Tag: holy

Through the Hurt

Psalm 97, Hebrews 1:1-2:9, Galatians 4:4-7

During this Holy Day, in the midst of gift-giving, family, loneliness, heartache, healing, hurting…look to God.

Two holidays often are the most bittersweet, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The joy of gratitude (Thanksgiving) and celebration of the Savior (Christmas) can get confused with family struggles, financial struggles and family losses. These two gatherings will often stir up our deepest emotions, both good and bad. It can make the holidays some of the most stressful of the year.

It’s okay. Joseph and Mary were expecting their first child. The mysterious and amazing circumstances only heightened that expectation. They had to travel in the midst of that. The stress of bearing the probable condemnation of their families, plus the confrontation with the Roman authorities (they were traveling to be counted and taxed) would have strained their joyful expectation.

If you are questioning how could a person be stressed during this time…GIVE PRAISE!

If you are questioning your value or faith or walk, because you are stressed during this time, give yourself a break. The mother and earthly father of God were stressed, too. You are not alone.

Stressed or not, Christmas is time to be present. Spend time with one another. If you know someone is alone, invite them. If you are alone, it’s okay to ask to come and visit. This day is for Framily.

Heavenly Father, continually make us glad and joyful in this remembrance of the birth of your only Son, Jesus Christ. As we receive His Advent, help us receive him as our Redeemer. Help us, through the Holy Spirit, be assured of our salvation and life with you. May your love through Holy Spirit help us look forward to the earthly return of our Messiah. Give us confidence to bear your light into the world. This we pray in the grace and love of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

May you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

2018-12-25
Abandoned to Joy

1 Chronicles 15:11-29, 2 Samuel 6:16-22, Luke 15:4-32, 1 Peter 1:3-9

Have you ever leapt for joy? David did. He and his men were proudly and joyfully bringing God’s Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. In Hebrew, the underlying emotion of all David’s celebrating/leaping/whirling/skipping is joy. David is so filled with joy, he expresses it in such a physical way that the bride of his youth despises him. We know little about Michal, but we can guess that she had certain expectations of how the King (oh, and her husband) should behave. David was having nothing to do with her expectations. His audience of joy was God. David did understand that others understood David’s behavior better than proud Michal.

The shepherd and woman in Jesus’ parables also acted exuberantly. It was time to Holy Party and it was okay for them to party. They were “only” lowly people. The kind that Michal looked down upon. Jesus makes it clear, though, that Heaven doesn’t care about where they fit in society. To add insult to the Michals of the world, Jesus then tells a tale of the wealthy father who dropped everything and gave a huge party for his wayward son who had abandoned his family, but had now returned. It was disgraceful.

David’s “inappropriate” joyful leaping and the wealthy father’s “disgraceful” party represent the unbounded love of God and the inhabitants of Heaven as one more person turns to Jesus as Savior. Think of the mess that accompany the opening of presents by little children. The paper and tape and ribbon and…it’s everywhere. Undisguised and unabashed abandon at ripping off the paper and ribbons. Yep, God can’t wait to open the “present” of someone turning to him.

Many of us were taught that God was angry, or vengeful, or judgmental, or unloving, or distant. Contrast this to the dirty shepherd hugging the missing sheep, the woman who turned her house upside down to find a coin, a dignified king willing to be a fool, and a father who saw his son and not a failure. That IS God. We talk about joy during Christmas. Any (and hopefully every) day is “Christmas” for God as he opens another present of a person rescued!

1) Why is it important to understand abandoning oneself when joyful?

2) Can you think of a time you “forgot” yourself, and where you were, and just let go? Think back, and compare the feeling (body, soul, mind) of “abandoning” joy, versus a time when you controlled your joyful response. Is there a difference?

KD) What do you do when you are joyful? Do you dance, sing, scream, or run around? Do you think God does that when someone chooses Jesus? Why or why not?

