When I was a kid I was really proud of my Matchbox(r) car collection. I would bring out my latest little metal car to show off to my friends. We think that when we grow up we are beyond this type of thing, but I don't think so anymore.
When we are all grown up we show off different things. Perhaps we have lost a lot of weight and are now sporting big muscles, or the ability to run 26 miles. We know we can out perform almost anyone we know and it makes us feel superior.
Perhaps we have several letters after our name from advanced degrees. We know that in most cases we are the smartest person in the room and we have to purposefully lower our vocabulary for most people to understand. When we need to we can win almost any argument by the shear force of our intellect.
Or maybe we've done really well in the stock market (okay, maybe not a good example right now). We have this great ability to make money and we know that we're probably the richest person we hang out with (in fact, we're kind of careful to hang out with people who are just slightly less well off than we are). We have the toys to prove it - no longer Matchbox cars, but real ones that are loud and red and fast. We show them off whenever we get the chance.
I just wanted to bring to our attention a well known verse out of Jeremiah 9.
9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord."
Ouch! What's something to be proud of? That we know God - and understand the character of God - a character that leads to steadfast love (when we don't deserve it), justice (to a people who don't deserve it), and righteousness (given to people who can't earn it).
So instead of showing off your Matchbox car, show off your God and His great love. Who's the greatest person in the room then?
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I Can't Forget
Have you ever done something that you just can't wipe from your memory? Maybe you got mad and said some things that devastated someone else's life. Perhaps you did something terrible to yourself or someone else and no matter how much you come before God and ask forgiveness again and again, you just can't forget it - and it plagues you.
You feel as if you are not worthy to be a Christian and worry about seeing those people you hurt in heaven and it weighs on you so much that it ruins your relationship with God.
If that, or something like it, has happened to you, I have good news. Here in this fallen world we deal with the consequences of our actions. But one day, God will "wipe away every tear" as it says in the book of the Revelation. God has dealt with our sins and separated them "as far as the east is from the west."
But even more than that, read Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create."
Take a deep breath and realize that God not only made things right through Jesus, he will wipe them from existence in the new creation. Move ahead in your relationship based on that assumption. Live in that freedom. It's not freedom to continue to do bad, it's freedom to live an extravagant love relationship with God now and let his life flow through your life to others, showing them the same forgiveness and love God shows you.
I wonder too if we might not start to employ this same grace in our relationships with others. What would life be like if we extended not only forgiveness to those that hurt us, but also forgetfulness of the whole affair?
Pastor Tom
You feel as if you are not worthy to be a Christian and worry about seeing those people you hurt in heaven and it weighs on you so much that it ruins your relationship with God.
If that, or something like it, has happened to you, I have good news. Here in this fallen world we deal with the consequences of our actions. But one day, God will "wipe away every tear" as it says in the book of the Revelation. God has dealt with our sins and separated them "as far as the east is from the west."
But even more than that, read Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create."
Take a deep breath and realize that God not only made things right through Jesus, he will wipe them from existence in the new creation. Move ahead in your relationship based on that assumption. Live in that freedom. It's not freedom to continue to do bad, it's freedom to live an extravagant love relationship with God now and let his life flow through your life to others, showing them the same forgiveness and love God shows you.
I wonder too if we might not start to employ this same grace in our relationships with others. What would life be like if we extended not only forgiveness to those that hurt us, but also forgetfulness of the whole affair?
Pastor Tom
Monday, October 27, 2008
Sliding Back
Do you ever find yourself not walking with God like you once did? You find excuses for not going to church because you don't want to confront the things you've been thinking and doing - and when you are worshiping or studying God's Word it seems like very song and every verse pricks your conscience.
Then you find yourself not praying and avoiding talking to God altogether. You don't feel the pricking of the conscience so much so you find it easier to do things you would never even think of doing.
Somewhere in the recesses of your mind you are aware of what you doing. It's called "backsliding." Eventually you are powerless to stop and even though your heart cries out to you and God finds ways to get through you feel caught in a trap and consider that God cannot or will not love you anymore.
Now read what God says to the backslider in Isaiah 57:18 "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him."
