“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29
There are different kinds of fatigue. There is the fatigue you feel after a hard day’s work, or the fatigue brought on by chronic pain. Perhaps for you anxiety and worry lead to fatigue or maybe the stress of a bad relationship. In some countries fatigue comes to those who are oppressed by those in power. The burdens of slavery, sin and religious rule keeping are serious sources of fatigue. Without balance any or all of these can lead to soul fatigue and that can lead to hopelessness.
Back in the days of old, before tractors and cars, animals were used to work the land and to pull carts and wagons for transportation. A single animal with a well made and fitted yoke might be able to do a day’s work. Two animals both with well made and fitted yokes would be able to do twice as much work with less chance of injury or fatigue. A well matched yoke of oxen for example would make the task lighter for each animal.
In our world, we are sometimes forced into all sorts of yokes and sometimes we make the choice to put on more than one yoke. The thing is - we really should only wear one and we need to be yoked with the right yokemate. We need to be yoked to the proper purpose so we can use the gifts we have been given.
Jesus wants to take off all the unnecessary yokes we have chosen or allowed the world to put on us and fit us with one custom made for us and then He wants to be our yokemate - making the load we each carry lighter because of His power and care. This doesn’t mean that life will be all rose gardens and fun - Jesus did tell us we have to take up our cross daily. But He is there to help balance our lives and our loads so our souls will not become weary and hopeless.
Today - no matter what you are facing, go to Jesus he will take all those ill fitting yokes from your life, smooth the healing balm of His love on the places that have been rubbed raw and fit you with a new custom made one that will connect you to Him and allow you to do amazing things with and for Him and your soul will find rest at the end of each day.
A Prayer
Father, help us to surrender the burdens that we carry that we shouldn’t be. Help us to accept the balanced, custom fitted purpose you have for us. Thank you that as we journey toward home - Jesus is with us making the load lighter than it would be otherwise. Thank you that in Your Son our weary souls find rest and healing. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Inside-out, Upside-down and Backwards
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
Ezekiel 16:26
We who are followers of Jesus are being transformed from the inside-out as our hearts and minds are being made new by the work of the Holy Spirit. We need this transformation to live and fulfill our purposes in the kingdom of God. Why must we be changed in such a drastic way? Because God’s kingdom is so radically different from the one we find ourselves living in the midst of.
In our world, leaders live in “ivory towers” and wield money and power like weapons to get more money and power at the expense of others. In God’s kingdom, leaders are servants who wash feet and give generously to others. In our world - pride, selfishness, pleasure, vengeance, hopelessness and inequality can be seen as marks of success. Not so in the kingdom of God, here humility, selflessness, self-denial, forgiveness and equality are marks of holy lives that bring glory to God. In our world violence is the means to solving all sorts’ problems. In God’s kingdom love and compassion resolve conflict.
The citizens of God’s kingdom must live radically different lives, lives that go against the current, are dissatisfied with the status quo and are filled with peace even in the midst of trial and pain. This incredible kingdom where one day there will be no more tears or pain is upside-down and backwards when compared to what we witness every day and we must be transformed from the inside-out to really live the life God intended for us.
There is more to life than the dark world we see, if we allow our hearts to be replaced and we step into His upside-down and backwards kingdom.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for giving us glimpses of Your kingdom in this world. Help us to let You work in our hearts and minds so we can see more and more of Your kingdom. Help us in times of difficulty to allow others to see Your kingdom in our lives. Thank you for the transforming work of Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Ezekiel 16:26
We who are followers of Jesus are being transformed from the inside-out as our hearts and minds are being made new by the work of the Holy Spirit. We need this transformation to live and fulfill our purposes in the kingdom of God. Why must we be changed in such a drastic way? Because God’s kingdom is so radically different from the one we find ourselves living in the midst of.
In our world, leaders live in “ivory towers” and wield money and power like weapons to get more money and power at the expense of others. In God’s kingdom, leaders are servants who wash feet and give generously to others. In our world - pride, selfishness, pleasure, vengeance, hopelessness and inequality can be seen as marks of success. Not so in the kingdom of God, here humility, selflessness, self-denial, forgiveness and equality are marks of holy lives that bring glory to God. In our world violence is the means to solving all sorts’ problems. In God’s kingdom love and compassion resolve conflict.
