We have met the enemy…and it is us.

Today’s reading:  Judges 8; Acts 12; Jeremiah 21; Mark 7

Close up of old English dictionary page with word wicked.

It’s a sunny Sunday afternoon and I’m on a long road trip home from a beautiful ten days in the northern most region of Minnesota. Our family joined my parents in an annual trip to the Boundary Waters for a week of quiet existence without any cell service, not a single computer screen and a whole lot of God’s creation.  We only had to make one trip to the hospital this time around and surprisingly it was for my husband.  Some sharpened kitchen knives found their way out of a grocery bag and into his leg!  Anyway, all is well now that the stitches are in place.  I mention this mostly to highlight the generosity and kindness of my Bible Journal author friends who are going to great lengths to get this post online as I am still in digital darkness!

I had the blessing of some uninterrupted reading and reflection time on the water this week! There’s a lot for us to learn today from all four scriptures.  Although I love Jeremiah, I read some really interesting and I think convicting work on Mark 7.  In the very beginning of the chapter Mark details an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees (and some scribes).  The Pharisees gather around Jesus and begin asking him about some of his disciples and their practices regarding cleanliness.  Essentially, they are questioning why his followers do not follow the strict Mosiac Law regarding hand washing and washing of vessels before eating and drinking.  The Pharisees are implicitly criticizing the disciples.  Jesus responds with razor-edged clarity:

“And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Mark 7:6)

Man, I am really starting to like this Jesus guy!  Do you ever wish you could be more like Jesus?  He’s confident, strong, slow to anger but quick to get people on the right path! He’s not denying the validity of the law or its individual commandments.  Instead he is rejects how various interpretations can deviate too far from the intent of the law.  Jesus is citing Isaiah 29:13 in his teaching.

“And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…” (Isaiah 29:13)

See what Jesus does there? He uses Isaiah to show the contrast between the lips/mouth and the heart.  In other words; impurity is a matter of the heart, not the mouth.  He shows us that the issue of defilement is not so much insignificant but raises the point that the basic tenant of the Mosaic Law is about restraining from evil.  He says:

“There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” (Mark 7:15)

He goes on to remind his followers (that’s us) that it’s wicked thoughts, wicked words and wicked actions that defile us. He is telling us clearly that the source of defilement is far more internal than external.  He warns against using words and rituals while setting aside God’s true commandments.  Jesus may have disagreed with the Pharasees and Scribes about the interpretation of the law but the message was clear.  It’s the quality, character and intention of the human heart that matters.  Joel Marcus, a professor at Duke University Divinity School wrote on this passage extensively.  He notes the concentration of the word Anthropos which translates to “human being” or “person”.  It is used eleven times in the span of Mark 7:7-23.

“The basic problem Christians should be concerned about, Mark seems to be saying through this striking pileup of the word Anthropos, is not how or what one should eat but the internal corruption of the Anthropos. It is this malignancy that chokes the life out of tradition, turns it into an enemy of God, contorts it into a way of excusing injustice, and blinds those afflicted by it to their own culpability for the evils that trouble the world.”

Therefore, my friends we have indeed met the enemy and it is ourselves. I loved the opportunity to dive deep into this short segment of Mark’s gospel this week.  I hope I can work to purify my heart and truly learn from the lesson Jesus has for us today.  We are so blessed to have these sacred words that are astoundingly so applicable to our everyday life!

All In

businessman keeping a tight grip on his money

Today’s reading:  Judges 1; Acts 5; Jeremiah 14; Matthew 28

 I just love Acts. When I made a big change in my life and first started learning about Jesus Christ, it started with the book of Acts.  I love the story about the apostles being arrested only to have the Lord send an angel to unlock the door in the middle of the night.  Did you notice in Acts 5:17 that Luke actually tells us the reason that the high priest imprisoned the apostles was because they were “filled with jealousy?”  I really got to thinking about that.  The high priests were jealous because the apostles and Jesus’ followers had something they wanted.  When I think about my Christian journey I don’t ever think of it in the context of jealousy.  I don’t think about the folks around me comparing their spirituality to mine and feeling jealous.  But you know, when I think about it, that’s exactly how I felt about Christians before.  I felt like they had a closeness and kinship that I could just never attain.  I wished I had their ability to stay cool and level headed in a crisis. Honestly, I felt a little left out.  Now that I’m living on the other side of Christianity, I’m beginning to understand more deeply the responsibility that comes with being all in.

