3.24.15 Keep Watch and Be Ready!

Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore Keep Watch, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must Be Ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

What the Lord is telling me from this is to Keep Watch and Be Ready because we don’t know when he is coming and to also be ready for when the enemy attacks or tries to sneak into steal us away from God.

The Greek translation for is: Keep Awake, Be Vigilant The Greek translation for Ready is: Be prepared.

Jesus asked his disciples to keep watch while he went to pray in the garden. Matthew 26:41 He said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus is telling us to be spiritually awake and ready. We can do this by staying close to him through his word and through His Holy Spirit, who fills us up daily.

The Lord, wants us to be faithful to him, and to continuously fill up on him and all his goodness: love, joy, peace, grace, etc. and then pass it on to others. As we are emptied, he refills us! Also being aware that there is an enemy; a thief who wants us to fail, he wants us to give up, he wants us to get tired and not care. He is waiting for us to wander away from our shepherd so he can lure us into his den and devour us. We can avoid this by keeping our focus on Jesus, and on the truth that he is the only way to God and eternal life. Is Jesus apart of our daily activities? Are we aware of his presence at work or school, at home with our families? When we are doing other things that require our full attention is Jesus there helping us to focus? Are we taking time to get refilled each day? Jesus is available to each of us all the time. Are we available to him all the time?

Lord Jesus, Thank you for keeping watch over us, and helping us to keep watch and to be ready for you when ever you come for us. Amen.

Patrice

3.23.15 "Stay Ready!"

Matthew 24:4-14 ⁴ Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. ⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷ Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹ and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

This passage made me think of the Pop tune from the late 1960’s band Chicago.  “Does anybody really know what time it is”?   As his disciples marveled at the magnificent beauty of the temple in Jerusalem, JESUS brought them back to reality with a glimpse into the future and the frailty of humankind.   While it is natural for us to dwell on the horror and magnitude of such destruction, that is not the point.

Not long ago I had the opportunity to attend a conference that featured a session on security.  The facilitator was the chief of police for a Houston suburb.   He was also a former secret service agent formerly assigned to protect President George W. Bush.   The most interesting part of his presentation focused on the mindset of law enforcement.   He said that as he and the officers that accompanied him to the conference entered the building they instinctively scanned the area to see if anyone looked out of place, different, or suspicious.  They observed the hallways and corridors looking for obstacles or blockages to a clear pathway.  They noted the entries and exits.  The chief told how even when they were off duty they routinely carried their service revolver of course, but also penlights and small utility knifes just in case.  Most of us listened and were entertained but the feeling in the room seemed to be more like hey it’s their job to “stay ready”.  Those sentiments changed when the conference room suddenly went black for a few seconds to the gasp and shrieks of the unsuspecting attendees.  The smiling facilitator quickly took credit.   It had only taken a few seconds of darkness to create panic and make his point.  Most of us are not prepared for the unexpected leaving us vulnerable in survivable situations.

JESUS’s central message as Pastor pointed out Sunday is not about “when.”  It is about “staying ready.”  These days reek of all the signs HE has given.  There are droughts, famines, melting ice caps; earthquakes were there have never been earthquakes; religious persecutions and executions, wars and rumors of wars.  In the midst of it all JESUS says don’t worry.   There is a plan.  These things must happen.   Stay ready!

GOD of the universe, we give thanks to YOU that indeed YOU have a plan.  Remind us today when we witness the chaos that swirls around us that we need not fear.  Send your HOLY SPIRIT to strengthen us and keep us faithful and ready!  In CHRIST name we pray, amen.

Jim L

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 51

¹ Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. ² Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. ⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. ⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. ⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. ⁹ Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. ¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. ¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. ¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. ¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

3.19.15 "He Cares for Us"

  Heavenly Father, enlighten us by your Holy Spirit as we reflect on your words through the apostle Peter in the passage below. Amen

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NIV)

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    

but shows favor to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Humility is the focus of God’s message through Peter for us today. It appears that humility, which is the opposite of pride, is related to both receiving God’s grace and being exalted or lifted up by him. When we are proud, we are cut off from God’s gracious involvement in our lives.

