28 November 2014
Invisible thanks is no thanks at all
1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

Pastor Dean was teaching on Wednesday night and told a story of a little boy who had a wonderful day with his grandparents and was thankful for the fun he’d had, but when asked to express his thanks to them for giving him such a fun day said, “I am thankful, I just don’t want to say it.” 

Sounds like entitlement not thankfulness. The reason we teach children to say “thank you” when someone does something kind and special is because someone actually did something kind and special. What if those grandparents had that little boy over and just said they’d planned to take him to an amusement park, and then in actuality they all just sat on the couch all day. That kind of kindness would be just as invisible as the boy’s thankfulness.

Give thanks to the Lord...and proclaim...let the whole world know... The reason Scripture tells us to thank God actually and literally verbally in so many different kinds of expressions is because God actually and literally has done good things for us. He is to be thanked aloud and often because he DESERVES it! Invisible thanks is no thanks at all. I should not fall into a trap of entitlement, indifference, or laziness when it comes to be grateful to God. Since God has done real, wonderful, and tangible things for me, then I should gladly, willingly, and frequently actually truly thank him.

Dear God,
You are great and greatly to be praised. You don’t have to do anything for me, but you do, and I am so thankful for the good things in my life, forgiveness from my sins, and peace that is in my heart because of you. Thank you, thank you so much. Thanks for a great Thanksgiving Day yesterday visiting with family and enjoying your provision, love, and grace. Thank you so much for doing what you don’t have to do and for making my life whole and good. You give good things and take care of the ones who love and trust you. Thank you so much! And I love you very much and pray in Jesus’ name, amen. 

26 November 2014
The Unshakeable Kingdom
Hebrews 12:28
Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.

Shakeable is a great word to describe our day and age. What a mess we’re living in with all the ridiculous rioting going on right now happening ironically during Thanksgiving Week, the uncertain tension between our country and other seemingly more powerful countries, and the still ever present looming threats of terrorism. Things are shaky in the fact that life as we know it could change in an instant.

Unshakeable is a great word to describe the Kingdom of God. Obviously, all these shaky and dicey situations that plague us don’t affect God one bit. He’s God. But the best part about the Unshakeable Kingdom of God is that when Jesus came, He brought it with HIM!

Jesus said, in Mark 1:15, “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Belonging to Jesus places me in His Unshakeable Kingdom now. Not later. “At hand” means right here, same as I have a hammer at hand in the garage means that hammer is available to me right now; it’s not in the mail or at my neighbor’s house, but it is here with me.

Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing penetrates God’s Unshakeable Kingdom. No crazy terrorists, no impotent president, no threat of nuclear war, no unemployment rate, no religious persecution, no interpersonal conflict, or illness. Nothing. Absolutely nothing can shake what is Unshakeable. 

And all the benefits, protection, comfort, and joy that results from God’s Unshakeable Kingdom is what I belong to right now because of Jesus. I’m not waiting for God’s security someday. So Believers worship God with holy fear and awe simply because His Unshakeable Kingdom gives us cause!

Dear God,
At this Thanksgiving season it may sound cliche to say for a Christian to say that we’re most thankful for Jesus. But the reason we say it is because it’s TRUE! Thank you for Jesus making your Kingdom come here on earth. We are not waiting for anything or anybody like the Israelites did for centuries. I am so thankful that all this crud going on in the world doesn’t have a hold on me, grip me with worry,  or determine what I do or where I am going. Thank you for putting my shaky life in your unshakeable care. I love you so much and THANK YOU in Jesus’ name, amen.

25 November 2014
Christians Make the World Better
Matthew 5:13-16
You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus uses the illustration of salt to describe Believers. I remember when I was growing up that my mom was a wonderful cook, cooked with many seasonings, but didn’t put salt on the table. It didn’t occur to me to add salt to my already flavorful food. Even at other people’s houses or at restaurants where the salt and pepper are readily available, it never occurred to me to add salt to the already prepared meal because we didn’t practice that at home. Then I met my husband and his family. There was salt on the table at mealtimes, and they used it. I was still oblivious to salt. Until one time while eating with them my plate was empty and I leaned over to take a bite of Rob’s food (salt added). O MY GOSH! It was delicious! Delicious-er! Salt is awesome! It is so flavorful and wonderful. Even on a perfectly seasoned steak, adding a touch of salt at the table brings out even MORE flavor! What a wonder! Salt! Making already good things better.

