Category: Purpose

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Yeast – A Wonderful Gift

The first part of the month I encouraged you to look for little gifts that God gives us each day. Yesterday one of my gifts came from a bowl of bread dough.

I was making my first batches of cinnamon rolls for the Christmas season. It’s a tradition. I had just gotten the dough mixed when Dave asked me to go with him to get propane. It was a short trip to town. Sure.

Off we went. I knew the dough would rise and be at the perfect height to punch down when I returned. We got delayed by a few minutes and when we got back one batch of dough was running over the edge of the bowl. A real “dough-saster”. I quickly scooped it up, punched it down and let it rise again. Disaster averted. Soon the house smelled of delicious cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.

Now let me show you what I learned. Yeast causes the bread to rise. It is a chemical reaction. It gets big and fluffy and can even run over. Our lives are like that too. We can get all puffed up and get a big head when we allow pride to control us and we can spill over when we don’t keep our tempers in control.

Leaven or yeast was symbolic of something the Jewish people considered unclean. The night of the first Passover they were told to bake their bread without leaven. It was a sign that they could go on a moment’s notice to do what God directed. Their bread didn’t need time to rise, they could go now. Jesus warned the disciples that the teachings of the religious elite would pollute their purpose.

“Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” 12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:11-12 NLT

I was reminded to keep a sense of humility. What a wonderful gift! A sense or awareness that God wanted me to be ready, on a moments notice, to do for others. He wants me to help them as I can.

“God has given me His loving-favor. This helps me write these things to you. I ask each one of you not to think more of himself than he should think. Instead, think in the right way toward yourself by the faith God has given you. 4 Our bodies are made up of many parts. None of these parts have the same use. 5 There are many people who belong to Christ. And yet, we are one body which is Christ’s. We are all different but we depend on each other. ” Romans 12:3-5 NLV

As we help others we season their lives with the wonderful gift of God’s love.

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Christmas Tradition

When I worked outside the home, I always started my Christmas decorating the day after Thanksgiving. I had the day off, guests were gone and I’ve never been one to shop on Black Friday.

This last week while cleaning, I was also preparing the house for today. Moving small pieces of furniture to make a place for the tree and the different nativities I put out.

It’s Tradition! Another word for tradition is purpose.

My first memories of Christmas are of my daddy, with his big Bible, reading the Christmas story on Christmas morning. After he finished reading, he led our family in prayer. This was the focal point of our day. After Dave and I were married, he read the same account from Luke 2 and then one of us would lead our family in prayer.

There were Christmases when the gifts were few but it didn’t spoil the day. Christmas was never been about us and what we got. The focus had always been on Christ and what He gave. His birth was and is our reason for celebration.

There are many things we do during the Christmas season, they each have a purpose. The nativity is the center piece of our Christmas decorations; the special carols, the Christmas stockings that Mom and now, I, have made for our family, the books on the coffee table, kringla (a Norwegian cookie) and the peanut butter balls are all reminders of love of family and love for the Lord.. If we forget the reason for the season, it’s just another commercial holiday that leaves us feeling empty and disappointed with “that’s all I got”.

As parents and grandparents it’s our responsibility to see that the traditions we establish point upward to Jesus and not inward to self.

“I taught you the laws and rules that the Lord my God commanded me. I did this so you could obey them in the land you are ready to enter and take for your own. 6 Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.’

7 “The Lord our God is near when we ask him to help us. No other nation has a god like that! 8 And no other nation is great enough to have laws and rules as good as the teachings I give you today. 9 But you must be careful! Be sure that as long as you live you never forget what you have seen. You must teach these things to your children and grandchildren. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Horeb. The Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people together to listen to what I have to say. Then they will learn to respect me as long as they live on earth. And they will teach these things to their children.’ ” Deuteronomy 4:5-10 ERV

It’s never too early or too late to start a tradition! Fill your Christmas season with purpose!

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Whatever!

Yesterday was one of those days that I just had to sit down at my desk and get some work done. Things had been piling up and there was no getting around it, I had to give it my full attention.

