Jesse's Weekly Meditations

Sharing the Wealth

Jesse — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:38:52 +0000

This week is about you. It’s about all of you who took a moment out of your day to bring in a little bit of the extra food you have lying around your house. It’s about all of you who have ever given any of your excess to the needy. At our ecclesia, we regularly collect perishable food items for periodic distribution to those in need in our community, namely Cleveland. I wanted to share my experience with every one of you, because without people like you who care enough to do something small for someone in need, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to take your generosity and share it with others.

My father (Roy Lansing) and I distributed the food that we have collected in some very poor neighborhoods in the inner-city this afternoon. Our first stop was at a house with several kids from about 6 years old up to 20 something. Mom wasn’t home, but the kids just kept showing up on the porch from inside the house, one after another. They were a little skeptical at first and thought we were trying to sell them something rather than provide them with free food. It’s not every day that somebody pulls up in front of your house and starts handing out bags and bags of food. They were thankful and the kids were excited to search through the grocery bags on the front porch before they even made it inside the house. I’m sure nobody will be as thankful as the mother, once she gets home from work.

The second stop was at the run-down home of an elderly man with a walker. He was just sitting on his porch, enjoying the beautiful 70 degree weather. He was enjoying it even more when we gave him half a dozen bags full of groceries to share with his daughter when she gets back home later in the evening . The smile on his face almost made me forget about the odor of hot garbage, which was looming strong in his neighborhood.

Lastly, we pulled up to a group of impoverished ladies and a couple men who were all congregated on their 6′x10′ front lawn. I rolled down the window and I told them that we were looking to give away some groceries, and we wondered if that is something they would be interested in. There was a boisterous and resounding, “YEAH!” that simultaneously came from 3 of them. The ladies were particularly pleased with the 2 cans of Similac baby formula that one of you had donated. Having had 3 kids chug through that stuff like candy myself, I know how expensive it can be. One of the women was so inspired that she gave me (a complete stranger) a big hug before I got back in the car.

Just take a moment and thank God for the simple blessings that we enjoy and overlook each day. You know the ones.

Stick ‘em up!

Jesse — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:40:34 +0000

This is not a hold up, but I won’t turn away your donations.

I want to keep talking about hands, as a continuation from last weeks meditation. I talked about how we are God’s hands and should be doing his work with our hands. This week, I want to bring a few verses from the Psalms into focus..

Psalms 134:2

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.

Psalms 141:2

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Psalms 143:6

I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.

”Put your hands up!” is not just a phrase used in the old West during a robbery. It’s a scriptural practice used to show praise and honor to God. It isn’t just a goofy practice in other contemporary churches. It’s Biblical.

So I ask this question, without having a good answer. Why don’t we ever do this in our worship service? Why do we consider stillness and silence to be proper worship? I have a couple ideas, but I really don’t have the answer for this, and I’m hoping that you might be able to help answer this question.

Do we think we will be ridiculed by our peers if we held our hands to the sky during a song or a hymn? Are we “too cool” to be seen doing this? Are our traditions getting in the way of our heartfelt worship?

Why are we too reserved to worship the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind in front of our own Brothers and Sisters?

Stick ‘em up!

In God’s Hands

Jesse — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:36:02 +0000

Today, I was reading how sweet little Joyelle Ross came out of surgery successfully after having a bone growth removed from her hand. Her family asked for prayers that the growth won’t return again, and her mother said that ultimately, “it is in God’s hands.” While this is certainly true, I chuckled as I thought about how the bone growth that is in Joyelle’s hand is in God’s hand. This made me stop and think about God’s hand in relation to our hands.

When we talk about God’s hand in our lives, we are likely referring to the invisible hand of God working things out for the greater good in our lives. We don’t see the hand, but we see the results and His plan unfolding in our lives. We see diseases cured, lives saved, and modern day miracles when we really look around to observe the hand of God all around us. This is one aspect of God’s work, but we also have a very tangible, visible aspect that we don’t often consider.

Our hands ARE the hands of God. God has given us our hands with our ten fingers to carry out his will. God’s work is being done in a tangible way by those who realize that they are the hand of God, and they may be the only hand of God that some people ever see. If Christ is in us, and the spirit of God is in us, then He is most certainly in our hands. What we do with our hands is more important than I had previously realized. If I am a servant of the Lord, and I am going about His work, then I have a great responsibility and a wonderful privilege. What an honor to be able to use them to bring glory to God.

What we choose to do with our hands is one of the most important decisions we will make in our lives. Understanding whose hands they really are is an essential step in our journey. Having idle hands is not an option.

2 Cor. 5:10

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

Next week, I’ll explore more thoughts on our hands.

