Long Journey Home
The story of the prodigal son is ageless, first told by Jesus when he was describing God’s unconditional love for his children. The one thing I love about this story is how it demonstrates God’s love towards us no matter how bad we’ve messed up.
Many times, we misjudge God’s attitude towards us, thinking he’s frustrated, mad or disappointed with us because we’ve messed up or sinned. No, he’s not. Jesus was punished in our place. God no longer sees us in our sin. If we have Christ in our heart, he sees Jesus in us. He sees us righteous and holy. He sees us as his child. We are loving wrapped up in God’s arms and cherished by him.
“God says He will accept us and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (Romans 3:22 LB).
Today, in Christ, you are acceptable, pleasing and passionately pursued by your Father.
I want to share with you a short film called Long Journey Home. The short, 7-minute film is a modern-day version of the prodigal son.
Disillusioned with the family business, a young man is seduced by life’s pleasures only to find the costs far greater than he realized. Thus begins the Long Journey Home, a story about a father’s unconditional love for his son and a son’s quest for forgiveness.
Please take a moment to watch the short film online. And if you have time, please cast your vote for Long Journey Home. We are wanting to get into Round 2 so that we can then produce a 30 minute film on the topic of Hope.
Please take a moment to share your comments on this blog post so that we can hear your thoughts on the film.
Prayer: Father, there are times I feel like the prodigal son, away from you living my own life. I am sorry. I need you desperately. I know you are running to meet me, because of your unconditional love towards me. Father, help me this week to truly know what it means to be acceptable to you, to know that you love me for who I am, not for what I do.
sunsets
I love sunsets. A few days ago while returning home from a business trip, I was again overwhelmed at the beauty of a sunset. As the plane began its descent into the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, the sun had just set below the horizon. The bright, blue sky slowly transformed into a deep orange. The beauty of it brought me to tears as I began to ponder the wonder of God.
Staring through that small, oval window, I thought back to other sunsets I had seen in my life. A few of them, I can remember so vividly. As I recalled each of those memorable sunset experiences, I discovered an incredible similarity: the most beautiful sunsets always followed an intense storm.
One evening, during my senior year at college in Austin, a tornado ripped through the area touching down in various parts of the city. We sat in our living room watching the local news, tracking the storm’s movements across the area. Amazingly, the brunt of the storm passed right over us. We could hear the powerful winds outside ripping through trees.
But, the storm passed quickly, and everyone jumped back into the daily grind of things. I, on the other hand, went outside to survey the damage. Tree limbs were broken. Leaves were scattered. The wrath of the winds became obvious.
As I stepped out into the street trying to track the tail-end of the storm, I gazed upon one of the most beautiful sunsets I had ever seen. I quickly ran in and told my friends, “Come look at this!” They were reluctant at first but eventually agreed. Standing there in the street, we stared in awe at the thick thunderheads that were painted purple and orange. It was beautiful!
Our lives are full of storms. Storms of panic and fear. Storms that destroy and discourage. And just like the storms in Texas, these storms of life blow in quickly, doing lots of damage. Other times, they linger creating havoc and chaos. We question “Why, Lord?” We stomp our feet and cry out to God for comfort. Too often, it seems, our answer is painful silence.
Staring at that sunset just a few days ago from the plane, I sensed the still, small voice of the Lord say, “Russ, storms will come. It’s inevitable. But, where the storms destroy, I can rebuild. I can create the most beautiful sunset from any storm that blows into your life.”
You can make it through the storm with God’s help. Trust in him, and remember that God “causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).
Prayer: Father, while in the storm, it is so hard to see the beauty that can come of it. It just seems too powerful, too overwhelming, too destructive. Give me a glimpse of the sunset you have in mind for this storm. Give me the courage and peace to trust you in this dark hour.
going exercisin’
“Daddy?” asked Caleb. “Can we go exercisin’?”
I like to run after work, and there are times when I get home, throw on some jogging clothes and go for a quick run around the block. Most of the time Caleb would ask, “Daddy, are you going exercisin’?” I’d respond, “Yes.”
A few years ago, Caleb wanted to go running. He donned his jogging shorts, a Barney tee shirt and his running shoes. “Let’s go, Daddy!” He was ready to run around the block.
At four years old, his style of running was “unperfected”. He was weaving and stumbling occasionally. But, he was exercising.
As we ran, I’d let him take the lead, and I followed closely behind. When he ran, he would often turn his head to see where I was. In doing so, he would stray off the sidewalk onto someone’s yard, nearly missing a mailbox or a parked car.
