I can remember as a child, being so excited Christmas was coming, thinking of all the presents Santa was bringing. Back then, I wasn't focused on the true "reason for the season", it was all about the gifts. I vividly remember several Christmas mornings where, after tearing open present after present, having that empty feeling.. realizing that there were no more presents to open. It wasn't that I didn't receive enough gifts, as a matter of fact, I usually got way too many. It was simply a longing a had to have all my hopes and dreams fulfilled. There was a emptiness inside my heart that I didn't understand, call it a longing to be satisfied. But every year I had the same result. I would come to the end of the presents and then that sadness would take hold..
Thinking back on that, I'm so glad that's not the case today. I know exactly what Christmas is all about.. It's precisely what the angels said it was "Behold!! I bring you good news of GREAT JOY! Today in the City of David is born to you a Savior, Christ the Lord". I've finally found that satisfaction I always wanted, the best gift ever. All my desires have been realized through Christ! Now this is my heart-felt Christmas prayer..
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? Besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works.
(Psalm 73:25-28)
Now there's only one thing I want- being close to the Christ of Christmas!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Evening Prayer
Lord guide us waking
and guard us sleeping.
We commend our souls
to Your safe keeping.
May we rest in You
throughout this night,
and follow You close
in the morning light.
and guard us sleeping.
We commend our souls
to Your safe keeping.
May we rest in You
throughout this night,
and follow You close
in the morning light.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Spirit be my guide
Holy Spirit be my guide,
in my heart now reside,
not in part but the whole.
As we meet every morn
may my life be reborn,
as in Thy garden we stroll.
Not a care nor a fear,
when Thy presence is near-
Thy Spirit, it doth console.
Thy mercies I survey,
turning dark into day-
burn bright within my soul.
in my heart now reside,
not in part but the whole.
As we meet every morn
may my life be reborn,
as in Thy garden we stroll.
Not a care nor a fear,
when Thy presence is near-
Thy Spirit, it doth console.
Thy mercies I survey,
turning dark into day-
burn bright within my soul.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Be of good cheer
And it came about one day that He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing. And behold, some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in, and to set him down in front of Him. And not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, right in the center, in front of Jesus. And seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"-- He said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, rise, and take up your stretcher and go home." And at once he rose up before them, and took up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. And they were all seized with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today."
(Luke 5:17-26)
Here's a few things I noticed from this story..
Jesus had such a great sense of humor. He could have simply healed the paralytic. But Jesus used this opportunity, when there were scribes and teachers of the Law from as far away as Jerusalem. As we often say today, He wanted to make a statement, but in a clever, hard-to-forget way. In fact, you could say, it was a setup. He knew what the Pharisees would think when He said "Man you're sins are forgiven". There was no question they would think those words were blasphemous. So instead of just healing the man, he said something radical. As expected, the lawyers and scribes thought to themselves, who does this guy think he is? Only God can forgive sins! Yes.. and only God can heal a paralytic! And so goes the story, Jesus made His statement. The man got up and walked home, proving that Jesus could heal, and could also forgive sins..
One part of this story that's often overlooked.. The paralytic had four friends who were totally committed to him. They all wanted him to see Jesus, because they knew in doing that, their friend would definitely be healed. All three gospel accounts of this story say the same thing "when Jesus saw their faith". It didn't say Jesus saw "his faith", it says "their faith". They would simply not be denied. By breaking up the ceiling like they did, they risked being chastised and ridiculed. I'm sure the owner of the house wasn't too happy about the home repairs he would have to do. Having a leaky roof is no fun, that's for sure! At any rate, these guys were all on the same page. They had their plan and they were going to follow through. Think about that.. One of them probably had the idea to climb up on the roof. The others could have said, no way, we'll get in big trouble. Jesus may get upset if we tear into his friend's roof.. No- they all decided it was the only way to make sure their friend met with Jesus. They didn't back down. If only we were as serious about making sure people meet Jesus.
One final observation.. In Matthew's account of the story, Jesus told the man "Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven!" Now that's something to be cheerful about!
(Luke 5:17-26)
Here's a few things I noticed from this story..
Jesus had such a great sense of humor. He could have simply healed the paralytic. But Jesus used this opportunity, when there were scribes and teachers of the Law from as far away as Jerusalem. As we often say today, He wanted to make a statement, but in a clever, hard-to-forget way. In fact, you could say, it was a setup. He knew what the Pharisees would think when He said "Man you're sins are forgiven". There was no question they would think those words were blasphemous. So instead of just healing the man, he said something radical. As expected, the lawyers and scribes thought to themselves, who does this guy think he is? Only God can forgive sins! Yes.. and only God can heal a paralytic! And so goes the story, Jesus made His statement. The man got up and walked home, proving that Jesus could heal, and could also forgive sins..
One part of this story that's often overlooked.. The paralytic had four friends who were totally committed to him. They all wanted him to see Jesus, because they knew in doing that, their friend would definitely be healed. All three gospel accounts of this story say the same thing "when Jesus saw their faith". It didn't say Jesus saw "his faith", it says "their faith". They would simply not be denied. By breaking up the ceiling like they did, they risked being chastised and ridiculed. I'm sure the owner of the house wasn't too happy about the home repairs he would have to do. Having a leaky roof is no fun, that's for sure! At any rate, these guys were all on the same page. They had their plan and they were going to follow through. Think about that.. One of them probably had the idea to climb up on the roof. The others could have said, no way, we'll get in big trouble. Jesus may get upset if we tear into his friend's roof.. No- they all decided it was the only way to make sure their friend met with Jesus. They didn't back down. If only we were as serious about making sure people meet Jesus.
One final observation.. In Matthew's account of the story, Jesus told the man "Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven!" Now that's something to be cheerful about!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Come and See
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”
(John 1:43-51)
Every now and then, a Bible story you've read a thousand times comes to life for the first time. Call it what you will, but I believe it's simply inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When it happens, it's always just what I need to hear, at just the right time.
In reading about Nathanael this morning, the reality of what happened hit me. If you can put yourself in Nathanael's shoes. You've heard all your life that the Messiah's coming.. And to make things more confusing, during that time a LOT of people claimed to be the Messiah. So when Nathanael heard Philip say he'd "found the Messiah", he probably rolled his eyes and thought "Oh brother!". And to top things off, Philip tells Nathanael where Jesus is from.. from Nazareth! That would be like someone telling me the Messiah is here, and he's from Two Egg Florida! I'd likely say the same kind of thing Nate said "Can anything good from Two Egg?"..
Another thing I noticed about this story- When Nate met Jesus for the first time, he was blown away by the fact Jesus saw him under the fig tree. It dawned on me that if Jesus knew where Nate was standing when Philip called for him, then he had to know what he said.. In other words, Jesus knew Nate didn't have a very high opinion about Nazarenes. If Jesus knew that, instead of saying "Behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit", Jesus could have said "So you don't like people from Nazareth?".. But instead Jesus basically says "Behold, here's a guy who really speaks his mind". Someone with "no deceit" doesn't pull punches, he says what he means and means what he says. Jesus actually compliments Nate instead of chastising him.
I believe the moral to this story is simply this- Jesus sees us right where we are. He knows if we're under a fig tree, or if we're under a cloud of depression. What's cool is- he loves us either way. He doesn't berate for our misconceptions or condemn us for our weaknesses. The Bible says He doesn't deal with us according to our sins. Instead he sees us where we are, wants us to "come and see" His goodness, and longs to show us the depth and beauty of His great love.
(John 1:43-51)
Every now and then, a Bible story you've read a thousand times comes to life for the first time. Call it what you will, but I believe it's simply inspiration of the Holy Spirit. When it happens, it's always just what I need to hear, at just the right time.
In reading about Nathanael this morning, the reality of what happened hit me. If you can put yourself in Nathanael's shoes. You've heard all your life that the Messiah's coming.. And to make things more confusing, during that time a LOT of people claimed to be the Messiah. So when Nathanael heard Philip say he'd "found the Messiah", he probably rolled his eyes and thought "Oh brother!". And to top things off, Philip tells Nathanael where Jesus is from.. from Nazareth! That would be like someone telling me the Messiah is here, and he's from Two Egg Florida! I'd likely say the same kind of thing Nate said "Can anything good from Two Egg?"..
Another thing I noticed about this story- When Nate met Jesus for the first time, he was blown away by the fact Jesus saw him under the fig tree. It dawned on me that if Jesus knew where Nate was standing when Philip called for him, then he had to know what he said.. In other words, Jesus knew Nate didn't have a very high opinion about Nazarenes. If Jesus knew that, instead of saying "Behold an Israelite in whom is no deceit", Jesus could have said "So you don't like people from Nazareth?".. But instead Jesus basically says "Behold, here's a guy who really speaks his mind". Someone with "no deceit" doesn't pull punches, he says what he means and means what he says. Jesus actually compliments Nate instead of chastising him.
I believe the moral to this story is simply this- Jesus sees us right where we are. He knows if we're under a fig tree, or if we're under a cloud of depression. What's cool is- he loves us either way. He doesn't berate for our misconceptions or condemn us for our weaknesses. The Bible says He doesn't deal with us according to our sins. Instead he sees us where we are, wants us to "come and see" His goodness, and longs to show us the depth and beauty of His great love.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Lord's Poem
Simon asked Jesus, "Teach us to pray..