From Knowing to Going

Jesse — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:50:28 +0000

A father noticed how cluttered his son’s room was becoming, so he called his son to his side. He instructed his son to clean his room before supper, and the boy nodded his head, said, “Yes paw. Right away.” The father was pleased at the prompt attention his son gave to his request. Some time later, the son returned to where his father was, and the father asked him, “Did you do what I instructed?” The boy confidently answered, “I memorized exactly what you said, and I even wrote it down in my notepad. I studied the words and I am now able to write and recite them in Greek and in Hebrew, but I didn’t stop there. I studied the history behind cleaning rooms, and I have determined the most effective way to do it. I understand exactly what it is that causes a room to become cluttered, and I have begun a detailed outline of the steps that should be taken to make my room spotless!”

The father asked again, “Did you do what I instructed?”

The lesson here and the parallel to our relationship with God and His Word should be obvious.

God has given us specific instructions. We may study them regularly, and we may do word studies to get even deeper into the scriptures. We may mark our Bibles until there is no more space in the margins, but until we act upon it, and do what is asked of us, we are still standing at the starting line.

1 Cor. 9:24

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.”

Persecuting Jesus

Jesse — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 22:06:26 +0000

Ahh…spring. The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and the flowers are beginning to push their way through the earth. It’s a joyous time to remember our Savior! This season, let’s remember Him both in thought AND in deed.

In Acts 9:1-5, we read about Saul’s conversion:

“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

“Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

According to verses 1 and 2 in this chapter, who exactly was Saul persecuting? That’s right… “disciples of the Lord, and any belonging to the Way, men or women.”

But when Jesus spoke to Saul in verses 4 and 5, who did He say Saul was persecuting? He said, “Why are you persecuting me?” Jesus said that Saul was persecuting HIM – Jesus. What does this tell us about how God views our own actions toward other people in our lives?

Whatever good we do in our lives… whatever EVIL we do in our lives, we are inadvertently doing to Jesus. Isn’t this enough for us to strive to treat others well? Isn’t this enough to make us try to do good to all of our neighbors, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ? Surely none of us intend to lie to Jesus… or steal from Him… or make Him feel inferior… or spread rumors about Him… or get angry at Him… or hold a grudge against Him… or criticize or belittle Him. But Jesus plainly says in Matthew 25 that “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

As we enter into this beautiful season of rebirth and renewal, ask God to bring to mind anyone that you may treated in a way that was harmful to them… a way that was therefore harmful to His son. Ask His forgiveness for your sin against Him and the individuals you may have hurt. If appropriate, seek forgiveness from those individuals! Jesus brings freedom from old sins… from old grudges and grievances. Let God give YOU a special season of rebirth as we celebrate the resurrection of His son this year!

What am I Living for?

Jesse — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:12:11 +0000

We are all alive for a reason. We all try to make a “living” every day. But what are we “living” for? Like every other child, we look to the example of our parents, and in our case, as a child of God, we look to Jesus. What does Jesus live for? What does our Heavenly Father live for?

At first, we may be inclined to give an answer similar to, “They live to be worshipped, praised, and glorified!” They are absolutely worthy of all praise, worship, and glory. There is no question about that, but is that what they truly “live” for?

I submit to you a different perspective. Being a father myself, I don’t live to be praised, worshipped, and glorified by my children. Although the adoration is great and it is a wonderful feeling to be appreciated, respected, and admired, that isn’t what drives me as a father. What I like most is being able to catch my daughter when she falls off a tree branch. I live to tend to the skinned knees when my children fall down. I live to hold my kids in my arms when they are sick and feeling like their body is failing. I live to reassure them that everything is going to be okay. I live to provide them with everything they could ever want or need, only to have it taken for granted. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the things I truly live for.

I believe our Father lives for the same things. While he enjoys, and is worthy of praise and worship, I believe that He truly lives to catch us when we fall. He lives to take away our pain. He wants to heal us when we are ill. He holds us close when we feel alone in the world, and trapped in a terminal cycle of sin and death. He lives to provide us with everything we could ever need in this life. He takes care of our bills when we mishandle our finances. He watches over us while we sleep, and keeps a close eye on our children when we aren’t watching. He lives for the moments when we need Him the most. He lives, so we too can live. What a watchful Father we have, and what a loving friend and brother we have in Jesus.

Psalm 119: 174-175

I long for thy salvation, O Lord, and thy law is my delight. Let me live, that I may praise thee, and let thy ordinances help me.

A Firm Foundation

Jesse — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:08:17 +0000

1 Cor 3:10-11

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

If you’re building something that you want to last, you need a strong foundation. This requires doing things the right way, even though it may not necessarily be the quick way or the easy way. This principle applies to every area of our lives – marriage, careers, parenting, health, relationships. Paul tells us here that we all need a strong foundation for our spiritual lives as well. There are no shortcuts! No one can grow or last without a firm foundation.

These days, most people consider the Bible’s teachings to be irrelevant and old-fashioned. There are those who cling to worldly ideas, fads, and philosophies that sound attractive – but these things will not survive the test of time. They don’t have a proper foundation!

