In God We Trust

There is much uproar among Christians concerning the movement to remove the phrase "In God We Trust" from our currency. I don't know what to think about this really, because I find those that are speaking the loudest are also the ones who don't seem to be trusting the most. In God We Trust is not so much something we carry in our pocket as much as we live in our lives.  These four words should be our testimony not a phrase.

Consider the Israelites for a moment. God appeared to Moses through the burning bush and told him he has heard the cries of his people enslaved by the Egyptians. God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand he free them so they could go into the desert and worship God. Before Moses went to Pharaoh he went to share the good news with the Israelites to tell them they will soon be free. Moses then goes to Pharaoh and tells him what God said and Pharaoh rebuffs the demand and increases the burden on the Israelites. Now, if a people trust in God then they would have said something along the lines of Pharaoh is making a big mistake. He's playing with not only fire, but the one who created fire and he's going to get burned very badly if he doesn't free us. God said we are going to be free and that's what's going to happen because In God We Trust. Rather than react this way the Israelites instead complained loudly. They moan and groan about the burden placed on them and blame Moses for causing this. God told them they were going to be free, but he did not tell them what they would go through to get their freedom so they took their eyes off the promise and focused on the present.

In the same way, those of us today who say In God We Trust should live like we really trust him. God said I'm going to be with him in eternity and no matter what the circumstances are that I go through that should be where my focus remains. God doesn't tell me what I am going to go through in order to get to eternity in heaven and it would be wonderful if I had a storm free life. Yet the reality is I have been through many storms thus far and probably have a few more to go through yet ahead, but my God said I'll be with him in eternity and that's good enough for me because In God I Trust.

That is what this phrase should mean. It shouldn't make any difference if it is on our currency or not, because that phrase should be our testimony. That phrase should be how we live our lives. Live like you believe it. God, Father, this is a hard revelation you have shown me, I'm no different than the Israelites and take my eyes off the promise and focus on the present. I want my life to be a testimony that speaks to others in such a way that they say In God He Trusts. Keep the promise of heaven before me and teach me how to keep my focus on the destination and not the journey to the destination. Amen

The Great Command

Love God. We take those words so much for granted that we hardly stop to wonder where they are seeking to take us.

Hear, O Israel. It was in a wilderness that these great words of Moses were trumpeted forth in the first place; with the only thing to keep them going was the hope of a promised land.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? In a way Jesus words are a love song, the greatest love song of them all.

All quotes from Fredrick Buechner

These stirring words from Fredrick Buechner resonates deeply within me. They remind me that I all too often forget that the command to love God has a purpose to it. The command is not a static command where all I need to do is flip the switch from off to on. If I live the command the result is the command will actively lead me out of the wilderness I have stumbled through for so long to the promised land God has spoken about. It is like an awakening where I stop for a moment from my destinationless wanderings and look around and understand I am hopelessly lost and absolutely nothing around me looks very appealing or comforting. Then as I stand there in my hopelessness I hear the words, "Hear, O Ken, the Lord your God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all you soul, and with all your strength. Love me Ken and I will lead you to a land flowing with milk and honey. Love me Ken and your destinationless wanderings will have a destination and the journey I will guide you in getting there will be incredible."

The words do not stop there however. The example of Jesus speaks deeply as well. "Love me Ken, even in those moments where you do not see me, hear me, feel me, or even sense me. Love me Ken when the utter loneliness is so deep the words you utter are like a love song."

Father, Father, I long so much for you. Where are you? I only want you to be here with me.