April 30, 2017

Matthew 17:   27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

The officials want to know why Jesus doesn't pay the temple tax. So he does, but he does it his own way.

 This is a story I don't recall hearing anyone preach about. It's really as much a miracle as others we know about. Poor Jesus. He has to deal with ignorant people all the time. He has a lot on his mind anyway as he prepares for his death. 

Prayer:  Lord, I am so sorry that we are so sinful. I pray for the strength to step away from my sinful inclination and towards love. Guide my steps. 
Amen. 

April 29, 2017

Psalm 139:  14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

David is full of praise for God and curses for his enemies. For 18 verses he is wonderfully poetic about God, then he slams his enemies for 5 verses before 2 really tight closing verses. The main message, from the first part, is about the unique and rich relationship between God and himself. It's awesome to see him acknowledge his strengths and then to say that is because God made him that way. 

I want to feel that relationship that David and God shared. God knows me like no one else ever could, and he loves and wants the best for me. It's such a blessing to have a relationship with your Creator. 

Prayer:  You are a mighty God, and You made me in Your likeness, as a creation. I offer praises for You, for all You have done for me and for all Your people. 

Amen

April 24, 2017

1 Samuel 28:  15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”

Saul is going to fight the Philistines. He has been out pouch with God, and no one can assure him that God will be with him. So he finds a medium in Endor, and he goes to her in disguise. She is able to contact Samuel,echo tells Saul that he will lose and his son's will die. 

I am fascinated by the medium. This story tells me that people can contact the dead, but Samuel sure isn't happy about being contacted. This comes after I realized that it was 2 years ago today that my mother and I traveled to her brother's memorial service. I lost her a few months later. They are with the angels now, and that is as it should be. We should not disturb them, but we will see them again when the time is right. 

Prayer:  Lord, I am reassured that my loved ones rest with You. I know that someday I'll be there too. Thanks for the gift of Faith. I pray for those who lack Faith. Help me to see how to guide others to You. 
Amen

April 23, 2017

Matthew 10:  8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a]drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Jesus sends out the disciples. He offers lots of advice about the dangers and hardships they will face. He tells them what they should do. He explains how their gift of faith will spread. 

I immediately began singing the words to the song "Freely, Freely."  They are ringing in my head. It's been a week since Easter, and we should still be thinking about the gifts we have received by faith. There are so many, and we are never properly grateful. 

Prayer:  Lord, thanks for all You do for Your people. We aren't properly grateful, and You forgive us every day. Your love and goodness is beyond our comprehension. Praise be to God. 
Amen

April 17, 2017

1 Samuel 19:  5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason? "

Jonathan speaks to his dad about David. Jonathan likes David, and he cannot understand why his dad is so threatened by him. It's tough to see your own father with such flaws in character. 

Yesterday was Easter. It's easy to see Jonathan's question asked about the crucifixion. Jesus was innocent of any wrongdoing. He had been doing the Lord's work, and others were threatened by his closeness to his Father. 

Prayer:  Lord, help me to see Your people doing Your work in the same way You do. Don't let my sinful self be a stumbling block to Your will. Guide me. 
Amen

April 13, 2017

1 Samuel 14:  29 Jonathan said, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. "

Jonathan was not pleased that his dad was delaying the attack on Philistine army. He and his armor bearer went over to attack. While they were gone, Saul made an order that no one should eat all day. Jonathan ate honey from the ground. Everyone was horrified and told him why. This is his response. 

Jonathan begins to realize that the King isn't always right. This is the necessary beginning to the conflict between Saul and David. Jonathan is able to take David's side, the I
Lord's side, after this. We, too, should question human authority when it doesn't seem to be the right thing to follow. 

Prayer:  Lord, I will follow You. I will question everything else. If someone has a plan which opposes Your truth, I will stand up for You. It isn't an easy path, but I promise to follow only You. 
Amen

April 8, 2017

1 Samuel 4:  20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, “Don’t despair; you have given birth to a son.” But she did not respond or pay any attention.

It's a sad ending for Eli. He served the Lord for 40 years, but he was a bad, indulgent parent who stood by as his sons blasphemed God. And now, he has been punished. His sons have been killed in the battle which also lost the Ark of God. When he heard about the Ark, he fell over and died too. Now his daughter-in-law is dying in childbirth, and even her great triumph in producing a son has no meaning for her. 

We don't know much about Ichabod, born in such sad circumstances. He lived and his brother was later mentioned, named by the connection to his sibling, rather than as a son of Phineas. That makes scholars think he must have been well known at the time. I'm sad for Ichabod, and for all the other motherless children, tarnished by the sins of their ancestors. It makes me think about oppressed people today. And it makes me consider how adults affect their offspring through their own weakness. 

Prayer:  Lord, guide me to represent You well. It's both the long-term and short-term effects of my actions that I ask you to make me aware of. Help me to overcome my weakness. I need Your strength and insight. 
Amen

April 6, 2017

Psalm 65:  9
You care for the land and water it;(R)
    you enrich it abundantly.(S)
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,(T)
    for so you have ordained it

This Psalm of David is full of imagery about the Earth.  He talks about the seas and the mountains.  He talks about morning and evening.  He talks about the seasons and the bounty of the Earth. And all that bounty is tied to the water.

I am thinking about our new President and his lack of concern about our water.  He says it's all about jobs, and that we need to make it easier for employers to hire people by eliminating protections over the streams.  I think he's wrong, and I am vindicated by this Psalm.  David was God's boy, and he surely knew the importance of water to our well-being.

Prayer:  Lord, I am concerned about Your planet.  Please guide our leaders to protect Your creation.  

Amen

April 4, 2017

2 Corinthians 4:  4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 

Paul talks about how rough it is for the Christians of his day. He says that the light of Christ must shine out of our "jars of clay."  We persevere, even though the secular world doesn't see what we do. 

It's another hard time to be a Christian, when hypocrites step up and bend Scripture to suit their motives. If you want to follow the path Christ left, you are mocked by unbelievers and horrified by the people who represent themselves as your brothers and sisters in Christ. I am thinking about"the God of this age."  

Prayer:  Lord, I am struggling. I want to be a positive force for You in this troubled world. Guide my steps to reflect what Your will for me is. 
Amen