Come and see!

Thinking about the story of Christ’s birth while looking at the beautiful Nativity set in our church, I focused on an improbable group that came to that manger – the shepherds. Shepherds of that era do not really belong in such a scene, or do they? They were men who slept in the fields, who did not enjoy regular meals at home; theirs was a menial job. Tending sheep kept them from going to synagogue and observing the Judean ritual of Sabbath. They generally were not a ‘holy’ lot!

But there they are, at a most holy moment. These men responded with faith to the angelic announcement of the Messiah’s birth. "And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people." (Luke 2:9-10, NKJV)

"So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger." (Luke 2:15-16, NKJV)

That choice to leave their sheep and go to the manger brought that little group of ruffians into the Story of the ages.

Friend, are there those who have told you or implied that you are not worthy of God or His goodness? Does some memory of failure or rejection tempt you to conclude that you cannot really stand in the Presence of Jesus - too bad, too sinful, too old, too sick, too poor? Consider this. Another announcement and invitation recorded in the book of Acts extends an offer to us.

About 33 years after the events in Bethlehem, the Spirit was poured out in Jerusalem at Pentecost, the birth of Christ’s Church. Peter preached a powerful message, concluding with these words: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  (Acts 2)

It is an invitation to us – those who “are afar off.”

How will YOU respond? People have lots of reasons (excuses) for not responding to God’s invitation to come to Jesus. No one is “too anything” to be beyond His love and grace.

Jesus Christ is’ good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’   Jesus found men, ordinary men fishermen, laborers, and said, “Come, follow Me.” They, too, dropped what they were doing. "At once they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:20, NIV) He changed them into spiritual giants who changed the world!

Are you a captive of fear, believing the lie that God does not care about you?
Are you tangled in the troubles of life, convinced by circumstances that you are outside of the circle of God’s grace?

Take the way of the shepherds.
Come running!
Don’t stop at the Manger.
Continue to the Cross where love spilled forgiveness,
then move to the Empty Tomb that assures us of our final victory over sin, death, and Hell.

The word from the Word comes to us in the inspired work of Isaiah -
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?

Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David." (Isaiah 55:1-3, NIV)
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6, NIV)

Let faith make this the best Christmas ever, a discovery of life and Light found in the greatest Gift- Jesus Christ. Come and see!

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Video of this blog

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But, they laughed!

When God asks us to believe, to trust Him, in our faith we risk looking ridiculous.

Remember when Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt and a few days later found himself up against the Red Sea with the chariots and horsemen of the Egyptian army coming to reclaim their slaves? To any reasonable person, it looked like the thing was over, dead, and done! The super-power of that era had a disorganized bunch of former slaves trapped against an impassable body of water.

So, what was Moses to do? Negotiate the best settlement possible? Fall on his sword and let the Egyptians kill him in retribution for the rebellion? Run off into the night and save his own skin? Each of those solutions had some merit, but here is what really happened –
“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.” (Exodus 14:15-17) The act was utterly ridiculous. I have a feeling that some of the people expressed real scorn, but he did it and we have the miracle of their deliverance as well as the destruction of the army!

Even the Perfect Man, Jesus, felt the scorn of those who did not believe, who found His complete faith a thing to be mocked. One day He was asked to go to the home of Jairus, a respected leader, whose daughter had died. When He got there, He was met with “reality.” The mourners were already there doing the rituals of grief common in the day.

Jesus ‘saw’ a different fact, informed by obedience to His Father and HE said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.”  (Matthew 9:24) Based on the evidence, His assertion was ridiculous, except for a greater reality! Matthew goes on to tell us that He dismissed the mockers, those who only saw ‘reality.’  Then, “He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.”

If we choose to walk with God, we will find ourselves the objects of ridicule, not because we actually try to be weird or offensive, but because faith collides so often with what is seen and known with natural senses.

How dumb does it seem to ‘turn the other cheek’ to that person who takes advantage of us?
How can we possibly forgive those who offend us 77 times, in other words, without limit?
How silly is it to pass up riches on earth to ‘store up treasure in Heaven?’
How can we actually think it is great to serve, to give up our life, to gain eternal reward?

Yet, each of those things are choices Jesus tells us are the values of the person who claims to be His follower!

God invites us to ‘walk with the Spirit’ listening to a drum that those who lack spiritual insight cannot hear. In so doing, we will face laughter, regarded as fools for Christ. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, one where there were sophisticates who mocked his simple Gospel. He told them, “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 

When the ‘wise’ ones pointed out Paul’s suffering as evidence of his apparent failure, his reply is sarcastic, acknowledging the very real pain he had endured. “For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored; we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.”  (1 Corinthians 4)

He concludes with an appeal to them to consider the way of faith, to let God lead them rather than just ‘common sense’ or human reality.

This, too, is our call. It is not that we discard all reality or counsel. We live in this world and need to pay attention to the laws of gravity, the best advice for health, to pay our bills, and meet our obligations of work and productivity. BUT, at the very same time, we become people with eyes that see beyond time, who are led by the Spirit, shaped by the wisdom of the Scripture, and kept in the counsel of the godly.

Are you willing to risk ridicule for God’s sake?
He will lead you to life to the full and ultimately to the reward of eternity.

Here is a word from the Word. May this Psalm inspire us to greater obedience.
“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.

