God is for me

For the past year and a half, we have been headed toward foreclosure on the home we've lived in for over 13 years. It's been one thing after another trying to deal with the mortgage companies. Months of waiting, legal hoops to jump through, having to attend a mediation hearing. Then mortgage company made a in-our-opinion ridiculous refinance offer. End result, we have to short sale our home quickly to avoid going to foreclosure. This past week the realtors came to put a "For Sale" sign in our yard..

Some days are okay- we get through it by trying to live the verse "take no thought for tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of it's own". Then other days, like the day they brought the "For Sale" sign, it's rough. Reality sets in. As a man, I could look at that sign as see "LOSER" or "FAILURE" written all over it. But I know better. God never condemns us. He's always a loving God, even when we don't love ourselves.

The night after the realtor came to put the sign out, I had one of these rare times. I just opened my Bible and there in front of me was the exact message I needed! "From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:5-6)

It was like God was telling me- I'm for you! I'm on your side! I'm cheering you on. I could just imagine Jesus standing on the sidelines of my life wearing a jacket with my name on it, shouting words of encouragement.. As those verses say, there's no need to fear. What can man do to me? Another thing I noticed about verse 6.. It says He will set me in a "large place". I'm not sure if that's literal, that we'll move into a large place, or if it means He's calling us to a place of liberty. Either interpretation is fine.

I'm just glad God is on my side!

A Better Sacrifice

"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks". (Hebrews 11:4)

When reading Hebrews 11, I usually read right past verse 4. In the past, guess I never really understood what it meant. I mean, the story about Cain and Abel is one we're all very familiar with. So okay, Abel gave a better sacrifice than Cain.. God was pleased with Abel.. but Cain got mad and killed Abel his brother, seemingly out of jealousy..

But what's this really saying? Is it just a story about brother's fighting? Was it all about Cain's anger management issues? And what does it mean "through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks". What's that mean? I don't remember Abel ever saying a word.

I decided to go back and read the story in Genesis one more time..

"So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:3-5)

Notice what Cain gave and compare it to what Abel gave.. Cain gave an offering from the fruit of the ground, but Abel brought the "firstlings of his flock". There's a difference between giving to God, and giving God the best you've got. In fact, Abel impressed God so much, he didn't even think to look at Cain's offering. The word used for "He had no regard" actually means God didn't even look at Cain's offering.

There's a story in the Gospel of Mark that reminds me of this whole concept..

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)

The point being, what do we bring to God as our offering? The "firstlings", "all that we own",.. or do we give God a token offering, so we can say we gave Him something?

God's challenging me to be more like Abel, to simply give Him my best, and yes- even if it makes other people mad. And that is what Abel is saying. Yes, he still speaks.

If Jesus Knocked

If Jesus knocked at your door,
 would you gladly let Him in?
Would you let Him in every room,
 despite the clutter within?

Would you show Him the study-
 the volumes of books you've read?
Or would you rather take the Lord
 to some other room instead?

Would He like your living room,
 your kitchen and bedroom too?
Could He have the remote control
 and decide what shows you view?

Would you start your day with Him
 in reading His word and prayer?
Or would you rush off every morn
 as if Jesus wasn't there?

If He came to live with you
 would you offer your best?
Would the Lord feel at home within
 or would He feel like a guest?

Inspired by My Heart, Christs Home
Written by Robert Boyd Munger

Christ of Christmas

I can remember as a child, being so excited Christmas was coming, thinking of all the presents Santa was bringing. Back then, I wasn't focused on the true "reason for the season", it was all about the gifts. I vividly remember several Christmas mornings where, after tearing open present after present, having that empty feeling.. realizing that there were no more presents to open. It wasn't that I didn't receive enough gifts, as a matter of fact, I usually got way too many. It was simply a longing a had to have all my hopes and dreams fulfilled. There was a emptiness inside my heart that I didn't understand, call it a longing to be satisfied. But every year I had the same result. I would come to the end of the presents and then that sadness would take hold..

Thinking back on that, I'm so glad that's not the case today. I know exactly what Christmas is all about.. It's precisely what the angels said it was "Behold!! I bring you good news of GREAT JOY! Today in the City of David is born to you a Savior, Christ the Lord". I've finally found that satisfaction I always wanted, the best gift ever. All my desires have been realized through Christ! Now this is my heart-felt Christmas prayer..

Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works.
(Psalm 73:25-28)

Now there's only one thing I want- being close to the Christ of Christmas!

Evening Prayer

Lord guide us waking
and guard us sleeping.
We commend our souls
to Your safe keeping.

May we rest in You
throughout this night,
and follow You close
in the morning light.

Spirit be my guide

Holy Spirit be my guide,
in my heart now reside,
not in part but the whole.
As we meet every morn
may my life be reborn,
as in Thy garden we stroll.

Not a care nor a fear,
when Thy presence is near-
Thy Spirit, it doth console.
Thy mercies I survey,
turning dark into day-
burn bright within my soul.

Be of good cheer

And it came about one day that He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And behold, some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in, and to set him down in front of Him. And not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, right in the center, in front of Jesus. And seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"-- He said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, rise, and take up your stretcher and go home." And at once he rose up before them, and took up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. And they were all seized with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."
(Luke 5:17-26)

Here's a few things I noticed from this story..

Jesus had such a great sense of humor. He could have simply healed the paralytic. But Jesus used this opportunity, when there were scribes and teachers of the Law from as far away as Jerusalem. As we often say today, He wanted to make a statement, but in a clever, hard-to-forget way. In fact, you could say, it was a setup. He knew what the Pharisees would think when He said "Man you're sins are forgiven". There was no question they would think those words were blasphemous. So instead of just healing the man, he said something radical. As expected, the lawyers and scribes thought to themselves, who does this guy think he is? Only God can forgive sins! Yes.. and only God can heal a paralytic! And so goes the story, Jesus made His statement. The man got up and walked home, proving that Jesus could heal, and could also forgive sins..

One part of this story that's often overlooked.. The paralytic had four friends who were totally committed to him. They all wanted him to see Jesus, because they knew in doing that, their friend would definitely be healed. All three gospel accounts of this story say the same thing "when Jesus saw their faith". It didn't say Jesus saw "his faith", it says "their faith". They would simply not be denied. By breaking up the ceiling like they did, they risked being chastised and ridiculed. I'm sure the owner of the house wasn't too happy about the home repairs he would have to do. Having a leaky roof is no fun, that's for sure! At any rate, these guys were all on the same page. They had their plan and they were going to follow through. Think about that.. One of them probably had the idea to climb up on the roof. The others could have said, no way, we'll get in big trouble. Jesus may get upset if we tear into his friend's roof.. No- they all decided it was the only way to make sure their friend met with Jesus. They didn't back down. If only we were as serious about making sure people meet Jesus.

One final observation.. In Matthew's account of the story, Jesus told the man "Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven!" Now that's something to be cheerful about!