We'd talk with God, if we knew the way..
We want Him to hear us & us to hear Him..
We want to know Him in spite of our sin..
What can you tell us or teach us today?"
Then Jesus gave these words to say...
Our Father in Heaven, forever the same,
Your ways are holy and so is Your name..
May the kingdom of heaven quickly come,
that all the earth may see Your will done..
Give us this day the bread we all need..
For by Your Spirit we trust You to lead..
Forgive and cleanse us from every sin,
as we too forgive all the sons of men..
Let not our hearts be guided astray,
but deliver our souls from evil today..
For unto You is the glory and power,
forever and always, hour by hour..
We'd talk with God, if we knew the way..
We want Him to hear us & us to hear Him..
We want to know Him in spite of our sin..
What can you tell us or teach us today?"
Then Jesus gave these words to say...
Our Father in Heaven, forever the same,
Your ways are holy and so is Your name..
May the kingdom of heaven quickly come,
that all the earth may see Your will done..
Give us this day the bread we all need..
For by Your Spirit we trust You to lead..
Forgive and cleanse us from every sin,
as we too forgive all the sons of men..
Let not our hearts be guided astray,
but deliver our souls from evil today..
For unto You is the glory and power,
forever and always, hour by hour..
Thursday, October 7, 2010
God Never..
God never sleeps,
walking beside me..
Often He weeps
as He tries to guide me..
God never lies,
God never leaves me..
Though I'm unwise,
He always receives me..
God never fails
to amaze & impress me..
Through life's trevails
He'll always out-guess me..
walking beside me..
Often He weeps
as He tries to guide me..
God never lies,
God never leaves me..
Though I'm unwise,
He always receives me..
God never fails
to amaze & impress me..
Through life's trevails
He'll always out-guess me..
Monday, September 27, 2010
Another Morning Prayer
Dear Lord, today, I bow my knee,
lifting my heart and voice to Thee.
With no pretense and no demand,
I humbly seek Your loving hand.
Save me from temptation's snare,
keep my thoughts from all despair.
Instead give me a desire for You,
for love, faith and all that's true.
For on my own, I have no good,
so help me live the life I should.
I offer up my soul this day.
In Your name, I humbly pray.
lifting my heart and voice to Thee.
With no pretense and no demand,
I humbly seek Your loving hand.
Save me from temptation's snare,
keep my thoughts from all despair.
Instead give me a desire for You,
for love, faith and all that's true.
For on my own, I have no good,
so help me live the life I should.
I offer up my soul this day.
In Your name, I humbly pray.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Epiphany
We spend our days and many nights
defending wrongs, demanding rights,
seeking pleasure and seeking fame
or seeking someone else to blame..
Month to month and week to week
all these things we dearly seek,
but how blessed our life would be
to seek out an epiphany..
Oh Christ to You we humbly call
and lift You up as Lord of all.
Let all we say and think and do
have a different point of view..
Give us ears to hear Your voice,
let our hearts and souls rejoice,
and grant us eyes to clearly see-
You as our epiphany!
Epiphany- (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery or realization.
defending wrongs, demanding rights,
seeking pleasure and seeking fame
or seeking someone else to blame..
Month to month and week to week
all these things we dearly seek,
but how blessed our life would be
to seek out an epiphany..
Oh Christ to You we humbly call
and lift You up as Lord of all.
Let all we say and think and do
have a different point of view..
Give us ears to hear Your voice,
let our hearts and souls rejoice,
and grant us eyes to clearly see-
You as our epiphany!
Epiphany- (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery or realization.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Remembered
A careful rider I have been,
to home, work and back again..
I've often made that claim with pride
to other folks who like to ride..
In looking back to where I've been,
I plainly see such pride's a sin!
For I don't want to be well-known
as a rider who's never thrown..
I'd rather be remembered well
by what I learned the times I fell!
So to this end, I now rejoice
and lift a very grateful voice..
For every time I've fallen down,
a very simple truth was found,
that even with the hardest fall,
I hear the Father's loving call..
He's always there to take my pain,
heal the wounds and stop the rain.
So where I travel, roam or dwell,
He's even Lord of the times I fell..
First broken bone at age 52- my collarbone.. Laid my cycle down on a wet road coming home from work Monday. Only going 15 to 20 mph, but someone stopped short ahead of me and it had just rained. Locked it up and laid it down, then landed full force on my left shoulder. Still my God gets all the glory! A new poem is born!
to home, work and back again..
I've often made that claim with pride
to other folks who like to ride..
In looking back to where I've been,
I plainly see such pride's a sin!
For I don't want to be well-known
as a rider who's never thrown..
I'd rather be remembered well
by what I learned the times I fell!
So to this end, I now rejoice
and lift a very grateful voice..
For every time I've fallen down,
a very simple truth was found,
that even with the hardest fall,
I hear the Father's loving call..
He's always there to take my pain,
heal the wounds and stop the rain.
So where I travel, roam or dwell,
He's even Lord of the times I fell..
First broken bone at age 52- my collarbone.. Laid my cycle down on a wet road coming home from work Monday. Only going 15 to 20 mph, but someone stopped short ahead of me and it had just rained. Locked it up and laid it down, then landed full force on my left shoulder. Still my God gets all the glory! A new poem is born!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Morning Prayer
Open our ears that we may hear, our eyes that we may see,
our hearts that we may truly know Thee- the only true God.
May the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead
dwell within us and quicken our mortal bodies to eternal life
through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
(Romans 8:11)
our hearts that we may truly know Thee- the only true God.
May the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead
dwell within us and quicken our mortal bodies to eternal life
through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
(Romans 8:11)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Don't go 'round hungry
Sitting by a well, Jesus told the Samaritan woman- "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13)
Not long after the miracle of feeding the 5000, he told the crowds who came to him, who were once again looking for free food; "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
In both places, Jesus is illutrating a truth, using one of our most basic needs in life- food and water.. Simply put, He alone can satisfy our inner desires. Problem is, many Christians walk around feeling very empty. They don't experience that "spring of water welling up to eternal life". They often feel very hungry and thirsty. Why is that?
Go back and look at those two verses.. It says "everyone who drinks this water" and "he who comes to Me". In other words, there is action required on our part. We have to come to Jesus and we need to drink the living water He offers. So many Christians don't make time for either activity, then they wonder why they feel so dry and empty. Eventually they find other desires to try and quench the longing they feel within.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) If you turn it around, you could say- those who don't hunger and thirst for righteousness shall never be content. So basically we have to choose. We can eat, drink and seek fulfillment in our relationship with God and be satisfied, or we can seek other things and always go 'round hungry.
God will lead us to living water, but He won't make us drink it. That's up to us.
Not long after the miracle of feeding the 5000, he told the crowds who came to him, who were once again looking for free food; "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." (John 6:35)
In both places, Jesus is illutrating a truth, using one of our most basic needs in life- food and water.. Simply put, He alone can satisfy our inner desires. Problem is, many Christians walk around feeling very empty. They don't experience that "spring of water welling up to eternal life". They often feel very hungry and thirsty. Why is that?
Go back and look at those two verses.. It says "everyone who drinks this water" and "he who comes to Me". In other words, there is action required on our part. We have to come to Jesus and we need to drink the living water He offers. So many Christians don't make time for either activity, then they wonder why they feel so dry and empty. Eventually they find other desires to try and quench the longing they feel within.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus said "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." (Matthew 5:6) If you turn it around, you could say- those who don't hunger and thirst for righteousness shall never be content. So basically we have to choose. We can eat, drink and seek fulfillment in our relationship with God and be satisfied, or we can seek other things and always go 'round hungry.
God will lead us to living water, but He won't make us drink it. That's up to us.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
One Thing I Ask
One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)
I've heard it said, if you want to find out what's most important to you, just look at where you spend your spare time, where you spend your money and what you think about.. It quickly becomes obvious what you value most in life. David said there was one thing he wanted from God and even said "that I shall seek". In other words, not only did he ask God for this one most important thing, he also intended to do his part to make the request a reality. He valued being in God's presence more than anything. He just wanted to be in God's house, behold His beauty and meditate on God Himself. I want to have a heart like that, to value my relationship with God more than anything else, to "behold the beauty of the Lord and meditate in His temple".
I've heard it said, if you want to find out what's most important to you, just look at where you spend your spare time, where you spend your money and what you think about.. It quickly becomes obvious what you value most in life. David said there was one thing he wanted from God and even said "that I shall seek". In other words, not only did he ask God for this one most important thing, he also intended to do his part to make the request a reality. He valued being in God's presence more than anything. He just wanted to be in God's house, behold His beauty and meditate on God Himself. I want to have a heart like that, to value my relationship with God more than anything else, to "behold the beauty of the Lord and meditate in His temple".
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Eagerly Seeking
Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry about things that aren't important, that we should seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost, that God will take care of the rest. We've all heard this passage a million times, but do we really live it?
