Hey, Y'all,
Today's message (which we've obviously been trying to get out for a few days) is a verse that I heard several times during the various peri-Christmas services, and as is often the case it sounded familiar and yet brand new--funny how that works. It's Isaiah 9:6 which spoke to the birth of the long-promised Messiah several hundred years down the road (and it of course rang most triumphantly in Handel's "Messiah" over a millennium-and-a-half after that event :-)
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulders.
His name will be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
I guess it was the names that struck me this time: Wonderful; Counselor; Mighty God; Everlasting Father; Prince Of Peace; all things I really need Him to be in my life--but maybe it's just me? :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Want direction? Do what you know you're supposed to do.
Hey, Y'all,
This thought is based on something I came across from PurposeDrivenLife.com--rang true (but I'm sure it's just me
:-)
Want specific direction from your heavenly Father? Do what you know God wants you to do. We often get so caught up in wanting to know a specific answer...I know you know the story: "I wish I could turn to a verse in the Bible and have it say, 'Hey, you, take this job and turn the other one down. Do this, not that.'" But here's the thing: there are already lots of things God wants us to do that are very clearly explained in the Bible. Like staying in a prayer conversation with Him constantly, or touching the people around you with a sacrificial love. Start doing those things and watch as God's voice becomes a little clearer in your head and heart.
Pretty cool (and a great reminder).
You've been prayed for today...
This thought is based on something I came across from PurposeDrivenLife.com--rang true (but I'm sure it's just me
:-)
Want specific direction from your heavenly Father? Do what you know God wants you to do. We often get so caught up in wanting to know a specific answer...I know you know the story: "I wish I could turn to a verse in the Bible and have it say, 'Hey, you, take this job and turn the other one down. Do this, not that.'" But here's the thing: there are already lots of things God wants us to do that are very clearly explained in the Bible. Like staying in a prayer conversation with Him constantly, or touching the people around you with a sacrificial love. Start doing those things and watch as God's voice becomes a little clearer in your head and heart.
Pretty cool (and a great reminder).
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Doing The Right Thing
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST struck me over the weekend:
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
James 4:17
"The truth of the matter is you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
Norman Schwarzkopf
Think about it...
You've been prayed for today.
Today's RST struck me over the weekend:
"Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."
James 4:17
"The truth of the matter is you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
Norman Schwarzkopf
Think about it...
You've been prayed for today.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tearless Morning
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is a follow-up to the previous one--thanks Bud for passing this along (you did indeed share this with me before :-) and I agree, there is a definitely something inspired about many of these hymns--it's no accident that they're still being sung and touching people, in some cases hundreds of years after their composition. Powerful words...
"In addition to Isaiah's inspired words, I believe that George Matheson's beautiful words of promise were inspired as well: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (I rest my weary soul in thee ). They always come to my mind at the loss of a loved-one. It seems that I've shared Matheson's words with you before, but I will share them again. What a waking up morning that will be, my friend...
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain:
That morn shall tearless be.
In the interim, we can rejoice in the knowledge that He understands and surrounds us with His steadfast love and care during these times of loss and bereavement."
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is a follow-up to the previous one--thanks Bud for passing this along (you did indeed share this with me before :-) and I agree, there is a definitely something inspired about many of these hymns--it's no accident that they're still being sung and touching people, in some cases hundreds of years after their composition. Powerful words...
"In addition to Isaiah's inspired words, I believe that George Matheson's beautiful words of promise were inspired as well: O Love That Will Not Let Me Go (I rest my weary soul in thee ). They always come to my mind at the loss of a loved-one. It seems that I've shared Matheson's words with you before, but I will share them again. What a waking up morning that will be, my friend...
O joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain:
That morn shall tearless be.
In the interim, we can rejoice in the knowledge that He understands and surrounds us with His steadfast love and care during these times of loss and bereavement."
Thanks again for the reminder, Bud, and indeed, what a morning that will be: I trace the rainbow through the rain, and feel the promise is not vain: that morn shall tearless be.
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Passing Through Deep Waters
Hey, Y'all,
Got some very sad news today: my friend Tim lost his father very suddenly and unexpectedly after a surgical procedure yesterday. Now, you've gotta understand, Tim and I (and our families) go way back (4th grade as a matter of fact), so it's a little stunning to have years of fond memories rendered suddenly, shockingly bittersweet by the passing of Tom--Mr. Peters, that is :-), he of the sly, quick wit and undisputed master-engineer of killer pizzas (funny, the first things that spring to mind, eh?); Tim and Vicki's dad; Joyce's husband; our family's friend.
Death touches us all, and as time marches inexorably on it seems to sting a little more, to be a little less abstract, a lot more personal. Just a few months ago I was bemoaning with my friend Amanda (who'd also just lost her father very suddenly) how painfully ironic it is that all of the elegant treatises, all the well-reasoned arguments we've read and heard and embraced in sunnier times, leave us cold now, utterly hollow and devoid of meaning . It's no wonder that you hear the same phrase on a thousand lips: "I don't know what to say." What's worse, it's true: what is there to say in the face of such loss?
Funny too how the first passage that literally leaps out at me doesn't promise relief from the pain. Nope. This passage doesn't even begin to fix the problem--nothing this side of heaven can--but what it does do is reassure us that our God is very aware of our pain, that He cares deeply for us, and He gives His word that He is never, ever going to leave our side as we patiently endure and pass through these excruciatingly difficult times, as we must.
I suppose that's why this text (Isaiah 43:2) is always the first one I reach for (almost frantically, I realize) while my mind recoils from and tries desperately to come to grips with this profound a loss. I think it's indelibly engraved in my head and heart because when we hurt we want loved ones nearby--what they say or fail to say is completely immaterial; we just want them close by.
"When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not consume you."
I AM with you . And in the verses immediately preceding and following it reads: "This is what The Lord says, He who created you, He who formed you...For I am your God, your Savior." I will be with you.
That's the kind of God we need. And that's the kind of God we have. A God who, knowing full well what He was about to do, was nevertheless moved to tears at the scene of grief surrounding the death of His friend Lazarus. So Tim, Vicki, Joyce (can't tell you how hard it is to not call you Mrs. Peters :-), grandkids, family: words fail abjectly; I too join the chorus of, "I'm so, so sorry...I don't know what else to say." Other than to tell you that it's to that God, our God, that you're being prayed for, by many, and that earnestly.
Got some very sad news today: my friend Tim lost his father very suddenly and unexpectedly after a surgical procedure yesterday. Now, you've gotta understand, Tim and I (and our families) go way back (4th grade as a matter of fact), so it's a little stunning to have years of fond memories rendered suddenly, shockingly bittersweet by the passing of Tom--Mr. Peters, that is :-), he of the sly, quick wit and undisputed master-engineer of killer pizzas (funny, the first things that spring to mind, eh?); Tim and Vicki's dad; Joyce's husband; our family's friend.
Death touches us all, and as time marches inexorably on it seems to sting a little more, to be a little less abstract, a lot more personal. Just a few months ago I was bemoaning with my friend Amanda (who'd also just lost her father very suddenly) how painfully ironic it is that all of the elegant treatises, all the well-reasoned arguments we've read and heard and embraced in sunnier times, leave us cold now, utterly hollow and devoid of meaning . It's no wonder that you hear the same phrase on a thousand lips: "I don't know what to say." What's worse, it's true: what is there to say in the face of such loss?
Funny too how the first passage that literally leaps out at me doesn't promise relief from the pain. Nope. This passage doesn't even begin to fix the problem--nothing this side of heaven can--but what it does do is reassure us that our God is very aware of our pain, that He cares deeply for us, and He gives His word that He is never, ever going to leave our side as we patiently endure and pass through these excruciatingly difficult times, as we must.
I suppose that's why this text (Isaiah 43:2) is always the first one I reach for (almost frantically, I realize) while my mind recoils from and tries desperately to come to grips with this profound a loss. I think it's indelibly engraved in my head and heart because when we hurt we want loved ones nearby--what they say or fail to say is completely immaterial; we just want them close by.
"When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not consume you."
I AM with you . And in the verses immediately preceding and following it reads: "This is what The Lord says, He who created you, He who formed you...For I am your God, your Savior." I will be with you.
That's the kind of God we need. And that's the kind of God we have. A God who, knowing full well what He was about to do, was nevertheless moved to tears at the scene of grief surrounding the death of His friend Lazarus. So Tim, Vicki, Joyce (can't tell you how hard it is to not call you Mrs. Peters :-), grandkids, family: words fail abjectly; I too join the chorus of, "I'm so, so sorry...I don't know what else to say." Other than to tell you that it's to that God, our God, that you're being prayed for, by many, and that earnestly.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Wisdom And Offense
Hey, Y'all,
Here's another one that struck me (especially after some conversations I've had with several of you over the past few weeks)--it's pretty practical if you actually think about it. In the NIV, Proverbs 19:11 sounds like this:
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
In the NLT is goes like this:
Sensible people control their temper;
they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
Not easy, I'll readily admit, but I'll also say that when I see it exhibited I want to be more like that. You?
You've been prayed for today...
Here's another one that struck me (especially after some conversations I've had with several of you over the past few weeks)--it's pretty practical if you actually think about it. In the NIV, Proverbs 19:11 sounds like this:
A man's wisdom gives him patience;
it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
In the NLT is goes like this:
Sensible people control their temper;
they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
Not easy, I'll readily admit, but I'll also say that when I see it exhibited I want to be more like that. You?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, November 26, 2007
Angels Watching
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is short and sweet--ran across it again the other day, been a while since I'd thought about it, actually. 'Course it's funny 'cause I really remember this one in Spanish, not English. It's one of those many texts that my mom and dad taught me a long, long time ago, and it's never left me; it's just kind of evolved and grown up right alongside me, acquiring depth and meaning as my life has gone on--pretty cool. So parents, if you wonder if it's worth the effort to teach your kids to memorize these little pearls, the answer, in my humble opinion, is a pretty resounding "yes!" ('course they're also pretty good for you too, you know :-)
Here it is:
"He has given His angels charge of you,
to watch over you,
wherever you go."
