When Your Anxiety Is Off The Charts (reboot)

Posted on August 30, 2024 by David Rische

Doesn’t is seem like there is always something to be worried about? If not in our personal lives – then one quick look at the news highlights can fuel our angst rapidly? I read a study by Harvard Business Review showing that “Anxiety is the #1 Mental Illness and affects over 40 million Americans.” One of the tragedies of the study is that it was published back in May of 2020. What would the number be today???

That is why I love the title of the book, Worried About Everything Because I Pray About Nothing. One day I was randomly listening to a podcast and the guest was the author, Chad Veach. Never heard of him. His interview was so intriguing – I had to rush out and get the book (okay, my library had it available for free).

Chad’s foundational principle is that we should pray, turn things over to God, and pray some more until we reach some level of inner peace. In his own words, “Pray yourself to peace.” Worry, anxiety, and “fixing it” are usually our default modes. I had a fairly intense encounter with an angry “client” last week. It all turned out okay. After reflecting – I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t pray before, during, or after that encounter. Was I anxious? Yes. Was I worried? Yes. Did I pray? No.

Here are some of the key scripture verses from the book:

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. (Philippians 4: 6-7)

You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26: 3)

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. (2 Thessalonians 3: 16)

“I (Jesus) am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give . . . “ (John 14: 27)

So, if The Bible is true (it is!) – then perfect peace, God’s peace we can’t understand, and peace at all times and in every situation are attainable? Sign me up for this program! That’s the tricky part. It takes some effort, intentionality, and time on our parts. “Pray about everything” is the revealed secret. And it goes to a whole new level when my prayers stop being so “me” focused and they shift to others needs (and praying about world events instead of worrying or being angry about them). Here are are a few quotes that stood out to me from the book. Actually, they stood out because they were 1/2 inspiring and 1/2 “Ouch!”:

“Don’t ask God to guide your steps if you’re not ready to get off the couch.”

“It is easier to pray about things than to actually put in the work to fix them.”

“Crazy thought: Our prayers can move the hand of God.”

“Prayer is relational and not transactional.”

“What do you give a God that has everything??? . . . . . We give him more of ourselves!”

Conclusion: How about we give this a try? The next time something happens that leads our thoughts to worry, anxiety, and stress – what would happen if they first thing we did was stop and pray? It can be silent, swift, and imperfect. What would it be like if we started the habit of “praying yourself to peace”? And finally, what if our lives reflected flipping the title of this book? Worried About Nothing Because I Pray About Everything . . .

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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I’d Rather Have An Agenda Vs. A Compass

Posted on July 30, 2024 by David Rische

Do you find yourself asking these questions: What is my purpose? How do I know I’m going in the right direction with my life? What is God’s will for me? Have I taken a wrong turn with my decisions – and completely missed out on what I was supposed to do?

I wish God would give us an agenda for life. A detailed schedule. Exact times when things will occur. No surprises or cancellations please. Even a rough draft of what is coming – where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to do would be nice.

Instead, God gives us a compass. We kind of know the general direction we’re to be going. We usually have no idea what surprises are lurking around the corner. Or, we might shake it every now and then and ask, “Is this thing even working???” With God’s compass – we have to trust and depend on Him.

Psalm 32 verse 8 is one of the best verses in the Bible regarding God’s promise to faithfully lead us with his compass. It states: The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8) Let’s break down the 4 key parts of this verse:

  1. Guide – God in his goodness promises to be with us. David said, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 16:8) A good guide is there to show you the way – not force you on the way. Several years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to tour The Colosseum in Rome. At first, I stubbornly said, “We don’t need a tour guide – we can do it ourselves.” Talk about a terrible idea. Fortunately, the hotel front desk person convinced me otherwise. The guide we had was amazing. She used her pass to skip the long entry line. She had access to the floor of the Colosseum, she showed us wall drawings that ancient gladiators made, and we were able to view the catacombs where the warriors and animals for combat were kept. A guide can make a huge difference. She didn’t have to force, convince, or manipulate us to go. We trusted that the guide knew so much more than we did. Do we do the same with God?
  2. Best Pathway – God has seen all of history, and he knows the part we are to share with him. There are good pathways for us, bad ones, and the best. The hard part is it takes trust when it looks like we’re not on the right path. Or, we deliberately go the route we know we’re not supposed to go on. Detours and delays. Stuck in the traffic of life feeling like we’re barely moving forward. The second part of the phrase is critical also – best pathway for your life. It has been said that “comparison is the thief of joy.” Your life. Not your friends, acquaintances, or co-workers. Not the people doing all of the fun and happy stuff on social media. Not celebrities who appear to have everything going for them. God guides me and you on the best pathways for our lives – even when it doesn’t make logical sense to us or we don’t give it our approval.
  3. Advise – What is nice about advice is that it’s different than someone bossing us around. We have the choice whether to listen and take action or not. Family and friends give us advice. People that have “been there before.” Both young and older. Strangers. Sometimes words of warning. A few winters ago, we went snowmobiling as a family in New Mexico. Our guide (see point 1) told the entire group that we could explore the entire vast area that was before us on a wonderful white, snowy, mountain plain. Except, she reiterated, “stay away from the area on the right bank near the woods.” The snow was icy, muddy, and people had gotten stuck there. Sure enough, we were released to go explore – and this “obnoxious” family in our group headed straight for the area near the woods. And sure enough, several of their snowmobiles got stuck. And sure enough, the rest of us had to wait on them to get rescued. And sure enough, they never acknowledged doing anything wrong or apologized to the rest of us for completely ignoring the advice given in advance. It was weird. Anyway, how does God advise us? Through people, The Bible, prayers, the still small voice in our hearts, our intuition, events, circumstances, media, silence – the ways are endless. Are we looking and listening for his advice – or are we headed off to the woods to do our own thing?
  4. Watch over – To wrap up this wonderful promise, we find God’s assurance he will be there watching over us. However, we can’t help but ask some tough questions: If God is watching over me, why do bad things happen? If I’m on his path being guided – why did the end result seem like a flop? Why do I sometimes feel alone and abandoned? Those are all fair questions. And realistically, we probably won’t get a satisfying answer to them in this lifetime. To me, two verses stand out that help provide that compass when thinks are not going as I had hoped: “As high as the heavens are above the earth – so high are my ways and thoughts above yours” (Isaiah 55: 9). Also, “And we know that in all things God works together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). He never promises a struggle free, charmed, all blessings and prosperity filled life. But, he has promised to always be there with us.

