Responding like Jesus, not the world

He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.

Luke 6:10‭-‬11 NLT

Jesus told us that we would be hated because of Him. This passage reminds me of that. It also reminds me of what's going on in the world today. As Christians we stand up for what we believe. Those that don't believe the same way say that we are not tolerant. The thing is is that while we disagree with things of the world, we understand that the world is fallen. And while we can hold other Christians accountable to the scriptures we cannot do that with those who don't believe the same that we do. What we can do is pray for them, and we can care for them, and then with God's help we can share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. All of this is done in love, not hate, not intolerance. There's a double standard in the world. I stand for what I know I believe. Others stand for what they believe. What I pray for is that the two sides of the table could sit down and have a conversation, not a shouting match. As Christians, when others don't believe the same way that we do, we cannot act and treat others like the world does towards us. We have to show them the love of Jesus Christ.

We get so tired ... we need to find rest.

We work. We take care of our families and our homes. We struggle with different things in our lives. We struggle with our health. We try to help others. It is exhausting.

We know we need to rest. We need to get enough sleep. We need to stay hydrated and we need to eat. All things that help us from being exhausted.

Yet when it comes to your spiritual life, are you being fed? Are you resting in God? Psalms 23:1‭-‬2 NLT is a great reminder:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

A shepherd watches over their flock. The shepherd cares for, protects, and feeds their flock. The flock stays healthy, happy, and safe. Jesus is our shepherd. We do have all that we need. Maybe not all that we want, but what we need. And what we need is to have a relationship with Jesus so that once we get to the end of this life we will be in heaven with the Father for eternity. Jesus tells us we will have trials here. We will get weary, tired, and exhausted. The Good News is that until we leave this Earth to join Him, we can find rest in Him.

Live and love like Jesus.

As Christians we often hear that we are living in this world but that we are not of it. When we become believers, the world as we know it changes. Actually, how we see the world is what changes. We develop a biblical view instead of worldly view.

We see that Satan is ruling the world and our interest in those things fade as our relationship with Jesus grows and as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in is and through us. In doing this we begin to behave differently. This is what Paul says about it in Philippians 1:27 NLT:

Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

As believers we must live and love like Christ if we are going to conduct ourselves in a manner worry of the Good News about Christ. That means helping others. Loving others. Doing what is moral and right. If we are not living out faith, if we are not walking the talk, then as James write, what good is our faith? 

Start actively living out your faith. Live and love like Jesus. Make a difference in this world. 

Working for the Lord

Working for the Lord

We all had dreams growing up of what we wanted to be. Some wanted to be doctors, teachers and lawyers. Some wanted to work for the police or fire departments. Others wanted to be farmers or engineers. Some of us loved it those dreams. Some of us did not. Many people love what they do, many do not. The reasons for why and why not vary greatly. 

People, regardless of what they do, can get bored with their jobs. They get stuck in routines and they begin to wonder why they do what they do. They have lost their passion, their drive. If asked, I would raise my hand in the so called been there, done that club. For me it was Paul's words to the Colossians that help snap me out of it:

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians 3:23‭-‬24 NLT

When I realized this truth, I got it. No matter what I was doing, if I did it with the mindset of doing it for God, He would open my eyes to see how I could serve Him. I'm working to honor God, things started happening. The first was that I was re-energized to do my job. Then I started seeing how I could be His light in my workplace. Good had me right where He needed me and He, as always, had a plan.

Let's think about this. Jesus did everything with excellence. He did everything for the Lord. Read what is written in Mark 7:37 - They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak.”

If we are to be like Christ, we need to do the same as He did. This goes beyond work and covers every aspect of our lives. Are there areas in your life where you fall short? I would be lying if I told youi did not fall short. Even so, I keep striving to honor God in everything I do. Are you?

What is getting in the way of the light?

As we go through life so many things seem to get on our way. The things that can get in your way change throughout your life. When we were kids the things that got in our way seem pretty trivial now. Having to get your chores done before going out to play. Seemed awful at the time didn't it? Today the things that get in the way have changed and are likely more impactful on your life.

The question that comes to mind is this, are the things that seem to cause a shadow in you life preventing you from seeing God? Let's face it, we are going to deal with a lot of emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual things. Where do you turn? Psalm 23:4 gives us some great direction, Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

We all go through a dark valley. For some that valley is very dark and feels like it goes on forever. I know people are dealing with things, sometimes for their entire lives. Things that I have no idea how it feels. The Good News is that our Father in Heaven is there walking with us through it. And yes, that means even when it doesn't feel like it, He is there. God is there protecting us. 

As followers of Jesus Christ we need to help in protecting others. We need to love on others. We need to seek to understand others. We need to live out our faith. We need to be God's light in this world that makes the shadows go away.

Re-created through a relationship with Jesus

All too often I hear “people can’t change.” I beg to differ. We all change in many ways. There is the change that no one cares for, we get older. God, please do not let me become that grumpy old man on the block! We change in other ways too. Every 7 years our taste buds change. Sometimes it does not take 7 years. Many years ago, I had the opportunity to go to France as an exchange student and was privileged to stay with a wonderful family. Every morning we had grapefruit juice for breakfast. I still cannot stand it to this day. Sauerkraut was another thing I just could not stand, that is until we had it for dinner with sausage. I still love it to this day, although if I want to have any, I have to cook it on the side burner on our grill. Diane does not like the smell in the house.

