My Thoughts & Meditations

2021-11-29T12:30:00.028-06:00

Scripture Readings:"Mark 1:1-4, Isaiah 9:6-7"

HOPE and Wait, WAIT and Hope

The first Advent reading each year is usually about hope. Have you ever stopped to think about HOPE, what it means, what is required? Hebrews 6:19 calls hope an anchor saying “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hope is an anchor for our soul. Hope is what keeps us going when things are tough. Hope is the engine that makes us want to persevere.

But hope requires waiting. Hope is the anticipation of a future something. Without waiting there is no hope. We wait for visits from family or friends. We wait for test results from the doctor. we wait for the birth of a new grandchild. And we hope. For fun times, good outcomes, a beautiful baby. We have hope in our waiting. But waiting is required.

Wait a minute.

Wait a month.

Or even years or lifetimes.

We don’t like to wait, whether it’s in traffic or the waiting room, or in line at the store. We don’t like to wait but sometimes waiting is the exact right thing. Wait for the cake to finish baking. Wait for it to be iced. Wait for the ice cream on top. Wait until everything is in place and the time is right.

Our scripture readings this morning begin with hope after a very long wait, until the time was right. The prophecies of the coming of the messiah had been given hundreds of years before. The second coming is part of the long-awaited prophesy also!

Mark was so excited that the prophecies were being fulfilled…..finally being fulfilled…… that he jumped right into the meat of the story. He didn’t do any buildup, didn’t provide his readers any background information. He just started the story with evidence that the long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived and the Messiah was ready to MOVE, ready for action! He jumped straight to the very specific prophecy, that of the messenger.

Mark started by repeating the announcement that the prophet Isaiah had made about 700 years before Jesus appeared. Mark didn’t mention the birth of Jesus, the visits by angels to Zechariah and Mary, or angels singing to the shepherds. He didn’t talk of the virgin who was expecting or her bridegroom who was in a predicament. Or of magi bringing extravagant gifts. He didn’t give any background information.

The Gospel of Mark starts like this: “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the son of God” then directs the readers’ attention to the messenger who had been sent ahead to prepare the way, “a voice of one calling in the desert, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight paths for him."

He starts “the beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ” by talking about John the Baptist.

Mark was tired of the wait – he jumped over the details!

But in Mark’s haste to get to the meat of the story, he missed many of the details that make the rest of the story so endearing and something we are better able to identify with. I don’t know about you, but I can more identify with the early struggles of the new family than the locust eating messenger.

In Mark’s haste, he didn’t tell us of the struggles of a long-married couple who’d never been able to have children. We learn this bit of information from Luke – that an angel visited Zechariah to tell him that he’d have a son and to name him John.

Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth have been waiting – had given up waiting – we know they’d given up waiting because he asked the angel – can you imagine? – HE ASKED THE ANGEL, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” They’d run out of hope in their waiting.

Was this the first of the miracles surrounding the birth of Jesus?

Then just as the angel had said, Elizabeth became pregnant. Their waiting ended and their hope gave way to reality.

The waiting was important. This waiting was used to encourage Mary, young Mary after an angel appeared to her too. Not just any angel, but Gabriel! Gabriel told Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, who the whole family knew was in her old age and barren, was also having a baby.

This news encouraged Mary, perhaps because she wondered if she’d been crazy, to think that an angel had appeared to her and told her that she would have a baby – a baby from the Holy Spirit in the power of the Most High.

I’d think I was crazy if an angel appeared to me.

Telling me something of a relative that I could confirm with a visit would certainly help me and give me hope. So Mary did just that. She went to see Elizabeth. Both Elizabeth and her unborn baby who leapt in Elizabeth’s womb, confirmed what Gabriel had said. These babies were connected not only through family ties but also through the angel visits and the miracles they shared.

These families had hope.

Their hope lingered as waiting began. It is quite likely that Zechariah and Elizabeth had long passed away before John became the messenger of the messiah. It was decades before either John’s or Jesus’ ministries became public.

But hope requires waiting. We hope and we wait and we wait and we hope. This season, we hope that if we wait long enough the current pandemic conditions will go away, that our loved ones and we, ourselves, will make it through this really rough patch.

Hope is such a strong anchor. Without hope, we are lost, floating adrift.

We believers have a hope that is secure and firm.

We do not have our anchor on the science of a vaccine or cure or medicine.

We do not have our anchor in politics or government programs to make everything all right.

We have hope in the one wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a manger.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

While this prophecy hasn’t happened – we do not have a government on the shoulders of Jesus yet, and there is not everlasting peace yet – we do have hope that this prophecy is true and is a coming event.

There are many signs that could be foreshadowing the second-coming – fulfillment of the rest of Isaiah’s prophesy - - wars, rise of false prophets, loving the world instead of God, famines of food, water and famine of hearing God’s word (Amos 8:11 says “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.) The second coming is still in the future.

If Jesus doesn’t return during our lifetimes, we will meet Him during our eternal lifetimes. We have this hope… and in the meantime, we have to wait.

I look at the beginning of Mark’s gospel and see something that is likely true today for each one of us. We all probably have a John the Baptist in our personal history.

Someone who prepared the way of Jesus in our lives.

Someone who made the path straight for Jesus in the Holy Spirit to get to us and into us.

When you tell your story of knowing Jesus, you have to include people and situations that cleared the way for you to meet and eventually accept Jesus. Sunday school teachers, Friends, family, Pastors, Enemies, co-workers, acquaintances

You are probably a John the Baptist for someone else, children, friends, grandchildren, and others.

John the Baptist called for people to repent – to turn away from their sin. I submit that before I can turn from my sin, I have to be made aware of it. Sometimes that takes a lot of convincing and even direct evidence … in my face. When I am in conflict with someone it can be the evidence I need to recognize my sin. – sin of pride, sin of haughtiness, sin of judgmentalism.

I think it takes a lot to clear the path for us to meet Jesus - to be willing to recognize and admit we need Jesus. And other people wait and hope in their waiting that we repent, that we turn away from sin and that we meet Jesus. Some people who prayed for you for days, weeks even years.

Waiting is essential. Hope even more so.

Waiting provides time for the experiences that we need to make the path straight for Jesus.

The path isn’t made straight because we are sinless, - we don’t have to be “cleaned up” before we meet and accept Jesus, The path is made straight as we recognize that we need Jesus to help us.

Hope anchors us to Jesus.

Hope anchors us to the firm and secure foundation of the savior of the world.

As we go through the next few weeks and beyond, how will you prepare the way for the Lord in yourself and in those around you?

Will you make more an effort to be patient in waiting? Maybe demonstrate more of the fruits of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control when waiting in line at the store, waiting on the traffic, waiting on the holiday visitors to arrive?

Yes, waiting is essential and happens whether we know Jesus or not.

Hope is what makes our waiting life-giving instead of life-tolerating.

