JUNE 20, 2021

 

“The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served.”  

― Gordon B. Hinckley

NEHEMIAH 12-13

10I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.

ACTS 4:23-37

32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

JOURNAL 

What an amazing vision of community.  I am reminded again this morning that it is not what we get but what we give. Surrendering to God and trusting him first starts with humility and gratitude. You simply cannot be a servant unless you are truly grateful for the life you have today, here in this moment. But then you must turn outward and be willing to share and give what you have.

I am so blessed, I have been given so much...health, family, friends, community, a free nation. I am living the dream that so many throughout history fought and died to achieve. It is such an amazing blessing and yet so often I forget and let silly worries rob me of a grateful heart. I get caught up in the current challenges of the news or social media. In the parable of the talents I have been closer to the one who buried his talent rather than the one who multiplied it.  

Actions don't earn salvation but rather they are evidence of it. Just as fruit is evidence of a healthy tree, so are loving actions and gratitude evidence of a redeemed heart. Today I am to produce the fruit of love and service. I don't need to worry with tomorrow or next week or next year...today and today is more than enough.

 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,  a new creation has come:^a The old has gone, the new is here! ~

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

JUNE 19, 2021

 “When an individual is motivated by great and powerful convictions of truth, then he disciplines himself, not because of the demands of the church, but because of the knowledge within his heart”  

― Gordon B. Hinckley

NEHEMIAH 9-11

22“You gave them kingdoms and nations, allotting to them even the remotest frontiers. They took over the country of Sihon^c king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. 23You made their children as numerous as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their parents to enter and possess. 24Their children went in and took possession of the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites, who lived in the land; you gave the Canaanites into their hands, along with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with them as they pleased. 25They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance. They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your great goodness.26“But they were disobedient and rebelled against you; they turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you; they committed awful blasphemies. 27So you delivered them into the hands of their enemies, who oppressed them. But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them, and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hand of their enemies.

ACTS 4:1-22

13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

JOURNAL 

 "If I do not spend time in thanksgiving and surrendering my will to God's I will operate out of survival and the emotions of the moment. It simply is a fact and therefore I must realize this and take actions that put me humbly in the presence of God every single day and every moment...grateful for my life and humble in obedience." June 18, 2016

Wrote this then and it is just as true today as it was then. Reading through chapter 9 of Nehemiah it is heartbreaking to see the rebellion of the Israelites. After all that God has given them and provided for them. Yet time and time again they dismiss the blessings and begin to move away from God. Reality is that I do this every day. Thankfully, most often it is in small subtle ways...yet that spirit of rebellion is still there and it must be acknowledged and fought or it can creep in and take over. 

Surrendering my heart and will to God at the beginning of every day is the only hope I have in living a life that will glorify God. Thankfulness is required because without it I will begin to look around and find situations and circumstances that seem better than my own. This then leads to bitterness and anger and jealousy. Surrendering my will is required because otherwise I will look for the easy way rather than God's way.  I think this is why Jesus is so adamant that we live life in the present...it is the only way to live and not get consumed with bitterness and laziness. 

 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,  a new creation has come:^a The old has gone, the new is here! 

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

JUNE 18, 2021

 

“Success involves failing first. Ask any successful person. Ask any experienced person, really. It's all part of the creative process, so sit back and allow the artist within you to sprout, blossom and flourish. You must accept that your first, second, and third attempt at something might suck. It's a necessary step in improving your skill. Failure is your teacher, not your judge.” 
― Connor Franta

NEHEMIAH 7-8

9Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”(8:9-10)

ACTS 3

6Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

JOURNAL 

"the joy of the Lord is your strength"...really letting that sink in. Not power or talents but joy of the Lord...Joy in all that God is doing and has done. It takes the focus off myself and the current situation. It causes me to see God in the context of all he has done and is doing. God's joy is not finite, it is infinite. Therefore if I embrace his joy I see all of time past, all of the present, and all of what is to come. I see that regardless of my life, God is doing great things, God is redeeming the evil of man. God is transforming hearts and minds and that is a joy that cannot be replaced. That is a joy that is far greater than my current circumstances. 

