Years ago Erma Bombeck, prolific writer and comedienne, penned a book entitled, “The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank.” In the book, she describes the impossible situation that paralyzed her family all having to do with a malfunctioning septic tank located underneath the front lawn of her home. She noted in comic fashion that the grass is always greener over the broken septic tank.

We often find ourselves in search of greener grass on the other side of the fence, or over the septic tank, as it were. We are reminded of this when we read the story of Lot and Abraham in the Old Testament. When Abraham asked Lot which portion of the land he desired, Lot chose the fertile portion likely that possessed green grass. Like us, Lot simply wanted something better.

When the neighbor gets a new car, we automatically begin desiring one even better for ourselves. We might even be tempted to desire the same neighbor’s circle of friends, or other material blessings. Green grass in someone else’s life becomes an obsession in ours if we aren’t careful.

We fail to realize, however, that even though the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, it still has to be mowed, right? With blessings comes responsibility. The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5, NIV).

There is an art to being content in any circumstance. Paul makes this abundantly clear in Philippians 4:12-13: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Paul is teaching us a valuable lesson. First, Paul acknowledged that his needs were small in comparison with God’s will though he spent much of his ministry enduring horrific torture and imprisonment. Second, he reminds his readers that he has experienced both ends of the spectrum – living an abundant life, or one in need. Regardless, Paul explains in definitive ways that he is content in every situation because of God’s strength through Christ. And, it is Jesus who provides the inner strength to break the cycle of always looking for greener grass on the other side of the fence.

So, whose fence are you peering over in your life? Are you willing to set aside your current circumstance and instead trust in God to supply your needs? Make it a goal to be content in every situation giving God the glory for providing all that you need. Perhaps you will experience greener grass on your own side of the fence.

The treasure hunter who solved Forrest Fenn’s famed treasure hunt in the Rocky Mountains has come forward — though if he’d had his way, he would’ve stayed anonymous.

Jack Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student from Michigan, revealed that he found Fenn’s treasure chest — a claim Fenn’s family independently verified with Outside magazine, which interviewed Stuef. He disclosed his identity because a recent lawsuit would make his name public, he said. He’s not willing, though, to part with the treasure’s secrets and the clues that led him to it.

Fenn’s infamous treasure hunt began 10 years ago, when the author published a cryptic poem in his autobiography meant to lead prospective explorers to the spot in the Wyoming wilderness where his treasure chest was hidden. Fenn estimated over 350,000 people searched for the chest, and a few even died on their journey.

Stuef spent two years searching for Fenn’s treasure, which included gold, jewelry and other artifacts believed to total over $1 million. He finally found it in the Wyoming wilderness in June. But as “luck would have it,” he was legally bound to reveal his identity.

Jesus once spoke of a treasure hunter who acted the same way. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (NIV). I suppose you could argue that he was shrewd, or perhaps even wise. A man who gains a quick fortune often discovers the true intentions of well-meaning “friends.” Soon everyone wants a piece of the pie, so to speak.

However, Jesus reveals a bigger and far more noble pursuit-sharing the wealth! The Lord’s greater message is not one of wealth, but of the Kingdom. The message is not to discover something of such great value (the Kingdom) that you want to keep it hid at all cost. The Kingdom is a treasure, it is a man search for fine pearls, and it is a banquet to which everyone is invited, even the unlovable.

So what if Jack Stuef wants to keep his secret? He is entitled to one might argue, but the law says otherwise. The treasure (Kingdom) Jesus speaks of is the substance of His grace and the richness of His provision. Ever been accused of keeping a secret that can change the world? Well you have now.

It’s Sunday morning and the sights and sounds of worship are unmistakable. Individuals from every corner of the community are gathered together in an assembly of worship. Each, from his or her own life experiences, brings to the sacred gathering an offering of praise, of devotion, of commemoration, and of sacrifice. This collective expression is rooted, however, in the heart of each worshipper individually. Each one participating to bring glory to God, or perhaps, for another reason altogether.

Some people worship because of habit. At some point they made a decision to be faithful in their attendance to worship and have ever since habitually been present. But are they? Present, I mean. Others worship out of a sense of guilt. They reluctantly participate because they feel they have to. What would family and friends think if they did otherwise? Still others worship from a disposition of obedience. They have determined that God wants them to worship and that it is pleasing to Him when they do.

The prophet Isaiah uncovers a disturbing truth about God’s disposition when worship is done for the wrong reason. Our Lord declares: “When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! I want no more of your pious meetingsI cannot stand them!” (Isaiah 1:12-14)

There appear to be two issues that conspire to invoke God’s judgment regarding worship, and worshippers. First, there is the way (how) we worship. And second, there is the why (motive) we worship. An individual can be faithful in worshipping in the way God instructs us to worship, but still not be pleasing to God. Consequently, the “why” an individual worship can get lost in the “trappings” of worship.

