His Peace

Isaiah 9:6&7

“For a child has been born for us,  a son given to us;  authority rests upon his shoulders;  and he is named  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually,  and there shall be endless peace  for the throne of David and his kingdom.”

God has set us up to win victoriously. We are counseled by Holy Spirit who was left to guide us. We are in the arms of a Father like none other. God set it up And it all brings peace because of the Prince of Peace. 

There is something about bringing God in on our decisions, our concerns, our hurts, our struggles. He gives us direction, he comforts, he guides. And that gives us peace. Accept his peace, watch what he is doing. enough for now.

Fragrant Offerings

II Cor. 2:12-17 NRSV

“When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord; but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.”

We are fragrant offerings that spread the love of God wherever we go. You know how we are around things and begin to smell like what we around? Even a baby knows it’s mother’s scent. 

We want to check ourselves to see what scent do we emit- does it repel others from seeing God or does it bring them into his presence? 

And how long does our scent last? Just as colognes don’t last always we must replenish by communing with God. 

And how strong is our scent? Avon’s Skin So Soft sweetly repels mosquitoes. Our scent should be strong to repel anything that comes at us - that is not of God. 

Listen one year my Christmas tree had served its purpose and was lying outside for my bulk pick up day. That was the year that we experienced a blizzard. It was the most snow I have ever seen, and it so completely covered my Christmas tree that I thought that it had already been picked up. 

But about three weeks into January, the snow began to melt, and I saw a few sprigs of my Christmas tree peeking out from the snow. 

As I tugged at it, the fragrance of that evergreen tree filled the space around me, letting me know that it was still an evergreen tree. I got a shovel to dig it out so that the garbage people could see the tree. As I dug around the tree the smell became stronger and stronger. 

“ Holy Spirit showed me, “That we, as children of God, are to be just like that evergreen.” 

When we feel that our usefulness is gone, or we have not been appreciated, or when we have gotten caught under tons of trouble, heartache, and pain, hold on. And when we are pulled out by God’s mighty shovel of love, we will still have that aroma that says we are fragrant offerings, acceptable to God. enough for now.

Stay on Task

Neh. 6:1-9

“Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?” They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. In it was written, “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem also says it—that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall; and according to this report you wish to become their king. You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, ‘There is a king in Judah!’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. So come, therefore, and let us confer together.” Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own mind” —for they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.” 

This has been a rough week with the elections but we continue on. We take note from Nehemiah and how they tried to distract him from the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall. Go back and read starting at chapter one. 

There will be distractions to hinder the work of God, still we continue. And there are times that we work with our  weapons strapped on as the Israelites. Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down is strongholds. 

Come on you all. Let nothing distract you, not your allies, your enemies, yourself. There is more - what to we do? We stay on task taking a note from Nehemiah, “Oh God Strengthen our hands.” Stay on task. enough for now.

It’s Sowing Time

Mark 4:2-9 NRSV

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” 

Jesus spoke great truths in parables. Here the message of the gospel is sown - or not. Some places it cannot be determined if the ground has good soil. It may look bad, it may be taken away by the lies of the enemy, but still we sow. In the agricultural theme the disciples would have understood. Because of the thorns and thistles some seed would take root. The average return on the crop was no more than seven or eight times the seed they sowed.

Since we don’t know if the seeds will take root, we still share the gospel. We were seeds that took root in good soil and now we must sow. The soil may not look like what we think but we still share the good news. We share our story of what God  has done for us. 

We have a story. Blessings of peace on your day. enough for now.

Praise Him

Psalm 34.

“I will bless the Lord at all times;  his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord;  let the humble hear and be glad.  

O magnify the Lord with me,  and let us exalt his name together.  

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,  and delivered me from all my fears.  Look to him, and be radiant;  so your faces shall never be ashamed.  

This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,  and was saved from every trouble.  The angel of the Lord encamps  around those who fear him, and delivers them.  

O taste and see that the Lord is good;  happy are those who take refuge in him.  O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,  for those who fear him have no want.  

The young lions suffer want and hunger,  but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.  

Come, O children, listen to me;  I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  

Which of you desires life,  and covets many days to enjoy good?  Keep your tongue from evil,  and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil, and do good;  seek peace, and pursue it.  

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,  and his ears are open to their cry.  The face of the Lord is against evildoers,  to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears,  and rescues them from all their troubles.  

