Another Sign

 A friend of mine is an older lady and she's had some health problems lately.  She was hospitalized and feeling pretty bad last week.  We are in a Bible study together and I thought it would be nice to stop by and read the Bible study passages to her.  

As I said she was feeling pretty sick, so I just stayed for a little bit.  But of course, God shows up in the most intimate of ways.  Knowing His child was suffering he gave her a sweet word of love and encouragement from Isaiah 35:3-4, 8-9 Strenthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come...He will come to save you."...And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness...Only the redeemed will walk there.  

And for good measure He threw in one of my favorite verses.  Jeremiah 6:16 Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls."

What sweet, loving words our Father spoke to us that morning.  What a beautiful view of His heart towards us.  Yesterday I did a started a study with a couple of people from church and His heart was affirmed in the verses we read, John 3:16 For this is how God loed the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.  

His love is seen in every single thing He does.  Each day the evidence mounts.  But sometimes we get so caught up in the "me" focus, or the "problem" focus that we are blinded to the tender love that flows from our Father to us.  

Lord, open our eyes!!  Make our hearts tender.  Your love never stops, never fails and never abandons us.  Thank You.

Pray for open eyes!  

I will be away next week helping a friend.  Please pray my friend who had surgery.   Thank you.  

Small Signs

Our Lord is so sweet.  Have you ever thought about His consideration and kindness in a personal way?  He personalizes the evidence of His love to each of us.  In doing our BSF study of John this year, the Lord spoke to my heart about this over and over.  The intimate, personal knowledge of our hearts and needs were always evident in Jesus' interaction with those He met. 

Years ago, my husband and I saved our change to purchase Toys for Tots gifts every year at Christmas time.  We'd take all the coins to the bank each November and "cash out."  Whatever we ended up with we would buy toys to donate to the US Marine charity Toys for Tots.  This was and is so much fun for us.  And it's amazing how those small coins add up!  

Well, of course the Lord knew all about this little thing we did.  And each day as I went out for a run, I would pick up any change I saw along the way.  I thought of it as God's personalized provision for our giving to this charity.  It was so fun to see pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters on my trips around the neighborhood whenever I was outside getting some exercise.  Each one reminded me of God's love. 

Well, our Lord is at it again.  LOL  As He always is.  Yesterday my husband, a friend and I were walking around one of the local neighborhoods to hand out flyers for a cookout we are planning in the neighborhood on Friday.  We do these cookouts to introduce ourselves to the community so we can invite the kids in that area to our upcoming Vacation Bible School week.  As we were walking I saw a penny on the ground.  I then told my friend the whole story about how I used to pick up the change to contribute to Toys for Tots and how I thought it was God's way of giving to that act for us.  She thought it was just the sweetest story.  

We were finishing up the last of the apartments in the area and as we got to the sidewalk, lo and behold, there was at least 30 or 40 cents of coins on the ground!  My friend and I started laughing in joy and wonder....what a personal, loving God we serve.  We both saw it as a "smile" from our Father on the work we were doing for Him.  What a beautiful blessing and joy bringing gesture from our Lord.  

Well, we didn't pick up the coins as it's an area where a lot of people struggle to make ends meet, and I figured the kids in the area would love to find some little "treasures" on the street.  But the true treasure was in knowing our Father was pleased with us and that He used this small, personal way to communicate that to our hearts.  I'm just so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. 

Thank You Lord!  You are so sweet.  I am beyond blessed by this small sign this week.  Keep our eyes open to these personal touches in our days.  In Jesus Name, amen.  

Keep looking!  

Tithe, from Mom

Tithing.  One of the biggest complaints you hear from the non-Christian world is the church is always asking for money.  And sadly, I'm sure for some churches that's true.  And it certainly has been abused by unscupulous wolves in sheep's clothing.  But for most churches, it's the way to exist and do the work of God.  Buildings need maintenance, electric, water.  Missions need funds.  Tracts for witnessing are bought. Vacation Bible School supplies are bought.  Food ministries, etc.  There are many good and godly expenses in running a church.   Many smaller churches have unpaid staff that work "real" jobs to support their families.  Yet we see tithing as a dirty word when it was actually a God given system to support the work of the kingdom.  Let's go to Mom's journal entry and see what she dug out of the Word. 

Deuteronomy 14:22 “You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.

From the footnote in Mom's Bible:  The 'tithe" means 1/10th but what it is 1/10th of (net worth, yearly increase, etc), is not specified.    The giving of the tithe is an act of worship to honor God as the Provider.  Giving the tithe regularly teaches us to recognize and remember that our property is not of our own doing.  

Acts 20:35  And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”  

Cheerfully: willingly, good naturedd, joyfully.

Then read verse 8. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

From me.

In the Old Testament, God instituted the law of tithing.  But in the New Testament we are no longer under the law.  Does that mean we don't tithe anymore?  No!  The same needs that were present in God's kingdom and temple thousands of years ago are still the same needs that we see today.  We give as we have ability and with a cheerful heart.  We are not stuck with the 10% rule.  If we can give more, we give more as our heart is led.  God has given so much to us and it is our honor and privilege to give back to Him.  Paul talks about this in 2 Corinthians.  

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 8 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.  3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.  6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving. 7 Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.  8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.      9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.  10 Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. 11 Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. 12 Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. 13 Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. 14 Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal. 15 As the Scriptures say, “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over,    and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

God expects us to tithe.  How little or how much is up to us.  He desires us to have a generous spirit.      2 Corinthians 9:6-10  Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”  10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

As in all things, we are to be led by the Spirit in our giving.  I believe that God puts different things on different hearts to support so that all the work in His kingdom can be done.  Some will feed the poor, others will do maintenance on a building, some others will support or become a missionary to foreign lands or even closer to home....all starts with God, all is provided for be Him through our giving.  And I don't only think of giving in terms of money.  But what about our times and talents?  It all comes from the Lord, and giving honors Him, shows gratitude for His provision.  Don't make excuses!  Give!

