Daily Thoughts

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Who Did He Say He Was

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". . . Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! " – Mark 6:2b

How have we changed in 2000 years?

There are still many among us that cannot accept the divinity of Jesus Christ, for one reason or another. There are even those of us that recognize Him as God’s only Son that truly don’t give Him the authority over our life. Some say it takes faith to accept that Jesus Christ walked the earth as God incarnate, but I believe it is bigger than faith. It is humility and the willingness to give up control that draws us closer to the realization that He is indeed one with God and walked amongst us.

We could all ask, “Where do our gifts and wisdom come from?” Certainly, we have all been born with inherent skills, talents and gifts. Our ability to learn and grow in wisdom also comes from an inherent appetite for knowledge. Jesus was born of Mary, a woman who was highly favored (Luke 1:28) in the Lord’s eyes. But He was not conceived of mankind, He was conceived by the Holy Spirit of God Almighty. The DNA and the bloodline were perfect in creation which separated Him from every other person on the earth all the way back to Adam. Therefore the gifts, skills, talents and abilities He inherited from the Father were made visible to those who gathered to hear Him speak.

They had been waiting for the Messiah, but this man was a carpenter’s son, a boy who grew up in their very presence. You can imagine the surprise and disbelief that must have been present on that day. Their expectation for Messiah was for a King to break the bonds of captivity and injustice pushed down upon the Israelites from the Roman government. What they didn’t expect was a Messiah rising up from humble surroundings and modest lineage.

This is still the problem today. People cannot wrap their head around the fact that God, in human form, walked amongst His people and outlined the path to salvation which required giving up everything to follow Him. How many of us continue to cling to those things in life which we know are temporary and prevent us from truly serving the One who called us? I dare say most of us fit that definition when we truthfully look at our life. I know I do. Thank God for His patience, love and understanding of our human weakness. Thank God for His grace and mercy despite our transgressions and selfishness.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Take a Breath

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" When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. " – Mark 5:6

When things aren’t going well and my patience is at the end, there are times when, without warning, I lose it. Often times the impact of my outburst will leave a scar on the mind and memory of my wife and children, to be carried with them for the rest of their lives. Most of the time I can’t, for the life of me, figure out what triggers the tirade, but guilt and shame reside long after the event. Maybe it’s just me, but I think we all struggle at times with the emotions that are bottled up inside and the increasing pressure from an accelerated pace of life and unmet expectations. Have you ever considered that we are the image of Christ to those around us. Somewhere, down inside, we must find the strength and courage to draw upon His love and patience when ours is running thin.
“Peace must persist through the lack of patience that ensues when the pressure of life has reached it’s tipping point.”

Often times the pride that builds up inside of us will justify the emotions that we express in moments of anger. This is when we must be willing to stop and look to the life of Jesus Christ as our benchmark on how to deal with adversity. Falling on our knees before Him, figuratively speaking of course, and laying our pride aside will change our outlook on situations in life. He is the Son of God Almighty and knows the inner working of our heart and mind. When we draw close to Him we become filled with His love and peace, our patience is strengthened and our outward expressions become more in line with His presence in our life.

Accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life never guaranteed you to have a stress free, peaceful and problem free life. Many believe that all their problems go away the moment they walk to the alter. It doesn’t work that way. What you do receive is the Holy Spirit to guide you, to help you along the path of life and to give you the strength to endure through life’s struggles. So the next time you feel you are at the tipping point and you’ve lost your patience, stop, seek His face and let His love come from your reaction. I know this has become my goal, let it be yours also.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

He Loves Me More

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"He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. " – Mark 4:39

The moon was high in the Eastern sky as the sounds of a busy day began to soften. Sure, there were still the general sounds from the busy street, but the 10 foot high seawall dampened most of those. It was a warm night despite the lateness in the Summer, maybe there was something to be said of global warming. Looking out over the darkness, I could see the lights in the distance of the ferry boats and cargo ships, using the lights upon the land as a beacon en route to their destination. The two of us sat there on the quiet beach, isolated; as if we were the only two individuals left on this incredible earth. Then the wave hit, and our toes were suddenly covered. Before we had the chance to rise from the sand a second larger wave rolled up onto the beach and we were knee deep in the foamy surf. Have you ever tried to run through rolling waves at night, it’s easier said than done.

As the waves got bigger and bigger we moved closer and closer to the seawall, until finally we had actually left the sand all together and were standing on the deck looking down at a disappearing beach. Water now covered the 40 to 50 feet of beach property we were enjoying not 5 minutes prior. I had watched the tides roll in before, but this was different, and to be honest, we were very concerned. As we made our way back to the hotel we immediately realized we weren’t alone at all. Everywhere the people were out and about removing paintings from the walls, and tying down the furniture along the pool decks. In the lobby of the hotel were warning signs, complete with evacuation routes and strong suggestions to stay in our room. Hurricane Henriette was expected to come ashore the following morning.

