Peter’s Posts

I found a bible reading plan in the back of our new bible. It’s the Jesus centered bible NLT version. Each reading from the Old Testament will have a reference to or reference by Jesus. Yesterday’s reading was from Leviticus 4. Today’s is from Leviticus 19. Chapter 4 talks about sin offerings. Sin offerings were animal sacrifices, bulls for priests, rulers sacrificed young bulls, leaders sacrificed male goats, ordinary people could sacrifice female goats or sheep. The were killed before the altar and their blood was to be poured out at the base of the altar. But some of it was to be put in the horns of the altar as a fragrant offering.

 

When Jesus died he said “it is finished” and the temple curtain that separated the holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn, not from bottom to top, but from top to bottom.

 

So much symbolism here. I will only mention a couple of things. Christianity is the only world religion where God reaches down to man. The curtain was torn from top to bottom. Man and God were separated in the temple by this curtain. Through Jesus’ death we are no longer separated from God. Through Jesus’ death, all the sacrifices are completed. His one death is the better sacrifice than all the animals. God has reached down to us and for us.

 

Today’s reading is from Leviticus 19. Three verses stood out.

 

“The Lord also said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. “

How can we be Holy? Only Jesus’ blood can make us Holy.

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.”

We receive forgiveness in Jesus but we are only forgiven if we also forgive others.

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

Jesus said The 2 greatest commandments are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18 –

 

Yes Jesus changed things and removed the need for animal sacrifice but the principles have stayed the same. Jesus made the way to God accessible, but it’s only through Him. God created us and loves us but our sin has separated us from him. Through the sacrifice of his son Jesus, if we accept his sacrifice as payment for our sins and believe that God raised him from the dead, then we can be reunited with our God. God has stooped down to rescue us. God is gracious. God is merciful. God loves me. God loves you.

Do not attempt this at home.

I was feeling down and grumpy. Every person that came into my mind made me angry. If everyone makes me angry, maybe the problem is me.

I repented for being so unloving and said a simple prayer of “God, how do you feel about me?” Then I opened my bible. My bible opened to Romans 8 and my eyes fell to these verses.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” ) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:31-39 –

God loves me enough to send his only son to die in my place. His only son Jesus loves me enough to willingly come to earth and suffer and die and to be raised to life, for me. And yet He holds no grudge.

How does God feel about me? He loves me. He loves you too. Have you accepted his gift of salvation yet?

(I originally posted this on this day in 2016 and I have reposted it every year since. It is one of my favorite scenes from the night of Jesus’ arrest. His power over the soldiers tells us he willingly went. He died willingly for you and for me.)

Meekness is power under submission. In the dictionary there should be a picture of Jesus next to the word.

John 18

“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

4 Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”

5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) 6 When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

7 Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”

“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” 9 This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”[a]

10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

When the soldiers fell to the ground, was it Angels doing sweep kicks to the back the knees? It could have been the force of his breath. The one who created the air and the wind that moves it was speaking. Maybe the ground was yanked like a throw rug. However it was accomplished it shows that Jesus was in charge even while he was submitting to His Fathers’ plan to be arrested, tried, convicted and executed.

That plan would lead him to die on a cross. That death would change my eternity. Change eternity for all people. We now have a way back to our Father God. The door, the path, the way, the only way is through Jesus death on the cross.

He went willingly because he loves us. Will you accept his gift of life today? If you have already accepted His gift, will you tell someone who hasn’t heard the good news yet? God has forgiven our sin. We can come home.

I found this label on the ground. I think one or all of us may have dropped it . It is adhered to us when we receive God’s gift of grace in Jesus. We are accepted in the beloved, just as we are.

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Ephesians 1:4-7

We are, i am, you are, accepted in the beloved.

Today I opened my bible to Luke 14 and 15. I read most of both chapters. Luke 15 has the story of the prodigal son. The son can’t wait for dad to die so can inherit his share and get out on his own. He squanders it all on prostitutes and partying and ends up broke and alone. He comes to his senses and decides to return to his father, repent and become a hired hand. His father sees him a long way off and…, well let’s just read it together.