But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.” – Psalm 1 NLT

Now let’s walk with God!

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Video of this blog

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What’s Your Story?

I love a great story! Last night at our church our pastor urged us to tell our stories of hope, healing, and experiencing the love of God. He referred us to Luke 8, where we learn that Jesus healed a man whose life was a wreck, to say the least. When he was restored and whole, Jesus told him - “Go back to your family and tell them everything God has done for you.” 

Taking our cue from that message, several of us shared snippets of our life journey, reflecting on the goodness of the Lord and hopefully many were blessed.

Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity to share our stories. Americans will travel to join with friends and family for the feast. The conversations will likely start out with chats about the weather, football teams, and then as we grow comfortable, we will move on to our personal tales. Some will be the often-told stories, family legends really, that make us laugh and cry. Some will be about heroic achievements. Others will bring up embarrassing memories of accidents, spills, and scrapes with the law.

Most of stories will have been told before and will be told again. It’s what we humans do. Our stories will make us laugh and cry, but they are more than entertaining.

Stories define and explain us.

The more of your story I know, the better I understand who you are. Authentic stories, told without embellishment or editing, will reveal the triumphs and failures, the hits and misses, of life. Being able to talk about who we were, who we are, and who we hope to become is part of growing emotionally and spiritually. The power of story is amazing. When a person is loved enough to know they can tell their whole story, they can find redemption, forgiveness, hope, and change that flows from the inside out. That is why 12 step recovery groups like Alcoholics Anonymous create safe places for people to tell their real story, not the “fake news” that perpetuates a lie about life. The truth is liberating, but leaves us vulnerable, so we need a loving place to tell it.

The best churches are those that are a loving place full of authentic people who are finding the way through daily life with God’s grace and the love of His Church not a place where everybody is putting on their best face and concealing their humanity! In a place that is filled with love and acceptance through Christ, one generation passes along the stories that encourage the next. One person who has found God’s grace and restoration gives hope to another. Yes, this is the power of STORY.

Sometimes we want to change our story, concealing the ugly parts or magnifying the moments of success. That’s an ancient sin called – Pride! It makes hypocrites of us. Jesus urges us to be authentic; our ‘yes’ a simple ‘yes;’ our ‘no’ a simple ‘no!’  Like the man whose eyes He healed we need only say “I once was blind, now I see.’  (John 9)

So, what’s your story?

Have you written a fiction about yourself that has enslaved you?
Have you believed a lie that somebody told you, a falsehood that controls you to this day?
Jesus says that He, the Truth, will free us to live- fully, richly, and joyfully – people who are saved from our sins, sealed by the Spirit, and living for His purposes. There is no better story to be written!

I’m looking forward to some stories on Thanksgiving. And I’ll tell a few myself. I hope that in them all there is a thread of faith, an echo of the love of Christ.

Take this word from the Word to heart and may you be a person full of gratitude.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.
² Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!
    Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.
³ For he has gathered the exiles from many lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.

⁴ Some wandered in the wilderness,
    lost and homeless.
⁵ Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.
⁶ “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
    and he rescued them from their distress.
⁷ He led them straight to safety,
    to a city where they could live.
⁸ Let them praise the Lord for his great love
    and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
⁹ For he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

--Psalm 107

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At the heart of Christmas

Christmas decorations were dragged out of storage and put up in my home a little early this year. Customarily I wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree and “make the Season bright.”  But I wanted to enjoy the glow of the lights, the happiness of the decorations – so, I broke the rules.

One of my customs I will not abandon is observing the season of Advent! Christian, I want to encourage you increase the JOY of Christmas by adopting an ancient tradition, marking Advent, which starts this coming Sunday, November 30. Advent is a word borrowed from Latin that means “He comes to us.”  It is a time that is both forward looking and remembering. We remember Jesus’ birth AND we anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.

The joyous festivities that surround our “Christmas” are a great break from the weary duties of life. But . . . the BEST way to celebrate is to intentionally make your way through Advent, preparing your heart and mind for the coming of the King, going again to the Word to discover God’s great Gift and why He was given.

Advent calls us back to ponder God’s loving intervention in human history, when He gave us the gift of His Son, entering a world of death and darkness, with Life and Light.

We like to deceive ourselves with the myth that we are wonderful, that we only ‘make mistakes,’ that evil is only found in isolated pockets in this world. The true assessment of our spiritual state is much more grim – succinctly stated in Romans – “everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”  (3)  God looks over a world where people hate each with murderous intent in His Name!
He sees the cruelty of despots and tyrants.
He hears the secret conversations we have inside our own heads- where we lust, covet, and hate in secret.
He sees the prejudice, the greed, the selfishness that come so easily to us …
and He loves us anyway.

In my natural way of thinking, the story of Noah makes more sense to me than the story of Jesus! Genesis tells us that "God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them.”" (Genesis 6:5-7, The Message) That makes sense, doesn't it? Just destroy it and start over!

Advent reveals GRACE, promising us a merciful albeit just God who acts from a love that defies my understanding. In the coming of Jesus, our Creator stepped into this world not to destroy it but to restore it to the beauty He intends – starting with you and me.

Advent’s glorious message is summed up in this passage which says - "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:6-8, NLT) 

Our brokenness becomes the place for the display of God's beauty!
Our sinfulness provides the canvas on which He paints His picture of forgiveness.
The darkness makes His Light shine brilliantly.