I spent a little time this week with Ananias and Sapphira. Luke tells their story in the very beginning of Acts 5.  Ananias (Hebrew for the Lord is gracious) and Sapphira (Aramaic for beautiful) are a married couple that sell a little property and embezzle some of the profits.  Ananias in collusion with his wife chooses to hold back some of the money from the sale of his property rather than giving all of it over to the apostles for the church.  This sounds so bad, right?  But who among us hasn’t done a little bit of this?  I know I have.  I have most definitely held back some dollar amount details from my husband when it comes to buying things for the girls or a little ditty for myself.  I’ve sat in church and listened to our pastors appeal to us to put our faith in God and trust in him for security.  But guess what…I still closed by grubby little hand around my money because I’m too tempted by that earthly security.  Well, somehow Peter knows about Ananias’ little stunt and calls him out on it.  He says:

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” Acts 5:3

Did that strike a little fear in your heart like it did mine? Do we have a casual approach to entering the kingdom of God as this husband and wife team?  Are we too tempted by the short term gains in life to really be all in?  Ananias and Sapphira ostensibly are justifying this sin as an offense against their church community but the truth is that all sin is not against human beings but against God.  When we endeavor to lie or adjust the truth, Satan wants us to believe him that this is a covert act.  Really this is the enemy attacking Christ’s mission from within.  One of the commentaries I read for this reading today said it like this: “For Christian’s today that deliberately sin and remain unrepentant this is still a temptation: to so luxuriate in the love and grace of God that we do not take seriously the consequences of our deliberate sinning.” (Bible Gateway Commentary).  So we know what happened to Ananias and Sapphira at the end of the story.  Peter says to Ananias,

“Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.” (Acts 5:4-5)

Three hours later Peter questions Sapphira and she too cannot resist the temptation to lie. Sounds so bad, I know but I know I’ve done it.  After she does it, Peter says to her,

“How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” (Acts 5:9)

Oh my gosh it hurts to read, doesn’t it? Can you think of something worse than planning and scheming with your spouse to test the Holy Spirit.  Well, if you are like me you may be wondering why you haven’t been struck dead yet!  Both Ananias and Sapphira are given a dishonorable burial and their story serves as an example to the church of the importance of being all in. As I mature in my faith I see now that the integrity of the Christian church really depends on us all being all in. We are greatly blessed by the love and grace of our God.  We live in the rich luxury of knowing that our God is for us.  Knowing that he is in control of all things and that we get our eternity with Him.  But he requires us to be all in!  We can’t afford to be casual in our pursuit.

Lord, help us to remember that your word isn’t just a story for us, but the truth we must obey. Lord, help us to mature in our faith, keep our ears open to hear your voice and not the whispers of the enemy.  We love you Lord and we desperately want to be ALL IN!

Not Your Prince

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 2, 2016: Trained monkey in the dress rehearsal of the Show of Water, Fire, And Light in the Ciniselli circus. This new show first time arrived in St. Petersburg
Note: Originally I had chosen a lovely photo of a statue of Jesus Christ for this post.  I attempted to upload it and attach it at least a dozen times.  For some reason it just wouldn’t work.  I did a little searching and found this dapper guy.  I hope he makes you smile on a Monday morning and reminds you that no matter how many circus tricks a monkey or human might have, he’s no match for the love of Jesus!  Happy Monday.

Today’s Readings: Joshua 14-15, Psalms 146-147, Jeremiah 7, Matthew 21

Recently, I was at work meeting with a group of co-workers. While discussing a particularly difficult case one of my colleagues used the phrase, “not my monkeys, not my circus!” I had never heard anyone say that before and it still has me smiling when I think about it. I’m a person that can very easily get super involved with situations in which broken people need mending. I’m a real “fixer upper”! In fact one of the areas of growth that I’m really working on in my personal relationship with God, is praying for those near me that need Him most rather than trying to fix the problems in their daily life. My co-worker’s little metaphor resonated with me in more than one way. First, it reminded me that sometimes our worldly troubles aren’t so much problems for us to solve, but rather opportunities to grow closer in our relationship to God. I know that sounds so corny…I heard it when I just wrote it. I really mean it though. I can think of several times just in the last few months when I said out loud, “Come on Lord…cut me a break here!” Only to find later that had it not been for that little trial, I may not have discovered his presence in my life around the next corner. Secondly, I’m reminded that the people close to me and the people not so close to me are not necessarily my monkeys. In other words, we are all God’s monkeys and we belong in His circus. How often to I take on the problems of others rather than encouraging them to turn to Him for guidance. This whole idea was transported to a more macro level for me when I read Psalm 146 today.

“I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.” (Psalm 146:2-4)

Not your prince. That’s right. It doesn’t matter who our next president will be. He or she will not be your prince. We cannot put our trust in mere human beings. Not human police officers, not human doctors, not human soldiers and not even human ministers. They cannot save us. There is not one human on this earth that can make plans big enough to save us. No one is strong enough except Jesus. The one thing we can count on is that our world will continue to be a literal circus until the end. We can keep looking for a better qualified, bigger, stronger ring leader but we’re never going to find one. We can transfer to another circus with a bigger tent and better popcorn but again we’ll be faced with the same trials. This lesson is echoed later in today’s readings in Matthew 21:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Matthew 21:42).

Jesus is quoting Psalm 118. At first, rejected by the Jewish leaders he would later by vindicated by God and become the center of his kingdom. God would then take the kingdom away from the Jewish leaders and entrust it to Jesus’ disciples. Those who put their trust in Jesus were rewarded with eternal salvation. Later in Matthew 21:43-44, Jesus alludes to Isaiah 8:

“Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” Matthew 21:43-44

The stone is Yahweh over whom the people of Israel stumble, fall and are broken. By identifying Himself as the stone, Jesus strongly implied his diety. (HCSB Study Bible) Jesus is the center, the cornerstone of our lives. No other prince can be yours. As our world becomes more and more like a really scary circus, we have to make Him the ring leader. Not everyone will agree. So many will be looking for an earthly prince to place on the throne. But we know that our prince sits in heaven.

Lord, help us to turn our eyes to you in this time of chaos and uncertainty. Help us to see past the trappings of our human existence and instead move in this time and space with you at the center. We love you Lord.

Phantasma

Azure Window, Gozo Island, Malta

Today’s Readings: Joshua 6:6-27, Psalms 135-136, Isaiah 66, Matthew 14

The ancient greeks used the word phantasma to describe the experience of dream visions or spirit apparitions. It’s the word that’s used in Matthew 14, when he describes how the disciples felt when they were in the boat in the midst of a storm and saw Jesus walking on water. As I read Matthew 14 this week, I anticipated this very feeling. The story of the loaves and fishes didn’t surprise me. Of course, we’ve heard this one since we were young. Having been to several potlucks myself, I can imagine sitting amongst the crowd, awaiting my turn to eat and being awestruck that there was something left. After all five thousand people had eaten, he sent the disciples in the boat to the other side of the lake. He dismissed the crowd and went up onto the mountainside to pray.

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he ad dismissed them, he went up ton a mountainside by himself to pray.” (Matthew 14:22-23)

 He went by himself to pray. Did you catch that? I took that short phrase as my first and most important lesson today. Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus. He made time away from his “celebrity moments” to be alone with the Father. Spending time with God to nurture our relationship with him is critical. Jesus shows us here that disciplining ourselves to spend time alone with Him will prepare us to manage life’s challenges.

We know what happens next! The disciples are halfway across the lake in the boat when the water starts to get a little rough:

“But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them…” (Mattthew 14:24)

 Ever feel like the wind is against you, like you’re being beaten by the waves? Jesus sees that! He’s standing on the side of the mountain. We may feel alone in our boats. We may feel like we wish we hadn’t set out on that journey with a few of our best disciples and no leader on the ship! But the very best is yet to come:

“And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25).

 In that moment Jesus revealed himself to his disciples. He revealed himself to us as his people. He wants very much to be there with us and for us when our boats are rocking in the wind. But the disciples responded with fear. They immediately said, “It’s a ghost!” I think I would have too. I don’t know that I find myself worthy of a walking on water moment. Certainly Peter and the other disciples didn’t either. In fact it looks like Peter gives Jesus a little test. He tells him,

“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He said, “Come” so Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt.” (Matthew 14:26-27)

 What looks like a test is really an act of faith, right? Peter is the only disciple willing to step off that boat and meet his Jesus. He started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the menacing waves. Jesus reaches out and takes hold of him, right in that moment of his doubt. Jesus is not a phantasma, he’s not a ghost that comes in and out of our dreams. He’s not intermittent at all. He’s revealing himself to us every day. Walking on water isn’t just a thing that happened in 400 B.C. He’s leading us to him, but we must be willing to follow. I loved that there was a little message to me in Matthew 14 today. That short sentence that told us about Jesus going to the mountain to be alone with his Father. It’s a holiday weekend. We’re all focused on our potlucks, parties and fireworks. But JESUS is the real fireworks. There’s nothing phantasma about him. I hope you spend time today with family and friends but I also hope you take time to be with the Father. Reach out, take hold of him. He’s waiting to walk with you.

