So no, this is not about super heroes, but it would be cool to be one. You ever meet people and just somehow know that God is a very real part of their life? Not in the “there goes another weird Christian or bizarre mystic, but in the “I’m not sure how, but I just know that God is with that person”. For those that don’t believe in God, you just have this sense of a mystical presence around a person. I know I have. So yes, I believe people can see the supernatural in people.

So, am reading Genesis 39 today. Verse 3 and 23.

v3. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.

v23. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him.

First Potiphar is keenly aware that there is something different about Joseph and that the LORD is with him. Then, the keeper of the prison see’s the same thing. Sure, the success part is nice from an earthly perspective. However, even greater is my desire for people to visibly see the supernatural in my life and be able to verbalize that it’s God in me that makes the difference…regardless of circumstance…

Do you want people to see the divine through you?  I know I do. Incredibly, it’s actually pretty simple.

• Choose to have a relationship with God. (john 3:16 – yup, as simple as that, seemingly, over used passage says.)
• Make sure your relationship is in a good place. (If it’s about you, it’s not ~ It was never about “self” for Joseph)
• Expect to experience the supernatural (john 16:15 ~ God says He will reveal Himself to us)

So, have you seen the supernatural in people?  I have, and I want to live in such a way that people would recognize God in my life as well.

Pic by Thomas Tan

I love this picture. The Hi-Res one is here. Actually, I really like most pictures by Stephen Poff. You should check him out. The picture reminded me of how much I am loving Scripture this past year. Specifically, it reminded me of the verse in Acts 14:11.

“As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.”

Made me wonder. Do I have that same feeling, that emotional desire and drive for more? More scriptural insight, more teaching, more quiet listening, simple more of Jesus. Thankfully i don’t have to beg, but I should want to, right?

Interesting, when Paul came back to teach the Jews the next Sabbath, they didn’t hear what they were hoping for, and kicked him out. Again, I wonder…

Do you sometimes feel like a cracked, fragile clay pot?

So today I am reading 2 Corinthians 4 – 5.  I encourage you to read along with me and share what stuck out to you. My hope is to share quick devotional thoughts every weekday on what stuck out to me in my daily Scripture reading. (I said hope, most likely not reality. )

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies….

6 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Today, I got quite emotional reading this passage. I’m not going through any big affliction or struggle, either is my family, but yet the weight of Paul’s words hit me somehow.  I always ask myself questions as I read Scripture and these are the ones that raced through my head.

• When I struggle do I easily get confused, feel despair, feel like I have lost, been destroyed?
• Do I choose to thank God that He may be glorified through my weakness, physical trial or otherwise?
• I prayed that i would not lose heart when and if suffering comes my way. Lord help me to be strong and faithful.
• Do I actually consider any kind of affliction to be light, compared to the future eternal glory that awaits me?
• Do I actually even think about my future inheritance through Jesus, do I cling to His promise and His great sacrifice and salvation for me?
• I thought, this gets even harder when I walk beside those whom I love deeply, should they suffer affliction in the future. (whatever the kind)

So, today was a great reminder to me that I am indeed a jar of clay, weak, prone to suffering and yet with the incredible ability to praise God throughout because I will never be destroyed. Lord, just as Paul wrote, may I be reminded that, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Compared to our future glory and inheritance for eternity, my current affliction is indeed “light”

Lord, grant me strength to continue to fight the good fight and live faithfully for you. I realize I am a clay pot, fragile, easily broken, and one day you will make me beautiful.

Thank you that you have overcome, so that, one day, we may as well.

There are very few smells better to me than freshly brewed coffee in the morning. And for me, that would be freshly brewed, bold, Starbucks coffee.

There is something about starting my day in a coffee shop, around those great smells that I really enjoy and that has become a daily routine.

However, I recently entered into my routine, got excited at the smell of my fresh bold coffee, sat down, expectantly tasted my first sip, and spit it out. It was horrible. Tasted like sour acid on my tongue.

Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians 2-3.  Verse 14 and 15a stuck out to me in light of this experience.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ…

Made me think about my faith and example.

• Do I leave a good aroma of Christ to others. Does Christ smell good if you will?
• Do I “smell” good enough to encourage people to taste and see? Or just average and not “different” than anything else?
• Does their experience with me leave a bad taste in their mouths?
• Did my actions, the the reality of spending time with me, meet the expectation of the aroma they first encountered?

