Spiritual Focus (from Worship Services)

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL FOCUS FOR THE WEEK?
Each Sunday, the minister leading the service introduces a spiritual focus for the week based on the subject of the talks. It is referred to during the adult sermon portion of the service and includes a brief summary of the lesson and practical suggestions for how you might use the spiritual message of the sermon in the workplace, at home, in your marriage, with parenting, friends, etc.
Listed below are many of the recent spiritual focus messages in chronological order. This list also gives an overview of the topics covered from week to week.

8/10/2008 Looking to the Heart

“The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7

“Man looks at the outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). Samuel was tasked with the job of anointing a king to replace Saul, and Samuel assumed the successor needed to look like the previous one, i.e. tall, handsome, etc., but the Lord said, outward appearances aren’t important—it’s what’s inside that counts! Appearances are deceiving - the earth appears flat when it isn’t; the sun appears to rise and set when it doesn’t; the Lord appears angry in Scripture when He isn’t, absent in temptation when He isn’t; we make hasty judgments about others which often end up being wrong! Following the Lord’s advice to “look to the heart” means intending good. When we impute good motives to others (i.e. intend good) our perspective changes. Instead of dwelling on shortcomings (in ourselves and others) we, like the Lord, focus on raw potential. Quit looking at what you don’t have, and focus on what you have!

08/03/08 Which voice are you listening to?

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession of the land, for we are well able to overcome it…”  Numbers 13:30

Moses selected twelve men to spy out the promised land and report back on their findings. Ten of the spies came back with a negative report saying there was no way Israel could enter the land and conquer it. But the remaining two, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a positive report saying the invasion could easily be done if they had faith in the Lord (Num 13-14). Joshua and Caleb represent the positive, can-do kind of people the Lord wants us to be. Our minds are like a radio. We can tune into any channel we want. A lot of channels feed us an endless stream of negative thoughts and feelings, and we forget that positive channels even exist. Don’t let evil spirits rule your day. No matter what your circumstances, you have the ability (freedom) to change the channel! Negative channels make you think your life is cursed. Positive channels present the reality: the Lord is blessing you with peace and happiness as you turn to Him.

07/27/08 But what about the weeds?

Matthew 13:24-30

The first part of this parable is simple enough; a man sowed good seed, but an enemy came at night and sowed weeds in the wheat field. There are going to be “weeds” in life. But the difficult part of this parable is the fact that the Lord says, leave the weeds alone! That goes against our natural impulse to get rid of what is undesirable. The Lord gives two reasons; first, in pulling on the weeds, you’ll pull up the wheat too (i.e. you’ll do more harm than good), and, second, until the crop is mature you really can’t tell which is wheat and which are weeds (i.e. only the Lord knows that). The moral of the story? When dealing with others, we are tempted to “weed out” those who let us down, don’t pull their weight, etc., but the Lord is saying, give them a chance, people change - what may look like a weed to you now, may in fact become wheat. The Lord is reminding us not to make hasty judgments, and that with Him all things are possible.

07/20/2008 Be Strong (trust)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Why does the Lord command things that appear virtually impossible to do! Consider the most frequent, shortest, command in Scripture: “Fear not.” Have you ever met anyone who has no fears, or worries, or anxieties?! And why would the Lord command the opposite too: “Be strong and of good courage” (Josh 1). These would be strange commands either way if the Lord was expecting instant results, but fortunately He doesn’t. We don’t overcome our fears and worries quickly, and we don’t become strong, courageous people quickly either—both require time and perseverance, but the command remains true. Trust in the Lord is the antidote to all our fears, making us ever stronger, but we can’t get this trust unless we’re prepared to do the work, unless we practice what we preach each day. Then we’ll be “carried along constantly toward happier things, no matter what the appearance might be at the time” (AC 8478).

7/13/2008- Why do things keep changing?

