 |
Is there any greater display of power than the power it takes to raise the dead to life? For the earliest believers, it had to be a jolt just to be close to the power displayed in Jesus.
How much energy is spent looking for Jesus,
That's God domain.
Rather than look UP FOR Jesus,
Look FORWARD to the return,
And then turn our energy OUT
To the very full and hurting world
At our doorstep.
This is our call in the meantime.
To minister to those in need,
To reach out with grace and compassion,
To step beyond the comfort of our own lives,
And into our hurting world.
And while there,
We just might find Jesus working,
Side by side with us.
BENEDICTION d365.org
THURSDAY, May 16 "Reading Directions"
Have you ever been faced with a new project and in your eagerness to get started, just forged ahead without reading the directions or being trained? And the results? Often, less than ideal.
The disciples are eager and excited, filled with the rush of the resurrection and Jesus' appearances. They want to share with the world. But Jesus knows they can't do it alone. They need to wait for help. They need to gain the power that comes from the Spirit. They need to 'read the directions!' That direction comes in the form of the Holy Spirit alive within us. When we operate with that kind of power, with the assurance of God's direction, our efforts will merit success. Our witness will be fruitful.
Pentecost is upon us. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church community, is imminent. Our directions are soon to arrive! May we have the patience to stop and read them!
RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SOMEWHAT LIKE STOPPING TO READ DIRECTIONS FROM GOD.
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.
TUESDAY, May 14 "BLESSING BOOKENDS"
He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. And they were continuously in the temple praising God.
Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo!
Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
God Most High is stunning,
astride land and ocean.....
SERMON NOTES: Rev. Katy, Baker City FPC, Acts 16:16-34
That mighty "lightning bolt" has been seen and heard through the centuries and can be seen and heard still in the lives of Jesus-followers today.
That's good news; especially if you're in need of a jolt of God's power today.
SATURDAY, May 18 "Empty Sky, Full World"
Acts 1:9-11 (The Message)
These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”
How much energy is spent looking for Jesus,
Gazing upwards to the empty skies of heaven?
How much of our resources spent in
Predicting the day and the hour of his return?
For what?
It will neither change the hour,
Nor alter the circumstances. It will neither change the hour,
That's God domain.
Rather than look UP FOR Jesus,
Look FORWARD to the return,
And then turn our energy OUT
To the very full and hurting world
At our doorstep.
This is our call in the meantime.
To minister to those in need,
To reach out with grace and compassion,
To step beyond the comfort of our own lives,
And into our hurting world.
And while there,
We just might find Jesus working,
Side by side with us.
BENEDICTION d365.org
(Joshua Hayes)
Feel the power that rises beneath you,
Raising you up to embrace the life
That God intends for you to know.
Raising you up to embrace the life
That God intends for you to know.
Carry yourself, then, with humble confidence,
Aware that it is the very hand of God
Aware that it is the very hand of God
That holds you upright and alive.
FRIDAY, May 17 "Dream Big!"
Acts 1:6-8 (The Message)
When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?” He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and
Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
We've all heard the phrases, "You get what you pray for", "you get what you expect" or with students, "Set high goals and they will achieve them". The disciples are still thinking too small, "Is it time for Israel now to be restored?" Surely, Israel is included in God's lofty goals, but the Kingdom is to include all creation, not just one part. That's a big goal! Not one we can accomplish alone, but along with high expectations, God has provided the tools for success: the Holy Spirit. We can DREAM big because the Spirit has the God-power to DO big!
Are our plans for God too small? Are we limiting God to OUR expectations rather than God's? Perhaps we need to once again heed Mother Theresa's advice and "Dream Big. Act Small."
As I read through this passage a second time, I focused more on the beginning with the question of the disciples, "Is Israel going to get the prize now?" I can just imagine Jesus holding his forehead in frustration, thinking, 'They STILL don't get it! What must I do or say to get the magnitude of this resurrection power through to them?' Could this be God's response at times with us? Is God shaking his head at our lack of faith?
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS LIMITED ONLY BY OUR OWN EXPECTATIONS.
THURSDAY, May 16 "Reading Directions"
Acts 1:4-5 (The Message)
As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”
Have you ever been faced with a new project and in your eagerness to get started, just forged ahead without reading the directions or being trained? And the results? Often, less than ideal. The disciples are eager and excited, filled with the rush of the resurrection and Jesus' appearances. They want to share with the world. But Jesus knows they can't do it alone. They need to wait for help. They need to gain the power that comes from the Spirit. They need to 'read the directions!' That direction comes in the form of the Holy Spirit alive within us. When we operate with that kind of power, with the assurance of God's direction, our efforts will merit success. Our witness will be fruitful.
