Monday, January 27, 2014
Lessons From Oz - A Heart That Beats
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
We left Dorothy and the Scarecrow still on their way to the Emerald City in search of the mighty and powerful Wizard of Oz. In trying to escape the attack of some crazed apple trees they find the Tin Man. The Tin Man tells them that he needs a heart, so Dorothy and Scarecrow invite him to join them on their journey to meet the wizard.
Luckily, we humans were created with powerful hearts. Our hearts are engineering marvels, 4 chambers, some valves to control flow direction, major arteries and veins and the consistent lub-dub of its muscle contractions allow our life’s blood to be oxygenated and pumped throughout our bodies. But the human heart is important for more than its physical presence and work. The human heart has a spiritual aspect as well.
Jesus said, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). Our hearts can either reflect our better natures filled with light or they can reflect the darkness that is active in our world.
Last week, we talked about the need to use our brains, to use all of the information stored there to do good - to love, to forgive, to show mercy and compassion. The spiritual state of what we store in our hearts, based on the information in our brains - drives how we act, how we treat one another. The Apostle Paul writes: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
What flows from your heart these days? Is it the light of God’s unfailing love or something cold and dark that you have picked up from the world around you? At the end of the movie as the Wizard is giving the Tin Man his “heart” he tells him a partial truth when he says it is not so much how the Tin Man loves but how much he is loved. The complete truth has more strength to it. We who call ourselves by the name of Christ can love much because we have been loved much. Jesus loved us so much that he willing gave His life for us and His love for us is so great that our hearts should be overflowing with that same love. We love, because we have been loved.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). We must fill our minds and hearts with good stuff, with the love of Christ - so that His light will overflow from our lives into the lives of those around us.
So, how is your heart beating these days?
A Prayer
Father, thank you for filling our hearts with your light. Help us in those times when we let the darkness of this world into our lives. Help us to guard our hearts so that your goodness and love overflows our lives into the lives of those around us. Help us to love others better because you love us completely and for all time. In the name of Jesus who is our example of unconditional love we pray, Amen.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Lessons From Oz - We Gotta Use Our Brains
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16
Dorothy found herself in a strange world, hailed by the munchkins as a hero for doing away with the wicked witch of the East only to be targeted by the wicked witch of the West. Glinda the good witch tells Dorothy she must seek assistance from the Wizard of Oz in the great Emerald City and so Dorothy sets off following the now infamous yellow brick road, at a crossroad she meets the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow dreams of having a brain and Dorothy invites him along on the journey. I always wondered how it was that the Scarecrow could talk, let alone sing and dance without a brain… but perhaps that is a topic for a different kind of discussion.
Brains are indeed important. The human brain is a technological wonder, it controls all of the systems of our bodies, and according to medical science it is what determines whether we are alive or not. Have you ever heard a doctor say the person is heart dead or lung dead or liver dead? When we hear the words “brain dead”, we know what they mean. The human brain stores massive amounts of information most of which we can access with ease. It is this insane amount of information that we must learn to put into action. At the end of the movie the wizard hints that it is the ability to use knowledge that is important as he hands Scarecrow his diploma. This week’s passage makes it clear, in my opinion that we are to use the Word of God to do good in this world.
If we held every word of Scripture in the supercomputer that is the human brain but never use it, never apply that knowledge to our lives and the lives of those around us what good is it? I have known smart people, people with PhD following their names who did not have enough sense to turn a door knob in order to open a door - if we cannot put the knowledge we hold to practical use what do we have it for?
Scripture tells us we are to forgive as we have been forgiven, that we should love as we have been loved, that we should not judge or we will be judged. We are told that true friends willingly lay down their lives for one another, we are told to love mercy and act justly. God commands that we care for the oppressed, the widow and the orphan. If we hold all of this information in our brains and never make practical use of it what good is it?
There are some in this world who think that followers of Christ are ignorant fools who cannot think for themselves. I think it is clear that as followers of Christ we must put the knowledge we have to practical and compassionate use.
We gotta use our brains to make this world a better place.
