Psalm 60.3
We do not have a theology of suffering today. In fact, many in the church today have a haughty attitude toward anyone that remotely experiences hardships. We’ve more and more begun to sound like Job’s accusatory friends than hold to the biblical picture of suffering.
The Psalmist is direct with the Father in identifying that Israel is undergoing struggle. Amazingly, he notices that this is the will of God, since God is the one who has caused it. “You {Jehovah} have made Your people suffer hardship; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.”
Woven into the fabric of following the Lord is suffering. Suffering is not something we would volunteer for or even pursue. However, suffering is ordained by God as a pathway to righteousness and many times an indicator of His presence in our life.
There are four basic reasons we experience suffering. Quickly, let’s consider these and see if they do not hold true in our Christian experience.
1. Sin and selfishness: this is the tragedy of self induced suffering because of unconfessed sin in our lives. Suffering comes as a sign of discipline.
2. Satanic attack: this is the temptations and enemy tactics attempting to cause us to derail our pursuit of the Father’s plan for our lives.
3. Strengthening: this is trials introduced into our lives by God and for God’s purposes of increasing our faith and fellowship with Him. (Interesting to note: when Satan tempts you it is for you to fail; but when God places trials on you it is for you to FAITH).
4. Stretching: this is testing and examination of spiritual principles we have learned and are now called into application in our lives.
Now, if you have read this far I have to admit that no amount of suffering is pleasant. I want you to take courage. Your suffering is producing in you purification for holiness. In hardships you need to stuff your ears with cotton so as not to listen to the naysayers. You must get into the Word of God and grow. Dig into the gold of the pure word of God and come out with His promises.
Be of good courage and count it all joy when you suffer, especially suffering for righteousness sake. You can survive. You will make it through stronger on the other side.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
You are such a delight
Psalm 149.4
You’ve heard the old southern phrase I am sure. I say it when I look at our dog – Rascal the pug. Honestly, it works with him perfectly. Almost daily when I look at his face the thought hits me, “Here’s a face only a mother could love.”
But oh what a face! Come on now, you know that there is a face that just came to mind for you. It’s the face of someone you love dearly. And every time you see their face either in person or with your mind you cannot help but smile.
The reason that person makes you smile is because of the relationship you have with them. I am the father of four unbelievably talented children. All of them are athletes excelling in their individual sports. Here’s a challenge, all of them are leaders too. (Try raising four leaders in one household, it’s awesome and loud.) And, no matter which one of them I see first their face always makes me smile.
I know what you are thinking. Sure, they make you smile they are your kids. Okay, guilty as charged. But here’s the jump to the point for you today. Are you a child of God? Are you a Christ follower? Has salvation come to you through Jesus Christ?
If so, guess what? Just the sight of your face creates pleasure in our heavenly Father. He loves you. He delights in you. He is even pleased by the sight of you. Listen to this: “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149.4).
The Hebrew word of pleasure is ratsah. This is awesome because it means to delight in the appearance of one. Oh yeah, it even means to believe in you. Don’t let this slide by you today. Our Father, Jehovah, when he adopted you into his family signified through that moment that you are his child. Because you are his child you are delight to him and he really does believe in you.
How can you fail today? Jehovah believes in you. After all you have a face your Father loves.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Conditional or Unconditional Praise
Conditional or Unconditional Praise
Psalm 118.24
I can remember as a child stating emphatically to my father, “I just don’t feel like it.” Funny now I cannot remember all those things I didn’t feel like doing. The list most likely included cleaning my room, cutting the grass, doing my homework, clearing the dishes from the table, and going to school.
There was one time I remember vividly when I didn’t feel like it! The “it” was going to church. I think someone had said something about me in the youth group. I am sure that surprises you since you are in a church that never talks about anyone. Laugh, Laugh, sigh.
What surprised me is the response from my Pastor-father. It was probably one of the first “grown-up” conversations we ever had; opening the door to many wonderful ones since. Shockingly he revealed calmly to me that there are times we don’t feel like it. As he guided me through the discovery of why I didn’t feel like it, both human and also heavenly Father(s) helped me recognize that praise and worship of the Lord has little to do with feelings. Oh sure emotions are involved, but they can be so fickle and rest so on our selfish agendas.
There are days you don’t feel like praising the Lord. Sure circumstances can be tough. This world leaves many wounds and scares. However, there is an amazing thing that takes place when we praise the Lord.
The Psalmist did not place any conditions on daily praise. Listen to his song; “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Since this is the day the Lord made, and simply because that fact alone is true, we will rejoice and be glad in IT. Oh yeah, look at this, the Hebrew word for rejoice means “to go around in a circle”. Almost sounds like a dance of joy – oh no, it is the dance of joy.
