Hmmm... Perfect, Perfected, Perfecting

Matthew 5: 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

The Message of Christ

The message of Christ can be merry or lonely.   During the depth of winter and the shortest days of the year, we offer celebration and tinsel and gift giving. The world groans for rescue from loneliness.  People duck behind computer screens in bedrooms and living rooms.  Time is consumed with fish and farm that will never be smelled, touched, or bite back.  Churches are full of services meant for the indoctrinated while extending meaningless invitations to the leprous.  When the invited come, few really connect, we are too busy with each other and our secret handshakes and vocabulary.   Sterile relationships can never share a cold or a Christ.  

Our world is full of shallow and painful relationships.  Jesus offers friendship that can be felt.  The message of Christ offers acceptance and friendship that is fellowship to all of us.  Jesus stepped out from the great beyond of the untouchable and brought God face to face and hand to hand to us. 

Catching Christ

 

Christ can be caught.  While Christ is a title indicating the anointed, the messiah, the savior, there is a man/God behind the tile.  Jesus is contagious.  His attitude is contagious.  His thoughts are contagious.  His approach to living is contagious.  God reached to us to touch us and infect us.  He makes us perfect.  He makes us like Him.

 

Perfected

Being perfect is less about being perfect than it is about being God-like and infected and perfected.  Love the unlovely and the lovely.  Greet with honest appreciation and thanksgiving, each.  Each person is placed as a gift of God to us.  Receive the gift offered.  Make a place.  Don’t get hung up so much on “your thang” than you leave out the person sitting next to you.  Quit breeding loneliness in others by focusing so much on “your thang”.  That is perfection.

 

Perfecting

Be a perfecting person that changes the world in which you live.  Who do you need to touch?  Who could use a face to face visit?  Who could use a hug outside the foyer of the church building?  Who needs a smile that locks and looks eye to eye longer than an uncomfortable quickie at the checkout counter?  Who could use a word of encouragement that is thought through and covered with prayer?

Repentance = Mind Change

Okay, I am feeling convicted at this moment.  Every time the word’s of God and the example of Christ touch me, I get a little uncomfortable.  That is purposeful on His part.  He is contagious.  To repent means to change your mind.  That might be a good vocabulary change for the Christ folk.  Who in the heck understands that religious idea of repentance?  Most of us struggle to accept a new thought.  Most of us struggle to give up an old thought.  There, try that one.

Right now, I am thinking of some not so close relationships that should be closer.  Over time, I have let them become distant.  They are unlovely.  They are painful to the touch.

 

Let’s Pray

Father, how do I get beyond my own resistance to change?  Touch me.  I am unlovely in so many ways.  Maybe, I think I am super lovely.  But, there are ways in which I am really unlovely.  You keep touching me.  You keep coming to me.  You never let up.  Teach me to do the same with those around me that seem unlovely.  Really, they are most lovely.  You love them.  You offer them friendship and fellowship.  Jesus sat with the blatant prostitute and the thief and the sloppy drunk.  He even took time for mother-in-laws and government tax agents and politicians and lawyers and whiny busybodies.  He called them friends.  Break me out of my shell to do the same.  That is the real message of Christ.  All are human and fragile and flawed and failed.  All are worth being loved and changed and infected and perfected.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

The Extra Mile

Matthew 5: 39: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40: And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41: And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42: Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

 

Going the extra mile for others is the essence of longsuffering.   Suffering is quiet.  To suffer means to allow.  Longsuffering means to allow for a long time.  Jesus defines it even further.  He looks for opportunity to suffer, to allow others to use Him and His resources.  Jesus is absolutely bent on being used by others.  The quest for Him is not about what others ask of Him, but about how He can offer beyond the asking.

 

Working with a team that was split on commitment was tough.  Each had valid points.  Each was entrenched in opposite directions.  Longsuffering was tested.  The division had been ongoing in the company for six years and then some.  Jack decided to be the walking mat.  Someone had to let others “take advantage” to gain some trust and ground.  It was tough, but over time some of the animosities began to turn into friendships.  He was hopeful to really seem some team progress.  This last meeting had been half the team directing criticisms at his area.  Not much was founded in present reality, but at least they were venting openly instead of behind his back.  There was hope.

 

ACT!  Who is asking for a piece of you or your time?  What can you do that goes beyond the asking?  Do it.

 

PRAY!  Holy, Gracious Father, the light and love of Jesus are beyond me.  When I ask, He does more.  When I impose, He expands the request to more.  It seems I cannot put more demand than He can answer.  Help me to suffer-long with others, Father.  Help me to be like Jesus and go the extra mile with a smile.

  

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Straight

Matthew 5:  33"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

 

In our networking, political worlds, we often find shaded communications the norm.  Jesus is a straight shooter.  His admonition to us is to avoid dependence on excuses and other items like, "I swear by the heavens", over which we have no control.  Simply say yes or no He tells us.  Connecting with Jesus brings connection with a simple, clear answer.    Connecting with Jesus strengthens us to give a simple, clear answer and commitment when other's depend on us.

 

Recent communications between managers were evasive.  The one manager wanted absolutes.  There were no absolutes in giving 100% error free, mind reading service.  There were no absolutes in predicting people’s mistakes and accommodating for them in advance.  Finally, the service manager found a solution.  He could promise a clear and consistent process.  He could not commit to error free people.  He could commit to a measureable system of checks.  The communications clarified. They would never fully satisfy the demanding manager, who wanted 100%, but they would satisfy conscience.

 

ACT! Get straight on a miscommunication.  Think of a commitment you have made that really was neither a yes or no.   Make a decision and connect with the other person.  Tell them yes or no.

 

PRAY!  Father, help me to be like Jesus.  Give me clarity when I call to you.  Build clarity in me when I am called upon by others.  Show me direction.  Give me sound discretion in all decisions that I might be reliable and relied upon.  Bolster my confidence in You and in Your ability to follow through in me.  Let me not speak in shades of gray when people need clear and simple lines.  

 If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer. .  www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Committed

Matthew 5: 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

 

Committed:

On first read, these verses look like they are about marital breakup.  Yes, they are.  And they are about more than that.  They are about commitment.  Connecting with Jesus is about connecting with commitment.  This is the man, who sought out Peter after being horribly betrayed.  This is the God, who found and met with over 500 after going through a beating and violent death.  At the time of the death, less than five stood at the bottom of the cross.  He searched out the others.   This is the friend, who will never leave us or forsake us.

