Monday, May 23rd
Food of Choice Fast
Today, we will challenge ourselves to give up a food that we eat every day. For instance, if you eat chocolate every day, try to go a day without it. Or if you eat bread in every meal, see what it’s like to take the extra effort to cut it out of your meals today. Today Stefani and I are giving up packaged or processed foods; for example, instead of eating poptarts for breakfast, I ate an apple instead; or instead of having pizza rolls for lunch, we will have a fresh salad with lemon juice being our salad dressing.
Today has been quite a journey already. I quickly realized my need to grocery shop. Pretty much everything in my house was packaged and processed. I was able to salvage an apple from my refrigerator of processed and out dated food for breakfast. As my stomach started to growl mid morning I was confronted with the fact that it was really time to grocery shop!
Stefani and I made an amazing salad with greens, orange bell pepper, fetta cheese (sketchy if this was processed or not..but we went with it), black berries, avacado, carrots, and lemon juice. I started eating the salad with the mindset that these are all ingredients that are God designed and created. Each of them were grown from the ground (obviously feta is not grown from the ground...but the cow for sure God created). I enjoyed each unique flavor in my salad.
How many times do we fail to stop and enjoy the food we eat? Sure there are those moments where we are on a sugar high or we crave a good steak... but how many times do we take the time to be intentional about what we eat?
1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I am pretty sure I don't glorify God by driving through Wendy's (Chick-Fil-A is a different story...God loves Chick-Fil-A) or when I waste half of my food. Do we really eat to glorify God? Do we stop and think about what we eat and why we eat? Do we glorify God by the food we waste?
My prayer for today is that I continue to appreciate his creation and the food that he has placed on this earth for us to enjoy and eat.
May we glorify God by what ever we do... not just today but everyday!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Criticism Fast - Ephesians 4:29
Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation)
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
YIKES! This scripture speaks to the heart of my weakness.
Let EVERYTHING you say be good and helpful.
As I digest my day a little bit I am instantly convicted by my words. Even on this first day of fasting that is concentrated on not being critical or complaining...I have failed miserably on saying good and helpful words.
Words mean so much if we are really honest. We can say "sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt me"... but talk to a person who has been told they are stupid all of their life, or a child who just heard from their parents that they are disappointed in them, or somebody who just found out they lost a loved one. The words we say have weight behind them. I forget that. I forget that God has given us all the blessing and ability to build others up by the words we use. With that blessing comes responsibility.
We are responsible for our words.
Our written words.
The words we text.
The words we post.
The words we say.....
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Are the words we saying good and helpful?
There is a difference in complaining and stating factual information. Its all in our outlook and the results we want to gain from our words. The choice is up to us. Nobody can make you text something. Nobody can make you say anything. The blessing and the responsibility is up to us.
On this day of fasting I am reminded in the silence of my office that silence in our words sometimes is the best option. My prayer for me today is to find silence in the moments of criticism. My prayer is to find the joy and blessing in every opportunity to complain.
Please join me in the few hours left in this day on being aware of our words. Think before you speak, text, post, write.... are your words good and helpful?
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
YIKES! This scripture speaks to the heart of my weakness.
Let EVERYTHING you say be good and helpful.
As I digest my day a little bit I am instantly convicted by my words. Even on this first day of fasting that is concentrated on not being critical or complaining...I have failed miserably on saying good and helpful words.
Words mean so much if we are really honest. We can say "sticks and stones may break our bones but words will never hurt me"... but talk to a person who has been told they are stupid all of their life, or a child who just heard from their parents that they are disappointed in them, or somebody who just found out they lost a loved one. The words we say have weight behind them. I forget that. I forget that God has given us all the blessing and ability to build others up by the words we use. With that blessing comes responsibility.
We are responsible for our words.
Our written words.
The words we text.
The words we post.
The words we say.....
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Are the words we saying good and helpful?
There is a difference in complaining and stating factual information. Its all in our outlook and the results we want to gain from our words. The choice is up to us. Nobody can make you text something. Nobody can make you say anything. The blessing and the responsibility is up to us.
On this day of fasting I am reminded in the silence of my office that silence in our words sometimes is the best option. My prayer for me today is to find silence in the moments of criticism. My prayer is to find the joy and blessing in every opportunity to complain.
