Life is a Battlefield (Part 1)

“David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who you have defied.  This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand...’”  1 Samuel 17:45-46

Have you ever drawn lines against someone with a sword, spear, and javelin when you had no visible weapons on you?  I have not.  I do not know that I would.  That goes against all logic.  Add the fact that David was a young shepherd, and Goliath a huge and mighty warrior.  By our standards, David is crazy.  If I were David’s friend, I’d be like, “Dude, what are you doing?”, sure that the only thing that could possibly come out of this is an epic fail for David.  David winning is impossible.  But perhaps you have heard the story...he did win.  Goliath was defeated.  What?!  David trusted God.  He knew that only God could deliver him and he made that very clear to both nations who were watching the battle, saying, “The LORD will deliver you into my hand”.  He knew he was too scrawny and unequipped to beat Goliath, but he also knew that “His power is made perfect in our weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) and that “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called”.  And what a powerful witness he was to our God's power to both nations.  David did some serious ministry out there on the battle field.

What swords, spears, and javelins are you up against these days?  Stress, worry, anxiety, loneliness, temptation, doubt, fear, guilt, uncertainty?  When you find yourself surrounded, grab your slingshot and a few stones and rest assured in His promise, that He will deliver us.

Prayer:  Divine Warrior, thank you for fighting along side us, for granting us your winning strength, and for calling and equipping us.  Amen.

We are blessed to bless...

"We are blessed to bless a world in pieces,
We are loved to love where love is not,
We are changed to be the change you promised,
We are freed to be your hands, oh God."


"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"   -Galatians 5:13-14


"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.  Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death- even death on a cross."  -Philippians 2:3-8


Do you serve?  How do you serve?  Why do you serve?
I asked some 5th-8th graders this last question and I got responses like, "because it's fun", "to help people", "because it makes me feel good", "because I care about the issue"....
When I was their age, I probably would've said similar things.  Now that I'm a little older and have experienced more involved service projects, and volunteer opportunities, I find I'm pondering the same question and coming up with different answers.
I have experienced some game changers.  You see, sometimes, service is not fun.  Sometimes it is scary and painful and exhausting.  Sometimes service does not make me feel good.  Sometimes it makes me feel sad and angry that there is such wanting in our world.  Sometimes I feel guilty for what I have.
And as a Christian striving to understand and live by the ideals communicated in the rich histories and examples found in the Bible, I find myself wondering, "Why would His answer be?".  Of course, I don't know for sure, but I think we find hints in the scriptures.  I think the freedom expressed in Galatians suggests an answer along the lines of, "because I can".  Because my God enables me to serve.  Simple, but I do not believe the call to serve is overly complicated.
I love the lines from "We are Blessed" quoted above.  They center around a similar idea.  I do not believe that God blesses us for the fun of it.  Or that He loves us more than we could ever fathom to have our hearts overflow onto themselves.  Or that He constantly labors to guide our souls to a place of greater joy so we can pat ourselves on the back.  Or that He removes the shackles of sin so we can twiddle our thumbs.
Perhaps, He even intends for the injustices of the world to break our hearts.  That we would be left with a deep ache that would fuel our hands, hearts, and minds to reach out and embrace a life of humility.  That we would know that something isn't right when we go home to a soft bed, comfortable home, a stocked fridge and pantry, while others are cold, hungry, and lonely.  That we would not be satisfied with doing no more than expressing our gratitude to our God for His blessings, so that we would be moved to become one another's servants, emptying ourselves of our own selfish ambitions and making room for God's perfect plans, obedient to our loving Father.  That we would come to see that very little separates us from the people and the despair around us.


Prayer:  Loving Father God, We thank You for Your goodness.  All that we have is from You.  Give us the courage and the drive to open our arms and hearts to those who are hurting around us and our own hurts, so that we might use what You have given us to bless a world in need, to love where love is not, to sow seeds of kindness and justice.  Amen!

Grace: The "Common" are Called

I love this skit (by the skit guys) about grace!  It refers to this scripture...

