Friday, January 29, 2021

True Worship

Through my years of being a pastor I take notice of when my friends from church get out of the habit of meeting with the Body of Christ.  Part of that reality is I do have to report numbers, but the bigger part is I miss my friends when they stop meeting with me for worship.  I also know it is difficult to keep up our connection with God when we are not involved in the corporate worship of God.  There is power in gathering with like minded people to honor and glorify God.  But what do we do when we feel like worship has become a habit without power or God's presence?  The prophet Isaiah was living in a different day than we do today.  If you were an Israelite in those days you could not just choose another place to worship. However Isaiah deals with the people of his day about what if their worship was not pleasing to God?  What if our religious activity is merely human and not honoring God?  Now that is a problem we could also have today.  There are times when worship seems more like a habit then alive and a powerful part of our lives.  What do we do in those moments?  Isaiah told the people of his day to check their motives for worship.   

Isaiah 58:3 

‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!’

The people felt like they were doing the right religious activities but that God was not paying attention.  They felt like they were fasting and praying but God was ignoring their efforts. So God responds to the people through the prophet: 

Isaiah 58:5-7 

You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind.

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

Our worship and our lives need to be on the same page.  We can not go to church on Sunday and hope to honor God if we living lives Monday-Saturday that are the opposite of worship of God.  God says we need to be at work for the oppressed, for the hungry, homeless, naked and needy family.  So if we think our worship is not connecting with God, the first thing is to allow God to examine our everyday actions and our hearts of compassion for people in need around us.  

God's hope for us is that our worship would help us connect with God:

Isaiah 58:11 

The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.

There may be times in our lives when we feel like we are going through a desert season and we just need to keep the habit of worship until the Holy Spirit revives our hearts.  There are times when we need to check our motives and make sure our daily lives are consistent with what we proclaim on Sunday. 


Friday, January 22, 2021

New Start - January 22, 2021

Dinner was quit a ritual at our family when I was a kid.  My dad rode a bus to work and so it was at a usual time he would arrive home from work.  Mom would call us kids from whatever activities we were up to and tell us it was time to eat.  No, we did not have a dinner bell.  There were some other rituals or rules that went along with eating at the table.  First of all you had to wash your hands before you ate and this was generally a wise idea because many time we would have been outside playing and so we were usually dirty.  Especially my brother and me, sometimes my sister might have been playing the piano or doing other things inside, but she still had to wash her hands.  Maybe we were preparing for 2020 pandemic days.  The rules that did not make sense to me as a kid were the "no hat" and you had to "have a shirt on" to eat.  Hats do not hinder the meal for anyone.  I would rather look at a person with a hat on than a person with messed up hair.  And a shirt, really?  When you got really dirty out playing in the dirt and you had to wash up and take your dirty shirt in the laundry, why would you want to put a clean shirt on just to eat?  I mean I often was (maybe still am) a messy eater and then I would spill food on my clean shirt and that just meant more laundry for my mom. 

The Pharisees of Jesus day also had some rules and traditions that they followed as seriously as my mom followed the dinner time rules.  The problem is that Jesus said their rules had become more important than the heart of worship.  Jesus quoted this passage from Isaiah to describe the problem. 

Isaiah 29:13 And so the Lord says,
    “These people say they are mine.
They honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
And their worship of me
    is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote."

Jesus reminds us that our worship must be from the heart and that sometimes we can miss the heart of worship with all our rules.  Many people go through the ritual of worship but never really allow the Holy Spirit to transform their hearts.  We know we are suppose to show up to the dinner table with clean hands and dressed in a clean shirt, but we forget the most important part is to show up with a heart connected to God. 

I am grateful for the times we spent as a family around the table.  My heart is warmed by those precious memories.  


 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

New Start - January 21, 2021

When Isaiah writes about Israel, it may start out harsh realities of the coming future but then ends with hope.  There always seems to be a light at the end of the dark days. If only the people of God would learn from God's discipline and turn to God. In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. (Isaiah 26:9)  Isaiah is consistent in the themes of God's people need to seek God and follow God's instructions.  This means fighting for justice and caring for the poor.  This means trusting in the Lord instead of worshiping other gods. 
  
