Psalm 121: 1-2
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth."
I love the peace we have in our Lord Jesus. He made it all, the magnificence of the earth, and the hope of a home that we know is real but cannot yet see, heaven. He made it all - the hills, the mountains and the heavens - and He is our help. The imagery of this verse of psalm offers a beautiful sense of peace and confidence. We are reminded to lift up our eyes in hope, to look above the situations that seem to be staring us directly in the eyes. Because sometimes things at eye level get scary, messy and sad. We must look up. We must raise our eyes above what we see and focus our gaze on the mountains, not as a place to flee the calamity around us, but to behold the creative maker of those huge, strong and steady mountains. The "mountains" (the gigantic-far-away-pieces of land that represent something much bigger than ourselves) take our attention from our current situation, and point us to their creator, God, Jesus Christ, who is always there, and even more constant and steady than the hills He created.
So when life has positioned you in a messy and heartbreaking situation, look up, focus your energy on Jesus, and remember that He is near. Get in the habit of asking Him for help. Amen.
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
170
Philippians 4:6 (New King James Version)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
I can't talk you into having peace. That's silly. We're all too high strung, and living at too high of stress levels on an daily basis to be talked into feeling peaceful, especially when certain situations in life give you every reason to be an utter mess. You may disagree with me about the constant state of stress thing, but let me break it down for you: a few years ago two planes flew into buildings and destroyed lives in an effort to scare a country/world, my best friend lost his cousin when an oil rig exploded in the sea last spring, we madly lock every door in our house before bed, last year a friend of a friend got shot walking his dog for the twenty bucks in his pocket and is now paralyzed, every month we're all trying to pay our bills and give our families the best lives possible despite our current economic situations, the rich of the rich started jumping out of buildings when the stock market crashed last year and they lost all their money, and I also believe that people are dying of cancer at the highest rate in history and we still don't know why. Then there's just the everyday life/family/health/financial stuff (I'm really not trying to depress you, I do love life and I really do have a point).
And my point is this: things are getting a little too mentally exhausting for us to talk ourselves into feeling okay and hopeful about everything going on around us. The peace we desperately need in order for us to not breakdown mentally, physically and emotionally, must be a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit mixed with thankful and specific prayers to our sweet heavenly Father. It must be an act of our wills and an aggression, if you will, that brings the things heavy on your heart to the Father in thankful prayers.
Things get a little heartbreaking on this earth at times, but life can be, and is, so wonderful when you walk with the peace of Jesus in your heart and mind. When you start feeling anxious, or the fact of the situation you're in gives you every reason to be a hysterical ball of anxiety, get alone with Him (or maybe if you're already lonely, go to a coffee shop with Him so it's not just more silence in your life). Write down the things in your heart, or just tell Him all the things you're going through, and all about the things you need His peace to invade. Be thankful and ask Him some questions. Offer your requests to Him, talk it out, and then wait for His peace. You may just have to believe it before you feel it. Your peace will come.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
I can't talk you into having peace. That's silly. We're all too high strung, and living at too high of stress levels on an daily basis to be talked into feeling peaceful, especially when certain situations in life give you every reason to be an utter mess. You may disagree with me about the constant state of stress thing, but let me break it down for you: a few years ago two planes flew into buildings and destroyed lives in an effort to scare a country/world, my best friend lost his cousin when an oil rig exploded in the sea last spring, we madly lock every door in our house before bed, last year a friend of a friend got shot walking his dog for the twenty bucks in his pocket and is now paralyzed, every month we're all trying to pay our bills and give our families the best lives possible despite our current economic situations, the rich of the rich started jumping out of buildings when the stock market crashed last year and they lost all their money, and I also believe that people are dying of cancer at the highest rate in history and we still don't know why. Then there's just the everyday life/family/health/financial stuff (I'm really not trying to depress you, I do love life and I really do have a point).