Please join me in the few hours left in this day on being aware of our words. Think before you speak, text, post, write.... are your words good and helpful?
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
John 11:38-44 Unwrapping New Life
John 11:38-44 (New Living Translation)
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
I love my job! I truly love my job.
Youth ministry is probably one of the most rewarding occupations you can have if you just stop for a moment and think about the blessings that you see every day.
I have been in youth ministry for over going on 13 years and each day presents new challenges, pain, rewards, and opportunities for spiritual and personal growth.
One of the most rewarding experiences I get to be a part of is when youth experience the unwrapping of new life.
The lives our youth live is unbelievable at times. The youth of our future are faced with some horrific pasts and they are paralyzed in the present. Gone are the times where we need to worry about our youth getting in with the "wrong crowd". Now I am faced with helping youth cope with life changing decisions their parents are making, I am teaching youth to be spiritual leaders in their homes, I am helping teenagers figure out how to overcome some major addictions and heart wrenching pasts.
Its not only about sex, drugs, and rock n roll.... its about abuse, neglect, pressure, and youth learning how to be teenagers and not the heads of their households.
This isn't just one or two youth in my youth group..... it is a whole generation of youth that I am privileged to minister to.
The scripture we are focusing on right now is only 7 verses... but with in those 7 verses is a freedom that we may never really take advantage of.
Mary, Martha, and angry Jesus (still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Jesus was angry), are standing at Lazarus' tomb. Jesus was ready to unveil his miracle and stated to the sisters "take away the stone". Their response.... what about the decaying stench Jesus?
We do that don't we?
We pray for a miracle. We pray for change. We pray for healing.
And then when it is game time....
We worry. We panic. We start second guessing. We limit God. We don't trust.
We say we want freedom from our past... but when it comes time to act... we worry about the stench.
We get stuck in the dysfunction of our lives because we are unwilling to acknowledge that Christ is in control.
Jesus gave glory to God and called Lazarus out of the tomb... and the death became new life wrapped in cloth.
There is nothing more rewarding than to see youth discover that there is new life in Christ. Leading them to the tomb of new beginnings and new life is an amazing experience. Lazarus didn't just run out of the tomb jumping up and down in a new robe and toms shoes... there was a process of unwrapping.
We are called to put our past lives to death and unwrap our new beginnings. Christianity is a constant cycle of new beginnings. Lent is about new beginnings. Life is about new beginnings.
There is freedom in the process of unbinding our new lives.
There is joy in the process of unbinding our new lives.
I am so honored to be in ministry with youth and adults who are unbinding their new lives on a daily basis. Putting to death their pasts of disfunction and unbinding their new life of freedom and faith.
What is in your tomb?
What new life is awaiting your unbinding?
What new beginnings are in front of you?
Are you willing to risk the stench of death to smell the sweet fragrance of new beginnings?
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
I love my job! I truly love my job.
Youth ministry is probably one of the most rewarding occupations you can have if you just stop for a moment and think about the blessings that you see every day.
I have been in youth ministry for over going on 13 years and each day presents new challenges, pain, rewards, and opportunities for spiritual and personal growth.
One of the most rewarding experiences I get to be a part of is when youth experience the unwrapping of new life.
The lives our youth live is unbelievable at times. The youth of our future are faced with some horrific pasts and they are paralyzed in the present. Gone are the times where we need to worry about our youth getting in with the "wrong crowd". Now I am faced with helping youth cope with life changing decisions their parents are making, I am teaching youth to be spiritual leaders in their homes, I am helping teenagers figure out how to overcome some major addictions and heart wrenching pasts.
Its not only about sex, drugs, and rock n roll.... its about abuse, neglect, pressure, and youth learning how to be teenagers and not the heads of their households.
This isn't just one or two youth in my youth group..... it is a whole generation of youth that I am privileged to minister to.
The scripture we are focusing on right now is only 7 verses... but with in those 7 verses is a freedom that we may never really take advantage of.
Mary, Martha, and angry Jesus (still trying to wrap my brain around the fact that Jesus was angry), are standing at Lazarus' tomb. Jesus was ready to unveil his miracle and stated to the sisters "take away the stone". Their response.... what about the decaying stench Jesus?
