* Useless

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1st Corinthians 15:58 NLT

Have you ever felt useless? I know I have... And it's always predicated on what I have or haven't been able to do. And here lately, it seems there's so much more of "haven't been able to do" than "have". It can be frustrating, to say the least, and even devastating, at times... but that's the Truth of it when I look to ME instead of to GOD.

You see, the Truth is God didn't design us to be useless. He didn't form us in our mothers' wombs and declare, "You will be useless." He has given us gifts and equipped us with skills to help build His kingdom, to fulfill His purpose IN and FOR our lives. 

Psalm 139 tells us God fashioned all the days of our lives BEFORE there were ANY days of our lives. How could ANYTHING God does be considered useless? 

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Prayer:

Father,
          Wake us up to Your plan and purpose for each and every day of our lives. We want to be used by You - for You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Keeping It Clean

As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
Luke 11:37-41 NLT

Christian comedian Tim Hawkins does a skit about hand sanitizer and Greeters in the church. It's funny, but I have to admit, I am one of those people who has a "thing" about clean hands. I cringe when someone wants to shake my hand, using the same hand I just watched them cover their mouth with while they coughed or sneezed. I don't refuse to shake their hand - after all, Jesus touched and healed lepers and He said we could do the things He did and greater works shall we do (John 14) - but when the greeting is over, I do reach for the hand sanitizer in my purse. (Y'all pray for me...)

Am I as careful with what goes inside of me? Do I guard my heart with due diligence knowing that out of it spring the issues of life? Do I practice and implement forgiveness when offended or hurt? Do I bless and release those who have trespassed against me? Do I protect my thoughts, thinking only on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, do I think on these things?  

If not, why not? 

Jesus asked, Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? I'd say He nailed that in more ways than one.  

Prayer:

Father,
           Keep us ever mindful of Your Truth. We pray according to Your Word in Psalm 24. We want to be able to climb the mountain of the Lord and to stand in Your holy place. We want to receive Your blessing and have a right relationship with You. Give us clean hands and a pure heart, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

The Yoke's On Us +

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

There are times, I bristle at circumstances that seem way out of proportion to my ability to pull my own weight in any given situation. And I may fuss, fret or fume about it, depending how powerless I feel. However, what I want - more than my own way - is God's way. His way is for me to NOT do it alone. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you..."

On my way to work this morning, I heard a reference to this Scripture and my first thought was, "This burden is heavy..." and I got a mental image of me with a yoke over my shoulders, struggling to try to pull a load of burden that was way too much for me to pull by myself. Then I "saw" Jesus stepping in to shoulder the other side of the yoke I was in. Immediately, I stopped straining against the yoke. My spirit was revived and my strength renewed as we walked together, matching our steps, stride for stride. In Truth, the load was indeed much lighter, and I barely noticed the weight. 

As Psalm 124 declares, If it had not been the Lord who was on our side... 

Prayer:

Father,
          I don't know why we think we can do this by ourselves. We cannot. We are so grateful for Your daily instruction; for taking the time to lead us, to teach us - as only You can. We need You, Lord. Keep us ever mindful of this Truth. "More of You, less of me." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Light On or Off? +

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NKJV

About a decade ago, dear friends of mine gifted me with a Tiffany lamp with a dragonfly pattern. I love that lamp - for lots of reasons - but just to name a couple: One - My friends thought enough of me to get it for me. And two - They know me well enough to know I collect dragonfly items. 

However, the most important reason I love it is that God has taught me much through this Tiffany lamp pictured here - without the light and with the light.

Oh, even without the light on, you can see there's some fine workmanship in it - lots of potential - but you can't see its' true beauty. And even with a light shining directly on it, you could totally miss the dragonflies. However, once that lamp is lit - Can you believe the difference? The colors are so alive and vibrant! The jewel tones splash onto the wall lending the light and beauty to everything within their touch...

And THAT'S how it is when the Light of the World comes to live inside of us!  Our potential becomes obvious, and we become what we were created to be! And the light and love that God places inside of us should splash onto everyone and everything within our reach. 

Is your light on or off?

