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Keeping our FOCUS
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"Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him." (Matthew 4:11)
I say "get ready" and I can hear you..."for what"? Are we getting ready for another snow storm? Are we (finally!) getting ready for spring? Sometimes the interesting, and possibly surprising, thing we are getting ready for is something....... wait for it........ new. Sometimes, like a new baby, a wedding or graduation we know in advance and can prepare. Sometimes..... we need to be closer to God, listening for what God is asking us to do. "The secret things belong to the Lord our God. The revealed things belong to us and to our children forever; to keep all the words of this covenant." (Deuteronomy 29:29) The readings, this morning are starting us into Lent. The Genesis reading is God telling Adam and Eve not to eat of a certain tree. (Genesis 2:15--17) The reading, in Romans, is Paul explaining one person, breaking God's law, is redeemed by Jesus (one man) saving each of us from our sins. (Romans 5:18-19) And the reading in Matthew is telling us the ending of the 40 days of Jesus being in the wilderness with the angels coming to "attend" him. (Matthew 4:11) The reading, from Deuteronomy above, comes from my God time this morning but fit so well I wanted to include it. During this Lenten season I want to challenge you to go deeper into your relationship with God. I especially want to challenge you to add PRAYER to what ever Lenten discipline you choose for these 40 days. "40 bags out" pray about what goes into the bag AND what happens to the bag. "Fasting" from food, technology, TV... be in prayer - talking to God, strengthening your relationship with God. Rereading, or reading for the first time "Draw the Circle" and (maybe) the workbook.... follow the directions and pray for revival INSIDE the circle surrounding you. Reading "Dynamite"... don't "just" skim through it - read it, listening and following where God is leading. Then...... TALK ABOUT IT. TELL someone where, when and how you think God is leading you.
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"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NASB)
With this crazy weather have you been wondering about helping others? Even if the help is "only" bringing something home from the store for them? Maybe you have a snow blower and can help clear a driveway. Maybe you can just "listen" for a few minutes and let them talk. Paul is writing this, and in the first part of this reading, is talking about "how to get along" with little or plenty. (v. 12) He is speaking about what is happening in all circumstances. God with us - Emmanuel. At the same time we think of circumstances of taking care of a loved one. Now we are taking care of more than just ourselves. Now we have busy schedules, jobs, and the other persons needs. Added to this can be doctor appointments and other physical needs. Also added in, at this time of year, is "winter weather." Do we still feel we can do all things? We need to make sure our focus is on Christ. We need to keep the relationship - our relationship - with Christ strong so we can agree with Paul. We need to help each other with these things. O Lord, be with us. Help us to feel your presence and strength. Help us to help others. Amen "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)
We are told the longest journey begins with one step. We are told to "try" something. We are told to "step out in faith." The question is how often do we choose to do it and how often is the choice made for us. If I am honest it doesn't matter if I made the choice, or if someone else made it for me, the roller coaster of schedules feels like there is more going up than sliding down. It feels not only difficult but scary. This is when we need to remember God IS with us. This is when we need to seek others to talk to and ask for prayer. This is when we might actually have to not only think about, but actually DO the new thing. As we strengthen our relationship with God, by being in God's Word, we can find the verses to meditate on to give us the strength to 'step out.' We can take the one step. Which verses, in Scripture, do you go to? Who can you talk to? Who can you ask to be praying for you? "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." (2 Peter 1:18)
What do you think of when I say mountain top? Sitting on the top of a hill, or even a mountain, and looking out over the view? Being at the top of one of the high office buildings looking out over the city, or down at the people walking and driving below you? Do you remember the Emmaus Walk you were on? Some other special retreat and how close you felt to God? Or, maybe, it was seeing how God has brought something together - a "God thing"? Who did you tell about it? The readings, today, are about actual "mountain top" experiences. Moses is up on the mountain, with God, when a "cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord settled on Mt. Sinai." (Exodus 24:15) Peter is telling about his experience of being on a mountain with Jesus "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven." (2 Peter 18) Matthew is writing about the experience of Peter, James and John as they are with Jesus. Matthew is also telling about the voice coming from heaven "This is my Son, whom I love." (Matthew 17:5) So...... what "mountain top" do you think of? There have been several quilts, and quilt tops, coming together recently -- "a God thing" -- that I can definitely celebrate and talk about. I can celebrate times, in nature, watching whales, seeing choral while snorkeling and encountering a sea turtle. I encourage Emmaus Walks because of the encounters I have felt, seen and know of because of the Walk. I am quite happy to talk about them.... Who do you tell about your "mountain top"? Something to think about...... "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." (2 Peter 1:18)
