When I lay down to sleep and the thoughts in my mind are tumbling around like old shoes in a dryer I need something to bring my mind to rest. Here's one of my favorite things to do:
Think on the attributes and names of God and Christ in alphabetical order! (You know, I don't usually get past M before I fall asleep.) Here are just a few ideas that come to mind.... hopefully I won't fall asleep!
I'd love to hear other attributes that you come up or even other "slow your mind" exercises :)
A- awesome, Alpha, Adonai, Abba, author (of our salvation)
B - beautiful, benevolent, blessed
C- Creator, counselor, cornerstone
D - deliverer
E - everlasting, eternal, Elohim, El Elyon
F - Father, faithful, fortress, forgiving, friend
G - gracious, good, God
H- holy,
I - indescribable, infinite, invisible, immutable
J - just, justifier, judge, jealous, Jehovah
K - King of Kings
L- Lord of Lords, loving, living, longsuffering, Lamb of God, lovely
M - Master, majestic, magnificent, merciful, Messiah
N - near (to those who are His)
O - Omega, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent
P - perfect, patient, powerful, Prince of Peace, protector
Q - Qedosh Yisrael (had to look this one up)
R - (El) Roi, Rock of Ages, restorer, righteous
S - Savior, sovereign, self-existent, Shepherd
T - trustworthy
U - undeniable, unchanging
V - victorious
W - wonderful, wise
X - Xcellent ;)
Y - Yahweh
Z - zzzzz zzzzz.......
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Forgiven much?
Today I read the parable of the king and the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18. As I took my jog I thought hard about forgiveness and unforgiveness. Somehow although I have read this many times before, this time I saw it with more clarity. Maybe this is because I have been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately: what true forgiveness looks like, how to know you've truly forgiven someone, when do we need to ask for forgiveness, why forgiveness is so critical to our christian growth.
While reading the parable I pictured the king calling each of his servants to recover what they owed him. When he got to one servant who owed him a lifetime worth of money, the king realized the servant could not pay. As a result he ordered the servant's family and all that he owned to be sold in order to settle the debt.
At this point, I'm thinking that while the king probably doesn't need the money, it is his absolute right (and even fair) that he receive back what had been taken or borrowed from him. He was the sovereign owner of the money to begin with.
Back to the scene before us...The servant must have been overwhelmed at the thought of losing all he had, seeing his family sold away from him, and never having a chance to recover. The servant fell down before the king begging him to be patient until he could find a way to pay. The king in a move of great grace, shows compassion on the servant and instead of giving him TIME to repay, he releases the servant from his huge debt. Complete forgiveness, no strings attached.
Wow.
Had the story ended there it would be a pretty fantastic end. Instead it continues with an amazing twist. Here is where my mind stayed turning over and over the events that unfolded next.
The forgiven servant, who has received grace he did not deserve, turns around and goes in search of another servant. Did he go to share the joy of his forgiveness? Unfortunately we will find that is not the case. The forgiven servant finds a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. Upon finding him, he takes him by the throat and threatens him to pay what he owes! His fellow servant falls down at his feet and begs him for patience, he promises to pay all.
Again I pause and think to myself...Certainly here the forgiven servant will share a little bit of the great grace he just received. I mean, he has no debt to pay anymore so he must be willing to share that experience with a fellow debtor.
As it turns out, the forgiven servant tightly grips the grace he has receives, tucks it away, and pronounces judgement on his fellow servant- to debtors prison for you! Not until he received the pittance owed him would he release his fellow servant.
Really? REALLY? How did he so quickly forget the huge debt forgiven him? Why did it not free him to extend that grace to another?
Well, as things played out, news must have traveled fast. The other servants observed the unforgiving behavior of the servant who had been forgiven much and they felt very grieved. In their grief they shared the encounter with the king. The king in turn called in the forgiven servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (v.32-33)
As a result of this encounter, the offending servant went from debt free and forgiven to being given to the torturers until he could repay his original debt. Can you imagine? From debt to freedom to debt again... was it worth it?
