Hanging Hands Feeble Knees

I just stumbled across this verse in Hebrews 12 this past Sunday that I had never really noticed before. It says "Strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12). This is a verse that has applied itself to my role with several friends in positions of authority and who are out there doing God's work. The picture of hands hanging down and weak knees is one of a worker that just can't do the work any longer or has exerted him/herself to the point of uselessness. It's obvious that anyone in a leadership position is going to face increased attacks against the work that God is doing in and through them. Any of us who would allow God to use us more fully to advance His Kingdom should expect to experience hands that hang down in weakness and trembling, feeble knees. It's also (and possibly only) in these times of weakness that God is able to show up and completely prove His strength. He'll do it in a number of ways but He loves to use His own kids to speak life and encouragement to people (not just in leadership) who are wearing thin. God, would you make us really mindful of those that are experiencing the weakness described in this passage. Give us eyes to find those people as we live our daily lives and to not just see them, but take on your character of providing strength to them. In order to give strength out, we've got to be receiving strength in. God knows each of our needs and my prayer is that He would really show us how needy we are. Once we recognize how needy we are, we're so much more effective in recognizing the needs of those around us. Jesus - help us to see the weakness, both ours and then that of others. And enable us to provide your strength in both cases.

Old School Journal Entry - August 2nd, 1994

I decided to share some entries from time to time out of an old Journal. The only time I seriously kept a journal was my Junior year (1994/95) of college. Kind of sad that I haven't really spent the time (nor cared) to keep a record of what was happening (or what God was doing) in my life over the past 12 years. I had a friend tell me today that he felt the word "Wilderness" was something I could relate to. I guess if I had to apply that thought to my journal you could easily see that I've spent a ton of time in some dry lands. More on dry wilderness in a future post.

Not sure if anyone will care but it's a great excuse for me to go back in time and re-live a very special period in my life. Here's the first in a series of "Old School Journals".

August 2nd, 1994

Context: Headed back from a summer discipleship program in Panama City Beach, FL to start my junior year of college. In case you are confused, Beth is my wife of 12 years and at the time was my lady friend.

"Lord, I am scared of leaving here. I have learned so much this summer; Sharing your love with others, giving more of me to you, being taught to give this love freely, and growing deeper with you and stronger with Beth. I wish that I could take her (Beth) with me but your plans are perfect. Please teach me to love her more and more. I pray that one day I will have her as my wife (prayer answered on 08/03/96), but only if this will bring you glory! Take away my small fears and insecurities and remind me of how deep your love is for me. I love you with all my heart."

We all want to believe in Miracles

I'm a witness to the miraculous, on both sides of the fence. On one side, I see how much God moves in my life and on the other I see how much he has yet to move in my life. My hunger and desire for God's will has been growing more pronounced over the last couple of years. I feel there is a call to obedience that we all have to give ear to. I'm struggling day by day to submit myself to that call and admit that I can't do any of this on my own. I need help. I'm pretty sure you need help. I hope to encourage you a little bit along the way as you see and read God's faithfulness towards us. I've repented of living a lukewarm life, confessed that I'm in dire need of a savior and that the only true savior is found in the Biblical Jesus Christ, that confession is to occur daily as we lose sight of God's plan for our lives, that we're called to live a life full of love for our neighbors (of which I openly admit I really don't know how to do) and I believe that there is healing promised to anyone who recognizes the need of a Physician. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will Be done. That's a dangerous prayer but I mean it and invite God to use this page as evidence of His will being done in me and in you. My prayer is that God would instill in you (and me) such a hunger for truth that we would not be content to live another day without discovering where that truth is to be found. I'm here as an example to the fact that God will use anyone to accomplish his will and I have no special gifts, talents or abilities aside from the obvious mercy that God has so generously poured out through the relationship with his Son, Jesus. I'm learning to love more deeply and pray that God would teach us what that should look like.