1 Corinthians 8:1-13
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him."
*************************************
When you spend time reading the Bible every day, as I have been this past couple weeks of Lent, every once in awhile you run across some strange things. For the past week, one of the lessons each day has come from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. I enjoy reading these letters from Paul because, although an Apostle and Saint, you see a very human side of him. You see the things he may have been struggling with at the time he wrote the letter.
This section of 1 Corinthians deals with a multitude of topics ranging from marriage and divorce to sex and man-woman relations as well as foods to eat or not eat. At times, it seems to be a random stream of consciousness as he tries to address either questions the people of Corinth had for him, issues they were dealing with or just things Paul had on his heart at the time. However, within these sets of rules and thoughts which seem to run on and on, there are sparkling jewels of wisdom.
Knowledge and Love.
When we say we "know" something or someone, how does that statement differ from when we say we "love" something or someone? Do you know ice cream or do you love ice cream (I love ice cream!). When you stand in awe of a beautiful spring morning, bursting with promise (those days are coming soon, my friends!), do you say "I know Spring" or do you say "I LOVE Spring!"? These are very different statements.
Knowledge of a thing or of a person is important. Saying "I know David" makes a statement to others that you likely (1) recognize him when he walks in the room, (2) understand in some small way how he relates to the world around him, and (3) that you maybe even have an idea of what he thinks about certain topics or issues. Knowledge almost becomes a possession, of sorts. As Paul said, it "puffs you up"; your knowledge makes you full, in some way (many would say, full of "it").
To say you love something is obviously very different. Now, I know people today throw around the word love in many ways and often without thought, but I am talking about the way we use it when we are deeply appreciative, in awe or fully connected to the joy that is the essence of that thing we love. Love is a sign of weakness, of sorts. It is why, I think, being in love is described at times as "weak in the knees" or "faint of heart". It represents a "giving over" of yourself to that thing or that person. By saying we love something or someone, we are in essence taking a piece of ourselves and handing it over to be cared for. We are, as they say, "putting it out there". When we say "I love...", we are assigning a value that is above all else.
Do you know God or do you love God?
I will admit, as I have moved through the daily walk of my Faith over many years, there are times I have said to myself, "OK. I think I get it. I know God. I know what He is doing. I know what He wants from me. I know what His work in the world is accomplishing." This 'knowing' has made me feel very secure of my place in creation, of my relationship with God. I felt that by 'knowing' God, I was in some way residing in a deeper form of faith. But, by saying "I know God", I have made Him a possession, of sorts. By saying this, I am almost putting myself as an equal to Him...and this is a very dangerous place to be.
When I change my point of view to "I love God", I become a part of Him in a very different way. Love does not pretend to represent an understanding, a knowledge or some empirical awareness of all things that are of God. By loving God, I am saying to Him, "here is my heart, I trust You with its care and comfort".
So, stated very simply....Love. Love your friends, love your children, love your family, love Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Love God. Give yourself over to the weakness that represents your trust in that relationship. For in the weakness of this love, we are built up and made immeasurably strong.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Mar 9 - "The Power of Believing"
Mark 5:21-43
"Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, 'If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.' Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' And his disciples said to him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ' He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'"
*****************************
What do you believe in?
I ask this question, not necessarily about your faith tradition and whether you are Jew, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist. I am asking, what do you truly, strongly, deeply know to be true...know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, is solid as a rock.
There is a great video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMLOnSNwza) of a young man named Dalton Sherman. He gave a speech at the kickoff meeting for the Dallas Independent School District that, even if it were not delivered by a boy this age, tells a wonderful story. He asks questions throughout this amazing message, challenging the audience to believe in him, to believe in each other and to believe in themselves.
Belief can be many things and do many things.
Unfortunately, belief can be a poisonous deliverer of evil. Belief can...
...send millions to their deaths in the gas chambers of eastern Europe
...drive men to think that flying jumbo jets into skyscrapers in the work of God
...cause a generation of hatred manifested in white-hooded lynch mobs burning crosses
But, Belief can be amazingly powerful force for good. Belief can...
....cause the sick to be healed
...bring a woman to reject the notion that, because of the color of her skin, she has to sit at the back of the bus
...be a quiet voice that says "try one more time" and brings forth a miracle performance in music, science, sport or literature
Every Sunday, in almost every denomination of Christian church, after the sermon, homily or message is delivered by the minister, priest or pastor, a Creed is said by the congregation. It is timed perfectly, as one priest jokingly told me, to affirm, "regardless of what this guy (or gal) just said, here's what we believe." I grew up in the Methodist Church, reciting the Apostle's creed. In my current tradition as an Episcopalian, we read the Nicene Creed, which I have come to embrace as my statement of faith, my belief:
"Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, 'If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.' Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, 'Who touched my clothes?' And his disciples said to him, 'You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ' He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'"
*****************************
What do you believe in?
I ask this question, not necessarily about your faith tradition and whether you are Jew, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist. I am asking, what do you truly, strongly, deeply know to be true...know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, is solid as a rock.
There is a great video on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAMLOnSNwza) of a young man named Dalton Sherman. He gave a speech at the kickoff meeting for the Dallas Independent School District that, even if it were not delivered by a boy this age, tells a wonderful story. He asks questions throughout this amazing message, challenging the audience to believe in him, to believe in each other and to believe in themselves.
Belief can be many things and do many things.
Unfortunately, belief can be a poisonous deliverer of evil. Belief can...
...send millions to their deaths in the gas chambers of eastern Europe
...drive men to think that flying jumbo jets into skyscrapers in the work of God
...cause a generation of hatred manifested in white-hooded lynch mobs burning crosses
But, Belief can be amazingly powerful force for good. Belief can...
....cause the sick to be healed
...bring a woman to reject the notion that, because of the color of her skin, she has to sit at the back of the bus
...be a quiet voice that says "try one more time" and brings forth a miracle performance in music, science, sport or literature
Every Sunday, in almost every denomination of Christian church, after the sermon, homily or message is delivered by the minister, priest or pastor, a Creed is said by the congregation. It is timed perfectly, as one priest jokingly told me, to affirm, "regardless of what this guy (or gal) just said, here's what we believe." I grew up in the Methodist Church, reciting the Apostle's creed. In my current tradition as an Episcopalian, we read the Nicene Creed, which I have come to embrace as my statement of faith, my belief:
"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."
So, recognize the power of believing. Believe in the good and you will do good things. Believe in yourself, and you will become something greater than you are today. Believe in someone close to you and you will lift them up. Believe in God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.Monday, March 8, 2010
Mar 8 - "Sacrifice"
Genesis 44:18-34
"Now therefore, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord in place of the boy; and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the suffering that would come upon my father."
******************************
Throughout the hundreds of stories told in the Bible, we see examples of sacrifice. Situations where one thing or one person is exchanged in place of another in order to achieve the greater good is a thread which winds its way throughout the lives of the people we have come to know in these stories. From Abraham, Isaac and the lamb, to Ruth and Naomi, to Esther, to Job, we see a multitude of people we can uphold as models of sacrifice.
The reading above from Genesis is near the end of the story when Joseph, "disguised" as the chief assistant to Pharaoh, finally reveals himself to his brothers. When a stolen cup is found in the grain sack of Jacob's youngest son, Benjamin, Judah offers himself to be a slave in place of Benjamin. Judah has such a deep love for his father Jacob and a grave concern that he will no longer be able to live if Benjamin does not return home, he sacrifices his own freedom so that another can be free. Certainly, Judah is not without sin as he took part in the "loss" of Jacob's other dear son, Joseph, by selling him into slavery years before. But, regardless of his past transgressions, Judah's sacrifice is pure of heart.
Have you ever made a sacrifice?
