“You idiot, you hypocrite, you are a fool!”

Do you, like me, find yourself puzzled by the world in which we live?  Though I work at being patient and try to understand, so much of the world I which I live is beyond my comprehension these days. One of those is the growing self-hatred of so many who claim to love Jesus. The purity, the holiness, the love for life’s sacredness, the wonderful bonds of marriage, and so much more, are not only held in contempt by much of the world, but even those who are in Christ. To work at being ‘good,’ earns the epithet of hypocrisy. To hold to the Bible’s standard for moral purity earns scorn – not just from guys like Bill Maher, but tragically too often from our Christian brothers and sisters.

How did wrong turn to right, the pursuit of God become something reviled?  I am aware that our time is an era of epic changes in public policy and private morality. However, I also know that I serve a God who is unchanging, who gave us His wisdom, which we disregard to our own peril. I fully understand that change is the only constant in life. We must learn and adapt or perish. However, when Christians substitute ‘what I think is right’ for the eternal Truths, one things is absolutely true - the world is in a desperate place.

In response to all of the change and to those who attack the Church, God’s Word, and holiness I will NOT become a ‘culture warrior.’ I will not carry signs in the street that condemn people who make choices that I know are morally wrong. I will not preach angry sermons that warm the fires of judgment. I won’t even argue at length with those who claim to be my brothers and sisters yet despise the Word and Lord I serve.   

It is not fear that holds my tongue; it is grace. I have no need to compromise everything that I believe to find acceptance. I am convinced from the depths of my being that truth can only be told in love, not the ‘phony smile on my face with contempt in my heart’ kind of love, but a Jesus-style kind of love that sees the person first.

Jesus’ encounters with people who were sinning rarely included condemnation. He met them with love, went to their homes for dinner, and won their hearts before He addressed their behavior. It’s a good model for us when we are confused, besieged, or angry.  In a time when friends and family are torn apart by differences of world view, when our ideas and politics seem only to be expressed in stark black and white, when we only shout in every conversation– we must renew our grasp of His call to peace.

Peace not require us to adopt every new idea or to compromise our principles for the sake of ‘getting along.’ Peace does require that we always see people first, then their ideas, so that we will treat them with respect which is God’s desire for us.

Here is how Jesus describes our influence …  “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:13-17, NIV)

Both salt and light do what they do by being present – not by destroying or overwhelming. Salt changes the flavor and was used, mostly in times past, as a preservative that kept food from rot. Are we functioning in ways that are loving, sacrificial, and serving that are preserving life?  Light always dispels darkness.  Darkness cannot overcome light.  Even a tiny candle continues to shine in a warehouse full of darkness.

Are you, like me, feeling the weight of a world gone wrong?
Do the attacks that come leave you wanting to push back? 

James, the pastor in Jerusalem, teaches us how to face hostility. "If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere." (James 3:13-17, NLT)

In these days before one of the most divisive elections in my memory, when all manner of issues are up for debate, I pray that those who love Jesus will first choose peace. Before we post an inflammatory statement on Facebook we should ask ourselves “Does this reflect wisdom? Does it promote peace? Is it gentle? Does it show mercy?”  Before we sound off about ‘those people’ (whomever that may be to us) we need to pray for true wisdom that is best shown in an honorable life, in goodness that flows out of humility!

Here is a profound word from the Word for us. May we hear it and be shaped by the wisdom of God. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family." (Matthew 5:9, The Message)  

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, The Message)

______________

Lord I Need You 

Lord I come, I confess,

Bowing here, I find my rest.

And without You, I fall apart,

You're the one that guides my heart.

 

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You!

Ev'ry hour I need You.

My one defense, my righteousness,

Oh God, how I need You.

 

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more.

Where grace is found, is where You are.

And where You are, Lord, I am free.

Holiness is Christ in me!

 

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way.

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You,

Jesus, You're my hope and stay.

 

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

© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

A Divine Intervention

When a family member or friend is in crisis with an addiction issue a frequently used tool is the intervention. A group gathers to meet with that person with the sole purpose bringing awareness and, hopefully, provoking a willingness to seek help. Addiction is a stubborn thing and often the person confronted with the reality that others can plainly see refuses to accept help, seeing their efforts not as loving, but as harassment. Sometimes the shock of seeing a loving, united group of family, friends, pastors, and professionals causes the addict to pause, to think, and to take a new direction.  

