MAY 22, 2017

“I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, "aw shit, he's up!” 
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

1 CHRONICLES 6-7

31These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

33Here are the men who served, together with their sons:(6:31-33)

JOHN 8:21-36

31To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

33They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

JOURNAL 

Walking this morning I had the thought of all the ways I fail to do my best. Mostly it is because circumstances or results or interactions negatively influence me. The reality is though that I always have a choice. I have a choice in how I respond to every situation that I encounter in life. In thinking through this further I read of the men who served as musicians in the house of David. Their names are listed but they don't have any effect on me and my life. Yet each of them had a story, each of them had a unique life and struggles and hopes and dreams. They had a job to do and they played a part in God's story. 

So often I get caught up in thinking of myself and my own story in ways that are not positive. I have regrets and shame and also things that I am proud of and feel good about. Sometimes I think that I put too much stock in a situation, circumstance or result. The reality is 100 years from now, what happened today really will have no significance on someone else. Yet it does for me, and it does for those that are close to me and under my care. By doing my best and giving the best of myself in service to God, I bring heaven to earth. I am able to be a conduit of God's love and power. 

This means that every breath, every moment, every sixty seconds of time, is precious. It is an opportunity to serve God, love people and have a purpose that is a triumphant part of God's story. Therefore it does matter, it does play a part. Every life, every story, every moment is part of the larger story. Thank you God for this reminder. Thank you for this life, this moment.

9“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us today our daily bread.

12And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation,^a

but deliver us from the evil one.^b ’

MATTHEW 6:9-13

MAY 17, 2017

You see the giant and the shepherd in the Valley of Elah and your eye is drawn to the man with sword and shield and the glittering armor. But so much of what is beautiful and valuable in the world comes from the shepherd, who has more strength and purpose than we ever imagine.” 
― Malcolm Gladwell, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

2 KINGS 18-19

14Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.

17“It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. 18They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 19Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.”(19:14-19)

JOHN 6:22-44

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

JOURNAL 

Recently I reread the story of David and Goliath as well as Malcolm Gladwell's take on this story from his book... David and Goliath. The really interesting thing about this story is not that David killed Goliath...for any "slinger" would kill a single infantry, no matter how big he was. The amazing part of this was how David defied all social and military norms and just did what he was good at doing. He did not let others opinions influence what he knew to be God's way. David had more power than we can ever comprehend...yet it was not visible...it was internal.

I think about this relating to all scripture and God always seems to defy, what is expected. God uses ways and means that public opinion would dismiss as absurd to do the miraculous. God answers Hezekiah's prayer and kills 180,000 assyrians in the middle of the night. Jesus affirms that it is God's will that he is here to do...not his own. This lowly obscure, man becomes the spiritual savior of the world and his death on a lowly cross becomes the most recognized symbol in all the world.

This is the God I worship, this is the God who declares his love for me. Why would I question him, or even think about seeking any other way but his. God created me to live today, in service of him. Yet he loved me enough to give me the choice to go my own way. He loved me enough to allow me to stumble in my weakness so that I would cling to him in his strength. I am overcome with awe...

 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 CORINTHIANS 12:8-9

MAY 16, 2017

“How blind is the delusion that the greatness of a man is measured by his living; rather, it’s always by his giving.” 
― Christian Hunt, The Dawn of Grace

2 KINGS 15-17

34To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.(17:34-41)

JOHN 6:1-21

12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. 

JOURNAL 

What does God want from us and why? That is a question that has inserted itself into my brain on more than a few occasions. Sometimes life seems pretty pointless, unfair, random and meaningless. Often it can seem that what I do really doesn't matter. However if I believe scripture then I have to embrace the reality that everything matters but it matters in a way that is very different from what I learn from the world. 

The ultimate goal in life as a believer is not to become a crowned king. The old testament and new both very clearly dispute the glory and honor of getting the title of King. So if obtaining all the privileges and trappings of kingship is not the goal then what is? From what I read...serving God and loving others is about as simple as I can define my purpose here on this planet. To serve God means to be fully and completely obedient to him. It also means that I seek to know his character, his intentions, his ways and that I constantly seek to do my very best to be my very best. The very best that he created me to be. 

Secondly that in doing my very best...the result is that I love those that he has put in my sphere. That I care for, and contribute to those in my care and in my sphere of influence, in helping them to be their very best. That's it...it has nothing to do with a trophy or a title or being recognized or making a certain amount of money. Although those things may be a result of me being my best...they are not the reason nor are they the reward. The reward is simply knowing in my heart that I have given and done my best and that I have helped others do the same.  

This, I believe, is the "peace that passes understanding", this is the joy of living and following God and it is a joy that can exist whatever my external circumstance...whether rich or poor, sick or healthy, accepted or rejected, loved or hated, powerful or weak, winner or loser...the circumstance does not matter. What matters is the answer to the question: Is God my only God, do I serve him, do I seek him and do I love others? If the answer is yes then my life is a glorious success. If the answer is no then I have failed in every way...

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
MATTHEW 25:31-46

MAY 11, 2017

“A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for.” 
― William G.T. Shedd

2 KINGS 1-3

9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

10“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

13Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

JOHN 3:22-36

27To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must become greater; I must become less.”^h

31The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for Godⁱ gives the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

JOURNAL 

Here is the beauty of the Gospel. Power and love are from God. It is not dependent on man or society or government. Those that believe are part of the kingdom despite, race, religion, male or female. God loves and gives, do I willingly receive? 

This is the grace that says that I can be rejected by the world but will never be rejected by God once I accept his love. I have a kingdom that will never fail and that will always welcome me with open arms. I have a purpose and a place at the table. I am a part of the kingdom the moment I accept God's love.  I don't have to measure up to the expectations of others or worry about acceptance. I am accepted and loved. Amazingly that invitation is available to everyone. They can receive the spirit and be part of the kingdom. 

What a message, what a hope!

6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 

2 TIMOTHY 1:6-7

MAY 10, 2017

“God doesn't bless us just to make us happy; He blesses us to make us a blessing.” 
― Warren W. Wiersbe

1 KINGS 21-22

41Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.

JOHN 3:1-21

1Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.^a ”

4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^b gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You^c must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^d

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

JOURNAL 

Nicodemus is confused due to his failure to consider the spiritual. He fails to understand that the spirit like the wind is not something you see but rather something you feel. He fails to realize that spirituality is not predictable or controllable. Just as the wind cannot be harnessed neither can the spirit of God. 

The Jews had taken the laws of God and used them to shame and imprison their followers. They no longer brought healing and freedom but rather greed and hate. They used them to shame and control through fear. Now here was Jesus offering freedom, forgiveness and hope to people who had none. It was beyond what Nicodemus could understand.

To me this shows the power of the herd mentality and how having great knowledge can blind someone to the spirit and love of God. Nicodemus had studied and been trained on the scriptures his whole life and yet he missed it completely.

16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

JOHN 3:16-17