Whether you believe you can or can't either way you're right!

This famous line is by Henry Ford.  I love that statement because so often we end up sitting in the death trap of our own doubt.  Doubt is scary monster that we should all run from.  When we live in a state of doubt, our doubt will most certainly capture us and hold us ransom. 

The bible says that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us. This means that there's nothing that you and I can't do with the power of God in us. We also believe and teach that God lives in us from the time of belief, or baptism which ever comes first.

As an illustration for this idea, I love to look at Peter as he was cruising across the water toward Jesus.  The story doesn't indicate how far out he got or how long he'd been walking, just that he saw the wind and the wave and sank like a rock!  Peter believed that he could walk on water simply because Jesus called him to come toward him.  Peter believed that no matter what his lord called him to do, he would be able to do it.  And honestly he was right!  Peter jumped out of that boat and I would venture to guess he started strolling toward Jesus like he'd been walking on water all the time. 

But something quickly changed - he began to dip into his reasoning and realized how crazy this water walking thing really was.  As soon as he quit believing that he could walk on water, he sank.  He didn't stop believing in Jesus, because Jesus was still walking on the water.  He stopped believing that he could do what he set out to do and instant failure snatched him up and dragged him down. 

We are all a bit like someone in this story. Either we step out in faith and start journey toward Jesus, like Peter started out doing, or we begin to doubt God's power in us and we immediately start treading water and sinking.  Or we could simply be like the other eleven in the boat, who were so comfortable with the status and position that they left the hard job to someone else. 

Whoever you are in this story, it's not hard to be like the first Peter and start walking toward Jesus.  It's not hard to simply believe that Jesus has given you the power to do what he has put before you and then simply to trust it and run!  Today take something and really trust God to be there.  Lean into him like you've never leaned into him before - and I promise, if it's the thing God has called you to do you'll be walking on water in no time! 

Lord give us the courage to do you will no matter what our reasoning tells us.  Amen.

When God Smiles

I'm not sure how many of us here in central Ohio have noticed or not.  I don't want to jinks it or anything but the sun has shined for about four days straight.  We whined and complained about the rain.  We talked about building arks and God forgetting his promise with the whole rainbow thing.  But how many of us have taken the time to thank him for the smile he's shown us the past couple of days? 

Today I'd like to lead you in a time of thanks.  God is so amazing and so wonderful that often we just miss the many things he does for us.  We all overlook the "little" things in life.  When small things happen that are wonderful, we rarely say anything positive about them.  When the bad stuff happens we're all over complaining about them.  So today we're going to be thankful. 

No matter what happens today - BE THANKFUL!

We've got so many things to be thankful for - family, friends, cars, houses, churches, jobs, food, money (even the change that we stick in our ash tray - aka trash can), the ability to walk and talk, running with our kids,  even having kids to yell at or who we complain about.  We are so very blessed in so many ways.  Today just go through your day with your eyes wide open to the many blessings that God has put in your life today. 

Jesus - we hardly see you in our lives.  We complain when we don't see you, and when you're blatantly doing something good we rarely recognize it's you.  Help us see you today so that we can give thanks for the many blessings you've put in our life.  AMEN

What is faith?

Honestly - faith isn't really something that's hard to come by in our world.  People practice the basics of faith every day.  You get in a car and you exercise faith that the wide pedal on the left (or middle for you manual drivers) will stop you.  You put faith in that chair you're sitting in to read this.  Granted it's easy to have faith in something that you've seen work a million times or more.  It's easy to live by the philosophy that seeing is believing. 

But I'm inclinced to think of faith a little differntly.  Today you are at a monumental point in your life.  You are at a point when your life collides with the truth of Jesus' resurrection and the amazing grace of God given to you.  When these three roads collide, I believe that point is called radical faith. 

Any monkey can have faith, but it takes a follower of God to have radical faith.  Radical faith is leaning into God.  Even when you can't see him, lean.  Even when it seems as if he's gone and left you all alone - just keep leaning!  Never stop leaning into God. 

You see, what happens when you lean into God is simple.  You begin to see him.  You see him because you believe and trust that he's there.  Seeing isn't always believing, but truly believing is seeing.  That's what the writer of the book of Hebrews was getting at when he wrote - faith is being sure of what is hoped for and certain of what is yet unseen. 

When you can see what's not physically there, chances are, you've been leaning into God.  When challenges arise, lean into God.  When everything's going right, lean into God.  When you have needs, lean into God.  No matter where you are or what's going on in your life, lean into God.  He'll never let you down!  He will let you slip and sometimes get skinned up a bit, but he'll never leave you all alone. 

Lord help us to live with radical faith today. Help us lean into you today! Amen.

Grace PLUS?

One of the most popular misconceptions about grace is that it needs something added to it.  Honestly that couldn't be further from the truth.  There's a passage in scripture that says My grace is sufficient for you. There's another that indicates saved by grace, through faith in Christ, and this not by works so that no one can boast.

I believe these two passages really cut through the garbage in our thinking.  They get right down to the fact that grace is all about what God already did for us.  They tell us that God is big enough, strong enough, present enough, forgiving enough to forgive our sins and restore us to a right relationship with himself. 

It blows my mind how many people are in the world who say they have to add to God's grace.  Or better yet that they've done too many wrong things that they can't be forgiven, as if they could take away from how amazing God's grace is. 

Here's the truth of the matter - you can't make God love you any more than he already does.  And the reverse is true - you can't mak God love you any less than he already does.  That's what grace is about -getting the undeserved love and goodness of God. 

Today I encourage you to bask in the grace of God.  See everything around you as God setting you up for something great.  It's truly amazing how God can take something that looks terrible and frightening and turn it into something amazing, wonderful, and full of blessing. 

Lord, open our eyes that we might see you today!  Amen.

I'm rich! And so are you!

Growing up I learned that grace could be defined as God's riches at Christ's expense.  It's one of those nice acrostic things.  That phrase works really well for those of us who know God's riches but for those who don't know God's riches or was it cost Christ - it's somewhat meaningless. 

But we're going to stick with it today.  We're going to look at how rich we really are.  It never ceases to amaze me how rich I truly am and how seldom I realize it.  I had to get new tags for my car last Friday. I generally dread going into the BMV.  But I had a new perspective when I walked in there.  I realized that I got to do something that less than 8% of the world's population got to do - have a car. 

I rode in a friend's car not too long ago and he opened his ash tray to pull out some change before going into the store.  Not that's rich!  And most of us are just like him - we keep money in a trash can.  We have houses, clean water, enough clothes that we have to decide what we'll wear not where we'll get our clothes from. 

You see if we would allow our perspective to change a bit, we just might see how great God's riches already have been showered on us.  Instead we get grumpy when we don't have everything we want.  We complain and grumble when we work hard and don't get our raise - because we deserve it we think.  We close an eye to those who have nothing.  We turn our heads so we don't have to look at the homeless man on the streets.  We change the channel so we don't have to see the television commercial with the starving children.  We ignore the news so we don't have to see all the families displaced by storms and other natural disasters. 

I believe living in God's grace, his undeserved goodness, means that we walk around with our eyes wide open.  I've challenged everyone at our church to do this and just write down the good that's happened to them this week.  This has caused me to see all kinds of things that I probably would've just ignored.  God has promised you riches that you couldn't even comprehend, and honestly most of us reading this today have those riches and we don't even recognize it. 

Take time today to give thanks for the riches that God has given you.  Lord, thanks for all the things in my life.  For my family, house, car, and all the rest I thank you.   Help me to be more grateful for the stuff you've given me.  Help me to share what I have with those who don't have anything.  Amen.

Grace = a better life now!

There's a great bible verse in 2 Corinthians that contains a quote from Jesus that says my grace is sufficient for you.  I've got to be honest though.  Some days it sure doesn't feel like it.  Some days I'm not sure if God's grace really is enough.  Some days I want God's grace and some kind of assurance for the future. Some days I want to know that it's all going to work out ok, and by ok I mean the way I have dreamed up in my head. 

But that's not what this verse says.  It says that his grace, and his grace alone is enough.  Yesterday we said that grace was getting the good we don't deserve, so what good have you been receiving?  A really cool thing happened yesterday that reminded me that God's grace isn't just an eternal life insurance policy that grants me heaven.  God's grace actually affects me today, that's why his grace is simply enough. 

Yesterday I went to a local home improvement store to help my grandpa get new locks for house.  I picked up the locks I thought he would like and took them to the counter.  I really don't like the self-check lanes at stores because they put hard working people out of a job, so I went to the only line open.  This gave me a chance to meet a man who would show me a better life.  The cashier told me the total and as I was pulling out my card to pay for the locks, this man handed me a card that gave me 10% off the total bill.  It ended up being a pretty good savings.  We talked for a couple minutes more and I thanked him for showing me a better life today and for demonstrating what grace was all about.  Then I left. 

God says that his grace is sufficient.  That means it's enough.  There's nothing you need to add to it or subtract from it to make it work in your life.  I believe there's a common misconception in our world that says grace is for heaven, but I have to work harder for a better life now.  This couldn't be more false!  God wants us to have a better life right now!  He wants us to survive and thrive and be joyful and content and all the things that a loving father wants for his children.  That's why his grace is enough, because it takes care of the heaven bit very well but it does more!  So much more. 

Today be on the look out for unexpected goodness shown to you.  Look for ways that God is bettering your life right now. 

Lord open our eyes that we might see you working among us on this journey we call faith.  Amen.

Grace...what is it?

This week we focus on the grace of God.  All week at Living Truth here in Marysville, we're looking at the grace of God.  As a matter of fact, I left everyone with an assignment after church yesterday.  The assignment was to simply look for times that you have received something good that you didn't deserve. 

You see that's the definition that we're using for grace - getting the good we don't deserve. It's pretty simple actually.  All we have to do is look around us at every turn and we'll see ways that we've been graced without our even realizing it. 

The bible verse that we used yesterday in church is such a great reminder of the fact that grace is given not earned.  Paul says in Romans 5 while we were still sinners Christ died for us.  That's crazy!  That's totally undeserved and it's not something we could even ask for.  That's what makes it grace.  If we could dream it up or ask for it or want it or do something to get it then it's not really grace. 

Grace is totally and completely someone else's work on your behalf.  Very simply grace is given not earned.  That was our big truth yesterday.  Take that phrase and write it down somewhere.  Remember that phrase this week and you'll be amazed at how big our God really is. 

Here's the assignment...just take a piece of paper and a pen and all throughout the week jot down times when you've received something that you didn't deserve.  Write down the ways that you've been "graced" this week.  Then if you're able, bring that paper with you to church next Sunday to Living Truth and we'll do something with it.  I'm not telling you to share this grace with anyone.  I don't want you to even worry about telling other people about it.  Just live in it.  You can't give away what you don't know for yourself, so get to know his grace to you this week. 

Lord we know that there are so many blessings around us everyday that we just overlook.  Help us to see these things today.  Help us to know the blessings that you have graced us with each and every day.  Amen.

When God Breathes

One of my favorite concepts in all of scripture is that the Holy Spirit is the very breath of God.  With a mere breath he brought life to a ball of dust, then named it Adam.  With a simple breath he assured Elijah that he was present.  With a breath he began a movement of people that we would end up calling the church.  And over the past couple of weeks his breath has been a bit too much for us to handle. 

The news is startling.  The faces of homeowners say it best.  The devastation they feel cannot be put into words.  The tornados that have ripped through this country over the past couple of weeks have contained in them the power that only God could allow, or potentially even cause. But why?  Why would this happen?  Why would our God, loving and all that, allow this vast devstation and death to occur on his watch? 

I struggled a bit with this question as I anxiously awaited to hear from a friend of mine who was in the path of these storms in Alabama.  But then something hit me.  Perhaps God was breathing on us a bit.  Perhaps God was using his breath, sometimes gently and sometimes a bit more powerfully, to show us that he still contains the power of wind, wave, earth, and all things.  Perhaps God has a great plan for this devastation.  Perhaps God has noticed that as a church we've become increasingly comfortable with the things around us so he's giving us something to react to.  Perhaps God has a desire for his movement of people (aka the church) to start moving again. 

I know that none of this sentiment will help rebuild homes.  I know none of it will restore power or house displaced families.  It won't raise the dead or bring healing to the hurting.  But there is something that we can do in response to this breath of God that just might change the entire outlook in the long term. 

You see it wasn't until God breathed into Adam that he woke up and began to live a life of faith and service toward God.  So now that we've seen, and some of us experienced, the breath of God the past couple weeks perhaps we will be able to mobilize.  I believe that the church is only the church when it's moving, serving, loving, doing, walking, talking, living the message of God's undeserved goodness.  Today I challenge you to start moving.  I challenge you to respond to the breath of God and come alive with his power and his love and start serving.  Maybe your service will take you to the hardest hit areas to serve and rebuild.  Maybe your service will keep you closer to your home to serve and care for your neighbors and friends.

No matter where you go just go.  No matter who you serve - just serve.  No matter who you talk to - just talk.  No matter who you love - just love the way God calls us to love - with hands and hearts and lives.

Lord protect those without homes today.  Provide shelter for them.  Encourage them.  Show them that you are ever present.  Move your church into great acts of service as these thousands of people attempt to put their lives together again.  God don't let us sit.  Remind us of the wonders of your breath.  Amen.

A watched pot never boils...

I have to be honest - waiting is not something I do very well.  Not at all.  Partially my personality, partially my gender, partially my fast-paced life - but I just don't like to slow down and wait.  But there's something worse than waiting - watching the pot for it to boil. 

We all know the saying a watched pot never boils.  And we all know that this is not true by any means.  But we do know that a watched pot seems to never boil.  It seems like when you watch the pot for it to boil, it takes easily twice as long.  I believe the same is true in many things: waiting for the phone to ring from that special someone, waiting for the loved one to come out of surgery, waiting for answers to prayers, and the list goes on. 

I've honestly had a lot of waiting going on in my life and I know that it's only going to get worse.  I feel like I'm always waiting on my family, not because they're slow but because I like to be early.  I feel like I'm always waiting on people to follow-thru on their promises.  It seems like I'm always waiting on God to answer my prayers. 

If you are in a time in your life when you're waiting perhaps this verse will work for you the way it has for me.  Very simply one of the psalms states be still and know that I am God. 

Now that's not an earth-shattering concept.  We all know that but rarely do we live that way.  We live as if we know best.  This verse means that the answer you are looking for might not be the right answer at all.  It means that if God is God then you are not!  So when you wait remember these two key things:

1. You are not God, so whatever answer comes - even if it's not the one you were hoping for - it's the one that God is going to work out for good. 
2. Be still! - This is just as hard as acknowledging that we're not God sometimes.  Be still might mean sitting in a quiet room and just doing nothing.  But that would drive my type-A personality nuts!  So for me, being still is doing nothing to pursue the answer I desire.  It's resting in the fact that whatever direction God will lead is ultimately the right direction.  Be still means that God's ways just might not be my ways and that's ok.  Be still happens when we are at peace when life is crumbling around us. 

