“Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face.” - Numbers 22:31
The other day Sarah was going shopping and she wanted to dress up a little. She showed me a pair of shoes she was considering wearing, to see what I thought. She stood there before me - with the sandals on - and asked me if I noticed anything different between the two of them (now I have played this game long enough to know that that means this is not a question of whether there is a difference, but whether or not I can spot it!). So I looked intently at both shoes, determined to find what it was, and I could not see a thing there that screamed ‘big difference’; I couldn’t even find anything that looked like it was even mildly dissimilar. So I did what any normal husband would have done in that situation: I sort of grunted and shrugged my shoulders and looked stupid… I mean natural.
Frustrated at her husband’s lack of attention to detail, she pointed out the distinction between the shoes being the size of the hole above the toe created by the weave of the leather (or whatever the material was; for all I know, those shoes could have been made of paper; in my defense I would like to say that my normal level of perceptive abilities were thrown off by the almost blinding glare coming from my wife at that moment). One hole was the size of a dime; the other was the size of… well, a big dime.
And I had missed that stark disparity.
Sometimes in our Christian walk, we somehow get to a point where we are going along in our walk, but we are missing God. We are doing a lot of the things we do when we do ‘find’ and ‘have’ God, but we are still missing Him. I don’t know how much of that is because we become rather sure of the things which lead us to Him rather than on Him, or how much of it is because we assume we know best and that He will just go along with us because we’ve been right in the past, or what. But God sometimes has to come along and wake us up to the fact that we are totally missing the boat. His presence is staring us right in the face and we are missing it.
Father, forgive me for the times when I go along on cruise control and don’t see You in my day.
Daniel
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
#348.5 – “Party All Night… Sleep All Day”
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me that part of your property which will be mine. And he made division of his goods between them. And not long after, the younger son got together everything which was his and took a journey into a far-away country, and there all his money went in foolish living. And when everything was gone, there was no food to be had in that country, and he was in need. And he went and put himself into the hands of one of the people of that country, and he sent him into his fields to give the pigs their food. And so great was his need that he would have been glad to take the pigs' food, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to his senses, he said, What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes.” - Luke 15:11-18
All of the kids got to have a taste of party life last night. The girls went over to Ashton’s house for her birthday party. Meanwhile, Brennan came over to our house to play with the boys. Since it was officially a party night, they stayed up a little later than normal… which was fine with us, since they aren’t in school right now. But that meant that getting up this morning was a bit of a struggle. I think I called them four times before anybody showed up in the kitchen for breakfast. They each came dragging in, slowly waking up as they ate their cereal. I guess they just aren’t cut out for party life!
This little episode reminded me of the prodigal son, and how he thought the party life was for him. He asked for his inheritance early, so that he could go live it up in the far country. Instead, he found out that the fun lifestyle he was so looking forward to quickly ‘ran out of fun’, leaving him with nothing but a longing for home.
Living by our selfish wants and wishes will always leave us dissatisfied. It will never prove to be what we had hoped. Consequently, we will come to a point when we must decide whether we will continue on our course of action (with the same dissatisfaction as a result), or we will turn back to our Father and home… a place where we will always be welcomed and loved and fulfilled.
Daniel
All of the kids got to have a taste of party life last night. The girls went over to Ashton’s house for her birthday party. Meanwhile, Brennan came over to our house to play with the boys. Since it was officially a party night, they stayed up a little later than normal… which was fine with us, since they aren’t in school right now. But that meant that getting up this morning was a bit of a struggle. I think I called them four times before anybody showed up in the kitchen for breakfast. They each came dragging in, slowly waking up as they ate their cereal. I guess they just aren’t cut out for party life!
This little episode reminded me of the prodigal son, and how he thought the party life was for him. He asked for his inheritance early, so that he could go live it up in the far country. Instead, he found out that the fun lifestyle he was so looking forward to quickly ‘ran out of fun’, leaving him with nothing but a longing for home.
Living by our selfish wants and wishes will always leave us dissatisfied. It will never prove to be what we had hoped. Consequently, we will come to a point when we must decide whether we will continue on our course of action (with the same dissatisfaction as a result), or we will turn back to our Father and home… a place where we will always be welcomed and loved and fulfilled.
