Prayer & Fasting, Day 19: God is Spirit.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2). But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26).

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8).

And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 11:16).

Part of the reason that I’m writing these devotionals is because I am convinced that how we see God affects how we see everything. And, when it comes to the Holy Spirit, confusion abounds. In English, he receives the definite article, “the,” in front of his name. This has allowed us to implicitly believe that he is not a he at all, but an it. But this is not true. The Holy Spirit is a Person, the third person of the Triune Godhead. And his ministry to us is absolutely amazing.

The Holy Spirit is powerful. So powerful, in fact, that all the universe was made through him. Imagine the Trinitarian scene at the dawn of time: The Father speaks, the Word creates all things, and the Spirit sings the song of creation into being. The word for “hovering,” in Genesis 3 is related to musical terms related to singing. Other related words include brooding, and fluttering, like a mother bird does over her offspring. However we think about it, the Spirit of God was there, bringing creation forth.

The power of the Holy Spirit is a subject of considerable wonder, especially given the fact that he has now come to dwell in the hearts and lives of believers. Jesus promised that after he left, he would give us a gift. Remarkably, Jesus said it was better than even having Jesus with us! What was the gift? Well, the gift wasn’t a what, but a who. The gift is the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’s promise in this passage is the greatest news. And, if we get it, then we can go from experiencing unquenched thirst to unstoppable rivers of grace in your life. Because God is spirit, he is not confined to some space or person. God the Spirit means that all of us can experience the personal touch and power of God almighty. Christ had a body, but the Holy Spirit does not. That means that he can dwell in us! Why? To remind us of everything that Jesus taught us. The promise of the gospel comes true in God the Holy Spirit—God is dwelling with his people.

But maybe this doesn’t sound like good news to you. Perhaps the idea of God living within you, reminding you of the words of Jesus sounds unattractive. Couldn’t this just be God’s way of nagging his people? Who wants someone to tell them all the rules they’re breaking all the time. But of course that’s not all he does. The Spirit delights to draw our minds and hearts to Jesus, but not to feel failure. He does still more. He empowers us to serve him, and changes us to look more like him. The Holy Spirit is the person of God dwelling with us on the inside to make us look more like Jesus on the outside.

We can be baptized—completely immersed in and filled with—the Holy Spirit. God has given us himself, not only to save us, but to dwell with us. Today, go and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. Ask him to baptize you. Ask him to change you, fill you, and empower you. Then, go and pour yourself out for the world around you. Once empty, you can return and ask again. For, the Spirit never, ever runs dry.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 18: God is Son.

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:29, 34). And [he]was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (Romans 1:4).

 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15).

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 
(Hebrews 4:14-16).

That Jesus Christ is the Son of God is the most contentious claim in all of history. Therefore, to believe it invites every reaction from joyful acceptance to hateful persecution. Why is it so important that we see that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Furthermore, how do we come to celebrate this glorious fact?

First, Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God is critical for our redemption. Jesus plays a completely unique role in history, in that he is only one able to stand between humanity and God. In the Old Testament, certain men were chosen to function as priests. Their job was to represent God to the people through teaching and worship, and represent the people back to God, through sacrifice and offerings.

With the coming of Jesus Christ, we’ve been given a truer and better high priest. In Jesus Christ, we find the one person who is fully human, able to represent humanity to God. And, we also find the one person who is fully God, able to truly represent God to us. He is the image of the invisible God, the exact representation of his nature, (Col. 1:15). If Jesus were not the Son of God, then his role as our great high priest wouldn’t be all that great.

But, Jesus is still more. In the Old Testament, the priests would lead God’s people in worship by offering sacrifices for sin. When the people came to the temple, an animal would have to die to cover their iniquity. This is where Jesus is even greater. Jesus didn’t just offer some imperfect sacrifice, hoping it would end the treasonous rebellion against his Father. Jesus offered himself. The Great High Priest became our perfect, infinitely worthy sacrifice.

Because sin has cause an infinite gap to open up between God and humanity, only an sacrifice of limitless worth was able to traverse it. If Jesus were not God the Son—fully God and fully man—then his sacrifice on our behalf would not be fully worthy, and we would be left in our sin.

But how do we know? How can we really be sure that Jesus Christ really is God the Son? The answer: resurrection. You see, the sacrifice that Jesus made was for us. The death he died was not because of his own sin, it was for ours. Scripture tells us that the wages of sin is death, but Jesus had no sin, so not even death had a claim on him. He conquered death on our behalf, so that we, by faith in him, would conquer death too. If Jesus were still in the ground, we wouldn’t be asking if he was the Son of God.

But, Jesus is not still in the ground. He is risen. The Son has ascended to the Father, and the people of God rejoice.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 17: God is Father

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. (Matthew 6:9). For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ... (Rom. 8:15-17a).

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (Matthew 6:31-32).

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Fathers aren’t in a good state these days. As I write this, the number of fatherless families is on the rise. Children born in this generation in the United States are less likely to have a father in their lives than any generation that has come before. Because of this epidemic of fatherlessness, it becomes difficult for us to understand God as Father. And yet, it’s this very same epidemic which makes it so important that we do.

God is eternally existent as one God in three distinct persons—Fathers, Son, and Holy Spirit. When the Son, Jesus Christ, reconciles us to God through faith in the gospel, then God becomes our Father. And actually, the news is even more dramatic than that. Romans tells us that when we believe the gospel, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us, causing us to call God “Abba,” a word which roughly translates in English as “daddy.” Think on that. Have you ever considered the absolutely crazy reality that, in Christ, God isn’t some stern father. He’s daddy.

I write this at the risk of alienating many of you, because many of you won’t have a good memory of daddy. But I’m asking you to stretch your conceptual box. If you do, then abundant blessings will flow. Why? Because understanding that God is Father brings with it an unshakable security. In Matthew, we’re taught to call on God as Father. In our prayers, Christians are not to say magic words to appease some far-off deity. Our prayers are the heartfelt communion between children and Father—a good and loving Father at that.

