Take a Stand

Jesus has something crucially important to say to us today. Gotta switch off the noise and listen! I'm reading John 13:36 through 14:6 today. If you have a Bible, jump in there with me. If not, you can use a site like www.biblegateway.com and read from a number of different translations.

Peter: "Jesus, I will lay down my life for you!"
Jesus: "Will you really? Before the rooster crows in the morning you will have disowned me three times!" (13:37-38)

I can relate a little to Peter here. There have been times I wanted so much to do the right thing, but ended up doing the wrong thing. And I have to ask myself if Peter is the only one who disowned Jesus. There are certain contexts in which it takes courage to stand up and be counted as his follower. I don't ever want to disown him either by my words or by my actions. Yet I fear that at some point, I have. So maybe we better give Peter a break.

I can only imagine what Christians in Communist or Muslim countries must go through and the threats they face. I think I'm going to pause and pray for them, as well as myself. If I were in their shoes, I would be so strengthened knowing that my fellow disciples across the ocean are praying for me. In fact, I'm going to commit to praying for persecuted Christ-followers around the globe daily for the month of October. If I can do that, perhaps their plight will really sink in and they will become part of my heart. I might even read up about some of them on Voice of the Martyrs.

There is so much in life that is tough or confusing or both. Picking up on yesterday's post, I'm reminded of the wonderfully simple way that Jesus calls me forward.

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (14:6)

When I'm confused, the only truth I really need to know is the Truth. I just need to know Jesus. When I'm feeling lost and directionless, I know that the way forward is the Way. I just need to hang onto Jesus and trust that he will lead me where he wants me. When I'm feeling threatened and fearful about my safety or well-being, my life is filled with the Life. And that Life doesn't ever have to feel threatened because it is secure and it is mine, protected by Jesus himself.

He's the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I'm taking my stand right there. Yeah, he's worth standing up for!

Is anybody out there? Let me hear from you! Take a second and comment below.

The One Thing to Focus On

The sun is illuminating the big, blue sky outside my office window. I have an icy glass of water on one side and my Bible on the other. Something good is bound to happen! I've asked Jesus to speak his words of life to me and he is, through the pages of John's gospel. He's given me just a short passage to focus on today: John 13:31-35. Five short verses. But I couldn't get beyond verses 34 and 35. So check it out!

I don't need to go any further that that right now. Nothing smothers spiritual growth more than what I call the what else mentality. Funny how we want to hurry right on by foundational, potentially life-changing statements like that one and see what else we can mine out of Scripture. But here it is: The Christian life in a nutshell. It's Theology 101. It's also Theology 201, 301, 401 all the way up to Th.D. It's fine and good to study and explore the finer points of doctrine, but until we get this one concept absolutely mastered we would do better to just get a laser focus on accomplishing that:

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  

If our knowledge of Scripture causes us to love other people less and drives wedges between us, then our theology has taken us the opposite direction from the heart of Christ. Healthy, Jesus-focused theology makes us more caring, more accepting, more humble, more willing to sacrifice our own desires for the good of others. It makes us bridge-builders instead of wall builders. It drives us to people, not away from them.

What does God want from me? He wants me to love him with all my heart and he wants me to love the people around me.
     the people down the street
     the people in that other church building
     the people in that other part of town
     the people with those annoying traits
     the people I don't yet understand
     the people that are "moving my cheese"
     the people that inconvenience me
     the people from that other political party
     the people in my own house
     even the people across the globe.

"Love one another. Love them with the same kind of all-out love I've shown for you. Lay down self in favor of relationships." There is no greater cornerstone of life than that. It's not confusing. It's not complicated. And it is so spiritually and emotionally liberating.

I think I'm just going to focus on that for a while until I get a whole lot better at it. It's a supernatural thing, you know. Only God can give me that love. But I've got to ask him for it, receive it and choose to live by it. What if everyone loved like this? Wow.

If you agree with Jesus that the world needs more love, why don't you share this post on your Facebook wall? Spread the love by clicking on the "f" icon below. Your own reflections on Jesus' words are wanted and welcome! Please sign in and then comment. 

What Lies Ahead

God blesses those who seek him and who hunger and thirst for any encounter with him. So let's see if he has a word for us today. Join me in reading from the Bible, John 13:18-30. As you read it a second time, think about the details and ask the Holy Spirit to apply it to your heart. What is he saying to you?

"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He." (v. 19)

Of course, Jesus went on to express that he knew all about Judas' plot to betray him. That shows me that Jesus was no unsuspecting victim. He was always the one in control. But it also speaks to my own life. It's a reminder that Jesus knows the future.

That's important to me because I don't have a clue what lies ahead. And that scares me sometimes. As I consider my next step forward, I don't even know what it is. I'm looking for an open door, praying and seeking God's direction. But so far, a lot about the future is still pretty murky. An uncertain future is something that keeps a lot of people up at night.