This morning I took out my journal and was going to write down what I was thankful for from yesterday and I had to stop, pen in hand and think. There didn’t seem to be anything significant to record on the page. However, I knew that I had a good day. I was happy and content when I went to bed but how did I put that into words. Then the word came…whatever.

“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ” Colossians 3:23 NLT

Whatever. The large and the small, the mundane and the important, whatever we do should be done with diligence and devotion.  I was able to write on the gratitude list “a job well done”.

Sometimes we struggle thinking that what we do isn’t important because we aren’t as skilled or trained as others around us. We aren’t a teacher, scientist, doctor or engineer. Yet, if we do all our tasks with a grateful heart we can represent the Lord and there is no higher calling than that.

I was reminded of some servants who were at a wedding. Mary, the mother of Jesus, gave them a simple instruction. “whatever He tells you to do, do it.” Jesus told the servants to fill some jars with water and take a dipper of water to the wedding co-ordinator. Simple, non-skilled labor but the “whatever” became a miracle of Jesus turning the water to wine.

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 NLT

What’s before you today? Do you have a long  “to-do” list? May I encourage you to write WHATEVER at the top of the page and then do it all to the glory of God.

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A Winner!

Going to talk about exercise for a bit this morning. When we first realize that we “need” to exercise it’s never pleasant. Accepting that we are out of shape and not as healthy as you should be is the first step. When we were kids it was called recess and it was fun but now that we are adults if just seems like work.

The first few days we have a real commitment or at least that’s what we tell ourselves. But then comes day 7 or 8; and it becomes harder to stay committed to the goal. Our muscles hurt, we’re not seeing any results yet, we start making excuses and when we do that we are on your way to failure. I know, I’ve failed many times.

Never once do I ever remember moaning and groaning about going out to recess. There were a number of times that I had to sit on the sidewalk, next to the teacher and miss recess. It was horrible, I wanted to be out playing (ssh, exercising).

Now think back to our childhood days exercise wasn’t a bad word, it was called fun. To be outside with our buddies playing ball, running through the yard playing tag or football. Going hiking to our favorite fishing spot or walking the mile to the swimming pool in the afternoon heat (my personal favorite). It was fun and we were in shape.

Of course you know this is going to have a spiritual correlation.

When we face trials and temptations it is an opportunity to exercise our faith. James tells us to count it joy because we will be developed and end up lacking nothing.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.” James 1:2-4 CEV

Facing trials is like building muscle. At first, we see little victories but then to continue to develop a muscle we must increase the weigh, the repetition or both. In walking with the Lord, we’re never left to do this on our own.. We have a great coach who is with us every step. Under His direction and inspiration we come out the winner.

“13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations.” I Corinthians 10:13 CEV

Jesus knows what this is all about because He went through every temptation we experience while he was here on earth. Who better to coach us than someone whose been there, done that and emerged as the Champion of Champions!

“We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:14-16 ERV

Thank you Lord for coaching me through life and providing all the help I need to develop and finish a winner!

Time for recess!

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The Great Pumpkin

Many of you have taken your children and perhaps, your grandchildren to the pumpkin patch. It’s so much fun!

I remember one particular time that we went on a school field trip to the farm; each child got to find, and take home, their own pumpkin. There was apple cider, donuts, pies to be purchased, a corn maze and a hay ride. Everyone had a wonderful time. The air was crisp, Fall was in the air. It was a refreshing day.

At our house, pumpkins are for baking not for carving. Years ago, we attend a Harvest Party at our church in California. One of the men from the church, who worked in the agriculture field, acquired a large pumpkin for the photo area. It was a 75 pound pumpkin and when the night was over there was a quandary as to what would become of the pumpkin.

It came home with us. I spent the next several days washing, scooping out seeds, baking pumpkin shell and flesh, then pureeing it for pumpkin pies and pumpkin breads. Oh the house smelled wonderful. There were pumpkin pies on every counter in the kitchen and as they cooled they went in to the freezer. Twenty-eight, ten-inch, homemade pumpkin pies with crust from scratch – it was truly a labor of love! My kids still talk about those pies to this day.

