Stand Firm in the Bean Field - 4/30/12

Why are the men running? We fight for the Lord's army, not for this scum that is against us! The thoughts were running wildly through his head, because before the morning battle the king had led them in song before the Lord. We don't fight for wealth or land, we fight for the king and for the Lord God Almighty.

The scene, as it began to unfold before his eyes, was one of despair. The Israelites were leaving the lentil field and fleeing to high ground. Shammah knew that this field was the key to stopping the Philistines from reaching the more valuable soil and territory. The Israelites had to make their stand here or else the Philistine invasion would be fully realized.

"STOP running you cowards! We have to hold this field!" His heart was racing and he quickly looked for a solution. In that moment, as if everything became suddenly clear, he decided that he would stand firm, no matter who would stand with him.

With a battle cry of fury, he charged into the center of the field, hacking down Philistines as he went. The Israelites ran, but the Philistines seized the moment to surround their enemy. Slowly, they began encircling Shammah so that this fearsome warrior would not escape. And, slowly Shammah took down the Philistines, so that the bodies lay piled around him.

He continued on, demolishing the forces of the Philistines with unequaled power and might. It was as if an angel of the Lord was fighting in that field, because all eyes were on him. The Israelites, from under the cover of the nearby trees, watch one of their leaders struggle to find victory. Ashamed and afraid, they remained hidden in the trees, despite the compelling strength in which he fought.

He danced. It was a dance with death that he had perfected over time. This was his calling, this was his duty. Defend the king at all costs, and if you give your life for his sake, then so be it. Whether in a bean field or on the battlements of the king's fortress, his job was the same: defend.

He was getting winded, but continued on. Thirty slain. Thirty-five slain. Why aren't they coming to my rescue? Isn't it obvious that we're going to defend this field. With a resurgence of effort, he pushed on, knowing that the end was near. Forty slain. For the king!

Although he would never tout his own might and glory, the nearby Israelites began to whisper their amazement. Before long, word had gotten back to the king's elite forces, his mighty warriors. They quickly regrouped and sent a force out to aid Shammah. With speed that no regular warrior in Israel could muster, they ran on to find their brother in arms.

They reached the edge of the bean field and almost collided, because they stopped so suddenly. The field was silent and there was no movement whatsoever. Josheb-Basshebeth quickly asked, "Have we come to the wrong field?" As the leader of the mighty men, he was afraid that he had led them in the wrong direction.

"No!" another exclaimed. "There is movement in the middle of the field."

The men ran to the middle, jumping over the bodies of the fallen Philistines. There, in the center of the field, was Shammah. He was struggling to stand, now using his bloody sword as a crutch to assist his legs.

"Help him," Josheb cried, and quickly two men ran to Shammah and put his arms around their shoulders for support. "Shammah, what were you thinking? This field is useless and you shouldn't have stood alone!"

"This field is on the way to the king's fortress," he replied. "If I didn't stand to defend it, you would have been surrounded."

With relief Josheb said, "Thank you, brother. I guess that even the bean field has its place in the kingdom." And with that, the men carried Shammah back to the king to share his story and honor his bravery.

[This story can be found in 2 Samuel 23:11-12.]

What if Jesus Used a Lightsaber? - 4/23/12

What? You mean that no one else has EVER thought of that? From the angels with flaming swords to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, you mean to tell me that you've never considered the possibility that Jesus could have moves like Master Yoda? Granted, to reduce Jesus to the status of a miniature green fictional character is almost blasphemous, but it's the idea of what He stood for.

What do we think Jesus stands for? Some would expect Him to act like a genie, while others would appreciate Him slicing up their enemies like a mercenary for hire. But, what did He come to do?

Let's take a look at the scene in Gethsemane. Jesus has just spent three hours petitioning God to be released from death, but has decided to submit to His will. And now, after He has settled His position with God, Jesus is faced with His betrayer. Normally, if someone is to betray us, our first instincts lead us to anger. Instead, Jesus allows Himself to be taken. While swords are flying and emotions are raging, the one calmness about the situation emanates from Jesus, Himself.

Instead of doing what everyone expected of Him, Jesus walks meekly to His trial, and ultimately His death. Why doesn't Jesus fight back? Why doesn't He at least argue or get in a few choice words? Why is He so quick to just go to trial? He is doing the will of His Father.

It's interesting that we expect certain things from Jesus and then get mad at Him for not acting as we would like Him to. But, if you think about it, He is doing the will of the Father. Never has Jesus ever disobeyed the will of the Father. So, if we remember that He has our best interest in mind, shouldn't we praise Him for not doing OUR will?

I realize that we are human. I feel my humanity more during certain seasons, but that's when God reminds me to rest in Him. I hope that you can do the same. I hope that you are filled with Christ's presence as you go about your week.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

http://feedourstreets.com

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The Flow of Power

She was still in pain. It wasn't just a normal foot injury or a scratch on the arm, but more like a constant pang that was ripping apart her insides. She had been bleeding for over twelve years and no one could figure out how to stop it. For a woman, bleeding like this was embarrassing enough, not to mention the fact that it was continuous. Most people could deal with a sickness, if it was just a short-term ailment; but, this was insurmountable.

"I'm not allowed to go out in public," she thought, knowing that she had been banned to solitude. She was considered "unclean" by the religious standards of her time, so touching anyone was an unthinkable act. No family. No children. No visitors. Just unclean.