As Jesus stated "for the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things".. By saying that, He contrasted the way the Gentiles of the day lived in comparison with the way the people of God were instructed to live. In other words Jesus is saying, it's a worldly thing to eagerly seek "things" more than we seek God. How does that truth relate to present day? Today it's much worse. People of the world still eagerly seek things more than they seek God, but today it's much more than concerns about food and clothing. They worry about the car they drive, the house they live in and even whether they have the latest and greatest cell phone. Peoples minds today are nearly consumed with things that don't matter. Are the God's people any different? Many times they're not. Personally, I think it's the enemies way of distracting God's children, to keep them so occupied that they don't spend any quality time with God.
Wouldn't it be radical if the church took these verses to heart and lived them out? While I can't speak for the church, I can speak for myself. I intend to do everything possible to live these truths, to earnestly seek God's Kingdom first, and also His righteousness. Not my own righteousness, but His alone.
Seek ye first the kingdom of men,
treasures of earth and pleasures of sin.
But still in the end, you'll never find
true happiness in your heart and mind.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
you'll find worth and God will applaud.
For He rewards the soul who seeks Him-
they're the wisest of women and men.
In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us not to worry about things that aren't important, that we should seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness first and foremost, that God will take care of the rest. We've all heard this passage a million times, but do we really live it?
As Jesus stated "for the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things".. By saying that, He contrasted the way the Gentiles of the day lived in comparison with the way the people of God were instructed to live. In other words Jesus is saying, it's a worldly thing to eagerly seek "things" more than we seek God. How does that truth relate to present day? Today it's much worse. People of the world still eagerly seek things more than they seek God, but today it's much more than concerns about food and clothing. They worry about the car they drive, the house they live in and even whether they have the latest and greatest cell phone. Peoples minds today are nearly consumed with things that don't matter. Are the God's people any different? Many times they're not. Personally, I think it's the enemies way of distracting God's children, to keep them so occupied that they don't spend any quality time with God.
Wouldn't it be radical if the church took these verses to heart and lived them out? While I can't speak for the church, I can speak for myself. I intend to do everything possible to live these truths, to earnestly seek God's Kingdom first, and also His righteousness. Not my own righteousness, but His alone.
Seek ye first the kingdom of men,
treasures of earth and pleasures of sin.
But still in the end, you'll never find
true happiness in your heart and mind.
Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
you'll find worth and God will applaud.
For He rewards the soul who seeks Him-
they're the wisest of women and men.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Gethsemane
In Matthew, it says "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray'".. In Luke 22 and John 18 it mentions this was the place he usually withdrew with his disciples. It was a place of solitude, a place to escape the maddening crowds, get quiet and pray.
Jesus had a secret place,
away from the loud and noisy crowd,
where He would seek the Father's face..
Often He stayed all night and prayed -
with heavenly power He was endowed..
We need a garden such as this,
a place to come when the day is done..
a sacred place of solitude and bliss,
to safely rest from earthly stress..
to know the Father, Spirit and Son..
We all need a special place like that, and we need to go there often.
Jesus had a secret place,
away from the loud and noisy crowd,
where He would seek the Father's face..
Often He stayed all night and prayed -
with heavenly power He was endowed..
We need a garden such as this,
a place to come when the day is done..
a sacred place of solitude and bliss,
to safely rest from earthly stress..
to know the Father, Spirit and Son..
We all need a special place like that, and we need to go there often.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
God's Perspective
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted.." (Isaiah 6:1)
King Uzziah reigned over Israel over 50 years. That's hard for us to relate to since in our country Presidents serve 4 years.. 8 if they're elected again. But that's it. We don't have Presidents who stay in office longer that that. But Uzziah was the only king most people in Israel had ever known. Not only that, he was a great king. The Bible records "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord". He also did a lot to make Israel a better place to live. Second Chronicles 26 records his many, varied accomplishments. Then after 52 years of stability and peace, Israels great leader passes away. You can imagine how everyone felt, the cloud of uncertainty, the sadness.
Then in the middle of that confusing time, God gives Isaiah a vision. He sees things from God's perspective. God's not standing up walking around heaven, in some kind of panic, wondering what He's going to do now that Uzziah is dead. God's isn't even standing, he's sitting down on His throne. In other words, He's still in control! If only we could keep that perspective when we start to panic about things on earth. It's a safe bet that God's still sitting on the throne, high and exalted. We should realize that truth, and then cry out with the angelic hosts..
"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the whole earth is full of His glory!"
King Uzziah reigned over Israel over 50 years. That's hard for us to relate to since in our country Presidents serve 4 years.. 8 if they're elected again. But that's it. We don't have Presidents who stay in office longer that that. But Uzziah was the only king most people in Israel had ever known. Not only that, he was a great king. The Bible records "He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord". He also did a lot to make Israel a better place to live. Second Chronicles 26 records his many, varied accomplishments. Then after 52 years of stability and peace, Israels great leader passes away. You can imagine how everyone felt, the cloud of uncertainty, the sadness.
Then in the middle of that confusing time, God gives Isaiah a vision. He sees things from God's perspective. God's not standing up walking around heaven, in some kind of panic, wondering what He's going to do now that Uzziah is dead. God's isn't even standing, he's sitting down on His throne. In other words, He's still in control! If only we could keep that perspective when we start to panic about things on earth. It's a safe bet that God's still sitting on the throne, high and exalted. We should realize that truth, and then cry out with the angelic hosts..
"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the whole earth is full of His glory!"
Saturday, April 24, 2010
First Love
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place" (Rev 2:2-5)
Sounds like a good church at first. They were hard-working, didn't tolerate evil men, they persevered in the midst of adversity, and they even tested those who claimed to be apostles, just to make sure their doctrine was sound. But Jesus told them plainly REPENT! They'd done all the right things, but they'd forgotten the most important thing of all- loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.. You could say they made their church and their doctrines more important than the relationship they had with Christ. And Jesus made no bones about it, unless that changed, He would come and "remove their lampstand". In other words, their church would be taken away. From God's perspective, if you don't love Him first, then you shouldn't "play church".
Lord, hear our prayer- Help us love you more than anything or anyone, always!
Sounds like a good church at first. They were hard-working, didn't tolerate evil men, they persevered in the midst of adversity, and they even tested those who claimed to be apostles, just to make sure their doctrine was sound. But Jesus told them plainly REPENT! They'd done all the right things, but they'd forgotten the most important thing of all- loving the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.. You could say they made their church and their doctrines more important than the relationship they had with Christ. And Jesus made no bones about it, unless that changed, He would come and "remove their lampstand". In other words, their church would be taken away. From God's perspective, if you don't love Him first, then you shouldn't "play church".
Lord, hear our prayer- Help us love you more than anything or anyone, always!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Taking Refuge
"O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"
Everyone finds refuge in something. For some it's sports, watching or playing their favorite game or maybe even reading a good book. In these things we find safe haven. Nothing bothers us when we've escaped into our refuge of choice. But God wants us to find our refuge in Him, to run into His arms when we need a place to escape to. His Word says "blessed is the man" who does this. What does it mean to be "blessed". It means to "be so happy as to be envied".. I'm learning how true that is. The more I take refuge in Christ, the happier I am. And of course, the reverse is true. When I drift away from His presence, life gets pretty miserable.
Everyone finds refuge in something. For some it's sports, watching or playing their favorite game or maybe even reading a good book. In these things we find safe haven. Nothing bothers us when we've escaped into our refuge of choice. But God wants us to find our refuge in Him, to run into His arms when we need a place to escape to. His Word says "blessed is the man" who does this. What does it mean to be "blessed". It means to "be so happy as to be envied".. I'm learning how true that is. The more I take refuge in Christ, the happier I am. And of course, the reverse is true. When I drift away from His presence, life gets pretty miserable.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Politics of the day
Often I find myself caught up in some worthless political debate. Seems everyone has an opinion, and everyone thinks they're right. In prayer, God's told me time and time again to avoid such foolish chatter. The reality is, unless the people of this world fall on their knees, repent and turn back to God, it doesn't matter who gets elected! The end result is, without such a revival, we're quickly headed for judgment. God in His mercy has waited and waited. Instead of repentance, He sees violence, immorality and every evil imaginable. When His hand of judgment falls it will be swift and sure. Even if every person bands together, kicks out every corrupt politician and elects a near perfect governing body, it won't matter. Politicians can't change the hearts of people. And that's the real issue, the world has abandoned itself to wholesale evil. God cannot and will not sit idly by forever. His hand of judgment will fall soon.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Miner Story
In the land of coal, the story's told, of mining men, so brave and bold,
who spent their days beneath the ground outside a small West Virginia town..
As the locals say, one fateful day, as the miners started to earn their pay -
the walls of the coal collapsed on the men. Nine were found to be trapped within..
News of the nine trapped in the mine, reached the town in a moment of time.
Everyone left their daily routine to rescue the men from the fearful scene..
With hearts so loyal, with sweat and toil, eight were freed from the blackened soil.
Still one miner remained within, but no one there could rescue him..
When an expert team arrived at the scene, they realized the need for a drilling machine,
a special device to pierce the ground, but such a device could not be found..
The media heard what had occurred, the word went out and the nation was stirred.
Everyone listened throughout the land, watching them try to save the man..
Deep in the nest of the rugged west, a company heard of the miner's distress.