We also change in many other ways. People who come into a relationship with Jesus Christ change. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT; This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! It is in Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit that we begin a journey that changes ours lives. In verse 14 Paul writes Christ’s love compels us. His love through the Holy Spirit urges us on. Through that guidance we change, we become new. 

When a person goes to jail it is hoped that they will become rehabilitated and reformed into a productive member of society. With Jesus we are created new. We are not changing how we look like getting a haircut. Being re-created is not superficial. It is transformational. That means the old life is left behind us. It is no longer who we are. It is not who we will be.

Finding confidence through faith

What rattles you? What causes you to sink back and not doing something? What shakes your confidence to the core? It could be any number of things. It could be speaking in front of people. If you are still in school it could be a class or a teacher. College algebra did it for me. I had been taking online classes towards my degree and I got to college algebra. Diane and were in Colorado Springs helping her brother and his family move. I needed to get some class work done so we went to a restaurant that had WiFi. She had was with me because math is her thing. She tried more ways than I can count to help me understand, but I just was not getting it. I knew I was in trouble when I started getting hot and then came the sweating. I was so uncomfortable and then I got upset. That was the end of that study time. 

I have done much complex things than those algebra problems before and since that day. I have setup elaborate spreadsheets and databases that when you look at them had plenty of algebra in them. So what in the world happened? How had I let fear in and get control of me? To say the least it was embarrassing. 

Looking back I sure could have used the advise Paul was giving to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7 - 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. Instead of fear and timidity I should have prayed for the power, love, and self-discipline that we get from the Holy Spirit. God will give us what we need by His power to get through each storm. If faith is present we can conquer that fear and timidity with the confidence that God gives. Walk in faith, walk with God.

The importance of staying connected with Jesus

Have you or someone you know ever said, "God doesn't care about me. He never gives me anything I ask for." The real question I have is what are you asking for and what is your reason for asking? What are your motives? If you are asking God to help you win the lottery then, yeah, I am pretty sure that request is not going to be granted.

Time for a heart check. God is not a genie. Scripture tells us that You must not test the Lord your God as you did when you complained at Massah. - Deuteronomy 6:16. Massah meaning "test." Jesus knew Satan's heart when He responded to Satan's challenge in Matthew 4 to jump off the temple. Satan had even gone so far as to quote Psalm 91:11-12 about how God would send His angels to protect Jesus. Jesus counters in verse 7 when He responds: The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’

Like Jesus, we have to be on the same page as God. To be on the same page we need to be in a right relationship with Him. In John 15:7 Jesus tells us: But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! - John 15:7 NLT

Those of us that remain in Him show that we have an enduring relationship with Jesus. That means that God's Word is in us. That means we are filled with the Holy Spirit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then when we ask for things we are asking for things that God can agree with us on. That is why it is so important for us to stay connected with Jesus.

When we doubt what we believe

Today I was stunned to find out that Christian rock singer Jon Steingard of Hawk Nelson no longer believes in God. In one of his post on Instagram Jon wrote “After growing up in a Christian home, being a pastor's kid, playing and singing in a Christian band, and having the word 'Christian' in front of most of the things in my life - I am now finding that I no longer believe in God.”

This raises the question, “Is it ok to question your faith?” I know I have. I know others who have as well. I will not venture to guess the process Jon took to come to his conclusion, but I do have to wonder if he suffered through this alone or if he reached out to other believers to walk with him.

We can doubt for so many reasons. When a loved one is taken away from us too soon. When we do not get that job or that raise. When your spouse tells you that they want a divorce. Some think they are not good enough to receive salvation. Some think that science proves that God does not exist.

I have yet to find anywhere that God says that we cannot doubt. Thomas doubted when the disciples told him they had seen the resurrected Jesus. He was not going to believe until he could touch the holes in his hands and side. Eight days later he would get that chance and he believed. ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” – John 20:29

I see it this way. We were made to be in community. It is a community of believers that loved me through my questions. They helped with answers. That raised more questions. They walked along side me and guided me through what I call my desert time. I turned to the Bible. I turned to research. I came to the same conclusion that so many others have before, and my faith became stronger.

God wants us to love and trust Him completely. I strive for this. The problem is that Satan wants nothing more than for us to question ourselves right out of our faith. Sorry Satan, not happening. I know where those questions come from and like when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, I turn to the Scriptures.

¹ I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? ² My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! – Psalm 121:1-2

I was encouraged by Jon’s statement, "I certainly couldn't say for certain that God isn't there. I would prefer it if he was," he says. "My prayer in recent days has been 'God, if you’re there, please show up.' I mean it sincerely. So far, I don’t feel like I’ve been answered. My door remains open." His bandmates, in their statement said, "God is still FOR Jon & he still matters," they added. "Why? Because that truth doesn’t change just because we question it."

We should not condemn anyone for questioning their faith. We should love them through it. We should walk alongside them. We should pray with and for them. Let them see Jesus through us.

There really is joy in obedience

Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. - Psalms 119:2 NLT

If you are a parent then you know the joys and frustrations of raising your children. Sometimes they listen, but most of the time they do not. "Pick up your toys." "Clean up your room." "Please put your dirty clothes in the hamper." Why won't they just do it? What we are forgetting is that we probably did and still do the exact same thing.

Think about your day. Did you do anything today that you probably should not have done? With all the people that drive over the speed limit, roll through stop signs, etc. I would venture to guess that the answer is yes.

