Enough Pt 2 - Devo

   January 31st, 2016

Devotional

“Enough:Wisdom and Finances” - Proverbs 21: 5, 20 

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Where’s Your Treasure” - Matthew 6: 19-21

Pastor Andy Stanley tells the story of Milton Scott in his book Fields of Gold. In all appearances, Mr. Scott was an average man, who died at the age of 106. He worked from the time he was 25 until he was 102 in a textile mill. He lived his entire working life in the same house, driving a simple car. He owned only four suits and four pairs of shoes. By all appearances, Mr. Scott was living a less than middle class ideal life. But what people didn’t know was that he was a fearless giver. As his income grew over the years, he kept his life style the same. Appearances or being noticeable were not among his priorities. Funding the work of ministry was his priority. He helped widows and orphans. He smuggled thousands of Bibles into Russia before the iron curtain fell. He didn’t save money for a rainy day or worry about tomorrow. He didn’t ask the “what if” questions about money we talked about last week. He was simply wrapped up in the joy of giving for the Kingdom of God. By the end of his life it was conservatively estimated that he gave away 70-80 percent of what he earned for the work of God.

Where would you say that Milton Scott’s treasure was? In the gospel of Matthew today Jesus is teaching his followers about money and possessions - asking them where their treasure is stored - on earth or in heaven. Telling them that where their treasure is, that’s where their heart is. 

My guess is that the Milton Scott story made some of us uncomfortable. We cannot even fathom parting with that much money for the work of God. For others of us we simply dismiss the story by citing how this man had more money to give so of course he gave more away. But the story of Milton Scott isn’t about the specific details. Or how much money he made. The story of Milton Scott challenges us past where we may be comfortable with questions like: how much am I willing to give to the work of the Kingdom of God? Is advancing the Kingdom of God my priority no matter what the cost? 

Or in the words of Pastor Stanley, “What if God called you to give beyond your comfort level?”

Where would you say your treasure currently is? Is this where you want it to be? How is this reflective of where your heart is?

Prayer: For the next several weeks, you are invited to pray the same prayer everyday, which is composed by Rev. Adam Hamilton in his book Enough. As you pray it anew each day, may God speak to your heart. 

Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Tuesday: “Wisdom” - Proverbs 21:5, Proverbs 21:20

The fact that this passage of scripture is found in scripture points to the fact that the tug of war between generosity and self-preservation is age old. Part of us wants to save money “just in case” and buy things for ourselves because “we deserve it”. We get caught up in questions of what if: what if the harvest isn’t good this year? What if I get a pay cut? What if my bills increase? What if the stock market crashes? So we focus on self-preservation, letting the fear of the “what if?” block our generosity. Let me be clear - I am not telling us to be irresponsible with our money - going into debt for the Kingdom of God. Instead, I’m asking us to examine our lifestyle, live below our means, and look past the “what ifs” for the sake of the Kingdom. 

Pastor Andy Stanley admonishes that “as believers we have the responsibility to leverage our wealth for kingdom purposes”. In other words our giving to the work of the Kingdom tells where our heart is. Tells where our treasure is stored. Church folk feel pretty okay when the pastor brings up working for the Kingdom of God. They feel comfortable with the idea of growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ. However, resistance comes when talking about putting our money where our mouth, and our heart is, for God. Its as if money is where we hit our limit with trusting God. We don’t quite trust God financially or want to live into Biblical principles around money. And as a result we don’t sow for the eternal harvest with our money - it just seems like a little too much to ask. But in the words of Stanley “Sowing in faith results in an eternal crop. Cowering in field yields empty fields”

How do you live into Biblical principles around money? How do these principles help you harvest for the Kingdom of God?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Wednesday: “ Who Do You Serve?” - Matthew 6:24

Would you say that you trust God financially? If your check book reveals your heart chasing after God? If you are trying to grow in your stewardship? Its not until we start to ask these questions that we can find freedom. Its not until we start examining our hearts that we can truly seek the Kingdom of God first. 

Every person in this room has a threshold when it comes to giving. Just as everyone in that crowd gathered around Jesus as he taught about where our treasure is, so our heart is, and asked who they served - money or God - had a threshold for what they would give. Thresholds are natural for humans. They are the dollar amount or percentage of money that we feel comfortable giving. When we step out in faith beyond our threshold, thats when we become uncomfortable. But the question is are we willing to step out in faith, beyond our threshold? Are we willing to surrender control of our money to God? Or are we going to let our fear be in control? Stanley shares his own threshold moment to which he responded, “God I’m not 100 percent comfortable with giving this money but I’m too uncomfortable not to give it”.

