Verse of the Day - Revelation 22:13

[Jesus says,] "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22:13 (NIV)
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I have a confession to make. I have been getting really aggravated during our weekly Worship Team practice the last couple of weeks (for those who don't know, I play keyboard at my church). I walk away, saying to myself, I hate worship team practice...I hate worship team practice. And it's not any one thing or anybody -- it's just stressful. It's hard work, and very frustrating sometimes, for me. Praise God, when Sunday rolls around, everything works out for His glory.

So, am I just getting burnt out? It's true--I've been doing this for 8+ years with virtually no break (with the exception of the very occasional vacation week, or other special event that precludes the worship team). My leader even suggested we pray for God to provide a suitable replacement. So I ponder that scenario, and what it would be like to sit in the pews each Sunday. I think, yeah, I could use a break. But then what? Is that the answer, to step down? Or is there something in me that needs fixing?

I'm beginning to think the latter. My leader told me this weekend that he maintains his balance by keeping the Lord Jesus and our mission to lead our congregation in worship in focus. Simple enough. But that's something I think I've lost lately. Although I prayed for a good attitude before practice, I really hadn't prepared my heart for worship, nor set my focus on the Lord. I was just coming to do a job. No wonder my aggravation set point was low...

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the First and Last...He is everything and anything that we can think or imagine...He is above all and over all...He is height and depth, east and west. He is God, Creator of the universe, Author and Perfecter of our faith, and worthy of our worship--all the time. As believers in Him, we are called to love and obey Him, giving our best in His honor, giving Him the attention, giving Him the credit.

As I think about how I live (whether it's on my day job or my church ministries), I realize that it's vital for me to keep Christ first..."Alpha"... and last..."Omega" in my heart and mind, the source and the result. If I don't, it doesn't negate or diminish the reality of who He is, but it definitely plays havoc with my spirit.

I also need to remember that this mindset needs to be intentional. I need to be praying daily about where my heart and mind are at, allowing the Holy Spirit to sift through and weed out all of the stuff that gets in the way of the Lord being Alpha and Omega in my life.

I'm sure I'm not alone in this battle. I think we all, at times, struggle with our God-mindset. But let's be vigilant in our pursuit to lift up the Lord for who He is -- the First and Last. I mean, without Him, where would we be? I know I'd be in a world of hurt. So, I want to commit in 2008 to doing a better job of being all that I can be for Him, wherever He puts me, keeping my focus where it needs to be. I do this by praying more diligently...by consuming more of His Word...by laying down my agendas, and picking up His...by just spending time thinking about Him.

How about you? Do you need to make some intentional adjustments so that Jesus is First and Last in your heart and mind? The Bible says that's is where joy and contentment live.

Those who respect the Lord will live and be satisfied, unbothered by trouble. ~ Proverbs 19:23 (NCV)

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV)

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ~ Mark 12:30 (NIV)

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Matthew 2:13

After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child." Matthew 2:13 (NLT)
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The late Rich Mullins wrote "My Deliverer" a number of years ago, a haunting song surrounding this strange period in Christ's life...

Joseph took his wife and child and they went to Africa
To escape the rage of a deadly king
There along the banks of the Nile, Jesus listened to the song
That the captive children used to sing, they were singing...

My Deliverer is coming - My Deliverer is standing by...

Through a dry and thirsty land
Water from the Kenyon heights, pours itself out of Lake Sangra's broken heart
There in the Sahara winds, Jesus heard the whole world cry
for the healing that would flow from His own scars, the world was singing...

My Deliverer is coming - My Deliverer is standing by...

He will never break His promise - He has written it upon the sky...
I will never doubt His promise though I doubt my heart - I doubt my eyes...
He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky...

My Deliverer is coming - My Deliverer is standing by.

What a strange time that must've been for those three exiles. They had no idea how long they would live in this foreign land when Joseph was warned to go. Just go and I'll tell you when it's safe to come home...

The Bible tells us that King Herod went on a rampage and killed every boy child two years and under, in accordance with the time that the Eastern wise men had first visited him, looking for the baby King. What terrible devastation was wrought on the people of Israel because of this king's insecurity and desire for continued power...

I've actually thought of writing a story surrounding the life of just one of the mothers whose child was killed from Herod's death sentence. Surely there were other young mothers in Bethlehem that Mary would've become acquainted with. In their subsequent grief, did hatred boil up for this little boy named Jesus, this little boy who escaped the king's wrath? Many mothers' arms were cold and empty, while Mary rocked her son "on the banks of the Nile". I wonder what these people thought when His name surfaced again 30 years later?

