Focus

Matthew 14: 31 "Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?'"

The disciples are in the middle of the Sea of Galilea and a storm comes up.  Jesus walks on the water out to them and rescues them.  Peter asks if he can walk out to Jesus but as soon as he takes his eyes off Jesus he begins to sink.

The simple lesson in this is so often forgotten and overlooked by me.  When I keep my eyes on Jesus I can walk on the water and not be afraid.  When I take my eyes off of him, I'll sink.  This isn't to say that all goes well and I'll never have problems when I keep my focus on Jesus, but rather, I can handle anything life throws at me when my eyes are on him.  What stormy seas are in my life right now?  What dangers, fears and anxieties am I facing today?  I need to redirect my attention towards Jesus and off the water.

Dear Jesus, help me to focus solely on you today.  Amen.

A Dad's Plea

Psalm 81:13 "Oh that my people would listen to me!  Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths."

In Psalm 81, God is wishing his people would just follow him and obey him.  For their sake, he wants his people, the Israelites to finally leave their pagan gods and ways, and follow their father.

There are so many times as a dad, I desperately want my children to listen to me and follow me.  Whether I'm teaching them to swim, talking to them about "stranger danger" or the importance of saving your money, I want them to listen to their dear old dad.  As their dad, I know better.  I know what's best for them.  I know some stuff that can keep them from harm or failure in the future.  I know that angst as a dad.  And I believe that's the emotion represented here in Psalm 81.  I can see the look on God's face as he says, "Just this once, please listen to me.  I'm begging you, just listen and obey."  Can I do that today?  Am I willing to listen and obey?

Dear Lord, help me listen and obey all day long today.  Amen.

Heavy Weight

Matthew 11:28 "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'"

Jesus tells the crowd that if they are weary and are carrying burdens, that they can come to him an find peace and rest with him.  He later tells them that his yoke is light, and that following him is easy.
I know many people that need to hear this verse.  I know many right now who are tired, and weary, and are carrying heavy burdens.   In some ways, our entire nation and our whole world is.  Thankfully when I am weary, stressed out, and overwhelmed I can turn to Jesus to help me carry the weight of it all. I don't have to carry it all myself.

Dear Lord, please take some of the weight off of my shoulders today.  Amen.

Tough Words

Matthew 10:39 "If you cling to your life you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it."

Jesus has some very difficult things to say in Matthew 10.  He says he came "not to bring peace, but a sword" and "If you love your father or mother more than me, you are not worthy of being mine..."  Jesus' teachings aren't always full of love, joy, peace rainbows and butterflies!

In what ways do I cling to my life?  How can I give up my life for Jesus?  Certainly I could literally die for Jesus someday...if it came to that.  But that may not be likely.  So how can I daily "give up my life" for him?

Dear Lord, help me to daily serve you with all of my life.  I pray that my thoughts, words and actions would serve you.  Amen.

Lip Service

Psalm 78:36 "But all they gave him was lip service; they lied to him with their tongues."

The psalmist is recalling the history of the Israelites and how they time and time again turned their back on God.  God would bless them and for a time they would obey, but soon enough, they turned from him and in the end only offered him "lip service."

How often do I offer God only lip service?  How often do I say all kinds of wonderful things about him in front of church or other people, then ignore or forget what I just said and live differently!?Today I realize that I too often only offer God lip service.  That needs to change.  I need to offer him my whole heart, body and soul.

Dear Lord, forgive me for giving you just lip service.  Help me serve you with my mouth AND my mind, heart, body and soul.  Amen.

God's Will

Acts 4:27, 28 "...For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.  But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will."

Peter and John have been brought for interrogation before the religious leaders for healing a crippled man.  The leaders try to get them to stop spreading the news of Jesus but fearing a riot if they punished Peter and John, they eventually were let go.  Upon their release, Peter and John join many of the other followers of Jesus and praise God for all he has done.  In their celebration, they said these words in verses 27, 28.