But Jesus already knows exactly what is going to happen before it ever happens. Nothing surprises him. What I wonder and worry about, he already foresees the outcome. I don't need a crystal ball. Jesus is steering my life and he not only knows the future, but he even directs it. That's comforting because he is the one I can trust to show me the way. I can trust that my future is secure in his plans. It is not for me to know just yet, but when the time is right he will reveal what he has in mind for me to do.

In the meantime, I already know who he wants me to be. And that is most important.

Please add your reflections below in the Comments section! And share this post to your Facebook page before you go. Thanks, and God bless and guide you as you trust him!

Descent to the Top

Welcome back to our conversations with God! Are you ready? We're going into John 13 today, the first 17 verses. You may have heard this story before. Read it and listen with fresh ears, as if for the very first time. Place yourself at the table. Place yourself with the towel. What does Jesus want to say to you right now?

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." (v. 8)

I'm so grateful to Jesus for washing me! I welcome his washing. I'm like Peter here: "Well, don't stop with my feet, then! I want a relationship with you, and if I need you to wash me to have it, then wash away!" You see, I know that without Jesus washing my soul it's awfully dirty and cruddy. Yes, it's so peaceful feeling clean and washed and guilt-free before God. And what I mess I was when he washed me!

How I'm taken aback by the reality that the King of the universe, the infinite and eternal God, would stoop down and "wash my feet." He's the King but he served me. He's in charge but he played the servant. He's superior in every way but he identified himself with me. He didn't need me but he loved me. He is repulsed by every tinge of evil, yet he got his hands unbelievably dirty washing my spiritual grime. No matter how many times I've heard it, I 've got to pause and whisper "Wow!"

And now what? Am I going to remain kicked back at the table eating grapes, expecting Jesus and everyone else to keep on serving me? How could I?

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." (v. 15)

Okay, I get it, Jesus! If you're the greatest and you humbly serve others, then that's what defines true greatness. You've elevated me by transforming this prideful guy into a servant! The way up is stooping down. There is no higher calling than to lay self-interest aside and focus on the needs of others. The more I serve, and the more unassumingly I do it, the more significant I become. Here on my knees, with a towel around my waist and a bowl of dirty water at the feet of other people, is where I find my closest proximity to you. You've served me, now I will serve others. Thank you for teaching me the power and greatness of service. Amen.

So, who's got dirty feet?

For more on this subject, check out my Easter Sunday message from last year entitled Rising Downward at this link: http://www.onelifeonline.com/media/index.php?video=04-04-10. (It starts about 27 minutes into the service.) I'm looking forward to hearing from others of you who are reading this blog. Please join in the conversation! Comment below.

Lizards on a Hot Rock

You never know where a conversation with God is going to go! He always sets the agenda. So be open to hear whatever he wants to say to you in this moment. Let's listen from John 12:37-50. You can't read this and not feel God leaning in to engage you. I am drawn to Jesus' words:

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (v. 46)

More profound statements from Jesus about light and darkness. But how do they apply to where you and I are right now? Do you recognize the darkness around you? Are you aware of it? Just a while ago, I was driving home, surfing through the radio stations. A dance song came on that's several years old. It's a picture of an encounter, maybe at a bar or a party. A guy is asking a girl what she's going to do with all her sexy body parts (her "junk in the trunk"), and she says she's going to get him "love-drunk" by "humping" him.

I was struck by the darkness in the song. Teenagers and adults listen to that and imitate it, thinking it's going to be so exciting. And yes, it probably is...for a few minutes while it lasts. They're panting like lizards on a hot rock. But then what? When they're done, they're probably feeling an urge to get away, a sense of disrespect, maybe even a tinge of disgust for each other. There's no lasting happiness. No fulfillment. No real intimacy. They're left hungrier and emptier than before. Darkness. It's just a shadow of love...not the real thing.

Jesus is calling you and me away from those shadows to lift our eyes to the real thing. He wants us to experience true love with the light shining on it. And that kind of love finds its source in God. It takes us straight to the top in a context of adoration, all-out commitment and total self-giving with nothing held back. See, once you've stood in the light and experienced it, you realize how lousy you had it when you were surrounded by the shadows. I love that about Jesus!

Jesus, thank you for teaching me what really makes life good. Thank you for your light. Without it, I flounder around in the shadowlands missing out on the real thing. You, Jesus, are the real deal.

I'd really like to know how God spoke to you through this piece of Scripture. Would you please share it? Comment below. And spread the love! Share this post to your Facebook wall by clicking the "f" icon below. Thanks and God bless you!

The Biggest Loser

I come to John twelve today, hungry for a God-encounter. Are you in? Let's read verses 12-36. This gospel account is approaching its climax! What do you see in him? What do you hear Jesus saying to you here?

"...now the prince of this world will be driven out." (v. 31)

Satan is powerful enemy but a defeated one. He is the biggest loser in the history of the cosmos. Everything that happens in this text is leading up to the cross, just a few days later. In less than a week, Jesus goes from being hailed as the new king to being lifted up on a cross to die a criminal's death. One day they toss palm branches before him and shout praises. Five days later it's their saliva they fling at him as they yell insults. It looks like Satan has totally turned the tide and won the day. The truth, it turns out, is quite the opposite. Satan's illusory victory was, in fact, the decisive assault on his pseudo-rule of this world.

"But I when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself." (v. 32)

The glory of Jesus shines most brightly not on Palm Sunday as the crowd adores him, but on Good Friday when they kill him. He wasn't here to be a rock star. He came to lay down his life to rescue the world. His glory (and mine) isn't in self-promotion. It is in his self-sacrifice for the good of others. In this totally selfless act of courage and love, he exposes the weakness of hatred. Jesus will bear humiliation on the cross, but not for long. The devil's humiliation is permanent.

I'm so glad I'm on the right side! I won't be intimidated by the devil and anything he tries to throw at me. Neither will I fall for his illusions, as if I would trade real life for his empty shadows. Like Gadhafi, he hasn't conceded defeat. He's still raging and fuming and blowing hot air. But I know, and so do you, my friend, that his regime is doomed. A new day has dawned. The brilliant kingdom of God is growing on the horizon. With Jesus, I am victorious!

Share your comments below and enrich our conversation! It doesn't take half a minute to share this post to your Facebook wall and spread the Good News! (Click the "f" button below.)

Real Men Love Jesus

Hello! I hope you're having a good day. In any case, it's about to get better! At least, that's the way it goes for me when I hear a word from God. So today, I invite you to take in the first eleven verses of John chapter twelve. This is a short but poignant account of how one woman showed her love for Jesus. Okay, I'm a man, but I'm not ashamed to say I love Jesus. Real men do! How about you? Sometimes I wonder how I can really show him. Maybe I can learn something about what makes him feel loved from this story.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. (v. 3)

This, by the way, is not Jesus' mother or Mary Magdelene, but the sister of Lazarus (see yesterday's blog). There are three qualities about her demonstration of love that jump out at me. First, it was a costly act. The text explains that it was worth a whole year's salary for a common worker! Even if Mary was fairly well-to-do, she really made a significant sacrifice. When you really love someone, you'll do things like that on occasion just because you want to show them how much they mean to you. I think of the kind of sacrifices that people make for their lovers, or that parents make to provide their children with something really special. It's a sacrifice, but it's done with great delight!

Second, it occurs to me that her action is a good example of reckless love. It wasn't considered proper in ancient Jewish society for a woman to let down her hair in public. Eyebrows were certainly raised at the dinner party! But Mary doesn't seem to care. She's caught up in a moment, and it's as if there's nobody else in the room but Jesus and her. Love will do that to you! It can be a little reckless and lavish. The reaction of the one you love means more to you than anyone else's reaction.

Third, she made Jesus feel loved by her authentic humility. Tending to someone's feet is, well, a humble task. I can testify that clipping my nine-year-old son's toenails certainly brings me back down to earth! In Mary's culture, tending to others' feet was servant's work. (And she's apparently a fairly wealthy woman and the host of this social event.) Yet her love and respect for Jesus are so moving that she falls to his feet in the most humble display of love I can imagine.

So how can I show Jesus how much he means to me? I bet if I am willing to make some significant sacrifices in his name and be a little lavish and reckless about it, at times, and serve him with the utmost respect and humility and give without any pretense, Jesus is going to feel deeply loved by me. And that will make me very happy!

God bless you! I hope that you'll share what you hear God saying to you in this story. Just sign in and comment below. Spread the blessing of this blog to people you know by sharing it on your Facebook page (click "f" below).

A Lesson in Belief

Good morning and happy Tuesday to all of you! I, Michele, am with you this morning and want to explore Chapter 11 of the book of John with you. This is the wonderful story of Lazarus being raised from the dead by our miraculous Savior. I love this story! Give it a read and see what God has to say to you personally. I have read this story many times but I now understand some of the emotion experienced by the characters. This is what pops out at me:

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (v. 21)

When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." (v. 32)

Notice back in verse 6 the text states that Jesus stayed where he was for 2 days before going to Judea (where Lazarus was) even after being told that Lazarus was very sick.  I think both Mary and Martha were a little perturbed that Jesus waited for so long before coming. They were both positive that Jesus could have healed Lazarus' illness. How dare him! He was a close friend of Lazarus and did not immediately come to his aid. I don't think you and I are much different from Mary and Martha. I know I'm that way. I want Jesus to come to my aid as soon as I need him and not a minute later! Do you ever feel that way? Do you ever wonder why God waits and takes his sweet time when you are in such dire need? Why do you suppose?

