In step

[RiverOL]

Worship and Serving
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Shout praises to the Lord! Everyone who serves him, come and praise his name. Let the name of the Lord be praised now and forever. From dawn until sunset the name of the Lord deserves to be praised. The Lord is far above all of the nations; he is more glorious than the heavens.
(Psalm 113.1-4)

Reflect:
People who serve God are also called to worship God. In fact we are called to worship God and then serve. If we get these the wrong way round then we can easily serve out of our own strength and with all the wrong motives. True service, with good intentions and motives overflows out of love for God. Worship strengthens us to serve. Worship leads us to love for God and for others.

Respond:
Take time to worship God today. This may be especially important if you are one of the many people who will be serving at a church this day. Being with God comes before serving God.

Midday Meditation:
‘True service rests contented in hiddenness. It does not fear the lights and blare of attention, but it does not seek them either. Since it is living out of a new Centre of reference, the divine nod of approval is completely sufficient.’
(Richard J. Foster Celebration of Discipline)

Evening Reflection:
May the God of peace
bring peace to this house
May the Son of peace

bring peace to this house
May the Spirit of peace
bring peace to this house
this night and all nights

 

[RiverOL]

We've all heard, “It’s better to give than to receive.”
I heard that phrase time and time again during my childhood—especially at Christmastime. And when people said it, they were teaching me something important. It’s what Jesus taught: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (ESV, Acts 20:35.) Or, as Eugene Peterson translated: “You’re far happier giving than getting” (MSG, Acts 20:35).

But, I’ve got to be honest: for me, when my parents or my pastors said it, it felt like Christian cliché. It felt like something we say but not necessarily something we do—and certainly not something we actually experience.

But then, in early adulthood, an odd thing began to happen. My doubts began to collide with the reality of God. You see, I got opportunities, as we all do, to test out Jesus’ proposition—in small ways at first. And when I did, my cynicism didn’t stand a chance. It gave way—it had to give way—when I began experiencing, undeniably and first hand, the excitement and freedom and fulfillment of giving.

Because here's the bigger truth:
It’s true. All of it. Everything Jesus says . . . it’s all true.
When Jesus says it’s more blessed to give than receive, it’s because it is. The people to whom we give are blessed more. We are blessed more. Everyone is blessed more.

Bless Gather + the People We Serve​

I know it runs counter to what our culture teaches. But, to notice, to care, to love, to serve, to offer our strength to others, to give, to live for others, is actually what brings us the purpose and significance, the peace and joy we’ve been looking for everywhere else. It’s how we actually get to fully-alive and what-you’ve-always-dreamed-of kind of stuff. It’s an important reason why King David sang,

“Delight yourself in the Lord;
and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

God might not give us what we want, when we want it—but He will give us the true desires of our true hearts. We can count on that.

 

[RiverOL]

Spiritual and physical health
Morning Encounter:
Introduction:
One advantage of the longer daylight hours is the opportunity for more fresh air and regular exercise. Whether you enjoy a summer stroll, hours of gardening, a refreshing swim or hitting the tennis courts, this week we are focusing on physical and spiritual health. Over the next few days, we focus on looking after both body and soul.
Read:
I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.
(1 Thessalonians 5.23)

Reflect:
This is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians – that God will be at work in every part of their being. By including the body along with the spirit and soul, Paul is maybe expressing a similar thought as he does in Romans 12.1-2 (which we’ll look at tomorrow), where he calls us to ‘present our bodies as a living sacrifice.’ Our life with God may often focus on our spirit or soul – but our body is important to God also.

Respond:
What steps can you take today to look after your body? Eat well, stay hydrated and increase physical activity if you can.

Midday Meditation:
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!
(from All Creatures of our God and King)

Evening Reflection:
I praise you, Lord, for being my guide.
Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind.
I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.
With all my heart, I will celebrate, and I can safely rest.
(Psalm 16.7-9)

 

[RiverOL]

What Worked? What Didn’t?

. . . he is a new creation. The old has passed away;
behold, the new has come—2 Corinthians 5:17

God’s at work in us—every one of us—whether we can see it or not (Philippians 2:13). He’s working to transform our character into the character of his son, our King, Jesus Christ. And he’ll continue working until the work is complete (Philippians 1:6). Our job is to join him. Our job is to follow Jesus and work ourselves, in obedience, to increase the amount goodness and light in our lives . . . and to decrease the opposite:

“. . . do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Who among us doesn’t need more goodness and more light? That’s rhetorical, of course. And when’s a better time to increase our intentionality about increasing our holiness than at the beginning of a new year? That’s rhetorical too.

So how do we? Well, we get intentional by looking at the choices we’ve been making—whom we’ve been spending time with, the practices we’ve been engaging in, the experiences we’ve been enjoying. We get intentional by taking time to reflect upon those choices . . . and upon their results. And we get intentional by deciding which relationships, which practices, which experiences we’d like more of, going forward, because they increase holiness—and which we’d like less of, because they don’t.



Consider the past twelve months. What was good? Who was good for you? What worked? What wasn’t so good? What didn’t work? Now, draw up (and commit to) a simple, practical, achievable plan for bringing more of what’s been good, and what’s worked for you, into the next twelve months . . . and less of what wasn’t and what didn’t.

 

[RiverOL]

Worshipping with your body
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
(Romans 12.1-2)

Reflect:
Because Jesus offered his body as a sacrifice for the whole world, we have no need of the animal and bird sacrifices mentioned throughout the Scriptures. But here, Paul encourages us to offer our bodies to God in worship and in service. In doing so, God will renew our minds and draw us nearer to him.

Respond:
Spend a few moments in worship and, if you can, actively use your body. You may like to dance, raise your hands, walk around as you sing, shout or whisper praise to God. Alternatively you might like to simply lie on the floor as an act of surrender.

Midday Meditation:
‘I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.’
Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire)

Evening Reflection:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Christ. May your salvation, Lord, be ever near us.

 

[RiverOL]

A Place for Jesus

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."1


There is a well-known children's book called "Mortimer's Christmas Manger", by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman, that is read by many families during Christmastime. The book tells the story of a small mouse named Mortimer who lives in a dark hole under the stairs in a big house. He disliked this hole very much, so he decided to look for a new home within the same house. One day he came across a house that was just his size that sat on a table next to the Christmas tree. When he climbed up to take a look, he saw it was occupied by small people. After trying to speak with these people, he realized that they were small statues, so he decided to drag them out of the house so that he could live there. This new house he had found was actually a Nativity set with all of the characters that form part of it, amongst these was baby Jesus.

He was so very pleased with this new house, especially with the new bed (manger) which was just his size. He went out during the day to find food, and when he returned to his home, he found all of the characters placed neatly back where they belonged. So, he tugged and pulled until he got all of them out again. This happened day after day until one day when he overheard the father of the family telling a story. The father told the story of how Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem and how there was no room for them in the inn. Then Mortimer heard about a baby. A baby who was born in a stable and had no real bed but slept in a wooden manger, and that his name was Jesus. Suddenly he realized that all this time he had been kicking Jesus out of his home! With tears in his eyes, he runs to baby Jesus and says "There was no room for you in the inn. But I know where there is room." He quickly puts all of the statues back in their place, and lies Jesus back in the manger.

This may seem like a simple children's tale, but it has a very special message for us this Christmas. During the holiday season, many of us run from here to there trying to get all we need to make Christmas a special time: decorations, the Christmas tree, gifts, etc. In the busyness of it all, we forget the main reason for Christmas – Jesus. We "kick" him out of his home (our hearts) and selfishly try to fill that place with our own stuff.

Friends, let me invite you to pause right where you are and listen. Listen to Jesus knocking on the door of our hearts waiting for us to give him his rightful place in our lives. After all, He and He alone, is the reason we celebrate. Born to us as a baby, who then grew to take our place on that rugged cross and pay the penalty for our sins. We were bought with a great price. Let's choose to make a place for Jesus in our hearts once again, and keep him there for good.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for giving us the greatest gift of all in your only Son Jesus. Please forgive us for filling our hearts and lives with our own agenda and leaving no place for Him. Allow us to pause and reflect and remember the reason we celebrate today. Jesus, we welcome you back into our hearts where we ask you to live and reign forever as our Lord and Savior. Gratefully, in Jesus' name. Amen."

1. Luke 2:7 (ESV)

 

[RiverOL]

Honouring God with your body
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Some of you say, “We can do anything we want to.” But I tell you that not everything is good for us. So I refuse to let anything have power over me. You also say, “Food is meant for our bodies, and our bodies are meant for food.” But I tell you that God will destroy them both. We are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies. We are to use them for the Lord who is in charge of our bodies.
(1 Corinthians 6.12-13)

Reflect:
Corinth was known as a place of excess and sexual promiscuity. Paul is talking here about honouring God with our bodies as he refers to some specific lifestyle issues including food and sex. Our bodies are important to God; we use them to serve God and to glorify God. To honour God with our bodies, among other things, means keeping them as healthy as possible.

Respond:
Consider how you can honour God with your body today – is there an unhealthy habit that you could change? What steps can you take towards a healthier lifestyle?

Midday Meditation:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
(A prayer of St. Augustine)

Evening Reflection:
Shout praises to the Lord! Shout the Lord’s praises in the highest heavens.
All of you angels, and all who serve him above, come and offer praise.
Sun and moon, and all of you bright stars, come and offer praise.
Highest heavens, and the water above the highest heavens, come and offer praise.
(Psalm 148)

 

[RiverOL]

Life With a Purpose

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."1

Motivational speaker, Mark Victor Hansen, said, "Setting goals is one of the most important things you can do to guarantee your personal, professional and financial success. Goals are like a road map to your target destination. Each goal accomplished is another mile behind you on the way to where you want to be."

Years ago I heard another speaker say, "Success is the ability to embrace a worthwhile goal and employ all of your powers for the achievement of that goal."

A life without goals is like a ship without a rudder drifting where the winds and waves of chance direct. However, even more important than setting goals is to first discover one's God-given life purpose and then establish goals to fulfill that purpose.

This is exactly what Joshua did. And as long as he and the people of Israel lived by God's laws and followed God's plan, God assured them that they would have good success. God will do the same for you and me, too, as we live in harmony with his will and follow God's plan and purpose for our life.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to discover and clearly define my God-given life purpose and then direct me in the setting of worthwhile and specific goals that, with your help and my commitment, will assure the fulfillment of my life purpose. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Honouring your body
Morning Encounter:
Read:
The king’s official had put a guard in charge of Daniel and his three friends. So Daniel said to the guard, “For the next ten days, let us have only vegetables and water at mealtime. When the ten days are up, compare how we look with the other young men, and decide what to do with us.” The guard agreed to do what Daniel had asked. Ten days later, Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better than the young men who had been served food from the royal palace. After this, the guard let them eat vegetables instead of the rich food and wine.
(Daniel 1.11-16)

Reflect:
In the Old Testament book of Daniel the people of Israel are taken captive by the Babylonians. The King decides to train the best of these captives and Daniel and his friends were invited to eat at the King’s table. However Daniel rejects the rich, unhealthy food prepared for the King in favour of a leaner, cleaner diet of vegetables.

Respond:
Be willing to eat cleaner and healthier today (and from now on?) Make sure you consume enough fruit, vegetables and water. Honour God and your body though what you eat today.

Midday Meditation:
"Almighty God, I commit all my ways unto Thee. I make over my soul to Thy keeping...May this day be for me a day of obedience and of charity...May all my walk and conversation be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. Amen."
(John Baillie)

Evening Reflection:
Our Father, we praise you for the day you gave us! Please guard us tonight and help us wake up ready to be transformed by you tomorrow. Holy Spirit, lead and guide us. We surrender our desire to be in control. Thank you for the joy you produce in us! Amen

 

[RiverOL]

What this Year Might Hold

The Lord is my helper; I will not fear—Hebrews 13:6

We have an enemy, brother, and he is a liar. He “fills the world with lies” (John 8:44 MSG). He doesn’t tire of his work . . . and he is clever. He reserves certain lies, holding them, waiting for the right time and for the right men. For he knows that some of his lies are more persuasive at certain times and under specific circumstances.

As we stand now, looking out at the expanse of a new year, he knows it’s time to whisper fear into the minds of men. He’s whispering, to those who’ll listen, to be afraid of what trouble might be coming. He’s whispering this lie now because he understands our nature. He knows we like control. He knows we like to know what’s next. He knows it’s difficult to feel “in control” when facing the uncertainty . . . when anything, really, might happen. And so, he knows it’s time to take advantage.

We confront a choice, therefore. We can accept his lie, shoulder the fear, shrink back and focus on survival by returning to things that offer us just a little comfort—work, food, alcohol, pornography, distraction, withdrawal. Or, we can reject his lie, spurn his fearmongering, hold tight to the promises of God, and move forward—trusting that no trouble will surpass God’s ability to protect us and care for us.

