This past weekend our church sponsored a 24 hour prayer vigil to prepare our hearts and minds for the season of Advent. I waited for the last minute to sign up for a time slot because I wanted to make sure I could sign up for a time that was hard to fill. The time slot that was open was 10pm to 1am on Saturday.
I would like to say that I did a lot of preparation for my 3 hour prayer slot on Saturday... but instead it became this thing that was looming in my future... it was something that I HAD to do. I put off all of my youth ministry reading until that time so I would have "something" to do. I was not in the greatest frame of mind to be in prayer and meditation for 3 hours. I was busy, tired, worn out, burnt out, and frustrated with life in general.
10pm I showed up to the church with a cup of coffee, a book, and my cell phone.
I read over half of the book The Godbearing Life....which pretty much changed my life and the way I look at ministry. It took all of my ministry frustrations and anger and opened my mind to so many things I really needed to think about. (totally another blog entry).
Then I was left with an hour to concentrate on prayer. I had several people send me prayer requests via text messages and facebook. When I was done with those prayers... I had a really crazy idea....
Why don't I go through all of my contacts in my cell phone and pray for them individually.
Wow.. What an experience!
I learned so much about myself and my contacts in just 30 min. of prayer.
In 30 min. I prayed for 178 contacts in my phone... and that was just A-J. ( I plan on praying for K-Z the rest of this week)
I found myself praying for youth that i was in ministry with 7 years ago..and now they are adults.
I prayed for the youth that are currently in my life and that have blessed my life in so many ways.
I prayed for the doctors that saved my dads life on multiple occasions.
I prayed for businesses like Dish Network and Apple Computer Inc.
I prayed for guys that I dated in the past, former coworkers, and people that I am not friends with any more. (This would be a category of people I really just keep their numbers in my phone so I know not to answer it).
There was so much healing in those prayers.
My eyes filled up with tears as scrolled down my contacts list and saw the name of one of my former youth that passed away suddenly earlier this year. I prayed a prayer of thanks for God placing this young man in my life and I prayed for his family as they are experiencing this holiday with out him for the first time.
I realized that I save people under some weird names.... like Dan the basketball supply guy (the guy who sold me basketball pads for our Upward basketball goals) and Hair... which is the number for the lady that used to cut my hair a long time ago.
I prayed for churches and ministeries of contacts that were in my phone.
I prayed for people I talk to all of the time... and people I haven't talked to in years.
Although it was only a half an hour of prayer... and although it was for all of those in my contacts A-J..... it was probably the most powerful prayer experience I had in a long time.
I laughed... I cried... I thanked... I apologized.... I forgave.
I needed that time to reconnect with my heart and the blessings I have in those God has placed in my life.
I heard from somebody a while ago that "The time that you don't want to do something like go to church or pray is the time you need to do those things the most". This was one of those times. I didn't want to spend three hours meditating and praying. I wanted to lay on my couch and watch tv or go to sleep.
God knew just what I needed and spit me out of the whale and placed me at my cell phone.
I would love to challenge all of you to spend 30 min. and pray for all of those in your cell phone. Scroll down and take just a second or two in prayer for each contact. It will be very eye opening and amazing!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Matthew 5:17-18 Orange lights
"Don't suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures- either God's Law or the Prophets. I'm not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God's law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God's Law will be alive and working."
Matthew 5:17-18
I would like to believe that I am a lawful person. I am pretty much a rule follower... except on the open road. There are a few rules or laws that I stretch a little to fit my needs. Here are two examples:
1. Yellow lights - We learn the meaning of stop lights at a very early age. Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means sssssllllllooooowwww down. Except when I am in a hurry. Then I add a color that is not seen by the naked eye. That color is Orange. The non visible yet ever present light that appears when i am in a hurry. The orange light allows for grace when you are in a hurry. It goes like this - Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means hurry up before the light turns red, Orange - the light was in between yellow and red and so was my car.
2. Speed limits - I look at speed limits as a mere suggestion. Everybody knows that there is a five mile above the speed limit cushion before you can get pulled over. Why not live on the edge and go six miles above the speed limit... or seven, or eight. I mean maybe the cushion is different depending on what road you are on.
Now that I have put a huge target on my back... and presented a case for you not to allow me to drive you or your children around... its time to get to the point.
But what is the point?
Laws were kind of a big deal back when Jesus was talking to this crowd of the committed. Before Christ came in the picture the world was full of chaos and many different laws were thrown at everybody to try and restore some sort of sanity. My study Bible pointed out that "God's moral and ceremonial laws were given to help people love God with all of their hearts and minds". The moral and ceremonial laws were the laws that were in place beyond the civil laws. The problem was in the Old Testament days... people tried to stretch the moral and ceremonial laws in order to fit their lives and their own vices. (insert orange light concept here). Instead of people growing closer to God and loving them with their whole heart and mind... the laws became a huge confusing mess and people concentrated on the laws instead of the creator of the laws.
That is where Christ came in.
Christ came to pull it all together!
Christ came to show us that there is a panoramic purpose to God's law.
Sometimes we get bogged down with the politics of life.
We get focused on the rules and not the Ruler.
Then there is chaos.
I am not saying that disobeying or making up your own traffic laws is a great way to go... in fact we are called to obey civil laws as well as God's laws.
But obedience is about focus.
What are you focused on?
God's law and love is everlasting.
Christ was brought onto this earth so we can see things clearly, so he could restore us to sanity.
"God's law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet."
God's everlasting law encourages us to love.
Do we focus on the fact that worship on Sunday morning is boring or too early... or do we focus on that being an opportunity for us to experience and share The Love.
Do we focus on scripture being too complicated or the Bible being too big... or do we focus on the life and direction those words give us?
Do we focus on the fact that some people are too inconvenient to love .. or do we focus on the fact that God is Love and we are to be Christ's heart to others?
Laws are rules.
Rules are hard.
Life is hard.
Christ is life.
Life with Christ is everlasting.
It is not our job to see the bigger picture sometimes.
It is our job to be obedient and faithful knowing that when we chose to love others, when we chose to love Christ, we are choosing something so much more than just obeying a law... we are choosing life.
Matthew 5:17-18
I would like to believe that I am a lawful person. I am pretty much a rule follower... except on the open road. There are a few rules or laws that I stretch a little to fit my needs. Here are two examples:
1. Yellow lights - We learn the meaning of stop lights at a very early age. Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means sssssllllllooooowwww down. Except when I am in a hurry. Then I add a color that is not seen by the naked eye. That color is Orange. The non visible yet ever present light that appears when i am in a hurry. The orange light allows for grace when you are in a hurry. It goes like this - Green means go, Red means stop, Yellow means hurry up before the light turns red, Orange - the light was in between yellow and red and so was my car.
2. Speed limits - I look at speed limits as a mere suggestion. Everybody knows that there is a five mile above the speed limit cushion before you can get pulled over. Why not live on the edge and go six miles above the speed limit... or seven, or eight. I mean maybe the cushion is different depending on what road you are on.
Now that I have put a huge target on my back... and presented a case for you not to allow me to drive you or your children around... its time to get to the point.
But what is the point?
Laws were kind of a big deal back when Jesus was talking to this crowd of the committed. Before Christ came in the picture the world was full of chaos and many different laws were thrown at everybody to try and restore some sort of sanity. My study Bible pointed out that "God's moral and ceremonial laws were given to help people love God with all of their hearts and minds". The moral and ceremonial laws were the laws that were in place beyond the civil laws. The problem was in the Old Testament days... people tried to stretch the moral and ceremonial laws in order to fit their lives and their own vices. (insert orange light concept here). Instead of people growing closer to God and loving them with their whole heart and mind... the laws became a huge confusing mess and people concentrated on the laws instead of the creator of the laws.
That is where Christ came in.
Christ came to pull it all together!
Christ came to show us that there is a panoramic purpose to God's law.
Sometimes we get bogged down with the politics of life.
We get focused on the rules and not the Ruler.
Then there is chaos.
I am not saying that disobeying or making up your own traffic laws is a great way to go... in fact we are called to obey civil laws as well as God's laws.
But obedience is about focus.
What are you focused on?
God's law and love is everlasting.
Christ was brought onto this earth so we can see things clearly, so he could restore us to sanity.
"God's law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet."
God's everlasting law encourages us to love.
Do we focus on the fact that worship on Sunday morning is boring or too early... or do we focus on that being an opportunity for us to experience and share The Love.
Do we focus on scripture being too complicated or the Bible being too big... or do we focus on the life and direction those words give us?
Do we focus on the fact that some people are too inconvenient to love .. or do we focus on the fact that God is Love and we are to be Christ's heart to others?
Laws are rules.
Rules are hard.
Life is hard.
Christ is life.
Life with Christ is everlasting.
It is not our job to see the bigger picture sometimes.
It is our job to be obedient and faithful knowing that when we chose to love others, when we chose to love Christ, we are choosing something so much more than just obeying a law... we are choosing life.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Matthew 5:14-16
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bring out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-barers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:14-16
My prayer for today:
Heavenly Father,
I am overwhelmed with this scripture today and the weight of its words.
It is hard to believe that you would trust your light in somebody as ordinary as I am.
I take your light for granted.
When you place me on the mountain top to shine your light... sometimes I mistake your light for mine.
You ask us to be open - but most of the time I close myself off from the opportunities you place before me.
Help me to reflect your light in love.
Help me to stand in confidence.
Help me to be generous and open.
Provide specific opportunities for me to stand firm and share your light today.
Thank you for entrusting me with your grace and love today and everyday.
Amen.
Matthew 5:14-16
My prayer for today:
Heavenly Father,
I am overwhelmed with this scripture today and the weight of its words.
It is hard to believe that you would trust your light in somebody as ordinary as I am.
I take your light for granted.
When you place me on the mountain top to shine your light... sometimes I mistake your light for mine.
You ask us to be open - but most of the time I close myself off from the opportunities you place before me.
Help me to reflect your light in love.
Help me to stand in confidence.
Help me to be generous and open.
Provide specific opportunities for me to stand firm and share your light today.
Thank you for entrusting me with your grace and love today and everyday.
Amen.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Matthew 5:13 Bring on the God-Spice!
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage."
Matthew 5:13
Its an unwritten rule in life...that every woman should have a favorite pair of jeans. This pair of jeans just fits differently than all of the rest of the jeans she has in her closet. This pair of jeans has been through thick and thin with her. This pair of jeans can be dressed up with a nice pair of boots or dressed down with a tennis shoe or sandal. There may be holes, it may be worn in places, but this pair of jeans is the one thing that the woman can turn to at a moments notice for comfort and familiarity.
Until that one dreaded day where you decide.... the jeans are not wearable any more.
The jeans that you used to fit in with ease... are suddenly too tight (even when you do lunges down the hallway to help loosen them up).
The jeans that used to cover you like a security blanket are literally falling apart - the button is missing, there are way too many holes in the jeans for you to say that it is fashion anymore, or in some rare cases they are too big for you and they just plain fall off of you.
A woman's favorite pair of jeans serves a purpose in their lives...so it is a sad sad day when you have to choose to take your favorite pair of jeans off of life support and send them to the trash can grave prepared for them. It truly is a time of mourning as you try to decide which pair you are going to bring off of the bench and have them be promoted to the varsity team of jeans in your closet.
Don't worry... I really have a point.
There are many times we find ourselves saying "What is the purpose of this" or "What is the point" or "Why am I here". This scripture prints it in black in white.
We are here to be the salt seasoning. We are to bring out the God-flavors of this earth.
We are to serve as a favorite pair of jeans. We are to bring God's security and comfort to those who live in fear or discomfort. We are to be useful.
Do you bring the flavor? (pretty much love this phrase)
We are called to bring the flavor! We need to bring the God-spice into the world!
Quick story:
My Nana makes the best homemade applesauce EVER! There is something about her mixture of Granny Smith apples, cinnamon and sugar that just makes her applesauce so wonderful. One day Nana was cooking her homemade applesauce in my kitchen. The amazing culinary organizational specialist that I am... I put all of my baking supplies in ceramic containers.
The largest has flour, second largest-sugar, third largest-salt, smallest - misc. sugar and sweetener packets.
You don't have to be Betty Crocker to know the difference between looking at flour and looking at sugar. You do however have to be a chemical engineer or "Amanda-mind reader" to know the difference between salt and sugar.
Poor Nana added salt instead of sugar. Not just a little salt... a lot of salt was added to her homemade goodness.
Lots of salt + granny smith apples + cinnamon - sugar = Really bad grunt like sound coming from Nana because her Applesauce was ruined.
I cried a little tear as i saw the salty apple creation make its way to the trash.
Do we consider ourselves bringing the FLAVA but really we are bringing the wrong FLAVA?
Are we spicing things up with our spice and not God- spice?
Do we add salt when we should be adding sugar?
God-spice helps other experience a world of Godliness.
Just like a good pair of jeans.. we can lose our usefulness when we aren't bringing the God-spice to others. We are useless when we aren't being useful.
God calls us to bring it! God calls us off of the bench and into the game. God calls us all of the time.. not just once a week or when we need to feel good about ourselves.
Where is God calling you to be the salt-seasoning and bring out the God-flavors in this world?
Nana acted quick while making the applesauce.. in a routine move she added what she thought was the right ingredient.
Being the God-spice and bringing the God-flavor means not being routine... it means trying things out.. it means knowing who you are and what you can do before bringing the God-flavor.
Sometimes we are worn out like our favorite pair of jeans. Sometimes we need to throw out the old way of doing things and allow God to bring out new spices with in us. Maybe God is calling you to try on something different in this life... open your eyes to a new part of this world that needs to find out what this Christ person is all about. If we keep going back to the old way of life (the old jeans) we fall into a routine.
Its time.
Be useful!
Be salt-seasoning!
Bring out the God -flavors!
Today I ask God to show us all how to BRING IT today and Spice up the world we live in with his love!
Matthew 5:13
Its an unwritten rule in life...that every woman should have a favorite pair of jeans. This pair of jeans just fits differently than all of the rest of the jeans she has in her closet. This pair of jeans has been through thick and thin with her. This pair of jeans can be dressed up with a nice pair of boots or dressed down with a tennis shoe or sandal. There may be holes, it may be worn in places, but this pair of jeans is the one thing that the woman can turn to at a moments notice for comfort and familiarity.
Until that one dreaded day where you decide.... the jeans are not wearable any more.
The jeans that you used to fit in with ease... are suddenly too tight (even when you do lunges down the hallway to help loosen them up).
The jeans that used to cover you like a security blanket are literally falling apart - the button is missing, there are way too many holes in the jeans for you to say that it is fashion anymore, or in some rare cases they are too big for you and they just plain fall off of you.
A woman's favorite pair of jeans serves a purpose in their lives...so it is a sad sad day when you have to choose to take your favorite pair of jeans off of life support and send them to the trash can grave prepared for them. It truly is a time of mourning as you try to decide which pair you are going to bring off of the bench and have them be promoted to the varsity team of jeans in your closet.
Don't worry... I really have a point.
There are many times we find ourselves saying "What is the purpose of this" or "What is the point" or "Why am I here". This scripture prints it in black in white.
We are here to be the salt seasoning. We are to bring out the God-flavors of this earth.
We are to serve as a favorite pair of jeans. We are to bring God's security and comfort to those who live in fear or discomfort. We are to be useful.
Do you bring the flavor? (pretty much love this phrase)
We are called to bring the flavor! We need to bring the God-spice into the world!
Quick story:
My Nana makes the best homemade applesauce EVER! There is something about her mixture of Granny Smith apples, cinnamon and sugar that just makes her applesauce so wonderful. One day Nana was cooking her homemade applesauce in my kitchen. The amazing culinary organizational specialist that I am... I put all of my baking supplies in ceramic containers.
