"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.
Monday, November 22, 2010
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?
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