Isaiah 28:7-10 Now, however, Israel is led by drunks who reel with wine and stagger with alcohol.
The priests and prophets stagger with alcohol and lose themselves in wine.
They reel when they see visions and stagger as they render decisions.
Their tables are covered with vomit; filth is everywhere.
“Who does the Lord think we are?” they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned?
He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time, one line at a time,
a little here, and a little there!

Human pride seems to always lead us away from following God with all our hearts.  Who is God to instruct us? Are we like little children?  God's response to the people's pride is: 

Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, 
     a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
    Whoever believes need never be shaken.
17 I will test you with the measuring line of justice
    and the plumb line of righteousness. (Isaiah 28:16-17a) 

Peter quotes this passage in 1 Peter 2:6 and refers to Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  Jesus being our rock and foundation is the key to overcoming our pride and our self-dependence.  Jesus being our rock and foundations allows us to take shelter in God during the storms of life.  

Jesus concludes his most famous sermons with these words: 

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. (Matthew 7:24-25) 

The reality is the storms of life have come and will continue to come.  The reality is that we have a tendency to depend on a lot of things when those storms some but only one thing is needed... Jesus, the Rock.  

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

New Start - January 20

Reading this middle part of the writings of the prophet Isaiah make you wonder about his mental health.  Such visions of destruction and loss must have been a burden to carry that weighed him down.  Did you catch the part of him being naked and barefoot for 3 years.  I don't even walk around my house naked for more than 3 minutes.  

Isaiah 20:3 Then the Lord said, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign—a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. 

I believe I am going to keep that concept in my mind the next time I think God has called me to do something strange. Well, at least God is asking me to do it with my clothes on.

Isaiah's visions of destruction for nations all around Israel and than also for Israel.  It is one thing to see your enemies destroyed, but then to have visions of your own people destroyed would be a heavy load.  

Isaiah 24:5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people,
    for they have twisted God’s instructions,
violated his laws,
    and broken his everlasting covenant.

No matter the visions of destruction and how bad they seem there is always a small splinter of hope.  There is always a remnant that survives and God gives us hope.  

Isaiah 24:14-16a But all who are left shout and sing for joy.                                                      Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.

15 In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.
    In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,
    songs that give glory to the Righteous One!

In the midst of pain and loss God has a way of bringing a song of joy.  The work of the Lord will continue and the songs that glorify God will continue to rise.  



PS - I confess that I have been the downfall of several tambourines and though I have not destroyed them I hid them well enough not to be found.  So I may start proof texting Isaiah 24:8 The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled... and call it God's will.  

Monday, January 18, 2021

New Start - January 18, 2021

Sometimes reading the prophets writings can get a little bit negative.  The reality was the prophets often had to give a message to the people of "bad news" from the Lord.  Isaiah had been giving that bad news to other nations in chapters 13-16 and then chapter 17 God turns His message towards Israel.  The prophet was probably well received when the enemies of Israel were in trouble but was not received quite as well when he starts to tell "bad news" for Israel. 


Isaiah 17:4 

“In that day Israel’s glory will grow dim;
    its robust body will waste away.

We do not usually like to hear bad news about our own nation and about a land and a people we love.  In the US we tend to only like to hear the good about who we are and it is hard to hear the negative about our nation.  In these days of seeing the racial divide in our country and the political divide in our country - it is noticeable that something is wrong.  I don't expect the US to be God's nation of Israel but I do have hopes of the people of God rising up and making a positive impact on our culture.  Isaiah reminded the people of Israel and us today that when we face the consequences of our sins we must turn to God for help. 

Isaiah 17:7-8 

Then at last the people will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.

They will no longer look to their idols for help or worship what their own hands have made.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives we find that God is always leading us to a place of confronting our sin and turning to God for help.  I always love the thought that God loves me too much to leave me living in my sin and allow me continue to destroy my life.  God loves you so much!