Daniel
Thursday, July 21, 2011
#348.4 – “Weed-Picking 101”
“And the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to do work in it and take care of it.” - Genesis 2:15
Our four kids have hardly scratched the surface of work in their lives, and I decided the other night that they needed to have a lesson in work. So I told them all that the next day we would all do a little weed-pulling. I wanted them to have just a taste of what real work is like.
The next morning, the boys were up first… so I gave a bag in which to put weeds and told them to get started. I showed them how to pull and get the whole weed up – roots and all. I then went over to another part of the yard and began pulling some of my own. After I got one sackful, I came over to check on them. They had hardly picked a thing. I gave them a good talking to, and told them to get to work. I went back across the yard to my spot and started working some more. I could hear them taking to each other; in fact, they weren’t doing much of anything except talking. I yelled across the yard and told them to get busy, and finally did. By the time I had picked a second sackful, they had finished their only sack (and they still missed a few spots, but I was okay with that, because the girls needed something to do).
Later, the girls got out there and finished weeding that section, and then started to work on the other areas neither the boys nor I had done. In the meantime, I was weed-eating the back ditch. I didn’t watch the girls do their work, but I know they came up with another sackful of weeds on their own.
Work is a good thing. When the work itself is pleasing to God, and the heart of the Christian worker is centered on serving the Lord in their work, that work honors God as an act of worship.
May we honor God in our work today.
Daniel
Our four kids have hardly scratched the surface of work in their lives, and I decided the other night that they needed to have a lesson in work. So I told them all that the next day we would all do a little weed-pulling. I wanted them to have just a taste of what real work is like.
The next morning, the boys were up first… so I gave a bag in which to put weeds and told them to get started. I showed them how to pull and get the whole weed up – roots and all. I then went over to another part of the yard and began pulling some of my own. After I got one sackful, I came over to check on them. They had hardly picked a thing. I gave them a good talking to, and told them to get to work. I went back across the yard to my spot and started working some more. I could hear them taking to each other; in fact, they weren’t doing much of anything except talking. I yelled across the yard and told them to get busy, and finally did. By the time I had picked a second sackful, they had finished their only sack (and they still missed a few spots, but I was okay with that, because the girls needed something to do).
Later, the girls got out there and finished weeding that section, and then started to work on the other areas neither the boys nor I had done. In the meantime, I was weed-eating the back ditch. I didn’t watch the girls do their work, but I know they came up with another sackful of weeds on their own.
Work is a good thing. When the work itself is pleasing to God, and the heart of the Christian worker is centered on serving the Lord in their work, that work honors God as an act of worship.
May we honor God in our work today.
Daniel
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
#348.3 – “Giving It Away”
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” - John 15:12-13
Our girls are two very giving children. They ‘earn’ money from “Grammie Camp”, doing little odd jobs and helping her with things around the house, while learning about various hobbies and skills. But they are constantly working together to make lists of things they want to buy for the boys and for us… for birthdays and such. In fact, they have already approached Sarah and expressed a desire to purchase a birthday present for Joshua (who’s due for a birthday in a little over a week). Sarah, of course, agreed.
It does us as parents good to see them be selfless… to want to do for others… to give their monies away to show love to someone else (yes, even their brothers). This is one way they can reflect the love of Christ.
Their selfless love makes me want to imitate that from them in my life.
Lord, help me to give my life away… not just so that I can be more selfless, but so that I will be more like You, and You will be glorified.
Daniel
Our girls are two very giving children. They ‘earn’ money from “Grammie Camp”, doing little odd jobs and helping her with things around the house, while learning about various hobbies and skills. But they are constantly working together to make lists of things they want to buy for the boys and for us… for birthdays and such. In fact, they have already approached Sarah and expressed a desire to purchase a birthday present for Joshua (who’s due for a birthday in a little over a week). Sarah, of course, agreed.
It does us as parents good to see them be selfless… to want to do for others… to give their monies away to show love to someone else (yes, even their brothers). This is one way they can reflect the love of Christ.
