Psalm 119:41-48

Psalm 119:41-48
New International Version (NIV)

  There's something pure about the delight of a child.  As adults, we tend to complicate things (just go to any youth sporting event for evidence).  Children have a way of enjoying something with pure delight.  I was eating dinner with my daughter tonight and was startled by the way she expresses happiness -- it's something I long for.  I'm so often weighed down by burdens and anxieties that pure joy is a reach, whereas my children can go from pain and tears to joy in the blink of an eye (and often right back again!).
  When I read the Psalms, I get the impression of someone who has found pure joy in the Lord.  It's not an uncomplicated joy, but while it recognizes the other forces at work in the world, the Psalmist has also found peace and joy in the Lord, and once they've been given a taste of this, they long for nothing more.  It's compelling, for it draws me in as well -- this is the satisfaction of the soul that we long for, the divine bread that fills us in a way no earthly bread can ever hope to do.  Come, taste and see, the Lord proclaims, and we will find him good -- we will find healing for our wounds and hope for our downcast eyes and eternal life for our mortal lives.  In Him there is true joy, lasting joy.  The Psalmist has found this and points us forward, shouting with thanksgiving for the life that is truly life.

Psalm 119:33-40

Psalm 119:33-40
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've been in school a lot.  I've graduated from the 21st grade, and I've had good teachers and bad teachers and everything in between.  Some lectured while others challenged us.  The best teachers were the ones who could not only lead you by explaining the simple concepts but also challenge you to figure it out for yourself, while always guiding to keep you on task.
  What are you learning?  We're all students of Christ -- none of us have mastered his teachings or his example.  The challenges increase as we grow, always calling us deeper, to learn and grow in new ways.  It's important that we think of ourselves as students, because that calls us back to the teacher, keeping us humble, pulling us deeper.  We sit at the Master's knee, longing to hear what he has to say to us, how he challenges us as we consider how to integrate his teachings into our lives.  We use the Bible as our guide and let our prayer lives serve as instruction sessions, in which we allow the Holy Spirit to teach our souls how to learn and how to grow.  Our fellow students teach us as well as we study together.  May we continue to yearn for the Word of God to teach us, to raise us up, and to send us onward.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

  Last night, around midnight, I finished up Amor Towles' A Gentleman in Moscow.  There's a reason that the 6,671 Amazon.com reviews average 4.5 stars.  It's an amazing read.  It's somewhat hard to describe -- a Soviet gentleman is sentenced to a life of house arrest in a Moscow hotel in 1922, and the remainder of the book is a catalogue of the events and interactions that comprise his life in the Metropol hotel.  If you're like me, the description doesn't sound captivating, but from the moment I started this book on an airplane a few days ago, I couldn't put it down.  It's beautifully written, a composed piece that the reader consumes like fine dining -- with each chapter as a separate course, drawing one deeper to enjoy and yet whetting the appetite for what comes next.  I savored the story while devouring the book.

  It's a great story, but there are fascinating themes that comprise the tale as well.  A story of a man forced to live his life in one building is important in the modern age.  So many of us are driven by an anxiety of what we're missing out.  The syndrome even has a name (FOMO, or fear of missing out), and we spent hours scrolling through social media wondering what our friends or acquaintances are doing.  We often end up jealous of the casual vacations or perfect family portraits of casual friends of friends, wondering why our life didn't turn out like that.  Never mind that the reality of their life may not be entirely reflected in this one selected snapshot.  That's another conversation.
  What the book captures so well is the ability of the main character, Count Rostov, to satisfy himself in his surroundings.  His life has not turned out like he imagined, and his surroundings are not what he would have chosen, but he delves into the riches of them, exploring their depths and building relationships within his confinement.  He doesn't allow himself to waste away wishing he were someone else in another world, in another place.  The book is not caught up in longing for the world beyond the walls -- rather it's a picture of how a life is built within the walls, and how the Count is richer for it. 
  What if we contented ourselves with our situations?  It doesn't mean we stop striving, but instead of chasing after some unrealistic image of another life, we instead invested ourselves in developing the riches of the life we have.  I once heard a preacher say that the 10th Commandment is the reward for following the other 9 -- that if we follow those nine, we won't want someone else's life.  A life caught up in chasing what other people have will never be satisfied.  Finding a way to be content with where we are, letting God satisfy us rather than trying to find another station in life and believing that will be satisfying, is what gets us into trouble, leaving us anxious and short-tempered.

  The book also gives us the beauty of seeing how relationships deepen over decades.  We have a somewhat transitory culture now -- we move so often, it's hard to have relationships that last for years, let alone decades.  In the book, the Count has relationships that deepen over time, and at a certain point, he laments the loss of the one friend who knew him when he was truly young.  These long-term relationships are a gift, because they are often friends who have seen us at our best and our worst, and they love us throughout.  We don't have to wear masks around these friends, or pretend that we are something we are not.  We don't hide our imperfections, but rather accept them, sometimes even embracing them, grateful for a friend who loves us in spite of them.  Our weaknesses do not make us unlovable -- but rather reveal the wondrous ways that relationships build and surround us in the midst of our weaknesses. 

  It's hard for me to recommend A Gentleman in Moscow enough.  It's a great book, entertaining and poignant.  It's an adventure that takes place without much change in scenery and yet with wonderful development -- the characters deepen by the chapter, and we age with them, watching them grow and wishing them well.  I loved it, and I miss it already.

Psalm 119:25-32

Psalm 119:25-32
New International Version (NIV)

  My prayer most mornings is that the Holy Spirit would help me want to love the Lord more than I want anything else.  It's a simple prayer, and it doesn't take long to say, but it captures where I am right now -- I want to want God more than I want other things.  I'm asking God to redirect the desires of my heart.
  If we're honest, and I'm going to be because maybe it will help someone else, I'm not very good at follow through.  I've been praying this for a while, and I'm not sure that my life looks any different.  I still long for material things, for comfort and for wealth.  I walk by the mini-mart in our building and see the dollar amount of the Powerball and think how much better life would be if I won (Someone much wiser than I once said that money doesn't change us - it only amplifies our personalities.  I'm sure that's true of other people....)  I want lots of things, but I have a hard time wanting to want God more than anything else.  If I could train my heart to seek true satisfaction from God, then I would find lasting peace from worry and anxiety.  If I could recognize that accepting the grace of Christ means halting my sinful pursuit of comfort for comfort's sake, then my life would have more margin in it because I wouldn't be chasing material things so often, but those material things are HARD to turn away from.  I'd love to have a big house and a nice car and lots of stuff -- then I'd be happy, right?
  I know the true answer to that, but I'm conditioned to seek that stuff.  I've been training my whole life, and now I'm praying to God that I want God more than anything else.  If I can move in that direction, it'll help the eyes of my heart see that true and lasting peace comes from God, and that generosity is a better path. 
  I keep praying.  Someday, God willing, I'll take baby steps in the right direction.  "Preserve my life according to your Word."

Psalm 119:17-24

Psalm 119:17-24
New International Version (NIV)

  I've spent a fair amount of time in England -- it's a country that speaks the same language we do, and yet they use it very differently.  They have words we do not, and some of the same words are used quite differently, so if you have a conversation with someone from Britain, you may notice that something feels a bit off.  It's just not quite right, and you have to pay attention to notice the slight difference.  If you're American, it's not quite home, but feels pretty comfortable all the same.
  Here in this world, it's pretty comfortable.  We recognize the world and live in it, but it's not quite right.  Some of the things within this world, they seem right, but there's something a little off about them.  The devil has twisted some things so that they seem like beauty and love and truth, but they aren't quite.  They are imitations, and if we aren't careful, we fall in love with the substitutes, only to realize too late that they aren't pointing to the true and beautiful God that has created out of abundance and splendor.  Our wayward hearts fall in love with the wrong things, and we realize that we are strangers in a strange land.
  Our hearts are calling us home, pointing us to the one who made us, to the one who calls us his own, to the one who redeems us and sends his Son to show us his love.  You are beloved, friend, and you were made for truth and beauty and selfless love.  Let God love you, and treasure the things in this world that reflect the love of God, and seek to share them with the world around you.  Our souls call for them -- let us do what we can to point others to God while we keep our hearts focused on our true home.

Psalm 119:117-120

Psalm 119:117-120
New International Version (NIV)

  When I think about the futures of my children, I experience a wide range of emotions. I get excited for the people they are becoming.  I have some anxieties about the things I cannot control.  Sometimes I am fearful for the things that may threaten or harm them.  I love seeing them joyful, and I project that into the future and am overwhelmed by the amazing people they are becoming.  It is hard to capture all my emotions.
  The Psalmist, too, cannot quite grasp all the different ways we react to God.  There is fear, for our God is a righteous God who is perfect in every way.  I, for one, am not quite perfect, and on my best days I don't even come close.  So I am afraid that I am not good enough for God.
  I am also in awe, because of the radical ways in which God shows his great love for me.  Although I am not good enough, God covers me in grace and love and invites me into the throneroom of heaven through the gift of his son, Jesus Christ.  Through him, I am enough.  I am worthy through the gift of grace, and so I stand in awe of God. 
  Sometimes, I am afraid because this seems too good to be true.  Other times, I am so excited I can scarcely speak.  We are caught up in so many emotions when we speak of God. 
  I don't think we need to hide any of these emotions from God.  When we pray, we can be honest before God about our fears and hopes and joys and anxieties.  As any good parent, God wants to console us in our fear and comfort us in our sorrow, while also celebrating with us in our best moments and encouraging us to the future.  Remember that God loves you more than words can express, and God is excited about the eternal future you have with him.

Psalm 119:9-16

Psalm 119:9-16
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This is one of those passages that is best understood backwards.  If we start at verse 15, we find that meditating on the law is where we can start.  From here, we learn to delight in the Law as much as riches, because we recognize the benefits that it brings.  When we have started to delight in the Law, we want more -- we ask for more teachings as our appetite grows.  The more we study the Bible, the deeper it gets.  The more we study it, the more we store it up in our heart, knowing it better and better with each passing hour of study.  The more room in our heart the Word takes, the less room in our heart there is to desire sinful things -- that gets crowded out by our desire for what is true and beautiful and good.  The more our sinful desires are crowded out, the less we wander, and our way is kept more pure.
  It starts with the small steps.  Any exercise plan starts with one day of exercise, and then it builds into a week, then a month, then a lifestyle.  Diets are the same, as are relationships -- they start with a spark.  If we start with the spark of the Word, that can grow into a flame that sees our desire for God increase daily.

Psalm 119:1-8

Psalm 119:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I doubt that many of us would say out way is blameless.  Most of us would probably claim that we desire to follow the way of the Lord, but that so many distractions get in the way.  It's like a diet -- we start out with the best of intentions, but old habits are hard to shake.  Ever try to diet around Christmas?  Every sugar cookie and piece of chocolate will find its way to you!  Even when we don't dramatically fall off the wagon, it's easy to let things slide a little.
  And so we pray -- and there are two sides to this prayer.  The first is for the courage and wisdom to seek the Lord above all else.  The second is to recognize the benefits of doing so.  If we can see how rich our lives will be when we seek God, we're more motivated to set aside time to praise him.  If we can recognize that the peace and blessings of God will be more palpable the more we focus on him, it helps focus our minds and hearts on serving and praising the Lord.

2 Kings 19:14-19

2 Kings 19:14-19
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  So King Hezekiah has received a letter threatening destruction at the hands of the Assyrians.  He is faced with the greatest empire of the time that is coming after him -- it's clearly something he is not prepared for.  His first instinct is correct -- to go to the Lord.
  We all face opposition.  Maybe you're facing something right now, or maybe there is something in your past.  If not, there is something in the future -- something will rise up that you're not prepared for, that you don't know if you can face.  At that moment, our first response should be to go to the Lord in prayer.  He has promised to  hear every prayer, even the ones we can scarcely manage to put words to, and his strength can get us through every trial and tribulation, even death itself.  Our prayers may not be answered exactly as we desire, but he will never let us out of the palm of our hands, and our future is secure in him, even if that future looks different than we can imagine. 
  So when we face opposition, let us pray and trust in the God who will lead us through fire and death, into an abundant and eternal life.  Our joy is in the abundance of life that Christ offers, and he will be our peace in the midst of every moment of life.

Psalm 4

Psalm 4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I heard a preacher recently say that joy is the flag that flies in the castle of our hearts when the king is at home.  I love that image -- that joy is the evidence we display when Christ is King, because when he reigns in our hearts, we can have peace and joy and fullness.  There is no joy like the joy we get in Christ, for his joy is complete and comes with the power of God, and his joy has promised to endure, no matter what the world may throw at it.  His joy is eternal, and we shall reign with Christ in the heart of it.
  Joy can be challenging, but remember that it's deeper than happiness.  Joy rests within us and can be steadfast in the face of the waves and the storms.  Joy endures.

Psalm 3

Psalm 3
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  At one point, the disciples asked Jesus to pray.  There was clearly something about Jesus' relationship with God that led the disciples to ask about how their own relationship could be transformed.  He came to give his peace, a peace that transcends understanding.  It's the kind of peace that leads a man to sleep when surrounded by thousands of enemies, so confidant is he in the protection of God.
  Have you ever seen pictures of children asleep in the most chaotic of situations?  There are pictures of children asleep in their parent's arms during thunderstorms and other loud, chaotic events, and it's overwhelming for me -- such is the child's confidence and trust in their parent that they can fall asleep.
  And so we should pray for that kind of peace, for the kind of trust where we, in the face of overwhelming circumstances, can rest in God, confidant that the outcome is in good hands, because we are safe with God.  The Lord hears our cry and answers us, and nothing can tear us from his hand - and so we need not fear.  Salvation belongs to the Lord!

Acts 2:1-4

Acts 2:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

 What's lost in the Pentecost wonder is that the disciples were all gathered together.  I like that -- the early church, gathered together, talking about what God is up to.
  In today's world, religion is often so individualized.  We privatize everything, often out of fear of offending someone, but usually just because it's easier.  We don't impose on anyone this way, and we can do things our own way -- we don't have to worry about anyone else's preferences when we customize our religion to fit our own lives and our own spaces.
  But we're called to do and be the church together.  And so we gather together and wait on the Holy Spirit.  We listen to one another and humbly consider what God is doing in one another's lives.  It's important that we do this, and we grow together, recognizing how God is at work in you and me and we.  It's not just about me -- it's about us, and God is growing us up together to show the world what it means to be a community gathered around the worship of God.

Romans 4:17-24

Romans 4:17-24
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There are so many reasons to believe that certain things cannot happen.  Pick an event, and I bet you can imagine a series of circumstances that would make the event unlikely, or would sabotage its success.  We do this most often with our futures, focusing on all the ways things can go wrong, unaware of the worst-case scenarios we are building.  We doubt ourselves and often doubt God and his providence.
  Abraham, we are told, did not waver at the promises of God.  His belief was unshakable that God would do what God had promised to do.  In the face of reasons not to believe, Abraham's faith grew stronger as he gave glory to God, trusting in the unknowable, believing in the uncertain, confidant in the outcome.
  So what's your life look like if you placed total faith and trust in God?  How does your day change if you live with an unshakable belief that God's promises will be true?  God cares about you, God loves you, and God has promised to never leave or forsake you.  God has already demonstrated the depths of his love for you by ascending the cross and dying to secure your life.  May you never doubt the proximity of God -- He abides in us, and holds your future in his strong and victorious right hand!

Romans 4:13-16

Romans 4:13-16
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Maps are funny things.  If you've got to drive across the country, you absolutely need one.  Without a map pointing the way and choosing a road based on what felt right, it's highly unlikely you'd arrive at your destination.  And yet, if you spend all your time on the road staring at the map and never look at the road ahead, you'll probably veer off the road and hit a tree. 
  As Christians, without the grace of Christ we are strangers in a foreign land, and the map of the law cannot lead us where we need to go.  We are lost, without hope of finding our way home. 
  The beauty of grace is that Christ doesn't simply give us a new map.  He comes and picks us up and carries us home, offering us freedom from trying to figure it out on our own.  It doesn't depend on us -- Christ has paid the ultimate price so that we might be free.

