Godly Mourning

My cousin Stacey Higgins passed away this week after her long fight with Cancer. She wanted her funeral to be a celebration, and in many ways it was.

From the moment we sang "My Savior, My God" I knew this service would be something different. It was very comforting to worship together during this service. Her testimony is amazing. She really started living when she found out she was dying. And I don't mean that she just started to cherish her days more - she cherished her Lord.

It's hard to "celebrate" when someone dies. And sometimes I think as Christians we feel like we are not supposed to mourn or weep because we know their life is better with Christ. But I found great comfort in the passage from this morning...

Acts 8:²Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.

Godly people mourn. They mourn deeply, even for the godliest of men and women. It is only right for us to weep when our loved ones go to be with Christ. We just mourn a little differently, because we have hope.

Where are You God?

This is the speck of dust speaking here.

God, where are you?

Your power is incredible. The stars, the sunshine, the rain and lightning - you made them. You put the 2 in H2O. Galaxies are spoken into existence by your very word.

But I'm down here. On this little spinning ball. And some things are pretty messed up. We have beautiful people - people of integrity and character and people who delight in Your Name dying painful, tragic deaths. We have little kids battling leukemia. We have mothers and fathers who have lost sons and daughters.

I know I'm probably really not ready, but I'll go ahead and say it... I'm ready for Your kingdom to come.

Diabetes and Cancer and Aids. A poverty stricken nation with a death blow. People in power fighting for more power and money.

Where is the King?

Why doesn't he come and rescue his own?

Lord, forgive me for such thoughts. You have been beyond merciful to me. You are faithful morning by morning. I know You will make all things right. But God, we need you A.S.A.P.

Come near. We need healing and rest and all things made new.

And They Believed...

Moses has a big task to do. God equips him with some amazing signs. He is reluctant, God is angry, and at one point God would take his life if it weren't for his wife coming to the rescue. But Moses obeys and meets with Israel and then this incredible thing happens.

They believe.

4:31 and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

We're waiting here, trying to live and love and preach and serve and show mercy. And we know God has something to do in this place. We want to see the days where more believe.

Thank You Lord for equipping us. Please continue to push us to do Your will so that others will come to believe in Your Son.

What's at Stake? Life.

Sometimes it's the simple phrases that speak.

Luke 21:19 By standing firm you will gain life.

This chapter starts with a widow who gives all. It's not easy, but it's right. Then we see the prophecy of those who will stand before councils and will be hated by all men. It won't be easy, but God will provide. Then there are those who are just facing the day to day anxieties...

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

There is the warning, and ultimately a reminder that we will stand before the son of Man.

Be careful. Be on watch. But don't worry, just stand firm. Life is waiting.

Repaid at the Resurrection

I bet since we moved this summer I've encountered this passage 5 times.

Luke 14:12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

It is a constant reminder to me to seek out the helpless and hurting. It has not been as easy as you would think. My soul gravitates towards itself. That part is a constant battle.

Lord, please help me find the hurting around me. Then remind me to invite them into my life.

Forgotten Sparrows

A sparrow isn't worth very much in this passage in Luke. It's less than a penny. But here's the point of this passage, God counts the pennies.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

God counts the pennies; He cares about the smallest of things. But the chapter ends with the same truth, except that this time counting pennies means that you will pay everything you owe.

57 “Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Lord, let me be reminded of Your love and Your holiness whenever I see a penny.

Consoling Myself...With The Thought of Killing You.

Anger will eat you alive. As I was reading this morning from Genesis, you could feel the hatred that Esau had for his deceptive brother.

Genesis 27:⁴¹ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob." ⁴² When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, "Your brother Esau is consoling himself with the thought of killing you.

Esau is finding comfort in the hope of destroying his brother. How do you forgive someone who has lied and stolen the most important things you have?