2018-12-19
Joy Refill

Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Revelation 19:6-9

“…God ascends among shouts of joy…”
Psalm 47:5

“…[God’s] holy mountain, rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth…”
Psalm 48:1

“Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory because, the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.”
Revelation 19:7

All around God is rejoicing. There is not only worship and glorifying, there is joy. While God is just, God wants to be surrounded by rejoicing, or joy-filled, saints. You and I are called to be those joy-filled saints. It is one of those strange things where it is our duty to be joy-filled. Dutifully joy-filled seems contradictory, as if we are being commanded (as in obeying the law or a vengeful dictator) to feel a particular way. It isn’t that. Duty acts as a check and balance. It is our duty to assure that we are joy-filled saints. When doing our duty of checking the joy in the tank (so to speak), and we find it empty, we know that we need to refocus on God, giving thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior and surrendering (again) to the Holy Spirit.

The image of bride has been applied to the church since the beginning. In that image, there is a tension of collective (everyone) and individual being the bride (not in a gendered way) of Jesus. The bride prepares herself. While she may be crying as she walks down the aisle, the tears should be ones of inescapable joy, of love and thankfulness of an eternal bond. A bride that is not joy-filled walking down the aisle should really be rethinking the marriage.

That is why it is our calling to be joy-filled. Every day we take one more step down the aisle toward Jesus. When it comes to Jesus, it isn’t good to be a runaway bride.

Lastly, the populace of Heaven (of Heaven!) is rejoicing at this marriage! How amazing is that? Instead of viewing us as dirty or unworthy, we are the celebrated bride, and everyone is happy for the groom, Jesus!

1) Heart check. Are you joy-filled toward God?

2) What things can people do to refill their tanks of joy?

3) What practices or habits do you use to refill on your joy?

KD) What does it mean to refill on joy?

2018-12-18
Joy and Expectation

Job 33:14-30, Psalm 126, Luke 1:35-45

In many respects, joy is both easy and incredibly difficult to truly understand. On one hand, we understand that joy is something much deeper than the feelings of the moment. Yet, on the other hand, we use the word joy often when we really mean happy or maybe happier than usual, but still happy.

It is time for us to claim joy. This is not a “name it to claim it” kind of thing. We must have a definition that makes sense within the context of Christianity and that helps us use the word in a similar way. Let us define joy as a deep-seated emotion that provides assurance, resolve, positive outlook, and is life-giving through building up of self and others, and is based upon the character and nature of God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

As we look through most translations of scripture, we can see where joy is not used in the above way and that’s okay. This word is for us to use when we especially talk about the joy of Christmas.

Reminiscent of Abraham and Sarah, Elizabeth and Zechariah were expecting their first child in their advanced age. This pregnancy was a result of God’s faithfulness (not Zechariah’s) and was life-giving in two ways. First, Elizabeth and Zechariah were ashamed (life-taking) due to the lack of a child. Second, their child would go before the Messiah, announcing the Messiah’s coming (giving life and hope to others).

Many years ago, I heard a Christmas Eve sermon that was startling. In fact, my family and I were appalled at the sermon. It started with, “Tonight, we are all pregnant.” It took me many years to actually understand—more than just intellectually—what he meant.

With wanted pregnancies, the two biggest emotions are joy and expectation. These are the two (or should be) biggest emotions of Christmas. Not for the presents or family or food or parties, but for Jesus. The Savior of the world, and of you and me.

1) Are you really looking forward to Jesus coming?

2) Christmas looks: to the past when Christ was born in a manger; to the now for transformed lives; to the future when Jesus comes again. How does that perspective change how you view Christmas this year?

3) It’s easy to get into the habit of “just” another annual celebration with Christmas (as with any holiday or observance). What will you do to keep it fresh this year?

KD) If you knew you were not getting any presents this year for Christmas, would you still look forward to Christmas? Why, or why not?

2018-12-16
The Grace God Gives

2 Chronicles 30:13-27, Nehemiah 8:7-12, Jeremiah 15:16

The passage in Nehemiah has some depth. First, the people (the Jewish people) were so ignorant of their own history and holy scriptures, that both had to be explained to them. As they learned what their God had instructed them on how to live, many began to weep (mourn) as they understood that because of their failures, they were separated from God. However, the Levites comforted the people, leading them to understand that this was not a time to grieve, but a time for joy. God’s forbearing grace at work.

We see same that same grace in 2 Chronicles. The people were celebrating Passover wrongly (they were ritually unclean). Yet, instead of condemnation, there was grace. In this case, the grace was after some affliction, but one can infer that the affliction was a result of not doing things as required. Yet, instead of being cast out, they celebrate with others, praising God. So much joy poured out into doubling the celebration!

The experience of this kind of joy can only come through the awareness of just how much grace God gives. No matter how much grace God may pour out, the passages makes it clear, their hearts turned toward God first before they received grace and/or were healed. God called them first, yet, God’s glory, grace, love and healing doesn’t show up until they turn to God with repentant hearts.

Note also that while the people’s hearts may have been turned to God, there was still a need for intercession by others. This is important to grasp. We all need others to intercede for us.

From our perspective, the Jewish people were just minding their own business, where they were. They were trying within their contest to fit into the world around them. In fact, much of their problem was indeed that they were successful in fitting into the world around them, so much so, that they wandered away from God.

1) Do you struggle with fitting into the world around you? Do you struggle fitting into what you think is the church or Christian world?

2) Why is understanding one’s starting point essential to feeling joy?

3) What is the similarity between joy and happiness? What’s the difference?

KD) What makes you the most joy-filled? How does that make you think about God?

2018-12-15
Trusting Joy

Psalm 37:3-6, Joel 2:12-13, Isaiah 12:2-6, James 1:2-4

Integrity, so it is said, is doing the right thing when nobody is watching. It can be tempting to do the wrong thing when no one is watching. It is often easy to do the right thing when everyone is cheering.

It’s when no one is cheering, or people are even grumbling or threatening those who do right, that we come to the hard part of living out our faith.

“Trust in the LORD, and do what is good…”
Psalm 37:3

“…I will trust [the LORD] and not be afraid…”
Isaiah 12:2

When it gets tough to do right, all we can do is trust God. Sounds easy, but how often do we fail to trust God, and instead trust ourselves, others, or things?

James calls on us to be filled with joy in these situations. Joy? Yes, even in these situations. Perhaps, joy is most critical in these situations. The freedom to feel joy is fully reliant on trusting God.

Let us pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, we know with our heads that we need to trust you. As we are frail human beings, help our hearts to trust you further than yesterday, and even more so tomorrow. Grant us the peaceful assurance of your grace, compassion, patience and love. Help us to continue to seek the coming Messiah, and to be filled with joy of knowing you.

Holy Spirit, be with us through the remainder of the Advent season, stirring our hearts to not take Christmas for granted, but to be stirred into action of joy-filled praise of the Father, Son, and You. Continue to quicken our hearts and aid us in our journey of faith.

Jesus, Son of God, thank you for becoming like us. Thank you for experiencing a life like ours. We are thankful that you know temptation, yet did not sin, giving us strength to choose the God-lit path of faith that goes through the darkness.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we lift you up on our praise. Help us to joyfully sing your praise, for your glory.

Amen.

2018-12-14
Peace and Holiness

Ezekiel 37:24-28, Romans 12:9-18, Hebrews 12:7-15

“I will make a covenant of peace with them…”
Ezekiel 37:26

“Live in harmony with one another…”
Romans 12:16

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peach with everyone.”
Romans 12:18

“Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14

When God speaks to Ezekiel, the consequences of living a life outside of and away from God are showing up to the Israelites, and it is not a pretty picture. Something to understand throughout Ezekiel is that while the consequences of not living life with God is bad, God promises hope. Especially a hope which cannot be earned. God makes the new covenant of peace.

We, too, have a covenant with peace to live out. It is the covenant of peace with others. In Romans 12, Paul is talking specifically about the peace between members of the Christian framily. However, this peace is supposed to also spill out into our relationships outside of the church framily.

