Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” – Mark 9:35
Everyone wants to be first. “We’re number one!” is the cheer of champions. In our society we strive to be the winner. However in contrast to our society come the words of Jesus, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last.” These are difficult words for us to understand and follow, just as they were for Jesus’ disciples.
Recently, I read a story about a woman and her two young sons who were suddenly stranded in their car by a flash flood in Australia. When a rescuer finally arrived he could only save one person at a time. Although he was deathly afraid of water and could not swim, Jordan, a thirteen year old boy, asked the rescuer to take his younger brother first. By the time the rescuer returned to the car Jordan and his mother had been swept away by the flood waters. Jordan could have chosen to be first, but instead he chose to be last and with that decision he laid down his life to save his brother. In his unselfish decision, Jordan shows us how Christ wants us to live as Christians; not choosing to be first, but choosing to be last so that others might be saved.
Prayer: Thank you Jesus that you chose to come not as a champion, but as a servant. Help me to become more servant like in my life and lay aside my selfish ambitions and desires to serve others. Amen
Faith Tip: Today do something specific that helps put someone else in first place. Let someone go first through a door, a check-out lane, or an intersection…Give credit to someone who deserves it…Put aside your selfish desires and do something that someone else wants to do. The ideas are endless.
Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Breaking Free From the Counting
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).
I don’t count calories—I count points. That’s the new way Weight Watchers has established their healthier way of living program. All foods and activities are given a point value. For the food, it is calculated by the protein, fiber, carbs and fat. All fruits are given a zero point value and most veggies are, too. The bonus is that there are 49 extra weekly points to use so that the person on the program doesn’t feel like they are missing out. I personally find the program working well for me so far, and truly enjoy the fellowship and tips at the meetings. Tracking points each day is becoming a habit for me.
Isn’t it interesting that there were a certain number of times given to forgive someone? I think the cultural score for forgiveness during Jesus’ time was below seven times, so Peter thought he would up the ante and say seven. Jesus helps him break out of that counting box by saying 77 times. Of course, he was saying to just forgive and don’t track the trespasses against you. I wonder if we struggle with forgiving seven times or even once. I wonder how many wrongs we have done against God, but I imagine a lot more than 77. Yet, God forgave us over and over again—he didn’t track. Jesus paid the cost for all of our sins. Making the habit of stop tracking the trespasses will enable us to live a healthier and happier life.
Prayer: Thank you, dear Lord, for forgiving me. I pray that I may forgive others freely and not hold on to any bitterness that will make me unhealthy and unhappy. Amen
Faith Tip: Forgive and be set free. Start today.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21-22).
I don’t count calories—I count points. That’s the new way Weight Watchers has established their healthier way of living program. All foods and activities are given a point value. For the food, it is calculated by the protein, fiber, carbs and fat. All fruits are given a zero point value and most veggies are, too. The bonus is that there are 49 extra weekly points to use so that the person on the program doesn’t feel like they are missing out. I personally find the program working well for me so far, and truly enjoy the fellowship and tips at the meetings. Tracking points each day is becoming a habit for me.
Isn’t it interesting that there were a certain number of times given to forgive someone? I think the cultural score for forgiveness during Jesus’ time was below seven times, so Peter thought he would up the ante and say seven. Jesus helps him break out of that counting box by saying 77 times. Of course, he was saying to just forgive and don’t track the trespasses against you. I wonder if we struggle with forgiving seven times or even once. I wonder how many wrongs we have done against God, but I imagine a lot more than 77. Yet, God forgave us over and over again—he didn’t track. Jesus paid the cost for all of our sins. Making the habit of stop tracking the trespasses will enable us to live a healthier and happier life.
Prayer: Thank you, dear Lord, for forgiving me. I pray that I may forgive others freely and not hold on to any bitterness that will make me unhealthy and unhappy. Amen
Faith Tip: Forgive and be set free. Start today.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Avoiding the Kongs
If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! (Matthew 18:6-7)
My dog, Charlie, loves his toys—especially his Kongs. They are hard rubber snowman shaped toys that treats can be put into. Charlie even has a purple squirrel Kong that he treasures. Charlie has this habit that when people go down the stairs to either the basement or outside, he will throw one of his Kongs down the steps as if to invite the person to stay and play. If not careful, this action could cause stumbling.
God has a perfect plan for each of us—his dearly loved children. As we follow the plan, the world begins to throw things at us to cause us to stumble. We can lose our focus on God and stumble over broken relationships, tragedies, bills to pay, work, and more. Picture worldly Kongs being thrown at your feet to invite you to stay where you are and play, which will draw you away from God. Pray for those who are throwing the Kongs that they may be enlightened to the grave travesty they are causing. Keeping your eyes on Jesus will help you maneuver through anything the world throws at you.
