Notes of Faith February 10, 2024

Notes of Faith February 10, 2024

How Big God Is

Moses was a very humble man, more so than anyone on the face of the earth.

— Numbers 12:3

When I read this verse, I can’t help but think of all that Moses did. He was the man who led the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt, held the rod through which God parted the Red Sea, met with God on the mountaintop, carried the actual tablets of the Ten Commandments — though he later smashed them in a moment of anger — and even saw the back of God when he asked to see His glory. This man who knew God, who revered God, who got as close to God as he could get and still live was said to be humbler than anyone who walked the face of the earth. When I read this in Scripture, I tend to think that when we get that up close and personal with God, we truly understand that God is God, and we are not. We know the difference. And therein lies the key to understanding true humility.

Sometimes, in our effort to put the Word into practice, I think we mistakenly confuse humility with ideas of low self-esteem or thinking less of oneself. But being humble is not about putting ourselves down or projecting ourselves as less than we are or as knowing less than we do.

Being humble is about recognizing how big God is.

It is about having a right view of ourselves in relationship to Him. It is about living with an awareness that God is God, and we are not. It’s about knowing who we are in Him: children of the King.1 Filled with the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.2 It is about living in a divine tension of acknowledging that outside of God I can do nothing, but in Christ I can do all things.3

Do you see the difference? I want to walk humbly with my God. I want to be humble in everything I do. Honoring God. Acknowledging God. Trusting God. Walking with Him daily. Dependent on Him in every moment. Aware of how big He is and how it’s only in Him that I can be all He’s created me to be and fulfill all the purpose He has for me. I can endure with strength in faith until I step into eternity. Putting myself down will never achieve any of that.

The next time you start to put yourself down, catch yourself. Turn your thoughts to God and how big He is. Think of all you are in Him, of all you can do in Him. Find verses that speak of this and personalize them, saying them aloud to yourself and to God in that moment. It’s one more way we can continue to be transformed so we see ourselves the way He does, as someone created in His image. It’s one more way we can remind ourselves how big God is.

Heavenly Father, help me understand true humility and walk in it today. Help me see how big You are in every circumstance in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1 John 3:2.

Romans 8:11.

Philippians 4:13.

Excerpted from You’re Not Finished Yet by Christine Caine, copyright Caso Writing, LLC.

How big is your God? Is there anything that He cannot do? If you answered no, then you need to live a life that shows you believe that truth! God is much more than we can understand, and yet He wants us to draw near and know Him, having an intimate relationship with Him. For those that believe in and follow Jesus we will have an eternal relationship, walking with our Lord and Savior as Adam did in the garden of Eden! Praise God!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 11, 2024

Notes of Faith February 11, 2024

The God Who Sees: Worshiping in the Desert

The God Who Sees Online Bible Study is coming soon — starting March 4th! We hope you join us as we study stories in the Bible (David, Hagar, Ruth and Boaz, Mary Magdalene) that remind us that God sees us, is faithfully watching over us, and is with us to help us fulfill His direction in our lives. Sign up today! It is FREE!

When we are in the desert, what is it we think about? The desert. We think about our depression, anxiety, and fears. We focus on our trials, struggles, and challenges. We think about the desolation and wilderness we see around us because it is all we can see.

When Hagar found herself in a desert for the second time, in a barren landscape with no water, her focus was on her life-threatening plight and the seemingly hopeless situation for herself and her son.

But God changed Hagar’s focus. The Bible says that He “opened her eyes” and showed her a well just off in the distance filled with life-saving water.

This is what worship does for us in the desert. It opens our eyes to something greater than the desolation before us. It reminds us of who God is and that He is near. It takes our focus off ourselves so we can drink from the well of living water.

Of course, worshiping in the desert is not our natural inclination. It requires effort to shift our focus. But when we do, we provide space for God to move. We allow our imaginations to explore the possibility that things could get better. We start to believe we are not doomed to die in the desert.

The desert is anything but desolate. It is the place where God often chooses to meet with us, speak to us, and begin something new in us. Even if you don’t know why you are in the desert — even if you are not seeing any growth or don’t sense that you are hearing God’s voice — worship still serves as a reminder that something is happening beneath the surface. God is at work in your desert. Worship might be just what your heart needs to stay attuned to His voice.

Read Habakkuk 3:17-19

Hab 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom

And there be no fruit on the vines,

Though the yield of the olive should fail

And the fields produce no food,

Though the flock should be cut off from the fold

And there be no cattle in the stalls,

18 Yet I will exult in the Lord,

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

19 The Lord God is my strength,

And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,

And makes me walk on my high places.

Reflect

Habakkuk was a prophet in the Old Testament who was active sometime around 607 BC, during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah.1 In his book, he asks why God would allow the nation to grow evil under the leadership of this king and why he would allow the Babylonians to conquer Judah. For much of the book, Habakkuk laments the fate of his people, but by chapter 3, he remembers who God is and begins to worship. How does Habakkuk describe the landscape around him? How does he describe God?

What does Habakkuk compare himself to in this passage? What does this tell us about how worship affects him?

Think about the last time you truly worshiped God. This could be at your church, in your home, or anywhere you felt connected to God. How did this time in worship impact you? How did it make you feel about whatever you were facing at the time?

In your current season, what are some things (if any) that keep you from worshiping God? How could you worship God today, even if you are in the wilderness?

Pray

Spend time today just worshiping God. Thank Him for what He has done. Name His attributes: good, kind, strong, Father. If you’re able, assume a posture of worship by kneeling, or raising your hands, or whatever helps you feel less distracted and able to worship Him.

“Habakkuk 1—The Prophet’s Problem,” Enduring Word, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/habakkuk-1/.

Excerpted from The God Who Sees Study Guide, copyright Kathie Lee Gifford.