"But, if I cover my face," she considered, "I can possibly worm my way through the crowd and go unnoticed." Wrapping her shawl over her head to cover her face, she silently slipped into the street and closed her door behind her. The crowd was in an uproar, because He was among them and He was always fascinating the people in town. She had also heard, through the gossip spoken loudly outside of her window, that He was leaving to go and help some religious leader in another town. "Now is my chance. He's leaving and I may never get another opportunity to get close."

She had heard the Law read aloud when she was younger and remembered the way that people spoke about the tassels. She had already considered who He was and believed that He was greater than those that wore the tasseled garments. So, it must be the same with His garment. "If I just touch His clothes," she thought, "I will be healed."

The crowd was thick, but she was more determined than ever. With a hope that she had never before expressed, she shoved her arms between the people at the back. These people were not going to keep her back. The doctors had failed her, the family she knew and loved was not allowed to see her, and she had been cast aside as unwanted material. With renewed vision, she set herself against the crowd that was pushing in around her.

She gasped when she saw Him. He didn't look very stately, but there was a power about Him that shocked her even at that distance. "It's Him," she thought. "It really is Him. I would recognize the Anointed One anywhere." And with a fire that mirrored His radiating power, she reached down and just caught the bottom part of His garment.

The power surged through her, as if it was a tidal wave capsizing a boat. She felt so small, so insignificant, and yet whole. She would have traded any of her meager possessions to feel that sense of completeness. Never before had she experienced peace like that washing over her in that moment.

And just as immediately as she had felt that tantalizing effect, she was filled with dread as He turned around and spoke, "Who touched my clothes?"

"Run," she thought. If He sees me, He will know that I was the one who stole His power. She was dazed and seemingly unaware that He was looking at her.

Quickly, one of his men asked, "You see the people crowding against you, and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?'"

"How dare he say that to the Anointed One! If that man knew who He really was, he would not talk that way." But, it didn't matter, because He was staring into her eyes. She dropped her eyes as she fell to the ground at His feet. Knowing that she could not lie to this man, she blurt out, "I'm sorry Lord! I'm so, sorry! I shouldn't have done it, but I just longed to be made whole." At His request, she told Him her story, and why she had sought Him out.

His response was simple, but profound. "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." The power resurged throughout her entire body. She felt it again. She felt Him, felt His presence. With a look that calmed the storm within her heart, He reassured her that she was His and that He had made her whole again.

There was a commotion at the back of the crowd, which stole His gaze from her. "Your daughter is dead," someone said. "Why bother the teacher anymore?"

Hearing what they had said, He responded, "Don't be afraid; just believe."

Cast Your Cares on the LORD - 4/9/12

"Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in You." Psalm 55:22-23

We had two amazingly wonderful services for our Easter Sunday. As I sat through the morning service, I was just blown away at the excitement over the empty tomb. Of course, I've gone to church for my entire life, so hearing about it was nothing unusual. What was unusual, however, was the fact that I was still blown away. I mean, the power of God to overcome the grave still has me sitting in awe and wonder.

I left that service concerned over the fact that I am always unworthy before the throne of God. "'Why do you call me good?' Jesus answered. 'No one is good - except God alone.'" (Mark 10:18) It's true. There is no way that I could ever earn my own salvation. Nothing that I have will ever make me good enough.

Well, to hear that sounds so amazingly rueful.

To add to that, I went back to our evening service, which was a communion and feet washing service. As Pastor Chad was preaching, he continued to enforce the fact that we are not worthy, except through Christ. He is the only one that can connect us with a perfect, powerful God. To go from the morning service, to that, and then on to washing feet and the humility involved just seemed to be overwhelming.

And then, this morning, God reminded me of Psalm 55. "Bryan, just cast your cares upon Me. I've always told you that I can handle them, so stop taking them into your own hands. Allow Me to be God."

Cool.

That's a good cool, mixed with a little bit of sarcastic cool. But, cool all the same.

I realize that we are human. I feel my humanity more during certain seasons, but that's when God reminds me to rest in Him. I hope that you can do the same. Don't let Easter be just another day that is celebrated and left behind. Carry the words, "Christ is risen!" with you as you live your life.

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

http://feedourstreets.com

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The Passion-Resurrection Week - 4/2/12

Have you ever been bored with Easter? For that matter, have you ever been just underwhelmed with Christmas, because of the commercialism? I mean, in today's society, there comes a point where you want to just say, "Give me Jesus and not all of this other stuff that makes no sense!"

It's funny, because our church has been practicing Lent for the last several years; and, when we get to this point (one week until Easter), people start getting antsy about eating their "chocolate" (or chips, or soda, or TV, or whatever they've given up). We get so distracted by the "date" of Easter that we forget to just enjoy and recognize God's presence.

In fact, we get so lost in everything happening that we find ourselves in a similar situation to the disciples. "Simon," [Jesus] said to Peter, "are you asleep? Couldn't you keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:37-38) We get distracted and lose our focus. The crazy thing is that, by watching and praying, we stay more in tune with God. And yet, that's the last thing to keep us awake.

Still, that's the thing we need. To remember who Christ is - what He did on the cross. He didn't stay there, but was raised from the dead on the third day. We have salvation, because of Him. We live because of Him!

Remember that and be blessed this week. You are alive in Christ and are called to join Him at His Father's banquet. Share that - live that!

God's blessings on your life this week,

Bryan

http://thebtaylor.blogspot.com

http://feedourstreets.com

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