WHAT MATTERS MOST

 AUGUST 18, 2022

Luke 5:30-32

30But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

31Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

14Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.


Jesus first disciples were a diverse “motley” crew. They were not from the polite corners of society, and they were not Bible scholars. The crew included several fishermen, a tax collector, and an outspoken pessimist. They were ordinary, common people. They disagreed with each other often, but they were united by the desire to follow and be trained and be taught by Jesus.

You have probably read or heard that Jesus loved people so much that He was often accused of keeping questionable company (Luke 5:30). What is important to note is that these accusations did not change His actions as He kept welcoming sinners to dinner with Him. Don’t you love Jesus’ response to those allegations we read above? It’s a classic: “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (vv. 31–32).

Jesus understood that a physician must get close enough to the sick to bring any healing. Jesus is the Great Physician. So, he isn’t concerned about external rules and regulations as much as He’s concerned with healing the sick and caring for the wounded and crushed.

Author Bob Goff wrote in an Instagram post,

“Most of us spend our entire lives avoiding the people Jesus spent His whole life engaging.” 

I believe that it is correct to acknowledge that Jesus wants us to engage with others in need of a Savior, not to avoid them.

When Jesus followers open wide their lives, it’s amazing how people can sense the love of God through them. True, we may not even understand fully what God is doing in those moments, but there is a sense of God’s presence in the living rooms, at dining tables, in coffee shops, and in family and work life of every believer in Christ. If Christ is in every believer, it stands to reason that people will encounter the life of Christ in every experience. The location is not what matters; whether in park, coffee shop, or church sanctuary, what matters is that we extend Jesus’ love and Peace and rest to anyone, everywhere we are in this increasingly restless culture.


"Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."

2 Corinthians 5:14–15

 

BUT THAT'S ORDINARY

 AUGUST 16, 2022

Acts 17:25-27

25 He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

John 4:35

35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.


Where we live is no accident: Not according to God’s Word. Acts 17 says the God “25 He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:25–27). You may have moved to your present location to follow a job offer or an opportunity to be near family or friends, but behind all of those desires God has placed you there, right where you are, and He desires to use you to befriend others in your city with His love.

Consider all the unremarkable stuff of your everyday life. I know it can all feel so ordinary, but is there ever really anything ordinary when it’s in the hands of an Almighty God?

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell in it.” Everything on earth is God’s, including the mundane stuff of your normal life.

I believe God wants us to open our eyes while we are in the grocery store, the local coffee shop, at sporting events we attend, the restaurants we enjoy, and the streets we walk in our neighborhood. There are people all around you. People God loves. God wants to use us to share His love. Open the doors of your heart and watch God over-time open the doors of the hearts of others, as well.

We said it yesterday, lets take note again today, God can use anything to accomplish His purposes, and He desires to use you and me and to do extraordinary things for His glory with what we think rather ordinary. Thanks be to God!


“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. (John 4:35)

 

BEING USED

 AUGUST 15, 2022

Exodus 4:1-5

4 But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?”

2 Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied.

3 “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him

. . So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back.

4 Then the Lord told him, “Reach out and grab its tail.” So Moses reached out and grabbed it, and it turned back into a shepherd’s staff in his hand.

5 “Perform this sign,” the Lord told him. “Then they will believe that the Lord, the God of their ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—really has appeared to you.”

Exodus 14:16

16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

1 Samuel 17:40

40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.



It is remarkable how God can use anything to accomplish His purposes.

We witness this throughout the Biblical story. With Moses, God used a simple staff to perform miraculous signs and show His power, and ultimately freeing the Israelites from Egyptian bondage (Ex. 4:1–5; 7:19; 8:5, 16; 14:16).

God delivered David from the hand of Goliath with a little sling and a stone (1 Sam. 17:40).

The simple offering of five barley loaves and two fish generously handed over by a boy was used by Jesus to feed a multitude of five thousand with leftovers to spare (John 6:1–14).

And there’s even a story in the Old Testament where God spoke through the mouth of a donkey (Num. 22:21–39)!

If God can use a staff to perform miraculous signs and wonders, use a sling and a stone to save David, turn five barley loaves and two fish into enough food to feed thousands, and speak through the mouth of a donkey, I believe that tells us, assures us, that God can use you and me and anything in our lives to accomplish His purposes.

So, be open, attentive, and discerning for what God may desire to use in your life.

 

NOW THAT'S A FRIEND

 AUGUST 15, 2022

Matthew 11:19

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”

Luke 7:34

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’

John 3:17

God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Matthew 11:28

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.



