Often overlooked words in the scripture can sometimes surprise me by their power and timeliness. Such was the case today as I read Phillipians 2:1.
It seems to be saying that in Christ we have encouragement, comfort from His love, a participation in the Spirit, and affection and sympathy. I had a need for all of these but did not find them with friends. I found them in the word and sat there reading and rereading these precious words of encouragement, comfort, love, Spirit and sympathy. Like I've said many times before, my greatest joy comes from hearing His voice!
It is His whispered words that bring me back into peace and joy when friends fail me. It is okay, because He will always come through and be what I need. The question is, why do I even seek from others what He already gives?
Lord, God of encouragement and comfort, be glorified in me as You are lifted up far above all others. You are Lord and You are high and lifted up! no one can match You in filling my every need! I want to always remember You first.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Courage
Have you ever wondered what the most difficult part of Christs' sacrifice was for Him? Was it the betrayal? Could it have been the pain of his body being tortured? Maybe it was Peters' denial, the weight of sin or facing death. Whatever it was for Him it must have taken much courage to finish what He began when Gabriel announced to Mary that He was to born from her womb.
Courage. We see courage in a soldier defending his homeland or family from harm. There is courage in hospitals on both sides of the sick bed. It takes courage for a parent to say "No" when they know it will hurt their child, but it will also be for their good. Courage is within us when we fight the battle against evil or oppression and abuse. It may be all around us and we fail to see the courage of those with which we work or go to church. Courage always comes hand in hand with fear.
Courage also lives with integrity and conviction. Without its companions what we see as courage is only rage at the fear we face.
Almighty God and Father, You are courageous and bold in the face of our enemy. You stand firm without wavering at his attempts to break Your children. There is no hope for victory without You!
I have experienced courage this week. Not the courage of Jesus facing the cross but certainly given to me through the power of the cross. Facing a fear and standing firm knowing that God alone will deliver me and bring me through is strength to my soul. Like a powerful weapon, courage because of Jesus and His promises, slays the fear and puts to rest the doubts that stand in my way! Thank You Lord for the courage to face the cross and the courage You placed in me!
Courage. We see courage in a soldier defending his homeland or family from harm. There is courage in hospitals on both sides of the sick bed. It takes courage for a parent to say "No" when they know it will hurt their child, but it will also be for their good. Courage is within us when we fight the battle against evil or oppression and abuse. It may be all around us and we fail to see the courage of those with which we work or go to church. Courage always comes hand in hand with fear.
Courage also lives with integrity and conviction. Without its companions what we see as courage is only rage at the fear we face.
Almighty God and Father, You are courageous and bold in the face of our enemy. You stand firm without wavering at his attempts to break Your children. There is no hope for victory without You!
I have experienced courage this week. Not the courage of Jesus facing the cross but certainly given to me through the power of the cross. Facing a fear and standing firm knowing that God alone will deliver me and bring me through is strength to my soul. Like a powerful weapon, courage because of Jesus and His promises, slays the fear and puts to rest the doubts that stand in my way! Thank You Lord for the courage to face the cross and the courage You placed in me!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Prayer Garden
This has been a tough day for me so far, not the day I had planned and certainly not the outcomes I wanted. The only thing good about today so far is that I can finally put to rest a controversy in which I've been involved. And then there is the Word of God that has come to me in spite of all my struggles with pride and anger.
Gethsemane. A garden of olive trees. A place of solitude and a place to get close to God. Jesus went there often and found it the place where He could accept the will of the Father over His own fears of pain, humiliation, rejection, and betrayal. It may seem odd but today this place at my computer is my garden of prayer.
His words stir something in me: "Sit here, while I pray." I sit here while He prays for me! He is interceding on my behalf. I am just here. I am with Him. I need His prayers and I feel at peace.
"Remain here and watch," He told Peter, James and John as they went a little further away from the rest. Remain here. Watch. Watch Jesus pray. Watch Him commune with His Father. Remain. "I am the vine you are the branches, If a man remains in Me and I in him he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 I remain with Him. I allow His life to flow through me. I can do nothing without Him. He has given me a promise of much fruit.
Then talking directly to Peter, Jesus says "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Watch out for the temptation. Watch for the weakness of the flesh. Sleep comes when I should watch. I may miss my moment, my God moment. Pray. Prayer strengthens my spirit and my bond with my God.
No matter how many times I sleep when I should watch and pray, Jesus is always at prayer for me. He never fails. He is always ready for anything that might come. He is strong when I am weak.
Father, forgive her she does not know what she is doing! She does not know that I take the cup of her sin. She does not know my love for her is complete. She does not know that my plan for her will be fulfilled. Forgive her!
Gethsemane. A garden of olive trees. A place of solitude and a place to get close to God. Jesus went there often and found it the place where He could accept the will of the Father over His own fears of pain, humiliation, rejection, and betrayal. It may seem odd but today this place at my computer is my garden of prayer.
His words stir something in me: "Sit here, while I pray." I sit here while He prays for me! He is interceding on my behalf. I am just here. I am with Him. I need His prayers and I feel at peace.
