What Comes Into Your Mind?

What are you putting into your mind lately?

Take an inventory of the day.  From the time you get up, what thoughts and ideas are you exposed to?

We are constantly getting bombarded, from the radio, social media, our phones, TV. 

Many of these have a message, and that message can be very subtle.  Anything from posts on Facebook making it look like everyone has a great life except you (because, who posts the bad stuff or the burnt dinners?) to advertisements designed to make you unhappy with what you have, so you will buy what they are selling.

We have messages coming at us all day long.

In Romans we find this command, 

" Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 (NIV)

I don't think the answer is to unplug from all of the media (although backing off isn't a bad idea) but a more powerful approach is to purposely find sources that support God's truth.

There is no substitute for time in the Word.  Opening the Bible, a devotional book or even listening to Christian music are all great ways to expose our minds to the truth. I encourage you to try to get as much truth as other "stuff" into your mind each day.

Road Trip

One of my favorite documentaries followed three men who rode their Harley choppers across the US. 

What fascinated me about this trip was the lack of things they brought.  These were not nice, big, comfortable baggers fully loaded that these guys were riding.  They were stripped down to the bare essentials motorcycles, with a few belongings strapped to sissy bars.

Often they were riding through places where gas stations were so far apart they needed gas cans strapped to these same sissy bars in order to make it.

I discovered two things about myself as I watched them.  First, I don't have the knowledge it would take to take care of a motorcycle on my own as they did, and second, I would not even know where to start to pack for a journey like that.

What is important to bring, what is essential?

Fortunately when it comes to our life in Christ, the provision has already been made.  We don't have to stress over whether or not we have all we need.

Reading 2 Peter today we find, 

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

Our greatest road trip is truly our life, and fortunately we do not go this one alone.

Perspectives

Yesterday it was so nice to get a break in this hot weather we have been having.  We had a great ride home, taking the long way and enjoying the cooler air while riding.

At one point in the ride, I changed my focus from gazing out at the road ahead, to what was right in front of me.  As I did, I could see the road speeding at me, then I looked back up and focused where I normally do, at the road ahead and my wife on her bike.

Just a simple change of focus seemed to slow down time.  From one perspective I was going very fast, from the other I had more than enough time to judge the road and make adjustments accordingly.

Yet I was only going one speed.

Those two perspectives reminded me about how we see our life and events around us, and the way God does.  See, to us we can feel like the Lord is not moving fast enough in our lives.  But that is only one perspective.  From God's, he is moving right along, right on time.  Not a moment too early, nor a moment too late.

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) tells us, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

It's comforting to know that the Lord is in total control and holds time in his hands.

Self-defense

Last night in Taekwondo class, our instructor was teaching us self-defense. 

After displaying some moves that flopped the student helping with the demonstration around like a rag doll, he made this statement.

"Self-defense has to be simple, or it won't work."

It's not like the movies, where things are very elaborate.  Real self-defense moves are simply common sense.  Because, when you need them, you cannot remember a series of complex movements.

You need something that is simple to understand, and easy to remember.

Jesus was once asked, 

 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

to which he replied, 

 "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

Living the Christian life is not that complicated to remember, or understand.  Love God, love other people.

Let's just hope we remember that when it comes time to show it.

Whose Power?

I was reading in John today, about the trial of Jesus before Pilate.

They had this very interesting exchange of words.  As you know, Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus, in fact he tried several times to let him go.

"When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,  and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.  "Do you refuse to speak to me?"  Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin." 

John 19-8-11 (NIV)

Pilate was focused on his own earthly power, what he could do or achieve.

Jesus told him plainly, he was not the one running the show.

Do we recognize this in our own lives?  That nothing can come into our lives that has not passed through the will of God.

Psalm 119

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm, as well as the longest chapter, in the Bible.  It is sectioned off alphabetically (in the original Hebrew,) and this is reflected in our English translations as it is broken up into sections, starting with  Aleph and ending with  Taw.

The sheer size of it can often have it overlooked when we are looking for a daily reading in our personal Bible reading time.

I'd like to challenge you to read through this psalm, section by section, at least one each day until you get through it.  For example;

Psalm 119 (NIV)

א Aleph

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,

    who walk according to the law of the Lord.

2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes

    and seek him with all their heart—

3 they do no wrong

    but follow his ways.

4 You have laid down precepts

    that are to be fully obeyed.

5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast

    in obeying your decrees!

