“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’”
Exodus 14:13-14
Pharaoh had finally seen the power of the Hebrew God, the True God and had let the people go. The Egyptian people had freely given the Hebrew people everything they would need for their escape to freedom. Moses had led the people out of bondage and into freedom and God was their guide - a pillar of cloud in the day and of fire at night (Exodus 13:22).What an amazing sight that must have been - perhaps over two million people, their belongings and livestock - being led by a trio of elderly siblings (Moses and Aaron were most likely in their 80s and Miriam their sister was older still) and they were being guided by a pillar of cloud and fire.
One would think this sight alone would be enough to make the multitude recognize that something amazing was taking place and that the God they thought had long forgotten them was indeed on the move in their very midst. But they didn’t or couldn’t see it. At the first sign of trouble they panic and Moses has to tell them to - be still, be quiet and watch. Watch as the waters of the Red sea divided so they could cross on dry land. Watch as those same waters came crashing back together to destroy Pharaoh’s army. Throughout their time in the wilderness the Israelites will see God at work. Sometimes God worked supernaturally to provide for them and sometimes he just used ordinary things or people to do extraordinary things.
Sometimes in the midst of our struggles we are praying and looking for a supernatural response for God, this is not a bad thing of course - He does still work supernaturally after all. I wonder sometimes though as we wait for something supernatural to happen if we miss the miracle he is trying to work for us because it’s not what we are looking for.
If we fast forward to Jesus’ day, we know that people were looking for the coming Messiah - a lot of people missed him, because Jesus didn’t look or act the way they expected Messiah to look or act.
Today no matter what you are facing - keep your eyes and hearts open wide enough to see the “ordinary” miracle God is trying to work for you - you don’t want to miss it.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you that Your word shows us your commitment to providing for our needs. Thank you that sometimes you provide supernaturally and sometimes you provide in more ordinary ways, through friends, family, doctors, and the many servants you have surrounding us. Help us to be watching for all You are doing great and small in our lives. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Balancing on One Foot
This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Jeremiah 6:16
Sometimes God makes it very clear which direction He wants us to go and we walk uninterrupted for quite a ways, enjoying the view as we go. Other times the direction is not so clear but we can still make progress, we just have to pay more attention to where we are going. Then there are the times when we can’t see enough of the path to take a full step and we find ourselves standing there holding one foot up trying to find a place to step. Have you been there? Are you there now?
It is in these times of balancing on one foot - balancing between faith and fear, between trust and doubt, between obedience and disobedience - when we must totally depend on God. Not only will He give us the strength to stand there on one foot as we try to figure out where to step, He will also show us where to step and the best time to step so we can walk by faith, trusting and obeying. He will show us where the good way is and we can get back to enjoying the view as we journey.
This week if you are in one of those balancing on one foot situations let me remind you of something else we read in Scripture. Paul writing to the Philippians reminds them that they can “be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Jesus will not allow us to stand there balancing on one foot forever. Be watching for what He is doing and when He makes it clear which way to go - put that foot down and get going.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you that we can ask you for directions and that you will graciously show us where to go. For those times when we feel like we are balancing on one foot and might be leaning for the negative - give us the strength to stand or send a friend to hold us up. Thank you that we can be confident that you will not leave us unfinished. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Jeremiah 6:16
Sometimes God makes it very clear which direction He wants us to go and we walk uninterrupted for quite a ways, enjoying the view as we go. Other times the direction is not so clear but we can still make progress, we just have to pay more attention to where we are going. Then there are the times when we can’t see enough of the path to take a full step and we find ourselves standing there holding one foot up trying to find a place to step. Have you been there? Are you there now?
It is in these times of balancing on one foot - balancing between faith and fear, between trust and doubt, between obedience and disobedience - when we must totally depend on God. Not only will He give us the strength to stand there on one foot as we try to figure out where to step, He will also show us where to step and the best time to step so we can walk by faith, trusting and obeying. He will show us where the good way is and we can get back to enjoying the view as we journey.
This week if you are in one of those balancing on one foot situations let me remind you of something else we read in Scripture. Paul writing to the Philippians reminds them that they can “be confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Jesus will not allow us to stand there balancing on one foot forever. Be watching for what He is doing and when He makes it clear which way to go - put that foot down and get going.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you that we can ask you for directions and that you will graciously show us where to go. For those times when we feel like we are balancing on one foot and might be leaning for the negative - give us the strength to stand or send a friend to hold us up. Thank you that we can be confident that you will not leave us unfinished. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, August 13, 2012
The ONE Constant
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8
I like things that provide some constancy in my life. Things like football season always starting while baseball season is still going or that the sun always rises in the East and sets in the West. I love that there is a first day of school and that meal times happen at regular intervals. Knowing there are things we can count on helps us to have a kind of security as we go through this life. These “constants” help us to know that even when times are tough, even when things are changing, some things don’t change. It’s comforting.
There are plenty of “constants” in our lives - but none, save one is a forever constant. Football players can strike and the season can be cancelled. The Scriptures tells us that one day the sun as we know it will no longer be. There may be no first day of school or regular meals. When these things and events that we consider constant, aren’t anymore what will we do?
For those of us who are followers of Christ, no matter what happens to the things and the events of life - there is still ONE constant and that one constant is a person - Jesus Christ. He has existed since an eternity before we started keeping time and He will continue to exist long after there is time to keep. Jesus has loved us since forever and will love us into forever.
