Lent Week 3 - SEIZE GOD

SATURDAY, March 9  "Seize Prayer"
1 Thessalonians 5:25 (CEB)
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Prayer chains. 
Prayers of the people. 
Congregational prayers. 
Collective prayers of friends and family,
Spiritual prayer partners. 
Offered prayers and answered prayers. 
Amazing ways in which God responds, 
On God's timetable,
Within God's plan. 
Support, encouragement, 
Sustenance in difficult times. 
Prayer can make a difference. 
Seize prayer. Seize the bond that prayer provides. 
Say a prayer and watch God work. 

The best kind of friend is a praying friend.  (ODB)

Sources for Devotions:

d365.org:  Passport On-line Devotions

WwW:  The One Year Walk with God Devotional, Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale Publisher

ODB:  Our Daily Bread, published by RBC Ministries

RCL:  Revised Common Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 8  "Seize a Team!"

Luke 5:27-28 (GNT)

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting in his office. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

1 Corinthians 1:27 (GNT)

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.

     Rick and I recently watched a movie (Moneyball) about the Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane who rocked the baseball world in 2002 when he assembled a major league team of what others considered 'has-beens' and 'over-the-hill' players.  He didn't (and couldn't) purchase the super stars, the recognized players of the day.  While they didn't win the World Series, this rag-tag team did win their division and put together a record-breaking 20 game winning streak.  

     Jesus used somewhat the same approach in putting together a team of disciples.  He included fishermen, tax collectors, zealots:  ordinary men of a varied backgrounds.  They were not the powerful or the influential.  Did they all agree on the theological and political issues of the day?  Probably not!  Were they all of the same economic status?  No!  Yet, they worked together because they had a common purpose, an incredible 'manager' (Jesus) and a loving general manager (God) They worked together for a winning streak that continues to this day in its influence. 

     How do we assemble our 'team' for life?  Do we treat everyone the same? Do we seek the support and advise of those society would consider the 'lessers'?  What about those with physical limitations?  We all have gifts to contribute to the team.  God loves us all equally.  We can do no less in the respect and honor we afford each other.     

     Seize a team as Jesus did!  A team with a colorful and diverse background can only add to our spiritual winning percentage!  

       I got to thinking later about the TEAM approach and CHRPA, where Rick and I are currently volunteering.  CHRPA has four full time employees, but none of them are contractors or specifically trained in the building fields.  They come from a variety of backgrounds, much as the disciples.  Other workers are all volunteers, youth and old, with a vast array of skills.  TOGETHER, our 'manager' Scott has formed an ever changing team to serve the community.  Yesterday I was part of the roofing team!  What an experience! 

THURSDAY, March 7 "Seize Consistency"

Psalm 61:7-8 (CEB)
So I will always sing praises to you, as I offer you daily what I have promised.
Philippians 3:15-17 (GNT)
Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

A night on the town with friends, 
A fancy place - a dining experience! 
I feast and gorge myself on new flavors and tastes. 
The service attentive, it is a night to remember.
And tomorrow? I'll eat again. 
Afterall, my body is programmed to eat daily.  
Spiritually? 
Are we as consistent in providing spiritual sustenance?
Or do we have a 'mountaintop' moment
And expect the soul feast to last a few months. 
God is consistent and ever present in love for us. 
God's compassion is not sporadic, but daily. 
If we strive to be in the image of God,
We must seize consistency in our spiritual life. 
We must daily come to the table to feed our souls. 

WEDNESDAY, March 6  "Seize Patience"   

James 5:11 (GNT) 

We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job's patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.

Hardships. 

Financial trials.

Family heartbreak.

Pain and disease.

Speed dial God.
Push the relief button. 
God will fix it. 
If not today,
Surely tomorrow. 

But God doesn't work
By instant response. 
God demands patience,
God requires perseverance. 
God's may be on speed dial, 
But not necessarily speed relief. 
Spiritual maturity takes time to grow. 
Seize the opportunity to wait;
Find time to spend with God in the waiting. 
Concentrate on the blessing,
Rather than the hardship. 
Trust the one in control and the final destination  
Will be more than worth it. 
(WwG, ODB)

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away your ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."  (Corrie ten Boom) 

TUESDAY, March 5 "Seize the Gold"

Job 23:1-12 (CEB)

Surely he knows my way; when he tests me,  I will emerge as gold.

