In BAD Need of Wisdom!

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Pro. 2:2

I am in desperate need of wisdom and understanding. Daily I face situations that require more knowledge than I possess. Here are a few I have confronted lately.
--Giving my son and daughter sound advice on career decisions
--How to best use our monies for debt retirement and long-term savings
--Determining the next step in transitioning to a new ministry
--Knowing how to deepen my love for my mate
--Trying to determine if I am hearing myself or the Holy Spirit

I am sure you regularly face similar situations. It is easy to get overwhelmed by the never-ending assault of problems. Let me give you some thoughts on getting the wisdom and understanding you need.

God is the source of wisdom. Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” What a relief it is to know that we do not have to be the source of wisdom, knowledge, and intellect. We were not designed to be a fountain of knowledge. But we were created with the capacity to be in relationship with God who is the source of ALL wisdom and understanding.

Our responsibility is to go to Him for wisdom. Proverbs 2:2-4 says it like this.
Incline your ear to wisdom
Apply your heart to understanding
Cry out for knowledge and understanding
Seek wisdom like you would silver or precious jewels

Picture a coon dog sniffing the ground. He is trying to find the scent of a raccoon. He will keep his nose to the ground until he gets a whiff of that critter then everything about the coon dog metamorphs. He lets out a loud, bass howl that tells everyone he has picked up the trail of a coon. Next he takes off running following the scent trail he has just picked up. Every part of the coon dog is focused on one thing: getting the raccoon. Like the coon dog we are to go “all-out” in our pursuit of wisdom and understanding. We don’t hold back a thing. We know God is the source of ALL wisdom so we make a B-Line for Him!

God is ready to give us all the wisdom we can handle. James helps us here by saying, “If you need wisdom--if you want to know what God wants you to do--ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” (James 1:5) God is so awesome! He is always ready to give us ALL we need. James reminds us that God is eager and happy to give us wisdom.

Some Wisdom Practices
1. STOP. The first thing to do when faced with a problem is to STOP your mind’s attempt to resolve the issue. You may need to say “STOP” loudly in your head to get your thoughts to cease. This first step is important because your thinking can get in the way of getting God’s wisdom.

2. TURN. Once you have arrested your mind then wrestle it away from yourself and give it to God. Remember, your mind listens only to you. So grab your thoughts and give them to Jesus. At times I visualize putting a hand on each side of my head then turning my face toward Christ. He is the source of wisdom so I must turn away from me.

3. LISTEN. Next be still and listen. This will take practice because there is nothing about us that is still, ever. Even when the body is still the mind continues to race. See yourself sitting at Jesus’ feet like a disciple. Look to Him. Listen to Him. He will guide you. He will teach you. Give yourself time just to be with Him; to be attentive to Him. Most often I believe God speaks to us in the form of thoughts (besides the Bible). Pay attention to what comes into your mind as you are focused on Christ.

When Poor Is Rich

I'm about to tell you something that your mind will want to reject. So would you ask our Father to help you hear my words? Here goes.

"You are spiritually bankrupt--poor in spirit."

Are you still with me? I hope so. To be on the journey to transformation in Christ we MUST admit that we are "spiritually ruined and deficient." There are no exceptions to this Christian axiom.

My initial reaction to being "poor in spirit" was I'm not that bad. In some ways I bring some pretty good qualities to the spiritual bargaining table. For instance, I really like people, I'm humble, I'm a good communicator and I'm really involved in religious activities. I have a long way to go but I'm not poor in spirit – NO WAY!

What is it about being “poor in spirit” that is so troubling, so repulsive to me? My mind goes back to the playground during school in the fall of my first grade year. Two kids were picking teams for a game of kickball. I was not picked right off and I began to get a little anxious. I thought don’t worry they will pick you soon. The team captains continued calling out names that were not Paul Carlisle and my anxiety was turning into panic. No first grader wanted to be the last one picked by the kickball team captains. Because being unpicked mean you were “poor in kickball skills” and that meant rejection and humiliation.

So you can see how being “poor in anything” is to be avoided like a root canal. Even if you are totally inadequate and incompetent fake it, avoid it, deny it but never--no never embrace it.

Yet our Savior says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of God belongs to them.” (Matt. 5:3) The Amplified Bible says, “Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!”

