The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:9-10

This week, as I sat early one morning in my prayer chair at home—my precious 7-year old grand baby Lily caught me reading and praying the Psalms. Instead of being glad she saw her Pop reading the Bible, I was a little annoyed my time with God had been “interrupted.” She crawled up into my lap—and suddenly my heavenly Father reminded me, “This is not an interruption, but an illustration of my love, care and affection for you, son.” My heart warmed, then I noticed several bruises on her sun soaked legs created by an active child. The Holy Spirit whispered, “Boyd, you are bruised and broken—and I Am—your Comforter and Healer.” Peace, joy, confidence, hope, faith and love all at once—moved me closer to Christ. Jesus illustrated through an “interruption” what I was seeking all along—His loving presence.

The unnamed foreigner—a Samaritan woman—was minding her own business when a stranger interrupted her domestic duties of drawing water from the refreshing well. Jesus asked her for a favor—a drink of water—but the larger purpose was for the Lord to give this searching, hard working adult—created in the image of God—living water for her thirsty soul. The Messiah she had heard about was in her presence to offer her the satisfaction of His forgiveness and love.

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 7:16-17).

Traffic, a sick child, a costly home repair, a long line, a needy neighbor, a complaining customer, a late vendor or a co-worker in crisis may seem like interruptions—but look for an illustration of God’s character in your disruptive circumstances. When you encounter a person in sorrow, imagine Christ on the cross when He sought comfort from His heavenly Father. Interruptions are appointments of compassion. Life may feel unfair, but in your everyday routine recognize the Lord in the little things and love like your Savior Jesus. Interruptions represent people to love.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – An Illustration Not An Interruption  →

God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”—but they would not listen. Isaiah 28:11b-12

Everyone needs a place to rest, a time to rejuvenate and restore your soul. A soul without rest is vulnerable to doubt, disease, and dread. Without soul care, you risk being ineffective for the long term. So, allow your soul to catch up with your activity through rest. A restless soul loses hope and perspective. Stop right now and take an audit of your soul. Is it strung out and anxious?

If so, rearrange your schedule for rest before it rearranges you. A non-restful pace is unsustainable, and a restful place is necessary to persevere. Do not fall for the false feeling that activity somehow equals progress or success. Without rest, you are going nowhere fast. If you intensify the pace, you are going nowhere, faster.

Rest allows you to recalibrate your priorities and replenish your cistern of creativity. Your work rhythms may require a day with no scheduled appointments. Indeed, each resting place looks different, depending on your need. For example, your resting place may be the quiet screened porch, where you relax with a cup of coffee and a good book. For someone else, a resting place may be a comfortable couch, where they nap to the steady beat of raindrops pelting the rooftop.

It can be the park where you walk with your best friend, a secluded drive in the countryside, or an adventurous exploration of the great Pacific Northwest. Whether your resting place is the beach, the mountains, or in front of a good movie, make time to engage with it. God speaks to you in your place of rest. This is one of His favorite spots to shape your soul.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Resting Place  →

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD.   2 Kings 22:19

God responds well to a responsive and humble heart. It is guaranteed an audience with the Almighty. His heart is drawn to humility and commitment to obedience. He knows a responsive heart can be trusted with His truth. So when He finds someone responsive to righteousness, He has found someone who can be entrusted with His blessing. A responsive heart is teachable, tender to truth, and quick to obey. It is the opposite of a hard heart.

A hard heart stews in the juices of sin, while a responsive heart flees from sin’s appearance. A responsive heart is action-oriented and chooses to change for good. You may have an attitude of distrust or anger, but the Lord’s conviction penetrates your spirit. Instead of making excuses for this unacceptable behavior, a responsive heart seeks to become trusting and forgiving.

