conservation of momentum

weakness

2012-01-27T09:43:00.001-06:00

Matthew 14:1-21

On Tuesday evening, I had to pack my bag for my trip to a research conference in Las Vegas. I told Beau, "Well, I guess I need to go upstairs and pack my bag." Beau started climbing the stairs saying, "Pack my bag? Pack my bag?" I felt like I was the worst dad in the world.

Yesterday morning, as I was getting ready to attend the conference, I was so nervous and anxious. I was presenting in a session with three well-known, well-established researchers in my field. I was nervous about how my presentation would compare to theirs. I sang the praise song, "You are my all in all" as I got ready. The line, "You are my strength when I am weak," was very encouraging to me. I confessed how weak I am, and I prayed that the Lord would give me peace.

This morning, as I was getting dressed, I was not anxious or worried at all, and I was excited about a potential research collaboration that was discussed at over dinner last night. I realized how weak I am that my feelings are so fickle. The line, "You are my strength when I am weak," takes on a slightly deeper meaning.

Heavenly Father, I am so weak. Please help me be a good husband, father, and professional. Please help me base my security on your love, which is eternal and constant. I love you, Lord. I am nothing without you. Please help me stay connected to the vine. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

planting

2012-01-25T07:48:00.001-06:00

Matthew 13:1-35

^3-8"What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

Yesterday morning, one of the leaders of one of the Christian student organizations that I advise stopped by my office to talk about school and ministry. He has had some challenges with a few of the engineering courses, and he wanted to get some advice. I encouraged him to persevere and study diligently this semester, and I encouraged him to pray and seek God about the future direction of his life. I am excited about how God might use his engineering skills to advance the Kingdom.

Yesterday afternoon, one of the new professors in engineering was walking by my office, and we struck up a conversation. He gave me a quick tour of his research lab, and I showed him my lab, and we brainstormed some potential ideas for research collaboration. When we got back to my office, he noticed the Chinese print of Hebrews 11:1 hanging on my wall. He told me that the first character means, "believe". As I was flipping to Hebrews 11:1 in my Bible, he told me that he didn't practice religion. I read the verse and explained how this verse is important for me because sometimes you can't see, but you have to believe. You have to trust God. This is faith.

Heavenly Father, thank you for these opportunities to minister on campus. Please help me be open and aware of how I can be available to share your light, love, and life in a non-religious way. I love you, Lord. Please flow through me. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

religion

2012-01-24T08:41:00.001-06:00

Matthew 12:15-50

¹⁵ But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, ¹⁶ but he warned them not to reveal who he was. ¹⁷ This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: ¹⁸ "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
      He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
   I will put my Spirit upon him,
      and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
¹⁹ He will not fight or shout
      or raise his voice in public.
²⁰ He will not crush the weakest reed
      or put out a flickering candle.
      Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
²¹ And his name will be the hope
      of all the world."

I feel so religious recently. I want to love God with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I want to love my neighbor as myself. I want to love in response to His love. But I feel like I'm just going through the motions a lot. I'm tired. I need rest. But I don't know how to rest. Brandi needs rest, too. But she's a 24-7 mom, and the boys use up most of that 24. I realize that the magnitude of my problems is pretty small compared to most people in the world, but it says here that he won't crush the weakest reed. But what about healing the reed? What about restoring the reed? His name is the hope of all the world. I know that this is eternally true, but I want to feel it. I want to have joy and peace when I think about His name being the hope of all the world. I want to experience it for myself, day after day after day. I want to experience His hope.

Heavenly Father, I love you. Please help me. Help me keep running the race with perseverance. Please help me be an encouragement and help to my wife. Please help me be a good leader for my sons. I love you, Lord, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

weary and heavy burdened

2012-01-22T08:53:00.001-06:00

Matthew 11:20-30

^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Yes. Yes. Yes. How? OK, How?

I'm still not sure how.

Heavenly Father, please help me learn how to rest. I feel like resting is wasting time. Think about all of the good things that I could get accomplished instead of resting. I feel guilty and lazy when I am not working. I know resting is important, but how do I do it? Lord, please help me. I love you, and I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

Grateful

2012-01-22T08:44:00.001-06:00

(I forgot to post this for yesterday.)

Matthew 11:1-19

I signed the paperwork on Thursday for accepting a research grant to help people get clean water around El Paso. I am very thankful for this opportunity, and I pray that God will help us do good work. I am also thankful for family and friends who supported me financially to go on the two trips to Ecuador, which served as an inspiration for this research project.

Mitch and Natalie helped support my most recent trip to Ecuador. They have been so influential in our lives. They were leaders in our first Sunday School class in Austin. Then they were leaders in our "Bible Life Group". And out of that group, they were leaders of a home group bible study for years. We learned so much about hospitality and home group ministry from them. I called Mitch the other day and tried to tell him how thankful I am for the way God has used him to grow me, both spiritually and professionally.

Of course, I am also grateful for the support of my wife. She encourages me in my work to do what God has called me to do, and she also helps me keep things in perspective and balance so that I don't get whopperjawed. She is such a devoted wife and mother, and I am very thankful for her.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your kindness and grace to me. Thank you for salvation in Jesus Christ, and thank you for your presence. Please help me keep you always the focus of my life and be listening to your voice and walking with you to see how you will continue to unfold your plans for me to participate with you in advancing your kingdom in all aspects of my life. Please help me take care of my wife and encourage her, and please help me train my children to love you and seek you. Please help me be salt and light at school to my coworkers and students. I love you, Lord. Please help me practice a lifestyle of thankfulness and gratitude. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

harvesting

2012-01-19T08:13:00.001-06:00

Matthew 10:1-28

At the end of Chapter 9, Matthew records Jesus's command for us to pray that God will send out more harvesters into the fields. Matthew 10 is a practical extension of what that looks like with Jesus's disciples. I like the way the MSG translates these verses:

^5-8Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. ^9-10"Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel light.

It seems pretty simple when I think about it this way.

Heavenly Father, please help me see your vision for what you want the Church to look like in following Christ and continuing His ministry. Lord, please help us see what real ministry is, and please deliver all the churches from this notion that they have to have a nice building. The real ministry seems to be in the community where people are, in their homes. Lord, please help us engage people here in El Paso to show them your love and help them experience your healing. I love you, Lord. Please help me be a good harvest worker. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

perspective

2012-01-18T07:52:00.001-06:00

Matthew 9:18-38

^35-38Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. "What a huge harvest!" he said to his disciples. "How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!"

It is so easy to focus on the responsibilities of work and family and miss the big picture. I need to have the focus and compassion that Jesus had - to notice people and how I can help them. I need to pray for harvesters.

Heavenly Father, please help me focus on you and your kingdom and how you might use me to help other people. Lord, please fill me with your love, peace, and joy so that I may be a blessing to others. Please use me to help other people see how they can connect with you and be used by you to help others do the same. I love you, Lord, and I pray in the name of Jesus.

outsiders and insiders

2012-01-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Matthew 9:1-17

I have to confess. For some reason, I feel pretty scandalous reading the Message translation. I feel like I'm not a "real" Christian unless I read the NASB or ESV. I guess I even feel a little inferior reading the NLT. I just love how religion does that to you (sarcastically).

^10-11Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?"

^12-13Jesus, overhearing, shot back, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: 'I'm after mercy, not religion.' I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders."

Inviting outsiders versus coddling insiders. When I first read this, I thought it seems like a tough balance to know how much time and resources to invest in inviting outsiders versus training insiders. I thought the emphasis was on training versus coddling. But I just realized, there is no such thing as "insiders" with God. We are all outsiders.

I realize that by faith in Jesus Christ, God has changed us from enemies to friends, from sons of the devil to sons of God. But if we realize that we are no better than anyone else, that we are all saved by grace, then we might realize that we are all outsiders. In a way, training and discipling people to follow Jesus is simply inviting them to take another step forward, deeper into their experience of God's love.

Heavenly Father, please never let me think I am an "insider" like the Pharisees did. They felt entitled. I hope I always feel grateful and thankful for your mercy and grace. And I hope I communicate that humble gratitude in a way that leads others to consider following and walking with Jesus. God, please help me identify with people who don't yet know you so that I will be considerate of how you might use me to share how much you love us all. I love you, and I want to walk with you. Please help me loose my religion. I pray in the name of Jesus.

storms

2012-01-16T08:11:00.001-06:00

Matthew 8:23-34

Jesus was in the boat sleeping, and a bad storm blew in, and the disciples thought they were all going to die. They woke up Jesus, and he calmed the storm.

I think most of my storms are brought on by me. Sometimes I think about the millions of children around the world with no clean water, no food, no family, no medicine, no school, no political stability... now that's a storm! I am thankful that God has allowed me all of these things, but I know that I will be held responsible for what I have been given. Unfortunately, in the absence of a "real" storm, I guess human nature is to make self-imposed storms.

My work is so crazy these days. Too many deadlines and obligations. But I either agreed to or signed myself up for almost all of it. I know in my head that Jesus does care, but sometimes I feel like He doesn't.

What would have happened if the disciples had let Jesus stay asleep? Would they have been rowing/sailing furiously for hours with little to no forward progress? Maybe I need to wake up Jesus and get Him to calm down my life. Then again, I overbooked myself, so maybe Jesus wants me to learn my lesson so that I don't do it again. I don't want to use Jesus as a "get me out of this jam I'm in" card, but maybe He would settle down my life if I would let Him.

I realize that comfort is not the main objective of Jesus or me; sometimes He lets us go through storms so that we learn to trust Him, and He grows our character. He is not necessarily going to calm every storm. But He does want us to turn over everything to Him so that we can trust that He is in control and that He is with us. It is the awareness of His presence that gives us boldness and power to conquer fear.

I guess that is the real issue - fear. The issue is not whether we are in a storm or not, uncomfortable or comfortable. The issue is whether or not we trust in God's promise to love us, be with us, and grow us to be like Jesus. If I fear anything (other than God), then my faith needs some growth.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your consistent love and patience with me. It seems like it takes me so long to learn spiritual lessons. Please help me grow, and help me to not be a whiner. Lord, thank you for clean water, plenty of safe food, a loving family, plenty of school, and a relatively stable government. Please use me to bless others and show others how wonderful you are, because you are fundamentally good in your character (not because you have allowed me to experience the comforts of all of these things). Lord, please bring peace and rest to my life; I have brought a lot of anxiousness and unrest. I am not necessarily asking you to take me out of the storms that I've gotten myself into, but I want to focus on you and know that you are with me. I want to walk with you. I love you, Lord. Thank you for your promises. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

seeking and trekking

2012-01-13T08:12:00.001-06:00

Matthew 7:1-14

⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. ¹⁴ For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Heavenly Father, your Word says that if I ask then it will be given, so I want to ask you to make my heart want to seek you so that I will find you. And show me how to knock on the door to the narrow path so that it will be opened. And please help me stay on the narrow way. It is hard sometimes. Please don't let me get distracted; show me the way. Please give me endurance and perseverance so that I will keep on walking with you. I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

perfection

2012-01-10T07:34:00.001-06:00

Matthew 5:21-48

⁴⁸ Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Seems like a high mark, to me. Of course, there is no way that I can be perfect. I get angry; I struggle with lust and pride; and I don't want to love my enemies. I need the character of Christ in me. But how do I get it?

Heavenly Father, how do I get close to you? How do I experience your love and allow it to flow through me into the lives of others? How can I be perfect? I don't want to work for your approval in a religious way, but I do want to prove by the way that I live that I am your son. But I think that can only happen if I allow Christ to direct me by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I want to be a spiritual man. Please help me live in the Spirit. I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

hunger and thirst for righteousness

2012-01-09T09:07:00.001-06:00

Matthew 5:1-20

⁶ "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

I want to hunger and thirst for righteousness. But I feel like I'm not very hungry or thirsty. I know in my head that Jesus is the only real satisfaction, but I allow myself to think that other stuff can satisfy, even though I know in my head that it doesn't. I am so tired of running and working so hard at work thinking that if I finish this project or if I land that next big project, somehow that will make me feel better. Maybe I am seeking the approval of men instead of God. Anyway, I am tired of it, because it doesn't satisfy. At least with God, you get satisfaction and rest. With the world, you just end up empty handed and empty inside. And tired.

Heavenly Father, I am sorry that I don't hunger and thirst for righteousness. I want to. Please help me, Lord. Please turn my heart to you instead of whatever it is focused on now. Lord, please let me taste and see that you are good. I know you are because I have in the past. How is it that my heart can drift away so quickly? I love you, and I need you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

beautiful prayers

2012-01-05T23:42:00.001-06:00

After Brandi and I prayed as we put Beau to bed, Brandi asked him if he wanted to pray. I was thinking, "He doesn't know how to pray." She said a couple of words at a time, and he repeated them in a whisper. Beautiful.

repentance

2012-01-05T08:41:00.001-06:00

Matthew 3:1-12

I need to live a life of repentance. Repentance is not just something you do once and then you're done. It is a daily, hourly, continuous process of turning from my own way to God's way.

⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

Sadly, I confess that I have overextended myself in work. I have let the pressures and responsibilities of work consume my mind these past several months. And I need to change. I spent a considerable amount of time over the Christmas break working on a report for work, and I regret it. I have to learn how to leave work at work. I want to do a good job, but I can't let it consume my life.

Heavenly Father, please help me repent of being a workaholic. Lord, I love you, and I need your life breathed in to me. I feel pretty dry these days, probably because I haven't maintained a balance in my life that honors you. Lord, please show me your grace and mercy and lead me to a lifestyle that pleases Christ. I want to work for you, Lord Jesus, not the world. Please give me eyes to see and a heart to believe. I ask in the name of Christ Jesus.

holiday observations and New Year resolutions

2012-01-04T07:55:00.001-06:00

Matthew 2:16-23

A few observations during our Christmas vacation:

Time marches on, quickly. Vacations fly by. Time with family and friends is brief, so make it count. And children grow up fast, so don't miss it.
My Dad reminded me that "We are spiritual beings in physical bodies." But it is easy to be distracted from the spiritual reality by what seems urgent in this world.
Forbearance means "putting up with people". A lot of times, you just need to let stuff go for the sake of preserving harmony.
Investment in other people's pursuit of Christ is worth it.
Fellowship with Brothers and Sisters in Christ will be so sweet in Eternity.

A few New Year resolutions:

Read through the New Testament and pray through each day's Scriptures reading to focus on developing my friendship with Christ.
Meet weekly with several Brothers for discipleship.
Continue learning Spanish.
Have a "date night" at least once per month where we hire a babysitter so that Brandi and I can actually have a real, uninterrupted conversation.
Be proactive and intentional with my family and not work when I get home in the evenings.
Be consistent in daily physical exercise.

Heavenly Father, I want to seek first your Kingdom and your righteousness and trust you to take care of everything else. I want to focus on you - knowing you and walking with you. Lord, please deliver me from selfishness and religion, and help me have a fresh, genuine relationship with you. Lord, please help me show your kindness and love to my family and the people that I work with. I love you, and I need you.

practical Christmas

2011-12-21T12:20:00.001-06:00

Revelation 12

I thought Christmas was supposed to be about Jesus.

Brandi and I have been discussing how we are concerned that value of celebrating the birth of Christ may be severely clouded or even totally eclipsed by all of the social and media hype about Santa and presents. Regardless of how the holiday of Christmas was initiated, the reality is that Christmas is a huge event in our American culture. And while that culture continues to grow more and more secular (i.e., more and more about Santa and all of the stuff that you want him to give you), it seems to me that the Christmas holiday remains a powerful opportunity to focus on the gift of Christ for the salvation of the world. And of course, it is impossible to disconnect His birth and life with His death and resurrection (i.e., Easter), but why not take advantage of the opportunity to focus on Christ and the joy and hope that His birth brings to the whole world?

So, with our children, we are planning on continuing to emphasize the celebration of Jesus's birthday. Some people might think that a birthday party for Jesus is trite, but being the father of a two-year old, it seems to me like a birthday party would be valuable if it is helpful in synchronizing "Christmas" with "Jesus" in Beau's mind. And while we don't want our children to be the ones that "spoil" the hoax of Santa for other children (especially our nieces and nephews), we want to reiterate the centrality of Jesus in Christmas by giving our children three gifts, as a reminder of Jesus receiving three gifts from the Wise Men.

Hopefully, through these practices, we will help our children focus on Jesus instead of getting caught up in the materialism of our society.

Heavenly Father, help us focus on Jesus. Help us help our children to focus on Jesus. Lord, please fill our hearts with joy and peace as we celebrate the birth of Christ. And help us share this joy and peace with others. I pray in the name of Jesus.

dining with Christ

2011-12-12T09:21:00.001-06:00

Rev. 3

^2:7 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.

^2:17 "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

^3:20 "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

My Brother Mark pointed this out to me this morning: life with Christ is about constantly being in fellowship with Him and being filled with His life. We need to be overcomers, faithfully walking with Him. It is both active and passive; we actively pursue Him and obey Him, and we rely on His grace and rest in His salvation.

Heavenly Father, I want to be an overcomer. I want to enjoy the hidden manna and the fruit from the tree of life. I want to share a meal with Christ as friends. Lord, please help me walk in fellowship with you today. Please deliver me from discouragement and despair, an help me share your life with others around me. I love you, Lord, and I need you to carry me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

love one another

2011-12-07T08:42:00.001-06:00

2 John

⁵ I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. ⁶ Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Moses taught it. Jesus taught it. This is not a new commandment. So, why am I so lousy at loving one another?

Heavenly Father, please help me love people the way Jesus loves people. Please pour your love through me. I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

love, sin, victory

2011-12-06T09:36:00.001-06:00

1 John 5

I have been impressed the last few days about how much attention John gives to loving God and loving people (especially Brothers and Sisters in Christ). I need to devote more attention to loving God and loving people, especially in my attitude towards people.

I have also been impressed with the repeating statements about children of God not sinning. I need to take sin seriously. It grieves God, it is not His character, and it is why Jesus died.

And this morning, I am impressed with the certainty of victory as we follow Him:

¹ Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. ² We know we love God's children if we love God and obey his commandments. ³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. ⁵ And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Heavenly Father, I want to love you and love people. Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ and you are the Son of God. I trust you, and I want to walk with you. Lord, I need you. Please grow your character in me. Lord, I want to have the mind of Christ and live your victorious life in the Spirit. I love you, and I devote myself to you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

waiting for His return

2011-12-01T08:55:00.001-06:00

2 Peter 3

⁹ The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise [of Christ's return], as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ... ¹⁴ And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

Last night, instead of having our home group, a few of us attended the worship service of a UTEP student organization called UNO U. They have a student-led worship service in Spanish. It was so refreshing to sing praises in Spanish and see the Lord working through students to share the hope of Christ at the university. Sharing in praise and worship with them reminds me of when Brandi and I were members at Indiana Avenue when we were students. When I participate in a worship service in a different language, it helps me see that Christ and His Kingdom transcend language, culture, space, and time.

I want to be living a holy, godly, pure, and blameless life to be pleasing in His sight. I want to be connected and integrated with His global Body.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience and mercy. Lord, please use me to help share the good news of Jesus Christ while there is still time. Lord, thank you for your grace in my own life; please use me to make disciples of Jesus Christ. I love you, Lord, and I want to serve you and worship you with my life. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

sharing His divine nature

2011-11-29T08:15:00.001-06:00

2 Peter 1

⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. (NLT)

⁴ For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. (NASB)

⁴By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. (AMP)

Sounds like heresy to me. But it's not. The truth is, by faith in Jesus Christ, God forgives us all of our sins, and the Holy Spirit brings life and presence to our human spirits. We are able to experience eternal life because God assimilates us into His family through the work of Christ. We have the opportunity, daily, to be in relational harmony and fellowship with God by worshiping Him in spirit and in truth.

Heavenly Father, I want to maintain good fellowship with you so that I can share in your divine nature. Please help me stay pure in mind and heart so that I can be close to you. Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Please help me keep in step with you. I love you, and I want to know you and honor you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-28T08:31:00.001-06:00

1 Peter 5

⁶ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. ⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday with both of our families.

I am thankful for grace and mercy through Christ. I am thankful for the hope of restoration and recovery; I am thankful that it is Christ who is the author and perfecter of my faith, not me. I am thankful for a sweet and patient wife who loves the Lord. She is such a sincere and genuine person, and she is a devoted wife and mother. I am thankful for two healthy sons who have joyful and peaceful attitudes. I am thankful for loving and supportive families (both mine and Brandi's). I am thankful for a great church body to be a part of with dear Brothers and Sisters. I am thankful for a great job with friendly coworkers and dedicated students. I am thankful for a warm house in the winter, food to eat, and clean water to drink.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithful love, and thank you for your kindness. Thank you for taking care of us. Lord, we can not live apart from you, and we need you every day to carry us. We love you, and we want to walk with you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

wandering or focused?

2011-11-23T09:13:00.001-06:00

James 5

I was sad when I read Hebrews 6:4-6:

⁴ For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come—⁶ and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

But I am glad that James 5:19-20 follows:

¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, ²⁰ you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

So, how do we interpret Heb. 6:4-6 in light of James 5:19-20? Well, my Brother RF says that the Hebrew culture back in Jesus's day regularly used hyperboles (an extremely exaggerated statement) to illustrate points (e.g., It is impossible for a rich man to enter heaven; it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich guy to go to Heaven).

These two verses also stood out to me this morning:

⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. ⁸ You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

I want to be consciously aware that Jesus could return at any moment. And if His return was near two thousand years ago, then I can imagine that we are right on the cusp of His return.

Heavenly Father, I love you. Thank you for your Word and your Truth. Lord Jesus, I love you. Thank you for your sacrifice and love. I want to be ready for you to return at any moment; I want to be expecting your arrival. Holy Spirit, I love you. Please help me keep in step with you. I want to honor you and obey you. Please help me be humble and submissive to your will. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

wisdom and peace

2011-11-21T08:53:00.001-06:00

James 3

⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. ... ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

I have a long way to go in terms of controlling my tongue. I have a long way to go in terms of growing in wisdom and understanding, too.

¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ... ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

I have a long way to go.

But, thinking about one step at a time, what can I do today to grow just a little more. It seems like a recurring theme in Chapter 3 is peace and gentleness.

Heavenly Father, please help me be a peaceful person and a peace maker. Lord Jesus, you brought us peace with God and peace with men; please help me be an agent of your peace today. Lord, please help me be focused on you and your character; Lord, I need you to live your life through me. I love you, and I want to be your servant today. I ask in the name of Jesus Christ.

thankfulness, holiness, and praise

2011-11-18T09:03:00.001-06:00

Hebrews 13

On Wednesday night, we discussed Phil. 4:4-7 and I Thes. 5:16-18, and it seems to me that thankfulness is an antidote to anxiousness:

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As I read Hebrews 12 yesterday, I was impressed by God's holiness and how He wants us to be holy. Perseverance is the word that comes to mind:

¹ Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ... ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ... ¹⁰ For [our earthly parents] disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but [Our Heavenly Father] disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

And this morning, I am impressed that I need to be consistent in praising God:

¹⁵ Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Heavenly Father, thank you for all that you have done for me. I praise you for who you are. I want to know you and walk with you; I want you to be pleased with the righteousness that you grow in me. Lord, I want my life to honor you. I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.