Category: Scripture ponderings

Advent: Think Small

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Day 5: Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man

The door slammed as my young grandson ran past me to his desk in the office. No hello. Just a blur oozing distress.

I followed him to the office and stood in the doorway. Before I could ask, out it poured. One of the boys in his class called him Zacchaeus all day. Then to add insult, the boy would walk by his desk and whistle the Sunday School song, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man…”

Our grandson was clearly behind on the growth chart. All his peers were head and shoulders beyond him. And by law, because of his size (not his age) he was still sitting in a booster seat in the car.

My heart ached for my little man.

“Honey, did you know that song was about Jesus inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ house? Zacchaeus climbed that tree so he could see. He was determined to not miss out on seeing Jesus. And Jesus rewarded him by going to his house that day.”

He looked up, and we went on talking about the things that matter to Jesus. How it isn’t about outward appearance—even David learned that: “But the Lord told Samuel, ‘Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see.Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart.’ (1 Samuel 16:7)”

Tears gone, and with a new resolve, my grandson shared, “So when he sings that song tomorrow, I should just sing along and thank him for the reminder—I may be short, but I’ve got big heart for God!”

Yep. Remember: it’s all about the heart!

TO PONDER: In a world that values stature and looks, the stories of Zacchaeus and David remind us that what really matters is that our heart is for God. Have you ever felt badly about your looks? In Psalm 139, David states that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—inside and out!

FOR DISCUSSION: When God examines our heart what does he see? Are there feelings or actions that we need to remove so God can be even nearer to us?

PRAYER: Creator God, you made me. And you know my heart. Forgive me for not always valuing how I’ve been created. Help me to love you more and more. Help me to not let anything stand in the way of seeing you each and every day. Amen.

Advent: Think Small

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Day 4: Widow’s Mite

I smiled a mother’s proud smile as I watched my daughter put a quarter in the offering plate. I knew the money was the last of her money, earned the hard way—working to pick up apples before her father mowed the lawn.

Gathering for lunch with friends, the conversation drifted to a discussion about a large gift that had come from a wealthy church member’s estate. Everyone around the table expressed their appreciation and joy for the money and what it could be used for.

Everyone, except my young daughter. 

She excused herself from the table and disappeared into another room. Suspecting something was wrong, I followed after her. I found her standing by the open front door, tears streaming down her face. She was quick to explain how sorry she was that she could only give such a small amount—sure that God was displeased with just a quarter.

Quickly, I moved to her side and began assuring her how God loved her gift. I reminded her of the story of the woman who gave her last mite—all that she had—and how Jesus praised her for giving so generously.

The truth took a moment to sink in, but she slowly turned, and with a smile let me know she got it. “It’s all about giving what you can, isn’t it?” 

Yes, that’s what is about.

TO PONDER: The widow gave generously…sacrificially. What sacrifice could you make this Advent and Christmas season to bless someone else? Think outside the box—it’s not always about money.

FOR DISCUSSION: Coupon books have always been a hit for kids who want to give when they don’t have money. But giving isn’t just for kids. As a family make a list of practical ways you can bless others.

PRAYER: God, in this season of extravagance, teach us how to give and give…and give some more. Teach the joy of giving, especially when it may not seem like much to us. Show how to bless someone else. Amen.

Advent: Think Small

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Day 3: Fishes and Loaves

“Mema, why do you always put so many things in your tuna salad?” My grandson asked as he poked at his sandwich, turning up his nose at the pieces of egg.

I chuckled remembering how I asked my own mother the same thing. I fondly responded with her answer, “All those extra things make the salad go just a little farther.”

The next day in Sunday School, the sermon was about Jesus feeding the multitude with  five loaves and two fish.

As we sat to eat lunch, my grandson was quick to offer to pray, “God, thank you for turning a kid’s lunch into so much food…and not using any egg to do it.”

I have always marveled at how Jesus was able to use such a little amount of food to feed so many. Imagine it: 5000 men and all the women and children. And when it was all over the disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.

Nothing was wasted that day. God demonstrated powerfully the amazing things he can do with our meager offerings. And he didn’t have to add anything to get the job done.

TO PONDER: What is there in your life that you could bring to God to use for his Kingdom? What things have you been holding back for yourself? What would it take to surrender it to him?

FOR DISCUSSION: At Christmas we tend to focus on what we’re going to get: presents and sweet treats. What could your family do to bless others? It could be something you already have, or even the gift of time.

PRAYER: God, we bring you our “lunch”—the things we have for you to use to bless others. Show us how to not waste anything in our lives. Amen.

