June 23, 2018 Saturday

“1 ¶  « A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day. » It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2  To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, 3  On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. 4  For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 92:1-4 NKJV)

            This Psalm is called a Psalm for the Sabbath day. In the time of the Psalmist the Sabbath day was held on Saturday which was the day prescribed by God. Soon after the resurrection of Jesus Christians changed the Sabbath to Sunday as a celebration of the resurrection!

            Currently almost every year in mainline churches attendance continues to drop. Many congregations have only about one third of their membership attending worship. Denominations are shrinking and many church buildings are being sold to become museums, stores and housing complexes.

            Where have we as the church gone wrong? What have we lost? And more importantly how do we regain what we have lost?

            Perhaps what we have lost is our view of God. Do we celebrate and remember God’s goodness and lovingkindness? At times we can get so busy looking at our needs and our wants and because of our prayer requests we don’t have time to praise! Or would it be more honest to say we don’t take time to praise.

            In the song “Count your blessings” we are reminded to not only count the blessings of God but to name them! One of the reasons we often view God as being distant from us is we do not count our blessings or name them. Because of this we miss God working in our lives, our families and the world!

            The psalmist calls for us to use everything we are and everything we have to worship God! We are to use our voices, declaring God’s blessings, musical instruments and any other way to praise and honor God. We are called to declare the love and glory of God by the joy with which we worship God.

            Can you name the blessings God has placed upon your life? Do you desire to join together with a congregation to joyfully worship God? Will those around you desire to be a Christian by watching your life and your worship?       

June 22, 2018 Friday

“22 ¶  Thus says the Lord GOD: “I will take also one of the highest branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and will plant it on a high and prominent mountain. 23  “On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. 24  “And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it.”” (Ezekiel 17:22-24 NKJV)

            Ezekiel chapter 17 uses the image of an eagle and a cedar tree as the prophecy that the king of Babylon would come and take away the people of Israel. Ezekiel has the sad duty of prophesying to Israel that the days of judgment are very near.

            After generations of unfaithfulness, serving other gods, seeking help from other nations and refusing to worship the God who had redeemed them from slavery the time had come for Israel to pay for their sin.

            While some will see this as a sign of God’s meanness we must see that generation after generation God gave them a chance to return and even sent prophets to warn them and to call them back. While the judgment of God took place over a few years the mercy of God extended for decades and generations.

            But in this prophecy of judgment and defeat by Babylon God makes a promise Israel will return and from Israel and will come Jesus Christ “a tender young twig” to become the new cedar that would grow and become a place of protection, nourishment and draw people from all around the world like the birds of every sort to come together to live under the tree!

            This new tree will replace the dried up tree but it will also make the dry tree flourish. Even as Jesus forms the Christian church God does not forget His people, the people of Israel. All the power of the nation of Israel and Rome will not be able to stand against the body of Christ, the church and God will spread the church through the Holy Spirit around the world.

            From the depths of judgment and defeat God will raise up people and they will win the ultimate victory!

            Do you believe God can bring victory from your unfaithfulness and sin? Do you believe God can take your fallen life and from it grow a tree that will bring nourishment and blessing to others? As you look at the world and all of the troubles do you look for signs of God’s mercy and in the hope of victory?

June 21, 2018 Thursday

“14  For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 16 ¶  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Corinthians 5:14-17 NKJV)

            We can live as Christians basking in the fellowship and the wonderful “services” a congregation can provide. Sometimes entire congregations can live in this way and then they cease to become a church but instead become a club.

            A true congregation of Christians will be compelled by the death and resurrection of Jesus to realize our response to God’s giving his life for us is to live for him.

            As we realize all Christ has done for us we begin to see people differently. Those who are lost who we used to see as terrible people we should keep away from in Jesus we see them as people who need to receive God’s love in Jesus Christ.

