Learning

Learning

John 6: ⁴³ Jesus therefore answered and said to them,  “Do not murmur among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. ⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.

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Bored to tears, I studied the lesson given in history class. The only way I could get through it was to memorize the dates, names and places I thought were going to be on the test. But in my computer class it was different. I was fascinated with technology and asked more and more questions.

• When I was interested I seemed to learn more.
• When I was excited I seemed to be able to pay attention more.
• When I was fascinated I seemed to be willing to understand the information no matter how complex it was.

JESUS confronts the Jews who questioned HIS origin. Though HE fed thousands, they could not understand why HE claimed to be GOD by saying “I AM the bread of life.” JESUS explains something important. “No one can come ME unless the FATHER draws that person.”

• GOD says to me “I will give people the urge to follow JESUS.”
• GOD says to me “I will put your name in the Lambs Book of Life.”
• GOD says to me “I chose you before I made the foundations of the world.”

This complicated relationship with JESUS is easy for those who believe in HIM. The FATHER cleared the path for anyone to learn about HIS SON so they could believe. Those who listen to HIS lessons of love will be drawn to learn more and more.

GOD never forces the lessons, but knows who will reject HIS love. HE teaches lessons every day. All I have to do is open my eyes and learn of HIM because HE is meek and lowly at heart. I shall find rest, for HIS burdens are light.

• What lessons are you learning?
• What are you spending your time studying?
• Will you take some time out of your busy life to study who GOD really is so HE can give your life a great purpose?

Overlooking the Obvious

Overlooking the Obvious

John 5: ³⁷ And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. ³⁸ But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

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“Our FATHER who art in heaven… whole bunch of words… amen!” was the summation of my quick recital of the LORD’s prayer. As soon as I finished mumbling the words I would then add “That means I need my bike fixed” or “That means I need more money.” I hoped I could get GOD to listen by saying some words HE would be familiar with first.

• There were times when I wanted to play by the rules so I could get GOD to do what I wanted.
• There were times when I looked at the scriptures as a level of achievement or a measure of my faith.
• There were times when I desired to be like specific people in the Bible, overlooking what the words were really about.

JESUS speaks to the church leaders saying “You do not have the FATHER’s word inside of you because you do not believe in ME, whom the scriptures are written about.” HE said they were overlooking HIM as they developed sermons about buildings, programs and family management. GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to believe in all of the scriptures HE as reveled to mankind.
• GOD wants me to believe that every word in the Bible is about JESUS’s love for me.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS as my savior so others can do the same.

Overlooking JESUS is quite easy to do when I am focused on “my” problems. I mean I tear through the scripture trying to see whether it is right or wrong to cut off the person who “I” feel is driving crazy. Soon I make the entire Bible about me and I look at it as a manual to live.

GOD wants me to change my thinking. HE wants me to see a revelation of HIS overflowing love for me. Because of this love, HE wants me to follow HIS example to being those who are rejecting HIM back to HIM. I am grateful that every word is about JESUS.

• Are you making the Bible about you?
• Do you try to twist the words of the Bible to make others act different?
• Will you relook at the Bible and see JESUS’s love for you so HE can guide you by HIS grace?

Simple Things

Matthew 25: ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

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After minutes of belief in CHRIST, I ran into a snag. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my question. Years later, after walking away and returning to serving, I thought things would be easier, but they weren’t. “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” was my cry again.

After serving the rich, powerful and aloof, I decided to follow GOD a little more and was let go. “For real LORD, what do YOU want me to do?”

• Sometimes I question GOD because I am not getting my way.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I thought things would be easier when I chose HIM.
• Sometimes I question GOD because I expect good things to happen and then something bad hits me in the face.

“What do YOU want me to do?” was more of a complaint versus a question. I could have really said “What do YOU want me to do NOW?” as if to say, I am tired of not getting my way. Sometimes I work really hard to please GOD when HE wants the simple things.

• I feed JESUS when I feed those who are hungry and outcast.
• I quench JESUS’s thirst when I give those who are thirsty a nice drink.
• I provide JESUS shelter when I invite people into my home and give them clothes.

JESUS gives me instructions for how to live. It is the simple things that please HIM. I don’t have to be wealthy or smart or accepted by those in power to serve JESUS. I don’t have to coerce or trick people, I just simply have to serve people because JESUS wants me to. It is the simple things that please GOD.

• Do you think you have to work hard to please GOD?
• Are you tired of not getting your way?
• Can you stop trying so hard to get your way and do something simple by serving someone today?

Lighten the Load

Matthew 23: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴ They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

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Perfection was my desire as I cast the vision to my employees. I only had a few people working for me but I had some grand ideas! “This is a lot of work” they said. “Keep going” I told them. When funding dried up I had to do it myself. “Wow, this is a lot of work” I realized.

• Practicing what I preach is not always easy.
• Practicing what I preach is not always top of mind.
• Practicing what I preach is not the first thing on my mind when I expect someone else to be perfect even when I’m not.

JESUS saw through the pastors and teachers of the day. HE saw their desire to be the “boss” rather than the employee. HE saw that in me as well. BUT GOD has a remedy.

• GOD wants me to serve others especially when I am the boss.
• GOD wants me to show people how to carry the load by carrying my own.
• GOD wants me to help others with their load.

“Amazing” should be the word people have of GOD when leaving my presence. They should not feel more burdened or bothered. GOD will convict, convince and contrive in those who are HIS. I do not have to force people to do hard labor to serve GOD cheerfully. GOD wants me to lighten loads.

• Are you placing heavy loads on people?
• Do you place loads on others that you have not done yourself?
• Can you stop placing heavy “churchy” burdens on people and lighten their load so they can see GOD?

Stressed Out

Matthew 11: ²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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Meeting after meeting, my day was full. If I wasn’t in meetings, I was answering my voicemail or replying to some scathing email left by the arrogant. After a while I found myself without sleep. I would wake in the middle of the night thinking about work. The speed in which I had to reply to issues was ridiculous. Was there any relief?!

• I have been stressed out in the past.
• I have had extreme pressure in the past.
• I have had to face situations where it seemed as if no one was in my corner and I did not know where to turn.

Feeling like no one cares can lead to even more stress. After a while I even asked the question, “GOD do you care?” HE gave me HIS answer.

• GOD said to me “I care so come to me with whatever is stressing you out.”
• GOD said to me “I love you so I will yoke myself with you and pull when you cannot.”
• GOD said to me “I died for you and now I live so with the power that has been given to ME, I will give you rest.”

There is no issue too great for GOD. There is no problem GOD cannot solve. There is no situation that causes me stress that GOD cannot handle. Whether GOD is my first choice or the last, I can always go to HIM and give HIM my burdens.

I can also learn HIS word so in times of stress I can use them to navigate the unwieldy times. GOD cares enough about me that HE wants me to have peace. All I need to do is seek HIM.

• Are you stressed out?
• Do you face situations that have you deeply worried?
• Can you talk to GOD about what is stressing you out?
• Will you connect yourself to HIM and learn HIS word so you can navigate through stressful times?

Anyone is Welcome

Isaiah 56: ⁴ For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant—
⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls
    a memorial and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that will endure forever.

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Holes in my pants kept me from being best dressed, although I confidently wore them in college and fit in. When I arrived at a church with holey pants I did not fit in again. What was going on?

• There were times that I did not feel like I fit into “church.”
• There were some protocols of “church” I disagreed with.
• There were behaviors of “church” I did not feel comfortable with.

My suit was too small because I had not bought one nor had one bought for me since high school. I was appalled at the sneers at my clothing. Someone offered to buy me some clothes and that set me on a path that I stand on to this day. Anyone should be welcome, regardless of appearance.

• GOD says to me “Welcome everyone, no matter how different they appear to me.”
• GOD says to me “Love everyone I send to you.”
• GOD says to me “Go where I send you and give them MY word so I may bless them.”

Since then, I noticed people as being people. What clothes or skin they wear does not matter. GOD wants “all” humans to come back to HIM. HE wants me to be open to serving everyone, not just those who I feel comfortable with.

• Look around, are you serving people who are different than you?
• Have you been sent to a different group of people than yourself?
• Have you welcomed a person who dresses different into your circle?
• Can you allow GOD to send people to you who have differences but love HIM?

Restoration

2 Samuel 14: ¹³ The woman said, “Why then have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, for the king has not brought back his banished son? ¹⁴ Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain banished from him.

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Sitting in my apartment, lonely, I thought to myself… “Is this it?”  “This is what all the hard work in college was for?” My heart ached for “fun” but something inside me felt like the “fun” I had before wasn’t really what I was supposed to be doing.

The tug was towards church, but when I got there, I felt no different. I was lonely in a building full of people. I went from church to church looking for something. Finally I stopped at one and the pastor gave me some great advice… “Seek GOD.”

• No matter how long I have been away from GOD, HE seeks me.
• No matter how long I have turned my back on GOD, HE still cares for me.
• No matter how long I have tried my own way instead of GOD’s way, HE loves me.

David had two sons one of which, Absalom, killed his brother and ran and hid from David. For years he was banished until David’s servant convinced him to bring his son back. GOD worked on David’s heart and treats me the same.

• GOD opens HIS arms wide and is ready to restore me when humans cannot do the same.
• GOD knocks at my heart and when I open the door HE comes in and sups with me.
• GOD pursues me constantly and seeks to restore me, HIS way.

