What's on Your Silver Platter?

I know of someone who has more opportunities than most people, an opportunity to see a dream come true and make an amazing contribution to this world and the spiritual world and this person does not recognize it for what it truly is. It lies before this person on the proverbial silver platter and is ignored for another day, another time or after this hobby or event. Do you know someone like this? Was this or is this you?

As I was lamenting over this person and the decisions being made, I was quickly reminded that I am no different. My Father owns cattle on a thousand hills. He is the King of Kings and He is offering me or waiting to offer me more than I can imagine or even ask for and I set Him aside for another day or another time; after this hobby or event. The Maker of the universe, the One who died for me, the One who rules over everything is doing everything to get my attention, to reach out to me in relationship and who know what else. Why don’t I see this when the opportunity to spend time with Him arises? Why do I choose the “pig pen”(Luke 15:11-32) when all the “riches” I could imagine are lying before me?

Oh how Jesus must shake His head and shed tears over my wasted opportunities and joys. He loves me so much, more than I will ever know this side of heaven. At times I take that love for granted. It will always be there for me so He can wait. Sad, isn’t it?! I have had some pretty incredible times with Christ, intimate sweet times that I truly cherish but somehow forget when faced with doing my Bible Study or spending long periods of time praying. I think in the moment most times not the long term. I think of my desires not the desires of Jesus or even others because the more time I spend with Him the better I am for everyone else. As Jack Nicholson said, “You make me want to be a better man (woman).” When I spend time with Jesus in prayer, meditation and Bible study, I want to be a better woman.

Part of me thinks I need to add some insightful comment on scripture but I’m not thinking of anything right now. I know that I am not the only one who is turning his/her back on all that Jesus has to offer.

• Peace
• Joy
• Security
• Hope
• Love
• Help in our time of need

Rev 21:21 “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.”

Rev 4:2b-5a “there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder.”

2 Kings 6:15-17 “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

This is a glimpse of some the power, majesty and wealth of the One who wishes to be in relationship with each of us. He gave up all of that to DIE for us so that we might be with Him and be in relationship with Him and we often walk away from that. WHY?

Do a word search on one of the words or all of the words listed above. Meditate on the verses above and think on what lies before you and what you will do in response to His invitation to be in relationship with Him. You are not alone nor do you have to live on or in your own power. Jesus has all that you need right now. Lean on Him. Say “yes” to Him. It will be more than you can hope for or imagine. (Eph 3:20)

Giving joy away

It is always pretty amazing when the communications/worship leader is the one who does the sermon. I often marvel at the way these people in particular can take what they are speaking on and carry the theme of that message all the way until the end leaving us with a complete package of what the message was.

This happened again this morning. Our worship leader did the sermon at our church. We have been going through Philippians and the message this morning was on chapter 4 verses 1-7. I have heard and read many different messages on this popular portion of scripture. I have even written on this portion of scripture. The Holy Spirit never ceases to amaze me at how He can teach us something new from an “old” or familiar portion of scripture, if we keep our minds and hearts open to Him. This morning was no exception. Tom, our speaker/teacher this morning drew something from this passage that I don’t think I’ve heard before. He focused on the relationship and responsibility of the church to help bring resolution to conflicts and unity back to the church by helping two women who were having a conflict in the church of Philippi. He also brought out the Webster’s definition of rejoice that also shed new light unto the passage for me. Rejoice according to Webster means to give joy. To attempt paraphrase a 30min sermon, Tom was telling us that in and through Jesus we can give joy to those in the church to bring unity, resolution of conflict and in his words, power. Our willingness to give joy through word and action is powerful. He weaved the illustration of this power in light. He had a light bulb and then at the end a woman danced in the darkened auditorium with illuminated balls on string. It was a very powerful illustration for me regarding the power of joy as we give it to others.

As Tom was speaking of the light and the power of the light, I couldn’t help but remember 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another...” We can only give powerful and lasting joy away when we have gotten it from Jesus Himself, the Light of the world. There was one moment when Tom was standing near the light and from my perspective his face was obscured by the brightness of the light. Essentially, Tom disappeared and only the light was visible. Isn’t this what we want in the church? If we are close enough to the Light and interact with others (the church in this sermon) those we are interacting with won’t see us at all just the Light, Jesus.

Hmm….something to meditate on….

Another interesting thing about Tom’s sermon was his challenge to us to not give up on each other. We have the choice to just do nothing, nothing at all. When we choose to do nothing either the person we could have brought power, hope and joy to will die in some way or we will. So we either choose life or we choose death. This weekend my husband and I were on a retreat for our church and Tom and his wife were there as well. Tom may not have realized it but his comment to me about how he has read my blog when it’s posted on our church facebook page, brought life (power) to me. As you know, I have given into the relaxed schedule of the summer and have not posted a blog for some time. His simple comment encouraged me to make the time to sit down again and do what I know God has asked me to do. Thanks, Tom for bringing power into my life by giving away some the joy Jesus has given you!

Cavat: I just learned from Tom that Jeff Smith was the one who helped with the program. Way to go Jeff!