Κύριος Notes

Adoration

This morning in the quiet
I wait for you.
This morning in the early light
You will meet me.
The first thing I will do today is to
Praise You.
Holy is the One who died and is alive.
Worthy is the lamb that was slain.

Scripture Reflections Luke 13:14-16

14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath."

In the middle of trying to obey the law these people missed the blessing that you had shown them of God working in power among his people. Lord Jesus don't let me miss You at work in power.

How did these people have the courage to even try to control what they could not accomplish?

Lord Jesus are there times when I try to control what should just be experienced and brought back to you in praise? I have a feeling that this behavior did not stop in the first century. Stop me in my tracks when I do this Lord...bring it to my attention. I will follow, but I will not attempt to tell you what needs to happen when. All days are yours, You can act as you see fit on any of them in my life.

Holy Spirit work.

15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"

What better day for spiritual freedom?

I am not sure of all that this means Lord in reference to people who are under the oppression of Satan, but praise Your name, you are able to break any and all chains that bind.

Jesus this is Your day today. I am open and ready for your leading and touch. Lord lead and guide. Help me to be in step with the direction you are taking. Holy Spirit work in this day in every interaction and every thought, be close to me in this day.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice!

Take joy, my King, in what you hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear

Scripture Reflections Luke 13:10-12

10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

This healing is unique. The connection between the physical and the spiritual is clear and made by Luke in his narrative of the incident. The woman had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years...what lost time and energy were spent by this women who was under the influence of an evil spirit. Did she go to doctors for her condition? What were the other symptoms of her condition, I wonder? How was her condition evident spiritually?

This women still wanted to be where God's people were...even in the middle of her oppression. Sometimes people in the middle of Satan's impact are drawn to God's people...what does this imply?

God's people need to have spiritual discernment and the ability to be able to respond when need confronts us. Lord Jesus make it evident when spiritual conditions restrict and confine...

Lord Jesus the one thing that intrigues me is the connection between the physical aliment and sin. Here you make the clear connection between oppression of an evil spirit and the inability for the women to stand up straight. I wonder how many physical problems people have today are the result of spiritual causes.

12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

The first this thing that this woman did was to straighten up and stand upright for the first time in eighteen years.The very first thing this women said who had been under the influence and oppression of an evil spirit was to praise God.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice

To worship you, Oh my soul rejoice!

Take joy, my King, in what you hear

May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear

Scripture Reflections Luke 13:1-9

1Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

The political situations of your day Lord Jesus were as difficult as it is today. Interesting that you did not take time to comment except as it related to the deeper issues of life.

No demonstrations...no time for that kind of activity...somehow I don't think you would be demonstrating for political change. The issue of sin is the same in everyone...even those who died in the middle of worship.

Nor did the falling of the tower of Siloam give you cause to question the mercies of God. You put this natural disaster in the same category...death is result of sin...this incident of gratuitous loss of life instead pushed you to see the need for repentance and being open to the call of grace.

Our end can come to us in so many ways. A bridge falling, a Twin Tower falling, a plane falling from the sky can all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye our lives can end or alter beyond our ability to recognize.

The ultimate result, the only thing that matters is that you are King of my heart and life...that your amazing love is alive in my heart. The only thing that matters is...at the end of each day that I can say that You are Lord and that in this day I have loved You with all my heart, soul and strength and that I have loved my neighbor as myself.

6Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
8" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

The hope of harvest is the reason for all the time, energy and investment in your work Lord Jesus. If the fig tree does not produce fruit...there is no purpose for it. It is beyond the place where there is help for it. There is no other use for it other than to be cut down and become fuel for those still alive.

So what are the fruit that we should expect?

There should be intensive growth which should result in increased measures of patience, endurance, peace...the fruits of the Spirit. There should be extensive growth...more people coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ...not the forward movement of a political agenda or the discussion of the reason why bad things happen in the world.

Lord Jesus harvest time is what I am always thinking about these days...to see those who have been far away brought close to your side. Lord Jesus teach the ways of the harvest to this group of people who you are assembling called Living Springs Church.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Every Move I Make
Every move I make I make in You,

(You make me move Jesus)
Every Breath I take I Breath in You
Every step I take I take in You,

(You are my way Jesus)

Every Breath I take I Breath in You

As I begin this day Lord Jesus is this my prayer...this is my hope...this is my decision...that every breath today breathes in you and is used by you.

Scripture Reflections Luke 12:54-59

54He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. 56Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?

It is easy for me to be judgemental Lord Jesus of those who heard your message and did not respond...but that misses the mark entirely. They missed the signs of thier times. Even though they could predict the weather with some level of accuracy they were not able to see the value of what your call was to be on thier life.

The question that is more important to think about is where am I missing the signs of my times? Where are the places where I am not able to see you hand at work because of my own bias and blind spots? I know they are there...like endtables in the room at night...sometimes I walk around them without incident and then sometimes the reach up and grab me.

Lord Jesus make me aware of these blind spots that need your touch.