When we hope in the promises of life with Jesus we wait knowing that when the time is right, when the paths are straight, Jesus will fulfill the rest of the prophecy and come again.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

My Psalm 51

2020-06-07T07:26:00.006-05:00

Merciful God, You are gracious and merciful.

You alone are fully righteous and holy.

I am lowly and sin-stained.

I am deserving of your wrath.

Be patient with me.

Be merciful to me.

Mete out Your judgment in Your mercy

Not the wrath I deserve.

When I close my eyes and try to cover my shame,

Remind me of Your holiness.

When I struggle to admit my failings to follow You as You deserve,

Rebuke and correct me

In Your mercy.

Make me truthful when I try to excuse my

laziness, sloth, selfishness.

Forgive and rebuke me.

You alone can wipe away my shame.

You alone can cleanse me from my stubbornness.

You alone are worthy.

Make me fully Yours.

Make my will to be entirely Your will.

Make me wholly one with Your perfect

plan for me.

I will follow.

I will encourage.

I will praise

You. Only You.

Written from lesson prompts on Psalm 51 from Discovering Hope in the Psalms

Consider the Source

2020-05-16T14:56:00.000-05:00

When I was very young my mom told me many times to "consider the source". I always took it to mean that the other "source" was somehow less than me. I don't know that is how she meant it, but that is how I took it. He or she wasn't worth my hurt feelings because they weren't as good as me in some way, or worth as much as me in some way. Of course as an adult, I completely understand how my childish understanding was skewed. However, I do believe in the statement "consider the source". Let me give a few examples why "considering the source" is helpful.

A person who has never had a cavity requiring a dentist to fill it may not understand why another person doesn't look forward to going to the dentist.

A person living in California may not understand why a person from the Midwest might have reservations about visiting the San Andreas fault area. The person in the Midwest might not understand why a person from California might be concerned about the possibility of tornados.

If we want to love people, we must "consider the source". I need to understand where a person comes from to understand the way they view the world. I need to understand how my use of words may differ from the way others use words. I remember when I learned that "I am anxious to go on vacation" did not mean excited to go on vacation, but meant worried about going. I had used that sentence completely wrong.

If a person was abused as a child, or if a spouse was unfaithful, certain "jokes" or ribbing can be hurtful rather than funny. A person with OCD doesn't appreciate me saying that I have a touch of OCD. A person who has suicide touch their lives flinches when someone says they'd shoot themselves if they had to [insert something lame like "eat beets"].

To love other people, consider the source.

To not be hurt by other people, consider the source. Everyone knows only what they know. You don't know if some nickname is hurtful, or if some good-natured ribbing strikes a raw nerve. Do not be offended easily. Consider the source. Did they intentionally hurt your feelings? If not, consider that they just didn't know enough to not hurt you. If so, consider that they themselves are somehow insensitive to the plight of others.

Consider the source - as often as you can.

Refine gold in me

2020-05-14T10:54:00.000-05:00

Several things today popped up about being refined. I listened to a sermon this morning about digging deep into your thoughts and motivations then got home and started reading devotions. The first book I picked up is called Everyday Life in Bible Times. I haven't picked up this book for months. It is a beautiful book of pictures and rich descriptions of things, terms, and concepts in the Bible. I started where I left off last time I read it. The word was smelt (to refine metal). Next, in my chronological Bible, I am to a grouping of Proverbs full of verses about examining motives and the heart and references to refining.

Proverbs 16:2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Proverbs 17:3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.

Proverbs 27:21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but people are tested by their praise.

I don't know about you, but when I see the same words or ideas repeated like this, I TRY to take notice. That is what this blog post is about, me taking notice and sharing what I notice.

Gold ore:

1) Silver is refined in a crucible, gold in a furnace. A crucible is a container that will withstand the heat needed (1,763 Deg F for silver!!) For temperatures this high they'd have to use a furnace.

2) The high temperatures are for melting the silver and the gold (or other metal in ore) to release it or recover it.

3) The process of refining takes several steps, or rather several repeats of the same steps - melt silver or gold, skim off the slag or dross (waste material) and repeat until there is no more dross.

4) Refining is extracting the valuable metal from the ore thus increasing the value of the metal by removing the impurities.

5) Smelting is extracting any metal from an ore using heat.

From these concepts I get this from the Proverbs and other Bible verses.

1) We are refined, not smelted, like valuable metal with impurities in, on and through us.

2) We must be put in the heat to separate those impurities from us. Think about friendships or relationships that had to be removed from our lives.

3) This process will be repeated and repeated and repeated.

4) Eventually it may be hard for others to easily see the impurities. We must be diligent to examine our motives and our hearts to get at underlying, imbedded impurities that are hard to identify.

5) God will weigh our impurities.

6) When we confess, we are dumping some of those impurities and we will weigh less!

I think we can be proactive in this refining process. I believe we can come to God with our motives and ask for help. When our impurities aren't hidden from God (as if THAT were possible), I'm guessing less heat of the furnace is necessary. We can also ask godly people around us to help us see our impurities. This requires a great deal of trust and may be hard to find but how do we see the impurities if they aren't pointed out and examined?

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

In trying to learn a bit about this smelting/refining process I found a phrase that I like: "Gold can be concentrated and recovered". (see link for whole process) I like that. Gold in us can be concentrated and recovered. No matter what we've done to introduce the impurities, the gold in us can be recovered. God made us in His image, which is pure. And for those who believe in Jesus, we will be without impurities someday. Let's try to recover the golden image of God until that day comes.

Hope Anchors

2020-05-13T14:02:00.001-05:00

I often say that I hope this happens or that happens. Sometimes I get corrected. "Don't you mean you'll pray about it" or some other correction. People want to call my faith into question when I say "I hope". That is wrong thinking. To have hope is to have faith. I hope because I have faith. Hope is part of my faith. Hope anchors my faith.

We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19a NIV

What is hope? How does it anchor our soul?

For me, hope bubbles up from my faith that God is good, that God knows best, that God has everything under control and that He loves me and desires all good for me. In fact, He works all things for the good of those who love Him. Sometimes good has to be worked through. To get good, we have to strain and struggle. The butterfly won't fly if it doesn't work to get out of the cocoon as nature intended - I mean chrysalis, not cocoon. A toddler doesn't learn to walk unless allowed to, which also means allowed to fall.

Hope reflects my belief that God is trustworthy and that God knows everything. It also reflects that I don't know the whole story. When I hope something happens I only hope it happens if it is the best thing, the thing that God wants to happen. If someone being healed keeps them from becoming a Christ follower, then it is better that they not be healed. Does that seem hard? Yes, but if I trust God, if I truly believe in His promises, both the easy ones and the hard ones, I have to believe He will work to bring that person to Christ in His way of doing it.

My hope anchors my faith to God's goodness, not to my plans but to His. Hope anchors my faith when "bad" things happen because I know that God is all-powerful and all-knowing and is in full control of any and every situation. Satan has to go through God to be allowed to anything. I believe this so my hope is to remember it when I am hurting or my loved ones are hurting. God allowed this whatever to happen for His good purposes. It could be to teach me something, to build me up in some way, to grow my dependence upon Him, to bring Himself glory.

