I Expect an Answer!

I’ve got good news and bad news! First, the good news: we’re almost done serving our term! The bad news (like we needed to be told!) is that we all have made choices deserving of being sentenced to a term in our own personal cell of consequences! Knowing our state, and refusing to leave us to our own deserved path, God so loved us that he sent his Son. God knew our track record of choices. And God would not be content to let us remain in separation from him, at least not without offering us the choice of his presence, if we would so choose to believe in him, and live! Jesus is the real, live, answer to the root of our problems.

And we can be as joyful as any expectant parent, because we know what to expect: Jesus to come into our mess, and be our cure, our freedom to begin again, free and loved!

Isaiah 40:1-11 is the inspiration for this blog. The prophet foresees the birth of Christ, bringing the salvation answer to our personal and corporate ‘prison terms’ that we are in on account of our sinful choices.

Show Me a Sign!

We’re a sign. We say something or point to something. We do this as an individual, and as a group. We are a group of people who wear the name of Jesus. Through the eyes of Jesus, we can see the work which God has already done in the people we meet.  And we decide to see the good work of Christ in them even as we walk beside them encouraging them to move ahead in their walk with Jesus.  The ability to spur each other forward with Jesus comes in the context of our relationship with each other. Our ability to love people into the walk with Jesus, and together in our walk with Jesus, is a sign. It’s a sign pointing people to Emmanuel, God with us, for us, in us. Everyone is looking for a sign from above. May we be a sign pointing to Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:1-9 Is the inspiration for this blog post…Apostle Paul affirms the work of Christ in a group of Christians who had come along way, but had a long way to go, especially in the love of each other, shown in unity. He expected them to have long-suffering grace, combined with accountability.

The Cure for Crazy

Ephesians 1:15-23

It is only fitting to give thanks for faith in our heavenly Father, and giving thanks for a love for our brothers and sisters, all of them, poured through us as we grow in faith in the Father. But, we can seek and expect that we will continue to grow up in faith and love, and it will be expressed in a continuing work in and through us: a growing intelligence and wisdom for every part of our crazy life in a crazy world! It’s not like this is a different thing! It’s simply the further work of God, who wants to be our everything! As we give thanks to God, especially this week, when we celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s not be content merely giving thanks for the past work of God, let’s expect further work! Our heavenly Father is ready and willing to bring us enlightenment for all the crazy issues of life!

Productive Energy

1 Thessalonians: 1-11

In the 2001 animated movie, Monsters, Inc., a whole city’s energy is generated by the screams of children in fear of the monsters that appear at night in the dark! A great story line, and, how true, that fear can generate a lot of energy, though rarely for positive gain! In fact, it is the energy created by the opposite of fear, faith, which propels us in the positive direction.

This passage of scripture reminds us that fear of what will happen in the end is not productive or even necessary. We have a description of our being taken care of in the end. We have the complete story of how we had our lives designed for a good life, now and forever.  The importance of the details of how the end will happen pales in comparison to the picture of our destination, and presence of our deliverer.

One Foot in Front of the Other

Joshua 3:7-17

It seems that we are always in the process of going from one stage of life to another. Just when we get adjusted, and, perhaps comfortable, it’s time to cross over into another one! Such was the case with God’s people in the book of Joshua. The wilderness journey of 40 years was behind them, the land of promise was before them, with a barrier in between that only God could remove. This scene was a lot like the one at the Red Sea. But this time, they had to start toward the water before they could see it parting. The hand of God was upstream, holding back the water, but it took time to dry up, and it was only after they began to get their feet wet that they would see the miracle of God.

Today we still have to move ahead each day in faith, knowing that God goes before us, making a way, which we will see as we continue forward, putting one foot in front of the other!

I'm qualifying!

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

I’m not breaking the law, I’m qualifying! (Don’t say this to the police officer pulling you over!)

Where’s Moses when you need him? Right where he belongs! We are each born at the right time, for our time. Not only was God pleased to make each of us with the physical characteristics and personality traits of his choosing; he also chose us to be born into the place in time where we belong. And then, as  if those qualifications where not enough, even all our ‘mistakes’ and downright screw-ups, in his redemptive power, only serve to become further qualifications of experiences out of which we can fulfill the purposes he had in mind. Surely Moses had no idea how the difficulties of his first 80 years (not the least of which was murdering an Egyptian who was abusing a Hebrew and fleeing the country as a fugive from the law) and first two careers (Royal family, then wilderness Shepherd) would be qualifications for his third, and most memorable career- Sheppard of Israel and God’s ambassador to his ex-family Royalty!

It’s as if God just laughs at the things that we think are the end of our existence, and weaves them into qualifications for his original plan! Don’t you just love it!

Only If You Go With Me

Exodus 33:12-23

How many times have you felt like you were surrounded by a million complainers? That’s how Moses felt, and it was true! When you’re surrounded by a bunch of stubborn complainers, it’s easy to forget that we ‘have it made’ with our life with God. In fact,  Moses said it well when he told God he wasn’t feeling very ‘special to God’ (Message translation.) Feeling not so special means that we are merely reacting to our circumstances as if we are human.  That’s understandable. But the answer was also right there in Moses speech- the job that God gives us is 1)God’s job, God’s people, God’s responsibility; 2) it’s only possible if God goes with us, and we’re not going anywhere without it!!!  God walks with us on the path that he’s chosen.  Don’t leave home without him.