Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Prayer
I've realized over the past week or so that my prayer life has been a lot of "thanksgiving" and "supplication"...but not a lot of "adoration" and "confession." I think a lot of my heart adoring God came through music when I played. I think I've come to the realization that I've been void of that for the past few years...which is a very bad thing. Adoration (praise/worship) is what I should always start my day with...whether in prayer or singing or just silence before my Creator. Adoration is what corrects my heart before the Righteous Judge. Adoration is what opens my heart, mind and soul to my King. Adoration is what leads to Confession. Confession is what gets me back on the path my God has purposed and planned for me. Confession is what washes my feet from the filth I've walked in and the sin I've sat in. Confession is what purifies. Confession is then what leads to Thanksgiving. Knowing I'm forgiven demands a thankful heart! A thankful heart rejoices in the good and the bad times. A thankful heart recognizes God is forever faithful to His children. A thankful (faithful) heart then leads to Supplication or Intercession. Prayer for those I'm in relationship with. Prayer for those I may meet for the first time today. Prayer for those I have not seen or heard from in years. Prayer for the lost. Prayer for the wandering. Prayer for the hurting. Prayer for the kingdom of heaven...God's children/followers. Then and only then can I go out into the world and live as He wants me to live...and die as He wants me to die.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Celebrate the Temporary by Clyde Reid
Celebrate the temporary
Don't wait until tomorrow
Live today
Celebrate the simple things
Enjoy the butterfly
Embrace the snow
Run with the ocean
Delight in the trees
Or a single lonely flower
Go barefoot in the wet grass
Don't wait
Until all the problems are solved
Or all the bills are paid
You will wait forever
Eternity will come and go
And you
Will still be waiting
Live in the now
With all its problems and its agonies
With its joy
And its pain
Celebrate your pain
Your despair
Your anger
It means you're alive
Look closer
Breathe deeper
Stand taller
Stop grieving the past
There is joy and beauty
Today
It is temporary
Here now and gone
So celebrate it
While you can
Celebrate the temporary
Monday, April 5, 2010
Day after Easter
Easter services at The Heights seemed to go extremely well (here I must admit that my job keeps me looking at the logistics of the morning sometimes stronger than I'd like). My prayer is always that we "do" nothing in vain...that all we do glorifies God. I can't help but think that there were many people here yesterday that will be like the thief on the cross whose life may not show a lot of "effort" (fruit) toward glorifying God, but who by His grace believes and is saved. All Praise to God!
I know the reality of life is that there were two thieves that day on either side of Jesus...and the other mocked Jesus. Some here yesterday did nothing but mock the grace of God shown to us through the death of Christ on the cross. I pray for their souls and hope that God tarries long enough for them to see the nail scarred hands as Thomas did and hope one day they too will be resurrected from death into a relationship that brings glory to God!
I know the reality of life is that there were two thieves that day on either side of Jesus...and the other mocked Jesus. Some here yesterday did nothing but mock the grace of God shown to us through the death of Christ on the cross. I pray for their souls and hope that God tarries long enough for them to see the nail scarred hands as Thomas did and hope one day they too will be resurrected from death into a relationship that brings glory to God!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Worn out souls
The book of Psalms is a well of strength for the soul. In reading Psalm 69, 70, & 71, you see and hear how David, for a season, was pursued and persecuted by attackers from literally all sides. Time after time he's crying out to God in the midst of being pursued and attacked. He even prays for the attackers to be cursed by God. How relevant this feels to my soul, yet I am not physically being pursued and attacked by anyone. As a matter of fact, being born and raised in the U.S. has completely sheltered me from experiencing anything like this. So why do I feel like I relate? Is the answer found on the inside...in my soul?
