Philippians 2:20

The major ministirial difference:

For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

That might actually be the key to service in the ministry - to be genuinely concerned for the welfare of those you are serving.  Consider the difference that makes.  My actions and attitudes would flow out of my focus on the ones I am serving, not on how I feel, or what I want, or what is easiest for me.

Lord, as I serve in the various ministries that you have given me, may those that I serve truly sense that I am genuinely concerned for their welfare.  May my words and thoughts, as well as my actions an attitudes reflect a Christ-like love for each of them as individuals.  May my focus move from me to them - and ultimately to You.

Philippians 2:14

Another tiny but tough command!

Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Interesting that it's not "most things" or even "some things," but it is ALL things!

Around this time of year - Thanksgiving to Christmas - it should be easier, but with all of the added responsibilities, I fear it has gotten harder instead!

Lord, please help me to do ALL things - those I want to and those I don't want to - without grumbling or disputing.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Why is such a small command so insanely difficult to follow?  Is it maybe due to Satan's re-wiring of our heart and the mangled mess that results from sin?  Is our wiring so crossed that we have become by nature incredibly selfish and self-centered?  Is the output of God's love unable to flow completely through us because our wires are so twisted that we find it nearly impossible to think that ANYONE is more important than we ourselves are?

Lord, please uncross the wires that I have allowed Satan to cross and cause your energy and love to flow through me instead of just getting stuck in just an endless loop inside me!

Philippians 1

I have been jumping around a bit as we consider the book that we will use for our next ladies' Bible study, and I've landed for a time in Philippians.  (Note: haven't been 'blogging' everything, but have learned some really neat things!)

Today was something that I really wanted to remember and with all that I'm trying to keep track of in my head, I figured I'd better write it down if there was any hope of remembering it tomorrow!  (Who am I kidding - I couldn't remember it by lunch let alone tomorrow!)

so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.  Philippians 1:26

That truly needs to be the prayer of my heart when it comes to the ministries I have been blessed to work in.  I desire (or should desire) that I give people around me 'cause to glory in Christ Jesus' and I can't do that if I'm not glorying in Him myself.

Lord, please help me to find all my joy and strength in you, so that, as I serve others, I am only reflecting You - causing them to glory in Christ Jesus.

James 1:1-4

Introduction:  The book is written by James. Not just any James, but James the brother of Jesus.  That makes it even more interesting that he uses the term "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ". His addition of the word Lord signifies his understanding that Jesus and God are one.  Again, interesting under the consideration that he was Christ's half- brother.

Patience - The testing of your faith produces patience -The ESV translates it as "steadfastness," but I prefer patience.  As one commentator said, it isn't a passive sitting and waiting, it is an active finishing - like the push to finish a marathon.  Also, I never realized that it wasn't so that God knows how much patience I have, but it is so I know, and others know.  That, for some reason seems to make a huge difference for me. . . 

I Peter 1:3-9

According to his great mercy. . . 

It really is all about Him!

though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

The trials come out of necessity and last only a short time

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

To whom will it result in praise and glory and honor?

To - Through

To - Through

Though

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:47-57

It is amazing that the Lord's work will always be accomplished no matter who is standing in the way with their own schedule firmly in hand.  The Lord  allowed Caiaphas to predict the death of the Lord as a sacrifice for the nation, and the Lord allowed him to make all of his plans, but the Lord still maintained control. 

Lord, thank you that your will can never be thwarted by the likes of frail man.

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:38-46

It is so amazing that all Jesus had to do to raise Lazarus was to call him out of the tomb!  Today Jesus does the same thing - He calls men dead in sin out of their tomb.  

Thank you, Lord that you called me forth.  That you didn't leave me bound in sin, but that you offered me the freedom that comes with new life.  Since you have raised me, may I daily live to serve you - leaving the old man to rot in the tomb rather than carrying him around with me!  Kinda funny, but it would be like me continually asking to be wrapped up in my burial cloth when I have the freedom of new life before me!

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:28-37

Thank you,Lord that you have not only th ability to be touched by our emotions, but also the capability to DO something about it!

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:1-16

A familiar passage (when Lazarus dies), but still a few things stood out to me:

1. "Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died. . . ' "

          I love the fact that sometimes the Lord knows we just don't 'get it' and because of the great love and compassion He has for His dear little ones, He spells it out as clearly as possible for us!  

