The Magnificat

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"--Luke 1.46-47
This is one line out of the "praise song" Mary, Jesus' mother, proclaimed during her visit with her cousin, Elizabeth. The whole "praise song" is referred to in Christian Tradition as the "Magnificat." It is one of the most famous prayers in the Bible and is a part of the liturgies (order or worship) in many diverse Christian denominations. It's interesting that this famous prayer was not written by someone with their doctorate in theology or even a famous preacher like Billy Graham. It sprang from the heart of a lowly, uneducated peasant girl from Ancient Times in a remote outpost of the Roman Empire. How could such a common person speak such a beautiful prayer/praise song? Because she was filled with the Holy Spirit!
We sometimes may be tempted to think that we don't have the right words or phrases to offer in prayer and praise of God. But, if we truly open our hearts to the Lord, the words are always right! In fact, the Bible reminds us that, when we pray, the "Spirit of God Himself intercedes for us." (Romans 8.26) Mary proves to us that you don't have to have an advanced degree in religion from an ivy league school to offer a beautiful and truthful prayer of thanksgiving to God! Why not open your heart to God in prayer today?

Peace on Earth

Peace on Earth?

I recently received a Christmas card that proclaimed, “Peace on Earth.” This is a familiar and solidly Scriptural Christmas greeting. It was part of the angels’ praise chorus on that first Christmas evening, almost 2,000 years ago, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14)

However, it struck me a little odd in light of recent news. That we would be proclaiming “Peace on Earth” when global wars continue to rage and when people are still losing their jobs and homes every day. That we would be proclaiming “Peace on Earth” when 30,000 children starve to death every day and five year old girls are sold in prostitution rings and brutally murdered.

The contrast is stark: a peaceful, star-filled evening with angels singing the glory of God versus the smoggy, greenhouse gas-filled world of turmoil that we live in. I sometimes feel like Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, who described this in a song from a few years back entitled, Peace on Earth: "I'm sick of hearing again and again, that there's gonna be Peace on Earth . . . Hear it every Christmas time but hope and history won't rhyme. So what's it worth, this Peace on Earth?”

We could despair of ever realizing “Peace on Earth” in the face of ever present realities. But, on second glance, there was not complete “Peace on Earth” when Jesus was born either. Jesus’ homeland had been violently overthrown and occupied by a pagan Empire. Soon after Jesus’ birth, the brutal King Herod had all Jewish boys under two years old slaughtered in a vain attempt to snuff out the new Messiah (Savior) that had been born. There was no complete “Peace on Earth” that first Christmas either. So what, then, did the angels mean?

“Peace on Earth” is part of the Kingdom of God, which is “NOW” and “NOT YET.” There will be a day, when Christ returns, that all wars will cease, all violence will be over, when God “will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.” (Revelation 21:4) That is the “NOT YET” that we await. As followers of Jesus Christ, WE are called to enact the “NOW” of the Kingdom of God, even “Peace on Earth.” How? By doing what Jesus did: sharing the Good News of salvation through Him, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, reaching out to the outcasts, loving and including children, and enacting justice for the oppressed.

If we want to see “Peace on Earth” now, then we followers of Jesus are called to enact it today! We may not be able to end global wars or save people’s jobs or homes. We may not be able to save the 30,000 children that starve to death each day. BUT WE CAN HELP SOMEONE! Mother Teresa was once asked why she was not overwhelmed by the sea of humanity and its crushing needs. She answered that she could not save the sea of humanity, but she could help one person at a time. In each person, she saw Jesus. And as Jesus said, when you feed, or clothe, or visit, or heal the “least of these,” you are doing that for Him.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the needs of the world! Just look around and see the one or two people you can help today by sharing Jesus’ love. Try one of these ideas: Call or visit someone who is grieving, lonely, or troubled. Share the Christmas story with someone. Encourage a young person. Give food to Stanly County Christian Ministries for hunger relief in our own community. Sponsor a child through World Vision or one of the other great global relief agencies.
You cannot make “Peace on (the whole) Earth,” but you can make peace just where you are. And if all Christians on Earth did that, the “NOW” and the “NOT YET” of God’s “Peace on Earth” would come a whole lot closer together!

Peace on Earth?

Peace on Earth?

I recently received a Christmas card that proclaimed, “Peace on Earth.” This is a familiar and solidly Scriptural Christmas greeting. It was part of the angels’ praise chorus on that first Christmas evening, almost 2,000 years ago, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.” (Luke 2:14)

However, it struck me a little odd in light of recent news.  That we would be proclaiming “Peace on Earth” when global wars continue to rage and when people are still losing their jobs and homes every day.  That we would be proclaiming “Peace on Earth” when 30,000 children starve to death every day and five year old girls are sold in prostitution rings and brutally murdered.

The contrast is stark:  a peaceful, star-filled evening with angels singing the glory of God versus the smoggy, greenhouse gas-filled world of turmoil that we live in.  I sometimes feel like Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, who described this in a song from a few years back entitled, Peace on Earth:  "I'm sick of hearing again and again, that there's gonna be Peace on Earth . . .  Hear it every Christmas time but hope and history won't rhyme. So what's it worth, this Peace on Earth?” 

We could despair of ever realizing “Peace on Earth” in the face of ever present realities.  But, on second glance, there was not complete “Peace on Earth” when Jesus was born either.  Jesus’ homeland had been violently overthrown and occupied by a pagan Empire.  Soon after Jesus’ birth, the brutal King Herod had all Jewish boys under two years old slaughtered in a vain attempt to snuff out the new Messiah (Savior) that had been born.  There was no complete “Peace on Earth” that first Christmas either.  So what, then, did the angels mean?

“Peace on Earth” is part of the Kingdom of God, which is “NOW” and “NOT YET.”  There will be a day, when Christ returns, that all wars will cease, all violence will be over, when God “will wipe every tear from [our] eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.” (Revelation 21:4)  That is the “NOT YET” that we await.  As followers of Jesus Christ, WE are called to enact the “NOW” of the Kingdom of God, even “Peace on Earth.”  How?  By doing what Jesus did: sharing the Good News of salvation through Him, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, reaching out to the outcasts, loving and including children, and enacting justice for the oppressed.  