The largest has flour, second largest-sugar, third largest-salt, smallest - misc. sugar and sweetener packets.
You don't have to be Betty Crocker to know the difference between looking at flour and looking at sugar. You do however have to be a chemical engineer or "Amanda-mind reader" to know the difference between salt and sugar.
Poor Nana added salt instead of sugar. Not just a little salt... a lot of salt was added to her homemade goodness.
Lots of salt + granny smith apples + cinnamon - sugar = Really bad grunt like sound coming from Nana because her Applesauce was ruined.
I cried a little tear as i saw the salty apple creation make its way to the trash.
Do we consider ourselves bringing the FLAVA but really we are bringing the wrong FLAVA?
Are we spicing things up with our spice and not God- spice?
Do we add salt when we should be adding sugar?
God-spice helps other experience a world of Godliness.
Just like a good pair of jeans.. we can lose our usefulness when we aren't bringing the God-spice to others. We are useless when we aren't being useful.
God calls us to bring it! God calls us off of the bench and into the game. God calls us all of the time.. not just once a week or when we need to feel good about ourselves.
Where is God calling you to be the salt-seasoning and bring out the God-flavors in this world?
Nana acted quick while making the applesauce.. in a routine move she added what she thought was the right ingredient.
Being the God-spice and bringing the God-flavor means not being routine... it means trying things out.. it means knowing who you are and what you can do before bringing the God-flavor.
Sometimes we are worn out like our favorite pair of jeans. Sometimes we need to throw out the old way of doing things and allow God to bring out new spices with in us. Maybe God is calling you to try on something different in this life... open your eyes to a new part of this world that needs to find out what this Christ person is all about. If we keep going back to the old way of life (the old jeans) we fall into a routine.
Its time.
Be useful!
Be salt-seasoning!
Bring out the God -flavors!
Today I ask God to show us all how to BRING IT today and Spice up the world we live in with his love!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Matthew 5:11-12 Christ's words > other's lies
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Matthew 5:11-12 (New Living Translation)
Sticks and stones may break my bones.. but words will never hurt me.
If you don't have anything nice to say... don't say anything at all.
It's easier to attract bees with honey than with vinegar.
And my personal favorite...
I'm Rubber, you're glue - Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to YOU.
How many times have you heard or even better said any of these catchy phrases?
**Blog challenge... I challenge you to say one of these phrases at least once today..**
Ladies and Gentlemen.. we are talking about persecution yet again today... awesome!
This scripture talks about so much more than persecution... it talks about words.
Words are powerful.
We learned about the weight of our words the first time we were grounded or sent to time out when we lied to our parents. The first time we used a forbidden word or obscene word we were reminded of its inappropriateness or offensiveness by having a bar of soap in our mouth.. or experiencing the embarrassment once we found out what that word really meant.
Words have weight.
I love you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.
I hate you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.
Apparently this is not a new concept in this scripture either...
Jesus is on a hillside talking to his committed walking companions and he is telling them the honest truth.. people will literally hate them and lie about them because of being committed to Him.
Nobody can escape the hate... not even Christ.
But the weight of words can only be determined by the power you give them. "I don't love you anymore" can only hurt as much as the power that you assign to those words.
Christ calls us to be happy and be very glad when somebody lies about you or says evil things about you. What? You want me to be happy when somebody is spreading rumors about me? What? You mean I can't post something mean on facebook about somebody who said something mean about me? What?
Christ calls us to find joy in Him.
Joy is contagious.
When we find true happiness in our Creator... the rest is just words.
Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.
I am going to say it again...
Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.
Christ's words > others lies.
In the word battle Christ's words are stronger than anything we can say or hear.
Thats why it is so important to speak the truth... to speak in love... because Christ is love.
My prayer today is that we remember that life is not easy. We are going to be persecuted... but allow Christ's words flow from your mouths and finger-tips. Allow Christ's words to take root into your heart and replace the words of others that have lived there for so long.
Christ's words > others lies.
Amen.
Matthew 5:11-12 (New Living Translation)
Sticks and stones may break my bones.. but words will never hurt me.
If you don't have anything nice to say... don't say anything at all.
It's easier to attract bees with honey than with vinegar.
And my personal favorite...
I'm Rubber, you're glue - Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to YOU.
How many times have you heard or even better said any of these catchy phrases?
**Blog challenge... I challenge you to say one of these phrases at least once today..**
Ladies and Gentlemen.. we are talking about persecution yet again today... awesome!
This scripture talks about so much more than persecution... it talks about words.
Words are powerful.
We learned about the weight of our words the first time we were grounded or sent to time out when we lied to our parents. The first time we used a forbidden word or obscene word we were reminded of its inappropriateness or offensiveness by having a bar of soap in our mouth.. or experiencing the embarrassment once we found out what that word really meant.
Words have weight.
I love you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.
I hate you are words that are thrown around without a second thought these days.
Apparently this is not a new concept in this scripture either...
Jesus is on a hillside talking to his committed walking companions and he is telling them the honest truth.. people will literally hate them and lie about them because of being committed to Him.
Nobody can escape the hate... not even Christ.
But the weight of words can only be determined by the power you give them. "I don't love you anymore" can only hurt as much as the power that you assign to those words.
Christ calls us to be happy and be very glad when somebody lies about you or says evil things about you. What? You want me to be happy when somebody is spreading rumors about me? What? You mean I can't post something mean on facebook about somebody who said something mean about me? What?
Christ calls us to find joy in Him.
Joy is contagious.
When we find true happiness in our Creator... the rest is just words.
Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.
I am going to say it again...
Allow the words Christ gives us to have more power over our lives than the lies spread about us.
Christ's words > others lies.
In the word battle Christ's words are stronger than anything we can say or hear.
Thats why it is so important to speak the truth... to speak in love... because Christ is love.
My prayer today is that we remember that life is not easy. We are going to be persecuted... but allow Christ's words flow from your mouths and finger-tips. Allow Christ's words to take root into your heart and replace the words of others that have lived there for so long.
Christ's words > others lies.
Amen.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Matthew 5:10 "Persecution Provoking Commitment"
"You are blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."
I have highlighted and deleted the section below this point about 5 different times today. For some reason this scripture is hard for me to talk about. I actually sat down to start this blog today at 9:30am.
Then I took a break. (and pressed delete)
I switched my music inspiration from my itunes self created playlist "Country songs that are in my head" to another self created playlist "Amanda's Top 14 Christian Favorites" thinking that would get my inspirational writing juices flowing.
Fail.
I took a long driving lunch to get a change of scenery so I can really center myself on persecution. (while listing to "Everything" by Tim Hughes).
Nothing.
I then sat down a bit ago and started to write a bunch of fluff.. just to say i finished this blog today.
Highlight - Delete.
Currently I am trying to think of why it is so hard for me to write about Persecution.
I am lucky enough not to suffer persecution.
Maybe I am making this scripture too complicated.
Maybe the focus on this scripture should be less on the persecution that happens as a result of your God commitment and more on the actions you make to provoke the persecution.
Maybe I should be asking myself "How is your God-commitment provoking persecution?"
Maybe I don't experience persecution because my God-commitment is not strong enough to provoke persecution.
Maybe the persecution I am experiencing is coming from other things that are buying for my commitment with God.
Maybe the "I don't want to's", the "I am so angry's", and the "I would rather's" are my self inflicted persecution.
Maybe persecution has more to do with commitment than you and I would like to believe.
Maybe the reason why I don't feel like I have been persecuted against... is because I am not doing anything that is persecution worthy. My commitment is not on the radar. My commitment is not challenging.
Does your God- Commitment provoke persecution?
There really is not a right way to wrap up this devotional with a nice bow today.
Maybe there is a reason why I needed to marinate on this scripture today.
Maybe this will be continued in my thoughts, prayers, and actions.
If persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom... then I need to challenge myself to have a persecution provoking commitment to God.
I have highlighted and deleted the section below this point about 5 different times today. For some reason this scripture is hard for me to talk about. I actually sat down to start this blog today at 9:30am.
Then I took a break. (and pressed delete)
I switched my music inspiration from my itunes self created playlist "Country songs that are in my head" to another self created playlist "Amanda's Top 14 Christian Favorites" thinking that would get my inspirational writing juices flowing.
Fail.
I took a long driving lunch to get a change of scenery so I can really center myself on persecution. (while listing to "Everything" by Tim Hughes).
Nothing.
I then sat down a bit ago and started to write a bunch of fluff.. just to say i finished this blog today.
Highlight - Delete.
Currently I am trying to think of why it is so hard for me to write about Persecution.
I am lucky enough not to suffer persecution.
Maybe I am making this scripture too complicated.
Maybe the focus on this scripture should be less on the persecution that happens as a result of your God commitment and more on the actions you make to provoke the persecution.
Maybe I should be asking myself "How is your God-commitment provoking persecution?"
Maybe I don't experience persecution because my God-commitment is not strong enough to provoke persecution.
Maybe the persecution I am experiencing is coming from other things that are buying for my commitment with God.
Maybe the "I don't want to's", the "I am so angry's", and the "I would rather's" are my self inflicted persecution.
Maybe persecution has more to do with commitment than you and I would like to believe.
Maybe the reason why I don't feel like I have been persecuted against... is because I am not doing anything that is persecution worthy. My commitment is not on the radar. My commitment is not challenging.
Does your God- Commitment provoke persecution?
There really is not a right way to wrap up this devotional with a nice bow today.
Maybe there is a reason why I needed to marinate on this scripture today.
Maybe this will be continued in my thoughts, prayers, and actions.
If persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom... then I need to challenge myself to have a persecution provoking commitment to God.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Matthew 5:9 - HEB, Texas Rangers, and Norm.
"You are blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."
Matthew 5:9
Amanda -1
Lady at the grocery store who I was competing against in shopping cart racing (without her knowledge) - 0
"Friend" i was trying to avoid at coffee establishment - 1
Amanda using her stealth ninja avoidance skills - 0
Amanda - 1
Norm - 0
(This was a race to see who could make it down the hallway faster.... let it be known that my cat Norm through down the challenge... and I had to accept)
As you can tell by reading these stats... I am a fierce competitor. Life is a competition with me.. ALWAYS a competition.
So imagine my surprise when I read this scripture.
Not gonna lie.. this is how I read this scripture the first time today..
"You are blessed when you can show people how to COOPERATE instead of compete or FIGHT. That's when you (and by you i mean everybody else but myself) discover who you (not me) really are, and your (not my) place in God's family."
I then formulated a plan of action to somehow NOT make this a message about competition and rather about cooperation and fighting. I figured with my advanced writing and avoidance skills (don't let the above scoreboard fool you.. I am a champion avoider) I could somehow blog and fool your mind into not reading the word compete.
Then I instantly thought about the Texas Rangers play off turning point in my life.
I discovered a whole new side of myself while watching the Texas Rangers play the New York Yankees. Apparently I went from being a relatively civil and kind hearted youth minister... to a rough around the edges cursing like a sailor rage machine. Praise the Lord I was in the privacy of my own home when this Hulk-like transformation took place... but none the less... it was frightening.
I was yelling at the TV, screaming out words my Nana would be ashamed of, and cheering at any sight of injury or struggle that the other team showed.
Who was this person I had become.
Fast forward to today.
Reading this scripture a second time... here is what I read...
"You are blessed when you can SHOW people how to cooperate instead of COMPETE or fight. That's when you discover WHO YOU really are, and YOUR PLACE in God's family."
Matthew 5:9
You see when you really think about cooperation and fighting.. you can't help but think of competing. Who is winning the fight you are having? Was that verbal punch I just threw good enough to advance me to the next level? Did that text I just send or passive-aggressive email or Facebook posting allow me to have an upper hand in that relationship? Did I just prove that I was the bigger person by cooperating?
We receive blessings when we show people who we are in God's family. When we treat others as a part of God's family. A little less talk and a lot more action. (I am pretty sure that is not what Toby Keith had in mind for that lyric... but just go with it).
I find that I am most competitive with the people I know the least. The less I know about their heart and the core of who they are the easier it is do dehumanize them and think of myself as better than them.
Lets be real.. life is full of competition... I am going to go to a varsity volleyball play off game in an hour....
Its unrealistic to say that we should all think of ourselves as equal and do away with all sports, grading systems, awards ceremonies, and all other competitions.
What is realistic is changing the way we think about competitions and our competitors.. and basically everybody we come in contact with.
Galatians 6:9-10 tells us:
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Yikes!
That means the poor lady that had no idea she was taking part in the very first HEB 500 Grocery Cart race, my "friend" who I have grown a part from because of conflict and thus tried to avoid in a coffee shop, and all of the New York Yankees (even the over paid and over hyped players) - ALL of them belong to the family of believers.
We need to realize who we are fighting and what our actions (or words) are showing others.
I would love to believe that each game, fight, argument, or time that I was the "bigger person" would be kept in some heavenly scoreboard.. but the reality is God doesn't care who wins.. he cares who LOVES.
Its all about our focus.
This scripture gave me way too much to think about.....
Please join me in thinking about ways to become weary from doing good.
Matthew 5:9
Amanda -1
Lady at the grocery store who I was competing against in shopping cart racing (without her knowledge) - 0
"Friend" i was trying to avoid at coffee establishment - 1
Amanda using her stealth ninja avoidance skills - 0
Amanda - 1
Norm - 0
(This was a race to see who could make it down the hallway faster.... let it be known that my cat Norm through down the challenge... and I had to accept)
As you can tell by reading these stats... I am a fierce competitor. Life is a competition with me.. ALWAYS a competition.
So imagine my surprise when I read this scripture.
Not gonna lie.. this is how I read this scripture the first time today..
"You are blessed when you can show people how to COOPERATE instead of compete or FIGHT. That's when you (and by you i mean everybody else but myself) discover who you (not me) really are, and your (not my) place in God's family."
I then formulated a plan of action to somehow NOT make this a message about competition and rather about cooperation and fighting. I figured with my advanced writing and avoidance skills (don't let the above scoreboard fool you.. I am a champion avoider) I could somehow blog and fool your mind into not reading the word compete.
Then I instantly thought about the Texas Rangers play off turning point in my life.
I discovered a whole new side of myself while watching the Texas Rangers play the New York Yankees. Apparently I went from being a relatively civil and kind hearted youth minister... to a rough around the edges cursing like a sailor rage machine. Praise the Lord I was in the privacy of my own home when this Hulk-like transformation took place... but none the less... it was frightening.
I was yelling at the TV, screaming out words my Nana would be ashamed of, and cheering at any sight of injury or struggle that the other team showed.
Who was this person I had become.
Fast forward to today.
Reading this scripture a second time... here is what I read...
"You are blessed when you can SHOW people how to cooperate instead of COMPETE or fight. That's when you discover WHO YOU really are, and YOUR PLACE in God's family."
Matthew 5:9
You see when you really think about cooperation and fighting.. you can't help but think of competing. Who is winning the fight you are having? Was that verbal punch I just threw good enough to advance me to the next level? Did that text I just send or passive-aggressive email or Facebook posting allow me to have an upper hand in that relationship? Did I just prove that I was the bigger person by cooperating?
We receive blessings when we show people who we are in God's family. When we treat others as a part of God's family. A little less talk and a lot more action. (I am pretty sure that is not what Toby Keith had in mind for that lyric... but just go with it).
I find that I am most competitive with the people I know the least. The less I know about their heart and the core of who they are the easier it is do dehumanize them and think of myself as better than them.
Lets be real.. life is full of competition... I am going to go to a varsity volleyball play off game in an hour....
