Saturday, December 31, 2016

DECEMBER 31, 2016

“For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” 
― J.R.R. TolkienThe Return of the King

MALACHI

16Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lordlistened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.
17“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.(3:16-18)

REVELATION 22


6The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
7“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”
8I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

JOURNAL 

We are to worship God and live in faith and hope. By doing so we will live in love. Love is the defining characteristic of God. It is what gives hope, it is why we follow. 

As I say goodbye to another year, it is scripture that reminds me of my purpose and the purpose of life. We are here to love each other, honoring God our creator. In our obedience to him we have hope and faith and joy. It is what makes life worth living, even if things don't turn out the way we want. Even though we all face death and disappointment and heartache, we are still comforted in the hope of scripture, that promises that following God and living in hope and joy will be worth it.  

 11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

JEREMIAH 29:11-13

DECEMBER 30, 2016

“Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” 
― Stephen King

ZECHARIAH 13-14

9The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.(14:9)

REVELATION 21


1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”a for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’b or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

JOURNAL 

A new heaven and a new earth. The promise and hope given to those that are suffering and oppressed. The hope for those that are facing certain death in this world. The importance of hope cannot be denied. It is filled throughout the Bible and it is spoken of in prophecy and by Jesus himself. Hope is the sustaining message of the Bible. 

Psychologically I know this to be true. We humans need hope, we need something to believe in...

Hope keeps our minds at ease, lowers stress and improves physical health. Researchers studying heart-disease patients found that optimists were more likely than nonoptimistic patients to take vitamins, eat low-fat diets and exercise, thereby reducing their overall coronary risk. A study of cancer patients revealed that pessimistic patients under the age of 60 were more likely to die within eight months than nonpessimistic patients of the same initial health, status and age. (TIME, May 28, 2011)
This is what propelled us from Cave Dwellers to architects of modern cities. It is the distinguishable characteristic that separates us from animals...it is the calling of our soul for something better than what currently exists. 

11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.


ROMANS 12:11-12

Friday, December 30, 2016

DECEMBER 29, 2016

“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” 
― Dietrich BonhoefferLetters and Papers from Prison

ZECHARIAH 10-12

1Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime;
it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain to all people,
and plants of the field to everyone.
2The idols speak deceitfully,
diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false,
they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep
oppressed for lack of a shepherd.(10:1-2)

REVELATION 20

 And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. Theya had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

JOURNAL 

Scripture often can be confusing and troubling, especially if it is taken out of context. Reading through the Bible this past year has given me a greater sense of the mission and purpose of it which includes the details of the whole. 

God is the author and creator of all, we function best when we acknowledge that and seek to know him and accept his love for us. When we do this, we are saved from loneliness, fear, despair and evil...which is the absence of love. 

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,e 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youf to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

COLOSSIANS 1:9-14

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

DECEMBER 28, 2016

“We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.” 
― Dietrich BonhoefferLetters and Papers from Prison

ZECHARIAH 7-9

8And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: 9“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’(7:8-10)

REVELATION 19

9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
10At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

JOURNAL 

To worship God means to obey him. Obeying him means to act in love and care for those who are struggling. Throughout the entire Bible this is the constant command, not only to keep ourselves from indulging in things just for ourselves. But to not do this at the expense of others and to be aware of the suffering of others and to be proactive in serving them. 

This is beautiful and when I act in obedience to God in loving others and serving them, I receive a joy that is better than any possession. This is God's gift to us, this is the joy of the spirit. 

1Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

HEBREWS 13:1-3

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

DECEMBER 27, 2016

“For the first time in my life I saw the truth as it is set into song by so many poets, proclaimed as the final wisdom by so many thinkers. The truth - that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire. Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love.” 
― Viktor E. FranklMan's Search for Meaning

ZECHARIAH 4-6

 12Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord13It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And hee will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’ 14The crown will be given to Heldai,f Tobijah, Jedaiah and Heng son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord15Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”(6:12-15)

REVELATION 18

“ ‘Come out of her, my people,’b
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
5for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her crimes.

JOURNAL 

Obedience to God is our salvation...obedience to God is our road of safety, our way out of despair, our way out of destruction. It is in this obedience that we ultimately find beauty and life and are able to see the hand of God in all that is good.

Christmas Day we watched the movie Collateral Beauty. What struck me was the truth in the statement to look for collateral beauty in the midst of every tragedy. Time and time again within every chapter of the Bible you can find hope and "collateral beauty". God is love and the beauty of this bleeds through all circumstances every day of our lives.