A few years back I found this analogy of Christians and pumpkins on the internet. I’m not sure who wrote it originally but it certainly rang true with my heart.

“A lady recently being baptized was asked by a co-worker what it was like to be a Christian. She replied, “It’s like being a pumpkin:  God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off… Then he cuts the top off and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.”

This is the Father’s promise to us; He takes what we were and makes us into something new.

“The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature, and he holds everything together by his powerful command. The Son made people clean from their sins. Then he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 ERV

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:16-17 NLT

“For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

Chosen – Cleansed – Filled with life and light. Like a great pumpkin, God has blessed us with a delicious new life!

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Praying in the Garden

Anyone remember cassette tapes? A few of my favorites from the early 1990’s were by a group called Heirloom. But alas, I no longer have a cassette player so I thought that music was gone. I recently found a CD of their music, all the songs that were on that cassette, I purchased it right away. The harmony is angelic and the words of the songs fill my heart with such joy.

Yesterday I was out running errands and had the CD playing. One of the songs that is particularly meaningful to me is titled, Crying in the Garden. Here are just a few lines:

Can’t you hear Him crying in the garden
A broken hearted Savior that day
Weeping for His straying children
And those who have turned Him away.

While the city slept in the distance
There on a hillside I see
Jesus with heart heavy laden
Kneeling in Gethsemane.

This song talks of Jesus last hours on earth. He knew the cross was before Him, soon the soldiers would come to arrest Him. He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. This morning I re-read the words of His prayer.

I had to ask myself, if I were in my last hours of life how would I pray. Jesus’ prayer, His conversation with His Father, was one of love and gratitude. He was resolved. He willingly gave His life for our redemption. He was praying for us, for those of us who would accept His gift of new life and He was praying that everyone would take advantage of this wonderful gift.

He was praying that we would experience the same wonderful, loving relationship with the Father that He had. Here’s the last few verses of Jesus prayer, it’s recorded in John 17. This is what Jesus was praying for us…

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.

22 I have honored my followers in the same way that you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. 23 I am one with them, and you are one with me, so that they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.

24 Father, I want everyone you have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that you have given me, because you loved me before the world was created. 25 Good Father, the people of this world don’t know you. But I know you, and my followers know that you sent me. 26 I told them what you are like, and I will tell them even more. Then the love that you have for me will become part of them, and I will be one with them.” John 17:20-27 CEV

Jesus heart was heavy. He knew that He would be separated from God’s presence for the first time since time began. He knew that when He took all our sins on Himself that God, the Father, wouldn’t be able to look at Him. The heavens grew black at that hour. But He knew that He would come out of the grave victoriously and that all of mankind would be free to have relationship with the Father once again.

He knew the sacrifice would be worth it and He prayed for us!

“We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side[a] of God’s throne! 3 So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won’t get discouraged and give up.” Hebrews 12:2-3 CEV

I’m so grateful that Jesus prayed for me in that Garden. I believe His prayers are answered. I believe that God the Father loves me as much as He loves Jesus and that I can show the world His love.

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Who Am I?

Some days I have to determine who I need to be. What role requires my attention? Mother, wife, sister, daughter, neighbor, friend. Will I be a quiet listener and observe life around me or will I be an active participant? Will I be self serving or generous and kind? At one point in time I have been all of these and sometimes I have been them all in the same day.

That’s why it’s so important that I start each day in God’s word, reminding myself who He says I am.

Well, this morning I would like to invite you to step into a Bible story and assume a role. You need to choose one of the characters that you indentify with and play the part as we read the verses. The characters; a social outcast, a debutante, an ambitious CFO, a leading CEO and an ambitious type A personality.

Have you chosen your character? Now let’s read the story line.

“Six days before the Passover festival, Jesus went to Bethany. That is where Lazarus lived, the man Jesus raised from death. 2 There they had a dinner for Jesus. Martha served the food, and Lazarus was one of the people eating with Jesus. 3 Mary brought in a pint of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet. Then she wiped his feet with her hair. And the sweet smell from the perfume filled the whole house.

