Living Without Forgiving

The story we read today, 1 Kings 1:28-48, really needs to begin at verse 1. This entire chapter paint a picture of family dysfunction. King David's family had challenges and troubles, much like your family and mine. Not that this fact is a comfort, but it does point to the reality of our broken world. A world that has been broken from the beginning. From Adam and Eve.

The first 27 verses in 1 Kings 1 relate the story of one of David's sons, Adonijah, Solomon's brother. The King, David, his father, was dying. His life nearing its end and Adonijah decided to get a jump on things. He declared himself king and began to plan his coronation and all the pomp that goes with it.

Nathan, the prophet, got wind of what was happening and went to Bathsheba. The two then went to the King to tell him. David immediately rectifies the situation by telling Bathsheba, “As surely as the Lord lives, who has delivered me out of every trouble, I will surely carry out this very day what I swore to you by the Lord, the God of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.” (1 Kings 1:29-30 NIV)

I wish I could say that everyone lived happily ever after, but when we read on in 1 Kings, we see that is not so. More bloodshed and retribution took place. But isn't that the way it is even now? Too often, family transgressions are not easily forgiven nor forgotten. Brothers don't speak to brothers, sisters ignore sisters, holding grudges for years.

Jesus came to change all this; He came to forgive us so we can forgive others. Jesus's suffering and death was the hardest thing He had to so. It stands to reason that the act of forgiving others may well be the hardest thing we do too.

Dear Jesus, give me a heart to forgive. Help me overcome my fear of rejection and do the right thing. Amen.

1 Kings 1

Family Ties

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25 NIV)

These are not just idle words. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit in us. This Spirit convicts us to do better. It is often the voice of reason we hear, sometimes called our conscience. The Holy Spirit prods me to be a better person, to take a better path than I have in the past. My goal is to keep in step with the Spirit.

In Romans 8:14 we read, "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the Children of God."

Child of God, what a fantastic title. I love to think of God as my father. From the beginning of my faith journey, I discovered comfort from this title. To think of God as father means I am a part of a huge family. When reading from my Bible, I know I have lots of other relatives; cousins, aunts and uncles, and oh, so many friends. I sometimes consider Paul a good friend, one who understands my failures because of his own.

Jeremiah 31:33, "...I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people."

Belonging to this great big loving family is such fun. It is a challenge too, but the fun outweighs the difficulties. One of the most meaningful times in the day is first thing when I grab my coffee, journal and Bible...oh, my colored pens too. It is during these personal times that God gets right down to business with me. Some days I feel his pleasure, others, I sense He wants and expects more. I always try to respond accordingly.

He is my God, and I am one of His people. How great is that!

Galatians 5:16-25

All in the Family

Many years ago, I received a very legal looking document from a lawyer in my home state of Wisconsin. The letter was to inform me that my uncle died and left me some money. I was an heir to part of his estate. While the amount was not large, just the idea that he considered me part of his family and decided to bless me with part of his wealth was a good feeling. 

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (v.27)

There is nothing quite like the feeling of belonging to something like a strong family, The good life often revolves around this sense of connection. When your closest family members are also connected to Christ, things are in line. We can struggle through pain, disappointment and various challenges when we share a bond of faith.

Family leans on one another. They rely on one another. Those of us in the family of God are wise do the same when things get rough. God cares and He will act on our behalf. It is our faith in God and our reliance on His provision that changes everything. It's a family thing. 

1 Corinthians 12:27-31   

Better Together

Elephant herds are unique communities. Did you know, elephant mothers do not raise their babies on their own? Baby elephants are born blind and completely dependent. While the baby is growing, they are fortunate enough to have a great support system consisting of multiple full-time babysitters, called “allmothers.” Elephants intentionally stay together in order to care for the weak calves.

People are not much different.  Babies are born totally helpless. Parents don’t abandon the infant, expecting it to care for itself.  Often times other family members and friends rally around the couple to help support the family.

As Christians, we are family.  Some are infants, with weak faith, in need of support. Our scripture passage today is from Romans 15:1-7.  Verse one starts by saying, “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak…”  By “weak”, it means someone with a weak faith. 

Let's be honest, it's not easy to walk along side a Christian with weak faith. It can get messy.  Christians with weak faith make bad choices. This is when they need us the most.

We need to be careful not to judge them.  Just as a family wouldn't leave one of their own weak and alone. We ought to rally together, intentionally bearing with and accepting them just as Christ accepted us. 