Why do we do that? Well, we were born into sin. It has been like that since the incident in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve at the forbidden fruit. And each time we do something we shouldn't we are probably asking ourselves why. This is what usually I hear in my head afterwards: "I know better than to say that." or "I know better than to do that." I then will find myself asking God for His forgiveness. 

The thing is, obeying God isn't always difficult. In 2 Kings 5, Naaman suffers from leprosy. He eventually goes to see the prophet Elisha. 

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house.But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! - 2 Kings 5:9-11

He was expecting it to be something even easier than what Elisha instructed him to do. His officers tried to reason with him asking him if Elisha had asked him to do something difficult, wouldn't he have done it? Naaman finally relents and goes. Imagine his joy at being healed of the leprosy. 

It doesn't matter of what God is asking us to do is hard or not, we will experience joy by being obedient. We simply need to trust Him and do what He is asking us to do.

Sacrificial love

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.- Luke 9:23‭-‬24 NLT

If we were to take up an actual Roman cross we would likely be crushed. Those things could weigh in excess of 300 pounds. Not many people could bear that much weight, especially if they had already been beaten nearly to death. Yet that is exactly what Jesus did. In addition to that He also carried our sins.

Jesus did this as an act of selfless love for us. Remember what He prayed in the garden? "Not my will." So if we are to pick up that cross daily,then we have to set aside our selfish wants, needs, and desires and follow Him. 

Jesus taught us to unselfishly love and serve others, even if that means sacrificing what we may want. Over the past couple of months we have seen this time and time again as people continue to put their own needs and their own health on the line to be available for others.

Whatever it is that you do or say and do it in love Most importantly, do it for the glory that it brings to God.

Discipline is done in love.

Whose favorite part of being a kid was getting disciplined for doing something wrong? Anyone? Me either. I remember when my little brother was very young and he would do something wrong. For a short time I would take the blame for him. That is until the punishment changed. I realized I didn't like getting in trouble for him. Sorry little brother.

For the most part I started out of trouble growing up. It is either that or it is just selective memory. Probably the latter. I do try to learn from my mistakes, although I think we can all agree that sometimes it takes a few tries.

Now as a parent I have had to discipline my kids. Regardless of what our daughters may have thought, I really did not like when I had to do it. It is in love that we discipline our children. There is no joy in discipline, only the hope that those you are disciplining will learn from it. As Hebrews 12:11 says, discipline is painful and I would add for both sides.

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. - Hebrews 12:11 NLT

It is done to guide our children down the right path. No parent wants their children to go down the wrong path. Left to on our own with no discipline would be disastrous. Like we want for our children, God wants for us, His children. We live. We do things right. We do things wrong. We get praised. We get disciplined. Know that through His discipline we grow stronger, wiser, and happier. God loves us that much.

Worry affects us in many ways, here is what you can do about it.

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." - John 14:1 NLT

It affects our health, our happiness, our relationship, our jobs. Worry ages us.  What are you worrying about today? What do you think would happen if you took that worry and gave it over to Jesus?

Especially when it comes to health issues, especially pain, you will probably hear me say; "It is just a minor inconvenience." The bone spur in my shoulder has caused irritation in my shoulder that has worked its way down my arm to my elbow and to my hand. My doctor had prescribed some medication that helped with the swelling and it started to feel better. Yeah! Then the prescription ran out. I have not called my doctor about this minor inconvenience because we are in the middle of a pandemic. I reasoned that she has enough to worry about being on the frontlines. Now I am getting less quality sleep. I am sleeping on the couch, not because I am in trouble, but because it keeps me from laying on that shoulder. I need to call her tomorrow.

So there, I have worry all taken care of and I can move on. Wrong. I worry about my daughters and their families. I worry about our parents. I worry about my brother and his family. I worry about my wife's brothers and their families. Yet I do know that God is in control and that helps.

Now, now I have it, right? Nope, still wrong. I worry about my job. Am I doing things right? Did I say the right things to each of the customers I talk to each and every day. Did I make a mistake? On my current schedule I work Monday - Thursday and Saturday one week and the next is Monday - Friday. Did I take off the right day this week? Did I really have a vacation day today, better call the schedule line and make sure. You see, I am pretty good at handing everything in my life over to God except for me. If it has to do with me personally, I worry. Interestingly enough, I never thought I would do well working from home. This pandemic has changed that opinion. I do like it, but I miss the people and look forward to going back to the office. When I started working from home I had a chat with God and gave it over to Him. So I still worry about work, sure. But not like I did even two months ago.

By turning it over to Jesus, I am feeling better mentally and spiritually. As for my physical health, Diane and I started WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Losing my 25 minute commute has allowed Diane and I more time together and our relationship is as strong as it has ever been and I am getting happier.

I encourage you to turn your worry over to Jesus too. Why? Because of what Jesus tells us: 

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. - Matthew 6:28-34 NLT

Answer the door!

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. - Revelation 3:20 NLT

This verse always reminds me of the painting that hung in my Grandparent's house. I remember when I was very young that I thought it was strange that there was not a door handle. Then as I got older I began to see this painting as Jesus knocking on the door of our lives as He patiently waited for us to open the door and let Him in. 

I have done some research on this particular print of the painting "Christ at Heart's Door" by Warner Sallman who was an American painter. I found that there were many other paintings that were done with the same themes. Of those is one painted by the English artist William Holman Hunt, “The Light of the World” which he finished in 1853.

As I looked at the painting, “The Light of the World” the only light is Jesus. The door itself, like the painting my Grandparent's had, showed a door with no handle. But this painting shows the door more overgrown with weeds. I have to imagine just by looking at the door that Jesus is knocking on that it, like so many peoples hearts, had rarely been opened. 