Throughout our daily lives, we all certainly make sacrifices. Small things here and there which may not cause us terrible hardship, but by making the choice, eases another's burden in some way. But, have any of us been faced with a choice to put ourselves in a truly precarious position, risking perhaps even life and limb in order that another can live? I certainly have not been faced with anything this dramatic. On the other hand, have you ever been the beneficiary of someone else's sacrifice?
Yes. We all have.
I love my family. The depth of this love goes even to the point where I would willingly put my life on the line in exchange for one of theirs. If faced with a situation where one of them were in mortal danger and I had the opportunity to put my own life down as a sacrifice so that they could live, I would do it without a second thought. I think many of you reading this would do the same, without question.
But there is even a greater sacrifice.
It seems horrible to think about, but, if you have a child or children, would you allow one of them to be sacrificed so that someone else might live? How about someone who maybe didn't even deserve to live? Even writing these words brings pain to my heart, thinking about losing one of my children. I cannot imagine anything more terrible. When I think about how much I love my family and love each one of my beautiful daughters, I cannot imagine a greater love. It consumes me, fills me up, makes me better than I could be, had I never loved so deeply.
But, there is even a greater love.
God loves each of us so much, He made the choice to send His Son as a sacrifice for us. He took that which was dearest to Him and put Him into the world to experience sadness, pain and death. He did this not because we had obeyed His laws and commandments, not because we fulfilled our own obligations of sacrifice and repentance. He did this when we did not deserve to live. Can you imagine how great this love is which God has for us? Can you see it? It seems beyond comprehension, yet, we can see a shadow, a glimpse of it every time we have our children or our loved ones in our arms.
So, rejoice in the love and the sacrifice which was made for you. Know that there is nothing you can do to negate this gift; nothing which will separate you from eternal life with Him. For when each of us makes a small sacrifice for another, when we love, when we freely give and rejoice in these things, we are honoring that which is given to us and we become a part of God's glorious and ongoing work in the world.
"Now therefore, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord in place of the boy; and let the boy go back with his brothers. For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the suffering that would come upon my father."
******************************
Throughout the hundreds of stories told in the Bible, we see examples of sacrifice. Situations where one thing or one person is exchanged in place of another in order to achieve the greater good is a thread which winds its way throughout the lives of the people we have come to know in these stories. From Abraham, Isaac and the lamb, to Ruth and Naomi, to Esther, to Job, we see a multitude of people we can uphold as models of sacrifice.
The reading above from Genesis is near the end of the story when Joseph, "disguised" as the chief assistant to Pharaoh, finally reveals himself to his brothers. When a stolen cup is found in the grain sack of Jacob's youngest son, Benjamin, Judah offers himself to be a slave in place of Benjamin. Judah has such a deep love for his father Jacob and a grave concern that he will no longer be able to live if Benjamin does not return home, he sacrifices his own freedom so that another can be free. Certainly, Judah is not without sin as he took part in the "loss" of Jacob's other dear son, Joseph, by selling him into slavery years before. But, regardless of his past transgressions, Judah's sacrifice is pure of heart.
Have you ever made a sacrifice?
Throughout our daily lives, we all certainly make sacrifices. Small things here and there which may not cause us terrible hardship, but by making the choice, eases another's burden in some way. But, have any of us been faced with a choice to put ourselves in a truly precarious position, risking perhaps even life and limb in order that another can live? I certainly have not been faced with anything this dramatic. On the other hand, have you ever been the beneficiary of someone else's sacrifice?
Yes. We all have.
I love my family. The depth of this love goes even to the point where I would willingly put my life on the line in exchange for one of theirs. If faced with a situation where one of them were in mortal danger and I had the opportunity to put my own life down as a sacrifice so that they could live, I would do it without a second thought. I think many of you reading this would do the same, without question.
But there is even a greater sacrifice.
It seems horrible to think about, but, if you have a child or children, would you allow one of them to be sacrificed so that someone else might live? How about someone who maybe didn't even deserve to live? Even writing these words brings pain to my heart, thinking about losing one of my children. I cannot imagine anything more terrible. When I think about how much I love my family and love each one of my beautiful daughters, I cannot imagine a greater love. It consumes me, fills me up, makes me better than I could be, had I never loved so deeply.