So let God be God today.  Don't take his role on yourself, you couldn't do it anyway.  And just be still, whether it's in the quiet of your study or on the seat of your lawn mower.  Just be still in the presence of God today.  Today's prayer is on your shoulders - make you entire day a walking conversation with God.

When broken doors open doors

It's been a couple of months ago now that I was looking out my home office window after hearing a loud crash.  As it turned out my neighbor had an unfortunate experience with their garage door - it twisted off track and had come down at a diagonal.  Now admittedly I'm not knowledgeable about garage doors at all but I am adventurous and always willing to learn.  I'm what many call a "jack of all trades, master of none." 

So I proceeded to go over to see if I couldn't lend a hand to at least get the door all the way to the ground.  Well a little muscle later the door was down on the ground and the home owner had made arrangements for the repairman to come the next day to make the necessary adjustments.  What happened next could only be from God. 

The home owners began asking questions about what I did for a living - obviously not garage door repair.  This led to a wonderful conversation that lasted for over an hour and a couple of beers (thanks man!).  The family now worships with us on a regular basis - and all because a door broke!

The moral of the story is don't overlook a broken door it might just be a couple of beers away from a gospel moment. 

In all seriousness God does some amazing things when we're not even paying attention.  He breaks doors all of the time just to see how we'll respond.  Today I pray that we have our eyes open to see where God is moving and what he is breaking.  I pray that we see and respond to the broken door and that we get the wonderful experience I had of sharing my Jesus over a couple of good domestic cold ones. 

Lord, be with us today as we seek to live our lives for you.  Open our eyes so that we can see you moving and breaking things around us.  Help us to respond with hands ready for service and mouths ready to speak the truth of your love.  Amen. 

I want it all!

I've had those days when it seems like everything I see someone else have - I instantly want for myself.  Not want in the "I'll just take it" way but want in a way that makes me less content with my own status in life. Honestly, there's always something out there that we want.  There's a new gadget.  An upgraded whatever..an improved something...a better thing.  I personally don't believe that it's bad to have wants.  I do however believe that the problem comes from what we do with those wants. 

While reading from 1 Corinthians 4 this morning, this line caught my attention - Already you have all you want.  Already you have become rich! 

For real?  I've already got it all?  It sure doesn't feel like it sometimes.  It feels like I've got nothing sometimes.  It feels like I have so many wants that I can't stand it.  But the question for me today is what drives you...

I know that when I'm driven by my wants I'll never be satisfied, but when I'm driven by my calling as a husband, father, pastor, son, brother - I know that I'm fully equipped for what God has in store for me.  It doesn't mean that life is easy or even always great.  It simply means that I have everything and it's all been given to me by God. 

Take some time today to think of the many things you've got in your life.  Think about your job, your cars, house, tv, computer, phone, bed, and many other possessions - they are blessings from God.  Thank him for them today.  Give thanks to God for the blessings that HE has poured into your life today.  Rejoice in this Easter Monday that everything is in reach for you.  There is absolutely nothing that God can't do in and through you.  So today rise up and sing God's praises. 

Lord we need help being content.  Please give us that spirit of contentment today as we seek to serve you.  Amen.

How big are you?

The other day I asked my daughter of 17 months how big she was.  In an instant she lifted her hands straight up as if to say - I'm this big, look at me.  It was cute.  I believe this is what nearly every child does when asked how big they are. 

You see when we show how big we are, it's about us.  We elevate ourselves and lift ourselves up.  It's natural.  But there was a time when Jesus was asked how much he loved us and his response was oh so different!  He didn't reach his hands up and say look at me.  He didn't jump up and down and ask for greater acclaim in the world - instead he opened his arms and showed how deep, wide, and long his love for us really was. 

The bible says that greater love has no one than this - than he lay down his life for his friends.  Today is Good Friday.  Today is when it starts to get good!  Jesus died but that's not the end - (spoiler alert) - he also ROSE!  When Jesus was asked how much he loved us he opened his arms on the cross and let the weight of your sins and mine be thrown on him.  He allowed them to nail his hands and feet to the cross so we wouldn't have to do it ourselves.  But he also rose! 


Today I write this devotion and dedicate it to a little girl name Samantha.  She is fighting for her little life.  She's on machines and is heavily sedated.  Her dad is a pastor and a friend.  Her mom is a wonderful woman of God.  Travis, Stephanie, Samantha - know that your God is this big!  He died and rose for you.  He gave you new life in his son Jesus. So today for you and for all the things God has done we say - ALLELUIA!!!  Our God is greater than anything that comes our way!

Lord bless this family today.  Guard them and protect them.  Remind them that Good Friday is just the beginning of the new life we receive through your son.  May you begin that miraculous healing in Samantha today as well.  Amen. 

Only a man?

I have a new found appreciation for Paul and his writings every time I pick up one of his letters.  Today is no different.  This morning I only had to read a few short verses before I was stopped dead in my tracks by these words, For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?  Are you not acting like mere men?

Wow!  That's a pretty pointed statement.  I know that Jesus tells us to obey his teachings and live as people of the light, but this verse makes it very personal.  We can't be jealous if we're going to be followers of God.  We can't be quarreling if we're living in the new standard of Christ. 

You see it's not easy being a follower of Christ.  Followers of Christ do more than just believe and go to worship - they actually follow Christ.  They allow Christ to transform their entire life.  They begin to think with the mind of Christ.  They see things through the lenses of Christ's glory.  They act as if they were the hands and feet of Christ. 

When we live by this new standard, there's no room for quarreling, fear, stress, anxiety, abuse, anger, hate, lust, jealousy, or any of the other sins we can come up with.  When we follow Christ and truly seek to be his disciples, then we will be able to even walk on water.  So keep your eyes on Christ today, no matter what comes your way look at it through Jesus' eyes and you'll be amazed at what happens! 

Lord give us your eyes to see, your hands to serve, your feet to go, your mind to understand, and your mouth to speak the glory of your name.  Amen. 

Ever Feel Dumb?

Have you ever felt really dumb?  I mean really dumb!  It's the kind of feeling that makes you shake you head at yourself and wonder what you were thinking.  I've had that feeling way too many times.  Some say that's because I'm a guy. Others say that's my personality to do and then to think later, but I think often it has something to do with today's bible reading. 

This morning I only journeyed a couple verses and came across this line - God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong.   I love that line, but I also have a bit of a problem with it.  I mean seriously - I went to four years of college to gain wisdom, and four more years of seminary to do the same and now God says he likes the fools.  That's a hard one to get our minds around.  Perhaps it's because we're too smart to get it. 

I think that Paul is teaching us a very important truth - God's actions don't make sense - and that's good! You see nothing that God does really makes sense when you think about it.  Creating the world in six days - nonsense there's too much detail, yet he did it.  Part a sea and allow people to walk across on dry land - nonsense there'd be too much mud, yet it happened.  Send his own son to die for our sins - crazy the innocent are not supposed to undergo punishment, yet that's the reality in which we live. 

But it's not just in the bible that God does things that don't make sense.  He's still doing them today.  I know that many people are facing some real challenges in their lives right now.  I know that often we're going to choose the smart thing to do, but I wonder if here God isn't telling us to get a little foolish.  Out of money - spend more?  Tired - stay up later?  Stressed - take on more responsibility?  Can't swim - jump in the ocean? 

I'm not saying that this is the case all of the time but I'm pretty sure that when Peter jumped out of the boat and walked to Jesus he didn't regret a minute of it - and that was ridiculous!  Men can't walk on water but he did - and because he did what was foolish in the eyes of the world he's the only one who felt Jesus picking him up.  When we make our own plans and take God's place, we'll never feel his hands pulling us out of troubled times. 

So today - get crazy!  Let it all go!  Leave it all to God and watch how he can defy reason.  Then share with someone you know what it felt like to have God pick you up and set you on dry ground again. 

Lord today we want to get crazy.  We want to be seen as fools in this world so that you might get the glory and reveal your plans in and through us.  Give us the courage to live a life contrary to reason.  Amen.

Is Jesus really enough?

I've got to be honest.  Lately that question has been a bit hard to answer.  Some days the answer is absolutely yes.  Other days it's really hard to even see if Jesus is still there.  But all the same I know the right answer.  I'm sure most of us do.  The answer is that God is all sufficient.  That his power is made perfect in our weakness.  That he is the creator and sustainer of all.  That he will never leave us nor forsake us. 

But what do you do when it appears God is missing in action?  What do you do when God seems to be taking a bit of a siesta?  This week we'll see what Jesus did when his Father was missing in action.  We'll see exactly how he reacted when his father let the entirety of the sins of the world be lumped on his innocent shoulders.  This week is celebrated in the traditional church as holy week.  It's a time to remember all that God has done.  It's a time to celebrate the life, death, and very soon the resurrection of Jesus.  We're going to get distracted by the gloomy weather, the craptastic things that happen in our lives, the economy, and even those tiny plastic eggs. 

Here's a verse that I'm going to use to guide me this week.  It's a busy week for pastors.  It's a crazy week for just about everyone so rest in this passage and all that it entails this week.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 - For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

This verse is so great because when God is at his weakest and dumbest points (not that he has those) he is still stronger and smarter than I'll ever be!  He knows the end of this roller coaster even though I can't even see past today.  He is hovering above me carrying the brunt of this weight even though I feel as if the world is crashing on my shoulders. 

Join me in giving God today.  Join me in turning over all of your junk to the God who is strong enough and smart enough to handle it all.  Let him have it because he is completely capable of shouldering anything you can throw at him. 

God today be my rock.  Carry my problems.  Lift the weight.  In your wisdom give me answers to the questions that I face.  Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Throughout this season of the church year known as Lent, I'll be posting devotions from an organization called Lutheran Hour Ministries.  If for some reason I don't get the devotion uploaded, go to this site - http://www.lentendevotions.net/dailydevotions.asp. 

"Shining in the DarknessAsh Wednesday"
By Rev. Wayne Palmer

March 09, 2011

Read John 1:1-18.TEXT: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).

Our Lenten season begins in the darkness of winter and by the end of our nearly seven week journey the darkness will have given way to the light of spring. This battle between darkness and light is the theme of the Gospel of John, and it will be the theme of these Lenten devotions.

Chapter 1 begins with the Christmas story; John tells us the Word of God became human and entered our world. But immediately John hints at the struggles our Savior will face: "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." In the coming weeks we will see Satan, the prince of darkness, use many instruments in his efforts to snuff out the Light: fanatical crowds, treacherous enemies, a disciple's kiss, a high priest's oath, a Roman official's fear, a whip, thorns, nails, a dead tree and a huge stone.

All of us struggle with the power of darkness in our lives, the darkness of fear, doubt, dread and anxiety. We see it in our health problems, financial struggles and our strained relationships. We see it in the darkness of our own struggles within.

On this Ash Wednesday the Holy Spirit calls you to gather with His people in church where He will shine His glorious light into the darkest corners of our sin-filled hearts and minds. The ashes of Ash Wednesday remind us of the death that darkness has brought to all. But it also reminds us our Savior took our death upon Himself, giving us His life and forgiveness.

Join us as we journey through the Gospel of John, watching the Light battle and overcome the darkness for us.

THE PRAYER: Light of the world, shine in my heart and bring me peace. Amen.

Never grow weary!

Have you ever just been too tired to even care anymore?  Perhaps it's the fault of that person who just seemed to suck the life right out of you.  Perhaps it's the multitude of needs present in our world and you just don't think that you can make any difference at all.  Perhaps you're just tired. 

Whatever the reason, I think it's important that we hear these words from Galatians 6 - let us not become weary of doing good. Paul knows that all people are just naturally going to get tired of helping people.  Eventually those people that we try to help are going to get on our last nerve and they'll become a burden.  They'll be just another thing that we have to do, and we'll lose our passion for helping them.  It's actually pretty normal. 

Now, I've never embedded a youtube video into a blog before so I hope that this works.  If not, go to www.youtube.com and search for Team Hoyt I can only imagine.  Watch it then come back...

 So I didn't mean to bring in a tear jerker on a Friday morning but the video is pretty cool.  Paul tells us to never grow weary.  That means that we should be willing to go the distance with someone.  The problem with many of us when we serve is that we spread ourselves too thin.  We try to serve everyone - all at the same time.  That's just not possible.  We'll just wear ourselves too thin and lose all desire to serve after a relatively short time. 

Today I want to encourage you to serve just one person.  This is going to mean that you'll have to most likely tell others No, but it's going to be worth it in the long run.  Find that one person and go the distance with them.  Be the one who walks alongside them and really believes in God's power in them.  Don't grow weary.  Go the distance. 

Lord, I want to get better at serving those around me, but I often get tired. Thank you for not growing weary of my inabilities.  Thank you for going the distance for me.  Give me the strength and courage to go the distance in my serving of those around me.  Amen. 

If you're interested in more on this idea of serving just ONE, join us in worship this Sunday morning at Living Truth Church or check out the message next week on our downloads page.

Snow Day!

On this snowy Friday morning, I figured that I would take a small break from my normal routine of reading the book of Acts and do a little devotion on snow.  It may seem a bit crazy to do a devotion on the light fluffy stuff but give me a minute and hopefully you understand where I'm coming from.

For some of us we're probably fed up with the whole snow thing.  That's often what happens when the snow sits on the ground for over a month without melting.  We're now on something like day 7 of snow days in a year when we only get 3 approved by the Ohio governor.  This all makes for many happy for the moment school children.  But what does all of this white fluff have to do with the bible?

Snow is a pretty important theme in the bible.  Perhaps you've heard the saying as white as snow.  This saying is critical for us as Christians.  You see the idea behind white as snow is the way the snow looks this morning.  It's perfectly white.  It hasn't been driven on.  It has no salt and grime in it. 

Now I'm anything but perfect.  I'm not as white as snow. I'm often grimey, dirty, covered in the gunk of life.  But in Christ none of that matters.  The sin and wrongdoing all cover and infect my life with the same ugliness that this snow will soon be infested with. 

In our lives as believers in Christ, we know that it's not about our doing, saying, or even believing that makes us white as snow.  It's the work of Jesus that makes us white.  It's his death and resurrection that turn our sin stained lives into beautiful, white, and even perfect lives in Christ.  When God sees us, he no longer sees the dirty stuff of our sin - he sees the perfection of his son.  That means that all of our wrongs and dirt have been removed (not covered - removed).  There's no residue left from our sin.  It's as if the sin never even existed. 