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,  and saves the crushed in spirit.  

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,  but the Lord rescues them from them all.  

He keeps all their bones;  not one of them will be broken.  

Evil brings death to the wicked,  and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.  

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;  none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

Hold on to this. Go back and sing this Psalm. Make your own tune. Get it in your spirit. Oh he’s good. He’s better than good. Praise him for his wonderful works. Praise him for his promises. Praise him for his favor. Praise him for his love. Praise him, he loves us that much. enough for now.

Be Still

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God!  I am exalted among the nations,  I am exalted in the earth.”

That’s who he is! Be still and watching amazement. Be still to hear from him, be still and trust what he is doing. Be still. enough for now 

Do This

Isaiah 58:6-12 NRSV

“Is not this the fast that I choose:  to loose the bonds of injustice,  to undo the thongs of the yoke,  to let the oppressed go free,  and to break every yoke?  Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,  and bring the homeless poor into your house;  when you see the naked, to cover them,  and not to hide yourself from your own kin?  Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,  and your healing shall spring up quickly;  your vindicator shall go before you,  the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;  you shall cry for help, and he will say, “Here I am.””

The Israelites were too busy in their own ‘me’ issues and were complaint to God about him not answering. But he tells them what a true fast look like. And gives a series of if/then statements. Go back and reread Isaiah 58.

If you do these things you will have Divine License to call upon the Lord: (Verses 8&9.) 

If you feed the hungry, give shelter, clothe the naked, and take care of family. “Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear. 

Then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of God will be your rear guard.

The righteousness from your obedience will go before you and God has your back. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer, you will cry for help, and he will say, “Here am I.””

As believers, we are to make a stand as one against unfit social conditions. We must be ready to fight against systemic oppression and support those marginalized by society.

But when you call God, he will answer. We have the divine license to call upon the Lord. Vs 9 haneh Predicator of Existence (10.3b in Hebrew book). We have no English word that this properly translates. So the best we can do in the English is say, “here am I” 

The NLT says, “Yes, I am here, he will quickly reply.” But the Hebrew translation of “Behold Me!” says it better. 

That ‘behold’ is to look upon or to listen to something amazing or unexpected, and in that context it is more of a command. So, for God to say, ‘Behold Me’, I got your back. Gaze upon something so absolutely amazing- Me. Watch me, don’t worry about that.What else could there be that is bigger? NOT A THING. That is something we can hold on to. enough for now.

Watch Him Work

Acts 12:4-11 NRSV

“When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.  Peter Delivered from Prison The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

While there is great power in prayer, there is great power in collective prayer. Get the picture of how God delivered Peter from sure death as he would be executed right after Passover. The thing is that while the church was praying, Peter was resting. With all of the precautions to keep Peter locked up, he walked right out. 

There are times in our lives that we may feel so bound, under duress and in distress that there is no way out. But God. When we are clear of whom we serve, we can rest in spite of - we rest knowing that God is moving. We rest knowing that prayer changes situations. Trust that God is moving on our behalf. Watch what he is doing. 

enough for now.

Change Agents

2 Chronicles 7:13&14 NRSV

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 

‘When’ and ‘if’ are subordinate conjunctions. ‘Then’ is a conjunctive adverb which joins the independent clauses. You can’t have a’then’ without the ‘if’.  We have three movements: Our foundation: in our identity (my people) and heritage (called by my name). The action we must take: (humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, turn from wicked ways), if we do that, the we will receive-

The promises from God: He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and heal the land.

When we do that, we become the change agents he created. Our doing, our following him changes everything. The divine formula: humble+pray+seek God+turn from wickedness= God hearing from heaven, forgiving our sins, healing the land. The land needs healing, we need healing. It will happen as we step up as God’s change agents. enough for now.

Stay in It

I Cor 9:24-26 NRSV

“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.”

After coming out of conference I was reminded of one thing- while that was the business of the church- the responsibility is to advance the kingdom. Our responsibility is to hear from God, wait on God. We are still in this race. It is ours alone, no one can run it for us. Sometimes we may slow down, but at all times we stay in the race. Stay in the race. It has already been secured for you. more later.

You Need A Word

Luke 4:1-13 NRSV

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”  Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,  ‘Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.’ ”  Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,  ‘He will command his angels concerning you,  to protect you,’  and  ‘On their hands they will bear you up,  so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”  Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.”