But, there is even a greater love.
God loves each of us so much, He made the choice to send His Son as a sacrifice for us. He took that which was dearest to Him and put Him into the world to experience sadness, pain and death. He did this not because we had obeyed His laws and commandments, not because we fulfilled our own obligations of sacrifice and repentance. He did this when we did not deserve to live. Can you imagine how great this love is which God has for us? Can you see it? It seems beyond comprehension, yet, we can see a shadow, a glimpse of it every time we have our children or our loved ones in our arms.
So, rejoice in the love and the sacrifice which was made for you. Know that there is nothing you can do to negate this gift; nothing which will separate you from eternal life with Him. For when each of us makes a small sacrifice for another, when we love, when we freely give and rejoice in these things, we are honoring that which is given to us and we become a part of God's glorious and ongoing work in the world.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Mar 7 - "Begin Again"
Romans 8:1-10
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
*****************************
Today is the 3rd Sunday in the season of Lent. Many of us made a commitment, as is the tradition, to "give something up" during the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The question of the day is, "how are things going?".
On Ash Wednesday, we thought about a thing which we would set aside during this time. For some, it may have been a simple pleasure such as chocolate, soft drinks, snacks or the occasional glass of wine. For others, it may have been something more focused on forcing oneself into a penitential frame of mind. One friend of mine committed to giving up escalators and elevators and taking the stairs everywhere. This person, whenever she was trudging up or down stairs, committed to set her mind on the sacrifice Christ made for 40 days in the desert.
If you did make the choice to sacrifice something for Lent, have you been able to stick with it? Are you still fulfilling the commitment, or have you forgotten, or perhaps purposefully set aside the task after missing your goal early on.
We all fall short of the rules, the "law" at times; even the ones we place on ourselves. We each have a litany of things we have committed to do and failed. If we look back on those things, is there a common element to what we chose to pursue and then put aside? Did we set the bar too high? Did we hold ourselves to a standard which was unreasonable?
When you set the goal, did you tell anyone about it? Maybe the goal was achievable, but because you made the deal with yourself in quiet, there was no external accountability or support to make it happen. I wrote in a previous post about my belief in the power of words. A goal, when spoken aloud, when said to others besides yourself, becomes more real. You enable those around you to provide encouragement, helping you achieve your target as opposed to unintentionally abetting its downfall.
So, begin again. Say it out loud and renew your commitment. If you have fallen short of your original target, whether for Lent or something larger, it's OK to start over and try again. We live in Christ. He died once for all of us to forgive all of our sins and our shortcoming. Forgive yourself and be new again, for God's power to forgive and renew us over and over again is greater than our ability to deny ourselves His grace.
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
*****************************
Today is the 3rd Sunday in the season of Lent. Many of us made a commitment, as is the tradition, to "give something up" during the time from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The question of the day is, "how are things going?".
On Ash Wednesday, we thought about a thing which we would set aside during this time. For some, it may have been a simple pleasure such as chocolate, soft drinks, snacks or the occasional glass of wine. For others, it may have been something more focused on forcing oneself into a penitential frame of mind. One friend of mine committed to giving up escalators and elevators and taking the stairs everywhere. This person, whenever she was trudging up or down stairs, committed to set her mind on the sacrifice Christ made for 40 days in the desert.
If you did make the choice to sacrifice something for Lent, have you been able to stick with it? Are you still fulfilling the commitment, or have you forgotten, or perhaps purposefully set aside the task after missing your goal early on.
We all fall short of the rules, the "law" at times; even the ones we place on ourselves. We each have a litany of things we have committed to do and failed. If we look back on those things, is there a common element to what we chose to pursue and then put aside? Did we set the bar too high? Did we hold ourselves to a standard which was unreasonable?
When you set the goal, did you tell anyone about it? Maybe the goal was achievable, but because you made the deal with yourself in quiet, there was no external accountability or support to make it happen. I wrote in a previous post about my belief in the power of words. A goal, when spoken aloud, when said to others besides yourself, becomes more real. You enable those around you to provide encouragement, helping you achieve your target as opposed to unintentionally abetting its downfall.
So, begin again. Say it out loud and renew your commitment. If you have fallen short of your original target, whether for Lent or something larger, it's OK to start over and try again. We live in Christ. He died once for all of us to forgive all of our sins and our shortcoming. Forgive yourself and be new again, for God's power to forgive and renew us over and over again is greater than our ability to deny ourselves His grace.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Mar 6 - "Shelter From The Storm"
Mark 4:35-41
"On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with Him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him up and said to Him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'"
***********************************
Are you a morning person? When the alarm goes off or you open your eyes at first light, do you say, "Good MORNING world! I am so excited to be awake and starting my day!!" Or, are you like our middle daughter Rachel, who takes most of the morning to find her cheery self. Jesus seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed in this part of scripture. "Rebuking" is not usually the first thing you do if you wake up in a peaceful manner.
There are times when we all feel like we are in the middle of a giant storm. The waves are crashing around us, the wind howls deafeningly in our ears and there is no peace or calm to be found. The cause of the storm can range from things outside of our control...the economy, conflict among those around us...to the self imposed chaos we bring as we try to cram more and more into our lives.
When I read these stories about Christ in the world, I often wonder what else was going on or what led up to the events. Perhaps in this story, the sea was calm when Jesus and His friends left the shore. Jesus, being tired after a day of sharing the Word, laid down in the back of the boat to rest. The disciples, huddled in a quiet discussion away from Him as not to disturb, may have begun to see the storm coming up. Thinking it might pass or not turn something dangerous, they probably waited. As the storm raised into its full fury, they may have talked about waking up the sleeping Christ to ask for His help, but thought they could just hunker down and suffer it out without bothering Jesus.
But finally, they reached the point where their fear overtook them. They called out to Jesus, asking their rabbi for help. Jesus, in His full glory, immediately takes control of the situation and commands peace. After doing this, He asks His friends about why they were worried. You could imagine this as an angry rebuke, Jesus scolding them for their lack of faith. But I see it as a peaceful, calming smile of love, giving them assurance that they were never in danger.
The good news is that we don't have to wait for it to get bad before we talk to Jesus about it. Do you see a storm on the horizon? Are you able to look at the events around you and reasonably surmise that things will quickly get worse if you don't do something about it? Then make the decision now to ask for help. Don't wait for the storm to start.
So, call on Jesus. Allow Him to show you His power to calm the waves and quiet the gale. Don't worry about waking Him up, or about whether He will recognize you if you have not called on Him for a long time...or ever. He will deliver you to peace and, after bringing quiet out of the chaos, He will say to you lovingly, with a smiling countenance "Peace, My child. Do not fear, for I am always with you."
"On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind, they took Him with them in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with Him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him up and said to Him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, 'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?'"
***********************************
Are you a morning person? When the alarm goes off or you open your eyes at first light, do you say, "Good MORNING world! I am so excited to be awake and starting my day!!" Or, are you like our middle daughter Rachel, who takes most of the morning to find her cheery self. Jesus seems to have woken up on the wrong side of the bed in this part of scripture. "Rebuking" is not usually the first thing you do if you wake up in a peaceful manner.
There are times when we all feel like we are in the middle of a giant storm. The waves are crashing around us, the wind howls deafeningly in our ears and there is no peace or calm to be found. The cause of the storm can range from things outside of our control...the economy, conflict among those around us...to the self imposed chaos we bring as we try to cram more and more into our lives.
When I read these stories about Christ in the world, I often wonder what else was going on or what led up to the events. Perhaps in this story, the sea was calm when Jesus and His friends left the shore. Jesus, being tired after a day of sharing the Word, laid down in the back of the boat to rest. The disciples, huddled in a quiet discussion away from Him as not to disturb, may have begun to see the storm coming up. Thinking it might pass or not turn something dangerous, they probably waited. As the storm raised into its full fury, they may have talked about waking up the sleeping Christ to ask for His help, but thought they could just hunker down and suffer it out without bothering Jesus.