We do that don't we?
We pray for a miracle. We pray for change. We pray for healing.
And then when it is game time....
We worry. We panic. We start second guessing. We limit God. We don't trust.
We say we want freedom from our past... but when it comes time to act... we worry about the stench.
We get stuck in the dysfunction of our lives because we are unwilling to acknowledge that Christ is in control.
Jesus gave glory to God and called Lazarus out of the tomb... and the death became new life wrapped in cloth.
There is nothing more rewarding than to see youth discover that there is new life in Christ. Leading them to the tomb of new beginnings and new life is an amazing experience. Lazarus didn't just run out of the tomb jumping up and down in a new robe and toms shoes... there was a process of unwrapping.
We are called to put our past lives to death and unwrap our new beginnings. Christianity is a constant cycle of new beginnings. Lent is about new beginnings. Life is about new beginnings.
There is freedom in the process of unbinding our new lives.
There is joy in the process of unbinding our new lives.
I am so honored to be in ministry with youth and adults who are unbinding their new lives on a daily basis. Putting to death their pasts of disfunction and unbinding their new life of freedom and faith.
What is in your tomb?
What new life is awaiting your unbinding?
What new beginnings are in front of you?
Are you willing to risk the stench of death to smell the sweet fragrance of new beginnings?
John 11:17-37 Lets talk about death.
John 11:17-37 (New Living Translation)
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
Death is a hard thing to talk about.
Sometimes we have the opportunity to prepare for somebody's death... and sometimes death happens with out a warning and we are taken off guard.
Either way there is always a natural progression of thinking about ways the death could have been prevented or recounting the steps that were taken right before the death that occurred.
No matter how much you feel as though you are prepared for somebody's death, you are never fully exempt from the emotion behind death.
This scripture teaches us about death in a very real way. There is emotion in death.
One question I always hear in ministry is "If Jesus is able to stop suffering and death, why do people suffer and die". The short answer is always, I don't know.
When Jesus first found out about Lazarus, he was still alive and holding on. Jesus waited... Lazarus died... and questions were asked.
Both Martha and Mary confronted Jesus head on.
You could have stopped this.
If only you were here sooner.. he would have lived.
We are previewed to two different sides of Christ in this scripture. On one side he is ministering to Mary and Martha. Providing many opportunities for them to really think about the resurrection and faith. On the other side.. he weeps. Sometimes I forget that Jesus had feelings. Its easy to say Jesus loves me... but its hard for me to really think about the fact that Jesus felt love for others. His actions had feelings behind them. (I really hope this makes sense)
Jesus was truly saddened at the loss of his friend...and overcome by the emotions of his friends who were mourning their brothers death.
This scripture speaks to me on many levels.
Life is full of hard times. Hard times that Jesus even experienced. There are feelings behind situations. Feelings that Jesus even took the time to feel.
I don't know why Jesus didn't immediately save Lazarus the second he found out about his situation. My guess is that this was another teaching opportunity. An opportunity to feel. Maybe this was an opportunity to put feelings with the concept of the resurrection.
There needs to be death in order to experience new life. Sometimes we need to experience death in order to appreciate and understand new life. That doesn't mean that death is easy. That doesn't mean that there are no feelings with death. Death is sad. Death causes us to weep.
Sometimes we need to put to death dreams that we are holding onto, bad relationships that we can't let go, habits that are hard to break, guilt and shame that we carry on our backs everywhere we go. Christ could have prevented those things from happening... but there is something about experiencing the emotion of death that is healing.
The death of a loved one is never easy. Nor should it be easy. The thing to remember is that Christ wept with Mary. He was present with Martha. There is hope when we read "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die".
I am thankful for everlasting love.. and everlasting life.
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” 28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. 31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
Death is a hard thing to talk about.
Sometimes we have the opportunity to prepare for somebody's death... and sometimes death happens with out a warning and we are taken off guard.
Either way there is always a natural progression of thinking about ways the death could have been prevented or recounting the steps that were taken right before the death that occurred.
No matter how much you feel as though you are prepared for somebody's death, you are never fully exempt from the emotion behind death.