Jesus is the ultimate friend that this world has ever known.  Jesus was called “a friend of sinners” (Matthew 11:19). The gospel of John tells us that “God did not send His Son in to the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

When people came to Jesus with all their burdens and sins, He didn’t shake a judgmental finger at them; rather He put them at ease.

Jesus was so tender with His disciples that his very presence offered rest to weary souls (Matt. 11:28). Because of this, broken, neglected, and wounded people flocked to Jesus while He walked here on this earth, and as we saw last week in our devotions, Jesus still offers rest to weary souls today.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29).

If Jesus is our example, the one we look to for guidance about living, then we have to pay attention to what it means to be a friend like Jesus.

Here are some things we notice, the first is to be a friend like Jesus means to embrace people in their brokenness, it means someone who doesn’t condemn or judge individuals, but instead looks upon others with the eyes of love and even sets sinners at ease with the grace of God.

It is said, that true friendships are marked by honesty, transparency, vulnerability, acceptance, empathy, and desire for the good of others. These types of friendships offer space where we can be truly known and yet deeply loved, simultaneously. I read recently that “The beauty of the Church and the beauty of God-glorifying relationships shines brightest against the backdrop of our own brokenness.” That’s where the grace of God meets us most profoundly, in our need.

I believe the most beautiful aspect of the Gospel message is that Jesus doesn’t condemn us in our chaos, disorder, and confusion; He welcomes us in our mess. Jesus embraces sinners, sufferers, and anyone whose lives are in complete disarray, anyone who will come to Him with their failures, weaknesses, sins, and needs. So, “the garden of friendships” begins to prosper as people can safely open up about their own brokenness in the light of the One who is able to shoulder and carry all our problems and worries, Jesus Himself.

Let us pray now that the Lord, the friend of sinners, would draw near to us in our own brokenness, and that He would enable us to be a comfort for our friends in their brokenness, so that they feel His love when they are with us. I would add let us pray that this also would be the OUTSTANDING reality experienced in our faith communities too.

 

THE INVITATION of PEACE

 AUGUST 12, 2022

Matthew 5:9

God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.

 

John 8:1-11

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

 

 

Well, this week we have been thinking about the Gift of God’s Peace. We have talked about in terms of the benefits for us who put our trust in God. Yet, when we talk about God’s peace as described in scripture we also encounter the notion that the outcome of an experience of God’s peace is that we share it. Our calling is to be Peacemakers, and that’s important.

You don’t have to think for long before identifying individuals who have stood tall as peacemakers throughout the pages of history. Who are the leading Peacemakers that you think of? People like Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu? These are People of great courage and determination. People who knew that the pain of change was not as bad as the pain of staying the same. People like the above mentioned who confronted injustice, and systems of oppression, to enable a better life and world to be shaped. I like how one writer put it “they waged peace and made a difference.” These people have led the way and constructed trails which we ought to follow.

Here is something interesting I have noticed. In the past the news media followed and gave the microphone to these select few, (Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, and Desmond Tutu) but today, thanks to social media a megaphone has been given to the multitudes. We may slam the influence of social media from time to time. Let us not miss this same mode of communication and messaging allows us as Christians to stand for what we believe in and to use our voices to make a shared difference. Of course, I believe the key question is, what are we saying and what will that difference be? The messaging will be important, will it be messages communicated in love?

If you think about it, peace, like love, has collected various meanings over time. But we have an opportunity now to declare the meaning of peace through our words and actions and introduce people to Jesus, the original Peacemaker.

Everything Jesus did pointed to peace. In fact, His reason in coming to earth was to bring peace we are told in the birth narratives.

In John 8:1-11 we see that when the religious leaders gathered to stone a woman who had broken the law, Jesus offered her peace, forgiveness and a new way to live.

This same peace is available and within reach today and we are called to extend it to the world. Because the truth is, we cannot truly encounter Jesus and not become a peacemaker. Being a peacemaker is part of being surrendered to God because only God brings a peace that lasts.

Please note, We are called to be peaceMAKERS, not peaceKEEPERS.

Peacekeepers keep peace from a place of fear through avoidance, while peacemakers restore peace from a place of strength through the work of reconciliation.

As ambassadors of Jesus and instruments of peace, we are invited by our Creator to bring about peace in our communities and cities. It won't be easy. It will require conviction, diligence, perseverance, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones and model Jesus so others can step into their future with Him. But it will be worth it!

Matthew 5:9 says, “How blessed you are when you make peace! For then you will be recognized as a true child of God.” 

So, are you ready and willing to be a peacemaker?

