Everyone Has A Story

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:18-20 (NLT)

Jesus left. He is never going to push himself on us. He shows up and then waits for us to ask him to stay or tell him to leave. It's our choice. The folks of the town asked him to leave so he did.

But the man he healed wanted to go with him. He knew what it felt like to have God work in his life and he wanted more. But, as with all of us, Jesus had work for him to do. He had changed his life and people needed to know how. Jesus didn't ask him to get a degree and go into professional ministry. He didn't ask him to start a big non-profit to impact thousands. He asked him to go back to his family and friends, his neighborhood and tell everyone he knew what God had done for him.

The man did what Jesus asked.  And the Bible says they were amazed. Even though initially they didn't want to have anything to do with Jesus, by this man's personal testimony, their curiosity was peaked and they were willing to listen. By witnessing his life change, they were willing to hear more. Because of his story, they were amazed.

What about you? Do you share your story with others? God gives us each a story. He wants us to tell it because in every single story he is in the middle of it.  That's what people need to see.

Not In Our Neighborhood

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.  Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.  Luke 8:34-37 (NLT)

Jesus cast the demons into the herd of pigs. The herd of pigs immediately ran off the cliff and dove into the water, drowning. The man, however, was at peace and for the first time in a very long time sat calmly and participated in a conversation.

The folks tending the sheep ran off and told the entire town what happened. Keep in mind that a town in that part of the world at that time was not like the towns we think about now. They were little villages where word spread quickly. All the curious came to see if it was true and there, to their amazement, sat this man listening to Jesus and talking to the others around. He was even dressed!

Their reaction was one of joy and happiness. They ran to Jesus and asked him to help their friends and loved ones by healing them too. They recognized who he was and they too wanted to talk to him and be near him.

NOT.

That is not what they did.  They were afraid because they didn't understand this power. They only knew that this was different and too much out of their control so they asked Jesus to leave. They sent away the one who could bring them joy, happiness and healing because he wasn't what they were used to.

How often do we do the same?

The Demons Know Him

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,     Mark 5:1-6 (KJV)

This man.  This man was miserable. He was homeless, naked, howling at the top of his lungs, cutting himself - unable to be restrained or to live with others. He was alone and frustrated. And he was possessed with a demon.

The Bible says when he saw Jesus from a far way off he ran and fell down and worshiped him. I wonder. Was it the man who saw something in Jesus of God's love and wanted to be free of his demons or was it the demons who knew who Jesus was and couldn't help but worship him? Can you, if you are living far from God, recognize him? Can you, if you are living far from God want to worship him even though it goes against everything you are doing?

I believe you can. The Bible tells us that God is the one who comes to search for us. He is the one who looks for his lost and even died so we can be found. God is always, always at work to bring us to a place where we recognize him and worship him.  Not only is he working in our lives, he is working in everyone else's life too. 

Question for us today is - is there someone that God is reaching out to that we are turning away from because they don't look and act like we think they should? And, is there something in our life that is keeping us from falling down and worshiping Jesus?

Happy Monday!

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

This day is a great day! It's a great day because it's a new day! The great thing about every new day is that no matter what happened yesterday, this day can be different. This day can be fresh and wonderful. With God in it, this day will be something completely unexpected and miraculous!

I love waking up and knowing that with God in it, my day will never be ordinary. It will be an adventure and with his strength I can say "Bring it on!"

Happy Monday!

Facing Your Fears

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him.   Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” John 4:28-30, 39 (NLT)

The woman in this story came to the well at midday....which was odd because all the women of the town came early in the morning. They socialized, caught up with each other and cemented their sense of community.  This woman could not go with everyone else. She had a reputation in the town and no one would talk to her. It must have been very painful to be at the well and be ignored so she went later when she could ignore her life.

When she met Jesus though all that changed. She left her jar on the well and ran back into the town to tell everyone who she met.  She ran into the very life that she was running from to share her Good News. She forgot about what she thought of herself and what they thought of her.

Jesus is funny like that.  He knows all of our weaknesses, our fears and what stops us cold. He knows where we need to grow and just how to get us to do it.

Are you someone hiding from a reputation? Or are you afraid of something that is so deeply ingrained in you that you couldn't possibly move past it? Do you have something in your life that is holding you back that you should let go of? Friend, these are all the places that Jesus is going to work. He's going to meet you exactly where you are and move you past that place.

Will it be scary? Most definitely. Will you think you can't do it? Yep. But the one thing you can always count on as you walk into this journey you are on with Jesus, he's walking right beside you. He has not left you alone in the middle of your fear. He's holding your hand.

So, leave your jar at the well and run into the very thing you are running from. The adventure will be amazing.

A Minute In It - More Than You Need

A minute in God's word will change your life. Take a minute to read the passage below. Then, ask yourself the questions at the bottom of the post.

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1-7 (NIV)

Why did Elisha ask her what she had in her house?
When he told her to collect jars, how many jars did he tell her to collect?
Why do you think he said "Don't ask for just a few?"
What does this story say about what God can do?
How would the story be different if she only collected a few jars? What would that have said about her faith?
How many jars would you have collected?

Weeds or Flowers?

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

As I sat and looked at the tan, brittle sticks - which are called weeds - growing out of the planter on my deck I thought "This is where my life has gone."

In years past, the planter would have been full of beautiful flowers and the entire deck would have been filled with lots of hanging baskets and flower boxes with lots of brightly colored petals of happiness. But things had taken a turn and life isn't what it used to be.

I got up and walked back into the house not bothering to pull the weeds in that box (or any of the other boxes on the deck). Funny thing is, while I don't like the weeds, I understand them. When life gets turned upside down, sometimes you have to choose what to focus on. And in this time, our focus isn't on beauty on the outside. It's on beauty on the inside.

Inside the house is an elderly parent who needs a lot of care, a married couple that has to find time for each other. Involved with this house are adult children and grand-children that need love and hugs and time. Extended from this house are family and people - lots of people that God has shared with us. People who need love and encouragement, people who need to see Jesus with skin on. We don't always manage the chaos well but, we try to put our focus where it needs to be.

Yes, I do prefer flowers instead of weeds in my flower boxes but there is one thing I prefer more than that. It's planting flowers in people's lives. I tolerate the weeds until I can get to them. I guess somewhere along the way you have to choose where you want to see the brightly colored petals of happiness.

Can Witnessing Really Be That Simple?

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-19 (NLT)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  Acts 1:8 (NLT)

In Matthew 28, Jesus tells us to go - in other words - live your life. Live - BE. This term can be translated to mean "as you go". So, as you go, make disciples.  In Acts 1:8 it tells us that we are to be Jesus witness. To witness is to give "evidence of something." As you are living and being and experiencing, your reactions, your responses, your actions should give evidence that Jesus is in your heart.

So, would an accurate paraphrase of these two combined verses be

"Live your life and as you are doing that, show everyone what you know about me so that from your life they have proof that I am alive. When you do that, people will follow me. And remember, you are not alone. We will be with you."

Or maybe more simply.....

Love Me With All Your Heart
Live Your Life Fully
I'll Do The Rest