Jesus Comes for the Humble

At Christmas, God's Child gave up the majesty and beauty of heaven, to come down to this earthly, broken world.
Consider the person God chose to bear his Child in human form - Mary, likely a teenage girl from a poor family.  Mary had little in what we consider advantages for a teenager - education, things,- but she had faith and a willingness to serve.  That's all that one needs, to be used by God - a trust in God and willingness to serve.

Look at whom God's angels first announced the divine birth to - the shepherds.  Really!?  Shepherds?
There had been a time, centuries before, when shepherds were good, honest, upright people.  Maybe you're familiar with the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23.  That was during Israel's good days.  The priests were also called shepherds, those who cared for Israel's spiritual needs & represented the people before God.

But as the years went by, Israel's shepherd-priests were not always faithful.  In fact, by the time one gets to the Old Testament prophets, shepherd-priests were criticized for their faithlessness & misleading the people. Jeremiah 10:21 says, The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.  Jeremiah 23:1-2 says, “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. ² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord.

Ezekiel 34:2 says, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

By the time of the New Testament, shepherds could not enter the temple, because living out in the fields with the sheep, they did not keep the Jewish laws of cleanliness.  Because they were seen as untrustworthy, they were not allowed to testify in court.

Yet, when it came time for God to announce the birth of his Son to the world, God sent his angels to shepherds out in the fields - amazing & ironic!

Perhaps you have felt or done faithless, dirty or untrustworthy things, like the shepherds.  The great news is that God's Son has come for people like that.  The message of Christmas is for lowly, humble people whom the world looks down upon.

Then look at the setting in which God's Son was born - in the stable (a barn), a place where you find animals and manure.  Not a place for a royal child to be born.  A manger is a feeding trough for animals -not the place for a royal Child!  You'd expect to find God's Child in a majestic place, a place fit for a king, not an animal in a barn.  When you go out to the barn, you don't expect to find a child in an animal feeding trough, much less the newborn Son of God!

The whole scene seems so mixed up.  Or is it?
Is it possible that God specifically chose this scene for his Child to enter the world?

Instead of announcing his Son's birth to kings, presidents or the news media, God sends his messengers to the lowest of the lowly, the shepherds.  God doesn't announce it to a full crowd in the temple, or even at a college bowl game.  No, God chooses some of the humblest people on earth, in a dirty, earthly setting.  The whole scene shouts HUMILITY - Mary, shepherds in a pasture, a manger in a stable. 

God's making it clear that his Son is coming for lowly, humble people.  No, Christmas is not about being the best, or the brightest or the biggest or the loudest.  No, Christmas is for those who are lowly, humble, faithful.  Maybe events in the last year or two have humbled you, and perhaps you feel lower than you've felt in a long time.  If that's true, then Christmas is for you.

God's sending his Son to earth at Christmas, was God's way of pursuing his people, because God longs to have a relationship with everyone, including you.

Mary was a humble servant of God, who was willing to serve and be used.
The scene of the manger in the stable was a humble setting for God's Son to be born.
God's angels announced the royal birth to lowly, humble shepherds who accepted the message & went to Bethlehem to see & worship the newborn Jesus.
God sent Jesus to those who are humble.  Jesus comes to the humble.

The question for each of us is, do we have the humility to admit that we cannot overcome our sins on our own, that we need help from a Higher Power.  Do you have the humility to bow down before Jesus as the shepherds did?

O come let us adore him; o come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.
Let us bow our hearts & heads before the newborn King.
Come & worship, come & worship, Christ the King!

What Jesus could teach men about masculinity, by Daniel Fusco

He was the most powerful person in history. But instead of exploiting relationships to fulfill his selfish desires, he humbled himself and served others.

With each passing day, I see another headline. Another well-known person is accused or fired. I’m talking about sexual harassment. Sexual abuse. We can’t miss it. It's running rampant in our culture. And it’s sickening.

None of us had any idea how bad things would get. Every day we are waiting to see who will be next. It has reached far and wide, from talking heads on TV shows to celebrity chefs to the highest office in our land. Then it dawns on us … the news is only reporting the cases of abuse that involve famous people.