Jesus uses the illustration of light to describe Believers. This one is obviously obvious especially at Christmas Eve Service at our church. We pass out small candles to everyone in a completely dark room. Everyone is super careful with their tiny torches, keeping them close to their laps while the pastor speaks. Then, at the end, the pastor asks us to raise our candles up. The ENTIRE room becomes lit. A  huge space where one would have trouble making out the face of the person next to them is now completely illuminated with so much light you could read a small font novel if you wanted to. It’s one thing to have some light, but it’s another thing to lift the light so everyone can see it!

Salt and light make the world better. Everyone knows that. Christians are “salt” and “light” in that we make the world better simply because we choose to obey God and trust in His Son. And that affects EVERYONE.

Thanksgiving is in two days. And there are as many modern opinions about this holiday as there are modern textbooks on the subject. However the common fact is this: A group of people who want to live like God prescribes in the Bible got on a boat and settled a piece of property in the New World. 120 came over and only about 50 were left the following year. But, more boats kept coming. And the boats to follow were not completely filled with little bands of religious people. All sorts of people with all sorts of ideas and backgrounds came to what would one day be America. And none of them got off the boat and defied those 50 Pilgrims and what they had established. Non-believers enjoyed the benefits of living in a society guided by the 10 Commandments. Huh, it is good not to steal someone else’s horse...

So much so that when it came time to build a new country, many men (not all Christians by any means) designed and established a nation “under God” because His kind of deeds benefit absolutely everyone, Believers and otherwise. Christians, and their influence, make the world a better place for everyone. 

This can’t be said about any other nation, religion, or club. It is obvious as we can see on a macro level in that for centuries people have literally been flocking to America. But it is also true on a micro level. Every single Believer makes a difference right where they are. 

Think about the store Hobby Lobby. Not everyone who works there is a Christian, but do you think they enjoy the benefits of working for a Christian boss? YES! High wages, hard workers, clean stores, friendly and helpful atmosphere, Sundays off yet the company out profits their competition. The same can be said for In-and-out Burger and Chick-fil-a. Not everyone who patrons these places are all Christians either, but do they enjoy the benefits of patronaging these places? Yes. Hobby Lobby is super clean and organized. There’s workers everywhere patrolling the shelves and being helpful. No employee leaves you to your own devices. And, everyone knows, if you have to use a fast food bathroom, look for red and white! Christians make things better.

Even more micro than someone’s place of buisness is my home. I may not have established a country or started a million dollar enterprise, but my home and my workspace can be a place where I make life better for everyone because I am a Believer and I follow Jesus. I can freely forgive someone who only knows grudges. I can help someone who needs help, and I can pray for someone who doesn’t want anything to do with me. I can love people, I can be patient with people, I can show kindness, generosity, and mercy. And I can even help to offer protection and to seek out  justice verbally and physically. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13) to do what he wants done. And he wants EVERYONE to see just how good he is so that everyone might come to repent and believe (2 Peter 3:9). And that is the best thing about HIM of all!

Dear God,
Your Ways are BEST! It’s unfortunate that people want the benefits of You without wanting anything to do with YOU. Thank you for equipping and encouraging the Believers to be “salt,” good because it’s YOUR goodness making things better. And we are “light” in that we boldly live how you prescribe so that everyone has a chance to see that your ways are the best. I love you and thank you. I thank you for where I live and for the opportunities that occur everyday for me to be salt and light to my own family and beyond. And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Disclaimer for the "good" people who think they are just good and don't need God:
There are a lot of people who believe that people are just good and that God has nothing to do with it. But if you meet a "good" person it is because of God's influence. All one has to do is look at completely godless nations and see the oppression and evil. Whether the "good" people like it or not a HUGE CHUNK of civilization was influenced by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ so much so that morality was born into great portions of the world that would have remained just as savage as some parts of the world remain today. It's not that people are basically good or immorality and savagery wouldn't still be around. The truth is, regardless of what you believe, that all of our ancestors were influenced by someone's "salt" and "light" long ago, and that is where "good" people come from. And the Believers simply give credit where credit is due.