There is nothing like a hurricane or a tornado or an earthquake to make you stop and realize that we are powerless against the natural elements of this world. The scriptures tell us that Jesus stood up in the boat and rebuked the wind, the disciples had to have been astonished. Imagine, if you were in a hurricane or tornado, and suddenly the man standing next to you raised his arms and told the wind to stop; and it did! Immediately, you would know that there was something special about this man.

God created the heavens and earth and everything in it. The wind, the sea and every grain of sand on every shore around this amazing earth were created by His very breath. No other has ever known the formula to stop an earthquake, tsunami or hurricane except the One who created them. We take it all for granted as we walk along the beach and look out over the ocean. We rarely stop and take in the awesomeness of God’s creation. Pause a moment today and praise Him for His majesty and His power and realize that with all of this authority, He loves you more than anything else on earth.

Monday, February 6, 2012

You Must Choose

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"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." – 1 Peter 4:10

As the darkness rolled over the streets, the chill in the air left nothing to the imagination of those who did not make it into the shelter that night. He had been here before, he knew once the door was closed there was no sense pounding or arguing about it as some were doing that night. One elderly lady was using her cane to pound on the door, while screaming that it wasn’t fare. She just happened to be the very next in line when they announced that they were “full up” for the night. It broke his heart to see her, but he knew if they opened that door there would be a mob pushing to try and get in.

As the line began to disperse, he watched her with curiosity. He had seen her before in the alley behind Kroger, and he knew she had friends in the park, but as the snow began to fall something rang different in her sense of urgency tonight. She would not stop pounding on the door though. Twenty minutes went by, her voice was now hoarse and her spirit weakened, but she kept on. Surprisingly, a light came on and then the door cracked open. The man on the other side held up one finger as if to say only one more person could enter. The elderly woman moved anxiously over to her pile of belongings and pushing things aside, helped a young girl, no more than eight years old stand up from the pile of plastic bags. Hurrying back to the door she guided the young girl into the narrow opening between the doors. The man behind the door was caught by surprise as were many of us in the street that night. The elderly woman backed away and began picking up her belongings as the door closed and the light was turned off. The next morning the woman’s stiff body was found covered in snow behind a dumpster in back of Kroger.

We find God’s love each and every day, not in a book, not in an email, not on Facebook or in the news. We find His love in the hearts, hands and expressions of those around you. Quit asking what you can do to help others, and just do something. I promise, the littlest act of kindness, generosity and love you share with another can change a person’s entire life. We all have choices to make every day – to be His hands and feet or to hope that someone else is. Which will you do today?

Friday, February 3, 2012

Let There Be Peace on Earth

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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.. " - Matthew 5:9

A son of any man in those days carried forth the legacy of the family. The wisdom passed on from generation to generation from the father's teaching would establish the strength in which the son would live out his life. It was expected that the son would follow in his father's footsteps with respect to their trade or craft. So here we find Jesus, the son of Joseph the carpenter, sitting upon a hill telling those who would listen what it takes to be a son of God. Where are his credentials, what gives him the audacity to claim this knowledge and talk about it in public. Some were amazed at his wisdom. He spoke of things they had never heard before. None of his teachings were in the old text's, yet he spoke as if they were common knowledge for all. He spoke of the meek, the pure, hungry, merciful and now peacemakers? He couldn't be the coming King - the Messiah - for these characteristics are very counter intuitive to their expectations.

In hindsight of course we know that He indeed was a son of God, so who better to lay out the requirements and characteristics. But, what does it mean to be a peacemaker? Someone who is living in, breathing and creating a peaceful existence for themselves and those around them. Of all of the people in the world today and those that have walked the earth for the last few thousands years, they have always been seeking peace. Wars, violence and death have been the formidable foe since the early days recorded in Genesis, right up through the angry mobs in Jerusalem screaming, "Crucify Him~ Crucify Him." Man has sought peace from these acts of war and violence throughout history. Similarly, man has sought and waited upon God throughout history. Here we find Peace and "...called sons of God." lumped together. This one verse has likely became a staple in cultures, believers and non-believers alike. This leads to the real question, "Are we seeking peace from society, the world, or our own inner struggles?"

Jesus Christ walked the earth for 32 years and ministered for just over 2 years. In that 2 year period He took men and women and taught them very intimately how to become followers and apostles of the one true God. With first hand guidance and experience He showered them with love and peace, such that they in turn would carry forward after His death and resurrection these traits. Just like you and I have learned by following our parents throughout our life, the intimacy between this group of disciples over that 2 years would have seemed like a lifetime to most. They learned and carried forward his teachings, and it has continued through to this very day where nearly every person in the world would agree that we need to discover peace in the world. Just as Jesus showed them how in those days; we need to walk, and breath in His commandments today such that it becomes blatantly evidenced to whom we belong. The evidence will be such that others will see God through you as you follow this man - Jesus Christ.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Seeking Purity

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"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. " - Matthew 5:8

The day had drawn long and she was still not responding. Family had gathered and waited impatiently for the news, but as the minute hand continued another cycle, around the face of the clock on the wall, the concern and worry could not be avoided. It is so easy to speculate on a situation when the facts are unknown and the last time anyone had come through those doors with a progress statement was 3 hours earlier. We often jump to the worse case scenario in those circumstances and then the thought gets rooted in our mind and before long we become convinced that it is indeed the truth.