“This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’” (Romans 8:15-17 MSG)



It’s important to, every so often, declare what you believe and with whom you stand. It’s important to declare these things before God and before your enemy. Pray a prayer of declaration right now, brother. Consider this prayer the foundation for your new year.

 

[RiverOL]

Thanking God for your body
Morning Encounter:
Read:
You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvellous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
(Psalm 139.13-16)

Reflect:
Sometimes we are tempted to think that our bodies are not that important, perhaps even irrelevant to our life with God. The Psalmist reminds us that we are wonderfully made, we are given a body by our creator to inhabit for the years that we live on this earth. It’s good to be reminded that God adores us from the top of heads to the bottom of our feet.

Respond:
Thank God for your body today, thank God for the ability to think, feel, hear, taste and smell. Thank God that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are unique: God has no-one else like you. You might like to do some simple stretches as you thank God for your body today.

Midday Meditation:
‘The only way for a rich man to be healthy is by exercise and abstinence, to live as if he were poor.’
(William Temple)

Evening Reflection:
I look to the hills! Where will I find help?
It will come from the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth.
The Lord is your protector, and he won’t go to sleep or let you stumble.
The protector of Israel doesn’t doze or ever get drowsy.
The Lord is your protector, there at your right side to shade you from the sun.
You won’t be harmed by the sun during the day or by the moon at night.
(Psalm 121)

 

[RiverOL]

Unexpected Strangers

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."1

Imagine you were an expert mechanic working on your car and along comes a stranger and tells you what you should do to fix it. What would you think and how would you feel? At the very least I'd question the stranger's reliability.

Maybe that's the way Peter, James and John felt after they had been fishing all night and caught nothing when Jesus told them to take their boats out and try again. They were experienced fisherman so what would Jesus know about fishing that they didn't know? They didn't know who he really was. Nevertheless, they did what he suggested and caught so many fish they had to get help to bring in the nets.

Then there were the religious leaders of Christ's day who had no idea who Jesus was either, but they were jealous of him and had him crucified.

Unfortunately, it is true that we can't trust everybody and we need to be on our guard against deceptive and dishonest people. At the same time we never know who the stranger is that has crossed our path. He/she may be an angel unawares. Or he/she may be a person in need of a helping hand, an encouraging word, or just "a cup of cold water." Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."2

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to sense so that I will know when you have sent a 'stranger' to minister to me in my hour of need, or if you have brought into my life a person in need of a helping hand or a touch from you—please help me to be as Jesus to him or her. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Energising your body
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.’ The second most important commandment says: ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’ No other commandment is more important than these.”
(Mark 12.30-31)

Reflect:
Both Mark and Luke add ‘strength’ to the list of ways in which we should love God. Strength here could also imply energy. A recent survey indicated that the main barriers to spiritual growth were tiredness and fatigue. When we are tired or worn out it affects our ability to connect with God and other people.

Respond:
Eat for energy today. Think of food as fuel. Get some fresh air and increase your exercise today by walking, running or swimming.

Midday Meditation:
‘In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we're pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker's praise without anxiety.’
(A.W.Tozer)

Evening Reflection:
Lord, we ask that you prepare our hearts for our time in corporate worship tomorrow. Help us not take meeting with fellow believers for granted. We are reminded of those throughout the world who are unable to do so due to sickness and persecution. Help us to be faithful in prayer for them. Amen.

 

[RiverOL]

A Sermon Walking

"Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."1

In 1953 reporters gathered at a Chicago railway station waiting to meet the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

He was a big man, six-feet-four tall with bushy hair and a large mustache.

Reporters were excited to see him and expressed what an honor it was to meet him. Cameras were flashing, compliments were being expressed—but seeing beyond the adulation the visitor noticed an elderly Afro-American woman struggling to carry her two large suitcases.

"Excuse me," he said as he went to the aid of this woman. Picking up her cases, he escorted her to a bus and then apologized to the reporters for keeping them waiting.

The man was Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the famous missionary-doctor who had invested his life helping poor and sick people in Africa.

A member of the reception committee remarked to one of the reporters, "That's the first time I ever saw a sermon walking."