Worship God. Seek God. Learn of God. Know God. Have an intimate relationship with God. Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just spend time with God, focusing on Him, without distractions. We will draw closer than we have ever been to the One who loves us most. Go grow close now!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 9, 2024

Notes of Faith February 9, 2024

It is never too early to reflect on the truth of resurrection. March 31 is resurrection Sunday this year, but every day is the day to reflect on our own resurrection due to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

The Ultimate Ending

He has risen from the dead... Now I have told you. — Matthew 28:7 NIV

I went into the kitchen after a restless night, thinking about a friend recently diagnosed with a brain tumor considered terminal, and turned on the morning news. A man had just hijacked a car with a four-year-old boy inside. Police were chasing the driver through the streets of Denver in rush-hour traffic. A helicopter was filming the pursuit live, showing the car going eighty miles per hour through red lights and busy intersections.

I watched in horror, waiting for the accident that was sure to happen. Amazingly, this car kept missing others. The chase went on for ten minutes with dangerous maneuvers across an open field to access another busy highway, where the man drove the wrong way. Finally, he got a flat tire and the car spun to a stop. The suspect jumped out and started running, but police surrounded him. The chase was over. I felt exhausted but relieved that it ended safely, especially for the child in the back seat.

Later, I watched a rerun of the shocking events with my husband but was surprised to find that it was a totally different emotional experience for me.

I felt no fear because I knew the end of the story.

I kept thinking about the parallel of the car chase to my friend’s cancer diagnosis. Even as her story unfolds with frightening unknowns, I know the ultimate ending. God promises us eternal life. My friend knows that promise, too, and I can pray she keeps receiving comfort in believing.

The Lord has already written the end of the story.

Let Us Pray

Lord, You have already written the ending, which gives us hope while still living in the middle of our stories.

Luke 24:1–8 NIV

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! remember how He told you, while He was still with you in galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered His words.

~Carol Kuykendall

Excerpted from Faith Over Fear, copyright Guideposts.

2 Cor 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Cor 4:16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 8, 2024

Notes of Faith February 8, 2024

When Burdens Are Too Burdensome

I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.

— Numbers 11:14

Moses boldly spoke these very honest words to the Lord: the Israelites were far too big a burden for Moses to bear. God responded to Moses’ weariness by assigning additional people to carry the load, specifically seventy elders who could help Moses lead. God heard the cry of Moses and acted.

Many of us carry burdens, and the biggest burden we may find ourselves carrying is people with all their burdens.

Did you know that God didn’t design us to carry even our own burdens?

We are to give our cares and concerns to the Lord. So why do so many of us spend our lives carrying not only our burdens but also the burdens of others? You don’t have to.

Know that God sees you just as He saw Moses. God hears your cries. The Almighty God will carry your burden and relieve you of the heavy burdens that you are carrying for others. Let Him — with relief and gratitude.

Lord, I’m weary. I’m so tired of my own burdens and from my burdens, and I can barely handle the weight of other people’s problems. Help me! Amen.

God didn’t design us to carry our burdens.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. — 1 Peter 5:7

Has anxiety bothered you this week? Have deadlines and to-do lists increased stress like bunnies multiplying in springtime? Have you noticed that the older you get, the more anxious you become? If you answered yes to any of those questions, look again at Peter’s reminder of a very simple (but hard to do) solution: casting. To cast is to throw something with such strength that you don’t expect to have that object returned. Casting your anxiety, then, is an act of surrender.

You can safely cast your cares on Jesus because He loves you.

He is not sitting in Heaven tsk-tsking you for being needy.

No, Jesus willingly bears your burdens. Compelled by His great love for you, He wants to take those worries and concerns from you. So your job is to let Him do His job. Pray. Tell Him about every single source of stress in your life. It’s time to let your fear go into the capable hands of your Friend.

Jesus, please help me surrender my anxieties to You. I am so grateful that You love me and will take them from me, amen.

Excerpted from The Beautiful Word Devotional, copyright Zondervan.

There are so many things to be worried about, things that occupy our time and energy. Yes, we can and should hand the stress over to the Lord, but that does not mean that we sit back and do nothing. God leads us in decisions that we need to make, how to handle next steps, moving forward, not lazily sitting and doing nothing. We must act on the Word of God and the principles that He gives in the Scriptures. We must listen to Him in prayer (hard to do) and through this intimacy know exactly what we are to do and say in any given situation.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 7, 2024

Notes of Faith February 7, 2024

Faith Amid Fear

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” — Mark 10:35

Perhaps you’ve heard it said that the phrase “fear not” or something similar occurs 365 times in the Bible, one for every day of the year. Clearly, with so many mentions, it is an important topic to God. And yet, it seems we can’t get past our fear and anxiousness. In our culture of constant information, the bombardment of distressing news presented around the clock feeds our fear. Maybe we think that if Jesus were just present right here on earth with us, we’d be less worrisome and nothing would phase us.

However, the gospels are full of situations where even Jesus’ closest friends were consumed with fear and burdened with worry.

One of the most well-known stories of the disciples’ fear is that of the storm on the sea of Galilee. Even though these men were experienced fishermen, certainly capable of handling a boat in bad weather, this storm must have been severe enough to threaten their lives. All the while, Jesus was lying there, asleep.

And they went to Him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing’. — Matthew 8:25

After asking them why they were afraid, He rose and rebuked the winds and waves, and “there was a great calm” (v. 26). He could have simply told them not to worry; He was there. His presence would be enough. But this storm was greater than the usual ones they had faced. And they were afraid.

Perhaps you’ve been in a situation that seems more threatening than others. Maybe you’ve had scary diagnoses before, but this one is worse, and you’re scared. You’ve had fights before, but this one seems irredeemable, and now you’re afraid for the relationship. Your child has been in trouble before, but this time it’s on another level, and your mind can’t think of anything except what if?

Even though we know Jesus is always with us, it’s often difficult to remember that He can handle even the situations far beyond what we’ve experienced before.

