365 Days with God - Day 131: What's the point?

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 131, April 30, 2014

Readings: Psalm 130, Numbers 10:11-36, Isaiah 48, Isaiah 49, Colossians 2:6-23

 Ever felt like you were "less spiritual" or not as pious as someone else? Like you should be doing more, be more...or doing less, and being less? What exactly are the required traditions and rituals? What things are you not allowed to eat? What are you not allowed to do? What's the deal with monks? Should you be one? Are they better than you?

Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through it's joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations - "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch" (referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:18-23)

"An appearance of wisdom..." But the true purpose in any denial of self is not to be a better follower of Jesus. The real value is stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Stopping sin. Releasing it's hold on your life. It's a call to examine how and why we do what we do. To measure everything, good and bad, against the stranglehold that sin has on our lives.

Jesus takes it one step further in the Sermon on the Mount. "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off." Wow. But we're talking about the same thing. Cut out, cut off, stop doing whatever causes you to sin. Don't create rules and regulations for no reason. Purposefully examine your life and be constantly refining it to look more like Jesus!

What are you doing that has no reason other than tradition? What should you be doing to eradicate sin from your life?

365 Days with God - Day 130: Our Pride

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 130, April 29, 2014

Readings: Psalm 129, Numbers 9:15-23, Numbers 10:1-10, Isaiah 46, Isaiah 47, Colossians 1:21-29, Colossians 2:1-15

How much time do we spend thinking about our weaknesses? Our susceptibility to failure? How much does our nation think about this? Or do we spend more time proclaiming our greatness, ever seeking ways to feel better about ourselves and our efforts? Do we really feel secure? Are we really worthy of our pride? In what do we place our hope and trust?

You felt secure in your wickedness,
you said, "No one sees me";
your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,
and you said in your heart,
"I am, and there is no one besides me."
But evil shall come upon you,
which you will not know how to charm away;
disaster shall fall upon you,
for which you will not be able to atone;
and ruin shall come upon you suddenly,
of which you know nothing. (Isaiah 47:10-11)

We are a nation secure in our wickedness. Confident in our knowledge of how the world works, we make judgement calls and stand firm in our believe that none can challenge us. Confidence is good, but we are a proud nation, unwilling to listen to wisdom and wise council. Instead, we rely on our independence, our wealth and our social justice to save us.

If we're good enough people, karma will save us. If we're rich enough, money will buy what we need. If we're strong enough, with hardworking people and intelligence, we can survive any threat.

Isn't that the root of many beliefs in America? Or maybe a jumble of all of those? But the message is the same - we can save ourselves. But if we could do that, wouldn't we have done it already? Wouldn't we have solved all the problems, bought all the things, and worked ourselves into perfection?

Instead, we're lost more than ever. We keep seeking meaning where none is found. We want anything, anyone, to tell us that we can save ourselves. But the answer is just the opposite. We've got nothing. We can't do anything. We need God. And until we see that, we're lost.

365 Days with God - Day 129: Things I Skim Over

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 129, April 28, 2014

Readings: Psalm 128, Numbers 9:1-14, Isaiah 45, Colossians 1:1-20

There are parts of the Bible that I don't like to dwell on.

I think that's true for most of us. It's great to hear about all the blessings, and provision, and other good things. It's easy to avoid spending time thinking about the harder things. It's easy to pick single verses and pull them out of context, to achieve a goal. But it's better to pull it all together for the truth of what God is trying to say...instead of trying to make it fit what we want.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14)

It's so easy for me to just hear pieces.

"spiritual wisdom and understanding" - Yay, I'll be smart!

"for all endurance and patience" - I don't want to endure or be patient!

But the wholeness of the verse is the key. We are filled with God's will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we can please God and bear fruit. He will strengthen us with his power so that we can endure and be patient. But the capstone of it all is God's gift of inheritance. We are delivered from darkness, and adopted into His kingdom.

It's almost like it sums up the whole point of our existence on earth.

We are:

- Given good things so that we can please God and bring others to know Him.
- Given power that we may endure trials and have patience when suffering.
- Giving thanks to God who has adopted us into his family, relieving us from sin and darkness.
- Receiving the gift of God's kingdom.