A Gift that keeps on Giving

Matthew 2:11 

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

I am wondering if this verse speaks to the reason we give gifts at Christmas. What do you think? The Magi visited a King and brought gifts to honor Him. They weren't items a baby would use, probably not even items His parents would use in this humble setting. But they were valuable. 

I doubt if the Magi worried over their shopping list, stressed about how much to spend and if the gift would be appreciated or not. They had only one reason to give to this King, and it had nothing to do with obligation and everything to do with love.

I wonder, is love our motivation? Do we spend money we don't have to give gifts that aren't needed because it is just what you do on Christmas? I know that was the way I operated for many years.  The bigger the pile under the tree, the better the holiday would be. 

Until one year when all those reasons were unimportant. The year that God revealed to our family that Christmas isn't about getting stuff. 

No, Christmas is about love, about family, about being together and remembering Who is important...and why. 

Matthew 2:7-15

Finally At Peace

Genesis 50:4-14

Jacob finally found peace and was buried in the very place he had requested, near his wife Leah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Pharaoh’s officials, the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt accompanied Jacob’s family. Chariots and horsemen also complimented the procession up to the cave in Canaan. What an honorable ceremony. It speaks volumes as to the character of this man.

Most parents can relate to the heart of Jacob and the importance of finding peace before leaving this world. Families are created through the love and dedication of parents. We want the best for our children and all the offspring that follow.

Personally I feel distraught and rather helpless when things within the family are not cohesive. When any in the flock are hurt, distressed, or in conflict my soul is in a state of unrest.

Just as God our Father wishes us to be content and at peace, it’s impossible to imagine how He must feel as he views the pain, confusion, and violence within this world.

After all the years Jacob experienced unrest and mourned for his son Joseph, the moment he laid eyes on his boy, now a man, must have been one of elation and pure joy. All those years of wondering and hurting were finally worth it.

Might that be our view when the Lord finally takes us home as well?  Though we journey through countless hills and valleys in this life and the valleys can be extremely devastating, the moment we lay eyes on our Heavenly Father it will all have been worth the price we paid.

Dear Lord, Thank you for always being there for us, for being a loving God unconditionally. We love the way you celebrate with us during joyous times and allow us to feel you through our pain. We look forward to the day we will be with you. Face to face we will truly understand your love, greater than all other love and we will rest in your peace. Amen

Read/Listen to Genesis 50:4-14

Family and Faith

Imagine a world where we all agreed; where there was not a division of loyalties; where believers acted as if they were the hands and feet of Jesus. What might it be like to live in a world filled with love and compassion. This happened after the Holy Spirit made his appearance, filling the faithful followers with a sense of unity and love. They were spiritually united by their love for God.

All the believers were one in heart and mind...they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32)

There was no need for a Dynamo label maker during these days. No one claimed any one possession as 'hands-off' to others. They were all in it together. We aren't likely to experience this until we step into eternity. Sometimes that thought is very attractive, but I realize there is so much yet to do here. We have to keep these thoughts in our hearts as we long for that day.

It is necessary for Christians to pray for the Holy Spirits' filling each and every day. It is crucial for us to allow the Spirit to enter our hearts and guide our actions all the time. The wisdom gained when we allow room in our life for generosity and care. When someone else's problems take center stage and we work to overcome them for the glory of God--life is turning in the right direction.

We are living a far cry from the ideal life, but we can be striving for it. We can make our area in the world a good place to be. We can reach out and draw in those who are hurting and embrace them like family. For that is what we are...family. Let's come together and enjoy each other.

Acts 4:31-37

Revelation 7: 9-12

 Go to People Nothing Like You

Chapter 7 tells of two groups of believers; First the 144,000 representatives of the Godly remnant of Israel. Second, the great multitude of martyred people from every nation who died rather than deny their faith. Saints who knew the power and glory of our God. These saints are people who walked his earth like you and I.

As we make our way through Revelation, and attempt to wrap our heads around what will be, I am brought back to today. There are those who boldly and confidently profess the word of God, and their value is priceless. There are others who quietly believe but also make an impact, by living the gospel, supporting those in need, and gently nudging others toward the Lord. Their lives are challenging, difficult, and often painful as was Jesus' life on this planet. Despite their struggles, they forge ahead in the name of the Lord. 