We know the story of Jesus taken by Holy Spirit  to the wilderness. Satan’s temps with physical needs, power & fame, and by testing God. But each time he tempted Jesus, Jesus answered with scripture. We need a word to keep us when crazy happens. To hold us when temptations come. We need a word to hold in our heart. 

I have always been stuck in that last sentence. “When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” 

Temptations will come and we can succeed because Jesus did. We suceded with a word. We need a word in our heart, a word for that situation. “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you.”

When studying Hebrew in seminary, we studied the passage, Isaiah 58:9 , “Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.” Now in Hebrew the word “Hanai” takes on a grander meaning. It’s not just ‘here I am’ it’s “Behold me.” How powerful is that? No one can say that but God. Behold me! 

With that knowledge and a word that is in our heart, we will stand, as we are standing on God’s word and with him having our back. Get a word! enough for now.

Great

Lamentation 3:19-24

“The thought of my affliction and my homelessness  is wormwood and gall!  My soul continually thinks of it  and is bowed down within me.  But this I call to mind,  and therefore I have hope:  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,  “therefore I will hope in him.”

 Jeremiah shows us how to lament our pain, our sorrow. It is raw. We lament because only God can handle where we are. When we reflect on where we are, we realize that there is none like God. The we can release all hurt to God and receive peace and that assurance. With that, we can resolve like Jeremiah that The steadfast love of God never ceases, his mercies never fail, they are new every morning. That’s quite a resolve! Ain’t nothing can deter us because of God’s love. We don’t stay in our stupid because of God’s love. Every day is a new day for to receive what he has for us. Receive it. Walk in it. Rest assured that he is faithful! enough for now.

Our Lies

Acts 5:1-11 NRSV

“But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2 with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 “Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!” 5 Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6 The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. 

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.”

Bottom line - lying will mess you up. Lying to Holy Spirit will kill you spiritually. In this case physically. There was no reason at all for their lie. Ananias and Sapphira pledged the proceeds of their land. They didn’t have to pledge but they did. So when they sold the land the proceeds were to go to the community of believers. 

It’s the little things that mess us up. The little lies are really big lies that we can see the full ramifications of- because we think it’s just a small lie. But our lies to self are also lies to self are also lies to God. And he will slow walk us down.

Our tithe helps the church but more than that- it’s out of obedience to God. Many times we don’t give God the tenth and wonder why we can’t work with the 9/10 we get to keep. 

Let’s just bear in mind and in heart what we say and do as our lies will mess us up. enough for now.

Shout it Out

Joshua 6:1-7

“Now Jericho was shut up inside and out because of the Israelites; no one came out and no one went in. 2 The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers. 3 You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days, 4 with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and all the people shall charge straight ahead.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the Lord.” 7 To the people he said, “Go forward and march around the city; have the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”

Look at verse two. Although Jericho was fortified against the Israelites they didn’t know who they were with . . . They didn’t know what God would do. Jericho then was less than four acres, and took about an hour to walk around. Although larger now it is 846 ft below sea level, the lowest city on earth. It held a strategic position. Joshua gave the instructions to march as per God’s command. It was actually a ritual. 

Jericho was a stronghold, that was taken down. There are strongholds in our lives. When we humble ourselves, and follow God’s already promises, big things happen. You see, God had already given Jericho over. He has already. We just follow instructions. Sometimes we just need to shout it out, shout it down, shout it through. The shout is a praise. We praise him and things happen. We praise him and we win. We praise him on the way to victory. You see, it’s already done. We just follow and move when he says move. He is so good to us! Whatever causes us grief is a Jericho that can be defeated. Shout it out! enough for now.

Law and Order

Numbers 9:15-23 NRSV

“On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. 16 It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp. 18 At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the Lord they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the Lord, and would not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out. 23 At the command of the Lord they would camp, and at the command of the Lord they would set out. They kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by Moses.”

When we follow God’s law we have his order. In order to follow the Israelites had to be attentive to God’s timing, be ready, and leave all baggage behind. They set out when the cloud/fire set out. They settled when cloud/fire settled. It was not in any discernible pattern, but as God said. If we are attentive to his timing, and are ready to move- we move. And yes, we have to leave all baggage- those things that hinder us, those negative attitudes, energy, that cause us to miss being attentive- see how that works? 

