1/31/14

1/31/14

They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord ! Praise God in highest heaven!" The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. "Who is this?" they asked. (Matthew 21:7-10 NLT)

How does a king announce himself to his people? Is it a a quiet dinner party? Is it to his closest friends? How does a king pronounce that he is the king? A King is crowned, he is anointed, he is announced in a fashion that is grandiose. A country spares no expense on this ceremony, there is a grand procession, chariots, fireworks. A lot of planning and spectacular events happen. But here we are given the vision of a humble king, the King of kings. What a far cry from what Jesus is accustomed to. If this was his throne in heaven, he would have angels spreading their wings before him, the gold carpet would be rolled out before him. Awesome trumpet blasts would sound his coming. This is the unveiling of the creator of the universe coming to take his place as King, and what does he get? He gets a city in uproar. Some believe, some hope, some want him to just go away. He rides into town on a donkey, palm breaches and coats line his path. Where is the scarlet carpet? Where are the trumpeters? Where is the attention that this king deserves? Most were too stubborn to recognize him, some didn't believe, after all, how can a king come from Galilee? This guy is just a son of a carpenter, how can he lead a nation? God had bigger plans than just a nation. God was raising Jesus up to be one king, once for ALL. and he had to come in a humble manner. It's interesting to me that we are reading about the first Passover, right before we get ready to read about Jesus and his disciples sharing that exact meal together in an upper room, where this meal becomes so much more meaningful than the angel of death passing over and not destroying the firstborn. This meal becomes a new covenant. And gives us so much hope in a King that is willing to become the sacrifice. King to sacrifice. All in a week. Think about that.

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Thursday, January 30

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Exodus 10:1–12:13

Matthew 20:1–28

Psalm 25:1–15

Proverbs 6:6–11

 

 

Today’s two parables from Matthew touch upon the upside-down nature of the Kingdom, where the last shall be first and “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”  On the surface, the two parables highlight 1) the “righteous” person’s (potential) resentment at witnessing a late-in-time conversion from a supposedly sinful individual and 2) the human desire for self-exaltation vs. the Biblical call for self-abnegation.

 

Looking at the second parable a bit more closely, we read about the mother of Zebedee’s sons, James and John, who approaches Jesus and requests exalted positions for them.  Based on Jesus’s ministry, He had poured out His love and life for Peter, James, and John.  The context suggests that the two men had come to believe they deserved some privileged position, above the other disciples.  Upon hearing of this, the other disciples rightfully appear rubbed the wrong way.

 

This parable raises the comparison between positions and impact.  With 20/20 vision, we recognize that titles don’t transform culture; ordinary people, serving an amazing God and trusting Him to change lives, do.  As soon as we rest on titles or positions, we immediately abandon the servant-hearted mentality that Jesus explains to be normative in the Kingdom.  Indeed, His example of seeking, saving, and serving the lost stands in stark opposition to the position-oriented leadership of the Pharisees and the Roman authorities.  As we have experienced even over the first several weeks of our readings, the Kingdom of God definitely involves un-worldly paradigms and structures.

 

As an aside, Steve and Sheri Wills lent me a helpful book on thinking through questions rather instinctively trying to size up a situation with a judgmental attitude.  I stand guilty as charged on the latter tendency.  Perhaps you too have struggled with this weakness, as demonstrated through assigning condemning labels to yourself or doubting others’ competency or good intentions.  The author points out that asking truth-seeking questions does indeed promote healthy relationships, progress in our work, and peace with ourselves.

 

As a case in point, I tend to berate myself internally for falling short of exacting standards that I have set for myself.  As a result, I often struggle to appropriate God’s grace on a moment-by-moment basis; rather, I submit myself to a sorrowful penance as “rightful” recompense for proving myself a failure.  Author David Seamands discusses this tendency as emblematic of the tension between our sonship as believers and our un-Scriptural striving to prove our worth to God and others.

