Listen

Today, my topic (that I chose weeks ago when I was doing the calendar) is listen. My challenge to you is to listen to what people aren't saying. And especially listen to what Christ is asking you to say/do to those whose words speak one thing and then their actions say another.

Songs of the Season

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Refrain

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Refrain

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

Refrain

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

Refrain

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Refrain

Third Sunday of Advent

Yesterday was the third Sunday of Advent and I missed blogging and church... Here are my thoughts on the third Sunday anyway. 

Mary and Joseph: Receiving God’s Promise

To have a life filled with God’s power and victory it is imperative that we take the lesson from Mary and Joseph and receive God’s promises. Sometimes God’s promises are a scary and difficult to understand. Mary and Joseph knew that very well.

      When a friend of mine was a child, his parents used to bribe him to get him to study. His parents told him when he was in first grade that if he got all A’s he could get any toy he wanted at the end of the term. As a result he did well very well during that school year, and his parents kept bribing him through elementary school. But when Jr. High came they stopped bribing him. We can all guess what happened, he stopped doing well. Today if I tell you I will give you the car of your dreams when you do your job well, and if I hold the keys in front of you, I believe that you would want to do your vest because you want to get the prize. It is not just solely about the prize but the fact that there is something ahead to look forward to. In the same way, God gives us promises. Not that God dangles a carrot ahead of us to keep us going, but God understands that in the journey of the Christian life, He has to nudge and prod us along. So He gives us promises.

      God promised a Savior through a virgin birth and Mary and Joseph believed that and got to receive it first hand. God gives us lots of promises all the time, to receive God’s promises you have to: know who the Promise Giver and the Promise Keeper is, if anybody makes you a promise, you have got to determine the integrity and credibility of the person. If it is somebody wacky, someone who is not credible, you are not going to take them seriously. The person who gives you the promise has to have credibility and integrity. In this case, the Promise Giver and the Promise Keeper is God Himself. As we study about who God is throughout the Scriptures, we discover that He is Almighty God. Because He is Almighty God, there is credibility in His promises. He possesses all ability, all power and all power to fulfill His promises.

      The word ‘power’ in Greek talks about both dunamis and exousia. Dynamite comes from the word dunamis. There is an explosion, a power, which is the ability to do. But that is not all. God himself also has exousia – the authority or the right to do.

j.    Some of us have the ability to do something, but not the right to do so. Some of us have the right to do something but we don’t have the ability to accomplish it. But God is the Almighty God, which means that He has both the ability and the authority. If God has all power and all might, and He makes this promise to you, you can be sure that He will fulfill it. God always fulfills His promises. The Bible tells us that God is not a man that He should lie  Numbers 23:19), and that the promises of God are “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). But we also need to understand that as God gives us a promise, He waits for us to live within the boundaries of His condition. God loves to give us promises, He wants to fulfill His promises, but He waits for us to meet His conditions. I believe fully that Mary and Joseph both had to have a willing spirit for the promise of Christ to come through them.

      Know what the promise is Besides knowing the Promise Giver and the Promise Keeper, we need to know what the promise is. If you do not know what the promise is, you will not be able to grasp it and experience its fulfillment. So you have got to know what God’s promises are.  I believe that Mary and Joseph knew and understood the intensity of the promise that was about to be brought forth in their lives. Are we open or closed to receiving God’s promises in our lives?

      Seven is the traditional number of completion in the Bible and theology. I believe that there are seven promises that we as Christians need to become more consistent about receiving.

     Promise #1 The Promise of Promotion, Deuteronomy 28:13 says, “ And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail.” You are born to lead. God promises us that you will always be leading. This promise talks about a promotion of God in our lives. The promises of God is putting you and I into a leadership position and He will promote you. Am I saying that you will always be the first, or the boss? No, I am saying that when we are living in the promises of God you won’t be lacking. God will give you guidance and that translates into leadership.