What 2 things can you try for the next few months to help you grow in trusting God with your finances?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Thursday: “Kingdom Treasure” - Luke 12: 33-34

In the church there are typically two types of people who give in the offering plate throughout the year. The first are those who give out of what is left over - after all of the bills are paid and they see what is left over. The second type of giver takes a risk and gives off of the top. One way is not better then another, but the order in which we write our checks speaks of our priorities. Speaks of what makes us more comfortable - giving up front or giving what’s left over?

Do we become more uncomfortable with not giving then we are with giving an amount that scares us? Are we more focused on sowing for the kingdom or taking care of ourselves in potential situations in the future?

How would you describe your life purpose God has given you and how does it relate to Kingdom treasures? 

How do your habits around spending money reflect this purpose?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Friday: “First Fruits” - Proverbs 3:9

If God has given us all that we have, including the money we get from our vocation, and the offering plate belongs to God, why are we still fearful? If all of our treasures belong to God, why do we invest so much time and money into protecting them? And do we offer the same level of care and money into the work of God among us?

United Methodist consultant Cliff Christopher points out “Stewardship is a journey that is grounded in gratitude, revealed in prayers, and lived in faith.”  We are not going to let go of our fear around finances tomorrow. It comes one little step at a time. One percentage more in our giving each year. God is inviting us to a lifestyle of generosity vs. Fear, but the choice is ours as to what we will choose. Money and our attitude towards possessions speak directly to what we choose. So I ask you - wheres your treasure this day - on earth or in heaven? And where would you like them to be even if it is beyond our comfort level?

What are some finical goals you can set - short and long term - to help you live into your life purpose from God?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Enough: Cultivating Contentment” -Luke 12:15 and Ecc 2:10-11

Family Activity: What is wisdom? What are some of the ways God gives us wisdom to make good choices? How can we, as a family, invite God to help us make good choices with the money we set aside last week?

Enough - Pt 1

    We don't like it when other people tell us how to spend our money. We don't like it when we get a bill in the mail. We don't like thinking about money, because often it can make us feel anxious or like we don't have enough.

   But the truth is we have to talk about money because it is part of our daily lives. We have to talk about money and how we spend it because it can be a reflection of the state of our hearts. And we have to talk about money, because pretending that the topic doesn't exist or doesn't effect us personally is a slippery slope.

   At least three of the seven deadly sins can pertain to money if we don't keep our heart in check.
- Gluttony is often described as over indulgence. Even, and perhaps especially, when we don't think we have enough money we can find ourselves over-indulging in material things. We use credit cards and loans in order to have the next and biggest and best thing without stopping to think about if we really need it.
- Greed is hoarding what we have instead of sharing it with the world. When we think we don't have enough we don't readily share. Or when we stop examining our own hearts and instead start to judge others in order to decide if they are deserving of us sharing what we have.
- Envy is wanting what someone else has. And we live in a world where commercials seem to exist for that purpose - putting forth the message that if we want to be anyone in this world, we need this specific thing. Or leading us to think that everyone else has this thing that they are trying to sell, leading us to want something and eventually tricking us into thinking we need it - that our lives will not be the same without this particular material good.

   Money itself is completely neutral. We can use it whatever way our heart leads us to. What is the state of your heart as seen through your spending habits?

Enough Pt 1- Devo

  January 24th, 2015  

Devotional

“Enough: When Dreams Become Nightmares” -  1 Tim 6:10, Ecc 5:10, Matthew 16:26

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Don’t Put Your Hope in Wealth” - 1 Tim 6:17

Money itself is completely neutral. We need money to exchange for our daily needs - like a safe place to live, food and clothing. However, it is the value we place on money that we need to be cautious about. This is not the monetary value that is displayed on the bills we have in our wallets or the checks we receive or the balance in our bank accounts. Instead, the value we need to be aware of is that which our heart places on money. Do we find ourselves constantly striving to have more money, and if so to what end? Do we place our hope in money instead of God? We need to constantly have heart checks around the value we place on money and how it stands in relationship to our belief in God. 

What concerns do you around money? How can you hand these concerns over to God?

What value do you find yourself placing on money? 

Prayer: For the next several weeks, you are invited to pray the same prayer everyday, which is composed by Rev. Adam Hamilton in his book Enough. As you pray it anew each day, may God speak to your heart. 

Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Your Own Heart” - Matthew 16:26, Matthew 7:1-2

We need to confess the times that we have looked to our perceived sin of others to give us an excuse from examining our own hearts. We are told in scripture not to judge others but it can be so easy to do so around the topic of finances. We judge why people need public assistance without knowing their specific story or circumstances. We judge why people have nice things, without knowing how much they give away in relation to what they make. We judge that someone makes to much money, when don’t know the hard work they put in. 

Instead of judging, let us examine our own hearts. Let us pray that God reveal to us if there is anything that is blocking us from life to the fullest. When we pray, especially in light of Mathew 16:26, may we ask God to remove anything of the world that may look like profit or gain, but will cost us our very lives. 

How can we keep ourselves from judging others?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Wednesday: “ Keep from Wandering” - 1 Tim 6:10, Matthew 3:1-9, Matthew 13: 18-23

When we start to worry about things that we cannot control - we let our anxiety drive us to be irrational. We stop seeking the most important thing, the Kingdom of God, and become fixated on the immediate, and on us and on our own needs. But that fear is mis-placed, brothers and sisters. If God intends for us to sow our financial resources for the Kingdom of God, shouldn’t we more aptly fear under sowing for the Kingdom? Shouldn’t it bring us to our knees that we may be spending our lives worrying about food and clothing and only sowing a few handfuls of our finances for God as a result?

The truth is that the Christian Church doesn’t like to hear stewardship sermons because it makes us face our fears about money. Our fear of not having enough. Our fear of owning up to the fact that we are watering down our giving. In the Untied States only one-third to one-half of church go-ers give in the offering plate. Give anything. And out of that percentage only three to five percent actually give God ten percent or more. In the United Methodist Church it is even worse. We are among the lowest of all denominations in giving. And for those that do give, they often give only one percent or less of their yearly income.

We get anxious when we start to talk about stewardship or pass the offering plate. We start to hear only what we want to hear or let our anxiety and fear lead to anger, instead of allowing God to speak into our hearts. But there is good news, brothers and sisters - fear and faith often go hand in hand. We become fearful when we trust God to do something grand amongst us, but when we trust and take that step of faith, we get to see who God is and why we can stand on the promises of God.

What happens to the gospel in our lives when we are consumed by a desire for wealth?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Thursday: “Lover of Wealth” - Ecc 5:10, Mark 8:36, Matthew 6:33

Our finances allow us to proclaim what we believe - and make us come face to face with the questions of if we really believe that God will provide and if we trust God enough to faithfully give? When we give to God, boldly, we get to see Jesus Christ at work. Its not about keeping the doors of this particular church open or continuing the mission and message of this denomination, though I believe that both of those things are good and pleasing to God. At the end of the day its about trusting that we are sowing for the Kingdom of God - here and now and in the future. Its about setting aside our fear, and having a conversion about our wallets, in order to proclaim the Kingdom message.

Sometimes, however, we can become distracted from the gospel message and its implications because we fall in love with money. The idea of money. Having money to spend. We fall in love with the idea that we need more. Recently, I was reading in a book a story of a man who told his pastor that he didn’t want to give to the work of the Kingdom because he earned every penny he had and wanted to spend it as he desires. How many of us sometimes have similar attitudes? 

What is God saying to you through these verses? 

What fuels your personal desire for more? How can you guard your heart against this?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Friday: “Enough” - Proverbs 30:7-9

The message about personal finances is hard to hear. Too many of us feel that we are drowning in our debt and are caught on the hamster wheel of worry. When we talk about money we need to confess those spending habits that we have that keep us away from God, keep us in debt, and render us ineffective for the Kingdom. And after confession we need to repent and turn around in a way that fully releases all of our resources - time, money, and talents - for God’s purposes, instead of only looking to and trusting God when we personally are in need.

That is a hard message to swallow. To cease worrying is a challenge unto itself. To cease worrying about money and the future - that seems insurmountable. And yet, this conversation also gives us a chance to dive into the heart of the question - what do finances reveal about our commitment to God? Are we striving and seeking after the Kingdom of God, first, foremost, and forever? Or are we worrying about what tomorrow may hold. Amen.

What does enough look like in your life? 

Think about the next purchase you plan on making. Do you need that item? Why or why not?

