Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:28-35
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you.” ---Wow, what a statement!
Now some people may read this and try to explain it away by saying things like Jesus was not being literal, he was just trying to make a point and so on and so forth. You want to know what I think, oh he was making a point all right---he was and is still telling us that words are not enough. Sitting on a pew at church for every service is not enough. Being able to quote scripture at the drop of a hat is not enough. Being on every committee, board, or team is not enough. We, in and of ourselves, are not enough. So what is enough? What makes us be enough? One word----Jesus! He is enough!
It is not about what we know, who we know, or what all we do. It is who we are and we have to be completely and totally committed to living for Jesus if we want to be enough.
We have to forget what we think we should be or do and focus on what Jesus is telling us. We have to let go, have faith enough to step out and allow God to guide us completely. With each day that passes, with each word that I write I understand more and more why we have to, not need to, but have to die to ourselves daily in order for us to be enough. For it is that self that causes us not to be who were created to be as a child of God.
Think about it…in the scripture that we just read it mattered not what either son said---it was what they did that made the difference. The first son seemed almost rude by responding to his father’s request by saying ‘I will not’. The other son said ‘I will, sir’---he not only told him he would do what his father asked, but he addressed him with ‘sir’---sounds responsible and respectable, yet this son did not actually obey his father. We can talk all we want to, but we have to live it---we have to obey our Father God and believe---I mean really obey and really believe in a way that we never have before.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
A Great Cost
As I awoke this morning I prepared breakfast for my family and our day was filled with cleaning, working, a trip to the lake, and dinner with family and friends. While I was busy throughout my day, a soldier woke up in a foreign country, dressed for battle, prepared his gear, and fought another day to protect my freedom.
and to the republic for which it stands,
Our republic stands on freedom and the rights of the people that live in this wonderful country, but our country only stands on these things because of the men and women who took a stand for this country.
In their stand, many men and women gave their life for this cause. They are not victims of war, but heroes who chose to live their life for a greater cause.
one nation under God,
Let us not forget that we, as a nation, are under God and not above him. The men and women who gave their life did so in order for us to worship God freely. Let us honor their lives by acknowledging and serving God.
indivisible
We should not be divided, but united in God. Just as the soldiers who fight for our freedom are united on the battlefield, we as Christians should be united in our service to God. Just as soldiers are called to serve, we, as children of God, are called to serve each day as well.
with liberty and justice for all.
As Americans we reap the benefits of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives. As Christians we reap the benefits of the sacrifice that God made by sending his son, Jesus Christ.
Just as a soldier puts on their attire to prepare them for battle, we too are also told to prepare each day for battle by putting on the Armor of God. Just as soldiers are called to a life of sacrifice and a life of service, we are also called to sacrifice and serve. Many soldiers give their life for their country, we, as Christians, are told to die to ourselves daily.
Let us never forget those that gave their lives in order for us to live in a country that embodies freedom, liberty, and justice. Let the sacrifice of these soldiers lives be a reminder to us each day that we are to do the same---we are sacrifice the life that we think we should have for the life that we are called to live, a life lived in service to others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Next time you stand, with hand over heart, to honor this great nation by reciting the words to the Pledge of Allegience be reminded that while we live in free country those words that you are saying comes with great cost----the sacrifice of many lives!
Say a prayer for our soldiers not just today, but everyday!
Friday, May 27, 2011
What Do You Believe?
Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:23-27
Do you know what you believe? Do you stand on that truth and not waiver? We may not have the answer to every question, but that is not what God asks us to do, he asks us to stand on truth and just be honest. You know just being honest makes life so much easier, yet it seems today, like the chief priests and elders of the past, people are always contemplating what to say because they want to be sure and say what people want to hear, truth or not. So sad, but I hate to say so true---I see it all the time.
Really Jesus’ question to these men were making them claim what they believed in, but they couldn’t even come up with a definite answer, in fact there answer was ‘we don’t know’. They were more concerned about what others would think about the answer they gave Jesus, so they gave no affirmative answer. So from their answer what did they believe? They were straddling the fence and we cannot do that. We either have to claim Jesus Christ or we have to claim Satan---sounds harsh I know, but really there is no in between. We are either for him or against him. With everything in me I want to be for him, I pray that I never alter what I say in order to satisfy the ears of those around me. I pray that my life shouts who I belong to.
Do you know what you believe? Do you stand on that truth and not waiver? We may not have the answer to every question, but that is not what God asks us to do, he asks us to stand on truth and just be honest. You know just being honest makes life so much easier, yet it seems today, like the chief priests and elders of the past, people are always contemplating what to say because they want to be sure and say what people want to hear, truth or not. So sad, but I hate to say so true---I see it all the time.
Really Jesus’ question to these men were making them claim what they believed in, but they couldn’t even come up with a definite answer, in fact there answer was ‘we don’t know’. They were more concerned about what others would think about the answer they gave Jesus, so they gave no affirmative answer. So from their answer what did they believe? They were straddling the fence and we cannot do that. We either have to claim Jesus Christ or we have to claim Satan---sounds harsh I know, but really there is no in between. We are either for him or against him. With everything in me I want to be for him, I pray that I never alter what I say in order to satisfy the ears of those around me. I pray that my life shouts who I belong to.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Feed The Hungry!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:18-22
Why did Jesus command the fig tree to never bear fruit again? Was he simply aggravated at the fact that the tree did not have the fruit to satisfy his hunger? I don’t think so, I think there was much more to Jesus’ actions. Once again, I can only tell you what I think, which may or may not be correct, but it is just how I see things. You already know that I believe Jesus is telling us something by every action that he takes and it is no different in this story. Spiritually speaking, there is a lot of hungry people in this world looking for something to satisfy that hunger and if we are not bearing the fruit of love that God has so graciously placed within us than what good are we? If we know that Jesus is the answer, if we know he is the way to salvation, if we know that we will not make it without him, and we are not telling people these things, then really what good are we? We are not, we are just taking up space and existing for ourselves. We were not placed here for ourselves, we were placed here to love and to show others that love and how to receive it. Maybe Jesus was trying to make a point here. What good is a fig tree or any fruit bearing tree if it doesn’t produce fruit? It might as well whither away because it is not doing the job that it was created to do. Are you doing the job that you were created for? Am I doing the job that I was created for? Only God can give us those answers, but I think that we all know in our heart if we truly are or not.
Even after all those miracles, the disciples seem to be completely amazed by the fact that the fig tree withered away so quickly. I just love Jesus’ response to their questioning of this incident. He doesn’t try to explain in detail of what exactly happened to the fig tree, in fact he doesn’t even mention what he did at all. He simply explains to them that they can do the same thing if they just have faith. I love how he begins by saying “I tell you the truth” and ends by saying “if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. Three powerful words…truth, believe, and prayer!
I can only speak for myself, but from talking to many others I know that most of you feel the same way when I say that as children of God we need to step it up a bit…a lot! We need to bear more fruit than we ever have because we will eventually dry up and whither away if we don’t. I see that all around me, it seems like people are just trying to survive this life and don’t realize that by just trying to survive they are gradually withering away. This life was not meant just for survival, God placed us here during this time for a purpose and that is to live with excitement for him---a purpose of showing others the way to him. We are not going to reflect Jesus by simply surviving this life---we can only reflect him when we are truly living this life with a much bigger purpose in mind. I know the economy is terrible, that people are loosing their jobs, that things seem to get harder everyday----but we were put here during this time for a reason and we can not let go of that! God is God and the economy does not affect who he is---therefore we should not let the troubles of this world affect who we are in Him! This is the very time to step up and proclaim who we are----we are the children of the Living God! We are to be recognized by the fruit we bear and we are here to feed the ones that are hungry! We stand upon truth and believe that all things are possible with Christ!
Why did Jesus command the fig tree to never bear fruit again? Was he simply aggravated at the fact that the tree did not have the fruit to satisfy his hunger? I don’t think so, I think there was much more to Jesus’ actions. Once again, I can only tell you what I think, which may or may not be correct, but it is just how I see things. You already know that I believe Jesus is telling us something by every action that he takes and it is no different in this story. Spiritually speaking, there is a lot of hungry people in this world looking for something to satisfy that hunger and if we are not bearing the fruit of love that God has so graciously placed within us than what good are we? If we know that Jesus is the answer, if we know he is the way to salvation, if we know that we will not make it without him, and we are not telling people these things, then really what good are we? We are not, we are just taking up space and existing for ourselves. We were not placed here for ourselves, we were placed here to love and to show others that love and how to receive it. Maybe Jesus was trying to make a point here. What good is a fig tree or any fruit bearing tree if it doesn’t produce fruit? It might as well whither away because it is not doing the job that it was created to do. Are you doing the job that you were created for? Am I doing the job that I was created for? Only God can give us those answers, but I think that we all know in our heart if we truly are or not.
Even after all those miracles, the disciples seem to be completely amazed by the fact that the fig tree withered away so quickly. I just love Jesus’ response to their questioning of this incident. He doesn’t try to explain in detail of what exactly happened to the fig tree, in fact he doesn’t even mention what he did at all. He simply explains to them that they can do the same thing if they just have faith. I love how he begins by saying “I tell you the truth” and ends by saying “if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. Three powerful words…truth, believe, and prayer!