Advent renews my hope - for myself, for the world that I live in.
It is not hope that springs from any human self-improvement program or some personal victory. This hope comes from the promise of Jesus Christ to make all things new.
Advent sings with joyful celebration -"He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found!" 

Your online shopping for that perfect gift, those colorfully wrapped gifts, the lights strung to celebrate can never replace the JOY in the message - "Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79, NLT)

This is not a season for despair; He comes with hope.
This is not a season to be discouraged; He comes with deliverance.

It’s Advent! (Latin – He comes to us!)

Join the angels and sing -
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.”
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And heav'n and nature sing.”

If your church does not provide a guide for daily inspiration through Advent, here is one I suggest. https://davidjeremiah.blog/a-red-letter-christmas-advent-devotional/

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Video of this blog

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Who needs a god?

In the last decade, here in these United States affiliation with a Christian church of any type has steeply declined from about 78% to 60%. This notable shift created a group called “Religiously unaffiliated adults” – people who are either atheists, agnostics, or “nothing in particular” often referred to as “Nones” and numbers about 30% of American adults today.

Various reasons for this decline in religious practice exist, but none is more widespread than the conviction, brought on by scientific explanations of life’s mysteries, the ability to understand the laws of nature, medicine, and psychology. This causes many to think that that they have no need for God or a god. Actually, this is not a new philosophy.

Friedrich Nietzsche, in 1882, wrote about the “death of God” in Europe. He did not actually mean that God had died, but rather that humanity was outgrowing the need for A Supreme Being. Thus, he concluded that the belief in the Christian God that had shaped the culture of that continent was dying.  

He birthed the idea of "Superman" (or Übermensch in his native German).  He suggested that by overthrowing “God” we could begin a process of self-discovery, create new values, and rise to new heights of accomplishment, driven by the "will to power."  Humanity no longer needed to bow to the will of God. The best of us were those who could achieve great accomplishments with intellect and determination.

The violent spasms that shook the world in the 20th century and the bleak secularism that grips much of Europe now can be traced to the death of vital faith in a living God. I fear that America has headed down that same path, replacing God with Self, with no good result to be seen. Radical individualism and pursuit of our own happiness at any cost leads to a society that is sickened by Selfishness.

Yes, science may explain the ‘how’ of the world, but our discovery processes cannot explain the ‘why.’ I understand the mechanism of conception that brought me to life, but that tells me nothing about why I am here, or why I even ask the question – ‘Why?’

Is it enough to simply say that we exist? Shakespeare’s Macbeth said, “Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Is this the truth about us?

If we accept that “God is dead,” then in fact we have no greater purpose than survival of our genetic strain and a few years of pleasure. Our lives can achieve a sort of frail nobility only by tasting the delights of our senses and preparing the world for the next generation. By contrast, Christ offers us eternity, calling us to true nobility through love, the supreme law; and invites us to worship of a God Who cares for us as a Father, waiting to welcome us home.

Which Vision shapes your life?

I am convinced that an honest inquiry about the world in which we live will not lead us to superstition, but it will humble us enough to consider that God exists.

The wonder of the cell, billions of them form our bodies, are stupendous!
The beauty of the Universe, vast and yet to be fully explained by the most brilliant minds among us, is stunning.
The power of love to move us, to draw us into relationship, to great sacrifice remains a mystery.

To me, it requires greater faith to believe that such amazing things emerged by chance from chaos that it does to accept that there is a Designer of it all. To acknowledge that there is an Intelligence making the universe exist as we know it does not automatically make a person a Christian, of course. But, if one accepts that there is a God, then it would follow that we should want to know Who God is.

And for me, the story unfolded in the Bible reveals Him, Lord of the Universe who further revealed Himself as my Savior in the coming of Jesus Christ. Far from diminishing our lives, this story gives meaning and purpose to us. Like all good things, the Story can be misused to oppress and misunderstood in ways that darken understanding. But, where the Spirit is allowed to make the Story live, humanity is richer.

God is not dead. He lives. And I, for one, love Him and I am thankful that He has chosen to make Himself known to me.

Here’s a word from the Word. Meditate on this, asking that the Spirit will make the written Word into Living Truth in your mind and heart.

Ephesians 1:17-18
I keep asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
Ephesians 3:14-19

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

Amen

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Well, I’m a good person …

The man insisted that he was a good person and I believed him. Like millions of Americans, he is convinced that his own brand of morality is sufficient to make him right with God. Compared to a mass murderer he is a saint! But is that enough?

Too many Christians who ought to know better are like my friend, somehow convinced that if they are ‘good enough’ (by their own definition) God is satisfied. The result is a kind of ‘half Christian’ life, focused on morals and ethics but forgetting the true Gospel of Jesus.

People who get caught in that error miss the best part of knowing God. Focused on ‘doing good’ they struggle to actually ‘be good.’  Guilty feelings frequently block their ability to know the real joys of worship, to experience genuine spiritual contentment, and to live in the security of the love of their Heavenly Father.

There is a pathway to wholeness.  Scripture says of us - “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—

When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. (Titus 3)

That is the Gospel! As cliched as it may sound, we honestly believe that “Jesus Saves!”
Salvation is a gift of God, by faith through grace, given us freely in Christ Jesus. Faith in Jesus’ grace does far more than just punch our ticket to Heaven.

