Touched...

Matthew 8:14-15

And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

I was struck today by how many times Matthew makes a point of saying that Jesus touched people AND where people wanted to touch Him. I counted at least 10 different blatant occurrences and a bunch more subtly suggested. The blind man’s eyes, the women who had chronic bleeding, the little children… This got me curious so I did a search on all the occurrences in the Gospels… 30 occurrences of the word “touch” in the ESV and there are many more occurrences that don’t use the actual word "touch". It made me wonder how often Jesus touched and healed people’s hearts as he touched their bodies? Touch is such a powerful thing… it brings all sorts of healing on the outside AND the inside.

In addition, there are specific times when Matthew makes a point of mentioning it when there doesn’t seem to be a reason. In one such moment Jesus touches the hand of Peter’s mother-in-law and she gets up and serves them. Why the hand? Does it relate to her subsequent act of service for Him? Hmm?

Yesterday the Doctors told us that all the tests that Britany had done in September had come back clear. Clear of MS, clear of Lupus, clear of cancer, etc. Wow, thank You God! In Britany’s words:

Tim and I are so thankful and thrilled that so many things have been ruled out. The Neurologist does have one more set of test he would like to do in January so he can say he ruled everything out that he could… God has been so good to us over this season and I can't tell you the peace Tim and I had going into today. Our hope in all this is that you all would see the invaluable role you have played. The prayers that have been sent up on our behalf is nothing short of AMAZING! Thank you for walking this long and never ending journey with us. God is and has already used today for His kingdom. It truly is wonderful how he leads us on His path in life and does not let us get distracted by other trails. Oh what a few years this has been and honestly Tim and I would not trade it for anything. Our hearts and minds have much to rejoice about as we will look at this coming miracle of the birth of our Savior differently… Take time to be thankful for the lives He has given you, we are!

God has touched Britany (for this moment) and it is a powerful thing… His touch found it’s way to us through the hundreds of encouragements, prayers and hugs… and it has brought all sorts of healing on the outside AND the inside. I am left wondering what purposes lay in my wife’s future and how this relates to her future acts of service for Him? God truly is good. And He is truly in control. He will not waste a tear.

I praise You Lord for this moment. No matter what comes next we look to You… we trust You… we love You. Amen.

drew moser: Who's hiding from who?

drew moser: Who's hiding from who?
Great quote pulled by my friend Drew from the pages of Henri Nouwen.

Generosity... who am I?

1 Chronicles 29:14

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

So, this Friday, while everyone was out of the house, Hallie and I stole away and bought the family Christmas tree. We made the ritual trek down to Byres Road with the pram and, with Hallie sitting in the front seat, crammed the tree in to the second seat - yes, it was quite a spectacle. 2 foot toddler in front... 6 foot tree in back. With out too much effort we were able to walk the tree home. Not too big. Not too small. Perfectly green... a little of the outdoors in our living room. Though I sometimes whine (due mostly to needle clean up), it really is one of my favorite family traditions. Come Saturday we began the process of decorating the tree with our 12 year collection of strange and wonderful Christmas decorations and 12 able bodied hands. Though tremendously chaotic, it reminded me of all that I hold dear and I found my mind wandering over king Davids words so many centuries ago... who am I Lord that you should have blessed me so?

This morning as I was reading in Matthew I was struck with a "SO" that I had never seen before. It fell in between two passages that I was very familiar with but had never seen as connected. Jesus tells us that if we ask, our Father knows how to give good gifts REALLY well (7:7-11). Jesus also tells us that to love our neighbor (and obey Him) is as simple as doing for others what you wish they would do for you (7:12). Both of these amazing truths are powerful in there own rights. There is this amazing God who is so free with His love and free with His blessing... desiring to show His glory by meeting the needs of His people and providing for the salvation and redemption of all creation. And, there is His people, commanded and inspired to pour out love and mercy on those with whom they share this globe. But, what is so amazing is the power that comes when you connect the verses together with the "so".