“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’  He said to him, “Yes Lord; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’  A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  He said to him, ‘Yes Lord; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’  He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’  And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep...’”  -John 21:15-17


(I don’t know what the “more than these” is all about.  But as a sidenote:  That’s one of the cool things about the Bible, I think.  It captures conversations...so you don’t always get it, it’s one of those, you had to be there moments, but it reminds you that the stories are real.  They were lived by real people, like you and me!)
Anyway, this conversation went down after Jesus was raised from the dead.  Some point to it as the moment Jesus appoints Simon Peter as leader of the church.  Asking him to dedicate his life to loving His children, sharing the Good News, leading the newly formed Christian church...kinda a big deal.  It’s definitely clear that Jesus is calling Simon Peter to make some things happen.  He says it three times for Pete’s sake!  I would’ve felt like Simon Peter, I think, after answering the same question twice already, to the Lord of All.  He already knows.  He didn’t even have to ask the first time.  And here He is asking three times?  Hello?  Jesus?  Are you listening?
Do you remember this Simon Peter guy?  He was the one that denied Jesus three times.  Hmmm...maybe three times makes some sense now.  It’s true- God knows everything.  He also rarely does anything for Himself; at least, that's my impression.  His reasoning for things often find their roots in caring for us, His children.  Leading, guiding, loving, holding, reprimanding, prodding... us.  So I don’t believe Jesus asked three times for His sake.  Rather, I think He wanted Simon Peter to really think about what Jesus was asking him.  And to think about his three denials.  To feel that with each statement of love, he was being forgiven.
I love this story, along with so many others, because we see how God calls the common.  The people who aren’t anything all that special according to society- fisherman, tax collectors, shepherds.  Who make big, messy mistakes (all of them), who aren’t great at public speaking (Moses), who are young (Jeremiah), who are small (David), who have been led astray (Paul, formerly Saul), the list goes on and on.  But they all loved the Lord with all their heart and soul and mind as well as they could (which still included mistakes and sin).  Just like us!  God uses the common to make the ridiculous and amazingly uncommon happen! God uses us, regardless or maybe even because of our imperfections and mistakes, to do His good works.
"My grace is enough; it's all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness."  -2 Corinthians 12:9 (MSG)

Prayer:  Thank you Father God for choosing us!  Thank you for forgiving our sins and our mistakes.  Thank you for calling the common.  For loving the outcasts.  Help us to do the same.  Amen!

Jesus is Alive!!! Tell the World!!!

“When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here.  Look, there is the place they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’  So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

- Mark 16:1-8

Christ has Risen!!!  He is Risen indeed!!!  Hope you were able to make a church service to CELEBRATE!!!  Our Savior God who loves us, died on the cross for us, DEFEATED death!  SO MANY CAPS BUT I CAN’T HELP IT!  IT’S SO EXCITING AND AMAZING!!!
What would you do if you were the ones to discover the empty tomb?  Can you imagine?  The text in Mark tells us that the women were terrified.  Understandable, I think.  After all the heartache and anger of watching your dear friend and the one that you expected to save the world, breathe His last on the cross, you come to the empty tomb to have an angel tell you that Jesus is not here.  He was dead, but not anymore.  In fact, He’s already out and about in the world.  Go tell the world.  Would you believe it?  It’s a pretty crazy idea, right?  This whole resurrection business...  Would you say anything?  Who is going to believe that Jesus was dead, but is now alive?  What if you didn’t say anything out of fear?  The story would be lost?!?!  THAT’S TERRIBLE!!!  The very best ending to an episode- a to be continued... Jesus' story wraps up for now with His victory over death, but it's just the beginning of our new life in Him!! And we, as Jesus’ dear friends, as God’s beloved children, are called to tell this story just like the women and disciples.  Share the Good News!  It’s a miracle and it’s worth SHOUTING it out!!!!

Prayer:  Father God, WOW!  You are amazing.  Amen!

