Emmaus at Pilot Mill

I envy too much. Calculating that math of success and possessions to see if my resources add up to more than others. I noticed too much when others enjoy companies. I think too much of how others seem blessed by you. I analyze too much the balance sheet of your goodness. My envy exposes the danger of my selfish heart. My envy reveals that I often worship me more than I worship you. My envy shows I still look for life where it will never be found. I still envy too much so I still need you. I need what only you can do. I need the grace only you can give. I envy too much so I still need what all the things I envy will never give me. I still need to be rescued by you.

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A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. ( Prov. 14:30)

Do you find yourself envious of others' prosperity or blessings?

Consider how Christ can rescue you from the trap of envy.

For further study and encouragement, read 1 Timothy 6:3-10.

Identity amnesia produces identity replacement. It has been humanity’s problem since a man and a woman in a garden (given as a gift) attempted to reach up for the place of Another.

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When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Ps. 8:4)

Take some time to contemplate your identity before God.

What can you do to avoid “identity amnesia” that often produces “identity replacement”?

For further study and encouragement, read Genesis 3.

I was anxious this morning – too many details, loose ends, “what if‘s“ and “if only‘s.” Demanding schedule, depending on people, deadlines lurking. Feeling out of control, in adequate, and overscheduled. Worry Rob‘s peace. Doubt plunders face. Anxiety decimates rest. Impatient, irritable, demanding, and loving, and thankful, convicted, remorseful, confessing. Worry is forgetful. Anxiety is a form of amnesia. Forgetting your presence, your plan, your wisdom, and your grace. What is not under my control is never out of control because you are with me, and you control everything for your glory and for my good. May I learn to remember and, in remembering, learn to rest in the one constant on which I can always depend – you.

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The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. (Phil. 4:5-6)

Do you find it difficult to rest in God during times of busyness and chaos?

Prayerfully offer your worries for today to God.

For further study and encouragement, read Matthew 6:25–34.

You are the sun that shines in the darkness. You are the water that quenches thirst. You are the balm that heals the wounded. You’re the Master that calms the storm. You are the rose of brightest beauty. You are the chosen, perfect Lamb. You are the King of a greater kingdom. You are the captain of battles won. You are the lion of chosen Judah. You are the dove of peace that’s come. You are the shelter for the homeless. You are the father to the helpless orphans. You were the chosen, suffering son. You are my God, my savior, my hope, my life, my forgiveness, my wisdom, my strength, my righteousness, my peace, my father, my brother, my friend. Because you are, I am what I am.
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For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. ( 2 Samuel 22: 32–33)

Form your own list of God’s glorious attributes as an act of praise.

Consider how your life is different because you are God’s.

For further study and encouragement, read Psalm 103.

I really wish I could blame somebody else. I wish I could place the responsibility on someone else. I would love to point the finger at someone else. I wish I could convince myself that it was somebody else. I tried to feed myself the logic that it was somebody else. For a moment about my argument that it was somebody else. There is always another sinner who can bear my fault. There’s always some circumstance that can carry my blame. There’s always some factor that made me do what I did. There’s always somewhere else to point rather than looking at me. But in the darkness of bedtime, the logic melts out of my heart. In the moments before sleep, the pain begins to squeeze away my breath. As my mind replace the days moments, the conclusion is like a slap. There’s no monster to hide from. There’s no excuse that holds. My war is not external; the enemy is not outside. The struggle rages within me – no where to point or run. No independent righteousness, no reason for smugness or rest, I am my greatest enemy and rescue is my only hope. In the quiet, I face it. I cannot blame somebody else. One more time I close my eyes, admitting that my only hope is found in Somebody Else.

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And there is salvation and no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

Are you also tempted to point out others or circumstances when you are to blame?

Do you truly believe your only hope is found in Jesus alone?

For further study and encouragement, read Romans 3.

I need to see your beauty. I need to remember that you are beautiful in sovereignty, beautiful and wisdom, beautiful in power, beautiful and mercy, beautiful and faithfulness, beautiful in love, beautiful and patience, beautiful in holiness, beautiful injustice, and beautiful and grace. It is only when I look at the trials of my life, the things unwanted, the things unplanned, the things unexpected, the things that are hard, through the lens of your stunning beauty that I see them with accuracy and clarity. But I also need to remember that Grace has connected me to the beauty that is you. By grace all that you are, you are for me set a fight my divine beauty amnesia, tomorrow once again in the quiet of early morning, I will stop and gaze upon your beauty, and I will rest, remember, where ship, and celebrate, knowing that glorious grace has connected me to the stunning beauty that is and forever will be you.