“During all the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

Most of us resist change. We get into a certain pattern or routine and enjoy the predictability of it. Yet, in the back of our mind, we know that change is inevitable, as inevitable as the passage of time. Our bodies grow older, the tastes and sensibilities of our childhood and youth are replaced with new ones; our priorities and interests mature and grow. But while we find ourselves resisting change, consider the alternative: imagine being locked in time. Imagine what it would be like doing the same thing (no matter how attractive it might seem at the time) over and over again with no variety! That’s hell, literally. We need change as much as we do food and water. Change, in which we alternate between delight (happiness) and lack of delight (unhappiness), enables us to grow and mature in our love for the Lord and our neighbor. It’s a gift, a blessing, which renders us “more and more happy” to eternity (AC 935).

7/6/2008- Safe & Sound Even in the Fiery Furnace

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego said to the king, ‘We will not worship the gold image which you have set up… Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.’ ” (Daniel 3:16-18)

In His Word the Lord uses stories about fire to symbolize the warmth of love - whether it is good or bad. Fire can be used for good purposes or it can be destructive. A furnace can burn off impurities in a refining process or it can destroy something valuable. The same is true with loves - good ones are heart-warming and motivate us to help others, but bad ones make us feel “hot under the collar” and mean-spirited toward others.

In the story from Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar’s rage and fury symbolize the destructive fire of selfish love. But the selfless love of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego motivated them to stand up for their belief. They were miraculously free and unharmed in the midst of the fiery furnace in order to symbolize how the Lord, by means of our good loves and truths of faith, can protect us from evil loves and falsities.

06/29/2008 – Daniel and the Lions
“Then Daniel said to the king, ‘My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you...’ So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God” (Daniel 6:21,23).

“Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Also let those who love Your name be joyful in You.” (Psalm 5:11).

“People who are strong in truths are kept safe from harm wherever they go” (see Arcana Caelestia 6769).

Just as the Lord protected Daniel by sending an angel to close the mouths of the lions, He also provides us with powerful truths to protect each of us from spiritual dangers. He is constantly watching out for our eternal welfare and happiness. Like Daniel, we will all face lots of spiritually harmful situations. If we trust the Lord and His Word to help us understand His truth, and then use our understanding to make healthy choices in the midst of our predicaments, we can be protected from falsity and uphold what is good. This week put some of your attention on looking to the Lord and His truth as your protection - so He can give you a genuine feeling of being safe from spiritual harm.

06/22/2008 Daniel and His Friends Excel in Wisdom

"Then king Nebuchadnezzar interviewed Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and among them all none was found like them; therefore they served before the king.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm."
Daniel 1:19,20

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had major control issues. He was threatening, demanding and ruthless in his quest for political, military and financial strength. He is a picture of the inordinate desire for power over people, situations and events.
Daniel, on the other hand, was fearless in the face of the king’s cruelty and demands. He exercised a different kind of power. Instead of trying to control others, he exercised self-control and the benefits of humbly following the Lord. He is a picture of the spiritual love of control, which is the love of the Lord’s wisdom. He shows an inner strength and reliance on a power greater than any other in the universe.
In terms of our character development, each of us will struggle with control issues. The story of Daniel’s loyalty to the Lord is given to strengthen our hope in the power of His love and wisdom.

06/15/2008 What Does the Lord Reveal about the New Church in the Stories of Revelation?

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.”
Revelation 12:1
The Oak Arbor Church is part of a worldwide organization called the New Church. Although the New Church is 238 years old this week, it is still relatively young. Each June we set aside time to express gratitude to the Lord for establishing our church and to consider ways we can participate in its ongoing development and growth.

The story of “The Woman Clothed with the Sun” from the book of Revelation is a prophecy about the establishment and growth of the New Church. The beautiful woman is a symbol of the church.
In one sense the prophecy was fulfilled in the 1700’s when the New Church first began. In another sense it is fulfilled each time anyone starts a new effort to put one of the Lord’s teachings into life.

This week take time to learn something new about what the Lord reveals in His Word. Your spiritual growth will help the church grow.

06/08/2008 - Our Gate to Heaven
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel...It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates...And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.” Revelation 21
Each gate to heaven is described as a single pearl (see Rev. 21).

