2014-It was to be the year of stepping out of the boat, grabbing the brass ring and changing the world.
What happened? As I watched the Broncos lose to the Seahawks, I was reminded that not everything goes according to plan.
You and I are here, because this is where we are. Whatever lead up to us being here, while relevant, is now in the rear view mirror. It is behind us. Forever destined to be nothing more than a stepping off place.
I get it. Over the last few months both my wife and I have experienced tremendous changes. Job losses, moves and few other things have brought us to this place. How do you correct that? Well, despite using my most “authoritative” tone, my “best posture” and a few other “tricks” I “know” the train is still running in a different direction. It has required me to once again be outside my “comfort zone.”
I do understand. Both of us understand rejection letters and changing life.
BUT-if you stop swinging the bat, putting one foot in front of another, you will not win. I could easily have envisioned Peyton Manning’s desire to just “have it over.” But despite the lopsided score he just kept going out. You may not want to go out, but sometimes that is where your miracle appears. You may not want to even be “there” but hiding your head will not accomplish what you desire to see happen. In fact, it may even be greater than you imagine.
Many years ago, following my salvation I decided it was time to clear the decks of debt and such. I owed a lot of money back then. $60,000 was owed to the IRS alone. I moved ahead and got met me miraculously. One of the things on the plate was a SAAB I had bought in a fit of whimsy. I had paid cash but now saw it as a stumbling block to moving out of debt. So, away it went. I was close enough to my main place of work that getting there was not a problem. But being 35 and carless was a stretch.
One Thanksgiving weekend a new friend from our church fellowship asked me to join him and his family. I agreed (If he would come get me!) and he soon was sitting in my driveway. Nothing would have prepared me for what happened. As we were finishing up the meal my friend handed me a key, a SAAB key. My response was “why are you making fun of me?” He and his wife looked strangely at me and pointed to the driveway. There in the drive was a 9000 Turbo SAAB with a bow on it. “Go ahead. Take it.”
Now it was easy then to make a performance orchestrated formula on “how to receive blessing.” And I did and I am not sure if worked quite like that again. Yes, I made some “right” moves. Yes, I had prayed for “deliverance” and prosperity and such. But, really some of the greatest miracles come when we least suspect it.
Oh, we may be positioned for goodness in our minds. But truly it is the “position” of being in Him that aligns us with goodness and God.
I know that Elijah was looking for a response in 1Kings 18:41. And he saw the response to that. God had revealed it to him. Surely. But how many await the “revealing” of a prophetic word to come to pass? And just what was the “word” that sent him to a cave? I am sure he was hanging on destiny and a belief that God would miraculously show up.
But what about the woman who had picked up the last stick to cook her death meal? What was her word? What was her rationale or thinking? How was she “positioned” for a drop out of heaven?
In our desire to encourage or “help” people we sometimes set them up for an encounter that is not on the radar screen. I find as a prophetic voice it is “too easy” to try and give a word to fix something when in fact God wants to reveal something. I know my own immaturity lead me astray. I have come to the conclusion that it is “rare” that prophecy cures immaturity and removes sinful actions. (Oh that I might not be so!) Have we not learned that just telling people to “grow up” does not work?
But faith in Him! When our faith is settled in our understanding that our position (With Him.) has already been established and our place is a place of blessing (For are we not the garden?) then the rest becomes so much easier.
Relax. In the words of The Carpenters, We’ve Only Just Begun. 2014 just barely got here. We have barely inched through 1/12th of it. The words of the prophets ring true. (Perhaps this is one of the greatest reasons I ask people to “Accept or Reject” a word early on rather than cluttering your mind’s closet space.)
I encourage you to revisit my 2014 word. Perhaps we are further ahead or slightly behind where we thought we were. It is okay. While “one game” makes a Super Bowl, it was many games that brought folks there. But for many their destiny of that “kairos” moment began in the hidden places of “chronos” time.
Today is your day with a now God in a now moment. Do not look across the table to the Lord and get swept away in despair for yesterday or concern for the future. Today is your day. THIS is the day the Lord has made… Embrace your today. Psalm 118:24
And let me be clear. Today may not be the kairos but the chronos timing of life. BUT where God is kairos to you in the sense it often prepares for the “wow” moments. How so? What about what you said about the “woman and the death watch”? Through the understanding that where you are so is the Lord. For whom is joined to the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17) Impatience too often is the sign of lack of trust. Whatever captures you from the rest is the enemy. This is the enemy we must overcome.
For the Broncos there is not another 2014 Super Bowl. But their response will dictate will there be another shot. The answer of course is “yes”. But keep in mind that is related to their performance and rightly so. But the ability to simply be is on you. Labor to enter His rest. Hebrews 4:1-2. Unite your faith today with the promise of God. I did not say “press in” or push harder but accept the gift of faith and the knowledge of position in Him to realize this.
Today in the “super bowl” of life mix your faith with the knowledge that you are there.
We’ve Only Just Begun
Sung by The Carpenters
“We’ve Only Just Begun” is track #6 on the album Singles 1969-1981. It was written by Nichols, Roger S. / Williams, Paul H..
We’ve only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way
We’ve only begun
Before the risin’ sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We’ll start out walkin’ and learn to run
And yes, we’ve just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day, together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watching the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day, together, together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun
Songwriters
NICHOLS, ROGER S. / WILLIAMS, PAUL H.
Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing
