Soldiers in the army of the Lord

Several times, I have mentioned how we, as Christians, can become lax.  We can get comfortable with our lives and what we are doing.  We can become so comfortable that we don't even seek what God has for us or for direction…we start to enjoy where we are and forget our purpose because that takes effort.  This week, Lent began.  Lent is a time of repentance…a time of change…a time of renewal…renewal of our commitment to the Lord.  What are you looking at changing during this time?  If you are like most, we don't know what we need to change because we haven't actually looked at our lives and how that compares to what God would have us do.  Today's scripture is a well known scripture.  It is one that many of us have heard, but don't often think of what it can mean for us today – nor do we have the courage to do what is required of us.

For time purposes, I am only going to brush the surface of what this scripture means, so I encourage you to go back and study this more in depth.

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Dry bones…a vision that Ezekiel had about the whole house of Israel.  They had lost hope.  They felt that they were disconnected from God.  They were lost.  God showed Ezekiel that this wasn't the end.  God could bring restoration.  He could bring healing.  He could make the driest bones live because He is God!!

What an awesome vision of a powerful, loving, restoring God!!  That's what we should do during Lent – restore broken relationships w/ God – find hope in HIM – allow Him to breathe real life into us through the Spirit!  We should be fighting in the army of the Lord…but instead we are hiding in our beds where it is comfortable and easy…We should be standing tall…with the armor that has been given – but we are shying away and putting away our swords in hopes that someone else will do it…God is calling us to restoration…He is calling us to new life in Him…He is calling us to a life of courage and strength and devotion.  But none of that happens when we make up our minds we are going to improve…NONE!  It happens when we give ourselves COMPLETELY to the Lord as a soldier for Him.  He breathes His Spirit in us and we are changed – we are restored – we are equipped – we are ready!!  We are weak, pitiful, sad sinners – but we are called into the army of the Lord with a mighty God who can use the weak that are willing.  Want to live?  Want to truly live?  Stand tall and sign up to be in the army of the Lord!!  Healing happens…hope is given…a relationship with Him is restored…we are ready for battle…

Will YOU SIGN UP?  God wants YOU!

A Break and A Challenge...

This past weekend, I was able to take a break.  It sounds so simple, but was so important.  I don't like taking breaks.  I really enjoy being in church at FMBC on Sundays.  I enjoy worshiping with my church family and bringing God's Word to His people.  I also enjoy spending time in fellowship with all of the wonderful people of FMBC.  But, sometimes a time of refreshing and renewal is the best thing for me.
So, this past weekend, Wendy and I headed out of town.  As most of you know, one of my "hobbies" is running.  I say it is a hobby, but it is as much a part of my life as sleeping.  Running is my time by myself to reflect.  It is a time to talk to God about what is on my mind.  It is an opportunity to de-stress and prepare myself for whatever is ahead.  It is also a time to challenge myself to go farther and to do more than I would have ever thought possible.  It is only appropriate that I run a marathon on my time away.  For some, it sounds insane.  For me, it was just what I needed - beautiful weather...wonderful company...great friends to celebrate with!  And, it was preparation for the next run...bring it on!
While I was away, I say many thanks to Ken who stepped up and took care of Sunday morning.  I am thankful for his willingness to bring God's Word and lead the services!
On a different note, Wednesday of this week is Ash Wednesday (already?!).  This begins a season of Lent...a time of reflection...a time of repentance.  As I was reminded today, Lent is not a time of being sorry for what we have done wrong, but a time to realize where we have gone astray and make a change!  So, I challenge you to begin your time of reflection and think about what needs to change in your life.  I have a list of things that need to change in mine...however, I am going to work on something in particular this Lent season (of which I will not disclose just yet).  I pray that you will dedicate yourself to working on something that you need to change as well - with God's help, guidance, and strength.  Let God instruct you on where He would have you to go during this time and GO! 
What are you waiting for?  Ash Wednesday is upon us!  I'm ready...how about you?

REALLY?!?!