When our son Tim was small, his favorite expression was “I do it myself.” Whenever he was struggling with something beyond his capability, and we offered to help, he would say, “I do it myself.” Invariably the situation led to frustration and tears. There was willing help at hand but in his pride he chose to struggle by himself.

Peter learned a hard lesson about being proud in the Upper Room. When Jesus approached him to wash is feet, he told the Lord, ”No, you shall never wash my feet.” I’m certain that Peter was undone when Jesus said to him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part in me.” (Luke 13:6-10)

Because he cares for us as he cared for Peter, Jesus wants us to lay our pride aside. Rather than doggedly trying to extricate ourselves from the mess that surrounds us each day he desires that we turn everything over to him. God’s grace floods our lives when “under God’s mighty hand” and by the power of his spirit we humble ourselves before him and one another.

When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Isaac Watts 1707

Lord, thank you for enabling us to set our pride aside so that we can embrace a spirit of humility. Thanks you for taking from us the burdens we find too hard to carry and placing them on your shoulders. Amen.

jhf

3.18.2015 "Jesus is Sufficient!"

Matthew 23:37-39 (NIV) ³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.

³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate.

 ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Jesus loved Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was the capital of God’s chosen nation and the location of the Temple, the place where God came to dwell with the people.  Jerusalem was a place where God should have been worshipped, where Jesus should have been recognized as God’s Son and a place of peace.   However, Jerusalem became a place where there was no compassion and more and more was demanded of the people.

Jesus cared deeply for the people.  He desired to shelter and to protect them.  But, when he called them they did not want to hear Him.  The leaders wanted him dead and began to plot to kill him.    Jesus predicted that Jerusalem would be destroyed and 40 years later the city was left desolate by the Romans.  However, Jesus did leave the people with hope.  He said he would not return until the people said “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”  He did not say if the people say but until they do.  Jesus gives hope.

Jesus talked with passion and love about His people.  He talks to us today through the Bible and through the messages we hear at church and through prayer.  He is calling us.  In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says “Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.”  When you hear Him calling do you respond to Him in faith and trust or do you turn up the noise of the world to block Him out?   He longs to have relationship with you and me, to shelter and protect us.  Jesus is trust worthy and He does care.  I can trust Him to supply everything I need and with all my situations.    He has already provided for me to have eternal life and to live with Him in heaven. When He died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead on Easter morning he provided eternal life to everyone who has faith in who he is and what he did.  Will I yield to his call, open the door and allow Him to fill all my needs?  Will you?   As Pastor said Sunday “Our self-worth is not wrapped up in our performance.  I don’t need to be my own sufficiency.  Jesus is my sufficiency.”  He will fill all my needs.  He is sufficient.  No one loves us and cares for us like Jesus does.

What do I/you need to trust Jesus with?  Will I/you trust His sufficiency?

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are all powerful and all sufficient.  There is nothing that surprises you or that is too hard for you.  Help us, Lord, to trust you with everything in our lives.  Let us see the miracles you will do in our situations in your perfect time.  We Love you Lord.   In Jesus name we prayer, Amen

Charleen

3.16.15 - "A Gentle Yoke"

The Scripture for today is Matthew 23:1-12 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

⁵ “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶ they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷ they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

⁸ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father,and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law tied up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves were not willing to lift a finger to move them.  That reminds me of working out in my backyard yesterday.  It was warm and sunny, a perfect day to put in a new landscaping bed.  We purchased nine fresh bags of hardwood mulch for our new plantings.  To be honest, I had forgotten just how heavy a wet bag of mulch is.  Wanting to share the workload with my husband, I decided I would lug at least 4 of the bags to our backyard.  As I hoisted each bag to rest across my shoulder, I couldn’t help but grunt with exertion.  My steps slowed and my shoulder felt as if a heavy weight was pressing me into the earth.  Each bag felt heavier than the last and it was a great big relief to toss each one down onto the ground near our work site.  As I read about the burdens the religious leaders placed upon the people, I thought of how heavy their loads must have been – not physically heavy, but spiritually, mentally and financially heavy.  How terrible to live in a culture where you are constantly reminded that you are never holy enough, never educated enough, never devout enough, never sacrifice enough, etc.  My four bags of mulch seemed oddly light as I thought of the burden the people bore from their religious leaders.  I also thought about living today – our culture places heavy burdens upon us.  We can never measure up to the standards of beauty, wealth and success portrayed by the media.  Sadly, even our churches and religious leaders can be impacted by the standards of this world.

