God comes first to the poor and lowly...
Christmas Message Dec 24, 2020
Luke’s account of the announcement of Jesus’ birth comes not in the halls of a palace nor to the inner circle of some religious elite, but in the fields, to the poor and lowly, the news comes first to the shepherds. Luke 2:8-15 highlights shepherds in the field under the canopy of heaven receiving the news first. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them...When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
The orthodox religious leaders despised the shepherds because they were dirty. Shepherds were considered unclean by many. In the fields, tending sheep by day and night, they could not observe all the meticulous handwashing rules and cleansing regulations. They were unknown to most of the world which sleeps through the night, but they were known to God. And it was to these humble, dirt-poor men in the fields where the news of the Savior is first heard.
And that is good news for all humanity! For each of us are poor or found lacking in something. There is the poverty of our own sin. There is the poverty of our loneliness, illness, unresolved grief and lingering guilt that robs us of joy. There is the spiritual poverty one suffers, when the heart hungers for more love and acceptance, more wealth and possessions but is never satisfied.
Oscar Romero said, “No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without being poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those who, because they have everything, look down on others, those who have no need even of God— for them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the hungry those who need someone to come on their behalf, will have that someone. That someone is God. Emmanuel. God with us. Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God.”
Like the lowly shepherds, in the baby Jesus, God chose to enter the world not in the opulence and grandeur of a palace or wealthy estate, but as a defenseless and vulnerable child with no home to call his own. Although rich in divine truth and grace, this child was born into earthly poverty. Although Jesus was the Son of God, he owned nothing. His parents were homeless. God could have entered the world in a multitude of ways. But, he chose to become one of us in our poverty and our weakness. For in God’s weakness, his strength is displayed. Years later, Jesus would speak about the poor. “And the poor have good tidings preached to them,” and “Blessed are the poor in Spirit; for theirs in the kingdom of heaven (Matt 11:5; 5:8).
The good news that comes to us this Christmas and every Christmas is God comes to us in the lowly and mundane—he comes to the shepherds not religious leaders; He is born in a stinky stable not a palace, he is laid atop a stubble of straw not a modern crib; he is born not in a time of peace but in the cold darkness of Rome’s political unrest and economic stress. So, it is in these unfolding times that the Child of the Light, the Lamb of God comes to rescue us from sin and death. And it is through His birth, and our receiving his birth by faith that God made flesh is born in us.
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Dona
Dec. 9, 2020 by Pastor Dona Johnson ~ A World Full Of gods
In ancient Greece and Rome the world was full of gods. For instance the Roman pantheon was filled with all types of gods which the god Jupiter was the overseer. It was a cafeteria of gods with quite a diverse menu. Many citizens worshiped multiple gods at the same time. Throughout Roman territories families, slaves and servants worshiped gods called Lares. Lares were the spirits of dead family members. These spirits were expected to protect the family. Many Roman homes had altars. Family members used these altars to worship the Lares. There were Lares to protect you when you traveled over a bridge or guarded you when you came to a crossroads. If you were sick, you could worship Asclepius, the god of health and wholeness. If you had a problem with love you might pay a sacrifice to the god Aphrodite. Horrifically, there were gods for child sacrifice. Temples to these gods saturated the city. Idols made by crafts people were sold throughout the city and were purchased and left at these temple altars. So, in the ancient world, there was no shortage of gods and goddesses. In the midst of all these deities, early Christians were called to confess and worship the one true God—Jesus Christ. Christian converts were told not to worship these deities. But as they stopped worshiping these gods, they were seen by their neighbors as peculiar and odd. To withdraw from the worship of gods was unprecedented. It was seen as subversive to the political order. Being disloyal to the city showed disregard for the welfare of its inhabitants. And here is where the trouble began for the first Christians. As they pulled away from false gods and worshiped Jesus they were ostracized and some severely punished.
