Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

And we can see that God you're moving

A mighty river through the nations

And young and old will turn to Jesus

Fling wide your heavenly gates

Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play

Let the streets resound with singing

Songs that bring your hope

Songs that bring your joy

Dancers who dance upon injustice
Martin Smith

Scripture Reflections Luke 15

11Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

How many times am I a "give me that" kind of son? As I begin to think of this parable Lord that is the first thought that just jumps out of the page at me. "Give me my share..." Lord if you really gave me my share I would be in deep distress. Without hope...

What kind of son would ask for something that only a dead father can give? An estate not yet bestowed but asked for...

13"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

I wonder if this young man already had his reservation in hand to the fast line when he asked for his Father's money in the first place.

Reservations are interesting. One of the roles of temptation seems to be not so much immediate destruction as incipient...gradual creeping crud. It just accumulates over time. Lord Jesus keep me safe from the evil one.

14After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

A prodigal Jewish boy feeding the pigs and eating their leftovers. The end result of rebellion is ending up far from home left with only the memories of the way it used to be.

Lord Jesus help me to be the kind of person who can welcome the prodigal son or daughter and help then on their way home.

17"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20So he got up and went to his father.

The beginning of the journey home began when this young man can to his senses. He "came to his sense" or hit bottom with no where to go but up. Lord Jesus sometimes it is the natural consequences of my choices that brings me face to face with your grace and my need.This journey home was not an easy trip to make...I am sure the first few steps back were the hardest, but with every step there was increased momentum.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Lord Jesus this is the essence of what you have called your people to be...the parent who waits...the parent who longs for the return of the lost...the parent who takes no joy in the pound of flesh...or maybe even the 10 pounds of flesh that sins take from the returning lost one. Lord Jesus make me the kind of person who can receive the lost one who is returning from a far country with acceptance, grace and with unconditional love that knows the cost of coming home.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

Did you feel the mountains tremble?

Did you hear the oceans roar?

When the people rose to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?

Did you hear the singers roar?

When the lost began to sing of

Jesus Christ the risen one

Martin Smith

Scripture Reflections Luke 15
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Lost things found are a reason for rejoicing. So the point of the lost coin parable is there is energy, determination and focus that is spent to find this coin. It is this women's mission to find the one coin that was lost. That is the way that I need to be in the search for restoration of people's souls to you Lord Jesus. Introducing those who have been lost to You Jesus is what life is all about...living a life that points to You with clarity and grace is the point...it is the mission.

A theme in all three of these parable's the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son... is this theme of rejoicing in heaven. We have an impact in heaven...Angel's celebrate at the restoration of relationships lost since shattered. I wonder what the celebration is like in heaven? Do they break out the best china, and the best silverware?

I wonder if I even have an inkling of the response of heaven when the lost return home. Angel's know about and are a part of the spiritual warfare that surrounds us as we live our lives. Victories won need to be celebrated.

Lord Jesus--thank you for the fact that you are very concerned about the lost...in fact more concerned with the lost one that with the other ninety percent that are not lost. Help me to focus on the right things, the mission is finding the lost and marshaling all my energies to that end.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Watching the Sun Come Up

Before the sun is above the trees.
Before the first morning birds sing.
I wait for you in silence.
I wait for you in awe.
I wait for you knowing.
You will be here with me.

Scripture Reflections Luke 15

1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Jesus, You sat and ate with the people that no one else would break bread with...I was among those people. Just because we spend time with people who are not what you would have them to be Lord, doesn't imply condoning the life style that they are living. Redemption starts in the middle of a slave market...

I want to be the kind of person that welcomes people without preconditions, and yet does not condon lifestyles that are not pleasing to you Jesus. The kind of person who knows how to lead people to your grace, your mercy and love. I suspect that implies that humor is involved, mercy, love, the ability to give without preconditions. I can't do it Lord without your Holy Spirit's ongoing interaction and leadership.

3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

You left heaven on a search and love mission. You could have stayed in heaven and ate with the angels and yet you come to earth to a stable...to a table where you met me...to a cross and then a tomb that you left while soilders fainted from fear.

5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Lord Jesus let there be rejoicing in heaven because people come to know you as savior...that means that it will get messy at times and that it will require reaching beyond where it is safe into the high country where sheep tend to stray.

Lord guide my steps so that by example and by lifestlye people come to a relatioship with you.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Psalm 1
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Scripture Reflections Luke 14:25-30

25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

The cost to discipleship can be family, position and standing in the community...everything must be viewed within the context of the sacred. The sacred/secular distinction is a faulty one. Every action every word...every thought is subject to your will and direction. It is not comfortable to be a disciple at times...a cross was not a piece of jewelry in Your earthly ministry Lord Jesus. It was a instrument of death. Following you must be the most important thing in my life making me willing to risk physical health and life for you.

So much of the time I struggle with wanting to be liked...wanting to be accepted. Here you are saying that the cost of discipleship is sometimes rejection by the very people who count the most. Sometimes I think that I would like to make the grand gesture of sacrificing myself for the cause all at once, but instead I find myself being given away a bit at a time. Help me to do whatever small task you call me to do today with grace. Help me to say and do what you would have in the middle of the moment...with the pressures of time and energy available. Keep me focused on the priorities that are really important. Keep me open and responsive to the Holy Spirit's leading. In the middle of this day be my strength and the guardian of my way.