                                                                          

Relationships:

What challenge does that give us in relationships?  Several years ago, a neighbor came to visit. They had moved away from the neighborhood some years before and we had moved also.  The woman explained how the entire family was following Christ, now.  She wanted us to know.  Over the years, our children, my wife, and I had conversations about Christ with different family members.  Ten years had gone by in that neighboring relationship. During some of it, we semi-raised one child before she went to school.  Commitment broke through.

 

Mis-Takes

We surely make mistakes in relationships.  Some don’t repair.  Some don’t work.  Don’t beat yourself over failed relationships.  Build faithfully better into the next one.  If Jesus can handle a direct denial by Peter, a close friend, He can handle our screw ups.  Choose to build God’s way.  Grow in your ability.  Correct where possible.  Repeat continually.

 

ACT!  Take time to invest in a relationship.  Build instead of break.  Boost instead of loose. 

 

PRAY!  Father, my hope is in You.  Always, we are challenged to keep active our relationships.  Teach us to manage the few You give to us.  You manage millions of relationships.  Teach us to stay faithful as You stay faithful.. Thank You for being the One that is faithful even when we are not.  We need that.

 

 If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer. .  www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Reconciler

Matthew 5: 25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny

 

Adversaries

Having adversaries is not fun.  It will happen.  In life, there will be people at times that just don’t want you to succeed.  There are others that just don’t understand your motivation.   They are friends waiting on understanding you.  In the interim, they are antagonists.  Hopefully, you did not create them needlessly.  Our actions and words can stir up people against us.

 

Peacemakers 

When an adversary comes up against us, it is wise and important to settle matters quickly.  Don’t fight for rights.  Go for peacemaking.  Follow the best peacemaker ever, Jesus.  He made peace with God for us.

 

Problematic

The air in the office could be cut with a bowie knife.  The acrid atmosphere was tense and thick.  No one was there but Jim.  His struggle broke across his brow with a furrow so deep his team stayed in the hall.  You could smell the pain.  You could feel the strain.

Jim reached for his bible.  This tome was his guide for hard moments.  They come.  They go.  We have to live through them. A glance in Psalm 37 settled him.  “Stay in the land.”  He made his decision.  These issues needed to be worked through to a settled state.

 

ACT!  Who is an adversary?  Who is fighting against you at home, at work, at school, in the community?  What is the reason?  Can it be settled?  Take action.

 

PRAY!  Father, my heart is to follow you.  Where can I settle one more grief?  Father, is there someone holding against me some item?  Can I do something to help it settle in their heart.  Teach me.  Instruct me in Your ways of peace.  Teach me to avoid the conflict and resolve toward peace whenever it arises.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Conciliation

Matthew 5: 23: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

             

Brothers?

To Jesus the issue of treating our brothers with respect was powerful.  It wasn't just a matter of not killing each other and not calling each other names.  His outlook was one of resolving differences.  Jesus is tough on those issues that divide unnecessarily.  Surely, 99% of what divides us today can be resolved with humility and the right approach.

 

Deal With It. 

In the verses before and behind this the issue is laid out.  Don't attack or be angry with your brother unless it is super serious.  Settle a matter quickly, even if the person has set themselves as an enemy against you.  Deal with it.

 

Whoops!

Now take a really close look at those words.  If your brother has something against you!  Most of the time, it is more comfortable to look for the times I have something against someone else.  What about when someone has something against me?  That is much tougher.  It takes laying down my pride and admitting my guilt.  How many times has someone come to you in a spirit of being wrong and admitted their fault?  Not often, I bet.  How many times have you gone to others and said those hard words, “I was wrong.”

 

 Work Notes:

The conflict at work was intense.  These two just could not get along.  Every meeting was full of asides and stares.  What could break the personality impasse?

 

One of the parties stayed after a meeting.  Their demeanor was serious.  Slowly, they admitted the problem was real and asked a friend how to address it.  Fortunately, they were Christian.  The concept of grace was easily appealed to with them from the friend.  Everything did not get better immediately.  But it sure made the rest of the week more productive.  Maybe the other person would eventually respond to the extension of grace.

 

ACT!  Call someone who is testy with you.  Offer them peace and acceptance.

 

PRAY!  Wow, Father, You are really serious about Your family getting along.  Surely, You created us to live together with peace as much as possible.  Help me today to be a peaceful person and a peacemaker.  Help me to move first toward peace with others.  I love You, Father.  I am glad You are always on my side for me to grow.

 

 If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer. .  www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Faith is a resolute confidence in a forward facing future. Have faith. Trust God. Give thanks.

Legal

Matthew 5: 19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 

So many times we hear of the Jesus of grace and mercy.  Surely, He is that.  He is also just and correct.  He requires us to live up to a higher standard.  That standard is easily achievable in Him, but only in Him.  On our own, we will never make it. 

 

Jesus is legal, correct, right, and focused on helping us move every day closer to the same place as Him.

 

Arguing with the team had become too common for Jack.  Over and over, he had covered key points needed to progress.  Over and over they had resisted and only complied with the smallest amount.  Now it was time to move forward.  Now it was time to break the stalemate.  

 

Jack called the group into his office.  Looking intently at each one, he challenged them to step up to the new procedures.  He declared it a “now” item not a tomorrow item.  It was time to do the work correctly. 

 

ACT!  Are you out of line somewhere with the simple instructions of life?  Ask forgiveness, get a new set of directions, and set out to make it different.

 

PRAY!  Father, I can get so caught up in doing in my way and doing what I think is right.  Help me see Your way.  Surely in Jesus, I can do what You ask me to do.  Don't let me get caught in the legalisms of others, but only follow as You ask me in Jesus.

Committed

Matthew 5:  17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”.

Jesus is committed to the full plan of God.  Part of that plan is the law.  Part of that plan is for the law to show us our inabilities and ways to live a better life.  This law is detailed and damning and defining.  There is no avoiding it.  Even when we have not been taught the law, it will convict us of the need for a better life.

On a plane headed home, the woman next to me convicted me.  The memory scripture on which I was working talked about being wise with those who do not believe.  Here she was, unbelieving.  Here she was, looking for answers.

