Silence
Father, I am grateful for our relationship. It is further down the road than we have ever been. It seems that for a very long time I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of struggle – defeating struggle. I can’t say things don’t come to mind of my past struggles but, Father, because of our relationship, I am able to stand firm. And when I am tempted, I call out to You…and You are there. Every. Single. Time. I realize that my journey is not over…but, Father, I praise You for my victory and for the promise and the hope that I can only find in You!
Matthew 27:11-14 (<<click to read the passage)
Reading this passage made me think of an old Spiritual, He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word. There is a lot of history behind the song itself but His story is so, so much more important.
In reality, we are just at the beginning of many hours of what has become known as Christ’s passion – the beatings, the crown of thorns, the whipping, the nails driven into his hands and feet, the spear thrust in His side.
What would our response to any of these things be? Anger? Cursing? Crying out? Whatever they may be, our first response would probably not have…silence.
The Amplified Bible says,
13 “Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” 14 But Jesus did not reply to him, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor was greatly astonished.
Jesus had spoken…many times and they had not listened. His words would make no difference to the outcome now…and He knew it. Now he lived out His love…it’s what He had come to do….
Lord, as we enter this season of celebrating Your birth may we never lose sight of why You came. Amen.
If you’d like to ponder this just a bit more, click on the link below. It is simple. It is beautiful. It tells His story…
Dec 6th, 2018, Thurs, 8:30 pm
30 Pieces of Silver – Then and Now
I had in my mind to sit with You earlier today, Father, but this is where it has landed. I humbly come before You. May my time with You be fruitful. Amen.
Matthew 27:1-10 (<<click to read the passage)
I am utterly amazed at how many prophecies Jesus fulfilled in His lifetime! I know I have read (or heard) this passage numerous times in my life but tonight the prophecy stares me full in the face.
9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says,
“They took the thirty pieces of silver—
the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
10 and purchased the potter’s field,
as the Lord directed.”
My Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation tells me that “in Old Testament times, Jeremiah was considered the collector of some of the prophets’ writings, so perhaps his name is cited rather than Zechariah.” For the quoted passage is most closely associated with Zechariah 11:12-13.
12 And I said to them, “If you like, give me my wages, whatever I am worth; but only if you want to.” So they counted out for my wages thirty pieces of silver.
13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent sum at which they valued me! So I took the thirty coins and threw them to the potter in the Temple of the Lord.
We most definitely have free will – each of us chooses innumerable things throughout our lifetimes and God in his infinite wisdom and omniscience knows the host of possible outcomes for our choices. But in the midst of the multitudinous scenarios His will comes through – undeniable, obvious to the max!
It is astounding that God inspired Zechariah to write these words five centuries before the prophecy came to be fulfilled!
Lord Jesus, I stand in awe of who You are and what You have done and what You continue to do. I can’t keep track of things I need to accomplish on any given day yet You excel in managing the entirety of the cosmos with its limitless complexities! I am grateful that though I am but one small point in it all, that You hold me in high esteem and love me with a love so intense that I can barely grasp it!
Dec 5th, 2018, Wed, 8:42 pm
Lights in the Darkness
Good evening, Father. I am weary but also eager to sit with You tonight. Fill my heart, guide my mind. Amen.
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As I prayed a prayer just between me and God before a gathering recently, a thought came to me. This group was mixed with a variety of ages and backgrounds. I would guess there would be some believers of varying degrees and could pretty much guarantee that many would not be believers to any degree.
As I prayed, those who know Christ came to mind. We probably were going to be few amongst many, and for that matter, the few probably weren’t even aware of the part they were playing in the whole. It was not any sort of organized spiritual gathering – it was just a diverse group thrown together by happenstance.
But as I prayed, as I said, a thought came to me. Each believer, no matter how diligent they were in regards to their faith, played a role – myself included. Each of us has the light of Christ burning in us. For some, it may be a flicker. For others, it might be the size of a candle flame. For others it might just be a bonfire…but all believers carry the light of Christ.
As I prayed, I asked the Lord to bless our light. I asked that even though some might be nominal in their faith that He would blow on their flame and that by the blowing, it would increase. I prayed that the increase of the flame would impact them, creating an all-consuming desire for Him and that their light would draw others to them and ultimately to Himself.
As I continue to pray that prayer, I will do so in the most assured hope that It will be answered in a mighty way. Lord, may all of our flames increase! Amen.
Dec 4th, 2018, Tues, 6:26 pm
Caught by a Rooster
Father, today my strivings have come to fruition! I am officially a certified school bus driver! It has been a long time coming but I am so, so glad that it has been in Your time. May I be a vessel through whom Your presence flows onto all whom I encounter. Amen.
Matthew 26:69-75 (<<click to read the passage)
My mom is not a big fan of birds. When she was little she got chased by a chicken at her grandparent’s home and ever since then, she wants nothing to do with them.
I imagine Peter had similar feelings. It probably took quite some time for Peter to come to the point where hearing a rooster crow did not bring pangs of guilt. We learn from John’s Gospel that Jesus didn’t give Peter very much time to wallow in his misery but quickly reestablished their relationship. (John 21:15-19)
Lord, Peter, left to his own devices, returned to his life of fishing – until Your intervention. And only because You did intervene was Peter able to forgive himself and move on – becoming a great leader and example to others throughout the course of history to this day.
Only because You became part of the equation was a satisfactory solution found. How often, Lord, do we flounder about going over and over the errors of our ways, never allowing ourselves to release them but beating ourselves up about them in a neverending vicious cycle?
You know, Lord, You surely do. But do You want us to live that way? …No… If You have forgiven us, why would You want us to not forgive ourselves?
Every single one of us is guilty as the day is long. Romans 3:23 clearly states, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”
We must assuredly acknowledge that but we mustn’t linger there. We must move onward and upward. We must shake loose the chains that want to entangle us and “run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1c) Amen and amen!
Dec 3rd, 2018, Mon, 1:02 pm
Blinders
What a weekend, Father! My last day at Kohl’s was bitter-sweet. Your presence was felt in our worship services today. You provided me with the strength and wherewithal to get some outside things done afterward and then head to a time of food and fellowship at Beulah. I am grateful for Your ever-abiding presence.
Matthew 26:57-68 (<<click to read the passage)
They only saw what they wanted to see. They refused to see things as they truly were. In essence, Israel’s religious hierarchy wore self-imposed blinders. For months they had been searching for a way to get Jesus where they wanted him – a place where they had the upper hand. (And in reality, they were allowed to do so only because it was a part of God’s plan from the very beginning.)
Even the midst of it all, they couldn’t get any cohesive charges to come together. Finally, Jesus Himself gave them what they wanted.
…the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God – tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
…I AM who I AM…
That’s all they needed and their pompous pride ran with it. Blasphemy! Guilty! Death!
Lord, what do I do with the truth of who You are? Do I fill in “the blanks” with my contrived notions? Do I twist words and situations to make sure that my desires come to fruition?
Lord, remove any blinders of my own construction. May I clearly see who You are. And may that be the motivator to fall at Your feet – to acquiesce to Your sovereignty in my life – no ifs, ands, or buts! Amen!
Dec 2nd, 2018, Sun, 7:43 pm