If we want to see “Peace on Earth” now, then we followers of Jesus are called to enact it today!  We may not be able to end global wars or save people’s jobs or homes.  We may not be able to save the 30,000 children that starve to death each day.  BUT WE CAN HELP SOMEONE!  Mother Teresa was once asked why she was not overwhelmed by the sea of humanity and its crushing needs.  She answered that she could not save the sea of humanity, but she could help one person at a time.  In each person, she saw Jesus.  And as Jesus said, when you feed, or clothe, or visit, or heal the “least of these,” you are doing that for Him.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the needs of the world!  Just look around and see the one or two people you can help today by sharing Jesus’ love.  Try one of these ideas:  Call or visit someone who is grieving, lonely, or troubled.  Share the Christmas story with someone.  Encourage a young person.  Give food to Stanly County Christian Ministries for hunger relief in our own community. Sponsor a child through World Vision or one of the other great global relief agencies.  

You cannot make “Peace on (the whole) Earth,” but you can make peace just where you are.  And if all Christians on Earth did that, the “NOW” and the “NOT YET” of God’s “Peace on Earth” would come a whole lot closer together!

Prepare

"As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him."--Luke 3.4
There are so many preparations to be made in this busy season of the year! In the midst of all this how can we prepare our hearts for the birthday of the King of kings and Lord of lords? Somewhere in the midst of black Friday sales of 300 inch plasma t.v.'s, Rudolph's animated movie, and jingle bells, the still small voice of God is speaking. God could completely overwhelm all the secular holiday noise and come in with all His power and majesty and with one breath, blow it all away. But God chooses NOT to do that. Why?
Because God chooses to remain just hidden enough from view that we must seek Him. In the seeking, we show our true hunger for Him, we appreciate Him that much more, and we grow spiritually in the process.
How do you prepare for the coming of Jesus this Christmas season? Exactly what you're doing right now! Take just a few minutes to reflect on God's Word to us in the Bible each day. Turn off the frantic jingle bell mania music and listen to the stillness. There you will hear the voice of God. "Prepare the way of the Lord!"
P.S. By the way, the term "Black Friday" really belongs to the church, not the merchants! The original meaning of "Black Friday" is the Friday before Easter, when Jesus died on the cross for us and for our salvation. Church, let's take that term back to its true meaning!

Release

"If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"--Matthew 6.30
In this passage in Matthew, Jesus is reminding his disciples and us that our lives are in God's hands. Surely, in Jesus' time, there was a lot to worry about. Israel was occupied by the foreign forces of a nation that worshiped false gods. Taxes were high, the real estate market had bottomed out, and jobs were insecure at best. Sound familiar?
Into this desperate situation, Jesus challenges his disciples to "consider the lilies of the field," to consider how God cares for the smallest parts of His Creation. If God takes care of mere grass, certainly He will take care of you, his prized child! And that is exactly what you are!
There is a certain form of release that Jesus is suggesting in this passage, releasing our lives, our loved ones' lives, all Creation into God's loving hands. It is not all up to us. God is in control. As you give thanks this week around the Thanksgiving table, remember that "It is God's grace that has brought you safe thus far and God's Grace will lead you home!"

The Truth

John 18.37: "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
The almost limitless sources of information in our world never cease to amaze me! Through the internet, we have access to every major newspaper in the world (and most minor ones too!) Cable and satellite television provide news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Add to that the number of reference web sites (such as Wikipedia) and personal blogs. Add to that the "traditional" sources of information like the local and regional newspapers, newscasts, oh, and don't forget the latest gossip from your co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends and you have a staggering amount of information that you can access each day!
There is no doubt that we have all the information and data any human being could ever want or handle. My question, though, is HOW MUCH OF IT IS TRUTH? Research has shown that most Americans regard most of what they see on t.v. each day as at least half-truths and at worst, outright lies. A wise teacher I had once noted that politicians lie to us sometimes because we really don't want to hear the truth from them. Unfortunately, many of us find that an easy lie seems more tolerable than a hard truth.
But, in the end, the TRUTH is what will set us free. The Bible and especially the gospels remind us that JESUS IS THE TRUTH! He is the very embodiment of the TRUTH about God, about us, about life, and about the Universe.
I encourage you today to spend some time in the TRUTH, which is Jesus. One direct way to do this is to simply pick up the Bible and turn to one of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. In these gospels, the TRUTH of Jesus Christ is relayed to us in its purest form. Why not turn off the t.v. today for just a few moments and listen to that TRUTH?

refuge

"Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge."--Psalm 16.1
Do you have a refuge? Do you have a safe place where you can retreat for renewal, rest, and recreation? All humans need this. For our world is a busy place, a place of constant movement, a world obsessed with productivity.
The psalmist reminds us that we need a place of refuge, a place of renewal, and that God is at the center of that. If you don't have a holy place of refuge, I recommend that you make one. It can be as simple as a cross you hang on the wall. It can be your night stand where you read your Bible. It can be wherever you light a candle during your time of prayer. It can be a special place in nature. We all need a special place to pray and be present with God. Carve one out for yourself today! God is inviting you today to come apart, just for a little while and be renewed by His Life-Giving Spirit.

Letting God in on it

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain."--Psalm 127.1
This psalm is a reminder to me that ultimately, my life is in God's hands. Ultimately, the outcome of history is also in God's hands. God's will is going to get done!
So the question for you and me today is: Are we letting God in on our plans or are we just working away at our own agendas without Him? How often are we tempted to make up our minds what needs to happen in situations without consulting our Lord? Of course, if we consult the Lord, then we must prepare to be subject to His will. Perhaps this is the secret reason we don't consult God so much of the time: We want to be our own God. We want things our way. But in the long run, we can't work against God. In the end, God will get things done in His plan for completion, not ours.
I invite you today to let God in on what you're doing. Ask for His direction and will to be done. Life goes much smoother if we are working WITH God and NOT AGAINST God!

an eternal feast

Isaiah 25:6-8: "On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken."
In our day to day existence, it is easy to forget that this world, with all its problems and challenges is passing away. "For this world in its present form is passing away." (1Corinthians 7.31) The trials that seem to last so long, the problems that hem us in a corner, the pain that never seems to go away, all these things will come to an end one day! The vision that Isaiah conveys to us is of God setting a rich feast for his people. And one of the most beautiful parts is the image of God wiping the tears away from our faces, taking away all that causes us pain.
Hold on to that vision today! Remember that YOU ARE PROMISED AN ETERNAL PLACE OF PEACE WITH GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT AND ALL FOLLOWERS OF JESUS!