1 Kings 2:1-4

1 Kings 2:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  When you think about what you want for the next generation, what comes to mind?  We're hoping that at least one of the kids grows up to be rich so they can support us in our golden years!  Our default is to hope for our kids to be happy and successful, but the Biblical charge is to raise them to be faithful to God, to be leaders in their community that encourage others to be faithful disciples.  As David is dying, he charges Solomon to be faithful to the Lord, reminding him that this is the most important task he has before him, and that only through faithfulness will his line continue on the throne. 
  May our prayer for the children of the next generation be that they grow closer to God each day, that the Spirit encourages them to point to God through their words and deeds, that they enrich their communities through selfless love and service and share the Good News of the hope and peace that we find in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Zephaniah 3:14-18

Zephaniah 3:14-18
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  When we think of the mighty works of God, do we also remember that he is in our midst, that he is here among us, on the move, exulting over us?  God did not come to save and then abandon us -- God came to save and continues to surround us with his grace and peace.
   The temptation is to think of salvation as a one-time event.  I was saved at this place at this time.  The reality is that while salvation has taken place, your sanctification is still ongoing, every day of your life.  God is doing a great work in growing you up, maturing you into the disciple he has called you to be, and so our primary task is to listen, and we are then to follow God's word into the world, rejoicing at his grace and joining with our companions on their own walks.  Sometimes, we are called to mourn with those who mourn, while other times call us to celebrate with those in joy.  Each day is different, but we are still living into our calling, still working out our identity as disciples, still discovering what it means to be a Christian each and every day.
 

Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I was reading a devotional by Tim Keller today about the first verse of chapter 8.  He pointed out that it's important to notice how it's phrased -- we don't escape condemnation.  It doesn't exist.  The possibility of condemnation is vanquished once we are in Christ.  We don't even need to worry about it -- there isn't some minuscule chance we'll end up in condemnation-land.  The threat is gone once we are in Christ, and so we are free.  God has done what we could not -- sending his own Son to liberate us from the threat of condemnation, we are free to walk in the Spirit.
  The question, then, is what your life looks like as being free in the Spirit.  How will you live?  Will you live a life of constant celebration and thanksgiving for having been set free?  Or will you let anxiety and fear bombard you with threats?  Will you dance with gratitude?  Or still let the devil's empty threats remind you of what once might have been, even though it no longer is.
  YOU ARE FREE IN CHRIST!!!  Nothing can take that away from you!!

Ezekiel 1:26-28

Ezekiel 1:26-28
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Try to describe how good your favorite food tastes to someone who has never had it, and eventually you run out of words -- you tell them what it's like, but there is nothing that fully compares, and they just have to try it for themselves.
  This vision begins back in verse 4, but I omitted a number of those verses describing the angels and the general appearance of the throne.  You can tell that Ezekiel doesn't have words to describe the full glory of the Lord.  It's like the bow and it's like the appearance of fire, but those fail.  Our words fail.  If our faith exists only in words, it falls short of being a complete faith.  There's something vital to action -- both to going out into the community to serve, and also to sitting quietly in the presence of the Lord, stilling the mind and voice to let the grace of God flow over us.  A beautiful setting always helps, sitting on a rock and letting the grandeur of the Lord leave you in awe, but ultimately it's simply remembering how great the Lord is and allowing that to lead us into a place of praise and thanksgiving. 

Jeremiah 1:4-8

Jeremiah 1:4-8
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Today, we celebrate all that we have to be grateful for.  We take a deep breath and exhale, letting go of all the anxiety -- most of it worries about future uncertainties.  We worry about what might be, or what might not be.  We worry about how distant turmoil might come near, or about how anticipated events might not take place.  We stress ourselves out and forget all the blessings.
  And so today is the day to take a deep breath.  Your life is a gift from God, who knit you together in the womb.  He has called you by name, and no matter how unworthy you may feel, he has called you with a purpose, for a purpose, on purpose.  You are not an accident -- you are beloved by the immortal & all-knowing God who exists outside of time and space and yet entered into this world by the presence of his Son and died on the cross to save you from the mire of your sins.  God loves you, and God sends you, empowering you by his Holy Spirit on the way, surrounding you with his love and commissioning you to tell others about his amazing love. 
  You have much to be grateful for.  You are held in the same hands that hold eternity, and through the grace of God the light and love we experience here and now are a mere shadow of the blessings that are to come.  May we be joyful today!!

Isaiah 25:6-9

Isaiah 25:6-9
English Standard Version (ESV)

   I remember waking up in the middle of the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas as a kid and wondering if it was morning yet.  The morning held such appeal to me that it was all I could do to lay in bed and wait until the morning.  The waiting was so hard, but it was so exciting to think about the wonders of Christmas morning.  As a kid, it's the most special morning of the year, and it's so hard hard to wait for it... 
  As Christians, we wait for God.  We wait for him to deliver us from sadness and sorrow and pain, and we wait for him to swallow up death and make a rich feast for us.  We wait with eager longing for all that God is going to do, and it's so hard to wait -- the waiting should consume us, should excite us, should continue to remind us that what we are waiting for is so wonderful -- it's greater than anything we could possibly imagine!  As an excited people, we wait, knowing and trusting in the God who keeps every promise and who has promised to wipe away every tear!

Revelation 3:14-22

Revelation 3:14-22
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've always believed that this passage described much of the American church -- we can be so comfortable that our passion for Christ doesn't run hot.  We're lukewarm, heating up on some days and cooler on others.  Our material riches have lulled us into a sense of complacency where we don't recognize our full need for grace, and this leads us to a spiritual blindness that prevents us from seeing how utterly dependent we are upon the Spirit of God for our every breath.  We think we are rich, and yet if we were to see our accounts from a spiritual perspective, we are utterly broke, because the only riches worth obtaining are from God and God alone.  No money or success in this world can buy true and lasting wealth -- it is a gift from God alone, who stands at the door and knocks, asking to be let in, so that we might be healed. 
  Those who open the door will be rich beyond measure, with a wealth that the world cannot imagine.  May we who accept the gift have the courage to pray for Holy Spirit passion to love Christ more each and every day.

Revelation 3:7-13

Revelation 3:7-13
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  We put ourselves in the middle of the story --- we like to be the heroes of our stories.  We like to be the ones who work out the solution, who save the day. 
  When we come to Scripture, though, it is God who is the hero of the story, and he is saving us from an enemy over which we cannot prevail on our own strength.  He is the one who has opened the door, and he is the one who will keep the door open.  I love here how the letter mentions that the people in Philadelphia have little power.  Note that it isn't a bad thing -- it's simply a fact, and it doesn't change the story.  Their little power does not prevent them from serving God -- they can still be faithful and stay true to the name of their Savior.  They are working with their situation, whatever it may be, serving faithfully in the present.  In the same way, we are called to serve faithfully, no matter the circumstances, no matter our situation.  If we have power or if we don't, if we have influence or if we don't, we can be faithful, patiently enduring whatever challenges we face, so that God's glory may be proclaimed.

Revelation 3:1-6

Revelation 3:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The last few months have been a sad testament to the difference between public lives and private lives.  Many figures that were once held in high esteem have been brought down due to allegations of how they acted in private.  They lived a double life for a time, but eventually, the truth came out.  It almost always does.
  God sees through when we try and cover our private sins with a veneer.  That's why confession is so important -- we acknowledge our sins, both public and private, and trust in the forgiveness of God.  God is calling the church in Sardis to recognize that many in the congregation do not have a heart that matches their reputation, and so they are offered the chance to repent, to turn from sin and trust in God.  There is healing for brokenness and a balm for our souls if we accept the offer of forgiveness, but we first must stop denying our sins and confess them before God, who is faithful and just to forgive our sins. 
  We who are broken have quite a story to tell, of a God who forgives and of life restored!