Prayer: Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Enough: Wisdom and Finances ” - Proverbs 21: 5, 200

Family Activity: Consider setting aside a set amount of money for the family to decide what to do with together. How will you decide what to spend it on? How does the family feel about the choice together? Is is something you need or want? How do you feel when the money is spent?

The Impossible - Joshua 6: 8-21

   One of my mentors introduced me to "Journey Markers" two years ago. These markers of our growth in faith are simply basic ways to see where we are along our journey with Christ. There seem to be dueling arguments in the church today - one is that nothing seems to be of much consequence because we aren't held accountable, the second is that the church as a whole doesn't need to know about our own walk with Christ because its personal.
     I firmly stand in the middle of these two extremes while studying the book of Joshua. Joshua knew his people. He was one of them. He knew their struggles and their triumphs. And he knew where they were as a group. He knew they needed preparation before facing the impossible task of moving into the promise land before them. If he didn't know his people then they would not have been prepared for what lie ahead.
    We need to know each other better in the local church - not simply our names and likes or dislikes, but know each other spiritually so we can hold each other accountable to growth. But we also need to be able to recognize where we are as this particular local church so we can be honest about where we need preparation and growth and where we are doing amazing things for the Kingdom together. So let us therefore get to know each other, as a body, through these Journey Markers, so we can have the greatest impact, together, for the Kingdom of God.

Journey Markers

Mark with an “X”

I have attended worship in this parish for:

____ 1st time ______ 1-3 months _____ 4-6 months

____ 7 months - 1 yr _____ 1-3 yrs _____ 4+ yrs

Yes No

Growing in Christ

____ ____ I worship with the congregation at least three times a month

____ ____ I pray daily

____ ____ I read the Bible daily

____ ____ I am part of a small group or Sunday School class that studies the Bible together

Sharing Christ 

____ _____ I give regularly to the work of the church, working towards a tithe (10%) or beyond, as God enables me.

____ _____ I’ve shared my faith with a non-Christian in the last month.

_____ ______ I regularly serve in a ministry inside or outside of the Church.

Devo - Be Courageous: The Impossible

January 17th, 2016

Devotional

“Be Courageous: The Impossible” - Joshua 6: 8-21

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “A Different Goliath”- Joshua 6: 8-11, 1 Sam. 17: 1-54

We know the tale of David of Goliath - the small shepherd boy facing the giant well-skilled solider. We all have Goliath’s in our lives - those things that seem to be impossible - and for the people of Israel in today’s passage it is the city of Jericho. The city of Jericho was once thought to be one of the most secure places in the world. Not the place you would pick for your first battle on the conquest to the promise land to be sure. To make matters worse, the people were not only out-numbered, but their leader was telling them not to sound the war cry - to not even start the siege. How can you win if you never begin? 

Often we are called to do things that we do not feel equipped to do. Like David facing Goliath or the Israelites facing the city of Jericho we feel that we are called to do the impossible, but God empowers us, giving us the gifts we need to face any situation when the time comes. Sometimes we are called to do something that lines up with our abilities, and other times to that which we have no natural ability or talent in. But out of impossible calls comes the ability to glorify the God of call, if only we face the impossible. 

How would you react if you were one of the people of Israel facing Jericho?

When is a time in your life God equipped you to do the impossible?

Prayer: God of the impossible, we forget so easily that your ways are not our ways and that you equip us if only we follow you. Help us to trust you even when we do not understand and follow you even when we do not see the outcome. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Holy Ground” - Joshua 6: 12-14, Exodus 3: 1-15

I’m not sure what the people of Israel thought as they marched around the city of Jericho day after day carrying the ark of the covenant, but they probably did not think they were standing on Holy Ground. Yet, that is exactly where they were. Holy ground is a place in time that is defined not only by the presence of our Holy God, but of a turning point - a time when we have been given a choice to either stay where we are in or to move forward, and that is exactly where the Israelites were in this story. Each day they had a choice to make - to continue to silently march around the city before returning to camp, or to do things there own way in their own timing. Each day they had a decision to make, and they made the right one - to glorify God. Like their forefather Moses, so long ago with the burning bush, they found themselves on holy ground marked by choice after choice. What are the holy ground moments in our lives today and what will we choose?

What are some of the moments in your life when you found yourself standing on holy ground? How did you know? 

How can we prepare to choose God’s ways over our own? 

