March 31 - The 23 point comeback, the five loaves and the two fish...

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20

Luke 9:7-27

Psalm 72:1-20

Proverbs 12:8-9

We are in the midst of March Madness, and my bracket still has a shot - so this is pretty timely.  I enjoy a good basketball game - and I've been privileged to have seen a few good ones.  One of the best ones was the college championship in Manila, in 1988.  Our school team was playing, and we had hopes.  And then the other team built a lead - a 20 point lead into the half, 23 with the first shot they took when play resumed.  We were worried, frustrated, discouraged...but we decided to stick around while others left.  Our team hit a three point shot, stole the ball, converted a three point play, and what was an 83-63 lead very quickly turned into an 85-85 tie.  And yes, we won the championship that year, and we were there to celebrate it because, whatever else we might have been thinking - this is hopeless, let's beat the traffic, let's get a bite to eat instead - we decided to stay.  It is still one of the best games I've ever seen.  A miracle, really.

Have you ever wondered about the crowd when Jesus worked the miracle of the loaves and fish?  How many of them left - some hungry, others remembering other things they needed to do?  How perhaps a lack of patience, a focus on the earthly instead of the heavenly that sat before them, deprived them of the opportunity to witness a miracle far greater than a 23 point comeback?  I mean, seriously - we're talking five loaves, two fish and five thousand fed with twelve baskets left over.  In the middle of nowhere, away from the town.  

When I think of the things I aspire to, this is one of them: that I learn to sit, patiently, at His feet, listening to His voice, recognizing it for what it is, without regard to whatever else the world might deem important.  And, although I continue to struggle with it, I pray to have the faith to know He will provide - in His time, and according to His purposes.  And when He does, I pray to recognize it for what it is - a miracle that far surpasses that 23-point comeback.

Saturday BlogPost 03/29/14

Saturday, March 29, 2014 [by Keesha Sullvan]

 "Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the Lord your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm; the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country; what he did to the Egyptian army…" (Deuteronomy 11:2-4)

Throughout Deuteronomy Moses reminds the Israelites of the past triumphs that they had due to the Lord their God as well as the defeats they suffered because of their disobedience. God told Moses to remind the people, so that they would not disobey Him or lose faith. God knew that through the Israelites remembering the past that it would bolster their faith.

I believe that this technique that God told Moses to use with the Israelites is something that we can do today to strengthen our faith. When we remember the triumphs that we had due to the Lord our God as well as our defeats we suffered because of our disobedience, it actually encourages us to move forward in our relationship with God.

One way to remember the past is by journaling. It gives us the opportunity to look at the past prayers that have been answered and the reasons God might have said "No", "Yes", or "Wait." I shared with the Young Life girls last Monday that the Christian man that I dated before meeting Kenny lived in Uganda. He was trying to come over to America to work and one day live. We knew that if it was God's will for him to come, although it is extremely hard for young men and women from African countries, that God would open the door. We also knew that if God opened this door that there was a good chance that it would lead to marriage. We prayed daily for two to three months for God to open this door. I had never been so diligent about praying for one particular desire. I was sure the answer would be "Yes".

After three months, the answer came back from the Ugandan Embassy. They said "No". We both knew that this was a closed door that would most likely never be opened again. Once an embassy denies you from coming to America, there is little chance that they will ever allow you to enter the country. Our relationship ended pretty shortly after this denial. I didn't understand it then, but of course after meeting my soul mate that changed. God had created the perfect man for me. My husband,Kenny, surpassed the man of my dreams; he was sent from my Heavenly Father. Even today as I look back at this experience, I am left teary eyed saying, "Thank You Lord that 'as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [Your] ways higher than [my] ways, and [Your] thoughts than [my] thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:9).

Remembering can be powerful tool in growing closer to the Lord and renewing our faith. 

Lord, thank You so much for the lessons that You still teach us today through the lessons that You taught the Israelites. Thank You that You are an amazing God with extraordinary wisdom, discernment, patience, and love. Please help us to walk in the ways that You call Your children to walk. In Jesus mighty name, we pray, Amen.

--------------------

Kenny Sullivan

Grace EFC, Stamford, CT

(201) 218-0751

שלום

March 30

Let us follow other gods…  it is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere.   Deuteronomy 13

Every day of life we are caught in a battle between the gods. These gods actually are at war for control of our hearts. Our joy in life and our eternal destiny hang in the balance of this battle.  Nowadays we must move beyond the primitive understanding of idolatry. Idolatry isn’t bowing down to a piece of wood or stone, rather it’s the one great sin that all others come from. This is why idolatry is the most discussed problem in the entire Bible. Just a few of the modern gods we battle with include comfort, pleasure, performance, romance, sex, money, family, power and “me.” Behind every sin struggle that you and I have is a false god that is waging war in our lives.

When the Lord God takes His rightful place on the throne of our hearts, we will have victory. As followers of Jesus we must daily examine our lives to see which gods we have at the center. The struggle is this: are we simply making God a part of our lives, or is He our life?

