March 31: Of someone else’s sandals, and Someone Else’s plans

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20

Luke 9:7-27

Psalm 72:1-20

Proverbs 12:8-9

Let's put ourselves in others' shoes.  Or sandals, as would be the case.

Let's put ourselves in the sandals of the five thousand, who'd come to see Jesus, hear Him speak, watch Him heal.  The day's been long, they have nothing to eat.  At some point, perhaps, doubt sets in - "what am I doing here?  I'm hungry…how far do I have to go to get a bite to eat - and is there going to be enough?"

Let's put ourselves in the apostles' position.  They knew the five thousand were hungry.  They knew they had no food to feed them.  At some point, perhaps, doubt set in as well - what are we to do with these people?  If the Master's miracles,  might they expect to be fed as well?  And as we have nothing to feed them, what might they do?

The five thousand and the disciples, they had a plan A - to send everyone to nearby towns to find food. But they didn't really need to do any work - Jesus was going to do it for them.  Jesus had a Plan Be - Be Still and Know that I am God.  Praise God.  

Tonight, as darkness falls on Black Saturday, let's put ourselves in the fearful hearts, the terrified minds, the guilty consciences of all those who followed Jesus, whom they expected would liberate Israel from the Romans, who saw the torture He endured, who witnessed the death He suffered, who were too scared to stand up in His defense, who thrice denied Him after they'd been warned.  At this point, confusion and doubt, anger and recrimination, sadness and hopelessness reign.   What else is there for them to do?

Jesus's followers, they all had a plan A - to follow Jesus to victory against the Romans, to freedom for Israel.  Now they feared recrimination; they feared they might have to fight.  But they didn't, really - Jesus was going to do all the work.  Jesus had a Plan Be - Be Still and Know that I am God.  Praise God. 

Today, it's easy to be still on Black Saturday.  We remember what He told us - "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."  We know Easter is coming, the tomb will open and we will find it empty.  

But Black Saturday shows itself in many ways.   This week it was my intention to go to work, to do as much of what needed to be done as possible.  And on Sunday, I pulled a muscle in my back, pain so bad I had to crawl to stand.  I was angry, and I feared for deadlines and targets missed.  But I couldn't move.  What else was there for me to do?

I pray I learn the lesson.  I had a plan A.  But Jesus - well He has a Plan Be.  And it would be good for me to choose His plans over mine every time.  

Thank You, God, that in the midst of the darkness of Black Saturday and the frustration we may encounter in our daily livers, when things don't turn out the way we planned, we can fall back on your Plan Be.  We can rest in the knowledge that You are in control. 

March 30

Good Friday

The story I am about to tell you is perhaps the most frequently used story in all of preaching. It has all the ingredients of a great sermon illustration: suspense, drama and emotion. The only problem is that it isn't accurate. Maybe you've heard it.  It's the story of an engineer who operated a draw-bridge across a mighty river. With a control panel of levers and switches, he set into motion a monstrous set of gears that either lifted the bridge for the river traffic or closed it for the oncoming train.

One day the engineer took his young son to work with him. The fascinated boy hurled question after question at his dad. It was not until the span had opened to allow the passage of a ship that the father noticed the questions had ceased and his son had left the room. His pulse quickened. He looked outside. There was nothing below except the cold, gray concrete pier, disappearing into the river, churned white by the passing boat. Then he looked out and spied his son playing in the machinery; he was inspecting it like a government official and passing his chubby little hands, smeared with grease, over the armatures and shafts. The engineer was just about to go out and get the boy so he could swing the span shut, when a flashing light brought to his attention the approach of a passenger train.

There was not time to retrieve his son. The span must be closed. His heart leaped when he realized that his son would be crushed in the gears of that herculean machinery. A horrible dilemma mandated a horrible decision. Either his son would be killed or a trainload of hundreds of innocent passengers would be killed. With firm purpose, he reached for the closing lever.

A powerful story, isn't it? It's often used to describe the sacrifice of Jesus on Good Friday, and it is not without its parallels. It's true that God could not save man without killing his son. The heart of God the Father did twist in grief as he slammed the gears of death down on his Son.  And sad but true, the innocent have whizzed by the scene of the crime, oblivious to the sacrifice that has just saved them from certain death.

But there is one inference in the story that's woefully in need of correction. Let me quote the prophet Isaiah. See if you can find the revealing phrase.

"He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, thought he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer."   Isaiah 53:9-10

Did you see it? "It was the Lord's Will to crush him and cause him to suffer."

The cross was no accident. Jesus' death was not the result of a panicking, cosmological engineer. The cross wasn't a tragic surprise. The death of Jesus was anything but an unexpected peril. No, it was part of the original blueprint, written into the script, part of the plan from the beginning of time. The cross was the only way to rescue humankind from the deadly and eternal consequences of sin. That is why on this Good Friday we will give God our highest praise, our best worship and our utmost devotion.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 29

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known."

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:26-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Throughout Deuteronomy, Moses impresses upon the Israelite community that God will faithfully carry the people into His promise if they will remain faithful to Him.  He often reiterates the corporate and individual nature of this responsibility.  Many times, Moses points to the family relationship as ideal for passing along this truth, that parents may weave godly teaching into the daily rhythm of life.

