10.05.09
Posted in New Testament at 1:04 am by Administrator
Ephesians 5:15-17
Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish be understand what the Lord’s will is.
I preached on these verses a few weeks back and wow, these verses proved so evident in my life during the month of September. I am not sure where the month went. It really flew by. It is amazing how quickly a month goes in retrospect.
As I look back I realize that I did not keep up the blog as much as I wanted and I do hope to do better in October. I need to carve out time for reflection and communication.
September has to be summarized by one word “warfare”. I felt like I was dropped on the battlefield and spiritual struggles were all around. It is clear that we must make the most of every opportunity to connect people to Jesus, like in Ephesians. However, in the midst of daily routines and work and expectations, when you are just keeping your head above water, other people’s connection issues seem like burdens rather than opportunities.
“I can’t do one more conversation.” “I can’t squeeze one more minute out of my day for another person.” Now don’t get me wrong. It is not that I am that overworked. I work hard, but it is more the small voice inside that says, “You worked hard today. You deserve to go home and shut out the world. Don’t worry about the other people.” I think that summarizes a bit of my September. I was consumed with disconnecting rather than connecting. I certainly did not make the most of every opportunity.
This is where I fall into the arms of Jesus and say, “Forgive me.” “Renew me” Refocus me” “Let me make the most of October”
So this pastor looks back on September 2009 and wishes he had been more faithful to the Lord with few key opportunities that presented themselves, but I was not. Someone else will share the joy of those opportunities. They were lost to me, but certainly not to the Lord.
I enter October 2009. On my knees, praying to be a servant to is ready to respond as the Lord sees fit and not as I see fit.
Blessings,
Greg
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07.22.09
Posted in New Testament at 1:28 am by Administrator
I think this gospel story has to be one of my favorites. It certainly is a recurring theme in my devotions and life.
I preached on this story in July and now it comes up again. I love the fact that the disciples are caught in a storm after the prompting of Jesus to “Let’s cross over to the other side.” It was Jesus’ idea to get in the boat and cross the lake. It was Jesus who devised the plan. Jesus took the lead. And look where it led.
It led to a storm that was swamping the boat and threatening the disciples’ lives, or at least that is what they thought. I am sure they figured if Jesus said to go it will be an easy crossing, after all Jesus suggested it. Then BAMMMM a storm, big waves, strong wind, drenching rain and Jesus sleeping through the whole thing. How unfair is that. It was Jesus idea, we are dying here and he is sleeping as if nothing is wrong. How dare he get us into this!!!!!
Have you ever had that thought???? I am following Jesus plans, seeking God’s will, moving with the prompting of the Holy Spirit and here I am drenched, straining against wind and waves. This is not fair. This was not my plan. I am just following “orders.”
If you are in that situation now listen to Jesus words, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Jesus plans are Jesus plans. With his plans comes his power to see his plan through to the end. In the process we may get a bit wet, our muscles may feel strained, we may be near exhaustion, but we are not forsaken nor forgotten. He is in the boat with us. Quietly present, offering hope, providing peace and assurance.
The disciples cried out to Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” How fatalistic. Yet, I am sure we have whispered the same thoughts. “Jesus, don’t you care if I am worn down, defeated, overwhelmed?”
For me this story teaches about changing my cry to Jesus. It teaches me to say, “Jesus life is hard right now. I know you are here with me. Please strengthen me.” or if time is short and I don’t have that much sanity at the time I simple cry out, “Jesus help!” NOT “Jesus don’t you care if I die!” BUT “Jesus help!” There is a difference. There is a shift from doubt and despair to courage and peace.
Jesus’ presence in the storms of life always brings courage and peace, even when the wind and waves are crashing about us. For that I am truly thankful.
So the next time Jesus says, “Let’s cross over to the other side.” Don’t we surprised by the wind and waves. Be ready to stand strong side by side with Jesus.
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07.20.09
Posted in New Testament at 11:15 am by Administrator
Mark 2:22
“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.
This verse was in a recent devotion and it really challenged me. Not because I like good red wine, but because I don’t know if I am really ready for all that is new. What do I mean?