LET US PRAY

 

Help me, Lord, to embrace this calling. Give me eyes to see, not only obvious conflict, but also that which lies beneath the surface. Moreover, may I be attentive to injustice, whether it be in my sphere of influence or across the globe. May I use every opportunity you put before me to work for peace, genuine peace. Help me not simply to whitewash over problems that need to be solved. Rather, may I be a channel of your full peace in this world.

In the words of St Francis of Assisi,

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

FINDING PEACE

AUGUST 11, 2022

Micah 5:4-5

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace.

“How was your vacation?”, I asked, wonderful but it ended to soon, they replied. They go to the same area each year to a cottage on a beautiful lake. It’s quiet, except for the occasional welcome call of a loon, and other wildlife, they talked about the scenery, the hikes, the trees, and the breeze, and the campfire. Sounds alright doesn’t it? They said this is our “two weeks” of Peace each year in an otherwise hectic life.

I have been there, haven’t you? Vacation ends and you wish it was longer, its your break from a hectic life, your few days of peace is now over.

I am so thankful for a beautiful creation that God has gifted us with. We can find these special places that restore our spirits, slow us down, and disconnect from our busy normal life and experience peace.

I have been wondering about this experience of peace, thinking about it and asking the question “Why can I only seem to have such experiences at summer retreat?” I mean wouldn’t it be awesome to experience this more frequently, everyday perhaps?

But How?

You know one of things I notice about myself on such retreats is that I really live in the present moment. I hear the birds, the loon, I see the beauty of a lake and children having a blast on the beach. I take this in because I have slowed down, and the agenda is structured by whatever we want to do.

I don’t have all the answers to my questions. But I wonder, if there isn’t something in this notion of slowing down that could make an impact on the peace I experience away from a vacation retreat.

Slow down. Sometimes, the greatest step we can take toward discovering personal peace is to simply practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is slowing down enough that you are able to pay attention to the present moment, your thoughts, your surroundings, how you feel both physically and mentally. As you practice mindfulness, with God’s help, as one writer put it, “you are able to exercise the “muscle” of your attention on the present moment and receive the moment as a gift from God.”

Right now, in this moment, stop, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and simply pay attention to the present moment. As you do, remind yourself that God is with you, no matter what else may be going on in your heart, mind, and life. Notice when you begin to feel more at peace. Know that if you don’t feel it right away, there's no need to worry: this is called ‘practice’ for a reason. The more you practice being grounded in the present moment, the more beneficial this activity will become.

You may want to use those words of the prayer we have been talking about to be present.

Surely God is in this place. Help me notice.

Inhale: God ( whatever name you use for God) Creator, Heavenly Father etc

Exhale: I am Here

What if being more aware in the present moment brings us some of that peace that we are drawn to and long for. Our Scriptures from Monday made the bold promise that God’s peace does not come to his people for just two weeks on a lake, or beach, but that it is a peace that we can know even in our hectic normal schedules each day.

We are still going need that time away in God's wonderful creation, our retreats. But Just maybe our day to day could be more peaceful with such practices as slowing down and enjoying the present space where we are.


2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself
give you his peace at all times and in every situation.
The Lord be with you all. Amen.

 

 

CHOOSING PEACE

 AUGUST 10, 2022

PSALM 85:8

“Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people …

JOHN 14:27

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Psalm 29:11

“The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.”


It seems that our culture says that peace can only come when you’ve worked your fingers to the bone and have finally attained all you want. You can only have peace when you have enough money, friends, the right job, or the right spouse. You can only have peace if friends, family, and employers like you. Whatever the culture offers us as peace is temporary. The world can’t offer us peace because it has nothing in which to place its hope, trust, and security. Kingdoms come and go. Leaders move in and out of power. What societies value changes consistently.

Our only constant is Jesus. He has been, is, and forever will be the Creator, Sustainer, and Lord of all. All authority has been given to him. He governs the change of seasons. And he longs to offer total and sustained peace to all who place their hope and trust in him. God’s way is to draw us into himself and offer us peace during our various  circumstances. He doesn’t want you to wait until everything gets worked out before you can have peace and rest he’s offering you these gifts right now.

Romans 8:6 says, “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” It’s by the Spirit alone that we will find life and peace. I guess bluntly it is saying "stop looking for your fulfillment in the things of the world. Stop asking the world to offer you what it never had to begin with." Look toward your heavenly Father for the peace that surpasses all understanding. May you be filled with rest and peace today as you spend time in prayer seeking the face of God.