Verse 9: After this I, John, looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. 

On that final day, it will not matter what color we are or from where we came. As we embrace the vastness and welcome of God's open door for us, we are to offer the same to others, even if it pushes us beyond comfort. The Lord is pleased as he views our struggle to go where he leads us. 

No matter where we are on the belief spectrum, we are called to go..... across the room, the street, the office, the world. Though it may feel safe to stay within our own little Christian bubble, pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zone grows us. As we grow, so do the lives of those we reach, and God's family is greater than before! 

Read/Listen to Revelation 7: 9-12

Friday

Acts 16:5 (NIV) So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

Many think of church as a building, a place to go and to worship or pray. It is obvious from verse five that the church is its people, not the structure they meet in. This gives new meaning to the statement, "I'm going to church today." For this writer it signifies I plan to spend time with people, to congregate with my friends, mingle with the Body of Believers, who are family.

Family is the correct use of the word, for in this section we are introduced to Timothy, the first second-generation Christian.  Timothy's mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois, influenced Timothy to the ways of Jesus. That is what family does, they share the important things in life and they guide and influence one another.

It isn't always the parent who influences the child.  Sometimes it is the other way around.  The first Bible study I ever attended was led by my daughter when she was still a teen. I remember to this day, the women who were in the group and the things I learned from that time together in God's Word. Again, family the key, critical to living a life Jesus would want for us.

What does church mean to you?  Is it merely a facility, a place to go, a structure, or is it family?

Acts 16:1-5

Joshua 22:21-29

The Easterners, (Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh) claimed their inheritance which was located on the east side of the Jordan River.  The river could be considered a major dividing point, as it was impossible, shy a miracle, to cross in some seasons of the year.  These tribes were fearful of the future, afraid the geographic separation, with the passing of time, would cause them and their story to be forgotten.  They worried that at some point the other tribes would look upon them as the enemy.

Joshua 22:27 (MSG)
"We built this altar as a witness between us and you and our children coming after us, a witness to the Altar where we worship GOD in his Sacred Dwelling with our Whole-Burnt-Offerings and our sacrifices and our Peace-Offerings. "This way, your children won't be able to say to our children in the future, 'You have no part in GOD.'

We never want to be forgotten.  The family memories, the good and the bad times, make up who we are. There are times when we are pulled apart, when a brother or sister packs up their family and moves across country for a new job.  It is difficult to say goodbye and it is a true struggle to hold the family together via long distance.

Even today, with email, texting and all the social networking tool available, families find it a challenge to remain in each other's lives as closely as when they were neighbors. It is easy to see why the Easterners were afraid their role in the tribal family would be forgotten and future generations might see them as different, pagan even, the enemy.  They built the altar to serve as a reminder to the inhabitants of the east and the west, but they were misunderstood.

Is this familar?  Is a relationship in your life strained because of the miles which separate?  "We said to ourselves, 'If anyone speaks disparagingly to us or to our children in the future, we'll say: Look at this model of God's Altar which our ancestors made. It's not for Whole-Burnt-Offerings, not for sacrifices. It's a witness connecting us with you.'" (Joshua 22:28 MSG)

The Israelites made the effort to find out the truth before doing something they would regret later. This is a lesson for us too.  Dig for the truth, not for what things look like.  Listen, talk it over, and remember you are family.

Read Joshua 22:21-29 here

Listen to Joshua 22:21-29 here

The Day of Midian - Judges 6:15-24

I marvel at the gifts God bestows on my friends and family members.  I know some people who are so artistic, they look at something and draw a picture so real it seems to be a photograph.  Then there is the person who sings beautifully.  Every time she opens her mouth wonderful harmony ensues.

I am not envious, I simply admire them.  This admiration doesn't stem from the abilities they have that I do not, no the admiration comes from the fact that they are so willing to be used by God.  They use their gifts to glorify the one who enabled them to draw, paint and sing.  They acknowledge they did not do any thing on their own; it is God who gave them their abilities.

I was reminded of this when reading the scripture for today.  Gideon had been commissioned to save Israel out of Midian's hand.  He asked of the Lord, "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but how can I save Israel?  My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (Judges 6:15)


God told Gideon just as He tells us when we hesitate to move forward; to use the gifts He gave us.  "I will be with you." (verse 14)  God not only gifts us specially, He remains with us as we use those gifts.  Doesn't that give you confidence to step out and use your gifts?

