Luke 7:36-43

 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
(Luke 7:41-43 ESV)

First, I enjoy the fact that the Pharisee was talking to HIMSELF when Jesus answered him.  Perhaps, I should be more attentive to what I mutter to myself. :) 

I have thought about these verses for several hours this morning.  I understand the passage, but didn't feel like writing about it.  I decided to just get it over with and now I know what I really want to say and how to say it.  We, that is I, don't get the weight of our my sin.  Even in that sentence, I try to defer some of the responsibility of this.  As much as I want to be the woman worshipping Jesus, I am typically the Pharisee judging from the corner.  I keep my words to myself, but that doesn't matter because the words are in my heart.  Recently, a friend's grandpa died.  The man was not saved and the whole family reeled at the reality of his eternal destination.  It was the first time that I had stopped to consider such a thing.  I usually dismiss icky thoughts like that because I don't like to deal with them.  As I thought about it, it made me angry that the man would have to suffer for eternity.  That wasn't comfortable, so I thought about how thankful I am that I don't deserve that.  Then it really hit me.  I do.  Now I think about my grumbling attitude this morning.  I am frustrated with my kids and my life and a handful of other things that rub me the wrong way.  I realized as I sat to write this how selfish I am being.  I do not have a heart of service or thankfulness, let alone worship.

Luke 7:18-35

 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”
(Luke 7:33-35 ESV)

I like that John has questions.  Things took a turn for the worse for him and he had doubts.  This makes him real.  Jesus didn't answer his questions because he knew that John knew the answer.  He just reminded John of the signs to reassure his heart.  I am like that sometimes and need reminders to remind me of what I know to be true.

I am not totally sure I get the last portion of this passage.  I tried to sit and meditate on it and to ponder deeply, but the kids were talking to me the whole time. (I am trying to apply the concept of living deeply in chaos, but this might not be the proper application)  Anyway... I think what Jesus is saying is that we try to frame God and the supernatural in our terms.  We are self worshippers who expect God to come into our existence and understanding.  This leads to misinterpretation and basically being wrong because God doesn't fit.  God is bigger than us and our world, understanding, etc.  In order to begin to understand, we need to first understand that God is bigger than our comprehension.  (This is where I am getting stuck because I know that God is logical, but we almost have to lay logic aside in order to learn about God.  Logic comes back into play, then as we see smaller examples of what we have learned around us... an imperfect reflection of perfection.)  Knox says that we get to know God by loving Him and reading and obeying his word--"His word is the Bible, Mom".  Sometimes, I trust the faith of my children more than my own understanding.

Luke 7:11-17

 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

(Luke 7:13-15 ESV)

Both yesterday and today's passages demonstrate the power of God.  What interests me is the contrast between the two stories.  Yesterday, the church leaders were pleading the case of this man, the servants and the centurion were all involved in asking for the healing of the servant.  In today's story, nobody asked.  There was no step of faith.  There was a broken woman and a dead man.  Jesus had compassion.  He wasn't healing just those who had faith.  He wasn't so caught up in all the commotion that he didn't notice the life situations of others.  While he responded to those who sought him in faith, he also reached out to those who were just simply hurting.

In my life there are times that I plead my case before the Lord and then there are times where I am just a broken mess.  I am thankful that God cares in both situations and that he acts out of compassion.

Luke 7:1-10

 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.
(Luke 7:7 ESV)   When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
(Luke 7:9 ESV)

The thing that stands out to me in this passage is that Jesus sees the heart of the centurion.  When I read this story, I get the impression that the centurion was a little high on himself.  I know that is not the case though, because that is not what Jesus sees.

I need to be careful about the opinions I form of others.  I also need to pay careful attention to the heart of the person rather than just the actions.  My kids challenge me DAILY lately.  I have to stop and remind myself that big messes sometimes really are just accidents and not plots against my sanity... in other words, I am learning to stop and read the hearts of my children before I choose how to react.

Luke 6:43-49

 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

(Luke 6:45-49 ESV)

O- Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings.  Our actions, attitudes and behaviors are a testament to the condition of our heart.  It is worth the extra time and effort it takes to ground our heart in God's will so that we can stand firm when the storm blows.

A- I needed to be reminded that the little things do matter.  It always counts when it is a matter of character and reflecting Christ.  The "little" things are just preparation for the "bigger" things.

Luke 6:37-42

 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
(Luke 6:38 ESV)

I was supposed to focus on verse 37, but 38 stood out to me a lot so I went with it.  My observations were a little too personal for this format though so I deleted them

I would update the language of verse 39-42 to "Grow up!".  At least that is what He was thinking.  What came out of his mouth was a little more like, "You guys have some great potential and I think you are going to make it.  You have to stop thinking that you have arrived though.  You keep doing silly things and thinking you are better than you really are.  Make sure you examine your own life before giving commentary on the lives of others."  I am pretty sure that He would say the same things to me.

