The True God is Faithful and Loving

 Exodus 17:2

So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."

Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me?  Why do you put the LORD to the test?"

How long do you think the Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness at this point?  One year?  Five years? 20 years?  

No.  It had not been nearly that long.  Exodus 17 occurs about two-and-a-half months after they leave Egypt.  Just two-and-a-half months.  Amazingly, this isn't even the first time the people grumble against Moses, and ultimately God.  They had actually started this sinful, selfish habit immediately upon their exodus from Egypt.  They began this behavior at the Red Sea, shortly after leaving Egypt, because Pharaoh and his army started to pursue them.  This isn't even the first time they complained like little children about not having water.  The first time is just two chapters earlier, right after they crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, at the Waters of Marah.  

Yes, despite the Israelites having witnessed with their own eyes the power and love of God (the Passover, the plundering of the Egyptians, the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire to lead them, etc.) they still grumbled and complained to Moses about just about anything and everything.  Truly these people showed themselves to be the children of Israel.

Unfortunately, as the spiritual children of Israel, we often display this same bad behavior.  We want what we want when we want it- Right Now!!  Yes, like the Israelites in Moses' day God has revealed his power and love to us; not in exactly the same ways, but he has none the less.  Actually, he has revealed it to us in a much more powerful way: Jesus.

While the earthly redemption of the Israelites in Exodus is full of symbolism that points to the coming Messiah, Jesus is the fulfillment of all of those promises.  In Jesus all people are offered eternal redemption from sin and death.  

The Israelites were saved on the night of Passover by the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.  We are saved by the blood of the Lamb of God shed on the cross.

The Israelites left a land of slavery for a land "flowing with milk and honey".  Christians will one day leave this land of slavery to sin and death for the Promised Land of heaven.

The Israelites were led by God's chosen prophet, priest, and king (Moses) to the Promised Land (Canaan).  We follow God's Prophet, Priest, and King (Jesus) to the ultimate Promised Land (heaven).

God is faithful.  He fulfills every one of his promises.  It may not always be the way we expect, or want, but he always does what he says.  He loves each of us more than we can imagine.  His ways are higher than our ways.  His understanding is higher that our understanding.  We can trust our loving God to do for us everything he has promised, because he has already fulfilled the most important promise: The promise of a Savior.  

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.- John 3:16

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Another Turn

 On Thursday September 9 my life took another turn (you may recall my article from last year, Turning Points: When Life Gets Real).  This is one I didn't quite see coming like I had with the Covid shutdowns back in January 2020.  This one caught me off guard a little, but I am not devastated by it.  

The "turn" that I have come to is my position at Chaplains in Schools was eliminated.  

Now I am faced with decisions, opportunities, and choices.  This is the challenge with some turns in life: I can't see what's around the corner.  This turn came up much quicker than I could have anticipated.  I look at potential options and try to navigate the next few weeks and months by asking myself some clarifying questions.  What do you do in times like this to figure out your next move?

Here's what I've been doing:

1. Praying.  I have been praying a lot asking God for guidance and patience.  
2. Routine.  I have taken this opportunity to rebuild my morning routine.  The foundation of this routine is daily Bible study and Catechism reading first thing in the morning.
3. Reading.  I have used my open days to read more than I have in quite some time.  I am rebuilding the habit of reading at least one hour every day.
4. Exercise.  Three days-a-week I work out first thing in the morning.  I am physically feeling better than I have in quite some time.  I am working to get my "Energy Pyramid" (p. 210, The Power of Full Engagement) back in order.

The great thing about Turning Points in life is that they don't have to be scary and stressful.  If you are learning and growing daily, turning points just open the door to the next chapter.  They help us to remember that, ultimately, we are in control of nothing in this life.  Turning points should remind you to turn back to the Lord and trust in him.  He is the One who's "Got this".

My hope is to take full advantage of this turning point.  I will keep reading, keep working, keep learning, and keep trusting in God.  I don't know where this one is going to lead, but I want to be prepared for wherever it might be.

Jeremiah 29:11-12

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Name Change

 Greetings faithful readers.

You have already noticed the name change of this blog.

As of Thursday Sept. 9, I am no longer part of the Chaplains in Schools and Christ for Disciplers ministry.

As I work to figure out what's next for me, I would appreciate any suggestions or feed back you may have.  Also, I am open to different ideas for the name of this blog.  Please share your thoughts.

I pray that I am able to continue to add value to your life and help you grow closer to the Lord.

God bless

Jason Fredrick

It's Time to Stop Complaining and Start Leading

 Exodus 1:8-10

Then a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.  He said to his people, "Look, the Israelites are more numerous and more powerful than we are.  Let's come up with a wise plan to prevent them from increasing in number.  Otherwise, if war breaks out, they would join with our enemies and fight against us.  Then they would leave the land."

This is an interesting cycle that repeats throughout history.  Unfortunately, in our fallen world, marred by sin, bad rulers are the norm not the exception.  You don't have to look very far back into our current history to see that this is the case.  You may even be thinking, "Tell me about it.  Tyrants rule most of the world today--including my city and my state."  That may be true.  It may not be.  But the reality is that without God and his Word, rulers will be wicked and oppressive.  The corollary is also true: Rulers who reject God and his Word will always be wicked, oppressive, and self-serving. 

