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Where Have You Been Hiding?

September 24, 2025 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)

I’m quite embarrassed to admit it. My last post on this blog site was December of 2023!

I’m shocked that it took me over a year and a half to get back to writing something that I thought the public in general, and my friends and family in particular would find worth reading. My life the last year and a half hasn’t been all that bad, in fact, most days it’s been quite good. Exceptional most people would think.

During 2024 I know I took on too much that wasn’t critical for me to do. I won’t bore you with the details, there are too many to mention here. We also had many overseas guests in our home which was wonderful but also took time and energy. I regret not having set aside more time to enjoy what was happening around me rather than evaluating what I was doing at time.

The bottom line is I don’t think I gave myself enough time to think properly because I was trying to get too much done. A good friend and mentor had to remind me recently that I am a “human being” not a “human doing.” You are as well. We often neglect the person we are becoming thinking that more activity will improve our lives.

In the text quoted above, Jesus Christ speaks in the “Sermon on the Mount” to His first century listeners who were consumed with the necessities of life. We now know that many in our world today lack the necessities of life, and I don’t think Jesus has to be told this. I think He knows it better than we do.

However, I think He is commenting on the fact that we start thinking that something is really life when it is not really life at all. He’s speaking to us about our search for “the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” He knows that this is where true life is found. More on this later.

I didn’t expect to go into hiding after December of 2023. I thought that I would do more reflection and writing in 2024 and beyond. As you can see, it didn’t happen that way. Even though I “retired” from paid employment in February of 2023 I kept behaving as if I needed to keep going at a frenetic pace. Maybe it was to prove something to myself. I don’t think my being overly busy is a benefit to many people.

If you are like I am, you may be quite distracted by the immediate concerns of life and the current situation in which you find yourself. You may be having health issues or must work extra hours or live with a situation you never faced before. Only you can reflect on what you are facing just now.  I found that when I’m too busy to stop and reflect on the path I’m travelling, I’m too busy. I’m caught up in something that can seem like an endless treadmill that leads to nowhere.

As I come back to reflect on the words of Jesus, I hear Him reminding me that it’s still just “a day at a time.” I don’t have to get too caught up in the future and don’t have to regret the past. As I write this post, I can list off many family members and friends who are currently battling cancer and other ailments. That’s NOW. Today. I’m not where they are, but tomorrow I easily could be. What we all deal with today is right before us.

By not using my “todays” wisely in the past year and a half I may have missed out on recording some inspirational thoughts that might have benefitted myself (and others).

Someone once told me of a proverb that originated in Greece (where my Greek friends tell me everything originated!) which says, “Beginning is half of all.” I suppose I’m trying to make a new beginning here and get back to seeking and listening to the One who makes today an opportunity to seek Him and savour Him and His Kingdom. My hope for you is that you will do likewise.

Posted in Competition, Faith, Grace, Mental Health, Positive Thinking, Spirituality, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

A Letter to Myself – Monday 19th August 2024

August 19, 2024 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“and we know that in all things God works for good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Dear Jesse,

I’m checking in with you today not because I’m needing something from you but because you need something from me.

I know the past few weeks, and perhaps even months, have been difficult for you. I’ve been watching you and your life patterns lately and both of us know there’s a bit of work to do. Not a major reconstruction but definitely some finishing touches we need to put on the Masterpiece.

You’ve been up to a lot lately even though you are technically “retired” from paid employment. I see that you are under pressure to get things done, sometimes whether you really need to concern yourself with them or not. It’s time that I counselled you to take a step back and gain perspective.

On the calendar we are drawing near to the end of August and this is supposed to be “summer break.” I don’t think you have had any breaks this summer, except to pause from doing some of the many regular activities you were doing leading up to July. So often the time has been spent taking care of special things that have come up. Since you probably haven’t been wise with taking a regular “Sabbath” rest life catches up with you all too quickly.  

Now about the way you have been talking to yourself lately. I’m aghast at some of the thoughts going through your head lately. You continue to be hard on yourself. For what reason? Do you think you are all-wise and the best judge of your own accomplishments? Do you think that you can be that hard on yourself and be a better person? I really question your attitude toward yourself much of the time.

