Subtraction

As I walk down the road of life I carry the luggage of me.   Memories of heartache, of regrettable past choices, and of questions unanswered fill these bags weighing down the steps of my journey.  Fear of life's unknowns are heavy shackles which encumber each step.  Dirt from the road clings to my skin, stirred up amidst my struggle for control.

"Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But, small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

The gate is narrow and the luggage of me will not fit.  So, I drop the bags - they will not fit through the gate.

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18
"We live by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 

By faith, not by sight.  So, through faith I face the unknown and each step is lighter as the shackles crumble.

"...If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
- Luke 9:23-24

Take up my cross;
Die - everyday,
Deny myself - everyday,
Follow Jesus - everyday.
Save my life by losing it - relinquish control. 

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

And so I take myself away.  Before my arms stretch from beneath the warm sheets, before my feet hit the cool wood floors I pray that it would be You living in me.  You in my words.  You in my actions.  You people see.  You, take away me equaling just you.

Partly cloudy with a Guarantee of Sunshine

The hopelessness of loss casts a grey shadow over life's sky.  The numbness of the monotonous day-to-day, leaving life void, and nagging for purpose. 

There is a light that shines to fill the void and transform the grey skies to blue.

He is not here.  He is risen! - Luke 24:6

Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Where, O death is your victory?  Where, O death is your sting?  Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 15:54b-57

Feeling hopeless? - God Wins, and His word shines for you (Psalm 119:30)
Numb? - God Wins, and He wants your day-to-day no matter how monotonous (Colossians 3:23)
Desperate to fill the void? - God Wins, and He will fill you with peace and joy (Acts 2:28, Romans15:13)
Searching for purpose? - God Wins, and He has a plan (Philippians 2:13, Jeremiah 29:11)

The grey doesn't last forever. 
Good triumphs over evil. 
In Christ- death is nothing to fear.  
And He's coming back.
The End - God WINS
Are you on His team?

God, thank you for the victory we have in Jesus.  Please continue to work in me to will and act according to your good purpose as I strive to glorify you in this life.  May I walk and live with the knowledge and hope of your victory and your return.  May I be a light to others.

"Good" Friday

Overwhelmed with sorrow, distressed and troubled; He knelt in prayer.  Yet, He found no comfort or support in his friends.

 - "are you asleep?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Mark 14:37b

Betrayed by one who had walked beside Him for all of His ministry.

- Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them; "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard."  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said "Rabbi!" and kissed him.  The men seized Jesus and arrested him. - Mark 14:44-46

Deserted and alone.

-Then everyone deserted him and fled. - Mark 14:50

Seated in a court of liars, spouting falsities, ruled by unjust judges plotting his death

- The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.  Many testified falsely against him... - Mark 14:55-56

Spit on, blindfolded, punched, mocked, and beaten.

- Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, stuck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him. - Mark 14:65

Disowned by his friend.

- He [Peter] began to all down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I do not know this man you are talking about." - Mark 14:71

Flogged, struck, and mocked.

-He [Pilate] had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified....They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.  And they began to call out to him "Hail, king of the Jews!"  Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him.  Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him.  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his clothes on him.  Then they lead him out to crucify him. - Mark 15:15-20

Nails pounded through his wrist and feet, Hung on a tree- shaped as a cross, crucified with thieves.

-And they crucified him...They crucified two robbers with him -Mark 15:24,26

Death.

-With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. - Mark 15:37

I find little no "good" in the above events.  I can not imagine a day so full of pain, desertion, embarrassment, turmoil, and temptation.  And yet he endured it.  There is a hopelessness and a void that comes with death; the broken heart of his mother, the despair of his friends and disciples who did not understand his words spoken only hours ago- predicting that death would not be the end.  -"In a little while you will see me no more, and then in a little while you will see me..I tell you the truth you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices, but your grief will turn to joy...I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. - John 16:17,20,22 

And there in lies the good.  A promise of hope, a guarantee of victory, everlasting joy.

Father this day I remember the death of Jesus, your atoning sacrifice, who made a way for me.  Me, a sinner; I am a member of the crowd screaming "crucify him," I am a soldier who spit on him, I am a witness who lied about him.  I am unworthy.  May the words of his pain, and his endurance pierce my heart.  I am humbled, and I am grateful.  Your love for me is unfathomable. 

Today, Tomorrow and Water

The wind blows sweetly, budding flowers push through the dirt to face the sunshine, the bird's song fills-up the background, trees awaken from their winter drab with buds of green and red.

Spring has sprung.
It's a time when we are motivated to plant, to play and break the cycle of our winter hibernation.
To live.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.  

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. - Psalm 1:1-3

This is your season, this is my season.  The moments, the days, the years; they will slip away if we let them.  Leaves without water - wither.  

...Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. 

- John 4:14

Do you know the One who gives living water?  Do you want to - because He wants to know you.  

And if you know Him; are your leaves full?  Is your life fruitful?

Are you living for today or for eternity?  

Take every moment

You know that you own them

It's all up to you

To do whatever you choose

Live like your dying

And never stop trying

It's all you can do

Use what's been given to you

Live like your dying....