Their selfless love makes me want to imitate that from them in my life.
Lord, help me to give my life away… not just so that I can be more selfless, but so that I will be more like You, and You will be glorified.
Daniel
#348.2 – “It’s Weirder Just Having One”
“So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is.” - Genesis 21:14-17
I thought having two kids instead of four was strange… then we got to see what having one is like.
It was Grant’s turn to choose where we ate after church this past Sunday. I don’t know if it was that, or what, but he chose to stay the course and stick with that plan instead of taking up the offer given to him by his grandparents to come over to their house Sunday afternoon. So it was just me and Sarah and Grant for lunch that day, which was weird… a good weird… but weird nonetheless.
First off, let me just say that lunch is a whole lot cheaper with three eating instead of six. Second, everything is a whole lot more quiet without the girls and Joshua! And third, but not least, there is an unusual dynamic with only one child. You can spend a whole lot more time one-on-one with only one than with four (I know that is hard to believe, but it is true!).
I told you all about how Sarah planned and prayed that we would have four kids – two of one sex and then two of another (by the way, she has since told me that she DID, in fact, ask God to give us girls first… so if any of you out there are planning a family, or even grandkids, and you would like to rent my wife as an intercessor on your behalf, we would be happy to negotiate a fair price with you!). And I told you about how one great advantage of that ‘system’ is that each kid has a built-in playmate for life. Well, that is very good, and I certainly wouldn’t want to change that for anything. But one thing that is also true about having four (especially having two and two) is that having one-on-one time with any of them is very unusual.
But that is exactly where we found ourselves Sunday. After lunch, we went home and I offered to play some games with Grant. He quickly took me up on that, and we played for quite a while. Then, one of his best friends from our neighborhood came over, so I bowed out to let them play together like they wanted. But that time I had with him was a precious one to me, and I was grateful for it.
I am thankful that we serve a one-on-one kind of God. He never has to divide His attention from me; He is always 100% there with me, through thick and thin. He is good beyond words to me, and He is equally good to everyone else in the world… all at the same time… giving 100% of Himself and His attention to each one.
Lord, You truly are awesome in the manifestation of Your presence. May You be lifted up in my praise today.
Daniel
I thought having two kids instead of four was strange… then we got to see what having one is like.
It was Grant’s turn to choose where we ate after church this past Sunday. I don’t know if it was that, or what, but he chose to stay the course and stick with that plan instead of taking up the offer given to him by his grandparents to come over to their house Sunday afternoon. So it was just me and Sarah and Grant for lunch that day, which was weird… a good weird… but weird nonetheless.
First off, let me just say that lunch is a whole lot cheaper with three eating instead of six. Second, everything is a whole lot more quiet without the girls and Joshua! And third, but not least, there is an unusual dynamic with only one child. You can spend a whole lot more time one-on-one with only one than with four (I know that is hard to believe, but it is true!).
I told you all about how Sarah planned and prayed that we would have four kids – two of one sex and then two of another (by the way, she has since told me that she DID, in fact, ask God to give us girls first… so if any of you out there are planning a family, or even grandkids, and you would like to rent my wife as an intercessor on your behalf, we would be happy to negotiate a fair price with you!). And I told you about how one great advantage of that ‘system’ is that each kid has a built-in playmate for life. Well, that is very good, and I certainly wouldn’t want to change that for anything. But one thing that is also true about having four (especially having two and two) is that having one-on-one time with any of them is very unusual.
But that is exactly where we found ourselves Sunday. After lunch, we went home and I offered to play some games with Grant. He quickly took me up on that, and we played for quite a while. Then, one of his best friends from our neighborhood came over, so I bowed out to let them play together like they wanted. But that time I had with him was a precious one to me, and I was grateful for it.
I am thankful that we serve a one-on-one kind of God. He never has to divide His attention from me; He is always 100% there with me, through thick and thin. He is good beyond words to me, and He is equally good to everyone else in the world… all at the same time… giving 100% of Himself and His attention to each one.
Lord, You truly are awesome in the manifestation of Your presence. May You be lifted up in my praise today.
