Author: Lynden McGriff

Today’s Reading : Judges 7-8; Luke 22

If only I had $X,  I would be able to do a lot of things.  

If I could only get this degree, then I would be able to … 

If only, I had this job or career, things would be different.   

We often look at our circumstances and deficiencies in the midst of struggles. But we forget that God has a process and a plan in place for His glory to shine in the most unlikely places.  This is evident in the story of Gideon.  

In the beginning, Gideon was not a believer.  Gideon’s father and family decided to worship a different religion and gods.  Gideon had his doubts.  God sent an angel to talk to Gideon and let him know that he was the selected person to save Israel.  

”Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.” And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more. Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Not only did he ask for a sign,  Gideon ask for an assurance of the sign.  Once he received it, he was all in.  How many times do we ask for assurance and continue to ask for reinforcements?  We have to be able to listen and be confident in the answer. 

But to understand the thesis question, “How much do you need?” We have to look at the next passage.  

”The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” And the Lord said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.“

‭‭Judges‬ ‭7‬:‭4‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The army went from 33,000 to 300.  This is essentially 0.9% of the army.  The full army would have been still a diminutive amount compared to the armies of the Midianites and Amalekites which is compared to the sands of a beach.   The size of the opposing army to Gideon is an unfathomable amount of people. These are uber extreme odds. But  God created this situation to show His power and glory through the small things.  

He shows that if we put forth the 0.9% of faith, he will bring the 99.1% to gain the victory.  

Where are the areas in our life that we are trying to do the 99%, but God is asking for us to have the 0.9% of faith to all his glory to shine? 

How much do we need? 

Be blessed 

Today’s Reading : Deuteronomy 27-31;Luke 12

Desolation.  Isolation.  Despair.  

These are some of the words that come to mind when I think of the wilderness.  About 20 years ago, I had a wilderness experience. Some friends of mine were getting married.  This was the one of the first weddings that I attended as an adult.  This particular wedding was in Plainview, TX.  It was about six hours away from Dallas. This city was close to Lubbock.   When I was driving to the city, the scenery was completely desert and Hill Country.  There was no cities or lights for miles and miles around. I can still remember that drive. It was a beautiful drive, but there was nothing around. You could literally look out for hundreds of miles with nothing around. That’s what I see when I read about the wilderness experiences for the Hebrews and Moses. But as always, I have had a renewal of my mind and of my understanding.   

And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 29:2-6

In today’s reading,  my idea of the biblical wilderness shifts.  There are several wilderness experiences that are happening in the Bible. Some of the most memorable ones are: the 40 years in the wilderness with Moses; the wilderness experience of Elijah; the wilderness experience of John the Baptist; and the wilderness experience of Jesus.  In each one of these wilderness experiences, the protagonist is given: rest, refreshment, and renewal, in each of their experiences.

For Moses, God provided nourishment every day for 40 years that they were in the wilderness. They did not need to worry about protection, because God was with them. And in this passage, we see that their clothes never wore out. I have three kids and their clothes are constantly changing on a quarterly basis. And to have the idea that after 40 years are close we’re still new is mind-boggling. 

The wilderness experience for Elijah, he was provided for food by ravens and a stream.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.” 2 And the word of the Lord came to him: 3 “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” 5 So he went and did according to the word of the Lord. He went and lived by the brook Cherith that is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.

I Kings 17: 1-7

The wilderness experience with John the Baptist, he was sustained on wild honey and locus. When you think about the only food that was given to him seemed small but it was to stay and he was filled daily. 

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare[b] the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Matt 3:1-4

And then the wilderness experience for Christ, he was renewed and he became full into his ministry during his 40 days in the wilderness.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Matt 4: 1-2

These wilderness experiences are not isolating or full of despair. These wilderness experiences allow the individual to create peace and be calm in what God has set aside for them. During this wilderness time God has made them holy. This time God has created new life for a bigger purpose. So when we see the wilderness, what are we seeing? How is God setting aside for his bigger purpose? 