We also tend to worry and fear when God’s timing is not our timing. We call on Him and ask for help, and He seems silent or absent. Jesus’ dear friends Mary and Martha experienced this when they sent word to Jesus that Lazarus, their brother, was ill. John recorded that

when [Jesus] heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was. — John 11:6

That seems like an odd thing to do when someone you love is seriously ill. However, Jesus told His disciples that it was for “the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (v. 4). Jesus knew exactly what He was doing — there was a greater purpose for His waiting. Still, it’s hard to understand God’s timing. Although Mary and Martha had faith that Jesus could heal their brother, they became fearful when the situation seemed beyond hope, when it was too late.

Are you feeling fearful today? Do you worry that this recent situation is too big or that it’s too late for Jesus to redeem it? Take a minute to consider that by the time the disciples experienced the storm on the sea, they had been with Jesus for a while, witnessing His miracles. Matthew recorded that they had seen Him cleanse a leper, heal the servant of a centurion without even being physically present, and “cast out the [demonic] spirits with a word and [heal] all who were sick” (Matthew 8:16). All this by the time they encountered the storm. If anyone should have been unafraid, it’s them. Mary and Martha were close enough to Jesus that they would have certainly seen and heard of His many miracles — healing the lame man, walking on water, feeding the multitudes. However, in the middle of their fearful situation, they, like the disciples, forgot His previous wonders. They allowed fear and worry to overwhelm them and distract them from the truth of who Jesus was.

So how do we counter that fear when the waves are crashing against us and death surrounds us? Psalm 77 gives us an answer. After starting with a cry aloud to God, the psalmist declared,

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will ponder all Your work and meditate on Your mighty deeds. — vv. 11–12

We remember.

The Israelites also knew the importance of remembering. When they crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, Joshua commanded them to collect twelve stones for the number of tribes of Israel, so that it would be a sign to them. When their children asked what the stones meant, they would tell them of God’s faithfulness. They would remember, just as we remember. We remember the healing God has done in the past. We call to mind His faithfulness in previous situations. Will He always answer our prayers exactly how and when we want? No, but we can trust that He is with us and will bring about our good and His glory.

Excerpted from It Is Finished by Charles Martin, copyright Charles Martin.

Mark 8:17-18

Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

Jesus was speaking to His apostles not the unbelieving crowd. How often do we see the hand of God and yet some time later do not remember? We must remember the things God reveals to us that we might grow in grace and knowledge of the One who loves, cares, and provides for us! Let us work at remembering!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 6, 2024

Notes of Faith February 6, 2024

What Is Holy Fear?

It’s impossible to define holy fear in a single sentence, paragraph, or chapter. It’s no different from attempting to explain the full breadth of God’s love in the same space. It will take chapters, and even then, we’ll be far from proficient in our understanding. In fact, I believe we’ll continue to discover the depths of both holy love and holy fear throughout eternity.

The fear of the Lord doesn’t drive us from God’s presence — rather just the opposite. A good and wonderful fear draws us close to Him, and laying this firm foundation is vital before we continue.

Some say that the fear of the Lord only means to reverently worship God. I’ve heard these very words spoken by well-known ministers from the pulpit, in conversations, and over a meal with leaders. While this definition is a start, it’s far from the complete picture. It could be compared to merely defining the love of God as being “patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). But if we leave it there, we fall short and miss the mark completely.

When Lisa and I were in our early forties, the son-in-law of a well-respected leader visited our house to share an opportunity to invest in his company. We met for a couple of hours, and I distinctly remember the kindness and patience he showed us. If you observed his behavior, you too would affirm he’s a loving man. However, after several days of prayer, Lisa and I didn’t feel led to invest. Now, years later, I’m glad we didn’t, because he spent many years in the penitentiary for running a massive Ponzi scheme.

Was the man patient and kind? Most definitely. Did he walk in love? Absolutely not. Why? Because Scripture tells us,

This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. — 1 John 5:3 NKJV

Stealing is selfish and breaks God’s commandment of love (Ephesians 4:28). A child molester can be kind, and even patient, while at the same time destroying a young person’s life. Does he love that child? Of course not!

In the same way, limiting holy fear to only reverent worship can cause us to miss the mark and be misled. So let’s draw up the outline, and later we will add the color with the teachings, examples from Scripture, and stories in the chapters ahead. Before we begin, I want to warn you that in defining holy fear you will hear words that could be frightening, but I assure you the opposite is true. Stay with the message through its entirety, and you will discover that holy fear is a gift of love and protection from our Creator, who deeply cares and longs for us.

There are many New Testament scriptures we can start with, but I believe this one sets the tone:

Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. — Hebrews 12:28–29 NKJV

If you look closely, you’ll observe there are two terms that are referenced: reverence and godly fear. This immediately shows that godly fear cannot be limited to only reverence; otherwise, the writer is just repeating himself with the second term. These are not only different words in English but also two different Greek words: aidṓs and eulábeia.

Reverence is an excellent translation of the first Greek word. The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines reverence as “profound adoring awed respect.”1 I love these four words joined together; stopping to ponder each one takes our understanding to another level!

The second term, godly fear, carries the meaning of awe. For awe’s definition I looked at the original 1828 edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary. Here’s what I found: “fear, dread inspired by something great and terrific; to strike with fear and reverence. To influence by fear, terror or respect.” 2 Don’t be alarmed by the words dread and terror. Though the Greek dictionary also uses these words, remember, holy fear has a drawing, not a repulsive, effect. So we must ask: Is there a positive and healthy aspect of these words? I believe Scripture shows there is, and we’ll see this as we add the color later.

Let’s begin by listing our definitions.

To fear God is to reverence and be in complete awe of Him.

To fear God is to hallow Him. Hallow is defined as “to respect greatly.”

To fear God is to esteem, respect, honor, venerate, and adore Him above anyone or anything else.

To fear God is to reverence and be in complete awe of Him.

