Sweeter than Honey

Posted by admin on Jan 30, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

“What does he know that I don’t?”

David, the writer of Psalm 119, says, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.” (Psalm 119:103) Granted, there are some nice things in the Bible, but really, “sweeter than honey?”

Here’s what David understands that we often miss when we read the Scriptures.  ALL of the Bible is good news.

• Good news that God made the world a beautiful place and will return to make it new again.
• Good news that God made a way for Adam and Eve and has made a way for us.
• Good news that God is always faithful to His people no matter how long they wander in the desert or how far they go.
• Good news that His commands lead to life, and life abundantly.
• Good news that Jesus is the true light of the world, and has come to shine in us and through us to drive back the darkness in our world.

When you understand good news like that, it is very sweet indeed.

Wineskins

Posted by admin on Jan 25, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

Which is better, old or new?

“Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” -Matthew 9:17

How easy it is in our “newer-is-better” consumer culture to discard the old in favor of the new…but Jesus doesn’t do that.  Jesus finds value in both the seasoned and the start-up, the trendy and the traditional.

Don’t be so quick to embrace the shine of the present that you miss the substance of the past, and don’t let the comfort of the familiar keep you from the fresh wine of a brand new day.

Need

Posted by admin on Jan 23, 2012 in Contemplations, Featured, Scripture Notes | 0 comments

If you think you have it all together, it’s doubtful Jesus has much for you…

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Mat 9:10-13

Those who think they have it all together are usually the ones who look down on those who don’t.  Yet, just as God the Father “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6), Jesus -God the Son- says He comes “not to call the ‘righteous’, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13b, quotes added).

For those who think they have no need of grace, there will be no grace to be found.  For those who know their poverty of spirit, the abundant riches of the grace of Jesus will be poured out on them, to as a great a degree as they are willing to ask for and receive.

The “poor in spirit” are blessed indeed. (Matthew 5:3)

How much DO non-profit CEO’S make?

Posted by admin on Dec 14, 2011 in Art, Featured, Graphics | 0 comments

Thinking of doing some charitable giving this Christmas?

I received this information in an e-mail, and found it rather interesting…

Wings of Joy

Posted by admin on Nov 24, 2011 in Contemplations, Featured | 3 comments

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It’s hard to rejoice in the midst of grief.  It’s hard to give thanks when you’ve just said goodbye to the one you love, and the pain digs deep in your heart.  What kind of God would be so calloused as to demand rejoicing in a time of death, thanks in a time of loss?

Not my God.  My God doesn’t demand thanks FOR all circumstances, but invites thanks and rejoicing IN all circumstances, things that come when we face our grief head-on and embrace it, but let His Spirit lift our eyes up beyond this moment to the light of eternity…

Bridges and Surf Boards

Posted by admin on Nov 16, 2011 in Contemplations, Featured | 1 comment

Sometimes I wonder, “what does ‘standing on God’s Word’ even MEAN?”

The older I get and the more I study both Scripture and life, the more I’m discovering that the life and faith that Jesus invites us to are much more “fluid” than I grew up believing them to be.