Stay on Course

Recently we watched “Kon Tiki”. It’s a movie about the “real life” of Thor Heyerdahl and his crew who sailed from Peru across the Pacific to the Polynesian Islands in 1947 on a balsa wood raft. It was a 4300 mile trip and took over one hundred days. The courage of Heyerdahl and his crew is matched only by their determination. It’s definitely a “must” watch.

The raft’s only means of propulsion was its sail and the ocean’s currents and a rudder were its means of navigation. The rudder helped them hold their course as the current and the trade winds moved them on their journey. I was captivated by their story, after all, Heyerdahl is Norwegian and so am I.

The rudder – a long wooden pole with a flat piece of wood tied to the end of it – was the only thing they had to steer them through the waters. It would have been disastrous to have lost it.

We also need a rudder to stay on course and the Bible tells us what that rudder is.

“All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body. By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.” James 3:2-5a CEV

Our tongue, the words that we speak, are our rudder in life. The things we say to ourselves and the things we say to others will set our course in all our relationships. One of the best examples of controlling life’s circumstances with words comes from the life of Job. Job had lost all of his children, his animals and his crops. Physically he was suffering and this was his wife’s advice:

“Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.” Job 2:8-10 NLT

Job kept his words pure; they were his life’s rudder. He knew if he began complaining about the way things were going, he would lose the only thing he had left, his faith. He had faith that God would vindicate him and He did!

King David said this: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT

Jesus said this: “I promise you that on the day of judgment, everyone will have to account for every careless word they have spoken. 37 On that day they will be told that they are either innocent or guilty because of the things they have said.” Matthew 12:36-37 CEV

And the Apostle Paul said this: “and never stop praying. 18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.” I Thessalonians 5:17-18 CEV

We don’t need to give thanks for the troubles we face but, like Job, we keep our focus on the One who will bring us through the troubles and stay with us in the troubles to keep us in His loving care.

“Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things. 17 But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. 18 When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice.” James 3:16-18 CEV

When God’s words become our words they are a powerful rudder that will keep our lives on the right course, a course filled with gentleness, kindness, sincerity and peace.

Stay on course!

Do You Ponder?

Interesting word, ponder. I wonder if I should ponder over it’s meaning.

In the last few days my heart has filled with memories of Christmases past when the kids were little. There were some very lean times but even in that they were good because our focus was on it being Jesus birthday, being with the ones we loved and not on the gifts under the tree.

I remember one year I insisted that we all write letters to each other on what we loved and appreciated about one another. I still have those letters today – they are tucked safely away in the cedar chest. I guess you could say, I pondered them in my heart.

We need to take a lesson from Mary for that’s what she did that very first Christmas morning.

“and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.” Luke 2:18-20 ERV

As the shepherds arrived telling all the angels had said, she pondered – treasured, meditated – those things in her heart. I’m sure it wasn’t just the words of the angels that she pondered. She probably relived her visit with Gabriel and then her cousin Elizabeth. Her conversations with Joseph, the trip to Bethlehem and the miracle of being alone in a stable and giving birth must have filled her heart as well. Each detail indelibly etched in her memory.

God’s miracle – God’s provision – God’s love – wrapped in a tiny bundle, cradled in her arms, nursing at her breast! Yes, these would be the things she pondered; these would be the memories she would hold for the rest of her life. As the angel told her: “For nothing will be impossible with God”.

We need take time to ponder – to treasure and meditate – on what God has done in our lives and for those we love. Maybe you don’t feel God has really done anything spectacular for you, well then, go back to that first Christmas, He sent His Son to save us from our sins. That’s a pretty good place to start.

Consider

I told you yesterday that I was going on a private call with my Father. He always takes time for me and I love it!

The word that kept coming to me over and over again was “consider”. As I say that word to you right now I have to wonder what is the first thing that comes to your mind.

What are you considering?

Maybe it has to do with your job, your family, finances, health, relationship, vacation or education.

When I walked outside early yesterday morning I looked up and the sky was overcast so I couldn’t really see the stars but this morning when I walked out it was clear and the stars were brilliant. I was in process of considering.

The sky brought everything into focus. I needed to consider the One who made all this.

Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful in all the earth! It brings you praise everywhere in heaven. From the mouths of children and babies come songs of praise to you. They sing of your power to silence your enemies who were seeking revenge.

I look (consider) at the heavens you made with your hands.
    I see the moon and the stars you created.
And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you?
    Why do you even think about them? Why do you care so much about humans? Why do you even notice them?”

But you made them almost like gods and crowned them with glory and honor. You put them in charge of everything you made. You put everything under their control.
People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals.
They rule over the birds in the sky and the fish that swim in the sea.

Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!” Psalm 8 ERV

It was a private conversation between me and the Father. Me asking why I was so important to Him; He made the stars and the universe, why does He care about me?

I get so busy considering other things that I forget to consider God and His promises. I’m going to live this word, consider, for the next several days. I encourage you to do so as well.

Jesus said to his followers, “So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat or what you will wear. 23 Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. 24 Look (consider) at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in houses or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than crows. 25 None of you can add any time to your life by worrying about it. 26 And if you can’t do the little things, why worry about the big things?

27 “Think (consider) about how the wildflowers grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 28 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? That’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!” Luke 12:22-28 ERV

Join me today in considering God’s greatness and His goodness. I hope you take time tonight to go out and look at the night sky. Try to count the stars. In all of eternity past they’ve been there, right on the course God designed for them.

If He cares about the stars, the birds, the flowers and the grass CONSIDER how much more He cares for you!