The two gods I struggle most with are “me” and “performance.” The “me” god says that I am the captain of my life and I know what is best for “me.” At the top of my list are comfort and success. So the “me” god prays for a “good day” to occur. This means no problems, no flat tires, and no interruptions to “my” agenda. “Good days” end up being a higher priority than drawing close to the Lord. The “me” god focuses in on my perceived needs and wrestles control from God Almighty. Whining is the most definitive way to spot the god of “me” in our lives.  I also struggle with the performance god which ends up in image manipulation. I want people to approve of me more than I want God’s approval. Both of these gods end up denying the gospel and crowding God out of my heart. 

Anything at all can become an idol in our lives when it becomes a substitute for God. The object of your worship will determine your future and define your life. So the most important choice we will make today is, which god will we serve? 

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

3/28/14

3/28/14

"For the lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:17-19 NLT)

In the 1971 movie "The fiddler on the roof," the line between Jew and Gentile is clearly drawn. There is a distinct "no hanging with" norm in place. Jews just don't hang out with Gentiles. We also saw this same detest for foreign people in the story of the 'woman at the well'. It is very clear that being around Samaritans is not something that the Jews did. There was a separation there. I have to ask myself, "where is the disconnect?" Was this not a point that God tried to make to the people of Israel, by repeating it several times through Moses? God wants Israel to show His love to the foreigners around them. He wants them to be a light in the darkness, a beacon of hope to those around them.

We might think, "how does this apply to me?" The answer is that we as Christians are the "called out ones," and therefore, we are the chosen of God. Much like the Jewish people of the Old Testament were the chosen people under the old covenant, we are the chosen people under the new covenant in Jesus' blood. So, we need to be that light to the world, and we need to be the people that break down barriers, and wipe away the lines in the sand between the people that we interact with. There should be no foreigners, and if there are, they should be quickly welcomed into the family of people that are all bought with His blood. The "church" has done a pretty good job of being and exclusive entity throughout it's history. I want to be a church that re-writes that history, that welcomes all people with open arms. That does not say that "you don't belong here," simply because of someone's race, status, sexual orientation, or what side of "the tracks" they come from. We are all God's creation, and we need to treat each other as such. We need to include people that we aren't comfortable including. This is how Jesus rolled. He ate with sinners, He set free an adulteress (whom he had the right to condemn), He touched lepers, He cared for the poor, He empowered women in a time when they were regarded like slaves, and He cared for - and hung out with - foreigners. He is the ultimate example of what we need to live like. We need to break through our disconnects and LOVE!

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Thursday, March 27

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

Deuteronomy 7:1–8:20

Luke 7:36–8:3

Psalm 69:1–18

Proverbs 12:1

 

 

Upon reflection, the Deuteronomy passages and Luke’s account of the sinful woman’s anointing of Jesus pulled together some common themes:

 

 

1.       We must make efforts to remember the depth of the grace we have received.

 

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them….

 

“[Jesus speaking] ‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little….  Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:3,38,47,48)

 

The sinful woman’s anointing of Jesus pours directly from her heart.  The tears and perfume she offers represent her joy offering of love.  She recognizes the immensity of Jesus’s love and the power of His healing and forgiveness and responds in kind.  Her rescue demanded a response of thanksgiving.

 

As with many spiritual principles, dogs demonstrate this concept beautifully.  Please find one such video of the gratitude of the redeemed (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ol7ojcRU8).  In the video, a shepherd mix finds himself trapped in a Romanian river.  While he tries to scratch his way above the concrete, he cannot save himself.  Two Good Samaritans came to his rescue, but the dog initially froze with fear, not wanting to return to the icy waters.  The rescuers then picked the dog by his collar or the scruff of his neck to bring him to safety, allowing the dog to avoid the freezing water and to return to dry land.  The dog responded enthusiastically with joy and gratitude.  A beautiful picture of the redeemed!

 

As Moses explains, however, our hearts may grow cold.  For this reason, the Book of Deuteronomy urges the people to recall God’s faithfulness and to store this treasure in their hearts.  We practice this same idea through reading God’s Word frequently, seeking God’s face in prayer, and obeying His commands in our daily lives.

 

 

2.       Prosperity may stoke our pride and draw us away from our loving Father.

 

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day.” (Deuteronomy 8:10,11)

 

Many times, we allow success to “go to our heads,” believing that some inherent greatness in us has brought us this good fortune.  Instead, we must recall that God has created every grounds for success in blessing us with intelligence, talents, and positive circumstances.  As the reading that continues in Deuteronomy 9 and 10 explains, God had not brought the Israelites into the land and given over the other nations because of the Israelites’ righteousness.  Rather, God had loved His people and desired to protect them from these sinful peoples by destroying the other nations for their rebelliousness.

 

As Pastor Scott discussed last week, maintaining the attitude of gratitude – for our redemption, our freedom in Christ, His presence with us, and the loving family and friends we know – will center our hearts to love and serve God.  How may you express your thankfulness this very moment?  In what ways does God deserve praise for His love and Presence in your life?

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for rescuing us from our sinfulness.  We are utterly lost without You.  You have redeemed us and called us Your own, and we are forever grateful.  Lord, bring to mind how we may celebrate Your goodness in our lives today.  Give us hearts of gratitude in spite of the jadedness and temporal thinking that surrounds us.  Expand our vision of Your hand in our lives and our world.  Pour out a fresh revelation of Your character in our home communities so that more people may rejoice in the salvation that You provide.  In Your Name, amen.

