A person who cannot or who will not get angry is not likely to accomplish much with his life. Anger is a powerful motivator that brings about change. Oswald Chambers, in his book Spiritual Leadership, observes this. “Holy anger has its roots in genuine love. Both are part of the nature of God.” Jesus, the Son of God, felt anger and the Gospel writers recorded it for us. As he went to the tomb of his friend Lazarus, John tells us that he was ‘deeply moved’ (NIV) over the pain that sin and death brought. What he felt was anger! The Greek text (original language of the NT) there is a word that means ‘to rise up in anger!’ Mark tells us about His encounter with religious leaders who did not want Him to heal a man with a crippled hand because it was the Sabbath. "He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new!" (Mark 3:5, The Message)
If we love God, we will hate sin and what it does to others. We will get angry at those who oppress and exploit others. We will get angry at ourselves when we allow sin to be our master; angry enough to pursue holiness and transformation. Anger gets us up off our comfortable couch and causes us to sacrifice resources and safety to defend the weak, lift up the downtrodden, oppose those who do the work of the Devil! Passion describes both love and anger. Let’s pray for real passion to be part of our lives.
We must overcome the apathy that is so characteristic of so many American Christians who are emotionally obese, overfed by too much pleasure. Many expend all their emotional anger by talking back at their TV, or letting anger be wasted on frivolous causes! Pray that God, the Holy Spirit, will disturb you with the suffering that sin brings on this world and then that the anger rising in you will move you to leave safety and security behind and do something costly and effective for change.
Anger is, like any emotion, dangerous. Anger that is given free rein is like fire that spills out of the furnace. It will burn down our house, consuming us, turning us into fools. We need to reject any anger that arises out of our own sense of offense or that moves us in the direction of revenge. The Word reminds us “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry." (Ephesians 4:26, NLT)
Do you care enough for your brother to take up his cause?
Do you care enough for your sister to rise up to defend her?
"God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right. God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day." (Psalm 7:10-11, NLT)
"I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." (Psalm 7:17, NLT)
_________________
Father, I come to you to repent
Not for sins I committed, but for
Failing to do the things I should!
Help me to love beyond words,
To care enough to get angry,
To focus that anger on righteous causes,
And to pray, work, and give to make a change!
Holy Spirit, I am suspicious of anger
Because so often it is used selfishly,
Abused in the service of Self, and
Cruel in expression.
Give me a holy passion for those things
That matter deeply to You, and let me understand
The place of anger among the emotions You have
Given to me.
Jesus, move me to work like You did
For the least, the lost, the lonely –
That they might come to know ‘life more abundant’
Like I enjoy in You.
I pray this in your holy Name. Amen!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What did you expect?
Life is often complex. Sure, people say, “It’s simple, see?” But, as we all know that when we start to pull at the threads of a knotty problem, we find unraveling it is always a bigger task that it appeared to be at first. There is one straight forward principle that is quite simple. The Bible says, "You will always harvest what you plant." (Galatians 6:7, NLT) I walked past a small patch of bare dirt in my yard this morning and noticed little green shoots emerging. I was not surprised. About a week ago, I raked the soil and scattered perennial ryegrass seed on it, fully expecting that I would find grass growing on that spot. I counted on the amazing process of germination to produce green grass!
Are you planting seeds in life that will produce the harvest you desire?
God says, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, NLT) There are immutable laws of the harvest found in the Word. Many have preached and written about them, but let’s look at them again.
1. We reap only what we plant.
2. We reap in proportion to how much we plant.
3. We reap only after we plant.
4. We reap more than we plant.
The full context of the phrase I quoted in the opening lines is God’s declaration. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 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 6:7-9, NIV) What a joyous promise. What an encouragement to faithfulness! The Lord of the Harvest will bless our obedience!
What are you planting, disciple?
What do you expect to harvest?
There is a faith principle at work in this. The farmer takes part of the grain that could feed his family and puts it in the ground! It’s a sacrifice at that moment, and if the rains do not come, could be a loss, thus his tears. But, when God blesses the planting, those tears become songs of joy when the harvest comes and food is assured for another year! Thus we read, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your life guide today. "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. … Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:6,10, NKJV)
This principle is simple, see? Plant, then harvest.
___________________
Though it seems that your prayers
Have been in vain,
Though your faith the world would destroy,
Though your heart should ache
'Til it breaks in two,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
For God is on His throne.
Though you've prayed 'til it seems that
Your heart would break,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy!
They That Sow In Tears
Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
© 1964, 1965, 1975 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Are you planting seeds in life that will produce the harvest you desire?
God says, “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12, NLT) There are immutable laws of the harvest found in the Word. Many have preached and written about them, but let’s look at them again.
1. We reap only what we plant.
2. We reap in proportion to how much we plant.
3. We reap only after we plant.
4. We reap more than we plant.
The full context of the phrase I quoted in the opening lines is God’s declaration. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 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 6:7-9, NIV) What a joyous promise. What an encouragement to faithfulness! The Lord of the Harvest will bless our obedience!
What are you planting, disciple?
What do you expect to harvest?
There is a faith principle at work in this. The farmer takes part of the grain that could feed his family and puts it in the ground! It’s a sacrifice at that moment, and if the rains do not come, could be a loss, thus his tears. But, when God blesses the planting, those tears become songs of joy when the harvest comes and food is assured for another year! Thus we read, "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him." (Psalm 126:5-6, NIV)
Here’s a word from the Word. Make it your life guide today. "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. … Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness." (2 Corinthians 9:6,10, NKJV)
This principle is simple, see? Plant, then harvest.
___________________
Though it seems that your prayers
Have been in vain,
Though your faith the world would destroy,
Though your heart should ache
'Til it breaks in two,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy,
For God is on His throne.
Though you've prayed 'til it seems that
Your heart would break,
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy!
They That Sow In Tears
Gaither, William J. / Gaither, Gloria
© 1964, 1965, 1975 William J. Gaither, Inc. ARR UBP of Gaither Copyright Management
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Who are you really?
I’m ready to weep as I write today. I’m just overcome by the failure of integrity that is all around me. I recently learned of scandalous behavior by a leading member of a well-respected Christian institution that has gone on for a long time unchallenged despite being known. The Roman Catholic church continues to be rocked by reports of how bishops covered the criminal and immoral actions of pedophile priests, in not just a few instances. Our political world in these United States is so corrupt it is sickening. Many in office are owned by special interests and offer sweet inside deals to friends and supporters. Coaches, pastors, CEO’s – regularly are exposed as frauds in our news reports. What’s happening to us?
But, I must not simply wring my hands over the wrong-doing I see in the world. I must interrogate myself, challenge every motive, and throw open my life to the Spirit’s inspection.
Would my business decisions stand up to rigorous scrutiny?
Am I the same man in my private world as I am in the pulpit?
Do the values of my life match those I preach in my rhetoric?
These are questions I put to myself and prayerfully to the Lord.
I am not sinless! Oh, that I were, but, I am transparent and, when challenged, by the Spirit or others, I aim to deal with the gaps in character they point out to me. Why? Because I feel the awesome responsibility and privilege of bearing the Name of Christ as my first identity. Before I am a husband, a father, a pastor, or a friend; I am a Christian! I hear, loudly and clearly, the call of the Scripture that says "I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. … that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:1, 22-24, NKJV)
Disciple, we must not merely talk about being good. We must actually be good people, for God’s sake! If our claim of faith in Christ Jesus does not have a marked affect on our values, our manner of speech, and our daily actions, we are a disgrace to the glorious cause of Christ. Again and again, the Word declares that the life of the Spirit in us will produce a transformed heart and mind. Apparently for many Christians repentance has been abandoned in favor of cheap grace. With great gusto, they sing of God’s love and mercy while stealing from their boss and cheating on their wife. Or, they major on only a few areas of morality while ignoring issues that would touch their own lives. How easily some thunder about abortion or homosexuality, while they lie to their wife about the own fidelity!
Jesus’ most harsh criticism was reserved for the religious leaders who scrupulously tithed, kept the Sabbath, and wore the symbols of their holiness all the while ignoring the greed, dishonesty, and corruption in their own hearts. Read His word thoughtfully today, disciple. May they challenge you to a life of integrity that honors the Lord, to a life of transparency that aspires to be all that God desires of you while pretending nothing before Him or the world.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." (Matthew 23:23-26, NLT)
_________________
Take time to be holy.
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy.
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.
Take Time To Be Holy
Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
But, I must not simply wring my hands over the wrong-doing I see in the world. I must interrogate myself, challenge every motive, and throw open my life to the Spirit’s inspection.
Would my business decisions stand up to rigorous scrutiny?
Am I the same man in my private world as I am in the pulpit?
Do the values of my life match those I preach in my rhetoric?
These are questions I put to myself and prayerfully to the Lord.
I am not sinless! Oh, that I were, but, I am transparent and, when challenged, by the Spirit or others, I aim to deal with the gaps in character they point out to me. Why? Because I feel the awesome responsibility and privilege of bearing the Name of Christ as my first identity. Before I am a husband, a father, a pastor, or a friend; I am a Christian! I hear, loudly and clearly, the call of the Scripture that says "I … beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called. … that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:1, 22-24, NKJV)
Disciple, we must not merely talk about being good. We must actually be good people, for God’s sake! If our claim of faith in Christ Jesus does not have a marked affect on our values, our manner of speech, and our daily actions, we are a disgrace to the glorious cause of Christ. Again and again, the Word declares that the life of the Spirit in us will produce a transformed heart and mind. Apparently for many Christians repentance has been abandoned in favor of cheap grace. With great gusto, they sing of God’s love and mercy while stealing from their boss and cheating on their wife. Or, they major on only a few areas of morality while ignoring issues that would touch their own lives. How easily some thunder about abortion or homosexuality, while they lie to their wife about the own fidelity!
Jesus’ most harsh criticism was reserved for the religious leaders who scrupulously tithed, kept the Sabbath, and wore the symbols of their holiness all the while ignoring the greed, dishonesty, and corruption in their own hearts. Read His word thoughtfully today, disciple. May they challenge you to a life of integrity that honors the Lord, to a life of transparency that aspires to be all that God desires of you while pretending nothing before Him or the world.
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!
What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees.
Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too." (Matthew 23:23-26, NLT)
_________________
Take time to be holy.
Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always,
And feed on His Word.
Make friends with God's children;
Help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing
His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy.
The world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret
With Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct
His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy,
Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive
Beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit
To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted
For service above.
Take Time To Be Holy
Longstaff, William D. / Stebbins, George C.
© Public Domain
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
“Comfort” food
Meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, hamburgers, and French fries - are often labeled ‘comfort food.’ They are simple foods that remind us of home, safety, and what we remember as simpler times in our lives. Most likely you have an item or two on your own list that bring back memories of a family time or a holiday gathering. These are called “comfort foods” because when we grow anxious about life and we seek a way to reduce our feelings of stress, we often turn to them. Food is one of the most common ways we treat our anxieties.
