Steve's Blog

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Isaiah 7: 14; 8:8; Matthew 1: 23; and John 15: 5

Immortal One, born miraculously of a virgin, entering humbly into this world in a manger, worshiped by lowly shepherds, awe-struck in the eyes of wise men, God has indeed joined humankind and lands safely on planet earth. Immanuel, God is with us. Let all the earth rejoice!

The prophet Isaiah foretold his arrival through the sign of the impossible: a virgin will conceive miraculously by the power of the Holy Spirit and a son will be born.  Isaiah pronounced the King’s arrival by the metaphor of the outspread wings of the floodwaters which will cover the breadth of the land. O Immanuel, the prophet declares, you will cover the earth with outstretched arms of love.

During Lent we are reminded once more of Immanuel, the God who has, is, and continues to be with us. This Immanuel is Jesus, sent to cover our worlds completely and expansively, enveloping our lives from the inside out. When Jesus begins human life, the God-man reaches out to all who cross his path with an generous earnestness and an intentional proactivity which will be marveled at by some and stiff armed my many others. But to those who receive his gift of love, do so with outstretched arms of anticipation and gladness.

God with us, Immanuel, therefore invites us to a “with God” existence. His presence, power and peace are always being initiated toward us, all the time and in every circumstance. Frankly, our great God, personalized in Jesus, will always come to us in merciful, grace-filled, forgiving, and tender-loving ways. The question is not whether he will deliver on his promises to be with us, instead, will we keep our word of desire and decree that we choose to be with him?

It’s a “with God” life that matters most to all who claim his name as Christian. During Lent, we have many opportunities to abide with him as he so graciously abides with us. What does your “with God” existence look like and how is it you wish to show your allegiance to Jesus this Lenten season?

Perhaps you might consider how best to pray during Lent…doing all the talking to God, or choosing instead to notice, listen, and give thanks? Perhaps you might sense an invitation from God to repent of your sinfulness and turn back to godliness? Perhaps you might encourage and celebrate the lives of those who know you best and love you most? Perhaps you might focus more on slowing down and being more, rather than racing faster and accomplishing the most?

Behold him In the sacred light of this new day…believe his promise to be with you forever…belong to his lineage as a faithful disciple…become a person enveloped by his unconditional love. Amen.

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Matthew 2: 1-12

You might be thinking…why are we reading about the visit of the Magi on our journey to Easter? For one simple reason: to remember and give thanks, and with awe and wonder. We recall with delight the marvelous ways the wise men found their way to Jesus, and being overjoyed with their discovery “bowed down and worshiped him.” Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts.

In the stillness of the night the wise men followed the star with delight, and what they found brought complete joy to their hearts. Similarly, when all who are seeking Jesus find him, no matter if they are shepherds or magi, business leaders or college educators, homemakers or pastors, their souls are filled up with everlasting  love only Jesus can deliver. And, in the midst of the moment, they can’t help but offer back to him with outstretched arms the fullness of their lives.

Think about it for a moment…who else brought Jesus extravagant gifts in response to God’s outstretched arms of love extended to earth’s inhabitants in the life of Jesus? For the Magi, they knew he was someone extra special, a child sent from heaven “as the king of the Jews” and they did everything possible; even defy King Herod, to be near the baby Jesus when he was born in Bethlehem in Judea, just as the prophet Micah had foretold.

So, imagine the scene for yourself.  You are living in the time of King Herod and word comes to you that your king has been born in a manger, under the bright sky of winter. You pack up all your belongings and make sure you have a splendid gift to share with the child and his family. You travel over hill and dale to the place where the Christ child lays freshly newborn, still nursing and finding breath and life in the loving arms of his beloved parents. What is your response in this amazing encounter with the Christ child? Are you still in awe and wonder as you prepare to watch him head now to the cross?

This Lenten season, may I be so bold to encourage you toward spontaneous responses in worship, such as repentance and joy? And, in your interactions with others, to be generous with grace, mercy, forgiveness, and even tangible gifts of love? Each time I consider the waiting and watching of the Magi, followed by their journey to find Jesus, and then their response of gift giving, I’m struck by the contrast with my own life. How much of my life is consumed (or not) by anticipation of Jesus’ arrival in the everydayness of my existence? How willing am I to give back to him and others extravagantly, in the manner in which Jesus has given to me?

Behold him with awe…believe in him once more…belong to his tribe with firm resolve…and, become a generous lover, forgiver, and reconciler. May it be so!

