The elderly woman lived in squalor, surrounded by garbage, eating only the most basic staples. She refused help from the community and slid out of sight. Months later, when people realized they had not seen her at all, police found her body under a pile of old newspapers that fell on her in her home. To everyone’s astonishment, her estate was ample, with investments made over the years that could have provided a very comfortable life for her. But, she would not sell her stocks, cash in her bonds, or draw on her accounts. What a tragedy.
In my prayertime today, the Lord reminded me that He was my Resource, that I need not try do my work alone! He brought to mind the amazingly skilled, deeply dedicated people that serve alongside of me at the Assembly in her ministries. The sighing, the sense of never ending work, the risk of burn-out are all unnecessary if I will walk with Him, in humble obedience; and if I will lean on my team!
Pride is such a subtle temptation. It puts on the disguise of ‘just doing my job,’ or ‘carrying my own weight,’ or ‘meeting expectations.’ This sin overtakes me from time to time. I recognize it only when I start to feel the isolation that comes with the silly idea that nobody else is capable of doing what I do. Thinking one’s self indispensable may feed the ego, but it also increases the burden and ultimately makes a person even less effective!
Solomon, who became an awful cynic in his old age, sagely observed: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV)
Being a productive person is a worthy goal. Accepting responsibility for the tasks assigned to us is a good thing. Having the ability to assemble the resources required to get the job done and showing creativity in meeting the demands of life are admirable traits. Being a Lone Ranger is not a good thing. A truly wise person builds teams by sharing his skills and accepting the advice of others, fits himself into networks of people who multiply his influence, and knows when to say, ‘help!’ before his lack of knowledge has created a disaster!
Are you suffering the sickness of prideful self-sufficiency?
Are you struggling to keep going, afraid to ask for help, refusing to admit that you need support?
Begin a change by bowing your head and heart before the Lord and asking Him to show you the resourceful people around you. Then, go serve somebody without any expectation of thanks, affirmation, or repayment! It’s good for the soul.
Here’s a word from the Word for your thoughts today.
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. … Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:2-5, 9, NIV) May the Spirit make plain the tension between being responsible for your own backpack while helping to carry the weight of the work of the Kingdom with others!
Draw on the resources God provides and you will find the promise of Jesus fulfilled - "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10, NLT)
________________
CoffeeBreak With The Word will be back on August 10, Lord-willing. I’ll be attending “Influence” a conference in Orlando next Monday through Wednesday, then taking a few days out of the office. See you then!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
Sometimes my life travels a smooth road, one good day following another; and sometimes it gets really bumpy! This is one of those bumpy stretches! I’m not whining, but I think I have had enough of criticism, disappointment, and unreasonable people for one week. In the middle of the messes, I try not to forget that one of the major responsibilities of being a leader of any kind, including pastoring a church, is solving problems! (Or at least managing them!) Yes, my phone will ring today and there will be another challenge. With God’s strength, I’ll step up wisely, patiently, and with love!
When, as a little boy, I would complain about something I found unpleasant my Grandma used to quote a snippet from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Funny, isn’t it, how thoughts stored away for decades float back to the surface? She used to say:
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Disappointment ranges across a wide spectrum of emotions - the awful to the merely unpleasant. Finding out that you have cancer is a kind of disappointment that is entirely different than discovering that the dinner you just ordered was poorly prepared! Disappointment, of any kind, turns some into angry people, making them ugly and defensive. It turns others into cynics who never see a good thing in anyone or anything! There is a better way to deal with it. Want to know? Read on. So what to do with life's disappointments? 1. We can insulate ourselves. I think I first read the following line in Peanuts, the cartoon strip - "Blessed is the man who expects nothing for he will never be disappointed!" True, but he won’t do much with his life, either!
There is a kind of safety in the philosophy of disengagement that teaches you to withdraw from life, to never take a risk by loving anyone, to never pray a prayer asking for the 'impossible.' If you do these things, you will save yourself from some disappointment, but is that really how you want to live- safely insulated from both joy and sorrow hiding away from real life?