6 Then I would not be put to shame

    when I consider all your commands.

7 I will praise you with an upright heart

    as I learn your righteous laws.

8 I will obey your decrees;

    do not utterly forsake me.

Read it slowly, and if at all possible, out loud.

Sometimes just taking the time with just a few verses can impact our lives more than if we try to rush through the whole thing.

Enjoy!

The Kingdom of God

I was reading in John and something jumped out at me that I never noticed before.

When Jesus was arrested, we read in John 18:10-11 (NIV),

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

Then just a few verses later Jesus makes this statement to Pilate,

"Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." vv 36 

What is going on here?  Did Jesus not appreciate that only a few hours earlier, Peter did fight to prevent his arrest?  Didn't Jesus stop him from doing so?

On the surface it would seem that Peter was fighting for Jesus' kingdom, but he was not. 

 I think it's safe to speculate that the man who at one moment was willing to fight and die for Jesus, but who that same evening denied him three times, had not yet understood the difference between the kingdom Jesus was establishing and an earthly one.  Peter had to first let go of who he wanted Jesus to be, and instead accept Jesus for who he was.

Peter's dream of a kingdom on earth had come crashing down, but he would eventually understand that Jesus' purpose went far beyond establishing an earthly kingdom.

Much later he would write a very clear description of what followers of the kingdom of God look like.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.. 1 Peter 2:9 10(NIV)

The kingdom of God is not of this world, therefore let's make sure our efforts here are building Jesus' kingdom, not some idea of what we think it should be.

Your Kingdom Come

The disciples once asked Jesus how they should pray; this was his answer.

"This, then, is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one." Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)

I occurred to me that from the onset of the prayer we are to acknowledge God's kingdom and God's will over everything else. 

Take a moment and let that sink in.

Your will, God, Your kingdom.

We could assume his will for our lives is a life of ease and happiness, right?

But later on we see Jesus not teaching that prayer, but praying this prayer instead,

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 

Matt 26:39 (NIV) 

Jesus acknowledged the will of God for him was the cross, because he also knew the kingdom was not of this world.  Shortly after this prayer, Jesus was arrested and stood before Pilate who asked him about his identity.

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36 (NIV)

Are we able to pray that same prayer today?  Are we able to see that the kingdom of God is not of this world any more than we should be of this world?

Patience

This past weekend I got some more ink.  I was sitting in the chair as the young lady was working on my arm.  I was unable to see what she was doing, and so I had no idea of the progress she was making, or how long it would take to complete.

Although I really wanted to see how she was coming along, I didn't even try to twist and look.

The thought dawned on me, it never occurred to me to even ask questions like, "are you done yet?" or ,"how much longer is this going to take?" they never even came to mind. 

I was completely calm and patient, confident in the fact that she was good at what she does, and she knows what she is doing.

Now sure, I'm a firm believer that you don't try to rush a person who is using a needle to permanently mark you body!  But there was more than that.  I trusted her as she had done work for me before and I knew from past experience that it would take as long as it takes.

She would work until it was done.

So I sat there patiently until she was finished.

I wondered, why am I so impatient with the Lord when I can't see what he is doing or what progress he is making in my life?  Why is it I want to twist around and see, and often try to look at things from every possible angle, so I can see his progress?

Why cant I just sit and wait as he does his work in my life?

The same confidence I gave to my tattoo artist should be magnified when it comes to the Lord.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6 (NIV)

Doing for Others

Yesterday I shared the first half of the parable of the sheep and the goats from Matthew 25:31-40

It's encouraging to see this list of things the righteous did without even realizing they were doing it for Jesus.  "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

But Jesus didn't end the parable there, it continues.

41 -46 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

 "He will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

These days we are used to having options, as if life were a great buffet.  But Jesus takes it personally when we ignore  the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger etc. 

In fact, we know our salvation is not from works, but by grace (Eph 2:8.) A lack of caring for others would seem to indicate we a lack the willingness to do unto others a measure of what we have had abundantly done for us.

I don't know about you, but that thought gives me cause for some serious self examination.

Priorities

I see a lot of things today that people say the church should be focusing on. 

Sometimes what Jesus didn't say can speak pretty loudly.  In the passage below, he gives a pretty detailed list of things he feels we ought to be doing.  But there are also many issues I see being put forward today that are not listed at all. 

Reading Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV)

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Where are our priorities?  Let's make sure they are what was important to Jesus and not simply what we find important.

Look for the Good

I like optical illusions.  I recently saw one that was a short video of a train.  If you thought about the train going into the tunnel, it looked like it was.  If you thought of it going out of the tunnel, then it changed.

Weird, but it makes a point.

What we focus on will become our reality. 

This year, a lot of terrible things have happened, and I am not saying they are to be ignored.  But we cannot let them change our worldview.

We cannot let that change how we view life. 

Take the time today to look for the good, it's out there.

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Phil 4:8 (NIV)

Hearing and Doing

Every once in a while I read a scripture that just seems to jump right off the page.  Just a few words that I have read hundreds of times before, shout at me and I cannot help but just stop and sit on that verse for a moment.

This is one of those times.

James 1:22 (NIV) begins with  "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves..."

Is that actually possible?  To sit and listen to the Word of God, yet be deceived?

But that is what James is saying here.  If we sit, smile nod our head, and even know how to reply to, "God is good...." (all the time.) "All the time..." (God is good.)  We can walk away being deceived.

I don't know about you, but that is not a place I want to be.

James is teaching us that listening is not enough, so let's continue with the verse and see what else he says.

"... Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." (vv 23-25)

Let's take a moment, pray, and ask today, "Lord are we only hearing your word, or are we actually open to doing what your word tells us to do?"

May our hearts be open to go beyond just hearing.

Fear of Change

Yesterday I was talking about my cockatiel, Ariel, today I noticed something with his "sister," Tiggy.

It's amazing how much you can learn from observing animals, but of course the Lord did say, "consider the birds...." (Matthew 6)

Anyway.

We have an elaborate perch setup that they like to hang out on during the time they spend with us out of their cages.  I had noticed that Tiggy would come down to this one spot and kinda hang out there. 

So I put a little shelf at that spot, something just big enough to hold a treat.

Birds don't like change, it took almost six weeks before she returned to that place and finally took treats from it.

We can get like that, can't we?  So caught up in our ways that we don't allow ourselves to try something new the Lord wants to do in our midst.

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) tells us, 

"See, I am doing a new thing!

    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

    and streams in the wasteland."

Although the Lord's truth never changes, the way he communicates it to us can.

What is the Lord trying to show you today that you may be slow to see for fear of change?

Abundant Life

From time to time I have mentioned that I have a pet cockatiel named Ariel. 

He's a very smart bird, can talk a little, and sing some songs.  I truly enjoy his company as we take him and his "sister," Tiggy, out each morning and each evening.

Ariel however will sometimes attempt to fly around the room when I try to put him back into his cage.  There is a very simple way of preventing this, I just hold my hand in front of his face so all he can see is my hand.  As long as he can't see where he is going, he can't take off.

I was thinking about that.  Sometimes the enemy comes and blocks us from seeing the life out there that we could be living.  He can block this with temptation, or negative thoughts, or even just plain old distractions.

In John 10:10 (NIV) Jesus tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

What is Satan using to steal your life today?

If we can't see that abundant life, we won't go for it, we won't even try to fly.

Random?

A popular saying is that "life is like a poker game, you have to play the hand you are dealt."

Where I do agree with this in part, I also think it can leave a false impression.

I've played my share of poker over the years.  There is something that happens every time before the cards are dealt.  The dealer shuffles them.  Why? Because he is showing no partiality or control over what cards go to what player.

He has no control. 

In poker, this makes for an honest game.  But in life, the thought that the hand I have been dealt was random and out of the control of the life giver?

That's not the image the Bible gives at all. 

Psalm 139:13-16(NIV,) speaking of God, tells us, 

"For you created my inmost being;

    you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

    your works are wonderful,

    I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

    when I was made in the secret place,

    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

    all the days ordained for me were written in your book

    before one of them came to be."

There is nothing random about the life God has given us.  From the body you have, to the people in our lives, to the places we live, to the number of our days.

It is all in the hands of the living God.

Help...

Paul said in Acts 20:35 (NIV)  "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

The other night at ReFuel, during small group time we were talking about how hard it can be to ask for help.  Then one brother asked this question, "How do you feel when you help someone else?"

That's a good question.

Well, it feels good when you get to help another person, you feel blessed, right?

Then he said, "When you don't ask for help, aren't you depriving someone else of feeling blessed then?"

It's an interesting way of looking at it.  Sometimes it's so much easier to meet needs than to confess you have them.

But in the body of Christ, shouldn't we not only offer help, but also accept it in return?