What? Oh what happened with me not feeling like it? Dad blew my mind. He said the choice on that day was mine. I could even chose to stay home from church with no parental discipline. The only thing he said was, “you know what the right thing to do regardless of how you feel…so it’s your choice.”
Huh? Oh, I went to church! It wasn’t half bad either.
This is the day the Lord has made, let’s go around in a circle with exultation and gladness of the Lord!
Always Enthusiastic (and maybe about to be dizzy),
Dr. Rusty Newman
Monday, July 27, 2009
What are you waiting for?
What are you waiting for?
Psalm 27.14
Human beings are not by nature patient creatures. Hard wired into our DNA and tied to our own ego centric desires is to get what we want when we want it. Babies express this through wailing. Toddlers express their agenda through temper tantrums. Teens exclaim that most wonderful phrase with rolled eyes – “WHATEVER!”
Adults have it all figured out. Come on by now we’ve learned our lesson, right? We may not cry, stomp, or roll our eyes (in public) but we do allow our impatience to impact our attitude, actions, and stress levels. Think this through and you may come to the same conclusion – We do not like to wait!
The One who made us knows this flaw in our human wiring. This may be why He consistently (daily) places us in situations requiring waiting. It is through waiting we discover we are not in control. It is also through waiting that we can discover He is still in control.
Waiting does not have to be a negative thing. It can be very productive. David wrote, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” The Hebrew word used in this song is transliterated “qavah” and is translated into English as wait, but in Latin another of her meanings rolls off the tongue. The Latin word equivalent is “expecta” or expect!
You see when you wait on people you may get frustrated, but when you wait on the Lord you can have a hopeful expectation. Expect the Lord to act – he will. Expect the Lord to move – he can. Expect the Lord to do the miraculous – it is in his power.
Let me suggest a formula for successful expectant waiting upon the Lord. Here’s an acrostic I’ve written for “WAIT” it will describe what to do the next time you have to wait.
W-Weep to God in Prayer
A-Anticipate God’s Miracle
I-Investigate the Scriptures
T-Trust the Timing of God
“Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Fill ‘er Up!
Psalm 23.5
Thirsty and tired you stumble into the encampment. Unsure of your welcome by the nomadic assembly of shepherds but you are exhausted. To your surprise you are warmly greeted and quickly taken into the shade of a waiting tent. The first sense of refreshment has now become apparent to you. At least you are out of the heat.
In the middle of the desert the most precious thing is not silver or gold but H20. Carefully each sip is measured and rationed for the preservation of the community. But now you are in need. So the glass is brought to you.
One of the amazing things in the culture you’ve stumbled into is the sense of hospitality and service for one in need. Every time you take a sip from the cup, no matter how much you drink, immediately your cup is filled to the brim again. Amazing how generosity can feel to one in need.
There is still a custom today among these Jewish herdsmen that expresses the heart of grace. The cup is placed on the ground in front of the guest. Then the water pitcher is brought to fill the cup. The water is carefully poured to the brim and then increase to gently flowing over the top down the sides and allowed to pool at the base of the glass. The image signifies that your host is prepared to give you all the resources he has in order to meet your need. While under the protection of your host you will know no lack at all.
Through the blood of Jesus our savior you have been brought near. Through his sacrifice you who were far off have been allowed to come into the tent of the Almighty. He has brought you in and sits you down and …“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
It’s all yours through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Thirsty and tired you stumble into the encampment. Unsure of your welcome by the nomadic assembly of shepherds but you are exhausted. To your surprise you are warmly greeted and quickly taken into the shade of a waiting tent. The first sense of refreshment has now become apparent to you. At least you are out of the heat.
In the middle of the desert the most precious thing is not silver or gold but H20. Carefully each sip is measured and rationed for the preservation of the community. But now you are in need. So the glass is brought to you.
One of the amazing things in the culture you’ve stumbled into is the sense of hospitality and service for one in need. Every time you take a sip from the cup, no matter how much you drink, immediately your cup is filled to the brim again. Amazing how generosity can feel to one in need.
There is still a custom today among these Jewish herdsmen that expresses the heart of grace. The cup is placed on the ground in front of the guest. Then the water pitcher is brought to fill the cup. The water is carefully poured to the brim and then increase to gently flowing over the top down the sides and allowed to pool at the base of the glass. The image signifies that your host is prepared to give you all the resources he has in order to meet your need. While under the protection of your host you will know no lack at all.
Through the blood of Jesus our savior you have been brought near. Through his sacrifice you who were far off have been allowed to come into the tent of the Almighty. He has brought you in and sits you down and …“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
It’s all yours through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Joy Will Return
Psalm 51.8
Every time without exception that my eyes fall upon the 51st Psalm I stand in absolute awe of the grace of the Almighty. You know the background to this famous Psalm – it is described for us in the prelude as the response to the confrontation David experienced because of his known sin. This psalm gives to us a pattern for true repentance for our sins.