Now here’s the paradox. Admitting I am poor in spirit opens the door to spiritual wealth. In 2 Cor. 8:9 Paul talks about us being rich in Christ. “In Christ” is the critical phrase. The best I can do for myself is poverty. To move out of poverty is simple—turn from me to Christ. Are you ready to go from rags to riches? Come on let’s surrender all to our Savior and King.

I Really, Really Need God! Part 3

The second phrase is "God Can!" The Bible is full of accounts of God being adequate for all we encounter.

He is the one that gave a child to barren Sarah; He is the one that parted the Red Sea and drown the Egyptians; He is the one that defeated thousands of Midianites through Gideon and a few; He is the one that protected the three Hebrew boys from Nebechanezzar’s firey furnance; He is the one that shut the mouths of lions for Daniel; He is the one that walked on the water and fed thousands with a little; and He is the one that overcame death and the grave. Yes, He can!

Before anyone can get to the confession “God Can!” they must admit “I Can’t!” (see the previous post). As a matter of fact I don’t believe you can wholeheartedly say “God Can!” if you don’t first say “I Can’t!”

The third statement is "I want God to _____" (you fill in the blank). When we say this we are letting God know that we're ready and willing for Him to do what we can’t. In 2 Corinthians 3:6 Paul says God makes us “sufficient.” Notice how dependent we are on God for everything. He has to make us adequate and competent for whatever it is we encounter. This phrase allows us to turn away from ourselves and to God as the answer to our problem or dilemma. We can trust him to heal our emotions, or enable us to overcome our protectiveness and selfishness, or stop our addictive eating and exercising, or empower us to forgive one who has hurt us deeply. A man who’s son was demon possessed came to Jesus for help. Jesus said to the man, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” The man cries with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:23-24) With simple words this man said, “I can’t!,” “God can!,” and “I want Him to heal my son.” It was too big for him but not for God.

I Really, Really Need God! Part 2

Paul said he was not “sufficient or adequate” if left on his own (2 Cor. 3:5-6). He had learned to say “I can’t!” This is doubly difficult because of the belief of American culture that “you can!” Think about it for a minute. We are the country that people can come to with very little materially and gain wealth. We believe that you can accomplish anything you want if you set your mind to it.

Can you see the message we are given by the culture and the church? You CAN do it! Yet when we look at the Bible we see something totally different. In John 15:5b Jesus says, “. . . for without Me you can do nothing.” God told Paul, “. . . My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9) The apostle Paul says, “. . . I will. . . boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

Moses replies to God call for service by saying, “Who am I that I should go to Pharoah. . .” He is feeling totally inadequate for the task at hand (Exodus 3:11). There are many more who did not have what it took to do what God had called them to do that I could cite but let’s stop with these.

It is easy to see that we were not created to be able to do anything on our own. We are invited to lean on Christ for all that we do. So let’s readily admit that “We can’t!”

I Really, Really Need God! Part 1

Now you must be thinking, “Of course I know I need God may be your reflexive reaction. Allow me to explain. I need friends, food, money, success, and so on. Yet my need for God is different than any of these. You see, I MUST HAVE God!

Let me give you a picture of what I mean. Picture a man that is in a hospital bed with all types of computerized devices connected to him. As we look at him he appears to have very little life left. His family has grave looks of concern on their faces. And rightly they should because their loved one desperately needs a heart transplant. The doctor has said he must have a heart or he will not survive.

Now let’s look in on another person in the hospital a few doors down. Here lies a man in a much less serious condition than the heart patient. He has checked in today for some tests and the doctor determined that he needs surgery on his sinuses so he can breathe with less difficulty.
When you compare these two persons it is apparent that they both need medical attention but the heart patient’s condition was such that he could not survive if his need for a heart was not addressed immediately. The heart patient NEEDS a heart like we NEED God. We must have Him to survive! Life cannot be done apart from Him! We have to have God! There is no hope outside of rich dependence on Him.

It was only a few years ago that spiritually I was likened unto the man that needed sinus surgery. I did not realize how desperately I needed God. My understanding at that time was it would be helpful if I knew Him better or at least looked pretty spiritual. For the most part, I was able to survive with God-Lite, just enough of God to make me feel comfortable and cozy but not enough to truly transform my life. Then it happened! Life fell in on me and I could no longer get along with just a little-bit of God. I needed Him like I had never known. If my need for Him was not met I felt like I could not go on anymore. That was when I realized I MUST have Him. And when all I had was God, He was enough. Praise to His name!

