pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: repeat


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Act Differently

Reading: Proverbs 25 and 26

‭Proverbs 26:21 – “Like adding charcoal to embers or wood to fire, quarrelsome people kindle strife.”

Removing the dross from the silver is like removing the evil from the royal court – a beautiful vessel is the result. Removing arrogance and pride not only avoids some embarrassment, it could lead to honor and recognition. Removing fuel from the fire and gossip from conversations both cool the situation. Removing the selfish and evil from our lives yields good outcomes.

Much is said about a lying tongue. False testimony is like a club or sword to the victim. A lying tongue crushes and brings destruction to those affected. The sage compares smooth lips and an evil heart to silver coating on clay – both can look or sound good from a distance but it is oh so fragile underneath.

Fools are slow to learn. They repeat their mistakes often so they are like “a dog jwho returns to their vomit.” Neither makes much sense but both happen. Those without self-control are like a breached city – no walls or filters. So just as a whip is used to control a horse so too must a rod be used on a fool’s back.

The wise act differently. Their words calm strife and build up. These words are like “golden apples in a silver setting.” Instead of making fun of or ignoring their enemies when they’re hungry or thirsty, a wise person gives them food and drink. The wise understand that compassion is much more powerful than hate or anger. So too may our words and actions bring healing and wholeness, peace and hope.

Prayer: Lord God, while it seems so, so clear that wisdom and humility are the much better choices, we can be selfish, we can speak hurtful words, we can gossip and tear down, we can play the fool. So, Lord, help us. Send the Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear when we venture down the wrong path. May the Spirit shout if need be. May the nudge become a shove too if we’re not quite seeing how we’ve gone down the wrong path. Help us, Lord, to be love and healing to our broken world. Amen.


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Again and Again

Readings: Joshua 3:7-31, Joshua 4, Joshua 5

Joshua 3:15 – “Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD. So the LORD raised up a deliverer for them.”

Photo credit: Sophie Walker

Today’s readings establish the cycle that we find in Judges: Israel sins, God’s anger leads to foreign oppression, Israel cries out, God raises up a judge, Israel wins the battle, peace returns. As today’s reading begins the people worship other gods. Eight years of oppression comes. The people cry out and God raises up Othniel. God is with him and he leads Israel to victory. There is then 40 years of peace – until Othniel dies.

Sin and then oppression return. After 18 years Israel cries out. God sends Ehud. He assassinates Moab’s king and then leads Israel to victory. There is peace for 80 years. During this time Shamgar rescues Israel from the Philistines. Ehud dies and sin returns. Oppression lasts 20 years. Sisera and his 900 iron chariots cruelly oppress Israel. They cry out and God raises up Deborah, one of only four female prophets in all of the Old Testament. She sends word to Barak, who has apparently heard God’s call but won’t act. He agrees to lead the army – if Deborah comes along. She agreed but foretells the honor of victory going to a woman.

Barak leads 10,000 soldiers drawn from Zebulun and Naphtali, the main areas of oppression. God gives them the victory. Sisera flees on foot and finds refuge in Jael’s tent. He falls asleep, exhausted, and Jael kills Sisera, driving a tent stake through his head. The enemy commander dead, Israel wins a complete victory.

In chapter 5 we read “Deborah’s Song.” It is really a duet with Barak. The song recalls the troubles and the victories. The tribes that did not help are questioned – where were you? God is credited for the victory – along with Jael. Sisera’s mother longs for his return. There will be peace for another 40 years.

As I consider the cycle that we see today and will see again and again, I acknowledge that this is a cycle I am familiar with personally. I am grateful for the grace that Israel also experienced over and over.

Prayer: Lord God, at first I think, how can Israel go there again and again? And then I realize I do too. That pride, that desire for control, just to name a couple O God, they keep coming round. God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, guide me past these sins that entrap me over and over. God, I need you in this battle. Amen.


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Passing Faith Along

Reading: Psalm 78:5-7

Verse 6: “so that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children.”

Photo credit: Nadine Shaabana

The psalmist declares that the task of evangelism begins in the home. This is as true today as it was in the days of Asaph. I smile to myself as I think of countless parents who thought I or we as teachers should be able to “fix,” “straighten out,” or somehow positively change their child who was a student in my/our class. In my mind I often did the math – “I have little Suzy for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You have her hours and hours every day, day in and day out.” Along this line of thought, many wise and veteran kindergarten teachers can give a pretty accurate assessment of a child’s likely life outcomes, for better or worse, after just a few weeks with the child. Who and what we are come from whose we are.

In today’s Psalm Asaph writes of passing on the faith from one generation to the next. Note that he does not say to get your children to Sunday school or to confirmation class. He doesn’t even mention getting them to worship one hour a week. Does this 2-3 hours a week help a child’s spiritual growth? Absolutely! But it is only a small part of a child or teen’s journey of faith. This is why the command of God is to teach our children the faith “so that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children.” Now, in order for one generation to pass along something to the next generation, they must find value in that thing. May what we model and what we teach be deemed worthy of passing on by our children. May we pass along a faith that enables our children to “set their hope in God.”