Good Friday

“When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  At three o’clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’  When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, ‘Listen, he is calling for Elijah.’  And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.’  Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’”  -Mark 15:33-39

Jesus was forsaken by God?!?  That doesn’t seem right...  Don’t we believe that God is always with us?  That we are never alone?  So much so that as kids we were creeped out to think of God hangin around while we were in the bathroom?  Right?!  So what gives?
We are never alone.  Jesus promises this in the last part of the gospel of Matthew.  God is always with us.  And yet Jesus felt forsaken by God...
What is sin to you?  Bad stuff that we do or say?  Everyone sins right?  Except Jesus, of course, He was without sin.  Which was why He was the perfect sacrifice.  Out of love, Jesus died for our sins.  And because He took on the sin of the world He felt far from God.  Far enough to feel forsaken.  Sin to me is anything that does just that- takes us further from God, from following His will in our lives.  So if Jesus took on the sin of the world, that’s an awful lot of stuff to take Him far from God.  I think this agonizing question that Jesus cries out while on the cross is here to show us that our sin does turn us away from God.  But, Jesus can turn us around.  If we ask for forgiveness, we will never feel forsaken because we will never, ever be forsaken.  Praise Him for this act of love!!!  I think it also is meant to connect us to God.  To know that Jesus, though He Himself did not sin, felt the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that comes from sin.  Does knowing He has felt that way make you feel closer to God, more understood by Him?

Prayer:  Gracious Father God, thank You for Your outstanding sacrifice.  We pray today for those who are persecuted for their faith and even accept death over betrayal.  As we mourn Your son today, may the feeling of hopelessness and sadness, make the Easter celebration all the more hope-inspiring and joyful.  Amen.

Fully Human

“They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’  He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.  And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’  And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.  He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’”  -Mark 14:32-36

This is one of those moments in the Christ story that we see just how human He is.  Jesus is filled with emotion.  Overwhelmed and anxious.  Considering He knew where this night was leading, it’s no wonder.  But how often do we think about this part of the story.  The part that made Jesus fully human.  He needed His friends close-by and He needed to talk to His Father.  Did you know that Abba is the Aramaic term for “Dad”?  He is dramatic about it.  He throws himself to the ground.  Have you ever had to sit down or lie down because of how you felt?  You were so tired, or sad, or depressed, or at a loss that you just couldn’t bring yourself to do anything else.  Or to express your anger or despair, you screamed into a pillow, pounded your fist down on the table or crumpled to the ground in a heap.  Here Jesus is having a similar emotional response.  He throws Himself to the ground to come before His Father with an honest prayer.  After being honest with Himself and God, and acting on what He was feeling, He was able to then accept His purpose.  The “cup” that is talked about is Jesus’ destiny to be Savior of the world.  Through this prayer He comes to terms with His destiny, with what God wants from Him and can move forward, entrusting His life to His Father God.  The point?  Well one of the take homes I get from this story is that it is ok to come before God having an emotional breakdown and making outrageous requests.  In the end though, peace will come to those who trust.
Prayer:  Father God, help us to throw ourselves completely into your love’s promise and plan for our lives.  Grant us peace and fearlessness.  Thank you for listening to us and accepting us as we are.  Thank you for not giving up on us and always asking us to follow you.  Amen!

He is jealous for me

How He Loves is one of my all time favorite songs.  Check it out and especially be sure to listen to the lyrics...
“He is jealous for me”.  According to m-w.com, to be jealous means to be intolerant of unfaithfulness.  That’s true of our God.  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” -Matthew 22:37.  
Another definition they give is to be vigilant in guarding a possession.  This is also true of our God.  The Psalms talk about this over and over again.  Psalm 23 talk about how the Lord is our shepherd.  The main job of a shepherd is to protect the folk, right?  Or how about Psalm 27:5, “For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high on a rock”.
Notice too how it says that our afflictions are eclipsed by glory.  Being a Christian does not mean that life is easy, or without pain, and suffering.  Romans 5:3-5, however, challenges us to “rejoice even in our sufferings” because we know that in our sufferings we learn and grow and develop strong meaningful relationships with others and with our God.  
The stars are always up there in the sky yes?  And they are beyond breathtakingly beautiful yes?  ...I think so...  Anyway, can you see them during the day?  No.  You need the darkness of night, right?  Right.  I think this can apply to our lives.  Sometimes it takes the darkness for us to see the beautiful lights in our lives.  The blessings that are innumerable (just like the stars).  We find hope in that God promises to work good through all things, not that all things will be good in our lives.
Finally, when have you experienced heaven meeting Earth?  It happens.  Daily.  Check it out!

Prayer:  Father God, thanks for bringing heaven to Earth!  Thanks for using us to bring heaven to Earth.  Continue to help us see your light in our lives.  Continue to protect us, to shelter us, and to be faithful to us as long as we remain as faithful as we can to you, through you!  Amen! 

