rooted
Rejuvenate! Renew! Restore! Rooted! are all words for a New Year. I am rooting for the King of the Universe! Rooted in history and a rich culture from generations past for such a time as this! Rooted in faith that God will see me through any circumstance. Rooted in truth by reading the Word of God. Sounds established, right? Rooted.
I can honestly say that I don’t know all that much about plants. I have them in my home and they stay relatively healthy because I water them once a week. I plant seeds in my little garden and pray they take root so I can glean a harvest in the fall. I do know though that none of the green in my garden or house would survive without a root system.
Years ago I was fascinated with a science film I watched about the underground network of communication between plants. They talk to each other with some of the root systems extending for miles. Susan Simard is a Canadian ecologist who shares that "A forest is much more than what you see.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2yBgIAxYs
And so, what intrigues me is the getting grounded and firmly planted, rooted, established in my faith, in the Word of God and in my future. Jesus tells the parable of the seeds from Matthew 13: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” But the disciples did not understand. Then Jesus explained:
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13: 18-23
Let us pray, we are rooted in our faith ready to produce a crop!
yada
Martin Shaw suggests that, It is an enormous seduction on behalf of the West to suggest that jabbing your pen around in the debris of your pain is enough. It’s not. That’s uninitiated behaviour masquerading as wisdom. Lead is not gold, no matter how many times you shake it at the sun.
Regardless of the West or the East, our world sometimes feels like it’s falling apart and fear, temptation, anger, confusion take the forefront of our culture with people choosing to live as victims rather than victorious individuals.
But overcoming those negative behaviors requires wisdom and knowledge. Not the kind that the world has to offer, but rather the Hebrew Yada which means knowledge. This is more than just head knowledge. It includes relationship; a relationship with the living God through his son Jesus Christ who gave us His Holy Spirit so we can live a victorious and abundant life.
Paul tells us in Ephesians that we can overcome the wiles of the enemy, have the peace of God, and live a life in faith by being prepared and proactive. Christ defeated death. We can wear his armour to help us.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6: 10-17
Build your faith, apply God’s wisdom to situations, pray and know that God never wastes pain. He is walking with us in our battles. It’s that relationship with Him that matters. Do you have one with Jesus? That’s Yada.
reverence
When was the last time we stood in awe ~ when the presence of God made us literally forget where we were?
Recently I sat in the theatre with others and was mezmorized by the amazing cinematography of Avatar 2 - Way of the Water. The audience was captivated and there were some amazing images on the big screen. And yet, many treat the presence of God with mundance indifference; more captivated by the artificial. Our reverence for God has been replaced with a yawn of familiarity. His consuming fire has been tamed with the flicker of a burning match. There is no passion, heat, no power, blinding light. Does no one understand the power we invoke when we call on the name of the Lord?
Our churches have become apathetic. We should be shouting from the rooftops about the greatness of God! We should be sharing His love! We should be serving the God of the universe with thundering acts of kindness! Singing praises for all He has done!
Job 26 talks about the power God has over our enemies; that He stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing! He ordains our days and even death and destruction are naked in God’s presence. The foundations of heaven tremble and he stills the storms and tames the monsters. And that’s only a whisper! (Verses 6 - 14)
The realm of the dead is naked before God;
Destruction lies uncovered.
He spreads out the northern skies over empty space;
he suspends the earth over nothing.
He wraps up the waters in his clouds,
yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He covers the face of the full moon,
spreading his clouds over it.
He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters
for a boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of the heavens quake,
aghast at his rebuke.
By his power he churned up the sea;
by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
By his breath the skies became fair;
his hand pierced the gliding serpent.
And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”
So, as we enter this New Year of great possibilities, let us be consumed by God’s holy power to make changes in ourselves and our world. Stand in awe of His presence. That’s a resolution worth pursuing!
shema
I want to perceive the way you perceive.
In 1 Corinthians 2: 10-16, Paul says the thoughts and perceptions of Christ and the Holy Spirit search the deep parts of God and relates it to our spirit. It’s a practice we need to embrace as Christians.
However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
LIstening with intention has become a lost art in our world today. When we become in tuned with God and He dwells within us we receive what God gives us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and have the mind of Christ. When we are making decisions, thinking about certain things and are open to the Holy Spirit talking to us, we think differently. God brings us encounters over and over; but are we noticing? are we listening? are we in tuned with the Spirit?
There are times when I listen to some of the notes on my piano and know that it is in desperate need of a tuning. Some notes are pitched correctly, but others are too flat or sharp and the unpleasant sound reverberates through the strings. When the tuner works on the piano, his job is to make sure that each note’s sound is combined with other keys to create harmony.
I want to know that God is working in my life, each moment, each note, each key to create beautiful music with Him. Can you hear the sound of His voice? Are you in tune with the Holy Spirit? Do you have the mind of Christ? Listen.
365
We all know - or at least most of us do - that there are 365 days in a year. But what I bet many people do not know is that there is a phrase used 365 times in the bible. That phrase talks about not fearing.
Recently I read a story about a criminal who was arrested for a crime he had committed. He stood before the king, ready to receive his punishment. There were two choices: he could be hung by a rope or take what was behind a dark, scary, mysterious and tall iron door. When the king asked him what his choice was, he replied, “the rope.”
As the noose was being slipped around the criminal’s neck, he asked the king, “Please tell me what’s behind the door as I am going to die anyhow.”
The king laughed and replied, “it’s crazy, but I always offer everyone the same choice and almost inevitably, everyone chooses the rope.”
The criminal persisted, “So tell me then, what’s behind the door?”
The king thought for a moment and then answered with a simple word, “Freedom".” He continued, “but most people are afraid of the unknown and what’s beyond so they take the choice of the rope.”
Metaphorically speaking, many people walk in their everyday lives with ropes around their neck; whether it be in pain, a struggle or the unknown of the future. According to Alan Watts, “our lives are one long effort to resist the unknown.”
But we don’t have to be spiritually, creatively or emotionally dead to the world we live in. Each day counts. And thus, the phrase from the bible reminds us, '“Do not be afraid” - 365 times. We need to start living our lives that way as a daily reminder.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
There are countless other verses - here are a few to get you started for the week and the challenge is to find a new one for each day of 2023!
Isaiah 41:10. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. ...
Psalm 23:4
Psalm 46:1-3
Psalm 118:6
John 14:27
Deuteronomy 31:6
Isaiah 41:13
prayer
The darkest day of the year is December 21st - Winter solstice, at least for those of us who live in the northern part of the world. Winter officially begins as the day marks the fewest hours of sunlight. Just think how many dark days we have seen over the course of our lifetimes. And yet, we live with the hope of warmer days, a brighter future and as Christians, the hope of eternity with our Father.
The light that breaks through the darkness is found at Christmas when we celebrate the baby Jesus who came to save us. Isaiah foretold of his coming and the Israelites watched and waited for their Savior. Isaiah 9:1-3
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
Advent is that time of the year when we honor, worship and reflect on who Jesus is: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace. He was born to save us from our sins and the darkness of a mad world and bring light and life to all who will accept Him as Lord of their life. Peace, joy, love and hope can be yours when you do.
“Father, I know that I have broken your laws. My sins and past mistakes have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from that past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning or falling back into my old life again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, seated at the right hand of God, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”