            We also see other Christians as a new “creation” and that through Jesus Christ the old things died with Jesus on the cross and they have been resurrected to a new life. It is a sad thing that in some congregations we still see those who have come to Christ through their old lives rather than as God’s new creation.

            Paul also states what we thought about Jesus before we became a Christian should also pass away and we should come to know Jesus through the spirit of God. Beware if you have been a Christian for decades and still see God the same way as you did in the flesh! We must grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ if we are to grow in our Christian life!

            Have you died to your sins through the death of Jesus Christ and risen to a new life through the resurrection of Jesus? Do you still see people in the same way as you did in the flesh or do you see the lost as those who need to hear the gospel and Christians as those who have become new creations through Jesus Christ? When you go to a worship service is a time for you to be around other people or is a time to spend time worshiping God?

June 20, 2018 Wednesday

“11  Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. 12 ¶  For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.” (2Corinthians 5:11-13 NKJV)

            In a world that sees Jesus as kind and nice and not judging of anyone it is easy for Christians to fall into the same trap. The Church in Corinth was not so much struggling with sin as giving into it. Paul reminds the Corinthians of the terror of the Lord and that God will judge and hold us accountable for our sin.

            It is interesting that in the Gospels Jesus is revealed as being kind to the outsiders, those lost in sin, and those who are fearful of God. But Jesus acts very differently to those who are religious. His messages to the Pharisees the Sadducees and the scribes are hard and we could say incredibly judgmental.

            Paul reminds us as Christians while it is important for us to know God it is also important to be known to God. This requires us to develop a relationship with God and to spend time getting to know God by prayer and reading the Bible.

            Just as we are to be well known to God we are also to be well known by how we live before others. It is not for us to boast or to declare our abilities but it is those who see our lives and are touched by our lives who should boast of us.

            Then Paul makes another comparison which says if we are beside ourselves, if we seem unusual and stand out to the world we do that for God. But to those who are part of the church we have a sound mind for those whose lives we are to touch. By living this way we please and glorify God and are able to help others discover and live a deeper relationship with God.

            Do you have a growing relationship with God? Do you reach out and share God’s grace with those who are lost and encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to a deeper life in Jesus? Do you live in such a way others will speak highly about how you live for God?

June 19, 2018 Tuesday

“6  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7  For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 9  Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2Corinthians 5:6-10 NKJV)

            It is very easy as Christians to either think about our life in this world or to think about our life in the next world. Christians can spend all their time trying to live out their faith here and not think about the promise of being with God eternally. Christians can also spend their time only thinking about the return of Jesus and of heaven.

            In this passage Paul brings these two lives together and makes it very clear there really is no separation between our lives here on earth and our life with God. In this life we walk by faith seeking through God’s power and help to live a life that is pleasing to God in preparation for the time we shall see him face-to-face. In our life in heaven we will live by sight and all we trusted in by faith will be seen and experienced by us.

            Paul declares he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord but if God desires for us to be here we must live in a way that brings glory to God and prepares us to stand before God. The decision for us to be in the body or to be present with the Lord, even though we may have our preference, only God can make.

            In this world we live by faith knowing only God can save us. Our works do not bring salvation but actually are fruit of our salvation. Paul reminds us that while we are saved we still will face God’s judgment on how we have lived our lives and the works we have done or not done.

            Do you see your life as a continuation from being in this world to being with God? Do you by faith trust in God alone for your salvation? If you are saved do you live out your salvation through works and by fruitful living?

June 18, 2018 Monday

“1 ¶  « To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. » May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2  May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion; 3  May He remember all your offerings, And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah 4  May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose. 5  We will rejoice in your salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. 6 ¶  Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand. 7  Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8  They have bowed down and fallen; But we have risen and stand upright. 9  Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call.” (Psalm 20:1-9 NKJV)

            This Psalm of David reads like a benediction that would be offered after a time of worship. Psalm 20 is a declaration that God goes with us through each day and is our salvation and our strength!