As I study Mark 2, Jesus makes it clear that He is bringing a whole new way of life into this world. I believe He introduced this new way of life during his earthly ministry. Yet, I don’t think the newness ended when he ascended into heaven.
Daily I am faced with new ways of doing church, new ways of reaching an increasingly underchurched world, new ways of thinking about “world superpowers”, new people, new places, new on and on and on, etc….
The only thing that I know that does not change is God and His Word!!!
Maybe the Christian life is about being open to new ways; new wineskins. Yesterday’s skins will not hold today’s wine. Many mainline churches have forgotten this. May Christians are afraid of what the church is becoming. Many are fearful about the new, no matter what the new is.
In embracing the new around us we more tightly cling to the certainly of God and His Word.
Yet, many people are all about the old wineskins, the way it was, the way it always has been and the comfort that the old brings. Yet, that is not where our comfort should lie. Our comfort is not in the old, but in the unchanging God of heaven. If I seek comfort from what has been, the past, the old, I am making that my idol. It means I can have faith in what I know rather than faith in a God who is always with me.
So bring on the new wine and the new wineskins.
My prayer.
God give me the grace to cling to you and nothing else. Give me the grace to embrace the new and to creatively see the future as a place where you already exist. Help we celebrate the new wine you daily bring into my life and give me patience with those who cling to old wineskins. Help me find ways to help them embrace you and the newness you offer.
Oh man, let’s see what God brings my way. I’d better hold on….
Let me know what you think.
Blessings
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07.15.09
Posted in New Testament, Old Testament at 3:16 am by Administrator
(NIV) Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul. ”
My prayer today.
“Lord this starts with choices that are made daily in harmony with you. Strengthen me to be able to do that. I am so weak and easily swayed. I want to be faithful and useful to you, your kingdom and your creation.”
(NIV) Acts 2:25-28
David said about him: ” `I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [26] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, [27] because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. [28] You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Seeing the Lord always before me, that is the key. Keeping the Lord always in view. That is not always easy because we don’t want to see Him. We want to look the other way. This allows us to act out of God’s will. How could you act out of God’s will as you stand before the cross or stand behind the King of Glory. Yet we remove Jesus from our everyday. We put him in a church or in a book and keep our distance. We convince ourselves we are disconnected from Jesus. We pretend He is locked away or in another place. “I saw the Lord always before me” that is where Jesus is. That is His true place, before me. Regardless of my thinking he is before me. Lovingly watching me stumble like a toddler. Waiting for me to allow his hand to grab my hand.
My prayer…
Lord take my hand and ever walk before me. Lead on to the places you want me to go. Please hold tightly because I am weak and afraid.
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07.14.09
Posted in New Testament at 8:33 am by Administrator
Ouch!
This was part of my devotion today and again I say ouch.
It is easy to point fingers at those whom I believe to be greedy and self-indulgent, but what about when I look in the mirror. What do I long for and how do I indulge myself? Hmmmmmm. Let me count the ways.
I want a church that works the way I want it too.
I want to feel cared for.
I want independence from people, but I want to be needed and to need people. (How does that work?)
In reality I want whatever I don’t have at the moment.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God”
“Where you treasure is, there also will be your heart”
“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit”
Oh yea, I too am a greedy and self-indulged sinner, who needs the grace of Jesus to pull me out of myself. I too have a tendency to seek the way that most suits my desire rather than seeking first the kingdom of God. I find my heart grabbing for things like houses, cars, expensive wines and things that make other people say, “WOW, that’s cool.” I use my feeble might and fleeting power to do the work of God. Father, forgive me, for I have sinned and fall short of your glory.
Who joins me in that conviction? (You don’t really need to identify yourself to me, but you do need to identify yourself to God.)
He has so much more planned for each of us than we can plan for ourselves.
My prayer today was, “Jesus, by the power of your Spirit, help me say no to my greed and self-indulgence. Help me say yes to your provision, your plans, your ways. Let me see the riches I have in You and You alone. Amen.”
I will let you know where that leads.
Blessings,
Greg
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07.10.09
Posted in New Testament, Story at 11:04 am by Administrator
I studied Matthew 9 in my devotions today.