I can only speak for myself, but from talking to many others I know that most of you feel the same way when I say that as children of God we need to step it up a bit…a lot! We need to bear more fruit than we ever have because we will eventually dry up and whither away if we don’t. I see that all around me, it seems like people are just trying to survive this life and don’t realize that by just trying to survive they are gradually withering away. This life was not meant just for survival, God placed us here during this time for a purpose and that is to live with excitement for him---a purpose of showing others the way to him. We are not going to reflect Jesus by simply surviving this life---we can only reflect him when we are truly living this life with a much bigger purpose in mind. I know the economy is terrible, that people are loosing their jobs, that things seem to get harder everyday----but we were put here during this time for a reason and we can not let go of that! God is God and the economy does not affect who he is---therefore we should not let the troubles of this world affect who we are in Him! This is the very time to step up and proclaim who we are----we are the children of the Living God! We are to be recognized by the fruit we bear and we are here to feed the ones that are hungry! We stand upon truth and believe that all things are possible with Christ!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Praise Him!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:12-17
All I can say is Jesus meant business when he cleaned out the temple that day. Just shows you how important the church is to Jesus, but he most certainly wants it used the way it was designed, as he says… “My house will be called a house of prayer”. I have always thought that we should be excited to enter the church, that we should come through the doors overjoyed about being in the house of God. Coming in to praise, worship, pray, and seek refuge from this world in the presence of our Savior. If we are not going for those reasons maybe we need to do a self-check and conduct some cleaning within ourselves.
So sad that the chief priests and teachers were so bothered by Jesus. Instead of joining his ministry they were aggravated with Jesus for performing miracles and to hear the children praising Jesus. I can just picture these children shouting “Hosanna to the son of David”---I am sure these children had great, big smiles upon their faces and were full of joy and excitement while they were praising Jesus. These children knew without a doubt who he was---they had no hesitation to believe him and to praise him for who he was. I understand why Jesus tells us to be more like little children. They just believe without understanding everything and isn’t that what faith actually is?
All I can say is Jesus meant business when he cleaned out the temple that day. Just shows you how important the church is to Jesus, but he most certainly wants it used the way it was designed, as he says… “My house will be called a house of prayer”. I have always thought that we should be excited to enter the church, that we should come through the doors overjoyed about being in the house of God. Coming in to praise, worship, pray, and seek refuge from this world in the presence of our Savior. If we are not going for those reasons maybe we need to do a self-check and conduct some cleaning within ourselves.
So sad that the chief priests and teachers were so bothered by Jesus. Instead of joining his ministry they were aggravated with Jesus for performing miracles and to hear the children praising Jesus. I can just picture these children shouting “Hosanna to the son of David”---I am sure these children had great, big smiles upon their faces and were full of joy and excitement while they were praising Jesus. These children knew without a doubt who he was---they had no hesitation to believe him and to praise him for who he was. I understand why Jesus tells us to be more like little children. They just believe without understanding everything and isn’t that what faith actually is?
Monday, May 23, 2011
Praise & Obedience
Today’s Reading: Matthew 21:1-11
Two things stuck out to me as I read these verses: obedience and praise. And of course I ask myself…am I being completely obedient and am I praising?
The two disciples were obedient because they did just as Jesus asked with no questions---even to a request that may seemed very odd at the time. I mean what would you think if Jesus asked you to go into this town and get a donkey and her colt. Am I that willing? Am I willing to forget my plans for the day and follow his calling? Am I willing to be different and do things that people may question? Am I willing to simply say alright Father, what ever you ask of me? I so desire to say yes to all the questions that I just posed, however, I have to admit, sometimes I miss the mark. Sometimes I am so busy that I don’t tune in to what God is asking me to do. Sometimes, just to be frank, I don’t understand what God is doing and why he is asking me to do something and I just don’t do it---it’s hard to admit that but what good will it do me or you to act like I do everything that God asks me to do? Sometimes, I am just tired and I fail to follow through with his direction. But sometimes, I do follow his calling and when I do he always, always blesses me in some way that is far greater than I could ever imagine. With everything that I do right for him, he opens up my heart, mind, and soul a little more and fills me with a bit more of his love than I had previously.
We have read about so many people, so many crowds, and all of them seeking something from Jesus, whether it be salvation or healing there were many, many cries amongst the people asking for Jesus’ help. Yet at this moment as the crowds surrounded Jesus no one was crying out for anything from Jesus, in fact, it was quite the opposite. The crowds of people were shouting praises to our King…“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (vs. 9) They were simply praising Jesus for who he was. These crowds spread their cloaks or laid branches on the road preparing the way for him. To me this is saying I am laying everything out for you Jesus, I lay everything down before you and I only want to praise you---worship you! Am I praising Jesus like this? So many times I go to him for an answer, so many times I seek him for guidance or comfort, and while all this is great, sometimes (many times) I need to just praise him---just praise him because he is Jesus! I could make a list a mile long of all the things he has done for me and how he deserves all my praise for those blessings, but I tend to get caught up in praising him for each blessing and forget just to praise him and worship him because he is Hosanna in the highest. I think about a story in the old testament about a group of people that were seeking God diligently to bring them out of a terrible situation and before anything changed, before one prayer was answered this large group of people began to sing and praise God because he was God. Isn’t this what we should be doing?
Two things stuck out to me as I read these verses: obedience and praise. And of course I ask myself…am I being completely obedient and am I praising?
The two disciples were obedient because they did just as Jesus asked with no questions---even to a request that may seemed very odd at the time. I mean what would you think if Jesus asked you to go into this town and get a donkey and her colt. Am I that willing? Am I willing to forget my plans for the day and follow his calling? Am I willing to be different and do things that people may question? Am I willing to simply say alright Father, what ever you ask of me? I so desire to say yes to all the questions that I just posed, however, I have to admit, sometimes I miss the mark. Sometimes I am so busy that I don’t tune in to what God is asking me to do. Sometimes, just to be frank, I don’t understand what God is doing and why he is asking me to do something and I just don’t do it---it’s hard to admit that but what good will it do me or you to act like I do everything that God asks me to do? Sometimes, I am just tired and I fail to follow through with his direction. But sometimes, I do follow his calling and when I do he always, always blesses me in some way that is far greater than I could ever imagine. With everything that I do right for him, he opens up my heart, mind, and soul a little more and fills me with a bit more of his love than I had previously.
We have read about so many people, so many crowds, and all of them seeking something from Jesus, whether it be salvation or healing there were many, many cries amongst the people asking for Jesus’ help. Yet at this moment as the crowds surrounded Jesus no one was crying out for anything from Jesus, in fact, it was quite the opposite. The crowds of people were shouting praises to our King…“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (vs. 9) They were simply praising Jesus for who he was. These crowds spread their cloaks or laid branches on the road preparing the way for him. To me this is saying I am laying everything out for you Jesus, I lay everything down before you and I only want to praise you---worship you! Am I praising Jesus like this? So many times I go to him for an answer, so many times I seek him for guidance or comfort, and while all this is great, sometimes (many times) I need to just praise him---just praise him because he is Jesus! I could make a list a mile long of all the things he has done for me and how he deserves all my praise for those blessings, but I tend to get caught up in praising him for each blessing and forget just to praise him and worship him because he is Hosanna in the highest. I think about a story in the old testament about a group of people that were seeking God diligently to bring them out of a terrible situation and before anything changed, before one prayer was answered this large group of people began to sing and praise God because he was God. Isn’t this what we should be doing?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Blinded Eyes Will Be Opened
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.
Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Matthew 20:34
Today’s Reading: Matthew 20:29-34
These men were blind, but they knew that they could find their healing in this man called Jesus. I am sure that their excitement was uncontrollable when they heard that he was coming by. They never relented the shouts for Jesus, in fact when the crowd around them told them to be quiet they shouted even louder. Jesus, as he always does, simply asked them what do you want me to do for you? You know Jesus could at the snap of his finger heal people without laying a hand upon them, but so many times he touches them. The word tells us that he had compassion on them and so he touched their eyes. Think about it, Jesus not only heals these men, he touches their eyes---he places his hands upon them to say I love you, I care about you. The healing is wonderful, but the love, compassion and mercy is the miracle.
These men had no doubt that they were blind, it was a physical condition, however, there is so many people walking around this earth in a spiritual blindness that they don‘t even recognize. I see so many sad faces, lost faces, angry faces around me. Just take the time and look into the eyes of the people around you---you’ll see it. After doing this for a while now, I have become so overwhelmed with the desperation that I see in people, from all walks of life. So many people just seem so tired---tired of life, tired of their job, tired of their kids, tired of working, tired of cleaning, just tired of everything. I hear it all the time, don’t you? I have said it so many times myself, I am just tired of how this is going or that is going. Another thing that I hear a lot is “I just don’t know”. When a problem arises I hear this all the time---well I just don’t know anymore----I don’t know what to do----I don’t know what they want----I don’t know what the answer it. And yes, I have said all this too. Do you hear this too? We have got to stop this and it begins with you and I.
I am certain that these two blind men that were sitting by the road were tired of a lot of things and I am sure they said at one point I don’t know if we will ever be able to see, but when they found out about Jesus there was no longer any tiredness or doubt among them. Shouldn’t we be like that when we find Jesus? Without a doubt, yes! When we become tired of this life, we need to seek rest in our Savior and allow him to renew our strength---this is the only true rest and strength that we can receive. When we don’t know the answer, we can find it in Jesus---he is the answer to every question that we will ever have!
Just like Jesus placed his hands upon these blind men, he will lay his hands upon you and open your heart to see with his eyes. Just give it to him, speak his name, shout his name and he will come---he will change your life and you will never be the same!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Serve!
Today's Reading: Matthew 20:20-28
When I first read this I could not begin to understand this mother’s request. To be quite honest, it really bothered me that she would even ask that of Jesus. I am not sure why it bothered me so much, but it did and for the last couple of days I have read it over and over again trying to understand it. I even tried to write my thoughts down last night, but they seemed to come out of complete disappointment of how Jesus was treated. This woman was not rude or hurtful to Jesus, she even worshipped him before her request, but I guess the request bothered me so much because she seemed to place her sons on almost the same level as Jesus. While I have not always been the most devout Christian during my lifetime and I have made many mistakes it has always bothered me tremendously to see people place themselves above others and I suppose this is sort of what I saw in this mother’s request. There is no doubt that she loved her boys and even loved Jesus, but we can never, ever allow ourselves or let people lift us above others. When I really think about what we do, we seem to think we deserve better than the person next to us and we can come up with good reasons---I work harder, I have never had things handed to me, I would do more with the opportunity, and on and on. I have to admit I have done this, maybe not blatantly, but I have. But no matter the worst person in the world, Jesus loves them and they deserve no less and we deserve no more. Something also occurred to me as I began to write down these thoughts---I realized just how much I am beginning to truly love Jesus Christ. Why? I realized that this woman’s seemingly simply and ignorant act really made me upset, it made me jump to Jesus’ defense, and that my friend is where I want to be---even if I have to be brutally honest and let the ugly things in my life be revealed.
