No Spoonful of Sugar
Well, Father, it’s one of those days when because I didn’t write last yesterday it’s thrown me off for today! I have allowed many things to wedge their way into my schedule and have not taken time to prepare for tomorrow. So…it is of utmost importance that I take time to quiet my heart and my mind and come before You. Help me to do so. Amen.
Matthew 10:21-39 (<<click the green)
Lord Jesus, as I read through chapter 10 I struggle. This is probably why I have procrastinated so. What You have to say is not “just a spoonful of sugar” that “helps the medicine go down”, to quote that famous philosopher, Mary Poppins. Your words challenged the people of Your time amongst us and they challenge me as well.
All this talk of persecution and rebellion and death is difficult to swallow. I’m not saying “no”, I’m just struggling to take it all in. I want to be obedient. I want to do as You say, for it is best. But…I need Your help. I just cannot do it on my own.
Pastor and author, Max Lucado, is a favorite author of mine. Here is a snippet from his book, The Applause of Heaven, which helps me
Could you use some courage? Are you backing down more than you are standing up? If so, let the Master lead you up the mountain again. Let Him remind you why you should “fear not.” Listen to the time Jesus scattered the butterflies out of the stomachs of His nervous disciples and see if His words help you.
We need to remember that the disciples were common men given a compelling task. Before they were the stained-glassed saints in the windows of cathedrals, they were somebody’s next-door-neighbors trying to make a living and raise a family. They weren’t cut from theological cloth or raised on supernatural milk. But they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid and, as a result, did some extraordinary things…
Earthly fears are no fears at all. All the mystery is revealed. The final destination is guaranteed. Answer the big question of eternity, and the little questions of life fall into perspective.
Mar 22nd, 2018, Thurs, 3:20 pm
Counting Stars
Oh my, Father, it is early! My choice to go through my sermon and some other elements of Sunday’s service yesterday instead of writing for this morning’s post was not the wisest decision of the day. May I hear from You what I need this day. Amen.
(Several times this winter I have stood stock still in awe upon arriving home after a work on a clear cold night and before I’ve tripped our motion sensor light the sky is a beauty to behold! I’ve wanted to write about it and realized that I already had, a little over a year ago! It is just as true now as it was then. Praise the Lord for the beauty of His firmament!)
I love where we live. We have to drive a bit to get to most things but the pros outweigh the cons by far. A special treat I get occasionally is a clear sky at night. I got out of my truck last night after a full day at work and was immediately caught up in the beauty of the night sky. We are far enough out that we don’t have to contend with city lights and we don’t have any glaring lights around the house either.
As I gaze into the heavens, I never cease to be amazed. I saw familiar constellations. Orion is one I readily see. And as I glanced to the northern sky, there was the Big Dipper in all of its splendor! Breathtaking!
Lord, as I sat down with You this morning, these thoughts entered my mind. I knew stars are mentioned in the Psalms, so I Googled it and Psalm 147:4-5a came up.
“He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord!”
Lord, You are the creator of all that is. Looking up I could not begin to count the stars I can see with my naked eye. Even scientists have to guess. Their estimate is that there are 1 sextillion stars in the observable universe – that’s a one followed by 21 zeros!
We guess…but You know, Lord. You know exactly how many stars there are but it’s not just some cold calculation! You “call them all by name. How great is our Lord!”
It is awesome to think about but even more astounding is that You know me and You love me. How great is my Lord!
Jan 26th, 2017, Thurs, 8:41 am
Pending Hurricanes
Father, I’m so glad that You are my traveling companion throughout this journey of life. You are steadfast and sure. You will never leave my side – through thick and thin You are with me. You guide and direct me…if I will but listen. I am blessed. Amen.
Matthew 10:16-20 (<<click the green)
I have to be honest here, Lord, what You have to say in this section of Mathew’s writings is a challenge to get through. There is a pall that hangs above it. It is definitely not a sunshine and butterfly portion of Scripture. No matter how much sunshine we would like, our world has more than its share of hurricanes.
