(submitted by Julie and Todd Richards)
The Mount of Olives stands to the east of Jerusalem and has both historical and future significance. In 2nd Samuel, the Mount of Olives is where David retreats to and weeps over his son Absalom’s rebellion. It is also the place where David receives the provisions he needs for the next leg of his journey. In Zechariah, the prophet says that God himself will stand on the Mount of Olives and oversee the defeat of evil and the restoration of Jerusalem. Zechariah 14:8 says that on that day, “Life giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem.”
It is on the Mount of Olives that Jesus has spent time talking with and preparing his disciples for what is to come. The disciples knew this was the place where God would stand as God defeated the enemies of God’s chosen people. Jesus though, experiences the Mount of Olives like his kin David.
This particular night was unlike any other. Jesus has just washed their feet, talked about his body and blood, and revealed that one of them will betray him. It is the middle of the night. Jesus takes with him, Peter, James and John. Mark 14:33 says that Jesus was deeply troubled and distressed. He tells his disciples, his three closest friends that, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (v.34). He then goes off by himself and prays, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (v.36).
Jesus is scared and anxious. Big time. Real honest feelings, raw emotions. He knows what is about to happen to him. He knows that he must be handed over to the authorities and “carry his cross” (or better, our cross). He knows that he will die a shameful and violent death at the hands of the people he loves. He is divine enough to know it is for the best, the greater good and greater glory. We miss something very significant, though, if we don’t see, in this moment, Jesus’ humanness. Yes, Jesus is Divine; He is perfect. But he is also fully human, yet without sin. He feels human emotion and human need. If he doesn’t, how can he truly understand us?
The pain of the moment is so real, he is looking for an out. A loophole. A way to escape the coming storm. “If you can take this cup from me, Father…” not because he doesn’t want to obey God or that he won’t follow where God leads, but because he is crying out and hurting. It isn’t sin to feel emotions. God made us to feel—be fully alive—and in tune with our whole heart. The Psalms are famous for letting us cry out with our hearts, but here we see it reaffirmed by Christ himself. If you ever needed an invitation to feel what stirs in your heart and know that God hears and cares for you, you’ll find it here in the anguish Jesus shares with the Father.
Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” The New Jerusalem Bible words it this way: “For the high priest we have is not incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us.” He feels it alright. Scripture says he is in anguish and crushed with grief. Ever been there?
We tend to overlook this passage in light of Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:6 to, “be anxious about nothing but in everything, through prayer and petition, present your requests to God.” It is a great passage but often misquoted and misunderstood. “Be anxious about nothing” sounds straightforward—that we shouldn’t allow stress and anxiety into our lives. In the Greek though, the emphasis of the verb tense means that God doesn’t intend for us to stay in an ongoing state of anxiousness. God recognizes our weaknesses. God helps us in our weakness and tells us how we can pour it out to him in prayer. This is what Jesus does in the Mount of Olives. Jesus is visibly anxious and stressed and scared about the next few hours. He feels it. And he prays.
Notice how he ends his prayer, “I want your will to be done, not mine.” He doesn’t stay in the depth of his grief, he surrenders it. He has lived it, felt it, and grieved it, (as opposed to denying it, burying it, or stuffing it under the rug)…and then he gives it over. Sometimes, in the midst of the storm, the only thing to do is surrender. Jesus’ life of prayer and ministry has been all about surrendering himself to the will of his Father. Everything is done to glorify and exalt God above himself. His pleasure comes in serving God above everything, even his own life and will.
Here is a lesson from the Mount of Olives—Victory comes through surrender. Jesus, in the midst of his fear and anxiety, in raw authentic honesty, places himself at the feet of God by surrendering himself to God’s will. Maybe that is the journey. Maybe the journey starts, continues and ends there, at the Mount of Olives where we give up ourselves to the Victor and bathe in the life giving waters of God’s will. No matter the storm that comes, no matter the pain, no matter the price, God gives comfort and life to those beaten down by life and surrendered at God’s feet.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
March 8 - New Perspective
(submitted by Beth Abbott)
Psalm 18: 16-17, 19
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
I found this passage a few months ago as I started looking at areas in my life where I wasn't experiencing freedom. For me, a couple of things that are truly hindering my walk with the Lord are pride and unbelief. My lack of self-confidence and not living as if I believed what He says is true brought me to a point of feeling paralyzed in my relationship with God and wanting to run from any areas of service I once felt passionate about.
It was at that point when I realized I needed to stop and gain a new perspective – my God is BIG and He wants me to believe Him and take Him at His word. He wants all of me and won't let me be comfortable with something less. As I called out to Him, acknowledging my need for Him because there was nothing I could do to get out on my own, He reached down into the pit I was in, took hold of me and pulled me out. It is a daily battle for me to believe the truth of who God is and to use His promises to overpower the lies and thoughts that want to infiltrate my mind, but when I call out to Him He is there reminding me how to stay in the spacious place. I'm so thankful this is a journey and that He is gracious enough to continue to hold on even as I struggle maintaining this new mindset. The unbelievable part for me is that He does this not out of duty, but because He delights in me and desires for me to grow in this journey we're on together. God is so good and I am so thankful!
My prayer for us this season is that we would put our faith in the One who is faithful and cling to and put into action the truth that will change us forever.
Psalm 18: 16-17, 19
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
I found this passage a few months ago as I started looking at areas in my life where I wasn't experiencing freedom. For me, a couple of things that are truly hindering my walk with the Lord are pride and unbelief. My lack of self-confidence and not living as if I believed what He says is true brought me to a point of feeling paralyzed in my relationship with God and wanting to run from any areas of service I once felt passionate about.
It was at that point when I realized I needed to stop and gain a new perspective – my God is BIG and He wants me to believe Him and take Him at His word. He wants all of me and won't let me be comfortable with something less. As I called out to Him, acknowledging my need for Him because there was nothing I could do to get out on my own, He reached down into the pit I was in, took hold of me and pulled me out. It is a daily battle for me to believe the truth of who God is and to use His promises to overpower the lies and thoughts that want to infiltrate my mind, but when I call out to Him He is there reminding me how to stay in the spacious place. I'm so thankful this is a journey and that He is gracious enough to continue to hold on even as I struggle maintaining this new mindset. The unbelievable part for me is that He does this not out of duty, but because He delights in me and desires for me to grow in this journey we're on together. God is so good and I am so thankful!
My prayer for us this season is that we would put our faith in the One who is faithful and cling to and put into action the truth that will change us forever.
March 7 - Maintaining Momentum
(submitted by Chris & Lisa Heckaman)
“Make ready the way of the Lord.” Matthew 3:3
Right from the very beginning, the life of faith was meant to be lived as journey.
Abraham got the call to embark on a monumental trek, “to a place he did not know.” Faith may still feel like uncertain and uncharted charted territory to you. It may loom large, very, very large on your horizon. For him, faith was simply learning to live into a growing relationship with God. Getting on the journey was showing faith. It’s not something we have. It’s something we walk, daily step by daily step.
The Israelites, who called it "wandering," were in essence on a journey. Only until they reached Mt. Nebo, a high place, did it all come into focus and they were able to see the sacred plan.
The disciples were called to "come and follow," i.e. to journey. Following means to keep in step, right behind, as someone takes the lead out in front on ahead.
The early church, called by Peter in one of his epistles as “sojourners,” were forced into exile due to the persecution of the Romans. Always on the run, many thought it was so unfair. God was using their movement to spread the word. They were still on the journey.
Jesus is the journey. In John 14:6, when He says that He is “the way,” it is the Greek word for road. Jesus was the movement that changed the world, meant to be lived and experienced in the context of purposeful motion.
How can you and I, therefore, keep forward progress going? Put another way, how can you and I maintain momentum in our walk with God?
When we stop and pull to the side of the road our faith stops. It becomes mere wandering instead of sacred plan, exiling instead of sojourning, dying instead of rising.
Have you ever been on an Emmaus Walk Retreat? Did you know we hold them here at our church every few months? Are you a part of a Journey Life Group? Have you taken the Journey Study? Gone to Mexico on a Missions Trip?
What is the next step for you in your daily set of steps?
“Make ready the way of the Lord.” Matthew 3:3
Right from the very beginning, the life of faith was meant to be lived as journey.
Abraham got the call to embark on a monumental trek, “to a place he did not know.” Faith may still feel like uncertain and uncharted charted territory to you. It may loom large, very, very large on your horizon. For him, faith was simply learning to live into a growing relationship with God. Getting on the journey was showing faith. It’s not something we have. It’s something we walk, daily step by daily step.
The Israelites, who called it "wandering," were in essence on a journey. Only until they reached Mt. Nebo, a high place, did it all come into focus and they were able to see the sacred plan.