REFLECTION

1. When have you experienced the Lord’s peace in your life? Take a moment to write down a few experiences that come to mind and thank God for giving you His peace.

2. In what ways might you be seeking the world’s peace instead of God’s peace right now? Ask God to help you turn from temporary peace and take hold of His lasting peace.

 

 

WHAT A GIFT

 AUGUST 9, 2022

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Often the words “peace” and “calm” are used together, but there is a difference between the two words. Being calm often depends on what our current situation is. If the day is going well, we are peaceful, which can bring a temporary calm. Calm is more of an emotional response.

 Yet, peace doesn’t depend on circumstances. In the bible both the Hebrew and Greek words for peace have a similar meaning. They mean that you have an inner calm. Things might be falling apart around you, but inside of you there is or can be an experience of tranquility and serenity. According to the Bible it is not the absence of troubles, worries or suffering that results in an inner calm, a peace. It’s the presence of God in our life.

According to our verse above this gift that God gives to us, is His peace. God’s peace protects us, cares for our inner spirit. Look at the verse again, we read the peace of God, . . . will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. God's peace is like a wall of security around our hearts and minds. Remember the heart in the Bible was thought to be a sort of “control center” from which all of our decisions were made. So, when we read about the heart in the Bible, it is about the place where you have your will, your attitude, and intentions, and which is the source of your thoughts, actions and words. This heart is the core of who you are as a person. Your heart is, essentially, you.

I believe what we are told in the bible consistently is that peace is a commodity that can only be found with time spent seeking the face of God. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Our God has peace in store for us in every situation if we will choose to keep our mind, our heart, our thoughts, attentive on him and trust him.

Let us meditate today on the truth that God is our sole source of peace and rest. Allow God’s word to mold and shape your perspective.

“To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!.” Isaiah 26:3

 

OUR PEACE PROMISE

 AUGUST 8, 2022

Let’s begin our week a little differently than usual with some Bible verses that reveal the important biblical theme of Peace.



Read through the verses slowly and take in the message that God promises to us.



Perhaps, if time allows, you may want to make a list of words, phrases, or promises that really speak to you.



I invite you to read these through the lens of the verse we looked at on Sunday in our service from Colossians 1:19-20



19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. The outcome of Jesus work of creation and restoration is peace.

___________________

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”


Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”


Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”


Psalm 29:11

“The Lord gives strength to his people, the Lord blesses his people with peace.”


Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”


1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.”


1 Corinthians 14:33

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”


John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”


2 Thessalonians 3:16

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”


Romans 8:6

“…the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”


Philippians 4:8-9

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…and the God of peace will be with you.”


Ephesians 2:14

“For He Himself is our peace…”



Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

 

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

 AUGUST 5, 2022

Hebrews 12:2 


Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.



A magnificent painting was hanging in an art gallery. Everyone who saw it was captivated by its beauty. However, there was one man who couldn’t see the beauty of the painting or the talent of the painter. All he could see was the tiny flaw in the frame that surrounded the painting. The defect was so small that the average person wouldn’t have even noticed it, but to this man it overshadowed everything. He totally missed the intended joy and beauty from the piece of art because of his focus on that minor little flaw.

That little story caused me to wonder how often something like that happens to us. Is it possible that in life, we also often miss what was intended to bring us joy and an experience of beauty, because we get distracted and focus on the wrong thing? Yes, we do, don’t we? When we fixate on what’s wrong and pay no attention to what’s right, we do miss so much. We are seeing this more and more in our culture where something minute or miniscule gets so much focus that we can miss the positive, the joy and beauty that surrounds. This happens in our faith walk too. Problems come and go, but in between, there are these sightings of truth revealed to bring us closer to God.

I believe that experiences in life typically have elements of beauty or redemption. So why let the imperfections we encounter take our minds off what really matters? When we see everything framed in the beauty of the God’s love, it outshines all flaws or imperfections. When we put our focus on God and His loving purposes, the journey becomes gratifying and joyful. So, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, just as Hebrews 12 invites us.

 

THIRSTY?

 AUGUST 4, 2022

Isaiah 55:1

Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!

John 7:37-39a

37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit

Isaiah 12:2-3

Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.”
3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.


It was the last day of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, a thanksgiving celebration of God’s provision for his people in the wilderness, including the miraculous outpouring of water from a rock (see Exodus 17). Jesus stood up and cried loudly at the Feast of Tabernacles, saying “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:37-38 NIV). Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit who had not yet been given.

