Do you know about the guy named Asaph in the Old Testament who truly shared with God what was on his mind?

Asaph was a temple worship leader. He must have had a great voice in addition to his good lineage because he was elected to the lead-singer position. He did his job well and was influential. Some of the songs he wrote were used during the revival under King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:30). And get this—what you and I would call the “choir” today was called the “Asaphites” back then.

In the eyes of the other God-believing people, Asaph was a role model because of His dedication to God. Yet, there was even a moment for the spiritual-giant when he doubted the worth of his faith and the merit of his actions.

In Psalm 73 he was asking questions like, Why do I try so hard to stay pure, to not be prideful, to not covet, to watch my language…all for what!?

The first time I read this psalm I was waiting for it to say, …and Asaph was struck dead because he offended God by what he said.

But Asaph wasn’t just blunt for the point of getting something off of his chest. He went to God honestly, with real concerns. I love the way that he starts his prayer. He doesn’t run into the throne room with guns blazin’ but states what he knows: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart” – true honesty with God starts with facts about God.

But true honesty with God always gets to the facts about what’s going on in our lives as well. Asaph goes on and says, “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped.” He says, Look, I’m not perfect at all. I’m a jealous wreck. I envy other guys even though they are wicked and prideful.

Finally, true honesty must acknowledge to God where we are at how we need to change. For the next several verses Asaph lays out his case. He tries to understand why the wicked can get away with all the sinful things they do, yet still have prosperity and good health. Asaph was not out to get revenge or blame God. He held his thoughts openly, with the hope that God would snatch his jealousy and replace it with something far greater. Asaph was honest, absolutely honest to God.

I hope you will allow your prayer life to be laced with honesty before God for the sake of transformation. Remember, He is an all-knowing God, so nothing you tell Him will surprise Him.

I will see you Sunday as we look more at the 7 Cries from the Cross. Please invite people to our church this Sunday, and on Easter, so they too may be affected by the Good news of the Gospel message.

You are deeply loved,

Josh.

Not to long ago, I was speaking at an elementary school to kids in kindergarten all the way through the 8th grade. Not exactly an easy span of ages to communicate to.

There was this one young girl sitting on the front row that seemed to be listening to every word I said. She was blonde, perhaps no taller than three-and-a-half feet. She eagerly raised her hand when I asked for volunteers from the audience, so I chose her and asked her to come forward.

This girl must have been in the first or second grade. She smiled from ear to ear, proud to be chosen to stand in front of the audience full of her peers. Upon getting to the front I had her remove her shoes. Then I took a box of tacks and poured them all over the stage. She gasped as she looked down on them, knowing that I may ask her to do something that could really hurt. Her face expressed what her mind was thinking: Wait…I thought this was going be fun… why did I volunteer for this…

Standing on the other side of the tack-filled floor, I asked her to walk to me. She glanced up at me with a perplexed look that stated, are you kidding!?! I asked her, “What is the matter? Are the tacks scaring you?” She replied quickly with a vigorous head nod, yes! So I blindfolded her and said, “Okay, now you can’t see the tacks… so walk to me.” She froze.

I then walked around the tacks and put my hands on her shoulders and said, “I’ll help you get the other side, follow my instructions…take two steps to the right…one step over your shoes…one step to the left…phew… you made it!”

My point was that we must “Walk by faith and not by sight” as 2 Corinthians 5:7 says. There may be some real “tacky” situations we get ourselves into, but with God’s leading we can make it through. It requires trust. It requires dependence. It requires tender feet and a tender soul.

At times in my faith I have often hesitated: Wait…I thought this was going be fun… why did I volunteer for this… Right when I’m about to quit, God comes close. My point may not have been completely clear to the energetic, bustling room. But if anything, I got it… and the girl may have as well. We must live by faith to feel the weight of the hand of our Savior on our shoulders. Be comforted, weary soul. He is near.

In closing, it was so good to see so many of you at the pasta dinner on Sunday. I was so blessed by the donations of food you brought, the way you helped get the meal done (and cleaned up), and to watch you all enjoy some good fellowship! Thank you for what you did to make that a special evening. We will do it again … soon!

See you on Sunday as we continue our series on the “7 Cries from the Cross.” Invite someone to Church; the message of the cross is life-changing!
(Remember Daylight Savings Time begins this Sunday morning so be sure to set your clocks AHEAD one hour.)

You are Loved,

Josh.

Have you ever been betrayed by a friend?

When a friend chooses to break a promise, there is nothing you can do to remove the growing dull pain of hurt. They may swear to you that they would never treason your trust … but they do; and the residue remaining is made up of nothing more than confusion, broken confidence, and fragmented clarity.

The times I’ve been betrayed are painful. However, I shouldn’t sit here and just count my scars wallowing in my own self-pity. Instead I must stop and wonder how many people I’ve wounded (and go ask for forgiveness). I know there has been more than a few times when someone was counting on me either to fulfill a promise, keep a secret or to do something and in the end I only let him or her down. Sometimes I may disappoint a friend on accident, but other times I turn my back on the ones I love in order to get my own selfish way or protect myself instead of them.

All this makes me think about Christ’s friend and disciple, Judas. After 3 years of ministry day-in and day-out with Jesus, Judas decides to turn Christ in for his own gain of riches as it tells us in Matthew 23.

So I have to wonder, is there a Judas within us all? Why does our own pride and longing for recognition forfeit the friendships we’ve worked so hard to grow? Why do we throw away years of intimacy for momentary accolades? Are we so fickle to say a vow of loyalty with our mouths, yet with the same lips give a kiss of betrayal?

I challenge you… and me… to be people who can be trusted. Imagine the difference we could make in this world if our friends, and even our savior could call us “Loyal”.

Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” If we remain faithful to God and to our friends, family, and fellow man, we will be blessed, for this type of faithfulness portrays God to others. If we are just out to seek our own riches and gain – in motives or money – we will not go unpunished.

Dear God,
Banish all the un-loyal in our hearts, for you are the King of Loyalty. Discard the seed of Judas and replant within us the Spirit of Christ. Break the pride of those whom use their lips to give deceitful kisses. Dispel the hypocrisy that has become the cancer of Your Church. May we learn to be a people as loyal and true as you.
AMEN.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we start our new series, “7 Cries from the Cross: Finding new life in Jesus’ last words.” Invite your family and friends to come this series.

And don’t forget the all-church Spaghetti Dinner is this Sunday night from 5:30 – 8 PM. Over 90 people have already RSVP’d! This is going to be a fantastic time of food and fellowship. If you still want to come and have not RSVP’d, email info@creeksidechurch.org.

Remember… you are loved,

Josh.