            This benediction is a call for God to bless and watch over the congregation as they live their lives within this world. This Psalm is a declaration that God does hear and does save those who belong to Him through the gospel.

            We are reminded that if we belong to God our offerings will be received and then God can bless us and meet our needs. We are tempted to think of this in the Old Testament sense but this reminds us that we are to offer our sacrifice to God also. As Christians our sacrifice could be defined as the United Methodists church does by calling those who join to offer to God “our prayers, our presence, our gifts and our service”.

            We are reminded that God is our Lord and our king. We are not to plan and do something for God but we are called to ask God what we should do and then we are to depend on him to be able to do it. One of my “theologies” is that one way to know you were doing God’s will is by doing something that you could not do by yourself but must depend upon God.

            Through Jesus we are able to be forgiven and through the Holy Spirit we can learn how to live and “stand upright”! As we seek to live as God would have us live we are able to serve God in ways that we could never believe. If we call upon God we will receive God’s answer and our call.

            The song calls us to praise God and to lift up His banners before the world. We are thus called to openly and publicly declare our faith in and our love for God. And then as we live our lives we become a witness and a banner of God.

            If God is your Lord and King are you a witness and a “banner” of God? Are you seeking God’s blessing so you can draw closer to God and to be a blessing to others? Are you living your life trusting in God and living beyond your own ability?

June 17, 2018 Sunday

“26  And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27  “and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. 28  “For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29  “But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” 30  Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31  “It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32  “but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.” 33  And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34  But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” (Mark 4:26-34 NKJV)

            This Scripture tells us Jesus usually taught using parables. But what is a parable? One definition of a parable is “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”. A parable is considered a comparison and so each story, each parable takes something we can understand from our daily lives to help us understand how the kingdom of God works.

            Here Jesus uses farming concepts to help those who listened understand how the kingdom of God works and the promise that we will be harvested.  To a people who daily depended on the crops they received from their labors on their farms a parable about farming and about plants could be understood by the people who came to hear Jesus.

            In the first parable Jesus compares the kingdom of God with our earthly life. Or it might be better to say how the gospel and the kingdom of God fit in to our everyday life.  The crop is planted and the farmer rests and wakes day by day and tends the fields which he has planted. The crops grow but the farmer cannot understand how it works. How can such a great plant and so much produce come from a tiny seed?

            The second parable teaches us that the smallest seed of the mustard plant will grow into a large plant that will provide food and protection for many! Even the smallest person who through the gospel receives God’s power can become a person who will share the love of God and will nourish many around them and help them find the protection of God’s forgiveness in Jesus Christ!

            These parables teach us that to be part of the kingdom of God is not a Sunday thing but is a part of us every day, every hour and every minute of our lives! There is a field of those who desperately need God’s love and forgiveness. While this can only be done by God we are to offer hope to those we come in contact with that God may plant in them the seed of the kingdom of God which will grow that day to will provide nourishment and protection through Jesus Christ.

            If you read the Bible (which though we should many do not) do you skip over the parable because they are hard to understand? If you do read the parables do you seek to understand how they affect your life? If you are part of the kingdom of God and what ways do you live out the gospel each and every day?

June 16, 2018 Saturday

“1 ¶  « A Song of Ascents. » Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; 2  Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications. 3  If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4  But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. 5 ¶  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. 6  My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning — Yes, more than those who watch for the morning. 7  O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption. 8  And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.” (Psalm 130:1-8 NKJV)

            This Psalm is called a Psalm of assent which was sung as the people ascended to worship at the Temple. The priests would lead and the Levites would provide music so the people would come together and follow the ascension to the Temple.

            This being a Psalm of ascension tells us this probably is a Psalm of praise and worship. The Psalms were meant to be sung just as we today have hymns in our worship services.  This Psalm is definitely finding a way to worship God and to remember His faithfulness and love.

