Zechariah 4:5 and 13 Zechariah was a prophet. He was supposed to understand what was going on. But position does not always guarantee understanding. When this angel showed up and asked a question, Zach told the angel what he saw but asked the angel what this was about. The angel seemed surprised that Zach did not know and at least twice asked "do you not know what these are?"
It isn't too surprising to identify with Zechariah is it? There are times when we should have learned something God has been trying to get us to understand but when we ask what is going on, God could easily reply just like this angel with "don't you know?"
Why does it take us so long to get it? Psalms 119:59 and 60 give a clue. Instant obedience is what God is after. If I delay doing what God wants, the learning curve is lengthened and it becomes easy to not understand what God is up to in my life.
I would like to blame anything but my lack of obedience, but God knows better and asks this question of us to get us to focus on the right issue.
Are you having a hard time understanding something going on in your life right now? There could be another reason but maybe you are delaying doing something God has spoken to you about.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Blowing in the Wind
This is not a blog about Wyoming. It is connected to Haggai 1:9
There are always consequences to living like I want to and not like God has in mind. It was the same for these people. They neglected building God's temple because they were preoccupied with their own houses. As a result, their expectations were too high. It is not that they could not be achieved but rather their preoccupation with their own lifestyle adversely affected their expectations. What they earned and brought home, God diminished significantly. Having your gain blown away by God has to reveal how God sees this kind of lifestyle they were living. Too bad for them...right?
How easy to focus on what I want to do, what I am convinced is important for me or my family, or even what ministry I want to focus on. But what is on God's heart for you and I? It is not so much things to do but rather relationship to develop in order to know what we are to be giving our time, motivation and energy to. We easily justify so much of our stuff and neglect what God says is critical. There are consequences to this attitude or behavior. What do you think God will blow away in your life? God has a determined purpose for us and is focused on it beyond what we could imagine.
What are you thinking about buying this week? Doing next weekend or Thursday evening? To follow Jesus means we intentionally carve out time to do what he has said is critical and are involved in people's lives rather than spending more time than necessary on our computer or whatever we do for ourselves.
There are always consequences to living like I want to and not like God has in mind. It was the same for these people. They neglected building God's temple because they were preoccupied with their own houses. As a result, their expectations were too high. It is not that they could not be achieved but rather their preoccupation with their own lifestyle adversely affected their expectations. What they earned and brought home, God diminished significantly. Having your gain blown away by God has to reveal how God sees this kind of lifestyle they were living. Too bad for them...right?
How easy to focus on what I want to do, what I am convinced is important for me or my family, or even what ministry I want to focus on. But what is on God's heart for you and I? It is not so much things to do but rather relationship to develop in order to know what we are to be giving our time, motivation and energy to. We easily justify so much of our stuff and neglect what God says is critical. There are consequences to this attitude or behavior. What do you think God will blow away in your life? God has a determined purpose for us and is focused on it beyond what we could imagine.
What are you thinking about buying this week? Doing next weekend or Thursday evening? To follow Jesus means we intentionally carve out time to do what he has said is critical and are involved in people's lives rather than spending more time than necessary on our computer or whatever we do for ourselves.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I'm not going to the doctor for an examination!
After a break to work on a document that I am still working on, I have decided to restart the blog. It will be shorter.
Haggai 1:7 is my first thought for the new start. "Give careful attention to your ways..." What does this mean, how do you begin to do it and what might result from doing this? The NLT says it this way "Look at what's happening to you."
First Stop "Careful" What does careful mean to you? Some of my thoughts-thinking through, taking my time and not rushing, not overlooking areas of my life I want to avoid, asking God to give me insight into how I am living my life. this is not a glance but rather is deliberate focusing on my life. It requires no distractions and perhaps a day away with God.
Second Stop "Thought" Is it difficult for you to think? I find it easy to rush through this and miss the heart of what God is wanting to say to me. Part of what this means is to think about what God's purpose is for me and think about how my life looks compared to it.
