August 9th, Isaiah 55-58
I love irony in music and in the written word. It captures my attention quickly. Chapter 55 has a zinger. It starts off with an invitation to people who are thirsty and without money. The invite is to come, buy, and eat... Come buy, without money and without cost. Now that's a market I have never been to. The irony makes you wonder what they are getting at.
Then the next question is posed..."Why do you spend your money on what is not bread, your labor for what does not satisfy." A call to evaluation. Of all the things to spend money on, why buy something that doesn't provide for you. Considering the time this was written it is a big question. Now days they call it disposable income, not something many people in the world have ever heard of...our limited money goes to buy things we actually need...bread.
All the while everyone needs to know this, there is something grand that is not for sale. Something's that won't cost and will satisfy. If you can get past a world screaming for your money to erase a lack of contentment in your spirit... You and I could live off of the richest of fare. A product that could cause the 'Stones to write a new song. Are we wise enough to purchase that which is not for sale?
Friday, August 9, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Isaiah 49-53 Pictures on the Fridge
August 8th, Isaiah 49-53
The impression this morning impressed upon me is the intimacy that God has with messed up people. We tend to disassociate ourselves with people who let us down again and again and again and again... There is a breadth to God's grace that I am unfamiliar with, that reminds me quickly that I seldom love as God does.
49:15-16 speaks of the impossibility of a woman forgetting her child, that God has an image of you engraved on the palm of his hand. Like a mom carrying pictures of her kids in her purse (on her phone: it's a new day!). You pull out your phone to show people your children. Your proud to show them to anyone who will look. God does the same thing with you. With your picture on his palm, he says "look, here's my kid!" With a bold proclamation God says "you belong!"
These messages of connection live in the midst of a prophets call out of a lot of personal and national mistakes. It is a curiosity in the midst of Gods love and expectation. As people we probably live in the error of enjoying the first too much or beating ourselves up for the second.
Go check out verses 50:4,7-10, 52:5-8, 53:2-6... Let us step into a love that God is offering us, shed the confused feelings about our identity with God and live as the loved, dear children of the King of all kings.
Hey look, it's your face on Gods palm... He must really love you!!
The impression this morning impressed upon me is the intimacy that God has with messed up people. We tend to disassociate ourselves with people who let us down again and again and again and again... There is a breadth to God's grace that I am unfamiliar with, that reminds me quickly that I seldom love as God does.
49:15-16 speaks of the impossibility of a woman forgetting her child, that God has an image of you engraved on the palm of his hand. Like a mom carrying pictures of her kids in her purse (on her phone: it's a new day!). You pull out your phone to show people your children. Your proud to show them to anyone who will look. God does the same thing with you. With your picture on his palm, he says "look, here's my kid!" With a bold proclamation God says "you belong!"
These messages of connection live in the midst of a prophets call out of a lot of personal and national mistakes. It is a curiosity in the midst of Gods love and expectation. As people we probably live in the error of enjoying the first too much or beating ourselves up for the second.
Go check out verses 50:4,7-10, 52:5-8, 53:2-6... Let us step into a love that God is offering us, shed the confused feelings about our identity with God and live as the loved, dear children of the King of all kings.
Hey look, it's your face on Gods palm... He must really love you!!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Isaiah 45-48 Either/Or
August 7th, Isaiah 45-48
Our stories have a flow. There is a context of the previous that informs and gives structure to the present and certainly has bearing and sway on the future. Missing a couple of days blogging as we were on a camping trip has me wondering how much to look through the missed chapters would give a little context for today's word.
Prophets have a big challenge. Convince a nation they are wrong, that their trouble comes from disobedience, that God cares, that they should change, that they don't need to fear change, which leads to some convincing happening in the chapter's today.
"I call you by name, though you do not know me. I am the Lord and their is no other, besides me there is no God. I equip you though you do not know me." Some great promises in those words. God does much for us even though we are far from him sometmes.
I always enjoy God's comparison of himself and idols. "Who is my equal?" I think saying things out loud and then listening to your self is a good way to tell if you've lost it. I pray to a hunk of metal that has ear but can't hear. I rescue it because it can't rescue me, I carry it around like my 6-month old because it has no ability to do anything by itself...it is my god.
In the end God wants to be head over us and bless us. 49:17 " I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the wave of the sea; your offspring would have been like sand, your descendants like it's grains; There name would have never been cut-off or destroyed from before me."
A warning from the past, how the past determined their current state and their current state will determine their future. It's the same for us...what will our tomorrow hold...well...some(not all) actually depends on us!
Our stories have a flow. There is a context of the previous that informs and gives structure to the present and certainly has bearing and sway on the future. Missing a couple of days blogging as we were on a camping trip has me wondering how much to look through the missed chapters would give a little context for today's word.
Prophets have a big challenge. Convince a nation they are wrong, that their trouble comes from disobedience, that God cares, that they should change, that they don't need to fear change, which leads to some convincing happening in the chapter's today.
