pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: share


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We Must Share

Sometimes we find ourself in a season where we feel distant from God.  Even though this is uncomfortable, we struggle to reconnect.  Even when we try, we feel empty.  Worship just doesn’t rouse anything in us and when we pray we feel alone.  It is a hard place to be.

We must remember that even in these times, God is near to us.  We too must remember that the Holy Spirit and a great cloud of witness – both our present faith community and those who have gone before – are praying for us.  We are always covered in prayer, so we are never truly alone.  God is always near.  Through faith we must also continue to pray, to seek Him, to worship.  And soon we will feel God’s presence all around us again.

Yet there are people who have never known God’s presence.  Life is lived without true meaning and without a higher purpose.  Think back to a time when you were in a ‘desert place’ and remember what that felt like.  Now imagine life being lived like that all the time.  This is why Christ commissioned us all to make disciples of all nations, to connect people to our God.

Many try to walk through grief, loss, loneliness, and such all alone.  As a child of God and as a follower of Jesus Christ, we know how great it is to walk in His love, mercy, and grace, to find strength in Him, to rest in His presence.  It is something we simply must share.

Scripture reference: Ephesians 2: 1-7


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The Light

Light is pretty cool.  Have you ever watched the light creep across the land as the sun slowly rises in the morning?  As it rises slowly above the horizon, the light flows across objects, illuminating them and making them visible.  In time, all is bathed in the light.

Psalm 50 speaks of God gathering His faithful people to Him.  It also reminds us that His light will shine forth as He judges all people.  One day we will all stand before our God.  On that day, will we be found faithful?

Each and every day God seeks to shine forth in our hearts.  His light and love desire to fill us.  His Spirit seeks to guide and lead us.  Both God and the Holy Spirit cast light into our lives.  Just like the sun as it creeps up, His light shines into all of our bumps, cracks, and crevices.  And what is revealed?

Sometimes we like to think that we still have our hidden spots – those things we cling to and try to convince ourself that God does not know about.  But all is bathed in His light.  God sees and knows all.  We are only fooling ourselves.

As we come to understand this, we become more willing to admit all to God.  Our lives become more honest and transparent.  Our lives align more with His will and purpose for us.  Soon our light begins to shine brighter, for others to see.  As we grow to walk more and more in His ways, may our light dispel the darkness both within and around us.  May the light guide us and those around us closer and closer to our God.

Scripture reference: Psalm 50: 1-6


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Be Like Paul

Paul went to Corinth to share the gospel with any who would hear it.  He adapted his approach to the audience he was working with at that time.  The message or central truths did not change, but his techniques, styles, and approaches did.  He became like his audience each time to best reach them.

Paul also chose to not receive a salary for his apostolic efforts, instead laboring as a ten maker to pay his way.  By choosing to do this he was free to preach how he wanted and to whom he wanted.  This approach allowed him to be all things to all people so all could best hear the gospel. Paul only answered to God.

One of the old pastors at church liked to go to bars to shoot pool with the regulars.  As they shot pool he’d drink a Coke and they would talk about God and faith.  He did this on his “day off.”  Even then some in the congregation questioned it. I think that is sad.  Maybe you do too.

But… how often do you choose not to engage someone in a faith conversation or choose not to go ‘there’ because of what others might think or say?  We too mush be like Paul – totally unashamed of the gospel and willing to share it on their level and in their place with whomever we meet.  May we too be so bold for the gospel!!

Scripture reference: 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23


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A Good Love

Love is not something that we instinctively know and understand.  Love and the ability to love others is something developed, nurtured, taught.  We all learn to love because others first loved us.

When a baby is born it first stays close to his or her mother, soaking up both her physical presence and her emotional presence.  As a baby grows it is showered in love.  Almost all children’s first word is ‘momma’ or ‘poppa’ or some version of one of these.  As the young child grows they learn what love is and how to express love.  But alas, not all homes are the same, so for some ‘love’ is distorted or hard to understand or difficult to express.

At some point in life, most often in early childhood but not always, one begins to learn what God’s love looks and feels like.  Through the stories we read in the Bible, through the messages we hear in church, and through how we see Christian love lived out we begin to see what pure and perfect love looks like.

This evolving relationship with God becomes personal at some point.  We realize how much Jesus loved us to die on a cross for our sins and we offer our lives to Him in response.  We begin to know pure and perfect love not because of anything we did or do, but because He first loved us.  This love continues to grow ad develop as we deepen our understanding of and commitment to Christ.  As this love consumes us it begins to spill out into our other relationships – both to those we love and to the stranger on the street.  It is a good love.  It is a love that must be shared.  It is a love that grows as we offer it to others.  It is a good love.  Thanks be to God!

Scripture reference: Psalm 147: 7-11 and 20c


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Ordinary, Everyday

What is your reaction when you see someone helping another?  How are you affected when you read of how one made a difference in another’s life?  When we witness God’s love being shared in real and tangible ways, our hearts and souls are lifted up.

Throughout the Bible we see God at work in the world on behalf of His people.  In the New Testament Jesus’ ministry is all about being active in the lives of the people He meets.  We see over and over again what it looks like for God to love the people of this world.

God often chose the unlikely to be His agent of change in the world.  Jesus continued this pattern when he called the disciples.  Ordinary, everyday people have always been a part of our story of faith.  Those who have been called have risen up and done great things for God, not because of their intelligence, position, or speaking ability but because they all came with a willing, loving heart.

