A Christian who attempts to experience all that the Lord intends for his life while walking alone is abnormal. He will not develop the fully fruitful life in the Spirit that God intends for him. He will be exponentially more vulnerable to spiritual attack, deception by false teachers, and self-delusion. Beside all that, he robs himself of an incredibly rich source of blessing and encouragement. In short, you and I need the Church.
Yesterday, four men that I love, Elders (local pastors) in Christ's Church, gathered and ministered to me. They did so in keeping with the word of James 5.16 which says, "Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (NLT) In the Jerusalem Room at our Assembly an altar was built, a holy place where the Lord met us. It was sweet! Brotherhood does not begin to describe the relationship in the room. No, these were not sterile prayers. They were heart cries - for me!
Later that day, a quiet friend rang my doorbell and prayed a simply eloquent prayer and left me with his benediction, words that I can still 'hear.' At least a couple of hundreds of emails and phone calls have brought promises of prayer my way in the last week. (Please do not misunderstand what I am about to say here. I do not intend to polish my halo, but to make a point.) Such love cannot be found in casual, 'when it's convenient' relationships with other Christians. It requires giving, time, effort, and investment. It demands that we stay together when it's good and not so great. These who are praying for me and I are invested in each other's lives.
The book of Acts introduces us to a man who invested himself in the first generation church. He was not noted for preaching like Apollos or teaching like Paul. He was loved for something we often take for granted. His given name was Joseph, but nobody called him that. His nickname became the name we use to this day. He was called, Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement." (Acts 4.36) Barney was a man who loved people and they loved him back. He's a model for us. The medical crisis in my life at this time gave my band of Barney's reason to gather 'round me. I only pray that when the opportunity presents itself, that I will be that kind of Barney, too!
Are you investing yourself in a local Body of Believers? I don't mean just showing up to sit in a pew, either. I mean are you taking time to serve, to get to know others, to care? Are you loving others even when they disappoint you, hanging with them because God called you into that Boldy? Time will come when you need a band of Barney's. Do not wait until then to connect, it will be too late to really experience the kind of blessings I have been so wonderfully privileged to know in the last few days.
To all my Barney's - THANK YOU!
Here's a word from the Word:
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, NIV)
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25, NIV)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Stay in the Story
Yesterday John Podesta, former White House chief of staff to President Clinton, criticized the current President for “losing control of the narrative.” It’s a polite way to say that the White House is letting others write their script. This means that instead of leading effectively and setting the course, they are reacting to events. It isn’t my intention to comment on his observation but rather to ask - Whose writing the script for you? Are you sticking with the main storyline that God has written for your life?
My own short life history include many sub-plots that I never anticipated! Six weeks ago, I would have laughed if you told me that I was going to be sidelined for major surgery in mid-February! But, the main narrative which is about doing the will of God as I obey His Word and ultimately about making my home with Him in Heaven, when the credits roll has never been out of my mind. From my teen years to the present, the ‘story’ has directed my decisions. Some have a story that is about accumulating wealth. Others write their story around finding pleasure. What’s your story? What overarching plot moves you forward day to day and gives your life purpose?
Paul saw the church in Corinth going off story, sidetracked from serving God to being consumed with the novelty of self-centered religiosity. He declares his commitment to the Gospel story. He said, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, … I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. … My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power!" (1 Corinthians 1:22, 2:2,4 NIV) It’s not about miracles. It’s not about impressive philosophy. It’s about Jesus Christ who died to save us! The Christians in Corinth had lost the narrative. They thought their spirituality was found in speaking in tongues, in worship that was marked by confusion and disorder done in the name of the Holy Spirit. They were impressed by the ‘prophetic’ performance of speakers who wove words together with mesmerizing skill. Paul brought them a reminder of the central plot – to know and serve the Savior who died to save them and rose to promise them eternal life!
Are you sidetracked by sub-plots?
Are you spending inordinate amounts of time trying to work out things that won’t really amount to anything of substance?
Are you letting your energies be consumed by trivialities that are not part of God’s story?
Have you surrendered the script of your life to others, reacting to them instead of purposefully doing God’s will? Stay in the story!
Paul wrote those words about his single-minded focus of life early in his public ministry. History reveals that he lived them! About two decades later, he was once again reflecting on the course of his life, this time as he was imprisoned and waiting execution at the hand of Caesar He had stuck with the Story. He was not filled with regret or remorse. Note the anticipation in the words he penned to Timothy. "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT)
I love those words!
