A Minute In It

A little time in the Word every day changes you. Take a few minutes, put yourself in the story and ask yourself a few questions.

If you were Joshua and the Lord told you to do this, would you think it sounded crazy? Would you do it? How would you know it was God talking to you? If you were a member of an army and Joshua came to you and told you this is what you were going to do, would you trust he heard it from God? Would you do it? When the walls came crashing down with a tremendous roar, would you be amazed? Would you trust God more?

Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out. God spoke to Joshua, “Look sharp now. I’ve already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. Here’s what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven ram’s horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. And then, a long blast on the ram’s horn—when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in.”

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and told them, “Take up the Chest of the Covenant. Seven priests are to carry seven ram’s horn trumpets leading God’s Chest.” Then he told the people, “Set out! March around the city. Have the armed guard march before the Chest of God.” And it happened. Joshua spoke, the people moved: Seven priests with their seven ram’s horn trumpets set out before God. They blew the trumpets, leading God’s Chest of the Covenant. The armed guard marched ahead of the trumpet-blowing priests; the rear guard was marching after the Chest, marching and blowing their trumpets. Joshua had given orders to the people, “Don’t shout. In fact, don’t even speak—not so much as a whisper until you hear me say, ‘Shout!’—then shout away!”

He sent the Chest of God on its way around the city. It circled once, came back to camp, and stayed for the night. Joshua was up early the next morning and the priests took up the Chest of God. The seven priests carrying the seven ram’s horn trumpets marched before the Chest of God, marching and blowing the trumpets, with the armed guard marching before and the rear guard marching after. Marching and blowing of trumpets! On the second day they again circled the city once and returned to camp. They did this six days.

When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. On the seventh time around the priests blew the trumpets and Joshua signaled the people, “Shout!—God has given you the city! The priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the blast of the trumpets, they gave a thunderclap shout. The wall fell at once. The people rushed straight into the city and took it. Joshua 6:1-17a, 20 (MSG)

On The Lam

For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. Ezekiel 34:11, 16a (NLT)

Yesterday, Doctor went on the lam. Doctor is my son's dog. He is his pride and joy. The jury is still out on how exactly he got out. He tends to try to follow you outside and if you aren't careful, you don't see him sneaking past you. And he has, in the past, jumped the fence in the back yard. Once he's out, he goes on a walk about exploring his new found territory. Either way, I was dog sitting and when my son came to pick him up, we couldn't find him. Did I mention I had taken his dog collar off earlier in the morning and didn't put it back on? UGH!

Panic hit as we realized he wasn't anywhere in the house or in the back yard. Immediately, we ran outside and started yelling his name; screaming at the top of our lungs. Then, we each jumped in a car and took off in different directions searching for him. We went to places we thought he might go. We went to the neighborhood where he was found before when the wind blew the gate open. We went to the park where my son takes him to play. DOOOOCCCCTTOOORRRR! We called and called. No luck.

I went on line to the animal shelter and filed a Lost Dog report and my son kept looking. Then, we posted flyers all over the neighborhood hoping someone would spot him and call. The anguish we felt was horrible. We just wanted him to come back home and be safe.

Made me think of God and how he comes looking for us when we go 'on the lam.' We see something outside of our God comfort zone and go for it. We walk a little too far and then get lost. And like my son and I looking for Doctor, God comes looking for us. He calls our name over and over again trying to get us to hear him and come home. He comes to our favorite places. He sends people and circumstances (much like posting flyers) to let us know he's interested and he's looking for us. He is hoping against hope that we hear him and wander back to the place we know.

Someone found Doctor and turned him into the Animal Shelter. They notified my son that they had him and he could pick him up today. We were praising God that he was safe and would be home soon. And when Doctor gets home, he is going to get lots of treats and loving.

God does that too. When we come home, he throws a party. He showers us with love. Lots of celebrating when one of his kids is found....safe and home again.

Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, ‘I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!’ In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. Luke 15:6-7 (GNT)

Buffing Out The Imperfections

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my behavior. I keep hearing in my head that I am not good enough, that I shouldn't have said this thing or that thing. It's pretty much a constant barrage of negativity that only I can hear. I know Satan is trying to discourage me and make me feel bad. Right now, the battle is fierce.

