Bible blog post Monday December 31st

A Prayer For The New Year: To Return To The Unchanging God (Malachi 3:6-7)

Lord we come to the end of another year.  This year held different things for each of us: joy, sorrow, fear, excitement, loss, new beginnings, grace, forgiveness, anger, disappointment, gratitude, love, loneliness, growth, understanding and a whole host of other things.  For us it was a year of uncertainty, of high's and lows, of ebbs and flows.  There is only one true constant in the sea of uncertain life that we can rest in, truly rest in, and that is in you.  Your word tells us in Malachi 3:6 "I the LORD do not change."  That statement Lord needs to be our anchor and hope. But the only way to find comfort in this is to know who you truly are, who does your word say you are?  I love that Malachi 3:7 instructs, "return to me, and I will return to you.", an instruction with a promise.  Lord we all need to make a commitment to ourselves to return to you every single day and you will be there, your unchanging self will be there.  Lord I know that returning to you is committing first and foremost to prayer and reading your word so that we know who you are, we know who we are seeking and what we will find.  We find an anchor to hold onto during the storm, we find the arms of compassion to hold us during the painful moments, we feel the pat on the back with a job well done, we find strength for the moments when we feel a bit weak, we find rest in your peace in the midst of a very busy life, we find a guide to help navigate us through the uncertainty.  Your word tells of who you are and what you will do and in that we can find direction, peace, comfort and hope for the uncertainty that lies in the year before us but only if we are returning to it every single day. Your word tells us that your mercies are new every morning which means there is something new that awaits me in the uncertainty of life every single day if I just take the time to return to you. Lord as we head into a time of resolutions and hope for the future may we resolve in our hearts and minds to return to you each day and encounter the unchanging God you are and in that find everything we need to face every moment that awaits us in 2019 and beyond.  I am so very thankful that we enter the uncertain new year with the comfort and confidence that You, our unchanging God, enters with us.

AMEN

December 29: Of Dependence and Debts Paid

Zechariah 14:1-21

Revelation 20:1-15

Psalm 148:1-14

Proverbs 31:8-9

As we approach the end of the year, we approach the end of this year's Bible journey and find ourselves, fittingly, at judgment.  And to me, Revelation 20:11-15 are some of the most frightening verses in the Bible.  I am not going to speak for anyone else, but I certainly don't want to be thrown into the lake of fire.  I used to read this and think was going to have to somehow bargain my way into heaven, because I certainly wasn't getting in on merit alone.  I had a debt I could not repay.  

Then someone explained to me what they believed happened when "the dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books", when "each person was judged according to what they had done".   Because we have a Savior, when we stand before God to be judged, and the Book is opened to the page that shows the debt of sin we have incurred, Jesus reaches over and repeats Himself.  He says "Tetelestai", which is sometimes translated as "it is finished", but I was told more accurately means "the debt is satisfied".   We first heard Him say it as He died on the cross.  

As we near year's end, I search for truth about myself to carry over into 2019, and the word that comes to mind is "dependence".  Because there is no way I pay that debt on my own.  I depend completely, solely on Him to do it.  

Thank You, Jesus, for paying our debt and, in so doing, allowing us to look forward in anticipation, rather than in fear, to the day described in Revelation 20:11-15.

December 28

Revelation 19

 

Have you ever heard the line, "It's not what you know, but it's who you know?" I heard of a lady who carried that truth to the bitter end. This lady wanted to marry four different men in her lifetime. She said each one would help her with the four things she needed most. First, she wanted to marry a banker, second, a movie star, next a pastor, and finally, a funeral director. When asked why, she answered, "One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and four to go."

 

Everyone has a view about the future and how to prepare for it. The Apostle John teaches that the only person you need to know to get ahead is the King of Kings Jesus. And there is no getting ahead without him.

 

Over the past days, we have seen the final chapters of human history. They are incredibly dark and violent. This is what happens when a culture abandons God. During this period, a lot of bad things are going to happen to God's people. It would be easy to lose hope and despair. But then comes chapter 19, and we see the return of the King.

 

Make no mistake about it. This portrait of Jesus the King changes everything. At Christmas, we see Jesus as a helpless, vulnerable infant. Here we see him as the King, the Lion, the invincible conqueror. When we see Him as the one who will come in the role of our champion it gives us hope to persevere. So, no matter how dark the situation you find yourself in today, no matter how beat up you are by the circumstances of life, here is the Good News…   Jesus Wins!!!

 

 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, December 27

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018


"The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." (Psalm 146:9)


The Scriptures consistently proclaim God's concern for those whom society might otherwise cast aside. We understand that God Himself takes interest in the "alien," the "fatherless," and the "widow." While these individuals might not command great riches or power, God desires that they flourish and receive an ample portion of the land's produce.

Both the Old and New Testaments point to giving attitudes towards every person. In Deuteronomy 15:11, God instructed through Moses: "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land." And in 24:14: "Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns." Many times, the Psalms declare God's ongoing provision for the needy -- or contain their heartfelt cries.

In Acts 4:32-35, Luke describes the early Church's shared ministry and community life: "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need."

While this collective attitude brought unity and provision for the needy, the early Church community didn't diminish or extinguish individual commitments or responsibility. As a side note, this godly concern for others and the charity that flows from that differs notably from enforced collectivism. Christian community flourishes due to love-prompted giving.

