Mathew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Has someone ever done something to you that you feel you just can't overlook?
Just how much mercy and forgiveness are we supposed to show others?
To see an analogy of how much GREATER God's mercy is than our mercy, let's look at Mathew Chapter 18 in the story of "The Unforgiving Servant."
--------------------
Matthew 18:21-35 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
"The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave""
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven. For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.
When he began to settle accounts, one who owed 10,000 talents was brought before him. Since he had no way to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt.
At this, the slave fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything!’
Then the master of that slave had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan.
But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him 100 denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’
At this, his fellow slave fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
But he wasn’t willing. On the contrary, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed.
When the other slaves saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened.
Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’
And his master got angry and handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed.
So My heavenly Father will also do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from his heart.
--------------------
The Greek meaning for ten thousand talents tallies up this way: a talent was worth about 20 years of a day laborer’s wages. One talent was equivalent to 6,000 denarii.
Likewise, a hundred pence (otherwise called a denarii ) was the usual daily wage of a day laborer.
So let's put that into an American comparison. The difference between ten thousand talents and 100 denarii can be seen if you walk over to the bottom of the Sears Tower, take out a quarter from your pocket and place that quarter on the ground right up next to the base of the tower.
Now look up to the top of the tower and look back down at your coin. The difference between the top of your coin and the top of the Sears Tower is the same proportion between the 10,000 talents and a hundred pence.
Now if we can figure out that proportion, we can be certain Jesus knew exactly what he was explaining to us in this story.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Mathew 5:7)
Likewise, Jesus tells us:
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Mathew 6:14-15
Bottom Line:
The choice to show mercy is ours, but God's grace is sufficient for us to fully forgive.
(2 Corinthians 12:8-1)
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Measure Twice!
Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
Proverbs 19:2
There's an age old saying: Measure twice, cut once.
It seems so logical, doesn't it? Can I tell you how many times I've measured once, then cut, then measured again only to find out it was wrong? You would laugh if you knew how many times I did that while finishing my basement. The irony is: the reason I didn't want to measure a second time is because it would take too long. Do you know how long it took for me to start over when I realized it was wrong? A long time!....Longer than you might think.
I'm sure you're thinking that it's only the time it would take me to start measuring a new piece that could be cut correctly, right? Oh no. After I cut the first piece wrong, my next 20 minutes are spent trying to find a way to still use the piece that I cut incorrectly, because I didn't want to start all over or waste the piece I cut wrong.
So, by skipping the second measurement, I was able to cram a 2 hour project into 6 hours, with a few unnecessary imperfections in the finished product! Impressive!
Today, let's take the appropriate amount of time to talk to God and get our day started correctly. That way, when that point later in the day comes where I would normally say something really stupid, I will think on what I learned during my time spent with God in the morning, and hopefully avoid the comment altogether.
Today, let's measure twice....and cut once!
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!
Proverbs 19:2
There's an age old saying: Measure twice, cut once.
It seems so logical, doesn't it? Can I tell you how many times I've measured once, then cut, then measured again only to find out it was wrong? You would laugh if you knew how many times I did that while finishing my basement. The irony is: the reason I didn't want to measure a second time is because it would take too long. Do you know how long it took for me to start over when I realized it was wrong? A long time!....Longer than you might think.
I'm sure you're thinking that it's only the time it would take me to start measuring a new piece that could be cut correctly, right? Oh no. After I cut the first piece wrong, my next 20 minutes are spent trying to find a way to still use the piece that I cut incorrectly, because I didn't want to start all over or waste the piece I cut wrong.
So, by skipping the second measurement, I was able to cram a 2 hour project into 6 hours, with a few unnecessary imperfections in the finished product! Impressive!
Today, let's take the appropriate amount of time to talk to God and get our day started correctly. That way, when that point later in the day comes where I would normally say something really stupid, I will think on what I learned during my time spent with God in the morning, and hopefully avoid the comment altogether.
Today, let's measure twice....and cut once!
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Stand Up! - By Stephanie McFadden
But [Peter] replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
A servant girl saw [Peter] seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with [Jesus].” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22: 33-34,56-62
In October of 2015, a man went into a classroom of a community college in Oregon, shot the professor and ordered the students to stand up if they were Christians. As they stood up, the gunman said, “Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second,” and then he shot them. 9 people died and 9 more were injured that day.... Because they believed in Jesus.
This event happened about 18 months ago, yet it is still very vivid in my memory. The story bothers me on so many levels. This (unfortunately) happens frequently all over the world-this time in America. In a school. Normal every-day people. Christians.
It scares me because I ask myself this question: How would I have reacted if I was one of those students?
Would I think of my Husband, children, parents, friends? Would I protect the other students? Would I look for a way out? Would I try to stop this disturbed man? Would I hide under the desk? Would I cry? Would I scream? Would I pray?
....Would I stand up?
Behind the comfort of my computer and the safety of my little ‘bubble’, my response is easy. Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I believe Jesus is my savior.
.... but if I was in a position where my life literally depended on my answer, what would I do?
Would my faith in God allow me to stand up?
or
Would fear make me freeze in my seat? Or worse.... would my fear make me deny Jesus?
Peter knows this situation all too well.
Peter was one of the 12 disciples. He spent three and a half years following Jesus. He physically walked next to Him, learned from Him, saw the miracles Jesus performed. Peter did believe Jesus was/is the real deal. In Luke 22:33, life is all hunky-dory. He loves Jesus and proclaims that he will be there for Jesus no matter what. In the next verse, Jesus warns Peter of his deception. I can picture Peter giving a weird look and saying something along the lines of “oh, come on, Jesus. That’s not gonna happen!”
However, in the next 22 verses, Peter watches the arrest of Jesus. Jesus is taken to Pilate and Herod for sentencing. He watches Jesus walk through the crowds of people who have now turned against Him- and are condemning those associated with Him. I can only imagine the emotions going through Peter’s head- sadness, confusion, panic, fear.
Paul is forced to make a decision: Be on the side of Jesus, or choose the “popular world-view”—quite literally, he’s choosing life or death.
It’s easy to be a Monday Morning Quarterback: The “woulda-coulda-shoulda” list is so much easier to analyze post-event than those in-the-moment actions. We can read this story and see the trouble that Peter is getting into as it’s playing out: we just want to stop and warn him! Doesn’t he know that siding with Jesus was the right choice, even if it wasn’t the easy option????... but, in the moment? Peter’s adrenaline had to be rising, his instincts to survive were kicking in. Satan’s seeds of doubt had to be growing inside of him. Even with Jesus’ warnings of deception, Peter’s fear overtook his faith. Peter was put into a tough situation and he failed Jesus... not once...not twice... but three times.
At that moment, he realized his failure. He was ashamed, embarrassed and disappointed in himself.
... and if Peter, one of Jesus’ chosen disciples and close friends, failed at acknowledging our Lord, couldn’t I do the same?
The truth is, we are forced to make this life-or-death decision every day. Every day, we choose to either accept Jesus, or we choose to deny Him. Every day we choose eternal life with Jesus, or not. Every day we need to acknowledge who He is and what He has done for us. Every day we need to grow our faith in Jesus and God. We need to make sure our faith is larger than our fears.
We need to make sure that when we are asked to stand by Jesus, we have an automatic response to Stand Up.