What worries plague you? What do you fear? Are you afraid of a lack of money? Worried that your spouse may never appear? Later in the same teaching, Jesus encourages you; don’t worry about such things. Why? Because you’ve got a good Father, and good fathers provide for their kids. Thus he says, “do not be anxious, that’s what unbelievers do. You know God the Father, and he already knows what you need before you know to ask.” Wow. What a good dad. Have you brought your fears and concerns to him, and left them with him? Trust me when I say, he knows what to do with them better than you do.

Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means that we gain God as our Father. And it’s in his family name that we’re meant to live. At the end of Matthew, Jesus tells us to go make disciples in the name of the holy family—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What a privilege you and I have today, to take the family business to new and uncharted places. What a joy to go on adoption missions, introducing our city, our family, and our world to God, the Father.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 14: God is Rescuer.

The LORD God said to the serpent ... I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head,  and you shall bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:14a, 15). The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2).

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10).

...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3:23-25).

“I don’t need any help! I’m fine!”

That was how one my first attempts at sharing the gospel ended. I was a teenager, speaking to someone in my family. After telling them the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection to save them from their sins, this was their response.

I don’t hold it against him, though. This was my response too, at first. In fact, this is the response of the whole of humanity, until grace changes our hearts to receive the good news of God’s rescue, by faith. Ever since the beginning, God has been on a rescue mission of the people he loves. That mission, that story, is the one we call the gospel.

Remember that in the beginning, God made everything very, very good. God’s creation was pristine, perfect, and pregnant with potential. But our first parents looked upon what God made and want it more than him. They wanted God’s stuff—to have it, to rule it, to be in charge. They rebelled. They did what they wanted, and in so doing they irreparably terminated their relationship with God. The became lost in a relativistic sea of pain, depravity, and self-will. Like a swimmer alone in the pacific, they—and we—had no hope of rescue.

But God looked upon his people, at the crime scene of their brokenness, with compassion. Instead of getting angry, he showed grace. He looked at our enemy, the liar and tempter of our souls, and made a promise. The promise was for a rescuer—one that would destroy sin and save humanity. God promised to rescue.

The millennia that followed this promise saw God rescue his people over and over again from the consequences of sin. But, never from sin itself. Not then, anyway. The psalmists would sing about God’s power to save. And yet, something was missing. God’s people seemed always to return to sin. Like a sailor who always wrecks the ship, humanity continued to wreck the world, their lives, and each other. What could God do to destroy sin?

Into a confused humanity came Jesus Christ. Living a perfect life, he showed us what God is like, in the flesh. He put a face on the love of God. He put hands to the work of God. And those same hands which healed while he was alive, would heal in his death. Jesus came to seek us—the lost ones. For all those who would be willing to say, “I’m lost, and I need to be rescued,” the coming of Jesus is unspeakably good news. But for those of us who insist on floating in the sea of our sin, refusing the rescue God has provided, Jesus is only offensive. We simply look at him and shout, “I don’t need any help! I’m fine!”

You and I and everyone else have sinned. We’ve fallen short of God’s ideal, preferring ourselves to God and everyone else. That’s why we can’t have much to do with our rescue. The shipwrecked sailor doesn’t make or bring the rescue. He just receives it. So, before you pursue all your earthly treasures which remind you how independent and strong you are, remember that God is your rescuer. The only way to lay hold of the rescue of God is to abandon your self-sufficiency. Once you’re empty of your best efforts, God will fill you up. For, he loves to fill empty, broken, needy people.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 13: God is Patient.

The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love... (Numbers 14:18). They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. (Nehemiah 9:17).

...in his divine forbearance he (God) had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:25-26).

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:24).

No one has ever accused me of being too patient. In the past, I’ve just chalked this up to my personality. I like to get things done, make things happen. Patience, therefore, is not a virtue often attached to achievement. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that God—who has achieved more than I ever will—is exceedingly patient.

Webster defines patience this way: “The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness.” With that definition in mind, now let’s think about God. Since the fall of mankind, God has suffered our disobedience, sin, and all the brokenness that we as a race have unleashed upon his good world. We don’t often think about God suffering from our sin. But, the Scriptures are clear. Sin grieves him to his heart.

Very different from you and I, however, is the way God reacts to our sin. When I am sinned against, I am immediately tempted toward anger, rage, and retribution. But not God. We read that God is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Rest assured that God will judge the world, but what we see here is the kind of God we’re getting to know. He doesn’t explode in rage. He doesn’t stomp the floors of heaven in anger. God is patient. He suffers our disobedience with a calm, unruffled tempter. He doesn’t fret, and he doesn’t whine. Neither does he smack us like some abusive father. He’s totally different than we are, because we are a people plagued by impatience. I should know, because I am chiefest among them.

So what does this matter? Why should we care if God is patient? First of all, God’s patience serves as a model for us. In a culture that values quick fixes, microwave solution, and instant answers—none of which seem to actually fix our problems—God stands out as different. God has taken all our history to weave the beautiful story of redemption. We, like the people of Nehemiah’s day, forget about God all the time. But God does not forget us, nor does he grow weary. He is patient, which means we can be too.

Secondly, God’s patience means that our redemption was accomplished rightly. Paul tells his Roman listeners that God’s patience has meant that Jesus came at just the right time, died just the right death, and won just the right victory over sin that means that God is just and we are forgiven. That’s incredibly good news for you and I. If God were impatient, then we wouldn’t be forgiven. Even from the cross itself, Jesus demonstrated infinite patience. He suffered affliction calmly, with love. He forgave us even as we killed him. That is patience.

Jesus' patience doesn’t only mean we should be patient, but that we finally can be. Why? Because he lives in us, we can be like him. We can be patient, waiting for God’s good plan to unfold right on time. It always does.