And my point is this: things are getting a little too mentally exhausting for us to talk ourselves into feeling okay and hopeful about everything going on around us. The peace we desperately need in order for us to not breakdown mentally, physically and emotionally, must be a supernatural act of the Holy Spirit mixed with thankful and specific prayers to our sweet heavenly Father. It must be an act of our wills and an aggression, if you will, that brings the things heavy on your heart to the Father in thankful prayers.
Things get a little heartbreaking on this earth at times, but life can be, and is, so wonderful when you walk with the peace of Jesus in your heart and mind. When you start feeling anxious, or the fact of the situation you're in gives you every reason to be a hysterical ball of anxiety, get alone with Him (or maybe if you're already lonely, go to a coffee shop with Him so it's not just more silence in your life). Write down the things in your heart, or just tell Him all the things you're going through, and all about the things you need His peace to invade. Be thankful and ask Him some questions. Offer your requests to Him, talk it out, and then wait for His peace. You may just have to believe it before you feel it. Your peace will come.
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Monday, August 9, 2010
169
Colossians 1:15-18 (The Message)
Christ Holds It All Together
"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body."
Firstly, read this magnificent interpretation about 3 or 4 times. You will be dramatically moved as you start to believe the magnitude of who Jesus Christ is for us in our lives and hearts and world. Jesus is our all in all. He is our beautiful saviour and healer and hope and everything and always. We can never (not in one million years) put Him on too high a pedestal, bow too low on the ground, worship too extravagantly with our hearts and voices and bodies, or stand in awe for too many hours and days and years before His glorious being. He is so other, yet He is right here, right now, holding us all together in the grip of His grace and love for us.
Everything about God that we can see and everything that we can't see is made sense of and is found complete because of Him. He makes sense of the nonsense of everyday life, and His death on the cross and resurrection from death completed our yearning and longing for a saviour. When our lives feel meaningless and hopeless and ridiculous and boring, we look at Him and realize that it all started and ends with Him, and we know that we have a reason to get out of bed each day, get dressed, get working and get loving the world. We look into His face and eyes and there we find our purpose and destiny.
Christ Holds It All Together
"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body."
Firstly, read this magnificent interpretation about 3 or 4 times. You will be dramatically moved as you start to believe the magnitude of who Jesus Christ is for us in our lives and hearts and world. Jesus is our all in all. He is our beautiful saviour and healer and hope and everything and always. We can never (not in one million years) put Him on too high a pedestal, bow too low on the ground, worship too extravagantly with our hearts and voices and bodies, or stand in awe for too many hours and days and years before His glorious being. He is so other, yet He is right here, right now, holding us all together in the grip of His grace and love for us.
Everything about God that we can see and everything that we can't see is made sense of and is found complete because of Him. He makes sense of the nonsense of everyday life, and His death on the cross and resurrection from death completed our yearning and longing for a saviour. When our lives feel meaningless and hopeless and ridiculous and boring, we look at Him and realize that it all started and ends with Him, and we know that we have a reason to get out of bed each day, get dressed, get working and get loving the world. We look into His face and eyes and there we find our purpose and destiny.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
168
Genesis 1:1 (new king james)
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
It's true. God is the creator of the world - He made everything you and I see and then the things we don't see. He is the most true and pure artist and designer. And everything that is good and lovely and beautiful on this earth comes from Him and His perfect mind and spirit.
It doesn't matter if you're an artist or a trash man, everything we do in our day to day lives coming forth from us can be inspired by Him. He can give you ideas and inspiration to create things that no one on this earth has ever even thought of. Pause for a moment and think about that. It's more obvious, perhaps, to ask God to inspire you if you're an artist or designer, but God is also very interested in inspiring you for every aspect of your daily life- finding new ways to parent, clean a house, communicate with people, make money, help someone- He is there and He is always on standby ready to show you something new. A life with Jesus as your creative mentor will take you places you only ever dreamed of. Take a creative leap/risk in what you find yourself doing and He will catch you, always.