Friday, January 15, 2021

New Start - January 15, 2021


Snow!  Some people love it and some people hate it.  For me growing up in Idaho it was just a normal part of every winter that seemed to extend to Easter weekend most years.  Lots and lots of snow.  Snow can definitely cause us some trouble.  I can remember when I was a kid, on Christmas break as we were headed to Wyoming to see family, we hit some ice and our car went spinning.  We managed to stay on the road and came to a stop.  We thought we had dodged an accident only to have the car behind us run right into the back of our car.  Good thing cars back then, Ford Galaxie 500, was a bit of a tank.  For me snow ment income as a kid.  I had a regular contract with my next door neighbor to shovel their driveway and sidewalks every time it snowed.  Then I would walk the neighborhood and see if anyone else would pay me to shovel their snow.  For me snow was also connected to fun.  We would build igloos and snowmen.  We would shovel mazes through the snow in the backyard and play games for hours.  And then there was the sledding.  I think our church finally banned the annual tubing trip because it always seemed like someone broke and arm or a leg on those trips.  

Today the prophet Isaiah speaks of snow in Isaiah 1.  The prophet has been describing Israel's religious behavior as a nation.  They had continued the religious activity but had lost the heart of the matter.  Their religious activity had become something that God despised instead being pleasing to God.  Good reminder for us today that we can be very religious without pleasing God.  

Isaiah 1:15-20

When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.

Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways.

Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.  Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Isaiah reminds us that snow has the ability to cover things and make them appear clean.  Snow has a way of taking the mess of the world and for a while making it peaceful and calm.  God has a way of taking the mess of our lives and covering it with grace.  This only happens when we get serious about the work of God and quit playing religious games.  If our hearts are not in line with the work of God then our prayers will merely be words.  If we do not seek to live as God leads us to live than our sins will remain and the consequences of our sins will remain.  But if we obey and line our hearts up to the way of God, grace and peace are abundant.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

New Start - January 13, 2021

Paul, Silas and Timothy write in their letter to the church in Thessalonica that they need not worry about the end of times and that Jesus was already beginning to return.  Maybe they thought, we are a long way from Jerusalem so maybe the end has come and we will be the last ones to hear about it way out here in Thessalonica.  I can remember living in Phoenix. AZ back in the days before internet.  Even though we were only 6 hours from Los Angeles, I can remember there was a 6 month gap between what was new in LA and what was new in Phoenix.  Things in the 1980's seems to travel slowly we can only imagine how news traveled back in the first century.  

Paul assures the church that there are some significant events that must happen before the coming of Jesus that had not happened yet.  Then Paul, Silas and Timothy give us a little insight about one things that will be significant about the "man of lawlessness", who will come before the return of Jesus.  

2:10-11 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies.


The picture is clear that the power of the "man of lawlessness" is deception and lies.  I read a little book by Andy Andrews entitled, "How Do Your Kill 11 Million People?" and in the book Andrews spells out how Adolf Hitler and the Nazi leaders were able to kill 11,283,000 Jews in Europe.  Why didn't the 11 million rise up and fight back before it was too late?  The key to their plan was deception and lies.  Andrew wrote: 

Adolf Eichmann known as "the master" was directed by written orders in December 1941 to implement the Final Solution....An intricate web of lies, to be delivered in stages, was designed to ensure the cooperation of the condemned (but unknowing) Jews.  (Page 22-23) 

Stage 1 was to move the Jews into one neighborhood and put up barbed wire fences around the neighborhood.  The lie given was this was temporary and that this was for their protection. 

Stage 2 was to take bribes from the Jews for future living conditions.  This gave the Jews the hope for a future and that the plans of the Nazi's was to give the Jews a future home. 

Stage 3 was to have a town meeting and lie to the people that the Russian army was on the front and so they were moving the Jews to their own safe communities.  The message was "Please get on the crowded trains for a short trip to a safe and protected future."  But instead they got on trains that led to concentration camps and death.  