 

________________________________________
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3/25/14

"A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Luke 6:43-45 NLT)

How is a tree measured? How is a person measured? How is a heart measured? Fruit. Fruit. Fruit.
I used to like watching Bear Grylls as he tried to show people how to survive in impossible situations. One memorable episode was where he was in the Chihuahua desert, and he needed to find water - bad. So he turned to plants. How do you tell a good plant? By it's fruit. Cactus, although they store water, and a lot of it, mix toxins with it, making it deadly or hallucinogenic. The prickly pear, however, hold a great amount of nutrients and water that a human can survive on. Bear was able to survive.
It is the same with a person. We are judged, and rightly, by how we conduct ourselves, and what comes out of us. Some of us emanate evil, and some emanate good. The true test of a human is their fruit. Jesus calls us to become people of good fruit, and to show off that good fruit by what we say, or, even more importantly, by what we don't say. The tongue can be a dangerous weapon, and can completely ruin our witness for Christ. I struggle with my tongue, and I fear sometimes that I have hurt people and damaged relationships because of it. I need to have better control of what I say, and work on what comes out of my mouth. Jesus calls us to show off our good fruit. That is what we need to do.

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March 24: Trying to make sense of (some of) the beatitudes...

Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29

Luke 6:12-38

Psalm 67:1-7

Proverbs 11:27

I find myself struggling for a clear reflection this evening.  But I'm going to give it a go.  

If our Lord means we have to be materially poor - and poor is a relative term, and I can tell you there is NO WAY any of us are going to be poor relative to, say, the impoverished in India, in Bangladesh, in Africa, in the Philippines and elsewhere - in order to enjoy the kingdom of God, we are toast.  And if we have to be genuinely hungry, malnutrition-driven hungry to be satisfied, then our goose is cooked.  Because we have been so blessed by our Lord that we could not become that poor, that hungry even if we tried.  

So what does it mean, then, that it seems as though the Lord blesses us with the very things that would seem to preclude us from His kingdom?  I don't believe so.  But what I do believe is that, whatever Warren Buffet - Bill Gates wealth we might enjoy on this earth, whatever foie gras-caviar-sushi-Philly cheese steak (yes, I like Philly cheese steaks...with the cheez-whiz!) diet we might be on now, neither the riches of this earth nor the satisfaction we might feel will even begin to compare with the time we are at home with our Lord for all eternity.  

So maybe that's what it is.  For those of us who choose to chase and content ourselves with the things of this earth, we are most certainly doomed to disappointment.  The adulation will get tiring, the rich food nauseating, the creature comforts increasingly boring.  And we will find ourselves chasing more of it, to no avail, and chasing it at the expense of what would truly satisfy.  However if, instead, whatever seeming perfection the world had to offer still left us unfulfilled because of our desire for our Lord, then we would remain poor, and we would remain hungry, and we would weep until such time we came to know the perfection of His presence in His kingdom.  

And when this life and this world do not matter so much as the next life and the next world, then it becomes easier to do good to those who hate us and bless those who curse us.  It becomes easier to forgive the wrongs, easier not to judge, easier not to expect to be paid in full.  Because what they seek to take away from us in this life will not really matter - because we know the perfection we seek is to be found in the next one.  

Lord, that's a tall order, and not one I can fulfill by my own strength.  I ask you then to grant me the grace to keep my eyes and my heart fixed on your Kingdom, not this world; and by your strength live as You describe.  

As I said at the beginning, I was struggling with this one.  Would love to get your thoughts.

Wed, March 19th

Wednesday, March 19 (sorry so late!)
Numbers 28:16-31, 29, Luke 3, Psalm 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18,19

Last week at work, one of my partners (my workers) spilled 2 liters of iced coffee right in the middle of a rush. This is not out of the ordinary. At one time or another we all make some pretty big messes. I am notorious. I looked over at her, smiled and said, "You just can't win!" Meaning that here we go again... Nothing ever goes right for her! It got cleaned up with out a problem and we just kept on working. But reading Psalm 62 made me think of all the times that I thought to myself that I just can't win. I just can't catch a break! Seriously life! When it rains, it pours, right?

David was the author of this Psalm, and in comparison to my life, there were many times he could not catch a break. He wrote this at a time when all his enemies wanted to kill him. They lied about him, slandered him, and were totally against him. It put so much in perspective for me. I have never been in this situation. Most of us have not had a bounty on our head. But there are many storms and trials in our lives that have have been difficult and we wondered how we were going to make it to another day.

I am amazed at David's words and true picture of faith in this Psalm. He knew that his ONLY salvation was in God. He called God his Refuge, his Rock, and fortress. These are all solid comforts and signs of safety. I believe he truly lived and believed this. It made me reflect on what my rock was. What or who do I put my trust in? I shamefully say that it is not always in God. I put my trust in myself. I want control. I know what's best for me. I also know that those are the times I feel the most defeated and vulnerable.