Hope anchors me to God's goodness. When I say I hope, I am applying God's goodness to the situation. I may also pray for that which is oftentimes necessary. But even if I don't, God is still good. His goodness isn't dependent upon my prayer life.....thank God.

Extravagant, Loving Father

2020-05-09T11:59:00.000-05:00

God's love for us is revealed in the story of the two sons, the younger, irresponsible son and the older responsible son. Let's not focus on the sons, but on the father. Read Luke 15. Especially verses 17 - 24 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. [accents mine]

I noticed something today that I had not put together before. The story in Luke 15 is a pre-telling of Jesus on the cross in Luke 23. Now read Luke 23:40-43 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

The son's father ran to greet his wayward son. In this culture, this was very undignified and unseemly for this older man to run. How dignified do you think Jesus was, battered, bruised and hanging on the cross? Galatians 3:13 says that anyone hanging on a tree is cursed - (see Deuteronomy 21:23 ESV). That sounds undignified and unseemly to me.

In Luke 15, when the son returned home, his father didn't grill him about where he'd been, what he'd done, how much money he had left. He didn't ask him anything. He simply invited him back into full loving familial fellowship with him.

Notice the same is true of the criminal hanging next to Jesus on the cross. Jesus didn't ask if he'd been baptized or to list his crimes or to ask for forgiveness. Jesus didn't ask the criminal, "what have you learned?" He simply responded in the most loving way He could have; He welcomed him into fellowship. Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Contrast this with the way that David dealt with Absalom in 2 Samuel (Link for the full story.) David's response to Absalom is in 2 Samuel 14:28 Absalom lived two years in Jerusalem without seeing the king’s [David's] face. To be honest, Absalom did not act like the son in the parable. Absalom had not returned to his father; he was not humbling himself (see verse 32). David had the expected response to Absalom's actions. The hearers of the parable Jesus told in Luke 15 would have expected this type of response to the irresponsible, murderous son's actions. They would have been blown away by the father's actions in this parable, His extravagant, irrational, over the top response to his son's return, regardless of what had came before.

No one expected Jesus, part of the Triune God, to become so low as to accept the criminal and all of us back into fellowship with Him. The parable of the prodigal son(s) could be more appropriately called Extravagant, Loving Father. God our Father is waiting and watching for us as we approach from a distant country. He watched and still watches for our approaching and while we are still far off, He runs to us after hanging on a cross for us and calls us back into relationship with Him. He puts the best robe on us, sandals on our undeserving feet and throws a feast for us as angels rejoice in heaven. Think of the excitement.

Why does bad stuff happen? Why, God?

2020-05-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

I have a rather flippant answer for why does bad stuff happen. I don't mean for it to be flippant but I'm certain it sounds that way. However, I get the answer straight from the Bible.

Here is the answer: to know God, really KNOW God.

Many places in the Bible, things happen that are not "good" by our standards. Job lost his wealth and if that wasn't bad enough, he lost his children too. There was nothing (apparently) good about the situation. However, because of his great loss, he was able to gain strength in his knowledge of who God is and in his own trust in a good God.

As early as Exodus 4:5, God states His reasons for doing something. "This", said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers -.....has appeared to you."
In Exodus 8:10, God, through Moses says "It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God."
Deuteronomy 4:35 states that "You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other."

There a many, many other examples of scripture explaining why God does the things He does or allows the things He allows. We know that satan roams around the earth looking for someone to devour (Job 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:8) We know from Job that satan had to ask for permission to touch Job's family and wealth. Also from Job, we know that God told Satan to look at Job. See verse 8. If we believe that God is a good God, this is a perfect time to question, why call Satan's attention to Job?

My thoughts: 1) Satan has to ask permission to bother or otherwise hurt us. So we understand that God has ultimate control/power to make things happen or stop things from happening. This is comforting to me. Because "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
2) God is good, all the time. I recognize this because of the many, many ways He has shown His love....the biggest example, of course, is the death and resurrection of Jesus to pay for all sin so we can be with God for eternity.
3) If God is good, and if satan has to get permission, God must have some plan or purpose for whatever a person goes through. Someone will be blessed; someone will be called into God's fellowship; someone will grow toward God, etc.

Perhaps the bad thing is to take focus off self or whatever the person is focused on toward God.
Perhaps it is to get the person to more fully count on God for everything, to build trust.
Perhaps it is to test the person so that he or she learns that "I can get through it with God's help and that He is ready and willing to help me get through it". (See Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.)
Perhaps it is to make the witness for God stronger - more powerful, more fruitful, more effective for those in that circle of influence.
Perhaps it is to draw attention to God through the reactions /responses of the person going through what a person goes through, causing others to understand a bit more about God.

I know the answer seems unsatisfactory that God allows bad things to happen. But God knows each of us individually. It is in this knowledge that God permits testing and temptation and hardship. He will use this testing and temptation to make our knowledge of Him grow. We learn of God's love, God's generosity, God's comfort (we can't be comforted unless we mourn!), God's peace, God's justice. "Bad" things have to happen for us to appreciate the depth of God and His love and sufficiency for us.

Do Unto Others???

2020-04-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

Do unto others as you'd have them do to you.....

SHOCKER - this is NOT in the Bible - at least not as a stand alone statement. Rather it is part of a list that Jesus tells his disciples in Matthew 7, which is a portion of the Sermon on the Mount which starts in Matthew 5. Matthew 7:12 says "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

This verse, taken by itself without the context of the previous verses, can cause trouble or confusion. Let me explain using an example.

I like to use a thick towel. My husband prefers a thinner towel. When I give him a nice plush towel, I am doing to him what I want done for me, but it isn't what he wants. (I discovered this after 40 years of marriage!)

The point of Matthew 7 is not doing for others like we want done for us. The point is loving others the way we would like to be loved. To do this well, we need to know them well enough to do for them the things they need, would like, etc. It does no good to give a blind person a first edition book of his or her favorite author. It is very good to give them the Braille edition or an audio edition.

Another point of Matthew 7, rather the entire Sermon on the Mount is how to properly love another. Do not judge but accept correction from others as they point out the speck (or plank) in your eye. Knock, seek, find and help others do the same. Give good gifts as the Father in heaven gives good gifts.

Wait! How do we do that? How can we possibly give good gifts like our Father in heaven? Here's my thought. When we love other people well, without demanding perfection from them, or expecting an appropriate response to our love, we can open the door to God's agape love through us. We can allow the Holy Spirit to work through us to give those good God gifts........ so that HE can make the offer of the ultimate good gift, salvation.

Do unto others as they'd like done to/for them and as you'd have done to/for you - love them into God's presence.

"Watch" Church or Worship

2020-04-20T11:01:00.001-05:00

During this time of stay-at-home, we don't get to attend church. We aren't able to physically visit church family and we don't like it. However many church families are able to "participate" in church at home. Churches are using Facebook Live or YouTube or possibly other methods of televising worship services. I have to admit that I like the conference meeting method because I can see the faces of my church family! I've seen pictures of communion at home, drive-in style worship services where people view a big screen. I've seen drive-up confessional services. It's all been rather neat.