There is something else here that makes me marvel at our Lord’s love. It is the simple fact that if David could be forgiven of his multiple sins produced by this event then we have hope. Even more than that not only did he receive forgiveness he also came away restored.
Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me-- now let me rejoice…Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you…Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness. (8,12,14).
Do you see the pathway to victory? Repent – confess all your sins to the Lord. He already knows them all but he is looking for you to be honest with yourself. Rejoice – you’ve been treated with mercy and goodness and grace by the Lord Jesus. Paul reminded us in Romans that where sin increased grace increases much more – now you can shout! Restore – you do not have to stay down, stay depressed, and stay pitiful. Since the Father has restored you to usefulness and productivity stay available to him.
Joy will return! It’s a promise of the Lord.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Thursday, July 9, 2009
How brief?
Psalm 39
Life is so short. Recently, there has been the news of tragedy. No, I am not talking about the death of celebrity. These names you probably do not know. The result of a car crash and in a matter of seconds a young mother is removed in death. A flash and a young teen in seemingly insurmountable problems chooses death for himself. What’s the point?
Life is short. This is the question of the ages. Literary and philosophy have wrestled with the meaning of this brief life. King Macbeth sighed these despairing words:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing (act 5, scene 5 Macbeth by William Shakespeare).
How long do we have anyway? Is there a number on our days? As surely as there is an exact measure on the ruler and an exact weight on the scales there is an exact timeframe for our lives.
King David is no Macbeth. But apparently David considered in the time of trouble the same question as our fictional king. However, he does not do this in the same manner. “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed you have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before you; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah” (Psalm 39.4-5).
Instead of Macbeth’s despair King David looks to God to lift his burden. David wrestles with the question of mortality realizing his frailty, his weakness, even his vulnerability and comes to the conclusion that his entire life is in the hand of God. God is in the one in control. The life we live here while brief is to be lived for Jehovah.
So what’s the point? Since we know how short life is and the fact that we simply are not in control of the next breath lets live with intentionality. Do not get caught up in the meaningless, in the mundane, or even the trivial. Don’t let the small keep you from the enormous. Don’t allow worry to rob you of the opportunity of praise. Don’t be limited by your fragility and forget to live for God and eternity.
Make the most of today: love, laugh, lean on Jesus! Praise Him today. Present him today to a searching soul. Today really can be the best day to serve the Lord.
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. Deliver me …” (Psalm 39.7-8a).
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Life is so short. Recently, there has been the news of tragedy. No, I am not talking about the death of celebrity. These names you probably do not know. The result of a car crash and in a matter of seconds a young mother is removed in death. A flash and a young teen in seemingly insurmountable problems chooses death for himself. What’s the point?
Life is short. This is the question of the ages. Literary and philosophy have wrestled with the meaning of this brief life. King Macbeth sighed these despairing words:
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day, to the last syllable of recorded time; and all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing (act 5, scene 5 Macbeth by William Shakespeare).
How long do we have anyway? Is there a number on our days? As surely as there is an exact measure on the ruler and an exact weight on the scales there is an exact timeframe for our lives.
King David is no Macbeth. But apparently David considered in the time of trouble the same question as our fictional king. However, he does not do this in the same manner. “Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed you have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before you; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah” (Psalm 39.4-5).
Instead of Macbeth’s despair King David looks to God to lift his burden. David wrestles with the question of mortality realizing his frailty, his weakness, even his vulnerability and comes to the conclusion that his entire life is in the hand of God. God is in the one in control. The life we live here while brief is to be lived for Jehovah.
So what’s the point? Since we know how short life is and the fact that we simply are not in control of the next breath lets live with intentionality. Do not get caught up in the meaningless, in the mundane, or even the trivial. Don’t let the small keep you from the enormous. Don’t allow worry to rob you of the opportunity of praise. Don’t be limited by your fragility and forget to live for God and eternity.
Make the most of today: love, laugh, lean on Jesus! Praise Him today. Present him today to a searching soul. Today really can be the best day to serve the Lord.
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. Deliver me …” (Psalm 39.7-8a).
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Land of the Between
Psalm 27.7-9
I’ve just received a phone call from an appliance repair shop. They are coming to fix a problem with an appliance they installed. A problem they created. Did you get that? A problem they caused.
Here’s the deal. With no appointment, no concern for my schedule, no thought about what I am doing the receptionist informed me (the customer) that I had to be at the house to let them (the serviceman) in right now. When I asked about why there was no appointment made with me I was informed that they (the store) do not make appointments with the customers. I get a warning call!
Trials are along those lines too. They give you no appointment. You do not get a friendly reminder on your calendar that notifies you that in three weeks you will have a flat tire on the interstate.