2. We must learn humility that allows us to forgive! Forgiveness, in one sense, is releasing others from our demand that they act in ways we approve or like. This is especially difficult when we know we have done our best, given our utmost - and get kicked in the process. The Devil sees to it that we see it as a personal offense, that we perceive the actions of another as directed at us. Demons sit on our shoulder reminding us how noble we have been and how little others care! Can you see where that leads? It ain’t pretty! Even when we are wronged, we need to cultivate humility and let it go with forgiveness. It IS NOT trying to force ourselves to think: "Ah, forget it. What you did or did not do doesn't matter." That's not true. When a person fails us, breaks our heart, rejects us, or harms us -- it does matter! Our disappointment is real. If we try to convince ourselves that our emotions are not important or that they are not real, only deepens our internal conflict and anger.
Forgiveness is a choice to turn to God's Spirit and seek His help in subduing Self. We make the choice to surrender our pain to God. We invite Him to enter into our lives with wisdom, peace. And, forgiveness is complete when we accept that ultimately - here or in eternity - God will act justly! When we release that person who has disappointed us to God's court, we find freedom from the anger, hatred, and bitterness that often accompanies disappointment. Jesus, when teaching his followers about prayer, reminded us to pray like this: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors....But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:12, 15
3. We learn acceptance of circumstances beyond our control.
Reinhold Neibuhr penned the Serenity Prayer.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and
wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Such serenity requires that we lives as Jesus taught becoming like a little child. A child takes each day as it comes with little or no thought of tomorrow. What peace we find IF we take each day from God, deeply trusting His purposes and plans. When disappointment comes, one of the first casualties is often faith. Don’t let that happen to you. Instead, choose to trust. The bitterness of missed expectations is sweetened when we set our ultimate hope in the Lord! Here’s a word from the Word for the disappointed. Isaiah 40:30-31 reminds us that:
"Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
In this broken world, full of disappointment, marked by uncertainty about tomorrow, yes, with rainy days that come to all of us - we are people of hope. Ours is not a naive and silly way of thinking that will not see life as it is. It is not escapist. Ours is a hope that connects to our eternal life in God and trusts in His promise to make all things right.
And so we pray, ever more earnestly,
"May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven." Amen.
When, as a little boy, I would complain about something I found unpleasant my Grandma used to quote a snippet from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Funny, isn’t it, how thoughts stored away for decades float back to the surface? She used to say:
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Disappointment ranges across a wide spectrum of emotions - the awful to the merely unpleasant. Finding out that you have cancer is a kind of disappointment that is entirely different than discovering that the dinner you just ordered was poorly prepared! Disappointment, of any kind, turns some into angry people, making them ugly and defensive. It turns others into cynics who never see a good thing in anyone or anything! There is a better way to deal with it. Want to know? Read on. So what to do with life's disappointments? 1. We can insulate ourselves. I think I first read the following line in Peanuts, the cartoon strip - "Blessed is the man who expects nothing for he will never be disappointed!" True, but he won’t do much with his life, either!
There is a kind of safety in the philosophy of disengagement that teaches you to withdraw from life, to never take a risk by loving anyone, to never pray a prayer asking for the 'impossible.' If you do these things, you will save yourself from some disappointment, but is that really how you want to live- safely insulated from both joy and sorrow hiding away from real life?
2. We must learn humility that allows us to forgive! Forgiveness, in one sense, is releasing others from our demand that they act in ways we approve or like. This is especially difficult when we know we have done our best, given our utmost - and get kicked in the process. The Devil sees to it that we see it as a personal offense, that we perceive the actions of another as directed at us. Demons sit on our shoulder reminding us how noble we have been and how little others care! Can you see where that leads? It ain’t pretty! Even when we are wronged, we need to cultivate humility and let it go with forgiveness. It IS NOT trying to force ourselves to think: "Ah, forget it. What you did or did not do doesn't matter." That's not true. When a person fails us, breaks our heart, rejects us, or harms us -- it does matter! Our disappointment is real. If we try to convince ourselves that our emotions are not important or that they are not real, only deepens our internal conflict and anger.
