James 3 Teachers

James 3 NIV

Youth praying with and for their teachers.

"We who teach will be judged more strictly." (vs 1) Although, my major was in education, I do not consider myself much of a teacher. It is included in my call; therefore, I teach. I teach cautiously and with the help of God. I pray that I do not damage anyone by teaching falsely. There are many others in my congregation who are more gifted at teaching than I and I thank God for them. This blog is, in a way, an attempt at teaching. However, I also attempt to keep the blogs short. They are mostly the first things that come to mind as I read the scriptures one chapter at a time. I cannot possibly cover everything that is possible to be taught each day in a blog. While they are meant to stimulate the readers thoughts, I am well aware that I have no immunity against making mistakes.

I confess that as this daily blog gets closer to the end of the Holy Bible and closer to the book of Revelation I am getting just a little apprehensive.  Revelation is something quite different. It is a vision and as such is full of symbolism, which should not be taken literally and about impossible to interpret since many of the events have not yet transpired. John's vision has already been interpreted in so many ways. They simply cannot all be right. I do not ascribe to the notion that there are opposing interpretations of  scripture; all equally valid. So, I have been praying for the last month or so, through a couple of books already, that God will guide me and I will more carefully listen through that upcoming and final book of Holy Scripture.

As teachers, we must be very cautious as to what we say and write. We are warned that teachers will be judged more strictly. As we do not wish to offend God or steer others in a way that they should not be going; we will be much more cautious in what we say as well as in what we do that others may come to know the joy of their salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 27:13-44 Hear the Storm Warnings

Acts 27:13-44 NIV
Sometimes, when we make mistakes we learn from them.

Stormy day on Huron Bay, U.P.

The sailors did not listen to Paul when he warned them that it was to dangerous to set sail, in the first place. Now in the midst of the raging storm that he'd warned them about, they are ready to listen to him. They ran their ship aground and ultimately their lives are spared. God is with them. He has plans for Paul. He wants Paul to stand trial before Caesar in order for him to testify about Jesus.

When we find ourselves in the midst of storms because we failed to heed the warnings about the direction we were heading in, it is not too late. Listen to God. Listen to where He would have you go and what He would have do. God has plans for you! He will do all to ensure that His plans are carried out. But, listen to Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Acts 21:37-40 God Chooses Whom He Will Choose

Acts 21:37-40 NIV
God chooses whom He will choose. He calls whom He will call. If you hear Him call; answer Him. No matter what you think; He doesn't make mistakes.

Paul is a prime example of this. He was one of the greatest persecutors of the Christians; yet, God called him to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus Christ to all people no matter who they were or what their heritage was. He was both a Roman citizen and a Jew so he was able to be all things to all people. When others would have been crucified without a second though; Paul was able to call on his citizenship; his heritage, to save him; to prolong his life so that he could continue to serve as God had called and sent him to serve.

If God is calling you; answer. God doesn't make mistakes.

God's Peace - Pr. J

2 Chronicles 20 - God Is With You

"For the battle is not yours, but God’s." (20:15 NIV)  This is what the prophet Jahaziel told Jehoshapat and all the people as they prepared for battle and as he promised that God would handle it. They were not to worry. The victory and the glory would be God's.

What a wonderful reminder this morning, that the glory belongs to God, not us.  I'm thinking today is a good day to remind you all, that what I writr is not gospel. They are opinons, stirrings of the heart that occur when I read scripture.

The purpose of this blog is much like our Bible Studies at Zion Lutheran, Skanee.  We read scripture together, we share what we hear from the word of God.  We don't always hear the same things so it can make for some very interesting conversations as we share what we understand, what we hear from the scriptures.  The Spirit speaks to each of us according to our circumstances, experience and many other things.  The word speaks to us according to our needs.  It is what Dr. Karlo Keljo often taught as the "Miracle of Hearing."  Sometimes, I might hear things that has nothing to do with you and you may be left hanging, thinking, "what is she talking about!" 

So, today, I'm putting in my disclaimer.  I make mistakes. I am human.  And... sometimes my bias' show up in what I say or right.  I am terribly fallible and I pray often that when I really mess up, God will not allow my mistakes to harm others. So, I pray He will do the same with these blogs, as well.  That they will help you to keep on track reading the scriptures; that the Spirit will open your ears and hearts and minds to hear what the LORD would have you hear, not necessarily what I write or say.

Sometimes there are things going on in my life that I need guidance on and so the Spirit will open up the word to help me where I'm at. I'm not always coming from the same place that you are.  But, thanks to the LORD, our ultimate destination is the same! 

And... God will be with us.  God is with us in our battles, guiding us, supporting us, giving us wisdom and strength.  The battles are really not ours, but God's.  He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He may use the hands and feet and hearts and minds that He has given us, but, ultimately, it is God's work that God does through us.  God gets the glory!

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his love endures forever.”  (20:21)