So how do we fix this? How do I fix this? (My thoughts are, "Duh Nikkie! You know the answer!") we can't fix ourselves. God is the one who transforms our hearts and minds. In verse 8 David said, "O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him." That is a step. I don't know what that totally looks like yet, but I'm working on it. This is my prayer this week, month, year, how ever long it takes. It is a start.

March 23

Deuteronomy 1

What intrigued me today were the instructions in verse 40, “but as for you, turn around and set out towards the desert along the route to the Red Sea.”

That means the nation would be going backward. My personality only has one compass setting, forward. I hate getting lost and having to go backward.  Once I failed to get off at an exit on the Mass Pike and I ended up having to travel 13 miles in the wrong direction to correct my mistake. Israel was also directionally challenged. What should have been an 11-day journey ended up taking 40 years!  That is what I call being colossally lost.  Moses recounted the story in verse 26, “But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.”

The problem with the Jews and mankind as a whole is that we don’t like following God’s directions. William Ernest Henley said it well, “I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.” That is just downright foolishness. What good is it to be the master and captain of your soul if you are headed in the wrong direction?

Why would we not allow the creator of heaven and earth to show us the directions through life? Wouldn’t it be better to have Jesus as a GPS through life than trying to find the pathway ourselves?

The Lord was looking for obedient people to follow him during the Exodus; He is still looking for obedient people today. He does not reveal his directions to rebellious people or nations. It is good for us to daily ask God for direction in life. Committing yourself to daily reading of His Word and prayer are the best ways to make sure you don’t have to turn around and head backward.

In the end being obedient could save you a lot of time; maybe even 40 years!

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Saturday BlogPost 03/22/14

Saturday, March 22, 2014 [He Touched Me]

Luke 5:12-17, Jesus Heals A Leper

I'm reminded of a song that we used to sing in my church entitled, "He Touched Me."  

He touched me; He touched me, 

And, O, what joy o'ercame my soul

Something happened and now I know

He touched me and made me whole.

When I was a child, I couldn't really understand why the older folks in church would cry when they sang this song. As The years passed and I had experiences where I had been touched by Him, I began to realize why.  There is something about the touch of Jesus that overwhelms.

Many of us already have heard about how lepers were the UNCLEAN of Jewish society...

How they were the outcasts who had to announce their uncleaness in public so that people would not mistakenly approach them or touch them, or else they would be unclean like the leper...

How lepers not only had to deal with the painful disease but also with the separation from community, worship, having jobs...

We have heard about it and we hear about it whenever this passage is discussed.

One thing stood out to me when I read this passage this time around..."Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him."  If you read Matthew 8, you'll see this same story of the leprous man and the story of Jesus healing the centurion's servant immediately following. If you recall, Jesus never went to the centurion's house to heal the servant. He simply announced the servant's healing never having touched him.  Why did Jesus touch this leper? He didn't have to do it.  He could have just said, "Be clean."  My brother Rico helped me to imagine the disciples and the crowd with Jesus even standing afar off as Jesus talked with and touched this man. They didn't want to be unclean and cut off from the community.  They were probably thinking, "Jesus, you're going to far! Don't do it! Don't.........He touched him."  But, rather than the leprosy having power to make him unclean, Jesus' healing power makes the leper clean.  

I was the leper in this account at different points in my life. Jesus has touched me when others stood afar off and His loving touch invested with divine power has cleansed me.  I've been like Jesus in this account, where He has helped me to reach out to those who no one cares for to touch them and welcome them to a new life. All too often, however, I have been the crowd, not wanting to get involved, thinking more about the implications for me rather than how a loving touch, a smile, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, or a prayer for divine healing could transform a life.

Questions

Who are you today?

Who do you want to be?

How does this change your prayers and your living today?

"Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these..." John 14:12

Friday March 21

Numbers 32:1-33:39

Like 4:31-5:11

Psalm 64:1-10

Proverbs 11:22

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again." And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me—I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."  For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.  His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon,  "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!" And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

~ Luke 5:4-11

I get the feeling that Simon Peter doubted Jesus here. He had fished all night and didn't catch anything. When Jesus told him to go out again, it seems to me that he didn't really believe that anything would happen... but he obeyed anyway. He did what Jesus told him to do and despite what he may have believe beforehand, Jesus provided them with a boatload of fish! Simon Peter repented of his sins, left everything behind and followed Jesus. Then Jesus used him in great and mighty ways for the Kingdom of God. And it all started with this doubting yet obeying fisherman.

Sometimes it's so hard to believe God. Our human perspective and worry and sin gets in our way and we can find ourselves doubting Him. But if we say to God, "I have a hard time believing You right now, but I'm going to be obedient to You anyway," then I believe He will do the same thing for you that He did for Peter. He will change your unbelief into belief and He will bless you and He will use you in mighty ways for His Kingdom. 

God knows that we are not perfect. He knows that we don't see things from His perspective. He knows we get in our own way a lot of times. But if we show that we are committed to Him, He will help us overcome any obstacle in our way.

