envious?

What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people, the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting. Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40, CEB)

There are gifts given to all. We all have a gift to us to make the kingdom a better place, and we should not want the gift that another has.

Be happy with who God made you to be, and live that life out loud in love.

Do not be envious of others. But be who God set you here to be.

Loving people. Loving God.

Fishing for people…

One day Jesus was standing beside Lake Gennesaret when the crowd pressed in around him to hear God’s word. Jesus saw two boats sitting by the lake. The fishermen had gone ashore and were washing their nets. Jesus boarded one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, then asked him to row out a little distance from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he finished speaking to the crowds, he said to Simon, “Row out farther, into the deep water, and drop your nets for a catch.” Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” So they dropped the nets and their catch was so huge that their nets were splitting. They signaled for their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats so full that they were about to sink. When Simon Peter saw the catch, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” Peter and those with him were overcome with amazement because of the number of fish they caught. James and John, Zebedee’s sons, were Simon’s partners and they were amazed too. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.” As soon as they brought the boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. (Luke 5:1-11, CEB)

How does one fish for people? What bait do we use? Or is there even bait?

I am not a fisherman. I do know there are different types of fishing, and different methods. Clearly here they dropped nets in the water. They didn’t use poles. So the fish are just caught by surprise as they are just casually swimming along.

Is that how we fish for people? Snag them in a net and bring them against their will? Or do we use the right bait to lure them in, and then keep them? This all just sounds wrong.

It isn’t about luring people in or trapping them. Jesus told Simon he would fish for people, because Simon would be sharing the love that God had given him to others, and that would have them wanting to know more.

We are not convincing people, tricking people, luring people. We are sharing what we have and what everyone needs, love.

Love out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

why

When daybreak arrived, Jesus went to a deserted place. The crowds were looking for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, for this is why I was sent.” So he continued preaching in the Judean synagogues. (Luke 4:42-44, CEB)

Why did Jesus come to earth?

Jesus pretty clearly says here, “I must preach the good news of God’s kingdom in other cities too, for this is why I was sent.” Jesus came to spread the good news of God’s kingdom.

This is something we all can do.

Share the love we have been given.

Live in a way that shows the love God has for us and all creation.

Love out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

God’s Way

When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t believe he was really a disciple. Then Barnabas brought Saul to the apostles and told them the story about how Saul saw the Lord on the way and that the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them about the confidence with which Saul had preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. After this, Saul moved freely among the disciples in Jerusalem and was speaking with confidence in the name of the Lord. He got into debates with the Greek-speaking Jews as well, but they tried to kill him. When the family of believers learned about this, they escorted him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. God strengthened the church, and its life was marked by reverence for the Lord. Encouraged by the Holy Spirit, the church continued to grow in numbers. (Acts 9:26-31, CEB)

People get in the way of the Spirit moving the way God intends sometimes.

You see we have free will to do what we want, and sometimes we think that our way is the way God wants things to go. But most of the time when we think God thinks like us, that is just us thinking that God thinks like us. We want God in a box and things to go our way.

The disciples didn’t believe Saul had changed until one of their own stood up for Saul. But in all of this, God’s Spirit still moved and accomplished what God intended.

I have always said God’s will will be done through us, or in spite of us.

Love out loud and try to stay out of God’s way.

Loving People. Loving God.

Changed

Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days. Right away, he began to preach about Jesus in the synagogues. “He is God’s Son,” he declared. Everyone who heard him was baffled. They questioned each other, “Isn’t he the one who was wreaking havoc among those in Jerusalem who called on this name? Hadn’t he come here to take those same people as prisoners to the chief priests?” But Saul grew stronger and stronger. He confused the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After this had gone on for some time, the Jews hatched a plot to kill Saul. However, he found out about their scheme. They were keeping watch at the city gates around the clock so they could assassinate him. But his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the city wall. (Acts 9:19b-25, CEB)

We always think we know people. Everyone in Damascus knew Saul, and how he was against Jesus.

They, like us, have a hard time when people do not live up to their past. We want them to be like we know them. We are not prepared for things to be out of our control.

But here is the truth. Nothing is in your control, except you being open to God.

So are you open? Are you able to let go and follow God, knowing you won’t like everything that happens, but trusting that God’s way is so much better than your ways?

Go. Loving out loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Peace

As Jesus came to the city and observed it, he wept over it. He said, “If only you knew on this of all days the things that lead to peace. But now they are hidden from your eyes. The time will come when your enemies will build fortifications around you, encircle you, and attack you from all sides. They will crush you completely, you and the people within you. They won’t leave one stone on top of another within you, because you didn’t recognize the time of your gracious visit from God.” (Luke 19:41-44, CEB)

What is peace?

Is peace the absence of all harm, all evil?

Here is a story I think of as I think of what peace is:

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered. The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled. As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd. A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.
The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace? A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power. A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

A Wardrobe from the King, Berit Kjos, pp. 45-46

Peace is not the absence of turmoil, hatred, evil. It is understanding that no matter what happens, God is always with us.