You are most responsible for your own thoughts, actions and attitudes under God’s wise guidance and protection. He loves you deeply, you too often question this. He above all others has your best interests in mind even when you think everything isn’t “turning out the way you wanted it to.”

I don’t have to remind you of this but I will. You are well aware of Romans 8:28, “and we know that in all things God works for good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” You second guess your Lord and Maker all too often, thinking that He has made mistakes with creating and shaping you but this simply isn’t the case. Our conversation alone is evidence of this.

You keep having opportunities to speak truthfully to others and you often pass them up. I know you sometimes struggle with being your honest, truthful self because you still value self-protection even when being known to others might be a much better and heathier option.

You’ve been in such confused thought lately that you haven’t been sleeping well and I know this is a lot to take in on a Monday morning. But, one last thing before I rest my case  – take advantage of the support system you have around you. Remember the days in years past when “go it alone” was your rule of thumb and also your downfall? You got into major trouble when you became isolated and had the attitude it was “one man against the world”  and all up to you.

You have a quality team around you. You need to be honest with them, trust them and don’t be afraid to reveal your struggles with them. Not only will they feel honoured but perhaps there are multiple mutual untapped blessings for you to share as you experience true life together.

Let’s catch up again soon!

Signed,

A wise, balanced and discerning version of you

Posted in Connection, Disappointment, Faith, Forgiveness, Personal Development, Positive Thinking | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

A Time for Everything

December 29, 2023 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” – Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 (NIV)

As I write this I’m very aware that we are coming to the end of another year, a very eventful year, as  every year usually is. However, this year was unique for me personally in that most of it was spent in “retirement” from paid employment. I served with the same mission organization (and a great one at that) for over 40 years! Needless to say, it was a shock to the system taking such a giant step.  

Before 2023 arrived I knew that my “retirement” years were imminent and that I had better have plans to keep myself occupied and still doing productive things. I had envisioned before the year began that I would be doing a lot more of this – writing posts on my blog. To my embarrassment this is my first (and will be my last) post of 2023! The good news is that 2024 is before us and I can resolve to do better in the next year! We’ll see!

Over the last eleven months since leaving formal employment I have  been able to reflect on what the author to the book of Ecclesiastes (quoted above) had to say about life and what, in the end is truly important. Time has flown and no doubt it won’t slow down for me or anyone else. So it’s a good time to reflect on what I did and did not accomplish in 2023 and what I hope to correct in 2024.

Some things are clearly emerging –

Efficiency can be an issue. Since leaving paid employment its very tempting to waste more time in meaningless activity than necessary. I think that I used my time more effectively when there were deadlines to meet, although some still exist and are self-imposed. I was sharper when knew I had to answer to another human being for my work. I’m finding ways to be accountable even though it may not matter to anyone but myself.

Other people always have plans for how I spend my time – if I don’t! The need to still be pro-active with my time is very important. If I don’t have a plan others can come in and make my plans for me. Other people have come up with many good “suggestions” about how I spend my time and some of them have a good deal of legitimacy. My need to be prayerful and purposeful didn’t change with employment ending. I continually need to re-focus on what is most important.  

Good health takes time. I have been blessed with the gift of good health most of my life. I had a childhood illness that set me back briefly years ago but outside of that my health has been good, and I’m exceedingly grateful. However, I’m learning that I can’t take my health for granted and if I want to make the most of the years ahead I have to invest in activity, exercise and the occasional visits to health professionals who can foresee problems coming down the line.

Awareness is important but worldly concerns can consume. I spend less time most of the time getting consumed with news and world affairs. I question how much of the daily news I really need to know. Some I’m sure, but without letting it control me. I find my attentiveness to others and my overall attitude is much better if my time is invested elsewhere than a steady diet of world affairs.

As I come near to my 70th birthday and the completion of my first full year self-employed I believe that there are productive days and hopefully years yet to come. I’m grateful to God for continued life, health, for family, friends and many good things yet to come.

In the end, God my LORD and Maker, has the final say in the results of whatever I do. May I continue to live for His glory and the priorities He has for my life, and yes, my time.