Prayer: Almighty God, you are the God of choices. You gave us free will so that we could choose your ways. Yet, O God, we confess that all too often we choose our own paths, missing the holy moments you have for us. Forgive us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Shout!” - Joshua 6: 15-17

When I imagine the scene that day that the war cry finally was raised - the seventh day after walking around, I see a confused group of Israelites. Why today? Why now? Yet, even in the face of their unanswered questions, they raised the shout that made the walls came tumbling down.

God is the God of calls. We have seen time and time again that God has called his people to step outside of their comfort zone - Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jesus, the Disciples, Paul, the list goes on and on. And God is the God that called the Israelites to step out of their comfort zone to do something that they didn’t understand. That is obedience. And sometimes that is the hardest step we will ever have to take in our walk of faith.

Tell of a time when you were obedient to God even in the face of the unknown. What was that experience like? What made it easy or difficult?

Prayer: God, sometimes we don’t understand what you are calling us to do. We get so weighed down by our lack of answers and uncertainty that we fail to take the first step of faith. Grow us in obedience to you, Precious Lord. Walk beside us into the face of the unknown. Amen. 

Thursday: “Instructions” - Joshua 6: 17-20, Matthew 28: 16-20, Matthew 22: 35-40.

The instructions the Israelites received in this passage of scripture are plentiful. Do not give a war cry. Do not raise your voices. Do not say a word until I tell you to - then shout. Spare Rahab because she hid our spies. Keep away from their devoted things. Bring all the precious metals to the Lord’s treasury. Communities need instructions and this community had an abundance of them. If you read on in the book of Joshua you see what happens when the people do not follow the instructions given - they do not glorify God.

What instructions do we have today? Two in particular for us as Christians - the great commission to go and make disciples, and the great commandment to love the Lord our God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We have even fewer instructions then we see in this particular passage of scripture from the book of Joshua, yet we readily forget them. Commandments are not always covenant to us, but they are necessary for our faith journey. 

How do you live into the commandments God has given us as Christians? 

Prayer: God, thank you for not leaving us to our own devices, but give us commands to guide our path. Help us live into your commands and grow in faithfulness to you. Amen. 

Friday: “Never Forget” - Joshua 6: 20-21

One of the core beliefs of Israel that is present throughout the scriptures is the assumption that faith begins with memory. Have you ever taken a moment to consider how memory defines us. Our memories sometimes aren’t the most accurate - we may not recall an event in full detail - but it is what we remember that is important, not if it is fully factual.

This event, this battle of Jericho where the wall came down after marching around the city for six days, blowing trumpets and shouting, never actually breaking into the city gate - this event was one the people of Israel would never forget. And maybe that is exactly why God invited them to engage in this first battle this particular way. So that they would not forget God’s faithfulness no matter what they faced in the future. 

Think of some of your fondest memories. What do you remember in particular about them? Why do you think you remember these moments out of all that you have experienced in your life? 

Prayer: God of memory - thank you for giving us unforgettable moments - moments when we clearly see your hand at work. Help us claim these moments in our lives, O God, so that we can boldly live into the future before us. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Enough: When Dreams Become Nightmares” - 1 Tim 6:10, Ecc 5:10, Matthew 16:26

Family Activity: How can we live into the journey markers as a family in the coming year?

Worship? Praying? Bible reading? Studying the Bible as a family? Give to the church? Share our faith? Serve others? 

God is Our Help - Joshua 3: 1-13

Sometimes there are prayers that are just hard to pray. Prayers that ask us to set aside ourselves and our desires, which seems so contrary to our modern way of praying, where we give our laundry list of wants and desires to God and simply expect them to take place. One of those hard prayers is the Wesley Covenant Prayer because it asks us to put God first:

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

put me to doing, put me to suffering;

let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you,

exalted for you, or brought low for you;

let me be full,

let me be empty,

let me have all things,

let me have nothing:

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things

to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours. So be it.

And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

This prayers asks us to make some pretty big promises. Promises matter because they speak to where our heart is. They show the binding truths that we believe are crucial between ourselves, God, and others. May we now join our hearts together, affirming who we are and what our guiding truths will be in this coming year as we pray together Wesley’s covenant prayer across the Internet. 

Devotional: God is Our Help - Week of January 10th

January 10th, 2016

Devotional

“Be Courageous: God is Our Help” - Joshua 3: 1-13

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Follow the Ark” - Joshua 3: 1-3, Genesis 9: 1-17

A rainbow. Blood brothers. Pinky swears. Marriage certificates. What do all of these things have in common? They are a sign of a covenant. Now it may seem odd to compare pinky swearing to being married, but at their heart they show a binding agreement to either do or not do something. With marriage their are lots of things that are covenant, to be with each other in sickness and in health, to forsake all others, and to be with one another until death, to name a few. With the Biblical covenant of the rainbow, God made one promise to never again destroy the whole earth.

