pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Sing Mary’s Song

Mary’s song is a beautiful song of hope, compassion, and faith.  It is a song that connects all of Israel’s past yet speaks at the same time of things to come.  Mary sings of a Jesus that she is only just beginning to carry in her womb.

Mary is full of joy and gives all the glory to God.  She knows how special her role is and also that she was selected out of many possible mothers, yet she is still humble.  She is glad for the role God has given her, knowing she is blessed.

Her song speaks so well of the role Jesus will play.  She sings of him offering mercy to those who fear him.  She sings of how he will minister – scattering the proud, bringing down rulers, lifting the humble, feeding the hungry, sending the rich away.  Only through the presence of the Holy Spirit could she sing such a song.

During this holy season may we also sing Mary’s song.  But may we also blend it with our story as we allow the Spirit’s presence into our story too.  May we share the story of what Jesus has done for us as we also bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 46-55


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The Servant of the Lord

In the midst of her confusion and perplexity, the angel Gabriel assures Mary with these words: “Nothing will be impossible with God.”  He focuses her in on this fact and she finds calm and determination as she sets herself for the task at hand.

For myself, and possibly for you, I want to live my life like I believe these words fully.  But at times I struggle to completely do so.  I can get in the way when I think I have the plan when God really does.  I can doubt when faced with wrenching tragedy when I can’t even begin to fathom how God is at work in the midst of it all.  Yet deep in my heart and soul, I know He has the plan and He is in the midst of the pain.

The possibility of these words keeps drawing me back to God.  We are drawn back because the truth is in these words.  The truth is echoed in Psalm 31:3 – “You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name’s sake You lead and guide me.”  Deep in our hearts we know that God can do anything.

Our challenge is to live out Mary’s words each day of our lives: “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.”

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 31-38


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Willingly Led

Has God ever disrupted your plans?  Have you ever been cruising along and all of  sudden you are someplace else or doing something else?  When the angel Gabriel visits Mary and announces that she has found favor with God and will give birth to Jesus, her life takes an unexpected turn.

For us, these turns can be bad – like the loss of a job or the onset of a sudden illness.  Or they can be good turns – a new relationship or the opportunity to share the good news.  In either case, the great thing is that our loving God is with us in both the good and the bad plus every place in between.

In Mary’s case she had no choice concerning her change in direction.  Often times we have no choice either.  But often times we do have a choice.  Sometimes they are small detours that make a big difference in the life of another person.  If our eyes are seeking and our heart is open, God will provide us with opportunities to bless others.  May we be willingly lead.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 26-30


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The Right Order

In this season it can be easy to get caught up in the volume of gifts or in spending a lot of time and energy trying to find just the right gift.  Yet for many the gift they most desire is one that is free and that is always available: time.

Our relationship with God can be similar.  We can get so busy doing things for God and we come to think that our works are what matter to God.  It’s easy to get caught up in what we do FOR God instead of focusing in on who we are TO God.  Maybe in Advent it is even easier to get caught up in this game because Christmas can be about giving.

Adding to the mix is the fact that when we do or accomplish things for God, it can make us feel important or special.  We must be careful here.  God cares about who we are much more than about what we do.  Our relationship to God is what matters most.  From this relationship, the ‘doing’ naturally flows.  When asked, Jesus listed loving God first.  He knew the right order.  If we first love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then loving others naturally follows.

Scripture reference: 2 Samuel 7: 1-7


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Answering As Mary Did

Advent has an “almost there” quality to it.  On the top level we are almost to the day we celebrate the birth of our king.  The day of Christ’s birth is the day that so much promise is fulfilled.  It is the beginning of the era in which we now live.

We are also “almost there” – almost to the end of the story.  On this deeper level, the day of Christ’s return has never been closer.  As we go through our daily life, it should reflect our hope and vision of His return, of a restoration of all things.  The call to be prepared should echo in how we choose to live daily.

On the deepest, most personal level, are we “almost there” in answering how Mary did?  We all hear God’s calling to us.  In His call upon our lives, are we ready to answer as Mary did: “Here I am, let it be according to your word”?  If so we must be prepared for amazing and awesome, because that is the kind of God we serve.  May we all live each day into the power and will of God, answering the call as Mary did, with hands and feet willing and a heart wide open.

Scripture reference: Luke 1: 26-38


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Pointing the Way

John the Baptist knew his role well.  He lived a very basic, simple life.  He did what God called him to do.  Although he had followers and many people came out into the wilderness to be baptized, John remained humble and true to his calling. His perspective never changed – always God’s servant and always speaking the truth.

As we move through Advent and closer to Christmas, excitement builds.  Christ’s birth precedes all of God’s promises being fulfilled in and through Him.  John knew just how important Jesus was to the world and put all of his focus and energy into drawing people’s attention to Christ.

Our role is really the same – to tell His story, to share our story, and to point people to Christ.  Through both our word and example we can help others to “make straight the way for the Lord.”  Our role is to point the way and to help others draw closer to the true and only reason for the season.

Scripture reference: John 1: 16-28


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God’s Voice

In the beginning God spoke and created the world.  As the world functioned according to God’s excellent plan, He dwelt among man.  God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  Over time God continued to speak to prophets and to have His voice heard.  God dwelt among the Israelites in the tabernacle and led them by day and night during the exodus.  But as the world continued to grow and develop, God seemed to become quiet.

Then one day God spoke into Mary’s life through the angel Gabriel and a new life was formed in her womb.  Her little baby, Jesus, would forever change the world.  Once again God was speaking to man.  God sent John the Baptist ahead so that people were aware of and would be ready for Jesus to minister to them and to the world.

The prophet in the wilderness baptized with water so that people would repent of their sins and be ready for Christ.  Through Jesus and the disciples that followed after Him, God spoke again into the world.  God still wants to speak into the world today.  God wants to speak through all who believe so that the gospel spreads to the ends of the earth.  We each are called to be God’s voice, calling out to all the lost, so that they too may come to know this Jesus, the savior of the world.

Scripture reference: John 1: 6-8


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In Christ’s Way

God calls us to a life of holiness.  In living a life of holiness we are called to live with God’s love being our guiding light.  Although we are imperfect in our human form, we are called to emulate our perfect God.

In daily living we are called to build others up, to pray for all we encounter, to do good and to do no harm, to serve and to give to others.  Elements such as pride, greed, envy, and such are not welcome in our hearts.  Our covenant with God calls us to holiness.  And through this covenant we find God’s power being present to help us accomplish this calling.

Paul looked at holiness as a holistic or complete package.  It involves our body, mind, and soul living a life worthy of Jesus Christ. Our journey of faith should lead us closer and closer and closer to Christ.

God knows we are imperfect creatures.  As we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth, we are also reminded that Jesus walked this earth too.  Although He was without sin, He felt all of the emotions and things we deal with and struggle with.  Jesus is on our side.  He intercedes for us.  God calls us to perfection, seeking to make saints out of our imperfection.  The road is narrow but His love never fails and His hand is always upon us, guiding and leading us to walk in Christ’s way.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24


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Prayer, Joy, and Good

Have you ever had a day when you were without sin?  A day when you felt in touch with God each moment of that day?  A day when God was all you thought about?  To spend a day 100% in God’s presence would be amazing but in my mind it seems almost impossible.

Our minds race from one thought to another so quickly and how often we think or say something unkind or judgmental.  It can be even more true in a season like this where the busyness of life seems to ramp up.

In 1st Thessalonians, Paul brings us words of wisdom for this time of year.  He calls for us to pray continully and to always be joyful.  We are encouraged to seek good.  And best of all, he reminds us that we are not intended to do these things on our own.  First, the Holy Spirit is there to remind us, to uphold us, and to help us grow in our relationship with God.  Second, we are there for our fellow Christians to nurture, support, encourage, and pray for one another.  Together, may we make prayer, joy and good the focus of this day.

Scripture reference: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24


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The Gift of Faith

In Psalm 126 the people have returned from exile. For this they praise God joyfully.  But a hard reality also faces them.  No one was there the year before to plant crops and to store up grain.  In the midst of a joyous return they face a food crisis.

The people of Israel have just experienced the miracle of being freed from slavery.  They have seen God’s great power at work in their lives.  So they turn their prayers to the need at hand. They pray for food and a good harvest and are confident that their God will respond with a good harvest.  They have faith in His future blessings.

In our world today, many also have a hunger – a spiritual hunger.  During the time of Advent. as we draw nearer to Christmas, people are more aware of Christ and faith.  We have the food that the lost need.  We can offer them the great news of Jesus Christ – a morsel that always satisfies.  We are called to share what we have.  When we give away our faith, strangely enough it grows in us too.  Bless another today with the gift of faith.

Scripture reference: Psalm 126