2. "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

          I love how humanly (and overly dramatic) the Lord allowed the disciples to be presented in scripture!  Embarrassingly like me at times - and yet so amazingly comforting!  If the Lord can use this band of misfits, He can surely use me as well!

Treasuring Jesus - John 10:19-30

It's amazingly comforting to be held in the hand of the Maker of the universe and to be protected by the One who understands best what earthly and spirititual attacks I need to be protected from.

Treasuring Jesus - John 10:1-18

In this whole section Christ is comparing Himself to a shepherd and His followers to sheep.  Some people feel sheep are actually quite dumb, but I choose to see them quite to the contrary!

1.  They are okay following their shepherd.

2.  They don't mind listening to His voice.

3.  They are quite content to have their needs met by their Shepherd.

4.  They don't have to worry about anything - that's the Shepherd's job.

Lord, please help me to be a better "sheep of your pasture" - resting in You, following You, listening to Your voice, and enjoying the abundant life You have so graciously given me.

Treasuring Jesus - John 9:35-41

It will never cease to amaze me that the Lord actually went looking for the guy that had just been given his sight.  Jesus knew he had been through a lot that day - excilerating highs and frustrating lows.  Think about it - he was born blind and today was the first time he saw the world around him that he had literally spent a lifetime blindly wandering through.  For the very first time he saw his parents who he probably recognized only by voice!  He walked through streets he had only been led through before!  He had felt the touch of the Lord!  All of those wonderful things followed quickly by a very harsh meeting with the Jewish leaders.  Having to stand silently by and watch as his parents were dragged into the potentially volatile situation.  Being forced himself to stand firm for what he knew had been done - against a flurry of accusations.  All of that must have been extremely overwhelming, yet Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  Jesus took the time to find him - to talk with him - to encourage him.

Thank you, Lord, that you so willingly come and find me where I am and when you know that I need you the most.

Treasuring God - John 9:13-34

Wow!  The Jews really grilled (and grilled and grilled) this poor guy who's only issue had been being born blind and having been healed!  They question and accused and questioned some more and even dragged in his mom and dad! 

The Lord had healed him.  He didn't understand all of the how's and why's; all he knew was that he was blind and now he could see. 

On the other had, the Pharisees had a TON of questions!  They seem to be posed to the man, but in actual amity, they were asked of the Lord:

 - Why did this man heal on the Sabbath?  He "worked" on the Sabbath, and everyone know that Sabbath working of any kind is wrong!

 - Is this guy for real?  Was he really born blind?  Get his folks in here so we can confirm this story!

 - Are you really giving the glory to God?  You absolutely can't be because there is no way you could have been healed by this man!

 - Okay, tell us one more time, what exactly happened? 

Questions presented to The Lord are okay, but ridiculous questions with clear answered that we in our sinful attitude refuse to see are not okay!  

Thank you, Lord, that even when you know that I won't always completely understand what you are doing, or how you will do it, or why you will do it, you will let me come to you with questions.  Lord, please keep my heart soft and willing to listen and able to trust.

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:48-59

It is so interesting how evidently the Jews knew all about God, and yet not enough to recognize His Son.  It was a head knowledge, knowing clearly who God was, but not knowing Him.

Lord, may my understanding of you continue to grow - not just in head knowledge but in a heart relationship so I will never fail to see when it is clearly you that is talking to me.

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:31-38

It caught my eye that when Jesus told the Jews that the truth will set them free, they immediately respond that they have NEVER been slaves.  

Sin is like that - it comes with the amazing power of self deception.  "We've never been slaves.  We are sons of Abraham!"  Really?  What about Egypt?  Did ya forget about that 'small' little incident that lasted a mere 400 years? (interesting study on the length of the Hebrew exile - http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2010/07/05/israelites-in-egypt)

Lord, please do not let me get entangled in the self-deceiving web of sin.

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:12-20

When the Phaisees made the statement about Jesus's father, it was intended to be a cruel and cutting comment, no doubt with the intention of getting a rise out of Jesus.  It didn't work.

What about me.  When someone makes an intentionally cutting comment, how do I react?  Can others get me so stirred up that I will sinfully respond.  I should be confident enough in my standing before the LORD, that no ones little jabs can push me out of standing under His grace!

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:1-11

The poor woman used by these horrid Pharisees to set a trap for Christ!  How awful it must have been to stand there before the men, and the people Jesus had been teaching, and above all, Christ himself. Some commentators question whether she was actually even guilty, what Jesus was writing on the ground, or even wether this is the proper location for this story, but that seems to miss out on a major point.