Was it worth it? Is it worth it to not forgive? It seems to me that I can't afford NOT to forgive. I can't afford it because I have been forgiven a debt I cannot repay... a holy God has required perfection and I am a wretched sinner, unable to reach His standard. I am deserving of death. Romans 6:23 confirms this, "But the wages of sin is death..." All of my sin is a lifetime of debt just like the original servant. The king, God, has the right to expect full payment of my debt. Fortunately Romans 6:23 doesn't stop with the wages of sin, it finishes, "BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
He has extended amazingly great grace to me by sending His Son to die on the cross for my debt, my sin. How can I, an undeserving servant who has been forgiven much and received such great grace not extend a little grace to another? What they owe me is so little compared to the immense debt I owe to my Lord and Savior. Not only that but my debt was so graciously paid for by Christ's blood. I do not deserve it, I cannot repay it.
To withhold forgiveness is to tightly grip the grace I've received, tuck it away, and pronounce judgement on others. To withhold forgiveness is to place the debt I perceive another person owes me as greater than the overwhelming debt I have been forgiven.
Bottom line, no one could ever "owe" me what I owe my Lord... what another owes me in comparison to what I owe my Lord is like comparing a cheap blow up dingy to the Queen Mary.
Bottom line: Forgiveness is not an option, it is an absolute requirement. One I cannot afford to withhold because I owe so much.
While reading the parable I pictured the king calling each of his servants to recover what they owed him. When he got to one servant who owed him a lifetime worth of money, the king realized the servant could not pay. As a result he ordered the servant's family and all that he owned to be sold in order to settle the debt.
At this point, I'm thinking that while the king probably doesn't need the money, it is his absolute right (and even fair) that he receive back what had been taken or borrowed from him. He was the sovereign owner of the money to begin with.
Back to the scene before us...The servant must have been overwhelmed at the thought of losing all he had, seeing his family sold away from him, and never having a chance to recover. The servant fell down before the king begging him to be patient until he could find a way to pay. The king in a move of great grace, shows compassion on the servant and instead of giving him TIME to repay, he releases the servant from his huge debt. Complete forgiveness, no strings attached.
Wow.
Had the story ended there it would be a pretty fantastic end. Instead it continues with an amazing twist. Here is where my mind stayed turning over and over the events that unfolded next.
The forgiven servant, who has received grace he did not deserve, turns around and goes in search of another servant. Did he go to share the joy of his forgiveness? Unfortunately we will find that is not the case. The forgiven servant finds a fellow servant who owed him a small debt. Upon finding him, he takes him by the throat and threatens him to pay what he owes! His fellow servant falls down at his feet and begs him for patience, he promises to pay all.
Again I pause and think to myself...Certainly here the forgiven servant will share a little bit of the great grace he just received. I mean, he has no debt to pay anymore so he must be willing to share that experience with a fellow debtor.
As it turns out, the forgiven servant tightly grips the grace he has receives, tucks it away, and pronounces judgement on his fellow servant- to debtors prison for you! Not until he received the pittance owed him would he release his fellow servant.
Really? REALLY? How did he so quickly forget the huge debt forgiven him? Why did it not free him to extend that grace to another?
Well, as things played out, news must have traveled fast. The other servants observed the unforgiving behavior of the servant who had been forgiven much and they felt very grieved. In their grief they shared the encounter with the king. The king in turn called in the forgiven servant and said, "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (v.32-33)
As a result of this encounter, the offending servant went from debt free and forgiven to being given to the torturers until he could repay his original debt. Can you imagine? From debt to freedom to debt again... was it worth it?
Was it worth it? Is it worth it to not forgive? It seems to me that I can't afford NOT to forgive. I can't afford it because I have been forgiven a debt I cannot repay... a holy God has required perfection and I am a wretched sinner, unable to reach His standard. I am deserving of death. Romans 6:23 confirms this, "But the wages of sin is death..." All of my sin is a lifetime of debt just like the original servant. The king, God, has the right to expect full payment of my debt. Fortunately Romans 6:23 doesn't stop with the wages of sin, it finishes, "BUT the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
He has extended amazingly great grace to me by sending His Son to die on the cross for my debt, my sin. How can I, an undeserving servant who has been forgiven much and received such great grace not extend a little grace to another? What they owe me is so little compared to the immense debt I owe to my Lord and Savior. Not only that but my debt was so graciously paid for by Christ's blood. I do not deserve it, I cannot repay it.
To withhold forgiveness is to tightly grip the grace I've received, tuck it away, and pronounce judgement on others. To withhold forgiveness is to place the debt I perceive another person owes me as greater than the overwhelming debt I have been forgiven.
Bottom line, no one could ever "owe" me what I owe my Lord... what another owes me in comparison to what I owe my Lord is like comparing a cheap blow up dingy to the Queen Mary.
Bottom line: Forgiveness is not an option, it is an absolute requirement. One I cannot afford to withhold because I owe so much.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
An Informed Mind
Colossians 3:16-17
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Today I was reminded yet again how important it is to have my mind informed by the Word of God. When someone asks me for advice or input, how quickly I am tempted to answer from my own opinion without taking the time to consider how it lines up with scripture. How easy it is to exalt my own opinion or the opinion of others in these situations.
If my mind is being informed and trained by the word of God, I will answer from God's Word and not my own. First opening the word and searching it for guidance to find those passages that will speak to the heart of the issue, providing a biblical principle to direct their path. Paul tells us in Colossians that we are to let the Word of God richly dwell within us, residing there. As the Word dwells in us we will be enabled to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom - not the world's wisdom but God's wisdom. I want that to be true of me, don't you?
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Today I was reminded yet again how important it is to have my mind informed by the Word of God. When someone asks me for advice or input, how quickly I am tempted to answer from my own opinion without taking the time to consider how it lines up with scripture. How easy it is to exalt my own opinion or the opinion of others in these situations.
If my mind is being informed and trained by the word of God, I will answer from God's Word and not my own. First opening the word and searching it for guidance to find those passages that will speak to the heart of the issue, providing a biblical principle to direct their path. Paul tells us in Colossians that we are to let the Word of God richly dwell within us, residing there. As the Word dwells in us we will be enabled to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom - not the world's wisdom but God's wisdom. I want that to be true of me, don't you?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Weddings
" Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.' " Genesis 2:18
Good godly weddings are good for marriages :) They are like little pep talks along the way that keep our feet firmly on the right path.
I happen to love weddings... especially at our church. I'm biased I know but somehow I just seem to be so blessed by those weddings. Here are just a few reasons why {and some really great ideas in case you need them :) } .
Our pastor is so practical, encouraging, and straightforward with his messages. He always exhorts the couple getting married as well as reminding us "already marrieds" what a godly marriage is supposed to be like.
Many of the couples have waited until their wedding day for their first kiss - so sweet and so rare.
A few have had a band of our own young adults play worship music to begin the ceremony- how perfect of a start is that?
The level of joy and rejoicing is always so high - it's a celebration!
And the number one reason I love weddings at our church... Christ is exalted. With Christ at the center of marriage from the ceremony forward, that marriage will succeed by His grace. Now there's a reason to rejoice!
Good godly weddings are good for marriages :) They are like little pep talks along the way that keep our feet firmly on the right path.
I happen to love weddings... especially at our church. I'm biased I know but somehow I just seem to be so blessed by those weddings. Here are just a few reasons why {and some really great ideas in case you need them :) } .
Our pastor is so practical, encouraging, and straightforward with his messages. He always exhorts the couple getting married as well as reminding us "already marrieds" what a godly marriage is supposed to be like.
Many of the couples have waited until their wedding day for their first kiss - so sweet and so rare.
A few have had a band of our own young adults play worship music to begin the ceremony- how perfect of a start is that?
The level of joy and rejoicing is always so high - it's a celebration!