My prayer is that whatever your situation may be as you read this, you will look to Him for true life, meaning and purpose.  

Posted in Development, Endurance, Faith, Happiness, Mental Health, Personal Development, Positive Thinking | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

Calm in the Storm

May 9, 2022 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” – Mark 4:37-40 (NIV)

Some years ago I recall watching an old western film or television show. It featured a dastardly gunslinger who was terrorizing a small town with his gang of nasty marauders. Out in the dusty main street of the town was an old gentleman, a hard working cowhand who had lived an honest and hardworking life on the range. The gunslinger, singling him out, said something to the effect, “Hey old man, dance!” and began to shoot very close to his feet, forcing him to “dance” around in panic or have his feet injured, even permanently maimed.

Personally speaking, during the past year the term “calm” hasn’t been one that’s described my life most of the time. It also hasn’t been the term I would use to evaluate most of the information hear shared on any news channel or social media platform with which I’m familiar. If anything, news and social media startles and shakes us out of any peace and serenity we might enjoy, even for a few minutes of the day.   

I so often resonate with that poor old cowhand in the western. The gunslingers around me shoot at my feet on a regular basis and I start dancing to react or avoid whatever bullet they shoot my way.  

I could list any one of a number of troublesome current issues which plague our world on a daily basis and to be honest, it’s almost impossible for any sincere person to avoid thinking about these issues some or all of their waking hours. Even when we are awake in the middle of the night our minds often drift back to some pressing issue which directly or indirectly affects us or those we know and love.

How can any one of us remain calm when faced with these constant pressing issues?  

An entire range of self-help books, articles, blogs and advisors abound seeking to help us break free of the constant barrage of unsettling information and stressors we all face.

When feeling overwhelmed, I much prefer to go back to the foundations of my faith and recognize that as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have a much greater resources than anything else that’s out there these days.  

One of my favourite stories in the New Testament comes in Mark chapter four, quoted above. It’s the end of a long day and Jesus wants to escape the crowds He’s been ministering to all day. He instructs His twelve disciples, many of them fishermen, to get into a boat and to cross the Sea of Galilee with Him. The trip starts out in perfect serenity but along comes a furious squall and the disciples are beside themselves. They go into an absolute panic, trying to rid the boat of water before it capsizes and they are all washed away. They well knew the risks of their trade.

Jesus, in the meantime, is asleep! What’s the Son of God doing sleeping at a time like this?

Often like the disciples when I’m roused out of my calm and serene state I don’t really think about the grounding that I have in Jesus, the one who created the world and placed me into it personally. I forget my connection with Him which I need moment by moment, regardless of what’s happening around me.

As I read the text closely, I think Jesus very much reveals His authority over the natural world and displays to His disciples the truth of His word to them. Before they got into the boat He says, “We are going to the other side.” He never said anything about drowning in the middle of the lake!

Jesus is teaching them the lesson of just exactly Who is running their world and challenging them to trust Him completely. I’ve read the rest of the story. Not only did He care for them in the midst of the storm, but they went to follow Him, almost to a man, and be part of His Kingdom program here on earth. My relationship with the same Lord is a legacy of their faith and confidence in Him.

During the past few months I’ve not been very calm or patient, waiting for a surgical procedure which was coming up for me at the end of April. As a result of my surgery I was told to be still and quiet for one to two weeks and expect very little of myself during the recovery time.

One thing I’m starting to realize as I stepped back for a week was that I was returning to a sense of calm in my life. Oddly enough, we can fear something like surgery yet, it may be the storm that we need to quiet us down and get us back to trusting the One who created and loves us.

Whenever we feel like that poor old cowhand in the old west, we might just want to step back and ask some key questions. Who is doing the shooting? What do I have to fear? Is there Someone greater to protect me from harm? What might He be trying to teach me? Am I giving away the calmness I need for living to someone else who I feel is demanding it from me?

When the storms of life rage around us we can have a calmness that is beyond our understanding. There is One whom we can trust completely but our complete trust in Him is never finished.

Posted in Adversity, Authority, Connection, Disciple Making, Endurance, Faith, Grace, Mental Health, Personal Development, Positive Thinking, Spirituality, Trust, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Will I Ever Catch Up?

