30. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

Dear Bruce,

I was inspired by last week’s letter and it has got me thinking.  I have been divorced for a few years now, and living according to God’s plan, and am hopeful that at some point God has someone out there for me.  The problem is, it seems like the more committed to God a person is, the more narrow the “market” becomes.

Am I jaded or is this the case?  Sometimes I wonder if my standards are unreasonably high, but then I look at scripture and realize that I just want what God calls me to want.  I am not perfect and I don’t want or expect to find a perfect person, but I do get impatient with the process.  It seems like everyone I meet and have any interest in turns out to be a mismatch spiritually or otherwise.  How do I find “that person”?

Trudy

Trudy,

Hang in there and continue to hold on to God’s best for you.  Don’t settle out of a need for companionship.  When people settle they find they have settled into misery and unhappiness.  Take God up on His word, live the life He is calling you to, and be open and aware along the way.  The market is narrow, indeed, for those living the life God has called them to, but when you do happen upon that relationship, that narrowness translates to a much deeper sense of fulfillment.

Practically, you do have to be intentional about placing yourself in settings where other interesting people can “show up”.  Whatever your interests are, place yourself in settings where you can meet up with others who have similar interests.  Church socials, art museums, sports events, lectures, art classes, opera, theatre, …whatever you are passionate about, spend time in those settings so that you can expand your social network with others.  Then be aware of the kind of profile you are attracted to, but don’t lock you sights in so tight that you cannot notice something that could be an interesting “find”.  Learn to ask the kinds of questions that will give you insight to people early on without making it look like you are conducting a match-making interview.

We all have ideals in our mind when it comes to finding that one person, and some of that is valid.  We all have likes and dislikes.  Just make sure you are looking for a truly compatible person and not craving some irrational standard of a hunky, romantic, hollywoodized person.  There are some types of people we just fit better with than others, and that is fine.  The better the fit the greater the chance for a meaningful and stable relationship.  Make the spiritual part is most important and then look for like-minded people in other areas.

Along the way, don’t fear building enduring and Godly friendships.  It does not always have to be all or none.  The one you thought might be the one could very well be a great friend, but not a romantic long term interest.  And the one you thought would not be the one could actually turn out to be something you really are drawn to.  Just as our relationship with God entails mystery, so too our romantic relationships contain a certain amount of mystery.

Hang in, hold on, open yourself up, and put it all before God on a moment by moment basis.  We were made to be people who desire and need companionship, so don’t feel guilty about that.  But don’t allow that drive to override your common and spiritual sense.  Ultimately, no one human being can fulfill all of our needs in terms of companionship.  Only God can do that.  In those lonely moments, turn to Him in worship, prayer, and praise for who He is.

Lastly, while you are out there looking make sure you are investing your heart, time, emotions, and all in important things God has given you to do.  Don’t allow the need for a companion to dominate all your time, efforts, and thoughts.  That is not healthy and won’t help you find what you are looking for.  As you pursue God’s agenda for your life that special person will turn up…they are out there looking as well!

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

optimuslife.org

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22. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

Readers,

This weeks Dear Bruce letter comes a day early.  I believe this is a story that deserves AT LEAST a couple days of reflection.  As the writer suggests, its a modern day No Quit, God has your back, Lion-Hearted faith story.  I need not even reply to this one, as the story says it all.  Enjoy the read.

Dear Bruce,

I am not sure how much of my story you will want to post, but I think it relates to your writings this week in a real life, real time, practical way.  I am a single guy, have been for a few years after a painful divorce.  My divorce was unavoidable, and I have dedicated myself to doing all relationships  since my divorce God’s way.  That is not always easy.  As you know we live in a culture where “anything goes” is the most common approach to relationships.  As long as two consenting adults are in the mix, then there are no boundaries.  I have never thought that way, and have approached relationships much differently.

There is the “problem”!  At my age, post 30s, it seems there are very few females out there who approach, have approached life in a similar way to how I approach it.  The vast majority of women it seems have either been in  many improper relationships (whether married, divorced, or not) or have a current view of relationships that just does not jive with God’s view or relationships.  For a guy my age, with a commitment to doing relationships God’s way, the field is pretty narrow.  It can get hard to wait some days, especially when opportunity arises.

I guess that background sort of sets the stage for the rest of the story I wanted to write about.  A few months ago I was introduced to a really neat, and very attractive woman.  She was by any standard of beauty, a knock-out, she was a devoted Christian, a good mom, had a great personality, and was all in all, a good “catch”.  When we were introduced I was under the impression that she had been through a difficult marriage, and had gone through a divorce.  Reality was pretty close, but not so neat and tidy.  As it turned out a divorce had been filed, both parties had agreed, and they were just waiting for the thing to become official. Through many unexpected hang ups in the court the divorce was delayed to the frustration of both she and her “ex”.   Some would say, “No big deal, its virtually a done deal” others would say, as I would, “Nothing can be allowed to develop romantically until and unless the thing is final.”