In the disciples opinion, all the powers of the world conspired against Jesus, but failed.  And nothing they did was unknown by God.  It all happened according to his will, so that he would be glorified.  Today, nothing is happening that God doesn't know about or care about.  In fact, somehow, it all works out for his will. There is nothing any political leader or terrorist group can do that ultimately will thwart God's will.  He is the king and he has the power. Today I place my hope and my trust in him.

Dear God, help me trust you and follow you today.  Amen.

Wisdom is Greater than Rubies

Proverbs 8:11 "For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.  Nothing you desire can compare with it."

Solomon says that wisdom is more valuable than riches, wealth or anything else in all the world.  I wish everyone (including me) could really grasp this proverb and live it.  Our world (and current presidential candidates) could use an extra dose of wisdom!

 I also need more wisdom.  I am facing several decisions and I am needing to navigate a few different situations that require some extra wisdom.   I need to rely not on my own thoughts and ideas, but instead I need to meditate on God's word and ask for his supernatural wisdom.

God help me this week as I make decisions and as I spend my time and money.  Help me make wise choices and rely on your truth.  Amen.

Generous Habits

Deuteronomy 24:21 "When you gather the grapes in your vineyard, don't glean the vines after they are picked.  Leave the remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans and widows."

The Lord, via Moses, is telling the Israelites to be mindful of others.  He tells them if they forget about a bundle of grain out in the field, don't go back for it.  Leave it for someone else.  When they harvest olives and grapes, they should harvest well, but not go through the vines a second time.  What they missed, can be a meal for someone who needs it more than they do.  God is trying to develop generous habits for his people.

So often today, we pinch every penny, take all we can get, and live pretty selfishly.  God wants me to overlook certain things so I can leave some for others.  How can I live out Deut. 24:21 in 2016?

• I could give away my extra change instead of always putting it in my piggy bank.  
• I could buy an extra item or two at the grocery store and give it to the food shelf.
• I could re-wear clothes so I do less laundry and save water for others.
• I could ride my bike or walk and save gas for others. 
• I could drink from real mugs and glasses and save plastic for others (and the earth). 

The key with all of this, as in everything else in life, is that this must become a habit.  That is in fact what God is doing in Deut. 24.  He is developing habits with his people.  How can I develop better generosity habits today?

God, help me to be more generous.  Help me to develop the proper habits to be generous this week.  Amen.

Get There

Deuteronomy 15:10" Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do."

Before the Israelites enter the promised land, they are reviewing God's laws and in this chapter, God reminds them to care for the poor.  They are to give generously and cheerfully as they care for the poor among them.

Currently at Crossroads, we are in a teaching series about money titled "Getting There."  Our hope is that people will "get there" with their finances and by "get there" we mean a place of financial peace.  A place where folks are not in debt or filled with worry and anxiety about their bills.  We want people to get to a place where they are debt free and have savings so they can live free and give freely!  The ultimate destination-the place to "get" is a place where we can generously and joyfully give to others-to charity, to the poor, and to those who need help.  Am I "there" yet?  Have I gotten "there" yet?  We are very close!  We are giving to Crossroads and sponsor three children with World Vision, but we still are not completely "there."  My hope is in 2016 to get there.  With God's help, and some hard work I know we can.

Dear Jesus, help me to honor you with what you have given me.  Help me to "get there" so I can be a blessing to others.  Help me to care for and provide for the poor with a glad heart.  Amen.

Scary World

Psalm 34: 4 "I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.  He freed me from all my fears."

Today as always, there is much to be afraid of.  ISIS, Zika, North Korea, the plunging stock market, Trump and Clinton all give me reasons to worry!  But David tells us in Psalm 34 that all we have to do is pray to the Lord and give him our fears.  He will answer our prayers and calm our nerves.  Our hope, our trust and our strength is found in him.  In a crazy world, that's due to get crazier, today I place my trust and my fears in his hands.  

God today I give you my worries and fears.  Help to control what I can, and give you the rest.  Amen.

The Blind

John 9:39 "Then Jesus told him, 'I entered this world to render judgement-to give sight to the blind and to show those who think that they see that they are blind.'"

