We are speaking to the creator of the universe!

This is my last post for 2017 so I’m reflecting on the past year along with Psalm 141, a Psalm of King David.

O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
 Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
 and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (Psalm 141:1-2)

Note the exclamation points and the direct manner by which David starts out speaking to God. This is from the heart, passionate, and urgent. We should all pray like we mean it… we are speaking to the creator of the universe! He doesn’t need our empty words or empty promises, he wants our hearts! Lift up your hands and cry out to him right now. I triple dog dare you. Yes, ’tis the season to go straight to the triple dog dare.

Consider the urgency of Jesus as he prayed on the Mount of Olives, praying so hard that his sweat was like blood.

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44)

I’ve seen God move in mighty ways this year, no doubt as a result of crying out and the faithful prayers of friends and family. When I say that I’ve seen God move, I don’t mean that he’s answered every prayer in the way that I wanted him to answer it. He also moves through saying no, not yet, or revealing a completely different plan. While it is easy to say right now that I’m thankful, there have certainly been times of frustration, sorrow, fear, and doubt.

Sitting at my favorite place to write inside, I am thinking about the people, habits, or events that had the biggest influence on my life this year.

  • Absolutely the greatest influence on my life in 2017 (same with 2016) has been writing for Bible Journal. This habit and responsibility causes me to look for the Holy Spirit in all events and to constantly be thinking about God’s ways over my ways. It teaches me to see others as who they are: first and foremost, children of God, loved by God, and therefore I must love others. After completing one post, it is time to start praying about the next one, asking for wisdom and for God’s will to be done. There are so many stories going on in all of our lives, and this journaling habit brings the stories closer to my heart. I am so thankful, humbled and honored to be part of this community.
  • Words of encouragement. Do not underestimate the power that our words have on other people, positive or negative. I’m thankful for those who have lifted me up and challenged me in a way that is pleasing to God.
  • Grace. I spent a few minutes thinking about all that I’ve been given this year that I didn’t deserve. Sit quietly and ask God to show you a glimpse of what you’ve been given this year. I believe he wants all of us to see this so that we may give him, the ultimate giver, the thanks he deserves.
  • Surprises. Meeting new people, especially those who are humble and joyful.
  • Seeing my sin as what it is: unacceptable in the eyes of God. This one stings but let’s not sugar coat it. I’m thankful to have a savior who gave his perfect life in exchange for my all too often wretched life. I’m a sinner in need of a savior. Thank you Jesus.

Give It Up To God

Ever had someone you just hated? Hate is a strong word, I know, but what about calling that person your enemy. It was a guy I played football with in high school that never stopped trying to get on my nerves. I, at the time, wasn’t mature enough to handle it and all I wanted to do was punch the guy. The problem was he was a bit bigger than I was so it didn’t make sense to make it a fair fight. So one day at practice, after again being provoked by him, I hit him in the back when he was walking away. He got up and we wrestled on the ground for a bit but I was safe with all my pads on so it didn’t really matter to me. Anyways, the moral of the story was that out of anyone in my life that was the guy that I would say was my enemy.

 

Psalm 140 is all about David’s enemy’s, the people he hated. Let’s read it really quickly.

This is the message version:

 

God, get me out of here, away from this evil;

protect me from these vicious people.

All they do is think up new ways to be bad;

they spend their days plotting war games.

They practice the sharp rhetoric of hate and hurt,

speak venomous words that maim and kill.

God, keep me out of the clutch of these wicked ones,

protect me from these vicious people;

Stuffed with self-importance, they plot ways to trip me up,

determined to bring me down.

These crooks invent traps to catch me

and do their best to incriminate me.

6-8 I prayed, “God, you’re my God!

Listen, God! Mercy!

God, my Lord, Strong Savior,

protect me when the fighting breaks out!

Don’t let the wicked have their way, God,

don’t give them an inch!”

9-11 These troublemakers all around me—

let them drown in their own verbal poison.

Let God pile hellfire on them,

let him bury them alive in crevasses!

These loudmouths—

don’t let them be taken seriously;

These savages—

let the Devil hunt them down!

12-13 I know that you, God, are on the side of victims,

that you care for the rights of the poor.

And I know that the righteous personally thank you,

that good people are secure in your presence.

