1 Corinthians 13:3 “If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

I like to think I am not a materialistic person.  For the most part I do not cling to items and having things does not make me feel better or happier.  It is easy for me to say that because I have so much.  There are two cars in my two car garage and a pantry full of food in my kitchen.  I have a beautiful home and a big yard for the kids to play in.  There is a great garden for growing produce in the summer and toys are never ending.  Our closets are full and so are the chests of drawers.  Water and electricity flow without fail in my home.  If I were asked to give up all my possessions in the name of love, would I hesitate and give reasons beyond reasons why I shouldn't?  My kids need a ...  We can’t be healthy without...  In Colorado you have to have...  I am not feeling called to give away all my possessions and I don’t believe most people are.  I do think we need to look at things with a different view.  Our possessions do not give us love and they do not give us the ability to love.  Love transcends the physical tangible world.  Let go of your things, even your person and turn them all over to the Lord so that He may in turn fill you will a love beyond anything you can imagine.  When we let go, we gain much.

Lord,

As I sort through things and donate, sell or give away stuff, remind me that I am making room for more love.  Clear away the clutter and possessions that I cling to so that I may hold on to you more deeply and then share your love more fully.  Amen.

Matthew 13:29-30 “He said, ‘Come.’  So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.  But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and began to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

The saying “Keep your eye on the prize” that is running through my head today.  This story came to me last night as I was doing some prep work for homeschooling today.  When I read this passage in Matthew I could not help but come back to these verses.  Peter calls to Jesus and then on Jesus command he climbs out of the boat and starts walking toward his Lord.  I imagine his eyes intently focused on Jesus and for a moment all trust and faith are in Him.  Then, the wind and the storm around him distract him and he loses his step.  He looks around and remembers the waves and the wind that had tossed him around all night and he begins to sink into the water.  The good news is that he didn’t lose all faith.  He called out “Lord, save me!”  Jesus was right there and rescued him.  How often does this happen to each of us?  We struggle to keep the distractions at bay and to keep our eyes focused on walking toward God.  He is there to rescue us whenever we call out to him.  We simply need to turn our focus toward him again and he will take our hand.  During this season of reflection and repentance, I am reminded that to repent means to turn a new direction.  Do not turn back, turn toward the Lord.

Lord,

Thank you for always being there ready to grasp our hand when we call out to you.  Help us keep our focus on you, walking toward you in faith, trusting in you.  When we are distracted, help us turn toward you again so we continue to walk a little closer to you each day.  Amen

John 1:14, 16 “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Each morning I sit in quiet time seeking a word from God.  This morning when I read this passage I was struck by these verses.  The Word, the very thing I seek each morning lives within me.  His Spirit, My Lord, Jesus my Redeemer is the Word.  All the words in this beautiful book I read each day lead to the true Word.  They all point to the God of Moses, Jacob and Abraham and they all point to the Messiah, Jesus the Christ.  I asked myself why I even need this book then if I have Jesus in my heart.  I know the message he gives but I am human and I need to have daily reminders to keep me from falling away from his love.  So here is a story to remind us of love and grace.  I heard of a man who chooses homelessness so that he is not subjected to his wife’s drug addiction.  He works full time so he can provide a home and nourishment for her but does not live there and cannot afford to live anywhere else.  He sacrifices out of love and grace.  We do not know anyone else story, what we know is that everyone has a story.  God loves them despite and because of it.  So should we.  Reach out in grace and mercy today.  Receive the grace and mercy offered to you today.  This will change our world.

Lord,

May your truth and grace fill us to overflowing.  As we are filled inspire us to share with others so that all people receive this grace upon grace.  You are God of abundance.  Thank you for all you have given and keep giving.  Amen.

Psalm 43: 3-4 “O send out your light and your truth; let the lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.  Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, Oh God, my God.”