They'd made a machine for just such work, one that would bore through rock or dirt..
They sent it by flight to arrive overnight, along with a crew to the mining site..
Though the cost was truly immense, the company did it at their expense..
With speed and skill, they began to drill, they rescued the man trapped in the hill..
As he emerged to the morning air, he noticed the people standing there..
He saw his mother, his father and brothers, the camera-men and hundreds of others.
He saw the machine that rescued him, over the mine where he just had been..
He didn't know why, but he started to cry, as he looked at the people standing by..
They heard him say 'How can this be?' 'Why was all this done for me?'
All that was done, to simply save the one, might be a work of fiction neatly spun..
But one thing I know & this is very true - like the miner, you're worth saving too!
who spent their days beneath the ground outside a small West Virginia town..
As the locals say, one fateful day, as the miners started to earn their pay -
the walls of the coal collapsed on the men. Nine were found to be trapped within..
News of the nine trapped in the mine, reached the town in a moment of time.
Everyone left their daily routine to rescue the men from the fearful scene..
With hearts so loyal, with sweat and toil, eight were freed from the blackened soil.
Still one miner remained within, but no one there could rescue him..
When an expert team arrived at the scene, they realized the need for a drilling machine,
a special device to pierce the ground, but such a device could not be found..
The media heard what had occurred, the word went out and the nation was stirred.
Everyone listened throughout the land, watching them try to save the man..
Deep in the nest of the rugged west, a company heard of the miner's distress.
They'd made a machine for just such work, one that would bore through rock or dirt..
They sent it by flight to arrive overnight, along with a crew to the mining site..
Though the cost was truly immense, the company did it at their expense..
With speed and skill, they began to drill, they rescued the man trapped in the hill..
As he emerged to the morning air, he noticed the people standing there..
He saw his mother, his father and brothers, the camera-men and hundreds of others.
He saw the machine that rescued him, over the mine where he just had been..
He didn't know why, but he started to cry, as he looked at the people standing by..
They heard him say 'How can this be?' 'Why was all this done for me?'
All that was done, to simply save the one, might be a work of fiction neatly spun..
But one thing I know & this is very true - like the miner, you're worth saving too!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Kingdom is Near
The last teaching Jesus gave was about His Second Coming. There are thousands of books on the subject, but most of them are based on the Revelation of John or the book of Daniel. Both books use apocalyptic imagery and both can be difficult to interpret. But the sermon Jesus gave was very straightforward. It's also interesting to note, the same message was recorded in 3 of the 4 gospels, in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
All versions start with Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus said "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near..". He goes on to say "there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled". (Luke 21:20,23-24)
Jesus plainly states, Jerusalem will be destroyed and the Jews will be scattered to different nations. That event happened when Rome leveled the city in 70 AD and the Jews were exiled. For over 1900 years they were a people without a nation. Then in 1948, they were returned to their homeland. Well, almost. They were given a small section of what used to be their homeland. But they did not have control of Jerusalem.
According to the prophecy of Jesus, the city would be "trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled". In other words, until control of the city was returned to the Jews. Thank God for the 6-day war in 1967. Several Arab countries tried to attack Israel, but they were soundly and thoroughly defeated. Instead of losing land, the Jews actually took land in that conflict- one of the "spoils of war" was Jerusalem.
After almost 1900 years, not only were the Jews returned to their ancient homeland, they also once again laid claim to the "Holy City".. So why is that significant? Because in that same sermon, Jesus also said this..
"So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place". (Luke 21:32) So within a single generation after Jerusalem is returned to Israel, we will see Christ return. That's not based on someone's interpretation of the books of Daniel or Revelation, those are the words of Jesus. And if Jesus was right about everything else, why would He get this wrong? I mean, He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the return of Jews to Israel and their reclaiming control of the city. How many times in history has a people reformed a country after 1900 years? It's never happened before. So Jesus just didn't pick a rabit out of the hat. It wasn't a guess. He gave the prophecy and it came true. I have a feeling "this generation won't pass away until ALL these things take place".
-------------------------
Luke's account here
-------------------------
All versions start with Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus said "when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near..". He goes on to say "there will be great distress upon the land and wrath to this people; and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled". (Luke 21:20,23-24)
Jesus plainly states, Jerusalem will be destroyed and the Jews will be scattered to different nations. That event happened when Rome leveled the city in 70 AD and the Jews were exiled. For over 1900 years they were a people without a nation. Then in 1948, they were returned to their homeland. Well, almost. They were given a small section of what used to be their homeland. But they did not have control of Jerusalem.
According to the prophecy of Jesus, the city would be "trampled under foot by the Gentiles, until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled". In other words, until control of the city was returned to the Jews. Thank God for the 6-day war in 1967. Several Arab countries tried to attack Israel, but they were soundly and thoroughly defeated. Instead of losing land, the Jews actually took land in that conflict- one of the "spoils of war" was Jerusalem.
After almost 1900 years, not only were the Jews returned to their ancient homeland, they also once again laid claim to the "Holy City".. So why is that significant? Because in that same sermon, Jesus also said this..
"So you also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all things take place". (Luke 21:32) So within a single generation after Jerusalem is returned to Israel, we will see Christ return. That's not based on someone's interpretation of the books of Daniel or Revelation, those are the words of Jesus. And if Jesus was right about everything else, why would He get this wrong? I mean, He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the return of Jews to Israel and their reclaiming control of the city. How many times in history has a people reformed a country after 1900 years? It's never happened before. So Jesus just didn't pick a rabit out of the hat. It wasn't a guess. He gave the prophecy and it came true. I have a feeling "this generation won't pass away until ALL these things take place".
-------------------------
Luke's account here
-------------------------
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Great Earthquakes
I've been reading Psalm 46 lately. The first 3 verses read "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging"..
The led me to reflect on another verse Luke 21:11- "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven". The word "great" in talking about earthquakes could be more literally translated "mighty and violent".
Of course, one thought leads to another. Given the recent earhquakes in the news lately, that made me wonder. Are there really more earthquakes today than in previous years? I decided to look it up on the internet. They say the internet knows everything, right?
I found several sites showing earthquake data, all of them showed the same things. Indeed, there's MUCH more earthquake activity than at any time in recorded history. In fact, the number of strong earthquakes today is well over 10 times higher than any year before 1995. We've gone from an average of 5 quakes a year worldwide, to almost 70. Here's how the numbers break down..
Year Num
==== ====
2009 66
2008 41
2007 55
2006 33
2005 49
2004 48
2003 69
2002 45
2001 7
2000 7
1999 13
1998 10
1997 6
1996 1
1995 5
.
.
.
Before 1995, there were between 1 to 5 per year. That's quite a jump! Could it be the prophecy of Jesus is coming true? I think it's very likely. Why would Jesus give us a sign to look for, if it wasn't really a sign? Given the things going on in the world right now, I wouldn't doubt we're close to the end. It's best to be prepared.
"It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back— whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping". (Mark 13:34-36)
The led me to reflect on another verse Luke 21:11- "There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places and fearful events and great signs from heaven". The word "great" in talking about earthquakes could be more literally translated "mighty and violent".
Of course, one thought leads to another. Given the recent earhquakes in the news lately, that made me wonder. Are there really more earthquakes today than in previous years? I decided to look it up on the internet. They say the internet knows everything, right?
I found several sites showing earthquake data, all of them showed the same things. Indeed, there's MUCH more earthquake activity than at any time in recorded history. In fact, the number of strong earthquakes today is well over 10 times higher than any year before 1995. We've gone from an average of 5 quakes a year worldwide, to almost 70. Here's how the numbers break down..
Year Num
==== ====
2009 66
2008 41
2007 55
2006 33
2005 49
2004 48
2003 69
2002 45
2001 7
2000 7
1999 13
1998 10
1997 6
1996 1
1995 5
.
.
.
Before 1995, there were between 1 to 5 per year. That's quite a jump! Could it be the prophecy of Jesus is coming true? I think it's very likely. Why would Jesus give us a sign to look for, if it wasn't really a sign? Given the things going on in the world right now, I wouldn't doubt we're close to the end. It's best to be prepared.
"It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back— whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping". (Mark 13:34-36)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Seek the Lord
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD and He will have compassion on him; to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7)
For several years, I've had an occasional "vision". It usually comes during an extended devotional time. You might call it a very intense daydream. In the vision, I see our country falling apart. Some would argue it's falling apart now. Well, in many ways it is. But I'm referring to REALLY falling apart. Imagine grocery stores with no food, gas stations with no gas, people starving, gangs looting, total and rampant lawlessness, with no police or military around to do anything about it. Know that's a scary prophesy, but that's what I see down the road.
Strange as it sounds, I believe we're headed for a major societal breakdown. I also believe this period has been prophesied for thousands of years. In the Bible, it's called the Great Tribulation. I'm becoming more and more convinced we're headed toward the end of the world as we know it. I'm not planning to make a sign saying "THE END IS NEAR", but I do believe we are headed down a VERY rough road. Beside preparing for hard times, I believe every Christian should be seeking God with their WHOLE heart. As John the Baptist would say, "Prepare ye the way for the Lord, make His paths straight". Indeed, if there's ever been a time people should draw closer to God, this IS that time.