 

““When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”

Luke 15:17-

The one son repented and returned. The other son the older son, I forgot to say there were two, was indignant and would not join in the festivities. My understanding of this part of the story is not as clear. The father attempts to reconcile the brothers. The point of this part of the story may be like the parable of the vineyard workers who were paid the same amount, whether they worked the whole day, or just a couple hours. Here is how Jesus told it:

““The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Luke 15:28-32 –

Positionally I am more like the older son. But relationally I am more like the prodigal. I left Christianity even while attending church every Sunday. When I was in high school I created my own rules of conduct and did what pleased me. It was a life devoted to my pleasure. Eventually I did realize my moral bankruptcy and spiritual poverty and came to God, repenting and received sonship through the sacrifice of Gods son Jesus.

But now I am more the older son, who has labored in the kingdom for 38 years. How will I respond when wayward brothers come home? Do I, will I remember my own prodigal journey? Will I be gracious and merciful like my Father is?

There is more to this story and I’m not sure I’m getting all of it. But I am grateful to God for fresh remembering of his grace and mercy towards me. His love is open to everyone.

I have recently been exposed to a group of people who have a different view of the Bible. The word bible just means book. I should say the Holy Bible. By adding Holy to Bible I set the book apart because the word Holy means separate, different, revered, hallowed, sanctified. When we say God is Holy it means that he is not part of creation, he is not like us, a created being, he is the “I am”, the pre-existing one. I have been raised and taught to believe that the Bible is God’s word, him speaking and so his word has the same qualities that he possesses, immutability, he doesn’t change, and his so his word doesn’t change. The denomination that I am a member has a Bylaw that says every church building of its denomination will have in its sanctuary this scripture from the book of Hebrews 13.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 – God does not change.

On Monday morning, after a rough weekend of harsh words, most coming from me because I felt like I had to defend God and his word. I got up exhausted after not sleeping well, still emotional and hurting and I, more out of duty than longing to hear anything, opened my bible randomly to Nehemiah 8.

To set the stage, the nation of Israel had been taken captive to Babylon. 70 plus years went by, God foretold them how long the captivity would last, then they were allowed to return to the land of Israel (Judah of Israel) and rebuild. The people had rebuilt their homes but had not rebuilt the temple of God or the city walls. One reason for this is that they had lost contact with God. God gave us his word so that we can know Him. We can’t know Him if we don’t hear and know his word. The leaders gathered the people and did this:

“all the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. So on October 8 Ezra the priest brought the Book of the Law before the assembly, which included the men and women and all the children old enough to understand. He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law. Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform that had been made for the occasion. To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left stood Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Then Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

Nehemiah 8:1-6 –

I need to know God and so I need to know his Word. I believe his word is like him, unchangeable. God is. He is always the same. I believe in, read and study an ancient book. The most recent parts of it are 2000 years old. The message is timeless. God loves us, but we are separated from him because of sin. God has sent his son to die for us to pay for that sin. Jesus death has erased the separation and when he came back to life, his life shows us God’s power over death.

We have standards of weights and measures. A pound is a pound no matter where you go in the US. A gallon in Washington state is the same as a gallon in Florida or Maine. Standards. We have number standards that are even more universal. 1+1=2. In China the math is the same. It may be written differently but the truth of the numbers is the same. Truth doesn’t change. God is truth. He doesn’t change.

Jesus, being God in the flesh said “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 – God is truth. God does not change.

I don’t like the tone of what I’m writing, the truth is there but the tone is not filled with grace. Let me end with this.

God loves us. He loves us. He loves you. He loves me. Sin, which is something we all have, has separated us from him so he made a way back for us but it is a narrow way, anyone can use it but there is only one way and that is through accepting Jesus death as payment for our sins, and believing that he did not stay dead but was raised to life by God.

This is truth and it will not change.

I am damaged goods. I’m not just talking about my body. My heart, my soul are damaged. They are always wanting their own way. I am sitting in church listening to songs about how much God loves me, but my mind keeps flashing back to my failures, telling me I don’t belong here. Then over all the other voices and memories I hear Jesus words from the cross, “it is finished”.

Jesus finished the work it took to forgive my sins. I entered black with sin, but bathed in his red blood I am washed white. I don’t understand it but I cling to it like a drowning man to a life raft.

Join me if not in this place at least in this position. I have Asked Jesus yet again to cleanse me and his blood is just as effective today as it was the very first time a I called out to him to save me.

Church starts at 10 am here but there are church’s every where and if you can’t make it to church Jesus is available 24/7 and makes house calls.

Join me.

Can people really change? Does meeting Jesus and having him become our master really have any affect on us?

