February 1
Scripture focus: So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! Romans 8:12-14 MSG
I find that living life as a follower of Jesus is confusing and difficult. I know – a lot of that is my own stuff. I remember that Jesus promises to teach us the unforced rhythms of a life lived by grace as we rest in him. I know the truth, but knowing the truth doesn’t always seem to set me free. Fortunately, the apostle Paul struggled with similar issues (as described in Romans), so I don’t feel terminally unique or alone in my struggles. It is with great relief that I read, “God’s Spirit beckons…” from the same guy (Paul) who wrestles like I do to live out my faith. Oh, how I love the sound of that!
Although I’ve learned that sometimes my suffering is due to my own stubborn resistance, scripture has also taught me that confusion and difficulty, loss of hope, and feelings of worthlessness are not always about me being a goof or ignoring my true God-created identity. Satan is on the prowl, looking for someone to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Neil Anderson speaks of the work of Satan in his book The Bondage Breaker when he says, “Satan’s ultimate lie is that you are capable of being the god of your own life, and his ultimate bondage is getting you to live as though his lie is truth.”
Self-reliance is as natural as breathing. Many of us have been taught that relying on ourselves is a worthy core value. Many lessons are provided by authority figures who preach self-reliance as a key to success. Harsher lessons on self-reliance are learned at an early age if parents, family members, teachers, coaches, pastors, and others fail in their responsibility to provide for and protect their young. I realize that acknowledging powerlessness and admitting that we might be wrong when it comes to self-reliance as an affront to many self-starters.
But for today, dare to dream. What if God’s Spirit beckons? What if there are things to do, places to go and people to love that you have yet to dream about? What if the best thing to do is to give your old, self-reliant ways a decent burial so that you can get on with your new life?
May we dare to dream today, as we trust God with all the ways we have lied to ourselves – and been lied to – about the value of self-reliance. Join me, please, in praying for freedom from those lies that have led us to live life as though we were in charge.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 31
Scripture focus: Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24, The Message
Last but not least, prayer changes things.
May God continue to transform us as we practice prayer.
And God’s people prayed…
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
(King James Bible AD 1611)
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. James 1:22-24, The Message
Last but not least, prayer changes things.
May God continue to transform us as we practice prayer.
And God’s people prayed…
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
(King James Bible AD 1611)
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 30
Scripture focus: Please, God, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed. Treat me nice for a change; I'm so starved for affection. Can't you see I'm black-and-blue, beat up badly in bones and soul? God, how long will it take for you to let up? Break in, GOD, and break up this fight; if you love me at all, get me out of here. I'm no good to you dead, am I? I can't sing in your choir if I'm buried in some tomb! I'm tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights on the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope. Get out of here, you Devil's crew: at last God has heard my sobs. My requests have all been granted, my prayers are answered. Cowards, my enemies disappear. Disgraced, they turn tail and run. Psalm 6
Someone once told me that the only way I can pray effectively is when I pray in accordance with God’s will. They used the following verse to support this instruction.
“This is the assurance that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Of course, this makes perfect sense.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I experience prayer as, well, less limiting than this instruction to only pray in accordance with God’s will. Frankly, if I’ve got to be sure that I’m praying “correctly,” I end up standing mute before the throne of grace. I am perfectly okay with God responding within the limits of his divine prevailing purposes and will. I know there’s a lot going on in the kingdom of God, and I’m not the point.
But as a parent, I don’t want my kids to only come to me conversation that they think will win my maternal stamp of approval. I don’t want my babies editing their stories in a foolish attempt to win my approval – they already have my heart. I want my kids to tell me the truth – even the messy stuff. Maybe I need to grow up more in order to change my view on this, but for now, I believe that God loves it when we talk to him. I don’t think he freaks out when we don’t quite get our story “straight.”
Tell God the truth as we understand it, and let’s see what happens. Maybe we’ll get a renewed view. Maybe God will grow our heart. Who knows what God will do?
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Please, God, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed. Treat me nice for a change; I'm so starved for affection. Can't you see I'm black-and-blue, beat up badly in bones and soul? God, how long will it take for you to let up? Break in, GOD, and break up this fight; if you love me at all, get me out of here. I'm no good to you dead, am I? I can't sing in your choir if I'm buried in some tomb! I'm tired of all this—so tired. My bed has been floating forty days and nights on the flood of my tears. My mattress is soaked, soggy with tears. The sockets of my eyes are black holes; nearly blind, I squint and grope. Get out of here, you Devil's crew: at last God has heard my sobs. My requests have all been granted, my prayers are answered. Cowards, my enemies disappear. Disgraced, they turn tail and run. Psalm 6
Someone once told me that the only way I can pray effectively is when I pray in accordance with God’s will. They used the following verse to support this instruction.
“This is the assurance that we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Of course, this makes perfect sense.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I experience prayer as, well, less limiting than this instruction to only pray in accordance with God’s will. Frankly, if I’ve got to be sure that I’m praying “correctly,” I end up standing mute before the throne of grace. I am perfectly okay with God responding within the limits of his divine prevailing purposes and will. I know there’s a lot going on in the kingdom of God, and I’m not the point.
But as a parent, I don’t want my kids to only come to me conversation that they think will win my maternal stamp of approval. I don’t want my babies editing their stories in a foolish attempt to win my approval – they already have my heart. I want my kids to tell me the truth – even the messy stuff. Maybe I need to grow up more in order to change my view on this, but for now, I believe that God loves it when we talk to him. I don’t think he freaks out when we don’t quite get our story “straight.”
Tell God the truth as we understand it, and let’s see what happens. Maybe we’ll get a renewed view. Maybe God will grow our heart. Who knows what God will do?
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 29
Scripture focus: So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right; I can't find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, don't know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. Romans 3:9-20, The Message
Prayer gets results. Clearly we need it. May we pray as we grow to understand that when we pray, we join in conversation with God – a far more powerful incentive to pray than thinking that we’re simply praying to God in an attempt to get our own way.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: So where does that put us? Do we Jews get a better break than the others? Not really. Basically, all of us, whether insiders or outsiders, start out in identical conditions, which is to say that we all start out as sinners. Scripture leaves no doubt about it: There's nobody living right, not even one, nobody who knows the score, nobody alert for God. They've all taken the wrong turn; they've all wandered down blind alleys. No one's living right; I can't find a single one. Their throats are gaping graves, their tongues slick as mudslides. Every word they speak is tinged with poison. They open their mouths and pollute the air. They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year, litter the land with heartbreak and ruin, don't know the first thing about living with others. They never give God the time of day. This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else's sin. Romans 3:9-20, The Message
Prayer gets results. Clearly we need it. May we pray as we grow to understand that when we pray, we join in conversation with God – a far more powerful incentive to pray than thinking that we’re simply praying to God in an attempt to get our own way.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 28
Scripture focus: Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust. Proverbs 26:28
Prayer changes our outlook. It transforms us from liars to truth lovers; saboteurs to trusters.
For in prayer you align yourself to the purposes and power of God, and He is able to do through you that He couldn’t otherwise do. For this is an open universe, where some things are left open, contingent upon our doing them. If we do not do them, they will never be done. So God has left certain things open to prayer – things which will never be done except we pray.*
E. Stanley Jones
Oh my gosh – prayer matters.
Get busy.
* Jones, The Way to Power and Poise (Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1949), p. 325.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Liars hate their victims; flatterers sabotage trust. Proverbs 26:28
Prayer changes our outlook. It transforms us from liars to truth lovers; saboteurs to trusters.
For in prayer you align yourself to the purposes and power of God, and He is able to do through you that He couldn’t otherwise do. For this is an open universe, where some things are left open, contingent upon our doing them. If we do not do them, they will never be done. So God has left certain things open to prayer – things which will never be done except we pray.*
E. Stanley Jones
Oh my gosh – prayer matters.
Get busy.
* Jones, The Way to Power and Poise (Nashville: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1949), p. 325.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 27
Scripture focus: Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. Proverbs 15:4
I have a confession. Some days I avoid prayer because I don’t what to hear what God might say. When we pray, we must sift through our own evil ways so that we can determine what must change within us if the rule of God is to be lived out in our life.
I don’t always want to sift and discard my own view of things. So when God speaks and I’m holding onto something that doesn’t jive with God’s ways, his words cut.
A few years ago a doctor cut on my eyes and removed cataracts that had grown as a result of an airbag to the face. This trauma resulted in a short term concussion and long term damage to my eyes. The damage wasn’t immediately obvious, but proved far more damaging than the concussion that caused a splitting headache, short term memory issues, and an inability to think clearly for a few weeks.
The cutting and replacing of the lens in my eyes was painful and I didn’t like it. But I enjoy 20/10 vision today because an expert did his job well.
Conversations with God are like surgery for the soul. When we listen and obey, it heals and helps.
If you’re like me and are predisposed to withdrawing and licking your wounds rather than going to the one who heals for help in time of need – consider changing.
May we pray so that we might experience healing and help instead of sustained suffering.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim. Proverbs 15:4
I have a confession. Some days I avoid prayer because I don’t what to hear what God might say. When we pray, we must sift through our own evil ways so that we can determine what must change within us if the rule of God is to be lived out in our life.
I don’t always want to sift and discard my own view of things. So when God speaks and I’m holding onto something that doesn’t jive with God’s ways, his words cut.
A few years ago a doctor cut on my eyes and removed cataracts that had grown as a result of an airbag to the face. This trauma resulted in a short term concussion and long term damage to my eyes. The damage wasn’t immediately obvious, but proved far more damaging than the concussion that caused a splitting headache, short term memory issues, and an inability to think clearly for a few weeks.
The cutting and replacing of the lens in my eyes was painful and I didn’t like it. But I enjoy 20/10 vision today because an expert did his job well.
Conversations with God are like surgery for the soul. When we listen and obey, it heals and helps.
If you’re like me and are predisposed to withdrawing and licking your wounds rather than going to the one who heals for help in time of need – consider changing.
May we pray so that we might experience healing and help instead of sustained suffering.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 26
Scripture focus: Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down. You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise. Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice. Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls. Then you'll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!
Prayer can be broken down into several key areas, and this Psalm helps illustrate each of them. As we pray, sometimes it helps to remind ourselves of the different aspects of prayer. Some days my heart can’t pray in praise, but it can confess. I’ve even discovered that if I start where I can, I often end up at a place of prayer that I never thought my spirit would go at the beginning of the conversation.
Four aspects: Adoration – celebrating who God is; Confession – telling God what he already knows, I’m in need; Thanksgiving – expressing appreciation for how God’s love and power have shown up in a way I can see in my world; Supplication – asking God to show himself in my current situation.
Pray something today!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I've been; my sins are staring me down. You're the One I've violated, and you've seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you're after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. Don't look too close for blemishes, give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don't throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me. Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Give me a job teaching rebels your ways so the lost can find their way home. Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with your praise. Going through the motions doesn't please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice. Make Zion the place you delight in, repair Jerusalem's broken-down walls. Then you'll get real worship from us, acts of worship small and large, including all the bulls they can heave onto your altar!
Prayer can be broken down into several key areas, and this Psalm helps illustrate each of them. As we pray, sometimes it helps to remind ourselves of the different aspects of prayer. Some days my heart can’t pray in praise, but it can confess. I’ve even discovered that if I start where I can, I often end up at a place of prayer that I never thought my spirit would go at the beginning of the conversation.
Four aspects: Adoration – celebrating who God is; Confession – telling God what he already knows, I’m in need; Thanksgiving – expressing appreciation for how God’s love and power have shown up in a way I can see in my world; Supplication – asking God to show himself in my current situation.