This scripture teaches us about death in a very real way. There is emotion in death.
One question I always hear in ministry is "If Jesus is able to stop suffering and death, why do people suffer and die". The short answer is always, I don't know.
When Jesus first found out about Lazarus, he was still alive and holding on. Jesus waited... Lazarus died... and questions were asked.
Both Martha and Mary confronted Jesus head on.
You could have stopped this.
If only you were here sooner.. he would have lived.
We are previewed to two different sides of Christ in this scripture. On one side he is ministering to Mary and Martha. Providing many opportunities for them to really think about the resurrection and faith. On the other side.. he weeps. Sometimes I forget that Jesus had feelings. Its easy to say Jesus loves me... but its hard for me to really think about the fact that Jesus felt love for others. His actions had feelings behind them. (I really hope this makes sense)
Jesus was truly saddened at the loss of his friend...and overcome by the emotions of his friends who were mourning their brothers death.
This scripture speaks to me on many levels.
Life is full of hard times. Hard times that Jesus even experienced. There are feelings behind situations. Feelings that Jesus even took the time to feel.
I don't know why Jesus didn't immediately save Lazarus the second he found out about his situation. My guess is that this was another teaching opportunity. An opportunity to feel. Maybe this was an opportunity to put feelings with the concept of the resurrection.
There needs to be death in order to experience new life. Sometimes we need to experience death in order to appreciate and understand new life. That doesn't mean that death is easy. That doesn't mean that there are no feelings with death. Death is sad. Death causes us to weep.
Sometimes we need to put to death dreams that we are holding onto, bad relationships that we can't let go, habits that are hard to break, guilt and shame that we carry on our backs everywhere we go. Christ could have prevented those things from happening... but there is something about experiencing the emotion of death that is healing.
The death of a loved one is never easy. Nor should it be easy. The thing to remember is that Christ wept with Mary. He was present with Martha. There is hope when we read "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die".
I am thankful for everlasting love.. and everlasting life.
John 11:1-16 Heavenly Pauses
John 11:1-16 (New Living Translation)
1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
Several months back I took an online assessment to find out my strengths. During this moment of discovery, I found out that two of my main strengths are being an arranger and being strategic. I am a fixer and a problem solver. I like to figure out what the solutions to "what ifs". I strive to make situations easier and more effective. I like to believe that I am able to come up with a plan of action for anything anybody faces in life. (One of my other strengths is being Self-Assured.. which I was told was really a strength and not an opportunity for self-centeredness).
I wish I could turn this problem solver fixer part of my brain off when I am reading scripture like this. As always, we can learn a lot from Jesus in this situation. Jesus finds out that the "one he loves" is very sick.
My reaction would be: line up meals, get to their bed side at once, start preparing my speech of "taking things one day at a time and focus on the facts and not the what ifs" (I know there is irony there.. don't judge".
Jesus' reaction: I could use this as a teaching opportunity for my disciples, but first I will wait for two days and then act. He took a little heavenly pause.
WHAT!?!? Two days is far too long to wait when your loved one is sick. My mom was rushed to the emergency room in Houston recently with what they thought were heart problems. Being 3 hours away... I got there as fast as I could. I couldn't fathom not being at her side that second.
And yet Jesus took a heavenly pause.
Scripture really doesn't tell us why he took these two days.
One reason could be the fact that Jewish Leaders in Judea were out to kill him so maybe he wanted to really collect his thoughts and form a plan of action.
Another reason could be that he wanted to get the maximum amount of miracle possibilities by allowing Lazarus to die before he got to his side. That way he could literally raise somebody up from the dead instead of allowing there to be doubt surrounding him just getting better from his medical illness.
I love many things about Jesus.. but one of the main things I love about Jesus is the fact that he took every opportunity in his live to have teachable moments. Vs. 9-10 teach us about light and darkness. There are times to start walking and there are times to stand back and wait. Light is safe. Dark is unsafe. I am sure Jesus meant for this light and dark life lesson to have multiple meanings. Realistically it was and is safer literally to travel in the day time. Somehow I think there is more to this scripture than travel instructions.