In 3 follow- up posts I would like to give you three phrases God has used to awaken and expand my need for him. These phrases are taken from 2 Corinthians 3:5-6. “Not that we are sufficient (adequate or competent) of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant. . .”

Dancing With Doubt

I was at a critical point in my graduate studies. The classroom work was complete and to prove my mastery of the material I was required to write a comprehensive exam over my masters and doctoral studies (four years of study). It would be two long days of writing. The professors gave me the general areas to study but not any real specifics. My mind raced about all they could ask me that I did not know. It was the most anxious 2 months of study that I had ever experienced. To add more pressure to the situation was the fact that I had to pass this exam to write my dissertation and graduate.

Throughout the two months of preparation I would frequently be mugged by intense doubt. At times it would be so forceful that I would be unable to lift a finger because of the sense of doom. I wasn’t just wondering if I would fail, I was sure of it.

Have you ever encountered this dastardly fellow called doubt? Has he ever made a personal house call to your address? Maybe you sensed his presence when you told your spouse you really wanted to be a better communicator but inside you were not sure you could pull it off. Or possibly doubt hit you when you failed the third time to resist your favorite mega-choclate bar. Doubt shouts that you will never keep up the exercise routine. What about when you decide to read your Bible and pray more regular knowing full well that you have never been consistent at this for more than a couple of weeks. Or like me you have wrestled with doubt that God will really be able to take care of ALL your needs. So what are we to do when this unwelcome guest shows up on our front porch with his suitcase threatening to stay a while?

Realize you are not alone in your struggle with doubt. Genesis 2 paints a marvelous picture of the relationship between Adam and Eve and their Creator. God would stroll with them in the cool of the day amidst a magnificent garden. God, the loving provider, met all of their needs. Yet all this changes in a few verses in chapter 3. The Bible introduces us to a serpent that gets Adam and Eve to mistrust or doubt God. These two, who lived in a sinless world with a Companion who was always faithful, would turn their back on Him when doubt showed up. Yes, doubt can lead sinless ones to be sinners. And that is exactly what happened. Doubt is born.

Let’s take a look at an individual in the New Testament who shocked me with his doubting. John the Baptist was a courageous prophet who called all to repentance. He appears to have the spiritual strength of a lion and appears to be immune to doubt of any sort. Yet before Herod beheads him he sends his disciples to Jesus with this painful question, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” John was the one who saw Jesus earlier and said, “Behold! The Lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world!” “He must increase and I must decrease,” are also the words of one sure of who Jesus is. Yet now with his death well in sight doubt arises. So he turns to Jesus for assurance (and I suggest that you do the same). You see wrestling with doubt places you in the company of the saints.

Cover or Confess? When I encounter doubt my tendency is to cover it up because I am not “suppose” to doubt. I act like a five year old who tries to hide that he has eaten a piece of forbidden chocolate cake by trying to get the icing off my face while trying to look innocent. None of that changed the fact that I had eaten the cake. I have now found that telling myself that I’m not suppose to doubt does not change the fact that I doubt. I have had much more success confessing to God that I doubt. For example, “Father, I am going to work on my anger but I really don’t see anyway I’ll improve.” So confess the doubt rather than cover it up.

Help My Unbelief. I love how often the Bible gives us a direct and forthright answer for many of our problems. These words of a father are recorded in Mark 9:24, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” What a great prayer! When we encounter doubt we turn to God and from our hearts ask God to help our unbelief. This allows the Spirit of God to transform our hearts.
The next time you sense God pointing you in a particular direction and your hearts fills with doubt remember that you are not alone in this adventure. I too am wanting Him to strengthen my faith.