January 7, 2022 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:33-34 (NIV)

As my 68th birthday rapidly approaches, tomorrow in fact, I’ve been feeling like I will never get caught up. Caught up on the books I didn’t read last year, but wanted to. Caught up on the things I have left undone (I haven’t written on this blog in all too long). Caught up on the people I need to talk to, but haven’t! The list is endless!

When I started feeling that way I began to think, “why is the temptation so great for me to feel that I’m somehow ‘behind’?”

Here were some of the random thoughts that came from me asking myself this question –

I have to catch up to “others” I feel are “ahead” of me.

I have to catch up on all the good things I need to do to consider myself “worthy” of the rewards and benefits I reap.  

I have to catch up on my devotional life, my work, my reading, my writing . . . .

It then dawned on me that I may somehow have this perspective on life that I’m in some sort of competitive race. It’s perhaps my pride that shows up to suggest that there are people in my life I’m magically “ahead” of and others I know and admire who are actually “ahead” of me.

I’m not really aware of anyone in my life who would consider being in a “race” with me or against me.

This is a very uncomfortable and desperate way to live life. It was only when I stopped and asked myself this question that began to realize the insanity that was gripping me.

Do I have something to prove to others? Do I have something to prove to myself?

Why the need to feel “caught up”? Will I ever really be “caught up” in any sense of the word?

The answer is “probably not.”

Then the comment Jesus Christ made, recorded in Matthew 6 came to mind. He said, “Don’t worry about tomorrow (catching up, perhaps?), for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

Someone recently commented to me that we really only live in the present. We can’t “fix” or alter the past, we can only learn from it. We actually can’t know or live in the future which hasn’t arrived. We can only live in the present – often where we find the greatest challenge.

I know that I can be much more disciplined in my use of time and in organizing my life around the things which are most important. However, when I feel the stress of trying to “catch up” I’m really oblivious to all the wonderful opportunities for life and growth my Lord and maker has put right around me each day. As a follower of Jesus, life in His eternal Kingdom has already begin and I’ll never be behind or have to “catch up” only to live moment by moment in His Divine Presence.

Perhaps you can relate.

So when you and I feel the urge to “get caught up” maybe its time to take a step back and do a reality check. Is there anyone that really cares but us? Is there anyone keeping score?

If not, it might be better to trust the God of all eternity with the present and seek Him and His Kingdom first.

Posted in Comparison, Competition, Happiness, Mental Health, Perfectionism, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment »

No Longer on Shaky Ground

June 8, 2021 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire.’ – Hebrews 12:28-29 (NIV)

It often happens to me, usually without warning. I’m suddenly and inexplicably beset with my own fragility and weakness. It may be something someone says to me, a reaction to the daily (mostly negative) news or some comment made on Social Media, but it can send me into a state of despair and sometimes depression. Without warning I seem to end up awash with anxiety, fear, anger and a host of other unexplained emotions which evade my personal space and then don’t leave at my request.

In a complex world of competing world views, one thing is fairly certain – human beings are both thinking and feeling beings. Hopefully most people reading this would agree on that point. But the relationship between our thoughts and our feelings pose a very complex question. How often are our “feelings” a true reflection of reality?

Quite often what we may “feel” isn’t necessarily real. An often quoted illustration of this is the pilot flying the airplane and feeling that they are traveling right side up when in fact they are upside down. What the pilot “feels” isn’t exactly “real.” He has to look at the instruments on the plane to assess objective reality.

I have known of several people who struggle with eating disorders. Some of them are quite thin and frail and yet “feel” fat. I know of others who are quite wealthy and successful by most human measurements, and yet “feel” inferior and worthless. Most of us can come up with our own list.

As I have conversed with several individuals lately, I’ve come across a similar story. During the strange time of lockdowns due to Covid-19 and a world that seems to sink deeper into turmoil, many of our emotions have been strong and persistent these days. Some of us have been subject to panic attacks and shortness of breath who have actually never experienced these things before. It’s been a strange and unusual time to say the least. Why the strong feelings? Do they point to something that’s real or only the way we perceive and process it?

