pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: renewal


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Times of Rest

After healing many and casting demons from many, Jesus got up early and headed out alone to find a quiet place to pray.  After spending a lot of energy He needed to connect with God to be renewed and refreshed.

We too are called to this practice of Sabbath and rest.  We too are called to find times of rest where we lay aside job and other responsibilities to center in on God – to reconnect, to renew, to refresh.

Pretty soon Simon and the rest of the team find Jesus and call Him back to work.  They tell Him all of those people need something and He is the only one that can provide what they need.  Can’t you almost hear Jesus’ heavy sigh and see the slumping of His shoulders as He rises to return to the people?

We too hear the cell phone ringing or we cannot silence the voices in our own heads calling us back into action.  Maybe we are pretty good at convincing ourselves or just maybe the world really needs us that bad – and our rest ends all too soon.  We have only claimed a bit of the rest, renewal, and reconnection that we needed.  We too sigh and shrug our shoulders as we head back to the world.

Just as the times of rest were essential for Jesus to be most effective in His ministry, so too are times of rest essential for us.  Today may we all find some space to slow down, to center in on God, and to enjoy a time of rest with Him.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 35-39


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Remember and Be Glad

Inherent in our nature as human being is our pull toward sin.  As creatures who can sense pleasure, we are drawn to sin in a variety of ways.  Also inherent in us is the conscious that tells us right from wrong.  Some sin simply occurs – think about the word that slips out when you stub your toe really bad.  But most sin has been mulled over and the consequences weighed.

Present in our world is also God.  God was before the first word was spoken that began the process of creation.  God has been present in every death and in every birth and in every moment in between.  Each and every day of our lives, God has been present in our worlds.

For all of us, God was present in the delivery room in the miracle of our birth.  A short time later most of us were initiated into the family of God as we were baptized.  for most of us, this was a decision made for us, but a decision made nonetheless.  And just like all else with God, He does not force us to continue to choose faith and to walk daily with Him.  He allows us to zig and zag, to wander and to return back.  We are always welcome when we return back home to God.

When we reconnect back to God, we are renewing those vows made for us long ago, but each time as a choice we are making when we return.  We return and accept faith, believing that He will go with us each day forward.  On this “Baptism of the Lord” Sunday, may we too remember our baptism and be glad.

Scripture reference: Mark 1: 4-11


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Dry Faith

Scattered far and wide by the Babylonians, the Israelites had lost their connection to each other and , more importantly, their connection to God.  Their faith and hope had dried up.  Each person or little cluster of Jews must have felt like they were on their own deserted island.  They were scattered amongst a foreign people in a foreign land.  How lost they must have felt.

Ever been there?  Ever felt like you were all alone and struggled even to find God?  I have been there.  For a day here or there or even for a season here and there, I have lost sight of God and my faith.  It is indeed a dry and barren place.  Again I ask, ever been there?  Perhaps you are there right now as you read this.

But standing amidst a valley of dry bones, Ezekiel sees an amazing thing.  First the bones rejoin and become covered in tendons, flesh, and skin.  Then breath is brought forth and gives life.  God did not forget His people – even though their faith was lost.  He will never forget you and me either.  Whenever we enter a dry spell, we must remember this story of Ezekiel and the dry bones.  In this story we find our God too.  He is always looking to bring us life.  God is always calling us to be a part of Him.

Perhaps you are not in a dry place now but know someone who is.  Share the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones with them and encourage them to draw close to God.  Encourage them to rebuild their faith through study and prayer and time with the King.  Encourage them to allow the breath of God to breathe new life into their dry bones!