1 Corinthians 3:11-23
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done."
*****************
Think about all of the things we are exposed to each day: personal interactions, music, news, books... Whether we want them to or not, all of these things, both consciously and subconsciously, have an impact on the persons into whom we continually evolve.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he is encouraging them to use the right things for building their lives on the foundation that is Christ. Similar to Christ's parable of the two house, one whose foundation was built on sand, the other on rock, if the quality of the product used to build a home is poor, when tested, it will fail.
Based on what we choose to expose ourselves to each day, we are determining how our relationships, lives, and psyches are being "constructed" on a moment by moment basis. Some people are not fans of Christian radio; even though I enjoy it, frankly, some of the music is pretty bad. Similarly, if all you read every day was the bible, it might become a little boring. But, each of these things, and many other positive forms of "input" exist for each of us to take advantage of. Of course, as we all know, there also is plenty of trash and complete crap to witness too. The question is, which one are we seeing more of?
So, think about what you are using every day as the building blocks for your life and your relationships. Are they good materials which build you up, or weak product that, when tested, will not help you stand strong?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Mar 7 - "WWJD?"
Hebrews 5:1-10
"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."
**************
Can we pray too much? As we think about all the things in our lives where we need help, support, comfort or release, we could probably pray without ceasing and never fully cover the things we need. I sometimes find myself in prayer at the strangest times; waiting for a flight at the airport, while on a run or a swim, as I am falling asleep at night...and I find myself thinking, is there a time when it is not "right" to pray? Is it possible, based on what I am doing when a prayer comes to mind, for that prayer to be in some way irreverent because of the circumstances?
I don't know for sure (we will all know someday), but I think God is OK with prayer at any time, any where. When we pray, we are both recognizing our weakness and our lack of control over the world...and at the same time, communing with God. Both of these things, no matter the circumstances or situation, are a good thing. I believe that prayer does not have to have a form, it can be simple, complex, messy, poorly written or spoken. God does not require our prayers to have any certain flow...just that we pray.
As perfect as He was...fully God and fully man...even though he did not need to offer prayers asking for protection and help, Jesus still prayed to God. He prayed a lot! He prayed for Himself, for His friends and disciples, for His enemies, for His family. He even prayed, at one time, for the cup of His pain and suffering to pass from Him, if it was God's will.
So, no matter the situation, what would Jesus do? I think he would simply pray. It worked for him, and it can work for us too.
"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."
**************
Can we pray too much? As we think about all the things in our lives where we need help, support, comfort or release, we could probably pray without ceasing and never fully cover the things we need. I sometimes find myself in prayer at the strangest times; waiting for a flight at the airport, while on a run or a swim, as I am falling asleep at night...and I find myself thinking, is there a time when it is not "right" to pray? Is it possible, based on what I am doing when a prayer comes to mind, for that prayer to be in some way irreverent because of the circumstances?
I don't know for sure (we will all know someday), but I think God is OK with prayer at any time, any where. When we pray, we are both recognizing our weakness and our lack of control over the world...and at the same time, communing with God. Both of these things, no matter the circumstances or situation, are a good thing. I believe that prayer does not have to have a form, it can be simple, complex, messy, poorly written or spoken. God does not require our prayers to have any certain flow...just that we pray.
As perfect as He was...fully God and fully man...even though he did not need to offer prayers asking for protection and help, Jesus still prayed to God. He prayed a lot! He prayed for Himself, for His friends and disciples, for His enemies, for His family. He even prayed, at one time, for the cup of His pain and suffering to pass from Him, if it was God's will.
So, no matter the situation, what would Jesus do? I think he would simply pray. It worked for him, and it can work for us too.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Mar 6 - "Thank God It's Friday!"
Psalm 95
"Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and raise a loud shout to him with psalms."
********************
If you have a chance today, read the first 7 verses of Psalm 95 (below...the exclamation points are mine...except for the last one). I imagine the Psalmist must have written these verses on a Friday morning. The words are exploding with joy and praise for God...I can almost hear them being shouted from a mountain top!
When we praise God, it is almost impossible to not be filled with joy. We find ourselves smiling, at times on the verge of tears of happiness. That praise can be in song, dance, sport, hard work, a fervent hug, a passionate kiss...anything we do, that when we do it, we are recognizing the full potential of our being.
So, today, shout it out!!! Thank God!!! It's Friday!!!
*********************
Psalm 95: 1-7
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!!!
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms!!!
For the Lord is a great God!!!
and a great King above all gods!!!
In his hand are the caverns of the earth;
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down and bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
"Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and raise a loud shout to him with psalms."
********************
If you have a chance today, read the first 7 verses of Psalm 95 (below...the exclamation points are mine...except for the last one). I imagine the Psalmist must have written these verses on a Friday morning. The words are exploding with joy and praise for God...I can almost hear them being shouted from a mountain top!
When we praise God, it is almost impossible to not be filled with joy. We find ourselves smiling, at times on the verge of tears of happiness. That praise can be in song, dance, sport, hard work, a fervent hug, a passionate kiss...anything we do, that when we do it, we are recognizing the full potential of our being.
So, today, shout it out!!! Thank God!!! It's Friday!!!
*********************
Psalm 95: 1-7
Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation!!!
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms!!!
For the Lord is a great God!!!
and a great King above all gods!!!
In his hand are the caverns of the earth;
and the heights of the hills are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Come, let us bow down and bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Mar 5 - "3 Answers to Prayer
Matthew 7: 7-12
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
*******************************
Why does it seem that sometimes prayers go unanswered? Did God not hear the prayer? Was the prayer not "worthy"? Praying for the "wrong" things?
I believe one of the simplest, most "successful" prayers goes as follows: "Lord, as I struggle with this issue in my life, I pray to know Your will and your plan for me. When I hear You answer this prayer, give me strength to follow Your will. As I follow your will, Father, keep me in Your loving care. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen".
One way to look at this prayer could be "Yeah right...that's too easy...it is so vague, of course it will be answered." Sort of like, "any port in a storm."
When we pray for something specific...recovery from illness, reconciliation of relationship, a lifting of guilt, removal of pain, or even safety of a loved one, positive outcome of a tough situation...what happens when we think the prayer has gone unanswered? The worry that a prayer being unanswered can sometimes cause us not to pray due to the fear of being disappointed. What if God does not answer my prayer? Am I a bad person? Maybe God does not exist? All of these are questions that can cause us to not step fully into prayer; to give up our fear and place our hope, our trust in the One True God.
But seriously, it really feels like prayers don't get answered sometimes. Is it the lack of an answer or more truthfully, that we did not like the answer?
One of my favorite sayings (not sure who said it, so I cannot give rightful credit...all I will say is it's not me): "God has three answers to prayer - 'Yes', 'Not Yet' or 'I have something better in mind'."
So, don't be scared you won't get an answer. Pray. Pray openly and securely, because God WILL answer. Pray knowing that when He answers, you will receive the full measure of blessing from Him that will be more than you can ask or imagine.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
*******************************
Why does it seem that sometimes prayers go unanswered? Did God not hear the prayer? Was the prayer not "worthy"? Praying for the "wrong" things?
I believe one of the simplest, most "successful" prayers goes as follows: "Lord, as I struggle with this issue in my life, I pray to know Your will and your plan for me. When I hear You answer this prayer, give me strength to follow Your will. As I follow your will, Father, keep me in Your loving care. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen".
One way to look at this prayer could be "Yeah right...that's too easy...it is so vague, of course it will be answered." Sort of like, "any port in a storm."
When we pray for something specific...recovery from illness, reconciliation of relationship, a lifting of guilt, removal of pain, or even safety of a loved one, positive outcome of a tough situation...what happens when we think the prayer has gone unanswered? The worry that a prayer being unanswered can sometimes cause us not to pray due to the fear of being disappointed. What if God does not answer my prayer? Am I a bad person? Maybe God does not exist? All of these are questions that can cause us to not step fully into prayer; to give up our fear and place our hope, our trust in the One True God.
But seriously, it really feels like prayers don't get answered sometimes. Is it the lack of an answer or more truthfully, that we did not like the answer?
One of my favorite sayings (not sure who said it, so I cannot give rightful credit...all I will say is it's not me): "God has three answers to prayer - 'Yes', 'Not Yet' or 'I have something better in mind'."
So, don't be scared you won't get an answer. Pray. Pray openly and securely, because God WILL answer. Pray knowing that when He answers, you will receive the full measure of blessing from Him that will be more than you can ask or imagine.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Mar 4 - "Hell in the Rearview Mirror"
Hebrews 3:12-19
“Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
***************************
As you drive from Chicago down to Indianapolis on I-65 (which I do too often), there is a billboard about halfway between the two cities which states “Hell is Real”. The question I ask myself when I see this sign…“Is it?”.
If you decide to accept the premise that Hell is real, the next question which comes to mind might be, “What is Hell?”. Is it Dante’s Inferno? Is it evil, demons, torment and pain? Or, is it something different from the traditional imagery we have been exposed to over time, but no less scary? Conventional thought tells us that if we do evil things, if we are unkind, if we do not live a “good” life, if we do not accept Christ as our Savior, we are certainly damned to an eternity in Hell. But, is Hell a place…a state of mind…or a state of being?
I don’t really buy into the concept of Hell being a place to which we could go after we die, dependant on how we lived. I believe Hell, simply, is being apart from God. There are lots of ways to be apart from God, but they all have a common thread: the absence of love. When we love, we are in communion with God. When we are jealous, envious, hate, indifferent to the pain in others…things which are not founded in love…we move ourselves away from God, pushing ourselves into a personal Hell.