This pearl has been formed within us to the extent that we have done the work of overcoming those things in our lives that irritate us, just as the oyster overcomes a little particle of grit with a fluid that coats it and makes it, over time, a beautiful thing.

We overcome our irritations by responding in loving ways to the thoughts and actions of others, surrendering our irritations to the Lord.

This is the work required of us if we want to find our gate to heaven.

None of us is perfect but if we are sincerely seeking this heavenly way of life, we will find our gate to heaven open.

06/01/2008- New Church Foundations

Part 7: The Church
“On this rock I will build My church...” Matthew 16:18
“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I…” Psalm 61:2
The term, “church” has a broad definition as well as a specific one. On a large scale, the “church” is made up of all the people in the world who believe in God and live well. Sometimes this is referred to as the Universal Church. But specifically, the church exists wherever the Word (Bible) is read, and lived. This church serves a special function to the rest of the world as the heart and lungs do the body. Because the Word reveals who God is, and how the life of religion ought to be lived, it serves as a vital link to the rest of the world. There have been four “special” churches, and the teachings of our church identify the New Church as the fifth and final one. The New Church serves this function because it has teachings which help people understand the Bible in a way like never before. Our core purpose as a church is to help people throughout the world grow closer to the Lord God Jesus Christ in His Second Coming. It is an awesome responsibility, and one we accept with joy and humility.

5/18/2008 - New Church Foundations

Part 6: Serving the Needs of Others
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done for you...If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” John 13:14-17

During His ministry on earth, Jesus often did things which shocked and surprised His followers. He performed miracles in which the sick were healed and the dead brought back to life. He revealed truths about the kingdom of heaven that challenged the status quo. And even though He was Lord and King, He made it clear that He had not come into this world to be served, but to serve. We see this illustrated in John 13. After the last supper, Jesus shocked the disciples when He took on the lowly task of washing their feet, a job normally done by the servants. Peter objected to the reversed role, but Jesus said it was necessary: “For I have given you an example, you should do as I have done to you.” In reality, no one can be cleansed, washed of their sins, unless they look outside of themselves and serve others. That is why we are told to, symbolically, wash each others feet. In essence, we are cleansed by serving. All concerns about self and the world are put in their proper place when we follow the Lord’s example.

05/11/2008 -Mothers Day

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you." Exodus 20:12

A mother’s love for children is miraculously given to her by the Lord. It is a quality worthy of honor, because appreciating it as a gift from Him helps us appreciate the Lord Himself working in and among us to nurture us spiritually.
Everyone has a mother, and everyone has the capacity to understand the kind of love that the Lord wants us to receive and share with others.
The point is to honor the Lord’s gift of love and its power to enrich our natural and spiritual lives inwardly and outwardly.
On Mothers Day take time to value this remarkable love, a love from the Lord Himself.

05/04/2008 New Church Foundations

Part 5: Spiritual Community

“The Lord governs the entire angelic heaven as though it were a single person… as the soul governs its body.” Divine Providence no. 163:2

Not only are individuals created in the image and likeness of the Creator, but heaven is in a Grand Human (Maximus Homo) form too. Every aspect of a human being, each tiny nerve or cell as well as every major organ or limb, has a counterpart in the Grand Human of heaven. Of course, heaven isn’t shaped like a human body; rather the function performed by a part of the human body corresponds to the function which a particular heavenly community or group of communities serves within the whole. This week, do two things: first, consider your particular gifts, talents and interests and see if you can match them to an organ or system in the human body (see insert). You may feel that your contribution to society is small or insignificant but imagine if that organ or system was shut down or removed! Second, step back and affirm the role of all the people you know, especially those who are different from you, and say, “I’m so glad ____ wants to do ____.” We are all part of the whole.

04/27/2008 New Church Foundations

Part 4: Living and Growing Spiritually

“It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.” Luke 15:32

Luke 15 provides the template for how we ought to live and grow spiritually. Like the Pharisees and scribes, our judgmental side doesn’t like the fact that the church accepts sinners. The Lord responds to this by reminding us that we’re all sinners, saying: “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone” (John 8:7), and “judge not that you be not judged” (Mt. 7:1). More importantly, the Lord wants us to experience the peace, joy and happiness of heaven which comes through the loss of our own stubbornness and pride. The Lord says there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance! Rather than getting depressed by our sins, let us open ourselves up to the Lord and His angels since their greatest delight and joy is to help us find our way when we’re lost (see AC 5992). A church community experiences the same joy when it strives to help others in this way. “It was right that we should make merry and be glad for [our] brother...was lost and is found.”

04/20/2008 New Church Foundations
Part 3: Seeking Guidance from God’s Word
“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
“Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” Luke 11:28
“No one shall live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4

The guidance systems available for navigating around the globe are getting more and more sophisticated and available every day. In a similar way, so are our spiritual guidance systems. Thousands of years ago, the truths of the Lord’s Word weren’t even written down. They were just “oral tradition”. Now they are immediately available in many written forms, including electronic, on the smallest computer for anyone to access, read, study, search and use for guidance in navigating the ups and downs and twists and turns on the spiritual journey of life.
But they won’t do us any good if we don’t know them, or if we don’t follow their directions when we’re lost. This week, when you wonder “Where am I, and how do I get back on track?” seek guidance from your spiritual GPS - God’s Positioning System - to know where you are in relation to the truths of His Word, and where to go next. As our Lord said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” John 14:6

04/13/2008 - New Church Foundations
Part 2: Honoring the Lord’s Presence
“Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it’...”Genesis 28:16
“Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them…”Matthew 18:20
We experience the Lord’s presence in so many different ways: in a sunrise, on a mountain, in children, after a personal struggle, in a smile, while working on a project. Like Jacob waking from his dream, we say, “Surely the Lord is in this place” (Gen. 28:16). But we can also seek out the Lord presence, in a conscious, deliberate way. Here are 3 suggestions: 1- Read the Word, pray, reflect. 2 - Practice living spiritually. 3 - Notice the Lord (good) in other people. You can make a special effort to do all three or focus on just one. Prayer is a matter of letting the Lord show us what we can and cannot change. Living spiritually is practicing the 4 steps of repentance (examine oneself, recognize and acknowledge 1 or 2 sins, pray to the Lord for help, and begin a new life). And noticing the Lord (good) in others means putting a good interpretation on the actions of others since the Lord “cannot do good to people directly, but only indirectly by means of other people” (TCR 457).

04/06/2008 -New Church Foundations
Part 1: The Purpose of Life
“The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you...”  Luke 17: 20-21
The search for “purpose” and “meaning” in our lives can become a daunting, heavy task if we don’t pace ourselves. At an early age we experience various pressures from without—the expectation of parents, society, the church. We’re expected to make something of our lives, to be useful, but when we can’t find that special niche in society we feel guilty and think we’ve failed. In reality, we haven’t failed. We’ve just been looking for heaven (purpose) in all the wrong places for the kingdom of God does not come from without, but from within (Luke 17:21). What is your individual purpose in life? It has to do with what you love to do, and what you’re good at (see Joseph story). Isn’t that self-serving? Not if God planted that love in you. Don’t let the evil spirits rain on your parade. You have unique interests, strengths and loves, all of which God created. Use those gifts, those talents to make the world a better place, and you will discover the kingdom of God within you right now!

03/30/2008 - Breakfast by the Sea
“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me…?” John 21:15
Jesus saved the most penetrating, all-encompassing question for last. The disciples were eating the early morning catch around a campfire when He posed the question to Peter: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” (Jn. 21:15). Jesus repeated the question three times with Peter’s answering, “Yes, Lord...” What was the point of the question? In the case of the disciples, the Lord was preparing them for what lay ahead—they had a job to do and unless they loved their Master they wouldn’t be able to do it successfully. Love is a BIG word. It’s also a confusing word because we use it in a thousand ways. We love objects, animals, nature and people but our love for each is quite different. The important thing to remember about loving people (spouse, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.) is that love is a decision. We choose what to love and how to love. And choosing how to express (show) our love is what life is all about. It also fulfills the Lord’s call to “feed His sheep” (Jn. 21:15ff).