Ten chapters earlier we learn this:
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I think too many times I have great intentions with my reactions to sensitive and emergency situations, but I start walking in the darkness instead of taking a Heavenly Pause and allow The Light to guide my steps. It is one thing to help somebody - but its another thing to bring The Light with you to shine on others. I don't doubt that Christ is with me where ever I go...but sometimes I stumble thinking I can save others and help others. I can't save anybody. Sometimes I think I take it to the other extreme. Jesus has this one.. I can just stand back and let him take care of it. I find myself asking "seriously, what can I do in this situation". The answer is in the fact that sometimes its about the journey and not so much about the actions and words.
Waiting can be risky. Pausing and including Christ in your emergency plans might be time consuming. Every encounter we have with darkness is an opportunity for us to believe in Him (vs.15).
What are you willing to do? Are you willing to take a Heavenly Pause if it means putting your plans and maybe even your life at risk?
My prayer is that I can be as bold as Thomas was when he said "Let's go, too - and die with Jesus."
1 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”
8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”
12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.
14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”
16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”
Several months back I took an online assessment to find out my strengths. During this moment of discovery, I found out that two of my main strengths are being an arranger and being strategic. I am a fixer and a problem solver. I like to figure out what the solutions to "what ifs". I strive to make situations easier and more effective. I like to believe that I am able to come up with a plan of action for anything anybody faces in life. (One of my other strengths is being Self-Assured.. which I was told was really a strength and not an opportunity for self-centeredness).
I wish I could turn this problem solver fixer part of my brain off when I am reading scripture like this. As always, we can learn a lot from Jesus in this situation. Jesus finds out that the "one he loves" is very sick.
My reaction would be: line up meals, get to their bed side at once, start preparing my speech of "taking things one day at a time and focus on the facts and not the what ifs" (I know there is irony there.. don't judge".
Jesus' reaction: I could use this as a teaching opportunity for my disciples, but first I will wait for two days and then act. He took a little heavenly pause.
WHAT!?!? Two days is far too long to wait when your loved one is sick. My mom was rushed to the emergency room in Houston recently with what they thought were heart problems. Being 3 hours away... I got there as fast as I could. I couldn't fathom not being at her side that second.
And yet Jesus took a heavenly pause.
Scripture really doesn't tell us why he took these two days.
One reason could be the fact that Jewish Leaders in Judea were out to kill him so maybe he wanted to really collect his thoughts and form a plan of action.
Another reason could be that he wanted to get the maximum amount of miracle possibilities by allowing Lazarus to die before he got to his side. That way he could literally raise somebody up from the dead instead of allowing there to be doubt surrounding him just getting better from his medical illness.
I love many things about Jesus.. but one of the main things I love about Jesus is the fact that he took every opportunity in his live to have teachable moments. Vs. 9-10 teach us about light and darkness. There are times to start walking and there are times to stand back and wait. Light is safe. Dark is unsafe. I am sure Jesus meant for this light and dark life lesson to have multiple meanings. Realistically it was and is safer literally to travel in the day time. Somehow I think there is more to this scripture than travel instructions.
Ten chapters earlier we learn this:
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
I think too many times I have great intentions with my reactions to sensitive and emergency situations, but I start walking in the darkness instead of taking a Heavenly Pause and allow The Light to guide my steps. It is one thing to help somebody - but its another thing to bring The Light with you to shine on others. I don't doubt that Christ is with me where ever I go...but sometimes I stumble thinking I can save others and help others. I can't save anybody. Sometimes I think I take it to the other extreme. Jesus has this one.. I can just stand back and let him take care of it. I find myself asking "seriously, what can I do in this situation". The answer is in the fact that sometimes its about the journey and not so much about the actions and words.
Waiting can be risky. Pausing and including Christ in your emergency plans might be time consuming. Every encounter we have with darkness is an opportunity for us to believe in Him (vs.15).
What are you willing to do? Are you willing to take a Heavenly Pause if it means putting your plans and maybe even your life at risk?
My prayer is that I can be as bold as Thomas was when he said "Let's go, too - and die with Jesus."
John 10:22-42 Conflict Management at its finest!
