Time for a little confession. This past week has been especially busy (no, that’s not the confession). What has paid the price? Mostly my time with God (there it is). I have been spending “time” with Him, but not the kind of focused attention that He deserves…my mind has been on other things.

This weekend we took our usual Labor Day camping weekend trip up to Como. As usual, it was good time with family and friends. And it was relaxing…something I needed, but that I am paying for now since I still have a big paper due in my class. During the one good time I spent with God this weekend I was confessing how I have been neglecting my relationship with Him. And as usual, He gave me something to chew on in return. Here it is:

As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist,
so I created Judah and Israel [and David] to cling to me, says the Lord.
They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name.
But they would not listen to me.
Jeremiah 13:11, NLT

Yes, I made a little personal addition there…but that is how God spoke to me. I was made to cling to Him.

Do I always do it? No.
Do I often? Guilty again.
Am I learning? Yes.

So today, in the midst of the busyness and craziness of life I am trying to cling to Him and turn to Him more and more. How about you? Do you cling to God when life gets crazy? Or do you cling to something else?

I have been reading out of the book of Mark for the past few weeks. It moves fast, Mark rarely beats around the bush…he gets right to the point of the story. No fluff, no filler. The entire book moves fast…sometimes so fast you can miss important details.

This morning I was reading out of chapter 11. In this one chapter mark covers the Triumphant Entry, Jesus cursing a fig tree, and Jesus clearing the temple, and Jesus’ authority is challenged. So what stood out this morning? A picture of contrasts.

As Jesus is clearing the temple, the Pharisees are flaming hot angry at him. In fact, they decide right then and there that they are going to kill Jesus (that’s murder one in case you’re keeping track). But they don’t do it right away. Why?

But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at His teaching.
Mark 11:18, NLT

That’s kind of where that story ends. The next day the religious leaders decide to challenge Jesus…ask Him where He gets the authority to do what He does (they never learn). Jesus refuses to answer them unless they tell Him by what authority John the Baptist came from. Oops…now they are stuck! They refuse to answer. Why?

For they were afraid of what the people would do,
because everyone believed that John was a prophet.
Mark 11:32, NLT

No matter how wrong these guys were, at least they were passionate about being so wrong. Yet, they were afraid. But not afraid of what Jesus might do or afraid of what God might do (or what He wanted for that matter). What were the afraid of? The people. They were afraid of losing what mattered most to them: popularity, power, and influence. They loved the spotlight and would do anything they had to to keep it. Sound familiar?

This attitude (and the actions that go along with it) stand in stark contrast to the way Christ followers should think and act. It’s the very attitude that God seeks to change deep within our hearts. He wants to transform this part of our spirit and change where we seek this kind of praise:

A person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Romans 2:29, NLT

The Pharisees lived a life of fear…fear for what they could lose. We are called to live a life of faith…faith in a God that makes all the difference. Fear or Faith? It’s our choice. It’s a lesson I am still learning. How about you?

Jesus has come home. He has made a stop with His disciples in His home town…His old stomping grounds. He is among the people that now Him best. He is teaching. He is healing.

And they don’t buy it…

Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?
He’s just a carpenter…They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Mark 6:2-3, NLT

Ouch…sometimes it hurts to go home again. But there was more going on here than just a bunch of “homers” that didn’t believe in Jesus. Their lack of faith had a profound affect…one that we would do well to consider carefully…

And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles
among them except to place his hands on a few sick people
and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Mark 6:5-6, NLT

Wow…because of their lack of faith, Jesus was unable to perform miracles among them. Their unbelief had the power to limit Jesus’ power. Now, of course, Jesus still had the power to perform miracles (He does so later in this same chapter). But their unbelief limited the power and affect of Jesus in themselves.

How about you and me? Do we limit the affect and power of Christ in our own lives because of our unbelief? Our lack of faith? Have we limited what God wants to (and can) do in our lives because we just don’t have enough faith?

Is God amazed at our unbelief? Is Jesus amazed at your unbelief? I wonder…

This morning God led me back to a passage He had me in almost a month ago (told you I was a slow learner): John 15:9-17. Then it was about “remaining in His love”. Today was a slight variation on that theme (although they are related).