Thinking yesterday through the purpose and concept of goals within the context of God's kingdom. It became clear when I realized that I could still accomplish personal goals and totally miss God and my life would be completely empty...or I could miss my personal goals and my life be complete and a glory to God. So do my personal goals matter? I think the answer is both yes and no. 

I believe God can use our personal goals to draw us to him and help steer us down the path he desires for us to travel. They are in essence the dog treats of the spiritual world. In reality they aren't essential in the grand scheme of things but they can steer us toward obedience and relationship with God. They may seem and feel overly important, yet when considering them in the grand affair of human life...they most often will matter very little. 

Yet this is not to diminish them...because I believe every day, every moment is essential in our relationship with God and our place in the world. The pursuit of my goals can drive me to God in ways that force me to grapple with discipline, obedience, adversity, relationships, and love. These are the essentials...these are the things that really matter. 

So in thinking further...my personal goals are God's way of drawing me to him. They should never replace God and accomplishing them will never complete me or my life. However, they are important, and seeking them, pursuing them, and accomplishing them is part of my relationship with God. I am free to pursue them, work for them and seek to accomplish them, but in the end, I am to remember that no matter the success or failure, the pursuit, the process, playing the game, and working my heart out is really what matters.

31but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

ISAIAH 40:31

JUNE 17, 2021

 

Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long-run—in the long-run, I say!—success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it” 
― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning

NEHEMIAH 4-6

9They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

10One day I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was shut in at his home. He said, “Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you.”

11But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me.

14Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. 15So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.(6:9-15)

 

ACTS 2:14-47

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

JOURNAL 

The quote by Frankl can be confusing and misunderstood. Here in Acts it is shown what a community whose hearts are devoted to God looks like.  When the spirit of God invades a community...then the community becomes an outpost of Heaven.  The spirit of God gives me this power. It is a spirit that is powerful, loving and disciplined. It is not timid...it will not be snuffed out or dampened by the forces of man, but will rather be strengthened the more opposition I receive. 

God's power is beyond human power. God's purposes are greater than man's. To become a believer and follower means to be changed and to become a purposeful force of Heaven. I think when it all comes down to it, this is the secret of success. It is when my everyday actions are in line and congruent with God's purposes.

It is then that the outcome is not so important but rather the process, the everyday moments. Winning those moments... is defined by giving my best and using the talents God has given me. It means that I don't dismiss a moment, because every single one is an opportunity to serve God and glorify him. This is not a burden or pressure but rather it is freedom. Freedom to focus on and give my attention to the things I can control. I can control my effort, my energy, my time, my actions. That's all that is required. By doing so I surrender to being God's child. 

This then becomes the joy of life and the key to success. No matter the outcome, no matter the world's judgement. My heavenly Father and his blessing are all that matter and I have that today and always. So going back to the quote...when I surrender to my heavenly Father as a child of God, then I trust that whatever happens will be a success, as long as I have given my best. Success ensues because I trust that to God. 

Success also ensues because I am conscious of how ridiculously blessed I am just to be sitting here typing on this computer.  I am blessed to have a healthy body. I am blessed to live in the time that I live. I am blessed to have a wife that loves me and forgives my flaws and sins. I am blessed to have family and friends that love me and care for me...every moment of my life is worth and in need of rejoicing!!

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7

JUNE 16, 2021

 “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ” 

― Walt Disney Company

NEHEMIAH 1-3

17Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work.

19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. “What is this you are doing?” they asked. “Are you rebelling against the king?”

20I answered them by saying, “The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.”(2:17-20)

ACTS 2:1-13

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues^a as the Spirit enabled them.

5Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,^b 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

JOURNAL 

God is a God of action. He sends out Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah...the people are asked to risk and take action. Obedience to God is found in action. Worship is an action, obedience is in action, love is done in action. I really don't believe you can be a true follower of God and not be taking action that stretches and causes you to seek and trust God. 

Yet I often find...daily...that there is a part of me that just wants security and rest and to be served. The ultimate purpose in following God is to serve, not to be served. It is to give, not to receive. It is to live a life of action, not one of passivity and sloth. For God has given me the gift of life, energy and a healthy mind and body. I am to use it fully, not half-way, not some of the time. One day I will have eternal rest but that is not today, and I am not to waste my days longing for it. I am to spend my days and hours in action...obeying God and serving mankind.

31but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

ISAIAH 40:31