Why do we “feel like hell” when we do things not founded in love? Is it nature or nurture? Is it as simple as the fact that we have been taught throughout our lives that certain things are “bad” and that we should “feel bad” when we do them? Maybe… But, there is also the premise, that when Jesus fulfilled the Law, and we were no longer bound by it as the means to gain salvation, God wrote the Law on our hearts. When we turn away from God, when we do not “live love”, our hearts feel the pain of that turning away. Our hearts and souls desire communion with God and the absence of this communion causes pain each time we turn away from God and from Love.
So, take care…don’t put yourself through hell…not because of some traditional fear of fire and brimstone, torture and damnation…but because we are meant to love and every act of love we live leaves Hell behind as an ever-diminishing landmark in our rearview mirrors.
“Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
***************************
As you drive from Chicago down to Indianapolis on I-65 (which I do too often), there is a billboard about halfway between the two cities which states “Hell is Real”. The question I ask myself when I see this sign…“Is it?”.
If you decide to accept the premise that Hell is real, the next question which comes to mind might be, “What is Hell?”. Is it Dante’s Inferno? Is it evil, demons, torment and pain? Or, is it something different from the traditional imagery we have been exposed to over time, but no less scary? Conventional thought tells us that if we do evil things, if we are unkind, if we do not live a “good” life, if we do not accept Christ as our Savior, we are certainly damned to an eternity in Hell. But, is Hell a place…a state of mind…or a state of being?
I don’t really buy into the concept of Hell being a place to which we could go after we die, dependant on how we lived. I believe Hell, simply, is being apart from God. There are lots of ways to be apart from God, but they all have a common thread: the absence of love. When we love, we are in communion with God. When we are jealous, envious, hate, indifferent to the pain in others…things which are not founded in love…we move ourselves away from God, pushing ourselves into a personal Hell.
Why do we “feel like hell” when we do things not founded in love? Is it nature or nurture? Is it as simple as the fact that we have been taught throughout our lives that certain things are “bad” and that we should “feel bad” when we do them? Maybe… But, there is also the premise, that when Jesus fulfilled the Law, and we were no longer bound by it as the means to gain salvation, God wrote the Law on our hearts. When we turn away from God, when we do not “live love”, our hearts feel the pain of that turning away. Our hearts and souls desire communion with God and the absence of this communion causes pain each time we turn away from God and from Love.
So, take care…don’t put yourself through hell…not because of some traditional fear of fire and brimstone, torture and damnation…but because we are meant to love and every act of love we live leaves Hell behind as an ever-diminishing landmark in our rearview mirrors.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Mar 3 - "Heeding The Call"
Do you ever wonder what God is calling you to do? In this verse from Mark, Jesus seems to set a very high standard. Basically, it could be read as “drop everything and be My disciple; give up all worldly possessions and become My follower”.
But I think it is more about what you can do every day; little things that allow you to know in your heart that you are a Christian; that you are a follower of Christ. God calls us to be in relationship with him by being in relationship with one another. By showing love, helping, caring, consoling, laughing, crying, singing, dancing…all of these things…and doing them with each other in joy, we are heeding Jesus’ call to follow him.
So today, pray to know God’s will; pray to know His call to you. And, until you hear that call, simply…love!
**********************
Mark 8:34
“Jesus said, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
But I think it is more about what you can do every day; little things that allow you to know in your heart that you are a Christian; that you are a follower of Christ. God calls us to be in relationship with him by being in relationship with one another. By showing love, helping, caring, consoling, laughing, crying, singing, dancing…all of these things…and doing them with each other in joy, we are heeding Jesus’ call to follow him.
So today, pray to know God’s will; pray to know His call to you. And, until you hear that call, simply…love!
**********************
Mark 8:34
“Jesus said, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Monday, March 2, 2009
Mar 2 - "The Great Comforter"
I sometimes have trouble even fathoming the greatness, the power and majesty of God. How can God be all things at all times and yet, when I pray for help, He can hear me and respond to my prayers? Isn't he working on more important things than me?
Because Jesus came to earth to live as one of us; to eat, drink, breath, laugh, cry, suffer and die...He is with us when we are being tested and knows the pain we can feel from time to time. He is a great comforter because he has known the same testing and suffering we experience from time to time. It can be hard to accept comfort from someone who cannot empathize with our situation because they have never or will likely never experience it. But Jesus did...and He can.
So, when you pray for comfort, for healing, for peace, pray knowing that the One who will answer your prayer has known the same pain you are feeling. He can sit beside you, wrap His arms around you and give you peace.
****************
Hebrews 2:11-18
"Because He Himself was tested by what He suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."
Because Jesus came to earth to live as one of us; to eat, drink, breath, laugh, cry, suffer and die...He is with us when we are being tested and knows the pain we can feel from time to time. He is a great comforter because he has known the same testing and suffering we experience from time to time. It can be hard to accept comfort from someone who cannot empathize with our situation because they have never or will likely never experience it. But Jesus did...and He can.
So, when you pray for comfort, for healing, for peace, pray knowing that the One who will answer your prayer has known the same pain you are feeling. He can sit beside you, wrap His arms around you and give you peace.
****************
Hebrews 2:11-18
"Because He Himself was tested by what He suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."
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