22 November 2014
Why Christians don’t always get along with each other and What can be done about it

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Why is Christians not getting along with other Christians even a thing? What can we do about it?
Short Answer: Because we’re all at different stages and Nothing
Shorter Answer: Jesus and Jesus.

For as members of one body you are called to live in peace...  Paul points out what is wrong with us as individuals: We do what we don’t want to do and we don’t do what we do want to do because our trouble isn’t with God but our sin nature. We agree wholeheartedly with God’s Laws and what Jesus has done for us. But, Paul shares this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin (Romans 7:14-25). That kind of explains it. If Christians as individuals are having tiny daily wars within themselves, then Christians as a group might experience similar conflicts with each other since we are members of one Body and our own bodies within the Body has struggles.

So 2 Corinthians 13:11 tells us what we should be aiming for: Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

And Ephesians 4:3 points out that we are like minded in that we agree with everything that Jesus ever said and all that he has ever done for us. Christians agree on Jesus. But it takes effort and teamwork to agree agreeably. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

So, God has provided wise people to help. Ephesians 4:13 says that pastors, teachers, and elders will continue being responsible for equipping Believers in the Faith until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. And here’s the rub: Believers are not all on the same page at the same time... yet. We are at various stages of maturity. So there is conflict. Conflict within the church.

Paul gives excellent advice in Ephesians 4:2. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. And this is what we aim for. We understand we need this love to be showered upon us by others as much as we need to dish it out. But we all also live with Paul’s inner struggle, we all are at different stages of maturing in our faith, so we inevitably live with conflict with other Believers from time to time.

If I am to be united in the Spirit with other Believers, then maybe I also need to seek out Believers I am like-minded with. For example, a Believer who has strong personal opinions about food won’t be good company for someone who is free from that. Paul uses this very example in 1 Corinthians 8 and cites that these conflicts are due to different levels of maturity in Christ. But! He also points out that the responsibility lies on the mature Believer being the one who must be careful so that (their) freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:9).

But a mature Believer, careful as they may be, still has little wars waging in their hearts on occasion, doing what they don’t mean to do and meaning to do what they don’t do.

Even Paul himself stopped ministering with his faithful partner Barnabas at one point. Here’s two mature Believers working together in the church now not working together anymore. They had a disagreement about taking John Mark with them on their next trip. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.  Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there without his partner, Barnabas. And Barnabas and John Mark continued working in ministry as well. But not with Paul. Paul sought out someone he was in agreement with, Silas, in order to continue his ministry.

Are there occasions for me to seek out Believers I’m in agreement with in order to be united. Is this the effort required for making every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit? It doesn’t mean I don’t love everybody, but it does show that this side of heaven we will not always be able to work with or, as in Paul’s case, even be around all Believers all the time in a state of like-minded bliss. 

But that doesn’t mean we don’t work towards unity and hope for restoration just because there are times when we don’t live in it. Even Paul calls for John Mark (the object of his sharp disagreement) to come be with him in his last days (2 Timothy 4:11). Looks like Paul did aim for restoration and make every effort after all, but let God bring about the timing for all the hearts involved.

So I will too... In the meantime we seek out and work with those with whom we are like-minded so that we can experience the unity to which we have been called.  AND, at the same time, we entrust the restoration of the entire Body to the Lord. He worked it all out for Paul, so I’m positive he still knows how to do that, and that he will do it for me too, and for all the Believers. I should just keep working with the ones I am united with until we are ALL united together and restored. Every single one!

