Wednesday June 1

The Lord is my Shepherd

I have all that I need.

Psalm 23:1

When you have a good leader, you don't need to worry. He/she'll take care of you. Who is leading you? Who are you following? Are they good? Do you have everything that you need?

Tuesday May 31

Two more Gay Pigeon Quotes:

"Infinite courage is in all life. Each being that lives and breathes is a resevoir of infinite courage." p 172

"May the north wind bring healing unto you,
May the south wind bring healing unto you,
May the winds of the east and west pour healing into you.
Fear flees from you,
Hate flees from you,
And suspicion flees from you.
Courage like a rushing tide gallops through you;
Peace possesses your entire being,
And serenity and strength have become your two wings.
In your eyes shines courage;
Power and prowess dwell in your heart!
You are healed,
You are healed,
You are healed!
Peace, peace, peace." p 175-6

Monday May 30

"You must know, O Jewel amongst hunters, that no animal, nor any man, is attacked and killed by an enemy until the latter succeeds in frightening him. I have seen even rabbits escape hounds and foxes when they kept themselves free of fear. Fear clouds one's wits and paralyses one's nerve. He who allows himself to be frightened lets himself be killed." p. 55

"Here let it be inscribed in no equivocal language that almost all our troubles come from fear, worry and hate. If any man catches one of the three, the other two are added unto it." p 128

Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon by Dhan Gopal Mukerji (1928).

Friday May 27

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 16:16-20

I love Jesus' reaction to Simon Peter. It is way over the top. Remember this is before Peter denies Jesus three times. This man is going to screw up royally, and here Jesus is, blessing his socks off.

God believes in you, my friend. Have you heard the words to that song by Pierce Pettis?

When you start to doubt if you exist
God believes in you
Confounded by the evidence
God believes in you
When your light burns so dim
When your chances seem so slim
And you swear you don't believe in Him
God believes in you

When you rise up just to fall again
God believes in you
Deserted by your closest friends
God believes in you
When you're betrayed with a kiss
And you turn your cheek to another fist
It doesn't have to end like this
God believes in you

Everything matters if anything matters at all
Everything matters no matter how big
No matter how small
God believes in you
Oh God believes in you

When you're so ashamed that you could die
God believes in you
And you can't do right even though you try
God believes in you
Blessed are the ones who grieve
The ones who mourn and the ones who bleed
In sorrow you sow but in your you'll reap
God believes in you
Oh blessed are the ones who grieve
The ones who mourn and the ones who bleed
In sorrow you sow but in you'll reap
God believes in you
Oh God believes in you

Thursday May 26

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means rock), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 16:16-20

Based on Jesus' response, I'm pretty sure Simon Peter got the answer right. Jesus is Messiah - the chosen one, the deliverer, the mighty warrior who has come to save us. Jesus is the Son of God - he is fully God in the flesh. He is to be worshipped, praised, and glorified. He is to be followed. Savior and Lord...

Wednesday May 25

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."

Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"

Matthew 16:13-15

When all is said and done and you stand before Jesus, he is going to ask you one question and your eternal fate will be determined by your answer. Guess what the question is....that's right.

Who do you say that I am?

That's it. Please contact me if you do not feel comfortable with your answer. I will help you. It's important you get it right.

Tuesday May 24

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

"Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."

Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?"

Matthew 16:13-15

I like the way Jesus describes himself by his nickname, Son of Man. We will see in a few verses that he nicknames Simon Peter. Names seem to be important to Jesus, to God for that matter. Having gone through two namings myself, it is quite dramatic and stressful. I don't get the sense that it is stressful to Jesus. But I do get the sense of his dramatic!

Check out how he does it:

"Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means 'rock'), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it."

How about that!

Jesus understands the dramatic. What drama is he playing out in your life right now?

Has he ever given you a nickname?

monday May 23

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to you disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:14-21

What do you think Jesus means by nothing will be impossible for you? He couldn't possibly be serious. Could he?

A couple of days ago, I decided to pray cannonball-sized faith prayers. It was quite an experience. What takes cannonball-size faith for you? How about you pray it today?

Friday May 20

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to you disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:14-21

I like how Jesus deals with his disciples in private. We should take Jesus' actions as an example for us. If you need to correct somebody, talk to them in private. If you need to discuss a personal matter, do it face to face. Never write an emotional email. Never leave an emotional voice mail. Person to person. In private. That's what Jesus did.

Thursday May 19

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to you disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:14-21

Jesus doesn't let unbelief get in the way. Come to Jesus even if you don't have an ounce of faith in him. If you start wondering what's the point. If you have given up hope. Go to him anyway. You might get surprised. And everyone likes surprises.

Wednesday May 18

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to you disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:14-21

Is Jesus really sick and tired of these people? Of course not. It's the same emotion we feel as parents or leaders or you fill in the blank. I'm not sick and tired of my children (not really). I get frustrated when they don't perform to the level that I know they can perform. I think that might be what is going on here. Jesus knows they have the faith in them. They just need to exercise it.

Believe it or not, you got enough faith in you as well. How might you exercise yours today?

Tuesday May 17

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire and into the water. I brought him to you disciples, but they could not heal him."

"O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:14-21

One of the reasons why I love Jesus is that he is unpredictable. You couldn't make his character up. A poor father has a son who is helplessly oppressed, and Jesus goes off on this lament, calling this man and his own disciples perverse! It's not what you expect. I love that. When you are reading Jesus' words. Pay attention to the unexpected. These are the places where you can often get the best insight into his unique character. We analyze this one here this week.

