Transformational Newness

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

I believe in magic… well not magic like in Bewitched or Harry Potter, not even magic like David Copperfield. The magic I believe in - could, should be equated with the miracles of God’s movement on our lives and world - it is the power of Jesus to bring transformational newness to everyone and everything.

Leading up to this week’s passage Paul has been encouraging the Corinthian church and us by giving us a glimpse of eternity and reminds that because of all that Christ has done anyone and everyone that is in Him by faith have been made new. We experience transformational newness when we surrender our sin weary lives to the risen Savior. But transformational newness is more than just a change of heart for humans. Everywhere Jesus stepped while He was here was made new in some way. Everywhere His Spirit is allowed to work today is also made new in some way

Jesus didn’t just change lives, He transformed what religion had become, He created a radical change in the way people related to God. He encouraged transformational newness in the way people came together to worship God. He called the people out of the rituals and traditions that had grown out of the Law. He called them into community and relationship – with Him and with each other. Transformational newness isn’t a onetime thing; it is an ongoing process for us personally and for what is now known as the church.

I can imagine what those first gatherings must have looked like for the new followers of Jesus. Oh they probably sang the psalms they were familiar with, but I bet some new music was part of it. They gathered in homes, if they were lucky maybe one of the Apostles would be there and teach them personally or perhaps they listened to the latest letter from Paul. They shared a meal and talked about what God was doing in their lives and community. They no doubt shared their fears, tears and their celebrations. They cared for one another, it wasn’t “the leader’s” responsibility – it was everyone’s responsibility to care for each other and to care for those on the fringes of society too.

The Church has been renewing itself ever since, you see if we as individuals and as a community of believers to allow transformational newness happen on an ongoing basis, we get stuck in the muck and mire of ritual and tradition – it stops being about loving God and loving others.

The turning of the calendar page to a new year is a magical time; there is an expectation of change on the hearts and minds of people around the world. Let this be the moment we allow the power of Jesus to jump start transformational newness in our lives and in our churches.

I am a new creation, but I am not a finished creation – I need to keep experiencing His transformational newness and so do you. Let’s make the new year really new.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the magic that is the power of Your movement in our lives and world. Thank you for making us new through Your Son Jesus. Show us the power of continually experiencing the power of transformational newness in our lives and in Your Church. As we are continually renewed may Your power shine through us into the lives of those who need You to make them new too. In the name of Jesus, who makes us new – Amen.

Where Science and Faith Collide

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.’…When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and of incense and of myrrh.
Matthew 2:1-2, 10-11

“We three kings of Orient are. Bearing gifts we traverse afar…” These are the opening words of a much loved Christmas Carol. The real story is more interesting because it is a story of science and faith colliding. It is a story that has a much deeper meaning than we realize when we read it casually. It is a story we must read carefully and study to fill in the gaps.

The New International Version as seen in this week’s passage calls the travelers from the east Magi. The Message calls them a “Band of Scholars” and a number of versions call them “Wise Men”. We don’t how many there really were and we don’t even know for sure how far they have travelled. But we can piece the story together with some educated assumptions.

They were gentiles from somewhere east of Jerusalem and Bethlehem, but how far east? It appears it may have taken them as much as two years to arrive at the place they sought. What? You say – they appear in the Nativity scenes we set up. I know they are in mine too. But the passage clearly says “On coming to the house” Jesus was born in a manger, when these travelers arrive; the family is in a house. Read further along and at chapter 2, verse 16 Herod orders all male children two and under killed. They were men of science and perhaps experts in other disciplines as well. Wherever they were from it is likely they had access to the words of the Hebrew prophets – Daniel, Isaiah and others and (here’s the important part) that they believed what they had learned of the coming Messiah otherwise they would not have been looking for a sign signaling His birth. Then of course we know for sure they went to find this foretold King of the Jews, to worship Him and bring him gifts. When it was time to go they acted in obedience to the God of the universe and went home a different way.

So what does it all mean, how can we be encouraged by this. The whole story of the birth of the Savior is to show us that God loves all of us and wants to be in relationship with us. As we look back over the weeks of Advent remember – God chose an ordinary girl and her carpenter fiancé to parent His son. God sent the first birth announcement to shepherds working out in the fields and the only other visitors to the child we read about are the wise, gentile men who traveled a long way when their science collided with faith.

Being a follower of Jesus isn’t about having a crutch. Christianity isn’t a religion of ignorance. Following Jesus requires heart, soul and mind to work together. Following Jesus is what happens when we allow science and faith collides.

Merry Christmas!

A Prayer
Father – what an incredible story plays out in Your Word, a story of creative majesty and eternal love so strong that it reaches through time to tap us on the shoulder and hugs us in a tight embrace when we turn. Thanks you for showing us through regular people – Mary, Joseph, the shepherds and the gentile wise men – that you came to save all who see Your Son for who He is – the Savior of the world. May we allow His light to shine as we allow science and faith to collide. In the name of Jesus, who wise men and women still seek – Amen.

Of Shepherds and Angels

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.
Luke 2:10

The natural and the supernatural, light and dark, humble poverty and majestic royalty these are the things that come to mind as I read about the coming of the Savior. I love how the Scriptures no matter how familiar, can present something new to the heart and mind that is open to the working of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever considers the two shepherd kings we read about in these inspired pages – one natural, one supernatural. One occasionally prone to darkness, the other overflowing with light. Both – at least as their humanity goes had humble beginnings that lead to majestic royalty. Of course One was really royal from since before time.

David the first shepherd king, in one of the most beloved passages of Scripture calls the Lord his shepherd, acknowledging his need for the divine care only God could provide. Jesus, the incarnation of that same God David sang of identifies Himself as “the Good Shepherd” in John 10. Some often wonder why lowly shepherds were favored with the proclamation of the child’s birth, by an angel of the Lord no less and a supernatural concert. You see, while today we would understand that being a shepherd is an honest job, important to the care of a flock of sheep which no matter what era we are talking about would be valuable. To the Hebrew people who needed a spotless lamb to offer as a sacrifice, a shepherd would be responsible for making sure a proper beast was ready when needed. Yet in the days of Jesus’ birth, they weren’t respected by those who held a higher place in the community – ok let’s just say it, the religious leaders – because well when you are spending time with sheep, you tend to smell like sheep – you get the picture.

But, that doesn’t mean they didn’t know God, didn’t know His law, didn’t know that in the eyes of others they fell very short of His standards. That’s the point though – they lived in His creation, they cared for important creatures, they no doubt sang David psalm declaring that the Lord their God was their Shepherd. The angel and the supernatural choir came to these shepherds first because God knew they would respond with open hearts, hearts so open they would be filled with joy. Hearts so open that they would rush, without the fear of being rejected to see the child, lying in a manger surrounded by – I don’t know smelly sheep maybe.

A note in my Bible says perhaps the shepherds got the word first “because they represented all who needed cleansing since Jesus was and is a king for all those humble enough to see their need for a Savior.” As followers of Christ we need to remember we are all works in progress – may we stay humble enough to hear the voices of Angels because our hearts are open for the message they carry.

More importantly and especially in this season of Advent, may our eyes be open to the modern day “shepherds” in our midst – the people on the fringe of our communities, the people some might look down their noses at if they stepped into the doors of our churches. They are there and they need to see and hear the good news of great joy.

Of shepherds and angels – which are you? Maybe, you are both. Maybe that’s a blessing.

A Prayer
Father – that we might have the humble spirits of those shepherds visited by Your angel. That we might by our actions more than anything announce Your Good News to those who really need you especially during this season. Thank you for showing us that it is when we recognize our need of a Savior that You can and will do amazing things with our lives. Help to remember that until we see you face to face, we are always in need of the grace and forgiveness our Shepherd King offers. In the name of Jesus, who is the Shepherd King – Amen.

A Faith Filled Husband

“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:18

Mary was pledged to Joseph - in some translations the word betrothed or engaged is used. We need to understand this word in order to understand what the reality of Mary and Joseph’s situation here. In our modern world while getting engaged to be married is an exciting and often happy time – a modern engagement is not a binding promise – today engagements can be easily broken, it can be painful but it is still easy. In Joseph and Mary’s day being pledged, betrothed, engaged to be married was a binding contract – they were legally considered husband and wife even though the marriage bed had not been slept in yet.

So image the position Joseph found himself in, his wife is pregnant and he knows full well that the baby is not his. Would he believe her when she told him she was carrying a divine child? In those days the punishment for adultery was death. Joseph loved Mary, what a difficult place he found himself in. How hurt must he have been? The next verse in Matthew’s narrative says:
“Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly” (Matthew 1:19). He had in mind, he was thinking about, praying about what the course of action would be. Perhaps he had made a pros and cons list in his head of all the possible actions he could take. Joseph wanted to do the “right” thing.