God, you have not promised me tomorrow - but you've given me today.  And I praise you.  

You've not promised me a life of ease, but you've given me grace, forgiveness, love and guidance.  You're promises of peace that surpasses understanding, rest when I come to you, a Spirit of power of love and of self-discipline are made real in my life daily.  May my words be full of grace seasoned with salt, guide my feet in the path of righteousness and forgive my sins.  

The heart of the matter

It's a fast-paced, provocative, self-centered culture we live in.  Our minds and hearts are bombarded daily with temptations of entitlement, bigger, newer, more, happier, easier.  Unconsciously they seep in.  The billboard display, the junk-mail, the neighbors, the catalogue, the TV show, the car-dealership, the advertisement, the song on the radio.  Almost unknowingly we start to believe the lie, we allow the seed of discontentment to take root and it begins to grows.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  - Proverbs 4:23
 
How's your heart?  Is it bleeding from the tares of division?  Do you believe the lies?  Have you heard the truth, do you believe it?  When you walk is your guard up?  Are you filtering the lies from the truth? 

Teach me your way O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. - Psalm 86:11

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:10-11

...But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.  And in on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. -Philippians 3:13b-15

They will be my people and I will be their God.  I will give them a singleness of heart and action... - Jeremiah 32:38-39a

Verse after verse; conviction, after encouragement, after promise.  The heart of the matter is our heart.  A heart, full of God's word, seeks to know more.  A heart reverently fearing the creator is undivided for Him.  A heart that knows the way of the Lord leads the feet in truth.  The heart is our wellspring, our "continual supply" of life. 


God as I wade through this world give me a singleness of heart and action.  I want to be a mature Christian who holds your views and has your heart.  Make clear to me the areas of my life I need to surrender to you, forgive the sin in my life and do not let me stray from your commands.  Make my life abundant -full of love, grace, forgiveness, peace, joy, contentment and truth.  Thank you God for your provision and love, I trust in your promises and lean on your mercy.

Like a Christian

"Mom, will you be there when I die?"  somber and serious his dark brown eyes peered into mine awaiting my answer.  I questioned what he meant and he explained further "in the crowd mom, will you be there watching me in the crowd, you know when people make fun of me and when I die like a Christian."  My heart sank deep into the pit of my stomach, tears welled up and spilled over.  I grasp his precious face and said - That makes me very sad to think about; I hope you don't have to die that way, but mommy would be very proud of you, and I know you would be with Jesus if you died that way.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:10-11

"I claim to be a man of faith and prayer, and even if I were cut to pieces, I trust God would give me the strength not to deny Him and to assert that He is." -- M.K. Gandhi

Could I endure my child suffering harassment, persecution and even death in the name of Christ?
Do I really want to know Christ by sharing in his sufferings?  Could I be cut to pieces asserting that He is?

"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." - John 16:33

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power...put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. 
- Ephesians 6:10,13-18

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

God, Wearing your name, being a "Christian" means daily I lay my own life down and I allow you to strengthen me, to make me strong, to equip me through your word.  I hear the words of my son - unafraid, undeterred to be for you, even if at the cost of his own life.  I hear an eagerness to accept you and make his life for you.  "I choose Jesus" - he said Sunday.  And God I praise you!  It is about YOU.  I choose you too, again and again I choose you, and your way.  Forgive the times when I don't.  I pray for your mercy and favor in this world.  I pray for a hedge of protection around my life and my family.  I pray for the Church - that it may be one in Christ and in you just as Jesus prayed.  Father, Give me courage to be different, strength and endurance in times of trouble and through it all peace in Christ. 

Reaction

I make choices everyday.  Coffee or tea? $4.58 from Starbucks or home French pressed?  Apple or Orange?  Self-controlled or Edgy?  Positive or Negative?  Time wasted or Time spent well?  Relationship focused or Task focused?  Information in, choice made.
And the absence of choosing is in itself is a choice.

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. - James 4:17


It's much more than apples and oranges.  The good I ought to do.

Where do I begin?

Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded...Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. - James 4:7, 8, 10


Submit (verb) : to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision; to yield oneself to the power or authority of another.
I begin by actively putting my will, my plans, and my opinions on hold- until they are congruent with Gods.  I yield myself to the unfathomable power of the creator of the universe.  I will run with purpose away from the web of lies and temptation the devil spins in this world.  For when I flee the world and draw near to God He promises me He will come near to me.  When I see me for who I am, so small compared to Him, and truly humble myself before Him, He will lift me up.

Do you see the reaction?

He asks us to react.  To be faithful, to choose Him, to defer our ideas to His, to be humble before Him.
And
He will draw near to us, He will lift us up.  


God, forgive me when I choose my own way.  It is a daily process to submit myself to you, sometimes a minute to minute process - Come near to me as I read your word, and stay with me.  Hide your word in my heart and fill my mind with your priorities, opinions and actions.  Give me a meek spirit that I may continually walk in humility before you.  Thank you for your promises, and your faithfulness to carry them out in my life.   Help me react.