And the number one reason I love weddings at our church... Christ is exalted. With Christ at the center of marriage from the ceremony forward, that marriage will succeed by His grace. Now there's a reason to rejoice!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Firmly in His Grip
Brothers and sisters in Christ...God (Who is faithful) knows right where you are, just what you need, and how to take care of you. Trust Him, He has everything under control. You are firmly in His grip.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Decline of the Gospel
Recently we had a special speaker, Colin Marshall, come to our church and he shared this thought:
1st generation preaches the gospel
2nd generation assumes the gospel
3rd generation denies the gospel
I have been meditating on this since I heard it. The natural flow of human nature seems to be that we decline spiritually from generation to generation unless someone picks up the baton of the gospel and preaches it to their own generation and the next. Every generation stands on the edge of that slippery slope.
The second generation slips when we assume our Christianity. For me that translated this way...
we go to church, we own bibles, we go to "christian" activities, we live in "christian" homes BUT do we ever preach Christ? The temptation might be to assume that because our lives or our children are filled with "christian" things that we are therefore christian.
The reality is that we are sinners prone to wander, prone to feed our flesh. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves, to our families, to our church family, to our friends, and anyone else we come in contact with.
Think of it this way, would we expect to become full of knowledge by just owning (not opening) a beautiful new set of encyclopedias? Of course not. Then how can we expect to become disciples of Christ by just owning a bible and never reading it OR by going to church and never applying what we are taught? It is said that Christianity is not caught, it's taught.
Christianity can be defined this way: being a follower or disciple of Christ. So let's consider thinking about our "christianity"... are we just playing christians - going through the motions, making our appearance on Sundays, and never pursuing Christ Himself? Or are we Christians - reading and meditating on His Word, coming to Sunday morning ready to hear God's Word and learning how to apply it, and sharing the gospel and pursuing Christ.
Let's not assume that our activities or the activities of those around us are equal to a relationship with Christ... let's proclaim the gospel until the Lord comes again... to ourselves and to others to every single generation. Pass it on.
1st generation preaches the gospel
2nd generation assumes the gospel
3rd generation denies the gospel
I have been meditating on this since I heard it. The natural flow of human nature seems to be that we decline spiritually from generation to generation unless someone picks up the baton of the gospel and preaches it to their own generation and the next. Every generation stands on the edge of that slippery slope.
The second generation slips when we assume our Christianity. For me that translated this way...
we go to church, we own bibles, we go to "christian" activities, we live in "christian" homes BUT do we ever preach Christ? The temptation might be to assume that because our lives or our children are filled with "christian" things that we are therefore christian.
The reality is that we are sinners prone to wander, prone to feed our flesh. We need to preach the gospel to ourselves, to our families, to our church family, to our friends, and anyone else we come in contact with.
Think of it this way, would we expect to become full of knowledge by just owning (not opening) a beautiful new set of encyclopedias? Of course not. Then how can we expect to become disciples of Christ by just owning a bible and never reading it OR by going to church and never applying what we are taught? It is said that Christianity is not caught, it's taught.
Christianity can be defined this way: being a follower or disciple of Christ. So let's consider thinking about our "christianity"... are we just playing christians - going through the motions, making our appearance on Sundays, and never pursuing Christ Himself? Or are we Christians - reading and meditating on His Word, coming to Sunday morning ready to hear God's Word and learning how to apply it, and sharing the gospel and pursuing Christ.
Let's not assume that our activities or the activities of those around us are equal to a relationship with Christ... let's proclaim the gospel until the Lord comes again... to ourselves and to others to every single generation. Pass it on.
Monday, October 4, 2010
"When in doubt.... Don't"
Romans 14:22-23
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
This past Sunday in church we talked about not violating your conscience. The sermon, based on the passage above, was very practical and thought provoking... and convicting - all of which are good things especially for me.
