“Well, hang in there,” is a phrase meant to comfort that we have all said to somebody. We tell a woman with cancer, a guy whose wife has filed for divorce, an investor whose lost most of his savings - “Just hang in there.” What’s that supposed to mean, anyway? Are we advising grim determination, slogging on through the muck of life? I am all for perseverance, but especially for the disciple, that means more than just ‘hanging in there.’ I will come back to that thought in a moment.
Most of the books I read are 'one-timers,' meaning I never pick them up again. There is one book in my library that shows the wear that many handlings, many reading have caused. Eugene Peterson published it in 1980. The title is, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, with the sub-title; Discipleship in an Instant Society. The book is an exposition of Psalms 120-134, the Songs of Ascent, a metaphor of the life lived upwards to God. In one chapter he speaks to Perseverance, with words drawn from the 129th Psalm:
"A song of ascents. They have greatly oppressed me from my youth- let Israel say- they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long.
But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion be turned back in shame. May they be like grass on the roof, which withers before it can grow; with it the reaper cannot fill his hands, nor the one who gathers fill his arms. May those who pass by not say, “The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 129, NIV)
The Psalm reflects the curious state of those who trust in God; they may be afflicted, yet they are hopeful; they may be crushed, but they are not destroyed. It speaks to the anger that pulses in us when we are mistreated and falsely accused, all the while reminding us that 'the Lord is righteous.' It is an activist Psalm that does not call the Believer into a Zen-like disconnect from the reality of life, nor to a fatalistic resignation to whatever happens. It gives us more encouragement than just ‘hang in there!’ The godly prays and hopes for vindication of his cause, trusting the Almighty to 'turn back his enemies in shameful defeat.' (NLT)
Perseverance is about more than just not giving up or just 'putting on the game face.' Perseverance is a life that is lived in the 'now and not yet,' that, in the middle of the mess we call life, holds onto the faithfulness and eternality of God.
I am persevering today! Some parts of my life are glorious and blessed. Some are marked with disappointment and missed expectations. Some are ‘under development,’ the end of the story yet to be told.
In the middle of it all, am I sometimes afraid? A little.
Am I sometimes angry? Yes, I am.
Am I occasionally sad? Beyond words.
Am I persevering? Yes, because I know God reigns!
Eugene Peterson writes at the conclusion of that chapter in his book: "Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in His ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the Way integrates all our interests, passions, and gifts, our human needs and our eternal aspirations. It is the way of life we are created for. The are endless challenges to keep us on the growing edge of faith; there is always a righteous God with us to make it possible for us to persevere."
Here’s a word from the Word. Note that the encouragement offered is much more than ‘just hang in there!’ It is a word of triumph! Receive it. Believe it! Live it!
"So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39, NIV)
"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)
_________________
Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.
Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
Song of our spirits, rejoicing and free;
Peal out the watchword! Loyal forever!
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be.
Frances Havergal, 1878
Public Domain
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The BEST THING in life
In his excellent book, ”The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” John Ortberg tells the story of cranky Hank, a church member who despite knowing the Scripture, faithfully attending church services, and saying his prayers, never really goes through a spiritual transformation. Hank remained a critical, self-centered, miserable man and, as Ortberg writes, nobody in his church found that a cause for concern. After all, there are millions of “Christians” who are orthodox in their confession without ever moving an inch towards becoming like Christ Jesus. Could it be a failure of vision, that we have not caught a glimpse of the possible?
Has the dreary life of religious duty become so commonplace that we cannot remember that the genuine experience of being a Christian is to bring us delight? Does the Spirit captivate our hearts and minds causing us to engage fully in a process of real soul change? Is the beauty of Jesus emerging in us, like a butterfly unfolding out of a chrysalis? Or, have we become like the Pharisees who fought with Jesus? Those religious men knew that the heart of the law was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, NIV) Yet, they turned their relationship with God into an obsession with circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath rules. In a scathing rebuke to them, which we read in Matthew 23, Jesus rejects their superficial spirituality. He tells them that they are “pious frauds, cups burnished to high shine on the outside but filthy inside, gleaming tombs full of bones, men who strain a gnat out of their soup while ready to swallow a camel!” (A little of Jesus’ sense of humor showed in that last statement!)
Disciple, we are incurably religious. Unless our gaze is constantly reset to Jesus, the Cross, and the promise of Spirit life; we will slide into rule-keeping and call it “Christianity.” We will become obsessed with performance measures based on where we go, what we eat or drink, who we hang out with, church attendance, Bible memorization, and conformity to the our group’s rules. Holiness is important. Christians who are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus will not get drunk, spend their nights in casinos, or cuss like the proverbial sailor! When Jesus pointed out the Pharisees’ mistaken focus on their rules, He said, "You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:23, NIV) The reason we will live a holy life, however, will not be prove our worth to God or man, but because we delight in the One whose Spirit lives in us and changes us – inside out!
