“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
Psalm 40:1-2
One of my favorite television dramas is McLeod’s Daughters an Australian hit that aired from 2001 - 2009. Great story telling and a super cast of talented actors and actresses account for its continued success worldwide long after the final episode. As I contemplated the cross and the events of Good Friday a scene from that show turned up in my mind as an illustration of the lengths God is willing to go to in order to draw us back to His heart. It would take pages for me to try and describe the scene – so here’s a Reader’s Digest version. A romantic, surprise proposal is in the works, but things don’t go to plan and the couple end up on their hands and knees in mud and cow stuff searching for that special little box. The leading man tells his leading lady that he loves her as he opens the box and as he slips the ring onto her muddied finger he says: “I really love you” – pass the tissues please.
I know this week’s passage isn’t a typical Good Friday or Easter passage but I think it speaks well to how God has chosen to propose to us, to draw us back into His Heart so he can change ours. He came down to pull us out of the mud and mire of a fallen world; we can find him on his hands and knees with us in the messes of our lives. He says I love you with every stroke of the whip on his back, with every stripe that’s left behind. He says I really love you with each nail driven into his innocent flesh and His words of “forgive them” and “it is finished”.
The scene from the television show ends with a yes and the couple covered with mud and cow stuff embracing. As we look to the cross of Good Friday, to the God who willingly gets dirty to save us – will we answer yes to His proposal? Will we embrace the battered, bruised and bloodied Jesus? Will we let His blood wash us clean?
Good Friday proves that HE loves us…that HE REALLY loves us.
A Prayer
Father – thank for the incredible and painful lengths Your Son was willing to go to in order to show us how much we are loved by You. Let our hearts over flow with love as we embrace our bruised and bloodied Savior. Help us to share that amazing, messy love with those around us, so they too can be lifted out of the mud, mire and cow stuff of life by the One who can make them clean and whole. In the name of Jesus who really loves us – we pray – Amen.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
On The Fringe
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’”
Luke 19:5, 7 & 9
Have you ever been on the Fringe? You know one of those kids that got picked last for kickball or baseball or any team game. Maybe you were the boy or girl who had to wear glasses when no one else did. Maybe you have a job – one the needs to be done – but that others look down on. Lots of things can put us on the fringe. Zacchaeus was tax collector; he was definitely on the fringe in his world.
Then he met Jesus. Those who witnessed Jesus telling Zacchaeus that he was going to spend the day at his house - got those who didn’t think they were on the fringe - whispering “he’s gonna hang-out with someone on the fringe.” Then something really amazing happened right there in front of everyone Zacchaeus was changed, transformed from a crooked tax collector into a generous and honest man. He went from being on the fringe to being at the center God’s heart – loved and the recipient of His amazing grace. But how can this be? Jesus answers the question for us in this week’s passage. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Zacchaeus was lost and knew it - he was on the fringe and wanted to belong; to be loved. Because he knew, Jesus was able to find him and welcome him back to where belonged.
So here’s the thing – we are all on the fringe. We have all fallen so short of what God had intended for us. There are some on the fringe who are totally blind to that fact. Some of us have recognized our need and Jesus has found us and restored us. There are some on the fringe who need to meet Jesus and they need to meet Him through us.
Lent is coming an end Palm Sunday marks Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and the beginning of His final week of life. His death and resurrection are coming – those with Him, those from the fringe who loved Him and who had learned so much from Him couldn’t or wouldn’t understand what was going to happen. We get to look back – we can understand. As followers of Christ we have all been on the fringe if not literally then spiritually. He found us when we were ready to be found and He is happy to spend not just a day but all of eternity with us. As you look to the cross; don’t go too far from the fringe – someone is there who needs to be introduced to Jesus and his amazing love – the someone who’ll introduce them could be you.
A Prayer
Father – because mankind is a fallen race living on a fallen planet we all are or have been on the fringe. Thank you for sending Your Son to find us and to save us. As we remember what is identified as His triumphant entry into Your city remind us that it was not His entry that was so triumphant, remind us that it was His exit that gives us victory and moves us from the fringe to the center your amazing love. In the name of Jesus – we pray – Amen.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Sssh...QUIET!
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore they speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”
1 John 4:4-5
We live in an age where we are literally bombarded every waking moment by information. Here are some statistics – Information consumption in the U.S. equals 3.6 million gigabytes; the average American consumes 12 hours of information a day – outside of work; office workers spend 28% of their time dealing with e-mail; the human brain can only handle 7 pieces of information at the same time; information overload costs U.S. companies $650 billion annually; information overload is linked to greater stress and poorer health and overuse of social media can lead to short-term memory loss. If you can relate – can I have an AMEN?