 

2 Corinthians 7:9,10 explains:  “.  As you may see, I have allowed my prideful clinging to these standards to override God’s adoption.  In response to these realities, I am seeking to re-focus my thinking along questions, such as:  “Lord, I recognize this situation is not turning out as I had hoped.  How may I see Your grace in it?  How would you like me to grow?  Would you please provide Your perspective on this situation?”  While my experience is in its infancy, I praise God for His approachability and willingness to instruct us – and even use us for His purposes – through both positive and negative circumstances.

 

Turning back to today’s passage, we may then re-consider the disciples’ request for greatness vs. Jesus’s Kingdom call.  Their questions had turned to:  “What’s in it for us?”  In turn, Jesus highlights that the Kingdom requires coming, dying, and radically shifting our priorities to God’s purposes and others’ flourishing.  The Kingdom questions fall in this line:  “How may You be glorified in this situation?  How may I serve Your people with the gifts You have provided me?”

 

As Bob Dylan sang in his Gospel period, “you gotta serve somebody.”  Whom are you serving now?  We certainly dither on a moment-by-moment basis.  Yet, may we follow after the heart of Joshua:  “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.  Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

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January 28

Exodus 5:22-7:23

Matthew 18:21-19:12

Psalm 23

Proverbs 5:22, 23

In Matthew 18, Jesus is telling us something very important about forgiveness. Through this story of the unforgiving servant, we learn that there should be no limit to the forgiveness that we show others, because there is no limit to the forgiveness that God shows us. The only appropriate response to God's unending grace is to show that same grace to one another. 

Proverbs 5:22 is a perfect warning to go along with this parable. "An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him." The unforgiving servant was thrown in prison because he refused to do what was right. If we do the same thing and refuse to forgive others just as God forgave us, then we will not free from our sin. We will be held captive by it.

I know this is not easy. Our tendency is to feel like we're letting someone get away with a crime if we forgive them. But that is not our concern and it is not our place to withhold forgiveness. Our concern is to obey God and allow Him to be the judge. Years ago I was angry at one of my best friends and I refused to speak to her for four years. I refused to let go and forgive. And what did I gain by doing that? Nothing. I lost four years with my friend while becoming more hard-hearted and bitter. Thankfully, it was not too late for us. I realized I was more concerned with being "right" than with doing what was right and she forgave me.

If there is someone in your life that you are struggling to forgive, ask God to help you. Focus on the ways in which He has shown you grace. Ask Him to give you the grace and the strength to forgive. There is nothing more powerful than forgiveness. A few weeks ago, Scott said that forgiveness is a dragon slayer. It can change the bitterest hardest heart into something beautiful.

January 27: And you thought YOU were having a bad day...a lesson from my son

Exodus 4:1-5:21

Matthew 18:1-20

Psalm 22:19-31

Proverbs 5:15-21

Ok, so maybe it wasn't just a bad day Moses had - but it sure was a bad stretch.  First, he encounters our Lord one-on-one, hears His voice and recognizes it...and converses with Him.  And y et, despite the burning bush, despite the voice, despite the demonstrations of His power with the staff and the hand and the water turning into blood, when God tells Moses to go do something, Moses is crazy enough to say "uh, no."  God asks why, and Moses says he wouldn't know what to say.  God says "I'll tell you what to say"...and Moses still says no.  Then after God has decided to accommodate Moses's stubbornness by sending his brother Aaron along with him, Moses forgets to obey God's command and runs the risk of death.    Finally, when he goes and does what God asks, he seems to have achieved the direct opposite of what he thought he had been sent to do - not only do the Israelites remain in slavery, their burden has been increased - they now have to produce the same number of bricks but without the straw they'd been given previously...all because Moses passed on God's message to Pharaoh.  

We all have bad days.  Sometimes it seems they are bad because we refused to obey God.  Sometimes it seems they are bad because we did.  I'm in the middle of such a situation - trying to do the best I can at work, but finding I have more and more to do as a result.  The last few days haven't been easy, and I've wondered where God was, why He was permitting everything that was taking place, and when He would say "enough".  What to do?  Thankfully, today's readings give us two possible courses of action.