Thursday, March 20

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Numbers 30:1–31:54

Luke 4:1–30

Psalm 63:1–11

Proverbs 11:20,21

 

 

Today’s passages from Luke 4 demonstrate the juxtaposition between the Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly humility and heavenly glory.  This chapter highlights His willingness to humbly take on flesh in order to fulfill the mission set out in Isaiah 61:1,2.  Compare the hungry, thirsty, and wearied Jesus of Luke 4’s temptations in the desert with this prophecy from Daniel:

 

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13,14)

 

“‘But the court will sit, and his [the king who will oppress the Most High] power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.  Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.  His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’” (Daniel 7:26,27)

 

 

In Jesus’s healing and His very presence among the “least of these,” He points out God’s heart for the humble and brokenhearted.  The prophecy from Isaiah, which Jesus declares as His mission statement, involves “preach[ing] good news to the poor[,]... proclaim[ing] freedom for the prisoners/ and recovery of sight for the blind,... releas[ing] the oppressed,... [and] proclaim[ing] the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Please notice the intended recipients of His message.  He traveled to synagogues and “low places” to serve, seek, and save the lost (Luke 19:10), instead of claiming a palace and power for Himself as many had expected for the Messiah.

 

As in many cases, the economy of the Kingdom bears little (and often diametrically opposite) resemblance to the world’s economy.  Those who do seek the Lord do so from an attitude of humility.  Indeed, our pride, manifested in Satan’s rebellious standing against God, tends to elevate our view of ourselves and to place us in the position of God.  Yet, the humble will cherish His presence and will receive rich rewards:

 

                a) Psalm 34:17:  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

 

                b) Isaiah 29:19:  “Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”

 

                c) Isaiah 66:2:  “‘Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord.  ‘This is the one I esteem:  he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.’”

 

                d) Matthew 5:3-5:

 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

      for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

      for they will inherit the earth.”

 

 

Please note also the universality of the Gospel message.  All burdened by sin, we anxiously await “freedom for the prisoners/ and recovery of sight for the blind,” for indeed we are the prisoners and the blind.  Throughout His ministry, Jesus declared that these promises would transcend Jew and Gentile, bringing these blessings to the nations (people-groups).  His presence in Samaria and His going to Galilee vs. Judea illustrate His concern for all peoples.  Indeed, the revulsion of His hometown against Him rests partially upon His examples of God’s extended blessing to Gentile peoples in the Old Testament.  Jesus’s heart for all people stands against our jealousy, bigotry, and self-righteousness.  To join Him in disciplemaking, we must believe that He loves and has a plan for each person, best demonstrated through each individual’s very createdness.

 

 

Lord Jesus, give us the wisdom, vision, and resources to serve with You in Your awesome missions.  Grant us the courage to forego the trappings of this world and to seek to walk humbly with You.  Point out to us how we may love the least of these, as You certainly do.  We love You and desperately need Your presence in our lives, our city, our neighborhoods, our country, and among the nations.  Come, Lord Jesus!  Amen.

 

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Tuesday March 18

Numbers 26:52-28:15

Luke 3:1-22

Psalm 61:1-8

Proverbs 11:16, 17

"A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth."

~ Proverbs 11:16

I love the word "only" in front of wealth in this verse. 

From the way this verse is phrased, it's obvious that wealth is just not that important. Wealth is material. Wealth is temporary. Wealth can corrupt and distort your perspective. Gaining wealth by being ruthless will only encourage you to become even more ruthless in order to gain more wealth. In the end, what does it actually gain for you? If wealth fades away with time, was it really worth?

Gaining wealth is not worth what you'd lose by becoming ruthless.

It's easy to forget what is really important. It's easy to forget what's temporary and what's eternal. Wealth can make you happy for a time, but once it's gone, so is your happiness.

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"

~ Mark 8:36

March 17 - It will be worth the wait

Numbers 26:1-51

Luke 2:36-52

Psalm 60:1-12

Proverbs 11:15

I'm a day late with this reflection.  I apologize.  Hopefully, it will have been worth the wait.

Waiting - it isn't something people usually like to do.  We live in a society that wants it now!  Fast food, overnight shipping, drive through windows, microwave dinners...all signs of a society impatient for self gratification.  Which is why Anna's example is so amazing.  

Today's reading doesn't tell us how old Anna was when she got married, so we don't know how old she was when her husband died.  But at a time when people tended to get married much younger than I was when I did (I was almost 31), it is pretty clear that she has spent decades as a widow.  Let's say she married at 20 - she would've been widowed at 27 - which means she would have spent 57 years where she "never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying".

Fifty-seven years.  It is easy to think that those 57 years were difficult, were a struggle, the only gratification finally coming when she saw the Christ child.  But I believe that not to be the case.  I suspect that, as she spent more time with Yahweh, worshiping Him in His temple, communing with Him night and day, she developed a relationship with Him; one that made her look forward to spending her day with Him, in His house, in conversation with Him.  And her encounter with the Christ child would have been almost like her Friend inviting her to see His Son shortly His birth.  

See, that's the relationship I want with our Lord; one where I spend time with Him not because I have to, not because it's the right thing to do, not because Pastor's going to ask me about my relationship with Him when I next see him at church- but because I have a relationship with Him that makes Him the high point of my day, that makes me WANT to spend the early morning first fruits of my day with Him.  And then, when I get to know Him that well, I want to get the invitation to party with His Son too.