Fought, finished, faithful!
Prize, crown, given to me!
Now that a great summary of the plot line.
________________
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light my strength my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease?
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand!
No guilt in life, no fear in death!
This is the pow'r of Christ in me.
From life's first cry, to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell. no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand!
'Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand!
In Christ Alone
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Keith Getty
Stuart Townend
CCLI License No. 810055
My own short life history include many sub-plots that I never anticipated! Six weeks ago, I would have laughed if you told me that I was going to be sidelined for major surgery in mid-February! But, the main narrative which is about doing the will of God as I obey His Word and ultimately about making my home with Him in Heaven, when the credits roll has never been out of my mind. From my teen years to the present, the ‘story’ has directed my decisions. Some have a story that is about accumulating wealth. Others write their story around finding pleasure. What’s your story? What overarching plot moves you forward day to day and gives your life purpose?
Paul saw the church in Corinth going off story, sidetracked from serving God to being consumed with the novelty of self-centered religiosity. He declares his commitment to the Gospel story. He said, "Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, … I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. … My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power!" (1 Corinthians 1:22, 2:2,4 NIV) It’s not about miracles. It’s not about impressive philosophy. It’s about Jesus Christ who died to save us! The Christians in Corinth had lost the narrative. They thought their spirituality was found in speaking in tongues, in worship that was marked by confusion and disorder done in the name of the Holy Spirit. They were impressed by the ‘prophetic’ performance of speakers who wove words together with mesmerizing skill. Paul brought them a reminder of the central plot – to know and serve the Savior who died to save them and rose to promise them eternal life!
Are you sidetracked by sub-plots?
Are you spending inordinate amounts of time trying to work out things that won’t really amount to anything of substance?
Are you letting your energies be consumed by trivialities that are not part of God’s story?
Have you surrendered the script of your life to others, reacting to them instead of purposefully doing God’s will? Stay in the story!
Paul wrote those words about his single-minded focus of life early in his public ministry. History reveals that he lived them! About two decades later, he was once again reflecting on the course of his life, this time as he was imprisoned and waiting execution at the hand of Caesar He had stuck with the Story. He was not filled with regret or remorse. Note the anticipation in the words he penned to Timothy. "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NLT)
I love those words!
Fought, finished, faithful!
Prize, crown, given to me!
Now that a great summary of the plot line.
________________
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light my strength my song.
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease?
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand!
No guilt in life, no fear in death!
This is the pow'r of Christ in me.
From life's first cry, to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell. no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand!
'Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand!
In Christ Alone
© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
Keith Getty
Stuart Townend
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, February 15, 2010
Serenity From the Source
Anxiety is stalking just about everybody in these turbulent times! Teenagers I counsel are less concerned with their pimples than the kind of world they will inherit in a few years. Apocalyptic headlines convince these tender souls that we stand on the brink of the world's end. We don't!
Our battered economy has young parents anxious about how they will provide for their kids. They will find a way! We middle-aged people hear all the dire news about government debt and the 'certainty' of no funding for Social Security and it makes our 'golden years' seem awfully grim! But, why?
As disciples of the Lord of Life, there is a promised blessing that we can and should take hold of for each day. That blessing is the 'peace of God!' The Bible urges us to choose serenity. Take a look. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
Peace results from choosing our Source!
If we trust in ourselves, our President, or Glenn Beck- anxiety will surely build. Why? Because these times have revealed the relative impotence of all of the above! But, we also know this: the Lord God is a Rock, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17, KJV) Peace flows out of the certainty that He is able to care for us through each of the change points of our lives. Many Believers have not fully committed themselves to God because, to be honest, they do not REALLY trust Him.
I remember when I thought my Dad was bigger than life. When I was 4 or 5, I was convinced that Dad knew everything and could defeat any foe, any time, anywhere. When I was afraid, if Dad showed up, my fear evaporated immediately. Then, in adolescence, I discovered that he was not Superman. I began to understand that he, too, was sometimes afraid or uncertain. Things happened that he could not control regardless of his wisdom or strength. As an adult, I loved old Dad, but there were no illusions that he was a god.
Have you similarly 'matured' past child-like trust in your Heavenly Father? When we are 'new' in faith, we trust Him unquestioningly. With time, we go through experience when He seems distant. He disappoints us by apparently refusing to answer our prayers, at least in the way we want them answered. Such moments can cause us to lose faith in His ability to handle our lives and fear grows. Some of us become even more 'religious' thinking that IF we just do more to earn His gracious favor, we can 'make' Him do what we want Him to do.
