1 Timothy 3:16 “Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.”

Do you ever wonder how you got where you are?  Do you wonder where you are going from here?

I look back at my life so far and there is no logical explanation to my path or my journey.  Why do some people choose this path of religion and some do not?  Doesn't the mystery call to everyone?

Mysteries that cannot be solved are hard for people.  There are shows on TV that are about unsolved mysteries, detectives in police departments across the country and around the world work to solve mysteries every day.  We like closure and completion, we struggle with the unknown.

The mystery of God through Christ is beyond my comprehension.  When I start thinking about it with my head it confounds me, I get frustrated.  When I set aside my thinking and begin searching with my heart and soul, I find peace and assurance.

The mystery of God will not be solved in my lifetime or in the time of earth as we know it.  I am left with this and I share it with you:  We are loved by the one true God, creator and redeemer of all.  We are called to share this love with each other.  This is my religion.

Lord,

Do not let me be deceived, keep me clearly focused on your truth, your love, and your light.  Keep me from deceiving others and allow me to be a reflection of your love in this world.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”

What is your most treasured possession?

Is it something you had longed for and after striving for it you finally hold it in your hands?  Is it a family heirloom, something that has been passed down from generation to generation and could never be replaced?  Is it not a thing but perhaps a person; not something you hold dearest but someone?

This verse was given to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.  As I sit and bask in these words I try to imagine what that would feel like to hear these words from the mouth of Moses, knowing it came straight from the God of gods.  As I sit and bask in these words I remember that because of Christ, you and I can claim these words as well.

Can you picture God holding his most treasured possessions in his hands?  Just as we would be with ours he is tender and careful with his treasures, he does not want to damage or break them, for we are irreplaceable.    He caresses and gazes on and adores each of us, we are his treasures. 

Go into this day knowing this:  You are holy to the Lord your God; the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.  Allow this statement to seep into your deepest soul and feel his gentle embrace of love as you go through your day.

Lord,

I am humbled and honored to be a treasure to you.  I come on bended knee to be cleansed and received, to be made holy in your sight once more.  Remind me that I am a holy treasure to you; remind me that every person you created is a holy treasure to you.  Guide me to treat others as preciously as you do.  Amen.

Ephesians 4:4-5 “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.”

Does all really mean all?

When I think of a body, mine in particular, are there parts of my body that are unhappy about each other?  My eyes see other parts of my body and the condemnation begins.  I won’t go into details but there is always room for improvement and my eyes are the window for the brain to judge through.  My body works together as one unit but each part has its purpose.

What if we could look at the people in God’s creation in this light?  We are all of God, created by his hand and for his purpose.  Another part of the body may not be working the way we think it should but are we the ones who created it?  Are we the one who designed that part for a specific purpose?  Who are we to know what purpose and call that part has from the God and Father of all?

When Paul wrote this letter did he mean to only include Christians in the body?  Did he exclude the people who did not follow the gospel truth?  If parts of the body do not work as they were designed do we cut them off or seek healing and restoration for them?  Just a thought...

Lord,

Remove the blinders from my eyes so I am able to see clearly, as you designed me to see.  Let me see other through your one Spirit and seek a bond of peace with all.  We are all yours; you are above us, through us and in us.  Help us see you in each other beyond anything else we see.  Amen.

Numbers 23:19-20 “God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind.  Has he promised, and will he not do it?  See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.”

This is a story I did not know.

The king of Moab called on Balaam, who some considered a prophet of God, to curse the Israelites because his people were afraid of them.  He wanted to have the upper hand if it came to war.  The king sent gifts and an entourage to escort Balaam back to him for this curse.

Four times the king showed Balaam the Israeli camp from different angles.  Four times Balaam sought and received words from the Lord God.  He cleared stated to the king that he could only repeat was he was told by God and that he would not deviate from what he was told.

This man, Balaam, was not an Israelite yet he sought the words of God and would only follow them?  This man was not an Israelite but God clearly spoke to and through him?  God is bigger than we allow him to be in our own minds.

