It Only Takes a Moment to Change Your Life

 A Series on Lent
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Luke 5:1-11

[Lent gives us an opportunity to step back and pause to recognize our humanity and sinful nature. The Lenten season reminds us of our need for a Savior as a time to reflect and repent for our shortcomings. It is an opportunity to recognize the human condition we may spend the rest of the year running from and bring our need for a Savior to the forefront. Lent prepares us as we approach Good Friday and Easter with thanksgiving for the grace and mercy shown to us.]

  

It only takes a moment to change your life. For me, one of those life-changing moments occurred in high school when I was in the process of deciding what college to attend. When I told the guidance counselor that I wanted to be a geologist, he said, in no uncertain terms, “Well then, you need to go to Michigan Tech”. So I did.

 

Peter had one of those moments too. His occurred while he was at his job. After fishing all night, he was cleaning the nets. Nearby, Jesus was speaking to a crowd so large that he asked Peter to take his boat out in the water again so that he could speak from his boat in order to be heard by all the people.

 

When he was finished, Jesus asked Peter to go out to the deep water to fish again, even though they hadn’t caught anything the night before. But, because it was Jesus who asked, Peter did it. Here’s what happened after Peter caught so many fish that two boats could barely bring them to shore.

 

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.                        NIV

 

You would be hard pressed to convince me that Peter was a touchy-feely kind of guy; somebody who was introspective or easily impressed. No, not at all. He was a take charge kind of guy who acted first, and then thought about it later… maybe.

 

But, what was the impact of that brief moment between Jesus and Peter? How did it change Peter’s life?

 

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.      NIV

 

Lent is a time for drawing close to our Lord. Sometimes that can happen by fasting and prayer. But sometimes it happens in a less conventional manner… like at work fishing. The Lord is not limited by how or where He speaks to us. It could be through a life experience; a book; a movie; a friend. All we need to do is listen.

 

After all, it only takes a moment to change your life.

 

 

Selective Hearing

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

1 Samuel 3:1-10

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%203%3A1-10&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

Have you ever been accused of selective hearing?

 I have. My wife accuses me more often than I care to admit. Of course, I like to think of it as being extremely focused. The classic example is when she starts talking to me in the bedroom and then walks down the hall into the kitchen. And I’m accused of selective hearing!

There can be a lot of reasons that people don’t hear or understand a message. For one thing, we’re bombarded every day with so many messages that there’s no way to comprehend them all. But it can also have to do with not listening well, feeling insecure or lacking some foundational knowledge. The list is endless.

⁸ So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.          NLT

It took three times for the LORD to call Samuel’s name before Eli realized who it was that was speaking to him. On the first two attempts, Samuel and Eli had their own personal reasons for not hearing the LORD.

For one thing, Samuel was just a boy so he probably lacked the maturity to recognize who was calling him. As for Eli, he had been a priest for decades, but had shown a lack of spiritual discernment in dealing with his rebellious sons. Eli was practically blind physically; maybe he was blind spiritually too.

Are you guilty of selective hearing when it comes to recognizing the LORD? 

What drowns out his voice for you? Is it being constantly busy with no quiet time to reflect and rest in His presence? Or maybe it’s an unwillingness to submit or surrender to His will. Is it possible that it’s unrepentant sin in your life?

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”   NIV

Like Samuel, may we be ready to hear the LORD with a servant’s heart, listening intently for His voice.

“Just a Minute”

A Series on the Milestones in Jesus’ Life

Luke 4:14-30

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%204%3A14-30&version=NIV;NLT

 

When I was a little boy of about eight, I remember a time when I was playing with my little men. I must have had an exciting story developing because I was very involved when my Dad called me to dinner.

 

But, it wasn’t a good time for me to stop; so I said, “Just a minute”. My Dad called out to me again to come to the dinner table. Still not quite ready I said, “Just a minute”.

 

I wasn’t getting his message because playing was more important to me than the fact that my Mom had dinner prepared on the table, and they were both waiting for me. I’m not sure if my Dad called me a third time or not, but he did come over and knock all of my little men down. I was devastated! But I did get his message.

 

Jesus was bringing a message to the Jews, and had returned to Galilee. In this story, he was in Nazareth where he grew up. People there may have known him better as Joseph’s son than Jesus the rabbi. They knew him when he was a little boy getting into trouble for not coming to the dinner table.

 

At the synagogue, it’s not hard to imagine that his parents, siblings, neighbors and friends he grew up with, would have been there. Word had spread about Jesus performing miracles, and people were curious. It was a homecoming of sorts; a milestone for Jesus. And what message did Jesus have for them?

 

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”               NIV

 

The “year of the Lord’s favor” was the beginning of the Messianic age. Basically, Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah; but he didn’t stop there. He went on to remind them how when Elijah and Elisha were messengers of God’s salvation, that non-Jews received His message; not the Jews.

 

“Just a minute”, the Jews at the synagogue cried out. They didn’t like his message. They didn’t want to hear his message. And don’t we do the same thing today?

 

Aren’t there times when we hold up our hand to Jesus and say, “Just a minute. I’m not ready”? What keeps us from hearing Jesus’ message? Is it pride; rebellion; selfishness; a broken relationship; difficult life circumstances; busyness?

 

Whatever the reason, the next time you catch yourself saying to Jesus, “Just a minute”… STOP! Think about it! Listen for his still, small voice! Draw near to him. What is he trying to say to you? Figure it out; and then obey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra! Extra!