A servant girl saw [Peter] seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with [Jesus].” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Luke 22: 33-34,56-62
In October of 2015, a man went into a classroom of a community college in Oregon, shot the professor and ordered the students to stand up if they were Christians. As they stood up, the gunman said, “Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second,” and then he shot them. 9 people died and 9 more were injured that day.... Because they believed in Jesus.
This event happened about 18 months ago, yet it is still very vivid in my memory. The story bothers me on so many levels. This (unfortunately) happens frequently all over the world-this time in America. In a school. Normal every-day people. Christians.
It scares me because I ask myself this question: How would I have reacted if I was one of those students?
Would I think of my Husband, children, parents, friends? Would I protect the other students? Would I look for a way out? Would I try to stop this disturbed man? Would I hide under the desk? Would I cry? Would I scream? Would I pray?
....Would I stand up?
Behind the comfort of my computer and the safety of my little ‘bubble’, my response is easy. Yes, I am a Christian. Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I believe Jesus is my savior.
.... but if I was in a position where my life literally depended on my answer, what would I do?
Would my faith in God allow me to stand up?
or
Would fear make me freeze in my seat? Or worse.... would my fear make me deny Jesus?
Peter knows this situation all too well.
Peter was one of the 12 disciples. He spent three and a half years following Jesus. He physically walked next to Him, learned from Him, saw the miracles Jesus performed. Peter did believe Jesus was/is the real deal. In Luke 22:33, life is all hunky-dory. He loves Jesus and proclaims that he will be there for Jesus no matter what. In the next verse, Jesus warns Peter of his deception. I can picture Peter giving a weird look and saying something along the lines of “oh, come on, Jesus. That’s not gonna happen!”
However, in the next 22 verses, Peter watches the arrest of Jesus. Jesus is taken to Pilate and Herod for sentencing. He watches Jesus walk through the crowds of people who have now turned against Him- and are condemning those associated with Him. I can only imagine the emotions going through Peter’s head- sadness, confusion, panic, fear.
Paul is forced to make a decision: Be on the side of Jesus, or choose the “popular world-view”—quite literally, he’s choosing life or death.
It’s easy to be a Monday Morning Quarterback: The “woulda-coulda-shoulda” list is so much easier to analyze post-event than those in-the-moment actions. We can read this story and see the trouble that Peter is getting into as it’s playing out: we just want to stop and warn him! Doesn’t he know that siding with Jesus was the right choice, even if it wasn’t the easy option????... but, in the moment? Peter’s adrenaline had to be rising, his instincts to survive were kicking in. Satan’s seeds of doubt had to be growing inside of him. Even with Jesus’ warnings of deception, Peter’s fear overtook his faith. Peter was put into a tough situation and he failed Jesus... not once...not twice... but three times.
At that moment, he realized his failure. He was ashamed, embarrassed and disappointed in himself.
... and if Peter, one of Jesus’ chosen disciples and close friends, failed at acknowledging our Lord, couldn’t I do the same?
The truth is, we are forced to make this life-or-death decision every day. Every day, we choose to either accept Jesus, or we choose to deny Him. Every day we choose eternal life with Jesus, or not. Every day we need to acknowledge who He is and what He has done for us. Every day we need to grow our faith in Jesus and God. We need to make sure our faith is larger than our fears.
We need to make sure that when we are asked to stand by Jesus, we have an automatic response to Stand Up.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Inside God's Head
When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way.
Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Genesis 18:16-33
There are so many things that are very interesting about this conversation. Let's look at a few of them:
- Do you know why the United States of America has been a successful nation? it has nothing to do with how "good" we are, or what we all invented here, or how hard we worked to build it. God has blessed the United States for 1 simple reason: we provided a safe haven for His chosen people. The first time God says it is right here: "...all nations of the earth will be blessed through him." We have protected the Jews when they needed it. That's is. That's all there is to it. We are blessed for that simple reason. So, by definition, as soon as we stop supporting God's chosen people, the nation of Israel, that's when God stops blessing our nation, and it all falls apart.
- Abraham hung out with God and 2 angels, like it was no big deal. Could you imagine that? God and 2 of His angels literally just showed up for dinner and spent the evening talking with Abraham. They even went for a walk afterwards! I have to say: that would be the coolest thing I could imagine ever doing in my life.
- Sometimes God thinks out loud. I find this intriguing. Out loud, He has a discussion with His angels asking: I'm thinking I should probably tell Abraham what I'm about to do to these 2 cities, right? First, it's a sign that sometimes God has not fully made up His mind about some things, and that He can be swayed one way or the other by us. That must be how much He values us. Now, Abraham is standing right there while God is saying that, so he can clearly hear it. Could you imagine that? I'd be like: ummm, excuse me....God...what is it you're about to do again? you know I have family there, right?
- God is very patient with us. This is the guy who just previously had a kid with the maid, completely against what God had planned for his life. Yes God still liked him enough to reason with him about destroying this city. This is the most intriguing to me. Reading the stories in the Bible, you can quickly learn that God doesn't choose who He likes and dislikes by the same standards we do.
He favored Abraham after he just had a kid with the maid. He favored David after he just killed a woman's husband just so he could have her. He favored Solomon even though he married 300 times. He favored Peter even after he openly denied Jesus 3 times. He favored Paul after the horrible stoning of Stephen to death.
It's just another sign that God does not think the way our culture thinks.
Today, let's think on this. Let's think about our relationship with God. Let's think about what God really wants from us today. Let's make sure we're living our life the way God wants us to live it, and not the way our culture says that a Christian is supposed to be.
Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”
Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”
The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord.
Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”
He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”
Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.
Genesis 18:16-33
There are so many things that are very interesting about this conversation. Let's look at a few of them:
- Do you know why the United States of America has been a successful nation? it has nothing to do with how "good" we are, or what we all invented here, or how hard we worked to build it. God has blessed the United States for 1 simple reason: we provided a safe haven for His chosen people. The first time God says it is right here: "...all nations of the earth will be blessed through him." We have protected the Jews when they needed it. That's is. That's all there is to it. We are blessed for that simple reason. So, by definition, as soon as we stop supporting God's chosen people, the nation of Israel, that's when God stops blessing our nation, and it all falls apart.
- Abraham hung out with God and 2 angels, like it was no big deal. Could you imagine that? God and 2 of His angels literally just showed up for dinner and spent the evening talking with Abraham. They even went for a walk afterwards! I have to say: that would be the coolest thing I could imagine ever doing in my life.
- Sometimes God thinks out loud. I find this intriguing. Out loud, He has a discussion with His angels asking: I'm thinking I should probably tell Abraham what I'm about to do to these 2 cities, right? First, it's a sign that sometimes God has not fully made up His mind about some things, and that He can be swayed one way or the other by us. That must be how much He values us. Now, Abraham is standing right there while God is saying that, so he can clearly hear it. Could you imagine that? I'd be like: ummm, excuse me....God...what is it you're about to do again? you know I have family there, right?
- God is very patient with us. This is the guy who just previously had a kid with the maid, completely against what God had planned for his life. Yes God still liked him enough to reason with him about destroying this city. This is the most intriguing to me. Reading the stories in the Bible, you can quickly learn that God doesn't choose who He likes and dislikes by the same standards we do.
He favored Abraham after he just had a kid with the maid. He favored David after he just killed a woman's husband just so he could have her. He favored Solomon even though he married 300 times. He favored Peter even after he openly denied Jesus 3 times. He favored Paul after the horrible stoning of Stephen to death.