Conclusion – Years ago, a new pastor at the church we were attending boldly proclaimed, “God had given him a 10 year vision for the church!” “Wow, that guy most be super close to God”, I thought in my head. He must get extra visions, dreams, and revelations because of his occupation. I wish God would give me just a 10 day plan – but I’m not as spiritual as this pastor. Funny thing – that pastor took on an administrative job as a promotion in less than two years because now “God was leading him in a new direction.” So much for the 10 year vision – I guess God changed his mind? 🙂

As humans, mystery with God can either be an uncomfortable challenge or embraced. The Apostle Paul understood this tug of war. In 1 Corinthians 16: 9 he declares, “A great and effective door has been opened for me AND there are many obstacles.” From his life experiences he knew that barriers, resistance, and obstacles were validation that he was on the right path. He was at peace that God gave him a compass instead of an agenda. May we be the same.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Will Heaven Be Boring?

Posted on June 30, 2024 by David Rische

“Is this as good as it gets?” That was the famous question asked by Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie appropriately titled As Good as it Gets. It’s easy to look around us and possibly apply the question to our current circumstances as all of us face challenges, struggles, and problems. However, if we are believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we have the hope of heaven after we die or are raptured.

Let’s be honest – it might be difficult to put our hope in a place we’ve never seen or experienced. On the flip side of challenges – what if things are going great now? What if we are experiencing a little bit of “heaven on earth” and aren’t in too much of a hurry to leave?

The images provided in books, movies, and sermons are not all that exciting. First impressions in my head are people and angels wearing white robes in the clouds equipped with harps, singing praises in a never-ending worship service, and a giant iron gate that Saint Peter is guarding to let people in or not. A nice, decked out mansion for a future residence. Quite a bit of down time. Finally, a chance to get some rest. Sitting around chatting with family and friends who made it. Maybe even wondering – I know God is here, but when do we get to see and talk to him? He’s probably extremely busy with all of these new residents. Is that as good as heaven gets???

It’s hard to put faith and trust in something that is invisible now. We are created to be visual. We can also conjure up images in our minds. If someone says, “Tom Cruise was at Six Flags riding The Texas Giant Roller Coaster (totally made this up).” Even if we’ve never been to this amusement park, we still can create a mental picture. What about Heaven? The quality images aren’t in abundant supply.

Even though our heads may not have all that great of images – the Bible is filled with them! A possible tremendous resource for future study is the book, Heaven by Randy Alcorn. It is the most exhaustive, hopeful, and “down to earth” perspective of the topic I’ve ever encountered. Let’s take a look at three major areas we can have future hope towards. I’ll also include some “earthly” pictorial images to help get a mental snapshot.

  1. We will have a New Body – like Jesus’ after he rose from the dead! The apostle Paul tells us: But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into our immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die . . . (1 Corinthians 15: 51-54) This is definitely something to look forward to with great anticipation. Our bodies will be like Jesus’. We will have minds that don’t deteriorate over time. We will be able to move from place to place beyond walking (John 20:19). No more coughs and colds or flu season. Our bones won’t break. No headaches or migraines. Better yet – no more diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, heart problems, COVID, etc. Earthly images – think Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, and The Flash!
  2. We will live in a New Building(s) – Heaven! Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. . . And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband . . . God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever (Revelation 21: 1 – 4). Further on in the chapter it describes the length, width, and height of this magnificent structure of 1400 miles in each direction. Try and picture the most spectacular looking cube beyond your wildest dreams. This mega-cube will be the distance from Mexico to Canada in every direction! Jesus reassured his disciples saying, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14: 1 – 3). Earthly images – think of the architectural brilliance combined of Italy, France, and the castles in Germany. The mountain ranges of Switzerland, Colorado, and Canada. And the white, sandy beaches with clear water in Grace Bay, The Caribbean (Google search for clearest water and whitest sand)!
  3. We get a New Boss – Jesus Christ! The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15). No more corrupt government, no more evil getting away with it, no more elections, no more political parties, no more taxes, no more corporate greed, no more wars, no more crime, no more poverty. Jesus is on the throne as the invincible ruler of the universe. He will first reign on earth for 1000 years (Revelation 20: 6). Then he will rule for all eternity in heaven with us as his loyal, fulfilled, and joyful subjects. And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new! . . . And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children (Revelation 21: 5-7). Earthly images – think of good kings using their power to serve and protect their people – Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, Aslan the Lion from the Narnia tales, and King Arthur.