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Luke 2: 8-20

Entering the Lenten season can be pretty abrupt. In the midst of our normal lives, all of a sudden we’re encouraged to press the pause button and hop back on the bus marked “Lent” once more. The sign that says “This way to Easter” catches us off guard and we scramble to know how best to participate in the journey to the cross. We’ve traveled this way and to the same destination before. The scenery looks pretty similar. So, how do we embrace this year’s pilgrimage in a new and soul-refreshing way?

When the shepherds were out in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night, they were shocked when the bright star was shining that night when Jesus was born. We look back to that occasion as we enter Lent, for it was at that moment when the promise of his coming into the world was fulfilled. In Lent we anticipate his departure from his earthly life and ministry and his return to his eternal home with the Godhead in heaven.

The shepherds’ utter surprise at the shining of such a brilliant beacon of light in the midst of their darkness led them into worship. When the glory of the Lord shone around them they were terrified. But, the angels came praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to them on whom his favor rests.” The shepherds response was classic worship: let’s go and see…so they hurried and found Jesus…and after seeing Jesus they left ecstatic with their discovery and shared the good news with all who were witnesses of their glorifying and praising God.

Like the humble hearted shepherds who were adorned with the presence of Jesus, so should we long for the same this Lenten season. We know the meta-narrative that awaits us in our journey to Holy Week and Easter. We’ve traveled this path in previous years and with similar companions. But, what can be different this time: eyes alert to the ways Jesus stretches out his arms for us in our comings and goings. And, when we behold him in our midst, to glorify God and offer fresh testimony to others.

Will you purpose to keep your eyes wide open so you can see Jesus this Lent? He may appear to you in the reading of his Word and the singing of his love in worship, or in the breaking of bread in fellowship with others of like heart and mind, or in your quiet place of alone time in prayer. Jesus may come to you this Lenten season through a warm embrace of a friend, or the kindness of a helpful deed, or even in a difficulty, pain or sorrow when you have only one place to turn.

Behold him in the starry night, believe him in the break of day, belong to him in the fellowship of the saints, and become like him in your worship and witness.

In this Lenten series I would like to invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. Today we will reflect on one distinct time and way Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to become more and more like his image and with more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

Read Genesis 3:19 and Luke 2:1-7

Today is Ash Wednesday, when in many Christian churches pilgrims gather to worship and repent of their sins, being reminded once more of their mortality. Typically, there is a time to come forward to have ashes placed on the forehead, often in the sign of the cross. The minister will recite one of two phrases, depending on the denominational setting. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” which is taken from Genesis 3:19 on the heels of Adam and Eve’s fall to the temptation of the enemy.  Another option is “Repent and believe in the Gospel” from Mark 1:14, making explicit (repent and believe) what is implied (own your mortality and acknowledge your need to trust Christ for your salvation) in the first spoken words.

Either way, the words spoken from Scripture upon receiving the ashes are reminders of our mortality, and our corresponding need to repent of our sinfulness and submit to the truths of the Gospel. It’s a fitting way to enter Lent, as we usher in a season dedicated to the renewal of our souls. The ashes placed on foreheads are burned from the previous year’s palm branches from Palm Sunday worship. As we approach Holy Week and prepare our hearts for Easter, the symbolism of today is poignant.

We fast today in remembrance of our sinful mortality (from ashes to ashes, dust to dust), as we prepare our hearts for the feast of the Gospel of Easter and the hope of resurrection life for all eternity. We fast today in order to embrace the suffering our Lord assumed in our behalf by his immortality, his incarnation, and his infinite love for all.

When we turn to Luke 2, we are reminded of the miraculous and holy birth of our Lord Jesus. Here in the sawdust manger, the immortal One is born into this world as our Savior. Jesus’ new place in this world is all a part of God’s magnificent plan for our redemption. Because of Jesus’ arrival into actual time and space on planet earth, his Advent and Incarnation are gifts we treasure deeply. This dramatic symbol of God’s infinite love for his beloved children is representative of his willingness to become familiar with our status as human beings for a season. God became man…the infinite joined the finite…heaven came down to earth…and Jesus showed us the way home to the heart of God.

In the lowly manger, humbly born, Jesus was welcomed with the open arms of love from his mother Mary, father Joseph, and the entire universe now rejoices.  Behold his dusty birthplace as you believe the Gospel once more. Know with certainty that you belong to the family of God, and become today a repentant mortal, fully aware of your sinfulness, and your desperate need for a hope-filled Savior.

