I Got It, I Got It... Gen. 16 & 17 & Matt. 5:27-48

I got it, I got it.....I don't got it.

That phrase is often said by church-league outfielders who overestimate their athletic ability. Unfortunately, that phrase has been uttered all-too-often in my life as well.

I am somewhat of a control freak and beyond that I am much more confident than I should be. Kind of like Tim "the toolman" Taylor on Home Improvement. But fairly often God sends a little (or big) reminder to help me recall that I am in charge of nothing.

The story of Abram and Sarai is a similar situation. God promises that they will have offspring more numerous than the stars of the sky, but nothing happens for ten years. (I'm sure Sarai thought this was just another attempt of Abram to get frisky) So after ten years, Abram and Sarai decide to "help God out." HAHAHA Why do we ever think we need to help God's plan along?! So Sarai gives Abram her servant Hagar and she conceives a child for him.

Obviously this was not God's plan, and many years later (about 13) God reveals to Abraham that now (twenty three years after the original promise) it's time to do things His way.

As we continue this new year, may we be patient on God. May we continue faithfully doing what it is He has led us to until He tells us differently.

Lord help us to trust You and wait for Your timing.

The Heart - Gen. 13-15 & Matt. 5:1-26

It's so easy to wear a mask isn't it?

What would our world be like if we didn't have that filter in our brains? Like on the Jim Carrey movie Liar, Liar. He cannot tell a lie and so he goes around fearing who he'll run into because he might insult them. My guess is that our world would be even crazier and more rude than it already is (which is a scary thought). But the reality is that that scary picture IS our world!

That was Jesus' point in Matthew 5 when he talks about the law and the fact that the people needed to be even more righteous than the Pharisees. The Pharisees were people who took the letter of the law very seriously. So much so that they added to it, making it even more strict, so they looked perfect. But that is exactly what Jesus had a problem with. Jesus knew their hearts and He told them (later) that they needed to stop simply cleaning the outside of the cup (that is, their appearance to others) and worry moreso about the inside (that is, their motives).

And while the law seems so hard to us, think about your motives for a minute. To my youth, or my church family, or my personal family and friends I imagine that I look pretty "clean" on the outside. But I know that God looks at my heart....and that makes me want to shrivel up and hide.

Which is why it's so beautiful to see as far back as Gen. 15:6 that God credits us with righteousness when we have faith in Him. God promised an old man that he would have offspring as numerous as the stars in sky and that old man believed! And God considered him righteous because of His faith.

Thank you Lord for your grace. Continue to change my heart, that I may be clean on the inside.

Picking Teams - Gen. 10-12 & Matt. 4

Remember the days of recess when you dashed out of class excited for today's game of kickball? Depending on your athletic ability and popularity you have different memories of those moments. This is because as soon as you reached the playground, it was time to pick teams. For some people that time was no big deal, and if anything kind of fun (because you knew you'd be chosen first). For others it was one of the worst times of your day (and life on a daily basis) because it would always come down to you and just a few others.

Today's Scripture passages in both the Old and New testaments remind me of this and make me smile. Did you ever see one of the best playground athletes who was choosing teams pick some of the non-athletic kids? Typically this happened because the good athlete kid choosing teams knew that he/she was so good it didn't really matter who was on their team.

That's kind of what we see in today's readings. In Genesis 12 we see God choose Abraham, a 75-year old man to make a covenant with and from whom God would bring about the nations of Israel and eventually Jesus! In Matthew 4 we see Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee and choosing Peter and Andrew, James and John, random, normal fisherman who couldn't cut it in school to be His disciples. I LOVE IT!

I love it because I can't cut it. I'm not good enough, smart enough, dedicated enough - I am weak, but God has still chosen to use me. AND HE'S CHOSEN TO USE YOU TOO!!! The only catch is that we have to be willing to follow. Abraham, Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn't always have it easy, but they experienced God in a way that no other humans ever have because they were willing to follow the Lord.

Think about it...if you went back to those days of recess and the "athletic guy/girl" chose you - would you say no? Of course not! Why would you?! It's a no-brainer.