I know what stress and anxiety can do. At this time, there are a couple of large work-related decisions looming that weigh heavily on my mind. There is stress that is more personal as I carry the weight of responsibility for extended family. Some level of stress is common for all of us – bills that come due, deadlines for projects, people problems, work-related choices. And, all of this sometimes causes us to unconsciously seek to be comforted. That’s where the potential for big problems arises! Not only are our own emotions in play, there is a real Enemy of all that is good and godly who exploits, to any degree possible, our vulnerabilities. If we are unaware of his schemes, we can easily be led beyond the comfort found in a hamburger or a big piece of cake! Not only do we have to take control of our own impulses, we also must learn to deal with the devils that tempt us to sin.
Millions of people who enter a majorly stressful time in their lives detour into majorly dysfunctional or sinful behaviors, mistakenly thinking they will find comfort or relief. Their choices actually create greater difficulties. Overspending is a major temptation in our consumer culture. “Feeling down? Buy something!” is what many think and credit cards with big balances result! One recent day that was particularly full of pressure, I found myself wrestling with the irrational desire for a new car, despite already owning two nice vehicles! Some are tempted by some illicit sexual involvement. The news constantly reports the affairs of the famous and wealthy, those who succumb to the temptation that they can find comfort for their lonely, stressed heart with a sexual experience. Rage is another temptation. Ask those who lash out at others with abusive words or fists why they do it and you will often discover an individual who does not know how to find relief for stress.
Disciple, the Word urges us to be aware of the temptations that come our way and to look underneath the obvious symptoms for the real spiritual sickness. While it is wrong to blame all our temptations on the devil, there is the warning that we must not "unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!" (2 Corinthians 2:11, The Message) He can show up disguised as an "angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV) Don’t minimize his ability to twist the good things of life into a scheme for your destruction! Jesus Himself, during a time of stress and personal testing, was accosted by the devil who tried to get Him to misuse power, food, and even faith in God!
Be aware of your own weaknesses and develop strategies to keep yourself from falling into destructive patterns. If you know that you’re being tempted to eat too much, hide the desserts! If you know that you tend to fall into self-defeating thought patterns when you isolate yourself, get out and find a friend or become a volunteer at your church. If you become an angry, mean person go to a class and learn about what triggers those outbursts! God promises that His Spirit will be active in us, but we must cooperate with Him. We must learn about ourselves. If we do not, then we will become victims, instead of living as victors through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the principle it teaches about being aware of what’s going on behind the scenes, about having real discernment and understanding, will call us to maturity, self-control, and to lives that are controlled by the Spirit. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God … This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. … You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:1-4, NIV)
Remember this promise and take it for yours, as you seek the powerful Comfort that is found in the Presence of God. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (false gods or comforts)." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, NLT)
I know what stress and anxiety can do. At this time, there are a couple of large work-related decisions looming that weigh heavily on my mind. There is stress that is more personal as I carry the weight of responsibility for extended family. Some level of stress is common for all of us – bills that come due, deadlines for projects, people problems, work-related choices. And, all of this sometimes causes us to unconsciously seek to be comforted. That’s where the potential for big problems arises! Not only are our own emotions in play, there is a real Enemy of all that is good and godly who exploits, to any degree possible, our vulnerabilities. If we are unaware of his schemes, we can easily be led beyond the comfort found in a hamburger or a big piece of cake! Not only do we have to take control of our own impulses, we also must learn to deal with the devils that tempt us to sin.
Millions of people who enter a majorly stressful time in their lives detour into majorly dysfunctional or sinful behaviors, mistakenly thinking they will find comfort or relief. Their choices actually create greater difficulties. Overspending is a major temptation in our consumer culture. “Feeling down? Buy something!” is what many think and credit cards with big balances result! One recent day that was particularly full of pressure, I found myself wrestling with the irrational desire for a new car, despite already owning two nice vehicles! Some are tempted by some illicit sexual involvement. The news constantly reports the affairs of the famous and wealthy, those who succumb to the temptation that they can find comfort for their lonely, stressed heart with a sexual experience. Rage is another temptation. Ask those who lash out at others with abusive words or fists why they do it and you will often discover an individual who does not know how to find relief for stress.
Disciple, the Word urges us to be aware of the temptations that come our way and to look underneath the obvious symptoms for the real spiritual sickness. While it is wrong to blame all our temptations on the devil, there is the warning that we must not "unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways!" (2 Corinthians 2:11, The Message) He can show up disguised as an "angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV) Don’t minimize his ability to twist the good things of life into a scheme for your destruction! Jesus Himself, during a time of stress and personal testing, was accosted by the devil who tried to get Him to misuse power, food, and even faith in God!
Be aware of your own weaknesses and develop strategies to keep yourself from falling into destructive patterns. If you know that you’re being tempted to eat too much, hide the desserts! If you know that you tend to fall into self-defeating thought patterns when you isolate yourself, get out and find a friend or become a volunteer at your church. If you become an angry, mean person go to a class and learn about what triggers those outbursts! God promises that His Spirit will be active in us, but we must cooperate with Him. We must learn about ourselves. If we do not, then we will become victims, instead of living as victors through Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the principle it teaches about being aware of what’s going on behind the scenes, about having real discernment and understanding, will call us to maturity, self-control, and to lives that are controlled by the Spirit. "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God … This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. … You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (1 John 4:1-4, NIV)
Remember this promise and take it for yours, as you seek the powerful Comfort that is found in the Presence of God. "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols (false gods or comforts)." (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, NLT)
Monday, April 12, 2010
Broken, yet tenderly loving!
The book of Judges records a brutal time in the history of God’s people. Murder, lawlessness, and immorality were common. That book closes with this line, “everyone did as he saw fit.” In the middle of it all, there is a beautiful story of human love. It unfolds in the 4 chapters of the book of Ruth. Elimelech, his wife, and his two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, left Bethlehem during a drought, moving to the region of Moab. They settled down. The boys grew up and married Moabite women, named Orpah and Ruth. Ah, life was good.
Then, tragedy struck. First, Elimelech died, and shortly after the two sons. Three widows tried to make life work but eventually Naomi realized she needed to go home to her kinsmen in Israel. When she told her two daughters-in-law to stay among their own people, Ruth’s response was one of great love. “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17, NLT)
When the two women settled in Bethlehem, Ruth took care of Naomi, working to provide for her. Eventually her sweet spirit caught the eye of a kinsman named Boaz, who took her in marriage and she became the great-grandmother of King David! Her love became known to all that region so that the man who would become her husband blessed her saying, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.” (Ruth 2:11-12, The Message)
This woman, who had been so bitterly disappointed by life, who was living in a strange land among people she did not know, could have become bitter, focused on herself, and full of complaint. Who could have criticized her? But, she chose to love and found healing and a new destiny in God’s plan.
Disciple, what will you chose to do when life batters you with disappointment or grief?
Will you shrivel into a little ball of misery or will you ask God to soften your heart and help you to be a gentle servant of those who are hurting around you?
Go ahead and cry! There’s no need to pretend that your pain is not real. Life hurts. Choices we make and the choices of others do not always bear the fruit we hoped for. So, will you become a cynic, a miserable person? Don’t! Take your sorrow to the Lord, not to accuse Him of unfaithfulness, but to find His comfort. Then, dry your eyes and go help somebody. You’re not the first to feel the loss that come with death, divorce, financial reverse, children who turn from you, or sickness. Life does not have to be defined only by our disappointment. Broken dreams are fertile soil in which the seeds of character and godliness can grow!
Take this word from the Word. Make it your mission statement for life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. … It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 8-9, The Message)
____________
Ev'ryday they pass me by.
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care.
Headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door.
People need the Lord
People need the Lord.
When will we realize
People need the Lord.
People Need the Lord
Phil McHugh © 1983 Shepherd's Fold Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / River Oaks Music Company (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Then, tragedy struck. First, Elimelech died, and shortly after the two sons. Three widows tried to make life work but eventually Naomi realized she needed to go home to her kinsmen in Israel. When she told her two daughters-in-law to stay among their own people, Ruth’s response was one of great love. “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17, NLT)
When the two women settled in Bethlehem, Ruth took care of Naomi, working to provide for her. Eventually her sweet spirit caught the eye of a kinsman named Boaz, who took her in marriage and she became the great-grandmother of King David! Her love became known to all that region so that the man who would become her husband blessed her saying, “I’ve heard all about you—heard about the way you treated your mother-in-law after the death of her husband, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth and have come to live among a bunch of total strangers. God reward you well for what you’ve done—and with a generous bonus besides from God, to whom you’ve come seeking protection under his wings.” (Ruth 2:11-12, The Message)
This woman, who had been so bitterly disappointed by life, who was living in a strange land among people she did not know, could have become bitter, focused on herself, and full of complaint. Who could have criticized her? But, she chose to love and found healing and a new destiny in God’s plan.
Disciple, what will you chose to do when life batters you with disappointment or grief?
Will you shrivel into a little ball of misery or will you ask God to soften your heart and help you to be a gentle servant of those who are hurting around you?
Go ahead and cry! There’s no need to pretend that your pain is not real. Life hurts. Choices we make and the choices of others do not always bear the fruit we hoped for. So, will you become a cynic, a miserable person? Don’t! Take your sorrow to the Lord, not to accuse Him of unfaithfulness, but to find His comfort. Then, dry your eyes and go help somebody. You’re not the first to feel the loss that come with death, divorce, financial reverse, children who turn from you, or sickness. Life does not have to be defined only by our disappointment. Broken dreams are fertile soil in which the seeds of character and godliness can grow!
Take this word from the Word. Make it your mission statement for life.
"All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. … It was so bad we didn’t think we were going to make it. We felt like we’d been sent to death row, that it was all over for us. As it turned out, it was the best thing that could have happened. Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally—not a bad idea since he’s the God who raises the dead!" (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 8-9, The Message)
____________
Ev'ryday they pass me by.
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care.
Headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.
We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing life with one who's lost?
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share.
People need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door.
People need the Lord
People need the Lord.
When will we realize
People need the Lord.
People Need the Lord
Phil McHugh © 1983 Shepherd's Fold Music (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing) / River Oaks Music Company (a div. of EMI Christian Music Publishing)
CCLI License No. 810055
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Change that tune!
Anxious? Feeling stressed? Stalked by sadness? Don't play into those emotions by rehearsing them, by making the song of your life a sad one! Instead, intentionally offer praise to God! Praise God! The act of praising Him is like the background music of your life. Complaining, whining, and going over all the
troubles that surround us will only deepen the sense of futility. The Bible urges a different response to hard times. "With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name." (Hebrews 13:15, NLT) We do not offer insincere words of thanksgiving and worship.
I've heard disciples respond to tough situations with 'praise' that sounded suspiciously like swearing in disguise! When a man hits his thumb with the hammer and yells, "Praise the Lord," that is not likely a sacrifice of praise. I think he is likely thinking "God d_____ it" even as he's mouthing praise! However, if that same man steps back and after shaking off the pain, offers sincere thanks to God for being present in the moment with him, he is learning to give God proper praise. We may not always be able to thank God for what is
happening to us or around us, but we can praise Him for who He is, for His enduring mercy and unending love.
The power of praise is multi-faceted. When we sincerely praise, we destroy the Enemy's ability to skew our point of view and we regain God's perspective on life. What seems like a mountain to us is but a molehill to Him. What seems to be a dead-end is really a door to "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine," (Ephesians 3:20, NIV) When we sincerely praise, we look away from our 'dis-ease' to His wholeness. The fact that we are uncomfortable in a situation is eclipsed by His sovereign control of our life when we worship.