In my Bible the header for this portion of Scripture (which is 26 verses long by the way!) is Jesus Prepares His Disciples for Persecution. Hurricanes are inevitable regardless of our desire to avoid them. The same goes for persecution and You want us to be ready for it.
If we stay true to our faith in You, Lord, we may very well have to stand before the powers that be and bear witness to our relationship with You. We may be fearful of what to say but You make it very clear,
“…do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Lord, the future is a mystery – You know it but I have no clue. I give myself over to You, so that every day, be it a day of sunshine or hurricane, that You will give me direction In “what to say and how to say it.” Speak through every aspect of my life. Amen.
Mar 20th, 2018, Tues, 6:18 am
Be as Snakes and Doves
Good morning, Father, thank You for a better night’s sleep! May today be as You would have it. May I be used by You to further Your kingdom, to touch people’s lives as only You can. Amen.
Matthew 10:16-20 (<<click the green)
Snakes….just the word makes a shudder run up many people’s spine! It makes me smile to think of the response last month’s post got that pictured a big green snake!
Lord, once again You refer to snakes but this time You call us to “be as shrewd as snakes”. What? This reference to snakes has always stymied me. I’m sure to some degree that snakes get a bum rap but that doesn’t really change my perception of them. They seem to personify evil much more than good. Yet in this case, Lord, You call us to imitate them.
I found the following in the NIV Quest Study Bible Notes,
In the ancient Near East, the serpent was a symbol of cunning whose wisdom was worth emulating. Most likely Jesus was quoting a proverb familiar to his listeners.
So we are to be cunning and wise as we go into the world but You balance that with a command to be “harmless as doves”. The Amplified Bible fleshes that out a bit more by saying we are to be, “innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].”
We are to be instruments of love, serving others, but You were no stranger to what You were sending us into. In Your prayer to Your Heavenly Father prior to Your arrest, trial and crucifixion, You prayed for us…
13“I am coming to you [the Father] now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” John 17:13-18
Lord Jesus, You have sent me out into the world, calling me to be cunning and wise but also very much full of Your love and compassion. May I set apart – sanctified – made pure – for Your intentions. As I said at the beginning, may I be used by You to further Your kingdom, to touch people’s lives as only You can. Amen.
Mar 19th, 2018, Mon, 6:27 am
Freely Give
I am weary this morning, Father. Help me to focus on You and in so doing to be strengthened. May my brain and body be stimulated by Your awesome presence. Amen.
Matthew 10:1-15 (<<click the green)
Lord, there are all kinds of teachable points in this passage. One other key directive, found at the end of verse 8 is,
“Freely you have received; freely give.” NIV
Many of us, Lord, have received so much on so many different levels. In reality, we are blessed beyond the ability of our minds to comprehend. As I sit here pondering several things come to mind, and I’m sure many more things could be brought up.
We might not classify ourselves as “rich” but most of us have our daily needs met – we eat our fill, we sleep in comfort, the roof over our head is solid, our leisure time is free to use as we would like.
All in all, we are not lonely – we have friends and family, coworkers, neighbors, fellow walkers along this journey of life.
We all have our aches and pains but for the most part, we are sound of body and mind. We get to do the things that need to be done and things we desire to do. We can readily process the mental challenges of life – getting where we need to go, balancing our checkbook, making and then filling our grocery lists.
We are given time in equal amounts and though we are “busy” we each choose how we use that allowance. Yes, it is a highly valued commodity but as a whole, no one dictates how we spend every moment of every day.
And I surely could go on but the point is we are blessed beyond measure – and it all comes from Your bounteous hand of generosity and providence. So what is our responsibility? As we go out into the world around us You say to us, Lord, “Freely you have received; freely give.”
There is no reason to hoard our blessings. We have no excuse to not freely give from the abundance we have received. Lord, give me the ability to discern where I can most effectively give. Amen.
Mar 18th, 2018, Sun, 6:46 am