One of the most thought provoking things Pastor shared was that one behavior can be right and wrong at the same time. How? Because of two people with a different conscience in regard to the same issue. Interesting isn't it? Of course this refers to those things that are not explicitly stated in scripture as sin (Rom. 13:12-14; I Cor. 6: 9-10; Gal. 5: 19-21; Eph. 5:3-5). For example dancing, playing cards, having a glass of wine, full frontal hugging, music preference, appropriate dress lengths and necklines, etc.
These "gray areas" are hot spots that can easily become points of division. In regard to Christian liberty, while it is true that we have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) AND all things are lawful for me... not all things are profitable (I Cor. 6:12) - we do have our brethren to consider.
Christian liberty is a blessing from God and should we choose to restrain it, the motivation should be to demonstrate love toward a weaker brother or sister. How is that demonstrating love? Because it is an expression of agape love to restrain our liberty in order to do what is best for our weaker brethren. The weaker brethren are those who may be stumbled by our actions because their conscience tells them that our action is sin.
Where does the conviction come in for me? Being a person who tends to be principle driven, it is easy for me to be dogmatic and very black and white. While God has created me this way, He has also called me to live a life full of grace and mercy toward my fellow man. So when our pastor reminded us to not go around trying to bring people around to our own personal convictions in any of these areas... I was convicted. Whether or not I intended to or purposed in my heart to force my convictions on others, I was and have been guilty of that very thing. Ouch.
Practically speaking, the basic take away thought is this: If you violate your own moral code, you are guilty of sin. When your conscience is clear you can exercise your liberty without feeling badly. So "When in doubt... Don't."
"The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin."
This past Sunday in church we talked about not violating your conscience. The sermon, based on the passage above, was very practical and thought provoking... and convicting - all of which are good things especially for me.
One of the most thought provoking things Pastor shared was that one behavior can be right and wrong at the same time. How? Because of two people with a different conscience in regard to the same issue. Interesting isn't it? Of course this refers to those things that are not explicitly stated in scripture as sin (Rom. 13:12-14; I Cor. 6: 9-10; Gal. 5: 19-21; Eph. 5:3-5). For example dancing, playing cards, having a glass of wine, full frontal hugging, music preference, appropriate dress lengths and necklines, etc.
These "gray areas" are hot spots that can easily become points of division. In regard to Christian liberty, while it is true that we have freedom in Christ (Gal. 5:1) AND all things are lawful for me... not all things are profitable (I Cor. 6:12) - we do have our brethren to consider.
Christian liberty is a blessing from God and should we choose to restrain it, the motivation should be to demonstrate love toward a weaker brother or sister. How is that demonstrating love? Because it is an expression of agape love to restrain our liberty in order to do what is best for our weaker brethren. The weaker brethren are those who may be stumbled by our actions because their conscience tells them that our action is sin.
Where does the conviction come in for me? Being a person who tends to be principle driven, it is easy for me to be dogmatic and very black and white. While God has created me this way, He has also called me to live a life full of grace and mercy toward my fellow man. So when our pastor reminded us to not go around trying to bring people around to our own personal convictions in any of these areas... I was convicted. Whether or not I intended to or purposed in my heart to force my convictions on others, I was and have been guilty of that very thing. Ouch.
Practically speaking, the basic take away thought is this: If you violate your own moral code, you are guilty of sin. When your conscience is clear you can exercise your liberty without feeling badly. So "When in doubt... Don't."
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Yahweh Tsuri ~ The Lord My Rock Pt 2
There may be times when we are falsely accused or slandered, unfairly mistreated or rejected. During those times, we may be tempted to defend ourselves by fighting back, slandering in return, or retaliating in some other form.
If you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again to save you from your sins then you have a powerful defense... you can forgive them and freely turn it all over to God.
Should you find yourself in a situation like the ones I described above, let me encourage you to consider that God is your rock - He is your deliverer, He is your defender. Take refuge in Him, He is your salvation. Trust Him with those people, with that situation, with your hurt.
Echo David's prayer in II Samuel 22:2-4:
"He (David) said,
'The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.' "
If you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again to save you from your sins then you have a powerful defense... you can forgive them and freely turn it all over to God.