It’s a wonder that any of us are able to focus and function with any effectiveness. It’s no wonder that we often times lose track of the most important information or are unable to hear God speaking to us amidst the din of information overload. The world tries to tell us what success looks like, how the right products, the right car, the right clothes, the right political candidates, the right whatever will bring us to that place of worldly success – but it doesn’t. There are too many cars, clothes, candidates and whatevers to choose from and so we lose ourselves in the world’s information heap – we are looking but we will never find the needle in this stack of stuff and being lost is painful.
In this week’s passage the Apostle John is helping believers sift through some information overload issues. You see even the early believers had more than one voice speaking into their hearts and minds – the voice of the spirit of God and the voice of the world. The world has the ability to overtake the voice of God not because it is actually more powerful but because it is way louder. John reminds the believers that they are children of God, that He lives in them and because of His power in them they are able to overcome the information overload of the world, sorting through the lies and noise trying to lead them away from His truth, love and freedom. His power can do the same for us with our 21st century information overload.
During this season of Lent shut down some of the information that is bombarding your heart and mind so you can hear the Spirit of God – He’ll give you to the power to say Shush…QUIET to the world.
A Prayer
Father – our world is so noisy these days, information is created and thrown at us faster than ever. It can make us tired, stressed and it hampers are ability to hear you and know who we are in You. Show us how to quiet our minds so we can hear you and live in your power, peace and rest. In the name of Jesus – we pray – Amen.
1 John 4:4-5
We live in an age where we are literally bombarded every waking moment by information. Here are some statistics – Information consumption in the U.S. equals 3.6 million gigabytes; the average American consumes 12 hours of information a day – outside of work; office workers spend 28% of their time dealing with e-mail; the human brain can only handle 7 pieces of information at the same time; information overload costs U.S. companies $650 billion annually; information overload is linked to greater stress and poorer health and overuse of social media can lead to short-term memory loss. If you can relate – can I have an AMEN?
It’s a wonder that any of us are able to focus and function with any effectiveness. It’s no wonder that we often times lose track of the most important information or are unable to hear God speaking to us amidst the din of information overload. The world tries to tell us what success looks like, how the right products, the right car, the right clothes, the right political candidates, the right whatever will bring us to that place of worldly success – but it doesn’t. There are too many cars, clothes, candidates and whatevers to choose from and so we lose ourselves in the world’s information heap – we are looking but we will never find the needle in this stack of stuff and being lost is painful.
In this week’s passage the Apostle John is helping believers sift through some information overload issues. You see even the early believers had more than one voice speaking into their hearts and minds – the voice of the spirit of God and the voice of the world. The world has the ability to overtake the voice of God not because it is actually more powerful but because it is way louder. John reminds the believers that they are children of God, that He lives in them and because of His power in them they are able to overcome the information overload of the world, sorting through the lies and noise trying to lead them away from His truth, love and freedom. His power can do the same for us with our 21st century information overload.
During this season of Lent shut down some of the information that is bombarding your heart and mind so you can hear the Spirit of God – He’ll give you to the power to say Shush…QUIET to the world.
A Prayer
Father – our world is so noisy these days, information is created and thrown at us faster than ever. It can make us tired, stressed and it hampers are ability to hear you and know who we are in You. Show us how to quiet our minds so we can hear you and live in your power, peace and rest. In the name of Jesus – we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Mountain Climbing
“It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.”
Psalm 18:32-33
At the time I am writing this there is a great song playing on Christian radio called Trust In You by Lauren Daigle, at its core it is about trusting God simply because He is God – even when mountains don’t move, waters don’t part and prayers seem to go unanswered. As I was thinking about the song, I was reminded that just because that mountain doesn’t move doesn’t mean we should stand there staring up at the peak – sometimes it doesn’t move because we need to go mountain climbing.
The whole of Psalm 18 is about the amazing strength of God and how He not only uses it for our good but He also makes it available to us – He helps us climb mountains. This week’s passage reminds us that God gives us the strength that we need, that He’ll make the way perfect even if it is one step at a time. God can make us sure footed like a mountain deer who can easily reach the peaks of the mountains they live on. I like how The Message put it: “Is it not God who armed me, then aimed me in the right direction? Now I run like a deer; I’m king of the mountain.”
Sometimes He will move the mountains, part the waters and answer your prayers quickly and in the way we want. Sometimes we may have to climb the mountain, take a swim or wait for an answer – whichever way it happens we can trust in Him because He is God.
During this season of Lent I don’t know what today or tomorrow holds, I don’t know what dreams you have or what mountains might be in the way – what I do know is that He is our strength and our God and we can trust in Him.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for arming us with Your strength and for enabling us to climb the mountains that You chose not to move. Help us to trust you each day; taking whatever step we need to take and showing others how to walk in Your way and strength. In the name of Jesus – our mountain climbing guide, we pray – Amen.
Psalm 18:32-33
At the time I am writing this there is a great song playing on Christian radio called Trust In You by Lauren Daigle, at its core it is about trusting God simply because He is God – even when mountains don’t move, waters don’t part and prayers seem to go unanswered. As I was thinking about the song, I was reminded that just because that mountain doesn’t move doesn’t mean we should stand there staring up at the peak – sometimes it doesn’t move because we need to go mountain climbing.
The whole of Psalm 18 is about the amazing strength of God and how He not only uses it for our good but He also makes it available to us – He helps us climb mountains. This week’s passage reminds us that God gives us the strength that we need, that He’ll make the way perfect even if it is one step at a time. God can make us sure footed like a mountain deer who can easily reach the peaks of the mountains they live on. I like how The Message put it: “Is it not God who armed me, then aimed me in the right direction? Now I run like a deer; I’m king of the mountain.”
Sometimes He will move the mountains, part the waters and answer your prayers quickly and in the way we want. Sometimes we may have to climb the mountain, take a swim or wait for an answer – whichever way it happens we can trust in Him because He is God.
During this season of Lent I don’t know what today or tomorrow holds, I don’t know what dreams you have or what mountains might be in the way – what I do know is that He is our strength and our God and we can trust in Him.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for arming us with Your strength and for enabling us to climb the mountains that You chose not to move. Help us to trust you each day; taking whatever step we need to take and showing others how to walk in Your way and strength. In the name of Jesus – our mountain climbing guide, we pray – Amen.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Open Up... Let Him In!
“He I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20
Ok… so you are being chased by zombies or something else equally scary when you see a house with lights on up ahead. You run to the door and pound on it yelling “Open Up… Let me in!” nothing happens, so you pound and yell some more to no avail. As your breathing slows you can hear the music blaring inside, you hear laughter and it is so loud those inside can’t hear you. The door isn’t going to open; you hear the approach of the scary thing that has been chasing you…gulp.
This week’s passage isn’t about a zombie apocalypse, or a scene from the Walking Dead or some horror flick. The reality of this passage is that the danger lurking is unseen, unfelt and it has eternal consequences. This passage is found in the book of Revelation and is part of the letter written to the lukewarm church in Laodicea. The people were wealthy, they wanted for nothing, they needed nothing. They knew of God, but they didn’t have real fellowship with Him and they didn’t really need Him anyway. Some might say this particular church talked the talk but did not walk the walk. Because they thought the world was providing everything they needed – they did not see the danger – God was about to spit them out or He was about to walk away because the party going on inside was too loud for them to hear Him knocking on the door asking to come in.
Being on fire for the Lord is really where he wants us. We have recognized our need for Him in our lives, opened it up and let him in. He tells the folks in Laodicea it would be better for them to be spiritually cold – because then they might actually hear him knocking and realize He has what is needed to light their soul on fire. If they stay lukewarm, however, when something scary starts chasing them – when they get to His house and pound on the door, yelling to be let in – the eternal party will be so loud, no one will hear them and…gulp.
Lent is a time to get quiet, to look at ourselves and see if we are hot, cold or lukewarm. If you are hot – get your praise on and share the warmth with those around you. If you are cold or lukewarm – listen for the knock and then open up and let Him in – so He can get the party started in your soul.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for giving us time to reflect on the state of our souls. We praise you for hearts the burn hot for you. Help us to hear your knock if we are lukewarm or cold, so we can let you in – so your love will kindle of fire of our souls and grant us spiritual wealth that will last for all eternity. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Revelation 3:20
Ok… so you are being chased by zombies or something else equally scary when you see a house with lights on up ahead. You run to the door and pound on it yelling “Open Up… Let me in!” nothing happens, so you pound and yell some more to no avail. As your breathing slows you can hear the music blaring inside, you hear laughter and it is so loud those inside can’t hear you. The door isn’t going to open; you hear the approach of the scary thing that has been chasing you…gulp.