Covenants often were accompanied by a sign to remind people whenever they saw or experienced it of God’s faithfulness. Following the destruction of the earth in the time of Noah, it was a rainbow. Every time the people saw it in the sky they were to remember God’s promise that the whole earth would never be destroyed again. For the people of Israel under the leadership of Moses it was the ark of the covenant, which contained symbols of the people’s covenant with the God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. A reminder of the very presence of God, which they were now to follow into the unknown.

What signs of covenant do you have in your life? 

What reminders do you have of the presence of God in your life and the lives of others?

Prayer: God of covenant, you know that we needed to be reminded of the promises we made to you and you made to us. Thank you for such reminders in so many forms, Gracious God. Each time we see such a token, may it renew our covenant with you, in Christ. Amen. 

Tuesday: “A New Way” - Joshua 3: 4, Matthew 26: 28, Jeremiah 31: 31-33

In today’s scripture passage, Joshua tells the people to follow the ark of the covenant, because they are going a new way that they had not been before. Covenants do not only have signs as reminders, but signs to lead us. 

While there were many covenants throughout Biblical history, ultimately, the people’s lack of faithfulness and breaking covenant ended in their captivity, which is where we find them in this morning’s scripture lesson found in the book of the prophet Jeremiah. In a time of complete desperation, God meets the people’s need by telling them that a new covenant is on the way. It will be an unbreakable covenant, one where the very love and law of the Lord will be in the people. Under this new covenant their unfaithfulness and sin will be forgiven.

Enter Jesus. As Christians we believe Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise made in Jeremiah. In fact, we remember the covenant God made with us through Jesus, every time we celebrate holy communion and recite the words from the gospel of Matthew, that he shed the blood of the new covenant on our behalf. Christ is continually leading us through the Holy Spirit to new ways that lead to life for ourselves and others.

How do you share with others about the covenant we have because of Christ Jesus? 

Do you find it easy or hard to go on the path Christ leads, especially if it is a way you have not been before? Why? 

Prayer: Almighty God, you are the God of creating new paths that lead to your life abundant. We confess, O God, that sometimes the old paths we walked seem so appealing because we know what lies before us, we know the way. Yet, you call us to follow you, even in the face of the unknown for your glory and honor. Strengthen us to do so, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “The Lord will do Amazing Things” - Joshua 3: 5-6, Genesis 12: 1-3, 2 Sam 7: 12-16

Covenants also remind us of the amazing things that God has done to bless us in the past so we can look forward to the amazing things we know our God will do in the future. Biblically, covenants were a form of law. When God made a promise, God did not go back on it. Perhaps the most famous Biblical covenant was between God and Abraham, when God promised that Abraham’s decedents would number the stars. That he would be a great nation who would be blessed and they would have a land to dwell in. In order to symbolize the importance of this promise and to seal it into law, both Abraham and God traveled through animal carcasses that had been split in half. Perhaps a little odd to us now, such severing of an animal was important to the parties entering a covenant at this time because it symbolized that those who broke the covenant would have similar fate. God did amazing things through Abraham and his decedents because of the promise that was made so long ago.

The next time we Biblically see a covenant established it was between God and David. David was described as the greatest king to rule Israel and a man after God’s own heart. The Davidic covenant was a bit more complex. God promised David that one of his decedents would succeed his leadership. That one of his offspring shall build a temple to worship God as a holy place, set apart. And that through him, the kingdom of God would be established forever.

What promises does God make to us today? How can we live as the people of promise? 

Prayer: God, sometimes we don’t know your promises enough to claim them. We have forgotten our scriptural lineage. We have forgotten the promises you made to your disciples and bring to fulfillment through us. Open up the eyes of our hearts, as we study scripture, so we can live into being who you called us to be. Amen. 

Thursday: “Go Stand in the River” - Joshua 3: 7-8

There are many old hymns about gathering at the river. Often the Jordan River is used to symbolize the diving life between this life and life eternal. When I hear these hymns and scriptures about the River I used to automatically picture the rivers I know from this area, especially the Susquehanna. Then in 2006 I traveled to Israel and saw the physical Jordan River up close. I was shocked by how narrow and shallow it seemed in certain places. I remember standing in one portion that only went up to my ankles. Our guide, however, told us that there were other areas that were quite deep. It is probably in those deeper portions that today’s scripture took place. Some biblical scholars thought that the waters would have been up to the priests waist as they waded in with the ark of the covenant and then stopped.

