January 16th post

Monday January 16th

I've spent my life growing up in the church, learning the bible, memorizing verses, being told about God's promises, praying, singing, you name it I've been there for it.  When you spend a lifetime learning about the Lord it's easy to find yourself reclining in the LazyBoy of comfortable familiarity and believing you know how God works and finding yourself praying more as His needed advisor then His humble servant. 

 

The thing is, God's ways can sometimes feel more like a mechanical bull ride then a nap on a LazyBoy recliner.  Just when you think "I got this all figured out" something comes bucking into our lives and knocks our understanding. 

 

I think this might be the case in the lives of those Jewish residents of Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (Matthew 11:20-24).  Many of the miracles we read about Jesus performing happened in these three cities.  Miracles that had never been witnessed: the blind see, the paralyzed walk, demons cast out of people, the dead made alive, and even sins forgiven not from an animal sacrifice but by faith and spoken from the mouth of Jesus himself.  I think, much like myself, the Jewish residents of these towns had become comfortable in their understanding of God and how they understood him to work.  It was business as usual in their lives before this.  Even though the enemy (the Romans) had power in their cities and even lived amongst them they seemed to acclimate to life and be comfortable where they were.  They were in their LazyBoy recliners of faith.  But then Christ came into their towns in ways that were unexpected, that looked different and sounded different and  it began to rock their understanding.  It began to throw them from their comfortable armchair faith and challenged what they thought they knew and understood.  It threw them for such a loop they saw it as demon possession and believed Jesus to be a glutton and a drunk (Matthew 11:18-19).  This did not go unnoticed by Christ.  He denounced these cities and compared them to sin filled Pagan cities of old that had either been destroyed by God or had prophesy's spoken about their destruction (Ezekiel).  He noted that these Pagan sin filled cities, with no comfortable LazyBoy understanding of who He is, would have repented and acknowledged Christ as Lord if the miracles He had performed were done in them.

 

I think Christ's denouncing these cities served as a warning that we can get so comfortable in our faith that we begin to think we understand the infinite God with 100% clarity when in fact that kind of mind set becomes a stumbling block to our very faith.

 

Our January 10^th reading had a Proverb that God has been using to teach me and grow me over the past few years.

 

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straights." 3:5-6

 

The part of this that strikes my heart the hardest is 'lean not on your own understanding.'  God has brought into my life a couple of circumstances that have thrown me from my LazyBoy faith and understanding.  They have left me confused, angry, and feeling lost and alone. They seemed to be the opposite of what I had prayed for.   Were these things that were happening God's doing or just the enemy at work in my life?  Who was stronger, the Lord or the Evil one?  How could the God whom I understood to be good allow such a shake up to happen?  If I'm honest I felt a bit like Capernaum, this didn't look like the God I thought I understood.  Life was easier before and therefore better according to my understanding.  Then I heard the Lord challenge me with a verse that seemed so very out of place for the circumstances I was in.

 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

 

I felt like I was on the nastiest Bull at the rodeo of life and God was saying to me "give me thanks."  Talk about the opposite of my understanding.  How was being thankful going to help rectify my circumstances?  But being a bit stubborn and not liking to loose I held on tight and forced myself to look at my circumstance with a different set of eyes.  "Lord show me what I can be thankful for because I don't understand nor do I want to be thankful."  God was faithful, He was good (these two things I understood Him to be had not changed) and He showed me.  He began to reveal things that I had not seen and through this reminded me of ways he has worked good in my past when I couldn't see it.  The direction my life was now going in was not the path I had advised God to use (it usually isn't), it was the complete opposite.  But, the Lord began to show me things to be grateful for in my circumstances that I was unable to see in my own understanding.  You know what has been happening since then?  The peace of God has been guarding my heart and mind and I have been growing in my faith not just lazily sitting comfortably in it.  I fear less and when worry begins to creep in I turn to the Lord, give thanks, and pray and He is right there with me reassuring me that He is not worried because He understands and is in complete control.  The outcome of my life circumstance are still a blur and I can not see how God is going to work it but I need to trust in Him and His understanding and to lean on the truths that I do know, God is a very good God no matter what challenges life brings and He promises to never leave me.  No matter how bumpy the road gets if I bring my grateful heart to him along with the burdens I will have rest, I will have peace from and in Him.

