Good Morning!! In the Bible, tragic stories aren't merely about the consequences of sin,...they're also about the ways God is present in our suffering. This story tells of desperate choices made by suffering people and ruthless decisions by arrogant leaders. But rising in the midst of the chaos, like a beacon of hope, is the prophet Elisha. His word comes true in precisely the way he predicted. God’s strength, mediated through him, gives the people hope.
"This is a day of good news . . ."—2 Kings 7:9 (NIV)
The theme verse above is spoken by four leprous men who realize that they should share the good news of God’s miraculous deliverance. But we do not always experience such miraculous solutions to problems. Life does not neatly tie up every loose end. Tragic situations are not completely resolved to our satisfaction. But we trust, we wait, and we hope for the day of good news. We rest in the Savior whose own tragic suffering reveals that God is always with us.
God is our most supportive friend, the most patient of listeners.
In the midst of tragedy, Father, strengthen our faith. Amen.
"No matter who our boss is,...we are really working for God."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Proclaim God, Everywhere
Good Morning!! One month ago, I was told that; like it or not, I was being moved to another position. I would remain a foreman, but I would be driving a service truck again, and I would be working for a guy that was so bad that; two of his three foremen were willing to take a lateral move,...with less chance of advancement and no increase in pay. I was stunned, angry, and I felt cheated. I didn't see God at work,...nor did I want to.
Naaman left in a rage, saying, "I thought that [Elisha] would at least come out to me, pray to the LORD his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me!"—2 Kings 5:11 (TEV)
Then with help, I remembered that it's not about me, what I want, think, or feel. It is, and always has been, about reflecting Jesus and proclaiming the Good News. Things are not suddenly perfect,...but they are getting better,...because God has place in their midst, someone that cares. I had my own ideas about how God should work, but God showed me another way to witness by doing something as simple as being myself,...in different place.
When we accept daily events with a heart for God,
...we're given the grace to recognize God's answer to prayer.
O' God, help us to recognize Your answers to our prayers, and to live a life that gratefully, relects Your trates. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
Naaman left in a rage, saying, "I thought that [Elisha] would at least come out to me, pray to the LORD his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me!"—2 Kings 5:11 (TEV)
Then with help, I remembered that it's not about me, what I want, think, or feel. It is, and always has been, about reflecting Jesus and proclaiming the Good News. Things are not suddenly perfect,...but they are getting better,...because God has place in their midst, someone that cares. I had my own ideas about how God should work, but God showed me another way to witness by doing something as simple as being myself,...in different place.
When we accept daily events with a heart for God,
...we're given the grace to recognize God's answer to prayer.
O' God, help us to recognize Your answers to our prayers, and to live a life that gratefully, relects Your trates. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Seeing With Love
Good Morning, It's A Wonderful Worshipful, Wednesday!! Sometimes, we look at the world with a sort of spiritual blindness,...unaware of what we are missing. We may fail to see that our remarks and actions cause people to feel hurt or humiliated. We miss the need that cries out in the faces of others. We are like the blind man who, when he was partially healed, could see people; but they looked like moving trees. But when the man came back to Christ again, he was enabled to see clearly.
I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.—Mark 8:24 (NRSV)
To see clearly, we also need Christ's help. Day by day we need to ask, "Lord, what do You see that we are missing?" Jesus saw generosity in a widow's gift,...and greed hidden behind pious faces, and long prayers. He saw God's care for us, in God's care for a tiny sparrow. In the needy, the naked, the prisoner, the stranger, He saw people longing to be welcomed.
Loving eyes see the world most clearly.
Father God, help us to see the world through the eyes of our Savior, and to go where His vision leads. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.—Mark 8:24 (NRSV)
To see clearly, we also need Christ's help. Day by day we need to ask, "Lord, what do You see that we are missing?" Jesus saw generosity in a widow's gift,...and greed hidden behind pious faces, and long prayers. He saw God's care for us, in God's care for a tiny sparrow. In the needy, the naked, the prisoner, the stranger, He saw people longing to be welcomed.
Loving eyes see the world most clearly.
Father God, help us to see the world through the eyes of our Savior, and to go where His vision leads. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Family Identity
Good Morning!! Christians, like little children, change a little each day. And also like little children,...those that are closest to us, never notice the many small changes. But family or friends who do not see us for an extended period of time, are always amazed, at how much we've changed. We are slower to anger, calmer, more mature. Even though kids change,...there is still that recognizable family imprint. Not only do they resemble us physically, they learn our family values.
All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.—2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSV)
As we spend more and more time with our Heavenly Father, and church family, read the Bible, and pray, God's nature within becomes more visible. We become more and more like Christ and reflect the family attributes. Others can recognize Christ in us. We bear God's imprint.
You're in the Family,
...don't you want people to see the Father and Son in you?
Sweet Spirit of God, make us more like Jesus,...day by day. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.—2 Corinthians 3:18 (NRSV)
As we spend more and more time with our Heavenly Father, and church family, read the Bible, and pray, God's nature within becomes more visible. We become more and more like Christ and reflect the family attributes. Others can recognize Christ in us. We bear God's imprint.
You're in the Family,
...don't you want people to see the Father and Son in you?