This week’s passage isn’t about a zombie apocalypse, or a scene from the Walking Dead or some horror flick. The reality of this passage is that the danger lurking is unseen, unfelt and it has eternal consequences. This passage is found in the book of Revelation and is part of the letter written to the lukewarm church in Laodicea. The people were wealthy, they wanted for nothing, they needed nothing. They knew of God, but they didn’t have real fellowship with Him and they didn’t really need Him anyway. Some might say this particular church talked the talk but did not walk the walk. Because they thought the world was providing everything they needed – they did not see the danger – God was about to spit them out or He was about to walk away because the party going on inside was too loud for them to hear Him knocking on the door asking to come in.
Being on fire for the Lord is really where he wants us. We have recognized our need for Him in our lives, opened it up and let him in. He tells the folks in Laodicea it would be better for them to be spiritually cold – because then they might actually hear him knocking and realize He has what is needed to light their soul on fire. If they stay lukewarm, however, when something scary starts chasing them – when they get to His house and pound on the door, yelling to be let in – the eternal party will be so loud, no one will hear them and…gulp.
Lent is a time to get quiet, to look at ourselves and see if we are hot, cold or lukewarm. If you are hot – get your praise on and share the warmth with those around you. If you are cold or lukewarm – listen for the knock and then open up and let Him in – so He can get the party started in your soul.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for giving us time to reflect on the state of our souls. We praise you for hearts the burn hot for you. Help us to hear your knock if we are lukewarm or cold, so we can let you in – so your love will kindle of fire of our souls and grant us spiritual wealth that will last for all eternity. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Jump In... The Water's Fine
“But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.”
Matthew 17:5
As a competitive swimmer who has done both regular and open water swimming, I can tell you I do not care much for open water swimming - give me a nice pool any day. The differences between pool swimming and open water swimming are like the differences between living a worldly life and following Jesus.
A good competition swimming pool is designed to let the competitors focus on their performance. It is a controlled environment - the water temperature is just right, everything about the pool is meant to help a swimmer think about one thing - swimming their race. If the pool is outside a swimmer might have deal with the effects of the wind, but even that isn’t such a bother. In a pool a freestyle sprinter with excellent lung capacity can make it from one end of the pool to the other without taking a breath or looking to see where they are. They simply follow the black line painted on the bottom of the pool - right to the wall. Even backstrokers know that when they see the flags overhead they have a certain number of strokes until the turn or the end of the race. The water is clear and a swimmer can see the wall at the other end with or without goggles on. Pool swimming is all about the swimmers own performance and their ability control it.
Open water swimming is different, oh it is ultimately still about the swimmers performance - but it’s not the same. Usually the water is cold, there are currents - that are made worse by wind, the water is not clear, so you can’t really see underwater even with goggles. Swimmers in this environment have to be very aware of their surroundings, where they are in relation to other swimmers, the shore and any markers set to help them keep their bearings. Open water swimmers have to watch where they are going, which means they have to look up once in a while to make sure they are going in the right direction so they can arrive safely back on shore. Open water swimming is about overcoming nature which is actually in control.
Open water is like following Jesus. In this week’s passage the soldiers on the ship plan to kill the prisoners before the ship goes down so that they won’t get into trouble for letting them escape. Paul already knew that he would live, because God had told he had to go to Rome to speak to the king. Paul’s guard - the centurion must have known something was different about Paul and his God - enough so that he believed Paul’s life must be spared and to trust that despite the circumstances all would be well. So they jumped, those who could - swam to shore; while those who couldn’t, made it there safely on wreckage of the ship. All of them were at the mercy of the sea and God.
Being at the mercy of the sea not such a good place to be. Being at the mercy of God who loves us more than anything - is a pretty good place to be. Maybe I’ll re-think open water swimming, maybe it’s spiritual disciple?
So - jump in… the water is fine.
A Prayer
Father – as fallen humans on a fallen planet we like control. We like controlled environments and we like to be in control of everything - having our own selfish way. Help us to get out of our controlled environments and to let go of the control we think we have. Show us that if we keep our eyes on you that no matter what we face we’ll get to the destination you have for us, we’ll get done the work you have for us. Swimming in a pool requires no faith. Swimming in the sea of life is all about trust and faith - trust and faith, in the Maker of everything. Help us to jump in and enjoy the water of life Your love gives us. In the name of Jesus our swim coach and Lighthouse, we pray – Amen.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Listen To Him
“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!’”