When we fear God, we take on His heart. We love what He loves, and we hate what He hates. (Notice it is not to “dislike” what He hates; rather, it is to “hate” what He hates.) What is important to Him becomes important to us. What is not so important to Him becomes not so important to us.

To fear God is to hate sin.

To fear God is to hate injustice.

To fear God is to depart from evil in every sense — thought, word, and action. It is to refrain from speaking deceitfully. It will not say or put on an appearance that is untrue to one’s heart and thoughts. It keeps our outward behavior congruent with our inward thoughts, motives, and beliefs.

To fear God is to walk in authentic humility before God and mankind.

To fear God is to give Him the praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship He deserves.

To fear God is to give Him all that belongs to Him.

To fear God is to tremble before Him in wonder and awe. It is to give His Word and presence our full attention.

To fear God is to obey Him. It’s not just a desire but an inward force determined to carry out His will, no matter the cost. We eagerly, willingly, and immediately obey — even if we don’t see a benefit or it doesn’t make sense — and we carry it out to completion.

To fear God is to abstain from any form of complaining, murmuring, or grumbling.

To fear God is to respect, honor, and submit to His direct and delegated authority. It is also to obey the delegated authority, with the only exception being if the authority tells us to sin.

The fear of the Lord shapes our intentions, thoughts, words, and actions.

Now let’s partially list the benefits of holy fear. Here are some of the many biblical promises made to those who walk in it.

The fear of the Lord is the starting place for an intimate relationship with God. We become His friends, and His secrets are made known to us.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. It gives foresight and clear divine direction.

The fear of the Lord is how we mature in our salvation and are conformed to the image of Jesus.

The fear of the Lord is clean; it produces true holiness in our lives.

To abide in the fear of the Lord is to secure an eternal legacy.

The fear of the Lord produces confidence, fearlessness, and security. It swallows up all other fears, including the fear of man.

The fear of the Lord gives us identity, makes us productive, and empowers us to multiply.

The fear of the Lord provides angelic assistance, fulfilled desires, enduring success, nobility, influence, longevity, productive days, enjoyment in life, happiness, pleasure in labor, healing for our body, and so much more.

The fear of the Lord endures forever — it will never fade. The fear of the Lord is a treasured gift from our heavenly Father.

Making It Personal

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. — Hebrews 12:28–29 NKJV

Point: The fear of the Lord is to love what God loves and to hate what God hates. What is important to Him becomes important to us. What is not so important to Him becomes not so important to us.

Ponder: What does it look like, practically, for me to esteem, respect, honor, venerate, and adore God above anyone or anything else?

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please teach me how to fear Your name, Word, presence, and all You are. May I love and take pleasure in holy fear. Holy Spirit, as I continue this journey, teach and impart God’s ways in me; let what I read not merely be informational, but may the words transform my life into the image of my Lord Jesus Christ. I ask this all in Jesus’ name, amen.

Profession: May my words and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in God’s sight.

Excerpted from The Awe of God by John Bevere, copyright John P. Bevere.

I heard and learned this principle early in life, from my mother and good teaching at the church we attended. I did and do have a reverent fear of God and it does continue to draw me close to Him. I trust the God who created me and loves me to guide me toward all truth, blessing me with His presence, and giving me what I do not deserve (except through faith in Jesus Christ), eternal life. This life has its ups and downs but it is short. The glory of God’s heaven and eternal blessing to those who believe and follow Him never ends…no more death, tears, pain and suffering, just the glory of God’s new heaven and earth to experience forever. May you be blessed to fear God and know Him more each day you are given!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 5, 2024

Notes of Faith February 5, 2024

Lent As a Project

What are you giving up for Lent?”. Chocolate? Designer coffee? Social media? Carbs? Forty days later, some feel disappointed, some feel surprised by their success, but perhaps few feel spiritually renewed.

Lent begins February 14th!

*

We ache deep within to meaningfully honor Christ’s resurrection. Yet, in practice, this focal point in the liturgical calendar is often a celebration of public holiday more than it is of humanity’s hope. At day’s end, we fall asleep well fed and perhaps even grateful, yet still somehow something short of awed. Inspired by the church’s ancient tradition of Lent, we then add discipline to the celebration, voluntarily adopting a form of temporary discomfort to self with the intention of bringing to mind the discomfort of the cross (which is unspeakable). And still, our twenty-first-century discomfort remains mild and our first-century remembrance remains meager.

Christian spirituality is not a life project for becoming a better person. ~ Eugene Peterson1

Though what is specifically “given up for Lent” shifts from generation to generation, the broad categories of entertainment, pleasure, and food have remained constant through the centuries. Caffeine, chocolate, designer coffee, carbs, and social media currently rank among the more popular offerings. In an age suffocating in self, any willful fast from what much of the planet would deem a luxury is to be commended. However, since commendation cannot be confused with preparation, I must ask: can such polite fasts alone truly prepare us to be awed by Christ’s resurrection? In English, the Latin Mortem tuam annuntiámus, Dómine, et tuam resurrectiónem confitémur, donec vénias is translated as, “Your death we proclaim, Lord, and your resurrection we confess, until you come.”2 This generation is, perhaps, more familiar with the popular adaption:

Christ has died.

Christ has risen.

Christ will come again.3

Indeed. So, are we awed?

God seems more interested in what we are becoming than in what we are giving up.

As David sang,

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart

you, God, will not despise. — Psalm 51:16–17

Faith, in general, is less about the sacrifice of stuff and more about the surrender of our souls. Lent, in kind, is less about well-mannered denials and more about thinning our lives in order to thicken our communion with God.

Decrease is holy only when its destination is love.

Decrease is holy only when its destination is love.

Reflection

Reflect upon your personal preparation for Easter to date. Recall any knowledge of the church’s historical Lenten practices. If this is not your first experience, in what ways have you thinned your life in order to thicken your communion with God in previous seasons?

Now consider a key question: why are you setting aside forty days to honor Jesus’ death and resurrection this year?