And to think that I could have easily skimmed over this. This message of the gospel, contained in one small portion of the greater whole.

365 Days with God - Day 128: The Truth of Our Foolishness

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 128, April 27, 2014

Readings: Psalm 127, Numbers 8, Isaiah 44:6-28, Philippians 4:2-23

He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, "Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!" And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god!" (Isaiah 44:14-17)

Are we not also this foolish? How ridiculous it seems to me to worship a tree that basically serves me - it is mine to burn for heat, for cooking, for building. How can I count on that which I destroy freely to save me from my fears?

Yet while I may not do this with trees, I do it with other things. I trust in money to provide me with security, stability, comfort. Yet I curse it when I don't have enough. I use it to buy things for myself. I use it to influence others. I use money. But when I make it a god, and depend on it to deliver me, it is using me. And how can that be?

There is none besides God. How can I trust in something else to save me? What material, what person, what behaviors can I trust to be my deliverer? I look to so many things to be my confidence and hope, but none of them are reliable, trustworthy and secure. If I had strength it would fail, money would burn, attractiveness fades, metal rusts...

But the Word of the LORD stands forever. And that is what I must trust.

365 Days with God - Day 127: What's Most Important?

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 127, April 26, 2014

Readings: Psalm 126 Numbers 7, Isaiah 43:1-28, Isaiah 44:1-5, Philippians 3:1-21, Philippians 4:1

We wrestle with things we've never wrestled with before. Sitting in the family van, silence pervades as children nap and we are lost in thought. It is so easy to put things in front of God. So easy to justify this or that instead of Jesus.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11)

There is nothing that is more important than God. No family, job, friends, lifestyle, bank account or thing is more important. Nothing takes precedence over God. We must be willing to put them all aside for Jesus.

Notice, this does not explicitly say to give everything up. Paul says, "whatever gain I had, I counted as loss." Everything was up for grabs in his quest to know God, to serve Jesus. Everything we have is God's. Anything He asks of us we should be willing to give up.

But wait! What about !? Does he really mean ? Surely it can't be ?

Yep. And that's the trust part of knowing and loving God. We can give up everything to Him because we can trust Him. We can know that we don't have to be in control, don't have to manage everything. He asks us to be willing to admit that the omnipotent, omniscient, all-powerful God of the universe might be better suited to run our lives than we are.

Are you willing to let Him?

365 Days with God - Day 126: A Common Struggle

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 126, April 25, 2014

Readings: Psalm 125, Numbers 6, Isaiah 42, Philippians 2:12-30

When I read this verse, the first thing that came to mind was my beloved grandmother. Dorothy on paper, Mimi to me and the other grand kids, she is someone that I would put at the top of the list of people I admire.

And she is not so "admirable" in a human capacity. She did not resolve any great mysteries, elevate herself to political heights, overcome significant barriers to achieve success. But she has something that very few people have. And it affects everyone around her, such that you cannot meet her without being affected by it, without wanting to be like her. What is it?

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)

Simple words, but not a simple request. Life can be hard. And I sure like to have someone to share my misery with. And that is the simply beauty of my Mimi. She does not grumble or complain. Ever. In fact, she has an infectious and sometimes maddening amount of positivity. But the peace and innocence this gives her draws people to her. And is an amazing sight to behold.

And this comes from someone who could complain about a lot. Whose wonderful husband had multiple heart-attacks and strokes, who would be paralyzed and live for many years this way. Who had to care for him and put her entire life on hold while he struggled, and she with him. I can't imagine what that would be like - and I really can't imagine going through it all without grumbling or complaining - asking God "Why?" But so she did.

And because of this, she shines. Oh she shines. Shines as she volunteers at her church, travels around the world seeing new places and meeting new people, shines when she comes to visit her grand kids and great-grand kids. Her attitude is such that I have never met another like it. And apparently others haven't either. Because nearly everyone I know who meets her wants to be like her. And it's all because she does all things without grumbling or (complaining.)