Pray something today!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 25
Scripture focus: I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life. Don't let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety. You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down. 6-13 I hate all this silly religion, but you, God, I trust. I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love; you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors, You didn't leave me in their clutches but gave me room to breathe. Be kind to me, God— I'm in deep, deep trouble again. I've cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside. My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder. To my enemies I'm a monster; I'm ridiculed by the neighbors. My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me. They want to blot me from memory, forget me like a corpse in a grave, discard me like a broken dish in the trash. The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good. Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me. Don't embarrass me by not showing up; I've given you plenty of notice. Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they drift down to hell. Gag those loudmouthed liars who heckle me, your follower, with jeers and catcalls. 19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed GOD! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. "Out of sight, out of mind," I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened. Love GOD, all you saints; GOD takes care of all who stay close to him, but he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. 24 Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon. Psalm
When I want to learn a new skill, I study others who have mastered it. The Psalmist certainly is comfortable in his praying. I love how he speaks so frankly to God when he says, “I’ve given you plenty of notice.” He also doesn’t mind asking God to smite his enemies.
As we move to the conclusion of our month of devotionals focused on prayer, I’d suggest we take some time and study the way this man prays. What surprises you? What makes you laugh? What makes you rethink the nature of prayer?
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: I run to you, GOD; I run for dear life. Don't let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety. You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide. Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I've put my life in your hands. You won't drop me, you'll never let me down. 6-13 I hate all this silly religion, but you, God, I trust. I'm leaping and singing in the circle of your love; you saw my pain, you disarmed my tormentors, You didn't leave me in their clutches but gave me room to breathe. Be kind to me, God— I'm in deep, deep trouble again. I've cried my eyes out; I feel hollow inside. My life leaks away, groan by groan; my years fade out in sighs. My troubles have worn me out, turned my bones to powder. To my enemies I'm a monster; I'm ridiculed by the neighbors. My friends are horrified; they cross the street to avoid me. They want to blot me from memory, forget me like a corpse in a grave, discard me like a broken dish in the trash. The street-talk gossip has me "criminally insane"! Behind locked doors they plot how to ruin me for good. Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me. Don't embarrass me by not showing up; I've given you plenty of notice. Embarrass the wicked, stand them up, leave them stupidly shaking their heads as they drift down to hell. Gag those loudmouthed liars who heckle me, your follower, with jeers and catcalls. 19-22 What a stack of blessing you have piled up for those who worship you, ready and waiting for all who run to you to escape an unkind world. You hide them safely away from the opposition. As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces, you silence the poisonous gossip. Blessed GOD! His love is the wonder of the world. Trapped by a siege, I panicked. "Out of sight, out of mind," I said. But you heard me say it, you heard and listened. Love GOD, all you saints; GOD takes care of all who stay close to him, but he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. 24 Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon. Psalm
When I want to learn a new skill, I study others who have mastered it. The Psalmist certainly is comfortable in his praying. I love how he speaks so frankly to God when he says, “I’ve given you plenty of notice.” He also doesn’t mind asking God to smite his enemies.
As we move to the conclusion of our month of devotionals focused on prayer, I’d suggest we take some time and study the way this man prays. What surprises you? What makes you laugh? What makes you rethink the nature of prayer?
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 24
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." 20 The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. 22 GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
When our children were small, we often read from an illustrated children’s bible. Although it was severely abridged with lots of stories eliminated, the story of the creation and the quick fall of man were included. The pictures of Eden were magnificent, and the ugly serpent slithered through the page in sharp contrast to the beauty of Adam, Eve, and the rest of God’s creation. Inevitably, our kids would ask the million dollar question, “Mommy, if God is so smart and strong, why doesn’t he just get rid of that mean old snake?” Inevitably, our sons would quote Indiana Jones with a growl, “I hate snakes.” God’s intention and ability to overcome evil for good is clearly communicated – but his ultimate smack down of evil is yet to be…it will occur at the climax of the story, when God’s kingdom comes. In the meantime, let us pray.
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Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." 20 The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. 21 GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. 22 GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
When our children were small, we often read from an illustrated children’s bible. Although it was severely abridged with lots of stories eliminated, the story of the creation and the quick fall of man were included. The pictures of Eden were magnificent, and the ugly serpent slithered through the page in sharp contrast to the beauty of Adam, Eve, and the rest of God’s creation. Inevitably, our kids would ask the million dollar question, “Mommy, if God is so smart and strong, why doesn’t he just get rid of that mean old snake?” Inevitably, our sons would quote Indiana Jones with a growl, “I hate snakes.” God’s intention and ability to overcome evil for good is clearly communicated – but his ultimate smack down of evil is yet to be…it will occur at the climax of the story, when God’s kingdom comes. In the meantime, let us pray.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 23
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
If we read this story through the lens of unbelief, our attention might be drawn to the time-out that God gave Adam and Eve when he locked them out of the Garden of Eden. But when we read through the lens of faith flavored by grace, we notice other things about God too. The best that Adam and Eve could manage was sewing a few fig leaves together in a make-shift attempt to cover their shame. God comes in and provides them comfort – covering them with leather clothing. Think of it like this – God took an animal that he created and called good, and turned it into leather so that Adam and Eve, ashamed and acutely aware of their nakedness (as a result of their decision to disobey the one and only command given them by God) might be comforted. Prayer is not only an expression of need but a commitment to trusting that the one to whom we pray is both willing and able to act.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
If we read this story through the lens of unbelief, our attention might be drawn to the time-out that God gave Adam and Eve when he locked them out of the Garden of Eden. But when we read through the lens of faith flavored by grace, we notice other things about God too. The best that Adam and Eve could manage was sewing a few fig leaves together in a make-shift attempt to cover their shame. God comes in and provides them comfort – covering them with leather clothing. Think of it like this – God took an animal that he created and called good, and turned it into leather so that Adam and Eve, ashamed and acutely aware of their nakedness (as a result of their decision to disobey the one and only command given them by God) might be comforted. Prayer is not only an expression of need but a commitment to trusting that the one to whom we pray is both willing and able to act.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 22
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
It doesn’t take long to realize that Adam and Eve are in need of prayer. I think they’d agree with E. M. Bounds who says, “Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need. It is the voice of a beggar, conscious of his poverty, asking of another the things he needs…Not to pray is not only to declare that there is nothing needed, but to admit to a nonrealization of that need.*
However, instead of running to prayer they ran from God. I don’t understand why we run from God, but I can certainly relate to the impulse. My prayer is that we encourage and support each other to cease our running from so that we might experience God’s grace as we run to.
* Bounds, The Weapon of Prayer (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), p. 106.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
It doesn’t take long to realize that Adam and Eve are in need of prayer. I think they’d agree with E. M. Bounds who says, “Prayer is the language of a man burdened with a sense of need. It is the voice of a beggar, conscious of his poverty, asking of another the things he needs…Not to pray is not only to declare that there is nothing needed, but to admit to a nonrealization of that need.*
However, instead of running to prayer they ran from God. I don’t understand why we run from God, but I can certainly relate to the impulse. My prayer is that we encourage and support each other to cease our running from so that we might experience God’s grace as we run to.
* Bounds, The Weapon of Prayer (Chicago: Moody Press, 1980), p. 106.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 21
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
Vincent Brummer has explored what it means to pray. He doesn’t believe that we pray to tell God what he does not know or remind ourselves of what we tend to forget. Brummer says that the petitioner, “acknowledges his personal dependence on God in a way which enables God to give him what he could not have given without the acknowledgment.”*
If ever there was a great reason to pray, the ease with which the serpent got the better of Adam and Eve reminds us that we are desperately dependent on God to save us.
*Brummer, What Are We Doing When We Pray? A Philosophical Inquiry (London: SCM, 1984), p. 46.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal GOD had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'" The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil." When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. When they heard the sound of GOD strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from GOD. GOD called to the Man: "Where are you?" He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid." GOD said, "Who told you you were naked? Did you eat from that tree I told you not to eat from?" The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." GOD said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?" "The serpent seduced me," she said, "and I ate." GOD told the serpent: "Because you've done this, you're cursed, cursed beyond all cattle and wild animals, cursed to slink on your belly and eat dirt all your life. I'm declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. He'll wound your head, you'll wound his heel." He told the Woman: "I'll multiply your pains in childbirth; you'll give birth to your babies in pain. You'll want to please your husband, but he'll lord it over you." He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from, 'Don't eat from this tree,' the very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt." The Man, known as Adam, named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. GOD made leather clothing for Adam and his wife and dressed them. GOD said, "The Man has become like one of us, capable of knowing everything, ranging from good to evil. What if he now should reach out and take fruit from the Tree-of-Life and eat, and live forever? Never—this cannot happen!" So GOD expelled them from the Garden of Eden and sent them to work the ground, the same dirt out of which they'd been made. He threw them out of the garden and stationed angel-cherubim and a revolving sword of fire east of it, guarding the path to the Tree-of-Life. Genesis 3, The Message
Vincent Brummer has explored what it means to pray. He doesn’t believe that we pray to tell God what he does not know or remind ourselves of what we tend to forget. Brummer says that the petitioner, “acknowledges his personal dependence on God in a way which enables God to give him what he could not have given without the acknowledgment.”*
If ever there was a great reason to pray, the ease with which the serpent got the better of Adam and Eve reminds us that we are desperately dependent on God to save us.
