OCTOBER 5, 2023

   “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.” 

― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

ISAIAH 31-33

 13The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (29:13)

PHILIPPIANS 1

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

JOURNAL 

To live is to do. Love is active, it ultimately involves action. Living life well ultimately is dependent on knowing God and following him, wherever he leads. That is a process, God understands that because he created me. He understands I have flaws and hangups and many times just screw life up. Yet just like with my own children or my students or players. I'm more interested in the journey and the ultimate destination than I am the outcome of today.  Yet today is part of the journey, it matters, but only in the context of the bigger picture.

Many times that is hard to balance...well it really is impossible to perfectly balance. That's why God is a God of grace. Yet a God that still pulls us to life and closer to him and in so doing we grow closer to understanding him, ourselves and the bigger purpose of today. That bigger perspective gives me the confidence to live today without fret or worry. It gives me the freedom to love and live fully without reservation and it gives me the hope and peace of knowing that I am part of something so much bigger than me, but of which I do play a part.

So what is success? It is relentless effort in spite of the result. It is the willingness to get embarrassed, pummelled, exposed because I am pursuing excellence and facing challenges that test me. It's the acceptance of life's hardest moments and joyfully stepping into the fire.  It's standing up after getting knocked down with the same passion and fire as when I first began. It's understanding the true meaning of love and that love demands everything I have, without excuse or reservation.  It's trusting that my God will honor my effort and sacrifice rather than trying to arrange an outcome.

 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. - Hebrews 11: 36-40

God asks me to give not achieve an outcome, God asks me to serve not to secure a future, God asks me to love rather than seeking to receive it. This is why to "pound the rock" is such an important visual. Because most days, giving our very best seems wasted, useless and without any benefit to anyone. Yet scripture tells us that it's never wasted, scripture tells us that when we give without "reward" then we are among the heroes of the faith. God cares nothing for what we possess or what we achieve, but rather in how we give, love and trust him. 

 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

GALATIANS 6:9

OCTOBER 4, 2023

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

ISAIAH 29-30

 13The Lord says:

“These people come near to me with their mouth

and honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

Their worship of me

is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (29:13)

EPHESIANS 6

10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

JOURNAL 

Yesterday I was overcome by the compelling thought of history and how all these people were once alive and living life in the present moment.  It has always been fascinating to me to think about time travel. I have always loved history and to really be immersed in the midst of actual history while it is happening would just be beyond words...I don't really know why it is so fascinating to me, I guess it is for most people. I

What hit me though was the thought that currently, right now I am living a life that will be part of history...this moment right now. That thought can be a bit overwhelming, yet I believe God is sovereign but I also know that we have a part in the story. I know that our actions have consequences and results. God allows it but we still play a part. Therefore the details really matter. What I do everyday really does matter!

That's why it is so important for me to go to God everyday and clean out my spiritual pipes...to confess all the ways that my self-absorption clogs my life. Therefore the more that gunk is cleaned out of my heart the more purely God's power and love flows through me and out to a world that longs for his love.

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

OCTOBER 3, 2023

   “There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” 

― John Calvin

ISAIAH 27-28

 “Sing about a fruitful vineyard:

3I, the Lord, watch over it;

I water it continually.

I guard it day and night

so that no one may harm it.(27:2-3)

EPHESIANS 5

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JOURNAL 

God never intends for us to live in some type of depressed, lifeless, bitter obedience. His intent is that obedience will give us life like no other. The life he intends is to give us a joy that becomes intoxicating and such that it moves others. It is a passionate spirit that surpasses all heartache and trivialities of this world. This is great news!

I will confess that so often there is this dark spirit that poisons my mind and heart into believing that all God wants from me is a heartless, soulless obedience. That simply is a lie. Compassion, love, joy and passion are the most contagious, most wonderful things in this life. This is the life God calls me to...so that no matter the circumstances or hardships...I will possess a spirit that cannot be defeated. What an amazing gift and it is available every moment of every breath I breathe.

What does that look like? I believe it's celebrations that border on hysterical, I also believe it is the comfort of sitting with someone through heartache and devastation. I believe it is hard, honest conversations where bitterness, anger and hurt are resolved. I believe it is the joy of receiving forgiveness and redemption. I also believe it is the joy and work of working together with others to solve a problem. It is warm smiles, sincere tears, hearty laughs and passionate kisses. It is refusing to allow a moment to pass with out soaking up everything it has to offer.

The miracle of our lives too often passes without recognition and celebration. There truly is so much joy to have that our greatest enemy often becomes our complacency in taking it all for granted.  God help me to see that each moment is a miracle...each moment is a gift from you to be shared and celebrated.

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

OCTOBER 2, 2023

“Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” 

― Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 

ISAIAH 24-26

3You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you. (26:3)

EPHESIANS 4

17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”^d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

JOURNAL 

Here it is in black and white...verses that hit me right between the eyes. This is the life we are commanded to live. Here it says in Isaiah that God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast...because they trust in God. Then in Ephesians Paul is telling them to put off the old self, to not let Satan have a foothold and to rid ourselves of all bitterness, rage, anger and every form of malice to be kind and and compassionate.

I consider myself to be a positive person and for the most part I am. However, recently I was listening to Timothy Keller's sermon on Pride and Nebuchadnezzar. The two main points were that everything is a gift and to see life in any way other than with a spirit of gratitude and humility is to be eaten up with pride. Humility sees the goodness and the gift of seeing, walking, talking, breathing and living. Humility sees the talents I possess and the opportunities I have rather than what I don't. Humility realizes that at any moment they can be taken away in ways of which I have no control.

Therefore if I continually surrender to God first and count my blessings with a true spirit of humility, then I don't need others to validate me, I don't need life to work out in a certain way, I simply just need to acknowledge God, his gifts and seek to follow him wherever he leads. That would mean that I would follow God as he uses me to love and bless others. I would follow God as I honor my talents and seek to maximize them to the fullest. It means every single moment of every day I would live in a true spirit of joy.

Today is a tremendous gift...life is the greatest!!

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5

OCTOBER 1, 2023

“The ragamuffin who sees his life as a voyage of discovery and runs the risk of failure has a better feel for faithfulness than the timid man who hides behind the law and never finds out who he is at all.” 

― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out

ISAIAH 22-23

17At the end of seventy years, the Lord will deal with Tyre. She will return to her lucrative prostitution and will ply her trade with all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. 18Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord; they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord, for abundant food and fine clothes. (23:17)

EPHESIANS 3

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family^a in heaven and on earth derives its name. 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.

JOURNAL 

Reading these passages from Paul...it can at times seem like he is speaking another language.  It saddens me to think how far I fall from really living this way. How my community does not look this way, how I depend so much on the culture and comfort and all the trappings of suburbia rather than truly seeking God with a community of believers.

Reality is that people mostly seek God in desperation...not in gratitude. I hate that about myself, I hate that often I am closest to God when I myself have failed...when I can't figure life out. Does it have to be this way? I don't think it is an absolute necessity...however it usually is the way it happens. Yet with God all things are possible, but I must seek  God always, not as just an answer to my own problems but because I realize the ineptness of my own wisdom. I realize the trappings of my own patterns of behavior. I realize that apart from God I am nothing and am just a vapor. I realize that with God I have the power and love of the creator of the universe and of all things. Why would I ever shrink back from trusting God? Why would I ever go my own way? Why would I ever rely on the things of this world rather than seeking and trusting God?

 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

EPHESIANS 2:4-5