In the letter to the Ephesians, we read about God’s intervention. “But God” is the turning point in the passage to which I refer. The grim reality is that we are "dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience," (Ephesians 2:1-2, NKJV)

Self-deceived, duped by evil, we are spiritually dead.  "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-6, NKJV)  Not everybody responds to His loving challenge with faith. Many, when confronted with the truth about their spiritual condition plunge even deeper into their disobedience, angrily lashing out at those ‘religious’ nuts who would suggest that there is a problem. 

"But God…” 

In Joshua’s story, the second chapter is a "But God” moment. Israel is preparing for an invasion, a war to possess the Promised Land. Joshua sends 2 spies across the Jordan River to look over the defenses of Jericho, the first city they will encounter. God reveals His mercy and grace in that account when those men meet a prostitute named Rahab.

They stay in her home, she hides them from city officials, and she makes a deal to survive. She takes a risk, stepping out in faith, to take hold of an as yet unseen future.  Why? The Spirit has awakened her to the reality of the truth about Israel’s God.  As she talks to the spies, she tells them “I know that the LORD has given this land to you  . . . the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." (Joshua 2:9-11, NIV) She meets grace with faith.

The story continues with a deal being struck. Rahab is told if she will keep her mouth shut, gather her family into her house when the battle breaks out, and hang a scarlet cord in her window, her family would be kept from destruction. “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window." (Joshua 2:21, NIV)  Again, we see that she acts in faith.

That scarlet cord brings to mind the blood applied in faith to the doorposts of the homes in Egypt to spare the visit of the Death Angel, the origins of Passover. And, it reaches forward to the Cross where Christ’s blood was shed. His sacrifice, received by faith, replaces judgment with acceptance.

Rahab disappears from the Old Testament story, but reappears in the genealogy of Jesus! She was saved, apparently became a part of Israel, and married a Jewish man. She was the great, great grandmother of King David and one of Jesus’ ancestors. Not bad for a former prostitute in a pagan city, is it?  What a  "But God…” story. 

The writer of Hebrews includes her in the “Hall of Faith.”  "By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient." (Hebrews 11:30-31, NIV)

God is still doing interventions! He still interrupts our sad stories of sin and failure. Just when we conclude that we or someone we know is beyond hope, God steps up.  "Not so quick! Now, it's my turn!"  In my pastoral ministry so many people have come looking for hope, but focused on their own failure. "Jerry, just look at my life. I'm ...."  It is my joy to be able to point them to the One who says, “BUT,” and changes the conversation. With God there is no one who is too far gone, beyond hope, past the reach of the redemptive power of the Cross of Christ. Yes, there is a necessary faith that must respond to Him, but God still does new hearts and new starts- bringing about amazing transformations. 

Are you feeling like life has overwhelmed you? Is hope dimmed, or failure darkening your day? The word from the Word is the same passage I quoted earlier but this time from a modern paraphrase. Hear it, believe Him, and find life. “But God,” "immense in mercy and with an incredible love, embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish!" (Ephesians 2:4-8, The Message)

Thank Him, today, for His grace.
Thank Him for second chances,
for His offer to take the very things you think have disqualified you from His service and
to use them to shape and mold you into a person who will become useful in His plans and purposes.

____________

In Christ Alone

(Celtic worship does this song beautifully!)

 

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

 

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

 

Keith Getty | Stuart Townend

© 2001 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Your inner circle, your ‘mighty’s?’

 

Thanking God for the blessings of my life always includes mention of those people who are ‘my team’ not in the sense that I own them, but as those who are ‘doing life’ alongside of me. Some are there just for a season, others have been part of my life for decades. Some I speak to everyday, some I connect with occasionally, but ALL are a source of joy and blessing!

My reading this morning brought me to a passage with this heading – “David’s Mighty Men!”  Packed into a few verses are summaries of great exploits done by men who stood with David through the battles of life. Eleazar fought so long and so hard in one battle that “his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.” That is dedication! 

There is a touching story included there that reveals the love and loyalty of those men. Take a look. "During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it. Such were the exploits of the three mighty men." (2 Samuel 23:13-17, NIV)

Their commander mused out loud about missing home, wishing he could drink water from the old home town well. Next thing he knew three of his friends had risked their lives to make the journey, crossing enemy lines in the process, coming and going.  