*Brummer, What Are We Doing When We Pray? A Philosophical Inquiry (London: SCM, 1984), p. 46.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 20
Scripture focus: Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created. At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—GOD hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul! Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers. The first is named Pishon; it flows through Havilah where there is gold. The gold of this land is good. The land is also known for a sweet-scented resin and the onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it flows through the land of Cush. The third river is named Hiddekel and flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. GOD commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead." GOD said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion. GOD put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. GOD then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2, The Message
They felt no shame. Shame may be a common experience for many of us, but it wasn’t planted in our hearts by God as a way to make us feel needy and broken, inadequate and insecure. What did God plant in our heart? He planted a calling to prosper, plant, reproduce and rule the earth and planted a piece of eternity in our heart. (See Genesis 1-2 and Ecclesiastes 3)
When we pray, we have the opportunity to wrestle with God as we confess what we know to be true (God is both loving and all-powerful; he has the authority and the ability to create humans and shape us for big dreams and creative endeavors.) and what we fear (Can God be both loving and powerful and will we fail in our mission?) - let us pray.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Heaven and Earth were finished, down to the last detail. By the seventh day God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work. God blessed the seventh day. He made it a Holy Day because on that day he rested from his work, all the creating God had done. This is the story of how it all started, of Heaven and Earth when they were created. At the time GOD made Earth and Heaven, before any grasses or shrubs had sprouted from the ground—GOD hadn't yet sent rain on Earth, nor was there anyone around to work the ground (the whole Earth was watered by underground springs)—GOD formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive—a living soul! Then GOD planted a garden in Eden, in the east. He put the Man he had just made in it. GOD made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. A river flows out of Eden to water the garden and from there divides into four rivers. The first is named Pishon; it flows through Havilah where there is gold. The gold of this land is good. The land is also known for a sweet-scented resin and the onyx stone. The second river is named Gihon; it flows through the land of Cush. The third river is named Hiddekel and flows east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. GOD took the Man and set him down in the Garden of Eden to work the ground and keep it in order. GOD commanded the Man, "You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don't eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you're dead." GOD said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion." So GOD formed from the dirt of the ground all the animals of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the Man to see what he would name them. Whatever the Man called each living creature, that was its name. The Man named the cattle, named the birds of the air, named the wild animals; but he didn't find a suitable companion. GOD put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. GOD then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man. The Man said, "Finally! Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh! Name her Woman for she was made from Man." Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife. They become one flesh. The two of them, the Man and his Wife, were naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2, The Message
They felt no shame. Shame may be a common experience for many of us, but it wasn’t planted in our hearts by God as a way to make us feel needy and broken, inadequate and insecure. What did God plant in our heart? He planted a calling to prosper, plant, reproduce and rule the earth and planted a piece of eternity in our heart. (See Genesis 1-2 and Ecclesiastes 3)
When we pray, we have the opportunity to wrestle with God as we confess what we know to be true (God is both loving and all-powerful; he has the authority and the ability to create humans and shape us for big dreams and creative endeavors.) and what we fear (Can God be both loving and powerful and will we fail in our mission?) - let us pray.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 19
Scripture focus: God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, every sort of fruit-bearing tree." And there it was. Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, and fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning— Day Three. God spoke: "Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years, lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth." And there it was. God made two big lights, the larger to take charge of Day, the smaller to be in charge of Night; and he made the stars. God placed them in the heavenly sky to light up Earth and oversee Day and Night, to separate light and dark. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning— Day Four. God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life! Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!" God created the huge whales, all the swarm of life in the waters, and every kind and species of flying birds. God saw that it was good. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean! Birds, reproduce on Earth!" It was evening, it was morning— Day Five. God spoke: "Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds." And there it was: wild animals of every kind, cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug. God saw that it was good. God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six. Genesis 1:11-30, The Message
My husband and I have three children that we delight in studying. We’ve spent their lifetimes learning how God knit them together. We eagerly anticipate learning new things about their true, God-created selves. On my desk I keep constant reminders of who they are and who they are becoming. I select these childish pictures, photos, and cards with care. When Scott wrote that he wanted to be Hans Solo, I cherished this memory and a picture of his Halloween-costumed Hans Solo self - not because I think Scott is well-suited for space travel and laser sword fighting (Son if you really want it bad enough go for it!)– but because I believe. I believe that when God blessed us with the charge, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!” – he meant it. He delights in our big dreams and child-like intentions to save the world from the dark forces of evil. When God looked over everything he made, and it was so good, so very good, I don’t think God got it wrong. Obviously, we’ve got to wrestle with the implications of the nasty fruit tasting incident. True enough, there are plenty of indications that the world is going to you-know-where in a hand basket. But that is not the only truth nor even the central one. God saw that it was so good, so very good. May we join God in prayer as we eagerly anticipate our role in God’s epic adventure – as we fight the forces of darkness so that the light of God’s love will shine on all his children. Pray! Pray that it may be so!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties of seed-bearing plants, every sort of fruit-bearing tree." And there it was. Earth produced green seed-bearing plants, all varieties, and fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning— Day Three. God spoke: "Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years, lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth." And there it was. God made two big lights, the larger to take charge of Day, the smaller to be in charge of Night; and he made the stars. God placed them in the heavenly sky to light up Earth and oversee Day and Night, to separate light and dark. God saw that it was good. It was evening, it was morning— Day Four. God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life! Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!" God created the huge whales, all the swarm of life in the waters, and every kind and species of flying birds. God saw that it was good. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean! Birds, reproduce on Earth!" It was evening, it was morning— Day Five. God spoke: "Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds." And there it was: wild animals of every kind, cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug. God saw that it was good. God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature so they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, and, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning— Day Six. Genesis 1:11-30, The Message
My husband and I have three children that we delight in studying. We’ve spent their lifetimes learning how God knit them together. We eagerly anticipate learning new things about their true, God-created selves. On my desk I keep constant reminders of who they are and who they are becoming. I select these childish pictures, photos, and cards with care. When Scott wrote that he wanted to be Hans Solo, I cherished this memory and a picture of his Halloween-costumed Hans Solo self - not because I think Scott is well-suited for space travel and laser sword fighting (Son if you really want it bad enough go for it!)– but because I believe. I believe that when God blessed us with the charge, “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!” – he meant it. He delights in our big dreams and child-like intentions to save the world from the dark forces of evil. When God looked over everything he made, and it was so good, so very good, I don’t think God got it wrong. Obviously, we’ve got to wrestle with the implications of the nasty fruit tasting incident. True enough, there are plenty of indications that the world is going to you-know-where in a hand basket. But that is not the only truth nor even the central one. God saw that it was so good, so very good. May we join God in prayer as we eagerly anticipate our role in God’s epic adventure – as we fight the forces of darkness so that the light of God’s love will shine on all his children. Pray! Pray that it may be so!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 18
Scripture focus: First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared. God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning— Day One. God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!" God made sky. He separated the water under sky from the water above sky. And there it was: he named sky the Heavens; it was evening, it was morning— Day Two. God spoke: "Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!" And there it was. God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:1-10, The Message
God spoke.
God created.
God saw that it was good.
It was good…
In a world that can probably recite without notes all the things that Christians say they are against, it might be nice to take a moment and remember what is good.
He took a soup of nothingness and created through spoken word heavens and earth, light and dark, sky and water and land. And he saw that it was good.
When you think about God, do you imagine a harsh, finger-pointing God, wringing his hands, worrying about all that’s wrong on planet earth?
Or do you sit and try to imagine God peeking over the edge of eternity, laughing with great delight as snow blankets Colorado, rains beat down on Virginia and Pasadena basks in sunshine and 70 degree weather? Can you hear him? “Man, this is so cool! All this weather happening at one time.”
Some of God’s children are steaming hot and others shiver under their electric blankets. No one is too insignificant to escape God’s notice.
I know that there is a lot of hardship and headache in the world today. But there is also good stuff too. May our prayers be filled with it all! May we not get so distracted by our suffering that we lose consciousness of our salvation.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss. God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared. God saw that light was good and separated light from dark. God named the light Day, he named the dark Night. It was evening, it was morning— Day One. God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!" God made sky. He separated the water under sky from the water above sky. And there it was: he named sky the Heavens; it was evening, it was morning— Day Two. God spoke: "Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!" And there it was. God named the land Earth. He named the pooled water Ocean. God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:1-10, The Message
God spoke.
God created.
God saw that it was good.
It was good…
In a world that can probably recite without notes all the things that Christians say they are against, it might be nice to take a moment and remember what is good.
He took a soup of nothingness and created through spoken word heavens and earth, light and dark, sky and water and land. And he saw that it was good.
When you think about God, do you imagine a harsh, finger-pointing God, wringing his hands, worrying about all that’s wrong on planet earth?
Or do you sit and try to imagine God peeking over the edge of eternity, laughing with great delight as snow blankets Colorado, rains beat down on Virginia and Pasadena basks in sunshine and 70 degree weather? Can you hear him? “Man, this is so cool! All this weather happening at one time.”
Some of God’s children are steaming hot and others shiver under their electric blankets. No one is too insignificant to escape God’s notice.
I know that there is a lot of hardship and headache in the world today. But there is also good stuff too. May our prayers be filled with it all! May we not get so distracted by our suffering that we lose consciousness of our salvation.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 17
Scripture focus: Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn't visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn't come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative. We're not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We're partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours. 2 Corinthians 1:20-24, The Message
Oh, how I love this passage! Paul reminds us that God is in the business of affirmation. He paints a picture of a team united – all shouting celestial “yeses” of affirmation to God’s pledge and promise of completion of the plan. Interesting, that after all this holy hollering Paul moves on to speak of conflict. Evidently the Corinthians got their feelings hurt when Paul didn’t show up to visit as planned. For whatever reason, Paul seems to think that they took his absence as a lack of concern or an attempt to control their behavior. In recovery lingo, we might speculate that those Corinthians had abandonment issues.
Paul wants his hurt friends to understand that his actions were motivated by love and a desire to prevent them from suffering. He reframes his relationship, reminding the Corinthians that he is in partnership with them – not their parents or boss. He wants them to realize that when he looks at them, it is not through the lens of judgment and criticism, but joyful expectancy. Notice how cleverly Paul first shows them how God relates to us (affirming, promising and fulfilling) and then illustrates how he, Paul, is following God’s lead.
One of the ways I particularly like to pray is using God’s word to both speak and listen. I have favorite prayers, like one in Ephesians where Paul prays so beautifully for the Ephesians and their love life with God. I love to pray that on behalf of myself and others. Another way I pray is by reading scripture so that I might hear the voice of God. I have notebooks filled with verses I’ve read that have given me glimpses into God’s character and heart. Some days I whip out my notebook and read about the things I’ve read about God in the past, but struggle to believe in the present. I read until I’m full, stuffed with reminders of who God is and what he is up to. It’s awfully hard to get my feelings hurt or judge another when my spiritual tummy is full of reminders that life isn’t all about me. It’s about God’s prevailing purposes.
I practice praying like this because I know that I am more likely to experience life like a Corinthian than a co-laborer with Christ. I’m prone to prickliness and feelings of abandonment. I find it easier to point a finger than lift a hand. Regular doses of the word of God provide a much-needed antibiotic to the toxic shame that seeks to kill, steal and destroy. May our days be filled with spiritual sustenance so that we might grow up in our salvation!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete. Now, are you ready for the real reason I didn't visit you in Corinth? As God is my witness, the only reason I didn't come was to spare you pain. I was being considerate of you, not indifferent, not manipulative. We're not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We're partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours. 2 Corinthians 1:20-24, The Message
Oh, how I love this passage! Paul reminds us that God is in the business of affirmation. He paints a picture of a team united – all shouting celestial “yeses” of affirmation to God’s pledge and promise of completion of the plan. Interesting, that after all this holy hollering Paul moves on to speak of conflict. Evidently the Corinthians got their feelings hurt when Paul didn’t show up to visit as planned. For whatever reason, Paul seems to think that they took his absence as a lack of concern or an attempt to control their behavior. In recovery lingo, we might speculate that those Corinthians had abandonment issues.
Paul wants his hurt friends to understand that his actions were motivated by love and a desire to prevent them from suffering. He reframes his relationship, reminding the Corinthians that he is in partnership with them – not their parents or boss. He wants them to realize that when he looks at them, it is not through the lens of judgment and criticism, but joyful expectancy. Notice how cleverly Paul first shows them how God relates to us (affirming, promising and fulfilling) and then illustrates how he, Paul, is following God’s lead.
One of the ways I particularly like to pray is using God’s word to both speak and listen. I have favorite prayers, like one in Ephesians where Paul prays so beautifully for the Ephesians and their love life with God. I love to pray that on behalf of myself and others. Another way I pray is by reading scripture so that I might hear the voice of God. I have notebooks filled with verses I’ve read that have given me glimpses into God’s character and heart. Some days I whip out my notebook and read about the things I’ve read about God in the past, but struggle to believe in the present. I read until I’m full, stuffed with reminders of who God is and what he is up to. It’s awfully hard to get my feelings hurt or judge another when my spiritual tummy is full of reminders that life isn’t all about me. It’s about God’s prevailing purposes.
I practice praying like this because I know that I am more likely to experience life like a Corinthian than a co-laborer with Christ. I’m prone to prickliness and feelings of abandonment. I find it easier to point a finger than lift a hand. Regular doses of the word of God provide a much-needed antibiotic to the toxic shame that seeks to kill, steal and destroy. May our days be filled with spiritual sustenance so that we might grow up in our salvation!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 16
Scripture focus: Now that the worst is over, we're pleased we can report that we've come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don't try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We're writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you'll now see the whole picture as well as you've seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus. Confident of your welcome, I had originally planned two great visits with you—coming by on my way to Macedonia province, and then again on my return trip. Then we could have had a bon-voyage party as you sent me off to Judea. That was the plan. Are you now going to accuse me of being flip with my promises because it didn't work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth—a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next? Well, you're wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn't a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn't it a clean, strong Yes? 2 Corinthians 1:12-19, The Message
There’s a proverb that goes something like, “A man plans his course but God determines his steps.” I appreciate how Paul and his friends are experiencing conflict over plans gone allegedly awry. It sounds like Paul and his team made a plan that they sincerely wanted to execute, but God had other ideas. Because the plan did not launch successfully, there seems to be some concern that finger pointing and accusations, even character assassination is going to be the response to this change in expectations. Paul seems to be defending himself and his friends, or perhaps this is a pre-emptive strike, expecting criticism and trying to head it off before things are said that might cause a rumble. I am sure every player in this story has a perspective that they feel is right and justifiable. I prefer to think that every story has three sides – yours, mine, and the truth.
