“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”
Psalm 113:3
What do Sunflowers, Desert Lupine, Arctic Poppies, and Snow Buttercups have in common? They are all heliotropes. That means they follow the sun as it moves across the sky. Following the sun allows them to absorb the warmth and nutrition they need grow and dress our planet more brilliantly than Solomon’s robes.
We have a Son to follow as well. He is the maker of all things; He made the sun and set it on its daily course. He made the flowers that follow that sun in order to grow. His Word is a lamp for our feet, a light for our paths (Psalm 119:105). Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). When we follow the Son, doing his will and reflecting His image and character we will be filled with all we need and the fruit of His character will be more evident in us.
How are you growing this week? Is the warmth of God’s love filling your being? Do you have His joy and peace even in the midst of whatever trial you might be facing? Is His patience allowing you to wait on Him, even if it takes a thousand years to get the answer you are looking for?
If not, take time this week to look up and get oriented or re-oriented toward the light of the Son and follow after Him, you will be growing again in no time. If it is, take time to do a little praise dance, to thank Him for being the faithful leader of your life.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that we can learn so much about Your goodness and Your love for us from the rest of Your creation. As the flowers you dress the fields with follow the sun, this week help us to follow Your Son so we can be filled with the warmth of Who You are and grow abundantly more like You. In the name of Jesus, who is the light we need, we pray - Amen.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Just Not Feeling It
“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
If you are like me you have days when you just are not feeling it. The thought of crawling back in bed is tempting. Maybe that container of ice cream is calling your name. Life has been less than easy and you just don’t want to live up to your responsibilities or deal with the difficulties you are facing - at least not right now.
I think Jesus had days when He just wasn’t feeling it either. Take this week’s passage for example. What had Jesus heard about that made Him want to get away? He had heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod the Tetrarch. The relationship between John and Jesus is not clear but it is likely that they were cousins.
By this time Jesus had already had some run-ins with the religious leaders and the crowds of people following him, hoping to see a miracle were growing. So here He is tired, stressed and now grieving the loss of a relative. Jesus is not feeling it and tries to get away, to rest, to pray, to grieve and the crowds wouldn’t let him.
Imagine you have decided to play hooky from life because you just aren’t feeling it when there is a knock at your door. You reluctantly open it and find a line of people - your boss, your creditors, your doctors, your friends with their own struggles - you get the idea. Now what?
I can almost see Jesus hang his head and consider the possibility of turning the boat around. What He does however is an example and encouragement for us when we are just not feeling it. Instead of leaving, He got out of the boat and did what He knew to do - He cared for the crowd, showing them compassion in the midst of his own fatigue and sorrow. Later, two amazing things happen. First, He feeds the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish. Then in the middle of the night He we went for a walk on the lake to meet His friends on the boat.
So this week if you are just not feeling it, don’t try to hide or avoid whatever it is. Step out and just try to deal with it, when you do something amazing may happen. You may not end up walking on water, but you may find new strength or you may bless someone else who just wasn’t feeling it.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that Your Son understands how we feel sometimes. Help us, on those days when we would rather not face it, to be obedient to You anyway. Let something amazing happen in our lives that will re-ignite our passions and give us what we need to start “feeling it” again. In the name of Jesus, who on a day when maybe He wasn’t feeling it - fed 5000 and walked on water, we pray - Amen.
Matthew 14:13-14
If you are like me you have days when you just are not feeling it. The thought of crawling back in bed is tempting. Maybe that container of ice cream is calling your name. Life has been less than easy and you just don’t want to live up to your responsibilities or deal with the difficulties you are facing - at least not right now.
I think Jesus had days when He just wasn’t feeling it either. Take this week’s passage for example. What had Jesus heard about that made Him want to get away? He had heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded by Herod the Tetrarch. The relationship between John and Jesus is not clear but it is likely that they were cousins.
By this time Jesus had already had some run-ins with the religious leaders and the crowds of people following him, hoping to see a miracle were growing. So here He is tired, stressed and now grieving the loss of a relative. Jesus is not feeling it and tries to get away, to rest, to pray, to grieve and the crowds wouldn’t let him.
