A Not-So-Subtle Difference

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. Esther 4:1 (ESV)

King Xerxes kingdom was a powerful machine. And the people that worked with him and for him knew this all too well. One of the men, Haman, had King Xerxes’ ear. Haman didn’t like Mordecai. As a matter of fact, because he didn’t like him, he didn’t like all Jews. He told the king that they were different. They didn’t do things the same as everyone else. They didn’t believe the same as everyone else. So they should be destroyed.

The King agreed and a proclamation went out announcing the date of the destruction. Maybe it was like a “get your affairs in order.” kind of thing. Can you imagine being a Jew and reading that notice?

Mordecai read the decree and immediately kicked into action. He didn’t try to have meetings at the palace. He didn’t try to let the local media know where he stood. He didn’t try to cause discord between the two groups of people involved. He went to God. He and all the people began to fast and pray. He did do one more thing. He sent a message to the one person he could reach asking for help.

Esther, although reluctant at first, also began to fast and pray. She then decided to stand up for what was right and try to get help from the person she knew that had influence, the King. God intervened and the Jews were saved.

So often we feel that we cannot impact what is happening in our world, our country, or our neighborhood but we can. Each and every one of us can make a difference where we are. Be a Mordecai. Do something. The difference you make might impact one person or it might impact many.

We may not be able to influence people in power but there is something we can do. The Bible is clear on what really makes a difference. .Loving each other. Loving each other will produce an immediate, long-lasting result. We can’t stand around watching the world hurt and choose inaction.

When we seek God and ask “What do you want me to do today?” the answer will always start with love. Let’s reach our world, even if it is only one human at a time.

Today's Promise

Some days there is a promise that just catches your eye. One to write down and reflect on. That’s what today’s post is. Just a simple promise from God to carry in our hearts. A promise to reflect on and remember….remember who is in control….remember what it’s really all about.

God will be what holds things together,
    fast and firm during these times.
He will be boundless salvation,
    the roots and fruits of wisdom and knowledge.
Zion’s most precious possession
    is the people’s awe-filled respect of the Eternal.
Isaiah 33:6 (VOICE)

In that day he will be your sure foundation,
    providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
    The fear of the Lord will be your treasure. (NLT)

God keeps your days stable and secure—
    salvation, wisdom, and knowledge in surplus,
    and best of all, Zion’s treasure, Fear-of-God. (MSG)

And there shall be stability in your times, an abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the reverent fear and worship of the Lord is your treasure and His. (AMPC)

Get Your Bold Back

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”  Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” Matthew 14:28-31 (MSG)

The disciples were just doing what they were told. Jesus told them “Get in the boat and go to the other side of the lake.” Probably sharing stories, managing the business of rowing the boat and maybe even relaxing a bit. Unexpectedly a storm showed up. The winds began, the waves swelled and the boat started tossing and turning in the black sea. I can imagine this would be frightening if not terrifying.

As Jesus came near them, Peter was emboldened and asked to get out of the boat. I do this. Feeling great after some time with God, trusting his plan, I say something like “Lord, I want to serve you! I want to do what you want! Let me do that please.”

And God says “OK. Step out and do this.”

I look around like Peter and focus on the size of the waves, the force of the winds and what I can’t see under the dark sea. I start to sink. My reaction is to stay in the boat. It’s super easy to get out of the boat when the sea is as smooth as glass. That’s not scary. It’s predictable. But when getting out of the boat involves a stormy mess, well….that’s different.

What we want to say is “Lord, I want to follow you anywhere as long as it’s a smooth ride and there are no problems.” But that is not how it usually works. Trust is most often built when you are in the thick of it.

When Peter realized he was in over his head, he did cry out to Jesus. And immediately Jesus reached for his hand. I love the word used in the MSG when Jesus addressed Peter. Faint-heart which means lacking courage.

I am so Peter. I am bold one minute and faint-hearted the next. But Peter did a couple of things I could learn from. First, he believed that Jesus could make him walk on water. Next, he did step out of the boat. Because he did, he had an experience with Jesus that no one else had. And finally, when he started focusing on his own abilities instead of what Jesus was doing, he refocused himself and cried out for help.

Maybe the lesson is this. Throughout life, you are going lack courage and you are going to want to stay in the safety of the boat. As long as you know where to go to get your bold back, you will do just fine.

A Minute In It - Pray Like This

A minute in God’s Word will change your life. Take a moment to read the text below and then pray this prayer using the prompts at the bottom of the post.

Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven, may our name be kept holy.
[Pray to God about his holiness. Praise him for who He is.]
May your Kingdom come soon.
[Pray about God’s Kingdom; for the world, your country, your town, your neighborhood. Pray that he moves in a mighty way to grow his children everywhere.]
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
[Pray for God’s will. What would it look like if this earth were like heaven? Pray that we will live according to his will.]
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
[Ask God. Place your needs before him and then thank him for what he has already given. Pray to forgive others and for forgiveness for yourself.]
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
[Pray for protection. Pray for the things that tempt you. Praise God because he has already overcome the evil one.]

For more inspiration, I found this video from desiringgod.org beautiful.
https://www.desiringgod.org/pray#modal-V-_lmGR9EdE

God's Word - Never Failing

For the word of God will never fail. Luke 1:37 (NLT)

This text is so powerful. The Word of God and everything it encompasses will not fail. It will not fail to come true. It will not fail to deliver. It will not fail you.

