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The Round Valley United Methodist Church Daily Devotional Archives Page
March 2013 Archives
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 28th, 2013After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord-and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you." (John 13:12-15)
Earlier this Lent we heard Jesus remind us that we must take up our cross and follow him. One of the ways to take up our cross and follow Jesus is to serve other people, to "wash their feet" by doing what needs to be done, even if the task is not pleasant. Take out the garbage. Scrub the bathroom floor. Care for someone who is sick. Such things are ways to do what Jesus did-and does-even for the weakest and the neediest among us.
O Lord, Teach us to serve through your love. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 27th, 2013Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "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? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times." (John 13:36-38)
Peter's heart was in the right place: he loved Jesus and wanted to stay with him. But when his own life was at risk, Peter was scared. He turned away from Jesus in order to save himself. Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, so he warned him. Even when Peter failed, Jesus never stopped loving him, and that love would one day make Peter a new man. Let us never be afraid to love Jesus, even if we sometimes fail to live up to that love.
Lord, strengthen my faith in you for all times and all places. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 26th, 2013Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” (Matthew 26:36-39)
The last Sunday was Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week, a solemn time when we remember how Jesus suffered, died and was buried for our sakes. As Jesus invites us to “stay awake and pray” with him, we might consider reading and praying with a portion of the Passion reading from the Gospel of Matthew 26:17-27:60 each night at dinner time or before bed. Whatever we do, these are special days when we remember that Jesus accepted death out of love for us, and our heavenly God would glorify him on Easter morning.
Lord Jesus, may we draw near to you this week, mindful especially of your passion and death for our sakes. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 22nd, 2013Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)
What makes a person holy? Why are we so fascinated by those who have led lives of selfless service to Christ and the poor? It’s not a matter of what they accomplished, even if they were able to do some wonderful things like building hospitals or teaching people about Jesus in remote corners of the world. But if they had boasted of their achievements as the Pharisee in the Gospel story did, they would have been off track.
Christians know that the real source of holiness and joy is God’s love and mercy. God makes us all saints through our belief in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Lord Jesus, may we never fear to say, “Lord, be merciful to me.” Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 20th, 2013The policeman pulls me over for making a right turn without a full stop. I'm guilty, but will he give me a free pass this time? The Apostle Paul, the lawyer, used the Biblical concept “justification” to express how final, complete, is God declaring us “not guilty” for Christ’s sake. It is as if the policeman only warns me, and I drive away free. The incident is over.
Or a better example would be that a judge knows I’m guilty of the illegal turn. The law must be upheld, but the judge in his mercy pays the fine for me. I m guilty, but the judge pays the fine so that I'm “justified,” free to go. That’s what God does in Christ, except it’s not a traffic fine but a death sentence, and what is free for me, costs God his son.
“Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:23-24) Since we approach Holy Week, it is this awesome transaction that we witness and worship. God in his mercy justifies us and declares us not guilty as Jesus sacrifices himself for us.
Help me trust your righteousness that I don’t deserve and could never earn for myself. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 19th, 2013Peter said to Jesus, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” (Matthew 26:33)
Was it the wine that gave the disciples their false confidence? Perhaps! “Don’t worry, Lord, I will stand with you, and die with you, too, if necessary.” Peter swore with great bravado. “And we will, too,” the other disciples chimed in.
It was a promise made in the relative safety of the upper room. No doubt, Peter and the others had the best of intentions, but it is one thing to make a promise and quite another to carry it out.
The Christian faith is about promises. God promises to be our God. God promises to make us his own people in Baptism. God promises to give us eternal life. We promise to serve God with the commitment of our lives. We know God keeps his promises.
How good are we at keeping ours?
Loving God of promise, give me such faith that I might keep all my promises to you. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 14th, 2013Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
“We’re number one,” fans like to chant when their favorite team is on a winning streak. The mother of two of Jesus’ disciples came to Jesus asking that they be ranked number one in his kingdom.
Once again, as he often did on many other occasions, Jesus turns conventional wisdom on its ear. The people under Jesus’ kingly rule who are in first place will not be those who have accomplished great things or have taken charge and exercised strong leadership or have an inside track through political intrigue for position.
On the contrary, the number one spot under Jesus' kingly rule is reserved for those who take on the role of servant to others. Servanthood is the primary mark of those whom Jesus installs in first place. The place of honor belongs to those who are the least interested in obtaining it.
We have a strong model of what it means to be a servant in the Promised One, who “came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” This Lent, look for ways to serve others, for it is in being a servant to others that we really serve Jesus Christ our Lord.
O Lord, let me walk with you on the lowly path of true service. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 12th, 2013“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
At a wedding the pastor says, “… and the two shall become one. So they are no longer two but one.” Over the years, though still individuals, they have been woven together into each other's life. In football training camp the players practice until they don’t have to think about the plays: they just do them. The plays become part of them.
As we live on the spot where our life with God and our life with the world cross, the line of separation blurs. So the Apostle Paul wrote, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the love of God who loved me
and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20)
When dealing with God, we’re dealing with mystery, not like a mystery book with a solution at the end, but life’s mystery where the deeper we look, the more there is to wonder at. As you practice your Christian life, who's doing it? Is it you or Christ who has become part of you? Or both!
Breathe on me, O Breath of God, until with you I will do what you would do! Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 11th, 2013Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. (Lk 9:23)
When Jesus commands us to “take up our cross,” are we on the look-out for a once-in-a-lifetime sacrifice like he made? Like a soldier throwing himself on a grenade or a fire fighter confronting a blazing fire? The word “daily” in “take up their cross daily” steers us in a different direction.
My cross today might be the struggle to remain honest and sacrifice the advantage 1 think I’d have if I cheated on the math test or the business deal. In a family argument it might be to absorb the hurt without striking back and so “redeem” a bad situation and “reconcile” folks. In this sense Luther spoke of our being “little Christs” for those around us.
Positively, a “cross” may be to risk loss or to sacrifice time to help someone. We’ve spoken of the power of love to do what needs doing in spite of our fears. Our cross may be enduring the struggles of life--persisting in the face of uncertainty, enduring pain, being courageous in the face of what awaits us this day. Jesus knows our sacrifices are seldom and world-shaking, but they are “daily.”
How do you want me to act in this moment, Lord? Help me bear any cross necessary to do your will. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 7th, 2013We have grasped the completeness of God 's free gift to us when we ask, "Then does it matter what I do?" Let me make a suggestion. Write, "How do I get right with God?" on a piece of paper." Now draw a line and below it write, "What should I then do?"
When it comes to you and God, Jesus has done it for you and offers his gift for you to rely on totally. Don't let anything cross the line and take the place of what Jesus did.
Below the line remain all sorts of good and important things you should do--for the right reasons! Don't give up smoking to make God love you. God already does. Quit for your health and your family. Don't teach Sunday School to impress God. Help children learn about their Savior. Sing in the choir, keep the financial books for the Board, volunteer at a hospital or local community center for the sake of the help you can give others.
So yes, we are free from having to earn God s love for ourselves. But sense how that frees us to love others for their sake. "For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom for self-indulgence, but through love become servants of one another." (Gal 5:13)
"God loves me" is a half-truth. The other half is "God loves my neighbor as much as me." Help me live the whole truth, Lord! Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 6th, 2013One of the first experiments in chemistry class uses a strip of litmus paper to tell for certain whether a fluid is a base or an acid -- one color, a base; a different color, an acid. No doubt! For the Apostle Paul the cross is the litmus test for the Christian faith. Either you rely on what God did in Jesus Christ on the cross, or you rely on something you do (or don't do) as the basis for your right relationship with God.
This was the crucial question underlying the heated fights in the early church between the circumcised and the uncircumcised. What ultimately matters that makes us right with God -- our self-reliance or our reliance on God? We need to ask, "Can even the best of my good deeds equal the cross, so that 1 would substitute my works for Jesus' sacrifice?"
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing: it is a gift of God - not the result of work so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9) For himself Paul proclaimed. "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Gal 6:14) To humbly and gratefully accept God's gift is to be his forever.
O Lord, my hope it built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 5th, 2013If I invite my kids out to dinner, it's on me. I ask for the check. When it comes to our salvation, our Heavenly Father pays. So when we talk about the "Plan" of God, we should say, "Gracious Plan." Our redeemed life with God is a gift! God picks up the check. Nowhere in the preaching of the early church is there any sense that an angry God is being paid off by us humans.
It is God who so loves the world. It is God who gave his only begotten son. (John 3:i6) It is "God who is in Christ, reconciling the world to himself." It is God who doesn't count our trespasses against us. (2 Cor. 5:19)
In God's gracious plan it is God who does the redeeming. Jesus offers himself as the sacrifice that "pays" for the wrong that is done. "You are bought with a price." (1 Cor. 6:20) That Jesus is God's precious only son means that God is paying the bill with the one he loves the most.
Martin Luther wrote, "All he does out of pure fatherly and divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness on our part." For God so loved the world!
Standing in awe, all I can do is, Lord, thank, praise, serve, and obey you. Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 1st, 2013“Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (Matthew 4:1)
It was a "tempting" offer. The devil took Jesus—weak, hungry, barely able to stand after 40 days and 40 nights in the desert without any food—to a mountaintop and showed him all the nations of the earth. This could all be his in exchange for one slight, easily excusable indiscretion.
“Show off yourself by jumping off from the top of the Temple After all, you are the son of God, aren’t you?” “Why do you have to work so hard to earn a living? You can turn this stone into a loaf of bread without even lifting a finger.” “Just one small act of worship and I will give it all to you,” Satan said. “God knows you are doing this for him. God will understand.”
Satan was here offering Jesus a shortcut. Jesus could avoid all the suffering and rejection, all that awful dying on the cross and achieve the same goal. It made sense. It sounded good.
Attractive as the offer was. Jesus turned it down without a moment’s hesitation. The world will be won for God, but it will be won by the way of sacrifice, the way of suffering love, the way of the cross. How else would we know for certain that at the very core of God there is a heart heating with love for us?
(Prayer of the Day) Lord, save us me in the time of trial and temptation. Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
December 2012 Archives
Advent Daily Devotion - December 20th, 2012Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
It's nor hard to become weary, especially at this time of year. With a beautiful message that comes to us at just the right time of the year, Jesus reminds us true rest comes from him, not from the burdens we are carrying. Of course, some burdens must be carried: caring for a family means work. Keeping food on the table, the dishes washed and the beds made means someone, and probably more than just one person, must work hard. But those burdens are just part of our life with Christ, not everything. Jesus reminds us we don't have to go it alone. Let Jesus help you.
Augustine said it best: "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you."
Jesus, help us to turn to you when we get tired. Give us the refreshment we need to do your work in the world. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Advent Daily Devotion - December 18th, 2012What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. “Matthew 18:12-13)
The people who first heard this story knew something about the life of a shepherd. What do you suppose they thought about it? Think about it yourself: If one sheep got lost, would you risk the ninety-nine others to find it? Just in terms of dollars and cents, a shepherd might be better off tending to the many and letting the stray go. But suppose that one sheep meant all the world to you. Then you would go after it
But Jesus is really talking about God's great love for every one of us, and every one of us has been lost at one time or another. God's love for his creatures is so great that each one means the world to him. Each one is worth going after, even if that means dying on the cross to do it. To show that great love is why God became human in Jesus. That great love is what we are preparing to celebrate at Christmas.
Good Shepherd, help me to respond to your great love by leading others to you. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Advent Daily Devotion - December 16th, 2012*This letter by Bishop Schol was sent to the United Methodist churches in GNJAC in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre happened in Newtown, CT.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The recent shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School causes all of us to pause and wonder. On Friday December 14, 2012 we lost future doctors and firefighters. We lost future teachers, scout leaders, and soccer coaches. We lost children, the most vulnerable people within our society and we lost those who help to shape and guide their lives, teachers, a principal and parents. December 14 is a sad day for our Nation. There will be quick responses of judgment and attempts to fix the great challenges before us as a culture. Rather than judgment and quick solutions right now, I call all United Methodists to prayer and to recommit your life to the ways of Christ – healer, savior, prince of peace. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us all look at our own lives and ask what can we do this Christmas to heal a broken relationship, to be a peacemaker and to mend broken souls. It may be the best gift you can give this Christmas.
I also call all United Methodists to pray for the families that are grieving. They do not deserve the pain that has been inflicted upon them. They need our support, our love and ouethoir prayers.
I also know events like these bring to our mind our own deep wounds from the past. The loss of a love one, the deep pain after Superstorm Sandy, or violence we have experienced in our own life. Do not be afraid to talk about this. Share your thoughts and feelings with God through prayer and with a fellow family member or disciple of Jesus Christ. I pray with you today. I pray for the children, parents, teachers, administrators and community of Sandy Hook Elementary School. I also pray for you. I pray that in our fallen world where violence is too often a solution that we together will stand strong as the body of Christ to heal and mend broken souls.
I have printed portions of Isaiah 40 below as a word of comfort and hope during this time.
Peace of Christ be with you and your family.
John Schol, Bishop
The United Methodist Church
Greater New Jersey Conference
Advent Daily Devotion - December 15th, 2012Why do we pray, go to church and try to live as Jesus taught us? Of course, we want the joy that comes of knowing, loving and serving God in this life. And we want to spend eternity in heaven. But Jesus has something even bigger in mind: He wants us to help him bring salvation to the whole world. So Jesus said, "As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment." (Matthew 10:7-8)
Jesus didn't come just to save a few people and then go back to the father. He came to save the whole world, and he invites us to help him do it. Just as he called the first apostles, Jesus calls us to proclaim the good news of salvation and help those in need.