It's just another sign that God does not think the way our culture thinks.
Today, let's think on this. Let's think about our relationship with God. Let's think about what God really wants from us today. Let's make sure we're living our life the way God wants us to live it, and not the way our culture says that a Christian is supposed to be.
Friday, March 24, 2017
Guts
God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
Genesis 17:15-17
Have you ever noticed that we become more arrogant the longer we know someone? I know it's true for me. When I first meet someone, I'm usually pretty good (some may disagree, ha). As we get to know someone over time, we tend to become more relaxed with them. Given enough time, the arrogance may start to show.
I think that may be what is going on here with Abraham.
Could you imagine actually talking with God? I'd be scared to death! If I were in a conversation with God, I assure you that I'd mostly just keep my mouth shut and say "yes sir" a lot, you know? I can tell you with certainty that I would not laugh at Him for something he said! No way!!!
That's what Abraham did here though. Abraham literally laughed at God for what he said, thinking He was crazy for saying it. Can you picture it? "Really God, ha, I'm going to have a kid at 100 years old? you're kidding, right?"
The only reason I can think that he was like this is because he spoke directly to God so many times in his life that he became relaxed around God.
Do you think we do that in our Christian life sometimes? At first, we make sure to read the Bible and study, always trying to grow closer to God. But then, over time, we tend to become relaxed. We start to stray away and become a little too relaxed in our Christian life.
Today, let's not get relaxed in our walk with God. Let's stay focused. Let's keep moving forward towards the goal of being more like God every day.
Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
Genesis 17:15-17
Have you ever noticed that we become more arrogant the longer we know someone? I know it's true for me. When I first meet someone, I'm usually pretty good (some may disagree, ha). As we get to know someone over time, we tend to become more relaxed with them. Given enough time, the arrogance may start to show.
I think that may be what is going on here with Abraham.
Could you imagine actually talking with God? I'd be scared to death! If I were in a conversation with God, I assure you that I'd mostly just keep my mouth shut and say "yes sir" a lot, you know? I can tell you with certainty that I would not laugh at Him for something he said! No way!!!
That's what Abraham did here though. Abraham literally laughed at God for what he said, thinking He was crazy for saying it. Can you picture it? "Really God, ha, I'm going to have a kid at 100 years old? you're kidding, right?"
The only reason I can think that he was like this is because he spoke directly to God so many times in his life that he became relaxed around God.
Do you think we do that in our Christian life sometimes? At first, we make sure to read the Bible and study, always trying to grow closer to God. But then, over time, we tend to become relaxed. We start to stray away and become a little too relaxed in our Christian life.
Today, let's not get relaxed in our walk with God. Let's stay focused. Let's keep moving forward towards the goal of being more like God every day.
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Did you just eat? Are you full? - by Carol McFadden
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled."
(Mathew 5: 6)
The Greek word for "righteousness" means "rightwiseness." Righteousness is not all that complicated; it means doing what is right and asking God for His wisdom before we think, speak or plan. That's a great goal in life, isn't it?
The problem is that having something as a goal vs "hungering and thirsting" after it is not the same endeavor at all. The two are worlds apart. One is just a pie in the sky goal, and the other is an attitude that consumes us.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst after something?
Pregnant women often crave food. They say it often: "I'm dying to eat a (fill in the blank)!"
One pregnant lady described it something like this:
It's basically as if you feel like you're going to die unless you fulfill that craving. It's all you can think about, and no matter what you eat or what you drink, you won't feel satisfied until you get that one, specific food or drink. You can't really think about anything else but THAT item.
For example, if you're craving peaches, you will stop at nothing to get peaches. You won't settle for nectarines, or peach yogurt, or some other random fruit you have on hand... you will get in the car and drive as far as you can to get peaches, and you won't rest until you do.
In a similar way, if a cowboy is trapped in the middle of a desert and his canteen ran out of water 20 miles ago, he'll drag himself along for as long as he can to try to drink from the next watering hole.
Here's the problem, though. Just because you are aware that you need to be craving God, hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, doesn’t mean that you are. So what should you do if you're NOT craving God's righteousness?
"Ask, and it will be given to you."
(Matthew 7:7)
Ask Him for this beatitude's attitude. If you'll ask, God will bless you with a hunger for His right way of thinking. He will make you thirst for His righteousness.
And then, He will empty you of YOU and fill you up with HIM.
(Mathew 5: 6)
The Greek word for "righteousness" means "rightwiseness." Righteousness is not all that complicated; it means doing what is right and asking God for His wisdom before we think, speak or plan. That's a great goal in life, isn't it?
The problem is that having something as a goal vs "hungering and thirsting" after it is not the same endeavor at all. The two are worlds apart. One is just a pie in the sky goal, and the other is an attitude that consumes us.
So what does it mean to hunger and thirst after something?
Pregnant women often crave food. They say it often: "I'm dying to eat a (fill in the blank)!"
One pregnant lady described it something like this:
It's basically as if you feel like you're going to die unless you fulfill that craving. It's all you can think about, and no matter what you eat or what you drink, you won't feel satisfied until you get that one, specific food or drink. You can't really think about anything else but THAT item.
For example, if you're craving peaches, you will stop at nothing to get peaches. You won't settle for nectarines, or peach yogurt, or some other random fruit you have on hand... you will get in the car and drive as far as you can to get peaches, and you won't rest until you do.
In a similar way, if a cowboy is trapped in the middle of a desert and his canteen ran out of water 20 miles ago, he'll drag himself along for as long as he can to try to drink from the next watering hole.
Here's the problem, though. Just because you are aware that you need to be craving God, hungering and thirsting after His righteousness, doesn’t mean that you are. So what should you do if you're NOT craving God's righteousness?
"Ask, and it will be given to you."
(Matthew 7:7)
Ask Him for this beatitude's attitude. If you'll ask, God will bless you with a hunger for His right way of thinking. He will make you thirst for His righteousness.
And then, He will empty you of YOU and fill you up with HIM.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
A Little More - by Stephanie McFadden
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (ESV)
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to get away on a girls-only crafty weekend- We ranged in age from early 20 to 70s. We were comprised of college students, stay at home moms, Ladies with “big girl jobs”, and retirees. Some of us were married, some were single, some were divorced. Some of us had kids still living at home, a few had grandchildren, and others had fur babies. Some of us lived 10 minutes away from the retreat house, where others drove up to 6 hours to get there. Some were talkers, others were more reserved. Some leaned liberal in their views, others leaned more conservative. Some were Christians, some were not. We were all different.
Over the course of the 72 hours, most of our time was spent sitting in the main room, crafting and chatting. As I am listening to these ladies tell their stories, I sat back in awe of the inner strength of these women who have been/are going through some serious life issues: Divorce, death, cancer, loss of jobs, health issues, mental illness, etc. I have met most of those ladies before, but I had no idea the struggles and burdens they had to carry.
The conversations were amazing: encouraging, respectful, loving. Women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and experiences coming together to bring each other up. Supporting each other, adding advice in a humble, polite, and respectful way, and just being the listening ear and shoulder to lean on.
Isn’t that what Christ does for us? He lifts us up, gives us hope and grace, shows us love and compassion, and is our rock to lean on. He’s with us for every step of our journey.
The fact is, we only know of the journey we are on. We will never know the journey God has asked other people to walk. Everyone is fighting some sort of a battle and maybe they need us to be “just a little more” to show them the light of Jesus.
Let’s make an effort to be “a little more” to those around us... Let’s be a little more kind...a little more caring... a little more forgiving... a little more empathetic... a little more respectful...
...be a little more “Jesus”.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to get away on a girls-only crafty weekend- We ranged in age from early 20 to 70s. We were comprised of college students, stay at home moms, Ladies with “big girl jobs”, and retirees. Some of us were married, some were single, some were divorced. Some of us had kids still living at home, a few had grandchildren, and others had fur babies. Some of us lived 10 minutes away from the retreat house, where others drove up to 6 hours to get there. Some were talkers, others were more reserved. Some leaned liberal in their views, others leaned more conservative. Some were Christians, some were not. We were all different.
Over the course of the 72 hours, most of our time was spent sitting in the main room, crafting and chatting. As I am listening to these ladies tell their stories, I sat back in awe of the inner strength of these women who have been/are going through some serious life issues: Divorce, death, cancer, loss of jobs, health issues, mental illness, etc. I have met most of those ladies before, but I had no idea the struggles and burdens they had to carry.
The conversations were amazing: encouraging, respectful, loving. Women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and experiences coming together to bring each other up. Supporting each other, adding advice in a humble, polite, and respectful way, and just being the listening ear and shoulder to lean on.
Isn’t that what Christ does for us? He lifts us up, gives us hope and grace, shows us love and compassion, and is our rock to lean on. He’s with us for every step of our journey.
The fact is, we only know of the journey we are on. We will never know the journey God has asked other people to walk. Everyone is fighting some sort of a battle and maybe they need us to be “just a little more” to show them the light of Jesus.
Let’s make an effort to be “a little more” to those around us... Let’s be a little more kind...a little more caring... a little more forgiving... a little more empathetic... a little more respectful...
...be a little more “Jesus”.
Monday, March 20, 2017
I Was Right!
The way of fools seems right to them,
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
Such a simple verse, yet so difficult to apply.
From reading this verse it almost seems impossible to know if you're on the right track in life, doesn't it?
If you are a fool, you will not realize it, because you will think you are on the right path.
Sometimes, however, if you are on the right path, you will get a lot of criticism from others, as the right path is, many times, unpopular.
Other times, you will be on the wrong path, yet the people around you will praise you for it.
So, how do you know if you're doing the right thing? It can be tough.
In this verse, God says that the wise man listens to advice. God says we need to be listening to feedback from other people about our life, and learn from it. Notice, in this verse, He doesn't say we ONLY need to listen to the feedback from people who we know will tell us what we want to hear. We are to listen to all of the feedback, and discern if there is something we need to change about our life.
Do you know what many of us do in this situation? Many of us justify our behavior by saying that we were right. Many times we can even prove using the Bible that what we said was right, thereby "justifying" ourselves, and considering the feedback from others as "persecution." I believe this is the most dangerous trap that many of us fall into in our lives. Most of the time, however, the feedback others are giving us is not because of what we said. It's either because of the way we said it, the pride that lived behind it, the timing in which it was said, etc....Overall, it most likely was the attitude behind the statement that brought the criticism.
Today, let's be aware of the feedback we receive from other people. when we receive criticism from others, especially when it comes from many people, let's make sure we ask questions behind the criticism, so we can fully understand what it is they believe we are doing or saying wrong. Once we understand the details, let's pray and search the Bible to understand if there is something in our lives that we need to adjust.
The reality is this: most of the time when we consider criticism from others as "persecution" for doing the right thing, the true issue is our own pride is showing, and people are reacting badly to it.
but the wise listen to advice.
Proverbs 12:15
Such a simple verse, yet so difficult to apply.
From reading this verse it almost seems impossible to know if you're on the right track in life, doesn't it?
If you are a fool, you will not realize it, because you will think you are on the right path.
Sometimes, however, if you are on the right path, you will get a lot of criticism from others, as the right path is, many times, unpopular.
Other times, you will be on the wrong path, yet the people around you will praise you for it.
So, how do you know if you're doing the right thing? It can be tough.
In this verse, God says that the wise man listens to advice. God says we need to be listening to feedback from other people about our life, and learn from it. Notice, in this verse, He doesn't say we ONLY need to listen to the feedback from people who we know will tell us what we want to hear. We are to listen to all of the feedback, and discern if there is something we need to change about our life.
Do you know what many of us do in this situation? Many of us justify our behavior by saying that we were right. Many times we can even prove using the Bible that what we said was right, thereby "justifying" ourselves, and considering the feedback from others as "persecution." I believe this is the most dangerous trap that many of us fall into in our lives. Most of the time, however, the feedback others are giving us is not because of what we said. It's either because of the way we said it, the pride that lived behind it, the timing in which it was said, etc....Overall, it most likely was the attitude behind the statement that brought the criticism.
Today, let's be aware of the feedback we receive from other people. when we receive criticism from others, especially when it comes from many people, let's make sure we ask questions behind the criticism, so we can fully understand what it is they believe we are doing or saying wrong. Once we understand the details, let's pray and search the Bible to understand if there is something in our lives that we need to adjust.
The reality is this: most of the time when we consider criticism from others as "persecution" for doing the right thing, the true issue is our own pride is showing, and people are reacting badly to it.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Whose Team Are We Playing For? - by Carol McFadden
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” ( Matthew 5:5).
When I consider meekness, and how our world's attitudes are literally STARVING for meekness, I remember a sermon illustration I read that was given on Superbowl Sunday not too long ago. Now mind you, I know practically nothing about football, but I had no problem relating to this football story analogy.
The story begins with Ralph Jordan who was the coach of the Auburn Tigers of Auburn University in Alabama from 1951 to 1975. Ralph Jordan's coaching won more games than any other coach in Auburn football history.
Coach Jordan asked a former Auburn linebacker named Mike Kollin, who played for the Miami Dolphins, if he would help Auburn do some recruiting of talented players. Mike Kollin said he would be happy to help, and then asked
the coach what kind of player he was looking for.
The coach answered, “Well, Mike, you know there’s that fellow, you knock
him down, he just stays down?”
Mike said, “We don’t want him, do we coach?”
“No, we don’t want him. Then there’s that fellow, you knock him down and he gets up, you knock him down again, and
he stays down.”
Mike replied, “We don’t want him either, do we coach?”
Coach Jordan said, “No, but Mike there’s a fellow, you knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock
him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up.”
Mike replied, “That’s the guy we want, isn’t it, coach?
Coach Jordan answered, “No Mike, we don’t want him either. I want you to find the guy who is knocking everybody down. That’s the guy we want.”
Folks, that IS TRULY what the world is looking for, the big, bold, brazen, self-assertive guy who parts the crowd when he walks down the street (or, in my case, when she earns a thunderous applause upon entering her 6th grade classroom right after the recess where she punched that kid in the nose after his 5th attempt to disrupt their double-dutch game of jump rope).
The world's citizens are attracted to power - political power, financial power, business power. The women want power. The husbands want power. The media wants power. North Korea wants power. The special interest groups want power. Your teens want power. Even your three-year-old wants power.
Hey, I'll admit it, I WANT POWER!!!
But power is NOT the same as strength, and strength, NOT power, is what God's Kingdom is looking for - strength under control.
