A Word (or two) from Mark

Caller ID technology changes the way we use our phones. Now we can answer (or not answer) the phone because we know who is on the other end.  There are probably times when each of us have screened our calls this way.

If prayer is always a response to God’s initiative toward us, then I have to ask myself… am I screening His “calls” too.  Revelation 3: 20 uses another image. It portrays Jesus as knocking on our doors, desiring to come into our lives and to spend time with us over a meal.  Do I welcome this greeting, or do I ignore the knock?  Do I answer “the phone” or does the caller ID keep me from picking up the receiver.

This past week, I realized I haven’t always been responding to God’s initiatives toward me. I have been screening His calls at different times. How about you? Are you answering the phone, or have you been too busy when your Caller ID shows God is calling?

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The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is often referred to as Holy Week.  We remember the days of Jesus’ life prior to His crucifixion.  These events can be difficult to read.  But they are enormously important.  Recently, I saw an article that claimed that the presence of evil in the world proved that God could not be all good.  It would be possible in a short-sighted way to allow the pain and suffering we encounter in the world to cause us to despair of anything better.  We could give in to such thoughts that maybe God isn’t good… until Holy Week.  Then we face something quite different.  God did not leave the world as it was.  He did not remain detached in some kind of unfeeling way.  Jesus came and suffered unimaginable pain and heart ache at the hands of mankind, His own creation.  He took upon Himself deep wounds for our sin so that we could be healed.  Yes, there is pain; there is suffering.  Yet evil does not win.  Jesus has risen as He said.  All will be made new.  Hallelujah!

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Moses was blessed with one of the most powerful encounters with God prior to the coming of Jesus Christ.   Deuteronomy tells us that God spoke with him “face to face”.  Yet the writer of Hebrews urges us to go BOLDLY before the throne of grace in Hebrews 4.  It is interesting that just prior to this instruction two strong statements are made. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight and Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses.  In otherwords, we have nothing to fear.  The invitation to come before God is made with complete understanding of who we are and where we have been.  I truly believe we know God as much as we care to know Him.  Is there something keeping you from knowing Him better?  Is fear any part of what is holding you back?  Don’t shrink back.  Enter boldly before His Throne.  Jesus our “high priest” is waiting to meet you there.

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Worship takes practice.  From Exodus 32 we learn how easy it is to revert to patterns from our past.  So here are a list of 6 minute meditations to get you started on refocusing your attention on Jesus. They are offered just as a model.  Use them in anyway that is helpful.  You might want to do them in the morning and bring your mind back to the passage during the day.  Another way is to do them at night so that you go to sleep thinking about them.  You can then follow up the next day with your additional thoughts about the passage.

#1 - Jesus’ invitation:  Read Matthew 4: 18 - 22.  Imagine Jesus walking by you at work and inviting you to follow Him.  What feelings would you have about that?  Why would you follow him?  Why wouldn’t you?  What does he promise those early disciples?  Write down your thoughts about this in a journal.

#2 - Jesus’ Message:  Read Matthew 5: 1 - 12  Imagine hearing Jesus speak these words for the first time?  Who are the people he identifies as receiving blessing?  Are they the high and mighty of the world, or are they something else?  Who does Jesus welcome?  Do you fit in one of these categories?  Thank Jesus for His open arms of blessing.

#3 - Jesus’ Compassion: Read Matthew 9: 1 - 8  How does Jesus respond to this poor paralytic man?  Imagine yourself in his place.  What would you expect Jesus to say?  What does He say?  How does that make you feel?  Do you believe that there is something in your life that keeps Jesus from being able to work in your life?  Does this passage suggest something different to you?  Thank Jesus for his love and forgiveness.

#4 - Jesus’ Kingdom: Read Matthew 13: 31 - 33.  What is the picture given for the Kingdom of Heaven?  How does it grow?  What do you think this means in your life?  How has the reality of God’s kingdom affected you?

#5 - Jesus’ Table: Read Matthew 26: 26 - 29.  In Jesus’ culture, eating a meal with someone was a very serious thing.  You would never eat with just anyone, but only those who you desired to have a real relationship with.  Jesus is willing to have us sit at his table.  Reflect on His words at this table.  How do you feel sitting at the same table with Jesus?