Once you have trusted and relied on Jesus as your Savior, God is always near. It is as if you turned your back on him and he seems an infinity away and you feel as if it is God who has turned his back on you.
In fact, God "sees" what you have done - and loves you anyway. God knows the awful things you do - and forgives you anyway. That's how powerful grace is. That's how awesome the free gift of salvation is.
And not only that, God promises to heal you and give you peace.
So today - no matter how far away you feel, turn around and see the loving arms of God ready to enfold you and love you. He's been waiting, you know.
Pastor Tom
Then you find yourself not praying and avoiding talking to God altogether. You don't feel the pricking of the conscience so much so you find it easier to do things you would never even think of doing.
Somewhere in the recesses of your mind you are aware of what you doing. It's called "backsliding." Eventually you are powerless to stop and even though your heart cries out to you and God finds ways to get through you feel caught in a trap and consider that God cannot or will not love you anymore.
Now read what God says to the backslider in Isaiah 57:18 "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the Lord, "and I will heal him."
Once you have trusted and relied on Jesus as your Savior, God is always near. It is as if you turned your back on him and he seems an infinity away and you feel as if it is God who has turned his back on you.
In fact, God "sees" what you have done - and loves you anyway. God knows the awful things you do - and forgives you anyway. That's how powerful grace is. That's how awesome the free gift of salvation is.
And not only that, God promises to heal you and give you peace.
So today - no matter how far away you feel, turn around and see the loving arms of God ready to enfold you and love you. He's been waiting, you know.
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 24, 2008
Time Limit
I'm usually a real "grace" guy. I emphasize God's grace - not giving us what we deserve but giving us what God deserves. God's grace is wonderful. You can't earn, nor maintain, nor obtain forgiveness and renewed fellowship with God.
Among the wonderful collection of verses in Isaiah chapters 51-55, a more sobering verse popped out at me.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
It's the desire of God to save everyone, but that salvation is a limited time offer. There will come a day when the offer expires. Why? Because God is going to redo this earth, renovate it and make it wonderful. He's got plans for us, things for us to do, missions for us to go on - all with redeemed bodies and minds. It'll be grand. At that point, all those who don't want anything to do with God will be shuffled off to a place by themselves.
So just a gentle reminder. If you have been considering the claims of Jesus Christ, wondering if perhaps what he said and did is true, don't put off that decision. Seek the Lord today. Read about what Jesus said and did - then trust and rely on him. I promise you will never be sorry. Never!
Pastor Tom
Among the wonderful collection of verses in Isaiah chapters 51-55, a more sobering verse popped out at me.
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
It's the desire of God to save everyone, but that salvation is a limited time offer. There will come a day when the offer expires. Why? Because God is going to redo this earth, renovate it and make it wonderful. He's got plans for us, things for us to do, missions for us to go on - all with redeemed bodies and minds. It'll be grand. At that point, all those who don't want anything to do with God will be shuffled off to a place by themselves.
So just a gentle reminder. If you have been considering the claims of Jesus Christ, wondering if perhaps what he said and did is true, don't put off that decision. Seek the Lord today. Read about what Jesus said and did - then trust and rely on him. I promise you will never be sorry. Never!
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 23, 2008
After the Discipline
Just a little trivia if you've read this blog before - this is my 301st post - and boy are my fingers tired!
For today we are back in Isaiah - chapter 49 this time.
13 "Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted."
Sounds really cool, huh? But read the next verse:
14 "But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me."
This section of Isaiah is about the restoration of Israel. The nation had blown it and God disciplined them. 48 10 "I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake I do it."
Does it ever happen to you that when you blow it and you know God is not pleased and disciplines you - that even when He declares forgiveness you can't accept it?
Like a little child who disobeys, after they receive the discipline the best thing to do is get a great big hug from mom or dad. Running away does not bring about the final important step of the discipline - the restoration of relationship.
We fall into this state of mind where because we have erred and gotten caught that God cannot love us and proves it by his discipline. In fact, we should rejoice over the discipline because God is refining us to become more like Him.
So next time you receive the discipline of the Lord, come out the other end and run into your Father's arms. Here's how he feels about you:
49: 15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will never forget you. Behold I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Think about that engraving today - who has it and where did He get it?