I finally get it---just now, as I write these words down! In the last few scriptures (vs.24-28) when the disciples become ‘indignant’ with this woman’s request, Jesus seems to be saying to them, listen don’t take this request to heart, she doesn’t know any better, this is how her people operate. Then Jesus says (in my words) now for you, you are different, this is not how you are to operate, you are not to be concerned about status or being first---in fact your plan of action for this life is the complete opposite---you are to serve and the more you serve the greater you will become in my kingdom.
We are truly not of this world and therefore we cannot live our lives as this world sees fit---it just will simply not work.
Thank you God for continuing to humble me with each day that passes, I stand in awe of your magnificent glory that surrounds me as this world attacks. Sometimes things hurt, but God you are so much greater than anything that comes my way. I am so thankful that you choose me for this task and I am so grateful that you allow me to see things through your eyes and not the eyes of this world! I pray that you continue to remind to serve and not be served!
When I first read this I could not begin to understand this mother’s request. To be quite honest, it really bothered me that she would even ask that of Jesus. I am not sure why it bothered me so much, but it did and for the last couple of days I have read it over and over again trying to understand it. I even tried to write my thoughts down last night, but they seemed to come out of complete disappointment of how Jesus was treated. This woman was not rude or hurtful to Jesus, she even worshipped him before her request, but I guess the request bothered me so much because she seemed to place her sons on almost the same level as Jesus. While I have not always been the most devout Christian during my lifetime and I have made many mistakes it has always bothered me tremendously to see people place themselves above others and I suppose this is sort of what I saw in this mother’s request. There is no doubt that she loved her boys and even loved Jesus, but we can never, ever allow ourselves or let people lift us above others. When I really think about what we do, we seem to think we deserve better than the person next to us and we can come up with good reasons---I work harder, I have never had things handed to me, I would do more with the opportunity, and on and on. I have to admit I have done this, maybe not blatantly, but I have. But no matter the worst person in the world, Jesus loves them and they deserve no less and we deserve no more. Something also occurred to me as I began to write down these thoughts---I realized just how much I am beginning to truly love Jesus Christ. Why? I realized that this woman’s seemingly simply and ignorant act really made me upset, it made me jump to Jesus’ defense, and that my friend is where I want to be---even if I have to be brutally honest and let the ugly things in my life be revealed.
I finally get it---just now, as I write these words down! In the last few scriptures (vs.24-28) when the disciples become ‘indignant’ with this woman’s request, Jesus seems to be saying to them, listen don’t take this request to heart, she doesn’t know any better, this is how her people operate. Then Jesus says (in my words) now for you, you are different, this is not how you are to operate, you are not to be concerned about status or being first---in fact your plan of action for this life is the complete opposite---you are to serve and the more you serve the greater you will become in my kingdom.
We are truly not of this world and therefore we cannot live our lives as this world sees fit---it just will simply not work.
Thank you God for continuing to humble me with each day that passes, I stand in awe of your magnificent glory that surrounds me as this world attacks. Sometimes things hurt, but God you are so much greater than anything that comes my way. I am so thankful that you choose me for this task and I am so grateful that you allow me to see things through your eyes and not the eyes of this world! I pray that you continue to remind to serve and not be served!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
We Will Rise!
Todays Reading: Matthew 20:17-19
Once again Jesus is preparing his friends, the disciples, for what is about to come, but I find it comforting that along with all the terrible things that he tells them will happen he continues to reassure them that this will not be the end. He tells them each time that on the third day he will be raised back to life. I think how the disciples must have felt each time he would tell them what was going to happen to him, after all, they loved him tremendously, they loved him enough to leave everything behind and follow him. I am sure they were scared and didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation. It is much easier for us to already know the story and look at it from our perspective than to be in the midst of what was happening, but isn’t that how life is. When we are in the middle of a trial, no matter the degree, we don’t always see the full picture, we don’t understand why we have to be the ones to suffer, we don‘t see that God is going to give us beauty for ashes.
I think about the Jews during the Holocaust….did they really know the magnitude of what was taking place? Some may have, but I think most of them were just in the midst of this great suffering, I believe that most of them were simply trying to survive for themselves and their family. It is harder to see the whole situation when you are in the middle of it. So many times I have listened to stories of the survivors of the 911 attacks and they say I didn’t realize what all was going on, I was just trying to get out---they only saw their experience with no idea that our country was under attack. While the rest of us watched on television and knew to some degree what was happening, these people were just trying to get through the moment.
We have to hang on to that hope, that faith that we have in Christ when we are in the middle of a trial. We have to know that while it may hurt, it will be meant for good. With Christ we will rise up again and stand strong. So even in the midst of suffering, even when we don’t feel him beside us, even when we don’t hear his voice, we have to know that he is there, that is what faith is. Jesus’ life is the highest example of triumph over tragedy---to the world it may have looked as though everything was over on the day he hung upon that cross, but to God it was just the beginning. It was only through Jesus’ suffering that we have life, and what greater gift is that!
Once again Jesus is preparing his friends, the disciples, for what is about to come, but I find it comforting that along with all the terrible things that he tells them will happen he continues to reassure them that this will not be the end. He tells them each time that on the third day he will be raised back to life. I think how the disciples must have felt each time he would tell them what was going to happen to him, after all, they loved him tremendously, they loved him enough to leave everything behind and follow him. I am sure they were scared and didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of the situation. It is much easier for us to already know the story and look at it from our perspective than to be in the midst of what was happening, but isn’t that how life is. When we are in the middle of a trial, no matter the degree, we don’t always see the full picture, we don’t understand why we have to be the ones to suffer, we don‘t see that God is going to give us beauty for ashes.
I think about the Jews during the Holocaust….did they really know the magnitude of what was taking place? Some may have, but I think most of them were just in the midst of this great suffering, I believe that most of them were simply trying to survive for themselves and their family. It is harder to see the whole situation when you are in the middle of it. So many times I have listened to stories of the survivors of the 911 attacks and they say I didn’t realize what all was going on, I was just trying to get out---they only saw their experience with no idea that our country was under attack. While the rest of us watched on television and knew to some degree what was happening, these people were just trying to get through the moment.
We have to hang on to that hope, that faith that we have in Christ when we are in the middle of a trial. We have to know that while it may hurt, it will be meant for good. With Christ we will rise up again and stand strong. So even in the midst of suffering, even when we don’t feel him beside us, even when we don’t hear his voice, we have to know that he is there, that is what faith is. Jesus’ life is the highest example of triumph over tragedy---to the world it may have looked as though everything was over on the day he hung upon that cross, but to God it was just the beginning. It was only through Jesus’ suffering that we have life, and what greater gift is that!
But I Thought of You
I almost threw my hands up today
I almost gave up
I thought this is just too much
This is just too hard
I can’t do all this
I want it to be easier
I almost threw my hands up today
I thought just forget it
If one more thing goes wrong
I just can’t do this anymore
I almost threw my hands up today
But then I thought of you
I thought of the words that I had spoken
Words that were given to me from you
“When you don’t feel like praising me, praise me
When you don’t feel like reading my word, read it
When you don’t feel like singing, sing”
So I did
And now I receive new words from you…
“For it is when you don’t feel like praising, that your praises mean the most to me
For it is when you don’t feel like embracing my word that it will penetrate your heart the
deepest
For it is when you don’t feel like singing that your song resonates throughout heaven
Your acknowledgement of me is what matters the most to me
Your dependence upon me will strengthen you
I love you and I want you
All of you
When you are hurt I want to hold you
I created you and I want to take care of you
Just trust me and not this world
This world will always let you down
I will always lift you up”
I almost threw my hands up today
But then I thought of you, Jesus
Monday, May 16, 2011
Purpose in Everything
Matthew 20:1-16
This parable reminds me of a saying I once heard…”If everyone would just sweep off their own door steps the entire street would be clean”. So many times we are more concerned about things not being fair, about someone getting more, me getting less, and so on and so forth. If we would only be concerned with our own responsibility---please notice that I didn’t say with one’s own self because that is so not what I meant. Our responsibility is to do what God asks us to do, service for him may not always seem fair or glamorous, but everything he calls us to do is to serve a purpose and that purpose is to create in us a more Christ-like being. So many times we (and I have been guilty of it) focus on the why of doing something instead of simply doing it because it just needs to be done. I remember a time not too long ago when I had been praying for God to reveal to me what he wanted me to do, what is my calling Lord I would ask, all the while thinking I know it is going to be some grand thing. Then one day I was alone in the fellowship hall at my church cleaning the counter tops, tables, and floors after an event. Now I can not ever remember a time I have been alone doing this because usually there is several of us cleaning, but for some reason the others were busy doing other things around the church---wanted to add that in there to let you know that God has a way of getting you right where he wants you in order for you to hear his voice. I was cleaning a table when I heard “this is what I want you to do”. I stopped and literally said out loud “what?” Again, I heard “this is what I want you to do” and I said “do what Lord, I am cleaning a table, I don’t understand what you want me to do”. Then I heard, “I want you to do what ever needs to be done at that time”. That was it---I had the answer to my question, but I was a bit puzzled by the reply. I kind of knew what he meant, but then again, I was looking for something more specific. It wasn’t until later that I realized that God doesn’t have one specific thing for me to do---all I need to know is that I have been called to follow and so I will.
So many times we seek an answer from God, but then we second guess it because it was not what we were thinking. We have to learn to accept it because he is God and we are not.
Just like the people who worked long hours and got the same pay as the people that worked fewer hours. The people got what they were promised, but that no longer satisfied them, they wanted the others to suffer because they didn’t have to do the same amount of work. Instead of rejoicing in the blessings of the others, they wanted more for themselves.