Really, airplane chatter is tough for me.  The noise and head stuffiness makes it hard to hear.  What if the person is a bad conversationalist?  The flight is 3.5 hours.  Every excuse presented itself.  The voice of the verse taunted my conscience.

The entire flight, we talked.  She asked about picking a good man, who would be a good father for children.  She asked about finding her passion in life and living faithfully to it.  She asked about relationships based on codependency.  She was looking for some counsel.  She was looking for a friend with the gospel.  She was looking with a friend with knowledge of the law that builds a better life.

ACT! Who is it that needs some light of the gospel?  Yes, the law will convict you to find the gospel.  Then it becomes a joy lived by the power of the gospel and the freedom of grace.

PRAY! Father, Your law convicts me of the need for grace.  Every day, I need grace.  Every day, I need mercy.  Any You provide it every day in every way.  Grace to endure.  Grace to rejoice.  Grace to be alive.  All of this is mine in Christ.  Mercy to be free.  Mercy to live with no condemnation.  Mercy to enter Your presence as a child and ask for love and life.  These are all mine in Christ.  Keep me moving forward in understanding and obedience.  Keep me open to live the Gospel so others might see and hear.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

City of God - Light of the World

This short E-votion has been going out since 1997.  Today there are over 1200 worldwide receiving.  I don't add frequently, just at simple junctures where I connect with people.  It all started when serving as a church administrative pastor.  In the rush of ministry, the staff were not receiving any.  So I started a little word of encouragment once a week via email as a lifter.  Most people did not have email back then, but our staff did.  Then a missionary visiting would see one printed out and ask to be added, and oh well, the list got longer.   Missionaries in the field receive.  Pastors, bishops, and educators receive.  Men and women in business and community and at home receive.  Lots of men and men who are dads receive.  Baptist, Presbyterian, Assembly, Pentecostal, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Faith, independent, interdenominational, Islam, Jew, and no declared faith receive.  Trust me, everyone doesn't agree on every one of these.  Most tell me that every once in a while a simple truth hits home and encourages.  For that one that touches every once in a while, I send them out. 

If memory serves me, I believe there are at least 500 more in this series on Matthew's gospel.  At my present rate, it will be about five years before we complete this gospel a snippet of thought at a time.  There are other full books on subjects regarding Prayer in Times of Trouble, Approaching God in Prayer, Praying For Other Christians, Winning Attitudes in the Workplace, Psalm 84 - A Heart for People, Unity Among Christians, Patching the Breach - Avoiding and Curing the Plague of Gossip, The Tower of Spiritual Fathering... all of these have been tested across Christian faiths and world cultures. 

Be Blessed a little.  Don't worry if you only read one a year or a month or a week.  I won't.  Don't be afraid to pass on to a friend in need of a lift. Just be straightforward about it.  Every once in a while I get an opt out from some one who is not in.  They don't realize from whom they are getting them.

Yes, there is a real person behind PrayerMetro.  I just updated the website with a few of our recent connections.  Maybe I'll get some time to post the Father/Daughter Summit pics.  It was such a blessing.

Most of all, I love to pray for you.  Every morning I take my morning coffee in prayer.  It has been my ritual for over a decade.  In the evening, I take a few more minutes of prayer and writing.  During the day, I try to not leave the attitude of prayer.  Sometimes, my wife will throw me out of bed because I am praying out loud in my sleep.  Don't be hesitant to let me know how to pray with knowledge for you and your family and business.  There is plenty of room in my schedule to get it done.

Many of these E-votions are archived from prior years at Psalms.ws, a website of a friend.  Recently, I've tried to keep prayermetrodevotions.blogspot.com updated as an archive, also.

Enough rambling.  Be blessed.  Be full of hope.  Be happy.  God is in control.  God is always awake.  God is always on your side

Matthew 5: 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

City of God

What does it mean to be the light of the world?  Connection to Jesus means we become the light of the world.  Connection to Jesus means we are a part of a city on a hill that cannot be hid.  It is not us individually to whom He speaks.  It is us, the City of God, the people of God, to whom He speaks.  Together in Him, we are the light of the world.  

Light For All

Our world is dark.  Our world is pained.  Our world is putrid.  Get it straight.  This world is full of shadows.  It is wrong because it is disconnected from the light.  Jesus came and spoke to the world to change to a different way of thinking.  He spoke for this world to think light not dark.  When we connect with Him we connect with a message of light.  

Connected Light

Together, the body of Christ, is meant to shine a light on problems.  It is meant to shine solutions for our metro.  This city to which we are attached is full of solutions for others to see and grasp and join.

Dad’s Example

When I was a child, we visited restaurants infrequently.  It was a rare treat to eat out.  Every time we ate out, my dad insisted we make the traditional prayer signature to start, bow, and sign out physically.  Everyone could see the sign of the cross.  In many churches the letters IHS (In Hoc Signa) in this sign are inscripted.  In the sign of the cross, we would start and end prayer.  People would get quiet in the room.  It was embarrassing.  It was humiliating.  It was right.

For my children, it is common for me to call on one of them to pray aloud in a restaurant.  It is our tradition.  It is something my dad taught me.  Don’t be ashamed of who you are or who your God is.  When eating out with business acquaintances, it is still my honor to bow and silently pray.  Every once in a while someone will ask me to pray aloud in a restaurant.  It is not right to impose my faith, but it is my honor to acknowledge my Creator.  The doors open when you do.

ACT! Shine a light.  It is so easy to not be like Christ.  It is so easy to skip praying over a meal in public.  It is so easy to just not mention your friends and relationships in Christ.  When conversation at lunch turns to others talking about movies and shows and new homes and kids in school, how do you talk?  Are you free to mention your friends in Christ?  Are you open to talk about a great sermon you heard or a meaningful worship service that stirred your soul?  Are you willing to be seen connected to the city on the hill?

PRAY! Padre Precioso, Precious Father, I am committed to join the city and be known as joined to the city.  It s risky.  It is risky to be known.  Even according to Your word, it can bring persecution.  It can bring misunderstanding.  It can bring dissension.  But, Father, I am committed to be known by Your name.  Let me not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ that calls us to live as light in a dark world.  Let me not be ashamed of the name of Jesus.  Let me not be ashamed.  Let not my enemies of my world, my flesh, and the devil triumph over me.