Pentecost is upon us. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, the birth of the church community, is imminent. Our directions are soon to arrive! May we have the patience to stop and read them!
RECEIVING THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SOMEWHAT LIKE STOPPING TO READ DIRECTIONS FROM GOD.
WEDNESDAY, May 15
"But Wait...There's More!"
Acts 1:1-3 (The Message)
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God.
The book of Acts is like the second part of an infomercial. Luke has introduced the amazing new product, Jesus, in his Gospel, and now, "There's more!" And in Acts we hear just how the power of the God through the resurrection expanded and began to witness through the Holy Spirit at work in the disciples.
We all have the opportunity to be part of this world-wide infomercial, to grab hold of the God-power alive in the resurrection, to bring heaven to earth, to be a part of the 'more'! May we prayerfully consider our role, seek God in all part of our lives, and watch the power of the Spirit come alive in and through us.
TUESDAY, May 14 "BLESSING BOOKENDS"
Luke 24:50-53 (CEB)
He led them out as far as Bethany, where he lifted his hands and blessed them. As he blessed them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. And they were continuously in the temple praising God.
These verses conclude the Gospel of Luke, which thus begins and ends with blessings - Blessings from God to Zechariah in the temple in Chapter One and blessings from Jesus and a return to the temple by the disciples at the end. Blessings encourage, support, promote peace, motivate, and even more, grant a little God-power to the receiver. Blessings are more than just saying grace before a meal. We can BE and LIVE blessings!
How can we approach each day as the Gospel of Luke, beginning and ending with Blessings? To arise in the morning with praise and gratitude to God gives us cause to seek and use our God-power during the day. To lay our head down to sleep with a blessing on our lips reminds us of God's presence and activity in our lives. Bookend your day with Blessings and feel the God-power alive within you!
MONDAY, May 13 "EMPOWERED"
Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”.....
What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”
Luke 24:44,49 (The Message)
Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”.....What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.”
Jesus is the answer to scripture.
He was and is the central message.
The Resurrection was God in full glory.
The fulfillment of centuries of prophesy and hope.
To believe is to be a part of this amazing event.
To believe is to live in constant praise.
To believe is to be jolted with God-power
To believe is to use the power...
To share the power....
To be empowered by God FOR God.
He was and is the central message.
The Resurrection was God in full glory.
The fulfillment of centuries of prophesy and hope.
To believe is to be a part of this amazing event.
To believe is to live in constant praise.
To believe is to be jolted with God-power
To believe is to use the power...
To share the power....
To be empowered by God FOR God.
SUNDAY, May 12 "Celebrate God!"
Psalm 47:1-2, 5-7 (The Message)
 |
| This is the Scribble for Psalm 47 from my book, Make a Joyful Scribble Unto the Lord |
Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
God Most High is stunning,
astride land and ocean.....
Sing songs to God, sing out!
Sing to our King, sing praise!
He’s Lord over earth,
so sing your best songs to God.
God is Lord of godless nations—
sovereign, he’s King of the mountain.
Princes from all over are gathered,
people of Abraham’s God.
The powers of earth are God’s—
he soars over all.
Sing to our King, sing praise!
He’s Lord over earth,
so sing your best songs to God.
God is Lord of godless nations—
sovereign, he’s King of the mountain.
Princes from all over are gathered,
people of Abraham’s God.
The powers of earth are God’s—
he soars over all.
Just think for a moment of celebrations .... the extravagance of the Presidential Inaugural events, week-long Oscar Award parties, the ticker-tape parades of World Series or SuperBowl Champions. We know how to celebrate! We know how to offer accolades to someone or some group - food, festivities, fireworks, and days of celebration. What a show of excitement for singular events of questionable importance in the BIG scheme of the world....
God, our Creator, all-powerful God, now THAT is another story for celebration! God is worthy of any and every moment of praise. Psalm 47 is our reminder to join in worshipful applause with song and dance, with our whole self, to the God who loves us deeply, cares for us compassionately, and is ever-present for us.
Our God, with power beyond belief, is a God of the individual. This is a God to celebrate! Praise and applause! Worship and service! Sing to our God!
Our God, with power beyond belief, is a God of the individual. This is a God to celebrate! Praise and applause! Worship and service! Sing to our God!
- Focus not on Paul and Silas but on the unnamed slave girl
- True healing in Christ seeks to free us all from bondage
- Choose to be enslaved...but ONLY to God.
No comments:
Post a Comment