      Promise 2 is you are blessed. You have the promise of purpose through this. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. You are going to be blessed with all the good things of heaven. You are blessed because God has a purpose for your life. You are blessed to be a blessing.

      Promise #3 You are more than a conqueror this is the Promise of Victory Romans 8: 37 – Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. This third promise deals with victory. It doesn’t matter what situation or difficulty you are in right now; you will be victorious because you are more than a conqueror.

      Promise #4 You will have a way where there seems to be no way [The Promise of Open Doors] Isaiah 43:19 – Behold, I will do a new thing! Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. You will have a way where there seems to be no way. That’s the promise of open doors. God promises you open doors. Sometimes it takes many closed doors to find the open one, closed ones are a blessing that don’t always feel good. Keep believing but He waits for us to meet His conditions.

     

      Promise #5 is the promise of Grace and Sufficiency: you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This has to do with God’s grace and God’s sufficiency. You can rise above your situation and say, “I can do all things, because God’s promise backs you up.

      Promise #6 You have a hope and a future [The Promise of Hope and a Future] Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you”, says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” You have a hope, you have a future. Don’t let the devil chisel you and knock you off your feet because you have hope, you have a future in God.

     Promise #7 the Promise of Peace Philippians 4:7 – And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God has promised you peace in the midst of chaos. It doesn’t matter what the situation is; it may overwhelming but even in the midst of it, you have God’s peace to anchor you, and you will walk through it successfully. I believe these are promises God wants to release into your life. If you receive God’s promises, they will transform you. They will cause you to live with intent, and living a life of intent will lead you to success. Perhaps we aren’t living with intent in the past. Perhaps you have had some bad experiences. But you can be intentional and experience new meaning in your life starting today. The Promise Giver is God Himself, and His promises are “Yes and Amen”. Receive God’s promises today!

Songs of the Season

My training schedule really impeded my blogging this week... sorry. Here is my absolute favorite song of the Christmas season:

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Refrain Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go. Refrain O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; From depths of hell Thy people save, And give them victory over the grave. Refrain O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer Our spirits by Thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Refrain O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery. Refrain O come, O come, great Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times once gave the law In cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree, An ensign of Thy people be; Before Thee rulers silent fall; All peoples on Thy mercy call. Refrain O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace. Refrain

May you rejoice that our Emmanuel has indeed come!

Hungering for God

Sorry for my lack of communication yesterday...

John was so hungry for God's spirit and presence he was willing to live in the wilderness and be ridiculed by common men and women. Are we that hungry?

Second Sunday of Advent

John the Baptist: Proclaiming God’s Promise

Mark 1:1-8

 1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^[a]

 2It is written in Isaiah the prophet:
   "I will send my messenger ahead of you,
      who will prepare your way"^[b]—
 3"a voice of one calling in the desert,
   'Prepare the way for the Lord,
      make straight paths for him.' "^[c] 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with^[d] water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

A.      Last week we talked about Isaiah proclaiming the promise this week we will be seeing how John the Baptist prepared for God’s promise, but first we need to look back at Isaiah quickly

B.      Our scripture lesson today echoes what Isaiah 40:1-11 says they are both talking about preparation for the promise, so let’s look at Isaiah quickly.

C.      1 Comfort, comfort my people,
       says your God.

 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
       and proclaim to her
       that her hard service has been completed,
       that her sin has been paid for,
       that she has received from the LORD's hand
       double for all her sins.

 3 A voice of one calling:
       "In the desert prepare
       the way for the LORD;
       make straight in the wilderness
       a highway for our God.

 4 Every valley shall be raised up,
       every mountain and hill made low;
       the rough ground shall become level,
       the rugged places a plain.

 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
       and all mankind together will see it.
       For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

 6 A voice says, "Cry out."
       And I said, "What shall I cry?"
       "All men are like grass,
       and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.

 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
       because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
       Surely the people are grass.