Revelation 2:18-29

Revelation 2:18-29
English Standard Version (ESV)

  As a parent, I'm not always great about praising my children.  I'm usually quick to criticize, but it's much harder for me to give them the praise they often deserve.  I'm trying, and I think I'm doing better, but there's still a long way to go. 
  God notices what we do.  That's an important thing to remember -- it matters how we choose to live.  So often, we act like much of our lives don't matter.  We compartmentalize our lives, and the ones that fall outside of the 'church' part are ignored, or we think that God doesn't care.  God notices.  God cares.  It's important how we live, both inside the church building and when we go out into the world as the church.  We should choose carefully, paying attention to our words and deeds in each and every situation.  We have a constant opportunity to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom by holding fast to joy and hope, pointing to love and extending grace.  God is paying attention -- this need not strike fear in our hearts, for God has proven himself to be merciful and patient, but it should encourage us to lead lives that would be praised.

Revelation 2:12-17

Revelation 2:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)

  There's an old Jonathon Edwards sermon about sinners in the hands of an angry God, and it captures a lot of popular theology -- that we are all sinners and God is looking for any excuse to cast us into the pit of eternal fire.  It's based on fear, and we all fall prey to this line of thinking in some small way.  Sometimes we are paralyzed by the fear that we aren't good enough for God, while other times there are nagging doubts as we wonder what grade we get on God's report card at the end of it all.
  I don't believe for a second that God is eager to condemn.  To my reading, Revelation paints a picture of a God that wants people to turn from sin and towards God.  These letters are invitations to turn away from sinful thinking, and the plea is that a sinful people will repent.  God comes with an invitation to find grace and conquer.
  So do not let fear rule your heart and mind.  Take courage in the grace of God, and find comfort in the invitation extended to each of us.  It is true that we are all sinners, but it is a greater truth that God has conquered sin and invites us all to dwell with him through the power of forgiveness and the promise of eternal life.

Revelation 2:8-11

Revelation 2:8-11
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  I've run a few 5ks, and that last 0.1 is always fascinating.  I'm usually exhausted, and that last mile has taken twice as long as the first one.  My sides feel like they're going to explode and my legs ache, but knowing that the finish line is near stirs up something within me that allows me to push forward, usually much faster, and finish strong.  (I then collapse, but hey -- I finished!)  Once we know the end of the race is near, we can push forward.  The hardest part is in the middle, when the rush of starting has faded and the finish feels a long way away. 
  In those times, when we're in the middle of the struggle, the church needs to gather around one another and remind each other of the crown of life.  When relationships are strained and finances are tight and cancer knocks at the door, we gather together and remember the promised crown of life -- while we will have tribulation for a little while, if we are faithful to death, we receive a prize far greater than what we could imagine  We will conquer because He has conquered!!! 
  So press on, and remember your brothers and sisters in the race with you.  Encourage one another, and do not forget about the crown of life that awaits!!

Revelation 2:1-7

Revelation 2:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I love the letters to the churches that are included in Revelation.  They're a glimpse into what God has to say to real-world churches, both how they are praised and where they are rebuked.  There is much to celebrate, but there is still room to grow in faithfulness.  For each of us, this is a helpful reminder that we are never all the way there on this side of heaven -- God is  always going to push us toward a growing edge, no matter how uncomfortable it may be for us.  We still have room to grow closer to God.
  The church in Ephesus endures trials patiently, concerned about the faithfulness of its leaders.  This is good, and John leads with this -- but there is still more work to do.  Over time, their love and passion for the Gospel has faded, and God is calling them back to this, reminding them of how deeply they loved God. 
  Just as the church in Ephesus has room to grow, so do we.  Set aside time to listen and consider your growing edges, that we may each have a faith that pushes deeper and leads us closer to God.

Isaiah 40:27-31

Isaiah 40:27-31
English Standard Version (ESV)

  When I get to the end of the day, I'm usually pretty tired.  Whether it's a long day at work or a day spent hiking in the woods, it feels like there is often a limited supply of energy that dwindles down.  By the end of the day I'm tired, and I'm unable to pay attention like I could in the morning.
  God is not like this -- God does not grow weary.  God loves the world and has loved it from the start, and the love God feels for us does not decrease at the end of the day.  God is ready to forgive the 70th sin just as eagerly as the first, for God is the everlasting Father, rejoicing as his children come home to him. 
  We learn from God  We who put our hope in the Lord are promised renewal in Him.  Isaiah paints a vision of what the future looks like, and it is one in which we are caught up in God's boundless energy, surrounded by his love and carried forward by his grace.  It is a beautiful picture, and we are wise to hold it fast in our minds and to live with that eternity in our hearts.

Exodus 24:9-11

Exodus 24:9-11
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Sometimes things in life are incredibly complicated to explain.  Maybe you had an experience that defies words, or you were someplace so beautiful that you can't hope to capture it in words.  You might try and take a picture, but sometimes even that falls short.  I remember being out in the woods not too long ago and simply being overcome with the splendor of it all -- there were no words to describe how I felt, and no picture could capture the experience, but the joy and fulfillment in my heart were amazing.  I'd describe it... but words fail.
  So often in Scripture, when the authors are trying to describe an experience with God, you can tell that words simply don't do justice.  Here in Exodus, one of the most interesting passages in Scripture to me, the elders of Israel go up to the mountain and dine with God.  The ground beneath God's feet, we're told, is like a pavement of sapphire stone, like heaven.  You can tell that there simply isn't a word in the human language to convey what it was like.  The author tries to paint a picture, but ultimately, we simply don't have the ability to talk about it, because it's so different, so other than what we are used to, that we can only do our best to try and get close.  (The reason I find this passage so fascinating is that the elders of Israel ATE DINNER WITH GOD and then, just a few short weeks later, were busy creating idols when Moses didn't come down off the mountain.  Dinner with God wasn't enough to convince them that they should devote their lives to the worship of the one true God.  Sin is real, and sin is strong.)
  So when we talk about God's love, realize that we simply run out of words to describe how powerful and amazing God is.  We just can't describe God, because our words cannot capture God's greatness.  Just the same, our words fall short when we try and describe how much God loves you.  There aren't enough words to say how far God would go to save you from sin.  God loves you with such depth that the English language cannot capture it.  Give thanks!

Ephesians 5:1-2

Ephesians 5:1-2
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's intimidating as a parent to realize that your children often turn out just like you.  Children watch their parents to see how they act and react, and that's the behavior they show to the world, good or bad. 
  As Christians, much of what the world learns about God is from our behavior.  When we treat others with love, we demonstrate that we are imitating our loving Father, who selflessly gave himself up for us, not counting the cost but only focused on how much he loves us.  When we think of our friends and neighbors, do we count the cost, or do we love selflessly, as God loves us?  What does our behavior teach others about our heavenly Father?  How do our lives proclaim Christ, and what kind of Christ do they proclaim?

Mark 7:14-23

Mark 7:14-23
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  We're always looking for excuses.  We want someone or something to blame -- if things are going poorly, it can't really be our fault, right?  Wouldn't it be great to blame that mean thing you said on something you ate?
  In this passage, Jesus tackles the dietary laws head-on.  He tells the people that it's not how you eat that makes you a good person, but it's the condition of your heart.  Where you focus your thoughts, what you think about when you have free time -- if you're focused on what is pure and good, then that will overflow and your interactions, your words, will be good.  However, if you spend your time thinking on things that are selfish and hateful and evil, that, too, will overflow.
  We can't blame our wicked impulses on other things or people or influences.  We have to take responsibility for our character.  We can then confess our sins to God, trusting in his forgiveness, and asking him to guide us to be the kind of people who selflessly love others and build up one another. 

John 19:38-42

John 19:38-42
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's Monday morning -- a new week is beginning, filled with hopes and dreams and uncertainties and anxieties, but you can take comfort in one thing -- Jesus Christ ascended the cross and went to the tomb so that your sins might not burden you into this week.  You don't have to spend a single second of your week worrying about a sin that is in your past.  You don't have to fear if God loves you, because God has proven it, once and for all, when he willingly entered a tomb and died the death that we deserved.  Christ died for you, and because he died, you shall live.  The world closed the tomb, thinking that was the end of the story, but a new beginning was on hand.
  So as you go into the day, picture a new world, lit with the love of God, is before you.  Live like that's what matters more than anything else. 