Advent: Think Small, Be Honest, Give Big

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Invitation

Many times this part of a book is called the “introduction.” I’ve decided instead to make mine the “invitation.” 

Why you ask?

Oh, I’m so glad you did.

We live in a time when bigger is assumed to be better: bigger homes, bigger cars…bigger paychecks. Unfortunately, I’ve seen much more dissatisfaction, disappointment, and disillusionment when bigger doesn’t bring better—when more doesn’t result in greater  happiness. 

Many years ago I had the privilege of serving as an interim pastor at a Mennonite church in Ohio. In an effort to help me understand the congregation several members encouraged me to find a book they felt explained their choices and focus in life. The title was “Living on Less, And Liking It More.” The title not only intrigued me, but challenged me. 

Three “tenets” of the Church of the Brethren include continuing the work of Jesus: peacefully, simply, together. Sandwiched there in the middle laid a concept ready to pounce on the faithful and push them into brand new territory.

Does God care about small stuff?

What does it mean to live simply?

How much is enough?

Do I really need all this stuff?

Thinking about Advent helped me arrive at a “simple” answer: Yes.

As we journey to Advent, we’re going to look some of those small, seemingly insignificant things and consider how important they are to our God. 

I’m inviting you to think anew on the spiritually small things of life to gain a new understanding as to why God chose to begin his redemption plan with a baby.

But not just small things matter to God. 

We’ll also be considering how important being honest is—especially when it means being vulnerable. God is concerned about honesty and sincerity in our faith journey. And coming as a baby demonstrates his willingness to be vulnerable. Can we do less?

Finally, we will also accept God’s challenge to give big. After all God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. 

So, join me: think small, be honest, and give big!

Think Small Day One: Faith of A Child

Then he said, “I tell all of you with certainty, unless you change and become like little children, you will never get into the kingdom from heaven (Matthew 18:3, International Standard Version).

My teeth were chattering as I held up my arms one more time coaxing my little girl to jump in the pool. To her the water looked too deep. And maybe Mommy was playing a trick.

I tried one more time. “Trust me, precious. I won’t let anything happen. Give it a try. Jump. I’ll catch you!”

Finally a different look replaced the fear that had been keeping her feet glued to the cement at the pool’s edge. With a giggle of abandon she leaped in the air and right into my arms.

The trust my daughter expressed in that act has defined my relationship with God. I may be reluctant initially, but I have learned to trust my heavenly Father’s arms—his promise to catch me.

When Jesus looked at the crowd of religious experts and told them they must change and become like children, I think in part he was referring to the same kind of trust. But even more, he was inviting them to leave the solid footing of their religious stagnation, rules, and self-absorption and find a new way of living in faith—of trusting in him.

As we move more deeply into this Advent journey will you trust God to teach you a new way to experience the age old story of Christmas?

TO PONDER: What parts of the Christmas story have become so familiar they’ve lost their mystery and power to change you?

FOR DISCUSSION: No matter our age, we can consider new ways to trust God. What can you do as a family and as individuals to move to a new level of trust in God?

PRAYER: God, I am so excited to see you anew, with fresh eyes and a trusting heart. Forgive me for the times when I doubt your love—your promise to catch me. Show me an area of my life where I can have greater “child-like” trust. To your honor and glory. Amen.

Delete the Yet.

Words are my life. If I’m not speaking/teaching with them, I’m either writing them or playing games with them. Consequently, I find myself doing a lot of self-editing to make sure my message is clear.

Editing sometimes involves correcting punctuation. Putting a comma in the right place can make all the difference in the meaning of a statement. For example, which is better: I like cooking my family and my pets; or I like cooking, my family, and my pets. Or: Let’s eat grandma; or Let’s eat, grandma.

Using words or deleting them can change the meaning being conveyed. I would like to suggest an editing correction to an old hymn that has been recently updated, and is currently playing on Christian radio.

In one of the previous churches I attended we often had hymn sings, times when the people would call out the hymnal number or title of their favorite hymn. I would cringe when I heard someone request number 443, “He Never Has Failed Me Yet.”

Yet.

And now a whole new generation of believers is hearing this disappointing musical theology.

I can almost imagine your confused looks as you read my concern. Am I majoring in minor things and making mountains out of molehills? I don’t think so. This simple three-letter word injects an enormous dose of doubt into our faith in God. Simply put: while affirming God’s got a pretty good track record so far, we’re not sure about the future. Including the “yet: implies there’s still potential for God to not come through—and that’s not possible!

Sure, we can all point to times when we didn’t get what we wanted: a job, health, money, or the miracle to save the day. But that doesn’t mean God failed. 

