Who's the Boss?

So I got the big packet in the mail while we were on vacation. It comes every July. The 10x12 envelope, branded with NHA's logo and the name of my beloved school. Inside? The calendar for the upcoming year and a form letter containing the all-important salary and bonus information.

Usually, I know what's coming, how I fared, and have had time to process. This year, no information was shared before the arrival of the all-important envelope. I forced myself to read through the universally-applicable nature of the letter and ignore the boldface type pulling my eyeballs down the page.

When I finally got to the magic number, it was equivalent to 50% less than the lowest compensation I have ever received from NHA (minus my transition year from dean to teacher). My initial reaction was less than Biblical. While I refrained from vocalizing the words that were swimming through my mind, I was confronted with a real conflict of priorities.

So, gut-check time set in about ten minutes after I seriously thought about sending a letter to my boss for a "help me understand" conversation. I decided to check my email (work and personal) as a means to keep myself from stewing. I don't know if it was reading emails from Phil, Dalton, and Dave and thinking about the ways I serve through the ministries they oversee, if it was just God's still small voice, or if it was a combination of these things, but I quickly settled down and said aloud (in an empty room at 11:00 pm), "you can't serve both God and money." This came so shortly after I said to Danee, "I have never felt so insulted and unappreciated in my entire career."

Perspective is everything. Who do I work for? For who's approval to I strive? How is His approval measured? What compensation does he offer?

Honestly, right now (and I imagine from now on) I don't even care what the bottom line says. I have been given everything I need from "him who is able to do more than [I] can ever hope or imagine."

My peace isn't in the "be grateful for what you have, lots of people don't have a job, that's more of a raise than others get" kind of worldly thinking. My peace comes from the reminder I got tonight that I don't work for man or for myself. The more I look to men for the measure of my worth, the more I limit myself to this earth. To truly seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, I must honestly and fully work for the King.

Devotions Week of 7-15-12

DAY 1
Read: Matthew 5:48

Consider: Recall what we discussed about the word "perfect" when we last met. God wants his people to be set apart, noticeably different from the culture in which we reside. After all, we are alien residents of this world if we truly live in (and for) the Kingdom of Heaven.

Pray: Ask God to reveal how Jesus' words show us how to be different, set apart, holy. Pray that his truth resonate with you as you live your life for him this week.

DAY 2
Read: Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18

Consider: Jesus identifies three different practices here that, in their truest form, are  beautiful acts of worship. He also gives a warning with each. How are these warnings similar? Why are they important? Have you ever put yourself in a position so people would notice you praying, giving to the needy, or fasting? Have you ever been disappointed when you didn't receive accolades for doing these things?

Pray: Listen to "Garden" by NeedtoBreathe. If you don't have the song handy, look it up on YouTube. The words speak from a sincere desire to give yourself to Christ, modeling his own example of obedience. 


As you listen, pray that God would grant you an attitude of humble obedience and the ability to deny yourself so that he may be glorified through your words and actions. 


DAY 3
Read: Matthew 6:9-15


Consider: The word "as" in 6:12 means, in the original language, "in the same manner." Therefore, when we pray, we are to ask God to forgive our sins in the same manner in which we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. 


Think for a moment about what that means. We know that our sins are separated from us as far as the east is from the west. God counts forgiven sins as forgotten. He doesn't hold grudges, remind you of when you messed up in the past, or save your past sins to use as leverage when he needs something from you. He doesn't lord sins over you, look at you shamefully when you repeat a previously forgiven sin, or tell everyone about how you wronged him. 


When God forgives you, he wipes the slate clean and thinks about it no more. THAT is how we are to forgive others. Powerful, releasing, self-denying forgiveness. 

Pray: Thank God for his amazing grace and loving forgiveness. Pray for the ability to forgive others with your whole heart. Pray for the ability to release the sin and never think of it again. Pray that you can give with the same measure that was given to you. 


DAY 4
Read: Matthew 6:25-33

Consider: Who of you by worrying has added one day to your life? When we worry, we display a lack of trust in God. Do you trust him with your kids? Your spouse? Your drive to work? What about your bills? Your schedule? Your in-laws?

What if we replace the word worry with the word stress? Stress reveals the same lack of trust in God's provision.

Think back over your past five days. What has stressed you out? What has worried you? How often did you go to God about those things? How often did you go to him before you started stressing or worrying? 