            The psalmist cries out to God at first hoping God will hear an answer his prayers. Then the psalmist remembers what God has done for His people and God’s mercy and redemption. Listen to the words the psalmist uses to describe God’s holiness that sees our sin yet offers redemption so we may once again come under God’s mercy and love.

            Verse eight tells us that God shall redeem us from our iniquities. Iniquity is not just another word for sin but it is a word that describes sin that is taught within a community and considered right by that community.

            Verse four may seem strange to us as a people who major in God’s love rather than God’s holiness. Forgive is “with” God not just from God. Forgiveness does not just blot our sin, but allows us to return into God’s presence and to be with God.

            Perhaps the most unusual part of verse four is that through God’s forgiveness we learn to “fear” God! While we are often used to seeing God as a friend, we must also remember the power, glory and might of God!

            The psalmist remembers that if we call upon God for forgiveness we will be forgiven but if not we will not be able to stand before God in his righteous judgment! God has the right to offer life and if we do not accept then we will receive the death we have earned!

            Have you sought God’s forgiveness and ascended to worship and love the God who has saved you? Do you cry out to God for forgiveness so you might receive God’s forgiveness and you may be “with” God? Do you understand that this God who loves you will also judge you if you do not seek God’s forgiveness?

June 15, 2018 Friday

“4 ¶  Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5  and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6  But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD. 7  And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8  “According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day — with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods — so they are doing to you also. 9  “Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” 10  So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. 11  And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.” (1Samuel 8:4-11 NKJV)

            When we serve God it is easy to take angry and hurting people and situations personally. It is easy to see, or think people rejecting us and our ministry. We then think we can treat them as we believe they have treated us. In some ways this is even harder on families when they see someone they love being treated badly.

            God comforts Samuel’s heart by declaring they are not rejecting him. After many years of serving God, and serving the people of Israel Samuel needed to know his ministry and life were not rejected!

            What is really sadder than the people of Israel rejecting Samuel was they really were rejecting God and His rule. The God who had brought them out of Egypt, the God who had provided for them and given them a new land. They did not want to be under the rule of God which can be seen by their following other gods.

            Even before rejecting God by calling for a king they had rejected God by serving the local gods whom God had warned them would destroy them. God would see this not only as a rejection but also as adultery as they left the God they had sworn to serve.

            Israel chose the seen gods and kings they could look to save them rather than the unseen God who had already saved them! 

            What are the idols and gods of today?  Do you spend more time with them then with God?  Are you angry with God and take it out on those who serve God?

June 14, 2018 Thursday

“1 ¶  « A Psalm of David. » I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. 2  I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. 3  In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul. 4  All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, When they hear the words of Your mouth. 5  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, For great is the glory of the LORD. 6 ¶  Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar. 7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8  The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138:1-8 NKJV)

            The Psalms are amazing because they reveal to us the heart of those people who struggled with life and with God. Some of the Psalms are heart cries as people struggle with why God allows terrible things and why God doesn’t take them away. But here we have an incredible Psalm of praise written by David.

            There is not space here to deal with the many ways David shares of his praise for God and the assurance David has of God’s goodness and salvation. Please take time to look at the many ways David praises God and use them as examples of praise so you might deepen and expand the times you praise God.

            While this Psalm speaks greatly of praise for God it also speaks of the problems and troubles David has. But David does not get angry at God or seek to blame God for his failures. Instead David sees and shares that God is not only present with us in the midst of our pain but God is working to revive us.

            It is easy for us to blame God for our own failures and problems. What are now called natural disasters used to be called acts of God! And when God does not give us what would harm or destroy us we see God as harsh and selfish. And because of our anger we cut ourselves off from God and thereby lose mercy and grace!

            In verse eight David tells us the very things that concern us God will use to perfect us. The very things we do that destroy us and harm us when we come to God become the very thing God will use to “perfect” us! From our former destructive behavior God will recycle to become the source of our calling!

