Mrs. Baird's Jesus Rolls

It's amazing to think about the fact that the one who created the universe wants me to know him and has communicated in language that I can understand. Today, let's listen to what he wants to say in John 6. This one is a little longer section, but read the first 15 verses and then skip to verse 25 and read the rest of the chapter. We'll come back to the section we skipped next time. Jesus is communicating something profoundly important here.
 
The main image that runs through this whole chapter is food. It started with the miracle of Jesus feeding a huge crowd with a little boy’s lunch. Bread and fish for everyone, with plenty of leftovers. And that becomes the backdrop for what Jesus has to say in the last half of the chapter. People are flocking to him—but why? Is it because they’ve understood the signs Jesus has performed? Have they realized who he is and put their faith in him? No.

Jesus says, “You’re just after another free meal. I’m your new caterer. Here’s what you’re missing—the food I gave you isn’t with you anymore. You’re already hungry again. Isn’t there something more to look for?” They say, “Yeah, but Moses gave us a daily supply of bread. There was new shipment of manna on the ground every morning. Can’t you do that?” Jesus says, “First of all, it wasn’t Moses, it was God who gave you that bread. And it was a foreshadowing of true Bread he would later send from heaven.”

Then, more than a half dozen times, he says, “I am that bread”:

For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. (v. 33)

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry... (v. 35)

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread he will live forever. This bread is my flesh..." (v. 51)

Why bread? Why not “I am the filet mignon of life"? Or "the lobster tail of life”? We could name lots of dishes that are tastier and more appealing than bread. All of those are local dishes and they’re luxuries. Bread is universal, and it’s a basic staple of life. As one writer put it: “If the poor have anything, they have bread. And if the rich have everything, they still have bread.” (Max Lucado)

I love bakeries. I love walking through there, admiring all of the different kinds of bread. And the smell of fresh-baked bread? Wow. My favorite? Cinnamon rolls. But bread isn’t baked to be admired or contemplated or even just smelled. Bread is baked to be consumed. That’s what I like to do best! You eat it. That’s what it’s for.

Jesus says: "...the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (v. 57)

I hear Jesus saying, “It’s not my gifts you need most; it’s me. The gifts I give you will come and go. They may fill your stomach a while. What you really need is the most basic core element of being truly alive—you need to be connected to your Maker. You need to know my love for you and allow it to fill your heart. You need my wisdom to guide you. You need my life-giving presence and my spirit within you. You need my power to cross over from being among the walking dead to being fully alive. I am the food you need. I’m the bread you crave. So go ahead, consume me!"

I will do that, Jesus. Knowing you is more satisfying than the best meal I've ever eaten. Amen.

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What's it Really All About?

Good evening, all! I, Michele, am hearing God speak today from John 5:31-47. Go ahead and read it and see what you hear God saying to you. This text is about God's desire for us to come into relationship with him and not miss his true desire for us.

John the Baptist was sent to make a way for the Lord and he testified to many about who Jesus was and what he could do in the lives of each and every person who would come to know him. Many believed and Jesus' number of followers increased as we read about in Chapter 3. Did he stop there? No, Jesus even went as far as performing miracles to show that he was the Messiah.

But I have a greater witness than John-my teachings and my miracles. (v. 36)

Wow! Can you imagine actually seeing, first hand, a miracle of the living God? How would you react? Would what you saw make your faith in Jesus even stronger? Would it turn unbelievers into believers? The religious leaders, not unlike people of this day, missed the point. Even after seeing the miracles that Jesus did and hearing him speak God's Word with their own ears, they walked away empty!

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! You refuse to come to me to receive this life. (v. 39-40)

It is so easy to get wrapped up in doing things like: daily devotion, going to prayer meetings, doing our occasional service to those in need, reading the Bible, going to church at least one time/week. The list goes on and on. When we do this we miss the essential part of what being a Christian is all about. When we treat our Christianity like a checklist we miss out on a true relationship with the Creator of the Universe! We are so concerned about the things that we do as Christians that we forget to be Christians. Jesus wants to have an intimate, deep, personal relationship with each one of us. Out of that relationship will come all of the above mentioned things....and not as a checklist!

Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don't have God's love within you.  (v. 41-42)

Is it really all about appearances? Whose praise do you seek? God's approval is all the approval we need! It doesn't matter what others think we should be doing or how they think we should be spending our time. If you are living to honor and glorify your Lord, you are good in his eyes!

Lord, I come to you tonight with a convicted heart. There are times when I treat my Christianity like a checklist and I forget about the most important part....my personal relationship with you. Lord, bring me back to the joy of my salvation when I craved you and sought after you with all of my heart. Help me to remember that, because your Spirit lives in my heart, your love will overflow me and be a blessing to others in my life. Thank you, Lord, that you love me enough to want a relationship with me. You pursue me and mold me as I grow closer to you. Amen.

So This Is Life?

I'm hungry for a word from God today. How bout you? Welcome to the conversation! Let's take a moment to quiet ourselves, clear our heads, ask God to open our minds and hearts and then, and only then...jump right in. Today I'm inviting you to listen to the voice of the Son of God in the first 30 verses of John 5.

So Jesus heals a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years! First, I'm struck by what the man said to Jesus prior to the miracle:

"I have no one to help me..." (v. 7).

He's not the only one in that situation, sadly. Besides the countless people who live in obvious need there are also the many who are secretly desperate, who feel their lives unraveling and don't know what to do or where to turn. They feel so alone. They look totally normal. In fact, by looking at them and their stuff, you'd think they have it all together. But their reality is something very different.

When the Jewish religious leaders disapprove of his actions and confront Jesus for breaking the rules about working on the Sabbath, the day of rest, Jesus has this to say:

"My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (v. 17)

In other words, anytime is the right time to join in the work of God. God is always active...always. He is still working in his world. And he's still working in your life and mine right now. He's working in the lives of people I know, and those I don't know. Wherever we go in the world, in the marketplace, God is already there working. And what's that work about?