The journey is not all the time easy, but when we are clear who we are following we can trust that he has us. Last week some of us were together for my son Marq’s graduation from residency. He didn’t know who would come, he didn’t know who couldn’t get there, but he knew what was to happen for him. He knew that he had to continue on watching what God is doing. He didn’t know the prayers and tears and hopes that watered his way - but he continued on. Listen, sometimes it feels that we are all alone- but God! Sometimes it feels that no one understands-but God. Sometimes we can’t even figure it out- but God has already done so.  It’s his order that makes the difference. enough for now.

The Heart of the Father

Luke 15:20-24 NRSV 

20 “So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. “

Verse 20 is my favorite. Go back and reread 11-31 for this whole story. Although the prodigal son left, went through some stuff, he finally thought to go home. Let’s look at the heart of the father. He was always watching for his lost son. I find so amazing. I mean with everything one has to do- he was watching. 

When he saw his son, he ran to protect him. That was major as a man of his statue did not run. To run one had to tuck the robe between the legs, thus exposing leg. That is not what men of standing did. But this man ran and embrace his son stink and all. He knew his son’s scent through the stink. 

And then he restored him. He placed a robe on him reserved for guest, the ring on his finger symbolized honor and authority- sonship. Servants didn’t wear sandals. 

Listen bottom line, God watches even when we stray from him, it’s when we come to our right mind to turn back to him. When we can hear that voice “Come home.” He protects and then we are restored to sonship, daughtership. We were always that - but now we can recognize that. 

That’s the reader’s digest version. We can always return to God. He has already forgiven, we must forgive self. Happy Father’s Day! enough for now.

Do You Know What Time It Is

Ecc. 3: 1-11 NRSV

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; 

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; 

a time to break down, and a time to build up; 

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; 

a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 

5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 

6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; 

a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 

7 a time to tear, and a time to sew; 

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; 

a time for war, and a time for peace. 

9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

When we understand that “For everything there is a season,” and that “He has made everything suitable for its time,” then we can begin to grow in the season we are in. There are three movements here:

The Certainty of the Seasons (1-2)

The Diversity of the Seasons (3-8)

The Mystery of the Seasons (9-11)

While our life is a season, there are many seasons in our life. Our response is to trust God’s timing for the season he has us in. To embrace the season he has us in. To grow through the season, learning in that that present moment what God has for us. We hold to some things, we let of some things. We walk away, we stay. We speak, we get get quiet. We can’t move effectively unless we are listening for and watching God move in our lives.

The Right Community

James 4:1-3, 7-10. NRSV

“Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.  . . . Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

We are in community. It depends on the community we are in that will affect us. Verse one through 1-3 shows community with the world. 7-10 shows community with God. Which one? In 7-10 are imperatives- commands on what we are to do. Let’s hold to community with God. Blessings! 

Watch Him

Hebrews 11:1&6 NRSV

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. . . . And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Go back and read the whole faith narrative. It builds and builds and builds. We understand what faith is, “It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then we have examples of those who had great faith. But in the middle of it all a bottom line, a conclusion, and then on more to those who had faith. “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

That’s faith. We don’t need great faith- but faith in God.  is indeed great faith. We know what he can do, we trust what he does, what he will do. He has our best interests at hand . . .in his heart. When we are sure of that, we can rest in that. Hold on to your faith in God. You see, many times we place faith in mankind and mankInd will let us down. And we transfer that hurt that disillusionment to God. Oh but when we reverse the process. When we place our faith in God-we can’t lose. We are not disappointed. Faith in God does not disappoint. My my my. Watch what God is doing in your life. And thank him for what you see, and for what you don’t see. He has moved mountains on your behalf. He is still the One. 

Congratulations Adam, on your graduation today! 

Congratulations Marq on no more boards.

Blessings of hope for each of us as we watch what God is doing. enough for now.

Don’t Miss

Acts 8:26-40 NRSV

“Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: 

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, 

and like a lamb silent before its shearer, 

so he does not open his mouth. 

In his humiliation justice was denied him. 

Who can describe his generation? 

For his life is taken away from the earth.” 

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?”Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.”

You know this story. But keep in mind that it would not have been possible had Philip not responded to God. He had preached to crowds in Jerusalem and now he is sent to one person. One person who because he was a eunuch (deformity) and black could not be accepted into Judaism. But that is who God sent Philip to on that road. 