Jesus, give me patience today. Things will happen today that I want to happen, but many will not. When I am challenged, hurt, lied to, persecuted, disrespected, treated unfairly or unkindly, cause me to remember that you were to—much more, in fact. Empower me with the same divine patience that you have, God. 

As I suffer well, let others see the sufferings of Christ in me. As I am patient, let others see the patience of Christ in me. As this happens, let many be drawn to the grace of Christ in me, and be changed.

Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 12: God is Faithful

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, (Deuteronomy 7:9). The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
 (Hebrews 13:8).

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17).

Have you ever had someone make a promise to you, then break it? It’s an awful feeling. Yet, our world abounds with broken promises. The promise to love and be faithful to a spouse is soon broken by the gaze of another. The promise to be there for someone is broken by another commitment. The promise from our leaders to be honest and transparent is broken by back room deals, lies, and coverups. It’s no wonder, then, that we have a hard time believing that God is any different.

The God we meet in the Scriptures is, thankfully, very different. God never wakes up on the wrong side of the bed. God never flip flops. God never covers up the truth. God always, only, ever does what he says he is going to do. In short, God is faithful.

The root of faithlessness in our culture has borne the fruit of cynicism—the refusal to believe anything. Inside many of us, we carry around the belief that we really can’t trust anyone, including God. But God is worthy of our trust, precisely because God is in no way like us. We read that God “keeps his covenants.” There is not one promise that God has made which he has not kept. Not one forecast that did not come to pass. We aren’t like that at all.

We also read that all God’s ways are justice. Nothing that God brings about is ever wrong, unjust, or in any way to be called into question. In fact, every good and noble thing that you and I can imagine are proofs of this fact. God has bestowed countless blessings on us. James, the half-brother of Jesus, reminds us that with God “there is no shadow due to change.” God is never turning himself to keep his less beautiful parts hidden from us. He’s never putting on a facade. No, he is always faithful, giving good and perfect gifts to a humanity that largely does not deserve them.

Chiefest among these gifts, however, is the gift of himself. The greatest promise that God has ever kept is the promise to rescue his people from their sins. His mightiest demonstration of his faithfulness was in his gift of Jesus Christ to us. No one at the time expected God to come in flesh! The best guesses were for a king or military leader. Jesus was way above and beyond what anyone could have imagined. This should show us something about the character of God—namely, that though we cannot understand or predict how God will carry out his promises, we may always trust that he will carry out his promises. This fact should make us immensely grateful that the God we serve is a God who will always be faithful. Therefore, he is always worthy of trust.

Today, you may not understand how God is achieving his promises. But before you doubt him, remember that your inability to understand God’s ways does not prove him unfaithful. It only proves him God, and you merely human. Trust him today. He is worth it.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 10: God is Sovereign.

The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! (Psalm 97:1). Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. (Psalm 115:3).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. (Ephesians 1:3-4).

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 
(Romans 8:28-30).

“You are not in charge!” she said. My teacher looked so frustrated that tears were beginning to form in her eyes. I had always been a good student, but somewhat hellbent on taking over the class, leading the discussions, etc. After some time not taking direction well, she had lost all patience and had to raise her voice to get my attention. Now, I don’t fault her for it. I readily admit that I really liked to be in charge. In fact, I think that all of us do.

It’s no surprise, then, that the sovereignty of God is a subject of debate among us humans. Sovereignty is the character trait of a sovereign—a Lord or ruler. Sovereigns reign, and rule, and we typically don’t like that. Ever since our first parents rebelled against God, we’ve been doing our best to run our own lives, being masters of our own destinies—or so we think. But when this attitude bumps up against the unchangeable rulership of God almighty, friction happens. But I hope to convince you that God’s sovereignty is a trait which shouldn’t make you rebel, but worship.

God’s sovereignty means that he and he alone rules over the affairs of the world. The book of Psalms is replete with praise for this fact. “God is in heaven and he does whatever pleases him,” the joyful songwriter sings. For him, that was very good news, worthy of writing a song about. “The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice!” sings another. It is an unspeakable wonder that we not only know that God rules the world, but that we know him. Because we’re in relationship with God through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are relationally connected to the one who holds the universe together and providentially oversees every part of it, from the greatest celestial body to the smallest subatomic particle.

However, God is not only sovereign in nature. His rulership extends into our lives as well. This is especially wonderful, because we are uniquely broken. Ephesians 2 tells us that all of us, apart from a work of grace, are dead in our trespasses and sins. Dead. Not sick, not hurt. Dead. But, God (who has more mercy than we can imagine) has reached down into our dead hearts and made them alive! Our response is repentance and faith, and we are made members of God’s family—adopted sons and daughters of the King of Kings. If God were not sovereign over such matters as our hearts, then we would not, indeed we could not, be saved.

For God’s people, his sovereignty continues to be a fountain of praise. Romans 8 reminds us that nothing can befall God’s children—not even the things which seem horrible—that will not ultimately work for our good and for God’s glory. Why? Follow the verse. God has foreknown us (which is a biblical word which means “loved before all time.”) He set his love on us as the bridge of Christ. And if he’s done that, then he is sovereign enough to carry us all the way through our calling, our growth, and even rising together with Christ in our future glory. In short, the sovereignty of God assures our salvation, our sanctification (growth in holiness), and our glorification, when we will be united with Christ forever.

The choice for our us is simple. Shall we go on insisting that we really run the show, like I did with the teacher, or shall we joyfully run to our sovereign God who rules the universe with unending love and wisdom. For my part, I want to choose worship.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 9: God is Love.

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...
(Exodus 34:6). For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:8-10).

The love of God is greater news than a short devotional can possibly contain. But today, I’d like to consider the love of God from two important perspectives. First, I want to consider love as God’s personal trait, and second, his love for sinners like you and I.