What is worse is that sexual abuse has been everywhere for a long time. Long before the mainstream news media reported these atrocities and long before the balance of power moved from the perpetrators to the victims, many women were reporting abuses to their superiors with no recourse, or suffering in silence. But, thankfully, that is changing.

When we hear these stories, our hearts break for the victims. As a person of faith, this concern extends as well to the oppressed and marginalized. I am grateful that moving forward, men using their positions of power and influence to harass, demean or objectify women will be unacceptable. The “boys will be boys” idea, or whatever ways people try to justify this behavior, is finally seeing its long overdue demise.

As a pastor, it’s not lost on me that this is coming to light at the end of the calendar year, at a time we commonly know as the Christmas season. This special time is meant to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Whatever people’s feelings about Jesus, the reason for the birth of this child was to demonstrate what real humility looks like. God coming to our world as a child and ultimately dying on a cross for the forgiveness of humankind … that is the message of Christmas. And it rings out today as a unique sound, in light of all that is happening.

Any time a person is abused or harassed, it is wrong. And it’s even more alarming when abusers leverage positions of power as opportunities to prey on people. Yet even as human culture has celebrated many thousands of Christmas seasons past, we have yet to really grasp the message of Christmas, and the message of Jesus.

When we consider Jesus, we realize he was the most powerful person in history. He had the most influence on people. And yet, instead of exploiting relationships to fulfill his selfish desires, his life was always about God’s will for him and God’s heart for people. Jesus humbled himself and served others. He showed up as a helpless child. As a grown man, he chose to die on the cross. He ultimately shows us that power does not have to be a means to a selfish end. God wants our positions of influence and power to be an opportunity to humble ourselves, and bless and serve our community and our world. Jesus, rather than seeing himself as superior to others, fully identified with our human condition and served us.

When I think of Jesus and the message he brought at Christmas, I am troubled that 2,000 years after he walked on the earth, masculinity is still trying to figure out its appropriate and proper expression. Far too many men feel that an oppressive, objectifying and demeaning view of women is just how we are — when the whole time Jesus is there, serving as the ultimate example of masculinity, for us to understand and emulate.

Our culture might not realize it, but it is crying out for real masculinity. And Jesus has always been that. I am hoping we will look at him with fresh eyes this Christmas and ask God how we can take on more of the qualities of Jesus. A heart to stand in the gap for other people, to see them in whatever state they are in, and push away any other thought than: God, how do you see this person, and how can I bless them today?

On the other side of the coin, this Christmas I am especially reminded that Christmas is a message of hope. Jesus not only came to show us a new way of living, he ultimately came to bring forgiveness. I am not recommending any get-out-of-jail free cards for anyone who has perpetrated these evils that are being exposed. But we cannot forget that all of us are in need of forgiveness.

Even on my best day, I fail in innumerable ways. I don’t always get it right, and I can hurt others. We all struggle and we are all in process, and the reality God brought at Christmas was a celebration of taking the next step in relationship with God and responding to his desires for us.

I am so grateful that Jesus isn’t done with me yet. And for everyone who has victimized others, I pray this Christmas they will find the way to true spiritual renewal, through the message of Jesus.

Daniel Fusco, author of Upward, Inward, Outward, is the pastor of Crossroads Community Church (Vancouver, Wash., and Portland, Ore.), and hosts TV show Real with Daniel Fusco on the Hillsong Channel. Follow him on Twitter: @danielfusco

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/12/12/what-jesus-could-teach-chefs-celebrities-president-masculinity-daniel-fusco-column/942295001/

Busting Holiday Stress: 6 Ways to Make the Season Happy & Healthy

Lynn Allison 
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/holiday-stress-buster/2017/12/07/id/830539/

The winter holidays can bring feelings of happiness, love, and genuine joy. But for millions of Americans they also bring unhealthy stress levels that can negatively impact your body and mind.

Dr. Judy Kuriansky, a noted New York-based psychologist, tells Newsmax Health it’s important to come up with strategies for managing holiday stress, beginning with keeping perspective and balance between now and New Year’s Day.

