Do You Not Remember?

“Do you not remember?” Jesus asks this question of his disciples in Matthew 16:9. They have – again – misunderstood something that He said to them, and He says, “Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?” (Matthew 16:9-10). Remembering is important. It is clear just from this passage alone that Jesus places a high value on remembering.

I believe that Jesus is reminding us of the importance of remembering because it helps us to understand Him and His work. Just prior to the verses above, Jesus says, “Do you not yet perceive?” (Matthew 16:9) And later, He asks, “How is it that you fail to understand…” Matthew 16:11). Remembering leads to greater understanding. Have you ever looked back on an event in your life, one that you didn’t understand at the time, and finally, perhaps even years later, thought – THAT’S why that happened. I have, for sure. I believe that is what Jesus is talking about here.

Later in this same chapter, Jesus speaks over Peter, saying, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). I have always loved this verse; whenever I read the word “rock” here, it reminds me of the idea of standing stones mentioned in Joshua 4:7: “So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” For years, I have wanted to create some sort of memory box, our own version of standing stones, to honor God’s work in our little family. I want to always remember the good work He has done, and I would love to have a tangible memory of that work. Today’s reading, about rocks and remembering, is the push I need to actually begin this project!

One last note. If you have time today, take a minute to read Psalm 89. It begins, “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalm 89:1) and ends, “Blessed be the Lord forever!” (Psalm 89:52). The theme of remembering winds through this Psalm, and it is a sweet complement to Matthew 16.

God Heals

Today’s Reading Matthew 15, Psalms 88

As I sit with my youngest daughter in the hospital, I am mediating and reading the chapter for the bible journal and I cannot help but be overwhelmed with the context … God please heal my daughter.

Matthew 15: 21-28

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”And her daughter was healed instantly.[e]

 On Saturday afternoon, my father-in-law and daughters and I went on a routine shopping adventure. Its that time of year that the shoes are getting smaller and the sandals are not the right footwear for the seasons, especially when you see snowflakes at the end of October. As we complete the selection of shoes and preparing to leave, my youngest daughter, Nadya falls off a shoe-measuring stool and hits her head on the floor. As I pick her up and comfort her, she starts to have some questionable symptoms, which prompt me to take her to the emergency room. While at the hospital, we are checked up and admitted for overnight observations for concussion or seizure activity. As she sleeps that evening, I read the bible provided there and begin to review, read, and mediate on the chapter for today Matthew 15.   The Spirit of God is ever present and leading me to have a deeper communion with Him and He is consistently making me aware of His presence. What other time, place, and situation would make this passage ever be more real.

In the beginning of the chapter, Jesus is telling us about how people have changed the way God wanted his people to live, worship, and interact with each other. The Pharisees were questioning the validity of the teachings and followers. Jesus is telling us that the food and things that we put in our body will go in and come out and will not have eternal effect on our spirit. However, Jesus then refers to the things that we say and do to others is not a result of the tangible food that we eat, but the manifestation of the true character of our heart and spirit. It’s the true essence of us that is the reflection of God and how it is exhibited to others a reflection of our heart.

The following section of the chapter puts this into practice: the Canaanite lady and her daughter. Here is where the Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and begs for him to have mercy on her and her daughter. At first Jesus continues to walk by without acknowledgement of the person. This would have been utterly painful for Jesus to see and hear.   Then the disciples, orders Jesus to tell the woman to leave “them” alone. Wow, sometimes we forget who is in charge and we may overstep our own authority. Can you imagine that the disciples are giving Jesus orders? But Jesus has compassion on the woman, but wants to makes sure that she is truly committed and her faith outshines her circumstances.

It is the true spirit of the person that Jesus sees. He sees pass the unclean, the unworthy, the classes, the cultural differences, the gender, and the socioeconomic of all people. We have to recognize that Jesus is here for all to be given the Glory of God. We also have to recognize that we have to be confident in the promise of God. When we ask God for something, sometimes He is “silent” to us. Sometimes He reiterates the question that we ask. Sometimes He wants us to make Him know that we are longing for His presence and grace. In the end we pray that we will hear “…you have great faith! Your request is granted.”

As I complete this entry, Nadya is home, sleeping in her bed. Seizure free. Concussion free. Blessed beyond measure. Amen. Thank you for your prayers.