When we live in His love, the Spirit works to change us from the inside out, starting with our most basic values. That inner realignment leads to a visible change in both our words and actions.

Jesus calls it being 'born again of the Spirit.'
Paul calls it 'renewal.'  “At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5)

 

Are you living the lie of being ‘half Christian?’
Are you frustrated in your attempts to live for Jesus, incapable of living for Him?
Is your ‘faith’ just a ‘Sunday thing’ separate from your Monday actions?

Are you just hoping to please God be being ‘good enough?’

That is an awful way to live, one that makes pain and problems for you, that is far from the inheritance that can be yours in Christ Jesus. In your own words tell Him that you know you are incapable of perfection. Acknowledge the reality that you cannot ever please a holy God by being good or moral. In humility, as Jesus Christ to be both Savior and Lord.

God, the Spirit, will begin a real thing in you, making you an authentic Christian– no more than you are, no less than God purposes you to be. Your life will become a thing of true beauty. Your mind will be at peace. The world around you will be influenced by your real faith!

Here is a word from the Word that points the way to wholeness.
"Say the welcoming word to God— “Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” (Romans 10:9-10, The Message)

Praise God! Amen

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Fractured!

"E pluribus unum" the United States' unofficial motto, appears on our currency, meaning ‘out of many, one.’  The aspiration was that the 13 original colonies, ranging from the independent Yankees of New England, to the aristocrats of Virginia, to the farmers of the deep South, would find common ground in a new nation.

Today that motto is almost laughable given the fractures in our government, most recently on display in the longest ‘shutdown’ of the Federal government in the country’s history.

It isn’t just politicians that do not get along! Fighting among human beings is as old as history – including world wars, tribal wars, and family feuds!

Jesus invites you and me to live a different way, our inner peace with God causing us to live in peace with others. The most notable distinctive of Christianity is to be the LOVE that we have for one another and a UNITY that stands in stark contrast to the fractured relationships in this world.

Paul writes “In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”   We are called INTO a new relationship with our Creator, through Christ Jesus. The result?

“You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.”  (Ephesians 2) Paul says that we (Christians) have become the new house of God, replacing the old Temple in Jerusalem where God was worshipped and His praise was declared!

Let me be honest – we ARE NOT doing a very good job of showing off our unity and love, are we? Christians are just as fractured in relationships as the rest of the world, our infighting darkening the glory of the Gospel and obscuring the pathway to redemption.

For centuries one group after another has splintered off from the Church to form yet another sect; dividing over worship styles, baptismal modes, differing convictions about standards of holiness, and …  well, it is a very long list of things that divide us.

Only ONE thing can unite us – a profound love of Christ Jesus and the dwelling of the Spirit that turns rhetoric about love and unity into something REAL and ENDURING.

N.T. Wright observes that “the multi-ethnic nature of the Church (is) a sign to the powers of this world that Jesus is Lord. … churches that are divided along ethnic and/or cultural lines make nonsense of the idea of a ‘new creation’ and of the Church being the small advance model of that promised reality” of the Kingdom come! (The Vision of Ephesians, 2025)

IF we hope to regain a measure of credibility in our secular world, we must begin with prayer for reconciliation with one another, brother loving brother, sister loving sister, local congregations lifting up Christ rather than building their own little fiefdoms.

Individually, we must become humble enough to accept the grace of God and let Him transform us from people who idolize Self to those who are Servants of Christ. WE cannot live at war with each other – in our families, in our communities, or in our churches – and claim that Jesus is Lord.

As we meditate on Jesus’ words, let’s ask God, the Holy Spirit, to begin a whole new work in us, creating a temple in which His Spirit dwells- making us people who are  – at the same time – HOLY and LOVING – in a way that is not superficial or sappy, but profoundly deep and lasting!

“Since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them…. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”  (John 13)

Lord, teach us to LOVE radically so that Your glory will shine brightly through us in a world of fighting and fear. Amen.

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It just fell down!

For many years our family had summer vacations in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, creating some great memories there on the beaches and sand dunes. Last week I saw video clips from Buxton, NC showing beautiful vacation homes falling into the ocean as the waves undermined them, washing out the supporting pilings on which those homes stood. Over time the beach eroded away and those homes which had essentially been built on sand just fell down! It was sad but somehow inevitable with time’s passing.

Is your life at risk of collapse? Are you building on a solid foundation or one that stormy waves can wash away, leaving you vulnerable to great loss?   Jesus counsels us to find the Solid Rock on which to build.

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”   (Matthew 7)

 Let me ask you to consider on what or whom you are building your life.

Is it on your wealth, hoping that accumulating ‘enough’ will create a life of comfort and enable you to ‘buy’ security from the troubles that come our way?

Is it in someone you love? Surely our love for another is a wonderful thing and can be a source of great joy, but no one lives on this earth forever, do they? Relationships break down, too, and can leave one who has mistakenly built his whole existence on that marriage or friendship can be left destroyed!

Is your life built around a career or reputation? The day will come when someone else will do what you do better!  Your job could become obsolete; your employer close up shop; what then if your entire life is defined by what you do?

Is your true hope based more on political activism, hoping to change the culture through Washington, DC rather than through the Gospel of Christ? Do you take more identity from a party than the person of Jesus?  If so, you’re building on a sandy foundation!

