Daily Bread-- November 30

 The focus scripture for today is Malachi 1:8-14, but I am going to back up and begin at verse 6...and these are some very hard to hear words from God through the prophet Malachi (around 450-ish BC). In the passage, God comes down hard on the Israelites for not giving their best offerings to God. 

"You are presenting defiled food upon My altar. But you say, ‘How have we defiled You?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is to be despised.’ And when you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not evil? Or when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not evil? So offer it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you, or would he receive you kindly?” (Malachi 1:7-8, NASB)

God continues with the following, "Don't I deserve better from you?" (my interpretation!)

These words from God stung me as I read them! I thought about my "offerings" to God; some days I am on point and I am sure that God is pleased; but other days I am sure I miss the mark-- far! God does deserve better. 

I remember a course of study class I took a few years ago; the instructor would ask us as we turned in our projects and papers, "Did you do the best you could?" I would say similar to my kids at school (and probably my own kids), "Do as best as you can."

I think many people have become complacent and we settle for mediocrity. There is a comment heard throughout many college campus, "C's get degrees!" And in high school, kids will comment, "As long as I pass!"

God deserves better than that! God deserves the best we can offer God! 

The author of the devotional leaves us with the questions: "Why are you sometimes tempted to give God your leftovers or damaged goods? In what ways will you give God your best today?"

I need to examine those questions!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul

Reminder- we start the gospel of Luke tomorrow (Tuesday). One chapter a day! Prizes for those who complete the task!

Daily Bread- Nov 28

 Psalm 139 is a wonderful psalm on the presence and intimacy of God in our lives. The focus verses for today are 7 through 16, but the entire psalm speaks of God's omnipresence and omniscience.

God is everywhere- but we need to be an active looker and seeker to see God. We may get lost in our daily grind and we may forget that God is present; I think we sometimes put God on a shelf (or in heaven) and we draw on God when we need God, but the Psalm 139: 7-12 speak of how God is everywhere! To be honest, I know I am not conscious of God's presence all the time. I often get stuck in these places of anxiety and frustration and the daily work load, that I forget about God for a while. It is when I slow down and think (translate- have  conversation with God!) that I become more aware of God's presence. I am closet to God and feel God's presence most when I am in the barn or in the woods, weeding the garden really helps me get lost in thoughts, and those thoughts often move to the presence of God.

Psalm 139:13-16 remind us all that God was intimately involved in our creation. This part reminds me of the story in Genesis 1:26 when God comments: "Let Us make human-kind in our image," and continues in Genesis 2:7 when God creates us with God's hands from the mud of the earth and then breathed God's Spirit into each one of us. (I know, two separate stories, but I am combining them here today for this lesson!). Sherri and I were blessed with our first grandchild in February 2020. When our daughter made the announcement to the family that she was pregnant, one of the first thoughts I had was of this story in Psalm 139 and how God was intimately weaving Joseph together and involved in his life from the start! When we look at children through that lens, we see amazing creations given to us by God (and we were all those children at one time!).

The psalmist continues with the thought that God has ordained the future and knows what we can be. We all have a mission or "task" from God; I do believe that God is intimately involved in our life, but there is human error and the concept of free will that may move us from God's desire to our desire; from where God wants u to be to where we want to be. I truly believe that all people have the ability to be good, but the decisions that they make in life (or the decisions that are made for them) may move them from this path of righteousness and goodness. That is where we can come in and draw them back to the fold. 

What an amazing place this would be in all people recognized the presence and grace that God freely gives each of us!

The devotional writer leaves us with the question, "How does knowing that God is intimately involved in your life give you hope?" My snarky response would be, "How could it not!" I am what I am and I am where I am because of the small tweaks God has provided in my life. When I think back through my life and the circuitous route I took to get into ministry, I see God's hand very actively giving me opportunity to make the decision to serve God in this fashion. Had I noticed these opportunities earlier, or had I had a better knowledge of God when I was younger, I wonder how my life would have been different!

Shalom+
Pastor Paul

Daily Bread- Nov 27

 The focus scripture for today is 1 Chronicles 16:1-11. It is a brief story about a time when the ark of the covenant was brought to Jerusalem and kept in  tent that David made. The ark of the covenant was the dwelling place of God, so there was worship and celebration that God was with Jerusalem and the people of David. The reading for the day ends with word from Psalm 105:1-4. The author of the devotional focuses on these last words: "Seek the Lord and the Lord's strength; Seek the Lord's face continually."

We have said many times in worship and discussion that when times are tough, it is difficult to see God because we get caught up in the bad that is going on; our emotions take over and we tend to lose focus.  It is when we begin to calm down and think that we can see God. 

We are all facing troubles: isolation and quarantines, loss of family, unable to connect with family, fear of the future, watching the racism, oppression, and injustices that are happening, financial difficulties, family/ relationship struggles...the list could continue. As we read today, though, we need to seek God and look for God's strength. When we do that, we can then begin to rebuild and deepen our strength and faith in God. 

There have been several times in my life that I have faced some really unsettling and "traumatic" (for me) events. The death of my dad and my mom were probably two of the most difficult times for me. In both cases, but especially with my dad (as I was relatively "new" to God), I lost faith and trust in God. I was so angry and so upset at God for "letting" these things happen. I lost confidence that God was even there. I can distinctly remember with my dad's death, going into the woods behind my house and just yelling at God and letting my anger and frustration out. As I was walking back home, I felt a sense of calm and peace come over me; I could sense the presence of God with me and the comfort that things were going to be OK. "Seek the Lord's strength"

We can choose to look at the darkness and evil and focus on that, or we can use that as we seek and ask for God's strength. God will take us from where we are to a place closer to God so that we  can know and understand the peace an grace that God offers each one of us.

The author of the devotional ends with the questions, "What battle do you need God's power to face right now? How can you hand your struggles to [God]?"

I would also add, "How can I help you get closer to God?"

Shalom, 

Pastor Paul

Welcome!

 Welcome to a new platform for our discussions and comments on The Daily Bread and our December reading challenge-- the Gospel of Luke! 

For the month of December, we will be reading a chapter a day from the book of Luke; it has 24 chapters, so one a day will get us to Christmas Eve! I will post my comments and questions in the morning and I invite comments and discussions. If you finish all 24 chapters, there may be a special prize for you!!