It’s extremely important for us to know without shadow of doubt or disbelief that God is love. Doubt about this will shake the foundation of our relationship with him. It’s not merely that God is loving, but that God is, in his nature, love itself. The Apostle John explored this concept frequently, reminding us that God is love. In doing so, he connected a confession of the New Testament believers with the confession of the Old Testament. In Exodus 34:6, we read an oft-recited passage, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...” That phrase, “steadfast love,” is an important one. It employs a Hebrew word called chessed. This word stands for the unstoppable, relentless, untiring, sinner-chasing love of God. It’s not a mere feeling. It’s a decisive, rescuing love. It’s the love of God, shown.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “that’s great, but how am I supposed to know that God loves me?” Good question. It’s all well and good to be told that God loves you. But, it’s another matter entirely to be shown. Love is connected to cost. If I say I love you, you might feel nicely about that, or you may not care. But if I say I love you and pay off all your debts, then my love for you simply matters more. I’ve shown great love for you through a generous gift.

God’s generous self-sacrifice takes us to our second consideration—the love of God for sinners. Because God is love, his love for us isn’t arbitrary. His love for sinners is a part of his nature. So to bring us back to himself, it was he himself that would have to make the greatest sacrifice.

“In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” This is scandalous if true. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross isn’t an expression of love. It’s the expression of love. If God has proven his love for me and you in this way, then to not return love to God is sin of cosmic proportions. But to be caught up in a love relationship with God on the basis of his son’s sacrifice, this is a privilege of unparalleled wonder.

I understand that sometimes it’s hard to feel the love of God. We have days where our emotions betray us into believing that we are unloved, ugly, and worthless. But God has better news for us, and regardless of how we feel about it, it’s true. God loves you and I with the kind of love that embraces death for the sake of the other. God loves us like this. May we, therefore, be filled with such love as we live for him!

God, you love me. Today, help me to remember that. When I feel unloved, bring to mind all that you've done to prove your love to me. And Jesus, cause me to overflow with the same love for you and for others.

Amen

Prayer & Fasting, Day 7: God is Everywhere.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you, the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 
(Psalm 139:7-12). Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:24).

“Where is God!?” I remember him crying. He was a young man I’d been working with for a while. His childhood, however, was really troubled. Dad left, mom wasn’t great, and pain was his familiar companion far too early in life. Through his tears, he asked me the question that so many do when faced with suffering. Where is God?

“He’s right here,” I said.

To you, that answer may sound trite. But I wasn’t trying to be pithy, I was trying to speak truth. God is everywhere. There is never a moment, a location, or a space in life where God is not already present waiting for us. No one can hide from him, and no one can evade him. Jonah tried, if you remember. In the story, God called Jonah to preach a message of repentance and grace to Jonah’s sworn enemies. Filled with hatred, Jonah attempted to flee God, but failed. I remember once reading that very story to my daughter when she was younger. Her response was, “Daddy, that’s silly. You can’t run from God. He’s everywhere!” Even the 4-year-old knows that.

But why does this matter? Further, why is it good news that God is this way? Well, let’s return to our suffering young man. The news of God’s everywhere-ness (or, omnipresence), is good news precisely because even in our moments of deepest pain and brokenness, God is there. While God is holy and totally unsullied by sin, he is certainly present and aware of it. And, the God who sees our situation is certainly able to identify with it. This is, after all, part of the good news of the Gospel. Jesus came to be with us—present with us. In one sense, he already was, because God is everywhere. But in another important sense, he came to be with us physically be with us. Why? To identify with us personally, and to show us how much we matter to him.

When you’re going through pain, you can see who really cares about you. There are those who send their sympathies from afar, and then there are those who come to be with you physically and feel your pain. Jesus is in the latter category. Because God is everywhere, we never walk out of his vision. But because God is inexpressibly loving, he decided to walk into ours.

God’s omnipresence means that we can trust him, because as a just and good God, he sees all things, understanding what’s going on. For the victim of injustice who may never know real justice in this life—God is there. He knows. For the suffering, small, and hurt people who may never find a voice on this side of the veil—God is there. “He is not far from each one of us, for in him we live, and move, and have our being,” (Acts 17:27-28).

God I thank you that you've never been far from me. From highest joys to deepest pains, you'll never be from me. Thank you that you are everywhere present, filling each moment.

Today, cause me to walk with a greater awareness of your presence. You are "not far from each one of us." Thank you that "in you [I] live, and move, and have my being." Today, God, help me to keep that reality at the forefront of my thinking. Keep me from fooling myself that I'm independent and alone. In you, I am never alone. 

I love you God. And today I celebrate that I am never far from you!

For Jesus' glory, Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 6: God is Limitless

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. (Deuteronomy 33:27). Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).

Nothing about infinity makes sense to us. We simply can’t relate to it. All our experience is marked by beginnings and endings. We’re born, we die. Sunrise, sunset. Arrive, depart. So when it comes to meditating on God’s boundless, limitless, timeless nature, we’re dumbstruck. How are we to make sense of infinity, much less celebrate it in God?

All throughout the Scriptures, the limitlessness of God is seen as a catalytic source of hope and comfort. In Deuteronomy, the people of Israel were given the laws of God, being reminded (even after their disobedience) that covenant with God was still possible. Here he reminds them, “I am your eternal dwelling place, and my everlasting arms hold you.” See, God’s infinity is actually wonderful news for us, because unless God is limitless in wonder and strength, then relationship with him isn’t all that great.

What do I mean? The law of diminishing returns. This is that law of human experience that says that the second time you do something, it won’t be as amazing as the first. They say that addicts are always chasing after their first high. Concert goers are constantly seeking that next great musical experience. We know, if only from our life experience, that nothing lasts forever. “All good things must come to an end,” we’re told. We believe it, and move on. If God were limited, then he would be no different. He would end, and we would have no hope.

But God is different. Because God is eternal, infinite, and limitless, we know that we will never run out of God at which to be amazed. We’ll never exhaust his power, wonder, or perfection. That’s why relationship with God is so wonderful. God is the only being who can ceaselessly and eternally satisfy the longings of our heart. Each moment with God leads to greater wonder, on into forever.