"Your" This word makes it personal. I do not need to think about how someone else is missing it but rather only look at my life. There is enough here that I will not have time to critique someone else. Look also at Romans 14:12,13
"Ways" How am I doing with Frannie, friends God has brought into my life, people in the small group I meet with, my disciplines, temptations, busyness, the church aspect of my life, following Jesus, being distinct from the culture I live in. I am sure you get it. Take some time to let God show you the areas of your life he wants you to "carefully" examine. I wonder how our summer would look if we did this now.
Haggai 1:7 is my first thought for the new start. "Give careful attention to your ways..." What does this mean, how do you begin to do it and what might result from doing this? The NLT says it this way "Look at what's happening to you."
First Stop "Careful" What does careful mean to you? Some of my thoughts-thinking through, taking my time and not rushing, not overlooking areas of my life I want to avoid, asking God to give me insight into how I am living my life. this is not a glance but rather is deliberate focusing on my life. It requires no distractions and perhaps a day away with God.
Second Stop "Thought" Is it difficult for you to think? I find it easy to rush through this and miss the heart of what God is wanting to say to me. Part of what this means is to think about what God's purpose is for me and think about how my life looks compared to it.
"Your" This word makes it personal. I do not need to think about how someone else is missing it but rather only look at my life. There is enough here that I will not have time to critique someone else. Look also at Romans 14:12,13
"Ways" How am I doing with Frannie, friends God has brought into my life, people in the small group I meet with, my disciplines, temptations, busyness, the church aspect of my life, following Jesus, being distinct from the culture I live in. I am sure you get it. Take some time to let God show you the areas of your life he wants you to "carefully" examine. I wonder how our summer would look if we did this now.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
What is the right color?
Earlier this week Frannie and I spent the day in Boulder. Many Christians might say "why would you spend a day in Boulder?" If I told them we hung out on Pearl Street, they might immediately leave if I told them this in person. What would cause them to respond this way?
Pearl Street is one of the most eclectic places I know. It probably rules in this category in Colorado. Monday was an amazing sight on the Pearl Street Mall. People were everywhere, wearing multi colored everything, playing about every musical instrument you could think of, laying on the grass and probably doing more than that with grass. There was quite a bit of affection being shown, dreadlocks were plentiful. It was a perfect time to be there unless...
I commented to Frannie that I believe this is exactly where Jesus would be today. Most of the people on the mall were looking for ways to enjoy the warm day and find something resembling meaning or maybe they were escaping the deadly boredom that they knew was coming the next day as they returned to work. Many of these people were definitely marginalized types. Most believers would at the worst stay as far away from them as possible and at the best look another way as they passed by.
All I can say is that I felt more energy being there than I had for some time. My heart went out to the people trying to grab something to make life have a point. Jesus came for people like this. In fact he was more comfortable with them than those who thought they had figured out what special place they would have with him later. He made all the colors.
This might take you out of your comfort but after a few conversations with some of these Jesus loves and died for, you would change your mind. How could you not love these people when Jesus does?
Check out Matthew 9:9-13 and John 2:1-11
Where are you engaging those people who are ignored or avoided? You can be certain that the places and people we want to avoid is exactly where Jesus would be and who he would be helping figure out life.
Pearl Street is one of the most eclectic places I know. It probably rules in this category in Colorado. Monday was an amazing sight on the Pearl Street Mall. People were everywhere, wearing multi colored everything, playing about every musical instrument you could think of, laying on the grass and probably doing more than that with grass. There was quite a bit of affection being shown, dreadlocks were plentiful. It was a perfect time to be there unless...
I commented to Frannie that I believe this is exactly where Jesus would be today. Most of the people on the mall were looking for ways to enjoy the warm day and find something resembling meaning or maybe they were escaping the deadly boredom that they knew was coming the next day as they returned to work. Many of these people were definitely marginalized types. Most believers would at the worst stay as far away from them as possible and at the best look another way as they passed by.
