Saturday, January 9, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016 

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1­2)

The look on her face was the look of one who was troubled and weighed down with heavy burdens. As we talked, her eyes welled with tears, but never shed one. It was a difficult time for her and all Keesha and I wanted to do was to be there for her. One heavy matter after another sprung up from her spirit that was worn, tired, and in need of a Savior. As a man, I wanted to fix it all; but, as a believer, I knew that I wasn't able to. We had listened and listened. It was no longer a time to discuss nor a time for advice. It was time to pray. The crazy thing is that when we did pray, God led us to fill our prayers with praise!

There is something about remembering and prayerfully retelling the story of how God brought you through in times past that changes the atmosphere. Praise is like getting an intravenous injection of faith. As we thanked God for who He was and what marvelous things He had done in our lives, the burdens seemed to get lighter. The room actually seemed to get brighter! There was a "shift" in the atmosphere from solemn to glorious. It is difficult to explain, but wondrous to experience.

Psalm 22:3­4 says, "Yet you [LORD] are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." I don't know how it works, but praise invites the presence of God into situations. Psalm 100 also connects worship and praise with the presence of God ("Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise"). A great starting point for worshipping the Lord is remembering what He has done in the past ­ the testimony ("I will tell of all of your wonderful deeds," Psalm 9:1). When we remember what God did in the past we can have hope for what God can do in our present and what He's promised to do in the future. Why? Because, He never changes (Malachi 3:6). He is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

When we are overwhelmed with the issues of life it is largely because we are underwhelmed with God (Leif Hetland, paraphrased). Praise changes our focus and leads us into a place where we are overwhelmed with the One Who Created Everything. It's in that place that our challenges seem to take their rightful place ­ under the feet of God. But, don't take my word for it. The next time you are overwhelmed begin to give God praise. Remember how He's moved before in your life and the lives of others around you. Shout it out and watch the atmosphere shift. 

January 8

Matthew 7 January 8, 2016

Perhaps this is the most quoted and most misunderstood Bible verse of our day is Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

This is the favorite verse of the Jerry Springer show. It is usually used to stop any discussion between right and wrong behavior. It implies that no one can ever tell you to stop doing some particular behavior.

But that is not even close to the intent Jesus had for the verse. What Jesus is warning against here is self deception and hypocrisy. There is something in our fallen hearts that loves to point out the weaknesses and sins in others, while giving ourselves a free pass. We tend to be victorious over certain sins and those are the ones we quickly and powerfully shine the spotlight on in others. It makes us took good but in the end it is nothing but pride.  

The speck and log illustration clearly teaches us to take a good long look at our own life before we start beating up on others. In the end we need to see this as a matter of showing grace to others and not accusing them. When we see something wrong in the life of a friend we need to point it out and help them deal with it. When we do that, we are serving them, not condemning them. That is what a Christ follower does. With a loving attitude we help others become trophies of God's grace. And we must do all of this with a loving attitude and not a condemning, superior, hypocritical attitude. Pointing out destructive behavior in another person, is in reality, an incredible and brave way to show your love to your neighbor.

So as we head into the New Year may this be said about the Grace Church family; "they are the most tender, gracious, compassionate people who love the unchurched and will do everything possible to help those caught in the web of sin to experience victory in Christ."   

This is our goal.

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, January 7

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2016

Genesis 16:1–18:15

Matthew 6:1–24

Psalm 7:1–17

Proverbs 2:1–5

 

 

“Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6)

 

“For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” (Genesis 18:19)

 

 

Reading the story of Abraham points out the depth of God’s grace and the power of His sovereign choice.  Despite some duplicity (the “sister act” in Egypt) and running ahead of the Lord in fertility, Abraham received affirmation of God’s call and blessing for his life and his descendants.  God remembered Abraham’s faith above his shortcomings and carried out (and continues to deliver on) the many promises prophesied for Abraham.

 

Abraham received clear guidance from the Lord at each major turning point in his life.  Yet, in determining that he would take a shortcut to fulfill the promises of “many nations,” he hastily followed Sarah’s advice about producing offspring through her servant Hagar.  Unsurprisingly, the situation devolved into jealousy enmity between Sarah and Hagar.