Daniel
Monday, July 18, 2011
#348.1 – “It’s Weird Just Having Two”
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” - 1 John 4:7-9
This past weekend, the girls went off to GA camp at Camp Helen. They were gone just overnight Friday into Saturday morning – but it felt like much longer than that to me. I suppose one reason why that was so is because it was just so much more quiet without them (and I don’t mean that as an attack on them… it’s just true), and quiet hours seem longer than noisy ones (to me, anyway).
Having someone else share time/life (and no, I’m not talking about the magazines!) with us makes such a difference. I suppose there is always the danger of taking them for granted. The fact is, before the girls left, I had not realized how much they help me stay active and have purpose and spend my day. But they do – even if we don’t always do a ton of things together, they give me a reason to work and do the things that I do. They are a crucial part of who I am.
In the same way we, as a part of the Body of Christ (even and especially in the local body of Christ, with whom we gather to worship and serve), are integral to each other’s spiritual lives. We help provide purpose and encouragement and love to each other. We need each other. God made us to be dependent upon each other, and He desires that we serve Him by serving each other. Anything less or else is just, well, weird.
Daniel
This past weekend, the girls went off to GA camp at Camp Helen. They were gone just overnight Friday into Saturday morning – but it felt like much longer than that to me. I suppose one reason why that was so is because it was just so much more quiet without them (and I don’t mean that as an attack on them… it’s just true), and quiet hours seem longer than noisy ones (to me, anyway).
Having someone else share time/life (and no, I’m not talking about the magazines!) with us makes such a difference. I suppose there is always the danger of taking them for granted. The fact is, before the girls left, I had not realized how much they help me stay active and have purpose and spend my day. But they do – even if we don’t always do a ton of things together, they give me a reason to work and do the things that I do. They are a crucial part of who I am.
In the same way we, as a part of the Body of Christ (even and especially in the local body of Christ, with whom we gather to worship and serve), are integral to each other’s spiritual lives. We help provide purpose and encouragement and love to each other. We need each other. God made us to be dependent upon each other, and He desires that we serve Him by serving each other. Anything less or else is just, well, weird.
Daniel
Friday, July 15, 2011
#347.4 – “My Helper”
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” - John 14:16
After supper last night, there was still enough daylight to go out and do some car-washing. I invited any of the children who wanted to join me in this venture to come out and help. Grant was the only taker. He came out right after me and worked like a little Trojan, vacuuming and washing and spraying; he even washed his bicycle while we were out there!
I can remember wanting to help my dad when I was a kid. And it didn’t really matter what it was he was doing; I just wanted to be with him. Seeing Grant come alongside me to help me do something reminded me of me and my desire to help my dad.
God’s Holy Spirit is the believer’s Helper. He is always there for us; He never leaves us. And He helps in so many ways – guiding… protecting… giving wisdom… reminding us of God’s word… assuring us of His love.
May we be grateful today for the love God shows us through giving us a Helper to walk through life with us.
Daniel
After supper last night, there was still enough daylight to go out and do some car-washing. I invited any of the children who wanted to join me in this venture to come out and help. Grant was the only taker. He came out right after me and worked like a little Trojan, vacuuming and washing and spraying; he even washed his bicycle while we were out there!
I can remember wanting to help my dad when I was a kid. And it didn’t really matter what it was he was doing; I just wanted to be with him. Seeing Grant come alongside me to help me do something reminded me of me and my desire to help my dad.
God’s Holy Spirit is the believer’s Helper. He is always there for us; He never leaves us. And He helps in so many ways – guiding… protecting… giving wisdom… reminding us of God’s word… assuring us of His love.
May we be grateful today for the love God shows us through giving us a Helper to walk through life with us.
Daniel
Thursday, July 14, 2011
#347.3 – “A Free Lunch Just Tastes Better”
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” - Psalms 34:8
As a part of one of my recent trips to do some visiting at Huntsville Hospital, I was the recipient of a free lunch from the family of one I was visiting. Not at all expecting that, it came as such a nice surprise. As I was eating, I thought to myself how enjoyable that lunch was… and not only because the visit with the family was such a precious thing, but also because I didn’t have to pay for it!