“The key to making this season happy — and maybe for the first time in your adult life — is to examine the triggers that cause your stress and diffuse them before they explode,” Kuriansky says.
“And that means being honest with yourself and your limitations. We all know the serenity prayer that reminds us to know the difference between what we can control and what we can’t. The source of discontentment during this busy season is not being realistic — not truly seeing our situation for what is, and expecting people and things to change.”

According to a report compiled by the American Psychological Association, holiday stress has the greatest impact on women who customarily take charge of many of the holiday celebrations — particularly the tasks of preparing the meals and decorating the home.

Women are also most likely to be the ones shopping for and wrapping gifts. They have a harder time relaxing during the holidays and are more likely to fall into bad habits to manage their stress, like comfort eating.

"Studies show that our appetite for sweets increases quite dramatically when we experience chronic stress which makes the holiday season prime time for expanding your waistline,” Dr. Heidi Hanna, executive director of the American Institute for Stress, tells Newsmax Health. “Don’t deprive yourself of the occasional treat but practice eating slowly, calmly and mindfully.”

Financial stress, especially in times of economic woes, can also wreak havoc in families struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. Lack of money, lack of time and the hype and commercialism of the holiday season play upon the emotions and may cause family discord instead of harmony.

These startling statistics tell the story. When people were asked what feelings they experienced most during the holiday season, they reported:
·         Fatigue — 68 percent
·         Stress — 61 percent
·         Irritability — 52 percent
·         Sadness — 36 percent
·         Anger — 35 percent
·         Loneliness — 26 percent
In fact, the APA reports that nearly three-quarters of the people surveyed say that they experience stress levels that exceed what they define as healthy.

Here are some more interesting statistics
·         Americans spend about $525 billion over the holiday season with online spending increasing 12 percent annually.
·         The average person spends just under $1,200 over the holidays including food, gifts and travel.
·         At least 23 percent of holiday expenses are charged to a credit card with over 6 million people borrowing to pay for Christmas each year.
·         One third of bankruptcies filed in March is caused by overspending at Christmas.
To keep your financial house in order, keep an open dialogue with family and friends about gift giving. Many families draw names from a hat and chose one person to gift which dramatically cuts down holiday costs.

In addition to financial stresses, the holidays can boost family tensions. Not every family is blessed with Brady Bunch dynamics. Getting together during the holiday season can cause massive stress.
“Food is a huge issue,” says Kuriansky. “When families sit at the table together, all of a sudden they’re all kids again fighting over who gets the drumstick, who is being a glutton or who is not eating enough. We all become little children again with petty fighting and grievances.”
Acknowledging these dynamics is the first step to reversing negative consequences.

“For example, if your super critical sibling once again mentions how dry the turkey is, be prepared to ignore her.” advises Kuriansky. “This year, shine the light of your attention on something positive and simply flip the switch when she begins her usually criticisms. Things only bother us if we give them our attention. So make that shift from annoyance to gratitude.”

Here are more quick tips from the American Psychological Association:
Take time for yourself. There may be pressure to be everything to everyone but remember that you are only one person and can only accomplish certain things. Take a long walk, get a massage, or simply put your feet up and listen to fine music.

Don’t neglect your physical health. If you have a regular exercise routine, don’t give it up. Exercise releases natural feel-good hormones that can combat stress.

Set realistic expectations. No Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanza or any other holiday celebration is perfect. Look at the inevitable mistakes or mishaps as opportunities to demonstrate resilience and flexibility. Learn to let go of perfectionist idealism because it does not exist.

Volunteer. What better way to appreciate what you’ve got than to help others who have less? You can “adopt” a less fortunate family and make their holiday shine. You can wrap gifts for foster children, serve at a soup kitchen, volunteer at homeless shelter, or participate in a giving tree celebration that benefits communities at large.

Remember what’s important. The barrage of holiday advertising can make us forget what the holiday season is really about. When your expense list is running longer than your monthly budget, scale back and remind yourself that what makes a great celebration is family, not store-bought presents, elaborate decorations, or gourmet food.

