REMINDER

This observance [the Passover] will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips.  For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. - Exodus 13:9

When we think of reminders, we think of post-it notes, email reminders, dentist appointments, usually they focus on us.  This verse does speak of this, but calls it a "sign" on the hands of the Israelites.  Obviously, you can see your own hand.  But, the "reminder on your forehead", especially in a culture that didn't carry mirrors around, and where pools of water were scarce, this "reminder" was for others.  

This external thing that they did - commemorating the Passover - was to be a reminder to others around them that God's law was to be flowing from their lips.  The interesting thing is that the Law itself had not yet been given.  This was preparing the people to make the Law of God central in their lives.

Our Passover is commemorated as we gather to celebrate communion.  It is here that we remember the final sacrificial Lamb whose blood was poured out for each of us.  This is not only a reminder to ourselves, but a reminder to those around us that we are a people who take in the sacrament and breathe out the words of God.  WE are the reminder to this world.  Challenging and humbling at the same time.

ThoughtSong: The Waiting "Every Word"

INSTEAD

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. - Matthew 20:26-28

Jesus often turns conventional wisdom upside down.  Instead of striving and working harder to become greater, He tells us to SERVE.  Instead of assessing the competition and trying to outpace them, He says to do our best to help them - even becoming their slaves!

Even in Christian circles, there can be a temptation to be the hippest, the coolest, the wittiest, the most relevant.  How does this all look in the light of what Jesus tells us?  Our challenge is to put "the childish things" behind us and move on to maturity.  One crucial way toward this end is through service.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, who can I serve today?"

ThoughtSong: Bob Dylan "Gotta Serve Somebody"

ASCEND

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. - Psalm 24:3-4

When we recognize that there is a incomprehensible dynamic between God's holiness and God's grace, we can begin to understand what this verse is saying. If we are left to our own efforts, most of us quickly realize that we fall short of this standard. The truth is that none of us is righteous enough to stand before God.

Through Christ's work, we now can ascend the hill of the Lord (meaning the Temple) to worship Him. We, the Church, are the new Temple of the Holy Spirit. This beautiful verse, written before Jesus' time, points directly to Him. Our God saw our need and met it through Jesus. Our part is follow Him, making Him first in everything we do.

ThoughtSong: Chris Tomlin "Give Us Clean Hands"

AFFLICTED

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. - Psalm 22:24

This entire psalm breathes the heart of God.  The fact that He, Jesus, knows our pain.  He's been there.  He can sympathize and empathize with what we're going through.  This is the reason for HOPE.  God is listening to our cries.  They do not fall on deaf ears.

The psalm goes on to say that the poor will be satisfied.  Even in these hard economic times where people are losing their jobs daily, God is there.  Because of that, there is hope.  Hold onto hope.

ThoughtSong: Avril Lavigne "Holding On"

TOMORROW

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:34

Jesus is telling his listeners about the condition of the world.  There are concerns in life.  He did not say to be oblivious to our situation.  He does say here that we should concern ourselves with the present and with what our next step should be.  Worry can be a lack of trust in God's provision, but it can also result from looking too far ahead.  Like the marathon runner who needs to set mini-goals throughout the race, Jesus tells us to take care of today.  

Jesus' use of the word "therefore" in this verse refers to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.  God takes care of them.  How much more He cares for us!  He has provision that we know not of - more than we could ask for or imagine!  

ThoughtPrayer:  "God, I trust in Your care."

ThoughtSong: MercyMe "Hold Fast" 

THINGS

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to me; you don not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." - Matthew 16:23

It is a constant challenge to maintain a God perspective.  We see with limited vision, but God has eternal eyes.  He sees what we do not, knows what we don't know.  When Jesus told his disciples that he would die, this was bad news to Peter, who saw the situation from a limited vantage point.  "Never, Lord!", is his reaction.  Jesus coarsely rebukes him.  

When seemingly bad news comes to us, how do we handle it?  In what, possibly subtle ways do we say "Never, Lord!"?  Asking God to point these out to us is critical in maturing in Christ.  The hope is that no matter what the circumstance, the words "Your kingdom come and Your will be done" will be our prayer.