Lies and deception are the tools of the enemy.  Powerful tools that have destroyed millions of lives.  We see lies and deception used in so many ways in our day and in our culture.  

Vs 15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.

If we are going to stand firm in our faith we must hold on to the truth. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

New Start - January 12, 2021

My morning wake up music today was a song by U2 - Beautiful Day.  I love the words - 

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

There are times when the day just feels like it gets away from us.  Like I kept my head down and I did what I was supposed to do.  I accomplished my task for the day, but it seems like the day got away without me really living.  Sometimes I get in such a hurry that I eat so fast I am not sure I enjoyed it.  I rush from one activity to another and I am not sure I was fully engaged with life.  I spend the evening home with family and the television takes my attention the whole evening.  It's a beautiful day, don't let it get away.  

Paul, Silas and Timothy write to the church in Thessalonica and they recognize that the church has been faithful in the midst of persecution.  The church has faced a lot of adversity and people fighting against them but they have kept the faith.  They write this letter to encourage them that God notices their efforts when it seems like no one cares.  They write this letter to remind them that God will have the final word of justice for the world.  They write this letter to remind them that they are praying for them.  

2 Thessalonians 1:11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

What a great reminder for living this beautiful day that we are called by God!  He has called us to be His own possession and to live a life of purpose.  

What a great reminder for living this beautiful day that we can chose to live a life worthy of our calling.  Our choices today and how we chose to live is important.  Don't let it get away!

What a great reminder for living this beautiful day that God will give us the power to accomplish the good things God prompts us to do today.  If we have a heart to be aware of what the Holy Spirit is prompting us to do today, the Holy Spirit will empower us to accomplish the good God wants us to do.  That sounds to me like a beautiful day!  


Monday, January 11, 2021

New Start - January 11, 2021


I love the final chapters of Joshua and especially the part of Joshua calling an assembly of the leadership of Israel together for a covenant renewal.  Joshua is close to death but he wants to remind the leaders of Israel one last time to serve the Lord with all their hearts.  He reminds them of their history from the times of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and Moses. 

24:3 But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac. 

He reminds them of all the blessings they now have because of God and how God has fought their battles for them.  

24:12  And I sent terror ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory. 

He reminds them of God's faithfulness to fulfill every promise God has made to the people. 

24:13 I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.

Then Joshua challenges the people to stay faithful to the Lord their God and to serve God only.  To keep the covenant relationship with God and not serve any other gods.  Joshua makes the now famous statement: 

24:15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

Then I picture the rest of the scene kind of like a pep rally with Joshua the leader barking out statements and the leaders responding with enthusiasm!

Joshua - Will you turn from God and serve idols? 

Leaders - No, we will serve the Lord!

Joshua - Can I get a witness? 

Leaders - YES! We are witnesses to what we have committed to the Lord!

Joshua - Turn your hearts completely to God and serve Him alone!

Leaders - We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.

I can just hear them chanting that on and on - We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.  It probably even sounded better in Hebrew! 

We need times of enthusiastic connection to God and renewal of our commitment to Him.  Some of us may need to be enthusiastic about God as we are about the Chiefs!  We need to be reminded it is essential to follow God with all our hearts and to put aside the things in our lives that distract us from serving the Lord.  We may not be tempted to set up altars to idols in our homes but we may have allowed things to sneak into our lives that are keeping us from fulfilling our covenant relationship with God.  

Pray earnestly this week about what might have stolen your enthusiasm about God and about following Jesus with your whole heart.  Ask God to help your renew your covenant relationship with Him to live in the joy of the Lord. 

Sunday, January 10, 2021

New Start - January 10, 2021

 Scripture: Joshua 19-21 

Joshua 20:9 These cities were set apart for all the Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the local assembly.


Observations: 

Israel was a nation that came out of a brutal culture of slavery, went through 40 years of survival in the wilderness, and now has been a nation at war.  It makes sense that some form of refuge city would need to be developed in order to have justice in the land.  A place where you can run and hide in order to have a trail before the family who lost a loved one might take revenge on their loss. 