Only 26 hours earlier they had been walking hand in hand in the furniture store, picking out the last minute items to make the nursery perfect. She collapsed right near the rocking chairs and hit her head on the corner of the chair frame. The incident and trauma caused her water to break as the emergency crew transported her to the hospital. Her contractions were irregular and not strong at all. She had lost a lot of blood from the head wound, so a C-section was not a possibility. The monitors tracking the baby’s vital statistics read normally which was the only promising news, but the doctors were concerned, that without progress the baby would also be at risk.

What must be on the mind of the unborn child? For 40 weeks God had formed her arms, legs, ribs, spine, toes, fingers, nose, eyes, brain, skeleton, organs, flesh and heart to work together in perfect unison. The baby had been in a complete state of one with God the Creator, fellowshipping and basking in the glory of His radiance. There is no point in the life of this child where she will be closer to God than this very moment, only minutes before her birth. The purity in her heart will forever be impacted once the Doctor spanks her bottom and she takes her first breath. For the remainder of her life, she will long for this very moment of fellowship with God and His righteousness. Her life will be spent trying to fill that void in a variety of ways, only to fall short in every attempt to recreate the closeness, the oneness with the Creator. Of course she doesn’t realize this as she rests peacefully in her mother’s womb.

Then the euphoria and glory of being with the Father begins to fade, as she feels the pressure constricting around her small frame. Her body is being pushed slowly farther and farther from His loving embrace. With an intensity she has never before experienced she feels a final push press down upon her body and the miracle of birth has taken place. Immediately her mind is bombarded with new images, sounds, smells and feelings. The air fills her lungs as she takes her first breath and her vocal cords stretch as she lets out a piercing cry. Fears overwhelm her mind and begin making impressions upon her heart that will never be erased. As the doctor wraps her body and raises her to the outstretched arms of her mother she is calmed once again. Laying upon her mommy’s chest, the newborn babe for the first time feels the familiar rhythm of her mother’s heartbeat.

The purest heart in the world is that of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Next to Him, I propose to you is the heart of the unborn child just before he or she is born. Reaching that state of oneness with God the Creator and Father is the hidden desire of every man, woman and child walking the face of this earth today. Some have acknowledged it, some have not – but regardless of our ability to see it for what it is, it exists none the less. Through a relationship with Jesus Christ we are brought as close as humanly possible to that state of being once again. Learning and growing in this relationship allows each of us the opportunity to experience brief instances of purity in our heart and soul. It will not be until we have abandoned this flesh though until we are once again pure of heart and mind and able to stand before God Almighty. Oh what a glorious day that will be, and in that moment the reunion will draw a closure to our quest for oneness with the Father.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Lord, Have Mercy

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"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. " - Matthew 5:7

Showing mercy takes love, courage and compassion. Being able to completely forgive someone for what they have done and remove the guilt and anguish that is so often associated with unrighteousness requires mercy. I think you will agree that it is difficult. I have seen mercy, in legal terms, described as receiving an acquittal even though you yourself confessed and testified of your own guilt and the jury have found you guilty without a doubt. Can you picture in your mind a time when mercy has been shown to you? Likewise can you picture a time in which you were able to demonstrate a heart of mercy to someone else? Many people find it hard to demonstrate mercy in a world where an eye for an eye is the norm.

As Jesus portrays the image of righteousness for those present on that hill in Capernaum, He paints a picture of God's love and forgiveness. Through God's mercy our sins are forgiven and likewise we should strive to forgive others. We see additional references of this in the book of Luke, the 6th chapter and 36th verse, "Therefore be merciful, even as your Father is also merciful." This representation of God's love for His children is manifested throughout the scriptures, both in the Old Testament and the New. We are endowed with His blessing when we are able and willing to be merciful to others. This blessing though is caught up in the realization of God's mercy in our own life.

You see, we all need God's mercy in our life. The redemption of our sins is required to enter into eternal glory with Him in heaven. But it doesn't stop there. Even though God's mercy washes away the guilt and shame of the sin, the very nature of our humanity is to sin again, and we will. It is God's grace that provides us with salvation. We don't deserve it, it is provided without warrant and there is nothing we can do to earn it. It is truly a gift without merit because God so desires for your presence in heaven with Him rather than seeing you condemned to the lake of fire for all of eternity. Grace and mercy go hand in hand. Grace, through Jesus Christ, is God's plan of salvation while mercy is His forgiving compassion for our transgressions.

I had a mother share with me this example of the difference. If Charlie threw a ball through the window, and his Dad forgave him with no punishment. That is mercy. If his Dad went one step farther and took Charlie out for ice cream afterwards, that is grace. Live as one with a heart of mercy and watch how God uses that love and compassion to mold you more into the likeness of His Son.