Imagine you have decided to play hooky from life because you just aren’t feeling it when there is a knock at your door. You reluctantly open it and find a line of people - your boss, your creditors, your doctors, your friends with their own struggles - you get the idea. Now what?
I can almost see Jesus hang his head and consider the possibility of turning the boat around. What He does however is an example and encouragement for us when we are just not feeling it. Instead of leaving, He got out of the boat and did what He knew to do - He cared for the crowd, showing them compassion in the midst of his own fatigue and sorrow. Later, two amazing things happen. First, He feeds the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish. Then in the middle of the night He we went for a walk on the lake to meet His friends on the boat.
So this week if you are just not feeling it, don’t try to hide or avoid whatever it is. Step out and just try to deal with it, when you do something amazing may happen. You may not end up walking on water, but you may find new strength or you may bless someone else who just wasn’t feeling it.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that Your Son understands how we feel sometimes. Help us, on those days when we would rather not face it, to be obedient to You anyway. Let something amazing happen in our lives that will re-ignite our passions and give us what we need to start “feeling it” again. In the name of Jesus, who on a day when maybe He wasn’t feeling it - fed 5000 and walked on water, we pray - Amen.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Humor in Conflict
“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”
Matthew 22:18-22
I don’t know about you but I haven’t often thought about what kind of sense of humor Jesus had. I do imagine He has a good one though, having to deal with all of us humans all the time. As a seminary student I needed to write a paper describing one of the many conflicts found in Scripture and decided to use this week’s passage. As I read it I thought I caught a glimpse of Jesus’ mischievous side.
Perhaps a bit of background would be helpful. Jesus and His disciples had just the day before made the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus wasted no time in irritating the religious leaders. Jesus had caused a scene in the temple courts and made it clear the temple was not a place for corrupt business practices. Then when the religious leaders questioned by what authority He was doing this, Jesus turned the table on them making them look foolish and causing further offense. That brings us to this week’s passage.
Can you imagine Jesus in conversation with His disciples when He looks up and sees a group coming? I see him shaking his head with a slight smile and a “are you kidding me” attitude. Maybe you can see Him turn to His disciples and give them a “watch this” wink before laying into the group now standing there wanting His opinion on taxes.
He turns it back on them when He tells them “well it looks like the coin belongs to Caesar so you best give it back to Caesar” and also lets them know that there are more important things - God things - that they should be concerned about. The group leaves, heads down, having been made fools of. Can you see Jesus shaking His head and laughing as he turns back to His disciples?
Keeping a sense of humor in the midst of conflict is important. Even though Jesus fully understood why He was in the city that week, the way he chose to handle some of the conflicts He faced reflected not only a sense of humor, but also His humble spirit. He didn’t let anyone walk all over Him but He also didn’t take Himself too seriously. In every conflict that He faced Jesus brought glory to His Father.
Do we bring glory to God in the ways we deal with conflict? Maybe keeping our sense of humor would help to glorify God in the midst of whatever conflict we face.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that Your Son has a sense of humor in dealing with us. Thank you that He showed us some creative ways of dealing with conflict. Help us, in the face of whatever conflict we might face, to keep our sense of humor and to act in such a way as to bring glory to You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Shhh... I Know the Secret
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:3-4
I know the secret to transformational and abundant living. On occasion I enjoy watching a program called “Secret Millionaire”. In the show a millionaire leaves behind the trappings of their lives and go undercover in an underprivileged community - usually an inner city environment - with a the back story that they are making a documentary about volunteerism. For a week they live in the community and they live on what the average person in the community lives on. Their challenge is to find organizations that are making a real difference in the community they serve. The secret millionaire volunteers and at the end of the show gives large gifts to the organizations they feel are making the biggest difference.
But the show is not really about the money. The show is about bringing attention to the needs of the people living in these American communities and the organizations that are working hard to meet those needs while staying out of the spotlight and about how transforming being a part of those organizations can be.