We have to rejoice in the blessings that the people around us receive because when we do it not only builds their spirits, it lifts ours. There is nothing like being genuinely happy for someone else’s blessing---there is no better feeling.
When we question why someone gets something when they don’t deserve it, we are questioning God’s plan. I believe with everything in me that there is purpose to every event in every person’s life, good and bad, and we can either choose to be an encourager or a discourager along the way.
This parable reminds me of a saying I once heard…”If everyone would just sweep off their own door steps the entire street would be clean”. So many times we are more concerned about things not being fair, about someone getting more, me getting less, and so on and so forth. If we would only be concerned with our own responsibility---please notice that I didn’t say with one’s own self because that is so not what I meant. Our responsibility is to do what God asks us to do, service for him may not always seem fair or glamorous, but everything he calls us to do is to serve a purpose and that purpose is to create in us a more Christ-like being. So many times we (and I have been guilty of it) focus on the why of doing something instead of simply doing it because it just needs to be done. I remember a time not too long ago when I had been praying for God to reveal to me what he wanted me to do, what is my calling Lord I would ask, all the while thinking I know it is going to be some grand thing. Then one day I was alone in the fellowship hall at my church cleaning the counter tops, tables, and floors after an event. Now I can not ever remember a time I have been alone doing this because usually there is several of us cleaning, but for some reason the others were busy doing other things around the church---wanted to add that in there to let you know that God has a way of getting you right where he wants you in order for you to hear his voice. I was cleaning a table when I heard “this is what I want you to do”. I stopped and literally said out loud “what?” Again, I heard “this is what I want you to do” and I said “do what Lord, I am cleaning a table, I don’t understand what you want me to do”. Then I heard, “I want you to do what ever needs to be done at that time”. That was it---I had the answer to my question, but I was a bit puzzled by the reply. I kind of knew what he meant, but then again, I was looking for something more specific. It wasn’t until later that I realized that God doesn’t have one specific thing for me to do---all I need to know is that I have been called to follow and so I will.
So many times we seek an answer from God, but then we second guess it because it was not what we were thinking. We have to learn to accept it because he is God and we are not.
Just like the people who worked long hours and got the same pay as the people that worked fewer hours. The people got what they were promised, but that no longer satisfied them, they wanted the others to suffer because they didn’t have to do the same amount of work. Instead of rejoicing in the blessings of the others, they wanted more for themselves.
We have to rejoice in the blessings that the people around us receive because when we do it not only builds their spirits, it lifts ours. There is nothing like being genuinely happy for someone else’s blessing---there is no better feeling.
When we question why someone gets something when they don’t deserve it, we are questioning God’s plan. I believe with everything in me that there is purpose to every event in every person’s life, good and bad, and we can either choose to be an encourager or a discourager along the way.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
He Speaks With His Heart
I wrote the following story several years ago and felt extremely lead to share it tonight.
His first word “Due” (which is what he called his Chihuahua, whose name was Duke) was used quite often. When this beloved pet died suddenly, the boy was devastated. Surely this will pass; he’s only two and a half, and he could not possibly remember this dog later on. Again, months passed and this precious child, who didn’t understand death, but did understand that his Due was not there, would call for him daily. His parents’ hearts would break with each call—his mother tried to explain as best she could that Duke was with Jesus and that one day we would get to see him again.
By now some words and even some phrases were used, but they are not very clear. In fact, if people were not aware of what he was speaking about, they would not understand what he was saying. His mother would cringe when someone would ask the most common question asked of children, “What’s your name and how old are you?” You see, he had trouble with many words--but his name, it was especially difficult. He could manage the word Bet but not Brett, the “r” sound was almost impossible for him to say. His mother would always let him respond first and then back him up. But he loved and he loved often.
He was just so mature in the area of love; everyone was always amazed at how considerate he was of others. If he was playing with something and another child wanted the item---he would simply hand it to him or her and smile. After seeing this numerous times, his mother decided to address the issue with him. She explained that it was all right to keep playing with something even when someone else wanted it. His response was, “Its o.k., I can play with something else.” Have I mentioned that he is speaking in sentences now? However, only his parents and close family members can distinguish what he is saying. I know by now you are wondering about therapy—he started speech therapy at age three, but that is not what this story is about.
It seemed to his parents that they continuously had to answer the question, “What did he say?” His parents didn’t begin to realize how enormous his heart was until his baby sister arrived. Not for one minute was he jealous—he had to bring flowers to the hospital this time. He was so proud of her, he would feed her, talk to her, and play with her the best that one can play with an infant, but the sweetest thing he wanted to do was brush her hair. He was so gentle, and her big eyes watched so admiringly, as if she knew exactly what he was doing. As she grew, he would let her have anything she wanted, whether she would tear it up or not. He just wanted her to be happy. Then one day he asked the question that rendered chill bumps on his mother: “Can we tell her about Due?” You see, over the past couple of years he had mentioned Duke occasionally—but at this moment she realized what a strong bond of love that was between these two friends. So, with tears falling, they showed her pictures and told her all about Due. His mother prayed continuously to help him talk better so others could understand him; he was starting kindergarten and she wanted to make sure that his teacher would be able to understand him. She tried to clear the thoughts away just as fast as they raced through her mind, “What if someone makes fun of him, his heart is so tender?”; “Will he stop talking completely if people cannot understand him?” None of these things came to pass. Not only does he have a tender heart, he also has the character to laugh at himself, and it really didn’t bother him that he spoke so differently than everyone else. As you can imagine, reading and spelling became very difficult for Brett. He had to work extra hard at it, and he did. It wasn’t until first grade that we realized he could read much better than he could speak. This was the beginning of a new approach and much progress.
Now that he was older he was beginning to realize the importance of prayer; his family had always prayed, and he would ask to pray for someone occasionally, but it was different now. He believed that if you pray to God about something it was taken care of…and isn’t that how we all should believe? Once, when he was five he had to be hospitalized because of an extremely high fever. His parents were terrified because the doctors were not sure what the problem was, but Brett would continuously tell them, “It’s all right.” During one of those long nights, after going through a multitude of tests that day, his IV became clogged, and the doctors were going to have to run another one. Because his veins were so small it took many painful attempts, but with tears rolling down his face, he never allowed a scream to emerge. During this time his mother, who was lying next to him, shed many tears of her own while praying continuously: “Please God let this be over with and take his pain away.” After it was finally finished he patted his mother’s face and said, “It’s o.k. now.”
He continues to amaze his parents with his compassion for others. He wants to pray for everyone. He hears a story or watches something on television, and he wants to pray about it. He recalls sermons that he has heard that the majority of us have forgotten. Although his parents have been fully aware of how special he is and continually praise him and tell him how good he is, they have not really explained to him how special his heart is, until just recently. As far as his school grades go, Brett is extremely tough on himself, so when he made a C on a spelling test, he was devastated. He cried until he fell asleep that night, but as his mother lay beside him in bed that night she explained something to him. “Brett you see grades are important, but they are not the most important thing in life. If you do the best you can and that’s a C---then it’s all right, because the most important thing is to have a good heart, and you have the greatest heart of anyone I know. You see, Jesus wants us to work hard and do our best---but most importantly He wants us to have a loving, compassionate heart like His, and you do.”
Just recently during a trip to the fair, Brett stopped his parents in their tracks once again. He and his sister were getting on a ride; the seats were in a row facing out. After the children were all seated and about to buckle---Brett suddenly jumped up, moved his sister from the outside seat to the inside, patted her leg, as to say that she would be safer there. Then after the ride attendant checked her harness, Brett rechecked it. His parent simply looked at each other, smiled, and shook their heads.
I could go on and on, but you know how mothers are. You see, Brett is my son and my prayers have definitely changed because of him. Instead of praying for him to speak better, I thank God for who he is, because he has shown me what is important in life. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have grown spiritually because of Brett. God has shown me through him that it is all right to be different; wasn’t Jesus? I pray now that Brett continues to mature in Christ and can lead others to Jesus.
He Speaks With His Heart
This is the story of an extremely special little boy, who by most standards doesn’t speak plainly; however, the language of his heart rings abundantly clear. As an infant, he seemed to be progressing perfectly--eating well, rolling over, and even walking early. But months began to build and no words came, some babbling and some of “his” words that only the family could understand. As the months turned into a couple of years, there was still not a lot of verbal language. However, this child that was not really talking was stealing everyone’s heart. His compassion for others was extremely obvious early on. He loved to help with anything and he truly loved others. The realization came not long after his second birthday, when his cousin was born. He was adamant about taking something very special to the hospital to give to his new baby cousin. It was November, so he chose a reindeer that sang Christmas carols.His first word “Due” (which is what he called his Chihuahua, whose name was Duke) was used quite often. When this beloved pet died suddenly, the boy was devastated. Surely this will pass; he’s only two and a half, and he could not possibly remember this dog later on. Again, months passed and this precious child, who didn’t understand death, but did understand that his Due was not there, would call for him daily. His parents’ hearts would break with each call—his mother tried to explain as best she could that Duke was with Jesus and that one day we would get to see him again.
By now some words and even some phrases were used, but they are not very clear. In fact, if people were not aware of what he was speaking about, they would not understand what he was saying. His mother would cringe when someone would ask the most common question asked of children, “What’s your name and how old are you?” You see, he had trouble with many words--but his name, it was especially difficult. He could manage the word Bet but not Brett, the “r” sound was almost impossible for him to say. His mother would always let him respond first and then back him up. But he loved and he loved often.
He was just so mature in the area of love; everyone was always amazed at how considerate he was of others. If he was playing with something and another child wanted the item---he would simply hand it to him or her and smile. After seeing this numerous times, his mother decided to address the issue with him. She explained that it was all right to keep playing with something even when someone else wanted it. His response was, “Its o.k., I can play with something else.” Have I mentioned that he is speaking in sentences now? However, only his parents and close family members can distinguish what he is saying. I know by now you are wondering about therapy—he started speech therapy at age three, but that is not what this story is about.
