Who is it for?

"Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink only for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:4-6, NRSV)


What a great question. How easily I forget that everything is done for the Lord--even eating and drinking. I think food and taste is their for my pleasure only, but really it is to glorify God. I don't just eat to nourish my body, but I eat to nourish my body so I may glorify the Lord by doing what he has commanded me to do. Even the manner in which I eat should glorify him. Everything is for him--even eating and drinking. It is hard to give up control.

Ornaments on God's Tree

Christmas is a time for christmas trees and traditionaly ornaments. Each family has their own special ornaments. My special ornament is the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. My grammy made it for me when I was a small child. It is getting delicate now- but it still goes on our tree despite my wife's protest. It has always been the first ornament that goes on the tree and it goes dead center so everyone can see the beauty of the tin man--he's shiny!

"Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us. Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back, not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:6-13, NRSV)

Our action, our behaviors are to be an ornament to the doctrine--the truth of Jesus in this world. We are to be shiny ornaments--like the Tin Man--hanging on God's tree to reflect his glory.

Lord this season help me to shine like the Tin Man and may God's glory reveal himself through me so that people may know the blessed hope of Jesus Christ. Let me be a ornament on God's tree.

The Grace of Slowness

"The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NRSV)

In times of pain it is easy to call upon the Lord. It is easy to ask him to deliver us from this world. We wait anxiously for his return, particularly in advent. However, the Lord's seemingly slowness is really just grace--because he does not want any to perish. He wants all to have a chance to repent and know him.

Lord, may I learn to be slow to anger, to slow grace to the world.