Let's back up for a second to give ourselves a chance to really understand what kind of people God wants for His Kingdom.
To be "poor in spirit" (realizing that we have zero control over anything, that we are bankrupt before God, unable to save ourselves) will bring us to the realization we need to mourn over our utter depravity as sinful humans and turn to a perfect, loving God for forgiveness and a fresh start.
So now, if we've faced up to the fact that "apart from Him we can do nothing" and that "even the good things we do are as filthy rags," we are ready to listen to God and hear Him when he tells us to put on an attitude of meekness.
Meakness is REQUIRED for anyone hoping to be part of God's Kingdom right now and for anyone hoping to inherit the earth when Christ sets up His rule over the planet for a thousand years during God's Millennial Kingdom.
And to be sure, putting on an attitude of meekness is the FRESH START that we each need TODAY if we hope to make it in life.
Here's what the world just doesn't get:
Success requires that we take the focus off of us and put it on to God.
So what exactly is meekness? Is meekness the same as weakness?
Absolutely not!
The Greek word translated “meek” is "praeis,"and it refers to a mildness, a gentleness of spirit, or humility.
Meekness is having the right to do something but putting aside that right for the benefit of someone else.
Meekness is knowing you have the power to do something but refraining to exert that power for the benefit of someone else.
Meekness is strength under control.
Meekness demonstrates humility toward God and toward others. In fact, we can't show humility toward God until we first show humility toward others. This is because humility is a demonstration to others of God's kind of love.
In John 13:34-35, God tells us:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So then, if we are not loving one another or acting in love toward one another, everyone will know that we are NOT His disciples.
And. . . To take that to the next step, if we are not demonstrating an attitude of meekness to one another, then everyone will know that we are NOT disciples of Jesus Christ.
Paul urged meekness in Ephesians 4:1–2
when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (and, yes, that includes being patient, humble and gentle toward our kids when they're driving us crazy and toward our spouse when he/she is treating us with pride and smugness.)
See, meekness is not weakness.
Meekness takes a lot of intentional, loving, humble CHOOSING on our part.
Meekness is taking each of our rights and either setting it on the back burner or, if immediate action is required, exercising that action with an appropriate attitude of humility.
Maybe that person needs to be able to count on our patience (when, really, we've just about had it up to the clouds with their attempts to control us).
Maybe that person needs to see our humility (when, really, we want to give them a piece of our mind).
Maybe that person needs to feel our gentleness (when, really, we think they deserve to experience a painful punishment for abusing and insulting us --- I mean, they even said it to us in front of others!!!).
Does this mean we allow another person to manipulate us? Of course not! Meekness means we recognize the manipulation and stand up to it with an ATTITUDE of mildness, patience, kindness, gentleness and humility.
Does showing meekness seem hard to you?
I'll be honest, meekness seems hard to me because my first response in "defending and protecting " myself does not normally include an attitude of meekness. After all, don't I deserve some respect, or at the very least, a listening ear?
And right there, that whole demanding, "me-first" attitude on my part is a sign of weakness, not meekness.
When we are meek, we are not weak, we are strong, strong in God's love.
And God says that meek folks are the kind of people who will inherit the earth.
So where does that leave us now?
Well, speaking for myself, since I'm not naturally meek, it leaves me hungering and thirsting after a righteousness that I don't naturally possess.
And THAT will take us into next week's beatitude of "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled."
Meanwhile, why not "try out" for God's football team? He's recruiting the meek guys and gals this very moment because He wants a strong team today.
But realize this: Jesus plays a whole different ball game, and He doesn't want players who simply believe in Him. Anyone can believe, but only true followers passionately pursue EVERY opportunity to allow their Almighty Coach to take over EVERY attitude they own.
Meekness? Do you have what it takes?
When I consider meekness, and how our world's attitudes are literally STARVING for meekness, I remember a sermon illustration I read that was given on Superbowl Sunday not too long ago. Now mind you, I know practically nothing about football, but I had no problem relating to this football story analogy.
The story begins with Ralph Jordan who was the coach of the Auburn Tigers of Auburn University in Alabama from 1951 to 1975. Ralph Jordan's coaching won more games than any other coach in Auburn football history.
Coach Jordan asked a former Auburn linebacker named Mike Kollin, who played for the Miami Dolphins, if he would help Auburn do some recruiting of talented players. Mike Kollin said he would be happy to help, and then asked
the coach what kind of player he was looking for.
The coach answered, “Well, Mike, you know there’s that fellow, you knock
him down, he just stays down?”
Mike said, “We don’t want him, do we coach?”
“No, we don’t want him. Then there’s that fellow, you knock him down and he gets up, you knock him down again, and
he stays down.”
Mike replied, “We don’t want him either, do we coach?”
Coach Jordan said, “No, but Mike there’s a fellow, you knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock
him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up.”
Mike replied, “That’s the guy we want, isn’t it, coach?
Coach Jordan answered, “No Mike, we don’t want him either. I want you to find the guy who is knocking everybody down. That’s the guy we want.”
Folks, that IS TRULY what the world is looking for, the big, bold, brazen, self-assertive guy who parts the crowd when he walks down the street (or, in my case, when she earns a thunderous applause upon entering her 6th grade classroom right after the recess where she punched that kid in the nose after his 5th attempt to disrupt their double-dutch game of jump rope).
The world's citizens are attracted to power - political power, financial power, business power. The women want power. The husbands want power. The media wants power. North Korea wants power. The special interest groups want power. Your teens want power. Even your three-year-old wants power.
Hey, I'll admit it, I WANT POWER!!!
But power is NOT the same as strength, and strength, NOT power, is what God's Kingdom is looking for - strength under control.
Let's back up for a second to give ourselves a chance to really understand what kind of people God wants for His Kingdom.
To be "poor in spirit" (realizing that we have zero control over anything, that we are bankrupt before God, unable to save ourselves) will bring us to the realization we need to mourn over our utter depravity as sinful humans and turn to a perfect, loving God for forgiveness and a fresh start.
So now, if we've faced up to the fact that "apart from Him we can do nothing" and that "even the good things we do are as filthy rags," we are ready to listen to God and hear Him when he tells us to put on an attitude of meekness.
Meakness is REQUIRED for anyone hoping to be part of God's Kingdom right now and for anyone hoping to inherit the earth when Christ sets up His rule over the planet for a thousand years during God's Millennial Kingdom.
And to be sure, putting on an attitude of meekness is the FRESH START that we each need TODAY if we hope to make it in life.
Here's what the world just doesn't get:
Success requires that we take the focus off of us and put it on to God.
So what exactly is meekness? Is meekness the same as weakness?
Absolutely not!
The Greek word translated “meek” is "praeis,"and it refers to a mildness, a gentleness of spirit, or humility.
Meekness is having the right to do something but putting aside that right for the benefit of someone else.
Meekness is knowing you have the power to do something but refraining to exert that power for the benefit of someone else.
Meekness is strength under control.
Meekness demonstrates humility toward God and toward others. In fact, we can't show humility toward God until we first show humility toward others. This is because humility is a demonstration to others of God's kind of love.
In John 13:34-35, God tells us:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So then, if we are not loving one another or acting in love toward one another, everyone will know that we are NOT His disciples.
And. . . To take that to the next step, if we are not demonstrating an attitude of meekness to one another, then everyone will know that we are NOT disciples of Jesus Christ.