I know I have read that chapter many times, but sitting on a deck in Hong Kong overlooking the village where I will be living, this chapter took on new meaning. The quick gist of the chapter; Jesus heals, Jesus calls the twelve, Jesus raises a dead girl, heals a sick woman and then casts out demons. He then turns to the twelve and tells them the workers are few. Then chapter ten begins with the twelve being sent out. Today the idea of faith before the Call and faith before the mission hit home.
Jesus step by step reveals to his disciples the power he has and the power he wants them to share with the world. How could the disciples not be excited about what they were about to do. I am sure we too would be excited about being sent if we were able to see Jesus do such miracles.
Sitting on the deck today I could not help but think, do we not see miracles everyday.
Kerrick and I just got off a plane that stayed in the air for 15 hours, kept us safe over the North Pole and landed gently on the other side of the world. Yes, there are laws of aviation that can explain how all that works or a simple faith would say, Jesus is an amazing God to allow such things to happen.
I am overlooking a 41 story building jutting out from the side of a cliff. There are rules of architecture that can explain how that works, or again a faith that says, Jesus allows amazing things to still be created.
Sitting here I realized that Jesus still shows us miracles everyday. We just have ways to explain them away. As I begin to spread the Good News of Jesus on this side of the world, my prayer has become, “Lord, let me see your daily miracles and let those works empower my faith and fuel my service to you.”
That is my prayer for each Christian, that we can see the miracles around us and then proclaim what a great God this world has.
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07.02.09
Posted in New Testament, Old Testament at 2:25 pm by Administrator
The following are the thoughts that are going into my sermon for Sunday, July 12, 2009. They are based on Amos 7:7-15, Ephesians 6:3-14, and Mark 6:14-29.
Amos, a content shepherd until God Calls. John, a prophet from conception who spent his life following his Call. Both men, called by God to speak the truth, clearly and pointedly. Both men, rejected by the status quo. Both men, driven by the Spirit to be unrelenting. Two men who where found by the Holy Spirit and lived in the truth of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6: 13-14
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We live in a world that blurs the truth. We blur the truth. We make excuses for our behaviors. We look the other way. We blend in. I blend in. I pull back when it becomes uncomfortable to speak the truth. Yet, that is not the call of a Christian who has the truth of the Gospel in our heart. We have heard the word of truth and we are called to find ways to speak and live that truth.
May our prayer become.
Lord, by the power of your Spirit grant me courage to live and speak the truth in this present time. Give to me the same courage you granted to Amos and John. Empower my words to make a difference in the life of someone seeking the truth. Amen.
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06.19.09
Posted in New Testament at 3:41 pm by Administrator
On Sunday, I am preaching on Mark 4: 35-41. This is one of my favorite narratives in the entire New Testament.
Jesus has told his disciples to gather in small boats and to cross the Sea of Galilee.
Now if Jesus had suggested the trip one would think it should be easy, after all it was Jesus’ idea. He is responsible. Right? Well not according to the narrative.
As the small boats crossed the lake a furious storm blew in and the boats were tossed around like toys in a bathtub. All the while Jesus slept as his disciples and the other boats struggled not to sink.
Now think for a moment, between waves, wind, fear what would you think about Jesus sleeping? Here you are trying to save your life and the guy who suggested the trip is asleep without a care in the world. What nerve. This situation is his fault. He got you into this. Why doesn’t he step up and fix this mess. I am not sure if this is what the disciples thought, but I know that would have been my thoughts. In fact, those are my thoughts on a regular basis.
Who has not thought, “Come on Jesus, I am following you and look where it got me, look at this mess”.
These verses bring back to my heart that the truth is following Jesus is not always easy, clean, clear, and under blue skies. Yet, it is in the storm that we see Jesus’ tenderness. He answers our cries. He may remind us of our lack of faith, but he does not rebuke us.
Rather he rebukes the wind and the waves. He brings a calm to our hearts and lives. He shines as the Lord of All.
I love preaching on this story. It reminds me that the next time Jesus says to me, “Cross with me to the other side”, why would I not say YES. The way may be bumpy at time, but the one who is truly in charge issued the invitation and how can I fail with Jesus as my guide.
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