They stopped right in the center of the river because that is what the Lord told them to do. To go and stand in the river. Not necessary the most conventional of advice, but they did it anyway. God had a purpose even if they didn’t understand it. This river was the dividing line between their life as it once was and their life in the promise land and they were not going to let anything stop them from claiming the promise of life before them, no matter how unconventional what they were called to do seemed. 

Tell of a time God called you to do something unconventional. Why do you think these instructions came? How did the situation turn out?

What are some of the diving lines between your life as it was and your life with Christ? 

Prayer: God, thank you for being the God who calls us to do unconventional things in order to build our trust and faith in you. Guide us, each day O God, so we can glorify you with our lips and our lives. Amen. 

Friday: “Dry Ground” - Joshua 3: 9-13, Exodus 14: 1-31

God had a purpose to the unconventional instructions given. When those carrying the ark of the covenant took the step of faith to wade into the water, heavy ark and all, the waters flowing downstream were cut off so the people could cross on dry ground. 

Even the dry ground of the river bed was a sign of a covenant that the people had with God some 40 years ago. For in the dry river bed they were reminded of the dry Red Sea that parted as they fled Egypt. They remembered once again that their God was the God that brought them out of captivity in Egypt. They remembered so they could move forward. While the people may not have immediately understood God’s unconventional instructions, they did now.

What reminders do you have of God’s faithfulness? How do these reminders help you move forward in your faith journey? 

Prayer: God, we praise you for the blessings you bestow upon us every day as we remember your faithfulness to us in the past. Thank you for these reminders that propel us into the future. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Be Courageous: The Impossible” - Joshua 6: 8-21

Family Activity: Talk about promises. What promises do we make to each other and how do we feel when promises are broken? What promises does God make to us? 

What Lies Ahead - Joshua 1:1-11

          I love looking at old church histories. There is something about the history of a church that can speak a lot to their future. When I read over these booklets or websites, I tend to be drawn to the times that the lay people took risks. When they stepped out of the mindset of how we have always done things, for the sake of reaching new people. It may be starting a new ministry that the community is in need of or deciding whether to relocate the building or start another worship service. Most churches have times in their histories when they took great risks.
           But most churches also have times in their histories when risks were taken and it didn't pay off. Times when we poured time and energy into something and it was considered to be a failure. When we consider God's words to Joshua, which are also God's words to us today as the Church, to be strong and courageous, we must pause and consider what part of our history we let define us - what part of who we are move us forward: our risks or our failures.
        The truth is the two go hand in hand. If we take risks we will sometimes fail, but if we refuse to take risks by insisting on keeping things just as they are, we won't enter into the promise land. Are we willing to take a risk for the sake of the Kingdom of God and what are we willing to give up in order to get to the Promised Land?

Devo: What Lies Ahead

   January 3rd, 2015  

Devotional

“Be Courageous: What Lies Ahead” - Joshua 1: 1-11

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Cross the Jordan” - Joshua 1: 1-2

One of the parts of the being the Church that I love the most, is that the work is never done. Think about it. There are always more people to introduce to Christ. More scriptures to dig deeply into. More people to serve as the hands and feet of Christ. But this can also be one of the most exhausting things about being the Church. The work is never done.

Dwell today on the words that God said to Joshua, “get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land that I am about to give you.” Not have already given you. The people of Israel had almost reached the promised land, but they are note quite there. They still have another boundary, the Jordan River to cross. 

We may look at churches around us that are worshipping more people or have more events and think those churches have made it, but all of us, the Church universal, haven’t arrived yet. We as individual local churches are called to work together to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. When we stop fulfilling the great commission to go and make disciples, we stop being the church. When we think we have made it, we have forgot the call of the church. Let us never forget. 

What are ways you feel called to make disciples of Jesus Christ? 

What work do you think our church is specifically called to do for the sake of the Kingdom of God? 

