DECEMBER 16, 2021

  “It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.” 

― Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

AMOS 7-9

I was neither a prophet nor a prophet's son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, "Go prophesy to my people Israel."(7:14-16)

REVELATION 7

17For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will be their shepherd;

‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’^b

‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’^c 

JOURNAL 

Hope and vision...without it we will simply be consumed by despair. While the Bible is full of heartache and warnings and punishments...it is always countered with hope and vision of a better future. While we are not to live in tomorrow it is the trust and hope that God will provide and give us all we need that allows us to focus on today.

The Reality is that the future has not yet existed and we all are in the midst of that creation...while God is leading us into this creation...it still has yet to be created. We are part of that creation. How amazing that we get that honor. More importantly God promises that although that future does not exist yet...it will be good and we will play a part.

13“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman

and the planter by the one treading grapes.

New wine will drip from the mountains

and flow from all the hills,

14and I will bring my people Israel back from exile.^f

AMOS 9:14-14

DECEMBER 15, 2021

 “If you think you can stand to know what you’re made of, try kneeling before God.” 

― Craig D. Lounsbrough

AMOS 4-6

I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them...Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of our harps. (5:21-23)

REVELATION 6

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth. (5:9-10)

JOURNAL 

The more I read the clearer it becomes that it's not the actions themselves but rather the heart behind the actions.  While actions often do reflect the heart...the actions themselves are not what matter. Seeing that God "despises religious feasts". It is because their hearts are not for God.

I can see the same thing happening in our churches and in our "religious" parties, customs and ultimately in my own life. If my actions are not grounded in obedience and worship of God then I have fallen into the same trap as those in the time of Amos.  No matter the words or actions...time will tell the condition of our heart. Is it sold out to self or God. That's the true question. This time of year it is so easy to fall into actions that are habits or customs rather than really focusing on the purpose and meaning of Christmas. 

Father help me to remember that it's not the presents or the parties or the traditions that matter...it's not the candlelight services or tithing or any of that...it's our hearts and whether or not they are surrendered to following you and loving others. 

26My son, give me your heart

and let your eyes delight in my ways,

PROVERBS 23:26

DECEMBER 14, 2021

  “You cannot fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. ” 

― Rick Warren

AMOS 1-3

 They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. Father and son use the same girl and so profane my holy name. They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. In the house of their god they drink wine taken as fines. (2:6-8)

REVELATION 5

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come."(4:8)

JOURNAL 

In reading the last 3 books of Hosea, Joel and Amos; they were written almost 200 years before Daniel, right before the destruction of Israel and the exile to Babylon.  It is like going back in time...so to have read about all that Daniel went through serving foreign Kings, we get to see why that happened and that God had warned the people repeatedly.  Not only through "Prophets" but also through laymen, for that is what all of these men were. It was very clear that the people of Israel were collectively very far from worshiping God. 

Then to read Revelation and how all things are coming and building to God's kingdom...It almost makes me queasy to think about how I take so many things for granted and how negligent I am of God and the story of which I am a part. We all are a part of that story, each human who is born and lives is a miraculous creation that has a part to play.   

It is so easy to forget in the course of even a few hours that we are so blessed and yet I seem to daily get spiritual amnesia and forget that we are created to glorify God, not ourselves.

5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6Who, being in very nature^a God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature^b of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

PHILIPPIANS 2:5-8

DECEMBER 13, 2021

  “Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.” 

― William Paul Young, The Shack

JOEL 1-3

28“And afterward,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions.

29Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(2:28-29) 

REVELATION 4

9Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11“You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

JOURNAL 

Years ago I read "The Shack". It was an experience that played a role in healing my heart. Of course not the book itself...but it helped me confront some of my own bitterness and anger. It helped me to see all the ways I allowed my hurts to block me from opening up to God and therefore laying down my pent up hurt. I was a mess...still am in alot of ways, but I was in a place where I was using hurt and anger as a way of excusing my own sin. I was quietly blaming all kinds of people and circumstances for why I was experiencing failure and justifying my own compromises. 

The problem was never really the ways I experienced hurt and betrayal, but rather how I processed it and held onto it. I was angry and secretly wanted certain people to pay and experience pain. I in turn wanted to be vindicated, comforted, celebrated and loved. What I ultimately realized is that I had to acknowledge the pain from the past but also let it go and lay it before the throne of God. I then had to realize that everything I ever wanted I had already been given in the love and grace of God. That was tough to accept and embrace...still is.

There are days when those old hurts resurface...there are days when I feel desperate for love and acceptance. The reality though is that humans are flawed and humans are incapable of loving perfectly. 

To expect or hope that somehow my experience will be different is to live in a delusional, hopeless fairy tale. Yet we are not without hope, Jesus came and died and promises that if we will trust him, surrender to him...we will experience indescribable joy that will mend the hurts of living in this world. Unfortunately this won't inoculate us from heartache...in fact we may experience it in an even greater capacity, but we are promised to have the strength to endure, the love to overcome and the grace when we blow it. What more could we ever want??

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 PETER 5:6-7

DECEMBER 12, 2021

 “Declare your jihad on thirteen enemies you cannot see -egoism, arrogance, conceit, selfishness, greed, lust, intolerance, anger, lying, cheating, gossiping and slandering. If you can master and destroy them, then you will be ready to fight the enemy you can see.” 

― أبو حامد الغزالي

HOSEA 12-14

9Who is wise? Let them realize these things.

Who is discerning? Let them understand.

The ways of the Lord are right;

the righteous walk in them,

but the rebellious stumble in them.(14:9) 

REVELATION 3

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

21To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

JOURNAL 

The mind is a tricky thing. The fact that we have the ability to stand apart from ourselves and view our actions and thoughts is truly a divine gift. It also though is why we ultimately have no excuse for behavior that does not glorify God. We have a choice. Even though there are competing emotions and habits that many times will lead me away from godly choices, I still have the ability to choose whether or not to follow those emotions and habits. 

To truly follow God I must acknowledge and accept that many of my emotions and habits are contrary to God. The effect of this acceptance is what is really tough. It means that I am able to see my sin and my dance with darkness. That's not a pretty picture and it's one that I typically want to avoid. This is why reading and studying the Bible is so important  It constantly forces me to see my own thoughts and actions juxtaposed to scripture and the words of God, and ultimately see myself through God's eyes. 

This is the daily challenge of my walk with God. To not be wary of this struggle is the path of arrogance. To become fully aware is to embrace the humility that drives me to the feet of God. It also serves as a reminder that I am no different than those I tend to vilify. Father what a mess we humans are! Thank you for loving and saving us in spite of our mess, our evil, our flirtations and fascination with darkness.

1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6