ENJOY LIVING AS A CHILD OF THE KING!

(The Story of Jesus)

We left off yesterday with words from Jesus that essentially said, “Grow up!” What does that look like? What does it mean to be grow up and mature? And why must we even ask that question? Because we work so hard, every day at our jobs, trying to be the best mother, father, parent, employee, or volunteer, that sometimes we forget what it means to mature and get stuck in neutral without much thought of being a better person today than yesterday. I found something that might help as we seek a deeper understanding of what Jesus is telling us to be and do in our walk with Him and our relationship with others.

How Maturity Is Expressed – We see evidence of maturity emerging in our lives when:

Our concern for others outweighs our concern for ourselves.
The presence of evil or danger is detected before it is obvious.
We have more than high ideals; we have discipline to carry them out.
Emotions are tempered by responsibility and thoroughness. Awareness of needs are matched by compassion and involvement.
There is not only an understanding of a task, but also the fortitude to stay at it until it is done.
There is a willingness to change.
There is the ability to grow spiritually.
AND…Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, finish a job once it’s started, and carry money without spending it. And last, but not least, it’s the ability to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.

Jesus says…

“You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5, Msg

However…Jesus reminds us…

“Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you wan’t be applauding.” Matthew 6, Msg

Jesus further explains maturity…

“When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure–‘playactors’ I call them–treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it–quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.” Matthew 6, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to grow up and mature to the point that we are who you want us to be and do the right thing without even thinking about it so there is no thinking about ourselves. We remember what Paul said about You, dear Lord, in Philippians 2…”Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what.” Help us to live more and more like Your subjects of Your Kingdom…even as children of the King. May we come to you with child-like faith, but not continue to be CHILDISH in our walk. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit who guides and helps us in this journey of maturity. In Jesus Name, Amen

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IT ALL BEGAN WHEN HE HIT ME BACK!

Yes, this is what I heard on the playground often. After that came, “he/she started it!” My first question to the issue of the war at hand was, “So, how can we end it?” Followed by, “Who is going to end this first?” (Leaning into their competitive spirits.) That always made them stop and think. Ending it was the last thing on their minds. But we “grown ups” don’t have this issues, do we?

Jesus has something to say about this…

“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.”
Matthew 5, Msg

AND…

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best–the sun to warm and the rain to nourish–to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.”
Matthew 5, Msg

“In a word, what I’m saying is, ‘GROW UP’.” –Jesus
Matthew 5, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, Ouch, this is a lesson for the playground we call life. We all need to grow up and keep growing up, never stop learning this commandment to love our enemies and pray for them with Your love that you give to us. Help us Lord, to be more alert in this area of our lives. Help us to not hit back but to think of ways to bless instead. In Jesus Name and By His Power working in and through us, Amen

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PROMISES, PROMISES…

(The Story of Jesus)

“Never promise anything you cannot keep” was the advise given to young teachers while still in college. Duh, as a parent of three little ones, I had already figured that one out. Our kids hated it when Randy and I would say “We will see…” when asked if they could do something later. They thought is was a put off, delay in action or worse still, a deathnail to their request…a delayed “no”. We just learned as adults in the situation, that we don’t know the future so we have no right to promise! And isn’t amazing how kids remember EVERY word you promise…”YOU SAID…” but can’t remember to brush their teeth?

It was also a greater moment to surprise them with their request later..when they thought it wouldn’t happen! Jesus thinks this issue is important enough to include it in HIS teaching as well…

“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you’, and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no’. When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.” Matthew 5, Msg

SO, don’t promise anything you cannot or don’t intend to keep! This includes ALL areas of life! When someone asks me to pray I have learned to stop and pray with them right then…because I am human and I forget sometimes. When someone asks for prayer on facebook…I stop and pray for them at the moment I read it. That has trained me not to promise or be pious…just pray when asked.

Don’t promise to show up at a project and not be there. If you never intended to go but just wanted, at the time, to look better by saying you would in a circle of friends, you go wrong. I think Jesus is telling us it hurts worse (them and you) if you promise but can’t or won’t keep your promise. Have the courage to just say no…or yes. If yes, then follow through.

We are a society that could use some honesty in our responses. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

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Dear Heavenly Father, We get caught up in wanting to be accepted to the point of promising what sometimes is impossible to keep. May we always evaluate our motives and actions and be ready to answer honestly to others and ultimately to You. In Jesus Name, Amen!