John 6:16-21

John 6:16-21
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Being in a boat at night is a fascinating experience.  It's often calm and quiet -- it can be a very peaceful place.  It is also intimidating -- you feel very small, and if your mind starts to wonder, you realize how much trouble you could be in if you fell out of the boat.  So if the water is rough and the night is turbulent, it sounds like a terrifying time to be in a boat in the middle of a sea. 
  But the disciples weren't afraid then.  They were only afraid when they saw Jesus walking on the water, probably because they thought he was a ghost.  Until Jesus walked out to them, they don't seem to be afraid. 
  The more time we spend around Jesus, the less afraid we are.  When we get the mindset that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that even death doesn't have power over us, that can be wonderfully freeing.  There is nothing to be anxious about when we realize that eternity is in God's hands, and that we dwell there in safety.  There are other times in the Gospels, including times in a boat, when the disciples are afraid for their lives, just as there are times when we will take our eyes off of Christ and fear for ourselves.  But when we focus on him, we need not fear, for the mountains can collapse into the sea and he is still with us.

Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20
English Standard Version (ESV)

  A restaurant can spend millions on marketing, but that money is not as effective as satisfied customers telling their friends and family about the great food.  A brand can have the best marketing, but if those who use the product aren't satisfied or impressed, the brand will struggle to find success.  The ability of a message to spread depends on how excited the people are to be part of the movement.
  Authority has been given to Christ, but he then invites us to be a part of his kingdom, to participate in the expansion by inviting others.  We who have been blessed to come to know Christ as King and Savior are invited to be a blessing to others by sharing the news of a Savior who loves without qualification and extends mercy without merit.  If we are transformed by grace, we can then invite others to come, to taste and see, and experience the love of God.
 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you're Catholic, today you are marking All Saints' Day, a remembrance and celebration of those who have died and dwell in Heaven.  Many Mexicans are marking the Day of the Dead, a multi-day remembrance of those who have died. 
  We stand in a long line of faithful believers.  Those who have gone before us sought to live faithfully, and their lives were joined to the church universal in praising Christ.  Their lives continue to praise Him now. 
  I don't know exactly what it will be like when Christ returns in glory.  He has promised to, and considering that God has kept every previous promise he has made, I am completely confidant that he will keep that one as well.  We will experience the promised fulfillment of the promises and dwell in the heavenly city, where there will be no more pain or darkness, only light and life. 
  So let us wait actively, living into our hope, seeking him above all else, and trusting that whatever is in store for us will be better than we can ask or imagine.

Joshua 1:1-9

Joshua 1:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)

  So often when we are called to something new, we focus on all the things that intimidate us.  Our eyes and our hearts are fixed on what we cannot do, and as a result we tremble and wonder what might go wrong.
  Think about Joshua -- he was called to fill the shoes of Moses.  Moses led the people through the wilderness for 40 years and communed with God -- they often had to cover his face with a veil because it glowed after Moses spent time with God.  Joshua was the next leader of the community -- he could have spent his life intimidated, thinking about how he would never live up to Moses.
  God called him to be strong and courageous, focusing on the most important thing -- that God would never leave nor forsake him.  Joshua was not on his own, and we know that God works through our weaknesses to show his glory.  If we meditate on God's Word and trust in him to lead us, drawing closer to God each day, we need not be frightened.  The Lord your God is with you wherever you go!

1 Peter 1:22-25

1 Peter 1:22-25
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I'd be a little nervous to live just below a dam -- if water overflowed from the dam, it would surely go beyond the banks of the river and inundate my house.  It would be a powerful outflow that would greatly change my life.
  In the same way, how we treat one another is out of the overflow of our hearts.  If we allow the love of God to shape our hearts, treasuring the unconditional love and grace and mercy of God and meditating on his law and love, that will overflow out of our hearts and change the way we treat everyone.  The more time we spend with God and his Word, the more challenged we will be to love and serve our neighbors.

Hebrews 6:17-20

Hebrews 6:17-20
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  I read with great sadness of the passing of my friend, Dewey French.  One of the kindest people I've had the blessing of meeting, he stopped by the church office at least 3 times a week, sometimes just for a cup of coffee.  Seeing Dewey was often the highlight of the day. 
  In the midst of the storms of life, the idea of an anchor is so appealing.  When the rains pound and death knocks at the door, the anchor holds fast, a certain hope that has the resurrection of Jesus Christ to secure it.  There is no power in life, no power in death, that can take us from him, and so while I mourn, I give thanks for the hope we share in Christ -- we have a way through the curtain, beyond the veil, because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  As sorrowful as death is, there is a greater hope that holds to me now, and I give thanks for that eternal peace that is promised.

Isaiah 66:12-14

Isaiah 66:12-14
English Standard Version (ESV)

  As a father, I understand the feeling of uselessness well.  There's nothing quite like the sensation of holding a crying, hungry baby, knowing that there is nothing I can do -- that's a problem only mom can fix.  I do what I can to soothe and assure, but it's limited.
  In the same way, there are so many problems with humanity that we struggle to fix.  We long for peace, for the end of hatred and violence, for the earth to be restored.  While it's important for us to work to do our part to work for peace, for shalom, we can only do so much -- there are certain things we cannot do.
  The complete restoration, true and lasting and complete peace, can only come from God.  Only God can do this, and so while we join in his efforts, we ultimately depend on him to bring about lasting peace.  As a child resting at peace on his mother's lap, so too are we in the hands of God, at peace with someone who can wholly provide for our needs and restore us to peace.

Exodus 3:7-12

Exodus 3:7-12
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We often suffer in silence.  We think that our problems don't matter, or we take a position of pride and struggle through them without letting anyone else in on the hardships we are facing.  We put on a brave face, and so often we tell those around us, even those closest to us, that we are OK, even when it seems like our life is often falling apart. 
  We sometimes even do this in prayer, assuming that we don't want to burden God, or that we need to hold it together when we approach God.  Maybe we feel shame because our problems of our own making.
  Whatever it is, God has surely seen the affliction of his people.  God notices our pain, and God cares.  The message of Scripture is that God intervenes in our brokenness so that we might find healing.  Here in Exodus, God sends a messenger to remind the people of his love and provision for them.  There is a path forward, however unexpected it may be, if they want to trust that he has heard their cries and that God cares.
  So cast your cares upon him.  Our afflictions and hardships matter to God, and if we as a community are going to love others the way God loves us, may we be willing to be vulnerable and willing to listen to those around us who are in need.

Deuteronomy 34:1-4

Deuteronomy 34:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's good to set goals, but sometimes we don't make it all the way to our goals.  They drive us, motivate us, but eventually, they prove to be just beyond our reach.  Maybe they are not ours to grasp?
  Throughout the journey of the Israelites, Moses is their leader, directing them and chiding them and trying to keep the community together.  For forty years, he has surely thought about the Promised Land.  He's directing the entire community there.
  But even if it is Moses' goal, God doesn't intend for him to make it to the Promised Land.  That doesn't mean that Moses is a failure or that God doesn't love Moses, it just means that life doesn't always turn out just like we plan.  Sometimes, God has another vision, and it's important for us to remember that when our plans don't work out the way we intend, all this means is that we don't have a full working grasp of God's plans.  We don't get the final say, and we have to trust God's wisdom and love. 
  Don't be discouraged if goals are beyond your reach.  Keep walking in faithfulness with God, and trust in Him and the bigger picture.  God has always pushed us forward to grow and develop in faith, and he will continue to do so, even if that doesn't look exactly like we anticipate.

Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs 1:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Graduation is a glorious day!  No more tests, no more assigned readings, no more lectures.  The achievement of school has passed, and greater things await.
  Proverbs offers us a helpful reminder -- if we are wise, we recognize that our learning doesn't stop.  If we want to continue to grow as Christians, it's vital to continue to find a place where we can learn.  We need to find Christians willing to teach us, and we need to be humble enough to admit our need to learn.  Growth only happens when we gather with people more mature than we are, and they pour into us, just as we should be pouring into other Christians.  To be wise means we recognize how little we know.
  It's not very popular to admit that you don't know everything.  It seems like our political landscape is filled with people who grow in stature the more brash they are -- to engage in humble conversation and engage from a position of vulnerability isn't wildly popular right now.  So it's a different way -- a different lifestyle.  What's it mean for you to continue to learn, to continue to grow in faith?

1 Peter 1:1-5

1 Peter 1:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Know what's great news?  A living hope.  Not a hope that was declared thousands of years ago and is still a moment in history.  Our hope is alive, having shattered the bonds of death.  Our hope is alive, and it's living in us, calling us forward into God's marvelous future, a future that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading.  I can't tell you exactly what that future is like, but the hope that lives within us pulls us towards us, reminding us of its power each and every passing day.  When the beauty of the world around us overwhelms us, when the love of a fellow human surrounds us, when the peace of God dwells richly in our hearts, these are moments in which our living hope is stirring us up to gaze forward, to waken our hearts to the reality of God's great love and the coming Kingdom of God.  Now is not the time to sit back and wait -- now is the time to live along with our hope, to let it form and shape us, to let it guide us into the kind of people God has called us to be!

Romans 8:18-19

Romans 8:18-19
English Standard Version (ESV)

  This is the hardest thing about being human.  My 6 year old son likes waiting as much as he likes broccoli.  They could be handing out ice cream at the front of the line and he'd get anxious waiting.  We don't like waiting, and so what we often do is choose the easy way out -- we look at distant promises and think they are too far off, and so we settle for something that offers more immediate gratification.  A long way down the road, we may regret this decision, but in the meantime we are grateful that we don't have to wait any more. 
  Christianity urges us to discipline ourselves to be patient, to trust in slow discipleship that takes a lifetime to develop, to focus on spiritual practices that don't feel like they are yielding immediate fruit but will develop our character in the years and decades to come.  It's hard to wait, and there are so many temptations to stop denying ourselves immediate pleasure, but Christianity points to abundance that waits down the road.  It's not 'Your Best Life Now', perhaps, but God has always promised that it would be worth the wait, and God is a promise keeper, so let us keep our eyes and hearts focused on the future glory.

Revelation 3:15-22

Revelation 3:15-22
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've been to a few concerts that are general admission, and I'm always amazed by the people that get there early to reserve a seat near the front.  They give up significant amounts of extra time, all to squeeze forward uncomfortably for the experience of being closer to the band.  I find space in the back, hearing the same music, but having a very different experience.  Mine is probably much more comfortable, but more subdued as well.  At least I'm in the concert, right?
  It's pretty easy for most of us to hang back, finding a comfortable spot and waiting for what we consider to be the perfect moment.  The problem is that those perfect moments to engage are often only clear in hindsight.  It requires a risk in the moment, and it can be uncomfortable.  It's much easier to get lulled into the idea that we are in need of nothing, not realizing how much we are missing by preferring our comfort over fully engaging with the Gospel.
  Christ comes to us.  The amazing truth of the Gospel is that the Savior comes to us, knocking on the door and seeking a path into our lives.  We don't have to figure it all out -- we have to accept the gift that comes to us, but the next step isn't to sit back and wait to figure it all out.  We are then charged to go forth with passion, with energy, and let the Gospel transform us.  We must recognize our total need for grace and let our gratitude for God's love and mercy guide every word and action.

Hebrews 13:7-9

Hebrews 13:7-9
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Walking Caleb to school this morning, it's noticeably colder than it was last week.  There is frost on the ground and leaves blowing in the wind.  Everything around points to the seasons changing, as kids on the playground are bundled in coats and parents assume the posture of trying to keep warm, with hands in pockets or collected around a cup of warm coffee.
  The world around us is in constant flux.  The weather changes, the global political environment changes, storms and political leaders rise and fall.  If we look to the world around us for certainty, we will be sorely disappointed.
  Jesus Christ, however, never changes.  His grace and his love and his mercy are everlasting, and the characteristics of God are unchanging.  Just as God was yesterday, he is today and will be forever.  The promises of God are not based on emotional whims, but eternal truths, and those of us who choose to live by these can take assurances that the things God promised in the Bible will be true because has promised that they will, and just as Christ fulfilled the Old Testament promises that were made about him, so, too, will the promises about the future one day come true.  That means that there is an eternal city prepared for us, and that we are to live in today's changing world with one foot anchored in eternity and hearts prepared to love the people around us enough to tell them about the love God has for them.

Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 139:13-16
English Standard Version (ESV)

  On Friday, we welcomed a new life into the world.  It's an amazing process, what God does, and simply to catch glimpses of it brings one to wonder.  There are so many miracles about the process of birth, and in the end there is a new life, filled with possibilities.  Who knows what God has in store?
  For so much of life, we should be filled with wonder.  We easily forget that -- we get accustomed to whatever is around us, and we forget about the miracles.  Having a child is a good reminder for me to sit back and wonder.  God is at work in the world around, and part of my life as a Christian is to be in awe of what God is doing, both inside of me and around me.  The world is singing God's praise, and sometimes it is enough to sit back and enjoy the wonder, to listen to the song, and give praise for God's good provision.

John 3:27-30

John 3:27-30
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Everything truly good in your life is a gift from God, and it all points back to God.  The parts of our lives that show true and selfless love -- that points to God.  The moments of pure beauty are windows through which we catch glimpses of the one true God.  The laughter we share reminds us of God's eternal joy.  The times of peace we experience give us a glimpse of what the Kingdom of God is like.  These things are all gifts from God, and we are right to celebrate them with grateful hearts.
  For a life that spreads the Gospel good news, it shouldn't be all about us.  We're not looking to build ourselves up -- the goal is to let God increase, so that our lives might have more of these moments and let others see a glimpse of the Kingdom at work within us.  When God's hope and peace and grace and love shines through, then it's not about us, it's about God, and as we are decreasing, God is increasing.  This is the faithful journey -- it's hard work, but the more God increases, the more we find ourselves at peace, resting confidently in the supreme grace of God.

1 Corinthians 3:18-23

1 Corinthians 3:18-23
English Standard Version (ESV)

  The wisdom of the world teaches us about scarcity.  It teaches us that in order for us to succeed, someone else must slip further down the ladder, because there is only so much to go around.  This creates an urgency in us to get there first, and it also teaches us fear -- for if someone else is getting ahead, then there is only so much left for us.  We fear outsiders due to this mindset, because they are going to consume some of the limited supply, increasing the uncertainty in our own lives.  Scarcity motivates us.
  The wisdom of God seems foolish in comparison.  The wisdom of God teaches us that we can relax, because there is enough.  We don't have to be afraid -- God's favor exists in abundance for each of us, so that even if we were the only ones, there would still be more than enough.  All things are ours, no matter who we are.  Death cannot prevent such blessings, and the richness of God overflows for all, so we can welcome others into our lives and share our abundance with them, because there is enough.
  One of these paths sows fear, while the other spreads life and love.  May we choose to rest in the abundance of God, following it out into the world to announce that the richness of God is enough for us all.

Colossians 4:2-6

Colossians 4:2-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We always keep one foot rooted in heaven, reminding ourselves that God is sovereign and that we ultimately belong to him, and one foot rooted in earth, remembering that we love and serve our neighbors, constantly on watch for opportunities to weave threads of the Gospel into conversations.  Our prayers are for wisdom and courage and boldness in evangelism, that we as a church might be equipped to proclaim the Gospel news, recognizing that the proclamation of the Gospel is the single most important thing in our lives. 

