Jesus Is A Hugger

The worst is not knowing whether or not to hug somebody. You see somebody you love, value and perhaps miss dearly; you smile widely and move forward to . . . second guess yourself.

Photo by Joi Ito

I do this. I ruin hugs. I rush toward them and then I hesitate,

“Are we 'huggin' friends?” I wonder at the worst moment possible, “Is this ok?” “Will this make them uncomfortable?” “Will it ruin everything?”

Now I've waited too long and it's awkward either way.

I ought to be honest with myself. I've never lost a friend because I hugged them. Only once in all of my memory have I hugged a person and known it was a mistake. They didn't want my hug. In my defense we went from hugging friends to non-hugging friends overnight via hearsay and gossip. Not my bad. They hugged back though, but their body language told me not to hug that guy again.

Hugs are seldom mistakes, still I hesitate though my pro-hug instincts tell me I've left friends in need without the hugs they craved.

Humans need hugs. You've probably heard that babies face huge challenges when deprived of touch. A human being's need for physical contact doesn't evaporate once they learn to walk. We all need touch. We need hugs. I'm in the camp that recommends 12 a day.

Hugs. I need hugs; I love them - but I'm so awkward. I love people, but I get so stupid self-conscious that I talk myself out of hugging. I'm terrified they'll be all weird because I busted out the hugs, despite the fact that this has literally never happened.

“Don't be weird about this” I tell myself. “They like you.”

I love hugging-friends. I don't mean just my friends I hug regularly. I love them, but I especially appreciate those friends who hug no matter what the time and place are. I love their confidence. They never sneak hug, side hug, one arm, or awkwardly hug too slowly or for too long. These are friends for whom hugs are a special ministry. They remind me that I'm OK, and that touch is good.

I am not yet one of these people. I don't have the joy that they do. The hugs they give are given liberally and lovingly. My hugs smack of a fear of rejection. This is a shortcoming. This is not God's will for me; scripture says perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Slowly but surely God is getting me there. I can count on Jesus for that.

You see, Jesus touched the untouchables. He was a hugger. He was a hugging-friend. He IS a hugging-friend. He's not afraid of our rejection, but liberally offers his heart to anyone. Jesus loves us without hesitation, judgement or fear. Despite our resistance to him, Jesus never hesitates to bring us into his arms.

I'm held back by fear, but knowing God's love helps me move forward. What keeps you from passing that love forward? What gives you courage?

God, Forgive High School Me

image by: Egan Snow

I fell asleep with the window open and woke up cold with the chill smell of leaves blowing through my room.  The particular cold botanical aroma of late summer awoke memories of Interlochen, the northern Michigan arts camp where I spent the last week of every summer for all four years of high school.  Filled with nostalgia, I also felt regret as I remembered those years.  I did not live up to the standard by which I judged others.  I was rude, fearful, and self-righteous.  Since high school, I’ve apologized to many of my friends for the person I was.  (If you feel you deserve an apology but have been left out, please let me know.)

I think I've improved as a person since then, but I don’t want to focus on that; it is unimportant.  Hopefully we do improve as we live life, but life isn’t ultimately about self-improvement.  Being better now doesn’t remove the consequences of my words and actions, not can it earn forgiveness. I personally must remember this or I fall back into self-righteousness.  Christianity doesn't smile on self-righteousness.

As I understand, teach, and live it, Christianity has little to do with good behavior or morals.  It can produce them, but at it's core Christianity is repeatedly realizing that our most heroic efforts to live holy lives have been unsuccessful (Isaiah 64:6), and finding that God offers his unconditional love to us no matter what we’ve done.  Regardless of how we've failed, God loves us more than we can imagine.  God readily forgives us, no matter how we embarrassingly we’ve behaved.

           

Challenge:

Read The Parable of the Prodigal Son today.  Did you know that “prodigal” means “Wasteful?”  Both boys were wasteful.  While one wasted his dad’s money; the other wasted precious time withholding forgiveness.  Which boy is most like you?  Whichever one you are, God welcomes you into his presence with open arms.  Jesus loves you relentlessly, with love you’re worst actions can never undermine.  Sometimes we struggle to accept this. We try to earn God’s love, but it’s free and can only ever be free.  When do you find it difficult to accept God’s love?  What wears down your resistance?