I have noticed that when I watch my church's Sunday Worship, I have 2 choices. I can sit and watch it like a television show. OR I can participate. I participate when I prepare for church like any other Sunday such as dressing for service, putting on make-up and styling my hair. I can participate by standing when we're supposed to stand, bow my head during prayer, sing aloud during songs, read aloud the appropriate responses. I have discovered that the more I participate this way, the more I am actually worshiping God, not just watching someone else worship God.

Don't get me wrong. It is not the same as being there. I like to see and talk to my church family. I like to use the hymnal for songs I don't know well. I like the pew bible when it differs from the Bible on my phone. I like singing Happy Birthday to those who have birthdays and listening to people announce their prayer concerns and their joys.

But during this time of staying-at-home as a way of loving our neighbors, we need to keep up the habit of actually attending church - participating in the service to the greatest extent possible. Don't play games on your phone. Don't read Facebook posts. Don't get up and get another cup of coffee (tea for me). Fully participate as if you are in the sanctuary during the service. Use this time just like any Sunday in the attitude of worship, from your heart, participating in thanking God for His mercies.

Who is Jesus - to you?

2020-04-19T10:42:00.000-05:00

I walk most mornings. Usually about the length of a sermon or other Bible teaching - some are much longer than others! This morning I listened to a podcast by Chip Ingram with Living On The Edge. I don't remember the sermon except that it was a teaching on the gospel of John. That gospel is a testimony of who Jesus is. John states his purpose in John John 20:30-31.

The question I do remember in the sermon is "Who is Jesus to you?" I tried to honestly answer this question in my head as I was walking:

Saviour, Master, Lord, Brother, Friend, Guide, Teacher, Authority, Light, Accountability partner -

Wait, what? Accountability partner?

I had never thought of Jesus being my accountability partner. But upon reflection of this stunning revelation I discovered that He tries to be my accountability partner!!! ("Tries" because I'm not very good at listening.)

When I go for another snack - which I don't need or even have room for! - I hear this in my head - "You don't need that. You'll regret eating it. You don't even really want it."

Or when I'm sitting doing absolutely nothing, sort of watching some dumb TV show while playing some stupid mind-numbing game on my phone, I sense that I should be or could be studying, writing, or putting together a Bible Study, or sewing masks, or any number of other things that are helpful right now.

Accountability partner. Jesus can hold me accountable when I let Him. I have to pay attention just like with any accountability partner. I have to listen and act accordingly.

For the other side of the partnership, because Jesus is perfect, I just need to praise Him, tell Him that He deserves all honor and glory and majesty, that He is perfect and His plans are perfect, that He is worthy of my obedience. And to thank Him for calling me into accountability.

I sure need a lot of practice listening to Him. I often ignore those nudges. I hope He doesn't get tired of reminding me. I pray I get better at listening and heeding His admonitions!!

My Works Don't Get Me Anywhere

2020-04-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

If my good works won't earn me a spot in heaven, will my evil works earn me a spot in he**- well, you know?

God doesn't want anyone to perish or to be separated from Him which would be he** - well, you know. God sent Jesus to save us. God is patient as evidenced that it's been 2000 years since Jesus was bodily here the first time. He is coming back - His followers believed his second coming would be soon - most of us don't think 2000 years as soon. So why the delay in Jesus coming back?

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is slow, patient, delaying judgment because He doesn't want anyone to perish. He is waiting for us all to come around to accept his amazing gift. I don't mean to say that He will wait forever - just that He isn't ready to pull the plug yet.

There have been times when I wonder or comment about certain sins keeping someone out of heaven. I've said, "well, I don't think that [insert sin here] will prevent them from going to heaven." So about individual sins, I've somehow determined that sins don't keep us from heaven and God. Except one......to refuse the gift of God's mercy.

If only one sin prevents us from entering heaven, other sins don't cause us to spend eternity in he** - well, you know. Right? A person can sin and sin and sin, really horrible stuff and not have to spend eternity separated from God. People can call out to God on their death bed with an earnest heart and be saved. So other than that, my deeds are not going to save me or condemn me.

Only 1 thing saves us (or condemns us) and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection. Period. We either accept that gift or we refuse that gift.

Sometimes we believe we can tell if a person has accepted the gift......by watching their actions. Some people though are just kind, generous, caring, etc. They appear to the observer that they have accepted the gift. Sometimes [we think] we can tell if a person has refused the gift. They seem to be evil. However, we cannot see the heart. Only God can do that. Only God knows if a person has accepted the gift or not.

Therefore, we must accept everyone as though they have accepted or will accept God's gift. That is what we should do. We should treat people as though we expect to bump into them walking the streets of gold someday. What a different world that would be!

Come, You of Little Faith

2020-04-17T09:09:00.000-05:00

Matthew 14:28 - 31 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

You of little faith; why did you doubt?

Notice Jesus didn't ask, "why did you doubt me?" Jesus was asking about doubt, but not necessarily doubt in Jesus. He could ask us the same question. How often do we have doubt in ourselves or our circumstances? Oftentimes, I find that I have loads of faith in Jesus but doubt that I can do whatever. I don't know if I will succeed or complete the task or do it as well as someone else. I sink.

Instead of trusting in the call - Jesus beckoned Peter "Come", - we trust in ourselves. On a good day, we answer the call by climbing over the edge. Then we begin to leave the call by looking at the water and feeling the wind. We lose our focus on the call. We leave faith behind to do the task.

I wonder if Jesus is asking Peter to evaluate his faith. What would big faith look like? We know what little faith looked like. Peter got out of the boat then after a few steps he called out as he was sinking. What would the scene be if Peter had had big faith?

Big faith for Peter might have been walking on the water for minutes instead of steps. It might include calling to the others to join them in the journey of walking on water. Big faith makes the impossible possible.

What if we had big faith to answer the call AND keep our focus on the fact that Jesus called us to do this whatever He's called you to. Not focus on the project, program, ministry opportunity but on the fact that Jesus called us.

Jesus calling us means some important things.

1) Jesus is talking to us, communicating with us. The WORD that created everything is talking to us. Ponder on that a minute.

2) Jesus has a plan that He is asking us to be part of. What an amazing thing!! We have the opportunity to participate in God's work on earth.

3) Jesus didn't ask Peter to "come" because He knew Peter would sink. He bid him "come" because He knew that Peter could walk on the water. If He calls us to something it's because He knows we can do it, likely only because of His help, but we can do it.

4) Jesus has enough faith for the two of us. He didn't sink. He pulled Peter back up to the surface where his feet were back on the water, or perhaps He carried Peter back to the boat. Regardless Jesus had enough faith for both of them.