 

I don't know where you are today but I want to encourage those who find themselves on the bucking bulls of life that challenge your understanding of who God is and what He is doing.  God is always good even when life is not.  He is unchanging and always faithful.  So when life takes twist and turns that seem to throw you to the ground stay there for a moment and talk to Him.  Ask him to help you see how to have gratitude (remember what he has done and let it help you see what He is doing), ask Him to help you to know how to pray in accordance with what He is doing, and pray for the strength to get up and get back onto the struggles of life with the peace and strength of God.  He will help you to hold tight, endure and find the rest and peace that He promises for you.  I can assure you that it is much nicer to rest with the Lord in the boat during the storms of life then to worry and feel defeated (Matthew 8:23-27).  I'm praying for you all.

 

January 13 2017

Psalm 11  Quitting  

In his great book about the American West, "Men to Match My Mountains," Irving Stone writes about a mine in Leadville, CO. In 1877 a successful prospector bought the Robert E. Lee mine for $16,000. He then hired a crew and sank a shaft more than a hundred feet deep without finding any ore. When another group of prospectors offered him $30,000 for his mine he sent word down the shaft for his crew to pick up its tools and quit. The men down below were in the process of drilling a hole and putting the dynamite in. They asked the boss if they couldn't shoot just this once more. "No, come up!" replied Dexter. "I won't put another cent into this hole." The new owners "shot" Dexter's last hole. When the smoke cleared they found they had exposed a vein of silver so pure that in 24 hours they had mined ninety-five tons of ore worth $118,500. The cost of bringing this fortune to the surface was exactly $60.

 

We are all faced with times when we want to quit and throw in the towel like poor Dexter. It could be at work, in relationships, it could even be in following Jesus. In Psalm 11 David was tempted to quit. Like archers hiding under cover to ambush their prey, they waited for David with murder in their eyes. Their wickedness had made them ruthless; their superior weapons gave them confidence; their secure hiding place strengthened their nerve. The odds were overwhelmingly against the psalmist. He must run.

But was it time to quit and run? The answer is a resounding "NO." There is no hopeless situation when God is in the equation. God was watching over this entire situation from his heavenly throne. When we face the trials of life, we are never alone, never!!

Psalm 11:7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face.

These words are the key to David's faith. He is no naïve optimist. He's not singing Mary Poppins song about remembering her favorite things and then I don't feel so bad.  The problems are real, but so is the presence of God. The key is to see every problem from the view of the "temple."   The temple view allows us to hear God's words, count on God's presence and see his salvation.  

In every one of your difficult situations the same saving God is present. Believe in him. Trust in his presence. His eyes examine everything that is going on. Nothing escapes his observation.  It is the presence of God that changes us from quitters to finishers.  I don't know what struggle you are going through, I am telling you that the eyes of the Lord are just as sharp today as they were in David's day. Don't quit. 

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, January 12

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax's collector's booth.  "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.  When they saw this, the Pharisees asked, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means:  'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'  For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

(Matthew 9:9-13)

In today's passage, we read about the calling (and immediate obedience) of Matthew, a tax collector who would later write the Gospel bearing his name.  This change in Matthew sparked quite an interest in the Rabbi Jesus, who gathered a party at Matthew's house.  We may imagine that, in this party scene, Jesus might have demonstrated his love and concern for people in a natural setting.

The Pharisees bristled at Jesus's welcoming attitude towards "tax collectors and sinners."  One might have rightly looked on tax collectors with some skepticism, as the majority supplemented their income through taking bribes or miscalculating taxes.  Today's IRS involves a clear formula and a well-structured collection system; in the days of Christ, tax collectors motivated compliance through direct and indirect coercion.  The Pharisees distanced themselves from "sinners" in order not to be corrupted by their presence; in their minds, righteousness demanded separateness.

Jesus blew up their expectations and heard their criticism immediately.  They implied that Jesus has not committed Himself to holiness to the same extent as they had.  Jesus's response points to the very heart of the Gospel message:  that each person, having fallen short of God's stands, requires God's mercy through the blood of Christ on the Cross.  Once we have truly experienced that mercy, we would be hypocritical to deny similar mercy to others.  Since Jesus canceled our vertical debt of sin once for all, we have freedom to forgive others on a horizontal level.