Sweet Spirit of God, make us more like Jesus,...day by day. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
Monday, February 14, 2011
Faith And Works,...Not Or
Good Morning!! When we become Christians we should accept the “whole package” offered by Jesus. This includes His authority over our lives. If we don't accept Jesus as our Lord, master and authority,...isn't that somehow implying that He's not worth being accepted also as a Savior? Christ is either fully competent and reliable, or He's not.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.—James 2:18,19 (NIV)
Saying that accepting Jesus means agreeing to follow Jesus, does not suddenly make our obedience a condition for salvation. No cured patient brags that they earned their recovery, by faithfully adhering to her doctor’s orders. But neither do they expect a medicine to save their life, if they don't follow the prescription! God’s good news is not just a ticket to heaven,...sin is a deadly disease,...intimacy with God is true wellness. Do we dare, be selective, as to which parts of the treatment we assent to.
Eternal life is a free gift from God based on Christ’s death on the cross,
...not something we achieve by merit or personal performance.
Heal us, Great Physician. Make us fit both for eternity and for living out this day. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.—James 2:18,19 (NIV)
Saying that accepting Jesus means agreeing to follow Jesus, does not suddenly make our obedience a condition for salvation. No cured patient brags that they earned their recovery, by faithfully adhering to her doctor’s orders. But neither do they expect a medicine to save their life, if they don't follow the prescription! God’s good news is not just a ticket to heaven,...sin is a deadly disease,...intimacy with God is true wellness. Do we dare, be selective, as to which parts of the treatment we assent to.
Eternal life is a free gift from God based on Christ’s death on the cross,
...not something we achieve by merit or personal performance.
Heal us, Great Physician. Make us fit both for eternity and for living out this day. Amen.
"The LORD is your shepherd,
...so why whould you ever need to worry."
Friday, February 11, 2011
Help Me Love Better
Good Morning!! When God surveyed His vast creation, He declared, "This is very good" But the Bible notes one exception in Genesis 2; it was "not good that the man should be alone." So God fix that by making "a helper" for Adam. Unfortunately, this common translation, makes it sound like, the woman is very much subordinate to the man. Adam was primary. Eve was his helper. Adam was the CEO,...and Eve his secretary, brought into the story to help him get his work done.
It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.—Genesis 2:18 (NRSV)
Wrong! You see, the word used here for “helper” (the Hebrew word ezer [rhymes with "razor"]) occurs twenty-one times in the Old Testament, and in all but five occurrences it refers to God as our helper. "Our ezer is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth". (Ps.124:8) "Happy are those whose ezer is the God of Jacob". (Ps.146:5) In other words, whenever we run into difficulties in our lives, we need someone to stand beside us, to encourage us, to help get us through. God Himself is our ultimate ezer. But He has also provided an ezer within skin,...specifically our partners in marriage.
With this sense of equality between male and female, it is no wonder that God goes on to give His ideal for marriage;...that the man and the woman may "become one flesh".
(Gen.2:24)
Thank You, God, form all who have been blessed enough to have an "ezers" in our life,...may they too help us in times of trouble. Amen.
"No matter who our boss is,...we are really working for God."
It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.—Genesis 2:18 (NRSV)
Wrong! You see, the word used here for “helper” (the Hebrew word ezer [rhymes with "razor"]) occurs twenty-one times in the Old Testament, and in all but five occurrences it refers to God as our helper. "Our ezer is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth". (Ps.124:8) "Happy are those whose ezer is the God of Jacob". (Ps.146:5) In other words, whenever we run into difficulties in our lives, we need someone to stand beside us, to encourage us, to help get us through. God Himself is our ultimate ezer. But He has also provided an ezer within skin,...specifically our partners in marriage.
With this sense of equality between male and female, it is no wonder that God goes on to give His ideal for marriage;...that the man and the woman may "become one flesh".
(Gen.2:24)
Thank You, God, form all who have been blessed enough to have an "ezers" in our life,...may they too help us in times of trouble. Amen.
"No matter who our boss is,...we are really working for God."
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Out of the Comfort Zone
Good Morning!! Sometimes I am content with my life as it is. Other times, I find myself out of my comfort zone and forced to wonder if God is trying to tell me something,...something about the complacent life I'm living, something about moving beyond my self-imposed borders to see and meet the needs of others.
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.—Matthew 14:29 (NRSV)
Stepping out of our comfort zone is not easy. We're forced to see things we don't really want to see. We feel the need to do things, that we don't want to do. But this is when and where, the blessings come,...this is when God uses us most.
We can't walk on water,...until we get out of the boat.
O Lord, move us out of our complacency. Lead us beyond the comfortable places of our lives so that we can do what You want us to do. Let Your Will be done. Amen.
"No matter who our boss is,...we are really working for God."
Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.—Matthew 14:29 (NRSV)
Stepping out of our comfort zone is not easy. We're forced to see things we don't really want to see. We feel the need to do things, that we don't want to do. But this is when and where, the blessings come,...this is when God uses us most.
We can't walk on water,...until we get out of the boat.
O Lord, move us out of our complacency. Lead us beyond the comfortable places of our lives so that we can do what You want us to do. Let Your Will be done. Amen.
"No matter who our boss is,...we are really working for God."
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