Recovering Awe

Jerry has authority issues. I park outside the lines, drive a bit above the speed limit, and push the boundaries of social propriety. Strangely, though I resist rules, I am also a person who loves order, who keeps a calendar, shows up on time, and likes it when others do their job as expected. Complex, isn’t it?  There is One for Whom my respect is unquestioned, Whose will is my desire.

The words of Psalm 139 celebrate the majesty of our God, His ways and will, calling us to live with awe and worship. Read these words with prayerful faith.

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me! . . .

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139, NLT)

I invite us to reflect and ask – do I really believe that about my God, or are those words simply poetic expressions?  IF we really revere a God who is omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, and eternal  …  the implications touch every aspect of our lives. Many of us, even Christians who claim to love Christ, are a lot like me – when it comes to God, we have authority issues.  We want His blessings, the comfort of knowing that we can pray, and the sense of having a caring Father – but we are less enthralled with a God Whose right is total devotion, absolute control. He demands (*yes, that is the right word) that we submit to Him, if we want to know the fullest, richest life of the Spirit. 

It is easy to read that word ‘submit’ as an ugly one if we think only of those who are cruel, who exploit others for their gain, or the powerful who oppress the weak. God is good. We can TRUST Him with our whole heart, soul, body, and mind.   Oh, He is not tame, nor predictable, nor is His way without rigor.  Jesus taught us this. “So why do you call me ‘Lord,’ when you won’t obey me? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then obeys me. It is like a person who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who listens and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins.” (Luke 6:46-49, NLT)

My friend, a Christianity that is beautiful, life-giving, and God-honoring includes a recovered AWE of the Holy One, that humbles us, that keeps us from the arrogance of self-will. If you know me well, you know that I make no case for simplistic or mindless religious fundamentalism. Rather, my appeal today is that we come to the Father who knows us – inside out – and trust Him with the good, the bad, the hard, the ugly, life here and for eternity. If we claim He is Lord and reject His Word and ways, He will not be to us, all that He can be.

Take this word from the Word to heart. Savor it. "We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with his glorious power so that you will have all the patience and endurance you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father, who has enabled you to share the inheritance that belongs to God’s holy people, who live in the light." (Colossians 1:9-12, NLT)

If He is not Lord of all, then He is not truly Lord at all.

(Video of this blog at this link)

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King Of My Heart

Let the King of my heart

Be the mountain where I run

The fountain I drink from

Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the shadow where I hide

The ransom for my life

Oh He is my song

 

You are good good oh

You are good good oh

 

Let the King of my heart

Be the wind inside my sails

The anchor in the waves

Oh He is my song

Let the King of my heart

Be the fire inside my veins

The echo of my days

Oh He is my song

 

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

You're never gonna let

Never gonna let me down

 

When the night is holding on to me

God is holding on

When the night is holding on to me

God is holding on

 

John Mark McMillan | Sarah McMillan

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Fear and Faith

 

I am tired… of endless conflict, of one-sided conversations, of simplistic thinking that fails to wrestle with the real complexity of life, of hatred.  We are subjected to those who stir our deepest fears with the aim of gaining control over us. Politicians do it. Preachers do it, too.  I think you know this but it’s worth saying again - Fear brings out the worst in us!  The worst human behaviors are stoked by fears that grow out of creation of impending doom. 

Few things move people to action like pointing to the ‘end of the world as we know it.'   Frightening tales about ‘those people’ or that ‘religion’ so some other imagined or exaggerated threat turns into powerful motivation for action – often not thoughtful but reactionary! Leaders use propaganda to stoke fear that causes us to allow war, concentration camps, destructive religious fanaticism, and/or persecuting of some ‘undesirable’ group.

Christian, we must not be dupes of evil people who will use fear to manipulate us nor can we allow our minds to be controlled by our own fears, real or imagined.  Paul reminded a younger leader that God gives us the ability to think, not just to react. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT)  We are, by the Spirit of the Lord, able to make moral excellence our pursuit, to make self-sacrificial love our daily ethic, and to take charge of our emotions.

The experience of God’s people in the wilderness wandering on the way to the Promised Land is an example for us. As they approached the land Moses sent 12 men to gain intelligence for the invasion. What they saw was amazing! "A land flowing with milk and honey," they reported. They also saw some challenges – strong people and fortified cities.  Note what happened next!   

Only 2 of the spies remembered the Lord and His past demonstrations of care.  The other ten were possessed by fear. They "spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size." (Numbers 13:32, NIV)

That report went viral! Overnight, these people who were led by the Lord, who were fed daily by miraculous manna, who had the promise of His ongoing Presence, became irrationally fearful. From that fear grew a demand to return to slavery in Egypt. Fear so blinded them that they preferred the familiar past to God's promised future! In days, they were plotting a rebellion, even attempting to kill Moses at one point! Then, God drew the line and pronounced His judgment - "You will not enter and occupy the land I swore to give you. The only exceptions will be Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. " ‘You said your children would be carried off as plunder. Well, I will bring them safely into the land, and they will enjoy what you have despised. But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness." (Numbers 14:30-32, NLT) 

For the next 40 years, the Israelites remained a refugee nation as the entire generation died off, one by one. Such is the ripple effect of fearful words that create panic and rebellion!  All of those spies saw the real difficulties that were part of the process of owning the Promised Land, but only two had faith. Ten failed to set God’s faithfulness against Canaan’s difficulties. Fear owned them. Their negative report destroyed an entire generation.