The good news is that God is countering. In my time with him he is providing Bible texts and thoughts and devotions that talk about how he keeps working. He doesn't give up on us. We are his masterpiece after all. As the Master Artist, he has a plan for our lives.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

There are a couple of things I've realized on this particular journey.

1. I am not alone in this. I know there are a lot of people out there that Satan tries to bring down with his negative commentary. Ignore him. He's just trying to hurt you and God's plan for your life.

2. We can't totally ignore what we know we need to change. I know there are character traits I need to grow (or eliminate). I know there are areas where I need to face my sin and ask God for help. I need to have a new heart and a new spirit that want to be more like Jesus. There are days when my heart is stony and stubborn. Those days I especially need to rely on God to change me.

3. I also know that no matter what, God wants what's best for me. He wants me to be more like him. He wants me to grow. More importantly, he is not giving up on this masterpiece until it is finished. He's not giving up on your masterpiece either. He is going to keep chiseling, sanding, and buffing until his work of art, you, is complete.

In summary, ignore the mean voice, pay attention to where you need God's artistic touch and be willing. God will do the rest. It's his specialty as the Master.

A Minute In It

A little time in the Word every day changes you. After you read it, take a few minutes and ask yourself the questions below.

I waited and waited and waited for God.
    At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
    pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
    to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
    a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
    they enter the mystery,
    abandoning themselves to God.

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
    turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
    ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
    of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
    comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
    and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
    account for you.

Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
    that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
    that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
    so I can listen.

So I answered, “I’m coming.
    I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
    you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
    became part of my very being.

I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
    I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
    a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
    I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
    let the congregation know the whole story.

Now God, don’t hold out on me,
    don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
    are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
    a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
    I couldn’t see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
    so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

Soften up, God, and intervene;
    hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
    will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
    will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
    will be booed and jeered without mercy.

But all who are hunting for you—
    oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you’re all about
    tell the world you’re great and not quitting.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
    make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
    but God, don’t put it off
Psalms 40 (MSG)

Is there something you are waiting on God for? Where are you, in the mud on or on the rock?
When you are swamped with guilt and troubles, where do you turn?
Do you believe God loves you? Do you believe he will intervene in your life and make something of it or you?
Do you go looking for him? When you find him, have your words been able to describe him adequately?

Look for him this weekend. Look for him in ways you have not done before. You'll be blown away at the different places he shows up!

A Better Way

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” John 8:4-5 (NLT)

When they threw the woman caught in the act of adultery onto the ground in front of Jesus, they wanted her dead. Jesus got quiet and started writing in the dust. I wonder what was going through his head. I wonder if it was that the law they mentioned required testimony from two people who saw the couple in a sexual act: lying in the same bed, no mistaking what they were doing and able to positively identify each person. The two witnesses had to see these things at the same time and place so there story was identical.  It would be virtually impossible to do this if you hadn’t set up a trap.

I wonder if he was also thinking that the law required a person to step in and help someone who was about to sin by encouraging them to walk away. This required compassion. Where was the compassion here? And where was the man involved? He was obviously committing the same act but he was excused. Then, there is the public display of the case. Why wasn't this done privately? Were they really concerned with her welfare or Jesus' response?

I wonder if his Divinity flashed as he saw their careless regard for this woman's life. And I can't help but wonder if he thought to himself "This is why humans aren't in charge of the judgement." Obviously, we as humans can see when someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing. But too often we see it with blinders on. We neglect to look at our own sin and contemplate our own situations. We are so quick to look at others and snap to judgement. We are slow to see them with Jesus' heart.

Jesus said to her "Go and leave your life of sin." (v. 11, NIV) He wasn’t ignorant to what she was actually doing. And he didn't want her to continue her sinful behavior. But how he set her on a different path was immensely different. Jesus was interested in her future, in her eternity. His heart went out to her knowing she was hurting and in need of a better way. The accusers were only interested in proving their point even if it meant destroying her life.

So who do you most take after in this story? Next time we are tempted to pass judgement on someone, we should ask ourselves "What would Jesus do?"