Today’s Fast: Lent As a Project

Lent is often, and understandably, described with project language. The season has a starting date, an ending date, and clear, quantifiable goals “to accomplish” in between. After Easter, consequently, we evaluate Lent with project language. We “did okay” or “only made it two weeks” or “kept our commitment” or “totally failed.”

Whether engaging this experience prior to Easter, or at another time during the year, from day one, I invite you to consider Lent as less of a project and more of a sojourn. A sojourn is a “temporary stay at a place.” 4 And a “stay” is about presence, not productivity. For the next forty days, fast measuring your “success” statistically — that is, resist calculating how often you keep your commitment to do without meat or sugar or your favorite shows. Instead, invest your energy in seeking to remain present to the sacred history of Jesus’ walk to the cross. With each reading, dust off your childhood imagination and “stay” in each story.

Observe Jesus’ response to John’s death. Imagine yourself as one of the disciples trying in vain to hush blind Bartimaeus. Throw your only cloak under the colt’s hooves as Jesus enters Jerusalem. Taste the mounting tension as Jesus offends leaders with parables. Hear Jesus predict Peter’s denial.

Fast Lent as project and enter Lent as experience, as a sojourn with your Savior.

Spiritual disciplines do not transform, they only become relational opportunities to open the heart to the Spirit who transforms. ~ John H. Coe5

1. Eugene Peterson, “Transparent Lives,” The Christian Century 23, November 29, 2003: 23.

2. From The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University, accessed December 15, 2014, http://www.liturgy.slu.edu/romanmissal/christ_has_died.html.

3. This first of three acclamations making up the Memorial Acclamation in the first English version of the Roman Missal has been described as more of a Latin adaptation than a Latin translation. As of 2008, the first acclamation of what is now called the Mystery of Faith reads, “Dying you destroyed our death. Rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.” See http://content.ocp.org/shared/pdf/general/TL-NewRomanMissal-MysteryofFaith.pdf, accessed June 3, 2015.

4. OED Online, s. v. “sojourn, n.,” accessed December 22, 2014, http://www.oed.com.georgefox.idm.oclc.org/view/Entry/184006?rskey=8IRiLR&result=1.

5. John H. Coe, “Resisting the Temptation of Moral Formation: Opening to Spiritual Formation in the Cross of the Spirit,” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care 1, no. 1 (March 1, 2008): 77.

Excerpted 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast. by Alicia Britt Chole, copyright Alicia Britt Chole.

Most people have never tried to “fast,” to give up something to impact another part of their lives. Some don’t know what it means to fast. If we search the Scriptures and learn what and why of fasting, we find the focus to be on God and drawing near to Him, seeking an intimacy that we have not yet enjoyed. This is my desire, to give up the unnecessary, the time-wasting habits, the sin in my life (obviously), to draw near to the throne of grace and commune, stay in the nearness of God.

It might not be healthy for some to “fast” biblically, but in some form or other of sacrificing yourself for the glory of “living in the presence of God” is worth giving up everything! However you understand fasting today, and for some, maybe you will look it up, study it, experience it, feel its effects in giving up, and drawing near to God, be blessed in your effort to commune and live in the presence of God.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 4, 2024

Notes of Faith February 4, 2024

When Your World Turns Against You

Get up, we must go. Look, here comes the man who has turned against Me.

The words were spoken to Judas. But they could have been spoken to anyone. They could have been spoken to John, to Peter, to James. They could have been spoken to Thomas, to Andrew, to Nathanael. They could have been spoken to the Roman soldiers, to the Jewish leaders. They could have been spoken to Pilate, to Herod, to Caiaphas. They could have been spoken to every person who praised Him last Sunday but abandoned Him tonight.

Everyone turned against Jesus that night. Everyone.

Judas did. What was your motive, Judas? Why did you do it? Were you trying to call His hand? Did you want the money? Were you seeking some attention?

And why, dear Judas, why did it have to be a kiss? You could have pointed. You could have just called His name. But you put your lips to His cheek and kissed. A snake kills with his mouth.

The people did. The crowd turned on Jesus. We wonder who was in the crowd. Who were the bystanders? Matthew just says they were people. Regular folks like you and me with bills to pay and kids to raise and jobs to do. Individually they never would have turned on Jesus, but collectively they wanted to kill Him. Even the instantaneous healing of an amputated ear didn’t sway them. They suffered from mob blindness. They blocked each other’s vision of Jesus.

The disciples did. “All of Jesus’ followers left Him and ran away.” Matthew must have written those words slowly. He was in that group. All the disciples were. Jesus told them they would scamper. They vowed they wouldn’t. But they did.

When the choice came between their skin and their friend, they chose to run. Oh, they stood for a while. Peter even pulled his sword, went for the neck, and got a lobe. But their courage was as fleeting as their feet. When they saw Jesus was going down, they got out.

The religious leaders did. Not surprising. Disappointing, though. They were the spiritual leaders of the nation. Men entrusted with the dispensing of goodness. Role models for the children. The pastors and Bible teachers of the community. “The leading priests and the whole Jewish council tried to find something false against Jesus so they could kill Him.” Paint that passage black with injustice. Paint the arrest green with jealousy. Paint that scene red with innocent blood.

And paint Peter in a corner. For that’s where he is. No place to go. Caught in his own mistake. Peter did exactly what he had said he wouldn’t do. He had promised fervently only hours before, “Everyone else may stumble in their faith because of you, but I will not!” I hope Peter was hungry, because he ate those words.

Everyone turned against Jesus. Though the kiss was planted by Judas, the betrayal was committed by all.

Every person took a step, but no one took a stand. As Jesus left the garden, He walked alone. The world had turned against Him.

He was betrayed.

Betray. The word is an eighth of an inch above betroth in the dictionary, but a world from betroth in life. It’s a weapon found only in the hands of one you love. Your enemy has no such tool, for only a friend can betray. Betrayal is mutiny. It’s a violation of a trust, an inside job.