At the time of Jesus, the most important god in Caesarea Philippi was Pan, the Greek god of shepherds and the wild. Pan’s hindquarters, legs, and horns are like that of goat while his upper body was of a man. I visited this place last year. The Greeks believed Pan was born in this cave, and he is often associated with music and fertility. Each spring, the people of Caesarea Philippi engaged in wicked deeds, including prostitution and sexual interaction between humans and goats to entice the return of Pan.
Jesus challenged his disciples at Caesarea Philippi. The gospel in Matthew 16:13 provides the most detail of Jesus’ important teaching in this setting, rife with references to pagan symbols. “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” So right in the middle of this swamp of pagan gods, Jesus tells his disciples, his church will be built here and the gates of hell, the underworld will not prevail against it.
The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 8:1-11; 10 and in other letters also instructs Christians not to worship idols. In 1 Cor 8:6b-7 he writes, “Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us. 7 Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience.” In 1 Cor 10:12-15, Paul again addresses idol worship. “Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall. You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted...My friends, you must keep away from idols. I am speaking to you as people who have enough sense to know what I am talking about.
Today, as we all know, Sedona, although breath-taking beautiful, much like Rome is also a world full of gods (new-age mysticism/satanic rituals). So it’s very easy when you’re around something long enough to normalize it and forget it exists.
So as Christmas draws near, we celebrate in unending praise the one true God—Jesus Christ. God who became flesh for us, God who died for us to save us and all humanity. A God full of grace, authority and Truth. And we are privileged to worship the one true God who saves us from sin, death and the devil. We are overjoyed that out of all the population on this planet, God chose you and I for this time (2020) and place (Sedona) to be His witnesses throughout Sedona and the surrounding community.
I pray that the birth of Jesus and the celebration of His birth never grow old for you! May the joy and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with each of you in this season where we worship the one true God! Pastor Dona Other Reading: Destroyer of the gods by Larry W. Hurtado
From this morning’s quiet time. Sept.22, 2020 by Rev. Dona Johnson
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
This morning I wanted to pick up my book on prayer and read it with a cup of coffee. Then I said, “No, instead I need do a workout on my elliptical.” Then I thought, maybe I need to spend this time writing this Sunday’s message. Then in the midst of all this indecision, I clearly heard that one small voice say to me, “Stop! Just sit with me awhile. Stop Dona—all the striving!”
So I stopped and this is what happened to me. While I was sitting in our courtyard, I became fixated on our waterfall. The sun was hitting the water at just the right angle. The water cascading over the edges of the rock looked like sheets of thin, sparkling glass. Then 2 or 3 yellow birds appeared and hung on the edge of the rocks flicking water on their backs. They were taking a bath. Then the hummingbirds appeared darting back and forth vying for a position on the feeder of freshly made sugar water. I saw the bees trying to get the last bit of pollen from the Silvia. All of this happened in a matter of moments. And all I could say was, “Lord, God how wonderful are your works. How great you are! This changed my entire morning.
As I write this, I am still sitting here in this same spot. You know there is a whole lot of truth in Psalm 46 “Be still and know that I am God.” Why is this so difficult for us? To be still, I mean. To be calm. To sit at the feet of the awesome majesty of our Creator. To watch and wait for God to reveal his presence to us.
When was the last time you stopped and just sat still for a moment? When was the last time you allowed yourself some quiet time to experience the risen Christ speaking to you? You know the power of the resurrection was not something that happened only once 2000 years ago, it happens every day, in moments like this. I call them God moments. Quiet time is like medicine, a healing balm for the soul and for those who need to feel God’s love wrap around them like a soft warm blanket.
Be still and know that I am God. Be. Still. Know. I AM. Amen.
Devotion Aug. 31st 2020 by Rev. Dona Johnson
Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power, his understand has no limit
6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs
of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion.
13 He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.
Praise the Lord.
DEVOTION
The stars are so amazing in Sedona, aren’t they? There are 1 billion trillion stars in the universe. And God determines the number of stars and gives them each a name. When we stare into the night sky there is no way we can count all these stars. They are too vast. They are light years away.
And when we delve into Scripture, we could read the same verse every day of our life and every day get something different out it!
The Hebrew word for “number” is “mispar.” We might render these verses more literally, he counts the stars, but his understanding cannot be counted.”
If we cannot fathom the number of stars, how could you and I ever fathom the mind of God? We can’t.
The Hebrew word meditate means to make noise. Take a moment and slowly read aloud Psalm 147. Pray on the words. Eugene Peterson recommends “chewing” on the words of Scripture. Some of the prophets were told to eat a scroll. Try chewing on this beautiful psalm and meditate on the utter holiness and power of God! Amen.
Entering the Broken World ~ Judges 16 by Pastor Dona Johnson July 20th 2020
“Sometime later Samson fell in love with a woman, Delilah from the Sorek Valley,
a drainage basin in the Judean Hills between the Philistines and the Tribe of Dan. God had a plan right from the beginning. He raised up a people and called them to be faithful to him. He put them in a broken world to be a living example of what he was like. The first people were the descendants of Abraham and then the Israelites. One of them was a man named Samson, a hero, a man of great strength. God had asked Samson to take the Nazarite Vow. That meant that he was never to touch a dead body, never to cut his hair or touch anything that came from the grape—no grape, grape juice or wine. This would set Samson apart and people would see his faithfulness. What’s intriguing about this story, is how God placed Samson in the Sorek Valley. In this valley grew a special purple grape, a very valuable grape. God sent Samson who was not to touch any type of grape to grapevine valley. I think what the Lord was saying to Samson was there is no reason for you to live out your faith in an isolated place. So, I am sending you down to the broken world, the very place you are to be unique from, to live out your faith and show others what my way looks like. Of course, Samson didn’t do all that well, he fell in love with a Sorek woman who lived in grapevine valley, he cut his hair and then he began to drink from the vine.”
In verse 20b, Delilah had betrayed Samson and informed the Philistines the secrets he shared with her. When the Philistines came to attack him, he got up to fight them. He thought he would defeat them like he did before, but he did not know that the Lord had left him.
For Samson, his obsessions led him to make poor decisions and compromise his values. He did not appreciate the gifts and position God gave him, and he refused to learn from his mistakes. God calls flawed and imperfect people to play a role in God’s plan. If God requires perfection, then none of us would be worthy of serving him. If you feel as if you’ve fallen from God’s grace, I have good news for you—you can ask for God’s forgiveness, repent of the mistakes and bad choices you’ve made, set out on a new path that brings honor and glory to Jesus. God is just waiting to forgive you.
Ray Vander Laan: But I want to focus on this: I think God calls us to the same place. God wants a people who are faithful, who commit and walk in godliness. But he wants a people who live where the broken world is also. So if you today have been called to grapevine valley (call it Sedona), and grapevine valley is the school you attend, it’s the business you work in or it’s the church you serve, if you’ve been called to Grapevine Valley, I pray you will totally be devoted, unlike Samson to a righteous walk, so that in that place of brokenness, you can be an example of what God’s way looks like.
Please pray with me...
Lord Jesus, send me into the places of Sedona which are broken. Use me in your grand plan to bring healing and your message of forgiveness to those in my community. Holy Spirit show me where I have compromised my witness and help me to be totally devoted to you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, we pray, Amen.
~Portions of this devotion were taken from Ray Vander Laan’s message on Judges 16.
Christians in the Age of Outrage by Pastor Dona Johnson - July 16, 2020
Before the last election, during the campaigns, I noticed something I had never seen before. I saw an uptick in hateful speech and the onslaught of very aggressive behavior. Since 2016, hate and violence has escalated at an alarming rate: the killing of adults and children, violent crimes, vandalism and a growing defiance against all authority. There is a dark force moving across our land.
Ed Stetzer, Dean of Wheaton College and Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center wrote in his new book Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Our Best When the World is At Its Worst, explains how people are addicted to outrage. The question that Stetzer brings to the table is this: How do Christians not get caught up in the outrage?