As we witness God’s love continuing to make a difference in our world, may we too be drawn to allow others to glimpse God through us.  God calls us all to be a part of building His kingdom.  He continues to call ordinary, everyday people to shine His light and to share His love.  Can you hear Him calling?

Scripture reference: Psalm 111


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God with Us

In the Christmas season we gain the sense that Christ is always with us.  To celebrate His birth reminds us that He is born anew in us again and again.  His eternity also assures us that this earth is not all that there is.  Our true hope lies eternal in the heavenly realms.

Yet we cannot live in the Christmasy, eternal realm.  In this season we may be blessed to be in that realm for moments here and there, but we now inhabit this earth.  We live day by day here preparing for our eternal life with God.  As we live toward that we are also called to bring the good news to those bound to this earthly realm.  We are called to share the Christ who redeems and who heals all that is broken in our world and in our fellow men.

We are blessed by that sense of “God with us” at Christmas so that we can go forth to share that with our world.  We are called to go forth and share that little slice of heaven that draws people toward God and a relationship with Jesus Christ.  May we help people to meet our hope and redeemer each and every day.

Scripture reference: Isaiah 52: 7-10


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Do you see and know?

Do you think the Christmas season starts too soon?  Or that it goes too long?  I imagine the first question prompted thoughts of stores selling Christmas long before Thanksgiving.  And for some the second question prompts thoughts of taking down the tree today!  Yet the Christmas spirit doesn’t and shouldn’t fit inside a nice neat timeframe.  Shouldn’t the love, hope, peace, joy, and giving that typifies this season be happening all year long?

Simeon and Anna were two people who waited  a long time.  They were steadfast and focused on waiting.  Their whole being revolved around being ready for seeing the Messiah.  Both were so prepared that they recognized Jesus without being introduced or anything.  They simply knew in their hearts that this one baby – one of many being brought to the temple that day tobe presented to God – was the one whom they had waited so long for. And then they both broke forth in praise and thanksgiving.

How could we prepare ourselves so that we are ready to offer love, hope, peace, and joy to all we meet?  How would we prepare ourselves so that we see Jesus in each person we meet today and every day?  Jesus comes to us in many ways.  May our eyes be open and our hearts willing to see and know the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives.  May our lives reflect this to all we meet.

Scripture reference: Luke 2: 22-40


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God’s Voice

In the beginning God spoke and created the world.  As the world functioned according to God’s excellent plan, He dwelt among man.  God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  Over time God continued to speak to prophets and to have His voice heard.  God dwelt among the Israelites in the tabernacle and led them by day and night during the exodus.  But as the world continued to grow and develop, God seemed to become quiet.

Then one day God spoke into Mary’s life through the angel Gabriel and a new life was formed in her womb.  Her little baby, Jesus, would forever change the world.  Once again God was speaking to man.  God sent John the Baptist ahead so that people were aware of and would be ready for Jesus to minister to them and to the world.

The prophet in the wilderness baptized with water so that people would repent of their sins and be ready for Christ.  Through Jesus and the disciples that followed after Him, God spoke again into the world.  God still wants to speak into the world today.  God wants to speak through all who believe so that the gospel spreads to the ends of the earth.  We each are called to be God’s voice, calling out to all the lost, so that they too may come to know this Jesus, the savior of the world.

Scripture reference: John 1: 6-8


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God Calls Out Too

As Christians, at times we act counter to the larger culture’s norms.  Christmas is all that most people are aware of as we walk through the season of Advent.  Instant gratification and being super busy seem to be a natural part of the secular side of Christmas.  At times we can get caught up in that too.  It is hard to live in the world and to not get caught up in it once in a while.

Oddly enough, Advent is a season where we are called to slow down, to be patient, to be in touch with the things of God.  As we decorate the tree, we should enjoy each other’s company and share stories.  As we shop, it is not volume we seek but to find just that right  gift for the ones we love.  As we wait in line or walk through a crowded store, we should be peace and love to those around us.

And God calls out too.  He seeks for us to be in connection with Him and with each other.  We are called to spend a little extra tie thinking about His promises – promises that are both in the future and now.  We are called to reflect on the gift of His Son.  We are called to offer the gift of His light to those walking in the dark.  We are called to be thankful for the many gifts He blesses us with.  And we are called to share those blessings with others in need.

Scripture reference: Psalm 85: 1-2


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Season to Share

I have friends who will record a ball game and do everything they can to avoid hearing the final score.  They do not want to know the outcome so that they can watch the game as if were “live” and enjoy all the ups and downs as the game unfolds.  On course, they do fast forward through the commercials!

In our faith, we know the end story.  We know how all of this will end.  Whether the second coming occurs during our lifetimes or not, once we begin to walk in relationship with Christ, we know where we will spend our eternity.  However, this is not a ‘free pass’ to fast forward to the end.

This knowledge frees us from all worry about death and allows us to live each day with hope, confidence, and a great story to share.  In this season where we look forward to celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth, we must also be keenly aware of the opportunities God gives us to include others on the journey.  Advent is a great season to share the good news.  CHRISTmas is on everyone’s mind.  Today and each day, may we make the most of our chances to bring Christ’s light into people’s lives.

Scripture reference: 2 Peter 3: 8-15a