As we stopped during one of our frequent breaks, I told Caleb that he should always look forward when he was running. I explained that looking back would cause him to slow down and stray off course.
So, we did a running drill. I told to look at a lamppost off in the distance. “Now, focus on that lamppost. It’s your goal. Don’t look back to see how I’m doing. Just focus on the lamppost.” He agreed, “Okay Daddy.”
With his elbows swinging and his little legs chugging along, he ran straight for the lamppost. Even when I talked to him as he ran, he wouldn’t turn back and look. He ran straight for the lamppost, and a tad bit faster, I might add.
The lesson Caleb learned yesterday is a lesson for us as well. When running this race called life, we should not look back. Whether it’s a haunting past or a chance to eye the competition, looking back can be dangerous. In focusing on our past, we lose sight of the Goal. Looking back slows us down and can stray us dangerously off course. Rather, we should keep our eyes on the lamppost.
“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1b-3).
Prayer: Lord, help me keep me eyes on the goal. Guard my heart from distractions and the anything that would throw me off course.
sleds and slopes
A few years ago, my family and I had the wonderful opportunity of spending Christmas in the Swiss Alps. What a blessing it was for us to have this special holiday vacation! Not to mention, the snow was a welcome sight for this Texas family.
In fact, the snow provided for most of our entertainment and recreation. Although we did not do any skiing, we did have lots of snowball fights, made lots of snow angels and, best of all, did lots of sledding.
The trail from Murren to Gimmelwald wasn’t too steep, but the sharp turns–lined with bed cushions–made for an exciting run. The half-hour ride was quickly followed by a gondola ride back to Murren for another run.
Being new to sledding, our son, Caleb, was quite cautious when we first climbed aboard the tiny sled. “Daddy?” Caleb asked curiously, “Will we go fast?” As I wrapped my arms around him tightly, I responded, “I hope so!”
As we started down the hill with nothing more than our feet to steer, Caleb grabbed tightly to my arm. I could sense some fear in his grip. I pulled him closer to me, and away we went.
Slipping, sliding, slushing. A close one here, a near miss there. Yes,
even an occasional wipe out. Soon, Caleb was filled with sheer excitement. “Again Daddy! Again!” The fear was gone. Only excitement and expectation filled his mind.
When it comes to crippling fear and anxiety, we can either avoid the sleds and slopes of life, or we can grab onto our Father and enjoy the ride. There is one thing that turned my son’s fear into joy–trust. He trusted me. He held on for dear life, but he knew I would not let him get hurt. His trust in me gave him the opportunity to enjoy the ride instead of fear it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding” (Proverb 3:5).
This is my life scripture. With it, I grab hold of my Father’s arm and enjoy the ride. Yes, I’ve been down this trail alone many times, and it was terrifying. But, with my Father’s arms wrapped tightly around me, I have learned to trust him through the turns, the near misses and the occasional wipe out. My fear has turned into excitement and expectation.
Prayer: Father, you know the sharp turns, up and downs that lie ahead. Wrap your arms of love around me tightly and hold me close. I trust you to take care of me.
my journey with God
“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” –Helen Keller
For a lot of people, God is some distant, disconnected entity that doesn’t really care much about humanity. But, I disagree. I believe God is completely engaged, active and constantly wooing us to a deeper relationship with him. But, what does that look like?
In 1991, I started a journal. It was nothing more than me getting alone and capturing my thoughts on paper. Interestingly, I used a word processor to journal my thoughts and prayers. Here it is 17 years later, and I have pages and pages of journal entries. What I found fascinating is that after about 3 or 4 years of journaling, I started actually listening. Lord, do you have something to say me?
He did.
So, I started spending my mornings by praying and then listening. I would often change my font color to red and just start writing what I thought God was saying to me. It wasn’t an audible voice and some “Thus says the Lord…” prophetic declaration. It was a gentle, tender, quiet whisper deep into my thoughts. And, it was always in love. Always.
Over the years, my journey with God has grown so deep, so wonderful, so engaging and yet always growing, always changing, never stagnant.
It’s truly the most amazing journey I have ever experienced. And why keep this to myself, I thought. So, I started this blog, simply to share my journey with God, and share with you tips and ideas on how you can tap into that “still small voice” of the Divine that gently whispers and woos you.
Join me. Let’s listen together.
boats and helicopters
I heard a really good joke a while back. I want to share it with you:
The rains continued to pour down, and the water was rising fast. Bill refused to leave his house despite all the warnings. There was a knock at his door. The firemen in their orange rescue boat demanded, “Sir, you’ve got to leave.” But Bill refused, “The Lord will save me.”