"Remain here and watch," He told Peter, James and John as they went a little further away from the rest. Remain here. Watch. Watch Jesus pray. Watch Him commune with His Father. Remain. "I am the vine you are the branches, If a man remains in Me and I in him he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 I remain with Him. I allow His life to flow through me. I can do nothing without Him. He has given me a promise of much fruit.
Then talking directly to Peter, Jesus says "Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation." Watch out for the temptation. Watch for the weakness of the flesh. Sleep comes when I should watch. I may miss my moment, my God moment. Pray. Prayer strengthens my spirit and my bond with my God.
No matter how many times I sleep when I should watch and pray, Jesus is always at prayer for me. He never fails. He is always ready for anything that might come. He is strong when I am weak.
Father, forgive her she does not know what she is doing! She does not know that I take the cup of her sin. She does not know my love for her is complete. She does not know that my plan for her will be fulfilled. Forgive her!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A Different Night
"Why is this night different from all other nights of the year?" This is the question asked in Jewish homes at the beginning of the Seder meal. It seems an appropriate way to begin our time of remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.
The Passover celebration that marked Jesus' death was different from other Passovers' because the fulfillment of it was complete in Him. Jesus offered us the cup of blessing, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption, and the cup of acceptance through His shed blood.
The traditional matzohs, lamb, a roasted egg, along with bitter herbs are fulfilled in Jesus being the bread of life broken for us, the lamb of God, a peace offering, and the bitterness of our sins.
Jesus is why the Passover is different now. It not only reminds us of the freedom of the Israelite's from the slavery of Egypt, but also every mans freedom from sin if He would receive Jesus' offering.
When the disciple asked the question why this night was different, they did not fully understand the duel meaning in all Jesus did. Do we?
Father, as You watched Your Son share the Passover with His disciples, You were there making the final preparations for the complete fulfillment of the Passover for all men. Just as Abraham suffered at the thought of offering His son on Mt. Moriah, You suffered at offering Your Son. Your love for us (for me) made this night the most different of any nights in all of history. Your love bled over my sins and passed over my guilt so I could be resurrected with Jesus and live forever in Your presence!
My heart is broken for my sin, full of gratitude for the giving of Your Son, and rejoicing over the new life I live in You!
The Passover celebration that marked Jesus' death was different from other Passovers' because the fulfillment of it was complete in Him. Jesus offered us the cup of blessing, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption, and the cup of acceptance through His shed blood.
The traditional matzohs, lamb, a roasted egg, along with bitter herbs are fulfilled in Jesus being the bread of life broken for us, the lamb of God, a peace offering, and the bitterness of our sins.
Jesus is why the Passover is different now. It not only reminds us of the freedom of the Israelite's from the slavery of Egypt, but also every mans freedom from sin if He would receive Jesus' offering.
When the disciple asked the question why this night was different, they did not fully understand the duel meaning in all Jesus did. Do we?
Father, as You watched Your Son share the Passover with His disciples, You were there making the final preparations for the complete fulfillment of the Passover for all men. Just as Abraham suffered at the thought of offering His son on Mt. Moriah, You suffered at offering Your Son. Your love for us (for me) made this night the most different of any nights in all of history. Your love bled over my sins and passed over my guilt so I could be resurrected with Jesus and live forever in Your presence!
My heart is broken for my sin, full of gratitude for the giving of Your Son, and rejoicing over the new life I live in You!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Withered Fig Tree Faith
Remember the fig tree that was cursed by Jesus? Well, the disciples and Jesus again passed by the tree and found it withered away to its roots. Good old Peter pointed out to Jesus what He had done as if Jesus wouldn't believe that His words would be so powerful.
It is as if Jesus replied to Peters' observation by saying:" You want to see power? I'll show you power! This is how you can have my power." It was then that Jesus spoke words that had the power of dying words, teaching words that simply spoke the message Jesus came to give.
"Have faith in God." Jesus spoke the most powerful of these words at the onset of this teaching moment. He is God! He is telling all of us to have faith in Him, trust and believe.
He then tells us that there will be challenges, like mountains, we need to overcome. They can be removed just like the fig tree dried up: Words, spoken in faith, believing in and trusting God will hold power to remove the obstacles to having faith in God.
Again, Jesus tells us that if we ask in prayer and believe we will have faith.
Finally, Jesus wraps it all up with forgiveness. He asks us to forgive anything and everything so that the Father will forgive us. This, too, takes faith.
Jesus teaches us that to find faith in God we must remove any obstacles by speaking our belief, praying and finally forgiving. What a beautiful lesson to learn under a cursed tree: Have faith in God.
God, You are the place where our faith begins and ends. It is taught at the foot of a tree You cursed for our sakes. I humbly thank You!
It is as if Jesus replied to Peters' observation by saying:" You want to see power? I'll show you power! This is how you can have my power." It was then that Jesus spoke words that had the power of dying words, teaching words that simply spoke the message Jesus came to give.
"Have faith in God." Jesus spoke the most powerful of these words at the onset of this teaching moment. He is God! He is telling all of us to have faith in Him, trust and believe.
He then tells us that there will be challenges, like mountains, we need to overcome. They can be removed just like the fig tree dried up: Words, spoken in faith, believing in and trusting God will hold power to remove the obstacles to having faith in God.
