“Forecast…” (by Mel McGuire)

A dad tells a story of encouraging (read making) his kids to dress for rainy weather. He had seen the forecast. They protested, as kids do, especially teenager types, but they complied. Umbrellas, jackets, and whatnot in tow, they rode to school.

As soon as they arrived, the skies opened…the rain clouds parted, giving way to bright sunshine and a gentle breeze.

The dad was left to question God as to why He (God) had worked it out so that he (the dad) was more than likely the subject of a couple of pretty good “side-eyes”. (Again, teenager types!)

I found it humorous and convicting at the same time. Most parents, if we are honest, have been guilty of erring on the side of caution when it comes to the safety and well-being of our kids.

We LIKE being right! Our life experience must count for something when technology and fashion blows past us like Usain Bolt!

From the kid’s perspective, there are times when parents tell us things that we do not see, understand, or agree with. That is okay, parents pay attention to the forecast. It is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

You can fold an umbrella, you can carry a jacket if you don’t need them. It may cramp your style, but better that than getting ill because you insisted on being cool and fashionable, and get caught in a downpour you were not prepared for.

God will often tell you to take things you will not use, and prepare for things that eventually do not come. But the things He gives us are NOT a heavy burden. He said his burden was light, and his yoke is easy. This is one way to learn obedience.

From the parent’s perspective, God is sovereign. The forecast is the forecast and should not be ignored. But He is still in control and He can do whatever He wants. He does not have to obtain our favor nor our approval.

When there is a chance of rain, or any form of inclement weather, we are wise to be prepared. So, in life, if there is conflict, confusion, competition in the forecast, we should take His peace, His mind, and His humility with us.

Sometimes just knowing that you have His character is enough to avoid unpleasant situations. There is a confidence in knowing you will not be moved by pettiness or foolishness. When we KNOW we are ready to pass a test, it really is okay if the test does not come.

What is in your forecast? Are you prepared for what is coming? I live in Southern California. It does me no good to prepare for east coast weather. Pay less attention to your neighbor’s forecast and more to your own!

Do what God is telling YOU to do, and don’t worry about what He may or may not be telling someone else.

I am sure my friend’s kids got grief from friends for being over prepared…kind of like Noah. Look up, check the forecast; those clouds that parted, can also return.

J.A.R.V.I.S. (by Mel McGuire)

One of my pastors preached a message in which he used “Iron Man” to talk about what it means to be “in Christ”, using the Iron Man suit as in a symbolic way to illustrate how we are better “in him”. And he had to mention the “voice inside the suit”, aka JARVIS.

In his illustration, he reminded me of how Tony Stark, (Iron Man) would be in constant communication and corroboration with Jarvis. In the Marvel comics, Jarvis was Stark’s loyal butler but in the movie, Jarvis is the artificial intelligence that serves as Stark’s assistant.

Jarvis is the one who manages the suit, who monitors its functions and knows it’s capabilities and limitations. Iron Man relies on his wisdom, his counsel, and his honesty to perform his superhero activities.

In the film, you can see how Jarvis can show Tony things he otherwise does not see outside of his alter ego, Iron Man. He can call up information upon demand, and allows Iron Man to function at his maximum capacity and ability.

Of course, this led to me to consider the ministry of the Holy Spirit and His role in my life. If I am honest, my walk with Christ, my walk in Christ, is always easier and better when I access that “voice in my head”, the Holy Spirit. Like Jarvis, He is here to serve and make me better.

He acts as a counselor, a comforter or companion, and His wisdom and insight is irreplaceable. His presence, and my reliance upon it, allows me to operate not only most efficiently, but with full power.

He allows me to see things I otherwise could not, for He is tuned to the real world, the spiritual one. If I allow Him, He will monitor and manage my functions and keep me in the best possible position to perform at peak capacity.

Like Jarvis, He serves as an early warning system, advising when I am approaching dangerous limits. And like Jarvis, I can choose to ignore or refuse His counsel. In that case, He simply recalculates and is always ready to step in and do work at whatever point of crisis I may find myself.

If you can imagine Iron Man without Jarvis, (I cannot, the relationship is such a HUGE part of who Iron Man is to me), that would be most believers absent the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit.

But just like Tony Stark steps out of his Iron Man suit, there are times I simply disregard the impact of the Holy Spirit in my life. It happens.

We would all like to think that if we had the power and ability of Iron Man, we would never take the suit off! We would just become Iron Man and do hero stuff all day every day.

But if we still ignore our God-given “JARVIS”, then we are not ready to be super(natural) all day every day. Just like Iron Man is better with Jarvis, so too are we better when we walk in agreement with the Holy Spirit.

Open your eyes, open your ears, open your heart to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is here to help, to make us all not just better, but our best.

“Pound Cake…” (by Mel McGuire)

 

I recently took on the challenge of making a pound cake from scratch. I am an avid baker, but I stick to what I know. I enjoy eating pound cake, but had never made one. I decided to do my research and found no shortage of recipes. Everyone loves pound cake.

I finally decided on a recipe, but I will admit up front, I saw some things in other recipes I also wanted to try so…I ended up creating my own recipe. As you might suspect, the cake did not turn out right.

The problem was I didn’t cook it long enough. It looked great, it smelled even better, but when I cut into it… (yes, the toothpick came out clean!) it was not cooked all the way through. It never occurred to me that the changes I had made to the recipe added to the cooking time.

I messed up two cakes (and wasted quite a bit of butter, sugar, flour and eggs) trying to get this “recipe” to work. It did not. I finally decided to consult with a pound cake guru and after taking their advice, and following their recipe to the “T”, I finally found success.

How many “extra” things have we decided to add to the process God gives us? We start messing with His recipe trying to make it better, or put our own individual spin on it? We think we can give it more flavor, more whatever, and all we do is change the ingredients to the point they will not mix properly, as He intended.

How much longer do we need to stay in process, like a cake in the oven, because we are doing extra? How many lives are not being impacted for His purpose because we need more cooking time?

In the case of my pound cake, I added more liquid ingredients in search of a better tasting cake. Mind you, I had never eaten or tasted the recipe I was using as a foundation. Why do we think we can make God’s process turn out better?

I added a couple of tablespoons of stuff, in my mind, not enough to make a difference…but it did. It had too, because when I used the same pan, same oven, set at the same temperature, and cooked the cake as directed…it came out perfectly.

God said He knows the plans He has for us. It is His recipe for our success. He defines success as obedience to His will. We must avoid the temptation to make His plan work better, faster, or more conveniently. He is the master baker, follow His recipe and then taste and see that the Lord, He is good.

Be aware, like a good pound cake, the ingredients are basic and not very numerous. Mixed together in the right amount and the right manner, they produce a great product.

God’s instructions are the same…basic and not overwhelming in number. But timing and attention to detail, like any good recipe, will yield predictable results.

Follow the recipe. Whether pound cake or God’s purpose. Trust the process and enjoy!