Personally, I have to come back to objective reality and start looking at the instruments on the plane, to continue the illustration above. I think the key is to stay grounded in a reality that we can have some degree of certainty about, even if it does require faith. Faith and reason both have a place in determining what is “real” regardless of what our emotions may tell us.

Recently I’ve been doing more thinking about what Jesus Christ said about “the Kingdom of God” recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) of the New Testament. Although this major subject cannot be fully discussed or described in one short essay such as this, it is clear that Jesus was all about leading people into a new reality that centered on Him. He referred to it as “the Kingdom of God,” or “The Kingdom of Heaven” or “the Heavens.”

I have to admit, that even though I’ve been a follower of Jesus for just over fifty years, I still have much to learn about the mystery of the Kingdom that King Jesus spoke about so often. However, one thing I do know is that the writer to the Hebrews said that this Kingdom was indeed unshakable. Perhaps that is because it is based on an unshakable Person who points to a reality greater than the deteriorating world we see around us.

The gospel writers recorded the words of Jesus in terms that everyday people of that era would understand. The good news is that the Kingdom of God is now available to everyone who will put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The reality of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is an indisputable fact regardless of how anyone may “feel” about it. This unshakable Kingdom is grounded in an indestructible Person.

A friend of mine spent many years in recovery from alcoholism attending AA meetings. She shared with me many important lessons which have even helped and stuck with me to this day. One thing she learned during her years of recovery was, “feelings are not facts, they are just feelings.” Even though feelings can tell us there is a problem they often don’t give us the solution to the problem.

When my emotions are strong and confusing in times like these I’m thankful that as a follower of Jesus Christ I can rest secure in a risen and living Savior who gently guides me into a Kingdom that cannot and will not be shaken. He won my heart with a love that is sacrificial and a life that is indestructible. I’m grateful for many others who join me on this journey as well as many others who have gone before and testify to the Kingdom’s reality and eternality – regardless of how I may feel. Will you join us in the journey? I hope so, but the choice is up to you.

Posted in Mental Health, Spirituality | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Rethinking Lent: Who is Shaping Your Character These Days?

February 19, 2021 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

At this time of year between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday the followers of Jesus broadly observe a step back from their daily routine to reflect on the character and provision of God in His Son, Jesus Christ. It seems to be a very common question in some sectors, “What are you giving up for Lent?”

However, I would like to pose the question from a different perspective. For me, the same question stated differently is – “Who (or what) is shaping your character these days?”

We can easily find something in our lives which we can do without for a season, with multiple benefits. I’m sure I can easily come up with a large number of substances (such as sugar or caffeine) or practices (such as mindless internet surfing or TV reruns) which would do me much good if I didn’t have so much of them, many of them for longer than six weeks.  

However, a deeper issue I’m asking just now is, “Who or what am I allowing to shape my innermost thoughts, feelings, and convictions just now?” Perhaps this Lenten season is a time to take time to reflect and reassess.

My character can easily be shaped by the News Media. I’m often put in an awkward spot of not being the first to “hear the news” of what just happened in the world of instant 24/7 news reporting.  I know some practicing Christians who are literally so tied to the news media or political agendas that it has to dominate and consume a large part of their time and energy. I know my character can easily be shaped – or misshaped –  by the news media. Taking a fast from constant news feeds might be something to seriously consider during Lent – and even longer.

And then there’s Social Media. I just easily counted four main platforms which I somehow got tied into. How did that happen? Keeping up with scores of people – some I know well and others I know very little – can consume so much of my life and energy. I think it’s a good time to reassess just what impact is being made in my life from Social Media. It can bring blessing but so often, like the frog in the kettle, my soul is gradually boiling and I don’t even see it.

My own fallen nature can be very much the center of my thoughts and feelings. The influences of the News and Social Media and the world around me can fuel what is already dark and fallen within me. There has to be a different alternative.

Through a series of old and “new to me” influences, God brought me back around to a discipline that I had neglected for some time. Years ago as a young Christian I had a plan for Scripture Memory and I think it made a difference in my life. Lately, I’m returning to finding better ways to occupy my mind and thought habits and stay further away from influences I don’t like shaping my character.