When we sincerely praise, we release Divine Power into our lives. Praise is the protocol for entering into God's holy Presence. Psalm 100:4, (NLT) says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name." If you were invited to the White House to meet the President personally, the office of Protocol would brief you about how to greet the President, what to wear, where you would sit, and when you should stand. There is an accepted way of doing these things that preserves the dignity of the high office. God asks us to come to Him with thanksgiving on our lips and praise filling our hearts. It honors Him and lifts us up, too!
'But,' you might be saying, 'what if I just don't feel any sense of praise?'
Then, offer a sacrifice of praise! No, you don't have to thank Him for the situation you find yourself in. But you can thank Him that He is greater than that situation, that He knew what was coming your way and has prepared just what you need for this day, that He has gifted you with an eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus that your problems cannot steal away!
Take a break for a few moments. Begin to praise! God is pleased when we praise so offer Him words of worship today and then watch His glory flow into your situation.
_______________________
troubles that surround us will only deepen the sense of futility. The Bible urges a different response to hard times. "With Jesus' help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to God by proclaiming the glory of his name." (Hebrews 13:15, NLT) We do not offer insincere words of thanksgiving and worship.
I've heard disciples respond to tough situations with 'praise' that sounded suspiciously like swearing in disguise! When a man hits his thumb with the hammer and yells, "Praise the Lord," that is not likely a sacrifice of praise. I think he is likely thinking "God d_____ it" even as he's mouthing praise! However, if that same man steps back and after shaking off the pain, offers sincere thanks to God for being present in the moment with him, he is learning to give God proper praise. We may not always be able to thank God for what is
happening to us or around us, but we can praise Him for who He is, for His enduring mercy and unending love.
The power of praise is multi-faceted. When we sincerely praise, we destroy the Enemy's ability to skew our point of view and we regain God's perspective on life. What seems like a mountain to us is but a molehill to Him. What seems to be a dead-end is really a door to "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine," (Ephesians 3:20, NIV) When we sincerely praise, we look away from our 'dis-ease' to His wholeness. The fact that we are uncomfortable in a situation is eclipsed by His sovereign control of our life when we worship.
When we sincerely praise, we release Divine Power into our lives. Praise is the protocol for entering into God's holy Presence. Psalm 100:4, (NLT) says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name." If you were invited to the White House to meet the President personally, the office of Protocol would brief you about how to greet the President, what to wear, where you would sit, and when you should stand. There is an accepted way of doing these things that preserves the dignity of the high office. God asks us to come to Him with thanksgiving on our lips and praise filling our hearts. It honors Him and lifts us up, too!
'But,' you might be saying, 'what if I just don't feel any sense of praise?'
Then, offer a sacrifice of praise! No, you don't have to thank Him for the situation you find yourself in. But you can thank Him that He is greater than that situation, that He knew what was coming your way and has prepared just what you need for this day, that He has gifted you with an eternal inheritance in Christ Jesus that your problems cannot steal away!
Take a break for a few moments. Begin to praise! God is pleased when we praise so offer Him words of worship today and then watch His glory flow into your situation.
_______________________
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Appeasing God?
When I had teens in my house, I generally knew when they were up to something they were not supposed to be doing because they grew distant, avoiding contact with me. It wasn't that I drove them away or even that I was suspsicious. They had a guilty conscience and didn't want to be around me. Sometimes they would start to overdo 'nice,' being overly polite or helpful, which was reason to wonder - "What's up? What do we need to deal with and get out of the way?" A simple confession was sufficient to clear the air. Were there consequences for their disobedience? Yes, but the relationship was made whole, which was the highest priority.
Saul was sent to visit God's judgment on the Amalekites. The directions that Samuel delivered were clear. "Destroy everything. Don't bring any plunder home with you." The king went and his campaign was successful and he almost all that he was told. God told Samuel about Saul's disobedience and sent him to meet the returning king with a message. When they met, Saul was cheery; "As Samuel came close, Saul called out, "God's blessings on you! I accomplished God's plan to the letter!" Samuel said, "So what's this I'm hearing-this bleating of sheep, this mooing of cattle?" (1 Samuel 15:13-14, The Message) After offering several excuses for his actions, Saul heard this rebuke.
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV)
How does that speak to us? God wants to love us, to share our lives. When we fail to do what He says, our guilt creates distance from Him. We don't pray. We don't enter into worship. We don't ask Him for guidance or meditate on His goodness. Our sense of guilt makes us want to appease Him with gifts, tithes, or church attendance. In this we doubly insult His grace! First we ignore His commands, which are always in our best interest; and then we try to buy His forgiveness which is offered freely.
Are you working hard to try to pay for some sin, to ease a guilty conscience?
Are you avoiding real prayer, substituting ritual for genuine relationship with God?
Here's His promise: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 1:9-2:1, NLT) That word 'confess' is interesting in the original language of the New Testament. It is a compound word in NT Greek, homologeo- meaning, 'to say the same thing.' God desires that we agree with Him about what we have done, that we share His assessment of our actions. The result is complete forgiveness!
We are imperfect. We will fail to follow His directions completely, won't we? But, let's not fall into religiosity, trying to appease Him, attempting to buy what He offers freely to us through Christ Jesus, who is, even now, our Advocate, our Intercessor, at the Father's right hand.
_______________
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the Risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I Am,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.
Before The Throne Of God Above
Cook, Vikki / Bancroft, Charitie Lees
© 1997 PDI Worship (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Saul was sent to visit God's judgment on the Amalekites. The directions that Samuel delivered were clear. "Destroy everything. Don't bring any plunder home with you." The king went and his campaign was successful and he almost all that he was told. God told Samuel about Saul's disobedience and sent him to meet the returning king with a message. When they met, Saul was cheery; "As Samuel came close, Saul called out, "God's blessings on you! I accomplished God's plan to the letter!" Samuel said, "So what's this I'm hearing-this bleating of sheep, this mooing of cattle?" (1 Samuel 15:13-14, The Message) After offering several excuses for his actions, Saul heard this rebuke.
"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22, NIV)
How does that speak to us? God wants to love us, to share our lives. When we fail to do what He says, our guilt creates distance from Him. We don't pray. We don't enter into worship. We don't ask Him for guidance or meditate on His goodness. Our sense of guilt makes us want to appease Him with gifts, tithes, or church attendance. In this we doubly insult His grace! First we ignore His commands, which are always in our best interest; and then we try to buy His forgiveness which is offered freely.
Are you working hard to try to pay for some sin, to ease a guilty conscience?
Are you avoiding real prayer, substituting ritual for genuine relationship with God?
Here's His promise: "If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 1:9-2:1, NLT) That word 'confess' is interesting in the original language of the New Testament. It is a compound word in NT Greek, homologeo- meaning, 'to say the same thing.' God desires that we agree with Him about what we have done, that we share His assessment of our actions. The result is complete forgiveness!
We are imperfect. We will fail to follow His directions completely, won't we? But, let's not fall into religiosity, trying to appease Him, attempting to buy what He offers freely to us through Christ Jesus, who is, even now, our Advocate, our Intercessor, at the Father's right hand.
_______________
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea,
A great High Priest whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands,
No tongue can bid me thence depart,
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me,
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the Risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I Am,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God,
With Christ my Savior and my God.
Before The Throne Of God Above
Cook, Vikki / Bancroft, Charitie Lees
© 1997 PDI Worship (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
A Critic or an Encourager?
“Why does he do that anyway? What is wrong with him?”
“Doesn’t she know that she looks silly? Someone ought to tell her the truth!”
Think of how many critical remarks we hear creep into daily conversations. We criticize our political leaders, our spiritual leaders, friends, family members, artists, musicians… everybody! Yes, I am too often guilty of being a critic of another’s actions. Tolerance is a much ballyhooed social value in 21st century America, but I’d never know it listening to many conversations that are filled with denigrating comments about the choices and actions other people.
Even Jesus’ disciples fell into the role of the critic when they saw the extravagant loving act of a woman. "Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?" (Matthew 26:6-10, NLT) “Celebrate her choice,” He told them. She did something different than they might have chosen to do with such a valuable item, but her motive of honoring Jesus was good.
People are amazingly different. I don’t ‘get’ why many do the things they do, but who made my way the only way? Who gave me the right to decide what is best for everyone? Of course, some choices cannot be encouraged. The Holy Scripture names sin and we cannot change God’s eternal Truth. Remember, too, that the Bible tells us that even when we are challenging sin in another we are to do so gently as we ‘speak the truth in love.’ But, honestly, wouldn’t you agree that much of what we criticize is not sinful or morally wrong but rather another’s preference?
Disciple, let’s work at being an encourager! Let’s go beyond mere tolerance to genuine appreciation of the unique people who are part of our lives. If we will listen carefully and attempt to really understand those whom God brings into our lives, we will discover more of the richness of the diversity that exists all around us. May this be especially true in Christ’s Church where we are, despite our many differences, truly one.
Here’s a word from the Word. May the Spirit use it to direct us to greater appreciation for the people that God has brought into His Body, right alongside of us. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NKJV)
_____________
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity
May one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love.
Yes, they'll know we are Christians
By our love.
All praise to the Father
From whom all things come;
And all praise to
Christ Jesus, His only Son;
And all praise to
The Spirit who makes us one.
They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love
Scholtes, Peter
© 1966 F.E.L. Publications (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)
CCLI License No. 810055
“Doesn’t she know that she looks silly? Someone ought to tell her the truth!”
Think of how many critical remarks we hear creep into daily conversations. We criticize our political leaders, our spiritual leaders, friends, family members, artists, musicians… everybody! Yes, I am too often guilty of being a critic of another’s actions. Tolerance is a much ballyhooed social value in 21st century America, but I’d never know it listening to many conversations that are filled with denigrating comments about the choices and actions other people.
Even Jesus’ disciples fell into the role of the critic when they saw the extravagant loving act of a woman. "Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?" (Matthew 26:6-10, NLT) “Celebrate her choice,” He told them. She did something different than they might have chosen to do with such a valuable item, but her motive of honoring Jesus was good.
People are amazingly different. I don’t ‘get’ why many do the things they do, but who made my way the only way? Who gave me the right to decide what is best for everyone? Of course, some choices cannot be encouraged. The Holy Scripture names sin and we cannot change God’s eternal Truth. Remember, too, that the Bible tells us that even when we are challenging sin in another we are to do so gently as we ‘speak the truth in love.’ But, honestly, wouldn’t you agree that much of what we criticize is not sinful or morally wrong but rather another’s preference?
Disciple, let’s work at being an encourager! Let’s go beyond mere tolerance to genuine appreciation of the unique people who are part of our lives. If we will listen carefully and attempt to really understand those whom God brings into our lives, we will discover more of the richness of the diversity that exists all around us. May this be especially true in Christ’s Church where we are, despite our many differences, truly one.
Here’s a word from the Word. May the Spirit use it to direct us to greater appreciation for the people that God has brought into His Body, right alongside of us. "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26-28, NKJV)
_____________
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit,
We are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity
May one day be restored.
And they'll know we are Christians
By our love, by our love.
