“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

It was a number of years ago, but there was always a part of me that could identify with what Frodo must have been feeling in this scene from the first movie “The Fellowship of the Ring” from the Lord of the Rings trilogy:

Frodo: “I wish the Ring had never come to me.

I wish none of this had ever happened.”

Gandalf: “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide.

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkein

To a casual observer from afar—as were those of us who saw the movies comprising the Lord of the Rings trilogy—Frodo’s assigned task clearly seemed unfair.

His journey to make sure that the Ring was destroyed of its evil power was fraught with intrigue and life-threatening danger. It was not a venture to find something, but to rid the world of something—something that was both a burden to him and had potentially terrifying consequences to the world.

Undoubtedly his comments to Gandalf could be understood, perhaps even to the point of consideration of a change of assignment. But it wasn’t to be. It was his responsibility to the end—however that end turned out to be—at his young age.

A responsibility he did not seek, nor want, nor shirk, but accepted. Actually as to the responsibility placed upon him, he did more than simply accept it—he embraced it as his cause, as a part of his purpose in life. And as it turned out, it was to be his legacy—leaving a positive world-changing impact.

Not that everything, or anything, for that matter, which comes to us would have such life or world-changing potential as that which came to Frodo. But aren’t there things which come to us which we would rather they not? A storm, an illness, the loss of a job. Aren’t there things which come to us which seem to be too much for us to handle? Which seem to be beyond our ability to comprehend? Someone intrudes on our lives with a need we can’t turn away from, but have no time to deal with.

Often it seems to us that things that come to us would be better handled by someone else—someone with the expertise or the time—to do them justice, but there they sit on our doorstep. Many times, in many situations which come our way, in resignation we simply ask why me, Lord, but perhaps not as politely as that may seem.

But I wonder if you have ever stopped to think whether that which comes to us might just in fact be an opportunity sent by God which indeed could have life or world-changing potential. An opportunity to help someone in need. An opportunity as a teacher, a coach or a parent with a child standing before us, who will be affected by whatever we do with them in the moment which has come to us. A person who may be down to their last try at getting it right in life before they cash in their last breath. A moment to study for an exam just once more, or to take seriously whatever the moment is before you to do the best you can—either of which may ultimately lead to a career where you cure cancer, or bring peace to the nations. Silly you say; but how do you know?

Life is full of moments where things come to us. Things we never expected. Where things inexplicably happen to us—and we wonder why. Or maybe instead of wondering why, we complain or rebel. We wish they never happened and would just simply go away.

A moment of new responsibility that we may not see as a moment of opportunity, until later when we see the full picture which God sees. A moment where we may be called to embrace what is before us, to trust the God of all creation, and see what God will do with whatever it is, with us and through us, and ultimately for good.

“I wish the Ring had never come to me.

I wish none of this had ever happened.”

Me too, Frodo. Many times I have felt that way. We have all felt that way.

But we have also all been amazed at what God has done with those moments when we embraced them for Him and with Him, and watched in amazement as He carried out His purposes for our good, the good of others, and for His glory.

Whatever God sends your way—embrace it for your good, the good of others, and for His glory. You’ll be living out your legacy—the legacy God created you to live and to leave.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.”

Proverbs 29: 18 (KJV)

Here we are entering another week through yet another Monday together. And I hope that where you are the sunshine is streaming through into your day, whether or not any clouds may have temporarily rolled in over the locale where you live.

As we sit here, I have a few questions for us to think about together. Here’s the first one—what do you expect the day to be like? And the second, looking forward a bit—what do you expect the upcoming week to be like?

What are your expectations for your life for this day and for the rest of the week? What expectations do you have for members of your family for today and the rest of the week—for your bride or husband? What expectations do you have for your children? Or for your grandchildren or Godchildren or friends?

Maybe you’re a teacher or a coach—what expectations do you have for those you teach or coach each day? What expectations do those who teach or coach with you have for their students or players?

Let me ask it a different way—as you begin today, what do you imagine for your life today and tomorrow and on into the future? What do you picture that your day today will be like? Do you picture a day full of sunshine, laughter, smiles and meaningful, productive moments making a difference in the world and the lives of those around you? Or do you picture something else?