5) Doubt has a part in faith. We need to evaluate where our doubt lies. We can doubt ourselves, but have faith in the One who calls us and knows where we will need help and where we will need encouragement to keep going. Our doubt needs to be limited....to not think more of ourselves than we ought. Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Some have more doubt than others - according to the faith God has distributed to each of us. That is fine. But don't have too much faith in yourself. Peter would have sunk immediately if he'd depended on his own power to walk on the water.

Oh, come, you of little faith. God has plans in which he's inviting you to participate. He'll supply everything needed.

Nothing to say. Write anyway

2020-04-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

I am sitting at my laptop trying to think of something to blog about. Nothing comes to mind, except write, uh type, anyway. So that's what I'm doing. I think that perhaps the biggest lesson we learn from Christ is to do as we're told. Obey. Jesus was obedient all the way to a cross on Calvary.

Jesus asked that He not have to go that far, but He did anyway. He didn't want to go through the agony, the excruciating pain of it all, the desolation and alone-ness. Do you know that excruciating comes from the same Latin root as crucify and cross? This pain is so bad and unique to crucifixion that they had to come up with a new word for it!

Jesus, knowing all things like He does, didn't want to experience that kind of pain but He was obedient. He obeyed. He wanted to please His Father.

Hebrews 5:7- 9 says During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

Jesus prayed and petitioned God to find another way. He suffered. He was made perfect because He suffered and was obedient. I wonder if they same can happen for us. If we obey when we suffer will we become perfect? Of course, we won't know because by then we'll be in heaven - where everyone is the perfect image of Christ, adorned as His bride.

I want to obey, even it it ends up as nothing more than rambles. I want to obey in the easy stuff as practice obedience for the harder stuff. Practice. Obedience. I want to be like Jesus.

Take up Your Cross

2020-04-13T14:38:00.001-05:00

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25 NIV

I have tried to understand this from the perspective of the people who first heard it. When Jesus said this to his disciples, what did they think he was saying about taking up their cross?

Today I read something that has helped me a little bit. It was the Roman way to force the criminal to carry the instrument of their own death to their place of execution. One place I read that the condemned likely carried the crossbeam rather than the whole cross which could weigh 300 pounds or more. The crossbeam was a more manageable 45 - 50 pounds. The upright posts may have already been in place of final execution. The condemned "carried" the crossbeam that may have been tied or nailed to them.

Based on this information, I have some thoughts.
1) We are to take up our cross - not be forced to carry our lot but rather volunteer to carry the load given to us.
2) Jesus was unable to carry his crucifixion cross all the way and had to have help - so we can get help and accept help from Jesus Christ.
3)We are condemned criminals - We would not have a cross to carry if we weren't condemned criminals. Thank God for Jesus that we when we accept His sacrifice, we are no longer condemned but free to carry the cross of self-sacrifice for others.
4) We are asked to carry the cross - take it with us from one place to another. To carry the cross of self-sacrifice to help others.
5) Jesus offers us the method of our execution - He is the tool that we are able to use to rid ourselves of the things that tie us to our sinful nature. Jesus is our way of executing our sinful nature.
6) I can carry Jesus with me to the place where I execute my sinful nature anywhere and anytime it shows up.
7) The crossbeam can represent my relationship with other people while the upright post represents my relationship with God. I should carry the crossbeam, or my relationship with others, with me daily as an act of self-sacrifice for others.

I'm certain there is more to what the disciples got from the command to carry their crosses. The Bible is so layered. But this is a start to understanding another level - not just self-sacrifice or tolerating persecution. I'll try my best to voluntarily pick up my cross and to carry it.

Promises - God's Promises

2020-04-09T09:05:00.000-05:00

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection. (Psalm 91:4)

He, of course, is our God Almighty. His promises become our armor and our protection from all sorts of things, internal and external. In order for these promises to become our armor, to BE our armor, we have to know the promises. The Bible is full of God's promises. The more we know the more protected we are and the thicker our armor becomes. (See Ephesians 6:10-17)

This one verse has a promise or two, maybe three depending how you count it.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Isn't this a promise?

Picture a bird in its nest with its baby birds. The baby birds are gathered close, under the warmth of the feather-covering that hides them and protected them from weather. The parent bird chirps out warnings and threats to anyone or anything that gets too close.

God gathers us close, hiding us in His warm, sheltering, protecting embrace.

If we want God's promises to be our armor and our protection, we need to know what the promises are and learn them. I challenge you to look through scripture for promises from the big ones (Rainbow) to the small ones like the ones in Psalm 91:4. Some promises are for everyone for all times (Rainbow) and others are only for believers (Romans 8:28). I think some are for this moment and this person. But I know there are promises for me that I have not claimed yet because I have not spent the time to KNOW them and make them my armor, my protection, my shelter. I should do better letting God love me and comfort me and protect me. Amen.

Radiant

2020-03-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 34:5 NIV Those who look to Him are radiant,
their faces are never covered with shame.

I want to talk about reflecting the radiance of God's glory. I read the above verse in Psalm 34 today as part of my devotional reading and thought immediately of Moses' face being so brilliant that the people around him were afraid to look at him. In Exodus 34, Moses was on the mountain in the presence of God. He was there for 40 days. After these 40 days with God (verse 29), Moses' face was radiant "because he had spoken with the LORD". His face was radiant, glowing, shining with God's glory because he had spent time with God. It was so bright in fact that the people were afraid and wanted him to put a veil over his face when he was with them.

Psalm 34:5 says that "those who look to Him [God] are radiant." When we spend time in the presence of the LORD God, we are radiant. We shine. We glow with the same radiance that shown on the face of Moses. Perhaps we won't glow such that people want us to cover our faces with a veil, but we will glow with the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Song to remember these!!)

When we spend time with God in prayer during times of trouble, we may feel, then exhibit more peace and faithfulness. When we spend time with God in worship, we may have more love and joy to share. When we spend time with God in meditation we may become more patient, kind, and good. Time with God can work in us to be more gentle and to exercise more self-control. These characteristics will make us radiate God. We will be radiant of the One we look to.

The second half of Psalm 34:5 speaks of never being covered in shame. If we are radiant from spending time with God, we will not be shameful, ever. We will reflect Christ, God's perfect image in human form. We will shine. There is no room for shame, only the radiance of God's glory......when we spend time with God.

Let's make an intentional plan to do that daily, as often throughout the day as possible. Pray (converse with God). Study. Meditate. Worship. Sing songs of praise. Write and talk about God's goodness. Be grateful. Be thankful. Express love and devotion to God. Confess and repent where necessary. Do all of this as often as possible - Spend time with God. Then you will radiate God's glory and bear no shame, ever.

Fruit of the Spirit Bible Study lesson 1

2020-03-30T11:13:00.001-05:00

Fruit of the Spirit Bible study Lesson 1

Bible Study by Sherri Harding 3/30/2020

This was originally written to be used for small group discussions. I believe it can be used for individual study. I am posting this for small group study using a social meeting app like WEBEX or ZOOM which during the COVID-19 pandemic is being offered for free use. If you want more lessons, or want this in pdf for download, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Questions below are from Scripture quoted from NIV version. Discuss differences in translations and what that does for your understanding of the verse.