As Joseph slept an angel visited him in a dream, addressed him by his full name and delivered to him a message from God that gave him the Lord’s preferred path – keep Mary as your wife, she has done nothing wrong, she has found favor with God and has acted obediently, in light of all the risk – the risk of losing you – in order to do what was asked of her. It is interesting that the angel didn’t say – your families will understand, your community will understand, everything will be wonderful if you do this. The angel just laid out what God would prefer Joseph to do (see Matthew 1:20-23).

When he woke from the dream because he was a righteous man and a faith filled husband, Joseph did as the Lord wanted he took Mary as his wife, he cared for her and honored the Child she carried. Were there whispers behind his back? Probably. Did his business suffer? No way to know for sure, but he taught Jesus the trade anyway. In the end he had the woman he loved, he had a family and he was favored by God to help bring up the Savior of the world, to teach Him a trade and what it means to be a faith filled man.

Mary saw the possibility of the impossible. Joseph understood the blessing of faith filled obedience. Together, with the Holy Spirit they brought the prophesied child into the world, so that we and the world could be saved.

Imagine if we all could see the possibility in the impossible and respond with faith filled obedience.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the stories of faith filled obedience to you. What a revolutionary, risk taking way to live and to make a difference in our world. Lord be the courage we need to act like Joseph did. Help us not just in this season of Advent but every day to respond to others by acting in faith filled obedience to you. May our actions reflect your heart and bring you glory. In the name of Jesus, who also acted in faith filled obedience – Amen.

The Possibility in the Impossible

“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37

The season of Advent is upon us once again. It is a season of celebration and anticipation. The story of it to quote the famous philosopher Walt Disney is a “tale as old as time” well actually it is a tale much older than time really. As much as I love the scriptures from both the old and new testaments concerning the advent of Messiah, I must admit it can be hard to find a fresh perspective on it when it comes to writing something that will encourage me and anyone who may be reading this at the place they are this moment.

As listened to the first Sunday of Advent message at church, hearing once again Luke narrative of the angel Gabriel’s conversation with Mary, I was struck by how many stories of the possibility in the impossible there are in Scripture, so many in fact that it is possible to see how people who don’t believe in God could see the book as a fairy tale.

Right from the beginning we see the possibility in the impossible as the Spirit asks to believe that this world and everything in it was either spoken into existence or handmade by God himself.

What about the son of a farmer overcoming great adversity to be second only to Pharaoh in Egypt?

How about Moses – alone it would have been impossible for a stuttering, sheep herding, murderer to lead a nation full of people out of bondage and on a forty year journey through the wilderness? What about the fact that during that journey – their clothes never wore out and they always had food to eat and water to drink? How impossible is it for a young shepherd to kill a giant and become king? There are plenty more in the Old Testament, but let’s jump head to this amazing conversation between Gabriel and Mary. Mary by all accounts was probably just an ordinary girl, it’s not likely that she was the only girl in Nazareth who was still a virgin, though it could be possible that she was the only girl in town to be engaged to a descendant of David. It could also be that she was also the only girl in town that could find a connection to the line of David in her own family tree. So that made her stand out perhaps from the rest of the girls her age. We know from how Gabriel talks to her that she must have been a really good girl to have been noticed and favored by God for this seemingly impossible task. But wait, what is the possibility that a really good girl would agree to becoming pregnant out of wedlock, of looking as though she had betrayed her betrothed – in our thinking a good girl, even if being addressed by an Angel of the Lord she loved would likely have said know. Look at her cousin’s husband Zechariah – he talked to an angel too and didn’t believe him and so had to watch the impossible happen in silence.

Mary had the courage to say yes to the Lord, to be the revolutionary, risk taker needed to bring the Messiah into the world, because she had faith in her God and she believed in the possibility in the impossible.

In this season of celebration and anticipation, this season for some of sorrow and hopelessness let us look for the possibility in the impossible. No matter what this season looks like for you – look to Jesus, stand firmly, believing He has amazing things in store for you, believing that with God no thing is impossible and that there is plenty of possibility in the things you see as impossible right now.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the stories of possibility in the impossible in Your Word. Thank you for the examples of people who walked in faith with You and accomplished such amazing things. Thank you that Mary walked in faith so that Your Son’s impossible journey to humanity could take place, give us the same power of the possibilities found in the impossible. Help us in this season that carries so much good and so much difficulty to be a light shining in the darkness declaring that with Jesus there is possibility in the impossible. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.

Blessed

“Blessed are…”
Matthew 5:3-11

As I planned for our Thanksgiving supper, I thought about how so many people in the Western World and seeming, especially in the United States seem to feel entitled to things and frankly expect others to give them what they want. I was thinking about how being blessed is so much different from being entitled. I was thinking that I want to be thankful for being blessed rather than taking for granted those things that a sense of entitlement brings. Does that make sense? That’s where this week’s passage comes in – probably the shortest bit of Scripture I’ve ever started one of this with – but wait there’s more.

Jesus begins what is commonly known as the Sermon on the Mount with a list of nine “Blessed are…” statements. It seems to me that counters well the entitlement mentality that the world sells and that can be so easy to buy.

“Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom heaven” (v. 3). To be poor in Spirit means to recognize that we are not able to really improve the state of our souls and so our lives without total dependence on God. Sure the world tells us we are entitled to certain thing and if we buy into that we have no choice but to become dependent on another human or our government. Depending on God, grants us entry to the abundant life that comes with the fellowship of God’s Kingdom. Remember in other places Jesus makes it pretty clear that unless the religious leaders of His day laid down their pride, the respect they felt entitled too and their dependency on their own actions – they would not enter His kingdom.

Bless are… those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted because of righteousness and those who others speak against. In God’s kingdom and under His loving care all of these things result in some that builds the person up in some way – they will be comforted, they inherit the earth – because they know their true selves in light of Christ’s love and compassion, they will be filled, they understand what real mercy is, they will see God, they are called sons and daughters of God, their reward will be great.

The world tells us we are not poor in spirit – unless of course we don’t fit into the world’s media driven mold and then we are simply outcasts. The world says stuff your sorrow – never let them see you sweat or cry. The world says only might inherit the earth and righteousness is all relative – that success, money and power will fill you up. The world says show no mercy, that pureness of heart is no virtue, unless it helps you get what you are entitled too, that war makers and haters get what they want or take it by force. You get the idea.

The world’s entitlement mentality – tears people down in my opinion, making into something less than human – lulling people into a sense of power when really the only one who has the power is the one who can give them what they think they are entitled too.

I know, this doesn’t seem very encouraging or uplifting – but it is because we all have a choice. We can choose to become part of this worldly economy based on I deserve… whatever it is or we can choose to depend on God – the creator of the Universe who will bless us for all of the things the world portrays as bad and do so even though we don’t deserve any of His blessings.

I am thankful to be blessed – I pray you’ll blessed as well.

A Prayer
Father – such a striking contrast between Your Son’s blessed are list and what we see the world offering us every day. Forgive us for those times when we choose the world over Your kingdom. Forgive us when we treat people poorly because we feel entitled to do so. Show us what the blessings look like when we choose You instead. Help us to show others there is a better way – a way filled will abundant blessing and real living. In the name of Jesus, who blesses us in amazing ways we pray – Amen.

Thankful No Matter What

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17

Freedom according to the dictionary is “the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint”. But is that all it means - are there other kinds of freedom? Is it possible to be free even if you are confined or perhaps enslaved? What about political freedom?

In this season of thanksgiving, not only do we celebrate God’s blessings at harvest time, we in America and other countries around the world take a day out this time of year to remember and thank those who have served our countries, protecting our freedom and aiding in the liberation of others. Unfortunately, we live in world where some are not as fortunate as I am, as most of those reading this are. We can practice whatever religion we wish in whatever way we choose without fear. We can say what we want to say, again without much to fear. For most of us as long as we aren’t doing something that harms someone else we are at liberty to live as we see fit. For others in our world, owning a Bible, speaking against the government, breaking some law - that to us would seem unreasonable, can land them in jail or sometime worse. Yet some of these people, bond by chains and living in a cell - are thankful, more thankful than those of us who live free every day. How is this possible?

This week’s passage comes from Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth. It is a simple statement - that if savored and allowed to sink into our hearts will explain why prisoners and slaves, yes eventually even Paul - can still be thankful in whatever circumstances they find themselves in.

I don’t know about you, but I so often take for granted how easy my life is sometimes, due to the sacrifices of others. One little thing doesn’t go my way and the attitude to gratitude goes out the window, as I decide to behave like a spoiled brat. I am free - I can write this and send it out into the ethos with no fear of being imprisoned for it. I have good food to eat and I can come and go as I choose and sometimes I am not thankful for any of it - shameful but true. There are people on this planet having bread and water for every meal and are thankful for it. I seem to remember reading once that some the Jews being held in the Nazi death camps were thankful if their porridge had weevils because it meant a bit of protein. There are people in prison because of their faith and they are thankful that God is with them in that cell and for each breath they take. Because they know without a doubt that the Spirit of the Lord is there with them they can be thankful not matter what.