Sometimes GOD has to burn off the rough edges and take me through trials to restore me. HE wants my walk to be focused on faith, love and trust. HE restore me to serve a purpose.

• Have you turned your back on GOD?
• Do you think HE no longer loves you?
• Can you seek HIS face today and turn to HIM with total trust?
• Won’t you turn to HIM for full restoration?

A place of rest

Joshua 19: ⁴⁹ When they had finished dividing the land into its allotted portions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun an inheritance among them, ⁵⁰ as the Lord had commanded. They gave him the town he asked for—Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. And he built up the town and settled there.

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Job number three got off to a rocky start. My boss was a jerk and I wasn’t enjoying the work. Will I ever find the perfect job?  I took a leadership class and the one statement that still sticks out in my mind is “Make the place where you are at the best place and it will become the best place.”

When I finally stopped complaining, the job became the best job of my career. I found my place.

• When I think I’m in the wrong place I can’t get past the problems that arise.
• When I fester over how terrible I’m being treated I can’t see what’s right.
• When I critique every action in a place, I can’t contribute to making things right.

It seems like I get extremely restless when I think I’m in the wrong place. I dream up what it would be like if I were somewhere else and that gives me no rest. In fact my mind goes to war with my surroundings and I quickly fill my mouth with complaints. BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD keeps HIS promises and takes me into the Promised Land in spite of me.
• GOD allows me to see HE is the one I should be looking at rather than the place I’m in.
• GOD leads me to a place of rest once I put my mind on HIM rather than looking at the place.

When I am nervous, scared, anxious, worried, doubtful, depressed, or lonely GOD says, “Come unto ME with your tired, heavy laden heart and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you and learn of ME for I am meek and lowly at heart and you will find rest unto your soul. For MY yoke is easy burden is light.

• Are you in a place of turmoil?
• Do you think it is your attitude rather than the place?
• Can you seek GOD for rest instead of trying to rest in the place you are in?
• Won’t you give GOD your burden and let HIM carry your problems?

Is it time to do something else?

Exodus 36: ⁶ Then Moses gave an order. A message was sent through the whole camp. It said, “No man or woman should make anything else and offer it for the holy tent.” And so the people were kept from bringing more offerings. ⁷ There was already more than enough to do all of the work.

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Sitting in the church office I listened to the sermon on the speaker as I plowed through the books. Later I made sure all of the offerings had been entered into the accounting system.  I then scheduled meetings to discuss the crumbling infrastructure, new parking lot, meetings with the city and hiring a new construction company.

At home, I documented new ways to do outreach, ordered items and toiled over a list of problems that seemed a mile long. I was exhausted! Good thing I was working for the LORD right? Maybe not.

• Sometimes my service is not based on GOD, rather I’m doing busy work.
• Sometimes my service is not based on GOD, rather it’s bathed in achievements to receive accolades.
• Sometimes my service is not based on GOD, rather it’s laced with complaints that other people are not pulling their load and “I’m” doing all the work!

Burn out is common in those who serve in churches and I was a casualty. No one else was stepping up and the corporate motto I learned was “failure is not an option” so I plowed ahead. BUT GOD has another thought.

• GOD says “come unto ME all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD says “take MY yoke upon you and learn of ME for I am meek and lowly at heart.”
• GOD says “and you shall find rest unto your soul for MY yoke is easy and MY burden is light.”

I’m not saying I will be on vacation the rest of my days, but I will say I will do something controversial and that is pace myself. As badly as I want everyone around me to be saved, I will speak to those GOD delivers to me and I will serve at work, when driving and at the building we call “church.” 

Instead of looking at one portion of my life as GODS’ I will give HIM my entire life, sin included. I can actually give myself permission to say, I have done enough or given enough or prayed enough so I won’t experience burn out and end up in a worse place which is not doing it at all. I must keep in mind though, I am doing this to keep going!

• Are you working hard for GOD?
• Does it feel like you are serving and getting exhausted?
• Is GOD saying “it’s time for you to change ministries?”
• Can you get some “rest” so you can keep going for the long haul?

Come Unto Me - Hezekiah Walker

I heard the voice of Jesus saying
Come unto me all ye who are heavy laden
And I'll give you rest

Take my yoke and learn of me
For my yoke is easy and burdens they are light

I heard the voice of Jesus calling
From the greatest down to the smallest
Jesus said come to me and i'll
Show you what to do

Those who are battered and those abused
Those whose feeling like what's the use
Jesus said come to me and i'll show you
Just what I can do

Come unto me, i'll guarantee
All the ove and the tenderness
You'll ever need

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me
For my yoke is easy, For my yoke is easy
For my yoke is easy and burdens they are light