4 Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ followers, was there—the one who would later hand Jesus over to his enemies. Judas said, 5 “That perfume was worth a full year’s pay. It should have been sold, and the money should have been given to the poor people.” 6 But Judas did not really care about the poor. He said this because he was a thief. He was the one who kept the moneybag for the group of followers. And he often stole money from the bag.

7 Jesus answered, “Don’t stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today—the day for me to be prepared for burial. 8 You will always have those who are poor with you. But you will not always have me.” John 12:1-8 ERV

Jesus knew all of these people well. Three of them were some of his closest friends and the fourth was one of his inner circle. It’s very encouraging to me that Jesus didn’t choose the polished, the refined, the proper when he chose his disciples and his friends. The people around him were flawed, egotistical and others lacked confidence, common and prone to mistakes.

Let’s look at the characters; social outcast – Jesus, debutante – Mary, CFO – Judas, CEO – Lazarus, and type A – Martha. Do you want to change the one you decided to portray?

A few chapters before this Jesus had talked to Mary about being too busy to sit at his feet and hear his words. We find her doing the same thing here. Busy working when she should have been focused on Jesus and what he was saying, after all, he had just raised her brother from the dead a few days earlier.

Now Mary, an unmarried woman (I assume), she was devoted to Jesus and loved to be close and hear his words. She was thrilled that he had brought her brother back to life and was showing her devotion and worship to the Lord in the most impractical way. She broke a bottle of expensive perfume on Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair. In that day, a woman’s hair was her crowing glory and this showed her complete humility and gratitude. It would also bring her ridicule in the community.

The CEO, Lazarus, sat quietly throughout the dinner. His love and gratitude of his Savior compelled him to open his house for a dinner. A dinner to honor the Son of Man who had given him life.

Our CFO, Judas, one of Jesus disciples was a crook. He hid it well but a crook all the same. His only concern was for financial gain. Jesus knew that Judas would betray him for financial gain. This night his protest was “for the poor”. Oh, it sounded good but he wasn’t concerned for the poor but only for the finances that might have been available to him if the perfume had been sold.

Our social outcast is Jesus. Hated by the elite of society and religion, he continued to do the works that his Father sent him to do. He loved people. He continued to minister healing, forgiveness and restoration to all. It cost Him his life.

Sadly, I have played the role of each of our characters; I have been ambitious for financial gain, an overachiever driven by work and less by worship, a silent but grateful recepient of salvation and a demonstrative admirer who willingly gave up reputation to worship the Lord.

In each and every role that I have played Jesus has been there to love me through it – love me into being who He desires me to be. The key is to identify ourselves, make no excuse for our failings and allow Him to change us, to use us and to empower us by His unconditional love.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. ” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

I have a new role to play, I am a new person in Christ. To God be the glory!

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To Die For

When I went looking for an image to go with my blog title this morning I came across this one of carrot cake. My favorite but I’m not willing to die for it.

That’s just “to die for” has been a pretty popular phrase. A colloquialism. col·lo·qui·al·ism. NOUN

  1. a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

Let me ask you, what’s “to die for” in your life? Your family…your faith…your neighbor…your country…a piece of carrot cake?

Christ looked at us and said “You’re to die for”. And He did.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 5:6-10 CEV

Now let me ask another question. What do you find worth living for? What gives you purpose each morning? What keeps you going when you want to quit?

” I honestly expect and hope that I will never do anything to be ashamed of. Whether I live or die, I always want to be as brave as I am now and bring honor to Christ. 21 If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more. 22 I don’t know what to choose. I could keep on living and doing something useful. 23 It is a hard choice to make. I want to die and be with Christ, because that would be much better. 24-25 But I know that all of you still need me. That’s why I am sure I will stay on to help you grow and be happy in your faith.” Philippians 1:20-24 CEV

Paul said he preferred to die to be with Christ but chose to continue living for the benefit of the Christians that he was ministering too. We were the reason he chose to live.

Since Jesus chose to die for us we should be willing to live for Him!

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