The first is to pray - to pray desperately, without alternative, the way the Canaanite woman prayed to Jesus for her daughter's salvation, as Kenny preached yesterday.  To pray with a life saving desperation remembering God is our strength..."come quickly to help me.  Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs...from the mouth of the lions...from the horns of the wild oxen."  And the second is to trust, the way Jesus describes the little ones.  I imagine almost every parent will have shared what I've experienced often - the fear of my child, overcome when they slip their hand in mine and know we walk the path together.  These solutions sound simple, but they aren't easy - they aren't solutions you can just turn on or off.  No, they are solutions you have to develop, like habits - which is tough, when you want the answer right now.  

In this instance, my son, Christian, comes to mind.  My almost 11-year old started swimming some 15 months ago.  He would compete and finish last in his age group, last in his heat.  But he worked diligently, in practice, every day.  I'd ask his coach if he was working, and coach would always say, without fail, that Christian wasn't just working, he was pushing himself hard.  Over the weekend, he competed and swam three events, won 2 of his heats, and went fast enough to qualify for regionals.  His diligence paid off.  I need to apply the same diligence, in order to learn to pray desperately, and to develop a child like trust.  Thank you, Christian, for giving me the roadmap I need.

January 26

Psalm 22

The phrase, "the dark night to the soul" was first used by Saint John of the Cross in the 18^th century. He coined it in a poem and it represents the hardships and difficulties the soul meets in our journey through life. This term is used for the spiritual crisis that occurs in our lives when we are spiritually dry and disconnected from God.

Every person will experience a "dark night of the soul" sometime during life. When that day arrives, our faith becomes weak, our hearts are filled with doubts, our hope disappears and life becomes very bleak.

Usually the issue that arises during this "dark night" is doubting the goodness of God. Why is God silent? Why doesn't God do something? Why doesn't God stop the pain? Many have become so disappointed in him that they just give up on any belief in his goodness and power.

What should we do when we find ourselves in this place?  Turn to Psalm 22.  This is the greatest of all the Messianic Psalms. For those who deny the inspiration of the Bible and the deity of Christ, this chapter stands like the Rock of Gibraltar against their assaults. Some say it is only an expression of David as he went through a difficult time. But there is no record that David ever endured this kind of rejection, scorn and violence. David wrote of something that was more than his own experience. He wrote about Jesus and his agony on the cross. God gave him a glimpse of the coming Messiah and his suffering and glorification.  And all of this was written 900 years before the birth of Christ. Hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented, God gave David this glimpse into the Messiah's "dark night of the soul."

Here is how the chapter starts: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

These were the words Jesus spoke on the cross. If Jesus could experience this, it is certainly possible for you and me to. The tension between our experience and our beliefs can cause us to doubt God. Feelings of abandonment and being utterly forsaken can happen to any person.  When this feeling appears in our hearts, it is not time to put on a pretending, faking or happy face. In honest and truthful words we need to pour out our hearts to God, tell him what we are feeling and the pain we are going thorough and even express our doubts.  Every devout Jew memorized Psalm 22 for times of great distress and darkness. When they couldn't get a prayer out, this psalm was recited. 

The "dark night of the soul" is a terrible place to be. But it will happen in your life. When it does, remember that Jesus knows your loneliness. Jesus knows your darkness. You are not suffering alone. He feels your pain. Our God is a God who is acquainted with suffering. You can talk to Him; He understands.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Saturday BlogPost (01/25/14)

Saturday, January 25, 2014 [by Keesha Sullivan]

 

"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:19-20).

 

Through Joseph's words, we know that he trusted God. He wasn't angry about the past, because he knew who had ultimate control over his destiny.  Joseph knew that God had allowed his brothers to sell him into slavery for a greater purpose. In Jeremiah 29:11 it says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" In spite of Joseph's brothers planning to harm him, God had plans to prosper him and to bless his future.