On the flip side, God had shown Moses the very real threat of failing to prioritize the relationship with God.  While human frailty leads to this outcome, Moses warned about the negative influence of the surrounding nations on the Israelites.  By interacting with their God's, the Israelites would be prone to turning away from the one true God.

These teachings apply to our lives as well.  As Pastor Scott explained down in Texas, the Christian life involves remembering and growing in the basics — falling more in love with God and caring for His people.  May we take great care to live out Deuteronomy's principles today.

Lord God, thank You for rescuing us from our sin. Give us a hunger and thirst for Your righteousness so that we may be filled.  Prepare us to honor You this day.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

March 28

Deuteronomy 9

God tells the people of Israel that they are going to cross the Jordan.  The nation is bigger than the Israelites, the people are strong and tall and no one can stand up against those Anakites! Forget about it!  Why are they going?  Because the Lord told them they will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as He had promised. (v.3).  There are days when going into public school is like entering a foreign nation where the people are bigger, taller, and stronger than I am.  The laws that govern the day are so opposite of what I believe and Who I belong to that being being a stranger in a foreign land takes on a whole new meaning even though I am less than a mile away from my house.  So every day when I get up and face the battle, I have to remember that God has promised to fight my battles.  But what do I need to do? I start my day in prayer and in the Word so that I can be rooted in the truth. His truth will never change.  I need to be still and let Him be God.  We all struggle and we all have fears of what is "bigger and taller" than us. Maybe we all feel like strangers sometimes.  But as I reread the Old Testament and how God continually filled His promises to Israel despite their being "stiff-necked people indeed" (v.13), I find strength and trust that God is Who He says He is and will do what He has promised.  So I pray today that as we get ready to battle and to get through the day, we trust that the same God who delivered the Israelites will deliver us as well.

Randi

March 27

March 27, 2018

Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20
Luke 7:36-8:3
Psalms 69:1-8
Proverbs 12:1

A Prayer in Response to Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20

Hold on to His Word for all you're worth — because His Word is what proves God is trustworthy. And when you know God is trustworthy — you know today is worthy of joy & hope. 
- Ann Voskamp

God, your word is a rescue and a refuge for us. Thank you for telling us what is true about You and what is true about us. We want Your word to inform our thoughts, words and choices today. 

You tell us in Deuteronomy that we are a people holy to the Lord our God, chosen to be your people, your treasured possession. You have set your affection on us not because of our qualifications, but because of Your love and faithfulness.

We praise You for reminding us today that You are a great and awesome God and nothing is too difficult for You. You redeem us with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. You are faithful and keep your covenant of love to a thousand generations. We praise You that You are God our Sustainer. You led your people all the way through the wilderness, you fed them with manna and they learned that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

When we are mired in discouragement, frustration or distractions today, would You remind us that we have seen your faithfulness before and we will see it again. Would you give us eyes to see the manna of your faithful provision in our lives today? Would you give us ears to hear Your words of life spoken over us? We love you, Lord. Amen.

Blog Post Monday March 26th

A Prayer To Experience and Display The Whole Hearted, Full Devoted And Strength Giving Love Of God (Deut. 6:5 & Psalm 68:35)

 

Lord I desire to be obedient to your command which tells me to love you with my whole heart, my full soul, and every bit of my strength.  This is something I want to do, not out of a sense of obligation but because I recognize that it is how you have shown your love for me.  This week I will spend time reflecting upon your death and resurrection as Good Friday and Easter approach.  The cross was a display of your love, a love that was poured out for me with all your heart, soul and strength.  You held nothing back, you sacrificed everything, and I am moved and my life blessed beyond words.  Help me Lord to remember and experience your love for me today so that it will guide me, it will keep my heart from wandering and will anchor my life, my love and my devotion to the only one who is truly worthy.  I want to experience a love for you Lord that fills my heart to overflowing, that consumes my soul, and is expressed in every thought and action that my strength can give aide to.  There will undoubtedly be things in my day that will try and throw my focus off, turn my heart aside, burden my soul, and cause me to lose strength.  It is at these moments when I will need to experience your whole hearted love for me as a reminder and encouragement to not loose heart and to remember that I have your power to aide my strength when I am weary.   Thank you, Lord, that your commands are not just words but that you have lived them out for us as an example to follow and find comfort in.  Fill my heart, encourage my soul, and give me strength to live a life of love for you today.

 

AMEN

March 25, 2018

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say" Luke 6:46

 

A while back I was talking to my mom in Romania and I was telling her how scared and nervous I was about an upcoming event. She listened to me day after day, trying to encourage me. After a while, probably tired of my pessimism, she asked me what the point was, of doing a Bible study every week, if I had such a hard time believing. "Don't they teach you about having faith and not dwelling in fear?" She is not a newborn Christian and her question really took me by surprise. It cured my pessimism and complaining.  

I hear the Lord asking the same kind of question here. What is the point in getting theologically smart if we can't put his words into practice? Easier said than done. It's easy when things go well, according to the plan. It's hard when unexpected happens, when expectations are not met, when people misbehave or mistreat us.