Again, Jesus tells us that if we ask in prayer and believe we will have faith.
Finally, Jesus wraps it all up with forgiveness. He asks us to forgive anything and everything so that the Father will forgive us. This, too, takes faith.
Jesus teaches us that to find faith in God we must remove any obstacles by speaking our belief, praying and finally forgiving. What a beautiful lesson to learn under a cursed tree: Have faith in God.
God, You are the place where our faith begins and ends. It is taught at the foot of a tree You cursed for our sakes. I humbly thank You!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Cleaning House
Jesus spent one of His last days before His death cleaning house. It wasn't even His house technically. It was His Fathers' house. I am not certain I would be doing that as one of my last acts but He thought it very important.
After His night in Bethany Jesus traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem and saw the mess that was there. He took authjority over it and demanded that the mess be cleaned up before He died. He was one with the Father in setting right the purpose of the Temple.
There soon would be no need for further sacrifices. He would be the sacrifice. Soon the Temple would be moved into the hearts of His followers. He would send His Holy Spirit to live in them.
As I read these words I am aware that this is an act of a condemned man. He would soon take on all our sins, be tortured and die so that not only His Fathers' house could be clean but each of us could be made clean.
Father, You wanted Your house to be a house of prayer. Certainly Jesus also wants His Holy Spirit dwellings to be houses of prayer. You have cleansed us, You have made us holy and You have done it all with passion, authority, determination and love. You deserve my cooperation. May I always welcome Your cleansing.
After His night in Bethany Jesus traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem and saw the mess that was there. He took authjority over it and demanded that the mess be cleaned up before He died. He was one with the Father in setting right the purpose of the Temple.
There soon would be no need for further sacrifices. He would be the sacrifice. Soon the Temple would be moved into the hearts of His followers. He would send His Holy Spirit to live in them.
As I read these words I am aware that this is an act of a condemned man. He would soon take on all our sins, be tortured and die so that not only His Fathers' house could be clean but each of us could be made clean.
Father, You wanted Your house to be a house of prayer. Certainly Jesus also wants His Holy Spirit dwellings to be houses of prayer. You have cleansed us, You have made us holy and You have done it all with passion, authority, determination and love. You deserve my cooperation. May I always welcome Your cleansing.
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Week to Live
What would you do if you had only a week to live?
In the gospel of Mark we are told that Jesus came to Jerusalem knowing He would die. He was celebrated as He rode in and went to the Temple. He simply looked around and then left to go to Bethany with His twelve closest friends.
The next day He left Bethany to return to Jerusalem and stopped at a fig tree because He was hungry. Because there were no fruit on the tree He cursed it.
This story seems so insignificant for someone who is about to die, but in Gods' way I am certain that this act was done with great emotion and authority. Jesus was in control of the situation. He had the power to make figs appear, but He didn't. Within this simple story can we see Jesus revealing a truth that He expects us to be what we were created to be, and to bear fruit in being? He was not pleased that His beloved creation was bound by sin. Sin had made a great divide between the creation and the creator.
Revelation 22:2-3 tells us that in the new Jerusalem the trees will bear fruit each month. Could it be that Jesus saw the real purpose for the fig tree? Did He look past this week and long for the fruit that would be available to Him whenever He wished?
When we enter Gods' Kingdom through baptism, we should begin to bear fruit that never goes through a season. So, shall we repent from saying that we are just going through a season? I think so. In heavens' economy our fruitfulness is eternal, not seasonal.
Father , You are the vine dresser. You prune and cut away that which does not bear fruit. You see potential in each of us, and yet we fail You. It hurts to be pruned, Lord, but You do it all in love and with great care for our best. I offer up my fruit for Your enjoyment.
In the gospel of Mark we are told that Jesus came to Jerusalem knowing He would die. He was celebrated as He rode in and went to the Temple. He simply looked around and then left to go to Bethany with His twelve closest friends.
The next day He left Bethany to return to Jerusalem and stopped at a fig tree because He was hungry. Because there were no fruit on the tree He cursed it.
This story seems so insignificant for someone who is about to die, but in Gods' way I am certain that this act was done with great emotion and authority. Jesus was in control of the situation. He had the power to make figs appear, but He didn't. Within this simple story can we see Jesus revealing a truth that He expects us to be what we were created to be, and to bear fruit in being? He was not pleased that His beloved creation was bound by sin. Sin had made a great divide between the creation and the creator.
Revelation 22:2-3 tells us that in the new Jerusalem the trees will bear fruit each month. Could it be that Jesus saw the real purpose for the fig tree? Did He look past this week and long for the fruit that would be available to Him whenever He wished?
When we enter Gods' Kingdom through baptism, we should begin to bear fruit that never goes through a season. So, shall we repent from saying that we are just going through a season? I think so. In heavens' economy our fruitfulness is eternal, not seasonal.
Father , You are the vine dresser. You prune and cut away that which does not bear fruit. You see potential in each of us, and yet we fail You. It hurts to be pruned, Lord, but You do it all in love and with great care for our best. I offer up my fruit for Your enjoyment.
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