Read Matthew 12: 15-37

Q1: In verses 33 – 35, who is talking? _________________ To whom is he talking and about what? __________________________________ Discuss verse 33.

Q2: What is meant by “Make a tree good” or “bad”? __________________________________

Q3: What fruit did the Pharisees produce? _________________The Pharisees likely thought their fruit was good but Jesus apparently thought otherwise. After all, he called them a brood of vipers! Why did Jesus think otherwise? _______________________

Q4: How does a person bear good fruit?________________________________ Name some “good fruit”. ________________________________________ Name some “bad fruit”. _________________________________ Can some be both good fruit and another time be bad fruit? How? ____________________

_______________________________________________________________Q5: When Jesus said this, the Holy Spirit had not yet been sent to believers. How does having the Holy Spirit make it easier to have “good stored up” in us? (Verse 35) ____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Q6: Does having the Holy Spirit help a person deal with or prevent evil stored up in us? ___ How?______________________________________________

Read John 15: 1 – 5

Q7: Who is talking? ______________ To whom and about what? _____________

__________________________________________________________________

Q8: Discuss the “fruit” that Jesus talks about in this verse in comparison to the fruit of in Matthew 12:33. __________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Q9: Why might Jesus reference trees in Matthew and vines and branches in John ______________________________________It seems that Jesus is comparing Pharisees to bad trees but wants his disciples to be more like branches of a vine. Why? (Think about the characteristics of trees and vines/branches.) _______________________________________

Read Galatians 5:19 - 23:

Q10: Who wrote these verses? ____________ Who is he writing to and what about?___________________________________________________________

Q11: In most translations the first word in verse 22 is “But”. Why?_____________________ Discuss verses 19-21. Discuss the fruit in verses 22-23. What is the origin or basis for each list? _______________________

____________________________________________________________

Q12: In what ways is this fruit different from the fruit in Matthew 12 and John 15? ___________________________________________________________ In what ways is it the same? _______________________________________

Q13: What does “fruit of the Spirit” mean? ____________________________ How would it be different if the verse said “fruits of the Spirit”?_______________________________________________________________

How does the Spirit produce fruit?_____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Something to discuss:

· Jesus used the imagery of a tree bearing fruit in reference to the Pharisees and the branch connected to the vine bearing fruit in reference to His disciples. Discuss how these differ. What might describe Judas? How might you be described most times?

· Discuss the “fruit” of the Pharisees, bearing fruit of the True Vine, and the fruit of the Spirit resulting from “walking by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16 – 23). Example, are some equated with works, works done with differing attitudes? The fruit of the Spirit may be internal to a person. Fruit of the Spirit may be the internal attitude which becomes outwardly obvious in works. These works may be menial tasks done with great joy or going through hardship with a sense of peace.

FYI on Galatians from Wikipedia: Catholic tradition follows the Vulgate version of Galatians in listing 12 fruits: charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity (kindness), goodness, longanimity (forbearance), mildness (gentleness), faith, modesty, continency (self-control), and chastity. CHALLENGE: For extra study, learn what the “Vulgate” is. Does this make a difference to your understanding of this passage?

Obstacles Between Us

2017-06-27T12:31:00.001-05:00

For full disclosure, I want to say up front that this was inspired by a talk that is part of series of talks for the Walk to Emmaus. The talk is always given by clergy and is titled Obstacles to Grace. This is not that talk, but it is somewhat inspired by it.

I thought I’d share a bit about the obstacles to grace that we sometimes put between us and God and between us and others.

First I want to say that God’s grace is free.

It is endless.

It is for everyone.

It is amazing to me that we are even extended God’s grace, because we certainly don’t deserve it!

It is amazing to me that He provides us with anything at all, especially His Grace.

What is grace? Unmerited favor…. It is a gift freely given - the recipient having done nothing to deserve it, and no expectation of paying it back or requirement for paying it forward. Several years ago, we did a lock in for the youth where Pastor Gil Hubbard was tasked with getting the youth to understand a bit of what grace is. He asked for a volunteer. A few hands went up. He reached in his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill and handed it to a volunteer. Suddenly all hands shot up hoping to get a $20. Unlike God, Pastor Hubbard’s grace did have a limit. He asked the group if the volunteer deserved the $20. He asked if the volunteer was more special than any of the others. Of course, the answer was no. All the volunteer did was to remove the obstacle to the pastor’s grace by trusting him enough to say yes.

I wonder what bits of God’s grace I miss when I don’t trust enough to say yes. There have been times when I was given the opportunity to volunteer for something when I didn’t raise my hand. What moments of grace did I miss then? Did I miss a hug from someone? Did I miss a special feeling of accomplishment for obeying God’s call? Did I miss an opportunity to share a bond with a potential new friend?

The Bible is full of stories of obstacles to grace. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite missed an opportunity to extend God’s grace to the injured man. We don’t know their obstacles to grace, perhaps selfishness or fear. We do know that they themselves were obstacles to grace for the injured man who had to suffer even longer because they did not respond. The Samaritan enjoyed God’s grace as he offered God’s grace by helping the injured man. And what a great witness to the innkeeper.

Martha’s obstacle to grace may have been pride as she complained to Jesus when she chose not to sit at the feet of Jesus with her sister, Mary.

Jonah’s obstacles were disobedience and prejudice while fleeing from God’s call to go to Ninevah when ended him up inside a fish.

Fear was the obstacle that prevented King Saul and the rest of the Israelite army from slaying Goliath, the giant of the Philistine army. Their fear allowed the shepherd boy named David to enjoy God’s grace when David slew Goliath with a single stone. This gift of God’s grace extends all the way through history as we continue to talk about it.

In the parable of the prodigal son, we see several obstacles to grace. In the younger son we see his greed and selfishness and his pride before it gave way to humility. The older son’s attitude prevented him enjoying his father’s grace when he refused to attend the welcome home party. Was his obstacle to grace an attitude of jealousy or maybe he resented being left behind when his brother left?

Like the older son, we sometimes miss out on God’s grace because of some misplaced boulders between us and others. We have hurt feelings so we add a rock to that protective wall around us so THAT person can’t hurt us again. We misinterpret someone’s bad day as a personal attack. How insensitive to assume their attitude is about us!

Another obstacle is gossip – now there is a boulder we all share at one point or another during our lives. We pass along some tidbit of information, which may or may not be true, or even if it is true, adds no value to a relationship. Gossip puts the obstacle of mistrust between us. If you will gossip to me you will likely gossip about me.

I’ve already touched on pride. For me personally, I find that when I let someone hurt my feelings, it is because of my pride. Why would I put that obstacle between us? I’ve really been trying of late to err on the side of grace. When my feelings get hurt, I decide that it was not intentional; it was not meant to hurt me. I’m trying to not let it mess with the grace-filled day that God has given me. I prefer to err on the side of grace. Expect the best from someone, even when they don’t live up to it. This is something I have been practicing with varying degrees of success. Err on the side of grace.