The measure of any man or woman is not their name, their fame, nor what they say—but what they do.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a doer of your Word and not just a hearer. Grant that my life will also be a sermon walking. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Resting and refuelling
Morning Encounter:
Read:
The well that Jacob had dug was still there, and Jesus sat down beside it because he was tired from traveling. It was noon, and after Jesus' disciples had gone into town to buy some food, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well. Jesus asked her, “Would you please give me a drink of water?”
(John 4.6-8)

Reflect:
In the great story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman, John gives us an interesting detail about Jesus’ own body. Jesus was tired; he had been travelling along hot, dusty roads. He was hungry and thirsty and had opted to sit down at the well to quench his thirst and sending the disciples off for food. Even Jesus needed to refuel and rest.

Respond:
Sabbath gives us an opportunity to rest and refuel for the journey. Take time today to eat and drink well, slow down and if possible catch up on sleep.

Midday Meditation:
“Most of us are more tired than we know at the soul level. We are teetering on the brink of dangerous exhaustion, and we cannot do anything else until we have got some rest...we can't really engage [in any spiritual disciplines] until solitude becomes a place of rest for us rather than another place for human striving and hard work.”
(Ruth Haley Barton)

Evening Reflection:
Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.
Let Israel shout, God is always merciful!
Let the family of Aaron the priest shout, God is always merciful!
Let every true worshiper of the Lord shout, God is always merciful!
(From Psalm 118)

 

[RiverOL]

Who Will Answer?

"And I [God] sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none."1

Today's Scripture was written by the prophet Ezekiel at a time when ancient Israel was in captivity because they had turned from God to worship idols. God was looking for someone who would stand in the gap to lead the people back to him—but he found no one to do this. How tragically sad this was.

This Scripture reminds me of the lyrics of "Who Will Answer?" by Ed Ames written in 1968 during the Vietnam War. This chanting song had a tremendous impact on me the first time I heard it. I can still remember exactly where I was when I heard it and who sang it!

Back then it was a time of turmoil with many unanswered questions. Ed's lyrics were a cry from the human heart wanting answers. They spoke about people searching from the canyons of their mind, stumbling blindly while searching for the truth. They spoke about the emptiness of faded dreams from a failed marriage; of a youthful soldier whose arms would never hold his child because he was dying on a distant battlefield; of desperate souls committing suicide; and the ongoing threat of nuclear war with a desperate plea: "Dear God, Oh, why, oh, why? The final question being, "Who will answer?"2

Tragically, more and more, at least here in the U.S.A., like ancient Israel, we too are increasingly turning away from God which can readily lead to the path of self-destruction. Consequently, God is looking for committed people "who will answer" life's questions, and who will stand in the gap to point the way back to God. There are also millions of people worldwide for whom God is also looking for people to stand in the gap to point them to God.

The person/s God is looking for are simply those who make themselves available for him to use. So, will you, today, be one for whom God is looking and pray from the heart: "I am available God, please use me?"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I hear your call for people to stand in the gap to bring lost souls to you. I am available. Please make me usable and use me to help bring others to you. I am willing to be made willing to go where you want me to go and to do what you want me to do. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Desiring God
Morning Encounter:
Introduction:
Throughout the history of the Church there have been great movements of prayer, holiness, social action, embracing of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, a love of the Bible and a commitment to live incarnationally. These six movements, or traditions, stem from the life of Christ who was God made visible. Richard J. Foster wrote in detail about these movements in his book Streams of Living Water. All of our lyfe small group sessions are built around these streams as they contribute towards a balanced life with God. Over the course of the week we will look at one tradition each day.

Read:
God said, “Now we will make humans, and they will be like us. We will let them rule the fish, the birds, and all other living creatures.” So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said: Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the ocean, the birds in the sky, and every animal on the earth. I have provided all kinds of fruit and grain for you to eat. And I have given the green plants as food for everything else that breathes. These will be food for animals, both wild and tame, and for birds. God looked at what he had done. All of it was very good! Evening came and then morning—that was the sixth day.
(Genesis 1. 26-31
Reflect:
Genesis (which means origins or beginnings) tells us that God is at the centre of the universe and the creator of all things. It is hard to comprehend that he desires relationship with human beings, but we’re told he made us ‘to be like himself’ (v. 26), to share in a unique relationship with him. God still desires this relationship with us today!

Respond:
Make it your challenge to be aware of God’s creation and his presence. He desires your company, so talk to God often today and include him in every area of your life

Midday Meditation:
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
(From Psalm 63)

Evening Reflection:
Reflect on the way this day has unfolded: Where have I most clearly experienced the presence of God today in my home, community, work and the wider world? How have I experienced God today?

 

[RiverOL]

The Gift of an Untroubled Mind

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."1

In his book, Peace of Mind, Joshua Liebman writes of an experience he had when he was still a boy. "I made a list of the supreme goods in life," Liebman said. "I went to a wise mentor and I showed him the list expecting to be praised for my precocity. The list went something like this … health, love, talent, riches, beauty, and faith. As I shared the list with the old wise man, he reached for a stub of a pencil, and carefully scratched through all of the things that I had listed. He said, "Young man, you may have all of these—health, love, faith, riches, beauty—but they will all turn out to be enemies instead of friends unless you have the one thing you missed." Then he wrote on the paper, "The gift of an untroubled mind."2

From what I read and hear it appears that so many people (at least in our modern society) are plagued by depression, heartbreak, worry, anxiety, fear, and impaired relationships. And (compared to most of the world) we have just about every material benefit and human comfort we want, except so many don't have peace of mind.

There are two kinds of peace we all need in order to fully live. First, and most important of all, is spiritual peace or peace with God knowing that our sins are forgiven, our guilt is gone, and we have God's promise of a home in heaven for all eternity. This gift from God is absolutely free and comes from admitting our sinfulness and accepting Jesus as our Savior. For help see No.4 below: "Finding Peace with God."

The other kind of peace we could call emotional or relational peace. This comes from resolving any and all impaired relationships, forgiving any and all who have ever hurt us, and resolving any and all negative emotions—especially super-charged repressed negative emotions which are destroyers of both emotional and physical wellbeing and extremely destructive of personal relationships. The Bible also instructs us to get rid of (not bury or deny) all feelings of hatred and all negative emotions.3


As this year comes to an end, let's do our part in ending it in peace. Whether it be finding spiritual peace by renewing our relationship with the Lord, or doing our part in mending broken relationships and finding peace with others. Let's start 2019 well.


Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see and resolve anything in my life that is causing me to have a troubled mind. Please fill me with your love and help me to know and experience your eternal peace in the very center of my being. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Wholly Holy
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how kind God will be to you when Jesus Christ appears. Behave like obedient children. Don’t let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. Always live as God’s holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy. That’s why the Scriptures say, “I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.”
(1 Peter 1.13 – 16)

Reflect:
Holiness can often have confusing and negative connotations. We may be tempted to think that holy people are boring, lifeless, self-righteous and judgemental. Yet real holiness means we are transformed to be like Christ, who embraced life and was deeply attractive to sinful people. Peter knew how hard it is to be holy- he had made some huge mistakes. But he knew he had been chosen, and he knew he was loved, and this spurred him on to be obedient.

Respond:
Jesus always responded to people in the right way and at the right time. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond well to everyone you meet today.

Midday Meditation:
With all my heart, I praise the Lord,
and with all that I am I praise his holy name!
With all my heart, I praise the Lord!
I will never forget how kind he has been.
(From Psalm 103)

Evening Reflection:
You make my life pleasant, and my future is bright. I praise you, Lord, for being my guide.
(From Psalm 16)

 

[RiverOL]

Working or Watching?

We must work . . . while it is day;
night is coming—John 9:4

Ever feel like you’re spending way too much of life watching? I mean, what’s your personal watching-to-working ratio? And, by “working,” I don’t mean work-work. I mean working on those specific things for which you were created—for example, those things mandated by the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-39).

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”(Ephesians 2:10).

Are you engaging in your good works? Or do you find that you're watching too many sermons about the Gospel, rather than living out the Gospel? Or watching too many movies and reading too many books about other people’s adventures, rather than living out the adventures God has for you? Or watching sports too much . . . watching others face their fears, face great odds, and push themselves beyond their supposed limits, rather than doing those things yourself? Don’t get me wrong, sermons, movies, books, and sports are good things. There’s nothing wrong with inspiration . . . but it’s got to be inspiration for something.

“Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind . . .” (Ephesians 1:4 MSG). When God dreamt about you so long ago, did he dream of you watching others live out their great stories, but not you? Of course not. Of course he dreamt of a great story for you too. Of course he has a story he cannot wait to share with you, right now.



Search your heart, brother. What’s going on in there? Is it rising? Falling? Is it light? Heavy? Stop, now, and pray to God that he lead you into your story . . . your ancient story. That’s a good prayer. That’s one, I think, to which he’ll likely respond. So, you might buckle up.