“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Colossians 2:2-3
I love hidden object games! I play them for the art, for the story and for their ability to focus my mind and sharpen my observation skills. Life can sometimes be like a hidden object game – God has hidden surprises and small miracles all around us. A flower blooming in an unexpected place, a rainbow appears when the conditions don’t seem to be right, a simple act of kindness changes your day. These are just some of the things we can find if we seek what God has for us.
His Word can also be like a hidden object game. It is filled with, as Paul says all the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. If we seek them, we will find them – if we seek Him we will find Him. Look carefully as you read His word, seek with your heart and your mind, go slowly because that bit of wisdom you need for the circumstance you face may be in an unexpected place. Tune your ears, for the encouragement you need may come from an unexpected source.
This week, search for the surprises God has for you, in the world around you and in His word. Seeking Him you will surely find Him and in so doing you will be encouraged by Him.
A prayer
Father – today and throughout this week focus our minds and sharpen our skills of observation so that we might be blessed by the wonders You have hidden for us and when we find them may we be encouraged and rejoice in for all the goodness you supply even in the midst of life’s trials. In the name of Jesus the source of all our hidden treasure, Amen.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Lessons From The Redwoods
“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”
1 Corinthians 1:8
A couple hours drive in just about any direction from where I live in California and you can find yourself in the midst of a redwood forest. Richard Katz has this to say about these beautiful trees “with its ability to lift water to the heights of its crown, and support not only its own abundant life, but the life of many other species. With its ability to lift matter from the dark density of the earth into the uplifted light-filled heights, the Redwood is a celebration of the stature and majesty of physical incarnation and creation.” Isn’t that a great picture of God. Who through Jesus He lifts us out of the darkness and into His glorious light. But this is not the only lesson to be learned from these amazing trees.
Redwood trees appear to be as old as the planet; these masters of the forest can withstand fire, draught, flood, and just about any other trial that life on this planet can throw at them. Did you know, however, that they actually have very shallow roots, roots so shallow in fact that if they were another kind of tree the slightest wind might cause them to fall, so how does it stand for generations? The roots of redwood trees grow intertwined with one another – in essence they hold each other up. These trees teach us an important lesson in fellowship. We need to allow our lives to grow intertwined with one another and with Jesus. We need to be able to hold one another up when life gets tough, we need to celebrate together when life is good, we need to abide in the vine that is Jesus so we can become more like him each day.
If you have “redwoods” intertwined in your life – this week let them know how much you appreciate their fellowship and if you are a “redwood” to someone, let them know you are praying for them and that you are there no matter what. Scripture tells us that because of the creation around us we have no excuse not to know God… Redwoods are just a part of the amazing, teaching creation around us.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the majestic redwood tree that teaches us about Jesus and about fellowship. Today may be show those are intertwined in our lives how much we appreciate them and may we stand ready to support them in times of trial or celebrate in times of blessing. Thank you also that we are called into fellowship with your Son and it is in His name we pray. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:8
A couple hours drive in just about any direction from where I live in California and you can find yourself in the midst of a redwood forest. Richard Katz has this to say about these beautiful trees “with its ability to lift water to the heights of its crown, and support not only its own abundant life, but the life of many other species. With its ability to lift matter from the dark density of the earth into the uplifted light-filled heights, the Redwood is a celebration of the stature and majesty of physical incarnation and creation.” Isn’t that a great picture of God. Who through Jesus He lifts us out of the darkness and into His glorious light. But this is not the only lesson to be learned from these amazing trees.
Redwood trees appear to be as old as the planet; these masters of the forest can withstand fire, draught, flood, and just about any other trial that life on this planet can throw at them. Did you know, however, that they actually have very shallow roots, roots so shallow in fact that if they were another kind of tree the slightest wind might cause them to fall, so how does it stand for generations? The roots of redwood trees grow intertwined with one another – in essence they hold each other up. These trees teach us an important lesson in fellowship. We need to allow our lives to grow intertwined with one another and with Jesus. We need to be able to hold one another up when life gets tough, we need to celebrate together when life is good, we need to abide in the vine that is Jesus so we can become more like him each day.
If you have “redwoods” intertwined in your life – this week let them know how much you appreciate their fellowship and if you are a “redwood” to someone, let them know you are praying for them and that you are there no matter what. Scripture tells us that because of the creation around us we have no excuse not to know God… Redwoods are just a part of the amazing, teaching creation around us.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for the majestic redwood tree that teaches us about Jesus and about fellowship. Today may be show those are intertwined in our lives how much we appreciate them and may we stand ready to support them in times of trial or celebrate in times of blessing. Thank you also that we are called into fellowship with your Son and it is in His name we pray. Amen.