First, Jesus starts off with this:

When you obey my commandments,you remain in my love,
just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
John 15:10, NLT

You are my friends if you do what I command.
John 15:14, NLT

I don’t know about you, but two things came to mind here when I read this:

1. Yuck…I hate commands. I hate being told what to do (my authority issues)
2. OK, now that my tantrum is over…what exactly is Jesus commanding anyway?

The first reaction is of course not so good…but it blows by quickly. The second however is important. What is Jesus’ command for us? If we are supposed to follow His commandments, if we are supposed to do what He commands…what is it? (And of course we always think it’s going to be hard and no fun).

Jesus gives us the answer in this very same passage…twice (and it’s still easy to miss)…

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 15:12, NLT

This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:17, NLT

Doesn’t sound so bad right?

Or does it?

I’m off to give it try…

This topic of faith has come up several times this week. This morning was the real eye opener. I was reading Mark Chapter 5 when it came up. In the second part of the chapter a man named Jarius comes to Jesus because his daughter is sick. As was common, Jesus agrees to go to this man’s house and heal the little girl.

But something happens along the way. In this case, something good. A woman who needs healing reaches out and touches Jesus’ robe and is healed. Jesus feels it happen and stops to see who it was. He commends the woman for her faith and tells her that her suffering if over. Great story. I’ve heard and read it many times. But usually something gets lost in the story…

While he was still speaking to her,
messengers arrived from the home of Jairus,
the leader of the synagogue.
They told him, “Your daughter is dead.
There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
Mark 5:35, NLT

Total downer! Jesus is in the middle of doing a good thing and they get the news that this man’s daughter (who Jesus was supposed to be healing) is dead. Now you and I can already imagine our reaction…can put ourselves in Jarius’ shoes for a minute. I gotta tell ya…I don’t think I’d have a very good reaction. And what do I expect Jesus to say? Some words of comfort maybe (that’s what we would say). Or maybe even the miraculous…something like, “No worries…I’ve got ya covered. She’ll be OK!” But that’s not what Jesus says. Here is his response:

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus,
“Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 
Mark 5:36, NLT

He has just been told that his daughter is dead and what is Jesus’ response? “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” Wow. Not what you’d expect (but Jesus rarely does the expected does He?). And that’s our message too. If Jarius is supposed to not be afraid and have faith in his situation, the worst imaginable, how about you and me? Of course, we know the answer…but doing it is far different than thinking about it. When tough times come, when bills are piling up, when our kids are acting like aliens, when life happens…Jesus’ response?

Don’t be afraid.
Just have faith.

I got this message from God about a month ago (on July 3rd to be precise): “Slow down and be with me.” I even wrote it down and journaled about it. The message could not have been any clearer and you might assume that I received the message loud and clear. Me too. That is, until this morning when God gave me two reminders.

Reminder #1:

 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are
weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you.
Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-30, NLT

Reminder #2:

Most of us are going as fast as we can, living life at a dizzying speed, and God is nowhere to be found. We’re not rejecting God; we just don’t have time for him. We’ve lost him in the blurred landscape as we rush to church. We don’t struggle with the Bible, but with the clock.

Spiritual growth is not running faster, as in  more meetings, more Bible studies, and more prayer meetings. Spiritual growth happens when we slow our activity down.If we want to meet Jesus we can’t do it on the run….Christianity is not about inviting Jesus to speed up through life with us; it’s about noticing Jesus sitting at the rest stop.

Rest is the ultimate humiliation because in order to rest, we must admit that we are not necessary, that the world can get along without us, that God’s work does not depend on us.

Messy Spirituality, Michael Yaconelli, pages 124, 125, 127

So there you have it. I think I get the message. Slow down, rest with God, focus on Him instead of the “stuff” I think ‘m doing for Him. There is too much in the above passages for me to unpack…it’s still too fresh and raw in my own spirit. So why do I share? Two reasons. First, it’s a form of confession and accountability on my part. Second, you might need some of this message too.

