What Does This Mean?

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Pray | Father, draw me near to the empty tomb that I might become full. Amen.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

There was a time in my journey when chocolate bunnies and new dresses loomed a little too large for me on Easter morning. Glad to hear of the empty tomb, though not grasping the gratitude and joy that could have gripped my soul and song. I showed up to Easter a little shallow in my faith (a truth, not a judgment), and upon reflection, a little confused on what it all meant. But maybe I was just a little like the women at the empty tomb and the disciples in the upper room, not grasping the reality of what was unfolding.

Read |Luke 24-1-9, 36-39

Luke 24-1-9
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly, two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Luke 24:36-39
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Reflection |

Startled, troubled and frightened are not likely the words that come to mind when we think about Easter. But if “He is not here, He is risen!” is true, then this changes everything!

If you find your own faith journey sometimes confusing, troubled, or even a little shallow, be as gentle with yourself as the one who beckons you to come and see that He is not in the tomb. In him there is no condemnation, but a calling to come and see what the Lord has done, to feel his touch and know he is near. He is risen, indeed!

Where are you in your faith journey this week? What does the empty tomb mean to you personally?

Today’s devotion was written for and originally published in DailyLife Devotionals for Five Oaks Church

Misguided Anticipation

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Pray | 
Father, may I learn to submit my hopes, yearnings, and prayers over and over for your will, not mine. Amen

Jesus entered Jerusalem when huge crowds were in the city for Passover. After experiencing Jesus and hearing of his teachings, healings, and miracles, the crowd went wild upon his entry. Many recognized and celebrated the fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” But to fully understand what Jesus’ entry meant was not something they could comprehend. The Israelites had been long-suffering, waiting, hoping for injustices to end, and it was looking like the time had finally come for a new ruler. Coats and palm branches flooded the path as joyful shouts of “Hosanna!” filled the air.  

Read |Matthew 21:6-11

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered,

“This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Reflection | 

It’s easy to be a little judgmental of this fickle crowd, celebrating Jesus and whooping it up one moment, but within days dispersing and calling for his crucifixion. This was a hopeful people, enthusiastic as they anticipated so many wrongs to be made right. They believed liberation and freedom were about to be upon them, and they were expecting things to unfold in ways they could understand only from their worldly perspective.

As much as we might believe we are different from these people, I’m not so sure we are. We may see or experience Jesus work in some way and we get excited. We might be hopeful as we whisper, “Hallelujah, something is going to happen now!” And then, it seems it doesn’t. Our expected and hoped-for outcome isn’t fulfilled (at least in our eyes). We might not be yelling, “Crucify him!” but we may turn away from Jesus, thinking our hope has been misplaced.

Is there an area you’ve been longing for Jesus to make right? Is it possible we might have misguided anticipations or understanding of what God is doing along our path, or the path of someone we love?

Today’s devotion was written for and originally published in DailyLife Devotionals for Five Oaks Church

Hey Jesus, I’m confused

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Pray | God, it’s so easy for me to concentrate on my concerns. Help me to shift my thoughts and direct my prayers to your concerns, for they are higher and better. Amen.

CONFUSION
When Jesus was with his disciples, he shared so much with them – meals, celebrations, lessons, truths, and certainly concepts that seemed confusing: the last will be first and the first will be last, that he came to serve, not be served, where he was going, they could not follow, and on and on. These baffling conversations included Jesus telling his disciples, more than once, that he would be killed and then rise three days later. This was an outcome they couldn’t fathom or believe; it just didn’t make sense.

Read | Mark 8:31-33; 9:30-32
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Mark 9:30-32
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.
Reflect | Spend some time reflecting on the following:

“Get behind me Satan!” is a stunning statement. I would think none of us can imagine hearing those words from Jesus, and yet as we read the next words, we likely should be able to put ourselves in Peter’s place. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” How often do we put our human concerns in front of, or in place of, the concerns of God? Our world view, as well as the desires of our heart, have the power to stunt our understanding of what God may be doing. I, possibly like you, want my friend to be cancer free, I want struggling to cease for those I love, I want the many wars to end, injustices made right. I want, I want, I want. But what is the concern of God? Or, what might he be doing that I just don’t understand? I appreciate Mark 9:32 “But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”

How often are we afraid to get quiet and ask God about the very thing that baffles us? Is there something you are afraid to ask him about?  

Today’s devotion was written for and originally published in DailyLife Devotionals for Five Oaks Church  


Hello NEW YEAR – Day 3

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Pray | 

Lord, you know the number of hairs on my head, have seen my days, and have made a way for me. May I truly trust you this year.  