Monday, September 12, 2011
It Will Be Worth The Wait
“Then Naomi said, ‘wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today’”
Ruth 3:18
Life at times seems to be more difficult than is should be and waiting for things to get better can be hard – but the wait will be worth it. Naomi and Ruth had been through a lot together – they had lost their husbands, made a long road trip on foot, and now through Ruth they had made it known that they would very much like Boaz to redeem them… but they needed to wait just a little longer.
I know a number of you have been traveling a difficult road over these last days, months maybe longer and you are waiting for the change that is coming that will smooth the road and make traveling through life easier – at least for a while. I don’t know when that change will come but I know it will be worth the wait. God is working on His plan for you even if you cannot tell He is working. Hang on – you need to wait a little longer.
But what should we do while we wait? We should pray, praise and present ourselves available to serve others in some way. We should ask for eyes to see those around us who are traveling the or perhaps a more difficult road and then we should travel together for a while. It will make the waiting easier.
At the end of the story of Ruth, Boaz does indeed redeem her and Naomi and blesses Ruth with a son… a son who will grow up to have a son, whose family line will bring to the Hebrew people David and the world Jesus. None of us want to have difficult times, but if we wait – if we wait on the Lord…it will be worth the wait.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for redeeming us day by day. Help us to wait as You work on our behalf to bring us to the new place you have for us. We know it will be worth the wait, in the mean time draw us near to You through prayer and praise and help us to see those around us who are traveling the same road of waiting. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Ruth 3:18
Life at times seems to be more difficult than is should be and waiting for things to get better can be hard – but the wait will be worth it. Naomi and Ruth had been through a lot together – they had lost their husbands, made a long road trip on foot, and now through Ruth they had made it known that they would very much like Boaz to redeem them… but they needed to wait just a little longer.
I know a number of you have been traveling a difficult road over these last days, months maybe longer and you are waiting for the change that is coming that will smooth the road and make traveling through life easier – at least for a while. I don’t know when that change will come but I know it will be worth the wait. God is working on His plan for you even if you cannot tell He is working. Hang on – you need to wait a little longer.
But what should we do while we wait? We should pray, praise and present ourselves available to serve others in some way. We should ask for eyes to see those around us who are traveling the or perhaps a more difficult road and then we should travel together for a while. It will make the waiting easier.
At the end of the story of Ruth, Boaz does indeed redeem her and Naomi and blesses Ruth with a son… a son who will grow up to have a son, whose family line will bring to the Hebrew people David and the world Jesus. None of us want to have difficult times, but if we wait – if we wait on the Lord…it will be worth the wait.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for redeeming us day by day. Help us to wait as You work on our behalf to bring us to the new place you have for us. We know it will be worth the wait, in the mean time draw us near to You through prayer and praise and help us to see those around us who are traveling the same road of waiting. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Take Time To Rest
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:9-11
Labor Day is a day when we celebrate the contributions of the American worker to our society. We get the day off work, but do we rest? Do we even know what rest is anymore? Throughout the Bible God instructs his people to rest on a regular basis. In the Old Testament every seven years even the fields got to rest – this was done to keep the soil healthy, so crops would be good. We need to rest to we will be healthy, so we can do the things we are being called to and do them well.
We are made to reflect the image of Jesus Christ and to do that we must do the things He did – and He rested. In Mark we read that Jesus said to his disciples “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). In today’s passage the writer tells us we need to set an example for others by resting. How are you doing at setting an example of rest?
Take time this week to really rest and to allow God to restore you so you can really accomplish the things He has for you to do. Be an example to those around you. Have a simple meal, be still and quiet before the Lord, take a nap – whatever you do rest. Your health will thank you for it and God will bless you because of it.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for building into Your plan for living well, the need to rest. Show us what it really means to rest and be restored under your yoke. Help us to follow the example set by Your Son and may we in so doing be still and know You are God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hebrews 4:9-11
Labor Day is a day when we celebrate the contributions of the American worker to our society. We get the day off work, but do we rest? Do we even know what rest is anymore? Throughout the Bible God instructs his people to rest on a regular basis. In the Old Testament every seven years even the fields got to rest – this was done to keep the soil healthy, so crops would be good. We need to rest to we will be healthy, so we can do the things we are being called to and do them well.
