The Shepherd's Apprentice

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May 1

even when we were dead in sins,
[God] hath quickened us together with Christ
Ephesians 2:5

I surely could have found a more modern translation of this verse, but I can't ever pass up that old word "quickened."

In contrast to "dead in [our] sins," quickened officially means alive. But how many of us -- though alive -- are really bored ... distracted ... and slow -- slow of heart and dead in faith.

Quickened, to me, means more than having just a heart-beat. Quickened means living a life that is vital, having a purpose that matters, and developing a heart that thumps with as much significance as Christ's.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs a running coach
(I want to be quicker)

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April 30

[The Lord] shall sit as a refiner
and purifier of silver"
Malachi 3:3

The most important word in this phrase -- to me, today -- is "sit."

I don't know much about refining silver and gold, but I've come to believe that it's a slow process. You heat the metal. It turns to liquid. Eventually the dross rises to the top. You scoop it out. Then you wait. Eventually more appear. Then you scoop ... and wait ... again and again.

Sit means patient.

God cares enough about you to stick with you. Hour after hour. Day after day. Year after year. Until you're pure enough to be valuable. And you are valuable. He loves you.

In Christ's Love,
a guy with silvery hair who's impurities
have probably caused God to have a few silver hairs
(Thank you, God, for being patient as I seek to become pure)
　
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April 29

...know the God of your father,
and serve him with single mind and willing heart;
for the Lord searches every mind,
and understands every plan and thought.
If you seek him, he will be found by you;
but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.
1 Chronicles 28:9

Three things:

1. "Seek" God.
2. "Know" God.
3. "Serve" God.

This advice -- King David's to his son, Solomon -- could be the three most important things in life. And he expounds on it in helpful ways ...

1. Seek God ... because "he will be [and wants to be] found by you."

2. Know God ... because if the creator of the universe cares enough to "understand[] every plan and thought [of yours], why wouldn't you want to know every thought and plan of his?!

3. Serve God ... and not half-heartedly. Serve him "willing[ly]," from the "heart," and with a "single[ness]" of purpose.

In Christ's Love,
a guy who needs to be like King David
and give this advice to his sons

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April 27

Ask and ye shall receive,
that your joy may be full
John 16:24
　
What is Jesus' hope for our life. Twice in the night in which he was betrayed ... twice in his final words and purposes for us ... twice, our gracious Lord Jesus offered a way for our "joy [to] be full." 　
The mention of full joy occurs in the context of the parable of the vineyard -- John 15. Jesus says essentially, I am the vine and you are the branches. And then he invites us to abide in him and bear much fruit (v. 5). And then he invites us to abide in his love by obeying his commandments (v. 10). And then he invites us to abide in him, bear fruit, obey his commandments, and discover the fullness of joy (v 11 as a summary of 1-10).
　
In chapter 16, Jesus adds just one more thing for a fuller, richer joy -- prayer!
　
When we "ask" God for things in prayer, what do is the best thing we "receive"? It's not joy; it's Jesus. When we talk to God in prayer, what we receive most of all is a relationship with our Lord and Savior ... and by the way ... that's what brings joy!
　
In Christ's Love,
a guy who desires jelly beans, a cup of java, and shiny red Jaguar
and a few more important things that start with "j" like Jesus and joy

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April 26

He went up into
a mountain apart to pray
Matthew 14:23
　
When I read today's verse, I immediately thought of a conversation I had recently with a friend. This friend has been working with a mentor on the gift of quietness.
　
The discipline is: Turn off the TV. Don't plug in the ipod. Silence the car radio. And practice solitude.
　
It's amazing, the friend essentially said, how much you can hear when there's no noise.
　
It's amazing, indeed. But it shouldn't be. Jesus practiced solitude. In key moments he found a place "apart" and in his prayers, the only sound was the still small voice of God.
　
In Christ's Love,
a noisy guy who needs to learn to say "shhhh!"

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