The Not So Promised Land

Fantastic dreamy sunrise on top of rocky mountain with view into misty valley.Mountain view.Foggy mountain.Dreamy forrest. Sunrise clouds. Forest hill.Autumn mist.Misty peaks.Foggy landscape. Rock top

Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 119: 121-144, Isaiah 59, Matthew 7

Hello friends! It’s Monday again. What a beautiful weekend we had! I hope you had some time with your family and friends and most of all I hope you spent some time worshiping God this weekend. I did and it renewed my soul! We have so many great scriptures to consider today. I just love Matthew 7:24 Build Your House on a Rock! I read that one over and over and was excited to apply that timeless message to our daily life. I made lots of notes about building foundations and came up with a few paragraphs of good stuff to raise our spirits today. But…then I changed my mind. Of course, Matthew 7 has so many pearls of wisdom including: judgment of others, the golden rule and false prophets. I decided instead to take a little risk. If you are a frequent flyer here at Bible Journal you know that I’m a new Christian. Often, when I’m writing my weekly post, I come across a scripture I’ve never read in my life. It’s usually really exciting for me and I get all fired up about the message I’ve uncovered. This week something different happened. I read something at the end of Deuteronomy that broke my heart. Something that has been bothering me all week. Here it is:

“That very day the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel for a possession. And die on the mountain which you go up, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother died in Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, because you broke faith with me in the midst of the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, and because you did not treat me as holy in the midst of the people of Israel. For you shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.” Deuteronomy 32:48-52

 Are you kidding me? I am so upset about this. Moses, the only person who has ever spoken to God face to face, Israel’s greatest prophet is not allowed to enter the Promised Land? I can’t even take it. The guy that brought us the Ten Commandments and persevered for years through trial after trial has to climb to the top of a mountain and just die there while looking directly at the treasure he fought so hard for? Spoiler alert…In Deuteronomy 34, he obeys God and does exactly that. 120 year old Moses sidles up this Mount Nebo where the Lord shows him the whole land from one end to the other. Then God says to him:

“This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to your offspring. I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.” Deuteronomy 34:4

 So then Moses just lays down, or I don’t know maybe he’s still standing up but he dies. What does this mean for me? I can’t shake the feeling that I’m nowhere near Moses-ness in my journey to heaven. When it’s my time, is God going to send me to the top of the mountain and say, “here’s all the great stuff I promised for your kids and their kids and all your friends…you weren’t 100% faithful on earth so this is your punishment” Yikes. I did a little research into just exactly what Moses did wrong, so that I could definitely avoid this transgression myself. All study bibles pointed me to Numbers 20:10.

“Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” Numbers 10-12

 What now? Ok so more research revealed that God told Moses and Aaron in Numbers 20:8 that they should speak to the rock and water would flow out for the people but instead Moses and Aaron told the stressed out thirsty people that they were going to bring water from the rock and then they hit it with the staff not once but two times instead of speaking to it like God had commanded them. So by striking the rock and taking credit for the miracle, Moses disobeyed God’s direct command and dishonored God in the presence of his people. The punishment was grave and irreversible. I must admit it makes me a little worried. It seems like a real human thing to do in such desperate circumstances. I can see how Moses just wanted the people to trust him and that it probably felt great when they were all praising him for the miracle of water. How often to I take credit for something I don’t really deserve? It feels good to be the one that swoops in and saves the day. I’ve really been wrestling with this one. It’s just not the way I wanted Moses’ story to end. I want him to run on his 120 year old legs and lay down in his promised land. It’s just not a photo finish. It leaves me wondering if it was impossible for a guy like Moses to be fully obedient to God, is it even worth trying for a sin filled person like me?

I was encouraged by the commentary in my NIV today. It says:

“No matter how good we are, or how much we’ve done for God, we sometimes disobey him. The result of our disobedience is that we will be disciplined. God disciplined Moses severely, but still called him his friend. When you experience the sting of God’s discipline, respond as Moses did. Don’t turn away in anger, embarrassment, or resentment. Instead, turn toward God with love, openness, and a desire to do better.”