Jesus chose the disciples nor just to save them, but to send them out to touch other people's lives with healing and love. Maybe we can't all be healers, but we all can forgive those who have sinned against us, as Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer.
Lord Jesus, help me to be a messenger of your mercy by forgiving those who have sinned against me. Help me to stand up for those who are being mistreated. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Advent Daily Devotion - December 13th, 2012We all know the saying, "Actions speak louder than words." Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) He makes it clear that just calling ourselves Christian does not make us his disciples. He wants us to listen to him in the words of Scripture and then to act on them.
So we ask ourselves during Advent: How well do I forgive? Am I helping the poor, the stranger and the needy? Have I prayed regularly each day? These actions are examples of doing the will of the Father.
But most importantly, we believe in the one sent by the Father. Christmas is a celebration of that belief, the belief that Jesus was sent to us by God for our salvation. That is the starting point, the basis of the Christian faith.
Lord, you challenge me to hear your words and act on them. Help me to live as a true disciple. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Advent Daily Devotion - December 12th, 2012Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
Fear can take the joy out of life. Not that there isn't plenty to be afraid of in a world of accidents, disease, hurricanes. Finally, death comes to us all, and because it's something unknown, we can be afraid of it.
But Jesus often said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid." Why? Because even in the face of death itself, God's goodness will prevail. In the end, we need fear nothing when we are confident of God's loving care for us.
The reason to celebrate Advent and Christmas each year is to remind ourselves of God's loving care. God cares enough about us and the world he created to send his only Son to redeem us. Confident of that love, we can face anything.
Good Shepherd, according to your promises, lead us home to you. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Advent Daily Devotion - December 11th, 2012As we await the coming of the Lord in joyful hope, we listen to his holy word in Scripture. "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him...so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 1:4-7)
Why are we still waiting for Jesus? Didn't he come already, born of Mary in a Bethlehem stable? Well, yes, he did, and we will celebrate that wonderful event on Christmas, just as Christians have been doing for two thousand years. In this season of Advent, Scripture reminds us that we are also looking forward to the coming of the Lord at the end of time.
Advent is not just about something that happened long ago or only about what will happen sometime in the future, for Jesus is coming to us right now. Through the Bible, through our prayers as a church and as a family, Jesus comes to us as often as we open our hearts to him.
So while we count the days to December 25 and look forward to the day Christ will return in glory, let's not wait to invite him into our hearts and homes today, right now.
Lord Jesus, prepare our hearts to receive you, today and every day of our lives. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
February/March 2012 Archives
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 26th, 2012“Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
A woman who had committed a serious sin was about to be stoned to death, just as the law demanded. But her accusers asked Jesus what he thought should be done. This was another test for Jesus: would he agree to killing her or would he excuse the sin? Either Jesus would have to contradict what he had said about killing or he would have to oppose the law of Moses. But Jesus did neither. Instead, he asked the woman's accusers to look at their own behavior. Then he released the woman, and told her to sin no more.
Sometimes we are tempted to condemn other people rather than face up to our own sins. If we accept our sins and turn to Jesus, he will free us and send us on our way to sin no more. But he won't encourage us to condemn others for their sins.
Lord Jesus, forgive our sins and help us to avoid condemning others for their sins. Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 23rd, 2012But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)
In the familiar story of the Prodigal Son, the young man asks for his inheritance while his father is still living, spends it all on wild living. When the son hits bottom, he comes back home to beg forgiveness. Some people would say, “He got what he deserved!” Others would say, “How dare he come back!” But the father, like God our Father, felt only compassion for his wayward son. He must have been hoping he would return, because he ran out to greet him, though “he was still far off.” Jesus’ lesson is clear: the moment we turn back to God, we will be greeted with compassion, generosity and complete forgiveness. Fear, shame or sadness need never keep us away. Can we forgive one another in that same compassionate, generous way? We can if we ask God the Father to allow us to share his love more deeply.
Heavenly God, help us to welcome bock your wayward children and to forgive those who have taken advantage of us. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 21st, 2012“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45)
Jesus once again gives us a difficult assignment, and it is worth thinking about during Lent as we consider what it means to be his disciples. Why should we love our enemies and those who are trying to hurt us? The simple answer is that that's the way our Heavenly God acts. The Bible says that God the creator sends the good gifts of sunshine and rain on all people, no matter how they behave, no matter whether they deserve those gifts or not. If that is how God works in the world and loves all his creation, we also must follow our Lord’s footsteps. To be children of God, then, we have to be willing to extend those gifts to all people, no matter how they behave, no matter whether they deserve them or not. We have love and prayers to offer for other people. As we do this, we will discover that it is far better to be a child of God than to nurse anger and resentment against our enemies.
Lord, open our hearts to love all people with your same merciful love. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 20th, 2012Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)
Notice that Jesus does not say “maybe.” But he said God definitely will answer your prayers. But why then does something we pray for not happen? Mom is very sick, and we pray for her recovery, but she dies anyway. Son is desperately looking for a work, so we pray for his new job, but he has been out of job for over a year. Were we asking for the wrong thing? Did we pray in the wrong way? Were we lacking in faith? Jesus promises that we will receive “good things” from our Heaven Father when we pray, but he does not promise that we will get everything we want. The “good things” God has in mind for us are part of a very big picture, one that contains heaven and earth, all that has happened in the past, is happening now and will happen someday. In faith we ask, in faith we trust that God will respond with tremendous kindness, in his own time and in his own way.
Lord, may we trust in you in all things. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 19th, 2012“Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1:22-24)
A cross dangles around someone’s neck. It is lifted up high on the steeple. It dominates the altar. Christians place the cross at the heart of the most sacred place, sanctuary. If this symbol of “weakness” is such a stumbling block to people, why do we display the cross as the most important symbol for Christianity? The “weakness” of the cross, like nothing else, demonstrates the total reversal going on, that what is foolishness to the world is God’s wisdom, and what appears weak is the power of God. The world ridicules the idea of a powerless God.
But Jesus refutes that. A resurrected Jesus definitely confirms there must be a God who can turn the power-less to the power-full and the foolishness to the wisdom. So sacrifice and service are the strength, not weakness. Love wins, not evil. Life wins, not death, all perfectly demonstrated on the cross and empty tomb. Jesus said, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32) The cross draws us to rely on everything God did for us in Jesus rather than our works; with that self-surrendering faith, you and I are returned to our Creator. The Apostle Paul proclaimed, “I decided to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2) The stumbling block is the foundation stone!
Lord, may we never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 15th, 2012“Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement.” (Rom. 3:25)
The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking.” (Matthew 20:20-22)
Mothers everywhere want the best for their children, and the mother of James and John was no different. She wanted to see her sons succeed, move to the head of the line and be in positions of power. So she put her request directly to Jesus. His answer was simple. “You do not know what you are asking.” Jesus could probably say the same thing about many of our own prayers: We do not really know what we are asking because we see only a part of all that is going on. Jesus sees everything, and he knows that his Kingdom is not like what the mother of the sons of Zebedee imagines. His Kingdom involves the cross. Nevertheless, Jesus heard and honored her request in the end. John and James did succeed to become great champions for the Kingdom of God, spreading the gospel far and wide.
Lord, hear our prayers and honor them, even when we really don't know what we are asking. Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 14th, 2012“Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement.” (Rom. 3:25)
Undergirding every picture that assures us of God’s love, forgiveness and redemption is Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Sacrifice is another basic Biblical understanding of the cross. Do you ever wonder why such a terrible sacrifice was necessary? Yet, if we recall the elaborate Jewish system or sacrifices and how sacrifices to gods were part of all cultures worldwide, we’re alerted that when anyone is wronged, we feel we have to make some payment to “atone” for the mistake.
Atone is the right word: “at-one.” If we’ve hurt someone and we want to be “at-one” again, it's not enough to say, “I m sorry”; we must do something. A child “makes up” for how he hurt his mother by picking a dandelion for her. A husband buys a box of chocolate. A wife cooks his favorite meal. Sacrifice is an intrinsic part of forgiveness and love, except God did the sacrificing for us so we will be “at-one” with the Lord. Christ “has appeared once for all to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb. 9:26) Without ever understanding completely, we believe the sacrifice of Jesus “makes up” for what we can never do so that we trust we are “at-one” with God.
Lord, let us see that love that is behind all you do for us. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 13th, 2012“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:1)
We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn,
then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means turning and walking back to the
right road; and in that case the one who turns back soonest are the most progressive one. We have all seen this when doing arithmetic. When I have started a sum the wrong way, the sooner I admit this and go back and start over again, the faster I shall get on. There is nothing progressive about being pigheaded and refusing to admit a mistake. Going back is the quickest way on.
Lord, please let us know the ways I am headed in the wrong direction so that I can turn around at once. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 12th, 2012
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1)
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 9th, 2012“Jesus saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.” (Luke 21:2)
Here is a remarkable sight. Rich people were bringing their offerings to the temple treasury. The Law required a tithe, and so, even after deductions, these were sizable gifts, likely thousands of dollars each. A poor widow came along, and put in two pennies. Jesus notes this and points it out to his disciples. “Look over there,” he tells them. “See that widow? Her gift is by far the largest.” “Lord, you are kidding, aren’t you?" they respond. “No,” Jesus answers them. “Those rich people will hardly miss the money they gave, but she gave everything she had.” What Jesus is really talking about is faith. The widow gave her last two pennies because she trusted that God would provide her every need. How about us? With our IRAs and mutual fund investments, our homes and SUVs and abundant foods and comforts, just whom do we trust with our lives?
Lord God, may we trust in you alone. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 8th, 2012“My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won't find me. I tell you just as I told the people, "You cannot go where I am going." But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:33-35)
How much we love is the measure of our faith. Jesus gives us a command to love one another, but he also gives us an example as well as the grace we need to live faithful Christian lives. But he doesn't even stop there: he forgives us when we fail. Time after time, Jesus is there to show us the way and give us the help we need.
Lord Jesus, you loved us enough to suffer and die on the cross for us. Help us to remember that you will never abandon us. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 7th, 2012“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)
One of the first experiments in chemistry class uses a strip of litmus paper to tell for sure whether a fluid is a base or an acid -- one color, a base; a different color, an acid. For the Apostle Paul the cross is the litmus test tor the Christian faith. Either you rely on what God did in Jesus on the cross, or you rely on something you do (or don't do) as the basis for your right relationship with God. This was the crucial question underlying the heated debates in the early church between the circumcised and the uncircumcised.
What ultimately matters that makes us right with God - our self-reliance or our reliance on God? We need to ask, "Can even the best of my good deeds equal the cross, so that I would substitute my works for Jesus' sacrifice?" For himself Paul proclaims, "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."(Gal. 6:4) He makes sure that we are saved not by our own works but by the grace of God through the cross, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To humbly and gratefully accept Gods gift is to be forever.
Lord, our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 2nd, 2012"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
While science cannot provide answers to the most important questions in life: who we are, where we come from, what our purpose of life is, and why life is so precious. God is the key to all of them. Science tells us that the human body is no different from any other object in the universe; we are simply a collection of molecules. But the Scripture tells us that we were made in God's image and that our bodies are sacred objects meant to house God's Spirit. Just as the site of the Temple in Jerusalem is a sacred and respected place to most people in the world, so should our bodies be.
Many have taken this passage too far and used it to preach that tattoos are evil or that suicide automatically leads to eternal damnation. That was not Paul's main focus. His point was that we ought to respect one another and ourselves as temples of God, and that our aim is to be filled with the Spirit.
Lord God, Test me and purify me so that there is nothing false in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - March 1st, 2012This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. (Acts 2:23-24)
Modern TV, movies, and literature often depict life as if there is no God involved in the history and event of humanity. People are portrayed without God in the picture; we're on our own, and the result is dark and grim. This art is often an accurate reflection of a people who live as it God doesn't exist. But early Christians were convinced the death and resurrection of Jesus were not accidental. They were part of a Gods plan for humanity, which means life is not accidental but going somewhere. Peter proclaimed that Jesus Christ was crucified, dead and resurrected according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. The Bible witnesses that life is heading somewhere. We are on a journey to Judgment Day. We don't escape God even by dying. But it is not an unknown judge with whom we will deal. We will deal with Jesus. I can seldom tell when God causes something to happen or just lets it happen, knowing how things will turn out given how we are. Probably both. But be sure God is working out his Plan—with us or without us.
In the struggle for humanity, O God, let us be on your side. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - February 29th, 2012For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:16-18)
If I invite my kids out to dinner, it’s on me. I ask tor the check. Likewise, when it comes to our salvation, our Heavenly Father pays. So when we talk about the "Plan" of God, we should say, "Gracious Plan." Our redeemed life with God is a gift! God picks up the check.
Nowhere in the preaching of the early church is there any sense that an angry God is being paid off by us humans. It is God who so loves the world. It is God who gave his only begotten son. It is "God who is in Christ, reconciling the world to himself." It is God who doesn't count our trespasses against us. (2 Cor. 5:19) In God's gracious plan it is God who does the redeeming. Jesus offers himself as the sacrifice that "pays" for the wrong that is done. "You are bought with a price." (1 Cor. 6:20) That Jesus is God's precious only son means that God is paying the bill with the one he loves the most. The reformer M. Luther wrote, "All he does out of pure fatherly and divine goodness and mercy without any merit or worthiness on our part." For God so loved the world!