 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
       but the word of our God stands forever."

 9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
       go up on a high mountain.
       You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
       lift up your voice with a shout,
       lift it up, do not be afraid;
       say to the towns of Judah,
       "Here is your God!"

 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
       and his arm rules for him.
       See, his reward is with him,
       and his recompense accompanies him.

 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
       He gathers the lambs in his arms
       and carries them close to his heart;
       he gently leads those that have young.

D.      John the Baptist is clear prophecy, he appears to be vital testimony of who Jesus is -> people understood prophecy

E.       nothing can completely prepare us for the greatness of the incarnate Christ, but we can take steps in preparation of our hearts and lives

F.       God’s kingdom was breaking into the ordinary! Are we allowing that today?

G.     God’s kingdom changes the rules, breaks bondage, forgives sin, heals the sick, raises the dead, casts out demons, and sets all types of people free!!! Are we prepared for that? Are we preparing for that?

H.      I know it sounds crazy, but I know a man Dale Begley who was pronounced dead, and was dead for almost 12 hours before his mother got there… she prayed for the power of God to come down, and he woke up. Now do I know if it wasn’t some sort of medical mistake? No, but I believe that it was God. Some people will suggest I believe that it was God, because that is what I want to believe… but isn’t that the truth for anything we believe.

I.        John the Baptist was saying that the new had begun and there would be much much more

J.        where is the edge of the wilderness? where are you?

K.      who is crying out there?

L.       how has the coming of Jesus the second time already become? I know that sounds like a crazy question, but seriously if we are getting closer and closer to the second coming all the time how has it already started?

M.    how are we preparing in our own lives, the church, business?

N.     how are we living now?

O.     John the Baptist’s good news, then, was the kingdom of God had come and that He, Jesus, is its herald and expounder to men. More than that, in some mysterious way, he is the kingdom. The good news now, is that Jesus still is.

P.      Preparation like all action is forever. You can’t take action back.

Q.     In our preparation have we been so seized by a transforming conviction, extravagant grace, and overwhelming love and forgiveness that all we can do is proclaim God’s promises?

R.      at every moment of ever day of our lives we are living in the interface between our lives and God’s kingdom among us—we should be proclaiming something and preparing for something

S.       God is actually here, and actually out there and actually in our hearts and lives are we preparing a life that we are happy to have him a part of?

T.       So let us go out proclaiming God’s promises and preparing for them to come to pass.

He Came in a Season of Darkness to Give Light

John 1:4-5, "In him was life, and that life was the life of all people. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."

John 8:12, "Jesus spoke again to the people and he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"

When Christ was born the Lord had been quiet for quite sometime. More than 400 years pass from the end of Malachi and the beginning of Matthew. But then the light of the world appeared. When we are in the darkest seasons of life we must remember that we know the One who came to give light!

Songs of the Season: I Hear the Bells

Here is another great song for us to meditate on: 

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

And the bells are ringing
(Peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing
(Peace on earth)

In my heart I hear them
(Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, goodwill to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

But the bells are ringing
(Peace on earth)
Like a choir singing
(Peace on earth)

Does anybody hear them?
(Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, goodwill to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
(Peace on earth, peace on earth)
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, goodwill to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

And the bells, they're ringing
(Peace on earth)
Like a choir they're singing
(Peace on earth)

And with our hearts we'll hear them
(Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, goodwill to men

Do you hear the bells, they're ringing?
(Peace on earth)
The life the angels singing
(Peace on earth)

Open up your heart and hear them
(Peace on earth)
Peace on earth, goodwill to men

Peace on earth, peace on earth
Peace on earth, goodwill to men

He Came to Comfort

On this fifth day of Advent I am meditating on the promise that Christ came to comfort us. After struggling for three years with the same types of stomach problems comfort seems far away. However, Christ DID in fact come to give me not only physical comfort but comfort for my spirit as this is a trying time. The tribulation of physical illness is rough, but God is much bigger and much better than I can even imagine.