These are few things that help me focus on Jesus, practice faith, when all I want is to throw a pity party:

-          Remember that faith is not about seeing and touching but about hoping with confidence. It's about holding on to hope before a situation unfolds, before we can see that something is working. Faith precedes the miracle. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1.

-          Remember that my inability to control, doesn't mean that God is unable as well. God is in perfect control of everything and everyone. It means that I can relax in chaos, in the unexpected, in the unknown. He is in perfect control of me and everything else, to the point that: "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. "Luke 12:7

-          There is no place in this world, that is out of God's influence. He is omnipresent. He is present in the darkest and in the brightest. There are no closed doors for him. "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there" Psalm 139:7,8. Wherever I am, and whatever I am dealing with, I am completely covered, and He is completely in charge of me.

-          Bad things happen to good people. My human nature wants a care free, pain free, blissful experience on this earth. After all, we are the sons and daughter of the King. It's easy to fall into blaming and despair with that belief. We are warned: "do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12 "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Nowhere he promises us a worry-free life, but he does promises us victory and assistance. "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. "1 Cor 10:13

Lord please help us to believe in you, in word and in action, help us to build our lives on solid rock and not on slippery grounds.

March 24: Of Perfect Teams and Prayer

Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29

Luke 6:12-38

Psalm 67:1-7

Proverbs 11:27

"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying with God.  When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles: …and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." - Lk 6:12-13, 16

When I began my career, a management trainee at a global firm, the country GM called me into his office to welcome me.  "Jon," he said, in his loud, midwestern voice so unique in 1987 Manila, "there are only two jobs at this firm, and you and I have both of them."  

I didn't understand where he was going, so he continued.  "They are building the business, and building the people.  Your job is 99% building the business; my job is the reverse."

That has stuck with me these 31 years of my career.  In building any organization, building the team is the most important job.  

So today's reading has some seriously practical implications.  Consider this: before our Lord built His team, He went to a mountainside.  To pray.  All.  Night.  And then He chose the 12.  

Let's let that sink in a moment.  He already knew the apostles - they were among the many disciples following Him at that point.  What might He have prayed?  For guidance in the selection process?  That those chosen might be strong enough for the task ahead of them?  That they might be the right people for the job?  Whatever it is, He prayed all night.  And His prayers were answered - He got the best people for the job.  

"Now hold on a minute," you might say. "He chose Judas.  Who betrayed Him.  Leading to an excruciating death.  How can you say he got the best people?"  My response to that is, if Judas hadn't sinned as grievously as he did, our Lord would not have known Calvary, Golgotha nor the open tomb.   So Jesus did choose well.

I'm currently interviewing candidates to replace an employee who left.  This made me think.  I've spent a lot of time reading resumes and speaking with the candidates.  I haven't spent as much time in prayer - certainly nowhere near a whole night.  I should probably change my approach.

March 23

March 23

Psalm 66:16-17

Come and listen, all you who fear God,

Let me tell you what he has done for me

I cried out to him with my mouth

His praise was on my tongue

When we see God working in miraculous ways, we have the duty of telling the world through our words and  praise. Israel had seen a lot of incredible God sightings and they were charged with recounting these mighty acts of deliverance.

This week 12 of us made the trip to Texas to serve the greater kingdom through helping people rebuild their homes after the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. The devastation down here is significant and widespread. Our teams were admonished by our team leader, Jackie Passer, to first of all, rebuild the lives of these people and then to rebuild their homes. So many of us had deep spiritual conversations with these dear people who lost everything. All of the houses we worked on did not have any insurance. So without our assistance they would be homeless. Hearing the stories of these homeowners made this trip totally worthwhile.

One of our early needs was to supply a cook for 45 people. God placed two professional cooks on our team with Lin and Nico. Lin didn't even realize she was a professional until this week. Both of them provided outstanding menus.

Team unity is always a concern on missions trips. You couldn't have put together a better team than the 12 who came from Grace. The other churches we partnered with were also team players and we blended together very well.

God was also working even in the difficult situations. I had an accident on Tuesday in which I fractured two of my ribs. At first the doctor was concerned there was damage to my vital organs but God was gracious and it was just a break.  God provided a bed for me that evening so I got a good night of rest. The team was so gracious and supportive during this time. I also felt your prayers so many miles away.

In the end we always ask the question, who benefits more from these mission trips, the givers or the receivers?  I don't think there is any question that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Thank you for being a giver too, giving us all of your prayers and support.

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 22

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax book   'Follow me,' Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:27,28)

On several occasions, Jesus calls for the early disciples to follow Him.  We find Andrew, Simon Peter, James, John, and Matthew (Levi) quite eager to drop everything to follow Him.  Why would they take that course unless they sensed the divinity and uniqueness of Christ right before them?

As Jesus calls His disciples, He does not sugar-coat the path ahead.  He explains that discipleship carries heavy costs in terms of potential disruptions to human relationships and sacrifices of our plans, property, and lives.  Yet, we also understand that discipleship brings us in union with God's plans and purposes for our lives, yielding peace and joy.

How about us?  We often hesitate in following Jesus because the pull of the world is quite strong.  We might be richly blessed in this life, so much so that our hunger for God's plans grows dim.  Or, we may seek comfort in other idols outside of God, leading us astray.  Whatever the case, the call of Christ remains the same:  "Follow Me."

