rest in His way...

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

I ask Him to order my days...
and I've noticed how He has begun to answer...
a new way to keep up with an ongoing ministry...
uncanny timeliness...
in phone calls... and tasks...
needs being met without asking or seeking...

I recognize His hand in it all...
but still I struggle at times...
to rest in His way...

When the day has gone long...
and there are still words to write...
and dinner to prepare...
and loved ones to love...

I remind self...
Rest in His way...
allow Him to order...
and don't fret...

Words come...
others start dinner...
time to connect remains...

How easily I forget His faithfulness...
to answer prayer...
and order a day...
His Way...

Amen...

rest... in His shadow...

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house,

and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

Psalm 36:7 ESV

The idiom... in the shadow of somebody...

generally has a negative connotation... meaning...

receiving little attention... because someone else is better known...

more skillful...

Only in His shadow...

we find rest...

Rest from trying to gain attention for ourselves...

rest from striving in our own strength...

rest from criticism... critique...

The shadow of His wings falls over those who know His precious love...

there they find abundance... delights... life... and light...

His shadow is not overpowering...

it is empowering...

His shadow covers...

with grace...

strength...

mercy...

love...

When all we do...

is pursue His call...

stay in His shadow...

there is rest to be had...

knowing all belongs to Him...

whether praise...

or complaint...

Only in the shadow of His wings... His borders...

is there rest...

Rest... in His shadow...

rest... the way of salvation...

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,

"In returning and rest you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."

But you were unwilling...

Isaiah 30:15 ESV

Rest... it's the way of salvation...

Returning to Him through repentance...

recognizing there is no way to save ourselves...

resting in His work... His way... His Word...

is the way we are saved...

But we... won't... have it...

For the most part... mankind is unwilling...

we should be able to work things out ourselves...

in our own strength...

our own righteousness...

our own way...

Pride refuses to let us rest... and be saved...

But He tells us...

In returning... and rest... you shall be saved...

There is no other way...

The Journey Readings: Week 152... and... contending...

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about

our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you

to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated

for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God

into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude 3-4 ESV

Jude challenges the church...

to contend for the faith...

as a combatant...

(according to the Dictionary of Biblical Languages...)

The battle... however... is not outside the walls of the church...

the unbelievers are within...

wearing the guise of Believers... teachers... prophets...

all false...

A timely issue... and one which always has been... and will be...

the enemy planting lies... deception... division... among the faithful...

But too often...

when false teachers are uncovered...

the faithful flee...

making judgments not their's to make...

taking themselves and their gifts...

out the door...

seeking a new place of worship...

one untainted...  

The problem is...

there is no place untainted...

we're broken people...

living in a broken world...

under the rule of darkness...

Jude doesn't counsel the faithful to flee...

he encourages them to fight for the faith...

without judging...

on guard...

prayerful...

in love with God...

and mercy-full...

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles

of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, "In the last time

there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."

It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith

and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in love with God,

waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them

out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment

stained by the flesh.

Jude 17-22 ESV

James... the brother of Jude...

said something very similar...

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:7 ESV

Darkness creeps in everywhere...

as ones who carry His Light...

we are to stand... contend... fight...

until the enemy flees...

and He turns darkness to light...

When deception seems to prevail...

don't give in to the temptation to get angry...

and stomp out mad... remember...

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only

but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2 ESV

The battle is not against flesh and blood...

it is spiritual...

Jesus died for all... and all our sins...

consider each false prophet... each false teacher...

as deceived... a casualty of war...

a potential brother or sister in Christ...

loved by God...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but in order that the world might be saved through him. ..."

John 3:16-17 ESV

Battle with grace...

battle with mercy...

battle with truth...

battle with light...

but don't retreat...

giving the enemy ground which is not his to keep...

This week's readings...

Monday                 Zechariah 1-2

Tuesday                 Zechariah 3-5

Wednesday            Zechariah 6-7

Thursday               Zechariah 8-10

Friday                    Zechariah 11-14

rest in Him... not in work...

What has a man for all the toil and striving of heart

with which he toils beneath the sun?

For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation.

Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 ESV

Work... when we work for ourselves...

it's toil and strife... sorrow and vexation...

I listen to a loved one...

successful in business...

but vexed... full of complaints...

his heart not at rest...

Working solely for self...

leaves one restless...

no matter how much you make...

no matter how well you do what you do...

it's all vanity...

I listen with sorrow...

wonder at the way he works to fill the void...

and pray he'll begin to work for Him...

view the world from an eternal perspective...

finding rest in work... and life...

Jesus says... Take my yoke upon you... learn from me...

and you will find rest for your soul...

Soul rest is what we seek...

and it's only found in working for Him...

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

rest... in thanks giving...

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and stars to rule over the night,

for his steadfast love endures forever...

Psalm s 136:1-9 ESV

Today a day... to rest... in thanks giving...

Finding rest in giving thanks for His great wonders...

all motivated by His steadfast love... which endures forever...

Give thanks to Him...

find rest...

Note...

I thank Him for those of you He's led to this table to read...

it is a great wonder... anyone comes...

have a blessed day of thanks giving...

resting in the preparation...

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3 ESV

On a day of preparation...

I expected time to be pressed...

things gone undone...

but what I found was...

unexpected rest...

Waking this morning with the chorus...

Yes Lord Yes Lord Yes Yes Lord...

running through my head...

I was up and going...

asking what was first...

what was next...

In His leading...

I found unexpected margin...

time to rest...

time to prepare...

green pastures...

still waters...

restored soul...

Unexpected margin...

where I found rest...

in preparation...

"...I am the door. If anyone enters by me,

he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ..."

John 10:9 ESV

resting in His grace...

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger

and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove

our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion

to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14 ESV

I feel the unrest settle...

like the dust from a windstorm...

and where I land...

is in His grace...

An ordinary Christian... 

following an extraordinary God...

that's what I call myself...

The ordinary grumbles...

frets...

loses sleep...

feels restless...

But the Extraordinary...

He pours out grace...

mercy... compassion...

on the form that's made of dust...

I wonder at His extraordinary grace...

when I'm in a tumult...

and how He still loves... provides...

is faithful... when I'm in a tizzy...

What a gracious extraordinary God...

who lets me find rest...

in His grace...

finding rest... even in unrest...

If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,"

even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,

for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:11-12 ESV

Today... a rest-less heart...

waiting to see how things will get finished...

Things I believe He's called me to...

but some days... I just wonder...

is it Him...? or is it me...?

who got me into all this...

One thing... needed His inspiration...

an article on temptation...

What I discovered... in my unrest... was His inspiration...

actually... experiential knowledge...

The unrest He allowed...

led me to fall to temptation...

a short temper... a harsh word... to a loved one...

which led to a convicted heart...

and words to begin... the article on temptation...

Humbled by His ability to supply...

even in my unrest...

Marveling... at the wonder of darkness...

being as light to Him...

Out of my dark restless mood...

He brought light...

Light shining on the dark still dwelling in my heart...

and light shining on words to begin a writing He called me to...

two birds... one stone...

So now I see... a new place to rest...

I can rest in my unrest...

where He reveals...

inspires...

and uses darkness...

to bring about light...

The Journey Readings: Week 151... and... accurate knowledge...

May grace and peace be multiplied to you

in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2 ESV

Peter... writing to the church shortly before his death...

is concerned about the teaching going on in the church...

But false prophets also arose among the people,

just as there will be false teachers among you,

who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,

even denying the Master who bought them,

bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them

the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed

they will exploit you with false words.

2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV

Peter's second letter focuses on the importance of knowledge... 

Knowledge of God and of Jesus... as a means to increasing grace and peace...

The Greek used here is... epignosis... right and correct knowledge...

I had assumed it was experiential knowledge of Father God and Jesus...

but it is accurate knowledge Peter is talking about...

Which makes perfect sense...

because if your knowledge is inaccurate...

what you experience will be interpreted wrongly...

Peter points the church to the Word of God...

as the one source of accurate knowledge...

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man,

but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.

In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets

and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles...