If someone handed you an artist’s palette of paints in one hand, a brush in the other, stood you before an easel containing a blank canvas, and told you to paint on that canvas what you imagine your week will be like—what color would you start with? What would you paint on that canvas?

What vision do have for your life? What do you envision your life will be like for the rest of our day today together, and for tomorrow and for the rest of the week? What do you want it to be like? Why can’t they be the same? What will your life stand for? How high do you set the expectations for your life? Are they high enough?

Here’s something else to think about while you’re wrestling with some of that. What do you think God’s expectations are for your life today, for tomorrow and on into the future? Do you think He has set the expectations for your life to be higher or lower than you set them? What do you think God is able to do with your life and mine—in the midst of whatever and wherever we find ourselves?

God doesn’t impress me as a God of low expectations. Reading through His Word and the stories and promises memorialized there—we find imagination, vision, high expectations, fallings and failings coupled with forgiveness and grace, power, love, courage, caring, miracles, sunshine, resurrection, eternal life, a new Jerusalem, trumpets, disciples and a growing army of followers, healing, children, and Christ at the right hand of God as our friend, advocate, wonderful counselor, might God, Prince of Peace—and Savior and Lord.

I wonder what we might begin to expect for today—and I wonder whether our expectations might begin to become a bit higher, and our imaginations start to take wings—if we aligned our sights and set our vision for everyday as God would set them for us? It’s then we may begin to become all He created us to be. He just doesn’t impress me as a God of low expectations.

I was reminded the other day of what Muhammad Ali said some time ago, and love the encouragement we can take from it for all of our days:

“If man can take moldy bread and make penicillin out of it,

Just think what a loving God can make out of you.”

So now—what do you expect, what do imagine, what do you envision for your day?

Need help? Give it to the God of high expectations.

In His Name—Scott

P.s. By the way, I think that first color on your canvas might be sunshine Golden Yellow!

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?…

For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary.

He will place me out of reach on a high rock…

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Psalm 27: 1, 5, 14 (NLT)

So let’s see—what is in front of you today?

Experience any “white outs” yet today?

Here we are together—beginning yet another day, another week. And if we’re honest with each other and ourselves, we might remember that when our feet hit the floor this morning, there was a bit of anxiety in our hearts mixed in with another day of expectations of things we had planned and didn’t plan, but which may occur anyway.

So, again, what’s in front of you today? There is a part of us that believes we would like to know, regardless of what is before us, how it will come out. Maybe we have a game tonight we’re playing in or coaching. Maybe we have a manuscript, paper or a project that is due. Perhaps it’s some family stuff that we don’t know how to wend our way through.

Maybe it’s a set of expectations which you have placed upon yourself, or that you are feeling pressure about from the expectations you have allowed others to hang over you. Some of us might still be carrying a recent disappointment that we can’t let go of, learn from and just move on. Maybe there are some things you need to deal with—things you need to change, decisions you need to make. We find ourselves in the midst of uncertain times, not at all sure about what is coming around the bend.

But here’s the reality of what is in front of you and me today. We may see some of it, but remembering past experiences, there is much we don’t see and don’t expect, which will probably hit us full in the face with often blinding and unexpected certainty.

Then what?

I remember a few years ago when I was invited to Halifax, Nova Scotia by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to speak at a number of gatherings of Pastors, as well as business, political and community leaders, in preparation for a Festival they were conducting three months later. When I landed in Halifax I was greeted by 20 degree temperatures and four feet of new snow. Having been raised for part of my childhood in New England, including upstate New York, I was familiar with and used to the snow. What I wasn’t at all familiar with, and couldn’t imagine getting used to, was something the folks there called “white outs.”

My first of many experiences with “white outs” occurred this way. That part of Canada I was visiting is comprised of a number of land masses and large islands, such as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton Island, connected by roadways across bridges and long stretches of land-formed causeways. The car we were in—where I was simply a trusting passenger being shuttled from one speaking engagement to another—was often traveling on a roadway running between some of those islands, with frozen bodies of water on one side or the other. The roadways and frozen seas were covered with the newly-fallen powdery snow, as had occurred just before I landed.