I want to be more mindful of the presence of the Spirit of the Lord in my every day - so that I to will be thankful no matter what. How about you?

A Prayer
Father – forgive for the times when we ignore the presence of Your Spirit and let our circumstance dictate our thankfulness. We are far to blessed to be ungrateful. Help us Lord to recognize that there are people around us who need to see Your Spirit working in our lives, working so powerfully that we are thankful no matter what. So thankful that others are drawn to You because of it. Thank you for the freedom Your Spirit brings us each day no matter where we are or what we are facing. In the name of Jesus we pray – Amen.

Unworthy and Thankful

“I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups.”
Genesis 32:10

Do you ever feel unworthy? I do and to be honest I do so quite frequently. Sometimes, others make me feel unworthy because I don’t fit into some sort of world defined mold. Sometimes I make myself feel unworthy - because of my own unrealistic expectations. Sometimes, the shear enormousness of God and what He has called me to do makes me feel unworthy. Ever feel thankful for being unworthy? That’s a bit harder to do when you are struggling with your worthiness. That where I find myself as I write this - unworthy but still thankful.

This week’s passage is part of a prayer from man who is unworthy but also thankful. Jacob had run from home after double crossing his brother and taking the blessing meant for the eldest son. God had been with all the years of his self imposed exile - helping him to become a shrew man, who managed to amass great wealth while working for his father-in-law. God has told him it is time to go home and make peace with his brother. In the prayer Jacob acknowledges God and the instructions he has been given. Then he admits he is no worthy all that God has provided for him - he had nothing and now he is returning home with two huge households’ people and the wealth that livestock meant in those days. While he doesn’t come right out and say he is thankful - the tone of his prayer is clearly one of incredible thanks.

I think the veiled blessing of being unworthy and let’s face it - in the light of a holy God we are all a bit unworthy at best and completely unworthy at worse - we find blessing because our unworthiness makes us reliant on God. Recognizing our need of Him, allows Him to change us, to make us worthy in His eyes (even while we still feel unworthy) worthy of all His amazing kindness, faithfulness, protection, grace and love. That my friends is something to be thankful for indeed.

Has someone made you feel unworthy? Do you make yourself feel unworthy? Have you been called to do something that you feel unworthy to do? Lean into Jesus - know that in His eyes you are more than worthy and He’ll show you if you’ll let him.

I am unworthy and thankful - what about you?

A Prayer
Father –on our own we are unworthy of all you have given us. Yet your Son offers us grace and love that makes us worthy in Your eyes. Thank you for the kindness and faithfulness you show us daily. Help us to not make others feel unworthy, rather show us how to lift one another up, encouraging each other. In the name of Jesus, who makes us worthy – Amen.

Thankful for the Journey

“It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our fathers up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled.”
Joshua 24:17

Between moving house, working, starting up a new business endeavor, working to get the newest volume of the book series ready for print and being well disgusted by how some of my friends and family were responding to the recent American elections I find myself once again behind my own self imposed writing deadline. I was feeling both thankful and not so thankful at the same time. I was thinking about all of this stuff and this crazy journey we call life, when I realized that despite the struggles, detours, storms, successes and unseen near misses I was actually thankful for the journey. That made me think of other journeys, journeys that are much better known than mine will ever be.

Imagine the hardships those first immigrants to the “New World” must of endured. Many of them were following a dream for a life of freedom from whatever struggles they had been facing from the places they were leaving. I expect there were all sorts of people on the first ships – fine upright people, criminals perhaps, a few opportunists, soldiers, politicians, moms, dads and children. Some of them would not survive the treacherous journey, some would not survive the first year, and maybe some even decided they should go back. What a celebration that must have been when they came together that first year.

Let’s jump further back in time to another journey celebration. This week’s scripture come at the end of the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. He was made the leader of the Israelites by Moses. It would be Joshua’s job to lead the people finally into the land God had promised them. It was a journey that took more than a generation to complete. It was a journey that was filled with struggles and stiff necked people. Joshua is nearing the end of his life journey and he wants to make sure the people would be ok and that they would stay faithful to God. So he reminds them of all that had happened. Reminding the people most of all about God’s faithfulness to protect them on their entire journey.

I don’t know what you are facing right now on your crazy journey called life, but know that whatever it is you are not alone – God has placed people in your life to travel with you. No matter where you God will be faithful to you too – so let’s be thankful for the journey!

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for being with us on this crazy journey we call life. Help us to be mindful of your amazing provision and protection as we travel. Send people to journey with us to help us along the way. Help us to travel with others who may need the encouragement we have to give. May we remember always that Your Son know all about what our journey and He too is walking with us and because of that no matter what we face we can be thankful for the journey. In the name of Jesus, our traveling companion and protector we pray – Amen.

Travel Light

“Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.”
Matthew 10:9-10

Suitcase – check, jeans – check, a few tops – check, my favorite hooded sweatshirt – check, socks and underwear for four days – check, toothpaste, deodorant, road trip snacks – check. I don’t often get to travel, but when I do I like to travel light. Once on a family trip the airline employee who checked our single suitcase was amazed that a family of four only needed one. I don’t think I could travel quite as light as Jesus’ disciples were told to travel. Would you or could you travel that light?

Jesus is sending His disciples on a business trip; this week’s passage is part of His instructions to them. Before we get to the travel light part maybe we should look at what they are taking with them. Jesus called them together and the very first thing He does is give them the authority they need to conduct the business they will be doing. He gives them the “authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1). He gives them power. Next, he gives them specific instructions about where they are going to go, who they are going to meet with and what they are going to do (see Matthew10:5-8). Then Jesus tells them He wants to travel light, really light. Would you go on this trip? You can’t take any money, no clothes; no extra shoes and not even a walking staff.

Jesus was sending them on a business trip of faith. The most important thing they are taking with them is the power and authority He had given them. He told them that a worker is worth their keep. They work for Him and He works at this time for the Father, so that means he wants them to rely on God’s provision while they are on this trip. There is also an expectation that the Lord would use the people they would be meeting on the trip to supply some of their need.

Sometimes, when we are planning a trip whether for business or a much needed holiday we spend so much time planning, worrying over every little detail and planning for what we believe could happen that we end up traveling loaded down with too much stuff, to little power and very little faith. Sometimes we live life like that too don’t we?

Let’s plan some, pack less and trust more as we travel through life, let’s travel light.

A Prayer
Father – Your Son tells us to travel light, because His yoke is easy and His burden in light. Jesus wants us to trust Him with all our needs as we travel this life. When we are obedient to His call, He will be faithful in His provision. Help us to plan some, to lay down some of the baggage we carry and to trust more – help us to travel light. Give us what we need to show others that they to can travel lighter when they lay stuff down at the feet of Your Son. Encourage all of us to travel light right into eternity. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.

Oh Grow Up

“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food.”
Hebrews 5:11-12

Way back in the 80’s there was a catchy little tune used to advertise a particular toy store. Do you know the one I’m thinking of? It went something like “I don’t wanna grow up, I’m a Toys R us Kid…” It was a great commercial, that expresses possibly something we’d would've liked when we were kids – to stay a kid. We couldn’t stay kids though could we; we had to grow up, be responsible and take our place in our communities, our place in the world. Sometimes I think we purposely try to stay a kid in some aspects of our lives. We may each have a different place in our lives where we have convinced ourselves that it’s ok not to grow up.

In this week’s passage the writer of Hebrews is addressing a group of believers who have apparently decided that it was ok not to grow up spiritually and become mature followers of Jesus. Most likely they were making this decision out of worldly fear rather than trusting in the Good News they had received and the One who made that good news possible. The writer basically calls them a bunch of babies (Hebrews 5:13) and then says to them “Oh grow up” (Hebrews 6:1). Fear, personal comfort and often a skewed understanding of what it means to be a mature follower of Jesus can stunt our growth.

Only one thing about following Jesus is safe – being faithful and obedient to the end will get us an eternity with God Almighty. Other than that nothing else about following Jesus is safe, in fact it is risky and dangerous. In Matthew 24 Jesus warns His followers that they will be persecuted and put to death for their faith. Remember that in the story of the talents the servant who took no risk at all ended up the loser when it was time for his evaluation (see Matthew 25:15-30). We are not meant to be bench warmers in God’s kingdom and economy, we are meant to be ministers of the good news – all of us.

Fortunately for us the writer of Hebrews encourages us to grow up and gives us some clues as to what that looks like. First we need to constantly practice what we’ve been taught in other words we need to know and do. We also need to practice discernment so that we can easily and regularly distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5:14).

