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Month: January 2017
Set Aside Time
The snow had just started when Karen’s cousin, Matt Mason posted this yesterday. We are praying for everyone at home today in the snow. It’s 22 degrees and snowing and feels colder because of the wind. But, if it makes you feel better, it’s minus 11 in White Lake, Wisconsin where Hannah and Ava are this morning.
As we are set aside because of the snow this weekend, I would recommend a few things if things get cancelled.
1. Set aside the time you were going to be in Sunday School and District Leadership Training on Sunday and use that same amount of time to read and meditate upon the Scriptures.
2. Set aside your tithes and gifts that you would have given or put on the altar rail and save it for the opportunity to share later.
3. Set aside that time you would have been in corporate worship to listen to good, Biblical preaching on TV or better yet sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to each other making up a melody in your heart to the Lord.
Use this time you are set aside by the snow to bless the Lord and rely upon Him. Don’t forget to check on your neighbors. Love you.
First Day Revelation
Today’s “Through-the-Bible Reading Plan” had me in Genesis 1 and 2 and in Luke 1. The Scripture that stood out in that reading was Genesis 1: 4 and Luke 1: 3. The Observation I made was of God’s work of separation. God takes great care and gives repetitive examples of making a distinction between what is good and what is bad, but also between what is good and what is not as good.
Jesus does this when he tells Martha “but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10: 42) Mary had chosen to listen to what Jesus said. Martha was busy doing other good things.
God continually asks us to prioritize what we’re doing. This is the purpose of keeping repentance and faith together. Repentance makes the distinction between the choices we have and aligns us with what is better. Faith gives us the power to follow up and follow through.
The Application for me to do this is spelled out in Luke 1: 3 where Luke confesses. “With this in mind …. I decided to write.” This is my first day revelation. I expect yours to be different and framed by what God is asking of you. For me, right before I started reading the Bible, I was challenged by a quote from the writer, Jodi Picoult. “You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”
We are not allowed to leave our days blank, to make no distinction between the light and the dark. We are not allowed to simply watch the days go by and call it God’s will, make it our excuse for not doing what we know to do. God makes these distinctions and it is incorporated into all of creation. God commands us to incorporate it into what we do.
My Prayer: Lord, let no day this year lie blank between us. For my part, I will strive to listen and write down what I hear you say. For your part, speak! Speak your Word clothed in fire, formed in grace, wrapped up in swaddling bands, and laid within my soul. In the most holy name – Jesus. Amen.