And here’s where it gets interesting. The wind begins to blow without warning, gusting up to forty or fifty miles an hour across wide-open spaces. The next thing you know, the snow has been blown up and off the frozen sea, into the air completely covering the car, the windshield and your field of vision. In the space of a few seconds, you go from clear visibility, driving at seventy miles an hour, to a complete “white out,” with no visibility whatsoever. Total darkness.

Scary.

Sounds like some of our days, doesn’t it?

So how do we deal with those moments of “white outs” we have in our lives? Those moments when not only do we not know which way to go, but we can’t see our options which may lie ahead of us. Where we are flying along making mighty good time and all of a sudden the pathway before us is gone. Or perhaps we have already experienced a “white out” and have been stopped dead in our tracks on the causeway (as the drivers did in our real-life experiences in Canada) and we can’t see the way ahead of us out of the circumstances in which we find ourselves.

It’s then that we need to go back and claim the promises one of the greatest Psalms of encouragement. It was written by one who experienced many “white outs” and moments of darkness in his life, often caused by his own failings and shortcomings. In the midst of whatever he found himself in, David could say—

The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?…

For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

He will place me out of reach on a high rock… [and so I will]

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.

Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Do you find yourself in the midst of any “white outs?” Or know that, like the rest of us, you will find yourself in the midst of one sometime ahead?

Remember at those times, and always, that promise that—

“The Lord is my light and salvation—so why should I be afraid…

Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

Claim that promise today and always!

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

“Even when I walk, through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”

Psalm 23: 4 (NLT)

It’s been another tough week for us as a nation. It’s been especially tough for our friends, neighbors—our family—in Boston and the surrounding towns. Struck with a horrific act on Monday, committed by evil cowards, the Boston Marathon ended differently this year than in years past—with two bombs detonating and killing three of our own and injuring one-hundred and eighty others.

One of the known attackers died after begin shot in a standoff with the police, and law enforcement arrested the other, while remembrances were lifted for those lost, and medical treatment continued for those hurt.

And as a city and nation we have shown our usual response—moving beyond resilience, to unity and on to defiance. Things like this only bring us together and make us stronger—they shore up our resolve to put an end to all who would lurk as cowards in the dark corners of alleys and the side streets of life they consider to be home.

Whether it was in the midst of the loudest rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” ever remembered, as proudly and defiantly sung by 17,565 in attendance at the Boston Garden the other night before the Boston Bruins hockey game with the Buffalo Sabres—we came together. Or within the thousands of citizens in town after town in Massachusetts coming out to celebrate together, to wave the American flag, and sing God Bless America after the second coward was caught cowering in a boat.

However, it was the celebration at Boston’s historic Fenway Park before, during and after the Red Sox baseball game and victory over the Kansas City Royals that put a capstone on the moment. With an enormous American flag draped across the thirty-seven foot high Green Monster which is the left field wall at Fenway, covering for a time the “B—Strong” (Boston Strong) logo which had been painted on the Green Monster that week, the ceremonies began with a video honoring the victims. First pitch ceremonies then began with the Governor of Massachusetts, Mayor of Boston, and Dick and Rick Hoyt, father and son duo (the son with Cerebral Palsy) who have been a fixture competing in the Boston Marathon for twenty years. And then all there were surprised as Neil Diamond showed up at the ballpark on his own, to sing “Sweet Caroline” on the field during the eighth inning of the game.

But among all of that and more, it was the Boston Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz—Big Papi—to the hometown faithful, who moved everyone to tears, and who captured the moment and the sentiment of the crowd on live television and radio with a statement less than suitable for younger ears, but apropos for the moment. A statement of that ilk would have ordinarily drawn fines in the neighborhood of a million dollars or more from the FCC against any networks airing such remarks, but which instead drew a tweet from Julius Genachowski, the chairman of the FCC, stating:

“David Ortiz spoke from the heart at today’s Red Sox game.

I stand with Big Papi and the people of Boston.”