Seek support. Talk about your feelings of anxiety with friends and family. Getting things out in the open can help you navigate through the holiday season with less resentment and anger. In addition, being honest with your loved ones can help find a solution for your stress. If you continue to feel overwhelmed, consider seeking a professional to help you manage your holiday stress.

Longing for Peace

December 21 was the day chosen by my wife’s doctor and her, the day for her c-section and the birth of our third child.  It was on a Monday morning at the small hospital eight miles from our home.  You would think that by the birth of our third child, we would have had the routine down pat, but there are always some unexpected surprises.  And December always seems crazy around our house.

We got up very early on the appointed day.  We took our two young children to the family in our church who had offered to watch them.  I drove my wife to the hospital, arriving at five am.  At that time of day, the hospital seemed quiet and peaceful.  They began to prep my wife for the c-section, and I left the hospital room.  There’s not much to do in a small, rural hospital at 5:30 am.  So I started walking slowly down the hallway.  One patient room’s door was open, and the clock radio came on, playing that old, familiar carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

Many years have passed since that day.  The baby born on that December day is now a young adult living in another city.  For most of those 20-plus years, I took peace for granted.  But in recent years, there doesn’t seem to be much peace in our world.  War is always going on somewhere.  Another family is falling apart, leaving the children to be carted from home to home.  Any peace seems just temporary, until another storm, another conflict, another disaster happens.  

Lately, I find myself longing for peace, for real, lasting peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 promises, 

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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

If you too long for genuine lasting peace during this Advent season, turn to the One who is the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah promised that there were be no end to his peace.  There is no place else in this world to turn to, for real, lasting peace.  So turn to the only One who can bring you such peace. 

“Take me out of this ballgame”

http://pres-outlook.org/2007/01/take-me-out-of-this-ballgame

Why is America so sports crazy? Why am I so sports crazy?

My eligibility to play on college athletic teams expired thirty years ago. I now have children older than the young men and women who are vying for national championships. Yet my interest in the outcome of those games — and, at times, my irrational responses to what I am seeing on the court and on the field — seem to be accelerating.

Why do millions of people experience happier days when their teams win, but feel sick to their stomachs after losses? Domestic abuse typically rises in metro areas whenever the local franchise chalks up an “L.” Sports stars aren’t only performers. They are “heroes.” The average annual salary for Major League Baseball players is greater than the lifetime earnings of tens of millions of American workers. Has our national sports fixation become a form of mental illness? ESPN advertises its NFL broadcasts with this slogan: “When you love it this much, nothing else matters.”  For the diehard sports fan no alternative view is imaginable.

Unquestionably the socializing that is frequently associated with spectator sports can be a welcome antidote to relational isolation. Fascination with athletic competition keeps a lot of people talking around the water cooler. Whole communities come together to experience The Big Game. Apart from sports some family members would struggle to find common ground. Think of that poignant scene from City Slickers in which Daniel Stern’s middle-aged character reflects that when he and his dad couldn’t find anything to talk about, they could always talk about baseball. Three cheers for the myriad ways that sports bring people together.

Other associations with seasonal games aren’t nearly so redemptive. It’s hard to overlook the symbiosis of major sports with gambling, alcohol, sexual images, and violence.

Theories abound concerning the rise of Sports Nation. Perhaps sports are a form of representative combat. Hating the Yankees is a safe and socially acceptable way of thumbing our noses at the Big Apple for its bigger-than-life arrogance. Others suggest that sports-crazed people (men, in particular) become ravenous fans because their own lives seem so dull and lifeless. Their personal dreams are stillborn. Vicarious success is just a televised touchdown pass or grand slam away.

As a pastor I am convinced that our church’s “competition” is not the Lutherans, the Methodists or that independent mega-church that’s mushrooming down the street. Would-be disciples of Jesus are torn between attending worship or supporting their kids’ 11:00 a.m. Sunday soccer league. The population thins in our sanctuary every time the local NFL franchise, the Indianapolis Colts, take the field at midday Sunday. (To be fair, our pastoral counseling opportunities soar every January when the Colts flame out in the playoffs.)