Psalm 91:11
Sweet! You've been prayed for (and watched over) today...
Today's RST is short and sweet--ran across it again the other day, been a while since I'd thought about it, actually. 'Course it's funny 'cause I really remember this one in Spanish, not English. It's one of those many texts that my mom and dad taught me a long, long time ago, and it's never left me; it's just kind of evolved and grown up right alongside me, acquiring depth and meaning as my life has gone on--pretty cool. So parents, if you wonder if it's worth the effort to teach your kids to memorize these little pearls, the answer, in my humble opinion, is a pretty resounding "yes!" ('course they're also pretty good for you too, you know :-)
Here it is:
"He has given His angels charge of you,
to watch over you,
wherever you go."
Psalm 91:11
Sweet! You've been prayed for (and watched over) today...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving!
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this quote the other day and it really struck a chord:
Gratitude makes a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and gives us a vision for tomorrow.
--Melody Beattie
How true is that?
Then I got a text message from Hasani (thanks brother!) earlier today that was in fact going to be the first part of this message--it's a line from the old song that says, "Give thanks with a grateful heart because of what the Lord has done for us." On this one day when we do purposely stop for a minute (for a change) and consider our many blessings, it really does hit home how good we have it and how good God is.
So, "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!" (Psalm 95:2), and if you do nothing else today, don't forget that "every good and perfect gift comes from above" (James 1:17) so do say thanks, even if it's just a heartfelt
--repeat after me--
"Rub-a-dub-dub,
Thanks for the grub,
Yay God!"
Happy Thanksgiving--you've been prayed for today...
Ran across this quote the other day and it really struck a chord:
Gratitude makes a meal into a feast, a house into a home, and a stranger into a friend. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and gives us a vision for tomorrow.
--Melody Beattie
How true is that?
Then I got a text message from Hasani (thanks brother!) earlier today that was in fact going to be the first part of this message--it's a line from the old song that says, "Give thanks with a grateful heart because of what the Lord has done for us." On this one day when we do purposely stop for a minute (for a change) and consider our many blessings, it really does hit home how good we have it and how good God is.
So, "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!" (Psalm 95:2), and if you do nothing else today, don't forget that "every good and perfect gift comes from above" (James 1:17) so do say thanks, even if it's just a heartfelt
--repeat after me--
"Rub-a-dub-dub,
Thanks for the grub,
Yay God!"
Happy Thanksgiving--you've been prayed for today...
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Little Foxes? Search Me, Show Me
Hey, Y'all,
Song of Solomon (2:15) may seem like an unlikely place to find an RST, but I ran across this useful reminder the other day...
"The little foxes spoil the vine." Are there 'little foxes' in your life? Questionable attitudes or sneaky thoughts that you've allowed to creep into your thinking? Sometimes sin isn't a huge and easily-identifiable thing; sometimes it's small and seemingly insignificant, but it doesn't tend to stay that way, does it? Think about your life for a minute and see if it isn't true.
Song of Solomon (2:15) may seem like an unlikely place to find an RST, but I ran across this useful reminder the other day...
"The little foxes spoil the vine." Are there 'little foxes' in your life? Questionable attitudes or sneaky thoughts that you've allowed to creep into your thinking? Sometimes sin isn't a huge and easily-identifiable thing; sometimes it's small and seemingly insignificant, but it doesn't tend to stay that way, does it? Think about your life for a minute and see if it isn't true.
So, what do you think God wants you to do with these 'little foxes' that entangle your walk and complicate your life? Pray this prayer of David's -- "Search me, O God and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts; see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting" (Psalm 139) -- and be on the lookout for how God responds, what He shows you.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Plan, Direct
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is short and sweet--
it's Proverbs 16:9 which says:
"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps."
Once again, I like how it sounds in the Amplified Bible:
"A man's mind plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps
and makes them sure."
Funny...if you think about it for a second...
ain't that the truth?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is short and sweet--
it's Proverbs 16:9 which says:
"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the Lord determines his steps."
Once again, I like how it sounds in the Amplified Bible:
"A man's mind plans his way,
but the Lord directs his steps
and makes them sure."
Funny...if you think about it for a second...
ain't that the truth?
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Fulfill Law? Carry Burdens.
Hey, Y'all,
At first glance today's RST appears to have nothing to do with the last one, but upon further review (yep, too much football this weekend :-), I think it does...
"Carry each other's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
I like it even better in the Amplified Bible:
"Bear (endure, carry) one anothers' burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ [the Messiah] and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]."
Wait; I most-completely fulfill the law of Christ not by focusing on dos and don'ts but rather by helping others carry their burdens?!? Hmmm...I'm going to think about that for a bit--how 'bout you?
You've been prayed for today...
At first glance today's RST appears to have nothing to do with the last one, but upon further review (yep, too much football this weekend :-), I think it does...
"Carry each other's burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2
I like it even better in the Amplified Bible:
"Bear (endure, carry) one anothers' burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ [the Messiah] and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]."
Wait; I most-completely fulfill the law of Christ not by focusing on dos and don'ts but rather by helping others carry their burdens?!? Hmmm...I'm going to think about that for a bit--how 'bout you?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Many Parts Of One Body
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this passage the other day--I never get tired of re-reading it (I always seem to pick up something new that I hadn't read or understood that way before). It's Romans 12:3-8...
Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Two things jumped out at me this time; been kind of rolling them around in my head, especially in the context of "many parts of one body"...
(1) The idea that "we all belong to each other"--what does that look like?
(2) The exhortation to do well whatever it is you do. Everything I do?
Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this passage the other day--I never get tired of re-reading it (I always seem to pick up something new that I hadn't read or understood that way before). It's Romans 12:3-8...
Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Two things jumped out at me this time; been kind of rolling them around in my head, especially in the context of "many parts of one body"...
(1) The idea that "we all belong to each other"--what does that look like?
(2) The exhortation to do well whatever it is you do. Everything I do?
Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Reality Is Independent Of My Comprehension
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this thought the other day (not sure where)--kind of dovetails with the previous post...
The Truth--Reality--is not dependent on my ability to understand what is going on. Let God interpret the facts for you; let Him explain the situation. Meanwhile, focus on your walk with God and not on your limited ability to understand events or circumstances.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
Kind of hard, but has the ring of truth to it, doesn't it?
Reality is not dependent on my ability to understand what is going on. I can not be the ultimate authority on what goes on around me (and to me)--why? Because I never have all the facts. Hence my need of God, of His wisdom and influence and guidance and peace and clarity...
'Course, it could just be me :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this thought the other day (not sure where)--kind of dovetails with the previous post...
The Truth--Reality--is not dependent on my ability to understand what is going on. Let God interpret the facts for you; let Him explain the situation. Meanwhile, focus on your walk with God and not on your limited ability to understand events or circumstances.
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
Kind of hard, but has the ring of truth to it, doesn't it?
Reality is not dependent on my ability to understand what is going on. I can not be the ultimate authority on what goes on around me (and to me)--why? Because I never have all the facts. Hence my need of God, of His wisdom and influence and guidance and peace and clarity...
'Course, it could just be me :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, October 29, 2007
"I didn't know what I was talking about..."
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is kind of funny. On the surface it seems to merely consist of some cool Old Testament meanderings--but then it winds up exactly where I needed to be tonight--funny 'coincidence' huh? Yeah, right...
First I ran across this passage in Jeremiah 32:
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you...O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.
That one reminded me of this one in Isaiah 55: "...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Got me thinking about how my prayers, even the earnest and well-intentioned ones, must sound to God; how my limited vision and understanding must on the one hand sort of amuse Him and on the other frustrate Him--as stated in this unattributed comment on a passage in Job 42...
"'You [Lord] asked, "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance? Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?" It is I—surely I spoke of things I did not understand; I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too profound for me.' This prayer experience of Job's revealed to him a whole new dimension of problems he was not aware of: ignorance- and arrogance-based attitudes that he never knew existed. In short: he had a problem with pride; 'God is God, and you are not.'"
Which brought me back to (and gave me an entirely new understanding of) these stunningly generous, loving, patient words from our heavenly Father found in Isaiah chapters 1 and 55:
"Come, let us reason together...Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
What a concept: "Come, let us reason together...Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." Funny...like Job, I often don't really know what I'm talking about, but He wants nothing more than to sit and to talk it over with me and help me see more clearly. How cool is that?!?
So if your soul is thirsty--and whose isn't, seriously--He invites you to come and drink deeply. And I love this line as well: Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? Why indeed?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is kind of funny. On the surface it seems to merely consist of some cool Old Testament meanderings--but then it winds up exactly where I needed to be tonight--funny 'coincidence' huh? Yeah, right...
First I ran across this passage in Jeremiah 32:
Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you...O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.
That one reminded me of this one in Isaiah 55: "...my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Got me thinking about how my prayers, even the earnest and well-intentioned ones, must sound to God; how my limited vision and understanding must on the one hand sort of amuse Him and on the other frustrate Him--as stated in this unattributed comment on a passage in Job 42...
"'You [Lord] asked, "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance? Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?" It is I—surely I spoke of things I did not understand; I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too profound for me.' This prayer experience of Job's revealed to him a whole new dimension of problems he was not aware of: ignorance- and arrogance-based attitudes that he never knew existed. In short: he had a problem with pride; 'God is God, and you are not.'"
Which brought me back to (and gave me an entirely new understanding of) these stunningly generous, loving, patient words from our heavenly Father found in Isaiah chapters 1 and 55:
"Come, let us reason together...Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live."
What a concept: "Come, let us reason together...Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? Listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." Funny...like Job, I often don't really know what I'm talking about, but He wants nothing more than to sit and to talk it over with me and help me see more clearly. How cool is that?!?
So if your soul is thirsty--and whose isn't, seriously--He invites you to come and drink deeply. And I love this line as well: Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? Why indeed?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
True Godly Life
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this quote of Ellen White's the other day and it rang true--
"The influence of a true Godly life cannot be measured. It reaches beyond the immediate circle of home and friends shedding a light that wins souls to Christ."
Testimonies Vol. 4 p. 143.