Its unrealistic to say that we should all think of ourselves as equal and do away with all sports, grading systems, awards ceremonies, and all other competitions.
What is realistic is changing the way we think about competitions and our competitors.. and basically everybody we come in contact with.
Galatians 6:9-10 tells us:
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Yikes!
That means the poor lady that had no idea she was taking part in the very first HEB 500 Grocery Cart race, my "friend" who I have grown a part from because of conflict and thus tried to avoid in a coffee shop, and all of the New York Yankees (even the over paid and over hyped players) - ALL of them belong to the family of believers.
We need to realize who we are fighting and what our actions (or words) are showing others.
I would love to believe that each game, fight, argument, or time that I was the "bigger person" would be kept in some heavenly scoreboard.. but the reality is God doesn't care who wins.. he cares who LOVES.
Its all about our focus.
This scripture gave me way too much to think about.....
Please join me in thinking about ways to become weary from doing good.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Matthew 5:8 What in the world....
"You're blessed when you get your inside world -your mind and heart- put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."
Matthew 5:8
Have you ever noticed how many cords we use on a regular basis. I wireless and cordless world... I find that I have way too many wires and cords ruling my life.
Take my phone for example. My wireless cell phone requires a power cord that I can plug into the wall, a power cord that I can plug into my car lighter, and a computer cord. All of these cords are important and bring life to my phone. With out these cords I would not be able to text, tweet, check my email, update my status... oh ya and make a phone call. And that is just my cell phone.
My digital camera is a different story. For my digital camera I have a battery charger and a cord to plug my camera into my computer.
My laptop computer.. also has lots of cords. I can plug in all sorts of stuff into my wireless computer. I have to plug my computer into an outlet to get power. I have to plug my printer into my computer to print.
Cords equal power.
Cords make the insides work.
With out a battery - my computer, phone, camera, tv remote, toothbrush... all useless.
The batteries are the brains.
That is why this scripture is so important.
We need to make sure we are plugged in-empowered-energized in our hearts and heads. Our insides need to be right in order to appreciate what is happening on the outside.
I had an amazing dinner with a bunch of 9th grade girls last night. We just sat around and caught up. I haven't seen many of these girls consistently since school started. Between school and other activities.. these girls are worn out..stressed out...and completely out of energy. And I know that they are not alone.
When we are worn out, stressed out, and out of energy... our hearts and minds are emptied... just like the life of a battery. When our minds and hearts are empty - we are not able to experience God to the fullest.
God is love and when we are love-empty, we are not able to share God's love.
Scripture tells us:
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (New International Version)
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
and
Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
These two scriptures have two very distinct actions for us to take:
1. inside world focus - bind His words on our hearts and minds, love the Lord with all that we are (heart, soul, strength).
2. Outside world focus - teach His words to others in everything you do, and love everybody.
Outside focus cannot happen without the Inside focus being right.
You can't teach or love if you don't know what your teaching or what this love is all about.
I try so hard to live in the outside world. I want to see God working through others and working around me... but I can't see those things or experience those opportunities without first being right with God.
I can't be completely heart and mind focused because then I will lose out on the opportunity that God has for me to be others focused.
God desires for us to live in the inside world and the outside world. That means that there needs to be a point of transition. A time where we figure out what world we are living in and what it would take for us to transition to where God is calling us to be.
God may be calling for you to take a little mind and heart inventory and make things right. OR God might be calling you to get out of your inside world and check out how He is working in the outside world with others.
Just like our phones, computers, and cameras we are called to be used to our full capacity... but all of us are called to re-charge and make things right.
What good is a fully charged cell phone if its just going to sit there? What good is a camera that has dead battery?
What world are you living in?
Is God calling you to charge up and make things right... or is God kicking you out of your inside world so you can be blessed with the outside world of blessings he has placed before you?
Matthew 5:8
Have you ever noticed how many cords we use on a regular basis. I wireless and cordless world... I find that I have way too many wires and cords ruling my life.
Take my phone for example. My wireless cell phone requires a power cord that I can plug into the wall, a power cord that I can plug into my car lighter, and a computer cord. All of these cords are important and bring life to my phone. With out these cords I would not be able to text, tweet, check my email, update my status... oh ya and make a phone call. And that is just my cell phone.
My digital camera is a different story. For my digital camera I have a battery charger and a cord to plug my camera into my computer.
My laptop computer.. also has lots of cords. I can plug in all sorts of stuff into my wireless computer. I have to plug my computer into an outlet to get power. I have to plug my printer into my computer to print.
Cords equal power.
Cords make the insides work.
With out a battery - my computer, phone, camera, tv remote, toothbrush... all useless.
The batteries are the brains.
That is why this scripture is so important.
We need to make sure we are plugged in-empowered-energized in our hearts and heads. Our insides need to be right in order to appreciate what is happening on the outside.
I had an amazing dinner with a bunch of 9th grade girls last night. We just sat around and caught up. I haven't seen many of these girls consistently since school started. Between school and other activities.. these girls are worn out..stressed out...and completely out of energy. And I know that they are not alone.
When we are worn out, stressed out, and out of energy... our hearts and minds are emptied... just like the life of a battery. When our minds and hearts are empty - we are not able to experience God to the fullest.
God is love and when we are love-empty, we are not able to share God's love.
Scripture tells us:
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (New International Version)
18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
and
Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
These two scriptures have two very distinct actions for us to take:
1. inside world focus - bind His words on our hearts and minds, love the Lord with all that we are (heart, soul, strength).
2. Outside world focus - teach His words to others in everything you do, and love everybody.
Outside focus cannot happen without the Inside focus being right.
You can't teach or love if you don't know what your teaching or what this love is all about.
I try so hard to live in the outside world. I want to see God working through others and working around me... but I can't see those things or experience those opportunities without first being right with God.
I can't be completely heart and mind focused because then I will lose out on the opportunity that God has for me to be others focused.
God desires for us to live in the inside world and the outside world. That means that there needs to be a point of transition. A time where we figure out what world we are living in and what it would take for us to transition to where God is calling us to be.
God may be calling for you to take a little mind and heart inventory and make things right. OR God might be calling you to get out of your inside world and check out how He is working in the outside world with others.
Just like our phones, computers, and cameras we are called to be used to our full capacity... but all of us are called to re-charge and make things right.
What good is a fully charged cell phone if its just going to sit there? What good is a camera that has dead battery?
What world are you living in?
Is God calling you to charge up and make things right... or is God kicking you out of your inside world so you can be blessed with the outside world of blessings he has placed before you?
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Matthew 5:7 Risk taking care-full ness.
"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-ful', you find yourselves cared for."
Matthew 5:7
"I don't care" how many times do you find yourself saying that during the day.
Where do you want to go to lunch...........I don't care.
What time do you want to leave............I don't care.
What do you want to watch on TV...........I don't care.
I think we are lacking in the care department.
Its as if we have given up on having an opinion about something.
Time and time again i hear from parents whose A student is suddenly failing classes because they don't care to turn in their assignments.
I hear from teenagers all the time that wishes that their parents cared enough about what the youth are doing in their everyday lives.
The Bible can be misinterpreted many times over and over again... but the one thing in the Bible that cannot be misinterpreted are the verses that talk about loving one another. Jesus is very clear when he tells us to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.
Jesus calls us to care.
Caring requires engagement.
Caring requires action.
Caring requires you to be intentional.
We lack in the caring department.
Many times I talk to youth about this very topic.
Jesus doesn't give us the responsibility to judge.. that's his job.. instead he gives us the responsibility to care.
Its easier to not care. Its easier not to chose where you are going to eat lunch, what radio station you will listen to, and what friend you are going to talk to during the day. Caring requires you to take risks. Care us a 4 letter word that hit us right where it counts sometimes.
You risk rejection when you care.
You risk heartbreak when you care.
You risk failure when you care.
But not caring also takes risks...
When you don't care for others - you risk not having anybody care for you in return.
I saw this quote today on someones facebook that just hit me between the eyes:
"I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least." - Dorothy Day
I really only care about God as much as I care about the person I love the least.
Christ calls us to care.
Think about the person you love the least... and love them more!
Care about the person who just cut you off in traffic.
Care about the person who makes you spit fire because they make you so angry.
Care about the careless.
Take a risk today and care. :)
Matthew 5:7
"I don't care" how many times do you find yourself saying that during the day.
Where do you want to go to lunch...........I don't care.
What time do you want to leave............I don't care.
What do you want to watch on TV...........I don't care.
I think we are lacking in the care department.
Its as if we have given up on having an opinion about something.
Time and time again i hear from parents whose A student is suddenly failing classes because they don't care to turn in their assignments.
I hear from teenagers all the time that wishes that their parents cared enough about what the youth are doing in their everyday lives.
The Bible can be misinterpreted many times over and over again... but the one thing in the Bible that cannot be misinterpreted are the verses that talk about loving one another. Jesus is very clear when he tells us to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.
Jesus calls us to care.
Caring requires engagement.
Caring requires action.
Caring requires you to be intentional.
We lack in the caring department.
Many times I talk to youth about this very topic.
Jesus doesn't give us the responsibility to judge.. that's his job.. instead he gives us the responsibility to care.
Its easier to not care. Its easier not to chose where you are going to eat lunch, what radio station you will listen to, and what friend you are going to talk to during the day. Caring requires you to take risks. Care us a 4 letter word that hit us right where it counts sometimes.
You risk rejection when you care.
You risk heartbreak when you care.
You risk failure when you care.
But not caring also takes risks...
When you don't care for others - you risk not having anybody care for you in return.
I saw this quote today on someones facebook that just hit me between the eyes:
"I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least." - Dorothy Day
I really only care about God as much as I care about the person I love the least.
Christ calls us to care.
Think about the person you love the least... and love them more!
Care about the person who just cut you off in traffic.
Care about the person who makes you spit fire because they make you so angry.
Care about the careless.
Take a risk today and care. :)
Monday, November 8, 2010
Matthew 5:6 Food for thought...
"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."
Matthew 5:6
I love everything that has to do with food! I love to eat! I love to cook! I love to watch shows about eating and cooking!
I want to believe that I have developed an appreciation of food as I have grown older.
As a child I could critique any form of candy you place before me. There was not a kind of candy that I did not try at least once.
As I got older I learned to appreciate the finer things like the best cuts of beef, the best way to cook vegetables, and the best cheese to go with the best wine. (but who am i kidding.. I really love eating salsa and chips, chicken fingers, and of course grilled cheese sandwiches).
When my friends and I get together we eat at all of the places we love. Very few times do I plan an event that doesn't require food. I find pleasure out of finding new recipes and sharing those recipes with others. There is just something about food that makes everything better.
---Then Matthew 5:6 came along and made me think---
What would working up an appetite for God look like? I can tell you that I have already thought about what i will have for dinner tonight and what i will eat for breakfast tomorrow... but sadly I haven't even begun to think about when the next time I will pray would be or the next time I will open up the Bible (beyond Matthew 5 of course).
Its funny how we socialize around food... but rarely do we socialize around God. We plan for food in our daily lives... but rarely do we plan for our DAILY bread.
I could talk about food for hours - but could i talk about God for an hour?
God is the best we could ever have! Its hard to believe that anything is better than a great piece of chocolate or a nice juicy steak. But God is better than anything we could ever want in our lives. I want to limit God and place him on the menu under appetizers or insist that God is the main course... when in all actuality.. God is the whole menu.
Food is such a great analogy for God. We need food to survive. We need God for eternal life.
We can eat enough food just to survive. We can take in enough God just to get by..just to feel better about our lives.
God can be for more than just survival.
I am so very thankful that the relationship I have with our Creator is beyond just survival. I serve a God who guides my steps. I serve a God who never leaves my side. I serve a God that wants only the best for me and provides so many opportunities for me to have the best.
While we can gorge ourselves with feasts and fast foods.. we will never be able to gorge ourselves with God.
There is no such thing as being overweight with God's love.
Our cups overflow with his love and mercy.
We thank God for our food... but do we ever thank our food for God?
In the Food Vs. God challenge....... God is the champion.
"He's the best food and drink in the best meal we will ever eat"
Amen to that!
Matthew 5:6
I love everything that has to do with food! I love to eat! I love to cook! I love to watch shows about eating and cooking!
I want to believe that I have developed an appreciation of food as I have grown older.
As a child I could critique any form of candy you place before me. There was not a kind of candy that I did not try at least once.
As I got older I learned to appreciate the finer things like the best cuts of beef, the best way to cook vegetables, and the best cheese to go with the best wine. (but who am i kidding.. I really love eating salsa and chips, chicken fingers, and of course grilled cheese sandwiches).
When my friends and I get together we eat at all of the places we love. Very few times do I plan an event that doesn't require food. I find pleasure out of finding new recipes and sharing those recipes with others. There is just something about food that makes everything better.
---Then Matthew 5:6 came along and made me think---
What would working up an appetite for God look like? I can tell you that I have already thought about what i will have for dinner tonight and what i will eat for breakfast tomorrow... but sadly I haven't even begun to think about when the next time I will pray would be or the next time I will open up the Bible (beyond Matthew 5 of course).
Its funny how we socialize around food... but rarely do we socialize around God. We plan for food in our daily lives... but rarely do we plan for our DAILY bread.
I could talk about food for hours - but could i talk about God for an hour?
God is the best we could ever have! Its hard to believe that anything is better than a great piece of chocolate or a nice juicy steak. But God is better than anything we could ever want in our lives. I want to limit God and place him on the menu under appetizers or insist that God is the main course... when in all actuality.. God is the whole menu.
Food is such a great analogy for God. We need food to survive. We need God for eternal life.
We can eat enough food just to survive. We can take in enough God just to get by..just to feel better about our lives.
God can be for more than just survival.
I am so very thankful that the relationship I have with our Creator is beyond just survival. I serve a God who guides my steps. I serve a God who never leaves my side. I serve a God that wants only the best for me and provides so many opportunities for me to have the best.
While we can gorge ourselves with feasts and fast foods.. we will never be able to gorge ourselves with God.
There is no such thing as being overweight with God's love.
Our cups overflow with his love and mercy.
We thank God for our food... but do we ever thank our food for God?
In the Food Vs. God challenge....... God is the champion.
"He's the best food and drink in the best meal we will ever eat"
Amen to that!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Matthew 5:5 You be You.
"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."
Matthew 5:5
I love reality television! Reality television fascinates me to the core of who i am. I love watching people. I love finding out who people are. What makes them tick? Why do they make the decisions that they make? Who are they when nobody is looking? I love the reality of reality television.
I know that "Reality television" is only half real....but then again... aren't we only half real sometimes as well?
How would your life play out on reality television? How real would you be? I think "being real" is so in right now in society. We have a hunger for what is real. In this day in age where people are downsizing and re-prioritizing due to the economy being real is all some of us can be. No more can we hide behind big houses, named filled closets, and fancy cars. We have to live in the reality.
This scripture poses a real challenge... being content with who you are...no more, no less.
Being content with who you are.
Content is not vanity.
Content is not unreachable.
Content is reality.
We are called to be real with who we are. And if we are being honest with who we are right now.. I can tell you that being real with myself is one of the hardest things I can do. Living an honest life is a hard thing to do. Its much easier to live the life I want others to think that I have.
The reality is...sometimes my life is stressful.
Sometimes I make mistakes.
Many times I am lazy.
Along with the challenge that this scripture gives us.. It also gives us grace. The minute we live in reality we are able to see that reality is not about pricey things.. but instead its about priceless opportunities and relationships.
The reality is that although my life is stressful..I have an amazing job that allows me to blog about scripture everyday!
The reality is that although I make more mistakes than I would like..I have friends and family that show me grace with each wrong turn that I take.