Prayer: I thank you, Lord, for your great promises in scripture. I pray that my eyes stay focused on you and what you are doing rather than what the world is doing. Amen
Faith Tip: The next worldly Kong thrown at your feet, keep focused on Jesus for stability.
Written by Kathy Bruins
My dog, Charlie, loves his toys—especially his Kongs. They are hard rubber snowman shaped toys that treats can be put into. Charlie even has a purple squirrel Kong that he treasures. Charlie has this habit that when people go down the stairs to either the basement or outside, he will throw one of his Kongs down the steps as if to invite the person to stay and play. If not careful, this action could cause stumbling.
God has a perfect plan for each of us—his dearly loved children. As we follow the plan, the world begins to throw things at us to cause us to stumble. We can lose our focus on God and stumble over broken relationships, tragedies, bills to pay, work, and more. Picture worldly Kongs being thrown at your feet to invite you to stay where you are and play, which will draw you away from God. Pray for those who are throwing the Kongs that they may be enlightened to the grave travesty they are causing. Keeping your eyes on Jesus will help you maneuver through anything the world throws at you.
Prayer: I thank you, Lord, for your great promises in scripture. I pray that my eyes stay focused on you and what you are doing rather than what the world is doing. Amen
Faith Tip: The next worldly Kong thrown at your feet, keep focused on Jesus for stability.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
An Undivided Heart
Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name (Psalm 86:11)
It’s no trick to be busy. In fact, it’s the easiest thing to do. A portion of our life goes to family, another to work, ministry, hobbies, etc. Each day is filled with things we want to do, we need to do, and we have to do. Sometimes we try to give each portion an equal amount of our time and energy, but that rarely happens. Usually one gets a lot more than the others and that’s okay. Sometimes we wonder if we are giving enough to one part and worry we may fail if we don’t do enough.
Peace can be given to us through the giving of our heart to Jesus. God wants our whole heart. That doesn’t mean we blot out all the things we do each day, it means to include God in all the things we do. God is a master at organizing days. Allowing God to direct us in what we do will show us how faithful he is all the time.
Prayer: Lord, I hand to you my day and pray that I can follow your instructions in what I should do. I know that your plan for me is perfect. Thank you for being such an awesome God! Amen
Faith Tip: If you can’t hand over the whole day just yet, begin with smaller portions and give God more as you see his faithfulness at work through you.
Written by Kathy Bruins
It’s no trick to be busy. In fact, it’s the easiest thing to do. A portion of our life goes to family, another to work, ministry, hobbies, etc. Each day is filled with things we want to do, we need to do, and we have to do. Sometimes we try to give each portion an equal amount of our time and energy, but that rarely happens. Usually one gets a lot more than the others and that’s okay. Sometimes we wonder if we are giving enough to one part and worry we may fail if we don’t do enough.
Peace can be given to us through the giving of our heart to Jesus. God wants our whole heart. That doesn’t mean we blot out all the things we do each day, it means to include God in all the things we do. God is a master at organizing days. Allowing God to direct us in what we do will show us how faithful he is all the time.
Prayer: Lord, I hand to you my day and pray that I can follow your instructions in what I should do. I know that your plan for me is perfect. Thank you for being such an awesome God! Amen
Faith Tip: If you can’t hand over the whole day just yet, begin with smaller portions and give God more as you see his faithfulness at work through you.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Getting in God's Way
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Matthew 16:21-23)
When a friend of mine was going through some troubled times, I wanted to fix their situation for them so that they wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. I was interpreting the situation through my human experience and not seeking God for his plan. I took on a “god complex” where I thought I could fix it for my friend.
Sometimes God says to get out of the way so that he can do the work that he has planned. We may not understand what he is doing, we may not even like it, but God knows exactly what he is doing. If we try to fix things, we are causing a barrier to what God wants to do, which is so much better than what we can do. It’s a matter of trust.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that I can trust you in every situation. You have been so faithful, and I am to seek you and your plan for direction. I praise you for your goodness. Amen
Faith Tip: Are you trying to fix a problem for someone or for yourself? Look to the Lord for his plan and be ready to let go and step aside.
Written by Kathy Bruins
When a friend of mine was going through some troubled times, I wanted to fix their situation for them so that they wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. I was interpreting the situation through my human experience and not seeking God for his plan. I took on a “god complex” where I thought I could fix it for my friend.
Sometimes God says to get out of the way so that he can do the work that he has planned. We may not understand what he is doing, we may not even like it, but God knows exactly what he is doing. If we try to fix things, we are causing a barrier to what God wants to do, which is so much better than what we can do. It’s a matter of trust.