We are made to reflect the image of Jesus Christ and to do that we must do the things He did – and He rested. In Mark we read that Jesus said to his disciples “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31). In today’s passage the writer tells us we need to set an example for others by resting. How are you doing at setting an example of rest?
Take time this week to really rest and to allow God to restore you so you can really accomplish the things He has for you to do. Be an example to those around you. Have a simple meal, be still and quiet before the Lord, take a nap – whatever you do rest. Your health will thank you for it and God will bless you because of it.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for building into Your plan for living well, the need to rest. Show us what it really means to rest and be restored under your yoke. Help us to follow the example set by Your Son and may we in so doing be still and know You are God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Did You See Him In The Storm?
“Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”
Matthew 8:24-27
We face all sorts of storms in this life. Perhaps you live on the East Coast of the United States and just lived through hurricane Irene. Maybe, like many others you are in the storm of unemployment and financial worry. Possibly you are in the storm of a bad health report. Whatever kind of storm you find yourself in – have you seen HIM there in the midst of it with you?
Jesus and his guys were in the boat heading home after long a day of ministering to the crowds, when their storm came up and the guys were scared – some of these guys used to be fishermen so you wouldn’t think they would panic – but they did and Jesus being asleep in the boat didn’t seem to bring them any peace. It didn’t seem to matter that they had watched Him all day as he healed the sick and drove out demons - they didn’t see Him in the storm. They didn’t see Him until they woke Him up. Jesus had been there the whole time; there was no real need to fear.
Did you notice in today’s passage the winds and waves were not the only ones to be rebuked? There are times, I think when God recognizes the reality of the fears we have and then there are times when He says to us – why are you so afraid? Haven’t I been here the whole time? Haven’t you seen me work before?
Did you see Him - can you see Him even now as you read this? Jesus is there in whatever storm you are facing and He will either calm the storm or He will calm you – whichever He thinks is best. This week look for Him, you’ll find Him and be amazed.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for being with us in the storms of this life. Forgive us for the times we fear even though we know you are there. Lord we don’t like the storms that take our peace and cause doubts – so we ask that you either calm the storm or calm us. Thank you for loving us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Matthew 8:24-27
We face all sorts of storms in this life. Perhaps you live on the East Coast of the United States and just lived through hurricane Irene. Maybe, like many others you are in the storm of unemployment and financial worry. Possibly you are in the storm of a bad health report. Whatever kind of storm you find yourself in – have you seen HIM there in the midst of it with you?
Jesus and his guys were in the boat heading home after long a day of ministering to the crowds, when their storm came up and the guys were scared – some of these guys used to be fishermen so you wouldn’t think they would panic – but they did and Jesus being asleep in the boat didn’t seem to bring them any peace. It didn’t seem to matter that they had watched Him all day as he healed the sick and drove out demons - they didn’t see Him in the storm. They didn’t see Him until they woke Him up. Jesus had been there the whole time; there was no real need to fear.
Did you notice in today’s passage the winds and waves were not the only ones to be rebuked? There are times, I think when God recognizes the reality of the fears we have and then there are times when He says to us – why are you so afraid? Haven’t I been here the whole time? Haven’t you seen me work before?
Did you see Him - can you see Him even now as you read this? Jesus is there in whatever storm you are facing and He will either calm the storm or He will calm you – whichever He thinks is best. This week look for Him, you’ll find Him and be amazed.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for being with us in the storms of this life. Forgive us for the times we fear even though we know you are there. Lord we don’t like the storms that take our peace and cause doubts – so we ask that you either calm the storm or calm us. Thank you for loving us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Fear Not
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
Isaiah 41:9-10
A quick glance at the news and we find plenty of scary stuff. We live in an uncertain world, a fallen world. There are things out there to frighten us – a bad medical diagnosis, world economics, unemployment, violence brought on by desperate people. I read a news story not long ago about a man who purposefully committed a crime so he would go to jail – because he was hungry and knew he’d be fed there.
The world we live in is a frightening place – yet over and over in Scripture we read “fear not”, “do not worry”, “I AM here with you”. In fact we see all three of those statements in today’s passage and on top of all that we read that we have been chosen. Chosen by the Creator of the universe, chosen by a God who loves us so much He willing died for us. HE is bigger than anything we are facing or think we are facing and He tells us to fear not.