But the real effect of sports-as-life-itself cannot be documented as easily as attendance figures. We live in a culture of distraction. Our fascination with Hollywood, escapist vacations, political scandals, and the trivial details of the lives of celebrities — do Brad and Angelina truly love each other? — is symptomatic of the fact that many of those in our pews are not even acquainted with life’s great questions.

Addiction to sports can be a serious challenge to spiritual formation — that lifelong endeavor that requires relentless seeking of God’s kingdom through such disciplines as silence, solitude, and study. Manic attention to spectator events steals irreplaceable time from marriages, friendships and parenting. Today’s average couple works one thousand more hours per year than in 1975. Do we really want to turn on the TV as constant background noise when we finally find time to be with each other? Is it normal for dads to know more about the struggles of their fantasy players than the stresses faced by their own kids?

OK, I’m convicted. My name is Glenn. I am an addict. I watch too many hours of SportsCenter. I shouldn’t know (or care) about Chad Pennington’s double rotator cuff surgery. The beauty of autumn days should not be compromised because my favorite team may blow the World Series. With God’s help I will spend fewer hours in front of the TV and more time attending to the precious people in my home. As a pastor I will not dodge the issue of sports addiction as a major spiritual compromise for many of my members. God deserves my attention above all.

After all, when God loves us this much, nothing else matters.

Glenn McDonald is pastor of Zionsville Church, Zionsville, Ind.

Problem Gambling in Your Community

Do you know anyone who has a problem with gambling?

One time I spoke with a man who shared his story with me.  He’d had a major financial setback a few years before.  Then he started going to the casino to play poker, which he saw as an opportunity to get his financial loss back.  The problem was that he lost more than he ever made at poker.  He kept going back to the casino, and he continued to lose money.  He continued to believe that poker was the way to get his money back, but he continued to lose money.

During this time, he lied to his wife about how he was spending his time.  He also lied about what was happening to their money.  He was too ashamed to tell her the truth.  He took out a second mortgage and went through their retirement savings.  As his losses mounted, so did his slide into depression.  He was beginning to wonder if he’d ever get his money back.  Then he thought of a way to escape his problems; he would commit suicide.  He came up with a plan. 

That was when he realized that he needed to get help.  He confessed his gambling problem and lies to his wife, and they found help for his gambling.  He had his name put on a list of people who were voluntarily banned from casinos  He started attending a 12-step group.  He was making progress in his recovery, but acknowledged that he still felt tempted to go to the casino at times.  Their marriage was improving.  Life was looking up.

There are 118 casinos in Oklahoma, which is the third most in the U.S.  Would you recognize the signs if someone you love has a gambling problem?  Did you know that gambling affects a person’s brain like drugs?  The good news is that help is available.  Here is a list of signs and symptoms of problem gambling http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-gambling/symptoms-causes/dxc-20258394 

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, google “Oklahoma problem gambling,” and you will find more resources.  If you live in another state or country, simply type in your state or country with problem gambling.

Use Your Freedom for Christ's Kingdom.

Our national interest in freedom has been renewed since 9-11.  There have many words about appreciation for our freedom and the need to protect our freedoms.  We have a renewed reverence for those who sacrificed for our freedom.  Freedom comes up in discussions about restricting individuals' behaviors.

I knew a guy who was imprisoned for 5 years.  After his release, he shared that he would never forget the sense of being watched and guarded, and that he had a new appreciation for his freedom.

Unfortunately, we’ve often abused our freedom and suffered the consequences.  Too many deserts and junk foods have added to some of our waistlines.  As youth and young adults, many of us abused our freedom by doing foolish things, and we learned from the school of hard knocks.

Galatians 5:1 says, ”It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.”  In Gal. 5:13, Paul cautions us, ”You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

I Peter 2:16-18 warns and instructs us, ”Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

I have come to see our spiritual and legal freedoms as a treasure to be guarded and protected.  It is also to be used to serve the Lord and others.  When you watch the 4^th of July fireworks, remember the sacrifices of those who gave of themselves for our freedom.  Pray for our national leaders.  Obey the instructions of Galatians and I Peter quoted above:  Live as servants of God, and use your freedom to serve others in love.  Use your freedom for Christ’s Kingdom.