There have been many times when I have had my lunch bought for me, and I can honestly say that not having to pick up the tab just made those lunches that much better! When it comes to salvation, my Savior ‘picked up the tab’ for me…. and He’s done the same for you. The only question is whether or not you have graciously (there is grace involved in receiving too) accepted it or not.
If you have, then invite someone else to the banquet table of grace… and if not, then let me encourage you to dine at the King’s table… at no cost to you. You will find His salvation to be the sweetest thing you’ve ever tasted.
Daniel
As a part of one of my recent trips to do some visiting at Huntsville Hospital, I was the recipient of a free lunch from the family of one I was visiting. Not at all expecting that, it came as such a nice surprise. As I was eating, I thought to myself how enjoyable that lunch was… and not only because the visit with the family was such a precious thing, but also because I didn’t have to pay for it!
There have been many times when I have had my lunch bought for me, and I can honestly say that not having to pick up the tab just made those lunches that much better! When it comes to salvation, my Savior ‘picked up the tab’ for me…. and He’s done the same for you. The only question is whether or not you have graciously (there is grace involved in receiving too) accepted it or not.
If you have, then invite someone else to the banquet table of grace… and if not, then let me encourage you to dine at the King’s table… at no cost to you. You will find His salvation to be the sweetest thing you’ve ever tasted.
Daniel
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
#347.2 – “Play with Me”
“The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” - Psalms 46:7
Last night Grant came up beside our bed (which I was already in and getting ready to go to sleep) and asked me if I would play with him. His brother and his sisters were in their respective rooms, playing on their own… and he didn’t have anyone with which to play. I was pretty exhausted and really didn’t feel like getting up playing anything like hide-and-seek, so I suggested a compromise: thumb-wrestling. Thumb-wrestling is a great sport at which young and old(er) can all enjoy, with minimal effort. And that’s what we did; we had several matches right there on my bed. Within a few minutes, some other would-be participants were standing around watching, waiting for their turn to take on the champion.
I am grateful that God is never too tired for me. He never turns me down when I want to talk; He never tells me to come back later. He is always there for me.
Father, thank You for being there… all of the time.
Daniel
Last night Grant came up beside our bed (which I was already in and getting ready to go to sleep) and asked me if I would play with him. His brother and his sisters were in their respective rooms, playing on their own… and he didn’t have anyone with which to play. I was pretty exhausted and really didn’t feel like getting up playing anything like hide-and-seek, so I suggested a compromise: thumb-wrestling. Thumb-wrestling is a great sport at which young and old(er) can all enjoy, with minimal effort. And that’s what we did; we had several matches right there on my bed. Within a few minutes, some other would-be participants were standing around watching, waiting for their turn to take on the champion.
I am grateful that God is never too tired for me. He never turns me down when I want to talk; He never tells me to come back later. He is always there for me.
Father, thank You for being there… all of the time.
Daniel
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
#347.1 – “… If You’ll Pay Me Back Two Dollars and Fifty Three Cents.”
“And that no man may make attempts to get the better of his brother in business: for the Lord is the judge in all these things, as we said to you before and gave witness.” - 1 Thessalonians 4:6
I don’t remember now where exactly we were… but the family had been out the other day and Joshua had a little bit of change with him. At some point, he motioned for me to lean over so he could tell me something. When I did, he whispered in my ear that he would let me ‘borrow’ two pennies if I would later pay him back two dollars and fifty three cents! I told him he should go to work for the credit card companies!
Joshua is old enough to understand that having the ability to buy some things for yourself is fun. And – like any other normal kid – he would always love to have more money to be able to spend. But his little ‘system’ he had come up with, while funny, was a good reminder to me of how quickly our ambition can carry us farther than we ought to go. The Bible is clear about the wrong of taking advantage of another in order to make gain for yourself. At the heart of this sin is the issue of how we perceive ourselves versus the other person; do we believe that we are more worthy than they to receive gain? Have we any concern for their well-being, or ours alone? Do we focus exclusively on self? A healthy approach is for us to always keep our eyes on Jesus and be reminded of how He views people and things.