Conclusion: Remember the dull images at the beginning of this post? The truth is the exact opposite. We will be busy doing what we’ve always been created to do. We will be joyful, fulfilled, adventurous, energetic, 100% healthy, surrounded by love, in community, creative, and thriving. We will be busy – there won’t be time to sit on clouds and strum a harp. We will serve God in Heaven (Revelation 7:15; 22:3). Service is active, not passive. Randy Alcorn states: Work in Heaven won’t be frustrating or fruitless; instead, it will involve lasting accomplishment, unhindered by decay and fatigue, enhanced by unlimited resources. We’ll approach our work with the enthusiasm we bring to our favorite sport or hobby . . . In Heaven, we’ll reign with Christ, exercise leadership and authority, and make important decisions (Luke 19: 17-19 and page 412 of Heaven). Some other great resources besides your Bible and the book Heaven are: Hereafter: It’s Far Better Than You Can Imagine by Terry James and All Things New by John Eldridge.

How do I get in and become a citizen of Heaven? The Apostle Paul provided that answer for all of us: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Don’t put this off. I conclude with a question worth wrestling with right now and resolving today: What happens after this life???

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Has the Internet Replaced God???

Posted on May 31, 2024 by David Rische

Recently, I listened to a podcast series titled “Disciples of the Internet” from Wild at Heart. That information provides the foundational ideas presented here. Please give the podcast a listen if you have some free time.

The Internet Replacing God is a pretty shocking title. Our first response is probably, “No way – at least not in my life.” Generally speaking – the internet is mandatory for our society to function. When the internet goes down for hours or perhaps even days – it is incredibly easy to be slightly panicked, majorly inconvienenced and distraught while thinking, “I can’t do anything without being able to go online.” However, let’s take a look beyond the basic necessities of communication, business transactions, information, news, and our finances. What effect has the internet had internally? Our minds, souls, and spirits? And, could these possible effects have a negative impact on our relationship with God?

  1. The Internet can be all-knowing to us. We have access to any content or information 24/7. If I have a question about any topic – I can conveniently ask my phone or computer. If I have a medical concern – I can just simply type my symptoms in and get an “expert” diagnosis of what it is. If I need to know how to change my AC filters – there are dozens of videos available to guide me step by step. My expectation is an immediate answer, unending content, and solutions to instantaneously solve my problems. Any challenge that I’m facing – I should be able to find a 1-2-3 step formula for a quick fix I can do independently.
  2. The Internet has conditioned us to get what we want when we want it. These phrases have all become the norm to us: Instant Download, Overnight Delivery, Free Shipping, and On Demand. Anything I want is a click or two away. Long gone are those days of eating a box of heavily sugar coated cereal and seeing on the back of the box a $4.99 Secret Decoder Ring for purchase (plus 4 box tops). I’m really dating myself – but hold on for a mini history lesson. After several weeks of consuming the other boxes of cereal to get the coveted box tops – plus doing extra chores to earn the lofty amount of $4.99 . . . Mom would then write a check for the amount (I had no idea what a check was – but we were taught not to send cash because someone could steal it). I would patiently wait for 4-6 weeks for the decoder ring to arrive. And then, that “someday” eventually is here. The magical decoder ring shows up in the mail! Unfortunately, it would break after 1-2 days.
  3. The Internet’s ways are different than God’s ways. When we chose to have a relational life with God – that life can lead to joy, peace, love, wonder, mystery, beauty, friendship, joy, miracles, kindness, strength, hope now and for eternity (just to name a few things). However, a life with God can also lead to mystery. Unanswered questions. Not knowing everything. Asking “Why?” – and getting no answers. Patience and more patience. Uncomfortable silence. Pain. Disappointments. Struggles, hassles, and challenges. More questions. The internet can groom us into thinking that we should be able to figure everything out. We can take on a level-headed, overly practical world view. There’s not much room left for the supernatural or divine intervention. Let’s take mystery, waiting, and time out of the equation.

If we do a deeper, honest assessment of our inner life – it is revealing to come up with additional side effects from our dependence on the internet and all of the devices that help us go online. Let’s face it, we are can never get caught up with whatever our initial intention is. Do a google search of any subject and in seconds you have hundreds if not thousands of sites to click on. Emails are endless. We (I) catch ourselves mindlessly scrolling when we (I) should be doing something instead of procrastinating. It can mentally and emotionally wear us out.

It is also easy to develop an overriding lack of trust. A “research” based article might declare all of the amazing health benefits of drinking coffee. Perfect! I drink at least two cups a day. . . Wait a minute – a new “scientific study” just came out showing the negative effects coffee has on our health. Oh no – I drink at least two cups a day! Who is right??? Both sides have compelling arguments and facts. What about information concerning conspiracy theories on the internet? Any topic: Bigfoot’s existence, 9/11, UFOs, The Kennedy Assassination, The Moon Landing, and on and on and on – they all have passionate support for both sides. So who is correct? The deeper we go – the easier it is to become skeptical about government, people, and life in general.

So . . . what are some solutions if we’ve let the internet replace God?

  1. Awareness – We can start by taking an honest look inside and accepting if the above information is true in our lives. And then possibly asking ourselves some tough questions: “Do I constantly go to the internet for help before praying to God?” “Have I let being online replace quality relationships with others?” “What parts do patience, mystery, and waiting on God play in my life?” “Am I worn out mentally and emotionally after I’m online – or do I feel refreshed?”
  2. Ancient Ways – Often my wife and I will talk about “The Good Old Days” growing up: Playing outside for hours upon hours – sometimes until the neighborhood street lights came on (and being safe). Only having 4 television channels to choose from – and yet always being able to find something to watch. Me finally saving up 25 cents (plus tax) to be able to afford a comic book. Okay, we can’t time travel back to the 70’s. However, let’s go back thousands of years and check out what the prophet Jeremiah wrote:

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the ancient, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6: 16)

Stop . . . look around . . . Slow down, pause, be okay with being still.

The ancient, godly way . . . prayer, worship, listening to God, time in the Bible, fasting, connecting with others in person, silence, serving, giving. . . Not all at once. We can start small and maybe try one practice a week for 5-10 minutes.

Rest for your souls . . . peace, anti-overwhelm, true joy, steady in spite of circumstances, a quiet confidence, contentment. Doesn’t that sound kind of nice right now?

3. Actions – It would be next to impossible not to use the internet at all in our modern society. However, there are small steps we can take to disconnect from it. Getting outside more. Walks and being in nature can have a restorative effect on our inner being. Spend a few hours with a Golden Retriever and watch how they teach us everyday is the best day. Possibly turning our phones on airplane mode for a few hours. Maybe scheduling or setting boundaries for the amount time spent scrolling, on social media, or sifting through emails.

Conclusion – Jesus told his followers that he had come that we may have an abundant life. The devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy that life (John 10:10). Jesus said to love God and love others (Matthew 22: 37-39). The devil seeks to devour us like a roaring lion and wants us isolated, self absorbed, and uninvolved (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus wants us to watch and prepare for his second coming (Luke 21: 34-36). The devil wants us to think this is as good as it gets and to try and build heaven on earth (2 Corinthians 4:4). Every moment is a choice who or what will get our attention, devotion, time, and loyalty. Who or what are we going to chose?

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Having a Lieutenant Dan Moment With God (reboot)

Posted on April 30, 2024 by David Rische

This post was originally written in late May of 2020. Ugh . . . one word comes to mind when we think of 2020. Covid. However, another word can come to mind also. Hope. For whatever reason – this post shows up in my statistics as my most read one. Even though we still struggle with Covid (and other dreadful things that have replaced it) – we can always find a glimmer of hope when we are walking with God.

One of my favorite scenes from the classic movie Forrest Gump is when Forrest and his buddy Lieutenant Dan are caught in a wild storm during their shrimp catching expedition. Lt. Dan is already extremely frustrated at life because he wanted to die a war hero like family members did generations before him. Forrest rescues him at the last moment during an ambush in the jungle. Lt. Dan has to have surgery and both his legs are amputated, leaving him incredibly bitter and hopeless. So . . . as the storm is raging, Lt. Dan is as high as he can be on the mast – shouting at God, cussing, and challenging God to bring it on. Everything that had been bottled up for years internally – he is finally getting out.

The next morning after the storm is completely gone,  Lt. Dan has a look of peace on his face for the first time in who knows how long. He plunges himself into the water and takes a relaxing swim. Forrest watches and comments, “I guess Lt. Dan made his peace with God.”

A pastor recently said there’s a difference between questioning God and asking God questions. We can’t figure out the mind of the Almighty Creator of the Universe. However, I do believe He wants us to come to Him with our tough questions, our frustrations, our hopelessness, and our brutally difficult circumstances:

When will this virus end?

Why did I lose my loved one?

How can I find a job in this economy and pay my bills?

When will this feeling of hopelessness go away in the pit of my stomach?

Why does the future look so gloomy and uncertain?

It’s okay to complain, question, and express our feelings of anger towards God. It happened all the time in the Bible with iconic folks like Moses, Elijah, David, and Joseph to name a few. The key is what you do next.

The prophet Habakkuk is an amazing example. His story is found in four small chapters of the Old Testament. I would encourage you to read all of it to get the complete context. The subtitles provide an insightful summarization:

Habakkuk’s Complaint

The Lord’s Reply

Habakkuk’s Second Complaint

The Lord’s Second Reply

Habakkuk’s Prayer

What he did was:

1) He got it all out, now he was going to look above and beyond his circumstances and watch and wait for what God is going to do.

2) He prayed for help.

3) He worshiped God even though his circumstances didn’t change.

Check out the last 3 verses of the book with my own comments added in parenthesis:

-Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, (even though it seems my prayers go unanswered)

-and there are no grapes on the vines; (my job is gone and I can’t pay the bills)

-even though the olive crop fails, (I feel that I’m going through this struggle all alone)

-and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, (even though it seems this virus is never going away)

-Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Conclusion: What will it take to move us from fear to faith? From helpless to hope? From worry to worship? From endless pondering to prayer?

Hang in there like Habakkuk did. And let’s keep looking for help beyond ourselves.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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A Few Mind-Blowing Facts about God

Posted on March 28, 2024 by David Rische

Do you ever think God is too busy? Have you ever struggled trusting Him to work out a problem? Maybe in your head pondering: “I’d like to pray about getting help with my flat tire – but there’s quite a bit going on in the U.S., Middle East, Russia, etc. right now.” Or; “This is a mess I’ve made with ___________. It’s my fault. I somehow need to clean it up. God’s probably disappointed with me – He probably won’t answer if I pray about it. I deserve silence.”