I know that WILL be worth the wait.

Saturday BlogPost (3/16/14)

Saturday, March 15, 2014 [by Keesha Sullivan]

God is absolutely amazing!  Every time I read His Word, He reveals new insights and messages that touch my heart.  In Numbers 23:19 it says, "God is not a man, that He should lie nor a son of man, that He should change His mind."  The Lord had met with Balaam and put this message in his mouth for Balak.  Balak had asked Balaam on at least three different occasions to curse the Israelites.  All three times the Lord refused Balak's request and instead blessed them.  Balaam had no choice; he was bound by the very Word of God.

In Genesis 12:2-3, the Lord speaks to Abraham and tells him, "I will make you into a great nation.  I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.  All the families on earth will be blessed through you."  The Lord made promises to Abraham to bless him as well as his descendants and to curse those who came against him and his family.

God stays true to His Word.  Numbers 24:9 says, " Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;  like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?  Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you."  By Balak trying to curse Israel, he ends up cursing himself.  The reason that this struck me is because there are so many promises that God speaks over our lives today.  In a world where politicians break promises, authorities corrupt their words, and people are slow to keep their word, we have a foundation upon which we can stand.  We can believe every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Almighty King, Our Father.  Again it says in Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man, that He should lie nor a son of man, that He should change His mind."  We can trust God's Word because it is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

As I reflect on Numbers 23:19, I get teary eyed. I think of some of my favorite verses that God speaks over our lives today.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Romans 8:28
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." 
 
Psalm 37:25
"Once I was young, and now I am old.  Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread."
 
Isaiah 54:17
"But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.  These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me.  I, the Lord, have spoken!"
 
Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 
 
Trusting in God's Word brings contentment, joy, and peace.  I thank God that He is not a man that He should lie and that His Word is true.  Lord, thank You so much for Your unconditional love for us.  

Prayer:

Thank You Lord for Your Word.  Thank You that we can trust in You. Thank You that You are a good Father.  Thank  You that in Matthew 7:11 it says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  Thank You for Your graciousness and Your new mercies each and every day.  We love You Lord. Please renew our minds and help us to trust Your promises.

3/14/14

3/14/14

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said." (Luke 1:39-45 NLT)

I love the line "Elizabeth's child leaped within her." John the Baptist was still in utero, yet he knew Who he was in the presence of. God made flesh was in Mary's womb, and this baby, John, conceived 6 months earlier, recognized little embryo Jesus, his Savior, in Mary's uterus. So what is different for us? Shouldn't we jump for joy when we are in the presence of Jesus? Shouldn't we be so excited that we can't hold it back? Well, every time we are in the midst of other believers, we should have this kind of joy. After all, the believers make up the body of Christ here on earth, and we are the hands and feet of Him also. So when we are in the presence of other believers, we should get excited, because we are in the presence of Jesus! Let's have this kind of joy when we congregate together this week.

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Thursday, March 13

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

Number 19:1–20:29

Luke 1:1–25

Psalm 56:1–13

Luke 1:1–25

 

 

“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1–4)

 

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name….  Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 20:30,31; 21:25)

 

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured.  Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.   All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:10–17)

 

 

Luke begins His Gospel by demonstrating a commitment to the words He has received and a rational consideration of the history described therein.  Those who follow Christ may rely on the testimony of these early witnesses, who faithfully recorded and passed down the truth about His life, death, and resurrection.  We are not abandoned to guessing about God’s nature and character, for the writers of Scripture have indeed passed along the details we require to become “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”  The Word of truth equips God’s servants for righteous living and outpouring into others (“teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness”).

 

We may have confidence in God’s Word due to its historically valid compilation.  The authors of Scripture gathered fairly complete versions of the New Testament before the end of the first century, and many New Testament books had become widely circulated within 25 years after Jesus’s death on the cross.  We have far more manuscript evidence of the New Testament than any other ancient text.  Intriguingly, while only six manuscripts of Julius Caesar’s biography remain, few doubt his authenticity or life story.  Yet, despite the overwhelming manuscript evidence – both in terms of quantity and quality – many skeptics wish to doubt the historicity of the Biblical Jesus.

 

Over this week, I have reflected how deeply I long to look into Jesus’s eyes:  to see His compassion and His heart for all people; to gaze into His majesty; to contemplate His awesome power; to receive assurances of His nearness; and to know Him.  When we have opportunity to peer into another’s eyes, we sense his or her trustworthiness and learn something of his or her character.  How amazing will it be to focus on His loving yet fiery eyes!

 

In a similar manner, the testimony of Scripture affords us a look into God’s heart and a means of viewing the world through His perspective.  2 Peter 1:19–21 teaches that all Scripture has come through the direction of the Holy Spirit, and not from human will.  We may embrace the rationality of following God’s Word and the facts behind our faith.  Praise God for this testimony!

