Day 7-Trees

My Prayer: Psalm 1:1-3 (New International Version)
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

The Reading: Matthew 19-21
Matthew 21:21-22 (New International Version)
21Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."


My Thoughts: This last verse is the source of one of my struggles with my Christian faith and growth. I believed it and I prayed for good things...and they didn't come. Of course, I've heard over and over that I have to understand God's will and pray for the right things, but sometimes that seems like a loophole to a fairly clear promise. So what do I do when I'm disappointed in the answer? The answer depends on the day. Sometimes I think I've gained more wisdom with the passing of time and can see the reasons why I should have prayed for a different outcome or reasons why God's answer was better. But sometimes I'm just disappointed and angry. I think those times are becoming fewer as I mature, and I hope that someday, when I can see what my life became thanks to the change Jesus made, that it's all going to be clear. Until then, I have to battle those doubts and disappointments...my Father wants to give me the best in life, better things than I even know to ask for. And He has a plan for that life, a plan far above what I can plan. And He's going to take every bad thing that happens to me and turn it into something good.

Here's another translation that seems a little more believable to me...I believe that God does care about the insignificant parts of my life as well as the big decisions. And, thanks to prayer, I've already successfully done things in my life that felt like telling the mountain to go jump in a lake. I have to remember these when I'm confronted by the disappointments.

Matthew 21:21-22 (The Message)
21-22But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God."

Day 6-What's important?

Instead of going to the family reunion, I decided to something out of ordinary...no time to think, no time to be sad. I went for a hike at Lake Catherine, a place I've never been before. And I think it almost worked. I pushed my body to the limit (which really isn't all that far), and only spoke to people who didn't know me or my story, and drove with the top down. It was a good day. Now I just have to stop feeling bad about it.

Anyway, back to my program...
My Prayer: Psalm 63:1 (New International Version)
1 O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

The Reading: Matthew 16-18
Matthew 16:15-18 (New International Version)
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

My Thoughts: Peter knew Jesus. He's one of my favorite people to read about because he didn't do things perfectly but he got the important stuff. There's a book titled If You Want to Walk on Water You Have to Get Out of the Boat by John Ortberg. It's a good book, a thorough look at Peter's episode of getting out of the boat...where he almost got it right. He had a good heart, but he messed up. And Jesus knew that would happen, knew that he would mess up over and over. But Peter knew Jesus, and proclaimed his faith...and he would be used to change the world. He wasn't perfect, but he got the important stuff.

Day 5-You Can't Go Home Again

The Prayer: Psalm 143 (New International Version)
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

The Reading: Matthew 13-15
Matthew 13:53-58 (New International Version)
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

My Thoughts: Those people couldn't see Jesus as he was because they knew him...or thought they knew him. Knew parts of him very well that made it difficult to understand other parts. He was the carpenter's son, this was his family, how could he know so much, be so much more, than that...and they didn't like it. I think we do this all the time. We see parts that we like, we want to hold on to and then reject the rest because it's hard to understand. And that limits our faith. And that limits our miracles. We want to be comfortable with Christ but that limits our belief in what he can do...all-powerful Christ who performs miracles. The carpenter's son, Mary's son who can save us all.

Day 4-What if?

My Prayer: Psalm 19:1-2
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

The Reading: Matthew 10-12
Matthew 10:32-34
32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

My thoughts: It's difficult to get a true picture of who God is...judge, merciful father, an angry god who wipes out towns who don't repent or a caring one who creates a way to save the world...sending a part of himself to that world to suffer and die for it. And they're all parts of that God. It's a little easier to understand Jesus. Either we believe him to be who he said he was or we believe him to be...what? A person who makes the claims that Jesus did...and isn't truly God...is a crazy person, right? Sure, he taught good things...mercy, loving your neighbor, but he also said he was the Son of God, sent here to save the world. And he performed miracles, which sort of helps me make up my mind that he was telling the truth. But I've said before that I have a simple faith. I don't have to understand it all, all the parts of God, and still believe.