Monday May 16

This is on the wall in the room I am in tonight:

Praise the Lord all you nations;
extol him all you peoples.
For great is his love towareds us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord
endures forever.

Psalm 117

It reminds me of the verses we memorized this morning: Lamentations 3:22-23

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your fatihfulness.

Friday May 13

The biggest "diamond" Jesus wants is my attention.

breaking the rules - fil anderson (158)

Thursday May 12

I've discovered that my marriage and my relationship with Jesus have some things in common. If I'm unwilling to do certain things for the ones I cherish, things that they cherish, no great thing is going to happen in our relationship. Intimate friendship within the boundary of reason is a maimed friendship. Calculated love is no love at all. Although to me jewelry seems to be a waste, my wife likes jewelry. Similarly, when considering my relationship with Jesus, the question is plain and simple: Jesus what do you want?

breaking the rules - fil anderson (158)

It's the same question that he asks us!

When Jesus asks you What do you want? He is really saying: I love you! One way to tell Jesus you love him is to ask him the question back.

Wednesday May 11

A few years ago, as Lucie and I approached our thirtieth anniversary, I pondered for weeks what would be an appropriate gift to mark the milestone. Although I'd successfully managed to project a glittering image of myself to others during those years, I'd failed her countless times. More than any other person, Lucie has faithfully endured storms caused by my sometimes demanding, demeaning, hateful behavior. She has been witness to some of my darkest and most shameful moments. Numerous times I've given her justifiable cause to withhold her love or even walk away from our marriage. Instead, she has faithfully remained with me as a constant and dazzling expression of the unconditional love, devotion and faithfulness of Jesus to me.

Therefore I wanted to present her with something more exceptional than any gift I'd ever given to her. Oddly, what kept coming to my mind was jewelry. This was off for one simple reason: I hate jewelry, mostly because I believe that it's frivolous, a waste. As our anniversary grew nearer, I though of the petite, inexpensive diamond ring I'd scrounged up enough money to purchase for her over thirty years ago. I couldn't seem to escape wondering how special she'd feel if I presented her with a new diamond ring. Yet, instinctively I reasoned, Have you gone soft in the head? What are you thinking? Are you an idiot? You hate jewelry! Jewelry is a waste!

Reflecting back, I'm confident that I've never given a gift, at least one that can be purchased, that had more meaning and significance than the diamond ring that she's proudly worn since June 5, 2006. She's fully aware that to me a gift of jewelry seems a waste. Yet I know that to her the ring I gave her is a beautiful thing. And we both know that my gift was given from a heart filled with undying devotion, gratitude and love.

breaking the rules - fil anderson (157-8)

Tuesday May 10

I don't know about you, but trying to answer the What do you want question is not that easy. There are always unintended consequences. There is always the possibility I might come up with a better answer later. It's a lot of pressure, you know? The question. What if I screw it up?

My friend Fil reminded me that I shouldn't put that much pressure on myself. Through Christ, by the Holy Spirit, we have access to the Father at all times. We can answer that question any number of times every day.

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

Monday May 9

In 1 Kings 3 God visits Solomon in a dream and asks him a question: "What do you want?" Solomon answers wisdom, and the rest is history.

In Mark 10 Jesus is walking down the road to Jericho and runs into Blind Bartimaeus and he asks him a question: "What do you want?" Bartimaeus says he wants sight, and the rest is history.

Great answers. Wisdom. Sight.

You are reading a Jesus Nugget on your computer and God shows up and asks you: "What do you want?"

What's your answer?

Friday May 6

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this was not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come, and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

John 14:1-3

Jesus is thoughtful. He is a planner. He waits until the right time, until everything is just right, only then will he come and get you. We can count on that. As he says, trust me.

Thursday May 5

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this was not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come, and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

John 14:1-3

I love how Jesus describes heaven as a home. He could have called it a city, a realm, a kingdom, a world...honestly, I don't know what it looks like. He could have called it heaven! But he didn't. Jesus called it a home.

Wednesday May 4

"Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ' Father save me from this hour?' But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name."

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again." When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

John 12:27-29

I also love Jesus' honesty. If you were in his situation and had all these people looking at you like you might be the Messiah, would you tell them that your soul is deeply troubled? That seems a bit too vulnerable for my appetite. But that was the kind of man Jesus was. He was honest. He was completely confident in the love God had for him. He did not need to impress anyone. He didn't worry about hurting his father's feelings. It's beautiful when you think about it. The King. He didn't have to, but he chose to show us his heart.

Tuesday May 3

"Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ' Father save me from this hour?' But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name."

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again." When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

John 12:27-29

I love the little glimpse we get into the relationship between God the Father and God the son. Jesus says, what kind of son do you think I am? Between what I might want and what my Father wants, I want what my Father wants. I want him to get the glory.

The Father says, I glory in my wonderful son. And I will continue to glory in him. Because he is my delight, my joy, and I have full confidence in him.

It's so beautiful: the son loves the father, the father loves the son.

Now read what Jesus says later: "I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."

John 17:22-23

Wow!

Monday May 2

"Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ' Father save me from this hour?' But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name."

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, "I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again." When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

John 12:27-29

Have you ever wondered if the thunder you hear during a storm might be the voice of God? I'm going to think about it next time. I'm going to listen for God's voice in the storm.