Reflect on this word from the Word, disciple.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and to get the treasure, too!
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" (Matthew 13:44-46, NLT)
Is your relationship with Christ a treasure, or a ball and chain?
Is the Gospel of Christ making you a beautiful person, full of life, overflowing with love, joy, and peace; or has a religion turned you into a critical, judgmental, sour zealot?
I love this promise and pray it is always true in us:
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)
That’s the best thing in life!
_______________
Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall;
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He's my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust Him now, I'll trust Him
When life's fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He's my friend.
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Thompson, Will L.
© Public Domain
Has the dreary life of religious duty become so commonplace that we cannot remember that the genuine experience of being a Christian is to bring us delight? Does the Spirit captivate our hearts and minds causing us to engage fully in a process of real soul change? Is the beauty of Jesus emerging in us, like a butterfly unfolding out of a chrysalis? Or, have we become like the Pharisees who fought with Jesus? Those religious men knew that the heart of the law was to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:4-6, NIV) Yet, they turned their relationship with God into an obsession with circumcision, dietary laws, and Sabbath rules. In a scathing rebuke to them, which we read in Matthew 23, Jesus rejects their superficial spirituality. He tells them that they are “pious frauds, cups burnished to high shine on the outside but filthy inside, gleaming tombs full of bones, men who strain a gnat out of their soup while ready to swallow a camel!” (A little of Jesus’ sense of humor showed in that last statement!)
Disciple, we are incurably religious. Unless our gaze is constantly reset to Jesus, the Cross, and the promise of Spirit life; we will slide into rule-keeping and call it “Christianity.” We will become obsessed with performance measures based on where we go, what we eat or drink, who we hang out with, church attendance, Bible memorization, and conformity to the our group’s rules. Holiness is important. Christians who are being transformed into the likeness of Jesus will not get drunk, spend their nights in casinos, or cuss like the proverbial sailor! When Jesus pointed out the Pharisees’ mistaken focus on their rules, He said, "You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." (Matthew 23:23, NIV) The reason we will live a holy life, however, will not be prove our worth to God or man, but because we delight in the One whose Spirit lives in us and changes us – inside out!
Reflect on this word from the Word, disciple.
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field—and to get the treasure, too!
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a pearl merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" (Matthew 13:44-46, NLT)
Is your relationship with Christ a treasure, or a ball and chain?
Is the Gospel of Christ making you a beautiful person, full of life, overflowing with love, joy, and peace; or has a religion turned you into a critical, judgmental, sour zealot?
I love this promise and pray it is always true in us:
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)
That’s the best thing in life!
_______________
Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without Him I would fall;
When I am sad, to Him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad,
He's my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust Him now, I'll trust Him
When life's fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
He's my friend.
Jesus Is All The World To Me
Thompson, Will L.
© Public Domain
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
I’m offended!
We all get our feelings hurt, are ignored or treated rudely, from time to time. Relationships can be tough on us, right? We have little control over how others act, but we are in charge of our response. Taking offense and cutting off someone or launching a war of word is a costly choice. The Proverbs warns that offense becomes like a prison, locking one in and the other out! "An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel." (Proverbs 18:19, NIV)
Some people appear to like being angry, taking offense over the most insignificant things. We call it having a ‘chip on your shoulder.’ Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
I am often called on to be a peace-maker, to attempt to rebuild a bridge between people driven apart by some offense. It amazes me how much energy and emotion that some folk will put into reinforcing a very minor slight. Insecurity causes some to dare the world around them to even appear to show disrespect; then they work up hurt feelings. Their tears and wounded emotions makes them the center of attention for a few moments, at least. But the ploy is generally counterproductive, for people quickly learn to avoid that person, fearing becoming the next offender required to try to soothe their ruffled feather.
I know Christians who are offended by situations such as:
"He failed to greet me in church!"
"She didn't extend a return invitation to dinner after I had her to dinner."
"Her son called my son stupid."
One could say that those are situations where courtesy failed, where someone was overlooked, but are they really a reason to call attention to yourself? Must we turn what is often simply oversight or failure of manners into an offense that destroys a relationship?
Things that set us off are often obscure or meaningless to others. When my brother, Andre', was about 6 years old, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' I, being 5 years older, took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! I would imagine if you called him a 'green pig' today and he would laugh and secretly wonder if you are crazy! Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress? It’s easy to chuckle over being angered by being called a ‘green pig,’ but, then, I remember times when I have allowed offense to take root in my heart over things equally inconsequential on reflection.