What other obstacles to God’s grace do we fall victim to? How about un-forgiveness? Someone does something that they should apologize for but they don’t. When we harbor un-forgiveness for that person, we are certainly restricting God’s grace to us. We may also be restricting God’s grace through us by the way we treat them. Not only do we hold onto the baggage of un-forgiveness, we chuck rocks at offender too, in prideful un-forgiveness.

Another type of un-forgiveness is when we do not forgive ourselves. We feel guilty about something we’ve done, or think we’ve done, or should have done but didn’t.

If God can forgive me, no matter what I’ve done, and God can forgive everyone else no matter what they’ve done, even those I’m harboring un-forgiveness for, shouldn’t I do the same and forgive?

Even forgive the one who won’t apologize, who cheated me or lied to me or slandered me or hurt me-

You fill in the blank……… I must even forgive the one who did [blank] to me or my loved one.

Another nearly universal obstacle is preventing someone else from giving to us, or helping us. Oftentimes God places someone in our lives to show us His grace in personal ways. If we don’t allow those personal ways to be demonstrated, we are denying God’s grace to us and preventing another person to show God’s grace to us.

Has the obstacle of fear prevented you from fully enjoying God’s gift of grace? Maybe you didn’t go on that mission trip or visit the hospital or walk on water. We sometimes almost make fun of Peter. Matthew 14:28 -29 says “Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

Peter WALKED ON THE WATER. He walked on the water….. just like Jesus did.

Then fear took over – verse 30…….”But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Instead of the gospel writer saying that Peter had a chat with Jesus while they walked along on the water, scripture says “he was terrified and began to sink.” Typically that is the part we remember, almost like it is funny. Yeah, He sank; Peter sank like a rock. Good thing Jesus was there to save him!

Instead we should be talking about the grace that Jesus extended to Peter, “come walk on the water with me”. Fear prevented Peter from fully enjoying Jesus’ gift of grace. We tend to more identify with the Peter who sank than the Peter who walked on the water. Fear is that kind of obstacle.

One of the biggest obstacles to grace is me, myself and I. The I in SIN. I read a book called War of Gods by Kyle Idleman. He has a chapter for various gods we may or may not know we worship in some fashion. The last chapter is about the god of ME. a focus on me; how am I hurting; how do I feel; who cares about me; what about me? Or I don’t want to do that. I can’t do that. I won’t do that….. Or…. if I can’t, then I don’t want you to. I want the focus on me. How can I look good?

To be honest, it would come as a complete shock to most of us we were told that we sometimes behave that way. Oftentimes we hear a sermon and we are sure the pastor is talking about us, but other times we are certain the pastor is talking about that person, or this person, anyone but me, thinking “I wish so and so would get the message.”

Another obstacle to grace is ignoring God and Resisting God. Jonah is a perfect example of disobeying God, trying to ignore Him. Moses begged to resist God. Saul started out ignoring God but being struck blind brought him around to receive the grace of God in his conversion to become Paul, God’s voice to the Gentiles.

If God calls us to service, whether that means serving others or serving in the church but we choose to ignore it, we are disobeying God.

If God calls us to spend more time with Him in prayer or study and we resist it, we are disobeying God.

In each case that we are presented with an opportunity to serve, pray, study and are called by God to do so, God is extending to us the gift of Grace.

If a person is called to be a pastor but never pursues it, what gifts of God’s grace does that person miss?

A person is called to go on a mission trip but doesn’t go. Which Grace-filled gifts were poured out on the ones who did go?

We are not called by God to be perfect. We are not called to have all the answers.

We are called to obey, to let God work on us

…and in us

…..and through us.

When we resist that, or ignore that we are rejecting the many gifts of God’s grace that He has for us. We are in effect telling Him we don’t need or want His Grace-filled gift.

Jesus calls each of us to “go”. He calls us to go to different places and do different things, but we are all called for something.

We should not disobey, ignore or resist when the Spirit works to move us.

When we disobey, ignore or resist, we block an avenue of receiving or giving the gift of grace from God, in whatever form that grace might take. – making a new friend? Receiving a God-pat on the back? Feeling like we accomplished something in God’s name?

God freely gives us His grace. It is a gift that we must receive – receive is a verb, an action word. We must take hold of it with both hands and continually say, Thank you for this marvelous Gift of grace, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Receiving God’s grace is free from God.

We are the ones who stand in the way. We must stop throwing up roadblocks for ourselves and for others.

I am not saying that every time someone asks us to do something for a charity, or for a church project or program that we are supposed to say yes. When we say yes to things we are not called by God to do, we are actually taking the gift of grace from someone else, who might actually WANT to do that thing we don’t want to do. AND we do not receive the grace because we don’t really want to do it – so our heart is not in the right place.

We are to say yes to those things that God places in our hearts to do. Sometimes those things are scary (like giving a message or being liturgist or praying out loud or going on a mission trip, or doing something to meet new people). Sometimes they just take time. (like sending cards to people who need encouragement or taking communion to shut-ins.) Sometimes it might be to give the gift of grace to someone who has wronged you or hurt you in some way by forgiving them, or erring on the side of grace in case YOU are the one who has misinterpreted the situation. Remember to depend on the Power of the Holy Spirit as the disciples did after Jesus ascension.

If you are not experiencing joy or peace in the degree that you think you should;

if you are holding onto any negative thoughts or feelings about someone or something, maybe, just maybe, you have put an obstacle between you and your ability to receive God’s gift of grace.

Do some praying about that. Ask Jesus to show you what your obstacles are, then ask him to help you remove those obstacles. He’d love to help.

Motive - My One Word

2015-02-21T14:09:00.001-06:00

My One Word: MOTIVE
My chosen Scripture: Philippians 1:18 (NIV)
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

I had a revelation overnight about this. Well, let me tell you the beginning of the story. I've been reading My One Word by Mike Ashcraft. Honestly, I've been reading it for a couple of months. I can't say exactly why it has taken so long. I began reading it then worked on a list of words, had decided I should read the rest of the book to understand the process, thinking that would help choose the "right word", then I decided that was typical me, jumping ahead trying to determine a better process. So I stopped reading until I decided on a word. So as I said already, my one word is Motive.

The next part of the process is to find the scripture using that word. There are five verses with the word motive in it. Who'd have thought MOTIVE was even in the Bible? But sure enough it is there - 5 times.

So here is my revelation. It makes no difference what my motive is. At least it makes no difference in the God-sized scheme of things. The important thing is that in every way, Christ is preached! What a relief!! Even if my motives are selfish, as long as Christ is preached, it doesn't make any difference!

Actually, the revelation included how much "self" was part of my choice of the word MOTIVE. It's amazing to me how much of the time I am focused on me without even knowing it. I was thinking that examining my motive was an attempt at getting away from self by being more self-aware - guess what? That was just another way of putting me front and center. Self is so sneaky!

