Matthew 22:36-40

36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38This is the first and greatest commandment.39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

4Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Luke 10:25-27

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Today I was reading the Matthew passage about loving God and loving others.  Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 6 in the Matthew passage, but he uses mind instead of strength.  I wonder why that is?  Maybe because at the time he was talking with the religious leaders and scholars.  With these guys they probably work with their mind and not much with their body.  Yet, in the Luke passage it adds strength.  However, the point is Jesus wants us to love him with our whole being.  In my prayer journal I was writing this morning I laid out briefly what all this means. 

Love the Lord with all your…

Heart:  This is your emotions or how we feel.  This is the trickiest thing because our emotions are not steady.  One minute we are happy and the next minute we could be sad or mad about something.  It all has to do with what is happening around us and how that affects us.  Our mind can say ‘do not let that bother you’, but our heart does not listen.  We must give our emotions to God, and He will help us keep them in check.

Soul:  This is who you are.  This is your whole make up from your experiences, your talents, your likes and dislikes.  It is what makes you, you.  For instance, I have an identical twin sister.  We do not look exactly alike now as much as we did as kids.  As kids we had the same friends and did the same things.  We were very much alike.  Yet we were two different people.  We did not have all the same experiences.  I was molested as a child and she was not.  She fell off a cliff into a river and nearly drowned.  She is still married, and I am divorced.  Her life experiences are different than mine.  We are two different people.  So, what makes you, you?

Mind:  Your thoughts are what Jesus is talking about here.  Where are your thoughts?  What do you have entering your mind and what do you dwell on?  Where are you focusing throughout the day?  God knows we must focus on our work when we are working, but He wants us to know He is there helping us through each day.  Often when I am writing I often feel God helping say the right words. 

There are other things God wants you to love Him with such as your body (this is the strength part) and how you take care of it.  Your money, that is a hard one, but when you think about it, your money really belongs to Him anyways.  Your career and your time.  God wants to be a part of every part of you so you can thank Him and love Him the way He wants to be loved.

Neighbor: That is everyone else.  It is the people in your family.  Your church family, coworkers and friends.  It is even your neighbors, yes, even the ones who really bug you!  I have one neighbor who lives upstairs in my building who is the most annoying person on the planet.  I am trying to love him!  It is the people in your town, state, and country.  It is even the people all around the globe.  This is a hard one too but that is what God wants!  If you read further in the Luke 10 passage Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate who your neighbor is, it is anyone we need to show compassion on.

In the ten commandments the first part is about loving God and the second part is about loving others.  No one loves everyone.  But God showed us how to love by sending His son, Jesus.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  God knew we were not perfect in following the ten commandments so He sent His Son into the world to die (take our place) for us so that we might be saved.  In turn we can love Him with all our being and love other too!

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I Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people”.

For several years, I have been using a prayer journal to write out my prayers for everyone.  Today was no exception, I prayed for you.  This is my ministry to pray for all people.  However, sometimes my prayer journal is full of complaints and distracted thoughts.  I forget to be thankful above all.  I also need to focus more on worship in my prayer time.  Both should help me become less distracted.  I should also keep a spot for my to do list as sometimes when I am praying for someone it reminds me, I need to do a certain thing.  I often stop writing in my prayer journal and pick up my phone to do that certain thing and next thing I know a half an hour has gone by and I need to get ready for work.  God must feel insulted every time I do that. 

Yet, prayer does not have to be formal like a prayer journal or a prayer group at church.  Those things are helpful, but you can stop what you are doing and say a quick prayer in your head when a need arises.  My customers and coworkers would be surprised how often I pray for them.  But this is a reminder I need to pray for the ones I do not like as well as my favorites.  Sometimes, God will give me a customer who is going through a hard time.  I will often ask their first name and ask if I could pray for them.  Almost everyone I ask is grateful I asked.  I usually do not have time to write anything down, but I do have time to say a quick prayer for them in my head.  It is rare I find out how the situation turned out, but I know I have placed the person in God’s hands and can let Him handle it.

I guess when God kept denying me jobs in counseling, He knew I needed to be working at Walmart where I could be there at the right time to be a help to someone who was hurting.  It helps being able to feel God’s leading me to talk to someone.   There is a verse which says, “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).  I do not believe God wants us to constantly be praying but to have open heart to His leading.   I am not perfect, but I try to sense God’s leading me to pray for someone just like He often leads me to write on a certain topic.  Reading the Bible every day helps keep me in tune to His leading.  It is wonderful sometimes how it works out.  One morning I will read something in the Bible and later I need it in a conversation or situation.  God knows what I need.  In this new year I pray I will always be open to pray!

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Isiah 9: 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

Isiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The Gift of God was foretold back in Isiah chapter nine.  It was a dark time for Israel just like it seems like a dark time for many today.  But, throughout Israel’s history they looked forward to the Messiah being born.  Luke chapter two makes that hope a reality.  A Savior is born.  He is the gift given.   He is the Christ, or the Messiah, and He will save His people!  At the time of Christ’s birth, the Jews were ruled by the Romans.  Many were hoping the Christ would free them of Roman rule but that is not what God intended.  See God looked at their hearts and saw they had turned their backs on Him.  Yes, they still performed all the necessary religious rituals, but their heart was not in them.  Just like today many will flock to church during the Christmas seasons in hopes it will save them.  And many will give to charities in hopes to gain points with God.  Few will really understand the true meaning of why a Savior had to be born.