Paul urged meekness in Ephesians 4:1–2
when he told us “to live a life worthy of the calling we have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (and, yes, that includes being patient, humble and gentle toward our kids when they're driving us crazy and toward our spouse when he/she is treating us with pride and smugness.)
See, meekness is not weakness.
Meekness takes a lot of intentional, loving, humble CHOOSING on our part.
Meekness is taking each of our rights and either setting it on the back burner or, if immediate action is required, exercising that action with an appropriate attitude of humility.
Maybe that person needs to be able to count on our patience (when, really, we've just about had it up to the clouds with their attempts to control us).
Maybe that person needs to see our humility (when, really, we want to give them a piece of our mind).
Maybe that person needs to feel our gentleness (when, really, we think they deserve to experience a painful punishment for abusing and insulting us --- I mean, they even said it to us in front of others!!!).
Does this mean we allow another person to manipulate us? Of course not! Meekness means we recognize the manipulation and stand up to it with an ATTITUDE of mildness, patience, kindness, gentleness and humility.
Does showing meekness seem hard to you?
I'll be honest, meekness seems hard to me because my first response in "defending and protecting " myself does not normally include an attitude of meekness. After all, don't I deserve some respect, or at the very least, a listening ear?
And right there, that whole demanding, "me-first" attitude on my part is a sign of weakness, not meekness.
When we are meek, we are not weak, we are strong, strong in God's love.
And God says that meek folks are the kind of people who will inherit the earth.
So where does that leave us now?
Well, speaking for myself, since I'm not naturally meek, it leaves me hungering and thirsting after a righteousness that I don't naturally possess.
And THAT will take us into next week's beatitude of "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled."
Meanwhile, why not "try out" for God's football team? He's recruiting the meek guys and gals this very moment because He wants a strong team today.
But realize this: Jesus plays a whole different ball game, and He doesn't want players who simply believe in Him. Anyone can believe, but only true followers passionately pursue EVERY opportunity to allow their Almighty Coach to take over EVERY attitude they own.
Meekness? Do you have what it takes?
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Springer
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”
“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.
Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”
Genesis 16:1-12
Ok, seriously....there's about 10 things wrong with this whole story. It's like a 4 thousand year old Jerry Springer episode, isn't it?
From reading this, here's my list of things that simply intrigues me about this story:
- Sarai, in what world did you think it would be a good idea to have your husband sleep with the maid? are you kidding me?
- Abram, clearly when she suggested that, it was just an emotional reaction because she felt responsible for not giving you your kids. This is cleary one of those situations where maybe you should have heard what she meant instead of what she actually said! Come on man! Even I know that!! dumb! She was right to blame you even though it was her suggestion! You were supposed to say no!
- Really Abram? did you seriously just respond to her by saying it's not your problem? Your slave, your issue Sarai. Really? It's a good thing this happened 4,000 years ago and not today. If you said this to her in today's culture, she would have had your bags on the porch by that night!!!
- More seriously, the most intriguing thing to me is that God still kept his promise to Abram. God promised Abram that his descendants would become a great nation. Now, when He made that promise, it was intended to be the descendants of him and his wife Sarai. Even though Abram had kids with another woman, God kept his promise.
Today, we continue to suffer the consequences of that sin. God promised Abram that his descendants would be given the promised land. Because Abram had 2 different sons, those 2 nations continue to fight even today over the nation that they were both technically promised.
As we go through the day, let's think about this. Sometimes we think this small sin won't hurt anyone. The reality is that sin has lasting consequences beyond what we know at the time we commit the sin.
So, before we think about that next "small" sin, let's think about the time where, one day, a regular guy decided to do something really stupid, that at the time he probably thought was no big deal, but ended up causing an issue between many thousands of people over a 4,000 year time, and still continues today.
Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”
“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.
Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
The angel of the Lord also said to her:
“You are now pregnant
and you will give birth to a son.
You shall name him Ishmael,
for the Lord has heard of your misery.
He will be a wild donkey of a man;
his hand will be against everyone
and everyone’s hand against him,
and he will live in hostility
toward all his brothers.”
Genesis 16:1-12
Ok, seriously....there's about 10 things wrong with this whole story. It's like a 4 thousand year old Jerry Springer episode, isn't it?
From reading this, here's my list of things that simply intrigues me about this story:
- Sarai, in what world did you think it would be a good idea to have your husband sleep with the maid? are you kidding me?
- Abram, clearly when she suggested that, it was just an emotional reaction because she felt responsible for not giving you your kids. This is cleary one of those situations where maybe you should have heard what she meant instead of what she actually said! Come on man! Even I know that!! dumb! She was right to blame you even though it was her suggestion! You were supposed to say no!
- Really Abram? did you seriously just respond to her by saying it's not your problem? Your slave, your issue Sarai. Really? It's a good thing this happened 4,000 years ago and not today. If you said this to her in today's culture, she would have had your bags on the porch by that night!!!
- More seriously, the most intriguing thing to me is that God still kept his promise to Abram. God promised Abram that his descendants would become a great nation. Now, when He made that promise, it was intended to be the descendants of him and his wife Sarai. Even though Abram had kids with another woman, God kept his promise.
Today, we continue to suffer the consequences of that sin. God promised Abram that his descendants would be given the promised land. Because Abram had 2 different sons, those 2 nations continue to fight even today over the nation that they were both technically promised.
As we go through the day, let's think about this. Sometimes we think this small sin won't hurt anyone. The reality is that sin has lasting consequences beyond what we know at the time we commit the sin.
So, before we think about that next "small" sin, let's think about the time where, one day, a regular guy decided to do something really stupid, that at the time he probably thought was no big deal, but ended up causing an issue between many thousands of people over a 4,000 year time, and still continues today.
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
Focus - by Stephanie McFadden
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
Writing a devotional does not come easy for me- it fact, it takes me a long time to write these! Between reading, studying, figuring out to write about, and the million iterations and drafts, it takes me most of the week to write one post. This past week was no exception: I had a hard time focusing. I must have started this devotional 100 times.... and every time I was distracted. While I was spending time researching which verse I wanted to write about, my daughter needed help with her math test. When I sat down to write about the verse I (originally) picked, we had a giant windstorm with power outages. This past week, there was also a scheduled half day at school, some boo-boos which needed Mom-Cuddling-and-Care, appointments, and all of the other things I need to take care of on a weekly basis (basically, life happened) .... and before I knew it, it was the (busy!) weekend.
Panic!
I needed to work on a devotional! I found a few bible verses I liked and I had a few small notes written, but nothing was coming together. I couldn’t make a point. My words were just as jumbled as my thoughts. My mind was all over the place. I needed to focus.
Do you know how hard it is hard to sit down and read scripture when your mind is somewhere else? I mean, It’s not exactly an “easy read” book! So, I did what all “internet generation kids” do when they can’t think and panic starts to set in: Google it! :)
I searched “bible verses for focus” and was amazed at the quantity of verses that popped up. (Apparently, God knew we have a hard time focusing since it is a topic discussed MANY times in the bible!) I was drawn to the 3rd or 4th link down.... and at the top? This verse:
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
...And look at that. Such a huge statement in only a handful of words: Think about God, not of things. Focus on Him.
My intentions were pure- I was thinking about the devotional all week- it was on the top of my to-do list. I spent quite a bit of time reading and studying the bible and even made notes of my reflections to the verses. I wanted to focus on God and His word. If God asked Rick/me to do this, I must do it for Him- I take this responsibility very seriously. I really did try- many, many times.