Christians must ultimately find their identity in Christ Jesus, defined by their love of Him and their hope in things eternal more than any earthly thing.

A critical part of building that kind of life is to be rooted in Truth, not just some religious ideas.  Since the mid-20^th century, many pastors and churches have looked for ways to accommodate the culture changes, softening the call of Christ to discipleship, remaining silent on the more controversial truths of the Scripture. The “Gospel” of Christ and Life in the Spirit became about self-esteem or simply becoming a ‘nicer’ person. The hard edges of Jesus’ invitation to ‘Come, follow Me’ were rounded off to accommodate self-centeredness, materialism, and personal happiness.

As a result, most people under 40 in our churches have no idea about the actual revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Instead they have adopted a new kind of ‘religion’ that some call “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” shaped around the idea that God exists but is distant from daily life, that He (or She) just wants us to be nice people, that our highest purpose is simply to feel good about ourselves. Self-denial is mocked as an ancient relic or leftover superstition.

The weak religion that has emerged is a sandy foundation, does cannot compel radical change, has no concept of sin, and does not see the need of a Savior.  Thousands of “Christian” churches stand nearly empty across America. The solid foundation of Christ is lost and so are those who once worshipped in those buildings.

Dear Christian, it is time to dig down to foundations, to look deeply at our faith, to ask ourselves where the holes exist in our convictions!  We need to pray for a new revelation of God, the rediscovery of Christ Jesus, and a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.

Such a life will make us fools in the eyes of our world and cause us to be rejected, perhaps even hated, even as Jesus was. Paul sarcastically addressed the ‘worldly wise’ Christians in the church of Corinth saying, "We are fools for Christ, but you are so “wise” in Christ!" (1 Corinthians 4:10, NIV) His words echo to us today who are confronted with the same label if we choose a live that is centered on God and His will. Are you ready to be dismissed as a ‘fool’ because you radically trust and serve Jesus Christ?

Here’s a word from the Word for your thoughts today. I pray that the Spirit will use it to pierce our pretensions, to guide us to true wisdom.

“Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”
And again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise; he knows they are worthless.”
So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you— whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
(1 Corinthians 3- NLT)

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Clear Your Vision!

When I wake up in the morning, I must blink my eyes a few times to see clearly. At first the room is a blur, then gradually everything starts to come into focus. Jesus says - “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is.”  (Matthew 6) He’s telling us that just as our physical eyes provide critical information for our function in life, so our spiritual eyes, how we ‘see’ the world, play a crucial role in our daily choices.

How do you ‘see’ your life, your purpose?

Is your life primarily about gathering resources to live - enough food, money, stuff – to create a comfortable life, OR
is your focus on knowing God’s plan and purpose, knowing and living as a citizen of Heaven?

The wrong kind of vision will lead us to waste many days, to look for the ‘easy,’ to become a survivor, and to stumble confusion. A God-shaped vision will carry us over the hard times, inspire us to reach beyond the possible, teach us to live in bold love, and to pursue eternity over today!

As you look over those responsibilities that are part of this day, are you resenting the duties and obligations you feel are pressed on you or are you taking the opportunities that life (*and the Lord) are presenting to you?

Elisha, a mighty preacher in ancient Israel, was pursued by the king of Syria because he was a source of intelligence to the king. He and his servant had made their way to a tiny village called Dothan. A crack team of Syrian soldiers surrounded that place, ready to capture the preacher.

The servant went out in the morning and saw the Syrians! Seeing only with his natural vision, he grew terrified. Elisha was blessed with divine insight and told that fearful man - "Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!" The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.  As the Aramean (Syrian) army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, "O Lord, please make them blind." So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked." (2 Kings 6:16-18, NLT)

The facts did not change. They were facing a real threat.

Vision shifted!   There was another army (unseen by human eyes) that was even larger. Elisha’s sight was shaped by faith and that made all the difference! God does not ask us to ignore the reality of our lives, but He does teach us that reality is not just what we see with our natural eyes! 

Want to know the state of your vision? 

Listen to what fills your prayers.
Are you just asking the Lord for more money, better toys, more comfort, or easier situations in life?
Or, do your prayers reflect a concern for the souls of friends and family and the world?
Do you pray to be used of God or for an easy day?
Are you responsive to the needs of others with a gentle loving spirit OR carefully protective of your own ‘rights’ and ‘reputation?’

George Barna writes this about the kind of Christians that gain a God-shaped insight for life.

• People of prayer.              
Visionaries don’t stop praying about their call. They keep at it, striving to remain sensitive to God’s leading as they seek to carry it out.

• People of action.              
They carry out a plan by organizing it into manageable steps. As they seek God’s provision along the way, sure enough, God grants them progress one step at a time.

• People of perseverance.         
Regardless of obstacles, they are driven to follow God’s leading. They are unshakable in their resolve to do His will.

• People of excitement.   
Life is no longer a grind. They know God has called them to a special outreach. This is an electrifying experience: why shouldn’t they be excited?  (Discipleship Journal, Issue 58)

Are you just surviving day to day? Are you drifting, filling up your life with things that are trivial?  Do you fear tomorrow?  Pray this simple line - "Lord, open my eyes and let me see!"
Trust God with that situation that you see as a problem. Ask Him to turn obligations into opportunities for the display of His Glory right where you are, at this present time.