We’ll know we are growing up and becoming spiritually mature by the fruit our lives produce. The more mature, the more and better fruit we produce. The willingness to take risks, to stand on God’s promise to be with us always and to use all we have learned to bring hope to those around will grow us up. The writer of Hebrews after calling this group a bunch of babies and telling them to grow up in no uncertain terms speaks encouragement to them. He tells them that yes he has just given them a good what for but that he is confident that they will get back on track and that betters things are ahead as they become faithful and faith-filled grownups.

I know I’m still growing up – so let’s grow up together.

A Prayer
Father – thank for the patience you show your children. Thank you for your faithful teachers and Your amazing Word that tells us like it is and encourages us time again to get up and keep walking by faith, to keep growing up so that we will be fruit producing, mature followers of Jesus who can take the Good News of Jesus into a hurting world and bring it hope, love and freedom. In the name of Jesus, who encourages us to grow up – Amen.

In The Trenches

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:58

In war the soldiers “in the trenches” had it the hardest – cold, wet, muddy and often fierce fighting were the marks of the trench. In times of peace it has come to relate to hard work, often the dirtiest and hardest jobs in any given business. These are the jobs usually held by the people on lowest rung of the organizational ladder. Sometimes just getting through the day can feel like being in the trenches.

In his first letter to church in Corinth Paul provides a lot of instruction for the believers on a number of issues. Leading up to this week’s passage Paul had been talking to them about resurrection – Jesus’, ours and what resurrections bodies might look like. As I was reading Paul’s words, I got the feeling that he was a little frustrated with this group of people. These folks had heard and accepted the Gospel Paul had brought them but something or someone must have been interfering causing doubt, confusion – earlier he had told them not “be misled” and before that he asks if none of what he had told them before was true why was he and his companions endangering themselves daily? Why were they still in the trenches? When Paul had finished with what he had to say he exhorts all those who have heard or read his words to stand firm, to stay fully in the trenches fighting the good fight and working hard for the Lord no matter what obstacles were placed before them; reminding them that their work would never be in vain as long as they were being obedient to the Lord.

As followers of Christ Paul’s words of instruction and encouragement reach across the millennia to remind us that our work will not be in vain either. What’s getting in the way for you? What’s making you feel like throwing in the towel and climbing out of the trench? Hand whatever it is over to the One whose life has set the example for how we should live and work. He’ll give you the courage and strength to stay in the trenches.

A special word of encouragement to anyone reading this that has been called to leadership in Christ’s church – the trenches are especially messy for us, the work can be back and soul breaking at times. Stand firm, you are not alone – I’m there, lots of other leaders are there but most importantly Jesus is right there with us, fighting the good fight along with us.

Being “in the trenches” is hard but we labor not in vain.

A Prayer
Father – It is hard working in the trenches of life. Thank you for being in them with us. Be our strength and our courage. Fill us with the power of Your Spirit. In those moments when we feel overwhelmed, fill us with your hope and peace. Help us to shine the light so brightly that even when those outside the trench see the messiness of it – they will join us when we invite them into the trench. In the name of Jesus, who is in the trenches with us we pray – Amen.

Back to Basics

“When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.’”
Acts 4:24

We had just moved into a new rental house, it was freshly remodeled so even though the house had been built in the forties it felt new inside. We hadn’t been there but a week or so when a plumbing problem developed – the toilet was backing up into the tub – such fun…not. Luckily we have an awesome property manager so he came right over when we called. He quickly determined that the problem wasn’t in the house but outside where the pipes head for the main. He did some digging, made some corrections – so the toilet would flush properly and then acknowledged that the problem was more than he was able to take care of and that he’d have to find someone else to do the work. It appeared as though it was a situation of getting back to the basics.

This week’s passage from the Book of Acts is a get back to basics kind of story. Peter and John had been arrested, thrown in jail for the night and then taken before the Jewish religious leaders for questioning and discipline. Peter and John made it clear that they would, despite the many threats made against them, be faithful to the call God had placed on them to spread the good news of Jesus. As soon as they are released they headed back to where everyone else was hanging out and shared all that had happened. The response of the group – They prayed to their God, acknowledging Him as the maker of everything and asking that the Lord be with them, strengthen them and to give them a refreshed boldness – in other words they were getting back to the basics – prayer and relying on God to do all He had promised.

The result of these early believers and followers of Jesus getting back to basics – they received a top off of Holy Spirit power and a fresh boldness for speaking the good news to everyone they encountered.

Is your spiritual life flagging? Is life beating you up? Have you felt threatened by the world around you because you dare to speak the truth of God’s love and light into the dark world around you? Are health or financial issues causing you to lose faith, to lose hope? Does life seem to be a never ending storm? Get back to basics – pray to the Creator God who loves us so much He became one of us and then sacrificed his life for ours. Pray giving him the praise He deserves and asking for what you need the most - a top off of Holy Spirit power to restore your strength and renew your faith. Oh about the plumbing issue – they ended up putting new pipe in all the way across the street, how’s that for back to basics?

I’m getting back to the basics spiritually – how about you?

A Prayer
Father – Thank you that no matter where we find ourselves we can always get back to the basics of believing in and following You. Send your Spirit to give us a fill up when life seems to be getting to be too much for us. Remind us that You are the maker of everything and that You planned it for good. When we are ready to overflow with your Spirit, show us who needs our bold encouragement and the Good News of Jesus. In the name of Jesus, who calls us back to the basics – Amen.

Handmade by God

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
Psalm 139:13

I have a confession to make. When I was in high school my mom made me take Home Economics classes (do they even teach that in schools anymore?). I did great for the semester I took cooking. By the time I got to high school I’d already been cooking for a long time. But sewing class was something entirely different. That was probably my most difficult academic pursuit – passed with a ‘D’. So I know very little about sewing and even less about knitting. But what I do know is that it is a hands-on skill, that takes plenty of practice to get good at and that some have more natural ability toward that sort of thing than others.

This week’s passage comes from a psalm of David. Did you know God could knit? I googled what’s the hardest knitting stitch to try and get an idea of just how hard knitting with yarn could be. The search came back with three (my knitting friends may let me know what they think of them) they are the Bobble, the Nupp and the Latvian Braid. I have to admit that I was lost pretty quickly as I watched the “how-to” videos. How much harder it must be to knit a human together in a confined space? Thankfully we have a hands-on God who is skilled enough to put us together any way he wants. In the creation narrative of Genesis God “formed man from the dust and breathed life into him” (Genesis 2:7). Keep reading and God makes the “woman from the rib he took from the man” (Genesis 2:22). Then in the Psalms David tells us that God knits us together.

God doesn’t knit together some drab old human – no David goes on to sing his praises to God because he is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). The Hebrew word translated as fearfully in this passage has two different means depending on the context it is found in. In this context it means to be awesome. Sit with this for a minute or more - God handmade me, and he handmade you to be awesome, wonderful, marvelous and amazing. God handmade us and filled us with all the gifts we would need to be and do all that He has purposed for us to do and be

I know the world and even some of the people around us try to tear us down, make us fill like we are less than who we are because we don’t fit into some kind of media driven box. That kind of stuff hurts and makes us weary especially if we fall for the skewed picture our fallen world presents. When that happens – stop, rest and remember… You have been handmade by God to be awesome, wonderful and amazing and that you are all of those things no matter what the world or anyone else says.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for making us to be awesome, wonderful, marvelous and amazing. Thank you for so skillfully knitting us together in Your image. Remind us often that we are amazing, especially in those times when the world is beating us up, making us feel worthless and anything but amazing. Help us to be encouragers to those around us who need to know that they were handmade by You to be awesome. In the name of Jesus, who makes us awesome – Amen.

Unbroken

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; all the kings’ horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.” We’re all a bit broken in some way and nothing in the world can put us back together. The brokenness of our world weighs on me sometimes. My own self doubts and inability to stand up to others standards leave me feeling inadequate and broken. I suspect that many people deal with similar feelings of being irreparably broken. Some search the world for someone or something that can put them back together, to make them worthy and adequate. But like our egg friend Humpty Dumpty – the world can’t put itself back together let alone us.

Thankfully, we have not been left on this planet to stay in our brokenness – unless of course you like being broken. There is someone, not of this world who can unbreak us. In this week’s passage the psalmist is getting his praise on big time and reminds himself and everyone within ear shot that the God of the universe, the creator of everything can “heal the brokenhearted and bind up our wounds.” We don’t have to search the world over in order to be put back together, God will meet us where we are - all we have to do it call out and lay our broken selves before Him.

Now don’t get me wrong – God will bring healing yes, but He may take His time and there may be some pain involved in the putting back together process. But trust that the One who made you, the One who never intended for you to be broken in the first place is absolutely able to unbreak you.

