pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: relationship


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Means to Draw Near

Israel continues to celebrate the Passover with the same elements and practices of the first Passover.  The food is the same, the gathering together of family units is the same, the worship – all serve to reconnect to God and the experience of the exodus from bondage.

We too do the same.  At Easter we commonly give something up (or add in a new spiritual discipline).  When we do these things we come to points where we are physically reminded of and spiritually connected to Jesus.  When we ‘miss’ that things we gave up, we are denying ourselves as a means to remind us of the sacrifice and suffering Jesus endured for us.  When we spend extra time in study or prayer, we learn new things about Jesus or our relationship with Him.

At Christmas we exchange a gift with a loved ones.  This symbolizes and reminds us of the gift that the baby Jesus was to us all.  Almost all churches and some families light the wreath to remind them of what Jesus is to them – peace, hope, love, and joy.  Some use a holiday calendar to remember the story.

On a simpler level we sometimes fast.  By practicing the discipline of fasting, we are practicing a habit of Jesus.  When we fast we are reminded of Him every time we feel the hunger in our stomachs.  This prompts us to pray and reminds us of our need for Him.  The hunger can also be channeled into a spiritual hunger.  Our physical cravings can become a spiritual craving.  That time spent over food can become time spent in the Word and in prayer.

Like Israel and the many festivals they celebrate, we too have many means to draw near to grace.  Small or large, we have many ways to connect to God and Jesus!

Scripture reference: Exodus 12: 11-14


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We Are Not Alone

When Moses encounters God in the burning bush he has some questions for God.  When we meet God in our own particular circumstance and we sense that God has a task or mission for us, we too have our own questions.  And maybe we ask the same two questions that Moses asked.

Moses first asks who is he that God should send him to Pharaoh.  Often, when we feel that God is leading us somewhere, ask the same basic question ‘ “Me? Are you sure?”  We seek two things with this question – reassurance that God is indeed choosing us because we have the gifts and talents to accomplish this mission and, secondly, that He will be with us.

His second question seeks to define who God is.  Jesus asked the disciples the same question – “Who do you say I am?”  It is important to know who we serve and to whom we belong.  Much like us when we go forth to share the good news or to serve, Moses wants to be able to tell them who sent him.  We do not go on our own.  We go in and through God.  He is a steadfast and true God.  We do not go alone.

Scripture reference: Exodus 3: 1-15


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He IS for Us!

“If God is for us, who can be against us?”  This question is really more of a statement, isn’t it?  Although Paul does not write it, it is almost implied that nothing else matters if God is on our side.  In eternal terms it is so true.  To God it is absolutely true.  But in our human terms, it is so hard to believe this absolutely and to live it out continually.

As we are all imperfect, we all fall short of the glory of God at times.  OK, often.  At times we all knowingly sin.  OK, often.  In times of hardship, fear, loss, stress, illness, pain… we can lost sight of our foundation and relationship with God or even question Him.  We can even become angry or resentful toward God.  In our human hearts and minds, we can fail to draw upon the only one who truly matters, our Lord and King.

But then He nudges us.  His Spirit stirs in our hearts or His still, small voice whispers in our ear.  We remember the words etched in our hearts – “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us”.  And we remember that these things are just things – small in comparison to God.  He draws near to us as we draw near to Him.  And again we know that He is for us!

Scripture reference: Romans 8: 31-37


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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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He Is There

It is pretty easy for me, at times, to wonder where God is.  To question why this or that worked out the way it did.  To wrestle, seemingly alone, with some big decision or dilemma before me.

Our Hod is s big God.  He created the universe st a word.  He designed every one of us as a unique and special creation.  We are dearly loved.  He longs to be in relationship with us.

Yet we commonly feel we cannot bring God our anger, our frustration, our pain.  Maybe we feel we might hurt God’s feelings.  But when we are feeling we can’t do it alone, it is then we most need to kneel before God.  It is then that we most need to go to the Father.

Its against our nature to depend on another.  But that is how God designed us – to be in relationship with one another.  Go to God.  Talk with your friend.  He is there.

Scripture reference: Psalm 13: 1-4


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Time Invested

What makes some friends closer than others?  I think it is partly time invested.  It is also partly a natural connection.  In our relationship with God we need both parts.

At times we are blessed to abide in the presence of God.  Sometimes it is in worship, maybe it is in a sunset, maybe it is in the gentle embrace of one you love.  At other times, God simply happens into our lives.

Yet doesn’t God deserve more?  He is free with mercy when we sin and always hears our prayers.  None compare to His ceaseless love and His provisions for our lives.