The Eunuch was from a culture with different beliefs, but he worshiped God. This Ethiopia is not what we know now as Abyssinia, which is in the hill country to the east of upper Nile. But most probably the ancient kingdom of Meroe, which was south of Aswan between the first and sixth cataracts of the Nile.  The cataracts are places of shallow water or  whitewater rapids where the surface of the rocks ad stones stick out of the water. 

Meroe was a flourishing kingdom from the eighth century BCE to the fourth century CE. Their kings were  viewed as incarnations of the sun god and was a ceremonial role. The real administration was in the hands of the powerful queen mothers called “the Candace.” The eunuch was held in high position as what we would call “the Minister of Finance.” 

So God sent Philip who was already in Jerusalem to someone leaving Jerusalem and getting near the last watering place before the desert to help him understand what he was reading, and he was baptized. God uses who he uses, accepts who he accepts. Our position is to listen, and obey. Don’t you love it? There is no big opportunity or small opportunity as the big come out of the greatness of the small. Don’t miss what God is doing in your life. enough for now.

We have to Get There

Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

This Habakkuk’s resolve after he had lamented to God. He complained and received answers, although not the answers he wanted. Go back and read all three chapters. But he shows us how to get real with God.. When we get real God is real with us. Too often we say he is real, but we are not real with him, and we miss that space of communication with him.

When we can pour out what we are feeling, then we can hear clearer what he says. But we have to release first. This passage is the closing of Habakkuk’s release. and it’s a resolve that we want- we want to be in that place that whatever happens-yet we will rejoice. But we rejoice after releasing in lament. more later.

Listening

Acts 16:13–15 (NRSV)

“On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us.”

The book of Acts is also called the Acts of the Apostles, Acts of Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. We can see that played out in this passage. Lydia was from Thyatira and made purple dye for the fezzes and prayer shawls. Thyatira was known for producing quality purple dye.   

Holy Spirit showed me that the importance of the color purple lies in how it was acquired. Purple, ar-gaw-mawn, in Hebrew, por-foo-rah, in Greek, was produced from the secretion of the murex shellfish. “Tyrian Purple,” was a high-priced dye produced from the mucus of small gland (hypobranchial) (hy po bran kial) found in the neck of the mollusk marine mulex trunculus. The shellfish were opened, and the glands were removed and crushed, producing a liquid that turned purple when exposed to the air. It took 12,000 shellfish to extract 1.5 grams of pure dye. Purple was an expensive color to produce. So she was a great business woman.

Thyatira was also know for its spiritual formication. Yet, Lydia was a worshipper of God, and God had moved her from Thyatira to Philippi. Holy Spirit blocked Paul from going into Asia. Thyatira was in Asia. But Paul had a vision of a man asking to come to Macedonia to help him. Paul went to Philippi and went to the river to meet. You see, whenever there were ten males of households a synagogue could be formed. If there was no building, they would always meet by the river. So Paul expected to meet the men but found women worshipping. And Lydia was there. She and her family were baptized and the first church of Philippi was started. She was the overseer, or pastor. All because she was listening. Paul was listening. We have to listen to Holy Spirit, and obey. Can you see how God will move us into where he wants us for his purpose for us? More later

Peace in Unity

Psalm 133:1-3 NRSV

“How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, 

running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, 

running down over the collar of his robes. 

It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.”

The blessing of unity is indeed powerful. While the original hearers would have understood the imagery. We see that the anointing oil used for priest was not to be duplicated. It was special. In fellowship with one another it is a special moment and never the same. 

Mt Hermon stands 10,000 feet above sea level and is snow capped 2/3 times of the year. Although in Syria, it can be seen 120 miles away. It is indeed majestic. The precipitation from Mt Hermon feeds many different canals. It flows into the Sea of Galilee, on into the Jordan River, and down to the Dead Sea. Just as the lands needs water we cannot live without it. It refreshes, restores. 

Fellowship- unity among kindred hearts refreshes, restores. We can’t live without that unity. 

Just as I’m writing this a lizard ran behind my stove. I don’t need to be unified with him. There is no peace, as I keep looking up to see where he is. When we have no peace with some we may “fellowship”with, we need to rethink it. Peace is important. Blessings of unity. more later

Already Done

Luke 24:1-8 NRSV

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words.”