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"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
It's true. God is the creator of the world - He made everything you and I see and then the things we don't see. He is the most true and pure artist and designer. And everything that is good and lovely and beautiful on this earth comes from Him and His perfect mind and spirit.
It doesn't matter if you're an artist or a trash man, everything we do in our day to day lives coming forth from us can be inspired by Him. He can give you ideas and inspiration to create things that no one on this earth has ever even thought of. Pause for a moment and think about that. It's more obvious, perhaps, to ask God to inspire you if you're an artist or designer, but God is also very interested in inspiring you for every aspect of your daily life- finding new ways to parent, clean a house, communicate with people, make money, help someone- He is there and He is always on standby ready to show you something new. A life with Jesus as your creative mentor will take you places you only ever dreamed of. Take a creative leap/risk in what you find yourself doing and He will catch you, always.
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Thursday, August 5, 2010
167
Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
There will be a voice for you. There will be the peace, comfort and encouragement you need: a teacher, a friend, a companion or a still soft voice inside telling you the way in which you should walk. God is gracious and compassionate and very faithful to you. His concern is you, your heart and your whereabouts. You will not only be guided continually, you will be incredibly encouraged by Him every step of the way. This beautiful verse explains that His presence manifests itself in your decisions. He comes and helps you walk in them and follow through with them. He may give you the nudge you need, or He may give you the energy to keep going when the decisions you thought were right seem to be wrong. But as you step out into your destiny, whatever narrow path you may choose, you will be lead and encouraged in all of your paths as you make Him your finish line.
Set your eyes like flint on Him, and all that He has called you to do. You won't go wrong when you do. And not only that, He will be the still, steady voice of peace in your ear saying, "Go for it!!"
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Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
There will be a voice for you. There will be the peace, comfort and encouragement you need: a teacher, a friend, a companion or a still soft voice inside telling you the way in which you should walk. God is gracious and compassionate and very faithful to you. His concern is you, your heart and your whereabouts. You will not only be guided continually, you will be incredibly encouraged by Him every step of the way. This beautiful verse explains that His presence manifests itself in your decisions. He comes and helps you walk in them and follow through with them. He may give you the nudge you need, or He may give you the energy to keep going when the decisions you thought were right seem to be wrong. But as you step out into your destiny, whatever narrow path you may choose, you will be lead and encouraged in all of your paths as you make Him your finish line.
Set your eyes like flint on Him, and all that He has called you to do. You won't go wrong when you do. And not only that, He will be the still, steady voice of peace in your ear saying, "Go for it!!"
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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
166
Matthew 5: 3 (the message)
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule."
I think the main thing God wants us to get a grip on is dependancy on Him. He wants complete and crazy child-like trust in a God who is the greatest father, friend and king a child could ever want or need.
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule."
I think the main thing God wants us to get a grip on is dependancy on Him. He wants complete and crazy child-like trust in a God who is the greatest father, friend and king a child could ever want or need.
We must get to a point where we are fine with everything imperfect, not in place and not together. And even the control we think we have over our lives is an illusion anyway. Because, in this life, nothing is truly constant; money, status, people and stuff comes and goes. And it's all about asking Him to be the glue that holds your life together.
So when you have nothing left, that's a good thing. It is then that God can really shine in your life. In my own search for dependancy upon God, I have found that by being on my knees in the mornings and begging Him to take my life and do something magnificent with it, I start to see change. I just repeat over and over, "I depend on You. I need you every hour. Every moment..." or something to that effect. And then, throughout my day, when hopelessness and doubt and worry try to grip my mind and heart I just repeat that "I depend on You only Father..." His beautiful sovereign hands cover and grip your life with such a hold that nothing and no one can get you.
So when you have nothing left, that's a good thing. It is then that God can really shine in your life. In my own search for dependancy upon God, I have found that by being on my knees in the mornings and begging Him to take my life and do something magnificent with it, I start to see change. I just repeat over and over, "I depend on You. I need you every hour. Every moment..." or something to that effect. And then, throughout my day, when hopelessness and doubt and worry try to grip my mind and heart I just repeat that "I depend on You only Father..." His beautiful sovereign hands cover and grip your life with such a hold that nothing and no one can get you.