A Prayer
Father, the human mind is an amazing example of your handiwork. It is capable of so much and yet sometimes we are so caught up in filling it with information that we forget sometimes that we need to use that information to do your will. Help us find ways to apply all that your Word teaches us to help those around us. Help us to forgive when we need to forgive, to act with compassion and to love the way your Son loved us. Help us to use our brains for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
2 Timothy 3:16
Dorothy found herself in a strange world, hailed by the munchkins as a hero for doing away with the wicked witch of the East only to be targeted by the wicked witch of the West. Glinda the good witch tells Dorothy she must seek assistance from the Wizard of Oz in the great Emerald City and so Dorothy sets off following the now infamous yellow brick road, at a crossroad she meets the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow dreams of having a brain and Dorothy invites him along on the journey. I always wondered how it was that the Scarecrow could talk, let alone sing and dance without a brain… but perhaps that is a topic for a different kind of discussion.
Brains are indeed important. The human brain is a technological wonder, it controls all of the systems of our bodies, and according to medical science it is what determines whether we are alive or not. Have you ever heard a doctor say the person is heart dead or lung dead or liver dead? When we hear the words “brain dead”, we know what they mean. The human brain stores massive amounts of information most of which we can access with ease. It is this insane amount of information that we must learn to put into action. At the end of the movie the wizard hints that it is the ability to use knowledge that is important as he hands Scarecrow his diploma. This week’s passage makes it clear, in my opinion that we are to use the Word of God to do good in this world.
If we held every word of Scripture in the supercomputer that is the human brain but never use it, never apply that knowledge to our lives and the lives of those around us what good is it? I have known smart people, people with PhD following their names who did not have enough sense to turn a door knob in order to open a door - if we cannot put the knowledge we hold to practical use what do we have it for?
Scripture tells us we are to forgive as we have been forgiven, that we should love as we have been loved, that we should not judge or we will be judged. We are told that true friends willingly lay down their lives for one another, we are told to love mercy and act justly. God commands that we care for the oppressed, the widow and the orphan. If we hold all of this information in our brains and never make practical use of it what good is it?
There are some in this world who think that followers of Christ are ignorant fools who cannot think for themselves. I think it is clear that as followers of Christ we must put the knowledge we have to practical and compassionate use.
We gotta use our brains to make this world a better place.
A Prayer
Father, the human mind is an amazing example of your handiwork. It is capable of so much and yet sometimes we are so caught up in filling it with information that we forget sometimes that we need to use that information to do your will. Help us find ways to apply all that your Word teaches us to help those around us. Help us to forgive when we need to forgive, to act with compassion and to love the way your Son loved us. Help us to use our brains for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Lessons From Oz - Storms' a Coming
“He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea where hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” (vv29-31).
Psalm 107:29-31
My all time favorite movie is the Wizard of Oz. I remember when I was younger it was on television once a year around the time of my birthday and I looked forward to watching it each year, since I thought it was being broadcast especially for me. It popped into my head as I was thinking about this week’s devotion and as I thought about it I decided there might just be a few things we can learn from this classic movie. I came up with five things that I think will be useful as we navigate this life - so for the next few weeks we will be looking at these lessons from Oz.
Storm clouds are gathering over a small Kansas farm when Dorothy’s dog Toto tangles with a cranky old neighbor. Dorothy decides to run away to save her little dog, but doesn’t get to far as a twister touches down and she races home, only to be caught in the storm and transported - so we think - to a strange and remarkable land.
From this and the rest of Dorothy and Toto’s adventure we can learn that storms have purpose. Generally speaking and depending on how severe a storm is, they are not usually pleasant experiences and the storms of life are often painful, still they have purpose. Storms can cause us to stop and consider what is really important - family, friends and faith. They can also teach about mercy, grace, generosity and compassion. Life storms whether they have to do with health issues, finances, relationship problems, loss of whatever sort, can be a blessing even in the midst of the pain.
Unfortunately, we cannot stop severe weather from coming, nor in many cases can we stop the storms of life from happening. But if we see the storm clouds gathering we can prepare for it, by remembering what is most important - family, friends, faith, love, generosity, mercy, grace and compassion. These things will see us through, will help us to find the blessing in the storm and help us to be a blessing to others in the midst of their storms.
Storms’ a coming - He will bring us safely to our chosen haven.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the times in the past when you have calmed the storms of this life. When the next storm hits remind us of all the things that are truly important. Help us to see the blessings that are all around us if we are in the midst of a storm. Help us to be a blessing to others when we see the storms they are facing. It is in the name of Jesus, who calms the storm that we pray. Amen.
Psalm 107:29-31
My all time favorite movie is the Wizard of Oz. I remember when I was younger it was on television once a year around the time of my birthday and I looked forward to watching it each year, since I thought it was being broadcast especially for me. It popped into my head as I was thinking about this week’s devotion and as I thought about it I decided there might just be a few things we can learn from this classic movie. I came up with five things that I think will be useful as we navigate this life - so for the next few weeks we will be looking at these lessons from Oz.
