The Big Dipper
It is a cold but beautiful day and we sure need the sunshine to lift our spirits. There are lots of clouds this time of year and it is a welcome change. Each season and each day are diverse parts of Your creation, Father. What a blessing You have given us all!
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After locking the door upon leaving the house this morning, I glanced behind me and saw that the sky was clear and then I looked straight up. I had not walked into the path of our motion sensor spotlights so beyond the electric candle in the window is was dark. (That’s pretty much the way it is at 5:30 in the morning!) But as I looked up, I was greeted by a spectacular sight!
I am no astronomer, but I do know a few of the constellations – and the Big Dipper is one that most of us can recognize. And there it was in all of its glory shining clearly for all who would look.
I was curious and wanted to know a few details about the Big Dipper, so…I Googled it of course! The first thing I learned was that…hold on to your seats…the Big Dipper is not a constellation! There are 88 of those and it is not one of them! What? It is actually an asterism, a familiar pattern of stars in the sky. Who knew? People more well-read than I am for sure!
I also learned that astronomers measure the sky in degrees – 360 degrees to be exact, and our Moon measures half a degree across. So if you measured from bottom corner of the Dipper to the end of its handle it would equal 40 full moons! Or about 20 degrees.
And one last bit of information, the closest star in the Big Dipper is Megrez at 58 light-years. and the most distant is Dubhe at 124 light-years.
We look at just one spectacular feature of the heavens and are in awe. But hear what the Lord says in Isaiah 66:1 (NLT),
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool.
Could you build me a temple as good as that?
Could you build me such a resting place?
The earth is His footstool – and the earth is four times as big as the moon! We serve a mighty God! Truly he is more than our minds can even begin to comprehend but, in His goodness and love, He came to live amongst us, so that we could get to know Him and actually have a relationship with Him! And because of His sacrifice on the cross, it is all possible! Praise Him for His everlasting love!
Feb 19th, 2020, Wed, 12:47 pm
Blind Leading the Blind
Loving Father, I would ask that your wisdom and direction would be evident in my life. There are so many things that are so very important when we have an eternal perspective in life and there are many things that are deceptively so. I would pray that I would have great determination to invest in the eternal and forgo the temporal. Amen.
Luke 6:39-40 (<<click to read the passage)
Wow! You wouldn’t think that two short verses could get my mind reeling like it is! As I have read through this passage, many thoughts have rumbled through my brain.
My leaping point began with the footnote in my Life Application Study Bible.
Make sure you’re following the right teachers and leaders, because you will go no farther than they do. Look for leaders who will show you more about faith and whose guidance you can trust.
First of all, pray for your pastor every day! There is a heavy load upon our shoulders. We have an enormous responsibility.
James 3:1 alone should deter the foolish from ever stepping behind a pulpit.
Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard (or receive greater judgment) [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. (AMP)
Secondly, be careful who you follow. As my mind ran down this trail, I couldn’t help but think of disastrous leadership that has led to all kinds of pain, confusion and even death. One prime example is Jonestown in November of 1978, where a delusional leader brought about the death of over 900 people – a third of them children! It all came about because of what he declared to be the truth – Jesus was nowhere to be found!
I challenge the people of my congregations to double-check everything I say against God’s word. Paul encourages us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (AMP).
But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good.
Jesus declares in today’s passage,
“Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. Luke 6:39-40 (NLT)
A person without sight cannot safely lead another person without sight. But He is addressing much more than physical blindness. One who is spiritually blind will be inept in leading others spiritually. It is dangerous for all!
Our goal must be to follow Jesus! And whoever we choose to lead us must follow Jesus, as well. If they are a pastor after God’s own heart, pray for them with all that you got! And if they are a pastor after their own heart, run as fast as you can in the opposite direction. Lord, help us all!
Feb 18th, 2020, Tues, 12:59 pm
Just as I Am
Father, my life has been filled with so many different things both beneficial and detrimental but You have woven them all into the fabric of who I have become and I am grateful that regardless You have used them to make my life a thing of beauty in Your eyes. You accept me, as You accept all of us, as we are. All praise to You for Your love, mercy, and grace is freely given in abundance to us all!
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Karen and I were blessed to be able to spend a wonderful day together today. We enjoyed talking together and walking with each other. (My phone says we walked 3.29 miles!) We ate together and did some shopping. We talked with a friend, a fellow teacher of Karen’s, and then later ran into a couple whose children had been in my “congregation” when I was a Children’s Pastor twenty plus years ago. God has blessed me with a wonderful companion for almost 34 years now!
On our way home tonight, our conversation took a more serious turn and as we talked, I was once again reminded how God has been actively at work in my life all of my life – hence my opening paragraph.
Some years ago, I wrestled with the fact that my testimony was pretty bland. I sowed a few wild oats but for the most part, I toed the line of what was expected of me as a Christian young man. By no means was I perfect but I truly believe that God kept me from so many things that could have drastically changed the course of my life. And with that knowledge, I let that become my testimony.
Now let me be clear, there are things in my life about which very few people know. I even shocked Karen with an experience I had as a young child – I had never shared it with her before. I am tainted, as we all are. I am no more without sin than anyone reading this blog is. But as I said in my opening prayer, God accepts me, as He accepts all of us, as we are.
Of course, as anyone that has read much of what I have written would know, I love music and hymns come to mind often as I write. The one that comes to mind tonight is Just as I Am. It was written way back in 1834 by Charlotte Elliot and many associate it with what God was able to accomplish in the many years of ministry granted to Rev. Billy Graham.