So today go play in the snow.  If you don't want to go play in the snow that's fine - just look at it and realize that this is how God sees you.  Perfectly pure.  Free of all imperfections.  And the great thing about this, it's not conditional. There's nothing that you or I could do to make God love us any less (or more). 

So today enjoy your snow day!

Lord - thank you for snow!  For the reminder that it gives us of the perfection that you give us in your son Jesus.  Help us to rejoice in the snow that we see outside this morning.  Amen.

Even THEM?

Have you ever been a part of a members only type of club?  One of those elite organizations that only certain people are allowed to enter?  Perhaps a gated community?  Maybe a country club with membership restrictions? 

If you have then you can probably relate to a concern early in the days of the church in Acts 11.  The idea of repentance leading to life was thought to be only for the "insiders."  If you were a part of the in-crowd, then you would be accepted. But if you didn't belong to the right race - no such luck! Peter was just returning to the church from a visit with a man named Cornelius - who just happened to be one of them, an outsider, a person was not part of that in-crowd.  The church people, the Jews, had a hang-up with this.  They immediately questioned Peter about his actions.  You mean you ate with that guy?  You went into his house and actually sat at a table with a man of that foreign race? 

Peter then unloaded his most recent message from God that said basically that God doesn't descriminate.  He said that what he deems right - we have no business declaring wrong.  What he calls clean - we can't call unclean. 

You mean that the message of the good news of Jesus is for all people?  You mean that it is for them too? You mean that anyone can repent and receive the new life that Jesus offers? 

It was at that moment that the church started understanding how great and revolutionary this message of Jesus really was.  It was in this moment that the gospel was beginning to be understood.  Jesus' death paid for the sins of the whole world.  And his resurrection opened heaven to all people.  Jesus' actions made the outsiders welcome members of the in-crowd.  Jesus' death and resurrection promises all people, even the unlikables, that even they are welcome here! 

Lord help us to extend your hands to the unreached.  Give us boldness to share your love and forgiveness to those who are not part of the in-crowd. Amen.

Are you good enough?

I've had the opportunity to have many conversations with many different people about being good enough for God.  It's amazing that so many people in our world believe that we have to BE good and DO right to get in with God.  But the truth of the matter is scripture is pretty clear on this issue.  There are two verses that come to mind here - it's not what's on the outside that makes a man clean and what God has made clean man has no right to declare unclean. 

In Acts 10, Peter is summoned to the house of a man named Cornelius.  He was one of them, and by that I mean a Gentile, not a Jew, not one of the chosen ones, potentially not good enough.  God called Peter to go to him and eat with him and to bring them the message of the gospel.  Ultimately the people in his house were baptized.  This is all pretty big news.

But what is it that makes us right with God?  I mean what is it that makes God accept us and love us and welcome us into his heaven?

Our good deeds? - pretty sure it's not that because the bible says that we are saved apart from works so that no man can boast in his own accomplishments.  Then what about in a special prayer or some series of specifically assembled words?  - pretty sure it's not that either because isn't that about us too.  Is it some form of washing or cleaning of oneself?  the rite of baptism? church attendance? eating the right foods? being of the right political persuasion? attending the right church denomination?

While all of these are not bad in and of themselves, the scriptures are pretty clear from my perspective that they all fall short.  Not any one of these things will make us good enough for God.  The bible demands absolute perfection, no exceptions.  Nothing can come in the way of our perfection.  If you've ever done anything that isn't completely right.  Even if you've erred oh so slightly just one time in your life, then you're just not good enough.  And honestly, none of us are good enough.  Even better that's not even the point of the bible.

The bible isn't about being, doing, working good or hard enough.  It's not about assembling all the right works and saying all the right prayers.  The life of the Christian is about living the "God did enough" life.  Scripture says that God paid the price for our wrongs.  He removed our sins (errors, misdeeds, wrongs) from us as far as the east is from the west.  When Peter met Cornelius and began to realize what God had been telling him, he realized that God didn't show favoritism based on how long we've known him, or how good we are, or what race we belong to, or even what church we attend.

God is 100% gracious - he gives us the great things that we simply don't deserve.  He did everything for us so that we don't have to do anything.  We simply don't reject it.  So today, be good but not perfect.  Help people, but if you miss an opportunity it's ok.  Today just live the life that says God did enough and have a great day in the Lord.

Jesus today we need to know that you were enough.  Reassure us of your presence and the power of your life, death, and resurrection.  Amen.

Who is that man?

He was a terrible man.  Absolutely one of the most rotten individuals I've ever heard of.  He was angry.  He was jealous.  He was violent.  He was vindictive.  He was just down right not nice!

Who was this man?  He was Saul, or better known to us today as Paul.  You see this man was on his way to pick up some Christians one day and have them thrown into prison, beaten, and potentially even killed.  He was an evil dude, there's really no other way to put it. 

But something happened on the road.  He saw the light - literally! The bible tells us in Acts 9 that Saul was blinded by the light on his way and fell to the ground.  Then he heard Jesus talking to him (mind you Jesus had died, rose, and ascended by now).  Jesus asked him, "Why do you persecute me?"  This is a pretty cool statement because it shows how closely connected Jesus is with his people, the church.  The church was never supposed to be an institution or building.  It was the assembly of God's people living in the world.  Jesus told Saul that when he persecuted the church, he was persecuting Jesus. 

If we skip ahead a bit we meet up with Paul preaching in the synagogue!  This same man who had been vehemently against the church was now preaching the message that the church was founded on.  God alone can work this kind of transformation. 

Today as we go about our daily activities I wonder what kind of lights God will shine on us. I wonder if we'll fall face down and be transformed by them or if we'll simply ignore them and move on.  I wonder what it will take to get the church to start thinking and acting like the church Jesus is defending in Acts 9.  Today perhaps we should pray for reformation - getting back to the basics of church.  Today let's chart a course for getting back to the truth of scripture, the only truth that really matters - Jesus died for all people as a payment for sin, he rose for all people to open heaven for them, and Jesus appeared to thousands of people sharing the message that this gift was for all people.  Today let's live the gift of transformation.

Lord we need to see the light.  Today we pray that you would use us like you used Paul.  Make us bold to share the truth of the gospel with our piece of the world today.  Amen.

Can you explain this?

This morning I continued my journey through the book of Acts, taking just a chapter from that book at a time and really thinking about its implications for ministry today.  Something interesting came out in my reading today that I'd like to share with you. 

In Acts 8:31, Luke records a piece of Philip's life.  Perhaps you've heard of the story of the Ethiopian coming to a saving knowledge in Christ?  Philip was hanging out, minding his own business - when God told him to go over to this man sitting on a chariot.  He listened and did exactly what he was told.  When he approached the chariot he overheard that man reading something from the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament.  He took the initiative and asked if the man understood what he was reading.

The Ethiopian's reply was priceless! He says, 'How can I understand unless someone explains it to me?'  I wonder how many of my friends and neighbors have this same thought running through their heads right now - I sure hope he comes and explains this to me.  I wish someone would help me understand what God wants from my life.  I hope he cares enough about me to come and help me out. 

You see, Philip became what I call an insider.  This is a person who goes to where the people are.  The insider is someone who sees an opportunity and moves in to the neighborhood, life interests, circle of influence of others so that Christ might be shown/explained.  Note: this is not befriending someone to get them to go to your church!  That is a totally wrong motivation. 