I know you are already thinking of specific people who fit this description.  That's okay.  That's not sinful.  Recognizing sin our world is not a sin, but how you respond to it once you recognize it is the key.  If your response is to belittle and verbally attack your governors at every opportunity, then you are sinning.  That is breaking the Eighth Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, and the Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.  Even if what you are saying is true, your motivation is to slander and destroy that person's name and reputation which makes it a sin.  Also the Fourth Commandment is the command to honor all those God has placed in authority over us in our lives.  Honoring people we don't respect, like politicians, can be tough.  That doesn't mean we have license to break God's commandments in this instance.  It is God's will that we obey all of his commands.  Even the ones that we don't like or the ones that are tough to live with.

God didn't give us his Law to make life difficult or boring or laborious.  He gave us his Law to show us what his expectations are, and so we understand how we honor him.  We honor God, and the First Commandment, by striving everyday to live according to his commands.  Obviously, we don't succeed at this any day, but out of love for our Lord we continue to strive for it every day.  That includes honoring those in authority--even when they are wicked and oppressive.

Why doesn't Jesus just come back to earth to rule as an earthly king like the Millenialists want, and falsely teach?

First, Jesus never promised to rule as an earthly king.  That was never the plan.  This is what so many missed in Jesus' day: His kingdom is not of this world.

Second, God has a plan for when all of the pain and suffering of this world will end.  It is called Judgment Day, and only God the Father knows when it will be.  For now, God is still exercising his patience with this world extending the time of grace for all who don't believe, and reject Jesus as their one and only Savior.

Finally, God has a plan for our world and he doesn't need our advice on how to carry it out.

Then the LORD answered Job out the storm.  He said:

"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?

Tell me, if you understand.

Who marked off its dimensions?  Surely you know!

Who stretched a measuring line across it?

On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--

while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,

when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,

when I fixed limits for it and set its bars and doors in place,

when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?

Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,

that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?

The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.

The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.

Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?

Have the gates of death been shown to you?

Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?

Tell me, if you know all this.

What is the way to the abode of light?

And where does darkness reside?

Can you take them to their places?

Do you know the paths to their dwellings?

Surely you know, for you were already born!

You have lived so many years!

--Job 38:1-21

This is only part of God's response to Job after much banter back and forth between him and his friends.  You can read God's entire response to Job, and his friends, in Job 38-41.  The point is: God knows what he's doing.  He is omniscient, not you.  Nothing that happens in our world takes him by surprise.  Much like he did with Pharaoh in the opening verses, God uses everything for our good, and to his glory.  Pharaoh's oppression of the Israelites would motivate them to want to leave Egypt and go back to Canaan, the Promised Land.  Likewise, God uses wicked and oppressive rulers in our day to motivate his people to get off their butts and start living their Great Commission calling!

When will you stop complaining and start leading with the power of the Holy Spirit living in you?

God bless

Jason Fredrick

Developing Discipline

How do you develop discipline?

What are some of the strategies that you use?

I don't know how often you think about your personal discipline, but you are affected by it everyday- for the good or the bad.  Discipline is something I think about constantly.  Part of this comes from setting goals, part of it is from trying to create new habits.  I tend to notice discipline the most when I fail to be disciplined: missing workouts, eating things I am trying to cut back on, not noticing an opportunity to serve my wife, etc.  These are the times when I notice discipline the most, because I recognize that I failed to discipline myself to do the things I know I need to do to get the things I want in my life.  Discipline is so important, but it is also so challenging.

We all know the negative consequences of a lack of discipline.  We feel it in every area of our lives: in our marriages, in our health and fitness, at work, with our children, in every area of life.  Lack of discipline is the culprit holding us back.  It keeps us from being the best version of ourselves, that ideal self we picture in our minds each day.  

The positive side is also true.  Each of you has some area of life where you are disciplined.  The way to recognize where it is is by looking at where in your life you get  quality results consistently.  The reason you are getting good results in that area is because you have disciplined yourself there.  The good thing is, if you have disciplined yourself in one area you can discipline yourself in another.  Usually, discipline carries over.  If you are disciplined in one area, generally, it will spill over into other areas of your life.  That is why discipline is so important and impactful.  You can actually carry over discipline wins from one area of life into all the other areas of your life. Being disciplined with your fitness will help you be more disciplined in your marriage.

That is one of the great secrets and powers of discipline.  Discipline compounds upon itself and then spills over into your whole life.  That's why it is so important to pick an area and work to develop discipline there.  Pick the area of life that will give you the greatest leverage- the one area that will have the greatest impact on every other aspect of your life.

I don't know your specific situation, but here a couple of suggestions on where to start to discipline yourself:

1. Read your Bible at least 30 minutes every day.

        I recommend doing this as early as possible in the morning.  If you work out first thing in the morning then read right after your workout.  Developing this discipline has eternal rewards.  To keep our faith strong and growing we need to be in God's Word every day.  This will also have a significant impact on every area of your life.

    2. Exercise every day.

        This one is so important for your mental, emotional, and physical health.  I recommend exercising first thing when you get out of bed every day.  Your life is busy.  If you're like me, if you don't do it first thing in the morning you won't do it at all.  This may mean you have to change some of your current habits.  Do it!  If that means you have to get up 30 or 60 minutes earlier, then do it.  Turn off the T.V. and go to bed at a decent time.  You need to make exercise a priority in your life because your health and fitness have such a great impact on every other area of your life.  DO IT!

I won't go into how to set goals and develop the discipline you need in your life, but I will recommend some books to read to dive deeper into this subject:

1. Resolved- by Orrin Woodward
2. The Ant and the Elephant- by Vince Poscente
3. The Magic of Thinking Big- by David Schwartz

These three books will get you started in the right direction, and will help you build a strong foundation.  Keep reading.  Keep learning.  Keep growing.

God bless

Jason Fredrick