On days like this the Bible gives us a recipe, wait patiently. This recipe goes against our nature. But it fits wonderfully into the divine nature that Christ provides to his children. It is the balance between this world and the next.
That is where we live by the way. We live in the land of the between. We experience the things of this world knowing that with Christ as our Savior we have the experience of heaven awaiting us. It is the message Habakkuk received from the Father while he was protesting that God was not doing anything about the troubles of this world. The Lord simply reminded him that he needed to wait. (Habakkuk 2.3).
Oh man! Wait? It is so difficult but necessary living in the land between. You may be in-between today. It is okay, you can now activate the power of God while you wait. Look at these powerful words and apply them to your time in-between. “REST in the LORD, and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him; do not FRET because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. CEASE FROM ANGER, and forsake wrath; DO NOT FRET – it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who WAIT for the Lord they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37.7-9 (emphasis mine).
Always Enthusiastic – Always Between,
Dr. Rusty Newman
I’ve just received a phone call from an appliance repair shop. They are coming to fix a problem with an appliance they installed. A problem they created. Did you get that? A problem they caused.
Here’s the deal. With no appointment, no concern for my schedule, no thought about what I am doing the receptionist informed me (the customer) that I had to be at the house to let them (the serviceman) in right now. When I asked about why there was no appointment made with me I was informed that they (the store) do not make appointments with the customers. I get a warning call!
Trials are along those lines too. They give you no appointment. You do not get a friendly reminder on your calendar that notifies you that in three weeks you will have a flat tire on the interstate.
On days like this the Bible gives us a recipe, wait patiently. This recipe goes against our nature. But it fits wonderfully into the divine nature that Christ provides to his children. It is the balance between this world and the next.
That is where we live by the way. We live in the land of the between. We experience the things of this world knowing that with Christ as our Savior we have the experience of heaven awaiting us. It is the message Habakkuk received from the Father while he was protesting that God was not doing anything about the troubles of this world. The Lord simply reminded him that he needed to wait. (Habakkuk 2.3).
Oh man! Wait? It is so difficult but necessary living in the land between. You may be in-between today. It is okay, you can now activate the power of God while you wait. Look at these powerful words and apply them to your time in-between. “REST in the LORD, and WAIT PATIENTLY for Him; do not FRET because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. CEASE FROM ANGER, and forsake wrath; DO NOT FRET – it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who WAIT for the Lord they shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37.7-9 (emphasis mine).
Always Enthusiastic – Always Between,
Dr. Rusty Newman
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Ready or Not Here I come
Psalm 32.7
When my children where little they loved to play hide and seek. There was always something fun about hiding from me. But I think the fun for them was the security that dad would look for them.
If you have small children they most likely played the game the same way. You start to count and then they go hide in the middle of the room. Or hide behind the sofa with their faces sticking out to see you when you come their way. And of course, who can forget the giggles and snickering erupting with every close step.
As I was reading this morning’s P.O.D. cast from God (Psalm Of the Day), I was taken back to these incent games of summer. Would you like to go back and play hide and seek again? It maybe that right now you are in desperate need of hiding away for a moment.
Stress, pressure, pain, emotions of the past and even shame bombard us. Enemies, tragedies, and the inequities of life can seemingly surround us. Where do you go then? What is your safe place? Who is your refuge?
The world announces loudly, “Ready or Not – Here I COME!!”
Have you found your hiding place?
King David wrote, “You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” (32:7). So go ahead and hide in plain sight – as long as you hide in Jesus. Now that you are secure in Him relax, enjoy, and let yourself go in Him. What is that I hear? Did you just giggle? Its okay I did too.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
When my children where little they loved to play hide and seek. There was always something fun about hiding from me. But I think the fun for them was the security that dad would look for them.
If you have small children they most likely played the game the same way. You start to count and then they go hide in the middle of the room. Or hide behind the sofa with their faces sticking out to see you when you come their way. And of course, who can forget the giggles and snickering erupting with every close step.
As I was reading this morning’s P.O.D. cast from God (Psalm Of the Day), I was taken back to these incent games of summer. Would you like to go back and play hide and seek again? It maybe that right now you are in desperate need of hiding away for a moment.
Stress, pressure, pain, emotions of the past and even shame bombard us. Enemies, tragedies, and the inequities of life can seemingly surround us. Where do you go then? What is your safe place? Who is your refuge?
The world announces loudly, “Ready or Not – Here I COME!!”
Have you found your hiding place?
King David wrote, “You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” (32:7). So go ahead and hide in plain sight – as long as you hide in Jesus. Now that you are secure in Him relax, enjoy, and let yourself go in Him. What is that I hear? Did you just giggle? Its okay I did too.
Always Enthusiastic,
Dr. Rusty Newman
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