What needs do you see? How is God calling you to meet them? What resources could bring healing or freedom for 2019?


Lord God, thank You for your ongoing concern for the poor and needy. Help us to stand in the gap for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow. Provide opportunities for practical giving. Expand our compassion over the next year. Prepare us so that we may readily and abundantly glorify You in this area of our lives in 2019. In Jesus's Name, amen.


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December 26

Revelation 17, Psalm 145

In chapter 12 we met satan, today we meet "the great prostitute".  In the reading this represents the early Roman empire and the many gods that are worshiped at the time, but we can't just look at the Bible and only see literally. I am certainly no scholar, but it is pretty clear to see there is a darkness that seems to be growing around us, and perhaps when we look at today's reading, we might be able to see the suggestion that "the great prostitute" represents the world system around us which uses immoral means to gain its own pleasure and lure us into a false sense of prosperity and advantage.  So, since it's the day after our Saviour's birth, and we now know how the story really ends, let's lift our hearts up to the Lord.  As we read through Psalm 145, David praises God and we find hope and encouragement knowing that a time will come when all people will join together in recognizing and worshiping God. I found myself focusing on the Psalm this morning and there was great comfort in David's words.  God's Kingdom is everlasting and the Lord is faithful to all his promises.  He is loving toward all He has made. The Lord is near to all who call on Him, He hears us, and He watches over us.  To say "thank you" doesn't even scratch the service of gratitude we have for Jesus.  So let's lift our voices together with David and exalt our God, let's praise His name forever.

Randi

Blog post Moday Decemember 24th

A Prayer For A Sincere Heart   (Zechariah 7:5-6)

" 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted?  And when you were eating and drinking were you not just feasting for yourselves?' "

Lord as I prepare to celebrate Christmas tomorrow with my last minute to do list, dinner plans being set, and gifts ready to go under the tree I was struck by your words in Zechariah.  Lord where is my heart this Christmas?  Am I eager for Christmas because it is truly a time to celebrate you and to get excited about who you are and the gift - the salvation - your birth represented on that first Christmas night?  Lord it is easy to say with my mouth that Christmas is about you and to deceive myself into thinking that the dinner plans and gifts are all done with you in mind but I need you to reveal to my heart and to the heart of each of us if we are merely speaking words or if we are filling our hearts with you, your joy and the excitement and wonder that should come from reflecting upon the true reason for the celebration of Christmas.  It is Christmas eve and it is not to late for you to convict our hearts of anything that we have put before you as we head into tomorrow.  Prepare our hearts to see you in Christmas, to experience you in Christmas, to delight in you on Christmas.  I don't think the dinners with family and friends or the gifts given are a bad thing but may we not let them cause us to loose sight of why we are celebrating, may they not cause us to loose our focus on you Lord - the true reason we celebrate.  I want my heart to be filled with wonder and delight of who you are and to truly celebrate the greatest gift ever given, which was you.  Thank you Lord for your sacrifice when you left heaven to come to a wooden manger in Bethlehem, to grow up in the home of a carpenter, to travel as a man without a home to call your own so that you could teach us and eventually to be nailed to a wooden cross for me so that you could die and rise again and bring me hope, bring me back to the place you created me to be - by your side.  I do love you Lord and I thank you so very much for the precious gift of your life for me.  May my heart be filled with an awe and gratitude this Christmas unlike any I have every felt and may this years celebration truly be all about you.  Merry Christmas!!!

Amen

December 22: Of the Seeming Impossibility of Change

Zechariah 2:1-3:10

Revelationi 13:1-13:18

Psalm 141:1-10

Proverbs 30:18-20

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

     keep watch over the door of my lips

Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil

     so that I take part in wicked deeds

Along with those who are evildoers;

     do not let me eat their delicacies.

Anyone else as frustrated with repetitive sin as I am?  You do something, you realize it is a habitual sin; you resolve never to do it again, and at the very next opportunity, you find yourself right back where you started.   And so you ponder the seeming impossibility of change, you think "this is hopeless".  The psalm partially explains why it is so difficult when it describes the actions of evildoers as "delicacies".  

The psalmist knows an encouraging lesson I have yet to properly take to heart: that I need God to change, and that I can call on Him.  I don't have to try to do it myself, I shouldn't try to do it all by myself, because I can't do it myself, and He is happy to hear and answer my plea.

Father, I confess I am a sinful, slow learner.  Teach me to turn to You, to be transformed in ways according to Your will, in ways I cannot do for myself.  

December 21

December 21, 2018

Revelation 12

And they have defeated him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb

   and by their testimony.   Revelation 12:11

In a few days family and friends will be gathering together to celebrate Christmas. This means that there is a great potential to have a spiritual impact on their lives. We will be spending time with people who have a negative view of Christians. A Gallup poll found that 45% of Americans have a mostly or very unfavorable view of our faith. So how do we navigate around this negativity? I offer three suggestions:

1. Live the "wonder" of Christmas. Have your own heart so thrilled with Jesus that no one can steal that joy from you. Put on a "GRACE" face and share out of the abundance of God's grace and mercy shown to you. The goal is to live our testimony.

2. Ask questions rather than make statements. Become Lieutenant Columbo, a brilliant TV detective who used questions to catch the bad guys. The key is for us to go on the offensive in an inoffensive way by using carefully selected questions to productively advance the conversation. Simply put, never make a statement when a question will do the job.