Dear God,
Along with aiming for peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control you ask me to aim for unity. And I thank you for your grace that makes unity possible, and I thank you for your grace still being showered on us where unity isn’t happening making restoration a real and true reality to hope for, wait for, and to be excited about. I love you so much, and I do pray for the group of people who all have your Grace in common to all get along. Help me to make allowances for other’s faults, to be humble and gentle, and to always aim for restoration. Thank you that Jesus makes absolutely every bit of this possible and showers me with grace and hope in the meantime. I love you and thank you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

18 November 2014
What God Does for Me and in Me
John 17:17
Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

God makes Believers holy. He “sets us apart,” puts us in the set of people who are not having their sins held against them anymore.

But God told his chosen people long ago to be holy (Leviticus 11:44); so wouldn’t that make holiness something we do for ourselves?

1 Peter 1:13-16
So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.  But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Apparently, holiness goes hand in hand with exercising self-control and obedience. So, once God has specially set us apart, we remain specially set apart. But I believe that holiness is still something God does for us and is not dependent upon my own skills in self-control or obedience because Jesus also said this: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) That means without Jesus, I don’t have the self-control or obedience skills necessary to be holy. (Neither did the Israelites; that’s why Jesus came!) It is Christ working inside my heart giving me the ability and the desire to do what pleases God (Philippians 2:13). 

So, back to square 1. Holiness comes from God. Remaining holy means remaining with him, and he just keeps making me holy.

Dear God,
Keep making me holy! I love it! I love being in the category of people who are justified. You see me as though I have never done anything wrong simply  because I believe in your Son. I LOVE this! Being holy is special, so special. Irreplaceable. Valuable. Freeing. So GOOD FOR MY HEART! Thank you, Lord, for what you have done for me and for what you continue to do in me. I love you and thank you and praise you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

14 November 2014
Suffering With Suffering
1 Peter 3:18
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

It’s really important to distinguish that Christ suffered for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to suffer for our sins. That doesn’t mean we won’t suffer. In fact, Jesus said a few things about suffering...

Matthew 5:10-12
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

John 16:33
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Clearly, by Jesus’ own words, Believers are not going to have a trouble free existence, so we should be very cautious of people who teach otherwise. 

The other thing to be cautious of is people who teach that our suffering makes us holy. That isn’t true. People who suffer more are not holier than those who suffer little nor are they deserving of more suffering for some reason.

God makes us holy when we believe in his Son. That’s it. HE is the one that sets us apart into the set of people that will not have their sins held against them any longer. We did not do that for ourselves or continue that for ourselves by what we go through. Likewise, my counterpart Believers on the other side of the world currently being truly persecuted for their faith did not do anything to suffer as some sort of punishment for lack of faith or something. Jesus told his disciples that the persecution that goes on is inevitable and everywhere so we need to be right with God because perishing in your sins is way worse than persecution.

Luke 13:1-4
About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.  “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem?  No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

During our lifetime many things will happen good and bad, so repentance is the most important thing. Jesus freely forgives, and his forgiveness is not dependent upon my good or bad circumstances. He makes it clear that we all will suffer to some degree or anther, but those who suffer more aren’t suffering more because they deserve it, nor are they suffering more to be more saved than they already are.

They are suffering more because Christians are all over the place and currently where they are geographically located is more dangerous for Christians right now than where I live. But I am called to pray for them and to remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies according to Hebrews 13:3. Because one day, maybe soon too, I will need them to remember to pray for me!

2 Timothy 3:12
...And everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But we do not suffer persecution to get a godly life. Simply, the whole world will not tolerate godliness for long.

Dear Lord Jesus,
I have no idea when and if a time for me to be persecuted will come, so I pray today for me to be strong and courageous, to always trust in you, and to always be looking forward to the things of heaven and not the things of earth. And it is imperative that I pray these same things for the persecuted church today. Most of whom I do not know, I am praying for faceless strangers, but you know each one of them personally. You love them just as much as you love me and you protect, provide, sustain, and guide them, and, best of all, personally welcome them into your presence just like you do and will do for ALL who love and trust you regardless of their geographic location. I love you and thank you. Thank you so much for suffering for my sins so that I don’t have to suffer for my sins. And thank you that YOU have overcome all the trouble I will have in life. Thank you so much! I love you and pray in your name, amen.

