day no. 13,259: go beard or go home

I thought I had made this up the other day at work, but apparently (and not surprisingly, someone else had already beat me to it).

I'm growing my beard again and hopefully up until Easters.

That would make it a 4 month beard at its funeral.

I'm hoping some year soon to pull off the half year beard.

HALF YEAR BEARD!
1/2 YR BRD!

I googled that, and while less common, that too is already a thing and not something I invented (even though I thought maybe I had  a shot at being the one to coin that baddy).

day no. 13,258: God does not shirk responsibility‏

Isaiah 45:7

I create the light and make the darkness.

I send good times and bad times.

I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.

"Let's stop trying to rescue God from a problem He created for Himself by claiming full mastery over all things. Let's not relieve God of His responsibilities as King of the universe. The very thing we perceive as a problem, God perceives as His glory, namely, God owns the dark moments of life. He bends everything around for a saving purpose. When Isaiah wrote this so long ago, he did not overlook a difficulty that we brainy modern people happened to notice. Isaiah 45:7 is NOT an embarassment. It's what we love about God. Not even evil can frustrate Him. And His surprising strategies are our assurance." ~ Ray Ortlund, Jr.

day no. 13,255: the good, the bad and the plan‏

Matthew 22:10

So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

If you think of yourself as bad, the verse above gives you hope.

If you think of yourself as good, the verse above gives you the feeling that all of your good work is perhaps being overlooked since the bad are also included in the call.

Romans 9:30-33

30 What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble,
    a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
    will never be disgraced.”

day no. 13,254: upside down kingdom‏

Matthew 20:25-28

25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Everyone wants to rule the world and everyone without Christ in them would rule the world the exact same way: using authority and power to get what they want most, even if it meant others going without what they wanted most.

Not so for those in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells.

It cannot be so for the One who lives within came to lay down His life and bids you do the very same.

day no. 13,253: bulging pockets at the narrow gate‏

Matthew 19:23

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is very hard for rich people to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

They are often too content with their own kingdom.

Beware of the desire to be rich.

It is VERY HARD for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Maybe it's because they have too much stuff in their pockets and cannot fit through the narrow gate.

day no. 13,252: the encouragement of Christ

Matthew 14:27

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Those are 3 concise and comforting statements that we need to hear often from Jesus and they build upon each other.

1. Don't Be Afraid

Are you tempted to be afraid very often? I am. There are any number of things that can scare me on any given day. Jesus says, "Don't be afraid!"

I'd love to spend my days less consumed by tiny fears, but it isn't as easy as merely being disciplined enough to not give in to fear.

2. Take Courage

Don't just put off fear and cowardice, put on courage. 

Gird yourself and go forward.

OK, again, I'd love to be less scared and more brave.  I don't think I'm alone in that desire.

But it isn't as simple as being brave enough to avoid giving in to fear and smart enough to be brave instead of scared.

3. I Am Here.

The third statement is the most powerful and makes sense out of the first two statements.

Because He is here, I don't have to be afraid.

Because He is here, I can be brave.

Because He is here, the many times I have been afraid and cowardly are forgiven.

day no. 13,251: love God and do whatever you please‏

"Love God and do whatever you please" ~ St. Augustine

When you love God, doing whatever you please is doing whatever seeks to please Him.

If we love Him, we are free to love Him by doing what we please.

If we love Him, He is pleased with what we do.