christian living, faith walk, Prayer, relationships, spirituality
Friday Golgotha, the hill of the Cross,
Death and Darkness, senseless loss.
Saturday’s grief, none could bear.
Sunday morn came, he was not there.
He had risen, no longer dead,
Empty the tomb, just as He said.
Hallelujah! He’s risen, indeed,
The power of God sets me free.
This gift of grace, loves bond restored,
Proclaim Him now, Savior and Lord.
He knocks, do you hear? Don’t delay
Love so secure, a whisper away.
Rejoice in this hope, He’s on His throne,
All things restored, our Eternal home
Easter meditations. 2021
christian living, faith walk, God first, parenting, Prayer, relationships, spirituality
I love this question. This says you want to live a life focused on things that matter to God. That is an outstanding goal. When I was a young mom, I thought doing life would come more naturally, or at least easier. Go ahead, laugh with me or at me. As you’ve already guessed, it’s harder than it looks. We all have people in our life that come to mind as the ones who “have it all together”? I can visualize a few immediately. Life seems to fall in place for them. I can also tell you that on closer inspection and a few candid conversations, the ones who “look like they have it all together” don’t. Not a slam, just a reality check. Few are as put together as their appearance suggests. Nothing in life is effortless. Let that encourage you to keep God tenaciously at the center of your life, no matter how it looks to others. Here are some suggested how-to’s from my experience:
Pray. Praying is talking to God. Good communication is foundational to any relationship and needed for successful spiritual growth. Whether you are just getting acquainted with him or you have known him for years, he wants to hear what is on your heart. Praying intimidates some people because they think there is a formula they need to follow, or certain words to use. The most important words are the ones that come from deep inside you. It doesn’t matter how they come out. Maybe you’ve heard people start their prayers with: “Dear Lord”, “O God” or “Heavenly Father”. Whether you prefer to say any of these does not matter so much as just starting the conversation. This can take place inside your head. It does not have to be audible, but saying things out loud helps keep me from distraction. I encourage you to pray out loud when you can. Even write out what is on your heart: what burdens or concerns you. These all count as prayers—conversations with God, telling him what you think about, worry about, want to do differently, and most important how you want to know him better.
Read the Bible. One of the best ways to know God is to spend time in his Word. This is easier now than ever before. Our schedules might be crazier, but the resources available to us are vast. Bible apps exist that will read scripture to you when you can’t. We are really without excuse for knowing more about God. This is not a guilt trip, but a fact. We have incredible technology available: we can google anything, we can play music in any style we choose, books read aloud by the author, YouTube videos, podcasts, social media and websites all share information. The greatest challenge is in choosing knowledge over entertainment. There are times I’d much rather binge watch/listen to a favorite author for entertainment, not my own spiritual enrichment. Part of the challenge is in what I choose to let in. My choices are endless, so how do I choose the best? The answer to that will differ for each of us, but it’s a good question to ponder.
Listen. How does one listen to the God of the universe? In my very animated brain, I quickly picture a cartoon of a loud booming voice rolling out of the thunderous clouds and me trying to stay upright in the wake of that powerful voice. It is mighty for sure, and God is the Almighty. He can blast truth to us, but does he? More likely his is a still, small voice that requires me to get still and quiet to hear. Getting quiet in today’s techno culture isn’t always easy. All things online and more social media videos than one can watch in a lifetime, not to mention spouses, children, co-workers, bosses, customers, teachers all calling for our listening ears. All relationships require us to be active listeners. This means I’m not thinking of what to say next as the other’s words spill out, but I am focused on their words alone. Ouch. Just writing out that defining phrase causes me guilt. I can so easily get focused on what I think I should say next that I stop listening. It is a skill that needs constant practice to develop. Our relationship with God isn’t just us asking him for wisdom, knowledge and peace but also listening for truth, conviction and encouragement. Listen. He speaks through his Word, the Bible, he speaks to us when we take the time to stay quiet before him. It’s hard to listen when we are impatient or in a hurry. Listening is a worthwhile practice. One I continually need to improve.
