pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Each Day

Some of the challenges our world faces seem massive and insurmountable.  Some of the things that occur in our world seem so full of hate and evil that they are hard to comprehend.  When I think of myself against this backdrop, I feel small and powerless.  In these times I long for Christ’s return when He will make all things new and our new world will know no hate, no war, no pain, no injustice.

But as we look at our world today, sometimes we wonder where God is in the midst of all this or maybe we question how these things could be a part of His plan.  We begin to doubt.  In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians be opens by reminding them of God’s ultimate plan for the world as a means to counter the doubt beginning to rise in them.   Paul reminds them that all things in heaven and earth will be brought to wholeness and unity in Christ.  He also reminds them that they are part of God’s redeeming work in the world.  We too are part of this plan, part of His work.

I may not be able to end global hunger, but I can help feed hungry people in my community.  I may not be able to rid the world of evil, but I can work for justice and equality in this place.  Each of us can play our part in His plan.  The Holy Spirit will empower us to be difference makers in our little corners of God’s kingdom.  The Spirit also reminds us of our call as children of God and the Spirit works in and through us to hep bring God’s plan into being.  Each day we are closer to Christ’s return.  Each day we must live out our faith, knowing we each can make a difference for Christ.

Scripture reference: Ephesians 1: 9-14


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A Love So Great

To live the Christian life is becoming increasingly unique in our society.  All cultures evolve and change over time.  It is natural.  Today we find that the core values of society and Christianity no longer match up as well as they once did.  Currently the pendulum has swung away from ‘religion.’  The prevailing question for us and future Christians is will it swing back towards ‘faith’?

Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians with great words of encouragement.  He reminds them that God chose them as His children long ago.  He reminds them of the grace freely given.  He reminds them of the redemption from sin bought by Christ with His blood.  All of this is true for us as well.

Att times it is hard to live as a Christian in a post-Christian society.  People without faith will question why we choose to not do some things and are puzzled by other things we do.  Not pursuing the things of this world draws curiosity and offering acts of mercy invites questions.  Today it is our uniqueness that causes us to stand out and provides opportunities to share our faith story.

In choosing to live life as a follower of Christ we are choosing to be countercultural.  We are also inviting others into conversation about this radical love we offer as we seek to emulate Jesus.  It is a love so great that it has the power to change the world.  Through His love may we change lives today.

Scripture reference: Ephesians 1: 3-8


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Alone Time

Life is busy.  When we have a slice of free time outside the requirements of work or school and the necessity if eating and sleeping, we have a myriad of choices about what to do with that time.  We can fill our ‘free time’ with things that are good for us or with things that are not.  For the interests or activities that we find valuable we usually schedule them in so that we do not miss out on them.

Time alone with God should be one of these priorities.  To find a space in the early morning or just before going to bed or someplace in between is so important to our faith.  Each day we must carve out time to read and reflect on God’s word and to spend time in prayer.  Through these two means of grace we draw closer to God and become more open to the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives.

This ‘alone time’ with God also serves to open us up to the world.  As our eyes, head, and heart become more and more in tune with God, we see both His presence in the world better and hear His call to meet the needs of others more clearly.  Through these we see and respond to the needs more readily.  We live and interact in the world as a follower of Jesus Christ.

Time dedicated to God is a commitment.  We are called to live in covenant relationship with God.  If time with God is a “when I have time” type of thing, one never seems to find the time.  Yet nothing in this life is more important than daily time alone with God.  This time is an absolute blessing.  May you be blessed every day!

Scripture reference: 2 Samuel 5: 9-10


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In Weakness and in Strength

We all like to accentuate our ‘strengths’ to a degree.  What we and others view as strengths can be physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual.  Everyone has been blessed by God in many ways.  Each of the strengths we have been blessed with are gifts we have been given for building up the kingdom of God.  Many of these gifts are also used in endeavors such as work, athletics, school, and relationships.

We also all have weaknesses.  Most of the time we prefer to keep these hidden away.  We prefer to keep these tucked into a dark corner.  But when we do this, we are limiting the power of Christ in our lives.  Even though we try to keep them hidden away, they are still there.  Even though we pretend they do not exist, our weaknesses still rise up from time to time.  In turning them over to Christ and calling on His power to come along side us in our battles, we can experience His strength in our lives.

One of the best ways to build your strengths and to work on your weaknesses is to be in a small group.  For example, my brothers in Christ have come to know my strengths over time.  They encourage me to use these strengths in helping others grow in their faith.  But they also have come to know the weaknesses in my life.  My brothers in Christ hold me accountable.  They check in with me to see how I am doing in relying on Christ for my strength in these battles.  These men of God pray for me in my struggles.  To them, I offer the same things in return.

God made us just as we are – the good and bad alike.  Like with Paul, these ‘thorns’ we all have keep us humble.  They keep us within the knowledge that we really need God to make it through life.  God desires to use both our strengths and weaknesses to build His kingdom here on earth.  May we all learn to offer both up to God for His glory.

Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10


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Accept, Accept, Accept

At times in life we find ourselves where we do not want to be.  There are things we cannot control, such as health, and we feel a little powerless.  Sometimes it as if we were on the other side of a window looking at an unfolding scenario.  We desire to rush in and change things, but we cannot.

Jesus experienced this in His hometown.  He was there to teach and heal but He could not.  He was amazed at their unbelief.  Jesus did not scold them or have a meltdown or launch into a rant.  He simply moved on to other places and continued His work.  He also sent out the twelve to teach and heal.  Perhaps in reaction to what happened in His hometown, the twelve were sent out with the instruction not to take anything along but instead to rely on the hospitality of those they ministered to.  If people were not welcoming, they simply moved on.

Again, there was no forcing the issue.  There was no shoving faith down someone’s throat.  There was no judgment or condemnation.  The twelve simply shook the dust off their sandals and moved on.  I hope to show the same grace and love the next time someone rejects my attempt to share faith with them.

The lessons here for us are many.  Accept things as they are without dwelling on disappointment, anger, …  Accept the situation as it is without piling on our own expectations or judgments.  Accept the possibilities that God places before us.  Live fully in the moment at hand, offer all that we have and are, and experience God’s transforming power at work.

Scripture reference: Mark 6: 1-13


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Inside Out

David has come a long way since Samuel first anointed him.  He is now thirty as the leaders of the tribes of Israel come to him to ask him to be their king.  This boy who was filled with God’s Spirit at his anointing has grown up.  The results of those seeds planted long ago have blossomed and all can see that David is a leader after God’s own heart.  What only God saw inside David all those years ago is now plain for all to see on David’s outside.

David has two main characteristics that are plain to see now.  First, he is still a shepherd.  Now he is caring for the flock of Israel and is protecting their well-being.  He is a mighty warrior and leader but still possesses that shepherd’s heart.  Second, he is bonded to God and this leads the people to be bonded to God as well.  David lives out this covenant relationship and takes the flock along on this journey also.

As Christians we too can be filled with the Spirit.  Once we invite Jesus into our lives and begin to seek to follow His example, the same Spirit that filled David will begin to work in our hearts.  God will plant seeds in us that will grow as continue on our journey of faith.  These seeds will come to bear fruit if we continue to nourish and develop our faith as we seek God with all of our heart as well.

Just as with David, these inward seeds will grow to be manifest in our outside life.  Over time love, compassion, and courage will grow inside of us.  People will come to see what God has seen in us al along.  Over time our lives become a living witness to those all around us.  In turn we help the Spirit to begin planting seeds in other’s lives.  Thanks be to God for our role in His kingdom work!

Scripture reference: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5 and 9-10


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Places, Spaces, and Faces

Sometimes it is hard to get out of our boxes.  In many ways we settle into routines and ways of doing things.  Too often we allow stereotypes to determine how we see situations and people we encounter.  Our past experiences can also cloud our expectations for the here and now and for the future.  As creatures of habit with good memories I think we often miss out on God’s presence and work in our world.

When Jesus visited his hometown to preach and offer signs of His glory, He encountered this.  As the people realized who He was – just a carpenter’s son who they saw grow up an ordinary boy and young man – their amazement turned to doubt.  The teachings and miraculous signs did not continue in this environment.  The people allowed their experience and expectations to get in the way of experiencing God.

I wonder how much I miss out on because I am so tightly packed into my little box.  How many opportunities do I miss to share God with others and to experience God through others each day?  How often do I allow my judgments and low expectations to become roadblocks to being present in meaningful ways?  Yet rarely is anything in my day ever more important than moments experiencing God’s presence.  But I do not always reflect this with my thoughts, actions, and words.

May I learn to better live a simple faith and to walk on a slower path.  May I learn to live fully in each moment and person God places before me.  May my faith, heart, and eyes be like that of a child – eager to find love and joy in all the places, spaces, and faces I encounter today.

Scripture reference: Mark 6: 1-13


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As We Go Out

It is not natural for most people to get up in the morning and to wonder how they can be weak and powerless that day.  It is just not a place many of us feel comfortable being.  Most of us like to be in control of our own choices to some degree.  Some like to be in control of some of the choices others make as well.  But at a minimum we all like to feel we have some autonomy over at least ourselves.

Power comes in many forms.  And there are at least as many ways to abuse and distort power as well.  With power can come pride, ego, boasting, privilege, domination, and a host of other negative things.

Power can be good too.  It is just a different kind of power.  It is a power not of this world so this world is puzzled by it.  It is a power this world cannot defeat or destroy either.  This power is gentle yet strong, soft yet enduring, simple yet powerful.  God whispered to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”  God was telling Paul, “I got it.”

The thorn Paul was facing and the thorns we face serve to remind us that we are weak and that we must rely on God and Him alone.  For when we fall to our knees and lift up our hands acknowledging that we cannot do it alone, then God’s grace and love and strength come rushing in.  His resurrection power is what allows us to be renewed each day, to take up our cross each day, and to follow Jesus Christ each day.  As we go out, we go with God.  He whispers to us too, “I got it.”

Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10


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A Mighty Fortress

In general we live in a very secure world.  For the most part our homes are safe and we have emergency personnel that will respond quickly if we need them.  The writer of today’s psalm did not live this life.  Vulnerability and powerlessness typified the psalmist’s world.  For most of Israel’s existence another, greater power ruled over them.  In times when they ruled themselves, threats from all around were always present.  So the psalmist turns to God as the only source of true strength.  The writer sees God’s steadfast love as the only secure constant.  God is his or her fortress.

How many of us try to build our own fortress?  We build ourselves up walls with all of our degrees, with all of our wealth, with all of our possessions, with all of our positions or titles.  In these things we think we find security.  But all of these things are fleeting.  All are temporary.  Despite our best efforts, loss will come.   It may be a job or a loved one or a home.  In these moments and events we come to realize that we do not really control too much.  One higher is in control.

When we choose to surrender our illusion of being in control, we gain freedom.  When we choose to acknowledge that God alone has the power, we gain liberation.  When we choose to trust His leading, we find peace.  When we choose to surrender our worry and anxiety, we find rest.  As we give ourselves up more and more to God, we find what t he psalmist found.

We find that God is a mighty fortress.  We find great security in His unfailing love, in His steadfast mercy, and in His unending forgiveness.  With God as our stronghold we find rest, peace, joy, contentment, love, and so much more.  The God of the ages is our God in every moment, in every situation, and in every way.

Scripture reference: Psalm 48


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Full of Belief

When we get to the end of our rope, we often beg or plea for help.  When we feel there is nothing else that we can do, we turn for help.  When life deals us a hand that we cannot make sense of, we beg for a way to make sense of it all.

Jarius comes to Jesus.  He is a ruler in the synagogue.  For him to come to Jesus, he must be desperate.  He falls at Jesus’ feet and begs Jesus to come heal his sick daughter.  On their way to Jarius’ house a desperate, desperate woman turns to Jesus as her last resort and silently begs for healing.  She finds it in the hem of His cloak, in a faith strong enough to believe.

While still on the way, news come that the daughter is dead.  Jesus response to Jarius: “Do not be afraid.  Just believe.”  He is challenging Jarius to go beyond his desperate faith to a faith that is solid.  Jarius has seen the woman healed simply by touching Jesus’ cloak.  He heard Jesus credit the healing to her faith.  So maybe Jarius holds out a speck of hope.

The story ends in a house full of people crying and grieving when they arrive.  Jesus tells them she is only asleep and they laugh.  Upstairs, alone in the room with the parents and  the inner circle of disciples, Jesus calls the girl back from the dead.  She rises and walks around.  She is alive again.  “Just believe.”  Jarius and family must have.  The healed woman must have.  They turned to begging when they had no other choice.

Jesus will be present in our begging too.  When we come to Him with our pleas and supplications, we too will find His presence.  When we go to Jesus full of faith, we will find Him there.  We must be aware that healing may not come.  It is about being with and giving our full faith to Jesus Christ, in both the good and the bad.  It is about growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture reference: Mark 5: 21-43