As we are completing our Lenten journey and coming into Holy week, may God allow us to be renewed, and refresh to fulfill his purpose in our common days. 

Be blessed

 

Today’s Reading: Numbers 26-29; Luke 2

Family and inheritance.

How many of us are able to see our children?

How many of us are able to share  our history and our beliefs with our children?

How many of us are able to know our father and mother?

How many of us are able to know our grandparents?

How many of us are able to know our great grandparents?

Sometimes we take for granted the experiences that we have with our relatives. Sometimes, we take for granted the ease of speaking to our relatives whenever we want.  But for others, these experiences we would love to have just a glimpse or a whisper from my loved ones. There are so many legacies and inheritances that we receive from our predecessors, and we can give to our successors.

In Numbers we are given a glimpse of the transition of inheritance from the tribe of Israel :

“The sons of Joseph according to their clans: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites; of Helek, the clan of the Helekites; 31 and of Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites; 32 and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites. 33 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters. And the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the clans of Manasseh, and those listed were 52,700.”

Numbers 26:28-34

“Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh the son of Joseph. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses and before Eleazar the priest and before the chiefs and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, saying, 3 “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father’s brothers.”

5 Moses brought their case before the Lord. 6 And the Lord said to Moses, 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall give them possession of an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer the inheritance of their father to them. “

Numbers 27: 1-8

In today’s reading in Numbers, we have a very important precedent being made. We have individuals claiming their blessing. What makes it more impressive is that these are the daughters of one of the descendants of Jacob.  In this particular passage, the daughters claim their blessings.  These daughters knew their blessing and they were not afraid of claiming their blessing. They did not allow the status quo to dictate how they were going to get their blessing. They knew the Spirit was with them, and took courage in that to claim the blessing. 

This was such a momentous occasion that this became part of the Mosaic law of inheritance. This was one of the first documented places where women were equal to their male counterparts. It is truly amazing how these issues were addressed and settled doing this early part of biblical history. This situation also allows me to question, why can we not continue to have this strong presence of equality into today’s society?

The blessing of the inheritance was seen in two spots in Numbers. The daughters were also part of the census. The census was a historical marker of the inheritance and the counting of the individuals of each clan.  Another important census that is found in our adjacent reading of Luke 2. 

What has God given you or promised you that you have not claimed? God‘s blessings are not contained to who we are. God‘s blessings are not contained on what we look like. God‘s blessings are not only for one gender. God‘s blessings are not only for certain people. God‘s blessings are for all who acknowledge God and obey his word. Are you ready for your blessing? Are you ready to claim your blessing?  

Be blessed

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 24-25; Psalms 81; Hebrews 9

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In the beginning of the Bible in Genesis,  God worked and toiled for six spans of time that we equate with days.  On the seventh day, God rested and observed what he had created.  He took a pause. God stopped for a moment and enjoyed the view and the fruits of his labor.  He was at peace with creation.  He was absorbing and settling in his relationship with all he made. 

In Leviticus 25, Moses is given rules and guidance from God directly on Mt Sinai.  As we observe in the preparation of the law, God is giving us a guide to live by.   The Sabbath is expanded. The Sabbath is also observed on a yearly (seven years) and then every seventh- rotation of the seven years (49 years) , which God granted as the 50 years described as Jubilee.  

God is putting these set times as a guide for us to breathe.  This is a time that we must reflect and observe with each other and commune with each other.  I have witnessed in myself that there are times that I am constantly working and trying to the next level. I will push myself to my limits and not take a break and see what’s around.  The Sabbath reminds me of the times that I have traveled over the years.  I love to explore and hike.  Sometimes you get into the groove and want to get to the destination, but the journey and the sights that you see on the way is the true essence of the journey.  God created the Sabbath so that we can have a glimpse of the awesomeness that he is surrounding us on our journey of life.  

God created the Sabbath to allow us to have relationships.  He knew that we are a focused group of individuals.  Once we are committed to something that interests us, we will not stop until it is achieved.  God created the Sabbath to allow us to create and maintain our relationships with our creator, with others, and with ourselves.  If we don’t have these time-outs or pauses then we would not stop to think and interact with each other.