ThoughtPrayer: "Your kingdom come and Your will be done."

ThoughtSong: Leeland "Lift Your Eyes"

FIRST

We love because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Worship is God initiated. When God reveals Himself, we respond. This is our part - response. David tells us that the heavens declare God's glory. Through His Word, God makes Himself known. We simply need to respond.

Today God is doing a new thing through the Holy Spirit. Love is being revealed to us not because of our effort, but because God chooses to. This takes a lot of pressure off of those of us who plan worship, but it also encourages us to be that much more sensitive to what God may be whispering to us.

ThoughtPrayer: "Lord, help me respond."

ThoughtSong: Matt Redman's "Gifted Response"

MOUNTAINSIDE

After he dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. - Matthew 14:23

Jesus did this throughout His time here on earth. When His life was at its craziest, He would leave this all behind and go to a place of solitude to pray.  Having just fed the 5,000 (some say 10,000 with women and children) Jesus knew that He needed intentional time to reconnect with His Father, "Abba" or daddy.   

We too need this kind of time.  Here's a few questions to ask ourselves:

• When is the last time I've taken a day off?  A mental health day?
• When is the last time I've spend a block of time in prayer? 
• What kinds of places best encourage my relationship with God?
  
• When will I schedule time to get away and who will I share this with to hold me accountable?

ThoughtSong: Sigur Ros "Andvari"

EVERYTHING

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. - Matthew 13:45-46

Our lives are about priorities.  How we spend our time.  How we spend our money.  These reflect what we truly value.  Jesus was constantly talking about priorities.  With Martha, he spoke of what was most important.  With the Pharisees, he would point out that what is inside us is more important than externals.  

The merchant sold EVERYTHING to get this pearl of great value.  Very reminiscent of the rich, young ruler, who wouldn't leave behind all he had to inherit the kingdom.  God is looking for people who are completely SOLD OUT for Him.  That nothing else would get in the way of that critical relationship.

As we look at our lives, are there areas that we are holding back from Christ?  Those patterns of sin that keep holding on?  Jealousy?  Anger?  Resentment?  Lust?  Material things?  Consider what it looks like to lay these things down today.  The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what seems impossible on our own.

ThoughtSong: Dan Vukmirovich/GCC AllStars "Everything" (free download)

INHERIT

The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame. - Proverbs 3:35

The path to wisdom is one of many small steps.  Each decision we make is one that either draws us closer to God's will or moves us further away.  Granted, not every decision is critical to life and limb, but each one carries weight.  Wisdom seems to be a communication line between God and each of us.  This line needs to be kept clear on a daily basis.  When we clog the line with our own chatter or with disobedience, it becomes harder and harder to hear from God.  Conversely, when the line is open, even big decisions can seem easy to make, because we're hearing from God.  Our inheritance is honor, not simply from others, but from God.

Today, what do we need to bring before God?  What areas have we been handling on our own and really need help with?  

ThoughtSong: Stephanie Smith "Waiting on You"

OVERFLOW

For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. - Matthew 12:34

If you've ever said something and wished you could take it back, you understand this verse.  This is why Jesus paid so much attention on the heart of matters.  He wasn't concerned only with the externals, but the condition of the hearts of His listeners.

We can try to control the tongue, but James is pretty clear that no one can tame it.  Our only option is to ask God to continually rewire our hearts which will, in turn, transform our tongues.  So that whatever comes out will "benefit those who listen" (Ephesians 4:29).  Each encounter with someone will become an opportunity for the overflow of our hearts to breathe life into that person.  

ThoughtPrayer:  "Change my heart, Oh God"

ThoughtSong: (going old school) Eddie Espinosa "Change My Heart, Oh God"

DISCERNMENT

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you. - Proverbs 3:21-22

Like are driver who is watching for the lines on the road, we need to keep sound judgement and discernment in our sights.  For drivers, the lines provide a proven path that they can follow.  For followers of Christ, the Bible gives us a wealth of wisdom to learn from.  From both success stories and dreadful failures, we can learn from the characters in the Bible.  