Ashamed of Weakness

The couple had come to me because of marriage problems. This was our first visit. The wife was discouraged with the marriage but appeared eager to work. She had some hope. Now the husband was a whole different story. Before he said one single word to me I knew he would rather be wrestling a 20 ft. anaconda than sitting in my office. His body posture screamed “I don’t want to be here! I don’t want to do this!” When he spoke his words confirmed this. Through tight lips and in a firm voice he said, “I don’t think we need help! We can work it out on our own! We just need more time!” The opposite was true. Their marriage was not going to survive if they refused help.
So why would this husband refuse to accept help when it was obvious that his marriage was not going to make? That’s what I want to talk to you about. My first reaction is that the husband’s response is not much different than my own. I really want to believe that I can make it just fine in life without anyone’s help. I want to believe that I have it all together. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m willing to help anyone at anytime. I am more than eager to do so. My problem is when the tables are turned and I’m the one who has to ask for help. I hate it when I am needy, deficient, weak, and helpless. Just saying the words turns my stomach. I want to scream out, “I am suppose to be strong! Weakness is never, ever acceptable! Never!”
Yet life has convinced me that I truly am weak, fragile, and needy. Now the verdict is in. All my questions have been answered. I can’t make life work on “my own.” I must have God and others. This brings me back to my original question, “Why would anyone refuse help when they know their life depends on it?”
I refused help because I could not tolerate my own weakness and was convinced that others would be no different. Guess what I found out? I am weak and so are you. We were designed to be weak. Neediness cannot be avoided no matter who you are. Let me explain what I mean.
God created us to “need” Him. Listen to the words of Jesus, “. . . for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b). The word “nothing” arrested my attention. I would have been more comfortable if Jesus had said, “without Me you can do almost nothing.” Then I could have held out hope for some sense of self-sufficiency. But He said NOTHING! Life does not work a part from God.
In the book of Matthew (9:12) Jesus establishes this point one more time. He has just called Matthew to follow him and the religious leaders are shocked that Jesus would ever consider some low-life publican. Jesus had this to say to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” I believe Jesus is being cynical with the religious leaders. He knew all were infected by the dreaded disease of sin. Only those who will admit that they are sick and need the Great Physician can be His disciple. In other words, admitted neediness and weakness are prerequisites of ALL those who will be followers of Christ.
I invite you to join me as one who will no longer hide his or her weakness and dependency. Rather we will let God use our neediness to reveal his strength. God told the Apostle that His “strength was made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). May our honest embracing of our weakness draw others to our glorious Savior’s strength.

Throw Me A LifeLine

I owe my life to a life-line. It was August of 1994 and I knew I was in dire straits when my family physician told me I was seriously depressed and would need to be treated with medication. He only confirmed what I already knew.
I had been treading water for a long time and the last series of events were like a monstrous wave that I felt sure would drown me. My dad had just died of alcoholism. This tragic event forced me to face a painful past that I had tried my best to hide from and ignore for years. Who wants to look back on experiences that hurt so intensely and scarred so deeply? I just wanted it all to be over, to wake up and realize it was only a bad dream. But that was not God’s plan for me. He allowed me to struggle and thrash in a raging sea.
That’s when it happened. A voice cried out over the crashing of the waves, “Don’t give up!” Those words alone enabled me to fight the fatigue that threatened to do me in. Soon I saw the boat cutting through the stormy waves. I’ll never forget how good it felt to have the boat’s life-line in my hands. I was pulled to safety by a doctor, some great friends, my wife, and God. I praise Christ for those who knew how to use a life-line.
I hope you won’t find it shocking when I tell you that I was a seminary professor and a professional counselor when I encountered the beast called clinical depression. A good education, sincere Christian commitment, and being active in ministry did not exempt me from needing a life-line. I have come to believe that all of us will need a life-line at some point in our lives.
I discovered that I was not the only one who had to have a life-line. The pages of God’s word are full of those who needed help but none is more prominent than Peter. He and the disciples had been rowing their boat against a storm for several hours (Matthew 14). They were exhausted!
In the midst of their trouble Jesus came walking on the water. His presence frightened the fatigued crew of disciples. Jesus tells them not to fear and Peter courageously responds with, “If it is you then tell me to come.” I think Peter believed if it was really Jesus that he could safely step out on top of the waves. Jesus tells him to come. And he did. Yet something happened that all of us can relate to. The storm appeared bigger and more real than his relationship to Jesus. He looked away from his Master and ended up desperately fighting for his life. Peter cries out to Jesus for help.
Then Jesus did an amazing thing! He extended his hand to the drowning disciple. Peter knew it was a life-line! My heart leapt as I read those words. The same Jesus that extended a strong hand of care to Peter does the same thing for us. Friends, we do not have to fear the storms of life. Because we know the one who walks above the storm. I say this now because I too was rescued from a turbulent sea that I was sure would destroy me. Yet amidst the darkest hours of my life I felt the sturdy hand of Jesus take hold of me and lift me out of a despair that threatened to engulf me.
I want you to know that Jesus wants to be your life-line. Why don't you consider grabbing a hold of his hand and letting him pull you to safety and JOY?

