Luke 14-16

Scripture connections: Matthew 5-6, 12, 18, 22, Mark 3, 8, 10, 12

Today, we dive into Luke 14-16.  Jesus illustrates and explains in so many ways how important His believers are to Him.  And He goes on to remind us that it is not the most independently righteous He tends to the most.  He has a very special place in His heart for the humble servants, the grateful givers, the lost, the least, the last, the sinful... all of us, who even though we mess up, turn to Him for the forgiveness and love we truly need in our lives.

The scripture that catches my attention today comes up when Jesus talks to His disciples about the "cost" of following Him.  Yes, Jesus is talking to Peter, Andrew, James of Zebedee, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Thadaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.  He is also talking to us who believe.  What He says is, at first glance, shocking.  He is very blunt.

²⁶ “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple...

³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 14:26-27, 33

For sure, this is one of those Bible scriptures that cannot be read literally.  We have to think like Jesus, who purposefully and effectively talks in parables and answers with symbolism.  We know Jesus is not telling His followers to hate their families and never see them again.  That just would not make any sense. Jesus is all about loving our families and our neighbors, and we can validate that over and over again throughout the Bible.

I found a great explanation on these verses from a blog called Tough Text Tuesday by Pastor Mark Driscoll.  Basically,  I think Jesus wants us to know what we are getting into when we choose to follow Him.  It is not without cost, and we should consider the cost so we make an informed decision.  It requires us to let go of life as WE KNOW IT.  Following Jesus changes us, and it changes our relationships.  Jesus wants to be our number one priority in this life.  I think the language is strong here because Jesus wants to stress the importance of our relationship with Him once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.  

Taking up the cross is a heavy responsibility AND full of blessings.

What do you think that means for your life?  Can you relate?  What are your thoughts on this scripture?  

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank you for my relationship with You.  Thank you for always being there, for listening, guiding, and encouraging me.  Help me grow closer to You.  Show me how to let go of the things that keep me from Your perfect will for my life.  You are my Rock and my Redeemer. 

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen

Love of Christ,

Luke 11-13

Scripture connections: Matthew 5-6,10,12-13,16, 23, Mark  11-13

Luke 11-13 begins with Jesus teaching us to pray.  Jesus also encourages us again and again to draw closer to God.  He reminds us how much God loves us and cares for all our needs.  Jesus calls us to have servant hearts for God in all that we do, and He explains many times what that looks like in the world.   He also tells us a few stories to make us examine our ways of thinking, doing, and living.  His goal is clear.  He is trying to save us from ourselves.  

I was thinking about the parable of the Rich Fool today (Luke 12:13-21) and our longing in this life to "eat, drink, and be merry."  That certainly sounds good to me at first glance.

Luke 8-10

Scripture connections: Matthew12-14,16-18, Mark 3-9

Praying.  Teaching.  Loving.  Forgiving.  Healing.  That's Jesus.  Luke 8-10 repeats many of Jesus' teachings that we need to hear again and again.  There's "The Parable of the Sower," and "A Lamp On a Stand," Jesus calming the storm, and feeding the five thousand.  Jesus works more miracles in those He meets.  He drives out demons, raises a girl from the dead, and heals the bleeding woman.  This is also when Jesus is transfigured on a mountain.  Lots of powerful, Godly moments are happening.  Through all these stories, every time we hear God's word, we deepen our relationship with Him and grow in our understanding of His awesome character and will for our own lives.  

I want to turn my attention today to an argument the disciples have about who is the greatest among them.  

Disappointed, Now What?

Disappointment.  It's hard to take.  It comes into the picture when the reality we face is not what we would choose for ourselves.  

There's the awe shucks kind of disappointment on the one hand, and then there's the kind of disappointment that reaches our heart and makes us hurt so deeply we can hardly breathe.

And when our hearts hurt, we are forced to do some soul searching.  We reexamine what we know to be true.  Disappointment can be agonizing and make us feel paralyzed in time.  It can be life changing.  Disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes, and it doesn't matter how old we are or how hard we try to avoid it.  It hits us when we don't want it to.  