So, when did worship become empty in the current culture? Perhaps our story is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. Like the children of Israel, we have the “forms” of worship down pat. We know what to do, but do we embody “why” we should do them. Apparently, even God has His limits. He observes the empty worship of “going through the motions” and it troubles Him to the point of turning a “deaf” ear to our praise. He sees our pageantry (entertainment) driven worship as empty and without meaning. Worship such as this is a waste of time, and energy.

The truth about worship that is pleasing to God is that it must be transformative rather than a matter of habit, guilt, or even obedience. God’s people worship not because they have to, but because they want to.

The worshipper, then, doesn’t crawl into worship, but more nearly, leaps into it. Of this, God never gets enough! Why do you worship? Is it because your soul aches for communion with a loving Father? Why we worship matters to God. Authentic worship is… worshippers expressing praise because they cannot get enough of Him!

Faith is measured by God by what a person believes, but more importantly, how he lives his life. “How would I know that I have faith?” “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3, NIV).

People who have faith have it because they faithfully follow God’s Word. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, NIV). To hear the promises of God everyday will surely build your faith. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV).

People who have faith build their reward by living the way God desires. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

People who have faith live by faith. Their actions prove their faith. To know what it means to live by faith, you should know what faith means. Romans 1:17 says, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” If a person claims to have faith, but is hateful, he does not have faith. “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (I John 2:9-11, NIV).

If a person “talks big” (brags) about faith, yet doesn’t follow the truth of God’s Word, they are deceiving themselves, and others. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him” (I John 3:18-19, NIV).

Faith filled followers of Jesus are lovers of God’s people. The faith-less claim to have faith, but then reject other believers to suit their own purposes. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:2-3, NIV).

Having faith doesn’t imply that we will always live perfectly. Satan still operates in the world, trying to bring Christians down. We will stumble at times. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (I John 1:8-10, NIV). In the end, the difference between a child of God and a child of Satan is that God’s children pick themselves up after they fall and try to live righteously again.

Every year thousands of people travel to Niagara Falls on the Canadian border for an experience of a lifetime. Whether you witness the falls from the largely commercialized observation areas of the U.S side, or, the pristine unadulterated views from the “other side, it is an impressive sight to behold. Thrill seekers have always flocked to the site to attempt the impossible-to survive them. Yes, thousands have leapt, dove, waded into, and created makeshift vessels to conquer the feat.

One of these very individuals who survived her dive into the Falls in Annie Edson Taylor. She jumped into the Falls in 1901 inside a wooden barrel. She named her barrel “Queen of the Mist,” a title she had given herself. Well, unlike most, she survived, but was heard to say afterwards, “no one ought ever do that again.” Smart realization, little Miss “Queen of the Mist!”

I’ve never been much of a daredevil, but the idea that people willingly create vessels designed to ensure safety only to discover that the ride down the “falls” may not have been worth it after all, is no joke. We carelessly careen through the rapid falls of life with our own barrels of security thinking that somehow survival is guaranteed if we simply remain in our man-made barrel. Our barrels are fashioned from self-sufficiency, self-efficacy, and self-determination. But, why is it necessary to temp fate in the rough waters of life, going it alone, if only to wind up beaten and battered by our insatiable desire only to survive?

This is how it works with those of us who “thrill” at navigating life in our own vessels determined to survive solely on our ability to go it alone. First, we determine that looking out for our own interest, instead of the interests of others, is the path to life satisfaction. Second, we insulate ourselves with “barrels” of our own design created to shield us from any responsibility for irresponsible and careless choices. Third, when we fail, or encounter turbulence on our journey, we either blame others, or engage in denial of whether we created the mess of our lives at all.

Shall we step back from the precipice of the dangerous falls of life for a moment and examine a better, and more Godly, pathway to surviving life? A newer, and more reasonable approach to life begins with the realization that none of us have all the answers, or even know all the questions. Proverbs teaches us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV). The Lord will never call you to understand something that He has not gifted you with wisdom to comprehend. James teaches us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5, NIV).

What does the wisdom of God teach us about how to “lean into” God’s plan for our lives without feeling that we have to go it alone? “Many are the plans in a person’s heart but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV). When God charts our course He provides wisdom to accomplish His greater good in our lives, and as a result, we give Him the glory for His handiwork. We are called to  “proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods” (1 Chronicles 16:24-25, NIV). There’s no need to create a “barrel,” leap off the cliff, and hope for the best. Our great God will hold us in the palm of His hand when we hold Him in the palm of ours.

