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Archive for the ‘Hope’ Category

A Soul That Pants

Posted in Formation, Hope on January 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Just how passionate are you about following Jesus.  Before you answer that question, remember that there is a cost to being a disciple.  I have written before about counting the costs of true discipleship – you can read that here.

As I said yesterday, Jesus isn’t looking for converts – Jesus is looking for people who are sold out for him.

In Psalm 42:1, the writer says this:  “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”  Does your soul long for God?

Pray that God will make you thirsty today!

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Suffering in Haiti

Posted in Grace, Hope on January 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Tough Topic Tuesday:  How is it that we serve a loving and gracious God but bad things still happen.

With the earthquake in Haiti, the age old question of why bad things happen to innocent people has been on the minds of most folks.  While I don’t have the answers, I do have some things for us to remember in the wake of such devastation and suffering.

First off, I am going to have to differ in opinion with some vocal Christian leaders quoted by the media in recent days.  I do not serve a God who punishes innocent people by “causing” this kind of suffering.  Haiti is not being punished.  God is present even in the midst of this devastation but is not its cause.

God created this world and the people in it – but along side this creation was given free-will.  Much of the suffering in the world is the result of the decisions of mankind – allowed by God but not caused by God.  Wars kill innocent people but people decide to go to war.

I am not a scientist, so I do not know the full impact the decisions of mankind have on the earth.  But I do know that mankind has lived for generations on this planet and has consistently plundered the resources with little regard to the future.

The main point I want to make is this: God loves each and every person in the country of Haiti and I believe God’s heart is aching along side each and every person in that situation.  The real issue is this – God expects us to love our brothers and sisters and have compassion for them.  So what is it that we can do to bring relief to the suffering – put another way, how can God use you and me to minister to the hurting in Haiti.

There are a number of ways to help in the effort to bring relief to the suffering.  The American Red Cross is always a good organization to support.  The Texas Baptist Men are putting together water purification systems and could use donations as well. My point is not to push a particular organization but rather to remind you that there are ways to help.

The biggest thing you can do is pray for those people.  God is not the cause of this situation but God is the answer.  Pray that God would use people to impact the suffering.

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Distorted View

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on January 14, 2010| 1 Comment »

On the back of the current issue of Weavings is a very thought provoking prayer / poem.  It is written by John Mogabgab and here is what it says,

To see the world in the

transfiguring light

of God’s grace

rather than God

in the distorting prisms

of the world

is the turning for which

we must pray daily.

Distorting – that is such a descriptive word – taking truth and twisting and mangling it to the point that it doesn’t look the same any more – like looking into an amusement park mirror.  The world in which we live is driven by values that have twisted what life is really about.

So often, I catch myself looking to God to fix this, or get involved in that area of my life – as if God’s role in the world is to make me happy.  But I think when I do that, I am looking at God through my own distorted view.  Perhaps I should learn to look at my situation through the eyes of God’s grace instead.

That is easy to say but difficult to do.  That is why it should be our prayer daily.

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Are You Seeking

Posted in Formation, Hope on January 8, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday we talked about Moses and the caling he received when he took the time to sit long enough to notice the miracle in the burning bush.

Today’s thought is short and to the point – Moses never would have heard God had he not been listening – had he not been seeking.

What are seeking today, or better yet, WHO are you seeking today?

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Miracle in a Burning Bush

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on January 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

In his children’s book, Does God Have a Big Toe?, Marc Gellman writes a story about God’s calling of Moses in the wilderness.  He paints the picture of shepherds out on the hillsides watching their sheep, all of them busy with their daily routine.

In the midst of the activity, God decided to call out to one of them by setting a bush on fire.  The bush burned and burned but did not burn up.  But in the midst of this strange happening, no one stopped to notice.  Finally, one shepherd took the time to stop and see what was going on and he heard from God.

Now this may not be a completely Biblical retelling of the Moses story but don’t miss this one line from the book: “No one took the time to sit long enough to watch the miracle happen.”  Wow!  No one took the time!

I don’t know about you but I don’t want that to be something said about me.  Unfortunately, all too often it is true of me and I am sure of you as well.

Where is that bush burning in your life?  Today, right now, take the time to sit long enough to watch the miracle happen.  Find God and watch – look for God and see!

Take the time and listen – God will not disappoint.

