The Ultimate Accomplishment--Magnified in You

Monday was back-to-work for me. And, we are budgeting for next year’s expenses, including plans for professional development. I was researching grad schools and laughing to myself that I’m still planning what I want to be when I ‘grow up’… yes, trying to plan what I can do so I can someday retire from full time work and have a flexible enough schedule that I can pay bills, serve the Lord and help with grand kids. And, I may need a Masters for that!? I guess that is what needs to be done to remain marketable in an educated, competitive work force.



Our society is so accomplished and accomplishment oriented. My mom had a Masters degree. She got it when I was in High School. But when I was working again, she discouraged me from getting one, because of the toll it took. Now, that she is gone, her degree sits with other accomplishments from her life… in a special place in my basement.



I was reading Hebrews 9 yesterday and struck in a fresh way about the ULTIMATE ACCOMPLISHMENT of all time….when Jesus, as High Priest, ‘entered the Most Holy Place once for all BY HIS OWN BLOOD and obtained eternal redemption’ for mankind and ushered in a new covenant.



I’m sure there will be replays of this most sacred moment when we get to heaven….when Jesus entered the Most Holy Place for the very first time by his own blood. Was that when the temple curtain was torn from the top down? I’ll bet as we watch the ‘replay’ all heaven, earth and even creatures under the earth will break out in spontaneous worship and adoration of Jesus as we look on with an eternal grasp of its signficance.



The part I love most about Christ’s Ultimate Accomplishment is that it wasn’t done to exalt himself or to showcase how great He was… instead it was accomplished through great sacrifice and suffering….with a motive of doing something very significant for a whole lot of somebody’s who were hopeless and helpless… and we were among them.



I also love the fact that Christ’s Ultimate Accomplishment brought new work… new life… and new meaning to our otherwise insignificant lives.

Lord I Can't Do This

Christian Encouragement For Women's Small Group Leaders If you’re like me, you are looking at the women’s needs in your group, and thinking ‘there is just no way I can help these ladies… I just don’t have the (wisdom, sensitivity, experience, biblical knowledge, patience, love, spiritual gifts, time) to help them…. I only have these meager resources… and they have so much going on.” If so, then we are right where Jesus wants us to be… in fact, we are in good company (with the twelve disciples, chosen from the crowds by Jesus after a night in prayer.) Remember Jesus’ words to the disciples when they wanted to send the crowd into the local towns for food? (Matt 14:15-17) He said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Their response was: "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish." Well, we know what happened. Jesus had the disciples group the people, he gave thanks, and directed the disciples to serve them. In the end, the equivalent of a stadium of people were well fed, both physically and spiritually, and everyone knew it was Jesus, the Son of God, who had blessed them with a miracle. So let's not hesitate to access His power to minister to our ladies and expect His miracles among us by asking Him to fill our service. Prayer: Lord, there are so many needs…. and so many limitations. Thank you for calling us to share your work, but we can’t do this. You know we are weak…and we can’t see where our ladies really are, much less know what they need. Help us. No... more that help us, do the work among us. As we come to serve you this week, adjust the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts away from the flesh and the world…. Help us to value the things you value… and help us to care for the ones you are concerned for… Show us who needs our attention… a word of encouragement… your love. You are the God who leaves the flock to rescue the lost lamb… please Lord do that ministry among us... I pray for my sisters in Christ… help us all to take the time to talk to you today about our inability to serve apart from your strength… and give us a boost in our faith to expect your love and power among us. And, Jesus, please, oh please, do a work so wonderful and glorious in the hidden places of hearts that ‘they forget the channel and see only you!’ Yes, Lord, please do miracles among us to the praise of Your glorious Name. Amen.