It seemed to his parents that they continuously had to answer the question, “What did he say?” His parents didn’t begin to realize how enormous his heart was until his baby sister arrived. Not for one minute was he jealous—he had to bring flowers to the hospital this time. He was so proud of her, he would feed her, talk to her, and play with her the best that one can play with an infant, but the sweetest thing he wanted to do was brush her hair. He was so gentle, and her big eyes watched so admiringly, as if she knew exactly what he was doing. As she grew, he would let her have anything she wanted, whether she would tear it up or not. He just wanted her to be happy. Then one day he asked the question that rendered chill bumps on his mother: “Can we tell her about Due?” You see, over the past couple of years he had mentioned Duke occasionally—but at this moment she realized what a strong bond of love that was between these two friends. So, with tears falling, they showed her pictures and told her all about Due. His mother prayed continuously to help him talk better so others could understand him; he was starting kindergarten and she wanted to make sure that his teacher would be able to understand him. She tried to clear the thoughts away just as fast as they raced through her mind, “What if someone makes fun of him, his heart is so tender?”; “Will he stop talking completely if people cannot understand him?” None of these things came to pass. Not only does he have a tender heart, he also has the character to laugh at himself, and it really didn’t bother him that he spoke so differently than everyone else. As you can imagine, reading and spelling became very difficult for Brett. He had to work extra hard at it, and he did. It wasn’t until first grade that we realized he could read much better than he could speak. This was the beginning of a new approach and much progress.
Now that he was older he was beginning to realize the importance of prayer; his family had always prayed, and he would ask to pray for someone occasionally, but it was different now. He believed that if you pray to God about something it was taken care of…and isn’t that how we all should believe? Once, when he was five he had to be hospitalized because of an extremely high fever. His parents were terrified because the doctors were not sure what the problem was, but Brett would continuously tell them, “It’s all right.” During one of those long nights, after going through a multitude of tests that day, his IV became clogged, and the doctors were going to have to run another one. Because his veins were so small it took many painful attempts, but with tears rolling down his face, he never allowed a scream to emerge. During this time his mother, who was lying next to him, shed many tears of her own while praying continuously: “Please God let this be over with and take his pain away.” After it was finally finished he patted his mother’s face and said, “It’s o.k. now.”
He continues to amaze his parents with his compassion for others. He wants to pray for everyone. He hears a story or watches something on television, and he wants to pray about it. He recalls sermons that he has heard that the majority of us have forgotten. Although his parents have been fully aware of how special he is and continually praise him and tell him how good he is, they have not really explained to him how special his heart is, until just recently. As far as his school grades go, Brett is extremely tough on himself, so when he made a C on a spelling test, he was devastated. He cried until he fell asleep that night, but as his mother lay beside him in bed that night she explained something to him. “Brett you see grades are important, but they are not the most important thing in life. If you do the best you can and that’s a C---then it’s all right, because the most important thing is to have a good heart, and you have the greatest heart of anyone I know. You see, Jesus wants us to work hard and do our best---but most importantly He wants us to have a loving, compassionate heart like His, and you do.”
Just recently during a trip to the fair, Brett stopped his parents in their tracks once again. He and his sister were getting on a ride; the seats were in a row facing out. After the children were all seated and about to buckle---Brett suddenly jumped up, moved his sister from the outside seat to the inside, patted her leg, as to say that she would be safer there. Then after the ride attendant checked her harness, Brett rechecked it. His parent simply looked at each other, smiled, and shook their heads.
I could go on and on, but you know how mothers are. You see, Brett is my son and my prayers have definitely changed because of him. Instead of praying for him to speak better, I thank God for who he is, because he has shown me what is important in life. I cannot begin to tell you how much I have grown spiritually because of Brett. God has shown me through him that it is all right to be different; wasn’t Jesus? I pray now that Brett continues to mature in Christ and can lead others to Jesus.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Recognize It!
Thank you Jesus for always revealing your light to me with every failure that I encounter. Many times my failure comes from not listening to that still small voice that is constantly being whispered in my ear. Thank you for reminding me to recognize where negative comments, criticisms, and complete disregard for others come from. When I finally stopped for a moment I heard it so clearly…”Rosanne, recognize it for what it is”. As my knees fell to the floor, as my head lowered, I felt an overwhelming presence of God in the room. I am sorry Jesus for letting things get to me, for forgetting that I should count it all as joy, for wanting to take care of everything myself, and for once again not recognizing the face of confusion and conflict. As I continued to pray I felt the Holy Spirit fall upon me and speak---it only bothers you so much because that is not what you are made of, that is not who you are, you are of me, you are my child and this world bothers you more and more because it is truly not your home. You are full of my light and this world is full of darkness from the evil one. You are a foreigner in a land of trouble. As long as you are in this world, you will not be comfortable. Thank you Jesus, thank you for loving me, for saving me, for showing me the way. Thank you that I am not like this world. Praise God that the things of this world bother me so much, thank God I am conflicted by the acts of the people that are of the world, but please always remind me to have compassion for the people that don’t know you. Out of that compassion please allow your light to shine a little brighter so that they can see you in me. Please continue to speak to me and remind me that I am to be the light in a dark place.
God is so good to me, and I am so unworthy of everything that he does for me, but I am so very grateful that he blesses me through his word!
God is so good to me, and I am so unworthy of everything that he does for me, but I am so very grateful that he blesses me through his word!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Helping Our Neighbors
I have added a link to my blog, Hackleburg Helping Hands. Hackleburg, Alabama was one of the towns hit by a massive tornado last week. One of our sister churches, Hackleburg Church of God of Prophecy, was destroyed by the tornado along with almost everything else in this small town of 1500 people. They also lost 29 lives that day. The school was destroyed, and almost all the businesses. The link to the right explains how you can help them.
I also added this link that is an article about the town.
http://cogop.org/news/162/136/Devastation-in-the-South/d,Clean:3colNewsDetail.html
"Don't curse the darkness. Light a candle"
I also added this link that is an article about the town.
http://cogop.org/news/162/136/Devastation-in-the-South/d,Clean:3colNewsDetail.html
"Don't curse the darkness. Light a candle"
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
His Will!
Matthew 19:16-30
Now I have no idea the intentions of the man that asked Jesus about how to obtain eternal life, but the first thing I thought about is that we are always trying to find the easy answer. How many times have I said just tell me what to do and I will do it. I think about how many times I have prayed and said just show me, just tell me, just let me know in some way what you want me to do. I can’t even recall anything that God showed me immediately and I know he has, but I can only remember the things that were not revealed immediately---the things that took time and many times those things were only revealed to me through trial. It was only through those times that my faith deepened and I grew spiritually. Until recently I never really understand what James meant when he said count it joy to receive great trials (James 1:2)---well I thought I knew, but I didn’t really and I am sure years from now I will say this same thing again.
Interestingly enough, Jesus’ first reply is goodness will not give you eternal life because there is only One who is truly good. In my words, because we are not innately good we have to find a way past our bad (our flesh), Jesus is our way past ourselves. Am I making sense? To be perfectly honest it is much easier to be bad, now I don’t mean bad like murdering someone, but I mean when someone does something that you don’t agree with or does something to you what are your first thoughts? To pray for them, to count it all joy, to love them? No, the first thought is to say something back and/or make a plan to get them back. What about when something goes wrong, something breaks down, a plan falls apart, or sickness comes upon us? Do we get excited because we know that God is using these things to deepen our faith? The only way we can get past these things is by allowing Jesus to control us---we must truly die to ourselves in order to live, we must see a greater picture that is not visible to the human eye, only through our spiritual vision can we truly see.
As Jesus moves through the list of commandments the man says oh yeah, I obey all those laws, now what else is there? Wait a minute---you want me to do what? Give up all this and give it away? The Bible says the man then leaves sad because he had great wealth. I think we are at the point now that we just have to give up, no matter our economic status---we have to give up what we think we have to have. We have to give up the life we think we should be living for the life that God has for us. Does this mean no possessions? I don’t think in every case, I personally think God just wants to know that we are truly willing to give up everything to serve him. What does he want you to give up? Well that is between you and God, seek him and I promise he will let you know. I think about how Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son because he loved God that much, but God never allowed it to happen because he saw that Abraham’s heart was true and faithful. Does he see the same kind of faith in my heart? In yours?
When I read the last scripture I think of servant hood. We have to serve God first and then others. This may seems backwards to how the world views things, but this is God’s way, the right way, the way it was intended to be before evil came into this world. As a servant we may be viewed as last, but in God’s eyes we are being faithful, we are giving up the things of this world, our wants, our desires---and when we give up those things God will fill those vacancies with greater things. You see God has a plan for all of us, a plan far greater than anything we could ever imagine, but it is our choice to choose his plan for our life or to go with what we think is best.
I am truly amazed at where God has brought me from and I am ecstatic about where he is taking me. I have made up my mind up that God’s will is greater than anything else in my life. If I loose everything I have, if I am never able to write another word, if I loose those I love, or if I loose my own life it will be alright because God is in control, he knows what he is doing and his will will be done. Who am I to even question the one that not only created me, but created this world, his knowledge is far greater and his love is far deeper.
Now I have no idea the intentions of the man that asked Jesus about how to obtain eternal life, but the first thing I thought about is that we are always trying to find the easy answer. How many times have I said just tell me what to do and I will do it. I think about how many times I have prayed and said just show me, just tell me, just let me know in some way what you want me to do. I can’t even recall anything that God showed me immediately and I know he has, but I can only remember the things that were not revealed immediately---the things that took time and many times those things were only revealed to me through trial. It was only through those times that my faith deepened and I grew spiritually. Until recently I never really understand what James meant when he said count it joy to receive great trials (James 1:2)---well I thought I knew, but I didn’t really and I am sure years from now I will say this same thing again.