Can you imagine that meal?!

“He sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, ‘Where is my guest room where may I eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready.  Make preparations for us there.”  So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.  When it was evening, he came with the twelve.  And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’  They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’”  - Mark 14:13-19

Finally the day of the Passover meal had arrived.  How would you feel if you were Jesus?  That seems like kinda a weird question to ask, but I think we forget, all too often, that Jesus was fully human.  He experienced similar emotions that we do today.  So how do you suppose He felt?  Knowing that He was well aware of the fate that awaited Him and the events that would lead up to His death, that the next few days would be full of betrayal, pain, and suffering, I would guess He saw this night as sort of the calm before the storm.  He chooses to spend it with His closes friends, in celebration.
How do you think the disciples felt?  First, the two that were directed to make the preparations according to His very detailed instructions.  How would you feel having heard Jesus say these things and go into the city, and have it happen just so?  The disciples believed that Jesus was the Son of God, just as we do, but how often are we taken by surprise when we encounter His miracles?  What about during the dinner?  What do you and your family or friends talk about at dinner?  What if you were at the table and the Lord of lords all the sudden broke the casual conversation by announcing that someone at that very table, one of His closest companions, would betray Him?  Would you be able to consider it a possibility that it could be YOU?  How have you betrayed God or disappointed Him?
Notice that even though Jesus knew the horrific content of His near future, He still went through with it.  He did not choose to manipulate it or change it in any way.  He embraced it and endured it all out of love for you and me and the world...
Prayer:  Dear Father God, Thank you for never giving up on us.  Thank you for enduring the worst of the worst for us.  Thank you for saving us.  Be with us the rest of the week.  Amen! 

What was Judas Thinking?!

“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.  When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money.  So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.”  -Mark 14:10-11

Some of the gospels point to satan’s influence in Judas’ decision to betray Jesus.  Mark doesn't mention satan's involvement, but he was definitely all up in the plot to kill the Savior of the world. But let's think about something for a minute... Why would Judas hand over his Teacher, his companion of the past few years, this man he had grown to love?  Did Judas know how much Jesus loved him?  Did he have any idea what his actions would lead to?  I don’t know that he did...  Do we have any idea what our actions lead to?  Who might feel the effects of our actions?  How the world might be changed for someone, or for many?

Have you ever put your faith in something just to have your expectations completely shattered?  Jesus was supposed to be this mighty Messiah.  He was supposed to save the world.  People had come to depend on Him to heal, and teach, and show love.  So....How did His death make any sense?  How did His suffering on the cross coincide with His supposed unsurpassed strength and power?  It didn’t in people's tiny little pea brain way of understanding.  And so, with all the talk of His death, Judas gave up on Him as his Savior.  He decided in all his human wisdom (hahaha...human wisdom...funny, right?) that Jesus wasn’t the right kind of Savior for the world.  His expectations of the Almighty Son of God, didn’t line up with God’s plan for saving the world, so he was done with it.  Do we let our expectations get in the way of God’s plans?  Do we give up on Him because we can’t make sense of what He’s doing?  Because it doesn’t fit into the box we put Him in?  I know I do... In your prayers today, ask Him to help you to trust. To humble you so you can rejoice in following His sure path through and to paradise.

Prayer:  Saving God, We cannot understand You.  You are greater than we could ever imagine.  Your plans are greater than we could ever hope for.  Thanks for not giving up on us, even though we sometimes give up on you.  Amen 

Why Wait for Tomorrow?