Here are a few great questions:

    "How did you come to that conclusion?"

    "Can you unpack what you mean… I just can't grasp it."

    "Help me to understand why you believe what you believe."

3. Pray and rely on the Holy Spirit in everything. Without the work of the Holy Spirit, we will never touch or influence a person's heart. I have never argued a person into the kingdom of God. If you find yourself in an argument, you have already lost the battle. So pray for God's preparation of their hearts. Without God's work, nothing else works, but with God's work, many things work. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, love persuades.

Merry Christmas to you and may God use your testimony to make this a Christmas filled with "WONDER."

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, December 20

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

2 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house.'"

3 Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the Lord. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house."

This passage above (Haggai 1:2-9) provides an excellent synopsis of some moments in our relationship with God.  It challenges us to remember to exalt Him above all things and to prioritize serving and honoring Him instead of enriching ourselves.

Coming out of Egypt, Moses and Aaron presided over a movable Tabernacle, and the people saw God's majestic and awesome presence in a direct and clear way.  Later, the Ark of the Covenant traveled in the land, marking the seat of God's presence.  In his zeal for the Lord, David sought the opportunity to build God's temple, a permanent place of worship, but he learned from Nathan that his son Solomon would take that responsibility.

After the Exile, the temple needed rebuilding.  Encouragingly, the people hear this prophecy above and then respond:  "So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month."

While we cannot fathom all of God's ways, the testimony of Scripture and the saints shows that, without fail, putting God first in all things is the wisest commitment anyone can make.  There will be bumps in the road, but the road belongs to God.  As Peter counsels, we may cast our anxieties on Him, for He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)  God's faithfulness guarantees that we will never be forsaken or abandoned. (Hebrews 13:5)

More important than His provision, we also experience His presence.  Once constructed, the house of the Lord would represent the people's best opportunity to find true satisfaction:  interacting with their loving Father.  We can set up elaborate worldly means of finding satisfaction, but nothing compares to the greatness of knowing God.  He has formed us for relationship—with Him and with others.  Putting God first makes all these relationships more fruitful.

Lord God, thank You for Your presence.  We seek to honor You in our day by putting You first in our lives.  Help us to identify those areas into which we have failed to invite You.  Strengthen us to live this commitment daily into 2019.  Deepen our satisfaction in You and our longing for You above the short-lived pleasures of this world.  We love You and invite Your presence into every aspect of today.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

"Knowing You, Jesus":  https://youtu.be/pTTlSx6zXio

Bible blog Monday December 17th

A Prayer Of Thanks To The God Who's Love Endures Forever  (Nahum 1:2,3,7  Psalm 136  Proverbs 30:8)

"Give thanks to the God of heaven,

                His love endures forever." Ps. 136:26

Lord thank you for being a God who is good and a refuge in times of trouble so that we always have a place in you to turn to and the comfort in knowing that you will care for us when we choose to trust in you.  Thank you for being slow to anger and at the same time great in power knowing that you patiently guide and teach and nothing in our lives is beyond your ability.  Thank you for being a jealous God who avenges so that we know every injustice suffered will not go unnoticed or unpunished.  I thank you that you are a God who hears and listens to our prayers so that when we do pour out our hearts to you we know it does not fall on deaf ears but on the one who has mercy, grace, and power to help in our time of need.  Thank you for being a God who does not sit by and merely observe our folly and fortune but who does wonders and makes His greatness known so that we may have hope and encouragement.  Thank you for being the maker of the heavens and earth and all that is in it and being our provider which gives us the knowledge that we can trust in you each day for our daily bread, our daily needs.  Thank you for remembering us over 2,000 years ago in our low estate and leaving your throne in heaven to come into our world as a savior to free us from our enemy so that he may no longer have victory over us. 

Lord as we are one week away from celebrating your love for us by coming to earth as a child for our freedom and salvation, I ask that you guard our hearts and minds.  Please guard us from all things that prevent us from not just having grateful hearts but from living our daily lives with gratitude for who you are and what you have done.  It is so easy to get caught up in the worldly things of the "season" that truly mean nothing compared to the knowledge and satisfaction that is found in drawing near to you and resting in your goodness, power, and grace.  Help us Lord to make you the center of our days, the center of our lives in all we do, the center of this Christmas season by spending time with you and spending time giving thanks to our Father, savior, and friend who's love for us never fails and who's loves for us endures through all of life triumphs and tragedies.  Thank you for loving us, thank you for loving me, and giving the gift you gave us that allows us to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas - YOU!

AMEN

December 15: Of Falling and Rising

Micah 5:1-7:20

Revelation 7:1-17

Psalm 135:1-21

Proverbs 30:5-6

Micah 7:7-9

7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,

I wait for God my Savior;

my God will hear me.

8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!

Though I have fallen, I will rise.

Though I sit in darkness,

the LORD will be my light.

9 Because I have sinned against him,

I will bear the LORD's wrath,

until he pleads my case

and upholds my cause.

He will bring me out into the light;

I will see his righteousness."

I am going to cheat a bit, and take from Sunday's reading when I am supposed to be blogging about Saturday's.  I've seen so much sadness in the last 3 weeks.  First, a friend from high school, my age, cancer; she left behind an orphan son, because her husband had passed away three years earlier.  Then the mother of a college classmate; shortly thereafter the father of a high school classmate.  And just this past week a dear friend, with whose family we'd celebrated Thanksgiving these last few years.