365 Days with God - Day 125: Reality

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 125, April 24, 2014

Readings: Psalm 124, Numbers 5, Isaiah 41, Philippians 1:27-30, Philippians 2:1-11

As we look at the week, we are both excited and dismayed. Each day is full: work, kids, bible studies. Each evening is the same. Sunday night we realized that we would have no time that wasn't filled until the following Sunday. What happened to the days when we didn't know how we would pass the hours? When a random beach trip seemed not only possible, but likely?

But those days were often meaningless, selfish, filled with things that only benefited us. Things that don't last. Hours in front of a TV or computer screen for nothing other than to waste the hours. While I wouldn't have put it that way at the time, I can see it now for what it was - mindless indulgence in nothingness. And I don't want that anymore.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in the spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-30)

Our life was not often "worthy of the gospel of Christ." But in this busiest of weeks, we are on our knees for our family. We are building relationships with friends. We are crashing into bed each night, exhausted from doing the work of the gospel. And God knows what we need. He has slowed us down when we take on too much. Provided answers when we had none. Woken us up in the middle of the night to pray.

Is it suffering? Perhaps, though not on the scale that many around the world suffer for His name. Is it hard? Yes - sometimes my selfish self asks, "what about me? where's my free time?" But it is good. It is for the gospel. It is a life dependent on the Spirit. And I pray that it will never end until we are with Him in heaven.

365 Days with God - Day 124: The Reality of My Weakness

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 124, April 23, 2014

Readings: Psalm 123, Numbers 3, Numbers 4, Isaiah 40, Philippians 1:1-26

I am confronted with this today in a real way, as I sit in the Starbucks, listening to a daughter relay tales to her father. Talking about his days in high school when he played football. Remembering the past, when he would run. When he was young. When he had dreams, ambition and hopes for a future.

But today, as the rain drizzles down the windows and the wind beats on the leaves of the trees, his glory days have passed. Instead of running freely, he uses a walker, and moves slowly, deliberately, without the reckless abandon of youth. He is powerless, as are we all, over the toll of time.

A voice says, "Cry!" 
and I said, "What shall I cry?"
All flesh is grass,
and all it's beauty is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the LORD blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:6-8)

I am in my youth, relatively speaking. I have hopes, dreams and ambitions. I often move without precision, my actions are not calculated to prevent falls. But I too, will one day be sitting with my daughters, moving slowly, needing assistance. And there is nothing I can do to prevent it. The scene that plays out before me may seem so far away, but it is not. And I am powerless to stop it.

My prayer today is that I do as much as I can with the time that I have. That I bow before my Creator in honest submission, acknowledging His sovereignty and putting myself in His hands. Knowing that I have a future that He has prepared for me, that will never end. Knowing that all my accomplishments for myself, all my desires will fade away, but the word of God is forever.  My time, my efforts, my passions should be for Him and Him alone, for He is the only thing eternal and everlasting.

365 Days with God - Day 123: Powerless

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 123, April 22, 2014

Readings: Psalm 122, Numbers 2, Isaiah 39, Ephesians 6:10-24

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rules, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10-13)

I am reminded of this today. Standing there that evening, feeling the weight of the moment pressing against me as we prayed. Knowing that I was powerless. Knowing that my words were meaningless, my desires empty, my muscles unable to accomplish even the slightest movement. Helpless.

Helpless because I found myself in a spiritual battle the likes of which I had never been in. Helpless because, for the first time, I realized the powerlessness of my condition. That while I may be able to lift heavy things, travel long distances, overcome physical foes...that in the face of such adversity, I was at a loss as to what I could do. I could do nothing. And I always feel like I can do something.

But I couldn't. All I was left with was the name of Jesus. My all my knowledge, all my physical strength was as a blade of grass in a tornado. Bruised, buffeted and beaten, I staggered and fell upon Him. "Jesus, help. Jesus, do your will. Jesus, answer our prayers. Jesus, work in our hearts and lives." 