Isn’t that just great advice? That’s exactly what Moses did, he was open and accepting, he wasn’t at all resentful. He climbed up that mountain, looked out on the Promised Land and then surrendered to his heavenly Father. It doesn’t say in my Bible if he went to heaven or not. So, here comes the risk in my post today. If you are still reading, I hope you’ll leave me a comment below. I’d like to know how you feel about this part of the Moses story? I hope you’ll share your wisdom and experience with me. How does this story make you a better Christian, what can we learn from it and how can we understand what God wants from us? Also, I couldn’t find any later references to whether or not Moses gets to spend eternity with God, even though he was disobedient on earth. I’d like to know, so please share!

Sold For Nothing

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 25, Psalm 116, Isaiah 52 and Revelation 22

There’s so much goodness in God’s words for us today in our reading plan. I had a hard time deciding which scripture to write on but one verse from Isaiah 52 stuck in my mind:

“For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.” Isaiah 52:3

If read in context, Isaiah is telling us about the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. God is reminding the Israelites that no matter how bad the invasion and exile might be, there is a future for Israel. They should expect to return to their land. This verse catches me and lingers because of the phrase “sold for nothing.” It reminds me of that feeling we all get after we buy something on impulse…buyers remorse. How often in my life do I sell out for that material thing? Do I sell who I am, my conviction for Christian living in order to fit in? God reminds us through the prophet Isaiah that it is without money that we will be redeemed. That message makes my Monday easier. I am free from the bondage of debt. The next time my world tries to sell me on the promise of a product, a diet or a president for that matter, I’ll be armed with the truth. Our hearts can be sold for nothing. We can so quickly fall into the trap and be sold in an instant. But God reminds us that he’ll redeem us without that worldly cost. That’s so powerful.

I believe that this message from our Heavenly Father is enough to fill our soul today. Also, I’ve typed each letter of this on my iPhone as my worldly electronics have failed me today in a coordinated mutiny! I pray that a little bit of His word fills your sails.

Conquering the Beast

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 18, Psalm 105, Isaiah 45, Revelation 15

Like a little fool I’m going to write to you today about the book of Revelation. I’ve been a little hesitant about the book of Revelation from the beginning. Ok, if I’m being honest, it’s more like I wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole. It seems like all the seasoned Christians I know have very distinct and specific beliefs about the meaning and implications of its teachings. Usually, I don’t put much effort into researching and learning about the Revelation passages because I know I’m just not going to get it in that broader contextual this is the meaning of life sort of way. Today though, I couldn’t get away from it. I took some great notes on other ideas for the journal but there’s something in Revelation today for all of us.

“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire-and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb…” Revelation 15:2-3

Those who had conquered the beast. The beast. What is the beast? Is it Satan himself, or is it the empty promises he sells? I can’t begin to tell you and neither can my three study bibles. But what’s alive in this passage today is the image of me standing on the banks of a sea that is on fire. And in my hand is my beast, the image of my beast and the number of its name. Isn’t that a powerful image? If just for a moment we put down our Starbucks and iPhone and imagine ourselves there, on the shore, next to the sea, on the day that all evil in this place is abolished. You have conquered the beast forever more, and now you stand as the fire burns out with the harp of God in your hand singing the song that Moses and the Israelites sang when they were delivered out of Egypt.

If you are anything like me, you woke up this Sunday morning to learn that yet another 50 people had been gunned down at the hands of terrorists and instead of crying you started to feel a little bit numb. Our day-to-day life is now permeated with the reality of hatred and violence. It’s getting harder and harder to take these stories in, to see the photographs and absorb the real time video. If you are anything like me, it’s because you realize that it’s not just happening in a place far away anymore. It’s not just happening to people in another country that are awake when we sleep. It’s happening to people that aren’t so different from us, that live not so far away from us. If you are anything like me, you may look at your children and wonder whether they will be called to stand firm in their convictions for Jesus in the face of real danger.

It’s all very scary stuff. Until you read the word of God. Until your realize that the song of Moses that we hear from the Israelites in Exodus 15 is repeated by the apostle John in Revelation 15. Revelation was originally written to the seven churches of Asia but it was meant for believers everywhere. As modern Christians it reminds us that the world we live in today is a reflection of the world Moses lived in and the world that John lived in after the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. We hear the angels singing:

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 3-4.