How have you been broken? Has your health broken? Has someone who is supposed to care about you betrayed you and broken your trust or your heart? Are you broken financially? Are you filled with self doubt because the world has unreasonable expectations of how you should look or dress or what you should earn?

No matter what you are facing or how broken you feel – let Jesus have it, have you and soon enough you will be unbroken.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for the healing that Your Son brings to our lives when we call on Him. Meet us where we are and unbreak us, put us back together so that we can see You in our eyes and so others can see Your image in us too. Once You have put us back together again, help us to live our unbroken lives out loud so that others will find the healing only You can give. In the name of Jesus, who is able to restore us, so we are unbroken we pray – Amen.

Unchain My Heart, Unclench My Teeth

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
Acts 12:7

The words from the song Unchain My Heart had been running about in my head. Not sure why, it’s not a song that would normally be on my radar. Every time the phrase “unchain my heart” plowed through it was followed by “unclench my teeth” – insert a chuckle here. Ok I have to confess that I do clench my teeth. I started doing that when I was a massage therapist – not from stress but from concentrating on what I was doing. In those days I stayed mindful of what my mouth was doing by working with a sour apple Jolly Rancher in my mouth. I still clench my teeth, mostly still when I am really concentrating on something, but now also when I am feeling weighted down my something. I should probably keep Jolly Ranchers on my desk, but I have a better strategy these days – I stop what I am doing and open up God’s Word or crank up some Christian music.

I have a number of favorite passages from God’s Word - this week’s is one of them. I wonder if Peter clenched his teeth sometimes – maybe as he was being arrested. I love however how despite the stressful situation Peter found himself in he could sleep soundly, so soundly that the angel sent to rescue him had to wake him up. Peter could sleep so well because his heart had been unchained by his risen Savior and Lord – Jesus.

When we allow Jesus, to unchain our hearts He can unclench our teeth as well. What has you feeling chained up? What has you clenching your teeth? Jesus and His Holy Spirit are right there with you. He can and will free your heart and bring you peace of mind even if you will still have go through the storm, you will be able to sing – unchain my heart, unclench my teeth – knowing that He will do that for you.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for unchaining our hearts with Your love. In those times when we feel like life is closing in or the storm is going to overwhelm us – fill us with your peach, unclench our teeth. Be present to us in a new and powerful way. As we see you working Your plan out in our lives, give us opportunities to walk along side others who need to know You so You can unchain their hearts as well. In the name of Jesus, who holds the key to our hearts we pray – Amen.

Bare Feet

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’ And Moses said, ‘Here I am.’ ‘Do not come any closer,’ God said, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.’”
Exodus 3:4-5

When I was young I rarely went barefoot, not because I didn’t like to go without shoes but because I was embarrassed by my really big feet. These days I like to go barefoot while I’m working at church. Sometimes I just need that holy ground experience. Going barefoot helps me remember to be in communion and constant communication with the Lord.

This is one of the best passages of Old Testament scripture. Moses’ life had a number of pivotal moments and detours, this particular one would take him on a journey he could not have possibly imagined and began a barefoot friendship with the Creator of the universe. Scripture doesn’t tell us how many times Moses took his sandals off as he met with God, but I imagine it was often and perhaps he made the journey to the edge of the Promise land without His sandals because he understood he was totally reliant on the Lord to do everything he had been called upon to do. If there are shoes in eternity I reckon Moses will be barefoot and if he is - I’ll be taking mine off as well.

We will all have many pivotal moments in our lives but we don’t need a burning bush to learn we are standing on holy ground. We are on holy ground any time we recognize and respond to the voice of God’s Spirit whispering to us. You can be on holy ground in the mountains, on the seashore, in church or your workplace and even at home. We can find peace and comfort when we find ourselves bare foot on holy ground in the midst of one of life’s many storms. We will be bare foot and rejoicing as we are overwhelmed by the joy we experience on God’s mountain top.

Wherever you are in life - sailing smoothly on a calm sea with just the right amount of breeze, fighting against the gale force winds of some life storm, in a valley facing a time of growth or on the mountain top shouting praises you can find a piece of holy ground to stand on.

I’m taking my shoes off so I can walk on holy ground with bare feet – why not join me?

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for the way your Word speaks to us to practically. Thank you for calling to us, asking us to join you on holy ground with bare feet. Help us to seek your presence every time we have our shoes off, so that we can be in communion and constant communication with you. Give us opportunities to invite others to take their shoes off and stand in Your presence on holy ground. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.

Soul Anchor

“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
Hebrews 6:17-19a

I try to be real when I write these, so let me just say that having a seminary degree and working full time for the Lord does not mean I have all the answers or an automatic understanding of why less than pleasant things happen to people, especially to people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus. Life is hard for everyone on this planet, harder for some than others of course but followers of Christ are just as likely to lose their jobs, have their cars breakdown when their bank accounts are near empty, be injured, get cancer, be laid up by mystery viruses, be trapped in the rubble of an earthquake and worse. For instance as I write this the little house I share with my husband, a dog and a cat has developed not only some sort of electrical problem but also a plumbing problem – woohoo I’m so excited… not. I’m not at all afraid to ask God hard questions. I trust Him even in those moments when I don’t like what I am experiencing or what people I care about are experiencing or just the general mess happening in our world.

This week’s passage comes from just about the middle of the book of Hebrews. The whole book is an honest letter acknowledging the ups and downs of life and encouraging the readers and hearers to stand fast trusting the Lord will make good on all of His promises. In the verses leading up to this week’s the writer to talking about the strength of the promise God made to Abraham, it wasn’t just an ordinary promise that could possibly have been broken, this was a promise that was integral to God’s plan for redeeming mankind and to let Abraham know He was super serious about keeping that promise He swore an oath on the promise. Since God is righteous and holy there is no way God would back out on the promise, especially a promise He secured with an oath.

That brings us to a place not unlike the Rock from last week. You see the hope we can have by trusting in a mighty God, whose character does not falter and who will because He is God – keep all of His promises – is a hope that acts like an anchor. Oh the boat will still rock, it might even feel like its drifting but a well secured anchor will keep the boat secure. So the hope God offers us is an anchor for our souls – it will hold even when we don’t have all the answers, or the answers aren’t what we wanted to hear. Why will it hold? It will hold because it’s not caught on something that can break, it not an anchor made of iron than can fail if the storm is too great. This anchor reaches into the holiest place and is held firmly by the One who cast it from His own life – Jesus. He will not let it go. God’s promises will stand and each one, in accordance with His plan and timing will be fulfilled for each one of us who trust in Him above all else.

This week no matter what your circumstances – great, so-so or are you kidding me? Let God’s anchor of hope drop right into the middle of your life and secure your soul with His amazing promises.

A Prayer

Father – Thank you for the soul securing anchor the hope of Your promises provides for us. In those moments when we seem to be drifting or the boat of life seems to be rocking a little more than we’d like and the storm clouds around us threaten us with darkness – show us in a new way the strength of that anchor and the light it brings. Then when life settles and another symbol of your promises appears, show us how we can encourage others along the way. In the name of Jesus, our soul anchor – Amen.

On The Rock

“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
Psalm 27:5

Names are important. Did you know that rock is not only a thing, a kind of music and a place, but that it is also a name? The name Peter means “rock or stone” The surname Carrick also means “rock or stone.” In both cases we are not talking about the size of stone you might skip across the surface of a pond but, rather a really significant rock – more like a boulder or one of the amazing rock formations you might find around the world. The size of this kind of rock might be used to identify a place it’s so big. Did you know that one of God’s names is Rock?

This week’s passage comes from one of David’s songs in its entirety it about having an unswerving faith and trust in the Lord God who in other places in Scripture especially in the Old Testament who is called the Rock. David makes it clear the he trusts God to keep him safe to set him on a rock above the dangers and doubts he is facing. What occurred to me as I read this passage this week is that David is using a powerful power to help us see an even more powerful truth. How many of you have ever stood upon a large stone and had a feeling of victory come over you. Maybe it’s been awhile since you’ve done that. That’s the image I see David describing in this passage God has set him on a solid place high above the battle of life, where he is safe and can find rest. But then the picture changes and rather than seeing a rock perhaps of granite or sandstone or limestone or whatever, instead of a mass of pressure treated mineral I see God. God is the Rock upon which David trusts and finds rest. God is the firm foundation we can all stand on.

As I write this a dear friend far away mourns the loss of two important people in her life. A number of people I know are dealing with major health issues. Plenty of people are still dealing with the effects of a bad economy. A huge earthquake has devastated parts of Italy and the list of struggles and storms we humans face on this planet could go on and on.

David says in the “days of trouble He will keep us safe in His house and He’ll set us on a high and solid rock” so we can rest safely and survey the landscape of our lives – remembering the victories and provisions of the past and looking for the lightening of the sky as a sign that the storm will pass.