Have you found this to be true of your life? Why (or why not)? What is the point of "winning souls to Christ?" Why does it matter? And what does a "true Godly life" look like anyway? Think about that for a minute; seriously, what does a "true Godly life" look like?
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this quote of Ellen White's the other day and it rang true--
"The influence of a true Godly life cannot be measured. It reaches beyond the immediate circle of home and friends shedding a light that wins souls to Christ."
Testimonies Vol. 4 p. 143.
Have you found this to be true of your life? Why (or why not)? What is the point of "winning souls to Christ?" Why does it matter? And what does a "true Godly life" look like anyway? Think about that for a minute; seriously, what does a "true Godly life" look like?
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Eternity In Your Heart
Hey, Y'all,
Don't recall where I ran across this but I enjoyed it thoroughly...
"'He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.' Ecclesiastes 3:11. What a grand and gracious act---that even in fallen man, you and I, God has placed 'eternity' in our hearts! Something of vastness that we don't understand, yet yearn for; something of greatness that we long to attain."
Ever get that feeling, that there's more? That things ought to be better? That's no coincidence, you know; you were designed for eternity, you were built for unending peace and joy and on some level rebel against the idea of anything short of that. Do I fully get this idea? Nope...but I do know that God is good for having placed it there.
You've been prayed for today...
Don't recall where I ran across this but I enjoyed it thoroughly...
"'He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.' Ecclesiastes 3:11. What a grand and gracious act---that even in fallen man, you and I, God has placed 'eternity' in our hearts! Something of vastness that we don't understand, yet yearn for; something of greatness that we long to attain."
Ever get that feeling, that there's more? That things ought to be better? That's no coincidence, you know; you were designed for eternity, you were built for unending peace and joy and on some level rebel against the idea of anything short of that. Do I fully get this idea? Nope...but I do know that God is good for having placed it there.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Find Rest In God Alone
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this verse the other day and it rang true, resonated deep inside:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1,2
In another version it's the imperative, "Find rest, O my soul, in God," and that also struck a chord in my heart--would that I could simply decide and command my easily distractable mind to be still and find peace and rest in His presence, especially in light of how this text is translated in another version:
"I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him."
Indeed. And hopefully, in deed as well. Funny how different versions shed light on the different facets and subtleties of meaning, huh?
You've been prayed for today...why don't you try it yourself; be still, see if you don't experience His peace, His rest, His victory.
Ran across this verse the other day and it rang true, resonated deep inside:
My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Psalm 62:1,2
In another version it's the imperative, "Find rest, O my soul, in God," and that also struck a chord in my heart--would that I could simply decide and command my easily distractable mind to be still and find peace and rest in His presence, especially in light of how this text is translated in another version:
"I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him."
Indeed. And hopefully, in deed as well. Funny how different versions shed light on the different facets and subtleties of meaning, huh?
You've been prayed for today...why don't you try it yourself; be still, see if you don't experience His peace, His rest, His victory.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Deep Peace
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this the other day and really enjoyed it--it's called "Deep Peace" and is an old Gaelic Blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you;
moon and stars pour their beaming light on you.
Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world, to you.
So that is my prayer for you tonight:
May the deep peace of Christ renew you as you prepare for the new week's challenges.
Ran across this the other day and really enjoyed it--it's called "Deep Peace" and is an old Gaelic Blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you;
moon and stars pour their beaming light on you.
Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world, to you.
So that is my prayer for you tonight:
May the deep peace of Christ renew you as you prepare for the new week's challenges.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
When You (Don't) Pray
Hey, Y'all,
I ran across this the other day--it was written by Gavin Anthony and was published in a recent Adventist Review. Though it was excerpted from an article called "When Leaders Don't Pray," it definitely applies to us all, whether you consider yourself a leader or not; people are always observing you and being influenced by you--for better or worse. Check it out...
We don't become intimate with God because we read the Bible or pray, though we cannot be intimate with God without these things. The foundation of intimacy is built on an attitude of the heart that propels us toward the person of God. I believe leaders can easily fail because our relationship with God becomes something we squeeze into our diaries, rather than a deep and ever-present craving for the living God in the very depths of our souls...
Here's a quote to consider: "This experience--above all else the assurance that God would hear his prayer and that the divine presence would attend him--was of more value to Moses as a leader than the learning of Egypt or all his attainments in military [or shepherding] science. No earthly power or skill or learning can supply the place of God's abiding presence. In the story of Moses we may see what intimate communion with God it is man's privilege to enjoy..."†
And this is meant for us too; yet another new beginning. Today, I can very clearly see how my intimacy with Christ is directly and powerfully related to everything I do, and everything I am. I do not pray because it is important. I pray because I am desperate. How can I do anything without the power and direction of the living God? The moment I break my intimacy with my Father, what do I have to offer?
I think I am beginning to understand what Jesus meant when He said, "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). The good news is that no matter how far we may have drifted in our leadership for God, or how tired we are, intimacy with God can be regained. And as long as we remain in Him, we really will bear much fruit.
Interesting, huh?
We don't become intimate with God because we read the Bible or pray, though we cannot be intimate with God without these things. The foundation of intimacy is built on an attitude of the heart... I believe [we] can easily fail because our relationship with God becomes something we squeeze into our diaries, rather than a deep and ever-present craving for the living God in the very depths of our souls...
No earthly power or skill or learning can supply the place of God's immediate presence...I can very clearly see how my intimacy with Christ is directly and powerfully related to everything I do, and everything I am. I do not pray because it is important. I pray because I am desperate. How can I do anything without the power and direction of the living God? The moment I break my intimacy with my Father, what do I have to offer?
You've been prayed for today...
† Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 533, and also Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 328.
I ran across this the other day--it was written by Gavin Anthony and was published in a recent Adventist Review. Though it was excerpted from an article called "When Leaders Don't Pray," it definitely applies to us all, whether you consider yourself a leader or not; people are always observing you and being influenced by you--for better or worse. Check it out...
We don't become intimate with God because we read the Bible or pray, though we cannot be intimate with God without these things. The foundation of intimacy is built on an attitude of the heart that propels us toward the person of God. I believe leaders can easily fail because our relationship with God becomes something we squeeze into our diaries, rather than a deep and ever-present craving for the living God in the very depths of our souls...
Here's a quote to consider: "This experience--above all else the assurance that God would hear his prayer and that the divine presence would attend him--was of more value to Moses as a leader than the learning of Egypt or all his attainments in military [or shepherding] science. No earthly power or skill or learning can supply the place of God's abiding presence. In the story of Moses we may see what intimate communion with God it is man's privilege to enjoy..."†
And this is meant for us too; yet another new beginning. Today, I can very clearly see how my intimacy with Christ is directly and powerfully related to everything I do, and everything I am. I do not pray because it is important. I pray because I am desperate. How can I do anything without the power and direction of the living God? The moment I break my intimacy with my Father, what do I have to offer?
I think I am beginning to understand what Jesus meant when He said, "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). The good news is that no matter how far we may have drifted in our leadership for God, or how tired we are, intimacy with God can be regained. And as long as we remain in Him, we really will bear much fruit.
Interesting, huh?
We don't become intimate with God because we read the Bible or pray, though we cannot be intimate with God without these things. The foundation of intimacy is built on an attitude of the heart... I believe [we] can easily fail because our relationship with God becomes something we squeeze into our diaries, rather than a deep and ever-present craving for the living God in the very depths of our souls...
No earthly power or skill or learning can supply the place of God's immediate presence...I can very clearly see how my intimacy with Christ is directly and powerfully related to everything I do, and everything I am. I do not pray because it is important. I pray because I am desperate. How can I do anything without the power and direction of the living God? The moment I break my intimacy with my Father, what do I have to offer?
You've been prayed for today...
† Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 533, and also Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 328.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Hey, Y'all,
We've talked about this before--my susceptibility to music and lyrics late in the evening and early in the AM--and once again I was struck by a piece I've heard a thousand times. It hit me the other night on the way back from Pasadena and my Goddaughter's birthday (hi Justine!) and then again the following couple of mornings (at 0-dark-thirty as usual) on my way to work: it was the old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Now I know a lot of y'all have chucked these out the window in favor of more contemporary praise songs; I will only say that not infrequently I am moved by the elegant, poetic message of the song.
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 will be.
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!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
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!
Yeah, damn-near speechless at how many of those lines spoke forcefully and reassuringly to my soul:
In a world of mercurial people and circumstances, I can count on His steadfastness, patience, and compassion...
He has met my needs--I can trust Him to continue to do so...
Enduring peace, strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow--blessings all mine...
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!
Indeed.
You've been prayed for today...
We've talked about this before--my susceptibility to music and lyrics late in the evening and early in the AM--and once again I was struck by a piece I've heard a thousand times. It hit me the other night on the way back from Pasadena and my Goddaughter's birthday (hi Justine!) and then again the following couple of mornings (at 0-dark-thirty as usual) on my way to work: it was the old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Now I know a lot of y'all have chucked these out the window in favor of more contemporary praise songs; I will only say that not infrequently I am moved by the elegant, poetic message of the song.
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 will be.
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!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
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!
Yeah, damn-near speechless at how many of those lines spoke forcefully and reassuringly to my soul:
In a world of mercurial people and circumstances, I can count on His steadfastness, patience, and compassion...
He has met my needs--I can trust Him to continue to do so...
Enduring peace, strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow--blessings all mine...
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!
Indeed.
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, October 1, 2007
Follow-Up: Difficult, Untried
Hey, Y'all,
A quick thank-you goes out to our brother Paul M. who pointed out that this is actually a quote of G.K. Chesterton's:
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried."
It's interesting, I've only had a chance to read a little bit about Chesterton generally and about the context of this quote specifically (it's from his book entitled "What's Wrong With The World" originally published in 1910)--he apparently was a pretty fascinating guy, and it turns out that here he is referring to "The Christian Ideal" not just in terms of us as individuals; he states that, through the last couple of millennia, The Church has often (corporately) failed to live out the Christian Ideal--interesting...and of course, unfortunately true.