Sometimes moments of shame and utter embarrassment can be those moments when it is most easy for me to see Christ, or they can be those moments where I am so fixated on myself, my feelings, and my guilt that I miss Him completely!

If my sin and guilt can be seen as a frame, it helps me better understand what the Lord desires.  It is not for me to place myself in that frame - even in my sin and guilt it is not all about me.  The purpose of sin and guilt is to help me get the focus off myself and on to Him.  When, in my sin and shame, I see Him as the focus, it doesn't encourage me to sin more, but rather it allows me a chance to experience His love and forgiveness.  When I'm in the center of the frame, I miss the amazing grace and the treasure that is Jesus.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:40-53

The Jewish leaders are getting more and more frustrated that this "Jesus" person seems to be affecting everyone, including one of their own, Nicodemus. 

The one thing I don't understand is why didn't Nicodemus do more than just say, "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"  Why didn't Nicodemus actually stand up for him?

Sadly, that brings me to the real question, Why don't I actually stand up for Him?  Why is it so easy to get all upset about someone's actions in the Bible, when, in truth, I am guilty of the same thing? 

Some hard questions. . .

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:33-39

The people themselves were open to hearing what Christ said about Himself; their problem was in the understanding of their heads.  On the other hand, the Pharisees were not open to what Christ said about Himself, and their problem was in the understanding of their hearts.

Today, it still comes down to the same issue - is it a head problem or a heart problem.  Unfortunately, it is most often my heart.

Lord, thank you for the understanding you have given.  Please grant my heart the desire to follow what my head knows you have commanded.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:14-31

When Jesus spoke he spoke with he power and authority of the Lord.  He didn't speak much, but what He did speak was true doctrine.

Lord, please give me the wisdom t speak little but what you approve.

Treasuring Jesus - John 7:1-13

It is clear in this passage that Jesus' brothers are mocking Him, and I like how one commentator pointed out another translation of His brothers' taunts to make it even more obvious: 

You can’t be famous when you hide like this! If you’re so great, prove it to the world! (The Living Bible)

The whole situation brought a few things to my mind:

1.  If someone pushes me to do what I don't believe The Lord wants me to do, how do I respond?  Am I willing to wait for God's direction?

2.  If someone pushes me to do thing that the Lord hasn't given me the "okay" on His timing, how do I respond?  Am I willing to wait for God's timing?

As Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible says:

Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord; the ways which God prescribes and directs men to walk in are different from theirs; his are holy, theirs unholy; his are plain, theirs crooked; his are ways of light, theirs ways of darkness; his are pleasant, theirs not so, at least in the issue; his lead to life, theirs to death; and therefore there is good reason why they should leave their evil ways, and walk in his.

Lord, help me to seek Your way and wait patiently for Your timing.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:66-71

After a large group of disciples have left, I  love how Jesus looks at the Twelve and asks them to examine their heart.  Jesus doesn't make assumptions - neither positive or negative.  He asks if they want to go away as well. 

As much as I think that it's neat that Jesus does ask them to consider their commitment, it is Peter's answer that I desire to live my life after. . . 

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? . . . "

When that is the response of my heart, I cam say that I finally "got it"!  I have no other place to go and I desire no other place.  In Christ I have all I ever need.  He  truly has become my all in all!

Lord, help me move to that place where You are all I need.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:59-65

It is a blessed thing to have commentators to help clarify confusing statements in God's word!  

In today's passage it looks like Jesus is chewing out some of His followers for not understanding what He said, when in actuality they were in trouble for not accepting what he said!  Understanding and acceptance are not the same thing in God's eyes.  When I don't understand what Jesus is saying, He will help to clarify.  When I don't accept what He says I am standing in disobedience.  Big difference! 

In this passage the "hard" part to accept (not understand) is that The Lord and spiritual things must always take first place over EVERYTHING else - including physical food!  When I understand what He is actually saying, I sort of see why they complained. . . and the sad thing is that Christ would have had to have the same response with me. . . 

Thank you, Lord for loving me even when I don't immediately like the "hard" stuff.  And, thank you for not just leaving me where I am.

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:41-51

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."

Everything about my life - from salvation to daily living - is so NOT about me!  Even this verse states that in salvation I don't "come to Christ", but rather God the Father draws me to the Son.  

Thank you, Father, that you do the drawing and the keeping!