 

 

David has enemy’s too. We are not alone in that. What did he do, he prayed that God will protect him from those enemies. Let’s get something straight, our enemy’s will never kill us, David’s enemy’s wanted to kill him so his life was on the line. Above everything that we can learn from this passage, know that prayer is powerful. Ask God for help in all situations, not just the bad ones. Know that God is there for you at all times. We can look at how David handled this situation and learn that whenever you are in a tough situation you just need to give it up to God. This is what the bible is here for, to learn how to handle different experiences and to learn from the people in the bible so we don’t make the same mistakes.

 

Be thinking about that in this season. I know that we all have issues but God will always be there to help. Merry Christmas and happy first day of Winter.

The Best-laid Plans

People, by-in-large, are good at setting and achieving goals.  Day-in-day-out billions of people arrive to work on-time, remember to do more things than they forget, have a roof to sleep under and manage to feed and clothe themselves.  People, by-in-large, are used to setting goals, making plans and seeing them through to some measure of success.  This can be a dangerous thing.  (Proverbs 4:12, Proverbs 16:25)

In the 139 Psalm, King David proclaims God’s omniscience (v1-6), omnipresence (v7-12), and omnipotence (v13-18), as well as David’s own obeisance (v19-24).  King David has reached a point where his perspective of himself and his abilities compared to God’s are right.  It is beautiful to witness.  

Throughout scripture, God does amazing things for people as soon as they realize what David realized.  Have you ever found your heart pouring out to God saying some version of, “I’m done.  I don’t want to do it my way ever again. It always ends up hurting. God: I want what you want. Lead me. Thy will be done.”?

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
– Psalm 139:23-24

Painful outcomes or trials can leave us feeling this way.  The danger is when we have “success” in our plans.  Success is not a history of achieving personal goals.  Success and achieving personal goals are not by default the same thing.

We have wisdom when we see things as God sees things.  In my estimation, the key question to reflect on and be sure our heart has the true answer to is this:

What is God’s definition of success?

This holiday season I encourage everyone confronted with the question “Who is successful?” whether spoken, worn, driven, sat in, or otherwise to consider God’s definition.  To be prepared the truth.  How can we press into the truth and be a blessing to others?  

Not Alone

“You will fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” – Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” – Mark 14:27-30

Today’s Reading: Mark 14, Psalm 138

The struggle is real! How many times do we declare our faith and fall short? Jesus knows our earthly struggles. Peter was told by Jesus that in the very same day he would disown Jesus three times. God has seen humans fall short since the Garden of Eden. As I read through Mark 14 even in the presence of the Lord, the disciples fell short in submitting to God’s will.  There are times when we do as well. But in these stories of the disciples falling short, Jesus leaves hints of how to stay connected to Him. His word is packed with promises for today and tomorrow.

The visual I see of sheep scattering is a perfect image of what I can be like sometimes when trials come my way.  A quick reflex, eyes wide open,  with arms flailing  in an opposite direction, possibly stumbling, trying to get up so I can get away.

Jesus lets us know He goes before us.  That even Peter, who believed he would never deny Him, did so in the same night.  That we can’t rely on ourselves to get through hard circumstances. We have to call on Him and trust.

Jesus provides us some reminders as we read Mark.

Prayer – Mark 14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”     All things are possible through prayer.  All things can be included in your prayer life.  Most days I will pray to be more prayerful? It’s when I think I have I have it under control the Lord has His way of saying, Why are you not asking me?

Mark 14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Psalm 145: 18:19 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

  • Stay Awake – It’s easy to get caught up in schedule that has you looking into the end of the week as we worry about the things to be wrapped, this gift to find, the party you have to attend, or these things at work that need to be done.  It can be the problem that still hasn’t been solved that is now growing and leaving you half-minded. Be aware of God’s presence right now in your life, waiting for you to call Him.

Mark 14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

  • Don’t do it alone –  Having and realizing God is with us all the time is amazing. It  God always being with us, do life with others.  I think of our small group and how many circumstances in our lives we have walked through together. I think of the many brothers and sisters in Christ I have been able to talk with and hear timely words of wisdom from when there was no way at all I was going to figure out that problem. Sharing your struggles with others can provide you with the additional blessings and strength you may need.  Same with you and others, we supply that same blessing and prayer.  Together we provide strength and growth towards Christlikeness.  Thank you to all of you that have made such a difference in my walk with the Lord.  Please always know I’m here for you too.

Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

 

God wants us to stay close to Him, instead of falling asleep or denying Him, draw closer. We celebrate and praise the birth of a Savior who came for us, and who loves us.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bible Journal Family and Friends. David, Jennifer, Jackson, Marshall, and…7/11/18:)

Psalm 138:7-8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

 

 

The Things to Come

Today’s Reading: Mark 13 and Psalm 137

Today’s reading in Mark is noted in several commentaries as one of the most difficult chapters in the New Testament for the modern reader to understand. Throughout the chapter Jesus is using language, context and historical reference that is quite significant for the Jews. This history isn’t as familiar to us as Christians and so some of the language is confusing. In the first section of Mark 13, Jesus foretells the fall of Jerusalem:

“…And Jesus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? There shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.” Mark 13:2

 Peter, James, John and Andrew take Jesus aside and ask him when the destruction will begin. They ask for a sign that the devastation is near. Jesus responds with another warning:

“Many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and shall lead many astray. And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled: these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.” Mark 13:6-8

 Sounds pretty terrifying, doesn’t it? On one hand, as Christian’s we are all anxiously awaiting the day when Christ will come again but on the other hand it seems as if we must endure great suffering before that day comes. In fact, after studying Mark 13 I got to thinking that I’m really pretty much ok in my little house in Central Illinois. I’m not ready to flee to the mountains or stand on my roof while the world burns around me. The idea of this apocalyptic end seems like something we should only see in the movie theater. So, what can we draw from today’s message from Mark? How do we reconcile our modern life with this ancient prophesy that we believe will one day come to pass? As I read the passage above I’m keenly aware that nations are already rising against other nations, that there are indeed earthquakes happening around the globe, that famine is absolutely happening in far off places today. Perhaps more importantly, I’m also aware that there are many coming in His name claiming to be him. So how do we go to work, bring the kids to school and plan dinner with the knowledge and awareness of what’s to come? Jesus says:

“Watch, therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at evening or at midnight, or at cock crowing or in the morning, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” Mark 13:35-37

 Jesus tells us in Mark 13 that even he does not know the day or the hour when he will come again. Only our Heavenly Father knows the timetable. Jesus draws the very practical conclusion in verses 35-37 that we are like men that know our master will return, but who do not know when. Study Light Commentary says, “We live in the shadow of eternity. That is no reason for fearful and hysterical expectation. But it means that day by day our work must be completed. It means that we must live so that it doesn’t not matter when He comes. It gives us the great task of making every day fit for Him to see and being ready to meet Him face to face.”

 In the next week we’ll get to meet our Savior on the day of His birth. Although we may not see His face or touch his tiny hand, we’ll meet Him in smaller ways. We’ll see His majesty through giving to the poor, feel His presence in the Christmas songs we sing. We’ll have the opportunity to look for signs of His coming. We know that in this life there will be suffering, there will be sadness and tears but at the end there will be Jesus. If your heart is heavy this Christmas season, watch for Him. If you are afraid, watch for Him. If you feel the ground shaking beneath you, watch for Him.

Lynden and I wish you a blessed Christmas. We pray that your heart and home will be filled with the love of Christ.

 

 

God With Us

Mark 2, Psalm 136

Sometimes I wonder what God was thinking.  Why did he create us? You see every day, we do things that are contrary to his nature.  Contrary to his purpose for us.  We even attempt to replace him with something different, yet God persists.  As I wonder why, I am drawn to Psalm 136.    Its author has taken the time to identify why  and how God works.

To start, we must think about who God is.  The Psalmist reminds us that He is good.  He is the God of God and Lord of Lords.  He does great wonders and created the heavens.  He made the earth, the lights, the sun and the moon.  He ordered them perfectly.  He struck Israel’s enemy and delivered them into freedom.  He is mighty and caring at the same time, able to part an entire sea.  He uses  this miraculous work to protect those he loves and to destroy to their enemies.  He led his people through the wilderness, striking down and killing great and mighty kings.  He takes their territory and gives it to those who love him.  He doesn’t care about his servants position, high or low.  He cares and provides for us in every situation. 

These are powerful words about our great God and his abilities.  If you are like me, you ask why.  Why would this God do such things for us?  More directly, why would he do them for me?  He knows that I am unruly and rebellious. The Psalmist gets it right with one simple word.  Love.  In my attempt to define what love is, I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  It says,

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;  it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends.