 

The prophecies spoken over Ishmael have indeed come to fruition in light of many historical conflicts between Hagar’s and Sarah’s descendants.  Even with the challenging future for Hagar and Ishmael, we may read great hopefulness in her name for the Lord:  “You are the God who sees me.  I have now seen the One who sees me.”  Indeed, God has intended that all people should have the opportunity to know Him and experience His presence.   Abraham’s descendants would participate significantly in introducing others to “the One who sees me.”  We may offer that same testimony, too.

 

Yet, on the flip side, Abraham does demonstrate his commitment to God through obedience, although imperfect.  He follows God’s directive to circumcise his household, setting a sign of God’s call over His people.  Chapter 17 describes a great covenant between God and His people, but the responsibilities fall almost exclusively on God Himself.  Abraham, his household, and his descendants have only the responsibility of staying committed to the God of these promises.

 

For us, practically speaking, we find direction in Matthew 6:33 (from Friday’s reading):  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  This verse appears to offer a New Testament parallel to the Abrahamic promises.  It wraps up our commitment to Christ and His Kingdom above earthly ties and the promises of God’s provision in all times.  We seek God not for His benefits, but because of His awesome Person.  He is worthy of all honor and praise, due only to His lovingkindness and holiness.  Yet, in His wholly otherness, He loves us so much to give eternal life to those who have trusted in Christ and to bring “all things” into our lives.  These thoughts call to mind Psalm 37:4:  “Take delight in the Lord/ and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

 

 

Lord God, thank You for the opportunity to know You and experience Your goodness.  Make us more cognizant of Your character, provision, and promises in 2016.  In Jesus’s Name, amen.

 

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January 6

Genesis 11 - The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel was a monument built by man for man.  It was built for the whole world to see and represented the people's own achievements and their own greatness.  It can be summed up in one word - pride.  Pride and Gods presence are incompatible.  In Luke 18:14 Jesus tells us that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.  Whatever false idol stands between us and the Lord has to be removed if we want to live in a relationship with God.  Much like the people of Babel, we too have a tendency to build our own monuments "so that we can make a name for ourselves" (v.4).  It can come in different forms or as anything that points to our achievements instead of pointing to our Father.  "Things", (for lack of a better word), in and of themselves may not be bad.  However when we confuse them with our identity and self worth we've created a false idol over God in our lives.  Knowing that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights is a reminder of our Good Father and our identity.  I pray Father You reveal to us and tear down "towers" we've built in our lives that stand between or replace You in our hearts and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, give us strength, wisdom and discernment to follow and live in a relationship with You.  In Jesus' Name.


Randi

January 4: Of ridicule, seasickness and foul odors; of patience and faith

Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23

As I went through today's reading, two words leaped into my mind, making as big a splash as a morbidly obese diver who changed his mind just as he left the high board on a swan dive: "patience" and "faith".

The story of Noah is one of patience and faith, among other things. Think about it: as they were obedient to God, building the ark, they must not have known what God had planned, and they must have suffered tremendous ridicule at the hands of other people...but they were patient, prepared to wait for God's revelation of His purposes in His time. And when that revelation became clear - when the clouds broke and the rain poured - they were even more patient. Think about it: bad enough a year, partly in very rough seas, in a big boat with no stabilizers; even worse, we don't know if the plans included vented plumbing. Seasickness, stale food, and the ripe aroma of enclosed wildlife over more than 365 days, but they were patient. One can only imagine the desperation to get off the ship, back onto dry land. And through it all, they did not know what God had planned - whether or not He intended for the waters to recede, whether or not He intended for them to return to the ground, but they had faith.