57"Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

So the point is there is need for reconcilation...for addressing the blind spots...the places where there needs to be healing where the blind spots of the past need to be viewed and resolved.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Every Move I Make

Every move I make I make in You,

(You make me move Jesus)
Every Breath I take I Breath in You
Every step I take I take in You,

(You are my way Jesus)

Every Breath I take I Breath in You
Waves of Mercy Waves of Grace
Everywhere I Look, I See Your Face
Your Love has captured Me

Oh My God this Love, How can it Be!

Scripture Reflections Luke 12:49-53

49"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed! 51Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

So what is it that you seek to do Lord in me? There is a division of those who are willing to deal with the change and those who are not. You challenge me Lord to the change that you bring. You do not and will not fit into my categories...you are not tame...you are in charge and you call me to follow even when it is beyond where I have been before.

It is surely not going to be peaceful...it will call for all that is within me. I want to stay with where I am familiar and safe. You call me to places where there is risk...and the possibility of loss. The fire can either refine or destroy...it really depends on my willingness to follow...to accept...to change.

52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

The structures that have been nurturing will need to change. You do not allow me to be comfortable in the past, I will need to listen to you even when it flies in the face of all that I have known as a basic nurturing source. It is not change for the sake of change...just to do things differently...it is change that is necessary for the growth that your call requires of me.

Anything that does not fit into that call...or anyone who is not following will need to be left behind.

Even those things that were blessings in the past can become the things that hold me back from your will for the present. I have to be willing to trust you for today...for what I need for today's mission.

Lord Jesus lead me by your grace...to what you would have to be do and be today.

Κύριος Notes

 Luke 12:41-48

41Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?"
42The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Lord Jesus, you have given me a job to do...help me to be faithful to that job. Help me to do that work today and to be active in doing what you have given me to do until you return. It is easy to say but that the doing is something that takes a life time to accomplish.

There is blessing found in doing your will both now and as time goes on...blessing and grace.

It is really a simple job that you give...to give food allowance at the proper time. But the job takes diligence, planning, leg work on the details, and just plain hard work to make sure things happen each time and every time there is a meal.

Lord Jesus help me to keep to the knitting...with a level of grace and just plain good manners.

45But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.

Safe to say it has been awhile that you have been away Lord. What is my reaction to that delay going to be? Am I going to do the hard work? Am I going to get the job done? Or am I going to party?

There is always the pull toward partying and just waisting time, money and energy on things that just plain do not satisfy...things that don't last, don't make a difference, and just plain don't really feed my soul.

46The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.
Thank you Lord for the reminder that there are eternal consequences for disobedience...for lack of follow through. I need to be reminded that I have to keep my hand to the plow if I every expect a harvest.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Here is the hard part...the weight of blessing. You have given me so much...and that much is needed in your kingdom. To see your kingdom advance here in this place of Living Springs...it will take all that is within me...every once of wisdom, skill, knowledge, endurance, and grace.

You have given your blessings for a reason...within the blessings there are clues as to where you are planning to move next. It is not just the blessings that I have received that the clues are found in but the way in which you are blessing your people that are a part of this adventure.

What do those blessings imply? So what are the skills, what are the insights...what are the clues as to what you would have this church call Living Springs become that can be found in the blessings?

A few thoughts come to mind...

Prayer...you seem to be calling me again and again...in different and various ways to experiment with prayer...what I pray for...how I pray...how we pray in church...You are never far from my thoughts these days. I sense your movement in my heart at what seem to be odd movements. Some times when reading...sometimes when writing...sometimes when I least expect it. The places where I find you blessing are such odd places at times right where I would not expect to be blessed I find you setting the table for dinner with enemies all around. It could not happen except by your grace.

Worship...I find myself again and again coming in touch with you in worship...sometimes alone, sometimes in church, sometimes even at worship practice...I hear you...I sense your movement in my heart and life.

In this writing through these lines from time to time...I hear your voice, I sense your Holy Spirit moving within me. I am face to face with the reality that you are the one that blesses...you are the one who entrusts...that if I am to be useful in your kingdom I need to be just the channel through which your blessings flow. The more that I hold on to them...the slower the flow of those blessings to where they need to get...the slower the flow of new blessings into my life. So letting go of the present blessings only bring new blessings and new ways in which to praise you.

Letting go of yesterday blessings only allows us room for today's blessings.

Lord Jesus-- Thank you again for your blessings and help me to be aware and accountable in their use and what they imply about where you would lead.

Κύριος Notes

Adoration

Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in

paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Scripture Reflections Luke 12:35-40

35"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Lord Jesus being ready for your service is much more than just having a back up sermon in my Bible...nor is it just about being ready to pray at a needed situation. It is about be ready to be all that you would have me to be in the middle of each situation that you put me in today. That is the trick...more accurately that is where the mystery of grace confronts me and comforts me time and time again.

I am waiting master...the house is ready for you...the closets are cleaned...the corners are cleaned out but without you it is just an empty house...

37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

Lord Jesus the promise is when I am ready you are ready to make the celebration happen. Ready...be ready...that is the call everyday...everyway...Lord Jesus help me in this day to live out your call.

38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

It is not about being surprised by the policeman who is on the side of the road just waiting for speeders. That is not the way You are to me. Instead it is living in such a way that you would be proud...would have me to live life.

If I am living just like you Lord then whenever you turn it will be fine.

Lord Jesus lead me good shepherd in the ways everlasting.