22 October 2019
Never Ending Generosity
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

When Rob was teaching on Sunday, he reminded us that when Jesus fed 5,000 people, there were 12 baskets of food leftover. (See Matthew 14:20-21) This is no random number of baskets full of food. There are 12 disciples & 12 baskets of leftovers. One for each of them. They had worried about food earlier – the place was remote & there were thousands of people with nothing to eat. Jesus told his disciples, “You feed them.” (See v.16) But their resources were small. They only came up with a couple of fish and some bread between them. They were worried what they had wouldn’t even be enough for just them. But when they gave what they did have to Jesus, they had way more than what they started with!

This is such an obvious spiritual illustration, but it’s also a practical one. God never means for me just to exist. His portions are always extremely generous!

James 1:5
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
John 4:14
But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.
John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Proverbs 3:10
Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
Psalm 23:5
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

By the way, those 12 baskets probably get really soggy during the storm that follows on their boat ride back, but that is because we do not need to hoard. God never runs out of his generosity!
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Dear God,
Thank you for you generosity in every single area of my life that is good and pleasing and truly new every day. I love you and thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.

4 October 2019
Circle of Life (A rich, full life!)
Matthew 6:33
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

I believe everything I believe about God to be true. If he says that he will provide everything I need, then he will! His promises are for everyone, so I believe this is also true for everyone.

What about poor & hungry people? Well, what/who are they putting their faith in? No? They’re too busy being poor and hungry, right! Not coincidentally, Matthew chapter 6 begins with this title: “Teaching About Giving to the Needy.”  Makes sense. Personally pursuing the things of God is actually good and beneficial for everyone!

What does seeking “the kingdom” even look like? It has to extend beyond coffee with Jesus in the morning, daily devotions & podcast listening. Those things fill my heart bucket, but “seeking the kingdom” must be something I can do all day.

When I’m doing dishes, ask God what’s next on the agenda (See Galatians 5:16). When I’m at work, work like Jesus is my boss (Colossians 3:23). When I’m interacting with a person and losing my patience, ask God for some. When I need joy or self-control (See Galatians 5:22-23), or when I need wisdom (James 1:5), ask, ask, ask. Whatever life is like in God’s Kingdom, I can pursue right now, all day, everyday in my heart, words & deeds, and no one can stop me. God promises that I am free to pursue life like this because he will meet my needs that pop up.

There is a correlation between what I seek & what I get. This is true for the rich and the poor. A rich person can’t dismiss the promises of God because poor people exist. A rich person can help a poor person; in doing so God is glorified because the poor person got a glimpse and now is free to seek God with all their hearts too. Circle of Life – Circle of a rich, full life!

Jesus has made his purpose clear & the needy people need to hear it from us:
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10)
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Dear God,
I believe all your promises are true. I want to believe that even if I have nothing, you would still meet my needs everyday because your Word tells me you will when I simply stay with you. You feed, you sustain, you make well in every way, and I am so thankful. Give me wisdom and opportunity to help those who need help today. I love you and thank you, for your ways are good, economical, right, satisfying, nice, and very helpful, and I pray & thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.

​2 October 2019
Prayer & Faith
Luke 18:40-42 NLT
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” 43 Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
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Why does Jesus ask a blind man what he wants; isn’t it obvious? Why do we pray when our Heavenly Father already knows our needs? (Matthew 6:8)

Of course Jesus knows our needs. Of course he knew what the blind man needed and wanted. But when we ask him we are openly declaring what we believe HE can do, and we are openly admitting what we cannot do for ourselves. If we expect God to just read our minds, which he absolutely can do, when would we ever declare his goodness and our great needs to ourselves or anyone?

Jesus told the blind man, “Your faith has healed you.” (v.42) We express our faith every time we pray. We pray believing, hoping, expecting, and knowing that God will move on our behalf. We absolutely exercise our faith when we simply tell God what we need. Asking reminds me of my need for him. Presuming isn’t prayer, and it isn’t humbling, and it leads to casualness and  misdirected feelings that Jesus is my peer or my genie in bottle. He’s my Rescuer not my butler.

I pray so that I will put my faith where it belongs – in Jesus. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)
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Dear God,
Thank you for listening to all of my prayers, even the immature ones. Thank you for meeting all of my needs, big or small. Thank you for your constant faithfulness that has never made me feel shame or regret for putting my hope in you. Thank you that you tell me to come to you and then you always show up. I love you and appreciate you so much and I thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.

1 October 2019
Ball’s in Our Court
Mark 1:41-42 NLT
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
          
This passage is an exchange between a poor, sickly outcast who comes to Jesus for a miracle. He’s heard about Jesus and is hopeful, but at the same time he’s also used to rejection because of his circumstances. So he asks Jesus if he’s be willing to heal him. No surprise; Jesus is willing, and Jesus does.

Jesus is the one who is willing. Always. In fact, he gives us this amazing promise: You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! (John 14:13-14 NLT)

We have it backwards. Jesus is willing to make us well. Are we willing to let him?

God declared his willingness long ago... If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

Of course Jesus was willing to heal that poor leper; God has been inviting mankind into fellowship since the beginning. The ball is in our court. We don’t need to ask him if he’s willing to take us, for this has been made clear. Our position is to take him up on his amazing and gracious offer!

Romans 10:9-13 NLT
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
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Dear God,
Thank you for being willing to not only save me through your Son, Jesus, but also to keep taking my hot mess self in. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who keeps working in me to follow you and please you. I’m so thankful that I’m in with you with no rejection by you. How freeing and peaceful this news is to reflect on for me this morning. I have and I will experience rejection but not ever from you – the only place that it really matters anyway! Thank you! I love you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.