Standing in awe, O merciful God, all we can do is "thank, praise, serve, and obey you!" Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - February 28th, 2012For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14)
Following Jesus is a serious matter. On the one hand, we can be forgiven by God when we do something wrong, and that is very good. Because God is merciful, we get out of punishment we actually deserve. On the other hand, God expects us to act that same way. We have to forgive others when they do something wrong to us. In fact, Jesus tells us that in order to be forgiven by God, we must forgive others. God will treat us the same way we treat other people.
This strikes many of us as a hard saying because forgiving is very difficult sometimes. If we are very angry, if we have been badly hurt, if the problem has occurred over and over again, we may not feel like forgiving at all. The disciples of Jesus also found this hard, so he taught them how to pray “…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”
Loving and forgiving God, give us the desire to forgive others so that we too, might be forgiven. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - February 27th, 2012At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1:9-13)
Yes, there is that voice, the voice that speaks from above and from within and that whispers softly or declares loudly: "You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests." It certainly is not easy to hear that voice in a world filled with voices that shout: "You are no good, you are ugly; you are worthless, you are despicable, you are nobody, unless you can demonstrate the opposite."
These negative voices are so loud and so persistent that it is easy to believe them. That's the great trap. It is the trap of self-rejection. Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity and power can, indeed, be a great temptation, but their seductive power often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions.
Lord, help us to appreciate just how much you have blessed us in so many ways. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - February 24th, 2012Someone once described how we can imprison ourselves with credit card debt with the interest so structured that we'll never be free of it. Only a decree of bankruptcy can declare us debt-free. Likewise we can create our own captivity to sin. Our ability to choose is diminished with each wrong decision we make. When we give in, it is harder for us to resist next time. By these acts of surrender, we loose our freedom to choose right and become a captive of evil. Evil thoughts grow with nurture. As a result, we gradually become self-centered and begin to thinking that the bad is "the thing to do" and the good is foolish. We're trapped. Even after 20 years as a Christian, the Apostle Paul himself lamented, "I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." (Rom 7:19)
But God in his mercy sent Jesus to redeem us, and for Jesus' sake God declares us debt-free. Let us accept with humble relief the gift of God's forgiveness as we say with Paul. "Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 7:24b-25)
Loving God, help us to admit our helplessness and gratefully surrender ourselves to your grace in Jesus. Amen
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Lenten Daily Devotion - February 23rd, 2012God of love and justice, you gather your people during this holy season of Lent, and you call us to repent. As we turn back to you once again, open our hearts so that we might be transformed in your image. Remove any barriers that keep us from you so that we might live fully the life we received at baptism and carry our cross each day. By your grace, may we turn to you in our need, thank you in our abundance, and share your love with the world around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." (Psalm 51:1-2)
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
July 2011 Archives
Daily Faith Lift - July 28th, 2011"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Proverbs 1:7)
There are many fears that people have in this world. The list of documented phobias grows longer every year, with entries such as Islamophobia and Obamaphobia recently joining the list. But out of all the fears that exist in this world, only one is a valid and proper fear for believers to have, and that is the fear of God. By this, of course, it is not meant that people should be terrified of God or of Jesus. The Biblical definition of the fear of the Lord is quite different from the modern definition of fear or phobia. Jesus tells us not to fear those who persecute us (Mt. 10:28). He commands that we do not fear lack of provisions for our lives, for God will provide all that we need (Mt 10:29-30). Fearing God means understanding that our choices and actions have real spiritual consequences to them. Are you wrestling with any fears at the moment? Take time to pray against them and give them up to God. Ask God to replace your fears with faith and to give you a true fear for God alone.
Heavenly God, protect me from those who would harm or attack me. Give me grace to endure persecution for your name's sake. Take away any earthly fears in my heart, and may I fear you alone. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 27th, 2011"As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!' When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' 'Yes, Lord,' they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith let it be done to you'; and their sight was restored." (Matthew 9:27-30a)
What is interesting at the beginning of this passage is that the two blind men followed Jesus, calling out to him, but Jesus did not stop to acknowledge them until he had gone indoors. It is almost as though Jesus is ignoring them as a test of their faith, to see how long they would continue to follow and call out to him. When they declare their belief in Jesus, he heals them according to their faith. The blind men went to great lengths to show their faith, and for that they were rewarded. Faith is required for God to move in our lives. We often lose faith when we do not see miracles happening or answers to our prayers. However, we must remember that lacking faith ensures that miracles never happen, so we must break out of the cycle and believe at all times.
Lord, give us great faith that we might see your miracles and wondrous acts in our midst and in the lives of those around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 26th, 2011"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
When you go through disappointments in life, it's easy to get discouraged. Things don't seem to make sense and you think, "Why did this happen to me?" "Why did my loved one not make it?" "Why did this person treat me wrong?" "Why did I get laid off?" It seems that life is not fair. But we have to understand that even though life is not always fair, God is fair. God promises that God will work all things for our good. So don't just isolate one part of your life and say, "Well, this is not good." "It's not good that my child got sick." "It's not good that my relationship didn't work out." Yes, that's true, but that's just one part of your life. God can see the big picture. That disappointment is not the end. Your life doesn't stop because of one setback. That is simply one piece of your puzzle. There is another piece coming to connect it all because God promises to work all things for your good!
Heavenly God, thank you for working all things for our good. Help us to get rid of any doubt, any frustration, and any confusion over our past. Help us to trust in you and see the big picture as we keep our minds stayed on you. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 22nd, 2011"If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country." (Deuteronomy 28:1-3)
Living in obedience and integrity is the key that unlocks the door to God's blessing. When you put God and God's Word first place in your life, the Bible says you'll be blessed in the city and in the country. The Bible goes on to say that you will be so blessed wherever you go and that you will lend and not borrow. Do you see yourself living in that kind of abundance? See, God wants you to have more than enough to meet your needs and be a blessing to the people around you. So make room for God's blessing in your life. Live in obedience to God's Word. Choose to follow his commands. As you do, you will rise up higher and live the abundant life God has for you!
God in heaven, thank you for your hand of blessing on my life. Help me to put you first in everything I do, walk in integrity and follow your commands so that I can honor you always. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 19th, 2011"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Is there something that you've done in your past that you're not particularly happy about. Have you ever made a choice that you regret and even feel guilty? The good news is that you don't have to live with that burden any longer. You can be free of guilt and condemnation. The Scripture tells us that God's mercies are new every morning. God is not ever going to run out of compassion and forgiveness. God is not ever going to say, "Well, this is the last time I'm going to give you mercy." No, you can have a new beginning every single day! If there is anything from the past that you may still be carrying, take a moment and call on God's faithfulness and mercy. Ask for forgiveness. Let God refresh and restore your soul right now. Thank God for the work God is doing in your life and enjoy a fresh new beginning today!
Heavenly God, today I call on your mercy and grace. Help me let go of every single weight from the past. Thank you for hearing me and delivering me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 15th, 2011"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (5:17)
When Jesus preaches, he's got this understanding and authority of Scripture that no one else has. After all he is the Son of God, but the more important point is that he knows God's heart and mind. He knows the principle upon which the laws are based, and he knows God's character and why God put them in place. When we lose sight of the why and focus solely on the how, it's too easy to become legalistic in our approach to the Law. In the end, we miss the point. Jesus understands the Law, and he has come to fulfill it-because we can't. It is only through Christ's perfect obedience that the requirements of the law will be fulfilled. Only then can we find salvation; it will not be through our achievement, but rather Christ's. Where we have failed, Christ will not. Our salvation is secure. May we learn to obey through sincere understanding.
Dear God, give us minds to understand and hearts to obey. We freely confess that we are sinners and we need your Spirit to help us. We pray that each day spent with you would make us more and more like Christ. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 14th, 2011"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." (Matthew 4:19)
If Jesus himself were to call you to follow him, eating and sleeping in his presence, listening to his word and teachings, would you? Would you drop everything and follow him? Those who did became fishers of men, "catching" souls for Christ. We marvel and wonder at what this life must have been like but perhaps we romanticize too much about a past that is also our present. No, Christ is no longer physically with us, but his presence and the Holy Spirit are with us all the same. We have the entire Bible, Hebrew Bible, gospels and epistles and prophecy books, all together for our edification and education.
We have the power of prayer and a Lord that has promised to be with us until the end of all ages. So would you follow Christ if he were to call you today? Jesus calls to us in the same way he did hen he walked this earth. He's looking for good men and women, obedient in spirit and humble in heart, to take the Gospel and build his Kingdom. Will you follow?
Heavenly God, show us your power, bless your people. Move in this world as your Church grows strong. Humble our hearts, give us courage. Lead us into the life of surrender. We are yours! In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 12th, 2011"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2)
A small child or baby learns new things by watching and copying. They like to mimic every sound or action others do. To them it's not only a fun game, but also an important element of growing up and maturing. Just like little children, we are all still imitators. So many people today end up imitating what they see on TV, in the news and magazines. But the Scripture tells us that we are to be imitators of God and follow God's example of love. If you need to change your actions today, change what you are imitating. All you have to do is simply change your focus. The more you focus on the Word of God, the more you will imitate Christ. And when you do things God's way, you will get God's results--peace, joy and blessing all the days of your life!
God, I choose to set aside the things of the world and invite you to search my heart and mind. Give me your heart of love and let me be an example of your goodness. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 8th, 2011"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love." (Ephesians 3:16-17)
There is tremendous power in love. A tree will grow taller and stronger when its roots grow deep. In the same way, when you are rooted and established in love, you will be stronger and rise higher. But the question is how do we establish ourselves in love? It starts with a choice. When you say "yes" to love, you are saying "yes" to everything God is because God is love! Then, choose to operate in love according to 1 Corinthians 13. That means being patient and kind. It means not seeking your own way, not being jealous or boastful. When you choose love instead of choosing your own way, you are showing the world that God is first place in your life. You are establishing yourself in love. The more you choose to walk in love, the deeper and stronger your roots will grow. Remember, love is the greatest thing, and it is all that will last in eternity.
Heavenly God, help us to be rooted and established in your love. Show us how to love others the way you love us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 6th, 2011Summer means all kinds of wonderful things: flowers and bugs, leisure and fun, cookouts, trips to the campsite or beach, plays in the park, and best of all, vacation. It's time for us to lighten up both our clothing and work schedules. After a long year of school and work, we all need some rest and recreation. True recreation means not only to rest but also "RECREATE." We take "time off" to rest and to be "recreated." It is actually a very holy and spiritual experience.
Some of us will go overseas and some to a quiet place locally. Others may stay where they are. Wherever we might be, let's try to be renewed both physically and spiritually during this time of recreation. So we go on summer vacation with Jesus, never from Jesus. While enjoying some "fun" things, allow some time for yourself and your family to deepen your devotional life. That is to faithfully attend church either here at home or elsewhere when you are away, relish the "Word of Life" in Holy Scripture or plunge into private prayer. And don't forget to include useful and spiritual books in your reading lists during this summer.
The upcoming summer months can be such a time for rest and recreation. In our restful quiet, the Holy Spirit will work in and around us. Wherever you go, please take this Spirit of Jesus with you.
God bless you even in your "RECREATION"! Have a great summer!!!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 5th, 2011"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." (James 4:7 & 10)
How do we end the war within our heart? The peace plan in Scripture requires radical action, the spiritual equivalent of heart surgery: "submit yourselves to God- humble yourselves before the Lord." Our response to the sinful nature is not to focus on the evil itself but to direct our attention to God, who brings gracious transformation. Then we discover ways to submit and be humble; we reorient ourselves to God; we acknowledge our sin and seek the purification from God; we demonstrate our understanding of the gravity of sin by mourning its deadly effects. Then, we rest in the confidence that "He will lift us up" and we will have peace. Have you displayed a humble submission to God lately?
O Lord, I return to you and humbly ask that you would deal with me according to your great compassion. If I have spoken an unkind word or acted spitefully, convict me and grant me the humble heart to reconcile that relationship. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - July 1st, 2011Luke 1:1-17
Sometimes, before you start something new or undertake a new project or system, much preparation is needed to make things ready. You do not just plant seeds into the ground and expect a farm to materialize. You would need to remove stones, till the earth, and set up fences to ward off stray animals and intruders before you could even start the planting process. Young "nations" are having the groundwork of democracy laid down. Only when the people understand what democracy is can a new system of government be established.
God knew this principle and made the necessary arrangements before sending His Son to earth as the Savior of the world. At the time of Jesus' birth, the people of Israel had been without a major or minor prophet for centuries. While there were a few faithful and righteous individuals in Israel, like Zechariah and Elizabeth in today's passage, for the most part God's people had lost their way and had forgotten about their role in redeeming humanity. While they became more spiritually sophisticated on the outside with the development of laws and orders like the Pharisees and Sadducees, they were also too spiritually numb to receive the Messiah. Something had to be done to reawaken them and till the earth of their hearts. For that purpose did God send John into the world.
Just as John prepared the way for Jesus' first coming, so are we supposed to prepare the way for Christ's second coming. Take some time to meditate on this passage and focus particularly on v. 16-17. As it says in those verses; it is our job to bring back many people to God, turn the hearts of fathers toward their children and turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous.
