EASTER 2014!!

Does Easter really matter? Have we allowed what God did on Easter affect & change our lives? Are we really living post-Resurrection? I was reading the Gospel recently and I was struck by how many times Jesus told those He healed to keep what He had done secret, yet they went and spread the word! And how could they not - their lives were so drastically and forever altered by encountering the Messiah! So why do we find this so difficult? Why is it so hard to share the joy of Christ's resurrection? Let's let Easter change us, get it in your Spirit, and shout it to the nations - Jesus who was dead is now and forever ALIVE!!

Lent 2014, Day 40: Denying denial...

I'm contemplating what-ifs again today... What if I were in Peter's shoes just after Jesus was taken? Would I deny my connection to this Messiah? Or would I proudly admit my love & loyalty to Him? Honestly we face similar questions as we do our best to walk with Christ. In fact our life is a testament to our love and loyalty - we should be asking ourselves, does this activity or event or lifestyle force me to deny my connection to my savior? May we live lives with evidence enough to convict us of loving our Lord!

Lent 2014, Day 39: Midnight in the Garden

I wonder what it would've been like to be with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Would the adrenaline of being in Christ's presence fuel me? Or would I be bored or tired and unable to focus? Would I be one of the lucky ones that got to go in with Him and actually witness Heaven's glory? Or would I be a strangler, left at the gate to wait? If I was left at the gate, what would I do with my time? I can only hope that I wouldn't, that I don't even now, miss an opportunity to commune and lift up Jesus in prayer!

Lent 2014, Day 37: He inhabits our praise!

A few years ago I read this great book, How to Worship a King, and in it the author posed a great question - how big a throne is your praise creating? He went on to reference where King David tells us in Psalm 22:3, "You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel" (NLT). And then he spoke about the difference between a god who'll inhabit a throne the size of a dollhouse chair and our God, who longs to inhabit a throne as big as your wildest dreams and highest exaltations! So I ask you today, how big is the God of your praises?!

Lent 2014, Day 36: One of His Own

Yesterday's post made me think of the adoptive aspect of God's grace. He doesn't just adopt us to put us to work or boast about the population of His kingdom. No He adopts us as one of His children - He so longed for us that He made a way for us to be called His, to be true princes and princesses in His everlasting kingdom! And our inheritance is not only eternal, but present now, not only the power and authority of heaven, but a boundless love and connection to the creator of the universe! We can come boldly before the throne, as Esther did, knowing the kind is waiting to grant our desires, desires He placed within us - what an awesome gift of grace He has given us!!

Lent 2014, Day 35: More on Grace

So thinking back on what I said about God's grace, I'm hoping that no one thinks I don't feel His grace is enough. It is enough, it is what gets me through each day and helps point me to His presence in my darkest hours. What I was trying to get across is that it's more than enough! That without it I would still be living to death, living for myself. But because of His amazing, abundant gift of grace, Jesus' blood cleanses so I can stand before the Heavenly father, the King of kings, the Creator of the universe and He accepts me as His friend, His child, His beloved! So it's not that I demand more of this gift like some kind of greedy glutton, but that I long to lay back and bask in the glory of His great grace! To be overwhelmed in the washing, to forget my own brokenness and the brokenness that so often surrounds me! And I long to be so full of His grace, so covered by it, that it just rubs off of me as I interact with His beloved creation.

This concept reminds me of a story from 2 Samuel 9 where David invites a crippled man to his table because he longs to share kindness to his friend, Jonathan's, family. The Bible tells us that Mephibosheth was “lame in both feet,” making him an invalid, and basically untouchable. Yet the king of Israel sought him out and invited him to dine with him! But David didn't stop there. No, he greeted Mephibosheth like an old friend, and restored to him the land of Saul, and welcomed him to always eat at his table! Verse 11b tells us that he “ate at David's table like one of the king's sons!” What an amazing example of grace! Because of his love for Jonathan, David was blind to Mephisbosheth's lameness and treated him as one of his own sons! Earlier this Lenten season Pastor Z played the song in this video as we prayed before communion and it reminded me of this story. They are both great examples of God's grace and His invitation to come and dine with him! Have you answered your invitation?

Lent 2014, Palm Sunday: The Servant King

One final note on our sovereign one... What makes our God so special, so unique is that He came to live, came as a human to do His greatest act! He lowered Himself to raise us up! He gave up His divinity to save humanity!! And He came to serve. Yes we called to serve Him & His kingdom, but in reality when we do so we are following His example! And isn't that the goal, to be more like Jesus? Well to be more like Him we must give ourselves up for others, we must lose ourselves in service. That's how we emulate our servant King!

Lent 2014, Day 34: Manly Meekness

These words on humility have me thinking about Matt. 5:5 where Jesus tells us, "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." I've always wondered what it means to be meek, maybe because I've been told I am meek and shy before. But I'm not sure that shyness and meekness are the same. Surely that's what society tells us - even Dictionary.com describes "meek" as docile, overly submissive, spiritless... So why would we ever strive to be meek? I think the one thing Dictionary got right is submission - meekness is all about humble submission, about gentleness, about teach-ability. In fact, the original context for meek relates to the idea of honing the raw power of an animal, like an ox or a horse, for use. When training a colt they would often be yoked to a more experienced animal for the younger to both ease the burden and learn to submit to the master. In our walk with God Jesus asks us to yoke ourselves with Him as He will be gentle in guiding us and help us carry the weight of the master's plan (Matt 11:29). What an awesome image! And what an awesome privilege to join with Jesus!

Lent 2014, Day 33: Submissive, Sovereign, Son

One divine night
There was quite the sight -
The Sovereign's beloved Son
Born a lowly human

And the Angels sang,
Hurry, quickly now -
Submit to the Sovereign Son!
Humbly honor this Holy One!

Humbly He walked with us,
Displaying faith & trust.
But boldly He spoke,
A holy fire He stoked!

And the Angels sang,
Hurry, quickly now -
Submit to the Sovereign Son!
Humbly honor this Holy One!

Yet His message we condemned,
His life we sought to end.
But He rose in glory!
In His victory we are free!!

And the Angels sang,
Hurry, quickly now -
Submit to the Sovereign Son!
Humbly honor this Holy One!

Lent 2014, Day 32: Define Divine

The concept of humility, of a submissive lifestyle implies the divine, implies something worth of submission and devotion. In fact, that's part of the definition of divine. According to Dictionary.com, divine can be defined as "pertaining to a god, especially the Supreme Being;" "devoted to God or sacred" (as in divine worship); or even "proceeding from God" (as in divine laws). So as believers we humbly submit to our divine Father by obeying His laws through our worship.
But humility and divinity also imply sovereignty. To be sovereign means to have supreme rank, power, and authority; it describes a person above all others in character, importance, and excellence (Dictionary.com). Sounds like our "Supreme Being," right? At least that's a description I would ascribe to my Divinity. And a divine being of sovereignty is definitely worthy of my submission and humility!

Lent 2014, Day 31: Simplicity vs. Humility

Over a year past due, but I am finally posting these last writings from Lent 2014...

The idea of simplicity carries very well into another prompt from a friend - humility. Most people would probably use these words synonymously, but I'm not sure they mean the same thing. You see simplicity frees us from complexity, pretension, and artificiality while humility breeds modesty and submission. Being humble may lead us to live simply, but they are not the same. Of course, I may just be rambling as we are called to both humbly submit to the Father's will and live simple lives that point to His glory. Just some thoughts for the day.