As I found out, something can smell very good and still taste very bad.

You smelling good today?  (Oh, I really dislike the Starbucks RED coffee and love every other bold. Starbucks, I still really like you.   )

I’m creating a new category on my blog for my initial thoughts after reading a passage of Scripture. These probably won’t be overly theological, or academic, but will be quick, off the cuff thoughts about how my heart was stirred, at that specific time, by what God’s word spoke to me, and what i was convicted and reminded of.

So, every day I try and read 1-4 chapters of the bible.  Today I was reading through 1 Corinthians 11-13.

I’m actually working through a new bible and marking it up as I go along. I was frustrated at the thought of the process of changing bibles, as I love my old bible, but yet it’s interesting to see what I highlight differently. I also switched to the ESV version, so I do have to read every word, because it’s different. I would actually recommend everyone to re-read the bible in a version you have not read before. Maybe a mid year resolution for you.

In a nutshell, Paul addresses everything from head coverings, to the Lord’s supper, to spiritual gifts and then the love in chapter 13.

Today it was 1 Corinthians 12: 31b that stuck out.  …“And I will still show you a more excellent way.” The Way of Love. (Chapter tile of ch. 13)

Why did Paul have to address this? Because the Corinthians were a special bunch. Selfish, indulgent, jealous, loved the “showy” gifts, wanted to be recognized above others, etc, etc.  What stuck out to me is the fact that all of us, me included could have fit in nicely with that bunch. At least on some days, right? Perhaps you are better than I?

Today, I will make an extra attempt to choose the more excellent way, the way of love. Which is of course the Jesus way.

Two quick verse that popped into my head while reading this today was:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

and

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28)

I pray that today you and I would love (serve) in a greater degree than we did yesterday.

I’m pretty sure you have these moments.

• you feel crabby to start out with. (starting with a bad attitude never helps)
• You start thinking negatively about someone or an event.
• You choose the high road ahead of time and make the decision to be positive once you encounter the situation
• you arrive and do exactly the opposite of what you’ve been just contemplating, promising, and even panning to do.

Today, God pointed out Romans 7:21.  I actually kinda laughed when I read it. 

v.21 “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

Paul, this week, I related to you all too well.  It is incredible frustrating to rationally, calmly think out the proper , God honoring, course of action and then fail so miserably.

Can you relate?

At least we can have confidence that there is always hope.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37

Do you ever have times when you get pretty down on yourself? You doubt your ability, you start to believe lies about yourself. I know I do every once in awhile. Below is what I remind myself of when it happens, and thankfully, the more I remind myself and stay in Scripture, the less it happens.

Almost a year ago I read Vicki Kuyper”s book Wonderlust. One of the chapters talked about her taking the epic hike to Machu Picchu. She felt very self conscious about her ability to keep pace with the team, she ended up always being the last one. In her effort to try and keep pace with the others, she was starting to lose strength, courage to keep going and confidence in her ability to accomplish the task.

I can’t help but compare myself to others. One of my main strength’s is competition and significance. It’s part of who I am, it helps me be great at certain things, but it also haunts me on many occasions. My focus can easily change to trying to be someone else, striving hard to do what they do. I end up doing things that don’t come naturally to me, which then of course don’t have the results I was hoping for which then cause me to doubt who I am, and ultimately & indirectly doubt who God made me.

Ouch! Did you catch that? I end up telling God, indirectly, but He hears it loud and clear, “You messed up God, I’m missing something, I’m not that good, I can’t accomplish the passions you’ve given me, so somehow you screwed up.”

I’ve come to realize there are 2 truths that I need to remind myself of when I start to believe this lie.

1. Be Patient.

If there is one thing I consistently struggle at it is patience. When it comes to my life direction and goals, my lack of patience is almost always a direct result of me comparing myself to others. My impatience, and lack of thankfulness, almost always comes when I start to compare finances, ministry reach, fame, authors who write so incredibly well, dads who are super creative, etc, etc. (whatever it may be for you)

Vicky, in her book Wonderlust finishes her Machu Picchu story by sharing that when she was about to quit the trek her guide, Manolo, walked back down to her and said, ” You have been working so hard trying to keep up with everyone else. You’ve pushed yourself to walk at their pace and not your own. Right now you need to learn the walk of the patient one. It isn’t called this because others have to be patient with you. It’s because you have to learn to be patient with yourself. It’s not about being first, it’s about enjoying the journey. It will feel slow at first, but you will keep moving forward and you will regain your strength.” I appreciate the advice Manolo.