Try Jesus!

"Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed are those who take refuge in him." (Psalm 34.8)
When I was growing up, there was a humorous cereal commercial that used to play on t.v. There were some young boys who were sitting at the breakfast table despairing that they had to try this "new healthy cereal." Suddenly, one of them looks at his younger brother and says, "Give it to Mikey, he'll try anything." Mikey then proceeded to chow down the cereal, enjoying every bite. To which the older brother declares, "Hey Mikey! He likes it!" The guinea pig has performed well! Presumably, the older brother can now eat the cereal with no fear that it will be "yucky."
We humans are kind of like Mikey. We will try anything at least once. The psalm writer for today declares that we should also try the Lord: "Taste and see that the Lord is good." Some of us have tasted more of the world than we would like to admit. Still, the invitation is open: TRY Jesus! You see, the psalm writer knows that if we really try God, if we really worship and serve the Lord, we will not be disappointed. There is no better way to live. (I do not mean that there will never be trials. But the trails will come whether we serve God or not. Bu do we want to be alone in those trials or do we want the Lord of the Universe to help us? Do we want to live life as meaningless randomness or do we want to have purpose, direction, and eternal life with the God who made us? The choice is ours).
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement once gave some interesting directions for singing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs. He wrote, "Sing [God's songs] lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan."
Most of us have flirted with sin at some level in our lives (whether it be gossip, wanting what others have, making idols of money or possessions, judging others, gluttony, selfishness, sexual sin, greed, or breaking our promises.) NOW is the time to try Jesus, to accept Him as Savior and Lord of our lives. "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"

God is with you!

Psalm 24:1-2: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers."
"The earth is the Lord's and ALL that is in it." Those words flow over me like a cooling mountain stream. I belong to the Lord! You belong to the Lord! And there is no where that we can go in all Creation that is away from the Lord's presence. Yes, there are some "dark valleys" in which we don't emotionally feel the Lord's presence. There are some trials that we go through that try to make us doubt the Lord's presence. There are some heartbreaks that come upon us that try our faith. BUT GOD IS STILL THERE!
Where are you today? Are you at a trying job, doubting that you can get your work done? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Does school seem to be more than you can handle? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Are you doubting that your job will even last another day? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Have you lost your job in these uncertain economic times? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Do you have a loved one who is facing terrible health? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Are you facing health concerns that cause anxiety and fear? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
Do you just have the blah's today? THE LORD IS WITH YOU!
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, is reported to have said on his death bed, "the best of all is that God is with us!"
May that assurance bring you comfort this day!

Have you looked around lately?

Psalm 104:1-4: "Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent, you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers."
Have you looked around you lately? Have you noticed the sunrise, the clouds, the rain, the changing leaves, the cool breeze in the mornings and evenings? Have you heard the bird calls? Have you watched a spider weaving her web? Have you watched a breath-taking sunset recently? Have you enjoyed a child's laughter? Have you sat by one of the lakes? Have you looked out from the top of Morrow Mountain?
If you are like me, it's easy to get caught up in the rat race, the endless tasks that need to be completed before we lay ourselves on the pillow at night. I have to make myself look around sometimes, to notice the beauty of creation. Yes, there is much to do. There are places to go and people to see. There is evil and wrong-doing in this world. BUT THERE IS ALSO BEAUTY AND PEACE. I believe that God has given us signs and symbols of his majesty in the natural world. I believe these are gifts for us to remind us that one day, the rat race will be over and we will enter the full majesty of our Lord. In the end, the deadlines will be over and for all eternity, we will simply worship and enjoy God's majesty.
Why not take a few moments today to enjoy that natural beauty? Take a walk in the woods. Watch the rain fall. Listen to the birds. These are all natural praise songs to our God!

Listening

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (1Timothy 3.16).
I was recently asked by a friend how I can know when God is speaking to us. This was my answer:
"How do we know God is speaking to us or just our minds playing tricks on us?" This is difficult sometimes.
1. God speaks to us most clearly in God's Word, the Bible, and in the Bible most clearly in Jesus' words. If we stay in the Word, the Bible, then certain things that we experience become clearer. For example, if I have read the story of Joseph and know about Potiphar's wife seducing him, then I would be more prepared to resist sexual temptation. A continual awareness of God's commands should make it easier to spot sin when we see it. So, if we hear the voice of temptation, we can clearly label that temptation and not suppose that it comes from God. God will never call us to sin. These are the easier discernment cases.
2. The harder cases are when we have to choose between two "goods." When I was in seminary, I really thought about joining the (Eastern) NC Conference. (which is from Burlington to the coast. Our conference is from Greensboro to the Tennessee line). As a surfer, I liked the idea of being closer to the coast. And I thought, what difference does it make where I serve the Lord as long as I serve Him? But I wanted to do God's will. So, I:
a. Prayed, prayed, prayed. And still no definitive answer.
b. I asked a few close, trusted spiritual friends to pray with me for a time and then tell me what they thought. They had no definitive answer.
c. I "tried on" the decision to move to the Eastern Conference. I even pursued it. I went and interviewed with a district in that conference and was approved to go. BUT, I HAD NO PEACE ABOUT IT. I couldn't explain it, but it just did not feel right. So, thankfully, I listened to that non-peace and took that as God's Spirit leading me, and I am so glad I did! Now, years later, I see countless, countless reasons why God wanted me to stay in this conference (not the least of which was to serve the churches I have served and serve currently and serve Jesus with so many great saints). My desire to move East was not God speaking by my own selfish desire.
So, what I am saying is when you are trying to discern if something is God speaking or just yourself:
1. Pray, pray, pray. Many times, God will work through our own spirit and mind to help us make decisions.
and/or
2. Ask some trusted, mature, spiritual friends to pray about it and see what God reveals to them
and/or
3. "Try on" a certain decision before it has to be final for a few days, week, etc. and see if God gives you peace about the decision or not peace.
May God bless you as you follow Jesus!