Stetzer writes, “Today there are too many examples of those claiming to follow Christ being caustic, divisive, and irrational, contributing to dismissals of the Christian faith as hypocritical, self-interested, and politically co-opted. What has happened in our society?”
He continues, “We need discipleship in how we use our smartphones and social media apps. Social media has become an echo chamber for all sorts of distorted information. People who use social media believe things that are not true about people they don’t like. We all need to vet and spend more time discerning what is true.”
He offers four ways you can walk a better path in the midst of outrage: be empathetic, respond with humility, see people as image bearers (made in the image of Jesus), and be sacrificial.
Stetzer explains, “To have empathy means when someone disagrees with me, I want to know why they think that way. I want to try and understand them better. I am sure not “wishy-washy” about my faith and the authority of Scripture. But I do try to engage people with empathy/humility. It’s all in how I communicate it.
Our world is at war with the church. You can’t war people and reach people at the same time. Now that does not mean you should not stand up for your views. The polar opposite of humility or love is disgust. I see a lot of people who have disgust for people who are different from them or have a different take on moral issues, sexuality and politics—disgust! I don’t see Jesus with disgust. Jesus spoke up about things but he did not have disgust. As image bearer, every person is made in the image of God and deserves respect and dignity. The Lord is not honored by words and behavior that express disgust.
In the culture war, how do Christians deal with it? The solution to the quandary we’re in will not come from the White House but it will come from the Church. When Jesus returns, he will not be flying on Air Force One or he won’t be riding a donkey or elephant. The role of Christians is to show and be the love of God. We need to be ambassadors for the kingdom. I think Christians will do well if they see themselves as citizens of the Kingdom. We need to stop trying to be overt and overthrow. That is what the disciples thought Jesus wanted them to do. Jesus said, “No, no, no you weren’t you listening. Its not your job to be overt. You are to be subversive, mix in with the culture and bring about faithful change. What I have learned? In June, we’ve learned that the Supreme Court is not going to cure all that ails us. Politics has gotten divisive and broken. We need to teach Christians to be ambassadors in their homes, in their churches, places of work and schools. These are our embassies where Christians can daily stand up, speak and influence others.”
In America, we are definitely in a dark place right now. No one is safe. Our worlds have been upended. We are supposed to be a human family where every person is respected and loved. As we look at moving through this very troubling time, in light of Ed Stetzer new book, how might each of us be and show the love of Jesus in a world that is outraged?
How are you mixing in with the culture of Sedona without becoming it, in order to bring change (the gospel) to peoples lives?
How are you making friends with others that they might come to know the Light, Life and Love of Jesus?
Let us pray…
Lord make me an instrument of your peace and at the same time, help me not to be outraged in a culture of darkness but instead to be the Love, Light and Life of Jesus to others. Empower me to help you push back the Satanic forces that are at work this very moment in America. Make my proclamation bold and yet sprinkled with humility and love people towards Jesus. Amen.
More Devotions
Weekly Devotion Holding Our Hurt by Pastor Dona Johnson – July 1, 2020
On the day I was ordained, the Bishop during his sermon, (a message directed right at me - lol) reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pair of running shoes. He knew I liked to run. He handed me the miniature pair of running shoes with these words. “There will be times when no one else can give you the answer. It will be all on you to make the decision. And when you stand for the gospel, it will offend some people—some might be your closet allies. Some people may want to hurt you. You are God’s messenger. So, I am giving you these running shoes as a reminder. When it happens run to Jesus. Pray it out. Hold your hurt. Sit it out with him. God will counsel you and give you the spiritual strength to see your way through it!”
Jesus was able to hold his hurt. In John 18:28- 40, Jesus stands before Pilate. He is mocked and rejected by his own people. Pilate himself didn’t know what to do with Jesus. In this interchange, Jesus said very few words. He held his hurt. He took his death sentence and feelings of betrayal and rejection and held them. Then He ran to his heavenly Father with his pain and his tears in the Garden of Gethsemane. His Father met him there and gave him the spiritual strength he needed to endure—finish his mission.