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.... I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. ...[A] time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. (v. 21, 24-25)

Do you hear it? Life. This isn't just talking about afterlife. Notice the present tense. Jesus brings wholeness. He brings life to the walking dead. And that's what people are apart from God. They eat, breathe, sleep, work and find countless ways to escape life. That is hardly Life.

So count me all in on this Life you're offering, Jesus. But what do I do with it? I want my life to beat in rhythm with yours, and you are all about doing the work of God. How can I join you in that?

It's pretty simple, really. This wholeness involves caring for their physical needs, eliminating whatever suffering we can. Imagine the relief of being healed from almost four decades of paralysis! I can't work miracles but I can let the plight of suffering people touch my heart and do something to help. But more than that, the work of God is about bringing people into spiritual life. Jesus told the man afterwards that sin was the worse disease threatening his well-being, blocking him from Life. I want to do the same and point people to the Healer. A lot of them just need someone to steer them in the right direction. Jesus will help me do that.

I'm so thankful for the wholeness that Jesus has brought to my mind, my heart, my relationships, especially my relationship with God. And now I join him in his work, as do all who follow Jesus, looking for evidence of where he's at work and joining him there. You can, too. Just look. The opportunities are all around you.

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When the Miracle Doesn't Come

Welcome to today's conversation with God! Let's enter into the story recorded in John 4:43-54 of a royal official's encounter with Jesus. He has something to say to us, as well. What do you want me to hear, to get, Lord?

I can totally relate to the man in the story and the anxiety he is feeling. His son is dying of some illness and the man is playing the role of the desperate parent searching for something or someone to help. He has seen the headlines about this miracle-worker and rabbi named Jesus. Maybe he could help. And he's come to the region! So he goes and makes his request.

Of course he desperately wants his son to live and be healed--who wouldn't? And he's gone to the right person. Jesus heals the boy with a word from twenty miles away! And you've got to be impressed with the man's faith to believe the testimony he had heard about Jesus and to simply take Jesus at his word. His faith is rewarded in an amazing way and he and his family celebrate.

But what jumps out at me today is what Jesus said before he healed the boy:

Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe." (v. 48)

I have prayed for miracles. Have you? And I've been stunned, at times, with the way God powerfully granted my prayer. It's the touch of God brushing against me! But then there were the other times. The most urgent, heart-wrenching prayers I've ever prayed were for the healing of my wife, Cathy, and for my Mom's husband, Kees. I prayed and waited and believed God for a miracle. But the miracle never came. And there were other prayers I've prayed, other miracles I needed that never materialized. Been there?

Why did Jesus say what he did to this man and the bystanders before he agreed to heal the man's son? Is he doing the miracle begrudgingly? That wouldn't be likely. Perhaps it's that he is saying this for the benefit of us all when the miracle doesn't come. He knows that it is not in God's will to heal every sick person in this present life. He knows that it will not be in the the good plans of God to always work the miracle we want. In fact, miracles are special and amazing precisely because they are unusual. What happens to my faith when the miracle doesn't come? Will I stop believing?

That doesn't mean we shouldn't pray for miracles and expect them to come. But Jesus' words here tell us something important. My faith in him can't be dependent on seeing the miracles. I need to believe in God and in miracles and put my hope in him even when the miracle I'm praying for doesn't fit into his bigger purposes. I need to be like this father in the story who "took Jesus at his word." My faith has to rest more in the Word of Christ than in the miracles he works for me, always realizing that the greatest miracle of all is God's grace to redeem a sinner like me.

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Life Happens On the Way There

Isn't it wonderful that God loves us and wants to give us real life? He's always ready to whisper into our hearts what will take us, if we act on it, to the place of meaning and blessing. So we come for another conversation with him, listening to his Word as shared by the Apostle John in John 4:1-42. It's a great story! What do you see here? What is God saying to you?

First, you and I who follow Jesus have the honor of being on mission with God. He has assignments for me. There are things he wants to use me (and you) to accomplish, utilizing our particular skills and abilities and experiences. How do I know what his assignment is? I can be sure that wherever I am, whatever I am doing, God has an assignment for me right here and right now. It may very well not be his final assignment, though.

Jesus had a big assignment back in Galilee (v. 3). God had ministry for him to do there and it was going to require Jesus to leave what he was presently doing in Judea. And God may have a big assignment for me or for you that is going to require a change of context or a move. He may have somewhere in mind that he wants to place us that is not where we presently are. It could be a job change. It could be new relationship. It could be a move across town or across the country. So we have to be open. God may have a Galilee in mind for me and you--a major assignment that will take a significant amount of time to accomplish.

But Jesus first "had to go through Samaria." (v. 4)

Now, it is true that Samaria was the region that lay between Judea and Galilee, where Jesus was headed. But the fact is that Jews almost never went through Samaria to travel between the two Jewish provinces. They went around it. So John's statement that "he had to go through Samaria" would have caught the attention of his original readers who understood the typical travel patterns of the day. "What?" they would have asked. "Why did he have to go through Samaria?"

The answer to that question is implied in the story that follows. Jesus had to go through Samaria because there was a certain town where there were people ready to hear the Good News of God's reign through Christ. And it would all begin with a single woman, an outcast among her own people.

Often, before we arrive where God is wanting to plant us for an extended period of time or for the big thing, there are the shorter assignments--a life to be touched here, a lesson to be learned, character to grow. God has an assignment on the way to the assignment. Are you with me? Before we get to Galilee we may have to go through Samaria, where there is something very important for us to do. Someone there needs us. Someone there may have been waiting all their lives for what you or I can share with them. Someone may never be the same after the way you took time to sit and talk with them by the proverbial well and tell them about the One who can fill their empty jar.

So today, as I reflect on the close of one chapter of my life, one important ministry that God gave me to do that seemed all too short, I realize that I've been in Samaria. Another assignment still lies ahead. What about for you? You may not feel like you've found "the thing" yet either, but where you are now has a reason behind it. Use it. Open your eyes and ask God to show you the person or people he wants you to impact. Don't make the mistake of under-valuing the Samaria's along your life's journey.