God and godly influences are constantly suggesting, teaching, convicting, and prodding you to conform to the character of Christ. His Word speaks to your heart and then your life responds to Him with appropriate attitudes and actions. Therefore, living for Jesus is an act of worship. Your responsiveness to truth is a testimony to the living God. As you obey God, others are drawn to Him and you. This is a wise habit to model for your children. If you can impart to them a tender and responsive heart to God at an early age, you have done them a great favor. Start young while the things of God are bigger than life. A youthful and responsive heart toward God has a better chance of becoming a responsive heart toward God during adulthood.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Responsive Heart  →

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen    2 Peter 3:18

Pivoting is a sudden shift in strategy to assure successful execution. Healthy organizations model the necessity of pivoting to maintain growth and a competitive advantage in their industry. This proactive approach to doing business led one healthcare vendor to help doctors replace their clip boards with tablets for a much more effective way to record, manage and retrieve patient data. Pivoting embraces new ways to leverage old concepts in a way that improves and enhances the process, service, product or end user experience. Faith is not afraid to pivot, but is afraid not to.

In a similar fashion, a growing faith is ever pivoting toward total trust in God. Peter reminds us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Faith is a formative process that is not static, but dynamic and fluid—as the Holy Spirit leads us experientially to discern God’s best and educationally to know and obey our Lord’s application of truth. Grace engages our heart with God’s heart and knowledge engages our mind with the mind of Christ. With the goal of God’s glory as the outcome—we pivot in prayer as we hear His heart.

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Pivoting: An Opportunity to Grow and Improve  →

I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.  Jeremiah 10:23

We do not own our lives.  We have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).  Jesus’ sacrificial blood purchased our freedom from the fire of hell, sin, and death.  By faith, He owns us.  A great exchange took place when you first believed in Jesus.  What’s yours became His, and what’s His became yours.  The life of Christ became your life. It is not your life to define, but His.  He has wrapped a wonderful definition around whose you are in Him.  You are a child of God.  You are secure because your Savior keeps you.  You are valuable because the Lord values you.  You are protected because the Almighty owns you.

The Bible is God’s glossary of how to define yourself.  Scripture gives you a family tree of faith for you to trace your religious roots.  It is a mirror of how God sees you.  He sees you as accepted in His Son, though you suffer rejection from others.  Cherish and enjoy daily the acceptance of Jesus. Moreover, your mistakes are His opportunity to affirm His acceptance.  There are still consequences to your sin, but He is always available to receive you back because you are His.  He accepts and receives back His own.

Furthermore, He directs His own (Isaiah 48:17).  God wants you to understand and follow His plan for your life.  Praise God it’s a step-by-step process and He directs your steps!  Some days you may feel like it’s three steps forward and two steps back, but do not be discouraged or dismayed.  God is still directing your steps, though at times they seem tedious and laborious.  The Lord leads you in lockstep with His steps.  In His steps is the wise way to walk.  Do not run ahead, thinking you have to set a record for speed or quickness.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Divine Direction  →

This is what the Lord says: Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.  Isaiah 56:1

Do the right thing; because you can’t go wrong by doing what’s right. The right choice may not be the easiest choice, but it will result in what’s best. It is tempting to bypass what’s right,  what’s convenient or expedient. However, convenience and expedience can get you into trouble if they become an excuse for not doing the right thing. The right thing may ruffle some feathers and cause you short-term suffering. Some people may reject you for doing what’s right. Some people may avoid you because your right choices are a reminder of their wrong ones. When you choose to do the right thing, you eliminate other unseemly options. This protects you from a series of unwise relationships. If you choose to hang out with those who have no spiritual aspirations, then you will find yourself indifferent to the things of God.

If your most influential relationship is bored with God, then boredom will seduce you over time as well. Investing in unhealthy relationships is not the right thing to do. Your parents and your friends have warned you not to go down this road of relational recklessness. You can still do the right thing by breaking off the relationship and seeking God for His best. His best is a hundred times better than settling for someone who makes you “feel alive,” yet has no firm foundation of faith. Be careful with whom you entrust your emotions. Your affections are not to be given away indiscriminately. The right thing is to first set your affections above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2). Then trust Him as you dispense your desires to those who are worthy and have your best interests in mind.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – The Right Thing  →

So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left. Genesis 13:8-9

No one works at the same place forever, they eventually move on or die. A person may feel their effectiveness in their current role at work has run its course—they are bored—and unless another opportunity opens up in the same organization they will transition out to a more challenging call. Hiring and firing resembles the same tension as leaving or staying. The latter represents the employee, and the former the employer. I am not the best hirer because I like people to like me, but often I need to hire team members gifted differently than me. So I am learning to trust seasoned staff to help me interview and select new employees. It’s so much wiser to hire slow and fire fast.