Remember, trends, philosophies, and fashion may change over time. Social movements will come and go. Base your life and your hope on the only thing that doesn’t change: God’s unchanging word. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8).

2010: A New Creation

Jesse — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:25:03 +0000

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Have you ever thought about what you would do if you had the opportunity to start all over again? What mistakes would you correct? What decisions would you reverse? Which opportunities would you face with a different perspective?

Often we think about questions such as these as we look back at the year that’s passed by, thinking about things we’ve said, things we’ve done, things we’ve failed to do. Sometimes we’re filled with uncertainty… guilt… worry… doubt. Sometimes we’re burdened with our own sins and we need to make things right with our heavenly Father.

No matter who we are, no matter what we have done, we have this wonderful promise from God’s word: we can all be a new creation. Not even partially new, but completely new! No matter what we’ve done or how many mistakes we’ve made, no matter how many disappointments we’ve had or challenges we’re facing, all “old things have passed away.” With Christ, everything becomes new.

Although you may be filled with uncertainty, although you may be filled with fear and have seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your life, you can still have your slate wiped clean. As we leave 2009 behind us, we can also leave our troubles and our burdens behind us at the foot of the cross. We can start over again, new in Christ.

No matter how long we have been “Christians,” we still need to let the “old things” in our lives pass away. God will take away our anxieties, our fears… He will forgive us of all that we’ve done wrong. He wants to separate us from our mistakes “as far as the East is from the West.” Psalm 103:12

As we journey into this new year, allow the old things to pass away. God knows today, tomorrow, this year, next year, and into eternity. Let Him make you a new creation!

Everybody is Somebody’s Pastor – Part 2

Jesse — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:38:16 +0000

This is a short and sweet meditation. I pair it with John 10:27-28: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.”

There is no better example to follow than the one Jesus gave us, but my daughter taught me a lesson this week. She had been walking around all morning singing to herself, “I want to walk… walk like Jesus…” and I was doing my daily routine and chores around the house. My daughter began shadowing me everywhere I went. She was following me whenever I went in the kitchen. She followed me into the laundry room. It almost seemed like a game for her, so I finally asked her, “what are you doing?” She said, “I’m following you!” I wanted her to re-think her choice to copy everything I’m doing, so I said, “Aren’t you supposed to follow Jesus, like your song says?” She paused for no more than a second, and said, “Yes, but I can’t SEE Jesus, but I DO SEE you, so I have to follow you!”

Have you ever been taught a valuable lesson by a 4 year old? It’s humbling, and exciting at the same time. For that moment, she had a better understanding of my responsibilities than I did. We all need to understand that we have a higher calling, and a responsibility to let others see Jesus in us. Sometimes it takes the faith of a child to make things crystal clear, but God works in mysterious ways.

Love in Christ,

Jesse

Frankincense, Gold & Myrrh

Jesse — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:51:26 +0000

These are the gifts of the Magi. That’s the first thing that comes to mind when we hear about frankincense, gold and myrrh, and that’s exactly what this weeks meditation is about. Rather than prod at your brains by going through Jeremiah chapter 10 (which I suggest you read anyway), I want to talk about the meaning behind the gifts brought to Jesus by the Magi in Matthew 2:11, “and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”

Why these gifts? Why not a Playstation 3 or a flat screen TV? Obviously, the technology didn’t exist, but why didn’t they give him a cow, a sheep, or any other gift? There was good reason for the gifts that were brought to the boy, Jesus, and I’d like to briefly explore those reasons.

Frankincense was a key ingredient in many sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament. Frankincense is believed by herbalists to have calming, restorative, clarifying, and meditative properties. It was believed by many to help carry prayers to heaven. Think about Jesus in these terms. Does he not have calming, restorative, clarifying and meditative properties? As part of the body of Christ, we know Him to be the mediator between God and man. He is our high priest. This is exactly what the frankincense was brought to Jesus to represent.

Gold is still one of the most highly sought after currencies in the world. Just turn on your radio or TV for 30 seconds, and you will hear about somebody who will pay top dollar for your gold. It’s probably the most widely recognized currency across all cultural barriers and throughout all of history. The gift of Gold is one that is clearly meant for someone of royalty. This gift was to clearly illustrate to Jesus that he would become and forever remain King of Kings.

The Myrrh is by far the most intriguing gift to me. Myrrh was used in embalming corpses. Now, if somebody gave me some embalming fluid for Christmas, I would be a little freaked out. That seems pretty morbid for a present. However, it doesn’t take much thought to see why Myrrh was given to Jesus. He was not only destined to be our high priest, and our king, but he was destined to die. This is the path that was laid before Jesus when he was only a boy. This is the culmination of all the hard work that He would put in on this Earth. He would have to die. He knew that would be the only way to gain eternity with His Father. This is why we give gifts at Christmas. This is the reason we live and breathe and have hope to share the same destiny with our Lord and Saviour.