Here are three reasons why I believe we are all challenged when it comes to trusting God:

  1. We assign human attributes to God. Think of the images we’ve been given over time. An elderly gentleman wearing a white robe with a long, flowing, snow-white beard. Father Time. “Old man up in the sky.” A king sitting on his throne watching the world with a serious and solemn look on his face. The timeless painting on the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel. Then, we can’t help but make him human. He’s probably frustrated with all that’s going on in this magnificent world he gave us that we continue to ruin. I’m sure he’s angry, at least annoyed. How could he not be tired, irritated, and probably let down?
  2. We have short term memory regarding our relationship with God. Does anyone else remember watching The Ten Commandments movie once a year as a kid on television? The entire story is found in the Old Testament books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Back to the movie – I remember as a kid wondering how could The Children of Israel turn their backs on God after he rescued them from being slaves for over 400 years? After He did the miracles of parting The Red Sea, destroying Pharoah’s army, and providing food and water for them in the wilderness? Thinking about it – I can do the same thing. Mentally, I can take on the “what have you done for me lately?” attitude – which is a horrible attitude to walk around with. I can forget all the times God protected me in car wrecks or near wrecks, healed me from dreadful illnesses, provided food and clean water so I’ve never gone hungry, opened up job opportunities. The more I reflect, the longer the list would be. How about you?
  3. We’ve experienced unanswered prayers to God. Perhaps we’ve prayed. And prayed some more. Prayed through tears and sleepless nights. Nothing changes. Or, things get worse that we are praying about. Then, the negative thoughts start bombarding us. “Why pray if nothing happens?” God must not be listening – he’s too busy running the universe. How can I go to God for help when I’m such a sinner who messes up all the time? I wish I was as spiritual as the preacher I watch on YouTube. Man, he must have a direct pipeline to the ear of God.” On and on it goes . . .

The best thing we can do is go to the source of truth regarding our concepts and relationship with God. What does the Bible say about God, his capacity, his emotional states, and how he views me? A verse to keep coming back to like a magnet is Isaiah 26:3: You (God) will keep in perfect peace him (or her) whose mind is stayed (fixed) on You (God). Here are three truths about God we can fixate on instead of the negative:

  1. God never sleeps. Psalm 121: 3,4 gives us this assurance: He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Think about that – God never has or never will need to sleep. He doesn’t yawn, look at his watch, or get irritable late into the evening. Many years ago when I was a flight attendant, occasionally I would have to fly an “all-nighter”. The majority of passengers would sleep while the crew kept watch over everything. That is where I discovered the gift of coffee. Those trips would mess up my sleep for the next 2-3 days. God is always keeping watch 24/7. He is continually on universe wide all-nighters. And it doesn’t phase him one bit. Now that’s power!
  2. God has no beginning or end. The Bible starts out with: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) The Bible ends with the book of Revelation which states: “I am the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end.” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come – the Almighty One.” (Rev. 1: 8) This one hurts my head when I try to comprehend it. I totally understand God will live forever. And we can also live eternally with him if we believe in His Son Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Here’s the baffling part: God has no beginning. He has always been in existence. He wasn’t born at some time in history like we were. Just like the no sleeping point – now that’s power!
  3. God’s number of thoughts about me are impossible to calculate. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. (Psalm 139: 17-18) His thoughts about you and I outnumber the amount of sand at our favorite beach! And God isn’t speaking symbolically or exaggerating. The books of Hebrews and Titus tell us that “God cannot lie.” (Hebrews 6: 18) & (Titus 1: 2) This insight comes from the book The Awe of God by John Bevere:

We’re so valued, He thinks about us continuously. All the sand! Think of all the sand on earth – every beach, desert, and golf course. That’s an enormous amount! Science and math enthusiasts tell us that depending on the size and how tightly packed, there are approximately five hundred million to a billion granules of sand in one cubic square foot of beach. Our minds would struggle to comprehend the vast number of granules on just the Florida beaches. But think of it – if you add up all the granules of sand on the planet, you still wouldn’t have the number of thoughts God has about you! . . . Ask yourself this question: What do you predominately think of? You rarely think about something you don’t value. (pages 48 & 49)

These are just a few of His attributes. We serve a God who doesn’t sleep, is outside of human time and space, loves and cares about me more than I do myself. Shouldn’t we be able to trust him? Come to him with our problems and challenges? Feel a sense of worth and adequacy that we are enough?

Conclusion – God is love . . . Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. (1 John 4: 16 – 18) He’s not the old, cranky, frustrated man in the sky with a flowing beard who has an overbooked schedule. Pastor Jimmy Evans says, “The Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) never need to call an emergency session. They never say, ‘Boy – we didn’t see that one coming!'” God is the author of human history. As the old song goes – He truly does have the whole world in his hands.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Finding Peace When Chaos is The Norm (Part 2)

Posted on February 27, 2024 by David Rische

Thank you so much for the positive feedback in the comments or in person regarding last month’s post. I guess I’m not the only one dealing with worry and anxiety (LOL)? There’s much more on this topic – so let’s dive into “Round Two”!

