pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

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We Too Will Be Blessed

Do you recall a time when you let go of something that you did not have to, in order to be in a better place or situation?  Maybe it was a house or a town, maybe it was a friend or someone you were dating, or maybe it was a job or volunteer position.  The promise or call of what lay ahead drew you forward.  Yet there is still some pain in the letting go.

In times of decisions like these, we need to spend time in prayer with God and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  When we have wrestled with the decision with God at our side and the Holy Spirit leading us on, we move forward in a much different manner than if we go it alone.

Like Abraham, when God told him to send Hagar and Ishmael (his firstborn son) out into the wilderness, we too can move forward with God at our side.  Despite the pain of watching them walk away forever, into a wilderness, Abraham knew this was God’s plan and he trusted and obeyed.  He did so because he knew God is faithful.  He knew God’s promise is to never leave us.  He knew God’s promise is to always love us.  Upon His promises we too can walk forward with confidence and assurance.  And we too will be blessed.

Scripture reference: Genesis 21: 8-21


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With Us Always

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives his last instructions: “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”.  Jesus goes on to promise that He will be with us always, to the end of the age.

We are invited to baptize in order to bring all aspects of God into the new believer’s life.  God empowers, Jesus redeems, and the Holy Spirit sustains.  Just as a new believer needs all three, we too need all three to do our ‘work’ in the world.  No one can do it alone.  And we must not forget the last part of Jesus’ command: teach them to obey all of Jesus’ commands.  We are not called to simply bring people to Christ, but to also teach them about being like Christ in their world.  We too often forget the second half of Jesus’s great commission.

To make disciples and to teach them we must allow ourselves to be vessels of God’s redeeming love.  But if all we do is give, soon our well will run dry.  We too must allow ourselves to be poured into and filled by God’s love.  Once we ourselves are filled them we can go forth to disciple and teach.  Jesus promises to be with is always, to the end of the age.  This promise gives us the confidence to go forth in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  May all three fill us up and send us out!!


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Created and Called

As a church or community of faith, what does it means when Paul calls us to “aim for perfection”?  Does that means that the worship and message on Sunday will be flawless?  Does that mean that the church will be beautifully decorated and that the coffee and cookies will be fantastic?  Or does it mean that the church will be a loving and welcoming place that feels like home?  Or is all this and more?  The target is indeed high but we are created in His image.

Paul also calls us to be of one mind and to live in peace.  All families disagree at times and have fights at others, right?  While true, it is not what we are aiming for.  It sounds like quite a challenge!  Yet each body of faith must be of one mind in terms of their purpose for being and in their mission in the world.  On a basic level, each and every Christian is called to ‘make disciples of all nations’.  Each and every church also has its own unique purpose and mission in the community in which it exists.  While each body of faith’s ‘work’ may look different from church to church – here the purpose and mission are also basically the same – to be Jesus’ hands and feet.

“To live in peace with one another”.  Begin with respect and an open mind and loving heart tuned to other’s needs above your own.  Our former and current ‘saints’ have much wisdom, experience, and insights to offer.  Seek them out, include them in the church.  Our ‘new’ friends to the faith are in need of love and encouragement.  Draw them in and give them all you have to offer.

Paul concludes 2 Corinthians 13 by reminding us that the God of love and peace will be with us.  This is a great comfort and reassurance because we all could use a little more love and peace.  We are created in His image and called to be like Him.


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The Privelege of Being Family

In the array of colors that fill the horizon as the sun breakthrough at dawn, one catches their breath as you realize the quiet presence of God.  In the afternoon thunderstorm one hears the thunder and sees the lightning and senses the power of God.  Psalm 8 open with, “O Lord, Our Lord, how majestic is your name in al the earth!”

Standing at the window viewing a sunrise or watching a storm, one is pretty awed yet can also feel pretty small and insignificant at the same time.  At this one can wonder, “Who am I?” in the big scope of God’s creation.  Verse 4 of Psalm 8 voices this: “What is man that you are mindful of him?”  Yet within this we also see that He is mindful of us.  The psalm goes on to revel our role: “You made him ruler over all the works of your hands.”  This is an amazing gift that also comes with large responsibility.Within each of us, created in His image, we have God’s love, compassion, mercy, hope, …  We also have within us His capacity to heal, nurture, restore, and care for His creation.  What a privilege!!


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Follow God’s Example

On the 7th day, God rested.  He blessed this day and made it holy.  He went on to lead the people of Israel to set laws to honor the sabbath.  At times, Jesus even took his sabbath rest by going out into the wilderness, away from the disciples and crowds.

We too are called to honor the sabbath. We are called to take one day a week to rest and to honor God by setting aside that day as holy – as a day dedicated to God.  But oh how countercultural that is!!  To suggest one unplugs and powers down for a day sends shudders through some people!  (Side note: if you are just feeling the shudders pass and are grinning and nodding now, I encourage you to try it.  Take a morning and unplug.  Sit with your Bible in a quiet place.  Center in on God and rest.  Thank Him for the many blessings in your life.  Pray through the worries of the past week.  Read His word.  Go fora walk.  Pray some more.  Enjoy a nap.)  Even when one chooses to make a habit of honoring the sabbath, there will be sabbath days when one must ‘do’ something.  Yet it is a practice worth cultivating.