After you do these, please e-mail me about what Jesus taught you.  I would love to know how He is speaking to you.

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Moses was on the mountain for six days before God spoke to him about all his plans for the nation. (Exodus 24)  What do you think Moses did for six whole days?  Sometimes I have a problem being still for 6 minutes, let alone waiting for 6 days.  If we want to learn how to walk with God, it seems that waiting is a requirement.  We have to learn how to be still and quiet in His presence.  It won’t always be easy.  It may take us time to learn how to do this.  But most things worth doing often take time to learn.  Are you learning how to wait?  A great place to start is by reading a psalm and just quietly dwelling on a few of the words about God. When your mind wanders, bring it back to the Lord by repeating the word or phrase.  After being still for a while, write your various thoughts down.  See what kind of thoughts come back to you over time.  You don’t have to start by trying to match Moses with a stretch of 6 days.  Try 6 minutes!

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The last word in the book of Acts is the word unhindered.   In its context, the word describes Paul’s ability to minister even though he was under some type of house arrest.  But as noted on Sunday a few weeks ago,  it may well have been meant as a word picture for more than Paul.  It may have been about the Spirit working through the church.  What does the word unhindered evoke in your mind as you reflect on it?  What hinders you in your life?  What can be done about those hindrances? Do you believe that life with God could free you from those hindrances?

As believers it is important to realize that God calls us into freedom… freedom with a purpose to live life with Him and for Him.  There is an abundant richness God is calling us to, if we will be willing to take the steps toward him.

I want to live Unhindered……

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There has always been something I have loved about Christmas Eve.  When I was little it was probably the anticipation of the next morning, opening presents and being with my family.  But as an adult it has always been the settled feeling when everything is done in preparation for the next day… and there are a few quiet moments by the decorated Christmas tree.  Sitting there quietly reflecting on the year, enjoying the moment is a special time.  The older I get, those moments span a wider diversity of memories.  Often those memories involve a transition of one kind or another.  Some were joyful,  a new family member or a new home.  Others brought tears, because I had had to say goodbye to someone I loved that year. There are usually thoughts of family, near and far.

All of those thoughts flow from the importance this “holiday” has figured in my family gatherings.  But obviously there is another message.  Jesus.  This year I am struck again by the angels first words to the shepherds.  Fear not.  Fear is such a primal part of our existence.  It seems that there are so many things we can be afraid of and fear shapes so much of what we do.  We are afraid of people, afraid of situations, afraid of being rejected, afraid of being hurt, and most of all afraid of God.  But the angels talked about good news of great joy. They talked about a savior.  Born!!  Adam and Eve were afraid of God in the garden.  But who is afraid of a baby?  The mystery of the incarnation is that God took on human form so that we could comprehend something otherwise incomprehensible to us.  Love.  If I am painfully honest with myself I will admit that fear is a pretty easy emotional response on my part.  But everything about the Christmas message is that we have nothing to fear.  Love is in charge.  Although I may walk through difficulties, pain and suffering Love will still win.  Fear not.  The angels have brought us good news of Great Joy.  Today there has been born for US in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord.

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There are so many reasons to be thankful.  This past Sunday we heard some great stories about God’s gracious work in many different lives.  Isn’t it uplifting to be able to praise God together for His goodness to us?  I hope everyone else was as encouraged as I was.   I also hope everyone has a week filled with more of God’s blessings with family and friends and that thankfulness continues to fill our hearts toward Him.  He is truly worthy of all our praise and honor!

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This past Sunday I talked about words.  They really do matter.  We use them all the time.  Some of us use a LOT of them.  Some of us are very efficient.  But here is something profoundly true.  Proverbs 25:11 says that “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.”  I experienced that today.  Someone stopped by my office and spoke words that encouraged me.  Someone else called me today and spoke words that offered prayer support.  I feel like I got some “apples” today.  It made me want to give away a few “apples” myself.

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There are a number of things that can harm your marriage.  Pornography is certainly one of them.  Under the category of Other Studies is a document entitled “Struggling with Pornography”.  It has some step by step  practical suggestions for finding your way out of this struggle.  There is hope.  Don’t give up.  Please down load it and begin the process.

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