Daily Butter 8/30: The One and Only

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/30/11):

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, [e] I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 HCSB)

 

Only One person has ever truly lived the Christian life and only One ever can. He must live in and through us .

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/29: Right where He wants me

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/29/11):

[God to Moses] “Pharaoh will say of the Israelites: They are wandering around the land in confusion; the wilderness has boxed them in.”

[Moses to the people] ”The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet.”

(Exodus 14:3, 14 HCSB)

And judging from the gripes of the Jews to Moses, Pharaoh was probably right -- except they knew (or at least Moses did) Who they were following. Faith is about confidence in the unseen (Heb 11:1) and often like the Israelites, we are often confused by the path. For my family, our search for a house has been a crazy, adventurous path. And I don’t understand all of the reasons for that path, but while on the journey we found our new church home and could not be more delighted with that. I‘ve learned a lot more about the ins and outs of real estate than I ever intended, so though I’m not eager to try that as a professional direction, it must fit into God’s plan. But the house we have found is everything I had hoped and I count myself very blessed to embark on the adventure of home-ownership. There is still much uncertainty in the new chapter in the adventure, but I will take Moses’ advice: Shut up and trust God.

“For I know the plans I have for you" —[this is] the LORD's declaration—"plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB)

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/27: Not I

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/27/11):

Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, (Phillipians 2:5 HCSB)

When I first stopped to think what I would title my comments today, I thought “Not I” thinking that this is a way of taking self out of the picture in favor of others. Then my mind flipped back to a reminder from my post on July 6th where in “The Little Red Hen” the very same phrase was used in selfishness and laziness. When God saw us, His beloved creation, unable to pay the price to make it to be with Him for eternity, I am eternally grateful that the Son didn’t lean back on His throne and say “Not I” like the cat of classic folk tale. No, my Savior set aside all His majesty and glory to come, walk in our shoes, face the struggles we face, and pay the price we could never afford. THAT is the attitude of selflessness that I am called to embody. A high calling to be sure, but I know if I come anywhere close to reach that goal, it’s all Him and not I.

For through the law I have died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:19-20 HCSB)

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/25: I CAN'T!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/25/11):

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me.

Henry Ford said “If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.” * This quote was often used in my public school upbringing to support the “power of positive thinking” ideology they wanted us to embrace. God, though, made us and desires to be a part of our lives. Paul’s repeated requests to be freed from His tormenting “thorn in the flesh” were answered with a “trust Me.” Likewise, He allows our lives to have hurdles and hindrances to remind us that we can, but not on our own. Just as my three-year-old reminds me, our Heavenly Father longs for us to take our tear-stained cheeks, turn to Him, hold up that that thing we just can get to work, and say “Help me, Daddy.”

Because of those times in public school, I thought Henry Ford was a false prophet of the “self-made man” myth, until I read another of his quotes:

I believe God is managing affairs and that He doesn't need any advice from me. With God in charge, I believe everything will work out for the best in the end. So what is there to worry about? *

Andy Jentes

* Quotes from BrainyQuotes

Daily Butter 8/24: Pweez!

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/24/11):

For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don't be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:30-32 HCSB)

As in the midst of my work schedule I’m trying to work out the details regarding the financing for the house which we hope to become our home, this reminder is such a timely reminder for me. I can see and understand that my growing son needs a home where he has the room to run and spread his wings and grow. My Heavenly Father sees and knows that I have concerns and am uncertain of how I will be able to provide for my son’s needs, and just like I find joy giving my son what he needs, it brings my Father joy to take care of mine. I have spent my Christian walk trying to make my Heavenly Father smile, it’s a great reminder that it’s not always about what I “do for the kingdom.” He also finds delight in answering my, “Daddy, I can’t…. Would You, pweez?”

Jesus, however, invited them: "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Luke 18:16 HCSB)

- Andy

Daily Butter 8/23: Now?

My little addition to Our Daily Bread (8/23/11):

 

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NIV)

 

I know enough of the book to know there is no point in trying to name “the date” that the Lord will return, but it’s hard for me to imagine it not being soon. When I look around me and read Scripture’s descriptions of how things will be “in the last days,” I have to say “Anytime now, Lord.”  Some I think have given up on His return thinking it’s been almost two millennia and He must have forgotten about us, but it makes me marvel at His patience. He truly desires that all men come to know Him and some have not yet heard. He’s waited long enough for me to come around and I will be eternally grateful, but my heart is still being changed to share His burden for all men. But I just marvel at His patience.

 

It took Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,

  the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving an patient He must be,

  ‘cause He’s still workin’ on me.

 

Andy Jentes

Daily Butter 8/22: Press On

My little Addition to Our Daily Bread (8/22/11):

    Let your eyes look forward;
    fix your gaze straight ahead.

    (Proverbs 4:25 HCSB)

I’ve heard others say that there was a reason God created us with our eyes on the front of our head so that we might always be looking forward. Goal setting, focus and relentless striving toward that goal are touted as admirable qualities. The problem with this type of tunnel-vision (though often applauded and quite lucrative in the twenty-first century business world) Karl Rabeder found out can be what is left in ones wake. As with all Scripture, this verse ought not be ripped from its context to be used to support such a tunnel-vision. Christians must remember not to lose sight of all the wise teaching of Scripture (v21) and clearly understand what our focus is to be on: “keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne.” (Heb 12:2 HCSB) With the number of times the Gospels record that He was moved with compassion and allowed that to alter His plan (eg Me Time ), we must conclude that as His ambassadors, we should be willing to set aside agendas when our spirit is moved by the Spirit within us.

- Andy