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Author: Stan Stieben

PATIENCE

PATIENCE

If you are a Christ follower, and have been for any length of time, PATIENCE can seem elusive and even unattainable. Webster defines being patient as; bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint; steadfast despite opposition, difficulty or adversity. Admirable qualities, Believers and non-believers should strive to attain. It seems apparent, one of life’s greatest difficulties or struggle’s is a need for patience. We are advised as Christians to never pray for patience. Most certainly if we do, the need for patience will surely present itself. As a young Christian I encountered situations requiring patience on a regular basis. I quickly learned, the lesson of patience was not something that came into my life for a little while and left, never to be seen or heard from again. The need for patience was ongoing and frequently needed. Patience could become my friend, if I were willing to embrace God’s purpose for developing patience in my life.  It is interesting, before accepting Christ, I gave little thought to patience. Most certainly I was an impatient person, with a companion, temper problem. That is not a pretty combination. I am very thankful, during the forty two plus years I have been a Christian, God has been faithful to develop patience in my life and heal the temper problem. I still become impatient, at times, in some situations. I do find I am much better at accepting circumstances, and waiting for God to work out the details.

I want to soar above the problems and circumstances I encounter in my life! In other words, not allow difficulties to define me, or keep me from living a happy and productive life. Many times we allow situations over which we have no control, to disrupt our lives to the point, we become angry and unable to exercise patience. If left unchecked, we are soon anxious and short tempered at even the smallest occurrence. We can find ourselves losing sleep, at odds with family or friends, and just unhappy in general. God knows, in life, we will encounter difficulties. He tells us in 1 Peter, we should not think it strange or be surprised by life’s fiery trials. James 1:2 advises to count it all joy when we fall into various trials. Life is filled with trials! It’s not that we are going to have problems! It’s what we do in the face of our problems! God’s plan and purpose is that the problems we encounter in life, mature us and teach us to trust Him!

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV  “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”.  God shows us, if we will trust Him, believe that He is who He says He is and we are who He says we are, good results await us!

Some scripture verse’s I encourage you to read are; James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 4:12-13, Romans 5:3-4, II Corinthians 12:10, Philippians 4:6 and Matthew 6:25.

I am convinced, PATIENCE is fuel God has provided to help us on our faith journey!

Prayer: Father, mold me and make me into the person you created me to be. I trust you and embrace the work you are doing in my life. Thank you for loving me, and caring about my life.

 

 

 

 

THERE IS HOPE

THERE IS HOPE

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13 NLT)

Recently my wife and I were fortunate to spend a week in Hawaii. A celebration for our 38th anniversary and a break from our winter weather. It was all good. The one thing I can’t explain is why we received record breaking snowfall here, right after we returned home. Perhaps a penalty for the wonderful week we enjoyed in such a beautiful setting. Getting away for a time, a break in our normal daily routine, gives one time to be refreshed and to think. Patty and I enjoy sitting at the beach, people watching and enjoying the natural beauty found everywhere in Hawaii. We did some of that on our trip. Watching the waves roll in made me think about the precision in which the universe functions. The huge expanse of water and the effect of the moon on the tides was one thing that came to mind. Watching the sunset each evening, as well as the time change of sunrise and sunset daily intrigue me. When I take time to consider some of these everyday occurrences, which normally have no place in my thinking, I am reminded of how incredible the world we live in really is!

Being a person of faith, I don’t question creation. I am amazed by the working and beauty of the universe God created, as well as by how it functions. It all serves to solidify and assure me of the unquestionable validity of God and His Word.

How can I be certain there is HOPE? 

As Romans 15:13 declares, God is the source of hope. There is an ample and growing body of proof the Bible is true and accurate! Historical manuscripts, unrelated to the scriptures, prove it’s truth and validity. Then there is my own life experience of Joy and Peace, because I have put my trust in Him. We do have confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit, when Jesus Christ is Lord in our life, just as scripture declares.