The dark night of the soul

Psalm 22.1-2: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest."
We may be a little surprised by the words of this psalm. We may be surprised that these words are found in Holy Scripture. They seem so negative, so angst ridden. Even more shocking is that these words are spoken by Jesus himself as he suffered on the cross.
The truth of the human condition is that we all face the "dark night of the soul" sometimes. We all have to travel through some dark valleys sometimes. We all face trials that shake our faith sometimes. The psalmist is expressing what we all feel sometimes when we go through trials. He is validating our feelings. We all struggle with faith sometimes. We all have days when we wonder where God is in the trials we face. It is a normal part of our faith journey.
Let me give you some suggestions for when you face those times:
1. Let God know how you feel. The words of this psalm prove that it is o.k to let God know we are struggling.
2. Let a sister or brother in Christ know how you feel. We are not meant to walk alone in this journey of faith. When our faith falters, then our brothers and sisters in Christ can "loan us" some of their faith, pray with and for us, and let us know we are not alone.
3. Let me know. I would be glad to pray with and for you!
4. Let the church know. We have a prayer team that prays for the needs of the church. We would love to lift you up in your time of need.
We all go through ups and downs in our spiritual journey. It does not mean that we have no faith. The dark valleys can actually serve to draw us closer to God, to make us hunger for God even more.
Take courage! The valley will not last forever!

God speaks

Hebrews 1:1-2: "Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds."
I sometimes hear people discussing the question, "Does God still speak to people?" Or more personally, "Does God speak to me and if so, how?" One of our deepest needs is to hear from our Creator. We are hungry for direction and guidance in our lives.
We are blessed that God has not left us scratching our heads over how and if God speaks to us. God has made it clear to us that His word and words for our lives are contained in the Bible.
God spoke to the Jews through the prophets of the Old Testament. These were human mouthpieces for the word of God. But as the Scripture above declares, in Jesus, God is speaking to us through His own Son, the Living Word of God. A comparison could be drawn to the voice of a king in ancient times. A king might send an ambassador to speak his word to another king. But if the king sends his own Son, the message is regarded as more directly given by the king. The son would be expected to share the exact words and perspective of the king.
If you are wondering today, "does God still speak?" then you have to go no farther than your Bible. Have trouble understanding the Bible? Then I recommend the New Living Translation. Check it out at www.biblestudytools.com

hardness of heart

Mark 10:4-5: "They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you."
This statement by Jesus takes place in the midst of a dialogue he is having with the Pharisees (religious leaders in Jesus' day). Actually, it comes in the midst of their attempt to "test" Jesus, hoping that Jesus would violate the Law of the Jews in his answer so they could charge him with something. The question is about divorce. It seems that even in Jesus' time, there was a range of reasons for divorce, some more serious than others. (Of course, in Jesus' time, it was only the men who were legally allowed to initiate a divorce).
The Pharisees cite the law that Moses communicated to the Jews which allowed for divorce. They thought they were citing the clear guidelines of the law. But Jesus response is off-putting. "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you." He goes on to say that God created us male and female for each other in marriage. And most shockingly, Jesus tells his disciples later that whoever divorces his wife and marries again commits adultery against his (first) wife.
Jesus' words are strong. I must confess to you that I do not like dealing with this passage of Scripture. Why? Because I have known many good Christians who have experienced very painful divorces and subsequently had happy remarriages. I also have known of abusive or adulterous situations where divorce was clearly a sad but necessary outcome.
There is no way to water down Jesus' words. They are serious. Divorce is a serious thing, as any of you who have experienced it can testify.
But if you have already divorced and remarried, I do not think this Scripture is there to condemn you. If you have already divorced I do not think Jesus would forbid all remarriage. No one can go back and change the past as much as we would like to. What this Scripture says to me is that relationships matter to God, especially the marriage relationship. Jesus is pointing out our human condition: we tend to become "hard of heart" sometimes. This means to be selfish, unforgiving, prideful, etc. When we allow "hardness of heart" to prevail in our marriage (or with friends, relatives, co-workers, classmates, etc.) then we are headed for trouble.
Jesus would help us to love, forgive, and live at peace with one another, especially in Christian marriages. There are valid reasons for divorce. But as far as it lies within your control, accept Jesus' challenge today to love, to be giving, to forgive, to live at peace with one another. If we let him, Jesus can soften our "hardness of heart."

His Story

"If it had not been the LORD who was on our side--let Israel now say--it it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us" (Psalm 124.1-2)
The psalm writer is recalling national history or more exactly, His story, the story of how the LORD had delivered them through national crises and attacks by enemies. The writer understood that remembering was important. In fact, it was crucial to the continuance of the community of faith. To remember God's deliverance was to refocus the individual and corporate heart on God. It was to refocus people on following God as the LORD of all.
This psalm could be written about our history in America as well. America's story is also His story, the story of God's deliverance for a people. Just like Israel, we are not perfect. There are some big blemishes on our past like the slavery and segregation of African Americans and our treatment of Native Americans. But there is also story after story about how God delivered us in the midst of unbelievable odds. How could this upstart group of thirteen rag-tag colonies beat one of the greatest military forces in the world? Go back and read some history of the Revolutionary War and I predict you, like me, will be amazed all over again.
This psalm could also be written about our individual faith stories. Each of us has a story of how God brought us through. It is worth remembering that today! What time in your life can you look back on and see that your history is His Story?

streams of water

Psalm 1:3: "They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper."
I love the image the psalm writer gives in this verse, "like trees planted by streams of water." What a powerful and peaceful image of God's provision and sustenance! And what is the psalm writer describing? "those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night" (Psalm 1.1-2). The writer is describing the life of those who choose the Lord's way instead of the way of wickedness, sin, and those who mock God. This Scripture is a promise, and assurance that if we follow God's chosen way of life for us, then we can trust that everything will work out, that God will provide for us, even that we will prosper.
As I encounter this Scripture today, I am left with this challenge and assurance: am I yielding my life to God's chosen path for me today? This means surrendering my life to God's will and way. If so, then I am promised that God will provide everything I need. And so are you!

prayers for leaders

" I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (1Timothy 2.1-2)
This is certainly a tumultuous time politically in the United States. I am not sure I recall a time in my life when a congressperson yelled out, "liar," in the middle of a presidential address. Perhaps it was deserved, perhaps not. There are certainly a lot of strong feelings and opinions on both sides of the political aisle these days, not to mention those who feel that they have no one speaking for them in government. I am not writing to side with either the democrats or republicans or the independents.
I am writing because I feel Christ calling me once again to this great verse from 1Timothy. In it, the Apostle Paul (leader in the early church), is calling all followers of Jesus to pray for all leaders in all governments. It is worth noting that, at the time Paul wrote this, there were no kings who were followers of Jesus. Isn't it interesting that Paul calls for prayers for governmental leaders who are not even Christian?
So, I remind you today to pray for our elected leaders. Whether we voted for them or not, they are in positions of incredible influence from the office of president to the local school board representative. Would you join me today in praying for them (whether they be democrat, republican, or non-partisan)? Let's pray that God's will be done in and through them and in our country!