 

As Joseph M. Scriven wrote, "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." If we just prayed and trusted fully in God's plans, we would live in His perfect peace. Even when the storms of life come, if we trusted that God had ultimate control, we would have no fear or anxiety.

 

I remember living in NJ in February of 2010 and hearing the rumor of a significant layoff coming down the pike. I was slightly alarmed, so I began looking for jobs. Kenny and I both worked for the Teaneck Board of Education as teachers. Neither of us was tenured which meant that there was a good chance we both could get laid off. As I looked for jobs, I did not see any openings. As April rolled around, the rumor became truth. Announcements were made so that non-tenured teachers would begin preparing themselves for what was imminent. I continued to look for jobs and still there were no openings. At the end of April Kenny was laid off. Fear came knocking at the door of my heart boldly. Next anxiety came. I began sending off resumes to jobs that did not have any openings in hope of finding something.

 

Kenny saw the fear consuming me and said, "Let's pray!" We prayed and cried out to God. We asked for Him to open up a position and to show us His plan. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the next day that I looked for a job I saw three openings. I applied and within one week I had an interview. The same day of the interview I was hired. God had plans to prosper me and not to harm me. He brought us to the place that He wanted us to be. Although a layoff is supposed to harm individuals and leave them jobless, God blesses us and gives us a future. In Romans 8:28 it says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."

 

We can praise God and live in His holy peace because He is a God of the past, the present, and the future. "How abundant are the good things that [God has] stored up for those who fear [Him], that [He bestows] in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in [Him]" (Psalm 31:19).

 

Lord, we just want to thank you right now that You are God. We thank You that You have plans to prosper us and not to harm us. We thank You that You work all things together for good for those that love You. Please help us Lord to put all of her trust and hope in You. Help us to pray in our times of need, so that we can live a life that is void of fear and anxiety. We love you Jesus, and we thank You that You hear our Prayers. Amen

--

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

1/24/14

1/24/14

What the heck is the deal with bread?

Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. "Watch out!" Jesus warned them. "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn't brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, "You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? Don't you understand even yet? Don't you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? Why can't you understand that I'm not talking about bread? So again I say, 'Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'" Then at last they understood that he wasn't speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:5-12 NLT)

Is Jesus trying to confuse his disciples here, or is he using a play on words to make a point? What I mean is this: it's obvious from reading the whole text here, that the disciples didn't get his point at first...that he wasn't speaking about bread at all, but about the false teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But why did this not smack them in the face? Why was it not so clear as it is to us? In his commentary "Companion God: A Cross-cultural Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew," George T. Montague makes the argument that Jesus is using a play on words. I think He was doing this to try to get their attention. Think about Scott's sermons. The ones we really remember...think about "jogswspam" a term so eloquently created, that few will soon forget what it means to get closer to a loving Savior. I think Jesus is doing the same thing here. He got the disciple's minds so all-in with his "bread-teaching," (ie the feeding of the five thousand, the feeding of the four thousand, and then they forgot bread.....how could they?) Jesus is using the mix of the Aramaic words "hamir'a and 'amir'a." Now, funny thing about these two, is they sound almost identical. And they mean totally different things. Hamir'a means "leaven" and in the KJV, that is how this particular passage reads, and 'amir'a means "teaching" thus the tongue-twister that Christ has created. But once they get it, man they get it. Or maybe the wind was loud on the Sea of Galilee that day, and they thought he said hamir'a when he really said 'amir'a!?

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Thursday, January 23

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014

Genesis 46:1–47:31

Matthew 15:1–28

Psalm 19:1–14

Proverbs 4:14–19

 

 

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

                be pleasing in your sight;

                O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

 

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

                shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

                they do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:18,19)

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

 

 

Many successful enterprises have begun around offering solutions for people’s challenges or even by creating the recognition that their products would enhance one’s quality of life.  Those indispensable products or solutions make us question:  “How did I ever live without this?”