 

How might a treasuring of God’s Word affect your life?  One key area is decisionmaking.  When we have hidden God’s Word in our hearts, living according to His Word becomes more possible.  His Word will work within us, along with the power of the Holy Spirit, to guide us into truth and into choosing to serve Him:  “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” (John 16:13)

 

When we are faced with a difficult decision, we might reflect on the following questions (and seek answers through prayer or Scripture-searching):

 

1. What does God’s Word have to say on this topic?  (It may be helpful to find a Bible with a concordance or to make use of a Bible search tool on the Internet, such as at http://www.biblegateway.com.)

 

2. What are the various options with this decision?  Which ones would be most honoring to God?  Which path is about living in fear?  Pleasing others?  Serving myself?  (Given that our emotions and will may become torn in such a decision, it is important to seek after God’s wisdom and discernment in prayer.)

 

3. How can I step forward in faith, given that the future is not clear?  (Here, we may rely on God’s faithfulness [Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 23:4].)

 

 

QUESTIONS

 

1. It appears that there are lasting benefits for following God’s Word.  How can you actively “hide” the Word in your heart?

 

2. How could you “meditate” more on God’s Word?  How might this affect your decisionmaking?

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March 11

Numbers 15:17-16:40

Mark 15

Psalm 54:1-7

Proverbs 11:5, 6

"So Eleazar the priest collected the 250 bronze incense burners that had been used by the men who died in the fire, and he hammered them into a thin sheet to overlay the altar. This would warn the Israelites that no unauthorized person - no one who was not a descendant of Aaron - should ever enter the Lord's presence to burn incense. If anyone did, the same thing would happen to him as happened to Korah and his followers. So the Lord's instructions to Moses were carried out."

~ Numbers 16:39-40

"Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom."

~ Mark 15:37-38

If you look at this rebellion lead by Korah, you may not see what was so bad about what Korah wanted. He wanted all the Israelites to have direct access to God without needing the priest to mediate. This is what we do today. So what is the difference? 

The difference can be found in Mark 15. When Jesus died, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two. He was the final sacrifice forever canceling out all our sins. Because of what He did, we can have direct access to God with Jesus as our mediator. What Korah failed to realize was that his sin kept him from having a direct relationship with God. His sin could not be in the presence of a Holy God without deadly consequences. 

The difference is Jesus. And He makes all the difference in the world.

(I got the idea for this blog entry from Travis' journal from today. I can't take any credit for it.)

March 10: The Deadly Combination of Fear and Good Intentions

Numbers 14:1-15:16

Mark 14:53-72

Psalm 53:1-6

Proverbs 11:4

I used to wonder "what were they thinking?  How could the Sanhedrin not known that Jesus was the Savior?  How could Peter have not known that Jesus would have taken care of him - that he didn't need to deny Him?  How could the 40 (excluding Joshua and Caleb) not known the God who had parted the Red Sea would have protected them against the giants of the promised land?"  This morning part of the answer came to me: they were blinded by their fear and their good intentions.  

1.  The thirty eight were scared, and sought to protect the Israelites from what they feared was an overwhelming enemy.  And the fear and the good intentions overrode whatever memory they had of the God Who had thrown plague after plague upon the Egyptians, Who had parted the Red Sea, and given them water, bread and meat in a desert where none was to be found.  

2..  Peter wanted to preserve himself - you can almost hear his thoughts: "I'm the only one that's been able to stay this close to Jesus - I can't be arrested!  I would suffer, and to what purpose?  Then what good would I be?"  

3.  And the Sanhedrin - well, perhaps they, like the rest of Israel, were looking to survive under Roman rule till the arrival of a military and political messiah that would guarantee an earthly victory.  And they feared the what the Romans might do if they heard of this man, so different from what they thought the king would be, claiming to be the King of the Jews.   

I've restarted reading a book my father recommended, called "Respectable Sins" by Jerry Bridges.  It talks about "confronting the sins we tolerate".  The very first respectable sin it discusses, in chapter 7, is "Ungodliness".  It is neither wickedness nor unrighteousness (which Paul distinguished it from in Romans 1:18).  The author defines ungodliness as "living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God's will, or of God's glory, or of one's dependence on God".  This was the thirty eight, whose fear of the inhabitants of the Promised Land made them forget their dependence on God (and, consequently, God's promise to give them the land).  They thought it would be up to them to defeat the enemy.  This was true of Peter, who thought more of his own safety, with little or no thought to the truth about his relationship with Jesus.  And this was true of the Sanhedrin, whose thoughts appear to have been of the earthly and the political, who appeared to have done little to see how Jesus's life and ministry reconciled with the prophecies about the Messiah.  

This is also very true of me.  How often do I justify my actions with good intentions and fear, even when they relegate God and my relationship with Him to second, third, or fourth place in my life?  How often has it been more important for me to rush to catch my train, forsaking my prayer time when I get up late?  How often have I demanded diligence and hard work of myself and my children, not because He asked for it, nor for His glory, but simply because it seemed the right thing to do for someone who wanted to get somewhere in life?  And how often have I told the off-color joke, how often have a joined in merriment at someone's expense, how often have I shared in the impolite conversation about the opposite sex - all to get along and get ahead?