To set aside a day and to make it holy is essential to good spiritual health.  Not so long ago out nation honored the sabbath on Sundays.  It is still the common ‘church day’ but it is also often filled with other “stuff”.  To physically rest, to honor our past week, to connect deeply with God is great for body, mind, and soul.

Lord God, help me to honor You by keeping a sabbath day holy each week.  May this be your prayer as well!


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Love As He Loves

As God continues creation He culminates His work by making mankind in “our image”.  We are created in the image of the Holy One.  Just as God made all, He charges mankind, the one created in God’s image, to care for the earth and all of creation.  We are called to stewardship over what God created.  God gives plants and animals as food and gives the command to all of creation to be fruitful and multiply.  As God finishes creation, He says it is “very good”.

It is too easy to read ‘very good’ as applying simply to mankind.  I think it refers to the whole He created.  It is like a banana split – the ice cream is good, the banana is good, the toppings are good, the whipped cream is good – but together they are very good.  God saw the sum of creation and said it was ‘very good’.

God is a God of relationships.  We are called into a personal relationship with Him through His son Jesus.  When God looked at the complete works of His hands, He saw the relationship between all parts and that was what is very good.  It is all about relationship.  In our role as the ones created in the image of God, we are called to be loving parents of one very large family.  We are called to love the earth as God loves the earth.


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Time to Walk

“And God saw that it was good”.  This phrase occurs in Genesis after He creates plants and trees and after He creates the stars, sun, and moon.  (It also occurs after He creates the birds, animals, and humans).  God created all for our pleasure, for our enjoyment.

At times my simpler side draws me to a time of camping or to a walk in the quiet of the early morning.  I find an undeniable presence of God when outside.  When I take in the song of the bird or the gentle rolls of the stream or the light breeze rustling the trees, God is definitely there.

Quiet time in God’s creation offers us much.  He created it for us!  Nature has a way of calming and renewing our spirits.  Plugging into creation rekindles our connection to God.

It can also be a place of sorting through this or that situation or of seeking guidance and discernment.  When we still ourselves we become more open to the Holy Spirit’s voice.

And lastly, nature is a place of peace.  Whether we find healing from a sorrow or relief from the constant buzz of technology, God’s creation calls us to Him and beckons us to find peace in His arms.

Isn’t it time for a walk?


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Living in the Grey

In the beginning God created both the light and the dark.  He separated them into two distinct things.  Yet in between we find a grey area.

As I sit and look out the window at a beautiful sunrise, I can sense God in it.  In our way of categorizing things, we often attribute light to goodness.  For example, “Jesus is the light of the world.”  Conversely, when there is no light, we see darkness as evil or bad.

Before I go to sleep, I can step out onto the deck and see all of the stars.  Yet in the dark of night, I too can see God’s presence.  The vastness of creation reveals a bit about God.

And where do we fit the ‘grey’ areas – the early morning just before sunrise – it is light or dark?  At the end of the day as the shadows grow long – is it yet day or has it become night?

I often live life in this grey.  Not humbled or broken enough to be in the dark, knowing my full reliance on God.  Yet sometimes so in the presence during prayer or worship that I barely know I exist.  Mostly though, I live between these two extremes of light and dark, struggling to yield control of my life, not quite trusting all the way, being lukewarm.  Lord, draw me to you, that I may be fully yours all of the time.  Amen.


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Spirit Rain Down

On the day of Pentecost the Spirit was poured out upon the followers of Jesus.  If we seek God and commit to a relationship with Him we too will have the Holy Spirit poured out upon us.  We too will be filled with God’s indwelling presence.

Some may wonder why we need the Spirit if we have this relationship with God and follow the teachings of Jesus.  The Spirit is what brings the head knowledge down into our hearts ad souls.  The Spirit also works in and through us to unite the people of God into the body of believers.  As the one body we are all included and we welcome all in, regardless of sex, ethnicity, race, status, previous deeds…  Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, therefore nothing should separate anyone from the unified body of Christ that is the church.  All are loved.

The Spirit allows us to see and be aware of God’s work in the world.  It also pulls us into being a part of that work in the world.  The Spirit brings us courage, conviction, and a willing heart.  It allows our gifts to be manifest for the work we are called to in the world.  God’s Spirit brings light into our darkness so that we can in turn light a path for others.  May we seek the love, guidance, and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives this day and every day.


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The Sacredness of Life

“How lovely is your dwelling places O Lord almighty” is the opening line to he song, “Better Is One Day.”  Truly I believe God’s dwelling place is amazing – hope to find out one day myself!  The chorus to this song speaks of one day in His courts being better than a thousand elsewhere.  This too I believe to be true.

Psalm 104 speaks of all the living things God has created and sustains.  His Spirit breaths life into them and when He removes His spirit, death comes.  Within this psalm we can see and feel a sacredness to all of life, for He creates all life and is in all life.

Although we are living for that one days when we will enter His courts, we need to be equally mindful that as we wait we need to care well for all of His creation.  As Christians our great commission is to make disciples of all nations, not just some.  In the same manner, we are called to care for all of creation, not just what we find under our roof or in our neighborhood.

Psalm 104, verse 31 reads, “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works!”  And may we do our part in the living out of this psalm.