Here’s the most important thing to remember: offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! The Evil One likes nothing better than to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin a family, destroy a church, paralyze an organization, or cause close groups to disintegrate. When we choose to focus narrowly on the failure of another or a lack of simple courtesy, or even an intentional dig that comes our way, we will take offense IF convince ourselves that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression." (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
Taking offense is a terrible strategy for gaining attention. Your screams will attract sympathy, but only temporarily. If you need or want friendships that are sustaining, if you want to enjoy camaraderie, become a participant instead of a spectator. Invest yourself, selflessly, in others, serving faithfully, lovingly, and without demands. Secure your heart in the Love of God! Let His Word convince you how much you matter to Him. Then, learn to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- “You're being disrespected. You’re not being treated fairly. Insist on your rights!” - you can silence the invitation to offense, by turning your heart to the Father's love.
Learn to forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this you please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God. And here's a word from the Word to take with you today. "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
_____________
Some people appear to like being angry, taking offense over the most insignificant things. We call it having a ‘chip on your shoulder.’ Some say this phrase dates back to medieval times when a knight would place a piece of wood on his shoulder and dare anyone brave enough to challenge him, to knock it off! Occasionally, the chip was knocked off accidentally by the jostling of a crowd but the hapless person who knocked it off was faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to explain he did not mean to provoke a fight.
I am often called on to be a peace-maker, to attempt to rebuild a bridge between people driven apart by some offense. It amazes me how much energy and emotion that some folk will put into reinforcing a very minor slight. Insecurity causes some to dare the world around them to even appear to show disrespect; then they work up hurt feelings. Their tears and wounded emotions makes them the center of attention for a few moments, at least. But the ploy is generally counterproductive, for people quickly learn to avoid that person, fearing becoming the next offender required to try to soothe their ruffled feather.
I know Christians who are offended by situations such as:
"He failed to greet me in church!"
"She didn't extend a return invitation to dinner after I had her to dinner."
"Her son called my son stupid."
One could say that those are situations where courtesy failed, where someone was overlooked, but are they really a reason to call attention to yourself? Must we turn what is often simply oversight or failure of manners into an offense that destroys a relationship?
Things that set us off are often obscure or meaningless to others. When my brother, Andre', was about 6 years old, he hated to be called a 'green pig.' I, being 5 years older, took delight in calling him a 'green pig,' just to hear him wail. Why did he hate that silly phrase? Who knows? I would even imagine he doesn't remember it today, but it was a sure way to offend him in 1966! I would imagine if you called him a 'green pig' today and he would laugh and secretly wonder if you are crazy! Are you letting obscure things cause offense, even when others have no idea what or why is causing your distress? It’s easy to chuckle over being angered by being called a ‘green pig,’ but, then, I remember times when I have allowed offense to take root in my heart over things equally inconsequential on reflection.
Here’s the most important thing to remember: offense is not just a human relationship issue; it is a spiritual issue! The Evil One likes nothing better than to stir controversy between people - in marriage, in ministry, in neighborhoods, in churches, even in families. Why? Because an offended person is capable of sowing chaos that can ruin a family, destroy a church, paralyze an organization, or cause close groups to disintegrate. When we choose to focus narrowly on the failure of another or a lack of simple courtesy, or even an intentional dig that comes our way, we will take offense IF convince ourselves that our honor and dignity is at stake. Ironically, the more focused we become on preserving our honor, the less honorable we are! There is great dignity displayed by the person who simply refuses to take offense. The Bible says, "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression." (Proverbs 19:11, NKJV)
Taking offense is a terrible strategy for gaining attention. Your screams will attract sympathy, but only temporarily. If you need or want friendships that are sustaining, if you want to enjoy camaraderie, become a participant instead of a spectator. Invest yourself, selflessly, in others, serving faithfully, lovingly, and without demands. Secure your heart in the Love of God! Let His Word convince you how much you matter to Him. Then, learn to refuse offense. When the Evil One whispers- “You're being disrespected. You’re not being treated fairly. Insist on your rights!” - you can silence the invitation to offense, by turning your heart to the Father's love.