This Man Does Not Represent Us

Today a dim and violent individual said some of the worst things a person can say (maybe don't follow the link. It's pretty bad.).  He insisted that he spoke in the name of Jesus, my God, and in the name of Christianity, my religion.  I have written about this before, but since horrible things continue to be said and done, I suppose God's people ought to keep on speaking and acting as well.  Most of what I want to say is this:  This wretched man does not represent me, my God, or my church.  I'm a minister in a Christian church and am personally acquainted with hundreds of Christians who posses widely varying opinions about homosexuality; some believe it is an abhorrent sin and some do not, but I cannot think of one person from either group who would fail to be revolted by this man's disgusting behaviour.  You read that correctly: regardless of whether Christians view homosexuality as a sin, we reject and deplore these hateful threats and violence.

Image by Sister72

I'm sad that this isn't the first incident, or even the worst.  Last year the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs reported that more fatal hate crimes were committed against homosexuals in 2011 than in any other previous year.  People have been doing awful things.  An infuriating number claim that they do them for God, not just any God, for Jesus, you know, the God who laid his life down for his enemies.  The contradiction here is baffling.  These haters are not representing Jesus Christ, they are representing themselves and their own fear, insecurity, and depravity.  Jesus knows what it's like to be screamed down by a hateful mob, and he didn't seem fond of the experience (Luke 22:42). 

Jesus was someone who actually stood between a lynch mob and an notorious sinner (John 8:2-11), which is precisely the role Christians need to take up.  So called “Christian” bigots have been getting a lot of press, and we could  complain and call it “liberal bias in the media” or we could agree that such awful behaviour should be  denounced from as many venues as possible until it ceases.  We don't have to be embarrassed, these people don't represent us, but since they are acting so boldly we really must step up to act on Christ's behalf in our churches and communities.  We can't tolerate senseless hatred and pretend to serve the God of love.  If a Christian friend of yours abuses someone verbally because of their sexual orientation, call them out on it (Proverbs 27:17); that's not acceptable (Colossians 3:8).  If they won't correct their behaviour, and they insist on calling themselves Christian, part ways (1 Corinthians 5:11), you don't need that noise in your life.  Jesus was pretty clear about whether or not to remain on speaking terms with those who claim to follow God but who refuse correction (Matthew 18:15-17). 

Challenge:

Pray that God would change the hearts our enemies, silence false preachers, and embolden us speak the Gospel.

RE: Brave and Matthew 18:15-35

Brave exceeded my expectations. I've seen warrior princesses, and I've seen fiery redheads defy their parents wishes, but I honestly believe Brave depicted something new, and even something counter cultural. Brave told a story of forgiveness and reconciliation. It championed community over individuality.

I'm not going to ruin it for you, but I want to say that the ideals of the film were utterly other than those ordinarily pushed in such movies. We're used to stories of independence, where strong willed heroes dodge the consequences of their actions and claim glory for themselves and their ragtag group of friends. Brave is not that story. Brave is better.

I think that the film will struggle with popularity, not because it features strong female characters, but because its message is decidedly not self-centred. There are parallels between Ariel and Merida, and between Mulan and Merida, but Brave's princess is entirely more realistic. She is whiny and rude, and her adolescent defiance hurts her family. Disney traditionally has challenged us to strike out on our own in spite of what anyone tells us. Brave challenges families to listen to one another, to forgive one another, and to believe in one another. This challenge is as much harder as it is better.

I advise you to go see it. Brave is funny and smart, and it was beautiful to see on the big screen. I'm certain I'd only enjoy it more if I had children, but you don't need kids to appreciate it. I saw it with my wife and two single friends, and it sparked great discussions, especially about our mothers.

Challenge:

If you do take your kids to see it, consider reading Matthew 18:15-35 before or after. Talk with them about forgiveness. Remind them how much you love them and will forgive them no matter what, and how Jesus loves them with even greater all-forgiving love.

Dunnottar Castle photo by: macieklew

God speed and happy watching.