Interestingly enough, Jesus’ first reply is goodness will not give you eternal life because there is only One who is truly good. In my words, because we are not innately good we have to find a way past our bad (our flesh), Jesus is our way past ourselves. Am I making sense? To be perfectly honest it is much easier to be bad, now I don’t mean bad like murdering someone, but I mean when someone does something that you don’t agree with or does something to you what are your first thoughts? To pray for them, to count it all joy, to love them? No, the first thought is to say something back and/or make a plan to get them back. What about when something goes wrong, something breaks down, a plan falls apart, or sickness comes upon us? Do we get excited because we know that God is using these things to deepen our faith? The only way we can get past these things is by allowing Jesus to control us---we must truly die to ourselves in order to live, we must see a greater picture that is not visible to the human eye, only through our spiritual vision can we truly see.
As Jesus moves through the list of commandments the man says oh yeah, I obey all those laws, now what else is there? Wait a minute---you want me to do what? Give up all this and give it away? The Bible says the man then leaves sad because he had great wealth. I think we are at the point now that we just have to give up, no matter our economic status---we have to give up what we think we have to have. We have to give up the life we think we should be living for the life that God has for us. Does this mean no possessions? I don’t think in every case, I personally think God just wants to know that we are truly willing to give up everything to serve him. What does he want you to give up? Well that is between you and God, seek him and I promise he will let you know. I think about how Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son because he loved God that much, but God never allowed it to happen because he saw that Abraham’s heart was true and faithful. Does he see the same kind of faith in my heart? In yours?
When I read the last scripture I think of servant hood. We have to serve God first and then others. This may seems backwards to how the world views things, but this is God’s way, the right way, the way it was intended to be before evil came into this world. As a servant we may be viewed as last, but in God’s eyes we are being faithful, we are giving up the things of this world, our wants, our desires---and when we give up those things God will fill those vacancies with greater things. You see God has a plan for all of us, a plan far greater than anything we could ever imagine, but it is our choice to choose his plan for our life or to go with what we think is best.
I am truly amazed at where God has brought me from and I am ecstatic about where he is taking me. I have made up my mind up that God’s will is greater than anything else in my life. If I loose everything I have, if I am never able to write another word, if I loose those I love, or if I loose my own life it will be alright because God is in control, he knows what he is doing and his will will be done. Who am I to even question the one that not only created me, but created this world, his knowledge is far greater and his love is far deeper.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Love!
Matthew 19:1-15
Divorce, a touchy and sometimes difficult subject today, as well as, thousands of years ago when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the matter. Once again, I am no expert by any means, but I think that Jesus was saying that marriage was created by God, it is when a man and woman become one, it was intended to be until death and no one can dispute these biblical facts. However, it can become tainted and impossible to salvage if both the man and woman are not willing to follow the leading of God. Marriage is hard and it does involve sacrifice, but doesn’t everything that’s worth something have a cost? I just think that today people get a divorce without really trying to work things out. Divorce may seem to be the easiest way out but in reality it is hard on every person involved and God knows that---think about it, everything that God designed was perfect including marriage, so isn’t he just protecting us from heartache when he designed marriage to last until death. Is it unforgivable, of course not, but I just think that today many people don’t take marriage as serious as it needs to be taken. I have actually heard people say well if this don’t work out we’ll just get a divorce and move on. Really? Should it be that simple? I think so many times we forget what a beautiful creation marriage is, where two people are joined for life, two people that love each other unconditionally. I do have to say that while my marriage has been far from perfect, over the last 17 years my husband and I have never seriously discussed divorce. That is not a testament to either of us, but to Jesus Christ who we have many times put our trust in when we did not know what to do. You know we will never be able to love our wife or our husband like God intended if we never accept the salvation that is offered to us through Jesus Christ. It is only through him that we can truly know how to love and be loved.
I find it interesting that immediately after divorce is discussed that scripture moves on to the importance of little children in the kingdom of heaven. After all, the greatest gift that we get through marriage is children. As I read these scriptures I can just picture the love of Jesus as he pours it out upon these children that are brought to him. How he must have not only told, but motioned to his disciples to hold on and let me just love on these precious children. Isn’t that what he just wants to do to us, isn’t that what we long for from him….just his love? Isn’t love what is the core of our being? When everything is said and done what is left….love! I think that is why we are to be like children because children allow God to pour his love out upon them without any expectation. I can’t help but think about all the disasters that have happened over the last few years and the resilience of God’s people. I have heard testimony of great loss, but then they refer back to family, friends, and strangers that they found great comfort in. We can loose everything we have, but having someone’s love can make the greatest loss bearable. We can never forget that no matter our circumstance, no matter our loss, we have the greatest love of all when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Just as he loved on those children, he will pour his love down upon us and that love will make us whole.
Divorce, a touchy and sometimes difficult subject today, as well as, thousands of years ago when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the matter. Once again, I am no expert by any means, but I think that Jesus was saying that marriage was created by God, it is when a man and woman become one, it was intended to be until death and no one can dispute these biblical facts. However, it can become tainted and impossible to salvage if both the man and woman are not willing to follow the leading of God. Marriage is hard and it does involve sacrifice, but doesn’t everything that’s worth something have a cost? I just think that today people get a divorce without really trying to work things out. Divorce may seem to be the easiest way out but in reality it is hard on every person involved and God knows that---think about it, everything that God designed was perfect including marriage, so isn’t he just protecting us from heartache when he designed marriage to last until death. Is it unforgivable, of course not, but I just think that today many people don’t take marriage as serious as it needs to be taken. I have actually heard people say well if this don’t work out we’ll just get a divorce and move on. Really? Should it be that simple? I think so many times we forget what a beautiful creation marriage is, where two people are joined for life, two people that love each other unconditionally. I do have to say that while my marriage has been far from perfect, over the last 17 years my husband and I have never seriously discussed divorce. That is not a testament to either of us, but to Jesus Christ who we have many times put our trust in when we did not know what to do. You know we will never be able to love our wife or our husband like God intended if we never accept the salvation that is offered to us through Jesus Christ. It is only through him that we can truly know how to love and be loved.
I find it interesting that immediately after divorce is discussed that scripture moves on to the importance of little children in the kingdom of heaven. After all, the greatest gift that we get through marriage is children. As I read these scriptures I can just picture the love of Jesus as he pours it out upon these children that are brought to him. How he must have not only told, but motioned to his disciples to hold on and let me just love on these precious children. Isn’t that what he just wants to do to us, isn’t that what we long for from him….just his love? Isn’t love what is the core of our being? When everything is said and done what is left….love! I think that is why we are to be like children because children allow God to pour his love out upon them without any expectation. I can’t help but think about all the disasters that have happened over the last few years and the resilience of God’s people. I have heard testimony of great loss, but then they refer back to family, friends, and strangers that they found great comfort in. We can loose everything we have, but having someone’s love can make the greatest loss bearable. We can never forget that no matter our circumstance, no matter our loss, we have the greatest love of all when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Just as he loved on those children, he will pour his love down upon us and that love will make us whole.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Jesus and Sacrifice
Just to be perfectly honest I don’t know exactly where to start or even how to express what I have experienced over the last few days. I apologize for not posting Friday---that was the first day (other than Saturday and Sunday) that I have not posted since I started the blog, but I just couldn’t write. I tried, but nothing would come---instead I felt an overwhelming sense to pray, so I did. I prayed without knowing exactly what I was praying for. The only word that I can use to explain my feeling is sacrifice. I just felt like God was not only speaking to me, but was changing me and through this change wants me to share what he has revealed.
Since last Wednesday I have been experiencing these feelings about sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. What was God trying to teach me? I started praying and asking God what he wanted me to do, nothing would come, I just felt like I needed to seek Him for answers, answers to questions that I didn’t even know I had. Such a strange feeling, but my mind kept going back to the thoughts that I had a few days earlier about what I asked for when I prayed---how could I ask Jesus for more than he had while he walked on this earth, who am I to think that I deserve a better life than my Savior---who am I? So on Thursday I began to fast and pray---seeking an answer from God. In the past I have always had a specific reason to fast, but now I seemed to be fasting to seek God’s will and not mine. This was different, physically I felt very weak, almost exhausted, spiritual I felt weak. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around I was completely overwhelmed by feelings that I had never had and are very difficult to put into words, but what I can tell you is that I felt like I was not in control of anything---so I prayed and prayed and prayed. Saturday was the same. I had a women’s tea to attend and a shower, but other than those two things I was very quiet throughout the day, so quiet my husband kept on asking me if I was alright. My mind was on God more than it has ever been, I felt a complete reliance on him and quite honestly I wondered how long I could go on like this. I told my husband Sunday morning that I had been fasting about something, but that was all I told him. On the way to church tonight, we were talking about fasting and my daughter wanted me to explain why someone would want to fast. I was telling her what the Bible said about fasting and she said what are you fasting for. I told her that I was fasting because I wanted to know what God wanted me to do and my husband said how long are you going to fast? I said I don’t know, but I will know when to stop.
At church tonight a lady sang this song about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and how his sisters thought that he was late, but Jesus is never late and he proved that day that anything is possible with him and that his time is always best. After she sang, she immediately went into one of the most anointed messages that I have ever had the privilege of hearing. While I can’t tell you the whole message I do want to share a part of it. She basically said that no matter our circumstances, no matter where we are at or what we are going through we have an intercessor, Jesus Christ, and he hears us and he loves us and he will answer us with what is best for us, whether we think it is best or not, whether it is what we want or when we want it---if we are seeking his will, then we need to accept his will. He is God and who are we to think that we know what is best for us or anyone else. We are to trust him and him only---no matter what happens to us, we are to serve and trust him! Then she said, he owes us nothing, if we never receive another blessing, his salvation is blessing enough for us. Jesus saved our soul and that itself is enough!