God already knows what is going to happen, He has already gone before us. But He wants us to talk to him because He wants a RELATIONSHIP with us. Think about your best friend. If you never talked with them, hung out with them or even looked at them, are they really your best friend? No. God wants to be our best friend, however. He wants us to talk with him and tell him our worries, our fears, and even funny things that happen to us. We can talk to God about everything!

God wants us to know Him and created us for a relationship with him. He wants to be our best friend!

Sometimes it can be hard to come up with the right words. We don’t always know what to say, but the Bible says the Holy Spirit speaks for us! In Romans 8:26 it says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” God gave us the Holy Spirit to make it even easier to talk to him!

God does know everything already, but He has a sincere desire to hear what is on our mind. Our expressions of love, devotion, and praise tell God that He comes first in our lives. Our petitions for God’s intervention in our lives inform God of our trust in Him to accomplish for us what we cannot do for ourselves. When we repent to God we acknowledge our failings and pledge through obedience to be better, do better, and make a difference in the world. When we repeat to God His Words from Scripture in prayer we embrace His message and accept His will.

Regardless of the fact that God already knows everything, prayer is the most powerful tool we have to strengthen our relationship with Him. So, pray often. Pray fervently. Pray with purpose. Pray in love. Pray with the expectation of growth in your relationship with God, and be blessed.

Through the years psychologists and anthropologists have determined characteristics that are shared by people who are born in certain time periods. “Baby Boomers,” for example, are defined as individuals who were born immediately following World War II and during the military conflicts that followed. They have been described as religious, hard-working, dependable, patriotic, and were largely financially successful. Other labels have been used to describe the generations who followed. “Generation X,” and “Generation Next” followed them in the decades since.

Unfortunately, the current generation, referred to as “Millennials,” have faced some criticisms regarding the particular characteristics that define them at times. These characteristics often include decreased motivation for financial success, lack of financial independence from family, personal entitlement, minimal religious affiliation, and decreased patriotism. With the current political and societal environment, it’s no wonder why many who “fit” within this age group are desiring to “opt-out” and forge a new future.

If this is you, listen closely…

First, your value as a person doesn’t come from a group of people you happen to share a birthday with. Whatever generation you were born into, it is God who determines your value. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a, NIV).

Second, you have the ultimate choice as to how you intend to spend your life. Only you can decide to be different, it won’t happen by accident. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15a, NIV).

Third, you have an opportunity to make a real difference in this world if you really want to.  By sharing your faith. Ultimately the success of the gospel rests in the hearts and actions of each generation. You can make a difference. “Go ye therefore and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18, NIV).

Fourth, you can determine to overcome the stigma some millennials have created by their actions. Become independent from your family. Make the tough choice to move out-and move up. Take responsibility for your own actions. Don’t wait for the world to provide for all your needs. Take ownership of your current circumstance and chart your own course in life. “His divine power has given us everything we need…” (2 Peter 1:3a, NIV).

So, why can’t “Millennials” become the next “Greatest Generation?” The answer is that there is no reason why they can’t! Perhaps the time has come for “Millennials,” like you or someone you know, to reshape the stigma into promise. So, “Millennials,” you got this! Now, go do it!

If you are feeling this way, you have already begun the journey towards a deeper faith and abiding love for God. First, you have admitted that you feel a “faith problem” has kept you from the love you desperately desire. And second, you recognize that the remedy is learning how to love God in a deeper, more profound, way. In this spiritual conundrum you may be tempted to feel you are all alone, but nothing could be further from the truth. Most, if not all, Christians feel this way from time to time. So, “buckle up” for a mini-journey into the indescribable quest of knowing and loving God more.

It all begins with delight. The Christian life the New Testament describes simply cannot be lived if our hearts do not love and treasure God.

 You might be discouraged at this point, because your capacity to delight in God seems so small. Don’t despair or beat yourself up with condemnation. I feel the same way, and so does every Christian I’ve ever met. We all need and want more love for God.

And here’s the great good news: God wants to enlarge our capacity for joy-filled love for Him. He expresses this clearly through prayers in Scripture. The apostle Paul loves to pray for more, both for himself and for his churches. Here’s how he prayed for the Philippians: “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11, NIV).

We are not destined to live the rest of our lives with small love and small faith. God wants more for us, and he wants us to ask Him for it with persistence. “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open” (Luke 11:8–9, The Message). So, let’s ask and not lose heart, and He will answer our prayer! (Luke 18:1).