The Old Testament prophet Micah tells his audience that what God really wants from His people is not the blood of animals, but people who “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him” (Micah 6:8). That is what can be seen in the founders and volunteers featured on this program.
So what secrets to transformational and abundant living can be gleaned from this show? First, little things can make a major difference in the life of someone else. Second, extending your heart to someone who is in need, whether it is physical, emotional, financial or spiritual will change your heart perhaps more than theirs and lastly you don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference with your finances, but if you are and you give it away - you will receive more than you ever expected in return.
This is what it means to act justly and love mercy, this is what allows your faith to grow, this is the inside-out transformation that Jesus came to bring us, and this is what the abundant life of the kingdom of heaven looks like.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that sometimes we can learn important lesson about kingdom living from the media. Thank you that no matter what our station in life, no matter what our finances we can make a difference in someone else’s life. Show us Lord where we can make a difference today and every day. In the name of Jesus, who can to give us a transformed and abundant life, Amen
Matthew 6:3-4
I know the secret to transformational and abundant living. On occasion I enjoy watching a program called “Secret Millionaire”. In the show a millionaire leaves behind the trappings of their lives and go undercover in an underprivileged community - usually an inner city environment - with a the back story that they are making a documentary about volunteerism. For a week they live in the community and they live on what the average person in the community lives on. Their challenge is to find organizations that are making a real difference in the community they serve. The secret millionaire volunteers and at the end of the show gives large gifts to the organizations they feel are making the biggest difference.
But the show is not really about the money. The show is about bringing attention to the needs of the people living in these American communities and the organizations that are working hard to meet those needs while staying out of the spotlight and about how transforming being a part of those organizations can be.
The Old Testament prophet Micah tells his audience that what God really wants from His people is not the blood of animals, but people who “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him” (Micah 6:8). That is what can be seen in the founders and volunteers featured on this program.
So what secrets to transformational and abundant living can be gleaned from this show? First, little things can make a major difference in the life of someone else. Second, extending your heart to someone who is in need, whether it is physical, emotional, financial or spiritual will change your heart perhaps more than theirs and lastly you don’t have to be a millionaire to make a difference with your finances, but if you are and you give it away - you will receive more than you ever expected in return.
This is what it means to act justly and love mercy, this is what allows your faith to grow, this is the inside-out transformation that Jesus came to bring us, and this is what the abundant life of the kingdom of heaven looks like.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that sometimes we can learn important lesson about kingdom living from the media. Thank you that no matter what our station in life, no matter what our finances we can make a difference in someone else’s life. Show us Lord where we can make a difference today and every day. In the name of Jesus, who can to give us a transformed and abundant life, Amen
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Prince Became a Pauper
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”
Philippians 2:6-9
Feeling completely uninspired I prayed for some and Mark Twain’s story of The Prince and the Pauper came to mind. In the story two boys, who have very different lives - one royal and wealthy, the other poor and abused - meet by chance, maybe divine chance. They share nothing, but a physical resemblance. They do perhaps what comes naturally to boys in such a situation they switch places. They each learn some valuable lessons as they live one another’s lives, it is however, the prince who learns the greatest lessons. You see he learns justice, mercy, compassion and grace, things that will serve the young prince well when he becomes king.
The prophet Isaiah tells of One who is coming who among his many titles will be called the Prince of Peace. Paul in today’s passage tells us the Jesus really shared nothing with mankind except the resemblance He took on. He taught those with hearts willing to learn, justice, mercy, compassion and grace. Have you ever considered what he learned? He learned the pain of loss and the joy of celebration. He learned what the struggle between good and evil in the heart of man is like.
Because the Prince became a pauper He understands what you are facing and feeling. He knows what it is to be bullied. He knows what it is to grieve. He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood and insulted. He knows how good it feels when things go right.