Sweet law?

Psalm 19.9b-10: "The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb."
We don't usually think of laws as sweet. Sometimes, we may even be tempted to think that some laws are just plain ridiculous. Take for instance the law that prevented a Tulare, California eight year old from operating a lemonade stand. That's right. An eight year old was forced to shut down her neighborhood lemonade stand due to a city ordinance. Then there's the law in Alabama that outlaws opening an umbrella on the street because it may spook horses. (I wonder how many people still ride their horses into town in Alabama!)
God's laws are different. They are not meant to curtail our fun. They are not outdated ordinances from a far gone era. God's laws are sweet, even sweeter than "fresh honey dripping from the comb." How so? Because they are the boundary lines that hedge off dangerous lifestyles that lead to suffering and death. They are the "guard rails" that protect us from a fall down a steep cliff of sin. They are sweet because they show us the way of life that leads to real life, abundant and pure.
Think about God's law today, not as a hindrance to your life, but as an entrance into life:
1. Have no other gods before the One True God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)
2. Don't make idols (of money, possessions, etc.)
3. Don't take the Lord's name in vain (either by cussing with God's name or by using God to justify something that is not of God)
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy (Worship and be with other Christians on Sundays. Take a break from work and rest.)
5. Honor your father and mother (and your fathers and mothers in the faith)
6. You shall not murder
7. You shall not commit adultery (sex is for marriage only)
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (make sure what you say about others is completely true)
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor (be content with what blessings God has given you)
Remember that these are God's protective rails to keep you from falling off the steep cliff of sin. And they are sweet!

Persistence

Mark 7:27-28: "(Jesus) said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
In this Scripture, we meet a woman who we are told is a Gentile (a non-Jew) of Syrian-Phoenician descent. Jesus has left the territory of the Jews, God's chosen people, and entered a territory with other kinds of people. He enters a house, perhaps to rest from his journey, but instead gets approached by a woman whose daughter is plagued by an evil spirit. She requests that Jesus heal/exorcise the demon from her daughter. Jesus gives a curious response, calling the woman's people dogs. This is a challenging statement for us to deal with because we usually see Jesus being inclusive of all kinds of people, even those who are outcast by others. Why would Jesus use such a derogatory name for this woman's ethnic group?
Most scholars think that Jesus is pointing out the order of his ministry: to Jews first, then to non-Jews. In many places we learn that the good news has to go out to the Jews (God's chosen people) before it can go out to the rest of the world. This makes sense if you consider the special covenants God had with them, covenants promising to deliver them, to save them, to give them an eternal inheritance.
What is most interesting in this Scripture, though, is the woman's response to Jesus: "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." She is not disagreeing with the order of Jesus' mission (first to the Jews, then to others). She doesn't even take offense to being called "a dog." Instead, she is persisting in her request that Jesus give some kind of spiritual help to her daughter. You can see her persevering love, the love of a good parent. What good parent would not go any distance, persevere any amount of time, provide any kind of help they could for their hurting child? What a model of parenthood this woman is! Even when it seemed she was turned down by Jesus, she persisted out of pure love for her daughter! And the rest of the story? "Then (Jesus) said to her, "For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter." So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone." The purpose of this story is to show the result of persistent prayer.
So, parents, persist in your prayers to Jesus for your children! They are powerful indeed! If you have no biological children, pray for the children and youth of the Church and our society today! Those prayers are powerful too!

Surrounded

"Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore." (Psalm 125.1-2)
Mount Zion is the hill in Jerusalem on which the Temple of Almighty God was built. It was a holy place. Jerusalem is located amidst a region of mountains. It is surrounded by a mountainous region.
Recently, I was watching a documentary about the mountains of North Carolina. A senior resident of the region (who had lived there her whole life) said, "When we grew up, we were told that the mountains are our friends; they are here to protect us. I suppose that even now, when I can look around and see the mountain range, I feel safe and secure."
What a great image of God's protection of us! For surely, God surrounds us. As another psalm declares,
"You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you."
There is nowhere we can go in all the Universe, no dark place, no desperate night, no dark valley, where God is absent. God is always there, encircling us with love and grace, like the mountains around Jerusalem.
May that assurance give you peace this day!

The God we believe in

The following was a devotion that Amy Coles, our District Superintendent shared with us today:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year
of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:17-19)
As a part of the New District Superintendent and Director of Connectional Ministries Orientation
that I’ve been attending this week, we used the following Affirmation of Faith:
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of the magistrates
nor in the god of the generals or of patriotic oratory.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of
gloomy hymns and vacuous sermons
nor in the god of courtrooms or
of preambles and epilogues to eloquent speeches.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD of good fortune of the rich
nor in the god of fear of the wealthy
nor in the god of happiness of those who rob the people.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made
in the image and likeness of the powerful
nor in the god invented as a sedative
for the misery and suffering of the poor.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD who
sleeps within church walls
or lies hidden in church safes.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD made out of lies
as fragile as clay pots
nor in the god of the established order
which rests on disorder
and acquiesces in it.
THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
put human beings before law
and love in place of old traditions.
He had no stone on which to lay his head
and mixed with the poor.
He appeared before judges
who tried to find him guilty.
He was seen with the police as a prisoner.
He entered the governor’s palace to be flogged.
His tunic was woven entirely of blood.
He had escorts to clear his way before him to Calvary,
where he died, between thieves,
on the cross.
THE GOD I BELIEVE IN
is no other than
the son of Mary,
Jesus of Nazareth.
Every day he dies crucified by our selfish acts.
Every day he rises from death by the power of love.
[Fred Betto (Brazil) in Em Tue Gracia (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 2006), 131-133]
To complete the affirmation, we were invited to complete this affirmation of our faith:
THE GOD I BELIEVE IN calls us to …
What would you say? Some of my thoughts included,
See and treat all people as beloved children of God;
Work for justice and peace for all;
Be in ministry WITH the least, the last, the lost;
Share the Good News in words and actions every moment of ever day;
Follow Jesus, Make Disciples, and Transform the World.