     One of my favorite OT metaphors is that of refining the impurities from gold.  Only through trials of fire is the brilliance and purity of gold revealed.  Such is our life.  Untested, our TRUE colors really never fly.  We can preach peace, but until confronted with violence, we haven't really practiced peace.  We can't show pure love until confronted with hatred.  Faith is strengthened when it endures trials.  
     Every test or trial God puts before us should be considered a blessing in disguise!  It is gold waiting to be mined!  WE are gold waiting to be purified!  God is working to purify each one of us.  Seize the gold of God and be ready to shine!  Seize the trials of the day!  
     "In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing." (Charles Spurgeon)
Source: WwG

Monday, March 4

"Seize the Kingdom"

1 Corinthians 15:31-32 (The Message)

It’s resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there’s no resurrection, “We eat, we drink, the next day we die,” and that’s all there is to it.

     The Carpe Diem philosophy, somewhat rampant in our culture, is not new.  Paul refers to it here in Corinthians.  It is mentioned in Ecclesiastes and Isaiah.  And in one viewpoint, it has merit.  We should think of it as live each day to the fullest.  Make the absolute best of what is before us. 

     But the philosophy itself is based on the assumption that there is nothing but death to expect in the tomorrow, so do it all today!  And we, as Christians, know differently. Eternity awaits.  We need to conduct ourselves and live as if the resurrection matters;  we must live in the light of eternity.  We must "Seize the Kingdom of God" and the long term rewards, rather than the short term gain of momentary glory, or profit,

     How do I live my life? Spend my money and time? Use my talents?  Am I living a 'Seize the Day' or a 'Seize the Kingdom' life?  

Source: WwG

Good Sunday morning!  (March 3)
 I  found the following while browsing Christ Presbyterian church website today (trying to decide where to go to church!)  It is from the weekly message of Rev. Sue Westfall, Stated Clerk of Presbytery of Christo:

Two young boys were making a cross to be used in a Holy Week procession. They had decorated the cross with vibrant colors and covered it with flowers. The pastor, seeing their work said, “Well, that’s very nice but the cross on which Jesus died was hard wood, rough and rugged. It was ugly.” To which the boys responded, “But pastor, have you ever seen Jesus touch anything and leave it the same way he found it?”

     I haven't even glanced at my devotionals this morning because I found this and thought WOW!  Yes!  As soon as we are touched by Jesus, we are CHANGED!  God can bring out beauty in us we didn't know existed.  Christ can transform!  AND we can transform others with the touch of Christ as he lives in us.  

"Seize the Wisdom"

Proverbs 3:13-14, 18   (GNT)

 Happy is anyone who becomes wise—who comes to have understanding.  There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. .....Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life.

Matthew 6:33  (The Message)

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

God comes to offer a gift. 

What shall I choose?

I seek happiness and success,

Security and comfort. 

What gift will grant such peace?

Choose the godly. 

Choose that of the Kingdom,

   not of the world. 

Ask God for God-success.

Wealth means more worry, maintenance,

   and uncertainty.

Power doesn't buy happiness.  

Wisdom buys understanding of God. 

Seek the gift of God-knowledge,

And God will grant the

   happiness and success,

The security and comfort, we seek. 

WwG

Sources for Devotions:

d365.org:  Passport On-line Devotions

WwW:  The One Year Walk with God Devotional, Chris Tiegreen, Tyndale Publisher

ODB:  Our Daily Bread, published by RBC Ministries

RCL:  Revised Common Lectionary

    We worshiped today with the Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, which is the parent church for the Mennonite Volunteer Services house (VS house of mostly young people, similar to YAVs) and CHRPA headquarters and shop.  Church was full with many new volunteers having arrived.  We seem to be the only ones staying at "Resort CHRPA", as others are residing in the SOOP house or in RV parks of their own choosing.  All of us were introduced!  
 The service was casual - the opening song was one of the theme songs from General Assembly - "Here in This Place".  I was surprised to find the Mennonites follow the Common Lectionary!  The service was contemporary at times with a little praise music, drums and guitar, as well as screen and projector, and very traditional at others.  I shall post my Sermon Scribble!