The late Dallas Willard once suggested that more Christians should be memorizing passages such as  Colossians 3:1-17, which focus on character development. I’ve taken him up on the challenge all to my benefit, I must say. Here the followers of Jesus are instructed by the Apostle Paul to focus their hearts and minds on different matters than what the world around them has to offer. The true followers of Jesus now have a new position and have received new identity which is to be cherished and nurtured. I’ve come to realize that often my own soul is the last thing that I feed. Perhaps this is more what Lent was meant to be about in the first place.

Now that I’m working through memorizing these verses I see that my “old nature” can easily be fed to overflowing by the world around me. Perhaps many men in the past became monks so that they could escape the corruption of the world and they didn’t even have Facebook and Instagram to avoid!

On the other hand, I realize that in order for me to be the person God wants me to be, I have to listen compassionately and caringly to the world around me, being sensitive to what others are thinking and feeling. Perhaps Lent is a time to reassess what part belongs to me and what belongs to God. I think He has a lot more of a say in the matter than I.

I’m challenged by verse 15 of Colossians 3  – “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” (NLT) The question of who is truly ruling within comes into sharp focus – particularly during Lent.  

I must allow the peace that comes from Jesus Christ to rule my heart rather than the influences around me. When I do that, I will find how God wants me to be with others in the situation of life around me, no matter how dark or challenging it may seem. I know that I need to be kind, loving, caring and compassionate – but all those qualities are found in my new nature, imparted to me because of my relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

What about you? In this season of Lent will you think about what you are giving up or rather what might be shaping your character. I know that by doing both I’m seeking to gain a deeper intimacy with the One who desires to shape me and my character from the inside out.

Posted in Development, Faith, Gratitude, Spirituality | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Who Owns the Chair?

November 24, 2020 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.” – Matthew 17:3-6 (NIV)

I must admit that I’m no expert on the British Royal Family but in recent times my wife has drawn me into watching the Netflix series “The Crown.”

In an opening scene in one of the early episodes of season four, “The Balmoral Test,” Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her husband Dennis are flying toward Scotland to spend time with the Royal Family at Balmoral Castle, Scotland in the early 1980’s. Margaret, as usual, is deep in thought while Dennis is explaining his awareness that the Royal family tends to get strategic people into the castle and run them through a series of “tests” that can be very instructive to them in how they relate to such individuals. In essence he’s telling Margaret that they are “prime” candidates for such a test.

As the story unfolds, we discover that Prime Minister Thatcher has not brought any outdoor shoes with her on this trip. In the morning the Queen gets her out in the country side, sloshing through muddy fields and up hills in the scenic area surrounding the castle. Even after borrowing a pair of the Queen’s old shoes for the trip, Mrs. Thatcher decides she is going back to the castle to be better prepared for this type of activity. Back in the castle she decides to forgo the great outdoors and sits down to do some serious work in one of the castle’s ornately decorated historic rooms.

At this point Princess Margaret, played by Helena Bonham Carter, arrives on the scene and finds Mrs. Thatcher sitting in a chair at a desk in this grandiose room. She exclaims, “Who told you that you could sit in that chair? That was Queen Victoria’s Chair! No one sits in that chair!”

I’m sure no one was as surprised to hear this news as was Mrs. Thatcher – the Prime Minister of Great Britain and certainly not a woman to be trifled with. After hearing this untimely news, she politely abides by the Princess’s wishes and gets up out of the chair.

This scene spoke to me deeply. I would have thought that the Prime Minister of Great Britain could pretty much go anywhere she wanted to go in the kingdom and sit in any chair she wanted. However, it became clear that when she was on “Royal” territory she was no longer “in charge.” There was a higher authority she was duty-bound to respect. Someone else owned the chair and she had to submit to an authority that was greater than her own office or position in the kingdom.  

Shortly after watching this, my wife and I were trying to explain the term “relativism” to two of our granddaughters and it dawned on me that this story is reflective of the current state of our world. In this current age, no one seems to know who “owns the chair.” We live in an age where no one really knows who is “in charge” and to whom we must ultimately give an account.