It goes beyond even letting Jesus into your heart and making Him your Lord and Savior. I believe it also means letting Him into every aspect of your life. We need to prayer daily for guidance, if not, that door is not open. We need to seek Him in our marriage, if not, that door is not open. We must make Him a part of every moment of our lives. Open every door for Jesus and let the light in, but be sure to lock the door on Satan to keep him out.

Are you answering when Jesus asks to come into your life? If not, why? Trust me, it will be the best decision you will every make!

Judgement is real

There are so many types of earthly judgement. People are judged for how they look, the color of their skin, how they think, how they talk, what they do, and the list goes on and on. People judge others when they do not even know them. There is so little love and forgiveness. 

If someone breaks the law and they are found to be guilty they are judged and then have to pay the consequences. The system is not perfect. People are found guilty that are not. People are found innocent that are not.

The judgement in this world shows imperfect we all are. It causes people to say, do, and be part of some very wrong things. I've been judged in my life for certain things. Yet there are people out, people I know who are constantly being judged and for what? To make someone feel better about themselves? Some think it is fun? Seriously, this is so very wrong. It is a product of a fallen, broken, sinful world. 

Does that mean people should give up? Absolutely not. In the eyes of God we are all His children. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that" The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." Yet God gave us free will to choose. We pray that people will choose Him and live Christ-like lives. We pray for this because:

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. -John 3:18 NLT

True judgement is only meant for those who do not believe in Him. Salvation is a freely given gift. It cannot be earned. We need to leave the baggage of our lives with God. With Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our sins are gone. The judgement for those sins are gone. The consequences for those sins has been paid by the precious blood of Christ.

Because of what God has done for us, we need to extend that same love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace to others.

Full of scattered thoughts?

How often through the course of the day do you feel like your mind is racing? So many things to think about and do. How many of you have an organizer of some type?

I have spent more money than I care to admit on trying to stay organized. Some of it had been to organize the "stuff" we have. We have boxes, shelves, tubs, and at one time a storage unit. All to manage stuff.

Then there were the calendars. Those were followed by the fancy and sometimes expensive organizers with places for calendars, notes, to do lists, and sections I never used. 

Then, being the geeky type that I am, came the digital organizers. The thing is, no matter what tool I chose it eventually got set aside for one reason or another. No matter how hard I tried, I struggled to stay organized. This just added to my jumbled thoughts. "So much to do and so little time to do it." 

My priorities were misplaced. I was looking to myself and the world to guide me through life. It damaged friendships, relationships, and even jobs. I didn't have peace. I wasn't grounded. I was floundering through life. That is where today's verse comes in:

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! - Isaiah 26:3 NLT

I found my way back to God. I began reading and then studying the Scriptures. I was reminded of God's love for me. I found peace in His Word. That peace came from trusting in God, in focusing my thoughts on Him. It wasn't until then that I was able to start getting the rest of my life organized. As time goes on the scattered thoughts go away. I am able to focus. Another gift from God when we trust Him.

Be bold in sharing the Good News

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 NLT

Scripture tells us that we should always be ready to share the hope that we have. Sometimes that is easier said than done. We are scared of being rejected and even ridiculed for our faith, let alone sharing it.

God is not ashamed of His children. So much so that He sent His Son to die for our sins. We have to remember that. If He loves us that much we need to love Him that much. If we do, we will not be ashamed to share the Good News.

Another thing we must remember is that sharing our faith comes in many different forms. As Christians we are representatives of Jesus. So everything we do or say is sharing our faith.

Being there for family and friends. Smiling and saying hi to someone. Holding open a door. Praying with someone in a time of need. Telling them about the Good News of Jesus Christ. These are all outward expressions of our faith. Sometimes by actions, sometimes by word, and sometimes by both.

Pray today about how you can share your faith with others. 

Have you felt discouraged and needed God close to you?

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. - Psalm 34:18 NLT

Have you felt discouraged and needed God close to you? Did you even realize it?

I think we can all agree that things has been pretty tough lately. The reasons for this could be many or just one thing. Earlier this week my wife Diane asked me if I was alright and I responded by asking why. I had not noticed anything. In fact, as far as I was concerned everything was normal. But was it really?

Now both of us are pretty analytical and it can take some time before we come up with answers to certain questions. But then, I thought the hardest thing I had been dealing with this week was what we should have for dinner at night. I think we are blinded by the things that drag us down. At the time that she asked me if I was alright:

• I am facing a surgery that could improve my quality of life and let me get some sleep
• I had a sermon to write
• A wedding to finish preparing for
• I had just mowed my mother-in-law's yard for the last time, something I had been doing for over 20 years
• As pastors of Grace Street Church Mark, Josh, and myself are working on a plan to transition back to in-person worship services amid all the regulations set by local, state, and national authorities

So, yes, I was alright ... not! I have to imagine as she asked me the question that my face was sullen with a blank stare. Her question kept me awake for quite awhile that night. The more I thought about it, the more I felt crushed. That is not me. That is not who I want to be. What happened? The next day I would write Is hope hard to find right now? God used Diane to remind me of the hope we have in God. This is not the first time He has used her and most certainly will not be the last. It helped me to realize that no matter where we are at, what we have going on, or what we are dealing with that God is right there. He is always close to use and even closer when we are feeling crushed by what is going on. God is there to rescue us through our spouses, our children, our family, our friends, and yes even strangers. 