Levites were given cities and pasture lands to take care of their families while they took care of the Tabernacle and eventually the synagogues that would be developed.  They were spread out around the country in cities to strategically take care of the business of worship and sacrifices to God. 

Applications: 

God wanted to start the change in Israel's culture from war and hostility to peace and justice. God used war and adversity to develop a nation and give that nation a land for themselves.  But it was not His desire that they be that type of nation for the long term.  I may face times of turmoil and adversity in my life that can develop me as a person and develop my faith, but I need to believe God is working towards a purpose and plan for those seasons.  I must keep my eyes toward the next thing God is up to in my journey and how the adversity will prepare me to the next season. 

God is still working strategically for the Kingdom.  I can look at the chaos of our world and forget that God is still at work. I can get discouraged by the adversity and forget God will accomplish His mission in the world. 

Prayer: 

Father, I believe today that You are a God of justice and a God who is active in the world today. I pray You would lead me toward being active in fighting for justice in the world and in our culture.  I thank You for the great privilege of being part of the Kingdom of God and I pray that Your Kingdom would be my priority today, this year and the rest of my life.  You are good! Amen

Saturday, January 9, 2021

New Start 2021 - January 9, 2021

Scripture: Joshua 16-18 

Joshua 17:17-18  Then Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph, “Since you are so large and strong, you will be given more than one portion. The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its farthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.” 

Joshua 18:3 Then Joshua asked them, “How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?


Observations: 

I find it interesting that the "iron chariots" are mentioned as to why the tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh could not drive out the Canaanites from the land.  The God who put the Egyptian army at the bottom of the see - who defeated the enemies of God with a hail storm - this God could not handle "iron chariots"? 

In chapter 18 we have this picture of the 7 tribes who are resisting taking possession of their land. They seemed comfortable in the big group assembly and now they had to leave the comfort and start making a new home for themselves.  God had provided and yet they were hesitant to move forward. 

Application: 

Then I think about what are the "iron chariots" in my life.  The things I think might be too much for God to handle.  The things that keep putting fear in my heart. The things I don't want allow God to handle. 

I can definitely relate to trying to stay in my comfort zone.  When God wants me to move in a different direction and I am stuck moving the same direction.  But God, this worked for me in the past, why can't I just keep doing this the same way? 

Prayer: 

Lord thank you for your promises and your faithfulness in keeping your promises.  Help me to keep trusting you in all circumstances of my life even the areas that seem impossible.  Help me to follow you wherever you lead me and help me trust in your ways over what I have done in my past. 

Friday, January 8, 2021

New Start - January 8th

Scripture: Joshua 12-15 

Joshua 14:10-11  “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old.  I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then.

Observation: 

Details, details, details... The lands conquered, the lands yet to be conquered and the lands given to each tribe of Israel.  Land titles and ownership is important to us today and so it was important to the Israelites in those days.  

Caleb survived the 45 year wait and is now ready to enjoy the land that was promised to him.  He is 85 and still as healthy and strong as he was when he was 40.  God does reward faithfulness of his people.  Caleb believed that God could give them the land when he first entered the land with the spies.  God promised he would have the land but he was going to have to wait.  Waiting on God or on other people is difficult.  45 years of waiting and wondering through the wilderness because of other people's foolish decisions.  I am amazed at times in the Bible as we read it seems like things happen so quickly but then we realize it took years.  I am amazed at how impatient I am for my situation to change when I want it to change.  45 years waiting for the promise of God.  

Application: 

I believe I blame God a lot for things that are probably more to do with my own level of faith or people's decisions that impact my life.  1000 years is like a day to God and He is very patient.  But God can also do the miraculous and have an 85 year old guy still be as strong as he was when he was 40.  I need to remember that God is faithful and is at work even when I can not seem to have the vision to see what He is up to in my life. 