            As you read this Psalm does it give you an opportunity to “resee” God? Will you respond to pain and suffering by praising God? What struggle in your life is God using to strengthen you to give you a ministry that will help others who struggle as you did?

June 13, 2018 Wednesday

“And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2Cointhians 4:13-5:1 NKJV)

            The mark of the Christian is to have a spirit of faith knowing Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and we too shall be raised from the dead! And that God has done all this for you so you will share this grace with those around you!

            We are called to respond to this love by offering our thanks to God and by sharing God’s glory with those around us. It is important we remember the gospel which is presented to us has flowed through a river of people who shared God’s glory with us.

            When we see our bodies slowly breaking down and the people we care about dying we realize it is so hard to hold onto the promise of resurrection. When we lose sight of the resurrection it is very easy for us to lose heart and to lose God in the process.

            Paul calls for us to realize it is only our body that is weakening and in the process of dying. We are called also to realize our soul is eternal and through God we are renewed every day! If we strengthen our relationship with God we become aware that what we see here is temporary but there is the great unseen which is eternal.

            As a tent maker Paul uses the illustration for our bodies as a tent which even though it will be destroyed God will give us a new building. Paul describes this new building as a gift from God which was not made by hands and will be eternal in the heavens.

            Israel had a very temporary Tabernacle and then a temporary Temple which could and would be destroyed. The Temple and the tabernacle were made by “hands”. Because they were the seen they were temporary while by faith we can trust in the unseen which is eternal.

            Where do you call home? Are you so caught up in the seen that you are not aware of the unseen? Do you seek to have a relationship with God and to grow in it?

June 12, 2018 Tuesday

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”” (Genesis 3:8-15 NKJV)

            It is hard to imagine what it was like before the fall. Adam and Eve were able to go for a walk with God and to talk face-to-face. They had everything they could ever need and more than they could ever want. Yet within them was a gnawing desire that with the temptation of satan would destroy them!

            After the fall of Adam and Eve knew fear and especially fear of God for the first time. They hid themselves from God because they knew they had done wrong. The fear came from their fall and from their fear came an awareness of their nakedness.

            It is easy to see their nakedness as merely a lack of clothing and the beginning of their erotic awareness. But the Hebrew word for naked does not just mean a lack of clothing it also means a lack of protection. Before the fall Adam and Eve were in God’s presence and were under God’s protection. They were without fear as long as they had a relationship with God. Today we too through a loving relationship with God can know peace in our lives.

            For those who see God as a terrible judge who seeks to condemn and destroy look at God’s response to the fall of Adam and Eve.  After the fall Adam and Eve were filled with fear, especially of God! But God’s reaction to the fall is very different. When God’s relationship with humanity was broken God’s response was “where are you?” God’s first reaction to the fall was sadness and concern over the loss of the relationship between Him and humanity!

            For us today there are also consequences to sin. Adam and Eve would be punished just as we today are punished by God but also by the consequences of our actions. Sin has a natural result that brings destruction and suffering to those who sin but also to those around them.

            But in the midst of the consequences of our broken relationship with God which came as a result of our sin there is the promise one will come and will destroy the serpent. Here we have the first promise of the coming of Jesus Christ who would be harmed and bruised by the evil one but who would also destroy the power of the evil one! Let us celebrate and rejoice in God’s love for us by sending His son to die so we once again can walk with God without fear!

            Do you see God as judgmental and as harsh? Are you aware of God’s heart who misses you? Have you accepted and received the work of Jesus Christ who broke the power of the evil one and set you free from fear?

June 11, 2018 Monday

“Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. “And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. “And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; “but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”  —  because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”” (Mark 3:20-35 NKJV)

            It is such a comfort to me people thought Jesus was out of his mind. That may seem terrible and preposterous but I know Jesus has borne and gone through what at times we go through. It was not just the scribes and the Pharisees who thought He was crazy but even his own family.

