Let's Do Launch

I remember the days when parents would threaten to wash their children’s mouth out with soap when descent or disrespect interrupted harmonious relationships.

People who knew Jesus was nearby rushed to see him. Jesus let them touch him. Crowds of people, all around him. Jostling. Calling. Reaching. He was strong enough, still enough, compassionate enough, to let them. And all who touched Him were healed.

How often do we face a day and think, I need more capacity? I don’t have enough in my tank to meet the demands of today.

Life isn’t always pleasant when our best efforts in the garden gets sabotaged by thorns and prickles and messy weeds. Sometimes we can become bogged down, overlooked, belittled, or weakened

For those desiring what is precious and sacred, the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven will be shown, and more understanding will be given, creating a bank of wealth.

The Lord is my light and my salvation. I fear no one.  The Lord protects my life. I am afraid of no one.

It’s not that people are unable to hear or see things that God wants to show us. It’s that we are unwilling to see or hear. We let our stubborn minds and calloused hearts lead instead of receiving what God is wanting to show us.

“Do you believe that I can do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they answered. He touched their eyes and said, “What you have believed will be done for you!” Then they could see.

Sometimes, God may tell us to wait, or to approach a situation in a certain way. But if we know we're hedging and we don't sense any particular direction from God, deep down there will be a conviction of what the right thing to do is, and it's not based on what feels good.

Jesus shows a consistent and deeper-than-imaginable level of care and love toward the most downtrodden and rejected of society.

Getting real about why we do things, about our motivation and attitude, helps us to reconcile our feelings with our trust in God. At the end of the day, if we have our heart right and we’re looking to serve Him with what we have, God is responsible for what happens next.

Even if yesterday sucked you dry of everything you had to give, today is a new day.

While we are called to bless and not to curse and pray for those who hurt us, we are also cautioned to live with boundaries to those who are resistant and hateful to the pearls we are given. We are to hold on to what is precious and not throw away our pearls when we know they will be trampled on.

How is it that I need the Holy Spirit’s power to have the faith for Christ to dwell in me and so that I can understand His love? Why power? Why not the grace of Christ? Or the fellowship of the Holy Spirit? Or the anointing? What is this power that I need to be established in His love and to be effective in His ministry?

When I think about how I treat others, and how others treat me, I can go to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 to measure that behaviour. This passage is a clear brush stroke of what love looks like in action.

When someone gives to us in a way that meets a meaningful need, and we know it’s a sacrifice for them, it delights our heart. So it is with our Heavenly Father. He delights to see us giving in this way because it’s beautiful.

We mark our lives with milestones and key events. We acquire wealth and we grow our families. What are we following after that marks our life the way we desire?

Wherever Jesus went He drew people. People wanted to hear what He said and spend time with Him. Like moths to a flame, people recognised they needed Him. But did they love Him?

When we delight in God and follow His ways, He will lead us and position us where He has a plan for us.

Our eyes, our perceptions, our spiritual understanding, the formation of our thoughts and beliefs can either bring light to us or cloud our judgment.