It is difficult to grasp purpose behind such sadness, even more so when one worries about those who have passed on.  A passage from Sunday's reading in Micah is very reassuring; and I do not pretend to any great theological expertise, I believe this: our Lord's love and the price He paid for us is greater than every sin we will have committed through to the end of our lives.  Which is why though "I have sinned against Him", He "will bring me out into the light; and I will see His righteousness."

Lord, when You look at us at the end of our lives, do not just see the stain of our lifelong sinfulness; remember Your great love, and the price You paid, to pay the price we could not afford.  We pray for those who have gone before us, that they might receive Your love and mercy, and be with You in heaven, where we hope to join them one day.

Dec 14

December 14, 2018

Jonah 4

Today is the sixth-year remembrance of the Newtown shootings. That year, as we gathered for our Christmas party, our hearts were heavy because of the 20 children and 8 adults who had lost their lives; Newtown is just 27 miles from our church. When we lose a child, it creates in us a sorrow that is, at times, unbearable.

The prophet Jonah had lost this compassion and so he was chastised by the Lord.

Jonah 4:10-11  But the LORD said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.  But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Jonah was concerned about his comfort but not about the eternal souls of 120,000 young children (they can't tell left from right yet.)  Jonah was suffering from a bad case of values myopicness. The very center of ministry should be to reach children for Jesus. There are 74 million kids under the age of 18 in the USA. They are 23% of the U.S .population.

Barna Research points out that right now just 4% of 13 year-olds consider themselves followers of Jesus. The probability of reaching a child for Jesus between the ages of:

            5 to 12 is 32%,

        13 to 18 is 4%, and

            19 and older is 6%.

In other words, if people do not embrace Jesus Christ as Savior before they reach their teenage years, the chance of their doing so at all is slim. By age 13 one's spiritual identity is largely set in place.

As we contemplate the future of Grace Church, wanting to have the greatest possible impact, we should focus on passing the baton of faith on to the next generation. Training parents, building strong families, and reaching children is the very center of the mission.

I am so grateful for all of our children and youth workers. Thank you for investing your lives in this baton passing.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, December 13

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018

"Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

"'You are worthy, our Lord and God,

    to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

    and by your will they were created

    and have their being'" (Revelations 4:9-11)

Upon reading Revelation, we may find some of the language and images to be foreign and fantastical.  How may we understand something that we have never seen with our eyes or experienced in real life?  Yet, through John's vision and his reporting, we are transported into God's throne room and to the company assembled there.  And we find worship.

From Revelation, we may take away some crucial nuggets on the nature of eternity, its Kingdom, and its King.  Importantly, we find Jesus being exalted and worshipped for His sacrificial love.  We find a righteous Father governing over the world and planned a course towards history's resolution.  Both humans and angelic creatures stand worshipping before the throne, bringing glory to their King and the Lamb, Jesus Chris.

Their songs of worship have long guided our songs of worship.  The heavenly assembled worship God for His character and His love.  They underscore God the Father and God the Son's worthiness to receive "glory and honor and power."  Just in today's short passage, we find worship of God's holiness, eternal nature, His creative power, and His sustaining love.

As we head into worship, both individually and corporately, we may also reflect on God's awesome character.  What part of God's nature has struck you today as worthy of worship?  Which of His Names comes to mind?

Today, I give thanks to the "Wonderful Counselor."  He gives wisdom to all who ask, without reservation.  He guides us in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.  The Son has sent the Spirit to strengthen and empower us in our walk with God.  The Spirit illuminates the Scriptures and convicts us of our sin.  He holds the future in the palms of His hand, and He cares for His children and their present and eternal wellbeing.  God, You are worthy of praise, honor, and glory for Your wonderful counsel!

Lord God, thank You for giving us this picture of heaven through Revelation.  Give us understanding through Your Word and our reflection on it.  Point out how we may better worship You in our day.  Give us the strength and resolve to choose time with You; meet with us during this time.  We love You and worship You today, recognizing You are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

"Worthy Is the Lamb (Halleluia)":  https://youtu.be/UWndDW_271g

Dec. 12

Psalm 131

In this Psalm David takes the topic of pride and touches on the principle later explained in the NT of God giving grace to those who are humble and resisting those who are prideful.  It is suggested that David wrote this Psalm either on one of the occasions when he was being hunted down by Saul, or as a response to Michal after he danced inappropriately in the streets. Either way, we read about denial of selfish ambition and arrogance and quieting our souls before God. On our women's retreat, we spent a whole weekend being still and quieting our souls before God. David compares this longing to be filled with God's love to a weaned child who would embrace their mother out of a deep desire for closeness because the separation creates anxiety, worry, and lack of comfort.  As I do the readings of the Advent verses, I find myself reminded of the reason God sent His Son, because He so loved the world.  The desire to love was put in us by the God who created us, and Jesus was sent to fill that space.  In the busyness of all that is around us, I pray we take some time in silence, quiet our souls, and embrace the birth of our Savior.