Should you find yourself in a situation like the ones I described above, let me encourage you to consider that God is your rock - He is your deliverer, He is your defender. Take refuge in Him, He is your salvation. Trust Him with those people, with that situation, with your hurt.
Echo David's prayer in II Samuel 22:2-4:
"He (David) said,
'The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge;
My savior, You save me from violence.
4"I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.' "
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Yahweh Tsuri ~ The Lord My Rock
When the storms of life are raging or the troubles of life are overwhelming, remember that God is our Rock. He is steadfast, immovable, reliable, unshakeable. Meditate on these truths from the Word of God, make them your prayer and praise today.
"There is no rock like our God."
I Samuel 2:2
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold."
Psalm 18:2
"For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?"
Psalm 18:31-32
"Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
"Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me."
Psalm 31:2-3
"From the end of the earth
I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Psalm 61:2
"He only is my rock and my salvation,My stronghold;
I shall not be greatly shaken...
He only is my rock and my salvation,My stronghold;
I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God."
Psalm 62:2,6-7
"And they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer."
Psalm 78:35
"There is no rock like our God."
I Samuel 2:2
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold."
Psalm 18:2
"For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?"
Psalm 18:31-32
"Let the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
"Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength, A stronghold to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me."
Psalm 31:2-3
"From the end of the earth
I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Psalm 61:2
"He only is my rock and my salvation,My stronghold;
I shall not be greatly shaken...
He only is my rock and my salvation,My stronghold;
I shall not be shaken.
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God."
Psalm 62:2,6-7
"And they remembered that God was their rock,
And the Most High God their Redeemer."
Psalm 78:35
Monday, June 21, 2010
Communicating with God
We talk every day to people around us, I not only talk to other people but I talk to myself! Now whether or not others or myself are listening is the difference between just talking and communicating.
True prayer is communicating with God, a two way conversation. Ideally we talk, He listens; He talks through His Word and the Holy Spirit, we listen.
What prayer is NOT:
~a cosmic wish list
~a grocery list of "can I have it?"
~an emotionless duty to stay on God's good side
~the last thing we do before we go to bed to ease our conscience
~a waste of time because God doesn't care anyway
True prayer is partnering with God in the lives of others. This may seem presumptuous (and it would be if it were man's perspective alone) but it is not. Why? Because God has ordained it, it is His chosen vehicle for us.
Lifting up the burdens of those around us, sharing in rejoicing, pouring out comfort, these are a few of the ways we partner with God. It is how we build relationships, fellowship with the saints, encourage other believers and minister to unbelievers.
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome in Romans 15:30, "I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me."
True prayer is communicating with God, a two way conversation. Ideally we talk, He listens; He talks through His Word and the Holy Spirit, we listen.
What prayer is NOT:
~a cosmic wish list
~a grocery list of "can I have it?"
~an emotionless duty to stay on God's good side
~the last thing we do before we go to bed to ease our conscience
~a waste of time because God doesn't care anyway
True prayer is partnering with God in the lives of others. This may seem presumptuous (and it would be if it were man's perspective alone) but it is not. Why? Because God has ordained it, it is His chosen vehicle for us.
Lifting up the burdens of those around us, sharing in rejoicing, pouring out comfort, these are a few of the ways we partner with God. It is how we build relationships, fellowship with the saints, encourage other believers and minister to unbelievers.
The apostle Paul writes to the church in Rome in Romans 15:30, "I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me."
Friday, June 18, 2010
Unanswered prayer
There was a country song a few years ago that told a story about a guy who didn't get what he prayed for... his response in retrospect? Thank God for unanswered prayer! Of course this represents a fictitious situation in a country song but it does stimulate some thought.
While building a theological case around a country song might be a little shaky, the question that arises from this is still a good one. Does prayer go unanswered by God?
{Of course, I am not a theologian nor have I undertaken theology courses. So please bear in mind that this short discourse is just some thoughts on prayer that I have thunk (borrowed from Winnie the Pooh).}
I would argue that while God does actually seem silent sometimes, the outcome points to an answer. The singer confesses that he prayed and God didn't deliver but He did. In the case of this song, requests were made and were not granted. God didn't answer yes to the crooner, He answered no.