Luke 6:27-36

S-  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
(Luke 6:35-36 ESV)

O- This is a tough one for me because I don't get it.  I understand the words, but not the application.  Do I leave my house unlocked and let those who are evil do as they wish?  That seems foolish, but it almost seems to be what Jesus is teaching--What we value is foolish and we should let go of that and adopt God's values instead.  I struggled with this so much that I ended up reading a sermon transcript on this passage.  The sermon cover today and yesterday's passages and I liked how this quote tied both passages together. "The most painful parts of life are the most glorious opportunities to live out the kingdom ethics."

A- I have struggled with being wronged and being very, very angry with that person.  Praying for this person is still a struggle.  I do not want to allow this person to continue to hurt my family, but I want to allow the light of Christ to shine through in any interactions I might have to have with this person.  I guess I see it that I love my children very much, and I can discipline them out of that love.  In the same way, I think that people should be held accountable to laws and such, but that we can allow those in authority to do the disciplining and that we can be merciful rather than hateful.  (I don't really know on this, it is a tough passage for me)

P- Praying for my enemies today.

Luke 6:12-26

S-  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:
 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
 “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
(Luke 6:20-23 ESV)

O- 1) I never noticed before that Jesus spent the whole night in prayer.  I am much more likely to bemoan the fact that I have no quiet time to spend in prayer than to give up a night of sleep.  Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing the disciples.  While staying up every night to pray would be foolish, making that type of sacrifice before big decisions seems very wise.
2) I found it very interesting that Jesus chose to teach on the beatitudes in the midst of craziness.  I have read this passage many times and had not noticed that before either.  When things in our family get crazy, I minimize what we need to do and survive until a quieter moment.  Jesus didn't.  He chose a crazy moment to teach about what to do when things get crazy.
3) I have been feeling so blessed lately.  While I am very aware of things in my life that I am thankful for, the feeling of blessing has gone beyond that and I have struggled to put it into words.  Today, it all clicked together in my mind (here's hoping it comes out in words).  Simply, the things we think of as blessings are not the only blessings.  God blesses us with SO MANY things--comfortable and not so much.  For example: God has blessed me with three healthy, intelligent and capable children.  I am thankful for them.  He has also blessed me with the opportunity to learn patience, self-control, service and sacrifice as I care for them.  I choose to be thankful for that blessing as well even though it makes me want to pull my hair out some days.  I hate that this sounds so cheap and corny because it is so real to me right now.  I am so thankful for everything God has given me--comfortable and challenging right now.  It is great to be praised, comfortable, wealthy, happy, etc., but the richness of life is not found in those times.  It is the crazy, overwhelming times where the deepest and most fulfilling blessings are eventually found.

A- 1) I am convicted with how rarely I make sacrifices of things I feel entitled to.  This would include sleep, food and rest.  My children have challenged those things over the years, but I usually only give them up when I have to--on very rare occasions.
2) I need to embrace the crazy times.  Not everything needs to be neat, tidy and under control in order to function or grow.

P- Praying for hurting friends right now who are searching for meaning in the midst of another hurtful time.  Praying that they would feel the presence of God, embrace the closeness hurtful times bring, and that polka dots of grace would appear through conversations and growth as God would bring it to them. Praying for wisdom in dealing with the boys.  Praying for a heart that gives even when it hurts.

Luke 6:1-11

My consistency has not been what it should be.  My friend, Megan, is hosting a Good Morning Girls group and I have decided to join in.

S- And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.
(Luke 6:9-10 ESV)

O-1) I feel like we all get caught up with the shallow things so often.  We think about looks and the things that make us feel good.  While I long to experience the deeper things of life, I feel like I am trying to dive down with a life jacket on.  The Pharisees in this passage are caught up in the traditions and what is socially acceptable and completely miss out on the amazing good that Jesus had in store.  A man was HEALED! Why do we constantly get in the way of that with our own habits and acceptable behaviors\looks\thoughts. 2) Jesus asked the man to stretch out his hand.  This was an act of faith on the man's part.  He risked being a fool in front of the men who seemingly mattered most.

A-Spend time in God's Word consistently.  My heart will not connect with God's if I am not meeting with Him daily.  Also, reinforce the reality of what is really important with my kids.  While I may insist that their clothes match when we go out in public, this does not change how God sees them at all. :)

P-Praying that God will honor the desire of my heart as it seeks Him.