Remember that today. His righteous acts have been revealed. He has already revealed himself to us. Although there are plagues there is also redemption. He alone is holy and all nations will come to worship Him. We need not be afraid. The beast wants us to stand, frozen in fear, to deny what we know is true. But we know we’ll be among those that conquer him, we’ve got his number.

Stand on the shore this Monday morning and light your fire of passion for Jesus Christ.

The Big Ask

Ollie Hospital

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 94, Isaiah 38, Revelation 8

Good morning! I’m writing to you on this Monday with the McGriff party of 5 all under one roof! We thank you deeply for your prayers and acts of generosity as Ollie has struggled through this illness. I brought him home from the hospital on Wednesday night and we began a new chapter of our family life. We don’t have any clear answers about why he got so sick and we also don’t know if it’ll happen again. We’re living this messy uncertainty, trying to take joy in the now and put the future in God’s hands. I’ve spent hours making phone calls to cancel camps or activities that I had planned for him and then scramble to replace them with caregivers we can trust. With each time I share his story, there is a piece of me that is protesting. There is a little voice in my head shouting, “He shouldn’t be missing space camp to be at the hospital for tests under anesthesia!” This isn’t the plan we had for him, not the plan we had for us.

The last few weeks in my world it feels as if everyone around me is proceeding with life as it should be. People get married, buy houses, go to their jobs, have healthy children. They travel, they buy boats, they invest, they buy bigger houses. Is that true? Does that really happen for everyone? Have you ever felt while in the midst of a crisis, whether big or small that you are the only one for whom the world has stopped turning? Have you ever had that feeling of being trapped in your own frozen world of pain and sadness, completely unnoticed by others that are just going to work or heading out to dinner with friends? When those things happen we find ourselves yearning to go back to our normal life. The truth is, we’re not alone in those moments. As I often tell parents in my practice as a pediatric PT, we all get hit by the proverbial bus at one time or another. When I began studying today’s scripture, I was reminded that our biblical ancestors faced these same circumstances. In Isaiah 38, Hezekiah becomes terminally ill. The king of Judah and ancestor of David is just as vulnerable as you and I. His son Manasseh was only 12 years old when the prophet Isaiah comes to him and says it’s time to get his affairs in order. Hezekiah had dreamed of having an heir to continue his legacy, but now, all was seemingly lost. The scripture acknowledges his “bitterness” at his impending death. But still he turns to God and prays:

“Please, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” Isaiah 38:3

 Then the word of the Lord comes to Isaiah and tells him that Hezekiah will live 15 more years. What follows is a record of Hezekiah’s writing after he has recovered. A poem describing his fear and pain:

“…My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety! What shall I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. I walk slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul. O Lord by these things men live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh restore me to health and make me live!” Isaiah 38:14-16

 The notes in my NIV study bible for this passage today says this:

“When Isaiah went to Hezekiah, who was extremely ill, and told him of his impending death, Hezekiah immediately turned to God. God responded to his prayer, allowing Hezekiah to live another 15 years. In response to fervent prayer, God may change the course of our lives too. Never hesitate to ask God for radical changes if you will honor him with those changes.” NIV Life Application Study Bible

Wait. Do I ever just ask? Do I ever place enough trust and hope in my heavenly Father to get on my knees and fervently ask him to change my circumstances. I’m not sure I do. I spend lots of time trying to find the lesson in my trials, but I never just give it all up to Him and ask him to change it. I think this requires a few major commitments. First, I have to believe that my Father has the power to intervene in my life. Of course it’s easy to say that I do, that’s what Christians say, right? I need to actually go back and search my bible for that evidence that our God has this power. I need to revisit folks like Lazarus and reconnect with Mary the mother of Jesus and connect with her and the very real pain she endured while her child suffered on the cross. The second major commitment is placing all of my hope and trust in God the Father. This means consciously resisting temptation to put all of my hope and faith in worldly solutions.

The NIV study bible sends the reader back to 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 to read about what happens after Hezekiah is given his 15 extra years. The ESV tells it like this:

“In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. 2 Chronicles 32: 24-26.

