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.’
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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
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