“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.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
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.
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.
Sunday, November 27, 2016
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
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.
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.
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