If we go back to verse 4 we are told why:

But when Jesus heard about it he said, "Lazarus' sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this."

I think Jesus wanted to do a little showing off here. Or....was there more to this? Why wait? He could have healed him instantly even from far away. Was this a test in belief? At a time like this??

Jesus wants complete trust from every one of his followers. He wants to show us his glory and he often chooses times of tragedy to show himself the biggest. 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, "....'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' " I can't think of a time when one might be weaker than when they've lost a loved one.

Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" (v. 40)

And so he simply raised Lazarus from the dead. What an amazing miracle! Even bigger than if he would have healed his illness before he died, don't you think? I wish this text would have gone on the explain the reaction of those who saw this. It obviously isn't important enough for us to know but I imagine there would be lots of fear and subsequent falling at Jesus' feet in praise. It would be hard not to believe after seeing a miracle like that! Isn't our Lord brilliant?

I'm quite positive that there are people in your life who need to understand the saving power of our Lord and Savior. How about sharing this story with them and inviting them to read this blog on a daily basis? It just might be exactly what they need.

Receiving His Peace

Welcome back, my friend! Let's get our hearts ready to have a conversation with God. The preparation to listen is as important as the listening. When I rush I don't hear him well. Quiet your mind. To hear a word from God that speaks to you personally is worth the time.

Now let's read from the Bible, John 10:22 through the end of the chapter. These are the words of God. Don't skip them to read my thoughts. It's not long, so read it again, even more thoughtfully. What are you hearing?

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. (v. 27-28)

This is one of those pronouncements Jesus made that just resonates in my spirit. I'm supposing that is because I am prone to feeling vulnerable and at times insecure. What lies ahead? The world throws a lot at us. The devil has me in his crosshairs. He would relish my downfall and demise. Add to that all the fear-provoking news that the media splatters all over the airwaves: The economy is teetering. Jobs are scarce. Political unrest seems to be escalating. Terrorism hasn't gone away with the death of Bin Laden. Even the movies want to scare us about whatever they can...and we even pay them to do it! Lately, its fear that some world-wide plague might take us all down.

We're a fearful lot, we humans. And there is plenty to worry about it...if you choose to do that. And let's face it, the whole "No Fear" logo thing is kind of funny. It's not peace; it's just apathy. You can opt out of fear by convincing yourself that you just don't care what happens. But me, I'd rather have real peace. And Jesus gives it in full supply.

Because I listen to his voice and know him personally, I don't have to be afraid. He has given me eternal life. My flame cannot be extinguished. The kind of life I have come to know in Christ nothing can take away. Even physical death can only transition it from its present expression to an even better one.

Jesus has me in his hand, and he's not letting go. Satan himself will try his best to tear me away from him but without success. My sinfulness troubles me but I feel the grip of divine grace. The world will threaten me but I know it can't destroy me. I have Jesus' word on that! My entire security rests not on my meager shoulders but on the mighty strength of my Deliverer. So you know what? I'm claiming that promise and enjoying some real peace. How about you?

If you'd like some further encouragement from God about letting go of your fear, watch the following video of a message I gave at One Life Church:  Falling Forward: Fear
Spread the peace around. Share this post on your Facebook wall (click the "f" button below). And let us in on what you heard from Jesus as he spoke to you today. Sign in and comment below.

Lead On

A very happy Friday to you! A great weekend starts with a conversation with the God who loves us. So grab your coffee or your soft drink and let's settle in for a visit with Jesus from John 10:1-21. As you listen to what he says, imagine that he is talking directly to you. Ask yourself how you should think or act based on what he says.

I love this metaphor Jesus uses of himself as the Good Shepherd.

...the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (v. 3-4)

This is a picture of familiarity and complete trust. I hear Jesus saying that this is what he wants in our relationship. I need to listen to him so that I can recognize his voice when I hear it. I want to know Jesus well enough that I know his heart. Then I can discern what is from him and what is not.

But life is pretty simple in this picture Jesus paints. It's about knowing him, absorbing his teaching and following his lead. It's not really complicated at all. The only difficulty lies in wanting this relationship and all that it brings badly enough to surrender my right to steer my own life. Once I want Jesus' leadership badly enough, it really is just about spending time with him and going where he leads me.

Now that can sound a little intimidating, too. Because what if he leads me somewhere or into a situation that is uncomfortable? I am hearing him loud and clear this morning speaking this to my heart:

...he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him...

He goes on ahead of me. He takes the turn before I do. Wherever I end up, he's already there waiting on me. He doesn't just send me out. He leads me out. The difference is huge. I've got to trust that however rough the terrain may be that he leads me through, I face no threat alone. And the place we're heading is going to be green and lush. He's the Good Shepherd. He loves me enough that he laid down his life to save me. And he took up his life again so that he can continue to lead and protect me.

