Prior to his crucifixion, Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem. There he found, not only worshippers, but people exploiting the spiritual needs of many who were there by using that experience to make a high profit. The faithful were not permitted to pay the temple tax in the common currency of the day. Instead, they were required to exchange it for the currency of the temple. It was at the point of this exchange that people would be gouged with an unfair exchange rate.

Seeing this travesty, Jesus turned over their tables and declared, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” It is one of the few times we see Jesus angry, and there is no mistaking his concern. Clearly, the money changers missed the point of worship and were exchanging the gift of God for the trappings of profit.

In our journey of faith, we too can miss the point. We may not be hurting others for our profit, but we can lose sight of the real gift of being the Church of Jesus Christ. We can replace an intimate walk with the Savior and with the world, for ritual and routine. We can replace the “house of prayer for all nations” with the “house of getting my needs met,” sacrificing the call for our comfort.

We are meant to be the church for the sake of the world and to the glory of God. Prayer and ministry for our community, region, and the nations of the world is at the heart of our identity. Called to lift Jesus high we need to come in low, as John the Baptist did saying, “I must decrease that he might increase.”

The good news is that when we embrace our true calling as the body of Christ we find the blessing of God. Like the child who learns to appreciate and value the gift more than the packaging, we discover that the valuable gift of God is found beyond the trappings of religion. In our faithful embrace of God’s vision for his church, we find the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus, the beauty of community, and the power of a dynamic relationship with the world.

Let’s not settle for the box and paper, but search deeper for the real gift of God. Let’s be the house of prayer for all nations and see the world transformed by the love and power of Jesus Christ!

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Yesterday, one of our seminary interns preached the sermon for our Sunday Worship. It was a wonderful service and a great message that challenged us to move beyond our worry and fear and look for ways we can be servants of God in ministry to the world. At the heart of the message was this simple, yet profound question: “What do you have that can be put to use for God?”

It is a question well worth pondering by anyone working to make their heart resonate with the heart of God. God gives us so much: time and money, skills and talents, faith and spiritual gifts. Each of us is made to be a special and unique part of the body of Christ so that together, we can represent the fullness of God. If we understand that we are blessed to be a blessing, then it is important to ask why God made us the way we are and gave us what we have. Certainly, part of the answer is the joy our blessings bring to God and to us, but there is surely a place for the joy, healing and witness our blessings can bring to the world through us.

Too often, we address stewardship as if it is just another annual fund raiser to get money for the coming year’s ministry. We reduce the role of faithful stewards to check-writers for programs and events, but that is not the definition of real stewardship. Instead, stewardship is about celebrating and sharing what we receive from God so that God will be glorified and others cared for, blessed and strengthened.

So, this brings us back to the question. What do we have right now that can be put to use for God? Is it money that can be used to enable outreach in God’s name, or to be the outreach to someone in need? Is it time that can be given in the service of others, or in prayer? Is it our skill that can empower others by assisting them with challenges that restrict them or by teaching them new ways to identify and use their own God-given gifts and talents?

These are just the beginning. The list of possibilities is as endless and the creative power of God at work within us. As we enter this new week and begin preparing for the coming new year, let’s ask ourselves the question and ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify our gifts and empower us to use them in new ways. Let’s keep looking to embrace the new possibilities God presents to us, letting go of the fear of failure, or of change, and stepping boldly into the future by faith. There is real excitement ahead of us and wonderful opportunities to make a difference for God.

What do you have that can be put to use for God right now? What is God asking you to do? What might happen if you step out in faith today? Imagine, there are people waiting right now, for you to step forward in faith and be the answer to prayer. What a wonderfully awesome opportunity and responsibility. We do not have to be, or have, what someone else is, or has, to make a difference. We only need to be available to God and together, we can change the world. Let’s make the investment together and be the world changers we were meant to be.

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I expected to gain some understanding of artistic design, painting tools and watercolor techniques. What I did not expect included learning to see with new eyes and insights into living in the moment. The instructor repeatedly mentioned that taking this class would change the way we saw the world around us. From his perspective, becoming a student of art ultimately leads to asking of the things we see in our lives, “How can I paint that?” The answer involves more than color choices and techniques, it also involves truly observing what we see.