Pretty much the same way with Jesus' invitation. As we begin this new year, know that you have been chosen by Jesus, but it's up to you whether or not you'll take the journey with Him.

I hope you will.

Rocky, Rocky, Rocky! Gen. 7,8,9 & Matt. 3

Duh-da-daaa, duh-da-daaa,
Duh-da-daaa, duh-da-daaa,
Duh-da-da-da-da-da,
Duh-da-da-da-da-da-dah,
Duhnt-daaaa!

That's the Rocky theme song in case you didn't realize...

That's what the baptism scene of Jesus reminds me of. When Jesus comes up out of the water, I just imagine a look of determination and knowledge of future victory in His eyes and maybe a very slight, but stoic, smile....as He thinks, "It's on!"

The baptism of Jesus and God's approving announcement that this was indeed His son in whom He was well pleased was the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Jesus had lived a fairly normal life we assume up 'til the age of thirty (which is how old I'll be this year! ---watch out!) and then it is time for Him to being what He came for. Right after this we see Him go into the wilderness to battle Satan for 40 days and as He comes out unscathed we wait in anticipation to see what's in store. And wow, how He delivered!!!

I can't wait to continue the story....consider joining me!

Walking on Marbles - Gen. 4,5,&6 and Matt. 2

Have you ever seen those cartoons where someone walks onto a bunch of marbles? Their legs and arms are flailing, desperately trying to regain composure but failing to do so.

That's kind of what Genesis 4,5,&6 remind me of. One false move and suddenly humanity is sent into a tailspin. Eve takes a bite of the forbidden fruit, then Adam, then Cain kills Abel, then Lamech kills and before we know it "everything people thought or imagined was totally evil" (6:5).

That's how sin works isn't it? We tell one little "innocent" lie and in no time we are swamped with problems. That's why I love the verse in 4:7 that says, "Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

Just like the serpent talking to Eve, Satan is still sooo smooth and deceptive. We really have to be in touch with God to be aware of how Satan is trying to trip us up. I hope I can become more and more like Enoch - who walked in close fellowship with God and one day disappeared because God took him!!! Or like Noah who was a righteous man and walked in close fellowship with God.

May we all strive for that this year.

Genesis 1,2,3 & Matthew 1

Well, I made it. Day one of the new year and I already nearly messed up on my New Year's resolutions...haha. I want to read through the Bible again this year and I just did my daily reading for today and it's 9:00 p.m. ! Better late than never I guess.

As I mentioned back in November when I set this account up, my intention is to write a little something daily based on my readings in hopes that others will interact with me and possibly join in by reading through the Bible also.

But before I get into the Bible stuff I want to tell you about my weekend. Yesterday I preached at the church I grew up in (University Baptist Church in Middletown, OH). I preached for both morning services and the evening service. It was so great to be back. There are just so many great people there and I really feel "at home" there. It was a stressful day Sunday, but at the same time I really enjoyed it - kind of a neat way to end the year.

I look forward to seeing what God has in store for us this year. A new baby in June!!! And I hope to learn His word a lot more this year, but I'm eager to see what else is in store...anyhoo...

Tonight I read the first three chapters in Genesis and the first chapter of Matthew....good stuff!!! Thinking about how God created the world and humans and our quick nosedive into sin. It's just so interesting. God giving dirt CPR and creating man. God performing the first surgery and creating Eve from Adam's rib. A talking snake/lizard. The first excuses for doing something wrong. The first marriage. God just speaking stuff into existence. Wow...I could go on but my eyelids are getting heavy.

Matthew 1 is cool too - especially since we just saw "The Nativity" movie. It's cool that Matthew is so into proving that Jesus truly was the Messiah that was prophesied about by including the lineage with Abraham and King David. And it's also cool that some messed up people are mentioned in that lineage....cool b/c God can and does use messed up people to bring about awesome things. (If you don't know what I'm talking about pay attention to the women mentioned in the genealogical list)

Well, I should go on, but I'm tired and I'm not sure anyone will be reading so....goodnight.

May we follow Christ more closely this year and fall more in love with Him in the process.