Disappointment interrupts the perfect lives we think we need in two ways.  From one direction, disappointment comes from circumstances completely beyond our human control, some thing in our life that just isn't the way we want it to be, some news we didn't want to hear, some event we wished had turned out differently, results we weren't expecting.  Despite our best and good and honest efforts, it cannot be helped, and we have to deal with it.  That's one source of disappointment.  Then there's the disappointment that comes from people.   It's inherit in our nature as human beings.  No matter how much we love, we disappoint, and we are disappointed.  People do not meet the expectations we have for them.  Whether we like it or not, at some point, those closest to us disappoint us.  People run from the truth, create some false sense of reality, act in ways that we know are not good.  People make mistakes, choices that are clearly wrong or unhealthy.  It's so easy for us to see, and it seems nearly impossible for them to see.  Sometimes bad choices turn into long lasting bad habits we cannot understand.  People end up hurting themselves and others.  Sometimes, we disappoint ourselves, and there's no one else to blame.  It is frustrating.  It can be devastating and even life threatening.  

And in a world of disappointment, sometimes we have to deal with both disappointing, uncontrollable circumstances and disappointing people all at the same time.  That can be a lot to handle at once.  Why am I writing all this?  Well, because that's where I found myself not too long ago, and I am struggling to work through it.  Heartbroken.  Deflated.  Exhausted.  Out of words.  Because, don't you know, not even our most convincing arguments and our most devoted efforts can change our disappointment.  It's there, here, now what?  

Luke 6-7

Scripture connections: Matthew 8, 10-12, Mark 2-3, 6

In Luke 6-7, Jesus is doing lots of teaching and healing.  He makes connections with so many people.  He basically tells us "how" we are to love one another the way God, our Heavenly Father, loves us.  Jesus calls His twelve "apostles," also known as His disciples.  I learned the difference today between a disciple and an apostle.  I have always used those two words interchangeably without knowing what I was saying.  In case you are wondering about the distinction, a disciple is one who is taught by the one he/she is following.  An apostle is someone who has actually seen the person he/she is teaching others about.  

The scripture that is speaking to me, specifically, today is about love.

Luke 3-5

Scripture connections:  Matthew 3-4, 8-9, Mark 1-2

Today in Luke 3-5, Jesus has grown up, gets baptized by John the Baptist, and begins His ministry when He is about 30 years old.  Jesus drives out impure spirits, who seem to know He is the Son of God, teaches, preaches, and heals many along the way.  Jesus begins to draw crowds.  His God-given authority is hard to keep a secret onc He gets going.  I love reading and learning about Jesus from the different gospels.  They each have something a little unique to offer.

As I read, I get more of a big picture perspective on Jesus' baptism, and our own call to follow God.  Even before He is born, we all know from scripture that Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh.  He is called to greatness and power.  We know He is going to do BIG things; He is the Savior, our Savior.  Yet, he doesn't do them right away.

Luke 1-2

Today, we start reading Luke, another gospel in the New Testament.  You know me, I like to get a little background on what I am reading, and I found some good stuff about Luke from Grace to You.  Luke is thought to be a Gentile, the only Gentile to write books of scripture.  He is also the author of the book of Acts.  Luke was a missionary with the apostle Paul, who describes him as a physician.  In this book, Luke writes to a guy named Theophilus, a Roman dignitary, describing what he knows to be true about Jesus and our Christian life, based on his own confirmed research.  For sure, Luke's writing has a much bigger audience and purpose than the single man he addresses.

Week of October 20-26

Perfectly Imperfect

Week of October 13-18

TGFF

Thank Goodness for Friends

TRUE FRIENDS

celebrate with you,

not for the sake of their own success

but because their hearts smile when you are smiling

TRUE FRIENDS

cry with you,

not for the sake of their own pain

but because their hearts hurt when you are hurting

TRUE FRIENDS

know to pray,

even when you are all out of words

TRUE FRIENDS

reach out to hold your hand and keep you going

when you do not have the strength to move

TRUE FRIENDS

pick you up

when you are falling apart

TRUE FRIENDS

love you the most

when you are the biggest mess

TRUE FRIENDS

give you hope

when yours has run out.