John 10:22-42 (New Living Translation)
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
There is really so much to say about this scripture. I could probably spend all day dissecting this scripture bit by bit. If we take a step back though, we are able to see a bigger picture of tolerance and truth. This scripture embodies conflict management at its finest.
Jesus spoke truth to the Jewish leaders - and in the famous words of Jack Nicholson - they couldn't handle the truth. Sometimes the truth from Christ is hard to swallow, hard to believe, hard to trust and wrap out minds around it. The Jewish leaders were wanting a simple answer to the question of Christ being the Messiah. As if plain words were going to make God's plan of redemption and resurrection easier to understand and trust.
Faith in Christ is not simple.
Maybe its just me... but I picture Christ talking in a strong but calm voice to the Jewish leaders. I admire that strength and calmness. Trying to prove who you are and justifying not only your actions but also your words can cause people to loose it. I get so frustrated at time when I am misunderstood, undervalued, and flat out disrespected. It really gets to me. Sometimes I get so angry that I lash out verbally to my "Jewish leaders" or I bottle it up and like a cartoon character smoke comes billowing out of my ears.
Not Jesus. His conflict management was in the form of direct truth and quoting scripture. While stones were coming his way.. he stood up for who he was in a way that honored scripture. He said what he needed to.. and then walked away. I say what I want to and walk away too... but I am pretty sure my heart and mindset was probably different than Jesus. This pretty much applies to all of my life... my heart and mindset rarely conform to WWJD.
How do you handle conflict? How do you handle situations when truth is misunderstood or when you are faced with unbelief? Can you handle the truth that Christ offers you? Do you look for simple answers and limit your faith journey?
How does this scripture speak to you?
My prayer is that we all take a moment and reflect on how we handle conflict and understanding.
Happy post-Ash Wednesday :)
Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God
22 It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. 23 He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I have already told you, and you don’t believe me. The proof is the work I do in my Father’s name. 26 But you don’t believe me because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”
33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.
There is really so much to say about this scripture. I could probably spend all day dissecting this scripture bit by bit. If we take a step back though, we are able to see a bigger picture of tolerance and truth. This scripture embodies conflict management at its finest.
Jesus spoke truth to the Jewish leaders - and in the famous words of Jack Nicholson - they couldn't handle the truth. Sometimes the truth from Christ is hard to swallow, hard to believe, hard to trust and wrap out minds around it. The Jewish leaders were wanting a simple answer to the question of Christ being the Messiah. As if plain words were going to make God's plan of redemption and resurrection easier to understand and trust.
Faith in Christ is not simple.
Maybe its just me... but I picture Christ talking in a strong but calm voice to the Jewish leaders. I admire that strength and calmness. Trying to prove who you are and justifying not only your actions but also your words can cause people to loose it. I get so frustrated at time when I am misunderstood, undervalued, and flat out disrespected. It really gets to me. Sometimes I get so angry that I lash out verbally to my "Jewish leaders" or I bottle it up and like a cartoon character smoke comes billowing out of my ears.
Not Jesus. His conflict management was in the form of direct truth and quoting scripture. While stones were coming his way.. he stood up for who he was in a way that honored scripture. He said what he needed to.. and then walked away. I say what I want to and walk away too... but I am pretty sure my heart and mindset was probably different than Jesus. This pretty much applies to all of my life... my heart and mindset rarely conform to WWJD.
How do you handle conflict? How do you handle situations when truth is misunderstood or when you are faced with unbelief? Can you handle the truth that Christ offers you? Do you look for simple answers and limit your faith journey?
How does this scripture speak to you?
My prayer is that we all take a moment and reflect on how we handle conflict and understanding.
Happy post-Ash Wednesday :)
John 10:1-21
John 10:1-21 (New Living Translation)
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Who or What is tending over your life?
After reading this scripture I was left asking myself three questions:
1. What does life look like when "thief's and robbers" are in our lives?
The scripture is very informative and pretty much lays out exactly what the thief's purpose is: to steal, kill, and destroy. Who are we allowing to steal our joy, kill our spirit, and destroy the plans that we have set before us? Is it a family member? Coworker? Friend? Yourself?