In the Master’s service.

Scriptures & Sites for Chronic Pain or Chronic Illness

Some of you know that I've lived with chronic pain (fibromyalgia & spinal degeneration) for many years.  Studies show that one-third to one-half of all Americans live with chronic pain or chronic illness.    So this is a widespread issue.   So here are some Scriptures for those with chronic pain or illness.  It is not a complete list; it's just an introduction to some of them.  My hope is that some of these Scriptures and/or sites will help you or someone you know.

2 Corinthians 5:1  “If the earthly tent we live in (our bodies), is destroyed, we have a  

    building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 –Paul’s thorn in the flesh, esp. v 9, “My grace is sufficient for you,

                 for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Job, esp. chapt. 1-2, 38:1-15, 42

Galatians 6:17  “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Matt. 11:28-30 –when you’re tired & worn out

I Peter 5:10  “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,

after you have suffered a little while,

will himself restore you and make you strong, firm & steadfast.”

Psalm 6: 2-4, 6-9

Psalm 22:1-2  -David felt abandoned by God.

        Vs. 24 “For he (God) has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;      

                      he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”

Psalm 69: esp 13-17

Psalm 103: 1-5

Psalm 119:50  “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

Joseph in Gen. 37-50  -suffered unfairly, but responded in gracious ways

           50:20 to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

HOPE:

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

     plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,  

                        so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Hebrews 6:19  “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Isaiah 40:31 “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength;

                       they will soar on wings like eagles…”

ONLINE RESOURCES:

http://www.restministries.com -free chronic pain email devotionals & articles,

                                        Bible study materials, support groups called Hope Keepers

 http://www.joniandfriends.org/  -Joni Eareckson Tada, disability center, email devotionals

 http://www.theacpa.org/default.aspx  American Chronic Pain Assoc. - excellent & includes a few for family members.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/ -look up any chronic pain or illness by name

www.facebook.com/ have numerous groups for those w/ chronic pain or illness; just search for your illness.

http://www.meetup.com/North-Texas-Fibromyalgia-Support-Group  -mtgs in Dallas area.  If u go to http://www.meetup.com/, look up your kind of pain/illness & your city, u might find a meetup group near u.

Listen for the whisper.

After Elijah’s God publicly defeated the false prophets of Baal, Elijah ran away to escape the wrath of evil Queen Jezebel who’d threatened to kill him.  When he stopped, he asked the Lord to take his life because he felt lonely and exhausted.  An angel gave him food, water, and he slept.  Each time he woke up, he ate, drank, and rested.

Then I Kings 19: 11-13 reports this:

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him…

I wonder how many times I’ve missed God’s voice because I expected to hear it in something exciting like the wind, earthquake or fire, rather than in a quiet whisper.  Our lives can get so noisy and chaotic which can make it hard to hear the quiet whisper.  How often have we assumed that God wasn’t speaking to us because we couldn’t hear His quiet whisper?

In Psalm 46:10, God says, “Be still, and know that I am God.
                                             I am exalted among the nations,
                                             I am exalted in the earth!”

Maybe if we didn’t pay so much attention to the wind, earthquake or fire (the exciting things) in our lives, we would be more open to hearing God’s quiet whisper.  Can we be still long enough to hear God’s quiet whisper?  If so, life could be very different.  Why not find a place where you can be quiet and still, while listening for God’s whisper?

Lost and Found

Luke 15 has 3 of Jesus’ parables.  First, Jesus told of a sheep that was lost.  The shepherd goes and finds the lost sheep.  Then he calls his friends together and said,  “Let’s celebrate because my sheep was lost and now is found.”

Then Jesus told of a woman who lost a silver coin.  She searches high and low, and finally finds the lost coin.  Then she called her friends and said, “Let’s have a party because my coin was lost and now is found!”

Then Jesus told of a man who had 2 sons.  One son asked for his inheritance early, and went and wasted it in a foreign country.  When he came to his senses, he remembered his father and decided to return to his father.  When he got home, his father called his friends and said, “Let’s have a party because my son was lost and now is found!”