We will do well individually and corporately to follow Him wholeheartedly.  As we look ahead to Easter, we see the Cross before us and the Emoty Tomb.  We know that Jesus has made it possible for us to follow Him by freeing us from the power of sin and death.  He has brought victory over darkness through the Resurrection.  May the power of the Resurrection be fully activated in us as we willingly follow Him.

Lord Jesus, thank You for making clear the path of discipleship.  Thank You for calling us to what will bring us freedom, joy, and peace.  Strengthen our faith so that we may become more effective and fruitful in following You.  We trust You today and look forward to seeing how You will move in our lives over the coming 10 days.  May You be glorified in us.  In Your precious Name, amen.

March 21

Numbers 33:1

Here are the stages in the journey of he Israelites when came out of Egypt by divisions under the Leadership of Moses and Aaron.  At the Lords command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.

As I read this passage I started to think about how the Israelites journey happened in phases. They didn't just reach their ultimate destination, their journey took time. They set out from one place, endured hardships, ended up in another place and so the cycle goes.  All along they were under the direction of Moses and Aaron, who were under the direction of God.  I started to think about my own journey.  It also happens in phases and I moved from one phase of my life to another, under the direction of Jesus.  There are so many times I struggle with where I am on many levels, and I am learning to take a step back and lighten up a little knowing that God has me exactly where I'm supposed to be until it is time to move on.  The Lord commanded Moses to "record the stages in their journey".  That's why we journal. I've learned how important it is for our spiritual growth to be able to look back and see how God has moved and worked in our lives. When we question or think we aren't growing, we need to be able to look back and see how far God has taken us. I think it's important that we remember our ultimate destination. Our journey doesn't end on this side of heaven. I consider it it a privilege and a blessings to be on this journey with everyone who is reading this blog.

Randi

Tuesday March 20th

Recently, I have been learning about the importance of studying the Bible, memorizing scripture, and using God's word effectively. We have heard this in this most recent sermon series at church and have read about this in the Whisper book by Mark Batterson. As Ruth wrote in her prayer yesterday: we need to remember the importance of not only reading the Word, but imprinting it on our minds, and using it as fuel to fight the enemy. 

2 Timothy 2:15 says: "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." I am reading through the book Whisper with some friends, and we recently spent time exploring what rightly dividing God's word meant. We came to the conclusion that it means to use God's word accurately in the context that it was intended, interpreting it accurately as truth. This means not picking and choosing pieces of scripture and misinterpreting them. Rightly dividing scripture is our best offense and our best defense. 

In today's reading, we see Jesus "rightly dividing" God's word. When faced with trials and temptations, he responds with scripture that defeats his enemy. When starving after eating nothing for 40 days, he was asked to turn a stone to bread, but responded: "Man does not live on bread alone" (Deuteronomy 8:3). When offered authority over all the kingdoms of the world if he bows down to the devil, he says "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only" (Deuteronomy 6:13). Finally, the devil wrongly divides scripture by quoting a passage that shows God's protection of his people as fuel to dare Jesus to jump from the highest point of the temple. Jesus quotes scripture yet again (Deuteronomy 6:16): "do not put the Lord your God to the test". 

Jesus knew scripture, and in his time of testing he was able to call to mind those verses that defended him and kept him on the right path. 

God, help us to study scripture so that we may better know you, our need of a savior, your plans for us, your love for us, and your protection of us. Give us the strength to face our battles knowing that you are beside us. Thank you for the history, mercy, wisdom, healing, love, hope and purpose that your Word provides. May we never take that for granted and always seek to enrich our lives with the power of your Word.

Blog Post Monday March 19th

A Prayer Of Gratitude For And Preparedness By The Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1-14)

 

Lord I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Spirit. You have given him as my counselor and helper.  You have given him to teach me, guide me, empower me, and to be with me.   I can rest in the assurance that I am never alone and I am never without the power needed to excel in or overcome or endure anything that comes my way. 

 

Sometimes life, both physically and spiritually, can feel as if I am wandering in a dry and dismal dessert thirsty and hungry for something more, for something better than this life.  It is at these moments when I am weak that the enemy perks up, senses opportunity and rushes in with the hopes of overpowering me.  The enemy often times knows my weaknesses better than I and tries to come along side me and throw me down so that I feel defeated and not focused on you.  But I am blessed Lord.  This is when your Spirit has the opportunity to shine so very bright in me, when He becomes the strength I lack, the understanding where I have struggled to comprehend, the vision that brings clarity to my blurred sight.  Your Spirit is the strength and power when I am too weak and the enemy is no match for the power and truth that your Spirit imparts.  In my weakness your power is made perfect through the Spirit.

 

Lord, your Spirit will be my helper and bring to mind your truths when I need them most.  Help me, though, to always remember the importance of not just reading your word but imprinting it in my mind, committing it to memory.  Help me to remember that when I do I give fuel to the fight against my enemy as the Spirit will help bring to the forefront of my mind these truths which I have given time to and they will become my sword of defense.  You were my example during your desert experience and I want to learn and grow from that example.