"I call you by name, though you do not know me. I am the Lord and their is no other, besides me there is no God. I equip you though you do not know me." Some great promises in those words. God does much for us even though we are far from him sometmes.
I always enjoy God's comparison of himself and idols. "Who is my equal?" I think saying things out loud and then listening to your self is a good way to tell if you've lost it. I pray to a hunk of metal that has ear but can't hear. I rescue it because it can't rescue me, I carry it around like my 6-month old because it has no ability to do anything by itself...it is my god.
In the end God wants to be head over us and bless us. 49:17 " I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the wave of the sea; your offspring would have been like sand, your descendants like it's grains; There name would have never been cut-off or destroyed from before me."
A warning from the past, how the past determined their current state and their current state will determine their future. It's the same for us...what will our tomorrow hold...well...some(not all) actually depends on us!
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Isaiah 31-35 Satan tried to out ask God!!
August 4th, Isaiah 31-35
A ransom: someone is taken by a group who wants to use that as leverage for gain. That gain might be money or the return of something or the freedom of a political prisoner. It's a picture of a bad moment in the life of people. We've all seen some sort of movie that had this as part of the plot. As you enter in to how you might feel if such a thing happened with one of your cherished loved ones, it would be hard to bear.
This mornings passage speaks of us as the ransomed. The one for which a great price was paid. "The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing." A ransom is paid to one who is using a victim, ransoms are generally an exorbitant cost, ransom situations are never clear about the outcome of the one being held, there is much danger to it. Over the years I've talked a lot about being redeemed(bought and set free), but a ransom is a different situation. A ransom has to do with evil. There is an enemy who wants our soul.
Good news for us is that if you have chosen Christ, you and I stand as the ransomed. God has stepped in and dealt with an enemy of His and ours. Satan thought he could ask a high price, but he couldn't out ask God's provision! For that there is much rejoicing!!!
I'm glad you were ransomed, if you haven't been yet, lets talk...soon!
A ransom: someone is taken by a group who wants to use that as leverage for gain. That gain might be money or the return of something or the freedom of a political prisoner. It's a picture of a bad moment in the life of people. We've all seen some sort of movie that had this as part of the plot. As you enter in to how you might feel if such a thing happened with one of your cherished loved ones, it would be hard to bear.
This mornings passage speaks of us as the ransomed. The one for which a great price was paid. "The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing." A ransom is paid to one who is using a victim, ransoms are generally an exorbitant cost, ransom situations are never clear about the outcome of the one being held, there is much danger to it. Over the years I've talked a lot about being redeemed(bought and set free), but a ransom is a different situation. A ransom has to do with evil. There is an enemy who wants our soul.
Good news for us is that if you have chosen Christ, you and I stand as the ransomed. God has stepped in and dealt with an enemy of His and ours. Satan thought he could ask a high price, but he couldn't out ask God's provision! For that there is much rejoicing!!!
I'm glad you were ransomed, if you haven't been yet, lets talk...soon!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Isaiah 28-30 Trusting/Praising the Potter
August 1st, Isaiah 28-30
There are two well known sets of verses from chapter 29. The first one says... People draw near me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their fear is a commandment taught by men. I've heard people quote that verse often but never hear the next verse which says in essence...because of this I will do wonder upon wonder. God's response to mankind's failure is not what you would think.
The second is the reference to the potter and the clay. Who are we, as the clay, to question how the potter chooses to create us. Or to accuse our creator of lacking understanding. A right perspective changes how you see things.
Simple instructions... Offer an honest heartfelt praise and celebrate how the potter has made you!!
There are two well known sets of verses from chapter 29. The first one says... People draw near me with their mouth and honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their fear is a commandment taught by men. I've heard people quote that verse often but never hear the next verse which says in essence...because of this I will do wonder upon wonder. God's response to mankind's failure is not what you would think.
The second is the reference to the potter and the clay. Who are we, as the clay, to question how the potter chooses to create us. Or to accuse our creator of lacking understanding. A right perspective changes how you see things.
Simple instructions... Offer an honest heartfelt praise and celebrate how the potter has made you!!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Isaiah 23-26 and yet...
When you start reading this portion of Isaiah, you see destruction, Tyre is fallen and there is a call for people to mourn. It gets no more rosy as the next chapter begins by describing God's judgement of the earth, and yet, there's a change.
Following verse about an outcry of things that are gone, comes Is 24:14, "They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the Lord." What is it, what about any of that makes sense? It's stories of judgement, sorrow, death, kingdoms falling, and yet..."they shout for joy"
The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites, because it showcases how this works, this is Gospel. Throughout all of this judgement and punishment, righteousness can be restored. The evil are put down and the good may rise. Isaiah makes no attempt to make it sound happy or easy though, because it's not easy.
The idea that wicked will be punished so that the righteous can live is not just confined to nations, though we can certainly pull out many examples, it is also found on smaller scales, in organizations, office spaces and the very heart of each person.
There is a punishment for sin, whether is pride followed by a downfall, financial poverty after foolish spending, or being worn down by trying to bear the weight of your own sin. See though, how in Isaiah the praising of God comes after the judgement. It is much the same with us, when we sin, we set ourselves up for our own punishment, the punishment brings pain, the pain brings a choice.