How are you today? Are you feeling fearful, worried, confused, or a sadness? Is your attitude deflated or empty? The truth is we all have those times, we do not like these kinds of experiences, but we know them all too well. As I age, these experiences of feeling empty or worried etc, have caused me to wonder if my soul, my spirit, at the Holy Spirit’s prompting is sending me a sign that something is missing spiritually. That I am thirsty. That I need a drink of Living Water. You see the New Testament teaches us that the Holy Spirit has been given to us, poured out upon us, and that God’s spirit lives in us.

Isaiah 12 is a hymn, praising God for His faithfulness in keeping His promises, especially the promise of salvation. Isaiah encouraged the people that deep in God’s “wells of salvation” they would experience the cool water of God’s grace, strength, and joy (vv. 2-3). I wonder if those uncomfortable feelings that well up in us at times, are Jesus way of nudging us to draw “living Water” from the wells of salvation. 

So perhaps the message for us is to pause and take time to be still, and to sip from the living waters of the Holy Spirit, and to allow God by his Spirit to flood our spirits, and refresh and strengthen our hearts and cause us to burst out in praise and gratitude to God.

 

 

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE

 AUGUST 3, 2022

Isaiah 55:10-11

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the Sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.





Do you remember learning during your school days about the amazing water cycle that God has put in place? Let's do a quick refresher on the entire water cycle Some quick points would be:

• The rain falls down to the earth through precipitation; it waters and feeds the earth.
• Then through the heat of the sun it evaporates and rises again.
• As the air cools, condensation occurs and clouds are formed.
• This continues until the clouds eventually drop their load through precipitation again and the cycle continues.

Think about the impact of rain... our scripture tells us that the rain waters the earth, makes it bud and flourish, and brings forth seed and bread. Just as there is a water cycle, there is a cycle for the word of God, we are told. The word comes from God, and has a specific purpose and will NEVER fail to achieve what God desires. And it too will return to God having accomplished its purpose.

Isaiah's point in using this illustration is that God's word is just as irresistible and effective as the rain is for the soil. We need God’s word of promise!! I am not much of a gardener, but I can tell you that there is nothing like the rain. It is perfect for the soil. You can stand out there day and night with a hose and saturate the ground to your heart's content. It will help a little - especially if the plant is dehydrated. But you don't see a lot of growth or plant vitality just on hose water. Yet when it rains... poof! Growth and life! God’s Word gives growth and life to each of us too!

We all know that life can be surprising, and things don’t always go exactly as planned. When that happens, we can become frustrated and disappointed with God. We begin to doubt the ability of God’s word and we try to patch things in life back together in our own strength. I know when I do that it is a rather unsuccessful endeavor.

Today, we need to remember that God’s ways are not our ways, but know this, God’s timing is always perfect. The rain falls in one season and the harvest comes in another. I wonder, what season are you in? Is this the rainy season or the harvest? Is this the preparation or the fulfillment of the blessing? Regardless of your season, know that God promises that His Word will always accomplish the tasks that He assigned to them, even if it’s not on our timeline. GOD IS FAITHFUL.

the words that come out of my mouth do not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them. 

Isaiah 55:11 The Message

 

ABIDE WITH ME

 AUGUST 2, 2022

JOHN 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.



I watched a while ago a California Wine producer talk about the impact of weather on his industry and livelihood. He was asked if drought results in a negative impact on his business. He explained that a grapevine is quite amazing.

“The harsher the weather, the rougher that it is treated, the better grapes it produces. Extreme weather actually forces the roots to dig deeper to get what they need to survive. The result is a healthier, more productive plant.”

As he talked about the grapevine, my mind went to the image of the grapevine in the Bible, it is a rather popular image. The verses above came to my mind, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” The words, “remain in me” seemed to jump off the page.

The grapevine and our lives have a lot in common, we all go through tough times of drought, disappointment, discouragement, and despair. The Bible’s message to us during those uncomfortably hard times is “remain in God”. We know there are verses throughout scripture that teach us that God never disappears or abandons us; even though at times, it may feel like God is nowhere to be found. Yet, in our own life experience and in that described of many characters is scripture when we look back we discern that those rough seasons, those times of drought, disappointment, and despair are the seasons that we seem to grow the most. Could it be that like a grapevine’s roots in extreme weather we too, put down deeper roots into God’s care and promises?

I believe that it is during those hard times that we are forced to dig deep and to search out the answers we need to help us live fruitful lives. Adversities produce healthier fruit and make us stronger too. What John 15:5 is saying is that (Jesus) He is the vine, and we are the branches. United in Him, we shall flourish and produce abundant fruit.

Todays Take Away is, Above all else, remain in Christ.