TRUE FRIENDS

have the courage to be honest

even when that means sharing the hard truth

TRUE FRIENDS

Depend on God’s grace,

not your ability to be a perfect person

TRUE FRIENDS

Are angels from above,

and they don’t even know it

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank you for my friends.  Young and old, near and far, new and way back, they are true gifts from you.  They are your loving arms when I need them the most.  I pray for them today.  Bless them, Lord.  Let this prayer reach their hearts and fill them with the power of your love.

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Grace and peace,

Who's Your Daddy, Cancer?

Waiting.  I seriously think that is one of the hardest things about cancer.  For those in the middle of the battle, fighters and frontline hand-holders, the waiting creeps in, one doctor's appointment to another.  Without much warning, we suddenly feel like we are frozen and everyone else just keeps flying by at the speed of life.  So much of fighting cancer is wait and see, and don't hesitate to let the good doctor know if anything changes.    It's the hang in there period, the learning to live with it, the try not to think about it every second, the go on with your life now part, the hold on to your dear life, your family, and your friends, all the in-between times that are so difficult to figure out.  The unknown, the uncertainty, the unpredictability of it all, and more waiting with precious life on the line, that's the real struggle with cancer.  We all know it's ugly, but when we have to look at it square in the face of someone who is part of who we are, we really see just how hard it is.  

Week of October 6 - October 12

Matthew 11-13

In Matthew 11-13 Jesus is teaching and preaching everywhere He goes, and He is drawing crowds and attention.  People notice when Jesus is near.  Awesome and amazing things are happening before our eyes; and yet there are still many who do not believe.  Some even oppose Him and stir up trouble.  I am shocked to hear Jesus called a "glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19)."  The ironic thing is, these crazy accusations are at the heart of what make Jesus so great.  He relates to us, reaches out to us, and loves us, as imperfect as we are, even though He, himself, is perfect and Holy.

I love that as things start to get messy and difficult for Jesus, and He knows more is coming, He takes the time to offer praise to God, His Father.  That's not always easy to do, you know,  Praise God in the middle of a mess?!  Here's what Jesus says,

²⁵ “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do."

Matthew 11:25-26

It makes me think about all the times in my life when the faith of my children strengthens my own faith and shows me the way.  Can you think of a time when that was the case for you?  And despite the troubles Jesus faces, He doesn't give up in sharing God's light with others.  If Jesus is frustrated and tired at this point, it certainly doesn't stop Him.  He gives us an invitation we'd be silly to turn down.

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-29

Gentle and humble in heart?  Rest for my soul?  Yes, please.  

A prayer for today-

Dear Lord and Savior,

Thank you for the gentleness and rest I have in Jesus.  I thank you for all of Your little children who lead me and inspire me as they let Your light shine through them.  I pray for them today.  I also pray for all of those on my mind who are weary and burdened right now.  Give them rest, please Father.  Be with me today and fill me with Your joy.  Guide me in sharing it with others.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Grace and peace,

Matthew 8-10

Scripture connections: Mark  1-4, 7 Luke  5-6 

Jesus is so amazing.  That is what keeps running through my head as I read Matthew 8-10 today.  These chapters are full of Jesus' miracles; but much to my surprise, that's not what makes me say that.  Yes, the miracles themselves, the healing that is happening is extraordinary.  Even more extraordinary, though, is the mercy and grace that Jesus offers us as sinners.

Malachi 1-4

Malachi is the last book of prophecy in the Old Testament.  God's people have returned from exile, and again, they have gotten lazy and careless in their attitude toward God.  The big idea in this book is that we belong to God in "body and spirit (2:15)."  One of my quick go-to resources, Know Your Bible: All 66 Books Explained and Applied points out that Malachi is the "final word from God for some four hundred years, until the appearance of John the Baptist and Jesus, the Messiah."  That is a long time without hearing from God, but we know He makes an awesome promise and keeps it.