Because He understands He willingly walks with you on the journey of life. No matter what you are facing He has been there and understands. You are never alone because the King is with you.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that Your Son became a pauper and lived among us. Thank you for what He learned because He is our King and a king who understands and really knows his subjects can rule with mercy and grace. Thank you that we are never alone in whatever we face. Help us treat one another justly with mercy, grace and compassion. May our own experiences help us to walk with those around us in the good times and the challenging times. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Philippians 2:6-9
Feeling completely uninspired I prayed for some and Mark Twain’s story of The Prince and the Pauper came to mind. In the story two boys, who have very different lives - one royal and wealthy, the other poor and abused - meet by chance, maybe divine chance. They share nothing, but a physical resemblance. They do perhaps what comes naturally to boys in such a situation they switch places. They each learn some valuable lessons as they live one another’s lives, it is however, the prince who learns the greatest lessons. You see he learns justice, mercy, compassion and grace, things that will serve the young prince well when he becomes king.
The prophet Isaiah tells of One who is coming who among his many titles will be called the Prince of Peace. Paul in today’s passage tells us the Jesus really shared nothing with mankind except the resemblance He took on. He taught those with hearts willing to learn, justice, mercy, compassion and grace. Have you ever considered what he learned? He learned the pain of loss and the joy of celebration. He learned what the struggle between good and evil in the heart of man is like.
Because the Prince became a pauper He understands what you are facing and feeling. He knows what it is to be bullied. He knows what it is to grieve. He knows what it feels like to be misunderstood and insulted. He knows how good it feels when things go right.
Because He understands He willingly walks with you on the journey of life. No matter what you are facing He has been there and understands. You are never alone because the King is with you.
A Prayer
Father, thank you that Your Son became a pauper and lived among us. Thank you for what He learned because He is our King and a king who understands and really knows his subjects can rule with mercy and grace. Thank you that we are never alone in whatever we face. Help us treat one another justly with mercy, grace and compassion. May our own experiences help us to walk with those around us in the good times and the challenging times. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Lessons From Eden - Work, Rest and Love
“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. The LORD God said, ‘it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”
Genesis 2:2, 15 and 18
We can learn some important lessons about living balanced lives in the Garden of Eden. Have you ever paid attention to the ages of people in the Bible? Adam was 930 years old when he died. Sarah had a baby when she was ninety. Scripture tells us Noah lived 350 years after the flood and that he was 950 when he died - that means he was like in his 500’s when he was building the ark. God made us for certain things and we need those things to live healthy, balanced and long lives.
WORK
We need to work. Our bodies and minds were designed to work. We need to be involved in doing something in order to live healthy and balanced lives. Work is more than what we do to make an income it is part of our purpose. Adam and Eve were tasked with caring for the garden.
REST
In the good old days, people woke up at sunrise and went to bed at sunset. Since they had worked hard all day they slept well. God set the example for mankind - work six days and then take a day of rest. Jesus took time out to rest and he made his disciples rest too.
LOVE
God created a mate for everything creature that breathed and moved. He is a God of relationship. We must not live life alone. It was not good that the man was alone so God made him and helper - then the man had a community to live in, a community of himself, Eve and God.
This week stay busy - no matter what stage of life you find yourself in find some kind of “work” to do and work hard enough to get a good night’s rest. Be sure to take one day a week off, rest and do something fun. Remember you were made for relationship so as you work and rest make time to enjoy family, friends and God. Working, resting and loving will allow you to live the abundant life God intends for you.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the lessons we can learn from Eden. Thank you for the things you have for us to do. Thank you for the relationships we have with one another and You. Help us to rest, because we struggle with this. Thank you for the abundant life you have provided for us by your creation and through your Son in whose name we pray, Amen.
Genesis 2:2, 15 and 18
We can learn some important lessons about living balanced lives in the Garden of Eden. Have you ever paid attention to the ages of people in the Bible? Adam was 930 years old when he died. Sarah had a baby when she was ninety. Scripture tells us Noah lived 350 years after the flood and that he was 950 when he died - that means he was like in his 500’s when he was building the ark. God made us for certain things and we need those things to live healthy, balanced and long lives.
WORK
We need to work. Our bodies and minds were designed to work. We need to be involved in doing something in order to live healthy and balanced lives. Work is more than what we do to make an income it is part of our purpose. Adam and Eve were tasked with caring for the garden.