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Progression of Becoming

Posted in Formation, Hope, Motivational on January 5, 2010| Leave a Comment »

So have you given yesterday’s post much thought?  What are some specific things you are going to do this year in an effort to become more like Jesus?  Here are a few ideas:

Simplify – sometimes our lives are too cluttered to hear from God, what are some areas of your life you could organize to create more “space” for God?

Silence – it is hard to hear from God if we are always talking – learn to be still and listen

Space – set aside a place and a time for you to meet with God at least 3 days per week for at least 20 minutes

Service – we really don’t understand God’s love for us until we put it into practice – find a way this year to serve regularly out of sheer love and not out of what you can get out of it

Now a word of encouragement – you don’t have to reach the fullness of Christ today.  The worst thing you can do is try and make major life changes all at once.  In fact, if you try and do all these things to the fullest today, by the end of the week you will probably be burned out, feel guilty and give up.  The life of following in the Way is a journey, a progression.  We often get discouraged when we don’t see dramatic results in a week but let me assure you, if you begin a little at a time to implement these suggestions, a year from now you will be amazed at the progress God has granted you!

Take heart and get going!

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Merry Christmas

Posted in Hope on December 24, 2009| Leave a Comment »

As the shepherds were doing their jobs in the fields, watching sheep, something a little unusual happened.  Luke 2 says:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Can you imagine what those shepherds must have felt?

I pray you have that same feeling today and tomorrow!

Thanks so much for blessing me with your time in reading!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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Christmas Can Bring Pain

Posted in Community, Family, Hope on December 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Christmas time brings a lot of joy – not only from the meaning of Christmas but also from everything else that comes with it, the food, the gifts and friends and family gathering together.  It is a fun time of year.

But today I have a burden and I want to share it with you.  While this time of year brings joy – for many, it also brings sadness and grief.  For those who have lost a spouse or child or parent  this year, along with the Christmas joy comes a sense of loss and mourning.  This is especially difficult the first Christmas after the loss.

If you are one of those who is living this experience, take heart.  God loves you and you will endure.  Allow yourself to remember and grieve, but also surround yourself with family and friends you love and simply rest.

For those of us who know friends and family who have lost loved ones this year I offer us a challenge:  Go out of your way this Christmas to let them know you love them and that you are here for them.  God calls us to laugh when our brothers and sisters in Christ are laughing and cry when they are crying.  Live that out this Christmas season.

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Love Is My Name

Posted in Community, Formation, Hope on December 17, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I have mentioned this before but one of my favorite spiritual thinkers and authors is Thomas Merton.  I was reading some of his work this morning and was overcome by this passage:

To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.  Love is my true identity.  Selflessness is my true self.  Love is my true character.  Love is my name.

If, therefore, I do anything or think anything or say anything or know anything that is not purely for the love of God, it cannot give me peace, or rest, or fulfillment, or joy.

To find love I must enter into the sanctuary where it is hidden, which is the mystery of God.

The book of Genesis tells us that we are all made in the image of God.  But have you thought about the fact that because we are all created in God’s image, that we are created for the purpose of love?  Love for God displayed in how we live, worship and relate to one another?

This short little passage dumbfounded me this morning.  All of life can be boiled down to one word – love.

In this season of the year, (or any season for that matter), don’t let a day go by in which you do not live out the reason for your existence.

Love fully today!

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A Word In The Wilderness

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope on December 16, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Most of us know the Christmas story well.  We focus our attention on Jesus’ birth at this time of year and it is wonderful to do so.  I was reading an article on the second week of advent earlier this week and the scripture used to begin the article came out of Luke 3.

The verse that has been floating around in my head since reading it is this: “The word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.”  Now this word was for John to be the forerunner for Jesus, paving a path for Jesus and the message he would bring.

But what I want you to see today is found in this little verse.  The word came to John where?  In the wilderness!  Earlier in Luke we see that John lived in the desert and wilderness areas of Israel most of his life.  Those who made that choice spent their lives seeking God and what God would have them do.  By living in the wilderness part of their lives, they were freeing themselves of the distractions of life in order to focus.  (Where did Jesus go for 40 days immediately following his baptism?)

The point I am making is this – do you ever find yourself in the wilderness?  Do you ever feel lost and disoriented with life?  Do you ever feel abandoned and forgotten?

It is in the wilderness that we find God.  But the key is to transition our attention from ourselves and the self-pity we may be feeling and place it on God, the creator of all life.  We may dread “wilderness” times in our lives, but both John and Jesus went to the desert.  We can learn something from that fact.

Have you lost your way today?  God has a word for you – just ask.

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