11 November 2014
A Real and Lasting Cure
1 John 2:15-16
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

All the world has to offer me is temporary pleasure and  satisfaction and a dependency upon my own ability to achieve and possess. That is disappointing for the one who desires lasting pleasure and satisfaction and lacks in abilities to achieve and possess. There’s always someone somewhere better and with more. Thank God there is an alternative!

I love being a Christian. Having Jesus is in my life is the only way to have doubt mixed with trust,  hope mixed with disbelief, and sadness mixed with joy. If someone without Jesus has doubt or sadness, that’s all they have is their doubt and sadness. They have to look to what is offered in life by the world to fill the holes in their heart. Their options include mind altering drugs prescription or otherwise, unreliable money, fleeting achievements as someone better comes along, uncertainty in the value of their possessions, relationship chasing, and suicide. There’s no hope, joy, peace, or comfort in any of those options. Physical pleasure, accumulation of stuff, achievements, and possessions only address  symptoms. No one likes going to a doctor who just prescribes treatment for their symptoms. Patients prefer an actual cure for the very cause of the disease. Likewise, no satisfaction of temporary cravings, achievements, or possessions reconciled my heart with God, so none of those things are going to cure what ails me.

What God gives us is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These things cure the holes in our hearts and are not dependent upon circumstances being favorable with our achievements, possessions, and/or pursuits.

So I won’t love the things that aren’t from God. Making sure everyone sees and knows what I have done or what I can do isn’t lasting and isn’t freeing. Accumulating pride, possessions, and popularity isn’t either. People pursue “good things” like these to make themselves feel better. But Jesus makes us feel better so we can do actual good things for him. That is better!

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:9-10)

Dear God,
Thank you for Jesus who treats my “disease” and not my symptoms. Thank you that Jesus has brought restoration between us and that makes me feel better and makes me well and free regardless of my circumstances. Help me not ever get caught up in the trap of thinking satisfying temporary cravings, achievements and possessions will make me feel better. None of those things reconciled me to you, so none of those things will help my heart. I love you and praise you, and thank you so much for a real and lasting cure! Amen!

10 November 2014
Hold On To Your Hats!
Job 37:5
God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

We don’t get too much thunder where we live, but thunder sure does get our attention, doesn’t it?

Thunder is exciting and scary at the same time. Whether God’s voice is literally or metaphorically in thunder, thunder is a perfect illustration of the awesomeness of God.

This verse reminds me of what C.S Lewis wrote about Aslan in his book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” 

God is good. God is strong. God is mighty and overpowering and all of the awe inspiring emotions conveyed in one loud crack of thunder. The imagery of God being a grandfather in the sky surrounded by unicorns and rainbows does not convey unimaginable greatness of power. But thunder gets that idea across.

On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. There was a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and all the people trembled.  Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the Lord had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.  As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply. The Lord came down on the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses climbed the mountain. (From Exodus 19:16-20)

God described here canNOT be mistaken for a grandfather in the sky or magic genie in a bottle. A clear and accurate portrayal of the One True and Living God is the dose of reality that we need to shake off the wimpy user friendly stigma society has been placing on God for generations.  Trusting God isn’t a safe comfy ride from the back seat, it is a hold on to your hats adventure of provision and protection, faith mixed with doubt, and troubles confounded by unspeakable joy! Thunder.

For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:4)

Dear God,
No one needs me to soften you up and say that you are to be feared, but in a good way... No, you are mighty and we do others a disservice by not accurately conveying just how mighty you are. So thank you for thunder that conveys your might full well to us all. I love you so much, and I love that trusting you is an adventure, not a comfortable safe ride. But I see firsthand daily how you protect and provide and save the day for me time and time again from your strength and greatness of power! Thank you for being mighty not wimpy! I love you and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

7 November 2014
Times of Refreshing
Acts 3:19-20
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord...

 Q: What immediately follows turning to God? 
A: Times of refreshment.