03/23/08 - Rejoice in the Strength of the Lord
“Jesus said to the women, ‘Rejoice! Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’” Matthew 28:9, 10
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.” Psalm 28:7

Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. The big difference between us and the Lord is that He overcame all weaknesses! Through victories in temptations during His life on earth and then through His resurrection, Jesus showed us His supreme power. He became the strongest - not from any self-love, but only so that all others could become something and be saved. Think of His teaching, His love and His presence in your life as your source of strength.
To celebrate Easter, pray to the Lord God Jesus Christ, the Divine Human, to receive more strength into your life. Without His strength, you cannot win. With His strength, you cannot lose.

03/16/2008 Palm Sunday
“So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. And a very great multitude spread their garments on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
Matthew 21:6-8

Within a 24 hr period Jesus:

1. Established His authority (rode into Jerusalem as King)
2. “Cleaned house” (cast out the temple money-changers)
3. Bore fruit (incident w/the barren fig tree)

These three steps are a model for us.
1st. We need to let the Lord rule every aspect of our lives - “Lord, is this a good idea?”
2nd. By allowing Him to “clean house” He makes the temple of our mind a “house of prayer” - what do you want the most in life?
3rd. Our words and actions will no longer feel empty. In faith and trust we will be able to bear fruit, and “move mountains” (see Mt. 21:20-22).

03/09/2008 - The Parable of the Talents
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23,2
The old adage “Use it or lose it” applies to a variety of things: muscles and memory for example. It’s also a message in the New Testament parable of the talents. Use them or you run the risk of losing them. But what did the Lord mean by “talents”? It may not be what you suppose.

At birth, each of us is given a tremendous human capacity for learning, for being creative and productive, and then for reaching out to help others in many ways. This inborn capacity is not what the Lord meant by talents in the parable. Instead, think of all the things He wants us to learn from His Word that are true and lead us to do what is good and noble. These are the precious talents He gives us, but we have to learn them - and use them - or lose them. The purpose of “higher education”, no matter what age, is to acquire an abundance of these talents and use them to experience the kingdom of heaven.

03/02/2008 – Relationships – Part 5 – The Word
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory...” John 1:14

Polls continue to say the Bible is the top-selling book in the world! Surveys confirm that an astonishingly high percentage of American households not only claim to own a Bible, but read it on a regular basis. Yet the contradictory and inaccurate answers of adults (e.g. Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife, etc.) suggests that the Bible is revered more than it is read or understood. As appealing as it to want the Bible to “say what it means” (literalism), we know the Word of God can’t be reduced to a bumper sticker. Open up it up and you quickly discover there are multiple levels of meaning which makes it clear that the Bible requires interpretation! “Interpretation” by whom? God. The inner meaning of the Bible unlocks all inconsistencies (God is angry, vengeful, etc.). With genuine truths (God is loving, forgiving) and correspondences (rock = truth, etc,) the Word becomes alive, in the “flesh.” We see the humanity of God and hear him speaking to us with words of inspiration, hope, encouragement and guidance.

02/24/2008 - Relationships - Part 4 - Discipleship
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you… by this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
We may not always think of ourselves as “disciples” in name but we are in practice, more than we realize. Being a “disciple” means being a follower, a practitioner of a certain way, method, or school of thought. This applies to all fields of knowledge, to education, politics, medicine, finance, sports, hobbies, cooking, etc. We all have our gurus to whom we subscribe. But there’s a special kind of discipleship which is above all others, and that’s being a disciple of the Lord in, and for, His church. We are His disciples to the degree we love each other as He has loved us (see Jn. 13). The key to being a disciple of the Lord is our willingness to be led (innocence). To the degree we are willing to, 1. learn truth, 2. share what we know, 3. live what we know (be an example) we become the Lord’s disciples. Be the best disciple you can be because lots of people need you, and look up to you. The “harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few...” (Mt.9).

