The Choice of Death or Life…

Hundred Guilder Print, 1649 by Rembrandt

This blog entry was written by Mandie. I consider Mandie and her family as dear friends and fellow servants of the Lord. They are members of Mount Zion Road Church and most importantly, they are faithful followers of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. I am thankful and blessed that she was willing to allow me to post this entry on my website. Mandie encourages all of us to recognize the covenant relationship we can have with our Savior, Jesus. This relationship is one that we must pursue intentionally and with purpose as we grow in faith. I pray that you find her words to be a blessing as you read. To God be the glory!

“Now at that feast he released to them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.” (Mark 15:6)  The crowd called for Barabbas (Luke 23:18, John 19:40).  Barabbas over Jesus.  

Recently I had the chance to look into the meaning of the word “Barabbas”.  The Strong’s definition of Barabbas (G912) means “son of abba, an Israelite”.  The Strong’s definition of Abba (G5) is the Aramaic word for “father”.  Barabbas and Jesus- both sons of their fathers.  One, we know, was the son of Father God.  But what about Barabbas? Surely he was a good man to be chosen to be released from prison by a multitude?  The Biblical text tells us a few things.  In Matthew 27:16, we read that he was a notorious prisoner.  In Mark 5:7, he was  a rebel who had committed murder in the insurrection.  In Luke 23:18, he was in prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder.  And in John 18:40, that he was a robber.  At this point, I stop and think, who else does this sound like?  May I suggest, the enemy of our souls?  As John 10:10a says “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy”.  Could Barabbas have been symbolic of the son of the father of lies?  In John 8 we see a conversation between Jesus and Pharisees.  He told them that by trying to kill Him they were doing the works of their father (8:40-41). He went on to say “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (8:44).

The deeds of the flesh include such things as Barabbas committed (Galatians 5:19-21).  Things we, too, are capable of committing.  I see this Biblical account as highlighting the struggle between our flesh and the Spirit- at conflict and battle within us (Romans 7:18-21).  Which do we walk in?

The choice of whom to allow to go free that Passover, years ago, was between a murderer, who took life, and the Author of life who gives life.  They chose Barabbas over Jesus.  From Judas to Barabbas, just two of the men who the enemy used to carry out his scheme.  We, of course, know that God had His own plan running simultaneously.  The Biblical text tells us that Pilate was aware that Jesus was delivered over out of envy or self-interest (Matthew 27:18) and that the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus (Matthew 27:20).  We have the same choice every day.  Do we also allow ourselves to be persuaded by those that have power or influence over us, over the culture at large?  The choice is between our flesh or the Spirit.  The choice between death or life.   “For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Instead, live like the Lord Jesus Christ did, and forget about satisfying the desires of your sinful nature.” (Romans 8:6, 13 & 13:14).  

Everyday may we break from the crowd, choose to be holy as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16) and choose Jesus over Barabbas in our hearts and minds. Our new nature in Christ over our old sinful nature.  Freedom in Christ over the bondage of sin.  May you be blessed this season as we remember our Lord and Savior who died to take away the sins of the world, our sins.  Alive and living today in us who believe!  Hallelujah, He is risen!

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the  full.” (John 10:10b) 

Mandie

The image associated with this blog is an etching by Rembrandt. It is referred to as the Hundred Guilder Print. The etching depicts Jesus teaching. It was inspired from Mathew chapter 19.

Work, Wealth, Family, & Generosity

This blog entry was written by Brandon. I have known him for many years. I consider Brandon and his family as dear friends and fellow servants of the Lord. They are members of Mount Zion Road Church and most importantly, they are faithful followers of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ. Brandon has served and continues to serve our church family in numerous ways. He serves as a member of the Elders team along with undertaking many other responsibilities of the church. He is a man of integrity and honesty. It is a blessing to call him both friend and brother. I am thankful that he was willing to allow me to post this entry on my website. I pray that you find his words to be a blessing as you read. To God be the glory!

The topic of finance has been debated a lot in the church. Some Christians believe that it is holier to be poor. And of course, some believe in the prosperity gospel, which teaches that when you give, God will make you rich. Let’s dig into what the bible says.

Genesis 2:15, The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

God gave Adam a job & responsibility. So, it’s in our God given nature that man needs meaningful work. 

Deuteronomy 8:18, But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. 

A great reminder that we should never be prideful of what we have, because that ability to work and generate wealth comes from God and should affect us in that we should not take it for granted. Though there are many warnings regarding money and possessions in the bible, it’s a warning to not put those things above God. So, make sure your heart is in the right place & remain humble in all things. That’s a good challenge for us.