REST
In the good old days, people woke up at sunrise and went to bed at sunset. Since they had worked hard all day they slept well. God set the example for mankind - work six days and then take a day of rest. Jesus took time out to rest and he made his disciples rest too.
LOVE
God created a mate for everything creature that breathed and moved. He is a God of relationship. We must not live life alone. It was not good that the man was alone so God made him and helper - then the man had a community to live in, a community of himself, Eve and God.
This week stay busy - no matter what stage of life you find yourself in find some kind of “work” to do and work hard enough to get a good night’s rest. Be sure to take one day a week off, rest and do something fun. Remember you were made for relationship so as you work and rest make time to enjoy family, friends and God. Working, resting and loving will allow you to live the abundant life God intends for you.
A Prayer
Father, thank you for the lessons we can learn from Eden. Thank you for the things you have for us to do. Thank you for the relationships we have with one another and You. Help us to rest, because we struggle with this. Thank you for the abundant life you have provided for us by your creation and through your Son in whose name we pray, Amen.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Too Pooped to Party
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not to any work…”
Exodus 20:9-10
Are you to pooped to party? Do you wish you had some of Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin? Maybe you need one of those five hour energy drinks or an espresso from Starbucks. Life on this planet can be like driving on the autobahn - full throttle. But living full throttle isn’t good for us, neither is Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin.
When we live to fast and overloaded for too long, it takes a toll on us physically, spiritually and emotionally. When we start to run out of energy and try to get a boost by some artificial means, it just means that when we finally reach melt down, we are really down. God knew we would be inclined to live to fast, work too hard and that our relationships with Him and others would suffer because of it.
So He built the one real cure for being too pooped to party into His plan for us. We have six days to live full throttle if that is what we choose to do, but we need to take one day off. We need to take a day to slow down. When we slow down we can spend quality time with God and with the people who are important to us. When we slow down we can enjoy the amazing creation all around us. When we slow down we might actually see the others around us who are hurting and need to slow down too.
This week no matter what your calendar looks like, no matter how many appointments you have scheduled I want to encourage you to clear one day - any day will do. Slow down, smell the flowers, enjoy the company of good friends over a great meal, take a nap and spend some quality time with the Shepherd of your life. It will be easier to hit your top speed when you are rested heart, soul and mind.
A Prayer
Father, help us to slow down at least once a week. Help us to set aside time rest our bodies, our minds and our souls. As we travel at a snail’s pace help us to really see the world around us and to see it through your eyes. Thank you for building rest into your plan for us. In the name of Jesus who leads us to rest, Amen.
Exodus 20:9-10
Are you to pooped to party? Do you wish you had some of Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin? Maybe you need one of those five hour energy drinks or an espresso from Starbucks. Life on this planet can be like driving on the autobahn - full throttle. But living full throttle isn’t good for us, neither is Lucy’s Vitameatavegamin.
When we live to fast and overloaded for too long, it takes a toll on us physically, spiritually and emotionally. When we start to run out of energy and try to get a boost by some artificial means, it just means that when we finally reach melt down, we are really down. God knew we would be inclined to live to fast, work too hard and that our relationships with Him and others would suffer because of it.
So He built the one real cure for being too pooped to party into His plan for us. We have six days to live full throttle if that is what we choose to do, but we need to take one day off. We need to take a day to slow down. When we slow down we can spend quality time with God and with the people who are important to us. When we slow down we can enjoy the amazing creation all around us. When we slow down we might actually see the others around us who are hurting and need to slow down too.
This week no matter what your calendar looks like, no matter how many appointments you have scheduled I want to encourage you to clear one day - any day will do. Slow down, smell the flowers, enjoy the company of good friends over a great meal, take a nap and spend some quality time with the Shepherd of your life. It will be easier to hit your top speed when you are rested heart, soul and mind.
A Prayer
Father, help us to slow down at least once a week. Help us to set aside time rest our bodies, our minds and our souls. As we travel at a snail’s pace help us to really see the world around us and to see it through your eyes. Thank you for building rest into your plan for us. In the name of Jesus who leads us to rest, Amen.
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