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.

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. 

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!  

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. 

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

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. 

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