Focus of my delight: I will remember You

Scripture: Matthew 17:2-5 [The Message]

2-3His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. Sunlight poured from his face. His clothes were filled with light. Then they realized that Moses and Elijah were also there in deep conversation with him.

4Peter broke in, “Master, this is a great moment! What would you think if I built three memorials here on the mountain—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah?”

5While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.”

Observation(s): Jesus’ glory is revealed to Peter, James and John on a mountain top.  They are witness to seeing Elijah and Moses talking with Him.  Peter, who recently is proclaimed to be the “Rock”, interjects and asks Jesus if he can build three memorials-one for each Prophet of G-d.  As Peter is going on and on a cloud of light envelops them and a voice rings out proclaiming Jesus as G-d’s Son–whom He is proud of and loves very much–listen to Him.

Application(s): Would I recognize G-d’s glory if it was revealed to me? Like Peter to I acknowledge Jesus as my Master? What symbolic gestures do I need in order to remember what I witness with G-d?  Do I take great delight in knowing G-d’s Son, is He my focus?  Do I listen to Him?

Prayer: Father G-d, you gave your Son to me as a gift.  Yet I sometimes do not give Him/You enough attention because of all the distractions around me.  Give me a spirit like Peter that acknowledges You as my Master.  Give me ears to listen and eyes to see You, so that when you reveal yourself I will recognize Your glory enveloping me like that cloud.  Give me a spirit-filled life that takes great delight in knowing and spending time with You.  I know that if you are my focus, everything in my life falls into place.  Your will, not mine–I love You.

Bridling the Tongue

Scripture: Matthew 15:17-20 [The Message]

17-20″….Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It’s from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That’s what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that’s neither here nor there.”

Observation(s): Jesus seems to be saying that words have meaning.  Every utterance is communicated and get its start with the heart!  Our hearts produce falsehoods, selfish desires of an immoral nature such as murder, adultery, illicit sex, swearing, theft and perjury. Jesus says that we may appear unclean on the outside, but it really is our insides that are dirty and what we should be concerned with!

Application(s): Are my thoughts pure? Are my words contrived, or do I mean what I say and say what I mean? Is my heart in the right place when I speak?  Am I more concerned about outward appearance than my own soul?

Prayer: Lord, You know my heart.  The Psalmist records that man looks on the outside appearance, but you see what’s in the heart.  Forgive me where I have failed–evil thoughts, desire, motivations.  Bridle my tongue Lord so that when I speak that my words come from the Spirit–may they be spoken in love, truth and always gentle, especially to my wife and children who you have given to me as a gift.  I love you.

1-800-Call Him!

Scripture: Psalm 142: 1-7 [The Message]

Psalm 142:1-7

1-2 I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy.
I spill out all my complaints before him,
and spell out my troubles in detail:

3-7 “As I sink in despair, my spirit ebbing away,
you know how I’m feeling,
Know the danger I’m in,
the traps hidden in my path.
Look right, look left—
there’s not a soul who cares what happens!
I’m up against it, with no exit—
bereft, left alone.
I cry out, God, call out:
‘You’re my last chance, my only hope for life!’
Oh listen, please listen;
I’ve never been this low.
Rescue me from those who are hunting me down;
I’m no match for them.
Get me out of this dungeon
so I can thank you in public.
Your people will form a circle around me
and you’ll bring me showers of blessing!

Observation(s): In song David pleads to God aloud asking for His forgiveness and giving his confession in detail.  Depression abounds in David’s life, yet the acknowledgment of G-d’s presence.  He knows how David feels, knows the danger he is in.  David sees his Creator as his last chance and only hope for life–concluding that His chosen will encircle him and bring down “showers of blessings”.

Application(s): Do I acknowledge the sin in my life? Do I seek forgiveness on a on-going basis?  Do I pour my heart out to Him who has created me? Do I accept that G-d is ever-present and knows intimately how I feel and the danger that I am in? Do I see Him as my only hope, or do I cling to temporal things as my way out?  Do I surround myself with His people who can inspire and lift me up to Your showers of blessings?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my shortcomings and failures as a husband, father, friend, worker! You know me so well!  You know what I fear and the potholes I’m about to step into.  Help me to remember to call on you (loudly) even when I’m not in danger.  Help me to see You through the fog called life.  Sustain my hope, surround me with your people and continue to rain down showers of blessings onto my family and me.  Your will not mine be done.

Open Eyes, Full Hearts

Scripture: Matthew 13:11-17 [The Message]

11-15He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again:

Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
so they won’t have to listen;
They screw their eyes shut
so they won’t have to look,
so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
and let me heal them.

16-17“But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.