 

Have you ever considered approaching our life-ministry and outreach to our community in this manner?  What places does the church hold in serving our friends and neighbors by bringing forth godly wisdom and grace?  When you study our predominant culture in Fairfield County, what shortcomings or needs do you see?  What hungers or thirsts, metaphorically speaking, are left unfulfilled by the world’s solutions?

 

After reflecting on these questions, I would like to suggest that our community is suffering horribly for want of godly wisdom.  While the world’s wisdom urges a self-seeking, self-preservationist longing for instant gratification, the Scriptures teach almost directly the opposite.  Instead of jealously seeking to be understood, the Bible encourages us to put others’ interests (and understanding) above our own (Philippians 2:1–5).  The world’s wisdom bears fruit in a hollow, narcissistic existence that promises fleeting happiness but little lasting joy.  It reminds me of cotton candy:  immediately satisfying and sweet but diminishingly palatable over time.

 

While we ultimately wish to introduce our friends and neighbors to the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that sharing godly wisdom may provide a helpful door to sharing the Good News of the Gospel.  That is, godly wisdom, profitable in all seasons, may promote a healthy thirst for more of God’s goodness.

 

“Blessed are those who find wisdom,

those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver

and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies;

nothing you desire can compare with her.” (Proverbs 2:13–15)

 

With this in mind, how may we become better able to share godly wisdom with an unrooted world?  First, as Solomon points out in Proverbs, we must ourselves hunger for wisdom.  We must recognize that, while knowledge and intelligence hold some value, wisdom bears lasting fruit that may multiply God’s goodness.  In the Lord Jesus Himself, we find the model for living out godly wisdom, particularly in the accounts of His interactions with the apostles, the Pharisees, and the crowds.  As Pastor Scott has explained, Jesus taught His disciples through the rabbinic method, which involved some discourse, some show-and-tell, and some active doing.

 

As Travis noted in his latest entry, Jesus posed insightful questions, both to deflect accusations and to bring forth the other parties’ true motivations.  He illustrates that proper questions may lay bare the heart, much more powerfully than generalizations or judgments could.

 

Also, notice that wisdom implies a relational mindset.  The Book of Proverbs consistently mentions the role of wisdom in promoting healthy interactions with parents, children, spouses, employers, and employees.  Wisdom encourages a giving attitude and a care to honor others in our dealings.

 

How may you personally grow in wisdom in 2014?  Where will you seek out this wisdom?  Whom may you bless through application of this wisdom?  How are the people in your circle of influence “hungry,” even if they may not acknowledge it, for this wisdom?  How will you reach them?

 

 

Lord Jesus, we desperately need to understand Your wisdom and its application better in 2014.  We seek to live intentionally, with a focus on loving and serving hurting, empty people by offering truth and wisdom that we learn from Your Word and Your example.  Please make us into mighty warriors and ambassadors of Your character in a dark world.  In Your Name, we pray.  Amen.

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Genesis 44-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13

Genesis 44-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13

 

I think I got the best day to write about.  I love the story of Joseph.  It has always been one of my favorites.  The story of what faith and forgiveness looks like.  But I also got Matthew 14, and one of my other favorite stories.  I'm kinda cheating today because my blog entry was already written for me.  I wrote this back in 2005 (21 years old) in my parents living room.  I remember the day and time in my life exactly.  The storms in my life surrounded life decisions like college, majors, careers.  It included my first serious boyfriend and who was I supposed to marry.  I wrote this to my mom…they were just thoughts at the time, but I always look back at them because the storms have changed in my life, but thankfully God's promises ring true.  I am still stuck in the water, and still need this reminder.

 

"I was comforted and intrigued when a couple weeks ago you reminded me about Peter walking on water with JC. This morning I couldn't help but read that story over and over again, as Matthew recorded it. I saw the storm and how each of us have one in our life. I saw and could feel the cold waves crashing in the storm and the chilling wind that made me hide.

 

I recognized in my own life how I am just a little girl standing in the

middle of a tempest, the waves represented by life, careers, purpose and the unknown future.

The winds that surround me being that special person, love, and again, the unknown future.