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation".. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. (2 Peter 3-11)
For several years, I've had an occasional "vision". It usually comes during an extended devotional time. You might call it a very intense daydream. In the vision, I see our country falling apart. Some would argue it's falling apart now. Well, in many ways it is. But I'm referring to REALLY falling apart. Imagine grocery stores with no food, gas stations with no gas, people starving, gangs looting, total and rampant lawlessness, with no police or military around to do anything about it. Know that's a scary prophesy, but that's what I see down the road.
Strange as it sounds, I believe we're headed for a major societal breakdown. I also believe this period has been prophesied for thousands of years. In the Bible, it's called the Great Tribulation. I'm becoming more and more convinced we're headed toward the end of the world as we know it. I'm not planning to make a sign saying "THE END IS NEAR", but I do believe we are headed down a VERY rough road. Beside preparing for hard times, I believe every Christian should be seeking God with their WHOLE heart. As John the Baptist would say, "Prepare ye the way for the Lord, make His paths straight". Indeed, if there's ever been a time people should draw closer to God, this IS that time.
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation".. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. (2 Peter 3-11)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Blind Men of Indostan
One of my favorite poems, by John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)
It was six men of Indostan to learning much inclined
Who went to see the elephant though all of them were blind,
That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the elephant, and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl;
‘God bless me! But the elephant is very like a wall!’
The Second, feeling of the tusk, cried, ‘Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!’
The Third approached the animal, and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, thus boldly up and spake:
‘I see’, quoth he, ‘the Elephant is very like a snake!’
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, and felt about the knee
‘What most this wondrous beast is like is mighty plain’ quoth he;
‘ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!’
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: ‘E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; deny the fact who can
This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan!’
The Sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope,
‘I see’, quoth he, ‘the Elephant is very like a rope!’
And so these men of Indostan disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars, the disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean,
And prate about an elephant; not one of them has seen!
-------------
Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I only know in part, but then I will know fully
just as I also have been fully known. (1 Cor 13:12)
It was six men of Indostan to learning much inclined
Who went to see the elephant though all of them were blind,
That each by observation might satisfy his mind.
The First approached the elephant, and happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, at once began to bawl;
‘God bless me! But the elephant is very like a wall!’
The Second, feeling of the tusk, cried, ‘Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear
This wonder of an elephant is very like a spear!’
The Third approached the animal, and happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, thus boldly up and spake:
‘I see’, quoth he, ‘the Elephant is very like a snake!’
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, and felt about the knee
‘What most this wondrous beast is like is mighty plain’ quoth he;
‘ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant is very like a tree!’
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: ‘E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; deny the fact who can
This marvel of an elephant is very like a fan!’
The Sixth no sooner had begun about the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail that fell within his scope,
‘I see’, quoth he, ‘the Elephant is very like a rope!’
And so these men of Indostan disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars, the disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance of what each other mean,
And prate about an elephant; not one of them has seen!
-------------
Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I only know in part, but then I will know fully
just as I also have been fully known. (1 Cor 13:12)
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Doing it unto Me
But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' Then they themselves also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:31-46)
This scripture teaches, in dramatic fashion, how we treat others is precisely how we treat our Lord. In the parable, both the sheep and the goats have the same reaction, neither is aware that their deeds are done, with Jesus as the actual recipient. Whether they did good deeds or they did nothing at all, neither was aware God was standing there. If they would have, the outcome would have been much different.
Just imagine if Jesus ran into you in traffic? And I mean Jesus "ran into you".. What if He rear-ended you at an intersection? I know, I know- you're thinking Jesus would never do that! Well, simply for the sake of argument, what if He did? Would you get angry at Him? Would He hear you say a few choice words for destroying your brand new car? Okay, I know that's a weird example, but it’s simply to make a point. How we treat others IS how we treat the Lord. The truth of this parable is well-founded in God's Word..
In Proverbs 19:17, it says "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed". And in Proverbs 12:14, it says "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man's hands will return to him". In Colossians, Paul said this "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father".
To do something "in the name of" means to do the deed as if you were doing it for someone else. For example, you tell your friend Joe about a good mechanic you know. The next day Joe takes his car into the guy’s shop, and mentions he knows you. The mechanic tells Joe anyone who's a friend of yours is a friend of his. He then does a great job fixing Joe’s car and even gives him a huge discount on the work. In other words, he treats Joe like he would have treated you. That’s doing something “in the name of”..
In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said "Whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward". And in Mark 9:41, He said "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward". And in Luke 6:38, Jesus gave another example "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return".
I want to take these words to heart, to live these words in real-time, to let all my deeds be done for Him. Not so I can gain some reward, but so I can bring God pleasure. To do that is the greatest reward of all.
This poem has always been one of my favorites. I’ve updated a few minor words into modern English for clarity. It’s an excellent poetic story, illustrating the truth what we do for others, we’re doing unto Him.
How the Great Guest Came - by Edwin Markham
It happened one day at the year's white end --
Two neighbors called in on their old-time friend;
And they found the shop, so meager and mean,
Made bright with a hundred boughs of green.
Conrad was stitching with face ashine,
But suddenly stopped as he twitched a twine:
"Old friends, good news! At dawn today,
As the cocks were scaring the night away,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me,
And said, `I am coming your Guest to be!'
So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing the floor with branches of fir.
The wall is washed and the shelf is shined,
And over the rafter the holly twined.
He comes today, and the table is spread
With milk and honey and wheaten bread."
His friends went home; and his face grew still
As he watched for the shadow across the sill.
He lived all the moments o'er and o'er,
When the Lord should enter the lowly door --
The knock, the call, the latch pulled up,
The lighted face, the offered cup.
He would wash the feet where the spikes had been,
He would kiss the hands where the nails went in,
And then at the last would sit with Him
And break the bread as the day grew dim.
While the cobbler mused there passed his pane
A beggar drenched by the driving rain.
He called him in from the stony street
And gave him shoes for his bruised feet.
The beggar went and there came a crone,
Her face with wrinkles of sorrow sown.
A bundle of firewood bowed her back,
And she was spent with the wrench and rack.
He gave her his loaf and steadied her load
As she took her way on the weary road.
Then to his door came a little child,
Lost and afraid in the world so wild,
In the big, dark world. Catching it up,
He gave it the milk in the waiting cup,
And led it home to its mother's arms,
Out of the reach of the world's alarms.
The day went down in the crimson west
And with it the hope of the blessed Guest,
And Conrad sighed as the world turned gray:
"Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay?
Did you forget that this was the day?"
Then soft in the silence a Voice he heard:
"Lift up your heart, for I have kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!"
This scripture teaches, in dramatic fashion, how we treat others is precisely how we treat our Lord. In the parable, both the sheep and the goats have the same reaction, neither is aware that their deeds are done, with Jesus as the actual recipient. Whether they did good deeds or they did nothing at all, neither was aware God was standing there. If they would have, the outcome would have been much different.
Just imagine if Jesus ran into you in traffic? And I mean Jesus "ran into you".. What if He rear-ended you at an intersection? I know, I know- you're thinking Jesus would never do that! Well, simply for the sake of argument, what if He did? Would you get angry at Him? Would He hear you say a few choice words for destroying your brand new car? Okay, I know that's a weird example, but it’s simply to make a point. How we treat others IS how we treat the Lord. The truth of this parable is well-founded in God's Word..
In Proverbs 19:17, it says "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed". And in Proverbs 12:14, it says "A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man's hands will return to him". In Colossians, Paul said this "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father".
To do something "in the name of" means to do the deed as if you were doing it for someone else. For example, you tell your friend Joe about a good mechanic you know. The next day Joe takes his car into the guy’s shop, and mentions he knows you. The mechanic tells Joe anyone who's a friend of yours is a friend of his. He then does a great job fixing Joe’s car and even gives him a huge discount on the work. In other words, he treats Joe like he would have treated you. That’s doing something “in the name of”..
In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said "Whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward". And in Mark 9:41, He said "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward". And in Luke 6:38, Jesus gave another example "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return".
I want to take these words to heart, to live these words in real-time, to let all my deeds be done for Him. Not so I can gain some reward, but so I can bring God pleasure. To do that is the greatest reward of all.
This poem has always been one of my favorites. I’ve updated a few minor words into modern English for clarity. It’s an excellent poetic story, illustrating the truth what we do for others, we’re doing unto Him.
How the Great Guest Came - by Edwin Markham
It happened one day at the year's white end --
Two neighbors called in on their old-time friend;
And they found the shop, so meager and mean,
Made bright with a hundred boughs of green.
Conrad was stitching with face ashine,
But suddenly stopped as he twitched a twine:
"Old friends, good news! At dawn today,
As the cocks were scaring the night away,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me,
And said, `I am coming your Guest to be!'
So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing the floor with branches of fir.
The wall is washed and the shelf is shined,
And over the rafter the holly twined.
He comes today, and the table is spread
With milk and honey and wheaten bread."
His friends went home; and his face grew still
As he watched for the shadow across the sill.
He lived all the moments o'er and o'er,
When the Lord should enter the lowly door --
The knock, the call, the latch pulled up,
The lighted face, the offered cup.
