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. Tolkien, The 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 eyes^b 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

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. Barrie, The 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

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 killed^c 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