Observation(s): Jesus is telling stories to all who have come to listen.  Speaking to His followers He says that they (uneducated and held in contempt in society) have been given wisdom about how G-d’s Kingdom works.  Most can not possess this gift of understanding.  One must have a “ready heart” otherwise the comprehension and intuitiveness falls away and does not flow freely.  Stories create readiness to gently push people into acceptance of the Truth.  Jesus says when one is not receptive to the Kingdom, they have ears and eyes that do not listen or see as recorded in Isaiah, they just don’t get it.  He tells them [disciples]  that they have  eyes and ears that are blessed by G-d to see and hear of the Kingdom.  Many saints, professed believers, and those who claim to speak for G-d would do anything to have the opportunity to see and hear, but will never have the chance.

Application(s): Is my heart ready? Are my ears and eyes open?  Do I dilute myself into thinking that they [my eyes and ears] are open because I am a professed Christian?  Do I have spiritual understanding of G-d’s Kingdom? When talking about the Kingdom with my family or friends do I create “readiness” or do I push to hard with my know-it-all demeanor?   Am I gentle in my approach when talking about the Kingdom? When given the opportunity to be given insight have I squandered it?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me where my heart has not been receptive.  I truly want to understand your Kingdom better than I have in the past.  Give me open eyes and ears so that I will be receptive to the Holy Spirit in what He is telling me. Give me a gentle spirit when talking about You to others so they will have open eyes and ears. Give me a chance–to hear and see!

Critical Spirit or Open Heart

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8 [The Message

1-2 One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them. Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: "Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!"

3-5Jesus said, "Really? Didn't you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? And didn't you ever read in God's Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it's not held against them?

6-8"There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."

Observation(s): Jesus and his disciples walk through a grain field and find themselves hungry so commence to break off the heads of grain and eat them.  Teacher's of the Law see them and accuse them of breaking the rules established by Moses on Sabbath keeping.  Jesus reply is direct and gives His accusers prime example of Sabbath breaking by David, a "Man after God's own heart", and points to the Sabbath breaking of the Priests, yet they stand before G-d as innocent.  Then Jesus reveals what is vital!  He says that He wants a, "flexible heart to an inflexible ritual" and accuses them [teacher's] of having a critical spirit and reveals himself as proprietor of the Sabbath.

Application(s): Am I an accuser?  Do I have a critical spirit?  Is my worship in vain?  Is my heart open?  Do I have courage to speak the Truth? Do I acknowledge Jesus as the Judge in all matters of my life?

Prayer: Father, G-d, you are the Beginning and the End–you are the cornerstone of all things including the Sabbath.  You sent your Son to this earth to show me a better way of living my life.  Help me to remember that you don’t need ritualistic worship, or critical spirits.  What you desire are heart that are open.  You desire people to always speak the Truth in love.  Rain down your Spirit, so that I may have a heart like David.  I Love You.

Is Your Yolk Full?

Scripture: Matthew 11: 28-30 [The Message]

28-30“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Observation(s): Jesus addressed the crowd with questions. Each one asks about our personal needs. He knows that we are burned out and exhausted with life. He says to us we can have an exuberant life with Him. He will show us how to do it by His example of non-conscripted beats of mercy. He will take our yolks and teach us to live liberally and unburdened.

Application(s): Am I tired beyond belief? What baggage am I holding onto? Am I handing it over to G-d? Am I spending time (Q3T) with Him? Am I willing to let Him be in control? Am I willing to be a student, rather than the teacher? Am I open to learning a new way of being close to Him–learning a new rhythm of grace?

Prayer: Lord, I am tired (physically, and on some level intellectually and emotionally). I know I need to give it to you. Help me! Give me an open and willing spirit to walk in your ways. Give me strength to learn the “unforced rhythms of grace” so I can be a fountain that is filled up and overflowing for my family and friends.

Running to You

Scripture: 1 Samuel 23:1-2; Psalm 31:1, 15, 16 [The Message]

1 Samuel 23

Living in Desert Hideouts

 1-2 It was reported to David that the Philistines were raiding Keilah and looting the grain. David went in prayer to God: “Should I go after these Philistines and teach them a lesson?”    God said, “Go. Attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

Psalm 31

A David Psalm

 1I run to you, God; I run for dear life.

15-16 Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. 

Observation(s): Like David, we hear about people, places, situations, etc.  The things we hear can be troubling.  David immediately talks to G-d, asking Him to reveal His will.  G-d speaks directly to David and tells David, “Go….”  In a song that David writes he begins with the words, “‘I run to you, God; I run for dear life’ and later ‘Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me.’”

Application(s): David hears .  The things we hear can be troubling.  Do I, like David, when facing a problem immediately go into prayer?  Do I seek His will?  Do I run to you as if my life depended on it? Do I obey as David, or do I falter with uncertainty?  Do I go you hour by hour, or is it only when I’m in trouble?