Jesus has just healed a blind man and the Jewish leaders are having a hard time making sense of it.  They aren't sure who Jesus is and are skeptical of his claims.  Jesus tells them he came to show people (religious leaders alike) how they are blind and missing the point.

How am I being blind?  Am I seeing Jesus for who he is?  Am I doing all that he's asked of me?

Dear Jesus, help me to not be blind when it comes to you and your kingdom.  Help me see clearly today.  Amen.

Failure to Act

Numbers 27:13 "After you have seen it, you will die as Aaron your brother did, for you both rebelled against my instructions in the wilderness of Zin..."

God calls Moses up to a mountain to show him the Promised Land.  God tells Moses that he will die and that another leader (Joshua) will be commissioned to lead the people.  Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land due to his rebellion against God.  Moses failed to act and failed to lead, so he now is banned from the Promised Land.

Essentially Moses is not allowed to enter the Promised Land because he failed to act.  He lacked courage and faith at a critical time, and God banned him from Israel's future.  As a follower of Jesus and a leader, I need to know when to act.  I need to have the courage and the faith, at the right time, to do the right things.  Sitting on my hands, burying my head in the sand, or ignoring problems will lead to failure and sin.  What do I need to act on today?  What decisions do I need to make today  What conversations have I been avoiding?  What action have I been hesitant to take?

Dear Jesus, help me to do what you have called me to today.  Help me have the tough conversations, make the tough calls, and do today what others are unwilling to do.  Amen.

Where Else Would I Go?

John 6:68 "Simon Peter replied 'Lord, to whom would we go?'"

Jesus has just finished teaching a fairly difficult lesson.  He told the crowds that his true followers will eat his flesh and drink his blood.  This by the way led early skeptics of Christianity to assume that Christians were all cannibals!  Either way, Jesus was of course referring to his crucifixion and the resulting tradition of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist.  Many found this talk of eating flesh and drinking blood to be a bit too wacky for their taste, and they deserted Jesus.  Jesus turned to his twelve disciples and asked them if they too would now leave him.  Peter responds by saying "Where would we go?"

Where else do I have to go?  If I am not following Jesus, what other hope, what other future, what other plan do I have?  Certainly there are other religions and philosophical systems out there to be followed, but let's be real, they're all pretty much a sham.  There is only one who predicted his death and resurrection, and pulled it off!  I need to keep my focus and my aim on Jesus.  I'm not drinking the Kool Aid or buying into a false bill of goods, I am choosing to follow the One who came and died for me.  He died for me while I was yet a sinner.  He died and he rose again for me.  Where else would I possibly go?  Who else would I possibly follow?  Who else could possibly deserve my heart?

Dear Jesus, help me to keep my eyes on you.  Help me to recognize all other suitors as they are-as phonies and idols.  You created me.  You love me.  You died in my place.  I will go nowhere else and I will follow no one else.  Amen.

Caleb and Joshua

Numbers 13 and 14

The Israelites had been led to the wilderness and were on the doorstep of the promised land.  God instructed them to send twelve spies into the land to check it out, bring back some samples of the local grocery store, and assess ways to conquer the people.  Upon returning, the spies reported that the inhabitants of the land were giant, fierce, and unconquerable.  Well all of them said this except for Caleb and Joshua.  These two brave spies tried to convince the people the other spies were wrong, but instead the people panicked.  Fear seized the Israelites and they chose to trust these ten, rather than God.

Caleb and Joshua showed great courage in this story.  The ten other spies were not lying.  I am sure the inhabitants of the land were in fact big, strong, and scary.  No doubt conquering them and the land would be a challenge.  Yet in the face of these odds, Caleb and Joshua remained courageous, and more importantly, keep their faith in God.

What big, strong, and scary issues am I facing today?  What fears have I allowed to gain a stronghold in my life?  Will I have the faith and courage to go where God is leading me, despite the risks?  To be honest, I struggle with worry, anxiety and fear.  I have for awhile.  Today I need to be strong.  Today I need to find my strength in the one who can conquer, and has conquered all.

God, today I give you my worries and my fears.  Help me to trust in you no matter the risks and no matter how big the Amalekites, Hittities, or Jebusites in my life are.  Amen.