Abram and Lot found themselves in a dilemma: In today’s terms they were “running out of office space.” The growth of their family business forced them to make a relocation decision—so they decided to divide up their assets and go their separate ways. Lot deferred to and honored his uncle Abram, the more experienced, to define their disengagement choices and Lot selected which option he thought best for his family and work. He chose the well watered, green valley in the east and pitched his tent toward a sinful people, while Abram settled in Canaan and built an altar to God.

“If he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials” (2 Peter 2:7-9).

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Job Transition: Leave or Stay / Hire or Fire →

And Jesus said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15

I don’t particularly enjoy going to the mall. It’s a place that I typically avoid if possible, yet this week I had to return an item at a store that was located inside our local mall. Interestingly, less than 24 hours later, I came across Jesus’s words in Luke 12. With this experience fresh in my mind, I had one clear thought as I read this passage: as a culture we have let our guard down when it comes to possessions!

We scurry from store to store, busily looking for the latest fashion or the next unbeatable sale, and we do so at such breakneck speed that we rarely reflect upon how this lifestyle is shaping our hearts, lives, and desires. Without realizing it, we can create habits of consumption and acquisition that ultimately make us slaves to our possessions.

Simply put, you and I have too much stuff, and Jesus wants us to see how our stuff has too much of us!

In a culture that is driven by the accumulation of wealth and possessions, it’s incredibly easy to fall prey to thinking that our worth and value is tied up in the things we own. If we have lots of stuff, we have worth. If we have limited finances and resources, our value in society and as human beings must be limited as well. While this may be a common way of thinking in our culture, it goes directly against the values of God’s kingdom!

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Too Much Stuff!  →

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  1 Timothy 1:15

Jesus came to save sinners—sinners like all of us. Just as we all need water, air and food—we all need a Savior to forgive our sin. The gospel of Christ grows greater in value—the more we view the hideous nature of our sin. The darker we see our soul stained by sin, the more urgent our desire to be cleansed by the grace of God. Sin taken lightly, merely gives lip service for the need of a Savior—but sin taken seriously, has a desperate desire to seek Christ’s forgiveness. Eternal security and sin’s cure comes from my admission of spiritual illness—only Jesus can save me.

Paul gives us one of his five trustworthy sayings—Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The truth of the gospel deserves full acceptance: the cross of Christ followed by the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus rising from the grave the gospel is eviscerated of its power to forgive sin, transform lives, affirm Christ’s teachings and validate His miracles. The gospel is good news, because of the bad news of mankind’s separation from God. A person either fully embraces the gospel of Jesus or rejects Jesus—there is no middle ground. Like a healthy marriage, committed Christians embrace and celebrate their love relationship with Jesus.

“The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Colossians 1:5-6).

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Spiritually Cured and Secured →

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind.  Psalm 33:12–13

God blesses a country that honors Him, but brings down a country that dishonors Him. It honors Him for His people to pray in earnest for righteousness to reign in religion, the workplace, the seat of government, and the home. It dishonors the Lord when we behave like His commands are suggestions and we marginalize His mandates. Countries founded on Christ are blessed if they continue with Christ.

Where is our Christ-conscientiousness? Do our actions reflect accountability to almighty God and His ultimate judgment? Faith without the fear of God is weak and anemic in the face of moral relativism, academic attacks, and the indulgences of affluence. A nation that fears the Lord fears sin and its deadly consequences. Thus, Christians are called by Christ to engage in their communities with compassion and with a standard of right and wrong.

The law of the Lord is the basis of the law of the land in a country that honors Christ. The Bible is clear, “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:12–13). God blesses a nation that obeys His laws.