The season of Lent is a solemn time in the liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for the next six weeks until we approach Easter Sunday. It’s a forty day period of time, counting just the Monday-Saturday’s, since it’s assumed our faith communities will be gathering for worship on Sunday’s and provide additional Lenten focus for the soul.  The traditional purpose of Lent is for the devout believer to take this time to be single-minded and heartfelt in commemorating the sacrificial suffering of Jesus on the cross. Therefore, the preparation of the soul for Holy Week includes disciplines such as prayer, repentance of sins, self-denial, and generosity.  Many Christians today celebrate Lent as a part of their denomination, local church, or small group.

Why forty days? There were many times when God’s people waited forty days or forty years for God’s will to be accomplished. In the Old Testament, Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); Elijah spent forty days and nights walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); Noah and his family were spared in the great flood that lasted forty days and nights (Genesis 7:4);  Jonah gave his prophecy of judgment to the city of Ninevah which was forty days in which to repent or be destroyed (Jonah 3:4); and the Hebrew people wandered in the wilderness forty years while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33).

Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, where he both fasted and was tempted by the devil  (Matthew 4:1–2, Mark 1:12–13, Luke 4:1–2). He overcame all three of Satan’s temptations by citing Scripture to the devil, at which point the devil left him, angels ministered to Jesus, and He began His ministry. Jesus further said that His disciples should fast “when the bridegroom shall be taken from them” (Matthew 9:15), long considered a reference to his Passion. It is also the traditional belief that Jesus lay in the tomb for forty hours before rising from the dead and leaving his grave clothes behind for his followers to discover.  With forty days of preparation, Lent has great significance to many historical events in the life of the Church.

Lent comes to its pinnacle during Holy Week, when we remember the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. During this week we begin on Palm Sunday, when the crowds worshiped him as he entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. We witness afresh the meaning of Maundy Thursday, when Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and humbly washed the feet of his disciples. From there we enter Good Friday, when the crowds have turned against him and demanded his crucifixion. We watch once more the beatings, whippings, anguish, and torment from his accusers, with the penultimate sacrifice of his nail-pierced hands and feet on the cross at Calvary. But, the drama doesn’t end there with the darkness of death. We are led to the empty tomb, and into the bright light of joy-filled Resurrection Day.

During Lent many will abstain from some kind of “luxury” such as sweets, or meat, or travel, or any other self-indulgence that keeps one from remembering the awful curse of the cross. Others will add to their lifestyles some additional expression of devotion to Christ, such as a daily reader, additional attendance at worship gatherings, volunteering services to those in need, noticing or emphasizing a particular practice, or joining a group studying a Lenten topic. Still others will choose to become more generous during Lent, sending cards, gifts, and tokens of affection to loved ones, or making financial offerings anonymously to those in need. Whatever you choose to do is up to you, for each option is merely an invitation not a requirement. It’s perfectly fine to not delete, add, or multiply anything new during this season. What’s most important is ensuring your heart is intentionally attentive to the gifts that Jesus has given by way of his ultimate sacrifice on the cross: forgiveness of sins, fullness of blessings in this life, and a forever home awaiting you in heaven.

For the next forty days, we will travel this well-worn pathway once more. This time, let me invite you to consider Jesus’ “outstretched arms of love” toward all who followed him as disciples, seeking to emulate his life, self-sacrifice, and humble service to others. We will review and reflect upon forty distinct times and ways Jesus stretched out his arms of love to all who beheld his glory, believed his message, belonged as his disciples, and sought to became more and more like his image…to become more of their true identity in Christ Alone.

What will be your choice this Lenten season, when for forty days we will all join our hearts in unison devotion, anticipating once more the celebration of the Risen Christ? May the journey ahead be good for your soul.

It’s been six weeks since my last blog entry. Friends have continued on just fine without my writing contributions. Somehow there’s been other blogs to be read, other thoughts to be considered, other ideas to reflect upon. The world has progressed nicely without my input. Go figure!

I’m going to hop back into the fray of words in the coming week. New ideas are beginning to pop and my contribution to the world of blogs may actually have some renewed focus and freshness once more. I’ve been reflecting on the hardest question of all, “Why?” and clarity is returning once more.

Taking a break from the flurry of writing and posting has been good for my soul. It matters not if anyone else has noticed. I’ve purposed the hiatus and that’s what matters most.

For all who care, there’s more on the way. Thanks for listening as you read. Maybe this will give you permission to press the pause button, take a needed break, yield to a deeper longing, and be emboldened to take on a new direction. Life always returns after we rest.