How well do you hold your hurt? When you’ve been hurt, do you hold it, process it, pray about it before you react or do you immediately run to your smartphone to text your spouse or call a friend? It’s so easy to take the hurt within us and unload it on a friend to garner support.
Today as I watch the incredible news stories of people enraged with anger, violence and act it out in uncontrollable tantrums, I am certain, we, as a nation have grown emotionally and spiritually weak-immature. We have become a people who spew out, like poisonous projectiles our hurts onto others. Not getting our way in this life triggers something deep within us and many feel entitled to push back with hateful vitriol.
When we hurt, feel betrayed, rejected or abandoned and we all have been there, do we have the courage and spiritual fortitude to sit with our hurt, to press into it and explore where its coming from, to see our part? Can we sit long enough with our pain and suffering to listen to what the pain has to say to us?
Pain does not define us it refines us (Zechariah 13:8-9; Isa 48:9-11). If we can intentionally sit awhile with our pain, get a good look at it, bring Jesus into the center of it—see it for what it is, if we can steward our pain and let it do the work it wants to do, then it will become a refining experience. But if we stuff our pain and shove it down, then our afflictions will not refine us, they will define us.
Please pray with me...
Lord Jesus give me the spiritual courage to hold my hurts. Help me run to you before I react. Refine me in the fire of your love and righteousness. Amen.
Weekly Devotion: Grace is Everywhere! by Rev. Dona June 21, 2020
Romans 3:24 And we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus... Grace is everywhere! Have you seen grace today? If you haven’t, what about waking up this morning? Grace kept you safe throughout the night, gave you another day to worship, work and play in Sedona!
Grace is “the” gift. There is no other gift on this planet or in the universe that is greater and more miraculous. Grace is inexhaustible and indescribable. You can’t wear it out and it never runs out.
What exactly is Grace? It is the heartbeat of our heavenly Father flowing through Jesus his Son. Grace is the awesome supernatural power that raised him from the grave—and proved to the world that death, sin and the devil’s schemes had been conquered. Grace is salvation. The promise of eternal life—for all who receive and trust Jesus by faith.
God knew we could not stand up under the weight of the law. He knew without a doubt that we would be crushed by the weight of our own sins. Because as hard as we strive not to be prideful in our thoughts, as difficult as it is for us to be less self-centered, less stingy with our love, less judging of others and less greedy—we cannot do it. We don’t have equipment nor the capacity. We need forgiveness. Grace is the eternal safety net that catches us (forgives us) when we fall.
It’s no secret, Satan is a deceiver. When we get in those messy, sticky places in life, when we get overwhelmed and let our doubts cloud our vision—stop and look at what you have rather than what you don’t have. Look at what’s going right in your life rather than what’s not. Look for the good. It’s all there—grace is all around you.
Grace is present right now as you read this devotion. Grace is hearing the voice of God every day say, “You are forgiven, I love you.” It is hearing your spouse say, “When you aren’t home, every room seems empty.” It is the warm hug you get from a friend. Did you know that you can also smell grace? It is the smell of juniper and pines when the heat of the sun draws out their beautiful fragrance. It is the smell of bacon cooking and smell of coffee brewing. Grace can be heard, when you hear the sirens of fire trucks racing to a fire—thank God for those people who run into fires and don’t run away. Grace. Grace. Grace!
I pray today that wherever you are—confused with indecision, feeling unloved or lonely, feeling misunderstood, suffering with an illness or filled with all sorts of needling, negative thoughts, I pray that you will stop what you are doing for a few moments and take a serious look at your life. Look at all the gifts you already have in your possession. Count them—every inch of what we have is a gift.
It’s all grace!
Join us this Sunday as we begin a new 3- week series: “Grace the Game Changer!”
10:00 a.m. Posse Ground Park Outdoors under the big blue sky!
Weekly Devotion: Faith Saves! by Rev. Dona Johnson June 4, 2020
We may or may not believe Jesus—but either way, we never make him our greatest hope, good or love. No one really gets it right. Often, we say or hear others say, “Well, I am not very religious but I am a good person and that is what matters most.” But is it?
Imagine if you will a woman—a poor widow with an only son. She teaches him how she wants him to live—to always tell the truth, to work hard and to help the poor. She makes very little money, but with her meager savings, she is able to put him through college. Imagine that when he graduates, he hardly ever speaks to her again. He occasionally sends a Christmas card but he doesn’t visit her; he won’t answer her phone calls or letters; he doesn’t speak to her. But he lives just as she taught him—honestly, industriously and charitably. Would we say this is acceptable? Of course not! Wouldn’t we say that by living a “good life” but neglecting a relationship with the one to whom he owed everything he was doing something condemnable? In the same way, if God created us and we owe him everything and we do not live for him but we “live a good life,” it is not enough. We all owe a debt that must be paid.
~ Pastor Timothy Keller
What will put things right?
First Answer: Christ. God puts things right by becoming flesh (Luke 2). God enters human history through his Son, Jesus. He looked upon our pitiful condition and our lostness and became one of us—God with us— Emmanuel.
Weekly Devotion - “Go to the Ant!” May 28, 2020 - by Pastor Dona
Proverbs 6:6-11
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
Sometimes in the morning, I go out to our courtyard with a cup of coffee just to wake up. Most times, I just sit for a few moments to watch and listen to the birds fluttering about and singing around the bird feeders. Every once in a while, when I glance down at the pavers, I catch sight of an ant carrying a seed or a dead insect 3-4 times larger than its size. Have you ever seen this? It’s amazing how a tiny ant can carry such a heavy load, up and down gaps and crevices. They just don’t give up. New research claims worker ants have a special neck joint that allows it to withstand pressures 5000 greater than its body weight.
In Proverbs 6:6-11, a father warns his son about the folly of laziness, sleeping instead of working. “Go to the ants, you sluggard: consider its ways and be wise. It has no boss or overseer…” So, what does this teach us? The ant is diligent. It doesn’t slack off. The ant doesn’t work hard because its boss is always there watching it or staying on the ant to get something done—the ant just does it because it’s what has to be done. It works hard in the summer so it has food in the winter.
Do you procrastinate? Do you have to be asked several times to get something done? Or do you go about your work—self-motivated and just get it done. Unlike the ant who can carry 5000 times its body weight, how easy we give up on things when things get too heavy. Whether it’s a physical, emotional or spiritual load—when things get heavy, we lose interest, it becomes too much for us to commit and we quit. Especially, if one’s retirement or COVID-19 screams—take it easy, go slow, get up when you want to, do what you want to do, you’ve earned it—it’s so easy to become lazy.
But God gives us the strength to combat laziness! He helps us carry the heavy loads. Prayer, makes what we think is so heavy, lighter. So, watch the ant, learn from its ways, get up and get moving—God gives us so much time each day to invest and make a difference in the lives of others and worship him. Amen!
You Belong to God~Henri Nouwen
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Cor 6:19-20 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. Isaiah 49:16b
Sometimes in the morning, I go out to our courtyard with a cup of coffee just to wake up. Most times, I just sit for a few moments to watch and listen to the birds fluttering about and singing around the bird feeders. Every once in a while, when I glance down at the pavers, I catch sight of an ant carrying a seed or a dead insect 3-4 times larger than its size. Have you ever seen this? It’s amazing how a tiny ant can carry such a heavy load, up and down gaps and crevices. They just don’t give up. New research claims worker ants have a special neck joint that allows it to withstand pressures 5000 greater than its body weight.