Yes, they'll know we are Christians
By our love.
All praise to the Father
From whom all things come;
And all praise to
Christ Jesus, His only Son;
And all praise to
The Spirit who makes us one.
They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love
Scholtes, Peter
© 1966 F.E.L. Publications (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)
CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Hatred is easy
Hating is the easy way to live. It comes in many degrees, mere dislike, disdain, outright contempt, animosity, and murder! Hatred, in its various degrees, allows me to distance myself from you, to be who I want to be without regard for how it might affect you. Hatred is much more common than we think. It’s not only bombers and serial killers that show hatred. Parents who go on their way ignoring their children are haters. Husbands who refuse to engage their wives at their deepest emotional needs are haters. Those who have and choose not to see those who are without, are haters!
The Holy Spirit smacked me with real guilt recently by revealing to me that I was hating another person. I refused to believe it, at first. How could I hate anyone? I am a Christian, devoted to love. After all, I wasn’t doing anything! How could that be hatred? And it was my ‘nothing,’ that the Spirit pressed on my conscience. It was hard to acknowledge that my passivity in the relationship was a form of hatred. Love is always active. There are only two ways to live; in love, which requires working for the good and benefit of another, or hatred which can be expressed by the simple act of turning away from someone to preserve our own comfort.
Love is costly! It won’t let us walk away from that person who is hurting. It won’t let us build walls to protect our hearts from hurt. Love requires that we share our resources. It makes us move out of our revered and treasured privacy to be involved with people. Love makes us care – for the least, the lonely, the lost! Far from being merely sentimental, love is a muscular, robust choice demanding much of us. This is the kind of love which Jesus Christ said sums up “all the Law” of God. It is the very thing that marks us as His followers, for it absolutely requires a transformation of spirit, a conversion. Apart from the love of God and the life of the Spirit in us, we cannot love as He demands. Nice is not enough.
Jesus, in the 25th chapter of Matthew, says that our love will cause us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, be hospitable to the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and take up the cause of those who are imprisoned! Nobody is marginalized by lovers.
Here is what the Word says about it. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. … If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. … We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:7-8, 15-16, 19-20, NIV)
____________
Father, Your love for me is compelling and costly.
It brought Your Son, Jesus Christ, to my side.
It made the Lord of Glory, my Advocate in Your holy Presence.
I bow my head in humble joy at the thought.
Spirit of God, convict me of hatred;
compel me to love.
Change my heart, break it even, so that
I cannot live self-righteously, selfishly, or absorbed in my own interests.
Lord, let me live in love,
Pleasing You, lifting up others, leading them to know and love You.
In Your amazing Name, I ask these things. Amen
______________________
Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.
Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
'Till in heaven we take our place,
'Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Love Divine
Wesley, Charles / Zundel, John
© Public Domain
The Holy Spirit smacked me with real guilt recently by revealing to me that I was hating another person. I refused to believe it, at first. How could I hate anyone? I am a Christian, devoted to love. After all, I wasn’t doing anything! How could that be hatred? And it was my ‘nothing,’ that the Spirit pressed on my conscience. It was hard to acknowledge that my passivity in the relationship was a form of hatred. Love is always active. There are only two ways to live; in love, which requires working for the good and benefit of another, or hatred which can be expressed by the simple act of turning away from someone to preserve our own comfort.
Love is costly! It won’t let us walk away from that person who is hurting. It won’t let us build walls to protect our hearts from hurt. Love requires that we share our resources. It makes us move out of our revered and treasured privacy to be involved with people. Love makes us care – for the least, the lonely, the lost! Far from being merely sentimental, love is a muscular, robust choice demanding much of us. This is the kind of love which Jesus Christ said sums up “all the Law” of God. It is the very thing that marks us as His followers, for it absolutely requires a transformation of spirit, a conversion. Apart from the love of God and the life of the Spirit in us, we cannot love as He demands. Nice is not enough.
Jesus, in the 25th chapter of Matthew, says that our love will cause us to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, be hospitable to the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and take up the cause of those who are imprisoned! Nobody is marginalized by lovers.
Here is what the Word says about it. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. … If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. … We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." (1 John 4:7-8, 15-16, 19-20, NIV)
____________
Father, Your love for me is compelling and costly.
It brought Your Son, Jesus Christ, to my side.
It made the Lord of Glory, my Advocate in Your holy Presence.
I bow my head in humble joy at the thought.
Spirit of God, convict me of hatred;
compel me to love.
Change my heart, break it even, so that
I cannot live self-righteously, selfishly, or absorbed in my own interests.
Lord, let me live in love,
Pleasing You, lifting up others, leading them to know and love You.
In Your amazing Name, I ask these things. Amen
______________________
Love divine, all love excelling,
Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love Thou art.
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.
Finish then Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
'Till in heaven we take our place,
'Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Love Divine
Wesley, Charles / Zundel, John
© Public Domain
Monday, April 05, 2010
Can I hold onto to this?
The music built to a crescendo, “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again… Celebrate His death and rising… Lift your eyes!” [Mystery, Charlie Hall] We sang the mystery of our faith and it became the high point of the Easter service. Standing on the front row I could hear the voices lifted in song and praise behind me. I could feel the emotional response. I sensed the Presence of the Spirit moving on us. For those moments, the stresses of life were eclipsed by the joy of the Lord. No wonder we call that part of the church building a ‘sanctuary.’ It was a refuge! This morning, as I prayed, I wanted to hold onto the sweetness of joyful peace which I felt in His Presence yesterday.
Is it possible to do that as we go back to work, back to the daily trials, back to dealing with traffic, computers, deadlines, bosses and budgets? Perhaps, the emotional excitement that the a day of celebration provided cannot be maintained. In that one sense, we cannot stay on the mountain top. But, God is the same on Monday as He was on Easter Sunday morning. God met us in such a sweet way, in part at least, because of our holy expectation! We came together on Resurrection Sunday with our hearts open to Him, our minds prepared to rejoice at the great news that "everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." (1 Corinthians 15:22, NLT)
There is the key! What do we expect of this day? Are we open to the Spirit’s serendipitous arrival? Are we creating, by our prayers and faith, a holy faith that will receive His grace for this day? As much as we might appreciate the prompts of music, candles, and calls to worship; we know that God does not only speak on Sunday or live in the church. The Holy Spirit is not defined by place or holy day! He is with us everywhere. Jesus illustrates the holy connection that allows us to hold onto the joy with the vine and the branch picture. He says, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing." (John 15:4-5, The Message) Ah, there it is!
We cannot hold onto a feeling, but we can stay connected by expectation and obedience! That connection to Him allows the Spirit to work in us, to keep us, to fill us with holy joy! This day after Easter, don’t leave Jesus at home. Don’t just slide back into the same pattern of complaining, eyes to the ground drudgery, joyless existence. Create a new pattern, focused on faith, expectant, inviting Him to go with you.
Here’s a word from the Word that is the key to holding onto the joy. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-4, The Message)
__________________
Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me,
Cup of salvation held up to drink.
Jesus – Mystery.
Christ has died, and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again!
Celebrate his death and rising!
Lift your eyes! Proclaim his coming!
Jesus – Mystery!
Mystery
Charlie Hall
SixSteps Music, Worship Together
CCLI License No. 810055
Is it possible to do that as we go back to work, back to the daily trials, back to dealing with traffic, computers, deadlines, bosses and budgets? Perhaps, the emotional excitement that the a day of celebration provided cannot be maintained. In that one sense, we cannot stay on the mountain top. But, God is the same on Monday as He was on Easter Sunday morning. God met us in such a sweet way, in part at least, because of our holy expectation! We came together on Resurrection Sunday with our hearts open to Him, our minds prepared to rejoice at the great news that "everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life." (1 Corinthians 15:22, NLT)
There is the key! What do we expect of this day? Are we open to the Spirit’s serendipitous arrival? Are we creating, by our prayers and faith, a holy faith that will receive His grace for this day? As much as we might appreciate the prompts of music, candles, and calls to worship; we know that God does not only speak on Sunday or live in the church. The Holy Spirit is not defined by place or holy day! He is with us everywhere. Jesus illustrates the holy connection that allows us to hold onto the joy with the vine and the branch picture. He says, “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing." (John 15:4-5, The Message) Ah, there it is!
We cannot hold onto a feeling, but we can stay connected by expectation and obedience! That connection to Him allows the Spirit to work in us, to keep us, to fill us with holy joy! This day after Easter, don’t leave Jesus at home. Don’t just slide back into the same pattern of complaining, eyes to the ground drudgery, joyless existence. Create a new pattern, focused on faith, expectant, inviting Him to go with you.
Here’s a word from the Word that is the key to holding onto the joy. "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life." (Colossians 3:1-4, The Message)
__________________
Sweet Jesus Christ, my sanity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, my clarity.
Bread of heaven, broken for me,
Cup of salvation held up to drink.
Jesus – Mystery.
Christ has died, and
Christ is risen,
and Christ will come again!
Celebrate his death and rising!
Lift your eyes! Proclaim his coming!
Jesus – Mystery!
Mystery
Charlie Hall
SixSteps Music, Worship Together
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Living in the Truth
Though a thousand swear against it, Truth is not altered by public opinion, hatred, or denial! Truth is constant, abiding, and absolute. What do you believe is true about Jesus? That, friend, is critically important. Life depends on it!
It is interesting that those with stony hardened hearts ended up giving the LOUDEST and most accurate testimony about Jesus during awful final hours of His life on earth. In Mark's account of Jesus' trial and the torment that led to the Cross, the Truth prevails once again. Roman soldiers give voice to it, without realizing that their taunts and jeers are witness to the Truth! Mark 15:16-19 "The soldiers took him into their headquarters and called out the entire battalion. They dressed him in a purple robe and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head. Then they saluted, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they beat him on the head with a stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship."
Pilate, a man without much of conscience, posted a sign on the cross of Christ that read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." This was supposedly a written notice of his crime of sedition, but actually was a statement of the Truth!
The religious leaders whose envy and spiritual pride blinded them to the coming of their Messiah also became witnesses to the Truth. Standing at the scene of the Crucifixion, they mocked him saying, Mark 15:32 "Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross. . ."
My friend, He is not the King because I say so, or because you agree. He is the King because God declares Him the King of glory. Those words that mocked Him, that were hurled in fury and scorn, will echo as the Truth 'til eternity when (Philippians 2:10-11) "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Will you worship the King?
Would you bow your head in adoration and acknowledge He is the Lord of Glory?
This King, humbled Himself, willingly suffering terrible pain and loss so that we could be restored to the image of our Creator that our rebellion had stolen from us, so that we could once again love and be loved of our Father God. Commit your life to Him and become a willing witness to the Truth -- a Truth that prevails. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of the world. Hallelujah.
______________
Father God, many words flood my life claiming to bring me truth.
Many gods bid for my loyalty and devotion.
Holy Spirit, give me a discerning heart, a mind that can sort through
the competing ideologies of my world.
Help me to love You and to live in the Truth.
Lord, lead me to the Cross and let me see the Love that
revealed Himself there.
Take me to the Empty Tomb and cause me to rejoice
that the grave is not my destiny.
Then, lead me to a life of holy service that pleases
and honors You.