Matthew 17:5
What a scene this must have been. Peter, James and John had gone with Jesus for a mountain top experience and what an experience they had. First Jesus starts to glow – not a creepy toxic green glow but a super bright pure light – then if that isn’t enough Moses and Elijah show up. That wouldn’t have been such a big deal, if say they had just happened to have climbed up the other side of the mountain and it was a chance meeting. But Moses had been dead for generations and well Elijah just went straight to heaven without the whole dying bit first and let’s not forget that Moses and Elijah would never have met in the first place. Overwhelmed by what they were witnessing Peter speaks right up - oh it’s good we are here! Jesus do you want us to set up camp, I’ll make shelters for each of you guys? While Peter is talking a cloud settles over the mountain and it talks to them! Wow and they end up on their faces.
Then Jesus spoke to them – He told them to “get up and to not be afraid” (Matthew 17:7). I don’t know about you but I would want to listen well to everything Jesus said after that. What kinds of things does Jesus say? What should we be listening for? I broke out a red letter Bible to have a conversation with Him and He pointed out some things we would be wise to listen to. Here’s a short list:
“Follow me.” (John 1:43)
“Don’t turn my Father’s house into a super Wal-Mart” (John 2:16)
“To see the kingdom of God you must be born again – spiritually.” (John 3:3)
“I know everything about you – so you might as well be honest with Me.” (John 4:17-18)
“If you are without sin – go ahead and throw that stone.” (John 8:7)
“I command you to love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
“In this world you will have trouble (with a capital T) but don’t worry because I have overcome the world: (John 16:33)
“Love God and love others” (Mark 12:30-31)
“Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)
“I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
“I AM the resurrection and the life – believe that and you will live forever. Do you believe?” (John 11:25-26)
Stuff worth listening to for sure. Words spoken out of divine love and concern for mankind; words spoken to help us live life well and righteously. Words spoken by the One who was given so that we could be reconciled with the One who made us.
During this season of Lent, quiet your heart and listen to Him.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for the words of life spoken to us by your Son. Give us ears to hear, minds to understand and hearts willing to act. Help us to say yes when He asks us if we believe. Give us the courage, wisdom and strength to do all that His words demand of us. In the name of Jesus, who speaks divine love and life into us, we pray – Amen.
Matthew 17:5
What a scene this must have been. Peter, James and John had gone with Jesus for a mountain top experience and what an experience they had. First Jesus starts to glow – not a creepy toxic green glow but a super bright pure light – then if that isn’t enough Moses and Elijah show up. That wouldn’t have been such a big deal, if say they had just happened to have climbed up the other side of the mountain and it was a chance meeting. But Moses had been dead for generations and well Elijah just went straight to heaven without the whole dying bit first and let’s not forget that Moses and Elijah would never have met in the first place. Overwhelmed by what they were witnessing Peter speaks right up - oh it’s good we are here! Jesus do you want us to set up camp, I’ll make shelters for each of you guys? While Peter is talking a cloud settles over the mountain and it talks to them! Wow and they end up on their faces.
Then Jesus spoke to them – He told them to “get up and to not be afraid” (Matthew 17:7). I don’t know about you but I would want to listen well to everything Jesus said after that. What kinds of things does Jesus say? What should we be listening for? I broke out a red letter Bible to have a conversation with Him and He pointed out some things we would be wise to listen to. Here’s a short list:
“Follow me.” (John 1:43)
“Don’t turn my Father’s house into a super Wal-Mart” (John 2:16)
“To see the kingdom of God you must be born again – spiritually.” (John 3:3)
“I know everything about you – so you might as well be honest with Me.” (John 4:17-18)
“If you are without sin – go ahead and throw that stone.” (John 8:7)
“I command you to love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
“In this world you will have trouble (with a capital T) but don’t worry because I have overcome the world: (John 16:33)
“Love God and love others” (Mark 12:30-31)
“Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)
“I AM the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6)
“I AM the resurrection and the life – believe that and you will live forever. Do you believe?” (John 11:25-26)
Stuff worth listening to for sure. Words spoken out of divine love and concern for mankind; words spoken to help us live life well and righteously. Words spoken by the One who was given so that we could be reconciled with the One who made us.
During this season of Lent, quiet your heart and listen to Him.
A Prayer
Father – thank you for the words of life spoken to us by your Son. Give us ears to hear, minds to understand and hearts willing to act. Help us to say yes when He asks us if we believe. Give us the courage, wisdom and strength to do all that His words demand of us. In the name of Jesus, who speaks divine love and life into us, we pray – Amen.
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