Do temptations pursue and persecute me on all sides so that my soul longs for this deliverance and refuge that David so often cries out for? I don't think it's a stretch to say...Yes! I believe a worn out soul needs refreshing and reminding that the LORD of all is in control and mighty to save. When we're beaten down by temptation and our soul is worn thin, we experience more pain and suffering. Just like a worn out sole on a shoe allows bruising and discomfort throughout the whole body, so too a soul worn out by temptation to deny it's Creator. We become worn out from the inside out.
What do we do? What should we do? Follow David's lead and cry out to God! In so doing we strengthen the soul...our soles. You find that God is waiting to hear our cry and deliver according to the multitude of His tender mercies. His righteousness and His salvation is our hope and saving grace to which we will never know their limits.
"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
'Let God be magnified!'" - Psalm 70:4
"In You, O LORD, I put my trust...Deliver me in Your righteousness...Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I may resort continually. You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress." - Psalm 71:1-3
Do temptations pursue and persecute me on all sides so that my soul longs for this deliverance and refuge that David so often cries out for? I don't think it's a stretch to say...Yes! I believe a worn out soul needs refreshing and reminding that the LORD of all is in control and mighty to save. When we're beaten down by temptation and our soul is worn thin, we experience more pain and suffering. Just like a worn out sole on a shoe allows bruising and discomfort throughout the whole body, so too a soul worn out by temptation to deny it's Creator. We become worn out from the inside out.
What do we do? What should we do? Follow David's lead and cry out to God! In so doing we strengthen the soul...our soles. You find that God is waiting to hear our cry and deliver according to the multitude of His tender mercies. His righteousness and His salvation is our hope and saving grace to which we will never know their limits.
"Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
And let those who love Your salvation say continually,
'Let God be magnified!'" - Psalm 70:4
"In You, O LORD, I put my trust...Deliver me in Your righteousness...Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I may resort continually. You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress." - Psalm 71:1-3
Friday, March 5, 2010
3 Amazing Stories
2 Kings 6-7 tells three amazing stories from the life of Elisha. The first is about a floating ax head, which I just don't get, but it's pretty incredible. The second and third stories are just waiting for Ridley Scott to take hold of them and create another epic film.
Verses 8-23 is titled "The Blinded Syrians Captured." It tells of God using Elisha in some miraculous ways. He heard the plans of the opposing king without being present in the room with them, and then he saw an army (of angels?) that were ready to fight and protect the people from their attackers. God allowed Elisha to listen through His ears and see with His eyes so that he would know that God would protect them. You've got to read the rest of the story to believe what happens next...amazing!
Chapter 6:24 through 7:20 is titled "Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine." It tells of how God protected and provided again for the people even during a time of consequence for their sin. I'll tease you with this crazy verse, 25 "And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver." What? Dove droppings and a donkey's head? Read the story...it's amazing!
If my eyes could see beyond the physical
like Elisha who saw into the spiritual
If my ears could hear beyond the walls
the attacker devising evil to make me fall
Then I could see the windows open in heaven
and the LORD's blessing flowing down over the people
And I could say, "Do not fear, for those who are with us
are more than those who are with them."
LORD, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that obeys.
Verses 8-23 is titled "The Blinded Syrians Captured." It tells of God using Elisha in some miraculous ways. He heard the plans of the opposing king without being present in the room with them, and then he saw an army (of angels?) that were ready to fight and protect the people from their attackers. God allowed Elisha to listen through His ears and see with His eyes so that he would know that God would protect them. You've got to read the rest of the story to believe what happens next...amazing!
Chapter 6:24 through 7:20 is titled "Syria Besieges Samaria in Famine." It tells of how God protected and provided again for the people even during a time of consequence for their sin. I'll tease you with this crazy verse, 25 "And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver." What? Dove droppings and a donkey's head? Read the story...it's amazing!
If my eyes could see beyond the physical
like Elisha who saw into the spiritual
If my ears could hear beyond the walls
the attacker devising evil to make me fall
Then I could see the windows open in heaven
and the LORD's blessing flowing down over the people
And I could say, "Do not fear, for those who are with us
are more than those who are with them."