Prayer: 

Lord, please continue to strengthen my faith in You and in Your timing.  Forgive me when I tend to want what I want in my timing and I am not patient to wait on You. Help me to continue to trust in Your faithfulness and in your plan for the world. Help me to join You in the work of the details of the Kingdom of God. Amen 

Thursday, January 7, 2021

New Start - January 7

Strange days in our country and the one thing I know we need to do is to pray.  I know is it hard not to see things through our own particular lens or get completely away from the lens of the media we choose to gain our perspectives.  We won't all agree on the political situation but we can agree to pray for our leaders and our country. The battles described in Joshua may remind us that nations and politics have always been a bit messy. 

Scripture: Joshua 9-11 

Joshua 9:14 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.

Observations: 

As I wrestle with the passage of the army of Israel killing everyone in a cities and a nation it can be quite a daunting task.  God seems so cruel and his people so cruel.  I know that God does not need to justify His actions to me.  I realize I was not there and don't know the actions of the people of those nations before God chose to help the Israelites defeat them.  I guess one thing I think about is the reality of the choices we make and the choices that God made.  When he promised Abraham a land and a nation - He knew that there would be people living in that land.  When we make choices and decisions there are always consequences for those choices.  In order to give Israel a Promised Land - someone had to leave or be destroyed. At high school this week I have talked to students about choices - you can chose to do or not to do the work but you do not always get to choose the consequences.

The Israelites got in some trouble by making a treaty with a nation that they thought was far away but was actually close.  Joshua 9:14 says they examined the food that was a gift but failed to consult the Lord.  Many times in my life I have looked at all the outward signs and potential issues about a decision.  I have logically examined the issues.  I may have made a "pros" and "cons" list.  But how easy it is to just fail to consult the Lord. To truly pray about a decision.  To truly ask others for Godly wisdom.  To read the Bible to seek for answers.  

Application: 

I need to keep wrestling with the Bible.  Understanding comes as I continue to ask God the tough questions.  Understanding comes when I seek to see the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New Testament. Believing that God loves and is just.  God is a god who will hold true to His word. 

I need to learn to better hear the voice of God and find ways to listen better.  Both by being a better student of the Bible and a better listener during prayer.  God wants to help me avoid so many bad decisions but at times I miss that because I think I am so smart and I do not need God's help.  

Prayer: 

God I pray that Your Kingdom would come and Your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven.  I praise You, Lord for Your faithfulness to Your people and I pray I would be faithful to You.  Help me to seek for Your wisdom and understanding in all the decisions of my life. 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

2021 New Start - January 6

Well it is just like life - I had planned to blog most days of this 21 days to "start 2021 off right"                                                                    and yesterday there we an internet outage in the area.  One thing that is hard to do without internet is to blog.  Sometimes life and the enemy will do just about anything to distract us from our plan.  But God also has a way of making all things new. 



Scripture Reading: Joshua 5-8 

Joshua 5:9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

Joshua 5:15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.

Observations: 

I thought it was interesting the concept that God had of removing the shame from the people of Israel and their slavery in Egypt.  I think also implied there is the shame of 40 years wondering in the wilderness instead of taking hold of the land God had promised.  God's goal was for a fresh new start with the people of Israel and so in order to start something new the shame of the past needed to be let go. Shame is a powerful force in an individual or a nation.  Shame can keep us tied to the past and the failures of the past.  The devil is the master of using shame to keep us from moving forward.  

I also found it interesting how God met with Joshua in a different way as he did with Moses.  Moses was the burning bush experience and Joshua met with the commander of the Lord's army.  Both were reminded they were in the presence of the Lord and so this was holy ground.  I hadn't connected that this encounter with God for Joshua was right before the battle of Jericho. It does not say this in the text but I can imagine the commander of the Lord's army explaining the battle plan to Joshua about marching around the walls.  I mean what a crazy plan.  I can just imagine being Joshua and explaining this plan of action to the people.  Some must have thought he was crazy but it worked.  God's directions may seem crazy in the world's eyes and human logic but when God leads, God provides. 

Application: 

We all have to confront the areas of our past that we experience shame about and let God come and roll away our shame. My tendency is to hide from my past mistakes and failures instead of trying to deal with them.  