Prayer is a spiritual discipline that assists me as I seek to not take sides. Prayer requires that I pause to prepare. Prayer invites me into a conversation, not a rant. I fully expect to speak but I eagerly anticipate listening for a response. Conversations often expand our view, clarify our thinking and provide new insights, options and even multiple possible solutions. Prayer reminds me that I may have a plan, but God may have other ideas (and that doesn’t mean something has gone haywire and blame needs to be ascribed).
A by-product of a disciplined prayer life for me has been the gift of flexibility. Don’t get me wrong, I like a plan. In fact, I prefer a bad plan to no plan at all. I would rather have a plan that I don’t even agree with than try to live without a clue as to where I’m trying to go or what I’m trying to accomplish. But when we pray – petitioning, thanking, praising, confessing, listening, learning – our brain has time to work in new and sometimes creative ways. We approach our days with conscience and faith intact. We are able to hold our heads up because through prayer we have beat back the enemy named shame. And if I have a clear conscience, it’s harder for someone else to inflame my shame when we disagree about an issue. Best of all – if my shame is not triggered, I will be far less likely to try to shame another. May you find a space in your day for prayer!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Now that the worst is over, we're pleased we can report that we've come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don't try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We're writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you'll now see the whole picture as well as you've seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus. Confident of your welcome, I had originally planned two great visits with you—coming by on my way to Macedonia province, and then again on my return trip. Then we could have had a bon-voyage party as you sent me off to Judea. That was the plan. Are you now going to accuse me of being flip with my promises because it didn't work out? Do you think I talk out of both sides of my mouth—a glib yes one moment, a glib no the next? Well, you're wrong. I try to be as true to my word as God is to his. Our word to you wasn't a careless yes canceled by an indifferent no. How could it be? When Silas and Timothy and I proclaimed the Son of God among you, did you pick up on any yes-and-no, on-again, off-again waffling? Wasn't it a clean, strong Yes? 2 Corinthians 1:12-19, The Message
There’s a proverb that goes something like, “A man plans his course but God determines his steps.” I appreciate how Paul and his friends are experiencing conflict over plans gone allegedly awry. It sounds like Paul and his team made a plan that they sincerely wanted to execute, but God had other ideas. Because the plan did not launch successfully, there seems to be some concern that finger pointing and accusations, even character assassination is going to be the response to this change in expectations. Paul seems to be defending himself and his friends, or perhaps this is a pre-emptive strike, expecting criticism and trying to head it off before things are said that might cause a rumble. I am sure every player in this story has a perspective that they feel is right and justifiable. I prefer to think that every story has three sides – yours, mine, and the truth.
Prayer is a spiritual discipline that assists me as I seek to not take sides. Prayer requires that I pause to prepare. Prayer invites me into a conversation, not a rant. I fully expect to speak but I eagerly anticipate listening for a response. Conversations often expand our view, clarify our thinking and provide new insights, options and even multiple possible solutions. Prayer reminds me that I may have a plan, but God may have other ideas (and that doesn’t mean something has gone haywire and blame needs to be ascribed).
A by-product of a disciplined prayer life for me has been the gift of flexibility. Don’t get me wrong, I like a plan. In fact, I prefer a bad plan to no plan at all. I would rather have a plan that I don’t even agree with than try to live without a clue as to where I’m trying to go or what I’m trying to accomplish. But when we pray – petitioning, thanking, praising, confessing, listening, learning – our brain has time to work in new and sometimes creative ways. We approach our days with conscience and faith intact. We are able to hold our heads up because through prayer we have beat back the enemy named shame. And if I have a clear conscience, it’s harder for someone else to inflame my shame when we disagree about an issue. Best of all – if my shame is not triggered, I will be far less likely to try to shame another. May you find a space in your day for prayer!
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 15
Scripture focus: When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it. We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. 2 Corinthians 1:6-11, The Message
Over coffee and Christmas cookies, my friends and I were sitting around talking about life. Suddenly, one of us (who shall remain nameless but is willing to go public anonymously) said, “I am really mad about this issue. Just talking about it gets me agitated. I don’t like how hard it is to think of loving others in a way that conforms to God’s will. I thought that if I pleased God, my life would get easier! I was able to think of lots of things that would please God, and do them. But trying to make myself TRUST God instead of working hard to please him – well, I’m struggling. And irritated. I guess I want to earn his blessing. I want to be able to tell whether or not I’m doing the right thing based on the results. If I do good, I want it to feel good and be successful. If I mess up, I expect to suffer and experience failure.” She added a couple more cookies to her plate to ease her suffering.
My friend grew so accustomed to evaluating her spirituality in terms of right and wrong, good or bad, pleasing God or displeasing him – that she forgot to consider that trusting God might have all sorts of different outcomes. Sometimes we serve and suffer. On another day life is filled with encouragement and hope.
Sounds to me like we’ve added another good reason to pray – we need to ask God for clarity, and then spend time listening for his response. Just because God’s will sometimes offends our sensibilities, personal conveniences and logic doesn’t mean that anything is amiss. My friend might feel less frustrated if, instead of trying to measure her obedience based on the outcome of her actions, she simply released herself from the burden of judgment and instead, continues to do the next right thing – that thing that is informed by her prayers, her study of God’s words, and the Spirit that dwells within her.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you're just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you're going to make it, no doubt about it. We don't want you in the dark, friends, about how hard it was when all this came down on us in Asia province. It was so bad we didn't think we were going to make it. We felt like we'd been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the dead! And he did it, rescued us from certain doom. And he'll do it again, rescuing us as many times as we need rescuing. You and your prayers are part of the rescue operation—I don't want you in the dark about that either. I can see your faces even now, lifted in praise for God's deliverance of us, a rescue in which your prayers played such a crucial part. 2 Corinthians 1:6-11, The Message
Over coffee and Christmas cookies, my friends and I were sitting around talking about life. Suddenly, one of us (who shall remain nameless but is willing to go public anonymously) said, “I am really mad about this issue. Just talking about it gets me agitated. I don’t like how hard it is to think of loving others in a way that conforms to God’s will. I thought that if I pleased God, my life would get easier! I was able to think of lots of things that would please God, and do them. But trying to make myself TRUST God instead of working hard to please him – well, I’m struggling. And irritated. I guess I want to earn his blessing. I want to be able to tell whether or not I’m doing the right thing based on the results. If I do good, I want it to feel good and be successful. If I mess up, I expect to suffer and experience failure.” She added a couple more cookies to her plate to ease her suffering.
My friend grew so accustomed to evaluating her spirituality in terms of right and wrong, good or bad, pleasing God or displeasing him – that she forgot to consider that trusting God might have all sorts of different outcomes. Sometimes we serve and suffer. On another day life is filled with encouragement and hope.
Sounds to me like we’ve added another good reason to pray – we need to ask God for clarity, and then spend time listening for his response. Just because God’s will sometimes offends our sensibilities, personal conveniences and logic doesn’t mean that anything is amiss. My friend might feel less frustrated if, instead of trying to measure her obedience based on the outcome of her actions, she simply released herself from the burden of judgment and instead, continues to do the next right thing – that thing that is informed by her prayers, her study of God’s words, and the Spirit that dwells within her.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 14
Scripture focus: I, Paul, have been sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus, planned by God himself. I write this to God's congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours! Timothy, someone you know and trust, joins me in this greeting. All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 2 Corinthians 1:1-5, The Message
My friend doesn’t believe in prayer (although she believes in God) because she thinks that prayer is man’s attempt to manipulate God. Other theologians take a different approach. They suggest that prayer is one way that man makes peace with the will of God (Friedrich Schleiermacher, Immanuel Kant, Robert L. Simpson). Lots of people have tried to explain how prayer works and why we humans keep trying it – especially when we find ourselves in need of a sturdy foxhole.
I don’t know about all that fancy thinking, it just seems to me that prayer is a cry to God from one of his children. I think we pray because we hope that God will come alongside us when we go through hard times. I think we pray because we hope that God will help those we love when we can’t figure out how to help them ourselves. I think we pray because we all know that we need help.
I’ve learned so much about the character of God as I’ve come to worship in a recovery community. One of the early principles that we ask each newcomer to embrace is this: Ask for help. My friends in recovery have taught me to pause and wait when someone approaches me in obvious distress. I’ve been coached to ask, “What do you need?”
Early on in my own recovery journey, I didn’t understand the value of letting a person articulate their own need. I’d hear a story and assume I knew what they needed!
“Isn’t it obvious? Clearly they need…” I’d suggest to my mentor.
“Although it may be obvious to you, it may not be obvious to them. And until it is obvious to them, nothing you or the community does matters,” she would respond patiently. I’ve since learned that it does no good to offer a thirsty man a glass of water when he thinks his issue is hunger.
If it is beneficial for one person to tell another their need, why wouldn’t that same principle apply to our relationship with God?
Would you join me, this year, in finding a bit of time each day to tell God what we need? Then let’s see what happens….
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: I, Paul, have been sent on a special mission by the Messiah, Jesus, planned by God himself. I write this to God's congregation in Corinth, and to believers all over Achaia province. May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours! Timothy, someone you know and trust, joins me in this greeting. All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 2 Corinthians 1:1-5, The Message
My friend doesn’t believe in prayer (although she believes in God) because she thinks that prayer is man’s attempt to manipulate God. Other theologians take a different approach. They suggest that prayer is one way that man makes peace with the will of God (Friedrich Schleiermacher, Immanuel Kant, Robert L. Simpson). Lots of people have tried to explain how prayer works and why we humans keep trying it – especially when we find ourselves in need of a sturdy foxhole.
I don’t know about all that fancy thinking, it just seems to me that prayer is a cry to God from one of his children. I think we pray because we hope that God will come alongside us when we go through hard times. I think we pray because we hope that God will help those we love when we can’t figure out how to help them ourselves. I think we pray because we all know that we need help.
I’ve learned so much about the character of God as I’ve come to worship in a recovery community. One of the early principles that we ask each newcomer to embrace is this: Ask for help. My friends in recovery have taught me to pause and wait when someone approaches me in obvious distress. I’ve been coached to ask, “What do you need?”
Early on in my own recovery journey, I didn’t understand the value of letting a person articulate their own need. I’d hear a story and assume I knew what they needed!
“Isn’t it obvious? Clearly they need…” I’d suggest to my mentor.
“Although it may be obvious to you, it may not be obvious to them. And until it is obvious to them, nothing you or the community does matters,” she would respond patiently. I’ve since learned that it does no good to offer a thirsty man a glass of water when he thinks his issue is hunger.
If it is beneficial for one person to tell another their need, why wouldn’t that same principle apply to our relationship with God?
Would you join me, this year, in finding a bit of time each day to tell God what we need? Then let’s see what happens….