P.S.   JW Wartick of Always Have A Reason has written this lovely, and more academic reflection on the film:  Pixar's "Brave" A Christian Perspective

RE: Psalm 41 A Terminal Illness

What is sin like? Christianity has an abundance of symbolic words for sin: a wayward path, a stain, darkness. Most seem to explain why only Christ can remove our sin, and I think Psalm 41:3&4 can make a vital contribution to our medley of metaphor. The Psalmist called to God for merciful healing, because of his sin. His sin was referred to as an illness which needed healing.

Now some may argue that God punishes sin with disease, but personally I think it's foolhardy to blame an illness or calamity on God unless God has explicitly taken credit for the injury. Certain Christian figureheads like to talk about why God sends disease and disaster, and it embarrasses me every time. In scripture God did strike some people with punishing sickness, but others just got sick. Some were healed, and some were not. The only time we can tell which afflictions were punishments from God and which were not is when the Bible clearly delineates. Since the Bible does not say that God punishes such-and-such a sin with such-and-such an illness I'd just as soon take the Bible as is and not add anything to it. In any case the only illness of eternal importance is the illness of sin, and that is not a punishment; sin is self-inflicted.

Photo By: Beverly & Pack

Sin is our fault, and we are fully responsible for our own; at least, we were. Jesus, as you remember, did an awful lot of healing. He still heals, and most importantly he still heals that worst illness: sin. This is why the Psalmist called for mercy. We can call for mercy as well, with perfect confidence that Jesus Christ is the great physician who comes not to the healthy but to the sick. (Mark 2:17)

RE: Psalm 34 And The Fear Of The Lord

 

I was parallelized by fear. I had been praying in a field, weeping profuse apologies to a God I thought was too just to listen to my prayers. Then in an instant I felt the mighty presence of the Lord, and he told me to be quiet. I actually stopped thinking thoughts because I was afraid that thinking would violate God's order to be quiet. In the silence that followed, I began to listen.

After about an hour of silent fear, someone else spoke to me. They mentioned a story I'd heard before about unconditional love, and in a single moment my fear evaporated. I comprehended something greater than my inadequacy: the vast and immeasurable love of the God that died to forgive me. Fear left me. My life has never been the same.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” - Proverbs 1:7

Since I first met the Lord I've been surprised to hear Christians speak affectionately of the fear of the Lord. While fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, it is just that, a beginning. Fear of the Lord made me crave reconciliation with God, and I was not disappointed. God reconciled himself to me in Christ Jesus. Since that day fear has held no place in my relationship with God. I have had bouts of fear to be sure, but no more than I have had bouts of sin or doubt. The fact is that I am now God's son, and if he redeemed me when I was corrupt, he will do more now that I am redeemed (Romans 5:8-9).

Photo By Babasteve

The fear of the Lord was the beginning of my journey with him, but as I've gotten to know God my fear has sharply receded. Fear is, after all a lousy basis for any relationship. When a leader is feared we call them a tyrant; fear of a spouse is a sign of abuse, and so too is fear of a parent. God is not a tyrant and God is not abuse; God is love (1 John 4:8). John says perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

Do you fear the Lord? If you do, then I have some great news. You don't have to be afraid any more. You must have faith in order to fear the Lord. Take that faith a step further and lay your fear down. Once God's people had reason to fear him, and were commanded to fear him (Psalm 34:8-9) But I do not believe that fear must be part of our redeemed relationship with God. Jesus called his disciples friends (John 15:15). I'm not afraid of my friends, and I'm not afraid of my God. God loves me, and there's no fear in love.

RE: Psalm 31

While at Concordia I had classmates who sometimes felt like they weren't real Christians simply because their faith story was not dramatic. Most of them were baptized as infants, but had heard the exciting testimonies of born again ex-Islamic extremists, recovering alcoholics, and ex-gangsters. They heard the stories of how God had intervened in powerful ways in the lives of extraordinary individuals, and they felt a little jealous because God had only intervened in simple ways in their own short lives. Feeling jealous of the hardships of others is not rational; this is a childish perspective to take on, but I confess that I feel this way myself.

Photo By: Jamesdale10

Psalm 31 evokes this kind of jealousy in me. I am a white, college educated, citizen of the United States of America. If I have suffered at all I have suffered little. I do not know what it is like to see the Lord's love while in a city under siege (31:21), I have never been literally delivered from a pursuing enemy (31:16), I have not known terror on every side (31:13).