He Came to Give us Rest

Let us find our rest in Thee.

This is a season known for its busyness but Christ came to give us rest.

Advent Day 3: He Came to Free Us

As we read yesterday, Jesus was "born to set thy people free." He came to set us free from sin, captivity and every hindrance from following Him wholeheartedly. We are in captivity in so many ways: worry, expectations, possessions, addictions, people and the list could go on and on. 

I think for me worry is near the top of the list of things that hold me captive. I worry about silly things. But I also worry about serious things. Nonetheless, Jesus tells me and you in Matthew 6 not worry about our lives. The bottom line is I have given my heart and life to Christ and therefore he has it in His hands; so, I shouldn't worry about it. 

Isaiah 61:1-4 

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

Songs of the Season: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne

This song is a great meditation for the beginning of Advent. 

The First Sunday of Advent

Before I start my actual post, I want to take a second and be brutally honest and extremely vulnerable. I love Christmas and Advent more than words can express; however, there is never a time when I am more sad or miss being a pastor than this season. Everything I loved about being a pastor is wrapped up in the Advent season: good (easy to prepare) messages, great music, tons of fellowship and lots of food and celebration. I miss being a Methodist. I miss being a Pastor. I miss the two congregations I had the honor and privilege of serving... I am very sad today and it seems very alone. 

Sad rant over.

Isaiah 9:3-6 You have enlarged the nation
       and increased their joy;
       they rejoice before you
       as people rejoice at the harvest,
       as men rejoice
       when dividing the plunder.
 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
       you have shattered
       the yoke that burdens them,
       the bar across their shoulders,
       the rod of their oppressor.
 5 Every warrior's boot used in battle
       and every garment rolled in blood
       will be destined for burning,
       will be fuel for the fire.
 6 For to us a child is born,
       to us a son is given,
       and the government will be on his shoulders.
       And he will be called
       Wonderful Counselor, ^[b] Mighty God,
       Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Today is indeed the first Sunday of Advent. The Sunday of Hope. God's promises never fail and are always present to the believer. Advent is all about our hope rooted in the promise that was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The incarnate Christ is still where all of our hope is and shall ever more remain. 

Isaiah trusted in a promise he never saw fulfilled. The promise turns back hope of new life and freedom and Isaiah new that. We have seen God's promise of a savior but this season gives us a special time to reflect on how he came the first time and the promise that he will return again.

Isaiah was proclaiming God's promises; are you?

Are we truly prepared for the greatness of this promise? God still comes to us all the time. We have the Holy Spirit to come to us. To light the Advent candle is to say in the face of all that suggest to the contrary that God is still alive! God is still the Lord of this world and because of that All will be well. Furthermore we believe those promises to be true in a world that would beg us to believe they are not. 

Today's candle was hope. Hope is precisely that, a vision of a life that guides itself by God's promise, irrespective of whether the situation looks optimistic or pessimistic at any given time. 

Advent is about joyful anticipation of the coming of the Lord. It is the joyful anticipation of the realization of a promise and the actuation of that same promise. It is hope fulfilled! We can count on the promise and hope of God. How great is that?! Advent gives us a special opportunity to reflect on God's promises and his fulfillment of his promises. 

What is Advent?

Advent begins tomorrow, which raises the question for some: What is Advent? Advent starts the fourth Sunday before Christmas and concludes on January 6th which is Epiphany (although most Western Churches end it with Christmas).

Advent means coming... this is a season of expectation and preparation for the coming of Christ. This season gives us the unique time to look at the incarnation of Christ in his first coming and the joy and anticipation of his triumphant second coming.

The vestment/liturgical color is blue or purple for the royalty of Christ. Traditional Christmas hymns are typically played during Sunday worship and the Advent wreath is lit weekly until Christmas Eve.