Prayer:

Father,

           We want YOUR light to so shine through us that it points the way to You for a world walking in darkness. May we reflect Your light, Your love and beauty to those You have placed within our reach. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Hit the Dirt

This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Luke 8:11-15 NLT

It is my humble opinion that all of us have walked through each stage represented in this passage of Scripture. I believe that is why reading and hearing the Word of God was never intended to be a one-time event. Scripture tells us, Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The more we hear it, the more our faith grows. The more our faith grows, the more we hear it and begin to embrace the truth of it. The more we embrace the truth of it, the more our hardened hearts our broken up. The rocks get broken down to a size that we can toss away. The soil gets loosened with the washing by the water of the Word and the roots of the thorns of this life can be more easily plucked out of our lives.

Hosea tells us to plant the good seeds of righteousness, and we will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of our hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord... When we do, we will have the good soil in our hearts so that when God's Word comes to us, we will cling to it, and it will produce a harvest in our lives. So... hit the dirt! Plow it up, according to His Word.

Prayer:

Father,
           We want to be the good soil - the honest, good-hearted people who hear Your Word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Help us to embrace Your Truth over the facts of our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* It Doesn't Matter What They Think...

 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
Luke 7:39 NLT

Do you think Simon ever entertained the thought that Jesus was the Saviour of the world or was it more of a "He's the latest fad - very popular. I'm sure I can prove what He's not, but just in case He IS something, I can say I hosted a dinner in His honor" kind of thing? Do you think - at that moment - Simon was re-thinking the invitation he had extended to Jesus? The woman was a sinner!

Do you think for one second that Jesus was wondering what His status would be or what it would become in the community based on this - this sinner - touching Him? Do you think He recoiled at the thought? Not on your life! Or hers. Or mine.

What they thought of Him did NOT change who He was or is. For that matter, what WE think/believe of HIM does not change who He is, but by His Grace, it can and will change us. 

I love this story for SO many reasons... but mostly I love this story because Jesus was touchable by the untouchable. What they thought of Jesus at that dinner table, what they thought of HER at that dinner table... none of it mattered to Jesus or to her. His love was REAL and she knew it. 

Too often, we rehearse the history of our lives in terms of unworthy. We know our sins. Too many to count - how could God get past all that? He showed us how. He gave His life for ours. His spotless, sinless, pure and holy life for us... the Word says, "While we were yet sinners..."  (Romans 5:8).

Do you think it was only for Mary? Do you think it's only for someone else - someone who hasn't done what you've done? Simon the Pharisee would think that. He'd have wanted YOU to think that. Remember this. Simon was wrong back then and he'd be wrong now.

Christ came to be the sacrifice for our sin so that our sins could be forgiven and we could be restored into right relationship with the Father. Lovingly and touchable. We have only to go to Jesus.

It doesn't matter what THEY think about that - what do YOU think?

Prayer:

Father, 
          Create in us a right spirit. Give us clean hands and a pure heart, O God. Thank You for loving us beyond what we can comprehend and thank You for being touchable. Help us to walk resolutely - every thought in obedience to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Comfort in Knowing

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

The Message offers our Promise for Today in this wording, All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

The tears were real. The angst and fear were evident in the choked-out words of the telling. There wasn't one physical thing anyone could do to change the circumstances, but God...

The power of love with great compassion and understanding poured out from those who had faced the same battles and WON through Christ, our Lord! Declarations, testimonies and affirmations of only some of the times God had come through in the same situations were witness to His tangible triumphs! It is a beautiful thing to witness fears dispelled by faith rising in response to the high tide of praise.

...that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble... He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.

There's comfort in knowing what God has done. It builds our faith and trust to know a never-failing God. Never miss an opportunity to tell of His greatness toward you. There's comfort in knowing...