In chapter 24 of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is talking to the disciples about the end of the age. One of the things He says to them is “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Jesus is the ONE real constant in our lives - so enjoy baseball and football. Celebrate the first day of school and enjoy your meals. Embrace the glory of each sunrise and sunset and know that when heaven and earth pass away Jesus will be there to comfort you and guide you through an eternity of His amazing constancy.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you for being unchanging. Thank you for being the one constant that we can rely on now and for eternity. As we enjoy the amazing things and events you have given us on this planet and for this time may we understand that what we really need is You. Thank you for loving us before time began so that we can know your love beyond time. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Hebrews 13:8
I like things that provide some constancy in my life. Things like football season always starting while baseball season is still going or that the sun always rises in the East and sets in the West. I love that there is a first day of school and that meal times happen at regular intervals. Knowing there are things we can count on helps us to have a kind of security as we go through this life. These “constants” help us to know that even when times are tough, even when things are changing, some things don’t change. It’s comforting.
There are plenty of “constants” in our lives - but none, save one is a forever constant. Football players can strike and the season can be cancelled. The Scriptures tells us that one day the sun as we know it will no longer be. There may be no first day of school or regular meals. When these things and events that we consider constant, aren’t anymore what will we do?
For those of us who are followers of Christ, no matter what happens to the things and the events of life - there is still ONE constant and that one constant is a person - Jesus Christ. He has existed since an eternity before we started keeping time and He will continue to exist long after there is time to keep. Jesus has loved us since forever and will love us into forever.
In chapter 24 of Matthew’s Gospel Jesus is talking to the disciples about the end of the age. One of the things He says to them is “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Jesus is the ONE real constant in our lives - so enjoy baseball and football. Celebrate the first day of school and enjoy your meals. Embrace the glory of each sunrise and sunset and know that when heaven and earth pass away Jesus will be there to comfort you and guide you through an eternity of His amazing constancy.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you for being unchanging. Thank you for being the one constant that we can rely on now and for eternity. As we enjoy the amazing things and events you have given us on this planet and for this time may we understand that what we really need is You. Thank you for loving us before time began so that we can know your love beyond time. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Laughter the Best Medicine
“…a time to weep and a time to laugh…”
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Returning home from a weekend on the California coast with eight friends - both old and new - I could not help but think back on our time spent together. A few of those present, when sharing about some of their struggles past and present, shed a few tears. When you are in the company of people who make you feel safe and loved that is a good time to feel those feelings of pain.
Mostly, however, we laughed - we laughed so hard we cried or got sore abdominal muscles. It felt so good to be surrounded by that joyful sound. When was the last time you had a good laugh, the kind of laugh that knocks you out of your chair or allows that rare snort to escape only to cause more laughter? When was the last time you spent a couple of hours laughing like that? When was the last time you were in the presence of people who made you feel safe enough or loved enough to cry and to laugh in the same day?
The bible tells us the Jesus wept but I have to believe he also had some good laughs along the way. Perhaps he laughed at some of the off the wall things Peter said or as he watched children playing. Maybe some of those tax collectors and sinners he so often had dinner with could tell a good joke.
I came across a list of some of the health benefits of laughing - just in case you need to be convinced of the importance of a good laugh:
Lowers blood pressure
Increases blow flow and oxygenation of your blood
Provides a workout for your, diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles.
Reduces stress hormones
Increases response of gamma-interferon and T-cells (boosts immune system)
Defends against respiratory infection (can even reduce the frequency of colds)
Improves your mental alertness, creativity and memory.
So if you haven’t had a good laugh for a while I would like to encourage you this week to gather some of your friends - invite them over for dinner, go on a picnic or a camp out, spend the day in the mountains or on the beach and laugh. Laugh until you cry or your side hurts or you snort. You’ll feel so much better if you do.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you for the times when we are surrounded by people who make us feel safe enough and loved enough that we can cry if we need too. Thank you for the times when we can laugh uncontrollably in the company of people we love. Both help us to heal from the stress of this life. Thank you that Your Son - our Lord cried and laughed too. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:4
Returning home from a weekend on the California coast with eight friends - both old and new - I could not help but think back on our time spent together. A few of those present, when sharing about some of their struggles past and present, shed a few tears. When you are in the company of people who make you feel safe and loved that is a good time to feel those feelings of pain.
Mostly, however, we laughed - we laughed so hard we cried or got sore abdominal muscles. It felt so good to be surrounded by that joyful sound. When was the last time you had a good laugh, the kind of laugh that knocks you out of your chair or allows that rare snort to escape only to cause more laughter? When was the last time you spent a couple of hours laughing like that? When was the last time you were in the presence of people who made you feel safe enough or loved enough to cry and to laugh in the same day?
The bible tells us the Jesus wept but I have to believe he also had some good laughs along the way. Perhaps he laughed at some of the off the wall things Peter said or as he watched children playing. Maybe some of those tax collectors and sinners he so often had dinner with could tell a good joke.
I came across a list of some of the health benefits of laughing - just in case you need to be convinced of the importance of a good laugh:
Lowers blood pressure
Increases blow flow and oxygenation of your blood
Provides a workout for your, diaphragm and abdominal, respiratory, facial, leg and back muscles.
Reduces stress hormones
Increases response of gamma-interferon and T-cells (boosts immune system)
Defends against respiratory infection (can even reduce the frequency of colds)
Improves your mental alertness, creativity and memory.
So if you haven’t had a good laugh for a while I would like to encourage you this week to gather some of your friends - invite them over for dinner, go on a picnic or a camp out, spend the day in the mountains or on the beach and laugh. Laugh until you cry or your side hurts or you snort. You’ll feel so much better if you do.
A Prayer
Father - Thank you for the times when we are surrounded by people who make us feel safe enough and loved enough that we can cry if we need too. Thank you for the times when we can laugh uncontrollably in the company of people we love. Both help us to heal from the stress of this life. Thank you that Your Son - our Lord cried and laughed too. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
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