Yours?

I had a teacher once who was eating at a burger place with his daughter.  She was about three years old.

He reached across the table and attempted to take one of her french fries.  She responded by slapping his hand away, saying, "Mine!"  Knowing he was dealing with a three-year-old he let it go, but he said he was thinking, "Yours?  I bought these fries, and in fact I don't need yours, I can buy my own!"

What his daughter failed to grasp was that everything she owned came from him.  He was not taking what was hers, he was letting her eat what was his.

Check out...

Job 41:11

Exodus 19:5

Deuteronomy 10:14

Psalms 24:1

Psalms 50:12

Psalms 89:11

Romans 11:35

1 Corinthians 10:26

They all have one theme in common... 

Ps 24:1 The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.

    The world and all its people belong to him.

They all say the same thing

The earth is the Lord's - and everything in it.

All His.  Not ours.

Playing Go

Lately I've been playing a game called "Go."  The rules are very basic, but the game itself is almost limitless in its complexity. 

I enjoy the game a lot, however, since I began playing online, I've been losing all the time.  And not just by a few points.

By hundreds.

As the failures added up, I could not help but feel slightly discouraged.

Then I heard of an ancient saying, told to new students of Go, "Lose 100 games as quickly as possible."  Teachers of Go explain that when you begin playing, it's normal for you to feel completely lost.  You have no idea where to play next; your opponent's move will completely confound you; you won't even be sure when the game is over. 

This is the biggest reason people stop playing: bewilderment and anxiety. 

The thought encourages the beginner to hang in there, play 100 games, and you will begin to have a feel for the basics.

I thought about how the Christian life can be a lot like that.  As Jesus taught in the parable of the sower, how different seeds falling into different soil produces varied results.

"Listen then to what the parable of the sower means...The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." Matthew 13:18-21 (NIV)

I keep playing Go because I see the value of the game.

Do we see the value of the life in Jesus  that has been offered to us?  Are we willing to stay with him, or do we quickly fall away?

God's Wrath

Lately things do seem to be getting a little "out of control."  I hear a lot of talk about how God's wrath needs to come.  It reminds me of a similar conversation between Jesus and a few of his disciples. 

In Luke chapter 9:51-56 (NIV) we read,

"As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.  And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;  but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.  When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?"  But Jesus turned and rebuked them.  Then he and his disciples went to another village."

Jesus not only disagreed with this approach, the Word says he rebuked them for suggesting it.

How do we respond to the world around us?  Are we so quick to hand out God's wraith that we forget who we ourselves once were?  Do we think now that we have our salvation secure, no one else matters?

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."Ephesians 2:1-5 today (NIV)

Let us never forget that,"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 

Instead, let's make sure we do all we can to help spread the Gospel of Christ around us so that as many as possible hear it before it's too late.

Follow Me

This past weekend I was meeting up with a brother for a ride and some ice cream.

As we ate, the sky kept darkening, you could almost feel the rain coming.  Then, sure enough, it started to sprinkle some as we both headed home in opposite directions.

The slight rain felt good, it was a hot day.  It looked like I was going to avoid the worst of it.  But then, right as I was stopped at the last traffic light between me and home, the sky opened up and I got soaked.

A text later from my riding partner said it started pouring at his house too.

Ten minutes after he got home.

So, I got soaked, and he stayed dry. 

Why is that?  Why did the same God that seemed to hold off the rain for him, not do the same for me?

Reading the end of the Gospel of John where Peter is told he will die for the Lord.

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.  Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?")  When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."  John 21:18-22 (NIV)

Not everyone's life is the same.  The lesson here is (as preacher Mike would say) simple  but hard.  We don't always get to understand why God will intercede on behalf of one and not the other.  And often this is harder than simply getting rained on. 

But, the words of Jesus ring as true to us today as they did to Peter.  To live a life for Christ is to live with some questions unanswered.

"You must follow me" - Jesus

Do we have to have all the answers before we'll follow?

Knowing People

One evening I purchased a viking ship model.  I thought it would be fun to assemble it and paint it.  Seemed like a relaxing hobby to check out.

So I bought the paints, the ship and even some little vikings.  I started the project, but it sat, very much unfinished. 

Then recently I heard that a co-worker was into painting miniature models.  I decided to give him the paints and brushes I had purchased that were sitting unused in the closet.  He was pretty happy with the unexpected gift and showed me some photos of some of his work. 

I was amazed at the level of skill he had that coule produce this kind of small, detailed work.  Simply knowing him from work, I would have never suspected he possessed that kind of  talent.

But we do that don't we?  We quickly place people into boxes and categories without taking the time to get to know them, to see beyond what is obvious.

In 1 Samuel 17:7 (NIV) we read, "...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

May we seek to see those around us as God does!

Hunger

Are we willing to wait in the hunger?

Sometimes our souls feel a hunger deep inside, and often we attempt to fill this hunger with whatever is quick and easy to find. 

Perhaps we fill it with food, or a movie, or we head onto the internet.  Some of the things we fill this hunger with are harmful to us and to those we love.

The hunger is not wrong, it is a God-shaped hunger that only he can fill. 

King David recognized this longing, and he knew what he truly craved.

Reading Psalm 63 (NIV)

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water.

David recognized his soul's longing was for God and that nothing else would quench that thirst. 

In fact, he goes on to say that even a great meal wouldn't meet that need.

I have seen you in the sanctuary

    and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

    my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

When the hunger comes, I wonder, what would happen if we refuse temporary satisfaction and wait, actively praising God?

Waiting on the Lord

Jesus Culture has a song called, "My soul longs for you" with very simple lyrics.

My soul longs for you

My soul longs for you

Nothing else will do

Nothing else will do

I believe you will come like the rain

You'll come like the rain

So let it rain

Let it rain

Here is the video if you want to listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GgNw2neYrU

In those times, when we find ourselves longing, painfully aware of our emptiness, do we wait for the Lord to satisfy or do we give in too quickly to something like food or entertainment?

Reading Psalm 63 today,

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water.

 I have seen you in the sanctuary

    and beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life,

    my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;

    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Can we join David and wait on the Lord, who alone satisfies?

Asking or Demanding?

Reading Mark today, chapter six.

Mark 6:1-6 (NIV) "Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.  When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing?  Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

Some of these questions are great questions, you would think that Jesus would be more than happy to answer them.  After all they seem to want to know more about him, don't they?

But it's not in the questions they ask, but in the heart they ask them from.  There is a difference between wanting to know an answer and demanding an account.  Here we find people who were not trying to understand Jesus, but rather took offense at him.  In fact the amplified bible tells us, 

"And they were [deeply] offended by Him [and their disapproval blinded them to the fact that He was anointed by God as the Messiah]." Mark 6:3 AMP

Sadly, this type of posture prevented Jesus from working in their lives.  Continuing with verse 4,

Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home."  He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  He was amazed at their lack of faith.  (vv 4-6)

We don't always understand what God is doing in our lives, but when we ask, are we seeking to understand, or demanding he give us an account?

Measuring

Each morning I change the paper that line our bird cages.  I pull out the drawer underneath, throw away the old paper, and then replace it with a new sheet.

We have a big roll of paper, and the drawer is exactly 18 X 18 inches.  I have a measure tape I use to get the length just right.  I measure, then I cut.

Most days it works.

Sometimes I cut it too long, sometimes too short.  I can tell when I go to put it into place.  I have to fold it, or just deal with it not covering the whole drawer.

Now how silly would it be if I blamed the tape measure for the wrong size?  If something is off, it certainly cannot be that.  18 inches on that tape is the same every day, that measurement never changes.  If the paper is the wrong size, it's because I cut it off the mark.

The same can be said for the word of God.  It never changes and it measures our life true.  If we find that something is off, we need only go back to the word and measure again.

"God is not human, that he should lie,

    not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

    Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19 (NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17 (NIV)

It's that simple.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

David

Who You Are

When you look in the mirror, what do you see?  Are you even able to look at your own reflection?

The older we get, the more we tally up the things that we have said or done that we would rather have forgotten.  Just like when we look in the mirror, we  have a natural tendency to look at what is wrong with our physical appearance,  when we take an honest look at ourselves, we don't always like what we see.

Yet when God looks at us, he doesn't see any of that.  Those of us who have accepted the free gift his of his son, Jesus Christ, are no longer seen as we deserve.

We are seen as we wish we could be.  We are holy and blameless in God's sight, as a result of what Jesus did for us.

Take a moment to truly grasp that.  All our our deeds are not only forgiven, but forgotten.  As Paul tells us, 

"Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." Col 1:22 (NLT)

How can we not be grateful?  How can we not thank him in praise for such a gift?

For when we stand before God, in Christ we are seen for who we always dreamt we could be.