 

I am also aware, Lord, that when one battle is won another will be on the horizon.  It will come when the enemy believes the opportunity is ripe to strike again.  I want to be ready and I want to help make those opportunities fewer and shorter.  May your Spirit fill me today and speak to me, teach me, encourage me, and empower me.  Use your word and Spirit to fill my thoughts with truth today.   I want and need to know you, your love, your grace, your mercy, your compassion, your understanding, your forgiveness in my life today.

 

Thank you, Lord, for the hope and comfort you bring in knowing that I never have to walk the desert moments, or any moment, without the love, guidance or power of your Spirit.

 

AMEN

March 18, 2018

"Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation. "Luke 3-5,6

This passage made me think of life before Christ.  It made me think of the past, with its valleys, its mountains, the rough and sometimes crooked ways. The past can be an idol. We can get lost in the valleys of pain, of abuse, of disappointments or stuck in mountains of good memories, which even though precious, will never return.

The past can also have a loud voice in our current lives. I know in my own life, how many times I decided I couldn't do something, or be something because of the past. The pain of the past can become an identity. The past can be indeed an idol. Suddenly, those experiences, those places we've been, claim to be more real and more powerful than our God. Being in the past, implies we are not in the present where the Lord is. John invites us to let go of those highs and lows of the past and become a new creation.

How can we put the past in its own place and embrace our identity in Christ?  How can we follow John's calling into our own lives? The world offers all sorts of recipes:  therapy, self-help books, prescription meds, trying harder, transcendental meditation etc. They all claim to heal parts of ourselves. They all claim to smooth the valleys and the mountains, the crooked and the rough patches of our lives and to help us take off towards our great potential. They are like band-aids on a deep wound.

The only answer is in Jesus. He wants us to be freed from the past, from the old.   "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God… 2 Cor 5: 17. The true transformation, the true healing, the true reconciliation comes only from being in Christ. He came to make us a new creation, to give us a new identity, no matter the past. He came to reconcile us with our Father, our Creator and ultimately with ourselves, no matter what our sins might have been.

Also, same as John, we are called to spread this message. "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors" 2 Cor 5-20. In a world that is full of suffering, we need more than ever God's power and truth. The words of Billy Graham are so appropriate for the times we live in: "The Bible is not an option, it is a necessity". It is true for us, and it is true for everybody else out there. It is in God's Word and in God's presence where we find everything we are looking for.

March 17: Of Worry, of Safety, and of the Father’s House

Numbers 26:1-51

Luke 2:36-52

Psalm 60:1-12

Proverbs 11:15

I have three kids.  One of them is in college.  She is an exquisitely gifted composer and singer (if/when she reads this, I am going to get an angry text message at the very least…).  But she's a musician daughter of a father who wanted to be a musician but decided it would have been tough to put food on the table so he took management and math instead.  And he worries - I worry - about her.

Talk about worry, though - can you imagine the conversation Joseph and Mary must have had when they found out NEITHER of them had the child Jesus?  Can you imagine how frantic they must have been when they checked with their relatives and He wasn't with any of them?  This isn't like losing your kid at the supermarket, or picking him or her up late from school.  They "travelled FOR A DAY."  

Of course we know they find Him back in the temple.  And just as they are about to ground him for life, He asks them why they were worried, and wonders why they wouldn't know He would be in HIs Father's house.  Where, it goes unsaid, it is safe and He is meant to be. 

The Bible tells us Joseph and Mary didn't get it, so they may STILL have grounded Him.  But what Jesus said made me think.  He was in His Father's house.  He was with His Father.  So He was safe.  His parents didn't need to worry.  

I think about how I've tried to raise my kids, and I believe I've done the best I could.  But the truth is, I wish I'd realized this sooner: that if I want them to be safe and their futures secure, the best thing I could do for them is to have put them in their Father's house.  To introduce them to Him, to put them in His care.   Then, as Jesus told His earthly parents, I wouldn't have to worry.  

Father we lift our children into Your care.  Teach us to help them get to know You.  And keep them close.  

March 16 The Story of St. Patrick

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day and most people have no idea why we celebrate his life. It is the honoring of a true hero of the faith. We know about the real St. Patrick because he wrote a record of his life called Confessions. As a young boy Patrick lived a comfortable life near an English coastal city where his father was a deacon in their church. But at the age of 16, his comfortable life unraveled. Irish pirates attacked his village, abducting Patrick and many of the household servants. After arriving in Ireland, Patrick was sold as a slave to a Druid tribal chieftain who forced Patrick to work with a herd of pigs.         

In the midst of the squalor of pig filth, God began to transform Patrick's heart. In his Confessions he wrote, "I was sixteen and knew not the true God, but in a strange land the Lord opened my unbelieving eyes, and I was converted." Patrick became convinced that the kidnapping and homesickness were actually opportunities to know Christ better.

"Anything that happens to me," he wrote, "whether pleasant or distasteful, I ought to accept with [serenity] giving thanks to God … who never disappoints." Knowing that this serenity didn't come from his own strength, Patrick wrote, "Now I understand that it was the fervent Spirit praying within me."

After serving as a slave for six years, Patrick escaped, boarded a boat, and found his way back home. This escape was orchestrated by God in a vision. The vision told him where to go and how to escape. He followed the leading of the Lord and escaped back to England. At long last, he was on British soil, warmly embraced by his family and his community. In his own mind Patrick was done with Ireland for good.

According to Patrick, "It is not in my nature to show divine mercy toward the very ones who once enslaved me." To prepare for a future ministry he went and studied in France and became a priest and a Bishop for 15 years.

Once again, God would change Patrick's heart. Partially through a dramatic dream, Patrick knew that God had called him to return to Ireland—not as a slave, but as a herald of the gospel. His family and friends were understandably horrified by his decision. "Many friends tried to stop my mission," Patrick wrote. "They said, 'Why does this fellow waste himself among dangerous enemies who don't even know God?'"

Despite these objections, in A.D. 432 Patrick used his own money to purchase a boat and sail back to Ireland. Patrick spent the rest of his life preaching the gospel in Ireland, watching many people come to Christ. He also passionately defended the human rights of slaves. Besides his Confession, his only other remaining written work is the Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus, a scathing protest sent to King Coroticus and his soldiers after they raided a village, slaughtering the men and selling the women into slavery.

For the rest of his life, Patrick would remain captivated by the grace of God. In his Confessions he wrote:

"And I am certain of this: I was a dumb stone lying squashed in the mud; the Mighty and Merciful God came, dug me out and set me on top of the wall. Therefore, I praise him and ought to render him something for his wonderful benefits to me both now and in eternity."

Patrick's life and ministry teach us to be open to the call of God in our lives. His beginning in Ireland did not dictate his future but it drew him into a love relationship with Jesus Christ. His relationship with Christ helped him to overcome adverse circumstances in his teen years. His ability to draw close to God and forgive had a dramatic impact on the Irish people. His willingness to follow God's call makes him a hero of the faith.

(sources unknown)

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, March 15

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,

    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,

    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.

(Proverbs 11:12,13)

The Book of Proverbs contains remarkable insight into our relationships with God, with others, and ourselves.  After receiving Christ and thereby (through God's doing) establishing a love-relationship with Him, we may then experience the restoration and rebuilding of human relationships and our perspectives on whom we are.

In these two verses, Solomon discusses our relationships with others, highlighting the foolishness of nonconstructive criticism and a loose tongue.

We may find sick pleasure in making fun of others' shortcomings, either in personality or achievements.  This act may even bring us a short-term boost of self-confidence.  But it has no place in the life of a Christ-follower.  First, we are diminishing someone who bears the image of God, having been so created; we are therefore speaking negatively ultimately of God.  Second, we may soon find ourselves in the position at which we are poking fun.  Humility suggests that we should comfort those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice.  We may help others to bear their burdens, making them lighter.

In the second verse, we discover that gossiping has its root cause in our lack of trustworthiness.  Just like derision brings us unhealthy pleasure, so can gossiping.  In another verse, the Scriptures describe gossip as a "morsel."  For me, "morsel" always brings to mind chocolate chips; some of those my mother used for baking in my childhood home included that in their label.  Yet, gossip is more like a chocolate chip that becomes bitter after its first taste, poisoning our relationships with others.

It is crucial to develop trust with others so that we may speak honestly and fruitfully into one another's lives.  Without trust, relationships will become like wet newspaper:  weak and unproductive.  Loving others means taking steps to grow their confidence in us through our faithfulness and resolving to believe the best about them.  Friendship takes effort, but the rewards come through life transformation in others and in us.

Lord God, thank You for designing our human relationships to support our transformation into the likeness of Your Son.  Give us wisdom in these relationships, that we will not casually deride others or betray their confidence.  Bring us a heart of love for other people, that we would care more deeply for their hearts and souls than for our own glory or advancement.  Develop within us the heart of Christ, Who responded to people's pain with compassion and healing.  In Jesus's mighty Name, amen.

March 13th

My apologies for this coming late! For perspective purposes and not to confuse anyone, this blog was supposed to happen yesterday before Randi sent hers this morning.

 

Today's reading is from:

Numbers chapter 19 and 20

Luke chapter 1: 1-25

Psalm 56: 1-13

Proverb 11:8

 

I am only going to address Numbers Chapter 19. I will explain at the end why.

 

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron! That should be enough right? The Lord said it, so I am going to do it! Well not so fast how many things do you wrestle with each day? Things that we know the Lord wants us to do, yet for one reason or another we don't! In these two chapters I find people quickly read through them because to us in 2018 it's a lot of blah blah blah, red heifer burnt offerings, unclean people, 7 days, 7 times, on the 3^rd day etc….. that is enough to make your head spin. Yet instead of understanding what it all means (which takes time) we just want to get on with it and read the easier stuff, words we can handle, words and concepts we know and understand. Wait a second isn't that what we do in our own spiritual walk? We want what's easy. God's word is completely useful for teaching, guiding, rebuking, warning, and enlightening US yes US! Let's break down Numbers 19 and the sacrifice of the "Red heifer". In our society we have reduced our attention span to a twitter mentality of 140 characters or less, anymore you will lose the reader. Well here you go Numbers 19 in 140 characters or less: Burn a "red" heifer outside of camp, sacrifice the heifer with fire from cedar wood and mix the ashes with water to be sprinkled using a hyssop branch, then use the mixed water of cleansing, anyone who is unclean and does not cleanse themselves will be cut off.  Now do you have a better understanding of Numbers 19? Maybe a little. Let's see how we can unpack this a little.