28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

The cost estimate of following you Lord Jesus is everything thing that I am...and nothing less. The foundation is put in...and the building has begun...in fact truth be known the enterprise is half finished. This thing that you have called me to...doing life with You and with your people. Lord Jesus help me to use all of the resources that are left to finish well a life that You would take pleasure in.

31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

The cost of discipleship is everything...that I am...everything that I hope to be...everything that you give...everything that comes along the journey. Blessings need to be held lightly...You give Lord and You ask me to be a channel of Your blessing a method or a means of following that blessing to the next person who needs it.

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Word of God speak...the distinctive of being your disciple is that you are the one who is in control. You are the one who guards and guides. Help me have ears that listen to your direction with out hesitation...not selectively...not just what I want to listen to...but anything that you say Lord Jesus...help me to hear with the ears that are tuned to your leadership.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Psalm 1

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Scripture Reflections Luke 14:15-24

15When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

This was a good response by someone in this group of people who were generally non-supportive of You Lord. They truly wanted to be a the celebration of the ages.

I want to be at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb too Lord.

Yet these men who were having dinner with You could have been a part of the group who were crying for Your death in just a very short while. They remind me how close and yet so far away people can be from your kingdom.

16Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
19"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' 20"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

Lord Jesus I was not a part of that first group invited. The gentile church is a part of the kingdom because of your grace and mercy.

Many of the chosen people had excuses. Lord Jesus don't let me have excuses when I hear your call. Help me be prepared and determined to fulfill the mission, reach the goal, sow the seed as you request.

In Psalm One you promise that You will nurture, water and bless with fruit the person who centers their life around your direction and word.

21"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.' 22" 'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' 23"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

You want your feast to be well attended. The job of bring people to that feast of the King continues.

Lord you know the prayer of my heart, eight new families and four people coming to know You. Lord Jesus bless your church.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Scripture Reflections Luke 14:1-14
1One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. 2There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. 3Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" 4But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.
5Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?" 6And they had nothing to say.

Lord Jesus you healing of this man was the turning point in his life. It was a personal thing...it was a monumental thing. Yet for these observers it was something that should have been done on another day of the week.

Worship is important...worship is life. Worship is obedience in real life. So where did silent observers go wrong? In the middle of a unique situation where they knew that God was at work from the healing power that was demonstrated, they were unable to see the human who was sitting right in front of them...they could not see and feel this man's pain. He was an opportunity to see if You would break the Sabbath.

7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

So Lord Jesus if I get this parable...the point is: You are the one who lifts up and the one who brings down. There is meaning to the events of my life that seems so irrational at times. There are places and times when I find myself unexpectedly humbled...brought low. There are times when I am honored unexpectedly. It is by your hand, I don't always understand it...I don't always like it...but nor is it something that I need to run from. Much easier to embrace honor than humility. You are the host of this life experience...the creator...the sustainer...

So if both come from Your hand, there must be something that is needed in both...something missed if not experienced. A lesson learned or maybe preparation for the next task? That is the hard part for me...in the middle of both situations emotions rule the day...the week...the decade at times.

There is a need to accept and to participate in the process...it is better to assume a place of humility than to assume the place of honor. It is Your unseen hand that creates the conditions in which all this is experienced.

12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

I wonder how much I have banked in Resurrection Trust right now?

Lord Jesus remind me today of the eternal in the middle of this series of interchanges that seem to disconnected at times and yet form my life. Help me to represent You in a way that is pleasing to You. Remind me that it is only in letting go of Your blessings that I can hold on to them eternally.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Holy holy Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises honor and glory
Be unto Your name
Be unto Your name

Scripture Reflections Luke 13:32-35

31At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you."

Lord Jesus not all the Pharisees were against you. Here they were trying to get you to leave the land of promise. Some were trying to see you relocate to save your life.The promised land and the temple and the chosen people of God were the people that you were sent to. They were the ones that your ministry took root in and you were sent to.

32He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.' 33In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Here even to the Pharisees you allude to your death and resurrection, political situations did not change your goal or your plans to obey the direction of the Father. Nor did the threat of death change you ministry, right up to the end...demons were driven out and people were healed.

Political situations change and morph right before our eyes, there is no security in them, there is ultimately no stability in them. Nations rise and fall, the Lord continues to lead and call. It is amazing how apolitical you were Lord Jesus, but then you knew that politics do not change hearts.

34"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'

This is a lament for the city in which you had done a lot of ministry. A place where you had healed, a place that was the capital city of the nation. This city more than any place was the symbol of the aspirations and the hopes of the Jewish people for a nationalistic revival of power and prestige.

Some of the children that were at your feet as you went into the city that day would die in the fall of Jerusalem in just 40 years in the future. You knew the coming end to the system that was in currently in place. You knew that changing the present system was just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Lord Jesus in this day help me to invest my energy in things that will last.