OK, and I had a day without a song, so I'm back to my old tricks. I couldn't find a recording to link to, but check it out on iTunes or something.
Nichole Nordeman - What If

What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?

What if he takes his palace in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?

(Chorus)
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?

What if you dig, What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions inside
That’s all you find

What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Then folklore that must be told and retold

(Chorus)

You’ve been running as fast as you can
You’ve been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?

What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?

Day 3-Mercy vs. Sacrifice

My Prayer:
Psalm 16:8 (New International Version)
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.



The Reading: Matthew 7-9
Matthew 9:10-13 (New International Version)

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

12On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."


My Thoughts: First, the difference in mercy and sacrifice...
Mercy: Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Alleviation of distress; relief: Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy.
Sacrifice: The act of offering something to a deity in propitiation or homage, especially the ritual slaughter of an animal or a person.
A victim offered in this way.
Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim.

I think mercy may be more difficult than sacrifice. The Pharisees probably understood this, too. Sacrifice is like making the check mark in the book...doesn't really matter why you do it, just do it because that's the rule...and it has victims. I can understand why Jesus didn't want victims. As a person who has said more than once that I lack the gift of mercy, I also understand why this has to be stated and it has to be a calling. It's hard to love some people...like me, but it's also the quality that the world looks for in a Christian...and marks when it's missing. It's one of those ways that the world knows that we're different. I definitely need to practice it more.

Day 2-So far, so good

A celebration at two days is a little premature, but I have to take the opportunities as they arise.

My Prayer:
Psalm 119: 116
Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.

The Reading: Matthew 4-6
Matthew 5:46-48 (The Message)
43-47"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

Matthew 6:6-15 (New International Version)
6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

My thoughts: As I was reading this, I thought about my post about someone asking if I was praying for her and how sad it is when I can't answer "Yes." I am supposed to be praying for her, but I feel disconnected so it's hard to pray. The pipeline is broken. Last week, I had 2 other prayer requests which were even harder. I like the first person. Persons 2 and 3...not so much...each has said something about me or to me that I can't forget. So what do I do? This one is sort of easier...I have to forgive them, I feel like I have to pray for them. I want my sins to be forgiven. Even better, I'd really like for mine to also be forgotten. So I did say a quick,specific prayer for Persons 2 and 3 last week. Then, of course, I ruin it all by patting myself on the back for doing the right thing. Maybe I can redeem myself with Person 1. She's worth the effort. So for her, I pray for wisdom and joy and blessings so that she will see that God is good. I know that Jesus became God with Us for me...and for her. I'm praying that she'll see that too. I really hope that starting late can be made up for with sincerity!

Day 1-Making a Plan

Here's the new plan (because I have to do something, to start somewhere):
90 days to read through the New Testament (laid out by Rick Warren at purposedrivenlife.org. I've tried for a year before...and reading the NT in 30 days...both seemed a little too ambitious!)
15 minutes of quiet time every morning
And prayer.

My Prayer: Psalm 51: 10-12
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

The Reading: Matthew 1-3
Matthew 1:21, 23 Names of Jesus
21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[a] because he will save his people from their sins." (Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.)
23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

My thoughts:
When I couldn't go to God, He came to me. And what a sacrifice that was. What a love that would provoke such a sacrifice. I don't understand that love just like I don't understand why life is the way it is. But I can still be grateful for the gift and the reminder that God is not separated from me. God is with me. Because of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God is with me now and always, even to the end of the age. He is unshaken even when I falter. To find my way, I only have to look.

And apparently I'm always going to have a song, too. When I read this about Joseph taking his family to Eqypt, I hear a song by Rich Mullins called My Deliverer is coming. If you'd rather hear the song and watch a slideshow of images reflecting Jesus' life, you can check out the YouTube clip. I managed to maintain my composure to only a few sniffles.