But the most important of attributes of who we are as a nation, and which joins us together against all and any who would come against even just one of us, was demonstrated once again in those moments this past week where we were drawn together in quiet solidarity, hand-in-hand in neighborhoods, on street corners, assisting the injured and their families, giving blood, and kneeling, standing, sitting silently in prayer for them, each other and our nation.

It is the best part of our foundations as a nation, as so eloquently expressed by the Reverend Billy Graham at the National Day of Prayer held only days after the September 11, 2001 attacks on our nation, when he shared, in part, the following—

“We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass of the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations were examples of the prosperity and creativity of America. When damaged those buildings eventually plummeted to the ground imploding in upon themselves…

Therein lies the truth of that old hymn that Andrew Young quoted. Yes, our Nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost, but now we have a choice whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and as a Nation, or whether we choose to become stronger through all of this struggle to rebuild on a solid foundation.

And I believe that we’re in the process of starting to rebuild that foundation, that foundation is our trust in God. That’s what this service is all about. And in that faith, we have the strength to endure something as difficult and horrendous as what we’ve experienced this week.

This has been a terrible week with many tears, but also it’s been a week of great faith. Churches all across the country have called prayer meetings. And today is a day that they’re celebrating not only in this Country, but in many parts of the world. And in the words of that familiar hymn [“How Firm a Foundation,”] that [Ambassador] Andrew Young [quoted a few years earlier at the National Prayer Breakfast after the tragic death of his wife, we find comfort and resolve together]:

“’Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

for I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.’”

Reverend Graham closed his remarks that day with this:

“My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us & will know in our hearts that He will never forsake us, as we trust in Him…and this is going to be a day that we will remember—as a day of Victory.”

Thank you Reverend Graham—we know that, we believe that, and we will remember that message today and always.

And we will forever sense God’s hand in the midst of our lives—whether on the brightest of sunlit mountaintops, or in the deepest of dark valleys we walk through—as we draw together around Him individually, and as a nation, as a people, as friends, neighbors, and as a family, as children of the living God, everywhere, always and forever—

“…one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13 (NLT)

The morning is breaking forth with its radiant glow upon a very special day. No, it’s not because this is the year of the one-hundredth anniversary—which will probably pass without much public celebration—of the income tax signed into law on October 13, 1913 by President Woodrow Wilson.

I said special.

No, actually, today is the birthday of our youngest Godson.

We were and remain best of friends with his family—“family” actually is the way his family and our family have always viewed the relationship. And to begin the journey which would call us to continue in our roles as Godparents to him—since we were, and remain, the Godparents to his older sister and brother—Lynda and I traveled to be there when he was born at Langley Air Force Base on this day.

In a few days from now, our youngest Godson will take the next step in his training to be a SEAL, as a part of the Special Operations Forces of in the United States Navy which conducts operations on SEa, Air and Land. I can honestly say that left up to his Godmother and me, that path would not have been our chosen career field for him. A nice desk job, perhaps; and something that doesn’t necessitate the carrying of a weapon to protect himself. A nice desk job would be good.

But a call to duty to stand in the gap for us and our country as a US Navy SEAL has been the calling on his life for a long time. And he has begun the training process and stands ready to give it his very best, and see where the final selections and needs for those positions end up.

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman….”

Thomas Paine (December 25, 1776)

Thomas Paine wrote those words after the loss of New York to the British on December 23, 1776. Two days later on Christmas morning his words were read to the troops by order of General George Washington.

It was all about duty. It is and has always been about duty. As a country we are losing that sense of duty in so many areas of our lives—individually and as a nation. My thoughts drifted there, and then returned, as I wonder when we will get a chance to talk to him today on his birthday as he continues training and prepares to head to yet another advanced training site in a few days.

Duty. That’s the call upon the life of our Godson. That’s the call he is answering for his life and the lives of those others he loves, and all those others whom he loves to serve.

I suspect God wired the sense of duty within our Godson when He formed him in the womb. It was a sense of duty and responsibility which he sees as a privilege to serve others. We’ve always seen it in him—and even now at this most critical of junctures. It’s one of many things within our Godson that we cherish.