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THIS THING CALLED LOVE–GO DEEPER STILL…

(The Story of Jesus)

Jesus does not let us get away with nominal abiding by the law. No, his intent is for us to understand why obeying goes deeper into into this thing called love and respect for God and each other, especially in marriage.

“You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying our of bed. Your HEART can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices–they also corrupt.” Matthew 5, Msg

“Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it is a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.” Matthew 5, Msg

“Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’? Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal’. Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover to ask a moral failure.” Matthew 5, Msg

Society has affected the church more than the church has affected society. Today, there are just as many divorces within God’s church as there are in the world. Deep love of your spouse goes beyond the attraction of “falling in love”, dating, marrying, then going on about your days living for self. If you choose to marry, you choose to lay down your own interests for that person to love, respect and cherish until the day you both no longer abide on this earth. And even then, you look forward to an eternity of living together with God the Father! You look past their human faults with mercy and grace because you have just as many and compliment their strengths. When you pray for, live for and focus on your spouse, your head, heart and soul cannot physically, emotionally, and spiritually leer at someone else. There is no time or desire to leer and imagine life with another person.

Mm…was Jesus thinking of us, too when he taught on the mountain that day? I think so.

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Yep, the good and bad…

Dear Heavenly Father, These words are basic, simple, hard for some facts and full of Truth. We try to get around these words today with “but, she said, and he said,” or “I just fell out of love”…what foolishness those words must be to You, the Father of deep, abiding forever, sacrificial kind of love! We repent of our shortcomings as Your church in this area of life here. Help us to help others struggling in marriage find their way back to each other by finding their way back to You. In Jesus Name, Amen
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WORDS KILL OR GIVE LIFE!

(The Story of Jesus)

Words flood out of our mouths easier than toothpaste comes out of a half used tube and even harder to put them back into our brains…like putting toothpaste back into the tube. Impossible.

That’s why all of us need to pause and really think before we speak. We have all heard, or least read, (because I have written it many times or used in a sermon), the THINK method. It is what to think about in the “pause before you speak” time. T-Is what I’m about to say the Truth, H-Is what am about to say going to be helpful to this person, I-Is what I’m about to say going to inspire this person in front of me?, N-Is what I’m about to say even necessary to say? Will it build them up or tear them down?, and K-Is what I’m about to say going to be kind, full of love and grace for this person.

It also matters where your heart is when you say it. Are the words coming forth in a Spirit of love? Paul wrote about this in his letters. It also matters about the body posture you have when you say it. Many times our words are misinterpreted, just by the tone of voice and our posture. There is a whole study on this very thing. If you are standing with arms are crossed, you look as if you are not going to listen to what they have to say, for example, and will look very authoritative in your approach. On the other hand, if you sit down, eye to eye, on the same level, with love in your heart, your body posture will reveal what your words want to convey in a more acceptable, gracious way.

The way we respond to others is most times not what we really mean to say. When someone gives you a compliment, such as “that outfit looks so good on you”, and you respond with, “this old thing? I got it cheap”, you have told that person that their opinion is worthless to you. A simple “why, thank you!” would have encouraged the one who gave you the compliment.

I think about all this and more as Jesus begins his teachings on the mountain to all of us. He begins to explain God’s Law in full detail with examples we cannot turn away from and think they are not for us. For example:

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.” Matthew 5, Msg

Lord, make us more gracious!

GO DEEPER…WITH WORDS AND GRACIOUS ACTIONS
“This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.” Matthew 5, Msg

AND THAT’S NOT ALL…
“Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.” Matthew 5, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, There is so much to learn! We must grow in grace and graciousness. We must repent as we think deeper about our words, our posture, our Spirit and our graciousness to others. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit as we grow in grace, working out our own salvation, as we love you back and love others as you love us. Help us, Lord to think before we speak. In Jesus Name, Amen

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FLIPPING HOUSES, FLIPPING THINKING

I greatly enjoy the “reality” shows where they come in and totally remodeled a home with all the latest conveniences and decor. They tear it down to the foundation. When they do, that’s where the trouble lies…in the foundation of the home’soriginal build. You can almost hear the troubling, in the minor key, music as the drama sets in and the remodelers come to the homeowners with the bad news of “We have to build up the foundation so that it is “up to code” and your house is safe. The owners cry over budget because it is blown, but the repairs are made and the results are a beautiful, safe home to move in and take up residence.