God in heaven, we put our hope in the day when Christ will come again. Help us prepare the way for the second coming of the Lord. Give us your power and Spirit, just as you gave to Elijah and John. Help us to stay blameless and pure that we would be worthy of being used in your service. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
March/April 2011 Archives
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 40 - Saturday April 23rd, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 16:9-20
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (16:15-16)
(Reflection)
This is Mark's version of the Great Commission. After the revelation of his resurrection, Jesus leaves his disciples with these final words: to go and preach the Good News to all people and to baptize whoever believes. He also promises that in his name, they will be able to perform miraculous deeds, casting out demons, and healing the sick. It is with this promise that he commissions his disciples---and it is this same promise that follows us even to this day. As we live on this earth, we must hold on to this promise as we go out to obey the last request of our Lord. The wonderful thing about the Great Commission is that there is not only the promise of his Spirit and his name going with us, but also the promise that we will be with him at the end. Amen.
- We learn to function in this world according to the way the world works. However, let us never put God into that realm! God is not limited by this world and by the way we understand things.
- God's people have the awesome privilege of expanding His Kingdom; however, we don't have to bear the burden of success. God promises to take care of that. So, people of God, let us go and preach the Good News! Let us expect great signs and wonders! There are souls to be won for God's kingdom!
(A Prayer for Today)
God in heaven, thank you for entrusting us with this awesome task. Empower us, encourage us, form us so that we might be effective preachers of the Good News! We long to see your will done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 39 - Friday April 22nd, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 15:16-32
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved other." They said, "but he can't save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (15:31-32)
(Reflection)
Perhaps one of the most ironic statements in human history is, "He saved others but he can't save himself!" Of course, Jesus can save himself. A lifeguard must know how to swim in order to save others from drowning. A fireman must know how to survive in burning buildings to save others. So why do lifeguards drown and firemen die? Because they sacrifice their lives for the sake of others. As Christ hung on the cross, he was the only one who had could save humankind. Just like the lifeguard who refuses to go in the water or the fireman who simply watches a building burn, had Christ "saved himself," no one would have been rescued. When you're drowning, you want the lifeguard to jump in the water. When the building is burning, you welcome the heavy footsteps of the fireman. When you are perishing from sin, you accept the death of Christ because you believe.
- This world defines power in the obvious ways -- money, reputation, looks. Christ possessed none of these qualities and yet he was power-filled -- filled with holiness, filled with the Spirit. In this world, we might be "powerless fools" but if that's the temporary trade we make for true spiritual power and eternal glory -- who's the real fool?
- Christ is our salvation. Everything He did and didn't do was for humankind.
(A Prayer for Today)
Jesus, Savior and Messiah, we thank you for the cross. We pray that it might never become mundane. We pray that it would always remind us of the work that you did and the works that you continue to do in our lives. We acknowledge that you are Lord of our lives and yes, Lord, we believe! In your name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 38 - Thursday April 21st, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 14:22-267
"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took the cub, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. (14:22-24)
(Reflection)
Mark's placement of the Last Supper story within his gospel is instructive, as is the unique way he recounts this event. The momentous meal is placed between two noteworthy failures--that of Judas Iscariot (vs. 17-21), followed by the rest of the disciples (vs. 27-31). And of the four evangelists, Mark alone notes that when Jesus passed the cup to his disciples, they all drank from it (v. 23). Not too long afterwards, he predicts that they will all fall away (v. 27), and even though they all swear not to disown him (v. 31), they all soon desert him and flee (v. 50). It is a comforting reminder that the Lord's Supper and all it represents are not for the worthy but rather the unworthy--for failures, traitors, and sinners. It is a table not of merit but of grace.
- As we reflect on who Jesus is and what he has done for us beautifully portrayed in the Lord's Table, let us commit ourselves once more to living in a manner worthy of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27).
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, grant me a deeper hunger for your Word that I might better know and more faithfully obey your will. And remind me evermore of your forgiveness through your son's broken body and shed blood that my obedience might be fueled by grace, not by works. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 37 - Wednesday April 20th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 12:28-34
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God. The Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (12:29-31)
(Reflection)
Here was a sincere man. He was a Jewish teacher of the law and had heard Jesus' answer to those who were trying to trap him. He noted that Jesus' answer was good. He came with a genuine question as to which was the most important commandment. The answer given by Jesus was clear and simple: to love God with our entire being. In addition, Jesus added the second most important commandment: to love our neighbor as we should love ourselves. There were many laws in the Old Testament that helped the Jewish people to obey these two commands with simplicity. Today, with the secularization of the churches and an often distorted Gospel, these two important commandments are often neglected. We should note and apply this teaching to our lives, families and churches simply because they are the most important things in life that we can do.
- We need to very much focus on these words of Jesus Christ. Loving God and our neighbor is not an option.
- Receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior is one of the most important decisions that we can ever make. He was punished for our sins and has power to give us complete forgiveness and acceptance so that we can be right with God.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear God, your Word for us today can bring new life and real freedom to us. Help us to believe your Word and to apply it to our lives. Help us to be those people who sincerely love you with our entire being and please help us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 36 - Tuesday April 19th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 11:15-19
And as he taught them, he said. "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it a den of robbers." (11:17)
(Reflection)
Few things made Jesus angry. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the arrogance of the religious leaders of his day were some of them. However, only one thing made Jesus furious, and that was the desecration of the God's Temple which meant to be a house of prayer. To take something that was supposed to be the ultimate symbol and expression of God's holiness and to pervert it into something as vile as a corrupt marketplace was the greatest insult to Christ. It is important to note that this incident is placed within the account of the fig tree, which is a parable about judgment. The desecration of the holy temple is a powerful illustration of Israel's guilt before God. The merchants who defiled the temple are the robbers mentioned in verse 17 for two reasons. First, they rob the people by cheating them out of their money. More importantly, they rob the temple of its dignity and God of His glory.
- In what ways do we desecrate the house of God today? Some Christians believe drinking, smoking, and getting tattoos defile the temple of our bodies, but this misses the point. We defile God's holiness when we cheat or hurt others and rob God of His glory.
(A Prayer for Today)
Our heavenly God, give me grace to be fruitful for you. Show me how I can bear good fruit by living according to your Word and your Spirit. Forgive me for defiling your holiness by treating others with contempt and failing to fear you. May I live a life of righteousness beyond reproach for your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 35 - Monday April 18th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 10:46-52
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." (10:49)
(Reflection)
It is wonderful to be called out of the crowd. Remember those playground days when the team "captains" would take turns to pick kids out of the line? The popular and athletic kids would always get picked first. It was a blatant display of the school pecking order. To be the last one picked or, worse, to not be picked at all, is devastating. Repeated letdowns have a way of affecting one's self-image. But we remember those times, however few they may be, when a gracious friend would call our name. We felt like a million bucks. Jesus knew what the man wanted without having to ask. But he also delighted in the man's eagerness. Bartimaeus knew that Jesus was the only one able to deliver him. Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of David. He wanted Jesus, no one else. Then it happened. "Cheer up! He's calling you."
- Do you try hard to appear perfect or at least look like you've got it all together? Can you put down your defenses long enough to admit that you still need God? Perhaps you need others as well. Why not admit to others and confess to God? It will improve your relationships.
- Even if no one else gives you a break, remember that God has already hand picked you out of the crowd. Take joy, and give thanks to God.
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, I am tired of pretending that I don't need anybody else's help. I confess that I really do need your help. I need you! Thank you for caring enough to call me out, making me your very own. I feel special. Thank you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 34 - Saturday April 16th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 10:23-27
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (10:25)
(Reflection)
Can a camel ever go through the eye of a needle? It is impossible. Then is it "harder" than impossible for a rich man to go to Heaven? Is it doubly impossible? For those not living in abject poverty, having money of any amount should start to feel like a burden according this teaching. We resonate with the disciples' exasperation. "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them. It must have been a very memorable glance for Luke to have recorded such a detail. Jesus simply repeats his standard teaching that salvation is impossible through any human effort, whether you are rich or poor, moral or immoral, religious or irreligious. Salvation is only possible when God's grace touches our lives. When it happens, nothing else matters as much. Ultimately, we are neither rich nor poor in a worldly sense, but we are rich in Christ.
- Money, both having it and wanting it, can be a great distraction in life. Can Jesus' command to give it away be more than a metaphor? Would you, could you, part ways with money?
- The next step isn't just standing around with a lighter pocket, but following Jesus in ways that are challenging and stretching.
(A Prayer for Today)
God, thank you for freeing me to just follow you unhindered. I wanted to have a comfortable life, but ended up piling "stuff" on top of me. Thank you for daring me to be free. Continue to renew my courage in the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 33 - Friday April 15th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 10:17-22
Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (10:21)
(Reflection)
God is love. But God does not back down from confronting us with his love. Jesus calls the rich man's bluff and commands him to let go of his wealth in order to follow Him. This was a tall order because one thing this man lacked was the ability to swiftly follow Christ. He couldn't move because of his impossibly heavy wallet. He was tied to his immovable idol. Wealth may provide worldly comfort, status, security and various diversions, but wealth also hides our need for God's comfort, identity as God's people, divine peace, and true joy and contentment. Following Jesus is a happy prospect for those destined for eternity, and a very sad one for those who have "too much to lose."
- What about you? Can you follow Jesus today? What if Jesus were to ask you to leave the most important thing in your life today (family, career, money, hobby, habit, etc.) to follow Him? Can you? Will you? If anything is more important than Jesus, are you a true Christian?
(A Prayer for Today)
God, I confess that I'm not always the most stable person. Help me to rest in your grace. Help me to stop trying so hard and remember that you've already accomplished the hardest thing on my behalf. I love you God, and I'll follow you anywhere! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 32 - Thursday April 14th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 10:13-16
"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. (10:15-16)
(Reflection)
Children are blessings from God, not only because they bring joy and life into families, but because they point the way to our Heavenly God. Through their simple trust, their utter dependence, they indicate our own helplessness and need to trust in God. However, we're often bombarded with complexities and challenges of adult proportions. Jesus is not unaware of this. We often confuse ourselves into thinking that our ways are higher than God's ways, but the Bible tells us that it's the exact opposite. When Jesus calls for childlike or simple faith, we are not called to dumb down religion. We are being reminded of our unconditional relationship with Jesus. Children do not deny or refuse mommy and daddy when they are troubled. Instead, they run toward them, and cling to them harder.
- Both good times as well as hard times can become excuses for drifting away from God. Conversely, they can both draw us toward God. The difference is the relationship. Do you depend on God like children?
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and salvation. You know my troubles as well as my pride that gets me into troubles. Help me, O God. Give me your love to sanctify my marriage and my family that they may testify of your truth. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 31 - Wednesday April 13th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 9:30-37
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."(9:35)
(Reflection)
Brushing aside what Jesus plainly taught, the disciples continued to talk among themselves. They had grand dreams of their adventure on earth. We can imagine them chattering: "What would become of us? Master is a bit strange at times, but he is certainly from God, and with his power, we can really make something of ourselves. But who is going to emerge as the greatest? Will it be Peter? John? Me, perhaps?" They were really building themselves up. But when they reached Capernaum, Jesus asked what they were discussing. Of course, it was too embarrassing to confess. But Jesus knew their hearts, their earthy ambitions, and taught them a new way. The lesson sounded nothing like what would help their quest on earth, but they should have known that his ways and thoughts are higher than ours.
- We go to church and read the Bible, but all the lessons seem far removed from our needs. What we really want to know is, "How can I become great here on earth?" Isn't this often true?
- An authentic Christianity is challenging. It seems lowly, like what Jesus endured on earth. Have you considered what you are sacrificing in order to serve others? In what ways do you share in Jesus' heavenward struggle?
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, I admit that the success and achievements I can have on earth are alluring. I crave others' recognition and their accolades. But I know that these also blind and distract me from enjoying your love and acceptance. Help me to pursue you by seeking your kingdom and your righteousness first. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 30 - Tuesday April 12th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 9:14-28
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." (9:25)
(Reflection)
Various types of demons and corresponding methods of exorcising them are difficult to discern, if not impossible, from this passage or from the entire Scriptures. Nor does the Bible indicate anywhere that we should set out to figure them out. What is revealed, and what Jesus deftly moves on to, is the surpassing importance of the movement of God, a redemptive overture, if you will. This passage plainly shows that people, including the disciples, are confused and unable to deal with many dilemmas in life.
While Jesus does not ignore our humanity, and does indeed intervene to help. He ultimately wants to restore us permanently from our human frailty. He wants to get to the bottom of the problem. We are fundamentally broken in sin, and we cannot ignore the biblical correlation between sin and death. We must therefore understand the primary mission of the church, that is, to share the good news of God's everlasting healing.
- Are you in any way frustrated or plagued by failures? Encountering overwhelming difficulties? Ask Jesus for help. He really does care and will come to our side.
- But also, consider the most important calling in your life. What are you doing as Christ's ambassador? How do you express or communicate redemption in Jesus to others?
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, I often have little idea of what I'm doing. Deliver me from all kinds of worldly frustrations, and help me to see your way and truth. Help me also to share your truth with others that they might be set free in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 29 - Monday April 11th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 8:27-38
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. (8:35)
(Reflection)
Only the God of Creation, the Lord of Life, can demand so much of our lives, even to the point of death. But our God is not a tyrant. God blazes the trail first. God goes where death must be put to death so that life may spring from God. In order for us to enjoy the most real and spectacular life in Christ, the life we were meant to live, we are then told to deny the allures of this imperfect life in exchange for Christ. He is the way to that Life because he is the Life! There is no getting around Christ, because salvation is in and through Christ. It is deeply personal. Therefore, to deny Christ or to be ashamed of him is to loose our Way. Does God take rejections personally? Is life only found in the Giver of life? Yes. It is by the reasonable nature of its design.
- Like Peter, we must confess the right Christ every day. We must remember who Jesus really is, according to the Scriptures. It is tempting to make up a god of our own design, but we must follow Jesus according to the purpose of God's grand redemption.
- Assess your life, and then consider the life that Christ offers. Which is more alluring? What does this say about how you identify with Christ?
(A Prayer for Today)
Loving God, thank you for keeping your promises and sending us your Son, Jesus Christ. All the beauty and goodness I enjoy on earth pales in comparison to the life I now have with you. Help me to really live according to your purpose. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 28 - Saturday April 9th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 8:1-10
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asked. "Seven," they replied. (8:5)
(Reflection)
"How many loaves do you have?" Jesus asks His disciples. This is a question Jesus asks us as well. What do you have? None of his disciples dare say anything; after all, they had just witnessed the feeding of 5,000 men just two chapters before. Often, we see what we have and get discouraged rather than taking what little we have and putting it into the hands of our Savior. Jesus had great compassion on this non-Jewish crowd of about 4,000 people who had followed him for the past three days. He was aware of their needs. Do you know that Jesus is aware of your needs as well? He not only cares for your spiritual needs, but will also provide for your other needs as well.
- When was the last time you shared your faith? Ironically, as we get older as Christians, our ears tend to get deadened and our mouths a bit more stiff. Pray that God would open your ears and loosen your lips.
- How many loaves do you have? What do you have that you can lay into the hands of Jesus? Remember times in the past where he has been faithful and provided for you. He is aware of our needs, sometimes even more than we are aware of them.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Lord. I pray specifically for my friends/family members who needs to know the truth of the Gospel. Just as the deaf man's friends brought the man to you, help me to bring them to you as well. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 27 - Friday April 8th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 6:35-44
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven. He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to his disciples to set before the people…." (6:41)
(Reflection)
Here was a logistical emergency situation for the disciples. Jesus had been teaching this big crowd many things. It became late dinner time. The disciples advised Jesus to send the crowds away to the nearby villages to get something to eat, to ask around and get food and hospitality. Jesus refused this suggestion and told the disciples to give the people food. Serve them! Here is the compassion of Jesus as a servant. The disciples were still in logistics mode: worried about the money, they figured it would cost too much to feed this crowd. Jesus asked the disciples what food was available. There were five small loaves and two fish. The crowd was to sit in an orderly way. Jesus took the bread and fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks and divided the bread and fish. At least five thousand were fed and there was enough left over for the disciples too.
- We should, as God's children, be compassionate. Compassion is something that needs to be expressed through action. As a leader or as a teacher in Church or as a child of God, are you compassionate?
- Logistics are important in the modern world system, but in Christ, logistics need to be subservient to servanthood. Let us follow the example of the Compassionate Servant-Jesus Christ.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Heavenly God, thank you for your compassionate heart expressed through the life of your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you that in your merciful love you desire compassion to be in your Church today. Please help us to have compassion as leaders, teachers and servants. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 26 - Thursday April 7th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 5:25-34
"He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'" (5:34)
(Reflection)
On the way to Jairus' house and in the midst of the crowd there was a simple and very needy woman. She had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years. She spent all her money on physicians and her condition just got worse. She thought that if she could just simply touch Jesus' cloak, she would be healed. She came up behind Jesus and simply touched his clothes. Immediately, she was healed, a miracle after all those years of suffering! Jesus knew that power and virtue had gone out from him. He turned around and asked the people who had touched him. The disciples could not understand his question. The crowd was in a hubbub. The woman admitted what had happened and Jesus spoke to her words of healing, peace and freedom.
- Sometimes our pride prevents us from receiving the blessings that the Lord wants us to receive. At our times of need, let us humbly come before him and bring our petitions to him. Surely, as God's people, we should be "real" in our relationship with the Lord.
- Sometimes we are defeated by negative thoughts. If we think negatively about our life and situation we become spiritually dry and bitter. We lose our motivation spiritually. Let us learn from this woman who made a positive and simple plan in her thinking and then did it.
(A Prayer for Today)
God of mercy, please help us to be like the woman who was sick for twelve years and respond in faith to the presence of Jesus in our life and in our Church. Help us to trust you more and give us positive thoughts that are founded in your Word. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 25 - Wednesday April 6th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 4:35-41
"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.'" (4:35)
(Reflection)
"Let us go over to the other side," Jesus tells His disciples. Jesus is always calling us to cross over to the other side. He wants us to journey beyond our comfort zones. In our spiritual journeys, we need to keep moving, continue growing, and refuse to be satisfied with the status quo. So many of us have been docked at the same pier for years and years without ever having gone "to the other side." The Sea of Galilee is surrounded by mountains and is susceptible to sudden violent storms. The storm was so bad that time that the disciples, some being professional fisherman, thought they were going to die. I am convinced that we learn more about God and ourselves during the storm than we do before or after. Storms not only build character, but also they reveal character-they show who I really am. As Christians, we are not exempt from the storms of life, even when we are, like the disciples, doing God's work.
- How do you handle the storms of life? When Jesus says, "Let us go over to the other side," how will you respond? Fight against the apathy that pervades our hearts and take that boat to wherever Jesus would lead you.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Lord, thank you for the storms of life, for they draw us closer to you. Thank you that you watch over us, even during the storms. Lead us to the "others sides" of our lives, that we would be able to see and experience new things. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 24 - Tuesday April 5th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 4:21-25
"He said to them, 'Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.'" (4:21-22)
(Reflection)
The purpose for the light is to shine, not to be hidden. Any light that is covered or hidden is useless. Why does Jesus say this at this point to his disciples? Being amongst the privileged in having heard the truth, they are not to conceal it. They now have a responsibility to pass it on. Knowing the truth has benefits, but it comes with it responsibilities. Don't hide your lamp. Let it shine. Furthermore, light is always stronger than the darkness. No matter how dark a place may be, the smallest light will unveil the darkness. Darkness can never overcome the light. No matter how dark or hopeless your situation may be, just keep shining brightly. The daylight will come even after the darkest of nights.
- We have been given a great responsibility. We are jars of clay, carrying the truth of the Gospel within us. It is the flame's nature to burn. When we are ignited with the light of Christ, it is only natural for others to feel the warmth and see the light.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Heavenly God, thank you for your amazing grace and for revealing your grace to me. Continue to speak to me through your word. Ready my heart, not to listen with our ears only, but to hear what you have to say to me with our hearts. Speak, O Lord, and I will listen. Speak, and I will follow after you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 23 - Monday April 4th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 4:1-9
"Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." (4:8)
(Reflection)
Jesus taught through parables, stories that explained spiritual truth. He always chose topics with which people could identify, in this case, farming. In that day, farmers would throw seeds by hand from a large bag slung across his shoulders as he walked across the field. Inevitably, with this "scattering" approach, many of the seeds would land amongst the rocks and thorns, or along the path. The farmer could only hope that enough would land on fertile soil and grow, even though many seeds were ultimately "wasted."
It's easy to get discouraged when we share the Gospel or serve faithfully and see little fruit. We can pray for and spend time scattering the seed of faith for years, yet see little change in the hearts of hearers. It seems our time and efforts are wasted. Yet, as stated in 1 Cor. 3, it is not our responsibility to cause change or growth. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. Our job is to continue to be faithful in planting the seed, praying that some of it will land on good soil.
- Our job in God's service is not to change people-that is the Lord's work. Our responsibility is to plant the seeds and water it. Have we been faithful in our task?
- We are called to contemplate; to make time in our busy schedules and hurried lives to be still before the holy God and to seek God's help.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear heavenly God, thank you for partnering with me in doing the work of your kingdom. Wherever I go, help me to be a seed-scatterer through my lifestyle, attitude and work-ethic. May seeds be spread; and may many of these seeds land on fertile ground so that you, Lord, may be glorified. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 22 - Saturday April 2nd, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 3:31-35
"Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."(3:35)
(Reflection)
When Jesus' family arrives, we see that Jesus' standard for the family is far different from the standards of their world and even ours. It's not about biological ties and even legal ties. Jesus' family is the Church and all those who love and serve him. It cuts across social status, cultural prejudices, gender barriers, generational gaps… it even cuts across time and space. This is Jesus' family. This is the family that we are all a part of. This is the Christian community.
- So let us truly be a family in Christ.
- Let us also love God and love our neighbor and build up and edify the Christian community that is God's Church.
(A Prayer for Today)
God in Heaven, give us sensitivity to the Spirit and discernment to know what is right and wrong, what is from you and what is not. Let us walk with the Spirit as the Lord leads and gives us hearts to love one another beyond what we alone are capable of. We love the Spirit and we ask that you pour out your anointing upon your people. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 21 - Friday April 1st, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 3:13-19
"He appointed twelve-designating them apostles-that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." (3:14)
(Reflection)
This passage is Mark's list of the Legendary Twelve-the Twelve closest friends of the Son of God. The men who ate with him, traveled with him and lodged with him. The men who prayed with him, laughed with him and cried with him. They saw the miracles, heard his teachings and conversed with God Incarnate. The strange thing is that this list of men isn't that impressive at all. No scholars, no heroes, no celebrities, no kings, no governors, no teachers. Who would have thought that these mediocre and average men would make up the core of the foundation of God's Church? I certainly wouldn't have chosen them. Would you have? Probably not. But we are not God. It is Jesus' prerogative to choose the people through whom he will work and his choice is always right.
- Let us learn to see with God's eyes. Jesus was the "unexpected" Savior that no one recognized. The disciples were the unlikely men upon which the Church was built. God sees beyond this world, beyond external appearances. If we are to be like Jesus, we must learn to do the same.
- We are the disciples of Jesus Christ. He has chosen you. So let's live this life in that confidence doing God's work and enjoying it because no one can take that away from you.
(A Prayer for Today)
Sovereign Lord and Beautiful Savior, give us eyes to see. Give us ears to hear. Help us recognize your presence in our lives. We don't want to miss a single moment. Reveal yourself to us. We want to see you. We pray all this in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 20 - Thursday March 31st, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 2:23-28
"Then he said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.'" (2:27-28)
(Reflection)
In today's passages, Jesus "breaks the rules" of Sabbath. His disciples pick grain and he heals a man' s crippled hand. Did Jesus really break the law that God set? Consider the following example. When you first start to learn how to play a sport, you have to start with the basic rules. In short, how do you play the game properly? You see, rules are not meant to hinder the game. The rules help to enjoy the game by regulating it. In the same way, the Laws of the Old Testament were meant to liberate. They were not made to restrict and "guilt" people into obedience. But the Pharisees had turned obedience to God into a religious chore and sucked the life right out of the joy of following God.
Do you really think that God would have you starve or be hungry and miserable on the day of rest when we are called to celebrate his creation? Do you really think that God would have you not heal the sick on the Sabbath when the Sabbath was made for us to enjoy? Wouldn't healing help the sick enjoy the Sabbath? Learning the rules of the game enables us to play the game. Obeying the laws of God enables us to truly worship and live. Just as we were not created for the game of basketball, we were also not created for the Sabbath. Baseball exists because we enjoy playing it. The Sabbath exists so that we might enjoy resting in it. This twisted understanding that burdened the people with Sabbath angers Jesus because they are doing the exact opposite of what God had intended. Instead of giving the people rest, they burdened them with the rules that were meant to liberate and teach us to enjoy life. Remember what you were created for.
(A Prayer for Today)
God, teach us your Word and teach us to obey. Teach us to find rest in you and you alone. Teach us how to enjoy life. We pray all this in Christ's precious name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 19 - Wednesday March 30th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 2:1-12
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'" (2:5)
(Reflection)
As Jesus travels around Galilee preaching, teaching and healing, people know that there is something different about this man. He preaches in power, teaches with authority and heals in compassion. By the time he arrives in Capernaum, people rush to gather around him and the house is so full that there isn't even standing room. Four nameless men, undeterred by the large crowd, unfazed by the uncomfortable glances, unbothered by the inconvenience, are determined to bring their paralytic friend to Jesus. If they can only get to Jesus! But there is no way in-it is that full! So they go to the roof and literally tear it up to lower their friend before Jesus. Simply put, their friend needs healing, Jesus can heal and so they bring him to Jesus. But there's more to Jesus than just a quick fix. There's more to Jesus than a healing of a temporal body. When Jesus looked at the paralytic, he didn't just see a man who couldn't walk. He saw a man who was spiritually paralyzed by his sins. Jesus knew that he needed forgiveness and love. Jesus had compassion and he forgave him.
- It is the faith of the four men that moves Jesus to act. Does your faith move God to act?
- Faith in Jesus as the Son of God cannot be separated from faith in his authority to forgive sins and his power to heal. The friends of the paralytic recognized and acknowledged Christ's authority, the teachers of the law did not, what about you?
(A Prayer for Today)
Father in Heaven, we give you authority over our lives. We give you full reign to come and be the Lord of our lives. Come so that we might be healed and forgiven. Draw us into deeper faith. We pray this in the power-filled name of Christ. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 18 - Tuesday March 29th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 1:35-39
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: 'Everyone is looking for you!'" (1:35-37)
(Reflection)
We live in a world ruled by relativism, where there are no absolute truths, no principles that can be applied to everyone, and therefore no foundation upon which we can build our lives. Yet deep within the heart of every human being is a need to know God. This need manifests itself in thousands of ways, but there is only one way to fulfill this need: through Christ. Although Simon Peter's exclamation to Christ in verse 37 seems simple enough, it actually reveals a profound truth. Everyone is looking for Christ, whether they acknowledge it or not. At the same time, Jesus is looking for everyone. He is the Good Shepherd who goes after every lost sheep. From verse 35, we can see that solitude and intimacy with God were of primary importance to Christ's mission. It strengthened him and gave him direction to find and preach to everyone he came across.
- How much importance do you place on solitude in your life? Why was it important to Christ, and why should it be important to us?
- Try to take some time to be alone with God every day.
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, sometimes it is so hard to get away from the business of life. I need your help to manage my time so that I can meet with you in solitude on a regular basis. In those times, give me direction and show me your glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 17 - Monday March 28th, 2011Today's Scripture: Mark 1:1-11
"The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you. who will prepare your way' a voice of one calling in the desert. 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" (1:1-3)
(Reflection)
Mark signals the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and introduces John the Baptist's preparations for Jesus' path. The "path" mentioned in this passage is one of victory and salvation God cleared for the people of God to reach the Promised Land, and it also symbolizes the way that all believers of Jesus Christ must follow.
The "path" further exemplifies Jesus' journey of redemption to Jerusalem as the Messiah, and is also a symbol of the road followers of Jesus are to lead. In other words, it is a path of trials and a path of obedience.
There are many paths we must follow throughout our lives. They will take us in directions we never would have thought possible. The most important thing is that as we travel these paths we have the perfect guide, Jesus Christ our Lord. Our ultimate destination is the Kingdom of Heaven. One word that recurs many times in the book of Mark is "straightway." It means "immediately." Action is the key. Do it immediately.
(A Prayer for Today)
God in Heaven, I praise you for your wisdom and guidance. I confess that I fall short many times and ask for your forgiveness. Thank You for sending Jesus to be an example of how to live my life. Help me to be obedient to the example of Jesus in all my ways. Help me to recognize the way I should live, think and what I should say each time I open my Bible. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 16 - Saturday March 26th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:13-24
"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love." (16:13-14)
(Reflection)
In his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul reeducates the Corinthian church on true spirituality. They had allowed the influence of their Gnostic culture and values to shape their faith in Christ. Rather than allowing love to be the standard through which all things are done, they chose to allow wisdom and the expression of flashy gifts to be the foundation of the church.
This is why Paul now admonishes the church to remain faithful to the true call of Christ and to remain strong as they would inevitably face a lot of opposition and peer pressure. Everyone should act in love and allow love to be his ultimate motive and goal. Apostle Paul then uses Stephanas as a model of what that service through love should look like in everyday life.
- Think about a leader within your church. If you could boil her or him down to one trait, what is it about that leadership that's so honorable? Is it not love?
- In what practical ways do you demonstrate your love to those in your church?
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord God, thank you for showing your love for us, the love with which you died for us. By receiving you as my personal Savior and Lord, I also want to inherit your capacity and desire to love others. Help me love your people as you do, even to the point of sacrifice. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 15 - Friday March 25th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." (15:2)
(Reflection)
Today we embark on the resurrection journey through this chapter. Apostle Paul is convinced of this Gospel truth. He preached it to the Corinthian Church and they believed it and stood by grace in it. Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again was and is the true Gospel according to the Scriptures. If we do not believe this, then all else that we have believed is vain. Apostle Paul was clear and confident in his writing. He said that by this Gospel we are saved. There was no doubt about the reality of the resurrection! We can trust the truth of the Gospel as found in the Scriptures.
Paul proclaimed that he was the least of the apostles. He was ashamed of his past, having been a persecutor of the churches. However he goes on to extol the grace of God. What an amazing and awesome statement! "By the grace of God I am what I am." The apostle had truly not only understood the grace of God, but also he experienced God's grace totally changing his life. He became a different man. The grace of God continually worked in Paul's life, motivating his ministry so that he joyfully worked hard. It is impossible to receive grace without being changed by it.
- We should believe the Gospel as Paul presents it and share this Gospel clearly with those people who do not know Jesus Christ. Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again, this is the Gospel message we should share.
- When we experience God's grace our life changes. We cannot help but change. This is the power of God's grace. As we continue to receive God's grace, our life changes continually. Let us always be thankful for and motivated by God's grace.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Heavenly God, thank you so much for your gift of salvation given to us, thank you that you love us so much that you gave your Son Jesus Christ to die for us. Thank you also for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the life and grace that we can receive. We give thanks to you in Jesus' name. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 14 - Thursday March 24th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:1-12
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." (14:1)
"So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church." (14:12)
(Reflection)
Once we begin to grasp the depth and truth of God's love for each of us, our Christian life takes on a truer dimension. It begins to reflect more accurately who we are and who we are called to be. We have a tendency to direct most of our time and energy to love ourselves, but the Bible makes it clear that our heart, soul, mind, and strength should be directed towards loving God and loving our neighbors. The true nature of love is to build others up-to seek the highest good of the other person. This is why Paul says that the most important gift to have for any Christian is love. Without love, all other gifts can be used improperly. Love must be the motive behind each gift. For this reason, Paul ranks prophecy above speaking in tongues because it can be used to build others up.
- Are there any spiritual gifts you wished you had? If so, can you search your heart and honestly say why you want or need those gifts?
- How do you use the gifts you already have to build up the church?
(A Prayer for Today)
Our Heavenly God, it's not easy to live the way you demonstrated through Jesus Christ. I find myself seeking gifts for my own benefit and security. As I struggle with my own issues, love is relegated to the back seat of my life. Help me learn to love as you love. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 13 - Wednesday March 23rd, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (13:4-7)
Nobody loves alone; when we love, it always involves at least one other party. Amazingly enough, the way we love according to the passage involves others around us. Love is never an one way relationship, but rather, it is always about linking oneself to another. Paul values love as the number one criteria to have in our lives-of course at the center of our lives is Christ's love which drives all other areas of our lives. Without the driving force of our being, nothing we do will have meaning or purpose; therefore, he claims, "but have not love. I am nothing." This love is expressed in unique ways in our lives as the list goes from patience to perseverance. It provides a context of mutual understanding and relational nature between the members of the community, between God and believers, and between believers and non-believers. In this light, love enables us to have the things this passage lists: patience, kindness, trust, hope.
- Love is a verb even though it is used as a noun in the passage. Love involves actions and attitudes that affect others. How have you actively loved? What are some things that drive you to love others?
- What does it mean to have love that is the greatest of all? What should our lives look like knowing that we have a God who loves and whose love never fails?
(A Prayer for Today)
God of love, you called us to love you and one another. We fall short, we fail you, but you never fail us. We fall before you with all that we have. May your love flow through us and be extended to the world. Help us to be patient, kind, not be rude, not be proud but to trust, protect and persevere. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 12 - Tuesday March 22nd, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-21
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ." (12:12)
(Reflection)
Paul uses a simple yet powerful illustration in order to make his point vivid and clear. By comparing the body of Christ with a human body, apostle shows that everyone with different spiritual gifts, whether ordinary or extraordinary, is equally important and vital in making up the whole church. We are different people with different abilities, interests, and experiences. We come from different cultural and social backgrounds. But we have been brought together by one Spirit. We have the same Spirit working in all of us. Since we share the same Spirit we are given the same purpose of building up God's Church on earth. We must recognize our indispensable role in the Church and work together in harmony. This can happen only when we rely and focus on the Spirit who is the motivator and empowerment amongst us.
-Are you using your spiritual gifts to serve God and your neighbors and to benefit the Church?
- How can you help others discern their spiritual gifts and encourage them to use those gifts to serve others?
(A Prayer for Today)
God, thank you for your Spirit that gives me the ability and power to do what you ask me to do. Thank you for bestowing me with your gifts. May I not desire or use your gift for wrong, but use it to serve you and your church and benefit others. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 11 - Monday March 21st, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (12:4-7)
(Reflection)
True Christian spirituality involves far more than speaking an unknown and spiritual language; it takes a total and continual commitment to Jesus by whose name we have been saved. Christian spirituality begins with the confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives. This is the way to test and discern the genuineness of the gift that anyone claims to have.
We often make the mistake of focusing on a few particular spiritual gifts that make us look good and proud. We compare our spiritual gifts as if they are given to us to make us special and different. We focus on the possession of a particular gift rather than on the One who gives it to us. Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are given by God for the purpose of building God's Church and each other up. We are not to compare the gifts. Whether they are more or less miraculous or somewhat ordinary we must not lose the sight of the giver and God's purpose in giving us those gifts. Whatever gifts we have we must use them to serve and minister to others and not to bring division or alienate certain people among believers.
- What do you think your spiritual gift is? Do you value the particular gift given to you or do you feel less spiritual or envious of those who have a more noticeable gift than you? Have you been faithful in exercising your spiritual gifts in serving others?
- Have you tried to identify your spiritual gift? Know that God made you special and will use you for fulfilling God's purpose and bringing God glory. Think of the ways in which you could contribute to the work that God is doing with the particular spiritual gift that you have.
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear God, I am grateful that you have called me to be your child and given me a new meaning and purpose to live and serve. Thank You for using who I am in bringing your Kingdom on Earth. May I come to a greater appreciation of your calling in my life and live faithfully. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 10 - Saturday March 19th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cud of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." (11:27)
(Reflection)
Paul comes down hard on the Corinthians in this portion of his letter. The fact that there were divisions among them, particularly when they partook in the Lord's Supper, was highly offensive to Paul. Some of the church members were left hungry while others gorged themselves on bread and wine. This disparity stands in stark contrast to the way the first Communion was celebrated. Jesus showed great humility as he led the meal, lovingly serving those he knew would soon betray or abandon him. Communion represents our union with God through the body and blood of Christ. But it should also symbolize our union with each other. For this reason, we are to forgive and support one another as we celebrate the Eucharist.
The Communion meal is more than just a meal. It is a sacred time that is reserved solely for those who recognize the body of Christ (v. 29). The church of the early centuries, celebrated Communion as an actual meal, not as a ritual as it is today. However, it was treated more sacredly and reverently. Many early believers had to receive three years of training in order to be baptized before they could share in their first Communion. That shows how seriously the early Christians took this sacrament. Christians today too often take Communion for granted, neither examining themselves seriously enough beforehand nor appreciating the meaning and power of the sacrament.
- Jesus gave his body and blood even to those who were about to betray or abandon him. He didn't hold back any love from them. When we observe Communion together, what should our attitudes towards one another be?
- What does it mean to recognize the body of the Lord?
(A Prayer for Today)
Heavenly God, may your church be filled with more of your love and compassion. May it be seen in the way we celebrate your Communion together. Help me to appreciate the depth of the meaning and power behind this sacrament, and may I not be so inwardly focused that I ignore the needs of those around me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 9 - Friday March 18th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No. I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others. I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." (1 Cor. 9:24-27)
(Reflection)
In Seoul, Korea, there is a street named the "Olympic Boulevard. In the center of the Boulevard there are statutes of the athletes. What I notice about them is that they portray great intensity and discipline. I later realized that they are great metaphors for the Christian life. Like the statues. Christians are to display passion and discipline. We, as Paul implies, are spiritual athletes. Our life should be full of Olympian effort and discipline.
Sometimes, our efforts seem useless. However, this is not the case. Though only one is awarded the gold medal in the Olympic Games we forget what the Olympic creed states: the greatest part of the Olympic Games is not the victory but the participation. It is true that some may be more effective ministers or have more spiritual knowledge, but the greatest thing that we can all celebrate is that we can spend eternity getting to know God. This should inspire us as if we are running for the "gold medal."
- Discipline and passion are two important traits of a "spiritual athlete." In what areas do you need to have more discipline? How can you keep up with your passion?
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the freedom to love others who are different. I pray that you can guide me to love all kinds of all people. I desire to be a disciplined athlete for you by keeping up my passion and discipline. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 8 - Thursday March 17th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16-18
"Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it." [1 Cor. 9:16-18]
(Reflection)
Paul's commitment to the Gospel is incredible. However Apostle Paul does not expect any compensation for his efforts. This truly makes him a free agent of the Gospel. Freedom is the ability to do things without the expectation of any reward. His reward is not a physical thing. He is not entangled in the things of this world (2 Tim. 2:4); he is even free from taking care of his family (1 Cor. 7:32-33). Instead of using his rights, Paul exercises his freedom, committing himself to preaching the Gospel without anything in return. Likewise our dedication to the Gospel should be such that we do not attach any conditions and it should be the ultimate passion of our life.
- As disciples of Jesus, we should have an ultimate passion for preaching the Gospel in word and deed. What are some of the other passions that you have in your life? Where does preaching the Gospel fall?
- Our reward and inheritance should be God Himself. How often have you expected some reward for preaching the Gospel or serving God? Does a sense of entitlement enter your thinking?
(A Prayer for Today)
Dear Lord, through Apostle Paul I have learned the kind of attitude I need to have in order to be your faithful servant. Help me to have great passion for preaching your Gospel. Forgive me for the times when I desired a reward in return for serving you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 7 - Wednesday March 16th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
"Everything is permissible for me" - but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me" - but I will not mastered by anything." (1 Cor. 6:12)
(Reflection)
There is a theological term "Antinomianism" which denies the binding nature of any supposedly absolute or external laws on individual behavior. That is to say that people who support this system believe that Christ has freed us from the law, therefore, we're free to do whatever we want; we no longer have to follow what the Old Testament says. Of course, this line of thinking is heretical. Although we are not saved through keeping the law, we still have a responsibility to live with integrity and obedience to the law of God.
But this was also the type of thinking that hindered many in the church at Corinth. Apparently, the church had been quoting and misapplying the phrase, "Everything is permissible for me." Paul agrees, but further says that while everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial. He will not allow anything outside of himself to dictate his life. Real freedom is living free of sin.
- Do you keep your body holy? Just as one may rent a house from someone else, that house is to be kept clean and tidy-you're only using it; it does not belong to you. In the same way, our bodies belong to God. We are to treat our bodies with purity and holiness.
(A Prayer for Today)
Lord, would you make my mind, heart, and body holy, so that it would be made wholly yours. Make the darkness flee, as your light shines forth. Help me to be faithful to you and to my spouse. Keep me from temptation, O God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 6 - Tuesday March 15th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:9-17
"Even though you have fen thousand guardians in Christ you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me." (4:15-16)
(Reflection) Generally speaking, there is a difference between parents and mere guardians. Parents are related to their children biologically. In the case of adopted children, their parents have entered a covenant relationship with them that cannot be broken, just as God has adopted us as His children forever. But guardians do not have this deep relationship with the children in their care. They are mere custodians or stewards who have a temporary responsibility. Jesus spoke of guardians as "hired hands" in some of his parables (Jn 10:1-18). Spiritual guardians are only interested in keeping people in order and pointing out their mistakes. However, spiritual parents are interested in people's hearts and spiritual growth. They discipline their children out of love to ensure that we become faithful servants of Christ.
- In time, we will all have people put in our spiritual care. How can we be good spiritual parents to those under us? What practical things can we do to promote spiritual growth and fruit in people?
(Story) In 1937 Dietrich Bonhoeffer gave the world his book The Cost of Discipleship. It was a masterful attack on "easy Christianity" or "cheap grace," in the context of mid- twentieth- century Europe and America…. It was right and good of Bonhoeffer to point out that one cannot be a disciple of Christ without forfeiting things normally sought in human life, and that one who pays little in the world's coinage to bear his name has reason to wonder where he or she stands with God. But the cost of nondiscipleship is far greater-even when this life alone is considered-than the price paid to walk with Jesus, constantly learning from him. Nondiscipleship costs abiding peace, a life penetrated throughout by love, faith that sees everything in the light of God's overriding governance for good, hopefulness that stands firm in the most discouraging of circumstances, power to do what is right and withstand the forces of evil. In short, nondiscipleship costs you exactly that abundance of life Jesus said he came to bring (Johnl0:10). The cross-shaped yoke of Christ is after all an instrument of liberation and power to those who live in it with him and learn the meekness and lowliness of heart that brings rest to the soul. - The Great Omission by Dallas Willard -
(A Prayer for Today) Our heavenly God, you are my true Father, and I thank you for loving me through grace and also through discipline. I know you discipline only those you love. Strengthen and purify my heart that I may be able to use your power to bless others and fight the works of the devil. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 5 - Monday March 14th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17
"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." (3:16-17)
(Reflection) While science cannot provide answers to the most important questions in life: who we are, where we come from, what our purpose of life is, why life is so precious. God is the key to all of them. Science tells us that the human body is no different from any other object in the universe; we are simply a collection of molecules. But the Scripture tells us that we were made in God's image and that our bodies are sacred objects meant to house God's Spirit. Just as the site of the Temple in Jerusalem is a sacred and respected place to most people in the world, so should our bodies be. Many have taken this passage too far and used it to preach that tattoos are evil or that suicide automatically leads to eternal damnation. That was not Paul's main focus. His point was that we ought to respect one another and ourselves as temples of God, and that our aim is to be filled with the Spirit.
- What are some practical ways you can treat yourself (and others) as a sacred temple of God? What things should you do and what things should you avoid?
- What does it mean to build on the foundation of Jesus Christ with gold and precious stones rather than with straw and hay? What do those things represent to you?
(Story) I had met Jesus personally and whenever I had time, I went out to evangelize, but I could not give up drinking. It all started in the Judicial Research and Training Institute. When I became a prosecuting attorney, I had more occasions where I had to drink. On top of that, there was a famous alcohol manufacturing plant in the city I used to work in. Every time I drank, I felt so bad, so I would repent and do more volunteer work at the church. But no matter how hard I tried, I could not quit drinking. One day I was reading 1 Corinthians when I still wasn't sober. And the following verse captured my attention: "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16). At that moment I could clearly picture myself in front of the pulpit, pouring alcohol unto the floor of the church. Then I thought, 'This body is the holy temple of God, but I have poured alcohol in it! I must stop!' Oddly enough, I had no more desire to drink after that. With God's guidance, I was able to quit drinking. Of course, I had difficulties after I quit drinking. I still had social gatherings where drinking was encouraged; when I didn't, my co-workers teased me. But after a while, all the friends who drink started to avoid me. I was left out in a "holy" way, and naturally, I began having fewer social drinking gatherings to attend. There were times when I had to suffer damage because I now had less of a "social network built on drinking." But I didn't feel bad about it.
- "Hallelujah Attorney" by Myung Soo Ju -
(A Prayer for Today) Lord God, thank you for being my foundation on which I can stand. May I build upon this foundation with good things that will last and not be burned away by the troubles of this world. Test me and purify me so that there is nothing false in me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 4 - Saturday March 12th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. (1Cor. 3:6-9)
(Reflection)
A seed is one of the most mysterious and wonderful things in the world. While science has uncovered much about the inner-workings of seeds, it has yet to explain fully how an inanimate object can become alive and grow into a living, breathing plant, In 2005, a team in Israel planted a 2,000-year-old Judean palm seed, and it came to life! We know that seeds require water, sun, oxygen, and soil in order to germinate and sprout, But exactly how a seed becomes alive is still beyond our science.
In the end, God is the one who gives life. God is the origin of all life in the universe, and He continues to give life in the form of seeds, newborn babies, even newborn stars. We all have roles to play in God's garden. We each have a responsibility to take care of God's creations, which include everything from plants to people. But no one can take credit for giving life; that glory is God's alone.
- Turn to God when you need healing, when you plan to have children, or when you are praying for someone's salvation. He is the source of all those things.
(A Prayer for Today)
Thank You, God, for giving me life. All life comes from you, even the life of the stars. Thank You also for the precious gift of eternal life, our salvation in Christ We did nothing to deserve this life or the next. For that, I give you my utmost thanks and praise. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 3 - Friday March 11th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Cor. 2:1-5)
(Reflection)
It is one thing to have many illustrations in the sermon to make a point, but it is another to make the illustrations long and elaborate to the point of distraction. I see the importance of having examples and side stories when preaching because they help us understand the Word of God; however, I also understand the weight of the Gospel in the Bible and how much attention it should receive. Most of the preaching should be about proclaiming the Word of God and letting it tell its story. Better yet, having the Holy Spirit make the Gospel come alive in each sermon would be ideal.
At the center of Paul's theological views lies the power of Christ. Without fail, Paul brings his audience back to Christ and the power Christ manifests in us. Again, the well-equipped apostle approaches his audience and his church with humility: "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling" (v. 3). All he could speak to his church in Corinth was about the power of God. The source of power and wisdom is not from within, but from God Himself; we must rely on the source of power.
- How would you proclaim the Gospel in its purest sense? We add so much of our own agenda in preaching the Gospel to others-what are some things you can do to be faithful to God's story itself?
- The influence of the world makes us to follow things that are not God. Pray over the things that hinder you from relying solely on the source of life and power,
(A Prayer for Today)
God, you are the source of life, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Open my eyes to see that your story is enough for me to preach and that your grace is sufficient, May I not be swayed by the standards of the world but be fully faithful to you, looking only to you as the source of all strength and life. In your Son's name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 2 - Thursday March 10th, 2011Today's Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1:18)
Knowledge does not necessarily imply wisdom, but in this passage, Paul uses rhetorical questions to point out that knowledge and information can be equated with wisdom. There is a stark contrast between foolishness and wisdom; "God made foolish the wisdom of the world" (v. 20). However, what is more powerful in this passage is how foolishness is compared and contrasted with the power of God. The usual contrast would be between foolishness and wisdom but that is not the case here. Being foolish has little to do with having knowledge or being educated in the world, but it has much to do with having the power of God. It is the power of God that makes one wise.
The foolishness of God has shown us the way to salvation and the weakness of God has overcome death. To Apostle Paul, the power of God is that God went through the agony of sacrificing His own Son so that humanity would receive a Savior and be reconciled with God. The cross represents the sacrifice, and the pain of the Father along with the power to save us all. Therefore, the foolishness of God, the Cross, is wiser than any human wisdom and the weakness of God, the Cross, is definitely more powerful than any human strength.
- God has redefined wisdom in our lives-how would you define wisdom? Does it include being in the presence of God? Wisdom is the power of God dwelling in our midst; how does the power of God reside within you?
- Do you choose to follow the foolishness of God instead of your own wisdom? What are some of the ways that can help you to be aware of God's power in times of your weakness?
(A Story for Today)
But you know I remember when I was a young boy and I was scheduled to get my tuberculosis vaccine. I did not want to get it because some friends told me the shot really hurt. And I remember it took two nurses to hold me down, and dad sat me down and said, "Son, tuberculosis is very serious, it's a disease." And I was acquainted with another disease because just a year earlier my sister had died of cancer. When that was explained to me then I went in willing-volunteered-because you know what? I wanted a little bit of pain now to avoid the great disease that was going to bring a lot of pain later. And I have found anytime the Word of God gets a little painful or a little strong or a little hard, it's only God saying, "I'm just trying to protect you from greater pain in the future." Can you say, "Amen"? "Amen." - Under Cover by Jhon Bevere -
(A Prayer for Today)
God of mercy, I fall at the foot of the cross for Your power overwhelms me. I confess that I have followed the wisdom of the world, but I ask You to teach me to live in the power of the Cross. As I walk in Your footsteps, would You dwell in me so that I can boldly live my life as Your child? Thank You so much for the sacrifice You made. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
2011 Lenten Journey: Day 1 - Ash Wednesday March 9th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (v.3)
Repeating something helps one to remember it without thinking too much, as Paul's greetings do. Paul's typical greetings include the words "grace and peace" and they help his readers recognize Paul's letters. Grace and peace come from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ but what exactly are they? Paul develops these concepts later, but here in this passage, we see that grace and peace are gifts (specifically "spiritual gifts" as in verse 7) that come from above. Grace is goodness that we do not deserve, and therefore it is the best gift we can receive; it is through this grace we have received Christ, our Savior. Peace, too, is gift from God; the peace given by God is not a frame of mind or a mood, but it is an awareness of security we have in the One who is the giver and the sustainer of life.
"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." (v. 9)
God, not me, is Faithful. It is God who is faithful, not I. We are often mistaken to think that this life is all about us and how we ought to be a certain way. Yes, there is some truth to that for life is about being disciplined and walking through sanctification. Much of life, however, involves God. God is the one in control of all things. It is God who is faithful, not we. We must understand that God who called us into this journey will provide for all that is necessary to take part in it. We simply must put our trust and faith in the One who is faithful.
- Reflect on the gift from God given to us. How can the grace and peace that God has given you come alive in your everyday life?
- Many times we hear the voice that doubts our abilities and worthiness when it comes to doing God's work. What are some of the things that you can do as an individual or as a community to drive away such doubts and trust in the faithfulness of God?
"Because as long as we breathe in oxygen, we cannot not breathe out oxygen. Because oxygen is in abundant supply and our bodies cannot possibly use it all up, we naturally breathe it out - Likewise, I believe that as long as our life is being saturated by grace, it will be impossible not to breathe it out to those around us." - Breathing Grace by Harry Kraus, M.D. -
Dear God, thank you for the grace and peace that come from you. We are ever so grateful for your faithfulness in the midst of our lives. You were, are, and will always be the same; as you have begun the good work in us, we pray that you will complete it. Form and shape us so that we might fully and utterly trust in your faithfulness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - March 3rd, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Mark 10:17-22
All the initial signs of this rich young man seemed sincere and enthusiastic. He eagerly ran up to Jesus and asked what seemed like a perfectly commendable spiritual question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus commands him to let go of his wealth in order to follow Him. This was a tall order because one thing this man lacked was the ability to swiftly follow Christ. He couldn't move because of his impossibly heavy wallet. He was tied to his immovable idol. Wealth may provide worldly comfort, status, security and various diversions, but wealth also hides our need for God's comfort, identity as God's people, divine peace, and true joy and contentment. Following Jesus is a happy prospect for those destined for eternity, and a very sad one for those who have "too much to lose." What about you? What if Jesus were to ask you to leave the most important thing in your life today (family, money, hobby, habit, etc.) to follow Him? Can you follow Jesus today? Will you? If anything is more important than Jesus, are you a Christian?
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - March 1st, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Mark 10:13-16
Children are blessings from God, not only because they bring joy and life into families, but because they point the way to our Heavenly Father. Through their simple trust their utter dependence, they indicate our own helplessness and need to trust in God. However, we're often bombarded with complexities and challenges of adult proportions. Jesus is not unaware of this. We often confuse ourselves into thinking that our ways are higher than God's ways, but the Bible tells us that it's the exact opposite (Isa. 55:9).