Would that it were a stranger. Would that it were a random attack. Would that you were a victim of circumstances. But you aren’t. You are a victim of a friend.

A sandpaper kiss is placed on your cheek. A promise is made with fingers crossed. You look to your friends, and your friends don’t look back. You look to the system for justice – the system looks to you as a scapegoat.

You are betrayed. Bitten with a snake’s kiss. It’s more than rejection. Rejection opens a wound; betrayal pours the salt. It’s more than loneliness. Loneliness leaves you in the cold, betrayal closes the door. It’s more than mockery. Mockery plunges the knife; betrayal twists it. It’s more than an insult. An insult attacks your pride; betrayal breaks your heart.

As I search for betrayal’s synonyms, I keep seeing betrayal’s victims. That unsigned letter in yesterday’s mail, “My husband just told me he had an affair two years ago,” she wrote. “I feel so alone.” The phone call at home from the elderly woman whose drug-addicted son had taken her money. My friend in the Midwest who moved his family to take the promised job that never materialized. The single mother whose ex-husband brings his new girlfriend to her house when he comes to get the kids for the weekend. The seven-year-old girl infected with HIV. “I’m mad at my mother,” were her words.

Betrayal… when your world turns against you.

Betrayal… where there is opportunity for love, there is opportunity for hurt.

When all of earth turns against you, all of Heaven turns toward you.

When betrayal comes, what do you do? Get out? Get angry? Get even? You have to deal with it some way. Let’s see how Jesus dealt with it.

Begin by noticing how Jesus saw Judas. “Jesus answered, ‘Friend, do what you came to do.’”

Of all the names I would have chosen for Judas, it would not have been “friend.” What Judas did to Jesus was grossly unfair. There is no indication that Jesus ever mistreated Judas. There is no clue that Judas was ever left out or neglected. When, during the Last Supper, Jesus told the disciples that his betrayer sat at the table, they didn’t turn to one another and whisper, “It’s Judas. Jesus told us he would do this.”

They didn’t whisper it because Jesus never said it. He had known it. He had known what Judas would do, but He treated the betrayer as if he were faithful.

It’s even more unfair when you consider the betrayal was Judas’s idea. The religious leaders didn’t seek him; Judas sought them. “What will you pay me for giving Jesus to you?” he asked. The betrayal would have been more palatable had Judas been propositioned by the leaders, but he wasn’t. He propositioned them.

And Judas’s method… again, why did it have to be a kiss? And why did he have to call Him “Teacher”? That’s a title of respect. The incongruity of his words, deeds, and actions – I wouldn’t have called Judas “friend.” But that is exactly what Jesus called him. Why? Jesus could see something we can’t. Let me explain.

There was once a person in our world who brought Denalyn and me a lot of stress. She would call in the middle of the night. She was demanding and ruthless. She screamed at us in public. When she wanted something, she wanted it immediately, and she wanted it exclusively from us. But we never asked her to leave us alone. We never told her to bug someone else. We never tried to get even. After all, she was only a few months old.

It was easy for us to forgive our infant daughter’s behavior because we knew she didn’t know better.

Now, there is a world of difference between an innocent child and a deliberate Judas. But there is still a point to my story, and it is this: the way to handle a person’s behavior is to understand the cause of it. One way to deal with a person’s peculiarities is to try to understand why he or she is peculiar.

Jesus knew Judas had been seduced by a powerful foe. He was aware of the wiles of Satan’s whispers (He had just heard them Himself). He knew how hard it was for Judas to do what was right. He didn’t justify what Judas did. He didn’t minimize the deed. Nor did He release Judas from his choice. But He did look eye to eye with His betrayer and try to understand.

As long as you hate your enemy, a jail door is closed and a prisoner is taken. But when you try to understand and release your foe from your hatred, then the prisoner is released, and that prisoner is you.

Perhaps you don’t like that idea. Perhaps the thought of forgiveness is unrealistic. Perhaps the idea of trying to understand the Judases in our world is simply too gracious.

My response to you then is a question. What do you suggest? Will harboring the anger solve the problem? Will getting even remove the hurt? Does hatred do any good?

Again, I’m not minimizing your hurt or justifying their actions. But I am saying that justice won’t come this side of eternity. And demanding that your enemy get his or her share of pain will, in the process, be most painful to you.

May I gently but firmly remind you of something you know but may have forgotten?

Life is not fair.

That’s not pessimism; it’s fact. That’s not a complaint; it’s just the way things are. I don’t like it. Neither do you. We want life to be fair. Ever since the kid down the block got a bike and we didn’t, we’ve been saying the same thing, “That’s not fair.” But at some point someone needs to say to us, “Who ever told you life was going to be fair?” God didn’t. He didn’t say, “If you have many kinds of troubles”… He said, “When you have many kinds of troubles…”

Troubles are part of the package. Betrayals are part of our troubles. Don’t be surprised when betrayals come. Don’t look for fairness here — look instead where Jesus looked.

Jesus looked to the future. Read His words: “In the future you will see the Son of Man coming.”

While going through hell, Jesus kept His eyes on Heaven.

While surrounded by enemies He kept His mind on His Father. While abandoned on earth, He kept His heart on home. “In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.”

“My Kingdom does not belong to this world,” Jesus told Pilate. “My Kingdom is from another place.”

Jesus took a long look into the homeland. Long enough to count His friends. “I could ask my Father and He would give me… twelve armies of angels.” And seeing them up there gave Him strength down here.

By the way, His friends are your friends. The Father’s loyalty to Jesus is the Father’s loyalty to you. When you feel betrayed, remember that. When you see the torches and feel the betrayer’s kiss, remember His words: “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”

When all of earth turns against you, all of Heaven turns toward you. To keep your balance in a crooked world, look at the mountains. Think of Home.

Excerpted from And the Angels Were Silent by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.