2. Who is tending my life? I just got my picture taken for our church directory and the free 8X10 i am going to get in the mail pretty soon of just my beautiful self is framed with a caption that says "As for me and my house I will serve the Lord". I didn't choose that caption. I really didn't even choose the picture. It was a choice that was made for me. As for ME and MY house...do I really serve the Lord? The easy answer is yes... since I work at a church... obviously I serve the Lord... but do I? Serving the Lord and making a bold statement for your household and your life is allowing The Good Shepherd to take over your life. Its surrendering your will and your independence. I need to be dependent on my Shepherd. I like to think I am in charge, I like to think that I have everything under control... but seriously many days I don't. I allow others to get to me. I get angry, lazy, and selfish. I wander off for a while for greener pastures. Its not intentional, its something that happens one little step at a time in the wrong direction. Luckily I have a Shepherd who can guide me back to reality.
3. Do I fully accept and understand vs. 17-18? For some reason these two verses really got me. 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Its as if Christ put down his life as a deposit for our lives. He sacrificed his life so that he could have it back again. The thing that got me the most is this line right here "I sacrifice it voluntarily". A voluntary sacrifice. He was created that way. A voluntary sacrifice to keep me from drifting off into life stealing pastures. A voluntary sacrifice to put up with my laziness and sarcastic banter.
What better concept of Ash Wednesday do we have than a voluntary sacrifice? Its much more than the actions giving up Facebook, caffeine, or swearing for 40 days. Its about mirroring the voluntary sacrifice made by our Good Shepherd. What is God asking you to voluntarily sacrifice for the next 40 days?
My prayer for today is that God makes that abundantly clear in my life today. Maybe the next 40 days is about looking for opportunities to voluntarily sacrifice something for somebody else. Maybe its being intentional and open to that concept. Whatever your voluntary sacrifice is for you, my prayer is that we all start a journey for the next 40 days of understanding, questioning and discernment.
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! 2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, 7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. 20 Some said, “He’s demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?” 21 Others said, “This doesn’t sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Who or What is tending over your life?
After reading this scripture I was left asking myself three questions:
1. What does life look like when "thief's and robbers" are in our lives?
The scripture is very informative and pretty much lays out exactly what the thief's purpose is: to steal, kill, and destroy. Who are we allowing to steal our joy, kill our spirit, and destroy the plans that we have set before us? Is it a family member? Coworker? Friend? Yourself?
2. Who is tending my life? I just got my picture taken for our church directory and the free 8X10 i am going to get in the mail pretty soon of just my beautiful self is framed with a caption that says "As for me and my house I will serve the Lord". I didn't choose that caption. I really didn't even choose the picture. It was a choice that was made for me. As for ME and MY house...do I really serve the Lord? The easy answer is yes... since I work at a church... obviously I serve the Lord... but do I? Serving the Lord and making a bold statement for your household and your life is allowing The Good Shepherd to take over your life. Its surrendering your will and your independence. I need to be dependent on my Shepherd. I like to think I am in charge, I like to think that I have everything under control... but seriously many days I don't. I allow others to get to me. I get angry, lazy, and selfish. I wander off for a while for greener pastures. Its not intentional, its something that happens one little step at a time in the wrong direction. Luckily I have a Shepherd who can guide me back to reality.
3. Do I fully accept and understand vs. 17-18? For some reason these two verses really got me. 17 “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. 18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.” Its as if Christ put down his life as a deposit for our lives. He sacrificed his life so that he could have it back again. The thing that got me the most is this line right here "I sacrifice it voluntarily". A voluntary sacrifice. He was created that way. A voluntary sacrifice to keep me from drifting off into life stealing pastures. A voluntary sacrifice to put up with my laziness and sarcastic banter.
What better concept of Ash Wednesday do we have than a voluntary sacrifice? Its much more than the actions giving up Facebook, caffeine, or swearing for 40 days. Its about mirroring the voluntary sacrifice made by our Good Shepherd. What is God asking you to voluntarily sacrifice for the next 40 days?
My prayer for today is that God makes that abundantly clear in my life today. Maybe the next 40 days is about looking for opportunities to voluntarily sacrifice something for somebody else. Maybe its being intentional and open to that concept. Whatever your voluntary sacrifice is for you, my prayer is that we all start a journey for the next 40 days of understanding, questioning and discernment.
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