Living with the Holy One

Living with the Holy One, "Holiness" Series Part 2, Numbers 20:1-13

"And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.  2 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.  3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!  4 Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?  5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."  6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,  7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,  8 "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."  9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.  10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"  11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.  12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."  13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.”

- Numbers 20:1-13

Meeting the Holy One

Meeting The Holy One, Holiness Series part 1, Mark 4:35-41

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."  36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.  37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.  38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"  39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.  40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"  41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"

- Mark 4:35-41

One Thing I Do

One Thing I Do, "One Thing" series part 5, Philippians 3:7-14

"…whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.  13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

- Philippians 3:7-14

One Thing I Lack

One Thing I Lack, "One Thing" series part 4, Mark 10:17-22

"And as he [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  18 And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.  19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'  20 And he said to him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’  21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’  22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

- Mark 10:17-22

One Thing I Know

One Thing I Know, "One Thing" series part 3, John 9:1-7, 25

"As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.  2 And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  3 Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.  4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.  5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."  6 Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing…. 25He answered, "Whether he [Jesus] is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."

- John 9:1-7, 25

One Thing I Need

One Thing I Need, "One Thing" Series part 2, Luke 10:38-42

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.  40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."  41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,  42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

- Luke 10:38-42

One Thing I Seek

One Thing I Seek, "One Thing" series part 1, Psalm 27:1-14

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.  4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.  5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.  6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.  7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!  8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."  9 Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!  10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.  11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.  12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence.  13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!"

- Psalm 27:1-14

A Chapter A Day In 2017

A Chapter A Day In 2017, New Year's Message, Psalm 1:1-6

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish."

- Psalm 1:1-6