Advent......waiting for the Christ Child

(This is the season of Advent and I will be interrupting my current study December 1st for a special Advent study. Tomorrow we begin... it is time to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Christ child.)

ADVENT

Await my soul in glad anticipation--the Savior is coming! Be still my heart!
Dance and sing in wild jubilation! The King is coming, His grace to impart.
Veiled in wonder, God incarnate. Mystery to ponder, wisdom and love.
Echo the angels, sing Hallelujah! Peace on earth, sent from above!
Night of darkness banished forever, Son of God, Love's pure Light!
Tell the nations, spread the glad tidings. Joy came down to earth that night!

I wrote this poem 10 years ago, but always think of it when Advent begins. Advent is the time of waiting. A time to anticipate the birth of Jesus Christ. I discovered a wonderful book several years ago, called simply "The Advent Book" by Jack and Kathy Stockman. This book was their family's way to 'journey to Bethlehem'. For each day in December there is a door to be opened and part of the story from scripture told for that day. I thought it was not only a beautiful book to look at, but a wonderful way to pass the time waiting for the Christ Child. So that year I sat down and each night as I opened the doors, I wrote my own meditations for the scriptures, as a way to travel towards Bethlehem and Jesus. It was a meaningful time for me, and last year I shared these writings with a few friends and relatives. This year, I thought I would put them in a Blog and add some suitable pictures (since you can't see the doors as I open them) and let whoever wants to read my insights, to do so. This is my journey, my waiting time. It may be different for you. Each one of us has to make the journey on our own, reading the scriptures, and seeing what God says to us in them. I hope you will make your own journey and not just rely on mine. I will start the story when "The Advent Book" starts, on December 1st and continue through until the end. I always write my meditations in the form of prayers, so keep in mind that I'm addressing God throughout. These are my thoughts and insights and you might not agree with all of them. Any poetry is mine and not to be copied or used elsewhere without my permission.

"Go, therefore".....

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations.” (NAB) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, “Go…make….baptize….teach.” We have a directive given to us as Jesus’ followers to do these four things. First we are to “go”. We go knowing that “all authority in heaven and earth have been given to me” (vs. 18) and “Surely I am with you always, to the end of the age”. (vs. 20) The 2 verses that bracket our command to go, make, baptize, and teach are filled with all we need---the authority of Jesus Christ and the assurance of his presence in our work at all times. This work we are given to do is his work and he has the authority to make it happen when we go in his name. He isn’t sending us out alone. He is going with us until the very end of time. We need to rely on his power and his leading and his authority. We are to “make disciples of all nations”. Once seeds of faith are sown in any nation, Jesus can give power to the movement and will increase the end product---more disciples. If Jesus can multiple loaves and fishes, he can multiply believers! Look how the early church spread in Acts! Thousands at a time, from one person, Peter, who was brave enough to stand and speak with the Holy Spirit’s power. Baptizing in the name of the trinity to mark new believers as followers of Jesus Christ. Teaching---an important follow up. “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Just as we came to faith, grew to be disciples and went forth, new converts must be taught and sent out. A cycle of faith, of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, our Savior. A world awaits our commitment. There are always new places to go, new people to become disciples, new believers to baptize, new teaching to be done. Lord of the Harvest, send workers into the fertile fields! Lord Jesus, who has all authority in heaven and earth, go forth with us and increase our witness! All honor, praise, and glory to your name! Thank you, Father, Son, Holy Spirit! Amen.

"Do this in remembrance of me"....

Luke 22:19 “Do this as a remembrance of me.” (NAB) “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to us with these words: “this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me”. This is a command, not a suggestion. Do this. Why? To remember Jesus’ sacrifice. Not just to remember him at this meal taking bread, blessing it, breaking it, but what he said it was---his body. Jesus is our “Bread of Life”. Jesus was blessed by his Father for his obedience and holiness. Jesus was broken on the cross for us, to be our salvation. Taking the communion meal reminds us of this over and over. We repent with great shame as a body of believers and as individuals. We remember what our sin cost Jesus each time we take the bread and wine. We remember that he gave this to us, for us. We don’t take it lightly or flippantly. If there is no remembrance when we do it, we lose the significance. If there is no fresh sorrow over our sin and a new desire to love Jesus more, so his sacrifice is not wasted, and if there is no new commitment to Jesus, our Savior, than we might as well not do it. It isn’t just meant to be a habit, a ritual. It is a time of new commitment and a deepening relationship with the one who died for us. It is a time of thanks and joy as well as shame and sorrow. It draws us into your presence. It connects us to the one who is the broken and blessed Bread. It is grace personified in a meal we all share----all sinful, all repentant, all forgiven, all redeemed! The Body of Christ joins together in this holy meal of remembrance in a unity we don’t always show at other times. We all “do this” in remembrance of the same Lord, the same Savior, the same King! He broke his body to unite us as one in his Father. “Do this in remembrance”! Thank you! Amen.

He must increase, I must decrease....

John 3:29-30 “That is my joy, and it is complete. He must increase, while I must decrease.” (NAB) “That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater, I must become less.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father, These are the words of John the Baptist explaining that he is not the Christ, the promised one. Jesus is the “bridegroom”, John is only the “best man”. The best man is thrilled and full of joy that the bridegroom has come to claim his bride and that they will share eternal happiness together. John’s joy is “complete”----he has seen the Savior come to claim his bride! John is more than willing to allow Jesus’ fame to increase and for his own to fade into the background of “the one whose shoes I’m not fit to tie”. John did his job of preparing the way and now he steps aside. This is a lesson we all need. Whatever work we might do to prepare others for Jesus Christ, we must be willing to step aside once Jesus comes. If my written insights help someone find Jesus.---great! But my words are not the important ones. The Word, Jesus Christ is the one we preach and teach. Finding Jesus ourselves, pointing the way to others, preparing the soil for the Seed----these are our goals. But always knowing, “he must be come greater, I must become less.” This is the state of our own heart, our own faith walk. As more of Jesus and the Holy Spirit flow in, the more of us must be pushed out. We must empty ourselves of the world, and anything that keeps Jesus from occupying us fully. We must become fully filled, fully permeated by the Holy Spirit so that what others see is Christ and not us. Jesus Christ is the face we show at all times. The world must not mistake us for one of its own---we are apart and different, showing Jesus Christ in all we do. He must always be greater in all things, at all times. Like John, we are merely pointing the way. We are saying, “look at him! See Jesus Christ! Listen to him! Hear the words of life he offers you! Salvation has come! Hold out your hands and receive it! Repent and be reborn!” Thank you, Jesus! Become more in me, and make me less. Amen.

Who is my neighbor?....

Luke 10:27 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (NAB) Heavenly Father, A perfect verse for the Thanksgiving season. We love you, the Lord our God, who created and sustains us! We love the one who sent his Son to save us! We love the one who’s Holy Spirit abides within us. Thank you! Loving you whole-heartedly is what life is all about. Falling into line with your perfect will for us, obeying your commands and laws knowing that they are for our joy, our righteousness, our benefit and that they bring you glory. This verse leads to the story of the Good Samaritan. An expert in the law asks Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus asks him what is written in the law----after all that is his line of expertise! The man recites the whole-hearted commitment to love you as stated above, “and love your neighbor as yourself”. He knows the law. He knows what you want us to do, how we are to live. When Jesus agrees and tells him to do these things and he will live, the man immediately tries to make it more complicated and limited. Whole-hearted love for God and neighbor doesn’t fit his agenda---he wants to put limits on this command to suit his own will, not yours. “Who is my neighbor?” He might as well have asked: “How few people can I get by loving and still get my reward?” Jesus tells a story of improbable mercy shown to a stranger by an undesirable, unaccepted non-Jew. Not what the man wanted to hear, but he gets the point of the story: “the one who had mercy on him.” A neighbor is one who has mercy on anyone in need. You, O Lord, showed us mercy we can never earn or repay! We were just as undeserving as the man in the story, but you came along in our time of need and died for us. You showed us how to be a neighbor by laying down your live to take away our punishment. We have an example to follow in everything that Jesus Christ did for us. So too, we must live our life for others. Thank you for your mercy! I love you, amen.

Recipe for living in Christ....

1 Thes. 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NAB) “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, Paul gives us a 3 part recipe for living in your will through Jesus Christ. 1. rejoice always 2. pray continually (never ceasing) 3. give thanks in all circumstances (constant) Each one has an “endless” measure---always, continually, in all circumstances. We don’t stop any of these or the “recipe” may fail. Joy, prayer, thanks---in endless amounts. Paul says this is your “will for us in Christ Jesus.” You intend for us to feel joy, to pray and spend time with you, and to give thanks from a grateful heart. These are the hallmarks of a relationship with you, brought about by Jesus Christ and his redeeming sacrifice. Once we allow Jesus to stand between us and forge a new life, a new relationship without sin or death keeping us away, the joy should come immediately, the prayer should become habit, the thanks should be heart-felt. Our entire relationship is bound up in these things. We have a Father who loves us! We have eternal life promised to us! We have been forgiven, shown mercy, redeemed, restored, reborn! Joy results abundantly and always when we think of these things. We desire to talk to you, our Father, to tell you how much we love you, to listen for your guidance, to obey your perfect will for us because it adds to our joy. We “render constant thanks” and begin to see all our circumstances from the standpoint of this joy, this love, this grace. Even in hard times and trials we rejoice in the knowledge that you are with us, we pray to you about our troubles and ask your help, we learn to be thankful even without understanding all the reasons why. Jesus Christ has become the lifeline that saves us at all times, the connection to you our Father that never lets go, the hope we rely on. We need these 3 things daily in our lives and in all of our circumstances. This is the recipe for life in Christ Jesus! Thank you, amen.

The attitude of Christ....

Philippians 2:5 “Your attitude must be that of Christ:….he emptied himself and took the form of a slave.” (NAB) (vs. 6) “Did not cling to his privileges as God’s equal, but stripped himself of every advantage by consenting to e a slave by nature and being born a man.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, “Your attitude must be that of Christ.” Wow---how do we do that? It seems so impossible. Christ did what no one else can do. Christ earned the “name above all names” before whom all will bow and glorify you, the Father. What is Christ’s attitude that we are to imitate? Christ “humbled himself”. He “emptied himself”---“stripped himself of every advantage”. Christ began on a higher plane than we do---he is the Son of God, your equal and part of the trinity. To give that up and take on a human body must have been hard, more than I can imagine. Paul says he took on the “form of a slave”. How many of us would willingly consent to be a slave? The term slave has a very bad connotation ---degrading, loss of self-control, ordered around, mistreated, no dignity, no rights, and no future. Is that what man has become? A slave to this world, rather a son to You, our Father? Manipulated by the Evil One, held down by shackles of sin with death our only future? Christ gave up Son-ship in heaven to wear this slavish human form! But he won the victory! He conquered sin and death through his humility and obedience to his Father’s will. His humble life, humble death brought new life for all of us! He loved you enough to obey your will. He loved us enough to make this sacrifice for us. His humility was love in action. He did it for you, his Father, and he did it for us. His own life was never his goal or concern. That is the attitude we strive for! That is what we are to imitate----love in action. Over and over Jesus tells us: “You must love one another.” This is what makes us followers of Jesus Christ and shows him to the world. I must become a slave to others through love. They must come first, me last. A hard lesson to learn. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the way to succeed. “In Christ I live and move and have my being.” Amen.

Throw off what hinders....

“Hebrews 12:1-3 “Let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead; let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who inspires and perfects our faith.” (NAB) “…throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, ….run with perseverance the race marked out for us….fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith….” (NIV) “…strip off everything that hinders us….the sin which dogs our feet…let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and goal of our faith.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, Getting ready to run the race, means first to “lay aside every encumbrance”---“throw off everything that hinders”----“strip off everything that hinders”. We must drop our worldly baggage, our ties to other things and causes; especially to “sins” we enjoy thoughtlessly every day. Sin here is described as: “which clings”---“that so greatly entangles”---“dogs our feet.” Sin isn’t easy to get rid of. We are enmeshed in it, tangled up in it in our daily life, surrounded by clinging, grasping sins that hold us back and keep us from focusing on the only important race we must run. Time becomes an enemy---“later”---“not now”---“I’m too busy”. Worldly concerns are distractions in every form---work, play, and even charitable concerns. We take our eyes off Jesus and his redemptive work in our life. Verse 3 says to not “grow weary and lose heart”. This is where we so often are in our daily lives! --- weary, tired, discouraged. Focusing on Jesus and all he endured and why he endured it will put us back in the race. Sometimes we allow ourselves to feel hopeless in the face of his great love and sacrifice. We feel so unworthy, so small, so lost. We see no hope of being useful to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the source, the author of our faith. He will be with us in the low times if we stay with him. Staying in his presence will strengthen our faith and give us hope. We cannot do what Jesus did or earn his love and grace. We accept them as a gift and devote our love to him---lost and hopeless that we might be. Jesus brings us home to his Father. Jesus pulls us in and holds us up. Resting in Jesus, leaning on his strength will increase our own. He left us the Holy Spirit who has all the power we need! Throw off the shackles of sin and daily life! Look at Jesus! Follow, abide, and rejoice! Run the race with the patience the Holy Spirit will provide. Let Jesus perfect our faith and lead us home. Thank you. Amen.

We are known by our love.....

John 13:35 “This is how all will know you for my disciples: your love for one another.” (NAB) (vs. 34-35) “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, Jesus gave us a command: “Love one another.” This is a must. This is important because it shows the whole world that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. If we don’t love others we are not his disciples. We can’t hate anyone, we can’t avoid or shun those we don’t like or don’t understand or who are “different” than we are. Christ’s body, the Church, is all about unity. It’s also about love. Our number one characteristic has to be love. This is our “face” to the world that demonstrates Jesus Christ and proves we are followers. Jesus loved us enough o die for us. He died for every sinner who every lived. He didn’t insist they change first; he died for us while we were still sinners. He looked past our evil and saw only lost sheep that he loved. This is the same love, the same attitude we must develop towards others. We can’t change others to suit our idea of being perfect. Only knowing Jesus Christ will change anyone. Our job is to love all the lost sheep just as he did and die for them if necessary to prove that Jesus wants them to come home. Unity within the Church is of utmost importance. When we show lack of harmony and argue and hinder each other under the title of “Christian” we wound our Savior and we show an ugly face to all the world. If Christians are hated it must be for our love and loyalty to Christ, and not for our inconsistencies and disharmony within the Body. We cannot hate other Christians or show a lack or unity without destroying our witness to the world. We must love one another---Jesus commands it! We must find a way to end our disagreements and show love as one body in Christ Jesus as we are commanded. Help us bring real harmony to the church through the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Do you love me?.....

John 21:17 “Lord, you know everything. You know well that I love you.” (NAB)

Heavenly Father, How many times must Jesus ask me, if I love him? Peter must have felt devastated. He was wallowing in the weight of guilt because he denied Jesus in his darkest hour and had run and hid out of fear and self-preservation. Now Jesus is back and he has a chance to redeem himself. Peter probably is trying to work though this guilt on his own---trying to save himself. He still doesn’t understand what Jesus did on the cross for him, he still doesn’t understand grace. Jesus wants Peter back, to redeem him. He asks Peter if he loves him---agape, self-sacrificing love. What a slap that must have felt like to one who had denied him and run for his life! Peter says he loves Jesus as a friend (phileo). He always says: “You know….”----like he can’t quilt say it straight out. He wants Jesus to say it for him, confirm that Peter’s love is recognized. “Feed my lambs”----what would this have meant to Peter? They go though the same question and answer again. “Take care of my sheep.” Finally Jesus asks if Peter is even his friend---phileo. How that must have cut Peter’s heart! Peter is hurt by these questions of his love and loyalty. We are all hurt when we feel the guilt of our sins and feel you asking us if we really love you at all, if we really plan to follow you whole-heartedly. Peter again says, “You know everything”. Jesus knows the depth of our commitment, the level of our love, and all our past failures. He knows---we can’t hide them. Jesus again tells Peter to “feed my sheep” and also tells him about his own death---a bit of prophesy. He tells Peter, “You must follow me” (vs. 19). This is a call to commitment. This is an impelling call that Peter can’t refuse. He’s already seen once what failure is like. He must commit more deeply---true love, service, friendship on a new level. Jesus is there asking. Jesus is present despite having died. Jesus is not going to leave Peter alone---ever. Commitment is only possible to our risen Savior and Redeemer. Thank you, amen.

Zacchaeus...eager to see......

Luke 19:8 “I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor, if I have defrauded anyone n the least, I pay him back fourfold. “(NAB) Luke 19:10 “Salvation has come to this house today---it was the lost that the Son of Man came to seek and to save.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, I am always drawn to the story of Zacchaeus. We teach children to focus on the “wee little man” who climbs a tree. That’s the first thing I see in Zacchaeus---his eagerness to see Jesus. He obviously had heard of Jesus and was impressed enough to want to see him for himself---just like any of us will stand in a huge crowd to see a celebrity go by. We want to catch a glimpse with our own eyes of what we have heard others tell about. So he climbs a tree to see over the heads of the crowd. That is planning and taking action. It meant enough to him to make sure he didn’t miss getting a good look! Do we approach Jesus this way? Are we so eager, we want a good look and a good listen? Will we make a special effort to “see”? Jesus rewarded Zacchaeus’ eagerness by making himself known. He tells him he wants to come home with him to stay. Jesus will come home to stay with each of us if we show an eagerness to seek him. He always gives us the opportunity to invite him into our home, our hearts. Zacchaeus readily accepted. That is the right reaction. No excuses of not being ready, but a welcome to come into our lives. Others see Zacchaeus as a sinner and unworthy of attention, but Jesus sees him as a “lost” one needing to be found. Each of us is lost and need the Good Shepherd to come home with us. When he asks to come, we must say “yes!” Zacchaeus immediately repents his sins and vows to make restitution. He knows if Jesus is coming home with him that change is necessary. He sees his “sin” and does something about it---right away. He doesn’t hide it, excuse it, forget it, call it the past. He changes it, fixes it, and reacts to Jesus’ presence in his life. That is the greatest evidence of Jesus in our lives. Change. “Salvation has come to this house today.” Jesus is our salvation and we must take him into our home. We are lost---he will find us and show himself to us, if we eagerly seek him. Thank you, amen.

The seed must die....