He is the high Rock on which we stand. He will keep us safe in the midst of the storms and trials of life. All we have to do is have faith and trust.

A Prayer
Father – forgive us for the times when we allow doubt to keep us fearful and stuck in the mire of difficulties. Life won’t be easy You said it would be hard, but that You would always be there. Make straight our paths and when necessary set us on the high Rock of your amazing strength, security, mercy and love. Help us to lift others onto that Rock so they can find the peace and rest they need. In the name of Jesus, who is our firm foundation, the solid Rock – Amen.

Wild Love

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:35, 37-39

I never actually write about what I was planning to write about because these devotions are the Lord’s. As I sit to write this particular week’s thoughts, a number of people I know are dealing with the storms of life - a few have received medical reports that are less than rosy, some are facing financial struggles and some relationship issues. Some have lost loved one and of course it seems like the whole of the free world is dealing with less than ideal political climates and lousy weather to boot. As I was looking for a passage that would be encouraging to all of us reading this - a song by the American band Zealand Worship came on the radio. That song is called Your Love is Wild. The words of the bridge led me to this week’s passage from Romans.

In what we know as chapter 8 in the book of Romans Paul is in full pep talk mode encouraging believer to hang on to the Holy Spirit and be the over comers Jesus intended us to be. The chapter starts with Paul reminding them that there is no condemnation for those in Christ. Throughout the chapter Paul gets real about life saying the present suffering cannot compare to the glory that’s coming (v18). Paul reminds us that for those that love God – He will work everything out for the good (v28). The chapter closes with the powerful words of this week’s passage.

Which of this life’s storms are you in the midst of? What is going on in your life that is making you question God’s presence and perhaps His ability to work it out? What’s going on in your life that sometimes causes a bit of doubt to creep in? Remember first of all you are never alone – Jesus faced many of the things we do while he walked this planet. Paul was certainly acquainted with the struggles and storms of life, but in the midst of that – even knowing that his faith would cost him his life eventually Paul stood firm believing that nothing would separate him from God’s wild and amazing love.

We can have that same confidence no matter what we are facing nothing can separate us from God’s love, His wild and amazing love. The chorus of the song from Zealand Worship says: “Cause Your love is wild, fire in my soul. Your love is wild great than I know and I’m coming alive, coming alive and it’s beautiful. And I’m coming alive, coming alive cause You are beautiful.”

This week no matter what you are facing – let God embrace you with His wild love, He will not let you go.

A Prayer
Father – I am so thankful for Your wild and amazing love. Remind us daily that you are right there in the middle of our struggles, in the middle of the storms of life. Help us to find comfort and peace in the embrace of that love. Fill our hearts to overflowing with that same wild love so that we can embrace someone who needs to really see You in the midst of their struggles and storms. In the name of Jesus, who showed us what wild love looks like, we pray – Amen.

Two Wrongs = More Wrongs

“And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

In today’s culture, at least according to the media – the way humans solve problems is by hurting one another. This idea of getting even for a wrong or even a perceived wrong, a rush to judgment that leads to violence creates a cycle of brutality that if not stopped leads to anarchy and chaos, and people not even knowing why they are doing what they are doing – the first wrong is not even remembered, there have been so many other wrongs. I once worked in an environment where a person could be commended and commended, but one small mistake could wipe out all the good that had been previously accomplished. The saddest thing is that there are people who claim to be followers of Christ fall just as easily into this vicious cycle some times.

You’ve heard on the news a driver cuts someone else the “offended” party chases down the wrong doer and the cycle starts and doesn’t end until someone – possibly someone not even involved is hurt or dead. The cycle doesn’t have to include physical violence - hate filled words can do just as much damage. Ok I can hear some of you say but what about…? In the Old Testament the strong language and judgment were intended to some balance and limits to hand handling of wrong doing by individuals and their leaders. In the New Testament Jesus set a higher standard for the offended party to abide by when he said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” (Matthew 5:38-39). Later in Matthew He also His audience: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus never said, go get a bigger stick. He never said respond to harsh words with even harsher words.

The Apostle Paul and Peter both tell their fellow believers to respond with kindness. This week’s pass from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians make it clear that we should not pay back wrong with another wrong. We have a choice to make today and everyday – we can allow ourselves to get caught in the cycle of thinking two wrongs will eventually make it right or we can respond to the wrong we see around us with divine goodness.

What does it look like to respond to our world with divine goodness? Yield when you have the right of way. If you get cut off – pray for that driver because there maybe something happening in their life distracting them. Open the door for someone; let someone cut in front of you in line. As Paul instructs – encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone and respect those in authority over you even in those moments when they don’t deserve it. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Overcome evil with good, it’s the only way to break the cycle.

Just remember two wrongs just make for more wrongs and good, especially divine goodness can change a life, can change the world.

A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times when we allow our worldly, sinful nature to get the better us and we retaliate for offenses made against us with just as much or more force. Help us to bring Your light, Your goodness, Your kindness into every situation we face. May we be the ones who lift people up and show them the way to Your love for the healing this world so desperately needs. In the name of Jesus, who taught us love our enemies, we pray – Amen.

Too Big For A Building

“But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?”
2 Chronicles 2:6

David’s son Solomon was preparing for the construction of a temple for the Name of the Lord his God and this week’s passage comes from a letter Solomon was sending to King Hiram of Tyre asking for construction materials for the project. Solomon, in my opinion, makes a very telling statement in that letter – that his God, my God, your God, our God, the One God is really too big for a building.

So if God is too big for a building made of wood, stone, and precious metals – what can hold Him? The Apostle Paul makes it pretty clear in his letters that it is a body. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian believers he writes: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Paul encouraged gentile believers in Ephesus with this: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation if the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Did you catch that? Paul makes it clear that the true temple of the God of the universe is built of people – not wood, stone, gold or silver and it is held together by His Son. God has chosen to use the hearts, minds and souls of mankind to build His dwelling place. Our desperately limited existence on this planet becomes the conduit of His life changing power when we are together.

We each bring something to this living, breathing, growing dwelling place of the Lord. All of our life experiences are harnessed and made pure by the blood of Christ allowing us to take the living God into a world desperately in need of understanding, love, mercy, grace and the soul healing that only come through Jesus.

So this week gather with a few or with many of your fellow believers, be encouraged and equipped by one another and the Word of God. Gather in all sorts of places because wherever you are it is the people of God that make it a church. Then go out and do your part, use your gifts to add daily to His dwelling place.

Remember that without followers of Christ, that structure of wood and stone is just a building. We, His people make it a church because we are the church and it should be a church with doors and arms thrown open wide.

A Prayer
Father – Forgive us for the times we make church about a building. Help us to remember always that You are far too big for a building, that you require a body instead – one that moves and breathes and most importantly grows. Help us to heed Your word and never give up meeting together. May the actions of Your church bring glory to You and draw others to Your heart so that they too might be added on to Your dwelling place. In the name of Jesus, who is the head and cornerstone of His people the church, we pray – Amen.

Interrupted By Compassion

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick”
Matthew 14:13-14

In my line of work it would be really easy to close my office door and keep my head down working on the various things required to keep a church operating smoothly and be ready for Sunday, but I don’t. I have not once failed to get my “work” done because of interruptions. By allowing my work day and life to be interrupted by the people I’ve been called to work with and care for – lots of things happen – all of them good.

If Jesus minded having His plans interrupted, it’s not recorded in scripture – so personally I think He was ok with people interrupting him, after all He came to care for people, to build relationships with them, to draw them into His family. In this week’s passage we see Jesus’ plan to get way for some downtime interrupted. You see He had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. Jesus and John had known each other since before they were born, they were related – most likely cousins and they clearly understood one another’s place in God’s divine plan to save mankind. This no doubt would have been a troubling loss and Jesus’ friends would certainly have understood the need to get away. Anyone who has dealt with the loss of a loved one understands. The crowds perhaps didn’t know what had happen or were just insensitive to His needs because their needs were so great – so they interrupted His day.

Jesus could have gotten back in the boat and crossed back over to the other side of the lake, but He didn’t. Instead because He was filled with compassion for them He allowed them to interrupt. The result? People were healed, eventually they would be fed as well (Matthew 14:15-21) and some would recognize who Jesus really was and He would add children to His Kingdom. Real compassion demands action, sometimes immediate action so it’s going to interrupt your plans.

So this week, just be open to allowing compassion to interrupt your plans. Your willingness may just change someone’s life and you will be blessed in ways you can’t imagine.

A Prayer
Father – You know how busy we get and how we tend to put blinders on so our busy lives won’t be interrupted by someone else’s need. Help us today and everyday going forward to take the blinders off. Fill our hearts with the compassion of your Son, so that we are open to divine interruptions and moved to action. Remind us often that to change a life can be as simple as spending a little time really listening to someone’s story – someone who like us has been made in Your image and who needs You as much as we do. In the name of Jesus, who is our example of a life interrupted by compassion, we pray – Amen.