            It is easy to forget how we saw the world before Jesus changed our lives and our perception. Following God is a radical choice where everything seems to the world upside down. Our fallen nature is centered in us but as God redeems us we receive a new nature that is God centered!

            In a very radical move Jesus would redefine family as not being biological but spiritual. On the cross Jesus would live this out as He shared the responsibility for his mother with John who was a spiritual family member rather than His biological family member. This change is so incredible and so we seldom live it or see it live down.

            An interesting part of this declaration is Mark uses the word circle. A circle is a symbol of eternity and three circles that are intertwined is a symbol for God. The circle is a symbol of the unity we have with God and the people of God in the past, present and the future.

            Jesus also taught us when we are united and living within God’s power and love we can through the name and authority of Jesus have power over evil and the evil one. Our fear can keep us from living within the freedom and love of God in Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ crush the power of satan!

            Warning: without the power of Jesus and the unity with God and His people to go against evil or the evil one cannot only be dangerous but even lethal!

            Have you immersed your life in Jesus Christ or are you still trying to do it your way? Do you live out the change God has made in your life so you can be the person God wants you to be to be able do the things God wants you to do? Who is your family and what part do they play in your life?

June 10, 2018 Sunday

“And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.” (Mark 3:13-19 NKJV)

            Here we have one of the pivotal moments of the ministry of Jesus as He extends what will become the church out by selecting the 12 to serve with Him as a revelation of how we should serve. We should serve by sitting at the Masters feet and learning and growing as we spend time with God, we also serve by using the gifts God gives us through the Holy Spirit and by joining together to extend God’s ministry.

            We see here the gifts for the ministry God appoints the disciples to do.  The disciples are called to preach, to have the power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons. Through the power of Jesus and under the authority of God the disciples would be able to not just stand in the face of evil but to conquer evil!

            This call by Jesus to serve with Him would make such a radical change that many would receive a new name! For some these new names were a description of who they were but for others the new names were a description of the call God would place on their lives.

            One of the striking parts of this call is Jesus would knowingly call the man who would betray Him.  The calling of Judas resonates so much in people’s minds we often try to fill in why Jesus did this. Was it an attempt to reform Judas? Did Jesus call Judas just to fulfill the prophecies? These questions are made even more frustrating because they are of the mind of God and beyond our reach.

            We might miss the very last sentence and put it down as just an afterthought but that would be a mistake. Jesus had selected 12 very different and unique people and now they would go together into a house. From now on they would have a unity not of who they were but of following Jesus and becoming who they were called to be. Could it be Jesus is calling us to remember the places of worship here and the houses and mansions God has for us?

            Are you someone who has cast off your old life for the new life through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ? Have you sought God’s call for you? Are you living out the gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s call on your life? Are you in the house that is the Church, the body of Christ?

June 9, 2018 Saturday

“« For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. » O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.” (Psalm 139:1-6 NKJV)

“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:13-18 NKJV)

            We live in a time when many believe creation is an act of evolution and therefore an act of death. Evolution believes animals evolve and the links from one form to another are eradicated either by evolving to a higher level or by being destroyed by the higher-level. For life to evolve to a different kind there must be a never ending line of death.

            Creation begins with life, first of all because God is the source of all life and then because God “breathed” life into us. Over and over we see in the Bible God’s protection of life. In one of the greatest ironies God protects life by the death of His Son Jesus Christ. Through the sacrifice of Jesus we can see God’s deep abiding protection of life!

            In verses one through six we see the tenderness and the presence of God seeking to not only protect us but to also make us aware of God’s love for us. This knowledge is beyond the understanding of human beings but like the psalmist we too can experience this revelation of God’s love.

            In verses 13 through 18 God reveals to us the intimacy and the depth of God’s knowledge of us. God sees us in the womb and as our parts are formed God fashions us to become the person we were created to be. Even before we are born God reveals Himself to us and over time we can discover some of God’s thoughts and ways.