There was my answer---I felt an overwhelming relief and while it was not an answer I could wrap my hands around---it was the spiritual answer that I needed. It was as if Jesus spoke to my spirit and said the answer is me, I am your answer and the sacrifice is your life, your life that you give to me when you seek my will. You are to sacrifice what you want for what I want for you. I sacrificed my life in order for you to have the life that I would have for you---my sacrifice was never about what you wanted, only for the love that I have for you, only for the greatest gift that you could ever receive---salvation---your only path to me.
Tonight after reflecting upon the last few days I thought of the scripture about being faithful in a few things (Matthew 25:23). I was faithful in very little, I fasted and prayed, that was pretty much all I did, yet God revealed himself in such a powerful way. I also thought about the scriptures that I had been given to me by people that had no idea what I was going through. I was feeling physically ill on Friday afternoon when I received this scripture…When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” John 11:4. Then about an hour later I received this…I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name Revelation 3:8. Upon going back to these scriptures tonight I realized that the scripture in John comes from the story of Lazarus. Coincidence? I don't think so---just another God thing!
I am not sure if I put this experience in words that explain it as I experienced it, but I pray that who ever may read this will see and feel how wonderfully awesome our Father is to us and that it takes just a little bit of faith, a little bit of sacrifice for him to pour his Spirit out upon you. God is truly wonderful to me and I give him my life for his will to be done. I know that it will not always be easy, I know that it will become difficult at times, but who am I to ask for anymore? Jesus is the answer---his sacrifice was enough!
With a heart overflowing with a love like no other I pray that God continues to bless all of us with his very presence, with the salvation that we receive through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Since last Wednesday I have been experiencing these feelings about sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. What was God trying to teach me? I started praying and asking God what he wanted me to do, nothing would come, I just felt like I needed to seek Him for answers, answers to questions that I didn’t even know I had. Such a strange feeling, but my mind kept going back to the thoughts that I had a few days earlier about what I asked for when I prayed---how could I ask Jesus for more than he had while he walked on this earth, who am I to think that I deserve a better life than my Savior---who am I? So on Thursday I began to fast and pray---seeking an answer from God. In the past I have always had a specific reason to fast, but now I seemed to be fasting to seek God’s will and not mine. This was different, physically I felt very weak, almost exhausted, spiritual I felt weak. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around I was completely overwhelmed by feelings that I had never had and are very difficult to put into words, but what I can tell you is that I felt like I was not in control of anything---so I prayed and prayed and prayed. Saturday was the same. I had a women’s tea to attend and a shower, but other than those two things I was very quiet throughout the day, so quiet my husband kept on asking me if I was alright. My mind was on God more than it has ever been, I felt a complete reliance on him and quite honestly I wondered how long I could go on like this. I told my husband Sunday morning that I had been fasting about something, but that was all I told him. On the way to church tonight, we were talking about fasting and my daughter wanted me to explain why someone would want to fast. I was telling her what the Bible said about fasting and she said what are you fasting for. I told her that I was fasting because I wanted to know what God wanted me to do and my husband said how long are you going to fast? I said I don’t know, but I will know when to stop.
At church tonight a lady sang this song about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and how his sisters thought that he was late, but Jesus is never late and he proved that day that anything is possible with him and that his time is always best. After she sang, she immediately went into one of the most anointed messages that I have ever had the privilege of hearing. While I can’t tell you the whole message I do want to share a part of it. She basically said that no matter our circumstances, no matter where we are at or what we are going through we have an intercessor, Jesus Christ, and he hears us and he loves us and he will answer us with what is best for us, whether we think it is best or not, whether it is what we want or when we want it---if we are seeking his will, then we need to accept his will. He is God and who are we to think that we know what is best for us or anyone else. We are to trust him and him only---no matter what happens to us, we are to serve and trust him! Then she said, he owes us nothing, if we never receive another blessing, his salvation is blessing enough for us. Jesus saved our soul and that itself is enough!
There was my answer---I felt an overwhelming relief and while it was not an answer I could wrap my hands around---it was the spiritual answer that I needed. It was as if Jesus spoke to my spirit and said the answer is me, I am your answer and the sacrifice is your life, your life that you give to me when you seek my will. You are to sacrifice what you want for what I want for you. I sacrificed my life in order for you to have the life that I would have for you---my sacrifice was never about what you wanted, only for the love that I have for you, only for the greatest gift that you could ever receive---salvation---your only path to me.
Tonight after reflecting upon the last few days I thought of the scripture about being faithful in a few things (Matthew 25:23). I was faithful in very little, I fasted and prayed, that was pretty much all I did, yet God revealed himself in such a powerful way. I also thought about the scriptures that I had been given to me by people that had no idea what I was going through. I was feeling physically ill on Friday afternoon when I received this scripture…When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it” John 11:4. Then about an hour later I received this…I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name Revelation 3:8. Upon going back to these scriptures tonight I realized that the scripture in John comes from the story of Lazarus. Coincidence? I don't think so---just another God thing!
I am not sure if I put this experience in words that explain it as I experienced it, but I pray that who ever may read this will see and feel how wonderfully awesome our Father is to us and that it takes just a little bit of faith, a little bit of sacrifice for him to pour his Spirit out upon you. God is truly wonderful to me and I give him my life for his will to be done. I know that it will not always be easy, I know that it will become difficult at times, but who am I to ask for anymore? Jesus is the answer---his sacrifice was enough!
With a heart overflowing with a love like no other I pray that God continues to bless all of us with his very presence, with the salvation that we receive through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Truth & Forgiveness
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:25-27
To me when the Bible talks about going to your brother who sins against you I believe it is simply talking about standing on truth. To merely be honest with others. However, I have found that the world’s view of ‘honesty’ has become extremely skewed. Instead of just being honest with someone when they hurt us we attempt to get back at them, completely ignore the situation, or talk to others about the person. If we just stand on truth, even when people don’t like it, it is hard for them to argue against it, after all, when we are truly standing on truth there is nothing else. Sometimes it is difficult to confront someone about a problem, but I believe that with prayer and sincerity it can not only resolve the issue it can change lives. Confronting someone out of love lets them see Jesus in you---when you follow Christ’s model they will see that you are standing for Jesus, for what you believe in, for what he has taught us.
Forgiveness---not the easiest action for this fleshly body to take, but this is how I look at it. If Jesus forgave me and continues to forgive me of all the foolishness that I do than who am I to not forgive someone? Am I greater than Christ? If I decide not to forgive someone than quite honestly I am saying that I am greater than Jesus. Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, yet he forgives us everyday of not only sinning, but sinning against him and what he has taught us. With all the grace, mercy, and love that he has shown us, we continue to sin, yet he continues to forgive. If we are to follow Christ, than we are to forgive---that’s it, no exceptions!
When we don’t do the right thing, when we are not honest with our brothers and sisters in Christ, when we do not forgive those who sin against us, we are not only failing as a Christian, but we are allowing Satan a way into our lives. Recognize Satan for who he is---a liar! Stand on the truth, stand on the example that Jesus has set for us and don’t let Satan convince you otherwise!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saving the Lost
Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:10-14
See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. The Son of Man came to save what was lost. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Have you ever been lost? Were you physically lost, spiritually lost, or both? When I was around 13 my little brother who was 7 at the time went missing in the mall. I am not sure how long it was, but it was long enough for the mall to be locked down and the police to arrive. I will never forget sitting with my grandmother in the shoe department waiting for them to find him---time stood still and the feeling that I had was almost unbearable. Even now, just thinking about it makes me a bit queasy. All we wanted was to find him. Jesus’ desire to find us when we are lost is even greater than we can imagine. The difference, Jesus knows right where we are at, his eyes never leave us, but we have to want to be found---we have to accept his guidance back to the flock.
While I have never been physically lost, I have been spiritually lost. So lost I didn’t know how to get back. In fact, I seemed to slowly drift away so far that I could no longer feel God’s presence. I knew that Jesus was my answer, but I was too spiritually weak to even reach for him, but he reached for me. He took my hand when I could no longer hold on. He never let go and he slowly pulled me back into his loving arms.
I am here to tell you that no matter what you have done, no matter how far you have gotten away from Jesus, no matter if you never knew him, know that he is looking for you, he is waiting for you. When you can’t step towards him, when you can’t reach out your hand, just call his name and he will come to you, he will reach down and hold you. He will meet you wherever you may be, but be prepared---be prepared for a new life, a better life, when you let him bring you to him.
While I can’t go into detail I do want to praise God for doing great and mighty things in my life and my family’s life. Just when I think I know how things are going, Jesus steps in and once again I am in awe of his goodness and love.
See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. The Son of Man came to save what was lost. What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
Have you ever been lost? Were you physically lost, spiritually lost, or both? When I was around 13 my little brother who was 7 at the time went missing in the mall. I am not sure how long it was, but it was long enough for the mall to be locked down and the police to arrive. I will never forget sitting with my grandmother in the shoe department waiting for them to find him---time stood still and the feeling that I had was almost unbearable. Even now, just thinking about it makes me a bit queasy. All we wanted was to find him. Jesus’ desire to find us when we are lost is even greater than we can imagine. The difference, Jesus knows right where we are at, his eyes never leave us, but we have to want to be found---we have to accept his guidance back to the flock.
While I have never been physically lost, I have been spiritually lost. So lost I didn’t know how to get back. In fact, I seemed to slowly drift away so far that I could no longer feel God’s presence. I knew that Jesus was my answer, but I was too spiritually weak to even reach for him, but he reached for me. He took my hand when I could no longer hold on. He never let go and he slowly pulled me back into his loving arms.
I am here to tell you that no matter what you have done, no matter how far you have gotten away from Jesus, no matter if you never knew him, know that he is looking for you, he is waiting for you. When you can’t step towards him, when you can’t reach out your hand, just call his name and he will come to you, he will reach down and hold you. He will meet you wherever you may be, but be prepared---be prepared for a new life, a better life, when you let him bring you to him.
While I can’t go into detail I do want to praise God for doing great and mighty things in my life and my family’s life. Just when I think I know how things are going, Jesus steps in and once again I am in awe of his goodness and love.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Become Like Little Children
Today’s Reading: Matthew 18:1-9
A child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Do you think that is the answer the disciples expected to hear? With all the great people of the Bible---Noah, Moses, David, John the Baptist, the disciples, Paul, Jesus said that unless we change and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Personally, I think that Jesus’ response may have been a bit of a shock to the disciples, so why did Jesus say this? When I think of how a little child behaves I think of what I have seen my children do. They believe God is who he says he is and can do anything and everything that they ask of him without question. I have noticed that when my children are sick or concerned about something they pray about it and then they are done with it---isn’t that how we all should be. Children just accept Jesus, they love him without question and they let him love them. I have also noticed that little children accept everyone, they don’t see the physical differences. I can think of a time when my daughter knew this little boy for a few years and never even acknowledge that he had a disability. I prepared myself for her questions, but they never came. I also remember a day not too long ago when we were watching Oprah….Shawn Cassidy was the guest and a lady in the audience was describing her experience of going to his concert when she was a teenager. Oprah responded by saying something to the effect of what did your parents say about you going to a white boy’s concert, everyone laughed and I will never forget my daughter looking at me and asking, “Is Oprah black?”. At first I thought she was joking, but when I looked at her I could tell she was really serious and I was elated---she did not even see color, she only saw a person, and that is what Jesus sees---a person, his child!
I want to see with the eyes of Jesus, and while the physical may not always be nice and neat, in the spiritual it should just be love. I heard a speaker once say to a group of teachers at a back to school luncheon to look at your new class list with the eyes of Jesus. Erase all you already know about these children and look at them for who they are to Jesus. I have never forgotten that and I am often reminded that people are who they are from their past experiences and if they have not experienced Jesus yet than how do we expect them to behave? My job is not to fix people, not to tell them how the should act, but to show them Jesus and let him mold them into what he wants them to be.
With a very powerful message Jesus explains to us just how important his children are to him in the next few verses. We have to be extremely careful about where we lead children. I may be an adult, but I have so much to learn from the faith of my children. The children in our lives watch us, they model their lives after the way that we live. So I have to ask myself…am I modeling Jesus to my children? Am I modeling Jesus to the world? Many times we don’t always evaluate ourselves, why?, well quite frankly it is not comfortable and it is much easier to see what others are doing wrong instead of ourselves. Isn’t self-evaluation what Jesus is teaching us in verses 8-10? Go back and read them again, what do you think? To me Jesus is saying take a good look at yourself, if you are not doing what I am telling you and you are allowing the things in your life to cause you to sin than do something about it---get rid of the problem, no matter what it is.
Have a self-evaluation day and in that day pay attention to everything that you do, the words you speak, the body language you use, the actions that you take, the time you spend, and people that you are with---look at all these, write things down, analysis your behavior and then compare it to that of Jesus, then make it better---ask Jesus to give you the words to say and to show you what to do. Take another day to observe a child, what will you find, what will you learn, do you think you might just see the fact of Jesus in the eyes of a child?
A child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Do you think that is the answer the disciples expected to hear? With all the great people of the Bible---Noah, Moses, David, John the Baptist, the disciples, Paul, Jesus said that unless we change and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Personally, I think that Jesus’ response may have been a bit of a shock to the disciples, so why did Jesus say this? When I think of how a little child behaves I think of what I have seen my children do. They believe God is who he says he is and can do anything and everything that they ask of him without question. I have noticed that when my children are sick or concerned about something they pray about it and then they are done with it---isn’t that how we all should be. Children just accept Jesus, they love him without question and they let him love them. I have also noticed that little children accept everyone, they don’t see the physical differences. I can think of a time when my daughter knew this little boy for a few years and never even acknowledge that he had a disability. I prepared myself for her questions, but they never came. I also remember a day not too long ago when we were watching Oprah….Shawn Cassidy was the guest and a lady in the audience was describing her experience of going to his concert when she was a teenager. Oprah responded by saying something to the effect of what did your parents say about you going to a white boy’s concert, everyone laughed and I will never forget my daughter looking at me and asking, “Is Oprah black?”. At first I thought she was joking, but when I looked at her I could tell she was really serious and I was elated---she did not even see color, she only saw a person, and that is what Jesus sees---a person, his child!
I want to see with the eyes of Jesus, and while the physical may not always be nice and neat, in the spiritual it should just be love. I heard a speaker once say to a group of teachers at a back to school luncheon to look at your new class list with the eyes of Jesus. Erase all you already know about these children and look at them for who they are to Jesus. I have never forgotten that and I am often reminded that people are who they are from their past experiences and if they have not experienced Jesus yet than how do we expect them to behave? My job is not to fix people, not to tell them how the should act, but to show them Jesus and let him mold them into what he wants them to be.
With a very powerful message Jesus explains to us just how important his children are to him in the next few verses. We have to be extremely careful about where we lead children. I may be an adult, but I have so much to learn from the faith of my children. The children in our lives watch us, they model their lives after the way that we live. So I have to ask myself…am I modeling Jesus to my children? Am I modeling Jesus to the world? Many times we don’t always evaluate ourselves, why?, well quite frankly it is not comfortable and it is much easier to see what others are doing wrong instead of ourselves. Isn’t self-evaluation what Jesus is teaching us in verses 8-10? Go back and read them again, what do you think? To me Jesus is saying take a good look at yourself, if you are not doing what I am telling you and you are allowing the things in your life to cause you to sin than do something about it---get rid of the problem, no matter what it is.
Have a self-evaluation day and in that day pay attention to everything that you do, the words you speak, the body language you use, the actions that you take, the time you spend, and people that you are with---look at all these, write things down, analysis your behavior and then compare it to that of Jesus, then make it better---ask Jesus to give you the words to say and to show you what to do. Take another day to observe a child, what will you find, what will you learn, do you think you might just see the fact of Jesus in the eyes of a child?
Monday, May 2, 2011
Just Let Me Love You!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 17:24-27
Well to say the least this little story is pretty unique to me---a little different than the other things that Jesus had been telling the disciples to do. I have read it several times trying to see what Jesus is trying to tell us in these 4 scriptures.
Once again there were people, this time the tax collectors, who were doing everything in their power to find fault with Jesus. What is interesting is that Jesus is showing who is in complete control by addressing Peter before he even has a chance to tell Jesus what happened. Jesus already knew the questions that were asked of Peter, but more importantly he knew the answer to the question---just as he has the answer to all of our questions. Jesus knew that how the tax collectors operated was not a balanced and fair system---everyone did not have to pay, that some, according to who they were did not have to pay taxes. Not so different than how things operate today, huh?
When questioned about paying his taxes, what did Jesus do? He paid them. What is unique to me is that he told Peter to go catch a fish and he would find the money to pay the taxes in the mouth of his first catch. Now why did Jesus do it this way? Once again there is no real research behind my thoughts, but I do pray before I read and ask God to open my eyes, my mind, and my heart in order to understand his word---so while I may not have a deep theological background I do seek God for my words. So with that said I think Jesus was once again making a point with his directions---he was saying there will always be things, particular laws of the land, that we will not always agree with, but sometimes we just have to abide by some man-made laws, however, we should never let them worry us. I think Jesus told Peter to get the coin out of the fish’s mouth to prove once again that he will provide for everything and sometimes that provision will come in ways we could have never imagined.
We can never, ever forget that Jesus knows all---even our questions before we even ask, and he will provide for our every need, no matter the case. He is it---there is nothing else. Even when we have to deal with the persecution of others, the accusations that are unfounded, the worries of this world---we have to know that we know that we have a Savior who not only saves us from our sins and from hell, but one who loves us so much that he saves us from our day-to-day problems. He simply loves us and wants to take care of us. In closing I would like to share the testimony of this lady that I heard over the weekend, she said she was really praying and asking God to give her what she needed, what ever that may be, that she just desired to get what he had for her and God spoke very clearly to her and said just let me love you! How powerful, but isn’t that what God is telling us with every word he speaks? Just let me love you!
Well to say the least this little story is pretty unique to me---a little different than the other things that Jesus had been telling the disciples to do. I have read it several times trying to see what Jesus is trying to tell us in these 4 scriptures.
Once again there were people, this time the tax collectors, who were doing everything in their power to find fault with Jesus. What is interesting is that Jesus is showing who is in complete control by addressing Peter before he even has a chance to tell Jesus what happened. Jesus already knew the questions that were asked of Peter, but more importantly he knew the answer to the question---just as he has the answer to all of our questions. Jesus knew that how the tax collectors operated was not a balanced and fair system---everyone did not have to pay, that some, according to who they were did not have to pay taxes. Not so different than how things operate today, huh?
When questioned about paying his taxes, what did Jesus do? He paid them. What is unique to me is that he told Peter to go catch a fish and he would find the money to pay the taxes in the mouth of his first catch. Now why did Jesus do it this way? Once again there is no real research behind my thoughts, but I do pray before I read and ask God to open my eyes, my mind, and my heart in order to understand his word---so while I may not have a deep theological background I do seek God for my words. So with that said I think Jesus was once again making a point with his directions---he was saying there will always be things, particular laws of the land, that we will not always agree with, but sometimes we just have to abide by some man-made laws, however, we should never let them worry us. I think Jesus told Peter to get the coin out of the fish’s mouth to prove once again that he will provide for everything and sometimes that provision will come in ways we could have never imagined.
We can never, ever forget that Jesus knows all---even our questions before we even ask, and he will provide for our every need, no matter the case. He is it---there is nothing else. Even when we have to deal with the persecution of others, the accusations that are unfounded, the worries of this world---we have to know that we know that we have a Savior who not only saves us from our sins and from hell, but one who loves us so much that he saves us from our day-to-day problems. He simply loves us and wants to take care of us. In closing I would like to share the testimony of this lady that I heard over the weekend, she said she was really praying and asking God to give her what she needed, what ever that may be, that she just desired to get what he had for her and God spoke very clearly to her and said just let me love you! How powerful, but isn’t that what God is telling us with every word he speaks? Just let me love you!
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