When I take a mature look at the psalm I know that it is a blessing to have not experienced the suffering or affliction that the psalmist experienced. I may yet experience it or I may never experience it. That is not important. Our condition, station, and even our experiences are of peripheral importance when we properly focus on the cross. Jesus came so that at the end of days all people might enter a life free of distress, anxiety, or fear. If we suffer we can look to this psalm and know that God is with those who suffer, but even if we don't suffer we can look at this psalm and delight to remember that one man suffered once for all (1 Peter 3:18). Like him we can freely and gladly entrust our lives, our destiny, and our spirits (31:5) to the God that loves us all.

RE: Psalm 29

 

There’s a reason that we are drawn to epic scenery, stories, and characters: our God is epic.  The voice of the Lord shakes the desert (29:8) and twists oaks (29:9), and why shouldn’t it?  It is the same voice that spoke the swirling galaxies into existence.  It blows my mind that the same world-forming, oak-twisting voice also speaks the tender and warm words of Jesus.  Jesus’ gentle words are no less powerful than any that ever shook the earth.  Jesus’ words have done more than shake, they’ve transformed how much of the world thinks and lives.  I encourage you to reflect on the following excerpt from the sermon on the mount and ask yourself how the voice of Jesus would transform you today.

Matthew 5:3-10

Photo Credit: Zach Dischner

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
   for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
   for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
   for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
   for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Easter Sunday

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” -John 20:19-21

Dear Friends,

Today is Easter; Jesus is risen and the dramas of lent are over. I'm not perfectly sure why you're reading this because today is not the day for solemn reflection; today is a day for parties! Find a party and get started immediately; make it a party befitting the royalty God has made you. Celebrate like a convict who's been released early; rejoice like a soldier who's long final battle has been won. Today is a day to grin like an idiot and hug people because your many sins are completely and finally forgiven; they are taken away and will never be revisited by your saving lover, Jesus Christ.

Challenge: You're still reading? Get out of here and get to a party! This day has been given to us to remember God's magnificent victory over the sin, death, and the devil; so stop reading and go dance, laugh, and eat with your many brothers and sisters. Rejoice! Death is swallowed up in victory!

Holy Saturday & Waiting

 Beth brings you today's post:

Molly Mahoney: Now we wait.  
Mr. Edward Magorium: No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime. 
~From Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

I always feel kind of bad for this Saturday. It doesn’t get a special name, doesn’t get a church service. If you practice the Catholic faith you may find yourself at an Easter Vigil on Saturday night, but that’s about as big a deal as today gets, and even that is really just waiting around for tomorrow. Tomorrow there will be trumpets and lilies, perhaps Easter baskets and family dinners. Tomorrow, even if the clouds are grey, will be bright and light and full of rejoicing. But today...What is today?
Today, we wait. We have gotten through the fasting of Lent, reflected on all of what Jesus suffered for us, and now we wait to hear the Good News: that He has risen for us, for our new life. But today we hear nothing. The disciples heard nothing that day. They locked themselves in a room waiting in fear (Luke 24).
God has not designed us for fear. He has designed us for life! Even 37 seconds can be a lifetime of rejoicing, of discovering, of knowing the Truth that you can rejoice in daily, even if it is still Lent. How much more can 24 hours be? Today is not a day to just wait. It is a day to Live.

Challenge: Do something new and beautiful today. Perhaps watch Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium for inspiration. Let God change how you wait.

Good Friday Lectio Divina

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.” - Isaiah 53:4

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” - Isaiah 53:5

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:6

Challenge:

Make sure you have at least ten minutes.

Find a quiet place alone.

Pick one of the verses above.

Follow these steps for Lectio Divina:

Read: Read the verse aloud between ten and twenty times. Pay attention to what stands out to you.

Reflect: Think about the verse. Turn it over in your mind; look at in from different perspectives. What is God saying, to you, today, in this verse?

Pray: Pray your thoughts out to God. Whether it's thanking, apologising, asking, or praising, give all your thoughts over to God.

Rest: Wait here. You are in God's presence. If you asked him for something then now is a time to prepare to receive it. If you apologised, now is a good time to accept his forgiveness. Be still and know the Lord is God.