Now, for a guy, who finds a woman quite attractive, and knowing that if things were a bit different I would pursue her, this is no easy situation.  But, I had this quiet sense that God was in the mix somehow, and I tried to listen to what I thought was His voice telling me, “Be a good friend.”  Not knowing if that was His call to be a friend and only a friend, if that was for a time, and then…, or if I was my distorted desires to want to stay close to something I should not be close to, I wrestled with this, but came to a point where I sensed, and was at peace with being a friend and nothing else if that is what God intended.

So,  as I got to know this gal a bit more, and as I learned more of the details of her past and her marriage, I began to think to myself that God was up to something in her life and was somehow wanting me to play some role.  I still did not know if that meant friendship or eventually something else, but my gut told me it was probably the former.  Again, not an easy thing to embrace for a guy who is interested in meeting an  attractive, God-loving, smart, and  personable woman  to do life with.

Now here is the kicker.  It seemed that the marriage was a complete done deal for her and her would be “ex”.  It seemed clear that both had, long ago, “moved out and moved on” with regard to the marriage.  Trouble is, I knew they were childhood sweethearts, were involved in church, had a great little kid, and had many around them that were heart broken the marriage was ending.  I kept getting the sense that, maybe, just maybe, God was going to win an unexpected battle on the field of life with this one.  About the time I felt pretty good about that diagnosis I got the word that she and her all but technical “ex” were on there way to have the papers officially executed by the judge.  Game over, right?  NOT SO QUICK.

Because the two of them had moved, there seemed to have been some difficulty in the courts on deciding which state had the “right” to the divorce.  In actuality, this is the very thing which held the divorce up for a much longer than expected time frame.  In retrospect, a truly divine delay.  So, as it turned out, the  “ex” and my friend had to make a road trip, together, over a period of a few days, in order to get to the state which had jurisdiction, and to attend the formal divorce meetings to close the deal.  I got wind of this as they were about to leave for the trip, and the over-riding impression was, perhaps, in the near future, more than a friendship could develop.  BUT GOD.

Here is the part which I think really relates to your writings this week.  Sadly, for too many people I know, few would have even considered holding off romance in a situation like this, male or female.  Further, I think that most, knowing the marriage was about to end, formally, would have been jumping for joy over the soon to come blossoming relationship.  But somehow, things were so much different for me and my friend.  Without a doubt, my friend had given up on her marriage.  In her eyes she had actually moved on emotionally long ago.  After years of perceived insurmountable struggle and neglect, she had thrown in the towel.  She had fought that battle long enough.  Apparently the husband had felt the same way.

It is crazy how God does the unexpected and improbable!  You have been writing this week about a “No Quit” faith, and God working against all odds, and God fighting for us and wanting us to win the day.  Well, I must tell you.  At a point in my life that I needed to see that happen in real life and in real time and in a real situation, I watched God do it!  Just like you said, “When the last tick has run off the clock, and it looks like the game is over…BUT GOD”.

Just like Lazarus, who you wrote about earlier in the week, my friend’s marriage came back from the dead just when both parties were beginning to rejoice it was finally and technically over.  As I was told by my friend that they were on their way to get the thing done once and for all, I strangely felt compelled (that’s the term that best describes my feeling) to pray for them that God would, in the last moment, intervene and even as they were going to sit before the judge and sign the papers, watch a resurrection of the marriage.  The were traveling for three or four days, and I prayed every single day that God would stop them in their tracks and work an amazing last minute, back from the brink, miracle.  I didn’t know how or why I was praying that way, but I knew I had no choice.  And, rather than be sad or upset or discouraged that “my chance” might be done in by such an answered request, I was absolutely at peace and really hoping that God might do this.

So, here is how the story ends, or begins, or re-begins!  Once my friend got back to her town after the “divorce trip” she called me to let me know how it went.  When I answered the phone I said, “So, …how did it go?”  Her response was, “Well…, it went well, but I’m not so sure it went as you or I expected.”  I began to grin.  I said, “Really, what happened?”  Then she went on to tell me that God, as she sat there in the final divorce proceedings, and as she and her husband looked at each other and considered the years of pain, neglect, and hopelessness, it was as if God spoke to both of them and they looked at each other and said, “We can’t do this.”  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!  As they considered their child, their history, and the strength available in turning things over to the Lion Hearted God they serve…they decided to pick up their stuff, and they walked out of the courthouse determined to put the marriage back together again!  WOW.

My friend went on to tell me, through tears, that many of my communications with her, emails, texts, phone calls, etc. were the very things God used (amongst other things) to bring her to that place at that time.  And she made reference to some reading materials I had sent her just prior to the trip playing a big role. Looking back, anyone with any knowledge of the situation would have to say that the unexpected and prolonged “delays” in the court system, were planted there by God in order for Him to work out His strategy of grace!

