Celebrate the Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
-- 1 Samuel 16:7 

Commentary:

Is it possible to celebrate achievement without mentioning race, gender, disability, or any kind of physical appearance? Is it possible to celebrate the heart? It could be one step of many to ending prejudice.

Out of this World

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ." -- The Apostle Paul

-- Galations 1:11-12 NIV

GOD Never Fails

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
- Psalm 9:10

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
- Hebrews 13:5

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Commentary:
Not "yet", at present, and not ever!

He Is Our Hope All Day, On the Road of Life

"Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

- Psalm 25:4-5

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Commentary:
On the paths, the roads we ride, may we be reminded that it is GOD who guides us (not a GPS). Whether on or off the bike, He is our hope all day. Whether we ride 25 miles, 50 miles, 100 miles or more; or a conversation with our fellow man or woman orchestrated by GOD in order to encourage in truth and love -- as we should in the saddle -- He is our hope all day!

GOD's Armour, Not Our Own

I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

- Psalm 44:6-8


... be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

- Ephesians 6:10-12

Genesis 2:7 -- Breathe Wisely

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." -- Genesis 2:7

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Commentary:

Each time we breathe, may we remember we are created in the image of GOD, and that He gave us our soul -- "the breath of life". This is what makes us unique from the beasts of the ground and sea and air. May our breath be used wisely.

Psalm 39: 1-7 - Getting Real With GOD

Getting Real with GOD

I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” So I remained utterly silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “Show me, Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

- Psalm 39: 1-7


(Bold letters added for emphasis.)

Sin, Mercy and Hope

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do---this I keep on doing.

- Romans 7:15-19


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fails. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

- Lamentations 3:22-24


“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

- Revelation 22:16

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"Mars in the Morning", a poem, a prayer inspired by the above scripture.

Galatians 6:3-10 - Always Forward With Doing Good

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

- Galatians 6:3-10

Matthew 28

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,  telling them, “You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:1-20

Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 9 - Greater Than the Stars!

Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. ... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: ... Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

- Psalm 8:1, 3-6, 9

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Commentary: When one thinks of the Universe, even just the Milky Way, one has to consider a Master Designer -- GOD of all! This same GOD gave humans this gift to marvel and wonder. This same GOD cares for His creation, and He cares for those He created in His image -- the image of Love -- greater than the stars!

Move This Mountain - Matthew 21:18-22

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

-- Matthew 21:18-22

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Commentary: What mountain? Any mountain? Was Jesus speaking figuratively? Jesus and his disciples were in and around the temple, which was built on a mountain, at the time he made this declaration. This indicates that Jesus was referring to moving the hearts and minds of those around them -- even of the pious religious leaders who were present. I can imagine him pointing to "this mountain", gazing in love at those around him. He was continuing to build on the role in which his disciples would commit -- "... and on this rock [speaking of himself] I will build my church ..." (Matthew 16).
May his church continue to move mountains as the power of Jesus' Spirit moves the hearts and minds of those around us.