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 13
Scripture focus: "But for right now, because you've taken up with these new-fangled prophets who set themselves up as 'Babylonian specialists,' spreading the word 'GOD sent them just for us!' GOD is setting the record straight: As for the king still sitting on David's throne and all the people left in Jerusalem who didn't go into exile with you, they're facing bad times. GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies says, 'Watch this! Catastrophe is on the way: war, hunger, disease! They're a barrel of rotten apples. I'll rid the country of them through war and hunger and disease. The whole world is going to hold its nose at the smell, shut its eyes at the horrible sight. They'll end up in slum ghettos because they wouldn't listen to a thing I said when I sent my servant-prophets preaching tirelessly and urgently. No, they wouldn't listen to a word I said.'" GOD's Decree. "And you—you exiles whom I sent out of Jerusalem to Babylon —listen to GOD's Message to you. As far as Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah are concerned, the 'Babylonian specialists' who are preaching lies in my name, I will turn them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will kill them while you watch. The exiles from Judah will take what they see at the execution and use it as a curse: 'GOD fry you to a crisp like the king of Babylon fried Zedekiah and Ahab in the fire!' Those two men, sex predators and prophet-impostors, got what they deserved. They pulled every woman they got their hands on into bed—their neighbors' wives, no less—and preached lies claiming it was my Message. I never sent those men. I've never had anything to do with them." GOD's Decree. "They won't get away with a thing. I've witnessed it all." And this is the Message for Shemaiah the Nehelamite: "God-of-theAngel-Armies, the God of Israel, says: You took it on yourself to send letters to all the people in Jerusalem and to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah and the company of priests. In your letter you told Zephaniah that God set you up as priest replacing priest Jehoiadah. He's put you in charge of God's Temple and made you responsible for locking up any crazy fellow off the street who takes it into his head to be a prophet. "So why haven't you done anything about muzzling Jeremiah of Anathoth, who's going around posing as a prophet? He's gone so far as to write to us in Babylon, 'It's going to be a long exile, so build houses and make yourselves at home. Plant gardens and prepare Babylonian recipes.'" The priest Zephaniah read that letter to the prophet Jeremiah. Then God told Jeremiah, "Send this Message to the exiles. Tell them what God says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Shemaiah is preaching lies to you. I didn't send him. He is seducing you into believing lies. So this is God's verdict: I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his whole family. He's going to end up with nothing and no one. No one from his family will be around to see any of the good that I am going to do for my people because he has preached rebellion against me." God's Decree. Jeremiah 29:15-32, The Message
Another important reminder to pray: prayer is an effective weapon when it comes to spiritual warfare. Not everyone we encounter will have our best interests in mind when they guide us. Sometimes spiritual sounding people are not really in touch with God’s decrees.
* The book of Daniel recounts how angelic messengers got into a celestial battle and evil forces sought to hinder them from coming to Daniel’s aid.
* Jesus himself prayed repeatedly for prayer in defeating Satan.
* Other passages tell us that approaching the throne of grace is essential if we want to overcome the Enemy (James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:12) and to do the same for our friends (Ephesians 6:18).
* Jesus told his disciples that some things could only be accomplished through prayer (Mark 9:29).
Not only does it seem that prayer impacts the Evil One, it also can touch the heart of God, making him willing to change his own course in response to the prayers of his children.
* Jonah didn’t want the Ninevites to repent, knowing that this would change God’s heart toward them (Jonah 3:6-10).
* Jeremiah reminded his people that repentance causes God to relent (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
* Jesus likens God to a parent, who responds to the requests of their children (Luke 11:11-13).
Maybe the best way to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of prayer is to simply begin the practice of prayer – and see what happens.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: "But for right now, because you've taken up with these new-fangled prophets who set themselves up as 'Babylonian specialists,' spreading the word 'GOD sent them just for us!' GOD is setting the record straight: As for the king still sitting on David's throne and all the people left in Jerusalem who didn't go into exile with you, they're facing bad times. GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies says, 'Watch this! Catastrophe is on the way: war, hunger, disease! They're a barrel of rotten apples. I'll rid the country of them through war and hunger and disease. The whole world is going to hold its nose at the smell, shut its eyes at the horrible sight. They'll end up in slum ghettos because they wouldn't listen to a thing I said when I sent my servant-prophets preaching tirelessly and urgently. No, they wouldn't listen to a word I said.'" GOD's Decree. "And you—you exiles whom I sent out of Jerusalem to Babylon —listen to GOD's Message to you. As far as Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah are concerned, the 'Babylonian specialists' who are preaching lies in my name, I will turn them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will kill them while you watch. The exiles from Judah will take what they see at the execution and use it as a curse: 'GOD fry you to a crisp like the king of Babylon fried Zedekiah and Ahab in the fire!' Those two men, sex predators and prophet-impostors, got what they deserved. They pulled every woman they got their hands on into bed—their neighbors' wives, no less—and preached lies claiming it was my Message. I never sent those men. I've never had anything to do with them." GOD's Decree. "They won't get away with a thing. I've witnessed it all." And this is the Message for Shemaiah the Nehelamite: "God-of-theAngel-Armies, the God of Israel, says: You took it on yourself to send letters to all the people in Jerusalem and to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah and the company of priests. In your letter you told Zephaniah that God set you up as priest replacing priest Jehoiadah. He's put you in charge of God's Temple and made you responsible for locking up any crazy fellow off the street who takes it into his head to be a prophet. "So why haven't you done anything about muzzling Jeremiah of Anathoth, who's going around posing as a prophet? He's gone so far as to write to us in Babylon, 'It's going to be a long exile, so build houses and make yourselves at home. Plant gardens and prepare Babylonian recipes.'" The priest Zephaniah read that letter to the prophet Jeremiah. Then God told Jeremiah, "Send this Message to the exiles. Tell them what God says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Shemaiah is preaching lies to you. I didn't send him. He is seducing you into believing lies. So this is God's verdict: I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his whole family. He's going to end up with nothing and no one. No one from his family will be around to see any of the good that I am going to do for my people because he has preached rebellion against me." God's Decree. Jeremiah 29:15-32, The Message
Another important reminder to pray: prayer is an effective weapon when it comes to spiritual warfare. Not everyone we encounter will have our best interests in mind when they guide us. Sometimes spiritual sounding people are not really in touch with God’s decrees.
* The book of Daniel recounts how angelic messengers got into a celestial battle and evil forces sought to hinder them from coming to Daniel’s aid.
* Jesus himself prayed repeatedly for prayer in defeating Satan.
* Other passages tell us that approaching the throne of grace is essential if we want to overcome the Enemy (James 4:7-8, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Ephesians 6:12) and to do the same for our friends (Ephesians 6:18).
* Jesus told his disciples that some things could only be accomplished through prayer (Mark 9:29).
Not only does it seem that prayer impacts the Evil One, it also can touch the heart of God, making him willing to change his own course in response to the prayers of his children.
* Jonah didn’t want the Ninevites to repent, knowing that this would change God’s heart toward them (Jonah 3:6-10).
* Jeremiah reminded his people that repentance causes God to relent (Jeremiah 18:7-8).
* Jesus likens God to a parent, who responds to the requests of their children (Luke 11:11-13).
Maybe the best way to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of prayer is to simply begin the practice of prayer – and see what happens.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 12
Scripture focus: "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." GOD's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—GOD's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. Jeremiah 29:13-14, The Message
What are some specific benefits that God is serious about providing us when we commit to looking for him?
* He promises to save us. “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” –Romans 10:12-13.
* He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (see Luke 11:13) and there’s evidence that this is not just a benefit related to salvation, but also service (see Acts 4:31).
* He promises to change us. “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free” (Psalm 118:5).
* He promises to give us a renewed perspective. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6, see also Psalm 138:3)
* He promises us peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)
* He can change our circumstances. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain” (1 Chronicles 4:10)…”And God granted his request.”
* Our prayers can benefit others (see Ephesians 3:16-19, James 5:14-16, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 1 John 5:16).
Remember that Paul prayed for a physical ailment and healing in the way he had hoped never came. Jesus prayed three times to be released from the impending trial and crucifixion – but off to the cross he went when it was obvious that God was not going to change his plans because Jesus had cold feet. So prayer remains in many ways a mysterious thing. We petition, but it is the Lord who determines the outcome.
May we pray today with a trust in the one who hears.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." GOD's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—GOD's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it. Jeremiah 29:13-14, The Message
What are some specific benefits that God is serious about providing us when we commit to looking for him?
* He promises to save us. “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved” –Romans 10:12-13.
* He gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask (see Luke 11:13) and there’s evidence that this is not just a benefit related to salvation, but also service (see Acts 4:31).
* He promises to change us. “In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free” (Psalm 118:5).
* He promises to give us a renewed perspective. “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6, see also Psalm 138:3)
* He promises us peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7)
* He can change our circumstances. “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain” (1 Chronicles 4:10)…”And God granted his request.”
* Our prayers can benefit others (see Ephesians 3:16-19, James 5:14-16, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 1 John 5:16).
Remember that Paul prayed for a physical ailment and healing in the way he had hoped never came. Jesus prayed three times to be released from the impending trial and crucifixion – but off to the cross he went when it was obvious that God was not going to change his plans because Jesus had cold feet. So prayer remains in many ways a mysterious thing. We petition, but it is the Lord who determines the outcome.
May we pray today with a trust in the one who hears.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 11
Scripture focus: This is GOD's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:10-11, The Message
When we understand that God has plans to take care of us, not abandon us, plans to give us the future we hope for – does that help us enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer? I have a friend who doesn’t think prayer is of much value. She doesn’t disagree with Jeremiah 29:10-11, in fact, she uses this passage to support her belief that prayer is a waste of time. She says that if God is for us, if he never leaves nor forsakes us – why bother with prayer? God knows what we need better than we do, so her theory is that we all should wake up every day, commit ourselves unto the Lord, and see what happens.
I don’t know, but her theory reminds me of a time my husband and I got into a big argument. I’m a words person. I love to give and receive words of affirmation. I’m not talking empty words of flattery or compliments. I like to tell people things that affirm evidence of their ever-increasing glory. For example, I love to tell my husband that I appreciate his rock-solid, steady, dependability. I believe that this is part of how God crafted him and is essential for his mission (and his marriage). One day, when we were newly married, he made a big mistake. Since he’s not a words person (and we hadn’t been married long enough for me to teach him the value of affirming words), he said the following foolish thing, “You know, I don’t know why you keep saying these nice things to me. It’s a waste of time. I know you liked me when you married me. No need to keep beating a dead horse. If that changes, tell me then – otherwise, is all this talking necessary?” Needless to say, he soon learned that, indeed, it was necessary, if he ever wanted another moment of marital bliss.
So it is with the knowledge of how quickly a great marriage can get into trouble when two people stop talking that informs my thinking. I can’t quite accept my friend’s assertion that prayer is a waste of time.
May we find time to talk to God today.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: This is GOD's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. Jeremiah 29:10-11, The Message
When we understand that God has plans to take care of us, not abandon us, plans to give us the future we hope for – does that help us enter into the spiritual discipline of prayer? I have a friend who doesn’t think prayer is of much value. She doesn’t disagree with Jeremiah 29:10-11, in fact, she uses this passage to support her belief that prayer is a waste of time. She says that if God is for us, if he never leaves nor forsakes us – why bother with prayer? God knows what we need better than we do, so her theory is that we all should wake up every day, commit ourselves unto the Lord, and see what happens.
I don’t know, but her theory reminds me of a time my husband and I got into a big argument. I’m a words person. I love to give and receive words of affirmation. I’m not talking empty words of flattery or compliments. I like to tell people things that affirm evidence of their ever-increasing glory. For example, I love to tell my husband that I appreciate his rock-solid, steady, dependability. I believe that this is part of how God crafted him and is essential for his mission (and his marriage). One day, when we were newly married, he made a big mistake. Since he’s not a words person (and we hadn’t been married long enough for me to teach him the value of affirming words), he said the following foolish thing, “You know, I don’t know why you keep saying these nice things to me. It’s a waste of time. I know you liked me when you married me. No need to keep beating a dead horse. If that changes, tell me then – otherwise, is all this talking necessary?” Needless to say, he soon learned that, indeed, it was necessary, if he ever wanted another moment of marital bliss.
So it is with the knowledge of how quickly a great marriage can get into trouble when two people stop talking that informs my thinking. I can’t quite accept my friend’s assertion that prayer is a waste of time.