His limitless power is source of great encouragement. But sometimes, we need reminding. In Isaiah, we read such an encouragement. Ours is the everlasting God. He does not get tired. He does not need a rest. He does not stop pursuing us. And what’s more, he does not run out of power and passion to pour into our hearts. He is the beginning, and he is the end.

Our limitless God has a name—Jesus. Jesus states repeatedly in the Revelation that he is the alpha and omega. He’s the bookends to existence, and that’s great news of us, if we know him. If Jesus is our treasure and joy, and if we’re his by grace, then we wonderful future. We will see him forever, and every consecutive moment with him will be greater than the moment before—forever!

Jesus, thank you for your limitless worth. You will be praised forever. Today, uphold me. You are the everlasting God. You don't grow faint or weary. You don't run out of strength or wisdom. Please sustain me with your mighty right hand, and your infinite might.

Today, as I consider all I must face, all I'm praying for, and all that we're asking you do as a church, help me to also consider your strength and power. You will never run out of grace or help, and for that I will praise you forever.

Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 5: God is Powerful.

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. (Genesis 1:16) Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:35)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Hebrews 1:3)

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 7:12)

Genesis 1:16 is one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. It’s the last three words that really get me, “...and the stars.” The power of God is so great that the entire universe of stars gets barely a mention, as though speaking the cosmos into creation were nothing for God. What breathtaking power God must have.

Often, however, the power of God isn't the subject of praise, but worry. Many people are uncomfortable with the sheer power of God. In our world, we’re used to seeing our leaders abuse power. “Power corrupts,” they say, “and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” Why, then, is it good news for us that God is unimaginably powerful?

First, God’s power fuels our worship. I remember watching the olympics as a boy. The event was weightlifting. Watching the power of the athletes on the screen, I was dumbfounded. I simply didn’t know how to process, as a little boy, the power that it must take to move such heavy, seemingly immovable objects. I admired these men for their strength. You and I are wired to be impressed by rare power like this. How much more, then, should we take a moment to consider the power of God and let our hearts loose to wonder at it.

But God’s power isn’t just for God’s sake. He uses his immense power for our behalf. In Psalm 68, David is praising God no only for having all the power, but for empowering his people with it. Are you facing a tough spot? Isn’t it great news to think that God is powerful enough to overcome whatever you are facing? When all we have is the impossible task in our view, we can become discouraged. But step back, and take a look at God’s power. Now we have reason to praise, even though what is ahead looks impossible.

We can also consider the immense humility of God in light of his power. In Jesus, we see the all-powerful God pulling back his might, putting on flesh, and walking among us. Hebrews tells  us that even in this state, the universe was being upheld by God’s power, and yet he was approachable to us. He didn’t explode onto the seen Hollywood-style, making demands for repentance. He withheld his power to become like us, even unto death for us.

It is for this reason that we will praise God’s power for all eternity. In Revelation, we get a preview of the power of God as fuel for praise. We will stand and sing with all the saints of God, “Amen, Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!” This is our heart’s cry, because our powerful creator empowers us, saves us, and rescues us. That’s like gasoline on the fire of our worship.

Today, pause to reflect on God’s power, and ask him to bring that power to bear in your life, your church, and your city. He is well able to accomplish all his gracious will if we ask.

 God you are mighty and powerful. You created the universe, spoke the stars into existence, and keep them all burning for your praise. You are mighty, God.

Thank you for being mindful of me. It's amazing to consider that you made all this, and yet you care about me. Thank you for letting me share in your power to overcome sin, brokenness, and all that stands between me and you. You are strong, God, and able to overcome all obstacles in my life today.

Jesus, I cannot wait to join with the billions of voices from every tribe and nation to praise you for your power. Even though you are limitless in strength, you became nothing so that I could know you, praise you, and be satisfied in you. You are unspeakably wonderful, and I love you.

Amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 4: God is Lord.

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:14-15). I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7)

Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? (Luke 6:46).

[Peter said,] Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. (Acts 2:36)

“Lord” is not a common word these days. When we stop and think about the word, our minds may drift back to old England, when lords and ladies ruled the land. This image—one of pageantry and position—perhaps gets subtly imported into our concept of God. Maybe we imagine him to be some aloof monarch who’s not paying close attention to his lands. Perhaps we might misunderstand God as Lord to mean that he’s overly concerned with his own position and authority. So, what does it mean to say that God is Lord?

Let’s consider the passages of Scripture we just read. When Moses was commanded to go and be God’s instrument of rescue, he was told that God’s name as “Lord” (Yahweh) would be his name “throughout all generations.” So, God’s pretty concerned that we get his name correct—and the primary name he chooses is, Lord. But largely, we’ve forgotten this. Israel forgot too, which is why Jeremiah prophesied as he did, that God would give his people a new heart to know that he, and not anyone or anything else, is the Lord. He prophesied that those who are truly God’s people would return to the Lord with all their heart. So, we must first observe that God’s Lordship means that he is the object of our supreme allegiance and devotion.

Now perhaps you read that and it all sounds a bit stale. “Supreme allegiance?” Sounds like God’s a control freak, right? Not at all. God’s in control whether we recognize the fact or not. I can deny that gravity exists, but I’ll do so with my feet on the ground. Similarly, we may deny implicitly or explicitly that God is truly the object of our allegiance and devotion, but it doesn’t change the fact that he should be.

And, therein lies the problem. In our sinful brokenness, we don’t want God to be Lord. We want to be Lord. We live in a world full of little lords. We wish to rule ourselves, lead ourselves, even live for ourselves. Is this you? Ask yourself this question—what about your life right now do you want God to mess with the least? Is it your career? Kids? The way you spend money? Is it what you do with your body or your view with your eyes? We are the very people to whom Jesus would pose the question which has asked in the Scripture above, “Why do you call me Lord and not do what I say?”