Let’s contrast the Pharisees and teachers of the law with Jesus.  In Matthew 11:28-30  – Jesus says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus invites us to lay our burdens down – to be freed of the weight of  meaningless religious rituals, free of wallowing in feelings of unworthiness, free of the fear of eternal damnation, free of not measuring up to our society’s standards of beauty, wealth and success.  Truly FREE – free to enjoy the peace and assurance that comes from a life spent with Christ.  A life spent with a Savior who leads me, walks with me, carries me when needed and never burdens me with more than I can bear.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your daily presence.  Thank you for providing rest and peace, not heavy burdens.  I love you, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Kelly

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

⁴ Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. ⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

"AM" not "was"!

Here is the scripture for today! Exodus 3 “ Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ² There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. ³ So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” ⁴ When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” ⁵ “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” ⁶ Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”  

Last Sunday we heard Jesus quoting the bolded line above when He was talking to the Sadducees about resurrection, which they did not believe was real.  He was basically showing them from their own playbook (they only believed the first five biblical books, which includes Exodus, were authoritative) that God, when talking to Moses, used the present tense “I am” not “I was” indicating that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive as He talked even though they had died hundreds of years before.  It’s a powerful argument for “resurrection to eternal life!”

Something powerful struck me as I considered this. Our God is an “I am” God not an “I was” God!  He is a present God not a past God!  He has a past but is not stuck in the past!  He is eternal (past, present and future all together)! I have a past but He is calling me to live today in the present – where He is.

Read that line again! “I have a past but He is calling me to live in the present – where He is.” He makes that possible because He rose from the dead!  Death does not get the last word – life does!  “Was” is not our destiny “Am” is!

(There is something powerful here that I feel I am at the edge of seeing as I write.  It’s like I am walking up to the edge of the Grand Canyon – at the brink of seeing something amazing.)

I get to live today freed from my “was” (my past including yesterday) and fully engaged in my “am” (my present, today) knowing God is alive, risen from the dead, and fully present with me now, right now, I mean right now!  He is my “I AM” God.  I get to be His “I AM” follower today!  His resurrection applies to me!  Life wins!  Easter gets the last word even though Good Friday had to happen! Today can be defined by “AM” not “was”!

delton

"What do you think about the Messiah?"

Mark 12:35-37

Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, He asked, “why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah is the son of David? For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit in the place of honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies beneath Your feet.’ Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?’ The large crowd listened to Him with great delight.”

Matthew 22:41-45 says it this way…

“Then surrounded by the Pharisees, Jesus asked them a question, ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is He?’”

The Chronological Life Application Study Bible says, “The Pharisees, Sadducees, and supporters of Herod had asked their questions.  Then Jesus turned the tables and asked them a penetrating question – who they thought the Messiah was.  The Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, but they did not understand that He would be God Himself.  Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 to show that the Messiah would be greater than David.  The most important question we will ever answer is what we believe about Christ.  Other theological questions are irrelevant until we believe that Jesus is Who He said He is.”

“Many people have a vague belief in God but refuse to accept Jesus as anything more than a great human teacher.  But the Bible does not allow that option.  Both the Old Testament and New Testament proclaim the deity of the One Who came to save and to reign.  Jesus explained that this psalm spoke of the Messiah as greater than David, Israel’s greatest king.  Peter uses this psalm to show that Jesus, the Messiah, sits at God’s right hand and is Lord over all.  You can’t straddle the fence, calling Jesus ‘just a good teacher, because the Bible clearly calls Him Lord.”

The Scholars, Pharisees, Sadducees, were masters of debate.  They had compiled over 613 laws to follow.  Yet, the Son of God, David’s son and David’s Lord stood right before them and they did not recognize Him.  All of their rules and laws and knowledge and “expertise” did them no good if they couldn’t answer for themselves Who Jesus was.