Randi

Bible Blog: December 11

December 11

Amos4: 1-6:14

Revelation 2:18-3:6

Psalm 130:1-8

Proverbs 29:21-22

In Revelation, the believers in Thyatira were commended for growing in the works off good deeds. We as followers of Christ should not feel satisfied when our church only rejoices in the salvation of its members or in the comfort of gathering for worship but we should also  grow in love, faith and acts of service. Because the times are critical, we must spend our days wisely and faithfully. In revelation 2:20 we see a women who john may have used the name jezabel to symbolize her kind of evil she was promoting, sexual immorality. Sex outside of marriage always hurts some and it shows God that you prefer to satisfy your own desires instead according to  Gods word. Sexual immorality has tremendous power to destroy our families, churches and communities as it destroys the integrity on which these relationships are built. This is why we must have no part in sexual immorality, even if our culture accepts it.

We cannot hide from Christ he knows what is in our hearts, minds and he still loves us. The sins we try to hide from God need to be confessed to him.Christ says that those who overcome (those who remain faithful until the end and continue to please God) will rule over Christ enemies and reign with him.

Christ is the morning star and when the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and brining his promised reward. In the Church of Sardis we see the church was told to wake up as their wealth and comfort had lulled them to sleep, their self- satisfaction caused them to die spiritually, they were no longer growing in their faith or evangelism. They lacked compassionate service to others. This makes us think, Are we watchful and alert of what others around us are going through? Are we heading into a slumber?, let us be spiritually awake. If God has given us a place of responsibility to teach, lead or serve, use that position to encourage those around us to be morally prepared and spiritually awake.

So in the depths of despair, despair makes us feel isolated and distant from God this is a time when we need God  the most. Despair over sin should not lead to self pity, causing us to think more about ourselves than God. Instead we should lead to confession  and then to Gods mercy , forgiveness and redemption. When we feel overwhelmed  by a problem, feeling sorry for ourselves will only increase the feelings of hopelessness but crying out to God will turn our attention to the one and only who can really help. I have experience this the past two weeks as I have felt overwhelmed with School work, finals and work, I was constantly tired and I was running out of "gas" like in Pastor Scotts sermon on Sunday. This was until I called out to the one and only Yahweh and I felt relaxed and less stressed as I confessed my worries upon the Lord.

So  let us not build a wall of sin around us and talk openly with God, God doesn't keep a record of our sins he forgives and tears the wall down between ourselves and him. Let us realign ourselves with the word of God. When we pray, realize that God is holding nothing against you, his lines of communication are completely open.

Amen

 

December 8: Of God's Interventions

Hosea 10:1-14:9

Jude 1:1-25

Psalm 27:1-5

Proverbs 29:15-17

I write this having just been through the airports of Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in just the past 2 weeks.  More than US airports, these are crammed with luxury goods stores.  You can obtain (or aspire to obtain) so many things:  chocolates for a hundred dollars;  liquor for thousands of dollars; watches for tens of thousands.  The KL airport even had a raffle display - the grand prize: a brand new Aston Martin DB11, to help even those who, like me, are middle aged, fat and balding, to reach their inner James Bond. 

Experience tells us these things do not satisfy.  A person dependent on wealth, on possessions for his security and completion is never fulfilled.  There is always one more expensive drink to try, one more complicated watch to buy, one newer model of a fancy car to drive.  It would seem little different than the condition of a drug addict, constantly looking for that next hit, oblivious to the reality of his deteriorating condition.

Hosea references this in today's reading.  "Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself.  As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones."  Israel was addicted to prosperity, and as he obtained it, his focus shifted, from the Lord, to prosperity.  Today's reading goes on to say "The Lord will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones."  It goes on to tell of the suffering in store for the people as a result of their choices and actions.  

There are many today who would condemn God for allowing Israel to suffer the consequences of her choices.  But, in today's parlance, God is conducting an "intervention", which in this context Merriam Webster defines as "an occurrence in which a person with a problem (such as a drug addiction) is confronted by a group (as of friends or family members) whose purpose is to compel the person to acknowledge and deal with the problem".

Israel has a problem, perhaps one many of us share - I know I do.  I aspire to things apart from God.  God is showing His love for Israel in permitting her to bear the consequences of her choices; I pray He show me as much love so that, as the end of today's reading says, I might truly realize "The ways of the Lord are right", and that I might be among "the righteous [that] walk in them".

PS - when we stray, we often stray in the company of others.  And if we are to walk His paths, we cannot do it alone - we need the help of others.  This is why it is important for us to be a part of a group with similar aspirations.  In the NT reading Jude alludes to this - he warns us of associating with "ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ as our only Sovereign and Lord." 

Thursday, December 6

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018


"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." (2 John 4-6)


In his Gospel and his three letters, the apostle John highlights the relationship between love and obedience. His words above echo Jesus's teaching from John 14:21: "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

John ties together our relationship with God and longevity in the truth: our obedience and our love for one another. In loving others and obeying God, we come to know God more deeply and experience His presence more freely. We become more fully alive and more fully satisfied in God, bringing joy to our hearts and praise to our lips.

I particularly appreciated John's phrase, given by the Holy Spirit, that we should "walk in love." This love becomes evident through action, and the "walk" verb suggests a steadiness and ongoing disposition on that love. It suggests taking a righteous and safe path, leading to wisdom and freedom.

Where could you better follow God's commands? How could you love Him and others better?


Lord God, thank You for the truth You shared through the apostle John. Help us to live more faithfully according to this edifying teaching. Give us opportunities to love one another and to walk with You in love. Point out where we may better obey You and therefore demonstrate our love for You. In Jesus's Name, amen.