We’re all so quick to run to savior Jesus, aren’t we? We love the idea of total acceptance at no cost. But, there is a cost. Of course Jesus’ rescue and redemption was totally free to us and infinitely costly to him. However, when we come to him, we lose the right to be our own lords any longer. We no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to him. Coming to Jesus is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s words as we “return to him with our whole heart.” Not part of the heart, the whole.

Jesus has come to rescue and redeem us, and that is glorious truth. But salvation is completely entangled with the Lordship of Jesus. When we come to him, it’s because we’ve left ourselves. Coming to the foot of the cross involves arriving at the end of yourself. That means that from then on, Jesus rules, he reigns, and we follow him.

Sin was a rebellion against the lordship of God. This rebellion was finally overcome, however, in the great news of the Gospel of grace. Because Jesus Christ has come to put to death in his own body the insurgency against God, we can find new life as redeemed citizen of his Father’s kingdom, living happily and passionately under his Lordship. Now, Jesus sits at the right hand of God almighty, and as his redeemed people, we follow him. What exceptional grace this is, that our treasonous rebellion has been quelled not by our punishment, but by God’s gracious gift to us in Christ.

 Jesus, thank you so much for quelling my rebellious heart. Your perfect life was one I could never live. Your death on the cross was a death I deserved. And your resurrection is amazing news to me—that you, my King, have overcome the grave I deserve so I can know you, and follow you. God, thank you for freeing me from sin and freeing me unto obedience. 

Today, take total control of my life. Rule everything—money, sex, career, family, politics—everything about me. I give myself totally and fully to you because, Jesus, you gave yourself totally and fully to me. I love you, my Lord and King. Help me follow you today.

Thank you God, amen.

Prayer & Fasting, Day 2: God is Creator

In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. (Genesis 1:1) Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. (Isaiah 40:28)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. (Psalm 19:1-2).

Creation is the glorious effect of the cause of God’s will. This is a subject of considerable wonder, given the kind of creation in which we find ourselves. To say that the universe is vast is a laughable understatement—traveling at light speed, it takes over 150 billion years to travel across the cosmos. To say that it is complex and delicately made is to almost trivialize how complex and delicate it actually is. The universe that you and I inhabit is an enormous, lovingly made home designed to tell us something about the God who made it.

The first thing to note about God’s activity in creation is that it’s something that only God could do. The Bible uses an interesting word to describe God’s activity in creation. When God creates, he bara ’s—a unique Hebrew word which means to create or initiate out of nothing. Only God can do that. We make things out of pre-existent stuff, but God does not. God makes from nothing. In his fullness he approaches the emptiness and void of nothingness and fills it up with everything.

The simple fact is, you and I require a creator. We are contingent beings—contingent on being made. God is not like us. God does not require a creator, because God is eternally existent. He is the source of all life, the giver of the world we inhabit, and for this fact we should be utterly amazed by him. When you go outside and stare up at the starry sky, or when you go inside and stare into a microscope, our breath should be taken away at the intricate wisdom with which God made the world that you and I call home.

So why does this matter? Let’s consider two reasons. First, the world God made was a good world. The Scriptures tell us seven times in Genesis 1 that God’s creation was good. So the world, prior to sin, was good. This means that stuff (money, food, our bodies, etc.) is neither totally evil as the ascetic, religious people tell us, nor is totally good, like the materialists say. Instead, the “stuff” of creation is given for a different purpose, which is the second reason this whole discussion matters: God made you and I and everything to declare his glory, greatness, and power. Like a living painting, like a moving sculpture, the world of worlds spinning in harmony from the greatest celestial body to the smallest subatomic particle is given to us to cause us to say, “Wow, God. You are amazing.” At bottom, the universe isn’t about us. Creation is all about God! This doctrine should drop down into our hearts like a match into a box kindling, causing the fire of our love for God to blaze brighter, just like a star in God’s creation—burning passionately for the glory of God, and our deep joy.

God you are the maker of all things. I exalt your power and infinite intelligence and wisdom with which you made everything! The Bible tells us that in you we live, move, and have our being. Thank you for creating me. Thank you for creating the world in which I live. Since you’re the Creator of all things, you own everything. Help me to live out my day today dependent on you. 

God, you made everything, so you know how it works best. So God, please give me wisdom today how to live rightly. I want to experience your glory, and the comfort of being constantly aware the I know the creator of all things. Thank you for this grace, creator God.

In Jesus name, and for your glory, amen.

Sunday Review: What's at the Center?

Fact: Your life will center on something. The only real question is, on what? Or better yet, on whom? This Sunday at Aletheia we kicked off a new series called Centered, which was my direct assault on the temptation we pastors feel to preach try-harder-do-better sermons at the beginning of each year. Each new year brings with it a bunch of unmet resolutions, promises that won't be kept, and visions of grandeur which will never be achieved. Why? Because at our core, we don't want them. Obtaining those goals doesn't live on the inside of us. What lives inside us will always, always, rule what's outside.

As a result of Sunday, a few observations came to mind:

If Jesus Abides at the Center, I Can't Not Grow Abiding isn't a word we use much these days, but it basically means "to live with." It's not a one-time word, it's an ongoing activity. I abide with my wife because we share a home, a life. Similarly, for Jesus to abide at the center of my life means that I'm in constant fellowship and communion with him. How? As my friend Steve Murrell likes to say, same. old. boring. strokes. We pray, we fast, we ask, we obey. And you know what, those little habits of drawing near to Jesus draw him near to us. The result, growth. It just can't not happen.

If Jesus Abides at the Center, We Can't Not Grow Like the first point, but for our church. I'll be honest, I hate church growth books. I've read a bunch of them, and most of the time I feel either condemned or falsely hopeful. But if Jesus is really dwelling at the core of this church, then our biggest problem will be what to do with all the fruit. We abide, he guarantees fruitfulness.

Jesus' Love Language is Obedience My love language is words of affection. My wife's is acts of service. But Jesus is different, because Jesus isn't our peer, he's our Lord. If we truly wish to love Jesus, then we'll obey him.

