Luke 12:15 (New King James Version)
15 And He said to them, “... one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
I'm worn out with all the "stuff" that we claim doesn't define us, but deep down does. Because the hard heavenly reality (bi-polar opposite to the earth’s reality) is that the "stuff" doesn't even matter one bit, and if we say we believe in Jesus Christ, love Him and follow after Him, then we simply can't live like it does. It's not even a gray area; it's fact, and getting this truth to sink into our thick heads is extremely difficult for some of us in this superficial world we find ourselves consumed in at the moment. It doesn't matter how much we say we don't, we size up people and ourselves by what we have, how much money is in the bank/investments, and the things we claim to own.
When you get down about how much you don't have, insecure about how you see your life and ventures panning out, or when you don't think God loves you as much as your friend at church with all the cool, expensive stuff, get your face in the Word and read what Jesus taught about life and love and possessions. He says, don't worry about things -you will be taken care of. He says don't let the things you own define you and make you think you're better than anyone else. He says, this earth is not our home - we are just passing through. He says, don’t hold on tightly - all the "stuff" will turn to dust and fade away anyway. He says, that money and things come and go - seek those things that are eternal (the things that will remain long after we are gone). He says getting obsessed with money is where all evil begins (yuck). All evil is started with obsessing over money. And since money equals power in this world, maybe there is a part of us that loves the power that stuff and money bring? That, however, brings us to a whole other bunch of issues for later…
The thing is, hold on to your earthly possessions with an open hand. Don't let them be the gage with which you judge how your life is panning out and how cool and successful others are. Having lots of stuff (and finding out how much others have) is not the way to help you feel good about your life and your walk with God - it's just not.
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
209
Luke 2:12-16 (nkjv)
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
They came with haste. With haste. They were in a rush to bring to Him something of themselves, their worship and their praise. I am somewhat of a late/rushed person and I know the sense that comes when I'm in a very excited hurry to see someone I love. Especially when I'm going to pick someone up from the airport whom I haven't seen in a while. Yes, maybe think of it like that. Picking up the person you've been waiting for your whole life from the airport. The thought moves me to tears. They rushed to get to Jesus, their messiah. Then they fell on their knees and worshiped. If they were anything like me, maybe they were crying....
Maybe the only thing to feel rushed and urgent about this December is the act of bringing to Jesus your heart, your time and your worship. Take time to worship him by serving people (christmas cookies, babysit, presents, cup of coffee, phone call, text, visit lonely people...), sing praises to Him at a church service, tell Him you're thankful He was born as you clean your house, sit with His word for a few minutes amidst the hustle and bustle around you... maybe some things like that. Nothing else really matters.
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And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
They came with haste. With haste. They were in a rush to bring to Him something of themselves, their worship and their praise. I am somewhat of a late/rushed person and I know the sense that comes when I'm in a very excited hurry to see someone I love. Especially when I'm going to pick someone up from the airport whom I haven't seen in a while. Yes, maybe think of it like that. Picking up the person you've been waiting for your whole life from the airport. The thought moves me to tears. They rushed to get to Jesus, their messiah. Then they fell on their knees and worshiped. If they were anything like me, maybe they were crying....
Maybe the only thing to feel rushed and urgent about this December is the act of bringing to Jesus your heart, your time and your worship. Take time to worship him by serving people (christmas cookies, babysit, presents, cup of coffee, phone call, text, visit lonely people...), sing praises to Him at a church service, tell Him you're thankful He was born as you clean your house, sit with His word for a few minutes amidst the hustle and bustle around you... maybe some things like that. Nothing else really matters.
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Tuesday, December 14, 2010
208
Proverbs 11:24 (The Message)
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."
This verse pretty much speaks beautifully for itself. There is a big big big life for each one of us to lead. There are magnificent things for you to do, dreams to live, and an awesome person to be. The Bible tells us how to live and how to make it as big as we want. I know the generous ones and (unfortunately) know the stingy as well. And it's not so much that being stingy is being bad people, it's like looking at life and living it through a teeny tiny peep hole. The stingy person squeezes stuff in and out of the teeny tiny peep hole, allowing very little through. And worst of all, love people through the teeny tiny peep hole, and in the end, the peep hole is so small they lose out on the best things in life.
Don't be a stingy loser; open up your front door and let people in and let people out. Give people things through the front door, let people come and sit in your home, feed them, make them laugh, give of your self out of who you are and from what you have (and maybe even, sometimes, from what you don't have). Your home and life will be huge with all the space you have opened up to the world.
It's about making generosity a part of your insides - a part of who you are: your speech, your money, your talents, your home. Tell your friend how beautiful they look, tell them how well they do their job, bring them coffee, and if you're a little worried that you don't know when to put up boundaries, while you're figuring it out, think about erring on the side of too generous.
Become this person and watch your life open up. The doors of opportunity and favor will fly open and your life will enlarge! Have a "big" day.
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"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller."
This verse pretty much speaks beautifully for itself. There is a big big big life for each one of us to lead. There are magnificent things for you to do, dreams to live, and an awesome person to be. The Bible tells us how to live and how to make it as big as we want. I know the generous ones and (unfortunately) know the stingy as well. And it's not so much that being stingy is being bad people, it's like looking at life and living it through a teeny tiny peep hole. The stingy person squeezes stuff in and out of the teeny tiny peep hole, allowing very little through. And worst of all, love people through the teeny tiny peep hole, and in the end, the peep hole is so small they lose out on the best things in life.
Don't be a stingy loser; open up your front door and let people in and let people out. Give people things through the front door, let people come and sit in your home, feed them, make them laugh, give of your self out of who you are and from what you have (and maybe even, sometimes, from what you don't have). Your home and life will be huge with all the space you have opened up to the world.
It's about making generosity a part of your insides - a part of who you are: your speech, your money, your talents, your home. Tell your friend how beautiful they look, tell them how well they do their job, bring them coffee, and if you're a little worried that you don't know when to put up boundaries, while you're figuring it out, think about erring on the side of too generous.
Become this person and watch your life open up. The doors of opportunity and favor will fly open and your life will enlarge! Have a "big" day.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
207
Acts 17:28 (nkjv)
"For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring."
Insecurity. It's an ugly beast whose presence invades and dominates our world and society, breaking people all over the place. My best friend and I were on a little road trip a few weeks ago, and as we were talking about life and the world and solving everyone's problems (just kidding) we began to realize how many different ways in which stupid and evil insecurity manifests itself in people's lives. It's unbelievable. Look at the insecure person who sits scared, shy and coy in the corner of a room full of people scared to make a peep because the fear of people grips their precious minds and souls. Watch with embarrassment the loud mouth who dominates and monopolizes every conversation they are a part of because they want to be noticed, heard and understood. Have you experienced when someone who loves you goes over the top not wanting to put you out or put pressure on you, and it ends up feeling like they don't want you around, except they really do...?
I think Jesus is the coolest cat who ever walked around because He was secure in who He was - He was a child of His father in Heaven, and that is the way we can be exactly like Him. Whether it's you or the other person in the room, try to spot the insecure person and have compassion on them. They can't help it, they've been broken by someone or something, and that is all they know. You could even go one step further and pray for them and love them - show/introduce to them the Jesus who was secure, confident and when things got rough and maybe He forgot who He was for the moment, ran straight to His Father to get back His identity and worth. He knew that if no one around Him understood Him and loved Him, one certain Father did.
People are insecure, that's why they can be quiet, loud, shy, obnoxious, annoying and endearing. Instead of judgment, try to put a little bit of them back together.
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"For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring."
Insecurity. It's an ugly beast whose presence invades and dominates our world and society, breaking people all over the place. My best friend and I were on a little road trip a few weeks ago, and as we were talking about life and the world and solving everyone's problems (just kidding) we began to realize how many different ways in which stupid and evil insecurity manifests itself in people's lives. It's unbelievable. Look at the insecure person who sits scared, shy and coy in the corner of a room full of people scared to make a peep because the fear of people grips their precious minds and souls. Watch with embarrassment the loud mouth who dominates and monopolizes every conversation they are a part of because they want to be noticed, heard and understood. Have you experienced when someone who loves you goes over the top not wanting to put you out or put pressure on you, and it ends up feeling like they don't want you around, except they really do...?
I think Jesus is the coolest cat who ever walked around because He was secure in who He was - He was a child of His father in Heaven, and that is the way we can be exactly like Him. Whether it's you or the other person in the room, try to spot the insecure person and have compassion on them. They can't help it, they've been broken by someone or something, and that is all they know. You could even go one step further and pray for them and love them - show/introduce to them the Jesus who was secure, confident and when things got rough and maybe He forgot who He was for the moment, ran straight to His Father to get back His identity and worth. He knew that if no one around Him understood Him and loved Him, one certain Father did.
People are insecure, that's why they can be quiet, loud, shy, obnoxious, annoying and endearing. Instead of judgment, try to put a little bit of them back together.
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
206
1 John 4:19 (The Message)
"We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first."
Loving the world is one thing, but loving the people we call friends is definitely something we must continually work on, too. We must try to learn new ways to love people and show the love through every and any opportunity that comes our way. Some days, love is in the air and showing the people we love they are special and that we couldn't live without them, is the easiest thing in the world. Other days even loving the people we love the most doesn't come naturally at all. Either way, we are called to love not just the downcast and the ugly, but love the ones that we call friends and best friends.