The citizens of God’s kingdom must live radically different lives, lives that go against the current, are dissatisfied with the status quo and are filled with peace even in the midst of trial and pain. This incredible kingdom where one day there will be no more tears or pain is upside-down and backwards when compared to what we witness every day and we must be transformed from the inside-out to really live the life God intended for us.
There is more to life than the dark world we see, if we allow our hearts to be replaced and we step into His upside-down and backwards kingdom.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for giving us glimpses of Your kingdom in this world. Help us to let You work in our hearts and minds so we can see more and more of Your kingdom. Help us in times of difficulty to allow others to see Your kingdom in our lives. Thank you for the transforming work of Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Out of the Frying Pan...
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…
1 Peter 1:6-8
…and into the fire, that is how the old saying goes. Fire is a powerful thing, it is destructive and productive. In Scripture fire represents both the presence of God and His wrath. Almost all of the sacrifices the Hebrew people were to make were to be made by fire. Fire is an “all in” sort of proposition when it comes to faith.
In much of scripture we see God’s call to his people to be all in. Abraham was willing offer his son as a burnt offering because God told him to. Daniel faced the lions because he would not compromise his faith. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked in the fiery furnace with God as their protector. Peter walked on water when his focus was totally on Jesus. The apostles and many of Jesus’ disciples left everything behind to follow him. Today, in some parts of our world modern disciples risk their lives for the sake of Christ - they are all in when it comes to being followers of Jesus.
It is hard to surrender our desires and dreams and take up what God desires and dreams for us but when we do - when we let God purify us by the fire of His presence, of His life, we become more than we could have become on our own. When we go “all in” that fire will fill us with more than this world could ever offer. We are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, we are filled with victory.
Today, jump out of the frying pan and into the fire of God’s presence - go all in with your faith and see what HE will do.
A Prayer
Father, You know that none of us like to be tried by fire and yet fire is a power tool in Your hands. Fire can both destroy and create. You call us to total surrender; You call us to be all in with our faith. Help us Lord to step out of whatever worldly thing we think is keeping us safe and walk with You in the fire that brings is joy and victory. In the name of Jesus, Amen
1 Peter 1:6-8
…and into the fire, that is how the old saying goes. Fire is a powerful thing, it is destructive and productive. In Scripture fire represents both the presence of God and His wrath. Almost all of the sacrifices the Hebrew people were to make were to be made by fire. Fire is an “all in” sort of proposition when it comes to faith.
In much of scripture we see God’s call to his people to be all in. Abraham was willing offer his son as a burnt offering because God told him to. Daniel faced the lions because he would not compromise his faith. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked in the fiery furnace with God as their protector. Peter walked on water when his focus was totally on Jesus. The apostles and many of Jesus’ disciples left everything behind to follow him. Today, in some parts of our world modern disciples risk their lives for the sake of Christ - they are all in when it comes to being followers of Jesus.
It is hard to surrender our desires and dreams and take up what God desires and dreams for us but when we do - when we let God purify us by the fire of His presence, of His life, we become more than we could have become on our own. When we go “all in” that fire will fill us with more than this world could ever offer. We are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, we are filled with victory.
Today, jump out of the frying pan and into the fire of God’s presence - go all in with your faith and see what HE will do.
A Prayer
Father, You know that none of us like to be tried by fire and yet fire is a power tool in Your hands. Fire can both destroy and create. You call us to total surrender; You call us to be all in with our faith. Help us Lord to step out of whatever worldly thing we think is keeping us safe and walk with You in the fire that brings is joy and victory. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Monday, January 7, 2013
Living in the Valley
The grasslands of the desert overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.
Psalm 65:12-13
As I was driving home I realized that I have spent my whole life living in a valley. As I drove I thought about how just a couple hours west of where I live I can stand on the shore and witness the power of the ocean. I thought about how a couple hours west would bring me to the majesty of the mountains. Then I realized I love living in the valley.