If you are a believer, you are assured of this. If you have never taken a step of Faith, what is keeping you from experiencing the HOPE which is found only through faith and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?  

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:5 NLT)

 

AN UNBROKEN CIRCLE

AN UNBROKEN CIRCLE

My wife Patty and I are grateful for the strong heritage of faith passed down to us from our parents. We see and take seriously, the importance of doing everything we can, to instill this importance within our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Our unwavering faith in God through our relationship with Jesus Christ, is the substance of our lives. We recognize each person is on their own journey, and if they come to faith, they must do so in their own way and time. The Bible clearly declares God’s love and His desire for relationship with each person. We know, by Scripture, He is working in each person’s life to bring them to Faith in Jesus, and grow them to spiritual maturity. As such, we can believe, in faith, for the salvation of each member of our family and extended family. We can believe for it in faith, because we know it is God’s will.

Growing up on a dry land wheat and dairy farm in western Kansas, I was introduced to country music at an early age. I listened to a country station out of Dodge City, as I cleaned the milking parlor after milking was completed each morning and evening. I am not sure when I first heard the song “Will the circle be unbroken”. Johnny Cash and June Carter, along with many country and non-country artists have recorded various versions.. The song found a special place in my heart, and it is one of my favorites. About 20 years ago, the Lord began to impress to me, I was to begin to pray for AN UNBROKEN CIRCLE for my family. I came to realize this directive would continue throughout the rest of my life. I believe it is a directive God has charged me with, and one I cannot disregard or allow to go unfulfilled. In our Faith journey, there will be pivotal times and events, we know have special significance. This has been one of those occurrence’s in my life, and continues to hold significance for me. Patty has joined me, and it has become an important part of our prayer life together as well. We know we are praying into the work of The Holy Spirit in the life of each member of our family and extended family. While they must each travel their own journey, we pray with an assurance of God’s faithfulness. We are standing against Satan and his attempts to keep our loved ones from their destiny in God and His plan for their lives.

We look for purpose, and desire our lives to somehow make a difference in the small part of the world we occupy. I can assure you, this directive has helped accomplish that in my life. Acts 16:29-32 declares a promise of Salvation for those who will believe. Whether or not we see the fulfillment of the UNBROKEN CIRCLE during our lifetime, we have the assurance we are believing and praying into God’s desire for each of their lives. We see with spiritual eyes, an unbroken circle, and a joyous celebration of ETERNAL LIFE with each member of our family and extended family present! Because Jesus, wearing a crown of thorns, (an unbroken circle) Him being one with God the father and the Holy Spirit, hung and died on a cross. Through His obedience, He opened a pathway to eternal life for each of us, and the possibility of an unbroken circle for our family.

Yet to ALL who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12 NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

ON BEING A PARENT

ON BEING A PARENT

There are few callings in a lifetime which offer the potential for higher highs and lower lows than that of parenting. Looking back at my life, I am certain I contributed to many sleepless nights for my parents. From birth we are amazed at the wonder of our newborn child. We have dreams and aspirations we hope to see unfold in their lives. Typically, the love we feel for them, is perhaps a deeper emotion than we have previously experienced. A very different love than our love for our spouse. We may have thought we could not love anyone or anything more than our wife or husband. Without question, the birth of a child opens a new chapter in the storybook of life. I remember after the birth of my youngest daughter, seeing her change daily, watching in amazement each new movement. I can only express thoughts from my perspective as a father. Certainly, the emotions a mother experiences are heightened many times over.