            Often we are presented with a picture of who we are not through others and also by our own selfish desires to be what we want and not what God has created us to be. But in this passage God reveals to us we are FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!

            God created you and from before your birth God continues to work in your life and through your life. The psalmist proclaims the meaning of Emmanuelle as he declares God is still with him.

            We not only sell ourselves short but fall into the trap of evolutionary thought that says we are not enough and are merely a stage of the evolution. But where evolution speaks and cries of death God cries out to humanity the value of life, even those who are weak. 

            Do you see yourself as a mere part of the constant march of death of evolution or do you see yourself as fearfully and wonderfully made by God? Do you believe that God is with you and has given you gifts that will bless you, bless others and glorify God?

I have not been able to share about my days and my condition because the last couple of weeks have been very painful. I seek to pray for so many but I ask for your prayers and your thoughts! Thank you and may you see God’s many blessings in your life!

June 8, 2018 Friday

“Then the LORD said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. “In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. “For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. “And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” And he answered, “Here I am.” And he said, “What is the word that the LORD spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.” Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the LORD. Let Him do what seems good to Him.” So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 3:11-20 NKJV)

            Sometimes when we hear God’s voice and God’s call we wish we wouldn’t have heard. There are times when God reveals to us the suffering of others and reveals the pain and trouble of others. God at times will share with those who do not want to know or do something about the pain of others. God shares with others because they will reach out and help in concern and not enjoy judging others.

            It is almost impossible to fathom what Samuel heard and thought as God shared his plans for Eli’s family. After hearing God’s devastating plan for Eli and his family Samuel did not want to tell anyone, especially Eli. But as it often happens to those who hear God’s call the very person they do not want to tell comes to them.

            After seeing Samuel’s hesitation to share God’s message with him Eli promised to curse Samuel that God would do to Samuel what God was going to do to Eli and his family if he did not share. Often we desire to be nice and not share burdens with people but that will not only destroy them but holds us accountable for their soul through our lack of love.

We are called to be loving rather than nice!

            This is not to say we can save someone or be responsible for someone else’s soul but we can be responsible for our disobedience to God’s call to lead others to God so they can receive salvation.

            Eli’s response to God’s message of judgment is to accept God’s right to do so and an understanding of the sin of his family which brought it about. Both Samuel and Eli respond to God’s call in an amazingly way.

            Do you believe God has called you to share a message with someone?  Will you share the message and how will you share it?  If you are not in a relationship with God where are you?

June 7, 2018 Thursday

“Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. Then the LORD called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.) And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”” (1 Samuel 3:1-10 NKJV)

            It seems many desire to hear God’s call on their lives. Several books I know of have been written trying to guide people to truly hear God’s voice. It is very easy for people to say be still and know He is God, but many cannot teach being close to God because they have not themselves. There is a basic truth in life that you cannot share what you do not have.

            God spoke to Samuel when he was a young boy and Samuel ran to Eli who was the person he looked up to as his spiritual leader. In the middle of the night God called to Samuel and perhaps that was one of the few times Samuel was quiet enough to hear. We can get so busy being religious that we fail to hear and to have a relationship with God.

            Just like Samuel we must be still and rest so we can hear the voice of God. It can also be helpful to have in our life an Eli who will perceive and help us to see what God is doing in our lives. An Eli is someone who is there with you and helps you discover God’s call on your life.

            How do you respond to God’s call? Though that is not dealt with in this passage we can see it as Samuel rose up from bed after hearing God’s voice even when he didn’t know who it was. And when Samuel realized it was God and his response is amazing in his expectation God will speak and his willingness to listen and act.

            Rather than sitting and complaining God doesn’t speak to you be like Samuel who drew near to God by being in the Temple, being a part of worship and being guided by someone who knows God. God is always with those who are hurting and with those worshiping and that is exactly where you need to be to hear God.

            Do you really want to hear God? Are you afraid to hear God’s voice? Are you afraid to hear God’s call? Are you willing to be still and experience God’s voice and call?

