Our Focus

Love... yes, we hear a lot about it, but the Bible tells us that there is faith and hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.  And according to the picture above, taken from Facebook, love is the solution on which we are to focus.  Love, love, love... no, not just the start of a Beatle's song, but what it's really all about...

READ:  1 John 4: 7-8

Actually, the whole book of 1 John is a wonderful testimony to the love of God, and to the love believers in God ought to have.  In the 2 verses above, however, the author (the apostle John) really lays it on the line, so to speak.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God.  Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John is saying that God wants us to love each other; well, actually God says He wants us to continue to love each other.  And why?  Because it's a neat thing to do?  Because it sounds good in print?  No, because love comes from God.  Love isn't just a feeling, something we think about with regard to others; instead, love is an action, a choice, and it means we need to understand why we ought to love.  And why is it that we ought to love?  Because it is from God.  Love doesn't come from something we do, but from the one who gave us life - from God.  God is the source of our love. 

John goes on to say that if we love, we are a part of the family of God and so we know God.  And... if we do NOT love, we do not know God.  Why?  Because God IS love.  Not 'love is God', which infers that love is what makes us feel good and warm and fuzzy, but 'God is love', which means love is good and perfect and right - my NLT Study Bible says, "Real love is like God, who is holy, just, and perfect". 

So what does this all mean?  It means that, if we really know God, then we will really know what love is, and we will really love as God loves.  Love is the solution to life - not that it solves all life's problems, but if we focus on love instead of all the things that are wrong or difficult or irritating or a host of other negative things, we will be looking at what is right and good. 

• How do you love others?
• What allows others to see God's love in you?
• What might you be able to do to make sure others see the love in God in you?

An even better question might be:

• What is your focus?

If it's on all that's going on around you, then perhaps you need a change of focus.  But if it's on God and His love in you, then you have the right focus, the one that focuses on the solution.  Remember, God IS love, and so when we love others, we are showing them God!

PRAYER
God, help us to always show your love to others, in our words, our actions, our life.
Amen.

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow...

Ira Stanphill wrote these wonderful words about our great big wonderful God:

I don't know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future, For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him, For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, And I know who holds my hand.

As I read (and sang!) these words, I got to thinking - yes, I do that from time to time! - about God, and about things that often go wrong, and about things that often go right, and... well, a bunch of things!  Everything about life is different from day to day - even from moment to moment - but one thing always remains the same - GOD!

Read:  Hebrews 13: 1-8

Verse 8 is such a blessing:

Jesus is the same - yesterday, today, and forever.

In other words, Jesus is constant - He never changes - He is always there.  We don't need to worry about today - or tomorrow - because Jesus is there with us - today AND tomorrow AND always!  Earlier in the book of Hebrews (1:12) we read:

You [Jesus] are always the same.

We will change - change is inevitable - but Jesus never changes.  He is always the same loving, caring, concerned, compassionate Jesus He always has been, always is, and always will be.  And because He is the same, we don't have to worry about Him not being there in our lives when things do change - and they will.  Ask yourself:

• Have I ever doubted God's presence, or His ability, in the past?  In the present?
• Do I ever think God might not be able to help me out in the future?  If so, why?
• How might I be able to better trust God and His presence in my life?

Sometimes we worry; okay, OFTEN we worry - but we don't NEED to...  Jesus is there - always has been, always will be - and He is the constant in our ever-changing lives.  So next time you feel alone, or doubt God for anything, or just wonder why, think about this Bible passage, as well as these words from Ira Stanphill:

I don't know about tomorrow, It may bring me poverty
But the one who feeds the sparrow, Is the one who stands by me
And the path that be my portion, May be through the flame or flood
But His presence goes before me, And I'm covered with His blood.

No Jesus, know fear
Know Jesus, no fear!

PRAYER
God, thank you for the assurance of your presence with me always, of your love for me always, and for your protection over me always. 
Amen.

On vacation...

Pastor Ed is on vacation from July 9-15, 2012.
There will be no posts during this time.
Please check out this site on Monday July 16!!!

Love your neighbour...

Have you ever done something... just because?  Have you ever done something for someone who couldn't possibly pay you back or do the same for you... just because?  Seriously, it's an amazing feeling...

