...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

 And then there’s... instant messaging.  I think back to one of the first times, if not the first time, that I really used “instant messaging” to my advantage in our family life, to help me and my wife deal with a rather overwhelming “storm” of life that had gathered on the horizon but was now trying to “blow” us away.

I was in Bible school in Dallas, working a couple of jobs.  It was about the middle of December, one of my favorite times of the year.  I had a wonderful two year old daughter, was married to the girl of my dreams, and she was pregnant with our second child, who would be born in January, less than a month away.  Life was busy and tough but life was really good.

Our oldest daughter Angela had taken ill.  She had a fever, which you know as a parent or grandparent or parent to be, is not all that unusual with children.  There are a lot of germs out there and it’s only a matter of time before some health issue arises that you have to deal with.  You just do the regular “stuff”.  Proper medicine, proper hydration, proper rest, and before you know it...she would be back on her feet.

Only this time...that didn’t happen.  Little Angela kept getting sicker and weaker...and finally we were instructed to take her to the hospital.  I remember lifting her into my arms and she was just as limp as a rag and unresponsive...I felt helpless and my mind was beginning to wander to places I didn’t want it to go.  Is she okay?  What’s going to happen?  How bad is it? And then...will she recover?

After several days of testing, the diagnosis was presented...she had spinal meningitis and they couldn’t guarantee any particular outcome at the moment.  I can’t speak for Sherri, but I was stunned and taken back...I just didn’t expect to hear those words.  They couldn’t be sure what might happen?  It was more serious than I had ever anticipated.

That’s where the “instant messaging” came in...Sherri and I held hands and “instant messaged” the Lord...that’s what prayer is...a continuous...throughout the day...conversation with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is available in a moment...instantly...at the time when we needed Him the most. We poured out our thoughts and request to Him...and yielded ourselves to His will.  We had discovered through previous “instant messaging” and reading His written message, the Bible, “that He would work all things together for good for those that love Him,” Romans 8:28.  We really believed that with all of our heart and that brought to our lives a “peace that surpasses understanding”.

We spent the next 10 days in the hospital...through the Christmas season...and Angela recovered.  We thankfully took her home with little physical consequence realized in her life.  We “instant messaged” our thanks and gratitude to the Lord and continued to tell all who would listen that God is good...all the time.

I’ve often thought back to those days as well as others, with the realization of what a wonderful invitation and gift He offers to us to come to Him and receive rest...and how often I have accessed that gift through prayer...in an instant message...where we walk with Him and talk with Him along life’s journey.  What a blessing.  What a help in time of need.

Like a lot of you, I instant message or text some of my friends all the time.  It’s not just during the time of crisis but when “whatever” or “anything” is happening.  It keeps the relationship vibrant and growing.  In fact, I have quite a few people that if I needed something...I feel like I could instant message them anytime and they would help if they could.

I’ve done the same thing with the Lord.  I instant message Him all the time...I pray, talk with Him...not just in the time of crisis...but because He is my friend and my Lord.  And when there are times, which there are, when no one else can help in any way...like with Angela...or with providing a way to go to heaven...I turn to the One, the only One... who can meet the need of my heart and my life.

Give it a try.  Start “instant messaging” the Lord today.  It doesn’t have to be a time of crisis...just let the relationship grow and deepen...and know that if a “storm” comes into your life...He is just an “instant” away and He will listen and He will answer.

Who doesn’t need a little “peace” in their life?  Who doesn’t need a little “security” in their life? Who doesn’t need a refuge?  Who doesn’t need forgiveness of their sin and salvation?  Who is without need of help?  That would be no one, and all that you need can be found through your relationship to Jesus...so why not “instant message” Him all throughout the day and treasure the relationship you have with Him. It really doesn’t take any time at all...just an instant.

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the Light of the world.  Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life.” – John 8:12

The first time I walked into a building that was on fire, I quite literally had no idea what I was doing.  Having just joined the department as a volunteer firefighter less than a week earlier, I had completed a brief orientation into how the department worked, was given a handbook of what to learn, and issued my gear.  But, formal training to fight fires?  Not so much.

The sporting goods store that was located on one side of the old town square in my small hometown was on fire.  Thick black smoke was pouring out the front doors.  The business to the left was a furniture store.  When I arrived, I found the officer in charge and asked him what to do.  He put an air pack on my back, hung a mask around my neck and said, "Go into the furniture store and look for extension. You good?"

Adrenaline pumping like I've never before experienced, I fumbled with my mask and mumbled what must have sounded like a "yeah," because when I looked up to ask him what "extension" is, he was nowhere in sight.

On my own and tasked with a job, I walked through the darkness of that furniture store.  Alone and afraid, and not knowing where I was going, I had one thing on my mind—survival!

I was determined to not lose sight of the flashing lights of the fire truck.  The further back I went, the further from the light I got...the harder it became to navigate.

Somewhere near the back, I got disoriented and realized there were mirrors all over the place.  Now, I could see the lights while looking in several directions.  Aargh!!  After a brief panic, I regained my composure and worked my way back toward the front of the store, following the source of the lights back to the safety I knew was waiting for me.

Too often, I believe our introduction into the family of Christ is much the same.  We get an "orientation" of sorts...a brief introduction to the Gospel and salvation.  We're tossed the Handbook and told to study it and follow the rules.  Then without formal "training," we're thrown into the fire—expected to figure it out and to live a life worthy of being called a Christian.  "Go and sin no more."

If only it were that easy.

I've been a Christian for thirty years.  I've been a Christ follower for about ten.  For the first twenty years, I wandered the wilderness, not quite sure what I was doing.  I had the Handbook, but I never really read it.  I fumbled my way through the darkness, mostly disoriented and confused.

Over the years, I've walked away from the Light more times than I care to admit…becoming disoriented and confused each time.  But, every time I've found myself in the dark, the Light has been there to lead me out…back to the safety of the One who saved me.

Men, last month I challenged you to lead from the front, to never stop improving, and to step up to the plate.  My question for you now is, “How's that going?”  Are you stepping up to the plate?  Are you deepening your relationship with Christ?  Are you leading your families in the Light?

What I needed with me on that first fire was a leader...someone to show me the way.  I was a member of the “family,” but lacked a mentor that first time out.  We can explore a path for the first time (either alone or together with other believers), but God isn't calling us to just walk the path.  He's calling us to LEAD others toward Him.  Brothers, we cannot lead someone down a path we haven't first walked ourselves!

If you're walking a path toward a closer relationship with God for the first time, you don't have to walk it alone.  Find a Sunday school class or other small group.  Join a ministry team.  Seek out a fellow believer who can mentor you.

If you're ready to lead others down the path or are already leading from the front, kudos to you!  Make sure you stay connected to the Vine (John 15:5) by spending time with the Master daily.  If you're not already serving Him through a ministry, join a ministry team…or start the one He’s placed on your heart.  Consider teaching a Sunday school class.  Maybe seek out a MasterLife group this fall where we’ll encourage each other in mastering life and bearing the fruit He has called us to bear.

Whatever it is you've been called to do, the “Officer in Charge” (that'd be God) won't just give you a task without providing the training.  He doesn't call the qualified.  He qualifies the called.  Let's seek out the Light together and lead others to it.