February 25, 2010- Becoming Good Soil

Scripture to read today:
Numbers 17; Numbers 18; Psalm 29; Mark 4

Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 4:3-8
“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Observation:
This parable is intended to represent the Word of God. Some people hear it and it falls on deaf ears. Others hear it and believe but since their faith is shallow, it quickly dies. Others hear the Word but have so much other stuff going on in their lives that it doesn’t really take hold. Then others hear the Word and embrace it.

Application:
I think most of us are thorny soil, although we’d like to be fertile soil. There is so much in our lives that gets in the way of our relationship with God. I heard a preacher’s sermon on this text once- he said he thought we were all one of the three sub-standard soils. But if you know a bit about gardening, then you know that soil has to be cultivated. You don’t usually come across soil that is ready for planting. It has to be broken up, tilled, composted, fertilized, have the weeds and rocks removed, and then tended to. We are all soil that needs some help, so just because we’re not good, fertile soil doesn’t mean that we can’t ever be!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank You for working with us. Remove our thorns, rocks, and weeds and give us good fertilizer, sun, and rain to make us into good soil to receive and spread Your Word. Amen.

February 23, 2010- A Pretty Smart God

Scripture to read today:
Numbers 12; Numbers 13; Psalm 90; Mark 2

Scripture that spoke to me:
Mark 2:27-28
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Observation:
God is pretty smart. He knew that people need to rest. So He created the Sabbath as a chance to rest and re-energize. But like lots of things, the Jews had turned it into something that, instead of helping them, became a burden to them.

Application:
How many times do we do just the same thing? Something meant to benefit us, we see as a burden. I can think of several- like going to the doctor or dentist, eating vegetables, even going to church can seem like a chore instead of a pleasure. And a time to rest? We think we’re not being productive enough and, even when we manage a nap, feel guilty because we think we should have been doing something else. We have to start seeing things from God’s point of view. He wants us to be rested and healthy!

Prayer:
Lord, forgive us when we get things all backward. Thank You for being a loving God who cares about each one of us. Amen.

January 27, 2010- Good Leaders Delegate

Scripture to read today:
Exodus 17; Exodus 18; Exodus 19; Exodus 20; Acts 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
Exodus 18:21-24
But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.

Observation:
Moses was working hard, settling disputes between the people from morning to evening. He was tired and becoming burned out. It was too much for him. When his father-in-law, Jethro, heard what he was doing, he offered the advice above. Moses listened to him and delegated many of the duties, making his load lighter.

Application:
I have a tendency to do too much. I don’t delegate well. I think some of it is a control thing- if I do it, it will get done the way I want it. Some of it is because I want to do some of these things! And some of it is just the lack of people to delegate it to. But most of all, I need to learn to listen to the advice of those around me who can see situations in a more objective way. That is what Moses did, and that is what good leaders should do. Trust the people around them for advice.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to lighten my load. Bring me people with good answers and help me to trust that they can do the job as well as, or maybe even better, than I can. Amen.

December 17, 2009- Building on Faith

Scripture to read today:
2 Peter 1; 2 Peter 2; 2 Peter 3; John 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
2 Peter 1: 5-7
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Observation:
This, according to Peter, is how you escape your worldly desires. You build on your faith, adding goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

Application:
Notice Peter doesn’t say that you get all that stuff the day you find your faith. You build on that faith block by block. We’re a work in progress. Good think God isn’t finished with me yet!

Prayer:
Lord, I need some help in that self-control and perseverance area… I don’t feel very disciplined at the moment. I need to exercise more and eat better to take better care of the body You gave me. Amen.

November 25, 2009- Leadership

Scripture to read today:

Matthew 20; Matthew 21; Matthew 22

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 20: 26b-28
Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Observation:
Really great people help others. They don’t take things for themselves, consuming all without producing. Great people produce things- goods, services, or just good feelings in others.

Application:
I had a lot of leadership training in college. Working for the awesome Dr. Tim (Lautzenheiser) I learned a lot about becoming a good leader. Good leaders are willing to do anything that they would ask someone following them to do. Good leaders are the first to arrive and the last to leave. Good leaders offer to take each other’s plates to the kitchen, to stay and help the host with the dishes, to offer themselves for the most mundane tasks. And in Jesus’ case, to give his own life so that other lives may be better.

Prayer:
Lord, help me remember what it is to be a good leader and help me lead others closer to You. Amen.

November 23, 2009- Earning Your Reward

Scripture to read today:

Matthew 14; Matthew 15; Matthew 16

Scripture that spoke to me:
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

Observation:
Jesus gets the good job- handing out rewards for those who have done well. This verse says that our actions do count- what we do matters. It isn’t just enough to believe, but we have to do well.