Thank you Father for always being there for us. Help us to be there for each other as well.

Loving others by our actions

We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. - 1 John 3:16‭-‬19 NLT

What does it mean to love others by our actions? In 1 John 3:16‭ we are reminded that real love is sacrificing ourselves for others. I think of all the doctors, nurses, EMT, police officers, and firemen. I also think about all those who are still working to keep essential business open. They are putting themselves in harm's way during this pandemic. Many have gotten sick from COVID-19, many have died. Yet they keep doing it. 

A few weeks ago I read about a nurse that is in my area. She felt called to take care of those who had gotten sick from COVID-19.  It was not about what was in it for her. It was about taking care of others.

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. - James 2:26 NLT

Good works is not our ticket into eternity in heaven. They are an outward expression of our faith, of our love for God. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we are also letting the Holy Spirit work in and through us. It will show in what we say and do. Those things will be done in love, not for what we can get out of it, but because we love God. We will be loving God and others through our actions.

What does it mean to serve others?

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT

The first thing that comes to mind is when I worked with the youth at Hus Church. For several years the youth group would serve the free meal on the first Sunday of each month at 1st Presbyterian Church.

My wife and I would serve along side the youth. It was never a burden to them or to us. They understood why we serve others. Several serve their communities today.

The impact on them was powerful. It was the week following one of the meals that a parent contacted me. Her son had been crying when he got home. His heart was touched and broken for the people we served, but it was the 3 young children that had come for a meal that really got him. They came in alone. Their clothes were worn and dirty. They most likely had not had a decent meal in days. They were also homeless. It was something that these you had never encountered. It taught them what it means to serve others.

There are a lot of "Christians" who hop from church to church looking to find a place that will serve their needs. They have it wrong. Church is not a social club or a country club where we are served. It is not about us.

Christ is our example. His time here was spent serving others. He even spent His final 24 hours serving. He washed the Disciples feet. He was put on trial for our sins and He was beaten nearly to death for those sins. Finally Jesus was crucified and died for our sins. 

So what comes to mind when I think about serving others? We serve others to bring glory to God just as Jesus showed us.

Is hope hard to find right now?

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. – Hebrews 10:23 NLT

With all that is going on in the world right now it is hard to have hope. You may have friends or family that have gotten sick from COVID-19. Some may have even passed away. At Grace Street Church we are preparing to re-open for worship services which we are not taking lightly. On top of that I am having some outpatient surgery in a few weeks at which time I will be tested for COVID-19. Am I worried? A little. Am I hopeful? Very much.

Just like the stock market, there will be ups and downs in life. One of the things I remember from when Diane and I went to Financial Peace University several years ago about investing is that it is not a sprint, it is a marathon. Stocks will go up and they will go down. We keep investing in our 401K knowing that when the time comes, we will have funds to draw from in our retirement.

The same goes with the hope that we have. Life will have its ups and downs. Right now, many are seeing the downside in a way they never imagined. Even so we must keep investing in our faith and in our relationship with Jesus. It is not a sprint. We are investing in our eternal future and unlike the stock market, it will pay dividends we could never imagine.

In a worldly sense it is hard to hope.  How many times have you or someone you know said, “crossing my fingers.” People hope for more money, a better job, a bigger house, a nicer car, etc. Those are all temporary things. Do they make life better and easier, no necessarily.

The hope that we get from God is much different. Here is where I would jump to the next chapter in Hebrews, chapter 11 which is often called the faith chapter. In it we read example after example of the faith that God’s people had. They had faith and hope beyond what they could see, lets call it a confident expectation. That is what the hope that we get from God. That is what we get from a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is what we get when we let the Holy Spirit work in and through us.

I have hope. I have a confident expectation that when God allows us to re-open the doors at Grace Street Church that He will take care of us and that He will fill the church. I have a confident expectation that because I have looked to God and have used the wisdom He has given me that I will test negative for COVID-19 and be able to have my surgery. I have a confident expectation that I will, when my time here on earth has come to an end, be in the presence of my Father in heaven. That is how I find hope in the hard times we go through.

We are called to live differently

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 NLT

It is hard to just read Colossians 3:17 without looking at the verses around it that put it more fully into context.

In the New Living Translation chapter 3 starts with the title "Living the New Life." As Christians we are called to live differently.  

Verse 2 tells us to "Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." The world would have us look through sinful eyes when we should be looking as though through God's eyes. To do that we must spend time with God and His Word daily. To understand the Scriptures is to understand how to be a representative of Jesus.

In verse 12 Paul tells us that we "must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." It is not an option. Nowhere does he tell us to violently disagree, yell, scream, murder, hate, and the list goes on and on. No, the words he uses tell us to forgive and to love. Always.

I hear verse 16 telling us that with thankful hearts we should teach one another, hold one another accountable, and worship together.

The world should see us as a representative of Jesus Christ. Loving one another. Helping each other to stay the course. Reminding each other not to pervert God's Word so that it matches what the world wants. We can disagree with the world but it must be done in truth and love. We are God's children and we need to act like it.

Why so discouraged?

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

Psalms 42:11 NLT

It is so easy to get discouraged. Have you ever been talking with someone, anyone, and you are trying to explain something to them. Somewhere along the line they were given bad information but they are now convinced that the previous information is correct. Good luck changing their mind, even if you have a mountain of facts to back you up.