Now mind you, the church corporate is still made up of individuals, so it's a question you still must answer for yourself: what is The Christian Ideal fundamentally? Am I living in a manner consistent with it? If I am not, then what's the problem? I mean, I say that it's a better way to live, right?
Got to talking about this with some friends over the weekend--our semi-conclusion: unselfishness, altruism, humility, kindness, service--all traits that are totally valued and nurtured by our culture, right? How about your church: manifesting these characteristics or not? And you--how 'bout it? Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
A quick thank-you goes out to our brother Paul M. who pointed out that this is actually a quote of G.K. Chesterton's:
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult, and left untried."
It's interesting, I've only had a chance to read a little bit about Chesterton generally and about the context of this quote specifically (it's from his book entitled "What's Wrong With The World" originally published in 1910)--he apparently was a pretty fascinating guy, and it turns out that here he is referring to "The Christian Ideal" not just in terms of us as individuals; he states that, through the last couple of millennia, The Church has often (corporately) failed to live out the Christian Ideal--interesting...and of course, unfortunately true.
Now mind you, the church corporate is still made up of individuals, so it's a question you still must answer for yourself: what is The Christian Ideal fundamentally? Am I living in a manner consistent with it? If I am not, then what's the problem? I mean, I say that it's a better way to live, right?
Got to talking about this with some friends over the weekend--our semi-conclusion: unselfishness, altruism, humility, kindness, service--all traits that are totally valued and nurtured by our culture, right? How about your church: manifesting these characteristics or not? And you--how 'bout it? Hmmm...
You've been prayed for today...
Friday, September 28, 2007
I Am Your Servant...
Hey, Y'all,
Been a funny few weeks--I keep running across events and quotes and thoughts related to this topic. Unfortunately, they're numerous and often anonymous or unattributed so there's no easy way to cite them all; this RST is an amalgam of all of that--and in fact since I had an interesting experience recently along these lines myself, we'll start this posting with that story.
Someone did something that imposed on me. You know what I mean, nothing major, but something that knocks you out of that nice comfy groove of your life and that is somewhat irritating and and inconvenient, and makes you think to yourself, "You know, I really shouldn't have to deal with this; it's annoying."
So I was maybe a little grumpy about it (yeah, I know, y'all are doubtless shocked beyond words at that :-) and I even mentioned it to God--"What's the deal, Man? Why do I have to deal with this? Shouldn't I just be able to say 'Begone!' and let them figure it out and deal with it themselves?" So OK, maybe not the most eloquent prayer ever, but I do get points for honesty (and for checking in with The One who I can be certain understands the big picture better than I do). So that was my bedtime prayer that night -- nice, huh? :-) -- followed by a deep breath and the thought, "Alright, whatever, I'm going to try to leave this with You 'cause it's annoying the heck out of me and there is nothing I can do about it right at this moment anyway." So I fell asleep.
Next thing I know I'm waking up--always a joy I might add since I get up at "0-dark-thirty" every day, but the funny thing is that literally the very first coherent thought I had was, "I am your servant." Man! Clear as a bell, "I am your servant. How can I serve you?" As I struggled toward, you know, actual consciousness, slowly reconnecting fuzzy synapses and trying to de-addle my brain, the thought struck me: "I think I just heard from God!" (holy crap!)(woops, I think) (indeed, another stellar eloquent prayer moment for me :-) -- "I think He just answered my prayer"--which I hadn't really articulated but which sounded something like, "What am I supposed to do with this?"
So there it was, again, clear as a bell, "I am your servant. How can I be of use you?" And it occurred to me that that should be my attitude toward this person who imposed on me, who, when all was said and done, fundamentally, was simply asking for my help with something. Something annoying, I'll remind you, kind reader, something that I should've been well within my rights to blow off or get irritated at. 'Course, the very next thought I had was that that should also be my attitude toward God, especially since, oh yeah, I'd almost forgotten, I say that I'm a CHRISTian, a follower of, a disciple of, a student of, an emulator of God as manifested in Christ.
In Philippians 2:3-11 we are told that Jesus, even though He was God, took the form of a servant. It's always interesting (and not infrequently a little sobering) to see His selflessness in comparison to the Devil who aspired to be served and positioned even above God (Isaiah14:12-14). We 'become closer to God'--both in 'proximity' and 'appearance'--by serving others; we demonstrate what God is like by serving others.
Perhaps this is what is meant when we read that the peace- and joy-filled 'Kingdom of God' is entirely different from the tyrannical and upside-down 'Kingdom of Man' which we currently inhabit, and that Jesus really was talking sense when He said that we indeed have it up-side-down: "He who would be first must be the servant of all," a concept which He then proceeded to put teeth on by getting down on his hands and knees in front of His disciples (including the one that He knew was literally in the middle of the very act of betraying Him) and washing their dirty feet before The Last Supper. Now THAT's powerful! It's just not a power that we readily recognize, appreciate, or are entirely comfortable with--especially when you consider (lest we get too smug) that that story is about you and me.
There's a quote that has always struck me (though I can't remember where I read it first):
"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting.
It has been found difficult and not tried."
What would your world look like if you treated your fellow human beings the way that Jesus treated his disciples? Imagine all the petty fights and hurt feelings, all of the actual suffering that would be relieved, if we truly lived up to our name: Christian.
You've been prayed for today...
Been a funny few weeks--I keep running across events and quotes and thoughts related to this topic. Unfortunately, they're numerous and often anonymous or unattributed so there's no easy way to cite them all; this RST is an amalgam of all of that--and in fact since I had an interesting experience recently along these lines myself, we'll start this posting with that story.
Someone did something that imposed on me. You know what I mean, nothing major, but something that knocks you out of that nice comfy groove of your life and that is somewhat irritating and and inconvenient, and makes you think to yourself, "You know, I really shouldn't have to deal with this; it's annoying."
So I was maybe a little grumpy about it (yeah, I know, y'all are doubtless shocked beyond words at that :-) and I even mentioned it to God--"What's the deal, Man? Why do I have to deal with this? Shouldn't I just be able to say 'Begone!' and let them figure it out and deal with it themselves?" So OK, maybe not the most eloquent prayer ever, but I do get points for honesty (and for checking in with The One who I can be certain understands the big picture better than I do). So that was my bedtime prayer that night -- nice, huh? :-) -- followed by a deep breath and the thought, "Alright, whatever, I'm going to try to leave this with You 'cause it's annoying the heck out of me and there is nothing I can do about it right at this moment anyway." So I fell asleep.
Next thing I know I'm waking up--always a joy I might add since I get up at "0-dark-thirty" every day, but the funny thing is that literally the very first coherent thought I had was, "I am your servant." Man! Clear as a bell, "I am your servant. How can I serve you?" As I struggled toward, you know, actual consciousness, slowly reconnecting fuzzy synapses and trying to de-addle my brain, the thought struck me: "I think I just heard from God!" (holy crap!)(woops, I think) (indeed, another stellar eloquent prayer moment for me :-) -- "I think He just answered my prayer"--which I hadn't really articulated but which sounded something like, "What am I supposed to do with this?"
So there it was, again, clear as a bell, "I am your servant. How can I be of use you?" And it occurred to me that that should be my attitude toward this person who imposed on me, who, when all was said and done, fundamentally, was simply asking for my help with something. Something annoying, I'll remind you, kind reader, something that I should've been well within my rights to blow off or get irritated at. 'Course, the very next thought I had was that that should also be my attitude toward God, especially since, oh yeah, I'd almost forgotten, I say that I'm a CHRISTian, a follower of, a disciple of, a student of, an emulator of God as manifested in Christ.
In Philippians 2:3-11 we are told that Jesus, even though He was God, took the form of a servant. It's always interesting (and not infrequently a little sobering) to see His selflessness in comparison to the Devil who aspired to be served and positioned even above God (Isaiah14:12-14). We 'become closer to God'--both in 'proximity' and 'appearance'--by serving others; we demonstrate what God is like by serving others.
Perhaps this is what is meant when we read that the peace- and joy-filled 'Kingdom of God' is entirely different from the tyrannical and upside-down 'Kingdom of Man' which we currently inhabit, and that Jesus really was talking sense when He said that we indeed have it up-side-down: "He who would be first must be the servant of all," a concept which He then proceeded to put teeth on by getting down on his hands and knees in front of His disciples (including the one that He knew was literally in the middle of the very act of betraying Him) and washing their dirty feet before The Last Supper. Now THAT's powerful! It's just not a power that we readily recognize, appreciate, or are entirely comfortable with--especially when you consider (lest we get too smug) that that story is about you and me.
There's a quote that has always struck me (though I can't remember where I read it first):
"Christianity has not been tried and found wanting.
It has been found difficult and not tried."
What would your world look like if you treated your fellow human beings the way that Jesus treated his disciples? Imagine all the petty fights and hurt feelings, all of the actual suffering that would be relieved, if we truly lived up to our name: Christian.
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, September 24, 2007
What You're For Or What You're Against?
Hey, Y'all,
This was supposed to go out last night but I guess there was some sort of network hiccup 'cause here it still is--odd. :-) Anyway, hope you had a relaxing weekend and have gotten started on another great week--even if a few of us are a little under the weather. I don't know where today's thought originated, but it did strike me enough to get it down on paper and think about it a bit...
Do you find it alarming, then, to think that Christians are often known for what we are against, rather than what we're for? What we are for, or rather what we ought to be for, is for the Good News of a love so "wide and long and high and deep" that it encompasses more than any of us could ever imagine (Check out Ephesians 3:16-21 for more on that concept).
Hmmm...so if you think about it, what we ought to be for, what we were in fact made for, is for love, and joy, and peace, and kindness, and... (check out Galatians 5:22-23).
So what are you for?
You've been prayed for today...
This was supposed to go out last night but I guess there was some sort of network hiccup 'cause here it still is--odd. :-) Anyway, hope you had a relaxing weekend and have gotten started on another great week--even if a few of us are a little under the weather. I don't know where today's thought originated, but it did strike me enough to get it down on paper and think about it a bit...
