Archives for December 2011

I COULD NEVER DO THAT!

December 29, 2011 By

“We would not do anything like that!”

That is what Joseph’s brothers said to the servant!

Joseph had put a cup in his brother Benjamin’s satchel. Then Joseph sent a servant to his brothers to accuse them of theft. What Joseph did is not the issue here. The issue is with the brothers.

It is true they had not stolen the cup! They could not conceive of doing such a thing. The sons of Jacob steal a cup!? From an important man!? Never!

Yet, they had done something much worse.

  • First of all, they conceived murder in their minds. “Let’s kill him and throw his body into one of the wells” (Genesis 37:20). This is what they wanted to do to their little brother.
  • Had it not been for Reuben, they would have killed Joseph . According to Reuben’s suggestion, they throw him in a well, not dead, but alive. (Genesis 37:21)
  • Do you know what they did as Joseph was in the bottom of the well — no doubt calling for them to let him out? Crying. Begging! Pleading! I’ll tell you what they did. They sat down and ate lunch! (Genesis 37:25).
  • Then Judah had an idea: “Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites. Then we will not be guilty of killing our brother. After all, he is our own flesh and blood” (Genesis 37:27). This was their own flesh and blood that they were about to sell into slavery!
  • Then they stage his murder by tearing his beautiful coat and covering it with animal’s blood. (Genesis 37: 31-32)
  • Then they watch their father grieve and then try to comfort him (Genesis 37:35), knowing that he could not be comforted — not even by all of his remaining children.

Yet, they could not conceive of ever stealing a cup . . . when they had stolen their brother’s life, their father’s joy, and the stability of a family.

What does this have to do with us? Oftentimes we are so appalled by accusations against us — to the point of even stating as the brothers did: “We could never do anything like that.”

Yet, we have done worse.

We have broken our Father’s heart over and over again. If false accusations come, let them remind us of how we have broken our Father’s heart, and let them spur us on to seeking to please him more. Let’s comfort our Father with our love and obedience. PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our false humility, even in the face of false accusations! Even if I have been wrongly accused of lying, I know that I have done worse. Thank you for saving me from myself and using everything in my life — even false accusations to point me in the direction of your amazing love and your amazing forgiveness. In Your son’s name I pray. Amen.

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LOOK AT GOD!

December 25, 2011 By

LOOK AT GOD!

  • lying in the box (manger), seemingly so helpless and frail
  • squirming and restless in Miriam‘s (Mary’s) arms
  • nudging up against his mother’s breasts for feeding

                                       I see Him!

LOOK AT GOD!

  • working in a carpenter’s shop
  • hands hardened and calloused, but nimble and accurate
  • watching people get hurt and others die
  • waiting for His time

LOOK AT GOD!

  • doing what He came to do
  • healing this one and making that one whole
  • walking dusty streets
  • working, teaching, healing like there is no tomorrow

                              I see Him!

LOOK AT GOD!

  • dying…
  • living…
  • rising…
  • promising…
  • …returning!

I SEE HIM!

Father, help us to see what you see! You — choosing to come so humbly! You — experiencing the toils and pains of life that we do. You — coming back in all your glory! Yes, keep that moment ever in our spirit’s awareness! Amen!

Be blessed by this choral rendition of “Mary, Did You Know?” with clips from THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

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A MORE ENDURING GLORY

December 14, 2011 By

“It’s disappearing! The glow that Moses had on his face when he came down from the mountain after being with God — well, it’s disappearing! Maybe if the glow disappears, just maybe, just maybe, this God would disappear too.”

Did Moses think the Israelites reasoned like this? Look at what the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:13 about this scenario.

“We are not like Moses, who put a covering over his face so the Israelites would not see it. The glory was disappearing, and Moses did not want them to see it end” (2 Corinthians 3:13).

Moses did not want them to see the glory end! He did not want this experience to be a passing phase for his people. What would they do when it disappeared? What would they do at the end? Would they still believe? Or would they doubt and complain and rebel?

So he covers his face.

Paul says earlier, “This new way (life in Yeshua) which continues forever has much greater glory” (2 Corinthians 3:11) than the former way which came with glory and then disappeared.

Don’t cover your faces! Don’t put your lights under a bushel! What is in you has greater glory and will last forever! Don’t be afraid that it will come to an end. It will never!

PRAYER: Father, thank you for Moses and the glory of the former house that you gave to him. Now we thank you for the glory of the latter house. May we live as though we are basking in a glory that will endure forever! That enduring glory will be the greatest testimony of an ever-present God who abides with us forever. Triple Amen!

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BUZZARDS ON THE CHURCH

December 7, 2011 By

When I took my son to school, I could not help but notice 7 or 8 turkey buzzards staking out their territory along the roadside. What is dead? I asked. It must be something really big. When I returned home some 20 minutes later, they were still there. Also, across the street, several of them had lined the frame of a building. What a sight! I noticed that a man had pulled his car to the side, gotten out, and positioned himself to take a picture of this sight. I still could not see what had died.

Two hours later, I ran an errand, and although my destination did not take me past the site of the buzzards, I could still see from the end of the road that they were still there, not only lining the frame of the building, but scattered about the roof. Then it dawned on me — “buzzards on the church”! That building was a church!

I wonder if in the spiritual — if we could see — would we notice dark, brooding forces over our buildings, waiting to see what has died or is about to die in our congregations? Whose flesh are they waiting to devour? What territory are they staking out? Are they calling in their friends? They see us dying in envy — full of pride and idolatry and self-righteousness  . . . so they stake out their claim! Photographers stop by gazing at the spectacle of our spiritual deaths and we pose for the camera, very much dead inside.

I just declare life over every congregation today that calls upon the name of Jesus/Yeshua! I pray for the swift exit flight of every spiritual buzzard as they see us rise to life and declare the works of the Lord! When we rise to life, they MUST flee! Let them hear us say…

  • “I rid myself of all evil, all lying, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all evil speech” (1 Peter 2:1)
  • “I put away all idols and I am the righteousness of God in Messiah!” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
PRAYER: Father, thank you that you have not called us to death . . . but to LIFE! We shake off the dead things and every adversarial minion that has staked a claim to our lives! They have no right here . . . not where there is life!  Help us to live that abundant life that you have for us today and always! L’Chaim! To Life in Messiah! Amen! 
Filed Under: Inspirational Reflections

I WOKE TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY!

December 5, 2011 By

This morning I woke up with a great sense of encouraging the saints today!

NEED A JOB? “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). You know what that really means? He will supply ALL your needs according to the way it brings Him glory! So today say, “Be glorified in my life, Abba.” In so doing, you work with Him to facilitate your blessing!

DEPRESSED ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS? He is the lifter of your head. That means he wants you to say, “Abba, I give you permission to lift my head today and help me to look at all the blessings I have and not at what I don’t have.” That way, you work in tandem with Him to bless you with the things that will help you live a fuller life. “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3).

DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS? “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). That is so comforting! You do not have to strive anymore. Let Him be your peace and speak to the storms in your life, in your marriage, or in your relationships with your children, co-workers, friends, family. Let’s say to Him, “Abba, thank you for being our peace. I accept your peace and I choose to walk in it today. I know you will give me the words to speak to others today inviting them to share that peace.”

Be encouraged today! You are so amazing to God because He has placed His “amazingness” in you! And just think, if you’re reading this, you know for sure that your Abba has you on His mind! So go ahead and be AMAZING today!

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