Prayer: Lord God, may we teach our children and our grandchildren well. May our lives be something that is worthy of repeating. May our faith be something that is worth emulating. Amen.


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It Begins Small

Reading: Jeremiah 2:4-9

Verse 7: “I brought you to a fertile land… but you came and defiled my land.”

In the second half of Jeremiah 1, the section between last week’s and this week’s readings, God brings Jeremiah a vision. He sees a pot that is tilting from the north. It is boiling. God tells him that it will boil over and pour out over all who live in the land. Surely the Assyrian army is coming.

Our passage today begins with a question from God: “What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me?” They turned to worthless idols and began following a worthless religion. God reminds them, “I brought you to a fertile land… but you came and defiled my land.” The priests and prophets have also been a part of the defilement. They have worshipped and prophesied by Baal, a “worthless idol.” Through Jeremiah the prophet, God declares that there are charged pending. The pot will boil over.

The situation in Jeremiah’s day was not and is not unique to his time. It was and is an oft-repeated cycle: walk with God, sin and stray from God, repent and return to God. Because we are a stubborn and selfish lot, there is usually some significant event that leads us to a place of repentance. Using the language of our Biblical context, our pot boils over. When we can’t go any lower, we look up and see that the Assyrian invasion is under way.

How can this pattern be interrupted? It begins small. We are faithful in the small daily tasks: reading our Bible, meditating on God’s word, giving time in prayer and thanksgiving, denying self and the lures of the world, finding ways to humbly serve others. When we are intentional about cultivating our relationship with God, filling ourselves with God’s ways, walking out God’s will, then we repent right away. Then we do not stray far. We remain close. May it be so for you and for me.

Prayer: Lord God, lead me to draw close again and again, over and over, moment by moment. Build such intimacy between you and me that I always turn back quickly, repenting and knowing your forgiveness and redemption once again. Amen.


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Fill Us, O Lord

Reading: Psalm 81: 1 and 10-16

Verses 11-12: “My people would not listen to me… so I gave them over to their stubborn hearts”.

Today’s Psalm is typical of Israel’s relationship with God. Our relationships today mirror this Psalm as well. Some things never change. In verse one we read of the joy Israel finds when God is their strength. The people sing with joy to their God. Throughout our faith journey we certainly have many experiences with God’s strength. If only all of our faith journey were here!

Jumping down to verse ten, we again see God desiring to fill the people up – both physically and spiritually. God wants to bless the people, to be their strength. This remains the case. God desires to be our God and to fill us up. This does not mean giving us a million dollars and a fancy house, but to give us our “daily bread” and to lead us to live a content and joyous life. Again, if only all of our faith journey were here!

Because God is not the only one in the relationship, we get verses eleven and twelve. Here we read, “My people would not listen to me… so I gave them over to their stubborn hearts”. It is part of the repeating cycle that seems to fill the Old Testament and fills our lives today. The journey begins by walking with God. Then sin leads us astray. There is a consequence to our sin. Repentance and forgiveness complete the cycle. Often the consequence of our sin is separation from God followed by the conviction of the Holy Spirit that leads us back. Sometimes there are real life consequences to our sin too. Our God allows us to freely choose to follow our stubborn hearts too. God hates sin but will not force us to love God or to follow like robots. Each time the cycle is repeated is another reminder of God’s redeeming love. In general, as we mature in faith, the cycle lengthens out. There are more good and faithful days walking with God in between our times of sin. We never quit sinning. Satan never gives up. Neither does God.

This Psalm closes with God’s longing to once again subdue the enemies and to fill God’s children with the finest wheat and the sweetest honey. This continues to be God’s desire. May we lay aside every sin that entangles and drink deeply of all the Lord offers. God will fill us with our daily bread and with joy and peace and strength and contentment and… All the desires of our hearts. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, pour out all of you into my life today. Fill my heart and mind with your word and your ways. Fill my soul with your peace and strength today. Guide me to ever walk with you. Amen.


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Teach and Share. Repeat.

Reading: 2Timothy 3:14 to 4:5

Timothy has been richly blessed in his life.  His family has encouraged and taught him on his early faith journey.  They planted and nurtured the seeds of faith that God watered and made grow.  Paul steps into Timothy’s life to continue to teach and correct and encourage him as he grows in his faith.  Timothy is now at a point where he is ready to preach the Word, to use his faith to help others on their journey of faith.  Timothy’s faith has grown to the point that he feels God’s call upon his life.

We too have walked (or are walking) a similar path.  Our faith is meant to be lived out in community.  It began that we with Jesus and a small group of followers.  Jesus taught them the faith so that they too could one day share the good news with others.  After they had been with Jesus for a sufficient time, He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.  The disciples went out and shared their growing faith with others.  Their own faith grew and they returned to Jesus to learn some more.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples continued to learn and grow from each other and by the power of the Holy Spirit.  We, as current disciples, are called to the same life.  Be in the community, be in small groups to encourage, support, and learn together.  Go out into the world to teach and Share our faith.  Return for more encouraging, supporting, and learning.  Head back out into the world to teach and Share.  Repeat often.  May we learn to follow Jesus’ example, modeled by Paul as well.