The battle is God’s, and I just wanted to encourage your readers to consider Him in all things, and to never give up the fight for the right thing.  It is never too late to pursue God, and He is able to raise people and relationships from the dead.  The entire thing has taught me, again, the value of remaining committed to His purposes for my life.  As for me, I could not be more thrilled by the outcome.  No romance could ever replace, for me, the value of knowing what it means to be walking through the battle of life following the lead of this Warrior King who still fights for us.  And I cannot help but think, one day, according to His unfathomable plan, He will work His relational strategy for me.  That is the only plan I want.

Thanks for calling us to stay in the game!

Ian

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21. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

If you have been reading this week you know we have been looking at God’s desire to put within each of us a Lion-hearted faith. This kind of faith, which finds its reality in an intimate relationship with Christ, is all about trusting that God can make a way where one does not appear apparent. This lion-hearted faith is a sure hope in God’s ability to defy the odds, and His ability to give us victory as we stand ready on the battle field of life armed only with His strength.

That all sounds great and we all want to live life with a constant sense of victory and joy. The reality, however, for most of us, is quite different. There are moments in our lives when we just want to lay down and die. We want to quit. Sometimes we are ready to allow a dream to die. Other times its a marriage. For some its a surrender to pressures that are attacking us emotionally, psychologically, or morally. We all face the temptation to just hang it up.

We are not alone! Some of the greatest figures of scripture came to a point of total exhaustion. David despaired of his life and actually wanted to die. Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament, and a huge hero of faith, faced similar despair. Jeremiah, the great “weeping prophet” was on the verge of giving up the ghost. Even the incredible Old Testament figure, the one who would not face death as the rest of us do, Elijah, who was a man of pristine character, faced the temptation to hang up the cleats. He actually, under pressure and threat from Jezebel, prayed to God that God would take his life and just end this whole deal! This is the guy who was so GOOD that he was “taken up” to be with God and did not face death as we know it! The same guy! The one who did not have to face life’s last enemy, actually prayed that he would. How low do you have to be to get to that place?

Developing a lion-hearted faith does not negate or ignore the fact that life is hard at times and we are too weak in and of ourselves to fix everything. I have known very successful, connected, and powerful people who wanted to take their own lives. We have all seen, in the media, celebs galore attempting to quench their pain through various destructive measures (sex, drugs, suicide, divorce, murder…). The bells, whistles, and toys provided us don’t mask our pain and emptiness.

The lion-hearted faith we all desire comes from an understanding that the odds defying God of scripture is intimately involved in our lives, is pulling for us and with us, and He desires that we make it through to a better place. Even when we are ready to quit on Him or those things He has called us to, He does not quit on us. It is His no-quit love for us that inspires a no-quit faith in His children. The valley, as we saw yesterday, could in fact, be God’s road to His bigger plan.

When we find the roadmap of life more than we can handle there is yet hope for the journey. When we have gotten side-tracked and off course, we have access to a navigation system, a Navigator, to get us back on the road to life to the full. There is a source who will hear our pain and who has the power to do something about it.

We are told in scripture that He is our great High Priest and King. In this world we have come to embrace a very distorted view of priests and kings, and for good reason. But the terms, when applied to Jesus, have grand implications. Knowing Him as our priest and king instills the lion-hearted faith we need and desire for the tough spots in life.
In the Old Testament the priest was the one representative of God who went before Him on behalf of all the people of God. No one else had entrance. Further, despite this unique admission for the priest, he did not go lightly before God. In fact, as he would enter the temple and venture toward the place of prayer, a rope would be tied around him so he could be pulled out in case God put the big final quit on him!

Jesus, we are told, has become the One completely pure and grace-filled priest who has made a way for all of us to approach God one on one. Further, we are told that this Priest continually makes “intercession” for us before God. That just means He has our back in the heavens and is crying out before God that we make it through the current storm. He is asking God, continually, to give us our fight back even when we are about to quit. When we, like many of the biblical heroes of faith recognize we are far too morally blotched to go before a holy God, we can, through the person of Christ, approach God knowing that He grants us access and intimacy. Jesus brought a way for morally bankrupt people.

Our King. We are also told in scripture that Jesus is our King. In a world where kings throughout history have been less than admirable in most instances, it is hard for us to get the picture here. This King, unlike all others in history, and unlike all current would be kings in American politics, can and does come good on every promise He makes. This King promises that He can instill in the hearts of His kids a lion-hearted, no-quit faith. And this King, unlike any military leader in history, has to ability to claim that He can and will win any and every battle He enters into on our behalf.

If you are on the verge of quitting today, quitting a dream, marriage, God-given pursuit, or even if you are considering giving up on the whole Christian living thing, consider that Jesus offers you grace, pleading before God, and His power over all that is assaulting you. If you have been attempting to figure it out or work it out on your own, considering letting go and allowing the Lion of Judah to develop your battle plan. If you are in the fight of your life, know that all the power needed is at your disposal in Christ.