“What do you think about the Messiah?  Whose son is He?” Jesus asked them.

“What do you think about the Messiah?  Whose son is He?”  Jesus asks us today, March 12, 2015.

How will I answer?  How will you answer?   Do you know Who He is?

-dawn

3.11.15 "The Most Important Commandment"

Mark 12: 28-34 28 One  of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating.  Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 “The most important one, “ answered Jesus,  “is this: ‘Hear O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 

31 “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

32 “Well said, teacher,” the man replied.  “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.  33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”  And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.  

Love God

Love Others

Love Self

The heart of God is LOVE !

“I Love you”  These three little words have a lot of power in them, when they are heartfelt, sincere and followed up by some action.

God showed his love over and over to Israel, by forgiving over and over and then to all the world by giving his Son, Jesus to die for our sins, so that we can have eternal life and not perish in hell.

Jesus show us his love for us by coming to earth, teaching us about God and then paying the price of our sins by his death, and giving us the gift of eternal life, by his resurrection.

How can we show our love to God?

How can we show our love to others?

How can we love ourselves?

We show God our love by Honoring him, Praising Him and Thanking Him all day, everyday!  Also, by obeying his commands, which are all about the second greatest command to love others as much as we love ourselves.

We show others love by putting them first, taking time to listen, to share, to help them.

We also show others love, by taking time, to help them to love and help themselves.  This is the part of loving others that we need the Lord to guide us in, so that we encourage others in their faith and in their daily life.   As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we follow his example of love, by sharing our testimonies of how Jesus loved us and helped us in our own lives.  As others come into a relationship we need to encourage them to remain true to their faith in God, by our words, and also by our actions.  Being willing to come alongside one another as we go through tests and life experiences that challenge us in our faith.

The key ingredient to following all the commandments is love!

The religious leaders were all very good at following the law, and keeping all the people in line with all the extra rules they added onto the commandments,  but they did not have love in their hearts.   They showed that they didn’t love God, by how they lived and by how they treated Jesus!

The last part of the second commandment is to love ourselves.

How do we love ourselves?

First by believing that God loves us,  and showed us his love by his death and resurrection.  We each need help from the Lord in accepting ourselves as he does.  He values us and wants us to value ourselves.

Second we need to forgive ourselves of our sins of the past and let go and turn to Jesus completely and fully.

Let him lift this heavy burden from your shoulders and let his peace and love flow over you and through you.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you are one with Christ and you are a new creation, because the Spirit of God lives within you!

Do you see Jesus in yourself?  Do others see Jesus in you?  Let the Spirit within you lift you up and shine out through you to all those around you.

Love is what we all need the most and what God offers to each of us.  I pray that God will open each of our hearts to receive more of him each day until we see him face to face!

Lord Jesus,  please help us to love you, and to love others and to love ourselves as you do.  Help us to be open to all that you have for us and to invite those around us to know you as we do.   Amen

Patrice

3.10.15 "Which Questions Do WE Hide Behind?"

Luke 20:27-39 ²⁷ Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. ²⁸ “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. ³⁰ The second ³¹ and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, ³⁶ and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. ³⁷ But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’^{[a] 38} He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

³⁹ Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!”

This passage reminds me of two things.  First, the story I heard about the world’s greatest minds and leading scientist requesting a meeting with GOD.  At the meeting these great scientists explained to GOD how HE was no longer needed.  “Man, they explained, has evolved to the point that they could design and create anything you can using our great minds and technology, GOD is obsolete.”  GOD said “let’s test your assertion with a simple contest.   If you win I will agree to whatever you demand.”  The scientist eagerly agreed and GOD said all you have to do is create a man using dirt.  “No problem”, the scientist responded with glee as they immediately began to scoop up dirt from the ground.  “Not so fast, came the voice from GOD, you need to get your own dirt.”

How easy is it to question the Creator of the universe?   JESUS knew the questions even before these would be inquisitors did.   Always he flipped the script so that the challengers became the challenged.  The creations are no match for their CREATOR.