02/17/2008 -Relationships - Part 3 -Neighbor
“And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:28)
We are born, not for the sake of ourselves, but for the sake of others. Think about that for a moment. Our whole purpose in life, the reason we exist, is so that we can be of use to other people. Think of what the world would be like if everyone sought the happiness of others over their own! We may not fully appreciate this concept right now, but our happiness (to all eternity) rests on this precept. We tend to think of “our neighbor” in the singular, as individuals who need our help. But our “neighbor” is much larger than that. It begins with self (we can’t be of use to anyone if we don’t take care of ourself), to our family and friends, to our community, to our country, to the church, and ultimately, to the Lord’s heavenly kingdom. There is no limit to loving our neighbor, to being a good neighbor. Let us all enjoy the fact that the Lord has created us this way, to be able to “show mercy” to so many levels of the neighbor.

02/10/2008 - Relationships Part 2 – Marriage
“So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed only a few days to him because of the love he had for her” (Genesis 29:20)
“The married union of one man with one wife is the precious jewel of human life and the repository of Christian religion” (Married Love 457).
The Biblical account of Jacob meeting Rachel is a beautiful story about an eligible young man searching for a suitable wife. He was willing to search far and wide for the right person. When the Lord led him to that person, he kissed her and wept for joy because he had found something so precious.
One very important step in our journey towards honoring marriage is to pray about it. This week, find time to pray about marriage. You could pray to understand more about the essential, spiritual marriage of love and wisdom within yourself. Or pray for the appreciation and development of that spiritual marriage in your words and behaviors. You could pray for those not yet married, for those who are struggling in their marriage, or for those who have lost their partners.
Invite the Lord to help us all promote the precious gift of marriage.

02/03/2008 – Relationships- Part 1 - GOD
“If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing..." John 9:33
John 9 records the remarkable account of a man born blind receiving his sight from the Lord. But what happens after this miracle is even more revealing! It shows the formerly blind man’s amazing process of discovery as he goes from thinking Jesus is merely a man, to thinking He must be some kind of prophet, to realizing He came from God. This journey of discovering who Jesus really is parallel’s our own. True Christianity no. 538 says “unless God is approached in thought as a Person, all ideas of God perish.” In the story the formerly blind man is ruthlessly attacked by the Pharisees as they work to discredit the miracle, and when the man finally blurts out that Jesus must come from God or be God, he is excommunicated! In a similar way, the hells and society work to discredit who Jesus really is. But God works a similar miracle in us. From being born “blind” at birth, we come to see that Jesus Christ is God in human form. Then we have a visible God, and One in Whom we can approach in Person.

01/27/2008 “How do I Choose?”
“It is generally recognized that we have a freedom to think and intend whatever we wish but not a freedom to say whatever we think or do whatever we wish..." Divine Providence no. 71
“And He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours be done...” Luke 22:41
We all have to make choices, and if we think about the motives behind our choices, we will find that they can be placed into three categories. Sometimes we make choices that are selfish. Every choice we make from a selfish motive will eventually be hurtful to ourselves and others. Sometimes we make choices because we are concerned with what others think about us, so we do the right thing, but from an essentially selfish motive. Sometimes we do the right thing because it the right thing to do, because it is what the Lord wants us to do and because while it may not be easy, it will benefit others. The Lord makes it possible for us to make these choices by giving us freedom. We are free to follow our own instincts, or free to do things for the sake of appearances. Or we can do good because it is good. The choice is ours.

01/20/2008 - “What Shall We Do?”
So the people asked John the Baptist, saying, "What shall we do then?" He answered and said to them, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Collect no more than what is appointed for you." Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, "And what shall we do?" So he said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." Luke 3:2-3, 10-14
John the Baptist preached the importance, even necessity of repentance to prepare to be born again in the Lord's love. Then, he gave six examples to three groups of people about how they could practice repentance.
“Share your extra tunic” - Clothing is symbolic of truths which are plentiful. Share them with someone who could benefit from what you know.
“Share your food” - Food is symbolic of goodness which is abundant. Do things for others from the goodness in your heart, not for reward.
“Collect no more than you are appointed” - Practice reminding yourself that everything you get out of living a spiritual life belongs to the Lord.
“Don't intimidate” - Be careful not to use “the truth” in hurtful ways.
“Don't be a false witness” - Practice being honest.
“Be content with your wages” - Find ways of expressing thankfulness for what you have.