Pray: Pray for trust. Ask God to reveal what it is that causes you stress and give that to God. Ask him to take it and do with it whatever he wants. Thank God that he is in control so you don't have to be.

DAY 5
Read: Matthew 6:33

Consider: What are your priorities? After what things in life do you chase? Look at your calendar and your checkbook. What do these tell you about your priorities?

The word "first" in Matthew 6:33 refers to primacy, priority. It is not an ordinal number, like "do this first, do that second." Jesus is telling us that seeking God's Kingdom and his righteousness needs to be the number one priority in our life. It needs to take precedence over everything else. When we do that, everything else will be taken care of. He will clothe us, feed us, supply our every need.


Pray: Pray for God to fill you with a desire to seek FIRST his Kingdom and his righteousness. Pray for the desire to long for Jesus above all else. Pray for the Holy Spirit to awaken in you such a longing for the Kingdom of God that all else will leave you empty, reminding you that He is the only thing in life that can fully satisfy.

Update

I just wanted to send an update on my praises and prayer requests. I have an interview at SAU tomorrow morning at 10:00. Please pray that God's will be in full command of that meeting and that, whatever his will is, that I am able to glorify him in my pursuit of it.

I also just finished my application to NNU. I am super excited!

Chris - this is the link for the page you will need. The application can be found by following the appropriate link on the left margin of the page.

http://www.nnu.edu/index.php?id=cos

Blessings.

Praise Night?

Hello all,

This is my first time actually posting on the blog! I have something I am hoping you guys will be up for. Remember the praise night we held a couple of years ago in the commons? I know when we originally planned that, we talked about possibly asking for donations for Robert to do Soles 4 Souls and that ended up changing because the trip didn't work out. My question is, first of all, would you guys be willing to do another praise night? Secondly, if you guys are up for it, could we do it to try and raise funds for my niece's team for JDRF? This is our second year of being involved with JDRF and our team is way behind on the fundraising. I know we had talked about trying to do some community outreach this summer, and this is probably not what anyone had in mind, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask. So think about it, pray about it and maybe we can talk about it at our next meeting.

Also, here is a video my sister made for Ava.

Devotions, Week of July 1

The devotions this week include fewer direct questions, but more to think about and more to pray about. Please enter these devotions each day with an open heart. Allow God to speak to you through these words, as I have prayed that they be His words to share. I hope that you are blessed as you study the words of our Savior this week. 

Love and Blessings, Friends. 

-James

DAY 1

Read: Matthew 5:17-20

Consider:  People like to prioritize things in their lives. What things matter the most, what things are urgent as opposed to important, which things are not important at all. We like to find the bottom line. What few things do we need to focus on in order to get the results we are after? Apparently, this isn’t just true of our present culture, but was also relevant when Jesus spoke on the Mount.

No part of the Law is less important to God than another. Therefore, when Jesus says, “the smallest letter,” and, “least of these commands,” he is not suggesting that God has ranked them. He is speaking to man’s desire to do that himself. Since we would all prioritize the Law differently (given the opportunity) Jesus covers all the bases by saying that NOTHING in the Law will “by any means disappear until everything is accomplished.”

Jesus did not come to tear down, undo, or change the Law (of Moses) or what the Prophets had foretold. By his own words, we know he had come to fulfill both the Law and the Prophets…to the fullest extent possible. Jesus gives a strong command in these verses. We are to adhere to the Law, even the parts we humans may deem mere details or “the least” in value. Moreover, we are to do so with an authenticity that penetrates all areas of our lives. We are to be clean inside and out, unlike the Pharisees who Jesus himself likened to coffins, beautiful on the outside and full of rotting flesh on the inside.

Pray: Jesus gave us a new command that covered the Law and the Prophets. Love God. Love others. That is not to blot out the old covenant, but to fulfill it. We are to be filled with love for God so much that it bleeds out in our love for others. The Lord’s Prayer calls us to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth, not to hold out for the Kingdom when we leave Earth.

Ask God for thorough adherence to Jesus’ teachings and ministry. Ask Him to enable you to teach others through your words and your example. With sincerity, pray that God makes you a “light to shine before men.”

DAY 2

Read: Matthew 5:21-26

Consider: Verse 23 begins with one of those all-important conjunctions, “therefore.” This signals connection between the preceding verses and the ones to come. If you read right over that word without it jumping out at you (which I have often done), stop here. Go back and read this passage again, focusing on the connection between 5:21-22 and 5:23-26.