 

 If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer. .  www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Rewarded

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, … 12: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

Connection With Reward

Connection with Jesus is a connection with reward.  The reward is not free.  It comes with great price in this world and great blessing in the next.  Sometimes we want that formula changed to blessing here and blessing there.  There is a time of blessing in this world.  There is a time of persecution in this world.  Sometimes they are the same item.  When we follow Jesus, we must be willing to embrace both and not be deterred by either.  To address persecution as blessing is an enigma only those that know the honor of being joined with Christ can understand.

 

Ann’s Dilemma

The press against Ann was intense.  She had taken this new position in obedience more than desire.  Over the last few years, she had seen the team go from pitiful performers to top class award winners.  The team performance was receiving notice from across the company.  Ann simply prayed to be faithful and do the right things.  God had answered and given her favor and wisdom.  The results were good for the company many times over.  Now, she had been promoted in place of her director.  The rumors in the workplace were heavy.  People talked.  All she wanted to do was serve faithfully.  This was a blessing.  This was a persecution.

 

ACT!  The fear of persecution has stopped more than one person from stepping into greatness in God.  Is there a fear in you of blessing that leads to success?  Are you afraid of the concurrent potential persecution?   Put down the fear.  Understand that God, Himself is on your side.  He will strengthen you in blessing, though it may take all the strength you have in Him to truly enjoy.

 

PRAY!   Father, deliver me from the fear of greatness.  Deliver me from the evil that would avoid victory because of the attendant persecution.  Break loud in my soul the blessing of Your assignment.  Teach me to fearlessly embrace the victorious living in Christ.  Teach me that persecution is the greatest blessing when it finds me because of faithfulness to Your name and Your assignment for my life.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Adversity is the fertilizer of my future.

Ps 25:17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.
Pr 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
God's development plan includes hard days. Adversity is the fertilizer of my future. Avoiding the issues means never finding the pure silver.

Blessings, Phil

PeaceMaker

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ….. 9: Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

 

Nothing sooths the soul like peace does.  One who makes peace is always welcome.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  He will keep you in perfect peace if you stay your mind on him.  With prayer, you can ensure your heart and mind are guarded by peace.  He is a Shepherd of still waters and quiet resting places.  He is peace.

 

Following Him in the peacemaking business will grant you “child of God” status.  Hmmmm..  Others are impressed, when you lead to peace troubled situations.  Others are impacted when you take a conflict and bring it to resolution.  Peace or conflict affects so many people around you that everyone notices the peacemaker.  They like to be treated with a peacemaking mentality.  People just love it.  They will call you a child of God, they love it so much.

 

A friend walked into a hectic computer facility some years ago.  As he recounts the story, another worker looked straight at him and commented on his peaceful attitude.  He laughed.  He had felt anything but peaceful.  Problems had been growing in number and impact on the company.  The constant push and pull had wearied him.  Yet, the other person saw was peace.  Yes, he had helped many others resolve conflicts.  Yes, he tried to put it all on God instead of carrying it.  It just made him laugh to think that they saw peace and he felt turmoil.  The work of peace in him and on him from the Father amazed him.  It was impacting others and he did not realize that fact.

 

ACT!  Do you make peace with yourself?  Do you make peace with others?  Do you make peace for others?  Think about a situation with strain exists.  Don’t pick a conflict, just a strained issue.  Take time to speak some encouragement and confidence to the other person before conflict develops.

 

PRAY!   Father, my heart wants to live like You.  Being Your child is all I want.  Help me follow the paths of peace to be called a child of God.  Embrace my heart with peace from the Lord of Peace.  Collapse my self-made bubbles and pride with peace in the midst of self-created conflicts.  Show me a strain so I can apply the balm of Gilead in peace and encouragement.  Peacemakers have more fun.  Let me have it.

 

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Inherit the Earth

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ….. 5: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

 

What does it mean to inherit the earth?  The meek get to do it.  We can inherit money.  We can inherit a business.  We can inherit land.  What does it mean to inherit the earth?  Must we wait for someone to die?  What does it mean?

 

Jesus was meek among meek.  Moses was declared the meekest man.  Both of these men were bold beyond measure.  Both were powerful with miracles. Conflict surrounded them.  Both were directive and unashamed of their message.  Is that meek?  Yes.  Both allowed God to be their defender.  Both protected the dignity of the individual.  Both were full of kindness.  Meekness represents confident power self-controlled.  It does not put others down.  It considers the plight of all.  It demands correct response.  Meekness never puts the person above others in order to achieve a goal.  The meek rightly know who they are and act confidently and considerately to achieve Godly goals with compassion.

 

These meek inherit the earth in this life.  There is no need for the death of anyone to inherit this earth.  When we meet Jesus, we receive great authority and power and call to task.  To move in meekness means to proceed to get our assignment done with all resources supplied.   The earth, the world system, submits to the meek.  The earth will comply for the meek.  Others move out of the way for a person of confidence on a mission.  Many will quickly give resources to them to steward, understanding a good return will be had.  They inherit the earth and all it has to give.

 

Blake scratched his head.  For the sixth time this week, someone called and offered him what he needed to arrange his meeting.  First a caterer called and asked if he had any needs.  They had a few dates open in April and would like to give him a discount to try them out.  The first date was the date of his meeting.  Second, he was at lunch and overhead a person waiting to be seated talking about their business of supplying meeting rooms.  He arranged with them for the date for half of his budget.  Then his sales assistant informed him she was starting a part-time personal printing service from home.  She agreed to help him design all the invitations and handouts in exchange for using the business name as a reference.  This was too easy.  He was confident from day one this was the right thing to do, but it seemed everyone was cheerfully willing to embrace the idea with him and help.

 

ACT!  Meek?  Do you know your own strength?  Do you know the strength of God that is with you? Are you submissively confident so that others can see?  The next time you approach someone about a decision you want them to make, believe in yourself and God’s ability to bring it to pass.  Then talk to them.  See what happens.

 

PRAY!   Father, teach me the truth that it is not by my power or my might, but by Your Spirit that the task is accomplished.  Teach me that You own and the fruitfulness of the earth.  Teach me that You have equipped and accepted me to do what is ahead of me in the day.  Teach me that I don’t have to put myself forward, put others down, or force anything to happen.  Instill in me confident power exhibited with meekness.  Let me see this earth submit to Your will even as the angels in heaven respond to Your commands.  Thank You for being You.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Watching the fountains at the Bellagio.. Where is Danny Ocean?