May we find time to talk to God today.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 10
Scripture focus: The letter was carried by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter said: This is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, to all the exiles I've taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and make yourselves at home. "Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. "Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away. "Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. "Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you." Yes. Believe it or not, this is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God: "Don't let all those so-called preachers and know-it-alls who are all over the place there take you in with their lies. Don't pay any attention to the fantasies they keep coming up with to please you. They're a bunch of liars preaching lies—and claiming I sent them! I never sent them, believe me." GOD's Decree! Jeremiah 29:3-9, The Message
The Hebrew people found themselves in Babylon because of their own wrongdoing. This wasn’t a job transfer or promotion. They didn’t move so that they and their children could have a multi-cultural experience. Those guys were there as wards of the state of Babylon. They served a king-who-was-not-their-king.
One of my children once committed an offense that landed him in captivity. I sent him to his room and metaphorically threw away the key. I didn’t send him there for play time so before he entered his room for “time out,” I removed his G.I.Joes, comic books and Game Boy. I took his guitar and walkman. I left him with four walls, a bible and a bunk bed.
This is not how God punished his people. In fact, even in captivity, he blessed them. He encouraged them to marry and have children. He invited them to thrive. Not only did he encourage them to flourish, he asked them to work for the country’s welfare. He taught them to pray for Babylon’s well-being! Amazing.
When we read through scripture, it is obvious that when it comes to blessing, God doesn’t hold back. He is able to see the truth about his children – they have done wrong and need discipline – without losing sight of their ever-increasing glory.
It is entirely possible that you are suffering – and it may even be your own fault. Maybe you’re the only one to blame for the mess you find yourself in. That does not mean that you are without hope. Our God sees our problems and our potential.
May we lift up our hands and hearts in prayer to God – who sees with clarity and loves us anyway.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The letter was carried by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter said: This is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, to all the exiles I've taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and make yourselves at home. "Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. "Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away. "Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. "Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you." Yes. Believe it or not, this is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God: "Don't let all those so-called preachers and know-it-alls who are all over the place there take you in with their lies. Don't pay any attention to the fantasies they keep coming up with to please you. They're a bunch of liars preaching lies—and claiming I sent them! I never sent them, believe me." GOD's Decree! Jeremiah 29:3-9, The Message
The Hebrew people found themselves in Babylon because of their own wrongdoing. This wasn’t a job transfer or promotion. They didn’t move so that they and their children could have a multi-cultural experience. Those guys were there as wards of the state of Babylon. They served a king-who-was-not-their-king.
One of my children once committed an offense that landed him in captivity. I sent him to his room and metaphorically threw away the key. I didn’t send him there for play time so before he entered his room for “time out,” I removed his G.I.Joes, comic books and Game Boy. I took his guitar and walkman. I left him with four walls, a bible and a bunk bed.
This is not how God punished his people. In fact, even in captivity, he blessed them. He encouraged them to marry and have children. He invited them to thrive. Not only did he encourage them to flourish, he asked them to work for the country’s welfare. He taught them to pray for Babylon’s well-being! Amazing.
When we read through scripture, it is obvious that when it comes to blessing, God doesn’t hold back. He is able to see the truth about his children – they have done wrong and need discipline – without losing sight of their ever-increasing glory.
It is entirely possible that you are suffering – and it may even be your own fault. Maybe you’re the only one to blame for the mess you find yourself in. That does not mean that you are without hope. Our God sees our problems and our potential.
May we lift up our hands and hearts in prayer to God – who sees with clarity and loves us anyway.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 9
Scripture focus: The letter was carried by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter said: This is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, to all the exiles I've taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and make yourselves at home. "Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. "Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away. "Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. "Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you." Jeremiah 29:3-7, The Message
In the book of Jeremiah, God sent what seems like a strange message to his people. As I read this chapter, I am reminded of the historical context within which it is written and delivered. God was writing a letter of instruction to a group of people he had exiled. Basically, this letter was sent to a group of people that God had put in a massive “time out” as a result of their bad behaving and unrepentant hearts.
When I was taught the concept of “time out,” it was suggested to me that while my children were banished to their “time out” chair, I should not interrupt them with constant conversation. So when I read this letter, I smile. God loves his children so much, that even while they’re sitting in “time out” – he’s still encouraging them.
I’ve observed that when most of us believe that we’ve done something wrong or we assume that others think we’ve misbehaved (whether we agree with the assessment or not, whether anyone is even thinking about us or not), we have a tendency to assume that God and others withdraw from us. At least that’s what people tell me, and I’ve certainly felt that same way. As a result, I and others that I know tend to distance ourselves from not only God but our community (sort of as a pre-emptive withdrawal of love strike) when we feel ashamed or fear judgment.
God exiled his people, but he never banished them from access to him. We may reap what we sow, experience consequences for our actions, and sometimes find ourselves disciplined by a mighty God. But in all things, especially in seasons of heartbreak, don’t forget – God neither leaves nor forsakes us.
If you believe that you’re in a season of “time out,” I hope you’ll take some time to reacquaint yourself with those exiled to Babylon. You may find great encouragement and draw strength from their experiences.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The letter was carried by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter said: This is the Message from GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, to all the exiles I've taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and make yourselves at home. "Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country. "Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you'll thrive in that country and not waste away. "Make yourselves at home there and work for the country's welfare. "Pray for Babylon's well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you." Jeremiah 29:3-7, The Message
In the book of Jeremiah, God sent what seems like a strange message to his people. As I read this chapter, I am reminded of the historical context within which it is written and delivered. God was writing a letter of instruction to a group of people he had exiled. Basically, this letter was sent to a group of people that God had put in a massive “time out” as a result of their bad behaving and unrepentant hearts.
When I was taught the concept of “time out,” it was suggested to me that while my children were banished to their “time out” chair, I should not interrupt them with constant conversation. So when I read this letter, I smile. God loves his children so much, that even while they’re sitting in “time out” – he’s still encouraging them.
I’ve observed that when most of us believe that we’ve done something wrong or we assume that others think we’ve misbehaved (whether we agree with the assessment or not, whether anyone is even thinking about us or not), we have a tendency to assume that God and others withdraw from us. At least that’s what people tell me, and I’ve certainly felt that same way. As a result, I and others that I know tend to distance ourselves from not only God but our community (sort of as a pre-emptive withdrawal of love strike) when we feel ashamed or fear judgment.
God exiled his people, but he never banished them from access to him. We may reap what we sow, experience consequences for our actions, and sometimes find ourselves disciplined by a mighty God. But in all things, especially in seasons of heartbreak, don’t forget – God neither leaves nor forsakes us.
If you believe that you’re in a season of “time out,” I hope you’ll take some time to reacquaint yourself with those exiled to Babylon. You may find great encouragement and draw strength from their experiences.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 8
Scripture focus: “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1
As we prepare for a year of devoted living, it might help to recall how Jesus devoted himself to talking with God. He prayed often and sometimes long. He thanked God for stuff. Sometimes he confessed things. He expressed his love for God and the kingdom of God. He didn’t hesitate to ask God questions or make requests either. Jesus modeled all these dimensions of healthy, intimate conversation when he taught his disciples how to pray using what we commonly refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
But any married couple knows (if they’ve been married longer than one week) that the best conversations are exchanges not monologues – and so it is with prayer. Peter received a divine vision (Acts 10:9-10), Paul was told where to travel (Acts 16:9) and John got a revelation (Rev. 1:9-10).
Isaiah reminds us to wait on the Lord when he says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). The word “hope” actually could be translated – “tarrying,” “waiting for,” “to expect,” or to “look patiently.”
It seems that God has basic principles about how he relates to us that are consistent and unchanging. Take grace, for instance. God has always been the first to initiate loving relationship with his children. In the area of grace and mercy, God always goes first.
This same principle is true with prayer. Prayer is initiated by God. William Meninger says, “Prayer begins with God, not with us….The invitation has to come from god – what comes from us is the response. When we ‘begin to pray’ or think we are beginning to pray, we should be explicitly aware that, whether we are emotionally aware of it or not, God has initiated this prayer. The invitation has already come from Him, the prayer has already begun, the grace is present and all we have to do is respond!”*
On those days when we are moved to prayer, may we remember that God moved us. I love it when my husband gives me his full, undivided attention. How much more amazing to think about how awesome it is to know that holy God also attends to us. Our brokenness does not escape his attention for one moment.
May we all awake to the privilege and possibility of conversation with God.
I pray that we will increase our consciousness, so that we might be aware of God’s call to us – “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened…”
*Meninger, “Aspects of Prayer,” in Word and Spirit: A Monastic Review (Still River, Mass.: St. Bede’s Publications, 1982), pp.147-149.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1
As we prepare for a year of devoted living, it might help to recall how Jesus devoted himself to talking with God. He prayed often and sometimes long. He thanked God for stuff. Sometimes he confessed things. He expressed his love for God and the kingdom of God. He didn’t hesitate to ask God questions or make requests either. Jesus modeled all these dimensions of healthy, intimate conversation when he taught his disciples how to pray using what we commonly refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer.”
But any married couple knows (if they’ve been married longer than one week) that the best conversations are exchanges not monologues – and so it is with prayer. Peter received a divine vision (Acts 10:9-10), Paul was told where to travel (Acts 16:9) and John got a revelation (Rev. 1:9-10).
Isaiah reminds us to wait on the Lord when he says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). The word “hope” actually could be translated – “tarrying,” “waiting for,” “to expect,” or to “look patiently.”
It seems that God has basic principles about how he relates to us that are consistent and unchanging. Take grace, for instance. God has always been the first to initiate loving relationship with his children. In the area of grace and mercy, God always goes first.
This same principle is true with prayer. Prayer is initiated by God. William Meninger says, “Prayer begins with God, not with us….The invitation has to come from god – what comes from us is the response. When we ‘begin to pray’ or think we are beginning to pray, we should be explicitly aware that, whether we are emotionally aware of it or not, God has initiated this prayer. The invitation has already come from Him, the prayer has already begun, the grace is present and all we have to do is respond!”*
On those days when we are moved to prayer, may we remember that God moved us. I love it when my husband gives me his full, undivided attention. How much more amazing to think about how awesome it is to know that holy God also attends to us. Our brokenness does not escape his attention for one moment.
May we all awake to the privilege and possibility of conversation with God.
I pray that we will increase our consciousness, so that we might be aware of God’s call to us – “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened…”
*Meninger, “Aspects of Prayer,” in Word and Spirit: A Monastic Review (Still River, Mass.: St. Bede’s Publications, 1982), pp.147-149.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 7
Scripture focus: "Do what I tell you, all my decrees and laws; live by them so that the land where I'm bringing you won't vomit you out. You simply must not live like the nations I'm driving out before you. They did all these things and I hated every minute of it. "I've told you, remember, that you will possess their land that I'm giving to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am GOD, your God, who has distinguished you from the nations. So live like it: Distinguish between ritually clean and unclean animals and birds. Don't pollute yourselves with any animal or bird or crawling thing which I have marked out as unclean for you. Live holy lives before me because I, GOD, am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own. Leviticus 20:22-26, The Message
Prayer is a direct way to ask God what he expects of us. I find this essential when reading through the book of Leviticus. God tells his people to live by all the decrees and laws set before them. He reminds the Hebrew people that they are chosen and set apart for holy living. He challenges them to take a different path than those who have behaved in ways he hates. In the New Testament, the various writers describe prayer using various Greek words that indicate that prayer was by its very nature much like the way we talk to one another.
My husband and I have a lot of conversations, most of them mundane. I asked him this morning if he would please take out the trash because I could smell it all the way upstairs – and he did. He asked me if I had called about getting our treadmill moved to another room – and I responded that no, I had not. I offered to pick up dinner on my way home from a meeting. He asked if it would suit me for him to go workout right after work. These conversations are not sexy, but they are part of the framework of building a life together.