________________________________________________________________________
596 Glenbrook Road, Unit 13 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection
Stamford, CT 06906-1423 | and the life. He who believes in me will
(C) 203.820.1741 | live, even though he dies; and whoever
(H) 203.355.9374 | lives and believes in me will never die.
(E) swe@edwa.info | Do you believe this?'" -- John 11:25,26

Dec. 5

Hosea

I was reading this story and while I was intrigued by the details, I was also confused as to why God would tell Hosea to marry a prostitute.  As I dug into the story, I found a deeper meaning behind it.  Perhaps there is a parallel here that we need to consider.  Maybe the picture being drawn by Hosea and Gomer is an illustration of God's relationship to Israel at the time, and maybe even our relationship with God now.  At the time of the writing, the people of Israel were, once again, acting unfaithfully to God.  Perhaps God was trying to illustrate through this marriage that the nation had sunk into sin, turning her back on her "husband", even though He had always been faithful to her.  I also started to think about how Jesus refers to us as His bride (Isaiah 54:5), and even still, we all fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23).  We see again when Hosea buys Gomer out of slavery a mirror of the details of redemption. Jesus paid a price for our souls, but it wasn't the nails that held Him to the cross, it was love. I pray as we go through this Advent season we realign ourselves with our first love, Jesus. I pray that in the wonder of this season the spark reignites into a flame knowing that the King of the Universe loves us with an everlasting, unconditional love that calls us back to Him over and over again, and despite our behavior, He will always love us.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCunuL58odQ

Bible blog Monday December 3rd

A Prayer For Advent: Love In Action (1 John 3:11-19)

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

Lord as we enter this season of Advent we ask you to help us prepare our hearts, to ready them for the worship and celebration of your life and the impact that it is to have on our lives and the lives of others.  Help us today to reflect on the love that brought you from heaven to Earth to be born as a baby, the creator becoming creation for the blessing and benefit of all mankind.  The Old Testament is filled with words that tell us about your love but you knew from the beginning that words were not enough, that words alone were not the path to help us to know your love.  You took love to a place it needed to be, you took it to actions and showed the truth behind all the words that had been spoken before.  You left your throne in heaven, your place of honor and elevation in order to come to us in a humbled manger and to live among us, to experience us, to let us experience you, to teach us with both words and actions and eventually to stand in accusation, be beaten, die on a cross in our place and rise again to show us the hope of the cross and your love.  You did all of this because of your love for us, because of your desire to see us restored to a right relationship with you, a relationship you created for us to have from the beginning of time.  Lord may we live each day in a desire to imitate the love you showed and may we use our lives, our actions to show others that same kind of love.  Help us not to be so focused on ourselves, on our needs, on our struggles, on our lives.  May we not think ourselves better than others or our needs more important that we fail to love others by not being there for them and loving them as you would love them if you were walking the Earth today.  May we be your hands that help others in love, may we be your arms that hold and hug in comfort and support, may we be your feet that go to others in their need, may we be active in the lives of others showing them love because we were first loved by you.  Christmas can become a busy time where we talk about loving others, we talk about getting together with others, we talk about doing good but help us Lord to put time aside to not just think and speak word of love but to put those words into action as you did for us on that first Christmas night.  May we be prepared to give the gift of love by using our lives to bless others.

AMEN

December 1: Of Choices: Exacerbation or Redemption

Daniel 8:1-27

1 John 2:1-17

Psalm 120:1-7

Proverbs 28:25-26

"But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

"I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of HIS Name."

One of the hardest things for me to understand is the nature of God's forgiveness.  When I sin - and especially when my sin is a persistent one I'd promised not to commit again - my reaction is to hide from God, the way Adam and Eve did.  I know my sin makes me deserving of punishment; I think that were I in God's shoes, I would be angry.  So I conclude I am unworthy of Him, and then hide.  

At that point, I start to lie to myself.  I tell myself I can do two things impossible for me - make adequate atonement for my sin, and change myself so I sin no more.  I can't, of course - but in doing so, I make it impossible to obtain the very things I want - redemption and transformation - things which God so freely gives, for which I have but to ask.

John reminds us that while God's holiness demands punishment for human sin, God has sent his Son to make the atonement, and satisfy the Father's wrath in ways that we cannot.  And the Son makes atonement not just for the sins we first committed, but for all sins- even the ones that persist.  And so, when we sin, we are best served and satisfied not by running and hiding, not by trying to fix things ourselves, but by acknowledging our sinfulness, our helplessness, and receiving His salvation.  And by, first and foremost, trusting in His love.  

Father, it is so easy to feel frustration with our persistent sinfulness, and to cease to believe You would continue to love us.  When we are tempted to make our sin worse by running away, please open our eyes to Your love, and remind us of your unconditional and unlimited redemption.  

Thursday, November 29

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018

"Daniel answered, 'May the king live forever!  My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty." (Daniel 6:21,22)

In this sixth chapter of Daniel, we find him serving under his third king, now Darius the Mede.  At the end of Chapter 5, we understand that, according to the revelation God had given him, the Medes overtook the Babylonians immediately after the "writing on the wall."  Just prior to the Medes' raid, the Bablyonian king had elevated Daniel as a senior official, and it seems that he maintained a important role in the Medes' kingdom.