Below are some reminders of what God’s Word says.

God Loves You

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:16-17

God Will Rescue You

Do not be afraid—I will save you.
    I have called you by name—you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you;
    your troubles will not overwhelm you.
When you pass through fire, you will not be burned;
    the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the holy God of Israel, who saves you. Isaiah 43:1-3

God Has A Plan For You

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

You Can Trust Him

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

God Will Not Abandon You

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Today, when it looks like everything is going to fall apart. Remember, you are not alone.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Counting The Cost

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. Acts 3:6 (NLT)

As Peter and John went about their day, they came across a lame man. The man was calling out asking for money. When Peter and John stopped, the Bible says he looked up at them expectantly, hoping to get the same thing he always got.

Peter said to him, I don’t have any money but I do have something else to give you.

Lately, I’ve been praying for guidance during the shutdown of the US Government. There are so many people being hurt by this situation. Government workers, contractors (if the government is not working neither are they and they are also not getting paid) and business owners who rely on the government staff to generate business so they too can pay their bills.

I own a business that is impacted by this shutdown. In my humanness I want to hunker down and pull everything in so we are impacted as little as possible. But that is not what I feel God is saying to do. As I was praying about how to help folks who are going through this situation, I was talking to God about the financial implications of something he put on my heart. I was explaining to him that it didn’t make fiscal sense.

Two texts flashed into my mind.

One text was Acts 3:6. I might not have silver or gold (or paper money for that matter) but I do have Jesus and a peace in knowing that if I follow God’s directive, it will work out for his glory.

The second text was Matthew 25:40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” If I reach out to help people, I am helping Jesus. If Jesus were standing there, would I say, “Well Lord, you are asking alot. It is not logical.” NO! I would not. So why would I not respond to others in the same way when he makes it clear that if I help people, I am helping him?

I am not sure what the future holds in this situation (and you better believe I am praying about it) but I do know this. The most valuable thing I have is my relationship with Jesus. How do you weigh the cost of sharing that with folks? Even if it does cost all of my silver and gold, wouldn’t it be worth it if they saw just a tiny glimpse of him?

What Is Your Job?

“The work of God for you,” replied Jesus, “is to believe in the one whom he has sent to you.” John 6:29 (PHILLIPS)

It’s Monday and for some of us in the US, it’s a holiday. For others it’s a work day. For some of us, it’s a holiday but we have to go to work. And for others, we have work to do even if we are not spending time at a “job”. It seems like there is always work to do or a job to go to. And if you do go to a “job,” there are usually many other tasks outside of that job that need to get done.

It seems like my “To Do” list is never-ending. And I often ask God how I am supposed to get it all done. There isn’t enough time in the day to do what I think needs to get done.

But then God says “Wait. There is only one thing you need to do today and that is love me. If you don’t do anything else all day long but you spend time with me, you will have done the most important thing. Believe and everything else will fall into place.”

This is quite a relief. Because even when I do a whole lot, at the end of the day it can still feel like I got nothing accomplished. But, if I spend time with God each day, I know I did.

The most important thing we each do every day is spend time getting to know Jesus. If we check nothing else off of our “To Do” list today except that, we will have accomplished the ONE thing God said to do.

Somehow, everything else always seems to fall into place…..

Can A Mustard Seed Move A Mountain?

Then Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. Matthew 21:21 (NLT)

It’s kind of ironic that today I seem to be writing about moving a mountain. I woke up feeling not so faithful. You know, it seemed like every day this week there was something that challenged my faith. By today, my faith was as small as a mustard seed. And I told God that this morning. :-)

We each have our mountains. They look really different depending on who you are and what you are facing right now. And, the mountain can change over time. As things move and progress, what is on our mountain becomes different. What do I mean by “what is on our mountain”?

Recently, I started digging in a little to understand fasting better. I can honestly say as a Christian, I know what it is and I know how it’s done but deep down, I don’t think I really get it. I am asking God to explain this and show me what he wants me to know about it.

I decided to start a weekly fast. What better way to find out about something than to start doing it, right? So, I set the time, the type of fast and then got to “What am I fasting for?” So, I made a list. I have a list of 10 things where I am asking to see God’s movement. As I looked at my list I thought “That’s a lot of stuff. Looks like a mountain of stuff.” And then during my worship one of the days following I read today’s Scripture. I’m sure that wasn’t a coincidence.

As I fasted, I began praying for the mountain. And now, even when I am not fasting, I pray that God will move in things on the mountain. When I have days like today when my faith is very, very small, I remember that God is bigger than my faith. I remember what he has done in the past and how he shows up all the time - maybe not in the exact way I want but he still shows up. I remember that while I have my mountain and some days I look at it too often, I need to move my focus to take in the view from where I stand. I need to reflect on the journey that I am on instead of the obstacles that loom ahead.

It boils down to what I truly believe in my heart. Do I believe in a God who loves me and is involved in my life? Do I believe that he has shown up in the past and everything, although sometimes painful, has worked out for the best? Do I know in my heart that God is more powerful than any mountain I am staring at? And most importantly, do I believe he is willing to get involved?

I do. So as I continue to climb this mountain, instead of looking at the rocky trail ahead, I am going to adjust my view to the One who stands at the end of the path and keep walking toward Him. I can’t wait to see how he moves this mountain!