The choice is God or not God. This is why so many conversion stories begin with a description of rock-bottom, the punishment for sin is felt and a choice is made.
Following verse about an outcry of things that are gone, comes Is 24:14, "They raise their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of the Lord." What is it, what about any of that makes sense? It's stories of judgement, sorrow, death, kingdoms falling, and yet..."they shout for joy"
The book of Isaiah is one of my favorites, because it showcases how this works, this is Gospel. Throughout all of this judgement and punishment, righteousness can be restored. The evil are put down and the good may rise. Isaiah makes no attempt to make it sound happy or easy though, because it's not easy.
The idea that wicked will be punished so that the righteous can live is not just confined to nations, though we can certainly pull out many examples, it is also found on smaller scales, in organizations, office spaces and the very heart of each person.
There is a punishment for sin, whether is pride followed by a downfall, financial poverty after foolish spending, or being worn down by trying to bear the weight of your own sin. See though, how in Isaiah the praising of God comes after the judgement. It is much the same with us, when we sin, we set ourselves up for our own punishment, the punishment brings pain, the pain brings a choice.
The choice is God or not God. This is why so many conversion stories begin with a description of rock-bottom, the punishment for sin is felt and a choice is made.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Isaiah 18-22 The Two most important things in discipline!!
August 1st, Isaiah 18-22
If reconciliation is the goal, then the punishment is separation. Yesterday I had a fun conversation reminiscing about disciplining our children. It sure was a lot more fun to talk about it in past tense than to be in the midst of it. But one thing came up that is also evident in these issues surrounding the discipline of God's people.
Children have no boundaries, they are made by parents. Boundaries that keep them from going to far(don't run out into the street) and boundaries that keep them from getting too close (I told you once that we are not getting that, when you keep asking you are being disrespectful of me and you will stop). R.E.S.P.E.C.T. find out what it means to me!!(I sang that a lot to my kids)
When authority is challenged it is always time for discipline. In our family sometimes it involved a spanking, sometimes sitting in a certain spot, it depended on the crime. But discipline has something to do with saying NO to little tyrants who intentionally cross boundaries. Parents fail to do this all the time. Don't fail because it will come back to bite you pretty hard.
The other failure is the one that breaks my heart most and that is this... after the time of separation, of saying NO... there is a time for unconditional love. I disciplined my kids and it's over, now is the time to show them how much I love them, reconcilation. I wanted them to feel the weight of being separate and the contrast of the joy and the great knowledge of being one with me. My kids wanted to know they were loved by me after getting in trouble. I went way out of my way to give them as big a hug as they wanted, to read or play or just be with them. I wanted them to also know they were loved. To create in them the awareness of not wanting to be distant from the ones they love. To learning the same with God. I don't want to be distant from Him.
The Israelites are distant from God, They have separated themselves, they are living in a moment of discipline. As rough as the moment feels, God steps in to remind us of his love that is constant. The time of separation comes to a close and to feel close in the arms of a loving God. We live in this cycle as an individual, as a family, as a church, as a nation. Knowing where your at in the cycle will help with growth and understanding where you should be or where you should stay!!
If reconciliation is the goal, then the punishment is separation. Yesterday I had a fun conversation reminiscing about disciplining our children. It sure was a lot more fun to talk about it in past tense than to be in the midst of it. But one thing came up that is also evident in these issues surrounding the discipline of God's people.
Children have no boundaries, they are made by parents. Boundaries that keep them from going to far(don't run out into the street) and boundaries that keep them from getting too close (I told you once that we are not getting that, when you keep asking you are being disrespectful of me and you will stop). R.E.S.P.E.C.T. find out what it means to me!!(I sang that a lot to my kids)
When authority is challenged it is always time for discipline. In our family sometimes it involved a spanking, sometimes sitting in a certain spot, it depended on the crime. But discipline has something to do with saying NO to little tyrants who intentionally cross boundaries. Parents fail to do this all the time. Don't fail because it will come back to bite you pretty hard.
The other failure is the one that breaks my heart most and that is this... after the time of separation, of saying NO... there is a time for unconditional love. I disciplined my kids and it's over, now is the time to show them how much I love them, reconcilation. I wanted them to feel the weight of being separate and the contrast of the joy and the great knowledge of being one with me. My kids wanted to know they were loved by me after getting in trouble. I went way out of my way to give them as big a hug as they wanted, to read or play or just be with them. I wanted them to also know they were loved. To create in them the awareness of not wanting to be distant from the ones they love. To learning the same with God. I don't want to be distant from Him.
The Israelites are distant from God, They have separated themselves, they are living in a moment of discipline. As rough as the moment feels, God steps in to remind us of his love that is constant. The time of separation comes to a close and to feel close in the arms of a loving God. We live in this cycle as an individual, as a family, as a church, as a nation. Knowing where your at in the cycle will help with growth and understanding where you should be or where you should stay!!
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