Archives For faith

whatever

June 20, 2014 — Leave a comment
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr
image: Martin Deutsch @ Flickr

There are many times when I wonder just what to do. There are options, opportunities, moments to be capitalized upon…and not an obvious right way to go. Is there a way to know what to do? Every time we say ‘yes’ to one thing, we’re saying ‘no’ to something else, just by way of limiting our availability… and trying to determine what is the most prudent or urgent/important or furthest-reaching investment can be so overwhelming it’s almost paralyzing.

There’s a story in Scripture that speaks into a moment of ‘where do I go from here?’ and I have found it incredibly helpful: God has identified and called out a man named Saul to be the first king of the people of Israel. Saul had no idea what it means to be king; the best he has is what can be observed of the other kings in the Ancient Near East…and I think it’s safe to say that in many ways these weren’t the best role models.

God has been using a man named Samuel to communicate this kingly call to Saul. This involves certain signs that God is, in fact, positioning Saul as king. In the midst of this communication, a particular verse stands out to me:

Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. ~ 1 Samuel 10:7

What a relief it must have been to hear this for Saul. And I think the same relief is available to us–once we have been commissioned and enabled by God, there is a real sense that —presuming continued connection with Him—we are free to tackle what’s in front of us. This is a great reminder to stay connected…and to stay active in doing what’s placed before us.

Are you following Jesus and living in obedience to Him? If that’s the case and you’re struggling with knowing what to do ‘next,’ my suggestion is to heed the word above and “do whatever your hand finds to do.” After all, God is with you.

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mercy v. sacrifice

June 17, 2014 — 2 Comments

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image: Mark Brannan @ Flickr

But go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Mt. 9:13, NIV)

These words of Jesus to the religious elite who were called to bring the people of Israel nearer to God and his ways (and tried to do so in a clumsy way that focused on legalistic observance more than righteous freedom) can almost seem like a well-deserved slam against these same religious leaders. But the context indicates something more like a loving directive rather than cold correction from Jesus.

He gives this religious group time to learn the meaning of what he has said. And later—the very next time we see interaction with this same group, there’s disappointment that they have not taken to heart his loving directive: If you had known what these words mean, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Mt. 12:7, NIV)

What I love about these interactions is that Jesus himself doesn’t immediately move toward condemnation or open rebuke, but mercifully gives time to those who should know better to have a paradigm shift. They don’t, and it results in them beginning to to pursue the destruction of the one come to rescue them.

This interaction has me thinking:

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inheritance

June 12, 2014 — Leave a comment

An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed in the end.
~ Proverbs 20:21

This truth is played out so often in us when we expect a journey’s worth of respect, experience, and influence at the beginning of that journey. When we expect to be given what ought to be earned in any respect, we claim an inheritance before it’s ours and seldom does that have the flavor of blessing we had anticipated.

The inherent challenge in something like this is that it demands a long view perspective–what do we want at the end of our inheritance? Of our life? Our vocation? Blessing comes not in claiming or demanding now what is ours anyway; inheritance is something given, in trust, by another. Blessing comes in the faithfulness and trusting necessary for life in the in-between.

In the waiting is a place of blessing.

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strange

June 9, 2014 — Leave a comment

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image: “13” by Evan Blaser on Flick

Moses saw that though the bush was on fire, it did not burn up. So Moses thought, I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up. – Exodus 3:3, NIV

How many of us have yearned for a ‘burning bush’ moment? An instance where it seems the God of Heaven has gone out of his way to grab our attention and adjust the trajectory of our lives?

Moses’s story is one of journey that always seems to take longer than it should to get the intended destination. I like that about his story because mine (and yours, too) seems to have the same theme. And in those moments where the journey seems destination-less we long for the kind of intervention Moses experienced at the bush 2/3 of the way through his life.

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New Series @ SLW Begins Sunday

May 28, 2014 — Leave a comment
original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr

 

Only be strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:18b)

What happens when we finally receive what we’ve been waiting for…when what for so long seemed impossible is now made real? How should we live when it seems we have made it to the place our journey has been preparing us for all along?

The story of the book of Joshua is one where the children of Israel are at long last taking ownership of land in fulfillment of a generations-old promise of God. Their season of living out the Promise is one of challenge: a different way of living than they had ever experienced (and maybe one they never even anticipated) is now required.A new level of strength, courage, and submission to the leadership of God and his agents will be vital.

What can we learn from their experiences? What might we uncover about our own relationship with God and his desire to lead us into deeper faith and active obedience?

Join us throughout the new church year as we step in and out of the story of the Book of Joshua and discover strength, courage, leadership, and faith for today.

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