What is your faith resting on?

Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 2:5, "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."

So the title of this blog post is, "What is your faith resting on?"  Is it your own strength or skills or abilities?  Are you telling yourself, "I got this!"?  Or are you coping with difficult situations by escaping - spending time on your phone on social media for example?  Instead, let's try resting our faith on God's power!  I love the first sentence of our scripture reading for today (Luke 4:14-21).  It starts, "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit..."  How much good comes from that?!  Struggling with what is ahead for you today?  Face it in the power of the Spirit!

In Luke 4:18, Jesus is handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and He reads, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor."  We also are called to preach the good news.  Mark 16:15 says, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."  Do you feel like this is too big of a job for you?  You are correct!  However, we find encouragement from God in His Scriptures.  Acts 1:8 says, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you".  Not only does God give us the Holy Spirit, but He gives without limit! How do we know this?  John 3:34 tells us, "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."

Luke 24:49 gives us a great picture of what this looks like.  It says, "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."  Let's bring to mind the image of being clothed in power when we are faced with difficult situations.  Have a great week!

Compassion Without Comparison

Galatians 6:1-5

While reading today's passage, four words stood out…restore, carry, compare, share. As a parent, I try to set a good example and “gently restore” those who veer off track. I try to teach that we are each responsible for our own faith, but should also look out for others.

I hope my kids offer to “carry each other's burdens” and share the Word, guiding others along the path to God’s kingdom. This means that we are called to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. (Shoutout to the UALC mission!)

The downfall comes with compare. I can't tell you how many times I’ve said “I don’t care what anyone else is doing!” When in reality, I'm constantly comparing myself and my family to others. Am I as good a mom as…?? Why can’t my husband be handy like…?? (Sorry Corey.) Are my kids as smart as..., as athletic as…, as social as…??

I need God to nudge me back to v. 4  “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.”

It's not what Joe Schmo is doing that’s important. The greatest lesson I can teach my kids is to test their actions against the only thing that truly matters, the Word of God.  In that you can never go wrong.

Lord, help me live in the Word and guide others to you. Show me how to restore, carry and share, but not compare myself to others. You are the only true measuring stick I need.  Amen

Is it Your Time?

The thing about writing a post on a favorite scripture verse(s) is that you don't know where you will end up. Where will the Divine Words take you this time? 

What makes any given verse special to this writer is how it changes my heart each time I study it. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV) 

 The verse I want to share today is from the Book of Esther 4:14: ^"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" At different seasons of my life, this verse spoke in differing ways. 

While praying for relief from whatever oppression was encompassing my life on a particular day, these words were heard with new ears. When crying out to God for a reason for the pain I was experiencing during the early days of my Christian walk, these words of Mordecai to Esther touched me. As my life began to fall apart I begged God for the reason He was turning my world upside down.

The Word was the same, but the heart that heard it and embraced it wasn't. Sometimes 'for such a time as this,' conjured up a sense of hope that God's plan was in the making.  Other times this concept confirmed that I was in the midst of His plan and He was preparing me for tomorrow.

When I struggle to understand the why I only need to reflect on the Who and rest in the assurance that God’s got this one.

Revelation 22:16-21

Are you sad or happy when you come to the end of a book?  Reading is one of my passions; there is nothing that entertains me like a good story.  It is fun getting to know the characters, the good guys and the not so good.  I often will pick up a large book, one with many pages, so that the experience will last awhile.  It is sometimes painful to say goodbye to favorite characters; flaws and all.

I have never been known to read a book more than one time.  I know some people will read the same book a number of times over the years, but not me.  When reading a story there are often lessons to be learned, but there the author's words only speak to me one time.  Fiction is fun to get lost in, relaxing to the mind and challenging at the same time.  As the sign on many a library will say, "Reading is fun."

Revelation 22:20 (NIV)
"He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."    Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.     

We are now coming to the final words in Scripture as we read from the lesson for today.  The story is about to conclude and we are witness to God's Words being fulfilled.  How often I have heard a Christian say, "I've read the book, I know the ending. The good guys win."  While this is true, the rest of the story in the Bible changes impact for the reader with each reading.

A fiction piece is fun to read, but God's Word is alive and active and speaks into our lives and our hearts in a new way each time we read. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Let's begin this book over again!

Read Revelation 22:16-21

Listen to Revelation 22:16-21

Jesus Tempted in the Desert - Matthew 4:1-11

Have you ever wondered why Satan spent time trying to tempt Jesus? It seems like a fools errand, doesn't it? Jesus was baptized, He fasted for 40 days and nights in the desert, then Satan approached Him in an attempt to get Jesus to do three things:

1. Satisfy His hunger
2. Use His heavenly power to do His earthly bidding
3. Bow to Satan and be rewarded with material things

What Satan didn't count on was Jesus recognizing Satan and using Scripture to combat all of the evil one's schemes. Do you recognize any of these tricks? Does Satan try to get your attention with food or power or compromise?

Satan was hoping to convince Jesus to work independent of His Father. Satan knew Jesus was God and understood the power He has. He wanted Him to go rogue. Can you sometimes relate as well? Do you feel under attack when you are most vulnerable? That is how Satan works. We can learn much from this scripture text; lean on the Word of God, call upon familiar verses from your reading time and God will show you a way out. Satan always wants us to work independent of the Father.

The final scene in this story finds the angels attending to Jesus' every need. "The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs." (Matthew 4:13 MSG)

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