The disciples were called to "come and follow," i.e. to journey. Following means to keep in step, right behind, as someone takes the lead out in front on ahead.
The early church, called by Peter in one of his epistles as “sojourners,” were forced into exile due to the persecution of the Romans. Always on the run, many thought it was so unfair. God was using their movement to spread the word. They were still on the journey.
Jesus is the journey. In John 14:6, when He says that He is “the way,” it is the Greek word for road. Jesus was the movement that changed the world, meant to be lived and experienced in the context of purposeful motion.
How can you and I, therefore, keep forward progress going? Put another way, how can you and I maintain momentum in our walk with God?
When we stop and pull to the side of the road our faith stops. It becomes mere wandering instead of sacred plan, exiling instead of sojourning, dying instead of rising.
Have you ever been on an Emmaus Walk Retreat? Did you know we hold them here at our church every few months? Are you a part of a Journey Life Group? Have you taken the Journey Study? Gone to Mexico on a Missions Trip?
What is the next step for you in your daily set of steps?
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
March 6 - A Close God
(submitted by Sheryl Ditmer)
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3: 16-17.
Scripture tells us that as believers Christ dwells in us. It says that as soon as we acknowledge our belief and need for Him as our savior, he takes up residency. We also know He is every where, all the time. He is omnipresent. Thus, He is in us and around us, whether we are in Sidney, Tijuana, or Cap Haitien.
Yet, we journey through most (if not all) of our daily activities not sensing His presence. Why is that? Is it that we don’t have enough faith that He truly is everywhere? Is it that we don’t believe He loves US that much? Is it that we lack the discipline of knowing how to dwell in His presence? Or is it we are just too busy to even think about it?
Henry Nouwen writes, “Through contemplative prayer we can keep ourselves from being pulled from one urgent issue to another and from becoming strangers to our own heart and God’s heart. Contemplative prayer keeps us home, rooted and safe, even when we are on the road, moving form place to place, and often surrounded by sounds of violence and war. Contemplative prayer deepens in us the knowledge that we are already free, that we have already found a place to dwell, that we already belong to God, even though everything and everyone around us keep suggesting the opposite.”
Can it be that easy? Is it just a matter of prayer? I’m thinking, in most cases, the answer is YES. Mind you this is not the kind of prayer where you give God a list of requests, but the kind where you listen, look, feel and open yourself up to Him. It is a state of mind and yes it is a discipline you have to learn. The good news is it can be done and it makes a huge difference.
I encourage you today, where ever you are journeying, to go with God. He is closer than you know and more than willing to go through your day with you.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3: 16-17.
Scripture tells us that as believers Christ dwells in us. It says that as soon as we acknowledge our belief and need for Him as our savior, he takes up residency. We also know He is every where, all the time. He is omnipresent. Thus, He is in us and around us, whether we are in Sidney, Tijuana, or Cap Haitien.
Yet, we journey through most (if not all) of our daily activities not sensing His presence. Why is that? Is it that we don’t have enough faith that He truly is everywhere? Is it that we don’t believe He loves US that much? Is it that we lack the discipline of knowing how to dwell in His presence? Or is it we are just too busy to even think about it?
Henry Nouwen writes, “Through contemplative prayer we can keep ourselves from being pulled from one urgent issue to another and from becoming strangers to our own heart and God’s heart. Contemplative prayer keeps us home, rooted and safe, even when we are on the road, moving form place to place, and often surrounded by sounds of violence and war. Contemplative prayer deepens in us the knowledge that we are already free, that we have already found a place to dwell, that we already belong to God, even though everything and everyone around us keep suggesting the opposite.”
Can it be that easy? Is it just a matter of prayer? I’m thinking, in most cases, the answer is YES. Mind you this is not the kind of prayer where you give God a list of requests, but the kind where you listen, look, feel and open yourself up to Him. It is a state of mind and yes it is a discipline you have to learn. The good news is it can be done and it makes a huge difference.
I encourage you today, where ever you are journeying, to go with God. He is closer than you know and more than willing to go through your day with you.
Friday, March 2, 2007
March 5 - Growing on the Journey
(submitted by Chuck Price)
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Phil 2:13 NAS
The Christian life is a journey of following Christ. As we journey with the Lord we are continually learning and growing and there are numerous lessons that He teaches us along the way. One of the most important lessons that I have learned is that God is the one in charge of our growth which means:
• He chooses the lessons
• He chooses the methods
• He chooses the timing
I don’t know that I always like that so much. Many times the lesson that God selected was not the one that I thought I should have been learning at the moment. I would also quite often pick different ways to receive those lessons. And I would almost always prefer different timing.
