Let Me In

I am sure it has happened to you. You are on the highway. You need to move over a lane, but traffic is heavy. If it is moving fast, it is scary to try and scoot over. If it is backed up, you need to somehow signal to the driver in the other lane that you want come into his lane because if you change before he lets you, it will cause an accident.

Now, I don’t know how it works for you, but sometimes the driver in the other lane is “less than friendly”; he does not let me in. It makes me a bit mad, but I have to admit and repent. From time to time, I have not let a driver in front of me. Especially, if it is one of those situations where we have all been waiting in line, and he has “cut to the front.” I know I should have more grace, but that is not the point of this story.

Last month I was driving in a caravan that included my wife and my daughter. Whenever we would get in a situation that required changing lanes, I could always count on them to know that I needed to change and to let me in - every time. There was no blinker necessary. They did not begrudge it, and often they slowed down so I could scoot in front of them. It was beautiful. I don’t know if you have experienced that, but it makes driving wonderful, especially on Georgia highways.

So here is the deal. We are in a caravan. All of us who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in a triumphal procession. Look to your left and right. Now look behind you. Is there anyone around you who needs to be let into the caravan? They may not have their turn signal on, but you know the road is narrowing ahead. Perhaps you will have to slow down for a bit, glance over and “wave them in”, so they can get ahead of you and feel the pleasure of riding with the team.

Do you see someone with a flat tire? What can you do? Stop, help, and give a little encouragement. It will take some time, but remember that Good Samaritan story. Jesus stopped for you, and He continues to pull you out of the ditch and set you on the high road. He calls us to do unto others as He has unto us.

I don’t know where you are today. Maybe you need someone to let you into the caravan. We would love to do that. Contact us. There is no blinker necessary. Worship Well.

On Shepherding

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen." Hebrew 13:20-21

The writer of Hebrew begins to conclude his great letter with this benediction. We often us it here at Perimeter at the end of a service as a way to give you a blessing and sent you out in the world.

Let's take a look at it, as it is full of His love.

God is a god of peace. He is the one who reconciled us to Him while we were at war. He did it before time, in the eternal covenant. You see, before time and space began, He had it all worked out. The Father said "I will create my people will sin against me!" The Son said, " I will pay the price for their sin!" The Spirit covenanted to apply the work of Jesus to elect throughout all time. The blessed triune God made an eternal covenant that will never be broken. That is bigger than big for you to know. You do not need to keep that covenant. In fact you cannot keep the covenant. He keeps it for you. How does He do that?

God the Father brought Jesus back from the dead after He had suffered the agony of hell. Jesus is the covenant maker and keeper. Further, Jesus is the great shepherd of the sheep. He loves His lambs, and He tenderly cares for them. He is the great shepherd. He is the one who can equip you with every good thing for doing His will and not yours. He wants you to what is best, and that is His will. He knows it is the healthiest thing you can do.

Finally the writer says this in so many words, " Let's give Him complete liberty!" He asks that His will works in us to what is pleasing to Him. Amen.

So there you have it. It is just a slice of Hebrews. Can we encourage you to read the rest today?

Blessings!

Back to School Stress

It's back. So who is stressed? Everyone is. Why is that? Anticipation. Of course, I am talking about school, and there is plenty of stress to go around. For students stressors include: "Who will my friends be? Why do I have to take Math? I can't believe I got the hardest Physics teacher! Will I measure up, and will they approve of the way I look, act and talk?"

For mom you can include a lot of the above and add, " Will my kid to his homework without a nightly war? Will I have to pack lunch every morning? How will we manage the carpool?"

What about Dads? Oh yes, you do stress underneath that cool exterior. "Will my kid have good enough grades to get the HOPE? Do we have to pay for all those extracurricular activities? Can the homework get done before I get home from work because I want to relax, and why can't we just have a schedule and stick to it?"

Of course dads, like me, have to add the obligatory "When I was a boy, I walked to school both ways with cardboard shoes; why can't we have a little focus here at the beginning of the school year?"

Stress - it is here. Now we don't want to give you any simple "Christian" stress buster answers like, "Have a family devotion each day," "The family that prays together does better on the SAT" or "This too shall pass."

However, we do want to offer you some hope. Stress is part of the human condition. Fear of negative things happening is not unusual. You are real and human if you have stress. Do you know part of the reason that you do have anticipatory stress?

Those bad things sometimes do happen!

Students, you probably won't be liked by some. The carpool will get messed up. The homework won't be done. It will be hectic. That is life.

Does it help to know that bad things will happen? Maybe not.

By the way, some unexpected good things might happen too. You will get the right locker; someone else will offer to carpool, and homework might get done occasionally before dad gets home.

So how do you move forward knowing your "anticipatory stress" will be proved right?

Move forward knowing He wants to be prepared to look to Him when those "bad" things happen and praise Him in the middle of the storm. In order to do that, you need to prepare. Prepare to look for comfort that can only come from Him and prepare to be a comforter to others for His namesake. In order that you will need to call on him. He is the One who prepares the way.

So what about the stress!!?! It came to nudge your soul to worship the God of peace.

Blessings.