A friend reminded me of a quote in this little essay.  "Accepting reality while pressing for change is the task of a real believer."  It makes sense.  Tonight, I am in Vegas speaking at a conference for an international equipment dealer.  Really I am here for many reasons.  Learning.  Giving back to others.  Looking for a God appointment of a new client.  Listening to others who struggle with similar issues.  Maybe I'm just here to enjoy the fountains.  Set against the Eifel tower replica at the Paris, they are phenomenal.  It is relaxing to sit above all the noise and chaos and just enjoy the pleasantness in the evening.  So here is a thought from some day earlier this year.

By the way, don't forget the Father/Daughter Summit.  Time to register and bless your daughter, Dad.  Time to register and bless your dad, Daughter.  http://www.fathers.com/summit  

 

Ecclesiastes 11:3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

The rain falls where the rain falls.  Be blessed.

While I write this, a pleasant and cool rain is blessing the cooked earth.  It has been a normal and hot summer.  Today, the rain blesses.  Other days, the rain has caused pain with lightening and power outages.  Enjoy the rain.  There is a pleasant detoxification in watching the rain with a cup of coffee early in the morning.

Over the last few weeks it has been a source of comic relief to think on the amount of control we would like to have over the world.  Interacting with many ministries and business and community entities a fluid thought comes up quite frequently.  How do we make this world conform to our view and expectation?  Why does the world just do what it does and not meet our definition?  How long will it take to gain the understanding needed to make today’s decisions?  What is left that we don’t know?  Why do some fail and some succeed?  Can’t I just shout at the mountain and it will disappear?

Really, these questions and the underlying quest for conforming others to our definitions can lead us to frustration.  The premise that the world should conform to our view is hilariously warped.  Sure, we are here to carve a notch in our sphere of influence and bring more of the kingdom of God into reality in our neighborhood, our metro.  Sure, we should leave the world a better place than what we found it.  But there is a reality at work that this world will groan in birth pains until the day of Jesus’ appearing.  Every worshipper of the Creator God looks for this.  The Jew looks.  The Christian looks.  The Muslim looks.  They all look for the Messiah to come and stop the madness.

Accepting reality while pressing for change is the task of a real believer.  Getting mad that it doesn’t work as fast as we would like is the mark of immaturity.  Staying unsettled and unsatisfied so that we keep working on it is an indicator of a healthy world-changer.  Just make sure you laugh at yourself often.  Just make sure you have fun in the mirror while comparing the enormity of the task with your personal inadequacy.  Just be ready to find out that some doctrine you have made into a sacred cow may have to fall dead in the face of reality and lifetime learning.  Just stay open to God peeling away layers that took you years to secure and anchor against His breath of lifelong revelation.

There is blessing to receive in every day.  There is pain to confront every day.  Our choice is one of life or death.  We can speak life.  We can speak death.  We can receive life.  We can receive death.  Both are open opportunities every moment.  Trees are falling where they will fall around us every moment.  There is a dance of avoiding too much pain and accumulating massive blessing that is our lot on earth.  Enjoy the journey.  Don’t get too hung up in making a perfect dance.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the pain of disease, death, abuse, slander, gossip, envy, jealousy, attack, or some other violence or loss.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the reality of conflict, friction, misunderstanding, or some other present reality of relationship.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and bring a bucket of blessing unexpected and welcome.  Don’t get too convinced that you have as much control as you think you have.  Sure, doing the right things bring the right results.  Sure, there are principles that are unfailing.  Just remember there are trees falling, too.  It is one of the principles.

Relax and watch the rain with wonder.  Take a falling tree to lunch and laugh with them.   Call a fallen tree and have a quick chat with an encouraging word.  Listen to a tree split by the electricity from the sky and render more compassion and less judgment.  Enjoy God’s creation that defies our control and conforming desires.  Some days, it is okay to just enjoy the rain.  Be blessed.

Take Action:  Not today.  Just enjoy.

Let’s Pray:  Father of Blessing, help me to dance the dance.  Help me to place my bucket to catch more good rain than bad.  It falls all around me.  You put me here in this forest.  You placed me in this moment.  I accept the charter to live within it and bring it closer to Your will.  It resists.  It fights.  It falls hard and in places where I don’t want it to fall.  Yet, the blessings outnumber the pains.  I choose to take heart, You have overcome the world.  There is trouble, but You have overcome.  There is pain, but You have overcome.  After the heat, comes the refreshing rain.  Give me joy in all moments.  You stay connected with every moment in my life that my joy might be full.  Let Your promises overwhelm my premises.

 

 

Phil Larson, 508 Tumbleweed Dr., Yukon, Oklahoma 73099  405-388-8037

 

Crushed - Healed - Spoken

Jeremiah 8: 21 Since my people are crushed, I am crushed;
       I mourn, and horror grips me.

 22 Is there no balm in Gilead?
       Is there no physician there?
       Why then is there no healing
       for the wound of my people?

Elijah was a Gileadite.  His assignment was healing of the nation.  His assignment was getting the people back in relationship to the Father.  His assignment was getting people back in right relationship in family, child to father and father to child. 

The key to national success is outlined in Deuteronomy in the Shema.  Deuteronomy 6:  4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.  5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Elijah was working to get it back in order. Elijah is still working to get us back in order.  It is first the father and then the mother and fully the extended family and community’s responsibility to give guidance according to the scriptures to our children.  Too often we give this up to the pastors and youth leaders and video lessons from bible teachings.  Dad, it is first your responsibility.  You have been designated as the key influencer of that child entrusted to you.  Mom, you are next in line.  All the rest, you are next.  What are you doing about it?

Action:  Find some time to interact face up with a child this week.  Listen for questions that come up.  Give them a scriptural answer.  Don’t have one?  Get one.

Prayer:  Father, I’m struggling.  All around me are children looking for hope and answers.  Open Your words inside of me.  Bring them to my remembrance to give good and useable answers.  Help me to be clear and direct and comforting.  Help me to speak comfort to Your children.  Though they may be into their adult years, Lord, they still need comfort.  They still need Your words of life and counsel.  Bless.  Use me.  Talk through me.