Matthew 6:19-24

Matthew 6:19-24
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Treasure doesn't only change us once we find it -- it changes us in the process as well. 
  Think of a pirate with a treasure map, where 'X' marks the spot.  He isn't changed once he finds it -- the second he gets the map and his treasure is defined, everything else in his life rotates around seeking the treasure.  He plans, he prepares, he packs.  He makes choices based on whether they will help him reach the goal.  He might become ruthless, his very behavior changed by whether or not he intends to share the bounty.  He is driven.
  So what is your treasure?  Many of us are chasing financial security or independence.  We think it will bring freedom, and it does offer some degrees of freedom, but the pursuit of it can bind us in ways we don't recognize, and the desire for it can change how we behave, how we interact.  Others may be chasing popularity or acclaim, and that, too, shapes our lives.  Whatever the treasure is, life will not be the same once it is defined.  Some people may not be chasing anything, which is a treasure of a sort as well.
  Jesus invites us to seek the greatest treasure of all, the one that leads our heart deeper into the relationship it was created for.  The quest, while challenging, will ultimately fulfill us in a way nothing else can.  There is abundance and peace for those who seek treasure in heaven, but seeking treasure in heaven means not seeking other kinds of treasure above all else, and if we don't make this a conscious choice, it will be made for us. 
  So the invitation is two-fold.  First, pay attention to your life, to the rhythms of it.  Watch what excites you.  Pay attention to where you spend your time.  What do you think about in your idle hours?  What do you plan for?  That is likely your treasure.
  Second, seek Christ above all else.  Spend time with your Savior, and then make your other choices revolve around that.  Make God first, and the other treasures will be secondary.  They'll no longer motivate you like they used to.  You'll likely recognize that many of the promises made by financial independence or acclaim are empty.  When we lead our heart to seek Christ first, we discover the riches of grace God has in store for us.

Psalm 131

Psalm 131
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  This is one of my favorite Psalms.  I'll admit that my mind often runs far, far forward, worrying about things that I shouldn't even be thinking about.  It's taken me over a decade to find the best ways to calm myself, and this is one of the best resources I have.  I often stop, and imagine myself immersed in the arms of God, awash in his love, surrounded by light.  Like a child in the arms of a loving parent, so are we each held in the arms and presence of God.  As Augustine says, God loves you as if there was only one to love.  There is nothing we need more than the love of God, and so when I get anxious, I try and focus on how the love of God is holding me up, sustaining me, carrying me through.  It calms my mind, it calms my soul, and God is enough.

Malachi 3:6-12

Malachi 3:6-12
English Standard Version (ESV)

  We love the thought of revenge, of getting even.  The internet seems to be a happy place when someone gets what is coming, and when they do not, there is a loud outcry for justice.  It seems to be human nature for us to want to see punishment.
  Here, God accuses the people of robbing him by not bringing their full tithe to him.  I doubt this passage is read very often on stewardship Sundays, but the Bible is consistent about calling us to give a tithe to the church.
  What I love about this passage is that God isn't using this as an opportunity to rebuke or punish the people.  Instead, God is teaching them about God's character.  The flaw is pointed out, and then to answer the question about why they should follow the Law, the reward is pointed to.  God isn't motivating us through threat of punishment -- rather it's through encouragement.  God is pointing to the abundant life that comes when we choose to live according to his commands.  God isn't eager to punish, he is eager to bless.  This is what is so frustrating to me about people who try and threaten others to come to church -- we should want to come to church because we want to experience the wonder of God's grace and love, the kind of God who invites people to follow him by pointing to the blessings that come with discipleship.

Joshua 24:14-15

Joshua 24:14-15
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Here's the choice, today and every day.  We all have a choice to make this morning -- we have a past that lingers over us, and we can be enslaved to it, remaining in sin because it's what we know, or we can choose grace and mercy, opting to serve the Lord who offers us abundant and eternal life.  It's an easy choice in some regards, but to live into it is the single most challenging thing we can do.  I believe it's worth it, over and over again, but it's not easy.  So choose life, choose grace, and take up the delightful challenge of living in grace every moment today.  The narrow road leads to abundant life.

Exodus 40:36-38

Exodus 40:36-38
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  I don't really know what to say.  Scores have been killed, hundreds wounded, and there seems to be no explanation given.  Not that an explanation is going to make any of this better -- the deaths will still be senseless tragedies, lives stolen too soon, leaving behind friends and families to grieve what once was and what will never be.
  The Scriptures assure us that God will never leave nor forsake us, that our presence in the depths of the valley of the shadow of death will not be without God at our side.  It's hard, though, to sense the presence through the tears and the heartache, and we so deeply long for understanding that we struggle to grasp the presence of God in the midst of tragedy and chaos and death and pain.
  The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years, and throughout that time they were led by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day.  For the Israelites, it was surely a comforting reminder of the presence of God, as well as a useful guide in a time well before the advent of GPS and smartphones and maps.  The pillars served as a visual reminder of the presence of God.
  A stranger, however, might just think that it was a cloud.  Someone unfamiliar with what the cloud meant might think that this was just a mist, a shroud to confuse people caught in its midst.  They might wonder why someone would follow a cloud when it was easier to see away from the cloud.
  It's easy to wonder what God is doing in the world.  It's easy to question what the end goal is, and how we're going to get there when there is so much violence and heartache.  It feels as though there is a cloud of chaos sitting upon us, and it's challenging to hope for the fog to clear.  So much seems senseless right now.
  The Israelites, too, had their moments of weakness, when they wondered if God was still with them.  He was, and he is now, I believe.  I'm hoping for a reminder of the mission of the church, of the promise of healing, of the redemption that is found in Christ.  I need a reminder that the God who endured the cross continues to be present in the ambiguity, in the clouds of today, and that there is certainty in the resurrection, in the hope of tomorrow.  The chaos of today will not break our hope, but we as the church will stand firm and certain in the assurance of resurrection and proclaim our common hope that God is with us and that he rushes into the pain. 
  It's a hard thing to grasp, especially in the midst of so many heartbreaking stories, but I will continue to believe that even though I cannot see through the clouds.  Often the Israelites had to remain in one place for days, waiting for God to signal a way forward.  So I will sit and wait, trusting in God that he will continue to speak and will, one day, signal a way forward that will make things clear and continue the journey.

2 Timothy 2:8-13

2 Timothy 2:8-13
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Christ has died, proving that there is no power able to bind him, and as the Word of God, he goes forward into the world, unbounded by human constraints.  Paul grasped this, and he understood that there was nothing the Roman empire could do to prevent the spread of the Gospel.  Every chain, every soldier, every sword the Romans possessed were powerless against the work of the Holy Spirit, spreading like wildfire from one life to the next.  They would try and stamp it out in one place only to see it rise somewhere else, and everywhere believers stood tall, confidant that the God who overcame death would elevate them to new life in Christ.
  So when you go out into the world today, whatever it is that awaits you, trust in two things. 
  The first is that nothing can stop God's power.  Trust that his grace is sufficient, that his purpose will be achieved, that the Gospel will spread.  Do not see the powers of the world as obstacles to the spreading of the Gospel, but rather recognize them as powerless, holding a place in the world until God returns in glory.
  The second is the comforting fact that God is forever faithful, even if we are faithless.  God's faithfulness is not determined by our sinfulness. When we get distracted and stray, God remains true.  His love is a constant, and we cannot change this.  May we rejoice in the love of God and the grace of our King!

Psalm 23:5-6

Psalm 23:5-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

  When we read that goodness and mercy will follow us, our first instinct can easily be to notice all the things that don't seem to fit into the categories of goodness and mercy.  We point to areas where there doesn't seem to be goodness and we wonder where God is in this.  We ask God why we can't sense his mercy.
  There are no easy answers for these questions.  I believe that God is good, but I also believe that there is still evil and chaos in our lives, and the presence of these often overshadows God's goodness in our lives.  The fact that you can read God's Word in a house tells of amazing wonders, of gifts of life and love and shelter and other gifts, but we gloss over these.  We forget what a miracle life is.  As Rachel is about to give birth to a third child, it's always amazing what God is doing -- life itself is a miracle, and each breath is a gift from God.
  So let us keep our eyes peeled for signs and reminders of God's goodness, and may our hearts look forward to the house of the Lord, that we may dwell and dine with him in heaven forever!