And when such a pure and sacred call on any of us is fleshed out in its most innocent and sacred of ways, the call to duty we respond to aligns itself with the will of God for our lives. And a peace ensues. God may adjust, alter, stop or turn around that call and the direction of our response to that call; but whether it remains now, or whether the call was just for then and only for a time, our response is and must always be the same—obedience.

There are those all around us who follow that call to duty God has placed in their lives. Maybe you, like me, are one such person.

Our Godson is—and he is special and precious. God may change the path He is on, or continue it, but in any case our Godson will seek to be obedient to that which he feels called.

So pray for him today—it’s his birthday and another day where he has chosen to respond obediently to the call of God upon His life.

Happy Birthday dear boy—young man—man. Oh how you have grown.

Remember this from your Godfather—Happy Birthday and:

“Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”

Maybe we would all do well today to remember that word of admonition and encouragement from the God who loves us, created us and goes with us and before us.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

]]> http://impactforliving.org/blog/2013/04/sealed-with-a-sense-of-duty/feed/ 0 http://impactforliving.org/blog/2013/04/short-wicks/ http://impactforliving.org/blog/2013/04/short-wicks/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:58:43 +0000 Scott Whitaker http://impactforliving.org/blog/?p=677 Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

”Promise me you’ll always remember: You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh

I wonder how peaceful our sleep would be if we took those words to heart before we went to bed each night after the events of the day bounced us around a bit.

I wonder how our days would go if we embraced those words of Christopher Robin for our lives as we put on our shoes and stepped out into whatever was before us in the sunshine of a brand new day.

Last night I went to the visitation in honor and remembrance of a forty-four year old young man who died a few days earlier in a car accident. He left behind a widow and three small children. Later today I will attend his memorial service.

Two nights ago I received word from a dear friend requesting prayer for Pastor Rick and Kay Warren, having lost their twenty-seven year old son to suicide a night earlier. Their son had been suffering for some time under a cloud of severe depression—which apparently led to that sad, sad moment.

One time around in this life God has given us. We have been given one day at a time to live to the fullest and to make the most of—or not. We have been given the gift of the lives of loved ones that have blessed our lives and would leave a huge hole in our lives were they gone.

Yet I would suspect that most of us, if not all of us, live as if we had all the days we wanted. I’m not sure we want to trust that belief.

I also suspect that we live life each day, not giving a whole lot of thought to the reality that this could very well be the last day we ever see the ones we love—bride, husband, children, grandchildren, friends, others who bless our lives. Again, I’m not sure we want to trust that belief, either.

I don’t want to seem melodramatic about all of this, but I wonder when we will start to live each day of our lives as if it is the last we may have. Because it very well may be the last. If that were our approach—I wonder how we would talk to those we love and who love us.

When was the last time you said to someone to remember that:

“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem,

and smarter than you think.”

I wonder if we would leave the side of our loved ones as readily and often as we do. I wonder if we would stay that extra few hours at work each day so we could win the game on Saturday, or make sure to get that new account at the office that might lead to a raise or a promotion. How many times will we do that—and at what cost to the lives God has given us, and at what cost to our life which God has given us?

What causes us to live like that—to set aside those important people and things in our lives so we can chase the transient and secular? Maybe someone didn’t tell us often enough something like Christopher Robin said to Pooh, or something similar. Maybe we have fallen or failed too much and need to prove we can do it.

All at what cost?

I think I’ll wear my gray suit today with a white shirt and soft gray and brown tie. I can’t imagine what his bride, small children and parents are feeling now. I’ll pray for the Warrens again on the way. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. I have a precious son, daughter-in-law and granddaughters.

We get better with our priorities for a time when walking through moments like today—but sadly only for a brief season. We need to do better—we need to live with purpose, love and with the realization that our wicks, and those of our loved ones and dear friends, are not as long as we think they are.

If I forget to mention it to you for a few days, “promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

Share that and so much more with someone else you love and who loves you.