Here we are Resurrection Day. We all know it and celebrate it now. While Jesus’ crucifixion and burial was public, his resurrection was private. But because of the public and private we have life. Because of what has already been done for us we can live victoriously. 

Sometimes we don’t, and I hear the angels’ question to the women: “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” The dead things in our mind -we can’t listen, we can’t hear, we can’t follow. The dead things in our heart- we harbor grudges, unforgiveness, we live in bitterness. The dead things in our will- we don’t want to give up our way to follow God’s way. But we don’t have to look for life among the dead things, because he has already freed us to live fully.

“Then they remembered his words.” The women had a close relationship with Jesus and he had already prepared them. He has give us himself in our relationship with him, and we can remember his words to us. And when we remember we can do as the women, and go tell. You see, someone needs to hear our witness. And we need to share it. We do all of that because it has already been done for us. Francis Frangipane says, “We don’t fight for the victory, but we fight from the victory already won byJesus.” It’s already done- we win, because he got up! more later

Tell It

Luke 19:40

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 

Twas during Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to quiet his disciples. Go back and read verses28-40. But you see the disciples recognized who Jesus was, they rejoiced, and they responded to Jesus. 

Heres the thing. When we recognize who Jesus is for ourselves (This is personal) then we can celebrate all that we know of him. And our response is to tell it. Tell the story, tell our story. God will always have a witness to his works. We know who we are and what God has done. We cannot be quiet as we have witnessed marvelous works of God. No - no rock can tell our story. As we celebrate Palm Sunday celebrate all that God has done. Celebrate all that God is doing. Celebrate all that God will do. More later.

Where Are You

Acts 3:1-8 NRSV

“One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.”

Too often we find ourselves like the man lame from birth-Being in the Wrong Place, Looking to the Wrong People, Asking for the Wrong Thing. 

He was outside the gate begging, he couldn’t get inside because he was disabled. Sometimes we are outside of communion with God disabled only by our sin issues, yet our healing is in communication with God.

The people that took him there probably should have taken him to the early one service where there were more people as the second service had less people, and at least he had twice the chance to beg.Some people can mess us up as they don’t have our best interest at heart, or they want to keep us caught in our mess. 

Too often we are asking God for one thing, and he has more, and he has to get our attention. So we want to be in communion with him, (in the right place), looking to him only, and asking and being ready to receive from him. more later.

Make a Stand

Matthew 16:13-19 NRSV

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

The church has power and authority to stand against anything not of God. The church on earth carries out heaven’s decisions; not heaven consenting to earth’s decisions. Can you see how messed up we would be if we controlled heaven? What is forbidden on earth is already forbidden in heaven. What is permitted on earth is already permitted in heaven. We have power and authority, but we must speak up, as Peter. We must know what we believe. We must stand with that power and on that authority from God. We can make a difference. We will make a difference.

That’s Where We Live

Psalm 91:1&2,15 NRSV

“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” 

“When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.”

We must recognize where we live- in the shelter of the Most High. Some people misuse this psalm. They leave it open on a table in the bedroom, put it under a guest chair, placing it open in the car, one guy even had it in his right shoe. (I’ve seen some things) but the Lord told me “No, that means nothing. Hold in your heart what the words mean. I am your shelter, I am your keeper.”

We must know that he is our shelter, and then to know to come on in the house. To be sheltered from the storms of life as they will happen. To have peace in the. midst, knowing we are safe in God’s protection.

When we were young my mother would take my sister and me downtown in the summer. As we waited on the bus the hot sun would beat down unmercifully. But I found refuge in Momma’s shadow.  Can you even imagine being in God’s shadow? My my.

In the shelter, safe in the shadow- but there’s more. When we call on him, he will answer. That’s it right there. We are never alone in any situation. Even when we can’t think it out- he has us. That’s where we live! more later

Take a Different Route

Matthew 2:12 NRSV

“And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”

Just like the Magi every time we seek Jesus in prayer, giving ourselves, we find him and we are changed. So we do not return the same way we came. We take a different path back, a different way of handling what we must handle. We have a new perspective on old things. We are changed each time. Many times the change is in the release, release of doubt, fear, unforgiveness. Releasing those right there renews us for our journey. The Magi trusted God and returned a different way. It’s the trust that makes the difference. Happy New Year! more later.