(Col 4)

Once upon a time there was a slave who lived in Colosse. He was a young man born into slavery. He stole some money from his master and ran away to the big city of Rome. He was hoping to lose himself in the crowds. In stead he met a man named Paul who introduced him to a God/man/savior named Jesus. This slaves name was Onesimus. Paul had this to say about the character of this guy; “He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.”

And this “Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.”

The second quote is from the book of Philemon. Philemon was Onesimus’ owner. How strange to own another human yet he did and it was within his rights to do anything to his slave. Paul asked for mercy and forgiveness.

The name Onesimus means useful.

Jesus can change people from useless to useful. He can set the the heart of one enslaved free, even if his body is still owned.

There are many modern slaveries that we get sold into. Jesus can set us free by washing away sin and breaking chains, spiritual chains the keep us locked into patterns and behaviors.

Can people change? Hmmm. Can Jesus change people? Yes.

Get a long little doggy?

No, get along little doggy.

Colossians 3 (and a tiny part of 4)

The next bit of bible I’m going to quote is how to get along with people. How to live in community. The very next sentence is a very controversial, counter cultural bit of advice. The way our society recoils at it you would think it said that God hates puppies. God doesn’t hate puppies. He loves puppies. You know what he loves more than puppies? Us. People. Men and women. And he wants us to live in the best possible way. Since he created us he probably (probably?) knows how we can best live. He gives us the manufacturers recommended way to use this thing called life.

Here it is:

” 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[c] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”

Jesus loves us and has died to pay for all of our sin and now he lives forever and we can too, with him.

If we fail….when we fail at the above list of interpersonal relationships we have forgiveness in Jesus.

I recently read this in this very same book;

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

Get along little people.o

Good morning Christian soldier. Have we Lost our focus or mission? It’s easy to do.

Col 3

Here is a recap:

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

We have a mission and purpose. Not everyone has heard the good news yet and some who have heard it haven’t seen it in action. We need to speak it and display it.

Proverbs 31 – The first half

I opened to this chapter twice in the last week. It could be coincidence, but it was two different bibles, one new one, one older one so i think God may want me to read what’s here.

The first half of this chapter has a Mother’s advice to her son on how to rule well. Her son was a king, King Lemuel. One thing she tells him is to not drink beer or wine.

“It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.”

Proverbs 31:4-5 –

I usually avoid alcohol. The second to last beer I had was with a meal with friends in Leavenworth in 2006. The last beer I had was with a meal with friends last week. We were at a pub that makes beer and I thought I would try one. The couple we were with told me ahead of time what made this beer special. When i tasted it? It was wasted on me. It was beer. I didn’t like how it made me feel.

I’m not a king. Even so, I don’t think I’ll be taking up beer drinking.

There is another set of verses in this chapter that caught my eye.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 –

My thoughts went to the babies who won’t get a birthday because their parents decided that they don’t want them.

I heard a statistic lately that the opioid crisis has killed 200,000 people. I was shocked. Then they said that that was over the last 20 years. I was shocked again. 200,000 over 20 years and it is a crisis. Yes that is true. Also true is this. Since Roe v. Wade passed we have killed around a million babies every year. Opioid deaths are a crisis. Then what is the abortion situation? In the same period of time we have legally killed 100 times more innocent babies. If 200,000 makes one kind of death a crisis,What is a crisis times 100? I would call it a mega-crisis.

There is forgiveness and restoration to all who have had babies aborted. Jesus forgives sin.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 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 3:16-18 –

God is in the forgiveness business. What can he do? He hates sin but loves sinners? What he did do was provide the forgiveness of sin through the death of his own son Jesus. Jesus’ death covers all of our sin.

What can we do for this socially accepted mega-crisis? Can we promote adoption? Can we support families better? How Can we work to make abortions unnecessary? Locally there is a great resource for help with an unwanted pregnancy and how to deal with it at crossroads pregnancy center. They can also help with post abortion counseling either there or through recommending counselors.

https://www.pregnancywa.com/

(800)-712-HELP

There is help.

There is forgiveness.

There is hope.

There is love.

We’re all travelers, my advice? pack light.

(Col 2, Matt 6)

Mary and I were talking a few nights ago as we sat out under the stars and watched the planes fly over. Seeing the planes makes us think of our adventures in Italy. We want to go back but we would change one thing. We would pack lighter. Images of the two of us taking busses, trains and boats with 3 suit cases pops into our heads. It was comical.