More than Enough

After I wrote about my awkward faith moments (click this link to read it) in my last post, I started thinking more about those kind of moments and God's light.  I realized there's some more to this conversation.  God's light is a big deal in our lives.  It deserves time and attention.  That's why I want to zoom in a little bit today.  Jesus says,

You are the light of the world.

Matthew 5:14

Man, that is a loaded statement, you know?  When you think about it, God is giving us a huge responsibility.  Tell me again, God, what exactly am I supposed to do with that?  What are you really saying?  It can be overwhelming and intimidating.  If we aren't careful, we might find ourselves guilt tripping over these words.  I know I do.  I catch myself running when God's light means putting myself on the spot with others.  It is a struggle I face.  My walk with God is both similar and very different to believers around me.  How confusing!  Me God?  Are you sure you need me for this?  You want little, inexperienced me to be a light in this big, scary world?  I am just one ordinary person with lots of baggage.  It's hard to grasp that the omniscient, omnipotent Lord of Heaven and Earth is talking to me, much less using me.  But, friends, that is just what God does as soon as we let Him into our lives, so we might as well get used to it and start talking about it!  

Sometimes it's easier to hear and see the big picture in the details of someone else's story.   So, I want to share a true story about a nine year old boy, baseball, and some shining light.  The boy played on many baseball teams in the past but one particular coach made it a habit to pray with the team before every game.  That simple routine had a huge impact on the boy.  See, that praying coach made a decision to let God's light shine through him.  Months later, it was still shining when the boy joined a new travel baseball team.  The travel coach did not pray before games.  The boy talked to his parents several times about how he wished the team prayed together before games.  Then one day after Sunday school and a lesson on Samuel, the boy said he felt like God was talking to him.  His Sunday school teachers were obviously shining God's light in the life of that boy, too.  The conversation went something like this:

The boy:  Mom, I feel like I can hear God talking to me. 

The mom:  (Surprised) Well, buddy, what's He saying to you? 

The boy:  He's saying I need to pray before my baseball game.  He said not to be scared because He's going to help me.  He will be with me.  I am still scared though, Mom.

At this point, the mom was so moved by what her son was saying, she paused to get her thoughts together.  This was big stuff for a nine year old.  It was big stuff for the mom too.

The mom  Well I know God does talk to us.  If you feel like this is weighing on your heart, I am sure God is talking to you.  God works through us.  If you think God is telling you to pray, I know you can do it.  

In the car on the way home that day, the boy talked more about what was holding him back.  He wasn't afraid to pray, he was afraid of his coach's reaction.  He didn't know how to approach his coach, and he was worried about what his friends would think.  He wasn't sure how they felt about God.  The unknown bothered him, and he was trying to work through it.  Sound familiar?  How many of us can relate to this nine year old's struggle?  It hit the mom at that moment in the car.  She couldn't possibly expect her son to step out in faith on his own when she and her husband were as scared as he was.  So, the boy's dad agreed to discuss the whole thing with the coach.  The dad even agreed to say a prayer for his son and his team since his son was so nervous about the situation.  This became as much a leap of faith for the dad as it was for the boy.

So what do you know?  God plays baseball too.  After talking to the boy's travel baseball coach, the parents learned that he loved the idea of praying before the games but had not done it for "political reasons."  The dad was prepared to pray for the team; but before he could, the coach asked the boy if he wanted to say the prayer.  And without an ounce of hesitation, the boy said yes.  The coach had a conversation with the team about praying, and the boy prayed a nervous, short and very sweet prayer with his team.  It was a God moment.  It was the biggest win the team could have had that day.  Friends that, from a nine year old baseball player at a baseball game, is how you let your light shine!  When we let it shine, we never know how far it will reach.  When we see and experience divine light, it awakens our hearts.  It is contagious.  We are inspired by it.  In case you were wondering, that boy was my son, and praying before games has become a routine for his travel team.  Now, he has said several team prayers.  His faith has strengthened our faith.  And just the other day, another kid on the team, asked to say the team prayer.  That's the power of God's light.  It started with one simple and faithful prayer.  Like I said, it's contagious.    