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil. 4:8)

Consider your personal trials for the lens of God's stunning beauty.

What are some habits you can develop to help you remember that you were connected to God‘s beauty through his grace?

For further study and encouragement, read Colossians 3:1-17.

I think about it all the
time.
It doesn’t seem
fair.
It doesn’t seem
right.
I try to make the equation work,
but it doesn’t.
They don’t give you
the time of day.
They couldn’t care less
about your law.
They are proud of their pride.
they are so arrogant
their tongues
strut.
They mock your
existence.
They scoff at your
boundaries.
They not only make threats,
they resort to
violence.
Their boasting is their
bling.
I usually swallow
my questions,
but I’m roaring
inside.
It makes me tired to
think about it,
and it does make
my obedience
seem like a waste.
They seem to have little
trouble.
They seem to seldom
suffer.
But I do!
And while I suffer,
they are
fat and happy.
Then in my confusion
It hit me.
This is but
a moment,
a dream,
a mist,
a vapor,
a quick passage through
a temporary place.
This is not
my home.
This is a journey
toward home.
They think this is home,
but this is not
home.
Please guide me on my way.
Please hold me with your hand.
And when I am
weary
and my heart is about to
fail
and my reserves of strength are
gone,
please help me to
remember
that they have ease and riches
but
I have you,
And you will be my
strength and portion
forever.

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Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumble, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Psalm 73:1-3


Do you ever feel as if obeying God isn’t worth it because those who don't follow him seem to be succeeding? But what is the error in this sort of thinking?

How regularly do you remind yourself that you have not yet reached your final home?

For further study and encouragement, read Luke 16:19-31

Unthinkable,
irrational,
impossible to conceive!
The Trinity
torn asunder.
The son
wrenched from his Father.
Salvation realized.
I am
the liar.
I am
the thief.
I am
the gossip.
I am
the rebel.
I have wanted
my own way
in
my own time
at
my appointed place.
I have rebelled
against your law
and I have
set up my own.
I deny
your kingship
while building
a kingdom of my own.
I think
my wisdom
is wiser than yours.
I think
my plan
is better than yours.
I crave
the sovereignty
that only you should have.
But you did
the inconceivable;
you accomplished
the undoable.
Your stood
in my place
and you satisfied
God’s wrath.
But
in the process,
the three in one
was torn in two.
In the process,
the three in one
was torn in two.
In the process,
the Father
did the most painful thing
that has ever been done.
He turned his back
on you.
You withstood
this pain
so that I would never have to.
You took my
rejection
so that I would only ever have
acceptance.
So that I can
rest assured,
I can
live in hope,
I can
enjoy true peace,
because I know
that you are always with me.
For long ago
on the cross
your rejection
was, for me,
the final rejection of rejection.

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And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

Contemplate the amazing love of Christ that compelled him go to the cross on your behalf.

Christ was rejected for your sins--prayerfully thank him for covering them.

For further study and encouragement, read Isaiah 53.

One thing,
One thing,
One thing!
It’s hard to imagine
one thing
When I seem to be attracted
to so many things.
It is a continuing
struggle.
It is a daily
battle.
It is my constant
war.
The world of the physical
attracts me,
excites me,
magnetizes me, and
addicts me.
I confuse consumption
with satisfaction.
I confuse satisfied senses
with true joy.
I confuse a stomach that is full
with a heart at rest.
Sometimes I would rather have
my appetites satisfied
than a grace-filled heart.
Sometimes I would rather hold
the physical
Than have the eyes of my heart
filled with the beauty of
the spiritual.
I am tired of only seeing
what
my physical eyes
can see.
I want eyes
to see
what
cannot be seen.
I am tired of craving
people,
possessions,
locations,
circumstances,
positions,
experiences,
appearances…

Somewhere in my heart,
I know that only you
satisfy.
Deep in my heart,
I want you to be
enough.
I must quit
moving,
running,
driving,
pursuing,
consuming,
I need to
stop.
I need to
be quiet.
I need to sit
in the seat of grace
and wait,
and wait,
until these blind eyes
see,
until this cold heart
craves
the one beauty that
satisfies--
the one beauty that
is you.


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The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.
Proverbs 19:23

What tends to distract you from the “one thing”?

What are the differences between consumption and satisfaction?
Satisfied senses and true joy? Which word better describes your heart most days?

For further study and encouragement, read Psalm 42.