And remember, when the heroes of faith were breathing their last, that is when God stepped in and defied all odds. When your ability and strength are found wanting that is the time to offer yourself, your dream, your marriage, your all to Him.

Don’t quit,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

Tomorrow, we look at real life stories of triumph, last minute heroics, miraculous grace, and restored lives.

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20. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

I am not a gambler, and don’t really know much about making odds. It appears, however, that there is some math or science to the process for the so called “odds makers” that reside in Las Vegas. We can all understand the basics I think. Let’s imagine a boxing match where Ali, at his best, is pitted against a horse jockey that has never boxed before. The so called “safe money” would, of course, be placed on Ali. You would have to be insane, stupidly rich, or Charles Barkley to bet on the jockey! Just kidding Charles. Here is the deal with such a bet. It’s obvious. Few people with any sense would place a bet on Billy Shoemaker in a bout against Ali. So, all the money that is placed on Ali in such an imaginary bout does not bring much suspense or reward. If you were to bet on Ali and he won, well, you might make a penny or two.

If, somehow, Shoemaker would actually wind up winning such a battle, and assuming there was at least one person who placed money on the jockey, that person against enormous odds, would actually make a killing on the win. The longer the odds, the greater the reward for the one who goes against the stats. That is the basic betting principle.

The reason for this rudimentary lesson on the Las Vegas line makers is not to encourage you to go out and make a wager! Rather, it serves as a good metaphor for the life of faith as presented in scripture. If you have ever taken time to read some of the great stories of the Bible, and for those who have actually read it all, what you have no doubt discovered is that the God of scripture clearly likes the underdog. Moreover, He tends to set people up to become underdogs, and then He stuns the “house” with odds defying wins.

Look at the story of Abraham and Isaac. In light of the journey Abe had taken, the planning, organizing, traveling, thinking, …and in light of the fact that Abe had no doubt been crying out to God to make sense of his predicament, he surely thought as the knife was being raised, that the conclusion was a given. He knew the odds were not good once he had bound his boy to the altar. As his hand was readying to send the fatal blow he had to be thinking “Game over.”

Look also at the story of David. This smallish, ruddy, sheep herder, armed with nothing more than a sling shot, was facing the Ali of the day. In this case, Ali was not only fierce and huge, he was armed, armored, and very dangerous. I am sure the odds makers were at work as David walked toward the battle field, and I am equally sure little money was being wagered on a David victory. Everyone watching, no doubt, stood laughing at the idea that this little twerp might win against the battle proven Goliath.

Look now, if you will, to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These three defiant boys who refused the king’s edict and would not bow before false gods, were shackled and thrown into a furnace so hot that it killed the armed guards attending them. I don’t know about you, but if I were a betting man, I probably would not have put my money on those three guys surviving the deal. I would have bet on the house in that one.

Lazarus. What about this guy? The man was dead…D E A D, dead. The game was, indeed, over. Lights out, everybody out of the stadium please. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. I don’t know many who would have laid down any cash on that guy shooting another basket, hitting another ball, catching another pass or building another chair (assuming he had carpentry skills).

…But God.

Think about those two words. No, really think about them. Those two words, when joined together, amount to explosive potential. In the face of all odds, no matter how large, no matter how much money is on the other guy, those two words remind us that another outcome is possible …BUT GOD.

One of the astounding realities of faith which I have observed is the truth found in recognizing that all outcomes are ultimately in God’s hands. For the follower of Christ, while the odds may be against you, there is One who stands ready and is by your side waiting for an opportunity to shock the world. If you take time to really evaluate the stories of faith unveiled in God’s word, you cannot help but come to the conclusion that God revels in overwhelming odds. I would go so far as to suggest that He often, if not regularly, stacks the odds against those who really know Him, in order that He might make Himself known.

Who really cheers on the trust fund baby who “makes it” big? Who gets excited over the “haves” having their way? Who notices when the young, strong, finely tuned runner finishes a marathon? No, we would much rather support the guy who had little and made it happen. We long to see the one who struggled through and “made” it. We are inspired by the athlete who crosses the finish line despite the physical limitations or handicap. It is news to see the underdog win, isn’t it?

This is one of the great truths of faith. God shows off amidst the biggest battles, against the longest odds, and along side the underdog. When the prostitute makes a devastating mess of her life and all looks lost, Jesus shows up and offers life, hope, restoration and purpose. When your world falls apart as you know it, and you wonder why you should go on, God shows up and wins the day. He is the God of another chance. When the emotional and psychological stress pile up so greatly that you just want to bail, and you actually look forward to the “game over” alert, God brings hope. When you have towed the rope of single parenthood and been sole provider for so long you are totally spent, God can and does bring the peace, rest, and strength, and often the hope of new romance. When everyone around you in your workplace is making more than you despite their manipulation and deceit, God brings the joy of living a truthful life, and the eternal blessing of a life well lived, and He can and often does bring you, through your integrity, to a greater place than you ever could have imagined.