Build One Another Up. If I have someone who has agreed to check in on me, I’m more likely to stick to a goal. Accountability isn’t about inducing guilt, but motivating me to work on my goals and growth markers. Whether I’m getting my physical self in better shape or tuning up my mental/spiritual growth, having someone alongside to encourage me is a key element to success.
Keeping God in the center of your life gives significant benefits for the effort. When we take the time to pray, read the Bible, listen, and live with accountability, God’s word promises us tangible things like peace, hope, self-control, love, patience, and kindness. It is a joyous journey to get acquainted with the God who created you. He loves you so much. He knows you, sees you and longs to converse with you. May this be the year you lean into him in conversational prayer, meet him in his word, get quiet and listen for his still small voice, while you encourage others to do the same. We grow best when we build one another up.
Advent, christian living, spirituality
2020 has been a year like no other. We are soul weary and desperately in need of refreshment. Let me encourage you – there is good news of great JOY! This good news is, although we celebrate a baby born in a manger, the truth of who that baby is: Jesus the Christ, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, long awaited Holy One, Immanuel, God with us, Everlasting Father – is the greatest truth ever told. Jesus is hope, peace, joy and love. He is the reason for the season as well as our reason for being. He knows us, loves us, came to restore our relationship with God the Father. He is our salvation. He is the best news ever. What great hope and joy for the end of 2020. Hallelujah what a Savior!
Advent, christian living, relationships, spirituality
“Hear ye, Hear ye! Christmas is coming. Christmas in July sale! Only 150 days left until Christmas. Are you ready for Christmas? Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!” The ads and slogans bombard our senses. Commercials, emails and advertisements. We barely enjoy one holiday and the décor and supplies for the next have overtaken the store displays. Retail establishments are driven by a profitable sense of urgency rather than my preference of wanting to savor a moment.
Four days before Thanksgiving, I went to the store thinking I would pick up a few more paper plates and napkins. Circling the rows of shelves more than once, I realized, to my dismay, that they did not have any thanksgiving items on display, not even on a clearance rack. Instead, they were well into the Christmas spirit with a dash of New Year’s Eve on an end display. Although I understand the economics of display choice (and lack of), it bothered me that even our shopping culture was rushing me through the seasons. So much for savoring a moment. If I were to gauge my thoughtfulness about a holiday based on the retail displays, I would be well ahead of the calendar always. Forever chasing a diminishing display that cannot wait to empty itself of one celebration to usher in the next. I am not obligated to celebrate according to what is displayed, but sometimes I have not even thought of what is next, much less how I might savor it. In an instant coffee, 10 -minute lube, oil & filter, drive through world, I do not get to pause and reflect much. People barely do that at a red light. Savoring does not merge well with the rush of retail. It requires a concerted effort to keep up with the consumer culture bombardment.
Ironically, the advent season is a call to savor. To sit with the anticipation. That cannot be done quick. It is a counter-culture moment. To savor and reflect on Jesus Christ. It is his arrival that we celebrate. So how do we push the pause button on life to reflect on Advent?
Let’s look at the who, when, where, why and how to remember the importance of this time of reflecting and savoring:
Who is Advent for? The answer is: Advent is for everyone and anyone who wishes to celebrate the reason for the Christmas season: Jesus Christ, God in human form, Lamb of God, and the Savior of the world.
When does it happen? We observe advent the four Sundays before Christmas Day.
Where does it happen? Advent is celebrated all over the world in churches and homes. It is observed in individual hearts and minds.
Why do we observe Advent? Psalm 18:30 says, “Gods way is blameless, the word of the Lord is tried, He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” We observe Advent to contemplate the significance of a blameless God who is a shield and refuge to us.
How do we observe Advent? By reading the Bible, God’s word, to know his character better. We can read, worship, and pray, giving thanks to God for the gift of his son. Traditionally, candles are lit each Sunday of Advent. Each week there is a word that highlights God’s nature. As we light the candle, we read the Bible and focus on God’s character, and thank him for being the God who saves.
Meditate on these weekly words for Advent:
Week 1 Hope We are waiting for the Messiah. He is our hope and expectation. 1 Peter 1:3, Rom. 15:13
Week 2 Peace Our hearts are yearning for Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, Rom. 5:1
Week 3 Joy True Joy found in Jesus alone. He is our Joy. Luke 2:10, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 51:12
Week 4 Love God is love. He loved us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin. 1 John 4:9, John 3:16, Titus 3:4-7, Psalm 90:14
Christmas Day the Christ Candle. The perfect, spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, come to earth as a babe, fully God and fully man, to pay the price for the sin that separates us from the Holy God, the Almighty One. Matt. 2:11-12, 2 Peter 3:8-14.
Contemplating Hope. Pausing and reflecting on Christ. He came to save the world from the sin that separates us from a Righteous and Loving, Creator God. His sacrifice is our eternal hope, his second coming the realization of that hope.
Peace is a missing commodity in this world of rushing around. Meditating on the Prince of Peace our hearts yearn for, gives purpose to our pause.
Embracing the Joy found in a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, gives us permission to grieve the hardships and losses in this world, while still anticipating the perfection of eternity with him. Accepting his love. His perfect, limitless love. A love so big that God the Father would send his only Son, to this crazy mixed up world, to live and experience all the emotions of the human existence then to be the perfect sacrifice – the spotless lamb of the Old Testament. He would pay a price we could not pay to give a gift we do not deserve. He died for your sin and mine. He was buried, and He rose again, three days later, according to the scripture. So, we could walk in newness of life, fully loved, fully known, and fully forgiven. Such an indescribable gift.
Then Christmas Day – the celebration of this ultimate gift. The hope and joy of our Salvation. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing: everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10. Advent in our hearts always. Praise be to God.
Pause, Reflect and Savor. This is love, joy, peace, and hope. This is Advent.
christian living, spirituality
Hi friends I want to share a few heartfelt notes with you. I love that we have read 21 chapters of John together and have talked about ways to look at and observe the Bible, God’s word.
We have used: ∙ who ∙ what ∙ when ∙where ∙ how ∙ why to observe as we read.
We have looked at: repeated words, cross referencing, and concordance use. We also asked three questions: What does this teach me about God, about mankind/humanity and how should I respond to what I have read or learned? I want to clarify the phrase “what is my response”. This Question should not imply a behavioral checklist. It is a heart check before it is a behavior check. The Pharisees in Jesus day were all about looking good on the outside and list checking. They were oh so judgmental!
I have had many pharisaical days in my life. As much as it pains me to admit that. Trying to live up to some checklist of behavior that I thought would earn me good or better standing with God. You know praying harder or more regularly, attending Bible study, even trying to volunteer at every opportunity. Yes, I had heard the “Good News”. I knew what Christ had done for me, but I did not understand fully that trusting Christ meant my “trying” days were over. Wow!
We started our chapter readings at the end of John 20:31 “these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Believing – – not by doing a deed but believing that the deed had already been done on my behalf. Boy that can be a hard one. We are hard wired to perform. This culture calls for us to do, to prove, to excel, to try better, work harder, press through, overcome – – none of these are bad in and of themselves but if we take that currency of effort to the cross it buys us nothing. The price had already been paid. I can contribute nothing. So, what do I believe? What truth does my heart rest in? I would love for you to share your thoughts with me. Also, keep asking those questions. It is okay to have questions and to wrestle with answers.