Lord, I'm yours. You are my leader, and I will follow you. Show me what you have for me to do today, and lead me to where you want me tomorrow. Amen.

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The Greatness of Obscurity

Time for our next conversation with God! You are loved by him and special to him. Never doubt that! His voice is the one that you must learn to hear above all the others, and follow it. Today's conversation centers around John 3:22-36. These are God's inspired, holy words to us. Soak them in.

As I read this text, the testimony they give about who Jesus is reaffirms why I follow him. He is "the Messiah," "the bridegroom" who loves his people like we were his bride. As "the one wo comes from above" he "is above all." And because of that I really want to land on this statement from John:

He must become greater; I must become less. (v. 30)

John the Baptist had a thriving ministry going on. Everyone was talking about him and going out to hear him preach. It was a major tent revival (without the tent) out in the wilderness. We're talking thousands! Then Jesus comes on the scene and starts teaching and baptizing, and suddenly the crowds start to move more in his direction. Popularity is shifting. John's disciples are jealous and a little miffed. Honestly, who can't relate?

But John isn't concerned. John understands that life is not about him. He has the peace of knowing that his ministry is not about him. He was never in it to be a big shot. His personal level of success and notoriety were not what was really important to him. What was important was that people turned their eyes and their faith onto Jesus. He's the one that can save them!

Wouldn't the world be a better place if all of us had the attitude that Jesus must become greater and I must become less? What would happen in your relationships, your marriage, if Jesus were to become greater and you were to become less? How would your life goals look different? What priorities would shift? How would you handle conflict differently? It's hard for us because we still think we're pretty great, right? We're afraid if we don't look out for number one, who will? But losing self to gain Jesus is no loss. He just makes you feel like you've gained the whole world!

Today, whatever I do and wherever I go, I want to focus less and less on me and more and more on Jesus. If I can do anything or say anything that brings him into the spotlight, that I will do. And I won't worry so much about self-promotion or even self-preservation. I'll leave that part up to him. Go, Jesus!

Someone you know will be so much more at peace when they start pushing Jesus more than themselves. Why don't you share this post to your Facebook page? (Click on the "f" button below.) And please sign in and share your own impressions about what God is saying to you in the space below.

Hoisting My Sails

It's Monday...but it's a new day. New possibilities, new mercies from God. The church that my family planted 3 years ago, One Life Church, had its last public service yesterday. I really need a conversation with God right now. I'm trusting my future to him, but I need a word of encouragment and guidance. Whatever is going on in your life, I'm sure you could use some of that, too! So let's step in on an intriguing conversation that Jesus had that's recorded in John 3:1-21. Lord, let us hear this conversation as if you spoke it directly to us.

What are you hearing? This one's definitely worth a second read. Here's what I hear today...

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (v. 8)

There's a lot said here about spiritual rebirth. And some of how it works and why some people experience it and others don't is cloaked in mystery, as we should expect. But for those who have walked out of the darkness and into the light, there's a whole new way that we approach life.

If I can borrow some nautical imagery, by nature most of us get into our boat and start rowing. Some of us row harder than others, but to some degree we lean in and dig at the water. Some of us have a destination in mind and we row as hard as we can to get there. Others of us aren't really sure where we're rowing to, but we just know that we need to be rowing somewhere. So maybe we just row around in circles. And when the wind blows against us, we row harder. It gets really tiring and our muscles ache but we row and row and row.

But God seems to have something different in mind about the life he has given us to live. When we put our faith in Jesus and commit our lives to him in baptism, that is when God tells us the secret to life. He whispers to our hearts that it's time to put away our oars and hoist our sail. He urges us to open that sail and let it billow up with the wind of Holy Spirit. And that's when we say, “Okay, God, from now on I’m not steering this ship. You are. I want my life to go where you want. Move me in the direction of your ultimate plan.” And off we sail. And the rest of life is an adventure of sailing with the Holy Spirit, letting him whisk us along wherever he wants to take us.

That’s a little scary. Some of us got baptized, hoisting the sail, and then we tied the boat up to the dock. The Holy Spirit is trying to move us, but we’ve got the ropes attached and no boy scout could tie better knots! Or we’ve still got our oars in the water, trying to make the boat go where we want. We’re heading for an alluring port and his wind is blowing the opposite direction and we’re not getting anywhere. Life is a struggle.

I need this reminder from Jesus that life will go best when I hoist the sails, turn over control, and let him lead me where he wants to take me. That doesn't mean there won't be some work involved on my part, even some hard work. But it's so much easier when I'm cooperating with the Spirit's wind, leaning with it, utilizing his power, than when I'm rowing against it. And I will always end up in the right place.

Jesus, lead on. Holy Spirit, fill my sails and propel me forward in the direction that you want to take me. I don't know where you're taking me, but I'm going to enjoy the ride. Amen.

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Action Hero Jesus

I'm giving a shout out to you, fellow God-chasers! I'm glad you're back to participate with the rest of us in another conversation with God. We're tuning into what he wants to communicate to us in the Gospel of John 2:12-25. Please join me in the text and catch this shocking scene from Jesus' ministry.

Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!" (v. 15-16)

We see a different Jesus here in this story—one we’re not as comfortable with. I mean, wow! This sounds more like a scene from a Schwarzenegger flick. Action-hero Jesus! We like the gentle and compassionate Jesus, the non-threatening Jesus who quietly saves a wedding feast from disaster (see yesterday's blog). The Jesus we meet here in the temple is a bit of an enigma. There’s something fierce in him. Something dangerous. Something a bit wild.

What I hear God saying to me here is that no one loves like Jesus loves, no one serves and cares and understands like Jesus does, yet his heart won’t be tamed. God can’t be domesticated. He isn't boxed into our ideas of civility. Jesus isn’t just the gentle, surrendered Lamb of God. He’s also the powerful Lion of Judah. Like C.S. Lewis put it in The Chronicles of Narnia, “He isn’t safe; but he is good.”