The truth is that He is God - unchanging, faithful, omnipotent, omniscient, and loving. He is worthy of our child-like faith. With study of the Scripture and meditation on His wonderful works, elevate your understanding of who He is and what He does. A higher view of God, a revelation of His majesty, will deepen your faith. You will find a bedrock foundation of trust to keep you steady until the day when His kingdom is fully revealed on Earth. Until then, keep faith strong and make the choice to trust.
Lynn DeShazo captures the doubting, distressed Believer's confession perfectly in her great worship song --
Be Magnified.
I have made You too small in my eyes; O Lord, forgive me;
And I have believed in a lie that You were unable to help me.
But now, O Lord, I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong;
And in my eyes and with my song,
O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified.
I have leaned on the wisdom of men, O Lord, forgive me;
And I have responded to them instead of Your light and Your mercy.
But now, O Lord, I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong;
And in my eyes and with my song,
O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified.
Be magnified, O Lord,You are highly exalted;
And there is nothing You can't do,
O Lord, my eyes are on You.
Be magnified, O Lord, Be magnified.
© 1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
______________
(This Coffee Break is one from the archives that encouraged me much and that I needed to 'relearn' today. Hope it blesses and encourages you, too!)
Our battered economy has young parents anxious about how they will provide for their kids. They will find a way! We middle-aged people hear all the dire news about government debt and the 'certainty' of no funding for Social Security and it makes our 'golden years' seem awfully grim! But, why?
As disciples of the Lord of Life, there is a promised blessing that we can and should take hold of for each day. That blessing is the 'peace of God!' The Bible urges us to choose serenity. Take a look. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT)
Peace results from choosing our Source!
If we trust in ourselves, our President, or Glenn Beck- anxiety will surely build. Why? Because these times have revealed the relative impotence of all of the above! But, we also know this: the Lord God is a Rock, "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17, KJV) Peace flows out of the certainty that He is able to care for us through each of the change points of our lives. Many Believers have not fully committed themselves to God because, to be honest, they do not REALLY trust Him.
I remember when I thought my Dad was bigger than life. When I was 4 or 5, I was convinced that Dad knew everything and could defeat any foe, any time, anywhere. When I was afraid, if Dad showed up, my fear evaporated immediately. Then, in adolescence, I discovered that he was not Superman. I began to understand that he, too, was sometimes afraid or uncertain. Things happened that he could not control regardless of his wisdom or strength. As an adult, I loved old Dad, but there were no illusions that he was a god.
Have you similarly 'matured' past child-like trust in your Heavenly Father? When we are 'new' in faith, we trust Him unquestioningly. With time, we go through experience when He seems distant. He disappoints us by apparently refusing to answer our prayers, at least in the way we want them answered. Such moments can cause us to lose faith in His ability to handle our lives and fear grows. Some of us become even more 'religious' thinking that IF we just do more to earn His gracious favor, we can 'make' Him do what we want Him to do.
The truth is that He is God - unchanging, faithful, omnipotent, omniscient, and loving. He is worthy of our child-like faith. With study of the Scripture and meditation on His wonderful works, elevate your understanding of who He is and what He does. A higher view of God, a revelation of His majesty, will deepen your faith. You will find a bedrock foundation of trust to keep you steady until the day when His kingdom is fully revealed on Earth. Until then, keep faith strong and make the choice to trust.
Lynn DeShazo captures the doubting, distressed Believer's confession perfectly in her great worship song --
Be Magnified.
I have made You too small in my eyes; O Lord, forgive me;
And I have believed in a lie that You were unable to help me.
But now, O Lord, I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong;
And in my eyes and with my song,
O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified.
I have leaned on the wisdom of men, O Lord, forgive me;
And I have responded to them instead of Your light and Your mercy.
But now, O Lord, I see my wrong,
Heal my heart and show Yourself strong;
And in my eyes and with my song,
O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified.
Be magnified, O Lord,You are highly exalted;
And there is nothing You can't do,
O Lord, my eyes are on You.
Be magnified, O Lord, Be magnified.
© 1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 810055
______________
(This Coffee Break is one from the archives that encouraged me much and that I needed to 'relearn' today. Hope it blesses and encourages you, too!)
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