The older son was working in the back forty.  He came home and heard music and dancing.  He called a servant who said, “Oh your father is so glad because your brother was lost but now is found.”

The older brother became angry and refused to go into the party.  So his father came out and pleaded with him.  But he said, “All these years I’ve been slaving for you, and did you ever throw a party for me and my friends?  I’ll tell you the party we got; it’s called work!”  The father said, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.  But we had to celebrate and be glad, because your brother was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The Loving Father represents God’s love and forgiveness.  When we go to God humbly and admitting our sin, God, in his mercy and grace, treats us like the father who welcomed back the rebellious son.  Let us go and do likewise.

The older brother represents self-righteous individuals.   His attitude shows that his obedience to his father had been years of grim duty, not loving service.  If you’re struggling with grim duty, let your heart be found by the gracious Father.

Of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, only the son deliberately got lost, callously turning his back on his father.  But God’s love can defeat the deliberate rebellion of the heart.  Why not turn to the Loving Father today?  He is waiting and watching for you.  Go into his gracious presence today.

Running Water & the Living Water

One time a water line leak meant that all water to our house had to be shut off for 30 hours.   We were able to fill the tub & some containers with water before it was shut off.  We also had 6 gallons of water stored in a closet.  We had to pour water in the sink to wash up with.  My wife heated water on the stove to wash the dishes.  It reminded me of growing up in a house without running water, when my Mom heated water on the stove daily, to wash dishes.  According to my wife, my mmother was a saint.  Imagine pouring water into the toilet to flush.  We took showers at other places and used a neighbor's hose to refill containers. 

All things considered, it was an inconvenient adventure that we survived.  We learned a new appreciation for running water.  Do you remember the survivors of Hurricane Katrina?  Water was one of their biggest needs.  It’s possible that one day, you and I may lose running water due to a disaster.  Have you ever heard what the water supply is like in a third-world country?  Clean, running water is not to be taken for granted.

Our water experience made me think of the Water of Life.  In John 4, Jesus told the woman at the well, “Everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again.  Anyone who drinks the water I give will never become thirsty again.  The water I give him will become a spring of water, springing up to eternal life.”

Later, in John 7, in a festival in Jerusalem, “Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.  Whoever believes in Me, the same as the Bible says, streams of LIVING WATER will flow from within him.’  By this he meant the SPIRIT, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.  Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”  (See Isaiah 12:2-3, 44:3-4,  and 58:11 for the blessings of life-giving water.)  Only the Messiah could promise the LIVING WATER of the Holy Spirit to all who believed, and Jesus showed that He was the Messiah, the Savior who came to save his people from their sin.

The baptismal water represents a means of God’s grace.  We Christians believe different things about baptism, but we all agree that the water represents the cleansing mercy of Jesus, to wash one’s sins away.

If you live without running water for a day, you’ll gain a new appreciation for water.  It’s just as hard, if not harder, to live without the life-giving water of Jesus.  Go to Jesus through prayer and the Bible.  Confess your sins, and ask for forgiveness for your sins.  Pray for the help of God’s Spirit, to live as He wants us to live.  Pray for the life-giving water of Jesus, the WATER OF LIFE.

Clean, running water is not to be taken for granted.  Neither is the Water of Life. Appreciate the Living Water of the Holy Spirit, the water that comes from Jesus.

Resurrection Renewal

Signs of spring are all around us – green grass, the sound of lawnmowers, birds singing, buds blossoming, and warmer days.  We celebrated the resurrection of God’s Son, our Savior, on Easter.  God offers us new life, hope, victory over sin and death, and joy through Christ’s resurrection.  Now, like the first disciples, we seek to understand what that means to us in our daily lives.  

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

Does the resurrection mean that our problems dissolve?  Our health improves?  Our debts decrease while our income increases?  Or that home improvement project gets done without our effort?  Not necessarily.  But Christ’s new life can give us strength to face those issues, or hope and strength to stand up in the face of our problems, if we keep seeking the Master of Life.  In over 15 years of living with chronic back pain, I’ve found that God’s new life and power give me the hope and perseverance to keep moving forward.  God’s new life and hope can give you and me the strength to face issues we’ve been avoiding or fearing for years.   

"Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus."  Romans 6:8-11

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that [at] the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God, whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another.   (Job 19:25-27)

If God could take a valley of dry, dead, human bones, and make them into living, breathing humans again (Ezekiel 37), God can certainly renew your life and mine.  The key is looking to the Creator of Life to re-create our lives and hold us up in the face of difficulties.  Let us trust the One who has power over life, death, and sin.  Let us bow our heads and hearts to the Master of Life everyday in praise and prayer.  

Thoughts on the Savior's Death

Today is the day called Good Friday, the day when Jesus died.  Jesus will be dead within hours.  It seems heartbreaking, at least for those of us who loved Him.  We can blame the Jews of Jesus' day or the Roman soldiers, but actually, it was our sins.

For those who loved Jesus, there was nothing good about the day Jesus died a slow, agonizing death like a convicted criminal.  They felt confused, lost, severe loss & grief, afraid, but nothing positive or even close to "good."  For them, & I hope for some of us who seek to follow Him, that day was and is Black Friday or Death Friday.

In the words of the Lord's Supper, also called communion, we believe Jesus was the Bread of Life, broken for you and me.  The blood of Jesus was shed for us.  We believe the cup of communion represents the water of life welling up into eternal life.

Jesus is dead.  The only "good" thing is the new life that we can receive because of His death.  But if we skip the agony, grief, and darkness of these days when Jesus' body was dead, I don't believe that we fully appreciate that new life on Easter.  In a similar way, denying the grief of losing a loved one is not healthy.

Isaiah 53: 3-7 says: He was looked down on and passed over,

    a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.

One look at him and people turned away.

    We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—

    our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.

We thought he brought it on himself,

    that God was punishing him for his own failures.

But it was our sins that did that to him,

    that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!

He took the punishment, and that made us whole.

    Through his bruises we get healed.

We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.

    We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.

And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,

                on him, on him.

He was beaten, he was tortured,

    but he didn’t say a word.

Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered

    and like a sheep being sheared,

    he took it all in silence.  (The Message)

May Jesus' suffering motivate us to look at our own sins, our sins that caused His death.  I feel deep regret for my own sins, and my Savior's death makes me long to turn from my sins.  Our Savior's death can lead us to change our ways, to live as the Master desires us to live.

When we truly feel some of His pain & suffering, the sunrise on Easter morning will mean new hope and new strength, and a new stage in our walk with the Master.  I look forward to the Spirit's work in my life and yours.   Peace & grace to you.

"I Planted You Like a Choice Vine..."

Jeremiah 2:21 is a fascinating verse: “I had planted you like a choice vine of sound & reliable stock.  How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?”  That’s what God said to his people, through his prophet Jeremiah.  I believe it summarizes the plight of humankind. 

God had called Abraham & his descendants, who came to be called Israelites, to be his people.  God would provide for their needs & give them a land of their own.  In return, God expected his people to worship & obey Him.  Is that expecting too much from the One who gives you life?

God gave the land of Canaan to his people, including houses they did not build, fields & vineyards they did not plant.  Israel was a choice vine of sound stock.  But Israel rebelled & refused to serve God.  Israel served & bowed to other gods.  They broke God’s laws.  God sent his prophets to them, but they rejected them. 

God created each one of us & planted us on earth, in a place with many churches in which to worship Him.  Have we served & obeyed Him?  Sometimes, but more often, we’ve refused to serve Him & bowed to the gods of materialism, consumerism, pleasure, coveting & convenience.  We ignore or reject the messengers God sends to warn us.

In the end, God had no choice but to discipline & punish his people, by letting them be destroyed or overtaken by their enemies.  Will not God allow us to suffer the same punishment for our sins?

If you’re not trusting in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, why don’t you start trusting Him today?  God has planted you as a choice vine.  Will you live as His choice vine or like a corrupt, wild vine?