Smiling with God...

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Big command from Moses. Do not forget what God has done for you. We know what he is saying, but guess what, we are human and as humans tend to forget. I like the word Moses uses here, he says to not “let then slip”. The thing about slipping is that it’s so unexpected. This past winter has been pretty crazy. Though the snow is nice, what I don’t like all that on is that the ice on the road and on the walk ways. It makes walking pretty dangerous Most of the time you can’t see it, you walk and the next thing you know is that you are on your butt. You have to be careful you have to be always aware that you can slip anytime and that it could be dangerous. When I read this verse here from Moses, I think of that. Slipping. Something that can be easil...

Mark 12:33-34 “‘...To love Him (God) with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’” To set up this situation, the teacher of the law asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. Jesus replied to paraphrase, “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” But what this teacher of the law did was that he got it and went further. He concluded in his mind that to loving the Lord is above sacrifices and burnt offerings. What he concluded that loving God is above the things you do for God. Yes there is action, but your action must not be above loving your God and neighbor. He was able to distinguish that because of your love for God your actions will follow. Not your actions first then your love for God. N...

Mark 10:48 “...and many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Let’s set this up. Earlier in this story, Bartimaeus was begging for healing from Jesus. He was in Jericho, Jesus was on His traveling through and the crowed was following. Bartimaeus was a blind beggar and he was desperate. And when we mean desperate he was desperate. But wouldn’t you be? I mean what is the likelihood of Jesus coming to your town? Jesus passed by, and Bartimaeus was not going to pass up this opportunity. He did not want to just have Jesus pass by. He knew, he knew that this was his only chance that Jesus was coming by. So with all his strength he shouted for Jesus. He did not care, he was not ashamed, he called up at the top of his lungs for the savior to stop and hear him. And Jesus did. Sometimes I think life takes us in directions where we become desperate like this. But often times, I settle. I settle in on life that is expe...

Numbers 9:22-23 “Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out. At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.” It must have been tiresome doing this. I mean we just read eight chapters on how the Israelites would set up and take down each step of the tent. They did this every time God moved. Not that I would complain, but after setting up everything it would be crazy to just brea it all down again and move. But, this little statement provides such insight on what it means to be follow the Lord’s will. The Israelites would do it. When God moved, they moved. No questions asked. Following God meant that you would follow Him regardless of when or where He decides to move. To be obedient. From this you can conclude that it took obedience to follow God. It took diligence to follow God. It ...

Exodus 3:10 So now, go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt Being called is a big thing. To be asked by God to accomplish his work is what every Christian should look forward to. Moses was called 40 years after he felt the urge in his hear to help his people. The calling came after a failed first attempt of what he felt his life was supposed to be about. It came after he settled in to a life where he was very comfortable. He was called at a time where things we going good. God’s calling probably was not expected at this point. It is no wonder why he questions God at the most highest level. He constantly ask for signs, ask for confirmation, ask for guidance. It seems like impossible that he would be called out now at this time for His work. But God did, God asked, and Moses said yes. God called you and I to do his work also. Though it may not be as grand as leading his people out of Israel, but it is a calling none the less. What we can...

Genesis 29:35 She (Leah) conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Leah’s situation sucked. Let’s face it, when you grow up as a little girl, in no matter what culture you are in, growing up not being loved, sucks. Her, father first had to trick a man to get her married, then she was in a marriage where here husband did not love her. To make it worse, her husband loved her sister. No matter how many children she had, no one loved her. Her sister, Rachel, began to despise her because she could bear children, while Rachel could not. There was no end in sight. The more your read the Bible you would think you were watching some messed up reality show you see now days. Leah was in a crappy situation where she didn’t even ask for it. But as you read it you slowly see how she turned to the only one who could give her hope. ...

Job 30:20 “I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me." Job seems tired at this point. For the past, oh I'd say 22 chapters all we heard about is his suffering. These past month has been a pretty grim one for the Old Testament reading. But what is God trying to teach us? What is God trying to say through his servant Job? Personally I don't know. But what I see here is an honest account of someone's faith. An honest heart to heart with God and saying, "Seriously God? What is going on?" While it is true that suffering does produce character, it just a painful process. I like Job's honesty with God. I like how he just is venting all his concerns, frustrations, and disappointments with Him. I like how he just lays it into God. The thing is God can handle it. I think for me, I don't feel as if this type of honest Christianity is shared very often. Especially when those prosper around you, while you deep in your he...