by Chad Lewis on March 25, 2009
MSN Year in Review 2008 has a 75 picture slideshow of famous people who passed away in 2008. This past Monday I scrolled through the list and read about people I was both familiar and unfamiliar with.
Heath Ledger, Bernie Mac, Tim Russert, Paul Newman, and the list goes on. From this list of 75 people, some died from old age, some from health complications, some from drug abuse, and some from suicide. Many of them had reached the pinnacle of fame, prestige, and success. But they all have one thing in common now: they no longer make their home on this earth.
As I reflected on these stars’ lives, my spirit was really affected. I turned to Psalm 39 and read the following words of David:
4 “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man’s life is but a breath.
Selah
6 Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Truly, our only hope is in the Lord. This life is but a breath and then eternity. I do not want to try to build up my own kingdom, reputation, or success. I truly long to point people to the God who created us and who longs to have a relationship with us. In the end, all that truly matters is what we did with Jesus. That will affect not only this life, but it affects all of eternity.
How do these thoughts from Psalm 39 stir your soul? How can reflecting on the brevity of life actually encourage us?
by Chad Lewis on July 25, 2006
This summer has moved by quickly. Ginger and I are working with my dad in Memphis for a few weeks in between a few camps we will be doing some music at during this summer. The heat wave and Memphis humidity have drained us, but it is such a blessing to be able to work with one’s hands (and to have a nail gun.)
During a break one day, I laid down in my dad’s truck and peered up through the leaves of an old shade tree. My mind wandered to the vastness of God’s mind. It seems a little strange to ponder the infinite mind of God. Scientists continue to discover that the universe is bigger than we imagined. They are also finding that things are smaller than we had once thought. All of this is not only known by God, He created it all – He thought it all up.
This same God who knows where every sub-atomic particle is knows the very hairs on our head. I have been humbled lately as God has taken off a few more blinders off of my eyes. I hope they stay off. I see Him working in the good and the bad. Just today, my dad felt led to go to a different worksite. We had not been there for more than a few minutes in weeks. The owner of the house that is being built was on some scaffolding and fell. His leg was broken badly, and we were able to call for help and get him stablized. My wife is a nurse and she guided us in wise decision making. God knew that we needed to be there for him to help.
This is but one small instance in our days filled with God’s amazing Providence. He knows your name and He is caring for you. He is not anxious or worried because He is in control. He knows how everything will turn out. He is our God and He is working.
So let us find rest in Him. Let us realize that patience is needed as we seek Him. Whether or not we are able to do amazing things with our lives is up to Him. His purpose for us is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His face and He’ll take care of the rest. So let us all take this journey of resting in our God. And remember, resting is hard work.
by Chad Lewis on July 13, 2006
Ginger and I just got through listening to John Piper’s sermon on George Mueller’s life.
Mueller has long been a hero of mine as his faith in God’s Providence is legendary. As an evangelist, head of orphanages, and missionary, Mueller saw God do amazing things. It is not hard to get discouraged when I sometimes look at my lack of faith.
But as I listen and read about this man’s life, his main desire was to show the faithfulness and majesty of God. Those whom we would call “super-saints” would be horrified to hear such a title. They would be quick to proclaim that they are not super, but that God is more powerful, awesome, lovely, caring, intimate, etc… than we can ever dream or imagine.
Do we dare take God at His Word? Do we dare trust His hand and not the riches of this world? Take the long view brothers and sisters! It may seem that we are throwing away our money, time and very life to the world, but we are trading the temporary for the eternal! Mueller knew this full well.
The ironic thing is that we actually find life when we give our life away. By trading these worldly accolades and treasures in for God’s glory to be known, we gain joy indescribable. This takes place as we shine like lights to a darkened world and they see something that cannot be explained.
This directly shines the spotlight on our God and His sufficiency.
Take some time today and ask yourself “What things am I really putting my trust in?” “What things am I not willing to part with?” Then get before the Lord and ask Him to be your sufficiency. It is then that we don’t need to struggle for more faith. We need to struggle to rest and see who God really is. For when we get a better view of God and His glory, our faith is soon to increase. It is all about Him. We must decrease and He must increase.
MSN Year in Review 2008 has a 75 picture slideshow of famous people who passed away in 2008. This past Monday I scrolled through the list and read about people I was both familiar and unfamiliar with.
