pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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Ever Closer

It is pretty easy to drift sometimes.  Even when we are at work and are being paid to produce something or to perform a task or to provide a service, we can drift off every now and then.  During the time each day away from work or school requirements, we can choose to do what we want with our time.  During this ‘free’ time, it is pretty easy to drift away from God.

Yet it is essential to spend time each day with God and Him alone.  Whether it is in the morning or evening or around the noon hour, it is important to set aside time each day.  We must be real and intentional about developing our relationship with God.  To read His word reveals Him to us.  To pray and to ask Him to search us allows Him to know us more fully, and in turn, to know ourselves more.

Daily submission allows God to become king of our lives 24/7.  As He searches, finds, and redeems us, we are drawn ever closer to Him.  We read in Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”  We become more like Him through our steadfast devotion to Him.

Scripture reference: Psalm 139: 23-24


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He Wants Us to Know

Have you ever had a friend so close that you finished each other’s sentences?  God goes one better – He knows the words before our minds even form them.  Ever been so close to someone that you could sense something was wrong before they showed a physical sign anyone else would notice?  God sees it brewing before we even know its in the pot.

Most of the time I think we’re pretty unaware of God’s presence in our lives.  Sure, there are times when we feel His presence or direction, but it is usually involving something big – Sunday worship, a big decision in life, a friend with cancer.  Yes, in these times, we know God is near and we seek His presence.

Yet in the small, day to day moments we don’t always sense or seek God.  We need to.  He is there “before and behind”.  A life saturated with God is a life of peace, contentment, and love.  He already knows it all.  He wants us to know too!!

Scripture reference: Psalm 139: 1-12.


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Won’t You Be There Too?

In one of my devotionals this morning I found this great line: “We wrestle with life and dance without recognition”.  How often this is true!  Too often we struggle with an issue, a decision, or a person and do not seek God.  I can almost imagine Him saying, “Hey… I’m right here”.  Not often enough do we think, “Oh ya!”

Yet God is always around us.  God is always there just waiting on us to recognize His presence.  But we too easily get lost in our own perceived ability to do it, in our own little subculture, in our social media worlds, and in our own neat and tidy museum where we gather once a week to sing songs, to pray a few prayers, to fellowship.  We can just see church as the place where God is present to us.  And just in that hour.
God desires more.  God wants more.  He deserves more.  Imagine being head-over-heels in love with someone and choosing to only spend one hour s week with them.  When they’re there all the time!
God wants all of us, all of the time.  He wants to be the first one we turn to on the morning, the last one we say goodnight to, and everything in between.  He’s there.  Won’t you be there too?

Scripture reference: Genesis 28: 10-19a


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Ever Thankful

Our human nature naturally seeks what we perceive as best for us.  At times we may even rationalize and blur the lines for something we want.  It may be as simple as to win at a game or it may be as complex as attaining a position at work.

And then we realize the error of our ways.  The guilt – and not always in proportion to our sin – begins to set in.  We seek forgiveness – maybe from another, maybe from God, maybe from yourself, maybe from all three!  We try to ‘fix’ it if we can and try to restore our relationships and our reputation.  Maybe we even vow, “never again”.

At the point of repentance, God’s grace washes over us like a mighty river.  He washes away all of our iniquities and renews our soul.  His free gift is always there, always extended.  I am ever thankful for the price Jesus paid to wash away my sins.  Praise be to God for His amazing gift!

Scripture reference: Genesis 28: 10-19a


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Being Good Soil

How good is our soil?  Are we receptive to the seeds God wants to sow into our faith?  When we are good soil, we hear the word of God and understand it.  As God’s roots take ahold of us, He becomes a part of all aspects of our lives.  We in turn come to bear fruit not only with our words but also with our actions and deeds.

As we seek to be sowers, we must be humble and submit to the yoke of Jesus Christ.  As we seek to build the kingdom we must acknowledge the fact that all we can do is sow.  We are utterly dependent upon God to make the seeds grow and for new life to spring forth.

When we accept God’s call upon our lives, we take up that yoke 24/7 by connecting to God through prayer, study, worship… to nurture our faith, to better understand the Word, and to better equip ourselves to be sowers of seeds of faith.  We have to first be good soil to sow into other’s lives.  Work your soil!

Scripture reference: Matthew 13: 18-23


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Worthy Soil

Often we do not sow seed where we can.  Sometimes it is because we see another’s ‘soil’ and think ‘Why bother?’  So we withhold God’s word through us from that person.  And maybe it was just the things they needed to hear at that moment.  Or maybe it was just the story we needed to share!

How often is it us that does not receive?  Do we miss some blessing or experience God is trying to send us because we are hard soil, rocky soil, or soil choked with weeds?

On a regular basis our soil needs tilled, fertilized, and watered.  Do we practice compassion and generosity instead of a ‘me-first’ attitude?  Do we spend time building our faith to gain strength and inspiration to serve?  Do we spend time listening to the still, small voice of God as He calls us to do this or to serve there?  To go out and sow seeds, we must first become soil worthy of God’s garden.

Scripture reference: Matthew 13: 1-9


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Bearers of the Greatest News Ever!!

We form a relationship with God in a personal way.  We also experience and welcome in the Holy Spirit in a personal manner.  But growth as we continue our journey of faith must be made within community.  This community is both within the walls of our churches and also outside in the big wide world.

We are all part of the body of Christ, each a valuable member.  As we live out a Spirit-led life, we participate in the mission of the church.  The man mission of the church is the transformation of the world.  Once we participate in this we begin to see what God has in store for our world.  These little glimpses of ‘heaven on earth’ fuel our desire to make disciples of all nations.

Just as we struggle from time to time with sin, so too do the people we are trying to reach.  They just do not yet know the power of Jesus Christ to defeat that sin and temptation.  We are called to sow seeds of faith into people’s lives so that they too can come to know the redemptive love of Jesus Christ.  May we be bearers of the greatest news we have ever heard to those who need to hear it today!

Scripture Reference: Romans 8: 1-11


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May the Spirit Reign

A healthy balance must be struck  between living in the ‘flesh’ and living in the ‘Spirit’.  But to live fully we need both.   The Spirit must be the more dominant force in the Christian walk.

God created us with all of our senses to taste, smell, feel, hear, and see His creation and to experience it to the full.  Nature, food, sex, and so on are things God made for our pleasure.

Yet often we must reign in our ‘flesh’ side so we do not slip into gluttony, overindulgence, or addiction.  This battle within requires pretty constant attention.  Satisfaction with what we have is also a key to true happiness.

When we live by the Spirit, these ‘flesh’ desires are kept in check.  May the Spirit reign in us all!

Scripture Reference: Romans 8: 1-11


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Finding True Joy

In the Old Testament people followed the word of God, mostly recorded in the Torah.  Early followers found joy living according to God’s ways.  Over time though, the law became cumbersome and burdensome.  The obedience that brought joy was replaced by 613 laws that were almost impossible to follow and brought condemnation and judgment.

In the New Testament the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  Jesus’ yoke was easy and the burden light.  Obedience and joy in a life following Jesus came down to two ‘laws’ – love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love you neighbor as yourself.  After Jesus’ death and resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to guide us on the path that Jesus laid out.

In the Old Testament, a life lived for God hinged upon prayer, study, worship, and obedience to His commands.  Today our faith rests upon these same practices.  Through these habits or disciplines, we incline our hearts and minds toward God.  It is then that we walk His path and find our true joy.

Scripture reference: Psalm 119: 105-112


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Who Will You Choose?

How many times are you willing to ask a child to clean their rooms before you ‘tell them to (or else)?  How many times will a new acquaintance disappoint you until you decide not to pursue a friendship with that person?  If you are like me, I’d guess the answer to that question is ‘a few’.

Now imagine how great God’s love is that He pursues sinners like you and me relentlessly!  No matter how many times we fail, He is right there with open arms, a loving smile, and a welcoming heart.  What a love!

Pretty amazing!  Then add in the idea of free will.  We are not forced to choose God.  He does not lay out our lives in a predestined fashion.  The path we walk is the path we choose.  We set the course of our journey of faith.  Yes, on a daily basis, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, He battles Satan for our souls. Yet in the end, it is our choice.  In light of the great love He has for us and the freedom He offers, who will you choose to serve this day?

Scripture reference: Genesis 25: 19-34