Prayer: Lord, I pray that I can trust you in every situation. You have been so faithful, and I am to seek you and your plan for direction. I praise you for your goodness. Amen
Faith Tip: Are you trying to fix a problem for someone or for yourself? Look to the Lord for his plan and be ready to let go and step aside.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Act on Compassion
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?” “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan (Matthew 15: 32-39).
Compassion is defined as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” God feels that for his people as shown over and over again in the Bible. The interesting thing is that there is usually a miracle that follows. Sometimes those miracles are done through his people. How would people know that God has compassion on them unless we feel that compassion and express it? Do we have a strong desire to alleviate suffering? How have we shown it and acted upon it? To say it is not enough.
God acts on his compassion. He calls his people to action. What if we say no like Jonah did? Sometimes we don’t understand God’s compassion for it doesn’t fit our human experience of compassion. God says that he will have compassion on who he will have compassion. No explanation needed. We just need to respond to his call.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for your great compassion on us and pray that I can express that same compassion to others. I want to act on that compassion to give you glory. Direct me to the people who need to know that God loves them and has compassion on them. Amen
Faith Tip: Ask for eyes to see where compassion is needed and then act on it as directed by God.
Written by Kathy Bruins
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan (Matthew 15: 32-39).
Compassion is defined as “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.” God feels that for his people as shown over and over again in the Bible. The interesting thing is that there is usually a miracle that follows. Sometimes those miracles are done through his people. How would people know that God has compassion on them unless we feel that compassion and express it? Do we have a strong desire to alleviate suffering? How have we shown it and acted upon it? To say it is not enough.
God acts on his compassion. He calls his people to action. What if we say no like Jonah did? Sometimes we don’t understand God’s compassion for it doesn’t fit our human experience of compassion. God says that he will have compassion on who he will have compassion. No explanation needed. We just need to respond to his call.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank you for your great compassion on us and pray that I can express that same compassion to others. I want to act on that compassion to give you glory. Direct me to the people who need to know that God loves them and has compassion on them. Amen
Faith Tip: Ask for eyes to see where compassion is needed and then act on it as directed by God.
Written by Kathy Bruins
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Beauty of New Fallen Snow
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” - Isaiah 1:18
It continues to snow in West Michigan. We woke up this morning to see the ground clothed in a bright new garment of white. It is nice to see the landscape shimmering with a new coat of fresh white snow. The new snow covers up all the ugliness of the melted, dirty snow and sand and makes everything look beautiful again. Just think what those in Florida are missing. J
Through the prophet Isaiah, God promises that the blood of Jesus Christ will turn the ugliness of our sin into the beauty of bright new fallen snow. This is good news, but what makes this news even better is that the blood of Christ does not just cover our sins, like a new coat of snow covers the dirt, but our sins are forever removed from us as far as the east is from the west. When Jesus died on the cross the matter was settled. Therefore no longer look at yourself or define yourself by the sins of your past, instead see yourself as God sees you, like a beautiful landscape of freshly fallen snow!
Prayer: Thank you God for sending your son Jesus do die on the cross and shed his blood for the forgiveness of my sins. Help me to see myself with the beauty that you see in me, and give me the strength to not clothe myself in sin. Amen.
Faith Tip: If you have the courage to brave the cold, go outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and think about how God sees the beauty in you. If you don’t feel like braving the cold then do the same thing by looking at God’s beautiful creation through a window.
Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson
It continues to snow in West Michigan. We woke up this morning to see the ground clothed in a bright new garment of white. It is nice to see the landscape shimmering with a new coat of fresh white snow. The new snow covers up all the ugliness of the melted, dirty snow and sand and makes everything look beautiful again. Just think what those in Florida are missing. J
Through the prophet Isaiah, God promises that the blood of Jesus Christ will turn the ugliness of our sin into the beauty of bright new fallen snow. This is good news, but what makes this news even better is that the blood of Christ does not just cover our sins, like a new coat of snow covers the dirt, but our sins are forever removed from us as far as the east is from the west. When Jesus died on the cross the matter was settled. Therefore no longer look at yourself or define yourself by the sins of your past, instead see yourself as God sees you, like a beautiful landscape of freshly fallen snow!
Prayer: Thank you God for sending your son Jesus do die on the cross and shed his blood for the forgiveness of my sins. Help me to see myself with the beauty that you see in me, and give me the strength to not clothe myself in sin. Amen.
Faith Tip: If you have the courage to brave the cold, go outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation and think about how God sees the beauty in you. If you don’t feel like braving the cold then do the same thing by looking at God’s beautiful creation through a window.
Written by Pastor Aaron Anderson
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