As a Pastor, I have received many questions through the years that had difficult answers to them. Many of these questions have to do with prayer. But these prayers from my own children when they were younger kind of stumped me. My son once prayed,  “Dear God, I went to a wedding and they were kissing right there in church. Is that OK?” That was a tough one for a little boy to reconcile. He also once prayed, “Dear God, thank You for the baby sister but what I prayed for was Lego’s! He wasn’t alone, however, my daughter once prayed,” “Dear God, are you actually invisible or is that just a trick?” But I guess my all-time favorite prayer from my daughter was, “Dear God, I want to be just like my daddy when I grow up but without so much hair all over my body!”

So, prayer can be a tricky thing. There are so many questions about it that make it a bit of a “murky” proposition. What if I pray for the wrong thing? What if I somehow am doing something that prohibits God from hearing me? Why would God listen to me when I don’t even know for certain what I should be praying for? Does God hear me if I am doubting His attention even while I am doing it?

The first thing to do when it comes to prayer is to “establish a baseline,” which is to say, create a starting point. What do we know about God’s perspective when we pray?  “I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:17-20, NIV). There are four quick things we learn about prayer from this important refrain. First, our prayers are personal. They arise from our own mouths. Second, prayers are personal worship and are pleasing to God. Third, God will never reject the innermost needs of our hearts. And fourth, God will never withhold His amazing love from us when we share what is really on our minds.

But, what about the individual praying? Is there some sort of spiritual disposition that makes a difference when we pray? Let me suggest some verses that speak to this important dilemma. “We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will” (John 9:31, NIV). “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12, NIV). Now this is what you might call a “spiritual conundrum.” If all of us have sin in our lives, how can we ever expect to be heard while we are so colored by our own sin? But you need not worry. These verses, applied correctly, speak to the willful sin of an unrepentant heart. Said in a simpler way, the person who continues in willful evil will not be aided in this behavior by a Father who is somehow “fooled” by our intentions. God knows the condition of the heart.

The good news about prayer is that God “leans into” our requests, our concerns, our repentance, and our praises. “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:15, NIV). “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13, NIV).

No, your prayers are no more “silly” than the thoughtful concerns of my children when they prayed. Our loving and gracious Father delights in your prayers, and Revelation teaches us that they even “smell good” to God, which is to say they are fragrant offering.

I bet you never thought you’d ponder this subject, huh? Inviting a “dead dog” to the table seems a bit morbid, if not downright absurd. The table is place of dining, conversation, and even thanksgiving; but never a place for a “dead dog.” Believe it or not, there is an occasion in Scripture when God did just that-invited a “dead dog” to His table, and there’s an important lesson to be learned as a result.

Here’s the back story that creates a mental picture hard to ignore. In 2 Samuel 9:1-13, we read the story of King Davidhaving a conversation with one of Saul’s servants. At this point in the story, Saul, Israel’s first King, had died in disgrace and David, his successor, was seeking out whether any of Saul’s leftover servants were worthy of redemption. When he discusses this with a man named Ziba, he discovers that one of Johnathan’s sons was still alive, and worthy of a shot at grace. Johnathan, or course, was Saul’s son, but more importantly, had been a treasured friend of David. They literally grew up together.

Mephibosheth, the servant in question and grandson of Saul, was exactly the kind of servant David was inquiring about. David’s desire was to find someone, anyone, from Saul’s reign worthy of receiving God’s mercy. Mephibosheth was just such a servant, but there was a catch. He was crippled in both of his legs.

When called by King David to appear before him, Mephibosheth posed this odd question: “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” What an odd thing to say, don’t you think? Perhaps his self-deprecating image of a “dead dog” referred to his lack of usefulness to the King because of his disability,” or, that his position as a forgotten servant of a dead King rendered him useless, or “dead?” There are many truths to derive from this encounter.

First, there is always room at the table of God’s provision for more. Second, despite a person’s past, they are still worthy of fellowship at the table of God’s mercy. Third, despite possessing a low spiritual self-esteem, individuals can find a warm welcome among others at the table of grace.

All of these lessons are important, but how to they relate to you? Is there any comfort in this encounter? Is there any grace left after so much water has passed under the bridge?

I suppose it’s fair to say that most everyone feels a bit like a useless “dead dog” when invited to the Lord’s table of grace and mercy. Our past, our circumstances, even our physical limitations, conspire to keep away from the table altogether. We may even ask ourselves, “why me, Lord?”

To which the Lord replies, “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ‘Make level paths for your feet,’ so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13, NIV). “Dead dogs” are invited to the table because they matter to God, and most importantly, they find healing in Him. Abba Father, give us the grace of receiving… grace!