Mm, that is similar to what Jesus has come to tell the religious and everyone else…I have come to rebuild what you think about God’s Law, not destroy it. I have come to build up lives as they relate to God’s Law, His Scriptures so that you will understand greatly God’s intent. You have a crack in the foundation of your understanding and living out God’s commands! They had ventured so far from the original Scriptures by adding their own rules and regulations, that the Scripture was not lived out as God intended. It was used more for personal power brokering. But misinterpretations can be fixed. The news will sting a bit to those living for themselves but it has to be done. Hear the Word…

“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures–either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after the stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.” Matthew 5, Msg

“Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.” Matthew 5, Msg

Jesus, our Lord, completes the Scriptures and boils it down to simple, understandable terms for everyone.
1. Take it seriously, without trivializing the details.
2. Show the way for others.

Another way that Jesus brings it down to our level of thinking throughout his time on earth helping everyone to understand:
Love God with all that is within you.
Love others like God loves you. Seriously.
Self is laid aside.

Jesus begins to “preach” the Scriptures in the following passages in Matthew 5. There is so much to learn as we focus our attention on the intent of God’s Law for ourselves, that we will take it on, one bite at a time!

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for Your Word, for Your Son who came to earth to help us understand Your Word more and for allowing us to live in a place where we can read freely and talk about You. I am grateful this morning. Truly grateful. Help me now to live what I know and understand. YOU complete me. In Jesus Name, Amen

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“LET ME TELL YOU WHY YOU ARE HERE”

(The Story of Jesus)

So many are wondering, even agonizing at times, to know what God’s will is for them. I’ve gone through this and it is more simple than you think. When young adults, even seminary students, would come to my office for guidance, asking “What is God’s will for me?” My first question was always…have you read His Word to you lately? Many times they were seeking God’s will from every source around them in this world without reading and seeing with understanding what Jesus says to all of us.

For those wondering? Here it is:

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in this world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand–SHINE! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5, Msg

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior AND trust Him as Lord of your life?
Do you love Him with all your heart, mind and soul? Do you love others like He loves you?
Are you light for others in dark places so that they may see Jesus in you?
Are you telling others about how they can be saved and be light, too?

If you answered YES to these questions, then no matter your vocation, situation or circumstance you are being and doing God’s will for you!! If you are a preacher, a mom at home caring for her family, teacher, bicycle repair person, chef, military person, engineer tech, president of a local something, or leader of this or that, or the person behind the scenes who sets the stage and cleans up afterward…if you said YES to all of the above questions, then you are in the will of our Father in Heaven!

We will be leaders and followers and do a lot of different “works” while on this journey. The main focus are these Jesus driven questions for each of us to consider, ponder, and use to evaluate ourselves daily. Peace is released when we focus on the “main thing”, the “why” we are here.

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Dear Heavenly Father, We spend too much time thinking about and seeking your “will” for each of us while on this journey and lose precious time doing what you told us to do…be salt and light…now! We repent. We will focus. We will follow Your lead no matter where You take us. For you are Lord and Savior. We love you with all our heart, mind and soul. We love others like you love us…even when it hurts. No matter what “job” we have at present, we will be light where there is darkness, not to blind others so their eyes automatically shut, but to gently leak light into a dark room so they may see You better as their eyes adjust to Your Presence. In Jesus Name, Amen

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BE BLESSED!

(The Story of Jesus)

We teach our kids with the word “if” and “when” more than we realize! When you clean your room, we will go to the park. If you do not, we can’t go. When you finish the veggies on your plate, you can have dessert! If you put your bike away in the garage, daddy won’t run over it when he backs out of the driveway. As parents we are teaching consequences of our actions as well as life lessons for the good our kids. Where did we learn to teach this way? Maybe from the Master Teacher, Himself?

Jesus has drawn a huge crowd by now in this ministry, so he goes up the mountain to form a natural auditorium so everyone can hear his encouraging teaching of blessings beginning with the word “when” and using “when” throughout his lesson for us!

“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him.” Matthew 5, Msg

Question: Am I committed enough to climb with him to where he is and listen to his every word of guidance? Or am I staying safely tucked into the valley? Mm, back to the word. Just a thought to ponder…as I seek to be blessed.

“Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

‘You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.’

‘You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.’

‘You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are–no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.’

‘You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.’

‘You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full’, you find yourselves cared for.’