Often times in the language of our faith valleys are equated with hard times, while mountains are where we find a “spiritual high” if you will. In the Scriptures there are lots of valleys. Battles are fought in valleys; some valleys are desolate and are to be avoided. In Psalm 23:4 we find the valley of the shadow of death. Then there are valleys like the one mentioned in today’s verse - valleys dressed in grain and shouting for joy. The prophet Joel talks of a day when those desolate valleys will one day be made new (Joel 3:18).
We all need to have mountain experiences and oceans clearly display God’s power. But valleys are good for living in. The valley I am living in has gone green from recent rains and soon the fruit trees will blossom taking the beauty of the valley to a higher level.
I will be the first to admit that valleys are not easy to live in - life can be messy and painful. Life in the valley can bring doubt and cloud the heart and mind. But in the midst of the messiness if we look to the One who made the valleys, we will find our lives growing in the fertile soil of His love and grace.
If you live on the shore or in the mountains - praise the Lord for the beauty that surrounds you. If you live in a valley like me take time you realize you too are surrounded by beauty. If life has become a valley that it is desolate, fear not the Lord is making you into something beautiful.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the spiritual highs we get from mountain top experiences. Thank you for the power that the oceans display. Thank you for the all the valleys of life - the fertile ones and the desolate ones - each has something for us. When we find ourselves in one not so friendly may we find you there preparing to make us into something beautiful. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Psalm 65:12-13
As I was driving home I realized that I have spent my whole life living in a valley. As I drove I thought about how just a couple hours west of where I live I can stand on the shore and witness the power of the ocean. I thought about how a couple hours west would bring me to the majesty of the mountains. Then I realized I love living in the valley.
Often times in the language of our faith valleys are equated with hard times, while mountains are where we find a “spiritual high” if you will. In the Scriptures there are lots of valleys. Battles are fought in valleys; some valleys are desolate and are to be avoided. In Psalm 23:4 we find the valley of the shadow of death. Then there are valleys like the one mentioned in today’s verse - valleys dressed in grain and shouting for joy. The prophet Joel talks of a day when those desolate valleys will one day be made new (Joel 3:18).
We all need to have mountain experiences and oceans clearly display God’s power. But valleys are good for living in. The valley I am living in has gone green from recent rains and soon the fruit trees will blossom taking the beauty of the valley to a higher level.
I will be the first to admit that valleys are not easy to live in - life can be messy and painful. Life in the valley can bring doubt and cloud the heart and mind. But in the midst of the messiness if we look to the One who made the valleys, we will find our lives growing in the fertile soil of His love and grace.
If you live on the shore or in the mountains - praise the Lord for the beauty that surrounds you. If you live in a valley like me take time you realize you too are surrounded by beauty. If life has become a valley that it is desolate, fear not the Lord is making you into something beautiful.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the spiritual highs we get from mountain top experiences. Thank you for the power that the oceans display. Thank you for the all the valleys of life - the fertile ones and the desolate ones - each has something for us. When we find ourselves in one not so friendly may we find you there preparing to make us into something beautiful. In the name of Jesus, Amen
Monday, December 31, 2012
Remember
“Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, ‘You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?’”
Matthew 16:8-10
Remember - such a simple word and yet it can take us back in time when we hear it. This simple word appears 165 times in the Bible, not to mention all of its variances found there as well. It always takes the people back, often times to something God did or said - to something Jesus did or said.
As we stand on the threshold of another new year it is good to look back and remember all that God did in our lives, all that he provided in His love and faithfulness. Taking time to remember those times when He carried us because we had grown too weary to go on. Those times when He shielded us from the brunt of the storm we were facing. What about those times when He provided us with our version of “loaves and fish?” We should remember those as well and we must remember how He was faithful to save us even when we were not faithful.
None of us know what we will face in the New Year - we are praying for blessings and those in abundance. Yet, there is little doubt that we will face some struggles there too and when we do we should remember what we know from experience to be true. God is faithful, He will provide and protect. He will be our light when we only see our dark world. He will carry us when we grow weary. He will put people in our lives to travel with us so we are not lonely. He will be there each day of the year - laughing with us, singing with us, crying with us and molding us into His image.
