
without Him, when we
rely upon His grace and
His grace alone, when we
realize if it’s going
to be – it’s up to
Him.
You and I are going to
face all kinds of
difficulties in life
that will demonstrate
our weakness. We have a
choice to try to make it
on our own or realize
the lesson of when I am
weak then I am strong,
as His power is
perfected in me.
GODSPEED!
Bob
Brubaker
www.bobbrubaker.com
email: bob@bobbrubaker.com
June
30, 2008
FREE AT LAST
All of us have habits or
on-going sins that we
have tried to change or
avoid with little or no
success. Let’s face
it, the more determined
you get the harder it
seems to change. Jesus
faced some people that
thought they had
everything under
control.
But He presented
the only real solution
to change and being set
free.
John 8:34-36
(English Standard
Version) Jesus
answered them,
"Truly, truly, I
say to you, everyone who
commits sin is a slave
to sin. 35
The slave
does not remain in the
house forever; the son
remains forever. 36
So if the
Son sets you free, you
will be free indeed.
We
try to change. We work
harder and we try
various forms of
motivation including the
old “self inflicted
guilt trip.” And where
does that get us? It
only makes us feel bad
about ourselves and
cause us to beat
ourselves up over the
lack of success in
making the change we
desire. If we allow
guilt to drive us, it
ends in shame.
Sometimes we just hide
from the problem. We all
have an arsenal of
things by which to hide,
from accomplishments, to
things, to a busy
schedule – all of
which become excuses for
our lack of success.
Another form of “make
up” we use when we
have failed at change is
to blame. The problem
with blaming others for
our problem is the
“blame game” goes on
beyond the trouble we
are trying to change and
we become “blame
artists” where we
begin to blame someone
for everything and we
end up being a person
nobody likes to be
around.
What are we to do? Jesus
said He would help but
He has to have complete
control. He offers power
to change but He has to
do the changing. There
is effort on our part,
but the effort is in
allowing Him to have
complete control and
staying “in tune” to
Him, rather than forcing
a change. Jesus is not
saying it’s easy, but
it’s a difference of
bondage when we are
trying to make a change
on our own to freedom in
allowing Him to set us
free as He makes the
change in His way.
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Come
to me, all who labor and
are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. 29
Take my
yoke upon you, and learn
from me, for I am gentle
and lowly in heart, and
you will find rest for
your souls. 30
For my yoke
is easy, and my burden
is light."
John 8:31-32 (ESV) So
Jesus said to the Jews
who had believed in him,
"If you abide in my
word, you are truly my
disciples, 32
and you
will know the truth, and
the truth will set you
free."
It’s
a matter of doing what
it takes to allow His
power to overflow
through our lives and
then watching what
happens.
Galatians 2:19-20 (ESV)
For
through the law I died
to the law, so that I
might live to God. I
have been crucified with
Christ. 20
It is no
longer I who live, but
Christ who lives in me.
And the life I now live
in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave
himself for me.
As
you think of all the
freedoms you enjoy
today, think of the
freedom Jesus offers
from the heavy yoke of
trying to make changes
in your life on your
own. He has the power
and if He sets you free
– you’ll be free at
last.
GODSPEED!
Bob
Brubaker
www.bobbrubaker.com
email: bob@bobbrubaker.com
June
23, 2008
"THE
PROBLEM OF
OVER-COMMITTING"
We've
all done it! We've said,
"Yes" to
something we knew we
shouldn't because we
didn't have time, or it
wasn't the best use of
our skills, or something
way out of bounds.
But somehow we
just couldn't say,
"NO."
It
has been said that very
few people who have
talent also have the
single-minded commitment
required to really
achieve their goals. In
fact, in a recent
survey, it was found
that most naturally
gifted people lack the
focus and follow through
necessary to take
advantage of their
potential. It makes you
wonder how many times we
are quick to put
ourselves outside the
ranks of the naturally
gifted, when in reality
we may just be in the
realm of the
over-committed which
means we lack the focus
necessary to stay on the
course to take us to our
goals.
When
we talk about focus and
commitment, the words of
Jesus Christ always come
to the front, and
rightly so. He's the
epitome of someone who
could have been easily
distracted into
over-committing but He
knew He had a job to do
and focused on doing
just that.
Luke 9:23 (English
Standard Version) And
he (Jesus) said to all,
"If anyone would
come after me, let him
deny himself and take up
his cross daily and
follow me.”
Did
you realize the same one
who calls us to total
commitment, also taught
us by precept and
example to avoid
“over- committing?”
In the midst of doing a
great work of
ministering to people,
He actually called His
disciples to come away
and get some rest.
Mark 6:31-32 (ESV) 31
And
he said to them,
"Come away by
yourselves to a desolate
place and rest a
while." For many
were coming and going,
and they had no leisure
even to eat. 32
And they
went away in the boat to
a desolate place by
themselves.
Jesus
was not over-committed.
He knew exactly what He
came to do and did not
fall into the trap of
trying to do too much.
John 14:31 (ESV) But
I do as the Father has
commanded me, so that
the world may know that
I love the Father. Rise,
let us go from here.
Stop
and think about it -
Jesus could have been
distracted in a thousand
different directions in
healing, theological
discussions, in teaching
his disciples, in
providing for the poor,
etc. But as He said, "But
I do as the Father has
commanded me.”
THERE’S
THE FREEDOM!
God
does not require us to
be over-committed. So
watch the trap. It’s
easy to feel obligated
to say “yes” to
every good cause that
comes along, but that is
not necessarily the best
use of our time.
Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV)
15
Look
carefully then how you
walk, not as unwise but
as wise, 16
making the
best use of the time,
because the days are
evil. 17
Therefore
do not be foolish, but
understand what the will
of the Lord is.
This
is why God said to apply
wisdom to our schedules.
Instead of
allowing things to mount
up, treat each day as a
day over which He has
made you a steward for
which He expects you to
be faithful. It's not
easy to say “no” to
things, especially when
they are presented as
worthy activities or
obligations. It takes
discipline to focus on
what God wants you to do
and avoid
over–commitment. No
wonder Jesus compared it
to taking up a cross
daily. Discipline never
is easy because it’s
bringing yourself to do
the things you don't
want to do in order to
get the results that you
really want.
GODSPEED!
Bob
Brubaker
www.bobbrubaker.com
email: bob@bobbrubaker.com
Bob
is the pastor of Christ
Community Presbyterian
Church, Clearwater, FL
www.ccpconline.org
June
16, 2008
THE OVERFLOWING
FOUNTAIN
John 4:13-14
(English Standard
Version) Jesus said to her,
"Everyone who
drinks of this water
will be thirsty again, 14
but whoever
drinks of the water that
I will give him will
never be thirsty
forever. The water that
I will give him will
become in him a spring
of water welling up to
eternal life."
You
cannot give away what
you have not received.
Too often we get caught
in the trap of trying to
produce what we don’t
have or be someone we
are not. God does not
expect us to give away
what we have not
received, nor does He
expect us to be someone
He has not created us to
be. On the contrary! God
tells us to drink in of
His goodness, to eat and
be satisfied with what
He provides, and to
experience His life
changing goodness in our
lives, then as we have
received we freely give.
Isaiah 55:1-2 (ESV)
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