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 15:13

DECEMBER 26, 2016

“The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” 
― J.R.R. TolkienThe Fellowship of the Ring

ZECHARIAH 1-3

7“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
8“ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. 9See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyesb on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.
10“ ‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”(3:7-10)

REVELATION 17

 14They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

JOURNAL 

Regardless of the ominous daunting scripture there is always hope sewn into each chapter. Sometimes it is hard to find but it is always there. That is one of the things I have grown to love about the Bible. It is harsh at times and can be a bit scary but there is always hope.

That parallels our lives as well. The last few weeks our community has been hit with multiple tragic deaths that are sudden and have left families scrambling to make sense of the it all in the midst of the holidays. Sometimes it makes me wonder what God is up to...I don't have to look any further than scripture to know that we are far from alone in our despair and heartache. 

That is just part of living this life...but so also are the blessings. There are always blessings and there is always hope within every chapter of our lives. Sometimes you have to really search to find it but it's always there. 

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

JEREMIAH 29:11

Monday, December 26, 2016

DECEMBER 25, 2016


“...talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.” 
― Patrick Süskind

HAGGAI

 4But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’(2:4-5)

REVELATION 16

9They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

JOURNAL 

To be "strong" and "work" and to not "fear". These are the commands God had of the Israelites and I believe it the same commands he has for us today. For to be bold and strong  and diligent and to do so without fear is something that can only be accomplished in humility and in serving a God of love. 

To serve God in this way is only accomplished if my heart is fully surrendered to him in devotion and love. That only can happen when I fully believe that God loves me, cares for me and is worthy to follow.

This is the importance of the birth of Christ. This is why the essence of God being born into a low, humble, messy existence is so significant. God became one of us, so that we would love him, trust him and follow him through the low, humble circumstances of our own lives. We can identify and see that he does not ask us to follow some platitude that he himself has not experienced. He knows...he gets it. Therefore he asks us to trust him as we live the life that he has given us to live.

4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

LUKE 2:4-11

DECEMBER 24, 2016

“Life is a long lesson in humility.” 
― J.M. BarrieThe Little Minister

ZEPHANIAH

I will remove from you
your arrogant boasters.
Never again will you be haughty
on my holy hill.
12But I will leave within you
the meek and humble.
The remnant of Israel
will trust in the name of the Lord.(3:11-12)

REVELATION 15

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.a
4Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”b

JOURNAL 

God's desire for us to to be humble and meek. What does that really mean exactly? I think humility and meekness does not mean weakness but rather honest strength. It is an awareness of reality. It is not being more than I am or not needing or desiring to be something I am not. 

When I am humble, I understand that I am simply one of 7 billion living human beings. Whose life span would be 100 years at best and who is one of billions and billions of people that have lived before me and if God willing billions that will come after me. 

Yet it is also being aware that I am unique in that I am the only one who lives my life in my way for this period of time. That is an amazing gift of which I am a recipient. I did not author my existence, I received it. Therefore I am to live humbly and meekly in honor of God the creator and all those beautiful souls that have left their mark on this world and all those that are to come. 

This is humbling and a great honor. No matter what the day may come, no matter the joys or heartaches...the gift is life and that gift is from God. I am to be grateful and treat it as an honor and a gift.

13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

JAMES 3:13

Saturday, December 24, 2016

DECEMBER 23, 2016

“When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” 
― Jalaluddin Rumi

HABAKKUK

17Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.(3:17-19)

REVELATION 14

There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” 12This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.
13Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”
“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

JOURNAL 

The purpose of following and worshiping God is not for immediate gratification of material wants. God is not a trinket God. This can be no clearer than in these verses because those that follow God endure great suffering. Yet it is in this faith that we find our purpose, our strength and our comfort. 

To follow God in the midst of suffering is what produces courage and love and faith and joy. It makes no sense yet this is what we are promised. When I think back on my own life, I find that this is true...trusting God in the midst of heartache produced some of the greatest joys of my life, giving me peace and contentment in the midst of pain. 

This is why I follow and this is why I worship and this is why I continue to read and search even though my immediate need is not dire.

12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

ROMANS 12:12-13

DECEMBER 22, 2016

“We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it.” 
― Ernesto Che Guevara

NAHUM

7The Lord is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him,
8but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh;
he will pursue his foes into the realm of darkness. (1:7-8)

REVELATION 13

9Whoever has ears, let them hear.
10“If anyone is to go into captivity,
into captivity they will go.
If anyone is to be killedc with the sword,
with the sword they will be killed.”d
This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people.

JOURNAL 

God is either a refuge or your worst nightmare. To read Revelation along with predictive prophecy from the Old Testament is definitely enlightening. God is our refuge no matter the situation we find ourselves. Good times or bad he is our passion. 

Even if it means captivity, death, suffering etc. no matter what...we are to endure and be faithful.  What a word, what a message. So needed in this day and time of comfort, ease and the trappings of modern society. 

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other.

JOHN 15:12-17