 

Just like Peter I look all around and I lose sight at the One standing in front of me calling my name. Like Peter, I look around and I'm scared.

 

I begin to sink. Mommy... I sink. Lower and lower...the water creeps up my legs to my knees...I panic...

 

But He is there. He grabs my hand and helps me back to my feet. He stops the storm. He is my comfort, my Protector and the One who can alone save me.

 

I am still standing in the storm, and I'm trying to walk, to keep focused. its hard. I cant help but look around me at the violent winds and storm that surrounds.  But I know the answer. It's simple. Its my Jesus standing in front of me reaching for my hand.  All I have to do is look at Him, reach out, and he will hold me."

January 21

Genesis 42:18-43:34

Matthew 13:47-14:12

Psalms 18:16-36

Proverbs 4:7-10

You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

Psalm 18:28

"Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop."

(Signature on Chuck's emails)

I've admitted before that I worry a lot about a lot of things. It's a constant battle I fight. I know I'm not suppose to do it. I know that it doesn't accomplish anything. I know that it does nothing but hurt me. And yet I can't seem to stop. 

My mistake is that I try to solve all my problems on my own. I dwell and I agonize and I plan, but I never seem to get it right, which causes me more worry. How do I stop from worrying?

I read Psalm 18 and I immediately thought of a quote that Chuck uses as a signature on his emails. "Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop." If we stay in the dark, our worries will do nothing but grow. Thankfully Psalm 18:28 tells us that the Lord is a lamp and He lights up our darkness. Without God, we are in the dark and our worries will always overtake us. With God, we are in the light and our worries will disappear, not because He takes away all of our troubles, but because He is with us through anything.

January 20: Cross Fit: Financial => No, it doesn't start with the money

Genesis 41:17-42;17

Matthew 13:24-46

Psalm 18:1-15

Proverbs 4:1-6

Financial cross fit.  At Grace Church we are undergoing a Cross Fit training program, that encompasses both the spiritual and the physical.  Here, it looks like God is talking about financial Cross Fit.  What's interesting is that, while today's readings tell us of how God warned Joseph to prepare Egypt financially (well, technically, "grain-ically"), just the other day we read how Jesus instructs the disciples "do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts..." What are we to do?

I think the answer isn't in how Joseph prepared, or how the disciples provisioned for their journey.  The answer comes before that - they listened to God.  Both Joseph and the disciples got their instructions directly from our Lord, without any confusion or doubt as to the source and veracity of the message.  Why?  Because they knew Him.  We don't know how Joseph got to know the Lord, but we know that "The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered" (Gen 39:2).  And the disciples - well, while we know they had yet to grasp who Jesus was, they had by this time made a choice to follow Him and, in the following, would have most certainly gotten to know Him somewhat - enough to obey His instructions however, imprudent they may have seemed.

So the key is to get to know whom you would trust - our Lord, in this case.  And they key to that is to spend time with Him.  Think about it: the crowds heard the parables, but those who spent more time with Him - the disciples - they got to hear what the parables meant.  And that brings to mind another lesson, one particularly suited to me: the smaller the group around someone, the better you get to know Him.  A confession:  do you know the day I least spend intimately with God?  Ironically, it is Sunday - the day I wake up a bit late, find myself rushing off to church, then spending time with our Lord in the company of Grace Church.  As good as that is, it just isn't as good as the one-on-one time that has become a habit, a part of my work day.

Not having spent as much time as I could, it isn't surprising I struggle to trust our Lord as fully as I should.  After all, I don't know Him well enough to sing as the psalmist did; I struggle to live like "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer...in whom I take refuge."  I'd like to, so I need to change that.  

January 19

Matthew 12 Your New Family

 

Rudyard Kipling once wrote about families, "all of us are we -- and everyone else is they." A family shares things like dreams, hopes, tears, laughter, memories, sadness and gladness. They are there for you during all of the ups and downs of life.  A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and cemented by the bonds of respect and commitment. A family is shelter from the storm, a friendly port when the waves of life overwhelm the boat. A family is a place you can turn to when you are overwhelmed by the complexities of life. No person who is a member of a family is ever alone.