The point is this: He is an odds making God. He is also an odds beating God. Wherever you are today, no matter the battle, remember the stories of great men and women of faith. In almost every instance they began the journey as underdogs. And in all cases, at some point, the odds were overwhelmingly against them. That is the time to call on God, trust Him alone, keep your heart pure before Him, and stand back and watch Him do His thing.

If you are facing a life defining situation here is my advice to you: even against the odds, bet on God, and LAY DOWN A BIG BET. He can win the day. He has promised that ALL things work together for good for those that love Him and are called to His purposes. The thing to do in every tough situation is to look up to the heavens, and whisper to God, “I’m all in.”

Betting it all on Him,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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19. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

Readers,

I am particularly excited and prayerful about this week’s blogs. There are moments in life, for the believer, where one clearly gets the sense that God is nudging one toward a particular theme, lesson, pursuit, or change. In God’s providence, it appears that He is calling me to focus on the a particular theme for the coming week. It is a theme which has, out of the blue, come up in my life in various settings, conversations, study, and prayer. The theme is that of A Lion-Hearted Faith.

Ask anyone who knows me, and aside from the tennis court or ball field, they will tell you, “He’s a lover not a fighter.” As a practical out-working of who God has called me to be and how He wired me up, I just tend to be the guy who tries to handle all situations with diplomacy. I want to see relationships thrive and truth prevail in all situations. I want to see people experience peace not turmoil. I don’t gravitate toward conflict.

This being true, I recognize there are moments when a guy must “man up”, put on the armor and walk onto the field of battle. Once I am in a fight, and there are some things we must fight for, “its on”…it just takes me a little bit longer than it should to recognize when and where a fight must take place. As I have learned over the years, and am still learning actually, there is a time, place, and purpose for certain battles. I am getting closer to that place where I can say, when its time, “bring it on.” After all, this is what David did, is it not, when He faced Goliath? It is what Benaiah did when he chased down a lion, hopped in a dark pit, and fought the beast on a snowy day. I want to be able to see those battles God is calling me to and run toward them with a lion chasers faith imparted by God.

Why is all of this important you might be asking? I think its important because most of us tend to fit into one of two camps which define how we approach not only life situations, but also our spiritual battles. We tend to either be conflict avoiders or conflict makers. For the person of faith, if we are to find the life God intends for us, we must become people who are attune to the Spirit of God and what He is calling us to or from. We cannot operate in that kind of faith, however, unless we understand something about God–He is the Lion-hearted One. We can attain victory only in His strength. We walk, no run, toward the battle armed in His power not our own.
The meek and mild Jesus in a manger we all love to celebrate at Christmas time, and the bunny rabbit Jesus we receive candy from each Easter does not quite offer us the full perspective of the God of scripture. He is a God of love, and grace, and provision, and His kindness is beyond compare. Yet, if we are to know all of Him, we must recognize that there is more to His character. Throughout scripture, from beginning to end, in addition to the God of loving-kindness, we find a God who does not shrink back from calling His people to great challenge. All of our heroes of faith become so as a result of their walking by faith through great danger.

For the remainder of the week we will look at what it means to know the Lion of Judah, and what it means for us to walk as humble, loving, kind, generous, patient, and yes, battle ready people of God. God is calling us to a faith which lays hold of the big hairy audacious goals God sets before us. He does not desire that we all look like neat, tidy, and passive robots who sing a few hymns on Sunday, go out for lunch, and then just hang on in the routine for another week. God desires for His people to fight for the life they were meant to live. Anything else, whatever one may call it, is less than living. The world does not need another mass production run of moral robots abiding to a lifeless list of rules. What we need are more men and women who are trying to passionately pursue creative and inspiring lives. Enough of the mentality that merely “abstains” from rules. The battle field of faith is so much bigger than that.  Let’s get after compelling dreams and battles worth fighting for.  Let’s lay siege to the life we were designed by God to live.

Pray with me, and put on your thinking cap in the days ahead, as we look at what it means to embrace a lion-hearted faith. I hope this will be fun, and meaningful.

Getting ready to roar,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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13. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

We have all been confronted, yet again, in recent days, with the stark reality of life on planet earth.  What the reports from across the U.S., China, Myanmar, and many other places remind us of is the reality of destruction on this sphere we call Earth.  The havoc inducing realities of storms reach every nook and cranny of the globe it seems.  One thing is sure, we are all touched by the reality of storms in our lives.

As many of you are aware, my first book, Soul Storm: finding God amidst disaster, deals with God’s ability to meet and sustain us amidst the storms of life.  If we are to move forward with purpose and hope, we must step out trusting that an all knowing and all powerful God can yet have His way in our lives.  Even as we find ourselves surrounded by debris and rubble in the aftermath of the storm, we can be assured that God has His plan, a plan for our good, in mind.  Jeremiah 29:11 states that God has a plan for us…one to prosper us and not to harm us.

For those directly trapped and held captive by the fury of the storms we see broadcast across the television screens, it can feel as if there is no hope for another day.  How does one make sense of such a life altering event?  How can despair be overcome when all is lost.  When we are reduced to nothing more than what remains within this skin-covered frame, how can we begin to imagine a future with promise?

Whether you have encountered such an experience in this life in the form of a weather storm or not, chances are you are familiar with the brevity of these questions.  Like those in Myanmar, China, and those ravaged by Katrina just a few years ago, most, if not all of us, have encountered life altering moments which have left us in despair.

Mark Batterson, in his book, In a Pit with a Lion On a Snowy Day, reminds readers of the nature of overwhelming odds.  The title of the book, taken from a passage in the Old Testament which speaks of an unlikely encounter, one filled with victory in the face of overwhelming odds, points us toward a game plan for moving forward despite what appears to be our undoing.  The story unfolds in 2 Samuel 23:20,21.

At first glance the mention of Benaiah appears to be little more than an insignificant blurb lost in the pages of greater Old Testament writings.  But when time is taken to consider what is going on here, a marvelous truth unfolds.

Benaiah, a man who eventually would become bodygaurd to David, is depicted here as a man who was enabled by God to overcome enormous odds.  Despite being out-sized, out-footed, cornered in a dimly lit pit with an animal who could see perfectly in such a place, and on slippery snow covered ground facing a beast known for its footwork, this warrior hero is said to have taken on a lion on his own turf and slaughtered him.  Think about the scene here.

A man, at the very best one-third the size of the beast, was also at a decided teeth deficit, claw deficit, and pouncing power deficit.  As Batterson suggests in his book, the odds were more than a little bit on the side of the king of the jungle in this encounter.

But as the account unfolds the most unlikely of things happens…we are told, simply, that Benaiah wins the contest.  With all the tangibles against him, summoning the will to fight, he takes victory.  He dared to face the odds, and rather than lie down and quit, he stood up and actually pursued the battle.  He went after the big guy.

The lessons, which are many fold, encourage us to fight on amidst what appears to be our last hope.  When all looks lost, when we have no ability to make things work out, when the opposition seems much bigger, stronger, faster, wealthier, meaner, uglier, nastier, hungrier, and any other “ier” you can put in there, we yet have hope.  We can put our trust in God no matter the force of the storm.

This is the message of every great person of faith depicted in the Bible.  If you study their lives, and that is a study worth pursuing, what you find is that every great “hero” of faith had a moment or moments when it seemed all was lost.  It is in those moments that God arrived and demonstrated His power.

Amidst overwhelming odds, great opposition, and ravaging storms God is able to do His thing.  He can rescue us, bring us victory, offer us hope, and reach out to others through our efforts.  As we encounter the storms of life, and as we watch others wrestle with the aftermath of their own storms, we must take heart and hope in God’s strength.

There are moments when we all become aware of the frailty of life.  We are not our own master.  We do not control the universe.  There are forces bigger, better, and stronger than we.  But as the scriptures urge us, we must find our victory in Him.  Our strength is not in the power of the dollar, might, power, position, manipulation, or the title on our door.  All of these combined amount to nothing when compared to the power of God.  And they can all be lost in an instant.

In Him and in Him alone do we find our hope, our help, and our strength.  May we all reach out to others and bring them this same hope amidst despair.  Share with others the truth found in an odds beating God.
Grace and Peace amidst the shaking,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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9. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

Dear Bruce,

I am facing a situation that is overwhelming.  I am not sure how I got to this place, not sure why, and I am certainly not sure what purpose there is in this debacle I am in.  I have thought about it, talked about it, cried about it, gotten angry about it, and at times have just tried to ignore it because I am so exhausted.  I cannot see this working out to my advantage and I am left wondering where God is in all of this.  Can you offer me some advice?

Dave

Dave,

As the saying goes, “If I had a dime…” I would, indeed, be a rich man.  Your situation, while it may feel unique in terms of the details, is really quite common.  All of us, at one point or another, in one way or another, face similar situations.  For some its relational, for others physical, for others its financial, and for others its professional or something else.

While it may not be good news to know that many others are in the same boat, it should at least remind you of the fact that challenge and life are inseparable.  This is important because our first inclination, when facing big issues, is to run for cover, pray for a quick fix, and hope for comfort and ease.  What we need to realize in moments such as the one you are facing is that God is aware, and more than that, actively working in, with, and through your situation.  In fact, in retrospect, we often look back and realize that what was first perceived as a sure dead end, turned out to be a moment of opportunity for growth.

