Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

Have you ever thought about what you may want written on your tombstone? They are  final words that are written about you and intended to encompass who you were and how you lived.  They are etched into stone in hopes that they will stand the rest of time. They are powerful words. Years of living summarized in one short sentence. Recently, I read a verse and thought, "That would be an honor if it were used to summarize my life.  I'm not sure I'm bold enough to state it myself. I'm also not sure it has the same impact if I ask for it to be on my tombstone. Rather, it would be an honor if God said it about me." The words I'm speaking of come from Matthew 21:6, "The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them." I think space is limited on a tombstone. So, maybe it would better be stated as, "He did what he was told to do." To me, the goal of being a Christian is to follow.  The word follow shows up in the Bible over 400 time...

There is a company out there that can give you all of the information about a used car before you buy it. You can see if it has been in an accident and how often it was serviced. They will even identify the locations where the car was purchased. It seems you can see just about everything from this report. Some car dealerships proudly boast that they only sell cars that are accident free. I'm not sure what they do with the used cars that have been in an accident. It's hard to believe that a car that was broken on the outside then repaired would not be acceptable. They clearly take cars that were and may still be broken on the inside.  This Christmas I find myself thankful that it doesn't work the same with God as it does with cars. Whether we are broken on the inside, outside, or both God accepts us. I'll take it a step further, He pursues us and goes to great lengths to be near to us. He sent his only son to live as we live, face temptations as we do...

This week we celebrate Christmas. Homes are decorated with sparkling lights, Christmas trees adorned with ornaments, various images of Santa Claus can be found scattered around, and my favorite, the nativity is displayed. If you weren't familiar with our traditions, you could certainly tell something special is being prepared for.  Something special will be celebrated.  As we know our King is being born.  On Christmas night we remember the night an infant entered the world to change it forever. God has come to live among His people and make things right in His kingdom.   To us today, it only makes sense to do the things we do at Christmas time. This is one of the most significant nights in human history. Knowing what we know, it seems only right to spend a month preparing and decorating. What better way to honor the gift God gave to us than by giving our friends and family gifts as symbols of our admiration for them. It's only right that this season ...

At times I find myself mindlessly looking through social media.  I go to Facebook, look around, and close the app.  I then open Twitter, look around, and close the app.  I may then open Instagram and do the same.  Then it's back to Facebook. Often I do this and feel empty.  I feel like I am searching for something and can't find it. Meanwhile, all the answers are one app over.  The emptiness I feel is fulfilled in this app. The search ends in this app. It's the one stop shop that can fill me up.  That app is the Bible app. One tiny little app holds the entirety of the Bible-in multiple translations, Bible study tools, videos, and much much more.  God's truth is presented in numerous ways so I can understand.  So, I can find what I'm searching for. Seems like a microcosm of our human existence.  We chase after things and stuff. We chase a successful career or the world's definition of the perfect family. We try to keep up with...

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel. Psalms 71:1‭-‬4 NIV Do you remember playing tag?  Much of my childhood I grew up on a culdesac.  There were plenty of neighborhood kids in the "circle", as we called it. Most evenings it was filled with kids playing together until moms and dads called us home.  Summers were the best.  It stayed light longer and often we were able to stay out and play after it was dark.  We played all kinds of games and rode bikes, big wheels, and any other creation we could get our hands on.  One of my favorite games we played was good old tag. Of course, in the game someone is "it".  The object of the gam...

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:5‭-‬8 NIV This selection of scripture makes me feel uncomfortable.  My imagination doesn't want to think that slavery existed in the time of Jesus.  It is such an archaic and terrible practice, I don't want to consider it as a reality.   Fact is slavery was a part of living in the Roman empire. I find it interesting that Paul, a Roman citizen, doesnt condone or condemn the practice of slavery.  Instead and like Jesus, He raises the bar of expectation.   He says, "If you find yourself enslaved, show off Jesus!". Ob...

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathaniel asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. - John 1:44‭-‬46 NIV I have been to places that I just think look desolate and hopeless. Not necessarily a city, but parts of cities and neighborhoods. The buildings are in disrepair, addiction and crime have taken over, and the life just seems to be sucked out of the space. I'm not sure if that is what Nazareth was like, but that's the picture I get in my head when I read Nathaniel's response.   I think we all have times in our lives that we resemble my mental picture of Nazareth. We are in such a dark place, we can't imagine anything good coming from us in this place. Maybe it's addiction, or shame, or an infidelity, or deceit, ...

This is something that has been percolating in me for a while.  I have tried numerous times to put my thoughts on paper.  Each time I do, something happens.  I get distracted and do something else instead or I tyoe it but completely fail to save it. I have found that happens when I am writing something and it's just not right because God is still working in me.  So if you are reading this, I finally did it! It seems you cannot say COVID-19 without insighting a STRONG emotional response. For many, fear moves in. Others experience sorrow from the loss of a loved one. Many times it immediately shifts to a soliloquy about mask mandates violating personal rights or failure to wear a mask recklessly placing others at risk. Certainly a debate will begin about the vaccine.  Let me assure you I am not here to debate either polar end of these topics.   Rather, I suggest we need to OPEN OUR EYES!  We might just be missing it. We might be missing ...