 

That is a beautiful description of Grace Church. I have been blessed with two families. I have a wonderful real family and an equally astounding church family.

 

In Matthew 12 Jesus is talking with the crowds and someone tells him his mother and brothers are outside wanting to talk with him. It is interesting that Matthew uses this word "outside."  If they were truly supportive of what Jesus was doing, doesn't it stand to reason that they would have been "inside?"

 

Jesus, at that moment, takes the idea of family and expands it for all believers. He says that once you become a committed disciple, you are adopted into a family of faith. This new group of believers becomes your spiritual brothers and sisters and they take on all the characteristics of a real family.

 

Over the past few months I have seen an incredible display of family sacrifice and love in our church. It is staggering to contemplate the acts of service and love that have been poured out on people in our church.

 

I would like to chronicle these sacrificial acts of love shown to the Gropps and the Smiths.

Enormous prayers of faith at all times of the day, even in the middle of the night.

Phone calls, texts, notes, Christmas chains and email.

Meals delivered.

Hospital visits.

Days of prayer and fasting.

Airport runs.

Hanging out with someone so they would not be alone.

Late night visits to the pharmacy.

Help with paying bills.

Financial gifts.

Inviting over for dinner.

Taking out for dinner.

Food and coffee brought to the hospital.

Prayer and kindness shown to hospital staff.

Visits to Claire.

Birthday parties held for Clair and Shawn.

At the risk of using too many superlatives let me just say I am so proud to be pastor of Grace Church.

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Saturday BlogPost (01/18/14)

Saturday, January 18, 2014

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matthew 12:34)

Jesus indicts the Pharisees by using this saying: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."  Having seen Jesus heal a man, who was blind and mute, by casting out the demon who oppressed him, the Pharisees called Jesus evil (an agent of the prince of demons; cf. 12:22-24).  How could they see Jesus do such a great thing and call it evil?  That evil criticism was in their heart and from that same heart they spoke evil words.  

I'm learning two great lessons from this Scripture that I'd like to share.

(1) Our conversation often reveals our what's in our hearts.  I've found that when I have spoken in negative, critical, judgmental ways it was because I was dealing with those things in my heart.  The opposite has also been true.  When I've spoken life, blessing, and encouragement it was because that was in my heart, also.  Being aware of how I speak to people helps me to keep a finger on what is going on in my own heart.  But there is another benefit.  It is amazing that we can hear the hearts of people and be of great support to them if we take time to listen to what is coming out of their mouths.  So often people just need/want someone to listen to them, not to solve or fix them.  Praying with someone after we've listened to their heart opens the door for God to speak solutions or wisdom into their situation.

(2) What I put into my heart affects what comes out of my mouth.  Reading the Scriptures each day and thinking about them throughout the day builds up my heart.  When we are thinking and acting out the word we find ourselves also speaking the word (Psalm 37:30-31).  But there is another benefit to this as well.  The word of God has a healing affect on our soul and our body when we speak it.  Proverbs 16:24 says, "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."  Jesus says, "The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

What do your conversations sound like?  How is your heart doing today?  If it's not where you want it to be right now, don't be discouraged.  Jesus daily invites us to pour out our hearts to him so that He can make room for us to be poured into (Matt. 11:28).  The choice is really ours to either to accept His words and find life or to reject them.

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The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. (Psalm 37:30-31) 

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"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26)

Kenny Sullivan

(201) 218-0751

שלום

1/17/14

1/17/14

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) And he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath." Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! (Matthew 12:9-13 NLT)

I love how Jesus never directly answers a question when he knows he is being cornered. He always makes his answer apply to his audience first, then they cannot condemn him for his answer. He was very thoughtful and crafty in his answers, never leaving an opening for judgement. I wish I was like that. But no, I all too often have to open my big mouth and have a enormous foot shoved in it. I wish I had the discernment of Christ, but I don't. I don't always think about what I am saying before I say it, and that can get me in trouble. Christ cares about the person that he is about to heal, so, he gives the Pharisees an answer that will condemn themselves if they condemn Him. Jesus is discerning and thoughtful. Another reason I want to be more like Him.

