Continue On

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.             2 Timothy 3:14-17

Question #1: So what have I learned about God? What do I know? Wow! Good question. And if I truly know these things, how does it effect me????

Question #2: What “good work” is God calling me to?  Do I list the mundane? Housework?  Doing things with and for others that I may not love doing?  Serving in the hidden places no one sees? I need to keep in mind that the mundane is often the place where God uses and shapes me best so Lord help me to not underestimate this.  Help me to remember that You see! There is a big and destructive misconception out there that there is a such thing as 'Christian ministry'. This would be things we do in the church or as outreach, especially if we are on a staff of a 'Christian' organization.  That eliminates so much good that is done in the world and prevents people from realizing the value of what they do for God in the day in and day out, of their lives. That whole concept is not helpful to the Kingdom of God and its good citizens in so many ways. 

It is more helpful to realize that our very lives are ministry. Everyday we wake up and get to live with Him, directed by Him, to live with His high purpose happening in and through us!  God wants to infuse everything we do with His purpose! With His love.  Isn’t that exciting?  The Message is helpful in this, Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.   2 Timothy 3:17

When I make this mind shift, it changes everything. It gives everything I do purpose (Paul mentions his purpose in verse 10 as something Timothy should notice).  I live with all kinds of motives and purposes but when I use my life, even the small hidden things, for the Lord it is of the highest purpose. And that is a wonderful thing! So what is it I need to recognize as my 'work' in this season of my life and how can I serve Him well in it?

Teacher

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. 

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.  And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?        ”

Matthew 26: 17-22 

This is such a perfect picture of our relationship with Jesus.

The disciples, His followers came to Him and asked Him what He wanted them to do.  So that is what we are to do.  We come to Him. And ask.  He gave them instructions, important instructions as this had to do with things written of long ago, foretold about this "appointed" time. Appointed by God, for our salvation.  He refers to Himself here, as Teacher.  He is our teacher.  Do we come to Him as such?  Do we trust Him as Teacher? Do we want to know what He wants?  How to do life?  He is the Way after all.  He knows what the best Way is for us.

It goes on to say that they did as He directed.  God help me to do as You direct.  It is so easy to get off on my own direction and loose sight of what you have for me to do, who you want me to be.

And then what I find very poignant here, is later, when Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him.  It is so interesting they all thought that they were the one.  Is it me Jesus???  Am I the one? Interesting because it revels that they all knew their hearts were not pure, that there were thoughts and motives that He might be seeing in them. Yet in spite of their impure hearts there was one that would betray Him to death and he knew for sure who he was.  How thankful I am that even though my heart is not pure; it harbors doubt, fear, ugly thoughts and motives, He is not done with me yet. Just as He continued to be at work in the lives of His disciples, He is at work in me.

So the purpose of this special meal that was foretold of?  Jesus last meal with His followers before His sacrificial death on the cross.  The Passover meal. And He called it a celebration.  That is the heart of our Lord.

His love is the celebration. His love which led Him to suffer and die for me.  Help me Lord to come, to ask, to do as you say, to examine my heart, to follow You.  Thank you for going through with this plan of salvation at the cost of your Life. Help me to live the celebration.

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept. That is the shortest verse in the Bible? Isn't that a Bible trivia question? But this is far from trivial!  This is the heart of the gospel.  This is the heart of our Lord. This is why Jesus came. This is why He died. Jesus weeping sums up the entire Bible!

Jesus called for Mary after talking with Martha. Lazarus had been dead for 4 days now.  The grief was overwhelming for his sisters, their relatives and friends.  

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. "Where have you laid him?" He asked?" "Come and see Lord," they replied. Jesus wept. 

John 11:33-34 

He was deeply moved, troubled and He cried. God cried.

He knew He was going to heal Lazarus. He knew it would lead many to follow Him. He knew this episode in time would ultimately bring glory to God. But in the meantime, He wept. He wept because He loved these people.  He wept because of the pain and suffering that death causes and the pain they were in, right then and there.  He wept because He has a heart of compassion and somehow that makes all the difference.  He knows my heartaches. He knows my suffering, my questions, my confusion.  Death lurks in all corners of life.

Jesus calls to me just like He called to Mary.  He calls me because He loves me.  And I too can come to Him and find comfort, love, empathy and ultimately hope.  I can trust that all things will be resolved and all of the stuff of life in a broken, messed up world will be fixed, renewed, restored, death defeated forever.  That is the big plan.  But in the meantime I can come and know that He gets it. He gets me. He cares.  And He comforts.