Let's just take another look at God's words for us and break this down.  Let's figure out what it means for you and for me.  It's pretty amazing to think about this simple and empowering truth ( and visit OpenBible.info for more Bible verses on God's light). 

You.  You might as well face it.  Yes, God is talking to you.  There's no denying it.  In my case, he's talking to me.  That's because, as believers, we are personally responsible for following our Savior.  We have the freedom of choice.  While God's love, mercy, and grace are universal, what, when, why, where, and how He calls me is directly related to who He knows I am. (Jeremiah 1:5).  It's important for me to find security in the fact that my call to be God's light may quite possibly look completely different than your shining light.  That's part of it's beauty.  God is able to call each of us in His perfect, person-specific way so we all have the potential to shine.      

Are.  I am a child of God and so are you.  No two people in this world are alike.  We are "fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) by God in His image.  When we follow Him, we begin to realize that awesome potential.  We can take comfort in the fact that the same God who created us and knows us is the same God who calls on us and counts on us for His glory.  It's scary at times to step out in faith and let our light shine, but that's why He created us.  We are perfectly capable.

The Light.  First, I have to notice that "the light" is very specific.  "The light" in the context of this verse is light that comes from God, divine light.  God is light and all that is good and pure and true, the way to eternal life.  It's a light I cannot manufacture or control on my own simply by turning on and off some light switches.  Jesus was our light in the world (John 8:12).  He was God and all His love in the flesh.  And when Jesus died for us, He became our saving grace for all time, the Holy One who lives in us through the Holy Spirit.  That's why, we can be certain that believing and accepting Jesus means we have God's divine light in each of us.  It's waiting to be discovered and used as a perfect blessing to others.  

Of the World.  We are promised eternal life in Christ, but we cannot just sit here and wait on that day.  God needs us to live in connection with others for Him.  It can be dark out there.  We are God's hands and feet, just like Jesus.  And even though we are not perfect like Jesus, even though we get lost in this imperfect place in which we live, our light is perfect.  It is our help and our way.  God means for me to be a shinning light no matter where I am in this world, dependent on Him and the gifts He gives me, His divine light, to reflect His perfect, extravagant love (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).

So what light does this shed on our situation?  God lives in You.  He lives in me.  He is here.  He is now.  He is the source of our light for this journey we are on day to day.  Our gifts, talents, strengths and weaknesses, experiences, and resources, ALL GIFTS FROM ABOVE, have the potential to be reflections of God's light.  This is such good news for us.  With God's light, what we don't know can be every bit as powerful and valuable as what we do know.  With God's light, our failures can be as usable and transforming as our successes.  With God's light, the most unlikely among us can shine the brightest.  With God's light, our everyday, simple, routine acts of faith can be extraordinary life changing moments in the lives of others.  With God's light, random acts of kindness are never random.  They are Godsends.  Sharing God's light means others can encounter Christ through us.  God wants us to hear Him.  He shows us ways to light up the world with His amazing grace and abounding love.  He gives us all we need to do that for Him.  If you think there's no way you have it together enough to be the light of the world, if you think you aren't good enough, strong enough, experienced enough, old enough, knowledgeable enough, courageous enough, outspoken enough, eloquent enough, confident enough, bold enough, spiritual enough, wise enough, whatever holds you back enough, I hope you'll think again.  God is always more than enough.  You.  Yes, you, soak in this beautiful "Sonshine."  You are the light of the world.  

A prayer for today-

Dear Almighty God,

I thank you for the light of Your truth and Holy presence in my life.  Thank you for all those people who share Your light with me, shining and inspiring me in my own faith.  Forgive me for thinking I am not capable enough to shine Your light in the world.  You, Lord, are always more than enough.  You are all I need.  I pray you will fill my heart with new ways to be "the light of the world" for Your glory.  Show me where, when, and how to shine for You.  Give me the strength and courage I need this day and always.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,
Amen

May You see the face of Christ in everyone you meet, and may everyone you meet see Christ in you,

**To read the post that got me talking about our shining light, click here... Awkward Moments.

Zechariah 11-14

Zechariah 11-14 is full of complicated, symbolic visions of the future.  Like I said before, I don't always get full understanding of what I read in the Bible, but that never stops God from speaking to my heart.  So, I keep reading and learning.  Today, I keep thinking about God's sovereignty in the world.  