Look with me at John 1:17. It tells us that the law was given through Moses and Grace /Truth came through the perfect Son of God, Jesus Christ. The law only proved its inability to save. There is nothing I can do, no sacrifice or behavior good enough to earn God’s favor. John also told us in chapter 3 verse 16 that God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. We might ask what would cause men to perish instead of having eternal life? Don’t we all go to heaven? This verse says there is a requirement and it is our belief. Not ten donations to charities and 6 Sundays in a row church attendance. Believe. Acts 16:31 makes is very clear – “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Belief as in, I’m sure of this and can/will act as though it is true. I would not sit on a chair if I did not believe the legs would support the seat. I would not climb a ladder if I did not believe it would hold my weight. Believing is active not passive. Consider this, “Truly, Truly I say to you whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgement but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24
As we read on in chapter 3, we realize that mankind has some challenges. One of those stated in John chapter 3:19, “and this is the judgment, the light has come into the world and people loved darkness more than the light because their works were evil.” The Bible says darkness and light cannot dwell together.
The Bible also says we perish when we cannot acknowledge that separation from God because of sin can only be made right through Jesus Christ. I know sin is not a popular word. Romans 5:1 says: just as sin came into the world through one man and death through sin and so death spread to all men because all sinned. Sin goes clear back to the garden of Eden. Adam & Eve. Apples and serpents. Wanting to be like God. Wanting to be our own God. ” Romans 6:23 says it’s our sin that separates us from God. Does this feel heavy? Wouldn’t it be easier if we could blame someone for this predicament? I know it is a lot to consider. Bear with me – – there is light at the end of this conversational tunnel.
The word gospel means good news!! WooHoo! We are not left hopeless. This Gospel of John has been a great example of what hope in Christ looks like. He healed diseases, He fed the crowds, He turned water into wine. He made the blind to see and made the paralyzed to walk. These things showed his authority over this world. John chapter 3 verse 17 tells us that God did not send his son Jesus into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. Grace and Mercy. He loved us enough to leave the heavenly realm and offer a way to relationship with him.
It is God, reaching to us, offering the gift of salvation through his Son Jesus and not anything that we can ever do, that bridges the chasm between us. Ephesians 2:8 and 9 describes this gift of God’s grace, ” it’s by Grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of your own doing it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.” John 5:24 says, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”
Walking with God, trusting Jesus, acknowledging my inability to redeem or save myself causes me to respond in awe to the love that Christ has shown. Back to John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that whoever believed in him would not perish but have eternal life.” Can it be so straight forward? John 14:6 declares: Jesus said, “I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I cannot earn salvation. Period. I cannot behave rightly enough to stand in the presence of a holy God. The old testament law required a priest as go between and that law exposed its own inability to save. Always a sacrifice was required to atone for sin. Christ became the ultimate & only perfect sacrifice leaving the way clear for us to stand before the God of the universe as if we had no blemish. Jesus Christ covered us. Covers me, covers you, with his righteousness. So how do we claim his righteousness for ourselves?
We just read many verses that talk about how we can do nothing to earn a position in God’s good grace. We have also read that it is our belief in what Christ has already done: His death, burial, and resurrection 3 days later, according to the scripture – – that saves us. Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”
Saved by Grace alone. Through Faith alone, by Christ alone, according to the scripture alone, for the glory of God alone. Christ has already done the work. I need only accept that it has been done on my behalf. Trusting what Christ has already done removes the need for me to try and behave well enough for acceptance. The sacrifice has already been made; the price has already been paid. Jesus paid it all, the old song says, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed me white as snow.
If you believe and want to receive this gift of grace that God offered through his son Jesus Christ – It really is quite simple and transformative. The God of the universe, the God who created you and knew you before you were born wants to be in relationship with you. He sends his Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. We are renewed by his grace. The old is gone. What a relief that is to cast off the old self for the new garment of Christ.
I’ll leave you with this from Romans 10:9-10, “Confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised you from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
- Declare your belief.
- Acknowledge that you are separated from God because of sin.
- Admit you fall short and your own behavior can never wash you clean.
- Accept that the price has been paid and the work has been done in Christ.
- His blood, our atonement.
- His sacrifice, our salvation.
- Thank God for this gift and walk in faith and newness of life – eternal life – my friend.