The reality is that although I am lazy..I serve a Lord who loves me beyond my laziness.
My prayer for all of us today is that we become content with who we are...no more and no less and that we realize that we were created by somebody who loves us just the way we are. :)
Matthew 5:5
I love reality television! Reality television fascinates me to the core of who i am. I love watching people. I love finding out who people are. What makes them tick? Why do they make the decisions that they make? Who are they when nobody is looking? I love the reality of reality television.
I know that "Reality television" is only half real....but then again... aren't we only half real sometimes as well?
How would your life play out on reality television? How real would you be? I think "being real" is so in right now in society. We have a hunger for what is real. In this day in age where people are downsizing and re-prioritizing due to the economy being real is all some of us can be. No more can we hide behind big houses, named filled closets, and fancy cars. We have to live in the reality.
This scripture poses a real challenge... being content with who you are...no more, no less.
Being content with who you are.
Content is not vanity.
Content is not unreachable.
Content is reality.
We are called to be real with who we are. And if we are being honest with who we are right now.. I can tell you that being real with myself is one of the hardest things I can do. Living an honest life is a hard thing to do. Its much easier to live the life I want others to think that I have.
The reality is...sometimes my life is stressful.
Sometimes I make mistakes.
Many times I am lazy.
Along with the challenge that this scripture gives us.. It also gives us grace. The minute we live in reality we are able to see that reality is not about pricey things.. but instead its about priceless opportunities and relationships.
The reality is that although my life is stressful..I have an amazing job that allows me to blog about scripture everyday!
The reality is that although I make more mistakes than I would like..I have friends and family that show me grace with each wrong turn that I take.
The reality is that although I am lazy..I serve a Lord who loves me beyond my laziness.
My prayer for all of us today is that we become content with who we are...no more and no less and that we realize that we were created by somebody who loves us just the way we are. :)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Matthew 5:4 Heavenly Hug
"You're blessed when you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you."
Matthew 5:4
A small list of WHAT is most dear to me:
cell phone
photographs of my friends and family
my Bibles (i have multiple ones that mean something to me)
blankets my nana knit
Sometimes I think about my house catching on fire or being robbed. Admit it... sometimes you think about the same things. You can't help but think about 'what would happen if".
I had this exact conversation with my friend Sarah this weekend. We were talking about our non-weapon approach to defending our belongings in case of a break in. (the topics you discus while on the road completely amaze me). My approach to my belongings is just that... they are belongings. You can replace belongings.. you can't replace people.
After looking at my list of WHAT is most dear to me I realize that the items that are most dear to me are dear to me because of what they represent.
My cell phone is the main way I stay in touch with people that I love and minister with.
Photographs contain memories of the people I love and care about.
My Bibles all mean something different to be because of the stage of life I was in when i received them. I still use the Bible I had when I first became a youth minister 12 years ago.
My blankets that were knit by my Nana are so special to me because I love my Nana and I love the time and love that she put into each of those blankets.
This scripture is about so much more than the WHAT. This scripture is about the relationships behind the WHAT. When we lose things that are most dear to us we mourn over much more than that item. We mourn over the people behind that item. The memories behind that item.
So if these items and memories behind these items are so special to us... why would God want us to lose them?
I believe that its all about the power we put behind those items.
God wants us to lose the power behind the items so that we can be embraced by the One who created those memories in the first place.
What does that look like?
It looks like this:
* Instead of giving my cell phone all the power and glory for helping me stay connected with those who i love and minister to... I need to give up control with each text message, facebook update, and phone call I make. I need to glorify God with each key stroke and conversation. I need God to embrace all of my cell phone usage.
*Instead of looking at all of my photographs on the surface.. I need to look deeper. I need to see how God has been working in those relationships and friendships. I need to see God's embrace in the eyes of everybody in those photographs. Giving the One most dear to me for providing opportunities for me to be part of a bigger story beyond the memories in those photographs.
*My Bibles are so special to be because of the stories behind each Bible and not the scriptures within the Bibles. I need to embrace the concept that my story is part of God's story. The Bible is beyond symbolism and memories.. it is a living book with life giving grace filled words. How many times do we actually give the One credit for what feeds us daily in the Bible. I have to admit that I rarely thank God for the words that direct my path and enrich my life.
*The blankets knit by my nana allow me to feel the warmth of her embrace even though she lives so far away from me. Instead of just thinking about my Nana's warm embrace i need to remember that we are embraced by the One when we are embraced by others. The next time I use my blankets i need to remember how God works through others and despite of others.
My prayer for you today is that you make an honest inventory of the WHAT in your life. What is most dear to you? Why are those things so dear to you? How can you lose the power and the limits behind those items and embrace what God has intended for you?
Matthew 5:4
A small list of WHAT is most dear to me:
cell phone
photographs of my friends and family
my Bibles (i have multiple ones that mean something to me)
blankets my nana knit
Sometimes I think about my house catching on fire or being robbed. Admit it... sometimes you think about the same things. You can't help but think about 'what would happen if".
I had this exact conversation with my friend Sarah this weekend. We were talking about our non-weapon approach to defending our belongings in case of a break in. (the topics you discus while on the road completely amaze me). My approach to my belongings is just that... they are belongings. You can replace belongings.. you can't replace people.
After looking at my list of WHAT is most dear to me I realize that the items that are most dear to me are dear to me because of what they represent.
My cell phone is the main way I stay in touch with people that I love and minister with.
Photographs contain memories of the people I love and care about.
My Bibles all mean something different to be because of the stage of life I was in when i received them. I still use the Bible I had when I first became a youth minister 12 years ago.
My blankets that were knit by my Nana are so special to me because I love my Nana and I love the time and love that she put into each of those blankets.
This scripture is about so much more than the WHAT. This scripture is about the relationships behind the WHAT. When we lose things that are most dear to us we mourn over much more than that item. We mourn over the people behind that item. The memories behind that item.
So if these items and memories behind these items are so special to us... why would God want us to lose them?
I believe that its all about the power we put behind those items.
God wants us to lose the power behind the items so that we can be embraced by the One who created those memories in the first place.
What does that look like?
It looks like this:
* Instead of giving my cell phone all the power and glory for helping me stay connected with those who i love and minister to... I need to give up control with each text message, facebook update, and phone call I make. I need to glorify God with each key stroke and conversation. I need God to embrace all of my cell phone usage.
*Instead of looking at all of my photographs on the surface.. I need to look deeper. I need to see how God has been working in those relationships and friendships. I need to see God's embrace in the eyes of everybody in those photographs. Giving the One most dear to me for providing opportunities for me to be part of a bigger story beyond the memories in those photographs.
*My Bibles are so special to be because of the stories behind each Bible and not the scriptures within the Bibles. I need to embrace the concept that my story is part of God's story. The Bible is beyond symbolism and memories.. it is a living book with life giving grace filled words. How many times do we actually give the One credit for what feeds us daily in the Bible. I have to admit that I rarely thank God for the words that direct my path and enrich my life.
*The blankets knit by my nana allow me to feel the warmth of her embrace even though she lives so far away from me. Instead of just thinking about my Nana's warm embrace i need to remember that we are embraced by the One when we are embraced by others. The next time I use my blankets i need to remember how God works through others and despite of others.
My prayer for you today is that you make an honest inventory of the WHAT in your life. What is most dear to you? Why are those things so dear to you? How can you lose the power and the limits behind those items and embrace what God has intended for you?
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Matthew 5:3 Where is the end?
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule".
Thursday: Doctors appointment in Ft. Worth, lunch with friend in Grapevine, dinner with group of friends in Ft. worth
Friday: Tour of every corner of Dallas and a late night dinner in Uptown.
Saturday: road trip to Saledo, wedding in Gatesville, shopping in between
Sunday: Worship, favor for a friend, trunk or treat, rangers game
Monday: work, road trip to Saledo (again), semi-late night dinner
Tuesday: early morning trip to the airport to drop of my best friend and her step daughter
This is a brief outline of the past 6 days in my life.
Don't get me wrong... I had an amazing time with my friend who was visiting me from Michigan. I wouldn't change the past 6 days for the world... but man i am tired.
I am at the stage of exhaustian where my eyes burn with every blink and my body is so weak that i don't know if I have the strength to lift my coffee cup filled with liquid energy to my mouth. Its as if I just got back from a week long mission trip or a lock-in gone bad. As I type this I have to press delete every other key stroke because I keep misspelling words and slurring my typing. (yes there is such a thing)
I always thought that being at the end of your rope was a long journey or a horribly complex journey where you are just gripping onto anything you feel is keeping you sane for the moment. But I think the end of a rope can represent a lot of things.
End of control.
End of relationships.
End of situations.
End of time.
End of energy.
What ever the end of the rope is for you....just remember it is what it sounds like... an end.
The great thing is that we were created by a God who is endless.
When we feel like we are at the end of our rope and don't have the energy to grab an umbrella and go grocery shopping... God provides a moment in time when the rain ceases (or he helps you appreciate the life giving rain that is before you).
When we feel like we are at the turning point in a relationship and we are at the end of our relationship rope.. God provides the words or the lack of words that help us through the season of that relationship.
When we feel out of control... God takes control.
When we are out of time.. God creates more time.
Our God is limitless, endless, countless, and timeless.... so we don't have to be.
When there is less of us there is more of God.
All of the time i find that if i just step back and let there be more of God and less of me in conflicts, relationships, and day to day tasks.. things end up being so much better.
Imagine that.... God is better than we.
All kidding aside... we forget that God is God and we are not. God is strongest when we are weakest. Being weak is not anything to be ashamed about... being weak can be a good thing.
Lord I pray today in my tired-sleep deprived-end of my rope state- that there be less of me and more of you. May I gloify you in my weakness and tiredness.
Amen.
Thursday: Doctors appointment in Ft. Worth, lunch with friend in Grapevine, dinner with group of friends in Ft. worth
Friday: Tour of every corner of Dallas and a late night dinner in Uptown.
Saturday: road trip to Saledo, wedding in Gatesville, shopping in between
Sunday: Worship, favor for a friend, trunk or treat, rangers game
Monday: work, road trip to Saledo (again), semi-late night dinner
Tuesday: early morning trip to the airport to drop of my best friend and her step daughter
This is a brief outline of the past 6 days in my life.
Don't get me wrong... I had an amazing time with my friend who was visiting me from Michigan. I wouldn't change the past 6 days for the world... but man i am tired.
I am at the stage of exhaustian where my eyes burn with every blink and my body is so weak that i don't know if I have the strength to lift my coffee cup filled with liquid energy to my mouth. Its as if I just got back from a week long mission trip or a lock-in gone bad. As I type this I have to press delete every other key stroke because I keep misspelling words and slurring my typing. (yes there is such a thing)
I always thought that being at the end of your rope was a long journey or a horribly complex journey where you are just gripping onto anything you feel is keeping you sane for the moment. But I think the end of a rope can represent a lot of things.
End of control.
End of relationships.
End of situations.
End of time.
End of energy.
What ever the end of the rope is for you....just remember it is what it sounds like... an end.
The great thing is that we were created by a God who is endless.
When we feel like we are at the end of our rope and don't have the energy to grab an umbrella and go grocery shopping... God provides a moment in time when the rain ceases (or he helps you appreciate the life giving rain that is before you).
When we feel like we are at the turning point in a relationship and we are at the end of our relationship rope.. God provides the words or the lack of words that help us through the season of that relationship.
When we feel out of control... God takes control.
When we are out of time.. God creates more time.
Our God is limitless, endless, countless, and timeless.... so we don't have to be.
When there is less of us there is more of God.
All of the time i find that if i just step back and let there be more of God and less of me in conflicts, relationships, and day to day tasks.. things end up being so much better.
Imagine that.... God is better than we.
All kidding aside... we forget that God is God and we are not. God is strongest when we are weakest. Being weak is not anything to be ashamed about... being weak can be a good thing.
Lord I pray today in my tired-sleep deprived-end of my rope state- that there be less of me and more of you. May I gloify you in my weakness and tiredness.
Amen.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Matthew 5:1-2 Are you climbing?
"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions."
Matthew 5:1-2 (The Message)
Imagine how Jesus felt being in ministry as he walked on the earth. Just imagine for a moment... here is Jesus going from town to town preaching the "Good News" to others. He stands face to face with those who are ill, possessed, and those who consider themselves unworthy of His love and grace. Face to Face he healed them, breathed new life into them, and showered the unworthy with his grace. Just imagine being face to face with Christ.. what would that feel like?
And yet I think about this passage. I love that Jesus "saw his ministry drawing huge crowds". I love that those who were apprenticed to him and committed to him climbed with him. I love how that sounds. I love how that translates into physical actions. Jesus' disciples were committed and they climbed.
Then I thought about ministry today. I thought about the ministry that I claim and that I am a part of. Do I climb with Christ? Are there others around me who are committed to Christ and climb? I believe that sometimes I am not climbing the right path.. because I am not committed to Christ.. I am committed to other things. I am climbing a whole other mountain when I am committed to perceptions instead of reality. I am committed to something other than Christ when I am climbing the wall of pride and selfishness.
And that's when I am climbing.
Many times I feel like as Christians we climb when we want to and not when Christ wants us to join him. We climb when it is convenient. When climb when there is really nothing better to do. We are committed climbers when everything else on our To Do lists are finished and our other commitments are taken care of.
Rarely do we feel like we are face to face with Christ. Instead we are face to face with bills, full calendars, illness, divorce, hurt, and pain. Busyness has taken over our lives where we are face to face with deadlines instead of Christ. How did we get to this point?
How do we get back to being face to face with Christ?
The answer is in the scripture.
Christ took his climbing companions to a quiet place and he taught.
He didn't take his climbing companions to a Sunday School class with snacks. He didn't take his climbing companions to a committee meeting, a sporting event, a loud rally, or a chaos filled work environment. He took his climbing companions to a quiet place and he taught.
I believe that we can be committed to church, family, committees, and other important things... and yet not be committed to Christ.
I get caught up in the details sometimes.. and all Christ wants to do is take me by the hand and guide me on a climb so we can sit in a quiet place and he can teach me.
Sometimes it takes a climb to get to a quiet place. A teaching place.
There is still "good news" to be taught. There are still opportunities for healing and grace.
Today I ask you....
Are you climbing?
Are you at a place where Christ can teach you?
Are you committed?
Matthew 5:1-2 (The Message)
Imagine how Jesus felt being in ministry as he walked on the earth. Just imagine for a moment... here is Jesus going from town to town preaching the "Good News" to others. He stands face to face with those who are ill, possessed, and those who consider themselves unworthy of His love and grace. Face to Face he healed them, breathed new life into them, and showered the unworthy with his grace. Just imagine being face to face with Christ.. what would that feel like?
And yet I think about this passage. I love that Jesus "saw his ministry drawing huge crowds". I love that those who were apprenticed to him and committed to him climbed with him. I love how that sounds. I love how that translates into physical actions. Jesus' disciples were committed and they climbed.
Then I thought about ministry today. I thought about the ministry that I claim and that I am a part of. Do I climb with Christ? Are there others around me who are committed to Christ and climb? I believe that sometimes I am not climbing the right path.. because I am not committed to Christ.. I am committed to other things. I am climbing a whole other mountain when I am committed to perceptions instead of reality. I am committed to something other than Christ when I am climbing the wall of pride and selfishness.
And that's when I am climbing.
Many times I feel like as Christians we climb when we want to and not when Christ wants us to join him. We climb when it is convenient. When climb when there is really nothing better to do. We are committed climbers when everything else on our To Do lists are finished and our other commitments are taken care of.