To read the complete text for today click here .  To return to this posting hit the back arrow.

A Costly Anointing - Mark 14:1-11

A number of years ago our family moved from Wisconsin to Ohio. Before we left home, our families threw a going away party for us. They invited people who meant much to us; relatives and friends who played a role in our lives over the years. We shared a meal and spent time talking and laughing together. There were even a few gifts.

The opening scene in the Scripture verses for today reveals Jesus at the home of a friend, Simon the leper. There were other family and friends in attendance, including Judas, and Mary (the sister of Lazarus and Martha). Jesus was preparing to leave this earthly home and return to His father. He was spending time with His loved ones, in anticipation of His departure.

This gathering was a going-away party to which Mary brought a gift for Jesus. Mark tells us some of those present thought this a waste of money, and they discounted the gift as indulgent. Jesus tells them, “Leave her alone…She has done a beautiful thing.” (Mark 14:6). Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached…, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9).

Jesus is showing His followers what is important in life, helping them understand He would not be with them forever and they should spend time enjoying these moments. Time with family and friends is a blessing as Jesus teaches; is there is a lesson here for us as well?

To read the complete text for today click here . To return to this posting hit the back arrow.

Healing Tears, Genesis 45

Have you ever been so overtaken by emotion you just couldn’t hold it in? Three years ago Steve and I were preparing to sign papers to adopt our son. Our joy was halted hours before, when we received a call informing us of a serious problem. The severity of the issue froze the adoption and all we could do was cry.

In today’s scripture we see, “Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Have everyone leave my presence!’ So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it.” Joseph couldn’t hold it in anymore. His breakdown was so noticeable, Pharaoh’s household started talking.

Do you see crying as a form of weakness? Sometimes I do. But if I’m honest, it’s at times of utter despair that I am more willing to let God move. When I stop controlling the situation God is free to work His miracles undisturbed.

For Joseph, tears brought reconciliation and restorations. For my family it was a time for God to show His power. In the morning we had an issue so severe we were looking at eighteen months, at best, before we could adopt our son. Within twenty-four hours though God had the issue resolved completely. New paperwork had been filed and a date set for the adoption. God is good.

Read today entire passage on Biblegateway Genesis 45

Jacob vs Laban -- Genesis 30:25-31:55

After reading the text for today, I find myself wondering how all the "mother-in-law" jokes got their start. How or when did the women get to be the brunt of this family humor? It seems to this writer, as early as the book of Genesis, a father-in-law was the culprit or antagonist within family dynamics. All kidding aside, this is a fascinating read.

There is always a lot of 'stuff' buried in each family history; good and not so good. Often there comes a time when members must choose to go their own way. Sometimes the distraction of arguments and conflict detract from life and a decision to move on is best.

Healthy partings are often marked with boundary setting and sometimes even agreeing to disagree as we find in Genesis 31:52-53. “This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me.  May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.”

This story has a happy ending, as the two families shared a meal and then spent their last night together.  In the morning, Jacob's father-in-law kissed his daughters and grandchildren goodbye and went home.

To read the entire text for today see Biblegateway and Genesis

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Blood Is Thicker Than Water, Genesis 14

I get a kick out of today’s passage. Two groups of allied kings fighting against each other, for fourteen years the wars rage. What are they fighting over? More than likely they fight for land, wealth, and power.

What makes me laugh is, when these unsuspecting kings raid Sodom and Gomorrah. As they seize all the goods and people Lot, Abram’s nephew, is among the captives. When Abram finds out that his flesh and blood has been taken he gathers together a little army and totally kicks butt. What the other kings couldn’t do in fourteen years Abram does in no time at all. Doesn’t that just make you chuckle?

Some have probably asked, “How did he do that?” We know how he was able to come out the victor though. We also know how he was able to, not only rescue Lot, but also every other person and thing that was taken. He did it with God.

With God absolutely EVERYTHING is possible. Do you believe that? If you struggle trusting that, tell yourself every day. When life feels hopeless or you feel alone, tell yourself. If you feel forgotten or outnumbered, remind yourself EVERYTHING is possible with God.

I’m not saying everything will work out the way we want; I am saying that nothing is too big for God. No problem to complicated or shocking. No tragedy too overwhelming. God can handle it all and he can get us through an impossible situation too.

Read the entire scripture on biblegateway.com Genesis 14