Trust Him

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

I’d been thinking about how we ought to deal with the disappointments of life. Life is full of them – that big holiday you want seems out of reach, the relationship that you thought was the one, maybe isn’t, the job you want doesn’t get offered, people you should be able to count on – like our government leaders fall so short of expectations. The list of disappointments can go on forever if we want to wallow in the self pity that often comes along with disappointment.

Then I started to think about some of the people in the Bible and the disappointments they faced and then overcame in amazing ways. Take Joseph for instance – God had given him a couple of amazing dreams, he understood them and like the song knew his future was so bright he’d need shades. Then he got thrown into a cistern, sold into slavery and ended up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know about you but I’d be pretty disappointed. Consider Moses handpicked to help lead his people out of slavery and into the Promised Land – only to see it from a distance and never get there. Joshua was ready to lead the charge to take the land but had to wait until all the old folks died off in the wilderness before he could do what God wanted. Jesus’ handpicked leaders were not only disappointed that their friend and teacher was dead, but they were scared too. I suppose Jesus even had times when he was disappointed – like when John the Baptist was killed or when those same handpicked leaders just did not seem to get it. Yet all of them went on to do amazing things following their greatest disappointments. So how did they keep going, how did they go from disappointment to victory?

There is something that these examples share and I believe it’s the thing that allowed them to move from disappointment to victory. That thing is trust. In Joseph’s story we read over and over that the Lord was with him. Moses got to talk to God face to face and no doubt he is still talking with Him face to face. Joshua was old when he led Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land and declared that: “He and his house would trust in the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). The disciples ultimately fulfilled their commissions because they trusted in Jesus and Jesus was able to do all He did because He trusted the Father.

The dictionary defines trust as: reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety of a person or thing; confidence and as the confident expectation of something; hope. So you see hope comes from trusting in the One who knows the whole plan and is with you even in the disappointments of life. I think this week’s passage not only sums up the secret to living a victorious life but instructs how we should live every day.

This week no matter what kinds of disappointments you may be dealing with, know you are not ever alone and trust that God has got you and that HE will bring you through to victory.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for all the examples of lives moving from disappointment to victory because they trusted you. Help us each day to put our full trust in You so that we can have hope even in the trials of life. Helps us also to display our trust and hope to the world around us – a world that so desperately needs hope and the confidence that a better day is coming. In the name of Jesus, who teaches us to trust and gives us hope, we pray – Amen.

A Fashion Statement

“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 whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues out on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14

The fashion industry likes to get together regularly and show off their high fashion designs – nothing wrong with that, if you can afford those kinds of clothes and are built to wear them. Give me a pair of jeans, some boots and a t-shirt and I am happy and comfortable. As I was thinking about clothes it dawned on me that while wearing clothes is a good thing, the material clothes that we put on, or that fashion models wear on the runway aren’t life changing, they won’t make the world a better place. So I wondered if the Scriptures had anything to say about clothes. Turns out the Bible has quite a bit of “fashion” sense.

According to Biblegateway.com the New International Version uses clothe or some variation of the word 225 times. Sometimes it is practical like when God made clothes for the newly fallen Adam and Eve. A couple of times clothes are used to trick someone into doing something. In the Old Testament people regularly tore their clothes as a sign of deep sorrow and repentance. In the New Testament this Biblical “fashion” sense is more about God’s provision and character. This week’s passage is a great example. The Apostle Paul regularly talks about how followers of Jesus, should be clothing themselves with Christ and in this week’s passage he is encouraging the believers in Colossi by explaining to them what the divine outfit of Christ looks like.

The first piece of this divine wardrobe is compassion – Jesus has the amazing ability to meet people right where they are, in the midst of their pain and then He acts to make it better for them. The next part of the outfit is kindness – really just to treat people really well, even when maybe they don’t deserve it. Kindness is followed with an article of clothing that can be very hard for most of us to put on or even to really understand – humility. Humility is one of the foundational pieces of this line of clothing – it’s not about letting people walk all over us or being self depreciating, rather humility gives us the strength to put others before our selves – to lift them up and then help them up even higher. This next piece of clothing – gentleness is sometimes seen as a weakness in our daily lives, but in this wardrobe of Christ, gentleness is strength under control – especially under control of the Holy Spirit. Just a couple more pieces and our wardrobe will be complete. Patience is another one of those clothing pieces that we often struggle to put on. I like one of the definitions I found for patience it reads: “quiet, steady perseverance; even-tempered care; diligence” – this definition sounds like some of the accessories we have available to go with our wardrobe. Finally, there is one piece that holds every other piece together and makes them all work together, no matter the season of life they are being worn in. It is the most important part of the wardrobe – it is love. Love allows us to wear all the other parts – to be thoroughly clothes in Christ.

Each piece of Christ’s fashion line has the power to make some positive life change – but wear the whole outfit every day and lives will be changed – the world can be changed.

So what about it? This week will you make a divine fashion statement? Will you help others discover the best designer? Remember every outfit is custom made everyday – all you have to do is get dressed.

A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word is supernatural and practical. Thank you that it speaks to weighty matters like redemption, forgiveness and divine judgment. Thank you that it gives us fashion advice that is always in vogue and never goes out of style. Help us each day to clothe ourselves with Christ by putting on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love. May the world be drawn to Christ’s fashion line and changed because of it. In the name of Jesus, our fashion expert, we pray – Amen.

The Wise Thing

“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
Ephesians 5:15-17

I was reviewing video based Bible Study curriculum for my small group when I came across a series from Andy Stanley called Ask It. In it Pastor Stanley shares the one question that should inform all aspects of our lives. My group won’t be getting to this study until next year but in light of some truly horrendous things that have happened in our nation not only in recent days but in the past month or more. In light of the current – in my opinion terrible political climate we find ourselves in, a climate in which the servants of the people have forgotten they are servants of the people. In light of hate filled words some so called “christians” have spewed into the media. In light of a major decision that will be made at the church where I serve – I decided that I would touch on the topic of the wise thing now rather than later.

Whether you are a follower of Jesus or not - I think the question that Andy Stanley says we should ask ourselves is relevant to all of us, but he makes it so clear - it should be a driving factor for followers of Jesus especially. You see followers of Jesus are at the same time ordinary folks and members of a royal family. Followers of Jesus are ordinary people and members of a holy priesthood (see 1 Peter 2:5, 9). Followers of Jesus have responsibilities and are expected to live against the current and shake up the way things are done – there is no “the way we’ve always done it in the Lord’s operating manual – there is only the Lord’s way and that can and should look different in all circumstances and cultures so that those who are not followers of Jesus can see and feel the difference when they interact with members of this Divine Royal family, with these members of a Holy Priesthood.

Andy Stanley says the one question we all need to be asking ourselves is “What is the wise thing to do?” In this week’s passage – from which the question stems the Apostle Paul is exhorting the churches he planted and us to live carefully and act wisely understanding God’s will and doing that instead of what the world says. But how can we know what God’s will is, how will we know we are making decisions that are wise? Luckily for us the basics are actually pretty simple and they have all been written down for us in the Lord’s operating manual – the Bible. Jesus himself tells us the greatest commandment, the very first things we need to do to live carefully and with wisdom – He tells us to “Love God and love others” (see Matthew 22:35-39). The prophet Micah also provides insight into the matter when he tells us that the Lord desires for us to “Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God” (see Micah 6:8) and again Jesus provides easy to understand instructions for living carefully and wisely in accordance with His will when he tells us “So in everything, do to others what you would have then do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

So there you have it – the basics for knowing the wise thing, love God, love others, act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God and treat others the way you want to be treated.

A Prayer
Father – thank you that Your Word, our operating manual provides easy to understand instructions for knowing Your will and how we should live it out in our world. Forgive us for making is more complicated than it needs to be and trying to make it fit our personal preferences, prejudices and our idea of justice. Help us daily to heed the words of your servant Paul to live carefully and wisely making the most of the opportunities You place before us – so that others might see You working in the world and find hope, peace, forgiveness and strength for the journey. In the name of Jesus, our example of what the wise thing is, we pray – Amen.

Waiting as a Distant Land Calls

“I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
Psalm 27:13-14

“A place calls to me from a long way off… I don’t know why – but HE does. When the time is right HE will make it clear and open the way. Until then I will walk with Him and wait.” I had typed those words into my Facebook status. I was feeling a bit frustrated by the lack of progress being made to actually get to this particular distant land and I needed to reassure myself that in God’s good timing it would happen, I just need to wait. I don’t really know why there is such strong pull to this place, there are a number of reasons I can think of – a dear friend that I desire greatly to share a hug and a cuppa with, while chatting about life and God. Maybe it’s the bits of a piece of fiction running about in my head or the distant ties to family history or the anniversary holiday that seems fitting for 30 years. Plenty of reasons, why I think I need to go, want to go and in the midst of all that there’s a little tug on my heart suggesting that there is something else calling me, something that is part of a divine plan that I can’t see yet.