My problem arose because my motivation and focus was wrong. Instead of really paying attention on what I was reading, I was trying to find a “good verse to write about.” Instead of listening to God’s heart, I was thinking about completing my devotional on time- checking the box, if you will. I know we have people who follow this blog- I can’t disappoint them.
I could have just picked a verse in the Bible, wrote a few “Go Jesus Go!” lines in a less than an hour and fulfilled my “check box” requirement. But... no-- I just can’t do that. God doesn’t want something our hearts are not fully invested in. I couldn’t figure out what to write about because God had another lesson/reminder in mind. My thoughts were not connecting because they were not aligned with HIS.
I know I am not alone in this struggle- we all have some level of distractions in our daily lives. Every now and then we may need a reminder from Him to stop letting “things” and excuses get in the way with where our attention needs to be. This life, and everything in it, will come and go. We need to keep the focus UP, always looking to Him. We need to make sure our lives glorify the one thing that will never change: God.
... and only then will things start coming into focus.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
Writing a devotional does not come easy for me- it fact, it takes me a long time to write these! Between reading, studying, figuring out to write about, and the million iterations and drafts, it takes me most of the week to write one post. This past week was no exception: I had a hard time focusing. I must have started this devotional 100 times.... and every time I was distracted. While I was spending time researching which verse I wanted to write about, my daughter needed help with her math test. When I sat down to write about the verse I (originally) picked, we had a giant windstorm with power outages. This past week, there was also a scheduled half day at school, some boo-boos which needed Mom-Cuddling-and-Care, appointments, and all of the other things I need to take care of on a weekly basis (basically, life happened) .... and before I knew it, it was the (busy!) weekend.
Panic!
I needed to work on a devotional! I found a few bible verses I liked and I had a few small notes written, but nothing was coming together. I couldn’t make a point. My words were just as jumbled as my thoughts. My mind was all over the place. I needed to focus.
Do you know how hard it is hard to sit down and read scripture when your mind is somewhere else? I mean, It’s not exactly an “easy read” book! So, I did what all “internet generation kids” do when they can’t think and panic starts to set in: Google it! :)
I searched “bible verses for focus” and was amazed at the quantity of verses that popped up. (Apparently, God knew we have a hard time focusing since it is a topic discussed MANY times in the bible!) I was drawn to the 3rd or 4th link down.... and at the top? This verse:
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
...And look at that. Such a huge statement in only a handful of words: Think about God, not of things. Focus on Him.
My intentions were pure- I was thinking about the devotional all week- it was on the top of my to-do list. I spent quite a bit of time reading and studying the bible and even made notes of my reflections to the verses. I wanted to focus on God and His word. If God asked Rick/me to do this, I must do it for Him- I take this responsibility very seriously. I really did try- many, many times.
My problem arose because my motivation and focus was wrong. Instead of really paying attention on what I was reading, I was trying to find a “good verse to write about.” Instead of listening to God’s heart, I was thinking about completing my devotional on time- checking the box, if you will. I know we have people who follow this blog- I can’t disappoint them.
I could have just picked a verse in the Bible, wrote a few “Go Jesus Go!” lines in a less than an hour and fulfilled my “check box” requirement. But... no-- I just can’t do that. God doesn’t want something our hearts are not fully invested in. I couldn’t figure out what to write about because God had another lesson/reminder in mind. My thoughts were not connecting because they were not aligned with HIS.
I know I am not alone in this struggle- we all have some level of distractions in our daily lives. Every now and then we may need a reminder from Him to stop letting “things” and excuses get in the way with where our attention needs to be. This life, and everything in it, will come and go. We need to keep the focus UP, always looking to Him. We need to make sure our lives glorify the one thing that will never change: God.
... and only then will things start coming into focus.
Monday, March 13, 2017
No Longer a Slave to Fear!
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
Genesis 15:12-16
Do you ever look around and wonder if God really knows what He's doing? Do you ever wonder if He really has a handle on what's going on around here? Honestly, sometimes I do. I'm afraid of the future. I'm not sure sometimes if I can trust that God really has the control over my future.
Many times if my life, I've learned that the best way to predict or gain confidence in the future is to study the past. This story is a great example of how we can use History to gain trust that God really is all-knowing about our future.
So, in this story, God is talking to Abram. Abram, as we know, is the father if the God's chosen people, the nation of Israel. In this story, God is explaining to Abram that, many years later, the nation that will exist as the offspring of Abram will be in slavery for 400 years before coming out with great possessions. He then goes on to explain that Israel will return to the promised land and take it back from the people who occupy it at that time.
God knew well before the nation of Israel even existed that they would be slaves in Egypt, and that Egypt would be hit with the plagues before they release the nation of Israel 400 years later.
Today, let's allow this to sink in a little. When we start to worry about the future, let's remember that God is all-knowing of our future. Let's remember that He told us to simply turn the steering wheel of our life over to Him, and he will take care of us. Let us trust Him that he has the power to follow through.
All we need to do is obey Him, and we have no need to worry of the future.
Genesis 15:12-16
Do you ever look around and wonder if God really knows what He's doing? Do you ever wonder if He really has a handle on what's going on around here? Honestly, sometimes I do. I'm afraid of the future. I'm not sure sometimes if I can trust that God really has the control over my future.
Many times if my life, I've learned that the best way to predict or gain confidence in the future is to study the past. This story is a great example of how we can use History to gain trust that God really is all-knowing about our future.
So, in this story, God is talking to Abram. Abram, as we know, is the father if the God's chosen people, the nation of Israel. In this story, God is explaining to Abram that, many years later, the nation that will exist as the offspring of Abram will be in slavery for 400 years before coming out with great possessions. He then goes on to explain that Israel will return to the promised land and take it back from the people who occupy it at that time.
God knew well before the nation of Israel even existed that they would be slaves in Egypt, and that Egypt would be hit with the plagues before they release the nation of Israel 400 years later.
Today, let's allow this to sink in a little. When we start to worry about the future, let's remember that God is all-knowing of our future. Let's remember that He told us to simply turn the steering wheel of our life over to Him, and he will take care of us. Let us trust Him that he has the power to follow through.
All we need to do is obey Him, and we have no need to worry of the future.
Friday, March 10, 2017
You're Gonna Make Me Rich?
Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
Proverbs 3:13-14
What do you think it would be like to be super rich? What would you do? I would get a place in Florida that is on the gulf where I would live in the winter. Because I'm a snowmobiler, though, I'd also have a corporate jet on hand that I can use to fly up to the Michigan UP, ride for the weekend, and then fly back down to Florida so I can sit by the pool.
That just sounds like the life to me!!! Ofcourse, I'll probably never be rich, so it will always just be a thought, ha.
Did you know God says that Wisdom is more valuable that being super rich? Why do you think He says that?
I believe He said that because Wisdom is eternal, while riches are temporary.
We could be the richest person on the planet, but when we die, we don't take any of our money or wealth with us. Whether we're rich or poor, we all die, and everything stays here. All the riches and wealth of this world is just temporary.
Wisdom, however, is eternal. Wisdom, by definition, is the ability to see life the way God sees it. If we can see life the way God sees it, and we can think the way He thinks, it will allow us to see His purpose for our life. If we can know and understand God's purpose for our life while we are alive here on earth, the results will last for eternity.