Listening to God

Listening To God
October 15, 2005

I was sitting on my outdoor deck looking at a full moon tonight. The stillness and quietness was wonderful. Ever so slowly stars became visible. To see the stars all I had to do was wait and watch. I could not make them visible. All I could do was recognize them. God like the stars wants to be visible to us. He longs to know us--to be in friendship with us. Yet we have formed ourselves to value so many lesser things. We live in an inverted world. Our Teacher points this out when He say to gain we must lose and to be great we must be a servant. To hear God I must apply the principal of inversion. Rather than turn my attention to me I must turn it another. Now I don't know about you but I have listened to me all my life and enjoy my voice and my ideas. To turn away from me is a colossal task. But if I am to learn the voice of Jesus I must turn from me to Him.

Old car radios required you to turn a knob to tune into your favorite station. If you were to get in between stations there would be much static. To clear the static you must move the knob ever so little until the music becomes crystal clear. Listening to God is like this. You must turn from your station to His—intentionally. Even though you like your station and have been a faithful listener all your life to hear God you have to change channels. Once you get on God’s frequency then you will need to turn the volume up so His voice drowns out all distractions.

Exercises to Help You Listen to God
1. You must want to hear from God—do you? Read Ps. 25:4-5 and ask God to teach you His ways and to show you His paths. Ask Him to deepen your hunger for Him.
2. When you are with Him do not hurry. Take time to linger with Him. Don’t rush. Hurrying is one way to distract you from His voice.
3. Outside of the Bible, I believe God most often speaks to us in the form of thoughts. He gives us ideas. When you are learning to be with Him and recognize His voice be attentive to the thoughts that enter your mind. At first you will be overwhelmed with the voice of your own mind. You may even want to record some of your thoughts in a journal for later reference.
4. Take time to listen to God when you are not doing your regular bible reading and prayer. The novice often reads the bible and prays for legalistic reasons: to impress others or God. This hinders one from hearing the voice of God. Do your bible reading and prayer then allow time for just sitting with God, for listening to God.
5. Persevere and you will make tremendous progress.

The Sin of Responsibility

My parents valued responsibility. I was told, "Paul, pay your bills", "Paul, keep your word", "Paul carry your own weight", ad infinitum. My early childhood discipleship (parenting influences) were powerful! I am responsible to a fault. I learned the lesson so well that I act like I don't need God because I'M RESPONSIBLE for me. At present I am challenging this old core value of self-sufficiency that was camoflogued as responsibility.

Jesus told his disciples to be totally unconcerned about their own needs because his Father had already taken care of them (Matt. 6:32). What does our Teacher mean by telling us to be irresponsiblie. Doesn't he know that its wrong to not provide for yourself? We all know that God helps those who help themselves. WRONG! That's a LIE!

Our old hard wiring is difficult to correct. We live in a world where we are arrogant about our ability to take care of ourselves. We are self-sufficient and proud of it. So don't dare suggest that we can't do it.

My "I can do it" attitude about destroyed me. In an experience of deep spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical brokenness I surrendered to my Jesus and said "I give up being responsible for myself." An old dog can learn new tricks but it takes time. Gradually I began to realize I had been lied to by my family and culture. No one can make life work on their own. No one can handle all of life's problems on their own. No individual has what it takes to be successful alone.

Jesus is sure we can't make it alone. That's why he came. He was trying to get the disciples to see that they were not designed to be lone rangers (Matt 6). He pointed to the birds and flowers to say dependency on God is part of the world's deep design. This does not mean mankind believes it--yet it is none-the-less-true.

Jesus inverted responsiblity by teaching God is responsible for us; for our needs. He alone is the Need-Meeter! It never was our job. So we can fire yourself from being responsible for ourselves. God wants to take care of our every need if we will quit trying.

I am learning to live responsibly in the Kingdom of God by always turning to Christ for all things. I have decided that my ideas, thoughts, and plans are inferior to my Father's provision for me. He wants to provide for me in such a way that others will want him to be their Father. I will not allow my individualism and self-sufficiency to get in the way of God's lavish provision. He gladly voulunteered to be responsible for me (us) so I choose to rely on Him. (By the way he did provide for a bunch of Israelites in the wilderness one time.)

Learning the Easy Yoke -- Paul