Learn to forgive readily, as befits one who is forgiven so much by Jesus. In this you please the Lord and become a person who creates harmony, unity, and peace to the glory of God. And here's a word from the Word to take with you today. "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity." (Luke 6:37-38, The Message)
_____________
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
He Knows Me
ABC News interviewed world-renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking. When Diane Sawyer asked him about life’s greatest questions, he said he would like to know why the universe and humans exist. When she asked him if he believed that it was the work of God. "What could define God [is thinking of God] as the embodiment of the laws of nature. However, this is not what most people would think of that God," Hawking told Sawyer. "They made a human-like being with whom one can have a personal relationship. When you look at the vast size of the universe and how insignificant an accidental human life is in it, that seems most impossible." (http://abcnews.go.com/WN/Technology/stephen-hawking-religion-science-win/story?id=10830164) He went on to declare that ‘science will win’ over religion in providing an answer to his question.
Dr. Hawking is brilliant and understands things I can’t grasp in the most rudimentary manner. I would not be foolish enough to try to engage him in debate about physics. But, believe he misunderstands faith which I accept, confusing it with superstition, which I reject. I agree with him that humanity appears insignificant in terms of the vastness of the universe, but rather than see that as a reason to posit that God could not exist as a Personal Being, I see it as an amazing wonder that strongly suggests that He does. That in all the wideness of the universe there is a little planet called Earth, which exists with such perfect balance, allowing the human race to thrive, argues for an Intelligent Being, a Designer, the Creator. Yes, we are tempted to make God in our image! But, He has revealed to us that we are actually made in His!
It is illogical to think that the Creator would care for me and you, if God is like us, limited in love, derailed by selfishness. But, He is infinitely loving and selfless. He knows me! Jesus’ famous illustration of the detail of His love is that ‘He numbers the hairs on your head.’ After a lifetime of inquiry and study, Hawking says he can only find meaning in work, that it what he does that makes life worth living. Yes, Dr. Hawking, our work is important, but the real purpose of life is to know God and to be known by Him. Work alone will leave us with the conclusion of the preacher who said, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIV) "So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:17, NIV)
Faith and science should not compete, nor should one be seen as triumphing over the other. True faith and true science are aligned. Science always comes to the unexplainable, and even a brilliant mind like that of Dr. Hawking finds impenetrable mystery at the edges of their inquiries. At that point, faith points the way forward to where God reveals Himself. It is a tragedy that religion, based in fear, often opposes science. This only creates barriers to understanding and blindness of superstition. As a man of faith, I do not fear the honest scientist, and he has nothing to fear in me. The God Who knows me is the God of Truth.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4, NIV)
So, this is my prayer, and may it be yours:
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
_____________________
O Lord, my God,
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made;
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r thru'out
The universe displayed.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin.
When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration,
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"
How Great Thou Art
Hine, Stuart © 1941,1953,1955, Stuart K. Hine, Renewed 1981 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055
Dr. Hawking is brilliant and understands things I can’t grasp in the most rudimentary manner. I would not be foolish enough to try to engage him in debate about physics. But, believe he misunderstands faith which I accept, confusing it with superstition, which I reject. I agree with him that humanity appears insignificant in terms of the vastness of the universe, but rather than see that as a reason to posit that God could not exist as a Personal Being, I see it as an amazing wonder that strongly suggests that He does. That in all the wideness of the universe there is a little planet called Earth, which exists with such perfect balance, allowing the human race to thrive, argues for an Intelligent Being, a Designer, the Creator. Yes, we are tempted to make God in our image! But, He has revealed to us that we are actually made in His!
It is illogical to think that the Creator would care for me and you, if God is like us, limited in love, derailed by selfishness. But, He is infinitely loving and selfless. He knows me! Jesus’ famous illustration of the detail of His love is that ‘He numbers the hairs on your head.’ After a lifetime of inquiry and study, Hawking says he can only find meaning in work, that it what he does that makes life worth living. Yes, Dr. Hawking, our work is important, but the real purpose of life is to know God and to be known by Him. Work alone will leave us with the conclusion of the preacher who said, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2, NIV) "So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 2:17, NIV)
Faith and science should not compete, nor should one be seen as triumphing over the other. True faith and true science are aligned. Science always comes to the unexplainable, and even a brilliant mind like that of Dr. Hawking finds impenetrable mystery at the edges of their inquiries. At that point, faith points the way forward to where God reveals Himself. It is a tragedy that religion, based in fear, often opposes science. This only creates barriers to understanding and blindness of superstition. As a man of faith, I do not fear the honest scientist, and he has nothing to fear in me. The God Who knows me is the God of Truth.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4, NIV)
So, this is my prayer, and may it be yours:
"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
_____________________
O Lord, my God,
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made;
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r thru'out
The universe displayed.
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin.