(The last days have been very hard and I spent most of the time in bed and my mind was not clear.  Sorry I have fallen so far behind!)

June 6, 2018 Wednesday

“« To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of Asaph. » Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, A law of the God of Jacob. This He established in Joseph as a testimony, When He went throughout the land of Egypt, Where I heard a language I did not understand. “I removed his shoulder from the burden; His hands were freed from the baskets. You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you! O Israel, if you will listen to Me! There shall be no foreign god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psalm 81:1-10 NKJV)

            The psalmist calls for us to sing out loud and to shout with joy as we celebrate the goodness and greatness of God! We are called to sing together with the musicians and those who play instruments and a great chorus of God’s people. But we are also called to sing and shout our praise for God and joyfully celebrate God’s provision and blessing.

            In every possible way we are to celebrate and remember God’s power, God’s salvation, God’s removing our guilt and burden and to see God’s continued blessing upon us. Some may do this with the heart, so will do this with the trumpet, some will use many different instruments and many will use their voice and raise a song to God!

            In the many holy days, which some call holidays, we are given an opportunity to remember God’s work in the past which still continues not only in the world but in our lives. These holy days are also a reminder that we are part of an incredible orchestra and choir that joined together with heaven itself in seeking to give thanks and praise to God.

            Our failure to recognize and to celebrate all that God has done for us and to turn holy days into holidays will lead us away from God and will cause us to lose our relationship with God.

            Without our relationship with God we no longer fall under God’s power and are returned to the slavery that God redeemed us from. Not only are we burdened by the load of our guilt and fear we fall under God’s admonishment. God will use our burden and His admonishment as a chance to call us back to the God who is worthy of our songs and shouts of joy.

            If we are not careful we will fill not only our hearts and minds with our fallen nature but we will also fill our mouth and speak things that will dishonor God and keep others from God. Through our mouth not only are we enslaved but we can help others be enslaved!

            But God’s promise is if we will praise Him with our heart and mind then our mouth will be filled to overflowing with praise and celebration of God and others will be drawn to this God gives abundant and joyful life!

            What is coming out of your mouth? Do you see holidays for your good or holy days where you celebrate God’s goodness? Do you worship with a sense of dread or enjoy and celebration does your mouth sing fourth God’s praise?

June 5, 2018 Tuesday

“‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NKJV)

            Some Christians claim they are New Testament Christians and do not need the Old Testament.  But why do we need Jesus to die if we do not accept the fall of humanity we see in Genesis?  How can we know Jesus combines the functions of King and Priest without the lineage from the Old Testament?  How do we know marriage is of a man and a woman without the Creation story?

            Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis says in the first 11 chapters of Genesis we find the foundation of all our basic beliefs and theology.  Throughout the Old Testament we find the meaning of what Jesus did and why. 

In Psalm 22 we can see the suffering of Jesus upon the cross in more depth and detail ever offered in the New Testament.

The book of Isaiah presents a very detailed picture of the “suffering” Messiah and all the blessings the Messiah will bring. 

Much of the Old Testament is quoted by Jesus and others.  More than 2/3’s of the Bible is the Old Testament and that is without counting the many Old Testament quotes.

            Here we see the call for us to have a Sabbath – a day of rest.  God carefully details what the Sabbath, which was held on Saturday, was to be and how it would affect our lives.  The Sabbath is a time for us to rest in God and trust God can and will take care of things so we can rest.

            Later Christians would move their Sabbath to Sunday as a celebration of Easter every week!  The Church believed the impact of Easter was too great to only celebrate once a year!

            Do you understand the purpose and meaning of the Old Testament?  Do you look to see how the Old and New Testaments work together?  Do you celebrate Easter every week?

Still feeling pretty bad.  The new sleep medicine seems to help but because of the incredible pain I still feel weary.  Bonnie and I continue our devotions and time of prayer together.  It really is a blessed time!