I suggest that as we step into to this New Year that we take time to remember and take those remembrances with us into the future.
My Prayer For You
Father, thank you for the many blessings you have given us over the last year. Thank you for Your faithfulness in providing all that we needed. Thank you for loving us. As we begin this New Year we ask for Your blessing and continued care. We desire the year to be free of trials but we know we will face some and when we do may we remember You are with us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Matthew 16:8-10
Remember - such a simple word and yet it can take us back in time when we hear it. This simple word appears 165 times in the Bible, not to mention all of its variances found there as well. It always takes the people back, often times to something God did or said - to something Jesus did or said.
As we stand on the threshold of another new year it is good to look back and remember all that God did in our lives, all that he provided in His love and faithfulness. Taking time to remember those times when He carried us because we had grown too weary to go on. Those times when He shielded us from the brunt of the storm we were facing. What about those times when He provided us with our version of “loaves and fish?” We should remember those as well and we must remember how He was faithful to save us even when we were not faithful.
None of us know what we will face in the New Year - we are praying for blessings and those in abundance. Yet, there is little doubt that we will face some struggles there too and when we do we should remember what we know from experience to be true. God is faithful, He will provide and protect. He will be our light when we only see our dark world. He will carry us when we grow weary. He will put people in our lives to travel with us so we are not lonely. He will be there each day of the year - laughing with us, singing with us, crying with us and molding us into His image.
I suggest that as we step into to this New Year that we take time to remember and take those remembrances with us into the future.
My Prayer For You
Father, thank you for the many blessings you have given us over the last year. Thank you for Your faithfulness in providing all that we needed. Thank you for loving us. As we begin this New Year we ask for Your blessing and continued care. We desire the year to be free of trials but we know we will face some and when we do may we remember You are with us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Make Room
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn”
Luke 2:6-7
Joseph and Mary had traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem - the City of David for the census and when they arrived they found the city full of people and not a spare guest room to be found. Why was there no room for them? Scriptures don’t make it clear - perhaps the city had too many people in it, maybe they were being shunned. I suspect that if the “why” had mattered we would have been given the answer. The point is there was no room - no room in the city, no room in the hearts and minds of most of the people - there was just no room for the child foretold by the angel Gabriel and the prophets.
We don’t know what was going on in the city that day and night, had it turned into a big party, were politicians debating, and Roman soldiers patrolling the streets? What we can be sure of was no one was really interested in a baby that had been born and lay sleeping in a manger. No one, that is except the shepherds who had witnessed a marvelous sight and heard amazing news. They were not too busy, they made room in their activities to go and see this thing - this child they had been told about.
It is so easy to get caught up in the activity of the season, in the “celebration” or the struggles that we can, whether we intend to or not, crowd out the very reason for the season and celebration. Is there room at your house and in your heart for Jesus? In our modern world if Joseph and Mary were to show up at your door, would you let them in?
This year, amidst the family gatherings, gifts and food make room for Mary’s baby. Make room in your heart and life for the Son of God, make room for Jesus.
MERRY CHRISTMAS - may your celebration be filled with the peace, hope and love found only in Jesus.
My Prayer For You
Father, as we celebrate Christmas, help us to make room for Your Son since He is the reason we Celebrate. May we feel His presence in a new way as we gather with our families. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Luke 2:6-7
Joseph and Mary had traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem - the City of David for the census and when they arrived they found the city full of people and not a spare guest room to be found. Why was there no room for them? Scriptures don’t make it clear - perhaps the city had too many people in it, maybe they were being shunned. I suspect that if the “why” had mattered we would have been given the answer. The point is there was no room - no room in the city, no room in the hearts and minds of most of the people - there was just no room for the child foretold by the angel Gabriel and the prophets.
We don’t know what was going on in the city that day and night, had it turned into a big party, were politicians debating, and Roman soldiers patrolling the streets? What we can be sure of was no one was really interested in a baby that had been born and lay sleeping in a manger. No one, that is except the shepherds who had witnessed a marvelous sight and heard amazing news. They were not too busy, they made room in their activities to go and see this thing - this child they had been told about.