Therefore, for our children’s sake, let us raise our standards of acceptable actions for preachers, politicians, and parents. Let us return to public prayers of dependence on the Lord and private prayers of repentance from sin. Without God’s blessing a country creeps into moral chaos, an economic meltdown, and institutional irrelevance, but with God’s blessing a country thrives on trust in Him. We desperately need to stay in a position to receive God’s blessing.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Prayer: Am I a citizen who unashamedly represents Christ in my community? Do I pray with persistence and humility for repentance among God’s people?

Related Readings: Exodus 19:5–6; Psalm 144:15; Romans 12:14–15; 1 Peter 2:9

Home

If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. Job 23:8-9

In Job 23 we find some of the most honest and transparent words in the entire Bible. Rather than a song of praise celebrating the nearness of God, this is the lament of a broken man who is struggling to find God in the midst of his pain. Job simply cannot pretend all is well. He can’t find the strength to put on a happy face. He cries out from a place of desperation, sorrow, and fear. Yet in the two verses that follow, Job teaches us two profound truths about following God even when it is hard and he feels distant: we are never abandoned and we must seek to live faithfully even in the midst of our trials.

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold” (Job 23:10).

Even when Job can’t sense God’s nearness, he rests in the confidence that he is never abandoned or forgotten. Though we may struggle at times to sense God’s direction and presence, he never struggles to find us or care for us. It is in him that we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28), and this is true whether we sense it or not.

Our emotions can be tricky and misleading. They want to tell us things that feel right, but may not actually be true! When you are struggling in your faith, tell yourself things that you know to be true, even if you don’t feel like doing it. Remind yourself that God is with you (Isaiah 41:10), that he will never leave or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6), and that he loves you, even to the point of death (Romans 5:8).

“My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside” (Job 23:11).

The Christian life is often spoken of as a journey of faith. At times this journey brings great joy and delight, yet at times we are crippled with grief, sorrow, and doubt. In these moments Job reminds us that even when life is hard and painful we must continue on the journey!

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – What to do When You Can’t Find God  →

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

When I was an older teenager, I abruptly left home—in anger. I barged out, which I later regretted—leaving relational wreckage and deeply hurting my single parent mom. My unresolved anger led me to make an irrational, selfish decision that could have been resolved with patience and forgiveness: Patience toward my mother—who did her best with what she had, and forgiveness of my own sins of pride, fear and greed. I learned a hard lesson as a hard hearted teen—my unresolved issues with people were a reflection of my unresolved issues with God.

Jesus uses vivid language to make this soberingly clear—no amount of money (a gift), offered as worship for God’s work, can appease unresolved sin with another brother or sister in Christ. The Lord first wants a person’s heart, knowing their money will follow. Jesus knows He has someone’s heart when they are willing to bare their heart with another believer. Confession and repentance to one another is evidence of a healthy community of Christ followers. Humility initiates by asking for and extending forgiveness, while trusting God’s grace for reconciliation. Run toward not away from, unresolved conflict, as faith not fear brings healing to open wounds.

“So, my son—save yourself! Here’s what you need to do: go to that person who became your master with a handshake, humble yourself, and plead your case” (Proverbs 6:3, The Voice).

Who may have a grudge against you that you need to go to and ask forgiveness? Even if in your mind you are only 20% at fault, you still take the first step to say, “I’m sorry, I apologize, will you forgive me?” Be specific about your offense, “Please forgive me for the harsh tone of my words.” Your apology does not mean you have to agree with everything they said or did, but it does mean you want to make things right and heal the relationship. Reconciliation takes time, so be patient, stay in the process, until real healing of the heart takes place. Trust God’s love to heal.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Resolve, Do Not Run Away  →

So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.  Galatians 4:7-9

I love refreshing seasons with the Lord when He transforms and changes us in surprising ways with His truth. I am in one of those seasons now. The Lord has been reminding me of the beginning of my relationship with Him when I knew I was saved by grace and that His love for me was not based on anything I had to do or had done, but based entirely on His sacrifice on the cross. He is reminding me that the grace I was saved by is the grace in which I now stand. And, oh how my heart has needed these blessed truths!