Lord, I realize that, apart from You and Your grace, my ambition would be willing to go to any lengths - including the destruction of others – to get what I want. Help me to stay reminded of that as I seek to reflect You to the world around me.
Daniel
I don’t remember now where exactly we were… but the family had been out the other day and Joshua had a little bit of change with him. At some point, he motioned for me to lean over so he could tell me something. When I did, he whispered in my ear that he would let me ‘borrow’ two pennies if I would later pay him back two dollars and fifty three cents! I told him he should go to work for the credit card companies!
Joshua is old enough to understand that having the ability to buy some things for yourself is fun. And – like any other normal kid – he would always love to have more money to be able to spend. But his little ‘system’ he had come up with, while funny, was a good reminder to me of how quickly our ambition can carry us farther than we ought to go. The Bible is clear about the wrong of taking advantage of another in order to make gain for yourself. At the heart of this sin is the issue of how we perceive ourselves versus the other person; do we believe that we are more worthy than they to receive gain? Have we any concern for their well-being, or ours alone? Do we focus exclusively on self? A healthy approach is for us to always keep our eyes on Jesus and be reminded of how He views people and things.
Lord, I realize that, apart from You and Your grace, my ambition would be willing to go to any lengths - including the destruction of others – to get what I want. Help me to stay reminded of that as I seek to reflect You to the world around me.
Daniel
Friday, July 8, 2011
#346.4 – “God Math, Lesson Four: 1 > 99???”
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” - Luke 15:4-7
I said earlier this week that one of the great things about math is that there is a ‘standard’ on which you can count (no pun intended), i.e. 2+2=4. The same kind of standard is true of the character of God and nature of God; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But in ‘God math’, there is one time when 1 is actually greater than 99, and that time is aptly described in the verses above, so you don’t need me to elaborate on it for you. Allow me, then, just to appreciate this mathematical ‘puzzle’. As one who is soooo glad that He deemed me – an individual who was bound for hell because of my sin – worthy of His time and attention that He saved me from the lost state I was in (note: not heading towards, but already there) and brought me back to where I belonged and where He intended all along, I concur that this kind of math doesn’t ‘make sense’, but it is nonetheless true.
God loves the ‘ones’ of this world. You and I are proof of that. And we should love the ‘ones’ also.
Daniel
I said earlier this week that one of the great things about math is that there is a ‘standard’ on which you can count (no pun intended), i.e. 2+2=4. The same kind of standard is true of the character of God and nature of God; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But in ‘God math’, there is one time when 1 is actually greater than 99, and that time is aptly described in the verses above, so you don’t need me to elaborate on it for you. Allow me, then, just to appreciate this mathematical ‘puzzle’. As one who is soooo glad that He deemed me – an individual who was bound for hell because of my sin – worthy of His time and attention that He saved me from the lost state I was in (note: not heading towards, but already there) and brought me back to where I belonged and where He intended all along, I concur that this kind of math doesn’t ‘make sense’, but it is nonetheless true.
God loves the ‘ones’ of this world. You and I are proof of that. And we should love the ‘ones’ also.
Daniel
Thursday, July 7, 2011
#346.3 – “God Math, Lesson Three: Two > One”
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Before Sarah and I were ever married, we talked about how many children we each wanted to have. Being an only child of sorts (I do have three older half-brothers, none of whom lived with us), I figured we would have one. Sarah, being one of two children, had always dreamed of having… you guessed it… four (I gave up figuring her math a long time ago!) – two of one sex and two of the other... and she specifically wanted two of the same sex to be born back-to-back, and then the other two of the opposite sex to be born after that. To my knowledge, she graciously left God room to decide which sex would come first (although I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she was whispering ‘girl’ in His ear the first time around)!
The truth is that we are both grateful for our four kids. And we’re not just grateful for each individual child, but also for the fact that we have four. Having two and two means that, not only do our kids have a childhood playmate, but for the rest of their lives they will have a support… a confidant… a friend (although there are plenty of times when we wonder if they will survive each other in the childhood stage!).