When Jesus calls for childlike or simple faith, we are not called to "dumb-down" religion. We are being reminded of our unconditional relationship with Jesus. Children do not deny or refuse Mommy and Daddy when they are troubled. Instead, they run toward them, and cling to them harder.
Both good times as well as hard times can become excuses for drifting away from God. Conversely, they can both draw us toward God. The difference is the relationship. Do you depend on God as your "Daddy"?
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
February 2011 Archives
Daily Faith Lift - February 23rd, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 52
The psalm for today is based on I Samuel 21-22. Doeg, Saul's chief herdsman, sought to destroy David for his own gain; instead God would bring him to ruin. He was called evil, a disgrace, destructor, deceitful, a liar. On the contrary David was like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. He was talking about a tree whose roots are deep into the heart of God. Olive trees were a staple of life. They were an emblem of peace, divine blessing, beauty and strength. They were used for timber in an arid land. The oil was used for lamps to give light. It was used as a food and as a medicine. It was also called a holy oil and used to anoint kings and to pray for the sick. While the bitter fruit of Doeg's life is destruction, David's tree is not just existing, not just growing-it is flourishing. Like his tree, his faith is tended with trust, hope and praise.
Our faith will not grow if we ignore it. We, too, must nurture our spirits with the Word, worship, prayer and fellowship. February is the time of year when we like to sit and read garden catalogs, planning the bulbs, flowers and shrubs that will bring color and fragrance to our lives in the spring and summer. Plants take time and care to grow and bloom. Like our spiritual lives, the daily attention we give them brings enormous reward. However, if we ignore them, they become weak and straggly.
What do you seek in life? What do you spend most of your life, your time, pursuing? Is it more of the Savior?
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - February 11th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 51 One of the games I used to play at home with my kids was hide and seek. It cracked me up when I started looking for them because wherever they hid, they made noises, or hid their heads behind an object, but left their little legs sticking out. But like a good father, I said, "Hmmm, I wonder where Esther is?" Of course, I knew exactly where she was.
Are you playing hide and seek with God? Are you trying to hide some secret sin in your life, hoping you won't get caught? Have you begun to rationalize this secret sin in your own mind and found a way to actually "manage it" without it getting out of control? Just like a father who can see his child trying to hide behind a curtain, God sees everything and knows everything. It is useless to hide from a holy and sovereign God!
Whatever your private life is like right now, God offers an open invitation to any of God's children to come and seek forgiveness and restoration. Whatever your sin is, remember than no sin is too great, and no sin is too shameful for God to forgive. But the choice is really up to you. You can continue the rest of your life masking your sins from God and others, or you can be forgiven and be freed from that secret sin that has been oppressing you for years.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10)
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - February 9th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 50
Don't be too quick to judge here. We're all heard the phrase, "If you point a finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back at you." Verse 16 says, "But to the wicked person, God says: 'What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?'" The word "wicked" here conjures images of cult members and serial killers. But think about it - these are church going people! Just like you and me. That should be even more unsettling. We are the wicked that God is addressing, the hypocrites who act one way on Sunday and by Monday afternoon are settled back into a self-indulgent routine with six long days between them and their next close encounter with Christ.
This is the time of year we often step back and evaluate our lives. Take a hard look at your relationship with Christ. What resolution can you make this year to keep you mindful of your commitment to him? In what area of life is your sinful nature most apparent? What kind of circumstances set you off? What patterns do you see yourself repeating? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you insight. Then, pray with a sincerely repentant heart and give these areas over to God. While we cannot escape the consequences of sin, God is always ready to restore our relationship with him.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - February 2nd, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 50
When my son finally had his driver's license, occasionally I asked him to stop by the grocery store for milk or pick up books or DVDs from the library for me. How lucky I felt to have him for a son. However, it was in these moments that my teenager son needed a slight "attitude adjustment" which was usually accomplished through a series of clarification questions. Mom asks, "Who paid for your music education all those years?" Son replies, "Dad." "Who purchases your Gap jeans and Nike running shoes?" dad asks. "Uh, mom does." "And who buys the groceries that you and your buddies consume so voraciously?" Son replies, "I know, I know ... my parents!" Case closed.
Sometimes God, our heavenly parent, has to adjust our attitude and bring us back to reality. Do you need a slight alteration to your attitude, or a smidgen of reality therapy? Lately, have you been patting yourself on the back thinking that the Lord is pretty lucky to have a kid like you playing on his team? Nothing is necessary to God. But God seeks us though God does not need us. Start a "reality check" for your life. Take time right now to consider for a clearer picture of our place before almighty God.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
January 2011 Archives
Daily Faith Lift - January 28th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 49:1-14
Hetty Green is known as one of the greatest misers recorded in American history. She died as a millionaire in 1915, yet she always ate cold oatmeal because it cost too much to heat it. Her son needlessly suffered a leg amputation because Hetty wasted so much time looking for a free clinic. She hastened her own death when she suffered a stroke by becoming too excited over a discussion about the value of drinking skimmed milk. Hetty Green was affluent, but she chose to live like a pauper.
When death comes, the self-made millionaire and the poor are both equal. The tomb is the great leveler for all people; death is the universal end to all living things. And the day will come when everyone will die, and there's nothing we take with us. Remember Jesus' parable about the rich fool who was so swelled with a sense of his own importance, he did not realize death was imminent? "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" (Lk 12:20).
The question is: What choices, ideals and investments are we making? Either this life is everything, or this life is a preliminary to something greater. If it is a preliminary to something greater, then we need to live it out with the values of eternity. We can use our resources like time, energy and money to develop relationships where we can touch each other's souls. We can do this anywhere. We can do this in our places of business, in our homes and in our neighborhoods. We should seize this day as an opportunity to work for the Lord. Let us care more about people. Let us care about heavenly things with the earthly things God has given us.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 26th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 48:1-14
Do you ever find yourself wondering what you will leave behind? What your legacy will be? How will people remember you when you are gone? Will you be remembered at all?
"Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise. ..." That is how the psalm writer remembers God. The legacy of God is a legacy that is defined in so many ways, each dependent upon the person who is remembering God. The writer tells us that we should meditate on God's unfailing love. We are instructed to fill the earth with God's praise. We are to exalt God for his righteousness and judgments. Finally, we are to examine all that God has done in order to tell future generations. The psalmist concludes: "For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end."
Tell someone about God's greatness today. Tell of how great God was in providing for your salvation. Tell how he has brought you joy. Tell of his unfailing love! Today's generation is waiting to hear the greatness of God. Go tell it!
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 25th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 46:1-11
It's so easy to wrap our fingers around something of the earth, be that a home, or a job or career, or the closeness of a family member, or even the prosperity of our nation. But change or disaster may strike. The various "mountains" of our stability can quake and tumble. Yet Psalm 46 speaks of our God, the ever-present, unshakable refuge and strength. Many commentators believe that Psalm 46 speaks of God's literal presence in ancient Jerusalem. Still, some think there are also eschatological implications to this psalm: that God will return to earth again as a judge, and our very planet will undergo great tribulation. However, "The Lord Almighty is with us." This phrase is repeated in Psalm 46. Through personal disaster, natural disaster, political disaster, even judgment, the very presence of God can be our comfort and strength.
Is fear a big part of your life? About which things do you worry the most? The writer of Psalm 46 seems to find great comfort in God's ever-presence. Are you building a close, real relationship with God? Do you know the Lord daily and intimately? If so, how might God's presence comfort you through future trials? Verse 10 speaks of a stillness that leads to God's exaltation. How often do you take the time to be still and exalt God? If we have turned our earthly joys into idols, let us remember that they are crumbling sanctuaries. Our security is in God alone. God's streams are ever-present, and they bubble over with eternal joys.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 20th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 45
One of my favorite music is Handel's Messiah which has been a hallowed part of our Christmas and Easter traditions. I read that it was not only one of Handel's personal favorites but also the last musical performance Handel heard before he died. Psalm 45 is a "song of loves" composed for the royal wedding of a king, probably from the dynasty of David. The first verse gives a rare look inside the psalmist's heart as he describes his feeling about writing the song. The Message translates it, "My heart bursts its banks... I pour it out in a poem to the King, shaping the rivers into words." Then, as if he can no longer hold himself back, the psalmist reveals to us his song extolling the magnificence of the king. It must have been a similar experience for Handel when he composed the Messiah.
One of Handel's friends, Charles Jennens, had compiled a group of scripture passages, and asked him to consider writing an oratorio based on them. It was a low spot in his career, so Handel agreed to look at Jennens' writings, and the rest is history. He canceled all of his plans, and wrote for 24 days straight. He later said about the experience of writing the Messiah, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God himself," Like the poetry of the psalmist, the words and scores for the Messiah seemed to emanate out of Handel in an attempt to appropriately describe the King of kings.
Sing a "love song" of your own for the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Take the psalmist's lead, and write from your heart, describing all that the Messiah has done for you.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 19th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 44:1-8
Isn't it amazing that we are already at the beginning of another new year? I am once again astonished by how quickly time and situations pass. As one puts it, "Life passes like a blink of an eye, so treasure every moment." But how many of us really are able to say we treasure each moment of our lives? Honestly, many of us do not even give ourselves the chance to think about our life experiences and place them in proper spiritual perspective. How many great experiences and victories have you come across in the year 2010. Have you considered the fact that the Lord's hand was upon each and every incident of victory and joy?
In today's text, the psalmist talks about the historical act of God in the life of Israel. In the midst of the turbulent times Israel faced, the psalmist cries out for God's mercy and almighty presence. He recalls how every victory that Israel gained in the past was in fact a result of God's graciousness and divine intervention. Therefore, it was in the Lord that the people of Israel prided themselves. The great blessing of their lives was not just a circumstantial happening produced by an act of men or women. But God is the one who have provided victory and blessings. This is clearly illustrated in the words of the psalmist, "my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies." Now is the time to recognize God's presence in our own lives and thank the Lord for God's constant presence and provision in every aspect of your life.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 14th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 43:1-5
The currents of circumstances in our lives often run swiftly. They can pull us places we would never have thought of going. Like an inexperienced rafter on a rapid river, we can feel helpless, overwhelmed and panicked when the events of life engulf us. Psalm 43 is written from the middle of a swiftly flowing current. The psalmist's prayer is for a lifeline from God. "Lord, how do I get to your presence, I'm in trouble here! Do you hear me?"
I don't know what you do when you find yourself in these kinds of situations. Perhaps you yell at God, blaming him for your predicament. Maybe you ask for more strength or a slower current. What the psalmist cried out for was just what God wanted for him. "God, send your light and truth!" This was not a cry to jump ship, it was a cry to find the way home. This was a cry of dependence, looking for the leadership of God. What the psalmist asked for was clear and reliable direction.
We depend on God to light our way. We rest in the confidence that we are no longer living in the darkness, but have become children of the light. Each day we depend on God to guide us. We believe that one day the very presence of Jesus will illumine and guide us our way. We have confidence that in holding on we will be brought to safety. We believe truth will bring us at last to the very dwelling of God.
Are light and truth on your list? Are you asking to simply escape your circumstances, or do you desire to have him lead you through them, refining your character along the way? Pray that light and truth would be what leads you. Thank God that you belong to the light, and that God has given you the truth of the Word and the Spirit of truth to give reliable direction and salvation.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
Daily Faith Lift - January 12th, 2011Today's Suggested Reading: Psalm 42:1-11
New Year is an exciting time, isn't it? It is a time of renewal, reflection and reassessment of our achievements and goals. It is a time to think over what we have done in the past and what we want to change for the future. We make resolutions that we will eat less and exercise more; we will be wiser with our money. We will read our Bible every day. Perhaps that was one of your resolutions and you are off to a good start with our reading of Psalm 42 for today.
January is a time to put away all the decorations from the holidays. Cards are taken down, the last of the gifts are put away, the tree and boxes of ornaments are all carefully tucked away for another year. The house has a swept, empty look. It is not hard to feel a little melancholy.
David was feeling mixed emotions when he wrote Psalm 42. He speaks of thirsting for God and of tears that have fallen day and night. He reflects back on the times when crowds of people marched with him shouting with joy. Now he feels like God has forgotten him. Each time David becomes depressed, however, he once again reminds himself to put his hope in God. He remembers to praise God as an antidote for his sorrow. Look at verse 6. This is David's secret. He says that because he is downcast, he will remember God from the Valley of Jordan. He will remember God on high from Mt. Hermon and Mt. Mizar. He will put his hope in God. In verse 8 he speaks of God's presence day and night.
Perhaps, as you look back on this past year, you feel discouraged. You did not accomplish all you wished. Or, you look forward and wonder if you are up to the challenges ahead. Maybe you feel distant from God and your faith has hit a dry spell. You thirst for more of the living God. Take a lesson from David. He poured out his soul to God. Then, remembering God's goodness, he praised God. He prayed day and night. And finally, when discouragement still overwhelmed him, he simply put his hope in God. It is resting in perfect assurance of God's love and faithfulness that gives us comfort and peace.
One way to get through the difficult times in life is to keep God's word in our hearts. Try to read a chapter or two everyday. Try to memorize one verse each day, or choose one to work on throughout the week. Knowing scriptures by heart is like putting money aside for a rainy day. You never know exactly when you will need it, but the wise person has carefully planned ahead. When you save up scripture in your mind and heart you will be amazed at how the right verse will come to you at the moment you need it.
Blessings, Pastor Andrew
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