Proverbs 22:29, Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

The meaning of this proverb is that you should use your God given talent to strive for the best at what you do, so you can improve in your profession. God wants us to work hard and be successful in our everyday lives.

1 Timothy 5:8, Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Provide for your family, and extended family in times of need. This mindset should come natural to us. To me, whether you’re on the giving end or receiving end, it’s a reminder that family should be helping family and not solely relying on a third party or the government for unexpected financial needs. This can also apply to our church family too. So, if we are to be prepared to help our family in times of need, what does God say about saving?

Proverbs 21:20, The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

This proverb commends those who maintain provisions. We are to make wise decisions & save for a future time. The prodigal son story is a great example of not taking the advice of this proverb. Proverbs 13:11, Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. My take on this verse is to work hard, consistently, & honestly to build wealth gradually.  So, if God wants us to build up our savings for future needs, how are we to handle that savings?

Matthew 25, Parable of the talents. (The master entrusted servants with talents)

Of course, the main lesson we can learn from this parable is that we should use the talents that God has given us, like skills, abilities, and also the holy spirit, to grow and produce spiritually. In other words, don’t waste your gifts, use them. Because God gives us each unique gifts and talents and he expects us to use them to do good.

I think we can also learn something from Jesus’ real-life example too, in financial terms. We have a responsibility to be good stewards of what God has blessed us with and entrusted us with. I think of it as, we are not the owners, but managers of God’s assets. We should not hide them out of fear of losing them, but strive to multiply them for reasons I’ll talk about soon.

Proverbs 14:15, The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.

This is great general advice for safety and success in our everyday lives. I think you can apply this to our finances as well. For example, don’t fall for a get-rich-quick scheme. Be responsible with your money and even do research before making decisions. 

Proverbs 13:22, A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

Wealth in this lifetime isn’t guaranteed, (I think of the passage, “in this world you will have trouble”). But, this proverb is a good general instruction because we also strive to pass down our values and beliefs so that the cycle can continue and so God continues to be glorified in many ways through the generations. I also like this verse too so I’ll share: Proverbs 19:14, Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord. 

There are many bible verses on giving and being generous, I’ll share a couple. Malachi 3:10, Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. And Proverbs 19:17, Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Again, I think about our financial blessings come from God, so out of honor, we are to give back to Him in the way of a tithe and being generous with our money. Help those who are less fortunate, the poor, the widows, the orphans. Having the mindset of using our blessings for good can help to break the grip of materialism that so many people struggle with in our world today. God will bless us in many ways through these acts of giving. So, generous giving is intended for our own good, because it directs our focus back to God and what He has done for us.

Review:

  1. Man is designed to work
  2. Wealth comes from God
  3. Strive to be the best at your skill/talent
  4. Provide for your family
  5. Plan & budget for the future
  6. Practice good stewardship
  7. Be wise and research
  8. Leave a legacy behind 
  9. The ultimate goal – being able to give to others through a heart of gratitude and the desire to glorify God

Closing thoughts:

While this subject is traditionally focused on men, we also need to understand that some women are highly gifted at a skill, savings, and budgeting too. And no matter what our financial status is, we can all lay-up treasures in Heaven. That eternal reward will be the greatest investment of all.

Ephesians 4:28, Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 

~ Brandon

Put On Then: Beloved-ness

Above picture was taken a few years ago on a hike through Grayson Highlands State Park, VA. Photo taken by my wife Kelly depicting me carrying my daughter Macie as she was hiking!?!?!? Put on Beloved-ness!

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV).” 

Of all the descriptors the Lord uses in His Word to speak of His children, the term beloved is one that I most cherish. The term beloved reveals the heart of our Lord toward us His people. We are beloved. We are those who are most cherished by our God. Because we are so dearly loved, Jesus Himself chose to come to us to redeem us while we were yet sinners. He saw fit, due to love to lay down His own life in atonement for the sin that separates us from Himself. John tells us that there is no greater love than one who lays down His own life for those who are beloved.[1] This being the very thing our Savior chose to submit to in His love for those whom He beloves. He loves us so much that betrayal, suffering, torment, death and the grave would not deter Him from rescuing us due to His great love. 

This term beloved implies to be found within the gaze of the one who loves. One who is beloved is one who is beheld. The attention of our Lord falls upon us, His beloved. As we wallow in sin being those who have fallen from grace, our Lord looks upon us in love. In our suffering, He pours out compassion. In our struggle, He comforts us with His mercy. In our wondering, He offers us His authority. In weakness, He carries us in His arms. In separation, He fights for us destroying our enemies under His feet.[2] He looks upon us in love knowing our struggle. We, His beloved children whom He chose to be His very own precious possession are held within His hands.[3] Those who are beloved are those who are gazed upon by the One who loves. What more precious aspect of being is there than to be considered beloved of God? I can think of nothing more precious. All praise, glory and thanksgiving to our Savior, Messiah and Lord Jesus for choosing us to be His.

As those who have been redeemed by the love of Jesus, put on then beloved-ness. Know that the Lord looks upon you as His precious possession. Take confidence in the fact that Our Savior is faithful even in our unfaithfulness. Submit to His authority and pray for His provision to help us overcome those things that attempt to cause us to stumble. In our weakness, He is our strength. In affliction, He is our comfort. In trial, He is our guide. Chose then to remember that you are one who is favored in the sight of our Messiah, His beloved. Amen!

[1] John 15:13

[2] Psalm 110

[3] 1 Peter 2:9

The Battle Hymn Of The Republic

This blog was written by our youngest daughter Macie. Thank you to Macie for her willingness to share her thoughts regarding this hymn. To God be the glory!

In 1861, Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn Of The Republic. She fought against slavery and for women’s rights. During the Civil War, Julia and her family visited an army camp in Virginia. They heard soldiers singing about freedom. She liked the music but not the words. Her pastor said she should write her own words to the song. She lay in her bed as words came to her, and after she was satisfied with the song, she wrote the words on paper so she wouldn’t forget them. The Atlantic Monthly magazine published her poem. 

The first verse of the Hymn: 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

His truth is marching on. 

This verse means that God’s glory will come to the earth again, and that His glory is everlasting. 

The second verse of the Hymn:

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;

They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps,

His day is marching on. 

This verse means, The soldiers focused on praising God in the time of war because they know He is coming soon. 

The third verse of the Hymn:

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat;

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; be jubilant, my feet!

Our God is marching on. 

This verse means, that when Jesus’ trumpet blows that we can’t run from it and we will have to stand before His judgment. 

The last verse of the Hymn:

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;

As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!

While God is marching on. 

This last verse means, when Jesus was born He was full of glory and that changes the hearts of men. He died on the cross it made us holy and we should tell others about Him. 

-Macie

Unto Us Does His Light Shine

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but have the Light of Life (John 8:12 NASB95).’”

One of my favorite songwriters is Josh Garrels. A few years ago he wrote a song titled “The Light Came Down.” In the song, he celebrates the provision of our Lord and Savior. He celebrates answered prayers in that our God cares for us. He cares for us enough to come here to save us. Light came down to cast away darkness. Light came down to be a comfort to a people who are dearly loved. Light came down to clothe His people in the hope of Salvation. For unto us does His light shine. The light of God came down to save us.

The closing chorus of the song offers us this reminder of our Savior: 

The light came down
Cast the darkness away
He appeared
A helpless child
The light of God came to save us
To the world that He made us
O’ Lord and Savior
Alleluia

The Light of God come to us, to save us. Jesus came to us because of love. He came to cast away darkness. His Light a beacon of hope in a world stricken under a curse brought forth due to sin. Our Savior, the Light who has the authority to chase away all the darkness, appeared. “O’ Lord and Savior, Alleluia.” 

Jesus gives us this promise with His very own words. Jesus tells us that He is the Light. He is the Light who has come down to us. A Light of hope in this world to save us. We have been given the opportunity to follow Him. In faith we can receive His Light. A Light of hope that enlivens us through His Spirit. A Light that provides reprieve from despair and the chaos lurking within the shadows of this world. Jesus is our Light directing our path toward Life eternal. “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5).” Choose this day to follow Jesus. Choose to follow Him as He is the only source of everlasting Light overcoming darkness. If we choose to follow Him, we will not walk in darkness but in Light. For unto us does His light shine. “O’ Lord and Savior, Alleluia.”

Put On Then: Holiness

1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV).” 

As a condition of being a child of God, we are called to be holy. To write these words sounds both unattainable and irreverent. How could we ever be holy as God is holy? And why would Almighty God suggest the possibility of attaining a condition of holiness for such a lowly people? Yet we see in these verses the command to put on holiness as an aspect of our faith.

To discover what we are to put on in this context, it is necessary to examine the word holiness. The Apostle Peter gives us this exhortation in his letter, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy (1 Peter 1:14-16 NASB95).’” By surveying the text we can begin to understand the imperative put forth toward holiness. Peter reminds us that we are children of God. As children of God, we are to strive toward willing obedience to the One who has saved us. Why? Because Jesus has provided a means for us to be reconciled. In this reconciliation, we have the promise of eternal life in covenant with Almighty God. Therefore we have the authority in our submission to Jesus to step out of the conformity of our former lusts. Holiness then is to repent and turn away from the fallen manner in which we lived. This made possible only in humility and submission to our Messiah. In this call toward holiness, the impossibility to achieve such a stature in the frail human condition is only accomplished through the provision of our Lord. He calls us to be holy as He is holy, but He makes a way for us to do so. To His glory, He has given us the Name above every name to call upon to equip us to walk in a manner that if worthy of the calling. God calls us to be holy and He gives us the indwelling presence of His Spirit to equip us. 

Likeness in holiness toward God is then in the ability to be set apart and distinct from the mundane. As our Lord and Savior is utterly distinct in the sense that there are no other gods who are like Him (Isa. 43:10). We too must be distinct in our true personhood as we strive to submit in humility to His authority in our lives. No longer do we conform to the lusts of this mundane world as one who is ignorant. We have the authority, knowledge and discernment of our Savior who dwells in us through His Holy Spirit to equip, sustain and preserve us in faith. Holiness then is found in willingness. It is found in our willingness to recognize the authority of God in our lives. To submit to this authority as the Name above all names, putting aside temporal pursuits in exchange for the eternal. Holiness is in the seeking. Seek the Lord as He directs our paths. Seek His council in those things which cause you to stumble. Seek His power to help you overcome both sin and temptation. Holiness is in trusting. Trusting that our Savior will continually work in our lives to help us walk toward the person He has designed us to be. This is our true identity. A child of God, made in His image being utterly distinct from the image of the fallen world which we have by grace been delivered from to His glory! AMEN!

Put on Then: As God’s Chosen Ones

Photo by Wendy van Zyl on Pexels.com

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV).” 

As we continue to examine these verses given to us by the Lord through the Apostle Paul, our focus this day will land on the designation applied us as chosen. We are God’s chosen ones. This is a designation applied to the people of God throughout the course of Scripture. In the book of Exodus 19:5-6. God declares that we are His. We are His treasured possession and unto Him we are to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. “Chosen-ness” is a profound distinction of our human identity redeemed of Jesus. Brothers and sisters, we are chosen. This means that we are not orphans who know not a father. We have the opportunity to be loved and cared for by our ever-loving, merciful and gracious Redeemer. We are not destitute in our ability to find purpose in faith. 

John records these words of our Savior, “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another (John 15:15-17 ESV).” Salvation offers us reconciliation with God. And in this reconciliation we are called to bear fruit. The fruit that we produce as we strive to exalt the Name of the Lord in our lives will abide. The faith being built in us as the people of God will bring perseverance. It will also serve to condition our world with truth that is unchanging.

Peter writes this encouragement to us echoing the implications found earlier in Scripture, “ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV).” Again, we are a people of God’s own possession, treasured and loved. We have been called out of darkness to dwell in His Light so that we His children can declare the excellencies of His grace. A people who once knew not mercy can now find mercy in the blessed Name of Jesus.

Put on then as God’s chosen ones, “chosen-ness.” Confidence in our distinct personhood, knowing the author of our true identity. We are a people who can know purpose. We are a people who can know and find comfort in an identity that is ordained by God. We are a people who are chosen to be His through our faith in our Savior, knowing who you are and knowing your true identity in Jesus. We do not need to invent forms of personhood or identity which conform to this fallen world. We have been given both distinction in our identity as defined by God, our Father. In Jesus we can find dignity as His chosen, redeemed, treasured people. To God be the Glory!

Put On Then

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV).” 

Prior to these verses, the Apostle Paul instructs us to “put to death what is earthly in you (Colossians 3:5).” The term earthly is intentionally used to include aspects of our fallen nature that are in keeping with sin. Paul tells us to take off the old self. Allow the authority of Jesus to rule and reign in your hearts so that the old self, the old sin nature can be put to death. Paul gives this instruction to us as people of faith who are walking in the authority of Jesus. We have the authority in Jesus to be set free from the bondage of the sin nature. We are no longer bound, but free in Jesus to choose to submit to His authority. Under His authority, the old self can be put to rest in exchange for the new. A new self who is conformed to the image of our Creator in recognition of His grace, mercy and love for us.