Yes this describes God’s love for us.  In fact, God is so patient, so kind, so caring that he sent his own son, to live among us.  You see, real love doesn’t sit on the throne looking down.  Real love comes along side us.  Real love is personal.  Real love is messy.  This is why Jesus was born.  This is why he is called Emmanuel.  It means “God with us.”  

His love endures forever!

Emmanuel – God With US , Mercy Me

 

Faith to Move a Mountain

Today’s reading is Mark 11 and Psalm 135.

Mark 11:24 reads, “Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” If this is true, then why don’t I have the Lamborghini I’ve been praying for?! In all seriousness, I think this is a verse that many Christians struggle with quite frankly and one that many non-believers use as evidence that God does not exist.” If there is a God, why doesn’t he answer my prayers? It says here He does, but He hasn’t answered mine.”

I can remember my Mom saying at a young age that God does answer all prayers, but just not directly in the way you ask and think is best. Why? We are sinful humans. We don’t know what is best. He does. If we did, then we would be God, and we are clearly not. Most of our prayers have some sort of a selfish nature wanting us to receive the glory and not Him. Isaiah 55:8-9,“ ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the Heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ “Reading this in Isaiah makes me thankful He doesn’t answer my prayers in the way I ask. He knows what is truly best. I don’t. I just think I do.

Mark 11:23 also says we can ask a mountain to move and it will. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t even seen a pencil move when I asked it to! Does this mean there is no God or these verses in Mark are not true? James 1:6-7 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” I’m embarrassed to say that even though I know God made the Earth and Heavens and everything in them, not only do I doubt He will do certain things, but if I really get deep and reflect I even question if He can do certain things. Do we really believe God can and will heal our loved one from the illness he or she has? Do we really believe He can and will heal our marriage like we’ve been asking? Do we truly believe He can and will move that mountain if we asked Him to? Maybe if we truly believed He would and could,  He would actually in fact do it. God knows the true condition of our heart and maybe Mark 11:23 is not just a metaphor, but He truly would move a mountain if we asked and truly believed He would.

As we move forward in this next week let us pray this together….

Lord, please create in me a pure, clean heart. Please help my prayers not be for selfish ambition and for my glory but for yours. Help me to know and believe you can and will answer my prayers. When I truly believe you can and will move that mountain I’m facing in my life, I know you will.

Gloria

Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord
who minister by night in the house of the Lord.
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
and praise the Lord.

3 May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Today’s readings are Mark 10 and Psalm 134. I recently had a very similar text to write on and chose the portion “let the children come to me”. You may recall, I wrote about my first grade teacher and about how teachers in general can be so influential early in our lives. I was talking with Jennifer about having this same text and she suggested writing on the Psalm as she had done the same thing recently.

The Psalm today is very short and to the point. I certainly have enjoyed the Psalms this fall as an extra portion of our daily devotion. For today’s post, I am going to focus on “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.” During this season of Advent, we have opportunities to pause and reflect on the Christmas season. I always love the start of Advent, the color that starts to appear, the white lights that people hang in the church, and that first Sunday message on Hope. The hope of Christ’s coming, hope shining for us in darkness and hope for the world as we lite the first candle in the Advent wreath.

This past Sunday, we focused on Peace during the second Sunday in Advent. In our church, the message given was around peacemakers.   We lite the second candle to remind us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His light helps us find ways to share God’s peace with others. We were reminded of John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus. We also had our choir sing Gloria in D Major by Vivaldi. It is always a wonderful way to experience the holiday season.

(Translated to English)

Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you,

We bless you,

We adore you,

We glorify you,

We give you thanks for your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King,

O God, almighty Father.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

You take away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us;

You take away the sins of the world,

Receive our prayer,

You are seated at the right hand of the Father,

Have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

You alone are the Lord,

You alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ,

With the Holy Spirit,

In the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

When I was growing up, my father was a pastor but he was also a voice and choral conducting professor. He would take us to so many concerts, some his own and some at other venues. One year, he took us to New York to hear a choir sing in at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. It was not even Christmastime but there was a special choir performing this same piece. I remember as a child being in awe of the church and this massive choir joining so loudly in praise. Every time it is sung, I feel at peace. I feel my shoulders relax as I sink into the pew and take in all the words.

For your listening pleasure:

Vivaldi’s Gloria

As I watched this clip, it brought this same peace and happiness to me that the choir did in New York City and that I experienced this past Sunday with our choir.