 Did you catch that? Hezekiah wasn’t perfect. He asked God to save his life and promised to be good…but then he broke his promise a little bit. He and his people got proud, they lost their humility and they didn’t follow through. Are you like me? When you first read this Hezekiah 15 more years story, did you get caught up in the part about old Heze saying that he had walked before God with faithfulness and a whole heart all the days of his life. I read that and thought to myself, hmmm well I’m not eligible for a “big ask” because I haven’t walked with Him with a whole heart all the days of my life. I thought, I’m not worthy of the big ask. But we ARE! We ALL are. And what would it look like if we all got on our knees today, and put our faith in God our Father and set our wordly hang ups aside and made Big Giant Asks? Would the town of Blo/No suddenly be blown up with big miracles? I think so. No, I know so. I’m going for it, and I hope you will too. Whatever it is, whatever giant bus circumstance that is running you over…pray about it. The last time I was in the road and a bus was headed my way, a friend shared this verse:

“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” Mathew 7:9-11

I met Jesus that day for the first time.  Our Father knows how to give us good things.  Do we know how to ask?

 

God our One and Only

Oliver

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 3, Psalm 85, Isaiah 31, Revelation 1

Hello friends. I’m so grateful to be writing again for this very special Memorial Day Monday. I wish that I could say that today’s journal is about our Oliver coming home from the hospital and an end to our suffering through Jesus, but not quite yet. What I can say is that His love is alive and well in our family life. I’m so grateful to each of you that have prayed for our five year old first born. I ask that you continue to lift him up each day as we look for an answer to his suffering. Tonight he is cozy in his hospital bed at Children’s in Peoria and I am rocking our youngest in his empty room at home. Each time I walk past his empty bedroom, I lose my breath a little. Every day since he got sick has been broken into hours and minutes. It’s not until I come home for a few hours that the full impact of it all hits me.

This isn’t our first journey with Oliver and this hospital. Not our first time sitting and watching him suffer while doctors scramble to find the answer. But you know what…it IS our first time doing it with Jesus in our life. I promise you that this time is so very different. I am not afraid of the diagnosis. I have not spent hours in the darkened corner of his room feeling alone or isolated, tears streaming down my face. Instead, I have spent the hours holding him up, reminding him of God’s love and purpose for his life. Instead, I have spent the hours marveling at the tangible manifestation of Holy Spirit that is absolutely within us on this journey. I know that at the end of this hospitalization we will get a name, a word, a medical explanation. I also know that it won’t matter a bit. The last time we walked this 5 long years ago, I feared those words. Feared the impact on our lives, feared for his future, feared for the sadness and the loss of what we dreamed of for our son that may never come to be. Now I know that those words are just that. Empty words.

 Today’s scripture takes us to Isaiah 31. We are on the fifth woe by the time we reach Chapter 31. The issue yet again is that God’s people are trusting the Egyptians rather than God to help against their enemies. They are counting their cavalries and soldiers and putting all their faith in the flesh. The 8th century prophet Isaiah opens this chapter with:

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!” Isaiah 31:1

He goes on to remind us that the Israelites attempt to get help from the Egyptians will backfire because the both the helper and the helped will be destroyed by God. The ultimate lesson here is that only God can protect his people. He is our fearless lion and He is the bird circling above our heads. This is BIG. In a world where we are constantly looking for ways to arm ourselves against our perceived enemies, here it is friends. The prophet Isaiah told us…no he showed us that all we need for protection is our Father. I don’t need build an army of physicians and specialists for my son. I don’t need to depend on them to transcend and save my son. He’s already saved. I catch myself some mornings during rounds placing all my hope in the white coats. Hanging on their every word, their plans for my son’s future. But all too quickly that moment passes and we learn that the plans we had and the plans they had are not the plan that God has for Oliver. Instead, we are all in this boat together. Day by day we wait for His plan to be unveiled and more importantly, his purpose.

Already, there have been big open door glimpses of our Father at work. I’m not supposed to share this with you but I can’t help it, because it’s evidence of Him. Oliver’s daddy and I have been praying and hoping and planning for new job for him. Our family has literally been carried to the edge of a cliff with the strains of his current job. He is gone from us for hours, days, weeks and often in the most critical times. We miss him and we ache for his presence at the dinner table, on weekends, and at bedtime. On the very day Ollie got sick an opportunity arose. A few days later there was an interview and then another and another. All under the cover of Oliver’s pain and in the darkness this small light was burning brighter and brighter. At the end of last week our Daddy accepted a new position with one of Ollie’s doctors. He gets to come home and be a family with us every single night and every single weekend. We get to be a real family for the first time ever.