Or maybe you are out of work and you have been applying for job after job. Sometimes you get an interview and are told you are over or under qualified. Other times you do not even get called for an interview. I know people who have been looking for work for well over a year before they finally get a job.

There are so many other examples of things that can get us discouraged and push us to the point of wanting to just give up. 

Discouragement can cause other things too. It can make you depressed. It can cause you to withdraw from others. For some the feeling is like getting punched in the gut. Whatever it is can be unexpected and overwhelming. Thoughts become jumbled. Rational goes out the window.

So, the question then becomes, what do you do when you are discouraged? Who do you turn to? Where can you find hope?

Personally, I turn to God because He gives me hope. Proverbs 3:5 tells us not to lean on our own understanding, but that is what many of us try to do when we get discouraged. In verse 6 it goes on to say that we should “Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” This takes us back to Psalms 42:11 where it says “I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God!” If we put our hope in God He will guide us through and all the way through we must praise Him for what He is doing in our lives whether we understand or not.

Want to change?

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

 

The experts say it takes 21 days to develop a habit. I recently started to blog again. I was shocked to see that I had not written anything for my blood in almost 2 ½ years. That is a long time. I working on developing a new habit that will help me to grow in my faith.

That is why I blog. I'm doing it to strengthen my relationship with God. It makes me think about His words to us. By writing down my thoughts I'm sending more time with God. I'm not just reading words from the Bible. For me it means spending more time with my Creator. 

I touched on this yesterday too. By spending more time in the Word, I am strengthening my relationship. I am communicating with God.  I am getting to know my Father in Heaven. In doing this I’m allowing the Holy Spirit to work in me and through me. I'm opening myself up to God so He can take my stony, stubborn heart and give me a tender, responsive heart.

That is my prayer for you as well. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, I pray that God will soften your heart to be willing to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you do have a relationship with Him, then I pray that He continues to soften your heart so your relationship will continue to grow.

I also pray that my thoughts will help spark a conversation between you and God too.

Never, ever stop praying

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT – Never stop praying.

Now I will not be asking for a show of hands, but how many of you would like a better, more consistent life of prayer? Take a moment and think about your prayer life. When do you pray? What do you pray for?

Do you shy away from prayer because you do not know what to say? It is simply a conversation between you and God. Will you always have the right words, probably not. Will you always hear an answer? You will. You just might not like the answer. Sometimes you may have to wait awhile before you hear an answer. It may be in that time of waiting that God is preparing you for the answer.

So why should we pray and never stop? We are called by the Scriptures to pray. God gave us the example of what our prayer life should be in His Son Jesus. Jesus prayed all the time. He did it to stay connected to the Father. It strengthened their relationship. Relationships, if they are to last must have communication. Communication builds relationships, without it, relationships crumble. You made a commitment to Jesus to follow Him. Grow that relationship by praying.

Prayer prepares me for the day. It strengthens me for the things that are ahead of me. Satan comes at us in the spiritual realm. This reminds me of Ephesians 6:10-12:

¹⁰ A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹² For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

By strengthening myself in prayer each day and through out the day I am resting in God’s mighty power. Because of this I am able to take on any temptation. I am able to do what God has created me to do. I am able to be bold in the name of Jesus.

Will you be bold with me? Will you commit to talking to the Father every day? If you do, I promise your life will change. More importantly, so will your eternity.

What's something that is impossible for you but is possible for God?

Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Matthew 19:26 NLT

As a church we had just moved into a new space. Two services in and we are hit by a global pandemic. Our lives changed in an instant. On top of that we were mere weeks from Easter. What were we going to do?

As pastors, Mark, Josh, and I met to pray and discuss our next steps. How would we continue to serve the church when we could not have an in person service? God knew.

Turns out God had put a passion for photography in Josh. Because of that, Josh already had a tripod with a cellphone mount, lenses for the phone’s camera, and a microphone. We could live stream the service on Facebook. Funny thing is we had been talking about doing that for awhile and we didn't even realize we had the basic tools we would need. God knew.

What about Communion? God knew. God had already placed it on the heart of one of our church families heart to purchase prepackaged Communion cups with the juice and wafer packaged together. Between the three of us we delivered them to everyone. We could still have Communion each week together.

Now we are getting closer to be able to have in person services again. Again as pastors we are praying about and discussing our next steps. We know that things will never be quite the same again. We are praying for lots of people to join us at Grace Street Church. We are praying for God's Will. 

Doing anything during a pandemic seems impossible for us. Not for God. Nothing is impossible for Him.

What is something you are trusting God for?

I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.
Psalms 130:5 NLT

The beginning of Psalm 130 has the Psalmist crying out to God in prayer. The Psalmist also realizes that we could not survive without the Lord’s forgiveness. So, in verse 5, the NLT says, “I am counting on the Lord” while other translations say, “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits.” Regardless of the translation, we have to put our trust and hope in the Lord.

We have to trust that God will answer our prayers. We also have to trust in the answer. It could be yes, no, or it could be silence. It is easy is the answer is yes.

If the answer is no that is harder. I may or may not be guilty of trying to reason with God as to why He should change His answer to yes. We all know that we know better than God, right? Why do we do that? God certainly knows better than I do of what I need. When I look back at all the times that God has said no to me, I can usually see why. When I still do not understand why, I count on the Lord, I trust in Him enough to know that “no” was the right answer. I definitely need to get better at accepting the answer when it is no.