Jesus, lead on. I'm right behind you.

So what's keeping you from trusting him to lead you? Share it with us in the comments section below.

Open the Eyes of My Heart

That was such an encouraging post from Michele yesterday about what a real relationship with Jesus is! Today we're in for a treat as we read the dramatic story John the Apostle tells in chapter nine. It reads like a play with six scenes. You've got to take it in! Check your spiritual vision. There's a lot more going on here beneath the surface.

The spotlight in this passage is on the man who became a follower of Jesus. He stands as a model of what it means to come to faith. What John is portraying is a common experience of disciples. He was certainly telling this story for the benefit of the church of his own day. As they listened to this story they couldn’t help but see themselves. They too had been healed by Jesus, blessed by him, and after that found themselves arguing with old friends, facing challenges and hostility to their new faith, being pushed out of the circles they once belonged, distanced by their families. 

Now, in this story of a blind man who suffered the same things, they see Jesus seeking them out to affirm them, acting on his promise that “Anyone who comes to me I will never drive out” (6.37). They found encouragement to stand strong in their belief and worship him (v. 38). That same encouragement echoes down through centuries to us as we live in a strange new world where Christian faith that used to be the norm is once again moving towards the fringes.

But here's the pearl for me today:

His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." (v. 3)
All his life he had been blind. He had never seen the light of day. His blindness had gone on and on, affecting every aspect of his life. I have to believe that there were many moments during those decades in the dark that he asked himself the same accusing questions that the disciples did. Yet it all led up to this moment when he would meet Jesus and receive his sight and so much more. If he hadn’t been born blind, he might have been one of the crowd who picked up stones to throw at Jesus in the temple (8:59). He might have chimed right in with his skeptical neighbors (v. 8-9). He might have had eyes that could see but not his spiritual eyes, not the eyes of his heart. 

What are you struggling with? Is there something that seems to be the curse of your life? I think about things that I've been through that have left a limp in my step. What have you laid awake thinking about and wondering why God let this storm front dump its fury on your life? Has it seemed to go on forever, leaving you feeling like life has passed you by?

Could it be this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in my life? in yours? Whether it’s through healing or resolving that situation in a powerful way to bring him praise. Or whether it’s through that situation that he opens my spiritual eyes wider or gives my heart the capacity to receive his love more intimately and share it. Maybe it’s through that "curse" that God leads you or me into the ministry of your life, to help others in similar places but who don’t have the God resources.

After Jesus says that this blindness happened so that the work of God might be displayed in the man's life, he goes on to add:

As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (v. 4)

The work of God is done in us so that it can then be done through us. The healing work of God is displayed in blind man’s life, bringing him to faith, not just so he can become a worshipper, but so that he can then step in behind Jesus as a disciple and join him in doing the healing work of God. Through what seemed like a curse on his life, first God’s grace and power is on display and then his love and his way of giving himself for others. In whatever shape or form it takes, that’s his plan for all of us! So, how open are your eyes?

Like this blind man, your story of Jesus' touch on your life is powerful too. Share it! Your comments are always appreciated.

To Live Forever

Happy Wednesday morning to you! This is Michele with you today and I am focusing on the last portion of John 8, verses 48-59. Please read them with me and quiet yourself so you can hear what God has to say to you. It is very short so read it more than once if needed. This is the treasure that spoke to my heart:

I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die! (vs. 51)

"I tell you the truth........never die!" When Jesus says he is telling us the truth, he means what he says. If I had a bible with all of Jesus' words in red, this would be one of those verses that would stand out. Jesus didn't mean that we will physically live forever (praise him for that!) but that we will live forever in eternity with him. Jesus continually tried to get the people to understand this concept of eternal life and following him. Jesus told them time and again that if they would follow him they would experience true life, a life that would go on even after their physical death. A life with purpose far beyond following religious rules and rigidity.

Did the religious leaders believe what Jesus said? No, they couldn't get past their claim against Jesus of blasphemy. They thought Jesus was possessed by a demon (vs. 52). How many people do you know who live with blinders on when it comes to a relationship w/ Christ? Do you ever feel like you are banging your head against a wall trying to witness to them? Imagine how Jesus must have felt in dealing with the religious leaders! Talk about stubborn people! They claimed to know and follow God but Jesus pointed out how blind they really were.

....You say, "He is our God," but you don't even know him....(vs.54-55)

You see, it isn't about what rules we follow, what we do and what we don't do. It's strictly about knowing our Savior and knowing we've been saved from ourselves and the power of the devil. If we don't understand this, we are not truly living at all! To know God is a journey and an adventure, one to be sought after and embraced. It is a growing knowledge of his Word and his love for us. It is a love affair far beyond any earthly love affair with another human being. Knowing Christ is something that will make a difference in who we are at the very core of our being and what we hope others will see in us and inquire about. Do you know him like that? Are you bored with him or do you thirst for more of him?