Prayer:

Father,
             Open our eyes to see Your handprint on all that is good in our lives. Give us time and space to walk back through the pathway and remember all that You have brought us through, building up the holy faith that You have provided. Give us a holy boldness to proclaim praise at every opportunity for all that You've done in our lives so we may bring comfort to those who need to know. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

One Look +

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Here he is! God’s anointed!”
But God told Samuel, “Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”
1st Samuel 16:6-7 The Message

Think about this. How many people do you know who spend so much time and energy (not to mention their finances!) on their outside appearance? Or they are consumed with their weight, their hair, their shape, their teeth, their... whatever? And just so you know - I'm not just talking about un-churched people here (ouch). And why? Because it's been going on longer than you or I can even begin to fathom! Our Scripture for today is just one example: Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Here he is! God’s anointed!” One look!

One look - based on size, stature or other physical features.

The reality is we have all known physically beautiful persons who were mean and ugly on the inside. Likewise, we have all known (and loved) the beautiful hearts of people who would never win a beauty contest, but who became more beautiful the better we got to know them.

Sin is ugly. The wage of sin is death. Christ is eternal life when we ask Him to come into our heart! What do you think God is looking for when He "looks into the heart"? Don't we hope and pray God takes more than one look?!?

I've been thinking and thinking about this passage of Scripture in relation to "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (found in Luke 6:45 - NKJV). And what I NEED is an abundance of Jesus in my heart. His saving grace, His mercy, His forgiveness, His Word. I can't get that with one look into Scripture or one look into the sanctuary.

Prayer:

Father,
           Change my heart, O God! Renew a right spirit within me! Give me clean hands and a pure heart so that the only "one look" that matters at all is the one where a lost and dying world sees You in me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* Just for Today

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:34 NLT

When we don't have the answer. When we don't even know the question. When we can't figure out how, when, or why we're going to fix "it". When the "if-I-don't-fix-it-now-what-will-it-be-in-another-week-month-year... years-from-now" stress kicks in. Stress. Doubt. Fear. Is there any room for God in there?

I was busy (read 'angrily') telling the God of the universe (who, by the way, has NOT posted for an assistant, nor does He need one) that the particular situation in my life is NOT something I can see myself having to contend with for the next 20 years or so. And I railed that I just could NOT do it - it was that plain and simple. I.Can't.Do.It...!!

Then immediately, I heard Him say, "I'm not asking you to do it for 20 years or so. Can you do it for today? Just for today?" and instantly, I was reminded of today's Scripture promise. And with it came the assurance He would be with me. Today and every day... one day at a time. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

We can do it - by His grace that is sufficient for all things - and with His promise that He will never leave or forsake us. We CAN do it - just for today.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your infinite wisdom and for always planning out the details of our lives. You are trustworthy. Remind us always to listen for Your voice and seek Your peace in the midst of the chaos of daily living. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Would You?

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.
Luke 5:27-28 NLT

Levi (also called Matthew - see Matthew 9) was a tax collector; despised by those from whom he collected money. Jesus knew this, yet called him anyway... To me, the wild thing is Matthew just got up, left everything (the Word says) and followed Him. 

Think about that for a moment. We hate to see the tax man coming. And I've heard enough grumbling in the last week to believe that tax collectors are as unpopular today as they were in Jesus' time. 

Matthew's next recorded act? He threw a party (held a banquet) and invited Jesus to meet all his former co-workers and friends. This from a man who had become instantly unemployed the moment he made the choice to follow Jesus.

You know Peter and Andrew, James and John were all fishermen. If they bombed as disciples, they could always go back to the fishing industry. When Matthew made the choice, there was no going back. AND he was immediately unemployed. We tend to panic when we even think our job may be on the chopping block.

What I find most fascinating about this story are the gifts God had given Matthew when He created him in his mother's womb. Record-keeping, organization, the mighty pen. And Matthew had used them in a way that was not pleasing to God. However, when God called Levi, all that changed. 

The mighty pen wrote the gospel of Matthew. His organizational skill was able by God's grace to keep it all straight. What a testimony!! Want to take a guess of how many people have been ministered to by Matthew's Gospel?