In addition, as with the Parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee, we see that "sinners" display gratitude upon receiving God's grace, while the Pharisees harbored indignation and pride.  "Sinners" know that they do not deserve mercy and therefore celebrate it; those who think of themselves as "righteous" expect mercy, believing that they have earned it.

To make this account personal, where do you sit today?  Do you find yourself among the disciples, among the sinners, or among the Pharisees?  Are you learning to love others with a fully abandoned love like Christ?  Are you looking to receive God's mercy to start a lifelong relationship with the loving Creator of the universe?  Or have you fallen into judgmentalism and self-righteousness like the Pharisees?

In order to step back from that third state, we may follow Jesus's example and interact with people who do not yet know Christ.  We may pray that God would move our hearts with compassion, as Jesus experiences in Matthew 9:35-10:2.

Lord Jesus, thank You for demonstrating great compassion and love for lost and hurting people like us.  Help us to learn from Your example and to imitate You in Your sacrificial outreach, healing, and mercy to those who don't know You.  Give us a fresh heart of gratitude for Your grace in our lives.  We love You and honor You today.  In Your Name, amen.

January 11

Psalm 10

The book of Psalms touches on every aspect of life from repentance to praise and worship.  Psalm 10 touches on a cry from the heart of the Psalmist that we can all relate to - "Lord, where are you?"  We read in today's reading that when the disciples were afraid in the storm, they knew exactly where to go for help.  They went to wake up Jesus.  Now I am not in any way suggesting that Jesus is asleep today and unaware of the storms of our lives, but it's up to us to seek Him for help the way disciples did.  After all, we too are disciples.  I can't even tell you how many times I've tried to be calm in my storm without seeking Jesus first and wondered why it hasn't worked out for me.  In verses 14-18 of Psalm 10 we learn that God sees our trouble and grief and He is our helper.  He is King forever and ever and inclines His ear to us.  He vindicates the orphan and oppressed so that man, who is earthly, may terrify no more.  We're not supposed to be terrified because God never goes anywhere.  He never leaves us.  Hebrews 10:22 beautifully tells us to draw near to God with a sincere heart with the full assurance of what faith brings. Lord, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, let us be still and know that You are God.  I pray we sit in Your presence and know that You are always with us.  Speak to us Lord, Your servants are listening.



Randi

January 9th bible reading blog

We all are on different paths in our journey through life.  We are either going through, have gone through or will go through difficult times in our lives.  I am sure many who read that immediately thought of a tough situation they are currently swept up in.  It is a part of life.  We have up's and down's, high's and low's, laughter filled moments and sorrow filled ones as well.  What I see in today's reading is how our perspective and our recollection of the God we serve, not only can make a difference for how we hold up during those difficulties but how others do as well.

 

Both Hagar and Abraham find themselves on two different yet similar paths in life that they had not expected (Gen 21:8-20 & 22:1-19).  Both have their sons with them.  Both do not fully understand what is going on or why.  The stories become very different though when we look at the different ways they perceived and understood their situations.

 

Hagar was helpless and hopeless.   She was in the desert and had no more water and no idea what to do or where to go next.  I'm sure she didn't understand why this was happening to her and her son. The God who had seen her the last time she was lost in the desert was forgotten by her (Gen 16:6-15).   She chose instead to hold her misery close to her and in it felt lost and alone.  She put her son under a bush and walked away from him because she couldn't bear to see him die.   In complete despair she began to sob for her seemingly hopeless situation.  Her son, alone under the bush began to cry as well.  His mother's hopelessness blanketed him but brought no comfort to him at all.

 

On the contrary, Abraham was full of hope and confidence (not in himself but the Lord).  I don't think this was a hope that was filled with singing and dancing and lots of laughter.  God had Abraham on a path that I believe Abraham felt blind on.  He, in his human understanding could not make sense of what he had been asked to do.  It had to be weighing on him heavily but not so heavy that it crushed his hope and confidence in the Lord.  The cause of his hope and confidence came from his knowledge, his remembrance of the God who was leading him on this path.  God had already shown Abraham, through the birth of Isaac, that nothing was impossible for the LORD.   Abraham was trusting in that God he knew to help him now.  The trust and hope that Abraham wore had to have come to rest on the shoulders of his son Isaac because we do not read that Isaac struggled when being bound, fought when being put on the alter, or cried out when the dagger was raised to kill him.