The second thought is the glimpse JESUS gives us of the real life to come for those of us who believe.

³⁶.…and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.   

What awesome unimaginable wonders lie in front of us beyond this life, all because our LORD would not be deterred from HIS mission!  Notice HE does not use the future tense.  HE says “they are” not “they will”.   Even though the mission was yet in front of him, he already knew how it would end, just like he knew the Sadducees’ questions before they were asked.  What a privilege it is for us to share in that knowledge.  No matter what we are dealing with here and now we know the end of the story.  We know the best is yet to come.

HEAVENLY FATHER we give you thanks and praise this day that you have guaranteed our future through the incredible life and death of YOUR SON.   What a joy to know that we will do real life once this earthly one is over with YOU forever in glory and splendor.  Remind us FATHER when our faith wonders of YOUR mighty love and unbreakable promise.  In JESUS name we pray.

Jim L

3.9.15 "Paying Taxes to Caesar"

Please find a quiet place to clear your thoughts.  As we read these verses, ask for the Holy Spirit to rid your mind of busyness, doubt, fear, worry, etc…  Let God’s truth speak to your heart! Mark 12:13-17

The Message (MSG)

 ^13-14 They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating. They came up and said, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

^15-16 He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” They handed him one.

“This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?”

“Caesar,” they said.

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.”

Their mouths hung open, speechless.

I have to admit that I enjoy worshiping The God who is so omnipotent, who knows everything that was, and is, and is to come!  In these verses Jesus is quiet and listens to the Pharisees and followers of Herod, already knowing what they are “up to”.  He very calmly turns the table, and speaks truth to them, using their own words.

Just as back then, we live in a country where paying taxes is the norm.  And we gripe and complain about how much paying taxes cost us, we try to do everything we can to reduce the yearly amount, etc.  As Pastor Delton so wisely pointed out in his message this morning, they (and we) are missing the point.  The things in this world that drive us nuts, and make us grumpy are not the things we should be wasting our time worrying about.  Jesus reminds us (again) that we are to be about His Kingdom work, from the perspective of Jesus’ Kingdom eyes.  As the commentary in my Bible says, “our lives, which bear God’s image, belong to God.”  Are we giving our lives to God?  Am I living a Jesusy life every day?  Am I spending time with Him every day, so that I know how to be Jesusy?  When someone says something that is hurtful, do I just quickly answer, or am I looking with love behind the meaning or reason behind what hurts (being Jesusy)?  It’s much easier to react quickly and lash out a response.

It’s difficult for me to think of myself as bearing God’s image – my self image is not so good most days.   But I’m trying to think of myself as a God’s daughter, before I let my worldly self image begin to control my day.  It’s taking REAL effort. J

Father God – thank you so much for Your Son, who loves us every day and looks past our questions and earthly concerns.  Please help me to be more Jesusy, so that I can understand the reason behind the behavior/questions to point others to the loving God that You are!  Amen.

kristi

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 118:22-26

²² The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; ²³ the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

es in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you.

3.6.15 "How Does This Whole Trust in God Thing Happen?"

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all you ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." My first thought instantly when I see this passage is, "How do you trust someone with all of your heart, let alone a God we do not physically see?"  I then instantly feel crummy, because,  "How can we not trust in God? He is the provider for all and of all."  I have always struggled with the whole idea of trust and what that looks like.  Recently being a college graduate, and now in both the ministry work force and the business work force as well, I think of the one thing most people don't like, GROUP PROJECTS.  In doing a group project (I get chills just typing that out) you constantly have to rely on others to do their assigned jobs to ensure the project meets the goals laid out for you and your team.  Now if you are like me, these dreaded projects created anxiety, and a ton of work.  You see I am not one to put my grade, salary, or really anything on the line, especially when it is in someone else's hands entirely. I often made sure that the work and goals that were to be met were accomplished, and I did not really wait for others to do their part as I would do it for them, did we get the A, or did I make the sale, sure.  However, looking back had I worked as a team would I have had to do as much work?  Or would I have given the satisfaction and taste of success to the others in the group?  You see even though my "group" got the job done, I failed the assignment because I did not work as a team.  I then like in all situations think to sports...one of the greatest franchises on the planet has to be the San Antonio Spurs, not because I love Tim Duncan, or because my cousins constantly make me envious with their pictures from sitting at the games at AT&T Center, but because they truly play team basketball. They execute the passes, they give up shots to make easier shots, and they take less money to keep the TEAM intact. However, because we are human and we are not perfect the Spurs do not always win a title every year.  After all of this I focus myself back on Jesus, how did he play a part of a team?