2 Peter 3:1-2 ESV

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth

for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of

imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord

remains forever." And this word is the good news

that was preached to you.

1 Peter 1:22-25 ESV

Through accurate knowledge of the Word of God...

faith engages... and we are born again...

and increasing knowledge leads us deeper into sanctification...

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence...

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith

with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control,

and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being

ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-8 ESV

Accurate knowledge...

not just experiential...

is key to growing in grace and peace...

self-control and perseverance...

godliness and brotherly affection...

love and fruitfulness in Christ...

The only trustworthy... imperishable... everlasting source of accurate knowledge is His Word...

Know it... so you won't be deceived... or led astray...

This week's readings...

Monday            1 John 1:1 - 2:27

Tuesday            1 John 2:28 - 4:21

Wednesday       1 John 5, 2 John 

Thursday          3 John, Jude

Friday               Haggai 1-2

rest in Him... 2 Corinthians 12:9...

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore,

I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Weak... tired... unable to finish...

that's how I'm feeling today...

His Word to me says...

I can rest in my weakness...

I can rest in His strength...

I can rest in His grace... and... power...

Hoping you embrace your weakness... find rest in it... all the while... finding rest in His power... grace... and strength...

Amen...

rest in Him... Psalm 116:7-9...

Return, O my soul, to your rest;

for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

For you have delivered my soul from death,

my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Psalm 116:7-9 ESV

Sometimes... when your soul is stirred...

you just have to give it a talking to...

Soul... remember just how bountiful God has been to you...

He sent His Son... to save you...!

He delivered you from death...

turned mourning to joy...

smoothed rough paths... 

and lit the dark way...

Soul... walk before the Lord... in the land of the living...

those who have the promise of eternal life...

walk with joy... in your salvation...

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32 ESV

Sometimes... a soul just needs a talking to...

to return to rest... in... Him...

rest in Him... 1 Kings 8:56...

"Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel,

according to all he promised. Not one word failed of all his good promise,

which he spoke by Moses his servant. ..."

1 Kings 8:56 ESV

Yes... the Lord gives rest to His people...

but it's not all rest...

After wandering forty years...

Israel entered the Promised Land...

but no rest was had...

they fought for the land promised...

then after Joshua... the people rebelled against God...

in turn... nations fought against Israel...

kings were raised up...

David was the second king... a man after God's own heart... 

God promised him a son of rest...

"...Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest.

I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies.

For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet

to Israel in his days. ..."

1 Chronicles 22:9 ESV

During the reign of his son... Solomon...

the nation of Israel... had peace on all sides...

and he acknowledged God's faithfulness in keeping His promises...

Before the rest...

during the wandering... 

battles... 

and temptations to rebel...

we can rest in His promises...

He is a Promise-Keeper...

in His promises...

we can rest...

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion

endures throughout all generations. [The Lord is faithful in all his words

and kind in all his works.]

He upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:13-18 ESV

Believers wander today...

in enemy territory...

sojourning...

battling...

resisting...

until His promised return...

While waiting...

rest in His promises...

don't get discouraged...

for the Lord is faithful in all His words...

not one word fails...

This is my comfort in my affliction,

that your promise gives me life.

Psalm 119:50 ESV

rest in Him... Joshua 1:9...

"...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 ESV

After wrestling with Him...
over too much to do...
I find myself today...
resting in His call...

His call feels great...
and I feel small...

Joshua comes to mind...
called to fill the shoes of Moses...
(talk about a great call...)

Joshua called to seemingly impossible tasks...
lead hundreds of thousands across the flood stage Jordan...
defeat a great walled city with trumpets and shouts...

Along the way... in the midst of the call...
over and over... God assured...
Be strong... be courageous...
do not be dismayed... do not feel small...
I will be with you... wherever you go...

My call... not near as great as Joshua's...
but still... today... seems almost impossible...

And like Joshua...
I choose to rest in His call...
rest in His leading...
and the knowledge... wherever He calls me...
He will not leave me...

rest in Him... Exodus 13:21-22...

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way,

and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day

and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night

did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 ESV

I've been feeling stress-full of late...

all He's calling me to do...

with deadlines looming... seems impossible...

makes me feel I might fail...

which in turn makes me whiny...