Application:
I know you can’t “earn” your way into heaven. But I believe you can earn your way out of heaven! There is something about trying, worshiping, giving, and leading that does gain favor with God. This is one of the biggest contradictions I see in faith- you don’t have to earn it- you can’t earn grace and forgiveness- but you do have to try to do the best you can. And you see that throughout Paul’s writings as he cautions the people not to go do what they want and then ask for forgiveness- over and over again!

Prayer:
Lord, show me the way to go. Let me live for you in all that I say and all that I do. And when I fail to do that, please forgive me. Amen.

November 12, 2009- Working Together

Scripture to read today:

Job 37; Job 38; 1 Corinthians 12

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 12:4-6
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Observation:
God didn’t make us all alike. You can look around and see that. He didn’t give us the same abilities. He didn’t put us in the same situations, or give us the same parents, or put us in the same country. But he did create us, and He does work in us all.

Application:
This verse is speaking to me today because lately, I’ve been trying to do too much. I’m directing our community chorus Christmas concert which is in three weeks… I work…. I lead children’s worship…. I’m a mom…. I’m a daughter and granddaughter…. and aunt…. and these jobs fill my days. I need to remember that other people can do things, too- maybe better than I can- and learn to delegate some things to them. They may have better skills- a different view- than I do.

Prayer:
Lord, help me look to others as gifted by You. Let me see that together, we can all do Your work better. Amen.

November 11, 2009- All for His Glory

Scripture to read today:

Psalm 122; 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Corinthians 10; 1 Corinthians 11

Scripture that spoke to me:
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Observation:
Eat for God- drink for God- do everything for the glory of God.

Application:
I say grace before most every meal. I am thankful to God for all that He has blessed me with. But I’ve never thought about eating to honor Him. Drinking for the glory of God. I’m usually eating and drinking for my pleasure, or nourishment, or contentment….. I wonder how things are if you eat for God’s glory? Drive a car for God’s glory (bet you’d drive a lot differently!)? Wash dishes for God’s glory? I’m going to hold this verse close this week and see what becomes of it.

Prayer:
Lord, I don’t know that I understand how to eat and drink for You. I know that we are supposed to worship You always, but I’ve never thought about the mundane things we do in our day- bathing, washing dishes, eating- help me do everything for You, Dear Lord. Amen.

October 14, 2009- Understanding the Story

Scripture to read today:

Nehemiah 11; Nehemiah 12; Psalm 1; Acts 3

Scripture that spoke to me:
Nehemiah 12:31
I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate.

Observation:
I’ve been reading about this wall that Nehemiah was building to fortify Jerusalem. In my mind, it has been somewhat of a primitive cinderblock wall. But here, I figured out that if they could walk along the top of it, it sure must have been more. So I went researching…. here is a picture from a Jerusalem newspaper of part of the wall that has been excavated:

Certainly, this was a  much, much larger task that the one my mind has created while reading this!

Application:
This makes me even more cautious about reading the Bible. I picture places and events in my mind according to what I know today. I’m sure we all do. But to understand things more accurately means we need to do a little research into the times- if I had realized that this was a wall, I would have been way more impressed at the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho, for instance. Not that this story isn’t impressive, but it surely was a larger wall than I had in mind.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for weighing stories from the Bible based on my knowledge of the world today. Thank you for letting me see that things aren’t always as I believe them to be- but are even more majestic than I imagined!

October 12, 2009- Moving On

Scripture to read today:

Nehemiah 7; Nehemiah 8; Acts 1

Scripture that spoke to me:
Acts 1:11
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Observation:
Have you ever let go of a helium balloon and watched it rise until you couldn’t see it? There’s always that final glimpse of it, after you thought you’d lost it, when you see it again. I can just imagine the disciples standing there, looking up, hungry for that one final glimpse. But there’s also that time that you have to decide that you’ve seen it for the last time, look down, and go on. This is the time that the disciples must have dreaded- going on with life without their Messiah with them there physically.

Application:
How do you go on after you have lost something important? There is that time that you have to decide to stop longing for what is gone and move on. There is still work to be done. But we are comforted that Jesus hasn’t really left us- He is with us always! We can call on him, talk to him, listen for him, and learn from his teachings every day. We can long for the time that we will see him face to face, but he is not gone- he is right here!

Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for living in our lives every day, giving us wonderful things that remind us of your presence. Forgive us for looking up when we should be looking forward, ready to go on and do your work. Amen.