Philip became an insider by going to the territory known to the Ethiopian.  He didn't wait for the man to come to him.  He didn't wait for the man to even ask the question about what the passage meant.  He volunteered the information.  He saw an opportunity to be the gospel to someone and he took it. 

How are you at this?  Do you see the opportunities in front of you and take them?  Are you more inclined to wait for the people to come knocking on your door? I believe that our task as Christians is to be more like insiders - seeking out those who are already in our circle of influence that we might share this life saving message with them. 

Lord - today we seek to be your hands and feet.  Make us bold as we live our lives as insiders this week.  Amen.

No boundaries

This morning I had a chance to meet up with an old friend.  He's the kind of friend that you can almost forget about for a while and then when you meet up again - it appears that you didn't miss a thing.  I just listened this morning.  I didn't try to give any input or import my agenda into his words - I just listened, and here's what I heard. 

After a considerable amount of time something that he said jumped out at me.  He said in a round about way that God isn't affected by boundaries.  The actual phrase he used was more like, "The most high doesn't live in houses built by human hands." (Acts 7:48)  These words were part of his defense for the charges against him.  He was being charged with a form of treason, but interestingly enough he didn't sound scared.  He knew something that the other people didn't know.  He knew a peace like no other.  Perhaps he knew that no matter what happened, God worked outside of the boundaries we set up.  God would do something big no matter the outcome of this trial. 

Is your God big enough?  Is he big enough to give you peace when your job is in question?  Is he big enough to help you through that project that you're not sure if you'll finish in time?  Is he big enough to beat your depression?  Is he big enough come to your rescue no matter the time of day or night? 

I've got this funny feeling that most of us have limited God in many ways.  We like the early church need reminders that God isn't bound to the building.  As a matter of fact he's not bound by anything!  Just think for a moment about all of the things you have to do today and the rest of the week.  Know that in all of that your God is walking right beside you.  He's not going to make things easy all of the time.  He's not going to take away the struggles.  But you better believe that he's going to walk with you through it all. 

I close today with the blessing we end our services with on Sundays: May God go before us to blaze a trail for us, behind us to clean up the mess we make of life, beside us as our friend and companion through life's journeys, beneath us to give us a sure footing, and above us to protect us and to shower his blessings upon us.  Amen.

Don't Hold Back

This morning I woke up with some tight muscles in my neck and shoulder because I worked out yesterday and potentially lifted too much.  I have to be honest, my wife doesn't really like it when I hurt myself lifting weights.  So her natural question for me this morning was, "did you stop when you realized you hurt yourself?"

Well, I'm a guy so the answer to that question is NO.  I just powered through the pain I felt yesterday because I believe that you can't hold anything back.  I don't jog - I run.  I don't walk - I walk fast.  I don't wait on much of anything - I'm a get'r done kind of guy.  So holding back just isn't in my nature.  When I see something I go for it jumping right in with both feet. 

There's a story in the bible about holding back.  It's the story of a husband and wife, Annanias and Sapphira.  They held back money from the church, although I really don't believe that this story is about money at all.  They thought that if they kept some of the money that they said they were going to give to the temple that no one would really notice.  But man were they wrong. 

So there are two big issues here - holding back and lying.  I'm a huge fan of either, nor do I think God is.  Well the story of A and S (some people can't pronounce their names so we'll just abbreviate) can teach us something.  The simple message is don't hold back.  Life is short.  We only have so much time to live the calling that God has given us.  Holding back won't accomplish anything.  Think for a minute what would have happened if God would have held back.  Perhaps God could have held back by giving us some homeless guy instead of his son, Jesus.  Or instead of dying on the cross, Jesus could have had a bad day.  And instead of rising again he could have twitched once or twice but not really rose. 

None of the alternatives to Jesus' death and resurrection would have been helpful to us at all.  They are actually kind of silly sounding.  Perhaps our holding back is just as silly.  God wants us all in.  He wants us to believe in him so deeply that nothing will prevent us from following him. He wants us all in with everything we are - from our money to our time to our thinking and our actions.  God wants all of us.  So today let's live with reckless abandon!  Let's put it all on the line.  Today hold nothing back, put it all on the table!

Lord, today we need your help to be bold and hold nothing back.  Give us courage and strength to live for you today.  Amen.

Boldness

I believe that one of my new favorite passages of the New Testament is found in Acts 4.  Now for those of you who don't do much with the book of Acts, this book is all about the starting/launching of a movement of people who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

Acts 4 tells the story of two high powered figures in this new movement named Peter and John.  These men were on fire for Christ (no pun intended!).  They couldn't stop telling everyone they knew about Jesus.  Everywhere they went they found someone to share their faith with.  Now if you're unimpressed with the church please don't misread this.  They weren't pushy preachers, selling the savior, tricky teachers, or anything like that.  They were straight up believers who were impacted by the message of Jesus and wanted to share it with everyone they knew. 

So in this section we find Peter and John put in prison for their faith sharing escapades.  The rulers in the Jewish church didn't like the following that these two men were gathering for Christ and in an attempt to shut them up put them in prison.  Long story short - they were released because they couldn't make a case stick.  So here they are fresh out of prison, haven't even showered yet and they meet up with the rest of the Jesus followers (we'll call them the Jesus posse).  Now the sane thing to do would have been to lay low for a while.  They should have hid in the back room of the house and not come out until things cooled off a bit, but that's not what they did.  Instead they gathered together and prayed.  And prayer is logical enough for this group, but it's the words they use that are startling and inspiring. 

Their prayer included these words from verse 29 - Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  Are you kidding me!  I thought that what they had shown thus far was fairly bold, but they wanted even greater boldness.  And in a time when silence would have been more logical nonetheless. 

The point of this devotion is that we are around today as a movement of believers because this group of first century Christians prayed for boldness in their witness of Christ.   Perhaps this too should be our prayer.  We've been impacted by the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection so we do have a story to share.  Jesus' death paid for our sins.  His resurrection guaranteed us heaven.  Now we get to talk about it - and boldly! 

Lord, make us bold in our sharing of your word with the people where we live, work, and play today.  Amen.

Just imagine...

I was reading this morning from the book of Acts - has to be my favorite book of the bible - and I got to thinking...what would that look like? 

If you're not familiar with the book of acts then I'd definitely suggest taking a quick glance at it, but in the meantime here's a verse that always makes my imagination wander.  They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  (Acts 2:42)

Could you imagine?  I mean what would that look like today?  Devoting oneself to these things is a huge commitment!  Over the next couple of weeks we're going to be talking more about commitment in church as we become sold out on the gospel.  But for now let's just picture what that must have looked like. 

Being devoted to this teaching of the gospel was much more than merely doing devotions.  It was a lifestyle shift.  These people were leaving what they knew, or thought they knew, about God and clinging to something radical and different.  This new teaching was something that smacked their former belief structure in the face.  It was crazy and it potentially could have made these people uncool in the eyes of their friends and families.  But they were devoted.  They were ALL IN as we might say today.  They held nothing back.  For them it was all or nothing and they chose all! 

But not only did they study together.  They also prayed, ate, and hung out together.  I've seen some great church potlucks in my day but none that rival what is referred to here in this verse.  This was a regular thing for them.  They did this all the time, not just at church but all the time.  They loved each other. And they loved being with each other. 