There is something comforting and soothing about seeing a light in the distance when you are traveling in darkness feeling a little lost.  Have you ever experienced that?  I remember when I was a child, when we would drive up into the mountains in the dusk and then darkness.  I would search the mountainside for lights.  There were little dots of light that indicated a home here and there so I knew we were not completely alone.  I knew we could go toward that light for help if we needed it.   Finally I would see the one light that grew bigger as we came closer and then we had arrived at Grandma and Grandpas house!  Joy! This chapter is calling for God to send his light and rescue David from the darkness of his enemies.  David knew that he could call out to God and God would come.  He would rescue him with his light and his truth.  God still listens for us to call out to Him.  His light and his truth are his guide for us to come to him.  When we follow the guide and come to his altar, we are in the presence of our soul’s greatest joy!  Celebrate and rejoice for the Lord, our God is our refuge and our help in all times.

Lord,

Thank you for this passage to calm my spirit and remind me one more time to rest in the comfort of your light and truth.  I come to you with praise and thanksgiving because you have given all for me.  Thank you for never giving up on us.  Amen.

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

I have a saying from my Mom rattling in my memory about hearing and not doing.  She used to say she could talk ‘til she was blue in the face and nothing would get done.  I remember times she would give us a direction as children and we would acknowledge her and then continue on with whatever it was we were doing.  We heard her, really we did.  We heard the garage door opening with my Dad coming home from work better though.  Invariably, if we had not done what was expected yet, we would jump up and rush to do before Daddy would walk in the door.  I don’t think we felt disobedient but we did deceive ourselves.  These actions or inactions, as the case may be, were disobedient.  When we hear the word of the Lord and simply continue on the path we have without considering what we heard, that too, is disobedient.  God gives clear guidance for us to love as He loves, to abide in Him, to serve one another.  I look at my own heart and know I do not always do this.  Of course I will not be infallible but I do not always strive to do.  When we act and do follow the word, James tells us we will be blessed in our doing.  Listen to the word and then go out and do so you will be blessed.

Lord,

Forgive my inaction and my disobedience in “forgetting” the direction you have given.  Move my heart into action so I may be blessed in acting for your kingdom and so that others may be blessed by my following and doing of your word.  Amen.

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, by brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.  To write the same things for you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard.”

Most of us require hearing something more than once to remember and instill it into our brains.  I have heard it said (a few times) that people need to hear things or read things an average of four times to lock it into their memory banks.   The bible is written to help us remember the important things.  There are things that are mentioned countless times like pray, rejoice, worship.  Here Paul is reminding the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord but I really like the way the sentence is written too.  Finally... after everything is said and done, rejoice in the Lord.  Finally, no matter what else has happened rejoice in the Lord.  The call to rejoice is written so many times in the bible and Paul is one that reminds us of it several times in his letters.  God knows how important this is so He reminds us often to do it.  When I came to this verse this morning I realized if I needed to hear it again it was likely some of you did too.  Let me remind us all to rejoice in the Lord.  In all things rejoice in the Lord.  Sing songs of praise and play music, lift your hearts and voices in shouts of praise to the Lord!

Lord,

As the sun peeks over the horizon my soul sings a song of praise to you.  You create every breath in my lungs, the stars and the moon, the birds that sing morning songs and you create the joy in my heart that causes me to sing.  Help me make this day a day of rejoicing, for this is a day you have made and we are called to rejoice!  Amen.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe”

When I am in the middle of being shaken, it is not easy to be filled with reverence and awe.  It is much easier for me to call out to him asking for the shaking to stop.  His shaking is a purifying process though and without it, I would not be made into the new creation He is making in me. I picture an archaeologist with a sifter.  He gently pours the dirt and artifacts into the sifter and shakes out the waste to reveal the treasure.  This is how we are shaken.  It can feel like our whole world is rocking out of control but in reality the gentleness of the Lord our God keeps us safe and we are cleansed of waste, allowing the treasure he created us to be to break forth.  As we come through this process, his kingdom is revealed in new ways and though we have been shaken, his kingdom will remain forever.  Because we have been shaken, cleansed and redeemed, we can bound forth into his holy kingdom, thanks be to God!

Lord,

Sometimes it feels like a wild ride but I know you have me in your gentle hands.  Thank you for loving us enough to shake the waste and dirt away and allowing us to come into your kingdom renewed and shining as you created us to shine.  I lift your name in praise even as the shaking will continue here; there is no shaking in your holy kingdom.  You and your kingdom remain constant forever and ever.  Amen