As with previous regimes, Daniel (like his friends) faces antagonism from other officials.  While we cannot pinpoint the source of this antagonism, it likely emerged from some jealousy towards Daniel rather than a true heart for justice or patriotism.  Politics and its associated power often bring forth corrupt behavior.

Despite the very present threats, Daniel maintains his resolve to seek and serve only the Lord God.  He demonstrates that corrupting our characters — and our witness — doesn't line up with the rightful place of God's sovereignty in our lives.  Daniel and his friends trusted God completely, and He carried them through.  In turn, their faithfulness fuels a widespread testimony of God's goodness through the Darius's kingdom-wide decree (Daniel 6:26,27). We then read that Daniel "prospered" during Darius's reign.

How may we follow Daniel's model in our lives today?  In what areas have you compromised to fit modern culture?  How could you reclaim these areas to be consistent with God's sovereignty over your life?

Lord God, thank You for showing us Daniel's tremendous example of faithfulness to Your Word.  Help us to rise above the corrupting influences of this world so that we may live fruitful lives devoted to You and Your Kingdom.  Change us from the inside out and bring to mind where we may be falling short.  Use us as light and salt in a culture that does not exalt You.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

Nov. 28

Proverbs 28:19-20

The Hebrew word for Proverbs is "meesh-lay".  A proverb is a saying, a story or a parable that is proven true over time through experience. They are timeless words of guidance and bring clarity to life situations.  With the exception of the choice of how many wives he had, King Solomon was indeed pretty a wise man as seen in his writings.  As we read throughout the book of Proverbs we see the contrast between two ways of living, one is the way of wisdom, and the other is the way of a fool.  We learned back in chapter 9 that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom", so as we read through these verses on finances (19-28), I am looking at my checkbook with different lenses, since it was a financial crisis that began my journey with God a little over 10 years ago.  I find myself praying asking God's forgiveness for not handling our past finances according to Kingdom principles. It is said ignorance bliss, but I haven't found that in a Proverb, so it can't be from God, nor is it an excuse. As I was praying the other day, I thanked God for making a way for us when we didn't have one, and I found myself asking God for a second chance, to bless our finances and open doors for us that no man would be able to close. Since God is a God of impossible situations, my husband's dream of having a small business again will only come to us if it is orchestrated by God's hand and used for His glory.  As I read today's Proverb it says that "A faithful man will have many blessings, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished."  God examines our heart and our motives when answering our prayers.  I realized that whether I'm tithing, saving a little, trying to plan, or praising and praying, God is looking at the motives of my heart. I don't know what everyone who is reading this is praying for, but I pray that God blesses the deepest desires of your hearts exceedingly and abundantly more than you've ever asked or imagined possible.

Randi

November 25: Of Exiles and Faith Muscles

Daniel 1:1-2:23

1 Peter 3:8-4:6

Psalm 119:65-80

Proverbs 28:14

Daniel is an exile.  Everything good he might have had, the life he might have enjoyed?  Gone.  Before him, uncertainty, fear - slavery perhaps?  Poverty, hunger, suffering?  Possible, perhaps even likely.  

Consider then how fortunate many must have thought him to have been picked by the king to be so abundantly provided for.  And all he had to do was go along...I mean, c'mon.  A guy's gotta eat, right?  Why refuse it when someone wants to feed you really well?

However, "Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine".  And he didn't just refuse the food discreetly...no, he asked the chief official - the guy handing out the food! - for special treatment.  If I were in his shoes, I would have been worried about being sent back to the uncertainty of the exile's life.  

We know how the story ends.  But I cannot help but focus on this point, before the official agreed, before Daniel found out he was going to wind up healthier than the others.  He must have been worried.  But he chose to act despite that worry - that was his faith.

I love this story, just as I love the story of Esther, when went into the king's presence unbidden, and the story of Abraham, when he was prepared to surrender his son and his future to God.  I am afraid of facing the situations that might develop such faith, but I pray for it nonetheless.

Father, be gentle with us - gentle but firm, so that we might face situations where our faith is exercised, and it grows stronger. 

November 24: Of Carbs and Fat

Ezekiel 47:1-48:35

1 Peter 2:11-3:7

Psalm 119:49-64

Proverbs 28:12-13

The furthest I was fortunate to run before it became apparent the damage I'd caused my knees would preclude any further distances was 15 miles.  I never got to run a marathon, and so I never experienced "the wall" - the point at which energy sags precipitously, where the body has to shift from running on stored carbohydrates to running on fat.  At the start of the race, it all seems so doable, so easy - until the wall.  The New York Marathon is particularly ruthless - the 20 mile point is at the Willis Avenue Bridge where, unlike most other areas of the race, the road is devoid of spectators, and for two miles one faces the wall alone.  The ability to transition from carbs to fats determines whether the runner fails, falters, or finishes triumphantly.  

Our Christian life is very similar.  We look to run the distance, and in the beginning it is pretty easy.  We run on our own strength the race we think we're doing fine.  Then things get difficult.  One way they do - God's instructions are no longer as seamlessly consistent with what the world teaches.  

• We learn we are to "submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority" - and we don't think the president deserves our obedience.  

• We hear that slaves should "in reverent fear of God submit" themselves to their masters - and not just to those "who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh".  Aren't we supposed to be rebelling against such treatment?  And against slavery overall?

• And we read that wives are supposed to "submit yourselves to your own husbands" - even if they "do not believe the word"!  Isn't it precisely when they are not Christian that wives should be instructing, correcting, rejecting their husbands if they don't learn?