Just imagine what would happen if we would start to look like this again.  Just imagine what would happen if the sleeping giant would wake up.  What would happen if the church would live as the church was originally designed to live?  It's time to get sold out on the message of Christ.  It's time to hold nothing back!  It's time to go all in!

Lord, help us this week to live all in for you. Amen. 

I wasn't that bad...

Have you ever heard those words?  I wasn't that bad. Or perhaps the phrase, it's not that big of a deal.  Maybe we've even used the excuse that it was just a little white lie.  I love our attempts to justify ourselves.  We try so hard to make ourselves look good.  Don't we?

I've been thinking a lot lately about the question, how good is good enough.  Now that's a fairly rhetorical question in my mind but it does get me thinking.  What does God say about our attempts at goodness?   I believe he would use one word to answer that - lame.

Our attempts to justify our actions or to make excuses or to just good enough to get by are ridiculous! Now understand that I'm pointing my finger at myself just as much as I am to everyone else.  We all do it!  It has been a problem since well when Adam and Eve first at that crazy fruit in the garden.  We love making excuses.  We seem to get energized by thinking that we can lower the standard that God has for us. 

But we can't.  There's no lowering the standard.  Even if you lived a perfect life up until just 3 minutes ago you don't meet the standard.  That's because the standard is perfection.  It's absolute, complete, total perfection.  No questions asked.  No excuses.  No slip-ups! Perfection!

This morning I wandered through the book of Amos.  (I know a fairly unlikely place to find me this morning, but I'm glad that we met today.)  You see Amos records some of God's words to the people of various countries and the gist is the same for all of them.  He says that even for only three or four sins he cannot turn his back. 

That means when it comes to obeying the law - living the perfect life - we have one chance.  There are no do-overs.  There are no repeats or erasers.  It's a one time shot.  Perfection or imperfection there's no gray area.  It's kind of like being pregnant - you are or you aren't.  I've never met a woman who said that she was "kind of pregnant."  That's just absurd isn't it!

So this means that you, me and everyone else on the face of this blue and green ball called earth are imperfect because we just can't live up to God's standards.  I know that sounds pretty heavy on the law and it is, but stay with me.  Here's where things get fun! 

True the standard is perfection, and true we can't live up to that standard.  But the church wasn't built on that message.  The church was founded on the message of who Jesus was.  If you look at Peter and the confession of faith that he gave to Jesus - You are the Christ (savior) the son of the living God.  Jesus then says that this message will/must be the foundation of the church.  That means that Jesus death and resurrection have bridged the gap between our inability and God's standard. 

Jesus, God's own son, became a man just like you and me.  He was forced to live under the same obligations and standards of God that we are.  And the amazing part is - he did! He lived his entire life and never fell prey to the temptations to sin that we are bombarded with every day. So we are not right with God. 

Because of Jesus we are seen by God as perfect.  We are counted right with God because of the perfected life and death that Jesus lived.  Amazing! Grace! That's the message that changes the game eternally.  That's the message that a world distant from God needs to hear.  That's the message that we have been given to share with people where we live, work, and play. 

Lord make us bold to share your truth today. Amen.

When God shows up...

What do you do when God shows up?  Ok so maybe he doesn't materialize in front of you in a locked room like he did his disciples.  Or perhaps he won't snap the heavens wide open and call out your name in the loud booming voice that God seems to have in our imaginations. But I do believe that he still shows up. 

He shows up when big things happen, things that no man or woman on earth could ever do alone.  I was able to witness God showing up yesterday.  It was completely amazing!  I can't explain what it looked like or even what it felt like but God showed up. 


I believe that we don't recognize when God shows up most of the time because we're not looking.  Or perhaps we're not sure what to look for.  But that doesn't change the fact that God still shows up.  When my children were only weeks old, Matthew had to have surgery and for my sake God showed up.  When a friend of mine went to a part of town that was very uncomfortable for her to go to, God showed up. When my dad was clinically without hope over a year ago, God showed up.  These are just a few instances of the times that I have seen God show up. 

Our verse for this morning is from Ephesians 3:20, Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine... I know I stopped in the middle of that verse but just look at what that says - God is able to do more, bigger, larger, grander, more enormous things than we could even dream of.  He's able that's not the question.  If he's not showing up to you, perhaps it's because you're not looking.  Perhaps your eyes aren't looking for the stuff big enough for God to deal with. 

We often think God is interested in sports teams, but I'm not so sure he cares who wins the Super Bowl (sorry to all you Packer and Steeler fans).  But when our team loses we think that for some reason God didn't answer that prayer.  Is that really "immeasurably more"?  I don't think so. 

Today I want to pray that God shows up and that we recognize it, so we're going to start praying a prayer similar to one prayed in the new testament when the church first got started...

Lord give us boldness to proclaim your message and do all of the other things that allow people to see you when you show up.  AMEN. 

May you see God today. May you be filled with the Spirit to have eyes wide open to the times when God shows up in your life.  And may you dream big dreams of God!

Jesus and Panera Bread Company

I've been sitting in a local Panera Bread  for about an hour now working on some sermon material.  For the last twenty minutes I've been just observing my environment to see if I could find Jesus here at Panera.  Well this is what I've come up with.  Note: this devotion is much later than normal and for that I apologize.  Secondly, it's not the typical format but I hope that you get something out of it. 

So what do Jesus and a Panera Bread bakery have in common?  On the surface probably not much but let's take a walk around and use our senses to find some commonalities. 

The first thing that hits you is the smell of the fresh baked bread!  I have very little will-power for a toasted cinnamon crunch bagel and a hot coffee - mmmmm! It would seem obvious for me to point out that that Jesus claims to be the bread of life while in a bread bakery, so I'm not going to.  But Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 2:15, For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. Paul says that we are a pleasing aroma to God because of the work of Jesus.  So when you smell that freshly baked bread or bagel at the local bakery know that you are the pleasing smell of Christ to your heavenly Father.

But it's not just the smell, there's also the taste.  The bagels are delicious.  The coffee is always piping hot.  You just can't beat it in my opinion.  The psalmist stays that we are to taste and see that the LORD is good.  (Psalm 34:8) When you bite into that mouthwatering food know that this is the same way that we are to take in the amazing things of God's love and forgiveness.  God wants us to take refuge in his love and mercy as we taste and see that he is good. 

Finally, we'll round out our experience at the bakery with the sounds.  One of the things I love about working from public places is that they are filled with sounds!  They are filled with the sounds of different peoples, languages, noises, and all of it at the same time!  It reminds me of many things in scripture.  The bible says to make a joyful noise to the Lord.  When the disciples began opening the message of Jesus to the world they did it in many different languages.  I'm finishing up my time here at Panera this morning and I hear four different languages being spoken all at the same time!  What an amazing glimpse of the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.  All of this is ours because Jesus has opened heaven to all people. 

So now go about your day.  Go to the store, the restaurant, or even work and know that you are a pleasing aroma to God.  Look for ways that you can taste the love and mercy of God.  And listen to the many sounds around you and know that for you God has opened his kingdom. 

Lord go with us today as we experience you in new and fresh ways.  AMEN.

Because you don't have faith.

Jesus can hit the issue pretty hard, and this morning was no different.  There's a story in Matthew 17 that tells of a man coming to Jesus to have him cast out a demon in his son.  Jesus does it with a simple word.  Then the disciples asked why they couldn't do it. 

You see, the disciples had already tried to cast out this demon but were unsuccessful.  Something went wrong to say the least.  Jesus explained that their failure was due to their lack of faith.  Then he says, "if you have faith as small as a mustard seed..." Now a mustard seed is pretty tiny, but I'm not convinced he's actually referring to the size of a mustard seed. 