I seek to hear and obey just as this story leads us to do.  We have received a command to bless; to love.  He has blessed and loved and we cannot revoke it.

Lord,

Let this strange story remain in my heart and mind today as I meet people, teach school and cook meals.  In all I do let me hear you and not deviate from what you say.  All people are your people; guide me in blessing and loving them as you have blessed and loved me.  Amen.

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Sometimes we need new perspective.

When my kids are having a day filled with unhappiness and general grumpiness I have them take a few moments and think of the good things of the day.

When we are grumpy, sad or angry it can be hard to find things to be happy about.  I ask my kids to find five good things about the day.  It helps them gain new perspective.

I can turn on the television and watch the news, allowing it to fill me with dread and despair; that is easy to do.  The challenge is to watch the news and find reasons for rejoicing.  Beyond the special interest stories that the news stations throw in for a bit of light in the midst of the heavy, there are reasons to rejoice in the Lord.

I struggle to remember that the Lord has his hand in all things when I see battles and wars, tensions in countries near and far.  I struggle to rejoice when friends and family suffer.  When I struggle I try to remember that I do not see as the Lord sees.  Only he knows from beginning to end and we only have a glimpse, a small piece of the whole picture.

I need to rely on my faith in God.  Regardless of what is going on in my small world or the whole world, I trust in the Lord.  When I hold on to that trust and faith, I am able to rejoice in the Lord, I am able to rejoice always.

Lord,

You know all, I do not.  It is clear as I study your word and learn more of you, that we have all the reason to rejoice and no reason to worry.  Help us gain new perspective so we can rejoice in you always.  I pray this in your holy name. Amen.

Psalm 15:1-2 “O Lord, who may abide in your tent?  Who may dwell on your holy hill?  Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;”

Spring is just around the corner.

The seasons continue around and winter is quickly coming to an end conceding its turn in the world to spring.  Yesterday was a day of hunkering down for a bitter cold day but I know as I look at the calendar that it will not be long before we gaze at early spring flower buds and the grass awakens from its winter hibernation.

We also quickly come to a time of reflection and repentance on the church calendar.  Lent is just around the corner and tradition holds that we take those 40 days to reflect on ourselves and repent of things we need to change.  It is through these times of reflection and repentance that we come to be upright and blameless in the sight of the Lord.

Every day is an opportunity to abide in the tent of the Lord; to dwell on his holy hill.  We must come blameless and righteous, speaking truth from our hearts.  The only way we fallible humans can manage this is through the cleansing blood of our Savior, Jesus.  Join me in the cleansing search with Christ.  Let us come to the holy hill and praise the Lord for his salvation today...

Lord,

I lift my hands and my heart in praise and adoration you to today.  Search me, cleanse me, and make me new in your eyes through your grace and redeeming love.  I only want to speak truth from my heart; I want to be blameless in your sight.  I want to abide with you, always.  Amen.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

This is love at the very core.

We can spend hours, no, days reading passages in the bible, teachings and prophecies that speak of the vengeance of God.  If we look at these passages on the surface level, it tells of a God who is angry, full of judgment and condemnation.  We must look a little deeper.

If someone walked into my home while my children were being disobedient and stubborn, they might see a parent who is angry and full of judgment and condemnation, they would need to look deeper here too.

Even in the prophecies and teachings that warn of God’s judgment there are many words of hope mixed in.  The prophecies and teachings of the bible all have the same core message, love God because he loves you.  I never stop loving my children, even when I am angry.  How much more does God, the source of love, never stop loving his children?  These verses remind us of how much God loves us.

He loves us all, each of us, so very much that he sent a perfect sacrifice to break down the wall between life and death so that we could enter in just through our faith.  He does not come to condemn but to save.  He does not come to reject but to love.  Yes, Jesus loves you!

Lord,

Thank you for these easy and beautiful words in John.  Thank you for the blessing of being able to come to you through the gift of Jesus so that we can easily step into your love and light.  As we learn and believe in you, help us share that knowledge and faith with others so all may come to live eternally in your holy love.  Amen.