March 22nd - 25th People Reflections

Wednesday 3/22/2006

Matthew 20.1-16-Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first.

Numbers 13-14-But they went anyway; recklessly and arrogantly they climbed to the high hill country.

Ecclesiastes 9.1-12-Well, I took all this in and thought it through, inside and out.

2 Esdras 5.41-6.10-The creation cannot move faster than the Creator, nor can the world hold at one time those who have been created in it.

Psalm 107.1-3, 17-22-You should praise the LORD for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.

Ephesians 5.1-10-Be good and honest and truthful, as you try to please the Lord.

Psalm 119.169-176-I am your servant, but I have wandered away like a lost sheep. Please come after me…

"Bill—go ahead…"-The great reversal. I was asked to go first. I deserved to go first in this case. I was the least. I was foolish. Just like the Israelites who decided to turn from God and take on those in the Promised Land without God’s support. They went anyway, recklessly and arrogantly they climbed – Sometimes I go the wrong way- recklessly and arrogantly. Turn from God and try to make it on my own. I don’t pause and think it through from the inside out. And if I do think it through from the inside out- I go astray thinking I have the answer myself. And really I must listen to the voice of God and follow him. Follow the vision- follow that cross. God has the answer and I must follow – not lead in my own selfishness. For when I follow I can easily see the love of God. I cans see the wonderful things he does for all of us. I can see and hear how to be good and honest and truthful. I can see when I follow that cross how to please God. As I follow I know that I am his servant. But still I wander away like a lost sheep and thanks be to God- He does come after me. "Bill—go ahead…"—No – I must follow.

Prayer- Lord teach me to follow- let me follow your cross. -- Amen

Thursday 3/23/2006

Matthew 20.17-34-"Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!"

Numbers 15-16-that person must be kicked out of the community, ostracized, left alone in his wrongdoing.

Ecclesiastes 9.13-10.20-Laughter and bread go together, and wine gives sparkle to life

2 Esdras 6.11-29-While he spoke to me, little by little the place where I was standing began to rock to and fro.

Numbers 21.4-9-It was wrong of us to insult you and the LORD.

Ephesians 6.10-17-let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong.

Psalm 120-When I am in trouble, I pray…

"Call after a week. Sometimes I don’t get to see the results."- Blood tests. Sometimes the doctor doesn’t get to see the results. Unless something is abnormal. But call for the results anyway. It’s a reminder. God reminds me to open my eyes. Just as Jesus opens the eyes of the blind. I need my blindness cured. I want to see! Because if I don’t begin to see I will stray. Do what I shouldn’t do. Do things that cause me to deserve to be kicked out of the community. To be left alone in my wrongdoing. But God rescues. God comes to me in the bread and the wine- the body and the blood- the laughter and the sparkle of life. And when I consume Jesus into my life- when Jesus through grace enters my being- little by little my life begins to rock to and fro with a love so amazing that I can’t stand it. And I realize how my actions have insulted God. How my selfishness has distanced me from God. But God didn’t distance himself from me- I distance myself from God. God is closer than you think. In God’s closeness he makes me strong once again. In my troubled prayers God rescues me and saves me. But it’s about God – it’s about my trust in him that I know how I can’t make it on my own—but only through his grace can I survive. "Call after a week. Sometimes I don’t get to see the results."—the results are…God is closer than I think—now and even next week.

Prayer-Lord, I place my trust and hope in you. You are closer than I think. -- Amen

Friday 3/24/2006

Matthew 21.1-27-As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken.

Numbers 17-18-By offering the best part, you’ll avoid guilt, you won’t desecrate the holy offerings of the People of Israel, and you won’t die.

Ecclesiastes 11.1-8-So you’ll never understand the mystery at work in all that God does.

2 Esdras 6.30-34-Believe and do not be afraid!

Ephesians 2.1-10-In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God….We were dead because of our sins, but God loves us so much that he made us alive with Christ, and God’s wonderful kindness is what saves you.

Philippians 1.3-11-You have a special place in my heart.

Psalm 121-The LORD will protect you

"Just checkin on ya."-A friend calling to see how I’m doing. When Jesus entered Jerusalem the city was shaken. A huge change was about to unfold that people would not be aware of. They needed Jesus to come and check on them. And to change them forever. They needed Jesus to show how to offer the best. They needed Jesus to show how to offer life. No, we’ll never understand the depth of Jesus’ love for us. I’ll never understand that mystery. But that’s ok- all I need to understand is how to trust in that love. To give that love freely to the world. To believe and not be afraid. To see how in the past I was dead---because I sinned and fought against god—dead because of my sin—but God loves me so much he sent Jesus in his wonderful kindness to save me. God has a special place in his heart for me. And I have a special place in my heart for him and for his people. I know that God will protect me. "Just checkin on ya…" – Thanks be to God!

Prayer-Lord, thanks for checkin on me! -- Amen

Saturday 3/25/2006

Matthew 21.28-46-He decided to send his son, "Surely," he thought, "they will respect my son."

Numbers 19-20-Speak to that rock that’s right in front of them and it will give water.

Ecclesiastes 11.9-12.14-The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it.

Luke 1.26-38-Nothing is impossible for God!

Psalm 122-It made me glad to hear them say, "Let’s go to the house of the LORD!"

"I’ve never seen any games like the ones just played."- Playing Cribbage with Bryan at the Coffee Shop. Unusual, high scoring games. Never seen anything like it. We even checked the cards to see if there was something wrong with the deck. There wasn’t. And god decided to send his son. Surely they will respect him. Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. Speak to that rock of Jesus Christ- that corner stone- and he will give you water. Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. The last and final word is this—fear God- do what he tells you—that’s it! – Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. Nothing is impossible for God! – Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. It made me glad to hear them say, "Let’s go to the house of the LORD!" – Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. "I’ve never seen any games like the ones just played." –God loves me. – Unusual love. Never seen anything like it. – Thanks be to God for that unusual and peculiar love and grace he has given to me.

Prayer- Lord, teach me how to give your unusual love to this world I live in. – Amen!