Prayer: Father, G-d, You are my source of strength.  Help me to remember that being with you is a moment by moment experience, not a once in a lifetime experience.  Give me the spirit of David that when I hear things that are troubling that I will immediately go to you and be open to receiving your words and doing your will.

Continually Looking Up

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:20-22 [The Message]

20-22 Samuel said to them, “Don’t be fearful. It’s true that you have done something very wrong. All the same, don’t turn your back on God. Worship and serve him heart and soul! Don’t chase after ghost-gods. There’s nothing to them. They can’t help you. They’re nothing but ghost-gods! God, simply because of who he is, is not going to walk off and leave his people. God took delight in making you into his very own people.

Observation(s): Samuel pleads with the people to not give up after they see their wrongs in losing faith with G-d’s anointed leaders and demanding an earthly King vs. G-d as their King.   When we recognize our mistake(s), or have separated ourselves from G-d, we don’t have to be afraid.  Definitely, never turn our back on Him.  Instead, worship and serve G-d with our heart and soul.  Chasing after material things is of no use–it will not help us in the end–after all they are inanimate objects.  Remember that even in our poorest (sin) condition He is not going to abandon us, because of who He is–G-d.  He took great pleasure in proclaiming us as His own.

Application(s): Do I recognize when I have a “sin” problem? When I separate myself from G-d am I scared or callous?  If I’m scared or callous do I turn my back on Him?   Do I truly worship and serve Him with heart and soul? Do I chase after the immaterial things of life (they can’t help me)?  Do I know that He is not going to ever leave me alone, not just because of who He is, but because He claimed me as His prize–his very own!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for never abandoning me.  I know that sometimes, no many times, actually more times than I can count, I have chased after the things of this world and  I’ve separated myself from you.  Give me your Spirit to not give up or turn my back on you.  Give me your Spirit to truly worship You and You only (with heart and soul).  If you can’t get rid of this “sin” problem that I have, then give me the courage to lean on you and look to you when I falter so that I do not try to do this on my own, ever!

Boast Not, Judge Not!

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:7, 17-18 [The Message]

7 “…Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ. “

17-18 “If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work. It’s what God says about you that makes the difference.

Observation(s): With this one statement Paul turns the tables on his critics. He makes his appeal that he is just as worthy as those who claim to be on Christ’s side and assures his audience that he is here to build up and encourage, not tear people down. He also asserts that if we are going to boast and take the glory, that we should proclaim that glory for G-d and not for ourselves for it means nothing to Him. What He has to say should mean something not what others say.

Application(s): Am I certain of my standing with Christ? Do I take to much credit for what I am doing? Do I give G-d the glory in all things? Do I know that what others say about me makes no difference to G-d? Do I accept that what G-d says about me should make all the difference?

Prayer: Father, G-d, Thank you for opening my eyes and ears this morning to your Word. Too many times I do not acknowledge you in my victories and accomplishments. I’m sorry for that. I need to lessen more so you may increase more. Give me a Spirit to accomplish that. You’ve said that I am your child, so look out for me and remind me when I get to close to the edge–I pray that I will be filled with the confidence of my standing with you because I’m on your side.

My Needs are Met When I Give Back

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:7b-13, 15 [The Message]

7b God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.

8-11God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out.
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

12-13 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone.

15Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!

Observation(s): G-d finds joy in our generous giving.  He can pour out the blessings in ways we have never imagined so that we will be ready for all things that come our way so that we will more than ready to accomplish His will.  Our giving G-d who provides for our daily living is more than generous.  He provides not only for us but for others as well so that we can give Him praise and continue in our generosity.  This generosity of providing for another’s needs is more than assisting the minimum needs of destitute Christians–this outward expression of generosity produces in us a attitude of gratitude, thus we are living at our best, when we show gratefulness to G-d by our allegiance to the words of Christ and in our gratitude through our generous offerings to all those in need, especially among our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We can thank Him for his gift, because we can’t praise Him enough in any language.

Application(s): Am I expectant of a blessing when I am self-centered?  Do I recognize that in giving generously that G-d can use that to His advantage and give me a double blessing? Am I prepared to receive a blessing from G-d? How’s my attitude? Am I grateful? Am I looking beyond myself and looking for ways to give back? Am I looking for ways to give Him the praise and the glory? Do I recognize just how generous He is with me and do I say thank you enough?

Prayer: G-d I don’t say thank you enough.  I not only want to give you the praise and glory, but submit myself to your will.  When I am in submission I know you can use me in ways that I never imagined, and give me blessings beyond my wildest dreams.  So prevent me from getting in the way, give me your spirit and fill me with your love so that I will have an attitude of gratitude .