But finally, they reached the point where their fear overtook them. They called out to Jesus, asking their rabbi for help. Jesus, in His full glory, immediately takes control of the situation and commands peace. After doing this, He asks His friends about why they were worried. You could imagine this as an angry rebuke, Jesus scolding them for their lack of faith. But I see it as a peaceful, calming smile of love, giving them assurance that they were never in danger.
The good news is that we don't have to wait for it to get bad before we talk to Jesus about it. Do you see a storm on the horizon? Are you able to look at the events around you and reasonably surmise that things will quickly get worse if you don't do something about it? Then make the decision now to ask for help. Don't wait for the storm to start.
So, call on Jesus. Allow Him to show you His power to calm the waves and quiet the gale. Don't worry about waking Him up, or about whether He will recognize you if you have not called on Him for a long time...or ever. He will deliver you to peace and, after bringing quiet out of the chaos, He will say to you lovingly, with a smiling countenance "Peace, My child. Do not fear, for I am always with you."
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mar 5 - "Gifts"
1 Corinthians 7:6 and Mark 4:21-34
"But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind."
"Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light."
***************************************
What is your gift? What is the thing that God has given you, which He intends for you to use and show His glory by passing on to others?
The world is full of variety of people. With that variety comes a rich assortment of talents which each person brings to any situation. As a part of my daily life, I come into contact with people whose brilliance and intelligence blows me away, but I also see those who make me wonder how they got both legs into their pants that morning. Regardless of how I feel about the relative sharpness of any individual, I recognize that everyone brings something to the table. We all have different talents and every person has something to offer.
"But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind."
"Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light."
***************************************
What is your gift? What is the thing that God has given you, which He intends for you to use and show His glory by passing on to others?
The world is full of variety of people. With that variety comes a rich assortment of talents which each person brings to any situation. As a part of my daily life, I come into contact with people whose brilliance and intelligence blows me away, but I also see those who make me wonder how they got both legs into their pants that morning. Regardless of how I feel about the relative sharpness of any individual, I recognize that everyone brings something to the table. We all have different talents and every person has something to offer.
Do you know what your gift is? What thing do you have inside that God has blessed you with? Are you hiding it or letting it flow, like the Living Water, refreshing others while you too become refreshed? Right now, you may be saying to yourself,"I don't think I really have anything that is worth sharing with others...". But let me tell you dear friends, it is there. I promise. Don't over complicate it because it may be something very simple.
Are you a good listener to friends who are troubled or in need? Do you have a skill in helping people sort through their problems, giving clarity? Maybe you can sing, or dance, or play an instrument. Are you handy? Perhaps you have a green thumb or have a talent for preparing the food someone else has grown. Can you sew simple fabrics into quilts, creating beautiful tapestries of love? Or, maybe you just have a smile that lights up a room. It is there...in every single one of us.
If you think about it, all of these things and the thousands of things I did not list are gifts which can be used for the glory of God. They were given not for the purpose of wasting away, but for being passed along, enriching others who are a part of God's amazing and varied creation.
So, give your gift. Take that which God has blessed you with and use it as He intended. Do not hide it but make it known, let your light shine. For in showing forth the light God has placed in you, your joy will be multiplied, and the gift you are giving will also give back to you.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Mar 4 - "Fertile Soil"
Mark 4:1-20
"Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 'Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.' "
**********************************
If you have not yet figured it out, faithful reader, I am amazed and deeply thankful for how much God has blessed my life.
The simple beauty of God's blessings, is that they are all around us, all the time. But sometimes, because we are too busy, to wrapped up in the things of this world, we don't allow ourselves to be open to the blessings that come our way. When we look down at the ground, scowling because we are frustrated, angry or discouraged, our eyes are not looking up and around, giving us the ability to become aware of the good things that can come our way. It is also easy to be so focused on what is going wrong in our lives at a particular moment, we are unable to see the good things.
I have a friend who, almost every time I talk to him, tells me about all the bad things that are going on in his life. This thing he owns is broken...traffic was bad and it took him an hour to get home from work...some person in his life said a hurtful thing to him...he lives with regret and sadness over the ways things could have been, or should have been. I try to be encouraging to this friend, but at times our conversations can be dominated by doom and gloom. Some days, it feels like he has closed himself off to receiving and recognizing the blessings which are all around him.
We humans are funny creatures. Our mood and attitude is such a powerful thing, it can affect our physical being. When we allow ourselves to descend into that spiral of despair, the feelings of doubt, fear and sadness abound. We can become physically ill due to anger, hatred or pain which has permeated our soul. When we do this, our nature can become almost poisonous and the blessings which could grow and flourish, wither and die, or never even take root. I believe this is the true pain of sin; not that, when unconfessed and unrepented, it keeps us from entering Heaven, but that it closes us off to the grace of God, because we simmer in our self-perceived unworthiness.
Every once in awhile, I find myself in this state. I can become so caught up with how busy my schedule is, how much work is set before me, I walk around in a constant state of stress, unable to enjoy simple pleasures...a laugh...a smile...a sunrise. But, every single time I take a moment to turn my eyes to heaven, thank God for the work He is doing in my life, peace sooths me like a warm, gentle, spring rain. I am refreshed and renewed, my heart becoming a rich ground in which the multitude of God's blessings can grow and bear fruit.
So, are you fertile soil? Is your heart, your soul and your mind prepared to receive the blessings God showers down upon you? Open up your being to the potential of His gifts, allow them to take root and permit yourself to taste and enjoy the sweet fruit of His work in your life
"Again Jesus began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 'Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.' "
**********************************
If you have not yet figured it out, faithful reader, I am amazed and deeply thankful for how much God has blessed my life.
The simple beauty of God's blessings, is that they are all around us, all the time. But sometimes, because we are too busy, to wrapped up in the things of this world, we don't allow ourselves to be open to the blessings that come our way. When we look down at the ground, scowling because we are frustrated, angry or discouraged, our eyes are not looking up and around, giving us the ability to become aware of the good things that can come our way. It is also easy to be so focused on what is going wrong in our lives at a particular moment, we are unable to see the good things.
I have a friend who, almost every time I talk to him, tells me about all the bad things that are going on in his life. This thing he owns is broken...traffic was bad and it took him an hour to get home from work...some person in his life said a hurtful thing to him...he lives with regret and sadness over the ways things could have been, or should have been. I try to be encouraging to this friend, but at times our conversations can be dominated by doom and gloom. Some days, it feels like he has closed himself off to receiving and recognizing the blessings which are all around him.
We humans are funny creatures. Our mood and attitude is such a powerful thing, it can affect our physical being. When we allow ourselves to descend into that spiral of despair, the feelings of doubt, fear and sadness abound. We can become physically ill due to anger, hatred or pain which has permeated our soul. When we do this, our nature can become almost poisonous and the blessings which could grow and flourish, wither and die, or never even take root. I believe this is the true pain of sin; not that, when unconfessed and unrepented, it keeps us from entering Heaven, but that it closes us off to the grace of God, because we simmer in our self-perceived unworthiness.
Every once in awhile, I find myself in this state. I can become so caught up with how busy my schedule is, how much work is set before me, I walk around in a constant state of stress, unable to enjoy simple pleasures...a laugh...a smile...a sunrise. But, every single time I take a moment to turn my eyes to heaven, thank God for the work He is doing in my life, peace sooths me like a warm, gentle, spring rain. I am refreshed and renewed, my heart becoming a rich ground in which the multitude of God's blessings can grow and bear fruit.
So, are you fertile soil? Is your heart, your soul and your mind prepared to receive the blessings God showers down upon you? Open up your being to the potential of His gifts, allow them to take root and permit yourself to taste and enjoy the sweet fruit of His work in your life
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