Rarely do we feel like we are face to face with Christ. Instead we are face to face with bills, full calendars, illness, divorce, hurt, and pain. Busyness has taken over our lives where we are face to face with deadlines instead of Christ. How did we get to this point?
How do we get back to being face to face with Christ?
The answer is in the scripture.
Christ took his climbing companions to a quiet place and he taught.
He didn't take his climbing companions to a Sunday School class with snacks. He didn't take his climbing companions to a committee meeting, a sporting event, a loud rally, or a chaos filled work environment. He took his climbing companions to a quiet place and he taught.
I believe that we can be committed to church, family, committees, and other important things... and yet not be committed to Christ.
I get caught up in the details sometimes.. and all Christ wants to do is take me by the hand and guide me on a climb so we can sit in a quiet place and he can teach me.
Sometimes it takes a climb to get to a quiet place. A teaching place.
There is still "good news" to be taught. There are still opportunities for healing and grace.
Today I ask you....
Are you climbing?
Are you at a place where Christ can teach you?
Are you committed?
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
John 12:1-8 Are you Mary or Judas?
John 12:1-8 (New Living Translation)
1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[c] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Today we are invited to a party with Jesus as the guest of honor.
Seated at the party among others we have Judas, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus a friend of Jesus’ who has just been raised from the dead.
After the meal, Mary took out a bottle of perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet with it. This was not just any bottle of perfume either.. it was a very expensive bottle of perfume.
It was her year’s wages in liquid form.
She bathed Jesus’ feet with one year of her life.
This poses a question:
If you were given an opportunity to use a year’s time and or salary to honor Christ… how would you spend it?
Really think about that for a moment….
What would you spend a year’s salary on to honor Christ?
• Would you donate that money to your favorite charity?
• Would you give that money to the church?
• Would you buy lots of food and feed the homeless?
A year’s salary for most of us would be a major amount of money that could really do a lot of work.
If you could take a whole year and spend it to honor Christ what would you do?
• Would you take a year long mission trip?
• Would you volunteer at an after school program?
• Would you become the best church member in the world and work there for free helping out in different ministry areas?
What would you do if you could give a whole year of yourself to Christ?
How is that reflected in your life today?
See the thing is… we should be honoring Christ with every second of our year. We should be in mission every day of our life. Are you ready to give your year to Christ like Mary, or like Judas… do you think it is a waste of time? Our attitude is everything.
To Mary her attitude was her testimony… the value of the perfume wasn’t even in her mind, but the value of her relationship with Christ was on her mind. She knew that she was honoring Christ with her actions… it was second nature for her.
Most of us struggle with giving up something for Lent. For 40 days we are obsessed with trying to honor Christ and sacrifice something to understand his sacrifice.
We painstakingly mark our calendars just counting down the days until we can get back to our old ways and old habits.
Some of those things we should be giving up anyways.
Imagine sacrificing and honoring Christ with out a second thought 365 days…. Instead of 40.
What makes Mary’s gift to Jesus so noteworthy is not the perfume itself but the actions and sacrifice and attitude behind it.
It would be one thing if she just handed Jesus a cute gift bag with an expensive bottle of perfume – but it wasn’t about the perfume.
It was about the anointing.
It was about what she did with the perfume that made it so special.
She took her everyday life… her everyday year…. All that she had and placed it at the feet of Jesus.
The man who brought her brother back to life.
What do you give somebody who brings your brother back to life?
Yet she wasn’t repaying Jesus… this wasn’t a thank you gift.
It was an action of reverence and preparation. She was anointing his feet and preparing him for his soon to be burial. It was symbolism. It was sacrifice.
It was her attitude.
Mary’s attention was not on the perfume… it was at the feet of Jesus.
Verse 8 points out the importance of that focus:
8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me
Imagine having dinner with Jesus at your home for a moment… not in the olden days… but right now.
Imagine inviting Jesus to your house for dinner. What would you cook? How would your table look? Would you get him a gift? What is of worth in your life that you could give to Christ?
What would you possibly give the man who had his hand in creating everything you have?
When we bring Jesus into our lives, we aren’t inviting him into our homes but into our hearts.
He won’t be face to face with us like he was with Mary… but with every breath we take he is present in our lives.
1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[c] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Today we are invited to a party with Jesus as the guest of honor.
Seated at the party among others we have Judas, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus a friend of Jesus’ who has just been raised from the dead.
After the meal, Mary took out a bottle of perfume and anointed Jesus’ feet with it. This was not just any bottle of perfume either.. it was a very expensive bottle of perfume.
It was her year’s wages in liquid form.
She bathed Jesus’ feet with one year of her life.
This poses a question:
If you were given an opportunity to use a year’s time and or salary to honor Christ… how would you spend it?
Really think about that for a moment….
What would you spend a year’s salary on to honor Christ?
• Would you donate that money to your favorite charity?
• Would you give that money to the church?
• Would you buy lots of food and feed the homeless?
A year’s salary for most of us would be a major amount of money that could really do a lot of work.
If you could take a whole year and spend it to honor Christ what would you do?
• Would you take a year long mission trip?
• Would you volunteer at an after school program?
• Would you become the best church member in the world and work there for free helping out in different ministry areas?
What would you do if you could give a whole year of yourself to Christ?
How is that reflected in your life today?
See the thing is… we should be honoring Christ with every second of our year. We should be in mission every day of our life. Are you ready to give your year to Christ like Mary, or like Judas… do you think it is a waste of time? Our attitude is everything.
To Mary her attitude was her testimony… the value of the perfume wasn’t even in her mind, but the value of her relationship with Christ was on her mind. She knew that she was honoring Christ with her actions… it was second nature for her.
Most of us struggle with giving up something for Lent. For 40 days we are obsessed with trying to honor Christ and sacrifice something to understand his sacrifice.
We painstakingly mark our calendars just counting down the days until we can get back to our old ways and old habits.
Some of those things we should be giving up anyways.
Imagine sacrificing and honoring Christ with out a second thought 365 days…. Instead of 40.
What makes Mary’s gift to Jesus so noteworthy is not the perfume itself but the actions and sacrifice and attitude behind it.
It would be one thing if she just handed Jesus a cute gift bag with an expensive bottle of perfume – but it wasn’t about the perfume.
It was about the anointing.
It was about what she did with the perfume that made it so special.
She took her everyday life… her everyday year…. All that she had and placed it at the feet of Jesus.
The man who brought her brother back to life.
What do you give somebody who brings your brother back to life?
Yet she wasn’t repaying Jesus… this wasn’t a thank you gift.
It was an action of reverence and preparation. She was anointing his feet and preparing him for his soon to be burial. It was symbolism. It was sacrifice.
It was her attitude.
Mary’s attention was not on the perfume… it was at the feet of Jesus.
Verse 8 points out the importance of that focus:
8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me
Imagine having dinner with Jesus at your home for a moment… not in the olden days… but right now.
Imagine inviting Jesus to your house for dinner. What would you cook? How would your table look? Would you get him a gift? What is of worth in your life that you could give to Christ?
What would you possibly give the man who had his hand in creating everything you have?
When we bring Jesus into our lives, we aren’t inviting him into our homes but into our hearts.
He won’t be face to face with us like he was with Mary… but with every breath we take he is present in our lives.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
A benediction
Numbers 6:24-26 (New Living Translation)
24 ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
I found this scripture as I was reading the Handbook of the Methodist Youth Fellowship published in 1953. This is one of the treasures I have in my collection of ministry books. It is old and has a wonderful old book smell. This scripture was used for many many years as the Methodist Youth Fellowship benediction. Some churches use this benediction still today.
As I read the history of the Methodist Youth Fellowship in this treasure of a book, I really started to think about the importance of using this scripture as a benediction. Usually we don't have a formal closing to our meetings and gatherings. Our usual benediction is "see you later" or "hey...your mom is here". I don't usually take the much needed time to leave the youth with this message as they go off to their homes.
I am not good with good-byes. In fact it is one of my weaknesses. When it is time to say good bye to somebody I may never see again or somebody I won't see for a long while, I usually just freeze up and stay away from them. That is so hard for me to even say because it sounds so heartless. Its not because I don't care about people, its because I can't express how I truly care about people.
This scripture reminds us the blessings we tend not to lose focus on because we are wrapped on other things. How awesome would it be if you recited this scripture to them as they were leaving. What if we truly meant it. What if we really asked God to bless others and protect them? What if we asked God to give others peace instead of trying to figure out how to give peace to others on our own? What if we all prayed this prayer, not for ourselves, but for each other?
We are reminded through this scripture that we serve a loving God who likes to smile upon us. I wonder sometimes what I do that makes God smile. I am sure I need to step it up. I often wonder what I am leaving the youth with at the end of our meetings. My prayer is that I remember this prayer and that I embody this prayer to not only the youth but to everybody I come in contact with. My prayer is that I don't freeze up when others leave me, but that I am able to look them in the eyes and say:
‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
24 ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
I found this scripture as I was reading the Handbook of the Methodist Youth Fellowship published in 1953. This is one of the treasures I have in my collection of ministry books. It is old and has a wonderful old book smell. This scripture was used for many many years as the Methodist Youth Fellowship benediction. Some churches use this benediction still today.
As I read the history of the Methodist Youth Fellowship in this treasure of a book, I really started to think about the importance of using this scripture as a benediction. Usually we don't have a formal closing to our meetings and gatherings. Our usual benediction is "see you later" or "hey...your mom is here". I don't usually take the much needed time to leave the youth with this message as they go off to their homes.
I am not good with good-byes. In fact it is one of my weaknesses. When it is time to say good bye to somebody I may never see again or somebody I won't see for a long while, I usually just freeze up and stay away from them. That is so hard for me to even say because it sounds so heartless. Its not because I don't care about people, its because I can't express how I truly care about people.
This scripture reminds us the blessings we tend not to lose focus on because we are wrapped on other things. How awesome would it be if you recited this scripture to them as they were leaving. What if we truly meant it. What if we really asked God to bless others and protect them? What if we asked God to give others peace instead of trying to figure out how to give peace to others on our own? What if we all prayed this prayer, not for ourselves, but for each other?
We are reminded through this scripture that we serve a loving God who likes to smile upon us. I wonder sometimes what I do that makes God smile. I am sure I need to step it up. I often wonder what I am leaving the youth with at the end of our meetings. My prayer is that I remember this prayer and that I embody this prayer to not only the youth but to everybody I come in contact with. My prayer is that I don't freeze up when others leave me, but that I am able to look them in the eyes and say:
‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
Monday, March 15, 2010
What the Lord HATES..... very interesting scripture. Proverbs 6:16-19
Proverbs 6:16-19 (New International Version)
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
What God hates in terms that I can understand:
1. Haughty Eyes = arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing; scornful, contemptuous, disdainful; full of oneself, above oneself; informal stuck-up, snooty, hoity-toity, uppity, uppish, big-headed, high and mighty (taken directly from the dictionary found on my computer). In other words selfish and self- conceded people.
2. Lying tongue = telling lies (self explanatory) but this also includes half truths, white lies, and not telling the whole story.... even to yourself.
3. Hands that shed innocent blood = After reading this at first I think the literal translation is a given... but an even deeper translation could be doing things that pray on the weaknesses of others....both physically and mentally.
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes = (this probably goes along with the top two very well) I am thinking this pertains to gossip, slander, and starting sentences with "Did you hear" and "I am going to get them back by......." .
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil = I am reminded of middle school fights that broke out in the lunch room and everybody would rush over to see what is going on. Many times we don't think before we rush. Sometimes... no more times than most when we rush we run right into evil because we are not allowing Christ to guide our steps. We rush the process.
6. False witness who pours out lies = being somebody you aren't. living a full on lie just with your actions. saying one thing but being somebody completely opposite of that.
7. A person who stirs up dissension among brothers = not minding your own business, putting your nose where it doesn't belong (which by the way stirs up other questions because where your nose is... the rest of you should probably be there as well... never really got that whole saying).
These words can be fancy and said with an accent but the truth is... its the truth. The thought of the Lord hating anything I do makes me a little sick to my stomach.... and unfortunately I have been guilty of many of these things. How about you?
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
What God hates in terms that I can understand:
1. Haughty Eyes = arrogant, vain, conceited, snobbish, superior, self-important, pompous, supercilious, condescending, patronizing; scornful, contemptuous, disdainful; full of oneself, above oneself; informal stuck-up, snooty, hoity-toity, uppity, uppish, big-headed, high and mighty (taken directly from the dictionary found on my computer). In other words selfish and self- conceded people.
2. Lying tongue = telling lies (self explanatory) but this also includes half truths, white lies, and not telling the whole story.... even to yourself.
3. Hands that shed innocent blood = After reading this at first I think the literal translation is a given... but an even deeper translation could be doing things that pray on the weaknesses of others....both physically and mentally.
4. A heart that devises wicked schemes = (this probably goes along with the top two very well) I am thinking this pertains to gossip, slander, and starting sentences with "Did you hear" and "I am going to get them back by......." .
5. Feet that are quick to rush into evil = I am reminded of middle school fights that broke out in the lunch room and everybody would rush over to see what is going on. Many times we don't think before we rush. Sometimes... no more times than most when we rush we run right into evil because we are not allowing Christ to guide our steps. We rush the process.
6. False witness who pours out lies = being somebody you aren't. living a full on lie just with your actions. saying one thing but being somebody completely opposite of that.
7. A person who stirs up dissension among brothers = not minding your own business, putting your nose where it doesn't belong (which by the way stirs up other questions because where your nose is... the rest of you should probably be there as well... never really got that whole saying).
These words can be fancy and said with an accent but the truth is... its the truth. The thought of the Lord hating anything I do makes me a little sick to my stomach.... and unfortunately I have been guilty of many of these things. How about you?
WAKE UP! Ephesians 5:10-14
Ephesians 5:10-14 (New Living Translation)
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
I don't know about you but this daylight savings time is totally messing up my sleeping schedule! I am a paranoid freak the day that you are supposed to set your clocks forward or backward. Since i work on Sunday mornings, it is quite apparent if I forget that very important task. I panic.... and realize how much I depend on my cell phone alarm to wake me up. I am so afraid that my phone alarm will let me down that I don't sleep at all. I wake up every hour on the hour and check the clock to make sure that I didn't over sleep...which is silly because I don't sleep at all the night I am supposed to spring forward or fall back. Then it just becomes a vicious cycle where I am wanting to sleep when I am supposed to be awake and I am awake when I am supposed to be asleep.
I had the hardest time waking up this morning as a result of this springing forward horrific sleep cycle. I was in bed with my eyes closed and my mind creating hostage style negotiations. I knew I needed to wake up and start the day..... but I also knew that if I just kept my eyes closed that I would fool my head into thinking I can sleep another hour. Does anybody else do that? (Please say you do this)!
Its hard to open our eyes sometimes. I thought my life would be so much easier as an adult. I thought I would be able to do more to help others, that I would be able to have enough self control to stay away from things that are displeasing and that evil would be something that would just pass with age. Instead I just learned how and when to close my eyes when I am faced with evil in the world. Adults face just the same amount of peer pressure and temptation that teenagers do... we are just better at hiding it and explaining it away.
This scripture gives us a to do list that would put any to do list to shame.
To do:
1. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
2. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
3. “Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Whew! That is so tough to even read, let alone put into action. When we don't do these three things, it is as if we are laying down in our beds with our eyes closed and negotiating and excusing our actions and reactions. Rarely do I ask " God is the fact that I am talking about somebody behind their back pleasing to you?" instead I tell God "I am not really talking behind their back... I just want somebody's opinion". Rarely do I expose when something dark and evil is happening..... instead as hard as it is for me to admit it... I am usually taking part in the evil or do everything I can to pretend I don't see it.