That is the 20 mile wall.  The challenge then is, do we continue in our own strength and thinking?  Or do we switch, as if from carbs to fats, to God's Word as our source of strength and direction?  The choice determines how far we go, and how we go - whether we fail, or finish triumphantly.  

Father, when we hit that wall of intellectual rebellion against complete submission to Your will and word, give us the courage and the strength to switch from our ways to Yours, from our thoughts to Yours, that we might finish the race triumphantly.

Thursday, November 22

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018


"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade -- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9)


Happy Thanksgiving! The apostle Peter directed his letter, starting with this passage above, to scattered believers. He starts out by identifying them as those "Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood." These believers had become part of God's family through the love and interweaved work of the Triune God.

These believers found themselves struggling under persecution. Peter encourages them by emphasizing the security of their salvation ("shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation... ") and calling them to "rejoice." He indicated that God has intended their suffering "so that you faith -- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor." While their suffering hurts in the present, it will bring glory to God both in the present and into the future. By studying the "big picture," we may remain faithful even though temporary suffering.

How do we live joyfully in a challenging environment? From this passage and the teachings of Paul, we understand that joy comes not as a result of circumstances, but rather through our connection with God. When we focus on God's faithfulness and remember His love, we may experience joy even under trial. We also understand from Galatians 5:22,23 that the Spirit bears His fruit in our lives, including joy.

Should we settle for less than joy, we are denying God's power in our lives and losing out on a key opportunity to witness to God's goodness. Our joy serves as a "light" to a watching world: "A town on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) While this passage concentrates on "deeds," I would argue that attitude and demeanor also matter to a watching world. Given that hopelessness can emerge without God, we can point instead to the hopefulness of embracing God and experiencing His joy.

How may you express your joy today? How has God demonstrated His faithfulness to you? How may you give thanks today -- and in all circumstances?


Lord God, thank You for giving us great reason for joy. We thank You for the gift of salvation, which Christ won for us through His sacrifice on the Cross. Help us to experience the "inexpressible and glorious joy" that this passage discusses. Give us the courage to witness to others through the attitudes that emerge from a transformed heart and mind. Make us beacons of Your goodness today with our families and friends. In Jesus's Name, amen.


________________________________________________________________________
596 Glenbrook Road, Unit 13 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection
Stamford, CT 06906-1423 | and the life. He who believes in me will
(C) 203.820.1741 | live, even though he dies; and whoever
(H) 203.355.9374 | lives and believes in me will never die.
(E) swe@edwa.info | Do you believe this?'" -- John 11:25,26

Nov. 21

Psalm 119, James 5

In the Messianic Jewish Study Bible, the sub heading under Psalm 119 reads " Learn Torah Letter by Letter".  It almost sounds like the advertisement for the title of a book! Torah, The Law of the Jewish heritage is broken down into verses letter by letter, in an acrostic form, each letter (verse) describing very simply, ways to live a Godly life. How easy is that! God's word is referred to as true and wonderful. The Psalm in it's entirety talks about staying true to God's Word, no matter how bad the world around you becomes and that it's only by living a life in accordance with God's Word that we will find true happiness.  Then I went on to the reading in James.  Again, the book of James outlines how to live out the life of faith, despite what we see around us, and that it's through our faith in Yeshua that our life flows. James points out not to live on earth in luxury and self indulgence, we will be blessed by showing endurance, don't swear, and always pray.  Psalm 119 advises that we seek the Lord with all of heart, walk in His ways, and treasure God's Word in our hearts. It's so easy to connect the two readings and see that seeking God is the way to receiving His blessing and His blessings are worth more than anything this world has to offer. Scripture takes us far beyond what we see around us.  I pray that as we gather around our tables and spend time with family this Thanksgiving weekend we remember first to seek God, thank Him, and count our blessings.

Randi

Cubits?

I must confess, as I read today's passages, especially Ezekiel, I found myself skimming through wondering why this crazy level of detail was necessary when describing Ezekiel's temple. As I read, I told myself I would not be writing a blog post about this drawn-out description because how can it be of any relevance to people?

However, as I went back to read for a second time, my mind changed. I thought more about why this level of detail was mentioned when describing the temple. It became more of an artistic expression to me. I saw the word cubit so many times that I looked up what a cubit was (approximately 1.5ft). This helped me to visualize the size of the temple and all of its parts as I re-read. The walls to the "Most Holy Place" were seven cubits thick, which is about 10.5ft. Those are some thick walls! I found myself wondering what purpose or symbolism might be behind them. It had a raised base all around it - symbolic of a firm foundation. Windows were covered by wood, rooms widened as you went upward, there was dressed stone, carved cherubim and palm trees. Such creative and artistic imagery. Palm trees were used when Jesus entered Jerusalem, but they also represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh.

Some propose that the temple's beauty is expressed in geometry rather than the typical material signs. There is definitely something to be said about the detail that is given. Measurements in this passage were repeated over and over again, meaning there must be some importance to them. This was a new way of looking at the passage for me. There are many aspects of this description which I initially glanced over, but upon doing a little research I was able to appreciate more so the grand picture.

While James, Psalms, and Proverbs had some more tangible takeaways, I found myself enjoying the artistic expression of this temple description and letting my imagination run with it. I encourage you to do the same.