My Word is still Motive. But I know now that I can use it to be reminded that no motive makes a difference provided Christ is preached. I only need to trust Christ, trust in His plan, trust that ultimately, He will be glorified. I will step forward, regardless of my motive, to glorify and preach Christ. Nothing could be better than that. I will overlook other people's motives for their actions, because it does not matter as long as Christ is preached. Amem.

My Name

2014-08-16T12:27:00.000-05:00

I've listened to Todd Agnew's song New Name on the Reflections of Something album for quite a while. I like the song but I wouldn't have bought the album because of this song. I've got this CD in my car again and been listening to it off and on. Today, though, I was listening to The Message on satellite radio and heard another song that I've heard several times recently. It's by Matthew West and is called Hello, My Name Is.

Today, I got it.....

Today, after hearing both songs repeatedly, I get it.
Just like God gave Abram and Jacob new names. He gave me a new name when I claimed Him as God and Savior. I have a new name.

That name is Child.

At first glance....and second glance.....and likely several glances after that, it is not a particularly an attractive name. It means that all Jesus-followers have the same name.

AHHH, maybe that is (part of) the point! After all, we lose ourselves in that name. We become, we all become, children of the One True King (as the lyric goes). We should have no other identify. We shouldn't be blond, XX years old, green eyes, slightly overweight, proud grandmother, wife and mother. I should be a - one of many- child of the One True King and lose myself, surrender myself, in that name.

It was quite a revelation for me this morning. My name is "child Of The One True King".....the important part of the phrase One True King.
Thank You to my God and King.

Do Unto Others

2012-03-03T10:55:00.003-06:00

Oftentimes, we say we live by the Golden Rule, then quote "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Do you know that isn't in the Bible? It isn't. At least it isn't in the translations I looked at.

I believe that somehow we took "Love your neighbor as yourself", which is in the Bible, spoken by Jesus (See Matthew 22:39), and turned it into "Do Unto Others....

Those two sentences do not mean the same thing. For example, just because I'd like this thing or that thing done for me, does not mean that others would want the same thing done for them. What we need to do is to watch for things that others need or want or like and do those things. This takes more time and effort. It means you need to pay attention to them in much more detail. You really have to care enough to take the time to notice (and remember) things that would make another person feel loved. This is closer to what Jesus said. His commandment wasn't as self-centered as doing for others what YOU want them to do for you. It is doing for others what THEY want done for themselves. Totally different focus and much harder to do.

Help me, Jesus to do as you commanded. To love God with all my heart, mind and soul and to love others as myself - rather, better than I love myself. Amen.

The Lenten Season

2012-02-24T13:00:00.000-06:00

At my church, Lent began on Ash Wednesday with a reading of Psalm 51.

Lent, the time when we are supposed to prepare, reflect, repent, forgive, actually look at ourselves and feel why we need Jesus. A time to understand why we need Jesus. Why we need Jesus....

on the cross,

in the grave,

then triumphantly standing nearby.

Read Psalm 51. The first words are "Have mercy on me, O God...." Isn't that a great way to start Lent? Brought me to silent tears.

Oh, God, Have mercy on me. Forgive my sins. Help me forgive and love as You do. Help me to understand my need for You. Help me to be thankful, so thankful, that I reflect You and Your love and forgiveness to others. Prepare me to fully accept You in my heart and repent from all of my wickedness, even the wickedness that I have yet to acknowledge. Help me. Save me. Thank You for Your sacrifice. Amen

Psalm 51:1-17

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
   according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
   blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
   and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
   and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
   and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
   sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
   you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
   wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
   let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
   and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
   and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
   or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
   and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
   and sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
   the God who saves me,
   and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ O Lord, open my lips,
   and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
   you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
   a broken and contrite heart,
   O God, you will not despise.

Ramification of Disobedience

2012-02-17T13:39:00.002-06:00

Mark 1:40 - 45 (NIV, 1984) A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Look at this act of disobedience and the result.

Jesus told him, with a strong warning, not to tell anyone except the priest of his healing. The man didn't listen. Instead he went out and began to talk freely,....

And the result of this disobedience? As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.

Don't you wonder what the ramifications are of your disobedience to God? I know I whitewash them. "I didn't do that one thing, but I'm sure God took care of it without me." I wonder if I've done things that would cause Jesus to stay "outside in lonely places". Oh, what an awful thought!

Dear Jesus, You Who were the most obedient, please accept my apology for my disobedience. I pray that I haven't done anything that would cause You to stay outside - in lonely places. Come. Fill my house and my life with Your friendship, compassion and wonderful display of obedience. Help me do likewise. Amen.

A Bad Witness Can't Speak?

2012-02-10T14:08:00.000-06:00

Mark 1:32 - 35 ³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus had followers, groupies, people who followed because they were curious or because they needed what Jesus offered. His disciples, at least some of them, knew who Jesus was, the Son of God, part of God Himself. His disciples and some followers knew this because of what they'd witnessed Jesus do and say.

The demons seemed to know before any of that. Jesus prevented them from speaking - "but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was." This appears to be early in Jesus ministry. Recorded in the first chapter of Mark, He's preventing the demons from speaking because they knew who He was.

Why? Why prevent them from telling who He was? Perhaps a bad witness is bad witness. Perhaps someone who openly opposes God does more harm to bringing others to Christ than no witness at all? I really don't like this train of thought. I've been a bad witness, could rightly be called a hypocrite, have held grudges, refused to forgive, ignored calls to help, etc. Does this passage tell us to keep our mouths shut about who Jesus is if we aren't good witnesses?

Another thought from this passage is that Jesus has the control to not allow the demons to speak. He has the power. Jesus has the power to all things or to prevent things. Within that power is the knowledge that Jesus has of the whole story - the past, the present and the future. He knows the results of any given decision or situation. He can permit or prevent. We may never know during this life why certain things happen or don't happen. I think we have to trust that it everything is for the ultimate of God's glory. Perhaps that means what happens will bring someone to Christ who wouldn't come any other way.

Take comfort in knowing that Jesus has the power and that based on His life on earth, He obeys and is only after God's glory. So whatever we go through fits in the plan or is allowed for in the plan. And the plan is God's plan, God's good and perfect plan.

Why do I love Jesus, really?

2012-02-08T13:00:00.000-06:00

I heard a song this morning called "What Love Really Means" by J. J. Heller. I got something from the song that was not what the song was about. One line is "who will love me for me, not for what I've done or what I'll become." The song is about people looking to be loved and of course, Jesus loves them.

What occurred to me while listening is do I love Jesus for who He is, or do I love Him for what He's done for me? I would like to say that I have unconditional love for Jesus, but in reality, I don't. My connection with Jesus started when I realized what He did for me on the cross. I continue to love Him, in part because of what He does for me every single day.

I hope I get to the point where I love Him just because of who He is.
Because He is God, you know. Creator of everything. He, and He alone, is worth of praise.

click here to see the video and hear the song on youtube: What Love Really Means by J.J Heller