Pastor Tom
For today we are back in Isaiah - chapter 49 this time.
13 "Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted."
Sounds really cool, huh? But read the next verse:
14 "But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me."
This section of Isaiah is about the restoration of Israel. The nation had blown it and God disciplined them. 48 10 "I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake I do it."
Does it ever happen to you that when you blow it and you know God is not pleased and disciplines you - that even when He declares forgiveness you can't accept it?
Like a little child who disobeys, after they receive the discipline the best thing to do is get a great big hug from mom or dad. Running away does not bring about the final important step of the discipline - the restoration of relationship.
We fall into this state of mind where because we have erred and gotten caught that God cannot love us and proves it by his discipline. In fact, we should rejoice over the discipline because God is refining us to become more like Him.
So next time you receive the discipline of the Lord, come out the other end and run into your Father's arms. Here's how he feels about you:
49: 15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will never forget you. Behold I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."
Think about that engraving today - who has it and where did He get it?
Pastor Tom
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Through the Flood and Fire
We all go through difficulties at times. Right now we all face a lot of uncertainty with the economy - will I have a job, will I have enough money to pay the rent or put food on the table? Every day brings with it some new crisis.
I just wanted to share some words of encouragement from the prophet Isaiah, speaking for God.
Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel your God."
Today if you feel like your life is out of control and you are swept away by circumstances beyond your ability to change, just know that if you cling to Jesus, he is clinging to you and will not allow you to go under.
Or if you are under the fires of trial and feel like life all around you is nothing but hurt and pain. If you look to Jesus, he will heal you and, like the three Hebrew men in Daniel, you may have to go through the fiery furnace, but when you come out you will not even have the smell of smoke on you.
There are a lot of other cool verses in chapters 43 and 44 - take a look, and be blessed!
Pastor Tom
I just wanted to share some words of encouragement from the prophet Isaiah, speaking for God.
Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel your God."
Today if you feel like your life is out of control and you are swept away by circumstances beyond your ability to change, just know that if you cling to Jesus, he is clinging to you and will not allow you to go under.
Or if you are under the fires of trial and feel like life all around you is nothing but hurt and pain. If you look to Jesus, he will heal you and, like the three Hebrew men in Daniel, you may have to go through the fiery furnace, but when you come out you will not even have the smell of smoke on you.
There are a lot of other cool verses in chapters 43 and 44 - take a look, and be blessed!
Pastor Tom
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Just Waiting
Isaiah 40:28-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
ESV
Isn't that an awesome series of verses? I just couldn't help put these out there for us to read and meditate on.
For today's post I want to focus on just a small portion of what Isaiah said. We love verse 31 because we "mount up with wings" "run and not be weary" "walk and not faint." But how does that happen? Is it that we have some great faith that carries us along? Is it that we are filled somehow with supernatural strength? We want the "mount up" part but what does that mean?
Look at the verb at the beginning of the verse: "wait." Hold on. When things are happening we need to be people of action. This verb seems to suggest inaction. Waiting is something you do until something happens. How can that bring us "wings of eagles"?
It's an interesting word. In Hebrew the word qavah means "to bind together" as a rope is twisted together. So almost more than "wait" like we think of, it's the idea of "they who are bound to the Lord". What does that mean? It means that only as God moves, you move. And you do so in concert with his character, his desires, his will - not your own.
We like to think that the wings and strength are for us to do what we think we need to in order to survive. In reality, as we are bound up in the Lord we are passengers, actively pulling on our seat belts and holding on to Him for dear life as he takes us where he wants to.
Go back to the beginning of the section - it is God's strength that he gives us. Stay close to him, look for his way, not your own. It might be a scary ride, but if you feel weak, seek him to "renew" your strength. Sometimes not doing anything but holding on is all we need to do.
Pastor Tom
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
ESV
Isn't that an awesome series of verses? I just couldn't help put these out there for us to read and meditate on.
For today's post I want to focus on just a small portion of what Isaiah said. We love verse 31 because we "mount up with wings" "run and not be weary" "walk and not faint." But how does that happen? Is it that we have some great faith that carries us along? Is it that we are filled somehow with supernatural strength? We want the "mount up" part but what does that mean?
Look at the verb at the beginning of the verse: "wait." Hold on. When things are happening we need to be people of action. This verb seems to suggest inaction. Waiting is something you do until something happens. How can that bring us "wings of eagles"?
It's an interesting word. In Hebrew the word qavah means "to bind together" as a rope is twisted together. So almost more than "wait" like we think of, it's the idea of "they who are bound to the Lord". What does that mean? It means that only as God moves, you move. And you do so in concert with his character, his desires, his will - not your own.
We like to think that the wings and strength are for us to do what we think we need to in order to survive. In reality, as we are bound up in the Lord we are passengers, actively pulling on our seat belts and holding on to Him for dear life as he takes us where he wants to.
Go back to the beginning of the section - it is God's strength that he gives us. Stay close to him, look for his way, not your own. It might be a scary ride, but if you feel weak, seek him to "renew" your strength. Sometimes not doing anything but holding on is all we need to do.
Pastor Tom
Monday, October 20, 2008
Fools for Christ
I came across this wonderful passage in Isaiah 35. It may be familiar to you because part of it is a worship song.
It's Isaiah 35:10 - but what struck me was a couple of verses prior to that, in verse 8. Isaiah is talking about a road to Zion, to God. Today we know that that way is Jesus Christ. Isaiah calls it "the Way of Holiness" in the beginning of the verse. Now listen to the rest:
"...the unclean hall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk the way; even if they are fools they shall not go astray..."
You walk on this way when you listen to and then rely and trust in the goodness of Jesus Christ, not your own. In our father Adam we walked away from God. In our new father Jesus, all the bad we deserve He got, and all the good He deserves we got.
But I really like that last phrase. Sometimes I really feel like a fool. I want to live this new life Jesus has given to me but I blow it. Sometimes it seems I walk more like Adam than Jesus. But slowly God is changing me from the inside out. Deep down I really am a good person, thanks to Jesus in me. But when I am a fool, this verse (and many others) give me the security to know that God has me on His road and I will not fall off of it.
God is more powerful than me. He holds me in His hands. He is guiding me to Him. I'm so glad God doesn't need a GPS to keep me on the road of holiness.
Pastor Tom
It's Isaiah 35:10 - but what struck me was a couple of verses prior to that, in verse 8. Isaiah is talking about a road to Zion, to God. Today we know that that way is Jesus Christ. Isaiah calls it "the Way of Holiness" in the beginning of the verse. Now listen to the rest:
"...the unclean hall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk the way; even if they are fools they shall not go astray..."
You walk on this way when you listen to and then rely and trust in the goodness of Jesus Christ, not your own. In our father Adam we walked away from God. In our new father Jesus, all the bad we deserve He got, and all the good He deserves we got.
But I really like that last phrase. Sometimes I really feel like a fool. I want to live this new life Jesus has given to me but I blow it. Sometimes it seems I walk more like Adam than Jesus. But slowly God is changing me from the inside out. Deep down I really am a good person, thanks to Jesus in me. But when I am a fool, this verse (and many others) give me the security to know that God has me on His road and I will not fall off of it.
God is more powerful than me. He holds me in His hands. He is guiding me to Him. I'm so glad God doesn't need a GPS to keep me on the road of holiness.
Pastor Tom
Friday, October 17, 2008
Perfect Peace
I've been super busy lately (I know I keep saying that) so I haven't been able to blog much - but as I was reading Isaiah 26 this morning I just had to comment on this one verse. In fact, read Isaiah 26-30 - there are so many incredible gems there it isn't funny.
So here is one of my favorite verses:
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Isn't that a wonderful verse? How many times in our daily lives do we find ourselves uptight, anxious, and at anything but perfect peace? So the first lesson is, "stay" your mind on the Lord. What does that mean? I think it means for us what Paul said in Colossians 3:2-4:
"2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Instead of focusing on all the things that are causing you stress, concentrate on all the ways God is bringing about life in you through the presence of Jesus Christ in your heart. You are dead to the anxiety because you are alive to the Lord.
