Since puberty, I have usually been a barrel-chested stocky man. My joke with friends and family is "I was built for comfort, not for speed!" I am not a Porsche. I am a full-size Cadillac! Not that there is anything wrong with that!
The devotional today talks about the race we are running through life. God is reinforcing some things to me this morning through this devotional. I am so thankful! First, patience. Things will not happen all at once or necessarily when we want them to happen. They will happen in God's time if those things are what's best for us. Second, endurance. As I have written many times, music speaks to me. The dance mix of Everlasting God has been my mantra the past few days as I have been waiting on the Lord (Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, wait upon the Lord). Say that a few hundred times and it starts to sink in! hehehe Lastly, we cannot rely on our own strength and determination to live our lives in Christ. It just doesn't work. We stumble and fall like little children learning to walk. God is there holding our hands to help us walk and grow strong. It is through his grace that we are whole. Praise God!
Lord, thank you for strength and mercy.
Teaching Tuesday
I promised that I would post the devotional gave at the Emmaus team meeting on August 20. I forgot to do that last week here it is:
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
Luke 7:36-39, 47
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Wow! I am touched by this story every time I read it! Here are some things for us to think about as leaders of this Walk to Emmaus.
1. Acknowledge our own sins and shortcomings. We know the verse that says we have all fallen short of the glory of God. Each and every one of us. As one of our talks says, we are not superior to anyone just because we have been on X number of walks or lead this or gave every talk.
As leaders of this Walk to Emmaus, we need to seek Jesus every day, acknowledging our sins and let the Holy Spirit flow through us to be more like Christ.
2. Don't be afraid to let your hair down. I know that is a challenge for many of us! The woman knew what her life had been like. She had tremendous faith and commitment to humble herself by walking into the Pharisee's house, tears flowing down her face, washing the feet of Jesus with those tears and her hair, kissing his feet, and then anointing his feet with perfume.
As leaders of this Walk to Emmaus, we should be willing to do no less.
3. Don't hate! I think we all would say that we really don't hate. Think about the Pharisee's reaction to the scene. The Pharisee was NOT happy that this woman entered his home, much less got to Jesus and made a spectacle of herself! What nerve she had! What nerve of Jesus! If he was a prophet, shouldn't he be more picky about who touches him?
As leaders of this Walk to Emmaus, we need to put all judging aside. We need to look past the sins and mistakes of others on our team and of the pilgrims. As an old song says "We need to look beyond the faults and see the needs" (paraphrased)
Our many sins have been forgiven. Let the great love that God showed us shine through us to the pilgrims.
[I concluded by singing the verse and chorus to He Looked Beyond my Faults by Dottie Rambo]
Other Stuff
I had a nice walk with my walking buddy at lunch yesterday. I was tired, but decided to go to the gym after work as well. I had a short, but good work out. I did some stuff around the house last night, and then went to bed early. I am sleeping better now. Whew!
I was hungry for tacos last night, but ate too many of them. ;-( I have enough left over for a reasonable size taco salad.
I have a few projects that I am trying to finish this Fall before the weather turns colder. Yikes! I can't believe I am saying that!
I am looking forward to my vacation in Las Vegas next week. Should be a relaxing time. I have tickets to two shows and a tour of the Hoover Dam planned so far.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
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