One of the pillars of the spiritual life that we encourage leaders to consider is the discipline of reflection. Accompanying our personal and community time in the Scriptures and in prayer, reflection is best seen in the ways we “remember and give thanks” to God for the life of abundance he invites us to embrace each new day.  On our soul care retreats and in our spiritual formation groups we teach the importance of reflection, specifically through the ancient practice of “Daily Examen.”

As you anticipate the start of a new year, it’s good for your soul to look back with gratitude on 2014 and ahead with anticipation for all that awaits you in 2015. Here are a few suggestions to consider as you spend a few quiet moments with the Lord in the midst of your New Year celebrations…

1.  Spend some quiet time with the Lord and simply become aware of God’s presence. Quiet your hurried heart and ask God to bring clarity to your reflections.

2.  Review the past year with gratitude, recalling the gifts God gave to you in 2014. Gifts from God might include new or renewed relationships, special events or experiences, etc.

3.  Pay attention to the emotions that these recollections evoke; what remembrance of this past year brings fear, joy, anxiety, sorrow or elation? Note these in written form.

4.  What one major event of the past year stands out among the rest? Pray through and process how it has shaped you either positively or negatively.

5.  Look ahead to 2015. What are your expectations, hopes and dreams for the New Year? List them in your journal and pray over them on the first few days of the New Year.

God bless you as you partake of this prayer-filled, year-end Examen.

Wow, I’m shocked how many “Advent devotionals” are available this year…many more than in years past.

In addition to the many written options available in book format, I’m noticing on Facebook, via numerous e-mail lists, and for whatever reason I’m even auto-subscribed to several more coming into my inbox either daily or weekly between now and Christmas Day. Some I can see already will be excellent; others rather mediocre. Some are by individuals I admire or organizations I support or published by churches I’m connected with or ministries I know and follow. Everyone has very good intentions: helping their reader engage more meaningfully in the Advent and Christmas season. A few have pretty obvious ulterior motives: asking for a donation.

But, my fear is that these very devotionals – and their ancillary web pages, resources, events, etc. – will provide so much additional noise to an already over-cluttered, over-committed and over-saturated season of the year that they will contribute more to my/our seasonal exhaustion rather than my/our spiritual invigoration. It’s already feeling a bit like the Black Friday and Cyber Monday chatter of retail…just sayin.

My counsel, for what it’s worth…don’t try to do it all. Limit your intake. Focus on what seems most soul-satisfying and relationship-building (as in between you and God, and you and your faith community). Collect and then collate; don’t attempt the status of super Christian in one short month. Instead, and in the midst of all that’s already on your holiday calendar, purpose to focus – yes, really focus – on the true meaning of Advent and Christmas. Which, by the way, is about waiting and wondering, watching and hoping, listening and praying, anticipating and expecting, all wrapped up as one holy season. If you’re in a rush now, you might end up turning the page into the New Year and scratching your head, amazed how quickly it all slipped away amidst the noise and confusion.

You can’t enjoy the full beauty of Advent and Christmas if you think you need to do or read or attend or know it all…it simply might be too noisy for your soul. Watch out if you’re more interested in knowing more about Advent than you are experiencing the fullness of Advent. Be sure to behold the coming of the Lord in the love of the Christ Child, and then become what you receive.

Three simple kernels of corn at everyone’s place setting during Thanksgiving dinner… Mom Macchia’s family tradition, when after enjoying our meal we would share the top three blessings we are grateful for from the past year. Today 11/27/14 would have been our beloved Mom’s 99th birthday! We will gather as family to give thanks for our many abundant blessings. May you and yours have a joy-filled Thanksgiving Day 2014!

Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Here’s the account as recorded in Genesis 6: 13-22…

So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.  So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out.  This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be three hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide and thirty cubits high. Make a roof for it, leaving below the roof an opening one cubit high all around. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks.  I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish.  But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.  You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you.  Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.  You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

When God spoke to Noah concerning the upcoming flood, he gave him super specific instructions. Apparently the details of ark construction mattered to Almighty God. And, since Noah loved God, he obeyed him right down to the last cubit.

Has there been a time in your life when you knew God had been specific with his intentions for you? Did you follow him to the final cubit? Or, did you take matters into your own hands and follow your self-will instead, cutting corners on the Master’s plan?

Listen carefully to God’s Word, for it’s the place where he seems to be the most specific. Then, obey the Word…down to the cubit…and watch how joyful and fruitful and love-full your life will become. May it be so, even today.

Fill in the blank…and ___________(your name) did everything just as God commanded.

Wow, that’s a faithful life!