 David was so moved by their gift that he didn’t drink the water! What? Yes, he honored them by making their gift an offering to the Lord, dedicating it to those ‘mighty men’ who had honored him. In another book we read that "David’s Mighty Men, ... linked arms with him as he took up his kingship..." (1 Chronicles 11:10, The Message)   They were his allies, offering encouragement, surrounding him with support.

Who is on your team?  Who stands with you?
To whom are you LOYAL beyond the convenience of the moment, becoming persons of one heart and mind?
We need our ‘mighty men’ and we need to be that to others.

The wisdom of God reminds us that "Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success." (Proverbs 15:22-23,NLT)   Acts tells the stories of the first generation of the Church. We tend to romanticize their experiences but the truth is that they faced thorny issues, wrestled through conflict, and struggled to exist in a hostile world. Consistently, however, we read of councils being convened where they prayed, talked, fought, and found God’s wisdom.

Peter and Paul were decisive and bold leaders, but they were also willing to let God speak to them through the counsel of from the Body. Their debates over the nature of grace and the place of the Law were sharp, their words pointed. Feelings got hurt. Occasionally friendships failed. But, with the help of the Spirit, those early church leaders kept their eyes on the goal and built Christ's Kingdom, together, because they knew the work they did was a shared effort.

Are there people in your life that you have invited to speak truthfully to you, no matter the situation?
Are there those who love you so much that they will stand with you when you fall down, lending hope when you have lost yours?
Or, are you attempting life as a "Lone Ranger" trying to live self-sufficiently?

In this era Christians need to rediscover the importance of being Christ’s Body TOGETHER.
This demands the surrender of our ego, a painful death to ‘Self,' and a willingness to serve one another. There is so much to gain IF we will build a team and stick with it.  You know that our American ideal is to laud the individual, to tend to admire the ‘super-hero.’  For God’s sake and the work of the Lord it is time to be different, to prioritize our relationships and give time to making them stronger. Do not discard that person who offers counsel that challenges. Value that person who urges a better choice, another way.  

Here is a practical word from the Word. Ask God, the Spirit, to teach you how to build a circle of “mighty’s” in your life.

"Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one;
they get a better return for their labor.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.
But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.
And on a cold night, two under the same blanket can gain warmth from each other.
But how can one be warm alone?

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.
Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NLT)

_______________ 

We Will Stand
(This is an older song that Russ Taff does so beautifully.
I hope it encourages you to stand together with other Christians.)

 Sometimes it's hard for me to understand
Why we pull away from each other so easily
Even though we're all walking the same road?
Yet we build dividing walls
Between our brothers and ourselves.

But, I don't care what label you may wear,
If you believe in Jesus you belong with me!
The bond we share is all I care to see,
And we'll change the world forever,
If you will join with me,
Join and sing, sing.

You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us,
When we're walking side by side,
As long as there is love,
We will stand!

The day will come when we will be as one
And with a mighty voice
Together we will proclaim that
Jesus, Jesus is King.
It will echo through the earth.
It will shake the nations.
And the world will see, see that;

You're my brother, you're my sister,
So take me by the hand.
Together we will work until He comes.
There's no foe that can defeat us,
When we're walking side by side,
As long as there is love,
We will stand!

James Hollihan | Russ Taff | Tori Taff © 1983 Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Make Room for the Fresh

At the border of Israel is one of the strangest ‘lakes’ in the world – the Dead Sea. It is a mineral-laden lake surrounded by barren desert. When Bev and I toured there, we watched other tourists enter the water and float effortlessly because of the concentration of salts.  Around 50 miles north of that lake there is another body of water, the Sea of Galilee, which teems with life, sparkling with fresh water from the mountains to the north of it. These two lakes are connected by the Jordan River. So what makes the fresh water of Galilee that flows down the Jordan into the  brackish water of the Dead Sea? It has no outlet, no overflow. The inflow only escapes by evaporation leaving so much mineral accumulation that all life was choked from the water eons ago.

There is a life-lesson there. If we want to remain ‘fresh’ and life-giving we cannot just consume, we must give! Do you measure your happiness by what flows into your life or what flows out of it?  A person who is not generous risks becoming toxic with deadly selfishness. 