Prayer: God, thank you for calling us as the Church to be part of the never-ending task of thinking of new ways to reach new disciples. Use us, O God. Help us remember that the work is not done and send us forth for the sake of your name. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Where Your Foot Steps” - Joshua 1: 3-4, Matthew 9:37

I have shared in several places before that based off of the last set of national census data, there are more people in our community that do not yet have a relationship with Jesus Christ (or consider themselves to be “none” under the religious affiliation section of the census) then the national average. When I look at those numbers, I think about how they represent people I interact with at the post office, the grocery store, and walking down the street. When I think about that number, I think of Jesus’s words that the harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. 

God spoke to Joshua and told him that he would be given every piece of land that his foot stepped on. In some ways that promise is given to us today as well. We are placed in this community, at this time, for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Do we act like that? Do we recognize the people around us waiting to hear the good news? Do we live in such a way that reflects the importance of being the Church in the community for such a time as this?

What are three ways we can be worker for the harvest of God in this community at this time?

Prayer: God of promise, sometimes we act as if your promises are just for us. We fail to see how our presence in this community effects others and expands your Kingdom. O God, use us we pray, to reach out to our friends and neighbors. Let us be bold in serving others so that they can see you singing through us. Amen. 

Wednesday: “ No One Can Stand Against You” - Joshua 1: 5-6, Matthew 5:16

I was reading a book this week that had some interesting statistics. It claimed that nationally 43% of people don’t identify with any religion. We are often afraid to share our faith with these folks because we fear they will attack us or ask us questions we do not have answers to. But out of that 43% only 5% are hostile to hearing the gospel message. The rest are searching for something - searching for hope, peace, love, and joy, but they do not know where to find it. 

We have become so afraid of people standing against us, that we fail to stand for God. Or we think that standing for God means having certain politically beliefs, when really at its very heart standing for God is about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with people that we have relationships with so that their lives can be transformed like ours have. 

What do you fear the most about sharing your faith? 

In what situations do you feel most comfortable sharing your faith? 

Prayer: God of proclamation - we confess that sometimes we get so afraid of what people might say to us or might think about us, that we do not readily share your good news. We forget that we have the good news - the source of all love, peace, joy, and hope - that people are looking for. Forgive us, O Lord, for keeping this message to ourselves and strengthen us to be sent out to proclaim it once again.

Thursday: “Be Strong and Courageous” - Joshua 1: 7-9, Phil. 4:13

I am part of a group of pastors in our district that meet once a month for a class in leadership development. One month we had an interesting discussion on whether you could measure the success of a local church. In today’s passage we are told that it is possible for Joshua (and us as the church) to be successful, but I think a misunderstanding of the word success has mislead us. 

For Joshua, success looked like entering the promise land. For the local church, it looks like introducing new disciples to the promised land, by having them come to know Jesus Christ, and helping all disciples grow deeper in their faith. That may look different for each local church, but we are called to lead folks to the Promised Land, just as Joshua was to lead the Israelites. 

How does our church best introduce folks to Jesus Christ? How does our church help people grow in their faith? How can we do these things better? 

Prayer: God, we confess that we have let the world’s ideas about success get in the way of your dream for our church. We confess that sometimes we try to be the church down the street instead of the church you have called us to be. We confess that sometimes we set aside the hard work of making new disciples in order to maintain the status quo. Help us about to be who you have called us to be. Amen. 

Friday: “Get Ready” - Joshua 1: 10-11, Luke 14:28, 

Even though Joshua was commissioned by God to lead the people across the Jordan River and into the promised land, they still had to prepare. They had three days to pack up and prepare themselves physically and spiritually for the journey that lies ahead.

Two common mistakes we can make as the local church when faced with the call of God are to: 1. not prepare. We jump right in, instead of praying for God’s strength and courage. Or 2. think we are never prepared enough so we don’t act. We don’t have all of the details worked out, so we say the planning is not complete and thus we cannot move forward. Planning is not something we can gloss over or avoid, but it is also not a crutch that can keep us from acting. The people of Israel were given a very concrete time to prepare, and then… then they went to cross the Jordan. 

Do you often find yourself over-preparing or under-preparing for what God is calling you to do?

How do you prepare spiritually for the call of God on your life? How does the church prepare for the call of God to be used in this community for the sake of the gospel message?

Prayer: God, strengthen us that we can take the first steps of faith. Help us be prepared for what you have called us to do. Help us to face our fears, O God, by preparing ourselves physically and spiritually for the call you have placed on our hearts. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Be Courageous: God is Our Help” - Joshua 3: 1-13

Family Activity: Its the New Year. Create a list with your family of 3-5 ways you can be strengthened by God together for the coming year. How can you integrate this list into your life together?