For this reason, a daily, regular input of wisdom is necessary to keep us on course.  As a driver needs to make constant course corrections, we too need to assess where we're headed.  This should apply to every situation in life - relationships, finances, job, etc.  When we seek Christ's wisdom, our path may not be easy, but we will have peace knowing that God walks with us.

ThoughtSong: Nichole Nordeman & Erin O'Donnell "You are Good"

LEAST

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. - Matthew 11:11

In Israel, much like today, people want to know ranking order.  We have all kinds of lists - most popular, best looking, most influential.  We even do this with churches.  The greatest of prophets was considered to be Elijah, so when Jesus told his listeners that John was the Elijah to come, this was an amazing endorsement of John's ministry.  

BUT, Jesus didn't stop there.  He adds that the person who is LEAST in the kingdom is even greater.  The Kingdom is available to all, no matter what their social, political, or economic status.  If our perspective of the Kingdom is like Jesus, our temptations to compare, rank, and compete, fade.  Jesus' coming made the Kingdom available to all; including you and me.

ThoughtSong: Tenth Avenue North "Love is Here"

SPARROWS

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:29-30

The sparrow was used in the Temple as a sacrifice to God.  It was the cheapest offering that someone could buy, yet God has concern for this.  Throughout the Bible, God is CRAZY about small things.  Sparrows, mustard seeds, children, hairs on heads, pearls.  This verse is about worth.  We are precious to God.  He is intimately concerned with every aspect of our lives.  If you ever feel like you are insignificant, realize that God is crazy about you!

ThoughtSong: Eli "Sparrow"

AWARE

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely God is in this place, and I was not aware of it." - Genesis 28:16

The reality is that God is working all around us.  Whether we choose to see it or not depends on our awareness.  We often get distracted by the daily grind or make life more about us than it really is.  

Elizabeth Barret Browning said, "Earth is crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God."  Today, we should think about what things are distracting us from being fully present with God.  As we pray for God's help to either remove the distractions or help us deal with them, we will find Christ as the center.  It is this centering that essential to living the life God wants us to live.  

ThoughtPrayer:  "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me a sinner."

ThoughtSong: Vineyard UK "Be the Centre"

DEFENDING

You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed. - Psalm 10:17-18

Scripture says over and over again that God's heart is closest to those who are suffering and oppressed.  And since the Holy Spirit is constantly reforming our hearts into the likeness of Christ's heart, we too should be listening to the cry of the fatherless and the oppressed.  Organizations like International Justice Mission and Feed the Children are focusing on making a difference in the lives of the oppressed and the fatherless.  Whatever we can do to bring our hearts closer to the heart of God by serving those in need, we must do.  Defending those who can't defend themselves.  This is our task.  God is there.

ThoughtPrayer: "Use me."

ThoughtSong: Tim Hughes "God of Justice"

TRIALS

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. - James 1:2-3

This is a difficult verse to swallow when you are in the midst of challenging circumstances.  James reminds us that what we're going through will ultimately develop our faith.  That if we stick close to God through the trials, our faith will continue to grow and mature.  James' use of the word "whenever", also tells us that we will WILL face hard times.  It's our reaction to adversity that will determine how our faith develops.

ThoughtSong: Charlie Hall's "The Solid Rock"

OBEYED

Through your offspring all nations will be blessed because you have obeyed me. - Genesis 22:19

Obedience is critical to our walk with Christ.  God is not searching for talent/skills/intentions.  He is searching for people who will be obedient to whatever He asks.  Abraham and his offspring would bless all nations because Abraham was obedient, even to the point of sacrificing his son.  What an amazing gift to all of us!

What steps of obedience do we need to take today?  Is it a phone call?  A person who is undesirable that needs help?  An old friend that needs encouragement?  Listen to the Spirit to give us "eyes to see and ears to hear."

ThoughtPrayer: "I obey."