Growing up, our children were treated to this type of thing.  By treated, I mean they were, I believe, privileged to be able to do things for people, and not expect anything in return.  Cutting someone's lawn, picking up garbage, taking garbage cans from the street to the house - all without the person knowing, and never expecting anything in return.  Things we could do that others might have a difficult time doing, or may not like to do, or... whatever the reason, we did it and had fun doing it too!

READ:  Acts 3: 1-10

Jesus did this; He healed people who could never do that for Him.  The disciples did this; they healed people who could never do that for them.  And I can't imagine they didn't feel a bit of a thrill in knowing they had helped people, in Jesus' name, who would otherwise remain unhealed.

There are times in our lives when we just need someone to care, to feel loved by someone, accepted.  There are people in this world who are able to do this and don't, and there are - thank God! - people in this world who do care, who do love, and who do accept... even if the person they are caring for, loving, and accepting isn't able to give back in any way.  Why do we do this?  Because God loved us first.  We love because God first loved us!  We are to show God's love to those who don't know it, or don't see it... and just need it so very much!

• What have I done this week for someone?
• What have I done this week for someone, that they didn't know about?
• What will I do this coming week for someone, that will bless them and show them God's love?

There truly are gazillions of things we can do, so let's just go and do them!  "Love isn't love until you give it away", they say, so give it away, folks!  Give love - it feels oh so good to do it!

PRAYER
God, thank you for the opportunities you give to us to show your love to others.  Let us never do it for the 'credit' we get for doing it, but let us do it out of love for you and love for them.
Amen.

Regular or what?

Once upon a time... okay, maybe it's not so much a 'once upon a time' story, but hey, it's interesting nonetheless!  A few weeks ago, I went to that well-known, iconic coffee place in Canada we all know and love, went through the drive-thru and ordered 2 coffees.  First, I asked for a medium decaf with 2 cream (for someone else) and then asked for a medium regular coffee with 2 cream.  Sounds okay so far, right?  At least, to me it did.  Got the coffees, tasted mine and... hmm... sweet.  I didn't order sugar.  Or at least I didn't think I did.  I now had to go into the store, up to the counter, and confront them with their error - or so I thought.  The girl patiently (okay, maybe not so patiently, but at least condescendingly) explained to me that I ordered a regular coffee, and that's what they gave me.  I told her (even more patiently, yet somehow not condescendingly) that I ordered 1 decaf and 1 regular; in other words, 1 decaf and one non-decaf.  She then told me (now impatiently and even more condescendingly, or so it seemed!) that 'regular' does not mean 'non-decaf' - I could almost hear the 'duh' at the end of the sentence!  Well, that's news to me, I said - where is that posted so I might know that 'regular' now did not now mean 'regular'; I also inquired as to what it DID mean.  Almost dismissively, she told me 'regular' meant 'cream and sugar', and seeing as I also qualified my 'regular' by adding '2 cream', it meant '2 cream and 2 sugar'.  "Really?", I said, to which I got what I recognized as 'the look'!  This time, I pretty much saw the 'duh' in the expression!

Anyhoo... I found it interesting that one day 'regular' meant regular (i.e. non-decaf) coffee, and the next day, it meant something added to the basic black.  Despite my obvious (to the coffee girl, at least) stupidity, I still felt that, having never been explained this, I should not have to automatically know this!  DUH!  Then I got thinking - and this might be construed by some to be dangerous!: being regular doesn't mean being basic, being regular means something has been added.  So now the expression 'a regular Joe' obviously means 'someone, not necessarily named Joe, who is something more than basic'.  This changes the whole dynamic of what being regular is all about - now it's a good thing to be regular, because there's more to the meaning of the word than there ever was!  Who cares anymore about being 'original' or 'spectacular' or 'new and improved' - 'I am a regular guy' takes on a whole new meaning, almost like 'I'm all that AND MORE!'

READ:  Matthew 9: 9-12

The Pharisees - now THERE are some guys who definitely think they fit the new 'regular'!  Not only did they think they knew it all, as far as religious stuff was concerned, but listen to their comment about the taxpayers and associated sinner-type people:

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? ”

Scum... the stuff of ponds, the junk floating around, the yukky stuff no one wants to get on them.  The Pharisees, self-righteous as they were, thought of those who did wrong as 'scum'.  Obviously, being 'regular' in their own minds meant - in their own minds - they considered others of questionable repute as nothing worthy of having around.  Kinda makes you want to NOT be regular, doesn't it?!?!