Do you find it alarming, then, to think that Christians are often known for what we are against, rather than what we're for? What we are for, or rather what we ought to be for, is for the Good News of a love so "wide and long and high and deep" that it encompasses more than any of us could ever imagine (Check out Ephesians 3:16-21 for more on that concept).
Hmmm...so if you think about it, what we ought to be for, what we were in fact made for, is for love, and joy, and peace, and kindness, and... (check out Galatians 5:22-23).
So what are you for?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, September 17, 2007
My Daily Bread, The Very Air I Breathe
Hey, Y'all,
Literally just rolled into town from San Luis Obispo (yes, Art, as advertised: it's indeed a little slice o' heaven; thanks for a great weekend, mi he'mano, I had a blast--and thanks of course Laaana and Stella-bella and LeLe, and Cushita and Alahn and Not-So-Little-Anymore-Olivia--it was great seeing you guys as well)(and hopefully I'll catch you next time, John and Jerin). BTW, crazy scenic train ride--easily 3/4 of it is coastline and vineyards/agriculture--so yeah, how great was my day (and my weekend? :-)
So among other things I was listening to on the way back--it was after all an 8-hour train ride (BTW, what exactly did we do before iPods?!? I must be getting old 'cause I distinctly remember taking cassettes on long trips)(yes, kids, there was something before that now-obsolete technology--CDs)(don't even get me started on 8-tracks and records :-)
ANYWAY, among other things, I heard this song, and the lyrics--which I've always appreciated--really struck me this time, so I listened to it again, carefully, and again, and yet again...must've been the air in SLO as well as the good company and good conversations (as well as the good stuff I'm reading on prayer--books by Yancey and Cymbala--RSTs will follow of course :-)
So for some reason it really struck me that prayer, this mystical, inexplicable thing I attempt with varying degrees of success, this odd communion--actual communication?--with the incomprehensibly-more-than-me God, is not only possible, but it is somehow critical to my growth as a person and as a man who is striving to live a better life. The words go something like this...
This is the air I breathe--
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread--
Your very word, spoken to me
And I...I'm desperate for you
and I'm lost without you
This is the air I breathe
This is my daily bread
I'm desperate for you
I'm lost without you
You are my daily bread
You are the air I breathe...
My daily bread, the very air I breathe...would that it were actually so, Lord.
You've been prayed for today...
Literally just rolled into town from San Luis Obispo (yes, Art, as advertised: it's indeed a little slice o' heaven; thanks for a great weekend, mi he'mano, I had a blast--and thanks of course Laaana and Stella-bella and LeLe, and Cushita and Alahn and Not-So-Little-Anymore-Olivia--it was great seeing you guys as well)(and hopefully I'll catch you next time, John and Jerin). BTW, crazy scenic train ride--easily 3/4 of it is coastline and vineyards/agriculture--so yeah, how great was my day (and my weekend? :-)
So among other things I was listening to on the way back--it was after all an 8-hour train ride (BTW, what exactly did we do before iPods?!? I must be getting old 'cause I distinctly remember taking cassettes on long trips)(yes, kids, there was something before that now-obsolete technology--CDs)(don't even get me started on 8-tracks and records :-)
ANYWAY, among other things, I heard this song, and the lyrics--which I've always appreciated--really struck me this time, so I listened to it again, carefully, and again, and yet again...must've been the air in SLO as well as the good company and good conversations (as well as the good stuff I'm reading on prayer--books by Yancey and Cymbala--RSTs will follow of course :-)
So for some reason it really struck me that prayer, this mystical, inexplicable thing I attempt with varying degrees of success, this odd communion--actual communication?--with the incomprehensibly-more-than-me God, is not only possible, but it is somehow critical to my growth as a person and as a man who is striving to live a better life. The words go something like this...
This is the air I breathe--
Your holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread--
Your very word, spoken to me
And I...I'm desperate for you
and I'm lost without you
This is the air I breathe
This is my daily bread
I'm desperate for you
I'm lost without you
You are my daily bread
You are the air I breathe...
My daily bread, the very air I breathe...would that it were actually so, Lord.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Love Is, Am I? (Follow-Up to 'Right Or Relevant')
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST comes to us from my friend Corissa (thanks, Ninja!) and is a follow-up to the last one [emphases mine].
During the Labour Day weekend I was participating in a 50th annual event where thousands upon thousands of people walked the 5 mile expanse of bridge between upper and lower Michigan. After finishing the bridge walk, I was idling in a crowded car park along the main streets of a boutique town near the bridge and saw a huge banner across the trunk of a parked Camry that read, "ALL SINNERS WILL BE PUNISHED," and in tiny micro print: Psalms something.
See, now, that made me want to scream out, "Satan LOVES 'Christians' like you!!!"
And honestly, I think it's true. I don't think these people really understand the calling of the Great Commission. Being called to be servants of God is a calling with a pre-requisite of humility, piousness, pitifulness (in the fact that we are groveling sub-level in comparison to the glory of God), and love. Because God calls us to be servants to do His good work, and not "ambassadors" [in the hoity-toity sense] or "administrators," people need to realise that when we are doing [His] work, we have to approach others from a lower-than-they attitude, which means we do not point fingers or pre-judge, [but we do] acknowledge our own piteous nature, which, without God could not be purged and purified.
I don't think these people really understood that their message was neither right in the eyes of God, nor relevant in the way that it needs to be so that it truly reaches people instead of disgusting them...
Thanks, C--love your emphasis on humility and servanthood, a lower-than-you posture (as contrasted with self-satisfied pride, fingerpointing, and a holier-than-thou attitude). The former was after all Christ's lifelong object lesson--modeled perhaps most literally in the upper room--was it not? We allege that we are followers of God, even take His name (clearly in vain at times), but how well do we actually follow Him when we consider that God is Love, and Love is patient, and kind, and not proud nor rude nor self-seeking (check out 1 Corinthians 13 to get a feel for the actual measuring stick).
How much better of a testimony could we give, how much more likely would people be to listen to what God has done for us (which BTW is fundamentally the only Gospel we can talk about with any authority), if that was our posture?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST comes to us from my friend Corissa (thanks, Ninja!) and is a follow-up to the last one [emphases mine].
During the Labour Day weekend I was participating in a 50th annual event where thousands upon thousands of people walked the 5 mile expanse of bridge between upper and lower Michigan. After finishing the bridge walk, I was idling in a crowded car park along the main streets of a boutique town near the bridge and saw a huge banner across the trunk of a parked Camry that read, "ALL SINNERS WILL BE PUNISHED," and in tiny micro print: Psalms something.
See, now, that made me want to scream out, "Satan LOVES 'Christians' like you!!!"
And honestly, I think it's true. I don't think these people really understand the calling of the Great Commission. Being called to be servants of God is a calling with a pre-requisite of humility, piousness, pitifulness (in the fact that we are groveling sub-level in comparison to the glory of God), and love. Because God calls us to be servants to do His good work, and not "ambassadors" [in the hoity-toity sense] or "administrators," people need to realise that when we are doing [His] work, we have to approach others from a lower-than-they attitude, which means we do not point fingers or pre-judge, [but we do] acknowledge our own piteous nature, which, without God could not be purged and purified.
I don't think these people really understood that their message was neither right in the eyes of God, nor relevant in the way that it needs to be so that it truly reaches people instead of disgusting them...
Thanks, C--love your emphasis on humility and servanthood, a lower-than-you posture (as contrasted with self-satisfied pride, fingerpointing, and a holier-than-thou attitude). The former was after all Christ's lifelong object lesson--modeled perhaps most literally in the upper room--was it not? We allege that we are followers of God, even take His name (clearly in vain at times), but how well do we actually follow Him when we consider that God is Love, and Love is patient, and kind, and not proud nor rude nor self-seeking (check out 1 Corinthians 13 to get a feel for the actual measuring stick).
How much better of a testimony could we give, how much more likely would people be to listen to what God has done for us (which BTW is fundamentally the only Gospel we can talk about with any authority), if that was our posture?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, September 10, 2007
Right Or Relevant?
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this thought from MaxLucado.com which reminded me of something we talked about in church last week--that we ought not lord our fortunate position over people, that we are not called to be dogmatic rulers and judgmental fingerwaggers. We are chosen to be servants; we are saved for service.
"You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God." 1 Pet. 2:9 NLT [in the NIV it's: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."] A priest represents God, and you, my friend, represent God. So "let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus." Colossians 3:17 The Message [and in the NIV: "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father."]
Something to think about, huh? Is your religion about being right, or is it about being relevant?
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this thought from MaxLucado.com which reminded me of something we talked about in church last week--that we ought not lord our fortunate position over people, that we are not called to be dogmatic rulers and judgmental fingerwaggers. We are chosen to be servants; we are saved for service.
"You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, His very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God." 1 Pet. 2:9 NLT [in the NIV it's: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."] A priest represents God, and you, my friend, represent God. So "let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus." Colossians 3:17 The Message [and in the NIV: "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father."]
Something to think about, huh? Is your religion about being right, or is it about being relevant?
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Faith Is...
Hey, Y'all,
We were discussing this verse the other day (Hebrews 11:1) and it struck me again how rich even the "yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times" texts are when you read them in several different versions.
In the NLT it goes like this:
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
You might recognize the NIV more readily:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
But THIS is the one I remember from when I was a kid--still sounds good and still rings true:
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
Now listen, I'm by no means advocating a wholesale return to the KJV, but there are certain passages that are just...elegant. "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Yeah--faith is that.
You've been prayed for today...
We were discussing this verse the other day (Hebrews 11:1) and it struck me again how rich even the "yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times" texts are when you read them in several different versions.
In the NLT it goes like this:
"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
You might recognize the NIV more readily:
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
But THIS is the one I remember from when I was a kid--still sounds good and still rings true:
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
Now listen, I'm by no means advocating a wholesale return to the KJV, but there are certain passages that are just...elegant. "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Yeah--faith is that.
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Joyful, Patient, Faithful
Hey, Y'all,
Hope your Labor Day Weekend is enjoyable and relaxing. That last RST reminded me of a supporting quote from Max Lucado's book "God Came Near" (p.67):
"Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not despairing when they don't."
Hmmm...Do I always get it? Nope. Do I always do this? Nope. But am I working on it? Yep. How 'bout you? Oh, and here's one last related thought, this one from Romans 12:12--
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Words to live by, huh?
You've been prayed for today...
Hope your Labor Day Weekend is enjoyable and relaxing. That last RST reminded me of a supporting quote from Max Lucado's book "God Came Near" (p.67):
"Faithful servants have a way of knowing answered prayer when they see it, and a way of not despairing when they don't."
Hmmm...Do I always get it? Nope. Do I always do this? Nope. But am I working on it? Yep. How 'bout you? Oh, and here's one last related thought, this one from Romans 12:12--
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
Words to live by, huh?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Never Wasted
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is based on an old post of John Fischer's from PurposeDrivenLife.com and is in line with some of what we talked about last night in Men's Group...
Is it possible that our difficult or painful experiences, in God's omnipotent hands, change us and shape us and prepare us for ministries he custom-designs us for? Now, listen, I know what you're thinking, but stop for a moment and think about it: haven't your problems, hurts, and trials taught you infinitely more than your easy times? Do you realize that God never wastes a hurt? In fact, it's possible that your greatest fulfillment in life may actually arise out of the ashes of your greatest hurts. The Bible says, "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" 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT.
As Aldous Huxley has said, "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." What will you do with what you've been through? Don't waste your painful experiences; use them to help others. Remember that God never wastes a hurt--unless you don't allow Him to redeem it for good (check out Romans 8:28).
Two key phrases keep rolling through my head: "It's possible that your greatest fulfillment in life may actually arise out of the ashes of your greatest hurts." Hmmm...how true have you found that to be? And how 'bout this one: "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." Hmmm...kinda gets me thinking...So what're you doing with your stuff?
You've been prayed for today...
Today's RST is based on an old post of John Fischer's from PurposeDrivenLife.com and is in line with some of what we talked about last night in Men's Group...
Is it possible that our difficult or painful experiences, in God's omnipotent hands, change us and shape us and prepare us for ministries he custom-designs us for? Now, listen, I know what you're thinking, but stop for a moment and think about it: haven't your problems, hurts, and trials taught you infinitely more than your easy times? Do you realize that God never wastes a hurt? In fact, it's possible that your greatest fulfillment in life may actually arise out of the ashes of your greatest hurts. The Bible says, "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" 2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT.
As Aldous Huxley has said, "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." What will you do with what you've been through? Don't waste your painful experiences; use them to help others. Remember that God never wastes a hurt--unless you don't allow Him to redeem it for good (check out Romans 8:28).
Two key phrases keep rolling through my head: "It's possible that your greatest fulfillment in life may actually arise out of the ashes of your greatest hurts." Hmmm...how true have you found that to be? And how 'bout this one: "Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you." Hmmm...kinda gets me thinking...So what're you doing with your stuff?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, August 27, 2007
"Thoughts"...Practicing The Presence
Hey, Y'all,
Interestingly enough, I ran across today's thought (by Max Lucado) just after posting the last one--and it dovetails nicely with the former...
Practicing the Presence
How do I live in God's presence? How do I detect His unseen hand on my shoulder and His inaudible voice in my ear? How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas:
You've been prayed for today...
Interestingly enough, I ran across today's thought (by Max Lucado) just after posting the last one--and it dovetails nicely with the former...
Practicing the Presence
How do I live in God's presence? How do I detect His unseen hand on my shoulder and His inaudible voice in my ear? How can you and I grow familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas:
Give God your waking thoughts. Before you face the day, face the Father. Before you step out of bed, step into His presence. I have a friend who makes it a habit to roll out of his bed onto his knees and begin his day in prayer. Personally, I don't get that far. With my head still on the pillow and my eyes still closed, I offer God the first seconds of my day. The prayer is not lengthy and far from formal. Depending on how much sleep I got, it may not even be intelligible. Often it's nothing more than "Thank you for a night's rest. I belong to you today."
Give God your waiting thoughts. Spend time with him in silence. A mature married couple may have learned the treasure of shared silence; they don't need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 NIV). Awareness of God is a result of stillness before God.
Give God your whispering thoughts. Through the centuries Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers, prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By giving God your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as "Thank you, Father," "Be sovereign in this hour, O Lord," "You are my resting place, Jesus" can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn't leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray wherever you are, however you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the cubicle a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts.
And last, give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on him. Conclude the day as you began it: talking to God. Thank him for the good parts. Question him about the hard parts. Seek his mercy. Seek his strength. And as you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise: "He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4 NIV). If you fall asleep as you pray, don't worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Words To Live By: "Worship Is Central" and "Referred To God"
Hey, Y'all--not sure where I read this but I liked it...
Throughout his life David believed, truly believed, that the spiritual world, though invisible to him, was every bit as real as the 'natural' world of swords and spears and caves and thrones. His psalms, his worship, form a conscious effort to reorient his own daily life to the reality of the supernatural world just beyond him. Now, centuries later, we can use those very same thoughts and prayers as steps of faith, a path to lead us from our obsession with ourselves to the actual presence of our God. ..
And here's the concluding thought:
[David understood that worship is] the central activity in life, not something to get over in order to resume other activity . As C.S Lewis has said: ideally, being a practicing Christian "means that every single act and feeling, every experience, whether pleasant or unpleasant, must be referred to God" [for context/clarification].
Hmmm...you really oughta read that last paragraph again 'cause it's loaded with some serious beef:
Worship is the central activity in life, not something to get over in order to resume other activity.
Do I live that?!? How 'bout this one:
Being a practicing Christian 'means that every single act and feeling, every experience, whether pleasant or unpleasant, must be referred to God.'
How many angst-laden times have I flailed through, how many circumstances have you failed to correctly understand, because of our failure to turn the things we're not supposed to handle alone over to The Only One who can actually fully comprehend and manage them?
Also loved this thought ('cause I need it--'course I'm sure it's just me as usual :-)
We can use those very same thoughts and prayers as steps of faith, a path to lead us from our obsession with ourselves to the actual presence of our God.
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, August 20, 2007
Focusing on "Godly Significance" Or Its Counterfeit?
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this thought in an e-mail from Promise Keepers; hadn't reviewed their "7 Promises" (which are listed at the end) in a while and I was reminded once again that these are indeed worthy aspirations, irrespective of gender--see if you don't agree. But first, the RST...
"As a former pilot of a C-130, a large 4 engine turbo-prop, I flew around the world in various weather conditions. I remember one particular descent I had through a cloud deck at about 5,000 feet. Once we penetrated, it was beautiful underneath. Feeling good and seeing the runway straight ahead, I made my call: 'Center, this is Joyce 48, I am descending to 5,000 feet, have the runway in sight and request tower frequency.' The reply came back promptly: 'Roger, clear to go to tower, turn right 90 degrees.' I replied, 'Roger, going to tower, have runway in sight.' The controller came back immediately and said, 'You have the wrong runway, turn right 90 degrees, now.' Oops!! If I had landed on the wrong runway, I doubtless would have lost my wings!
"How many of us men find ourselves heading toward 'the wrong runway' in our lives by focusing on fleeting 'success' instead of Godly significance? The 7 Promises identify areas of a man's life that are paramount benchmarks for that life of significance--you might consider them an integrity-focused summary of 'Biblical manhood.'"
A Promise Keeper strives to keep these 7 Promises:
PROMISE 1
A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God's Word, through the power and work of the Holy Spirit.
PROMISE 2
A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs Brothers to help him keep his promises.
PROMISE 3
A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.
PROMISE 4
A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families with love, protection, and Biblical values.
PROMISE 5
A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.
PROMISE 6
A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of Biblical unity.
PROMISE 7
A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world by being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).
So...are you a promise keeper?
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
In The Game?
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com which cracked me up and runs right alongside what we discussed last week in church: what good is your religion if it doesn't speak to you and your life, right here and now? What good is a religion that doesn't encourage me to become "God's instrument" --- an agent of change for Good and Peace and Justice and Mercy, in this world, right now?
"'But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.'
Romans 13:11 MSG
"Several years ago, a movie called 'Hoosiers' told the story of a small-town basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During the intense game, the team's coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray. As he continued to pray, delaying the game on the court, finally, the coach leaned down and said, 'Son, The Lord wants you out on the court now.'
"Are some of us like that -- still praying for God to strengthen us for the game -- when God wants us to get right into the thick of things here and now, having already promised us that that He will be our strength? Are you? Am I?"
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com which cracked me up and runs right alongside what we discussed last week in church: what good is your religion if it doesn't speak to you and your life, right here and now? What good is a religion that doesn't encourage me to become "God's instrument" --- an agent of change for Good and Peace and Justice and Mercy, in this world, right now?
"'But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.'
Romans 13:11 MSG
"Several years ago, a movie called 'Hoosiers' told the story of a small-town basketball team that miraculously made it to the state championship. During the intense game, the team's coach sent a player from the bench into the game, but before going out on the court the boy, a devout Christian, knelt to pray. As he continued to pray, delaying the game on the court, finally, the coach leaned down and said, 'Son, The Lord wants you out on the court now.'
"Are some of us like that -- still praying for God to strengthen us for the game -- when God wants us to get right into the thick of things here and now, having already promised us that that He will be our strength? Are you? Am I?"
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Don't Ask If Unwilling
Hey, Y'all,
Just a quick thought today (sometimes they are more verbose, and other times they're more compact, but they do seem to find their mark)...so here it is:
"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps
if you aren't willing to move your feet."
Brings to mind a passage we've been talking about recently (and frequently) in the Men's Group--James 1:22-25. The punch line goes like this: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Here's what the whole passage sounds like:
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."
So, unsatisfied with where you are? Ready for a better way? Ask Him for help working it out. Just don't be surprised if it entails some adjustment on your part (you are looking for a better way, right?). Yep, lovin' those pithy statements...
"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps
if you aren't willing to move your feet."
"You can't stay where you are and walk with God."
"God does meet you where you are,
but He loves you entirely too much to leave you there."
You've been prayed for today...
Just a quick thought today (sometimes they are more verbose, and other times they're more compact, but they do seem to find their mark)...so here it is:
"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps
if you aren't willing to move your feet."
Brings to mind a passage we've been talking about recently (and frequently) in the Men's Group--James 1:22-25. The punch line goes like this: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Here's what the whole passage sounds like:
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."
So, unsatisfied with where you are? Ready for a better way? Ask Him for help working it out. Just don't be surprised if it entails some adjustment on your part (you are looking for a better way, right?). Yep, lovin' those pithy statements...
"Don't ask the Lord to guide your footsteps
if you aren't willing to move your feet."
"You can't stay where you are and walk with God."
"God does meet you where you are,
but He loves you entirely too much to leave you there."
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Follow-Up To "Christ Plus Nothing" -- The Other Side Of The Coin
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is a follow-up to the last one and can be viewed as the other side of the same coin. I had a great e-mail conversation with our brother Tom B. earlier--and interestingly it was essentially a continuation of the discussion we had in men's group on Tuesday night (funny coincidence, huh...and yeah, and these are actually Random Spiritual Thoughts too :-)
So here's what we were talking about: it is a fact that real spirituality is truly "graduate-level" stuff, no simplistic cliched answers will satisfy real searching, and real searching--reading and thinking and praying (and living life in general)--seem to bring on more "speedbumps" and things to wrestle with (or temporarily step over) in the belief that God will clear things up when--and if--He wants me to understand whatever it was...all of which is a good thing! God is God, so there ought to be things I can't comprehend right away (or ever)--hence, well, faith :-)
Tom points out that Paul does say in Ephesians 2:8 that "we are saved by grace through faith" because salvation is a gift--which is what the last RST was trying to convey: (1) there is nothing you can do to make yourself more worthy of God's love and forgiveness--which are gifts from a Loved One, and (2) you're only kidding yourself when you try to earn salvation (Isaiah very eloquently says that even "our righteous acts are like filthy rags")--again, it's a true gift, by definition not something you deserve or earn.
However, Tom also reminds us, "James clearly states 'faith without works is dead.' Don't let your readers fall into the trap of not making Jesus the Lord of your life. When He is Lord, then you want to be like Him, which means you will have Christ-like works, but they are spawned from love, not obligation. How do we know this? Because Jesus Himself said that 'by their fruits you will recognize them' (Matthew 7:20). There is a huge difference, James states it so well that there is no doubt in my mind." [Great passage--check it out--James 2:14-26].
Thanks Tom, that's the good stuff :-) and I agree wholeheartedly that relating to Him as Savior and submitting to Him as Lord are both crucial components of "The Walk." I also agree that often it seems the 'salvation' aspect of the relationship is emphasized without talking about how that moment must become a long-term transformational experience in order for it to really, truly take root and thrive.
"You can't stay where you are and walk with God," is a quote that has always rung true for me, and it reminds me of another one: "God meets us where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there." But I have to thank Tom S. for the one that brings it home: "It's by faith alone, but true faith is never alone."
So there it is: salvation is by grace, through faith, which without good Godly works is obviously dead--our "fruits" demonstrate irrefutably what spirit is on the throne of our hearts and producing those visible actions (and Galatians 5 doesn't mince words in that regard--check it out, it's a great read, and clears it all up if you're a little fuzzy on it).
You've each been prayed for today...
Today's RST is a follow-up to the last one and can be viewed as the other side of the same coin. I had a great e-mail conversation with our brother Tom B. earlier--and interestingly it was essentially a continuation of the discussion we had in men's group on Tuesday night (funny coincidence, huh...and yeah, and these are actually Random Spiritual Thoughts too :-)
So here's what we were talking about: it is a fact that real spirituality is truly "graduate-level" stuff, no simplistic cliched answers will satisfy real searching, and real searching--reading and thinking and praying (and living life in general)--seem to bring on more "speedbumps" and things to wrestle with (or temporarily step over) in the belief that God will clear things up when--and if--He wants me to understand whatever it was...all of which is a good thing! God is God, so there ought to be things I can't comprehend right away (or ever)--hence, well, faith :-)
Tom points out that Paul does say in Ephesians 2:8 that "we are saved by grace through faith" because salvation is a gift--which is what the last RST was trying to convey: (1) there is nothing you can do to make yourself more worthy of God's love and forgiveness--which are gifts from a Loved One, and (2) you're only kidding yourself when you try to earn salvation (Isaiah very eloquently says that even "our righteous acts are like filthy rags")--again, it's a true gift, by definition not something you deserve or earn.
However, Tom also reminds us, "James clearly states 'faith without works is dead.' Don't let your readers fall into the trap of not making Jesus the Lord of your life. When He is Lord, then you want to be like Him, which means you will have Christ-like works, but they are spawned from love, not obligation. How do we know this? Because Jesus Himself said that 'by their fruits you will recognize them' (Matthew 7:20). There is a huge difference, James states it so well that there is no doubt in my mind." [Great passage--check it out--James 2:14-26].
Thanks Tom, that's the good stuff :-) and I agree wholeheartedly that relating to Him as Savior and submitting to Him as Lord are both crucial components of "The Walk." I also agree that often it seems the 'salvation' aspect of the relationship is emphasized without talking about how that moment must become a long-term transformational experience in order for it to really, truly take root and thrive.
"You can't stay where you are and walk with God," is a quote that has always rung true for me, and it reminds me of another one: "God meets us where we are, but He loves us too much to leave us there." But I have to thank Tom S. for the one that brings it home: "It's by faith alone, but true faith is never alone."
So there it is: salvation is by grace, through faith, which without good Godly works is obviously dead--our "fruits" demonstrate irrefutably what spirit is on the throne of our hearts and producing those visible actions (and Galatians 5 doesn't mince words in that regard--check it out, it's a great read, and clears it all up if you're a little fuzzy on it).
You've each been prayed for today...
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Resolved: It's Only Him--Christ Plus Nothing.
Hey, Y'all,
In thinking about the last couple of RSTs (as well as the last few Sabbath School discussions) the same resounding theme keeps coming through (and interestingly it showed up in this thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com a few days ago)...
Paul's message is radically simple:
For the Christian, salvation is through Christ alone.
That means –
· It's not Christ plus your good behavior.
· It's not Christ plus the years you've taught a Bible study.
· It's not Christ plus your tithe (and church budget).
· It's not Christ plus fasting and prayer.
· It's not Christ plus the number of verses you memorize.
· It's not Christ plus well-behaved children.
· It's not Christ plus your newly shined shoes.
· It's not Christ plus the right job.
· It's not Christ plus the perfect spouse.
· It's not Christ plus the latest gadget.
· It's not Christ plus the church you attend.
· It's not Christ plus your position in the church.
· It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar.
Think about it: is there something you think you need to do or achieve to be fully accepted by God? Are you adding to Scripture, changing it to read, "I resolve to know nothing except Jesus PLUS…?"
You've been prayed for today...
In thinking about the last couple of RSTs (as well as the last few Sabbath School discussions) the same resounding theme keeps coming through (and interestingly it showed up in this thought from PurposeDrivenLife.com a few days ago)...
Paul's message is radically simple:
For the Christian, salvation is through Christ alone.
That means –
· It's not Christ plus your good behavior.
· It's not Christ plus the years you've taught a Bible study.
· It's not Christ plus your tithe (and church budget).
· It's not Christ plus fasting and prayer.
· It's not Christ plus the number of verses you memorize.
· It's not Christ plus well-behaved children.
· It's not Christ plus your newly shined shoes.
· It's not Christ plus the right job.
· It's not Christ plus the perfect spouse.
· It's not Christ plus the latest gadget.
· It's not Christ plus the church you attend.
· It's not Christ plus your position in the church.
· It's not Christ plus wisdom from the latest Christian seminar.
It's simply Him--
Christ plus nothing.Think about it: is there something you think you need to do or achieve to be fully accepted by God? Are you adding to Scripture, changing it to read, "I resolve to know nothing except Jesus PLUS…?"
You've been prayed for today...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
"Pure And Genuine?"
Hey, Y'all,
So in thinking about that last RST I remembered a text we talked about in church a couple of weeks ago--kinda hammered it home--it's James 1:27...
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
Hmmm...
Simple...and yet not entirely so. Clear...and yet mighty deep.
So...how does your religion, your philosophy of life, stack up?
"Pure and genuine," or something else?
You've been prayed for today...
So in thinking about that last RST I remembered a text we talked about in church a couple of weeks ago--kinda hammered it home--it's James 1:27...
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."
Hmmm...
Simple...and yet not entirely so. Clear...and yet mighty deep.
So...how does your religion, your philosophy of life, stack up?
"Pure and genuine," or something else?
You've been prayed for today...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Nothing But...
Hey, Y'all,
Ran across this quote from PurposeDrivenLife.com...got me thinking...
"When I came to you … I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:1,2
"The gospel message has gotten a little foggy these days with all the attention being paid to politics, family values, and culture wars, and a lot of folks have lost track of the fact that it's all about Jesus, His life, His example. Ask the man on the street what a Christian is today and you're likely to ask a long time until you hear anything about Jesus or the gospel. Our message, from beginning to end, must be Jesus – who He was, what He said, and what He did."
What do you think?
You've been prayed for today...
Ran across this quote from PurposeDrivenLife.com...got me thinking...
"When I came to you … I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:1,2
"The gospel message has gotten a little foggy these days with all the attention being paid to politics, family values, and culture wars, and a lot of folks have lost track of the fact that it's all about Jesus, His life, His example. Ask the man on the street what a Christian is today and you're likely to ask a long time until you hear anything about Jesus or the gospel. Our message, from beginning to end, must be Jesus – who He was, what He said, and what He did."
What do you think?
You've been prayed for today...
Monday, July 16, 2007
Whenever, Wherever, Whatever -- -Decide!
Hey, Y'all,
That last RST reminded me of this short but also potent thought--
"Wherever you are, whatever time it is, you are only a decision away from the presence of your Father."
Max Lucado
Whatever it is, wherever you are, whenever the realization hits you--think of Him, ask for Him--He is always listening for you. You just have to decide to do it and it's done.
You've been prayed for today...
That last RST reminded me of this short but also potent thought--
"Wherever you are, whatever time it is, you are only a decision away from the presence of your Father."
Max Lucado
Whatever it is, wherever you are, whenever the realization hits you--think of Him, ask for Him--He is always listening for you. You just have to decide to do it and it's done.
You've been prayed for today...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Angels Watching
Hey, Y'all,
Just a quick thought today--quick but solid. It's Ps. 91:11 (in a couple of different versions):
Just a quick thought today--quick but solid. It's Ps. 91:11 (in a couple of different versions):
He has given His angels charge of you
to watch over you wherever you go...
For he will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you in all your ways...
Just a thought..."wherever you go" isn't just a geographical place: so, wherever you are--body, soul, mind--God is there.
How cool is that?
You've been prayed for today...
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Need Some Quiet? Some Simplicity?
Hey, Y'all,
Today's RST is again from Yancey's book on prayer and it contains several very cool thoughts. Enjoy! (and BTW, you've been prayed for today...)
"Prayer can seem dull or difficult; though if we give ourselves to it, it commonly ends up less dull and less obstructed than it began. What is dull or dark or labored on our side is not so on the side of God, who rejoices in every least motion of our good will towards Him..." Austin Farrer
I am convinced that God finds ways to communicate with those who truly seek Him, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static. I remember reading the account of a spiritual seeker who interrupted his busy life to spend a few days in a monastery. "I hope your stay is a blessed one," said the monk who showed the visitor to his cell. "If you need anything, let us know and we'll teach you how to live without it."
We learn to pray by praying...To begin, I need to think more about God than about myself when I am praying...How often do I come to God not with consumer requests but simply with a desire to spend time with God, to discern what God wants from me and not vice versa?...Prayer that focuses on God, meditative prayer, can serve as a kind of self-forgetfulness...After an extended time with God, my urgent requests, which had seemed so significant, take on a new light. Though my needs drive me to prayer, there I come face-to-face with my greatest need: an encounter with God Himself.
Today's RST is again from Yancey's book on prayer and it contains several very cool thoughts. Enjoy! (and BTW, you've been prayed for today...)
"Prayer can seem dull or difficult; though if we give ourselves to it, it commonly ends up less dull and less obstructed than it began. What is dull or dark or labored on our side is not so on the side of God, who rejoices in every least motion of our good will towards Him..." Austin Farrer
I am convinced that God finds ways to communicate with those who truly seek Him, especially when we lower the volume of the surrounding static. I remember reading the account of a spiritual seeker who interrupted his busy life to spend a few days in a monastery. "I hope your stay is a blessed one," said the monk who showed the visitor to his cell. "If you need anything, let us know and we'll teach you how to live without it."
We learn to pray by praying...To begin, I need to think more about God than about myself when I am praying...How often do I come to God not with consumer requests but simply with a desire to spend time with God, to discern what God wants from me and not vice versa?...Prayer that focuses on God, meditative prayer, can serve as a kind of self-forgetfulness...After an extended time with God, my urgent requests, which had seemed so significant, take on a new light. Though my needs drive me to prayer, there I come face-to-face with my greatest need: an encounter with God Himself.
"The quieter the mind, the more powerful, the worthier, the deeper, the more telling and more perfect the prayer is." Meister Eckhart
Thursday, July 5, 2007
He's Already Here--Respond?
Hey, Y'all,
Hope you had a Happy Independence Day--Happy 231st Birthday, America!--'course as a result today felt a bit like a Monday back at work, but at least it's a "Monday" followed by Friday and Sabbath--thank God! Here's another cool thought of Yancey's on prayer--see if it isn't true of you as well...
Prayer is a subversive act performed in a world that constantly calls my faith into question. I may have a sense of estrangement in the very act of prayer, yet by faith I continue to pray and to look for other signs of God's presence...
I have learned to see prayer not as my way of establishing God's presence, but rather as my way of responding to God's presence that is a fact whether or not I can detect it...My feelings of God's presence--or God's absence--are not the same as His presence or absence.
Whenever I fixate on techniques, or sink into guilt over my inadequate prayers, or turn away in disappointment when a prayer "goes unanswered," I remind myself that prayer means keeping company with a God who is already present...God is present in my life and all around me; prayer offers me the chance to attend and respond to that presence.
You've been prayed for today....
Hope you had a Happy Independence Day--Happy 231st Birthday, America!--'course as a result today felt a bit like a Monday back at work, but at least it's a "Monday" followed by Friday and Sabbath--thank God! Here's another cool thought of Yancey's on prayer--see if it isn't true of you as well...
Prayer is a subversive act performed in a world that constantly calls my faith into question. I may have a sense of estrangement in the very act of prayer, yet by faith I continue to pray and to look for other signs of God's presence...
I have learned to see prayer not as my way of establishing God's presence, but rather as my way of responding to God's presence that is a fact whether or not I can detect it...My feelings of God's presence--or God's absence--are not the same as His presence or absence.
Whenever I fixate on techniques, or sink into guilt over my inadequate prayers, or turn away in disappointment when a prayer "goes unanswered," I remind myself that prayer means keeping company with a God who is already present...God is present in my life and all around me; prayer offers me the chance to attend and respond to that presence.
You've been prayed for today....
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Sometimes Distant, Sometimes Close, Always A Mystery
Hey, Y'all,
Well, another week's sailed by...unbelievable...feels like the last time I looked up it was like February :-) So anyway, I was thinking it's been a while since we heard from Yancey on prayer, so here we go...
These things feed my faith:
epiphanies of beauty in nature;
sunbursts of grace and forgiveness;
the portrait of God I get in Jesus;
stirring encounters with people who really live their faith.
These feed my doubts:
God's baffling tolerance of history's atrocities;
sustained periods of God's seeming absence;
my unanswered prayers.
My meetings with God may include ecstasy and joy, or withdrawal and silence...but always they include mystery. To come to terms with this unpredictability I remind myself that every friendship has a misty side, that all relationships sometimes reveal and sometimes conceal.
When I wonder why God doesn't simply "show up" I recall that when God did, as in Old Testament days, this appearance hardly enhanced communication: usually the person fell to the ground, flattened by blinding light.
In any event, I console myself, all relationships go through hot and cold spells. Sometimes communication is verbal, sometimes silent, sometimes close, sometimes distant. Usually, of course, these lectures to myself fail to convince. I am left with the unsettling truth that God, not I, has ultimate control over our relationship.
You've been prayed for today...
Well, another week's sailed by...unbelievable...feels like the last time I looked up it was like February :-) So anyway, I was thinking it's been a while since we heard from Yancey on prayer, so here we go...
These things feed my faith:
epiphanies of beauty in nature;
sunbursts of grace and forgiveness;
the portrait of God I get in Jesus;
stirring encounters with people who really live their faith.
These feed my doubts:
God's baffling tolerance of history's atrocities;
sustained periods of God's seeming absence;
my unanswered prayers.
My meetings with God may include ecstasy and joy, or withdrawal and silence...but always they include mystery. To come to terms with this unpredictability I remind myself that every friendship has a misty side, that all relationships sometimes reveal and sometimes conceal.
When I wonder why God doesn't simply "show up" I recall that when God did, as in Old Testament days, this appearance hardly enhanced communication: usually the person fell to the ground, flattened by blinding light.
In any event, I console myself, all relationships go through hot and cold spells. Sometimes communication is verbal, sometimes silent, sometimes close, sometimes distant. Usually, of course, these lectures to myself fail to convince. I am left with the unsettling truth that God, not I, has ultimate control over our relationship.
You've been prayed for today...
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Replies To "He Has Shown You What Is Good"
Hey, Y'all,
Today's thoughts are brought to you by you--they're replies to the "He Has Shown You What Is Good" RST from a few days ago. BTW, this is the last duplicate Yahoo/Gmail posting, so don't forget to add randomspiritualthoughts@gmail.com to your addressbook/contact list (otherwise your spam filter may eat it).
The first thought is actually from my friend N (you know who you are :-) "For some it truly is hard to live that way, for others it seems to come more naturally. What is it that makes the difference? I mean I've seen it both ways, in Christian and non-Christian people alike…perhaps that's just part of being human, as with everything else, we fall short and God's grace covers us. The other aspect is of being on the receiving end of living like that or not: how do we as imperfect human beings ourselves perceive it? Have we been overly critical on occasion?"
The second thought consists of excerpts from a sort of conversation (including my brothers at Grace Church and my now-in-Michigan-brother Mike R):
"You know, it occurs to me that this text would make a powerful slogan if we truly lived up to it. I mean, what higher calling could there possibly be for a man (and wouldn't it pretty much encompass everything if we tried) to act in a just and fair and upright manner, to strive to demonstrate kindness and mercy in thought and deed, and to truly walk humbly with our God. Man...words to live by if ever there were any...and that's my prayer for you today, that you too will strive to live those words, and that you will help me and every other brother also reach for that Godly standard..."
"If we could really see and really understand what kind of a force in the world a Christlike man really is (with all that that implies--walking closely in the footsteps of our Brother/Father/Healer/Prince/Servant Jesus), I have to believe we'd be incredibly attracted to the idea of being like that ourselves (and it would be noticeable--and attractive--to others as well). [I want to continue] to grow in that direction, to make a difference for our King in this world."
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly, and to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
You've been prayed for today…
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Turn To Him Last?
Hey, Y'all,
Today's thought comes our way from Olya (thanks, OlgaMona!) and is highly ironic (and painfully true):
"How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven."
--George MacDonald
Hmmm...Ring a bell (or is it just me again? :-)
You've been prayed for today...
Today's thought comes our way from Olya (thanks, OlgaMona!) and is highly ironic (and painfully true):
"How often we look upon God as our last and feeblest resource! We go to him because we have nowhere else to go. And then we learn that the storms of life have driven us, not upon the rocks, but into the desired haven."
--George MacDonald
Hmmm...Ring a bell (or is it just me again? :-)
You've been prayed for today...
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