All I can say is that I felt more energy being there than I had for some time. My heart went out to the people trying to grab something to make life have a point. Jesus came for people like this. In fact he was more comfortable with them than those who thought they had figured out what special place they would have with him later. He made all the colors.
This might take you out of your comfort but after a few conversations with some of these Jesus loves and died for, you would change your mind. How could you not love these people when Jesus does?
Check out Matthew 9:9-13 and John 2:1-11
Where are you engaging those people who are ignored or avoided? You can be certain that the places and people we want to avoid is exactly where Jesus would be and who he would be helping figure out life.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Where are you having dinner today?
Seems like a common question we ask. We usually have some place in mind when someone asks us. Maybe Red Robin or Rasta Pasta or maybe at home or maybe...
Maybe it depends on who is asking the question. How about one of our friends who is not yet following Jesus? And what if it is at their house with several of their friends? And what if they serve something that is not on our acceptable religious list? Sound interesting or scary? What if it is with a religious person who we know we have disagreements with about what the Christian life is supposed to look like?
In Luke 11:37 Jesus is invited to have a meal with a religious type, but one who is not following Jesus. You didn't check your watch to see how long you had been there when you were invited to someone's house for a meal in Jesus' day. You planned to stay a while. Jesus goes but does not follow the rules-he didn't wash before the meal. This surprised the religious guy. It seems that Jesus got a kick out of surprising people who thought they knew what it was all about. He was not trying to draw attention to himself but knew there was something he wanted to say and this would definitely stir the pot.
It is easy to talk about the need for courageous change but when someone gets serious about it and we realize that this will disrupt our comfortable lifestyle or others' comfortable lifestyles, do we back away from it? At this dinner party, Jesus was about to say some things that would guarantee his not being invited to another of their dinner parties.
When God speaks to us about something that we know will probably not be accepted by other believers, we need to act on it anyway...not to cause trouble, but to help people see what are the critical issues in following Jesus. We need to be clear however on what God has said to us.
Maybe it depends on who is asking the question. How about one of our friends who is not yet following Jesus? And what if it is at their house with several of their friends? And what if they serve something that is not on our acceptable religious list? Sound interesting or scary? What if it is with a religious person who we know we have disagreements with about what the Christian life is supposed to look like?
In Luke 11:37 Jesus is invited to have a meal with a religious type, but one who is not following Jesus. You didn't check your watch to see how long you had been there when you were invited to someone's house for a meal in Jesus' day. You planned to stay a while. Jesus goes but does not follow the rules-he didn't wash before the meal. This surprised the religious guy. It seems that Jesus got a kick out of surprising people who thought they knew what it was all about. He was not trying to draw attention to himself but knew there was something he wanted to say and this would definitely stir the pot.
It is easy to talk about the need for courageous change but when someone gets serious about it and we realize that this will disrupt our comfortable lifestyle or others' comfortable lifestyles, do we back away from it? At this dinner party, Jesus was about to say some things that would guarantee his not being invited to another of their dinner parties.
When God speaks to us about something that we know will probably not be accepted by other believers, we need to act on it anyway...not to cause trouble, but to help people see what are the critical issues in following Jesus. We need to be clear however on what God has said to us.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
A Different Kind of Trip part 2
The last time I sent this out I was thinking about the unexpected. Here in short is the rest of what I was thinking. Continuing with Luke 10:5-9...In verse 9 Jesus casually says to heal the sick who are in the town you travel to. Now I do not know about you, but when I read this I thought this was a real challenge. If I was one of those following Jesus I would have thought he might have meant to "try" and heal those who are sick. But Jesus says this as though it were a normal thing for them to do.