Even when we start out bad, when we make the decision to follow Christ, our gifts are washed white as snow, too. Levi left everything and followed Him. Would you if He asked? He's asking.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for Your Word that gives us the comfort of knowing You have a plan for us, that You have gifted us to fulfill Your purpose and plan for each of us. Give us Your perspective on our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Nothing

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NLT

When our hope is in God - the Source of all hope - it does not matter what troubles come our way. We know from Scripture there is nothing too hard for God, nothing too big, nothing that shocks Him, nothing that knocks Him off His throne, nothing that can cause Him to wring His hands in worry, or throw them up in defeat. Nothing. 

Do you believe it?

Prayer:

Father,

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love, which You have shown from long ages past. Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of Your unfailing love, for You are merciful, O Lord. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Keep On Hoping

But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.
Psalm 71:14 NLT

What do you believe about the Lord? Do you believe He is Jehovah Rapha, our Healer? His Word says He is. Do you believe it no matter what? What about if you pray for someone and they don't recover? What if they die? Is He still God? Is He still Jehovah Rapha?

In case you're wondering, the answer is "Yes, He IS still Jehovah Rapha, our Healer!" I've said it before and I'll say it again - our circumstances don't change who God is. When we're facing trials and tribulations, it is the TRUTH of His Word that rules over the facts of those battles. Hide His Word in your heart. Let it become the Truth for your life. Let it overcome doubt and fear. Line upon line. Precept upon precept. Let it build on the measure of faith that God Himself gave us.

Start it out with words of praise...

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 34:1-3 NLT

O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection.
Psalm 71:5-7 NLT

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. 

Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our 

allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. 

These are the sacrifices that please God.
Hebrews 13:14-16 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
          I will keep on hoping for Your help; I will praise You more and more. You are worthy of all praise and glory and honor. Help us to be focused on Your Truth rather than the circumstances that surround us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

"Nothing but the Cross"

Nothing but the Cross (from the Message Bible)

6 1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

6 Be very sure now, you who have been trained to a self-sufficient maturity, that you enter into a generous common life with those who have trained you, sharing all the good things that you have and experience.

7-8 Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

11-13 Now, in these last sentences, I want to emphasize in the bold scrawls of my personal handwriting the immense importance of what I have written to you. These people who are attempting to force the ways of circumcision on you have only one motive: They want an easy way to look good before others, lacking the courage to live by a faith that shares Christ’s suffering and death. All their talk about the law is gas. They themselves don’t keep the law! And they are highly selective in the laws they do observe. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast of their success in recruiting you to their side. That is contemptible!

14-16 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can’t you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!

17 Quite frankly, I don’t want to be bothered anymore by these disputes. I have far more important things to do—the serious living of this faith. I bear in my body scars from my service to Jesus.

18 May what our Master Jesus Christ gives freely be deeply and personally yours, my friends. Oh, yes!

* Remind Me...

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

Lamentations 3:20-24 NLT

I have used this Scripture many times, but I never tire of reading and reaffirming, The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

The chapter that this is pulled from is very difficult; after all, it IS Lamentations. The truth of the matter is we ALL go through trials and tribulations because those are what build our faith and endurance. They cause us to grow in our relationship with the Lord, IF we let them. 

I'm walking through a hard time, too, right now. The only thing I have to stand on is the Lord and His promises. The circumstances don't change who God is - He is unchangeable. The same yesterday, today and forever. Whose report will I believe? I will believe the report of the Lord!

And if we forget or lose sight of that - I will remind you. And you - please, remind me!

Prayer:

Father,

          You are almighty God! Our Redeemer, our Healer, our Deliverer. All our hope and trust is in You. Manifest Your glory, O God!  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Wilderness Survival

O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 

Psalm 63:1 NLT

Have you ever felt like you were in a desert? Living the wilderness adventure - without TV cameras and no one there to vote you off the island? It is in the dark times of life that we are most grateful for those relationships we built with fellow followers of Christ. People who will point us to Truth instead of pointing out the circumstances. People who love us and will pray for us when we can't seem to pray for ourselves. People who will remind us of the immutable word of God, so that in the wilderness, our heart's cry can be...