Last night I came home late from church because I sat and listened to a woman tell me about how she and her husband go for weeks without speaking to each other. Oh, how she longs for the mundane. She doesn’t want wine and roses, big rings and romantic trips to exotic locations – she desires a husband who is willing to be fully present in the mundane. I find it absolutely astounding that God meets me in the mundane. I can imagine that when I pray, God doesn’t just mute ESPN news and read the ticker tape at the bottom of the screen while I chatter away. He turns off the television.
Prayer is our chance to ask God things like, “What exactly do you mean when you tell me to live a holy life AND remind me that ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord’ ”? Prayer is our opportunity to tell God how ashamed we feel when we promise to bring home dinner but arrive so late that our husbands accidently ate dog food thinking it was leftover stuffing from the Christmas turkey. Prayer is the privilege of talking to God without having to go through security or sneak into a party without an invitation. Prayer is a privilege.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: "Do what I tell you, all my decrees and laws; live by them so that the land where I'm bringing you won't vomit you out. You simply must not live like the nations I'm driving out before you. They did all these things and I hated every minute of it. "I've told you, remember, that you will possess their land that I'm giving to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am GOD, your God, who has distinguished you from the nations. So live like it: Distinguish between ritually clean and unclean animals and birds. Don't pollute yourselves with any animal or bird or crawling thing which I have marked out as unclean for you. Live holy lives before me because I, GOD, am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own. Leviticus 20:22-26, The Message
Prayer is a direct way to ask God what he expects of us. I find this essential when reading through the book of Leviticus. God tells his people to live by all the decrees and laws set before them. He reminds the Hebrew people that they are chosen and set apart for holy living. He challenges them to take a different path than those who have behaved in ways he hates. In the New Testament, the various writers describe prayer using various Greek words that indicate that prayer was by its very nature much like the way we talk to one another.
My husband and I have a lot of conversations, most of them mundane. I asked him this morning if he would please take out the trash because I could smell it all the way upstairs – and he did. He asked me if I had called about getting our treadmill moved to another room – and I responded that no, I had not. I offered to pick up dinner on my way home from a meeting. He asked if it would suit me for him to go workout right after work. These conversations are not sexy, but they are part of the framework of building a life together.
Last night I came home late from church because I sat and listened to a woman tell me about how she and her husband go for weeks without speaking to each other. Oh, how she longs for the mundane. She doesn’t want wine and roses, big rings and romantic trips to exotic locations – she desires a husband who is willing to be fully present in the mundane. I find it absolutely astounding that God meets me in the mundane. I can imagine that when I pray, God doesn’t just mute ESPN news and read the ticker tape at the bottom of the screen while I chatter away. He turns off the television.
Prayer is our chance to ask God things like, “What exactly do you mean when you tell me to live a holy life AND remind me that ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord’ ”? Prayer is our opportunity to tell God how ashamed we feel when we promise to bring home dinner but arrive so late that our husbands accidently ate dog food thinking it was leftover stuffing from the Christmas turkey. Prayer is the privilege of talking to God without having to go through security or sneak into a party without an invitation. Prayer is a privilege.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 6
Scripture focus: The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word." We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding — all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. John 1:14-18, The Message
After Jesus moved into the neighborhood, he joined the community. He prayed for himself and others. He interceded for the church and his followers. He prayed for his enemies.
Jesus moved into the neighborhood and revealed God to us in flesh and bone. He demonstrated loving care, concern, and a personal interest in all of creation.
It reminds us that we must measure ourselves as human parents against the revealed nature of God.
We would not be true to our own community’s identity if we failed to point out that sometimes believing that God is who he says he is a tough sell, especially if our own earthly fathers (parents) have been absent or abusive.
Perhaps we can make it a communal matter of prayer to acknowledge that just because Jesus moved into the neighborhood doesn’t mean we found our way to his house with a plate of cookies and a willingness to let him join our community association.
It’s my prayer that each of us place before the Father all the experiences of cruelty, abandonment, and abuse that cause us to doubt God. Just lay them at his feet. It’s okay to say that prayer is hard to do unless we find ourselves in a foxhole.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish. John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word." We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, this endless knowing and understanding — all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. John 1:14-18, The Message
After Jesus moved into the neighborhood, he joined the community. He prayed for himself and others. He interceded for the church and his followers. He prayed for his enemies.
Jesus moved into the neighborhood and revealed God to us in flesh and bone. He demonstrated loving care, concern, and a personal interest in all of creation.
It reminds us that we must measure ourselves as human parents against the revealed nature of God.
We would not be true to our own community’s identity if we failed to point out that sometimes believing that God is who he says he is a tough sell, especially if our own earthly fathers (parents) have been absent or abusive.
Perhaps we can make it a communal matter of prayer to acknowledge that just because Jesus moved into the neighborhood doesn’t mean we found our way to his house with a plate of cookies and a willingness to let him join our community association.
It’s my prayer that each of us place before the Father all the experiences of cruelty, abandonment, and abuse that cause us to doubt God. Just lay them at his feet. It’s okay to say that prayer is hard to do unless we find ourselves in a foxhole.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 5
Scripture focus: But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:22-26, The Message
I rarely know the outcome of my prayers. I guess part of praying requires trusting. It also involves believing that if one lives in community, part of the responsibility to love others might best be delivered on bent knee.
When Jesus prayed, sometimes God said “No!” (Remember when Jesus petitioned his father in the garden of Gethsemane?)
Unlike the Hebrews in the Old Testament, Jesus consistently expressed confidence in his father/son bond. He claimed that he had been sent by God. He believed so deeply in his calling that he was able to bend his will in obedience, even as he cried out to his father for a change of plan.
Jesus prayed on the cross.
Jesus saw prayer as a weapon of war against Satan.
Jesus prayed that the kingdom of God would come, and that the glory of God would be revealed.
In total God-confidence and with complete commitment to living out his own grand epic adventure within the confines of the prevailing purposes of God, Jesus prayed.
Since every detail of our lives is in need of working out – let us pray. Let’s pray whether we know how it works or not. Let’s pray whether we see the results or not. Let’s pray whether we are in the mood or not. Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence whether we feel confident or not.
Just do it.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified. Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Galatians 5:22-26, The Message
I rarely know the outcome of my prayers. I guess part of praying requires trusting. It also involves believing that if one lives in community, part of the responsibility to love others might best be delivered on bent knee.
When Jesus prayed, sometimes God said “No!” (Remember when Jesus petitioned his father in the garden of Gethsemane?)
Unlike the Hebrews in the Old Testament, Jesus consistently expressed confidence in his father/son bond. He claimed that he had been sent by God. He believed so deeply in his calling that he was able to bend his will in obedience, even as he cried out to his father for a change of plan.
Jesus prayed on the cross.
Jesus saw prayer as a weapon of war against Satan.
Jesus prayed that the kingdom of God would come, and that the glory of God would be revealed.
In total God-confidence and with complete commitment to living out his own grand epic adventure within the confines of the prevailing purposes of God, Jesus prayed.
Since every detail of our lives is in need of working out – let us pray. Let’s pray whether we know how it works or not. Let’s pray whether we see the results or not. Let’s pray whether we are in the mood or not. Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence whether we feel confident or not.
Just do it.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 4
Scripture focus: It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. Galatians 5:13-21, The Message
In the Old Testament, the Hebrews believed several distinctive things about prayer.
(1). There is one God, Yahweh – pray to him.
(2). The Hebrews knew they could approach God in prayer because he was their God – they were part of God’s community. As the history of their relationship was passed down through the generations, one important truth was evident: when it comes to commitment, faithfulness, and connection – God goes first. They didn’t live in a community with an impersonal God - they were his chosen people. The Hebrew people had a great awareness of the communal aspect of prayer and petition, God and his people, living and loving in a covenantal relationship.
(3). The Old Testament consistently reminded the Hebrews that history revealed God’s faithfulness, and he could be trusted both the present and the future.
These three firmly held beliefs didn’t mean that the Jewish people never wrestled with what it means to pray. They believed that a prayer heard by God was answered, but sometimes they wondered – did God hear?
Sometimes I wonder what happens to my prayers. I have a big fat prayer notebook, filled with the names of people I live with in community. Each morning I take time to work down the names, lifting up a few names at a time, until I run out of time or inclination, mark my place and move on to another spiritual discipline. I pray for things like freedom, protection, healing and an awareness of sin. I pray for restoration and rejuvenation. I pray for financial provision and changes of heart. I pray for grace and mercy. I pray for blessing. I pray for fixed cars and food for the table. I pray for joy. I pray for justice – and beg that it be delivered as gently as possible. I pray that our babies are born with sturdy arms and legs, ten fingers, ten toes and wonderful parents.
Like the Hebrew community of old, I believe that prayer encompasses all areas of life. I figure it’s hard to come to know God on an empty belly or if an earthly parent regularly beats the crud out of you. And although God works in mysterious ways, and sometimes heartbreak and “defects” are woven into the tapestry of our God stories, I will continue to pray for good news.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2009 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows. For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That's an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn't the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God's kingdom. Galatians 5:13-21, The Message
In the Old Testament, the Hebrews believed several distinctive things about prayer.
(1). There is one God, Yahweh – pray to him.
(2). The Hebrews knew they could approach God in prayer because he was their God – they were part of God’s community. As the history of their relationship was passed down through the generations, one important truth was evident: when it comes to commitment, faithfulness, and connection – God goes first. They didn’t live in a community with an impersonal God - they were his chosen people. The Hebrew people had a great awareness of the communal aspect of prayer and petition, God and his people, living and loving in a covenantal relationship.
(3). The Old Testament consistently reminded the Hebrews that history revealed God’s faithfulness, and he could be trusted both the present and the future.
These three firmly held beliefs didn’t mean that the Jewish people never wrestled with what it means to pray. They believed that a prayer heard by God was answered, but sometimes they wondered – did God hear?
Sometimes I wonder what happens to my prayers. I have a big fat prayer notebook, filled with the names of people I live with in community. Each morning I take time to work down the names, lifting up a few names at a time, until I run out of time or inclination, mark my place and move on to another spiritual discipline. I pray for things like freedom, protection, healing and an awareness of sin. I pray for restoration and rejuvenation. I pray for financial provision and changes of heart. I pray for grace and mercy. I pray for blessing. I pray for fixed cars and food for the table. I pray for joy. I pray for justice – and beg that it be delivered as gently as possible. I pray that our babies are born with sturdy arms and legs, ten fingers, ten toes and wonderful parents.
Like the Hebrew community of old, I believe that prayer encompasses all areas of life. I figure it’s hard to come to know God on an empty belly or if an earthly parent regularly beats the crud out of you. And although God works in mysterious ways, and sometimes heartbreak and “defects” are woven into the tapestry of our God stories, I will continue to pray for good news.
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2009 NorthStar Community
January 3
Scripture focus: Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1
I am no stranger to bargaining with God in prayer. When I learned that I was pregnant and on medication that might cause my child to be born without arms, I begged and bartered with God for months. My boy has two perfectly proportioned arms, for which I am grateful. This was a foxhole kind of prayer. It doesn’t withstand the scrutiny of my own understanding of who God is and how prayer works. (I don’t know how prayer works.) My understanding of God is limited, but I am pretty sure I didn’t have enough baubles and beads to offer up to the maker of all creation to entice him to provide my boy with two good arms. But I still bargained with all my might.
If I had been born during the Hellenistic period, I might have gone to Seneca the philosopher and asked him how to pray for my child. He would have told me that prayers of a personal nature are foolishness, and I’d be far better off praying to God for the sake of improving my inner self. Seneca and other philosophers of that time believed that there was one god, but he was not interested in personal petitions and was certainly too busy to bother listening to individual prayers and petitions.
I know that Seneca was a really smart man in his day. But it makes no sense to me that our Father God would not have time to listen to his children. As a mother, there is no voice sweeter to my ear than the voice of my children. If my children call, I answer.