So how do we offer more?  I think it is how we offer more to a dear friend – time invested.  It is time spent – being often in prayer.  It is time given – loving those in need.  It is time meditating – seeking His will in our lives.  Becoming a good friend with God takes a commitment.  But oh how great a friend He is!!

Scripture reference: Psalm 86: 1-10 and 16-17


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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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Don’t Worry, He Can Take It

In Exodus 7 the Israelites depart from the Desert of Sin and head out on the path that God directs them to follow. As they wandered they started to grumble – they were in a desert with no water. You and I would grumble too. But they went a step beyond where you or I would normally go. The Israelites come to God and almost accuse Him of a lack of care and concern for them. After all, they are in a desert and they are thirst and God is providing them with water. It kinda makes sense.

At times, in my own mind, I may question God and may even wonder why He allowed this to happen or wonder why He did not choose to intervene in this situation or that one. Sometimes I struggle with reconciling what I know of God with what I see happening in His world. But I don’t ever come close to accusing God of something.

Maybe this disparity about how we each relate to God reveals some things about us and some things about the Israelites. The Israelites certainly had a different comfort level with God. They felt that God would listen to their complaints and that He would listen and that maybe He would even fix things. We don’t see our relationship as that personal. We don’t see God as our direct caretaker. And I wonder ‘why not?’

Many times we pray for something or for someone. Last week, a fellow church member asked me to pray for a friend’s daughter who was very ill. The friend’s family lives in another state and I do not know them. But one morning later in the week I felt the Spirit move me as I prayed for this girl and her family – to tell God that I trusted in Him to bring her healing. I believe He is a mighty God and that He can do anything. So I placed this girl into His hands. Sunday morning my friend told me that she passed away. For a few minutes I was almost at a loss for words and for thought. I wondered how God could allow this. But then came my understanding. God did bring her healing. And in the midst of this tragedy He will continue to be present for this family. He will love on and comfort and get them through this. He will send the right words they need to hear and will send them the people they need to have in their life right now. He is a mighty God.

And just like we wrestle with what God lays before us from time to time, the people of Moses wrestled with God. From the expression of their frustration, the Israelites came to learn something. We need to learn this lesson as well. They came to see God’s mercy in His repsonse to their complaint. They came to know Him more. When we come to God with all of our good, bad, and ugly, we too come to know Him better. And don’t worry – He’s a big god, He can take it!

 


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Tuning Into God

On Sunday mornings we are pretty good at praising and worshipping God.  The hymns or songs remind us of our relationship to and with God and to and with our fellow man.  In the praise song “Holy Is the Lord” we sing these words: ‘We bow down and worship Him now; how great and awesome is He.’  In the prayers and liturgies we are also drawn to God and community.  In our quiet times at home, at work, in the park… alone with our Bible, devotional, journal, … we too can grow in our relationship with God.  These are the times we would expect to experience God.  Worship and ‘alone time’ are times when we do experience and raw close to our God.

But God is always here.  God doesn’t slumber or sleep or go on vacation.  If He is always here, then we could always be with Him too.  But are we?  Do we go through our day breathing in and out God?  Today, as we go through our day, may we take a few seconds in each encounter to see God in the people we meet, in each experience we have with His world, and, most of all, in the way He touches our life throughout the day today.


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Taking Notice

Sin can be a lot like bad food you ate at a restaurant.  When you partook, you certainly enjoyed it!  Yet later, as much as you try to keep it down, it just gurgles away and makes you take notice.  In a fit of kindness, you may even think it is not the restaurant’s fault.  As we gaze in the mirror of our souls, we may even think it is the other driver’s fault they didn’t sense we wanted to change lanes or that our spouse didn’t know we were upset with something that happened at work or maybe it was the overly sensitive person at the meeting that should’ve known you were only joking.  But when we lean in and take a closer look…

The sin in our lives doesn’t go away either if we just try and pretend it is not there.  It festers away and begins to sap our strength and energy.  It wedges the guilt right in there – between us and God or between you and a friend, co-worker, or spouse.  As with bad food, it is often only later that we realize, “Uh-oh…”

Yet there is great news!!  When we confess our sins before God we can find love, and mercy, and forgiveness.  He draws us back to Himself and teaches us a better way.  He wants to guide us to a new and better way – His way of love.  God desires for us to love others as He loves us.  And when we go to our friend, co-worker, or spouse and humbly confess our sin and seek their forgiveness, they too will welcome us back into relationship with them.  And then we rejoice, for the lost has been found, the broken has been fixed.  We rejoice in our mighty savior as He pours out His love upon us each and every day.  Thanks be to God!