Our Older Brother

I always liked the idea of having an older brother. My twin older brothers, Wallace and Warren, died at birth. In today's reading (Matthew 24:15-35) Jesus is sure sounding like a caring older brother telling us where we need to watch out.

"For false messiahs and prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones (us!). See, I have warned you about this ahead to time." (NLT)

Really, Jesus knows we all like the dramatic, even sensational displays of power and greatness. However He did not come to put on a cheap side show to get a big following. He often warned those he healed dramatically not to tell anyone. (Mark 5:43) Jesus' mission as a humble obedient servant was to give us life - even the long lasting kind. How good of our Older Brother to warn us of the exciting deceivers that would come!

Jesus, thank you caring and cautioning us today. We're loving this life with You.

God's Mother Love

What if God loves fiercely and relentlessly like a devoted mother does? After all He did give her that love.

We can see today that part of Matthew 23:37-24:14 hints at this love: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing."  Do you hear the ache and longing that a mother can have for wandering children? No wonder the scripture says: "Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." II Peter 3:9

Added to this, we need to remember that God's love is multiplied by trillions, really infinity, to include how big He is. Experiencing the Pacific and Mt. Saint Helen's power lately has me thinking on the Creator's bigness.

What a thrill it is to realize that God's love is deep enough and big enough to cover all my need, your need, and all His children's need. 

Lord, please give us eyes to see Your children like You do and a heart to feel for Your children like You do. We ask for more of this "mother love". 

An Inside Job

Can you hear the love pleading in Matthew today? (Matthew 23:15-36)  Jesus cries out five times to those leading the people: Woe, Woe,Woe, Woe, Woe. It can be translated, "What sorrow awaits you".

Being the resident cleaning lady, I noticed verse 25: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence."

Hmm....  It reminds me how I still feel drawn to clean up the place verses playing that  game of ball or calling that long-winded lonely neighbor. I still get great satisfaction from things and me - looking good. 

Lord, help me to become satisfied with Your perspective - the inside order and beauty of love. Thank you for reminders that cleaning should be an inside job. 

Who's the Expert?

It's sure easy to ask the experts. They are everywhere. Just a click on the old computer will get you a list of hints from people who have found the answer. Then there are all the "doctors" nowadays who have put in all those years becoming the authority in their field. But in our reading today Jesus reminds us who the real expert is. (Matthew 22:41-23:15)

I like how it is stated in the Message: "Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do."  (verses 8-10)  

Seems like it would be a good idea to at least pray for God's guidance especially in big deals before we jump into an "expert's" theory or experience. God surely is the One with wisdom.

Our Hero

Jesus was a hunted man. And it is not looking good in today's reading. (Matthew 15-23:40) Powerful groups have gone and "laid plans to trap him in his words." And they sent some of their guys to Jesus to ask Him a "polite" question: "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

Do you hear the flattery and trickery in their words? Jesus did. And He knew their evil motives. 

But, oh, our hero comes out on top in this word duel! He calls for a coin and asks whose picture and inscription is on it. Of course, it's Caesar's so it's obvious you should give Caesar his due.

My, I would have loved to have seen how Jesus shut up these sneaky guys. "When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away." Jesus is the wisest, most wonderful of all heroes. The only one worthy of worship. Let's do that today.

The New Look!

There's one awesome party coming up. It's going to be a wedding banquet that outdoes anything we've ever heard of. Jesus told a story in today's reading (Matthew 21:33-22:14) that teaches us some things we need to know about this party. After all, He is going to be the bridegroom. (Revelation 19:7-9. This party is scheduled, of course, at the end of time.)

The first thing is to be sure that we show up. Some of the invited guests just ignore God's call into the kingdom of heaven: "But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business."

The second thing is to have on the right outfit. One guy in the story at this feast did not have on the right suit and got sent to what sounds like hell! Whew, sounds a bit drastic.

Well, my notes tell me that at this kind of feast the host would provide an appropriate robe. This man evidently refused the king's provision and decided to do his own thing. When telling this story, I wonder if Jesus was remembering that beautiful prophecy in Isaiah 61:10: "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."

Whew! It sounds like we don't have to worry at all about the right outfit for any of God's events coming up. As we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He clothes us more beautifully than anything this world offers. Let's enjoy the new look today.

Need Faith?

Need faith? I sure do! And we aren't the only ones. We're getting to the end of Jesus' journey with these disciples, they had seen miracles galore, and they still are amazed at how Jesus made the fig tree wither all at once. (Matthew 21:18-32).

I can almost imagine Him thinking, "Come on guys". But He patiently says, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done." Wow, that is quite a statement. How many people do you hear commanding mountains to jump into the sea?

However the next sentence seems to sum up His point. "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." I find this straight out statement quite unsettling. It seems that there are two ways to respond. I can get woefully discouraged about my lack of faith. Or I can believe that you and I have pondered this truth right now for a reason.

Could Jesus be right now calling us to more faith? It's quite likely. He desires truly powerful partners in prayer.  Let's answer His call.

Yes Lord, I ask for more faith. Thank you for calling me to partner with You.

Intentional to the End

What was it like to be in the crowd around Jesus? As we read about it in the Word, can we experience it? We are used to  people being healed after enduring weeks of surgery recovery or months of chemo side effects or repeated days of physical therapy. But what if you were standing by the blind and a man touched their eyes and immediately they saw! (Matthew 21:1-17)

Suddenly light flooded in, color coalesced, shapes firmed up, beauty was revealed and they could begin life whole! No doubt you would experience a taste of their surprise, joy, excitement, and gratefulness. Seems to me it would be thrilling.

This excitement delighted the crowd around Jesus. So when He came into their precious city of Jerusalem, they rolled out the red carpet - their coats.  Notice, though, the fame did not taint Jesus one bit. Instead of just continuing to bask in praise, He went straight into their hallowed temple to wreck the establishment. Tables and chairs were toppled and opportunistic businessmen were thrown out. 

In our surprise at the violence, maybe we get a clue that our Lord came to do more than promote goodwill and brotherhood. He was fiercely intent on God's will being done. "My house shall be called a house of prayer but you are making it a den of robbers." Jesus was intentional about doing God's will no matter what the cost. And that cost was going to be big.

Thank you Lord for being intent on doing the Father's will. Help us to do the same.

Readings this week:

M- Matthew 21:1-17

T - Matthew 21:18-32

W - Matthew 21:33-22:14

Th - Matthew 22:15-40

F - Matthew 22:41-23:15

The Real Deal

Authenticity......     How compelling and beautiful it is in this tinsel world of appearances and show. Authentic is how I see Jesus in our reading. (Matthew 20: 20-34)

The reason is that He had just given a lesson on how the greatest in a crowd will be the one serving. And now it is time to set out from Jericho with the usual big crowd all around. But before they even get down the road, there is a commotion on the fringe. Two of those ever-present, unsightly beggars are yelling at Jesus, and the crowd is trying to shut them up. But they just get louder.

So Jesus stops. He calls to the beggars and asks, "What do you want me to do for you?" They tell Him that they want to see. And oh, how I love this next characteristic response. "Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."

Don't you love how Jesus is the "real deal"? What He says (be a servant),  He does.

Lord, help us to be real - able to do what we say.

Generous Eyes

Oh my! God's generosity just does not always seem right. (Matthew 20:1-19) Would you believe that He is like the manager who decided to give workers on the short shift the same pay as those sweating it out all day? And those tired guys are mad.

How hard it is for us not to judge. For some reason we can't get it into our heads that rewards from God are gifts and not a result of our hard work. He can give to whomever and however He wants to. God's economy may look upside down to us, but we would do well to be grateful for the gifts we receive and leave the judging to Him.

Lord, please touch our jealous squinty eyes so that we begin to see others with generosity and mercy as You do.

"The Great Reversal"

Good morning all,

It is a wonderful summary description of the kingdom of heaven that we get in our reading today (Matthew 19:13-30). Right  at the end Matthew says "But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first." In the Message this is called "The Great Reversal".

Many of the disciples did not understand it as they were hindering the children from coming to Jesus to be blessed. As Jesus said, "the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

The rich young man did not like it. He had asked Jesus what good thing should he do to get eternal life. Jesus finally told him it he wanted to be perfect, to go and give away his possessions in order to have wealth in heaven. This poor guy was holding on to his stuff too tight to jump at this chance.

But we can be more like Peter who understood "The Great Reversal". He sacrificed whatever was needed to follow Jesus. His Lord then told Him, "And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life." (The Message) 

Thank you Lord for teaching us the principles of "The Great Reversal". Help us to give all to You and enjoy the rewards.

Love,

Ouida

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My Impossible Debt

We hear a lot nowadays about our National Debt and how much money each person would have to cough up if it was time to pay. Today's reading (Matthew 18:21-19:12) gives us a clue about an even bigger debt we've owed. And if I let the word soak in, it is a story of amazing grace.

In Matthew 18, when the king said it was time to pay up, one slave owed him 10,000 talents. My notes say that a talent is 15 years of wages for a laborer. The man owed 150,000 years of income! Can you believe that this man said he would pay all, and begged for mercy (as opposed to having all he had including family sold)? Then the king actually forgave him the entire debt. 

But this debt is barely a drop in the bucket compared to what we owe God. We belonged to Him as His creation from the start. But when we crossed over into enemy territory through sin (and we all did), He bought us back with the death of His very own Son. No money in all world compares to that price. And as we turn from this life of sin back to Him, He forgives it all. 

How grateful we should be for amazing grace. Grateful enough to forgive all petty debts or even big sins that others commit against us. My Father truly forgave my impossible debt. 

Readings this week:

M- Matthew 18:-20

T- Matthew 18:21-19:12

W - Matthew 19:13-30

Th - Matthew 20:1-19

F - Matthew 20:20-34

Lesson of the Little Child

Woops. The disciples sure stuck their foot in their mouth this time (Matthew 18:1-20). Can you hear the prideful jockeying for position in their question to Jesus: "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

He, of course, knew their perspective was all wrong and so replied with an object lesson to address the need. He called over a little child, whom He stood in the middle of the room,  and said, "Believe me, unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven." (Phillips)  Hmm...  And notice He said little children - maybe 1, 2, or 3 year olds who are described the the Amplified Bible as trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving. These certainly know they need help. 

Hopefully these disciples realized their error in taking for granted their presence in the kingdom as they focused on who would be top dog. How easily pride sneaks in. They did not know then the awful price Jesus would pay for them to enter this kingdom. 

Lord, teach us this beautiful lesson of the little child so we will remember to be grateful for Your opening the door for us. Protect us from pride and help us to even thank You for each humbling.

Does Jesus Have Fun?

We just had fresh trout. That so reminds me of the fun treasure hunt Jesus set up in Matthew 17:14-18:6.

Peter had been confronted about paying the temple tax. So Jesus asks him if kings have their children or subjects pay taxes. Since it is the subjects, we must conclude that the Son of God should not really be paying a temple tax.

But Jesus chooses not to offend the religious leaders unnecessarily. So He sends Peter on this little treasure hunt for the money. You have to admit that there must have been a million ways Jesus could have come up with a coin. But he sends this fisherman to catch one fish, and it is to have money in its mouth.  Wow!  I bet you Jesus was chuckling just thinking about Peter's adventure. And can you imagine Peter pulling out that fish, opening that its mouth, and there it is! He probably almost fell in the water laughing and then ran to tell others. 

Jesus is so much more fun that we give him credit for. Let's enjoy Him today.

Found Life?

I'm on a search for life. In fact "life" is my word for this year. It probably has something to do with most of the children leaving home after 42 years of lots of life.

So this verse in our reading (Matthew 16:24-17:13) jumped out: "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."  It's actually the second time Jesus has taught this truth. The first was in Matthew 10:38. It must be important.

What struck me was that you usually won't find something ( you won't even be on the look-out ) unless you have first lost or given up something. There has to be a void to fill. (The void of covetousness is another subject.)

But giving up our valuables shakes our very being! Who doesn't want to hang on to children or houses or routines or comforts or health or even that familiar bed? However, when we give to God the control of all valuables, we are free. And that is life.

Rich Opportunities At Hand

Would you look at these guys! (Matthew 16:5-23) The disciples are sitting in another boat all frustrated (probably blaming somebody) because they forgot to bring the bread. And their worry about their stomachs causes them to misunderstand Jesus' important reminder to watch out for the hypocritical teaching of the religious leaders.

So, as the bread discussion continues, Jesus sounds amazed at their little faith. What's with worrying about enough bread when He had just fed five thousand plus with five loaves and four thousand plus with seven loaves. "And how many basketfuls did you gather?" He asks about the leftovers.

I'm wondering what truth or opportunity do we miss when we get to worrying about having enough - be it food, money, ability etc. Has not God provided over and over again in wonderful ways? Let's give all these cares to Him (I Peter 5:7) and focus on the rich opportunities at hand. 

The God Who Satisfies

I just love how Jesus' compassion just spills over in our readings (Matthew 15:1-16:4). You would think it would be enough that He heals and frees tons of people that are brought to Him. But at the end of chapter fifteen, He realizes that these people have been with Him three days and have no food. What He says is so significant: "I do not want to send them away hungry..."

Of course, in this instance He is talking about physical hunger. He does not want them to faint on the way home. So He takes the disciples offering of seven loaves and a few small fish (not even big ones) and does the impossible. Four thousand men plus unnumbered women and children are fed - with seven large baskets left over. 

What I love is that it says: "They all ate and were satisfied."  

That is my God!  He does not send those who come to Him away hungry. He has compassion on all. As we turn or return to Him, He runs to meet us (Luke 15:20-22) and welcome us and begins to satisfy our needs. 

Readings for this week:

M-T  Matthew 15:1-16:4

W     Matthew 16:5-23

Th    Matthew 16:24-17:13

F      Matthew 17:14-18:6

Look and Listen

Ever been in such an emotional storm that you think you are not going to make it; then it gets worse! The disciples seem to be in that kind of place in today's reading (Matthew 14:13-33).

And it was Jesus who started it all: "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side."  They get a long way from shore and are finding themselves more and more battered and hindered by the contrary winds. It gets very very late and all of a sudden they see something walking toward them on the the water. "'It's a ghost,'" they said, and cried out in fear."

But then the One on the water spoke words that were probably burned into their hearts and need to be in ours. "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." The disciples find out at the end of this adventure that this One can make the furious unrelenting wind stop. At that point they cannot help but worship and exclaim, "You are really the Son of God." (New Living Version)

I come away from this account with two words - Look and Listen. I want to remember in the middle of any storm or fearful apparition to look to Jesus and listen for those words, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." As I keep my eyes on Him, the wind will finally stop. Then nothing will be left but to worship.

Family Matters

Great 4th to you all,

Hooray, it's a holiday when we have an excuse to get together and eat and talk and maybe watch fireworks. And if some in the family can not make it, I bet they do remember times in the past when they were there.

Jesus also comes back to His old neighborhood in our reading today (Matthew 13:51-14:12). But He certainly does not end up getting a very warm welcome. His old neighbors and friends are too blinded and deafened by pride to accept new truth from the hometown guy. After all, this is just the carpenter's son, and the rest of the family is nothing special. "And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him." And the bottom line is that Jesus could not help these neighbors in His usual wonder-full way.  

I'm wondering today as we gather if there might be one among us whom God is wanting to raise up as a leader in new ways of loving and serving. It may even be the former "black sheep" or troublemaker. God can do the impossible in people. If we can refrain from old habits of judging, comparing, and put down talk, we might just see or hear God doing a new thing in those we love.

Lord, open our eyes and our ears today to Your work of making us new in Christ, especially in our families that matter so much to You. Begin that work with me.

Love,

Ouida

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The Real Treasure

I'm wondering about all the stories describing the kingdom of heaven. It must be pretty important for us to understand. In fact before the second one in today's reading (Matthew 13:34-50), Jesus says, "Are you listening to this? Really listening?" (The Message)

Then out rolls one of the best. It is the story of the man stumbling in a field upon a treasure that is worth more than he could ever dream of.  Can't you just see him hiding the treasure, glancing around, and then running crazy with joy to sell everything possible to get that field and fortune for himself.  I mean this treasure is worth more that anything he has and everything he has all combined. 

That's our story. We have found the unimaginable treasure of life with Jesus as our King, Savior, Provider, Defender, Redeemer and Friend. This fortune is worth more that anything we have and everything we have all combined. With Christ as our King we have the real treasure, and crazy joy gratefulness must be our response. 

The One Who Never Sleeps

I think we all should have been farmers. Truth seems to grow so much easier in that context (Matthew 13:18-33). The farmer in Matthew 13 has a big problem. He's worked hard and and planted good seed and is looking forward to a rich harvest. Now his help tells him that there are weeds growing all in the field. In fact the Amplified Version calls this weed, darnel (a weed resembling wheat). In other words it looks so much like the real stuff that you don't know its worthless and crowding and sucking life out of the good until you see the fruit.

This sure sounds like some stuff in my life. So what happened? The story says that while everyone was asleep an enemy came in and sowed the weed seed that is now growing. Mmmm..... That makes me think that someone needs to stay on guard, and the only one I know that never sleeps is God. (Psalm 121:3-4)

Lord, I place my hope in You to be my guard and keep the enemy from sowing darnel (lies and deception) in my heart and mind. Thank You for all the ways that You have done this that I don't even know about. Thank You for reminding me to keep letting You be my guard and guide in "paths of righteousness". May You Who Never Sleeps be honored as You gather a rich harvest.

Why the Stories?

Great start of a brand new week and month to you,

Don't we love stories!  Children love stories. We get to participate in stories - often in our imagination or at least in our feelings. Our loving Creator knows this and so used stories or parables to teach life changing truth (Matthew 12:46-13:17).

It puzzled the disciples who seemed to like hearing straight out truth. But Jesus' reply lets us know that not all people have the same receptivity to His truth: "Whoever has ears, let them hear." And those who are receptive will receive more and more of the Good News. Jesus used stories to help people be more ready to really hear His life giving words. 

And the part that is thrilling is in the last two verses: "But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."

Folks, that's us!  We have an abundance of Jesus' stories, accounts, straight out truth, testimony of friends and on and on. We can read, memorize, and think about in spare moments Good News that godly people in the past would have given their eye teeth to know about. Let's do it today!

Love, 

Ouida

Comments appreciated on goodnews2women.blogspot.com

Readings for this week:

M - Matthew 12:46-13:17

T - Matthew 13:18-33

W - Matthew 13:34-50

Th - Matthew 13:51-14:12

F -  Matthew 14:13-33