1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
Monday, November 28, 2011
RANDOM #6
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Anticipation
And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4b (NLT)
This coming Sunday, in the liturgical Christian Church calendar, is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming" -- and we spend four weeks building our anticipation for the remembrance and celebration of the first coming of Christ. But during these weeks we also remind ourselves of the coming yet to be -- the second coming of Christ.
God made good on his promise to send a Redeemer. He will make good on his promise to send him again.
Remembering what God has already done (as told to us in the Scriptures, as we have experienced in our own lives) enables us to wait, not in fear or worry, but with hope and encouragement and anticipation as we watch for the fulfillment of the rest of his promises.
This coming Sunday, in the liturgical Christian Church calendar, is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means "coming" -- and we spend four weeks building our anticipation for the remembrance and celebration of the first coming of Christ. But during these weeks we also remind ourselves of the coming yet to be -- the second coming of Christ.
God made good on his promise to send a Redeemer. He will make good on his promise to send him again.
Remembering what God has already done (as told to us in the Scriptures, as we have experienced in our own lives) enables us to wait, not in fear or worry, but with hope and encouragement and anticipation as we watch for the fulfillment of the rest of his promises.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Lepers in my world Part 3
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Mark 1:40-41 (NLT)
I have to realize that I am both characters in this story. I am the leper. Damaged and deformed. Unable to be a part of the true life because of my uncleanness, I lurk in the shadows hoping no one will notice the rotting places in my soul. But I must take the risk and take my place at the feet of Jesus. Not just one time, but everyday, I must make my confession to Christ: "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."
I am also Christ's ambassador, one he appointed to represent him to the discarded in soul, discouraged in heart, disfigured in body, damaged in mind. When they see me are they drawn to him? And when they are, am I willing to respond? Does his compassion for the cast out motivate me to reach out? In what ways can Jesus touch their hearts through the touch of my hands? What words of hope and healing will Christ speak through my lips?
Read Part One. Read Part Two.
I have to realize that I am both characters in this story. I am the leper. Damaged and deformed. Unable to be a part of the true life because of my uncleanness, I lurk in the shadows hoping no one will notice the rotting places in my soul. But I must take the risk and take my place at the feet of Jesus. Not just one time, but everyday, I must make my confession to Christ: "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."
I am also Christ's ambassador, one he appointed to represent him to the discarded in soul, discouraged in heart, disfigured in body, damaged in mind. When they see me are they drawn to him? And when they are, am I willing to respond? Does his compassion for the cast out motivate me to reach out? In what ways can Jesus touch their hearts through the touch of my hands? What words of hope and healing will Christ speak through my lips?
Read Part One. Read Part Two.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Lepers in my world Part 2
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” (Mark 1:41 NLT)
In response to the leper's request to be healed and cleansed, Jesus willingly does three things:
1) Jesus reached out. In the leper's world people don't reach out. They recoil. People don't move toward lepers, they move away. But Jesus is different. Jesus reached out.
2) Jesus touched him. The holy, holy, holy touched the unclean, unclean, unclean. He didn't just give a glance or write a check. He put his skin onto the leper's skin. When was the last time that leper had felt another's touch?
3) Jesus spoke. He said two things. First: "I am willing." Nothing obligated the Son of God to help this son of man. Nothing, except that Jesus was willing to be "moved with compassion." Second, since compassion prompts action, Jesus says, "Be healed." The power of the Holy God met the weakness of the unclean man and everything changed.
Read part one.
Read part three.
In response to the leper's request to be healed and cleansed, Jesus willingly does three things:
1) Jesus reached out. In the leper's world people don't reach out. They recoil. People don't move toward lepers, they move away. But Jesus is different. Jesus reached out.
2) Jesus touched him. The holy, holy, holy touched the unclean, unclean, unclean. He didn't just give a glance or write a check. He put his skin onto the leper's skin. When was the last time that leper had felt another's touch?
3) Jesus spoke. He said two things. First: "I am willing." Nothing obligated the Son of God to help this son of man. Nothing, except that Jesus was willing to be "moved with compassion." Second, since compassion prompts action, Jesus says, "Be healed." The power of the Holy God met the weakness of the unclean man and everything changed.
Read part one.
Read part three.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Lepers in my world
A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. (Mark 1:40 NLT)
The man's name is unknown. He is just "leper" to us - unnamed and unclean. He approaches Jesus. Really? Aren't lepers supposed to stay out of the way, unnoticed and unseen? What was there about Jesus that emboldened the leper to come to him?