So you may as well go ahead and get to the end of your rope now. It will eventually happen anyway. Let go and let God be who He wants to be in your life. You will be blessed.
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Sunday, August 1, 2010
165
Matthew 5:1-2 (the message)
"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions."
"... the committed, climbed with Him." I get an image of a bunch of guys hiking (or climbing) together. This little opening couple of verses says a lot about relationships and life stuff. Jesus' ministry is building building building, lots of people are wanting a piece of Him, wanting to hear what He has to say, and becoming believers and followers of Him as the Messiah. I can imagine the crowds would have been starting to get a little crazy at times, and maybe it would have taken some initiative to get away, be alone, talk with Him with no one around, and to simply get to know the real Jesus - not just the crowd Jesus (not that I think He was different or inconsistent around different people or anything - what you see is what you get with Jesus - I'm suggesting that a church service with Jesus and being alone with Jesus in your bedroom can be two different experiences with Him. Both wonderful, yet both different, just like being in a crowded room with your best friend is way different than sitting over a coffee with them).
My first thought is that when it comes to Jesus (the most important relationship you will have in your whole life), you will notice the very close ones to Him. You will notice those ones, those beautiful souls who have put their faith in Jesus in front of everything else in their lives. It's such a passion for them that it's kind of like you can see it written all over their faces. Those ones willing to go the extra distance to "climb hills" with Him, beside Him as companions, to be alone with Him, even when it doesn't seem trendy or convenient, or when being seen with Him is not very cool to the world.
And my other thought (much like my first one) is that in life you should find people that will climb the hills with you. When no one is watching and you're a big fat loser, it's those special and truly dedicated people, who are committed to climbing life with you who will be by your side climbing a dumb and tiring hill just to be beside you, and to get to know the real you. And even if you ever only find one person (a friend or parent or spouse or relative or pastor) over the course of your life who will be that special soul, stick with them, and climb all the way Home to heaven together.
So, pray that you will be that companion to Jesus and to others. Selah.
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"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions."
"... the committed, climbed with Him." I get an image of a bunch of guys hiking (or climbing) together. This little opening couple of verses says a lot about relationships and life stuff. Jesus' ministry is building building building, lots of people are wanting a piece of Him, wanting to hear what He has to say, and becoming believers and followers of Him as the Messiah. I can imagine the crowds would have been starting to get a little crazy at times, and maybe it would have taken some initiative to get away, be alone, talk with Him with no one around, and to simply get to know the real Jesus - not just the crowd Jesus (not that I think He was different or inconsistent around different people or anything - what you see is what you get with Jesus - I'm suggesting that a church service with Jesus and being alone with Jesus in your bedroom can be two different experiences with Him. Both wonderful, yet both different, just like being in a crowded room with your best friend is way different than sitting over a coffee with them).
My first thought is that when it comes to Jesus (the most important relationship you will have in your whole life), you will notice the very close ones to Him. You will notice those ones, those beautiful souls who have put their faith in Jesus in front of everything else in their lives. It's such a passion for them that it's kind of like you can see it written all over their faces. Those ones willing to go the extra distance to "climb hills" with Him, beside Him as companions, to be alone with Him, even when it doesn't seem trendy or convenient, or when being seen with Him is not very cool to the world.
And my other thought (much like my first one) is that in life you should find people that will climb the hills with you. When no one is watching and you're a big fat loser, it's those special and truly dedicated people, who are committed to climbing life with you who will be by your side climbing a dumb and tiring hill just to be beside you, and to get to know the real you. And even if you ever only find one person (a friend or parent or spouse or relative or pastor) over the course of your life who will be that special soul, stick with them, and climb all the way Home to heaven together.
So, pray that you will be that companion to Jesus and to others. Selah.
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