He would wash the feet where the spikes had been,
He would kiss the hands where the nails went in,
And then at the last would sit with Him
And break the bread as the day grew dim.
While the cobbler mused there passed his pane
A beggar drenched by the driving rain.
He called him in from the stony street
And gave him shoes for his bruised feet.
The beggar went and there came a crone,
Her face with wrinkles of sorrow sown.
A bundle of firewood bowed her back,
And she was spent with the wrench and rack.
He gave her his loaf and steadied her load
As she took her way on the weary road.
Then to his door came a little child,
Lost and afraid in the world so wild,
In the big, dark world. Catching it up,
He gave it the milk in the waiting cup,
And led it home to its mother's arms,
Out of the reach of the world's alarms.
The day went down in the crimson west
And with it the hope of the blessed Guest,
And Conrad sighed as the world turned gray:
"Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay?
Did you forget that this was the day?"
Then soft in the silence a Voice he heard:
"Lift up your heart, for I have kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!"
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Be Quiet and Listen
In Mark 4:35-41, it says.. And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, "Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?" And they became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
Very good question- who is this, that the wind and sea obey Him? In Psalms, that question is answered, not once but three different times. First in Psalm 65:7 "Who dost still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves and the tumult of the peoples". Second, Psalm 89:9 "Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, Thou dost still them". And in Psalm 107:29 "He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed".
The Psalms were very well known during the time Jesus walked the earth. No doubt the disciples had heard these verses. This event hit them like a ton of bricks. This man just did something only God can do! No wonder they became very much afraid!
The great thing about this story is- not only can our Lord still nature's storms, he can also take our hearts, full of fear and anxiety, and boldly say "Hush, be still". And just as quickly, all is peaceful and quiet. After all, He is the Prince of Peace.
In Psalm 131:1-2, David writes "O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother".
In that passage David says he doesn't involve himself with "things too difficult". In other words, he avoids things that lead to stress and confusion. If he were alive today, he wouldn’t be the type of person to watch too much TV. I'll bet he'd prefer to lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters. In other words, David was a man who liked the quiet. He spent much time in quiet reflection.
How about you? Do you take time out of your day to get quiet and listen to God? Or is your life more like a raging storm, noisy and battered about at every turn? If so, good news- there’s hope. Jesus is still the one who calms the sea and wind.
In Lamentations 3:25-26, it says "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD".
If you really want to make the heart of God happy, seek His face with a sincere, earnest, hungry heart. Get quiet, let the stillness of the moment envelope you. If you can’t seem to find that quiet place in your heart, allow Jesus to speak to the raging storm and say “Hush, be still”. God’s Word promises “the Lord is good to the one who seeks Him”. It’s “good to wait quietly for the Lord”.
Very good question- who is this, that the wind and sea obey Him? In Psalms, that question is answered, not once but three different times. First in Psalm 65:7 "Who dost still the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves and the tumult of the peoples". Second, Psalm 89:9 "Thou dost rule the swelling of the sea; when its waves rise, Thou dost still them". And in Psalm 107:29 "He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed".
The Psalms were very well known during the time Jesus walked the earth. No doubt the disciples had heard these verses. This event hit them like a ton of bricks. This man just did something only God can do! No wonder they became very much afraid!
The great thing about this story is- not only can our Lord still nature's storms, he can also take our hearts, full of fear and anxiety, and boldly say "Hush, be still". And just as quickly, all is peaceful and quiet. After all, He is the Prince of Peace.
In Psalm 131:1-2, David writes "O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother".
In that passage David says he doesn't involve himself with "things too difficult". In other words, he avoids things that lead to stress and confusion. If he were alive today, he wouldn’t be the type of person to watch too much TV. I'll bet he'd prefer to lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters. In other words, David was a man who liked the quiet. He spent much time in quiet reflection.
How about you? Do you take time out of your day to get quiet and listen to God? Or is your life more like a raging storm, noisy and battered about at every turn? If so, good news- there’s hope. Jesus is still the one who calms the sea and wind.
In Lamentations 3:25-26, it says "The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD".
If you really want to make the heart of God happy, seek His face with a sincere, earnest, hungry heart. Get quiet, let the stillness of the moment envelope you. If you can’t seem to find that quiet place in your heart, allow Jesus to speak to the raging storm and say “Hush, be still”. God’s Word promises “the Lord is good to the one who seeks Him”. It’s “good to wait quietly for the Lord”.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Spending Time
Every Saturday night, a man takes his girlfriend on a date. They spend one or two hours, either going out to dinner or a movie. Immediately after the date, he takes her home. They might exchange a few kisses at the end of the date, or they might not. And every night, well not every night.. it might only be three or four nights a week.. he calls her at approximately 10pm. He spends five to ten minutes talking mostly about himself, about his fishing trip that day, or the ball game he went to with his friends, then yawns, says he’s tired and how he needs to get some sleep. This same routine goes on for 10 years. Finally the woman asks the dreaded questions- Where is this relationship going? Are we going to get married or what? I’m tired of only seeing you one or two hours every weekend. Without blinking an eye, the man replies “I’m sorry, but I’m just way too busy to get married”. What do you think she would say?
Everyone knows, there’s not a woman on earth that would put up with a fool like that. Yet we somehow expect God to be content when we spend 5 minutes reading our Bible, or when we offer a few bless-me prayers right before bedtime. That’s equally as foolish.
Reality is- God wants an intimate loving relationship with each one of us. But we need to make time for Him. I’m not saying we can’t enjoy our hobbies, but we shouldn’t let them become idols in our lives either. If we really want to know God ways, we need to spend time with Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Everyone knows, there’s not a woman on earth that would put up with a fool like that. Yet we somehow expect God to be content when we spend 5 minutes reading our Bible, or when we offer a few bless-me prayers right before bedtime. That’s equally as foolish.
Reality is- God wants an intimate loving relationship with each one of us. But we need to make time for Him. I’m not saying we can’t enjoy our hobbies, but we shouldn’t let them become idols in our lives either. If we really want to know God ways, we need to spend time with Him.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Blessed is the man
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
This scripture means a great deal to me. When I was 21, my father and step-mother gave me a poster, showing a young man reading his Bible, with a look of reflection on his face, as if he were in deep thought.. In the background of the poster were the words to Psalm 1. I’m not quite sure what happened to that poster in the many times I’ve moved since. But I can vividly remember something that happened a few years ago, relating to that poster..
During my morning devotion, I was in somewhat of a spiritual wrestling match with God. Guess you could say I was in “complaint mode”. I was complaining to God that it wasn’t fair, how my morning quiet times were always so special, how He always blessed and my day always started out so well. But then as my day wore on, I felt drained and dry and battered about. And by the time my day was over, I felt like God was nowhere around.
Then God reminded me of that poster. What did that psalm promise? That if I’d truly meditate on God’s Word day and night, I’d be like a tree, with leaves that never wither? To be quite honest, even when the Lord reminded me of that poster and that psalm, I still objected, telling Him I really didn’t see how that was possible. God, how can I really think about Your Word day and night? There are so many other things always demanding my attention. Then I heard that still small voice challenging- Are you saying it’s not true? I had to admit to God- No, Your Words are always true, I’ve simply never acted on them.
I was reminded of what Jesus did in the wilderness, when he was tempted by the devil. I’d always thought of that story in the wrong way, as if Satan were actually standing there in the flesh tempting Jesus. It’s highly more likely Jesus was tempted like you and I are, with evil, foolish thoughts coming to us out of nowhere. If Jesus was tempted in all things as we are, then it only makes sense he was also tempted in the same way we are. But more importantly, how did Jesus respond to these temptations? He always replied with God’s Word.. Thinking of that truth made me reflect, what if I memorized scripture, put the Word of God down inside me, so when foolish thoughts hit me, I reply the same way?
From then on, I’ve tried my best to make meditating on God’s Word my main priority. I’ve learned by practice and experience, you can digest scripture and reflect on it over and over, to the point where it becomes part of you. I find myself thinking about scriptures on the drive to work, walking down the hallway, as I wake or drift off to sleep.
I find myself seeing things in scripture I’d never seen before. The Holy Spirit has a way of illuminating each verse, expanding its meaning. The fact is- putting scripture inside your heart really does make a difference, not only in your daily walk, but in your devotional time as well. Now I don’t just read my Bible. I read, meditate and digest it. It’s not a duty, it’s a privilege.
This scripture means a great deal to me. When I was 21, my father and step-mother gave me a poster, showing a young man reading his Bible, with a look of reflection on his face, as if he were in deep thought.. In the background of the poster were the words to Psalm 1. I’m not quite sure what happened to that poster in the many times I’ve moved since. But I can vividly remember something that happened a few years ago, relating to that poster..
During my morning devotion, I was in somewhat of a spiritual wrestling match with God. Guess you could say I was in “complaint mode”. I was complaining to God that it wasn’t fair, how my morning quiet times were always so special, how He always blessed and my day always started out so well. But then as my day wore on, I felt drained and dry and battered about. And by the time my day was over, I felt like God was nowhere around.