Tucked in Jeremiah is a verse often quoted, worn on t-shirts, or slapped on mugs. The people were in an unbelievably difficult situation—one they’d never chosen…but God did. His message: “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).” 

God has plans for you, good plans. He will not fail.

Paul, understood this, too. While in prison (talk about a situation that could seem like a God-fail), he wrote: “We know God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28, NLT).” Not everything will seem good, but God can make them work together for good. Like Jeremiah said, for His plans and purpose.

I’m not suggesting we take a marker and start crossing out all the “yets” in the hymnal, but I do believe we need to edit that kind of thinking our of our faith and our living. Drop the yet, and put a period there.

He never has failed me. And He never will.

Hopefully Devoted: While You Wait

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Waiting is inevitable.

What we do with it is a choice.

Already this morning, I found myself waiting before I could go have “before-surgery-prayer” with someone at the hospital. Then on the way home, I had to stop for a school bus loading a dozen children.

Waiting is not only inevitable, it is inconvenient—we always seem to be waiting when we’d rather be doing something else.

So what can we do while we wait?

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We can read. We can pray. We can sing. We can pace (getting steps is always a good thing). We can talk to the others who are waiting around us.

These are the productive things we can do.

But we can also stew, grouse, complain, belly-ache, whine, and generally make everyone around us as miserable with the inconvenience as we are.

I know these things are options, because I’ve gone there way too many times myself.

Tucked away in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he makes reference to “redeeming the time” (5:16). This echos the Old Testament prayer of the Psalmist: “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have (Psalm 90:12).”

So how will you use your time, especially your waiting time, today?

May we all come to productive and wise usage…we’ll be happier for it…and God will be pleased.

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Sermon Seeds: Persistence in Prayer

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When I was in high school and experiencing all the typical teenage angst of relationship break-ups, peer pressure, and raging hormones, I had one encounter that forever shaped the way I move toward the future.

I felt a closeness to the the mother of one my friends…her whole family actually. This woman of faith died from breast cancer the fall of my senior year in high school—but not before imparting to me the words that became my mantra for life.

One evening, when my angst and stress was overwhelming, I went to her home. I poured out my heart, and at some point spewed my need to just give up.

She got right in my face, and quietly, but firmly told me to never, ever give up.

Here was this woman, my spiritual mentor at the time, dying from the ravages of cancer, on oxygen, barely able to move off the couch, telling me to never give up. Nothing in life comes easy, but it’s always, always, worth fighting for.

I can’t tell you how many times those words have come back to me, sustained me, pushed me, enabled me.

I apply them to work, to child-rearing, to writing, to facing the seemingly impossible.

And I apply them to prayer and my relationship with God.

The words of Jesus about prayer, “ask…seek…knock” are actually: keep on asking, keep on seeking…keep on knocking.”

Are you in a situation that seems overwhelming? Do you need a miracle? Never give up in prayer. God’s answer, his way, his truth, are worth fighting for.

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Message Meme: Praying Together

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Last week we considered Jesus’ instruction to pray privately. He was concerned with the potential people possess to try to impress others with with their praying prowess, or maybe even their fear to pray in front of others for fear of judgement.

While many take that instruction and use it to denounce corporate prayer, a cursory read of the Bible would prove something quite different.

Jesus, when asked by his disciples to teach them to pray, gives them what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. And the prayer is an instruction to them in the plural: when all y’all pray, pray this way…Our Father.

The prayer is not a self-centered crowd cry of, “Mine, mine, mine, mine.”

After Jesus’ resurrection, when the ragtag group of believers was stuck together in the Upper Room, they filled their time with prayer. Acts 1:14 tells us they “joined together constantly in prayer.”

Praying alone solidifies our relationship with God. Praying together strengthens and grows us for our mission and ministry to the world.

We’re in this…together.

Hopefully Devoted: Rewards

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Rewards.

We all want them. But do we want the right ones, from the right people?

Jesus has been asked by his disciples for lessons on prayer. There is a bit of irony in their request. The Jewish people prayed…a lot!

But what were they missing? What was Jesus directing them to see?

Jesus calls them to remember what they already know: the commandments. The first commandment addresses their need to put God first…and only.

If the prayers of the people are intended to impress others with the level or depth of their spirituality, then they are not directing their prayers to the Great I Am. Are the ones they are trying to impress going to be able to answer their prayers, meet their needs?

What reward is there in that kind of praying? If we wow others with the wordiness and theological prowess of our prayers, then we have received the reward we sought: we made an impression.

But our needs remain unmet.

Jesus tells them about making sure their relationship with God is first, and when they do the rewards: what they need will come.

Now that’s a reward system I can support!