Yes, Jesus' life was earmarked with persecution. And God delivered Him--until the time was right to deliver Him no more. Then the Deliverer was delivered into evil hands for those evil hands... what a strange paradox.

So, too, those who have followed Him have met with resistance at best, and annihilation at worst. Jesus knew He was calling His followers into a dangerous and deadly wake.

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." ~ Jesus, in John 15:18-20

Jesus is salt to the wounds of those who don't know Him, and they fight against Him with all they have; yet, He is the only flavor of life for those who turn toward Him in truth and repentance. This fight has gone on for 2,000 years, and will continue until He returns.

The days are evil, and many are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Here in America, we feel relatively secure...yet, many around the world are dying every day when they stand their ground in the soil of Jesus Christ. Those of us who have safety...please pray for our brothers and sisters who don't. Of course, we pray for deliverance...but more importantly, pray for their steadfastness to Him. The devil wants to break the spiritual back of believers, and a person's faith is severely tested in the fire of physical and mental persecution.

Some risk death by speaking His name. Most do not. I think we need to seize the day, while it is day...

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ~ Paul, in Ephesians 5:15-16

Our Deliverer has come, and is coming again...are you ready?

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Matthew 2:11

They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ~ Matthew 2:11(NLT)

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Gift-giving is usually a sign of love and appreciation. But sometimes, the motives for giving get dry and cracked, like a desert floor...

In the film, "Scrooged", a modern-day telling of Charles Dickens' Christmas classic, Bill Murray plays "Frank Cross", a very wealthy TV executive who's got a major chip on his shoulder. When his secretary attempts to build his Christmas gift-giving list with which she is to purchase his gifts for others, she comes to his brother, James -- and he tells her to put down "towels". (See, big people on the list get VHS recorders, small people get towels). The secretary tries to reason with him, knowing that James is Frank's only brother. But Frank sends towels anyway -- a paltry set of towels from a sky-rise executive to his only brother on Christmas. Completely impersonal and lacking any semblance of love or sacrifice. Ho,ho,ho--Merry Christmas, huh...?

The three kings who traveled from afar brought costly gifts for the King of the star...Jesus. They were on a mission and wouldn't be dissuaded from finding the child who was born King of the Jews. They wanted to worship him! For them, worship meant bowing in reverence and honor, and laying valuable treasures...gold, frankincense, and myrrh...at the feet of the King. Love and sacrifice seem very apparent in their actions, don't they?

So, what do we give to the King of the star? Are we content with giving Him "towels" when He deserves a warehouse full of "VHS recorders"? Christ is deserving of all we can give...our very best! Giving half-way because it seems sufficient and gets us by in the eyes of others is not worship from the heart...it's paying duty out of obligation. See the difference?

I have an African-American friend who was raised in a black church, where expressions of worship are different from those of white suburban worship. When I recently listened to a black gospel CD and heard a soloist "raise the roof" with her voice, holding nothing back in her praise, it was awesome! When I mentioned this to him, he said this: "In a black church, if you're gifted by God and don't give all you have to Jesus from the gifts He's given you, that's disrespectful to the Lord. But in some churches, it's viewed as "showing off", and looked down on." And I thought, how true that is. And how wrong I've been, at times, in my viewpoint. We always talk about giving our best to God, but when other people give it, we sometimes stick our noses up (in jealousy perhaps?) at their gift and think they're just divas or showoffs or looking for praise for themselves. Wow -- how dare we judge people's gift-giving to the Lord? How dare we dampen the praises of others for the One who deserves all of our praise, and the best that we have?

If you have been blessed by God with a gift (and you have, btw), I hope you "raise the roof" consistently with all you have to the Lord Jesus! (And it's not just singers that have gifts to give Him -- please realize that He gifts us all differently, and we all have something valuable to offer Him.) Jesus is so worthy -- don't hold back and just give "towels"...

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. ~ Revelation 5:6-14

Don't you see...? Believers in Jesus here on earth are part of a much bigger worship service, one that raises the roof of heaven! Let's practice now by giving Him our very best every day, so we're ready for the heavenly celebration that we'll be part of one day!

Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - 1 Timothy 3:16

"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
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There are many mysteries in this world, many of which have been revealed to us by God, and many that are still unknown. Scientists have uncovered the mysteries of many things since time began, but there are still things we just can't quite grasp. I watched a TV program recently about black holes, and some of Einstein's theories related to it. All I can say is that it blew my mind! How can Einstein's math help us travel through the universe via black holes? You got me, but that's what they were discussing. Talk about a mystery...!

Several years ago, a friend of mine shared with me that God used 1 Timothy 3:16 to open her eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ when she was in young adulthood. And, at that time, I couldn't remember ever having read that passage..."the mystery of godliness" being a new phrase to me. But it definitely had a significant impact on her. Whenever I hear that phrase, I think of her and how God changed her life. Praise God!

It is a great mystery how God could and would become a man. This mystery is a great stumbling block for a lot of people. Many religions in this world just can't reconcile this mystery and create heretical side roads around it. Jesus -- a good man, yes...a great teacher, absolutely...but God? No, they say.

The mystery of the resurrection is another piece of this stumbling block. It proves that Jesus is God, since no one rises from the dead and stays alive. (Jesus did raise some people back to life, but they later died again [resuscitated and/or restored vs. resurrected]). He spent a fair amount of time with hundreds of people after the resurrection, and ascended into heaven before the eyes of many. When people can't acknowledge Jesus' divine nature, they must sidestep the resurrection.

"The teaching about the cross is foolishness to those who are being lost, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. It is written in the Scriptures: "I will cause the wise to lose their wisdom; I will make the wise unable to understand." — Isaiah 29:14

Where is the wise person? Where is the educated person? Where is the skilled talker of this world? God has made the wisdom of the world foolish. In the wisdom of God the world did not know God through its own wisdom. So God chose to use the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe. The Jews ask for miracles, and the Greeks want wisdom. But we preach a crucified Christ. This causes the Jews to stumble and is foolishness to non-Jews. But Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God to those people God has called—Jews and Greeks." ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (NCV)

God asks us to believe that which seems unbelievable, too crazy to be true...a mystery. It forces us to fall on Him, trusting Him, regardless of what our eyes can see or what our minds can grasp...to trust His word and His character...it's called faith.

One day, those who have faith in Jesus will sit at His feet, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and the source of all mysteries--He Himself being the greatest mystery of all.



Love,
Joelene

Verse of the Day - Matthew 5:14

Matthew 5:14

[Jesus says,] "You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see." (NLT)
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The fuller passage says this:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. ~ Matthew 5:14-16

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
al·tru·ism /ˈæltruˌɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[al-troo-iz-uhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (opposed to egoism).

There are many people in this world who do good deeds. Many worthy causes are supported by those who care enough to step in and make a difference.

` Abandoned and mistreated animals are cared for through programs, such as the ASPCA, by those who have a heart for our furry friends who can't speak for themselves.

` Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) is a very vital program that works to protect and assist victims of domestic violence, by those who have a heart for women (and their children) in family distress.

` Union Gospel Mission works hard to provide the homeless food, clothing, shelter, counseling and hope through Jesus Christ, by those who have a heart for the forgotten on our streets.

I can't tell you what the deep motives are for all who participate in these charity organizations. Do all know and love God? Most likely not. But I believe that compassion comes from God, because He is the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." (2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV) He helps the needy by working through people, and sometimes they don't even know they're being used of God.

But what about believers in Christ? Are we out there in the world, shining light on Christ by doing good deeds, as the Word says? Do we get our hands dirty by being in the mix, or do we just sit in our pews and let others do the "dirty work"? Is our light simply bouncing off cathedral ceilings, or lighting up the night sky?

And when we do get off our keesters and decide to obey the Lord by serving the community, how will they know that it is the Lord who spurs us on, and not just altruistic behavior with no spiritual foundation? How will they "praise your Father in heaven", if they don't know you have a Father in heaven?

Well, sure, we could ram it down their throats about God and Jesus and the Bible when we offer help to the needy, but somehow I think they would choke on it and possibly give them a long-lasting bad taste in their mouths. Or, we can care for the needy with kindness and compassion, and as relationships build and communication is established, allow our testimony of what Christ has done for the world and for our individual souls can surface, like the smell of fresh-baked bread. And who's mouth doesn't water when they smell fresh-baked bread?

In many respects, I think that evangelical churches have abdicated their responsibility to those in need, as declared in God's word. But today is a new day, and we can always start fresh when the sun comes up, praise God! Ask Him to spur your heart and mind to where He would have you serve...is there a neighbor that needs their leaves raked?...could someone use a hot meal who has been ill?...how about rallying some friends (believers or not) and committing to working at a homeless shelter? And when you do, you can simply share that the Lord Jesus has changed your life and given you love and compassion for other people.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ~ 1 Peter 3:15-16

2008 is quickly approaching, and this week is often a time of reflection, as we ponder our lives, what we've done with them, what can we do better. May we be willing in this next year to shine brightly for our communities, letting people know that they can know God through Jesus Christ -- God, who is full of love and grace, compassion and comfort.

Love,
Joelene