God gives generously SO live generously.

Put another way; God gives generously because of who He is and we live (including giving) generously because we cannot out give Him and are simply streams of His generosity for the entire world.

On our tree there is a simple ornament of a muted Mary and Joesph holding in their arms baby Jesus... THE Christmas gift... Hosanna... the God who saves us. Who knows how to give us good gifts. A God who will not be out given! Who dares us to live our lives with radical generosity that we would lay down our stuff... our lives... as He did... to love those around us as they are crying out to be loved... because He loved us that way first.

Who am I Lord, and who are my people, that we should be able to give out of such blessings as these? Everything we have has come from you, and we are only giving you what has come from your hand. Do Your mighty work Lord in our hearts. May we live as streams of Your generosity in this world that all would know that you are... and that You are the reward of those who come to You. Grant us the courage to live this way. We love you Lord, Amen.

Awaken us (2)

Romans 12:9-13

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

I love this passage from Romans. It represents an almost "how-to" ish glimpse into what the essence of Kingdom Christianity looks like.

First... love each other genuinely.
Second... hate things that are evil.
Third... when you find something truly good, hold onto it with all your strength.
Forth... love each other with devotion; like a family of brothers and sisters.
Fifth... outdo one another in serving each other.
Sixth... live ablaze with passion for Jesus that fuels service for our King.
Seventh... rejoice because of the hope we have.
Eighth... be patient when you suffer.
Ninth... pray, pray... and pray some more.
Tenth... give generously of your resources, time and life.

A while back I was reading J. Oswald Sanders classic book, Spiritual Leadership - for the third time - and I came across a quote in regards to Romans 12.

"Because he was constantly full of the Spirit, Paul's mind was aflame with the truth of God and his heart glowed with God's love. At the center of his life was a passion for the glory of God. No wonder people followed Paul. He exerted himself to lead. He did it with intensity and zeal. And the spirit of his life was contagious to those around him."

Yes, yes, yes!

I love the fact that this passion (or zeal) is in the center of these verses... like a fire burning in the middle of everything else. I find it so difficult to live this life daily with out this fire. It acts like a furnace for my mind... for my body... for my soul. It awakens the yearning for what could be. It pushes me to do things that seem impossible. It gets me out of my own brain and gets me focused on my neighbors and my brothers and sisters. It calls me to give what I do not have and fall on my face and thank God for what I do... it generates a heart that WANTS to lay down my rights, my possessions, and my life... in other words, it does what is impossible for man.

Awaken this heart Lord to Your love. Awaken my mind to more of Your truth. Keep me FULL with Your Spirit. Fully AWAKE. Fully ALIVE. Let me be contagious to those around me... but most of all show us Your glory Lord. We desire to follow with all that we are... heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

mourning...

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Today a little baby boy died in India... he was only 12 days old. He died of a rare birth defect. I know that he probably wasn't the only baby who died in India today but the difference was I know his parents. They are servants of God who have committed their lives to reaching their nation with the love of Jesus Christ. Active evangelisticly, in training, teaching, discipling and most recently with a vision of a home for abandoned baby girls... the are hero's of the faith. Living simple lives, doing a difficult work with significant opposition... they press on.

And in the midst of all of this... today they lost their little one.

Tonight as I was praying with my boys, Duncan turned and looked at me and obviously perplexed said, "babies aren't supposed to die." Hmm. It's true. They aren't supposed to. As we prayed together for this family I was struck by Duncans words. This isn't the way it's supposed to be. It isn't the way it is supposed to be for all the thousands upon thousands of children that die every day, week, month, and year. Babies aren't supposed to die.

Would you join me as I pray for this grieving family? Intercede on behalf of their hearts and their minds. Praying for faith and hope. Asking for the right people to be surrounding them in the right moments with the right expressions of love. Pray for their only son. Pray for their marriage. Groan with them in their mourning.

My prayer for you Sam, Suzannah and Johannah is that you would know God's strength and love and in the dark places you would experience His light.