Lord, I come to you this morning wanting more of you. I can't wait to experience eternal life with you. Until that day comes, Lord, take me deeper in my love affair with you here on earth. Give me a thirst for more of you! I want others to see you in me and want what I have. Speak through me to others who may not know you. So many people in this world do not fully understand eternal life and what that means for them. I want to live my life completely to honor and bring glory to your name. Amen

I hope this was a blessing to you this morning. If so, please share this with your friends.....maybe those who don't already know God. I bet you have facebook friends who live with blinders on. Just click the f below and share this post on your facebook account. Great way to witness to a world in need!

Free Indeed

I hope you had a great weekend! Mondays are, well, Mondays. But to hear something important from God will make even a Monday great! So I'm listening to what he is saying in John 8:31-47. Why don't you join me?

Here is the statement that rings in my head:

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (v. 31-32)

Can you imagine being a slave? The closest I ever came to experiencing slavery was working for UPS loading trucks. It was close, but still not quite the real thing. Slavery is when my choices are made for me. My options are closed. I'm used purely as a means to an end. I answer to a master who controls my life. Doesn't sound like fun, does it?

We watch on the news as other people groups fight for their liberty against dictators. We don't think of ourselves as slaves. We live in "the land of the free and the home of the brave," right? Yet, Jesus points something out that is so important and yet so easily missed:

"I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." (v. 34)

So how is that? God is the giver of Life. He explains its purpose to us and guides and instructs us in how to live it well. But when we rebel and do it our way instead, everything gets messed up. Sin is enslaving. With every moment of giving in I lose a little more freedom. Soon I find myself driven by my sinfulness. I am controlled by my lusts and desires and fears and insecurities. And none of it brings well-being to my life. I become a pawn in Satan's game, used and manipulated by the worst dictator of all. And I can't break free.

But Jesus sets me free! Knowing Jesus is the Truth that frees! He forgives me, cleanses me, clears my name. But he goes way beyond that: He frees me to see life as it really is. He helps me to understand who I am and why I'm here. He opens my spiritual eyes, and with the lies of the devil exposed I am free to choose Life. I am free to live for what I was created for--a relationship with my Maker. And he and his goodness free me to love, to celebrate, to forgive, to overcome.

Wars and armies may secure political freedom. And we cheer for freedom fighters. But so many people who are politically free are still slaves at the core. The most vital, most profound freedom is found only in knowing Jesus, the Son of God, personally and deeply.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (v. 36)

Now that's worth cheering! What do you hear Jesus saying to you in this text? Share it below in the Comments section! (Sign in first or choose Anonymous from the "Comment as" field.)

The Two Things That Will Define Your Life

Congratulations on your desire to hear from God today! He will honor that. He's just been speaking to me through the profound words of Jesus in John 8:12-30. Give yourself the chance to listen to what he is saying. Clear your mind and then read it through at least twice with me, slowly, thoughtfully.

The main thing that I hear him saying is that he is Life. He keeps coming back to that! I need him like I need oxygen. He is. He is everything I need him to be. But something else he says jumps out at me today:

...I know where I came from and where I am going. (v. 14)

When I think about my identity--who I am really--it is really defined by these two points: my origin and my destination. My understanding of the starting point of my life and my ultimate goal ahead determines the trajectory of my life in between. Are you with me?

The world around me and the people in my life try to define me. If I don't know where I came from and where I'm going, I will either let others create a false identity for me or I will create one myself. Either way, the trajectory of my life will be knocked off course and I'll go around in circles lost and confused.

Knowing my origin is important. If I think that I'm a mere accident of mindless chance in a cosmos with no ultimate purpose then I will live my life the same way. If I see myself as just a highly functional animal then I will tend to behave like one. Or if I think I'm worthless and unwanted, the product of a broken, dysfunctional home, rejected by a parent, then I'll be stuck in that sense of nothingness. But if I know that I am a special creation of an amazing God who loves me and created me with distinct purpose, that changes everything. When I start from there, I move ahead with a sense of great worth and meaning. Yet it's not enough to know where I came from.

Having clarity about my destination is equally vital to a full life. Why do people do some of the crazy, self-destructive things they do? Because they think they're headed for non-existence in the grave and they're desperately trying to grab whatever they can while they can. Or if I think I'm on the highway to hell, then why try? Or if I just don't think beyond my retirement years, then my life's trajectory is all about my career, financial portfolios and maybe growing my family. But if I know that I'm headed for eternal life in the new heaven and new earth that God will bring about, then I'm going to live with tremendous hope. I'm going to have a sharply focused sense of purpose that I'm even now part of this movement of God and his inbreaking Kingdom. In the confusion of trying to figure out what's next, I'll narrow my options in light of my ultimate goal.