I am also not picky about how my children address me. When they were babies they cried, and I picked them up. As toddlers they told me, “No!” and stamped their feet for emphasis. I listened. I didn’t always give them what they wanted, but I did my best to provide what they needed. I didn’t hold their “nos” against them nor did I allow them to call all the shots. I didn’t rebuke them for being kids who were acting in a developmentally appropriate manner. Once they hit those late elementary school years, suddenly they knew everything. Putting up with the ignorance of others proved taxing to them. This perfectly normal developmental stage was not enough to keep me from being completely delighted with them, although reminding them of the need for respecting others (even if we are ignorant) was a regular and oft repeated conversation during those years.
If I, a mere mortal mother, respond to my children in this manner – how do we think God responds to our prayers?
I have foxhole prayers in my future – whether or not they are theologically sound. I desire to become a better informed, more practiced prayer because maintaining conscious contact with God makes good sense to me. But my prayers, no matter how ill-informed and desperately delivered reach the ears of a God who is delighted with his children. I think Seneca got this one wrong.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1
I am no stranger to bargaining with God in prayer. When I learned that I was pregnant and on medication that might cause my child to be born without arms, I begged and bartered with God for months. My boy has two perfectly proportioned arms, for which I am grateful. This was a foxhole kind of prayer. It doesn’t withstand the scrutiny of my own understanding of who God is and how prayer works. (I don’t know how prayer works.) My understanding of God is limited, but I am pretty sure I didn’t have enough baubles and beads to offer up to the maker of all creation to entice him to provide my boy with two good arms. But I still bargained with all my might.
If I had been born during the Hellenistic period, I might have gone to Seneca the philosopher and asked him how to pray for my child. He would have told me that prayers of a personal nature are foolishness, and I’d be far better off praying to God for the sake of improving my inner self. Seneca and other philosophers of that time believed that there was one god, but he was not interested in personal petitions and was certainly too busy to bother listening to individual prayers and petitions.
I know that Seneca was a really smart man in his day. But it makes no sense to me that our Father God would not have time to listen to his children. As a mother, there is no voice sweeter to my ear than the voice of my children. If my children call, I answer.
I am also not picky about how my children address me. When they were babies they cried, and I picked them up. As toddlers they told me, “No!” and stamped their feet for emphasis. I listened. I didn’t always give them what they wanted, but I did my best to provide what they needed. I didn’t hold their “nos” against them nor did I allow them to call all the shots. I didn’t rebuke them for being kids who were acting in a developmentally appropriate manner. Once they hit those late elementary school years, suddenly they knew everything. Putting up with the ignorance of others proved taxing to them. This perfectly normal developmental stage was not enough to keep me from being completely delighted with them, although reminding them of the need for respecting others (even if we are ignorant) was a regular and oft repeated conversation during those years.
If I, a mere mortal mother, respond to my children in this manner – how do we think God responds to our prayers?
I have foxhole prayers in my future – whether or not they are theologically sound. I desire to become a better informed, more practiced prayer because maintaining conscious contact with God makes good sense to me. But my prayers, no matter how ill-informed and desperately delivered reach the ears of a God who is delighted with his children. I think Seneca got this one wrong.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 2
Scripture focus: Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. Galatians 5:1-6, The Message
They say that there are no atheists in foxholes. Presumably, everybody instinctively prays when faced with dire circumstances and conditions beyond our control. People actually write books on the subject.* If people in foxholes are compelled to pray, it occurs to me that perhaps those of us who often find ourselves acting like muddy pigs and dogs who return to their vomit would benefit from learning how to pray. I’m not talking about the kind of prayer that one utters from a foxhole – I’m talking about learning what it means to maintain conscious contact with God.
In ancient Greece, prayer involved making requests to various “gods” with the understanding that these requests – and the response of the “gods” - would determine destiny. These folks believed that their very existence was dependent on the divine disposition of the gods.
While these dependent men and women prayed to the gods of their understanding, it is helpful to know what they believed about their gods. They understood that gods were neither moral nor beneficent, so they bribed them with offerings and sacrifices, vows and various forms of wooing.
What they prayed for was also interesting – they asked their gods for things. These things were concrete and physical; they related to goals and personal achievement. They did not seek peace for the soul or the courage to live in accordance with their convictions. They did not bother themselves with issues related to integrity, character and service to others.
How do you pray? And what do your prayers say about what you believe about God, yourself, and your place in his story?
*See Albert Belden, The Practice of Prayer (New York: Harper & Brothers, n.d.), pp. 7-8; also, Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer (New York: Association Press, 1915), pp. 9-18.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. I am emphatic about this. The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. I repeat my warning: The person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law. I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. Galatians 5:1-6, The Message
They say that there are no atheists in foxholes. Presumably, everybody instinctively prays when faced with dire circumstances and conditions beyond our control. People actually write books on the subject.* If people in foxholes are compelled to pray, it occurs to me that perhaps those of us who often find ourselves acting like muddy pigs and dogs who return to their vomit would benefit from learning how to pray. I’m not talking about the kind of prayer that one utters from a foxhole – I’m talking about learning what it means to maintain conscious contact with God.
In ancient Greece, prayer involved making requests to various “gods” with the understanding that these requests – and the response of the “gods” - would determine destiny. These folks believed that their very existence was dependent on the divine disposition of the gods.
While these dependent men and women prayed to the gods of their understanding, it is helpful to know what they believed about their gods. They understood that gods were neither moral nor beneficent, so they bribed them with offerings and sacrifices, vows and various forms of wooing.
What they prayed for was also interesting – they asked their gods for things. These things were concrete and physical; they related to goals and personal achievement. They did not seek peace for the soul or the courage to live in accordance with their convictions. They did not bother themselves with issues related to integrity, character and service to others.
How do you pray? And what do your prayers say about what you believe about God, yourself, and your place in his story?
*See Albert Belden, The Practice of Prayer (New York: Harper & Brothers, n.d.), pp. 7-8; also, Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer (New York: Association Press, 1915), pp. 9-18.
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© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
January 1
Scripture focus: But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything,that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it. They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. God didn't let the rebel angels off the hook, but jailed them in hell till Judgment Day. Neither did he let the ancient ungodly world off. He wiped it out with a flood, rescuing only eight people—Noah, the sole voice of righteousness, was one of them. God decreed destruction for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. A mound of ashes was all that was left—grim warning to anyone bent on an ungodly life. But that good man Lot, driven nearly out of his mind by the sexual filth and perversity, was rescued. Surrounded by moral rot day after day after day, that righteous man was in constant torment. So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day. God is especially incensed against these "teachers" who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. They despise interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil against the most splendid of creatures. Even angels, their superiors in every way, wouldn't think of throwing their weight around like that, trying to slander others before God. These people are nothing but brute beasts, born in the wild, predators on the prowl. In the very act of bringing down others with their ignorant blasphemies, they themselves will be brought down, losers in the end. Their evil will boomerang on them. They're so despicable and addicted to pleasure that they indulge in wild parties, carousing in broad daylight. They're obsessed with adultery, compulsive in sin, seducing every vulnerable soul they come upon. Their specialty is greed, and they're experts at it. Dead souls! They've left the main road and are directionless, having taken the way of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophet who turned profiteer, a connoisseur of evil. But Balaam was stopped in his wayward tracks: A dumb animal spoke in a human voice and prevented the prophet's craziness. There's nothing to these people—they're dried-up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they're dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption—and they are—they're enslaved. If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit" and "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud." 2 Peter 2, The Message
Wow. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed before he put pen to papyrus and wrote about the state of mankind! “ – they’re dried up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they’re dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they are addicted to corruption – and they are – they’re enslaved.” Yikes! I must confess – I can relate. I am aware that there are days when I, having started out on the straight road to God, turn back. Obviously, I am unconscious of this decision to flee from God as I run back to my old, independent ways. In fact, I generally am completely unaware that I have other options. I miss the significance and implications of my choices. I fail to connect with the truth that my isolating ways, my obsessions and compulsions are examples of how I am “repudiating the experience and the holy command.” Maybe it’s best to say it this way – I usually think I’m right, and if confronted with a different perspective, I find a way to dismiss the feedback.
As we begin a new year and a fresh start, I deeply desire to become more aware of my perilous ways. I don’t want to be a scrubbed-up pig who heads for the mud.
I invite you to join me on a 365 day journey. I don’t know where it’ll take us. I have no expectations as we begin. I am, however, eagerly expecting God to show up as we travel.
As we begin this grand epic adventure, I ask you to join with me in this simple prayer – “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
Scripture focus: But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything,that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it. They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on. God didn't let the rebel angels off the hook, but jailed them in hell till Judgment Day. Neither did he let the ancient ungodly world off. He wiped it out with a flood, rescuing only eight people—Noah, the sole voice of righteousness, was one of them. God decreed destruction for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. A mound of ashes was all that was left—grim warning to anyone bent on an ungodly life. But that good man Lot, driven nearly out of his mind by the sexual filth and perversity, was rescued. Surrounded by moral rot day after day after day, that righteous man was in constant torment. So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day. God is especially incensed against these "teachers" who live by lust, addicted to a filthy existence. They despise interference from true authority, preferring to indulge in self-rule. Insolent egotists, they don't hesitate to speak evil against the most splendid of creatures. Even angels, their superiors in every way, wouldn't think of throwing their weight around like that, trying to slander others before God. These people are nothing but brute beasts, born in the wild, predators on the prowl. In the very act of bringing down others with their ignorant blasphemies, they themselves will be brought down, losers in the end. Their evil will boomerang on them. They're so despicable and addicted to pleasure that they indulge in wild parties, carousing in broad daylight. They're obsessed with adultery, compulsive in sin, seducing every vulnerable soul they come upon. Their specialty is greed, and they're experts at it. Dead souls! They've left the main road and are directionless, having taken the way of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophet who turned profiteer, a connoisseur of evil. But Balaam was stopped in his wayward tracks: A dumb animal spoke in a human voice and prevented the prophet's craziness. There's nothing to these people—they're dried-up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they're dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they're addicted to corruption—and they are—they're enslaved. If they've escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they're worse than if they had never left. Better not to have started out on the straight road to God than to start out and then turn back, repudiating the experience and the holy command. They prove the point of the proverbs, "A dog goes back to its own vomit" and "A scrubbed-up pig heads for the mud." 2 Peter 2, The Message
Wow. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed before he put pen to papyrus and wrote about the state of mankind! “ – they’re dried up fountains, storm-scattered clouds, headed for a black hole in hell. They are loudmouths, full of hot air, but still they’re dangerous. Men and women who have recently escaped from a deviant life are most susceptible to their brand of seduction. They promise these newcomers freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for if they are addicted to corruption – and they are – they’re enslaved.” Yikes! I must confess – I can relate. I am aware that there are days when I, having started out on the straight road to God, turn back. Obviously, I am unconscious of this decision to flee from God as I run back to my old, independent ways. In fact, I generally am completely unaware that I have other options. I miss the significance and implications of my choices. I fail to connect with the truth that my isolating ways, my obsessions and compulsions are examples of how I am “repudiating the experience and the holy command.” Maybe it’s best to say it this way – I usually think I’m right, and if confronted with a different perspective, I find a way to dismiss the feedback.
As we begin a new year and a fresh start, I deeply desire to become more aware of my perilous ways. I don’t want to be a scrubbed-up pig who heads for the mud.
I invite you to join me on a 365 day journey. I don’t know where it’ll take us. I have no expectations as we begin. I am, however, eagerly expecting God to show up as we travel.
As we begin this grand epic adventure, I ask you to join with me in this simple prayer – “Lord, teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1)
Click on the word comments below and join our conversation!
© Copyright 2010 NorthStar Community
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