As you set out today, take a few moments to pray these passages from the inspired Word. Ask God, the Spirit, to help you to see clearly as you live.

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.”

Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

What a way to live! Amen.

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Good for him; bad for me!

Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, sat behind a finely dressed woman in church and saw the lice in her hair. His musing about her social pretensions led him to write, To A Louse.

“Oh, would some Power give us the gift
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion:
What airs in dress and gait would leave us,
And even devotion!”

Who among us has not said things like this in one way or another?

*His anger is so destructive to his family;
mine is just what I must do to get my kids to fall in line.

*His bitterness is so toxic to relationships;
mine is understandable given the terrible way I was treated.

*He is greedy;
I’m just trying to make a living.

*He is selfish;
I’m just being careful to provide for the future.

*He’s an idiot;
I’m just a ‘work in progress.’

Jesus offered a bit of insight, clothing His wisdom in humor. He spoke of ‘plank in the eye’ syndrome. He tells us that before we go after the speck of sawdust in our fellow Christian’s eye, it would be best to take the plank out of our own! (Matthew 7:4-5) His point is obvious – before you attempt to clean up another’s life, get your own in order!

Maturity of faith and character will bring about an honest estimate of ourselves, a working knowledge of our strengths and our foibles, and a willingness to apply the same measure to our own actions that we so quickly apply to others.   

What’s the harm in a little self-deception?

When we refuse the Truth about ourselves, willfully ignoring the conviction of the Holy Spirit, too outwardly focused to take time for honest reflection, we will inevitably slip deeper into deception and that will lead us into greater sin.

We Christians need not spend endless hours beating ourselves up or ‘staring at our navel,’ however we must remain open to correction by the Spirit and instruction from others. One of the most basic contributors to a genuine walk with God is a ruthless commitment to the Truth. Jesus says that the ‘truth will set you free.’  There is great liberation discovered in knowing who we are, what gifts we are given, what weakness waits to trip us up, and the overarching love of God that holds us secure!

When we accept ourselves and lean into God’s amazing grace, we are free to grow up, released from the childish ways that make us small and mean. We begin to walk in the will of God and into a divinely inspired love for others.

As we live authentically in the Spirit, He will keep us from judging others unfairly and make us into people of mercy.

There is a passage that is of great comfort to those who live in Truth and long for justice. It is a terrible threat to those who turn a blind eye to reality. It is God’s promise that one day who we are what we have done will be perfectly revealed. Christian, this is not about some scale that determines our eternal destiny, whether we go to Heaven when we die! That salvation is secured through Christ, alone. It is about justice. My prayer is that what we learn in this passage will both keep us faithful in obscure service and move us to deal with secret sin.

Spend some time with the word from the Word.
"The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."
(1 Corinthians 3:8-15, NIV)

Ask God, the Holy Spirit, to work in your life and humbly let Him shape You in His will.
Confess your sins without excuse and REST in His promise of grace and love.
Then, live in the Truth!

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Thought for self-reflection today

 

Anxious? You need a Shepherd

When I was a little boy, we lived in Iowa and my Dad was owner of Scott Sheep Company, we traveled every year to Wyoming where he bought lambs that were shipped back to our farms in Iowa for preparation for market. On those trips I met shepherds, men whose lives were all about the care of their flocks. They lived alone for much of the year with only a sheep dog and a few hundred sheep for company. They braved harsh conditions to lead those sheep to pasture and protect them from predators.

Those images come to mind every time I read the Shepherd’s Psalm, reminding me of the Great Shepherd who cares for me. Let these ancient words settle over you today-
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever." (Psalm 23, NKJV)

In a world full of noise, threats, and real danger, too many live in constant anxiety. Excessive worry and fear are as common as the cold and rob millions of their best life. Must we simply endure it? Is there a way to change the perception of the world around us? YES!

The mind can be re-directed, thought patterns changed, if we choose to listen to the voice of the Lord, soaking in the counsel of His word, He will lead us out of our fears and into joyful abundance. Faith is both a gift of God and a choice to be made by us.

God’s people are His flock, in His care, at rest!

Christians are derisively referred to by some as ‘dumb sheep,’ the implication being that they are easily led and manipulated. It is true that sheep are not among the world’s more intelligent creatures! Eons of domestication have made those wooly creatures defenseless, dependent, and content to be led from pen to pasture. The care of the shepherd is required if they are to thrive! Thus, the comparison of people to sheep can be a genuine insult.

But God is not insulting us when He calls us His flock! He is reminding us that He will care for us, that we need not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by evil, confusion, or fear. Sheep with a good shepherd are not restless, milling about in anxiety. The Psalm says that “He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. … I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." (Psalm 23:1-4, NLT)

Are you struggling with anxiety at some level today?
Do feelings of fear or hopelessness stalk you, perhaps even overwhelm you?

Meditate on those words from the Shepherd’s Psalm. Personalize it by inserting your own name as you read it aloud. Thank the Lord that He has made you one of the sheep of His pasture.

 When we take our independence from the Shepherd, running off on our own, we take on the character of goats! Those creatures resist all boundaries. In the Bible, sheep are a symbol of those who love and follow Jesus. Goats are symbols of those who separate themselves from God’s grace and care.