I’m still not exactly sure how and where God wants me to slow down (i.e.: what He wants me to give up or how need to slow down in my spirit), but I’m working on it, praying about it, and getting the message. Pray for me as I continue to unpack this and walk in it with Christ. And drop me a comment if you have anything to share on this topic…either your own struggles or ways you have conquered this one.

Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
Ecclesiastes 7:8, NLT

Sigh…I hate it when God meddles!  I mean, here I was having a perfectly nice morning when I get slapped-up-side-the-head with this little nugget. Now I have to confess that I am notorious for starting—not so much for finishing (Exhibit A would be college…which I am just now getting around to finishing up, 10 years after I quit the last time). Finishing takes too much long-term focus and energy (starting is so much more fun). Finishing takes commitment and discipline; the process often loses the luster and excitement it had to begin.

But, I need to develop all of these attributes in my character: focus, energy, commitment, discipline, and patience (see how He snuck that last one in?). So I add this to the list of things God is working on in my life. I’ve asked Him to help me identify areas in my life and journey that I have started but haven’t managed to finish.

Priority #1? Family Devotions (click here for Exhibit B). There, I’ve said it. I’ve admitted it. Now I’m off to get started again…wish me luck and pray for me…it’s too important to start and not finish!

I am currently reading Ecclesiastes as part of my devotional time. I’ve always wrestled with this book every time I read it…mainly because much of it seems a little “backwards” from what you expect to read in Scripture. Of course, that’s a good thing—Scripture is anything but predictable, and it gets me thinking critically about life and walking with God. This passage struck a cord with me this morning:

I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good.
It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun
during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. 
And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it.
To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.
God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, NLT

That right there will preach brothers and sisters!  This is a life philosophy that I can get behind. I want to enjoy my work and accept my lot in life as the gift from God that it is. I want to be “so busy enjoying life” that I don’t have time to “brood over the past”. This is a pattern for living with God in the moments of life…enjoying the here and now instead of worrying about the past or the future.

God has blessed me more than I deserve, and I want to enjoy His blessings. This weekend was a reminder of that as I spent time with family and friends and didn’t worry about ANYTHING besides trying to get up on the stupid wake board (and no, it didn’t happen). Life is a gift from God…my wife is a gift…my kids are a gift…my job is a gift…my gifting is a gift. I want to accept my lot in life and enjoy to the fullest. Anything less would be downright rude of me.

Read Part 1 Here                                       Read Part 2 Here

This is the third (and final) installment of our journey into the following Scripture passage:

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
Hosea 6:6, NLT

Today we examine the second “command”: “…to know me…” This is my favorite part of this particular verse because it speaks to my spiritual longing—to know God more and more every day. So let’s again start by looking at the Hebrews words themselves. In this case, the Hebrew “yada Elohim” is what gets translated “to know God”…

Yada : Information of a person, with a strong implication of relationship to that person

Elohim : The God of creation and judgement

There are many names used to describe God in Scripture (specifically in the Hebrew texts) so it’s important to know which name is being used, and what it means. Elohim is the same name used all the way back in Genesis (”In the beginning God…”). It is the name most often used when describing God and often has an implication of “the God of Israel”.

Again, the context is important here. The God of creation, the God of Israel is calling His people back to Himself in Hosea. They have betrayed Him…turned to other gods and idols. And what does He want? He wants them to come back and to know Him. He wants a personal relationship with them.

Every time I think about this it blows my mind. The God who SPOKE the universe into existence wants to have a personal relationship with us…with ME! The God of creation wants me to know Him…wants it more than I want it…wants it more than He wants my “burnt offerings”. He does want my obedience and my sacrifice, but even more than that He wants me to know Him. Sometimes it’s hard to believe…but there it is.

So where does that leave us? Simply put, God wants us to show Him love and devotion and He wants us to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. I don’t know about you, but knowing this is what God desires makes me want to work at it just a little bit harder—more deliberately and with a little more intentionality (maybe just with a little more heart and passion). It’s liberating to know that the God I desire and love desires and loves me.