Advent is my favorite time of year. The excitement is palpable. Anticipation is felt from toddlers to the elderly and everyone in between. The incarnation of Christ is one the most miraculous thing that has happened. Because of the incarnation, we are saved through the eventual work on the cross.

I pray that the Advent season finds you happy, healthy and more importantly seeking after the incarnate Christ who loved you enough to come to earth.

Lesson on Loss

How do we teach little ones about the inevitability of death? How do we teach them that loss is a part of life? For many of us our first loss was a pet. A goldfish can be easily replaced. But a dog, a best friend, their first friend... how do you explain that? The Bible clearly talks about a time for life and a time for death (Ecclesiastes). But how do you tell a two and a half year old that.

I am praying fervently for a small friend of mine along with her momma who have had to say goodbye to their dog today.

Early for Advent

Advent starts a week from today. I am ready! Advent is my favorite time of year. The anticipation, the hope, the love, the warmth, the joy... all of it. I will be blogging for Advent as soon as it starts because deep down I know that I am too early right now.

Just Another Day

Do you ever just feel like its just another day? A day like all the rest, nothing unusual, nothing interesting... these feelings  soon lead to discontentment. Once I am discontent there is more of a chance for trouble (I assume I am not the only one.) With Jesus, there doesn't have to be any ordinary days. He can show you new things each day, things to be excited about- things to be content in Him. Here's to not being bored or discontent or to having just another day. Here's to following the ever exciting Christ.

Question

I was asked a serious question several weeks ago and today I put that same question before you for you to consider: When you gave your heart to Christ, did you mean it? 

If you answered yes, I have bad news for you. However, I also have great news for you. Bad news first, you will suffer. Ephesians 6:19-20 says "[pray] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,  for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." Paul was in literal chains, in prison. Nonetheless, Jesus told his disciples "remember when the world hates you they hated me first" (John 15:18). There is nothing vague about that statement. We will be hated and hatred leads to suffering. 

The good news is we are coheirs with Christ and one day this painful world will pass away and we will go to a place of no more pain, crying or dying (Revelation 21:4). 

Each morning I have to look myself in the face and ask: Did you mean it when you gave your heart to Christ? When I answer yes, I cannot be surprised by hatred, suffering or trials. But I can hold on to the promise that I will one day be in the presence of the Almighty. 

Undercover Boss

I love the show Undercover Boss. It lets a guy worth a few million dollars see how his minimum wage employees really work/live. Hebrews reminds us to show hospitality to strangers because they may be angels and we are unaware. This show always reminds me that things aren't always what they seem, but things could be so much greater than the face value. At the end of the show, the boss reveals his true identity and gives away thousands of dollars. At the end of this life, we will be in heaven to see every deed we did and word we spoken in clarity that we cannot comprehend. How did I treat the strangers in my midst?

Pregnancy Pains

Anyone who has experienced pregnancy can say that there are times of pain. However, that is really not what I want to talk about. I want to talk about other people's pregnancy causing me pain. My Facebook newsfeed this morning was full of ultrasound pictures and news of doctors' appointments. I feel guilty because I want to hide all pregnancy news from my feed. I don't want to read about it. I don't want to see pictures of your child while it is still growing inside of you. I want to scream from the top of my lungs, "YOUR PREGNANCY HURTS PEOPLE! CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING PREGNANT PERHAPS YOU CAN GO 30 HOURS WITHOUT POSTING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!" 

Okay, rant over... Trying to remember Isaiah 54:1-5

1 "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities. 4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

What Will You Do?

Today I was reminded of a good song: 

What will you do with the time that's left Will you live it all with no regret? Will they say that you loved till your final breath? What will you do with the time that's left? 
Oh, Hallelujah! Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen 
What will you do with the time that's past? Oh and all the pain that seems to last? Can you give it to Jesus and not look back? What will you do with the time that's past? 
Oh, Hallelujah! Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Amen 
What will He say when your time has come? When He takes you into His arms of love? With tears in His eyes will He say well done? What will He say when your time has come? 
Oh, Hallelujah! Oh, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! (Lord be present in all my ways, help me follow You all my days oh Father God) Amen 
What will you do with the time that's left? Will you live it all with no regret Will they say that you loved till your final breath? What will you do with the time?