The tendency when we hear those first two verses is to think, I should not be angry with anyone because it is the same in Jesus’ eyes as murder. However, I don’t think that was the intention here. Jesus says, “therefore,” and follows with a call to action. This call is not for repentance. He doesn’t say, “Don’t be angry, for you will be subject to judgment.” He says, “Anyone who is angry with his brother” and then he calls us to go forgive anyone who is angry with us before we come to the Lord and make our offering. We are to extend grace and thusly play a part in freeing others from judgment so that we can bring our best to God. If we are the cause for someone’s anger, whether we feel it is justified or not, it is our responsibility to release them from the judgment to which they are captive at that time. God does not want us bringing an offering to him that is tainted because we have not presented the key to someone else’s freedom.

I do not mean to suggest that we have the power to release anyone from judgment, as this happens purely through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We do have the power to release others from anger, though, which creates an avenue for Christ to do his work.

Pray: Spend some time meditating on this perspective of Jesus’ words. Thank Christ for the opportunity to be his vessel. Thank him for the opportunity to help save people from judgment by extending Christ-like forgiveness. Then, ask God for the strength, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, to deliver on this forgiveness when push comes to shove.

DAY 3

Read: Matthew 5:38-48, Luke 27-42

Verse 27 in the Gospel of Luke marks a transition in Jesus’ audience. When he says, “I tell you who hear me,” it indicates, according to John Wesley, that Jesus is now speaking to a general audience, whereas he had previously been speaking to a specific group (as we had discussed at our last meeting).

Consider: Everything Jesus is saying here is rooted in love. First, he speaks of love in restraint. Returning evil for evil would be to deny acts of love in the face of adversity. Then he speaks of love in giving. Give more than is expected. Withholding giving or simply giving only what is expected would hide love. Though it wouldn’t be denied, it would not be obviously visible. Christ’s love is obviously visible.

Jesus speaks of hard love. Love that goes against our sin nature. Loving everyone, even those who you would call your enemies.

What connection does this message of love have to Jesus words from Matthew 5:21-26?

If we consider someone our enemy, how does that go against what Jesus teaches us about hatred?

Jesus’ message of love in Luke 6:37-42 speaks of love through authenticity and honesty. It speaks of love through a lens of humility. It can be difficult to see our own failings, especially when someone else points them out to us. Ironically, the things that bother us most about other people are often things that we struggle with ourselves.

Pray: Ask God to reveal the plank(s) in your eye by recalling the piece(s) of sawdust you have seen in others’ eye(s). Ask first for God’s forgiveness if any judgment was passed. Then ask for his guiding hand as you work to remove the plank from your own eye. After all, it has to be hard to see with a plank in your eye.  

DAY 4

Read: Luke 6:43-45

Consider: So much of what Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount is about inside-out change. This is the only change that will last. It is the only change that will enable us to be the salt of the earth, drawing people to him through authentically following the Master.

Outside-in change, by contrast, breeds contradiction and hypocrisy. Trying to bear good fruit when our tree is bad just won’t work. We aren’t fooling anyone, except maybe ourselves. “For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”

So, how do we nurture our roots in order to make our tree good? What does it take to ensure our tree is planted in fertile soil?

Pray: Pray for honest revelation. How is your soil? How is your tree? How is your fruit? Ask God to speak boldly to you and, where it is needed, pray for conviction. Pray for the courage to share where you are when we meet on Sunday. This is where our group can bring love, support, and accountability for spiritual growth to one another. This is where we get to nurture each other’s soil and trees.

DAY 5

Read: Luke 6:46-49, 40 & Matthew 5:48

Consider: We know that we are not meant to be “perfect” in the sense that we are completely without flaw. Our sin nature makes that impossible. The translation of the word from the original language means, “finished, complete, pure, holy.” Think of what Jesus says about being a student and following his teachings. Then consider our call to be perfect.

What does Jesus mean when he calls us to be “perfect”?

Pray: “Our Father in Heaven: Holy, Holy, Holy is Your name. Ignite in us the devotion and authenticity to bring about your Kingdom and your will here in this land. Give us the physical and spiritual nurturing we need to live fully for you each day. Keep us burning brightly for you, not allowing darkness to crowd out your light. Strengthen us in your amazing love, grace, and the example you gave us in your Son, Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.”