Father/Daughter Summit October 3^rd Oklahoma City, The Cathedral.  http://www.fathers.com/summit 

 

The Preacher

Matthew 4: 23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

 

Preaching the gospel of the kingdom was a continual activity for Jesus.  Throughout the gospels we meet Jesus, the Preacher.  He preached good news.  He preached with conviction.  When I think of preaching, I think of someone passionate about whom they are, what they say, and their mission and message.  Passionately speaking good news is a great description of Jesus.

 

Preaching is so much fun for me.  Yes, it is pensive.  Yes, it is work and takes great preparation.  Yes, it is sometimes a frustration when the message does not seem to get across.  But, preaching is great fun for me.  It is the fulfillment of call and passion expressed all at once.  Seeing people come alive with the gospel through an illustration or comparison is wonderful fun.

 

We ought to have fun doing what we are made to do..  God made me to be a preacher.  This devotion is a preaching of sorts.  When it hits home with people, I come alive and thank my Father for His faithfulness.  Seeing someone do what they were born to do is so much fun.  Do what you were made to do.

 

ACT!  Think on something about which you have passion and conviction.  Does it make your blood stir up?  Jesus gets stirred up about you being in His family.

 

PRAY!  Father, thanks so much that Jesus gets stirred up about the good news that I can be a member of Your family.  I am so excited about being in the kingdom, in the family of God.  Stir in me that same passion and conviction that others might be able to meet the same Jesus, the Preacher, whom I know.  In me and in Carol, light the fire to fulfill my call.  That for which You have made us make alive in us.  We commit ourselves to it.  We joy ourselves to it.

 

The rain fails

Ecclesiastes 11:3 If clouds are full of water, they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.

The rain falls where the rain falls.  Be blessed.

While I write this, a pleasant and cool rain is blessing the cooked earth.  It has been a normal and hot summer.  Today, the rain blesses.  Other days, the rain has caused pain with lightening and power outages.  Enjoy the rain.  There is a pleasant detoxification in watching the rain with a cup of coffee early in the morning.

Over the last few weeks it has been a source of comic relief to think on the amount of control we would like to have over the world.  Interacting with many ministries and business and community entities a fluid thought comes up quite frequently.  How do we make this world conform to our view and expectation?  Why does the world just do what it does and not meet our definition?  How long will it take to gain the understanding needed to make today’s decisions?  What is left that we don’t know?  Why do some fail and some succeed?  Can’t I just shout at the mountain and it will disappear?

Really, these questions and the underlying quest for conforming others to our definitions can lead us to frustration.  The premise that the world should conform to our view is hilariously warped.  Sure, we are here to carve a notch in our sphere of influence and bring more of the kingdom of God into reality in our neighborhood, our metro.  Sure, we should leave the world a better place than what we found it.  But there is a reality at work that this world will groan in birth pains until the day of Jesus’ appearing.   Every worshipper of the Creator God looks for this.  The Jew looks.  The Christian looks.  The Muslim looks.  They all look for the Messiah to come and stop the madness.

Accepting reality while pressing for change is the task of a real believer.  Getting mad that it doesn’t work as fast as we would like is the mark of immaturity.  Staying unsettled and unsatisfied so that we keep working on it is an indicator of a healthy world-changer.  Just make sure you laugh at yourself often.  Just make sure you have fun in the mirror while comparing the enormity of the task with your personal inadequacy.  Just be ready to find out that some doctrine you have made into a sacred cow may have to fall dead in the face of reality and lifetime learning.  Just stay open to God peeling away layers that took you years to secure and anchor against His breath of lifelong revelation.

There is blessing to receive in every day.  There is pain to confront every day.  Our choice is one of life or death.  We can speak life.  We can speak death.  We can receive life.  We can receive death.  Both are open opportunities every moment.  Trees are falling where they will fall around us every moment.  There is a dance of avoiding too much pain and accumulating massive blessing that is our lot on earth.  Enjoy the journey.  Don’t get too hung up in making a perfect dance.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the pain of disease, death, abuse, slander, gossip, envy, jealousy, attack, or some other violence or loss.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and cause the reality of conflict, friction, misunderstanding, or some other present reality of relationship.  Every once in a while one of those trees will fall close and bring a bucket of blessing unexpected and welcome.  Don’t get too convinced that you have as much control as you think you have.  Sure, doing the right things bring the right results.  Sure, there are principles that are unfailing.  Just remember there are trees falling, too.  It is one of the principles.

Relax and watch the rain with wonder.  Take a falling tree to lunch and laugh with them.   Call a fallen tree and have a quick chat with an encouraging word.  Listen to a tree split by the electricity from the sky and render more compassion and less judgment.  Enjoy God’s creation that defies our control and conforming desires.  Some days, it is okay to just enjoy the rain.  Be blessed.

Take Action:  Not today.  Just enjoy.

Let’s Pray:  Father of Blessing, help me to dance the dance.  Help me to place my bucket to catch more good rain than bad.  It falls all around me.  You put me here in this forest.  You placed me in this moment.  I accept the charter to live within it and bring it closer to Your will.  It resists.  It fights.  It falls hard and in places where I don’t want it to fall.  Yet, the blessings outnumber the pains.  I choose to take heart, You have overcome the world.  There is trouble, but You have overcome.  There is pain, but You have overcome.  After the heat, comes the refreshing rain.  Give me joy in all moments.  You stay connected with every moment in my life that my joy might be full.  Let Your promises overwhelm my premises.

Worth Following

Matthew 4: 21: And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  22: And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

 

The daily drudge can easily cause us to miss opportunity presented.  Jesus is such an opportunity.  It takes guts to break the daily drudge and follow Him.

 

He is worth following.  He is worth more than our business and busyness.  He is worth more than our blood family.  He is worth more than any occupying of our time and life.  Jesus is just worth following.

 

In a business meeting recently, it struck me how many originally did not want to be a part of this team.  They had resisted and fumed and made noise in private and to my face.  We persisted.  In fact, a colleague new to the company persisted.  She continued to present the positive and the pressing needs.  She continued to follow up with them and with me.  What did I want to communicate?  How could she help?  She had been following me.  They followed her following me following the executives following the business needs of our customers.   What could happen if we fell in line following Jesus like that?

 

ACT!  Follow Him today.  Stop the daily drudge for 2 minutes and see if you can hear Him call.