Treasuring Jesus - John 6:35-40

HIS Job

My "job" / responsibility in salvation is given here, and that is to come and believe. Praise the Lord that's the end of my part! After that HE takes over. His part is to:

1. Satisfy my spiritual hunger and thirst.

2. Do the Father's will.

3. Keep me safely until He presents me to the Father.

Seems like a pretty unbalanced list of responsibilities, and I am truly grateful it!


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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:25-34

Why am I seeking the Lord? Is it for what He can do for me, or is it for Him?

Either this group is truly clueless OR they actually think that they can deceive Jesus into giving them what they want. [So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?] Unfortunately, I at times do the same thing, quite convinced that I can get God to do things my way if I ask it right, or cajole Him enough.

Lord, help me to desire to be close to you for the right reasons.






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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:15-24

There may be times when it seems that Jesus is far from me when I truly feel I need Him close. It does not mean He has abandoned me! He is watching me (Mark 6:48), and He is never far away. He has intentionally sent me into a place (Mark 6:45) where I must work past my frustration and learn to trust in Him.


I had forgotten that this was not unfamiliar water for the disciples. Several of them WERE fishermen! And actually, it doesn't seem that the small storm was the issue as much as the fact that they had been rowing all night and were only half-way across. (Mark 6:48) It was in their frustration that Jesus came to help. It's interesting to realize that He could have NOT sent the storm, or that He could have just NOT sent them alone, but He did.. And because He did, they got to experience the amazing! They saw Christ walking on water! Peter himself got to walk on the water! Quite a trade off for an evening of frustration!


Thank you, Lord, that when I feel most frustrated and alone, I can trust in your divine love and care. I can know that you are closer than i can see even if the storm is raging, and that you are just getting me ready to see you do something amazing!!



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Treasuring Jesus - John 6:1-14

The Lord doesn't need my participation to complete His work, but He desires it.


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Treasuring Jesus - John 5:33-47

I show I believe in Christ by doing everything out of love. He acted out of love for the Lord, and therefore I should act out of love for Him.
If I don't, I'm no better than the Pharisees he spoke of in this passage.
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Treasuring Jesus - John 5:18-24

Observations:
Jesus states that He is equal with the Father, yet put Himself under His Father's authority. It is clear that the Jews just don't get it - even with all the signs God has given them through Christ.
Applications:
1. How do I do with the listening and believing to what I am told though the Word?
2. Do I fully give Christ His rightful place?
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Treasuring Jesus - John 15:1-17

Jesus Heals by the Pool of Bethesda

Observations: There are so many little things that jump out of this passage!

"Do you want to be healed?" - What seems like a silly question could possibly have been just asking the man to think about what he really wanted; what was his motivation for sitting there? There is no question that The Lord asks of us that doesn't have the purpose of making us take the time to think about our response. {Interesting study idea - questions asked by God}

"Sir, I have no one to put me in. . . " - How often do we, like the man, desire to be 'healed' and yet we can't seem to see past what we know is our complete inability to do anything about it ourself.

"Who is the man who said to you, take up your bed and walk?" - I just find that incredibly funny and telling at the same time. Not "Who healed you?" but "Who said you could break OUR laws of the Sabbath?" A miracle was walking right in front of them, and they were clearly focused only on their interpretation of what was right and wrong.

"Afterwards Jesus found him in the temple" - It was almost as if Jesus said, "We aren't done yet." He doesn't just want to heal the man physically, he wants to be sure he gets the spiritual side of it too.

Applications: So much that I can apply to my life from this one interaction at the pool of Bethesda.

~ What do I really want the Lord to do in my life?

~ How have I limited God by seeing His ability only through the scope of what I think is possible?

~ Have I lost sight of how God is working because I'm too busy focusing on my way of doing things and my seeming responsibilities?

~ Where am I spending my time? Is it where Jesus can easily find me or is it off and running to get on with my life?


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Treasuring Jesus - John 4:46-54

Jesus and the Nobleman's Son
Observation: Jesus' rebuke of not believing without visible proof was not aimed harshly at the man. It was a statement made regarding all of the Galileans in general not him specifically. (Plural form of the pronoun 'you' is used.) The fact that the man asked again showed that his faith was deeper than the surface - he wanted Christ's help and he knew Christ could help.
Application: "The man believed. . . and went." My faith must always result in action or it isn't true faith. What am I doing today that puts feet to my faith?
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Treasuring Jesus - John 4:39-45

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - part 4

Observation: Again Jesus goes out of His way to meet the needs of others, probably even to the grumbling complaints of His disciples - if He stayed two days in the city, they had to stay too!