Life is not fair. I’m sure that you have experienced this truth. I see people who have things in life that I do not and wish I did. I see others who have much less than I do and yet find it difficult to put myself in their shoes. But the betrayal thing, though I have experienced it, I have not yet come to understand the person’s reason. And with even the best of forgiveness attempts, the pain lingers on. Betrayal is the worst of pains. Only God can get us through this earthly crime. There will be no betrayal in our heavenly home. Stay focused on what is to come and the pain of earth will be eased. God is good all the time!

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 3, 2024

Notes of Faith February 3, 2024

Turn Off the Tech

Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

— Galatians 1:10 ESV

I started using Instagram on May 7, 2011, to be exact. Though many of my friends were active on social networking platforms, I was not a savvy social-media user. But the idea of keeping a real-time photo journal to share with friends and family? This was something I could get behind. After one weekend, I was hooked.

But what began as memory making became a compulsion to share. Gabe noticed before I did. “You don’t need to capture everything; just enjoy the moment!” he said. Kennedy, my daughter, saw it too and would ask, “Can you stop looking at your phone?”

In the spring of 2018, I felt God whispering that I should fast from social media. I dismissed and defended my actions. It’s no big deal, God. It doesn’t mean that much to me. But I woke up a few weeks later feeling an urge, a conviction even, to press pause for a season. I couldn’t wait another day.

In the spring of 2018, I felt God whispering that I should fast from social media.

When I jumped off social media, things changed. First, I started dreaming again. On the back porch, journal in hand, new ideas and thoughts flooded my mind. Second, I was sleeping better than ever, my mind and body catching up on much-needed rest. And third, my passion for learning returned as I read more books, listened to more podcasts and talks.

My worth is found in the loving gifts God offers in the “right now”.

A month into this fast, I drove around a bend in the road and gasped at the sky, ablaze with pinks and reds. Normally, I would have pulled over and angled for the perfect shot. That’s when God reminded me of this truth: “You are worthy to receive something beautiful, and you don’t have to share it.”

What began as a break from the constant churn of social media became a fundamental lesson in worthiness.

I came to see that my worth is not found in approval “out there.” It is found in the loving gifts God offers in the “right now,” in the intimate invitation of a sunset.

When I did reenter social media, it was with caution. I didn’t want to lose the slower pace of life I’d found or my longer attention span and diminishing need for public approval. I can see the flicker in my Kennedy’s eyes as she shares something from her day, and I give her my whole attention. I catch our son Cade’s goofy smirk when he’s up to no good. By resting from social media, I’ve recovered the lost art of paying attention, and somehow, that has brought me a sense of peace and tranquility.

Consider taking your own social media fast. Leave your smartphone in a box by the front door when you walk in after a long day. Limit the number of texts you send in a day. Give your mind, soul, and body the rest they need — for your sake and for the sake of those around you.

Excerpted from A Surrendered Yes by Rebekah Lyons, copyright Rebekah Lyons.

Have you even thought about how much time you spend with tech stuff? Has the Spirit prompted you to slow down or stop and fast for a period of time? If you have created a habit, it will be more difficult to put down, but you might appreciate the reward as the author of this book says she did. How about giving it a try for just a few hours or a single day? You will never know the spiritual fruit that could come from it until you try.

Pastor Dale

Notes of Faith February 2, 2024

Notes of Faith February 2, 2024

Did Jesus Have Fun?

rom He Gets Us

From the beginning, we’ve wanted to share the real Jesus. At some point along the way, we realized that despite our best efforts to show a true and complete picture of Him, that image became a bit unbalanced. Not incorrect but incomplete. We spent so much time reflecting on heavier topics that when we stepped back to look at the whole mosaic, we couldn’t help but notice we were showing a picture of Jesus that was distinctly lacking joy.

Jesus was no stranger to joy. He went to weddings. He shared lively meals with His friends. He drank with them. He had so much fun and acted so freely around the dinner table, the uptight religious leaders called Him a glutton and a drunkard (Matthew 11:19). He didn’t worry about what would happen to His reputation when He hung out with people who others thought were shady, and he was always uninhibited in His pursuit of compassion and joy for others. Jesus let His hair down too.

Max Lucado

I have a sketch of Jesus laughing. It hangs on the wall across from my desk.

It’s quite a drawing. His head is back. His mouth is open. His eyes are sparkling. He isn’t just grinning. He isn’t just chuckling. He’s roaring. He hasn’t heard or seen something like that in quite a while. He’s having trouble catching His breath.

It was given to me by an Episcopal priest who carries cigars in his pocket and collects portraits of Jesus smiling. “I give them to anyone who might be inclined to take God too seriously,” he explained as he handed me the gift.

He pegged me well.

I’m not one who easily envisions a smiling God. A weeping God, yes. An angry God, okay. A mighty God, you bet. But a chuckling God? It seems too... too... too unlike what God should do — and be. Which just shows how much I know — or don’t know — about God.

What do I think He was doing when He stretched the neck of the giraffe? An exercise in engineering? What do I think He had in mind when He told the ostrich where to put his head? Spelunking? What do I think He was doing when He designed the mating call of an ape? Or the eight legs of the octopus? And what do I envision on His face when He saw Adam’s first glance at Eve? A yawn?

Hardly.

As my vision improves and I’m able to read without my stained glasses, I’m seeing that

a sense of humor is perhaps the only way God has put up with us for so long.

Is that God with a smile as Moses does a double take at the burning bush that speaks?

Is He smiling again as Jonah lands on the beach, dripping gastric juices and smelling like whale breath?

Is that a twinkle in His eye as He watches the disciples feed thousands with one boy’s lunch?

Do you think His face is deadpan as He speaks about the man with a two-by-four in his eye who points out a speck in a friend’s eye?

Can you honestly imagine a somber Jesus bouncing children on His knee?

No, I think Jesus smiled. I think He smiled a bit at people and a lot with people. I think He was the type of guy that people wanted to be near. I think He was the type of guy who was always invited to the party.