Have you ever been lugging around baggage (or is is bagging around luggage?). Carrying more than is comfortable? It’s so hard. Pulling around a huge box of stuff that seemed so very important at the time. It was meant to be an asset but in actuality becomes a liability.

I went to a family gathering this recently . One thing that happened there is that it reminded me of baggage that I carry of things done in my past. Things done Not to me, but by me.

Colossians 2 says this about our sins:

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

I know Jesus has forgiven me, but I haven’t done the next step and and confessed and repented to the offended. With every year it seems more difficult to do. Soon. I’m really tired of carrying this luggage or lugging this baggage.

I don’t hold any grudges, not with my family anyway but that’s another set of bags that we can drag around with us.

There is a warning at the bottom of the Lord’s Prayer, one that states Our own forgiveness hinges on whether or not we forgive others.

“9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]

but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Forgiving others is like having your luggage sent ahead, like checking it at the gate. Something I wish Mary and I could’ve done on our leg of the trip that took us to Venice so we both could enjoy all that we were experiencing.

We are all travelers. How much luggage or baggage are we carrying unnecessarily? My goal is to lose as much as I can so I can be free to enjoy the journey. All of the “Venice’s” of this life are much easier to enjoy without baggage.

Why go to church?

Why do we go?

To worship? Worship who? How?

We worship the one who created us and then bought us back when we sold ourselves into sin. We worship With our words, with our music, with our gifts and offerings.

It is so easy to get caught up in business of church that we miss the real reason that we came together.

Matthew 21 records Jesus’ encounter with the folks who had lost their way.

“12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants

you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.”

I lose my way. I’ve been there recently, so concerned about the mechanics of how we worship that I have forgotten who I worship.

Forgive me Father God. Help me see you and worship you well. You alone are worthy of my praise and adoration.

Philippians

The book I keep coming back to.

It’s theme is Joy.

It is my wife’s favorite book. (But that’s like asking her what her favorite flower is. Her answer is, yes. “My favorite flower? Yes.” “My favorite book of the Bible? Yes. “)

What if you don’t have it? What if you don’t have joy?

Joy, it’s everywhere in this Little book. What if I’m not joy full? Is this another one of those Christian virtues I’m supposed to have and be? Love joy peace patience kindness gentleness, it is on the list. What if I’m not? What if I’m dark and serious and brooding and worry a lot? Should I fake it till I make it? Put on a happy face? Or is this book telling me joy isn’t a have to but a possibility?

Is it telling me I should be joyful? Or is it telling me I may be, I can be joyful?

Paul wrote the book from prison. He had finally arrived in Rome after a harrowing disaster riddled trip from jail in Judea to a jail in Rome and yet he was unharmed.

Reading this book can be challenging to a dark and brooding person such as myself, but life affirming to someone like my wife who is light and joy filled and who refuses to contemplate anything bad or ugly.

Her favorite verse are at the end of this section. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:4-8 –

It is a good way to live. It’s like having a flashlight that turns on when life gets dark, or my mind gets dark. Is this thought true? Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it excellent? Is it praiseworthy?

The word Joy or rejoice is written something like 16 times in this book. Why? I think Because if we know Jesus as savior, we can.

I seem to be stuck in the Philippians loop. Read this book with me and tell me about what treasures you find there.

He’s coming back.

He left to prepare a place for us. When that is ready and the full number of people who will believe in Him do believe in him, he will come back.

Matthew 21 records Jesus’ triumphal entry in Jerusalem before his death on the cross.

“21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,

‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]

“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”’

We who are alive today have an opportunity to ask the same question about Jesus.

Who is this guy?

Eternity is balancing on our answer.

He is coming back and it won’t be the same. I’m not trying to scare anyone. It is just the truth about his return. Will you be one of his followers? Or will you be one of his enemies? If you are a follower then you are one of God’s kids and are safe but as God’s kid, I am one too, we bear the responsibility of sharing the good news of Jesus’ and forgiveness to a world that either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.

“11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.”

I ask, do you know him?

If you know him, will you share him with others?

#matthew21, #yesjesuslovesme, #yesjesuslovesyoutoo

In the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke we read the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth and their baby who they named John.