Application: Something small that caught my eye. . . The Samaritans acknowledged Him for what He said - the Galileans acknowledged Him for what He did. How about me? Does God have to act for me to listen, or is it enough for Him to just say ?

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Treasuring Jesus - John 14:27-38

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - part 3

Observation: Jesus was quite comfortable speaking to both a woman who was seeking and a group of men who were clueless. Both He handled as they needed, and both He treated with kindness and respect.

Application: Outside of the reminder that "the fields are white for harvest," I was struck by the kindness of The Lord toward frail, needy, undeserving people. He handled them, not as would be most convenient for him, but as would be best for them. Do I show that same love and kindness for others? Do I lump everyone together, or do I enter each situation looking for what that person needs and tailoring my response to meet that need as much as humanly possible? It's not the easy way, but it is the Jesus way.


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Treasuring Jesus - John 4:16-26

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - part 2

Observation: Jesus isn't going to overlook our sin just because we are seeking Him. Sin is sin and must be dealt with.

Application: Jesus said "the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." Am I what He is seeking - a worshipper in spirit and in truth? Or am I a worshipper in appearance and convenience?

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Treasuring Jesus John 14:1-15

John 4:1-15

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

Observation: Christ has such incredible compassion on those who aren't very lovely. He also is a master at presenting Himself (the gospel) in a way that draws the other person so naturally in.

Application: Is my salvation "bubbling up" like fresh spring water from within me? Is it noticeable to others? Does it offer refreshment to others?


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Day 16 - The NT Challenge - Mark 5

Interesting Observations about Prayer

The Answer is "No"

The man that Jesus had just healed had only one request, that Jesus allow the man to stay with Him. One simple request that seems, at the outset to be a very valid, good request. Why then wasn't it answered with a "yes"?

Perhaps Jesus said "no" because He knew there was a more important job that this man would have to do for Him. Perhaps, as Spurgeon suggested, Jesus knew that the motivation of the request was partly out of fear - that if he didn't stay close to Jesus he would be overtaken by demons again. Perhaps. . . we'll never know exactly why, but maybe therein lies the answer. We don't always know why The Lord answers prayers as He does, but we can know it's always for our best - even if we, in our tiny little human hearts, have no idea of the "why."

The Nearness of Faith
I absolutely love the story of the lady in this chapter who had so much faith that she didn't feel she needed to talk to The Lord to be healed. She didn't even feel she need to see His face. She just needed to be near enough to Him - near enough to touch.

Oh that I would desire to be 'near enough' to Him.

The Journey of Faith

I image that the trip from the time Jairus spoke to The Lord until the servants met them saying his daughter was dead must have seemed like an eternity! Every step would have made Jairus want to break into a run. Every stop would have increased his agony knowing that his little girl was sick and he had the answer, and 'the Answer' wasn't moving fast enough.

Knowing the end of the story, it kind of makes me smile. How often am I exactly like that? It just seems Jesus isn't moving fast enough for me. I need to get the answer I want right now! But just like Jairus in the story, when I rush it on my time, I lose out on some of the blessing. Had Jesus healed her right when Jairus asked, he would have missed the opportunity to see his little girl go from 'sleeping' to wide awake right before his eyes. He would have taken away from his little girl the privilege of hold the Master's hand. He would have lost a lot to save a little time.

Lord, as I see in this one chapter three lessons about prayer, please help me to know that it is all about you. The focus of my prayer, the reason for my prayer, the results of my prayer - it's all about you and your great power, and your amazing love, and your perfect timing.





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OT History - A Relationship on His Terms

I Samuel 7:1-2

Background - The Israelites had "lost" the Ark of the Covenant, and after the Philistines had several issues with the Ark, they quickly sent it back to the Israelites. It ended up in one Israelite town, but they didn't handle it properly, so they sent it on to another town. The people of Kiriath-jearim did properly care for the Ark; they even consecrated a man to serve as a priest. They were so close to putting everything in its proper place. So close. . but not willing to go all the way - not willing to go so far as to put its in the temple.

How about me? How much do I really want a relationship with The Lord - on His terms not mine. There's the catch - - too often, I'm willing, but not willing to go all the way. Not willing to come on His terms, but settling for my 'good enough'. Is it really even 'good enough.'




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