 

Walking On Water

Halloween is right around the corner. Wether you are a fan of this holiday or not, it gets us all thinking about things that might scare us. We see many decorations around that can bring frightful thoughts into our minds. 18 years ago, my husband and I were blessed with a beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed baby girl. Besides her perfection, one other characteristic immediately stood out about her. We realized from day one in the hospital than many normal noises scared our baby. When doors closed or at any abrupt sound, her body would jump. We were concerned about this, but the Dr said it was normal, some babies just had a disposition for this and it was nothing to worry about. Halloween was a particularly scary time for her as she went around the neighborhood and saw the things she was not used to seeing. Ghosts, freaky masks, and monsters really freaked her out. This fear is not something that she has not fully grown out of. Thankfully, as she has gotten older we can discuss these things and guide her through the fearful times.

Speaking of things we are not used to seeing that might scare us…

Matthew 14:22-33 describes what the disciples experience when they are in their boat, rowing to the other side of the lake. This was not a “quick trip”. They had been rowing all night and it had been storming the entire time they were in the boat. After several hours of enduring the wind and waves while being pelted with rain, they see something walking on the water and freak out assuming that it is a ghost. Then this “ghost” speaks to them and they recognize a familiar voice! They realize it is the Lord! Peter than says, “Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you across the water.” The Lord takes him up on it. “Come!” he says. So Peter steps out of the boat and actually starts to walk on the water! As Peter gets out of the boat, the wind and waves do not stop, it is still storming all around them. The more steps that Peter actually takes, the more he realizes the strong winds and waves all around him and fear begins to sink in and he begins to sink. As he sinks, he cries out, “Lord save me!” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught Peter. But then, Jesus says to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus does not say that Peter has no faith. After all, he had more faith than the other eleven, at least he stepped out of the boat!

I think we can relate to this story because we can so easily see ourselves in it. We often begin a journey with excitement and encouragement from others. Then the harsh reality of the everyday grind set in. Next come trials and unexpected detours. When things lose their new luster and excitement, sometimes we backtrack or even abandon the journey entirely.

“Little” faith means immature faith. For our faith to be mature, it must be used and and mixed with courage. We can only develop courage in the face of danger. If there is no danger, no threat, no trial, then there is no possibility of gaining courage. Mature faith means believing more in what you can’t see than in the terrifying things you can see. It means keeping the eyes of your heart fixed on the master of the wind and waves even though you might feel like you are sinking.

Jesus commands us many times in the Bible, “Do not be afraid!” (366 times to be exact! A reminder for every day of the year!!) We have to make a conscious decision not to allow fear to paralyze us. Peter sank because he stopped walking. Faith means to keep walking even when your knees are knocking. We have to keep seeking Jesus and looking to Him to guide us and He will catch us every time we cry out to Him, just as he caught Peter.

Good or Righteous

Matthew 13, Psalm 86

Matthew 13:47-50 (ESV) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Reading the parable presented in Matthew 13:47-50,  I find myself contemplating good vs. righteous.  Did you notice that the fisherman saves all the good fish?  Compare the fisherman to the angels in verse 49.  Alternatively, the angels don’t save good men, they save righteous men.  Why do these words change?  What is the difference? 

To start, consider what is good?  Who is good?  These questions remind me of Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man in Mark 18.  Jesus challenges the rich man’s definition of good.  Why?  Because it wasn’t enough.  In order to receive the full grace of God, being good didn’t earn him salvation.  The rich man needed something more.  Isn’t the same true today?  Everyone thinks that they are ‘good.’  In fact, just like the rich young man, we have followed the rules.  We have never murdered anyone, we don’t commit adultery, we don’t steal or bear false witness.  No, we do not defraud, in fact we are very honest and, yes, we honor our father and mother.  In fact, we see them every weekend and love them very much.  So clearly, we too, are good.  Unfortunately,  good is enough to save the fish, but apparently, not enough to save men. The salvation of men requires righteousness.

Verse 49, shifts the conversation from good to righteous.  Why?  Consider Jesus’ reminder in Mark 13:18.  Despite all our efforts, He insists that “no one is good except God alone.”  Paul backs him up in Romans 3:12, saying ‘no one does good,  not even one.”  As I consider these exhortations, everything in me wants to defend the good that I have done.  Maybe its about how much money I’ve given or how many hours I’ve spent serving and volunteering.  To be true, I have to ask, how am I, how are we, different from the rich young ruler?  Answering honestly, I must admit that we are not different.  We are just like him.  In fact, our failure to accept it strips all power from Jesus Christ, rendering his sacrifice on the cross impotent.  If, on the other hand, we embrace their admonitions, we are finally able to receive the deep desire of our hearts, righteousness.