Maundy Thursday Heartbreak

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” -Matthew 26:26-30

This dinner breaks my heart. Jesus knows. Jesus knows that Peter will deny him, Judas will betray him, the rest will abandon him, and he will be left to face torture and death completely alone. Jesus knows all that and he still has one last dinner with his friends who he knew would desert him. Jesus knows all that and still washes their feet, still encourages them, and still hands them the Cup.  Jesus was not surprised by his disciples’ failings. He came into the world because of their failings, to redeem them and to redeem us.

Challenge: Jesus wants you to know that he loves you no matter what. Go through your day today remembering that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, nothing can ever separate you from his love (Rom 8:38-39).

Holy Wednesday: Looking Out For Number One

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.” –Matthew 26:14-16

Who do you depend on to care for you? If your answer is, “myself” then you have something in common with Judas. Like many of us, Judas looked for ways to gain an edge and to turn a profit. He was determined to take care of himself. By betraying Jesus, Judas was simply taking advantage of a money making opportunity. He was so focused on profits that he lost the only real treasure he ever had.

Challenge: Ask yourself how you measure success. Is it in profits, grades, wins, commitment, or intelligence? At times we’ve valued these earthly treasures above the eternal treasures of love, mercy, and hope. We too have betrayed the savior of the world. Mercifully it is precisely this betrayal that he died to forgive.

RE: Holy Thursday By: William Blake

In commemoration of Holy Week, William Blake has prepared a pair of poems for us. The first one is called Holy Thursday, and gives a nice, cute little depiction of some orphans singing about Jesus.

Holy Thursday (Song's Of Innocence) By William Blake

‘Twas on a Holy Thursday, their innocent faces clean,

The children walking two and two, in red and blue and green,

Grey headed beadles walk’d before, with wands as white as snow,
Till into the high dome of Paul's they like Thames’ waters flow.


Oh what a multitude they seem’d, these flowers of London town!
Seated in companies they sit with radiance all their own.

The hum of multitudes was there, but multitudes of lambs,
Thousands of little boys and girls raising their innocent hands.



Now like a mighty wind they raise to heaven the voice of song,

Or like harmonious thunderings the seats of Heaven among.

Beneath them sit the aged men, wise guardians of the poor;
Then cherish pity, lest you drive an angel from your door.

The second is also called Holy Thursday, and it calls shenanigans on the first poem.

Holy Thursday (Song's Of Experience) By William Blake

Is this a holy thing to see
In a rich and fruitful land,
Babes reduced to misery,
Fed with cold and usurous hand?

Is that trembling cry a song?
Can it be a song of joy?
And so many children poor?
It is a land of poverty!

And their sun does never shine,
And their fields are bleak and bare,
And their ways are filled with thorns:
It is eternal winter there.

For where'er the sun does shine,
And where'er the rain does fall,
Babes should never hunger there,
Nor poverty the mind appall.

William Blake wrote in London in the 1700s, a time when the poorest peoples, the widows and orphans, were not treated especially well. It is to a society of inequality that Blake wrote these Holy Thursday poems. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is the day Jesus ate the last supper with his disciples. Before the meal he washed their feet, a servant's task meant to set an example of service for all Christians. Since then Christians have traditionally used the day to perform humble acts of service for the poor and needy. Over time, acts of true service were warped and replaced with more symbolic acts. One such act was to bring the orphans of London's Foundling Hospital to sing at St. Paul's Cathedral. Allowing the orphans to sing for the parishioners was considered as a treat for such poor children. Blake didn't think, “allowing the poor to sing to you” was quite on par with Christ's example of humble service.

I don't think Blake's 1700s criticisms are irrelevant. I think we have just as much temptation today to engage in symbolic acts of service and neglect real ones. We “like” causes on Facebook, we attend Christian rallies, and Christian concerts, and post Christian articles. There's no inherent problem with any of these activities, just like there's nothing wrong with orphans singing in a cathedral. My challenge to you today is to find a way to serve your neighbor in a tangible way. After all if one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?(James 2:6)

Song's of Innocence and Song's of Experience are for sale on Amazon, and free at Project Gutenberg.

Jesus Predicts Peter's Betrayal

“Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.”