This brings me to our third installment for the week in terms of our focus on Favorite Things about God.  Your situation is one which highlights one of the fantastic realities of faith.  God is in the odds beating business.  Throughout scripture, time and again, we see stories of men and women of faith who were down and out on luck, underdogs in a great fight, and at a total loss for a situational fix.  But God…

David faced an armor wearing, rage prone, fearless, weapon toting giant as tall or taller than the most freakishly large NBA player.  He was a much smaller guy, and was armed with the less than all powerful sling shot.  But he came to the fight in confidence that the God who had intervened on his behalf in the past would do it again.  Clearly the underdog, David walked into the arena of battle and faced an overwhelming demonstration of power, strength, and terror.  At the end of the day, David stood victorious and His view of God had been enlarged.

Likewise, amidst the battlefields of our lives, we too are offered the all conquering power of God regardless of what we face.  Even as everyone around you is betting the farm on your demise amidst your current fight, you can stand firm in the hope and promise that God can and will carry the day as you follow Him into battle.  As followers of God, we have no need to fear any man, woman, or enemy.  There is no opponent, physical, mental, emotional, financial, or otherwise, which matches the ability of God.

What we must focus on in times of great difficulty is God’s desire to demonstrate to everyone looking in that He is the One who carries the day.  God often places us in situations or allows situations to develop in our lives which will leave us with no other option but to rely upon Him.  It is in those moments, when all the bets are being placed against us, that we must go “all in” and bet the farm on Him.

So, the answer to your dilemma, and the favorite thing for the day are one in the same.  As followers of Christ, we must hang our faith hat on God’s ability to carry the day amidst all odds.  One of my favorite things about Him is that He desires to show Himself true amidst the most hopeless of situations.  The ability to walk through the wilderness of life with the knowledge that the journey with God is still intact is an amazing source of hope and strength.

Regardless of the nature of your struggle you can take heart knowing that God does His best work when the odds are stacked against His people.  This theme, this favorite thing, is demonstrated in scripture from beginning to end.  Do not trust in your ability to manipulate, fix, or scheme your way out of this one.  Do not attempt to match blow for blow against a superior foe.  Allow God to lead you into the battle and rely on His principles of warfare, and watch Him carry the day as He fights for you, protects you, and leads you on to victory.  His strategy may look much different from the ones offered to you by others, but you must trust Him.  His weapons may not look familiar to the worldly mind.  And His call to you may nudge you in unexpected directions.  In the midst of your present situation be careful to sense where He may be leading you, and be open to a new direction.  It may be that He is bringing you an entirely different focus for your life at this time.  Enormous difficulties often become glorious opportunities to experience, know, and follow God in new ways.

In the fight with you,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org (please donate at optimuslife.org by clicking on the “donate” button)

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8. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

This morning, after dropping off kids at school, I made my typical trek to the coffee shop to fuel up, check email, and start the day.  What was very different about my routine, however, was a major mis-step, and fall.  I tend to pride myself on my athletic abilities, and my overwhelmingly superior coordination :).  As an athlete who competed on the college level in a sport demanding exceptional footwork (tennis), I have never had any problem competing, let alone WALKING!

Today, however, was a different story.  Upon driving up to the coffee shop and stepping out of my oversize, gas guzzling SUV, I went to plant my foot on the pavement.  Problem was, I did not bother to look down and did not notice the hole right were I was stepping.  Result…TAKEDOWN.  In very dramatic fashion, this once confident college athlete, four time MVP, and local club stud, was diminished to a fumbling, bumbling, and stumbling fool.  With that one wrong step, I wound up free falling in mid-air headed face first for the concrete.

Thankfully, in the nick of time, I realized what was happening and dropped my keys and cell phone and shot my hands underneath me and caught myself just before having a maximum impact face plant which would have caused significant damage to this pretty face.  Amazingly, despite all the weight falling with full force on my hands and wrists, I was left with little more than a few scratches on my palms and very little blood.  It could have been the end of my wrists as I think about it now.  That is not so say that my ego was not severely bruised, as the guy who was just getting out of his car next to me was watching with amused and totally unconcerned interest.  I am sure he was thinking, “I wish I had this one on camera.”

This little incident, which could have turned out much worse, appears to be well timed in light of the fact that today’s focus on My Favorite Things About God deals with God’s ability to work all things for good for those called according to His purposes (Romans 8).

One of the wondrous realities of walking intimately with God is the knowledge that He is able, willing, and ready to direct my path.  He is so concerned with my life that He has a plan for me, and desires that I find and walk in that plan (Jer 29:11).  We often forget the significance of God’s desire to bring us into a life lived in fullness.  We tend to view Him as the cosmic killjoy who is waiting to zap us.

In reality, God stands watching over us, not to harm or scold us, but rather, to direct us, protect us, lead us, and bless us.  AND, even when we take wrong turns or make major mis-steps along the way, ones which have the potential to wreck our bodies, minds and lives, God is there to pick us up, dust us off, heal our wounds, and set us back on His path to goodness.