I don't know about you, but I’m glad of that. Because there’s a time when I need him to fight for me. There's a time when I need him to fight for my loved ones. I need his fierceness then. I don’t want a soft Jesus when he’s up against ruthless forces of evil that are assaulting my life or my wife or my kids. It's not the gentle Jesus that I need when all that’s good and right is being threatened, when justice and freedom are being trampled on by the corrupt and powerful. I need his lion heart then. And it’s there for me...for you…for us.

If Jesus is going to be compelling enough to get me to lay down my idols, to stake all of my claim for life in him, to toss aside all my crutches, he’s going to have to be someone I’m willing to fight and die for. Someone that inspires me not only with his integrity and compassion, but his strength. And that’s the Jesus that shows up here on the big screen of John’s Gospel.

Jesus, you amaze me! I feel in awe in your presence. It's such an honor to follow a leader as wise and loving and as fiercely strong as you. Please fight for us, Lord! Fight for your people. You have shown yourself mighty and strong in this world where darkness is so rampant as you accepted the path to the cross. I can't wait to see how you follow it up when you return as the Conquering King! Just know that my loyalty belongs to you. Amen.

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When the Wine Runs Out

Blessings, my friends! I know you're thirsty. I am too. So let's see if God will satisfy that thirst today. Our conversation with him will center around the event in John 2:1-11, where Jesus provides the best wine to a thristy bunch of wedding guests.

The wedding party running out of wine is a picture of life. Wine, in scripture and in secular writings, is a symbol of pleasure, joy and prosperity—all of which have a way of running out on us. Have you noticed? I've been there--dry and wondering where I miscalculated, standing there embarrassed and empty.

But Jesus steps in. He turns water to wine! On one level, this is an act of compassion to help this bridal family who is about to suffer a terrible embarrassment at such an important event. Jesus cares about common people and their every day problems. He cares about me and he cares about you. Even after he makes it plain to Mary that he’s not operating on her agenda, she is so confident that Jesus’ compassionate heart won’t let him stand by and do nothing that she tells the servants to wait for his instructions.

Yet, Jesus acts on a much greater level. It isn’t just about one family’s shame being turned to joy; it’s about everyone’s. His concern is mainly to reveal life in God. The sign that Jesus did points to him. Jesus—as the winemaker, the full expression of God—is the real source of joy. His joy never runs out. And he gives it in big supply—180 gallons worth here! The joy he gives is the best joy of all—which is the signif. of the banquet coordinator’s exclamation:

"...you have saved the best till now." (v. 10)

Jesus can take unfiltered well water and transform it into fine wine. More importantly, he can take a joyless life and transform it into one brimming with joy. But how?

Jesus told the servants to fill the jars with water, and they didn’t just fill them part way or most of the way. John says “they filled them to the brim.” If we want the life Jesus promises, brimming with joy, we have to take our trust and obedience to brim level too. If I want the miracle, if I want my staleness turned to joy, I have to turn over control and, like the servants, take Mary's advice:

"Do whatever he tells you." (v. 5)

Jesus, thank you for bringing heaven's party to my life! Thank you for the celebration of knowing you, experiencing your love, your goodness, your grace and the freedom that you alone bring to my heart. When my joy runs out, you're always ready to fill the empty jars of my life with your best wine again. I'm yours to command, Lord. Just show me what you want me to do! Amen.

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Come and See

Hello! It's Chris writing this evening. Back into an intriguing conversation with God from one of my very favorite parts of Scripture--the Gospel of John. John had a way of seeing beneath the surface of things to notice the deeper spiritual realities and the irony that so often exists in the tension between darkness and light. Today, I'm reading the rest of chapter one, starting with verse 29. There is a series of scenes that play out here in which people are looking and seeking something. Are you?

First, let me back up to John the Baptist's observation in verse 26:

Among you stands one you do not know.

This is the apostle John's message to the world. There is someone you need to get to know and he's right here moving around you. So he records John the Baptist's testimony about who that is--Jesus, who he describes as the Lamb and Son of God. The fact that he is God's Son tells us who he is by nature. He's called the Lamb by virtue of what he came to do--offer himself as the only sacrifice that could ultimately take away sin.

I love Jesus' question in verse 38:

What do you want?

It's more than just an incidental part of a long ago conversation. It's a very important question that he's also asking you and me. What do you want? What are you looking for? It's the deep-down most central question of life.

I'm a browser. My wife, Cathy, was a shopper. She went into a store knowing exactly what she was there to buy. I peruse the aisles and come out with a bunch of stuff I didn't even know I needed! Some of us are browsing our way through life—we’re not really sure what we’re looking for. We want to be happy, but not sure what we need to be seeking to get that. We’re on to one thing, then to another, shopping the isles of life, checking out all the options and going home more confused and frustrated.

The characters in John’s story are all looking for something. Most of them are chasing shadows, when what they are really needing is to know God. So Jesus offers an open-ended invitation:

Come and you will see. (v. 39)

It's echoed by Philip in verse 46: "Come and see." It's Jesus' invitation to us all. It's not hard to find him. You just have to be willing to look. Not sure if Jesus is the one you should put all your hope and trust in? Just come and see. Jump in. Experience him. This is God with an open-door policy. Skeptical? So was Nathaniel (v. 46). But he was willing to go and see for himself. The honest, seeking heart is the one God honors, even if it is still wrestling with doubts.

I need to be reminded that I went looking for that something long ago. I looked in all the wrong places and thought I'd find it in the world, but I didn't. I found it in Jesus. I don't need to look anywhere else. I bet you will too!

Please share this post to your Facebook page to help others out there find Jesus. Click on the "f" button below. And also share you own impressions of what God is saying to you here in this text by commenting below. Be blessed!

Who Are You?

