Topsy-Turvy World
Father, I’ve accomplished a couple of things this morning but I need to stop…and focus on our time together. As I read Your word, show me what You want me to see. Amen.
Matthew 28:1-7 (<<click to read the passage)
When I think of the characters in this passage I see Roman guards – big, burly, battle-hardened, tough as nails, fighting men – and I see two women – determined, dedicated, loyal, and stalwart, yes, but not really falling into the same category as the guards.
As the angel makes his appearance who dropped almost instantly and who stood at least long enough to hear the angel’s command to not be afraid? Those of the world do not see things as we of the Kingdom see them. This world may think they see things as they truly are but in actuality they are topsy-turvy! Those of the Kingdom see things as God intends them to be
Throughout the Bible when angels appeared, fear was often the given response but again on those occasions those who witnessed their appearance knew God, and though fearful, accepted the announcements given.
Lord, so many things in life are difficult and we sometimes are overwhelmed as we attempt to go through them. But I would pray that the beloved children of Your Kingdom would see those things with Your eyes and through Your heart. Help us not to fall apart but to stand strong as we witness Your will unfolding. Amen.
Dec 19th, 2018, Wed, 10:23 am
Not a Mindset but a Heartset
What a beautiful way to end the day, Father! Reuniting a couple in marriage! Father, it is a privilege and an honor to be used by You to touch so many lives – and not just from a pulpit! It is a blessing to be Your child!
Matthew 28:1-7 (<<click to read the passage)
I love things that help me to see things that I don’t see! My Life Application Study Bible made this statement in regards to verse 2:
The stone was not rolled aside so Jesus could get out, but so others could get in and see that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, just as he had promised.
How many times in life do we have problems that just seem insurmountable? How many Goliaths stand defiantly before us? How many “great stones” block our way? At points in our lives, we all have wondered how we were ever going to get passed the unpassable.
Yes, in our own strength, with our own mental prowess (LOL), many hurdles are just impossible. But when God gets involved! Oh, boy, just you wait and see!
David, a mere youth, caused the giant Goliath to fall with a single stone (not a boulder, mind you!) sent flying from his sling in the strength of the Lord!
We may feel like “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome” as they headed to the tomb as soon as they were able to and worriedly asked, “Who will roll away the stone for us…?” (Mark 16:1-4) But when they arrived God had taken of everything!
Not in our strength…but God’s! Not in our wisdom…but God’s!
As God has encouraged my growth and development over the last few years, I have come to believe more and more that we must live our lives, not with the mindset of “I can do this!” but with a heartset of “God and I can do – not just this – but anything!”
I have overcome so many things that had tripped me up for most of my life – and would do so over and over and over again! But yielding myself to God, not just verbally, but mentally, physically, spiritually yielding myself to Him, granted me an overabundant harvest of victory!
Give yourself over and see what God can do through you!
Dec 18th, 2018, Tues, 10:02 pm
A Jumbled Mess!
Thank you, Father, for a good beginning to my day – the safety afforded me and my passengers, the chance to get a good walk in, time to work on Sunday’s sermon, opportunity to grab a bite with my beautiful wife and now the privilege to sit down with You! Bless our time together.
Matthew 27:62-66 (<<click to read the passage)
In reading Scripture, and for that matter looking at my own life, I am amazed over and over again, Lord, at Your patience – Your long-suffering – with humanity! We are all just a jumbled mess!
Looking at this passage, things are topsy-turvy. Those who adamantly refused to believe anything You said, those who vehemently opposed Your every word and action, actually took very seriously one of Your statements, “After three days I will rise from the dead.”
Now granted, they leaned more to the thought that Your disciples would attempt to steal Your body from the tomb, trying to prove that what You said came to be. Though in the back of their minds, I’m sure that some of them at least, knew that You were who You said You were, and they were legitimately worried about the ramifications of their actions.
So the “leading priests and Pharisees”, Your greatest opposition, took action on Your words but those closest to You were bewildered and lost and seemed to have no clue whatsoever about the words You had spoken! As I said, we are all just a jumbled mess! Unbelievers believing and believers no believing!
Well, at least You knew all along what was happening and knew, too, what our responses would be, so as to bring us back into proper alignment with Your will. Lord, Jesus, I implore You to help me to un-jumble! You know me through and through, nothing is hidden from Your sight. Help me to listen – not just to hear but to L I S T E N! Your way is the most excellent way. Enable me to abide in it. Amen!
Dec 17th, 2018, Mon, 12:21 pm
Fearless
Father, what a weekend! This time of year is always full but even at this hour, I feel I need to come and, as we used to say in my growing up years, sit a spell with You. Fill my heart and mind with You.
Matthew 27:57-61 (<<click to read the passage)
Thinking through this passage this evening, Lord, reminds me of this morning’s Advent Candlelighting Liturgy. We remembered Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some of the words jumped out at me then and now as well – innocent and powerful, sacred and scared, worried and waiting… She sings boldly when she might be meek; she bears her role in history with the confidence of a warrior…
Then we gave thanks for the Marys among us, who step out of the roles society has planned; unintended pioneers determined to do as God asks; fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith, and beckoning us to do the same.
She was surely a courageous young lady. And in many ways, the main character of today’s passage put forth the same actions being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.
Joseph of Arimathea had become a follower of Jesus. A parallel passage found in Mark 15:43 states,
[He] took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)
In doing what he did, he laid his reputation on the line. The high council, composed of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, were not all corrupt. Some like Nicodemus (John 3:1-20) and Joseph of Arimathea are two good examples of those who were waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.
They may have been behind the scenes believers but neither of them hesitated when it came to being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.
John 19:38-42 tells us that both Joseph and Nicodemus came together to perform this righteous act in giving Jesus a proper burial.
Lord, I am very much out front when it comes to living out my faith but I would also pray that I would be one who would be fearless but though fearful I would step out in faith for You. Amen.
Dec 16th, 2018, Sun, 9:09 pm
Barrier…GONE!
I was thinking just recently, Father, how truly blessed I am. You have so generously poured Your blessings over me – work, church, home, Karen, family and on and on and on. I love that You and I are close and that You are but a thought away. Thank You, Father, for being You!
Matthew 27:45-56 (<<click to read the passage)
One of the biggest challenges we have in our relationships is barriers. Some we put up intentionally. Others are just a part of who we are. Many of us have been hurt, so we’ve shrouded ourselves with a layer of insulation in the attempt to avoid getting hurt again.
And it is a struggle, even in the best of relationships, to get past those barriers. Some we are never successful in overcoming – they are just too high and wide and thick and so deeply buried. Many go to their graves and have denied themselves the many-faceted wonders of true, deep love because barriers in their lives have overwhelmed them – they have been buried by them.
If we can think of an example of that type of barrier in our lives and then multiply that a million times over, we might get just a glimpse of the barrier that was between us and God. No matter how hard we try we cannot rid ourselves of the curse of division. We cannot do it…but Jesus did!
45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. vs. 45,46,50,51
The curtain separating the Holy Place (in the Temple) [where only the priests could enter) and the Most Holy Place (where only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, to atone for the sins of the nation) was torn in two at Christ’s death, symbolizing that the barrier between God and humanity was removed. Now all people are free to approach God because of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins.*
Thank you, Lord Jesus, the barrier is gone!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Dec 13th, 2018, Thurs, 8:16 pm