Rich Mullins

I didn't discover Rich Mullins until shortly after a tragic accident took his earthly life.  His music - his heart - has been a major part of my spiritual development ever since.  I've often thought, and still do, that no one could write what he wrote without knowing God intimately.

Many, many times through the years I've heard just the right Rich Mullins song at just the right time and was ministered to in just the right way.

Rich Mullins has this unique perspective.  He seems to understand the genuine, powerful struggles we all face.  Yet he also has this easy confidence in Christ that both unsettles religious establishment and encourages believers. 

Hmmm ...  Just like Jesus !!!

It happened again this morning.  I've been going through some very serious, genuine, powerful struggles these past many months.  Yet, strangely, I am so thankful for them because I have a vague idea of where Christ is taking me.  And it's good. 

But even though I know Christ is working in and around me, these struggles are hard.  They are heavy.  I am weary.

Then this morning I hear Rich Mullins singing "Bound to Come Some Trouble". 

Again he sees me.  Again he understands.  Again he encourages me.

Thank You, Jesus, for the work You do through the willing heart of my dear brother, Rich Mullins.

You may have noticed that I refer to Rich Mullins in the present tense.  That's on purpose.  He's not dead.  He is alive forever more in Christ Jesus !!!!


Bound to Come Some Trouble

There's bound to come some trouble to your life
That ain't nothing to be afraid of
There's bound to come some trouble to your life
But that ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
Reach out to Jesus hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

There's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't nothing to be ashamed of
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
Reach out to Jesus hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

Now People say maybe things will get better
People say maybe it won't be long
And people say maybe you'll wake up tomorrow
And it'll all be gone
Well I only know that maybes just ain't enough
When you need something to hold on
There's only one thing that's clear

I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
But that ain't nothing to be afraid of
I know there's bound to come some tears up in your eyes
That ain't no reason to fear
I know there's bound to come some trouble to your life
Reach out to Jesus hold on tight
He's been there before and He knows what it's like
You'll find He's there

Beggars Who've Found Bread

We Christians are real people living in the real world. We suffer pain and loss just the same as anyone else. Our faith is not based on comfortable living with no difficulties. And we don’t rely on that to measure our relationship to Christ.

Quite the opposite. We are no different than anyone else except that we have been found by Jesus. One preacher said it something like this: “We Christians are beggars who have found bread telling other beggars where they can find bread, too.”

We are not free from troubles. We are not free from loss. We are not free from tragedy. We have not been placed in a protective bubble.

But we do have hope. We do have the promise of Christ that, though we may experience trouble, even crushing loss, we WILL NOT BE CONSUMED. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. There is nothing that has the power to separate us from Him.

Our hope is in Christ. Our peace is in Christ. Our trust is in Christ. Our very lives are in Christ.

The temptation to be bitter is sometimes very strong and well justified. Resist it anyway. Like the martyrs past and present who displayed joy and peace in the face of oppression and murder, let your faith, hope, and love be steadfast during the trying of your faith. Testify of the enduring provision of Christ. Encourage those who are afraid.

Live a life of witness that the love of God is above all things, is greater than all things, brings us through all things.  Remember, "many are the afflictions of the righteous.  But the Lord delivers them out of them ALL."

Go to Jesus. Admit your fears and frustrations. Bare your heart and soul to Him. Ask Him again to be your God and your salvation. Ask Him to help you believe. Ask Him to show you hope and faith and love. Ask Him to provide every spiritual and physical need. Ask Him to help you trust Him.

And when you have done all that you can do, simply stand firm.

When the enemy comes rushing in like a mighty flood, God will raise up a standard against him. You will not be consumed. You will not be forsaken. You will not be defeated.

You are this very day the beloved child of God. In you He chooses to live. With you He chooses to be one. Through you He makes Himself known to a lost and dying world.

He loves you. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you.

Go to him.

But leave your strength behind. Leave your ability to stand strong behind. Go to Him in your weakness and fear. You will find Him right there.

I don’t know what’s coming. I don’t know what may yet have to be endured. But I know we are in Christ. I know we will not be defeated. It may be difficult. It may get really bad before it gets better. But it's going to get better.

I am absolutely confident that Christ will become more alive in us than ever before. I’m certain we will find strength and depth in Him that we never knew existed. I’m confident we will be lifted high in Him.

A Different Road

I was asked recently what I was going to do about a certain very difficult situation.

I said, "Nothing. I'm going to wait on the Lord."

I wasn't being all religious or self-righteous. Nor was I hiding or running from the situation. I simply had nothing else. My only hope was and is in Jesus Christ.

My response was met with anger, bitterness, and mockery. I was asked in very bitter tones by someone very close to me, "What kind of God do you serve?"

You see the other person involved wanted an immediate solution.

I waited anyway. There was nothing else I could do. I've tried to fix things. I've tried to do things. But all of my doing and fixing ends up in a mess every time. This time I waited even in the face of mockery, though I was sorely tempted to respond in my own defense or to lash out.

There's an old sying, "When times get tough the tough get going." The truth is when times get tough the children of God run to Jesus.

I waited.

A week later Jesus spoke to my heart. Then I spoke to the situation.

It was good. It was broken. But it was soft. It was reassuring. It was right. It's what needed to be said, not what I wanted to say.


I'm coming to find more and more that following Jesus doesn't always go hand in hand with positive recognition from others. You don't always get an "Amen" and a pat on the back. You aren't always recognized for your patience and faith.

But I'm also coming to find more and more that following Jesus is the only right way. I'm finding more and more that following Jesus works.

Left to our own devices we very often stray and make things worse. But this time I'm going to walk a different road.

There are many very difficult challenges ahead. There is great temptation to take action, to say some things, to stand up for myself. But this time I'm going to walk a different road.

I believe Jesus. He has always told me the truth.

The funny thing is - no the really amazing thing is - that, even though I haven't always followed Him, He still speaks to me and I still know His voice.

And I know when I'm not hearing His voice. I'm learning to know the difference between what I'd like to hear, or do, or say and what Jesus is actually saying and doing. I'm learning the difference between well-intentioned advice and the voice of God.

I'm not going to follow the same descructive patterns of my past. No, this time I'm going to walk a different road.

I'm going to wait on the Lord. I'm going to walk a different road.

A Different Road

Mike Mains & The Branches - The Drifter

A very dear and very precious friend sent me a link to The Drifter by Mike Mains & The Branches. Check it out:


If you're calling me a drifter,
I'd say you're probably right
Just trying to get to where I'm going
Even if I don't know where it is

And if you're calling me a liar
Well, a liar is fine
I'm so sorry to have hurt you
I'll leave you alone

PRECHORUS:
Cause I've been so stuck on myself
Can't seem to help anyone else

CHORUS:
Tear me down again and build me back anew
Rid me of myself and fill me up with you
Take me to the place where I once knew
You were for me and not against me

And if you say I have no peace
I'd say you're probably right
Cause I can't seem to find it
You see I don't know what it is

My God, my God, my past haunts me
From the top of the morning to the bottom of the night
So sick, so sick of walking in darkness
Oh please shine your light

PRECHORUS
CHORUS

2ND CHORUS:
Tell me where to run and that's where I'll go
I want so bad for once just to finally know
That I'm not above and I'm not below
The place that you want me

I've burned so many bridges
I've run out of bridges to burn
I've failed so many times
I'm wondering if I'll ever learn

It's you I need, Its you I want,
It's you who can complete
This very world, this very life
That you've begun in me

CHORUS
2ND CHORUS

Create in me a new heart and make it clean
A single-minded pursuit of everything
That you would desire from this offering
That you call my life