In the Name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.
You're invited to be part of a service of Communion here at Washington Assembly, Good Friday, at 7 PM. On Resurrection Sunday, we will worship at 10:15 AM.
It is interesting that those with stony hardened hearts ended up giving the LOUDEST and most accurate testimony about Jesus during awful final hours of His life on earth. In Mark's account of Jesus' trial and the torment that led to the Cross, the Truth prevails once again. Roman soldiers give voice to it, without realizing that their taunts and jeers are witness to the Truth! Mark 15:16-19 "The soldiers took him into their headquarters and called out the entire battalion. They dressed him in a purple robe and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head. Then they saluted, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" And they beat him on the head with a stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship."
Pilate, a man without much of conscience, posted a sign on the cross of Christ that read, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." This was supposedly a written notice of his crime of sedition, but actually was a statement of the Truth!
The religious leaders whose envy and spiritual pride blinded them to the coming of their Messiah also became witnesses to the Truth. Standing at the scene of the Crucifixion, they mocked him saying, Mark 15:32 "Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross. . ."
My friend, He is not the King because I say so, or because you agree. He is the King because God declares Him the King of glory. Those words that mocked Him, that were hurled in fury and scorn, will echo as the Truth 'til eternity when (Philippians 2:10-11) "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Will you worship the King?
Would you bow your head in adoration and acknowledge He is the Lord of Glory?
This King, humbled Himself, willingly suffering terrible pain and loss so that we could be restored to the image of our Creator that our rebellion had stolen from us, so that we could once again love and be loved of our Father God. Commit your life to Him and become a willing witness to the Truth -- a Truth that prevails. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of the world. Hallelujah.
______________
Father God, many words flood my life claiming to bring me truth.
Many gods bid for my loyalty and devotion.
Holy Spirit, give me a discerning heart, a mind that can sort through
the competing ideologies of my world.
Help me to love You and to live in the Truth.
Lord, lead me to the Cross and let me see the Love that
revealed Himself there.
Take me to the Empty Tomb and cause me to rejoice
that the grave is not my destiny.
Then, lead me to a life of holy service that pleases
and honors You.
In the Name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.
You're invited to be part of a service of Communion here at Washington Assembly, Good Friday, at 7 PM. On Resurrection Sunday, we will worship at 10:15 AM.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Descent Into Darkness
We all see things coming in our life that we dread, experiences that we know will be difficult. Last month, I faced surgery. I did not want to submit myself to the knife! I dreaded the pain, the dependence on others, the limits that came with the procedure; but it had to be done. So, I willingly set aside my preferences. I made the choice to take the pain to own my healing! Think of the choices you make to go through a time of difficulty to own a better outcome.
This is Holy Week, the time we remember, with gratitude, the Lord Jesus' willing to descend into darkness that was incomparably worse than any choice we make. He told His friends, "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2, NLT) He knew it would be terrible, and He was filled with dread, so much so, that He prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39, NLT) As surely as He knew the Cross was His destiny, He knew the Resurrection was His hope. But, even with that hope, it was hard to go through the pain, the alienation from His Father that came with bearing my sin to reconcile me to my Father!
I want to encourage you to think long and deeply about His sacrifice, that it was not forced on Him, that He willingly embraced it for me, for you, because of love. (We will stand before the Cross on Good Friday evening in our Communion worship. You're invited to join us at 7 PM.) He made the choice to descend into the darkness, not for Himself, but for us. His loss was our gain. His obedience bought our salvation from sin, death, and Hell! He bridged the chasm that sin had carved between the Father and His Creation. Oh, praise Him! The Cross is ugly, but we must not rush past it to get to the Empty Tomb! The glory of the Resurrection morning only is meaningful because of Good Friday's horror.
Take encouragement from this, disciple. It may be that you are confronted with some very difficult choice in your life. You know the will of God leads against your desires. You know that the way He would lead you will take you through pain of self-denial, even death to Self. Will you do it? Will you willingly descend into the dark of that situation, so that He can lead you into the Light of His purposes?
The Word encourages us with this pattern.
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)
Look past the pain to the Glory! Grasp the promise of abundant life - presently and eternally - and present yourself as a 'living sacrifice.' My prayer for you is this:
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)
_______________
Jesus Christ,
I think upon Your sacrifice,
You became nothing,
Poured out to death.
Many times I've wondered
At Your gift of life,
And I'm in that place once again.
I'm in that place once again.
And once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died,
I'm humbled by Your mercy
And I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank You,
Once again I pour out my life.
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross, my Friend.
Now You are exalted
To the highest place,
King of the heavens,
Where one day I'll bow.
But for now,
I marvel at this saving grace,
And I'm full of praise once again.
I'm full of praise once again.
Once Again
Redman, Matt
EMI Christian Music Publishing
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)CCLI License No. 810055
This is Holy Week, the time we remember, with gratitude, the Lord Jesus' willing to descend into darkness that was incomparably worse than any choice we make. He told His friends, "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2, NLT) He knew it would be terrible, and He was filled with dread, so much so, that He prayed, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39, NLT) As surely as He knew the Cross was His destiny, He knew the Resurrection was His hope. But, even with that hope, it was hard to go through the pain, the alienation from His Father that came with bearing my sin to reconcile me to my Father!
I want to encourage you to think long and deeply about His sacrifice, that it was not forced on Him, that He willingly embraced it for me, for you, because of love. (We will stand before the Cross on Good Friday evening in our Communion worship. You're invited to join us at 7 PM.) He made the choice to descend into the darkness, not for Himself, but for us. His loss was our gain. His obedience bought our salvation from sin, death, and Hell! He bridged the chasm that sin had carved between the Father and His Creation. Oh, praise Him! The Cross is ugly, but we must not rush past it to get to the Empty Tomb! The glory of the Resurrection morning only is meaningful because of Good Friday's horror.
Take encouragement from this, disciple. It may be that you are confronted with some very difficult choice in your life. You know the will of God leads against your desires. You know that the way He would lead you will take you through pain of self-denial, even death to Self. Will you do it? Will you willingly descend into the dark of that situation, so that He can lead you into the Light of His purposes?
The Word encourages us with this pattern.
"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)
Look past the pain to the Glory! Grasp the promise of abundant life - presently and eternally - and present yourself as a 'living sacrifice.' My prayer for you is this:
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)
_______________
Jesus Christ,
I think upon Your sacrifice,
You became nothing,
Poured out to death.
Many times I've wondered
At Your gift of life,
And I'm in that place once again.
I'm in that place once again.
And once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died,
I'm humbled by Your mercy
And I'm broken inside.
Once again I thank You,
Once again I pour out my life.
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross,
Thank You for the cross, my Friend.
Now You are exalted
To the highest place,
King of the heavens,
Where one day I'll bow.
But for now,
I marvel at this saving grace,
And I'm full of praise once again.
I'm full of praise once again.
Once Again
Redman, Matt
EMI Christian Music Publishing
© 1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)CCLI License No. 810055
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Doing the right things
Yesterday’s news brought the story of the arrest of a small band of men in Michigan who were planning to kill a police officer, then to engage in more violence at the funeral of the officer that would kill many law enforcement personnel. All this, they hoped, would spark a national revolution. They were reputed to be thinking this was part of the return of Christ, that they were, in their violence, preparing to be a part of His army of the Apocalypse. Whether the media got it right is always an open question, but the word, “Christian” figured prominently in every story. This comes hard on the heels of the ongoing headlines about the sexual abuse of children by Catholic priests and the failure of church leaders to act decisively to stop it. How sad I am that the foolishness of sinful men darkens the glory of the Lord!
Let’s make it our prayer that nothing in what we say or do disgraces the Name of Jesus! The Hutaree (that what’s the men in Michigan called themselves) missed the message of hope in the Gospel in a big way. They ignored the clear call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked that is the true work of those who are in the Lord’s ‘army’ of righteousness. (See Matthew 25:34) My guess is that they let fear take over as the changing times made them feel insecure. So, instead of trusting God, they bought guns! What a tragedy in so many ways. I’m guessing that many of those priests who abused kids for their own gratification, somehow justified their perversion by calling it ‘love.’ Too often Church bishops covered up the sins of those pedophiles because they, too, thought it was the expedient choice.
Disciple, we must humble ourselves before the Lord, again and again. Nothing can replace transparency before God and others. If we are afraid, we need to acknowledge our fear, even if it makes us tremble and cry. In our weakness, we will find ourselves comforted, not by our own control, but by His promise. If we are struggling with temptation, we need not stuff our urges into some dark corner of our mind. Rather, we confess them to our Savior and a trusted confessor. In naming them, they lose power to overtake us. When we sin, and we will, we quickly repent and God promises that “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. … My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 1:9, 2:1, NLT)
And, we must choose to do right things! No disciple can be passive. We are called to be passionate people in the service of the Lord. A person who actively engages in caring for others, who worships whole-heartedly, who is growing in faith; will be drawn into the beauty of holiness and thus, reflect the glory of Christ into the wider world.
Here are words from the Word. May they call you to do the right things, for God’s sake, today.
"If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God." (1 Peter 2:20, NIV)
"You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ." (1 Peter 3:15-16, NLT)
"It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message! … So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it." (1 Peter 4:17, 19 The Message)
__________________
Oh Lord, You're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.
Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with holy fear.
I wanna take Your Word
And shine it all around.
First help me just to live it, Lord!
And when I'm doing well,
Help me to never seek a crown,
For my reward is giving glory to You.
Oh Lord You're Beautiful
Green, Keith
© 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
Let’s make it our prayer that nothing in what we say or do disgraces the Name of Jesus! The Hutaree (that what’s the men in Michigan called themselves) missed the message of hope in the Gospel in a big way. They ignored the clear call to feed the hungry and clothe the naked that is the true work of those who are in the Lord’s ‘army’ of righteousness. (See Matthew 25:34) My guess is that they let fear take over as the changing times made them feel insecure. So, instead of trusting God, they bought guns! What a tragedy in so many ways. I’m guessing that many of those priests who abused kids for their own gratification, somehow justified their perversion by calling it ‘love.’ Too often Church bishops covered up the sins of those pedophiles because they, too, thought it was the expedient choice.
Disciple, we must humble ourselves before the Lord, again and again. Nothing can replace transparency before God and others. If we are afraid, we need to acknowledge our fear, even if it makes us tremble and cry. In our weakness, we will find ourselves comforted, not by our own control, but by His promise. If we are struggling with temptation, we need not stuff our urges into some dark corner of our mind. Rather, we confess them to our Savior and a trusted confessor. In naming them, they lose power to overtake us. When we sin, and we will, we quickly repent and God promises that “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. … My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous." (1 John 1:9, 2:1, NLT)
And, we must choose to do right things! No disciple can be passive. We are called to be passionate people in the service of the Lord. A person who actively engages in caring for others, who worships whole-heartedly, who is growing in faith; will be drawn into the beauty of holiness and thus, reflect the glory of Christ into the wider world.
Here are words from the Word. May they call you to do the right things, for God’s sake, today.
"If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God." (1 Peter 2:20, NIV)
"You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ." (1 Peter 3:15-16, NLT)
"It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message! … So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he’s doing, and he’ll keep on doing it." (1 Peter 4:17, 19 The Message)
__________________
Oh Lord, You're beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
For when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.
Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear.
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burns with holy fear.
I wanna take Your Word
And shine it all around.
First help me just to live it, Lord!
And when I'm doing well,
Help me to never seek a crown,
For my reward is giving glory to You.
Oh Lord You're Beautiful
Green, Keith
© 1980 Birdwing Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) / BMG Songs, Inc. (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing; Admin. by BMG Music Publishing) CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, March 26, 2010
"Just Do It!"
Sometimes when kids are told to do something they ask, "why?" And sometimes a parent answers, "Because I said so!" That's not a great parenting style all the time, but there are situations where that's all you can say. Explanations won't work, the situation is urgent, or reasoning would require more information than the parent can give, so they just give an order with the expectation of obedience. Blessed is the child who will accept that and do what is asked of them. Blessed is the parent of such a child, too!
Sometimes our Father in Heaven says, "just do it!" He expects we will obey. The Israelites had two of those kinds of experiences as they were entering the Promised Land after their long wander through the wilderness. First, they came to the crossing of the Jordan River. God told them to ready themselves for the crossing. They could see the river was at flood stage! How was this going to work out? But, they prepared to cross. "As soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho." (Joshua 3:15-16, NLT) The whole nation walked across the dry riverbed and into their new home! A test of faith, to be sure, but God was faithful.
The first fortified town they encountered was Jericho. "Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in." (Joshua 6:1, NIV) There, too, God issued a command that was without explanation. "Go and march around the town once each morning for a whole week, then on the seventh day, march around it seven times, and blow the trumpets! When you hear the trumpets, shout the victory shout." I wonder if that sounded as silly to those people as it does to us? And yet, they did it! "When the people heard the sound of the rams' horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it." (Joshua 6:20, NLT)
Disciple, we are wise to obey the Lord's directive even when we want to whine, "But, why?"
He says, "Forgive those who offend you," we must just do it.
He says, "Put me first in your use of resources," and we must just do it.
He says, "Love your enemies," and we must just do it.
He says, "Stop fretting about tomorrow," and we must choose to trust and obey.
The nation of Israel was not always as obedient as they were in the examples I used a moment ago. Often in their long history, they resisted the Lord, argued against His will, and even ignored Him. Their long history reveals that when they choose short-term self-interest over long-term obedience, there were always negative consequences. When they were willing to 'just do it,' they discovered the goodness of the Lord in unanticipated ways. The key was faith to believe God, even when it made no sense in the moment!
Take one of the Bible's shortest prayers with you today. When you struggle to obey, just breathe this one line prayer. It was first prayed by a father who was in terrible distress over his son's terrible condition. He brought the boy to Jesus. Take a look.
"If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed,
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit.
"You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.""(Mark 9:22-25, NIV)
The gift of faith that comes in response to our humble entreaty creates a heart ready to radically obey. Let's just do it!
__________________
"Be of good courage",
God spake unto Joshua.
When o'er the river
God pointed the way;
Jordan uncrossable!
Things seemed impossible,
Waters divide
As they march and obey.
Battles to win!
They would meet
With their obstacles.
Jericho's walls too
Must fall to the ground;
God never failed
He stood back of His promises.
Walls had to crumble
As they marched around.
God is the same
And His Word is dependable.
He'll make a way
Thru the waters for you;
Life's situations
By Him are amendable.
Mountains and hills,
He will part for you too.
Got any rivers
You think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains
You can't tunnel through?
God specializes in
Things tho't impossible.
He does the things
Others cannot do.
Got Any Rivers
Eliason, Oscar C.
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. © 1945, 1973 Oscar C. Eliason.
Assigned Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
Sometimes our Father in Heaven says, "just do it!" He expects we will obey. The Israelites had two of those kinds of experiences as they were entering the Promised Land after their long wander through the wilderness. First, they came to the crossing of the Jordan River. God told them to ready themselves for the crossing. They could see the river was at flood stage! How was this going to work out? But, they prepared to cross. "As soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho." (Joshua 3:15-16, NLT) The whole nation walked across the dry riverbed and into their new home! A test of faith, to be sure, but God was faithful.
The first fortified town they encountered was Jericho. "Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in." (Joshua 6:1, NIV) There, too, God issued a command that was without explanation. "Go and march around the town once each morning for a whole week, then on the seventh day, march around it seven times, and blow the trumpets! When you hear the trumpets, shout the victory shout." I wonder if that sounded as silly to those people as it does to us? And yet, they did it! "When the people heard the sound of the rams' horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it." (Joshua 6:20, NLT)
Disciple, we are wise to obey the Lord's directive even when we want to whine, "But, why?"
He says, "Forgive those who offend you," we must just do it.
He says, "Put me first in your use of resources," and we must just do it.
He says, "Love your enemies," and we must just do it.
He says, "Stop fretting about tomorrow," and we must choose to trust and obey.
The nation of Israel was not always as obedient as they were in the examples I used a moment ago. Often in their long history, they resisted the Lord, argued against His will, and even ignored Him. Their long history reveals that when they choose short-term self-interest over long-term obedience, there were always negative consequences. When they were willing to 'just do it,' they discovered the goodness of the Lord in unanticipated ways. The key was faith to believe God, even when it made no sense in the moment!
Take one of the Bible's shortest prayers with you today. When you struggle to obey, just breathe this one line prayer. It was first prayed by a father who was in terrible distress over his son's terrible condition. He brought the boy to Jesus. Take a look.
"If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."
" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed,
"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit.
"You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.""(Mark 9:22-25, NIV)
The gift of faith that comes in response to our humble entreaty creates a heart ready to radically obey. Let's just do it!
__________________
"Be of good courage",
God spake unto Joshua.
When o'er the river
God pointed the way;
Jordan uncrossable!
Things seemed impossible,
Waters divide
As they march and obey.
Battles to win!
They would meet
With their obstacles.
Jericho's walls too
Must fall to the ground;
God never failed
He stood back of His promises.
Walls had to crumble
As they marched around.
God is the same
And His Word is dependable.
He'll make a way
Thru the waters for you;
Life's situations
By Him are amendable.
Mountains and hills,
He will part for you too.
Got any rivers
You think are uncrossable?
Got any mountains
You can't tunnel through?
God specializes in
Things tho't impossible.
He does the things
Others cannot do.
Got Any Rivers
Eliason, Oscar C.
Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc. © 1945, 1973 Oscar C. Eliason.
Assigned Singspiration Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc., 741 Coolsprings Blvd., Franklin TN 37067)
CCLI License No. 810055
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fresh, but not new!
There is an obsession among some Christians about making the Gospel “new.” Many are caught up in a pursuit of re-discovery of Jesus' true message and identity. Most of the things we accept about Who He was and what He taught are being questioned by somebody, somewhere; well, at least that how it seems to me. It leads to a lot of speculative nonsense finding its way onto paper, into blogs, and being published in books. Most of it will be forgotten in a year or two. Four years ago it was “The DaVinci Code” that had the headlines. Does anybody really remember the controversies raised by "The Last Temptation of Christ," or "The Passover Plot"? Huh? Exactly!
The stories recorded in the inspired texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have stood the test of time, telling us about a Man who is also God, who lived, died, and rose again. He really walked the pathways of a dusty, out-of-the-way place called Palestine 2 millennia ago. His timeless story has inspired people from primitive cultures in the Amazonian jungles and in luxury Manhattan apartments. The simple and the intellectual are moved by His sacrificial love which is displayed in His willingness to die on the Cross. The young and the old are thrilled by the miracles that attest to His uniqueness.
It is not wrong to carefully study the ways in which the ancient Gospel applies to our lives and times. Seeing the old truth in fresh ways is not wrong. One of the most amazing things about Him is that He doesn't fall 'out of style.' His Gospel works in Bombay and Los Angeles and Zambia addressing the basic human needs shared by every culture. From time to time we need to re-examine our understanding of the Gospel texts. Why? Because, ideas not found in the text get attached to it that corrupt it.
So, make it fresh, but don't re-write the Bible. Find Him, but don't try to do a "Jesus make over" that robs Him of His majesty and message. Jesus is a controversial and shocking Individual. He makes claims that are stupendous! He provokes and prods, demanding our attention and devotion. We don't do Him or the Gospel a service by trying to round off the edges. He meant to challenge the status quo. He meant to call us to change, to tell us that there was a new Way back to God opening up through Him.
In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says it best: "I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to."
Here's a word from the Word. Believer, it may be familiar to you and therefore you'll be tempted to let your eyes quickly run through it... but don't! Ponder it, meditate on it, believe it - and the testimony it makes about Him.
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:10-14, NKJV)
_____________________
The stories recorded in the inspired texts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have stood the test of time, telling us about a Man who is also God, who lived, died, and rose again. He really walked the pathways of a dusty, out-of-the-way place called Palestine 2 millennia ago. His timeless story has inspired people from primitive cultures in the Amazonian jungles and in luxury Manhattan apartments. The simple and the intellectual are moved by His sacrificial love which is displayed in His willingness to die on the Cross. The young and the old are thrilled by the miracles that attest to His uniqueness.
It is not wrong to carefully study the ways in which the ancient Gospel applies to our lives and times. Seeing the old truth in fresh ways is not wrong. One of the most amazing things about Him is that He doesn't fall 'out of style.' His Gospel works in Bombay and Los Angeles and Zambia addressing the basic human needs shared by every culture. From time to time we need to re-examine our understanding of the Gospel texts. Why? Because, ideas not found in the text get attached to it that corrupt it.
So, make it fresh, but don't re-write the Bible. Find Him, but don't try to do a "Jesus make over" that robs Him of His majesty and message. Jesus is a controversial and shocking Individual. He makes claims that are stupendous! He provokes and prods, demanding our attention and devotion. We don't do Him or the Gospel a service by trying to round off the edges. He meant to challenge the status quo. He meant to call us to change, to tell us that there was a new Way back to God opening up through Him.
In his book, Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis says it best: "I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [Jesus Christ]: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that option open to us. He did not intend to."
Here's a word from the Word. Believer, it may be familiar to you and therefore you'll be tempted to let your eyes quickly run through it... but don't! Ponder it, meditate on it, believe it - and the testimony it makes about Him.
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:10-14, NKJV)
_____________________
Jesus! What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul!
Friends may fail me, foes assail me;
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Jesus! What a strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him;
Tempted tried and sometimes failing,
He, my strength my victory wins.
Jesus! I do now receive Him;
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness;
I am His and He is mine.
Hallelujah what a Savior.
Hallelujah what a Friend.
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Our Great Savior
Chapman, J. Wilbur / Prichard, Rowland H.- Copyright:
Public Domain
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Formula for Success
This was posted on Facebook: “Success is the place where preparation, courage, and opportunity meet.” (Scott Wilson) Hmm. Really? What kind of success is that? I used to read a lot of the ‘success’ literature. Each author had a different way of presenting the formulas but all shared common ingredients. Hard work, boldness, vision, getting the right education all figured prominently. A few were forthright in saying, “Be like me and you will succeed!” Their definition of success was invariably about growing your organization into a larger one, gaining a wider sphere of influence, and increasing your control of resources. That is a kind of success, but it is not the only way to measure life.