God's answers vary, yes, no, maybe, and wait. If I have prayed that by a specified deadline I will have a specific answer and it doesn't happen, what was the answer?
Well if I have prayed that God will allow me to book a makeup job that is taking place on a specific date and I don't get that job then I would say, God said no. But I wouldn't stop there, I would go on further to say that He didn't just say no, it wasn't His will for me. God, in His Sovereignty, has not opened that door.
Many times we view prayer with such a limited view - I ask, God gives. What we don't see is that God has a plan for our life and every part of our lives figure in to that, even those little seemingly unimportant things. They really do matter, they capture our hearts and affections; because of that, they can either be for our good or our harm.
Do I thank God for those so-called "unanswered prayers"? As I begin understand God's character, I can thank Him for the answer to my prayer.... yes, no, maybe, or wait.
While building a theological case around a country song might be a little shaky, the question that arises from this is still a good one. Does prayer go unanswered by God?
{Of course, I am not a theologian nor have I undertaken theology courses. So please bear in mind that this short discourse is just some thoughts on prayer that I have thunk (borrowed from Winnie the Pooh).}
I would argue that while God does actually seem silent sometimes, the outcome points to an answer. The singer confesses that he prayed and God didn't deliver but He did. In the case of this song, requests were made and were not granted. God didn't answer yes to the crooner, He answered no.
God's answers vary, yes, no, maybe, and wait. If I have prayed that by a specified deadline I will have a specific answer and it doesn't happen, what was the answer?
Well if I have prayed that God will allow me to book a makeup job that is taking place on a specific date and I don't get that job then I would say, God said no. But I wouldn't stop there, I would go on further to say that He didn't just say no, it wasn't His will for me. God, in His Sovereignty, has not opened that door.
Many times we view prayer with such a limited view - I ask, God gives. What we don't see is that God has a plan for our life and every part of our lives figure in to that, even those little seemingly unimportant things. They really do matter, they capture our hearts and affections; because of that, they can either be for our good or our harm.
Do I thank God for those so-called "unanswered prayers"? As I begin understand God's character, I can thank Him for the answer to my prayer.... yes, no, maybe, or wait.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Time- spent or invested?
Time- a commodity we all possess and a commodity most of us struggle to gage well.
To spend time is to use it up, exhaust or consume it; while to invest time is to put it toward something permanant and less fleeting.
I know for me, time flies! Time seems to escape on wings never to return. So how can I clip those wings of time a little? Well maybe I can quit spending it and begin to invest it... I'm sure I have done both but I suspect that I spent it more than invest it on a day to day basis.
So here are some of the ways I've been thinking about investing my time:
~reading God's Word and praying: not in the "rote, check it off my list" sort of way but a purposeful, focused way, directing my heart, mind and soul to the things of God, connecting with His heart regarding my life, ministry, and relationships.
~relationships: taking the time to call my friends and family, to tell them I love them and make an effort to cultivate those relationships, invest time in them. If they are fellow believers, encouraging them in their Christian walk and devotion to God's Word, enjoying the fellowship of believers. If they are not believers, sharing my life and my faith with them, bringing them the gospel and loving them where they are at.
~ministry: carefully seeking what God would have me to do then pursuing it prayerfully, diligently, and wholeheartedly.
My life, my gifts, my time... these are really not mine. Life, gifts/talents, and time are a stewardship from my Lord meant to be used for His purposes and His glory. So as I go forward today, how will I apply the stewardship of time that has been entrusted to me?
Spend it or invest it?
Ephesians 5: 15-17
"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
To spend time is to use it up, exhaust or consume it; while to invest time is to put it toward something permanant and less fleeting.
I know for me, time flies! Time seems to escape on wings never to return. So how can I clip those wings of time a little? Well maybe I can quit spending it and begin to invest it... I'm sure I have done both but I suspect that I spent it more than invest it on a day to day basis.
