Praying Through the Tension

James 1:27 (the Message) Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. I read this passage first thing this morning, and I have been letting it work its way into my heart all day. I have to admit, it made me very uncomfortable. I am a thinker, a pray-er, more at home...

A true message of hope

Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to announce that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord's favor has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like...

Relieve and Correct

Scripture:  Proverbs 31:8-9 Cross-reference:  Isaiah 1:17a  "Learn to do right!  Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, and correct the oppressor."  (Amplified Version)   I started out reading this scripture and was about to write my entry when I my computer decided to stop working.  So, I ended up reading a book called, "Birdi Num Num" by Mamta Mishra to pass the time, which, of course tied right into today's scripture. Birdi Num Num is a poor and hungry bird who discovers a Num...

It's alll a Matter of Perspective!

Proverbs 28:27 "Be generous to the poor-you'll never go hungry Shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses."   I have to admit this blogging experience for me has been terrifying and completely out of my comfort zone.  I have found that if I remove myself from the equation and simply pass along the words or images that come to mind somehow that feels better.   When I read the passage from Proverbs the word generous jumped out at me.  By definition it means:              ...

Seeing outside yourself...

Hands on Blog Entry – 10/27/08   Scripture passage – Isaiah 58:6-9   What do you want to highlight Jesus? Verse 6 (The Message) – "This is the kind of fast day I'm after…"     How does this apply to my life Jesus? So often you focus on what you're looking for…and your own perspective is all you see. Most times, your ego gives you a blind eye to seeing things as others see them or as I desire you...

what's love got to do with it?

Romans 13:8 (NLT) Love Fulfills God’s Requirements Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. How often have I wondered, “what does God require of me?” I have asked this question in many contexts of my life. In this verse it is startlingly clear: He requires me to love others. In the NLT translation, I...

Keep it real - you can't fake your way out of this one!

Romans 12:10 "Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other." NLT With such a short text this week, I thought the question of what Jesus would want to highlight would not be relevant. After all with only 13 words, how could one aspect of this text be worth noting above the entire verse? That was until I actually read it, when the word "genuine" all but jumped off the page at me. Consider the verse without that word. It is relatively easy to love each other with affection and take delight...

Authentic Friendship

"What this adds up to, then, is this:  no more lies, no more pretense.  Tell your neighbor the truth.  In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all.  When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself."  Eph 4:25 (The Message) What stuck out to me?The word pretense because I don't know what it means.   Definition (dictionary.com): 1. pretending or feigning; ...

What a Glorious Love It Is!

1John4:11-12 "Dear friends since God so loved us, we ought to also love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." When I read the above passage I instantly recognize these words to be true. I think about how this has been revealed in my own life. A few years ago, our family was struggling desperately with my health and all the challenges this created. We felt overwhelming despair and very real fear for our future. This was one of the...

A New Command...

Hands on Blog Entry – 10/20/08 Scripture passage – John 13:34-35 What do you want to highlight Jesus? Verse 34 (The Message) – "Let me give you a new command…" How does this apply to my life Jesus? Surprise! The new command I'm giving you is to love…to love the way that I've loved you. When you think of commands, you think of rules that fit into nice, easy categories that tell you exactly what to do. My command is to love…and it won't look the same every time. The next time you're unsure of how to respond to a situation...

Waiting

Isaiah 30:18 But God’s not finished. He’s waiting around to be gracious to you. He’s gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right – everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones. I just finished reading Greg’s post and his reflections on waiting. And I identify with him in that waiting often tries my patience. But I also think of the times I have waited...

Patience is the key

Isaiah 30:15 The Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says, "Only in returning to me and waiting for me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it." NLT Please do yourself a favour and don't read just this single verse. It does contain a great message for all of us, but the portion surrounding it puts it into context and sheds more light on it. I feel this is God's message to all of us, just as it was (as my Bible puts it in the heading) "a warning for rebellious Judah"....

How deep is His love? Anyone?

Scripture: Romans 8:31-39 As I've been reading the different scriptures that have been selected, Jesus keeps bringing to mind a family that Dono & I are in relationship with. It's a relationship that has a definite power-imbalance, where we are the ones seen as having a lot (which we do) and they are the ones seen as having little. We are labeled the givers, and they, the takers. There has been definite tension...

East is from the West

Here I am Lord,and I'm drowningin your sea of forgetfulnessthe chains of yesterday surround meI yearn for peace and restI dont want to end up where you found meand it echoes in my mind,keeps me awake tonight I know you cast my sin as far as the east is from the westand I stand before you now,as if I've never sinnedbut today I feel like I'm just one mistake awayfrom you leaving me this way and Jesus can you show mejust how far the east is from the westcause I can't bear to see the man I've beenrising up in me againin the...

Identity check...

Hands on Blog Entry - 10/13/08 Scripture passage – Ephesians 1:11-12 What do you want to highlight Jesus? Verse 11 (The Message) – "It's in Christ that we find out who we are…" How does this apply to my life Jesus? This passage speaks to your identity. So let Me ask you, who are you? How do you see yourself…how do others see you? How do you determine the identity of others? This passage not only leads you...

you are chosen

Ephesians 1:5-6 Long before he [God] laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. When I was in elementary...

Affirmation, a wonderful promise, and a tough challenge

1 John 3:1-3³See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called his children, and we really are! But the people who belong to this world don¹t know God, so they don¹t understand that we are his children. Yes, dear friends, we are already God¹s children, and we can¹t imagine what we will be like when Christ returns. But we do know that when he comes we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure.² NLT When I asked...

A Trained Eye

(cc) Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible) 5Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. 6In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.   What sticks out to me in this passage?      "In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge...

Remain in Me

John 15 5-7 (NIV) says: "I am the vine you are the branches.  If a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers such branches are thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you."   Life is crazy.  Sometimes it can become a competition to see who is busiest and most involved.  Ever since I...

Separation...

Hands On Blog Entry – 10/6/08 Scripture passage – John 15:5-7 What do you want to highlight Jesus? Verse 5 (The Message) – "Separated, you can't produce a thing." How does this apply to my life Jesus? It's quite simple. When you're separated from Me, you'll know it quickly. Your motives change and bad fruit emerges. Instead of living a life permeated with love and unity, your ego quickly takes over and makes...

Welcome to the Hands On Connectedness Challenge

During this month we want to foster the truth that GOD is the Source of ALL of our connections. There is no connection without God. So our first "work" is to roll up our sleeves and get 'hands...