“Not now Lord, I am too busy and I have too much to do and besides that I am too young to deal with this now. Particularly since I am already dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis which is not yet under control! ” That was part of how I felt last summer when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
But then I remembered it was God who chooses the lessons, methods, and timing to grow my faith. I was in the center of His will and I could trust Him even if it did rearrange what I already had concluded should be my schedule and priorities.
The principle is: God is the one who causes the growth in my life and He uses the laboratory of circumstances to produce that growth. It has been a great season of growth as I have seen the Lord in new ways and experienced the ministry of a caring and loving church family that has taught me even further lessons about God’s grace. And I am reminded of Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Phil 2:13 NAS
The Christian life is a journey of following Christ. As we journey with the Lord we are continually learning and growing and there are numerous lessons that He teaches us along the way. One of the most important lessons that I have learned is that God is the one in charge of our growth which means:
• He chooses the lessons
• He chooses the methods
• He chooses the timing
I don’t know that I always like that so much. Many times the lesson that God selected was not the one that I thought I should have been learning at the moment. I would also quite often pick different ways to receive those lessons. And I would almost always prefer different timing.
“Not now Lord, I am too busy and I have too much to do and besides that I am too young to deal with this now. Particularly since I am already dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis which is not yet under control! ” That was part of how I felt last summer when I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
But then I remembered it was God who chooses the lessons, methods, and timing to grow my faith. I was in the center of His will and I could trust Him even if it did rearrange what I already had concluded should be my schedule and priorities.
The principle is: God is the one who causes the growth in my life and He uses the laboratory of circumstances to produce that growth. It has been a great season of growth as I have seen the Lord in new ways and experienced the ministry of a caring and loving church family that has taught me even further lessons about God’s grace. And I am reminded of Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thursday, March 1, 2007
March 3 - The Blessing in Touch
(submitted by Eileen Hix)
Scripture: Mark 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
This scripture follows the “let the little children come to me” passage which has always been an important scripture to me. It is the way God made me; I feel the need to point the way for children to come to HIM. To show children of God’s great love for them - what an amazing gift to be able to share His love! In Mark 10:16 it specifically says Jesus took them in his arms and He blessed them. I think that speaks to the importance of touch and how much people need to feel touched. There is a whole communication that takes place when we shake hands, hug, touch an arm; each of these shows a different level of love and care.
When I was blessed to go to Haiti, I know the difference in the communication I got to have when I touched people. When you rub a child’s back and they wiggle when you stop so that you will rub their back more, that shows how much they were needing the love and affection they were getting. I have been overwhelmed by the way most of the world lives. I knew how people lived but there is a huge difference in knowing and feeling how they live - knowing that you cannot make a big difference but feeling that you have to make a difference. There is always a difference when you TOUCH someone else’s life. You do not have to go to Haiti to touch the lives of those around you. Just reach out your hand…and bless.
Scripture: Mark 10:16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
This scripture follows the “let the little children come to me” passage which has always been an important scripture to me. It is the way God made me; I feel the need to point the way for children to come to HIM. To show children of God’s great love for them - what an amazing gift to be able to share His love! In Mark 10:16 it specifically says Jesus took them in his arms and He blessed them. I think that speaks to the importance of touch and how much people need to feel touched. There is a whole communication that takes place when we shake hands, hug, touch an arm; each of these shows a different level of love and care.
When I was blessed to go to Haiti, I know the difference in the communication I got to have when I touched people. When you rub a child’s back and they wiggle when you stop so that you will rub their back more, that shows how much they were needing the love and affection they were getting. I have been overwhelmed by the way most of the world lives. I knew how people lived but there is a huge difference in knowing and feeling how they live - knowing that you cannot make a big difference but feeling that you have to make a difference. There is always a difference when you TOUCH someone else’s life. You do not have to go to Haiti to touch the lives of those around you. Just reach out your hand…and bless.
March 2 - Toenail Clippings and Love
(submitted by Todd Miller)
Key Verse: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
What is it that other people do that really wigs you out? What behavior on their part moves you to the proverbial "breaking point"? Come on. We all have it. What’s yours?