Paul tells us in this scripture to open our eyes! WAKE UP! Face the evil head on and expose it! Don't just lay there... do something! We might think we are fooling ourselves into thinking we need the rest and that things aren't happening outside of our eye lids...... but the world is passing us all by and we have the choice to wake up and experience the light of Christ. When we close our eyes to evil... we close our eyes to Christ's light.
I have a big day ahead of me... but as I am starting to create my to do list for the day... I am going to include these three things. I am going to sip on my coffee and WAKE UP from my closed eye and sprung forward self and soak in the light of Christ that helps us do all things.... even face evil. :)
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
I don't know about you but this daylight savings time is totally messing up my sleeping schedule! I am a paranoid freak the day that you are supposed to set your clocks forward or backward. Since i work on Sunday mornings, it is quite apparent if I forget that very important task. I panic.... and realize how much I depend on my cell phone alarm to wake me up. I am so afraid that my phone alarm will let me down that I don't sleep at all. I wake up every hour on the hour and check the clock to make sure that I didn't over sleep...which is silly because I don't sleep at all the night I am supposed to spring forward or fall back. Then it just becomes a vicious cycle where I am wanting to sleep when I am supposed to be awake and I am awake when I am supposed to be asleep.
I had the hardest time waking up this morning as a result of this springing forward horrific sleep cycle. I was in bed with my eyes closed and my mind creating hostage style negotiations. I knew I needed to wake up and start the day..... but I also knew that if I just kept my eyes closed that I would fool my head into thinking I can sleep another hour. Does anybody else do that? (Please say you do this)!
Its hard to open our eyes sometimes. I thought my life would be so much easier as an adult. I thought I would be able to do more to help others, that I would be able to have enough self control to stay away from things that are displeasing and that evil would be something that would just pass with age. Instead I just learned how and when to close my eyes when I am faced with evil in the world. Adults face just the same amount of peer pressure and temptation that teenagers do... we are just better at hiding it and explaining it away.
This scripture gives us a to do list that would put any to do list to shame.
To do:
1. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
2. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
3. “Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
Whew! That is so tough to even read, let alone put into action. When we don't do these three things, it is as if we are laying down in our beds with our eyes closed and negotiating and excusing our actions and reactions. Rarely do I ask " God is the fact that I am talking about somebody behind their back pleasing to you?" instead I tell God "I am not really talking behind their back... I just want somebody's opinion". Rarely do I expose when something dark and evil is happening..... instead as hard as it is for me to admit it... I am usually taking part in the evil or do everything I can to pretend I don't see it.
Paul tells us in this scripture to open our eyes! WAKE UP! Face the evil head on and expose it! Don't just lay there... do something! We might think we are fooling ourselves into thinking we need the rest and that things aren't happening outside of our eye lids...... but the world is passing us all by and we have the choice to wake up and experience the light of Christ. When we close our eyes to evil... we close our eyes to Christ's light.
I have a big day ahead of me... but as I am starting to create my to do list for the day... I am going to include these three things. I am going to sip on my coffee and WAKE UP from my closed eye and sprung forward self and soak in the light of Christ that helps us do all things.... even face evil. :)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
A prayer for everybody who is not perfect. Psalm 32
Psalm 32 (New Living Translation)
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,[b]
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude
6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Interlude
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Lord, I thank you for your unending and forgiving love. I thank you for the tools you have given us to obey you. Help us to use those tools. Life seems easier sometimes when we choose to create our own path instead of follow yours. Help us to turn to you not only in our times of joy and happiness and when things are going perfectly, but when we are full of sorrow, guilt, and shame. Lord you erase our wrongdoings when we find rest in you. Help us to trust that you know what is best for us. Help us to understand the punishment we hand ourselves that is full of guilt, sorrow, and shame can be lifted up from our shoulders and we can be free to find peace in you.
Lord, help us not to judge others for their wrong choices and difficult decisions. Help us to remember we are one choice, word, thought, or action away from being perfect. Show us situations from others' perspectives. Let us forgive those who have wronged us and allow us all to join in feeling and experiencing your unfailing and everlasting love.
Amen.
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,[b]
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude
6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
Interlude
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.
9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!
Lord, I thank you for your unending and forgiving love. I thank you for the tools you have given us to obey you. Help us to use those tools. Life seems easier sometimes when we choose to create our own path instead of follow yours. Help us to turn to you not only in our times of joy and happiness and when things are going perfectly, but when we are full of sorrow, guilt, and shame. Lord you erase our wrongdoings when we find rest in you. Help us to trust that you know what is best for us. Help us to understand the punishment we hand ourselves that is full of guilt, sorrow, and shame can be lifted up from our shoulders and we can be free to find peace in you.
Lord, help us not to judge others for their wrong choices and difficult decisions. Help us to remember we are one choice, word, thought, or action away from being perfect. Show us situations from others' perspectives. Let us forgive those who have wronged us and allow us all to join in feeling and experiencing your unfailing and everlasting love.
Amen.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Painting a Story! Ephesians 2:10
Ephesians 2:10 (New Living Translation)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
I am not an artist. Not at all. The only reason I got an A in art when I was in 8th grade was because I helped organize the closet in the Art Room. I am a much better organizer than an artist..... which really doesn't say much. Art runs in my family. My great grandfather on my mom's side was an amazing painter. He painted lots of seascapes with huge ships. My grandmother on my dad's side was a painter too at one time. My dad is also an incredible artist. He does a lot of ink drawings of houses and nature and every now and then he would use watercolors and airbrushing. With all of this art in my family....I didn't inherit any of those skills.
I didn't even think I was that big of a fan of art until I went to the Getty Center in LA a couple of years ago. The Getty is this huge free museum filled with photography, paintings and sculptures. I was in awe with all of the paintings. My poor aunt had to endure me going around to all of the paintings and reading the little plaques that were placed by each painting. Every painting told a story. You could tell what the artist was going through in their lives as you read the plaques and looked at the painting. Each stroke of the brush was an emotion that the artist felt and what they stood for. It was awesome to see all of the different perspectives of one time period. I learned so much about the artist by looking at their collection of paintings.
I think that is what the scripture is talking about today. WE are God's masterpiece. Each of us have the ability to tell the story about our Artist. Each stroke of God's paintbrush tells us about His emotions and the direction he wants us to go in. Our lives are not painted as a mistake or rough draft. Each of us were created with a purpose and a direction. I really don't think Van Gogh sat there and stared at an empty canvas and just started doodling. Van Gogh had a vision for his work... a story and picture in his mind of how things were going to look. I really believe we were created the same way. We were all created for greatness. We were created with a plan. Once we embrace the fact that we were created for something more than cleaning out the Art Closet and that we are God's Masterpiece... then we can embody the story we are supposed to tell and live the plans Christ died for us to have. Its all about how you look at things. The perspective that you have on your life.
The question is not if you are God's Masterpiece........ the question is are you living out His story in your life?
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
I am not an artist. Not at all. The only reason I got an A in art when I was in 8th grade was because I helped organize the closet in the Art Room. I am a much better organizer than an artist..... which really doesn't say much. Art runs in my family. My great grandfather on my mom's side was an amazing painter. He painted lots of seascapes with huge ships. My grandmother on my dad's side was a painter too at one time. My dad is also an incredible artist. He does a lot of ink drawings of houses and nature and every now and then he would use watercolors and airbrushing. With all of this art in my family....I didn't inherit any of those skills.
I didn't even think I was that big of a fan of art until I went to the Getty Center in LA a couple of years ago. The Getty is this huge free museum filled with photography, paintings and sculptures. I was in awe with all of the paintings. My poor aunt had to endure me going around to all of the paintings and reading the little plaques that were placed by each painting. Every painting told a story. You could tell what the artist was going through in their lives as you read the plaques and looked at the painting. Each stroke of the brush was an emotion that the artist felt and what they stood for. It was awesome to see all of the different perspectives of one time period. I learned so much about the artist by looking at their collection of paintings.
I think that is what the scripture is talking about today. WE are God's masterpiece. Each of us have the ability to tell the story about our Artist. Each stroke of God's paintbrush tells us about His emotions and the direction he wants us to go in. Our lives are not painted as a mistake or rough draft. Each of us were created with a purpose and a direction. I really don't think Van Gogh sat there and stared at an empty canvas and just started doodling. Van Gogh had a vision for his work... a story and picture in his mind of how things were going to look. I really believe we were created the same way. We were all created for greatness. We were created with a plan. Once we embrace the fact that we were created for something more than cleaning out the Art Closet and that we are God's Masterpiece... then we can embody the story we are supposed to tell and live the plans Christ died for us to have. Its all about how you look at things. The perspective that you have on your life.
The question is not if you are God's Masterpiece........ the question is are you living out His story in your life?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The miracle of sacrifice. Matthew 14:13-21
Matthew 14:13-21 (New Living Translation)
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
I love that you can read a scripture several times over several years and still see it differently every time. This scripture is no exception. When I was a child, I focused on the fact that they ate fish and bread. I am not a huge fan of fish, and I was always thankful that I had more food options than fish and bread. I remember thinking about how I would just starve.
Today I see something deeper. This scripture is about so much more than food and miracles. Its about sacrifice. This scripture starts out with a huge following of people from several towns walking for several days to find Jesus. They brought their sick loved ones with them with the hopes that they would be healed. There was Jesus in his solitude mourning his friends tragic death, and instead of asking to be alone, he sacrificed his feelings and solitude to heal the sick. I think about all of those people who walked for a long time with a sick loved one. Had they been at the end of their rope? Had they exhausted all other medical opportunities? Just imagine their journey for a moment. They had to sacrifice their time and plans to commute with their loved one to take a chance on them being healed. This doesn't even take into account those who were sick and without loved ones to walk with them. Imagine being sick and wanting so desperately to be healed that you would sacrifice and put your trust in somebody you have never met hoping that He could heal you.
The disciples were so practical in this situation. They really thought since it was getting late and people were probably getting hungry. The best solution would be to break up this fellowship time and send people on their way. Practical right? I can totally see myself suggesting this to Jesus.....being the planner that I am. Instead of taking the disciples' advice, Jesus had other plans. Fellowship and spending time with people was much more important to Christ at this time. Instead, Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowds. I would really have loved to be there when Jesus said that to the disciples. Apparently there was a side conversation where a food inventory was taken because the disciples instantly told Jesus the results of their food inventory. Two loaves and two fish. I want to know who was planning ahead enough to bring two loaves of bread and two fish with them on this journey. That person is a planner! The planner sacrificed their pre planned snack so that everybody could have food.
All of these miraculous acts have many things in common- but the one that sticks out to me today is the act of sacrifice and trust. The sick walked all the way to Christ in order to be healed. The food was presented to Christ in order to be blessed and multiplied. The act of giving something we care about and treasure over to Christ is something precious. Miracles require trust and letting go. Somebody had to part with their two loaves and fish so that it could be multiplied in abundance. The sick had to walk to find Christ and give their health to Him so that he could heal them. I think one of the reasons we don't see the miracles that occur around us today is because we are not willing to fully let go of loved ones and situations in our lives and give them to Christ.
We want our loved ones to be healed from cancer- but we are not willing to let go of wanting to control what happens. We want to be dept free but we are not willing to give our credit cards over to Christ. We want our kids to be happy, healthy, and productive in life - but we are not willing to walk long distances to give them to Christ. Miracles can happen and do happen all of the time. Jesus could have fed the 5000 without the sacrifice from the food planning individual - but the sacrifice is what makes this miracle powerful. Jesus could have healed the sick from the comfort of their own homes and villages - but the journey is what made the miracles tangible.
Who is the loved one in your life that you need to bring to Christ in order for miracles to happen?
What is your bread and fish that you need to let go of and give to Christ in order for others to be blessed?
What can you sacrifice in your life for a miracle?
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”
17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!
I love that you can read a scripture several times over several years and still see it differently every time. This scripture is no exception. When I was a child, I focused on the fact that they ate fish and bread. I am not a huge fan of fish, and I was always thankful that I had more food options than fish and bread. I remember thinking about how I would just starve.
Today I see something deeper. This scripture is about so much more than food and miracles. Its about sacrifice. This scripture starts out with a huge following of people from several towns walking for several days to find Jesus. They brought their sick loved ones with them with the hopes that they would be healed. There was Jesus in his solitude mourning his friends tragic death, and instead of asking to be alone, he sacrificed his feelings and solitude to heal the sick. I think about all of those people who walked for a long time with a sick loved one. Had they been at the end of their rope? Had they exhausted all other medical opportunities? Just imagine their journey for a moment. They had to sacrifice their time and plans to commute with their loved one to take a chance on them being healed. This doesn't even take into account those who were sick and without loved ones to walk with them. Imagine being sick and wanting so desperately to be healed that you would sacrifice and put your trust in somebody you have never met hoping that He could heal you.
The disciples were so practical in this situation. They really thought since it was getting late and people were probably getting hungry. The best solution would be to break up this fellowship time and send people on their way. Practical right? I can totally see myself suggesting this to Jesus.....being the planner that I am. Instead of taking the disciples' advice, Jesus had other plans. Fellowship and spending time with people was much more important to Christ at this time. Instead, Jesus asked the disciples to feed the crowds. I would really have loved to be there when Jesus said that to the disciples. Apparently there was a side conversation where a food inventory was taken because the disciples instantly told Jesus the results of their food inventory. Two loaves and two fish. I want to know who was planning ahead enough to bring two loaves of bread and two fish with them on this journey. That person is a planner! The planner sacrificed their pre planned snack so that everybody could have food.
All of these miraculous acts have many things in common- but the one that sticks out to me today is the act of sacrifice and trust. The sick walked all the way to Christ in order to be healed. The food was presented to Christ in order to be blessed and multiplied. The act of giving something we care about and treasure over to Christ is something precious. Miracles require trust and letting go. Somebody had to part with their two loaves and fish so that it could be multiplied in abundance. The sick had to walk to find Christ and give their health to Him so that he could heal them. I think one of the reasons we don't see the miracles that occur around us today is because we are not willing to fully let go of loved ones and situations in our lives and give them to Christ.
We want our loved ones to be healed from cancer- but we are not willing to let go of wanting to control what happens. We want to be dept free but we are not willing to give our credit cards over to Christ. We want our kids to be happy, healthy, and productive in life - but we are not willing to walk long distances to give them to Christ. Miracles can happen and do happen all of the time. Jesus could have fed the 5000 without the sacrifice from the food planning individual - but the sacrifice is what makes this miracle powerful. Jesus could have healed the sick from the comfort of their own homes and villages - but the journey is what made the miracles tangible.
Who is the loved one in your life that you need to bring to Christ in order for miracles to happen?
What is your bread and fish that you need to let go of and give to Christ in order for others to be blessed?
What can you sacrifice in your life for a miracle?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Stealing the day. Psalm 74:16
Psalm 74:16
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
Creator-
Thank you so much for the beautiful sunshine and the beautiful attitudes that come with it. Many times I forget to recognize that each day is yours and every night is yours. I steal the days from you. Help me to remember that each day that you give me is not my own but yours. Instead of making my own to do list, I want you to lead each of my actions and words to reflect your plans for the day. I want to honor your day. Help me to take the time to appreciate the sunshine today and the rain from yesterday. I pray that I don't take today for granted but live it to the fullest. Help me to be a mirror of your love and grace to others. I am going to open windows and pause to sit in your sunshine. I am giving you today back and I am ready to give you each day instead of taking each day as my own! I am sorry for my daily greed and my nightly frustration. I am in awe of the beauty outside my window. Thank you!
