Who is your neighbor

 

       Drawing - Grand Goave Haiti Nov. 2017

^{Who is your neighbor?  I asked myself this question as I read the below scripture.  Often we think of our neighbors as those that live on our street, cul-de-sac, or just next door.  It is easy to discount those that we do not have regular contact with.  The truth is that God puts "neighbors" in front of each of us every day.  We have the choice to ignore, tear down, or build up each person we come in contact with.  This could be at work, in the park, on the phone, in traffic, at the grocery store, in the airport, at a sporting event, walking down the street, etc....  My prayer today is that I would take the below words to heart and practice kindness, treating others as God has treated me.  I pray that God will continue to expand my neighborhood.}

 <sup>Ephesians 4:25-32

25</sup> Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Pressing In

I painted this a few weeks ago and have been struck by the words "Pressing In".  This led me to Philippians 3.  Paul talks about pressing in, looking forward toward the promise of Christ.  I find myself often looking back, wishing for the chance for a do-over.  Today I am reminded that we get one chance for everything we do.  Each minute is new, and we have the opportunity to press in with each step we take.  My prayer today is that I would accept the challenge to press in and live each moment for the unique opportunity that it is.  I pray that I would move ahead, and press in with the strength that only Christ can provide.

Philippians 3:7-14

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Balance

I often struggle with balance.  I tend to throw myself 110% in whatever I am doing, and often find myself over-extended, exhausted, and ever watching my to do list grow.  In reflection I am typically missing a key starter question.  What direction is God pointing me in?  I am so busy getting things done and fitting stuff in, that I have not stopped to take a few minutes to pray about the direction my Father would have me go.  Ironically injuries have been the one thing to slow me down.  Today I am nursing an injured shoulder, the product of a 5AM mt bike rides before work.   This pause has caused me to reflect on the balance in my life.  I pray that I will rejoice and accept the peace that God has promised.  I pray that my heart would be steered in the direction that God is moving.  I pray that God would allow me to find balance in Him.

Philippians 4:4-7
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Death could not hold Him

 <sup>Death could not hold him.  Jesus took upon himself the weight of all our sin.  He became that which he despised the most,  but because he was without sin death could not hold him.  I am so very thankful for the gift that Jesus has given me.  He has risen, He has risen indeed.


 Acts 2:24

24</sup> But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Lead by Example

I really enjoy the playfulness of shadows.  I captured this image with my iPhone the other day when my boys and I were riding bikes along the river trail in Bend Or.  We have a tandem bike with a tag-along bike attached.  My 8 year old rides on the tandem with me and my 5 year old rides the tag-along.  It is quite the train, but it is comforting to know that my boys are right behind me as we ride through traffic.  Looking at this image made me consider the responsibility of leading and guiding my two boys in their faith.  While we are on the bike they have to trust me 100%.  If I make a wrong move we all go down.  My prayer today is that God would use me to lead my boys and that their hearts would be open to the love He has for them.

Hebrews 13:7-9
Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.

Word in the wilderness

Today after a meeting in Lake Placid NY I happened upon a very nice hiking trail a few miles outside of town. I had been sitting in a conference room all day so I thought it would be nice to stretch my legs and breath in some fresh mountain air. I stepped onto the trail and right away started to see God in my surroundings. The trail ran for two miles and passed three lakes. It was a very peaceful hike and I felt myself wishing I had my bible so that I could spend a little quiet time by the lake. I had not brought it along so I settled for the peace of a quiet hike. At the end of the trail next to a beautiful lake was a small three walled structure designed to give hikers a dry place to sleep. Inside were a few hiking sticks and a king James Bible. I sat down on the log floor and opened the bible to Psalms and read Psalms 34. This was a real blessing and I am thankful for the hiker that left the bible behind. The Psalm spoke to my heart and lifted my spirits.  I love that God planted the idea in a hiker to leave the bible so that I could find it at a time I truly needed some encouragement. 


Psalm 34 (King James Version)

1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.