John was a miracle baby. Zechariah and Elizabeth were both old and Elizabeth was barren but Zechariah while on duty serving God in the temple (he was a priest) the angel Gabriel visited him and gave him the promise that his prayers had been answered and he and his wife would have a son, a son with a special role in God’s plan to save the world. Gabriel said “he will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly”.

Zechariah doubted the angel and was struck dumb.

The baby was born and on his eighth day as he was about to be circumcised and named, because Zechariah was obedient to insist on his name being John, he, (Zechariah) was suddenly able to speak again. As he spoke, he prophesied about what John would do and what God was doing through his, as of yet, unrevealed servant, Jesus.

““And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:76-79

I need this. I need God’s mercy. I need forgiveness. I need rescue and salvation. I need light to illuminate the darkness in the world and in my own heart, mind and soul. Thank you Zechariah for being a faithful follower of God and being instrumental in ushering in our savior Jesus.

Zechariah, He was just a guy showing up for work. Because he was a faithful man God used him in his plan to save the world. Maybe God has plans for my day today, maybe our day today? Lord will you use us today to expand your kingdom?

Has anyone ever told you to shut up?

How about while publicly praying?

“Shut up, God is busy! Leave him alone!”

Basically that’s what happens in Matthew 20.

“29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

32 Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

33 “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”

In Mark 10 one of these guys is named, Bartimaeus. Luke also records the story with one guy. (Mentioning one guy doesn’t say that there wasn’t two guys).

Keep quiet and don’t bother God.

Who would say something like that? Would they be a friend or an enemy?

Mary and I were praying together last night and I got so distracted by a disturbing thought that I stopped praying mid sentence.

It wasn’t “shut up! Stop bothering God!” But it did stop me.

God will never say “shut up”. He will never say “stop bothering me with this”.

He will say, “what do you want me to do for you?”

Would these guys have been healed if they weren’t persistent?

In Luke 18 Jesus gives us a parable.

“18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”’

We should not let anyone or anything silence our prayers. We will Pray, keep on praying for healing and for salvation for our friends and family and for protection and for provision and for guidance.

I will not be shut up.

Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me……

John 17

Jesus prays for me and everyone else who will believe in him.

“20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”’

Jesus prayed for me. He knew about me, about us. We were on his mind and in his heart as he was preparing to go to the cross. In less than 24 hours he would be dead. Crucified. A form of killing that kills with pain. Knowing how and why he would die, he prayed for us.

Earlier in this chapter Jesus says something that’s very important and I don’t want to skip over it.

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

Eternal life is gained by knowing God, and knowing Jesus, God in the flesh.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

I don’t get it right all of the time. I fail, I stumble but I keep coming back to Jesus and ask for forgiveness and the weird thing is, he does. He forgives me.

He knew about me and prayed for me. He knows about you too. He longs for all those who will believe to jump in and do it.

“Following the leader, the leader, the leader, we’re following the leader wherever he may go”🎼.

As I was typing this I could hear the tune in my head. I can’t remember what it’s from. Peter Pan?

Jesus actually said something like this in Matthew 20.

“20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

21 “What is it you want?” he asked.

She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”

“We can,” they answered.

23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”

24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”’

Where is our leader? Right now? He is in heaven, preparing a place for us. What else is he doing? He is interceding for us. What was he doing before that? Before that the greatest man that ever lived was dying for our sins.

Philippians 2 Paul stayed this principle in a more practical way.

“2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”

Christians, those of us who follow Jesus, should be the servants of all

And as I was typing this I was imagining a CEO leaving a boardroom to unstop a toilet, a nasty toilet, filled to rim.

As a Christian, There should be no job beneath our dignity. “What do you need? How can I help? Child care? Diaper duty? Dog doody duty? Teaching in Sunday school? Janitorial? Visiting shut ins? Visiting the hospital? Visiting the jail? Cleaning? Gardening? Cooking?

As I’m writing this it feels very flannel graph ish. Disconnected from life and pretend. The main truth, that no job is beneath me is there but my approach and how I’m saying falls short of honesty.

The reality, Jesus served us, following him we must strive to serve. Humility for the sake of humanity, to care about other people and care for other people. To do what needs to be done.

As Christians, how are we doing? Does being a follower of Jesus change how we act? Change what we do and how we do it? Does it change why we do it? Does Love compel us to serve?

Jesus make me more gooder at being good and doing good and serving and loving.