(I kept watching more videos :-).  Years ago this video circulated on Youtube.com. Please take a moment and enjoy this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnCLNp02zgM

Vivaldi – 8 minute version

May the Peace of the Lord be with You today and always.

Cut it off.

Mark 9 & Psalm 133

“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell…” Mark 9:43-47

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never really taken Mark 9 all that seriously. Sure, I understand that Jesus isn’t actually asking us to physically saw off a foot if it causes us to sin. But I believe that He is being far more serious about the importance of cutting sin out of our lives than we think.

In fact, I can’t remember the last time I took a drastic action in order to work to remove sin from my life. Whether it’s pride, selfishness, materialism, or any other struggle of mine, I’ve never realized the importance of focusing hard on getting sin it out of my life. I think what Jesus is saying in Mark 9:43-47 is that if we’re serious about making a change in the sin that’s in our lives, we need to do everything in our power to cut it out- no matter how drastic that might be.

I don’t know what sin you’re particularly struggling with today, or what sin instantly comes to mind when you read this post, but I do know that all sin is equal in the eyes of God… and every sin is a sin worth this strong of an approach as far as its removal.

Not only is it important to make every effort to remove sin from our lives because it brings fuller life, causes us to look more like Jesus, and honors God more, but there’s another major reason we should be getting more serious about removing sin from our life: Those who don’t know Jesus are daily watching how we act and developing an understanding of the character of our God from our actions, words, attitudes, motives, behavior, language, and habits. We are the only examples of Jesus that many people will ever see or encounter, and it is our job to represent Him well. Keeping this truth in mind motivates me to cut sin out of my life like nothing else.

Friends, let’s get serious about our sin and stop pretending that it’s a smaller deal than it is. Let’s balance feeling the guilt that our sin deserves with experiencing the grace that God so freely offers us through Jesus, and take actionable steps today in removing sin from our lives… whatever it takes. Let’s rely on Jesus to do this in us, and not simply focus on trying harder. He’s ready and waiting to help us.

Is Anything Worth More

Today’s reading is Mark 8 and Ps 132

 

This year we have spent quite a bit of time looking at the Gospels and the relationships between Jesus and His disciples. Mark 8 tells us two miracles that Jesus did and it shows us several conversations that Jesus had with His disciples. I’ve had the privilege of writing on both of those miracles and the discussion Jesus and Peter have in this chapter so today I want to concentrate on the last few verses of Mark 8.

Vs38” Calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your own soul?”

I think as Christians, we have heard this passage or portions of it, quoted so often we get a little callous to what Jesus was trying to convey to the crowd, His disciples and to us. When this was written, the people it was written to were under Roman rule and the phrase “take up your cross” was common knowledge to all. Everyone knew that death on a cross was the form of execution used by Roman soldiers for dangerous criminals and they knew that a prisoner had to carry his own cross to the place of execution to show submission to Rome’s power. So Jesus was saying to these people, take up your cross and follow Me, meaning, show submission to Me by choosing to follow Me instead of choosing to satisfying yourself. One of the commentaries I looked at said, “Jesus asks us for submission, not self-hatred; He asks us only to lose our self-centered determination to be in charge.” That makes the meaning hit home hard and fast for me. Lose my self-centered determination to be in charge. Isn’t this what we all want, control? Don’t we want to manage our own schedules, set our own priorities, value the people we choose to value, spend our money the way we want to and then fit Jesus into what is left of our life? “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me.”

Jesus knows we need more convincing…more to think through and consider. “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” We are so human. It’s all we know. Life on earth is all we have experienced. It’s hard to be human and live for eternity. It requires trust, belief and real relationship with God. We humans have the hardest time grasping that life on earth is temporary. Stuff, position and power are worthless compared to our souls, eternal life with Him. Is anything worth more than your soul? When I am able to get my perspective right on this and give over my desire for control, stuff, position and power to follow God’s plan, God is so gracious. He gifts eternal life plus an abundant and joy filled life here on earth. He loves us so well that eternal life isn’t enough of a gift for Him to give. We matter so much to Him that He wants to help us change and become more like Him while we are on this earth. He gives us part of Himself, to live inside us to guide, teach, convict and grow each of us in His Spirit. So as we close today, I ask you to spend some more time with Jesus question. “Is anything worth more than your own soul?”