We have a limited  time on earth... very limited. In the span of history, our life is a mere breath. I am challenged today to examine what I am want to do with the time I have left. What will you do?

 

Praying for Others

Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives"

How often do you pray for your friends? Some people we pray for daily, perhaps your pastor or a member of your Bible study who is struggling. But how often do you pray that your friends and acquaintances are filled with the knowledge of God's will? How often do you approach the throne of God asking for the wisdom and understanding of the Spirit to overflow the hearts of those around you. Paul says that he has never stopped praying for the Colossians. We should take after Paul and never stop praying for each other. 

Suffering

Profound is the intersection of Christ's suffering and our own. We often overlook the presence of Christ in our deepest, darkest hurts. 

In Isaiah we read, "He grew up before him like a tender shoot,  and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,  nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.He was despised and rejected by mankind,  a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain  and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,  stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (emphasis added)

The theology of the cross is rooted in suffering. How then can we assume that God is most deeply met on the other side of suffering instead of in the midst of suffering? Jesus suffered in ways that we cannot begin to imagine. Where there is suffering, Christ is there. Isaiah makes it clear that Jesus bore all the suffering on the cross. Therefore, in the midst of the hardest things of life the cross is clearly there too. It is up to recognize the hand of God even when things that are terrible.

Paul talks about the fellowship of suffering leading to grace (Philippians 3). While this is true, there is a greater dimension than just grace. There is commonality with Christ. In our suffering, we are more like Christ than we realize. Christ begged for the cup of the cross to pass from him, but then told His Father (and ours) that it was not his will but God's that he wanted. How often do we beg for our trials, suffering and pain to pass from us? How often do we overlook the second part of Christ's request? Do we often ask God that His will be done even if it means our temporary discomfort? As finite humans, we cannot determine what is good and what is evil. However, we do know that all things work together for good; so the suffering that we encounter will be used by God.

Look closely again at the cross and tell me that the suffering was not worth it. I realize that is an absurd request. We know quite well that the suffering on the cross brought redemption to the world. 

I have many times asked why must I go through a certain obstacle. Perhaps that is the wrong question. Maybe in the middle of a trial I should ask: How am I responding to my current situation? Is it the right way to respond? Am I learning something from this? Am I showing my faith in God, my love for Christ and my commitment to follow him? 

There is a deeper answer in the why. Why is there suffering in general? Well, we are living in a fallen world. We sometimes suffer as a result of our own sin. Other times it is a bigger part of God's plan or discipline. There is no one answer to why suffering and pain are a part of this life. Therein-lies the problem of theodicy (a topic for another day).

Yes, suffering is painful and perplexing. Yet, if we let it, suffering can be purposeful. We must learn to use our deepest pains as a witness to God's unending faithfulness.

I Want to Follow

Ten years ago, when this picture was taken, I wanted to follow God with all that I had. This is true today too, but it is so different at 29 than it was at 19. I know longer want to be a United Methodist bishop some day. I am not a student. I want to be a writer. The desire to write for God and for education is overwhelming.

If you would have told me all the places I would follow the wrong motives, I wouldn't have believed you. Had you postulated the difficulties I would be facing, I would have been defensive and hurt. However, the truth is when I haven't followed God my life has gotten messed up. The truth is only God can give me a path worth following.

The Beauty of Silence

I love quiet evenings. Just to be still and listen to God, life and the dreams of my heart. They always remind me that God wasn't in the earthquake or the violent wind. He was in a still small voice...

