Author: Jason

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Anxious for Something

I am anxious today.  No it’s not because its No Pants Day.   It’s not the fear that my reoccurring dream will come true. I mean when its no pants day it’s OK to end up in the office in your underwear!

No, I am anxious, and stressed, and I am not sure really why.  It’s funny how life will to that do you.  Sometimes like today, the worries of life, the pressure of work, the amount of things that have to “get down” are choking me.  I am so anxious and I can’t really even tell you why.

And so I turn back to the pages of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew, where I have found myself drawn this week.  Right there in chapter 6 it screams this at you:  ( I don’t think Jesus actually screamed this, but I bet it was emphatic).

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Yep, this anxiety, it has no value.  It’s a trap.  I still find it amazing what reading these words can do to change you viewpoint on the day.  So that’s it, for today.  Look at the birds, don’t worry and seek him first, and enjoy no pants day, after all it will be over 90 today.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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Prayer Day

It’s the National Day of Prayer ( yes, these days just keep on coming!).  You would be surprised to find out that almost every day is some sort of observance.  First instance, today is also Nurses Day, No Homework Day, No Diet Day, National Day of Reason, National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and Joseph Bracket Day ( A Mainer who wrote the song Simple Gifts – one of my all time favorite songs).

But any way, back to Prayer Day.  It is the National Day of Prayer, and despite the constant emails and Facebook postings that Barry O canceled it, it’s still happening.  It’s good to take a day and pray especially for the country.  There are lots of challenges we face as a people, and I think that its good to take those to God.

Its also good to take your personal challenges there.  I mean check out 1 Peter 5:6-8 ( it is also a good verse for Joseph Bracket day, since it speaks of humility)

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.  Prayer is not just some ritual done to appease our own spirituality, we do it because He wants to hear it. Did you ever think about that. The Creator of the Universe wants to hear about your anxieties, because He cares about you!

That’s sort of the crux of this whole “I’ll follow Jesus” thing isn’t it.  He cares about you and wants  you to follow him and to talk with him and to share with him.  Its nice to be wanted isn’t it!

So enjoy the Day of Prayer and remember “‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free!”

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Cinco de Mayo

Hola, es Hoy Cinco de mayo, así que pensé que debo escribir en español a celebrar hoy.  Inglés a traductores españoles en el Internet es tal bendición de Dios.  Para comenzar hoy, aquí, es el versículo más corto de la Biblia.

35 Jesús lloró.  – Juan 11:35  Nueva Versión Internacional(NVI)

y ahora el más largo versículo de la Biblia

9 De inmediato fueron convocados los secretarios del rey. Era el día veintitrés del mes tercero, el mes de *siván. Se escribió todo lo que Mardoqueo ordenó a los judíos y a los *sátrapas, intendentes y funcionarios de las ciento veintisiete provincias que se extendían desde la India hasta *Cus. Esas órdenes se promulgaron en la escritura de cada provincia y en el idioma de cada pueblo, y también en la escritura e idioma propios de los judíos. Ester 8:9 Nueva Versión Internacional (NVI)

No estoy seguro de lo que este día se trata, pero es una buena oportunidad para hablar a la gente y les deseamos un gran Cinco de Mayo.  Me siento como Nacho Libre.

24 Éste es el día en que el Señor actuó;
regocijémonos y alegrémonos en él.Nueva Versión Internacional(NVI) Salmos 118:24

Well that was fun!  The one of the great things about mornings, its always a new day and new days bring new challenges and provide us with another chance to do things.  Some days you can do things differently – like writing in Spanish.

24 This is the day the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it. New International Version(NIV) Psalm 118:24

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A New Hope

Last week I was privileged to drive the middle school band to Pigeon Forge TN for a trip to Dollywood and a band festival.  On the way there, the guys in my van decided to watch one of the Star Wars movies.   Of course, I was there in the front seat with nothing to do but follow the bus and think.  The one they were watching was the actual first one in the series where little Anakin is discovered and the Jedi place their hope in him.

Of course the movie that most readers of this blog remember as the first one is called A New Hope.  A New Hope because little Anakin doesn’t turn out so well, and they place their hope this time in his son Luke Skywalker.  Despite all of his childish whining Luke saves the day, and provides peace and joy for everyone with a nice party in the woods at the end of the saga.

The story has several parallels to life, and would probably make for a good study, but today I was just thinking about hope.  What so great is that we have A New Hope!

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 1 Peter 2:3-4

We have a hope that gives us a gift in heaven.  That should bring you joy today.  When you live with a hope like that joy should abound, and others should notice.  Go through today remembering the hope you have, and since it is Star Wars Day,  May the Fourth be With You!

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Stuck

Yesterday a good friend on mine was traveling back to his home is Nashville and was temporarily unable to find any passage through to his home.  He posted on Facebook that he was stuck, cut off from his home.

My mind is that way this morning, stuck and unable to work out some of the thoughts that are floating around in there.  I am really still debating this whole concept in Luke 14, about what it means to be willing to give up anything for the cause of Christ.  More and more I am realizing those are not just empty words – expect to see a more crystallized thought on this topic in the future ( no promises as to when!)

Anyway, my friend was eventually able to find a back road that was “safe” to travel and made it to his house.  However, I would ask you to remember that city.  The flooding there is really nasty and it’s not anywhere near complete.

So today feels like a day for a little Lamentations – but a hopeful section – maybe a break from any lamenting that you are experiencing today.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;   Lamentations 3:21-25