John 12:24 “I tell you, truly unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it provides many seeds (much fruit). “ Heavenly Father, This verse is at the heart of a passage about following Jesus and serving him. Jesus is preparing his disciples and followers for his coming death. Jesus is the seed. The seed remains a seed unless it falls and dies. Buried in the richness of the soil that God created, watered with rain from heaven, feeling the warmth of the sun that is God’s light, the seed breaks apart. The husk is shed and new life appears as a shoot of the parent plant. This one seed becomes a plant providing many more seeds---fruit---harvest---many from one, which then produce many more. The same process is always necessary---falling to the ground to die and shedding the husk that contains the heart of the seed. Jesus was the first most important seed. His death took our earthly sins into the ground and shed them there along with his earthly body. New life, a new body arose from the grave born of the love that came from giving his life for others. The new life of Jesus Christ---”I am the Vine…”---produces new branches in us. We too must die first to find life. We die n Jesus Christ, shedding our human will, our human sin, our human death. We arise in Jesus Christ as new life on the Vine. All of this death-to-life drama is for the purpose of producing fruit filled with more seeds. Christ started the process and each sinner who comes to him and dies to self, joins the process. We are the harvest and also the harvesters of a new crop. We are the fruit and also the home of the seeds of faith. Each seed we drop and water and tend produces more fruit. We pass on the genetics of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. He is in us and we allow him to produce fruit and seed within us. It all begins with the One Seed who died and lived and produced the first harvest. Then we too die in him and live in him that others might live through our fruit. Thank you, amen.

(based on John 12:24) ONE SEED “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground…..and dies”, There shedding its husk of human sin, No harvest will be reaped, no fruit will grow Only in death will the seed, the victory win. A single seed alive is good for naught. A single seed unplanted will not grow. Its purpose is to lie beneath the earth And break apart, so shoots of life can show. One Seed in death produced a thousand more. One Seed was buried, according to God’s will. The harvest from that Seed is full and plentiful Because that Seed its purpose did fulfill. (Mary Freeman)

Don't look back.....

Luke 9:62 “Whoever puts his hand to the plow but keeps looking back is unfit for the reign of God.” (NAB) “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (NIV) “ Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and then looks behind him is useless for the kingdom of God.” (Phillips) “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off til tomorrow. Seize the day! (MSG) Heavenly Father, We can’t go forward, while looking backward. If we commit to follow Jesus, we have to go where he goes, when he goes. We can’t stall, make excuses, try to choose our own timing. Looking backward will make us stumble. This is a hard message. We read the “excuses” of the two men called to follow and see ourselves. Both men had family concerns to tend to. We are told to honor our parents, and yet Jesus tells this man not to wait until he father is buried. The other man also is clinging to home ties, wanting to say goodbye to his family. I think one point of this message is urgency. We don’t know how long we have to preach and teach the message of Jesus Christ. It needs to be done and if we are called by Jesus we need to drop everything and go. If we began to stall, to put very legitimate concerns ahead of following Jesus, we may never find the “right time” to go. This message is about commitment and choosing which master to follow. All other concerns are not bad, but they can distract us from our real calling---to follow Jesus Christ. The focus has to be on your kingdom first---all else second or not at all. These men were specifically called by Jesus to follow. We all hear the call in a different way. Sometimes we don’t really listen for the call for fear of what we must give up or leave behind. The one man who swore he would follow Jesus and offered no excuses, was actually discouraged by Jesus, who reminds him that following him meant having no home, no bed, no easy comfort to return to. We have to listen to Jesus and become so attached to him, love him so much, that nothing else matters. It is hard to not look back, but we must let our love of Jesus Christ pull us forward and strengthen our commitment. Help me, LORD, to follow, always looking forward. Amen.

Choose who you serve....

Matthew 6:24 “”No man can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be attentive to one and despise the other. You cannot give yourself to God and money.” (NAB) “No one can fully serve two masters. He is bound to hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and the power of money.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, Who is my God? I have to choose. We want all that this world has to offer—you gave this world to us to enjoy and care for---but we also owe all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength to you. If a choice appears where do we serve----you or our love for the world? It is hard to recognize the choice at times because we are so caught up in this world and how it operates. Our daily life revolves around living in this world and making it comfortable for us. We don’t think of it as “serving two masters”, but it is. We go to jobs to earn money to support ourselves. How we use that money is important but we give it little thought. How do we give to you? How do we serve you and not the world? How do we make every money decision, no matter how small, from the standpoint of serving you? We tend to give from our excess, rather than our first fruits. We make sure our needs---and wants---are covered and then we give some of the rest to you. No wonder you tell us it’s hard for a rich man to get to heaven! We aren’t meant to be rich. We aren’t meant to have more than we need. We are to be wise stewards of what you give us, but it still is all yours and not ours to keep. I always remember the prayer: “We give Thee but thine own, what ere the gift may be. All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O LORD, from Thee.” A “trust”, a portion you give us for safekeeping and wise use. A gift to be shared and used to help others. Not for us. Not ours. Yours. We are to keep what you give us safe, but hold it lightly because it isn’t ours. We need to seek your guidance on how to use what you give us. Help me to serve only you and be aware when I begin to serve my “other master”---money. We can’t live in this world without it, but teach me to always consider it yours and not mine. Forgive me my bad stewardship of your money. Teach me to do better. Amen.

First make peace....

Matthew 5:23 “If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift at the altar, go first to be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.” (NAB) “….make your peace with your brother first, then come and offer your gift.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, Righting wrongs. When we “bring our gift to the altar” we are coming to worship you. We are approaching the Father who loves us and forgives us. We come to form a relationship with you. In the sample prayer that Jesus gave us we pray: “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Jesus made an important point out of this petition of our prayer. “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” We can’t truly bring our gift to you at the altar of grace without forgiving others and trying to fix things we have done wrong. If we come to you saying, “I want your forgiveness and a relationship with you, but I just can’t (won’t) forgive my brother”, then we are refusing to obey your will and trying to drag our old sin into our new life. We are trying to remain in control, to be the one who decides what we will give up and what we won’t. This is stubbornness, willfulness, and disobedience. Paul agonized over the fact that he continued to “do the things he didn’t really want to do, rather than the good he did want to do.” We must have this attitude if we want new life with you. Paul didn’t want to hang on to those old sins through stubborn refusal to give them up. He was ashamed of them and really wanted to change. We must try to forgive others and seek their forgiveness for our wrongs. We must want to love our enemies and those who hurt us. We must “go away—make peace with your brother first”. Until we want this peace and want to let go of our past, we can’t move into the future and new life. We may not succeed in changing the other person’s attitude, but we must change our own and fix what we can---or we cannot offer you our gifts of our heart and our will. Forgive me, Lord and show me where I must forgive others or seek their forgiveness. Amen.

Who enters God's kingdom? ......