Today, tomorrow and everyday thereafter which you are given.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

Luke 24: 1-6 (ESV)

She had seen Him heal Lepers, and eat with the prostitutes and set them on a path to a new life. She had watched as He forgave the hated tax collectors and turned them to a better life. She had seen Him feed the 5,000 and bring Lazarus back from the grave.

Time after time Mary had seen Him perform miracle after miracle, always doing what He said He would do. And yet she stands there that morning frozen in fear, looking for the living among the dead, looking for her Christ—in a tomb. And the angels ask the obvious question to them: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” The Christ who told her days earlier that He would rise again in three days, has risen.

Think about that for a moment in your own lives on this morning after Easter. Despite knowing better—from the wise counsel of others, the divine intervention or providence of God, or the past experiences of our lives—we look for meaning in places where we have learned from past experience that we won’t find it. I wonder if perhaps we are even doing that today—looking for all the important things in life, in all the unimportant places. I wouldn’t blame you if you were; after all that’s the message of our secular society, that we’ll find fulfillment in life in what turns out to be all the wrong places.

Why do we think we’ll find lasting fulfillment in the fleeting and the temporary? Why do we think we’ll find lasting fulfillment in money, or careers, in things and stuff, in promotions, achievements, national championships, resumes and trophies? Striving for them is one thing—if the purpose is to be all God has created you, and called you to be. But worshipping them and measuring your worth against them, well, that’s not of God.

Why do we still think that true life, abundant and satisfying, will be found in positions of power and the accolades, admiration and praise from others? Why does it take us all of our lives to realize, hopefully not too late, that we won’t find the living, the important priorities of life, among those dead and truly unimportant things?

Yesterday was Easter—and we remembered again, that Christ has risen. And it’s a time of renewal and restoration. A time to claim anew and afresh for the rest of our days, the important life, the special life, the victorious life which we were created for and meant to live, and to leave the legacy of changed lives we were meant to leave behind each and every day.

Listen friends, it wasn’t an idle gesture that the Son of God gave it all up for us on the Cross, and then, three days later, through His resurrection, affirmed the very best in us, and affirmed the future for us, through Him. This was not a random afterthought on God’s part—for us to today simply stand by and be less than He intended.

But if you’re like me at times, you have reservations and hesitations, holding you back. “I’ve got too much baggage.” “I’ve messed up too many times and hurt too many people.” “I don’t know which way to turn or how to begin.” “I’m afraid to even try, I’ll make another mistake.” “My children won’t even listen to me anymore.” “I feel like I still haven’t proven myself to the world.”

I’ve been there. You’ve been there. So where do we start? How do we begin the journey back? And how do we continue the journey to becoming all we were meant to be, to live the life we were meant to live, amidst the detours we’ve taken and pot-holes we’ve fallen into before, and the fallings and failures we’ve had—all of which we know will still be ahead of us along the way?

We start at the empty tomb of Easter that we celebrated again yesterday. Then we accept where we’ve been and what is in the past, learn from it, change, and then set it in the past; while we move forward re-energized into the future which God has set before us.

I don’t know what’s going on in your life right now. I don’t know what disappointment or discouragement you may have suffered. I don’t know who has let you down or disappointed you this past week, or what “important” or “urgent” stuff you think you have in front of you. I don’t know what is bothering you or who is trying to set your schedule for the days ahead.

But whatever it is, I wonder if you and I need to do a better job, today and every day, of accepting, letting go of and learning from the past, and then moving forward and looking for the important things in life ahead of us, while embracing the promise of the empty tomb—that Christ is risen and Christ is alive to help each one of us to become all that He meant for us to be.

Easter brings a fresh, new, bold reminder of the Hope in the risen Christ that is ours forever.

Christ has risen. He is alive.

Stop for a moment and reflect on life you have been given. Stop, accept, and learn from what was, and then—look up, reach out, and step forward into the arms of the God of the empty tomb and all there is before you. He will place your feet on the path to living a life that is truly significant, that is truly meaningful, and that will leave a legacy of changed lives.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.  A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.  Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance…

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God!Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”  Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said, “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

John 12:1-3, 12-15 NLT

Millions of people this week are watching with anticipation as college basketball makes its annual pilgrimage to the Final Four. I’m one of them. And in the midst of the excitement of the NCAA tournament, one could almost forget that another road to something more “final” than any basketball game is occurring. I was almost one of them. The world tends to do that to us if we allow it.