Consider, for example, the wedding at Cana. We often talk about this wedding as the place where Jesus turned the water into wine. But why did Jesus go to the wedding in the first place? The answer is found in the second verse of John 2:

Jesus and His followers were also invited to the wedding. — NCV

When the bride and groom were putting the guest list together, Jesus’ name was included. And when Jesus showed up with a half dozen friends, the invitation wasn’t rescinded. Whoever was hosting this party was happy to have Jesus present.

“Be sure to put Jesus’ name on the list,” he might have said. “He really lightens up a party.”

Jesus wasn’t invited because He was a celebrity. He wasn’t one yet. The invitation wasn’t motivated by His miracles. He’d yet to perform any. Why did they invite Him?

I suppose they liked Him. Big deal? I think so. I think it’s significant that common folk in a little town enjoyed being with Jesus. I think it’s noteworthy that the Almighty didn’t act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn’t holier-than-thou. The one who knew it all wasn’t a know-it-all. The one who made the stars didn’t keep His head in them. The one who owns all the stuff on earth never strutted it.

Never. He could have. Oh, how He could have!

He could have been a name-dropper: Did I ever tell you about the time Moses and I went up on the mountain?

He could have been a show-off: Hey, want me to beam you into the twentieth century?

He could have been a smart aleck: I know what you’re thinking. Want me to prove it?

He could have been highbrow and uppity: I’ve got some property on Jupiter...

Jesus could have been all of these, but He wasn’t. His purpose was not to show off but to show up. He went to great pains to be as human as the guy down the street. He didn’t need to study, but He still went to the synagogue. He had no need for income, but He still worked in the workshop. He had known the fellowship of angels and had heard the harps of Heaven, yet He still went to parties thrown by tax collectors. And upon His shoulders rested the challenge of redeeming creation, but He still took time to walk for miles to go to a wedding in Cana.

As a result, people liked Him. Oh, there were those who chafed at His claims. They called Him a blasphemer, but they never called Him a braggart. They accused Him of heresy but never arrogance. He was branded as a radical but never called unapproachable.

There is no hint that He ever used His heavenly status for personal gain. Ever. You don’t get the impression that His neighbors grew sick of His haughtiness and asked, “Well, who do You think made You God?”

His faith made Him likable, not detestable. Jesus was accused of much, but of being a grump, sourpuss, or self-centered jerk? No. People didn’t groan when He appeared. They didn’t duck for cover when He entered the room.

He called them by name.

He listened to their stories. He answered their questions.

He visited their sick relatives and helped their sick friends.

He fished with fishermen and ate lunch with the little guy and spoke words of resounding affirmation. He went to enough parties that He was criticized for hanging out with rowdy people and questionable crowds.

People were drawn to Jesus. He was always on the guest list. Thousands came to hear Him. Hundreds chose to follow Him. They shut down their businesses and walked away from careers to be with Him. His purpose statement read:

I came to give life with joy and abundance. — John 10:10 The Voice

Jesus was happy and wants us to be the same.

When the angels announced the arrival of the Messiah, they proclaimed “good news of a great joy” (Luke 2:10 RSV), not “bad news of a great duty.”

Would people say the same of us? Where did we get the notion that a good Christian is a solemn Christian? Who started the rumor that the sign of a disciple is a long face? How did we create this idea that the truly gifted are the heavyhearted?

May I state an opinion that could raise an eyebrow? May I tell you why I think Jesus went to that wedding in Cana? I think He went to the wedding to — now hold on, hear me out — I think Jesus went to the wedding to have fun.

Think about it. It had been a tough season. This wedding occurred after He had just spent forty days in the desert. No food or water. A standoff with the devil. A week breaking in some greenhorn Galileans. A job change. He had left home. It hadn’t been easy. A break would be welcome. A good meal with some good wine and some good friends... Well, it sounded pretty nice.

So off they went.

His purpose wasn’t to turn the water into wine. That was a favor for His friends.

His purpose wasn’t to show His power. The wedding host didn’t even know what Jesus did.

His purpose wasn’t to preach. There is no record of a sermon.

This leaves only one reason. Fun. Jesus went to the wedding because He liked the people, He liked the food, and, Heaven forbid, He may have even wanted to swirl the bride around the dance floor a time or two. (After all, He’s planning a big wedding Himself. Maybe He wanted the practice?)

Jesus was a likable fellow. And His disciples should be the same. I’m not talking debauchery, drunkenness, and adultery. I’m not endorsing compromise, coarseness, or obscenity. I am simply crusading for the freedom to enjoy a good joke, enliven a dull party, and appreciate a fun evening.

Maybe these thoughts catch you by surprise. They do me. It’s been a while since I pegged Jesus as a party lover. But He was. His foes accused Him of eating too much, drinking too much, and hanging out with the wrong people! I must confess: it’s been a while since I’ve been accused of having too much fun. How about you?

What sort of portrait of Jesus hangs on the walls of your mind? Is He sad, somber, angry? Are His lips pursed? Is He judging you? If so, visualize the laughing Christ on my wall. I’ve needed the reminder more times than I can say. Jesus laughed. He had fun. He was always invited to the party, because people wanted to be near Him. They didn’t fear His judgment. They knew He wouldn’t try to shut things down.

Who could be relied on to be the life of the party more than the one who came to give life with joy and abundance?

Scripture references: John 2:1–11; Matthew 11:19

Excerpted from He Gets Us by Max Lucado, copyright He Gets Us.

Jesus is God! God is love! How could He not be filled with joy and laughter? I have seen the picture Max speaks of and I too, have trouble picturing my God this way. Why? Let us make man in our image, in our likeness . . . We are like Him! Jesus is without sin and hates sin, yet He loved on those who were considered the worst of sinners. Let us love and laugh with the lover of our soul, the One who gave everything that we might live with Him eternally.

Pastor Dale