I pray - but sadly, I find many of my prayers are still for what I want, which is often different from what God has chosen for me in the moment. It is scary to imagine how difficult the lesson might be, but one day I hope to pray like Noah did - not just with his words, but with his life - a life spent trusting in God's plans, and waiting for them to come to fruition according to His schedule - a life of patience and faith.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Saturday, January 2, 2016  [Kenny Sullivan]

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was GOOD for food and PLEASING to the eye, and also DESIRABLE for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." (Genesis 3:6)

Unsatisfied with my laboratory job of eight years - which paid fairly well, but was not intellectually stimulating - I started looking for teaching jobs.  After one interview I landed a job!  The assistant principal called me the day after my interview and asked if I would accept.  I wanted to move on from being a lab technician.  My job bored me!  I tested medical devices, analyzed my data, and wrote lab reports on the same stuff day-in and day-out.  The teaching job looked really good.  The only question was, "Is this from God?"

I prayed for God to speak to me - "Lord, give me an answer!"  Of my mother, my girlfriend and my best friend no one thought it was a good move for me.  But, I was waiting for God to answer.  I wanted Him to speak with His thunderous voice and tell me to my face that this was the wrong move.  All I could see was that it was a GOOD opportunity, PLEASING to my eyes, and DESIRABLE for satisfying my intellectual needs.  I "bit into the fruit," took the job, and experienced the worst 10 months of my life.  Each day of teaching ended with two Tylenol and the recurring question, "Lord, what have I done?"

If Genesis 3:6 teaches us anything, it definitely shows us that everything that is good in NOT necessarily God.  Maybe the opportunity, relationship, job, or product is right, but the timing is wrong.  Maybe the timing is right, but the opportunity is wrong.  Maybe it just looks good, but it's all wrong.  How can we tell?  We need a relationship with God and His Word that defines our understanding of, and relationship to, everything.  If we always are driven by our definition of GOOD we will very often miss GOD.  There are many voices vying for our attention, even our own.  But only One Voice will lead us to life (see John 6:68).  How do we hear His Voice?

1. Spend time daily reading His Word.

2. When something you read "grabs you," ask God, "What does this mean for me?"

3. Obey what He tells you.

These are simple steps, but they are NOT always easy because we like what we like and want to do what we want to do.  Obedience is the great challenge of the Christian life.  But, if we do these steps, we will develop a relationship with God that will bless us in every situation where we struggle to discern the difference between GOOD and GOD.  

Lord, please speak for your servants are listening!

January 1

Psalm 1  

 

Happy New Year to each of you!! 

 

Let's start the new year off by imagining you are walking on a beautiful beach on a Caribbean island today. The palms are waving and the greenish blue water is gently lapping up on the shore. All of a sudden your toe catches something in the sand. You look down, push the sand away and there you discover one of those old-fashioned Arabian lanterns. Then you remember all the times you read in the comic books about genies being in these things. You look at the lantern and say to yourself, "why not?" So you rub the lantern and instantaneously a genie pops out. He says he is there to grant you one wish from these five choices:

You can have 500 million dollars.

You can have success in everything you touch for 50 years.

You can be stunningly beautiful or handsome for 50 years.

You can be the most popular person on the planet for 50 years.

Or you can be blessed.   

Which one of those would you choose?  

 

The writer of Psalm 1 instructs us that "blessedness" is by far the best choice. Blessedness is from the root word " to be straight, to make right, or to be well ordered." It is best understood as inner peace that cannot be taken away.  

In Psalm 1 blessedness is actually experienced by the choices we make in life. It's found when we read and meditate on God's Word. It's found when we choose to turn away from the foolishness of the culture and allow the Bible to feed us and guide us. 

There are two kinds of people in the world, the blessed and the wicked. What is most sobering is how the book of Psalms defines wickedness from the very start. Wickedness is not defined in terms of heinous acts of violence or socially deviant behavior. Wickedness is defined as being self-centered, rather than God-centered, or self-instructed, rather than God-instructed.

 

We usually think of wicked people as those who sell drugs or commit some kind of crime. But wicked people are those who have Bibles but are too busy to read them, people who believe in Jesus but not enough to listen to Him.

 

So if you want to experience a blessed life choose to read and obey God's word each day this year. Choose to allow God's word to direct your pathways away from the ways of the world. If you make this choice, you will be like a tree planted beside a source of abundant water. Your life will be fruitful and ever blessed.

 

 

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"Multiplying leaders to change the world"