Jesus was once again traveling the road; however, this Passover journey would end up in a different place. As we read above, it was just a few days before the Old Testament prophecy would be fulfilled concerning this particular Passover. Passover commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.

This time, Jesus would stop at an old friend’s house on His way. You remember, the friend—Lazarus—that Jesus wept over when hearing of his death. Of course, Lazarus was very much alive this time.

And then we have Mary. Note that Mary, and not a part of any religious ritual, anointed Jesus. I wonder if His friends knew what lay ahead. I wonder if they knew that He was about to be their Savior.

He was on a journey that He would walk all alone. He would be embarrassed, spit upon, whipped, sworn at and mocked. He would face everything in front of Him, all alone—or at least that’s what it would seem like to those who would line the sides of the road as He is headed to the cross, as they did on Palm Sunday as He entered Jerusalem.

We have found ourselves in the same place—traveling on a part of this journey, treacherous and difficult—all alone. Or at least it seemed that way. Too many times we’ve looked down a long dark and winding road stretched out before us, uncertain of where it would lead, but knowing we had to go. Too many times, we’ve found ourselves sitting all alone, walking through life, not sure which way to turn for help, not knowing who you can trust, let alone who could possibly help.

All alone.

And then the stone was rolled away and we see again that the tomb was empty! He was risen! And we remember that we are not alone. We are not alone.

In the midst of all the stuff of life that overwhelms us at times—knowing we are not alone provides us with the energy, even if faint at times, to continue to press on, to punch our heads through the gathering clouds—knowing that He will provide a way, through whatever we face, into the sunshine of a brand new day.

That’s the message of hope which millions around the world will gather to embrace again afresh and anew this week. That’s the excitement that millions around the world sensed at the beginning of this week as we celebrated Palm Sunday.

Enjoy the Road to the Final Four. Embrace it for all it can be for the lives of those who are on that road, and as an inspiration and encouragement for us as we watch and journey with them.

But don’t forget a much more important road is being travelled this week, for you and for me to travel. Embrace that journey all the way to the empty tomb, where you and I will discover again—that the stone is rolled away and the tomb is empty.

He is risen and we are never alone!

And that is the final Hope for all the world.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised…

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10: 35-36, 39 (ESV)

There is no doubt in my mind that this morning is ushering in a brand new day. It always happens that way.

And as this morning breaks all around us once again, it does so, as it also always does, with the absolute promise of unlimited potential before us. And yet it also comes with the painful reminders of yesterday’s shortcomings and failings, and recent promises of potential lying yet unfulfilled behind us.

Potential that is left unfulfilled too often, not because we simply have come up short or failed, but because we shrank from trying to reach for all we can be. We’ve all seen it, and maybe too close at hand at times—maybe even ourselves. It’s the saddest of moments—life lived less than it could have been and should have been.

Each of us has a story to write with the journey of our lives. Most often we do not use a pencil or paper to write it, but instead we write it with each thought, word and deed in each day of our lives. A story in which we will live out, and leave, a legacy that will have our name on it. I wonder how that story will read? I wonder the impact for good our legacy will leave?

A story that is born out of the dreams arising from a belief that God has created each of us specifically for this time in history with incredible gifts and abilities, passions and platforms of influence, for a purpose and purposes unique to us. A story that at times has our better angels, who seek to positively advance God’s purpose in our lives, and our demons, who seek to knock us off course, battling for our hearts, our decisions and priorities.

It’s a story which acknowledges and learns from the past, with all its ups and downs, mountaintops and valleys, wins and losses, trophies and failings—but leaves all of that right where it belongs, in the past. A story which recognizes that what was before is meaningless and relatively unimportant other than as a benchmark to learn and improve upon, compared to how we write the rest of our story—beginning today.

Yet in the midst of the telling of those stories, there come rolling along in front of us walls and rivers, mountains and valleys, often stronger and faster, higher and longer than anything we have ever seen or experienced before. And our response to those along the journey will be written into the pages of our story.