Jesus responds with kindness. He is he motivated from a heart of compassion. Not from arrogant condescension ('poor pitiful guy,' deep sigh, 'I guess I can help') or from duty ('I am a Christian, I have to be nice'), but from a heart broken for the lost, the least, the leper.
Who are the lepers in my world? Do I even see them? Is there enough Jesus in me that they would feel invited to approach me? And if so, what is my response?
Read Part 2.
Read Part 3.
The man's name is unknown. He is just "leper" to us - unnamed and unclean. He approaches Jesus. Really? Aren't lepers supposed to stay out of the way, unnoticed and unseen? What was there about Jesus that emboldened the leper to come to him?
Jesus responds with kindness. He is he motivated from a heart of compassion. Not from arrogant condescension ('poor pitiful guy,' deep sigh, 'I guess I can help') or from duty ('I am a Christian, I have to be nice'), but from a heart broken for the lost, the least, the leper.
Who are the lepers in my world? Do I even see them? Is there enough Jesus in me that they would feel invited to approach me? And if so, what is my response?
Read Part 2.
Read Part 3.
Monday, October 24, 2011
My God...
... marches on the waves of the sea Job 9:8 (NLT)
... walks on the vault of heaven Job 22:14 (NLT)
... rides upon the wings of the wind Psalm 104:3 (NLT)
... sits above the circle of the earth Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)
... dwells in unapproachable light 1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB)
... lives in eternity Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)
... abides in me John 15:4-10 (NASB)
... walks on the vault of heaven Job 22:14 (NLT)
... rides upon the wings of the wind Psalm 104:3 (NLT)
... sits above the circle of the earth Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)
... dwells in unapproachable light 1 Timothy 6:16 (NASB)
... lives in eternity Isaiah 57:15 (NLT)
... abides in me John 15:4-10 (NASB)
Saturday, October 15, 2011
The Carpenter
He was a carpenter.
But he cast his net for men on the shores of Galilee.
He was a carpenter.
But he caused the lame to walk and the blind to see.
He was a carpenter.
But he fed the hungry crowds with living bread.
He was a carpenter.
But he opened graves and he raised the dead.
He was a carpenter.
But he died and rose and set me free.
He is a carpenter.
And he builds his holy temple inside of me.
But he cast his net for men on the shores of Galilee.
He was a carpenter.
But he caused the lame to walk and the blind to see.
He was a carpenter.
But he fed the hungry crowds with living bread.
He was a carpenter.
But he opened graves and he raised the dead.
He was a carpenter.
But he died and rose and set me free.
He is a carpenter.
And he builds his holy temple inside of me.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Every Word
"...man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Deuteronomy 8:3b NIV
I can't pick and choose which parts of God's word I want to hear or believe or embrace. EVERY word is given as spiritual nourishment. To be healthy and strong I have to take the brussel sprouts as well as the fudge.
I can't pick and choose which parts of God's word I want to hear or believe or embrace. EVERY word is given as spiritual nourishment. To be healthy and strong I have to take the brussel sprouts as well as the fudge.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
On change
“I am the Lord, and I do not change." Malachi 3:6 (NLT)
God never changes. He doesn't need to. He is perfect just as He is.
God's immutability is one of the things I love best about Him. The same God who divided the sea for the Israelites to pass through, the same God who enabled little David to bring down big Goliath, is the same God who helps me through obstacles and bring down giants in my life.
And it is also wonderful that I am not immutable. Since I am not perfect I need to be able to change and to be changed. And I can. I can become a better person, a kinder friend, a more loving spouse. Herein is a gift of God to us. We are not the same yesterday, today and forever. Hallelujah!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Call On Me
It was a moment when we received some devastating news. As soon as I could get alone, I cried out to God -- seeking his comfort and his wisdom. I asked him to take this bad thing and somehow bring glory to His name through it.
Later that day, as I thumbed through the book of Psalms to find comfort, my eyes fell on these words: "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Psalm 50:15 (NLT).
It was then I realized it isn't only in resolving the problem that God receives glory. He received glory in this situation the very moment I called on him. Yes, there is a promise to rescue, but the immediate comfort for me was knowing that in turning to God in my time of need He had already answered my prayer for His name to be glorified.
Later that day, as I thumbed through the book of Psalms to find comfort, my eyes fell on these words: "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." Psalm 50:15 (NLT).
It was then I realized it isn't only in resolving the problem that God receives glory. He received glory in this situation the very moment I called on him. Yes, there is a promise to rescue, but the immediate comfort for me was knowing that in turning to God in my time of need He had already answered my prayer for His name to be glorified.
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