Here is just the first stanza:
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
I could not communicate it any better than what I found on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s website concerning this hymn,
According to How Sweet the Sound, a book by Billy Graham’s longtime Crusade soloist George Beverly Shea, Mr. Graham once explained that “we have ‘no plea’—no claim on God’s love or forgiveness—except that Jesus shed His innocent blood to reconcile us to His Father.”
There’s nothing we can do to earn salvation or freedom from sin; we simply must receive it through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Ironically, we live in a world that screams for acceptance through careers, social media, and peers, but we often have difficulty receiving acceptance from a Savior.
Like trying to stubbornly wipe a dirty stain off a favorite shirt, we attempt to fix our own problems, wanting to appear better than we actually are. We forget that God created us in His own image and doesn’t desire our good intentions, but the very hearts that He designed.
Lord Jesus, may we lay claim to the last stanza of this simple hymn.
Just as I am! Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down.;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
Feb 17th, 2020, Mon, 7:48 pm
Reaping What We Sow
Father, Your Spirit was palpable in our worship today. It was a tough topic to address but I would ask that each person who attended would continue to be impacted by what they heard from You and be in a state of prayer into regards to what the future may hold. Amen.
Luke 6:38 (<<click to read the passage)
I think we all would agree that we reap what we sow in this life. When the Apostle Paul speaks of this in Galatians 6:7-8, he is more directly addressing an eternal consequence of response to God Himself. But it is applicable to our immediate lives, as well, when we interact with others.
When we interrelate with a person of caustic personality, does it not adversely impact us? If someone is nasty or belittles us or is simply unkind, how does that make us feel? For that matter isn’t a normal reaction to take it out on someone else, a loved one or friend perhaps? Doesn’t our associating with a sour person tend to make us sour, as well? I have seen it on numerous occasions and have experienced myself…on both the receiving and giving end of things, unfortunately.
In my research, a verse popped up from the Book of Proverbs and boy is it applicable! Talk about reaping what you sow!
Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. Proverbs 26:27 (AMP)
But the opposite is true as well, when we are around a kind, uplifting, positive, complimentary, joyous person doesn’t that rub off on us, too?
I don’t know how many times while working at Kohl’s, that I was able to diffuse a possibly volatile situation with kindness, understanding and a smile. I couldn’t always pull it off and would take offense at being unjustly hurt – and it would eat at me for the rest of the day like acid in my heart – but honestly, I worked hard to not take other peoples’ negativity personally and to love them instead.
Verse 38 in the Amplified Bible reads,
Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more]. For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.”
My Life Application Study Bible has this to say about this verse.
Jesus used the picture of measuring grain in a basket to ensure the full amount If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities will come back to us in full measure. We are to love others, not judge them.
Lord Jesus, may we diligently strive to be the positive – the holy, i.e. set aside for the use of God – in the world around us. May our impact leave marks of love and forgiveness, rather than the scars of hatred and rejection.
Feb 16th, 2020, Sun, 8:16 pm
To Judge or Not to Judge
We did get a good snow last night and we’ve had a non-hurried day at home. We got a few things done and have just enjoyed some down time from regular routines. Thank You, Father, for each other and the beauty of Your creation!
Luke 6:37 (<<click to read the passage)
Years ago, singer and entertainer, Sammy Davis, Jr., used the catchphrase, “Here come da judge!” in a comedy bit. It was a part of his intro, then he would do some sort of humorous skit with a white judge’s wig and long black robe. It was all in good fun. But judging others, especially in the culture of today, is taken pretty seriously.
When someone judges us in some way, we are quick to spout off, “You have no right to judge me!” Even amongst followers of Jesus, we are swift to quote the beginning of this verse or its equal in Matthew 7:1,
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.”
But if you take time to slowly and thoughtfully read today’s passage, it shines a different light on things.
“Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. Luke 6:37 (AMP)
And since you’ve read that, read the correlating footnote found under it in the Amplified Bible – read this thoughtfully, as well.
This is not a prohibition of judgment, nor is it a command to stop using godly wisdom, common sense, and moral courage together with God’s written word to discern right from wrong, to distinguish between morality and immorality, and to judge doctrinal truth. There are many judgments that are not only legitimate, but are commanded (cf John 7:24; 1 Cor 5:5, 12; Gal 1:8; 1 John 4:1-3; 2 John 10); however, you cannot judge another if you are committing the same type of sin.
Here’s the first reference from this footnote (but the rest very clearly make the point, as well – and you can click on them, too). Jesus said,
Do not judge by appearance [superficially and arrogantly], but judge fairly and righteously.” John 7:24 (AMP)
No one likes to be called out when we’re in the wrong but if we are going to hold each other accountable for our actions in serving Jesus, we’ve got to learn to deal with it.
Another reference from the footnote – the Apostle Paul is speaking here.
It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 1 Corinthians 5:12 (NLT)
Yeah, it can sure sting but what’s more important, getting to heaven with toes that haven’t been stepped on or to be welcomed with a “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
Lord Jesus, may we welcome any that would help us along our journey to join You for eternity. May we graciously hear what is shared and may we also hold their words against Yours and take to heart and act upon what needs to change. You are ever molding us into Your perfect image. Amen.
Feb 13th, 2020, Thurs, 4:09 pm