"Perfect peace" in the Hebrew is literally "shalom shalom". Not just peace, but real peace. Peace, as Paul says "surpasses all understanding" (Phil 4:7), peace that "guards" your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When it says to "stay" your mind on the Lord it means to "lean" on him. Don't lean on your own ability to comprehend or control that which causes a lack of peace, lean on the Lord through Jesus Christ who will not only bring you through the storm but is with you to calm your hearts in the storm by showing you his glory (his character) being worked in you.
Pastor Tom
So here is one of my favorite verses:
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."
Isn't that a wonderful verse? How many times in our daily lives do we find ourselves uptight, anxious, and at anything but perfect peace? So the first lesson is, "stay" your mind on the Lord. What does that mean? I think it means for us what Paul said in Colossians 3:2-4:
"2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Instead of focusing on all the things that are causing you stress, concentrate on all the ways God is bringing about life in you through the presence of Jesus Christ in your heart. You are dead to the anxiety because you are alive to the Lord.
"Perfect peace" in the Hebrew is literally "shalom shalom". Not just peace, but real peace. Peace, as Paul says "surpasses all understanding" (Phil 4:7), peace that "guards" your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When it says to "stay" your mind on the Lord it means to "lean" on him. Don't lean on your own ability to comprehend or control that which causes a lack of peace, lean on the Lord through Jesus Christ who will not only bring you through the storm but is with you to calm your hearts in the storm by showing you his glory (his character) being worked in you.
Pastor Tom
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Cherubim & Seraphim
Pardons for not posting for a while. I've been really busy with two book projects and my daughter's wedding. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things and get back to regularly posting on this blog.
Today I just wanted to mention the cherubim. When we think about cherubs what comes to mind? It's those cute, pudgy little baby-like creatures with wings that shoot cute arrows at Valentines Day, right?
We couldn't be more wrong. The cherubim as described in 1 Kings 7 are huge, standing over the ark of the covenant like giant lions, ready to scarf up anyone or anything that attempts to enter the presence of God.
Cherubs stood at the gate to the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve from re-entering the garden and eating from the tree of life while in a sinful state.
Another angelic creature, the seraphim appear in Isaiah 6 when Isaiah has a vision of the throne room of God. It says 2 "Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."
These powerful angelic beings are fiercely loyal to the King of Kings, and spend their time in incredible worship and praise. They do this because they know what God is really like. It just makes me pause to think, how fiercely loyal are we to our God, Jesus Christ? When people revile him, do we remain silent? It's not that God needs defending, but if the cherubim can do it, why not us?
And then worship - do we "call to another" our praise of God? Do we gather together as the body of Christ and really fiercely worship God? The seraphim do it because they know God. Hebrews 10 tells us to boldly come into the presence of God through the curtain, the flesh of Jesus Christ. When we do, do we fall down and worship?
Pastor Tom
Today I just wanted to mention the cherubim. When we think about cherubs what comes to mind? It's those cute, pudgy little baby-like creatures with wings that shoot cute arrows at Valentines Day, right?
We couldn't be more wrong. The cherubim as described in 1 Kings 7 are huge, standing over the ark of the covenant like giant lions, ready to scarf up anyone or anything that attempts to enter the presence of God.
Cherubs stood at the gate to the Garden of Eden to keep Adam and Eve from re-entering the garden and eating from the tree of life while in a sinful state.
Another angelic creature, the seraphim appear in Isaiah 6 when Isaiah has a vision of the throne room of God. It says 2 "Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."
These powerful angelic beings are fiercely loyal to the King of Kings, and spend their time in incredible worship and praise. They do this because they know what God is really like. It just makes me pause to think, how fiercely loyal are we to our God, Jesus Christ? When people revile him, do we remain silent? It's not that God needs defending, but if the cherubim can do it, why not us?
And then worship - do we "call to another" our praise of God? Do we gather together as the body of Christ and really fiercely worship God? The seraphim do it because they know God. Hebrews 10 tells us to boldly come into the presence of God through the curtain, the flesh of Jesus Christ. When we do, do we fall down and worship?
Pastor Tom
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