Strength

 Your roots will grow down into God’s love

 and keep you strong. 

Eph 3:17 

Foundation is everything.  No matter how beautiful a house may be, if it is built on a shaky foundation it will collapse. If a tree grows in shallow soil, when flood waters rise, it will be washed away.

We have only one foundation that stands firm through every earthquake and flood and that is the love of God.  That love never fails. When we allow our roots to go down deeply into that foundation, we will be kept strong. Nothing can shake us or wash us away.

Help us, Lord, to feel our feet planted on that solid rock.  Help us to envision our roots growing down deep into your love where we will not be shaken.

Let your roots grow down into him,

 and let your lives be built on him. 

Then your faith will grow strong.

 Col 2.7

One Thing Remains

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

In death, in life, I’m confident and
covered by the power of Your great love.
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can
separate my heart from Your great love...

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Your love never fails, never gives up
Never runs out on me.

Click here to listen to the song:  One Thing Remains

Centered

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,

 continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, 

strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

 and overflowing with thankfulness. 

See to it that no one takes you captive 

through hollow and deceptive philosophy,

 which depends on human tradition 

and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.  

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

  and you have been given fullness in Christ,

 who is the head over every power and authority.

Col 2:6-10 (NIV)

In the midst of the world filled with its opinions and ideas, we have Christ as our center.  There is nothing in all the world that can compare with Christ himself. Ultimately, if we make him the center of our lives, we will succeed. 

We are bombarded on every side by differences of opinion.  So many are trying to figure things out, one from this perspective and one from another.  Our life histories have conditioned us to see things in a certain way.  Even when we discuss scripture, everyone brings out verses that prove their point.  Each side may seem to have some merit, so our minds become confused.  We must come back to our true foundation - Christ himself.  Ultimately, our faith is in Christ. The Bible, the written word, is there to point us to Christ, the living word. The church exists to help us stay on track by reminding us of Christ our center and to join us with other members of his body

Things that do not point us to Christ are distractions.  It may be interesting to listen to arguments and discussions, but ultimately if they do not end by saying Christ is the center they are off target.  What is the deception? - that something else will fulfill us, another person, a group, an institution, ourselves.  There is no true fulfillment outside of Christ himself.  

“If the Christian is attached to some thing, such as a teaching, a tradition, an institution, a movement, or person, the end will certainly be a limitation of life and eventually confusion and disappointment.         T. Austin-Sparks

He is the truth, he is the way and he is life. (John 14.6). When someone asks, “What is truth?” or “Where is the truth in this?”- Jesus answers, “I am the truth.”  When someone asks, “Which way is the best?  Which way should we go?”- Jesus says, “I am the way.”  When someone asks, “Where is the true life? How do I find fulfillment in this life?” - Jesus says, “I am the life”.  He is the absolute center.  When we focus on him, miraculously, our questionings are not so important any more.  

In our union with Christ we are complete.  Our questions may still exist, but, the good news is we don't have to figure it all out. We may not perfectly understand everything, but if we are walking in him and trusting him, he will protect us and keep us going in the right direction.  We only need to follow the light we have been given.  It’s about walking with him - a living, breathing relationship. No matter where our lives take us, he is our center.  In the simplicity of our childlike relationship and trust in him all is supplied. 

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love,

 so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding,

 in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,  

 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 

I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.

Col 2:2-4 (NIV)

Photo from http://www.refugeimages.com/thewaythrough.html

Perfect Love

Apache Lake, Arizona

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity,

or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger,

or threatened with death?

Romans 8:35 (NLT)

In this life we all experience numerous inconsistencies.  It seems that things are always going wrong.  Our friend calls it the "20% mess up factor."  Or maybe it seems like the 100% of Murphy's law, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."  Life is just like that.  It is so imperfect.  The people in our lives are inconsistent, too. One minute they may be kind and considerate, the next irritating and critical.  Even though we know this to be true, we often experience frustration when things go wrong or people let us down. For some reason, we still have the expectation that things should always go smoothly and we shouldn't be inconvenienced or slowed down by unexpected events.  Or on the other hand, we might develop a "poor me" attitude, always expecting the worst and feeling that we are an "accident ready to happen" at any moment. This kind of thinking leads to a sense of dread that leaves us feeling very insecure.

The good news is that Jesus has planned a better way for us to face the day.  Through our contact with him, we can be in a place undisturbed by the current state of affairs.  Our security and stability are not based on our circumstances or how we are treated, but by the utterly secure foundation of God's constant, unfailing and perfect love.  Nothing can come our way that can ever disturb the steady stream of God's love surrounding us. In the face of uncertainty and inconsistency he is unfailingly constant creating for us a haven of peace and security.

Lord, help us to tap into that steady stream of love that is constantly flowing towards us no matter what we are going through. 

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love—

indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Help

Our lives are full of uncertainty and often things don't go as we expect. 

These words of encouragement came to me this morning.

Be encouraged.  

I assure you that the grace of God is with you no matter what happens. 

(1 Peter 5:12)

He is your helper.  

He will restore, support and strengthen you

and place you on a firm foundation.

(1 Peter 5:10)

In that day he will be your sure foundation providing a rich store of help,

wisdom and knowledge.  

The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

  (Isaiah 33:6)

Lord,  I humble myself under your mighty power.  You are Lord of my life.  I give all my worries and cares to you because you care for me. (1 Peter 5:7)

 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 (NIV)

Firm Foundation

“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.

Isaiah 28:16 (NLT)

Christ is our rock and only firm foundation.  Everything else in life is shaky.  As we have seen in the horrible devastation in Japan, in an instant our lives can be shattered. When our world shakes and trouble comes, let us remember our Rock and put our feet on that firm foundation that will never crumble or fall.  Our house may shake, but the foundation will never fail.  

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.Psalm 61:2 (NIV) 

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Listen to On Christ the Solid Rock at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQgD_Wg9DG4