Explore the Power of the Checklist (2 of 2)

Explore the Power of the Checklist

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay 

Okay, so hopefully, we now have worked in time alone with God and regular Bible reading into our schedules. Please be a little creative with me as we think about how to apply lists to our Scripture reading and Bible verse memorization. 

We are not making the list with the intent that we are thinking about a one and done approach, but rather as a means of focusing our attention on each and every aspect of these verses. My intent is to really focus on the words and live them out day after day. This will also imprint each word or phrase of each verse on our hearts and minds. 

Let's start with 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter lends itself to two different lists.

Verses 1-3

• "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 
• If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
• If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

The tone shifts in this second list: (v. 4-8a)

• "Love is patient
• love is kind.
• It does not envy,
• it does not boast,
• it is not proud.
• It does not dishonor others,
• it is not self-seeking,
• it is not easily angered, 
• it keeps no record of wrongs.
• Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
• If always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
• Love never fails."

Image by Bruno/Germany from Pixabay

The following is one of my favorites and a powerful daily reminder.

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?

• To act justly, and
• to love mercy and 
• to walk humbly with your God."                             Micah 6:8

The following verse is especially powerful when facing trying times.

"Finally, brothers and sisters,

• whatever is true,
• whatever is noble, whatever is right, 
• whatever is pure, 
• whatever is lovely,
• whatever is admirable--
• if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--
• think about such things. "                                          Philippians 4:8

Father, Thank you for your Holy Word. Help me to write these verses on my heart.

Help me to focus my mind on Your Will for my life each day. In Christ's Name, Amen.

Explore the Power of the Checklist (1 of 2)

Explore the Power

of the Checklist (Part 1)

The New York Times best-seller, The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande records fascinating and compelling stories about the power of a simple checklist. In the book he recounts numerous instances in various professions in which the checklist makes individuals better at their respective fields, and in some instances these checklist help to avert catastrophic disasters.

"Good checklists... are precise. They are efficient, to the point, and easy to use even in the most difficult situations. They do not try to spell out everything--a checklist cannot fly a plane. Instead, they provide reminders of only the most critical and important steps--the ones that even the highly skilled professionals using them could miss. Good checklists are, above all, practical."

"They can help experts remember how to manage a complex process or configure a complex machine. They can make priorities clearer and prompt people to function better as a team." (Gawande)

Are we to the point as a society where we need a checklist in order to include our Creator into our daily lives?

Jesus made connecting with God a habit, a priority, an item on His daily to-do list.

Matthew 14:23

"After He had sent the crowds away, He went up  on the mountain by Himself to pray, and when it was evening, He was there alone."

Mark 1:35

"In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." 

Luke 5:16

"But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."

John 17

Jesus' prayer for his disciples and for all before being betrayed.

Jesus knew the Father. Jesus was one with the Father. Jesus, as man, took time to connect with the Father. 

Let's make sure that we put our Maker and Creator on our list of priorities each day. The list of priorities that "...provide reminders of only the most critical and important steps--the ones that even the highly skilled professionals using them could miss." 

We don't want to miss our Lord.

Father, thanks you for all of our skills, talents, and abilities. Thank you for all of our blessings. Help us to make talking with you a priority each day. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Behind the Scenes: Parting the Red Sea

Behind the Scenes:

Parting the Red Sea

In the Cecile B. Demille's 1958 classic, The 10 Commandments, one of the most iconic moments is when Moses parts the Red Sea. The scene is mesmerizing as the Israelites flee, and the Egyptian army tries to overtake them; the waters of the Red Sea part and pile up on both sides as they cross to safety.

A recent Parade magazine article revealed, "the illusion of the Red Sea parting was achieved by filling filming large tanks flooded with 350,000 gallons of water (with gelatin added to thicken it) and wind machines, then showing the footage in reverse."

So, on screen, Moses parted the Red Sea. 

Behind the scenes in Scripture, we find the rest of the story.

Image from Bible Study Tools https://bit.ly/2TIRWFT

Behind the Scenes:

Exodus 13:17
"When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.'"

Exodus 13:21
"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night."

Exodus 13:22
"Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people."

Exodus 14:14
"The LORD will fight for you, you need only to be still."

Exodus 14:19a
"Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them."

Exodus 14:19b-20
"The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel."

Exodus 14:21
"...and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it to dry land."

Exodus 14:25a
"He [the LORD] jammed the wheels of their [Egyptian] chariots so they had trouble driving..."

Finally, even the Egyptians realized that Moses has divine help behind the scenes. 
Exodus 14:25b
"...and the Egyptians said, 'Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.'"

As the final credits for the day roll, Scripture reveals the real star of the show:
Exodus 14:30

"That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians."

So, to re-cap, God not only guided Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt, God picked their path, God provided a guide (day and night), God fought for them, God parted the waters, God dried the path, and  God even jammed the chariots' wheels.

God knows that you are fighting battles right now. God is there for you. He is behind the scenes. Believe in Him. Cling to Him. Let Him lead this scene in the direction it is supposed to go. These Scriptures show that He will go to great lengths to fight for His children.

Father God, thank you for all that you do behind the scenes in my life. Help me to rely and trust in you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

I Volunteer, maybe?

I Volunteer, Maybe?

Volunteer: "a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task"

Definition from lexico.com 

Imagine being in a room when someone walks in and asks for a volunteer, "Would anyone be willing to take a paper cut for this person?" Silence. "We are just looking for anyone who might be willing to get a paper cut in the place of this individual. Anyone willing to volunteer?"

While this scenario may seem ludicrous, deep down many of us would truly be hesitant to go through this small amount of pain for someone else.

Now, in light of this, let us read a very familiar passage:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

God loves us, and offered His son for us.

Jesus is involved as shown in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Jesus knew the plan, accepted the plan, and went through with the plan--for us.

While I might hesitate to take even the temporary pain of a paper cut for someone, Jesus was willing to take the ultimate pain and sacrifice for me, and for all who believe in Him.

Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Your Son. Thank you for Your Plan. Thank you for your Son. Amen