Convive (Luke 14.15-24)

Good morning ladies,

the word of the day is “convive.”  Have you ever been invited to a really nice dinner, like one with more than one course? I have only been a part of a couple of them in my life, but they were always pretty fun. I still never know what fork to use first.  Well, in Jesus’ time, he used a lot of different stories to help people understand the message he was trying to convey.  The one he told about the banquet party thrown by God himself was one of my favorites to envision.

Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ~Lk 14:16-17

Unfortunately for some, they chose not to be a part of God’s invitation. My question is: are you making room for God in your life in ways that will allow you to make good decisions when he calls you to be a part of his great banquet? Many of us have accepted the invitation, but have stopped there.  My prayer is that you live in such a way that you are inviting others to be a part of God’s family and work.  What better convive to have than the Almighty God, and those whom we love!

Praying for you,

MO

Peripeteia (Matthew 13.10-15)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “peripeteia.”  I figured that all of you English majors out there would appreciate this one.  I think what really drew me close to the Bible early on in my Christian walk was that stuff was pretty easy to understand, when it came to stories anyway.  And, that’s the way that Jesus lived most of his ministry.  He did not try to sound all important and smart.  He looked at the audience, figured out what they needed to hear, and said it the way that they would best understand it.

The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?” He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. ~Matt 13:10-15

My question is: how do you best receive the word of God?  I know for some people, relationships are very important because the conversations with others help them understand their own faith.  For some, the experience they have with God brings better clarity to the way they should be living. What I love about reading the Jesus stories is that his readers think they know what he is talking about, then he all of the sudden he takes you on a kind of peripeteia.  My prayer is that you seek to find information on how you best learn and understand God’s plan for your life.  Take today to ask someone you trust to help move you through that.

Praying for you,

MO

Edutainment (Matthew 13:12-14)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “edutainment.”  The book of Matthew is pretty awesome.  Jesus knows that to get his message across he needs to speak in terms that everybody will understand.  We have to understand that this had to be pretty tough.  He had to be able to relate to followers, those who doubted him, religious leaders, ordinary everyday people, and every other kind of person you might imagine.  So, it is no wonder that he spoke in short stories to help others understand the points he was trying to convey.

“This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” ~Matt 13:13

My question is: how do you best respond to learning the stuff that God thinks is important?  Jesus was pretty astute when I came to knowing his audience.  In fact, we see that in this passage that Jesus changes the entire method that is needed to help others understand the truth that he was bringing to them.  My prayer is that you find out what is most appealing to you concerning Bible stuff, and use that to your advantage to learn more.  Just as Jesus used a kind of edutainment, or education and entertainment all rolled up into one, so can you learn from God’s word in a bunch of different ways.  We only need to do a little bit of searching to understand how we will best learn the principles God has in store for us.

Praying for you,

MO

Immix (Matthew 18:1-20)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is  “immix.”  It always seemed to me that the closer JC got to the end of his ministry that everything started piling up.  At the point of this passage, he is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.  His disciples want to know what it is to become the greatest in heaven.  Jesus answers that, then goes on to tell a story about going after people who need a relationship with God, and then tackles the issue of sin like a champ.  He pretty much puts the responsibility on the brothers and sisters to take care of one another, and point out the things that they are doing wrong.  But then he ends with something that is most important in this passage.

"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

~Matt. 18:19-20

My question is: who were the people that you spend most of your time with?  We see a lot of promise from God in that this particular chapter in Matthew.  God has specific disciplines for those who do stuff in his name, or under his rule.  It always amazed me and still does how people get upset with the stuff that God requires of us.  We are not forced into his family.  It is our choice.  My prayer is that each of you understands the promise that is given freely, which is the resurrected Christ.  It is our privilege to be a part of the stuff JC calls us to do through community.  So as you immix, or mingle and associate with others, do so wisely concerning the choice of that company.

Praying for you,

MO

Inglenook (Mark 4:33–34)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “inglenook.”  I remember when I was a young Christian I would do my best to spend as much time with my youth pastor as possible.  He was a pretty knowledgeable guy, hence the reason he was the youth pastor of our ministry.  He always had something to say.  Whenever I was in a bind, I went to him and asked for advice because I knew that he would have a good story for me.  I didn't realize though, that he never gave me the answers.  He only gave me suggestions of what I needed to do.

“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; substantive.  He felt better.  Someone finally he and his own game.  he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

~ Mk 4:33–34

My question is: who are the people in your life that give you counsel?  I know that if I can get time with my mentor, I will take everything out of my schedule to make sure that I give him the opportunity to speak into my life.  Even today, he has stores for me that apply to my life.  My prayer is that you heed the advice of others whom you respect.  Whenever you get the chance, settle down in an inglenook, and glean as much wisdom from as you can.

Praying for you,

mo

Decant [Luke 5:36-38]

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “decant.” Peeps asked a lot of questions of JC and he felt the best way to handle them much of the time was to tell stories.  This particular story is one that he used to convey a specific message to his followers about what it meant. it seems that the people that Jesus was spending time with had a difficult go at making new decisions that would influence them to become improved in the way that they lived.

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined…”

~Lk 5:37

My question is: what are the things in your life that you are holding onto that are causing you to grow more slowly, or less in your relationship with God?  Sometimes we want to keep things the same, much of it for the sake of not having to change.  My prayer is that each of you takes into consideration what God would have you change in your life daily.  Allow the truth of the gospel to pour into your life through the love and instruction of Jesus.

Praying for you,

mo