A few hours later, the water had crept inside the house and was ankle deep. There was another knock on the door. This time the firemen were starting to get worried. “Sir, you need to leave now! The water is rising too fast.” Again, Bill refused, “No, the Lord will save me.”
As the hours passed, the unforgiving water continued to rise. It had pushed Bill up and outside on the roof where he sat precariously on the ledge. The loud noise of the helicopter hovered overhead. The loud speaker crackled, “Sir, grab the rope and we’ll pull you to safety.” Bill shouted as loud as he could, “No, the Lord will save me!”
Within a few minutes the water had risen so rapidly that Bill was swept away and drowned. Standing before God’s throne in heaven, Bill raised his hands and questioned God, “Where were you God? I was waiting for you to save me.” God answered, “Bill, I sent you two boats and a helicopter. What more do you need?”
I enjoy that story so much because it drives home such an important point: God can work in many different ways, through many different means. When we limit God’s help to our expectations of what we think that help should be, we are going to be let down.
Throughout the Bible, God uses natural means through different people to bring about his will. I think of Noah. God could have just zapped him to heaven temporarily until the flood was over, but he didn’t. Rather, he had Noah spend 100 years building a boat to save him, his family and the animal kingdom.
I also think of Jonah in the belly of a whale. God could have just teleported him to Ninevah after he was thrown from the ship. But no. God used a whale to transport Jonah to safety.
Then, I think of Jesus. He came to earth with the good news of Gospel. Yet, he entrusted it to 12 guys, giving them the task of spreading this good news. He could have just sent down an angel with a loud voice to proclaim this message of hope. But he didn’t. He used people to bring about God’s will.
God can use a variety of instruments to touch our lives. Whether it’s a person, a book, a wise doctor or counselor, God can reveal his truth to us in many different ways. We should not restrict him to some magic zap from heaven that will give us peace. We should look for God moving and working all around us. We should look for some boats and helicopters.
Prayer: Father, open my spiritual eyes to see where you are working in my life here on earth. Tune my spiritual ears to hear your voice through others, through your word and in my heart.
learning to spin
It was a cheap toy. I’m still not quite sure where we got it, but this little, lime-green spinning top was Caleb’s favorite toy.
At three years old, he couldn’t spin it. Every now and then, he’d ask us to spin it for him. He enjoyed watching it balance and spin almost miraculously on its tip. You could tell from the expression of his face that he really wanted to know how that thing worked. Even more, he wanted to learn to spin it himself one day.
It was early in the morning when Caleb came running into my office. “Daddy?” he asked. “Will you spin it for me?”
I stopped what I was doing and spun the cheap toy a few times. As before, his eyes were glued to this spinning object. Occasionally, he would turn to me and smile and giggle.
“I wanna spin it,” asked the curious three-year-old. I took his hand in mine and showed him how to snap his fingers. With my hand over his, I went through the motions of grasping the top’s handle between the fingers.
Then, I sat back and watched him try.
He fumbled around with the top a few times. Then, with one smooth motion, he spun the top. I was surprised! He was surprised! We both started shouting, “Yeah!” It was an exciting time.
For most, it may have been no big deal. For my son and me, it was a special time. A time of teaching, a time of learning. Most of all, it was a time of rejoicing.
Life is very similar. We have so many things we fumble around with, unable to do because of inexperience or even fear. Yet, our Father takes our hands and our heart and gently goes through the motions with us. He shows us how to do those things we kept telling ourselves we can’t do. He shows us how to spin those tops.
But, God doesn’t stop there. Just as me and my son shouted with excitement, your Father rejoices with you in your victories. His heart leaps with yours as you put into motion what your Father has taught you.
“Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O LORD…” (Ps 94:12a).
Prayer: Father, I’ve been fumbling too long with the things of my life. Please take my hands into your hands, my heart into your heart, and let’s spin the things of life together. I will trust you.
living faith
Two men stood at the foot of a bridge. “It looks sturdy,” declared the younger man. “I am sure it will hold us when we cross. There should be no problem. Look at that reliable construction. Look at the width of those wood beams. I am sure it will be fine.”
The other man just stood there quietly for a few seconds. Then he headed out across the bridge.
Let me ask you a question: which one had faith that the bridge was strong enough to hold him? Was it the one who professed it was sturdy or the one who walked across?
Faith is more than just believing. It is more than just confessing. Faith is putting into action what we believe. It’s not just waiting around for God to come down and zap us. If we never act upon what we believe, then we are not expressing our faith. We can talk all day about God’s strength and protection, but if we never act on it–if we never step out–our faith is dead.