Amen
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
Creator-
Thank you so much for the beautiful sunshine and the beautiful attitudes that come with it. Many times I forget to recognize that each day is yours and every night is yours. I steal the days from you. Help me to remember that each day that you give me is not my own but yours. Instead of making my own to do list, I want you to lead each of my actions and words to reflect your plans for the day. I want to honor your day. Help me to take the time to appreciate the sunshine today and the rain from yesterday. I pray that I don't take today for granted but live it to the fullest. Help me to be a mirror of your love and grace to others. I am going to open windows and pause to sit in your sunshine. I am giving you today back and I am ready to give you each day instead of taking each day as my own! I am sorry for my daily greed and my nightly frustration. I am in awe of the beauty outside my window. Thank you!
Amen
Monday, March 8, 2010
What Not to Wear.... Bible Style! Colossians 3:12-15
Colossians 3:12-15 (New Living Translation)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 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.
One of my favorite television shows is What Not to Wear on TLC. Its a great show with a great premise. First of all they take all of this "secret footage" on one poor fashion victim then when they least expect it, the two hosts of the show appear out of nowhere and surprise the fashion victim. Then in the matter of days they do a whirlwind make over from head to toe. Hair, make up, clothing... everything. The only catch is, they have to get rid of all of their old clothing before buying new clothing....that the hosts approve and thing would be a good fit and style for them.
The process of watching these fashion victims turning into stylish and confident people is really fun to watch. The hard part is watching them part with their old clothing and what that all represents. Some are reduced to tears as they part with the clothing they have had for so long. Some are down right angry and vengeful and they fight tooth and nail to keep their clothing that has become somewhat of a security blanket for them. At the end of the show.....it never fails...... they always love their transformation and they are grateful for new beginnings.
Clothing is a huge part of who we are. In many ways clothing defines who we are. Everybody has their own style and reasoning behind their clothing. Wearing the "right" clothes brings confidence and comfort. Wearing the "wrong" clothes brings discomfort. Why do we wear the clothes that we wear?
My youth and many other teenagers, children, and parents in Waxahachie are forced to ask themselves the same questions. Why do we wear the clothes that we wear? The school board passed a new dress menu that has caused many to be upset and angry at the thought of losing their individuality expressed by the clothes that they wear. Is our individuality really expressed solely by what we wear?
This scripture from Colossians talks about clothing yourself with patience, mercy, humility, kindness, and gentleness... AND above all that clothing ourselves with love. I have to be honest...sometimes I need God to do a "What Not to Wear" on my spiritual wardrobe. Can you imagine if God had hidden footage of my spiritual wardrobe? I would be shocked to see how I responded to others. I would have to face the impatience I have each day in even the smallest of situations.
Maybe instead of identifying myself with my casual comfortable clothing, I could identify myself by the humility and kindness I clothe myself with. I need to under go a head to toe spiritual make over. Instead of laying in bed in the morning thinking about what I am going to wear that day and what others will think about what I wear, I could start my day off with a prayer asking God to show me how to live in peace and forgiveness. Instead of going out to buy a new outfit or pair of shoes, I can go out and show love to others.
Regardless of where you stand on a dress menu topic or how you dress on the outside, all of us need to really think about how we dress on the inside. I am thankful that I worship a God who cares about the inside, who encourages us to dress better from the inside out, who challenges us to forgive and surround others with love. We are to be bound together not by what we wear but by our love.
I pray that God allows me to see what not to wear in my life, and provides opportunities for a spiritual wardrobe make over every chance I get.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 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.
One of my favorite television shows is What Not to Wear on TLC. Its a great show with a great premise. First of all they take all of this "secret footage" on one poor fashion victim then when they least expect it, the two hosts of the show appear out of nowhere and surprise the fashion victim. Then in the matter of days they do a whirlwind make over from head to toe. Hair, make up, clothing... everything. The only catch is, they have to get rid of all of their old clothing before buying new clothing....that the hosts approve and thing would be a good fit and style for them.
The process of watching these fashion victims turning into stylish and confident people is really fun to watch. The hard part is watching them part with their old clothing and what that all represents. Some are reduced to tears as they part with the clothing they have had for so long. Some are down right angry and vengeful and they fight tooth and nail to keep their clothing that has become somewhat of a security blanket for them. At the end of the show.....it never fails...... they always love their transformation and they are grateful for new beginnings.
Clothing is a huge part of who we are. In many ways clothing defines who we are. Everybody has their own style and reasoning behind their clothing. Wearing the "right" clothes brings confidence and comfort. Wearing the "wrong" clothes brings discomfort. Why do we wear the clothes that we wear?
My youth and many other teenagers, children, and parents in Waxahachie are forced to ask themselves the same questions. Why do we wear the clothes that we wear? The school board passed a new dress menu that has caused many to be upset and angry at the thought of losing their individuality expressed by the clothes that they wear. Is our individuality really expressed solely by what we wear?
This scripture from Colossians talks about clothing yourself with patience, mercy, humility, kindness, and gentleness... AND above all that clothing ourselves with love. I have to be honest...sometimes I need God to do a "What Not to Wear" on my spiritual wardrobe. Can you imagine if God had hidden footage of my spiritual wardrobe? I would be shocked to see how I responded to others. I would have to face the impatience I have each day in even the smallest of situations.
Maybe instead of identifying myself with my casual comfortable clothing, I could identify myself by the humility and kindness I clothe myself with. I need to under go a head to toe spiritual make over. Instead of laying in bed in the morning thinking about what I am going to wear that day and what others will think about what I wear, I could start my day off with a prayer asking God to show me how to live in peace and forgiveness. Instead of going out to buy a new outfit or pair of shoes, I can go out and show love to others.
Regardless of where you stand on a dress menu topic or how you dress on the outside, all of us need to really think about how we dress on the inside. I am thankful that I worship a God who cares about the inside, who encourages us to dress better from the inside out, who challenges us to forgive and surround others with love. We are to be bound together not by what we wear but by our love.
I pray that God allows me to see what not to wear in my life, and provides opportunities for a spiritual wardrobe make over every chance I get.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
simple worship Psalm 100:1-3
Psalm 100:1-3 (New Living Translation)
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
I love the act of worship. I love the thought of acknowledging the relationship we have with Christ through our songs, prayers, and speech. I love when things click within a community of believers and the presence of Christ is known. I love seeing the faces of kids and youth when they place their insecurities aside and truly worship the Lord. I love when time stops in worship and nothing else matters but what is happening right in front of you. I love it when we come as we are: broken, sad, confused, worried, angered, and depressed. And we leave the way God intends for us to be: inspired, free, loved, driven, and blessed.
Seek out the worship Christ wants you to be a part of. Spend sometime with the one who Created you. See all that the Lord has done and for just a moment... give thanks.
1 Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
I love the act of worship. I love the thought of acknowledging the relationship we have with Christ through our songs, prayers, and speech. I love when things click within a community of believers and the presence of Christ is known. I love seeing the faces of kids and youth when they place their insecurities aside and truly worship the Lord. I love when time stops in worship and nothing else matters but what is happening right in front of you. I love it when we come as we are: broken, sad, confused, worried, angered, and depressed. And we leave the way God intends for us to be: inspired, free, loved, driven, and blessed.
Seek out the worship Christ wants you to be a part of. Spend sometime with the one who Created you. See all that the Lord has done and for just a moment... give thanks.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Faith Routine Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (New Living Translation)
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
I have many routines in life. I have the waking up in the morning routine which usually consists of me laying in bed and mentally putting together my schedule and wardrobe for the day. I have my i just got to work routine where I have to have a couple of minutes of silence before I am ready to speak to anybody. I have my going on a trip routine where I have to make a list of what I want to bring, then I lay it all out, then I pack it, then I find out I am packing too much so I repack my bag with only the items I need.
Its funny how many routines we have, isn't it? My routines become so routine that I forget that I even have any. I think its the same way with our faith. I think we do the same things over and over again that we forget about why we do things in the first place. We lose sight of why we worship, why we tithe, why its important be be part of a community of believers.
Working in the ministry I become a little jaded when it comes to teaching children and youth about the Christian Faith. First of all please know it is an honor and a privlage to be a part of a child and youth's spiritual journey. It is overwhelming to see youth overcome huge obstacles and still take huge steps in their journey toward Christ. Christ does some amazing things with children and youth. Their hearts are wide open to what Christ has in store for them. The problem is as adults we are too busy and preoccupied to realize that it is our responsibility to talk to them about the commandments and share our faith journey with them.
This scripture clearly states our responsibility as adults, parents, and leaders. It tells us to do two things:
1. Commit to the commandments
2. Talk about the commandments with your children.
How many of us take that responsibility to heart? Do we kind of know the commandments enough to give the kids an overview or have we made the commitment to the commandments and then share those commandments with our children-not just once but over and over again?
When do you share your faith? When do you share your journey with others? This is not just the responsibility of Sunday School teachers, youth ministers, and VBS leaders. We are all responsible for sharing our faith journey. As I think about my faith journey I am so grateful for all of the adults who took their time with me. Sharing their faith journey. Praying with me. Praying for me. It was during the inconvienient times, the uncomfortable times, the unimaginable times that my faith grew because the time the adults took in my life.
Its hard not to make our faith journey a routine and something we just do without thinking about it. Take the time to commit to what you have been doing and what you need to do. Share what you are doing and why you do it with the children and youth that God places in your life.
6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
I have many routines in life. I have the waking up in the morning routine which usually consists of me laying in bed and mentally putting together my schedule and wardrobe for the day. I have my i just got to work routine where I have to have a couple of minutes of silence before I am ready to speak to anybody. I have my going on a trip routine where I have to make a list of what I want to bring, then I lay it all out, then I pack it, then I find out I am packing too much so I repack my bag with only the items I need.
Its funny how many routines we have, isn't it? My routines become so routine that I forget that I even have any. I think its the same way with our faith. I think we do the same things over and over again that we forget about why we do things in the first place. We lose sight of why we worship, why we tithe, why its important be be part of a community of believers.
Working in the ministry I become a little jaded when it comes to teaching children and youth about the Christian Faith. First of all please know it is an honor and a privlage to be a part of a child and youth's spiritual journey. It is overwhelming to see youth overcome huge obstacles and still take huge steps in their journey toward Christ. Christ does some amazing things with children and youth. Their hearts are wide open to what Christ has in store for them. The problem is as adults we are too busy and preoccupied to realize that it is our responsibility to talk to them about the commandments and share our faith journey with them.
This scripture clearly states our responsibility as adults, parents, and leaders. It tells us to do two things:
1. Commit to the commandments
2. Talk about the commandments with your children.
How many of us take that responsibility to heart? Do we kind of know the commandments enough to give the kids an overview or have we made the commitment to the commandments and then share those commandments with our children-not just once but over and over again?
When do you share your faith? When do you share your journey with others? This is not just the responsibility of Sunday School teachers, youth ministers, and VBS leaders. We are all responsible for sharing our faith journey. As I think about my faith journey I am so grateful for all of the adults who took their time with me. Sharing their faith journey. Praying with me. Praying for me. It was during the inconvienient times, the uncomfortable times, the unimaginable times that my faith grew because the time the adults took in my life.
Its hard not to make our faith journey a routine and something we just do without thinking about it. Take the time to commit to what you have been doing and what you need to do. Share what you are doing and why you do it with the children and youth that God places in your life.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Unfailing love.........Impossible love Jeremiah 31:3
Jeremiah 31:3 (New Living Translation)
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Wow!
Everlasting........ Unfailing....... love.........
These are some powerful words! Seriously, there is power behind these words.
Life is overwhelming at times. We can be overwhelmed by bills, stress, work loads, laundry, family issues, (need I go on). But this scripture is overwhelming on a whole new level. After reading this scripture several times, I am overwhelmed by the love our Lord has for us.
We sing "Jesus loves me" we post "God is love" but here are the words the Lord gives to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." Wow! These words were written a long time ago to the Israelites and these words were written a long time ago for us. God isn't just love, he is everlasting love. Jesus doesn't just love us, He loves us unfailingly.
Love is defined with so many limits today. We can love pizza and we can love our family all in one breath. Marriages struggle to maintain love in the relationship. Teenagers scribble I love _______________. on their notebooks and end all of their facebook postings with I love ___________ . Love is used, misused, and abused in so many ways.
When was the last time you loved with an everlasting love? When was the last time your love was unfailing?
Thats the thing, I am not sure we are capable of loving the way God loves us. I think we should strive to love the way God loves us but I am not sure if it is possible for us to love in a world full of conditions. God's love is there for us whether we acknowledge it or not. God's love never changes....even when we change. I am not sure we can full grasp the sort of love that God has for us.
I am going to let you into a random secret ritual my mom and I have (sorry mom).... every time my mom tells me she loves me, I tell her that I love her more, and then she responds with "its not possible", That is powerful to hear ... even as an adult. Its powerful to know that as much as I love my mom... there is no possible way that I can love her more than she loves me.
The same is true for our Creator. There is no possible way that I can love God more than God loves me. There is no way I can love anybody as much as God loves them. It is just not possible.
We are drawn to God by God's unfailing love. That is powerful.
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Wow!
Everlasting........ Unfailing....... love.........
These are some powerful words! Seriously, there is power behind these words.
Life is overwhelming at times. We can be overwhelmed by bills, stress, work loads, laundry, family issues, (need I go on). But this scripture is overwhelming on a whole new level. After reading this scripture several times, I am overwhelmed by the love our Lord has for us.
We sing "Jesus loves me" we post "God is love" but here are the words the Lord gives to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself." Wow! These words were written a long time ago to the Israelites and these words were written a long time ago for us. God isn't just love, he is everlasting love. Jesus doesn't just love us, He loves us unfailingly.
Love is defined with so many limits today. We can love pizza and we can love our family all in one breath. Marriages struggle to maintain love in the relationship. Teenagers scribble I love _______________. on their notebooks and end all of their facebook postings with I love ___________ . Love is used, misused, and abused in so many ways.
When was the last time you loved with an everlasting love? When was the last time your love was unfailing?
Thats the thing, I am not sure we are capable of loving the way God loves us. I think we should strive to love the way God loves us but I am not sure if it is possible for us to love in a world full of conditions. God's love is there for us whether we acknowledge it or not. God's love never changes....even when we change. I am not sure we can full grasp the sort of love that God has for us.
I am going to let you into a random secret ritual my mom and I have (sorry mom).... every time my mom tells me she loves me, I tell her that I love her more, and then she responds with "its not possible", That is powerful to hear ... even as an adult. Its powerful to know that as much as I love my mom... there is no possible way that I can love her more than she loves me.
The same is true for our Creator. There is no possible way that I can love God more than God loves me. There is no way I can love anybody as much as God loves them. It is just not possible.
We are drawn to God by God's unfailing love. That is powerful.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Inconvenient Mission Philemon 1:6
Philemon 1:6 (New Living Translation)
6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.
I love summer time! It is my favorite season of all!! I love warm sunshine! I love eating on patios! I love swimming and going to the lake! Most of all I love Summer Mission Trips! There is just something about going on the mission trips in the summer. I have the true blessing of being involved with 3 powerful mission trips a year.... and its part of my job!
There are so many reasons why I love going on mission trips, but one of the main reasons is I have the privilege of seeing the youth and adults who go on the trip transform in their faith because they are putting their faith in action. There is a huge rumor out there that youth are lazy and they don't think of anybody but themselves. I ask anybody who thinks that, to go on a mission trip with teenagers. It is my opinion that teenagers aren't lazy... they are just not given the opportunity to put their faith in action.