Live in peace.

Loving People. Loving God.

speak

Therefore, those who speak in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret. If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind isn’t productive. What should I do? I’ll pray in the Spirit, but I’ll pray with my mind too; I’ll sing a psalm in the Spirit, but I’ll sing the psalm with my mind too. After all, if you praise God in the Spirit, how will the people who aren’t trained in that language say “Amen!” to your thanksgiving, when they don’t know what you are saying? You may offer a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I’d rather speak five words in my right mind than speak thousands of words in a tongue so that I can teach others. Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking. In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way, says the Lord. So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe. So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds? But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all. The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you! (1 Corinthians 14:13-25, CEB)

Speaking in tongues is something that is interesting to most people in the church. We know it happens, but we arent’ sure what it means. Sometimes we think it means that people spoke and others heard it in their own language. And sometimes, like this passage, we get speaking in tongues is nonsense talk to those who do not know how to interpret. And this passage says that even I may not know what the Spirit is saying through me in my mind. And Paul tells the Corinthians that it is better to say 5 words that are understood than the most eloquent spirit-filled prayer that no one understands but God.

You see God knows all the thoughts of our hearts and minds and doesn’t need us to vocalize in any matter, so when we speak that is for those who hear, and if they do not understand then it doesn’t really do anyone any good.

We need to speak so others hear the love of God. Not in tongues, not in prophecy, but love.

Love out Loud.

Loving People. Loving God.

Wisdom

6 What we say is wisdom to people who are mature. It isn’t a wisdom that comes from the present day or from today’s leaders who are being reduced to nothing. 7 We talk about God’s wisdom, which has been hidden as a secret. God determined this wisdom in advance, before time began, for our glory. 8 It is a wisdom that none of the present-day rulers have understood, because if they did understand it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory! 9 But this is precisely what is written: God has prepared things for those who love him that no eye has seen, or ear has heard, or that haven’t crossed the mind of any human being. 10 God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. The Spirit searches everything, including the depths of God. 11 Who knows a person’s depths except their own spirit that lives in them? In the same way, no one has known the depths of God except God’s Spirit. 12 We haven’t received the world’s spirit but God’s Spirit so that we can know the things given to us by God. 13 These are the things we are talking about—not with words taught by human wisdom but with words taught by the Spirit—we are interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But people who are unspiritual don’t accept the things from God’s Spirit. They are foolishness to them and can’t be understood, because they can only be comprehended in a spiritual way. 15 Spiritual people comprehend everything, but they themselves aren’t understood by anyone. 16 Who has known the mind of the Lord, who will advise him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16, CEB)

Knowledge it knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting a tomato in a fruit salad.

There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. And that is something we wish all our leaders had. Wisdom to do what is right for the common good.

We need to be wise, and follow after where God is leading us. God will lead us to things we haven’t seen, or heard, or thought of. We need to be open and not base things solely on our knowledge, but looks through God’s wisdom.

Also go sharing light and love.

Loving People. Loving God.

Why

21 He began to explain to them, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it.” 22 Everyone was raving about Jesus, so impressed were they by the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “This is Joseph’s son, isn’t it?” 23 Then Jesus said to them, “Undoubtedly, you will quote this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself. Do here in your hometown what we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’” 24 He said, “I assure you that no prophet is welcome in the prophet’s hometown. 25 And I can assure you that there were many widows in Israel during Elijah’s time, when it didn’t rain for three and a half years and there was a great food shortage in the land. 26 Yet Elijah was sent to none of them but only to a widow in the city of Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.” 28 When they heard this, everyone in the synagogue was filled with anger. 29 They rose up and ran him out of town. They led him to the crest of the hill on which their town had been built so that they could throw him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the crowd and went on his way. (Luke 4:21-30,CEB)

We judge people based on what we know about them. These people in Jesus’ hometown thought they knew him because he was the boy of Joseph and Mary. He was the child that ran through the streets and played with the other kids and learned in the synagogue. They couldn’t look past that.

And when Jesus lived into why he was here they questioned who he was, enough to try and run him off a cliff. Why do we think we are always right and so unwilling to see a different way?

We all need to have an open mind and know that things may not be as we see them, because God is bigger than all of us and will do things we do not expect or want God to do.

Be open to Jesus and follow where he leads.

Loving People. Loving God.

Follow me…

43 The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?” Philip said, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! 51 I assure you that you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One.” (John 1:43-51, CEB)

Have you ever judged someone because of where they are from?

We have preconceived notions about people based on where they are from. We also judge people based on their history.

We judge people based on what we know, not what we don’t know. But that is a limited amount of material to make a complete judgment of a person. We don’t know their thoughts, or the motives of their hearts. Their motives, their secret battles, the great things they have done for others.

We need to be open to God and follow where God leads. Knowing that God’s way is way better than our ways.

Love all and share light as you go.

Loving People. Loving God.