When I think about good vs righteous in this way, I get a hint at their difference.  Good is about my life.  Good carries elements of carnality and the desires of the flesh.  Righteousness, on the other hand, is all about God.  It disregards my-self.  It prefers the kingdom of God over everything else.  There is only one way that this heart condition is rendered.  We see it in Romans 4:20-22.  Abraham “grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”  How then, do we gain righteousness over goodness?  Give glory to God and rely on him to do what he has promised.

A lesson in humility

One observation from today’s reading in Matthew 12 is a reflection on the humility of Jesus. He did so much for so many, yet never boasted about himself. Even while he performed miracles or when he was unjustly accused numerous times, he was humble.

Today’s reading links: Matthew 12 & Psalm 85

This week I had the opportunity to observe some manual laborers who work outside, often in challenging conditions in a manufacturing environment where safety is the utmost in priority. There are lots of moving parts, vehicles and machines, thus making it a very noisy and intense environment. The workers do heavy lifting, work with their hands, and are on their feet all day. There is little room for error, the pace is fast and the pressure is high; perhaps “organized chaos” is a good description.

On this particular day, the outside temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit and it was windy so it felt like about 30 degrees. The workers were wearing multiple layers of clothing, gloves, steel-toe boots, and other protective gear. The heavy rain during the two prior days had left its mark on much of the outdoor raw material area. I was in awe; these jobs are not for the weak.

In just a few minutes of observing, I had so many emotions:

  • First and foremost, great respect for these hard workers.
  • Fear that if that was my job I would be a total failure or injure myself.
  • Thankfulness for the opportunities that have been granted to me.
  • Shame for any pride I might have in thinking I might be better than anyone else, ever.
  • Humbled that hard workers like these men and women are truly the backbone of our great country.

To cap all of this off, I was introduced to a man named Jason. We asked him a couple questions about his job and he looked me in the eye, politely responded with a huge and genuine smile, “well, today is my first day on the job, so I’m just learning”.

No complaining, no nonsense, just humility. I could tell that he was thankful for his job and the opportunity that had been granted to him. Call me crazy, but I absolutely felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, teaching me, humbling me, and leading me to pray more and love more. May God bless Jason; a humble and strong man.

In closing today, please reflect on these seven verses and consider the humility of Jesus and how we can strive to become more humble as well.

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:15-21)

Rest. You Need It, So DO IT!

Rest. What comes to mind when you truly think of rest. I imagine myself on a beach at sunset with no one around. I can hear the waves as they gently wash against the shore. In the distance, I can hear the faint calls of a seagull as it flies to find its next meal. I’m not thinking about work, the dog, any relationship problems, medical issues or anything. My mind is clear and I am at peace. I think we get a taste of what rest is like when going on vacation but does that truly give us peace?

 

I am responsible for covering Mathew Chapter 11. There are a lot of different things I could be writing this on but I choose to write on the last 6 verses because it really fits with my life right now.

 

Let’s read through this together…Mathew 11:25-30

 

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[g] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

I think my life is a point that makes it very relatable. Our schedule is crazy busy right now and we are really feeling it. When life gives you lemons, you just add 3 more. That’s the saying, right? I know it’s not but I think it should be. We are a culture who hates the word “No” and loves to challenge the word “impossible.” Rest is something we laugh off and say we will get to when we are dead but are we truly living as Christ by doing that?

 

As we start to go into the winter months and things maybe start to slow down a little, try to make a mental note of how you are feeling. Remember how refreshed you are and know that it is possible to have that feeling all year long, it just requires you to say no. Even God had to rest when he created the heavens and the earth so realize that we need it too.

 

Give our heavenly father those burdens and take a breath. We both know we need it. Life is too short to be on every committee or join every sport. It’s just not worth it to keep saying yes when it’s so much more fulfilling to say no.

 

I hope this speaks to at least one of you out there reading this. It definitely spoke to me. Have a great rest of your Thursday and rest up my friends!

Are you ready to finish what you started?