So, today, let's not get all caught up in our money and wealth, or the pursuit of it. Let's focus on our relationship with God. Let's ask Him daily for wisdom so we can continue to grow closer to Him, with eternal benefits far greater than all the riches of this world!
those who gain understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
Proverbs 3:13-14
What do you think it would be like to be super rich? What would you do? I would get a place in Florida that is on the gulf where I would live in the winter. Because I'm a snowmobiler, though, I'd also have a corporate jet on hand that I can use to fly up to the Michigan UP, ride for the weekend, and then fly back down to Florida so I can sit by the pool.
That just sounds like the life to me!!! Ofcourse, I'll probably never be rich, so it will always just be a thought, ha.
Did you know God says that Wisdom is more valuable that being super rich? Why do you think He says that?
I believe He said that because Wisdom is eternal, while riches are temporary.
We could be the richest person on the planet, but when we die, we don't take any of our money or wealth with us. Whether we're rich or poor, we all die, and everything stays here. All the riches and wealth of this world is just temporary.
Wisdom, however, is eternal. Wisdom, by definition, is the ability to see life the way God sees it. If we can see life the way God sees it, and we can think the way He thinks, it will allow us to see His purpose for our life. If we can know and understand God's purpose for our life while we are alive here on earth, the results will last for eternity.
So, today, let's not get all caught up in our money and wealth, or the pursuit of it. Let's focus on our relationship with God. Let's ask Him daily for wisdom so we can continue to grow closer to Him, with eternal benefits far greater than all the riches of this world!
Thursday, March 9, 2017
How Can Mourning Bring Us Happiness? - By Carol McFadden
Matthew 5:4... "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Each one of the beatitudes draws from the previous beatitude. Those who are "poor in spirit" (5:3) are the ones who recognize their sinful, depraved state. So if we've come that far, far enough to face up to the fact that we are so unholy, so depraved, that we are bankrupt in character compared to our perfect, holy Creator, then what naturally follows would be a heart that mourns over its utterly sinful condition.
But how on earth can such a mournful state bring us blessedness, a state of utmost reward and happiness?
To answer that, we must pause and briefly compare the English Language with the Greek Language, since this passage of scripture has been translated from its original Greek words into our English words. Compared to the Greek language, our English words are very limited in meaning.
For example, the English word here for "mourn" has nine different words in the biblical Greek language. But for time's sake, let's get that narrowed down to just one word, the one used in Mathew 5:4.
The Greek word for "mourn" used in THIS passage speaks of the strongest and most severe kind of mourning, representing a very deep-felt grief.
The question is, a grief over what? What exactly are we expected to be grieving over here in this verse of scripture?
When we read the word "mourn" together with the word "comfort" in Matthew 5:4, it often conjures up for us memories of loved ones who have died, and how God promises us His comfort during those times of our deepest loss.
However, even though this scripture does, indeed, offer us that type of comfort, in the context of this section of scripture, Jesus is talking more about specific attitudes of character, the type of character necessary for the Kingdom of God.
So here, God is telling us that our times of mourning must include that of mourning over our own sins.
That's right! God promises us BLESSEDNESS if we will view our sin through His perspective and allow the sin that breaks His heart to break our heart.
Yet, mankind often does just the opposite. In fact, all of us, rather than face up to our sin, tend, rather, to justify our sin because to face up to our sin might cost us a price that we feel would be too high, too life changing.
For example, let's look at our sin for a minute and try to see the choice God is offering us - to mourn over it each time we recognize it and to turn from it each time we choose to FACE UP to it.
Let's look at what God is asking us to do.
Let's suppose that God is asking us questions concerning our sin, questions like the following:
If facing up to your sin would leave you without friends, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would leave you in loneliness and boredom, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would take your fun out of life, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would leave you without your job, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would force you to live with horrible consequences, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would cause you to be ridiculed or slandered, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
If facing up to your sin would leave you feeling trapped, would you still mourn your sin and turn from it?
Are you getting the picture?
You see, even mourning our sin requires us to "believe God" if we are to have the ability to handle the enormity of our own sin, of our own depravity.
In fact, the Bible tells us in Romans 12:3
"For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you."
When we, BY FAITH, through God's grace, are able to look at our sin and see it the way God sees it, then we will truly reach that place where we will CRAVE the COMFORT of a loving and merciful God.
Here, in verse 5 of the fifth chapter of Matthew, God promises us just that - all the comfort we will need, a comfort that God promises will leave us in a state of blessedness, in a place of reward and happiness that will change our lives forever.
How about it? Would you like God to change you forever? I know I would. We can all start by mourning our sin. By faith, let's start seeing our sin the way God sees it. :)
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Ask - by Stephanie McFadden
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and
to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10 NIV
I have heard the
phrase “Ask and you shall receive” my whole life. Only in the past few years,
have I really thought about what I asked/was asking God for...and what He gave
me.
As a kid, I wanted
toys for Christmas. Check.
As the “unpopular
band geek”, I wanted a date to prom. Check.
In college, I
prayed I would find a good job and the right husband. Check and Check!
I prayed for a
baby- We were blessed with Kaitlyn. Check!
I prayed for
another baby.....and by this time, God must have said “ok, she’s ready”.
In late fall 2010, Rick
and I had one child, and after a few years of various doctors and specialists,
we were still hoping to expand our family. During the same time, we were also
trying to find a church. On this specific Sunday, we sat in the back of another
new church, listening to the pastor talk, but I was distracted. I started
praying- but this time, instead of praying for my own struggles and wants for
another baby, I asking for His desires and directions for my life. I knew I
needed help only He could provide. It was at that moment that it
felt like I was the only person in that church and that God gave that pastor
the exact words I needed to hear. There is no doubt in my mind it was the Holy
Spirit working on me. It was like a flood- I felt an overwhelming
sensation of hope, love, peace and comfort that I never had before. He
filled a void in my life I didn’t even know was there. For the first time in my
life, I had more than a “religion”... I had true faith and started a relationship
with Him.
I prayed and God
came through. But, not in the way I was planning. I just wanted a baby. God had
other plans- He made me wait. He made me struggle. He made me vulnerable. He
made me realize that I need Him not as a safety net, but as a life line. He loved me enough to answer my prayers, my wants, and
my needs.
I asked for
Strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for
prosperity and God gave me brawn and brains to work.
I asked for
courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for
patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced for wait.
I ask for love and
God gave me trouble people to help.
I ask for favors
and God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing
I wanted.
I received
everything I needed.
My prayers have
all been answered.
- Author unknown
There are days I
am scared to pray for something- not because I doubt God, but because I know
God will answer. I know God will give me what I NEED--- but that’s not always
what I want. It scares me to know what work He needs to do on me. ....
But the phrase “do not be afraid” is written SO many times in the bible, that I
just have to keep my faith in Him. All I can do is pray and trust in
God... He knows what we are capable of, He knows what we are supposed to do. He
knows what we need.
This
life is not perfect... but look around at what you have and how far you have
come. It has to be God. If God has pushed us this far along our journey, we can only keep trusting Him for all of our
tomorrows.
Be bold in your faith. Go ahead and ask.... and wait to see how God answers your prayers. Watch what God can do through you.
Be bold in your faith. Go ahead and ask.... and wait to see how God answers your prayers. Watch what God can do through you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)