Tag: Matthew

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Take Me As You Find Me

This week has been a perplexing week for me.  I have found my mind preoccupied, but not focused.  I have been bugged by the constant battle between being what I want to be and observing what I let myself be.

Last night while on what turned out to be a great run I was listening to Hillsong’s Mighty to Save.  There is one particular lyric that seemed to call to my spirit.

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Isn’t this were a lot of us find ourselves.  We want to surrender, we want to give our lives to follow what we believe, but yet we sit and look around and see the scars of failures and the waste of fears.  For instance….(start the dream sequence)

Earlier this week, I was driving home and stopped at a traffic light downtown.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw someone slowly crossing the road.  I was deep in thought and didn’t pay too much attention, until I noticed that standing right in front of my truck was a man, dressed in dirty clothes, standing on crutches staring at me.  Then he reached down and held up a piece of paper that had words written on it in magic marker.  The words said something like “Help me feed my Family”.  I sort of just sat there in disbelief, sort of dumbfounded.  I was thinking things like “what did they just say on Sporttalk(local afternoon radio sports show )?”, “What happens if the light turns green, do I just beep my horn or simply run this dude over?” and finally – “What should I do?”  I was so surprised by the boldness of this guy that I really didn’t know what to do.  There I was stuck at the like, this guy in front on me, staring, his eyes pleading, and I am kind of like ‘Are you looking at me?’  So in sort of a disgusted way, I shook my head.  He looked down disgusted and walked the rest of the way across the street.  What’s interesting is our disgust was the same.  He was disgusted with me; I was disgusted with, well ME.

The rest of the way home I thought about this guy.  I really don’t know what was up.  He could be the number one scam artist in Chattanooga – but probably not.  He was probably just a man in need.  And there I sat with what I think is MY money in MY pocket, driving MY truck going home to MY house to eat MY dinner.  ‘Get out of my way homeless dude, I have MY stuff to do.’  Mine, mine, mine.  But yet, I will sing with all my might,

“Now I surrender”.

Yesterday was evidently National Good Neighbor Day.  And surprisingly this one is actually backed up by a Senate Resolution.  I can’t believe I missed it.  But not to fear, one of your fellow ‘buffeters’ pointed it out to me.   So, I thought back to this guy. And I thought about how easy it has been to make it about me this week.  Not just with dude in the street, but with my boys, with my coworkers, and with my friends.  Interestingly Jesus tells us multiple times that the second greatest commandment in the whole wide world is “Love your neighbor as yourself”. (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 19:18-20, Matthew 22:38-30, Mark 12:30-32, Luke 10:26-28, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:13-15, James 2:7-9).  Paul in his Galatian letter said it summed up the ENTIRE law!

Argh…

“all my fears and failures…”

I am so glad that we live in the age of Grace ( can I hear an Amen – or just add it to the comments!)  I am so thankful that I don’t have to earn the love of Christ.  That the love of God is freely given.  That forgiveness is freely given and that it’s really not at all about me.

And that’s what is so perplexing.  I got it for free, but yet I find it so hard to share.  It’s not mine, I am just blessed to live in the light of his glory, and to have it light my way.

Anyway, today’s a new day, filled with new chances, new opportunities and new moments – and he does “take us as he finds us”.  It seems to me that everyday should be Good Neighbor Day.

As some of my coworkers say “Do the Needful”

“Shine Your light and let the whole world see”

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Working from Home

I went round and round this morning in my normal indecisive way.  Work from home,drive to the office, work from home, drive to the office. It’s been paralyzing this morning.   Should I enjoy the pleasures and comfort and solitude of home, or should I dare to engage traffic, ( especially the day after I had a dream that I received three speeding tickets in one afternoon), and burn the gas to just sit at my desk , type on my keyboard and talk on my phone.  Oh the agony of the decision.

There was something this morning just urging me to go downtown.  It’s a thing called people. ( Now for someone with a previous Meyers Briggs score of INTJ people usually don’t cross my mind). However there was something today about people, and about being able to impact them.  Can you impact people remotely – sure-  and I will find other days to work in the solitude of my home office, enjoying the views that it affords.  But today, there is something that says, maybe just staying at home  just because may not be the best?

(I know right now several of you are thinking – Are you crazy!!!  Stay at home!)

But I started thinking about these verses today:

  1. Matthew 8:3
    Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
    Matthew 8:2-4 (in Context) Matthew 8 (Whole Chapter)
  2. Matthew 17:7
    But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
    Matthew 17:6-8 (in Context) Matthew 17 (Whole Chapter)
  3. Matthew 20:34
    Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
    Matthew 20:33-34 (in Context) Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter)
  4. Mark 1:41
    Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
    Mark 1:40-42 (in Context) Mark 1 (Whole Chapter)

It’s not that there’s a command there, and its not that I am going to go around touching people today and healing them.  But there is something about presence sometimes that is important.  There is something about personal interaction that’s good.