Jesus in all actuality is the ultimate team player, he let his disciples do ministry, he let God guide his life, and ultimately let himself complete the prophecies by dying on the cross.  While he was in the garden he prayed that God would take away this challenge if it be HIS will, not Jesus' will, but God's will.  God being the Knower of all said, "My will, Son, is for You to die on the cross to forgive humanity of their sins.  Jesus being obedient and humble accepted this challenge, and the rest is history.  When we lean on our own understanding, and not the guidance of God we lose focus.  We begin to think about what do I need to do to better my situation, or we go down the road of this is all on me to do.  When we think this way our paths begin to get very criss-crossed, and curvy.  However, when we fully rely on God, he makes the path simple, rely on Him and He will take care of us.  Now I know some of you are thinking, "How can this be? I cannot see God or even hear him in my life."  I tell you stop looking for the burning bush, or the radical storm, but listen closely for the gentle whisper.  He is there, and he is more than worth trusting because He truly is the One that guides our lives, and even amidst the storm He is guiding our ship.  We have to let him be God, and us be his servants...NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

Regards,

Jordan Norton

3.5.15 "WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ME?—WHO CARES? WHAT DOES GOD THINK OF ME?"

1 Peter 4:5-7New International Version (NIV) ⁵ But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

I many times worry about what others think about me- what I say, what I do or will do. I dwell on how is it going to make me look? What are they going to say about me to others? What will they think about this blog? Why didn’t anyone comment on this blog? Did I miss the point? Did it not resonate with them? Well, you get the idea.

Therein lies the problem. I worry, people worry about other people. I try not to offend others. I try to please everyone else when, in fact the ONLY ONE I should be worrying about pleasing is GOD!

Yes people judge me every day. And I am sure that I don’t live up to their expectations. But the ONLY ONE that I really need to worry about is the ONE TRUE JUDGE-OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. Do I live up to God’s expectations? My body will die, but did I “live according to God in regard to the spirit”?

Christ will return to judge everyone alive and those that have died. God will give eternal life to all that believe and trust Jesus. God saves each of us from our sins because Jesus died for our sins. That is what I need to be concerned about. By God’s grace, I am saved through my faith and my actions.

Yes I need to worry less about what others think. I need to pray more that I might be a better Christian and that I might be a better disciple, bringing others to Christ. It won’t happen by osmosis or by just coming to church every Sunday. I have to intentionally pray and act. How can I be a better Christian? How can I be a better disciple? That is what I need to worry about-nothing else matters.

Lord Jesus please help me to worry less about things of this world. Please help me to be a better Christian and a better Disciple. Help me to live intentionally according to Your Plan and Your Spirit. Amen

Jerry

3.4.15 “His Authority…in our days “

Luke 20:9-19New International Version (NIV) ⁹ He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. ¹⁰ At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ¹¹ He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. ¹² He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

¹³ “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’

¹⁴ “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ¹⁵ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”

¹⁷ Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

¹⁹ The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

I don’t think I’ve ever looked at this Parable as deeply as Pastor had us dig into it last Sunday. Starting with the ever increasing, utter depravity by which the “tenant farmers” responded to the “authority” of their “land owner”…which included the death of the one he sent that came in “full authority” of “the landowner”! Yet, it astonishes me the “graciousness” with which the “land owner” tried time and again to get the “tenant farmers” to just be obedient to their agreement…demonstrate their respect and honor where it is due. I guess, at this point, the “tenant farmers” thought the fight for the property was over, but it wasn’t…the “land owner” would now appear on the scene.