I read today that we don't know the hour of His return.  So in this meantime, we can know that He is with us.  Emmanuel. God with us. He sees our tears and weeps with us. And somehow that makes all the difference in the world.

He makes all the difference in the world.

Your path led throughout the sea, Your way through mighty waters, though Your Footprints were not seen. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.    

Psalm 77:19-20

Thank you Great Shepherd for seeing all things.  For always being there, for leading me, even when I don't see You. 

He Bids us to Come.

To Him we can come. In fact the Lord bids us to come to Him. Over and over again.  He wants us close.  He wants us to follow Him. He knows He is our only Hope.  He bids us to come. In our heartache. With our questions. With our pain, our doubts. 

Today I read of Martha going to meet Jesus on the road as He finally came to them as they asked.  Lazarus had been sick and now he was dead.  Why didn't You come sooner Jesus, she asked?  Why? Why? Why?  It would have been different if you would have come when we asked. Where were You?  We needed You! You could have done something! You could have saved him from death, and us from all of this grief and heartache. All this pain and suffering.  Jesus where were you?  

Of course we can relate.  Yet even in this she held out hope.  She went out to Jesus as she saw Him coming.  She took her questions to Him. And she exhibited faith. She told Him that even now she knew that God would do whatever He asked.

His answer. Your brother will rise again.  But He goes on.  He went on to address the deeper things.  Not just this one death, but the things of eternity.  The things of why He came. He revealed to her that He is the Resurrection and the Life.  He tells her the way to eternity is through believing in Him.  John 11:25 "Those who believe in Me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again." A stunning revelation.  To us, we have heard this news before.  For her it was a completely new concept. Eternal life through this Man. Really? Wow!

Her reply? "Yes Lord." 

"I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the One who has come into the world from God." She believed.  That is why she went to Him. Even in her confusion.  Her brokenness.

Martha, her sister Mary and many others were suffering.  They suffered the grief of loosing a loved one for many days before Jesus came and raised Lazarus from the dead.  We too, live in the time in-between, where there is suffering, where there are many questions.  But let's come to Him still and trust that He has it under control.  Grief. Yes. But also......yes Lord!

God help us in this time of so much suffering, uncertainty, conflict, pain, illness and death.  Help us to keep coming to You. Help us to endure. You Are the Only One Who is Hope. Thank you Lord that you bid us to come.

Sanctuary

Mssg: If I'd have given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still, when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache . . . Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: 

Niv: If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. 

When I tried to understand all this, 

it troubled me deeply 

till I entered the sanctuary of God; 

then I understood

^16 17 

^Amp: Had I spoken thus [and given expression to my feelings], I would have been untrue and have dealt treacherously against the generation of Your children.      

        But when I considered how to understand this,

it was too great an effort for me and too painful. 

Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood

Three different versions of Psalm 73:15-17.  What a stunning bit of scripture. The amazing truth.  Oh how I see things through my own filters.  Filters of pain, betrayal, confusion, hurt, selfishness, pride, hopelessness, despair, lack of forgiveness, willfulness, fear.  I operate with limited vision and when I stay there for too long, I inflict harm on those I  love. 

In the above verses there is a little word. A word that changes everything.  The word is "until".  Until I entered the sanctuary of God...  Because of Jesus Christ, I can enter into the sanctuary of God!!! It is a moment by moment choice to turn to Him. When I do go to Him I gain the understanding I need, to not betray His children, those around me (by giving expression of my oh-so human feelings). He has invited me in so that I can understand things from His perspective.  And then filters that cloud my vision fall away and I can see more clearly from His perspective.  And seeing things from His perspective changes everything!


When I come to Him, I can lay my burdens down.  I can step back and see His grace, His mercy, His love, His justice, His righteousness and know that ultimately He will bring all things under His Kingdom rule on earth as it is in heaven.  And in laying it down, I regain trust that He is at work even though I don't see.  Always.  And in that I can rest.  In that I can turn my heart over, once again, to His kingdom  rule and pray that it translates into tangible action that reflects His Love to those around me. 

Help me Lord to be a bearer of Your Light.  Forgive me when I give in to darkness.  Thank you for your patience.  Thank You for Being my Sanctuary.  Help me to see things Your way. Thank You that as a follower of Yours, I am called friend by You. And in that friendship, Your desire for me is to understand, so that I can be a part of the solution and not the problem. 