• Do you consider yourself to be 'regular'?  What does this mean to you?
• How might you show yourself to others if you thought of yourself as being 'regular' (i.e. basic with more)?
• How do Jesus' words affect what you do?

Jesus had something to say about this, though - He told them that people who are 'regular', or 'healthy', don't need God as much as those who are oh so obviously down-and-out, or thought of as... well, scum.  God loves everybody, yes, but some people just need Him more than others, simply because of life's circumstances.  And isn't it good to know that not all people feel as do the Pharisees!  Isn't it good to know that even those who consider themselves to be the new 'regular' aren't necessarily immune to doing wrong, or thinking wrong!  Of course, the new 'regular' - more than just basic - is really what those who have an active relationship with Jesus are all about, dontcha think?  I mean, having Jesus in your life means you have a whole lot more than just the basics - you have it all! 

Now I know how to properly order coffee at this iconic coffee place, and I am actually thankful for having been given this insight into 'regular', 'cause being regular in this world isn't really so bad after all, is it! 

PRAYERGod, thank you for loving me, and for loving all people, no matter what they are like or what they do or say.  Help me to love as you love.  
Amen. 

Happy 4th of July, y'all...

To all our U.S. friends - Happy 4th of July!  Celebrate life, worship God! 

Doing or Being?

I remember someone once telling me that they were going to go to another church because their worship was livelier.  Nothing wrong with that, right?  True, but... livelier doesn't necessarily mean better.  It might, yes, but not necessarily.  Let me explain, and let me use Amos as part of that explanation.

Stuck in the middle of the book of Amos in the Bible is a section that clearly defines what pleases God and what doesn't please God:

READ:  Amos 5: 21-24

Keep in mind that this is God speaking to His people; this is God telling His people what He thinks of what they're doing.  Interesting how what we do a lot of in church - religious festivals, solemn assemblies, offerings, praise music - is what God is saying to stop doing.  Not that any of those things is bad, but what God is saying is that He isn't pleased with us doing those things to the exclusion of bringing justice to the world and living right.  In other words, do the things necessary to help out "the least of these", and get your life right with God - if we do these things, God is pleased.  The other stuff, well, it's all good, but we have to be right first. 

I love this passage.  To me, it speaks of getting our priorities straight - being right with God and doing what He wants us to do to help others - and then celebrating who God is, what God has done, etc.  Of course, while we are 'getting our lives right', we can be celebrating, but first, God wants all of us.  This is so backwards to what we often consider to be the 'norm', in our lives and in our churches - we love to praise God in music, we love to gather to worship Him, we love to give to the church (we do, right?  right?) - and then God goes and tells us that stuff is good but...   Going through the motions for show isn't showing God we have sincere hearts - God wants us to be real.

First question is from the NLT Study Bible:

• When you worship at church, are you more concerned about your image or your attitude toward God?
• Do you ever 'go through the motions', knowing your life isn't what God wants it to be?
• Why do we use rituals and traditions to make ourselves look good?

You see, it's all about God, not us, and so because of this truth, our lives and all we do should be about being as much like God as possible. 

READ:  Isaiah 1: 10-17

A similar passage to the one from Amos, but a bit more blunt, don't you think!  God is saying:

1. Wash yourselves and be clean
2. Get your sins out of my sight
3. Give up your evil ways
4. Learn to do good
5. Seek justice
6. Help the oppressed
7. Defend the cause of the orphans
8. Fight for the rights of widows

A daunting list, to be sure, but hey, it's straight from God and it's what He wants us to be, so...  what's it going to be?  Doing a lot of stuff that might be seen as 'showing off' or not real, or being what God wants us to be - more like Him?  The list above seems like a lot of 'doing' but really, it's all about 'being' what God wants us to be, isn't it?  So again I ask - for you, what's it going to be:  DOING or BEING?

PRAYER

God, you  are so awesome.  Help us to always be looking to you, and to be working at being the very best we can be, more like you.  Doing is good, but being is pleasing to you, and we want you to be pleased by us.  Thank you for challenging us; thank you for loving us; thank you for giving us a template for living! 
Amen.