Forgiveness is a choice to turn to God's Spirit and seek His help in subduing Self. We make the choice to surrender our pain to God. We invite Him to enter into our lives with wisdom, peace. And, forgiveness is complete when we accept that ultimately - here or in eternity - God will act justly! When we release that person who has disappointed us to God's court, we find freedom from the anger, hatred, and bitterness that often accompanies disappointment. Jesus, when teaching his followers about prayer, reminded us to pray like this: "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors....But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:12, 15
3. We learn acceptance of circumstances beyond our control.
Reinhold Neibuhr penned the Serenity Prayer.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can; and
wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.
Amen.
Such serenity requires that we lives as Jesus taught becoming like a little child. A child takes each day as it comes with little or no thought of tomorrow. What peace we find IF we take each day from God, deeply trusting His purposes and plans. When disappointment comes, one of the first casualties is often faith. Don’t let that happen to you. Instead, choose to trust. The bitterness of missed expectations is sweetened when we set our ultimate hope in the Lord! Here’s a word from the Word for the disappointed. Isaiah 40:30-31 reminds us that:
"Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
In this broken world, full of disappointment, marked by uncertainty about tomorrow, yes, with rainy days that come to all of us - we are people of hope. Ours is not a naive and silly way of thinking that will not see life as it is. It is not escapist. Ours is a hope that connects to our eternal life in God and trusts in His promise to make all things right.
And so we pray, ever more earnestly,
"May your Kingdom come, and Your will be done - on earth, as it is in Heaven." Amen.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Break my heart, Lord!
Bob (not his real name) is a strong man, a hard-working man who makes large machines accomplish amazing tasks, a man’s man who knows about calloused hands and sweat. As we talked earlier this week, he asked about the church, our Christian school, and life in general. When I told him that some of our parents who had overdue tuitions who were not likely going to be able to continue with Christian education, he reached into his pocket and wrote a check for $2500! “Help some of those Christian people out with this.”
Bob cares! This is not the first time that I have witnessed the tender heart of this big man. When one of the parents was notified that her student’s overdue account had been paid, she wrote- “You have no idea. I cried … may God bless this person… I have to tell you it was coming down to us having to take P. to a public school because of the situation. God works in mysterious ways.” Sometimes He does, but often He work through ordinary people who let their heart’s be touched by needs of others and who choose to be the hands of Jesus!
Are you tender-hearted?
Life is much easier if we put on a hard shell and refuse to let the needs of others get to us. When we see someone suffering, dealing with a hard situation, we may be tempted to throw the blame back on them. If we just look at the facts, frequently we can find poor choices. Good people often do stupid things, show amazing lack of foresight, and ignore consequences of their choices. So can we just let them suffer? Did God look at you and me and said, “He brought destruction on himself with his willful sin. Let him die!”? No. He got involved. "Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!" (Ephesians 2:4-5, The Message) Now the Word says that "as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,” we should “clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NIV)
Jesus’ story makes the principle of compassion quite clear. Take a look.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’" (Luke 10:30-35, NIV) “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37, NIV)
Today, you will pass by people that are busted up, bleeding, and broken. Will you let God break your heart on their behalf and lead you to be a friend, a healer, an encourager?
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder and obey and be blessed as you are a blessing.
"I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:1-2, NLT) "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:29-30, NLT)
Lord, don’t let my self-protective actions break your heart today. Instead, please break my heart and help me to care. For your Glory, I pray. Amen
______________
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity
From sin and the grave;
Weep o'er the erring one,
Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus,
The mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing,
Duty demands it,
Strength for thy labor
The Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way
Patiently win them,
Tell the poor wand'rer
A Savior has died.