What do you think of when I say mountain top? Sitting on the top of a hill, or even a mountain, and looking out over the view? Being at the top of one of the high office buildings looking out over the city, or down at the people walking and driving below you? Do you remember the Emmaus Walk you were on? Some other special retreat and how close you felt to God? Or, maybe, it was seeing how God has brought something together - a "God thing"? Who did you tell about it? The readings, today, are about actual "mountain top" experiences. Moses is up on the mountain, with God, when a "cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord settled on Mt. Sinai." (Exodus 24:15) Peter is telling about his experience of being on a mountain with Jesus "We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven." (2 Peter 18) Matthew is writing about the experience of Peter, James and John as they are with Jesus. Matthew is also telling about the voice coming from heaven "This is my Son, whom I love." (Matthew 17:5) So...... what "mountain top" do you think of? There have been several quilts, and quilt tops, coming together recently -- "a God thing" -- that I can definitely celebrate and talk about. I can celebrate times, in nature, watching whales, seeing choral while snorkeling and encountering a sea turtle. I encourage Emmaus Walks because of the encounters I have felt, seen and know of because of the Walk. I am quite happy to talk about them.... Who do you tell about your "mountain top"? Something to think about...... "All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37)
When was the last time you played "Follow the Leader"? Or when did you play "Simon Says"? The last time you played were you Simon? Were you the Leader? Have you thought about who, or what, you are following today? What is it you pay the most attention to? And, before you ask me, yes - I know following the weather is important AND I even know there is a "big game" today....football, I think. The readings today are about who you are following. In Deuteronomy we are reading about what God is asking each of us to be doing - "following his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase." (Deuteronomy 30:16) Paul is reminding us we are a part of "God's field, God's building" because it is "only God, who makes things grow." (1 Corinthians 3:7) The interesting part, for me, is what Jesus is saying about doing "more." He is reminding the people then, and NOW, we are supposed to be doing "more" than "just" following the law. We are to do what we say, when we say it: "All you need to say is simply 'yes' or 'no'." (Matthew 5:37a) So..... the question is..... Are we following God or the world? Yes, especially as Caregivers, we have busy schedules, more things to do than we have time for and unexpected changes happening but are we still following where God is leading, doing what God is asking us to do? Or are we paying more attention to what the world is saying? Something to think about...... Isaiah 41:1--13
"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold your with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NASB) This verse, and verse 13, were first given to me when my mother died very unexpectedly. The "do not fear" and God "holding me by the hand" (vs. 13) and in God's "righteous right hand" helped hold me together during a stressful time. These verses became my "go to" verses when ever things started to overwhelm. Then a word search of strength brought these verses up. Yes, God is holding me "by the hand" and in "God's hand." God's strength is also holding and helping. God's strength - holding, helping and flowing through me - for which I am very thankful. I can praise God - even in stressful times. Something to think about: God holding us by the and and in God's hand so God's strength can flow through us. What verse is your "go to" verse? How does it hold you and help you? Do you feel God's strength? "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." (Matthew 5:15)
Have you ever been in the dark? Interesting question isn't it? It can mean a couple of different things. It could mean something is going on, several people are doing things you just don't understand the what or the why...you are "in the dark." OR.... It could mean you forgot to leave a light on and you get home to "dark" and have to find the light switch. It could even mean the power has gone off and you hope you remember where the flashlight, or candle, is. We were at Mammoth Cave National Park taking the "easiest" tour as a family. One of the members of the family thought it would be "fun" to be the one stringing the lights up along the TOP of the path so everyone could see. Then we got to the bottom of the cave and the ranger asked if we had ever been "in the dark." They turned OUT the lights. IT W AS DARK! You couldn't even see your hand in front of your face. VERY dark....except for one child.... who was wearing white tennis shoes with a red "glow in the dark" streak on each shoe. The Scripture readings today are about being the light in a world that needs light. Isaiah is reminding us to "feed the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness." (Isaiah 58:10) Paul is reminding us he demonstrated the "Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:5) And Jesus is reminding us we ARE the "light of the world" and we are to "let your (our) light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) As Caregivers we are doing, helping and following...but are we "letting our light shine" the way God is asking us to? Are we doing what that small voice in our head is asking us to do? Are we letting our "light" shine so others "see and glorify" our Father in heaven? Something to think about..... "The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults." (Psalm 28:7)
Praising God -- is easy to do when things are going smoothly but difficult to do as we are on the 'roller coaster' of being caregivers. The idea, especially with this verse, is the trust we have in God. Do we really believe God IS with us? IF we really believe it we can trust God. If we can trust God we can praise God. The difficult part could be spending time with God so we can strengthen our relationship. Schedules get busy, crazy things happen to change the schedule and we usually put our selves at the bottom of the priority list. The question is... if we don't take time for us to have time with God..... who will help us? Can we think about the time with God? Can we praise God when the crazy things are happening? Do we really trust God? Dear God, we thank you for your strength in, and through, us. We ask you to show us how we can be with you more to continue to feel your strength. Thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Amen Something to think about........ |
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