 

Red heifer: a reddish-brown cow, no more than two years old which had never had a yoke on it to be sacrificed as part of the purification of Mosaic Law. The purpose of the red heifer sacrifice was to provide for the water of cleansing, another term for purification from sin. After the red heifer was sacrificed, her blood was sprinkled at the door of the tabernacle. The blood of the heifer with no blemish being sacrificed and its blood cleansing from sin is a pointing us to the blood of Christ shed on the cross for the believers' sin. He was without blemish just as the red heifer. As the heifer was sacrificed "outside the camp" in the same way Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem: "And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood" (Hebrews 13:11-12)

 

Using Cedar and Hyssop: These were medicinally used to heal and give us freedom. just like John 19: 28-30 ²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst." ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up His spirit.

 

It was also used in Exodus 12: 22: during the Passover. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.

 

Do you see how all of these are starting to fit together? We have not ever scratched the surface of the depth and orchestration God uses through His word. If we do not take the time out to study God's word and spend time flipping between the old and new testaments connecting them together we miss vital information which will help our faith, knowledge, and understanding of God's word grow. We live in dangerous time when even the church twists the word of God to fit into our lifestyles, desires, agendas, and even our sin. I only wanted to focus on Numbers chapter 19 because there is so much richness to discover. You see how long this blog is and I did not even address the whole chapter.

 

Dear Lord please help us put aside our foolish ways, our narrowmindedness and our desire for self, and open our eyes to see You and Your plan that You have laid out in Your Holy scriptures.    

Chuck Goulart
Anytime Appliance

Repair Service

and More, LLC.
203-943-0961

 "Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." –Francis Chan

March 14th

Luke 1

What is God calling you to do?

Over the past two readings we have met two women who God chose to play a pretty significant role the Story of Reality.  Elizabeth was chosen to give birth to John the Baptist, and Mary was chosen to be The Messiah's mother.  As a Mom, I know my boys have some role that someday, somehow will fit into the scheme of God's Kingdom plan, but my peanut brain certainly can't comprehend putting myself in either one of these women's shoes. Let's stop and think about Mary for a moment and consider the culture she grew up in and what God called her to do.  She was a poor female who probably was in her early teenage years.  Socially, and culturally, she had all the characteristics that would outwardly appear to make her unusable by God for any major task. Again, culturally she was probably being taught how to take care of the home the way her mom did and carry on traditions.  However, God chose her to give birth to Jesus, The Messiah.  Her assignment didn't come without a risk and didn't lead her to instant success and fame.  Quite the contrary.  Joseph almost ditched her, and I'm sure her family and friends must have ridiculed her, perhaps even thought about ostracizing her from their closely knit family, oh and let's not forget to mention that the Son she bore was rejected and murdered. Taking all this into account, and considering her confusion (v.34),  what was Mary's response?  "I am the Lord's servant, May it be to me as you have said" (v.38).  I can only speak for myself, but I want that to be my heart. The message certainly isn't just for women.  It's for all of us reading this blog.  As disciples and servants we are vessels of God's glory and whatever He calls us to do I pray our response is the same as Mary's.  This Story is not about us or what we think we are qualified to do, for as Gabriel told Mary "Nothing is impossible with God" (v.36). I pray we all take some time with God and see where He is leading and calling us and accept our part in the Story with a heart like Mary's.  Nowhere in the Scripture did I see where Mary asked for this great assignment, God chose her. I believe in my heart we have all been chosen to be a part of His Story, all for His glory.  Ephesians 1:11 tell us that "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will".  So, what is God calling you to do?

Randi

blog post Monday March 12th

A Prayer For A Life Lived In Complete Trust Of The Lord

 

"But as for me, I trust in you."  Lord, these words were written by David about you and I long to be able to speak them for myself with confidence and without doubt.  I want to speak these words from a place of faith and hope, not in myself or in man but in you, God, in your power and faithfulness.

 

I want my trust, hope and faith to be more than just words but to be actions seen in my life.  Actions that don't have to be big but can be seen in the little day to day things.  I want to live a life of faith and trust like the three women who went to your tomb early in the morning after the Sabbath.  Lord they knew the obstacle they faced in anointing your body, a huge stone lay in between them and the task they felt called to.  A massive guarded stone lay in the way and they knew they physically could do nothing to move it.  Despite this obstacle, your word tells us that before they left for the tomb, and without knowing how to overcome their biggest hurdle, they purchased the spices to anoint you.  They didn't waiver from what they felt called to do.  They didn't suggest that they find a way to move the stone first and then buy the spices.  They didn't look at this obstacle and deem the task, the journey impossible and abandon it.  No Lord, they put their faith, hope and trust in you, they put it into action by a simple act of buying the spices needed for the act and then leaving the details of how to get around this obstacle to you.  They left it in your hands to provide a way and they were going to be ready when you did.