Psalm 23:2-4

Psalm 23:2-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Most people in the world have a certain degree of selfishness.  When someone calls and offers us a free lunch, there is something inside us that is suspicious -- we wonder what is in it for the buyer, right?  We're often curious if someone does something generous for us, because we think that they must be getting something out of it.
  Here in Psalm 23, we're reminded of God's selfless love.  When he could abandon us in the valley of the shadow of death, he abides with us.  When he could leave us on our own, he chooses to lead us beside still waters, to stay with us no matter what and lead us into the ways of abundant life.  God is always choosing to be with us, to remain with us, to stay with us and point us towards hope, towards peace and towards joy.  God doesn't abandon us, no matter if we deserve it -- God remains, and God does so selflessly, not out of self-interest but rather out of selfless love.  God loves you and wants you to experience his abundance and peace, and so he walks with us, every step and every day, so that we might be enveloped in his love and wrapped in his peace.

Psalm 23:1

Psalm 23:1
English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.

  On every beach vacation I've taken, I always wonder if the vista would get old.  If I up and moved there, would I one day take it for granted, stop being in wonder at the sound of the waves, complain about the seagulls and how sand gets everywhere?  Would I stop bothering to watch the sunset, which was the same as the one before?  Would it get stale?  (I'd like to move and find out!)
  Scripture can be the same -- we can come to a familiar verse and read it out of habit, ceasing to wonder at the truth buried within.  We can miss what's incredible when it becomes familiar.
  The 23rd Psalm is one you've probably heard hundreds of times if you've been a Christian for years.  It becomes a rhythm, and when you finish reading it, you can sometimes wonder what you just read.  But the first verse amazes me -- what's it like to not want?
  When you're a Christian, you realize that the truth and love and mercy and grace of God are truly all you need.  There is nothing else that you need for life and for abundance.  When God cares for us, that is enough.
  Our souls and brains are often so caught up in wanting things -- be it material things or simply more time or rest.  In God, when we rest in him, we want for nothing.  That is what the promise of heaven is -- no more restless yearning.  We are complete in him, and we lack for nothing.  We can finally rest, at peace.
  And so I pray that you may get a window into what it means to want for nothing.  To see the things around us and be at peace, knowing that you are enough, that you have enough, that Christ is all in all.  May we experience that grace fully, tasting to see that the Lord is good, getting a glimpse of heaven for a moment to wonder at the life to come when God is enough and more.

James 1:12-15

James 1:12-15
English Standard Version (ESV)

  If you stand by the ice cream stand long enough, eventually you'll buy an ice cream.
  It's the pathway of sin that we all have walked -- we have a desire, and we allow our minds to dwell on it.  We flirt with it, always believing that we are stronger and able to resist.  We wouldn't give in to it, but we'll play with it, entertain it, and the more time we spend with it, the more our resistance weakens, the more tempting it becomes, and eventually we give in.  Our desire gives birth to sin, and sin leads to death.  It's a slow process, and it would be certain were it not for the grace of God, who intercedes to disrupt the pathway to death.
  In Jesus Christ, we have a pathway out of sin, we have a path to life.  In paying the ultimate price for sin, he accepts the punishment we deserve and creates another option -- one that leads to eternal life.  It is a free gift, an invitation to us all.  Accept the grace and love of God, and we will walk with him and receive his peace, avoiding the path from sin to death and instead choosing to receive abundant and eternal life.

Revelation 4:1-8

Revelation 4:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV) 

  When John was an old man, he was granted a vision  of heaven that overwhelms the senses.  He was grasping for ways to describe it, but it clearly exists beyond what our minds can grasp.  What translates, however, is the sense of awe and wonder one gets from the throne room of God.  The only response is to worship the God who sits upon the throne and rules with mercy and power.  It's a transforming place, one words fail to describe.
  To aim our lives at the presence of God, we can't rely upon rules to guide our lives.  I once listened to a preacher describe a situation he encountered in Australia.  There, they don't have fences for the cattle -- instead, they dig deep wells, and it turns out that creating life-giving wells in the middle of the Outback is enough to keep the cattle near, and it's far more effective than creating boundary fences.  The wells keep them close.
  To follow God, the most important thing we can do is to seek to love God more than anything else.  I've been praying for this -- for the Holy Spirit to teach my heart to love God above all, that my love for God may lead my heart, and then my heart may lead my actions to honor and glorify God.  If we love God, we will seek to honor him with our choices and with our words and with our actions.  We shape our lives around what we love, and so loving God will shape how we interact and how we choose to spend our time.  God has poured out his love on us, so let us choose to love God in return for all that God has done, and may this love be the guiding light for our lives.

Romans 8:1-4

Romans 8:1-4
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Do you feel free?  Do you feel like you walk according to the Spirit?
  If you're like me, you probably don't.  And I think this is a critical point for Christians to know and understand -- it's not about how you feel.  What happens to a lot of us is that we focus on ourselves -- on our thoughts and our actions and our lives, and we let those feelings make judgments about what kind of Christians we are.  We feel compassion fatigue when we see the third wave of hurricanes sweeping across the lives of the vulnerable, and we feel guilty, and we decide that we aren't good enough Christians, and we beat ourselves up.  We do this over and over -- I'm still thinking about whether or not I responded faithfully to the homeless guy who hit me up for money on my walk to the car.  We get these thoughts and questions into our heads and they rattle around in there and pretty soon we feel terrible about ourselves, right?  Or am I the only one?
  What Paul is teaching us here is that our worth is not determined by our inner feelings.  Our value is based upon what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.  In Him, there is no condemnation.  In Him, we have been set free.  That's it -- it's not conditional!!!!  We are free because God has sent his own Son, and our lives are forever changed because of Him!!!  So let us give thanks, because our worth isn't dependent on how we feel -- Paul doesn't say that there is no condemnation for those who feel good about their walk of faithfulness.  Paul says that we who are in Christ are set free due to his amazing love  Let us give thanks with a joyful heart for the steadfast love and faithfulness of God!

1 Timothy 1:12-17

1 Timothy 1:12-17
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I'm convinced that you could spend the rest of your life plumbing the depths of this paragraph and likely never reach the bottom.  Just when you think you can grasp the beauty and wonder of God's love for us, there is more.  That's how I understand heaven -- a place where there is always inexhaustible beauty that continues to astound.
  Here is Paul, a self-admitted blasphemer, persecutor and insolent opponent.  Take a moment and think of all the negative labels you can hang on yourself.  I know I have plenty with which I can describe myself.  And all those labels -- they have not determined our fate, because Christ's purpose is to save people exactly like ourselves!!!  Christ didn't save us by accident.  He didn't come for the perfect people only to be disappointed that there weren't any and revert to us as plan B!  He came expressly to save sinners, and when he found us, he used us as an example of his perfect patience!  God showed up and was gracious towards us, knowing that we weren't going to get it right the first time, knowing we'd need a lot of help, and through his patience he continues to express his love and is encouraging us to move towards grace and away from sin.
  This is the God we worship, and due to his patience and grace and love, he is due all the honor and glory forever.  When we slow down enough to realize that God came precisely to save people who had turned against him, it is astounding to think of the depths of his love and patience that pursues us wherever we are!

Ephesians 4:1-7

Ephesians 4:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Paul lists a group of traits that don't seem like they're in popular demand these days.  Humility.  Gentleness.  Patience.  Selfless love.  Seeking unity above all else.
  In a culture of pride that seeks to create a memorable persona so people will know who you are, these aren't traits that are admired.  In a social-media dominated culture that defines popularity by the number of followers and the ability to create a brand that others will follow and imitate, these aren't the types of qualities people will seek out.  But when building authentic community that will require people to be vulnerable and build trust, this is what you need.  When you reach the depths of life's valleys and need a companion to walk with you through the darkest chapters of life, these are exactly the type of things you look for.  When you need a friend and the world has turned its back, this is what you're looking for.
  In summary, authentic relationships are built on our willingness to be humble and consider the needs of others, to selflessly serve the community and think not of our own needs first.  When we build relationships and trust, we are able to share the Gospel effectively, out of genuine love for the other.  We are stronger when we think of another first and ourselves last.