For myself, and I suspect for some who read this, grasping the truth that God loves me is an ongoing process. I often read or hear the phrase “God loves you”. To realize God, the creator of everything that exists, would give a second of thought to me, is a stretch. In my reading and study of The Bible, I have come to understand and believe this truth. God is my Abba Father. (Galatians 4:6) God The Father is a perfect parent and our example. The Bible, the complete and unabridged parenting guide. You may be saying a resounding yes in agreement, or wondering what in the world is he talking about. In the years I have been a Christian, I have thankfully gained some understanding, into the love God The Father has for each person and His Creation. In 1st John we learn we have the capacity or ability to love God because He first loved us. Read 1st John 4:19 and 1st John 5:1-4. We did not say or do anything to deserve, gain or earn God’s love. He chose to love us. There is nothing we can say or do that would change His love, or cause him to stop loving us or love us more or less than he does. It has taken me years to grasp and accept this truth. I have known it from the time I became a Christian. I am learning to understand it more as I live it out. It causes me to want to be a better parent and love my children and others, in ways that are more like the way God loves me. I believe that is God’s desire for each of us. Embracing Him and realizing the depth of his love, changes us, and enables us to love others more like He loves us. Our Heavenly Father is our example of a perfect parent. He is challenging us to love more in the way we are loved by Him.

A prayer for myself and for you, “Father, help us understand and accept your love. Enable us to love you and each other more in the same way”. Amen

ARE GOD AND THE BIBLE RELEVANT TODAY?

ARE GOD AND THE BIBLE RELEVANT TODAY?

I became a follower of Christ in 1976. I strive to live out my faith based on the Word of God, the teaching I have heard and seen, as well as by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I have not spent much time in the years since I came to Faith, pondering whether or not God and the Bible are relevant. If I didn’t believe they were, there would be no need to live by those principles. The popular mindset today for many, seems to be, I want to be free to live my life the way I want. It’s not just God’s relevance in question, but his existence as well. Many believe the Bible to be outdated, choosing to believe some parts and to disregard others.

Something occurred which brought the question to the forefront of my thinking. Several months ago I stopped by a Starbucks one afternoon. Being mid afternoon, there were only a couple other people in the store. One of them, a gentleman, was engaged in a conversation with the young female barista. I was sitting fairly close by, and could hear most of the conversation. They were talking about God and the Bible. I do not know how the conversation began. It may have been sparked by a Christian movie being shown at the local cinema. What struck me is the barista was clear and rather emphatic. For her, God and the Bible were irrelevant! The gentleman was calmly stating he believed they were relevant. A couple of young men were also working behind the counter, and listening to the conversation. As I sat there that day, and in the months since, the experience has been on my mind, in a way much like a nagging toothache. I wonder what occurred in the young lady’s life, leading her to a belief of irrelevance? I wonder what the other workers and the gentleman talking to her thought, and how the conversation affected them.

Looking at our culture today reminds me of a general theme throughout the Bible. Over and over we read accounts which tell us, God’s people were blessed and prosperous when they followed God and lived by his principles. When they did not, it resulted in defeat, captivity, death and destruction.

Because of God’s love for his creation, he gave us the Word. The Bible shows us what works and results in a blessed life, and what does not work, leading to unhappiness and sorrow. Proverbs is a primer for living a satisfying and fulfilling life. We all encounter difficulties and obstacles. God’s promise in His Word, is he is with the believer, when we face hardships. We are not alone! He offers hope for this life and eternity.

Debating the relevance of God and the Bible will not change most peoples minds. Especially those who question the existence of God, and who do not accept the Bible as the infallible, inerrant Word of God. God promises, if we seek him with our whole heart, we will find him. He will reveal himself. In His Word, we have access to principles proven to work, which lead to a happier and more fulfilling life. God wants us to buy in to him and his principles. This means we do not pick and choose which principles we follow and which we do not. We each choose the way we believe best to live our life. God’s ways work. Man’s ways generally fall short.

My answer to the question is an emphatic yes! I choose to believe the whole Bible. I believe God is who the Bible says He is, and I am who the Bible says I am.

Scripture References: Jeremiah 29:12-13, Acts 2:28, Psalm 119:10, Deuteronomy 4:29 and James 1:2-18

FROM THE ASHES

FROM THE ASHES

If you have read my earlier posts, you learned my second marriage ended in divorce. Certainly both parties play a part in any failed relationship. None the less, for anyone not wanting a relationship to end, it is devastating. I was now living out the consequences of two failed marriages. Through the separation, which lasted two years, God was preparing me for the marriage to end. I was growing spiritually in the midst of my circumstances. In the pain of the death of the marriage, God’s grace and mercy enabled me to keep going. God masterfully takes our failures, and turns them around. Good ultimately comes from the rubble and ashes of our broken lives. A real life picture of Romans 8:28. One thing I do not want to do in writing my posts, is litter the page with christianeze.  Relating how God saw me through this experience, denotes the practical living out of my christian faith. We all are broken in one way or another, in need of His grace, mercy and salvation.

I was participating in a singles group at the church I attended. I met my beautiful wife Patty there. We both had experienced divorce. She was a single mom with three children. Our relationship grew and developed. We married about a year and a half later. This past January, we celebrated our thirty seventh anniversary. God faithfully has worked in each of our lives. He healed the deep wounds we experienced, and has helped us grow and develop individually. As a result, we deeply love one another , and have a wonderful marriage and life together.

There have been struggles along the way. A couple of years into our marriage, through circumstances beyond our control, a financial crisis developed.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, our income was substantially reduced with no replacement or alternative.  God saw us through this season, and we were somehow able to meet all of our obligations. Eventually we regained financial stability. We experienced God’s faithfulness and provision.

There have also been blessings we could never have imagined. I had been told years earlier, I would be unable to have children, which to that time had been the case. We had been married six years, and were on a ski trip with a group from our church. Patty did not feel well, and was experiencing flulike symptoms. After returning home, she still was not feeling well. When she went to the doctor, we learned she was pregnant. I had accepted what I had been told years earlier, and I had no thought or hope I would ever have a biological child.  God blessed us with a beautiful daughter. Between us, we have six children. We love each individually and dearly! The son and daughter I adopted, Patty’s three children and our daughter together. His, hers and ours as we like to say.

From the ashes of Patty’s life and mine, God has done what only he can do. He has brought forth something beautiful and lasting. We praise Him for what he has done in and for us!

FAITHFUL FRIEND

FAITHFUL FRIEND

God’s promise to me and every Christ follower is, He will never leave or forsake me. (John 15:13 AMP) No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. Jesus was speaking with his disciples about their relationships and interaction between themselves. (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)  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.”  Jesus’s sacrificial death was evidence of God’s promise to mankind. God’s desire to be our faithful friend. A friend who is trustworthy beyond common understanding. We read or see accounts of a person in the military sacrificing their life to save the life of a comrade. We recently saw the account on TV of a young man scaling the side of a building to save the life of a child. These acts of heroism, though not commonplace, occur on a fairly regular basis. Everyday examples of what Scripture depicts as the ultimate or greatest expression of love. Imagine the gratitude felt by the recipient when they begin to comprehend the gift given them.

I have found during the years I have been a Christ follower, as my understanding and appreciation of God’s love for me has grown, it has fueled my quest to experience to the fullest, the depth of His love through my relationship with Jesus. A living out in my life of my gratitude. The more I understand what He sacrificed, so I could be his friend, I am overwhelmed by how much he loves me. In earlier posts I mentioned my marriage being in trouble. This was a difficult and troubling life experience. There were many dark days when I felt alone and hopeless. During this time there was a lengthy period of separation from my wife.  What caused the most difficulty for me, was not knowing the final outcome and having my life in limbo. The marriage ultimately failed. It is a mystery to me how God manages to impart to my understanding, what I need, in the way I need it, at the time I need it, to navigate life. He faithfully saw me through this painful period. In the process, I learned to trust Him more and I became a stronger person, hopeful something good could come from the devastation of my broken marriage and life.

He has been my faithful friend. I have experienced and am living out that hope, on a daily basis.

Take heart in the words of Jesus from John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A CLOSE CALL

A CLOSE CALL

Today, May 18th is the 38th anniversary of the catastrophic eruption of Mt St Helens. Fifty seven lives were lost. According to the U. S. Geological Survey, the most destructive volcanic eruption in U. S. history. In recent days I have viewed videos of the eruption and rescue operations following. I was fortunate to have owned a small cabin approximately a mile below Spirit Lake, and five miles from the mountain. My cabin was located on one of around two dozen privately owned parcels within Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I have always been drawn to the mountains, enjoying the beauty and serenity they offer. I enjoy the ocean as well, however for me, the mountains is where I feel closer to God. One of the reasons we love living where we now live in Central Oregon, is the view of the majestic Cascade Mountains. Spending time at the cabin was one of my most treasured experiences. Whether it was enjoying beautiful colors and hunting in the fall, snowmobiling in winter, or hiking and other summer activities, the cabin was a special place to enjoy life with the other cabin owners, friends and family. Those of us who owned property there, watched with interest what was happening at the mountain. A red zone had been designated for the area near the mountain, and access was restricted. It was good news for the owners on Saturday May 17th, hearing we were to be granted access. We could travel into the red zone to check our property. If conditions permitted, access would be granted the next day as well. Many owners gathered at the school in the small community of Toutle, to sign waivers and receive instructions. We were to be led to the site by a State Patrol officer, and have a limited amount of time to check our property. The authorities were concerned for our safety. There was a large bulge on the North side of the mountain which was growing daily. National Guard helicopters were standing by at Mc Chord airfield to our North, in the event the mountain decided to act up. A friend Don, had joined me. Upon arrival, we checked my cabin, loaded some personal items into the car, and then drove up the road to the parking lot at timberline turnaround to take pictures. We could clearly see the bulge forming on the side of the mountain. At 4:30 PM, Saturday May 17th, we stood just below where the destruction was about to be unleashed.

The last eruption of significance prior to 1980 took place in 1857, a span of 123 years.  In hours, 1,077,480 hours had elapsed. Those of us who traveled to the mountain were there just sixteen hours before the eruption! Oh my goodness, in perspective by comparison, perhaps one 10,000th of a second!  A close call indeed.

So what, you say. You and those other folks were really lucky, to which I would respond, I don’t believe in luck. I believe my God, who created the universe, holds my life in his hand. If luck were involved, the eruption could have started just as easily at 4:30 May 17th when my friend Don and I were standing on the side of the mountain. My conviction is that nothing exists or occurs which was not created or ordained by God. John 1:3, Proverbs 20:24, Matthew 10:30, Luke 12:7, Job 9:7-9, Psalm 136, Psalm 147:4, Job 38, Psalm 33:9 and 1 Corinthians 15:38-41 are some scriptures I point to, which helped me come to my conviction. You can read the scriptures and come to your own conclusion. Clearly He placed the stars in the sky and the planets in motion. The universe functions just as God directed when he created it. For reasons known only by God, the eruption did not begin, one second before he chose to allow it.  Many lives beyond the 57, would have been lost had the eruption taken place during our visit.

The vastness and reality of God is beyond man’s intellect! I don’t begin to understand God. I  experience that He is real, when his Holy Spirit connects with my spirit, and I accept by faith, what I have experienced. If you think about your life, you may have had a close call as well. Thank Him for your life, and for loving you.

 

A DEFINING MOMENT

A DEFINING MOMENT

I suggest there are defining moments we experience, which help shape our lives, and can have a significant impact on the path our lives take. A career choice can lead to a job or profession which brings fulfillment, advancement and provides an adequate income, or leaves one feeling unappreciated, stuck in a job they dislike or struggling financially, unable to advance. I was fortunate to have a job I enjoyed, that was satisfying and provided a comfortable living for my family. I worked at several jobs before entering the insurance profession, which I worked in over 40 years. I was happy in the job I held at a local credit union when I was offered the insurance position. Had I stayed, it would have been a good career choice as well. The decision to accept the insurance position was a defining moment.