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
Rescue The Perishing
Crosby, Fanny J. / Doane, William H.© Public Domain
Bob cares! This is not the first time that I have witnessed the tender heart of this big man. When one of the parents was notified that her student’s overdue account had been paid, she wrote- “You have no idea. I cried … may God bless this person… I have to tell you it was coming down to us having to take P. to a public school because of the situation. God works in mysterious ways.” Sometimes He does, but often He work through ordinary people who let their heart’s be touched by needs of others and who choose to be the hands of Jesus!
Are you tender-hearted?
Life is much easier if we put on a hard shell and refuse to let the needs of others get to us. When we see someone suffering, dealing with a hard situation, we may be tempted to throw the blame back on them. If we just look at the facts, frequently we can find poor choices. Good people often do stupid things, show amazing lack of foresight, and ignore consequences of their choices. So can we just let them suffer? Did God look at you and me and said, “He brought destruction on himself with his willful sin. Let him die!”? No. He got involved. "Immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!" (Ephesians 2:4-5, The Message) Now the Word says that "as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,” we should “clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." (Colossians 3:12, NIV)
Jesus’ story makes the principle of compassion quite clear. Take a look.
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’" (Luke 10:30-35, NIV) “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37, NIV)
Today, you will pass by people that are busted up, bleeding, and broken. Will you let God break your heart on their behalf and lead you to be a friend, a healer, an encourager?
Here’s a word from the Word. Ponder and obey and be blessed as you are a blessing.
"I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." (Ephesians 4:1-2, NLT) "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:29-30, NLT)
Lord, don’t let my self-protective actions break your heart today. Instead, please break my heart and help me to care. For your Glory, I pray. Amen
______________
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity
From sin and the grave;
Weep o'er the erring one,
Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus,
The mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing,
Duty demands it,
Strength for thy labor
The Lord will provide;
Back to the narrow way
Patiently win them,
Tell the poor wand'rer
A Savior has died.
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful,
Jesus will save.
Rescue The Perishing
Crosby, Fanny J. / Doane, William H.© Public Domain
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Serve Me, god!
Paula and Randy White started Without Walls, a church in Tampa, Fl, 18 years ago. It grew to mega-status built around a message that most basically says, “God wants you healthy, wealthy, and happy!” The Whites were not subtle about it. They proclaimed it loud and proud! The upside down theology that says, “Serve ME, god!” (no typo there) sold well and brought in thousands. Then, two years ago, the Whites marriage fell apart. They chose to be ‘happy’ with other partners. Randy’s (Bishop White, his chosen title!) sermons often drifted into stories his trips to bars, his association with formers strippers, and other less than savory subjects. Paula left, church attendance declined, and the mortgage came due! Now, media announcements are that he is gone and she is back as “Pastor.” I only hope the troubled waters of the last two years has brought a deeper grasp of who Jesus Christ is and a theology that is no longer self-centered, but truly focused on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Disciple, the Bible does teach us that God is a good God and that He leads us to still waters and green pastures! But, He remains God and we remain His servants. We serve His purposes which do not always include sunny skies, smooth highways, and full bank accounts. He calls us to battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil – to deny Self even when Ego is screaming for soothing. And He promises to “never leave us, never forsake us!” Best of all, He has opened up the door to eternal life to us and we learn that in His Presence, sin and suffering will be banished forever. John’s Revelation, filled with amazing word pictures, includes this promise. "Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age." (Revelation 22:3-5, The Message) But, perfect rest only comes after we are welcomed into the Eternal Presence of our King. The fullness of the Promise awaits us!
Don’t be misled by prophets of prosperity who rip Old Testament stories out of context and promise you that “God will heal you, fill your bank accounts, and make you happy” if only you learn the right prayers or give enough money! Their messages often include just enough ‘truth’ to sound good, but the focus is misplaced from Christ to ME, the Cross ignored in favor of the Crown. If you want proof their ignorance of the Truth, look at the fruit of their lives. Time and time again, where you find the prosperity message, you find all the other evidences of Self-worship. The Bible lists them: "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. " (Galatians 5:19-21, The Message)
My heart’s appeal to you is this: go deep. Love God without reservation. Give Him total access and worship Him for Who He is more than for what you want Him to do! And then, you will live in the fullness of the Spirit. "When we live God’s way… He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Galatians 5:22-23, The Message)
No, it’s not ‘Serve Me, god,’ it is “God, I serve You!”
______________
I will come and bow down
At Your feet, Lord Jesus.
In Your presence is fullness
Of joy.
There is nothing,
There is no one
Who compares with You.
I take pleasure
In worshipping You, Lord.
Heaven is Your throne,
And the earth
Is Your footstool.
Jesus, I come to bow down
At Your feet,
O, how I love
Just to worship before You.
In Your presence
My joy is complete.
I Will Come And Bow Down
Nystrom, Martin J.
© 1984 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Disciple, the Bible does teach us that God is a good God and that He leads us to still waters and green pastures! But, He remains God and we remain His servants. We serve His purposes which do not always include sunny skies, smooth highways, and full bank accounts. He calls us to battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil – to deny Self even when Ego is screaming for soothing. And He promises to “never leave us, never forsake us!” Best of all, He has opened up the door to eternal life to us and we learn that in His Presence, sin and suffering will be banished forever. John’s Revelation, filled with amazing word pictures, includes this promise. "Never again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the center. His servants will offer God service—worshiping, they’ll look on his face, their foreheads mirroring God. Never again will there be any night. No one will need lamplight or sunlight. The shining of God, the Master, is all the light anyone needs. And they will rule with him age after age after age." (Revelation 22:3-5, The Message) But, perfect rest only comes after we are welcomed into the Eternal Presence of our King. The fullness of the Promise awaits us!
Don’t be misled by prophets of prosperity who rip Old Testament stories out of context and promise you that “God will heal you, fill your bank accounts, and make you happy” if only you learn the right prayers or give enough money! Their messages often include just enough ‘truth’ to sound good, but the focus is misplaced from Christ to ME, the Cross ignored in favor of the Crown. If you want proof their ignorance of the Truth, look at the fruit of their lives. Time and time again, where you find the prosperity message, you find all the other evidences of Self-worship. The Bible lists them: "It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. " (Galatians 5:19-21, The Message)
My heart’s appeal to you is this: go deep. Love God without reservation. Give Him total access and worship Him for Who He is more than for what you want Him to do! And then, you will live in the fullness of the Spirit. "When we live God’s way… He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely." (Galatians 5:22-23, The Message)
No, it’s not ‘Serve Me, god,’ it is “God, I serve You!”
______________
I will come and bow down
At Your feet, Lord Jesus.
In Your presence is fullness
Of joy.
There is nothing,
There is no one
Who compares with You.
I take pleasure
In worshipping You, Lord.
Heaven is Your throne,
And the earth
Is Your footstool.
Jesus, I come to bow down
At Your feet,
O, how I love
Just to worship before You.
In Your presence
My joy is complete.
I Will Come And Bow Down
Nystrom, Martin J.
© 1984 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, July 27, 2009
Ripples through time
About 70 years ago, Walter Scott walked down the sawdust trail at a tent revival in Truesdale, Iowa to accept Christ. A Danish immigrant who was fond of his liquor and quick to swing a fist, he was transformed! His conversion was solidified when a terrible automobile accident left him unable to farm. Members of the local Assembly helped out and kept his farm in order while he healed. The effect from the loving service offered by that anonymous (to me, anyway!) group of disciples ripples through time. Grandpa Scott's decision meant that my own father was brought face to face with Jesus, and made his own decision to embrace Christ as Lord. Thus, I was raised in a home where the highest priority was loving and serving God. As a child I obeyed the Spirit and received Christ as Lord. My children, early on, were taught the the knowledge of the Holy One and each has made a decision to trust Christ and are pursuing His will in their lives. And now... my grandsons are being trained to pray, to trust, to look to eternity. The long line of influence ripples through time, across miles, and into eternity because of the life of a man that my children never knew, Walter Scott!
