I Can't Find It ANYWHERE!!!!

I am a mother of a ten-year-old.  And among other things, that means he can’t find anything I send him to look for.  It could be his baseball equipment, phone, the laundry basket… it really doesn’t matter.

It can be right in front of him and he is blind.  Can you re

late?  Is there anyone in your family who has a hard time seeing what is right in front of them?  Or maybe, please forgive me, it’s you.  You struggle locating things that are hidden in plain sight.

I laugh as I type this, but our scripture passage today has a similar situation.  John 9 talks about a time when Jesus is walking on a road with his disciples, and they come across a man blind from birth.  This man can’t see a thing.  He was born this way.  It’s not his fault.  It’s not his parents fault.  He is just blind. 

Jesus spits in the mud, forms clay and applies it to the man’s eyes.  After washing his eyes, he went home seeing. 

Now, this is where the story get’s interesting.  The healed man comes upon some Pharisees who investigate how he regained his sight.  They question lifelong neighbors, some of who can’t decide if it is really the man they grew up knowing.  They ask his parents how it happened.  They reply, “No comment.”  All the while the young man keeps telling them Jesus did it. 

The Pharisees have dedicated their lives to God and the study of scriptures, but they cannot see the Messiah that is right in front of them.  They may not have been physically blinded, but they struggle with spiritual blindness and ironically the Light of the World is right there among them. 

Let’s not be like the Pharisees, make sure to take some time today and ask God to open your eyes to him.  Ask him to help you see where he is and how you can be a part of what he is doing.

Ready today's passage here John 9:1-25

Strength in Weakness

Samuel 23:15-29

David was an unlikely candidate for kingship in the eyes of many. He was young, naive, sincere, and inexperienced. All the things a strong and controlling man like Saul despises, yet just what the Lord desires.

David fled to avoid conflict and follow God’s will. Saul hunted him like prey. Does that sound familiar? 

Often as we attempt to do as our Lord commands, we feel scrutiny, attack, and disapproval from others in our life. At times we may even be attacked by our loved ones. Is this opposition truly coming from the hearts of our attackers, or is it perhaps instigated by satan and they have no defense against him? Does their lack of connection with Christ perhaps facilitate their need to lash out? These times require us to be strong in the Lord regardless of what others think or how weak we are perceived to be.

The bible says there is strength in weakness, and that we can do all things through Him who strengthens us. Those who demonstrate a quiet, reserved nature are often perceived as weak, yet in reality they may possess a quiet strength and confidence that comes from deep within and they feel no need to put their solid personality on display. Their power needs no audience or attention. The Lord’s grace is enough.

So who would you rather stand with, the one with a robust personality who roars like a lion gaining personal attention and perhaps soliciting fear, or one who approaches life like a lamb, thoughtfully addressing each day as it comes and reaching out to others?

As we are sometimes “driven into the desert” let us remember that God may use challenging situations to grow and strengthen us for His purpose. We are shaped and molded like clay in God’s hands through our experiences.

Today is a great day to stand before the Lord and recommit to His purpose for us. Even when we feel weak, we are strong in Him.

Read/Listen to: 1 Samuel 23: 15-29

Mold Me, Shape Me, Anyway You Want.

Acts 19:1-7

The Message (MSG)

Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in Corinth, Paul made his way down through the mountains, came to Ephesus, and happened on some disciples there. The first thing he said was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?”

The Message version of this text helps me understand these words better.  The difference between the baptism of John and a baptism in the name of Jesus is the Holy Spirit. I love the description used above; "John preached a baptism of radical life-change." Then declaring, "You are now ready for the real thing, for Jesus."

Thinking back many years I know I experienced a radical life-change.  When I first began to understand what having a personal relationship with Jesus meant, the change was radical.  Then, years later, as Jesus continued to mold and shape me there was another radical change.

I suspect these changes will continue as long as I take in new breaths each day. Every experience in life causes change and many of these changes are adjustments to my heart.  Major course corrections in my life, all drawing me closer to God.

Can you pinpoint your radical life-change? Is there a before and after picture somewhere?  What about now?  Is there more molding and shaping currently happening in your life?  If so, it is a good thing.  God has a new plan for you and he just needs to tweak things a bit to prepare you for an incredible ride.

 Acts 19:1-7