-John 13:36-38

I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it is to have your best friend look you in the eyes and say, with absolute certainty, that you will betray him. I'm sure it wasn't a fun conversation for Jesus either, but if you're going to follow Jesus you're going to learn quickly that you're not who you thought you were.

Challenge: What do you pride yourself on? Whether you think of yourself as smart, patient, or strong scripture says that our goodness, our righteousness, is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Confess your pride to God today, and be refreshed by his forgiveness. He is not surprised when we mess up, and he is not slow to forgive.

Jesus Clean's House

“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

-Matthew 21:12-13

Angry Jesus is angry. Throughout the gospels Jesus was patient with adulterers, tax collectors, and roman soldiers. While he occasionally got short with judgmental religious leaders we see a new side of Jesus in the temple. He is outraged. Jesus does not indulge folks who place barriers between God and man. Jesus came to remove every barrier between God and man.

Challenge: I don't have a challenge for you today. Enjoy your day as one redeemed, knowing that God loves you, watches over you, and will never let anything come between you and him.

The Stones Will Cry Out

“When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

-Luke 19:37-40

“God will be glorified” seems to be an immutable law of the universe. Whether because of, or in spite of the efforts of man, God's greatness will be made proclaimed in all creation. That is part of why it is incredible and honoring that God bothers with humans at all. He doesn't need anything from us. He doesn't need our good works, our praise, or our generosity, but he asks for these things in order to include us.

Challenge: Keep your eyes open today. Look for the glory of God is scripture, creation, and in others. Praise God for what you've seen at the end of the day.

Don't Go Alone

Beth again, woo!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

It is amazing what we seem to to accomplish without God. We can run through school, burn through relationships, file through different identities and build empires without considering Him.
God works through everything, invited or not. If you’re not sure about it, check out God’s idea of the king of Assyria during Isaiah’s time [round abouts Isaiah 10:5].We can still try work against him though. When we try to run His kingdom, we see ugly times. Times when people use Jesus as an excuse to massacre those of a different nationality or skin color, when the poor are exploited in the name of religion, when we try to keep people out because of our judgment. This is because when we try to do God’s Kingdom without Him, we get in the way. We can’t do anything. The parts of us God wants to mend start to rule, and selfishness, grudges and unforgiveness block out that complete mercy, compassion and selflessness of our amazing God.
Jesus wants us to remain in Him. We can’t earn a place with Him, so he gives us one. Likewise, we can’t make His kingdom come without Him, so He brings it through us when we step aside and let Him work. That’s why he tells us to remain in Him, like a branch on a vine. We have our own shape & direction, all from Him. Apart from it, we can do nothing. And He is always willing to forgive us for the times when we get going without Him, and lets us start again.

Challenge: Pray about what kind of branch God is growing you into.

Seeking You

Beth again today!
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

Jesus did some pretty weird seeking. He found people with houses and jobs and lots of personal security, and told them they were lost. Something was missing, and it was them. He found people that nobody wanted, nobody could take, and he said they had a home, and Living Water from Him that would never run dry.
When the “good people” of the world came to Jesus and try to prove that they’re ok, that they didn’t need saving, Jesus told them to have it their way, he’s here to find lost people. (Luke 5:31) He knows they’re lost too, but they can’t be found if they refuse to be found.
Today, Jesus is still seeking. Whether He’s been with you all your life, or you’re barely starting to know Him, He’s seeking you. He wants to know your heart, to heal your hurts, to help you grow.

Challenge:
What is Jesus seeking in you? Can you let yourself be found by Him today? Give him the things that you’re afraid of and want to hide away. Let him find YOU.

Jesus Prays For You

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” -John 17:20-24

So I hear Jesus is pretty close to his father, so close that even though they are two, they're actually one. Their unity is so complete and mysterious that theologians have struggled to express their perfectly united relationship for over two millennia. And unless I read that verse wrong, Jesus just asked his father to unite Christians with each other, and with himself, on the same level that he's united to God the Father. That was pretty deep so I'm going to break it down for you:

Jesus is one with God the Father.

Jesus wants to be as close to you as he is to the father.

Challenge: God wants to be so incredibly close to you that it becomes impossible to tell where you end and he begins. Write God a love letter.