Ordinary Time: Monday, November 9, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 9:1-15

The people come to this point where they are starting anew. They are starting back where everything was, but where so much had changed. They were starting again. But, before they restarted, they were reminded. The Lord was there in the past. The Lord had moved and the Lord would move again. In this time of change and new life, God was still God. And the same God they trusted back then was the same God they could trust now.

The same is true for us today. We can still trust God.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 18:1-8

We are reminded over and over in scripture that we are not to judge. But, we are also reminded today that God will judge one day. He is the final judge and authority. He is the king of kings and Lord of Lords. He is all in all and the Lord of it all. And, thankfully, He is a God of mercy. He longs to love and forgive His children. Yes, He will judge one day. But today, in this place and time, He offers mercy, love and grace.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 15:1-20

Jesus reminds us that it starts with the heart. That is where it all begins with. He wants our heart. He wants our very being. As the heart goes, so goes everything else. Today, and each day, may He have our heart.

Ordinary Time: Thursday, November 5, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Ezra 7:1-16

One of the interesting things about the rebuilding of Jerusalem is this - God used people that weren't "His" to make this possible. Gentile kings and leaders, they allowed the Jewish people to return and rebuild. The kings supported, helped and encouraged. They told them to do and supported them in it. Yet, they weren't "God's people." They were Gentiles.

To me, this shows that God can and will use anyone. Sometimes when the church is resistant to doing what God would have us to do, God will use other means. God will use whoever, and whatever He has to in accomplishing His will. We need to always be careful to make sure we are trying to do God's will, not assuming that our will is God's will. God's will is going to be accomplished. May we be part of it.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 14:1-13

Blessed is those that die in the Lord. Revelation reminds us of that. One of the lessons we learn from Revelation is this - God wins. And there is a reward for those that are faithful to God, that serve and love Him, that seek to do His will and seek to grow in grace. God sees His people, He loves His people, and He has rest for His people. Don't grow weary. Don't grow tired. There is rest for those that love God and are called for Him. There is rest.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 14:1-12

Herod did a lot of things that were wrong. Lots of things that weren't good. Lots of problem. But, we see in this story perhaps his greatest downfall. Pride. He knew the beheading of John the Baptist was wrong. He knew he shouldn't. But, he had committed himself and he was too prideful to back down. It's the pride that goeth before the fall. May we remember the dangers of pride.

Ordinary Time: Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 13:4-22

When we make mistakes, when we fall down, we can always take comfort in scripture. Why? Because the people there are no better than we are, and honestly, sometimes I think they are worse. Today, we see that the Temple is rebuilt! God has restored His favor! Blessings back in the Land! The people have been restored!

And in no time, the people are back to breaking the law. They are back to doing the very things that got them in trouble in the first place. They are back to not keeping their word to God.

So, it's not just us that fall down and make mistakes. It's not just us that don't do what we said we would do. This is not to offer excuses. But it is to say that all humans throughout all time have suffered from the same problem - sin. And thankfully, our salvation doesn't come through anything we do, but through all that He did.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 12:1-12

The power of evil is defeated by the blood of the lamb and by the word of our testimony. Jesus Christ, through the cross and the empty tomb defeated the powers of sin, death, and the grave. For us as Christians, they have no power over us. They are defeated. Where o death, is your victory, where, o death, is your sting? Sin is defeated, death is defeated.

And today, as Christians, as the church universal, when we raise our voices, when we offer praise to God, when we testify about God's grace by our words, and with our lives, darkness is defeated. Today, this day, with your witness, you have the power to defeat darkness.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:53-58

Because of their lack of faith, He could not do the miracles that He desires. The only thing stopping God from breaking out in our midst today is us. The only thing stopping God is our faith, or our lack thereof. God will do His part. May we do ours. May we believe. May we have faith. May we hope. May we know that God is still at work today, and each day. May we have faith.

Ordinary Time: Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 12:27-31a, 42b-47

We see the wall is rebuilt. That which has been destroyed has been restored. We see where hopelessness and sadness reigned, hope was restored. The city had been destroyed. The temple laid to waste. All the signs of God's love and promise were gone. All looked lost.