2013 is Going to be a Great Year I think that this year will be the most fruitful that Aletheia has ever seen. I'm not confident in this because I'm a great pastor (cause I've got plenty of problems). It's not because our "show" is so glamorous (because it's not). I'm confident because God's grace is sufficient to keep Jesus at the center of our affections this year. So, that's what I'm praying for us, church. Jesus, be the center. Everything else will take care of itself.

How to Accomplish Nothing in 2013

"If you shoot for the moon you'll land among the stars!" I remember reading that sign, probably in a high school guidance counselor's office. The idea, have big hairy, totally irrational goals, and you'll probably go somewhere far. I'm convinced that this kind of thinking is precisely the way to accomplish nothing, or right next to it. So, in line with that bad advice, here's some more to make sure that you absolutely never accomplish anything you want to in 2013, and some tips to avoid doing just that.

Only make goals Big goals that are unaccompanied by a plan and an accountability structure are about as useful as a life jacket in the desert. There's even new research to show that big goal making is, by itself, pretty much useless. So, before you get out a fresh, clean sheet of paper and write down a list of crazy dreams, pause. Do you have any kind of plan? Is there an accountability structure in  your life to make sure things like this get done? All goals and no plan make you sure to fail.

Don't compete your list I'm a goal-oriented man. I can't tell you the pleasure I get from scratching something off my to-do list. But here's what I've learned about goals all alone—they'll kill me if I let them. Make a big goal and then don't do it. Don't lose those 5 pounds. Don't read your whole bible. Don't do whatever you said you'd do, and watch what happens. If you have any kind of soul, you'll feel pretty bad, maybe even crushed. Then, all your energy is sapped for accomplishing more of what you should be doing. Don't turn your goals into your gods. God's your God, and he has grace for you to help you get everything done you need to do.

Compare your goals to others This is a great way to accomplish nothing. This one is bad for two reasons. First, if you actually do achieve more than most, then you're looking to others goals to make you feel good. Do this, and you'll get lazy with your own high-capacity ability for achievement, which God gave you for his purposes and glory, not yours. The other reason this is a sure-fire way to goal failure is if you achieve slower than others, then comparing will only discourage you. Comparing your list to another's list is foolish because you're you, not them. To do this is to wish yourself to be other than you are, which is sin. Goals for the future should be God-centered, not man centered.

Don't plead with God for help Go ahead. Try to accomplish something, even something for God, on your own. And even if you do accomplish something, God won't be honored. That doesn't work. Again, goals should be made prayerfully and hopefully, relying on God not only for the wisdom to make them, but also for the power to accomplish them. Instead,pray, asking God to give you help.

Lord, make me a secure, God-centered goal setter and achiever. Tell me what to do, give me grace to do it, and let me satisfied having done it for you, without reference to anyone else. 

Jesus, Thank You for 2012

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. (Ps. 138:2)

Today is the last day of 2012, and for my part, I'm going out on thankfulness. Was 2012 challenging? Yes. Was it hard? Absolutely. But the mercies of God were so apparent in so many ways, that I'd be remiss if I didn't note a few of them.

This year, God grew me. I won't bore you with all the ways, but my Lord loves me, and he's growing me up to be a better man of God. That happened a little bit this year. On the family side, he grew that too, giving us a new son. Also, I've deepened in my love for my wife and my children are growing in grace. On the church front we've made many new disciples, and God has graced our church with phenomenal growth, unheard of in this area.

The point here isn't to list out all my blessings for you read, but to show you just how simple and beautiful the process of doing so can be for you. The simple fact is, without gratefulness for past grace we'll be blind to future grace. I believe 2013 will bring more Jesus-bought, God-given grace than I can imagine. Challenges? Sure. But I want to posture my heart in gratitude to God for all he's going to do in 2013. How do I that? By thankful for some of what he's done in 2012.

Dad, Put your Phone Down

Hey, dad. Yeah you, the guy with the kids. I know its the holidays, and it's that weird week between Christmas and New Years, but while you're spending some extra time around the house, put the phone down.

"But, work..." Yes, I know. "I was only checking the..." Uh huh. I know it's tempting, but listen, they need their dad. In fact, a dad is a top-ten Christmas gift these days. Just put work, distractions, the game, the phone, the whatever, down.

That's it. Put it down. The iPad too. Now walk away.

And, walk toward your kids. Play with them. Wrestle with them. Make up stories. Be silly. Tell your girls that you love them and your boys how they'll grow to be mighty men of God one day. Read them your favorite bible story, play a board game.

Work's just around the corner, padre. It always is. Then, when you get back to the office and you're on the phone again, tweet about all the fun you had with your kids.

The Advent Changes Everything

The Advent Changes everything. Before Jesus stepped into the scene, God coming to help out directly seemed like an anomaly in an otherwise closed universe. Humanity was enslaved to the merciless consistency of cause and effect. Cause: sin. Effect: death. Cause: sin. Effect: pain. Cause: sin. Effect: brokenness. But that was before Advent—before the chain was broken, when the lid to universe was opened from the top and the creator stepped in.

You and I and everyone else who has put their ultimate hope in Jesus will be singing for ten thousand forevers of the mystery and effect of the Advent. So, I'm not going to pretend to unpack it all in one brief blog. But I do think that it's worth a moment, given the season, to consider a few very important ways the Advent changes everything.

The Advent means Nobody is a Nobody ...there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them...  (Lk. 2:8b-9a)

Shepherds were nobodies. Shepherds in the backwoods of Bethlehem, which was in the backwoods of Jerusalem, were the nobodies of nobodies. And yet, God sent legions of angels to sing in their presence of the birth of Jesus—them! If God almighty chooses to reveal the good news of the Gospel of Jesus first and foremost to the nobodies of the world, then everyone—without exception—qualifies to hear it. No one is too low, too unimportant, nor too high and self-important, to miss it. When God's armies show up to nobodies, all of a sudden they become somebodies. Now, nobody is a nobody. That's great news, especially if you've ever been tempted to think yourself too small or unimportant for God to use you or speak to you. If you're small, then you qualify.