What do you fear today? Do you fear that “C word” diagnosis, not finding a job, no money, the world outside your door? Do you worry about taking the step you believe God is calling you to take? He says “Fear not, do not worry, and trust Me.”
As you seek to trust Him, allow Him to remove all fear and worry. Take whatever step He is telling you to take and be filled with the peace that only He can give in times like these.
A prayer
Father – I know there are people out there who are dealing with fear and anxiety, I admit to having those feelings as well sometimes, but You are way more than capable of taking care of us. So we need not fear and worry. Today fill our lives with Your peace and may Your love cast out all fear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Isaiah 41:9-10
A quick glance at the news and we find plenty of scary stuff. We live in an uncertain world, a fallen world. There are things out there to frighten us – a bad medical diagnosis, world economics, unemployment, violence brought on by desperate people. I read a news story not long ago about a man who purposefully committed a crime so he would go to jail – because he was hungry and knew he’d be fed there.
The world we live in is a frightening place – yet over and over in Scripture we read “fear not”, “do not worry”, “I AM here with you”. In fact we see all three of those statements in today’s passage and on top of all that we read that we have been chosen. Chosen by the Creator of the universe, chosen by a God who loves us so much He willing died for us. HE is bigger than anything we are facing or think we are facing and He tells us to fear not.
What do you fear today? Do you fear that “C word” diagnosis, not finding a job, no money, the world outside your door? Do you worry about taking the step you believe God is calling you to take? He says “Fear not, do not worry, and trust Me.”
As you seek to trust Him, allow Him to remove all fear and worry. Take whatever step He is telling you to take and be filled with the peace that only He can give in times like these.
A prayer
Father – I know there are people out there who are dealing with fear and anxiety, I admit to having those feelings as well sometimes, but You are way more than capable of taking care of us. So we need not fear and worry. Today fill our lives with Your peace and may Your love cast out all fear. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Do You Know Who You Are?
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
For the past few weeks Dan and I have been watching an old television series on the computer. The show is called John Doe. The show is about a man who wakes up on an island off the coast of Washington state – he knows nothing personal about himself, hence the name John Doe. John, however, seems to know everything about everything else in the world – from the number of dimples on a golf ball to the complexities of neuroscience and more. He uses his skills to help the police solve crimes and all the while he is searching for himself – who he really is. Do you know who you are – really?
Our passage today gives us a hint – if we are in Christ we are new. Verse 20 of the same passage says we are ambassadors. In other places in scripture we are called heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. In Ephesians we read that we are chosen and adopted as sons and daughters through Christ (Eph. 1:4-5) We also read that we are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10) Something God called very good way back in the beginning.
Because of this we are loved – we are treasured. In this we find ourselves and our purpose. We are to love others the way Christ loved us and as we love God and others we find our true selves. None of us who are in Christ Jesus are John or Jane Doe - HE knows our names, HE knows everything about us and HE calls us friend.
Do you know who you are? Seek Jesus and in so doing find the real you.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for choosing us, for making us new and for giving us purpose. Thank you for loving us just for who we are. Help us today and each day to know who we are in Christ and to live accordingly. Thank you for calling us brothers, sisters and friend. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
For the past few weeks Dan and I have been watching an old television series on the computer. The show is called John Doe. The show is about a man who wakes up on an island off the coast of Washington state – he knows nothing personal about himself, hence the name John Doe. John, however, seems to know everything about everything else in the world – from the number of dimples on a golf ball to the complexities of neuroscience and more. He uses his skills to help the police solve crimes and all the while he is searching for himself – who he really is. Do you know who you are – really?
Our passage today gives us a hint – if we are in Christ we are new. Verse 20 of the same passage says we are ambassadors. In other places in scripture we are called heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. In Ephesians we read that we are chosen and adopted as sons and daughters through Christ (Eph. 1:4-5) We also read that we are God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10) Something God called very good way back in the beginning.
Because of this we are loved – we are treasured. In this we find ourselves and our purpose. We are to love others the way Christ loved us and as we love God and others we find our true selves. None of us who are in Christ Jesus are John or Jane Doe - HE knows our names, HE knows everything about us and HE calls us friend.
Do you know who you are? Seek Jesus and in so doing find the real you.
A prayer
Father – Thank you for choosing us, for making us new and for giving us purpose. Thank you for loving us just for who we are. Help us today and each day to know who we are in Christ and to live accordingly. Thank you for calling us brothers, sisters and friend. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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