There is strength in numbers. And God intends for His Church to be a community of believers, who work together toward a common goal. He gifts us as individuals, but He brings our individual gifts together (in the context of a local church) to make a unique representation of Him to the world around us.
And part of the reason why He does so is because the group accomplishes much more than an individual could do. Two really are better than one. And three are better than two.
And another part of the reason why He does so is because the group working as one best represents His nature as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit… three entities who are as One.
It ‘works’ for God, and it will always ‘work’ for us as well. We are our best and we do our best when we unite with others around us and work with each other.
So today I urge us to be thankful for the others who help make up the Body of Christ with us. Thank God for them; and thank them for their contribution to the Kingdom of God.
Daniel
Before Sarah and I were ever married, we talked about how many children we each wanted to have. Being an only child of sorts (I do have three older half-brothers, none of whom lived with us), I figured we would have one. Sarah, being one of two children, had always dreamed of having… you guessed it… four (I gave up figuring her math a long time ago!) – two of one sex and two of the other... and she specifically wanted two of the same sex to be born back-to-back, and then the other two of the opposite sex to be born after that. To my knowledge, she graciously left God room to decide which sex would come first (although I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that she was whispering ‘girl’ in His ear the first time around)!
The truth is that we are both grateful for our four kids. And we’re not just grateful for each individual child, but also for the fact that we have four. Having two and two means that, not only do our kids have a childhood playmate, but for the rest of their lives they will have a support… a confidant… a friend (although there are plenty of times when we wonder if they will survive each other in the childhood stage!).
There is strength in numbers. And God intends for His Church to be a community of believers, who work together toward a common goal. He gifts us as individuals, but He brings our individual gifts together (in the context of a local church) to make a unique representation of Him to the world around us.
And part of the reason why He does so is because the group accomplishes much more than an individual could do. Two really are better than one. And three are better than two.
And another part of the reason why He does so is because the group working as one best represents His nature as the Trinity of Father, Son, and Spirit… three entities who are as One.
It ‘works’ for God, and it will always ‘work’ for us as well. We are our best and we do our best when we unite with others around us and work with each other.
So today I urge us to be thankful for the others who help make up the Body of Christ with us. Thank God for them; and thank them for their contribution to the Kingdom of God.
Daniel
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
#346.2 – “God Math, Lesson Two: God’s Grace > Our Sin”
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 5:20-21
You know, one of the great things about math is that once you learn a truth, that truth stays the same forever. 2+2=4… always has been… always will (unless you’re into that goofy math). Well, a HUGE truth that has always remained the same in God’s math class is this one: His grace is always greater than our sin. In any given situation… at any point in time… as it pertains to any individual… God’s grace consistently outweighs, outdoes, out-whatever any sin that it comes up against.
That doesn’t mean that grace always ‘wins out’ in somebody’s life. The fact is that people go through life (even to the point of their death) without ever choosing to accept God’s grace for themselves. They disregard it and the God who offers it to them freely. But that doesn’t change the truth that God’s grace is greater than their sin, any more than writing down a ‘5’ as the answer to the problem 2+2 changes the fact that the answer is ‘4’. The answer is ‘4’. And in the same way that 10 is always greater than 1, the all-powerful, all-forgiving, all-cleansing, all-life-changing grace of God is always greater than sin.
But is up to us to choose to believe it and receive that truth for ourselves.
Daniel
You know, one of the great things about math is that once you learn a truth, that truth stays the same forever. 2+2=4… always has been… always will (unless you’re into that goofy math). Well, a HUGE truth that has always remained the same in God’s math class is this one: His grace is always greater than our sin. In any given situation… at any point in time… as it pertains to any individual… God’s grace consistently outweighs, outdoes, out-whatever any sin that it comes up against.
That doesn’t mean that grace always ‘wins out’ in somebody’s life. The fact is that people go through life (even to the point of their death) without ever choosing to accept God’s grace for themselves. They disregard it and the God who offers it to them freely. But that doesn’t change the truth that God’s grace is greater than their sin, any more than writing down a ‘5’ as the answer to the problem 2+2 changes the fact that the answer is ‘4’. The answer is ‘4’. And in the same way that 10 is always greater than 1, the all-powerful, all-forgiving, all-cleansing, all-life-changing grace of God is always greater than sin.