Lent is a time for reflection.  It's a time for challenging ourselves to reflect on how we are living out our lives as God's beloved children.  How we are living out the call to be the hands and feet of our Savior to every person we meet.  To check-in on our efforts to rejoice everyday in the grace that is freely given, our salvation that has been won.  Sometimes people give something up for lent.  Sometimes people try a new spiritual practice.  The goal is to bring us closer to our Heavenly Father by getting rid of distractions or adding intentional time spent with Him.  To nurture that relationship that can be so easily taken for granted.  Are we engaged in this everyday?  Probably not.  Are there things that we put off, saying we'll do that tomorrow?  Probably.  I'll call to check in on that friend tomorrow.  I'll set aside more time to pray tomorrow.  I'll spend some quality time with the Word, God's love letters, tomorrow...
This song by Mandisa says it very simply, and very clearly.  "Every day's a day to start over; so why am I waiting for tomorrow?"  Next time you find yourself saying you'll do it tomorrow, ask yourself why.  There are times where you will have very legit reasons.  But there will be times when what you're throwing into the unknown abyss of tomorrow is something that would be a wonderful addition to today.  Every day is a brand new day.  Another opportunity to find joy in God's creation.  To praise Him for the blessing of that day.  To grow closer to Him.  Those Newsies had it right- seize the day.
Thank you, Father, for each new day.  You bless us beyond measure.  We can't comprehend all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do in our lives out of love.  Move through us to seize today and live it out for your glory!  We love you!  Amen.

Expensive Perfume? The Poor??

“While He was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on His head.  But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way?  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her.  But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her?  She has performed a good service for me.  For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’”  -Mark 14:3-9

So a few quick translations- the ointment in the jar was basically really really expensive perfume.  Think higher end than the high end  perfumes of Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Chanel... Which leads us to translation #2- 300 denarii was almost a whole year’s wages- thousands of dollars today.  So what’s the deal?  Shouldn’t that money have gone to the poor?  I have a hard time with this.  So many other times, Jesus talks about caring for the poor, and then He defends this seemingly extravagantly wasteful woman.  She probably didn’t even know that what she was doing served a greater purpose.  She probably didn’t realize that in a few short days, Jesus would be killed and that her act of love was preparing Him for His burial.  But she was lead to show the huge love she felt for Him and to care for her dear friend and Savior in this way.
This season in Lent, we have been talking a lot about Matthew 25.  In this passage, Jesus makes it clear to us that as we serve and care for each other, we serve and care for Him.  After all, everyone we meet is a child of God, created in His image, just as we are, just as Jesus was.  To live in the love that He has first given us, is to share that love in extreme ways.  This woman did it by anointing Jesus with expensive perfume.  Maybe we do it by serving a meal, sponsoring a child through Compassion International, or by visiting the Manor.  Maybe we do it by donating money to a charity, or buying flowers for a friend or family member.  Whatever it looks like, I think Jesus is making a point in this story to give, with complete abandon, out of our need to share God’s crazy love with the world.  She didn’t use fancy words, in fact, we don’t know that she said anything at all.  She used action and tears to show how she felt, and Jesus is sure to tell us that her story will be told everywhere anyone talks about Him.  That’s legit.
Something I read recently in the book Almost Christian by Kenda Creasy Dean, caught my eye about this story. She points out that the word translated to "waste" in this passage derives from the same Greek root as the word translated to "lose" in Mark 8:35 when Jesus says, "Those who lose (/waste) their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." So what does this word "waste" mean? In both instances, something is being given. Something HUGE- a perfume bought with a years worth of wages, a life. These are both things that one would not casually lay at someone's feet. As I explained above, I believe the woman did this anointing out of love. Throughout the Bible we are called to love simply because He first loved us. This translates to living our lives completely surrendered to His love and His loving purpose for which we were lovingly created. Which, in a nutshell, is sharing the Good News of His hugely extravagant love for us. Notice the full circle that we just made? Revolving the whole time around, "For God so loved the world...".
So love. Love with wild abandon. Love your neighbor as you love your Father in Heaven. Be extravagantly wasteful with your love. He's given you more than enough. As long as you continue to look to Him, to fill you up, you will never run dry.
Prayer:  God, you love us like crazy!  You have loved us first so we can love where love is not.  Guide us in our service to others, to you.  Amen!