So now, with the “authority” of the One who sent Him, Jesus leaves no doubt about the outcome for the rejection of God the Fathers’ grace…the New Covenant… “He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”…the “others” being the gentiles…you and me…His Church...established in the blood of the Lamb…the Chosen One…Jesus…the one the “tenant farmers” rejected…who is now the foundation upon which His Church is be built.

Next, the proclamation that Jesus makes v18 is pretty heavy (no pun intended)…definitely spoken with “authority”, and I’d like to share the following excerpt from a commentary that helped me see clearly the depth and decisiveness this warning brings:

“Christ is the Corner-stone of His Church. By faith in His atonement there is salvation for both Jew and Gentile. But everyone that rejects the salvation through His blood must take the bitter consequences which he thus brings upon himself. It is a peculiar, a paradox judgment that falls upon the opponents of the Gospel. Foolish, mentally deranged, and spiritually blind people they are that want to run their heads, with the product of man's wisdom, against the rock of the eternal Wisdom of God. Instead of making so much as a dent in the Rock of Ages, they find themselves staggering back with badly battered heads. And their rejection, in turn, reacts upon them, for the Stone falls on them with crushing judicial effect. They have their sentence of condemnation even here in time. And they will find out, in a dreadful eternity, what it means to reject the mercy of God. These solemn words of warning may well be brought to the attention of many people in our days that think the world has outgrown the old Gospel of salvation through the redemption of the blood of Jesus.”

Kretzmann, 1924

For me, I have no doubt of the Divine “Authority” of Christ. With that said, how does this parable apply to my life? Well, for starters, did I spend time with Jesus, today? Was I disobedient or go against His Word in any way, today?…and if so, did I confess my sin to Him? Have I prayed for His guidance in my life, seeking His will and the path He has marked out for me? Did I bring His “salt and light” to others?...to the lost?...or…much like the Jewish leaders of that day…the “tenant farmers”, was I on my mission or His?

How about you?

Blessings to you and yours!

jb

3.03.15 "Confident Authority!"

We pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! Thank you, God in heaven, for the gift of a new day. This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it! Even though I am unworthy, you chose to love me from the beginning of time and when the time was right, you chose to send your son, Jesus, to live a perfect life, suffer, die and rise again – all for me. I ask that you give me the Joy of your salvation and the Peace that passes all understanding. As I meditate on your words, please speak to me and guide. And as I live out this day, may I place myself under your authority and willingly carry out the mission you have for me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen!

Luke 20:1-8

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ² “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

³ He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: ⁴ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

⁵ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ ⁶ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

⁷ So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

⁸ Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Authority. As one who served in the military for about twenty years, I have interacted with all sorts of people who had authority. From generals to colonels to lieutenants to senior non-commissioned officers right down to the private first class who “outranked” a fellow soldier by virtue of having one more month of service. Sayings like “Rank has its privileges” come to mind. I’ve seen all kinds: the good, the bad, and the ugly!

I love the way Jesus handles his authority. He is confident. He knows where his authority comes from; he knows where he came from and where he is going. He is concerned. He spent his entire time of ministry on this earth reaching out to the lost, the broken, the sick and the wounded. And he is calm. No need to raise his voice, pound on the table, or stand on a chair. He doesn’t need to do that to get his point across.

Jesus is the kind of leader we all want to follow. He is the kind of authority figure we all respect. As you go about your day today, think of submitting your will to His will, of surrendering your thoughts to His thoughts, and of picturing yourself, broken and humble, kneeling at the foot of the cross.

May God grant this for Jesus’ sake,

Mark

3.2.15 - Our Church - Our House of Prayer

The Scripture for today is Mark 11:15-19 ¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

“My house will be called a house of prayer…” House, home, church, temple, sanctuary – what images come to mind?  I sat in church today enjoying the message and found myself reflecting on the importance of a house of prayer.  When we gather on Sunday morning for worship, how many of us come in seeking sanctuary?  Seeking comfort?  Seeking connection with God and others?  Seeking respite from the weekly burdens of our lives?  How many of us crave the opportunity to lift our voice in praise and worship?  How many of us really need prayer – both individually and as part of the family of Point of Grace?  How many of us received much-needed nourishment for our soul as we participated in the Lord’s Supper?