The author of Hebrews, however, makes what can be chilling ties to peace with others: holiness and divine life. Mercifully, the author of Hebrews uses the word “pursue.” Other translations have it as “strive for” or “chase after.” As we read yesterday, peace requires effort.

Peace and holiness are tied together by the author of the Hebrews. This is not unreasonable, as the ultimate peace is given by God who is holy. The importance of living at peace with one another—especially, but not exclusively, in the church framily—cannot be overstated. If the Children of God are not at peace with one another, what kind of peace can they share with others?

1) What does it mean to you that “no one will see the Lord” when it comes to being at peace with one another and holiness?

2) Is being at peace with one another important to you? Why or why not?

KD) We all struggle with being at peace with one another. Are you pursuing peace with others? What are you willing to give up to have peace?

2018-12-12
Stirring Up

Psalm 71:1-9, Ezekiel 37:1-14, Matthew 12:9-21

“Be a rock of refuge for me, where I can always go…”
Psalm 71:3

“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live… I have spoken, and I will do it.”
Ezekiel 37:14

“The nations will put their hope in his name.”
Matthew 12:21 (also see Isaiah 42:1-4)

When we read Psalm 71, we read chronological age (birth to old), and that is as the Psalmist intended. Let’s look at it differently today. Let’s look at it as our life in Christ. Most people (not all, and that’s okay) when they first come to know Jesus Christ are eager to share about their new life in him. Often huge life changes occur that bear witness to the life-change that is available through Christ. However, as our faith ages, often the enthusiasm goes away. We become “old.” In other words, our life in Christ is not very vigorous. Some people start out “old,” because they grew up in the church, and knew nothing different, and those around them (having been in the church awhile) were “old” already and were thus not very enlivening to a new believer. There are some who appear “old” due to their personality. They, too, need better ways and habits to invigorate their spiritual lives and the spiritual lives of others.

By God’s grace, we don’t have to rely on ourselves. The Holy Spirit that was promised to each and every believer will help us with our spiritual lives and help us help others with their spiritual lives. When we, in partnership with the Holy Spirit and each other, stir up our spiritual lives, the world will look at us and our hope, and the world will hope in His name.

1) Why is a strong spiritual life an essential component to hope?

2) What is one thing you can start doing to stir up your spiritual life?

3/KD) No matter how young or old you are, you are important to other people’s spiritual life. What is one thing you can start doing to stir up others’ spiritual lives?

2018-12-05
Free to Feel

Psalm 42, 2 Samuel 7:18-29, Romans 15:7-13

“…Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:5

“…Do as you have promised, so that your name will be exalted forever…”
2 Samuel 7:25-26

The Psalmist and David have different emotions in their words. The Psalmist seems exhausted mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It would be reasonable to say that the Psalmist was very depressed. David on the other hand was joy-filled for God had made a promise to him that his family (his house) would forever have a place before God. In a culture where family was of greater importance than the individual, this was a big deal.

Both Psalmist and David, regardless of circumstances, put their hope in God. Both understood that they were insignificant in comparison to God, but that they were not insignificant to God. That is hope built on solid ground. An individual’s daily struggles may be small in comparison to the big picture, but the God who continues to draw the big picture knows that every person has their right place in the picture, and because of that, they are significant to God.

The social and cultural events that occur around Christmas (company parties, family get togethers, even church activities) can often exhaust and overwhelm us. Many of these activities can feel more like obligations, rather than times of joy and warm-heartedness. The times around Christmas can find feeling like both the Psalmist (exhausted/depressed) and David (joy-filled and thanks-filled). Sometimes the change in moods can catch us by surprise, and we might even feel guilty for our feelings. As long as our hope rests on/in God, we are free to feel. We are free in Christ.

1) How can you strengthen other people’s hope in Jesus? How will you?

2) The best “tool” we have to feel hope is the Holy Spirit. How can you “use” the Holy Spirit to strengthen your hope?

3/KD) Christmas is a time to give and receive gifts. Not everyone gets presents. How can you show and share that the best gift is Jesus?

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13

2018-12-04