Notice the position we take here. Not an offensive position, but defensive. A position in which we are left relying entirely upon the might and strength of God to win the day, and his armor to protect us from the attack of the enemy. I am in hiding, I am in dependence, I am bowed before God. And that's exactly where He wants me to be. Not standing on my own righteousness, or power. But bowed before Him. And so I rejoice in my weakness, and revel in His glory. And trust that He will win the day.

365 Days with God - Day 122: Completely Misunderstood

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 122, April 21, 2014

Readings: Psalm 121, Numbers 1, Isaiah 38, Ephesians 5:22-33, Ephesians 6:1-9

Heard this one used wrongly?

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

I bet you have.

But what do we see if we look at the whole thing?

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself it's Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:22-28)

This message is probably going to be for the guys. Mostly. How often is the first portion of this misused? All the time! Think about how God loves you, how God pursues you, how God leads you. It's not with a rod. It's not through yelling and domineering. It's gentle. It's loving. It's encouraging, uplifting and amazing. God never demands, "I am your master, submit to me." Even though it is completely within his rights to do so. And so we shouldn't either.

But there's a completely different part of this that is even more important, and even more challenging. Men have a responsibility that is bigger, harder and more challenging than submission. Not because wives are so hard to love, but because it's so hard to love them like Christ loves the church!  He loved the church before they knew him. He loves us when we walk away. When we curse his name. When we give ourselves to others. Again and again, he loves us no matter what.

Men, do we love our wives that way? Do we love them no matter what? Do we pursue them with passion, and care for them gently? More important than our wives submitting to us is that we love them. Christ loved us long before we submitted to him (if we've submitted at all!) He asks us to love our wives first, foremost and to the best of our abilities. If you think you're doing all that and your wife still isn't "submitting" to your leadership, then we can talk. Because I guarantee that if you love your wife like Christ loves the church, you won't have anything to worry about.

365 Days with God - Day 121: Powerful

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 120, April 20, 2014

Readings: Psalm 120, Leviticus 27, Isaiah 36, Isaiah 37, Ephesians 5:1-21

Since Easter is nearly over, and you've probably had your fill of "He is Risen: He is Risen Indeed!" today, I won't write about Easter. I will say this: God is marvelously wonderful and graceful. He has given us more in Jesus than we could ever hope to deserve. But the God who raised Jesus from the dead is powerful. And He is a God who commands respect. He came in humility and gentleness, but you cannot be gentle unless you also have the power to destroy.

And there are many who disdain God - thinking Him weak, impotent or non-existent. That's a mistake.

"Whom have you mocked and reviled? 
Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes to the heights?
Against the Holy One of Israel!
By your servants you have mocked the Lord,
and you have said, with my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains,
to the far recesses of Lebanon,
to cut down it's tallest cedars,
its choicest cypresses,
to come to its remotest height,
its most fruitful forest.

I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me.
Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come to my ears,
I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth,
and I will turn you back on the way by which you came. (Isaiah 37:23-24, 28-29)

God is not weak. Despite all our advancements and accomplishments, our technology and our understanding, we have nothing on the Creator of everything. No matter what we have done, we are powerless before the storm, before disease and death. We are weak. We are powerless. But God cared enough to send Jesus for us. To rescue us. Despite our haughty attitudes and prideful rejection of Him who is in control of all things, God loved us.

And now he asks us to trust Him. Not to trust in our wise words, knowledge or strategies. His power is perfected in our weakness, His strength is sufficient for us. We worship an Almighty God, who conquered sin and death, and that is what we celebrate on Easter. Let's not forget who He is the rest of the year.

365 Days with God - Day 120: Completely New

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 120, April 19, 2014

Readings: Psalm 119:89-176, Leviticus 26, Isaiah 35, Ephesians 4:17-32

Now I say this and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! - assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.  (Ephesians 4:17-24)

What has happened to us? Why have we assumed that the world has overcome the power of Christ? Jesus is more powerful than the bondage of sin, more powerful than addictions and everything that bogs us down. We have been given freedom from the sins of our past. We have the ability to put off our old self, and to be renewed by Christ, putting on the likeness of God. That is powerful!

This means that we don't have to be slaves to our desires any more. Make no mistake, they are strong. They may even have been a lifestyle for us, something that seems to plague us. But God is more powerful, and He has given us new life, life that is righteous and holy.

So why are we so quick to give up? Why do we insist that these sins are more powerful? That the sins overcome us? Such to the point that we are no longer calling them sin - many church bodies are giving up, and becoming darkened in their understanding. Yes, Christ is graceful. Yes, Christ died for everyone and loves all.

But.

Christ came to give us new life. Christ came to free us from corruption. Christ came to release us from the bondage of sin, that through him we could be slaves no longer to it's desires. Through Christ we have the power to say no, the power to live differently, and the capability to be righteous and holy. Why are we willing to trade that for the old muck?

What sin(s) are you allowing to keep you in chains?

365 Days with God - Day 119: Trust

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 119, April 18, 2014

Readings: Psalm 119:1-88, Leviticus 25, Isaiah 33, Isaiah 34, Ephesians 4

The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in it's fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a Sabbath to the LORD. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.'

And if you say, "What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?" I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. (Leviticus 25:1-4, 20-21)

How hard it is to trust for provision when times are lean. Can you imagine what it would be like to have to completely trust God for your very life every seven years? Could you quit your job every seven years and trust that everything would be okay? What would you do?

God isn't asking the Israelites to consider this, he's building it in to their law. He is purposefully ordering them to make complete, utter trust in God a regular thing in their lives - not to be mean, but because we need to be reminded this often! We need to remember God's goodness and faithfulness.

I think this is God's way of asking the Israelites to give him more than lip service. Is it really trust if you just say you trust God? Don't you have to "put your money where your mouth is?" And I think that's exactly what God is saying. If you trust Me in your heart, you can do this. You can leave it up to me. And think about what that means for the Israelites! No work for a year, every seven years. A time to focus on family, and God. A time to remember who God is and what He's doing. This is a blessing. Rest.

How is God asking you to set aside your hesitations and trust Him? It might seem crazy - but God is big! He is able, willing and ready to provide for us when we need it. And He will most likely ask us all to trust Him in big things. What are you going to do when that time comes?

365 Days with God - Day 118: Purposeful Strength

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 118, April 17, 2014

Readings: Psalm 118, Leviticus 24, Isaiah 30:18-33, Isaiah 31, Isaiah 32:1-20, Ephesians 3

When I'm faced with something difficult, or I know someone going through something difficult, I will often pray about it. But what is the content of my prayers? Usually that my problem would be solved, my worries would go away. That my physical needs would be met. That I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. That it would go away.

But what should my prayers look like?

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith - that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Paul isn't praying for his problems, or the Ephesian's problems, to be solved. He's not even praying that they would have the strength to bear the burden, or to love others, or anything related to them. No, Paul is praying that they would be filled with Christ, so that He can do the work in them. Paul knows that more important than everything else is the indwelling of Christ.

We are powerless, Christ is unlimited. What good is it to pray for someone to have strength when the strength comes from above? What good is it to pray for an outcome when God is able to do far more than we could dream of? Why should we limit our prayers to our feeble minds? God has everything at his disposal. God's plans are the best - why are we praying for our own?

I'm praying for trust and growth of Christ in me. I'm praying that I will become filled with Him, doing His work in the world. I'm praying for the work of the limitless God in my life - instead of praying for the limited me.

365 Days with God - Day 117: Returning and Rest

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 117, April 16, 2014

Readings: Psalm 117, Leviticus 23, Isaiah 29:1-24, Isaiah 30:1-17, Ephesians 2

I am action-oriented. If you have been around me much, you know that when a problem arises I'm usually the first to ask how we're going to solve it. This also factors into what I do when faced with a crisis...I tend to do first and ask questions later.

But when I take action immediately, I am automatically assuming that I've got the answer, or it is my job to provide an answer. There's no trust involved, I've moved past the point of waiting on others and I'm now completely reliant on myself. Who's missing from that picture?