What will our response be?

Will someone watching us, or reading the pages of our story later, see that we persevered and pushed through, beyond and around what we confronted with every ounce of our being—or will they see that we shrank from what was before us—with fear, or a lack of resolve and commitment to the mission and purpose of our lives, or even more sadly, because of a lack of belief in ourselves or those who are on the journey with us. Or maybe even a lack of belief in the God who created you to write the story He intended you to write.

As we persevere through today, how will we view tomorrow out of the corner of our eyes? Will we view it with excitement and anticipation, looking forward to the opportunities to do great things and become all we were created to be? Or will we view it as just one more day we have to slug through. And what will we do with tomorrow when it becomes today?

In our better moments we know what God has given us a gift of this life—to use for His glory, our good and to positively impact the world around us. What is hard to remember in the busyness of each day is that we only have one time around to live it. Each day is ours to write the story of our lives and live the legacy we will leave.

How will that story read?

What will that legacy be?

It’s all yours and all up to you—to write and leave.

Don’t shrink from it. Don’t waste it.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.

“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”…

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

John 12: 12-13 & 27-28 (ESV)

So what do you do when you can’t do anymore?

How do you move forward when your legs are too tired to lift?

What’s next when you’ve fallen and failed yet again at something at which you thought you would be good?

What do you look forward to when all hope seems to be gone?

I would suspect in any of those situations, perseverance is not one of your first thoughts.

I don’t know what last week was like for you, or what this week is shaping up to be, but I suspect if you haven’t been faced with any of those situations I posed above—you and I—or someone we know and love—will be facing some or all of them sometime and somewhere in the future?

The journey we are on together is one-of-a-kind, with each of us uniquely created by the God of the universe. Created unlike anyone who has ever been, is now or ever will be. Something to celebrate, yet often we are faced with situations like those above where we are at a loss as to what to do next or what to hope for next.

That’s where it may help us, as I was reminded recently by a friend, to take a look at one who has been there before and see what He did to get through the moment and onward into the journey.

The scripture above paints the picture of Christ as He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday—which is fast approaching as we sit here today.

As He entered the city the people proclaimed: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

They were excited. The long-awaited Messiah had finally come to save the day, replace the Roman rulers and take charge over their lives. He was the conquering hero. But Christ didn’t have that same level of excitement. He knew that within a few days His journey through town and His ministry among them would end with His hanging on the cross. Maybe we haven’t been hung out like He was, but we’ve felt that sense of despair, anxiety and hopelessness before in our lives.

But what was His response? Does he wonder how He can get out of that mess? Does he focus on His plight? No. He perseveres, and continues on. And not only that, but a look at verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight above tell us something more about Christ’s approach to what is before Him:

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’?

“But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.”

In His most despairing of moments in His life and ministry, Christ did not ask: “How can I get out of this?”, but instead He asked: “How can God’s name be glorified in this?”

Easy enough for Him to say, you say. God’s Son!

But think about it. We’ve talked before about God always knowing where we are, always being with us, and always being able to use us and mold us into more—right where we are. We also know that as He has done it before in our lives, God will work out everything for our good. Romans 8: 28. And when we look back on our lives we can see time and time again where He has done that.

So, with those assurances, why not also persevere and embrace the journey, remembering that He has us where He wants us, He is with us, and He will work it all out for our good. And in that, why not focus less on ourselves, and more with excitement and anticipation, to see what God will do, and to see how He will be glorified in the midst of that of which He has us in the middle.

So what do you do when you can’t do anymore, or can’t move forward another step, or have fallen and failed one too many times, and when you look into tomorrow it appears that all hope seems to be gone?

At any of those moments, why not remember that God has you right where He wants you, He is with you, and He will work out whatever you and He are facing or are in the middle of for your good, and even more, that though it all—He will be glorified.

“What shall I say? Save me from this moment? No. God, be glorified in it!”

And with that attitude and through whatever—you and He will always persevere.

In His Name—Scott

Copyright 2013. Scott L. Whitaker. All rights reserved.