Further, even when it looks as if the journey has taken us far off course, we can rest knowing that God has a plan in mind though we may not have the full picture.  This was certainly the case for Joseph, a kid with enormous potential, loved by his father, and uniquely called by God.  Joseph spent decades seemingly drifting off course, apparently being derailed from God’s plan.  But in the end…as the story tells us, “…all the world came to Joseph.”

This was also the case for Abraham, who being given a child of promise in his old age, was asked to trust God and lead that child to an early deathbed.  In light of the fact that the blessing of God which would beget an entire nation would come through this son, Isaac, Abe could not begin to imagine how God was working His plan in the midst of this request.  Yet, again, God showed up along the journey and provided in a way no one could foresee.

This is one of those favorite things about God we must all hang our hats upon.  He is the one upon which the plans of our lives rest.  In walking with Him we find that He always makes good on His promise to fulfill His plan for us.  And, even when we step off course, God is able to bring grace, mercy, and redirection to the journey.

He has us in His hands.  He works all things for good for those called to His purposes.  That’s a great thing!

Thanks be to God,

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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7. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

Isaiah 6 captures the story of one of God’s best men amidst a terrifyingly amazing setting.  If you read the account what unfolds is a captivating scene filled with pyrotechnics, magical creatures, and awe inspiring power.  Trouble is, God’s man for the hour, Isaiah, seeing himself as he is, before a holy God, comes completely unglued.

The picture here is of a man, a very righteous man, coming to a renewed understanding of himself in light of who God is.  Seeing God and His unattainable measure of perfection, Isaiah, a prophet of God, realizes that his moral character is so far below the standard of God’s holiness, that he just screams in terror, “I am undone”.  He goes on to speak of his moral ineptitude as if he were the lowest of the lows, and is pictured trembling before God.

Then the scene changes, in dramatic fashion, and the vision of God’s entire character draws us into a realm of beauty, grace, mercy, and purpose.  In the same instant in which Isaiah realizes he is undone, God reaches out to him and offers him the gift of forgiveness, cleansing and service!  This is a staggering thought.  The perfect, all holy, God of the universe, desires to have relationship with creatures who fail miserably to live up to the call of God.  He so loves us that even in our weakness and failure, He is the one moving toward us.

We cannot climb a ladder of moral goodness to God.  If Isaiah was unable to get there we certainly cannot climb that high.  This is the message of the scriptures.  Relationship with God and purpose in life comes not from our efforts to live up to the standard set by God.  Rather, we find intimacy with God when we realize we are inept and that only God can offer us life, meaning, purity, and cleansing.

For a people all to prone to do the wrong thing, in the wrong place, for the wrong reasons, and at the wrong time…this is a much needed message.  Even as Isaiah is undone, God reaches out to him, cleanses him, and then ushers him into service.  It is in this adventure set in place by God that Isaiah and all of us find our passion for life.  We will never find a life worth living pursuing the pleasures and self-gratifying ends of this world.  Only as we come to God in Christ and pursue His call and agenda for us do we find the kind of life Jesus speaks about in John 10:10.

And so, favorite thing No. 1 for the week, is the message of grace, forgiveness, cleansing, and service.  Essentially, its the quality of God’s mercy, a benchmark of faith.  May we all be reminded to hang our hat of faith upon this favorite thing.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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6. May 2008 by BruceSmith.

If you have seen the movie, The Sound of Music, then you no doubt know the Julie Andrews tune “A few of my favorite things”.  Once its in your head, you cannot get rid of it!  This past weekend, after teaching on this theme at church, I attended the Jazz Fest in New Orleans where I had the privilege of hearing an amazing blues group do their instrumental version of this great tune.  It was unexpected, and amazing.

It often occurs to me that if we hope to make a difference in peoples lives, and if we hope to lead others to a life of faith then we ought to be focusing our efforts on those things about God which draw us and others to Himself.  Rather than use fear tactics, it seems much more likely that a positive approach is more apt to lead others to consider God.  That is not to say that there should not be moments of sobriety and even warning that we must share with others.  But, as the Bible says, “It is the love of God which draws people to repentance”.

For the remainder of the week ahead we will focus on what are a few of my favorite things about God.  In reality, as you review the annuls of Christendom, these stand out as the pegs of faith upon which believers have always hung their hats.

Life is full of opportunities to experience joy, meaning and significance.  Those moments come directly from the hand of God.  Life was given to us in order that we might experience Him in all of His fullness.  The character of God, ultimately beyond complete description, is utterly compelling to the open heart.  If we will seek Him, we are told, we will find Him.  In finding Him, we come to realize it was He who sought us out and found us.

In the days ahead we will look at a few of His most compelling attributes, and a few of the key realities of faith.  In the end, my hope is that we will all be singing a new tune which reminds us of the all surpassing grace, wonder, and beauty of the God who made us.  I hope you will join us.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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