And so my friends, the McGriff party of 5 can certainly identify with the five woes of the Israelites. We’ve had our fair share. But the truth is, we’ve placed our trust in Him and only Him. If you are sad today, fearful, hopeless or just doubt his presence, I hope our story has inspired you to look to Him. Our eyes are up and I hope yours are too.

 

 

Consider it Pure Joy

Today’s Readings: Numbers 17-18, Psalm 55, Isaiah 7 and James 1

James!!!! Oh friends, it’s Monday and I’m so joyous because today we are starting the writings of James. For once I know a whole lot about this particular scripture and I’m so excited to share it with you. Let’s begin at the beginning:

 “And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, ”Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” (Matthew 13:53-55)

 There you have it. James was the brother or more accurately the half brother of Jesus, the one and only. Doesn’t that change your perspective a bit? More research shows us that at first James wasn’t a believer. In fact, he didn’t become an “ambassador for Christ” until after the resurrection. In Acts 1:14 and then in 1 Corinthians 15:7 we learn that Jesus appeared to James and then his twelve apostles shortly after the resurrection. This appearance convinced James that Jesus was indeed the Christ, he later went on to lead the Jerusalem church. The book was probably written around 48-52 A.D. James died somewhere between 62-66 A.D. James’ letter was written to address the broad audience of Jewish Christians living in or around Palestine. These early believers did not have the support of established Christian churches, James wrote to them as a leader, to encourage them in their faith during difficult times. He opens with this:

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

 I first studied the book of James from the NIV translation which begins with: “Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds….” I LOVE that sentence. I say it to myself all the time. When my infant is just screaming in the back seat on the way somewhere, or when work stress is just crashing down on me. Notice that James does not say, “consider it pure joy IF you face trials” it’s “whenever you face trials!” When I think about the point of view of our author today, it puts these words into even more perspective. Imagine growing up as the younger brother of Jesus. As Jesus grew, the gospel of Luke describes his evolution into a young man filled with wisdom and gaining the favor of God and fellow man. How did his lowly younger brother feel then? Is it possible that he spent some of his young adulthood jealous of Jesus? Did part of him want to deny Jesus’ perfection? Do I ever deny God’s plan despite knowing that it is right and perfect for me simply because I want to exert my child-like will?

It’s not until after the resurrection that Jesus appears to James. We can infer from the scriptures that they are alone. (1 Corinthians 15:4-7). It is then that the transformation occurs. James, who had a history of persecuting Christians is now a Christ follower. James becomes a fearless leader of the Jerusalem Church, a witness to what later cannot be seen or heard for the people living as Christians among the Gentiles. I love this story because it reflects my own. Before I really knew anything about Christianity, I was a Gentile living among Christ followers. People that quoted scripture and met in little groups at home studying the word of God seemed strange and somehow naïve to me. Now, here I sit surrounded by 3 different bibles and book on James at my desk. I’m no modern day James, but what I am is someone that can tell my “turn around” story. It was me that was so naïve, in fact the truth is; I didn’t experience Christ until I let go of my jealousy of the Christian’s around me. Of course I didn’t know I was jealous. I only know now that the silent persecution I waged was really just a mask covering my inmost desire to be part of that chosen group. If only I had realized sooner that you don’t have to be asked to become a Christ follower, there is no audition.

Finally we arrive at the part that I find most comforting. James gives the best advice if we can just see past ourselves and take it: Count it all joy when you meet trials. In other words, we are going to have had times, James is encouraging us to use them as learning opportunities. He goes on to say that these trials will test our faith and produce steadfastness. The NIV uses the word perseverance in the place of steadfastness. Isn’t that encouraging? Imagine for a moment that you are in a large room with other Christians when suddenly all the lights go out. Then imagine that James is there with you. Instead of turning on the light, he hands you a flashlight so that you can find the switch and turn it on yourself. That’s the purpose of this message. James is giving us a flashlight so that we can bathe our trials in the light of Jesus’ promise. Our daily struggles aren’t just for the purpose of frustrating us, they are to strengthen us so that one day we will be “perfect and complete lacking in nothing.” James ends this first section with these words:

“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be first fruits of his creatures.” (James 1:16-18)

 Of his own will he gave us little flashlights so that we could shine a light on the truth. How many of us are carrying these flashlights in our pockets, never bringing them out and flipping the switch. I consider it pure joy that He gave me enough trials that I had no choice but to find my light. He is after all the Father of lights. I hope you’ll consider turning yours on today.