You

Week of September 29 - October 5

Zechariah 4-10

Today is one of those days.  My body and my brain are exhausted from my week.  Do you ever feel that way?  Zechariah 4-10 is symbolism overload for me this morning.  In my post, Life Changing Words, I mentioned how I don't always get everything I read in the Bible right away.  Well, this is one of those times.  But I think it's important to point out, it is okay that there's stuff I don't get.  Life in faith is like that too.  We experience things we don't understand, but that does not mean God is not with us or that we are somehow not capable enough for God.  We just have to hang on to what we know to be true in trust.  

Haggai 1-2 & Zechariah 1-3

Priorities.  That is what comes to mind this morning as I read Haggai and Zechariah.  These two prophets deal with the same topic.  God wants His exiled people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild His Holy temple.  Seems like common sense, right?  As Christians we all say God is a priority.  The problem is, God's people are so busy with their own houses, they are neglecting God's House.  

Habakkuk 1-3 & Zephaniah 1-3

Today, I read Habakkuk and Zephaniah, two more of God's chosen prophets, speaking to God's chosen people.  These two men may have been living before Christ, but they are speaking to me loud and clear.  And even though they point out the wrong in the world around them, it is not unlike our world today.  I have felt just like Habakkuk at times,

Micah 6-7, Nahum 1-3

I finish up Micah this morning and also read the book of Nahum in full.  Both Micah and Nahum are prophets.  It's the same sort of story we've heard before, warnings of God's wrath if people do not turn from their sins and turn to God.  Just FYI, after doing some research, I realized that Nahum is like a "take 2" version of Jonah that I read a few days ago.  He is speaking to Nineveh.  Apparently, God's people in Nineveh repented to God after being inspired by Jonah, and then drifted back into their old sinful patterns many years later, so in comes Nahum the prophet.  

A Little "Sonshine" Goes a Long Way

Micah 1-5

Micah is another one of God's messengers.  It's one of those, don't kill the messenger kind of messages for the people of Samaria and Jerusalem.  Micah has to tell the people what they do not want to hear.  The Lord is coming to bring disaster to His people so that they will turn to Him instead of their own ways.  As always, God promises to rescue His people in trouble.

¹² 

“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;

    I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel.

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

    like a flock in its pasture;

    the place will throng with people.

¹³ 

The One who breaks open the way will go up before them;

    they will break through the gate and go out.

Their King will pass through before them,

    the Lord at their head.”

Micah 2:12-13

The scripture I highlighted this morning just reminds me that our troubles are not without purpose, God's purpose.  And in our troubles, God assures us He will be there with us, "opening the way" before us when we use our freedom to follow Him.  That's the comfort I needed this morning.  How about you?

A prayer for today-

Dear Sovereign Lord,

Thank you for being with me in my times of trouble.  Thank you for comforting me with Your presence and guidance.  Even though what lies ahead is unknown to me, it is not unknown to You.  You are already working it for good and holding my hand on Your way.  Help me share Your comfort with other.

In the name of Jesus I pray

Amen

Peace of Christ,

Obadiah, Jonah 1-4

Today's readings take me through the books of two more prophets in the Bible, Obadiah and Jonah.  Jonah is the one I want to focus on today.  This is one of those classic Bible stories for sharing with our kids.  It is such a wonderful, fun, simple illustration with many powerful messages, perfect for all ages.  There are times in my life when I have a "whale of a decision to make," no matter how old I get.  Just like God calls on Jonah, He calls on us to do things for Him, and we sometimes have tough choices to make because of that.  God knows best, and we cannot run from Him.  That never works out.  Not only does that hurt us, we can hurt others unintentionally.   And the hardest part is, God's choices for our lives don't always make sense to us in the moment.