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.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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 :)
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