I watched a fascinating documentary about the way that humans regard “capital,” the wealth that makes productivity possible. A few see it as a tool to improve the lives of people. Most try to build ever greater reserves of it. 200 years ago, capital was controlled by a tiny group of elites. People were very rich or very poor. All of that wealth flowing into the hands of just a few persons brought corruption and eventually revolutions in most of Europe and the Americas.  The 20^th century brought new ideas about redistribution of wealth through regulation and social programs but as that century ended with the spectacular failure and collapse of Communism, Western governments began to trust free markets and removed many of those regulations that redistributed capital. The concentration of wealth is re-occurring with more capital controlled by fewer people in 2020. It is not a positive indicator for social health and stability in years ahead.

 Are you holding tightly to your time, your status, your privilege?
Are you generous with others, not just with money but with acceptance, forgiveness, and love? 
A generous spirit is the key to remaining fresh and alive!

 We can be people of generosity in every way because of this fact:  our Father promises to care for our needs `according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.' (Phil. 4.19)  Why are Christians who are given ALL things by the Father so selfish, so protective of their stuff, their lives?  If we grow fearful of the future, fearful of others, we will shut ourselves off from the world in which we live. Knowing God, trusting Him radically, will enlarge our capacity to love. Remember that “we love because He loved us first.”

Look at this wisdom: "It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:24-25 NLT)  That principle is about much more than our money. It is about choosing to invest in the joys and sorrows of the people around us,  developing a life that overflows with gentle forgiveness,  one that liberally recognizes the individual contribution that others make to the well-being of the whole.

Paul, as he was leaving for Jerusalem where he would face arrest and long imprisonment, reminded the Ephesian Believers: "You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: `It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " (Acts 20:35 NLT)  Early in his life, he was a man focused on self-improvement, on protecting his own traditions, on gaining power.  Then, he got knocked off his high horse in an encounter with the Living Lord. Grace flowed into his life and Paul opened the spigot to let it flow back out. He gave up everything – comfort, treasure, time, reputation – to take the good news of God’s acceptance to the wide world.

He lived what he taught about generosity. "Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out." (2 Corinthians 9:6-9, The Message)

Get connected to your Source, in prayer, in faith. Pray that He will enlarge your heart, then give yourself away.

Do it in the smallest of ways… letting someone go before you in the checkout line, slowing down for the driver who wants to get into your lane of traffic.  Turn criticism into praise, condemning thoughts into prayers for blessings.

Do it in a bigger way… when someone you know falls down, reach out to help them up. When a `juicy tale' falls into your hands, bury it and never repeat it no matter how much fun it might be to share! Write a check to someone in need or better, put some cash in an envelope and give it to them without disclosing the source. 

Do  it in the biggest way… pray for God's blessings to rest on your worst enemy. Pray for them to experience the LOVE of the Father! (and mean it!)

Here’s a word from the Word. It’s familiar. Read it slowly and prayerfully, asking that the Spirit will bring the full truth to fruitfulness in your life today.

"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:24-25, NLT)

Don’t turn yourself into a ‘Dead Sea.’ 
Let your life overflow and God will ‘pour on the blessings in astonishing ways.’

_________________ 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

(Believe it!)

Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning
New mercies I see
All I have needed
Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness
Lord unto me

 

Great is Thy faithfulness

O God my Father

There is no shadow

Of turning with Thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be

 

Summer and winter

And springtime and harvest

Sun moon and stars

In their courses above

Join with all nature

In manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness

Mercy and love

 

Pardon for sin

And a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence

To cheer and to guide

Strength for today

And bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine

With ten thousand beside

 

Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

© Words: Public Domain

 

Burnt to a crisp?

On this Monday morning, a fresh week just starting, are you already looking forward to Friday? I loved those popular 1980’s Dunkin’™ commercials featuring Fred, the baker, waking up before dawn declaring - "Time to make the donuts." Over the years, we met Fred time and time again heading for the door because it was ‘time to make the donuts!’ The phrase entered our American language as a short-hand way to acknowledge our mixed emotions about work. Go ahead today and say, “Time to make the donuts” and even somebody who never saw one of those commercials will know what you mean!