In Proverbs 6:6-11, a father warns his son about the folly of laziness, sleeping instead of working. “Go to the ants, you sluggard: consider its ways and be wise. It has no boss or overseer…” So, what does this teach us? The ant is diligent. It doesn’t slack off. The ant doesn’t work hard because its boss is always there watching it or staying on the ant to get something done—the ant just does it because it’s what has to be done. It works hard in the summer so it has food in the winter.
Do you procrastinate? Do you have to be asked several times to get something done? Or do you go about your work—self-motivated and just get it done. Unlike the ant who can carry 5000 times its body weight, how easy we give up on things when things get too heavy. Whether it’s a physical, emotional or spiritual load—when things get heavy, we lose interest, it becomes too much for us to commit and we quit. Especially, if one’s retirement or COVID 19 screams—take it easy, go slow, get up when you want to, do what you want to do, you’ve earned it—it’s so easy to become lazy.
But God gives us the strength to combat laziness! He helps us carry the heavy loads. Prayer, makes what we think is so heavy, lighter. So, watch the ant, learn from its ways, get up and get moving—God gives us so much time each day to invest and make a difference in the lives of others and worship him. Amen!
Reflect Christ’s Peace
Never forget the words “In this world you will have troubles but be brave: I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33
Every time you spend silent time in prayer you celebrate Christ’s victory over the world (over death, over the evil one) and allow yourself to taste already now the peace that comes from this victory. It is so important for the people around you to see that peace of Christ reflected in your eyes, your hands, and your words.
There is more power in that than in all your teaching and organizing. That is the truth we need to keep telling each other
Lord, I pray that we may cling to these words of Jesus—be brave: I’ve got your back. Amen.
What Are You Afraid Of?
What Are You Afraid Of? by Rev Dona Johnson
John 20:19-23
After Jesus’ resurrection, we find the disciples back in the upper room, where Jesus, several days ago, had shared Last Supper. They are in hiding. They are huddled together.
The door is locked. They fear for their lives. They may be next. And then out of nowhere, Jesus suddenly appears. The disciples are shocked. Jesus utters these four words “Peace be with you.” Peace be with you, strange words to utter when the disciples are shaking in fear. So, what did Jesus mean by these words? Did he mean everything going to be okay? Your troubles are over.
The Greek word for peace ειρήνη means the tranquil state of the soul when assured that salvation comes through Christ. In other words, there is no need to fear for your lives. You may be afraid. You may have denied you knew me. You scattered at my arrest. Now you are hiding. But—it’s all over. Relax. I am alive. I have conquered death and sin for you. I am with you to the very end.
Be at peace with God. Be at peace with yourselves. Be at peace with each other…you have a mission to accomplish. And then Christ breathed on them. He breathed his power. He breathed his authority on them. And then he gives them his game plan.
You are not to stay here behind this locked door afraid to live your life. Your mission is to open that door. And go! You are to go out into the world. Share the good news—I am alive. Christ is risen. Go and build my church. Share the joy of salvation. Build your team. Teach, mentor and share my mission with others. You will be a walking invitation?
What are you afraid? Many of our fears lead back to the fear of dying. During this Coronavirus Pandemic, there has been a lot of fear. Like the disciples fear for their lives…We fear dying from the disease. We fear our financial futures. We fear how we will manage the changes.
God comes to us, like Jesus came to his fearful disciples saying,
“Peace be with you.” After weeks of “staying home”, use this time to prepare yourself for re-entry. Prepare your hearts. Be cautious. Be courageous. Be wise about your re-entry into the world. Follow guidelines. But also have courage—do not let your caution grow into paranoia.
Prepare to be the church in a hurting world. How will you use this pandemic experience to reshape you’re your life, your relationships and your ministry?
Peace be with you. Your salvation is at hand. You need not be afraid.
God is doing something new. Jesus’ resurrection is all around you.
What are you afraid of? Whatever it is, it has no power over you for Christ has conquered the world. Amen.