The wonderful reward of being ‘sheep-ish’ is clear. Jesus says "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:27-28, NIV)

This word from the Word comes from Ezekiel. He heard the voice of the Lord in a time when the spiritual leaders of the nations were not caring for the people. It is a lengthy passage which I encourage you to read slowly, perhaps even aloud, letting the promise settle your soul in the Shepherd’s care.

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers in all the places where people live.

Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in lush mountain pastures. I myself will tend my sheep and cause them to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!" (Ezekiel 34:11-16, NLT)
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You are an Influencer!

The explosion of our use of social media has brought us a new ‘occupation.’  A person can now become an ‘influencer.’  In the old days we called them ‘sales professionals’, I think. In case you do not know, an influencer is a person who enjoyed a large following on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. She produces media designed to influence’ her audience's purchasing decisions, promoting products and services, basing content around her own experience with the product that is featured.

This relatively new method of marketing is not actually all that new. What has changed is the reach of an individual through social media. The Avon lady of the past who ‘influenced’ her neighborhood and family is now replaced by the person whose skill gathers the attention of thousands from far and wide.

So, are you an influencer? You may not think so, but all are. Our lives are interconnected with others; our words and values affect others. What kind of influence are YOU?

My Christian friend, Jesus calls us to become people who change our world! When we trust Him and embrace the call to ‘come and follow Me’ that He gives to us, like it or not, we become His representatives in this world.

Here is how He describes our lives - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  - Jesus (Matthew 5)

In decades of Christian ministry, I have been part of the process of hundreds of people coming to faith in the Living Lord. A few have done so because of something they read or because of a television program. A few more have been drawn to a local church and, hearing the good news of Jesus’ love, respond in faith. Most, however, are led by a friend, often influenced first, not by words, but by the love, peace, and/or purpose they observe in the life of another.

When we who claim to follow Jesus live markedly different lives, we WILL invariably influence our circle of friends.
When we are loving and care for even those who are hard to love, our actions are notable.
When we find a greater reason to live than wealth or pleasure, satisfied by knowing Christ, the contrast will be inescapable.
When we are humble, refusing to boast about ourselves and our accomplishments, always giving thanks, the difference from the culture around us cannot be ignored.

When I think of the responsibility of representing Jesus in my world, it can feel overwhelming. I know my own failures and sins. I know my tendency to wander from the Way. How about you?

Pray that the Spirit of God Who lives in you through faith to change you inside out.  Trust His grace. Invite His Presence to flow into you, like a river, and then from you as a refreshing stream.

I am greatly encouraged by the words of Paul. He reminds us that we are God’s own and that the ‘influence’ we bring to our world is NOT the result of our own charisma, attractiveness, or intellect.  Think deeply on these words then pray to bring real, lasting positive change to those in your circle.

 “Thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.
And who is equal to such a task? (the implied answer, none of us on our own, but all of us through the Spirit) Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” 
(2 Corinthians 2)

Be the salt that flavors and preserves.
Be the light that brings the color and beauty to the dark world.
Be the fragrance of Jesus to others.

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Danger lurks in your success

We love winners, don’t we? Those ‘rags to riches’ stories inspire us. When the ‘ordinary’ kid we knew from our town goes pro in his sport we all feel a little pride. Sometimes we describe a person who has reached high office or gained great wealth without the benefit of a pedigree, private school, or powerful connections as a ‘self-made man.’ 

It is appropriate to recognize that accomplishment in that person who works hard, endures the difficult times, and works on skills that carry her to the pinnacle of success– But  we also need to know that nobody is a self-made person! There are always people in the background – parents who sacrificed to make an education possible, a friend who provided just the right encouragement at a critical moment, a spouse who shared the tough times, and God who blesses.

There is a real potential for danger when success comes our way. The Proverb says “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:17)  Jesus told a story of a man met with success, whose crops were bountiful. Instead of thanksgiving, the man concluded that it was time to reward himself – “Take life easy. Eat, drink, and merry!”  He forgot charity, humility, and gratitude!

How do you handle success?

Success can bring more spiritual hazard our way than disappointment or failure! It is true! . When we are knocked down, beat up or broken we are much more likely to reach for help, to know our need and readily accept counsel. But, when we are winning, the temptation is to congratulate ourselves for our brilliance and to become proud.

The wise person understands that his success, in whatever field it may be, calls for humility. Another Proverb reminds us -"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2, NIV)  Success can fill us with entitlement; “I am so grand, everyone owes me.”  That grandiosity has destroyed many, sabotaging them at the height of their success.

Consider these examples-

*A person builds a great company and begins to think he is above needed the counsel of others and it comes crashing down.
*A politician reaches the office he has desired for decades and is brought down by corruption because he thinks he ‘deserves’ the perks offered to him.
*A Christian seeks the Lord, walks faithfully with him, and is blessed with prosperity which becomes a means of buying more pleasure and abandoning service of the very God who blessed him!

Success can be a real blessing if we remember our Source!

Those who understand the truth that God loves to give good gifts to His children and that with those gifts comes greater responsibility and accountability keep their balance in life. They remember the principle that we are blessed to be a blessing.

Have you enjoyed the rich blessings of the Lord?
Then, thank Him!
There is no need to hide your success.
But remember, it is not about you.

Take this Word with you today. It is the inspired counsel of God.
“Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”  (1 Timothy 6)

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Does nothing make you happy?

