My only living grandparent is my grandmother named Poo (there is a story behind her nickname). Poo is 94 years old. One of her hobbies when I was growing up was hunting for seashells. She would walk along the shoreline and look for unique, colorful, and complete shells. She could spend hours upon hours hunting for that perfect shell. She would take these shells home to clean them and she would make art out of them. Every piece of art she made had a story behind it. She would tell where, when, and how she found those particular seashells. Growing up, I really didn't appreciate her art like she did. If I'm honest, that is the way I probably treat some of the great work done by God.
Exodus 14 tells the remarkable victory of God's people over the Egyptians. The Israelites have fled Egypt and God performs a miracle and parts the Red Sea to allow them to escape the pursuit of the Egyptian army. Just as the Israelites get across the sea, the Egyptians start their pursuit on the same dry bed, but soon God releases the water and drowns all the Egyptians. Exodus 14:30, "That day the LORD saved Israel from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore."
Read that verse again. Let it sink in. God saved His people from the power of the Egyptians. Slavery ended for them that day. Fear ended for them that day. Their kids saw the very people that their parents were in bondage to, die. This power that had such a hold on them, and looked so impossible to ever get out from under, came crashing down in an instance. Who could ever defeat this great army? GOD. Let it sink in. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Let it sink in. They saw faces, they saw tools used to destroy enemies, they saw chariots. The people of God saw human warriors and their tools of the trade lining the seashore. Are you getting a mental image? God destroyed everything and everyone and then washed it up on the shore for His people to catch a visual. Why?
Let it sink in. I think that was His purpose. How quickly we can forget that we serve an Almighty, All-Powerful God. God can accomplish anything in your life. God can go to battle against your greatest fears, your greatest nuisance, your greatest bondage, your greatest mountain and not only conquer it but wash it up on the shore so you can see it DEAD, GONE for yourself. The people broke out in a song right after that visual. It was a group exercise in praising God. What has God conquered in your life? Praise Him today for that victory. Share with others your story of God's great art that you have seen on the seashore. In what area of life do you still need to see God's victory? Pause right now and give that area to the LORD, proclaim Him as your Victor and allow Him to fight that battle for you!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Unflattering Dinner Guest
Jesus was invited over for dinner in Luke 11:37. He was invited to the house of a Pharisee, and then things went crazy from them. Jesus was criticized for not following the Jewish custom of ceremonially washing before a meal. Jesus begins to tell all the religious leaders that have assembled that he is fully aware of the changes that need to take place in their lives. He doesn't just see the outside appearance but He knows what is in their hearts. He knows their hypocrisy, He knows their greed, He knows how they have ignored and murdered God's messengers.
The harshest indictment is found in Luke 11:52. "How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering." Their entire role in the Jewish community was preserving, teaching, and sharing the word of God. They were not living by the Word, they were not sharing the Word, and they were preventing so many from knowing God. Here is the thing we must remember: these were religious people, they were faithful people, they were the Baptist church members that attend the Sunday night worship service.
Hear the applicable warning of the rude dinner guest: Be a mimic of Christ! Don't mimic man, or religious tradition, or some other person, but mimic Christ. What are you doing to share the good news of Christ with others? What are you doing to reach out to those that are less fortunate than you? How are you keeping yourself open to God's Word? How are you putting into practice what you learn from His Word? Who have you told recently about the good news of Jesus Christ? Who are you personally walking alongside to share and model Christ-likeness for?
These religious people hated the day they invited Jesus over for a meal. In fact, from that time on they were hostile toward Him. Why? He told them the truth, and they didn't want to accept or hear it. What is God trying to tell you that is difficult to hear or apply?
Pray this prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to hear from you today, help me to listen to you today, and help me to make adjustments in how I live according to what you have to say to me. Lord, I want to fear You above everyone else (Luke 12:5)!
The harshest indictment is found in Luke 11:52. "How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering." Their entire role in the Jewish community was preserving, teaching, and sharing the word of God. They were not living by the Word, they were not sharing the Word, and they were preventing so many from knowing God. Here is the thing we must remember: these were religious people, they were faithful people, they were the Baptist church members that attend the Sunday night worship service.
Hear the applicable warning of the rude dinner guest: Be a mimic of Christ! Don't mimic man, or religious tradition, or some other person, but mimic Christ. What are you doing to share the good news of Christ with others? What are you doing to reach out to those that are less fortunate than you? How are you keeping yourself open to God's Word? How are you putting into practice what you learn from His Word? Who have you told recently about the good news of Jesus Christ? Who are you personally walking alongside to share and model Christ-likeness for?
These religious people hated the day they invited Jesus over for a meal. In fact, from that time on they were hostile toward Him. Why? He told them the truth, and they didn't want to accept or hear it. What is God trying to tell you that is difficult to hear or apply?
Pray this prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to hear from you today, help me to listen to you today, and help me to make adjustments in how I live according to what you have to say to me. Lord, I want to fear You above everyone else (Luke 12:5)!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A Different Kind of Grace
There is one tradition or habit that most Christian families do not miss. I'm talking about saying grace at meal time. I love it when families take the time in a busy restaraunt to pause and give thanks to God. Many times I'm the one that leads out in this prayer and it can feel routine. In fact, I must admit I will occasionally throw in a funny request just to see if my kids are paying attention to what I am actually praying. In Luke 9:14-17, Jesus' disciples experienced a radically different kind of grace at meal time. I can't even imagine the feelings the disciples went through when Jesus gave the instructions for them to seat everyone in groups of 50. There were 5000 men assembled in this crowd and the disciples knew precisely how much food they had collected. It would be like the deacons in our church preparing the communion for 100 people and we suddenly had 5000 show up to take communion, but then the pastor just told the deacons to not worry about it we had enough cups and bread to go around to everyone. Jesus did something that you and I do everyday. He took the food and looked up to heaven and blessed it. Sometimes what seems routine, can become a life changing event for us. This was no ordinary blessing, because as the disciples began passing out the five loaves and two fish they supernaturally had more than enough to feed the huge crowd. Many times we don't believe we have enough to make it through the day. We don't have enough strength, enough patience, enough money, enough time, enough discipline, enough wisdom. In those times we need to remember that Jesus can meet us at our point of need. He alone is more than enough to meet our needs. Take time to think about the disciples looking in those baskets and as they passed out the food, the supply of food never lowered. They would finish each group of 50 people and as they were walking to the next group of 50, they were shaking their heads in amazement as to how much food still remained in their basket. Jesus taught them a very practical lesson that day: Our God can supply all our needs. What needs do you have today? Spend time in prayer today asking God's blessing upon your day, giving Him thanks for what He has blessed you with, and request Him to meet your needs today. Throughout the day be looking for the way in which God provides abudantly for you: look for those baskets of leftovers!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Difference Between 50 and 100
Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14
On the Wii sports game there is training that you can go through to practice your skill level with each of the sports. One of the training exercises for the golf game, is to try to hit a target painted on a green. The bullseye is worth 100 points and the circles outside of the bullseye is worth 50 points. I often hit the 50 points mark and rarely hit the 100 point mark. The 100 point circle is the hardest to hit because it is the smallest and you are rewarded the most points for obvious reasons: it takes the most skill to hit it.
All through Leviticus there is this idea of God teaching his people to be clean. There is much sacrifice and cost involved in living a life that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. The people of God had not only attempted very hard to meet these rules, but they had come up with their own rules defining holiness and righteousness. The problem with this was as we come to the New Testament, Jesus points out that they had completely missed the bullseye. In Mark 7:7-9 and following Jesus informs the religious leaders that they had chosen to follow their own definition of what is "righteous or holy" and they had completely missed God's mark. These leaders' hearts were far from God, and their worship of Him was a joke.
What is the point? When you combine Leviticus and Mark's passage, it is evident that there is a small margin of error when it comes to hitting the mark of living a holy life. The point is we must be careful of believing certain things make a person righteous or holy. Jesus taught our hearts are to be searched and our minds are to be transformed into His likeness. What a person loves, the mind thinks upon, and what the mind thinks upon, the will acts out. Sinful behavior can be traced back to wrong thinking, and wrong thinking reveals a misplaced heart. All unholy living can be traced back to a wrong heart. It is the difference between hitting the 50 point circle and the 100 point circle.
Be Alert: In your own life, be aware that the greatest temptation we face as believers is in our thinking. Our belief in human philosophy, or cultural norms, or logical reasoning can lead our hearts far from God. Isaiah tells us that our thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways. Take every thought captive and test it against Scripture. What are some prevalant thoughts among Christians today that may actually lead Christians away from Scriptural, holy living?
Search your own heart, mind, and actions: what would God have you confess that doesn't line up with Scriptural, holy living? Live your life to hit the 100 point circle and don't settle for the 50 point circle. Let me know what you think, hit comment below, and leave your thoughts.
On the Wii sports game there is training that you can go through to practice your skill level with each of the sports. One of the training exercises for the golf game, is to try to hit a target painted on a green. The bullseye is worth 100 points and the circles outside of the bullseye is worth 50 points. I often hit the 50 points mark and rarely hit the 100 point mark. The 100 point circle is the hardest to hit because it is the smallest and you are rewarded the most points for obvious reasons: it takes the most skill to hit it.
All through Leviticus there is this idea of God teaching his people to be clean. There is much sacrifice and cost involved in living a life that is holy and pleasing to the Lord. The people of God had not only attempted very hard to meet these rules, but they had come up with their own rules defining holiness and righteousness. The problem with this was as we come to the New Testament, Jesus points out that they had completely missed the bullseye. In Mark 7:7-9 and following Jesus informs the religious leaders that they had chosen to follow their own definition of what is "righteous or holy" and they had completely missed God's mark. These leaders' hearts were far from God, and their worship of Him was a joke.
What is the point? When you combine Leviticus and Mark's passage, it is evident that there is a small margin of error when it comes to hitting the mark of living a holy life. The point is we must be careful of believing certain things make a person righteous or holy. Jesus taught our hearts are to be searched and our minds are to be transformed into His likeness. What a person loves, the mind thinks upon, and what the mind thinks upon, the will acts out. Sinful behavior can be traced back to wrong thinking, and wrong thinking reveals a misplaced heart. All unholy living can be traced back to a wrong heart. It is the difference between hitting the 50 point circle and the 100 point circle.
Be Alert: In your own life, be aware that the greatest temptation we face as believers is in our thinking. Our belief in human philosophy, or cultural norms, or logical reasoning can lead our hearts far from God. Isaiah tells us that our thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways. Take every thought captive and test it against Scripture. What are some prevalant thoughts among Christians today that may actually lead Christians away from Scriptural, holy living?
Search your own heart, mind, and actions: what would God have you confess that doesn't line up with Scriptural, holy living? Live your life to hit the 100 point circle and don't settle for the 50 point circle. Let me know what you think, hit comment below, and leave your thoughts.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Distracted from Trust
Daily Scripture Reading: Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
Focal Passage: Psalm 37:3-5
It is so easy to become distracted. As I begin to write this blog, I have things that are fighting for my attention. There are tasks on my "to do" list that are screaming for me to get started on them. There is breakfast being made that is reminding me of how hungry I am right now. There are children in my household that are getting ready for the day (do I need to say any more?). All of these distractions are going on even though I haven't turned on the television yet and my grandson is not awake yet (then the distractions really get heightened).
Psalm 37:3-5 says that we are to trust in the Lord and that we are to commit everything we do to the Lord. I find that extremely difficult in our world of distractions. I am distracted by my job because it tells me that performance and accomplishment is what really matters. I am distracted by the latest gadget at the electronic store or the nice car that drives down my street because those things attract my attention and I naturally think material things will make me most complete and happy. I am distracted by the own fleshly desires I have. I want what I want when I want it, and it is difficult for me to learn a lifestyle of sacrifice when I get most of what I want when I want it.
The challenge for Christians is to live in a distracted world without being distracted. We are to commit everything to the Lord and we are to trust Him and trust Him alone. This is not easy to focus on. Let's help one another to call attention to our Lord. Encourage someone else by pointing them to trust in the Lord, get them away from the distractions of this world by sharing Scripture with them. Keep your eyes on the Lord by memorizing Scripture and having your daily time with the Lord. Make sure you are blind to distractions by having a continual attitude of prayer by praying without ceasing.
Speaking of distractions, I last posted a blog entry in the first part of August. I have been slightly distracted to say the least! Tell me what you think. What kind of distractions do you struggle with? What works for you to continually commit everything to the Lord and trust in Him?
Monday, August 16, 2010
What's New?
Background Passage: Jeremiah 30 and 31
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 31:31, 33
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? Do you remember the first time you did something or experienced something brand new? I remember the first brand new car Terri and I bought (and we are almost finished paying it off, yeah!). We were amazed that it only had 14 miles on the odometer. It had that new car smell, we didn't even have to buy the "new car" deodorizer, it naturally smelled that way. Last year, when we were moving our son into his college dorm room, Terri and I relived the first time we moved out on our own. We experienced for the first time what it was like to have a new place to live. Going to a new location or visiting a town you have never been, learning the way around the area, and meeting people for the very first time. Experiencing these new things can be exciting and nerve racking all at the same time.
In the focal passage, Jeremiah 31:31, God informs Jeremiah and the people that He will make a new covenant with His people. This covenant is different. One of the major characteristics of this new covenant is that God's law would no longer be on stone tablets but be written on the hearts of His people. He would enter into a relationship with His people through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The comforting promise that He gave in this passage is that He will not only forgive ours sins but He remembers them no more. This new covenant has an ongoing characteristic to it. Because this new covenant is relationship based, the greater we get to know our Lord, the more time we spend with Him, the sweeter the relationship grows. It is as though we always are riding in a new vehicle.
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? What new things has God taught you about who He is in your life? Share your comments.
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 31:31, 33
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? Do you remember the first time you did something or experienced something brand new? I remember the first brand new car Terri and I bought (and we are almost finished paying it off, yeah!). We were amazed that it only had 14 miles on the odometer. It had that new car smell, we didn't even have to buy the "new car" deodorizer, it naturally smelled that way. Last year, when we were moving our son into his college dorm room, Terri and I relived the first time we moved out on our own. We experienced for the first time what it was like to have a new place to live. Going to a new location or visiting a town you have never been, learning the way around the area, and meeting people for the very first time. Experiencing these new things can be exciting and nerve racking all at the same time.
In the focal passage, Jeremiah 31:31, God informs Jeremiah and the people that He will make a new covenant with His people. This covenant is different. One of the major characteristics of this new covenant is that God's law would no longer be on stone tablets but be written on the hearts of His people. He would enter into a relationship with His people through the perfect atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The comforting promise that He gave in this passage is that He will not only forgive ours sins but He remembers them no more. This new covenant has an ongoing characteristic to it. Because this new covenant is relationship based, the greater we get to know our Lord, the more time we spend with Him, the sweeter the relationship grows. It is as though we always are riding in a new vehicle.
What is the newest thing you have experienced lately? What new things has God taught you about who He is in your life? Share your comments.
Monday, August 9, 2010
To Pray or Not To Pray...That is the Question.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 7-9
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 7:16-24
Did God ever instruct "not to pray"? Think about that question for awhile before you answer it. Am I giving you a trick question? Why would God ever instruct His follower, "not to pray"? I will give you a hint about the answer to this "tricky" question: the answer is found in the focal passage. God actually told Jeremiah to quit praying for His people (Jeremiah 7:16). More than likely, this is a private word from God to the prophet of God's people. It is a rare occasion in Scripture, but it shows God's desperation and disgust with His people's actions.
What is my point? Read on in the focal passage and examine verse 24 carefully. Read the indictment of God's people. What is their problem? Time and time again God has spoken to His people about their sin and they have consistently done four things: 1)didn't listen to Him and didn't pay attention to Him 2) followed their own advice 3)were stubborn 4)continued to move backward instead of forward.
Do you have any of those habits in your life? Do you effectively listen to what God says to you or do you quickly dismiss it and justify why you didn't "hear God clearly or correctly" or why God "couldn't have said that"? Do you give God the opportunity to speak to you or are you simply too busy to read His Word or too busy to be still and quiet so you can hear Him? Do you find yourself solving your own problems and looking for worldly solutions to your problems instead of turning and trusting in God? Do you lean upon your own experiences, education, and wisdom to discern what is right and wrong? Do you simply like things your way and are stubborn when it comes to getting things done your way in your timing? Are you moving closer to God, are you learning more of who He is and wants to be in your life? When was the last time God clearly revealed Himself to you?
Will you agree with God today that you have some of the same problems that His people did back in Jeremiah's day? Will you confess your adulteress heart that has wandered from God? Come back to Him today! I don't know about you, but I don't want the same said about me that God said in Jeremiah 9:26. God, I want my heart to be in agreement with yours! I want to follow You, remove my stubborness, give me Your wisdom, open my ears and heart to hear from you, and help me to move closer to You rather than drifting slowly away from You! Will you pray that prayer with me today!
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 7:16-24
Did God ever instruct "not to pray"? Think about that question for awhile before you answer it. Am I giving you a trick question? Why would God ever instruct His follower, "not to pray"? I will give you a hint about the answer to this "tricky" question: the answer is found in the focal passage. God actually told Jeremiah to quit praying for His people (Jeremiah 7:16). More than likely, this is a private word from God to the prophet of God's people. It is a rare occasion in Scripture, but it shows God's desperation and disgust with His people's actions.
What is my point? Read on in the focal passage and examine verse 24 carefully. Read the indictment of God's people. What is their problem? Time and time again God has spoken to His people about their sin and they have consistently done four things: 1)didn't listen to Him and didn't pay attention to Him 2) followed their own advice 3)were stubborn 4)continued to move backward instead of forward.
Do you have any of those habits in your life? Do you effectively listen to what God says to you or do you quickly dismiss it and justify why you didn't "hear God clearly or correctly" or why God "couldn't have said that"? Do you give God the opportunity to speak to you or are you simply too busy to read His Word or too busy to be still and quiet so you can hear Him? Do you find yourself solving your own problems and looking for worldly solutions to your problems instead of turning and trusting in God? Do you lean upon your own experiences, education, and wisdom to discern what is right and wrong? Do you simply like things your way and are stubborn when it comes to getting things done your way in your timing? Are you moving closer to God, are you learning more of who He is and wants to be in your life? When was the last time God clearly revealed Himself to you?
Will you agree with God today that you have some of the same problems that His people did back in Jeremiah's day? Will you confess your adulteress heart that has wandered from God? Come back to Him today! I don't know about you, but I don't want the same said about me that God said in Jeremiah 9:26. God, I want my heart to be in agreement with yours! I want to follow You, remove my stubborness, give me Your wisdom, open my ears and heart to hear from you, and help me to move closer to You rather than drifting slowly away from You! Will you pray that prayer with me today!
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