May 7, 2020 ~ See Through Things ~ by Pastor Dona
The spiritual life, life in Christ can very easily be overlooked by the inattentive, busy, distracted person that each of us can so readily become. In the spiritual life, we learn to look not so much around things but through them into their center.
Are you a busy person? Are all your days filled to the max. At the end of the day do you feel exhausted, frustrated or depleted of joy? Busyness is the opposite of living a full life. Busyness can be a way to escape what we really don’t want to face—ourselves. Busyness can also be a coverup, we trade busyness for being alone with God and alone with ourselves.
The spiritual life, when lived intentionally in quiet time with our Lord, in prayer and meditation (on Scripture) brings us into the very heart of God. And it is here where we learn how to “see through things.” When we sit with ourselves long enough, we learn to look beneath the surface of our words, to see where our thoughts and feelings originate and to examine what motivates our actions. When lived well, the spiritual life leads us to look at ourselves with sincere and loving honesty. It helps us to be honest with ourselves and honest with others. Busyness is a distraction that keeps God at a distance.
Jesus had the unique ability to “see through things.” He knew if people were hiding or feeling something (the rich young ruler, the Samaritan women, Judas, the prostitute, the paralytic at the pool of Siloam...) He looked into a person’s heart not to judge them but to draw out of them the truth. And this truth set them free. Busyness keeps us away from the one thing that really matters—our life with Christ. When was the last time you took some time to sit at the feet of the King?
Looking into your heart, what would he see?
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” Luke 10:38-40.
1,400 Minutes by Pastor Dona Johnson
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24
Imagine for a moment that one of your friends won an enormous sum of money. Your friend calls you and a few other friends together and offers to give you each day $1440-free of charge. And there are only two requirements: first, you have to show up every day at 7:00 a.m. to receive it, and secondly, you have to spend it all in one day. You can’t save it. You can’t set aside for later. You have to use it all on that day.
What do you think would happen over time? The first day or so, you all show up—$1,440 is a lot of money to pass up. As time passes though, maybe your tired one morning and decide to sleep in. So, you decide to skip a day. Maybe further down the road, you skip several days, taking the offer for granted, knowing your friend will always be there at 7:00 a.m. with the money. Or maybe you decide you have all you need, life is good and you don’t need to show up anymore.
I have a thought for you, this morning when you woke up, God gave you a free gift. A gift of 1,440 minutes. There are two requirements, first, you have to be alive to receive it, obviously, and secondly, you have use it all today. You can’t bank it. You can’t set aside the time you were given today and use it tomorrow. Time doesn’t work like that…So how are you doing? Have you reached a point where you take time for granted? Do you find yourself wasting that time on things that really don’t matter and are really not all that important? God gives the free gift of this day to each of us. He wants us to use it wisely and well, working as if we were working for the Lord.
I pray that you never get so use to that gift, I pray that you will always see it as the special treasure it is. And secondly, I pray it is my commitment and I hope it is yours to use every single minute and every single day in service to the Lord.
Let us pray…
Lord Jesus, I give you thanks and praise for the gift of this day. You’ve given me an awesome 1440 minutes today. Help me Lord to not waste but use my days wisely and well. Amen.
Some ways you can work and serve the Lord!
Start your day where every day begins in Christ, in His Word.
- Set aside some time in the morning (begin with 15 minutes—1440 minutes – 15 min gives you a whopping 1425 minutes to do anything else you need to do that day).
- Choose a section of Scripture or invest in a devotional.
- Holy Spirit will open you heart to his Word and allow it shape your day. PRAY!
Scan the horizon, look for opportunities.
- Pray throughout the day, ask God throughout the day about the people encounters you have—is this person and the situation a place where I can pray and share my faith with someone?
- Ask God what he wants you to learn in each encounter. Ask God he is calling you to respond.
Serve the Lord with a joyful heart!!
- Be cheerful even when circumstances don’t warrant it.
- Anticipate you are gifted with time to participate in weekly worship, small groups and pitch in where you are needed in ministry!