I know a lot of Believers who are plagued by guilt, stressed by decisions, and claim not to have peace. This should not be. We’ve repented of our sins, we’ve turned to God, and times of refreshment should follow. How is it that guilt, stress, or peacelessness can work its way back in to our lives?

Is it possible that we forget we turned to God even as Believers? He is the solution to all of our troubles. His Way is the foundation for all of our decision making. When we exclude God from our equations we begin to problem solve on our own. Oops! We can’t solve our problems on our own, that’s why we repented in the first place!

This is a real thing that real Christians do; we turn back from our turning back. Jesus points it out to a real church full of real Christians in Revelation 2:4-5.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches...”

Turn back to me.

Do the works you did at first.

If I am not enjoying a time of refreshing (And that refreshing comes from the HUGE relief that my sins are not being held against me anymore! And it also comes from the HUGE relief that the One True and Living God is on MY side, loving me, protecting me, and guiding me!), then it might be time to stop taking my life into my own hands again, turn back, and trust & love Jesus like I used to.

Times of refreshment... When a student turns in a big report that they worked on for weeks. When a newborn finally starts sleeping through the night. When a couple in a long distance romance finally get to say “I do.” When you get to use your 2 weeks vacation from your job. When your kids are big enough to do the dishes for you after dinner. But there is no time of refreshment for the student who doesn’t do their work, a parent who picks up a baby every time the baby cries, postponing a marriage, never cashing in on your vacation days, and never requiring your kids to do simple chores. Similarly, there is no time of refreshing for the Believer who gives God their burdens and then picks them all right back up again.

Jesus was totally and completely serious when he said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). “Rest” aka: time of refreshment!

Dear God,
Thank you that refreshment from you is the state in which you intend for me to live and is not at all dependent upon my circumstance, just the position of my heart. Help me not to fall into the trap of taking all my decision making and burdens upon myself today, but to just love you and trust you and ask you to help me do your will for my life and not let life just carry me away. I love you and I love your refreshing! And I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

5 November 2014
Wouldn’t that be nice?!
Romans 13:6
Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. (NLT)

This is also why you pay taxes. Rulers are working for God and give their time to their work. (NCV)

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. (NIV)

No matter how one interprets this verse the subject matter is clear: God’s design is for the world to be divided up into different sections each with its own system of government and leadership ever since the Tower of Babel incident.

Genesis 11:1-2,8-9
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. All of society was living together in one big group with no distinctions. This is what life was like before the Flood too and it led to complete destruction. In order to prevent that from happening again, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world. God scattered them, and we remain scattered to this day living in our own nations and cultures with diverse laws and rulers.

Not being one big fat huge culture living under one big roof is God’s plan. And anyone governing keeping those distinctions real are serving God’s purpose. Today’s rulers are serving God in what they do. They are serving God’s purpose for there to be distinctions among all the people of all the earth and for us to be governed by many and various governing bodies. I do not believe that all the leaders of the world are serving God in the capacity that I, as a Believer, seek to serve God since some of their ideas and practices are grossly contrary to Scripture and the known character of God.

Yesterday was election day in our country, and a big turnover occurred. I would like to hope and pray for our country to have leaders that not only lead to serve God’s purpose of separating our nation from the others, but also for us to have leaders who actually and personally serve the One True and Living God.

What a beautiful idea: One Nation Under God. A nation not only established by God, as he has established all nations since the Tower of Babel, but also a nation that is FOR God. Wouldn’t that be nice?!

Dear God,
Thank you for protecting me and my family every single day from really bad leadership established in this country. We put all of our hope and faith in you, not in any political official. But I do pray for those leaders given a new post last night to fear you and to do good and to seek to actually serve you while they serve your purpose for our nation. Thank you so much that no matter who is temporarily seated in Washington, YOU are forever seated on the Throne! I love you and praise you and thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.