 

PRAY!  Father, I'm listening.  I've put down my daily drudge, and am listening.  Call me.  Call me to follow Jesus.

 

Leaving Home

Matthew 4: 21: And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  22: And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

 

Two Gents

 These two gents are leaving home.  They are taking up their own place in life.  What must Dad be thinking?  What must all of their lifelong friends be thinking?  They left their father.  They left the family business.  They left reputation.  Would you?

 

Apostles are different?

Oh, Phil, this is what an apostle does.  They have a big calling.  No.  No.  No.  We all have a calling that makes us leave home and family and go on to our own faith.  Zebedee had a faith.  James and John had to get their own faith.  They had to take a leap into the world each alone.  Sure, they went together.  But each had to decide. So, we have to decide.  We face moments where we need to break away from all that is beside us and take on a new life and perspective.

 

Unity Calls

Some years ago, while serving as a pastor in a large multi-cultural denomination, such a decision came.  The call meant leaving the ship, the mother church.  The call meant walking out into a new world of relationships and leaving behind many others.  It has been a scary proposition.  Going back to the congregation left behind recently felt like visiting the house I grew up in.  It is familiar and different.  It is not me anymore.  James and John surely faced this as they moved away from home and father and became new men.

 

Going Back

In the last few years a friend had a career shift.  None of the managers around him believed in it.  His own staff was reticent to follow the new direction.  It took boldness.  It was lonely.  Sure a few supported in words and pats on the back.  But when the hard part came, and it always does, he found himself plenty alone.  Alone with his thoughts, over and over he has had to commit again and again to the same decision.  Sharing with him recently made me think of this scripture.  Surely James and John thought about going back many times.  All of us do.

 

Emotions

Just as a man and wife have to leave the families of their birth to form a new one, so there are moments of departure should we take the call of God and obey.  Emotions must separate.  Physical space must separate.  Mind sets must separate.  It is a part of becoming the new creature in Christ from glory to glory.

 

Many Calls

There are many calls in life.  Not all require complete shifts of location and relationships.  All require shifts of thought and commitment.

 

ACT!  Follow Him today.  He is calling.  He is demanding a separation and a new step.

 

PRAY!  Father, this is a little frightening.  What if I fail?  What if I fall?  If I have left the ship and left my father, who will catch me?  You?  Do I trust You?  Really trust You? 

Father, You are able in me.  Christ in me is the hope of glory, of success, of making it in the tough spots.  Build me.  Challenge me.  Don’t let me fail through not giving it my all.  Don’t let me fail by staying behind when You call me to come out.  Let’s move, Father.  Let’s make a big difference in our world. 

 

Rapid Re-Vision

Matthew 4:20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

This man Jesus can make you jump in a moment.  He can make you leave all and follow Him.  He can make you look again at the same opportunity and redo your vision.  The re-vision can cause us to move more quickly.

. 

That has become a foreign idea in the minds of present Christians.  Sacrifice means not watching a movie.  Sacrifice means giving one night a week to choir practice so we can be in front of others.  Sacrifice means reading our bible five minutes a day. 

 

How weak have we become?  Our definition of temptation is a bag of chips sitting on the counter.  Lives have been anesthetized to real challenge and real sacrifice. 

 

A friend constantly was working with prostitutes.  One day he showed me the bullet holes in his car.  A pimp was upset at him for taking a woman off the street so he could talk to her.  It was cutting into profits.  The bullets never exited the inside of the door.  The bullets were never found.  Somewhere between the point blank shot coming at him and the realization that God had protected, I bet he thought about sacrifice.  His life was on the line every evening he went to reach those beaten women.  His time was robbed from family and friend to give to someone who might never listen. 

 

Sitting in a corporate executive office, we talked with a national community leader about the situation with fathering and fatherlessness plaguing our nation.  Somewhere someone mentioned one of the participants’ giving levels to the cause.  It was a large sum for the person.  The company matched the gift.  It was a stretch gift.  It was sacrificial giving.  It was beyond the reach of their income level.  But then Jesus can make you jump to a higher level when He calls.

 

This week, I am meeting with three pastors and a friend for lunch.  We are talking about sending backpacks and school supplies to Matamoros.  Raul and I will travel and deliver.  It is a long drive for just a few days of giving.  It means taking time off work using vacation leave.  Those days are costly.  But the joy of a child to be able to attend school and learn?  How much is that worth?  The pride of a child who has never had a backpack?  How much is that worth?  These children live and die in the dumps.  Maybe a day of dignity is worth the time and costs?

 

You see.  You see.  You see.  Sometimes we need our vision redone.  We see one way today.  Jesus helps redo our vision.  He rapidly can cause us to see what we did not see a moment ago.  When that happens our world of opportunity looks different and needs a more immediate response.

 

ACT!   What really is sacrifice?     How rapid does God want us to respond?  How willing are we to do it?  What is left undone that He has asked you to do?

 

PRAY!  Father, I believe.  Help my unbelief.   There is a part of me that loves big screen television and stereo sound.  There is a part of me that is more desperate for the easy chair and a great video experience that for loving others.  I love my diversions.  Yank me from my diversions.  Jolt me into a place of immediate obedience.  I repent.  Help me to disconnect from diversions to hear Your voice and respond.

 

Fisher of men

Matthew 4: 18: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

 

Peter and Andrew were never the same after meeting Jesus.   His nature as a gatherer of men for His Father's family became their nature.    He took a part of them and changed it to work for the kingdom. They gathered fish.  He needed men gatherers.  Meeting Jesus will change you to gather men and women and children to Him and His Father's family.  No matter what you gather now, He will add gathering men to His family.

 

My son and I were at the quick gas spot one evening.  A furtive man jumped from behind the car.  Assuring us he only wanted to beg some money, he approached.  I signaled to him to stay at a distance.  This was not the time and place. 

 

The next day, a half a block away, we went to lunch with my wife.  The man slipped from behind a car.  I engaged him in conversation as my wife and son went into the restaurant.  On the streets over time, I have talked to many such men.  Some are harmless.  Some are dangerous.  Some are unpredictable.  This one seemed the latter.  He was desperate, either on drugs or suffering from having none, and persistent.  Eye to eye, we talked.  He began to give me a string of problems and diseases.  Mid course, I stopped him and asked him what he was doing with what he was given.  He told me he worked painting and then quit in the last seven days.  He had already spent the money.  It would have been enough for several days in his lifestyle.  