What Christians Have Forgotten

I believe all Christians, myself included, have forgotten something extremely important. What is it? "That all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" Romans 3. I have sinned more than I care to admit. I also have some emotional and mental difficulties that make life harder for me than I would like it to be. However, is my sin worse than someone who gossips? Is my sin worse than that of an adulterer? Is my sin on the same level as a murderer? Well, the sucky thing is all sin is the same in God's eyes except for the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. So, no, my sin isn't worse, but it isn't better or different than the sin of anyone else. I shouldn't view anyone else's sin differently than my own. We ALL need Christ's forgiveness and each other's grace. Do we deserve it? No, absolutely not. Is it understandable if people don't forgive? Yes, unfortunately, just like I have grudges against people...

As for me, I am going to spend the day trying to be grateful that God's justification, redemption and salvation for me. I am also going to try to extend forgiveness in my heart for the bitterness I feel towards some people.

Feelings are Hard

Today has held many feelings. Emotions running rampant is a hard thing to manage. I am taking some comfort in the fact that Jesus had feelings too. He wept; he flipped tables out of anger; he begged God to let the cup pass from him and he loved his disciples. But overall today has been hard. Feelings are hard. They aren't always rational or convenient. However, they are so hard to ignore. Tears prick behind the eyes and beg to fall, how do you ignore them? Anger boils and wants to lash out, how do you real it in? Happiness bubbles but is inappropriate to express. Fear paralyzes, hope refuels, sadness consumes and the list could go on. Here is hoping to a rest filled night and a God filled tomorrow with a few less emotions.

Does Jesus Wear Blue Scrubs?

I recently spent six days in Parkview Regional Medical Center (just a fancy way of saying a big honking hospital). You can learn a lot about yourself and the world in six days. You can also learn a lot about people... particularly nurses. Nurses dedicate their vocation (and yes I use the word vocation with intention to see how it is a calling) to caring for the sickest among us. They wade through blood, poop, blown IVs, vomit, being yelled at and worse. Sometimes all that occurs in a matter of minutes other times days, but their's is a tough road.

While at PRMC, I received the best care anyone could have ever asked for. Every 12 hours the shift would change but the level of care never did. Each person who walked into my room in blue scrubs treated me exactly how they would have treated their best friend, mother, daughter or spouse. I was treated with respect, dignity, and, yes, even love. My nurses comforted me in the night, explained what they were doing and even took walks with me. So my question stands: Does Jesus wear blue scrubs? Because it sure felt like I was in a holy presence when I was with these individuals. If only we were all a bit more like them.

God's Twists

I can not tell you how many times my path towards the heart of Christ has taken a turn. God knows far better than I do what I truly want or need. Well, today that path took another turn... I will be housing a 17 year old start Thursday until the end of the school year. Your prayers and advice are greatly welcomed.

Matthew 25:35-36

I have been thinking a lot lately about Matthew 25:35-36, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." After being in the hospital for six days, I can tell you that I was all of those things: hungry, thirsty, a stranger, in need of clothes and a shower, sick, and in a form of prison tethered to an IV machine and limited to one floor of the hospital to walk. 

I will never forget those who cared for me and those who visited me. Conversely I will also never forget those who didn't visit me because they had better things to do. Well, I should dwell on that because it will just make me bitter. I can say that the people who cared for me have a very special place in my heart for I was the least of these and they took care of me as if I were someone of great importance. 

Thank you all for your prayers and such. Have a wonderful weekend. 

So...

What is your favorite Bible passage? We ask this question to one another when there is a ebb in the conversation or when we really need guidance on passages we should read. But how do we really answer that? I mean it is the Bible after all- is one passage truly better than all the rest? To God, no; however, to us there are passages that always deeply touch us and others that are important for a season.

How do I currently answer that question? I recite John 10:10 and John 16:33 "The enemy comes only to kill,
 steal and destroy but I have come to give you life and life abundantly... In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world!" And then I add on right now I am stuck on "So it came to pass..." It is in the Bible dozens of times. It gives me hope because whatever was going on it came to pass. It was over there was something new. Life has a lot of junk in it but it all comes to pass or we learn to live with it so our attitude passes.

