September | 2014 | pastorjohnb

September 20, 2014
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Are You Willing?

History can teach us much. As a nation we can look back and study our past as a way of improving our future. We can also use our history and its lessons to bring healing to people today. When we see and understand our mistakes, then we can begin to seek forgiveness and to mend relationships.

Within the history of our faith we can find the same things – lessons to learn and guidance for how to heal our world. There is much brokenness in our world. But God’s love is vastly greater than the brokenness. God’s love is an endless reservoir.

As the church we are called to tap into God’s love and to being it to the world. It can be done through acts of compassion like feeding the hungry. It can be done through acts of mercy like praying with one in need. It can be done through acts of presence, simply being there with one in grief and pain. It can be done through acts of giving, allowing God’s blessings to flow through you to someone around the world to meet another’s basic needs.

We can address some needs and issues as a body of Christ, working together to improve life and to share Christ. But is still takes individuals with willing hands and feet to actually bring healing, hope, and the message of Christ to those nearest to us, to those in our immediate community. Are you willing?

Scripture reference: Psalm 105: 1-6 and 37-45

September 19, 2014
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Two Sides of Faith

Faith is at once both personal and corporate. Most of the time we live out our faith in isolation but we gather periodically with other believers. Each day we seek to connect with God through prayer, reading His word, and in reflection upon His word. This connection and relationship shows as we live out our life on a daily basis. At times we also gather with other believers – perhaps on a Sunday morning for worship, maybe at another time in a small group or class. These gatherings encourage, equip, strengthen, and support us in our relationship with God.

Much is the same in our two faith lives. Daily we come before God, laying our sins before Him, seeking to be cleansed. Daily we offer our thanks and petitions, seeking His presence in our life. Daily we read His word, seeking to find how He speaks to us that day in the words we read. As we gather together, these practices are done again, but this time as a fellowship of believers. Although on one level, the acts are the same, there is meaning and value and much is gained from our time together. In the songs, the message, the communal prayers, we are united as one.

Both aspects of our faith are essential. One fuels and builds the other up. They work together to help us on our Christian journey. As we seek to grow in our faith, may each day bring us blessings through our connection with God.

Scripture reference: Psalm 105: 1-6 and 37-45

September 17, 2014
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Walk Boldly in Faith

Paul deeply loved the churches he started and those he nurtured along in their faith, yet he also felt the pull of heaven. His journey had been long and at times trying. As he sat in prison and reflected on his journey, he could see that there was work yet for him to do. The churches he was shepherding still needed his help to continue to grow in their faith.

Paul also had a sense that just as he was continuing the work of Christ, so too would others continue his work. As he sat in prison, Paul also had a sense that through his faithful example, others we being strengthened in their willingness to be bold for Christ.

Each of us have others that we help to grow in their faith. It may be family, friends, or coworkers. It may be the people in our small group. And just like Paul, our faithful witness to Christ matters to those in our sphere of influence. As we walk out our faith journey, we too carry Christ with us as we provide an example for others. May we, like Paul, walk boldly and full of the love of Jesus Christ. May our faith be the light that helps others along their journey with Christ.

Scripture reference: Philippians 1: 21-26

September 16, 2014
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An Amazing Love

All along our journey of faith there will be times when we are separated from God, adrift in our faith. The circumstances of life will draw us away, both in the good and in the bad times. Sometimes when life is really going well we can start to take the credit or we can get comfortable with our faith and suddenly God has a back seat. We can feel that we don’t seem to ‘need’ God at times. Other times, after being in a long struggle, we can come to a point where we question God’s presence or we may wonder of our prayers are being heard.

As the food that they had brought with them from Egypt began to run out, the Israelites began to grumble against Moses and Aaron and, ultimately, against God. They could still remember the pots full of food from their days as slaves in Egypt and they longed to be filled again. Our loving God heard them and sent manna and quail, but with some instructions. If they took more than they needed, then it would be rotten. God wanted to meet their need, not to spoil them. Once they saw God’s provision, their faith in Him was restored. But eventually they will fall away again. And again. And again. And again.

We are just like the Israelites. As my friend Kent likes to say, “One more time around the mountain!” Yet the amazing thing is our God. He never leaves us. No matter how many times we have to circle back around, He is always right there. It is only us that chooses a time of separation. And over and over and over and over again, when we seek Him, God is right there. His great love for us is amazing. It is a love that never ends, that never fails. It is an amazing love!! Praise be to God!!

Scripture reference: Exodus 16: 4-15

September 15, 2014
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Where They Are At

Shortly after being freed from cruel bondage in slavery, the Israelites begin to complain. Instead of turning to the God who “convinced” Pharaoh to let them go, who brought them safely through the sea, and who destroyed Pharoah’s army in that same sea. they chose to grumble. At first glance,they appear ungrateful.

Yet for how many of us does a basic need that is unmet become what we quickly whine about? Ever heard “I’m hungry’ whined from a comfy couch while playing the latest video game on an almost brand-new gaming console? Ever heard something along the lines of “That’s not fair!” when a coworker gets a raise from the person who just bought a new car? It is even a greater cause to complain when the person is truly in need. At least the Israelites where actually wandering in a desert and had next to no provisions. Today, when one is struggling to find shelter and a bit of food to eat, then seeing anything else is often a challenge.

This is why Jesus calls us to care for the needy and to be generous with what we have been blessed with. God’s blessings are not intended for our hording. But to be able to share the good news with someone, we must meet a person’s basic needs first. It is the old adage – people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. We must be like Jesus and meet them where they are at. We must see them as they are and meet their immediate needs first. Then the Holy Spirit will guide us from there!

Scripture reference: Exodus 15: 2-3

September 14, 2014
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Life in the Word

When Jesus taught He often used parables – stories that always had a point to them. Sometimes the point was hard for His audience to get. And sometimes the disciples struggled to get the meaning too. Jesus wanted them to wrestle with the meaning. Fortunately for us, Jesus often unpacked the parables for His disciples. It is then that the meaning often comes alive.

We tend to remember a good story much longer than a list of do’s and don’ts. We can remember many of Jesus’ parables and they continue to speak to us today. They contain lessons and insights that will always be relevant to life in any day and age. The Bible is truly a living, breathing book.

As we spend time reading His word, we are storing up instructions for life. Soak in its rich teachings so that Jesus Christ may permeate all of your relationships, interactions, and life.

Scripture reference: Matthew 18: 23-35

September 13, 2014
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Offer Forgiveness, Find Freedom

Forgiveness can be a hard thing to offer. We are not talking about the garden variety ‘sorry’ when we bump into someone in the hall but the kind that take some effort because the hurt was deep and it lingers still.

Peter asks Jesus if forgiving someone seven times is enough. I think Peter thought it was more than forgiving someone a few times, so he thought was doing well. But Jesus says ‘no Peter, forgive seventy-seven times’. (Or seventy times seven in some translations!) Jesus is really telling Peter to just keep forgiving – forever. That’s hard. But a lot of Jesus’ truths are hard. It takes effort and commitment to follow Jesus and to seek to live as He lived.

So often when we choose not to forgive – and make no mistake, it is a choice – the one we are hurting most is ourself. Frequently the offender has moved on or does not even know the hurt they caused was so deep, yet we can fixate and dwell on the event and the hurt caused. We can even allow it to consume us. This is not healthy nor is it following Jesus’ directive.

By choosing to forgive, we first acknowledge in our heart the need for healing and restoration. As we offer it to the other, our healing is made complete. We are set free for that which bound us and we return to living as a whole, healthy child of God.

Scripture reference: Matthew 18: 21-22

September 12, 2014
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To Judge or Not to Judge?

Paul cautions us not to judge others but to accept where they are in their faith journey. When we do not judge we are more open to two important things. First, we can more fully love then and, consequently, hold nothing back. Second, we are open to both learning from them and to sharing what we know of faith to help them learn and grow as well. Too often when we judge another we put up barriers in our heart and mind.

Yet in our human nature we seem to judge, to rank, to compare all too easily. Although society is a place where tolerance increasingly reign, as a culture we still place a premium on our ‘position’ in life, on how much stuff or money we have, and so on. This makes Paul’s caution all the harder to adhere to. But with faith and trust in God we can work towards this ideal.

Judging is personally essential as long as it remains something we do for ourselves and not to ourselves. We must judge the decisions and choices we face and make. We must judge if we are growing in the faith and take steps to do so if we are not growing. With others, love must reign, not judgement. For love is the most excellent way!

Scripture reference: Romans 14: 1-12

September 11, 2014
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A Day to Pray

In one of my devotional readings today author Catherine Cavanagh tells of an experience she had in Bethlehem. She was in Israel and it happened tobe during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month. As she and her companions were sitting at a table by the main square, the nearby mosque announced the call to prayer. She observed many Muslims headed to the mosque. But soon it was full so they began to fill the public square in front of her and her companions. Each unrolled their prayer mat and dropped to their knees and began praying, totally oblivious and unconcerned with anything or anyone except their time of prayer. She was awed by this simple example of their dedication to their faith. I too am moved when I picture the scene in my mind. As I think about this scene that unfolded before her, it also makes me wonder. If we were to show up on a Sunday morning and our churches were all full to the brim, would we drop to our knees on the sidewalk and pray?

Outside of the church and our own private homes, Christians generally do not pray in public. You do see it some. A family may pray before a meal when they are out at a restaurant or a group of football players will huddle up and pray when another player has been significantly injured. You may see a group out in a public space that prayers before they begin their Bible study. And I don’t think people mind. Yet we feel hesitant to pray in public at times. We too need to be bold for our faith and to offer up a prayer when the situation calls for it or when we feel led by the Spirit to pray for someone or a situation.

So when you are out and about today, bow your head and offer up a prayer when you feel God calling you to do so. And please remember this day to include those who were and are affected by the tragedies of 9/11. Maybe that is just what you choose to pray about periodically throughout your day today. Welcome and encourage the conversations that may come from others seeing you in prayer. A chance to share our faith is always a good thing!!