Step by Step

Jesus says....Follow Me 

This is not a stagnant invitation.  It implies movement.  Life marches on and there is always movement, change.  So how do we follow Him?  What does that look like?  I think it is one step at a time.  And we do it with our eyes on Him, like Moses from Hebrews 11, "he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible."  That is a trick for sure.  But as we seek to know Him more, it is a trick we can learn. Not perfectly but we can sure learn to see Who He is, how He lived (from the scriptures) and begin to notice His Presence in our lives.  We also move with an ear to hear His Voice.  His Voice within us.  As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit in us.  Do I fathom that?  God in me, whispering to me, His interests, His desire for my life.  My life consists of moments.  And each moment is important to Him.  I can listen for His direction with each step I take, each word I speak. I in no way, do it all the time but I hope I am learning.  Learning to listen, to be more aware of His Presence with me all and to obey, for obedience to God is always in my best interest. Do I always live like I believe that? No.  But it is true.  The more I believe that the better off I am.  And I will say that I believe it more and more as I get older, as I walk with Him and see His incredible grace in my life.  Are there things I don't get?  Hard things?  Yes....but that is where faith comes in.  We walk by faith not sight.  That is what He calls us to. But that is an entirely different subject.

Galatians 5:25 [amp] "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]" That is Paul talk....."walk by the Spirit".....we move forward with our conduct under the guidance of God's Holy Spirit in us.  No one, nothing can take that from us.  He is within.

The deal is, we have choices, day by day and moment by moment.  So there's the rub.  Often (most often) it is hard, doing it God's way.  His way is the way of love.  Perfect love as described in 1 Corinthians. My own perfect way is the way of ease (for me), of self service, of pride, of shortsightedness (only seeing it my way).  Living to serve myself comes ever so easily.  In this difficult world it seems like someone has to look out for number one (me-me-me)!  We are bent with self preservation in mind. And that can destroy us, our own idea of how to self preserve! Only God knows what is best for us.  

God has a bigger picture in mind. Always.  We must learn to believe that He desires good for us and learn (it is a learning process with a steep learning curve) to trust Him. That is when doing things His way begins to get easier and our desire really is to follow Him. We begin to want to align our steps with His!  Yes! We can walk with God, the One who loves us beyond our wildest imagination, the One who came and lived among us and Who died for us.  He is with us, never to leave or forsake us.  Faithful even when we aren't.  That God. The One Who IS Love.

Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your Word; let no sin rule over me.

Psalm 37:23-24 The Lord delights in a man's way, He makes his step firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Lord help me.  Day by day...to walk with You.  To listen. To follow. To be patient and to trust.  Your ways are higher than mine.  Forgive me for following my own silly, selfish, self serving ways.  I want to go Your's, hidden in You.

I feel so far from it.  Thank you for your patience with me.

Undone, I come

1 Kings 19:3-8

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there. Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”
 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.
 Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
 So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God. 

This is such a precious passage of scripture.  It is so real, so raw, so tender. Elijah, undone. God so loving and gentle in His care of this servant.  What leaped out at me this time is concerning "the angel of the Lord" (most believe this is Jesus, pre-incarnation, this Angel of the Lord since He is referred to as God-is worshipped and never appears again after Jesus was born, after the Holy Spirit was poured out). He provided bread and water for Elijah and then rest. What He provided is foreshadowing of what Jesus Himself (by His broken body) provides....for us!

Jesus replied, 

“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35

Jesus replied, 

“If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” John 4:10

Elijah is provided for and strengthened by God Himself. He then has the strength to go on.  And where does he go? To "Horeb, the mountain of God".  He goes further and closer to the One he serves. Deeper in....

God met him exactly where he was at.  Burned out, spent.  He found no fault. He took care of him.  He nurtured him.  Elijah did pray to God, no eloquent prayer, He was just undone.  He  told Him how bad he felt and then slept.  God did the rest.  He does that for us.  He knows the journey can become too much. We aren't expected to go on and on and on.  There are times when we just come to Him and lay down. And He comes to us. He is there.

He was told there was more journey ahead. Until the Complete has come again we will need to continue, but with the Bread of Life and Rivers of Living Water, we can too can go on.  Jesus gives us this.  The Holy Spirit in us.  Amazing. I come to You Lord.  You come to me.  Thank You for that! So simple. It is everything.