God through his Spirit is still providing burning bush or meetings with the commander of God's armies.  We may experience it differently than Moses did or Joshua did, but his communication with us is still clear and powerful. We need to be able to listen and allow God's presence to make our space a holy - shoes off type of place. 

Prayer:

Lord, I confess my feelings of hurt and shame that keep coming up against me and are holding me back from deeper faith in you.  I asked that by Your great power and grace you would roll away the shame from my heart and give me a new beginning in You today.  I ask that you would speak to me today and that I would have ears to hear what your Holy Spirit is communicating to me today. Thank you Father for new beginnings and fresh starts in You. Amen.

Monday, January 4, 2021

2021 New Start

At the beginning of each new year I find it helpful to take some time to devote the year to God and to spend some extra time and energy towards developing my faith.  To me it is recognition that if I have the opportunity to live another year I want to live it for the Kingdom of God and the cause of Christ. So I invite you to join me on the journey for the next 21 days - January 4-24th, 2021.  I like to do some fasting and some designated times of prayer to seek the Lord.  I find that seeking God's blessing and God's favor in these days often leads to selfish pursuits.  I feel like it is best to allow God to determine what I need most in these next 21 days and in the next year.  As I start the journey,  I simply ask God to lead me and then I just need to be obedient to whatever He calls me to do in the next 21 days.  At Faith Community we are on a journey to read through the Bible in 2 years and so for this blog time I will be continuing to follow that scripture reading plan.  I will be reflecting on what God has to say to me through these scriptures. Dialogue and conversation about what God is saying to you would be fun but the most important thing is for you to journey through scripture with the Holy Spirit.  So if this blog helps - great!  If not - no problem and do not feel obligated to read.  I know the process of writing this down will help me if no one else.  I will journal with the SOAP method through these days - Scripture - Observation - Application - Prayer.


Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:6-9 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Observation: Leaders in the church need to watch over people God has entrusted to our care.  Peter speaks here of the term elder and I understand the significance of the role of elder in the church, but I also know that Peter talks about the priesthood of all believers.  So if we have influence over some group of people in the faith,  I believe we can apply these verses to our lives.  As  a leader it is important to lead with a willing spirit.  It is easy to forget leadership is a privilege and not an obligation.  Peter says to lead with an eagerness to serve.  Peter says we must lead by example.  And then Peter reminds us that if we are leading or following in the Kingdom of God we need to do it with humility.  Humility may be my word for the year. Humility is the best way to live in response to God's love and in response to people who are in authority over us in this world.  Humility allows God the opportunity to lift us up at the right time.  The more time I spend exalting myself the less likely God will be able to exalt me at the time He wants to exalt me.  Humility allows me to trust God with my life and my future.  Humility helps us to win the battle with the devil and to stand strong in our faith.  

Application:  I want to stay completely confident in God and humble in spirit.  I need to remember that God's path to significance is not the same as the world's path to significance.  Humility is not an easy concept to practice but it is worthwhile.  I believe human pride is one of the most sneaky and destructive sins in the life of a follower of Jesus.   I know I need to be alert for the battle the enemy is bringing at me.  I know I need to fight the feelings and the voices that say I am alone in my battle.  I have been tempted to say in these days of a pandemic it is hard to start a church in these days.  It is a temptation to point out how much more difficult my journey is than everyone else's journey.  The truth is this pandemic has been hard on a lot of people.  Our job is not to build the church but to humbly be about the work of the Kingdom and God will lift us up at the right time. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I would have great confidence in Your power.  I pray for my faith to develop this year as I learn to trust you more completely today.  Lord, I pray that You would continue to teach me to be humble. Lord, help me to be alert and stand against the plans of the devil to destroy and hinder my faith. I pray for those who are part of my family, my church family and for those who need to be connected to you and the family of God.  Amen



Traditions

Jesus was in Jerusalem and got into a heated argument with the Pharisees about hand washing. The Pharisees emphasized a ritual of hand washi...