It's really good to learn how to love people well. We love because we have first been loved. Go out of your way for your friends. Tell them they are wonderful, talented, gifted and awesome. Make them look good, make them look better than you around others, and let them feel like there is no one else in the world besides them. Buy them coffees, raise your glass to them around the dinner table, go above and beyond for their birthdays, make the things that are important to them just as important to you as well. Your life will be enriched and the simple things about friendship will take on a beautiful brand new meaning. When you give of yourself to those you love, you will be happier. And if you have a hard time doing this (making your friends feel loved, look better than you, have the stuff that you want, happy and praying for their success in life) and making it not always about you, then you're insecure and seeing the world from your broken place.
And that is another issue.
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"We, though, are going to love — love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first."
Loving the world is one thing, but loving the people we call friends is definitely something we must continually work on, too. We must try to learn new ways to love people and show the love through every and any opportunity that comes our way. Some days, love is in the air and showing the people we love they are special and that we couldn't live without them, is the easiest thing in the world. Other days even loving the people we love the most doesn't come naturally at all. Either way, we are called to love not just the downcast and the ugly, but love the ones that we call friends and best friends.
It's really good to learn how to love people well. We love because we have first been loved. Go out of your way for your friends. Tell them they are wonderful, talented, gifted and awesome. Make them look good, make them look better than you around others, and let them feel like there is no one else in the world besides them. Buy them coffees, raise your glass to them around the dinner table, go above and beyond for their birthdays, make the things that are important to them just as important to you as well. Your life will be enriched and the simple things about friendship will take on a beautiful brand new meaning. When you give of yourself to those you love, you will be happier. And if you have a hard time doing this (making your friends feel loved, look better than you, have the stuff that you want, happy and praying for their success in life) and making it not always about you, then you're insecure and seeing the world from your broken place.
And that is another issue.
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Thursday, December 2, 2010
205
Joshua 6: 20
So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
It is with gigantic amounts of awe and astonishment that I read through the sixth chapter of Joshua. What a guy, what a book. What faith. It's breathtaking to witness the amount of faith with which Joshua leads these people into Jericho, part of their promised land which has been shut up and kept from them. I close my eyes and imagine myself walking around a city for six days in silence. I imagine the almighty roar from all of us (me and my crazy friends) on that final day as we scream out, utterly desperate for the miracle, believing that somehow things will change and we won't be shut out from our promised land anymore.
And I want a piece of it. I want the walls that surround my promised land to come crashing down.
What does the silence mean? What does the shouting mean? It's kind of aggressive. Actually, the whole "taking of the city" is aggressive. Maybe the marching in silence is the slow and steady "wait" in which we find ourselves. The doing of whatever it takes to get to where you know you need to be. And then there is the release. Maybe it's when you're so fired up, so angry and desperate at the situation you're in that enough is finally enough. Maybe we need more aggression in our faith. Maybe we need to get so fed up with the way things are that after the waiting and marching and waiting and marching around the place of promise, all of a sudden it ends and the desperation for all we have been promised is fulfilled. We scream out to the heavens for change. Maybe then the walls will come tumbling down and we can rightly take what is ours.
Maybe that's what it takes. Maybe in our family, our church, our broken heart, our finances, our minds, that's what it takes. Don't give up on your promised land. She is waiting for you to take her.
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So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
It is with gigantic amounts of awe and astonishment that I read through the sixth chapter of Joshua. What a guy, what a book. What faith. It's breathtaking to witness the amount of faith with which Joshua leads these people into Jericho, part of their promised land which has been shut up and kept from them. I close my eyes and imagine myself walking around a city for six days in silence. I imagine the almighty roar from all of us (me and my crazy friends) on that final day as we scream out, utterly desperate for the miracle, believing that somehow things will change and we won't be shut out from our promised land anymore.
And I want a piece of it. I want the walls that surround my promised land to come crashing down.
What does the silence mean? What does the shouting mean? It's kind of aggressive. Actually, the whole "taking of the city" is aggressive. Maybe the marching in silence is the slow and steady "wait" in which we find ourselves. The doing of whatever it takes to get to where you know you need to be. And then there is the release. Maybe it's when you're so fired up, so angry and desperate at the situation you're in that enough is finally enough. Maybe we need more aggression in our faith. Maybe we need to get so fed up with the way things are that after the waiting and marching and waiting and marching around the place of promise, all of a sudden it ends and the desperation for all we have been promised is fulfilled. We scream out to the heavens for change. Maybe then the walls will come tumbling down and we can rightly take what is ours.
Maybe that's what it takes. Maybe in our family, our church, our broken heart, our finances, our minds, that's what it takes. Don't give up on your promised land. She is waiting for you to take her.
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