I know that some are very skeptical of this Sabbatical year.  They are wondering where would the money or resources come from during this year of rest.  

“Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely. And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives.“

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭25‬:‭18‬-‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God will not only provide enough resources for you in the present year that you are producing, but he will also provide enough resources for the following year and the next as you come out of the sabbatical.  He is in it for you and the relationships that you have.  

God is in it for you to prosper and multiply and recharge and refresh yourself. He has many things in store for you if you acknowledge him.  He wants more than ever to have you happy and healthy.  Let us look in our lives and see where we can take rest and enjoy the celebration that God has in store for us. 

Today’s Reading: Exodus 32-34; Philippians 3

Exodus 34:1- 10

The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. …4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a] forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

 

The presence of God.  This is one of the most profound encounters of God in the Old Testament.  One of the first encounters of God is when God connects with Abraham and Jacob.  But this one is where God actually makes an appointment with Moses and gives him an assignment.  

Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain.  

 

The next thing that happens is God comes down from Heaven and walks in front of Moses.  Moses is in the official presence of God. He is one of the first persons to see and interact with God at this level.  Moses had previously been in the presence of God at the burning bush, but now he is actually standing with God.  Let this sink in for a minute.  He is physically in the presence of God.  As we read more in the chapter, he spends 40 days with God and the time that he has spent with God is evident on his face.  His face showed such a glow that he had to actually wear a veil to dampen the glow of the Holiness that he encountered.  

 

This is just one of those passages that makes you feel in awe of the relationship between Moses and God.  But then I remember that Christ has come and given us the same opportunity to have this relationship with God.  We may not be able to be in the physical presence as Moses, but we are in the spiritual presence of God continually.  When you are in this relationship, you are able to show the presence of God in all of your work and your life. 

 

Let us pray that our life can be a reflection of God that others may see it on your face as with Moses.

 

Be Blessed

 

Did I miss something? 

Today’s Reading: Exodus 1-3; Galatians 5

One of my favorite subjects is history. When you look at history and your view of history, you are more open to understand many of the things that are happening in today’s society. History will show you our Highs and our Lows. But we have to be willing to see the whole picture, not parts of that picture.

On our recent excursion to Hawaii, my son, and I went to visit Pearl Harbor. For the majority of my life, I have known about Pearl Harbor and the consequences of the attack on the naval base. But I was enlightened in Hawaii to understand that the Japanese intention was not to create a war, but to obtain and secure resources for their own endeavors in World War II. I also found out that there was an embargo act that the United States had placed on Japan before this attack.  This embargo sequestered  Japan’s fuel supply which fed into and  would have contributed to the attack on poor Harbor. I am  trying to explain or assuage the brutality of the attack, but I found a deeper understanding on the motives of Japan. If we do not understand our history, or if we do not die deeper to see the full story, we can have misconceptions.

In the story of Exodus and Moses, I have read through this passage Countless times throughout my life. While growing up as a young man, I have watched “10 Commandments“ every Easter and Passover for 20+ years. But it wasn’t until this reading this year where I had my eyes opened more.  While preparing for this blog, I read this passage several times, and also listened to it as well. When I was listening to it, my son was also there, and his eyes opened up when he heard that the children were killed. He did understand that there was a law to kill the boys of the Hebrews. He was shocked and wanted to know more about the situation. As a father, I was able to walk him through the history.

There are some things that I did not know for myself or I forgot. 

• Moses was a couple months old when he left his mom and was taken by his sister to the Nile. 

”Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months.“

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

• Moses actually was nursed and raised partially by his mom and his siblings. 

”Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”“

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

• Moses was protected from the beginning of his life until the end of his life.

No matter what situation we are in, God has a plan and a purpose for us. We see that with Moses, that God had a purpose of a plan for him from when he was a newborn baby. God actually took care of Moses, and provided for him in his birth home, with his mother, with his people from an early age throughout his life. Sometimes it may feel that we are not in God‘s presence or feel that we are not being taken care of by God. But when we look back over the history of our lives, we look at the small details that actually are God’s presence in our life to make us who we are today.