One of the by-products of the age of COVID-19 is a phenomenon called ‘burn out.’  For many of us the rewards of our work is deferred, the ongoing responsibilities increased but apart from the things that helped make life richer. “Burn out” describes those combined feelings of cynicism, depression, and anger that rob us of our joy and creativity, reducing us to a drone who realizes that ‘it’s time to make the donuts’ but without any sense of fulfillment!  It’s more than fatigue. We all have days when we wonder why we do what we do, when we feel that we are just a cog in a machine. When those days turn into weeks and then into months of unbroken output, when we have no sense of meaning, or when life seems to be beyond our control, we are at risk for ‘burn out.’ 

Those times put us at great risk of making short-sighted choices and, yes, vulnerable to many kinds of temptation – overspending, quitting too soon, getting into pornography, abusing alcohol – to name a few. In my calling, this time is producing ‘burn out’ in many pastors who are giving it all they have with little in the way of visible return, preaching to mostly empty buildings, unable to connect meaningfully with the people for whom they care.

It’s not just executives, pastors, or doctors that burn out. Mommy fatigue is real.  Toddlers who seems to have endless energy and teenagers that seem not to care much for the love a parent offers are things that make life exhausting. Marriage ‘burn out’  is real. Spouses who fail to connect, care, and prioritize grow apart and stale.  

Christians can and do ‘burn out’  when they no longer can connect worship and/or service to anything that resembles results.

One of the most important ways to avoid burn out is to maintain a balance of work and rest, something growing more rare as we work from home, stay connected 24/7, and feel limited about going to places that break the routine – like church, a night with friends, or a family vacation. We will not find real renewal in self-indulgence! If we are at risk of real burn out but think that we will recover if we are selfish or walk away from responsibility, we make a real mistake.

The issue of perfectionism plays into burn out, too. Comparison is a cruel taskmaster that eat away at our heart, making it almost impossible to give thanks for whom we are, where we are. Not everyone is an Olympic athlete, blessed with the brains of a neurosurgeon, or gifted with the compassion of Mother Theresa. If we come to believe that we are not valuable to God unless we are working at that kind of level we are at risk of burning ourselves out chasing the impossible. Who has God gifted YOU to be?

It is possible for us to live at a high level of productivity and remain fresh, vital, and joyful! How?

Renewal is accomplished by choosing our priorities and learning to align our daily choices with the important rather than the ‘urgent.’ No one person can do everything, be everything, or make life right for everyone.  One of the most difficult questions in the world to answer is this- “What does God what specifically from me?”  As Christians, there is nothing more critical than making our choices – time use, money, entertainment, privates thoughts -that are aligned with God’s will.  When our values and actions are in sync, our risk of burn out is much lower.

Renewal flows out of worship. You know this but I’ll say it anyway. Worship is not just something that happens on Sunday morning! Worship is a lifestyle, cultivated by ongoing pursuit of the Holy, as real on Monday morning as in a church sanctuary on a holy day. I cannot overstate the importance of hitting life’s pause button, first not last, for meditation, prayer, and giving God His place. There is a conceit that grips too many of us in which we are convinced that we can make life work just as we desire if only we do more, start earlier, or stay later. That lie will kill your soul and leave you a burnt wisp of a human being.

This Psalm invites us to a life of renewal. Before you read it, pause and ask the Spirit to make it a living Word. If you have worked too long, put God in second place, or failed to take care of your primary relationships – confess those choices as the sins they are, and take the grace He offers to change your heart. RENEWAL is possible.

The word from the Word …

“A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and
beheld your power and your glory.

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."  (Psalm 63:1-8, NIV)

____________ 

Graves Into Gardens
(take a few minutes to soak in this song of renewal!)

I searched the world but it couldn't fill me

Man's empty praise and treasures that fade

Are never enough

Then You came along and put me back together

And every desire is now satisfied here in Your love

 

Oh there's nothing better than You

There's nothing better than You

Lord there's nothing

Nothing is better than You

 

I'm not afraid to show You my weakness

My failures and flaws

Lord You've seen them all

And You still call me friend

'Cause the God of the mountain

Is the God of the valley

And there's not a place

Your mercy and grace won't find me again

 

You turn mourning to dancing

You give beauty for ashes

You turn shame into glory

You're the only one who can

 

You turn graves into gardens

You turn bones into armies

You turn seas into highways

You're the only one who can

 

Brandon Lake | Chris Brown | Steven Furtick | Tiffany Hammer

© 2019 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC)

Maverick City Publishing Worldwide (Admin. by Heritage Worship Publishing)

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