Then God reminded me of that poster. What did that psalm promise? That if I’d truly meditate on God’s Word day and night, I’d be like a tree, with leaves that never wither? To be quite honest, even when the Lord reminded me of that poster and that psalm, I still objected, telling Him I really didn’t see how that was possible. God, how can I really think about Your Word day and night? There are so many other things always demanding my attention. Then I heard that still small voice challenging- Are you saying it’s not true? I had to admit to God- No, Your Words are always true, I’ve simply never acted on them.
I was reminded of what Jesus did in the wilderness, when he was tempted by the devil. I’d always thought of that story in the wrong way, as if Satan were actually standing there in the flesh tempting Jesus. It’s highly more likely Jesus was tempted like you and I are, with evil, foolish thoughts coming to us out of nowhere. If Jesus was tempted in all things as we are, then it only makes sense he was also tempted in the same way we are. But more importantly, how did Jesus respond to these temptations? He always replied with God’s Word.. Thinking of that truth made me reflect, what if I memorized scripture, put the Word of God down inside me, so when foolish thoughts hit me, I reply the same way?
From then on, I’ve tried my best to make meditating on God’s Word my main priority. I’ve learned by practice and experience, you can digest scripture and reflect on it over and over, to the point where it becomes part of you. I find myself thinking about scriptures on the drive to work, walking down the hallway, as I wake or drift off to sleep.
I find myself seeing things in scripture I’d never seen before. The Holy Spirit has a way of illuminating each verse, expanding its meaning. The fact is- putting scripture inside your heart really does make a difference, not only in your daily walk, but in your devotional time as well. Now I don’t just read my Bible. I read, meditate and digest it. It’s not a duty, it’s a privilege.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
In the Early Morning
Those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
Early in my Christian experience, I attended a missionary training program run by an organization called Youth with a Mission (YWAM). It was known as DTS, meaning Discipleship Training Program- it was five months in a tight-knit Christian community.
We lived a large house- eating our meals together, working together, praying together and attended daily Bible teachings together. When the program started, we were given a daily schedule- for example what time meals were served, what work duties or chores were expected of us, and what times we’d attend Bible teaching. The school’s director also recommended we take at least 30 minutes every morning to have our own personal devotions. He recommended we devote the time to reading our Bible, meditating on what we read and praying. He also suggested we listen to hear what God might be saying to us.
So every morning, we were awakened, and shortly thereafter started our devotional time. Since we lived in close quarters, we had to be somewhat creative to find a secluded place. We found various places on the property. My spot was the backyard, near the garden.
To be totally honest, at first I didn’t enjoy this part of our daily schedule. It felt awkward to read my Bible and pray all alone, especially being outside away from other students. But when fellow students later shared what God revealed to them in their “quiet time”, it sparked a godly jealousy (if there is such a thing). Basically I wanted to know the Lord like they did. I decided to earnestly pursue this idea of having early morning devotions.
As I soon discovered, spending time with God was the absolute highlight of my day. Instead of seeing daily devotions as something performed out of duty, I realized this was a blessed opportunity to spend time with God, to hear His voice, and to know Him better.
Over the years I’ve found 30 minutes isn’t enough. The time has grown in length. And my body clock has adjusted accordingly. I normally take 15 to 30 minutes to wake-up, then another 60 minutes for my devotions. Only then do I start getting ready for work. Sixty minutes might sound a bit extreme, but it works well for me. And to tell you the truth, now I can’t even imagine starting my day without a quiet time as my first priority.
Even Jesus was known to wake early, so He could spend time with His Heavenly Father.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
You might think getting up early isn’t doable, that you need more sleep than most people. That might be true, but you could at least try to give the Lord more time in the mornings. Try setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier, then once you get used to that, try setting it back another 15 minutes. And if that’s not working, you might try going to bed earlier.
Almost everyone has some extra time in their day. Meeting with God (having regular devotions) is an essential part of the Christian life. For me, meeting with God in the early morning hours is equally as essential. Just think of early morning devotions this way..
Do you want to give God what little time is left over in your busy day? Or do you want to give Him the first fruits? How would you feel if your spouse only spent time with you when they didn’t have anything else better to do? What if they spent all their time playing games, listening to music or watching television, and very rarely spent time talking to you? Would you feel slighted? Most people would feel, not only slighted, but very hurt.
Unfortunately there are literally thousands of Christians treating God the same way. They might spend 5 minutes reading their Bible. They offer a quick prayer to bless their family as they’re driving to work. They may even think God is happy with them for doing so.
In reality, God is calling out to them, longing to have fellowship with them. He wants to share His heart with them, to share rich treasures from His Word.. But sadly, His children are usually too busy. They’re like I was, far too busy to listen for that “still small voice”.
If you’re not currently giving God very much quality time, please consider changing your habits. I say that in the most loving terms. It’s an encouragement to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Early in my Christian experience, I attended a missionary training program run by an organization called Youth with a Mission (YWAM). It was known as DTS, meaning Discipleship Training Program- it was five months in a tight-knit Christian community.
We lived a large house- eating our meals together, working together, praying together and attended daily Bible teachings together. When the program started, we were given a daily schedule- for example what time meals were served, what work duties or chores were expected of us, and what times we’d attend Bible teaching. The school’s director also recommended we take at least 30 minutes every morning to have our own personal devotions. He recommended we devote the time to reading our Bible, meditating on what we read and praying. He also suggested we listen to hear what God might be saying to us.
So every morning, we were awakened, and shortly thereafter started our devotional time. Since we lived in close quarters, we had to be somewhat creative to find a secluded place. We found various places on the property. My spot was the backyard, near the garden.
To be totally honest, at first I didn’t enjoy this part of our daily schedule. It felt awkward to read my Bible and pray all alone, especially being outside away from other students. But when fellow students later shared what God revealed to them in their “quiet time”, it sparked a godly jealousy (if there is such a thing). Basically I wanted to know the Lord like they did. I decided to earnestly pursue this idea of having early morning devotions.
As I soon discovered, spending time with God was the absolute highlight of my day. Instead of seeing daily devotions as something performed out of duty, I realized this was a blessed opportunity to spend time with God, to hear His voice, and to know Him better.
Over the years I’ve found 30 minutes isn’t enough. The time has grown in length. And my body clock has adjusted accordingly. I normally take 15 to 30 minutes to wake-up, then another 60 minutes for my devotions. Only then do I start getting ready for work. Sixty minutes might sound a bit extreme, but it works well for me. And to tell you the truth, now I can’t even imagine starting my day without a quiet time as my first priority.
Even Jesus was known to wake early, so He could spend time with His Heavenly Father.
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
You might think getting up early isn’t doable, that you need more sleep than most people. That might be true, but you could at least try to give the Lord more time in the mornings. Try setting your alarm 15 minutes earlier, then once you get used to that, try setting it back another 15 minutes. And if that’s not working, you might try going to bed earlier.
Almost everyone has some extra time in their day. Meeting with God (having regular devotions) is an essential part of the Christian life. For me, meeting with God in the early morning hours is equally as essential. Just think of early morning devotions this way..
Do you want to give God what little time is left over in your busy day? Or do you want to give Him the first fruits? How would you feel if your spouse only spent time with you when they didn’t have anything else better to do? What if they spent all their time playing games, listening to music or watching television, and very rarely spent time talking to you? Would you feel slighted? Most people would feel, not only slighted, but very hurt.
Unfortunately there are literally thousands of Christians treating God the same way. They might spend 5 minutes reading their Bible. They offer a quick prayer to bless their family as they’re driving to work. They may even think God is happy with them for doing so.
In reality, God is calling out to them, longing to have fellowship with them. He wants to share His heart with them, to share rich treasures from His Word.. But sadly, His children are usually too busy. They’re like I was, far too busy to listen for that “still small voice”.
If you’re not currently giving God very much quality time, please consider changing your habits. I say that in the most loving terms. It’s an encouragement to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Come to the Quiet
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
As you probably know, most people do not like quiet. Just look at how most people live. They usually have something on - television, radio or music. For years I was no different. I wasn’t used to being quiet, listening for God’s voice. My mind wanted entertainment. With so much noise cluttering my senses, it was no wonder I found it difficult to listen.
Sadly, most people wander through life, constantly filling their minds with useless noise, distracting them from having blessed communion with our God. Of course, He can speak to us, even in the midst of utter chaos, but for me it’s just much easier in a quiet setting.
It’s really a matter of who has your undivided attention. For example, when someone you love comes in the room and wants to talk about something that’s important to them, do you continue watching television, never looking away from the screen, not really listening to what’s being said? Or do you turn the volume down, look at them and give them your undivided attention? Hopefully you will do the later and give a listening ear. You should care about God in the same way. That may mean turning down the volume.
Consider what happened to Elijah..
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
(1 Kings 19:11-13)
Elijah was told to go stand on the mountain and that God would appear and speak to him. He saw very strong wind, earthquake and fire. But God wasn’t found in any of those. Where was He? Of course, He was found in that still small voice. For me personally, it’s the same way. God’s voice usually isn’t like loud thunder, but more like a gentle whisper.
He’s lovingly calling us into fellowship with Him. Giving God our undivided attention means quieting our souls, getting rid of useless thoughts that pollute our minds and seeking His face.