Storm clouds are gathering over a small Kansas farm when Dorothy’s dog Toto tangles with a cranky old neighbor. Dorothy decides to run away to save her little dog, but doesn’t get to far as a twister touches down and she races home, only to be caught in the storm and transported - so we think - to a strange and remarkable land.
From this and the rest of Dorothy and Toto’s adventure we can learn that storms have purpose. Generally speaking and depending on how severe a storm is, they are not usually pleasant experiences and the storms of life are often painful, still they have purpose. Storms can cause us to stop and consider what is really important - family, friends and faith. They can also teach about mercy, grace, generosity and compassion. Life storms whether they have to do with health issues, finances, relationship problems, loss of whatever sort, can be a blessing even in the midst of the pain.
Unfortunately, we cannot stop severe weather from coming, nor in many cases can we stop the storms of life from happening. But if we see the storm clouds gathering we can prepare for it, by remembering what is most important - family, friends, faith, love, generosity, mercy, grace and compassion. These things will see us through, will help us to find the blessing in the storm and help us to be a blessing to others in the midst of their storms.
Storms’ a coming - He will bring us safely to our chosen haven.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the times in the past when you have calmed the storms of this life. When the next storm hits remind us of all the things that are truly important. Help us to see the blessings that are all around us if we are in the midst of a storm. Help us to be a blessing to others when we see the storms they are facing. It is in the name of Jesus, who calms the storm that we pray. Amen.
Monday, January 6, 2014
A Year of Selflessness
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:12-13
I have a virtual friend who is in the process of giving another friend a most excellent gift. To some, what is being done may not seem like such a big thing, but to the intended recipient and the others of us who have the privilege of partaking of it - it is an extravagant gift of time and talent. It is a reminder that simple, selfless gifts bear witness to great love and compassion.
As I was thinking about this exceptional gift, I thought about how at the start of a new year we often stop to make resolutions for the year ahead. A search of the World Wide Web provides plenty of examples of the kinds of resolutions we tend to make, all of them good things and perhaps even necessary, but I noticed that many of them are self focused. I wondered what the year would look like if we were to make resolutions that were other focused instead?
What if we showed more kindness and compassion to those around us? What if we treated others with the kind of patience we would appreciate? What if we showed mercy and grace to those around us - not just our friends and family, but to the people on the fringe of society? What if the “sinners and tax collectors” of our modern culture actually saw the amazing love of Christ in how we treated them?
The prophet Micah told Israel that what the Lord truly desired was that they “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God” (Micah 6:8). What if we resolved to do just that?
What kind of year would we have if we made it a year of selflessness? More importantly, what kind of year would those around us have?
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the amazing grace and extravagant love you show us every day. As we begin this New Year give us hearts resolved to be selfless. May we be kind and patient, loving and compassionate to those around us, especially to those we might normally look right past. Help us to follow the example set for us by your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus. It is in His name that we pray, Amen.
Colossians 3:12-13
I have a virtual friend who is in the process of giving another friend a most excellent gift. To some, what is being done may not seem like such a big thing, but to the intended recipient and the others of us who have the privilege of partaking of it - it is an extravagant gift of time and talent. It is a reminder that simple, selfless gifts bear witness to great love and compassion.
As I was thinking about this exceptional gift, I thought about how at the start of a new year we often stop to make resolutions for the year ahead. A search of the World Wide Web provides plenty of examples of the kinds of resolutions we tend to make, all of them good things and perhaps even necessary, but I noticed that many of them are self focused. I wondered what the year would look like if we were to make resolutions that were other focused instead?
What if we showed more kindness and compassion to those around us? What if we treated others with the kind of patience we would appreciate? What if we showed mercy and grace to those around us - not just our friends and family, but to the people on the fringe of society? What if the “sinners and tax collectors” of our modern culture actually saw the amazing love of Christ in how we treated them?
The prophet Micah told Israel that what the Lord truly desired was that they “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God” (Micah 6:8). What if we resolved to do just that?
What kind of year would we have if we made it a year of selflessness? More importantly, what kind of year would those around us have?
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the amazing grace and extravagant love you show us every day. As we begin this New Year give us hearts resolved to be selfless. May we be kind and patient, loving and compassionate to those around us, especially to those we might normally look right past. Help us to follow the example set for us by your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus. It is in His name that we pray, Amen.
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