Lead me to the Cross

One of my all time favorite songs and one that is especially powerful during the season of lent is "Lead me to the Cross".  It is a song whose lyrics are reminiscent of a prayer.  When I listen to it, or sing it, I feel almost this desperate need to be still in God's presence.  To forget the craziness that our lives can throw at us and to be humbled with the wonder and awe and thankfulness that comes from reflecting on His life-saving sacrifice.  That, right away, in the very beginning of the song, it admits that I need His help to quiet my soul, I identify with wholeheartedly.  It is a huge challenge for me to spend time with Him without becoming distracted or remembering something that I need to do.  But this song begs us to stop.  To count all our earthly things as lost when we stand before our great God.  Not that they are not good.  They are all blessings from God.  But to know that they are nothing compared to THE blessing of being in His presence as His precious child.  The song goes on to ask God to remind us that we are dust and to dust we shall return.  Another thing that is difficult for me to understand is Jesus as human.  We believe He was both fully human, and fully God.  I think I tend to focus more on the fully God part.  But, He was fully human.  Fully tempted and trialed, just like we are.  This song, full of death, humility, and sin culminates in a plea to be lead to His heart.  Hope!  To be lead straight to His heart that is wide open and reaching out to fill us up with perfect love, to transform us through His healing power.
Check out the video.  Read the words if you want or just close your eyes and listen to the words.  Be led to the cross, and to His life-changing, life-saving love.

Ashes to ashes...

Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything.  Nothing and no one can upset your plans.  You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water,    ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?'  I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head.  You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking.  Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.'  I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears!  I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise!  I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."  Job 42:1-6 (the message)

These verses come from the book of Job.  This story is about a man whose life is turned upside down by God as a way to show Job’s faithfulness.  His health, his family, and his financial resources are all taken from him.  Bummer, right?  Yikes.  So he’s talking with his friends and is crying out to God, asking why he is being treated this way, begging God to take his life so he doesn’t have to suffer anymore, and his friends are telling him to repent of whatever sin caused this so God will stop punishing him.  Job knows that he is not being punished however.  He knows that he did nothing to deserve all this hurt and sadness.  God speaks up at the end of the book and says stuff like... hey guys, I’ve been listening to your conversation.  Why are you trying to understand things that you simply cannot?  Don’t you know who I am?  What I have done?  I have storehouses of snow and hail.  I create lightening and rain.  I made the sea and the clouds.  Were you there?  No?  Have you seen the gates of death?  Were you there when I laid the foundations of the Earth?  Yeah, I didn’t think so...Job responds with something like...  you right God.  I was not there.  I do not understand so much and here we are talking like we have an idea of your wonder and magnitude.  Your greatness and your plans.  That’s cra.  It is a blessing to have seen you this way.  Here I was questioning you, the God of creation.  I thought I had strong faith and that I knew what I was doing... I was wrong.  All through sunday school and confirmation I had heard about you, but I never really knew what I was saying.  I never really knew you for myself.  My bad.  That changes today though....And in my bible, the last verse says, “therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes”.  Today is Ash Wednesday.  Back in the day, ashes was a symbol of repentance.  That tradition we hold on to.  To begin the season of lent, where we mourn Christ’s death, acknowledging His incredibly humbling sacrifice, we use the ashes to symbolize our daily repentance of sins.  We place the ashes in the same way as the cross was placed on our foreheads during our baptism to remind ourselves of the death Christ endured to save us.

Prayer:  Savior, God, Thanks for another great day.  You are so beyond anything we could ever understand.  Thanks for not expecting us or wanting us to even begin to say that we understand Your greatness.  We love you f’real.  Amen!

It's the small stuff...

“Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’  They answered him, ‘No.’  He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”  So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish...When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there with fish on it, and bread.  Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’  So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’...Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.”

The disciples had gone back to their lives pre-Jesus calling them to follow Him.  Jesus shows up unexpectedly in their lives again, but this time to cook breakfast.  Yet again we see Him humbly serving.  After dying for our sins, defeating death, and rising again, Jesus unassumingly participates in the routine-ness of being human.  He is Savior of the world yet serves His disciples in this simple way.  Likewise, we are called to love and serve humbly as Jesus did.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, but could be as simple as serving someone breakfast.  There is an overwhelming amount of need in this world, but never forget to serve those you meet in your daily life in simple, but super meaningful ways!

Prayer:  Father God, thank you for humbling yourself for us, for serving in so many different ways everyday of your life, and for calling us to do the same.  Give us the strength and the wisdom to do so, to your glory.  AMEN!!

PS:  I get Happiness Project Quotes emailed to me every day, and this was the one for today!  Pretty legit...
"A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labours of a spasmodic Hercules."
— Anthony Trollope
The small, routine things in life can beat the crazy strong guy...

Verses wordle!

I went to wordle.com and pasted the text from the verses at the top of my blog.  Check out what I got!