(according to my husband...)

So today... I find myself... far from rest-full...

and needing to take a look at... Why...?

He reveals I've been focusing on the end...

believing rest... satisfaction... fulfillment...

will be found when it's all done...

But I know full well...

there will always be more...

And I think about Moses... finding rest in God's presence...

God's presence visible to Moses and the people he leads...

resting in God's continual guidance...

the pillar of cloud by day...

the pillar of fire by night...

They followed... forty years in the wilderness...

(at my age... I doubt I still have forty to go...)

and for many in the Exodus... a whole generation... including Moses...

the journey was all they had...

they didn't finish...

they didn't enter... the promised land...

I see rest is not found at the completion of the current call...

because the true end does not come till He returns...

rest is to be found in the journey...

Following His lead...

from one thing to the next...

being blessed now...

finding joy... peace... rest... now...

in the journey with Him...

Because really...

the journey is where transformation happens...

the journey is where sanctification does its work...

the day to day journey... of following Him...

resting in His faith-full presence...

Amen...

The Journey Readings: Week 150... and... approaching advent...

Approaching Advent... just two weeks away...
we're about to enter the season of Christmas...

Last week's readings gave us an opportunity to remember why He came...
what lay ahead for the Babe in the manger...

Two others, who were criminals, were led away

to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place

that is called The Skull, there they crucified him,

and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.

And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Luke 22:32-34 ESV

Arrest...

Crucifixion...

Death...

Resurrection...

It's why He came... to make the Way... for forgiveness...

Will remembering the reason for His coming...?

change the way you approach the Season...?

Below is one of my favorite Christmas songs...

at its heart... is remembering why... He... came...

[email subscribers... click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

This week's readings...

Monday                      Luke 24:19 - 21:9
Tuesday                      1 Peter 1-2
Wednesday                 1 Peter 3-5
Thursday                    2 Peter 1
Friday                         2 Peter 2-3

rest in Him... Exodus 33:14...

And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Exodus 33:14 ESV

God had said to Moses...

"... I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way,

for you are a stiff-necked people."

Exodus 33:3 ESV

He said this after the golden calf incident...

and the smashing of the commandments...

His announcement sent Moses into a tizzy...

Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me,

'Bring up this people,' but you have not let me know

whom you will send with me. Yet you have said,

'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'

Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight.

Consider too that this nation is your people."

Exodus 33:12-13 ESV

Moses found no rest... in God staying behind...

God had compassion on Moses...

in response to his prayer...

He relented and said...

My presence will go with you...

Along with God's presence...

He gives us rest...

No other presence...

gives us rest...

only God...

Like Moses...

call on Him to lead you...

follow Him and no other...

know His rest...

rest in Him... Genesis 8:1-4...

But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock

that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth,

and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows

of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,

and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of 150 days

the waters had abated, and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day

of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.

Genesis 8:1-4 ESV

Noah... he worked for years... building the ark...

worked tirelessly... at what God called Him to do...

until it was complete...

The animals and Noah's family entered the ark...

his part complete... and now... he rested...

God shut the doors...

the water burst forth from the ground...

and poured down from the skies...

Forty days... forty nights...

All the while... Noah rested...

in the work he had done for God...

All the while... Noah rested...

caring for the animals God entrusted to Him...

All the while... Noah rested...

trusting God where he had no control...

Noah rested...

he rested in the work he did...

he rested in the call God put on his life...

he rested in God... for the outcome...

When God calls us to work...

we work until its complete...

then we rest in the work...

rest in what God has in store...

rest in Him... for the outcome...

rest in Him... Exodus 31:12-17...

And the Lord said to Moses, "You are to speak to the people of Israel and say,

'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you

throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you.

You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.

Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it,

that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done,

but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord.

Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.

Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath

throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. It is a sign

forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

Exodus 31:12-17 ESV

Early on in His relationship with His people...

God made a law... He commanded them to rest...

it was His idea... His way... for His people to rest in Him...

Rest was serious business for the Israelites...

it was a capital offense... to work on the day of rest...

working seven days a week could get you killed...