In our world where there is much for which we can be concerned, do you choose to live with faith or fear in control of your mind and heart?

Faith doesn't ask us to ignore reality. Some mistakenly think that acknowledging that life is hard, or that circumstances are not favorable, or that the future is unclear are evidences of a lack of faith. Not at all! The mission of the men sent into Canaan was to gain a truthful, reality-based view of what was ahead. Moses told them to "See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps?" (Numbers 13:18-19, NLT)  Knowing the challenges could have given reason to exercise faith in God and His promise. "Go up and take the land!" Their mission was to prepare a strategic plan to implement the will of God.

When we really know what we are up against, but choose to be obedient to God's direction - we show the most authentic faith!  Fantasy has nothing to do with real faith. Dreams are often just the product of our wishes unfettered by reality. Vision is faith-based, seeing the world as it could be as the Spirit leads us to become catalysts for change.

So, how will you meet the challenges of life today? How will you hear the news? 

You can complain, react in fear, and hand your life over to those who would manipulate you for their own ends.  Or, you can pray for a sound mind filled with wisdom and faith. Giving in to fear can create terrible consequences for your family, your church, and your community.  Faith will take the opportunities for love, for service, for peace-making.  

 Paul went on to write to Timothy that despite being imprisoned and hardship, he was confident – not self-confident, but God- confident.  Join him in saying  even as "I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (2 Timothy 1:12, NKJV)

Our word from the Word is a familiar one. As you read it, pray that the Spirit will still voices of fear and speak peace.
"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen.
It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
God gave his approval to people in days of old because of their faith." (Hebrews 11:1-2, NLT) 
"So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith.
Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God
and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him." (Hebrews 11:6, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Lord I Need You

Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart 

Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me 

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You 

Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher

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Real Optimism

 

It is a common question - "How are you?"  We don’t always ask it sincerely, do we?  How refreshing when we know that a friend is actually interested in how we are doing, in listening to our heartbeat, sharing our joys, our disappointments, our fears, and our victories!  So, how are you?  Perhaps you are troubled by the beating of the drums of war.  Maybe you are wondering exactly how you will meet the rising costs of living.  It could be that doubts about yourself are clouding your mind. There is certainly plenty of uncertainty in the world to darken the day if we allow those things to become our sole focus.

On this Monday morning  I want to remind you (and myself!) that in spite of the fact that we live in a world where terrible things happen, we who are followers of Christ have great reason to live hopefully.  Yes,  I watch the news, too. I live with people who, from time to time, deeply disappoint me just as I fail to meet their expectations as well. Sometimes I fail God too.  But disappointment, failure, - yes, even death - are not the last words in the Christian’s life. God is the Restorer of the broken, the Healer of the bruised, the Lifter of the oppressed! 

We have reason for hope that is more than a positive mindset.  Our hope grows in the soil God’s care which we access by faith. Even when the weight of the world feels like it is crushing there One who shares the load, praying for us.  Jesus, our Advocate, "is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25, NIV)

Taking a step further in faith we confess that nothing will ultimately frustrate God's will! His conclusion is a resounding shout of hopeful faith, a reason for optimism that has no equal. Take a look. "Because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." (Romans 8:37-39, The Message) Those who love Jesus can sing in the darkness, not because of bravado, but because of promise. They are not just 'trying to look on the bright side,' they actually know that behind the cloud, the Son shines!

And know this, too. God weeps with us. "We have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, (therefore) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV)  Another version says it this way “He is touched by the feelings of our infirmities.”  You do not have to sing bravely, maintaining an emotional detachment from your troubles in order to please God.  It may be that your most eloquent prayers are the tears that fall as you open your heart to Him.

Today, I invite you to go beyond optimism to faith. "Optimism is not living in a fantasy world where nothing tragic ever happens. Vital optimism is a confidence that tragedy is not the last word, that the best is yet to be. Optimism is being able to acknowledge brutal realities and to point to an even greater reality - that our experiences are not in vain, our responses are not futile, and our efforts are worthwhile. For Christians this kind of optimism is linked to an abiding trust that history is going somewhere and that God... is powerfully directing it." - Harold Myra

As you begin a new week, draw on a deep reservoir of faith inspired by the care, the promise, the purposes of God. Pause to sit with Him, inviting the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Grasp hold of the hope to which you were called in Christ Jesus.  “We have a clear purpose: to serve God, glorify him, and build his kingdom. Moreover, helping other people really does matter because they are eternal beings made in God’s image and they have dignity and worth. On top of this, everything we do for God has everlasting value because we serve an eternal being who sees all that we do.” – Michael Kruger

The word from the Word is our last word this Monday morning - “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Build My Life

(let this worship song speak to you today)

Worthy of ev’ry song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

 

Jesus the name above ev’ry other name

Jesus the only one who could ever save

Worthy of ev’ry breath we could ever breathe

We live for You

We live for You

 

Holy there is no one like You

There is none besides You

Open up my eyes in wonder and show me who You are

And fill me with Your heart

And lead me in Your love to those around me

 

I will build my life upon Your love

It is a firm foundation

I will put my trust in You alone

And I will not be shaken

 

Brett Younker | Karl Martin | Kirby Elizabeth Kaple | Matt Redman | Pat Barrett

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