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/4769943/Seek_and_Rejoice

Cry Out & Rest in His Promises...

“O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory, because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.  So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.  My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”  -Psalm 63:1-8

Have you ever lost something?  I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess you all have.  And you search and you search and you search and you ask your roommates or parents and you search some more and when you can’t find it, you cry...maybe not all of you have gotten to that point, but I have.  It is SUCH a bummer when you can’t find something and you’ve looked everywhere.  Have you ever lost your faith?  Probably... How do you search for it?  Do you try going to church, looking at scripture, praying, talking to your parents or friends?  How about crying?  I’ve been there too.  Where it literally felt like I was just barely hanging on.  My faith and God seemed so illusive.  I was angry and desperate and helpless and I cried.  Literally, fell to my knees and cried out to God.  Sounds dramatic, I know, and before I got to that point, I always thought the Psalmists were silly in all their lamenting and getting angry and crying out.  But I was at my wits end.  I didn’t know what else to do.  Afterwards, I realized it was exactly what I needed to do.  I needed to remind myself of my weakness.  That I do not have it all together.  That I have to rely on God and that I CAN rely on God.  Now, it’s not like I prayed and then TADA! all better.  No, no.  But I did feel better, and I rested better in the promise that even though I was clinging, He was holding me.

Prayer:  Loving Father God, thank you for holding us and for listening to us when we cry out.  Strengthen us daily.  Amen.

Welcome, winter wonderland!

Our first big snow fall of the year!  It is so pretty!  As I stare out my office window, I wonder to myself, what makes it so mesmerizing and beautiful?  After spending the last couple months surrounded by the dead of winter without snow, it seems this snowfall is all the more welcome, especially when compared to years past.  It is refreshing to look outside and, instead of seeing bare trees and dead grass, see this pure white, glistening blanket of snow.  It reminds me of what Jesus does for us in our death.  In Revelation, chapter 7 talks about all creation worshiping God at the end times.  "A great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white." (verse 9)  It goes on to say in regard to those robed in white, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (verse 14)
So whether you appreciate or bemoan the freshly fallen snow, use this opportunity to rejoice in the promise of our Lord.  That in our death, we are brought to new life, through Him, washed and made clean in His blood.

First Thursday- Praise Him

Last night, we gathered in the sanctuary around a cross of candles in an attempt to dissolve the cares of this world while meditating on His awe-inspiring creation and His unimaginably, passionate love for it all.  We read Psalm 148 which talks about the heavens, the heights, His angels, the sun, moon and stars, the earth, sea monsters and all deeps, fire, hail, snow, frost, stormy wind, mountains, hills, fruit trees, all cedars, wild animals, cattle creeping things, flying birds, Kings of the earth, all peoples praising the name of the Lord.  I couldn't help but to notice that the candles making up the cross were dancing last night.  That sounds weird, but it is true.  The flames would not hold steady.  They would swell, shrink, sway to and fro.  They were dancing.  To me, it looked an awful lot like THEY were even praising God, dancing with joy to be in His presence.  So, I am making it a goal to be on the look-out for other things that are unexpectedly praising.  Some thoughts from our group last night were sunsets, sunrises, the stars, the ocean...

The New Covenant

“…wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’”

-Matthew 2:1-2

Just the other day, I learned that the wise men were Gentiles. Not Jews. So, I had to remind myself what the distinction between the two groups was exactly...
Jews are direct descendants from Israel (Jacob, Joseph technicolor dream coat’s dad). They were considered God’s chosen people. They regarded all foreigners as inferior and referred to anyone who was not a Jew as a Gentile. Promises made by God to the Jews did not apply to Gentiles.
Then Jesus was born. This promise of salvation, that came in the form of a little baby, was for both Jews and Gentiles. So everyone. The visit made by the wise men to the nativity is ever more important because it shows that from the very beginning, Jesus was their Lord and Savior too.
This is proven further when Paul later says,
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29)
By sending His son to die for Jew and Gentile alike, God made a new covenant with all people. Remember that as you enjoy the potential of the new year. God became flesh, died, and defeated death, for everyone. For all of time.

Prayer: All loving God, Thank you for your saving grace and for being the Savior of the whole world. You are worthy of all our praise! Amen.