"The Obvious Choice?"

There came a day when Jesus used these words, "You cannot serve both God and mammon." Luke 16:13b Such a statement implies a question, "Which will you serve?" The answer is an obvious one that we all, as His servants, will boldly proclaim, "God, of course!"

Choosing God over mammon is an easy choice in words and intentions, but not always as easy or as obvious in the realities of everyday life. I love that the widow gave her last two mites as a gift to God! Luke 21:1-3 She is one of my heroes of faith! I know that for myself, when things are tight financially, and its a choice between tithe and my own needs, the choice is still easy. God! To be honest, for me it becomes a hard choice, or rather, when I struggle and worry about what to give is when it comes down to a choice between diapers and milk for the babies or paying my tithe. That is when I struggle. In the parable of the sower, Jesus acknowledges such a struggle as, "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches." Again, to be honest, most of the time I make the right choice and trust that He will provide the diapers and milk. But, once in a while I fall short, I miss the mark. I make the wrong choice. I'm sorry to say, mammon sometimes wins. Sometimes the cares and concerns choke out the trust that I, that we, need to have in Him. Paul talks about his struggle this way, "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not do, that I practice." Romans 7:19 Sometimes we all, like Paul struggle with the right choice.

Lord, forgive me the times in my life that "I don't do thing I know to do," and thank you Lord, for the diapers and milk!

The Authority in the Story!

"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. For he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." Matthew 7:28-29

Whenever Jesus taught in parables, spoke in the synagogues, and read scripture, people were astonished. Young and old were amazed at the authority He used while teaching. He didn't sound like one of their teachers. He wasn't speaking in a stuffy monotone. He wasn't acting like God was boring or a quick money-maker. He took the authority of God, and taught those people!

This is just another facet of Jesus that we need to use as a model for our lives. We may not all stand before millions with the Word of God, but even if we only speak to a few kids every week, a couple of co-workers, or an old neighbor, we need to have the authority of God. Otherwise, His message will be ignored.

There will always be some who say something like this: "Isn't this little Joe, who grew up down the street?", "Haven't we known Kala's parents for years?", "I'm best friends with her sister! What makes Jillian's message so special?" Sometimes we will even be the ones who say those things.

You can only stand against those questions with the authority of God. You won't dare speak to them unless you have that jaw-dropping, Jesus-walking, Pharisee-knocking, Holy Spirit power in your life, to back up your words!

One day, each of us will stand before someone who needs to hear about Jesus. No matter the difficulties, the magnitude of listeners, or the scoffers raising doubt, you and I need to stand there with Jesus' authority so we can share His story.

---Joy

"Saw The State Of Things"

Now it happened the day after that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.

And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
    
When the Lord saw her He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
    
Then He came and touched he open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you arise."
    
And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
    
Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."
    
And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. Luke 7:11-17

I feel like the people of the day. I have such a desire to share this event with you and spread the news to the whole world that, "God has visited His people!" Jesus is so amazing and I love Him so much! Did you know that You can tell that someone is loved by the way they are talked about! If you love someone you can't stop talking about all the things you love about them. So, once again I have to use these words in reference to this event in my Lord's life. "It is one of my favorite!" I know I have a lot of favorites but I can't help myself. He is so amazing, wonderful, and awesome! I love that He comes across a funeral procession, sees a mom's sorrow, and does something about it! He doesn't see the state of things, feel bad for her, and keep moving. Instead, because of His compassion for this woman's sorrow He uses three little words, "Do not weep." and then proceeds to make that a reality in her life. He turned a time of death and great sorrow into a time of celebration and rejoicing. He took this young man's trip to the grave and instead gave him a second chance at life. The thing that I love most about this event is that He did it, not because of any one's great faith, but because He saw the state of things and cared enough to change them!

This event in the life of my Savior reminds me of the moment He said to the Father, "I'll go. I'll pay the price."  It reminds me of the moment He cried, "It is finished!" He conquered death, hell, and the grave to give us life just because He saw our need for a Savior and He cared enough!

But I am poor and needy; Yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer;  Psalm 41:17a

Ps: It says that he who was dead sat up and began to speak. I wonder what his first words were? What are ours?

The Prisoners Who Just Listen

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them," Acts  16:25

The time that Paul and Silas healed a girl whose demons were being used to tell fortunes, they were thrown in jail by her owners. When it was almost midnight, they started praying and praising God, rather then focus on their negative situation. The prisoners were listening to them.

Are we focused on negative situations, rather then focusing on God? Are we allowing ourselves to be held prisoner?

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Psalm 150:6

"Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven." Psalm 148:11-13

Everything and everyone are supposed to praise God. Don't be the one who doesn't praise. Don't be the person who stands there with the dumb, bored look on your face. Don't ever allow yourself to be the prisoner who just listens! Be the one who praises Him at all times, in all circumstances!

Praise the Lord!

---Joy

"Whose Likeness?"

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
Psalm 17:15

I love this verse! It reminds me that the goal is to look like Him. To walk, talk, and act like Him. To serve like Him. Most of all, to Love like Him.

Jesus used words like, "If you've seen Me than you've seen the Father."  or "The Father and I are one." He was the best example at mirroring the likeness of His Father. In Hebrews 1:3 it says that Jesus is an 'exact  representation' or as another version puts it the 'express image' of the Father's glory. In plain English, He takes after His Dad! His words and deeds always reflected His Father's heart. Whose likeness do we reflect to those around us. Do our actions truly reflect His heart for our lives and for the lives we touch?

Psalm 40 says that, "Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord." As we let Him have more and more control of our actions and as we let Him work in and through us we will be a brighter reflection of Him.  Many will be drawn into His presence when we too can hear words like, "You act just like your Father."

The Encourager

In Job 2:11-13, his three friends hear about all the evil that has befallen him. They meet together and set out to Job's house. When they first saw him, they couldn't believe it was him! They went to him immediately. They wept, tore their clothes, and sprinkled dust on their heads for him. They sat on the ground with Job for 7 days and 7 nights.

His friends started off by supporting him, but soon they stopped, and they said some terrible things about Job. It's almost like a guy who walks up to his friends and shares with them how incompetent he feels at work, and then they agree. Or like when a man tells his wife about some difficult situations at work, and the wife's response is that she hates his job.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25

How are those responses supposed to stir up love? How are they supposed to encourage?

Until the end of time, we are supposed to have each other's backs, and encourage each other! We should not say things that will only make the other person feel worse. When someone is in a tough situation, they don't need someone to put them down, they are doing that themselves! They need a touch of Jesus, and if we are the ambassadors for Christ that we claim to be, then we need to give His encouragement and love. Be the kind of person who will lift up the arms of another when that person is too tired. Be someone who will bring thoughts of love, good works, renewed faith, and encouragement to the table.  Be the encourager.

---Joy

"One Thing"

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me?" And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10 38-42

Think about it ...Jesus is in your home. Your sitting at His feet, hearing Him speak, focused on His words. What an amazing place to be! Question is, "Would you be distracted with much serving or sitting focused on His words?"

It was a natural consequence for Martha to take care of the guests in her home. When you have people come you tend to focus on serving them, making sure their needs are met, tending all the details, the cooking, the cleaning. Its a balancing act, time with the guests, time with the details of serving and being a good hostess. How welcome will they feel if all your time is spent in the kitchen on the details and none is spent talking and listening to them?
  
Like Martha we get distracted from time in His presence. We have the same opportunity to "welcome Him into our home and to spend time with Him." Are we so cumbered and distracted with the details of our day that we don't spend time with Him choosing the 'good part.'  Time at His feet is the choice we are all faced with each day, and the one thing that is needed most!