What To Do With "One Of Those Weeks"

There is a sure way for us to know that we belong to the truth. Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt and constant reminders of our failures, we can know in our hearts that in His presence God Himself is greater than any accusation. He knows all things. 1 John 3:19-20 (VOICE)

This week was one of those weeks.  It seemed like every day something happened to make it harder and slow or stop progress.  Meetings that got moved, tasks not complete, technology issues (I particularly hate those), health issues, misunderstandings with co-workers, you name it, it happened.

As I lay my head on my pillow later than I intended last night, I told God what I thought of this week. In the process, I also blamed myself. It's super frustrating when you can't get things done that need to get done and it is super natural to beat yourself up more than you should.

Today's text (which I am sure God sent) reminds me that my inner thoughts do condemn me with guilt and reminders of failures but it also reminds me of who God is. God is not my accuser. God does not point fingers at me and say "You didn't get it right." God says, "I know. It's been a rough week. And I still love you."

That voice that is bringing you down?  That is not God.  That is the other insignificant player. Ignore him. He doesn't love you. He just wants you to fail. Listen to God's voice. The one that says "You are precious to me. This too shall pass. Just hold on. I am here."

Dear Jesus, Thank you for the reminder. Today, I give you my heart and my day. I love you. Amen

A Minute In It - Which Behavior Is Yours?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Reach the passage below and answer the questions after the post.

Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
"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?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.
When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
“No, Lord,” she said.
And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:1-11 (NLT)

In this story, are you the one offering grace or the one holding the stones?

Now Is The Time

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1 (NLT)

Someone recently mentioned that they didn't know if God could use them because their past was full of "colorful" things. I've had this thought. How can God use someone who has made so many embarrassing mistakes? How can I represent a pure and Holy God when my past has been anything but.

We often forget that God's plan for our lives has nothing to do with our merit.  Let's face it, if it did he couldn't use any of us. It's about Jesus. Always about Jesus and the gift of grace we are given when we accept him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus said, "It is finished." He didn't say "It will be finished when you get your act together." He knew we couldn't. He knew we were hopeless and helpless. Yet, he did what he did anyway.

Today's text says "So now there is no condemnation." Now. Not when you get it together. Not when you make up for your past. Not when you are sure some of the ugly won't show up again....NOW.

Let's accept this grace that we have been given. Let's believe in it and cherish it. And then, we should let it change us so we can share it with others.

Happy Monday, Child of God!

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Welcome to Monday morning!  Sometimes that thought isn't always so inviting. Right? But think about it. If the God of the universe, the God that controls everything, the God that is involved in our intimate details is for you, is there anything at all that can stand against you?

Maybe part of the problem is we don't really believe that he loves us that much. We look at ourselves in the mirror and think "He can't possibly be for me, look at my life." What we forget is that we are looking at the wrong reflection.

What we should be looking at is Jesus. How can we look at his death on the cross and believe that God is not for us? How can we look at the decision he made to take it all the way through his suffering to his death and not know that it was for each of us individually that he died?

When those voices in your head tell you that you are a failure, look at Jesus.
When the voices say that there is too much in your past for you to be a child of God, look at cross.
When you feel like you just don't measure up, look at the One who said "Whosoever believes in me will not perish."
You are a Whosoever.
You are the one he died for.

Happy Monday, Child of God!  You are loved!

Facing The Lions

Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.  Daniel 6:23 (NLT)

The story of Daniel in the Lion's Den resonates with me. First, the part of the story where people are trying to find a way to destroy him because they are jealous sounds like our news stories every day. People attacking each other and scheming against them.  Can you tell I live in Washington DC?

But that's not the part that resonates with me. Can you imagine how Daniel felt when he was arrested and thrown in the Lion's Den? Do you wonder if he, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, said "I know you are able but even if you don't I will not stop worshipping you." Did he wonder if the Lion's would kill him? And when he realized they were going to lay there and cat nap while he waited, oh the praise that must have come from that den.

There are mornings that I wake up and my mind is full of worry. Not because someone is going to seek to destroy me or throw me into the Lion's Den but because I am not sure I am smart enough or making the right decisions. I am worried about finances and next steps and a too-full schedule. But then, I remember.

I remember that the same God that rescued Daniel is alive and well today. I remember that he has spoken to me in the past and convicted me when I am walking the wrong path. I remember that he is in charge of my life, my work, and my ministries. And as I kneel there, I submit. I submit it all to him and trust, like Daniel did, that he who shut the lion's mouths can also lead my life.

A Minute In It - After The Dust Settles

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Reach the passage below and answer the questions after the post.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?”
Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”
13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
14 Hearing this, the king was deeply troubled, and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament.
15 In the evening the men went together to the king and said, “Your Majesty, you know that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed.”
16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. 18 Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”
21 Daniel answered, “Long live the king! 22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.”23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. Daniel 6:10-23 (NLT)

Have you ever been punished for doing what you believed to be right?
How did you handle it? Did you trust God to work it out? Where you punished anyway?
Did the people involved see God in you and in your behavior?
During the situation, Daniel was able to say he didn't wrong the king. During your situation were you able to say you did not wrong anyone?
And the ultimate question, did you trust God and know that He was in control even if it didn't work out like you thought it should?
 

It Has To Be Personal

In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. Romans 8:3 (MSG)

One of the things I know is that life is messy. Everywhere you look, in most people you meet there is something that is not as it should be. We struggle with sin; sometimes choosing it over what we know is better. We live in the middle of the ripple effect of people that have chosen sin and deal with the damage it does to all those associated even in the slightest way. We see the horror on the news every day that results from those decisions.

In light of all this, I stand in amazement that Jesus would come, place himself smack in the middle of it. In the Message it says that he entered into the disordered mess of struggling humanity. Why? Because he loves us. Because living in this mess with us was better than living in heaven without us.  That thought gives a small glimpse into the power of his love.

It also gives us a glimpse of what our life is supposed to look like. When we love the way Jesus does, we will pour ourselves into the lives of the people God puts in our path. We will come alongside the messy and point to Jesus. Why do we get to do this? Because we showed up. Just like Jesus did.

Nana's Legacy

Therefore, go and make disciples....Matthew 28:19 (NLT)

When I was growing up, my grandmother was the first disciple maker I ever knew. She would come faithfully every weekend, pile all of us into her car and take us to church. Lest we misunderstand what a disciple-maker is, let's talk about what it is not.

Being a disciple maker is not about getting someone to church. As a matter of fact, that is the last thing it's about. Being a disciple maker is about pouring yourself into someone's life so they begin a relationship with Jesus. Of course, you can't pour out what you don't have so it also is about you being discipled as well. Who disciples you?  God. It's about listening to the Holy Spirit and following the leading of the Voice.

Back to my grandmother. Every day she spent time in prayer and with Jesus. I knew until the day she died that I was prayed over daily. She would call the house on a regular basis and talk to us. She was involved in what we were doing and every weekend she'd come pick us up and take us to church.

She was a disciple maker. She invested in the lives of those around her. She lifted  them up to the Lord daily, she was involved in the day-to-day and she reflected the love of Christ that was in her heart.

As I walk this journey of being a disciple of Jesus and discipling others, it had not occurred to me until just this weekend that I had witnessed this in action. Today, I am praising God for the folks who spoke Jesus into my life. Now, I have to go and do that for others.