When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration,
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"
How Great Thou Art
Hine, Stuart © 1941,1953,1955, Stuart K. Hine, Renewed 1981 Manna Music, Inc. ARR UBP of Manna Music, Inc. (35255 Brooten Road, Pacific City, OR 97135)
CCLI License No. 810055
Monday, June 07, 2010
Consistency = favorable outcome
Chris Tomko, a personal coach and former Human Resources executive, (www.MS4HR.com) did a presentation at our church last night about how to find a job, not just any job, but a job you can feel good about doing. His major themes were consistency and focus. It takes intense focus to determine what work is aligned with your skills and your passion, and then consistent pursuit of that goal. Consistency will drive us to do what needs to be done whether we are ‘in the mood’ or not, whether it’s sunny or rainy, whether others applaud or ignore us! Chris then put up this formula – Consistency = Favorable Outcome. Consistency meets and overcomes the variables that come our way.
Listening to his presentation, my mind applied it to the Christian Walk. I cannot tell you how many times people have told me, “My life is no different since I accepted Christ. I still have the same problems, deal with the same old stuff every day.” They keep a profession of faith like a kind of eternal fire insurance, but their lives are, in fact, no different from those of unbelievers who live around them. Perhaps they are marginally nicer people, but no more likely to be loving, or forgiving, or joyful than the next guy. But, neither are their daily practices of spiritual disciplines. They are not faithful to gather with other Believers, in spite of what the Word teaches about the importance of it. Their Bibles gather dust from Sunday to Sunday. Their giving is out of their excess, if at all, not sacrificial and a first priority. They excuse their pet sins instead of getting serious with God about doing whatever is necessary to become holy in heart.
It’s not a surprise, then, that there is little in the way of the fruit of the Spirit enriching and beautifying their lives. Read this passage again. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:16-23, NIV)
Consistent practices of prayer, meditation, corporate worship, giving, serving, and Scripture intake will lead to the production of the evidence of Spirit life in you. It’s a divine law we can count on. The Holy Spirit in us will cause our lives to bear visible fruit. Jesus’ promise is “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NIV) That word, ‘remain’ indicates a kind of consistency, enduring through hard times, sticking with the program!
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the truth in it inspires a new kind of consistency in us, for God’s glory.
"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT)
_______________
Father in Heaven, thank you for being
“the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Your faithfulness and consistency are my Rock
of assurance, the foundation of my hope.
Lord, I do not want to be ‘on fire’ with enthusiasm today,
and caught up in my worldly pursuits tomorrow,
full of faith in this moment,
and shrinking into fear the next.
Teach me to be consistent, to endure,
to stay the course of the Walk to Heaven,
without looking around, longing to here and there,
fantasizing about what ‘could have been, if only.’
Jesus, save me from my sins.
Holy Spirit, lead me to holiness.
For your glory in all parts of my life,
May there be abundant Spiritual fruit. Amen
Listening to his presentation, my mind applied it to the Christian Walk. I cannot tell you how many times people have told me, “My life is no different since I accepted Christ. I still have the same problems, deal with the same old stuff every day.” They keep a profession of faith like a kind of eternal fire insurance, but their lives are, in fact, no different from those of unbelievers who live around them. Perhaps they are marginally nicer people, but no more likely to be loving, or forgiving, or joyful than the next guy. But, neither are their daily practices of spiritual disciplines. They are not faithful to gather with other Believers, in spite of what the Word teaches about the importance of it. Their Bibles gather dust from Sunday to Sunday. Their giving is out of their excess, if at all, not sacrificial and a first priority. They excuse their pet sins instead of getting serious with God about doing whatever is necessary to become holy in heart.
It’s not a surprise, then, that there is little in the way of the fruit of the Spirit enriching and beautifying their lives. Read this passage again. "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:16-23, NIV)
Consistent practices of prayer, meditation, corporate worship, giving, serving, and Scripture intake will lead to the production of the evidence of Spirit life in you. It’s a divine law we can count on. The Holy Spirit in us will cause our lives to bear visible fruit. Jesus’ promise is “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5, NIV) That word, ‘remain’ indicates a kind of consistency, enduring through hard times, sticking with the program!
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the truth in it inspires a new kind of consistency in us, for God’s glory.
"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NLT)
_______________
Father in Heaven, thank you for being
“the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Your faithfulness and consistency are my Rock
of assurance, the foundation of my hope.
Lord, I do not want to be ‘on fire’ with enthusiasm today,
and caught up in my worldly pursuits tomorrow,
full of faith in this moment,
and shrinking into fear the next.
Teach me to be consistent, to endure,
to stay the course of the Walk to Heaven,
without looking around, longing to here and there,
fantasizing about what ‘could have been, if only.’
Jesus, save me from my sins.
Holy Spirit, lead me to holiness.
For your glory in all parts of my life,
May there be abundant Spiritual fruit. Amen
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