It is so easy to get caught up in the activity of the season, in the “celebration” or the struggles that we can, whether we intend to or not, crowd out the very reason for the season and celebration. Is there room at your house and in your heart for Jesus? In our modern world if Joseph and Mary were to show up at your door, would you let them in?
This year, amidst the family gatherings, gifts and food make room for Mary’s baby. Make room in your heart and life for the Son of God, make room for Jesus.
MERRY CHRISTMAS - may your celebration be filled with the peace, hope and love found only in Jesus.
My Prayer For You
Father, as we celebrate Christmas, help us to make room for Your Son since He is the reason we Celebrate. May we feel His presence in a new way as we gather with our families. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Light in the Darkness
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world, whoever follows after me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
John 8:12
The prophet Isaiah speaking about the coming Messiah says: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:12). From the time of the first act of disobedience, our world has been cloaked in darkness. But God’s plan was to infiltrate the darkness with His own light.
Jesus the Son of God, entered into this dark world to bring the light of life and love. Born into the darkness of his time, he would push back the darkness and with everyone who believed and made the choice to follow Him and call Him Lord the darkness was pushed back more.
We can see the darkness all around us, and yet for those of us who are followers of Jesus, followers of “the light of the world” we by our prayers, by our love for one another and our compassion for those around us, help hold back the darkness.
Jesus was born in to an era when no doubt the people thought it couldn’t get any worse. A tyrant king was ruling in the land, the Roman government was oppressive and violent. In his efforts to rid himself of the One called “the king of the Jews” this king had all the male children killed - put to death by the sword.
Today we live in a world equally dark, the weapons may be different but tyrant rulers still kill and imprison those who they fear and mankind can be cruel beyond the imaginable. But there is hope even still - even in the midst of tragedy, because life giving - life changing light it still present. We who call ourselves followers of Jesus bear that light within our very beings - we must allow it to shine as brightly as we can, inviting others into its comforting glow.
This time of year as we celebrate the coming of Jesus, we celebrate the coming of God’s light and love into our dark world. Be the light today. Shove back the darkness to reveal an abundant life of joy, peace, and love.
My Prayer For You
Father, thank you for sending your light into the world through a child. Thank you that Your Son imparts His light to us through Your Holy Spirit. Lord, how hard it is for us to comprehend the evil we witness in our world and yet we are called to shine Your light - Help us especially now to be the beacons that will show others the way to You. In the name of Jesus, the light of the world. Amen.
John 8:12
The prophet Isaiah speaking about the coming Messiah says: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isa. 9:12). From the time of the first act of disobedience, our world has been cloaked in darkness. But God’s plan was to infiltrate the darkness with His own light.
Jesus the Son of God, entered into this dark world to bring the light of life and love. Born into the darkness of his time, he would push back the darkness and with everyone who believed and made the choice to follow Him and call Him Lord the darkness was pushed back more.
We can see the darkness all around us, and yet for those of us who are followers of Jesus, followers of “the light of the world” we by our prayers, by our love for one another and our compassion for those around us, help hold back the darkness.
Jesus was born in to an era when no doubt the people thought it couldn’t get any worse. A tyrant king was ruling in the land, the Roman government was oppressive and violent. In his efforts to rid himself of the One called “the king of the Jews” this king had all the male children killed - put to death by the sword.
Today we live in a world equally dark, the weapons may be different but tyrant rulers still kill and imprison those who they fear and mankind can be cruel beyond the imaginable. But there is hope even still - even in the midst of tragedy, because life giving - life changing light it still present. We who call ourselves followers of Jesus bear that light within our very beings - we must allow it to shine as brightly as we can, inviting others into its comforting glow.
This time of year as we celebrate the coming of Jesus, we celebrate the coming of God’s light and love into our dark world. Be the light today. Shove back the darkness to reveal an abundant life of joy, peace, and love.
My Prayer For You
Father, thank you for sending your light into the world through a child. Thank you that Your Son imparts His light to us through Your Holy Spirit. Lord, how hard it is for us to comprehend the evil we witness in our world and yet we are called to shine Your light - Help us especially now to be the beacons that will show others the way to You. In the name of Jesus, the light of the world. Amen.
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