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.

Listen

Ez.19-20 NRSV

“I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

As I was reading this I noticed the clocks on my tablet and my phone and I heard an old O’Jays’ song, “Listen to the clock on the wall.” Now, this has nothing to do with that song. But time is moving, winding down, ending. Seasons are passing. 

This passage is God’s promise to Israel. It is our promise - we return to God by releasing any and all idols from our heart. These are those that have turned our hearts cold- to stone. He gives us a new spirit. 

Now - yes we are saved by his grace, but there are places in our heart that we must release. 

Unforgiveness turns to bitterness and becomes our own idol- we hold on to it like it’s a precious gem. That bitterness affects us is so many ways- mentally, physically- spiritually. Stone. 

Lack of trusting God affects us is so many ways as we think we have a better plan than he does for our lives. The crazy part is he gave us our life and he knows what he has for us. It usually does not move the way we think, but it always a more excellent way. Stone. 

Since that is the only two he gave me, let us give them to God - let us release them and be healed. enough for now.

Get Understanding

Mark 4:21-25 NRSV

“He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

Things are not always as they seem. These wisdom sayings help us to understand the parables. At times, even the disciples misunderstood Jesus. While it is there - it must be revealed. It is revealed when we seek him. The more we seek wisdom in understanding Jesus and the kingdom, the more we receive. Those who have no interest in understanding will find the selves further away from him. So, get understanding. enough for now.