Battling My Idol

"Stay awake and pray that you may not be tempted. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:38

I have heard this verse at least a thousand times, but I have a new-found understanding of it after the events of last week. You see, I have tried to fast before, but I have never been able to make it more than a meal or two before I caved. I would tell myself that I loved food too much. I knew it was an excuse. But what I didn't realize was that that stupid excuse was ACTUALLY TRUE.

I had set such a high value on food that I wouldn't surrender it. To some of you, this probably seems foolish, but I am sure that there are some out there that understand completely where I am coming from - I mean, a day without food? That's crazy! But I seriously felt that I absolutely needed to do it.

I know about idols in the lives of Christians. They aren't just little statues that people would bow to in the Old Testament; they are the things in your life that you value too much, so much that you place them above your relationship with God.

This isn't the first idol that I have battled, and I was determined that I was going to strike a blow against it. I thought about fasting a day, but that seemed too small. So, I decided on a week. My wife talked me down from that. It's not that she doubted my conviction, but she knew that I am a big guy, with a demanding physical job. That it wasn't smart to go from 0 to 60 in 5.2 seconds. She also stood beside me in my fast - both of us fasted for three whole days.

THREE. WHOLE. LONG. UNBEARABLE. DAYS.

Or, at least, that is what my mind was screaming by the first afternoon. But I was determined, committed to giving something over to my Lord that I had never truly given before. I stood resolute that I would not fail. And I did not fail. My spirit was willing.

I personally saw something in my life that I heard about from different pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and teachers.

The spirit trumps the natural. It truly does, you only need to commit yourself to it. I mean, all my previous attempts ended in failure. But in each of those, I wasn't committed. I caved after a meal or two, but not this time. This time, I gave the times of my meal to God. I read my Bible, prayed, and thanked God for the things that He has done for me. I made it through the three days. And I am so glad that I did.

I have felt my relationship deepen with God because of this fast. That idol of food has been pushed back, and I need to be vigilant that it doesn't return.

I would challenge you - find something that you have never given over to God completely and give it to Him. He will honor that.  We have those "hidden" little sins and secrets. Start letting them go. They are only weighing you down. In my case, that was literal.

Sam

"Alabaster Jar Moment"

And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, "To what purpose is this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor." But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you will have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."  Matthew 26:6-13

As I was praying and asking God what today's message should be about He brought to mind this moment in the life of our Lord. It is the moment when as Jesus put it, 'she poured a fragrant oil on His body to anoint it for His burial.' The disciples missed it. All they saw was a woman wasting the fragrant oil the alabaster jar contained. They missed the significance of what she was doing. This was a moment that was worth remembering according to what Jesus said, "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her."and what that means is it was going  be remembered and talked about.

While the disciples were busy misinterpreting the scene they witnessed, Jesus knew and appreciated her gift. He knew that she was there with her most precious gift, an alabaster jar,  its very costly fragrant oil, and a heart that had one desire, to use it to bless Him. You and I can't anoint His body for burial BUT ...

What we can do is ... come before Him with a heart that is intent on blessing Him. Some might look at a time of praise and worship as a waste of time. They might misunderstand or even misinterpret its significance in the life of a believer BUT.... In reality, Our Lord knows better. He sees our heart and He knows when we come before Him and it is an Alabaster Jar Moment. An alabaster jar moment is the moment in worship when its not about what He has done for us. It is not the moment when we are focused on what He is doing for us or even what He will do for us. An alabaster jar moment is the moment when all our focus, our whole hearts desire is simply, to bless Him! To Jesus it is not a waste ... it is a moment to be remembered!

Runaway Fish Prophet, Part 10

If that blasted, scorching wind blew on his head for another second, he was going to put himself out of his misery. Another gust blew on his sun-burnt head, and it truly felt like someone was dragging knives across his skull.

"It is better for me to die than to live." He mumbled. Jonah knew that He could hear him.

"Do you do well, to be angry with the plant?"

He could hear the voice, too. As uncomfortable and hot as he was, Jonah knew he wasn't crazy. The voice was real, and it was God's voice.

Jonah spit, and watched as it sizzled on the dry ground.

That was it.

"Yes!" He struggled to his feet, and shook his fist at the sky. "Yes, I do well to be angry. Angry enough to die." His stupid plant died, and he was being burned alive. Why couldn't God have just let the plant live? After all that happened, why couldn't he have at least done that?

"You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. Why shouldn't I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"

Based on Jonah 4:5-11

And we come to the infamous end of Jonah's short story. We don't find out if Jonah asks forgiveness, or realizes the errors of his ways. We don't have any closure regarding the death of Jonah's plant. It just ends on a question. (Just for the record, I like to believe he did. Who couldn't after a heart-wrenching reprimand like that?)

So here's what God showed me.

"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." Proverbs 14:29

Sometimes, we are angry about the wrong stuff. Sometimes, our priorities are a seriously screwed up. Sometimes, we need a little reality check.

Jonah was angry about the sinful people of Nineveh being given unlimited grace and mercy. Then he was mad that a plant that sprung up behind him died. He was upset about the wrong things. Jonah cared more about the plant then he did about the people of Nineveh.

God cared more about His creation, His people, and the souls of the people of Nineveh. The people mattered most.

Guys, we need to focus on the stuff that matters. Compared to a city of lost souls, a dead plant doesn't matter that much. Instead of focusing on all the other junk, distractions, and the things we don't like about life, we should be focusing on God's children.

Are you focusing on a dead plant in your walk with God?

V. Joy Palmer

"A Touch and a Word"

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:14-17
     

I love that when Jesus came as a guest into Peter's house he did something that we all kinda take for granted if we have been in ministry for very long.  He took care of the home front. As He entered the house He saw that Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. He went over and took her by the hand and the fever immediately left her whole and well and full of strength. Sometimes I think that we are so busy ministering to the world at large that we forget to make sure to bring Jesus home to our loved ones. In this case Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus immediately took care of it. I love that Jesus doesn't just take care of all the needs of the world out there but the fevers, headaches, and colds in our homes as well. Big or small He cares about the things that affect us.

As I read this today it just made me smile as I thought about how Jesus cares about those that we do. He immediately took care of the fever and she was able to get about the business of her life as she started to serve them. It spoke to me about how He takes care of all the little things that effect us. We all know that He took care of blind eyes, deaf ears, leprosy and even raised the dead but in this case He took care of  a loved one who was sick with a fever. He cares about all the things that affect our lives. Even fevers!

It says that by evening, 'they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.' With a word and a touch He healed and set free any and all that came to Him. The thing that I noticed is this .. as He healed everyone, and everything He was 'fulfilling that which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

The word that Isaiah spoke all those years ago was being fulfilled every time Jesus touched a fever, a blind eye, a deaf ear. That word was being fulfilled every time Jesus spoke a healing word or cast out a demon. It was being fulfilled as He came into Peter's home and tended the fever of Peter's mother-in-law and it is fulfilled every time you or I as His disciples act in faith and speak a healing word or lay hands on the sick in His name. "Silver and gold I do not have, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

He came in power and with a touch and a word... He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses! It is our job to go and do likewise ... and fulfill the words He spoke to us ...And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:15-18

Runaway Fish Prophet, Part 9

His little structure looked like it might fall apart.

Jonah studied the booth, a collaboration of sticks and dead leaves. The small shelter wasn't much to look at, but it was only built to provide shade for him. As long as he could sit in the shade while he waited to see what would become of Nineveh, he would be happy.

Shrugging helplessly, Jonah made himself comfortable. The land was quiet, and Jonah had an excellent view of the city. He could see all of Nineveh. He was close enough that he could see soldiers manning a perimeter around the wall, but far enough away that if the Lord God decided to blast the city, he wouldn't be fried. 

Jonah heard a crunch in the dirt behind him, and looked around. Nothing. His eyes dropped to the ground around him, just in case a serpent was coming near him.

Nothing was there. Just a tiny little plant.

Jonah turned back to the city. He wasn't sure when, or how much time had passed, but he had fallen asleep. Nineveh was still safe and sound. Yawning, he sat up slowly. A nice shady area surrounded him.

Wait a second. There was no way his scrawny little shelter was providing that much shade.
Turning around, Jonah saw a large, green plant. Scooting towards the plant some more, Jonah rested comfortably in its shade.
____________________

Jonah jumped in his sleep and looked around. Whatever had startled him was gone now. Yesterday had gone by pleasantly enough. The plant provided the perfect shelter for him.

It was the second day he had been watching for the destruction of Nineveh.

Still nothing.

The sun beat down on Jonah. He must have rolled away from the plant during his nap. Jonah looked around for it, and panic started to claw at his heart. Where was the plant?

That's when Jonah saw it. He hadn't rolled away. It was still right behind him. Dead.

Jonah moaned. "This is the worst thing that could have happened to me today."
Just then a hot wind blew across his face.

Great. Just great.

Based on Jonah 4:5-8

"Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint." Jonah 4:6-8a

What I really wanted to talk about today was the plant, the worm, and the wind.

I really love how these verses say "God appointed." God appointed the plant to grow. God appointed the worm to eat the plant. God appointed the hot wind to bug Jonah. God arranged it all!

Sometimes God uses the most bizarre things to make His point. Even worms. The question is, do you see the things that God is using? Jonah was so focused on the plant, that he completely ignored the fact that it just sprang up out of nowhere. God did that. Would we, like Jonah, completely miss it?

More importantly, do you completely miss the fact that God uses you? It may be in bizarre ways. God may call you to do something you never would have planned in a million years. It doesn't matter what, or how, or when, or even why. What matters is that you are ready and willing. God's appointed a time to use you, and just like that worm, you need to be ready to serve.

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

V. Joy Palmer

"Count The Cost"

Today, I just have a quick thought for you that I would like to share. I saw this sticky note yesterday online. I'm not sure who it is written too. Probably, his parents? When I saw it, it reminded me of a few years ago when WWJD was really big.

As you most likely know WWJD means (What Would Jesus Do?) It became a really big slogan with bracelets and everything. The idea was that no matter the situation you were facing you were to ask yourself (What Would Jesus Do?) and then do that because that way you would be making the right choice about what ever situation was before you.
 
Jesus told His disciples something that would get them thinking about making right choices as well and it was long before 

                                                                     came along!

Check out Matthew 16:24-27 "...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."
 
In Luke 14:27-30 He gave them this illustration in order to make His point to them a little clearer.  "...And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

All of this was Jesus' way of telling His disciple to 'look both ways' or as He put it to 'count the cost'. What this means is He wanted them and us to consider the two options we all have to make. We can choose to become His disciple and serve in the kingdom of heaven and therefore, reap the blessings that come with that choice, or we can choose the kingdom of hell and, of course, reap the unhappy results of that choice as well.

The truth is He isn't just talking about our Big Moment when we decide to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. He also wants us to 'look both ways' and choose which way we want to proceed in all the Little Choices we make along the way as well. We all know how important it is to look both directions and to make sure that it is safe to cross the street, after all no one wants to get hit by an oncoming car because we didn't take the time to look!

Jesus told His disciple to 'count the cost' of their choices for the same reason. He wanted them and us to make the right choices as well. He wants us to 'look both ways' in all the little choices that we make that might take our focus away from serving Him. If we step blindly without looking or rather act without thinking as believers, we might make a choice that causes us to be disobedient and walk into a place of sin. It is important for us to to look both ways and to count the cost so that we can walk safely with God instead of acting in a way that causes us to step into sin and away from God.

Remember, count the cost ...look both ways and STEP OUT SAFELY as His disciple!

"His Hand Upon Us"

Psalm 145:14-19

The Lord upholds all who fall,

And raises up all those who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand,

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

O Lord, ...For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:4-6 

Lord, help us as Your people to understand just how much Your hand is outstretched toward us. Lord, today as we acknowledge Your touch upon our lives we give You the praise that is due Your name! 

Lord, we look to You, and You alone as the source that sustains us. You are our God and Yours is the everlasting kingdom that we serve. Today, Lord, as Your hand is extended towards Your people we receive with gladness all Your gifts and provisions! We say, "Yes!" to Your grace and mercy. We say, "Yes!" to the many blessings that flows from Your hand into our lives just because You love us. Lord, we are the works of Your hand! Let Your will be done in the 'due seasons' of our lives. Lord, let us as Your people faithfully declare that Your strength is always enough; that Your hand is never too short to save!

God Bless!!!

Staff of Snack Time Devotions