365 Reflections

Hannah has a son. She has lent him to the Lord for the rest of his days. God has answered her prayers and given her Samuel, the man who will faithfully transition the struggling and fractured Israelites into the united established kingdom with David on the throne. But she could not have known all that God would do through her son had she not done what comes next in 1 Samuel 2. She takes time to worship God for the blessings in her life. And in her worship, she is transported from personal answers to prayer to God's universal sovereignty over the nations. Worship has a transcendent trajectory. Once you begin to worship, your perspective is transported from your personal issues to God's powerful reign. This is an experience you should regularly have. Notice the personal nature at the beginning of her worship. 1 Samuel 2:1 (ESV) And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies , because I rejoice in your ...

A common literary technique is the use of extremes right next to each other: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." "The more things change the more they stay the same" Here's the shortest and most profound in history: "Jesus wept." The joy of the whole Earth cried in sadness. The resurrection and the life looked on death and let the tears flow. That's powerful contrast. Here's another: Psalm 126:5–6 (NLT) Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. 6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. I love this line. It's a contrasting reminder of heaven. Because while we are here on Earth - our lives are filled with tears and weeping. Frustrations in relationships, in work, in hopes and dreams and family and friends abound. We are met with our own frailties more and more the older we get. Every time we pass one test, another harder test is coming fo...

It's September 1st. My 38th birthday. Day #13,879 for my life. Appropriately, I'm looking at Psalm 90... Psalm 90:9–12 (ESV) For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. 11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Our biggest obstacle to wisdom is one simple word - TOMORROW.  Tomorrow hovers in our thoughts like a get-out-of-jail-free card. But assuming we have tomorrow just may be the dumbest thing we can believe. Who really knows? We are like grass. We are like vapors. I could have sworn I live longer than 13,879 days! I mean, what is that? It's a blip! But that's  the point of Psalm 90. We are more finite than we think! Only one Being is absolutel...

Today I read Psalm 39. In it, an adversary must be taunting David. He wants to lash out, and the more he tries to restrain himself, the worse it gets... Psalm 39:2–3 (ESV) I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. 3 My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: When he finally spoke, instead of lashing out toward his enemy, he prayed for perspective... Psalm 39:4 (ESV) “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! And later... Psalm 39:7 (ESV) “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. We American Christians tend to live without a great deal of perspective. While we have a ton of knowledge and technological advancement, our souls lack wisdom and insight. Those without perspective tend to let the small stuff bother them way too much. And they are the ones who ultimately pay the price.  We need to understand who...

Matthew 5 Just a few verses in we see Jesus' resolute perspective on Earthly life.  In a nutshell, it's imperative to make this life count for the next. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:12 ESV) If there is one thing that harnesses the theme of Jesus ministry in the Word it is that what we do here matters hereafter, take it seriously. Take it soberly, don't neglect planning for the afterlife, by works and perspective, and attitude toward enemies, lust, oaths, anger, etc... And on and on and on. Your life here matters for the afterlife. I'm amazed at how much preaching today refuses to focus on this very important fact and central theme to Jesus's own teaching. We want our lives here to be comfortable and cozy.  We want all the amenities of Earth without the hassels of discipleship. Yet almost every parable of Jesus ends with judgment and/or reward. Think He'...