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
"In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength."
But you were unwilling, and you said,
"No! We will flee upon horses";
therefore you shall flee away;
and, "We will ride upon swift steeds";
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you shall flee,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill. (Isaiah 30: 15-17)

Seems as if Israel had the same problem. Rather than trust God by resting (doesn't that sound like the exact opposite of a crisis?!) they choose to trust in "swift steeds." They choose to rush. To stress out. To work hard over nothing ("a thousand flee at the threat of one")! And they are left alone.

It is so easy to be stressed. To go crazy. To want to rush, provide my own answers and not trust in the Lord, but in my own abilities and resources. But God says I will be saved through returning to him and by resting. How counter-intuitive.  How unlike me to believe that "in quietness and trust shall be your strength." But God says it is so.

What a different place I would be in if I was willing to trust in God instead of stress about doing it myself. If I rested in quietness. Man. That sounds awesome. That sounds amazing. That sounds like the kind of thing I would ask of God - that He would make it possible for me to be rested and quiet during the chaos. And he delivers!

365 Days with God - Day 116: Tangible Blessings

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 116, April 15, 2014

Readings: Psalm 116, Leviticus 22:17-33, Isaiah 28, Ephesians 1

What does God have to offer me?

True, that may sound like a pretty selfish question. Honestly, it's quite bold to even ask it. God certainly doesn't owe us anything. But we still ask. And by asking the question, we often receive answers like "happiness, eternal life, prosperity, good marriage, family, morals" and similar things.

But He offers so much more.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-11)

So what do we have?

Adoption as sons. We are orphans who have been given a home. We were without a father, without a place to call our own. Through Jesus, we have been adopted into God's family.

Redemption & Grace. We are united with God through Jesus, despite our sins and trespasses. We do not deserve to be united with something so clean, blameless and pure as a Holy God. But He made a way. He brought us to him. He loved us enough to give the most precious thing He had so that we could be with Him.

Inheritance. We have been given a promise of God's inheritance as sons. Not only are we adopted, but we are given an inheritance as well! We're not just provided for, we are given great gifts by an infinite and generous God.

This is our hope, this is our God! These are our spiritual blessings, blessings we cannot obtain through our own good works or efforts.

365 Days with God - Day 115: What Counts?

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 115, April 14, 2014

Readings: Psalm 115, Leviticus 21:1-24, Leviticus 22:1-16, Isaiah 26, Isaiah 27, Galatians 6

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (Galatians 6:12-15)

Again and again, Paul hammers on the unnecessary rules and regulations of the law. At this time, many of the Jews (who were circumcised at 8 days old) were telling new Christians (many of whom were greek) that they had to be circumcised to be saved! But Paul states cleanly - what good is it to follow one rule if you will break the others? Why are only parts of the law important? Either it all matters, or none of it matters. Either Jesus did all the work or he was irrelevant.

Jesus did it all. We do not need to follow complicated (or painful) rituals to get on God's "good side" - there is nothing we can do to get on his good side. Jesus has done all the work, and He stands as our example. Our adherence to the law has no effect on our standing with God. What's left?

A new creation.

Jesus is creating us to be new. Nothing like we were before. Free from the chains. This is not a knowledge transfer, or even a physical change. This is a heart change. And no amount of rule following or body-altering can change a heart. We cannot boast in our rule abiding because we fail at rule abiding. We cannot boast in our adherance to tradition because we will fail at following tradition. All we can boast in is Christ's mercy and grace at the cross.

365 Days with God - Day 114: Of Flesh & Spirit

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 114, April 13, 2014

Readings: Psalm 114, Leviticus 20, Isaiah 25, Galatians 5

 We are no longer under the "law" - that is, we are no longer bound by a code of cleanliness that separates us from God. Very freeing, that is - Jesus has paid the price, and stood in place of us for the punishment we should have received for our sin.

But what do we do in light of that grace?

Daily, we are being remade by Christ and the Holy Spirit. Daily, we encounter choices about how to live. Who are we then? What choices do we make? If God has given us grace for everything through Jesus, the law is abolished, and He loves everyone just the way they are, what then is "wrong" to us? Is not the law done away with?

But we are not just creatures of a physical nature. We are physical and spiritual - our bodies in action and our spirit with intention. Our actions should be a physical reflection of the spirit within us.

