March 2023

March 29, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local

Rejoice Greatly – Mary Ann Miller

O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

I’ve been going thru a Lent devotional this past month, authored by Alicia Britt Chole. She has a flair for drawing out unusual perspectives on different events in the Gospels. Day 14 and 15 discussed Jesus entering Jerusalem the week before His death- what we call the “triumphal entry”. I can’t stop thinking about it. This was no Hollywood event- no paparazzi or limos, no flashes of cameras or cell phones in the air, no red carpet (except greenery and old cloaks!) or reporters with microphones. But yes: fans/ admirers/ followers/ disciples/ friends/ devotees/ the curious/ skeptics/ religious hoity toities/ and the haters. Protesters? Not that we know of.

What I am struck with is: when Jesus looked at the crowds, what did he see and feel, emotionally? All knowing and looking into each person’s heart and mind- does He feel anguish or disgust or sympathy? Or just plain LOVE? He knew of their soon to be betrayals and hypocrisy. But look at them…right now those humans are in the middle of heavy adoration and worshipping without abandon, similar to King David’s style! Almost as if they became kids again, not caring who saw them or what other’s thought. OK, some in this crowd didn’t share this sentiment! Jesus, saw it for what it was. He had just wept entering the city gates, concerning the fate of the Holy City, and also had an intense weight on His shoulders, about this future week. He would not let the suffering in His heart consume Him. He- was- present. Like time was standing still, He was taking it all in. “Ah, yes, this what My Father pleasures in”. Like warm sunshine and fragrant plant scents on a spring morning. Your senses wake up. YES…all the feels! But somehow He didn’t hang on to that for Himself. He reflected it back to the One who sent Him, deserving the praise and worship. His life briefly flashing before His eyes…oh, the culmination of gratitude of these 33 challenging years on earth. Then refocusing. PRESENT in the moment.

How can I be like that? He had way more reasons to worry about the future than us, but He was in the moment. Basking in it, letting it fill His being. He knew this would not strengthen or recharge Him. Aloneness with God would do that.

I think this “activity” is about “non activity”. “Be”ing not “do”ing. The person I want to be, Lord, will take some effort. Father, help us all to worship without abandon (even if it makes us feel uncomfortable), to be in Your presence, giving You honor, respect and glory. Hosanna! You Lord, are my strength and my song; You have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14) You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:28-29)

*personal commentary by a Jesus follower, Mary Ann Miller

March 6, 2023

in DTOTD, Local

by Brendon

0 Comments

What are you listening for?

I was a hyperactive child that grew up to be a high-energy adult. Telling me to calm down and listen has always been a lost cause. I find it irritating now. Almost insulting. What do you know about the neural energy coursing through every vein in my body?

People make the assumption of getting my attention or for that matter anyone’s attention you have to be loud, commanding, and all-consuming. So often we apply the ways of the world to the God of the universe. We assume that God relies only on a giant, scary booming voice to terrify us into submission or action.

But scripture tells us otherwise. In 1 Kings 19: 11-13 we read…

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹²After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Let’s set the scene. Elijah is on God’s holy mountain. He is on the same mountain that Moses was when he received the ten commandments. Elijah is now standing on the mountain and then a great wind came and split the mountain and rocks fell but….

God was not in the wind.

Then fire came but…….

God was not in the fire.

Finally, an earthquake came but….

God was not in the earthquake.

Then a gentle whisper came and said, “Elijah, why are you here?

God was in the whisper.

Most days I yearn for God’s audible voice to come booming through all the noise surrounding me. I think I am expecting him to speak louder than the noise. However, what He showed Elijah was to let all the noise and bluster pass by, to be still, and wait on the Lord to speak in a gentle whisper. God pursued Elijah all the way into the wilderness to make himself heard. Yet every day God’s still, strong whisper can be heard through every aspect of life. We can hear God’s voice daily through scripture, prayer, through worship but more than anything we can hear him in the silence.

Are we listening for God or are we allowing all the noise pollution of the world to drown him out? If you are feeling any discouragement today, take a lesson from Elijah. Run towards God not away from Him, rest in His care, and tune your heart and mind to the voice of God through those sweet moments of silence.

-Carissa Figgins

Rejoice Greatly – Mary Ann Miller

What are you listening for?

From the HCC Outreach Team: