Reconciliation

God has one great desire: Reconciliation - the return of mankind to relationship with himself.  "He is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance" (1 Pet 3:10).  Therefore, godliness requires that reconciliation be a prime mover to us as well. 

Instead, we too often settle for conciliation as a poor substitute.  The difference being that reconciliation is to restore relationship while conciliation is simply to end the conflict. 

Divorce is conciliation as it ends the struggle (actually it ends a struggle while initiating many others).  Not talking to one another can make it seem peaceful, but the divide may be widening in the quiet and a storm brewing. 

Reconciling a checking account can be difficult, time consuming and frustrating.  It is much easier to simply toss the ledger in the trash and not deal with the divide between your record and the bank's.  Except that, the divide continues to grow until one day your account is overdrawn and you are accruing overcharges.

Reconciliation may be more much more difficult to accomplish and can be more painful in the process than conciliation but the results are restorative, healing and God-honoring.   

Don't settle for a false peace of quiet that allows the divide between you and others to widen.  Don't sell yourself, your family, friends and acquaintances short - let God's aim of reconciliation be your goal.  Jus' Say'n.

Seeds

In Mark 4:26,27,  Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like the seed scattered on the ground by a farmer - it sprouts and grows whether he is awake or asleep. The seed grows even though the farmer may not know how. 

The point made is that when you prayerfully, carefully and lovingly plant seeds of change; whether in relationships, finances, parenting, spiritual development or whatever; God can make things happen even when you can't see how or aren't actively working on it at times. 

The same thing can happen if we prayerlessly, carelessly and selfishly plant seeds of change.  Regardless of where we plant them, they will take root and grow whether we are consciously and actively tending to them or not.  Financial loss, disrespectful children, failed marriage, spiritual reversal - any and all will grow accordingly.

The point is to take our eyes off self and look to the Spirit of Christ to guide our steps and determine our ways - to lean on and trust in Him rather than work for and depend on self: "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:8-9).  Jus' Say'n.

Fanatic!

She wasn't on the guest list, she wasn't sanctioned by the religious elites, she was shunned by most - she was out of her element, out of her comfort zone, unwelcomed by the host but, nonetheless, she broke open the jar of perfume and poured it on the Messiah (cf Mark 14:3-9).  

She was not a fan, she was a fanatic!  Jesus said that her audacious behavior would be talked about wherever the Gospel is preached. The talk started that day - Jesus blessing her action, while "decent folk" blasted it. 

Funny how often decent religious folk and Jesus are at odds. We want things tame but He wants passions unleashed. We want things to be reasonable but he wants us love when reason says run. We want to err on the side of caution while He wants us to risk serving in dangerous places and among dangerous or dirty looking people. 

He wants us, like that woman, to "do what we can" not do what little we can without taking the risk of bursting our comfort zone. He calls us, in love, to do what we would not do, go where we would not go, say what we would not say.

Have I said too much?  Do you think I'm being a bit over-the-top or fanatical?  Dear Lord, I hope so!  Jus' Say'n.

Busy

It's a busy world in which we live. So many thing clamor for our attention that we sometimes are overwhelmed to the point we simply don't have time for everything.  Sadly quiet time is often the first thing to go.  But do we gain time by cutting out moments with God & His Word?  

The story is told of 2 lumber jacks competing to see who could cut the most board foot in an 8 hr period. The young jack noticed the older competitor sitting under a tree 15 min out of each hour.  But he kept cutting straight through to gain an advantage. 

At the end, the old jack cut more. The young jack, incredulously asked, "How is it possible you cut more when you took so many breaks?"  The old jack smiled and said, "I was sharpening my saw in those breaks."  

When Israel was faced with one of its greatest challenges, they were encouraged to "Be still and know I am God"(Ps 46:10) instead of gearing up. Jesus warned those worried about the necessities of life to "Seek first the Kingdom of God" (Matt 6:33), not work harder or faster.  

When we are too busy, we are Burdened Under Satan's Yoke and need quiet time with God to free us from that trap. Don't leave out the one thing that can lift you out of this rut..take time alone with God daily.  Jus' Say'n.

Grace Not Grit

His ears vibrated by the piercing sound of the rooster's crowing, then his eyes were locked by the Savior's knowing look. Peter had failed - he had indeed denied The Lord three times before the rooster crowed that morning (cf Lk 22:60, 61).  

Peter was shocked and sickened by his own weakness, "he ran outside and wept" (vs 62).  However, Jesus was not surprised at all, he knew Peter would fail - yet, he chose the fisherman anyway and would return to affirm him after his resurrection (cf Jn 21:15-19).  

When you fail again (and you will), you may be surprised and sickened by your failure. But The Lord will be neither. Christ will be waiting to lift you up and affirm your place and your worth in his kingdom. 

You didn't earn your place in the kingdom and you don't keep it that way either, it is a gift of God (cf Eph 2:8-10).  Each time you fail, just thank The Lord for his gift and glorify Him by trying again. It's grace, after all, not grit.  Jus' Say'n.

Scattering Seed

In Mark 4:26,27,  Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like the seed scattered on the ground by a farmer - it sprouts and grows whether he is awake or asleep. The seed grows even though the farmer may not know how. 

When you prayerfully plant seeds of change, whether in relationships, finances, parenting or whatever, God can make things happen even when you can't see how or aren't actively working on it at times, "For God can do more than we can ask or imagine according to his power at work within us" (Eph 3:20).

The point is to do what you can, do everything in His name and then trust in Him to complete the work, "For the Lord works everything for the good of those who love him" (Rom 8:28).  Jus' Say'n.

Serving This Day

Are you waiting to hear God's plan for your life so you can begin?  Do you hope to do something really worthwhile for the Kingdom someday?  Do you think your life is out there "somewhere over the rainbow" and that someday, when you get there, you're finally going to fly like the Bluebird "way up high?"  I don't really think so. 

Martin Luther once said, "There are only two days on my calendar, this day and that Day."  Annie Dillard said, "How we live our days is how we live our lives."  In other words, life won't begin someday, it's already started. As Paul wrote in 2 Cor 6:2b, "Now is the time of God"s favor, now is the day of salvation."  

God has placed you on a path with divine intersections all along the way to allow you to serve Him. And one day, he may have a mega-opportunity set before you. But for now, His purpose is for you to serve daily where you are with what you have, and in so doing, you may be accomplishing much more than you know.

Just so you know, here are your marching orders - your purpose: "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of believers" (Gal 6:10).  Jus' Say'n.