The Life of Jesus Series

How Jesus interacted with others.

John 3:1-21

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203%3A1-21&version=NIV;ESV

  

"In the early days of newspapers, when something big happened, the publisher would not only publish the normal daily paper, but would also publish an “Extra”.

 

 

 

The newspapers were sold on the street, often by newsboys, who had a stack of papers and would sell them to walkers-by. When an Extra came out, they would chant "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" to call attention to the fact that something big has happened, and an Extra paper has been published".      From reddit.com

 

That’s basically what’s happening in this interchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus emphatically states three times; “Truly, truly I tell you”; which in ancient times meant, “Extra! Extra! I have something really important to say to you!” It was a way of interrupting Nicodemus’ life and getting his attention.

 

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”       ESV

 

⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.           ESV

 

¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you… ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.      ESV

 

Jesus is straight out telling Nicodemus that he is the Son of Man; that he is the way to not only see the kingdom of God, but to enter it. Jesus stepped into the life of Nicodemus, and changed him forever. In the same way, Jesus can step into your life and into mine changing us forever.

 

Emmanuel means God with us. Two thousand years ago God stepped into the world we live in through the person of Jesus Christ. Not only did he step into it, but he interrupted the natural order of things. It was more than an Extra edition of the paper. It was an “Extra! Extra!” of life-changing proportions.

 

Your life has been interrupted. Will you listen to the head lines?

 

 

 

Talk to the Hand

Psalm 65:1-5

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms%2065%3A1-5&version=NIV;NLT

  

Have you ever had a conversation with someone where you felt like they were just not listening to you? Maybe they reminded you of the saying from the 90’s - “Talk to the hand”.

 

Years ago, I had a boss who when he walked into my office, he would look out the window. I think he was listening to me, but I couldn’t tell for sure because he wasn’t looking at me. Instead, he was looking at the sky or a squirrel or the dirty window.

 

Truth be told, we are all guilty of the same thing at one time or another. But on those occasions when we feel like someone is really listening to us and sincerely cares, we feel closer to them; we want to hang out with that person; we want to hear what they have to say. Why? Because we feel valued and loved.

 

In Old Testament times, the Tabernacle courts were where God’s presence resided. The

tribe of Levi was chosen to serve in the Tabernacle, which is to say that they were in the presence of God more than anyone else.

 

⁴ Blessed are those you choose

    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.        NIV

 

As a result of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, anyone who believes in him and follows him, has constant access to him. It’s like living in the Temple courts 24/7/365. Indeed, “we are filled with the good things of his house”.

 

And even though being in the presence of God makes us more aware of our sin, we can also be assured that He forgives us. There is nothing we have done or will do that He will not forgive; that will prevent us from being in His presence.

 

⁵ You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds,
    O God our savior.
You are the hope of everyone on earth,
    even those who sail on distant seas.   NLT

 

When you pray, you’re not talking to the hand. You’re talking to the Living God. Nothing can keep you from him. He is always there, always listening; always hearing; always answering. He’s never too busy or preoccupied or lost in thought. All you have to do is talk to him. And then listen for his response.

 

  

(If God has spoken to you through this blog, please feel free to share the link with others.)

http://lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Safe Place

Psalm 46

 

"God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble. ² So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and the mountains fall into the center of the sea, ³ and even if its waters go wild with storm and the mountains shake with its action.”   NLV

 

Many years ago, I was sailing with some friends on the Grand Traverse Bay in northern Michigan when the winds suddenly picked up. We were in a 26 foot sailboat, not big enough to withstand the tumult of the wind and the waves. The sails quickly filled, and pulled the boat to about a 45 degree angel with the water. My life flashed before me.

 

It’s not very often that our world gets turned upside down, or using the metaphor of Psalm 46; “the earth is shaking, the mountains are falling and the waters go wild from the storm”. But it happens, and not just literally like in the sailboat.

 

Maybe you’re version of this metaphor is that you’re having trouble starting your career; or you’re struggling after having a still born baby; or your workplace is not just stressful, but oppressive; or your best friends seem to have drifted away; or you make a move out of state away from family and friends. Take your pick.

 

How do you respond when your world seems to be turning upside down? What do you do? Who do you turn to?

 

In our culture of rugged individualism, the first response is often to “dig in and deal with it yourself”. Sometimes people will bury themselves in their work or a relationship or even self-destructive behavior. The human spirit is capable of discovering all kinds of ways to attempt to control their world.

 

So many things in life can cause us to feel lost, alone, insecure, afraid, out of control. The psalmist suggests turning to God; that He is our safe place. When I was a little boy I used to crawl behind the couch and lay snuggled between the couch and the heat vent. On a cold winter morning, it felt like a very safe place.

 

How do you get to your safe place; to the throne of grace; to hear His still small voice; to know that He is God?

 

Take time to reflect and mediate on the word of God. This will bring you into His presence; into your safe place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 *****HERE ARE SOME VERSES TO GO ALONG WITH THE BLOG*****

 

^10 “Be quiet and know that I am God.”    Psalm 46:10 NLV

 

“…but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: ¹² And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”       1 Kings 19:11b-12 KJV

 

^16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”                 Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

 

“God is our safe place and our strength. He is always our help when we are in trouble.”            Psalm 46:1 NLV