rules

"So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, 'Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?' " (Mark 7.5)
It seems that the human tendency is always to push religion to a simplistic list of rules when what God offers us is not rules but relationship. In Ancient Israel, many (including some of the kings) thought that as long as they offered the prescribed sacrifices and observed the prescribed religious holidays, then they were in compliance with God. The problem is that God didn't just want their outward formal observances, God wanted their heart.
So, when Jesus came, he challenged the "traditions of the elders," those man-made rules and regulations that so many had substituted for a real living relationship with God. In this verse, the Pharisees (religious leaders in Jesus' day) were upset because Jesus' disciples did not follow the ritualistic hand washing that they taught everyone to observe. (Sanitation was not the issue here.)
The issue was that the Pharisees claimed that if you didn't meticulously follow the 613 laws of Judaism, plus countless more rules and regulations invented by human tradition, then you were a terrible sinner and could expect judgment from God. They had taken God's laws (which were meant to protect us from harm) and woven them together with their own human traditions. In some cases, they even regarded the human traditions they taught to be more important than God's laws. (see Mark 7.9-13)
Periodically, throughout our history, we've needed people to come along and call us away from counterfeit religion where rules and regulations are taught as the way to righteousness back to what religion is supposed to be about: A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONE WHO CREATED US. That's what Martin Luther and John Wesley's ministries were all about.
Remember today that your life with God is more about relationship than rules. Be leery of rules and regulations that are not found in the Word of God, the Bible. Yes, God has given us laws to protect us from things that would harm us in this world. Those laws are there for our good. (see Exodus 20.1-17). The laws are boundary markers, just like a fence around a steep cliff. What's in between those boundaries, though, is the opportunity to know Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings, personally. That's what Jesus desires for you this day, not just adherence to a set of cold, impersonal rules.

Trials

"My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1.2-4)
This is a challenging Scripture to me. I don't like trials and suffering. I like it when things are running smoothly and things are happening as I prefer. But James is reminding me that there's some things I might not learn if I always got my way. James is reminding me that there's some hard lessons I might not ever learn unless I go through some trying times.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, knew about trials. Here's what he had to say about them: "Pleasure and pain, health and sickness, riches and poverty, honor and dishonor, friends and enemies, are all bestowed by [God's] unerring wisdom and goodness with a view to this one thing. The will of God, in allotting us our several portions of all these, is solely our sanctification; our recovery from vile bondage, the love of his creatures, to the free love of our Creator."
In other words, God wants us to grow up in Christ! God wants us to die to self and let Christ live in us. There must be something about human nature that we don't learn lessons like that if our whole life is easy and goes our way. As the old saying goes, "there are some lessons we only learn on our knees," lessons that we learn as we go through trials and are nudged to look to God for help, guidance, and strength.
I don't like trials and suffering, but looking back on my life, I am sure that I have grown the most during some of those times. I am sure that I learned new levels of dependence on God's grace. I learned more about trusting God in the storms than I did on the sunny days.
How about you?

Politics?

"Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice . . . May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor." (Psalm 72.1-2, 4)
This prayer for the king of Israel is very interesting. Notice what the intercessor asks for: that the king, the leader of the nation, would care for the poor, "give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor." This is a unique prayer for the leader of a nation! That the psalmist would single out concern for the poor and needy and judgment for those who oppress the poor is significant.
It was a strong expectation in the life of Israel that the king (the leader of the nation) would care for the poor and needy and would enact justice for them. In fact, it was commanded by God in many places in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible). The Torah was the framework on which the nation of Israel was built. It was the rule, the standard, the boundaries for the abundant life God had promised Israel. Some of these laws included leaving food in your fields so the poor, the alien, the widow, the orphan could glean from it. Don't take someone's coat as a pledge on money owed to you. And one of the most radical: Every 50 years, land was supposed to be returned to its original family owners to insure that there would not be rampant homelessness in Israel.
Of course, Jesus picked up these same themes in his life and ministry: concern for the poor, the sick, the needy, the outcast.
Now, we aren't kings, but we do have the same call to reach out to the poor and needy. How might we do that today? Here's some ideas:
1. Bring canned meat to church this month. This goes to the Stanly Community Food Bank
2. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
3. Sponsor a child through World Vision, Compassion International.
4. Look around you for those who may need your help. Your classmates, co-workers, neighbors, even your own family members may need assistance.
5. Support a missionary. (Want to know how, call me!)
6. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-through.
7. Go on a mission trip.
These are just a few ideas. What others can you think of?

a place of springs

"As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools." (Psalm 84.6)
Psalm 84 is an "ascent psalm." This means it was most likely one of the psalms (think praise song or hymn) that pilgrims sang on the way up to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. In this particular psalm, imagine that the pilgrims are passing through an arid stretch of land. Their water jugs are getting low. The word "Baca" means "weeping." Perhaps they have faced a host of terrible hardships along their pilgrimage. Perhaps it is a time of national disaster. Or perhaps the territory they are passing through has been through some serious trials. What happens next is the key to the verse.
As the pilgrims pass through the area of "weeping," they make it a place of springs. (Water was always at a premium in a region where deserts, droughts, and famines were common.) The springs represent the fullness of God's blessings and provisions for his creatures.
Maybe you are going through a season or time of "Baca/weeping." If so, be encouraged this day that Baca will not last forever. "Though weeping may tarry for the night, joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30.5) When we are in the midst of Baca, it is good for us to be with the people of God. Notice that in this Scripture, relief came in the form of community. We all need the community of faith, the Church. In our individual and corporate times of trial, it is good to borrow each others' faith. It is good to hear our sisters and brothers in the faith "sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs." (Ephesians 5.19) In times of Baca, it is good to feel the presence of the Church and hear our brothers and sisters pray the Lord's Prayer with us.
In your time of Baca, remember that you are not alone!

status

Psalm 84:10: "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." (NIV)
The humility of this Psalm 84 always strikes me. The writer of this Psalm would rather be a doorkeeper, a lowly servant, than to enjoy all the fruits of sin and wrongdoing. I am sometimes reminded that there is a profit to be made from participating in things that God's Word clearly says are wrong. The lucrativeness of the pornography industry is an example of this. Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy, lives in a mansion. Drug cartels in some parts of the world possess all the expensive toys money can buy.
Now, most of us are probably not tempted to found pornographic entertainment industries or to become drug lords. But we are subtly tempted each day to "sell out" to the world and its value (or lack of values) system. Will we "fudge" the details at work to get ahead? Will we cheat on that school test to move up in class standings? Will we participate in hurtful gossip about another person that somehow seems to make us popular?
These are questions that are worth our consideration. Will we trust what we can gain from honest work and truthful conversation? Are we satisfied with the gifts that God gives to us or do we always want more?
I'm reminded of a great prayer that makes this point: "Lord, let me have just enough. Do not let me have too little lest I be tempted to steal. Do not let me have too much lest I be tempted to trust in riches. But let me have just enough."