Following the Apostles Paul’s instruction regarding the authority of Jesus to remove the old self, he gives us a list of attributes to put on. In the putting off of the old self, we must put on then behaviors, attitudes and characteristics which exemplify the authority of Jesus in our lives. In faith, redeemed by Jesus, we are responsible for purposefully demonstrating characteristics of our salvation in the manner in which we conduct ourselves. The old self is gone the new has come. 

The Lord tells us to put on then, as His chosen ones, attributes of faith demonstrating His authority to bring transformation in our lives. Why do this? Because we are His. We are His and He has saved us by His grace. We are beloved children of an eternal God. Claim this promise today! We are His, the beloved children of a righteous King. The redeemed people of a sovereign Savior. It is by His mercy that we are saved. It is our response to demonstrate salvation in our submission to His authority. Let us all put on then the new self who is being conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:18-30). Let us do this to bring His glory in the things we think say and do.

Over the course of the next few articles, we are going to examine the attributes we are to put on as instructed by God’s Holy Word. I pray that we all intentionally strive to demonstrate our faith in Jesus through evidence in our very lives. To God be the glory!

How Nature Glorifies God

This blog was written by our youngest daughter Macie. She has done an excellent job expressing the wonder of our God as He is glorified in His Creation. It is a blessing to read these words written by my daughter. May the Lord continue to fill her with wisdom, knowledge and creativity as she gives glory to her Savior!!! I pray that her words are a blessing to you.

Additionally, the photo was taken when we were on top of Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina. Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Elevation 6,684 feet above sea level. To God be the glory for great things He has done!

I am writing about the sounds I heard outside and how nature glorifies God. The first sound I heard was a gentle spring rain. The rain smelled dirty but fresh. The rain was pitter-pattering on the soft, dewy grass. The pitter-patter sounded like a little kittens paws walking.  The drizzle of rain was calming and reminded me of this Bible verse, “Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.” (Zechariah 10:1).  Also, “Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” (Leviticus 26:4).  The rain reminds us that God will take care of us. We can trust in His promises. 

            Then I heard gentle tweets of birds and also loud and low sounding chirps. It was like the birds were all singing together. The sound of the birds was calming and beautiful. They are also building new nest which signifies new life. The verse, Matthew 6:26 says: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).  God will take care of us if He takes care of the birds.

            I heard the quiet howling of wind behind all of the other sounds. When the wind blew the trees would rustle. The wind felt good, it felt crisp and new. Here is a Bible verse about wind, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4).  The wind reminds us that God  promises us His Spirit. 

            That is what I heard and observed when I was outside listening to the sounds of nature. “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).

-Macie

What do you do with your Lego?

Most likely we have all had the incredibly unfortunate, indescribably painful experience of stepping on a Lego which is on the floor in our bare feet. Needless to say stepping on a Lego barefooted may rank up there as one of the most painful physical experiences we endure in our adult life! Obviously, I am exaggerating to a degree about how painful stepping on a Lego can be for the sake of emphasis. 

While I am being a bit silly in the above statement, I do want to consider the Lego in your life. (Side note about the word Lego. From what I understand, the word Lego is used in both singular and plural applications of the word). We all have Lego residing on the metaphorical floor of our lives. These Lego scattered across the floor of our lives are remnants of past experiences. The Lego represent past hurt, turmoil, struggle and difficulty. The Lego on the floor scattered by past experiences is unavoidable. We all can name any number of difficult events strewn across the history of our lives. They fall upon the floor of our memories awaiting the barefoot of our memory to step on them. When stepped upon, these difficulties can spur us to remember the hardship, turmoil or hurt of the past. In some cases, the hurt may be just as unbearable to cope with in the memory as it was during the actual trial.

Just like the toy Lego, as they are scattered over the floor causing pain when stepped upon, so too can past difficulties bring back painful memories. But the question I ask you is: What do you do with your Lego? What do you do with the events of your past? Do you allow the Lego to reside on the floor, scattered or do you choose to build with them? Do you allow the difficulties of your past to be a painful reminder of the hurt you suffered or do you choose to use the past as a building block upon which to stand in the present? Do you trust in the Lord to help you cope with past difficulties to equip you in the now?

God’s Word gives us many promises of His love, provision and care for us. The Psalmist tells us:

    “My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26 NIV).

Though we will face trials in this life, though we may feel like we are failing, though the difficulty may seem insurmountable, trust that the Lord is with you. Our God is with us! Cling to His strength. Give Him those Lego in what is broken from your past and allow Him to build within you a masterpiece for His glory. 

(Thank you to Elliot and Ian for the inspiration for this writing)

– Pastor Corby