I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Psalm 63:2-8 NLT

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for life. Thank You for Your plan for our lives. According to Your Word, Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. I will bless You, Lord, the One who guides me... I know You are always with me. I will not be shaken, for You are right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For You will not leave my soul among the dead. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* This is the Day

This is the day the Lord has made;
Psalm 118:24a NKJV

It was a rough night and an even rougher morning. One with more questions than answers; more angst than peace; more melancholy than joy. I wasn't seeking the questions, angst or melancholy, but neither was I seeking the answers, the peace or the joy.

Until a dear friend spoke Truth. "All I know is - this is the day the Lord has made and He has a plan for me and for my life in this day." A word fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11); arrows that pierce me deeply (Psalm 38:2a) ...rightly dividing the word of Truth (2nd Timothy 2:15).

And as those Words of life sat and resonated in my heart and in my mind, I stopped grousing and asked forgiveness and then prayed. Thank You, Father, for the Truth of Your Word in Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Truly, this IS the day the Lord has made. Will you CHOOSE to rejoice and be glad in it?

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to win the battle of choosing this day. Choosing what YOU have planned. Choosing what YOU have created. Choosing YOUR plan and walking in it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen

* My Neighbor

He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:26-37 NKJV

We live in a time when knowing your neighbors - the ones on either side of your house - and knowing them well enough to lend or borrow a cup of sugar are seemingly things of the past. So, who IS my neighbor? What does it take to be one?

Mercy. Compassion. Born of God's love alive in us. When we see someone in need, are we moved with compassion to help meet their need? Do we dig down, find a way to contribute money or time? Will we inconvenience ourselves to help another? 

By inconvenience, I'm not talking about taking food from our children's mouths. I mean would we forego one trip a month to Starbuck's and donate that $5 to an orphanage? Would we skip an hour or so of a Netflix binge to visit someone who may need to know someone cares enough to come "out of their way"? Would we actually take the time to pray for the person on Facebook for which we just typed, "Praying"?

Or do we govern our lives by "my four and no more"? I believe Mr. Rogers (who was a minister) knew exactly what he was asking when he sang, "Won't you be my neighbor?"

[Jesus speaking], So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for all the times we never noticed the opportunity to be a neighbor. Open our eyes and our hearts to see and respond to "go and do likewise." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Stubborn Love *

I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.
Jeremiah 31:3 The Amplified Bible

Sometimes for me, I lose sight of how God can continue to love me in spite of myself; all the times I've failed Him, my sin. Do you ever struggle with that? For the last few days, I have awakened with a chorus of the same song swirling in my spirit.

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me
I don't understand how You can stay
Perfect love embracing the worst in me
How I long for Your stubborn love

It's a song that Kathy Troccoli recorded in the early 80s titled Stubborn Love (NOT to be confused with a song of the same title by The Lumineers). Just the chorus over and over. And I realize that it is the Lord trying to teach me yet again that it's not about what I do that's important. What IS important IS His love and His grace and His mercy. That is not to say my choices in how I live aren't important - they are - but without Him, I have no hope of making the right choices for those with eternal consequences.

I couldn't remember the rest of the song, so after 4 days, I finally took the time to look up the lyrics, written by a handful of people (Brown Bannister, Sloan Towner, Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, and Amy Grant). I have included them here because they are encouraging to anyone who has struggled along the way.

Caught again, Your faithless friend. Don't You ever tire of hearing what a fool I've been? Guess I should pray but what can I say? Oh, it hurts to know the hundred times I've caused You pain Though 'Forgive me' sounds so empty when I never change Yet You stay and say, "I love you still"Forgiving me time and time again

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of meI don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me How I long for Your stubborn love


Funny me, just couldn't see Even long before I knew You, You were loving me Sometimes I cry, You must cry too When You see the broken promises I've made to YouI keep saying that I'll trust You though I seldom do Yet You stay and say, "You love me still"Knowing someday I'll be like You


And Your stubborn love, it never lets go of meI don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me How I long for Your stubborn love


It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me I don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me And You never let me go, I believe I finally know I can't live without Your stubborn love.


Prayer:


Father,
Thank You for loving us with a stubborn love that never lets go of us. Please forgive us for all the times we've failed You or let You down. It is only in You that we become a new creation. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen