In Jesus’ Name, We Press On

 

Walking into a local diner yesterday, I heard a voice - “Hey, Jerry, you gonna eat by yourself?”  It took a second to register the greeting of my old friend, Jack, who have known for almost 50 years. He was the best man at my wedding. We spend the next hour ‘catching up’ on life, talking about our families, sharing our faith walk, being friends. It was sweet to remember.  

Nostalgia is dangerous as the old song says - “Once upon a time the world was sweeter than we knew, Everything was ours, how happy we were then!”  It is good to remember the blessings of the past, times of fruitful ministry, people still loved - but, we can’t live there.

The opportunities that exist today can be hidden by the haze of past glories or the darkness of regret. We rewrite history, perhaps not on purpose, but we do. The ‘ordinary’ is lost to us and the moments we remember are the big ones – those that stand out. We may well remember those 'good old days, forgetting most of the hardships that are eclipsed by the shining moments of joy.  Conversely, the failures that cause us pain may hide a hundred lesser victories, long forgotten. 

With age, I know that living in the past is a major temptation, one that will hinder my relationship with the Lord.  Even if you are not that old, our quickly changing world can bring on longing for another era, one that we remember as being so much better!  Are you bemoaning life?  "It's not the way it used to be."   Life is not static, never has been, never will be.

Christian, we must keeping growing and learning. If we starting living only in yesterday, we will die – spiritually.   I hear your objection - "But, Jerry, Christianity is ancient. Traditions are important."   Yes, it is true. The Bible assures us that "Jesus Christ is the same; yesterday, today, and forever." The grace gifts of Communion, baptism, and holy days in our calendar are valuable experiences that preserve continuity in the Christian community, that take us ‘back to the foundations.’ 

And, this too, I do not suggest that all change is good or that we should seek change out of boredom. We change for the good when we invite God, the Spirit, speak to us in our place, our time, with a word for this day that brings the unchanging Christ into this world.  While the Gospel of Christ, the grace that reconciles us to our Creator God, never changes, how it is communicated; the ways that we worship, the methods we use to observe the traditions and rites of our faith - will all change over time. Songs that moved us, that shaped our expressions, will be replaced by the songs of new artists who are expressing their love for Christ with new rhythms and melodies. Preachers whose methods were inspired by the Spirit for a generation will pass on to their reward.  Today will bring innovative ways to share the authentic Message of Christ.

Let’s make it personal before closing this thought today.
I want to encourage you to enjoy what the Lord wants to do in your life TODAY!

Do you fondly remember a decade when God seemed so close to you? Rejoice in that!  
Do you feel deep regret for some choices you made in past?  Remember the great grace of God that forgives our sins -completely.

Great memories strengthen bonds bringing families, churches, and even nations together.  We learn from the terrible memories of poor choices, sinful decisions, or simple folly!   But, we must not sing ‘once upon a time,’ too fondly, so as to miss God’s work, right here, right now!  Pray that the Spirit will renew your vision.  Give thanks for the possibilities that exist in this day. If you think the Church has gone a little 'off the rails,' pray for those who lead, asking the Spirit to make His Presence known.  

Be ready, whether you have walked with God for 4 months or 40 years to see God to do a new thing - in you, in your church, in this world! Consider Jesus' parable - “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be torn, and the patch wouldn’t even match the old garment. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins." (Luke 5:36-37, NLT)

Here’s a word from the Word. Paul writing about the path of his life speaks of a forward looking faith. “I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (Philippians 3:12-14, NLT)

Press on to the prize!

_____________

Press On

(a song I love for the hope it inspires)

 When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall

When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all

 In Jesus' name we press on
In Jesus' name we press on
Dear Lord with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on

Dan Burgess © 1983 Good Life Publications, Inc. (Admin. by Jubilate Music Group, LLC)

 

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Better today, growing into tomorrow

 

Are you sometimes surprised at what comes out of your mouth, or by a thought that enters your conscious mind, or the realization of some part of you kept hidden from view?  There are shadows in us all, some that make us shudder, some that fill us regret, some that create real stress. Paul reminds us  not to be "naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence."  (1 Corinthians 10:12, The Message) 

Christians are not exempt from temptation or too good to sin. Yes, the Spirit of God lives in us.  He makes change possible but we must be wary of the pursuit of perfectionism. If we imagine that we can somehow reach a place of spiritual maturity when we become too strong to fail, too mature to act foolishly, too ‘spiritual’ to sin, we are living in deception.  The pressure of perfection is a sure way to destroy the joy of the Lord, to turn into a miserable religionist.

Paul teaches us that though we are filled with Christ, secured by His grace gift, we continue to deal with the sinful nature. "For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?"  Romans 7:22-24 NIV  There we find a glimpse of the reason why Christians still can be cruel, selfish, materialistic - a saint and a sinner in the same body!

It is not my intent in this reflection to suggest that we wave the white flag of surrender to our darker side or that we make peace with those ways in us that are less than Jesus desires for us. We can grow in grace, the life and love of Jesus more evident in us with time’s passing.  Basic to this growth is faith in the truth that our salvation and holiness cannot come from ourselves. The life God desires us to live is a work of the Spirit. 

 Paul, seeing the struggle of the Galatians to perfect themselves challenges them (and us) to understand God’s work on our behalf "Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" (Galatians 3:2-3, NLT) " 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." (Galatians 5:16-17, NIV)

Having received Christ by faith, we can let His Light shine into every corner of our lives! A quote from Supreme Court Justice, Louis Brandeis, who served from 1916 to 1939, is not about spiritual matters but it certainly applies! "Sunlight is the best disinfectant!" He referred to the corruption  that goes on when government operates in secrecy, without accountability. His observation has an application to each of our lives.

IF we hide the truth from others or even ourselves, too ashamed to live honesty, we give the sinful nature the opportunity to pull us away from God’s purposes.  Compromises that seem to be insignificant, that are excused as just 'going along to get along,' open us to temptations for greater sins over time. Refusal hear the truth about what we have done or even who we are deepens our deceptions.

John was inspired by the Spirit to write "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."  (1 John 1:6-10, NIV)

Is your heart open to the Spirit?  Do you listen to His call to God’s way?  Sometimes it is enough to confess our 'darkness' to God alone. There are parts of us that are transformed by owning our sinfulness before the Lord (confession) and sincerely asking for His forgiveness, His strength to overcome.

Some dark places are too engrained for us to deal with alone. In those struggles we need an ally, sometimes several allies. That is why the Christian life is not to be lived in isolation.  Oh that God would help His Church to become a healing community, not a judging one, a place where people find grace that leads them to experience Grace Incarnate. Together, we can pull open those doors that shut out the Light.  Holiness is found in community, not because we can create our own perfection, but because as we open up to one another with acceptance, the Light of Christ shines as we give and receive grace.

Let’s aspire to be like Jesus Christ who always accepted people as they were without necessarily affirming what they did!  Accept people, challenge behavior!  You may help someone find their way out of the darkness by becoming "Jesus with skin on" to them!  We may never know what demons torment another person in the dark corners of his mind if we are quick to judge, heavy on condemnation.  Love! Listen! Lift the heavy burden of guilt and shame by taking them to the Cross where all our sins are forgiven.

Our word from the Word is full of hope for imperfect people, turning our attention to our Perfect Savior and complete salvation.  "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.

But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the requirement of the law would be fully accomplished for us who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit." (Romans 8:1-4, NLT)

Ah, by His grace I am better today, growing into tomorrow!

___________

God Only Knows

(a hopeful song from King and Country)

Wide awake while the world is sound asleep and

Too afraid of what might show up

While you're dreamin'

Nobody nobody nobody sees you

Nobody nobody will believe you

Every day you try to pick up all the pieces

All the memories they somehow never leave ya

Nobody nobody nobody sees you

Nobody nobody will believe you

 

God only knows what you been through

God only knows what they say about you

God only knows how it's killing you

But there's a kind of a love that God only knows

 

God only knows what you been through

God only knows what they say about you

God only knows the real you

There's a kind of a love that God only knows

 

There's a kind of love that

There's a kind of love

 

You keep a cover over every single secret

So afraid if someone saw them they would leave

But somebody somebody somebody sees you

Somebody somebody will never leave you

 

For the lonely for the ashamed

The misunderstood and the ones to blame

What if we can start over

We could start over we could start over

'Cause there's a kinda love that God only knows

 

God only knows where to find you

God only knows how to break through

God only knows the real you

There's a kind of love that God only knows

 

 

Joel Smallbone | Jordan Reynolds | Josh Kerr | Luke Smallbone | Tedd Tjornhom

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Worn out?

 

The lawn tractor did the mowing of the church lawn for at least 25 years. It is a quality machine but it’s just worn out. Last week, we purchased a shiny new replacement.  Do you ever feel like that old machine, doing your best day after day, but tired and worn, too?  Our human experience brings one challenge upon another. We complete a task only to have two more pop up on the to-do list. I enjoy a good life but still, even with all the blessings and joys, there are moments when I am just plain tired, feeling worn out.

One of Job's friends (Remember Job’s troubles?) wryly observed, "People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire." (Job 5:7, NLT) No matter how well you think you have prepared for tomorrow, how faithfully you take your vitamins, exercise your body, try to choose wise investments, practice the spiritual disciplines -  there will be something - from some unexpected corner, at some unexpected moment, that will bring yet another challenge to the doorstep of your life.  That is why we need renewal, a place of rest.

Here is the good news about our life in Christ! He is our High Priest who is always praying for us!  I am encouraged when someone takes the time to send me a text, an email, or even one of those old-fashioned note the mail to say, "Just wanted you to know that I was praying for you today." The prayers we offer to God on another's behalf are a true gift, but even better is the knowledge that Jesus Christ is at the Father's right hand interceding for me, asking for mercy on my behalf, praying for me to stay on my feet when life is coming at me hard and fast.

I am touched and inspired by Jesus’ promise to Peter. The big fisherman over-estimated his strength, sure he was able to withstand any pressure or problem that was coming his way. The Lord knew his true weakness, that very night he would deny he knew Jesus. Yet, Jesus promised renewal. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32, NIV)  “I have prayed for you.”

That promise is for you, for me, today. The Bible says, "He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." (Hebrews 7:25-26, NIV)

In John’s Gospel, chapter 17, we read a wonderful prayer that gives encouragement. Jesus says, "I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth." (John 17:14-17, NLT)  He does not ask God to make life easy or to provide us some quick escape from this world!

We pray that way sometimes, don't we? "God, let me outta here! Change this situation. Just let me have an easy time of it today." Yes, I pray that childish prayer sometimes. Jesus prays that we will be preserved from spiritual destruction, that we will be full of the Spirit's life and distinct as the people of God in a dark world, and that we will understand God's word and will.

If you are feeling worn out by endless trials, and there are plenty of troubles and trials to go around these days, let faith rise and look to your Great High Priest.

He is praying for you! You are not forgotten or forsaken.

He asks the best for you, not the easy!

Pray like He prays; not for release, but for courage; not for an easier place, but for His glory shine through you as remain faithful to Him in your present situation.

Hebrews assures us that our High Priest is compassionate because He understands our needs.  He was tested in all the ways we are. When you're wrestling with life and the will of God, remember He did, too. As He prayed in Gethsemane, under terrible pressure and in great anguish, He pleaded for another way, but eventually came to surrender, "Not my will, Father, but Yours, be done!" So He understands when you're pressured, squeezed, stressed, broken, disappointed, distraught, confused, or afraid! He is praying for you.

Here is a word from the Word. Spend some time meditating and thanking God for His encouragement. "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5, NLT)  "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 12:2, NIV)

 Tired? Yes.
Worn out and worthless? No!

_______________

Evidence

(a beautiful affirmation of faith and renewal)

All throughout my history

Your faithfulness has walked beside me

The winter storms made way for spring

In every season from where I'm standing

 

I see the evidence of Your goodness

All over my life

All over my life

I see Your promises in fulfillment

All over my life

All over my life (yeah)

 

Help me remember when I'm weak

Fear may come but fear will leave

You lead my heart to victory

You are my strength and You always will be

 

See the cross the empty grave

The evidence is endless

All my sin rolled away

Because of You oh Jesus (oh)

 

Why should I fear

(Oh) The evidence is here

 

Ed Cash | Ethan Hulse | Josh Baldwin

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Burrs or Blessings?

 

In 1948, George DeMestral was out hunting in the mountains in France with his long-haired Irish Pointer. The dog disappeared into the brush and came out with burrs from the burdock plant tangled in her coast. He noted that they were covering his wool pants, too. 99.9 % of us would have been aggravated by the work required to pick those burrs out of the dog’s coat and from our clothing. George was fascinated. 

He took some of the burrs to his microscope and examined them carefully, amazed by the tiny ‘hooks’ that attached the seed to any fiber surface. His observation led him to invent "locking tape."  We call it Velcro™.   A weed seed, that was an annoyance, inspired the quick fasteners we use in so many applications. George DeMestral was always curious, an inventor/engineer who 'saw' beyond the obvious because he looked.

We are dealing with ongoing disruptions to life caused by COVID: illness, government policies, death, and economic impact are having a real effect on the lives and emotional health of people around the world.

Christian, what do you see in all of this? 
Aggravation or opportunity?  

I do not intend to suggest that God is the author the mess we’re in.  With time we may be able to sort out causes. But for now, we are invited to be people of vision inspired by faith, who bring the Spirit’s resources into this world. Instead of complaining and whining, we can pray earnestly. Instead of waiting for someone to ride to our rescue, we can become people who care and serve. Instead of attacking those with whom we differ on restrictions, vaccines, and personal choices, we can become people who seek truth and build hope! This is possible IF we are willing to set aside the aggravation we feel (and that is a real thing for many of us) and look for the best ways to  turn a difficulty into an opportunity.

Faith is {Hebrews 11:1 ASV} “the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.”    Genuine faith does not demand that we pretend all is well nor does it require a denial of reality. Faith will give us wisdom and the desire to pray  this - "Lord, do not let me only see the obvious;   let me see the possible; the potential; so that I will allow You to work in circumstances of my life." 

Some people look for evidence of God's absence. 
I want to that person who looks for evidence of His Presence.  
Some people complain about what God does not do.
I want to be one who remembers to thank Him for the myriad blessings:  seen and unseen, that  He pours on me day to day.

God promises that if we seek Him, we WILL find Him!

The exiles of Judah, far from home in Babylon, were in a mess. Some concluded there was no future, no hope. They were ready to simply survive. But, God spoke through the ‘Weeping Prophet’ - Jeremiah. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the Lord. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land." (Jeremiah 29:11-14, NLT)  The faithless probably said, “Nonsense, empty words. Shut up!” No nation that the Assyrians had overrun and destroyed had ever been restored or rebuilt. But, God, declared there was an opportunity to be found in the mess! And, two generations later, we read the stories of Ezra and Nehemiah leading the restoration of Jerusalem, God’s Temple, and the renewal of Judaism.

Have you concluded that your problem has no solution or that God has forgotten your name?  Take a second look. Your impossibility is God's opportunity. Today, dry the tears. Stop the complaint. Look up, asking for faith to believe, courage to hold onto His hand, a new desire to walk in the Spirit’s life and power. Instead of telling God to get rid of the burrs ask Him to help you to see the answers that are hiding in them. Instead of  looking for a new job, a new church, a new place   . . . ask God to make a new YOU!  Let’s "Be wise … making the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5, NIV)

Here is a word from the Word. I hope this truth inspires us, sparking faith. 
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf! ... 
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer." (Psalm 66:5, 16-19, NIV)

____________

Good God Almighty
(sing along, find joy in this happy praise)

I can't count the times
I've called Your name some broken night
And You showed up and patched me up
Like You do every time
I get amnesia I forget that You keep coming around
Yeah ain't no way You'll ever let me down

Good God Almighty
I hope You'll find me
Praising Your Name no matter what comes
'Cause I know where I'd be
Without Your mercy
So I keep praising Your name at the top of my lungs

Tell me is He good (He's good)
Tell me is He God (He's God)
He is Good God Almighty

You say Your love goes on forever
That Your mercy never stops
So why would I assume
You'd be somebody that You're not
Like sun in the morning
I know You're gonna be there every day
So what on earth could make me be afraid

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noon time
Praise Him when the sun goes down
Love Him in the morning
Love Him in the noon time
Love Him when the sun goes down

Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the sun goes down
Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noon time
Jesus when the sun goes down

 

Ben Glover | David Crowder | Jeff Sojka
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"Satan hindered us"

Fear is a tool used in politics and preaching to move the masses because it works. People with different ideas are turned into objects of derision. Statistics that are alarming are sensationalized. Thorny challenges are turned into the next ‘end of the world’ event. To tell the truth – I hate it!  It is one of the reasons I have disengaged from ‘news’ reports on major media. So many stories are reported along with fanfare and dire warnings that scare us silly with the goal of making us come back for more. This CoffeeBreak deals with a scary subject but it is not an exercise in hype. It is a reminder of an important fact in our Christian discipleship. It is about someone most of us do not want to think about too much.

Peter wrote to us with this arresting image: "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT)  A serious student of the Scripture must grapple with the reality of an Adversary who is active in his pursuit of the destruction of God's work in this world! The devil is not imaginary or a shadow in our psyche!   

 Jesus variously describes him as "the prince of this world,"  "a murderer," and as "a liar and the father of lies."    Paul calls him "the god of this age."   John’s vivid imagery in the Revelation reveals his diabolical nature and plans.  Though some would consign this belief to the realm of superstition, I believe that there is a real Satan, evil personified, who hates God and good. If you belong to Christ, if your desire is to walk in the life of the Spirit, the Devil and his demons will work against you.

So, what does that mean for our daily choices?  
Must we live in fear, with high levels of anxiety about the possibility of failure? Not at all!

We, who belong to Jesus Christ and can have an awareness of our Adversary without falling into terror. It is a major mistake to spend very much time focused on ‘rebuking’ the devil, for he is overcome with good, the darkness dispelled by the Light.  A key truth of the Gospel is this: Christ Jesus came to be our Savior and  to defeat the Devil. His death and Resurrection declare that we are ‘no longer slaves of sin and death!’   

Despite our promised victory we must not marginalize the evil one to such an extent that we become an unwitting pawn in his plans. The Word tells us 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)    Paul, in one of his letters, asserts that devil continues to exploit every opportunity he can find.  He wrote of his intent to minister to the church in Thessalonica, plans that did not happen. “We wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us." (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18, NKJV)  

As we live in Christ we must stand in this truth. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you (The Holy Spirit) is greater than the one (The devil) who is in the world." (1 John 4:4, NIV)   Our God has provided us with a suit of armor for the spiritual battles in life.  Paul remind us to get dressed! "Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." (Ephesians 6:13, NIV)

Make these choices every day. They are keys to confidence, our way of turning away the temptations, the attacks, exposing the schemes of the devil.

1. We rest, in full confidence, on Christ Jesus, our Savior.
      We are not secured in spiritual warfare by our skill, experience, or intelligence.

2. We know and trust the Truth    about ourselves, about the world, about Christ – and we liberated from sin and death.

3.  We learn to agree with God! If we sin, we don’t excuse, we confess.

4.  We choose to ‘walk in the Spirit’ today. Letting God lead us to life is our first desire, not our last resort.

5. We live in love, generously engaged with life,  practicing constant forgiveness so that no bitterness finds root in our heart to produce evil fruit!

6. We learn to live prayerfully, as the Word says, “Pray continually.”       That is an attitude that keeps us God-aware.

7.  We pray to be filled with the Spirit Who makes us whole and fruitful in the life of God and good,     people who  cultivate " love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. " (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)

Here is a word from the Word. May it fill your mind with peace this day.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21, NIV)

______________

 

Less Like Me
(a fun song with a serious message!)

 

Oh I have days I lose the fight

Try my best but just don't get it right

Where I talk a talk that I don't walk

And miss the moments right before my eyes

 

Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped

Somebody with a hand that I could have held

When I just can't see past myself

Lord help me be

 

A little more like mercy

A little more like grace

A little more like kindness goodness love and faith

A little more like patience

A little more like peace

A little more like Jesus

A little less like me

 

Yeah there's no denying I have changed

I've been saved from who I used to be

But even at my best I must confess

I still need help to see the way You see

 

Oh to feed the beggar on the street

Love to be Your hands and feet

Freely give what I receive

Lord help me be

 

I want to put You first above all else

Love my neighbor as myself

In the moments no one sees

Lord help me be

 

A little more I'm living

Everything I preach

A little more like Jesus

A little less like me

 

Hank Bentley | Mia Fieldes | Zach Williams

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Is He Worthy of Honor?

The current tempest involving England’s royals has caught the attention of many. It does not interest me much as I no real investment in England’s royalty. I am glad to live in this republic where our ideal is that the ‘will of the people’ should prevail over the will of a king.  It strikes me as strange that a person should govern based on inherited DNA.  But, there is a King who owns my loyalty and love!  His name?  Jesus Christ.  

The humanity of Jesus is a beloved fact for us. We can identify with the Man who loved, who fed hungry people, who healed the sick, and gave dignity to the outcast lepers! The story of His birth a Manger, knowing that He made a living as a craftsman, feeling the horror of His agony on the Cross- these things are compelling, as they should be. 

The ‘rest of the story’ is not to be forgotten, however.  IF we are ignorant of the Majesty of Christ, our faith may well waver under the pressure of life.  We run to the Savior for comfort. We find strength in the King to overcome!

 Here's the vision of the King that John saw and wrote down in the book of the Revelation.

"He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest.
His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow.
And his eyes were bright like flames of fire.
His feet were as bright as bronze refined in a furnace,
and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves.

He held seven stars in his right hand,
and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth.
And his face was as bright as the sun in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.

But he laid his right hand on me and said,
“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died.
Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave." (Revelation 1:12-18, NLT)

Christian, let me ask you a straight forward question-
Is Jesus only your Savior or is He truly your King?
Have you knelt in surrender to Him, giving Him your life and love?
Is He Lord of life, or simply "Lord" of convenience?

Christians say the creed – “He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead” - that acknowledges His Kingly authority but too often their lives show an attitude towards  His authority similar to my bemused interest in the royal family of England. To be sure, few would spit on Him or revile Him. The lack of reverence is shown in a lack of obedience or a failure of faith. Let me say it clearly – If we claim Him as King but live in quiet rebellion, we are abusing the King much the same as Pilate and his soldiers did.  Our self-will mocks Him before the world.

Pilate asked Jesus point-blank - "are you the King?"   Jesus acknowledged that He was, but not as a rival for Rome's political authority.  He said,  “I am not an earthly king. If I were, my followers would have fought when I was arrested by the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36, NLT)   Later the governor takes Jesus before the mob and asks, "What shall I do with this king?"   The tone is obviously one of mockery.    The soldiers who took him from Pilate turned sadistic and beat him.   Mark says,  "They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thorn bush on his head. Then they began their mockery: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” (Mark 15:17-18, The Message)    The final indignity was the sign that hung above his head on the cross - "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."

Positively, when we claim Him as King, serving Him in humble obedience, with deep reverence and worship, we crown Him and lift Him up. He is my King of life!  He has complete authority to send me where He will, to use me as He wishes, to make any and all demands of me as His loyal subject.  I bow my head, bend my knee, and confess that He is Lord.  And, He welcomes me into His Kingdom.   The crowning moment of my existence will be when I kneel before Him in Heaven.  How about you, dear friend?

Here is a word from the Word. It is worthy of our meditation.  “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum." (Luke 6:46-7:1, NIV)

Would you join me in claiming Him as King and Lord?

Hallelujah, Thine the glory!  Hallelujah, Amen!

_____________

Is He Worthy?

(Take a few moments to join this worship of the One who is WORTHY!)

Do you feel the world is broken?

We do

Do you feel the shadows deepen?

We do

But do you know that all the dark

Won't stop the light from getting through?

We do

Do you wish that you could see it all made new?

We do

 

Is all creation groaning?

It is

Is a new creation coming?

It is

Is the glory of the Lord

To be the light within our midst?

It is

Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?

It is

 

Is anyone worthy,

Is anyone whole,

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave,

He is David's Root

And the Lamb who died to ransom the slave!

 

Is He worthy,

Is He worthy,

Of all blessing and honor and glory?

Is He worthy of this?

He is

 

Does the Father truly love us?

He does

Does the Spirit move among us?

He does

And does Jesus our Messiah

Hold forever those He loves?

He does

Does our God intend to dwell again with us?

He does

 

Is anyone worthy,

Is anyone whole,

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave,

He is David's Root,

And the Lamb who died to ransom the slave!

From ev'ry people and tribe every nation and tongue

He has made us a kingdom and priests,

To God to reign with the Son!

 

Is He worthy,

Is He worthy,

Of all blessing and honor and glory?

Is He worthy,

Is He worthy,

Is He worthy of this,

He is!

 

Andrew Peterson | Ben Shive

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Give it to God!

Problems, people’s needs, and general concerns seem to love to find me at 2 am! I awaken often at that hour to wonder, ‘what should I do?’ or ‘how will they get through that?’ or ‘why are they making that choice?’ …   

Those situations that need a solution seem so much bigger in the darkness of the night, don’t they?  I am so thankful for the invitation that God gives us for all the hours of the day and night: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6, NIV)  In the darkness, I turn my heart and mind to Him, presenting those needs, large and small, to Him in prayer.  The passing years have taught me that to worry the night away is a foolish choice. My Father never sleeps. He cares for me so I choose to take His rest.

Faith is not just a feeling, my friend, it is choice!

God met Abraham and told him that he would be the ‘fathers of nations,’ that his descendants would be innumerable. Abraham believed Him and then, nothing happened for years! Long after his wife, Sarah, was well past child-bearing years he was still not a father to an heir.  I do not know if that kept him awake at night but I do know he was troubled. In prayer, he heard the voice of God with a promise of blessings and his response is a complaint. “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” (Genesis 15:2-3, NIV)

This man, though a friend of God, decided to ‘help’ the Lord keep His promise. Yes, he did!  With Sarah’s agreement, he took a surrogate wife, Hagar. The son born to that union was Ishmael, who caused no small trouble for Abraham in years to come.  Did the Lord God discard the old man for his temporary failure of faith?  No, he did not. 

Abe and Sally finally had a son when they were old enough to be in an extended care facility! "It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them." (Hebrews 11:11-12, NLT)

It is a spiritual disease, pride, that causes us to try to live without God’s help, or to reduce the Divine Word to something of our own understanding and then to force our will onto Him. The result is almost always something less than He has planned, often a source of regret. Abraham did not come up with a dream and decide that he should make God give him a son.  The promise came at the Lord’s initiative.  All that God desired from him was an expectant faith. This faith was not in himself, not shaped by his dreams, nor was it some projection of his own sense of grandeur.  Abraham heard the word of the Lord. As long as he remained focused on the promise, he lived with assurance.

The key to great faith is not screaming at God in the moment of desperation, but in listening to God.  When the unexplainable, the unfathomable, the unexpected comes our way, the best first response is attentiveness to His Person, a renewal of our relationship so that we can commit our way to Him. If you’re up against a wall, try fasting (giving up!) your words, your complaints, your demands. Quiet your heart, take authority over your emotions, and renew yourself in worship!  Authenticity requires me to admit it is sometimes easier said than done, especially at 2 am.

The word from the Word for your meditations challenges us to faithfulness, to trust always.

"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’
Therefore you will flee!
You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’
Therefore your pursuers will be swift!" (Isaiah 30:14-16, NIV)

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD." (Isaiah 31:1, NIV)

______________

Way Maker

(Let this song move you to praise God for His plans)

You are here moving in our midst

I worship You I worship You

You are here working in this place

I worship You I worship You

 

Way Maker, Miracle Worker, Promise Keeper,

Light in the darkness, my God that is who You are

 

You are here touching ev'ry heart

I worship You I worship You

You are here healing ev'ry heart

I worship You I worship You

 

You are here turning lives around

I worship You I worship You

You are here mending ev'ry heart

I worship You yeah I worship You Lord

 

That is who You are

That is who You are

That is who You are

That is who You are

 

Even when I don't see it You're working

Even when I don't feel it You're working

You never stop You never stop working

You never stop You never stop working

 

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu

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