Jesus spoke about three object lessons that are right in front of us to remind us not to worry and that He will take care of us. Those three things are:

  1. The Birds of the Air
  2. The Flowers in the Field
  3. The Current Day on the Calendar

Let’s start by taking a look at:

  1. The Birds of the Air – Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life . . . Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? (Matthew 6: 25-26) Think about it – have you ever seen a starving bird? I’ve seen other hungry animals roaming the streets. We used to have a neighborhood feral cat that lived on the streets for at least eight years! He would disappear for weeks – and then unexpectedly show up at our house. Sometimes he was gaunt and skinny – and we would give him tuna and other delicacies to put weight on him again. Birds are always looking for food, but they aren’t skinny, gaunt, and frail. The Father has a variety of ways to feed them: worms, seeds, fruit, insects, bird feeders, etc. Next time you and I are struggling with worry – we can stop, slow down, and look for or think about birds: “Oh, yeah. If God takes care of them – why wouldn’t He take care of me?” Remember also the key point birds look for food. Unless they are babies, they don’t sit in their nest and wait for food to be delivered to them.
  2. The Flowers in the Field – “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the flowers of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for the wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you.” (Matthew 6: 28 – 30) Growing up in Colorado – I saw fields of wildflowers all the time on hikes. In Texas, we have the joy of seeing bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes seasonally. The seeds aren’t planted for them. They aren’t on a watering schedule. We don’t give them Miracle-Gro. God takes care of them. Again, pause, take a moment and gaze at how beautiful, detailed, and elegant a group of flowers are (or a single flower by itself). That is a miniscule comparison to how much God cares about you and I.
  3. The Current Day – “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6: 34) This is a tough one. There is nothing wrong with being mindful and learning from the past. And it is healthy to have vision and a “rough draft” idea of what our future may look like. However, it is when we dwell, obsess, agonize, and give the majority of our mental and emotional strength to the past and future which leads straight to anxiety. The majority of news broadcasts are centered on the topic of fear. Speaker and author Tony Robbins states, “Unhappy people continually live in the past. Stressed people continually live in the future.” Read that again. One of my favorite quotes to counterattack the past and future comes from Jesse Itzler who says, “Be present where your feet are.” What does that look like? Sincerely look people in the eye, listen attentively, take in the moment – and most importantly, we need to put our electronic devices down.

Conclusion: The next time stress, anxiety, and worry try to get into your head – look around for some birds, flowers, or your shoes (present where feet are) as a reminder and how we can change our focus. There’s the amazing cycle of once we change our thoughts – then our feelings start to change. Once we start feeling different, then we start taking actions to align with our feelings. Just like coaches used to yell at me while I was daydreaming or watching airplanes while playing little league right field, “Rische – get your head in the game!!!”. I like it better how Paul teaches us, Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Finding Peace When Chaos is the Norm

Posted on January 22, 2024 by David Rische

This is the fourth time I’ve changed the topic for this month. I started with something on New Year’s resolutions. Then moved to goals. Then moved to balance in four key areas of our lives. None of it got past one or two sentences. Then I heard a podcast from Pastor Jimmy Evans about “The Promise of Peace” and it really connected. Throughout my life I’ve wrestled with anxiety, worry, and wanting to control things. Maybe you have also had that same struggle? Anyway, his message was the inspiration for this post.

I was scrolling Twitter (X) a few days ago – and innocently just wanted to know what are the main news stories. The more I scrolled, the greater the anxiety rose up within me. A sample of the headlines:

The U.S. just paid over a trillion dollars in interest on their national debt. . .

War continues in the Middle East and Ukraine without a resolution on the horizon. Iran, North Korea, China, and several other countries are issuing threats and on the brink of joining. . .

New variants of diseases are being discovered. There are whispers of government mandates being considered regarding restrictions and possibly lockdowns . . .

Gives you a knot in your stomach, right??? Then we look at our own personal lives – illnesses, inflation, our children or grandchildren going through challenges, and family or friends hurting that we can’t help.

So how do we actively engage in a world that seems to be spinning more and more out of control every day? How do we not let the circumstances in our nation, world, and personal lives leave us feeling hopeless?

We can’t. It has to be a supernatural encounter and empowerment by the Living God. It starts in us – and then flows out of us to impact and help others. Let’s begin by looking at three negative effects of not having peace. Then we’ll look at three practical actions regarding how we can increase our peace:

  1. Peace has to come from God, not everything going our way – The night before he was crucified, Jesus sat down and had a heart to heart discussion with his closest followers. He told them, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give (John 14:27).” It’s easy to feel peaceful when our bank accounts actually have some discretionary income, when we’re feeling our healthiest, and our children are currently “being good.” That’s what Jesus meant about the world giving peace – it’s temporary. He calls his peace a gift. A gift has to be received. This is a special gift that isn’t just a one time deal. He wants us to be in continual communication and prayer with him. “Please give me peace about this difficult conversation coming up. Please give me peace about the job interview rejections. Please give me peace about my child that is in rebellion towards everyone and everything”. And don’t forget, “Thank you for your peace.”
  2. Anxiety is a choice – Ouch. That one hurts. This time, while speaking to a large crowd – Jesus injected into his message, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life . . . (Matthew 6:25).” The apostle Paul also echoes the same sentiment: “Do not be anxious about anything . . . (Philippians 4:6).” By the way – Paul was in prison when he wrote that sentence. Part of our awakening is realizing we have a choice in the matter. Sometimes we can’t control our first response when worrisome situations and circumstances present themselves: Co-workers getting laid off (am I next?), the car part needed costs several thousands of dollars plus labor (savings has $5 in it), noticing an unfamiliar pain that won’t go away (could it be something major?). What is great is that we can control our second response. Way back in the Old Testament – the prophet Isaiah gave a remarkable remedy for anxiety: “You (God) will keep him (us) in perfect peace as long as our minds are stayed on You (God).” So when anxiety and worry hit – let that be a signal to shift our thought life and “what might happen” to God. Praying, reading The Bible, talking to encouraging people, more praying, and listening to worship music – are all on the path to that perfect peace Isaiah wrote about.
  3. Worry hurts our example to others. Worry, anxiety, and negativity are contagious. All three are so easy to come by. Many in the media (news, podcasts, social media) are predicting that 2024 will be a year of chaos: unprecedented natural disasters, World War III, civil uprisings, unspeakable corruption from our “leaders”, a new pandemic, a controversial election, another possible Great Depression – the list is endless and incredibly discouraging. What is desperately needed are people grounded in God’s power, grounded in His Word, and filled with His Spirit. What we say and do can also have a contagious effect on others. We can spread faith, hope, love, and positivity instead of gloom and doom. Paul writes in the book of Colossians what we already saw in point number one: “Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace (Colossians 3:15).” According to this verse, peace can be a ruler inside of us – or lack of peace can be a court jester in our hearts. Yes, evil is at work. But so is God!

Here are some practical actions to increase peace:

  1. Pray Bible verses – Do a Google topical search for scriptures about worry, anxiety, and lack of peace. One of my favorite apps that is free is called “Shut Up Devil!” – it features multiple topics and verses that directly counter attack what we are feeling and experiencing. Here is some ammo for peace:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

In the day of trouble I will call on You, for You will answer me (Psalm 86:7).

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Be anxious for nothing, 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4: 6-7).

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6).

Next time worry and anxiety rear their ugly heads – combat them with the above scriptures and many others until you experience the promised “peace that passes understanding.”

2. A Daily Sticky Note Prayer List – If you wake up feeling anxious or worried – here is a quick way to adjust your mindset. On a sticky note – jot down everything you are feeling angst about in that moment. After you finish writing everything down – go back to the top of the sticky note and write down “Prayer List.” Take a minute or two and offer up to God each item as a prayer. There you go – you are now ready to take on the day!

3. Pray Through the News Headlines – Here are examples based on the three headlines at the beginning of the post:

God, please give our government wisdom in how to spend our tax dollars. Please let them remember that they were elected or appointed to their positions to be servants of the people.

God, please bring peaceful solutions to all of the wars going on right now. Remove evil dictators from places of power. Protect the innocent.

God, we ask for your protection from any new diseases. We ask health, strong immune systems, and strength.

Conclusion – Even though it takes work – we can control our thoughts. We can replace anxiety and worry with a focus on God, prayer, and meditating on Bible verses. We can’t control others and world events – but we can influence them through prayer, active involvement, and combating evil. Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers . . . (Matt 5:9).” There are peacemakers, and there are troublemakers – which one are you and I???

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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A Dragon Lurking Over The Manger Scene???

Posted on December 17, 2023 by David Rische

And just like that . . . here we are counting down the days until Christmas! It seems like Thanksgiving was yesterday – and summer vacation was two days ago. Hopefully, the decorations are up, plans are solidified, and Amazon packages are arriving daily (where have you gone precious Sears catalogue???).

Get ready – because I’m going to go a completely different direction with the Christmas story. You may not feel warm and fuzzy after reading this. Good – that’s my goal! I’ve never heard a Christmas sermon or message about this particular topic. However, the subject matter is found multiple times in the Bible. I’m talking about The Dragon lurking over the manger scene. And that dragon is, unfortunately, the ancient evil one known as The Devil.

When asked, why do we celebrate Christmas? Because it is the birth of Jesus. Yes, true. Mary gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them in Bethlehem (Luke 2: 7).

When asked, why did Jesus need to be born? Because he saved the world from their sins. Yes, also true. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

When asked, why did Jesus need to save the world from their sins? Because the dragon (the devil) in his own rebellion led Adam and Eve (yes, it was both of them – not just Eve) to disobey God and give up their perfect home, perfect bodies, and perfect relationship with God. The woman (Eve) was convinced (by the serpent, another name for the devil, who said she would become like God if she ate fruit from a forbidden tree). She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was WITH HER, and he ate it, too (Genesis 3: 6).

And ever since then, the devil has been attacking God’s people, God’s creation, and attempted to destroy God’s son. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Let’s go back to the Christmas story. Most of us have a nativity scene that we take out and put on display. The usual cast of characters are probably there: the shepherds, the wise men, perhaps a few barnyard animals, maybe an angel, Joseph, Mary, and, of course, the baby Jesus. When we look at a typical manger scene, the typical mood and feelings associated with it are quiet, peaceful, Silent Night, and Away in a Manger. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, there is another, supernatural part of the story that we miss out on. Take a look at this passage from Revelation 12. This is from a vision given to the disciple John, who was considered “the disciple whom Jesus loved”:

A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour the child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter . . . And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down – the ancient serpent called the devil or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (verses 1-5, 7-9)

From the book Wild at Heart: As Philip Yancey says, I have never seen a version of the story on a Christmas card. Yet it is the truer story, the rest of the picture of what was going on that fateful night. Yancy calls the birth of Jesus the Great Invasion, “a daring raid by the ruler of the forces of good into the universe’s seat of evil.” Spiritually speaking, this is no silent night. It is D-Day. “It is almost beyond my comprehension too, and yet I accept that this notion is the key to understanding Christmas and is, in fact, the touchstone of my faith. As a Christian I believe that we live in parallel worlds. One world consists of hills and lakes and barns and politicians and shepherds watching their flocks by night. The other consists of angels and sinister forces” and the whole spiritual realm. The child is born, the woman escapes and the story continues like this (pgs. 154-155):