So here are some of the ways I've been thinking about investing my time:
~reading God's Word and praying: not in the "rote, check it off my list" sort of way but a purposeful, focused way, directing my heart, mind and soul to the things of God, connecting with His heart regarding my life, ministry, and relationships.
~relationships: taking the time to call my friends and family, to tell them I love them and make an effort to cultivate those relationships, invest time in them. If they are fellow believers, encouraging them in their Christian walk and devotion to God's Word, enjoying the fellowship of believers. If they are not believers, sharing my life and my faith with them, bringing them the gospel and loving them where they are at.
~ministry: carefully seeking what God would have me to do then pursuing it prayerfully, diligently, and wholeheartedly.
My life, my gifts, my time... these are really not mine. Life, gifts/talents, and time are a stewardship from my Lord meant to be used for His purposes and His glory. So as I go forward today, how will I apply the stewardship of time that has been entrusted to me?
Spend it or invest it?
Ephesians 5: 15-17
"Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Friday, May 28, 2010
Believer be encouraged today
Charles Spurgeon Morning Devotion, May 28
"Whom he justified, them he also glorified."
- Romans 8:30
Here is a precious truth for thee, believer. Thou mayest be poor, or in suffering, or unknown, but for thine encouragement take a review of thy "calling" and the consequences that flow from it, and especially that blessed result here spoken of. As surely as thou art God’s child today, so surely shall all thy trials soon be at an end, and thou shalt be rich to all the intents of bliss. Wait awhile, and that weary head shall wear the crown of glory, and that hand of labour shall grasp the palm-branch of victory. Lament not thy troubles, but rather rejoice that ere long thou wilt be where "there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." The chariots of fire are at thy door, and a moment will suffice to bear thee to the glorified. The everlasting song is almost on thy lip. The portals of heaven stand open for thee. Think not that thou canst fail of entering into rest. If he hath called thee, nothing can divide thee from his love. Distress cannot sever the bond; the fire of persecution cannot burn the link; the hammer of hell cannot break the chain. Thou art secure; that voice which called thee at first, shall call thee yet again from earth to heaven, from death’s dark gloom to immortality’s unuttered splendours. Rest assured, the heart of him who has justified thee beats with infinite love towards thee. Thou shalt soon be with the glorified, where thy portion is; thou art only waiting here to be made meet for the inheritance, and that done, the wings of angels shall waft thee far away, to the mount of peace, and joy, and blessedness, where,
"Far from a world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut in,"
thou shalt rest for ever and ever.
"Whom he justified, them he also glorified."
- Romans 8:30
Here is a precious truth for thee, believer. Thou mayest be poor, or in suffering, or unknown, but for thine encouragement take a review of thy "calling" and the consequences that flow from it, and especially that blessed result here spoken of. As surely as thou art God’s child today, so surely shall all thy trials soon be at an end, and thou shalt be rich to all the intents of bliss. Wait awhile, and that weary head shall wear the crown of glory, and that hand of labour shall grasp the palm-branch of victory. Lament not thy troubles, but rather rejoice that ere long thou wilt be where "there shall be neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain." The chariots of fire are at thy door, and a moment will suffice to bear thee to the glorified. The everlasting song is almost on thy lip. The portals of heaven stand open for thee. Think not that thou canst fail of entering into rest. If he hath called thee, nothing can divide thee from his love. Distress cannot sever the bond; the fire of persecution cannot burn the link; the hammer of hell cannot break the chain. Thou art secure; that voice which called thee at first, shall call thee yet again from earth to heaven, from death’s dark gloom to immortality’s unuttered splendours. Rest assured, the heart of him who has justified thee beats with infinite love towards thee. Thou shalt soon be with the glorified, where thy portion is; thou art only waiting here to be made meet for the inheritance, and that done, the wings of angels shall waft thee far away, to the mount of peace, and joy, and blessedness, where,
"Far from a world of grief and sin,
With God eternally shut in,"
thou shalt rest for ever and ever.
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