 

That is how I want to live Lord.  My life is full of obstacles, challenges, disappointments, struggles, and impossibilities.  It is full of stones too big for me to move.  But, I know to you each of these are mere opportunities for me to grow my trust, my hope and my faith.  Each of these are opportunities for me to see your limitless power at work.  Lord help me to know how to prepare myself for the works you are doing and will do in my life.  Help me to develop my trust, my faith and my hope in you to provide when I can't always see a way.   I don't want to miss even one opportunity to see your power at work and I don't want to be caught unprepared to be a part of any either.

 

Lord, may your spirit be my strength, my guide, my encourager, and my light as I seek to live a life of hope and faith where I can say with certainty, with confidence and joy, "But as for me, I trust in you."

 

AMEN

March 11, 2018

Mark 15:1-47

 

I almost didn't want to write a blog on today's reading. How can I possibly comment on the crucifixion scene? It's too complex, too holy, too perfect. What else could be said?  I think, it all comes down to, God is love.

Every year, on Good Friday, in Romania, they used to play the movie "Life of Jesus" on the main TV channel. I watched it so many times, growing up. I remember being so moved and so saddened by the crucifixion scene. Part of the sadness was because I saw the whole thing as a harsh end. I knew Christ was resurrected and raised from the death, but I pictured Him being done with the Earth, being distant, happy that it was over. He was there, watching over the earth but distant. I even wondered if He had PTSD from what he experienced on earth. I found it hard to picture him as a loving God.  I'm grateful, I am not in that place anymore. That alone is a miracle.  Our God is a God of miracles. God is love.

Reading the passage, I also see a God who knows what pain is, both physical and emotional. He did experience the cross, the flogging without any kind of anesthesia. He does know and understand physical pain. No matter what I go through physically, he gets it.

He knows emotional pain. He knows what it means to be betrayed, to be humiliated. Therefore, he understands when I feel frustrated, hurt, disappointed. He's been there. He is the perfect example of mental strength. In spite of being provoked by everyone: the chief priests, Pilate, the soldiers, the people around, he didn't react. He chose his responses. Sometimes he chose to remain silent, sometimes he didn't, but he never reacted. I am invited to do the same. When faced with tough situations, I can choose to respond and not react. Jesus did it.

He is also the perfect example of forgiveness and not seeking revenge. He could have changed the entire story of crucifixion. He had absolute power over everything and everyone, yet he trusted the Father's plan. How can I apply that to my own life? I guess, by trusting God in all circumstances. Fix my eyes on Jesus and choose love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

I also get to see the high price of people pleasing, of conforming to the world and not God. Pilate chose to be a people pleaser, who wanted to satisfy the crowd and choose to send an innocent person to torture and death. In contrast we see a bold Joseph of Arimathea, who chose to follow God in spite of the risks. Who do I choose to be like?

March 10: Of Foolishness

Numbers 14:1-15:16

Mark 14:53-72

Psalm 53:1-6

Proverbs 11:4

Psalm 53:1 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

Fool | noun - a person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a person who is duped or imposed upon; verb - trick or deceive (Oxford Living Dictionaries)

There is a song I enjoy so much I actually like three versions of it.  It is "What a Fool Believes".  The Doobie Brothers sang the original; Kenny Loggins had a great version in concert; but Aretha Frankly just completely blew the song away.  The melody was catchy, but the lyrics were amazing - the story of a man who keeps revisiting a past relationship to keep the hope of reunification alive.  He deludes himself into thinking she still loves him.  As the song says, "what a fool believes, he sees".

As Christians, we are accused of deluding ourselves into believing God exists.  As someone very dear to me told me, they couldn't see Him, He wasn't tangible.  And so they couldn't believe He existed.  How was I so sure I wasn't deluding myself with an old book of fiction?

In Pastor Larry Osborne's foreword to the Pastor Mark Clark's book "The Problem of God: Answering a Skeptic's Challenges to Christianity", he makes an interesting point: "before we dismiss Jesus…and Christianity as mere ancient myth…or a set of oppressive and failed moral standards, we need to first test our assumptions against the facts and then let the facts speak for themselves.  The same goes for those of us who call ourselves Jesus followers…Faith can't turn a falsehood into truth."

Point well taken.  However, I find that my problem isn't that proof of God's existence doesn't exist; it's that, in my desire to gratify my sinful desires, I choose to ignore the evidence.  Worse than allowing myself to be duped by someone else, I am the greater fool that dupes myself.  

And where is that proof?  Why, everywhere!  Consider the perfect balance of conditions that permitted the genesis of life and its persistence.   Or the dance of the rock we stand on, that spins a thousand miles per hour, and speeds through space at around 67,000 miles per hour…and doesn't bump into much, despite the fact it has another rock a sixth the size of it spinning around it once every thirty days or so.  Or the medically inexplicable recovery of a friend, in a week long coma, vitals fading, doctors helpless who, after a night of fervent prayer by our church, turned the corner to a full recovery.  There is proof everywhere.  I just choose not to see it, or not to see it for what it is.

Father, have mercy on this fool for his willful delusion, for choosing to overlook or ignore the manifestations of Your existence and power.  Open my eyes and soften my heart that I may no longer be that fool that says, in word and deed, in thought and feeling, "There is no God".