Their Sabbath... their day of rest...

was a sign between God and the people of Israel...

a sign of God's perfect provision...

He Himself... worked six days... 

created everything to complete the world...

then... He rested...

He called His people to do the same...

Work six days...

rest in Me on the seventh...

make it a holy day...

set apart for Me...

In this rest...

He's telling His people...

He's the One who provides all we need...

without Him... we have nothing...

In this rest...

He's telling His people...

Recognize all I do for you...

trust Me to provide completely...

even while you rest...

He sanctifies... He provides...

for us this is true too...

we cannot work our way into anything...

only by His grace do we have what we have...

Only by His grace... can we rest in Him...

We no longer practice Sabbath like the Israelites...

we no longer face the sentence of death if we don't...

solely because... He has made the Way...

of perfect rest... in Christ Jesus...

Jesus died... for every broken Sabbath...

every broken law...

and for those who rest in Him...

we find life... peace... freedom from condemnation...

and freedom from being found out...

Rest...

Rest in Him...

live your whole life...

as a holy day toward Him...

set apart your life...

and rest in the work He's doing...

in and through you...

rest...

Rest...
that's the call I hear this evening...
rest...

I haven't in a while...
had a call to rest from the writing here...
but that is what I do today...

Rest...

"...Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest. ..."

Matthew 11:28 ESV

rest in Him...

Ask and it will be given to you...

Matthew 7:7 ESV

The more I ask...

the more I believe...

the more I rest in Him...

I asked...

He answered...

a new series to pursue...

Rest in Him...

What does it mean...?

What does His Word reveal...?

We'll see... when we begin tomorrow...

Thank You... Lord... for answering when I ask...

Amen...

The Journey Readings: Week 149... and... the crowds on the outskirts of the gospel...

This week... reading through Luke... the crowds around Jesus... caught my attention...

He had His twelve... very close...
then there were the seventy-two...
and then there were the crowds...

On their return the apostles told him all that they had done.

And [Jesus] took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.

When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them

and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.

Luke 9:10-11 ESV

The crowds reveal something about themselves along the road to Jerusalem...
Jesus's final walk to the city...

As [Jesus] drew near Jericho, a blind man was sitting

by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by,

he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth

is passing by." And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David,

have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him,

telling him to be silent. But he cried all the more,

"Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Luke 18:35-39 ESV

Now Jesus had been healing people all throughout His ministry...

and I wonder...

Why did this crowd...? those on the outskirts...? discourage this blind beggar...?

It seems the blind beggar knew Jesus better than those crowded around...

he saw Him for who He was... Son of David... the Messiah...

and cried out for healing...

The crowds... those in the front... on the outskirts...

shushed him... told him to keep quiet...

Why...?

Maybe they had no real need... like the blind beggar...

maybe they missed the whole point of the good news...

Then in Jericho... Jesus invited Himself to dinner...

[Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through.

And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief

tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who 

Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not,

because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead

and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him,

for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came

to the place, he looked up and said to him,

"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay

at your house today." So he hurried and came down

and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they

all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man

who is a sinner."

Luke 19:1-7 ESV

They... the crowd... who interfered with Zacchaeus getting to Jesus...

grumbled about Jesus eating with a sinner...

Now I'm thinking... if this crowd really knew Jesus...

they would have known He hangs out with sinners...

He came to seek out and save... those who are lost...

It seems to me... those on the outskirts of the gospel...

know of the miracles... the healings... 

the feeding of thousands with a little...

they know of the hype...

they crowd in...

but they don't know the heart...

They get in the way of those who truly long for Jesus...

the blind... the sinners...

those who desire healing... and redemption...

they shush and grumble...

And I wonder if there is still a crowd...

on the outskirts of the gospel...

those who come just because...

who think it's right... and seemly...

but who really know nothing of Jesus...

they've never gotten close...

they don't know of His compassion for the broken...

His mercy and grace for the lost...

and in their noise and activity...

they make it hard for those seeking...

to see Jesus...

I wonder...

are you part of the crowd...?

or a disciple... who is near...?