2. You Really Can’t & Believe and have Faith That God Can Through You

Most of us know the truth that we really can’t accomplish the God given passions without God. Yet, at least for me, we still try and do it on our own. We get impatient, forge ahead and then complain when it doesn’t work out. Beth Moore (yup, I’m an interim womens Pastor too) reminded me of an interesting truth the other day. She said,(with my paraphrase) “the Israelites “sin” when they wandered in the dessert wasn’t that they didn’t believe God could do miracles. They saw Him do it every day. Mana in the morning, quail at night, water gushing out of a rock, walking across the bottom of a great sea, pillar of smoke and fire, etc, etc. Their sin was that they didn’t believe God could work through them as they entered the promised land.” They were afraid of the giants that God said they were suppose to conquer, because they didn’t believe He would and could through them.

So after I calm down, after I stop sending indirect and subtle outbursts to God, after I stop questioning His plan and purpose I’m thankfully still  left with a small voice in my head reminding me yet again of the plans and purposes He has for me. I’m also convicted and realize yet again, my need for forgiveness. So, I’m still learning to believe, have faith the He can, will and, incredibly, even wants to accomplish His plan through me. So here I sit, still working on patience, and believing in His promise to accomplish through me….how humbling

4 Steps to reading this post. (Yup, this requires some time and work)

• Read 2 Peter chapter 1. (ESV version of this text is here)
• Check out the awesome 6 minute video from Granger Community church below.
• Re-read 2 Peter chapter 1. (ESV version of this text is here)
• Write down what stuck out for you. Meditate on that this week and act accordingly.

For me, this is what I loved, felt challenged by, and what stuck out to me:

• A great history lesson on Nero, the burning of Rome and how the Christians suffered because of it.
• Incredible context on 1&2 Peter. (I will never read these books the same way again)
• A good reminder that I have never had it “that bad.” That was incredible suffering they endured for Christ’s sake.
• I love Peter’s passion to be constantly reminding other believer’s of the faith, hope, and power we have through Christ.(2 peter 12-14)
• To also share and be a “reminder” of Christ’s good news to others. (it’s funny to me how easy it is to separate being a disciple and disciple maker)

So, what stuck out to you?

So I’m sitting home alone, I just took a nap and feel like crap. However, my foggy head is starting to clear. A good cup of Starbucks helps with that. I’m feeling quite reflective at the moment and am missing Naomi and the kids.

So this past new years I caught myself staring out the window praying and asking God for what He thought I should focus on in the coming year. I felt like he said, “people”. In my mind I replied back to Him and said, “but God that’s my job, that’s what I already do every day. My whole job description is about people.” And yet it felt like He just said, “focus on who they are, who i have made & called them to be. Pray that you would see them as I see them. Be more intentional. Don’t be so rushed always.” I agreed and didn’t think much further about it, except that I would try and do so.

This past Monday I went and saw Avatar with my sister. Fresh off of my conversation with God I was struck by the phrase “I See you.” The Na’vi, when they meet each other, greet each other with the phrase “I see you.” Of course they physically see each other, but to the characters in the movie there was a much deeper meaning.  There was this understanding, a shared empathy between both individuals, a recognition of sameness (why they greeted Jake that way even before he was fully Na’vi), an acknowledgment of the divine.

While I don’t want to get carried away with over analyzing a plain ole fun movie to watch. It did serve to remind me to fully “see” people as God see’s them. Deeply loved, full of promise, unworthy of Christ’s grace and still the great potential to be called sons and daughter’s of the most high God. So, a good reminder for me to see people not as “us vs them” or “me and you” but see you as Christ see’s both of us.  Simply, the same. Unworthy, yet patiently loved beyond measure. I don’t have that perspective nearly often enough.

So, there’s my New Years resolution for 2010. Praying to have His eyes.