If you have left the previous year with joy in your heart and contentment in your soul, then rejoice and be glad in that! Or maybe you find yourself walking a new path this year that’s difficult, lonely, has traces of regret, or looks uncertain; maybe joy just isn’t coming easily. In our jobs, churches, and daily living we are shoulder to shoulder with ones who are in really good places as well as ones who carry heavy weights and shed quiet tears. If the latter is you, take heart because splashed all over the Bible are good and true words that call us to lift up our face.
Read |

Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the dry land.

Lamentations 3: 22-24
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Revelation 21:5
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

We have a tendency to ruminate on regret, anger and frustration, and no one’s better at beating ourselves up over the former things than our own selves. But God tells us not to dwell on the past, his word says to put our eyes forward to look for the new thing he is doing. If we’re lost in a wilderness or walking in a dry land, God says he’s making a way and creating streams. Do we perceive it? And God loves us so much, has such compassion that even when it feels like we are, we cannot be consumed by grief, anger, heartache, disappointment, or fill in the blank. In addition to all of that, believe it or not, his compassions never fail, his mercies are new, waiting each and every morning; we can hang on, he is indeed faithful to make everything new.

Consider pausing to assess how you’re really doing before pushing through this first month of the year. What do you believe you need from God and others to move through these days?

Hello NEW YEAR – day 2

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Pray | 
Father, as I consider the days before me, help me to establish my plans in your wisdom. 

There’s just something about a new year and a fresh calendar with big empty squares. There are birthdays and anniversaries to mark, possibly vacations to plan. Meetings will creep in, events, gatherings, and on and on until before we know it the days are full, our minds are busy, and the months can feel cluttered. In our busy and full lives, in a culture that values doing more, it can be a challenge to stay intentional with our time. It can be even more difficult to leave some blank squares to create breathing space, rest, and quiet to listen for the still, small voice of God. 
Read | 
Proverbs 16:3, 9; James 4:13-15; Proverbs 27:1

Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:9
In their heart’s humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

James 4:13-15
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Proverbs 27:1
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 
Reflection | 

There are many good things, places, and certainly people that need our time, and planning is good, for if we’re simply blown around by the wind, waves, and whims, not much is accomplished. So, in planning our days, we should consider wisdom, balance, and intention. Even then, there is a call to hold loosely to our calendar and schedules, because we do not know what will happen tomorrow, despite what is written in our planners.

The truth of this life is that our days simply don’t always go as we think they will – plans get scratched off and new ones penciled in an instant. This year I’ve witnessed a dear friend walking through a vey difficult diagnosis, there have been unwanted and unwelcome struggles in the lives of people I love, and still triumphs and new paths for others. You likely find your own circles are similar. The reminder here as we begin anew is to be intentional with our days – to work, serve, and play, to both show up and slow down. Let us be – or get – comfortable with spending time with the Lord and his Word, to be quiet, and also to listen. This new year, let us establish our plans with wisdom as we fill our calendars, and may we not be in a hurry to leave the King’s presence ~ Ecclesiastes 8:3.

Consider the past year, do parts of it feel like it slipped through your hands? Could you be more intentional or wise with your days this year? 

Today’s lesson was written for DailyLife Devotionals for Five Oaks Church.

Hello NEW YEAR

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Pray | 
Father, as I walk into this new year, may I seek you with all my heart, trust your plans for me, and walk in wisdom.

The new year has arrived! As we switch our calendars to 2024, some of us are sensing a refreshing and new beginning. Some of us feel loose ends, scuff marks, family strife, illness, loss, and unknowns leading the march into the new year, so flipping the calendar doesn’t necessarily feel refreshing. And just maybe it’s a mix of both anticipation and apprehension, wondering what these next 365 days will – or will not – hold.
Read | 
Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Psalm 90:12

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 
Reflection | 
One thing we can know for sure is that God has seen these upcoming days, and they are ordained. Nothing will take his breath away even as we gasp with joy or bend in heartache. If promise is looming large in front of you, if your toes have been pointed to a new land, if a new day is showing itself to you, then call on the Lord as you go on your way. Come, pray, and seek him with all your heart, for he has plans to give you hope and a future. If job loss, family struggles, health concerns, or a busy mind and heavy heart is your current lot, then call on the Lord as you go through your days. Come, pray and seek him with all your heart, for he has plans to give you hope and a future. No matter our circumstances, whether light and abundant, or scarce and heavy, may we ask the Lord to teach us this year to seek him with all our heart and to number our days so that we may indeed gain a heart of wisdom.

As you enter this new year, are you feeling promise and a refreshing, or weariness? If all of your days are ordained and written in a book, do you trust the Lord to meet you where you need him?  

Today’s lesson was written for DailyLife Devotions for Five Oaks Church