Happy Monday morning! I, Michele, am writing for you today as I focus on John 1:19-28. Go ahead and read it through. This text challenged me to take a closer look at who I am and this is why:

"Well then, who are you?" they asked. "Are you Elijah?"
"No," he replied.
"Are you the Prophet we are expecting?"
"No."
"Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to day about yourself?" (v. 21-22)

Why did the priests and temple assistants care to know who John the Baptist was? Wasn't he just a regular guy? Hardly! He dressed weird and ate odd meals. Beginning in verse 19, John was asked 3 times who he was, in addition to the guesses they made about who they thought he may be. Obviously, John stood out in a crowd. But, there is another reason why he stood out that is  more profound then the way he looked or what he ate.....the message he spoke to all who came across his path. John spoke to people about turning from their sins, baptism, and the coming of the Savior. He had a mission and was determined to share that with all who would listen.

John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:

"I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
'Clear the way for the Lord's coming!'" (v. 23)

Notice that John did not explain his credentials, where he lives, or who's in his family (some of the ways we may identify ourselves). John immediately pointed to Christ. He stated his mission. John knew exactly who he was in Christ and for Christ. He wasn't interested in telling others about himself, he wanted others to know about Jesus. And he knew where he stood in comparison to Christ , "....I'm not even worthy to to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal." (v. 27)
Do people wonder who you and I are when they meet us? Not just because of the way we look but because of message we bring to other's lives? When we meet new people do we identify ourselves by our paid job, or where we live, or who our relatives are? Or do we approach others saying, "Hi, I'm ____, and I'm a child of God, sent to tell you the good news of his son, Jesus Christ." Sounds kind of quirky but that is our mission as Christ followers. We need to take every opportunity to share God's Word to a world who so desperately needs him. In the end, it won't matter what occupation we had, how much money we made, what famous human beings we knew, or what our house looked like. The only thing that will matter is if we pointed others to Christ and where we spend eternity.

Lord, help us to be like John and point to you always. There are so many out there who don't know of your freeing grace and forgiveness for them. This world is hurting. Help us to be your hands and feet, to love even those who are unlovable. We want to bring as many to Heaven with us as possible. We are your children and our mission is to tell others about you and your love for them. Help us to own that mission and take it out into our world. In Jesus' name. Amen

Please share your comments. We love to hear from you! Have a great Monday and remember to go out and share the good news!

The Wonderful News!

Did you all enjoy our conversations about the book of James? I know I did! This is Michele with you on this Friday evening. Hopefully, all of you are ready for the weekend and have something fun planned. We are going to move into the Gospel of John where we will discuss the birth, life, death and resurrection of our beautiful Savior. We will begin with John 1:1-18. Read it out loud, a couple of times if you need to so that God can impress upon your heart exactly what he wants you to hear. A couple of verses struck me, the first of which is:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (v. 5)

This reading begins by explaining that the Word, being Jesus, is the one and only source of life and light, fully God, and eternal. We read in verse 5 that Jesus, the light, can never be overcome or "extinguished" by evil. The entire first 5 verses are full of hope, but the last of these is so incredibly exciting to me. Our world is so dark and disturbing! We hear stories of natural disasters in third world countries, murder of innocent unborn children, civil unions being granted across our country, the plunge of the stock market, Christians being killed because of their faith. Ugh!! I could go on and on. But, this verse reminds us that God's light will still shine in spite of all the darkness around us. Satan thinks he will win, so it only makes sense that he will step up his game. Then, we are also reminded that the darkness can never extinguish God's glorious light. NEVER!! That word gives my heart such encouragement in this context. We will NEVER have to succumb to the darkness of this world....no matter what happens. Jesus will just keep shining through it all.

John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. (v. 8)

Now, for our part in this equation. John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus, not to be Jesus! To proclaim Jesus' name. We are also called to proclaim the name of Christ to a world that is full of darkness. What does that mean? We are called to live out our faith, to point others to the one who gives life, to be an encouragement to those who need a kind word, to love with the love that the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with. That doesn't mean we always have to be pushy about our faith but we should be intentional about our interactions with others. We always want to point to Christ. Sometimes, it may just be with a smile or the touch of your hand to some one's arm. We always need to be the hands and feet of Jesus....you never know who may be watching. It may be the coworker who you've been ministering to for a very long time, and they're just watching to see how you behave when you don't know you're being watched.

....God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. (v. 17)

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your love for us. We are so imperfect and need you to cleanse us and forgive us each and every time we fail to be your hands and feet. But, you are so faithful! Each time we fail you pick us back up and equip us to move forward in your power. You fill us with your Holy Spirit and show us others who desperately need to know of your love and truth. Help us to be like John, to point to you, even when we aren't aware that others are looking. In Jesus' name. Amen

Please feel free to share your comments with us. It is so encouraging to know how many people have read the blog. If only all of you would share a thought about what you read....we could have great conversations! Have a great night!

"Phone Home!"

The best company in the world is a get-together with God's sons and daughters. Now that is a "family gathering" of supernatural proportions! This is Katrinka writing today. Each day we live we face new challenges and receive new blessings. There is a sure way to get through it all, and that is laid out in our Bible passage for today. Read James 5:13-20 and let is stimulate your mind. Receive the communication from "out of this world."

Most of us remember the classic movie "E.T."  As you may remember, there was a special bond formed between the lost alien and a little girl. E.T. (extra-terrestrial) was lost. He was scared and lonely in this alien place called Earth. His goal was to someway, somehow make contact with "Home." So he learned enough Earth language to say: "Phone home!" He was trying to find his way back to his family somewhere out there. And there is more, the people around him were supporting him and trying to help him contact "Home." And, in the end, E.T. went "Home"! Here in the book of James I see the same theme and it is summed up in verse 16:

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and"

 pray for each other so that you may be healed.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Do we really realize how amazing it is that we have this Divine connection between Heaven and Earth? When we pray, it is not a one-way communication! Our prayers go up before the Father as praise, adoration or cries for help. When we reach out with all our hearts to our Father in Heaven, praying through our Savior, Jesus, Heaven hears. But that is not all, Heaven answers!