Lord, thank You for all Your provision.  Our very breath comes from You.  Forgive us for the times we hoarded Your blessings.  Forgive any selfishness that may lurk in our hearts.  We want to have generous hearts and live generous lives.  How could we do any less when Jesus gave His all, His very life for us!  Be glorified in our giving.  Lead us in what and how much and when.  Let us have listening ears and follow Your voice.  In Jesus' Name I pray.  Amen.

Give some thought to your giving.  Are you on the right track?  

Investment

Do you realize that every moment you spend with God is an investment?  Study, prayer, worship or just sitting quietly with Him...you are investing in not just the here and now but eternity.  Likewise, every time you spend with our Lord, He invests in you as well.  

Think about this.  Jesus came to earth clothed as a human and what was the majority of His time spent doing?  Teaching.  Whether it was 5000 on a hillside or just an intimate time around the campfire with His disciples, Jesus taught.  He invested.  

He taught them how to live, how to serve and what the future would like.  Jesus prepared them for what was to come and the work they would do after He was gone.  Our Lord says of His Word in Isaiah 55:11  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to,  and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Look at the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.  The man gave each of His servants a certain amount of money.  He invested in them.  In turn, he expected them to invest what he gave them and make it grow.  It's the same with God.  He invests in us, and expects us to invest in others what He has given.  It's called fruitfulness.  God's kingdom is not a kingdom of hoarding, but a kingdom of investing.  It's active and living and growing.  And we are a part of that dynamic.  

Matthew 25: 15-30  “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. Matthew 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It amazes me that God wants to invest in me.  I feel so honored and blessed.  I pray you think about this concept and realize how wonderful it is to be part of this living, dynamic family and kingdom of God.

Thank You Lord for this principle of investing.  I am in awe that you choose to invest in us falliable humans.  What a wonder!  Let us be faithful to invest what You give to us and produce much fruit!  In Jesus' Name, amen.  

Restoration

21: 1-22  Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.  3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.  4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”  “No,” they replied.  6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.  7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards[d] from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.  10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.  12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.  After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”  “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.  16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”  “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.  17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.  18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[f] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”  22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”

This is the chapter we studied in Bible Study Fellowship this week, our last week this season.  And it was so apropos.  Let me set the scene.

Sunday, after church in our evangelism class.  We are coming to a close in this class and I've done okay handing our tracts, being friendly, bringing up God some in conversation with strangers.  But no outright delivery of the Gospel as of yet.  So towards the end of class I mentioned that me and my husband would not be there for the next lesson as we had a planned trip to Las Vegas to see family.  But I was excited to put into practice the things we had been learning.  I spoke about how I'd love to try it out in the airport and the plane, with my family.....And what do you think happened?  Yup, just like Peter in  John 18:15-27*, I failed miserably.  In the airport, on the plane, with my family, I could not start the conversation.  I felt awkward, fearful and unable to open my mouth.  I did not share the Gospel with one person.  I left tracts, and I left some reading for my family, but not one time did I follow through on my excitement to put into practice the lessons we had been learning in our class.  Ugh.  I was embarrassed, disappointed in myself.  But God...

God knew exactly what was going to happen and His timing of the restoration of Peter could not have been more on point.  Or more filled with compassion.  I am so grateful I have this Father who loves me unconditionally.  I want so much to please Him, and yet I fail.  But again and again He restores and comforts.  He calls me His own.  

Have you failed God (and who among us hasn't)?  Do you feel like you'll never get it right?  I'm here to tell you that God is not finished with you.  Peter failed Jesus in such a public and crushing way.  And yet Jesus came to him, fed him, publically restored and repurposed him.  He welcomed Peter back to His side and gave Peter a purpose and a calling.  And Jesus will do the same for you and me.  When Peter saw it was Jesus on the shore of the sea of Galilee, he jumped in the water and quickly swam to Him.  He didn't turn away and hide in shame at his failure.  He ran into the arms of the One who could restore him.  And we need to do the same.  1 John 1:9  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  Like the prodigal, we return to our Father, to our Savior and look for restoration.  He longs for us.  To you He says, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."  Jeremiah 31:3  Don't hide from the Lord, you can't anyway.  Run to Him.  Let Him cleanse you and love you and set you on His path again.  

Father, thank You that You are the God of forever.  You love us with an everlasting love, that looks past our failures and sees the righteousness of Jesus our Savior.  Renew our purpose and increase our strength.  Let us be obedient and bold.  Let Your Words be on our lips, ready to follow Your direction.  Thank You for all You do for us each day.  In Jesus' Name, amen.

John 18:15-27  15 Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest’s courtyard with Jesus. 16 Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. 17 The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”  “No,” he said, “I am not.”   18 Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.  19 Inside, the high priest began asking Jesus about his followers and what he had been teaching them. 20 Jesus replied, “Everyone knows what I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. 21 Why are you asking me this question? Ask those who heard me. They know what I said.”  22 Then one of the Temple guards standing nearby slapped Jesus across the face. “Is that the way to answer the high priest?” he demanded.  23 Jesus replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?”  24 Then Annas bound Jesus and sent him to Caiaphas, the high priest.  25 Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”  He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”  26 But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?” 27 Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Just an aside, in some versions of the Bible, the fire in both these cases is described as a coal fire.  In BSF it was pointed our that the smell of the coal fire would have reminded Peter of his biggesst failure, but Jesus even rewrote that memory for Peter.  They stood around a coal fire as Jesus put Peter back to service in His army.  Interesting.