Matthew 7:21 “None of those who cry out, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of God, but only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven.” (NAB) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father I heaven.” (NIV) “Its not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord’ who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the man who actually does my heavenly Father’s will.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, Being a Christian in name only doesn’t guarantee a place in heaven. We have to live the life we claim. If we are followers of Jesus Christ than we have to go where he leads us. Jesus didn’t sit down and wait for people to come to him. Jesus got out and taught where the people were and healed those who came and asked for his help. He didn’t turn people away not even the Pharisees. They turned their backs on him, not the other way. “He-who-does-the-will-of-my-Father-in-heaven.” It’s a very descriptive name that leaves no doubt. We must do our Father’s will---not just call out Jesus’ name and expect it to act as a magic potion. Jesus’ name has power, but only when used in his Father’s will, for his Father’s purposes. I see a lot of enthusiastic Christians caught up in great emotion saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” over and over, raising arms in emotional prayer. I see them shout their “faith” at everyone and expect something to happen because they yell his name. Calling on our Lord is wonderful and showing our love for him is desirable---but it must come with some sort of action. If Jesus is our head and we are the Body, we are not just talkers, but movers, and servers. Jesus didn’t go around yelling his own name---he moved about and taught about his Father. He did all he could to bring people to his Father that they might form a relationship with him. You want us to come home. You want us to obey your will because it is what is best for us. You don’t make up laws as a “whim”. You treat us with love and seek a relationship of Father and children. We must come as children. We cry, ‘Lord, Lord’ in love not as a talisman. We obey in love, not fear. We serve in love because we are your children and we wish to honor you. Thank you. Amen.

We are here to serve....

Mark 10:45 “The Son of Man has not come to be served, but to serve----to give his life n ransom for the many.” (NAB) Heavenly Father, Jesus taught us constantly about the difference between kingdom life and worldly life. We aren’t here to rule, to be superior to anyone else, to earn special places in heaven just because we are friends of Jesus. Jesus was humble. Jesus came to serve in a greater capacity than any other man. Jesus came to give his life for all mankind. Kingdom life isn’t about having or getting, it is about giving. Jesus is our example. His life was one of constantly interacting with all sorts of people in their present circumstances and their environment. He didn’t make himself a throne and sit and wait for people to come to him. He didn’t sit in a beautiful temple and set special times and conditions for those who needed him. He made himself available and sought out those who were in need. He touched everyone around him and took time to care about their physical as well as spiritual needs. He gave of himself constantly and fully while alive and than gave up that life as well for all of us. Sacrifice is giving up something for a greater good, for someone else. Sacrifice doesn’t benefit us, but others. Jesus ransomed us, at great cost to himself---willingly. That is a key word---willingly, not grudgingly. It was in his nature, his character to show his Father’s love for us to the extreme of dying for us. We too must develop that service oriented, totally giving sort of love. We follow Christ into service for others, not into positions of honor and lordship. There is only one Lord. We are all equal and must be ready to service in his name. We have to go out where the need is and serve there in his name. Show me where I am to serve. Amen.

Near the cross of Jesus....

John 19:25 “Near the cross of Jesus there stood his mother.” (NAB) “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, The women were there at the end. Unlike the disciples who mostly ran and hid, the women stayed close through the whole thing. That sounds brave, but women were not considered a threat or paid much attention, so they didn’t need to fear being captured and crucified along with Jesus, like the disciples did. His mother and his aunt, Mary Magdalene and another Mary---it’s a bit confusing as to how many are there because of the lack of punctuation used in the Greek writing. It only matters that they cared enough to be there. They loved Jesus. Mary must have been heart-broken. How could she watch them do that to her son? All of them must have shed a million tears as their hearts were torn apart watching him suffer and helpless to do anything. Even in his suffering, Jesus knew his mother was there and assigned John, who was also there, to take care of her as his own mother. “Near the cross of Jesus.” This is where we must be. No matter how painful, we have to be there near him always. The cross of Jesus is the place of redemption. Our sins are nailed on that cross, but we have to be there with them. We have to acknowledge his death, cry tears at the pain, ask forgiveness, be restored. The cross comes before the empty tomb. Death has to occur before resurrection is possible. Jesus claims all of us as his brothers and sisters, but that carries family responsibility and family love. We must be there when he dies, see the cross, and know that it is our cross, our death, our penalty. Our love draws us to the cross. His love saves us there! Thank you, O LORD for sending you Son, for loving me always. Thank you, Precious Savior, who bore my sins, who loves me always. Thank you, Holy Spirit living within, reminding me always of your love. Amen.

Choosing to obey, brings blessing....

Luke 1:38, 45 “I am the servant of the LORD, let it be done to me as you say.” “Blest is she who trusted that the LORD’s words to her would be fulfilled.” Heavenly Father, Mary made a choice. She chose to trust you and the words the angel brought to her even though they were hard to understand and perhaps a bit frightening. She identified herself as “a servant of the LORD”. She bowed to your will, your supremacy in her life. She says simply: “Let it be done to me as you say.” The angel was gentle with Mary and told her that her cousin Elizabeth was also, unexpectedly pregnant. As a woman, I can imagine how comforting those words were to a young inexperienced girl who suddenly is visited by an angel and given a role that would be very difficult. She rushes off to see Elizabeth and the two of them must have shared great joy, as well as comfort and affirmation, in the knowledge of their unexpected roles. Elizabeth was the wife of a high priest and herself of a priestly line. I’m sure she was much respected and very wise and holy. This would calm Mary’s own trepidation and fears. Elizabeth pronounces a blessing on Mary as “she who trusted that the Lord’s words to her would be fulfilled.” She also confirms that Mary’s baby is blessed and is “my Lord!” Only the Holy Spirit could give this knowledge and acceptance to both women. They had very important roles to play in the salvation of mankind! Their willingness to accept your will and the roles you assigned to them is the source of their blessing. All who accept your will are blessed. All who follow you unwaveringly and without question will find the peace of your blessing. All who choose the role of your servant without arguing will find their life in harmony with heaven’s plans and will move through this life secure in their faith. Faith produces blessing when mixed with obedience. Thank you. Amen.

Eyes on Jesus....

Hebrews 3:1-2 “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we acknowledge in faith, who was faithful to him who appointed him.” (NAB) “Fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, “Fix your eyes on Jesus”----as apostle and high priest of our faith. At all times our eyes, our thoughts, our hearts must be looking toward Jesus. We are on a marrow path, and we must focus carefully to stay on the right way. We can’t let Satan distract us with tempting things off the path. We must be single-minded, single-hearted. When dancers want to spin fast, they fix their eyes on one spot and this helps them retain their balance and not get dizzy. This is what we must do in our faith walk. No matter how fast we spin in this world, we must stay focused on Jesus to keep from falling. Jesus was “faithful to him who appointed him.” Jesus did what his Father wanted at all times. Even when he sweated blood in the Garden of Gethsemane he didn’t waver or fall. His eyes were fixed on you and on doing your will. To follow Jesus, we need that same focus. I keep humming the following song:

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the Light of his glory and grace.”

The Light of the World, Jesus Christ is bright enough to lead all out of darkness. We need never be overwhelmed by the world, if we focus on him. Our hearts must seek him at all times. Our eyes must long for his face. As our high priest he intercedes for us when we seek him and follow him. He is the Way---he’s gone before us and will lead us home. Thank you, Lord Jesus for making a way for me to come home to our Father! Help me keep my eyes fixed on you at all times that I may walk where you have walked. Help me be faithful as you are faithful. Thank you, amen.

"Let us go along to die with him".....

John 11:16 “Let us go along, to die with him.” (NAB) “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (NIV) “Come on, then, let us all go and die with him!” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, I’m sure that Thomas’ rallying cry was pretty half-hearted and spur-of-the-moment. Jesus is determined to return to Bethany where Lazarus has died and been buried. The disciples try to discourage him because the Jews had recently tried to stone him there. Jesus insists and Thomas utters these brave words. I’m not sure if he really believed the danger was that great, or if he thought he was ready for anything and as long as they all went together they would be prepared to die for Jesus. Little did Thomas know that some day he would willingly die for Jesus and preach his name everywhere! Eventually we all have to take our half-hearted beliefs and make the choice to stand up for Jesus and die with him. Until we die to ourselves and give all our sins, all our will to him, we are just going through the motions with a lot of bravado we don’t really understand, much like Thomas. We think we are loyal and committed---but have we been tested? When they start throwing stones of hatred or even real stones at us, will we turn tail and run or stand and die with him? Thomas’ spirit of loyalty is a starting place. We must keep following Jesus, watching him, listening to him, until our loyalty is so strong we really do want to die with him. We certainly don’t want to die without him! We must keep rallying everyone we know to follow along, to not give up the race, to make a firm decision, to commit our entire life to Jesus Christ who will take us with him in death, but who will also bring us alive in his resurrection! Eternal life awaits those who “go along and die with him.” Thank you, amen.

It is finished....

John 19:30 “Now it is finished.” (NAB) “It is finished. With that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (NIV) “It’s done---complete. Bowing his head he offered up his spirit.” (MSG) Heavenly Father, “It is finished.” What is finished? The work Christ came to do, the purpose he came to fulfill, his obedience to your will and the plan for salvation. Nothing more would be added to this saving work. Jesus has now completed the plan of salvation. There aren’t other ways. “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.” “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” “I am the Door.” I am the Light of the World!” “I am the Bread of Life.” I am the Good Shepherd.” I am the Vine.” Jesus Christ was the plan of salvation for mankind from start to finish. Now he has “breathed his last” and “given up his spirit”, ended his earthly life that we might have eternal life. His giving of his life, offering his spirit, is the climax to his human life. The resurrected Lord is a new beginning, a new life! He came to draw us into that new life, also. He is standing there as a Door for us to walk through. We can’t enter without this door. He is the Light for our journey showing us the Way. He is the Bread that sustains us, the Vine that we sprout from as branches. He is the Good Shepherd making sure none of his sheep are lost. Every “I Am” that Jesus Christ uttered is a statement of truth about who he is and why he came. He never hid any of this. He wants us to know him. His words on the cross only add more meaning to everything else he ever spoke. Speaking so we can “hear” was his purpose. Dying so we can live was how he would save us. “No greater love…” than to die for his friends. This is your love shown completely in your Son, Jesus Christ! This is the Father’s love, the Father’s mercy, the Father’s will for those who will love and honor your Son. Thank you, for our salvation completed in your Son! Amen.

Into your hands....

Luke 23:46 “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (NAB, KJV) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit…he breathed his last.” (NIV) “Father, I place my life in your hands! Then he breathed his last.” (MSG) Heavenly Father, Jesus “placed his life in your hands”. Spirit is life. The next statement is important to add to this one, “Then he breathed his last.” At the moment we turn our life over to you, we “breathe our last breath” as the self-centered, self-controlled, self-focused individuals that we are by nature. “He” breathed his last. He must equal I in this sentence. When we give it all into your hands, we come into complete obedience to your will, just as Jesus did. Our will becomes yours our life becomes yours. We die. This is the cross we take up every day. We crucify our self-life and give our life over to you instead. What better place to be than in the hands of our Father! Jesus placed his whole life, his spirit in the keeping of the One who breathes life into us. A father begets life, brings new life into being. If we have a father, we didn’t just magically appear—we were created as life with spirit breathed into us. “Our Father, who art in heaven, holy be your name!” Our Father is Almighty God! Our Father reigns supreme over all! Surely entrusting our lives into your mighty holy hands is security unparalleled! We are yours. You are our God, our Father! “I will not forget you---see I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16) We are engraved on the palms of your hands through the nail holes in Jesus Christ’s hands. Our names are written there in his blood. All it takes is placing our life in your hands---giving up our spirit---breathing our last breath as controllers of our own destiny. We must die in order to live! The “I” must be surrendered to you, to become “we” again in abiding faith and everlasting life. Thank you, Father, for loving me. I place my life in your hands! Amen.

Everyone one must come by choice....

John 12:32 “I--once I am lifted up from earth--will draw all men to myself.” (NAB) (NIV) “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (KJV) “As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” (Phillips) “If I am lifted up above the earth, I will make everyone want to come to me.” (CEV) Heavenly Father, I always draw hope from this verse. When Jesus is lifted up, he says: “I will draw all men to me.”. All—everyone—will be drawn to the risen Christ. What does this verse mean? Is it the hope I want most to believe---that all will be saved? Is it about him being lifted on the cross to die and all around are drawn to the scene? Is it about our need to “lift him up” to everyone so that he might draw them into his saving presence? Jesus is the one who has the power, the answers, and the gift of salvation. He has done the work and only needs to be acknowledged. We have the job of spreading the Good News and teaching. When Jesus allowed himself to be lifted onto a cross, he obeyed your will. We find that hard to understand sometimes. Obeying your will isn’t like being ordered unwillingly to do something. When we truly “obey” your will, we bring our own will into agreement with yours. We go willingly where you send us. We become one with your plan. Jesus “obeyed” but at the same time exercised his own right to choose. He was lifted up by choice to honor his Father’s will. Your glory is displayed in obedience. All are drawn to this glory. All are drawn to any display of your presence, your will, your voice speaking. Jesus is your Word spoken for mankind. Jesus is your Word glorified. We are drawn to the cross and to the risen Savior. We must all come there and make a choice. We are drawn to the one person, the one place where salvation and eternal life can be found. This is judgment. This is the driving out place of Satan. Jesus embodies all that is needed for all mankind. Allow yourself to be drawn to him! Lift him up in your hearts! This is what we must choose to do. May I always lift your Son, Jesus Christ high as my Savior and tell the world the Good News he brings us. Amen.

Worship the LORD your God and him only.....

Matthew 4:10 “You shall do homage to the LORD your God; him alone shall you adore.” (NAB) “Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only.” (NIV) (vs.9) “All this I will give you, if….” (Satan seeking to be worshiped) (vs. 11) “Then the devil left him…” Heavenly Father, “All this I will give you, if…”. Any gift from Satan comes with strings attached. There will always be an “if”. First off, none of it is Satan’s to give away. It is your world, not his! Second, he is offering it to your Son, who is already heir to his Father. Jesus knew full well who gave him everything! Satan had nothing that Jesus needed or wanted. We need to be suspicious of gifts that Satan offers us and look for the strings. Satan wanted something in return that was far greater than what he offered. Satan wanted Jesus to betray you, his Father. He wanted Jesus to disobey you and go against your will. Satan wanted to be worshiped. Only the Creator deserves the worship of the creation! We are clearly commanded to have no other gods and to worship only you! We are commanded to “Love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength.” That leaves no room for worshiping Satan! One LORD, one God, one Master, one I AM! You are a jealous God! Satan tries to manipulate us with a big prize---the world---but in return we give up all that matters and real eternal life. Satan tries to dazzle us with mountain top views and glittering lights, while he hides the death sentence that comes attached. Satan tries to make us think the choice is an insignificant one that does no harm and catches us at our weakest moment to make his pitch. Once Jesus refused Satan and affirmed his loyalty to you, Satan “left him”. Saying, “yes” to you drowns out Satan’s requests and drives him from our presence. Your presence is stronger and we must always be aware of it and cling to it. Angels are waiting to minister to those who obey your will at all costs. Thank you, Father God! Amen.

Not on bread alone....

Matthew 4:4 “Not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God.” (NAB) “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (NIV) Heavenly Father, Human bodies depend on bread to live. Spiritual bodies depend on “every word that comes from the mouth of God” to have eternal life. We are not just humans---feeding a decaying shell that will eventually fade and die. We have a soul, a spirit, which needs to be fed also. The only food suitable to feed our soul is spiritual food----your words----all of them. You breathed life into us. You created us in your image. We can’t ignore that connection if we want to really live! When we feed just the body, the soul withers and hungers. We aren’t satisfied. At times we may think we have all we need or want here in this world, but if we take time to think about it we know something is missing. Worldly people are never completely happy, never satisfied. Something inside says, “Is this all there is?” Only when we acknowledge our hunger and thirst for righteousness---our connection to our Father---will we be blessed. Knowing you, believing in you, trusting you, seeking you, listening to you answer the questions, fills in the holes and satisfies the emptiness. “Every word” from your mouth is our food. You spoke your Word, Jesus Christ, and if we listen salvation comes. No more hunger or thirst! Eternal life secured! Grace to cover our sin! Resurrection to conquer our death. Bread only satisfies the worldly body. Your Word, Jesus Christ satisfies the soul, the spiritual life in us! Feeding the body focuses us on worldly things. This is what Satan wanted Jesus to do---to care more about his own wants, than on God’s will. Jesus already knew your words---“man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. When we listen to your words, all else is provided. True “life” depends on it! Thank you, Father, for feeding us with your words. Amen.

Don't put God to the test....

Matthew 4:7 “You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.” (NAB) “Thou shalt not tempt the LORD your God.” (KJV) Heavenly Father, Satan set Jesus on a high point of the temple and told him to jump----no harm will befall him, God will protect him. Jesus says, “NO---we are not to tempt God.” This test would be an attempt to take control into our hands, rather than leaving it in yours. It’s a way of saying, “prove it”, rather than showing faith in your plans. Jesus would eventually “jump”---in a sense---and die and you would raise him again on the third day. But that would be in accord with your authority, your will, your plan---not Jesus’ whim or Satan’s command. The timing of your plans is always in your control. We only mess things up when we try to add our own plans mixed with yours. Look what happened with Abraham when he tried to take control of the plan that he was to father a son. Instead of waiting on your timing, he creates a son with Hagar, the slave women. Forever after this son and the nation he begets will haunt the Israelites and cause trouble in the world. Our plans mess up your plans! Faith is waiting with expectation for what you plan. If Jesus had jumped and you had sent angels to save him, faith and trust would have been destroyed. The balance of authority and power would have shifted. Jesus knew that his Father loved him, and he didn’t need to prove it to Satan or anyone else. He would have pleased Satan by obeying him rather than obeying you, his Father. Woe for the world if that had happened! He would have used his free will to deviate from the direction of your will. Who we listen to, who we obey is important. Jesus heard your voice and obeyed it rather than Satan’s. He put your will above all else---even his own life. We are not to tempt or test you. This isn’t the same as “putting out a fleece”----an attempt to obtain clarity about your will. This is willful disobedience designed to test who’s the boss---you or us. You, O LORD, are our God, and your will is supreme. Help me to resist the urge to test you with my own plans and timing, but to instead strive to always listen to and follow your will alone. Amen.

The divine 'yes'.....

2 Corinthians 1:19 “Jesus Christ…..was not alternately ‘yes and no’; he was never anything but ‘yes’.” (NAB) “Jesus Christ….was himself no doubtful quality, he is the divine ‘yes’. Every promise of God finds its affirmation in him.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, Paul had to make a change of plans to visit the Corinthians and is worried that the Corinthians will think he is fickle---saying ‘yes’ one minute and ‘no’ the next. It worries him that this will reflect badly on his message about Jesus Christ. This may seem a little silly to us, but Paul knows that the most important thing of all is to convince others to believe in Jesus Christ. If his actions in any way let down that message or might harm it, he wants to explain. We too need to examine everything we say and do to be sure we are not watering down the message of Jesus. Our actions do matter! If we show inconsistency in our lives in one thing, it will be assumed we are inconsistent in all things. We allow the world to alter our walk with Christ in subtle ways. We think that if people know we go to church, that will be enough. What we do outside of church is just as important. We cant gossip, tell dirty jokes, tell white lies, watch questionable TV shows, skip church, hate our enemies, seek revenge, live immorally and expect people to see Jesus Christ in our way of life. It can’t be both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. We need consistency at all times. I like the Phillips translation: “(Jesus) he is the divine ‘yes’. Every promise of God finds its affirmation in him.” Jesus is the ‘yes’ of being willfully obedient to his Father. He takes every step, utters every word, as if his Father were acting and speaking. YES in capital letters. No one needed to be in doubt about whom he obeyed and what his actions reflected----his Father’s glory. Because he lived ‘yes’ constantly, he continues to be the “Good News”----salvation through him. Salvation when we say ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ at all times. We worship and follow the “divine Yes”, the fulfillment of God’s promise! Thank you, amen.

The One no eye can see....

Hebrews 11:27 “By faith he (Moses) left Egypt, not fearing the king’s wrath, for he persevered as if he were looking on the invisible God.” (NAB) “By Faith he left Egypt; he defied the king’s anger with the strength that came from obedience to the invisible king.” (Phillips) “…indifferent to the king’s blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see….” (MSG) Heavenly Father, Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the faith passage---“the great cloud of witnesses” listed one after another in a tribute to great faith. I like the way The Message describes Moses’ faith---“he had his eye on the One no eye can see”. Faith is seeing where there is nothing humanly visible. Faith is an “inner eye” looking with certainty at things others can’t see. You are an “invisible God”. With human eyes we can’t see you and wouldn’t dare look if you appeared. You are both invisible and too glorious to behold by human eye. Faith gives us eyes that can see both your character and your glory. You spoke to our forefathers telling them all they needed to know. Experience than taught them that what you said---whether they could see or understand it---came true. Faith is built on past faithfulness exhibited towards us by you. You prove the fact of our faith. We step out in trust and find a solid surface where we saw nothing with our human eyes. Walking blind with the assurance that you are trustworthy as our guide. We “leave Egypt”---leave the world behind for a future you show us. We leave the visible worldly king’s rule without fear, knowing that your rule and authority are stronger. We choose the invisible but proven, over the visible but untrustworthy. Faith is a gift of the Spirit and is nourished by you. Our faith grows stronger each time we trust you. We must keep looking at “the invisible God”----the “One no eye can see---because it keeps us from trusting ourselves. Our life, our will must be totally in your hands. Our steps must rely on you for solid ground underneath. You are the Rock! We may not see, but we can trust! Increase my faith! Thank you! Amen.

Sacrificing Isaac.....

“Genesis 22:2 “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” (vs. 14) “On the mountain of the LORD is will be provided.” (NIV) Jehovah Jireh = the LORD provides Heavenly Father, Can any father or mother read this story and not cringe? Some part of me always wonders “why?”----what a cruel test it seems to be! There seems to be so many facets to this story when we read it in hindsight. This is a mirror of your own sacrifice---your only Son, Jesus Christ---given by choice, by a loving father. This is a tremendous picture of faith by Abraham, an example most of us wonder if we could follow. Where to begin? “Take your son, your only son, whom you love.” Sacrifice is two-fold. It is about obedience to a higher authority and it requires giving up something we love. Any sane human will ask “why” when faced with a sacrifice of “the son, whom you love”. There had to be questions in Abraham’s mind, even as he moved forward in obedience. You promised him a son to become the Father of a nation---now you are going to kill that son? I wonder if he had guilt feelings about his other son, Ishmael, and wondered if this request to sacrifice what he loved was a punishment for his sin? When we are asked to sacrifice and don’t understand, do we attribute it to our past sinfulness? Abraham is told to go to a certain place---lots of time to think about what is to happen---3 days of travel. When your Son, Jesus was in the grave 3 days, was it like this? You sent Abraham to a mountain, a place of sacrifice. Surely the steepest mountain he had ever had to climb, with death in every step! Jesus, too climbed a “mountain” carrying a cross that weighed heavier than any weight we can imagine----sin death, separation from his Father---all for us. Verse 14 says that when Abraham was given a ram to sacrifice instead of his son, he called the place “Jehovah Jireh---the LORD provides”. “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided”. When we climb the mountain that you have chosen for us, and display the faith and obedience of Abraham and Jesus Christ, you will provide for us, too. Our willingness to obey is necessary, even when we don’t understand. Help my struggle with obedience. Amen.

The call to commitment.....

The theme for the month of November is the “call to commitment” as we follow Jesus. Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called, and went forth to the place he was to receive as a heritage; he went forth, moreover, not knowing where he was going.” (NAB) “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the summons to go out to a place which he would eventually possess, and he set out in complete ignorance of his destination.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, This month’s focus is on obeying the “call to commitment” as a way to follow Jesus. Abraham is a wonderful example of faith and commitment. When Abraham heard the call---he listened. That would be step one---being attentive to hear the call and then listening closely to it. “By faith”----step two. We don’t always understand why you ask something. We don’t always really want to go or think it is the right choice for us. But if we believe that you have been faithful to us in the past, and if we believe that you are sovereign and in control, and if we believe you know the best plan for us, than we will have to step out in faith and trust you. Faith leads to obedience. “Abraham obeyed and went forth”---step three is acting on the call. This is commitment. This is saying “yes” when parts of me may be trying to say “no”. We have to choose to obey your will and submit to your authority. Faith allows us to “go forth” in obedience. “The place he was to receive”----this call is for us, for our good. This call has a reward of placing us right where you want us and in “the land” where we will live and abide in your presence and your will. You are giving us a “home” when we answer the call. “He set out in complete ignorance of his destination”---the last step is being faithful even when we don’t know where we are going. The end is not our concern---you have that under your control. Abraham went forward “blindly”, but with faith and trust in the God who created him and loves him. He trusted that his all-knowing Father had everything in control. He was willing to learn as he went and accepted things as you chose to reveal them. Obedience is necessary to true commitment. Trust and faith are necessary to obedience. Strengthen my trust and my commitment that I might always follow you and answer when you call. Amen.