01/13/2008 - The Lord’s Prayer
“There are more [truths] contained in that Prayer than the universal heaven is capable of comprehending…”Heavenly Secrets no. 6619
“And the Lord is present in each of those details…”Heavenly Secrets no. 6476

The Lord’s Prayer is often the first thing children commit to memory; and it is often the last thing said by those who pass from this world into the next. There’s tremendous power in this prayer because it’s given by the Lord Himself! Each word has been selected by Him, and given to us for a reason. In fact, one could argue that the Lord’s Prayer is the greatest statement of reality since it states who God is, what His goal is for us, and how He will help us reach that goal. When we recite this Prayer, ourmind is immediately connected to the heavens. As each successive word rolls off our tongue, angels from countless, different heavens form a connection with us, and infill our minds with new thoughts associated with each particular word. And each time we say the Lord’s Prayer, we are given a new set of thoughts. Let us use what we learn from this Prayer each day to better ourselves, and the lives of those around us.

01/06/2008 - What makes today any different than yesterday?
A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE ABOUT PERSONAL GROWTH
As you get older, the passage of one year to the next doesn’t carry the same excitement as it did when you were young. This doesn’t mean you become less hopeful or jaded as a result. It’s simply an indicator that the Lord is helping you see the reality of personal growth, that it takes time to grow spiritually! It takes time because, a). admitting we have faults is never easy, and b). getting down on our knees and asking the Lord for help and forgiveness is even harder! Like the paralytic described in Mark 2, we become “locked in time;” we want to be better people, kinder, more forgiving, etc. but we feel powerless to do anything about it! But follow the same three steps the Lord gave the paralytic: arise (think), take up your bed (intend), and walk (do) and everything will change. Get out of the “justification business” (I can’t do ___ because ___) and you will be healed of your spiritual paralysis!

12/30/2007 - Wise Men’s Joy - The Delights of Wisdom
“And behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Matthew 2: 9,10
The Wise Men in the Christmas story have important things to teach us about the delights of wisdom -
Learning the prophecies of the Lord’s coming and how they apply to you - with an affirmative attitude - is key to becoming wise.
Being dedicated to seeking and finding the Lord for noble reasons will bring personal satisfaction and fulfillment.
Relying on the Word for guidance will bring great joy.
When you discover the Lord - or something new about Him - it is delightful to worship Him and acknowledge His gifts.
It is important to nurture and protect your experience of the Lord.

12/23/07 - The difference between HOPE and “Wishful Thinking”
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined...” Isaiah 9:2
You’re trying to get to an appointment on time, but run out of gas. Two friends come to your aid: the first arrives with a pep talk; the second arrives with 5 gallons of gas! Hope is as essential to us as gas is to a car. Hope is the “fuel” that literally keeps us going. “Wishful thinking” is like the friend without a gas can. Lives of “wishful thinking” are built upon a pile of “maybes” (winning the lottery, getting a patent for your “invention,” the perfect job, mate, etc.). But when our hope is in the Lord, we have a foundation (trust) that can’t be shaken. This doesn’t mean we are free of all doubt, frustration and despair. The Lord made His Advent at the darkest (most evil) time in our history, and yet people didn’t lose hope because they recalled what the Scriptures taught. Make sure your tank/cup is full this Christmas, full of all the good, wholesome values taught in the Word, and you will be “filled with hope...” (AC 2338).