LORD, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that obeys.
How could they even do that!
Psalm 81:11-12, "But my people would not heed My voice, and Israel would have none of Me. So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels."
This is the age old "some people just have to learn the hard way." If we would just listen to God's voice (through Scripture and through the Holy Spirit speaking through those who have gone before us), we would not suffer the consequences that come with doing things "the hard way." Sometimes we do learn from our mistakes (sins), but sometimes our actions can be so destructive that we don't survive.
In light of the various situations of sexual sin that have occurred lately in our "little world," I had read Romans 1 that speaks further on this subject. It says in verse 21, "...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Verse 24 goes on to say, "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchange the truth of God for the lie..." verse 26, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions..." verse 28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting..."
How could they even do that? Well, the formula is laid out in those verses above: refusal to glorify God, un-thankful, and futile in thought. We get so selfish and full of lust that we neglect our Creator and the window of blessing He so desires to pour out on us when we obey. The craziest part to me is the lack of consideration for consequence to our action. Ephesians 5:15 is one of my favorite challenging passages that says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." Circumspectly means to consider the circumstances and consequences. How is this thought/action going to affect me, my family, and ultimately my relationship with God?
So is there hope for someone who's on this path? Yes, Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" No, this verse doesn't sound very positive on the surface, but if you look at the Truths it claims, forgiveness is just waiting to be bestowed on the one in sin. There is not a guarantee to be saved from the path we may be on, but verse 4 describes not only God's patience with us, but more importantly that His goodness "leads us" to repentance. Repentance restores our relationship.
God desires sinful man to be reconciled to Him. He is the author of forgiveness. How many awesome stories are there of the "lost" finding grace and love that so overwhelms them that they can't help but cry out for healing and forgiveness!
Please take heed, all who know God, from those who have fallen to their own selfish, evil desires. Learn from their stories. Pray for purity and protection from temptation. Long for holiness in a land of corruption. Be the light that you were called to be. Let your life reflect God's greatness! Bless His holy name!
This is the age old "some people just have to learn the hard way." If we would just listen to God's voice (through Scripture and through the Holy Spirit speaking through those who have gone before us), we would not suffer the consequences that come with doing things "the hard way." Sometimes we do learn from our mistakes (sins), but sometimes our actions can be so destructive that we don't survive.
In light of the various situations of sexual sin that have occurred lately in our "little world," I had read Romans 1 that speaks further on this subject. It says in verse 21, "...although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened." Verse 24 goes on to say, "Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchange the truth of God for the lie..." verse 26, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions..." verse 28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting..."
How could they even do that? Well, the formula is laid out in those verses above: refusal to glorify God, un-thankful, and futile in thought. We get so selfish and full of lust that we neglect our Creator and the window of blessing He so desires to pour out on us when we obey. The craziest part to me is the lack of consideration for consequence to our action. Ephesians 5:15 is one of my favorite challenging passages that says, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." Circumspectly means to consider the circumstances and consequences. How is this thought/action going to affect me, my family, and ultimately my relationship with God?
So is there hope for someone who's on this path? Yes, Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" No, this verse doesn't sound very positive on the surface, but if you look at the Truths it claims, forgiveness is just waiting to be bestowed on the one in sin. There is not a guarantee to be saved from the path we may be on, but verse 4 describes not only God's patience with us, but more importantly that His goodness "leads us" to repentance. Repentance restores our relationship.
God desires sinful man to be reconciled to Him. He is the author of forgiveness. How many awesome stories are there of the "lost" finding grace and love that so overwhelms them that they can't help but cry out for healing and forgiveness!
Please take heed, all who know God, from those who have fallen to their own selfish, evil desires. Learn from their stories. Pray for purity and protection from temptation. Long for holiness in a land of corruption. Be the light that you were called to be. Let your life reflect God's greatness! Bless His holy name!
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