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Thursday, January 16

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2014

Genesis 32:13–34:31

Matthew 11:7–30

Psalm 14:1–7

Proverbs 3:19,20

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

 

 

I would like to take this opportunity during a hectic season to review the promises and opportunities given in Jesus’s words. 

 

Please note that He prefaced this invitation with some comments on revelation:  “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children.  Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do….  All things have been committed to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Matthew 11:25b:27)  From this discussion, we understand that we may count it a privilege to have received God’s revelation through Jesus Christ, His Word, and His world.  This revelation involves both God’s action and man’s seeking, and both sides come together to bring the believer into harmony with God and to bring glory to His Name.

 

1.       “Come to me… ”  In this most personal of invitations, Jesus (God Himself!) welcomes us to approach Him.  He is “gentle and humble in heart” and willing to associate with His beloved creatures.  While He sits enthroned in heaven, He opens His arms to the broken and the tired.  What an amazing display of His love for us!

 

2.       “… all you who are weary and burdened… ”  From this phrase, I gather that Jesus understands that we will all face weariness in this world.  While our poor decisions do cause us headaches, we also must wrestle with the fallenness of this world.  The disorder and chaos brought about by the Fall interrupted what God had intended for perfection, and He remains sovereign over even our challenging circumstances in leading us into a deeper knowledge of His character and goodness.  In John 17:3, Jesus explains:  “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

 

3.       “… and I will give you rest….  You will find rest for your souls.”  The rest contemplated here involves not just physical recuperation, but also emotional and spiritual healing.  While the Promised Land offers milk and honey, it also afforded the Israelites a home and a place to commune freely with God.  For us today, “rest” does include restoring our physical weariness, but I believe that Jesus wishes to bring emotional, spiritual, and mental integrity (wholeness) to His children.  Out of this wholeness and restoration, we may minister to a hurting world and point them to this invitation through the testimony of our changed lives.

 

4.       “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… ” Jesus here invites His hearers to a life of discipleship.  In this agrarian society, the crowd would have understood the “yoke” to involve joining in the work, the mission.  The phrase promises inner transformation and becoming fitted to a godly life.  The yoke also helped the grouped oxen to strengthen their efforts together, directing the force in a common direction.  Furthermore, the yoke implies that there will be a harmonious sharing of responsibility and growth:  that, together with Jesus, we may bring forth a spiritual harvest.

 

5.       “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Receiving Jesus’s invitation doesn’t promise a pain-free life, but rather one of purpose.  As Pastor Scott explained on Sunday, Jesus seeks “committed” followers, who will count the cost and surrender completely.  Yet, this statement points to the supernatural synergies that Jesus will bring about in our lives.

 

Two other examples for this picture:  a lever and a crew team.  Crowbars provide a good example of the benefits of leverage.  Without the crowbar, it may be difficult to remove a deeply embedded nail, but the crowbar increases the force that we may apply with our fingers to remove the nail with seemingly much less effort.  Committed disciples may leverage God’s abundant power by standing where He desires us and then trusting Him to bring that power to bear – for His glory.

 

Similarly, a crew team trains vigorously for a five-minute sprint.  Their training involves personal strength and conditioning and concentration on their individual strokes.  Yet, the coach and the coxswain guide the team to work in unison, leveraging their individual strokes to produce a powerful locomotive effect.  This combination of forces causes the boat almost to glide on top of the water, and their synergies create much more power than their eight individual strokes together.  Please check out this YouTube video for a better image:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8ewDewMXTw.

 

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself to us.  We trust You for rest, in our own lives and for our dear sisters Kym and Heidi and their families.  We trust that Your yoke is indeed light, and we commit ourselves to a life of discipleship and purpose.  Work through us and bring Your abundant power to bear as we seek and serve You.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.