ThoughtSong: Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes"

EAT

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? - Matthew 6:25

This verse is about provision.  Where/what is our source?  Do we often put our confidence in things other than God?  This may show up in subtle ways.  Think about things that are "musts" in our lives.  Have you heard yourself say, "I HAVE to have my Starbucks in the morning" or "Popcorn + Movies = Essential".  God wants us to be a people who will continually turn to Him.  The basics of life - food, clothing - God is concerned with.  From the very beginning in Eden, God has always wanted to provide for us.  

The discipline of fasting can be a way to break free from the chains of, as Jentzen Franklin says, "King Stomach".  His book, entitled "Fasting" is high recommended. 

ThoughtPrayer:  "You are my provision."

ThoughtSong: Charlie Hall "My Drink (I Remember You)"

CREDITED

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. - Genesis 15:6

The awesome thing about this verse is that God gave Abram something he didn't really deserve.  Just a few chapters before, we see Abram asking his wife, Sarai to lie to the Egyptians about being his wife so that Abram wouldn't die.  But in this chapter, we find Abram, childless with no heir.  He makes an honest request of God and God promises offspring that will outnumber the stars.  Abram believes this promise, though he is in his old age.  God takes that belief and as a foreshadowing of our belief in Christ - Abram is credited with righteousness.  

This is great cause for celebration!  We have a merciful God who does not expect perfection from us, but meets us where we're at and offers a way to righteousness - GRACE.  

ThoughtSong: Hillsong "I Believe"

EXPECTATION

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. - Psalm 5:3

This verse brings up several issues regarding prayer.  Starting our day, bringing our hearts to God is the best way to start.  If we jump right to the tasks of the day without this, our trajectory can be off course.  If we lay our requests before Christ, in accordance with His will, then we can wait fully expecting that God will move.  If we approach our prayer times with the sort of expectation, how does that that change what we bring before God?  How often we bring it?  Remember, prayer is simply a conversation.  We need to wait for God to respond.

ThoughtSong: Vineyard UK "Hungry (Falling on My Knees)"

ANGER

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. - Psalm 4:4

Everyone deals with anger in one form or another.  Anger in itself is not a bad thing.  Jesus himself had righteous anger at the moneychangers at the temple.  The crucial point being that we must deal with our anger in healthy ways that do not bring us to sin.  Learning what sets us off and then coming up with strategies for dealing with these situations is key.  

Our youngest daughter can easily be set off by her sister.  We have given her permission to let her anger flow, but we've also given her the space (her room) to express it.  She'll often lay in her bed and fume for a while which works most every time.  Finding an appropriate way (exercise, meditation, seclusion) to vent our anger is an important part of it not leading to sin.  Then we can deal with the causes of anger when we are more level-headed.  

MORE

But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. - Matthew 3:11

John understood a fundamental thing - he was not the main character in the story.  He could have developed a big head, thinking that his baptizing was the point of the whole story.  Or, he could have shrunk back considered his part to be worthless since it wasn't the lead role.  Instead, in Godly confidence, he performed his role with a great reverence for the one who was to come, while maintaining a healthy sense of self - grounded in God.  

We need to take a similar view of what we do, recognizing that we are players in a much greater story.  When we see each moment as potential to play into the kingdom story, we will maximize our part.  Today, we need to realize that God has made each of us to play an important part in HIS-story.  Our choice is to use the talents, skills, and influence God has given us to make the greatest kingdom impact.  

ThoughtPrayer:  "Lord, help me play my part."

ThoughtSong: Matthew West "History"

BEGINNING

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. - Proverbs 1:7

"The fear of the Lord" - this phrase has had much debate and is often misunderstood.  Modern Christians can often get too familiar with God.  T-Shirts like "Jesus is my Homeboy" can give an inaccurate picture of a God who is both near and holy at the same time.  It is important for us to have a healthy fear/respect/reverence for God's perfection or holiness.  It is this fear that makes us aware of the the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice.  It also helps us realize that we are not the center of the universe and that our decisions aren't final.  Today, let's begin our day rethinking what it means to worship a God who is holy.  

ThoughtPrayer: "You are holy."

ThoughtSong: David Crowder Band "Rain Down"