But is up to us to choose to believe it and receive that truth for ourselves.
Daniel
#346.1 – “God Math, Lesson One: Jesus > Anything Else”
“For by Him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by Him and for Him; He is before all things, and in Him all things have being. And He is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things He might have the chief place. For God in full measure was pleased to be in Him; Through Him uniting all things with Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven. And you, who in the past were cut off and at war with God in your minds through evil works, He has now made one in the body of His flesh through death, so that you might be holy and without sin and free from all evil before Him: if you keep yourselves safely based in the faith, not moved from the hope of the good news which came to you, and which was given to every living being under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant.” - Colossians 1:16-23
An extension somewhat of last Friday’s lesson, this mathematical statement is a good reminder of a truth that is peculiar to Jesus alone. No one… no thing… no idea… no belief… no kingdom… no power… no principality… nothing is greater than Jesus. He is superior to all. He is above all. He created all things, and all things were created for His pleasure. He reigns over the entire universe and beyond. Every knee will bow… every tongue confess that He is Lord over all.
Got it. Check that box. Learned that lesson a long time ago.
Okay, so the real question is: is Jesus greater than everything to me? Is He greater than my desires… to be important… to be desired… to have wealth and fame and glory? Does my calendar say that He is most important? Does my checkbook declare Him to be Lord of my life? Do my wife and kids concur that he reigns in my heart?
Whether or not my life reflects the truth that Jesus is greater than anything, the fact does not change that He is. He is superior to everything… in every way… everyday.
Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness today. Declare Him Lord over your day today. Give Him the rightful place of honor in your day.
Daniel
An extension somewhat of last Friday’s lesson, this mathematical statement is a good reminder of a truth that is peculiar to Jesus alone. No one… no thing… no idea… no belief… no kingdom… no power… no principality… nothing is greater than Jesus. He is superior to all. He is above all. He created all things, and all things were created for His pleasure. He reigns over the entire universe and beyond. Every knee will bow… every tongue confess that He is Lord over all.
Got it. Check that box. Learned that lesson a long time ago.
Okay, so the real question is: is Jesus greater than everything to me? Is He greater than my desires… to be important… to be desired… to have wealth and fame and glory? Does my calendar say that He is most important? Does my checkbook declare Him to be Lord of my life? Do my wife and kids concur that he reigns in my heart?
Whether or not my life reflects the truth that Jesus is greater than anything, the fact does not change that He is. He is superior to everything… in every way… everyday.
Worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness today. Declare Him Lord over your day today. Give Him the rightful place of honor in your day.
Daniel
Friday, July 1, 2011
#345.5 – “The Show to End All Shows, Part Five: Grant the Observer”
“He has to become greater while I become less.” - John 3:30
The only one I have not written anything about is Grant, and that is because he was not a participant in ‘the show’. He instead preferred to just sit and enjoy as a quiet observer, alongside his mother and me and the Hughes. That is so characteristic of Grant; unlike his younger brother, Grant is another one who would just as soon not be the center of anything. Much more reserved and quiet than Joshua, he rarely does anything that would draw attention to himself.
In our dealings with other people, we as Christians should have an attitude of ‘less me, more Jesus’ in all that we do. We should seek to point others to Him and not to ourselves. Our aim ought to be to put Him in the forefront of any and every conversation and action we take, while we should remain ‘in the back’.
Daniel
The only one I have not written anything about is Grant, and that is because he was not a participant in ‘the show’. He instead preferred to just sit and enjoy as a quiet observer, alongside his mother and me and the Hughes. That is so characteristic of Grant; unlike his younger brother, Grant is another one who would just as soon not be the center of anything. Much more reserved and quiet than Joshua, he rarely does anything that would draw attention to himself.
In our dealings with other people, we as Christians should have an attitude of ‘less me, more Jesus’ in all that we do. We should seek to point others to Him and not to ourselves. Our aim ought to be to put Him in the forefront of any and every conversation and action we take, while we should remain ‘in the back’.
Daniel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)