Fear and good intentions - such powerful motivators for action, such difficult habits to break because they seem so deceptively good and innocent.  Father, I pray You reveal to me when I act without regard for You, for who You are, and for what You might want.  Rather than have good intentions and fear guide my actions, place upon me Your hoke, that I might walk Your paths alone, and by Your guidance alone.

Saturday BlogPost - 03/08/14

Saturday, March 8, 2014 

Then the foreign rabble who were traveling with the Israelites began to crave the good things of Egypt. And the people of Israel also began to complain. "Oh, for some meat!" they exclaimed. "We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!" (Numbers 11:4-6)

While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard. She broke open the jar and poured the perfume over his head. (Mark 14:3)

The Israelites and the group of foreigners that traveled with them from Egypt had just experienced some of the greatest miracles in history.  God, through Moses and Aaron, had single-handedly taken on Pharaoh and the Egyptian empire to free the Israelites from slavery.  Seven miraculous plagues, the parting of the Red Sea (AMAZING!), and the guidance of the pillars of cloud and fire were all examples of how God suspended this world's natural laws in order to bring His people out of oppression.  Then, the Lord miraculously fed the people with manna from heaven and, yet, they complained.  They had a "vending machine" view of God. He was supposed to make them happy - that was the deal...or was it?

Fast forward to the 30's AD during the times of Jesus.  Mary of Bethany had seen some pretty miraculous stuff, too.  She knew Messiah Jesus, the Healer, the Deliverer, the Preacher, the Teacher, the One Who Raises People from the Dead…and…the Friend.  Of all of these things, the great miracle of her life was coming into a place where she could sit at the feet of the Creator of the Universe and be called friend.  Mary had a relationship with Jesus.  Jesus ate meals at her house, enjoyed the fellowship of her brother Lazarus and sister Martha, spoke with her face to face.  Yet, rather than complain about what she may have lacked, Mary took an expensive bottle of perfume and anointed Jesus with it.  This was worship. She took something that was worth a lot and used it for a purpose that was worth more to her than the perfume itself.

So what's the point?  

The miracles and blessings of Jesus are almost meaningless to us without having a relationship with Him.  It is so very easy to become overwhelmed by, and obsessed with, what Jesus can do for us that we completely miss who Jesus is to us and who we are to Him.  

Prayer

Jesus, help us to remember that we mean more to You than the blessings You give us - We are  so valuable to You that You died for me.  And, let us not forget that Your death and resurrection won the right for us to spend eternity with You, a life that starts here on earth when we make You Lord of our lives, and continues on forever. May we worship in humility, Spirit, and truth. 

Thursday, March 6

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2014

Numbers 6:1–7:89

Mark 12:38–13:13

Psalm 49:1–20

Proverbs 10:27,28

 

 

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

 

“Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’” (March 12:41–44)

 

 

The widow demonstrated the depths of her commitment through giving sacrificially.  Here, Jesus touches upon the nature of righteous generosity, which may involve giving until it hurts.  The widow implicitly must trust God for the next step, having thrown everything into the temple’s coffers.  Devoted to the Lord, the widow, like Abraham with Isaac on Mt. Moriah, believed:  “God himself will provide… ” (Genesis 22:8)  The widow had abandoned her self-preoccupation and turned to a radical reliance on God.  While the world would have called her a fool, Jesus esteems her faith and generosity.

 

More broadly, Jesus calls His disciples to take up their crosses, proclaiming a death to self and living fully for the King.  In Luke 14:26,27, He explains:  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – such a man cannot be my disciple.  And whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”  What radical commitment!

 

Yet, Jesus understood and practiced that rabbinical truth that committed, edified followers would bring forth a harvest of life and righteousness.  He spoke to the crowds, taught the Twelve closely, but mentored three (Peter, James, and John) even more closely.  As Ronald Coleman points out in the The Master Plan of Evangelism, Jesus placed an all-in bet on His disciples.  The Word rooted in them; the consistency of His loving encouragement, edification, and sometimes rebuke; and the promised Holy Spirit would guide these first followers to multiply into a movement.

 

For us today, we may assess the depth of our commitment.  Do we approach God each day with the hope of surrendering more fully and growing more deeply in love, forsaking whatever is holding us back?  Or are we content to rest on yesterday’s victories?  Are we training, like an athlete, for spiritual battle, or are we merely “clicking through the channels” of life and looking primarily for comfort?

 

This account challenges me.  It is my observation that, in business, companies that are not constantly innovating are susceptible to falling behind.  Likewise, we must grow deeper and deeper in commitment by intentionally pursuing the throne of heavenly grace, taking in the Word, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We must look for other areas to surrender to the Lordship of Christ.  We must not allow ourselves to be satisfied with yesterday’s grace.  Experience in living this way will build our trust in the living God, Who is really the One pursuing us.  We just need to be willing and ready to meet Him.

 

Romans 12:1,2:  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

 

Lord Jesus, help us to become more and more committed to loving You and following You.  Show us where we may give our lives more completely to Your sovereign will.  Grow our trust and dependence on Your provision, and reveal Yourself to be fully faithful and altogether worthy of our every moment.  We need You and Your grace; please cast out our unbelief and spiritual weakness.  Send Your Holy Spirit to refresh us and make us hungry for You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

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