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we lived by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-25)

We live in a culture that is constantly attempting to justify sin. This and that are OK because God forgives all, because Jesus is accepting and tolerant, and what's really wrong with (insert sin found above here.)? We are no longer bound to these desires! Christ, his death and resurrection, are powerful enough to overcome them. Powerful enough to give us freedom. Powerful enough to enable us to live by His Spirit, not our own fleshly desires.

Are you letting your flesh overcome the Spirit? Or are you daily on your knees, asking the Spirit to overcome your flesh?

365 Days with God - Day 113: A Better Place

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 113, April 12, 2014

Readings: Psalm 113, Leviticus 19, Isaiah 24, Galatians 4

The day has come. I know, you readers (all 3 of you, you know who you are) have been wondering: When is he going to look at Leviticus? We know he's reading it! We're eager for some good, old-fashioned...no, wait. Nobody is saying that. But here goes.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to it's edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.
"You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
"You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
"You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:9-18)

When Jesus says "Love your neighbor as yourself," Leviticus 19 has a few ideas about how to do that - many of which are merely the 10 commandments, expanded upon. But it all centers around building a community based on trust and a familial love. There's no mention of doing anything for your own benefit - it's all about serving others.

How doe these apply in your life?

365 Days with God - Day 112: How do the Righteous Live?

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 112, April 11, 2014

Readings: Psalm 112, Leviticus 18, Isaiah 23, Galatians 3

What are the key tenets of being "righteous?" What does a righteous person's life look like? Is it just about doing the right thing? Living according to "the Law?" Is the bible really a book of rules?

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish! (Psalm 112:4-10)

  When I read this, I don't see a plethora of rules and regulations, or check boxes to mark. I see the heart of a man laid out. Someone who lives each day, serving his community, family and strangers with love and grace. It's a way of living, not a rulebook. Christian or not, I don't think anyone can really disagree with wanting to be the type of person who is mentioned here.

But this is a lesson for me - does my life look like this? What key points are made?

Is my life gracious, merciful and righteous?

Is my life filled with generosity to those in need?

Do I trust in God for everything I need?

How contrasted are these things with the final verse, describing the wicked man. The wicked man is angry about the righteous man. His wickedness is so great that he can't appreciate the goodness of another person. And I don't think anyone wants to gnash their teeth, that just sounds painful.

365 Days with God - Day 111: The Perfect Combination

I'm giving myself a challenge. Read the Bible each day for a whole year, following the ESV Study Guide 1-year plan. Each day, I will post whatever God has revealed to me in His Word, and how it is changing me. A friend of mine once said that nothing has changed her life as much as reading the bible each day - and I'm excited for how this will change me. Join me on an adventure into the heart of God - and day by day, we can learn more about who He is and what that means to us!

- Andy Catts

Day 111, April 10, 2014

Readings: Psalm 110, Leviticus 17, Isaiah 22, Galatians 2

The mysteries of God are vast. His divine nature, his abilities, mercy and perfect judgment are beyond comprehension. But we desire to know. We want the perfect answer, the one that eliminates all question and gives us the knowledge we seek.

It doesn't exist.

God is not able to be fully known, fully understood. He is so big, so amazing that we are powerless to decipher all that He is. And would we really want a God that we understood fully? What would be left? If we understood all that He is and all of why He does, would we not be gods? Would we not be equal to him?

But yet, we continue to try. And this is nothing new. For generations people have been attempting to peg God into one of two categories: freedom (grace) and law (truth.) So we end up with entire denominations devoted to championing one or the other - as if salvation can be understood and contained in one of these two terms.

But it always falls short. With all grace and no truth, we are left with a God who does not know righteous judgement. Who forgives but never holds accountable. Who isn't to be respected because he asks nothing. With all truth and no grace, we face a tyrant who demands strict adherence to the law. We are merely measurements to be weighed on a scale, either reaching a sufficient saturation of righteousness or falling shot and being unworthy.

Grace sounds nice. Truth sounds logical. The good thing is, when we are willing to put both together, we learn more about who God really is. And how we respond to that truth.

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! for if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.  (Galatians 2:15-21)