Eating Flesh-Drinking Blood???

"Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them." (John 6.56)
Eating flesh and drinking blood? Is this Jesus' words or a line out of a horror movie? These words are indeed Jesus' words. And it has nothing to do with gory scenes.
Jesus is talking about Holy Communion, the meal of the Church. As we receive Holy Communion (or the Lord's Supper) we receive a spiritual blessing. As Christians, we believe that once ordinary items like bread and juice are blessed with the Communion Prayer, they come to represent Jesus' body and blood. It is a sign and symbol of Jesus abiding (or living, dwelling, making his residence) in us. And what a powerful reminder it is! God created us as material/physical beings. He knew that we would need physical reminders of the spiritual presence of Jesus. That's what Holy Communion is all about. In this humble "meal" of bread and juice: 1. We remember that Jesus gave it all on the cross for us an for our salvation 2. We come together as sisters and brothers in the family of God 3. We are strengthened for the spiritual journey we call life 4. We look forward to the heavenly banquet we will eat with all the saints in perfect communion with God the Father/Son/Holy Spirit. What a privilege and blessing it is!

Fear?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111.10a)
Fear? Is that really the word the writer of this Psalm meant to use? It seems so negative. It seems so old-fashioned. It seems so punitive.
The word in the original Hebrew of this Psalm is "Yur'ah." It means "fear, terror, awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear), fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety revered."
So, any attempt to soften the meaning to only "admire, look up to, etc." is misplaced. God is the all-powerful God of the Universe. Fear is appropriate for One who can create the whole Universe with one Word. It seems in our society today that there are many who seem to fear nothing. I still see that bumper sticker around: "NO FEAR." True fear of the Lord of the Universe might not be a bad thing.
But the interesting thing is that we are not only to "fear" the Lord. We are to love the Lord too! And the kind of love that the Lord shows us is evidence that God doesn't just want to be feared. He actually wants to have a relationship with us. Scripture shows us that God does not just want us to fear him like we would a prison guard or oppressive dictator. God wants us to know him and for us to let him know us. So, the fear is in the context of a God who loves us.
Fear God as the One who commands us to be obedient and holds our lives in his hands. Love God as the One who chose to come in the flesh of Jesus Christ and extend grace and mercy to us. Fear God as the One who expects us to actually follow his commands. Love God as the One who gave those commands not so we would miss all the fun, but so we would be protected from a lifestyle that leads to sorrow and death.

Rejection

"'Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?' And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.'" (Mark 6.3-4)
Jesus was preaching one day in his hometown synagogue (the Jewish place of worship) and he experienced what we all experience sometimes: rejection by your own people.
Unfortunately, it is the human condition to be rejected sometimes. And since most of us circulate in the same human circles with the same people most of the time, it is inevitable that we will sometimes feel rejection from those closest to us: friends, classmates, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
Jesus' response is instructional to us: the rejection did not deter his mission. Oh, the people in his hometown did not receive the blessing of the fullness of his ministry because they rejected Jesus, but it did not stop his mission. He simply "shook the dust off his feet" and took his mission elsewhere.
Have you experienced rejection recently? If so, remember that God does NOT reject you. No one's rejection of you can change your God-given purpose. In the journey of faith, we will face rejection sometimes. But God never rejects us. God gives us purpose and mission to share his love wherever we go. YOU ARE LOVED AND ACCEPTED BY GOD!

The Poor

"For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever." (Psalm 9.18)
There is no escaping God's injunction to reach out to the poor and needy. We see it over and over in the Bible from the beginning to the end. We need that challenge! It is the human condition to forget about the poor. Throughout church history, we always seem to be tempted to build beautiful buildings, establish great programs and groups, and then lock ourselves away in those edifices. Now, of course, there's nothing wrong with building a great facility to house worship, Sunday school, youth, etc. But, Jesus is always calling us to GO! To GO out into the hurting world and make a difference. To GO out into the lost world and bring the light of Christ. To GO out and make disciples out of those who need to know the Good News of Jesus.
It is human nature to want to establish a "COMFORT ZONE," and then never venture outside of it. In contrast, it is God's Nature to continually call us into mission, mission to reach out to those who are hunger or hurting with the Love of Jesus Christ. In what small way might you reach out today?

Our Faith

"And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9.2)
In most of the healing stories in the gospels, the sick person's faith is a key element. Many times, Jesus says, "your faith has made you well (or whole)." In this story, though, the sick man's faith is not mentioned. We don't know even know if he had any faith at all. What is mentioned is his friends' faith. The Scripture says that Jesus saw their faith!
This has huge implications for us as the body of Christ, the Church. Who needs to be brought to Jesus today by your prayers, acts of love and mercy, and witness?

Blessed to BE a blessing

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12.2-3)
One of the most powerful things about being a Christian is that we are not just blessed for ourselves personally. We are blessed to BE a blessing to others.
In the great covenant that God initiated with Abraham, this was the idea: "I will bless you, Abraham, to be a blessing to all peoples on earth." God's special gifts were not for Abraham alone, nor were they just for Abraham's family. And in the coming of Jesus Christ, God's own son, centuries later, we see that promise fulfilled. Jesus came to save the world.
What would it mean for your life today if you didn't hold the spiritual blessings of God for yourself (or even just your family)? How might you share them with others so that you can truly BE the blessing God planned for your world?

Real Love

"Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." (1Corinthians 13.4-8a)
I am always humbled by this incredible definition of love! It is so much deeper, self-sacrificial, and caring than the definition of love the world gives us.
The world tells us that love is like a septic tank, it's just something you "fall in" when you're not looking. The world tells us that love is an uncontrollable emotion, therefore we are not accountable for anything we do when we fall under its spell.
Not so with true love! True love, as Paul defines it in this Scripture, is something you do, not just something you feel. The feeling is great, but it comes and goes. Christian love loves even when the emotions are not where we would like them.
There's a great book that discusses this that I would recommend to all. It's called The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It's primarily for married couples or those preparing for marriage, but it could also apply to friends, parents, grandparents, etc. It focuses on how we love those around us. Check it out today!

All needed

"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1Corinthians 12.27)
It seems that some folks think too little of their contribution to the life of the Church. They doubt that they have any special gifts, talents, or abilities. They feel they have nothing to contribute. Not so! Paul shows us in the twelfth chapter of Romans and 1Corinthians that every Christian has at least one special talent, gift, or ability for the "building up of the church." I find that many people who have the gift of service (a gift that is not as much in the spotlight as the more visible gifts like preaching, teaching, music, etc.) doubt that they have any gift at all. But thank goodness we've all not be called to preach, teach, or be "out front." If so, there would be no one to listen! Service is often a gift that is exercised in the background, but is just as necessary as the other more public and "visible" gifts. If you have a heart to help people, if you always like chipping in, in very tangible ways, then you may have the gift of service. Use it for God's glory! Remember Paul's words, "On the contrary, the parts of the body [the Body of Christ, the Church] which seem to be weaker are indispensable." (1Corinthians 12.22) All are important in the Body of Christ, the Church!

All things

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4.13)

Early in my ministry, I took a late appointment (September) to pastor a church. I really had to hit the ground running at church and school. My wife was pregnant with our twin sons, due in early December. In October, I got a call at school one day that she had gone into pre-term labor. I rushed back to Greensboro (an hour and a half from seminary) and she was in the hospital for a week. They put her on some heavy medication to stop labor, which made her almost comatose. I'll never forget going home one night from the hospital to an empty parsonage. When I got home there were pastoral calls to return, books to be read, papers to be written, and my wife in the hospital one town away. I had never felt so alone in my life. I broke down completely and cried out to the Lord for help.
He did not abdondon me! He poured out the "balm of Gilead" on my soul and gave me strength that had to come from above. Peace, like a river, surrounded my soul. And he spoke to my heart that He would never leave nor forsake me. He would see me through. My wife held on for another month on bed rest and our sons were born healthy on the day of my Old Testament midterm (now you know why they're named Noah and Jacob!) Of course, I rescheduled the midterm and four years later, after many trying times, many mountaintops and valleys, I finished seminary.
I often look back on that time, especially when I face any kind of hardship or trial. The God that was with me then is with me now. And that God is with you too! He will never leave you nor forsake you. You can count on it!

worship

"Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (Revelation 4.8)
In the book of Revelation, amidst all the vivid pictures of destruction and cataclysmic upheaval, there are even more vivid pictures of the worship of Almighty God. Thrones of jasper, ruby, rainbow, emerald, sea of crystal glass, flashes of lightning, roars of thunder. Even before the end of the earth, there is the constant worship of God going on with proclamations such as the "four living creatures" make above. Proclamations are made about Jesus Christ: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" (Revelation 5.12b)
Heaven is about worshiping God. This is one reason worship is so important to us here and now. You could consider every worship service a "dress rehearsal" for the worship we will offer God for all eternity. God accepts our human attempts at worship because we are His children. When we strive to offer God our best worship, God is pleased. As one wise spiritual teacher has written, when we worship, we are not leaving the real world but coming into the Real World, the Kingdom of God that will never end. When we come to church, we are not the "audience;" God is. Remember that the next time you come to worship. We are not there just to "get something out of it" (though when we truly yield ourselves to worshiping God, we often do receive much). Our focus should be to offer God the praise that God deserves. We do this with music, prayers, offerings, hearing and responding to God's Word, celebrating the Lord's Supper. As we worship, we come into and maintain the right relationship with God. Remember that your worship of God prepares you for an eternity worshiping our Lord.

Revelation

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Revelation 2.7, 11, 17, 29; 3.6, 13, 22)
This week, we are reading Revelation in Disciple Bible Study. In the first three chapters, Jesus gives a message to John for seven churches. For a couple, there is nothing commendation. For most of the others, it is a mixture of commendation and a call to repentance. One is thoroughly rebuked for being lukewarm in their faith. But even to this church (Laodicea), Jesus says, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline." (Revelation 3.19)
As we go about our daily routines, are we listening to Jesus? There are no shortage of voices out there in the world. We can usually hear what we want to hear. But are we listening for the voice (the direction, the guidance, the encouragement) of Jesus first? You might ask, "how do I listen to Jesus' voice?" It is heard most clearly in God's Word, the Bible (especially in the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
I encourage you to "have ears to hear" what the Spirit of Jesus is saying to you today. Make sure that that voice is given first place in your life.

Everything we need

"[God's] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2Peter 1.3)
In the economic times we are living in, we all feel pushed to adopt an outlook of scarcity. What I mean by that is the conviction that the resources are limited, therefore, we'd better pull back in retreat and only spend for the bare necessities. Certainly, we are all called to handle our financial resources wisely. Part of the reason our country is in the financial shape it is, is because of overspending or what my grandma used to call "living beyond one's means." So, yes, it is high time we consider the differences between luxuries and necessities. My prayers are with all who have lost jobs or face anxiety about their financial situation in these days.
But this verse presents a much different picture for spiritual currency! In this Scripture, Peter reminds us that, in the spiritual economics of the Kingdom of God, there is abundance, not scarcity. In the spiritual realm, God has given us everything we need to thrive. In God's Kingdom, there is no shortage of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These cost nothing because they are gifts of God, freely bestowed on all who ask.
As you approach today, you may be limited in the economic realm. You may have lost a job or stand to lose one. Your retirement benefits may be drying up before your eyes. But remember that God will see you through. His spiritual resources for you are unlimited. Just ask. How do we access those resources? Through prayer, Bible study, worship with God's people, giving to the poor and needy, etc. These are all means of grace, "access points" to God's abundant life.
May you remember today that God will provide.