‘You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.’

‘You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.’

‘You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. the persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.’

‘Not only that–count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens–give a cheer, even!–for though they don’t like it, I DO! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.'” Matthew 5, Msg

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Dear Heavenly Father, With every blessing expressed in Your Word this morning draws up emotion from the depths of my heart causing a greater attitude of praise and gratitude for what You have brought me through! Thank you for encouraging us with “when” so that we know how blessed we really are. You are with us with every step we take on this brief journey here on earth. Thank you, Lord. Continue to bless us in these ways as we see to follow you because of our deep love for you. I am content and very blessed!
In Jesus Name, Amen
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COME WITH ME!

(The Story of Jesus)

I have always loved reading and imagining that day on the beach when the Savior of the world walked over to the brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew with a new mission, using the same skills that had as fishermen. It is amazing to me how God uses EVERYTHING in our previous lives for the next best thing He wants us to experience with Him. Listen and imagine with me, as we read Matthew 4, as Jesus walks the beach gathering His friend-disciples for the mission that would save the world.

“Walking along the beach of Lake Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers: Simon (later called Peter) and Andrew. They were fishing, throwing their nets into the lake. It was their regular work. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.’ They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.” Matthew 4, Msg

Jesus had begun preaching before this “calling” of his guys. Had the called heard his sermons and knew Who He was? He also had fasted for days, alone with His Father in Heaven, before this particular task of asking a few good people to nurture and train. I imagine God and Jesus talking this over in the dessert. So, when the time came, Jesus knew exactly who to ask because we learn He didn’t do anything without asking the Father first. (“I do only what the Father tells me to do”, various passages in John).

He chose people who would take over where he would leave off after completing the mission God gave to Him. So, this choosing was important. His choices would probably not be on the interview list of today’s most high ranking world leaders, either. But Jesus chose well. He chose willing servants with all kinds of personalities to join his team that would help him change the world! See, I told you there is so much to thing about in this passage.

“A short distance down the beach they came upon another pair of brothers, James and John, Zebedee’s sons. These two were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their fishnets. Jesus made the same offer to them, and they were just as quick to follow, abandoning boat and father.”

Jesus calls them, two by two, into the arc of his mission.

TRUTH DECLARED!
“From there he went all over Galilee. He used synagogues for meeting places and taught people the truth of God. God’s kingdom was his theme–that beginning right now they were under God’s government, a good government! He also healed people of their diseases and of the bad effects of their bad lives.”

TRUTH SPREADS…
“Word got around the entire Roman province of Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment, whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus healed them, one and all. More and more people came, the momentum gathering. Besides those from Galilee, crowds came from the ‘Ten Towns’ across the lake, others up from Jerusalem and Judea, still others from across the Jordan.”

What an honor to be asked to join Jesus on a mission! Guess what, he still says, “Come with me”. Are willing to drop your “nets” of stuff of this world and simply follow where He goes? I am.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Thank Your for Your Word that reminds us, brings into the focus, the gentle, “Come with me” message and mission of our lives. No matter what work we happen to be doing, help us to come with You as we do it until You tell us to do something else…with You. In Jesus Name, Amen
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THE SON COMES UP!

(The Story of Jesus)
Isaiah said it would happen and it did. Of course, God told the prophet what to announce about his Son.

“When Jesus got word that John had been arrested, he returned to Galilee. He moved from his hometown, Nazareth, to the lakeside village Capernaum, nestled at the base of the Zebulun and Naphtali hills. This move completed Isaiah’s sermon:

‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, road to the sea, over Jordan, Galilee, crossroads for the nations.
People sitting out their lives in the dark saw a huge light;
Sitting in that dark, dark country of death, they watched the sun come up.’

“This Isiah-prophesied sermon came to life in Galilee the moment Jesus stared preaching. He picked up where John left off:
‘Change your life. God’s kingdom is here.’ Matthew 4, Msg

The Son is up! The Light has come, cutting through the darkness with all power and strength, as a humble servant. The dichotomy of thinking stops us to meditate on this man/God, Jesus the Christ.

And I’m singing…for there ARE thousands of reasons to worship our Lord! And that many ways to change my own life.

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name

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Dear Heavenly Father, Hallowed is Your Name. May Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our needs as You see them. And forgive us our sin as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil. For You have all power. To You be the glory forever and ever, Amen. In Jesus Name, Amen

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