When I am lonely or needing some encouragement, I can telephone Chris. It doesn't matter that he is half-a-world away! Because of the wonderful technology of our modern times, I can send a text message or place a call. In moments I am having a heart-to-heart talk with him -- gaining strength and help and love from my son. When I hang up or receive a return text message, I feel the emotional refill I have received from this time spent in communicating. What a great blessing it is for both of us. Prayer works in a much more wonderful and effective way.

Our verses in James give us a clear picture of how prayer works. If I am in trouble -- Pray! If I am having a great day and everything is wonderful -- Pray and Praise in song! What about when I am sick? -- Pray! And here we see the "plus," James tells me how to get a boost of power to my prayer -- call in faithful, dedicated Christians to pray with me. Yes, Jesus taught us to go into the closet and pray. Of course, that means to find a private, quiet place where we can be alone with God. Jesus often went away from the disciples into such a place, just to be with His Father and away from the "noise" of this world. Is this a discrepency or a problem with the Bible? Certainly not.

In the book of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we read: "Pray without ceasing." Really what this means is to pray regularly, in all situations, in many circumstances. I know that when something unusually painful or life-threatening comes into my life -- such as cancer or the loss of someone I love -- I need arms around me. I need my Christian brothers and sisters to hold me and pray with me! I need to have someone that I have seen be faithful through a trial, and come out the other end in one piece, pray with me. The power of prayer is multiplied many times over when we pray with other faithful children of God. There is also the fact that when many pray, the prayer literally "never ceases." When I am worn out and sleeping, someone else is praying for me. When my side of the Earth is dark, someone in the light on the other side is praying for me. It is an amazing, and powerful thought!

But there is one other aspect that we must not miss. In verse 16 we read:

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and

pray for each other so that you may be healed."

Our foolish pride often stands in the way of powerful prayer. We are so afraid that we will "look bad" to someone else that we try to keep up a false front and pretend that we are just fine and have no faults to speak of, nothing to pray for. Nothing could ever be further from the truth! Each one of us are sinners. Each one of us has many faults and makes many mistakes. Our Father wants us to be humble instead of proud. He wants each one of us to tell about our weaknesses, to tell about the bad things we did -- either on purpose or accidentally. Rather than building myself up, I need to open up and show my Christian family my raw spots, my pitiful failures. Then, and only then, can we truly PRAY for one another. There is no one person who is better than the others. We are all sinners. Without the sacrifice of Jesus our Lord on the cross, we would all be hopeless and helpless in this world and never ever get home to Heaven.

So, "Phone home!" Reach out across the vastness of time and space and call "Home"! Our Father and our Jesus are already online waiting for the call. You see, we must never, never forget that Heaven placed the call to us long before we were ever born! Heaven is reaching out, waiting for us to pick up the phone and "Phone home." Our God is always at Home and ready for our call!

May God bless us as we continue in this beautiful circle-relationship called Christianity! And it is my prayer that each one of us gets "Home" for Eternity!

Through Thick and Thin

Hello, my friends, and God bless you! As always, he is ready to speak into your life as you open your heart to him. Let's tune in to his holy Word in James 5:7-12. Open it up and pray, asking God to help you hear what you most need to. Then read it a couple of times through. By the way, if you read the blog from work and don't have a Bible handy, you can read it online at sites like: www.biblegateway.com.

So what is God saying to you here? Is he encouraging you, challenging you? What seems to be standing out in my mind today is this:

Job is an example of a man who continued to trust the Lord in sorrow; from his experiences we can see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy. (v. 11 TLB)

Reading the story of Job (that's pronounced Jobe) always makes whatever problems I'm facing pale in comparison to his multiple tragedies. Yet his story is there in the Bible so that we can wrestle along with him with the questions that tug at our hearts during difficult times. "Where is God? Why has he allowed this to happen?" And it actually leads us to realize that the question needs to be turned around: "Where is Job? Where am I when difficult things happen?" It's not God who's on trial; it's us. Will we only trust God when things go our way?

Job's experience models how perseverence pays off in our spiritual journey. While we may have lots of raw emotions and ask our questions, the important thing is that we never lose our trust in God. He's so much wiser and only he sees how everything is moving towards the good purposes that he has for us and all who love him. Yes, Job suffered a lot. His life did not go the way he thought it would. And for a while he felt like God had let him down, at best, or was even against him. But he never quit pursuing his relationship with God. And in the end, he experienced an amazing turn-around in his life.

That's the promise for me, for you, for us all. God's goodness is constant. And while circumstances won't be consistently good, he is. In the end, if we stand strong and refuse to let go of God, we'll see just how good his plans for us really are. Hey, he's not through with me, and he's not through with you!

You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. (v. 8)

Father, I certainly don't always understand why things go the way they do. But today I reaffirm my trust in you. You are good all the time. Your plans will eventually prove to be so much better than I could have worked out on my own. You are my hope and I will not let anyone or anything pull me from you. I can't wait to discover the ultimate good that you have in store! I'm on this adventure with you through thick and thin, through good times and adversity. Amen.

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God-Smacked

Six months after starting this devotional blog, we've written 125 posts and had over 4600 page views! I really hope that your life is being touched and blessed by our conversations with God.

Today, I'm going to James 5:1-6 to hear what God might want to say. My first response? Ouch! I think I've just been God-smacked. Have you noticed that Scripture doesn't hold back? It speaks deepest love to us and also smacks us good when we need it. No holding back or fear of hurting anyone's feelings is to be seen among the writers of Scripture. But then again, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. So if you're not the mouthpiece of God you still need to practice tactfulness! This statement is jumping out at me:

Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. (v. 2-3)

Wow, that's pretty intense! So what's up here? Is God angry with people for being wealthy? Well, that wouldn't make sense because God is the giver of wealth (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Abraham was very wealthy, as was David, Solomon and Job. However, something has changed since their day. Jesus has come. Though he owned everything, he has modeled for us a life of self-giving. These are the last days. We've been in the last days since Jesus returned. We are to live on the brink of eternity with a view to what's next.