You see, there was a time in the past when I embraced the idea—without realizing it—that I had to do more for God or He would be displeased with me. Honestly, deep down I feared He would love me less. I also believed my significance with Him was tied to my behavior. These false beliefs were heavy burdens to bear; I have only begun to realize just how heavy during this refreshing season with Him. I forgot that God’s love is unchanging and consistent, not based on anything I can do or have done for Him, but because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Maybe you can relate to my sentiment. Perhaps you believe God’s love for you is tied to what you do, rather than who you are in Him (1 John 3:1-2), and this has led to all kinds of emotional and spiritual problems. Please accept these words as encouragement for your heart as if from Him.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – You Belong to Me →

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”    Ecclesiastes 1:2

Midlife is a natural time to do a life audit. This is the season to do a performance review of your passion and your life’s productivity. You measure how well you have amassed money and acquired assets. You grade the success of your life on your position in the work place, your educational advancement, your character development, and the quality of your relationships, especially those in your family. Midlife is a time for reflection, regrouping, and recalibrating big goals. If, by God’s grace, you have implemented His plan up until now, you look forward to what He has for you during the second half of life. But a midlife crisis comes from meaningless living. You may have drifted from what God intended for you from your youth. You scoffed at His plan and purpose and replaced it with your own.

Go back to your original God-given purpose and redirect the  midlife crisis missile to keep it from crashing into your home. Revisit your God-given purpose for living. A proper purpose precludes meaningless living. Yet, every day, men and some women meander into a midlife crisis. They think it is a release from responsibility, but midlife is meant to be a time of terrific transition, not terrible torture. It is created for celebration, not regret. Midlife is meaningful if rooted in the purpose of God and a future hope in Him. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Maybe you lived the first half of your life off purpose, but you were successful by the world’s standards. You may have more wealth than you ever dreamed of, but your spouse and children do not really know you. You are relationally poor. Or maybe you have been a good Christian, but you always seem to encounter bad things. Christianity feels like a farce; it is not what was promised to you when you started out in gleeful obedience. The hardness and insensitivity of some Christians is confusing. You are ready to toss it all out the window and start over with convenient obedience and lukewarm faith. But now is not the time to bail on Divine Providence. Yes, you may be tired and even sick, but stick with your Savior.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Midlife Crisis  →

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.  Psalm 78:72

Authentic leadership is a mixture of character and competence. You cannot have one without the other and provide healthy leadership. Competence without character is like a magnificent ivory-white ship’s sail that lies collapsed without wind. Character without competence is like a strong gust of wind without a billowy sail to capture its energy. Both are required for the level of leadership that God expects. Character is the linchpin of leadership. It is truly the measure of a man.

Your character is your union card: It earns you the right to participate in leadership. Your depth of character determines your breadth of leadership. Character is forged on the anvil of life’s experience. When your obedience to God intersects with life, character is developed. It is through a relationship with Christ and a relationship with people that you understand and develop character. God’s Word defines character, and living life is your opportunity to apply character. You can choose to be a character, or you can seek to live a life of character.

God’s will is the latter. People want leaders that are dependable, someone they can trust. They want leaders that are available to listen and understand. A leader of character follows through on commitments and does what is right even when it costs him personally. You can have average skill with exceptional character and still be an extraordinary leader. This is how God works. He works from the inside out. Sometimes your great abilities get in the way of a definitive work of character in your life. Anything you have is because of the grace of God, so thank Him for your abilities and allow Him to mold His character into your life.

Competence on the other hand gives you a platform to exercise your character. You are gifted and skilled in certain ways. It is imperative that you understand how you are wired. This self-awareness is your ticket to improvement. What you know today is not sufficient for what you need to know tomorrow. This is why competent leaders are ever learning. Current circumstances and future opportunities beg for your education. Skilled leaders ask lots of questions of those who have walked before them. They research and read about other successful leadership and organizational models. This is part of sharpening your skills.

Continue reading Wisdom Hunters – Character and Competence in Leaders →