Hang in There

Hebrews 12:1-3 NRSV

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.”

This is just a reminder that because of the heroes and sheroes of the faith we can drop any weight that hinders us, hang in there, focus on Jesus. Faith is our key that unlocks how we do what we do. We can trust what God is doing in our lives. enough for now.

Great

Lamentations 3:20-24 NRSV

“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.” 

There is so much happening around us, but God moves us in the midst. We do not despair - Great! We do not give up - Great! We stay prayed up - Great is his faithfulness!  We continue to watch what God is doing in our lives. He is our keeper, our healer, our guide, our hope, in spite of it all. enough for now.

Let it Go

Matthew 7:12 NRSV

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” 

In “The Lion King” Rafiki hit Simba on his head. Simba said ‘ow’ and Rafiki answered what difference does it make? It’s in the past. 

We hold on to too much that does us no good but only to take up space in our head. And when we hold on tight enough and long enough it pierces our heart with bitterness. We must leave the past in the past. To continue looking back is wasted time. We must be in the present moment in order to move forward.

We leave the past- not stuffing it - but by releasing it through lamenting.  Then we can truly let go and move on with what we have learned. We can let go and forgive because we have been forgiven. We can forgive ourselves also because we have been forgiven. If God has forgiven us- as God has forgiven us, it is done. Whatever it is- it’s in the past. Walk in the present moment with God and watch what he does. enough for now.

Get To Work

Nehemiah 6:9 NRSV 

“But now, O God, strengthen my hands.”

This is Nehemiah’s prayer to continue the work of rebuilding the Jerusalem wall. He moved through opposition, distractions, but he stayed on course. Go back and read Nehemiah 1-7. Some of the most studied prayers are in the Hebrew Bible. 

Today we must recognize the places where we are in disrepair. The places where we must be rebuilt. And we start with a prayer, “Oh God strengthen our hands.” Give us what we need - to hear, to follow, and then to rest in your peace. Blessings builders, as we work together to pray for ourselves, and for one another. enough for now.

Into His Presence

Psalm 95:1-3

“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

So very much has happened this week. And we pause today for 9/11. It’s been hectic. We all need a break. We need a refuge. We need to feel God’s peace. You know how sometimes babies sing themselves to sleep? We sing ourselves into God’s presence, we hum a tune to quiet our heart and our mind in order to be in that place with God. 

We humble ourselves in awe of our mighty God, knowing that he can, he does, he will. We pause so that we can unwind the crazy and be rewound with God’s love, his protection, his mercy. 

Take time right now and thank him- look around and thank for what you see! Thank him that you do see! Thank him that you can respond to his love for you! Thank yourself into the peace of his presence! enough for now.

Now, The Land Needs You

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.”

You all know the 14th verse, which is the complete of the sentence. As God’s people, we have a responsibility to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and repent. When we do that - God forgives us and the land is healed. 

Can you see our responsibility of saving the land through our obedience to God? It’s like the lame man whose friends let him down though the roof. Jesus saw their faith, forgave them and healed the man. 

We can do this - and if believers everywhere did this look at what could happen. But we will do what we will do. Let’s do it! We are his people. We will humble ourselves as we know that God  is so awesome that we cant do anything but be be humbled by his love for us. We will seek God in every instance. We will pray without ceasing. And we will continue to turn from wrong to right. enough for now.

Keep On

Mark 4:3-9 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!” 

Verses 13-29 Jesus explains this parable. The thing is that while at one time we were seeds, we are now sowers. We sow the gospel message through our actions, by our love. We can’t determine who will get it. Even then the fields were so full of thorns and rocks that the yield was small, still they showed.    

Satan will snatch some, the gospel will not take root with some, some will hang around those who choke them out, still there will be those who grow strong and flourish. 

We don’t know who, but we keep sowing. We sow because we know what God has done for us. That is our testimony. enough for now.