All of you who have been on a mission trip can agree with me when I say that usually those helping others are actually just as blessed by the experience as those who are being helped. There is nothing quite like the feeling of helping others and putting your faith in action. When we are able to help others we are able to be the true hands and feet of Christ. Relationships are built and Christ can be seen and felt through the work of others.
I am not sure if this scripture is written just for those who take a week off in the summer to help others. I am sure though, that this scripture is for everybody to act on. We are called as Christians to put our faith into action. Its not just because its the right thing to do.... but I think its a way for us to feel closer to Christ. When we act Christ-like... we can feel Christ-like.
All of us can be in mission everyday. Opening doors for others, listening to friends, doing random acts of kindness. We are called to step out from who we are and be who Christ is. We are called to be Christ's hands and feet to others...and not when it is convenient to us.
Christ didn't have a blackberry or i phone to schedule in his ministry. He didn't say.. hold on I can help you next Tuesday after basketball practice and before my dentist appointment. Christ looked for ways to show his love, even at inconvenient times.
If you have never been on a mission trip, I want to encourage you to go on one. If you are looking for ways to be in mission everyday... I pray that your eyes will be opened to those opportunities.
We have been given so much and I never want to take that for granted. Instead I ask God to provide opportunities for me to be generous.........even when I am not on a mission trip.
6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.
I love summer time! It is my favorite season of all!! I love warm sunshine! I love eating on patios! I love swimming and going to the lake! Most of all I love Summer Mission Trips! There is just something about going on the mission trips in the summer. I have the true blessing of being involved with 3 powerful mission trips a year.... and its part of my job!
There are so many reasons why I love going on mission trips, but one of the main reasons is I have the privilege of seeing the youth and adults who go on the trip transform in their faith because they are putting their faith in action. There is a huge rumor out there that youth are lazy and they don't think of anybody but themselves. I ask anybody who thinks that, to go on a mission trip with teenagers. It is my opinion that teenagers aren't lazy... they are just not given the opportunity to put their faith in action.
All of you who have been on a mission trip can agree with me when I say that usually those helping others are actually just as blessed by the experience as those who are being helped. There is nothing quite like the feeling of helping others and putting your faith in action. When we are able to help others we are able to be the true hands and feet of Christ. Relationships are built and Christ can be seen and felt through the work of others.
I am not sure if this scripture is written just for those who take a week off in the summer to help others. I am sure though, that this scripture is for everybody to act on. We are called as Christians to put our faith into action. Its not just because its the right thing to do.... but I think its a way for us to feel closer to Christ. When we act Christ-like... we can feel Christ-like.
All of us can be in mission everyday. Opening doors for others, listening to friends, doing random acts of kindness. We are called to step out from who we are and be who Christ is. We are called to be Christ's hands and feet to others...and not when it is convenient to us.
Christ didn't have a blackberry or i phone to schedule in his ministry. He didn't say.. hold on I can help you next Tuesday after basketball practice and before my dentist appointment. Christ looked for ways to show his love, even at inconvenient times.
If you have never been on a mission trip, I want to encourage you to go on one. If you are looking for ways to be in mission everyday... I pray that your eyes will be opened to those opportunities.
We have been given so much and I never want to take that for granted. Instead I ask God to provide opportunities for me to be generous.........even when I am not on a mission trip.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Search me..... Psalm 139:23-24
Psalm 139:23-24 (New Living Translation)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Imagine telling somebody to "search your life" and after they are done searching your life asking them to test those things that cause anxiety and then point out things in your life that offend you. That person would take one look at you and think you are crazy. Why? Because how many of us are really ready to have our lives searched? How many of us are ready for somebody to dig through our dirty laundry and point out the offensive things in our lives? Can you imagine your deepest darkest secrets revealed to your friend? I would be mortified if my whole life was searched and under a microscope. There are things in my life that I am not proud of at all and that I try to hide from myself. I say my life is an open book..but honestly I have probably ripped out some pages before opening it for people to read.
This scripture is powerful and uncomfortable all at the same time. It causes you to feel anxious and free all at the same time. This scripture isn't just talking about "somebody" this scripture is talking about the one who created you. We say all the time that you can't hide anything from God. We even point out how funny it was that Adam and Eve were hiding their nakedness from God because they didn't want God to know what they did. The truth is .... even though we know we can't hide from God... many times we try to hide things from ourselves.
There is a reason we call them deep dark secrets. We keep those things we don't want to be found in deep dark places. Places we don't think we will ever find them... let alone somebody else. This scripture calls us to go to those deep dark places... and bring God along.
Its as if we are standing on a cliff and the only thing that is standing in our way from true freedom and everlasting life...... is allowing God to search those deep dark places and point out how to deal with the nasty things we have in our lives that stand in our way from the journey we need to be on.
This scripture has been on my desk for several months... and I have forgotten it. It is part of a daily inventory that I wanted to do everyday to help me focus... and instead of focusing on it... I shoved it into a deep dark place.
The daily inventory is a very powerful process. You are to ask yourself (search within yourself) these questions:
1. How am I doing loving my neighbor? Did I act in an unloving way toward anyone today?
2. How am I doing at loving my Lord?
3. Did others see in me today the joy of having a personal relationship with Christ? If not, why not?
4. How was my peace today? Did anything happen that caused me to lose it? What was my part in it?
5. Was I patient today? What caused me to lose my patience? Do I owe anybody an apology?
6. Woud anyone say that I was kind today? In what ways did I act unkind?
7. Did I keep my word with everyone today?
8. Did I lose my temper or speak a harsh or unkind word to someone?
9. Am I hiding anything from myself or others because its just easier not to talk about it?
10. Where in my life am I trying to control a situation or other person?
WOW..... these are tough but powerful questions.
I pray that we are all open to search ourselves and allow God to search us as well. Looking at our junk is not fun... but it stands in the way of our everlasting life that we are called to live.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Imagine telling somebody to "search your life" and after they are done searching your life asking them to test those things that cause anxiety and then point out things in your life that offend you. That person would take one look at you and think you are crazy. Why? Because how many of us are really ready to have our lives searched? How many of us are ready for somebody to dig through our dirty laundry and point out the offensive things in our lives? Can you imagine your deepest darkest secrets revealed to your friend? I would be mortified if my whole life was searched and under a microscope. There are things in my life that I am not proud of at all and that I try to hide from myself. I say my life is an open book..but honestly I have probably ripped out some pages before opening it for people to read.
This scripture is powerful and uncomfortable all at the same time. It causes you to feel anxious and free all at the same time. This scripture isn't just talking about "somebody" this scripture is talking about the one who created you. We say all the time that you can't hide anything from God. We even point out how funny it was that Adam and Eve were hiding their nakedness from God because they didn't want God to know what they did. The truth is .... even though we know we can't hide from God... many times we try to hide things from ourselves.
There is a reason we call them deep dark secrets. We keep those things we don't want to be found in deep dark places. Places we don't think we will ever find them... let alone somebody else. This scripture calls us to go to those deep dark places... and bring God along.
Its as if we are standing on a cliff and the only thing that is standing in our way from true freedom and everlasting life...... is allowing God to search those deep dark places and point out how to deal with the nasty things we have in our lives that stand in our way from the journey we need to be on.
This scripture has been on my desk for several months... and I have forgotten it. It is part of a daily inventory that I wanted to do everyday to help me focus... and instead of focusing on it... I shoved it into a deep dark place.
The daily inventory is a very powerful process. You are to ask yourself (search within yourself) these questions:
1. How am I doing loving my neighbor? Did I act in an unloving way toward anyone today?
2. How am I doing at loving my Lord?
3. Did others see in me today the joy of having a personal relationship with Christ? If not, why not?
4. How was my peace today? Did anything happen that caused me to lose it? What was my part in it?
5. Was I patient today? What caused me to lose my patience? Do I owe anybody an apology?
6. Woud anyone say that I was kind today? In what ways did I act unkind?
7. Did I keep my word with everyone today?
8. Did I lose my temper or speak a harsh or unkind word to someone?
9. Am I hiding anything from myself or others because its just easier not to talk about it?
10. Where in my life am I trying to control a situation or other person?
WOW..... these are tough but powerful questions.
I pray that we are all open to search ourselves and allow God to search us as well. Looking at our junk is not fun... but it stands in the way of our everlasting life that we are called to live.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Surrounded by heavy clutter Hebrews 12:1-2
Hebrews 12: 1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Cup of coffee, receipts, Burger King crown, mounds of papers, Relevant Magazine, stapler, cords, box of tissues, cup of pens, rubber stress basketball, masking tape, a Gideon pamphlet, three ink pens, calculator, space heater, princess crown, notebook, three devotional books, business card, car keys, purse, note cards, Vacation Bible School lesson plans, and a DVD i am showing for Bible Study on Wednesday. These are just a few things i have on my desk right now. It is a wonder that I even have room on my desk for my laptop.
I am surrounded by clutter. I am a clutter magnet. I am not proud of it. I have taken large steps to overcome my cluttering. I love the feeling of having a clean desk and a clean office. When I am surrounded by clean instead of clutter things are so much clearer and it is so much easier to work. So then there is the question that has to be asked: Why do we clutter? If it feels good to work in clean... why do I surround myself with clutter?
Clutter happens! (It really should be a bumper sticker). Clutter is not something that you create intentionally.. it happens over time. Over time I accumulated far too many useless things on my desk and then chose to push it off to the side instead of putting it away. After i finish writing this blog, I fully intend to sort through these things and decide what needs to stay and what needs to be put away. What is essential to the productivity of my work and what slows me down.
What if we did that in life? What if we listed everything that is in our lives and then figure out what is productive to our walk with Christ and what is slowing us down? When I have studied this scripture before, I always think of strong addictions and burdens that slow us down. I always thought of the big events that served as a dark cloud in my life instead of the small things I have accumulated over time. I think i have more clutter weighing me down than really big life shattering events.
What are you surrounded by? I love the thought of being surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses. A huge crowd of people running the race with me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by an incredible church family, lots of amazing friends, and great family. Sometimes I am distracted by all of my clutter that I am not able to run the race fully with everybody.
Sins and other priorities take the place of our crowd of witnesses. Piece by piece gossip, guilt, and physical clutter sits in the way of my faith productivity. I focus on huge pile of clutter in my life and get overwhelmed that I don't realize that I need to just sort out each piece and think about how it is contributing to the productivity of my race with Christ.
We are all invited to run the race whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The only difference some choose to run the race with 10 pound ankle weights of clutter, some stand at the starting line waiting for their calendars to clear up so they can fully commit to the race, and some run with a slow and steady pace cautious of every step that they take.
How do you run the race? What are you surrounded by? Do you have clutter in your life that you need to go through piece by piece? Maybe its time to do a little spring cleaning for Lent. I am adding it to my To Do list right now :)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Cup of coffee, receipts, Burger King crown, mounds of papers, Relevant Magazine, stapler, cords, box of tissues, cup of pens, rubber stress basketball, masking tape, a Gideon pamphlet, three ink pens, calculator, space heater, princess crown, notebook, three devotional books, business card, car keys, purse, note cards, Vacation Bible School lesson plans, and a DVD i am showing for Bible Study on Wednesday. These are just a few things i have on my desk right now. It is a wonder that I even have room on my desk for my laptop.
I am surrounded by clutter. I am a clutter magnet. I am not proud of it. I have taken large steps to overcome my cluttering. I love the feeling of having a clean desk and a clean office. When I am surrounded by clean instead of clutter things are so much clearer and it is so much easier to work. So then there is the question that has to be asked: Why do we clutter? If it feels good to work in clean... why do I surround myself with clutter?
Clutter happens! (It really should be a bumper sticker). Clutter is not something that you create intentionally.. it happens over time. Over time I accumulated far too many useless things on my desk and then chose to push it off to the side instead of putting it away. After i finish writing this blog, I fully intend to sort through these things and decide what needs to stay and what needs to be put away. What is essential to the productivity of my work and what slows me down.
What if we did that in life? What if we listed everything that is in our lives and then figure out what is productive to our walk with Christ and what is slowing us down? When I have studied this scripture before, I always think of strong addictions and burdens that slow us down. I always thought of the big events that served as a dark cloud in my life instead of the small things I have accumulated over time. I think i have more clutter weighing me down than really big life shattering events.
What are you surrounded by? I love the thought of being surrounded by a huge crowd of witnesses. A huge crowd of people running the race with me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by an incredible church family, lots of amazing friends, and great family. Sometimes I am distracted by all of my clutter that I am not able to run the race fully with everybody.
Sins and other priorities take the place of our crowd of witnesses. Piece by piece gossip, guilt, and physical clutter sits in the way of my faith productivity. I focus on huge pile of clutter in my life and get overwhelmed that I don't realize that I need to just sort out each piece and think about how it is contributing to the productivity of my race with Christ.
We are all invited to run the race whether we want to acknowledge it or not. The only difference some choose to run the race with 10 pound ankle weights of clutter, some stand at the starting line waiting for their calendars to clear up so they can fully commit to the race, and some run with a slow and steady pace cautious of every step that they take.
How do you run the race? What are you surrounded by? Do you have clutter in your life that you need to go through piece by piece? Maybe its time to do a little spring cleaning for Lent. I am adding it to my To Do list right now :)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
How do you spend your 24 hours? Philippians 2:12-16
Philippians 2:12-16 (New Living Translation)
Shine Brightly for Christ
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
What would the world be like if we all adopted verse 14 as our motto. What if we actually lived a life without complaining and arguing? How would life really look?
I am an over critical person. I criticize everything and everyone. Nothing escapes my critical eye! (What are blogs for if you can't be honest right). I acknowledge my criticalness to the point where one time I actually went on a criticism fast for several days. During that time I was forced to see the world differently. No more could i point fingers at a situation or at a person without first pointing the fingers at myself. For a few couple of days I think I experienced what this scripture is talking about.
Each day we are given 24 hours to live life to the fullest and not in vain. For 24 hours we are given opportunities to serve others, to be living examples of what it means to live clean lives, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to others. In a given day I might spend a half an hour truly living a clean life and the 23 and a half other hours are spend complaining about how others need to clean up their lives. What kind of light am I shining?
I am encouraged by this scripture to let every hour count! I am encouraged to live with out fear and with happiness. Today I am going to be open for opportunities to shine the light of Christ to others. The thought of living a life in vain just makes me feel sick to my stomach. The thought of living a useless life is enough to encourage me to find areas to be used by Christ.
Today I will be intentional about living out verse 14 to the fullest.... and take advantage of each hour I am given to reflect his love.
Shine Brightly for Christ
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
What would the world be like if we all adopted verse 14 as our motto. What if we actually lived a life without complaining and arguing? How would life really look?
I am an over critical person. I criticize everything and everyone. Nothing escapes my critical eye! (What are blogs for if you can't be honest right). I acknowledge my criticalness to the point where one time I actually went on a criticism fast for several days. During that time I was forced to see the world differently. No more could i point fingers at a situation or at a person without first pointing the fingers at myself. For a few couple of days I think I experienced what this scripture is talking about.
Each day we are given 24 hours to live life to the fullest and not in vain. For 24 hours we are given opportunities to serve others, to be living examples of what it means to live clean lives, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to others. In a given day I might spend a half an hour truly living a clean life and the 23 and a half other hours are spend complaining about how others need to clean up their lives. What kind of light am I shining?
I am encouraged by this scripture to let every hour count! I am encouraged to live with out fear and with happiness. Today I am going to be open for opportunities to shine the light of Christ to others. The thought of living a life in vain just makes me feel sick to my stomach. The thought of living a useless life is enough to encourage me to find areas to be used by Christ.
Today I will be intentional about living out verse 14 to the fullest.... and take advantage of each hour I am given to reflect his love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)