“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-17).
Many people “talk the talk,” but fewer “walk the walk.” When trials come, faith will be tested. My faith was tested a few years ago. I boldly declared my confidence in God. But, when trouble hit, my life crumbled. My faith proved to be nothing more than a vain declaration. I really didn’t believe what I was saying.
Today, I am able to act upon my faith in God. When the fear comes crashing in, I don’t obey it. Instead I obey God. I believe he will protect me and keep me safe. I put my faith into action by consciously choosing to rest in that belief. I walk across that bridge instead of just talking about it.
You may ask, “Where do I start? How can I believe God’s promises? How can I express my faith?”
Begin by praying for faith–faith to respond to God’s promises. Read the Bible to learn more about those promises and God’s faithfulness. Unlike that bridge, God will not sway or break. Our Father is strong and steadfast. He is faithful. He will never fail you.
Prayer: Father, there may have been times that I have professed my faith in you only to fail you. I ask that you would give me the courage and strength to stand in faith–to trust you no matter what comes my way.
losing to save
I have been told by those who have experienced panic disorder and found freedom that relinquishment is the key to that freedom.
So, what does that mean? What does it mean to relinquish yourself to God? In the dictionary, relinquishment means “to let out of one’s possession or control completely; to abandon one’s self.”
The world teaches that when fear and panic strike, you need to take control of your life. “Get a hold of yourself Russell!” or “Get a grip!” Yet, Jesus says, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
A few years ago, a lady wrote to me and shared her story. It illustrates this principal of relinquishment:
———–
I have been house bound with panic attacks for the last 15 years, only having ventured out of my home 3 or 4 times. I live in a very small town where going to a doctor is really very simple but, for me, it was a nightmare just going to the car.In late March I became very ill with kidney failure and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. I was more afraid of the fear than of my kidney problem. After accessing my problem, I was immediately air lifted to another hospital about 400 miles from home. As I was being placed in the plane for transport, I told my son ‘good-bye’, as I didn’t think I was going to make it. I was near death or, so I thought. In the plane, I began to speak with God and make peace with him. I suddenly became very calm and peaceful. I had no fear at all and became very aware of my surroundings. I looked out the small window of the plane and admired the beauty of the clouds.
When I got to the hospital, I was placed on dialysis and my month long stay in hospital was a “touch and go” situation but, still no fear.
When time came for my release from hospital, my husband drove me the 400 miles home, and I was amazed that I could not even remember what a panic attack felt like. I am convinced that God allowed me to feel the fear of dying so that I might be able to cope with the fear of living.
Today, I am able to go out to restaurants, shopping, go to movies….do all the things I have not been able to do for 15 years. God saved my life in more ways than one. Yes, there will always be some anxiety but, that is normal in life and I am now able to cope with it, with God’s help.
———–
mebeli
Although Linda’s experience with relinquishment came as a result of sickness, God revealed to her that freedom comes when you simply trust him with your life–when you give him complete control.
Prayer: Lord, I give you control. Help me to relinquish my vain efforts, to rid myself of any worldly coping techniques. Help me to trust you more.
footsteps in the snow
A man and his son were playing in the snow one day. Pointing to a tree off in the distance, the father said, “Son, let’s have a contest. We will both walk straight toward that tree. The contest is not to see who gets there first. Rather, the winner is the one who can have the straightest path in the snow.”
The son agreed, and the father said, “Go.” As each one moved closer and closer to the tree, the son carefully placed one foot in front of the other. He watched his feet closely to make sure each step was exactly in line. He didn’t rush. He stepped. Analyzed. Stepped. Verified. Stepped. On and on.
When the boy finally reached the tree, his father was already there waiting for him. As the son glanced back at the two paths, he noticed that his path snaked through the snow. His father’s path, on the other hand, looked straight as an arrow. Dumbfounded, the son questioned, “I don’t understand. I took my time. I watched each and every step. Yet, my path was crooked. Why?”
The father responded, “Son, to keep your path straight, don’t watch where you step. Keep your eye on the goal.”
What a paradox: when we walk step by step, focusing on our feet, we often stumble. But when we take our eyes off our steps and fix them on the goal, we can walk a straight and narrow path. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Paul said, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14).
Prayer: Father, as I focus my eyes upon Jesus and follow him in all my ways, make my footsteps straight–a perfect path to peace.
P.S. My son, Caleb, and I made a video about this message. If you would like to see it, you can click here to view the video message.