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring – whose who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 12:17)

So . . . we find ourselves in the middle of an epic story being played out in the visible and invisible realms. We have a villain who is unseen at this time and attacks us on many fronts. However, we have a Hero/King who has conquered evil, fights for us, offers us eternal salvation, and is preparing a heavenly home for us. None of this could have happened without Jesus being born as the familiar Christmas story portrays. Here are three areas to reflect on before the Christmas season has come and gone again:

  1. Jesus took our place as sinners – The Bible says: For the Son of Man (another name for Jesus) came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). He came as a baby – but his mission is summarized in the second part of this verse: to seek and save those who are lost. Seeking is an active, not passive word. I think about how frantically we would seek after our kids when they were little in a clothing store and would suddenly disappear. We would turn our heads for 1-2 seconds – and they were mysteriously gone! Usually, hiding in the middle of a clothing rack, possibly looking for toys in this boring store, or using stealth to reach the exit. If we haven’t come to him for forgiveness of sins and eternal life – that is how Jesus is frantically seeking after us. But he’s never forceful – it has to be our choice.
  2. Jesus gives us a fulfilled life now and eternally. The thief (once again, the devil) only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10: 10). That is the offer. Eternal life – yes. But a bonus feature – an abundant life here and now. It’s not a promise against struggles, problems, difficulties, or even suffering. It is a promise of Jesus’s fullness, blessing, presence, overflow, and faithfulness to get us triumphantly through this life instead of being miserable and without purpose until he returns for us.
  3. Jesus has defeated the devil and will eventually annihilate him. 1 John 3: 8 reminds us: But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Yes, now the battle is good versus evil. But battles ultimately aren’t significant if you’ve lost the war. It’s not an even fight. It would be like a championship Pee Wee football team taking on the Dallas Cowboys. No matter how good the Pee Wee’s are – there is no possible way for them to win. God in his goodness gave us an advance preview thousands of years ago on how this story is going to end:

Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast (the anti-Christ) and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night FOREVER and EVER (Revelation 20: 10).

Conclusion: So . . . next time you see a manger scene – slow down, take it in, reflect on the gift that has been given to us. Maybe even use your imagination to envision a dragon hovering over the stable. However, that dragon has a chain around his neck, his wings and claws have been clipped, his teeth have been extracted, and he puffs out fire the size of a lighter flame. He also has a death sentence permanently tattooed on his body. Don’t let the dragon ruin the Christmas scene. And do not let him ruin your day to day life. Embrace the Christ child’s abundance every day instead.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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Thanksgiving 101

Posted on November 22, 2023 by David Rische

The Thanksgiving schedule looks vaguely familiar to most of us: Leave for your destination or start preparing days in advance if you’re the host. Arrive, visit, get caught up, watch the football games – and then it’s time to eat. Usually a prayer of thanks, fill up the plates, fill up the stomachs, and then rest it off. Watch more games or a movie, have seconds – and then rest it off. Finally, leave for home in enough time to get ready for those Black Friday sales!

One of the many great reminders of Thanksgiving is for us to take the time to slow down and reflect on how much we have to be grateful for. Last summer, I read a book called The Answer to Anxiety by Joyce Meyers (strongly recommend). The chapter that stood out the most to me was called “The Discipline of Gratitude.” She talks about maintaining an “Attitude of Gratitude.” This comes from pages 88 and 89 of her book:

When I have a huge, unexpected, unwanted problem, my reaction is to complain, feel sorry for myself, and worry (me too – Dave’s words added). But through discipline, I am learning how to look away from anything that distracts me from God and His goodness and instead discipline myself to look for the blessings in my life. We can find something good in every discomfort if we will only look for it.

We can discipline ourselves to look for the good in things. A friend of mine shared this with me:

  • I am thankful to be able to get out of bed every morning even if I am a little stiff or still sleepy, because it reminds me that I am alive and I have things to do each day.
  • I am thankful when I have to cook a meal, because it reminds me that I have food to eat.
  • I am thankful when I get sore from exercising, because it reminds me that I am blessed with health and strength.
  • I am thankful when the oil in my car needs changing, because it reminds me that I have a car to take me where I need to go.
  • I am thankful when I have to juggle invitations or opportunities to be with friends or family, because it reminds me that I am blessed with people to love and people who love me.
  • I am thankful if my clothes feel a bit tight, because that reminds me I have plenty of food.
  • I am thankful when I have to walk to another part of the house to turn off a light or to adjust the thermostat, because it reminds me that I have electricity and a comfortable home.
  • I am thankful when I pay bills, because it reminds me that I am able to buy what I need.
  • I am thankful when I fight traffic, because it reminds me that I have somewhere to go.

My friend’s list includes things most of us can relate to, so next time you find yourself in one of these situations, I hope you will remember to be thankful because of what it reminds you.

Conclusion: Maybe this is a perspective of what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). It doesn’t mean we still can’t feel sad, disappointment, or frustration. Looking at the above list – I’m still a work in progress being thankful for bills, traffic, and my car breaking down. I’m reminded of a quote from speaker and author Bob Goff: “Don’t let setbacks become a camp site.”

I’m thankful for you! If this helped – please share with a friend that might need a word of encouragement.

Blessings,

Dave 🙂

https://www.amazon.com/author/davidrische

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