We are All Equal and Free to Love...

I had the opportunity to spend time with my mother and the rest of the immediate family. It was a good time of remembering past events and enjoying each other. As I drove my mother home, we discussed the events of the day and the relationship we share with my siblings her children. I pray we will continue to have opportunities to share both the moments of victory and struggle.

If you have not read Numbers 17, take a moment today to do so. It is the chapter concerning the budding of Arron's staff. That staff was then placed in the Ark of the Covenant. If God felt the staff was that important an object to place in the Ark (along with the Ten Commandments and manna), it is something we should know about.

I liked today's reading in the Psalms. David again encourages us to trust in the God who created everything and has the power to forgive all our sin. But you know I am a faith and works guy so I am loving the readings in James. In this chapter, the Holy Spirit reminds us NOT to treat people differently based upon their outward appearance, wealth, or power. But to treat all men as sinners like you and me. I know we have heard this before, but if we believe that anyone's standing in the community is a reflection of God working in the community not the fruit of living a better or more holy life (Job, Abraham, David), then we should be free to love everyone equally. The question, is how do we express love (respect, honor, making time for) to those in our lives?

In the reading, we see that one of the ways the community James is addressing directly expresses love is through hospitality. What are some of the ways we honor people for the wealth or power God has given them, instead of honoring the God who gave it to them?

I spent some time with the session of Day Spring on Saturday (two hours plus). I had a great opportunity to share where I have been gifted and they confirmed areas of their communities gifting. I think they have a great deal to offer me in the area of relational ministry. Pray for me as I consider and seek guidance in this decision.

Real Life Conflict

So much good stuff in the readings today. Don't know where to start. Do I start with God standing up for Moses? How about the courage it took for Moses to let the group report about the promised land. I know as a leader, I would have wanted to hear the report and then determined what would be reported to the people. Yes I still struggle with being a control freak. Maybe, I should highlight the Psalm. When you read it, tell me if it doesn't remind you of Solomon's writings in Ecclesiastics? The chapter in Isaiah calls us to the hope of what the earth will be like when Christ returns to rule. He also paints a very vivid picture of a what a culture / community looks like when it is focused on everything. Finally, the writer of Hebrews reminds us that we serve a Saviour who redeemed us for all the sin we committed before we had any knowledge of sin and all the more horrible sins we commit with knowledge of our sin.

I guess I will leave you with this thought. God will never leave you nor forsake you. Everyone of the readings today showed us that our lives will not be without conflict. That conflict might come from outside of ourselves (Numbers, Psalms, & Isaiah) or from within our sinful flesh (Psalms & Hebrews). But Christ is always there to intercede for us already having paid the price for our sin. Praise be to God!

I met with the Pastor of DaySpring PCA Church, yesterday. It is a church of about 90 people with a session of 2. It was wonderful to hear how the Holy Spirit is using this congregation to reach people from many different ethic backgrounds. It sounded like this body of believers has become a place for people to gather and heal after difficult interactions at other churches. We spent at least 2 hours just talking about what we believe and how that showed in our actions. I hope to meet with their session in the near future. I was encouraged and frustrated. Encouraged, because it was great to hear how the Holy Spirit is working in a body of believers. Frustrated because I see how my own sin often prevents me from engaging in that kind of relationships with those I love. So thank you for your prayers concerning the meeting the Holy Spirit was discernibly at work.

Please continue to pray for me as I am scheduled to meet with the Chesapeake Presbytery Christian Education Committee on Thursday at 8 PM. This is a public meeting so if you want to come and see who the God is raising up to be a voice for Him in our community stop by. The meeting is at Liberty Presbyterian Church. Not sure when it starts all I know is I need to be there by 8 PM.

Praying you will find your assurance in Christ today.

Seeking to know Jesus better,

Caring is a God given burden....

It has been awhile since last time I sent you a reflection on the daily reading. I have been keeping up, just did not spend the needed time to write down my thoughts. If you have a chance check out Numbers 6 and the desire to be a Nazirite. I think it is pretty neat how God gave both men and woman a way to express a greater devotion to Him for a short time of their life. Can you name some famous Nazirites?

Today's readings (check the calendar for today on my Christian Ninja blog page) remind me just how dangerous our Lord and Saviour can be. In Numbers, we read how the anger of God consumed people living on the edge of the camp. While I am confident the people consumed by the fire, knew they were challenging the God who had saved them from horror of Egypt, I am equally sure the people were surprised by God's response. Are we surprised when God acts in a physically destructive manor?

Next we see God sending the Holy Spirit (the Spirit that gives Moses the strong desire to teach and care for the people) onto many of the recognized elders of the people. The Holy Spirit was even shared with men who should have been at the gathering but did not attend. Adds new meaning to the statement "Those who miss the meeting are given the most difficult tasks". Two points I wanted to highlight.

First, that God is the one who sends the Holy Spirit and its concern for the people onto the elders. So while all of us should strive to live like an elder (Titus), the elder is someone we (the church) agree the Holy Spirit has gifted and burden with the concerns of the people. The other point is the elders response to the Holy Spirit resting on them. They prophesied (Numbers 11:25).

One idea my seminary professors continue to drive home, is that when one prophesies, they are not forecasting the future, they are speaking for God. That could be telling the people about a vision of the future like Daniel. It could be telling the people about God's law, something Moses has been doing throughout the book of Numbers. Today, we would say our pastors and ruling elders speak prophesies to us as they read and teach us from the Bible (our only inerrant source of God's revelation). These are the men who we believe God through the Holy Spirit has placed a concern for the flock (us) as confirmed by there ability to preach, teach, and live out what God tells us in the Bible.

Pray for these men. It is a great burden they carry.

Know that I continue to pray for you. Pray for me, I meet with the Presbytery Education Committee on Thursday to look at my progress in ordination process. Finally, I am working on my next resource building letter and updating my blog page.

In the mist of these struggles, continue to faithfully turn to God's Word. It is the only place to find stability in an ever changing world.

Seeking to know Jesus better,

Dwayne