Now when He is silent we have a tendency to wonder what happened to Him. Why is he ignoring us? In our prayers we may even ask Him if He cares. Well that is a silly question. Of course God cares. He has a reason for being silent. I look at those times as times of learning. As times where I really do have to put my trust in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Sometimes I believe God is teaching me patience when He is silent. He is teaching me trust. He is reminding me of where my hope comes from. He is showing me love.

To answer the question for today, I am trusting God to continue to teach me, to care for me, to show me what it is He wants me to do, and to love me. Why? Because since I quit being a part-time Christian and began living my life for Him, I have changed. I see the good things in life. I am enjoying life more. I have a hope beyond this world. That is what I am trusting God for.

What is a step you can take to battle temptation?

¹³ The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

Temptations are the same for everyone. Technology may have changed the method that those temptation get to us; they are the same ones that we have been dealing with since Adam and Eve first ate the fruit. They were there together and shared the fruit. Then later when God asked Adam if he had eaten the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he lied. What did Adam say? In Genesis 3:12 he told God, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Adam blamed the woman for giving him the fruit and he blamed God for giving him the woman. Seriously? Adam could have said no. He could have told Eve not to eat it. Instead they both fell victim to the temptation.

What are you tempted by? No need to answer here, but you and God should have a conversation about it. Confess your sin to Him and ask for His help in overcoming it. Then, as it tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 God will show you a way to endure, to get through it, to get past it, to conquer it.

We have the perfect example in Jesus. Now, we are not perfect like He was, but Jesus was a great example to us. He took on Satan in the desert with nothing to eat or drink for 40 days and He was still able to resist any temptation that Satan came up with. Jesus was tempted at the most vulnerable time being tired, hungry, and thirsty. How? By the Word of God. Jesus’ relationship to the Father was rock solid. Everything that He did was rooted in prayer and God’s Word.

This tells me that if we know the Scriptures, then we will have the strength to take on the battle against our Sin. Look what Jesus told Satan in Matthew 4:

• ⁴ But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
• ⁷ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
• ¹⁰ “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

The Scriptures say … is how He addressed each temptation. Please, prayer about what ever the things are that tempt you and ask God how to get through it. Then do it. There is incredible power in the Word of God. Jesus proved that to us. We need, and although you cannot hear it there is urgency in this so let me state that again … We NEED a relationship with Jesus. We NEED Him as our Lord and Savior. We NEED to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to change us. Then, when we do, God will show us the way. People will then see the hope that you have, the love that you share, and they will want the same for their lives.

What's a next step you need to take?

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Joel 2:12 NLT

Our time here is not infinite. Eventually our lives will end. That is certainly a thought that is none too pleasant for us to think about. If you are like me, you may be thinking my life can't end yet, I have so much to do. 

When I lived end, then what? As much as I do not want to admit it, life for others will go on. Family and friends will miss you, but their lives will continue. This can be a harsh reality for us. It wasn't all that long ago that I considered myself invincible. I lived life as if it would not end anytime soon.

The reality is we have no idea when life will end. All those things still on your bucket list will be left undone. In the Scripture above the Lord speaks to us with urgency. In it, the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts." (

Joel 2:12 NLT)

"While there is still time." Good wants us to spend eternity with Him. He doesn't want you to miss out. If we do not turn to Him before we die, it will be too late. 

I have heard more than once people's reasons for not believing. "There Bible is just a bunch of fairy tales." "If God is so good, then why is there so much evil in the world?" "Why would God let people die like that?" These questions along with many others will always be asked. Then there are all the different theories that people come up with.

The thing is, God does love us. He does see us. We do matter to Him. We live in fallen world. Not one He created. The world God created was perfect. Then sin entered the world. So what did or loving Father in Heaven do? He sent His Son to die for our sons so we could be righteous in His eyes. So that when our time here on Earth was over we could spend eternity with Him.

If you already have a relationship with Jesus, I challenge you to visibly live out your faith, not because you can earn your way to heaven. No, live out your faith so that others can see the hope that you have. The love that is yours from the Father. 

If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, believe me when I tell you that it is the best decision you will ever make. If you want to know more, let me know because I want to spend eternity in Heaven not only with God, but I want to see you there too!

When does the reality of God’s presence encourage you?

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Psalms 46:1-2 NLT

I would have to say that God’s presence encourages me all the time, but especially when I do not expect it. A couple of weeks ago I have having a difficult morning. I turned on the radio as I was driving to church to do our service on Facebook Live and heard a song. That song was “Breathe” by Johnny Diaz. The verses talk about how we race from one thing to another, but it is the chorus that God used to bring me peace (full video at end):

Breathe, just breathe

Come and rest at My feet

And be, just be

Chaos calls but all you really need

Is to just breathe

© 2015 Centricity Music Publishing (ASCAP) / So Essential Tunes & Not Just Another Song (SESAC) / Wordspring Music, LLC & Tony Wood Songs (SESAC)

Even when life is chaotic beyond what we think we can deal with, God is there. He is there to bring us peace. He is there to bring us hope. And He will do it in ways you cannot even imagine. God brings encouragement in so many ways.

Today as Diane and I were relaxing with a cup of coffee and enjoying the breeze coming through the windows she heard a dog bark. Then she heard the birds singing. Their song was beautiful and comforting. God was serenading us with His creation. A little later Diane showed me a video on Facebook of people driving parade style in front of someone’s home. She remarked that this would not have happened before this horrible virus got us all quarantined at home. People are taking time for other people. People are loving on other people.