In short, when I know where I come from and where I'm going, everything in between will fall into place. If I make all my significant decisions based on those two simple concepts that bookend my life, then my vision will be clearer, my decisions will be better, and the consistency will keep me moving forward in the right direction. I'll experience Life.

God bless you today! I'd appreciate it if you'd share this post on your Facebook wall (click the Facebook "f" button below). And please share your own thoughts from Jesus' words below (sign in first or choose "Anonymous" from the "Comment As" field.)

Throwing Rocks

God is near you every day, every moment, no matter what you are feeling. And he is always communicating his love and his vision for our lives. Let's step into a story from the Bible recorded in John 7:53-8:11. You may notice that your Bible indicates this text was probably not written by John or in the original manuscript of his gospel. Yet it has been preserved through the centuries by the church and regarded as an authentic account. As you read it, ask yourself what you learn of Jesus and what he may be wanting to say to you here.

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. (v. 7)

Even the hate-filled hypocrites in the story couldn't argue with that. Touche`! They knew they really had no choice but to drop their heads and their rocks and walk away...this time. Inwardly we cheer for Jesus! But it makes me wonder why we applaud him and yet there is still so much rock-throwing in the world, even among the followers of this same Jesus.

It's so much better when compassion wins the day over condemnation. Really, we're all in this thing called life together. We all hurt. We all get confused. We are all capable of getting lost inside. It's so easy to look down on someone and think harsh thoughts, but it takes a lot more character to care enough to consider what inputs may have led them to that place. And it takes humility to look in the mirror.

Instead of throwing stones at people today--verbal stones, mental stones, kidney stones (ha, just kidding)--why don't I just decide to put my rocks down and sit with people in this mess we call humanity, as one of them, and tell them about how God is a forgiving and merciful God. Thank God that he has sent a Savior for them as well as for me. Tell them of how Jesus didn't come to condemn us but to save us. Receive his grace and then go free to treat fellow sinners with the same grace I've received. Why don't I toss some grace their way instead of flinging a rock? It might just be the thing that eventually brings the freedom to...

"Go now and leave your life of sin." (v. 11)

Maybe one of your acquaintances is thirsty for some grace. Why don't you share this post with your Facebook friends and toss some grace their way? Just click on the Facebook "f" button below. And we'd love to hear what Jesus is saying to you. Sign in (top right) and comment below.

Controversial Faith

As we take a few minutes to hear from God today, let's listen to what he's saying to us through the words of John 7:14-52. Pretty interesting reading!

This whole chapter is a picture of controversy over Jesus. We will and do find ourselves at times embroiled in controversy with unbelievers. If you’re going to choose the way of Christ, you cannot and will not fit in with the ways of the world. And some people are highly resistant or even antagonistic to anything they hear relating to faith in Jesus. The way of Christ always runs against the grain. This statement jumps out at me:

But no one would say anything publicly about [Jesus] for fear of the Jews. (v. 13)

God still uses people of faith to draw others to faith, but not if we’re afraid to speak of him. Fear of controversy. Fear of rejection. Fear of getting our chain pulled by the boss or the teacher. Several years ago, France made it illegal to wear any kind of religious symbol in the public schools—no crosses, no fish, no Muslim or Jewish symbols or dress. There is a definite agenda to intimidate believers, to push us underground. “Have faith if you want,” they chide, “but keep it to yourself. Lock it up behind closed doors. Don’t expose anyone else to it. You might offend someone. You might stir up controversy.”

Jesus didn’t shy away from the controversy over him. The contrast couldn’t be any clearer than the crowd—“No one would say anything public about him for fear”—and Jesus:

"Here he is speaking publicly” (v. 26).
Some Christians seem to have an obsession with controversy, but it’s the wrong kind. It’s mainly controversy with other believers. In all of that, the message of Jesus that invites a lost and broken world to him gets lost and people can’t hear it for all the arguing between his followers. Let’s take the controversy to the unbelieving world.

That takes some guts. Where does Jesus get the courage to speak in the face of controversy? I am drawn to what he said:

“I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true.” (v. 28)

Does that speak to you like it does to me? Is there courage for us there? When I need to speak a word about the love of Christ to someone, but I’m afraid of sparking a controversy, what if I think to myself, “I am not here on my own. But Jesus, who sent me to this person, is true.” When I’m wanting to encourage a coworker to discover Jesus, but I'm intimidated because the expectations are to keep your faith out of the workplace, instead I hear a different voice: “I am not here on my own. But Jesus, who sent me to share him with others, is true.”
That’s the language of faith. When I let myself believe it from my deepest heart, fear gets pushed aside and the language of faith pours out.