Then, I had a conversation with one of our staff in Mexico and he mentioned to me that he prayed for a professor and later she told him that God healed her. I was excited by the news but then God said to me "Why don't you see this as a normal part of following me?" Jesus is waiting to release his power and authority through us as a normal part of following him.
Some days are "diamonds" and some are "stones" John Denver sang. Some days we really seem close to Jesus and they are great days but some days we do not seem that close and wonder what is going on. Not every day will be filled with healings but some should.
Surely we can come to a place where when God does something through our life we get excited but also have an understanding that this is the normal Christian life.
Then, I had a conversation with one of our staff in Mexico and he mentioned to me that he prayed for a professor and later she told him that God healed her. I was excited by the news but then God said to me "Why don't you see this as a normal part of following me?" Jesus is waiting to release his power and authority through us as a normal part of following him.
Some days are "diamonds" and some are "stones" John Denver sang. Some days we really seem close to Jesus and they are great days but some days we do not seem that close and wonder what is going on. Not every day will be filled with healings but some should.
Surely we can come to a place where when God does something through our life we get excited but also have an understanding that this is the normal Christian life.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
A Different Kind of Trip part 1
Luke 10:5-8 Jesus is giving his followers some last minute thinking before he sent them off. "Look for a person of peace." Get close to them by staying in their house. "Eat and drink whatever they give you." He reminds them of this last one again in verse 8.
I thought about the "eating and drinking whatever they give you" part. Isn't it interesting how God speaks to us from the Word? This definitely involved food but God had something different to say to me.
I remember one time overseas being served horse and another time a dish of warm milk with rice in it. Not exactly meat lover's pizza. But it was set before me and I ate it.
I like to go to buffets because I get to choose what I eat. I also have ideas of what my day, week or life should look like. But God has been talking to me about accepting whatever he gives me or brings into my life or whatever he does not.
Instead of approaching my day with anticipation of what God may do that day, I can easily plan it myself or look back at it at the end of the day disappointed that God did not somehow cause it to be different. I regularly seem to have what I believe is a better idea of what should be going on in my life.
But God is saying "let me determine what you need, who you need to talk with or not talk with, what kind of ministry you need or don't need..." In short, I need to believe God has my best interest in mind and accept with joy what he provides for me that day. He really does have it all together!
When I have any disappointment in the trip, it means I am not looking at life like God does. The words "freedom", "joy", and "abundant life" are missing in my dictionary when I live this way.
The church Frannie and I attend has a saying "figuring out life and faith." I totally am working on this.
Question What 5 words come to your mind that describe how you are accepting what God is
bringing into your life...or not bringing into your life?
If God put the food on the table, would it look different from what you would put on it?
What's that about?
I thought about the "eating and drinking whatever they give you" part. Isn't it interesting how God speaks to us from the Word? This definitely involved food but God had something different to say to me.
I remember one time overseas being served horse and another time a dish of warm milk with rice in it. Not exactly meat lover's pizza. But it was set before me and I ate it.
I like to go to buffets because I get to choose what I eat. I also have ideas of what my day, week or life should look like. But God has been talking to me about accepting whatever he gives me or brings into my life or whatever he does not.
Instead of approaching my day with anticipation of what God may do that day, I can easily plan it myself or look back at it at the end of the day disappointed that God did not somehow cause it to be different. I regularly seem to have what I believe is a better idea of what should be going on in my life.
But God is saying "let me determine what you need, who you need to talk with or not talk with, what kind of ministry you need or don't need..." In short, I need to believe God has my best interest in mind and accept with joy what he provides for me that day. He really does have it all together!
When I have any disappointment in the trip, it means I am not looking at life like God does. The words "freedom", "joy", and "abundant life" are missing in my dictionary when I live this way.
The church Frannie and I attend has a saying "figuring out life and faith." I totally am working on this.
Question What 5 words come to your mind that describe how you are accepting what God is
bringing into your life...or not bringing into your life?
If God put the food on the table, would it look different from what you would put on it?
What's that about?
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