What effect will ripple through time from your life? Positive, joyful, encouraging, life giving actions? Critical, embittering, crippling choices? Uniting or dividing words? Everyone of us effects the world of which we are a part. Often we have no idea whose life will feel the ripples that come from something we say and/or do!
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, wanted them to realize the ripples into the community from their fellowship. A man who claimed to be one of them was living in an immoral relationship with his step-mother. Even in the licentiousness of the Roman Empire, that was a scandal. The apostle wrote to that church: “Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it's anything but that. Yeast, too, is a "small thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast.” (1 Corinthians 5:6, The Message) This man's immorality, left unchecked, would spread through the entire church destroying the work of God and disgracing Christ.
Influence that ripples out into the lives of others does not require that we shout our message or overwhelm the world! Salt is a critically importance ingredient in so much of our food, but it doesn’t take much! Light is a powerful influence. Put a brightly colored rug in front of a sunlight filled door. It will fade quickly! Plants bend toward the source of light. Jesus reminds us to be like "salt and light." He says, "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16, NLT)
Keep in mind that what you do is creating a culture. Make it one of excellence!
“Heavenly Father, may a ripple of grace follow me today.
Let my conversation be full of grace, by life marked by compassion.
Create a wholeness in me that lifts the hearts of those pass.
Thank you for those who have influenced me.
Be honored by my thoughts, words, and actions.
Jesus, I pray in Your Holy Name.”
____________
I would be true,
For there are those who trust me;
I would be pure,
For there are those who care;
I would be strong,
For there is much to suffer;
I would be brave,
For there is much to dare!
I would be friend of all,
The foe, the friendless;
I would be giving,
And forget the gift;
I would be humble,
For I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh,
And love, and lift!
I Would Be True
Walter, Howard Arnold / Peek, Joseph Yates © Public Domain
What effect will ripple through time from your life? Positive, joyful, encouraging, life giving actions? Critical, embittering, crippling choices? Uniting or dividing words? Everyone of us effects the world of which we are a part. Often we have no idea whose life will feel the ripples that come from something we say and/or do!
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, wanted them to realize the ripples into the community from their fellowship. A man who claimed to be one of them was living in an immoral relationship with his step-mother. Even in the licentiousness of the Roman Empire, that was a scandal. The apostle wrote to that church: “Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it's anything but that. Yeast, too, is a "small thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast.” (1 Corinthians 5:6, The Message) This man's immorality, left unchecked, would spread through the entire church destroying the work of God and disgracing Christ.
Influence that ripples out into the lives of others does not require that we shout our message or overwhelm the world! Salt is a critically importance ingredient in so much of our food, but it doesn’t take much! Light is a powerful influence. Put a brightly colored rug in front of a sunlight filled door. It will fade quickly! Plants bend toward the source of light. Jesus reminds us to be like "salt and light." He says, "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16, NLT)
Keep in mind that what you do is creating a culture. Make it one of excellence!
“Heavenly Father, may a ripple of grace follow me today.
Let my conversation be full of grace, by life marked by compassion.
Create a wholeness in me that lifts the hearts of those pass.
Thank you for those who have influenced me.
Be honored by my thoughts, words, and actions.
Jesus, I pray in Your Holy Name.”
____________
I would be true,
For there are those who trust me;
I would be pure,
For there are those who care;
I would be strong,
For there is much to suffer;
I would be brave,
For there is much to dare!
I would be friend of all,
The foe, the friendless;
I would be giving,
And forget the gift;
I would be humble,
For I know my weakness;
I would look up, and laugh,
And love, and lift!
I Would Be True
Walter, Howard Arnold / Peek, Joseph Yates © Public Domain
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