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?  Matthew 10:24-25

“It is enough…”.  A true disciple wants nothing more than to be like his Master.  Jesus did not have much in the world in terms of tangible things.  He was born in a barn.  As an adult, He did not have a home and all the ‘important’ people hated him.  They wanted to kill him and they did.  Yet Jesus had all the intangible things. Do we want more than what Jesus had?

“…how much more…”  Given that a true disciple does not want to surpass his Master, Jesus gives a warning to those thinking they may want to follow him.  The warning is clear, as you become more like Christ, people will treat you more like He was treated.  How do we want to be treated?  

In addition to how others will treat us, Jesus gives other warnings to those who considered following him.  Knowing the heart of each, perhaps Jesus tailored the warnings.  Do we relate to any? 

Comfort

In Matthew 8:19-20 the scribe who said he would follow Jesus is told that following Him would mean forgoing a life of comfort.  A home is the baseline of comfort.  

Inheritance

In Matthew 8:21-22 one that would follow Jesus is told that following would mean forgoing his inheritance.  Following Jesus, for this scribe, may mean a life without the wealth of his family and perhaps one full of dependence.  “Allow me to bury my father” is another way of saying, I’ll be back once he’s died and I’ve received all that is coming to me.

Family

Later in Matthew chapter 10 verses 34 thru 37 (Matthew 10:34-37), Jesus teaches that following him will mean being ready to depart from family.

Counting the Cost

Jesus made sure we knew the cost of following Him and the importance of counting the cost so we could finish what we started and receive our reward. (Luke 14:25-34, Matthew 13:45-46, 2Timothy 4:6-8, Galatians 6:9).  

Counting the cost of being a Christian means being willing to give up seeking approval and popularity, status and the favor of men, comfort, an inheritance, and even family.  

Counting the cost of being a Christian means being ready to trade all these things for eternal promises.  Not just some.  Here is a promise God made in Matthew chapter 10.  

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. – Matthew 10:39

Oh God, that we might trust You with all. You are good and You alone are worthy of all our trust LORD. Amen.

 

Painting: Christ Calling His First Disciples – Adam Brenner (1800–1891)

Get Up and Walk

We all have things going on in our lives.  Some we share, some we don’t.  Maybe we are afraid of what others will say or think of you or the situation?  Maybe you just don’t want others to know? When we allow moments like this to linger it hurts. As I read through Matthew 9 I’m reminded Jesus heals.  To be honest, we all need healing. As I write this post, I think of my family dealing with addictions, physical pain, diagnoses , and even conversations of divorce. With some friends we have talked about recent losses, a future loss that is down to hours, addictions, abuse, anxiety and fears. I have also talked with others who have recently shared numerous things that are going on in their lives.  From loss of life, drug addictions, alcohol abuse, physical and verbal abuse, conversations of divorce, cancer, sickness, and everything in between.  It hurts to live out these situations, it hurts to hear them.  I take a deep breath, look up, and ask for Jesus to have his perfect love to be part of it all.  When I hear these stories my heart hurts and then I remember Jesus heals. Matthew 8 and Matthew 9 reminds us of the many ways in which Jesus healed so many people. The same Jesus that healed so many then is for us now. I think of a great friend who had his mother be diagnosed with a condition where she couldn’t walk. Through prayers, and Jesus’s grace and love she is now walking up to get communion. Jesus heals, and even though it may not always be by our timing.  He is faithful. . No matter where you at, Jesus can heal, taking away the pain that seems to linger, that leaves you most days half minded, or the pain that causes you to make choice to self medicate in a fashion that puts pain, fear, and worries to the side only to have them right back in front of you and probably worse next time.

No matter what you have going on, God has compassion.  God loves you!  There is nothing you have done, doing, or will do that will take His love away. In Matthew 9:2 Jesus heals a man who is paralyzed. So if you are spiritually blind, mute, paralyzed, sick, or even dead.  Jesus can heal.  He has already proven it.

So, in Matthew 9:28 Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this? ” Do you? I do! He has proven it time and time again.  He can prove it with you.  He can prove it anyone! No matter what is going on with you, your spouse, a friend, a daughter, son, mother, father, whoever it may be, Jesus heals. You have to believe.