What is one thing you would like to see come to pass?

Vulnerability

I am usually fairly transparent on here, but today I am going to be down right vulnerable. I am not doing this for your sympathy or your comments; I am doing this so you may understand what me and people like me go through. 

In October 1988, President Ronald Reagan Proclaimed October as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. “When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn’t a word to describe them. This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, SIDS, and other causes.”

I have never had the joy or privilege of holding my breathing, squirming, pink new born. And I never will. I had a medically necessary hysterectomy at the age of twenty seven. I have lost the ability to ever experience biological motherhood. It was and is sad. 

Last night at church I was holding and snuggly little baby. As she cozied right in against my chest, I looked at her with awe. Babies are an incredible miracle from God. Even though I was nearly breath-taken by how amazing it is that this tiny human was made from a single cell, I had a moment when I was just sad. I had a moment when I thought I will never walk in the middle of the night with a restless baby that I have given birth to. I will never nourish a baby from my own body.

It is hard when it seems like everyone my age is popping out babies; however, I am not the only who is in this situation. For me and for others like me, I beg you if we don't offer you an explanation of why we don't have kids please don't ask. This is not the hand that I wanted to be dealt but it is the hand I have to live with. 

New and Improved

Many things offer us a "New and Improved" experience. My cereal this morning made that claim; I, however, would have preferred the old and plain. Their new recipe was not an improvement.

I think about this in comparison and contrast to the things of this world. Many things offer to make us better. The new and improved version of ourselves. Whether it be an exercise program or a college class, the world is offering an improvement to our current circumstance. Yes, these things may enrich our lives; nonetheless, only one thing can make us truly new and most definitely improved. That one thing is Christ. Christ's recipe for our life is to give us life and give it to the full. While the world's recipe may offer things of grandeur in the end they are only of death.

Like my cereal, claims of improvement can only be measured by experiencing them. I hope and pray that I experience Christ in some new way today.

John 1

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word WAS God.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

Jesus is the Word. Everything that was created was because of the Word. Christ became flesh and made his dwelling among us-- Emmanuel. I find it interesting that this passage specifically says among US. It doesn't say among them it says among us. Jesus is still the incarnate Christ, who intentionally made his dwelling among us. "He did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it" (John 3:17 but I get ahead of myself).

The Christ who was present, although in a different way, in the Old Testament, who became incarnate in the New Testament still lives among us, in us and through us.

John

Tomorrow I will be starting a long series on John. I have been doing the preliminary work for a long time. I just haven't felt much like doing this... the blogging, the talking about things that are hard, the trying to explain why in my world (that is crazy to put it mildly) Jesus makes sense. Nonetheless, I must come back to writing regularly. I need to focus on Jesus my writing typically helps that. So tomorrow I will look at John 1.

Moments of Grace

This is an extremely difficult blog for me to write. Grace is a tough subject for me and the moments of grace and lack there of were also challenging.

I am going through a tough time at church, directly an indirectly my fault. I have been working on making ammends and whatnot (sorry this is even harder than I thought it would be). In this process I have seen very clearly the two ends of the spectrum of giving grace to others. On one hand there are those who want me in church, and while still guarded, welcome me back. Those are showing the grace and love of Christ and I am so very greatful. However, there is the other hand, these individuals don't even want me in the same county as them let alone the same room. These ladies avoid direct contact, refuse to say hello, and generally ignore my presence.

I know I was wrong and I'm sorry. Nonetheless, you either believe in grace or you don't. And even though grace is hard for me I believe in it. I also believe that there is nothing as transformative as the redemption of Christ and a close second is to have the grace of a believer extended to me as needed. These pictures and moments of grace have taught me a lot about myself and about what others truly believe.

I hope you all have the chance to extend grace to someone today.