Sing Your New Song

He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3 (NLT)

As she lay there at his feet weeping and trembling, thoughts raced through her mind. She was terrified. She had been caught in the act of adultery. The law said she would be stoned. Everyone knew this. There was no getting out of it. She was so overcome with fear she was frozen in place. The men were talking over her asking Jesus to validate what they were saying. She was holding her breath and waiting for the first rock to hit.

Jesus stooped down. He was writing something in the sand she could not see. What was it? After a long hesitation, he stood up and said something to the men. Then he stooped down again.

There was silence and one by one through her tears and hair she could see their feet leaving the circle that held her captive. Jesus stood up and said "Where are all the folks that accused you? Are they accusing you now?" "No." she said. Jesus said, "I'm not accusing you either. But going forward, stop sinning."

Jesus gave this woman a new song. Her life was exposed and healed because of her encounter with him. How about you? Maybe you don't have an overt sin in your life. Maybe life has just gotten really hard to deal with. Sometimes life just takes wickedly unexpected turns. The principle is still the same. As the old is flushed out it creates a space for the new and if you allow that new to be Jesus, your feet are replanted and redirected. You will end up with a new song to sing.

Yes, Jesus gave this woman a new song as he did Moses, Abraham, David, Rahab, the Disciples, you and me. Each time our lives take an unexpected turn whether it is because of something we did or circumstances we can't control, there is a different path we can take. Jesus will turn our story into a new song. And all of it will be for his glory.

Can You See What I See?

You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
Psalm 139:2-3 (NLT)

I pulled up outside of her house and didn't have to wait long as she came racing out of the house. She got in the car and said "You know, you were only a minute away when you accepted the ride but then you didn't take the shortest route to get here." I explained to her that when I accept the ride on the app, I could be in the wrong lane or driving too quickly to make the proper turn and then I have to take a different route to get back on track.

I've had a few conversations like that with people. They think they can look at their phone and know how I should be driving. But they can't see the big picture. They can only see what is on the app - which in reality is nothing. They can't see traffic, speed of the cars, where exactly the driver's car is, an accident or emergency vehicles. But, just because they see something, they think they know the entire story. I just smile and nod knowing what I know. Sometimes I try to explain it but I get the impression they aren't really interested.

Made me wonder how often we do this with God. We see what we see in our lives yet we think we understand the big picture. We wonder why he isn't doing anything when in fact, he is. We wonder what is taking him so long but we can't see the entire path, the bumps ahead that may cause God to slow us down or the detours we need to take to get where he wants us to go safely. We don't trust him to drive. Probably because we forget that he sees the road more completely. He knows the end from the beginning and every pot hole in between.

Have you never heard?
    Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
    No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
Isaiah 40:28 (NLT)

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Yes You Can!

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NLT)

"We have to get them off the streets. They are exciting the people and talking about ridiculous things like the resurrection of the dead. Look at the crowds following them. Who do they think they are?"

The religious sect had had enough so they dispatched temple guards to arrest Peter and John and they were thrown in jail.

Annas and Caiaphas held council and they all discussed their predicament. 5,000 men (not including women and children) now believed in Jesus. It was a movement in its own right that they couldn't ignore. These folks obviously didn't understand what they were doing. They were being misled. They didn't know the doctrines or the scriptures. Peter and John had to be stopped. They were a nuisance .

So, they brought them from jail and questioned them. "Who do you think you are? Who said you could preach these things? What authority do you have?" Peter (who was filled with the Holy Spirit) said, "Let me get this straight. You arrested us because we did a good deed for someone? We didn't do this miraculous thing. Jesus did. He is our authority. The one you hung on the cross. He is alive and well. It is in his name and in his power that we do these things."

The members of the council took notice. Peter and John were uneducated, common men. They were fishermen! They lived paycheck to paycheck. They don't have special training. They were nobodies. How were they doing this? But somewhere in the back of their minds they knew. They knew but wouldn't dare let the thought express itself out loud. What was the thought they had buried? These men, these common, uneducated men were like this because they had been with Jesus.

It's the same with us today. We think we can't do things because we don't have the man-decreed qualifications. But God knows when we spend time with Jesus there is no stopping what we can do in his name. Why? Because it is not about us or our qualifications. It's about what God can do with a surrendered heart.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)