Matthew 1:20 tells us what the reason of God’s intended Gift “… an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Sin?  Yes, sin because we have all sinned.  No one can say they are perfect.  It was God’s plan since Adam and Eve ate the fruit. 

The name Jesus literally means Savior.  Little did everyone know Jesus would have to die in order to be the Savior.  That is what Good Friday and Easter is all about.  In Hebrews we read about how the Jewish priest, the high priest, would sacrifice a lamb once a year for the sins of the people.  Jesus became that sacrifice once and for all by dying on the cross.  However, on the third day Jesus rose from the dead.  He is both God and man at the same time.  He was our sacrifice for our sin.  If we believe and commit to follow Him, we will have eternal life with God.  My Pastor said it best yesterday at church when he talked about God’s Gift-Jesus.  In John 3:16-17 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

So, will you accept God’s Gift?    It’s Free!  If you have any questions feel free to ask me or go to a local church. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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“The Whole Earth is Full of His Glory” Isiah 6:3

As I read that sentence this morning it struck me funny.  How could the whole earth be filled with His Glory?  Then it hit me!  The Glory of the Lord is in the beautiful things in this world.  It’s in nature.  It’s in the seasons.  It’s in the tiny baby cradled in their mother’s arms.  Today it snowed again.  The roads were terrible for those who ventured out.  I stayed home.  I will see all the beautiful snow tomorrow.  Up here in the Northwoods we have four seasons.  However, winter is our longest and can start in November and end in April.  Fall is my favorite because of the color but spring and summer are nice too. 

Winter here can be brutal and right now the temperature is right around six degrees above zero. 

I was thinking of my trip to Arizona in June of 2018.  Why June? Well flights are cheap and there is air conditioning everywhere.   My twin and I went out to Arizona together.  Since my older sister lives in Phoenix we stayed with her and she served as the tour guide.  We made a day trip to see some of the beautiful land formations.   As the cold continues and the snow keeps coming down, I thought it would be nice to look at beautiful picture of warmth and color.

The first part of the trip we saw a lot of desert.

We headed up Interstate 17 and we made a stop at Sunset Point rest area. It’s elevation is 3400 feet. Below is the a picture from Sunset Point rest area looking down at the valley.

Our next stop was Montezuma Castle. It was built by a tribe called Southern Sinagua. This tribe live in Verde Valley between 700 and 1400 A.D. before moving to the north. They left behind homes and some artifacts. It is located near a stream so there is lots of trees in the area.

From there we headed up Highway 179 towards Sedona. As we approach this area we got our first glimps of the red rocks. When I first saw them I wanted to bow down and worship God’s Glory in these rock formations. I could not because I was strapped in to the front seat of my sister’s car going 70 miles per hour. Instead, I raised my arms in praised!

We went through a few small towns until we got to Uptown Sedona. There we went to a little villiage called Tiaquepaque, which is a historic shopping center of sorts. I had asked my sister to take us to a restaurant that represents the local culture.

God formed these beautiful rock formations long before man came to this part of the world. His Glory shows through this area. I will always be amazed at these beautiful rocks sticking up out of the land. The Grand Canyon is northwest of this area. Someday I hope to go back, with a really good camera (cheap cell phone does not do justice) and visit this area again.

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Sometimes I feel like Gideon or Moses when I am thinking about something I should do.  Sometimes I feel God prompting me to say something or do something and I freeze!  I can’t do or say that!  Who am I to do or say something?  Both Gideon and Moses asked the same thing.  We all have our weaknesses.  Moses was afraid to talk to Pharaoh even though he was raised as an Egyptian prince.  Gideon felt insignificant and did not think he could lead the army into battle.  They both said I can’t do that to God.

“What is your greatest desire” was the topic of a recent devotional I read.  My desire is not at Walmart but to write.  Yet, when I read other blog posts, I think my writing is not so good!  I can’t write that good!  Then somebody comes along and says they love my writing.  Am I telling God I can’t when He clearly wants me writing for Him?  Does God want me to quit my job and write full time?  Am I ready to trust Him for my needs?

Yesterday, the Sunday morning Life Group at my church, talked about Joshua and Caleb.  They went with ten others to scout out the land God had promised them.  The twelve men found the land had great soil with plenty of water.  However, the people were very tall and well built and their cities were walled.  The ten told the rest of the people “We can’t go in and take the land, we will all die”!  However, Joshua and Caleb said, “the Lord had promised the land and He will give it to us”.  Sometimes, I feel like I can tackle anything like Joshua and Caleb and other times I am like the other ten who said we can’t do that! 

Unlike Moses and Gideon, Joshua and Caleb had faith God would help them overcome their obstacles.  Joshua and Caleb were the only ones of the twelve to enter the promised land forty years later.  I want faith like Joshua and Caleb.  However, God still used Moses and Gideon in great ways, but they did not have faith like Joshua and Caleb.  I look at the stack of bills on my desk and say to God I can’t write for a living how will I pay my bills?  God says, “Trust me!”

What is your biggest challenge?  What are you afraid of doing you think God wants you to do?

Read these stories in Exodus 4, Numbers 13 and 14, and Judges 6 and 7 of the Bible.

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