NOVEMBER 27, 2021

  “True freedom is impossible without a mind made free by discipline.” 

― Mortimer J. Adler

EZEKIEL 38-39

 28Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. 29I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”(39:28-29) 

1 PETER 4

19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

JOURNAL 

I cannot run from scripture...well I can but I can't. This is hard stuff...the whole concept of joy in suffering is one that's really hard for me to wrap my head around. It's hard because suffering is what I fear and what I would like to avoid. Who in their right mind desires or longs to suffer???

Yet avoidance of necessary suffering is probably what has brought me the most pain and heartache in my life. When I really think about it, most of my failings are a result of suffering avoidance. The times I've lied or misled or manipulated seem to coincide with some level of avoiding truth, hard times, guilt and fear. I've wanted a way around the hard aspects of life and therefore sought a shortcut to peace and joy. 

According to scripture the only shortcut to peace and joy is through surrender and obedience to God. Which requires me to acknowledge sin, seek God and surrender to all his hard truths. It requires a surrender of all those parts of me that are defensive and driven to protect myself.  It requires that I identify and am honest about my own desires. So hard...actually it's impossible to do perfectly. It's why I am always in the middle of confession and surrender. It's why I can never be arrogant or judgmental, to do so would be to ignore my sin and my failings. 

Yet this is precisely when I can fully fall into the loving arms of a perfect father. One that doesn't require perfection but rather just honesty and surrender. As a result he promises that I will be filled with perfect love, greater and deeper than I can imagine. This is true peace, this is true joy. 

16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

EPHESIANS 3:16-19

NOVEMBER 26, 2021

  “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” 

― G.K. Chesterton

EZEKIEL 36-37

33“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” 36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’(36:33-36) 

1 PETER 3

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

11They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^a

JOURNAL 

Reading these verses in Peter...the one that truly pulls the rug out from under me is to "repay evil with blessing". Really? To bless those who do evil? Really? The more I think on this the more troubling it is. It seems completely impractical and illogical. How is that going to do any good for anyone. It seems weak and doesn't hold the one committing evil accountable for their actions. It even seems to give permission to continue the evil. 

This is hard because when I  am honest with myself...I don't wish for blessing on those who have harmed me or "wronged" me. I wish for blessings for me and those I love and I wish harm on those that are a threat or those I deem to be evil or wrong. I think this is normal and this is how most people operate. . 

But then I look to the New Testament all that changes...Jesus' sermon on the mount gives a completely different take on how we are to behave and how we are to love. It turns my natural desires and conventional wisdom on its head. It demands that we "love our enemies". Oh how far away from this is my heart...yet I know that although God forgives my sin and anger and secret thoughts...he demands that I turn from them and follow him down a different path.

Turning from this way of thinking requires not only forgiveness of my enemies but also forgiveness of myself.  In many ways that is tougher than forgiving my enemies. For some reason even though I know God has forgiven me, it feels almost wrong to let myself off the hook for my sins. The reality is though that until I can do this I can't really forgive others. 

Today is another day to rejoice in all that God has given. Most importantly it is to rejoice in his forgiveness and love. For no matter the physical blessings or lack of them, his love and forgiveness can never be taken away...and therefore are meant to be shared and given to a world desperate for them. 

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighborⁱ and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

MATTHEW 5:43-48

NOVEMBER 25, 2021

 “Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” 

― Theodore Roosevelt

EZEKIEL 34-35

 30Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord. 31You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ” (34:30-31) 

1 PETER 2

1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

JOURNAL 

There are days when things seem so clear. There are days and moments when everything seems to go right and just be easy. I love those days and those moments...but that's just part of the story. To live in this world also means struggle, heartache and really tough moments. Growing up in the church while wonderful in many ways...it also was a source of confusion. The problem was that I didn't see people openly struggle. It was mostly all smiles, sunshine and rainbows. The subtle and often overt message was...struggle was a result of sin and if you were struggling then something was wrong and you weren't "right with God".  As I got older and the trials of life became bigger I often doubted and wondered why I was always struggling in my relationship with God. My life wasn't always sunshine and rainbows and I felt that there must be something wrong with me or that my experience of God and my life must be flawed. 

Ultimately I realized that behind those smiles was struggle, heartache and real pain. It caused me to really question everything. I felt deceived...duped and the thought crept in that maybe this whole Christianity thing was all just a big hoax. It was during this time that I first began to really read the Bible...I wanted to know the truth, I wanted to get to the bottom of all my questions.

What I found were real people...struggling, sinning and failing.  I read about murderers and adulterers. I read about liars and thieves. I read about those that were immensely rich and those that were destitute. They all struggled, they all hurt and none of them ever really escaped this world unscathed. Heartache, struggle and pain were the commonalities among them all. 