What are some things that are in our past that we may have forgotten that allows us to be where we are today? Where are the small blessings that we have forgotten but others may remember that we need to be reminded of? Where has the spirit been in the small things this week for you that you may be a blessing to others?

 

Today’s Reading :  Genesis 28-29; Mark 11 

”Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and directed him, “You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. Arise, go to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel your mother’s father, and take as your wife from there one of the daughters of Laban your mother’s brother. God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18 So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19 He called the name of that place Bethel,[d] but the name of the city was Luz at the first. 

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭11‬, ‭15‬-‭18 ‭ESV‬‬

”When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.”“

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Over the winter break, my family and I had the blessing and opportunity to travel. My youngest daughter, Nadya, had her wish fulfilled from the Make-A-Wish organization, her wish was  to swim with dolphins. This wish has been in the process for over 13+ months. The wish and the organization are truly an amazing testament to their mission. 

Each child and their family experiences an opportunity to have a wish granted.  This is an opportunity to take you away from the highs and lows of medical procedures and medical visits that your family experiences.

The entire wish was spectacular. From the boarding of the first flight to the greetings at the airport to the hotel to the first waves on the beach to the dolphins and the luau. Nadya and our family was just filled with awe and joy.  We spent five amazing days in Hawaii and each day we learn something new about ourselves. We were able to experience the joy of God in everything.  While on our vacation, I read and meditated on the scriptures and passages for today.  When I read these texts and verses,  I allowed God to speak to me and allowed myself to be open to his amazing work. 

On our return trip from Hawaii back to the mainland, we were able to experience God‘s blessings in a different way. We were able to experience God‘s mercy and grace as we were traveling. The day before we were to leave the island, there were some unexpected airplane issues for the Alaskan airlines had to ground over 170 planes due to a mid air experience where the exit door came off. This created a ripple affect that would change our trajectory for returning home.  

When we checked in for our return flight home on January 8th, we were informed that our flight had been canceled and that the next available flight would be January 11th.  This was a high concern due to us home and making sure that we had access to medication for Ollie and his seizures.  I had to be a strong advocate for my family and my son.  I stood at the counter from 9am until 2 pm.  While at the counter I had a prayer continually playing in my mind to give me peace and allow me to see God’s work in this place.   

To see how God uses our everyday situations for his glory this is a true account of my experience.   After working diligently with Dawn, the ticketing agent, and Brandy, the gate agent supervisor another person literally showed up behind me.  I was taken aback for the moment and then God revealed himself.  The gentleman that came to me was named Reuben.  

Reuben was a higher level supervisor.   He had seen our family on his way into work at 9AM and recognized us as a Make-A-Wish family.  The current time was 1PM.   Rueben is a wish alumni and wanted to help us get home.   Within 30-45 minutes later,  Rueben had arranged a flight for the entire family to get home on the next day.  He had provided a hotel for us to stay at during the time.  Reuben and the wish coordinator also provide meal vouchers for the family and an additional car for travel for the day.  In a situation that seemed dire and bleak, God showed up in an amazing and unexpected way.  

One more way God was communicating with me was seen as we were going to the next hotel.   Throughout Hawai’i,  the Hawaiian language is spoken and evident in all aspects of life.  One of the most common is in the names of the streets and the areas of the islands: Kalakaua, Kuhio, Ala Moana, and Nu’uanu.  To make it even more memorable,  as we left the airport and was traveling we had to make several detours due to the torrential rains and flash flooding that was happening on the island.   As I was turning and navigating,  I happened to come to a street that I had to turn on and off three times.  The street name was Bethel.  This was the same name that Jacob gave the place he had rested and blessed on his travels.  

How amazing and wonderful it is to be able to see and share the goodness of good in our daily life.  Can we all allow God to show us daily how amazing he can be? Can we allow God to recreate the blessings and protection and prosperity he has in store for us?  May his peace be with us in the situations that we may be facing today and allow for the revelation of his awesomeness.  