The Advent Means God is Incomprehensibly Loving And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Lk. 2:10-11)

Love can be measured by the cost of its givenness. That is, you love someone only in proportion to your willingness to sacrifice for them. The Advent therefore can only mean that God is incomprehensibly loving, because he gave in the most helpless and humble state his own son to a race of beings which deserved him least. If God has done such a thing, then questions of his love for humanity are now answered with an unshakable proof—he gave us his son. He loves us, and the Advent makes this a settled fact.

The Advent means We can be Changed And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Lk. 2:20)

The shepherds came back to their fields changed. That's precisely what the Advent does—when Jesus comes to us, and we come to him, the only right response is exactly what the shepherds did—worship. The delight of the heart into which Jesus has come is worship. This is the feast for the hunger after God. This is the consummation of the love of God. And, this the proof positive that these shepherds where changed, all because of an encounter with Jesus. And if Jesus can change them, then good news: he can change me too.

Tonight was a great night—easily the most successful Christmas event we at Aletheia have ever done. My prayer, though, goes way past numbers or meetings. My prayer is that width would be quickly accompanied by depth. My prayer after a great Sunday night like tonight is that, in my great city, the news of the Advent of the Son of God would change absolutely everything.

It's starting.

We're Part of a Miracle

We're witnessing a miracle, the likes of which hasn't been seen in New England in hundreds of years. To the thousands of you who've been a part of planting this church, I've got some amazing news for you. In the last 12 months, our church has over doubled in size, we've baptized over 30 new believers, we've got open doors for the Gospel at Harvard, MIT, Tufts, BU, Wellesley, Emerson, and Northeastern. Our small groups have tripled in number, with a majority of our church growing. Life and Doctrine—our biblical foundations class—has graduated over 70 people this year.

Not only that, but in the last year, God used our church to do mighty acts of justice and love. We've been able to give away almost $90k in charitable gifts, church planting funds, and acts of mercy. God allowed us, through our Renew Project, to remodel our local community center from top to bottom, so that the kids of our city would have a place to play, learn, and grow. Through us, new churches were planted, hurting kids helped, and many changed by the truth, grace, and changing power of the gospel.

In short, God has given us not only a remarkably fast-growing church, but one where discipleship is really happening. This is a grace from God we don't deserve, and without all of you, it wouldn't have been possible. Thank you all so much. Here's a little video we shot to send our big love to you!

Aletheia Update Fall 2012 from Aletheia Church Boston on Vimeo.

5 Ideas to Celebrate Advent

"How do you celebrate Christmas?" This question is thrown at me quite a bit. Sometimes it comes from another parent in our church looking for a way to escape the ubiquitous commercialism and underwhelming cultural mythology around the so-called "winter holidays." Other times, I get it from an outraged fellow parent, totally baffled that my kids don't get all that excited about santa, cookies, or red-nosed reindeer. Around the Mabry house, we've got a few traditions that we've cobbled together to try and make the Advent season joyfully centered on Jesus, and full of great memories together. Here are five of them that we love...

1. The Advent Jesse Tree I must admit... I REALLY love this tradition. A few years back, my lovely wife got an old, dead tree branch. She stuck in a pot, held in place by gravel. In the process of creating this Tim Burton-inspired shrub, I thought she was nuts. But when I asked her what she was doing, she politely informed me that she was making a Jesse Tree—a tree upon which our family hangs one ornament for each day of December leading up to Christmas Day. These ornaments go with different stories in the Scriptures that lead up the coming of Jesus. Each night of December, we read from a great devotional book for each story, and then one of our children hangs the ornament of the day. It requires a little bit of preparation, but it's a favorite in the Mabry home.
2. Tell the Story of Santa Claus "Wait, aren't you a Pastor?" Yes I am, so let me explain. There are two mistakes that can be made regarding Santa Claus and the excessive cultural accouterments that go along with him. One is to freak out about them, call them all evil, and shun them. Best way to make your kids want santa and forget Jesus is to give the fat man the mystique of the forbidden. Calm down, he's not that big of a deal. The other mistake is just as bad, which is the wholesale embrace of Santa and his crew, to the neglect of Jesus. Nope, the answer is neither and better than both of these. Tell them the story of Santa as a story. And, tell them something about the real St. Nicholas. Then, when you've done that, tell them how glad you are the Christmas isn't about a man in the sky who judges me for all the naughty things I've done by withholding certain gifts, but a God who came from Heaven despite my evil to give me the greatest gift of all. Do that, and Jesus will just look a whole lot cooler than Santa.
3. Happy Birthday Jesus! On Christmas Day, we make a sweet breakfast treat, like cinnamon roles, stick a candle in them and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. This is an easy way for our littlest ones to see that these gifts and this day aren't about us, but Jesus. Once we're done singing, we take a moment to pray and thank God for sending us the best gift—Jesus.
4. Gift Giving On Christmas Day, we try to let our children enjoy giving the gifts. This one is subtle, but it's important. Instead of ripping into their gifts to hunt for their hoped-for-goodie, we take Christmas morning slowly, allowing our kids to take from the pile of gifts, and give them to each other. Then, we open them one at a time, and celebrate with the person getting the gift. Why? Because God is a big giver, who gave us his biggest gift—Jesus. Jesus said it's better to give, then to get. If God delights to give us his Son Jesus, then we should delight to be good gift-givers too. Neither stingy nor materialistic, just good givers.
5. Have Fun! Hey, God's is fun... really fun. He invented fun. Invent your own traditions with your family that make your heart delight in Jesus and in one another. Have fun with one another! Play games, enjoy the lights, sing some songs... these are all good things that, with good motives, can be great for you and yours.

So there you go. Now you know how we celebrate the Advent season. How do you?