I thought back to the story I allude to above where the early Apostles Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus up onto a mountain one day during His earthly ministry. Jesus was transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him. Only later did the three apostles speak of the incident but they clearly heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son whom I love. Listen to Him.”

People often ask me, “Aren’t all religions and philosophies the same? What’s so different between what I believe and what you believe?” My short answer is now this, “According to your viewpoint, who owns the chair?”

Many current philosophies work under the assumption that there is no authorative, personal God in charge of the universe in general and our world in particular. The current state of our world is reflective of a mindset that believes “it’s all up to us” to decide who’s in charge. It’s survival of the fittest and the one who shouts the loudest or comes up with the best political/economic system gets to call the shots. (I’m not, by the way, making a political statement or endorsing any political party or candidate.)

I know that I might be branded as naive or simplistic, but I still believe that we can know, honor, respect and follow the one who not only “owns the chair” but owns our world and the entire universe. He invites us to know Him personally through His Son Jesus Christ who still speaks to us today through His Word, the Bible and by His Holy Spirit.

In the past two thousand years since Jesus walked the earth there have been many who have been dismissive of Him, but none have ever successfully disproved the reality of His life, death and resurrection. Peter, James, John and many other early Jesus-followers were eye witnesses of this Man who alone has ultimate authority.

The One who owns it all still speaks to us today, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”  I suggest we do just that.  

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Can You Say “Yes” and Really Mean It?

September 24, 2020 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.” – James 5:12 (NLT)

Actually when you think about it, whether we admit it or not, we all have our limits. During the past couple of weeks I’ve been considering the fact that we have so many limits or boundaries in our lives that we often don’t take time to consider.  

Recently a friend and colleague died of cancer at a relatively young age, leaving behind a husband and two children with particular needs. For those of us who knew and loved her we all feel the pain of losing someone who left us far too early. But her life, like all of ours, has limits. We won’t live in these bodies forever, and as a follower of Jesus as I grow older, I’m looking forward to the next one that God has promised me.

In the meantime, like everyone else, I have limits. I don’t have unlimited time, money, patience, emotional energy, and the list goes on. I have limits or boundaries and I’m learning more about them all the time. I often don’t like or appreciate the fact that I’m human and I have to say “no” to some things.

I’ve often pondered why I don’t like to say “no” to everyone’s requests. I think I’ve discovered that I don’t want to disappoint anyone and I want to be helpful to everyone. That’s a lofty goal, but virtually impossible to reach. I’m human and I have to be the first to admit it. I’ve been addicted to people-pleasing for years and it’s a difficult habit from which to break free.  

I’m re-reading Henry Cloud and John Townsend’s book, “Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life.” I think this should be required reading for almost everyone, especially people who relate to what I’m saying. One of the key thoughts from the book comes under the section on boundary myths under the question – “Are Boundaries a Sign of Disobedience?”

The authors write, “. . .an internal no nullifies an external yes. God is more concerned with our hearts than he is with our outward compliance. ‘For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings,’ (Hosea 6:6) In other words, if we say yes to God or anyone else when we really mean no, we move into a position of compliance. And that is the same as lying. Our lips say yes, but our hearts (and often our half-hearted actions) say no. . . Here’s a good way to look at this myth that boundaries are a sign of disobedience: if we can’t say no, we can’t say yes. . . We must always say yes out of a heart of love. When our motive is fear, we love not.” – pp. 110-111.  

As I was reading these words I reflected on what James writes in his epistle, quoted above. There is a responsibility for our lives that God entrusts to us as we stand before Him. We have to say “yes” to the things we devote our hearts to and “no” to what we cannot or must not do. In other words, I have to take ownership and responsibility for what is mine and you must do the same.

This is no simple task and it’s not a pat answer or “formula” that we can plug in to each and every situation. However, my thought and prayer life is much more informed by the boundaries and limits in my life and more importantly, in my heart.

Like everyone else, I’m a work in progress I need to continually guard and watch over my heart so that when I say “yes” I can really mean it – on the inside as well as the outside.

Daily we are bombarded by choices and decisions which are tough calls to make. To what will we devote our time, our energy, our money and our resources? Who will get the best part of our day and our full attention?