So, today, I will go off and see how I can impact people face to face, versus over the phone.  How will you “touch” those you come in contact with?

Maybe today holds something incredible? (or maybe I am really insane)

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A Child’s View

I found this video title “One Child’s Most Exciting Day” whilst on my normal search for information and ideas on the World Wide Web earlier this week.  I have spent parts of the last two days thinking about it.  You will need to watch it to get the full picture, but essentially in this German ( I think) video about poverty, a child is asked to describe his most exciting day.  As he describes visiting castles, eating feasts and sailing on boats, the images show he and his mother, at the unemployment office, at the food bank and in the washateria.

I have not been able to rationalize whether the video paints the child and his position in poverty in a positive or negative light.  It seems to suggest that he is hiding the pain by telling a story, but I am not sure.  I wonder if he has become content in his world, oblivious, or at least not dwelling in, his humble position in life.  I can’t help but to think this is a good image of what our Lord says when he tells us to have “faith like a child”, and when he instructs us to be humble and content in all things.

3And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:3-4 (New International Version)

This child took a day that to an adult could be rather humiliating, boring, and mundane and turns it in a day full of adventure, excitement and promise.   hm..

Take one minute today or this weekend to watch this video.  Think about this boy’s perspective on life, and think about your own.

I don’t think I have fully grasped the complete message that is delivered in this 69 second spot, as my sub conscious continues to mull it over.  But I do see that our attitude and viewpoint can make even the hardest day better.   Enjoy Friday, enjoy the weekend, and find adventure and excitement in all your undertakings.

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.   Philippians 4:11-13 (New International Version)

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Droopy, Wade, Words and Wisdom

Have you ever had a dude who just get up in your crawl?  I mean, you just want to take their head off, and sometimes you would feel justified about it.  There’s this nameless dude, (don’t ask Mr. Jones!) who just is Mr Negativity.  Let’s call him Droopy. However, I think that might doing his attitude a favor! I have been struggling with how to deal with this concern, because it just does not help my day, or my co workers day.

I had a course of action set in place, up the management chain I was heading, I had had enough!  Then I started to think about two things.  First, there’s this other dude at work who we will call Wade. (not his real name).  Wade, is like super nice – always ready to serve, and I mean always.  As I matter of fact, his Labor Day was ruined(my word, not his) by a mistake of another person and he was like “as long as its working, I am OK”.  Man, what a fantastic attitude. ( esp versus mine, I mean really, I think I am upset so much by Droopy, because sometimes dealing with him is like looking in a mirror for me.)

Then last night, I was meeting with a group of men, and we were talking about Proverbs and some of the Proverbs about your words, and how to deal with people.  The conversation wandered, and some directions that just can never be explained, but eventually got around to co workers and our speech and words with them.  One of the dudes(that’s my word of the day) mentioned this verse:

If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend.  Matthew 18:15 (MSG)

So that brought me back to Droopy and Wade.  Maybe the right thing, based on this principle is a direct attack.   But not really an attack.  Could I mix the encouragement from Wade’s attitude, and the teachings of our Christ, and the words of wisdom from Proverbs together and gain the direction and strength to turn what could be a real issue into a positive and productive situation?

I guess we will see how that goes, but I think it will be heading in a better direction if I take a better position on this situation.  How about you, do you have similar issues where you attitude can greatly impact the outcome and the lives of others?

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 ESV

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 ESV

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:27 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.Proverbs 15:1 ESV

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Add it up

Last night I was given the opportunity to hear Rich Little speak.  No, not that Rich Little, the preacher Rich Little.  He’s heading out to be a professor at Pepperdine and was speaking in town last night.   He was very engaging as he spoke of sharing the grace with have received with other people.  The whole time he was whittling away on stage, I keep thinking to myself, that these ideas seem like they are a little risky, and radical.  He spend most of the night exposing hidden secrets from Matthew 7, part of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount.  However, it was the place he ended that really started me thinking:

12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matt 7 :12

How simple!  The entirety of the law in 11 words.  “Do to others what you would have them do to you”.  But how complex and how radical.  How many times have your heard this relay in word or action as “Do to others before they do to you?” or “Do to others as they do to you?”   But Jesus, always the radical, says “Treat them how you want to be treated.”  How many times to I tell my boys those exact same words?

But can we really live that way?  I mean, I know that I want the people I work with to bring me ice cream at 3pm every afternoon.  Hm, I wonder maybe if thats what I want then I should bring ice cream to them at 3pm.  Or I should find out what they like and bring that to them.  For many of my co workers that may be a bowl of gajar halwa.

But I guess its more then ice cream.  Its the words we use, its the way we listen.  Its the attention that we give to others.  Its our concern.  It’s a text message of encouragement, a smile, forgiveness and mercy and grace.

Hm, sounds radical and risky.  Maybe its worth some serious prayer and attention.  I know that I would want you to do it for me.

Are you summing it up today?