 

He was quick witted.  He was strong.  He was trapped in somebody done me wrong songs.  It would be pitiful to give him a dollar and say the inevitable Jesus loves you stuff.   I gave him a few dollars, and I gave him straight advice.  Sure, Jesus is my motivation.  Do something with what you have.  Take your mind and body and put it to work.  Quit dwelling on the problems and get focused on the solution.  People are helping.  Use their help to get up and out.  Let Jesus pull you from the sea of problems through His fishermen.  Don’t just jump back in the water.

 

All of us get buried in our problems at times.  We like the water.  We like to swim around and feel sorry for ourselves and blame our condition on the waves.  Jesus did not hesitate to tell these two fishermen to get up and do something different.  He asked for immediate change and action.  They responded.  Will you?

 

ACT!  Think of one person around you that needs to be gathered to Jesus' family.  What do you need to do to invite them to be a part?  Think of one plaguing issue in your life.  What do you need to do to start it moving a different direction?

 

PRAY!  Father, help me to be a fisher of men.  Jesus has come to my life.  He's met with me and called me to be a fisherman with Him.  Help me to see those around me that He wants in the family.  Help me to know how to draw them to Him and Your family.

 

Father, give me a life of a productive fisherman.  Teach me to lay aside the excuses and embrace the solutions.  Take me to a place of action and response.  Open the eyes of my understanding to see and respond willingly with action.  Show me ways to fight the waves with action.  Show me ways to believe in Your support to do the impossible.  Then as my life shows promise, others will ask what makes for success and I will have the ready answer.

 

A Ready Blessing

Ps 86:5 the Lord is good and ready to forgive

Talking to a friend today the focus was so much on the law versus the gospel.  Both are needed for salvation.  Salvation is a work of a moment and every moment thereafter.  We need forgiveness and goodness momentarily.  Maybe not this particular one, but the next moment is coming shortly.

What a joy to walk with a God of good and ready forgiveness.

Never assume you are in a position of not needing grace.  A blogger friend pointed to God as the source of all grace.  He is the giver.  She was the dispenser used of His Spirit at the moment I needed grace to fail and still be valued.  Her poetry spoke the word of grace that inspired me at the moment.

What a joy to walk with a God of good and ready forgiveness.

Another friend took me to lunch.  Searching my eyes, he quizzed me on my standing in hope.  Wow, I needed the ready blessing of a faithful friend..

What a joy to walk with a God of good and ready forgiveness.

Then a pastor friend of mine just hung up the phone.  He spoke of a season of allowing God to overflow.  The seasons in the world have been of loss and vaporous prosperity.  Now, this saint declared to us all and my soul a season of God's provision.  Over the hands free phone in my truck I took all I could.  My heart united with his vision in receiving.

What a joy to walk with a God of good and ready forgiveness.

Another friend and I are headed to Mexico with backpacks and school supplies.  Our destination is the dumps.  Thousands live there.  Dr Carrillo and a local congregation choose to go and offer good and ready forgiveness to these loved and precious of God.  They are there all the time, we have the privilege to come and go.

What a joy to walk with a God of good and ready forgiveness.

How does this all add to prayer?

Meeting with a group working on a citywide fathering focus, this scripture came to mind.  Isn't this what we need in broken and struggling relationships?  We need goodness, ready forgiveness, and a spirit of overwhelming loving-kindness.   That is worthy of the focus of your prayer.  In our relationships with others and with God, we need all three directed from and to us.

Let's Pray:

Father, this is a wonderful day.  So many opportunities in front of us come in the form of problems and pains.  Yet, they are people looking for a little goodness.  These situations lead to the grace of forgiveness.  In all a spirit of loving-kindness can turn pains away for the season and restore hope.

Let us be the hands of goodness.  Let us be the hope of a ready forgiveness.  Let us be the dispensers of a spirit of loving-kindness.  

When our world experiences such moments of momentary grace and mercy, it will move closer to Your heart and kingdom principles in action.  Let us take dominion with goodness, forgiveness, and loving-kindness.  Let us be Your dispensers in a struggling world.

Father, enter into my world.  Enter into the spots I have hidden that need Your forgiveness.  Take dominion in the dreams that are slowed for the moment and pour goodness into them for energy.  Allow Your loving-kindness to permeate my thoughts and expectations so hope will always be with me and available for those around me.

Thanks, Father.  Thanks for being the God You always are.  

 

Two Brothers

Matthew 4: 18: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

 

Two brothers.  How often does action come in twos?  These two brothers were of the same thought.  Apparently dad had done a good job raising them to be workers and to be sensitive to God’s direction.  When Jesus called, they responded.  The wisdom writers of the scripture talk about the power of two in warming each other, in helping each other when one falls, and in sharpening each other.  The power of two in faith means if one can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand.  The power of agreement of two with Christ brings heaven results to earth.

 

There is a power in two that Jesus sees and acknowledges.  There is a power in unity and in brethren.  It matters not if you are brother or sister, just brethren.  Over time these two brothers would make a huge difference for us all.

 

Today is an interesting day.  Our teams at work are performing phenomenally. With continual challenges against them, the individual performance of each is overpowering the issues.  With each doing their part the whole is built.  When one is down, another performs.  It is a phenomenon.  The performance in every area is top notch.  There is no way to describe why what we are doing is working.  Everything is stacked against us.  Yet, we are holding and growing.  Sitting in my office, I was moved to tears.  How could I be so blessed to work with such a team of twos?  It isn’t just one, it is many.  It is a different one added to another over and over.  The results of the team are amplified.

 

It is a blessing Jesus saw.  So should we.

 

ACT!  Do you have a two?  Do you have a partner alongside?  How do you see amplified results?

 

PRAY!  Father, there are so many that come alongside us and help us.  Bless them.  Bless our coworkers.  Bless those that are brethren in heart and action in our daily lives.  Cause them to enjoy the blessing of their faithfulness.  Help me to find ways to be one of the ones that helps.  Help me to see opportunity to be “brethren” to another.

 

If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let us know.  Our greatest blessing is to bless others in prayer.    www.prayermetro.com   Phil@prayermetro.com