And I wonder...

what can be done...

to change the heart of the crowd...?

This week's readings...
Monday                   Luke 20:19 - 21:9
Tuesday                   Luke 21:10 - 22:6
Wednesday              Luke 22:7-46
Thursday                 Luke 22:47 - 23:35
Friday                      Luke 23:36 - 24:12

un-thankful...

The sister called the spiritual discipline...
The Opposite of Gratitude...

Our focus for Bible study this week is thanksgiving...
one aspect of being devoted to prayer...

The challenge of the spiritual discipline...
recognize... take note of... all your complaints...
those spoken... and thought...
as a sign of ingratitude...

It's three days into the challenge... and...
like the Pharisee who wanted to know... Who is my neighbor...?
I'm wondering... What is complaining...?

I've noted way too much...
in thoughts and words...
looking suspiciously like complaints...
so I run to Webster's for justification...

complain... to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something... to say (something that expresses annoyance or unhappiness)

---Merriam-Webster Mobile App

I'm so busted...
so unjustified...
each eye roll...
each heavy sigh...
every... Well... that doesn't make me happy...
and every... How annoying...
all find themselves under the category of complaint...

And I would've told you I don't really complain...
and you could easily hear me say our culture makes complaining a national pastime...
and I apparently have to include myself in the mix...
(could someone help me with this log in my eye...?)

His Word says clearly...

Do everything without complaining or arguing...

Philippians 2:14 NIV

When considering complaining...

as a sign of ingratitude...

the opposite of gratitude...

you must consider it sin...

For... if God is Sovereign...

everything He allows in your life...

is purpose-full...

all for your good...

and His glory...

His Word says... don't complain...

be joy-full...

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind

come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.

For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance

has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your

endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect

and complete, needing nothing.

James 1:2-4 NLT

Complaining...

an un-thankful sign...

a sign of very little faith...

in what He's up to in your life...

What about you...? when it comes to complaining...?

would you have to call yourself...? un-thankful...?

when He is quiet...

His quietness yesterday...
reminds today...
of a recent conversation...

A mother... grandmother...
asking His direction... guidance...
in dealing with a child's broken family...
and all the heartache that comes with divorce...

She says... He's quiet...
tears welling...

What does it mean...?
when He's quiet...?
when you're desperate...?

What do you do...?
when He seems not to answer...?

And I wonder if the quiet is His answer...
Wait... Trust... Believe I'm at work...

"Be still and know that I am God. ..."

Psalm 46:10 ESV

When He is quiet...

it seems a call for us...

to be quiet too...

quiet...

A time to be quiet...

Ecclesiastes 3:7 NLT

I wonder at words when they come...

I wonder at quiet when they don't..

Wonder what He's up to...

did I miss something...

feeling full yet empty...

only wanting to share what He gives..

Quiet...

accepting it as...

a time to be... quiet...

waiting thoughts continue...

The verses on waiting over the last few weeks... still stir in my heart... perhaps because I'm doing some waiting...

I think of the patient farmer James tells us to be like...
waiting patiently for what's been planted... hidden... in the ground...

Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming.

See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop,

patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

James 5:7 NIV

Waiting... for growth... for change...
seems to come from something...
hidden away... out of sight...

Jesus told us about another farmer...
scattering seeds... crops growing...
but the farmer has no idea how it happened...

And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter

seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts

and grows; he knows not how. ..."

Mark 4:26-27 ESV

The woman who hid leavening in the bread...
she had to wait for it to grow...

And again he said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?

It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour,

until it was all leavened."

Luke 13:20-21 ESV

This hiding... of Word...
waiting for the Kingdom to burst forth...
takes time... days and nights...
it begins where we can't see...
and is a mystery to us who wait...

Some of the things I'm waiting on make my heart heavy...
make me groan with deep desire to see something happen...
I call on the Holy Spirit to interpret my groans...
intercede on behalf of those I groan for...

And this hidden thought comes to mind...
this reminder that I'm in a season...
of patient waiting...

Waiting for growth...
I don't know how...
in a place I cannot see...
patiently waiting...
on Him who is trustworthy...

Amen...