Do you have a place calling to you from a long way off? As followers of Jesus many of us long for that day when we will see Him and be in the land of the kingdom, but for this too we must wait. This week’s passage closes one of David’s songs of faith and confidence in his God. David longs for nothing more than to “dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of his life” (Psalm 27:4) yet he knows that there is still trouble to come, but he will continue to trust and ultimately he affirms his confidence in God’s goodness and will wait for what the Lord has for him. Psalm 33 closes with a similar affirmation: “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name” (Psalm 33:21). Even Paul encourages his Roman readers with similar words when he tells them: “Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:24-25).

No matter what you are waiting for, what is calling to you from a far off place, no matter how impossible a situation may seem, the same God that David trusted and Paul trusted and Moses trusted and Abraham trusted and Esther trusted and Mary trusted – is worthy of our trust as well and nothing is impossible for Him.

His timing is not our timing, so this week let’s just trust that He has an incredible plan for each of us – a plan that He will reveal step by step. Let’s settle into the walk, matching His pace and let us wait patiently for all He is going to do with us today where we are and one day in that distant land.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for leaving us with stories of others who have trusted in Your plan even when they didn’t know what was coming next or wanted things in their timing. Help us this week and everyday for that matter, to trust Your plan, to walk with you daily doing the things You have for us each day as we wait for those bigger things that are calling to our hearts, in that we can find joy and hope for the journey. In the name of Jesus, who is leading us to that distant land, we pray – Amen.

Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding & Victory

“…turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.”
Proverbs 2:2-10

I was signing a book for a friend and wanted to note a Scripture passage about wisdom, because I believe this person is wise and lives well because of that wisdom. That’s how I stumbled upon this week’s passage. Wisdom, I believe is something so valuable, and yet not really valued in our world today, all you have to do is watch the news or listen to political candidates speak to know that wisdom is not something high on the priority list of most people.

Let’s race back in time for just a moment. King David is nearing the end of his life and names his son Solomon as the successor to the throne. History tells us that Solomon was still a very young man, likely around 20 years old when he became king. One night the Lord appeared to him in a dream to have a little chat. The conversation started by God telling him to: “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (1 Kings 3:5). Now I don’t about you, but if I was talking face to face with the Lord and he says me ask for whatever you want Me to give you - it would be really tempting to ask for the money to pay off student loans, or for the trip to Australia or maybe that he put the white double cab pick-up in my drive way. It would be really tempting but it wouldn’t be the best response to make. In that situation it could also be very easy, because of fear – talking to the Creator of the universe and all – to just say something like oh I don’t really need anything, just fine the way I am, also not the best response when speaking to God.

Solomon in his response acknowledges all the goodness the Lord had shown his father David, he acknowledges that it was because of God that he now sat on his father’s throne as king and he acknowledged that he felt inadequate for the task. Solomon could have asked for lots of things but he asks the Lord to “give your servant a discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:9). The Lord was pleased with his response – well because it was a really good response of course. So the Lord gave him a wise and discerning heart, and then because Solomon and chosen wisely in the first place all the other stuff he might have been tempted to ask for was given to him as well. Solomon would go on to lead the people of God through a time of great peace and prosperity, he is still known as perhaps the wisest man ever.

I don’t know what you are facing this week – maybe life is smooth sailing or you are in a storm. No matter what is going on, you can’t go wrong asking for a discerning heart – the Lord will give you wisdom, the kind of wisdom that leads to knowledge, understanding and victory – to a life of abundant living.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for the examples you set before us in your Word. We know Solomon wasn’t perfect but when given the chance to ask for whatever he wanted or thought he needed he chose well, asking for Your wisdom. Help us to make the same request of You for a discerning heart, so that we can act justly and walk in your wisdom to the victorious and abundant life you have for us. Show us the best ways to share that wisdom, knowledge, understanding and victory with those around us. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.

You've Got A Friend

It might surprise some of you to learn that when I was much younger and so, so much more foolish I thought I would a singer. I even took voice lessons for a couple of years, with this idea in mind. Eventually, I would come to the realization that I wasn’t cut out for that work. I did enjoy the voice lessons though. Of course there were the compulsory scales and vocal exercises but I got to pick what kind of songs we worked on; nothing too out there, lots of Barbara Mandrell, some Olivia Newton-John, Carly Simon and James Taylor. As I’ve contemplated on many of the tragic events, some private and many that have been in news of late, James Taylor’s song You’ve Got A Friend has been bouncing around in my head.

This world is a scary place to go it alone in. There are things pulling at us from every angle, telling us we’ll have all we need if we just… Telling us that this or that is ok, that if it feels good do it, sometimes telling us that being good is boring and that being just a little bad is exciting. Sometimes the people we should be able to turn to for solace, advise and love are just as messed up as we are and maybe more so. These days when the realization of the world’s lies hit us, it seems like we are prepared to hurt ourselves or someone else in order to make it better – it feels like the world has chosen to grab on to hopelessness and the result is disastrous. King David understood the pain of life on this planet, I think he would have been able to relate to the words in James Taylor’s song: “when you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand…Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there. You just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running.” David had been there, this week’s passage is just one of many examples of David crying out to God in the midst of difficult times and God being there with him, picking him up, dragging him out of the pit, the lies of this world cause us to fall into.

Scripture makes it clear that we all need authentic, intimate, face-to-face friendships to help us navigate life, to give us hugs and shoulders and a hand up. David assures us that in those times when it feels like your best and most trusted friends have abandoned you – there is still One who will be there all you have to do is call. The Lord, the God of the universe heard David’s call and He’ll hear ours too.

“Ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend” and all you have to do is call His name. Make sure you share that good news with someone this week.

A Prayer
Father – thank you for hearing us when we call your name. Thank you at Your Son calls us friend. It’s good to know that you are ready to meet us at our place of need with your amazing grace and love. Lord, help your people lead the way toward transforming our world by authentically living out what Jesus called the greatest commandment – to love You and others, that way everyone can rejoice in knowing we’ve got a friend in each other and especially in you. In the name of Jesus, our friend and brother we pray – Amen.

Lessons From Winnie the Pooh - Part 4

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God ne created him; male and female he created them. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
Genesis 1:27 & 31a

A month of Winnie the Pooh inspired devotions comes to a close this week. The first week we looked at what being a true friend looks like. Next up was a reminder that Jesus will be with us always. Last week Christopher Robin wanted Pooh and us to remember that we are braver, stronger and smarter than we realize. This week’s quote comes from Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. Pooh is getting ready to have a little bite of honey you see, but first a little exercise is order, rather than turn on the stereo (does Pooh have a stereo?) for music to exercise to he just sings a little exercise song to himself. One line of the song goes: “I’m short, fat and proud of that.” Pooh is a very authentic sort of bear, he is quite aware of where his short comings lie, but he seems to be quite comfortable in his own skin and that is something many of us can learn from.

This week’s passage takes us all the way back to the beginning to remind us that we have been made in the very image of God and that all that God made including us was good. I think what happens in chapter 3 of Genesis; messed up how the world sees us and we humans look at ourselves and others. See we are all pretty good at comparing our outsides with the outsides of others. Women are particularly good at it, but guys are not immune. However, God still sees us the way He made us and frankly He’s more interested in how we look on the inside anyway. Samuel one of God’s prophets is instructed for anointing the new king: “Do not consider his appearance or his height… Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Paul tells Timothy not to worry about his age (1 Timothy 4:12).

Real beauty – the kind of beauty that will last, comes from deep within, from a heart transformed by the mercy and grace of an amazing God. Sometimes, a beautiful outward appearance can hide a very messy life, a life filled with darkness and self doubt. I wonder if any of those “Beautiful” people ever look at us ordinary folks and wish they were more like us – probably so. This week I want to encourage you to be comfortable in your skin, whatever it looks like, whatever age it is, however is feels – God made you and that means you are great just the way you are.

Let’s join pooh in his song by making it our own. I’m (you fill in the blank) and proud of that.

A Prayer
Father – You have made us in your image and called it very good. Help us this week and every day after to be comfortable with whom you have created us to be. Help us not compare ourselves to some unrealistic idea the world has created. Most of all give us beautiful hearts, filled with your mercy and grace. Let our lives overflow with the beauty of compassion for those around us. Thank you again that a simple children’s story about a “silly old bear” and his friends can teach us that whether we are short and fat or tall and skinny, young or old we can be proud of who you have made us to be. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.