As something of a compulsive thinker at times, I can become consumed with trying to make the “right” decision instead of allowing God to speak to my heart and trusting His guidance. I know as I trust Him more fully He will give me the insight and wisdom to say “yes” and “no” and speak from a heart of love rather than fear of rejection or disappointing others. May this bless you on your journey with Him today.  

Posted in Giving, Personal Development, Spirituality, Worry | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

A Life of Rhythms or Reactions?

August 26, 2020 by Jesse L. Northcutt

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the cornfields, and as His disciples walked along, they began to pick some ears of corn. The Pharisees said to Him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’ He answered, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.’  Then He said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’” – Mark 2:23-28 (NIV)

I’m seeing a common theme that seems to surface regularly. Perhaps it may be because I’m more attuned to it in recent days.

It relates to  two very different and distinct ways that one’s life can be lived. I know that I might be oversimplifying this but I can see the difference in my own life and I use the distinction of a life of “Reaction” as opposed to a life of “Rhythms.”

A life of “reaction” may best be described as a “driven” life. We feel hard pressed by some unknown force to live life “in the fast lane,” milking each moment of the day for as much as we can accomplish while being an influence on the world around us. The temptation in living life this way is that we don’t really know what each day will hold until we have checked the news, social media or our e-mail to see what the world “throws at us” next.

I can easily live life by the motto, “What’s the latest fire I’m meant to extinguish?” I have to admit, there’s a few of us around with Messiah complexes as if we are God’s gift to a hurting world which desperately needs us to be “fixers of the universe.”

Our reactions, and our lives can very much be shaped by others around us who are also living this way. These days we have much greater connectivity than ever before with the internet and social media. The hope of having “down time” from excessive connection is quite fleeting these days. Those of us, like myself, who tend to be an obsessive thinkers are in a much more vulnerable place.

Living a life of “reaction” means that one is hopelessly at the beck and call of the latest news story or the constant stream of social media commentary, seeking to have one’s voice heard above the madding crowd.

So what’s the alternative? Although I have been a poor model of an opposing lifestyle I think there’s a better way.

Like many other followers of Jesus I have done some serious study and refection on the life of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospels. I see a completely different way of living reflected in what I know and am learning about Jesus. He lived an intentional life but was rarely, if ever, driven by reaction to others. Perhaps the most intentional man who ever lived invites us to daily dependence on Him and unbroken conversation with Him.

There are many scenes in the life of Jesus to which I could refer, but the one mentioned above is where Jesus told the Pharisees, “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” I think the Pharisees were living a life driven by rules and expectations. They represented a strictly religious approach to life that was more into rules keeping than understanding rhythms behind the rules.

According to Jesus, the Sabbath had a wonderful purpose as a life rhythm to allow men and women to rest, recover and to be re-shaped by the God who made them and who, by the way, does run the universe.

I can easily see that when my Sabbath-keeping hasn’t been a consistent part of my life rhythms, I’m drawn quickly back to reactionary way of life. A life dominated by “reaction” gives way to other people or pressing issues, allowing them to set the agenda for me rather than my taking ownership of my life choices and my response being one of submission to the God who made and sustains me.

I’m also seeing that it’s going to take more than one day a week for me to get into a healthy pattern of “rhythm” rather than “reaction.” It’s going to demand a life-style change and those are the most difficult ones to come by.

I can begin to fear that I’m not diligent enough and as a result I may miss something important and fail to meet the needs of others around me in an appropriate manner. Alternatively, I’m learning that getting caught up in a “reaction” mode doesn’t really help the cause of Jesus whom I seek to serve. I think most of my family and friends would agree that I’m much more available and helpful to them when I’m living out of rhythm rather than reaction to stimuli around me.

There will always be times in our lives when we are asked to go above and beyond the call of duty and respond to emergencies which arise. That’s part of life in the real world. However, when I’m constantly in a place of agitation due to living a reactionary life, I’m losing more effectiveness than I’m gaining.

What do you think? Will your life be driven by values, rhythms and intentions or will it be driven by reaction to what is thrown at you by the forces that seek to move and shape you? I’m seeking to do the former rather than the latter.  

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