 

In both stories God was the same, Faithful.  He was indeed El Roi, the God Who Sees and in both stories He was indeed Jehovah Jireh, the God Who Provides.  God spoke to Hagar and opened her eyes to see a well with water and then spoke hope into her life for her and her son.  God spoke to Abraham and showed him the ram caught in the thorns and reassured Abraham that his trust and hope in the Lord is always how to live.

 

In life I all too often fail to have the hope and trust of Abraham.  I act way too much like Hagar.  I lean on my own understand of life's situations and I get discouraged.  I can feel as if God has forgotten or as if I'm just not worthy of His grace.  I fail to remember all the ways that God has shown me His faithfulness, His Love, His protection, and His provision.  What I realize even more from these two stories is how my faith or lack of faith can impact those around me.  I do believe that Hagar's despair did indeed aid Ishmaels.  I equally believe Abraham's trusting obedience gave Isaac the courage and hope to face that altar.

 

It is my prayer that during the path of struggle that God has me on, and for all future paths that await me, God will strengthen me and his Spirit remind me to hope in Him.  He has always been faithful, He has always provided (not always the way I had wanted but He has always provided), and He has always seen me through.  I want to be a beacon of light for others during my struggles.  I want them to be encouraged by the hope I have in the Lord.  I want others to feel the comfort of my obedient trust.   If we are faithless God remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), Hagar's story is proof of that.   My worry and fear doesn't dictate what God will or won't do it just prevents me from living in peace and being a light for Him and His goodness.  I prefer to be more like Abraham and to seek to remain faithful in my hope and trust of the lord.  I want to let go of my understanding and fears and rest in who God is, trust in who God is, and delight in who God is.  For when I am able to do that I believe, like Abraham and Isaac I will truly be living the life God desires for me, a faithful beacon of light to those around me.

Matthew 6:1-24

Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before me, to be seen by them otherwise you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.
When we trying to impress others we don't really deserved the reward we should get because they see how much effort we put into it, but with God we don't need to pretend to do something, He sees it from the heart & our way of doing it if our motives is right. Everyone wants to guard their own name & reputation but we must resist the tendency to protect & promote ourselves first and put God's name Kingdom and will first. We all fall short at times, we all look for the wrong person to applaud us of something we did. We can always get back up again just ask our Father for forgiveness The first Christian reward is the satisfaction which no money on earth can buy in Jesus name I pray amen.🙏

January 7: Of second guesses, bad ideas and immutable plans

Genesis 16:1-18:15

Matthew 6:1-24

Psalm 7:1-17

Proverbs 2:1-5

As a child, I often second guessed my parents - most of the time to my regret.  They'd tell me to do something one way, I'd think I knew better and do it another.  They'd tell me to wait, I'd get impatient and do something...and then have to call them for help cleaning up the mess I'd made.  In retrospect I still feel pretty bad about all the times I gave them reason to say "I told you so"...but reading today's readings I realize I'm in good company. 

Think of where Sarai's mind is.  

Sarai: "I had a comfortable home, and God tells my husband we have to leave.  I agree to go partly because my husband told me God said we would have a lot of kids.  I've always wanted kids.  Grandkids, even.  I think I'm supposed to wait, but I am getting up there in years, so maybe I should give this a little push.  After all, what could it hurt?  God said we were going to have kids anyway.   Oh, Hagar...."

Hagar: "Yes, ma'am?"

Sarai: "I need you to do something for me..."

Of course, that didn't work out too well - not for Sarai, not for Hagar, nor for Ishmael.  And I can imagine Abraham thinking "it certainly seemed like a good idea at the time..."

The amazing thing is that, as much of a garbage dump of a situation it all way, God was in control.  He sees Hagar and looks after her.  He even has a plan for Ishmael who, to every reasonable bystander, would have seemed like someone absolutely NOT part of the plan.  And His plans for Abraham remain unchanged - indeed he articulates His plans further.  And He gives Abraham the opportunity to demonstrate whether or not his heart is still with God.

This year, I expect to find myself - indeed, I expect everyone who reads this will find themselves - in multiple garbage dump, I-should-have-listened-to-God type situations.  Take comfort.  Not only are we in good company, our God showed Abraham how much He was prepared to forgive, and how immutable His plans are.  And however much we might mess up, His plans remain the same..and we can always turn back, accept His words, turn our ear to wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.  And even then, after we've messed up, like Abraham we will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  

Happy New Year.