In the moments when things are hard and can take over your body, heart, mind, and souls.  Jesus says, “Get up and walk!”,  “Follow Me!” Matthew 9:5

“Take heart daughter or son, your faith has healed you.” Matthew 9:22

I Believe You Are My Healer – Hillsong

Today’s Reading Matthew 9 & Psalm 82

 

 

 

Made Clean

Today’s Reading: Matthew 8 and Psalm 81

Today’s chapter from the Gospel of Matthew reads like a collection of short stories.  We hear about five separate miracles performed by Jesus. I must admit, I never like to read collections of short stories. Mostly because I’m always left wanting more. It feels as if I’m just getting to know the characters and understand their circumstance and then the story ends. But, like all good novels, the Bible doesn’t disappoint. When we consider these miracles collectively we see the common thread: Jesus the Messiah. Of course, this is Matthew’s purpose, to show the Jews that He is the eternal King.

The first story we hear is about Jesus healing a man with leprosy. When I first read it, I breezed through the text. It’s a familiar tale, one we have all heard as children in Sunday school. Often, we use it to teach children not to judge by outward appearance. It’s so convicting when Jesus reaches out and touches the leper in verse three of chapter eight. But what surprised me was the leper says in verse two,

“Lord if you will you can make me clean.” Matthew 8:2

 The title of the chapter is, “Jesus Heals a Leper” and yet, what we hear is the leper asking to be made clean. I checked several other translations and found that each time, the request is the same, “Lord make me clean.” Yes, the man wants to be healed. He wants to be cured. Just like leprosy, sin is an incurable disease. Only the hand of Jesus can cure it. Only the love of Jesus can truly clean our soul. So is there a difference between being clean and being cured? I’m not sure. The leper had to be inspected by a priest and be declared clean before Jesus’ miracle could be authenticated. The HSCB translation notes that Jesus performed many of his miracles through touch but he certainly had the power to heal by command and a great distance from the sufferer. Touching the leper was an expression of deep compassion since doing so put Jesus at great risk.

All of this leads me to ask, how can I ask to be made clean? I’ve prayed fervently for healing over the years. All three of our children have faced significant health challenges. But maybe, I’ve placed my focus on the wrong outcome. Perhaps by boldly asking for Jesus to reach out and touch our broken lives, we can be made clean. What are the sins in my life that need to be wiped away? How can I accept my ragged edges, my incomplete spiritual self and become content with the slow process of being made clean? Our Psalm today echo’s the idea of God’s goodness in our waywardness,

“I remove the burden from their shoulders; their hands were set free from the basket. In your distress, you called and I rescued you, I answered you out of a thundercloud.” Psalm 81: 6-7

 He answers us out of our thunderclouds. He can wipe us clean and in doing so, heal not only our physical wounds but our hearts as well. Boldly ask Him and as His word says, He will answer.

 

Rules of the Game

Today’s reading:  Matthew 7, Psalm 80

Last September, I told you about my workgroup engaging in the Gallup organization’s Strengthsfinder 2.0 exercise. Remember how I told you I didn’t like team building exercises because I’m always afraid the leader is going to make me hug my co-workers, hold hands or do something else I don’t want to do?  A whole year later, I want to be sure you know I have not changed.  I still hate these exercises.  I do, however, recognize their value.  That’s why I keep coming back to them.  Understanding why I am the way I am, and why I tend to do the things I do, helps me appropriately adapt to a variety of situations.

In Strengthsfinder 2.0 one of my top 5 themes was competition. I am energized by it.  Not really for the joy of competing, but because competitions produce a winner and a loser.  Understanding the rules of the game drives me to plot, plan and strategize on how I can win.

Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5-7 are referred to as “The Sermon on the Mount”.   This sermon, which he delivered early in his ministry, is arguable the most complete teaching Jesus gave on what it takes to follow him.  These are the rules of the game, they tell us how we can win.  This sermon covers various subjects – our attitudes, our responsibility to influence, murder, adultery, divorce, giving, prayer, worry and judging others – just to name a few. These are all ingredients in the overall recipe of what it takes to be a true Christfollower.  As we wrap up Chapter 7 today, I want to focus on verses 21-23.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

This sounds pretty harsh. Jesus had just devoted an entire sermon to describe how he expected Christfollowers to act in a variety of situations.  But he wanted to make sure they didn’t miss the main point.  People who called themselves Christfollowers and who were following all his rules, but didn’t have a relationship with him, were still lost.  The same is true for us – it isn’t enough for us to just talk about Jesus.  It isn’t enough for us to go to church.  It even isn’t enough for us to serve others in his name.  Jesus wants to be in relationship with us.  This is the most important rule.  In order to win this game, there is no other substitute.