Be blessed

Today’s Reading : Genesis 1-2; Psalm 19; Mark 1

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We use words every day. We use words to uplift each other. We use words to put down each other. We use words to heal each other. We use words to hurt each other. Words are the essential communication devices that we use every day. It doesn’t matter what language, dialect, or accent you use.  Everyone uses words. One of the traditions for the new year is to make a resolution or words of resolution for our sales. But when we make these words, we have to be very careful in how we use these and how we are the purpose behind these words. These words have meaning these words have power.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In these three passages that we have today, words are shown to have immense power. These words can transform and these words can change the very essence of being. When God spoke these words, he was actually giving life and existence with his spoken word. With us, being in the image of God, the words that we speak, give life in existence to others. Sometimes we do not fully understand or grasp the concept of how our words can have power. Christ told us that the Holy Spirit will give us the power to speak things, and the things that we speak would happen.

In Mark, it shows the power of the word in Christ and how He knows how to use the power of the word to increase others and use it for the betterment of others:

“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the gospel.” And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”“

‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭17‬, ‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭37‬-‭38‬, ‭40‬-‭41‬ ‭ESV‬‬

 

Let us be strong in our hearts and minds and speak words of power and strength in this new year and beyond.

Be blessed

 

With the coming  of advent and the Christmas season I have had time to reflect on the trueness of the season.  Christ is the reason for the season, but his presence is the culmination of reconciliation with the father through the spirit.  God the spirit had been separated from us since the garden of Eden and now He has reconciled himself with us to be in fellowship with us eternally and forever.

In the traditional sense of conflicts and tell: Man and God, Man and community, Man and self.  Christ presence is restoring all the relationships in which we have had: humanity’s relationship with God, humanity’s relationship with others, and our relationship with ourselves. Before Christ came into our lives there was division that was unreconciled. Confusion and the distance that we had in relationship with God and others, and ourselves was never able to be fully reconciled. But with Christ, being born, we now have the ability to be reconciled with , all our relationships.

My daughters were in a ballet production that was depicting the Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The main theme of the renowned story is how we sometimes can lose our perspective on our relationships and allow other things to replace our relationships. But things can be replaced, but individuals cannot.

During this Christmas season, let us reflect on our relationships. Christ has  given us the ability to reconcile all of our relationships no matter what has happened. It takes a point of maturity to be able to fully understand how love conquers all. This is not to say that we will forget some of the atrocities and the hardships that we have encountered, but this does allow us to release ourselves from the anguish of regret and grief.

Maybe celebrate this Christmas, and all the Christmases to come with a renewed understanding of how to reconcile a relationships. Not just at this time of year, but throughout the year. There are many things that happened to us that we wish have not happened to us, but we cannot let those experiences damper our relationship with others and our relationship with ourselves and our relationship with God. We can reconcile our relationships and our outlook on life each day with Christ in our heart.

Merry Christmas.

Be blessed.

Today’s Reading: Job 12-14; Psalms 100; Revelation 13

The passages for today taken individually can be a little disjointed, but when you are looking with a new prescriptive with the Spirit, these passages relate the true meaning of the bible and the gospel:  No matter what has happened or will happen, give thanks to God for His benevolence and grace.  

Psalms 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2  Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Job 12:1-4

Then Job answered and said:

2 “No doubt you are the people,  and wisdom will die with you.

3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know such things as these?

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends;  I, who called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.

Job 13: 1-4

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know;  I am not inferior to you.

3 But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.

4 As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.

Job 14:1-4

“Man who is born of a woman  is few of days and full of trouble.

2 He comes out like a flower and withers;  he flees like a shadow and continues not.

3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?

4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.

Revelation 13:1-2

The First Beast

13 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 

Throughout these passages, there are so many circumstances that create unrest and confusion in the authors and the audiences.  The passages show that there is a mirage of things that we can go through on a daily basis, but we have to understand that there is a purpose in all that we experience and allow the Spirit to reveal God’s presence in the storms.  

Be Blessed.