“You have made it a ‘den of robbers’”.  This verse really resonated with me.  It brought to mind a church I once attended.  Politics, gossip, stiff-necked adherence to tradition, lack of support for the pastor and leaders, unwillingness to serve and other issues created a church where I didn’t experience joy, peace, the presence of the Spirit, comfort, or sanctuary.  The church wasn’t evil and there were certainly good, loving people there but I felt robbed – this was not a house of prayer for me. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders for their abuse of authority; burdening the people with religious rules and regulations; turning the Father’s house into a marketplace and creating an environment where people were robbed of wealth, peace and joy.   There is a warning there for us – we are called to be salt and light in a broken world.  Our church is called to be a house of prayer.  With the guidance of the Spirit, we must discern God’s plan for us and our service to each precious person that walks in our doors.  We cannot let our church become all about us and our desire to be in control.

What would Jesus think if he came to our church or joined in one of our gatherings?  I think he would be pleased with the heartfelt worship songs being raised to the heavens by the people and the gifted individuals who serve on our worship team.  He would enjoy hearing His Word preached from the stage with such passion and truth.  He would appreciate the many individuals involved in serving before, during and after Sunday worship in so many different roles – each using their God-given talents.  But I think Jesus would look beyond our doors – into the homes and businesses all around us.  His heart would break for those who don’t have the comfort of a house of prayer.  He would mourn for those who live and work in places ruled by those who seek to rob them of His grace, peace and comfort.  Jesus just might overturn our comfortable routines and push us out of the boat to seek his lost ones.  Are we ready?  Jesus is calling!

Lord Jesus, give me a heart for your lost ones.  Help me to create a house in prayer in my household and my church.  Give me wisdom to see when I am guilty of behavior that robs others of your joy and peace so that I may repent and turn from my ways.  I love you, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

Kelly

Saturday's Blog

Welcome to the POG Blog! Today is Saturday which means YOU get to start the discussion on today’s scripture!  What is it saying to you today?  How does it relate to your life right now?  How does it relate to the message from Sunday?  Enjoy reading, meditating, and sharing your thoughts with others today!

Today’s Scripture is:    Psalm 100

¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. ²     Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ³ Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

"Longing!"

Here is the Scripture reading for the today! Matthew 23 ³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. ³⁸ Look, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Jesus crying out for the people if Jerusalem - for the religious leaders who he has been pleading with for two chapters in Matthew's gospel to surrender to the fact that He is truly the Christ - the Son of God.  Some the boldest most audacious words Jesus ever spoke precede these heart crying sentences.

When I see this in context I am drawn to the reality that Jesus gets "in our face" so to speak that we might come to Him - not in pride and arrogance as if we can "deal" with Him!  But "come to Him" like little chicks come to the safe covering of their mother hen's wings!

Over the next couple of weeks at PoG we are going to journey with Jesus as He walks and talks His way through the days which lead up to His death and resurrection!  We will see a side of Him that is easy to miss.  Not because it is hidden but because we might find it "unbecoming" of our image of Jesus.  Jesus pushes people - all people!  He pushes not in the sense of manipulating or controlling them - He pushes people to either accept Him for who He is or reject Him out right.  Either surrender to Him or rebel against Him!  He knows that "sitting on the fence" is a dangerous place to be when it comes to faith.  He is on a mission!

It is His heart for people that I know I must remember as I see Him be really harsh sometime!  His heart "longs" for us.  Isn't that what the reading says, "how often I have longed to gather your children together" Jesus really loves us - His people - all people!  He loves us all enough to be really tough sometimes!  He knows it is not good for us to sit on the fence - so He longs for His children, for us.  

This moves me!  First of all, as a "object" of His longing.  To let my self be loved by Him and not fight it! This also moves me as an "agent" of His longing.  I know He longs for others as well and I want to be an agent of His longing in their lives.  I want His longing for them to shine through me!  I get to let them know that the God of the universe longs for them!

He longs for me - He longs for you - He longs for them! Today you and I get to be both "objects" and "agents" of His longing!

delton