When I was around 40 years of age, I attended a conference in Boston, MA led by a man named Bob Buford who had enjoyed the kind of success that is measured by dollars and a big office. Then, after going through the crisis of losing his son and a deep self-evaluation, he shifted focus. Bob described the shift from success to significance. His book, Halftime, explored the shift that many make around mid-life from chasing titles and money to fulfillment, to becoming a person of character who seeks the purpose for which he was created by God. Better, I think.
The Bible makes an arresting statement that supersedes all the success literature as our guide to the best life! "The Lord is your life… Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long … " (Deuteronomy 30:20, 32:46-47, NIV)
The Lord is your life! What a phrase. The Hebrew word translated as “life,” is one that bursts with energy. It is translated in other places in the Bible as green (like vegetation), animal, running, flowing (as a stream of water), and renew (as in springtime). In our relationship with our God, we find that kind of active life-force. Paul, preaching in Athens, declared that "In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28, NIV)
Whether we live in a palace or a cabin, drive a new car or a clunker, wear the latest fashion or blue jeans from the thrift store, have a 401(k) for retirement or just a hope that our kids will give us a room – we will be a success IF we have shaped our lives around the will and Word of the One who is our Life. Is that hard? Sometimes it is so difficult that the Bible describes the process as ‘dying to Self!’ It is not a ‘once and done’ moment. Each day there are two paths that diverge before us. Jesus described them as the “Broadway that leads to destruction,” and “the Narrow way that leads to life eternal.” One offers immediate gratification of our baser desires; the other the long-term reward that comes from faithful love, service to others, and obedience.
Much of the “Christian” success literature is not universal! It claims to be “godly truth,” but is really just the American dream re-packaged. God’s success formula is equally true in Bangladesh and New York City! It works for the bright and beautiful and the those who are not so fortunate. “The Lord is your life,” is accessible to us all – if we will accept it by faith and pursue loving and serving Him whole-heartedly. Which kind of success are you chasing, friend? From which fountain are you trying to draw life’s sustenance? May the Spirit guide you to the life that is truly life, to success that survives the end of your journey on this globe.
Here’s a word from the Word to ponder today. Is it describing your deepest aspirations?
"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 4:7-8, NLT)
Now, that is real success, isn't it?
When I was around 40 years of age, I attended a conference in Boston, MA led by a man named Bob Buford who had enjoyed the kind of success that is measured by dollars and a big office. Then, after going through the crisis of losing his son and a deep self-evaluation, he shifted focus. Bob described the shift from success to significance. His book, Halftime, explored the shift that many make around mid-life from chasing titles and money to fulfillment, to becoming a person of character who seeks the purpose for which he was created by God. Better, I think.
The Bible makes an arresting statement that supersedes all the success literature as our guide to the best life! "The Lord is your life… Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long … " (Deuteronomy 30:20, 32:46-47, NIV)
The Lord is your life! What a phrase. The Hebrew word translated as “life,” is one that bursts with energy. It is translated in other places in the Bible as green (like vegetation), animal, running, flowing (as a stream of water), and renew (as in springtime). In our relationship with our God, we find that kind of active life-force. Paul, preaching in Athens, declared that "In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28, NIV)
Whether we live in a palace or a cabin, drive a new car or a clunker, wear the latest fashion or blue jeans from the thrift store, have a 401(k) for retirement or just a hope that our kids will give us a room – we will be a success IF we have shaped our lives around the will and Word of the One who is our Life. Is that hard? Sometimes it is so difficult that the Bible describes the process as ‘dying to Self!’ It is not a ‘once and done’ moment. Each day there are two paths that diverge before us. Jesus described them as the “Broadway that leads to destruction,” and “the Narrow way that leads to life eternal.” One offers immediate gratification of our baser desires; the other the long-term reward that comes from faithful love, service to others, and obedience.
Much of the “Christian” success literature is not universal! It claims to be “godly truth,” but is really just the American dream re-packaged. God’s success formula is equally true in Bangladesh and New York City! It works for the bright and beautiful and the those who are not so fortunate. “The Lord is your life,” is accessible to us all – if we will accept it by faith and pursue loving and serving Him whole-heartedly. Which kind of success are you chasing, friend? From which fountain are you trying to draw life’s sustenance? May the Spirit guide you to the life that is truly life, to success that survives the end of your journey on this globe.
Here’s a word from the Word to ponder today. Is it describing your deepest aspirations?
"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 4:7-8, NLT)
Now, that is real success, isn't it?
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Are you ‘God-aware?’
There are people who bumble their way through the day with no idea about what is going on around them, about how they are being perceived, unaware of how they affect others. They lack self-awareness. They are sometimes offensive but have no idea why others react to them negatively. They are frequently lonely but fail to understand that their own behavior or lack of manners is the reason. They are missing the social feedback sensors that others have which allows us to adjust ourselves to the situation. The person who lacks self-awareness talks too loudly in public, answers her cell phone and talks at length when it is clearly disturbing others, says things that are inappropriate, and generally misses social cues. The good news is that a person can learn this skill! If they desire to gain better relational skills, they can be coached to become self-aware.
There is another awareness that is critically important in the disciple’s daily life, one that the rush of the day can rob from us: God-awareness. A person who ‘forgets’ God, who fails acknowledge His Presence, becomes irreverent, profane, and often- insecure! It is a wonderfully assuring steadying blessing to know that He is near. Moses urged the Israelites to cultivate their God-awareness. He said, "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:39, NIV)
When Hagar, the maidservant of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was badly mistreated and sent away with her child, in the wilderness He met her and she gave Him a new name: El Roi – “The God who sees me!” "An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. …She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! “Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!” " (Genesis 16:7, 13, The Message)
Each morning my first act upon awakening is to offer thanks and praise to the Lord. It only takes a few seconds, but it is a habit that helps me to be God-aware. From time to time through the day, I pause to look up (emotionally and mentally, more than physically) to thank Him. Why? To keep myself aware that He is the “God who sees me!” This is not for God’s benefit, but for mine! When I fail to remember that He is with me, it is but a short trip to anxiety or needless cares or even to sin.
Disciple, be intentionally God-aware. It is true that when we are children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, that the Holy Spirit lives in us, but He does so sometimes without our conscious knowledge. When this happens we tend to lose the nobility of holiness that comes from knowing we are children of God, that our Father is with us. Ask any child who has a great relationship with his father what the knowledge that ‘Dad is here’ does for him! Dad means safety. Dad’s affirmation brings encouragement. Dad’s discipline provides secure boundaries! We know that is true for children. Be reminded, it is true for children of the Heavenly Father, too.
Here is a word from the Word. May it be the prayer of the God-aware today.
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3, NIV)
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)
______________
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blest.
Watching and waiting, looking above.
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Blessed Assurance
Crosby, Fanny J. / Knapp, Phoebe P. / Wagner, Dougles E.
© 1989 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)
CCLI License No. 810055
There is another awareness that is critically important in the disciple’s daily life, one that the rush of the day can rob from us: God-awareness. A person who ‘forgets’ God, who fails acknowledge His Presence, becomes irreverent, profane, and often- insecure! It is a wonderfully assuring steadying blessing to know that He is near. Moses urged the Israelites to cultivate their God-awareness. He said, "Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:39, NIV)
When Hagar, the maidservant of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, was badly mistreated and sent away with her child, in the wilderness He met her and she gave Him a new name: El Roi – “The God who sees me!” "An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. …She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me! “Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!” " (Genesis 16:7, 13, The Message)
Each morning my first act upon awakening is to offer thanks and praise to the Lord. It only takes a few seconds, but it is a habit that helps me to be God-aware. From time to time through the day, I pause to look up (emotionally and mentally, more than physically) to thank Him. Why? To keep myself aware that He is the “God who sees me!” This is not for God’s benefit, but for mine! When I fail to remember that He is with me, it is but a short trip to anxiety or needless cares or even to sin.
Disciple, be intentionally God-aware. It is true that when we are children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus, that the Holy Spirit lives in us, but He does so sometimes without our conscious knowledge. When this happens we tend to lose the nobility of holiness that comes from knowing we are children of God, that our Father is with us. Ask any child who has a great relationship with his father what the knowledge that ‘Dad is here’ does for him! Dad means safety. Dad’s affirmation brings encouragement. Dad’s discipline provides secure boundaries! We know that is true for children. Be reminded, it is true for children of the Heavenly Father, too.
Here is a word from the Word. May it be the prayer of the God-aware today.
"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139:1-3, NIV)
"Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast." (Psalm 139:7-10, NIV)
______________
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blest.
Watching and waiting, looking above.
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Blessed Assurance
Crosby, Fanny J. / Knapp, Phoebe P. / Wagner, Dougles E.
© 1989 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, March 22, 2010
Too blessed, perhaps?
Deep faith and abundant blessings should go together. Too many times, prosperity and peace only produce apathy about the things of God. A once deeply devout disciple develops a sense of independence based on the illusion that he can manage life quite well on his own, so long as he gives a nod in God's direction every now and then. As a Pastor for many years, I have observed the pattern over and over again. Life falls apart and a man is left in ruins. For some, it is a divorce that destroys their family life. For others, it is financial loss that follows a job loss or disaster. Yet for others it is a time of sickness. In desperation this broken person remembers God. He finds that old friend that always talked about Jesus. As he looks to the Lord and sincerely seeks after Him, just as the Word promises, he finds Him to be a Friend and Savior. He loves worship, showing up every time the doors are open. He devours books that show him the ways of Christ.
As he grows in faith and walks in spiritual disciplines, his life takes on new ways. Destructive habits are replaced with responsibility. Godly ways are the fertile soil in which blessings grow. What will he do with his blessings? Sadly, many grow independent of the very God that blessed them! Financial independence allows diversions that lead away from faithfulness to the things of God. Ministries that once were the core of his life are side-lined as he pursues the hobbies he can now afford. Focus on family life is eroded by demands of his work. Because he has moved into a place of greater responsibilities and more compensation, his kids don't see him pray except the formal kinds of prayer at dinner, because Dad really doesn't pray that much at all. He doesn't feel any real need to pray, to worship. Of course, if you ask him, he will thank God for the things he now enjoys, but his words and his true values are far apart.
Think that's far-fetched? Take a look at the wisdom of the Word from two sources: Jesus spoke of the seed of the Word which was received with joy but then "the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19, NIV)
As an old man near the end of his life, Moses warned Israel of the dangers of prosperity they would confront when they entered the Promised Land – “Jeshurun (God's people) grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior." (Deuteronomy 32:15, NIV)
In what is, even in this time of economic downturn, the richest nation on earth, empty churches on Sunday morning are but one stark symbol of our lack of regard for the Lord and things of the Spirit. Entertainment has replaced worship as the central focus of the weekend. Sports, properly enjoyed as a diversion, are now gods that received the adoration of millions. Our kids are trained like professional athletes from the time they are 4 years of age, leaving little time for God, for church, for family prayer. Christian parents focus their children on attaining physical prowess or academic degrees with little more than formal acknowledgement that a life of real abundance lies in knowing and serving God.
How I pray that the price of real spiritual revival and continued spiritual fervency is not sorrow and deprivation. Here’s a prayer that the honest man will pray in sincerity, trusting God to keep him. "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name." (Proverbs 30:8-9, NLT)
Jesus said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all.
Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?" (Mark 8:34-36, The Message)
____________________________
As he grows in faith and walks in spiritual disciplines, his life takes on new ways. Destructive habits are replaced with responsibility. Godly ways are the fertile soil in which blessings grow. What will he do with his blessings? Sadly, many grow independent of the very God that blessed them! Financial independence allows diversions that lead away from faithfulness to the things of God. Ministries that once were the core of his life are side-lined as he pursues the hobbies he can now afford. Focus on family life is eroded by demands of his work. Because he has moved into a place of greater responsibilities and more compensation, his kids don't see him pray except the formal kinds of prayer at dinner, because Dad really doesn't pray that much at all. He doesn't feel any real need to pray, to worship. Of course, if you ask him, he will thank God for the things he now enjoys, but his words and his true values are far apart.
Think that's far-fetched? Take a look at the wisdom of the Word from two sources: Jesus spoke of the seed of the Word which was received with joy but then "the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." (Mark 4:19, NIV)
As an old man near the end of his life, Moses warned Israel of the dangers of prosperity they would confront when they entered the Promised Land – “Jeshurun (God's people) grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior." (Deuteronomy 32:15, NIV)
In what is, even in this time of economic downturn, the richest nation on earth, empty churches on Sunday morning are but one stark symbol of our lack of regard for the Lord and things of the Spirit. Entertainment has replaced worship as the central focus of the weekend. Sports, properly enjoyed as a diversion, are now gods that received the adoration of millions. Our kids are trained like professional athletes from the time they are 4 years of age, leaving little time for God, for church, for family prayer. Christian parents focus their children on attaining physical prowess or academic degrees with little more than formal acknowledgement that a life of real abundance lies in knowing and serving God.
How I pray that the price of real spiritual revival and continued spiritual fervency is not sorrow and deprivation. Here’s a prayer that the honest man will pray in sincerity, trusting God to keep him. "Give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name." (Proverbs 30:8-9, NLT)
Jesus said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all.
Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you?" (Mark 8:34-36, The Message)
____________________________
Friday, March 19, 2010
Does it work for you?
I would have a hard time taking advice on nutrition from a guy with a large order of fries sitting on his desk next to his Hostess Twinkies®, or counsel about long-term health decisions from a physician who was grossly overweight and who had cigarette smoke on his breath. I’d like to think that the guy trying to sell me a Ford actually drives one. It’s one thing to know something. It is quite another to live it!
Disciple, does your life show real evidence of the truth you profess? Paul, writing about the importance of practicing what you preach, spoke to the hypocrisy of his Jewish brothers. "You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:21-24, NIV) That last line challenges me. Do I, as a Christian, give others reason to doubt the reality of God’s love by my words or actions; or does the authenticity of my life’s alignment to the will of God cause others to desire to know Him, too?
We will never perfectly practice our faith. We fail! But, let’s not make our human imperfection an excuse for continuing to habitually sin, for leaving habits in place that we can change with the help of the Spirit of God. The Word challenges us as Spirit-filled people to ‘keep step with the Spirit.’ The Message brings that passage home for me. "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, The Message)
When I think of disciples who have had the most influence in my life, I don’t think of those who were show-offs or who made the most noise. I remember those who went about doing good quietly, who were honest about themselves, contented to live out the call of God without needing applause. What does the Bible say is the evidence of the life of the Spirit? It isn’t the ability to recite long texts without flaw, or the mastery of details of doctrine. It is in our character! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24, NIV) If you want to know if your faith is coming across as authentic, ask a child! An adult will be too polite, too concerned about your feelings perhaps, to tell you the truth. A child will tell like it is. So, ask someone who is about 8 or 9 years of age, who knows you well, “Do you think that I love Jesus?” The answer may affirm you or devastate you!
Holiness, that is real, is a beautiful thing. It is how God designed us to live, whole, at rest in Him. A truly holy person is changed from the inside out, healed, and restored. Sanctimony is ugly, a superficial attempt to cover the flaws and scars of sin. Here’s what the Lord promises to those who seek and love Him. He will “will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." (Isaiah 61:3, NLT)
Father in Heaven, thank you for the promise of restored beauty.
Sin makes me ugly, turns my life into a pile of ashes!
But, You forgive, heal, and transform;
making me stand tall like an oak tree!
I confess my sinfulness and ask that the Spirit would work
deeply in me, that His life would take hold of my life.
Lord, let me see where there are holes in my profession,
where my claim to faith is not matched by a life of faith.
Give me courage to let you change my heart – even with pain -
so that the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
that others will desire to know Him, to be His disciples.
This I pray in His Name, boldly and with full expectation.
AMEN
Disciple, does your life show real evidence of the truth you profess? Paul, writing about the importance of practicing what you preach, spoke to the hypocrisy of his Jewish brothers. "You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the Law, do you dishonor God by breaking the Law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:21-24, NIV) That last line challenges me. Do I, as a Christian, give others reason to doubt the reality of God’s love by my words or actions; or does the authenticity of my life’s alignment to the will of God cause others to desire to know Him, too?
We will never perfectly practice our faith. We fail! But, let’s not make our human imperfection an excuse for continuing to habitually sin, for leaving habits in place that we can change with the help of the Spirit of God. The Word challenges us as Spirit-filled people to ‘keep step with the Spirit.’ The Message brings that passage home for me. "Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." (Galatians 5:25, The Message)
When I think of disciples who have had the most influence in my life, I don’t think of those who were show-offs or who made the most noise. I remember those who went about doing good quietly, who were honest about themselves, contented to live out the call of God without needing applause. What does the Bible say is the evidence of the life of the Spirit? It isn’t the ability to recite long texts without flaw, or the mastery of details of doctrine. It is in our character! "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24, NIV) If you want to know if your faith is coming across as authentic, ask a child! An adult will be too polite, too concerned about your feelings perhaps, to tell you the truth. A child will tell like it is. So, ask someone who is about 8 or 9 years of age, who knows you well, “Do you think that I love Jesus?” The answer may affirm you or devastate you!
Holiness, that is real, is a beautiful thing. It is how God designed us to live, whole, at rest in Him. A truly holy person is changed from the inside out, healed, and restored. Sanctimony is ugly, a superficial attempt to cover the flaws and scars of sin. Here’s what the Lord promises to those who seek and love Him. He will “will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory." (Isaiah 61:3, NLT)
Father in Heaven, thank you for the promise of restored beauty.
Sin makes me ugly, turns my life into a pile of ashes!
But, You forgive, heal, and transform;
making me stand tall like an oak tree!
I confess my sinfulness and ask that the Spirit would work
deeply in me, that His life would take hold of my life.
Lord, let me see where there are holes in my profession,
where my claim to faith is not matched by a life of faith.
Give me courage to let you change my heart – even with pain -
so that the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
that others will desire to know Him, to be His disciples.
This I pray in His Name, boldly and with full expectation.
AMEN
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Celebration? What, why?
Yesterday some of my friends ate corned beef and cabbage, worn green, and spoke in strange tongues to mark St. Patrick's Day. Shamrocks appeared. For me, without a drop of Irish blood, (that I know of) it is not a celebration of much consequence. July 4 is a day of significance to Americans. We remember our Independence and establishment as the United States of America with fireworks, parades, and displays of 'red, white, and blue.' July 4 in Mexico? No big deal; it's just another day on the calendar. Here's my point - special days and rituals help us to mark what we value, remind us of heritage, and unite people of common interest.
God directed the Israelites to keep a holy calendar that included a weekly day set apart, the Sabbath, and several holy feasts during the year. "These are the appointed feasts of God which you will decree as sacred assemblies for presenting Fire-Gifts to God: the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, Grain-Offerings, sacrifices, and Drink-Offerings assigned to each day." (Leviticus 23:37, The Message) "Moses posted the calendar for the annual appointed feasts of God which Israel was to celebrate." (Leviticus 23:44, The Message) Passover is perhaps the best known of the holy days, remembering their deliverance from Egypt and birth as a nation. The Day of Atonement is the most solemn, marking repentance for sin and renewal of their relationship with the LORD. God called His people to break from the routines of life to remember Him, to celebrate His work, and to renew their unique identity. In my reading in Leviticus 23 today, I was reminded that the Lord not only offered the days of celebration to His people; He commanded that they mark them faithfully!
Do you consciously celebrate your relationship with the Lord, your heritage in Christ?
The Sabbath Law has been replaced by an invitation to weekly worship on the Lord's Day. What a privilege we have to come together at our churches, to offer our praise, to pray for one another, to remember our calling to be the people of God in our world. Only as adult did I discover the ancient church calendar that reminds me of God's work. The free church in which I was raised never mentioned Advent or the Lenten season. Pentecost mentioned, but not with celebration. Christmas and Easter were more secular than sacred, at least in terms of the way we celebrated.
I urge you to learn the Christian calendar, to mark the various seasons of the year, not just as rituals to keep; but with the goal of pleasing God by being reminded of the holy calling you share to be His very own! Take joy in remembering to Whom you belong, the identity that has been given to you through Christ Jesus. Remember that "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light!" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
________________
The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses;
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.
'Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious,
Shall be the Church at rest.
The Church's One Foundation
Stone, Samuel J. / Wesley, Samuel S.
© Public Domain
God directed the Israelites to keep a holy calendar that included a weekly day set apart, the Sabbath, and several holy feasts during the year. "These are the appointed feasts of God which you will decree as sacred assemblies for presenting Fire-Gifts to God: the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, Grain-Offerings, sacrifices, and Drink-Offerings assigned to each day." (Leviticus 23:37, The Message) "Moses posted the calendar for the annual appointed feasts of God which Israel was to celebrate." (Leviticus 23:44, The Message) Passover is perhaps the best known of the holy days, remembering their deliverance from Egypt and birth as a nation. The Day of Atonement is the most solemn, marking repentance for sin and renewal of their relationship with the LORD. God called His people to break from the routines of life to remember Him, to celebrate His work, and to renew their unique identity. In my reading in Leviticus 23 today, I was reminded that the Lord not only offered the days of celebration to His people; He commanded that they mark them faithfully!
Do you consciously celebrate your relationship with the Lord, your heritage in Christ?
The Sabbath Law has been replaced by an invitation to weekly worship on the Lord's Day. What a privilege we have to come together at our churches, to offer our praise, to pray for one another, to remember our calling to be the people of God in our world. Only as adult did I discover the ancient church calendar that reminds me of God's work. The free church in which I was raised never mentioned Advent or the Lenten season. Pentecost mentioned, but not with celebration. Christmas and Easter were more secular than sacred, at least in terms of the way we celebrated.
I urge you to learn the Christian calendar, to mark the various seasons of the year, not just as rituals to keep; but with the goal of pleasing God by being reminded of the holy calling you share to be His very own! Take joy in remembering to Whom you belong, the identity that has been given to you through Christ Jesus. Remember that "ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light!" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV)
________________
The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the word.
From heav'n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
Elect from ev'ry nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy name she blesses;
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With ev'ry grace endued.
'Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious,
Shall be the Church at rest.
The Church's One Foundation
Stone, Samuel J. / Wesley, Samuel S.
© Public Domain
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