Think of it this way - what can a mustard seed become when it is planted?  A mustard plant and nothing else!  A mustard seed is never planted hoping to become an apple tree.  It's never planted with hopes of becoming a tall oak.  It always becomes a mustard plant.  True enough the mustard seed is tiny and the plant is fairly large considering these small seedling beginnings. 

I believe that when we have faith like a mustard seed we'll believe who we are and what we are in Christ.  The bible says that we can do all things through Christ.  Do you believe it?  Do you believe that there is anything in this world that you cannot do?  If we have put limits on ourselves and our faith, perhaps we too don't have the mustard seed faith that Jesus is talking about. 

The truth of the matter is Jesus died and rose for you.  Our believing doesn't change that.  He has offered heaven to us, without cost - our believing doesn't change this either.  He says to Peter to walk on water, but Peter sinks.  Peter's faith began to waiver.  He no longer believed like a mustard seed.

Today Lord we pray that you will cast off all doubt and fill us with the faith of a mustard seed.  We believe in you, but help us in the times of our unbelief.  In Jesus' name. AMEN.

What do you use keys for?

This morning I just sat and listened as two men had a conversation.  The first man asked what other people thought of him.  He asked questions about his identity - who am I in your eyes? 

The second man spouted off some pretty important names that he had heard from other people.  These were some high powered folks!  I was impressed to say the least. 

Then the questions turned.  Instead of asking what others thought of him, the first man asked what his friend thought of him.  Wow - talk about putting someone on the spot!  I was taught to never put someone on the spot like this because it might backfire or they might just run away from the church.  But still the question was asked.  It was like a gauntlet was thrown down.  Who do you say that I am? 

Now this exchange didn't happen in my living room or office but it happened between Jesus and Peter, in my kitchen if you must know.  Peter's response was pretty powerful - You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  But did he believe it?  I mean is that really who Peter says that Jesus is?  If we were to read on in Matthew 16, we'd hear Peter telling Jesus that he didn't know what he was talking about.  But still, Peter's initial response is exactly what Jesus wanted to hear.  Jesus told Peter that this truth, that he was the son of God, was like a set of keys that could unlock heaven. 

This is always a risky thing to compare Jesus to anything earthly, but since Jesus did it I guess we're in good company.  I have to wonder if we were asked the same question how we would respond.  Jesus didn't ask who do you think I am.  He didn't say when it's safe who do you say that I am.  Rather he says who do you make a habit of saying that I am.  How would you answer that one?  Who do you say that Jesus is?  Who do you say he is when you're at church?  Who do you say he is when you're at work?  Who do you say he is when you're out with friends?  Who do you say he is when everything is going wrong? Who do you say he is when you stub your toe on the bedpost in the middle of the night? 

I'm not sure Jesus really was concerned with the "in the moment" answer of Peter as much as he was with the way that confession made its way into Peter's everyday life.  And he's just as interested in how our lives confess who he is as well. 

If we claim the same confession, that Jesus is the son of God, with both our mouths and our actions then we too possess the power to unlock the kingdom of heaven for those around us.  When heaven has been unlocked for us by a knowledge of who Jesus is, we are given the ability to unlock that same gift for others where we live, work, and play. 

Our prayer this morning is that God would open our hearts to believe with our words and our actions that Jesus is Lord - Dear Lord, today we need your power to fill us so that we can follow where you lead, trusting that you have everything in control for us.  Help us to use the keys that you've given us to open heaven for our friends and neighbors as we share the wonders of your love.  Amen. 

A worthwhile sacrifice

So why is it that God liked Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's?  It's simple - Abel gave his best.  Many people have been hung up on this passage for quite some time.  They wonder what Cain did to deserve the treatment that he received.  Others are a bit curious if their "sacrifices" are more like Cain or  Abel's. 

That's where I want to look today - what sacrifice is the right sacrifice?  In today's church in America we don't offer animals and fruit as sacrifices so what is an acceptable sacrifice to God? 

This probably isn't the best question to ask to be honest with you, because there is not best sacrifice to offer.  The best sacrifice is already offered - it's the very life of Jesus given/sacrificed for you and for me.  But that's the starting point that we must focus on.  Our sacrifices today are not the same as Cain and Abel's.  They sacrificed to earn something.  They sacrificed to cover their sins and make payment for their wrongs, but that's not necessary for us anymore.  We don't offer sacrifices to get into God's good graces.  We offer sacrifices because God has brought us to him and paid our debts for us.

The greatest sacrifice was already made for us.  Now our lives of sacrifice are about response and action.  Our sacrifices today whether of our time, finances, or even our mental energy should all be a response to the wonders of the good news that Jesus paid our debts for us.  He earned our way into heaven.  He took all of our stuff on him and got rid of it.  Now we can live in the sure and certain hope of life with him.  Our sacrifices are acceptable when they are responses to God's goodness.  When they are filled with praise for all that God has done.  Our sacrifices are acceptable not because of what they are or where they are offered but because of what's in our hearts. 

Today I pray that you find time to sacrifice something to God.  Not because I said to, perhaps it was the time you spent reading this.  Sacrifice with joy in your heart.  Give it up because Jesus gave it all up for you. 

Lord help me today as I find ways to sacrifice to you of my time, energy, and stuff so that you remain central in my life. Amen.

Life between the trees

Today our devotions will take a different flare.  A new year tends to bring new beginnings.  We're going to start at the beginning, Genesis, and work our way through the bible chronologically.  This morning brought me to the first few chapters of Genesis, and one thing jumped out at me - trees.

It's kind of easy to overlook them, or at least to not give them much time or thought; but the trees in Genesis are probably two of the most important things in this account.  Genesis 2:9 tells of these two trees: In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

I have to wonder, what do we do between the trees?  I mean our lives are lived out between these two trees.  The tree of knowledge is the one that affects us everyday.  It's the tree that brought sin into the world.  We should be constantly reminded of this tree every time we stub out toe, have a headache, suffer any kind of pain, have a sleepless night, worry, get anxious, are afraid, and the list goes on.  You see this tree's fruit was all things evil.  The fruit itself didn't look bad.  The bible actually said it look pleasing to the eye and good for food, much like the things that cause us harm today.  They don't look bad at first, but once we're knee deep into them we realize that we've just taken a big bite from this tree's fruit. 

But the other tree is even more important.  In all my years in church and Sunday School I never heard anyone really give this second tree much time.  It was just pushed aside as if it didn't really matter, but I believe that this second tree is of great importance to us.  You see this tree's fruit is life.  Not perfection.  Not forgiveness. Not restoration.  But life - just the way you are kind of life.  That's why God had to remove Adam and Eve from the garden.  He didn't want them to eat that fruit and life forever in that fearful and sinful condition. 

The tree of life should remind us of the tree that Jesus died on.  It was a tree that gave us eternal life.  It was through Jesus' death on a tree that we are guaranteed life.  So how do you live between the trees?  Do you live as if it's all over?  Or do you live as if everything is starting over again?  The tree of life is about a new start.  When Jesus died and rose he gave us a new start.  He erased all of the old stuff.  He removed the penalties for the tree of knowledge and restored us. 

Today, I hope that you see a tree or two.  I hope that these trees remind you of the God who saved you and promises you heaven all because of a tree.  Lord, show us your presence today.  Amen.