12/9/2007 -What’s in a Name?
“And His name shall be called, WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE...” Isaiah 9:6
“In the Word a name signifies the essence of a thing, and by ‘seeing and calling by name’ signifies knowing the QUALITY…” Heavenly Secrets no. 145
Just knowing the name of something can send shivers down your spine. It happens to the musician who gets to play a Stradivarius; it happens to the art lover who gets to gaze at a Rembrandt. Think of your own particular hobby or passion and imagine being able to handle or own the very best of its kind! “I’m looking at/holding a _______!!!!” Some do this because they want to impress others (name dropping, etc.), but true “connoisseurs” love the object for its intrinsic value (craftsmanship, quality, etc.). In the Bible, the names of people, places and objects refer to “qualities.” All the names of the Lord refer to specific qualities within Him. We’re given these names (qualities) so we can adopt, absorb and assimilate them into our lives. Identify one quality (name) of the Lord which you value right now, and then pray for it to reign in you. “His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9

12/2/2007 - PROPHESY:

If you know something’s going to happen, you prepare for it, right?
“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple. Behold, He is coming...” Malachi 3:1
The Word (Bible) contains two basic styles: historic and prophetic. Books like Genesis and Exodus are narrative in style, telling of historic events through individuals such as Abraham, Jacob, and Moses. Books like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel are prophetic in style, telling of future events. At the beginning of the Advent season, we focus on the “prophetic Word” because this contains prophesies of the Lord’s Coming (e.g. “Unto us a Child is born…” Isa. 9:6). When you know something’s going to happen, you prepare for it. The Coming of the Lord is no exception. Prophesies tell us about a). the availability of the Lord, the source of our salvation, and b). eternal life, our future destiny. This week, get into preparation mode. Try to be less afraid of the future by acknowledging how much you do know about it! Focus on the Lord’s salvation (His ability to help you) and eternal life (your motivation in all things), and you’ll receive His Coming with joy.

11/25/2007 - The Value of Customs and Traditions
“So He came to Nazareth where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up and read...” Luke 4:16
Recall the customs and traditions in your home when you were a child, especially the ones associated with the holidays. What stands out? The ritual may have been simple, and probably what stands out the most are certain sights, sounds, and smells. Why do we have customs and traditions? What is their purpose? The practice goes back to ancient times, to the earliest civilizations, when people created rituals to “connect” heaven and earth. Religious customs and traditions like a baptism or a marriage ceremony or the holy supper are the most powerful because they are ordained by God. But there are many other customs and traditions, religious and secular, which help us count our blessings, and think of others. This holiday season; take stock of your family customs and traditions. If one of them seems empty or stale, consider creating a new one. Remember that everyone, children and adults, need meaningful rituals in their lives.

11/22/2007 - The “giving” in Thanksgiving
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations...” Psalm 100
Gratitude has a lot to do with attitude. If we walk around thinking the world “owes” us something, we probably won’t have much gratitude in our hearts. But if we walk around thinking there’s so much we could do to make the world a better place, we’d feel grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. It’s hard to be grateful and thankful to the Lord, and others, when you don’t give of yourself. That’s why it’s important to think about the “giving” in Thanks-giving. To the degree we “give of ourselves” (use our talents) we discover how much life has to offer! We can stubbornly refuse to look in a telescope or a microscope and miss all the beauty and majesty of God’s creation, and see no reason for being grateful or thankful. But take one peak...and the world comes alive. So give of yourself - your time, talent, and love - and you will become more and more grateful to the Lord for the countless blessings in your life.

11/18/2007 - Unconditional Love - Can love ever be free of conditions?
“He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45
“Unconditional love” means loving others irrespective of what they say, think or do. “Conditional love” means loving others when they do what we want (and withholding it when they don’t). Unconditional love originates in the Lord for “He makes His sun [love] rise on the evil and on the good” (Mt. 5:45). The Lord’s love is constant, shining on everyone. People may choose to turn from Him, but that does nothing to alter His love for them. When the Lord and His angels look at us, they accept us for who we are right now. They see our faults, but rather than judge us with shock or disappointment, they express love, a love which says, I believe in you! And when you know someone believes in you, you want to be a better person! “Unconditional love” does not mean accepting bad behaviors. We are to love everyone, but love everyone wisely. Children, spouses, friends and neighbors need lots of it; they need to know others believe in (accept) them.