I wasn't alone! I wasn't crazy! Then what really stuck out was that there was something that was different for those with whom God had become their God. Although they struggled they had a hope that sustained them in ways that was inspiring. They experienced joy in the midst of heartache, they gave though they had little to give, they loved those that hated them and forgave without demanding retribution. 

A while back I had a conversation with someone on why I follow God. As I dug into this question honestly, I realized that my faith is because of the authentic mess of the lives of those in the Bible. It is because of their contradictions and struggles that I am able to identify and have hope. It is because their lives are laid open and I am able to really see the mess that allows me to really believe in the joy. It is because I am able to see the struggle that allows me to have faith in their redemption. These stories have become a source of hope, an outpost, an authentic portal to the hope and redemption of God.

As I come back around to these verses...I can better understand Peter's letter. He has struggled, he has failed, he has betrayed...he has been there and experienced it and come out the other side. He is not writing this from a pompous position of ease and comfort, he is writing this as one who is struggling and will continue to struggle. It is here that I find true comfort, that I find hope and that I also can experience the warmth and joy of my savior.  

I believe this is the true purpose of our time here on earth. To have our lives become outposts of the kingdom of God. Flawed and broken, yet still a light on a hill...shining through the storms, darkness and heartache. 

14“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." 

MATTHEW 5:14-15

NOVEMBER 24, 2021

  “To savor the simple privilege that every day I have a sunrise to bathe in, a storehouse of opportunities to romp through, the thick wrap of relationships to keep me warm, a God who meticulously tends to every detail round about me, and it all costs me not a dime. What madness would keep me from being eternally thankful for all that?” 

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

EZEKIEL 32-33

31So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. 32Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. (33:31-32) 

1 PETER 1

22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.^b 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,

“All people are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

 25but the word of the Lord endures forever.”^c

And this is the word that was preached to you.

JOURNAL 

Reading this morning I was struck by the depth of scripture. Far too often I fail to be in awe of it's depth and power. Honestly I have this block that at times scripture feels like a killjoy that exists to shame me for my sin. But that's the farthest from it's purpose and power. When I really read with an open mind and heart I am amazed at the peace and joy that it conveys to my soul. Yes it is tough at times but the reality is that it is God's word and it communicates his love. 

I can see a pattern because that's often the way I have viewed the church. But as I have learned, the church is not a building or a place but rather it is an action and spirit that works in and among us. God's church can be found anywhere, for God is everywhere. So his church is found when we pause and celebrate and are thankful for all that he has provided. It is found when we enjoy the blessing of each other and find ways to serve and love others. It is found when we put down our agendas, fears and hurts and trust God's direction. 

Thank you Father for another day. A day filled with so many blessings. A day full of opportunity to be a vessel of your love! 

1Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

3For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

4In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

6Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

7for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

PSALM 95:1-7

NOVEMBER 23, 2021

 “Your words, thoughts, intentions and actions today are your best hope, comfort, building blocks and insurance for tomorrow. But it is now alone that is guaranteed – tomorrow is a dream, a maybe a potential gift.” 

― Rasheed Ogunlaru

EZEKIEL 29-31

15Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the nations. For I will diminish Egypt so that it will never again rule over the nations. 16Egypt will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, but will remind them of their iniquity in turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.” (29:15-16) 

JAMES 5

10Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

JOURNAL 

The other morning I noticed several workers pulling up to one of the unfinished houses. As they got out of the truck I couldn't help but notice their sense of joy and energy. In that moment God spoke clearly to tell me that this is a picture of obedience and joy. This is often what God wants of me, to be grateful for the day and the work I have before me. I can honestly say that most of my life has been lived in pursuit of rewards rather than in the joy of doing my job. Way too often I fantasize about the day when I can go on vacation or buy something "cool" or experience the rewards of success. I have missed so many moments and the joy of those moments because I was lost in the fantasy of "one day".   

In many ways so much of the message of the Bible is about learning to be humble and to accept that we are not God. The verses in Ezekiel and James are affirmation that God is the only God and our lives can vanish in an instant. Just as the great kingdom of Egypt was brought down, our lives are just a vapor. Our importance is nothing outside of our connection to God. Likewise our joy is ultimately only found in living day to day in obedience to God. In essence, I will only find true joy in being and doing what God created me to be and do.  

God loves each of us and has given us the amazing gift of life to be used in the time that we have on this earth. To live it arrogantly apart from a relationship with him will only bring misery and destruction. Live in the now...live in this moment. Do not waste time worrying or fantasizing about what tomorrow will bring. For the more I am focused on loving God and loving others today, then I will experience joy and the love and spirit of God in all that I do. 

Father, today is what I have, this moment is all you've given. To venture away from this mindset is to unhinge my heart and mind from you. This is the lesson...this is the message...so simple yet so rare in this world.

19My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

JAMES 5:19-20