But, God is a God of second chances. God is a God that doesn't give up. God is a God that forgives. God is a God of endless hope and a God that longs to restore. That which was lost has been found, that which was destroyed has been rebuilt. God is a God of endless hope.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 11:1-19

One of the hopeful messages of Revelation is this - God sees the pain and hurt of people. We see in Revelation judgement after judgement. But, who is being judged? Who is having all these harsh pronouncements given? Who is facing the wrath of God?

Those that have worked against God; those that have oppressed God's people. Those that have persecuted the church, those that have sought to stop God's will. God hears the cries of His people. He hears the cries of the church. He hears the anguish of His children. And Revelation teaches us that He will intercede on behalf of His people.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:44-52

What can compare to God? What can compare to knowing Him? We chase life and love and peace in so many ways. And they all leave us empty. On in Jesus. Only in God. Only through Him do we find the life that we want so badly. What can we compare the kingdom of God to? It is the pearl of great price, the gift that is worth everything. What can we compare to the goodness of God? Nothing. It is above all and beyond all. It is all in all.

Ordinary Time: Monday, November 2, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Nehemiah 6:1-19

Nehemiah had a gift given to him by God - the gift of discernment. He was able to discern, to understand, to figure out that this one saying that he had a prophesy, did not. He was not speaking for God, he was speaking for those that were opposed to God and to His plan. Nehemiah was about to understand that see that.

Some of us may have that gift of discernment. Others may not. No matter, we all have a gift. We've all been gifted by God in some way. We all have something that God has given us that He wants us to use for His glory and His Kingdom. What are your gifts? Where do you feel like God has gifted you? What areas of your life do you just feel God calling you in? Those may be your gifts. Listen to God. Explore where He may be calling you. And follow.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 10:1-11

We see in Revelation the continuing prophecies of God. We see the continual unfolding of God's plan. We see God's completeness being unfurled. And we don't fully understand it. I think that if there are things that we can learn from Revelation, they may be this - God wins in the end. When its all said and done, when it's all over - God wins. And, we don't understand it all. We don't understand every mystery. We don't understand all that God is doing. And that's ok. We don't have to. We just have to trust.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:36-43

We see in this parable that angels will come, they will separate the righteous and unrighteous, and judgment will be done. Notice who's doing this. The angels on behalf of God. Not me and you. Our job is not to judge others. Our job is not to pronounce where folks will spend eternity. Our job is not to be the ultimate judge of others. Our job is to love. Love God, love neighbor. And leave the rest up to the one that will be the judge - God Almighty.

Ordinary Time: Thursday, October 29, 2009

Let your work on God's team be inspired by the old story Rufus Jones told about a little boy playing on the deck of a ship plowing through a pitching storm at sea. When a passenger asked the boy if he was afraid, he replied, "I am not afraid because my father is the captain of this ship. Your Father is the Captain, and all is well.

Ordinary Time: Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Old Testament Lesson

Ezra 6:1-22

We see the time in exile has now ended for the people. They are restored. They had been wandering away from the Temple, from the land, from the promise for these years. Now they have returned. And it is God who has lead to their restoration. He has protected them and made a way for them. Even though they were imperfect and had failed God time after time after time, God did not give up on them. They were still His people. And He made a way.

God doesn't give up. He's always calling us back, spurring us forward. God doesn't give up. He always brings hope.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 5:1-10

Jesus Christ is worthy. Not because of anything He has done. He is not worthy of worship just because of the many things we have to be thankful for. He is not worthy of worthy of worship just because of His great acts. He is not worthy just because of any of this.

He is worthy because HE IS. He is the great I AM. He is God. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the beginning and the end. He is all in all. He is the Prince of Peace. He is. He is God. He is Lord. He is Savior. He is worthy not because of all the great things He has done. He is worthy because HE IS.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 13:10-17

The Disciples were not perfect. All you've got to do is read the Gospels. They didn't always get it. They didn't always understand. They missed what was happening a lot. But yet, in spite of all this, they were willing. And Jesus revealed Himself to them. Because they were willing. Remember, God doesn't want perfect people. He wants people willing to love Him and love each other.