A classic example happened during a recent class on painting trees. As we began to paint the trunks and limbs, our teacher asked, “what color should we use?” Of course, we responded with browns and grays. His suggestion, “begin with blue.” I was sure I’d never seen a blue tree trunk, but I was patient. By the time the class was over, our blue tree trunks looked more realistic than I imagined possible. Since then, as I observed the trees around me, I’ve seen a number of blue tree trunks and a number of colors I never knew were there.

Attentiveness to life is a gift. Not only do we see surprising colors and details we never noticed, but our eyes are opened to life that is all around us. The great diversity of creations begins to unfold before us and some of the simplest, most common things become awe-inspiring wonders.

Similar discoveries await us in our emotional, relational and spiritual worlds as well. When we pause long enough to truly see and when we are willing to retrain our senses, a world of fantastic wonders open to us, filled with great diversity, new discoveries and unimaginable inspiration.

I love living with my new eyes on the world. I invite you to join me as you take the time to open yours to what is around you as well.

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What struck me most in her note, was her word of thanks for the bag of marshmallows we left with her family. It brought back great memories of the last day with our new friends and of the entire trip.

We brought a few things from our country that would be difficult, if not impossible, to find in Brazil to share with host families and churches. Things like maple syrup, peanut butter, and marshmallows. It was wonderful to share a part of our culture and say, “thank you,” for the hospitality. The marshmallows were a tremendous hit and the smiles they brought were wonderful. I did not realize the impact they made until yesterday.

Since then, I’ve been thinking about gifts and how we bless others. All too easily we judge gifts by size or cost. We say things like, “It’s the thought that counts,” but typically, we are hoping for more than a thought. The excesses of our holidays, even our daily lives, reveal our attachment to things and their value. I wondered how many people I knew who would be blessed by a 99 cent bag of marshmallows. I wonder if I would remember such a gift two years after I received it. The truth is, my house is full of far more expensive gifts that I’ve already forgotten.

That simple Facebook not really challenges me. It keeps asking me about my priorities and about what truly has meaning. I am wondering how many simple, yet wonderful, blessings I miss every day – gifts from friends, from strangers, even from God. I wonder if the gifts I give are special because of their cost or the value of the love in which they are given.

I know Lent is quickly approaching, and I believe God gave me my focus for this season in the words of a young Brazilian woman. Maybe it is time for the virtue of simplicity to take deeper root in my life as I receive and share the joy of simple things. Maybe all of us could benefit by taking our eyes off of the things we have and share, and looking more deeply at reason we share them in first place.

I look forward to this Lenten journey. Maybe God will inspire you to join me.

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Last night, we picked up our son from his mission work to bring him home for the weekend. He is celebrating a significant birthday and wanted to be with us for the celebration. What a blessing that is. We love to see him and we are so thankful that he wants to share his special day with us.

One of the traditions we have when we bring him home, is to enjoy a meal out and then stop by our favorite coffee house to enjoy a treat and our friends. Last night was no different. No sooner was the meal over and he asked if we were going to grab some coffee before we went home. Being a coffee lover and a fan of family tradition, I was glad to oblige.

After saying hello to a couple of friends we went to place our order. Everyone knew what they wanted, except for me. I just couldn’t decide what sounded good. The scene was slightly humorous as I visit frequently enough to be a fixture, but there I stood looking at the menu hoping that something would call to me.

One of our favorite baristas was working. She laughed at my dilemma and asked if I would like her to make something up for me. “My own special drink,” I thought, “that would be awesome.” I had a big smile on my face and in my heart – another blessing.

Everyone’s drink came to the counter, while I waited for my surprise. When it arrived, it was another blessing. It looked like this:

It felt great to be in a place where, “everyone knows your name.” It was a small thing, but it touched my heart. It was a tiny, but meaningful expression of appreciation. Even now, my heart is glad.

It was nice to be known and blessed by the staff, but it was also a reminder that I am known and blessed by God. It is God, who has knit me together in my mother’s womb, who calls me by name, and who loves me with an unfailing love. It is God, who sees all of my life and desires to live in relationship with me. It is God, who is willing to give the Greatest Gift of his Son, Jesus, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can truly share life together. And, what God has done for me, he has done for everyone.

Every blessing is a reminder of the love of God. May you count your blessings along with me and remember that God loves you. Be blessed as you celebrate the awesome blessing of God.

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