Is it the guy who takes 47 items through the express lane at Wal-Mart and then stops to choose seven candy bars and two tabloids on top of everything else? How about the out-of-control toddler at Olive Garden? The relative who still laments decisions they made 57 years ago? The spouse who trims their toenails and leaves them on the arm of the couch? The teenager who doesn't listen to a word you say? The parent who still tries to control you … on your 68th birthday? The guy sitting next to you on the airplane who apparently had nothing to eat except pinto beans for the last three days?
An ongoing part of the Christian journey for me is reminding myself that none of us is perfect. I want to reach the point where I do not see the imperfections in others without also seeing my own. Or, better yet, where I just see another of God’s children.
On thing that really drives me nuts is when someone changes "the plan" at the last second. Even more so when their change affects me but they don't let me know about it! But then I think of the times when I have done that to others. And I start to understand that, even though the other person's gift for planning may not be the greatest, the root to my negative reaction is my issue with feeling out of control. It’s my imperfection that's a problem – not theirs. The more I realize that, the less wigged out I become and the closer I can get to where God wants me to be.
Jesus commanded us to love one another -- his greatest commandment in fact. But how can I do that if all I see are the imperfections in others? What if my eyes are those of suspicion, contempt, and prejudice instead of love, compassion, and grace? What if all I see is the wall that I have built between them and me? I struggle with this every day. I have a long way to go in order to consistently live out unconditional love for all others.
It may seem relatively easy to live out our faith when we're surrounded by it in a faith community. But things change when we're on the "outside" and that person cuts us off in traffic. Or our well-pedicured but sloppy spouse leaves their toenail clippings on the couch (I am not talking from personal experience, mind you!) Or our regret-filled Aunt Eunice relates her story for the 43rd time ... that day. Those are the times that test our transformation in Christ!
Jesus reminded us that none of us is without sin. We all carry imperfections and we all make mistakes. Yet He loves us just the same ... exactly as He commanded us to fully love one another because of who we are in Him. I need to live true to that commandment and it can't be done with a cold or suspicious heart. It can only be done when I allow God's love and grace - both so freely given to me - to flow through me and on to others.
Key Verse: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)
What is it that other people do that really wigs you out? What behavior on their part moves you to the proverbial "breaking point"? Come on. We all have it. What’s yours?
Is it the guy who takes 47 items through the express lane at Wal-Mart and then stops to choose seven candy bars and two tabloids on top of everything else? How about the out-of-control toddler at Olive Garden? The relative who still laments decisions they made 57 years ago? The spouse who trims their toenails and leaves them on the arm of the couch? The teenager who doesn't listen to a word you say? The parent who still tries to control you … on your 68th birthday? The guy sitting next to you on the airplane who apparently had nothing to eat except pinto beans for the last three days?
An ongoing part of the Christian journey for me is reminding myself that none of us is perfect. I want to reach the point where I do not see the imperfections in others without also seeing my own. Or, better yet, where I just see another of God’s children.
On thing that really drives me nuts is when someone changes "the plan" at the last second. Even more so when their change affects me but they don't let me know about it! But then I think of the times when I have done that to others. And I start to understand that, even though the other person's gift for planning may not be the greatest, the root to my negative reaction is my issue with feeling out of control. It’s my imperfection that's a problem – not theirs. The more I realize that, the less wigged out I become and the closer I can get to where God wants me to be.
Jesus commanded us to love one another -- his greatest commandment in fact. But how can I do that if all I see are the imperfections in others? What if my eyes are those of suspicion, contempt, and prejudice instead of love, compassion, and grace? What if all I see is the wall that I have built between them and me? I struggle with this every day. I have a long way to go in order to consistently live out unconditional love for all others.
It may seem relatively easy to live out our faith when we're surrounded by it in a faith community. But things change when we're on the "outside" and that person cuts us off in traffic. Or our well-pedicured but sloppy spouse leaves their toenail clippings on the couch (I am not talking from personal experience, mind you!) Or our regret-filled Aunt Eunice relates her story for the 43rd time ... that day. Those are the times that test our transformation in Christ!
Jesus reminded us that none of us is without sin. We all carry imperfections and we all make mistakes. Yet He loves us just the same ... exactly as He commanded us to fully love one another because of who we are in Him. I need to live true to that commandment and it can't be done with a cold or suspicious heart. It can only be done when I allow God's love and grace - both so freely given to me - to flow through me and on to others.
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