This week I read a funny and fascinating article which reported on one-star reviews left for some of America’s most beautiful national parks. Yosemite, known for beauty, was described by one reviewer as “trees that block views and too many grey rocks.”  The Grand Canyon which is awe inspiring to most was reviewed as “just a hole, a very, very large hole.”

Human beings can be incredibly difficult to please! Complaining is sometimes more a habit than a choice, a negative certainly. It is our nature to focus on the anomaly rather than the usual, to note the spot or stain first!

The old story of Israel’s emigration from Egypt to the “Promised Land” includes one account after another of the people’s ingratitude. God gave them manna, free and perfect food daily, and how did they respond? With complaint! “We remember the fish we used to eat for free in Egypt. And we had all the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic we wanted. But now our appetites are gone. All we ever see is this manna!”  Somehow, they forgot that the food they had eaten in Egypt was purchased by their slavery.

The tragedy is that we are not all that different too often. When something disturbs our comfort or shifts us into a situation that requires us to adapt, what is our default response? Complaint! In the Summer we are too hot, in winter, too cold. Seeing our neighbor well-dressed suddenly we conclude that our clothes are rags in comparison.

Have you allowed yourself to slip into constant complaints or criticism? I confess that I have failed in that regard too often as well.

Two choices will make a difference for us.

The first is genuine humility, a refusal of an attitude of entitlement. When that thought “I deserve” arrives, kill it immediately by confessing that you are no more entitled that anyone else to whatever it is that has seized your imagination. Kneeling before God with a prayer to accept this day from His hand helps to keep us humble.

The second is the surrender of our will. We can learn to say this with conviction - “You are God, I am not” Giving ourselves to Him to use as He chooses, where HE chooses, with whatever resources He gives provides fertile soil in which contentment grows. Please do not think I am describing a life of apathy! Our passion cannot be for our own agenda, but rather for His.

Paul’s words can be more than a motto. He says  “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”  (Philippians 4)

In a life of humility and surrender, the grace of gratitude grows. as a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s life that can flourish. The Word is simple and clear - "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)  I pray for a better grade in gratitude and thus, a better life in 2019.

So, let me put an question to you to will be a key to personal happiness.

Does gratitude flavor your life?

Are the words that fill up the air and your first thoughts shaped by an attitude of appreciation and gratitude? Want a better estimate? Ask your spouse or a trusted friend for a grade! In the ordinary situations of life are you more prone to gripe and complain over minor inconvenience or have you learned how to let go of self-centeredness that blocks sincere gratitude?

Let me suggest that you join me in a prayer of praise, true worship, heart-deep expressions of your thankfulness for His love. May the light of Jesus shine brightly in us as we break the cycle of complaint, replacing our gripes with ceaseless thanks.

Here is a word from the Word.

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

(Psalm 118:24-29, NIV)

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So MANY Words!

In our time we live with a barrage of words that seem to mean less and less. A flood of political opinion fills our screens, flows from 24/7 ‘news’ channels, and is shared on countless podcasts. Pundits tell us how to invest our money, maximize our time use, parent our children, enjoy more intimate relationships, and … well, everybody has an opinion.

James keeps it short and sweet in his inspired words that warn excessive speech. ^“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.”  (James 5.12)  

He repeated what he had learned from Jesus who said it like this – “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No;’ anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5)

As I meditated on that passage in James today, I asked myself a hard question –
Do I devalue my words by using too many
or by misusing the gift of language trying to create a false “reality?’

Inflation is not just about money it is all around us. How easily we can slip into a pattern of puffing up ourselves with words that are less than honest, far beyond a simple “yes” or “no.”

Candidates say things like - "It's so good to be here in NJ, the best state in the US. I always look forward to visiting beautiful downtown Newark." The audience politely applauds while thinking, "How many times have you said that this week?"

Job titles are handed out that mean little in reality but that give the appearance of importance. Have you ever noticed how many assistant vice presidents there are in banks?

Advertisers routinely mislead consumers, though carefully within guidelines that avoid legal repercussion.

IF we believe Jesus’ words about truth and authenticity, we will take care to avoid the trap of word inflation knowing that it isn’t just a ‘little thing everyone does’ but something that offends the living God.

Christ’s followers should be so authentic, so transparent, that no one even thinks to question the truthfulness of what they say or wonder if there is any need to search for hidden messages. Take another look at the wisdom of James from a paraphrase of the Bible called ‘The Message.’  "Since you know that God cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like "I swear to God" to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against you."

Let’s pay attention to what we say.
Have I developed a habit of word inflation, even in the little stuff?
When I repeat a story do I accurately reflect or shade the report to favor my own point of view?
When I speak of myself do my words give life or death to others?
Does that way that I use language always shine the favorable light on ME?

Even though I encourage us to aim for honesty I do NOT mean that we should, in the name of being real, take the liberty to say hurtful, mean, or ugly things! There's a time for discretion which is expressed best by silence. Sometimes the best words are no words.

Honor the Lord by refusing all forms of puffery, dishonesty, and fluff!
Refuse to cultivate an image.
Be the person God, in His grace, has called you to be, nothing more, nothing less.

I pray that we will follow Paul’s example when he was challenged by false teachers who exaggerated their resumes. He declares – ^“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”  (2 Corinthians 5.2)

Can I get an amen?