Defining moments occur in our spiritual journey as well. The “No Matter What” moment I wrote about in an earlier post was most certainly a defining moment in my journey of Faith. Another, I believe worth mentioning, took place about two and one half years into my walk with Christ. I was attending a local Full Gospel Businessmen gathering. Along with lay person members like myself and people from throughout the community, in attendance were a number of local pastors as well as local and national Full Gospel officers. A family from the community, who were clients at my insurance agency were there. They had a son who had suffered severe injuries in an accident, was quadriplegic and in a wheelchair. The Holy Spirit drew my attention to the young man in the wheelchair. I felt strongly I was to go pray for him, and even that God may heal him! Being a relatively young Christian, I was not sure I was hearing from the Lord. I felt intimidated and self-conscious. Who am I to go pray for this young man when there are all these officials and pastors here! What will they think? What if God doesn’t heal him? Satan, my fear, self-conscious feelings and a host of other emotions won out that evening. This was a defining moment for me, because the Lord used the experience to teach me an important lesson. Almost immediately, I was filled with remorse for not having had the courage to exercise my Faith and pray for the young man. As a result I made a promise to God! Never again would I fail to act on His leading! No matter how silly I may look, when I felt the Lord was leading me to minister in some way, I would do it!

I was not condemned by the Lord for my failure! Instead, He lovingly helped me recognize I had failed. His conviction was accompanied by His love. Because of His love, compassion and long suffering, I learned a valuable lesson which serves me well, still today. Revelation 12:10 confirms, Satan is our accuser. When we feel condemned, you can be certain, Satan is at work, attempting to keep us from God’s best for our lives. God is sovereign. He does not need us, but chooses to allow us to play a part in His story. Psalm 100:5 NIV For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. God is our heavenly father and he is a good, good father! You can entrust your life to Him in the certainty of his love for you.

 

 

LIFE – A JOURNEY

LIFE – A JOURNEY

I view life as a journey in and of itself. We choose the course our lives will take. The choices we make along the way determine where the journey takes us. Like a road trip, we are sure to encounter unexpected curves, hills, ravines and detours along the way. Most of us, before beginning a trip, plan the way we want to go, by looking at a map to see the possible routes available to arrive at the desired destination. Why is it then on our life journey, we all too often, set out with no destination in mind and no idea how to get where we don’t know we are going? We often end up in a place we had no desire to visit. Like the photo above, we stare at the mountain before us, wanting to reach the top, but have no idea what path to take to get there. No wonder we often end up in the ditch, or perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, hanging on for dear life.  I have found if I plan my route, check the weather forecast, fill the car with fuel and plan for an unexpected delay, my trip is more enjoyable and much less stressful. I have determined there is a better way to travel my life journey than leaving the route and destination to chance. It’s important to me that I reach my planned destination.

If you were to gather 100 people in a room and ask them to list the top three things in life that are most important to them, happiness or being happy would undoubtedly show up on almost everyone’s list. Happiness is important to just about everyone. The definition is different for each person. A good job, a good income, a job I love, good relationships, a good marriage, children, being loved, having someone to love. The list could be seemingly endless. Happiness is subjective to every person. Something, or someone who would make me happy, could have the opposite effect for you. Bookstore shelves are filled with books that claim to hold the secret to happiness. Many of us depend on another person to make them happy. Most certainly, another person can add value to your life and contribute to your happiness. However, every person is responsible for their own happiness. To expect otherwise is certain to end in disappointment.

What I have come to realize is, God who created me and loves me with an undying, everlasting love, has provided the handbook for happiness. The Bible. He does not want my life to be boring, so he asks me to play an active part in unlocking His secrets to a happy, fulfilling life. His Word is filled with directions and landmarks, but we must search them out. We cannot understand His road map, without first entering into relationship with Him. An example He gives us is found in Jeremiah 29: 11 & 12. His handbook provides assurances the journey will be safe and our ultimate destination will be certain. It does not however assure us there will not be obstacles to encounter.  Proverbs are filled with sound advice for a happy and satisfying life. John 15: 7-14 is a portion of Scripture which provides an example of God’s love and promises to us.

Doing life God’s way works! The destination He promises for those who believe Him and choose his way is pretty amazing.  You will find a description in His handbook.