And what should that perspective be? That whatever wealth God blesses us with is not only for us to enjoy but for us to use wisely to bless others. We're not living to build our own little kingdoms here in this present world. We're living to receive God's Kingdom and to help bring it into the experience of everyone we can. If you understand that you are living in the last days, God says, you can't possibly think of hoarding all your material blessings for yourself. Why not? You want to use them to honor God and bless others so that you are sending them ahead of you into eternity to the only place where you can enjoy them forever.

A friend of mine just donated a significant amount of money towards the well that we are sponsoring to be built in Guatemala. That's a great example of last-days living. I don't want to end up standing before God with all this stuff and money I hoarded and having him ask me how I used his blessings to invest in his purposes.

And you know what? God doesn't want me to end up in that unenviable situation either. That's why he is warning us here in language that will get our attention. Lord, I hear what you're saying. I really do. My stuff is really your stuff. Thank you for giving me this trust. I will do my best, by your grace, to manage it well and share your goodness.

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Future Planning

Happy Monday morning! I hope you all had a great weekend and are ready to start a new week full of God's surprises. I, Michele, am focusing of James 4:13-17 today. This is a short section but there is lots of good insight to gain from it. The verses that speak most to my heart are:

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog- it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that". (v. 14-15)

If only I could plan my future the way I want it to go! I would choose everything perfectly and know exactly how things that I am hoping for today will work out. As human beings, we all fall into this deceptive trap. We think our lives are our own and we have as long as we want to do whatever it is that we choose to do. What if our plans/dreams for our family don't work out the way they are "supposed to"?  What if the people we plan to have in our lives aren't always there? What if the perfect plan I have for my life ends up not being so perfect at all? What if I put all my eggs in one basket and that basket falls apart? Then what? Does this all sound familiar?

The second part of verse 14 reminds us that our life here on earth is not guaranteed to be for any certain length of time. We can make all the plans we want and then our life may end before any of them come to pass. What if we miss out on some amazing blessings because we forget to include our Lord in our plans? What if everything I've dreamed of and more is right around the corner but I choose to take another path without consulting God? I don't want to be so focused on what I want that I spend my life chasing something that may not be in God's plan for me after all. I want to use everyday that I have on this earth to follow God's lead and do whatever it is that he would have for me to do. I'm not in control of my future. God is. And God is also the only one who knows how much time I have here on earth.

If we are following Christ and his reign in our lives, we will seek his guidance and our best made plans won't compare with what he has in store for us. Even when times look bleak, when things are happening that seem to be devastating, our Lord has a plan. It may seem that God is letting us down or taking away something that we would think he would want for us. God's plan does not always make sense but I would rather be under his control than my own. Sometimes.....I would even go as far as to say most times....amazing blessings come after times of despair. With our eyes focused on the one who saves us, we can come out victorious!

Lord, help me to only make plans after knowing what direction you have for my life, where you are leading me. Remind me daily that within your will is where I truly want to be. Don't let my feet slip from your path because I desperately want to go this way or that. Only if your will is my goal will I live the victorious life. Help me to do whatever it is you are calling me to do, even if it seems too painful. I love you, Lord. Amen

Dancing With God

Friday is here! So you've got some plans for a fun weekend, I hope! Make it a great one by letting God speak into your life today. That's what I doing right now, reading from the Bible in James 4:6-12.

Life with God is a dance. But sometimes we get out of step and get our toes stepped on. This text is about having the right attitude towards God, understanding that there is a God and I am not him. That's pretty important to realize in life. Otherwise, I'll be prideful, judgmental and think I have the right to do whatever I want, answering to no one. It's an illusion that many people manage to maintain, but it always ends up with a rude awakening. That human arrogance just makes it impossible to have a harmonious relationship with God.

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, then to God.... Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (v. 6-7, 10)

Hopes and dreams are the fuel of life. So what do you do when your dreams don't materialize? I don't know about you, but I sometimes feel disappointed with God. We live with certain expectations that if we do certain things that God is going to reciprocate by allowing us to reach our goals and bring our dreams to life. And sometimes that's exactly what happens. But then there are the other times. The failures, or perceived failures. The disappointments. The unmet goals. The desires we can't attain. The precious things or people that we lose.

What God is saying I need most in those times is a humble attitude before him. I need to submit myself to his sovereign rule, to remember that he is God and I am not. I may not understand the reasons, but God has something else or another time in mind. Living by faith means that I really entrust my life to God. I am willing to accept his will. Then we can dance!

It's not exactly easy. Sometimes I get in resistance mode. But he reminds me it's the devil I need to be resisting (v. 7), the sworn enemy of the human race. If I have a humble and yielded heart before God, I'm going to stay close to him even through those disappointments. And he loves to exalt people who recognize his right to rule! He pours out his undeserved favor (grace) on the humble, not the proud, and lifts them up to set them on the peaks. Sooner or later, an attitude of understanding the reality of God over all brings all the rewards of Heaven. To dance with God I've got to let him lead.

Father, I yield my will to yours, my plans to yours, my dreams for my life to your dreams for me. Deep inside I trust that your plans are always better than my own, anyway. I believe that you will lift me up and show me your amazing grace. This dance is yours, so take the lead! Amen.

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God or the World?

Good morning to all you fellow bloggers? This is Michele with you on this Thursday and I am loving this study on the book of James. This book is packed with words of wisdom for us to meditate on. I am focusing on James 4:1-6 today. Give it a read. It is very short, so you might read it a couple of times in order to really take it in.

This section begins by telling us that we are jealous of others and want what they have. It also reminds us that there is a reason why we don't always get what we want. It's kind of like in junior high and some kids have all designer clothing or expensive shoes or is more popular and another child who is less fortunate wants to have all that stuff too. He or she may have clothing to wear or shoes on his or her feet, but they may not have everything they want. Adults even struggle with wanting what others have (bigger homes, nice cars, exotic trips, compliant children, a higher spot on the corporate ladder, etc). It seems as if we are never satisfied and always want more, more, more, more!!

......Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong- you want only what will give you pleasure. (v. 2-3)

Is there anything wrong with wanting nice things or even asking God for them? No, and sometimes God will bless us with far more then we can ask or imagine. This passage is telling us that sometimes we leave God totally out or we have the wrong motives when we do ask. Just because I want to "keep up with the Jones' " is not a good reason to have certain things. If we are always trying to keep up with others or be like them, we are not being all that God wants us to be. He wants us to strive to be like him, not the world! When we are so focused on the world's value of things, we quickly forget what Christ values and we become very hollow and godless.

You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: if you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. (v. 4)

What a profound statement!! Adulterers? We are God's, we belong to him. God feels like we are cheating on him when we are so focused on things of this world. Again, it's not wrong to have nice things and even wealth but if we make them the center of our existence, then there is no room for God. I don't want to be an enemy of God. I want my commitment to be to God and his plans for my life, even if I never have all that others have.

But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble". (v. 6)

This is very encouraging news! I have God's grace to forgive me when I fail and to change my heart so that I can stand against the evil that fills my heart as a human being.  I want to be humble so that God will pour out his favor on me. Only with God can I be changed and renewed so that my mind and desires are not focused on the emptiness that this world has to offer. I do not want to be an opponent of God, I want to be on his team!

Lord, cleanse me of all selfish ambition and help me to focus on wanting you and all that you have for me. Help me to seek your values and find my contentment in you, not this world. This world is empty. You are so filling, Lord. Help others to see that my commitment is to you, not to having more and giving into greed and envy. Help me to seek your kingdom first and allow you to bless me as you see fit. I love you, God, and want to live for you. Amen.

Please share your comments with us! This is a great study and it is so encouraging to share thoughts amongst other Christians as we study the same passages.

Wise Living

Being in God's Word is so strengthening and makes me feel closer to God. And today's conversation with him is centering around James 3:13-18. What do you hear him saying to you in your present circumstances? I hear him saying that to live well, I must live wisely.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (v. 13)

And this isn't what the world necessarily defines as wise living. The wisdom of God proves itself in what we experience. The wisdom of the world proves to be futile and misguided. Selfish ambition and bragging and conniving my way into the top spot or the spotlight may be what the self-help books promote, but that produces only a fragile sense of importance that eventually falls apart, along with the relationships I kill along the way. Contrary to conventional "wisdom," you don't have to have the cold, killer instinct to be successful in business or to come out the "winner" in relationships.

God's wisdom isn't two-faced but sincere. It's not mean-spirited but gentle and reasonable. Wisdom teaches me to be considerate of the other person and willing to sometimes yield to their wishes instead of always demanding my own way. It's characterized by the fact that I can get along well with others, starting with those closest to me. And the result is a rich harvest of the best things in life--a peaceful relationship with God and with most others.

Jesus, I see the wisdom of your way of life and I'm so drawn to you. Lead me in your ways so that I can live wisely and experience the rewards. Amen!

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Wicked Words

Today is a good day! God loves me, and he has me in his hands and his plans. The same goes for you, my friend! I'm listening for a word from God, continuing to take in this inspired letter of James. Why don't you join me in being still a moment, asking God to speak, and reading James 3:1-12. This is worth a second time through! Truer words have never been written!

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (v. 6)

Thank you for this convicting reminder, God. I keep a careful watch on what I say, but I'm sure that my mouth has gotten me in more trouble in my life than anything else. I can't think of anything that causes more pain in the flow of everyday life than the things people say. And it starts so young! Long before a person ever gets old enough to beat someone up or rob them or cheat them or murder them, they will already have sliced and diced the feelings of countless people. The old adage about "sticks and stones may break my bones..." is such a fantasy. Words do far more damage than any other weapon humans have ever created.

I want to use mine well today, Lord. And every day. Forgive me for all the wicked words, or even misguided words, that I've ever spoken. I am so thankful for your grace! I'm also thankful that I have your help and strength to rely on to help me keep my tongue under tight reigns. I know that alone I can never tame my tongue. So I will consciously turn it over to your Holy Spirit's control each day. "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord. Keep watch over the doors of my lips." (Psalm 141:3)  You guide my words. I will say what you want me to say. And clean out my heart, because I know that all my bitter words spring from there. Thank you for giving me a chance to use my words to build someone up instead of tearing them down. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Faith That Works

Hello all, this is Chris. Thanks to Katrinka and Michele for covering for me last week! I know that you guys benefit as much or more from their insights as mine, and it's great to have their input. Today I'm looking for a word from God from James 2:14-26. I'm finding one:

Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (v. 15-17)

God is reminding me that if I really trust him, I will actively care for people. If my faith is real it's going to show up my actions, and specifically in the way I treat the poor or anyone in real need.

Authentic faith is more than just a theoretical belief system. Yes, I'm saved by faith. I'm going to heaven by the simple trust that I put in Jesus as my Savior. But salvation is bigger than just going to heaven when I die. God wants to save me from a self-centered life full of poor choices and the consequences they bring to myself and others. He wants to save the planet from the painful effects of human sin. Salvation is experienced fully only when my faith works. My trust in Jesus produces action. I step in behind him and follow in his footsteps...because I want to.

I'm glad that as I read this I have some opportunities to practice it. In a couple of weeks my church will be feeding the homeless at a Houston shelter. I will get to do something to meet their needs because of the faith that I have.

And in October I'll be taking a small team to Guatemala to build a water well to provide clean, safe water for a needy community for decades to come. At times it's been discouraging because the original size of the team has dwindled a lot over the months. Just earlier today I was questioning whether to continue. And then I read this. God is reinforcing to me through this text that I should. As long as the opportunity is still there, my faith needs to act to do more than just wish these thirsty people well and hope someone else will take care of them. In the process of giving water we will give life, and our faith will come alive! (If you'd like to come, let me know asap!)

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