Please let us in on what God is saying to you in this piece of Scripture by commenting below. Sign in at the top right corner of the page first, or just choose "Anonymous" from the "Comment as" field. I hope you'll share this post with your Facebook friends, too. Click on the "f" button below.

Timing Matters

Hey, I hope you enjoyed the three-day weekend! I know that I did! I didn't post yesterday because I was busy having fun. Today, I've opened up my Bible to hear from God out of John 7:1-12. Care to read it with me? I couldn't help but ponder over what Jesus says here:

The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right. (v. 6)

I've lived long enough to learn that timing is pretty important. (No, that doesn't mean I'm old!) If you have the right person and the right plan but the wrong timing, the whole thing generally goes south. I mean, a guy can send his wife a great looking bouquet of roses with a sweet card attached affirming that on this, their wedding anniversary, he'd marry her all over again. But if it's March 22 and they actually got married on May 27, she's probably not going to take it well.

But knowing that the right timing is important and knowing when it's the right time are two very different matters! I know the first but I'm not always so sure about the second. How do you know when the right time has come?

So Jesus talks about "the right time." And he says that for some people, "any time is right." I notice that Jesus had a sense and respect for what we often call God's timing. When I get something in my head to do or say, my impulse is to just do it. Do it now. Why put it off? I don't like to wait on those kinds of things. And that's how a lot of people are, I think. We want to operate on our own schedule.

Jesus, however, didn't live that way. He acted and moved in perfect rhythm with the will of God. He always made sure to consider not only what God wanted him to do but also when. In this text, he was well aware that it wasn't yet time for him to play all his cards for the Jerusalem crowds. His brothers thought they knew better. They're egging him on: "Come on, Jesus, what are you waiting for? If you're really the Messiah, why don't you go ahead and call a press conference? Don't keep us all waiting!"

Discerning God's timing is no easy matter of following a spiritual formula. I wish it were! But I have found that half the battle is just caring enough to seek God's will about what his timing might be. Praying sincerely about that often brings the discernment and sensitivity to know when the right time has arrived. It's also a matter of seeing the signs and reading them through the lenses of a commitment to God's purposes. Are the doors opening or are they still closed? Is that person's heart seemingly ready to be receptive, or do they show no signs of it? What kind of counsel am I getting from people I trust? Is my heart really fully submitted to God's will and timing and, if so, what is it telling me?

Jesus, I realize that for some things, anytime is not the right time, while for other things it is. Help me to know the difference. And please show me when the right time is. Amen.

What did God say to you as you read the Scripture? We'd love to know, so comment below. And it would be very cool if you would share this post with your Facebook friends. Just click on the Facebook "f" icon below. Thanks!

The Dark Stormy Seas of Life

Today's conversation with God takes us back to John 6 to pick up the little story we skipped over last time--John 6:16-24. So here we go! This one is a quick read. Read it a second time and go slower, thinking about the details. Ask Jesus to show you what he wants you to see.

This event follows on the heels of the miraculous feast he fed the crowd. His disciples had witnessed his power to provide whatever was needed, regardless of the size of the need. I think that was the lesson. Then, Jesus gives the exam. He sends them out across the Sea of Galilee at dusk heading straight into a serious storm. And he sends them alone.

What I notice are the details that describe what the disciples were experiencing out there and the similarity to things I experience myself:

By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.

A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

They had rowed three or thee-and-a-half miles.

They were terrified.

They couldn't see where they were going. There was no sign of Jesus. Everything around them was in a state of chaos and adversity. They felt exposed and threatened. They were exhausted. And fear had a grip on them.

To every person who has ever felt that way, take heart. Even Jesus's closest followers did, too. But more than anything what I hear Jesus saying to me today, through the noise of the wind and the jostling of the waves and the darkness of uncertainty and the exhaustion of all that I've done to try to keep the boat afloat and heading in the right direction is this...

It is I; don't be afraid. (v. 20)

So, like these rain-drenched, reluctant sailors, I'm going to do this--I'm going to receive Jesus into my boat.

Then they were willing to take him into the boat. (v. 21)

Somehow things take on a whole different perspective when I remember that Jesus is in my boat with me. After all, he commands the forces that appear to be against me. He defies their threats and even comes to me using these adverse conditions as his vehicle. Isn't that the deeper point of him walking on the tumultuous sea? He's telling me he's got this. No need to worry.

And then I notice the results. Alone, they fought the wind and the waves for hours, rowing helplessly against the contrary forces, lost in the darkness in the middle of the sea. After Jesus approached and they let him into their boat, John recounts what he and the others experienced:

...and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (v. 21)

Jesus knows what he's doing. He knows where he's taking me. And he will make sure I get there. So in the meantime, I'm hanging onto him. No worries, mate!

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