Ever had one of those days when you feel like you have more on you than you can handle?  One of those weeks or months??  Sometimes, I find myself looking up to God and thinking, “really God!?!?!”  It happens that way when we seem to be “in over our heads” yet trying our best to do the right thing for the Lord…REALLY?!?!

The disciples found themselves in a similar situation as well…

Mark 6:31-44

The multitudes get to the shore before Jesus (watching Him as He crossed over)…He couldn’t get away – what the disciples thought was going to happen didn’t quite turn out that way.  Instead, he took the opportunity to teach those that had gathered – He saw that they were lost and needed the guidance.  They were hungry…there were in a  deserted place…the answer for them was to send them into the villages, which sounds simple and reasonable enough.  But, not what Jesus had in mind…He gives the command – YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT…

I can just hear them now – looking back at Him with the look of “REALLY?!”…It didn’t make sense to them.  The thought about it…calculated it…it would take 200 denarii to give them something to eat…By the world’s standards – that wasn’t going to happen…no way at all…they looked at their bank accounts…this was more than they could earn in a really long time.  They were looking at the world’s economy instead of God’s…BUT, before we sympathize too much, go back to the beginning of Ch 6.

They had been sent out – 2x2 – had power over unclean spirits…had traveled with no FOOD, no bag and NO MONEY…AND great things happened.  It doesn’t say they went hungry…SO – why are they doubting Jesus now??  Because what is before their eyes doesn’t make logical sense as to what they should do…They had forgotten that they were serving God and that they were asked by God to do something that was way bigger than what they could see…They were probably thinking…REALLY???  And Jesus was responding…really…you give them something to eat.

Does your load feel like more than you can bear?  Is God calling you to do something you don’t see possible?  Is the task at hand more than you could ever actually foresee happening?  God calls us to feed His sheep, clothe those without, provide shelter for the homeless…HE SAYS FOR US TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT.  What are you going to do about it?  REALLY…

The beginning of Jesus' ministry

Last time,we looked at the preparation for Jesus’ ministry – baptism and the temptation following 40 days of prayer and fasting

I don’t want us to miss the fact that a lot of time was spent in prayer prior to ministry beginning.  This was not something taken lightly nor was it something that was done off of the cuff.

This week, I want to continue to look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  Matthew 4:12-25

Jesus is prompted to begin His ministry right where John had been working so diligently to get the message out.  John’s message was one of repentance.  He was calling them to repent .

There are a few things about this account of the beginning of His ministry that I want us to take note of:

1 – Jesus is fulfilling prophesy.  In this scripture, we see that He is fulfilling Isaiah 9:1-2.  He is the light.  The people are in darkness without Him.  But, they have been in darkness so long that they don’t realize that the light is a good thing.  They have become accustomed to the dark.  The light has to show them where there is a better life – something different.  It doesn’t mean that they will instantly want it.  We get comfortable.  We don’t often want to change.  Many times, we don’t see any reason to change – things are just fine the way they are.  We don’t realize that there is a better life.  When we live in sin, that is what is happening.  We have grown so accustomed to the sinful life that it just seems fine.  It isn’t until the light of Jesus shines upon us that we realize that the sinful life is NOT where we need or want to be and we change.

2 – Notice Jesus’ message to the people:  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  

I think that is significant because we don’t often think of this as His message, but John’s.  Jesus is going to provide the way of true repentance, but the people have to realize that they are not where they need to be in order to realize they need a Savior.  Jesus is telling them to check themselves out because they are not living as they should be.  If they were, then He wouldn’t be calling them to repent.  I can just imagine how justified the religious leaders must have felt knowing they were the religious leaders.  Why should they repent since they are the most religious?  Yet, they too are living in darkness with a call to repent.

3 – Jesus begins calling His disciples and multitudes begin to follow…

Jesus is calling Andrew and Peter, James and John.  They follow.  But, Jesus is also preaching and teaching and healing.  Others begin to follow.  It says great multitudes from many different regions followed.  They are following for what they have seen.  But, they are about to learn why He is there and what repentance really looks like.  They are about to experience the light and why living in the light is so different from the way they have been living.