This is a reminder of how God is encouraging us through others. This is God showing us how to reimagine church. This is God showing us how to be the church. This is what God is calling Grace Street Church to do.

Consider joining us tomorrow morning as we talk more about this in our Easter Challenge Sermon series. Click the link on our website, www.GraceStreet.Church and listen live at 11 AM.

What’s the next right thing for you to do?

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

Proverbs 21:3 NLT

In the Old Testament, offering ceremonial sacrifices to the Lord was our atonement for sin. It is how we tried to make ourselves right with God for the things that we had done wrong.  Now think of this like a parent. Parents would much rather have their kids behave and do the right things than to punish them. It is the same with God, He is more please when we do what is right, so we do not have to offer sacrifices. Yet I think that there is more to this. What is the sacrifice that is offered Him was done, not to make things right, but solely for appearances? Then the motive for the sacrifice is wrong and another it becomes yet another sin against the Lord.

We need to live our lives for God with a pure heart. Yes, this can require us to sacrifice. The thing we must remember is that this kind of sacrifice is much different that the ceremonial sacrifices of the Old Testament. Think of it this way. We sacrifice for others. When I was young my parents sacrificed for my brother and I in ways I would not understand until I was a parent myself. I remember my mother using the coffee grounds more than once to make coffee. At the time I had no idea how much coffee cost. Nor did I realize that my mother and father did things like this so that we could have other things such as food, clothing, and a roof over our heads.

God sacrifices His own Son, Jesus, for our sins because He knew we would never be able to offer enough ceremonial sacrifices or be good enough. He takes care of us just like my parents took care of my brother and I. We need to respect and honor that love. It is only as an adult that I wish I had been a better son when I was a child. I can only wish I would have respected and loved my parents more. Better. I try to do that now with my father. My mother passed away in 2015 and I would love to still be able to show her my love and respect. To honor my parents, both my earthly parents and my Heavenly Father, I am willing to sacrifice to do better, to do what is right, just, good, and moral. We can all do this by doing what is right in God’s eyes even if the world says that it is wrong. The world may judge me, but that judgement does not matter. When it is my time, God will judge me. It is my prayer that when that time comes that what He says to me is “Well done good and faithful servant.”

What's something about God that comforts you?

Isaiah 41:10 NLT: ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

As I think about the question "What's something about God that comforts you?" I am taken back to when I was a child. What were the things that comforted me when I was little? I can honestly say when my parents would pick me. There was something about being wrapped up in their loving arms that was very comforting especially when I was upset.

Fast forward to today. I am no longer that little child that my parents could pick up and comfort. Today, a good hug is always good.

It is those same feelings of being picked up as a child or getting a hug today that remind me of the comfort that we get from God. Granted He does not physically pick us up or give us a hug, but He is able to comfort us in other ways.

One of the ways that God comforts us is by the relationships that He puts us in. The people He surrounds us with. Now this may be family, or friends, or that special person that God has placed in your life. For me, God has brought me an immense comfort through my wife. She has shown me what godly love truly is. I am not perfect, but my wife loves me unconditionally. The love that my wife has for me is just as Paul describes it in 1st Corinthians 13. Her love for me is patient and kind. She is not jealous, or boastful, or rude. She keeps no records of my wrongs. Her love for me never gives up, it never loses faith, and I always see the hope in her eyes through whatever circumstance were going through.

So, my answer to the question for today of "What's something about God that comforts me?", that would be His incredible love for me.

What's something that sticks out to you about fear?

Psalm 56:3 NLT: 3 But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

What sticks out to me about fear is that it can be paralyzing. Fear can stop us from doing so many things in our lives. For some fear is simply walking out the door of their home. For others it can be flying or driving. And yet for others it is interacting with other people. There are just so many things that cause fear in our lives and that fear paralyzes us. 

When I was young, I was on a campout with my parents at a park in Central Iowa and the weather turned very quickly. Ultimately, I watched a tornado pick up a 5th wheel and slam it down on its top. Just to the south of where that happened was a pup tent and two bicycles. The bicycles remained up against tree and the pup tent stayed standing. Our fold down camper, which was just across the road from the 5th wheel, had a tent stake stuck in the roof, no other damage. Something that was easily fixed with some caulk. 

Now I could have become just deathly afraid of storms. But today I must be reminded by my wife to come inside or to stay away from the windows during storms. Those storms can be very scary, yet there is something that I find incredibly beautiful about them. We can do the same thing with any of our fears. If we give them over to God, then we can see the absolute beauty that only He can bring about from those fears. 

With the current pandemic, there is a lot of fear out there. But by looking at the world through God’s eyes I am seeing nature healing. I am seeing families spending more time together, some whether they like it or not. Families are eating dinner at the dinner table with each other. We are slowing down and in doing so we are able to look at all the beautiful things that we have around us. Please, do not get me wrong, this pandemic is horrible; people are dying, people are deathly ill, and people are in harm's way daily because they have to work in this environment. We have to remember that this is not something from God because we live in a fallen world there will be things like this pandemic. But in all things God brings blessing. Give your fears to Him and watch the beauty He brings.

What's a way you can demonstrate your love for God?

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)
5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.

Jesus expanded on this in Matthew 22:35–40 (NLT)
35 One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

God wants us to share that same love we have for Him with everyone including ourselves. If we are not sharing God's love; if we are arguing, fighting, disrespecting, etc with others we are not living out our faith. We are not sharing the hope that we have. We are not obeying or honoring God.

Take every opportunity to share God's love in any and every way possible.