Something to think about...

Sometimes things just hit you quite directly. I was meeting with a friend the other day and we were reading in Luke. We were practicing his English conversation. As we were talking about some of the simple points that Luke is making in his short letter, it struck me. I was taken aback a bit. I realized just how much that I accept about what the Bible says, just because I have had the opportunity to read, learn, study, be challenged by it and to grow because of making a choice to believe and follow the teachings of the Bible. Now, I am not selling short AT ALL the power of God and the work of His Holy Spirit in my and your lives. I am just saying that for over thirty something years I have been being influenced by the teachings in the Bible. My friend, very close to my age, has not. What I noticed as we talked was how our basic beliefs in life: how we treat others, how we look at others, how we react to others... is so different. I began to think about the golden rule, Matt 7:12. Jesus tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Many in the world will treat those people that are nice to them in a nice way. Some people in the world treat others in a way so that only they themselves will get ahead "in the game". Christians try to live by treating others good, because that is how we want others to treat us. It is also because we are called to be more than just average, more than just good enough, we are challenged to be a light for our Father and our brother Jesus Christ. Okay, this is nothing new, this is just looking at what we know and how we know the world is. But what struck me was how incredible it is to be a child of God. To be molded and made to be the way that God wants us to be, not how the world wants us to be. This is a BIG thing. Okay, perhaps you know me personally and you know that I do NOT always act like God would have me to act. I do not deny it. What I do is rejoice in the fact that even though I do not always act the way God wants or even the way I know I should be acting, I have forgiveness because of Jesus Christ. That makes me want to allow the Spirit to have a greater hold on my life and my actions and thoughts. But it also reminds me of how far He has brought me. I am trying to be a better person. I am trying to be different in a world full of meanness and hatefulness. I am, through God's Grace, a better example of Jesus to this world than I was 20 years ago. I am counting on, that if I live that long, in another 20 years I will be even a better light to this dark world than I am today. That comes because of the Spirit and because of me spending time in prayer and in study of the Bible. It has made an incredible difference in my life, my attitudes and my actions in my daily life. It has CHANGED me for the better. What a blessing it has been to have God's word, God's Spirit and God's love in my life. This might seem like I am rambling to you... but I challenge you to think over these thoughts. Remember the ways that God has worked in your life to make you not only a better person, but a very different one than you were a few years ago. Stop and think about not only the decisions you make everyday but also the actions that are played out in your life each day, because you follow The Master, Jesus Christ. My friend is reading with me in Luke, he has the opportunity to hear how I view the world and its people. He gets to hear how God has changed me as I have walked with Him. He gets to hear about the different way Jesus treated people. He gets to hear the Good News of forgiveness of sins through Christ. And I get to also be reminded of how blessed I am to have, for so many years, the opportunity to spend time in God's word and in His presence on a daily basis. I get the privilege to worship with people who are also striving to be more like Jesus. We are family. I am thankful for these reminders of how incredible it is to be a child of God! May you see this day how our Father is blessing you and using you as a blessing to this world. Mark

What are you looking at?

Was reading in Hebrews today. Man, is there a lot there or what? As I was reading through the 11 chapter, I ran into this verse: Heb 11:27 It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt. He was not afraid of the king. Moses kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. What struck me so profoundly was the last part, "...he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible." Let that soak in a minute. I had to. When I think about looking at something, I am so thankful for sight. I can see the beautiful nature God has made, I can see the many people that are walking in the city that I live in and I can see my wonderful wife sitting next to me at the breakfast table who has been my helper and encourager for over 30 years now... When I think of invisible, I think of Harry Potter's famous cape... I think of not seeing something. So how do the two come together, seeing and not seeing? The writer of the Hebrews letter tells us that Moses kept his eyes on God. He listened to God's direction, even when it did not make since to those other people in his world at the time. How blessed we are to have the scripture! We get to see the before, during and after picture of God's plan for planet earth and its people. How cool is that? Before you decide I have totally lost it today, let me make a suggestion. Think over your life. I bet where you are right now you would have never seen yourself there 10 years earlier, am I right? It is true for me. Now, as you think about that, think deeper, think about how God has directly lead you into specific directions that have lead you to this point in our life. Yea, you know they are there. They are sometimes hard to explain, because we don't often get a burning bush in the wilderness talking to us like happened to Moses. But, you know them, you remember them and you are thankful that you can see God working in and through your life. That is us keeping our eyes on the one who is invisible. He is visible in our lives, but mainly through how He chooses to work through us in His world. For me it is knowing, for example, that the people that God puts in my path in my daily life, are not there by accident, they are there so that our paths will cross and I have the opportunity to get to know them, influence them or be influenced by them. Seeing the invisible can sometimes be tricky. Ha, there is one of those statements that is small but says a lot! I think the answer also lies in the same verse. The author tells us that Moses, "kept his eyes on" Him. He was LOOKING FOR HIM. This is a lifestyle, this is a walk this is a way of life, everyday. Moses did not know what his future held, but he did know who did hold it, and Moses sought to follow that guiding. A good example for us. Look for the invisible things that God is doing in your life. Expect God to work in your life and then be bold enough and brave enough to follow that direction. You have been doing it, some of us for a very long time, keeping doing it and strive to look more, to see more and to follow more the directions of your maker, redeemer and friend. How blessed we are to have the scriptures. How much more blessed we are to have a Father that loves us, provides for us and waits for us to spend eternity with Him in His presence!! Have a blessed day. Mark