As you probably know, most people do not like quiet. Just look at how most people live. They usually have something on - television, radio or music. For years I was no different. I wasn’t used to being quiet, listening for God’s voice. My mind wanted entertainment. With so much noise cluttering my senses, it was no wonder I found it difficult to listen.
Sadly, most people wander through life, constantly filling their minds with useless noise, distracting them from having blessed communion with our God. Of course, He can speak to us, even in the midst of utter chaos, but for me it’s just much easier in a quiet setting.
It’s really a matter of who has your undivided attention. For example, when someone you love comes in the room and wants to talk about something that’s important to them, do you continue watching television, never looking away from the screen, not really listening to what’s being said? Or do you turn the volume down, look at them and give them your undivided attention? Hopefully you will do the later and give a listening ear. You should care about God in the same way. That may mean turning down the volume.
Consider what happened to Elijah..
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
(1 Kings 19:11-13)
Elijah was told to go stand on the mountain and that God would appear and speak to him. He saw very strong wind, earthquake and fire. But God wasn’t found in any of those. Where was He? Of course, He was found in that still small voice. For me personally, it’s the same way. God’s voice usually isn’t like loud thunder, but more like a gentle whisper.
He’s lovingly calling us into fellowship with Him. Giving God our undivided attention means quieting our souls, getting rid of useless thoughts that pollute our minds and seeking His face.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
He Stands at the Door
Jesus says He stands at the door and knocks.. What if you went over to your friend’s house, knocked on the door and waited? You hear him inside. Through the front window, you see him sitting in his chair watching television. You think maybe he doesn’t hear you knocking, so you knock a little louder. But still, he keeps sitting there. He glances over and notices you standing there, but he goes right back to watching his show. You now realize, he’s too involved being entertained to even stop and answer the door.. Let me ask you this, how would you feel? Would you consider them a true friend for ignoring you?
Now let’s contrast that story. You go over to your friend’s house, and before you even have a chance to knock, he throws open the door. With a huge smile on his face, he comes out, embraces you and welcomes you into his home. He offers you food, something to drink and a seat in his favorite chair. Now how would you feel? Do you see my point? Instead of ignoring God, we should treat Him as a most trusted, valued friend.
The reality is- we make time for the things we value. If we like football, we make time to watch it on television or we might even buy tickets and attend a game in person. And if we dislike football, we immediately change the channel. The point being- everyone finds time to do the things they enjoy. And we rarely make time to do those things we dislike.
We not only make time for the things we value, we often find ourselves thinking about them during the day, like a movie playing inside our minds. And the reverse is true- we typically don’t think about things we dislike, but instead tend to block out those thoughts. So what’s the point?
Let me ask, what do you value most in your life? What do you think about most often? What are you seeking most? Is Jesus knocking outside? Or is He living in your heart as a close friend?
Now let’s contrast that story. You go over to your friend’s house, and before you even have a chance to knock, he throws open the door. With a huge smile on his face, he comes out, embraces you and welcomes you into his home. He offers you food, something to drink and a seat in his favorite chair. Now how would you feel? Do you see my point? Instead of ignoring God, we should treat Him as a most trusted, valued friend.
The reality is- we make time for the things we value. If we like football, we make time to watch it on television or we might even buy tickets and attend a game in person. And if we dislike football, we immediately change the channel. The point being- everyone finds time to do the things they enjoy. And we rarely make time to do those things we dislike.
We not only make time for the things we value, we often find ourselves thinking about them during the day, like a movie playing inside our minds. And the reverse is true- we typically don’t think about things we dislike, but instead tend to block out those thoughts. So what’s the point?
Let me ask, what do you value most in your life? What do you think about most often? What are you seeking most? Is Jesus knocking outside? Or is He living in your heart as a close friend?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Knowing His Ways
Think of someone you know really well, maybe your spouse, or a close family member. Have you ever sensed something was wrong? You ask “What’s the matter?” But they say “Oh nothing”. But still, you know better. You don’t believe them because you know them well enough to sense when things aren’t going well. In other words, you know their ways. So how did you get to “know their ways”? That happened by spending time with them.
You can probably think of other examples, like knowing someone so well you know what they’re going to say before they say it- like being able finish a sentence they’ve started. At any rate, we can see from those examples, knowing someone’s ways is a good thing.
What about people you don’t know so well? What about your boss or your co-workers? Can you tell what they’re feeling by simply being in the room with them? Can you, without any doubts, vouch for their character? Know what they’ll say before they say it? The answer to that, in most cases, is likely no. They’re simply people you know “about”. You may know their hobbies or some things they’ve done, but you don’t “know” them.
Which one do you think is better, knowing someone ways or only knowing about them?
In Psalm 103, there’s a very interesting verse which, unfortunately, is often overlooked..
He made known his ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)
So God revealed Himself to Moses on a more personal level, but to the Israelites He only revealed His actions. Have you ever wondered about that? Let’s look at a few verses that show how the Israelites, and how Moses, related to God.. First we’ll look at the Israelites.
After the ten commandments, the sons of Israel come to Moses and said these words..
If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we shall die. Go near and hear all that the LORD our God says; then speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. (Deut 5:25,27)
First of all, that statement is not true. Hearing God’s voice might have been unfamiliar to them, but it would not have killed them. They were simply afraid and didn’t want to hear. They were the ones who stated how they wanted to interact with God. They wanted Moses to tell them what God said. Doesn’t that sound like a lot of Christians? Attending church so they can hear what God’s telling the pastor, instead of hearing God themselves.
Let me ask your opinion. Does that type of relationship with God really work in the end? Did the sons of Israel obey what God said through Moses? Most of the time, they didn’t. Do Christians usually live their lives according to what their pastor teaches? Usually not.
Typically, when someone we don’t know tells us something, we’re much more likely to disregard what we’re told. But if someone we know and love tells us the same thing, then out of respect for their wishes, we have more incentive to listen to them. Reason for that, there’s simply no major incentive to follow the advice of someone we don’t know well.
What kind of relationship do we seek? Do we want to be like the sons of Israel, knowing about God? Or know God on a more intimate level like Moses? Hopefully we want to be like Moses.
You can probably think of other examples, like knowing someone so well you know what they’re going to say before they say it- like being able finish a sentence they’ve started. At any rate, we can see from those examples, knowing someone’s ways is a good thing.
What about people you don’t know so well? What about your boss or your co-workers? Can you tell what they’re feeling by simply being in the room with them? Can you, without any doubts, vouch for their character? Know what they’ll say before they say it? The answer to that, in most cases, is likely no. They’re simply people you know “about”. You may know their hobbies or some things they’ve done, but you don’t “know” them.
Which one do you think is better, knowing someone ways or only knowing about them?
In Psalm 103, there’s a very interesting verse which, unfortunately, is often overlooked..
He made known his ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)
So God revealed Himself to Moses on a more personal level, but to the Israelites He only revealed His actions. Have you ever wondered about that? Let’s look at a few verses that show how the Israelites, and how Moses, related to God.. First we’ll look at the Israelites.
After the ten commandments, the sons of Israel come to Moses and said these words..
If we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, then we shall die. Go near and hear all that the LORD our God says; then speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it. (Deut 5:25,27)
First of all, that statement is not true. Hearing God’s voice might have been unfamiliar to them, but it would not have killed them. They were simply afraid and didn’t want to hear. They were the ones who stated how they wanted to interact with God. They wanted Moses to tell them what God said. Doesn’t that sound like a lot of Christians? Attending church so they can hear what God’s telling the pastor, instead of hearing God themselves.
Let me ask your opinion. Does that type of relationship with God really work in the end? Did the sons of Israel obey what God said through Moses? Most of the time, they didn’t. Do Christians usually live their lives according to what their pastor teaches? Usually not.
Typically, when someone we don’t know tells us something, we’re much more likely to disregard what we’re told. But if someone we know and love tells us the same thing, then out of respect for their wishes, we have more incentive to listen to them. Reason for that, there’s simply no major incentive to follow the advice of someone we don’t know well.
What kind of relationship do we seek? Do we want to be like the sons of Israel, knowing about God? Or know God on a more intimate level like Moses? Hopefully we want to be like Moses.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Twenty-third Psalm
A psalm I've rewritten in rhyme..
The Lord's my shepherd;
He meets all my needs.
By the still waters He gently leads..
He leads me to rest
in pastures of green,
restoring my soul, washing me clean..
The brightest of paths
He leads me to take,
out of great kindness, for His name's sake..
As I'm wading though
the darkest despair,
I'll still have a peace, knowing He's there..
His rod and His staff
bring comfort to me,
comfort in front of my enemy.
My cup runs over,
His goodness abounds,
His grace and mercy always surrounds..
The Lord's my Shepherd,
and shall always be..
I'll dwell in His house for eternity..
The Lord's my shepherd;
He meets all my needs.
By the still waters He gently leads..
He leads me to rest
in pastures of green,
restoring my soul, washing me clean..
The brightest of paths
He leads me to take,
out of great kindness, for His name's sake..
As I'm wading though
the darkest despair,
I'll still have a peace, knowing He's there..
His rod and His staff
bring comfort to me,
comfort in front of my enemy.
My cup runs over,
His goodness abounds,
His grace and mercy always surrounds..
The Lord's my Shepherd,
and shall always be..
I'll dwell in His house for eternity..
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