Be Thankful instead of Complaining. Shine like the Stars!

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, "children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation." Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16 NIV)

Wow, that is hard. I have been trying to remember this even the last few days. It is hard. Jesus I am sorry. I want to shine as your light to the world. But, I can only trust in you and your strength not my own self control. God please change my heart; I want to be thankful, not complaining or arguing. You are our light, shine through me!

Trust in the Lord: even in doubt

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord's praise,
for he has been good to me.
(Psalm 13:1-6 NIV)

David had times of doubt and he felt abandoned by God. Yet he continues to trust our Lord and remember that God has been good to him before. In the end David knows he is hopeless and would not have true and eternal life unless God is with him.

And his heart rejoices in God's salvation. He rejoices now in life not later!

God I doubt but I want to trust you more. Lord you have given me so many good things. But I want to trust you and rejoice in you because you love me and have saved me! Lord use me for your glory. I pray others would come to know you and the joy of your salvation through me.
Amen

Meditation: Being productive and humble

Proverbs 6: 1-19

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV)

My natural desire is to be lazy and not plan ahead. But God made us to be productive and provide for ourselves and our family. Like the ant we need to live with wisdom and motivation to do what God calls us to with all things in balance and in their season. Father God you worked for 6 days and made this beautiful world and life. But on the seventh day you rested. Lord I want to be productive and take sabbath rest, help me to live both for your glory.

There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
(Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)

I have haughty meaning prideful eyes. I confess that to you Lord, and I want to humble myself as your son did to take on human form and die for us sinners. Lord let me see others with the love, understanding and forgiveness you see me and other with.

Amen

Matthew 5:21-26 Anger = Murder???

Matthew 5:21-26

New International Version (NIV)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’^[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

   ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

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

Daniel’s Thoughts:

This is the passage for InterVarsity Bible Studies the past two weeks. I am going to do something different and only ask questions now. These questions will help guide the bible study at Red Rocks community College that I will be leading this Thursday. For some of the questions I believe that I know the answer to, but I think it is helpful to ask the questions and really think through the passage without my usual assuming attitude. I pray that God would answer my questions and yours. Also feel free to comment with your own questions, thoughts or answers.

1.    Who is the Jesus speaking to?

2.    From where and how have the people heard that the quote in v 21 was said?

3.    Why was this command given first differently?

4.    Why does Jesus give us a new understanding of the command?

a.    Why then?

b.    Why does he have the authority to do so?

5.    What is judgment?

6.    Does God get angry? Did Jesus get angry?

7.    If God gets angry then why do we face judgment for getting angry?

8.    What is the difference between Raca and you fool. Why are the punishments different?

9.    What does it mean to seek reconciliation?

10.  Why should we first reconcile with our brother or sister before coming to God?

11.  What if the other person is the one who did something wrong? Do I still need to seek reconciliation even if they are not?

12.  How do we live apply this lesson to our lives?

13.  How can we follow this command with this added meaning?

14.  Can we ever truly follow this? If not then what? Why did Jesus say this? What do we do?

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

God

I don’t understand.

You have called us to live a different life

A hard life

I have many questions and doubts.

But I trust you.

Lord I believe, help my unbelief.

We can never live up to all of this

Not on our own

But you live in us and change us

From the inside out.

Change my heart.

Teach me to love

Teach me patience

Teach me wisdom

Take away my anger.

Amen

I am back! God you are the Lord of all! I want to seek you!

Well I am finally back. I have not posted for about 2 weeks. They have been crazy weeks, but really my whole life is crazy. Honestly I try to do too much and I am running like crazy. At some point I believe I will crash, but for now God has given me the energy, faith, purpose and joy to keep running! However, I also need to learn the value of rest and Sabbaths, for God has given them to us and called us to them. This is because God loves us and knows that rest is good for us. Let us do all things to the glory of God! Whether that is school, sleeping, praying, socializing, ministry, or even rest all glory to you Lord!

Through all of this I know God is good and faithful! Here are two verses that sum up my heart right now.

Deuteronomy 4:39

New International Version (NIV)

³⁹ Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 

Psalm 63:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

¹ You, God, are my God, 
   earnestly I seek you; 
I thirst for you, 
   my whole being longs for you, 
in a dry and parched land 
   where there is no water.

 ² I have seen you in the sanctuary 
   and beheld your power and your glory. 
³ Because your love is better than life, 
   my lips will glorify you. 
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live, 
   and in your name I will lift up my hands. 

Daniel’s Thoughts:

I hope to get back to posting regularly. I have really enjoyed writing and sharing blog posts. This has blessed me and my personal walk with Jesus. I hope that my thoughts and prayers would bless you as well!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

 You are God of heaven above and earth below

There is no other!

You are good when there is nothing good in me.

You are faithful always.

You are my God.

I want to follow you

With all of my heart, soul, mind and strength

For

I have seen your glory and power!

And your mercy and love!

All glory to you Lord!

Amen

John 12 part 2: Jesus Enters Jerusalem Triumphantly

John 12: 12-19 (Palm Sunday)

New International Version (NIV)

¹² The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³ They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

   “Hosanna!”

   “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

 ¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

 ¹⁵ “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
   see, your king is coming,
   seated on a donkey’s colt.”

 ¹⁶ At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

 ¹⁷ Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸ Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

At my church we call the Sunday before Easter Palm Sunday. We remember the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem! God’s people praise the Lord and wave palm branches blessing Jesus! They believe that Jesus is the king of Israel the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

But pay attention, Jesus enters riding on the colt of a donkey. Jesus the King of the Earth rides into Jerusalem, the city of God in the land of God’s people Israel not on a chariot with an army, but on the back of a colt. For all of this happens is just as it is written in Zechariah 9:9 quoted here in verse 15. God’s plans are not like ours. I believe Jesus fulfilled all that was promised of the Messiah of the Old Testament and promise to Abraham.

Yet not even Jesus’ disciples understood what was happening. Only looking back after what is to come on this journey to the cross and resurrection will we be able to understand as the disciples came to understand. Then they believed as we believe.

For now God’s plan seems to be going well as we walk through the Gospel of John. But the journey has only begun as Jesus enters Jerusalem.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Prepare our hearts

For this journey to the cross

And beyond!

As you entered Jerusalem let us rejoice!

But there is more to come

For your wisdom is not of the world.

Your glory is not like our glory

For your Son came riding on the colt of a donkey.  

Amen

John 3 part 1: Jesus Teaches a Religious Leader

John 3: 1-12

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

 ³ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

 ⁴ “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

 ⁵ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

 ⁹ “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

   ¹⁰ “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? ¹¹ Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹² I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

Daniel’s Thoughts:

In Jesus’ ministry he spoke and interacted with Jew, Gentile, “sinner” and Pharisee. Jesus taught the religious elite of the day particularly the Pharisees. Jesus and the Pharisees may have had similar theology but Jesus calls into question their heart and application of their understanding of God and his word.

In this passage Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a Pharisee what it means to be born again of water and of the Spirit. Yet Nicodemus does not understand. Even a religious leader of the time who knew the law intimately failed to understand one of many lessons Jesus had for us. As Jesus asks, how can you understand more even heavenly things if you can not understand this?

What does this say for us today? How are we the church and Christians hard hearted. What lessons does Jesus have for us today. Are we open to listen? Do we really believe in what Jesus says and not what we want Jesus to say?

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Humble us

To listen and hear you

To seek your will and wisdom

Not ours.

As the church and Christians

Help us to listen for what

You say Jesus

 in scripture

And in our life

In our life of prayer

Not to what we want

or think you meant

But only to you Lord!

Amen