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Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Emails to God – Spirit, Come Flush the Lies Out (Hebrews 10:32-36)

24 Sep

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Dear God, the phrase “joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property” in verse 34 caught my eye this morning. It reminds me of passion lost.

I was on a bike ride yesterday and listening to a song by Charlie Peacock called “Monkeys at the Zoo.” It’s a weird title, but here is the first verse:

Will it be different now, or the same
Will I have learned anything
Or was it just a way to spend a day or two
Set aside for thinking thoughts about You.
If that’s all it was, I had a good time…

One time I was on my way to a retreat when this song came on my radio. I realized how perfectly it describes the retreat/mountain top process. We often get off somewhere like that and really feel your presence, but do things change later? Will we have learned anything? So Charlie, in the chorus, purposes in his heart to do it right this time:

But that won’t be enough for me
Not this year, not anytime soon
I have got to clean house
Gotta make my bed, got clear my head
It’s getting kind of stuffy in here
Smell sorta funky too, like monkeys at the zoo
I’ve been whoring after things
Cuz I wanna feel safe inside
That’s a big fat lie
No amount of green, gold, or silver
Will ever take the place of the Peace of God
Spirit, come flush the lies out
Spirit, come flush the lies out

So I don’t know if I have any retreats in my near future, but I know I am in constant need of renewal. Father, help to renew my soul. Renew my spirit. Spirit, come flush the lies out. Spirit, come flush the lies out.

 
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Posted by on September 24, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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Emails to God – Thank you for autumn rains (Joel 2:23)

20 Sep

23“Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.”

Dear God, it is good to be reminded to look for your goodness in the midst of trials. It is good to reminded of your gifts in the midst of stress. It is good to be reminded of your provision in the midst of worry and fear.

It has been a stressful week. My wife and I have both had a lot going on with our jobs. As I sit here on a Thursday morning, I am pretty spend. It is 6:20 and I have to speak at a Rotary Club meeting in about 30 minutes. The week has already taken a lot of my energy, and there is still much more to do. I didn’t sleep well at all because I was afraid of oversleeping for this presentation this morning—and I was a bit stressed because I knew I had to come into the office earlier than the presentation to pick up my handouts, which I forgot.

But this verse reminds me that I need to rejoice in you. It reminds me that you have given us autumn rains. In this case, you literally gave us autumn rains this last week, but you have given them to me figuratively as well. Frankly, it’s been a good week relationally with our children. That has been a nice reprieve from some of the combat we have done for a while. At work, I am strained about the donations coming in, but when I look back on the year, you have provided for us and continue to provide for us. You are good. You have brought us a good staff who works together for our patients. And you are still bringing us gifts. You have a retreat in store for my wife. You have given me a good, dependable job in the midst of economic chaos elsewhere.

Father, I will rejoice in you this morning. Please help me to not overlook all of the little things you do to bless me. Help me to see every place that your hand touches my life and to not take you for granted. I want to see you in everything around me. I want to be your blessing to others. I want to channel your Spirit to everyone I touch, including those to whom I will talk this morning. Be glorified in me so that others might rejoice in you and your good gifts as well.

 
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Posted by on September 20, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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Emails to God – Ambition and Conceit (Philippians 2:3-4)

18 Sep

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. 4Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Dear God, today has to be all about others. Nothing can be about me. Our organization is about to have a big party at which we will celebrate 20 years of your provision for those in our area who have no means for affordable healthcare. Since I am the current leader of the organization there is a tendency to give me too much of the credit for what we do. And, frankly, I have a tendency to take it.

But today and tonight must not be about me. There is no glory for you in that. I must remember to value all others above myself. I must not look to my own interests, but to the interest of our patients and all of those who work so hard to make our services available.

Father, help me to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me to be at peace and to work hard for your glory and the benefit of others. Help me to leave it all on the table today and ask or look for nothing in return. Thank you for what you have done for us through the years. Thank you for what you have done for our patients, volunteers and donors. You have made a difference in countless lives, and we are grateful for all that you do.

 
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Posted by on September 18, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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Emails to God – Keeping Yourself Pure (Ephesians 5:1-20)

17 Sep

5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear God, something is happening with the Spirit within my house. Frankly, over the last several months (years?) I have felt like we have been under a very specific spiritual attack. It has surprised me. Probably what has surprised me the most is how I have seen the different ways that I was hurting my family that I didn’t realize. I was (and, I guess, am—although it is apparently getting better) critical and difficult to be around. My loud-ish personality and the popularity that comes with my job made it difficult for my family to be with me in public. And at home I think they never felt like they could do it right enough for me. It was hard for me to see at first, and now that I can see it, it has been hard for me to change. But I think I have done it slowly, but surely.

Now, I have started to feel a bit of a shift. Is it you moving? Is it something I can believe in? I am seeing my children responding to me a little differently. As if the change in me that I have been praying about over the last months and years is finally starting to take hold and they are starting to believe in it. My wife, being more mature, has allowed herself to believe in the change in me a little earlier, but the kids finally seem to be coming around.

One thing I am finding, however, is that I will need to be extra careful to guard my heart. I can see the positives that are happening and I know that Satan will attach in other areas. From where will his attacks come? Am I girded with your armor? Am I ready to follow verse 15 here, and live not as unwise but as wise?

Father, help me to be pure. Help me to have pure motives, thoughts, and deeds. And by pure, I mean help me to have your heart. I am sorry for the pain I unintentionally caused. I can only ask now that you will use it for your good in my life and my family’s life. Let your presence reign and help us to all submit ourselves to your authority and Spirit.

 
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Posted by on September 17, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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Emails to God – Remembering to Thank God (Philippians 1:3)

10 Sep

3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Dear God, my life is so beholden to different people. From my wife, to my family of origin, to donors, to volunteer, to staff, to my children, etc. My life is blessed many, many times over. But do I remember to thank you every time I remember these people? Do I remember to thank you whenever I think about the blessings you provide to me? Do I remember to give you the glory you deserve when I talk about the blessings in my life?

Father, there is so much for which I can be thankful. I have a patient wife who loves me richly. I have one or two good friends who speak your words to me. I have parents who bless me with love. I have a job where you have raised up people to work alongside us to do your will. Help me to be ever mindful of the grace you show me through all of these people. Help me to remember that you are the one from whom all blessings flow. And help me to remember to thank you for all of this because you are worthy of thanks and praise.

 
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Posted by on September 10, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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Emails to God – Rejecting Evil (Psalm 119:113-115)

01 Aug

113 I hate double-minded people,
but I love your law.
114 You are my refuge and my shield;
I have put my hope in your word.
115 Away from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commands of my God!

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning it made me wonder if I do enough to keep evildoers away from me. Do I do enough to meditate on your Word and keep out things that are unholy and impure.

So I watched the new Batman movie this weekend. What an interesting franchise. When they portray evil in the movies, the portray unrelenting, merciless, pure evil. They show someone who is willing to do anything to strike terror in the hearts of their victims and then follow through on the threat. Frankly, it was hard to watch. Even the good guys have darkness in them. And after what happened in Aurora a couple of weeks ago, I found myself being distrustful of every person in the theater. Whenever someone got up to go to the bathroom (or came back from the bathroom), I noticed and watched them the whole way. Of course, I was sitting by myself, and I figured there were probably people wondering what the big guy sitting by himself was up to.

My point is, did I go and hang out with the evil doers by watching this movie? Did I let any kind of darkness into my heart? Or was it more benign than that? Was it just being reminded of the human condition—especially in the hearts of the good guys who were flawed, but earnest?

Father, I think that it is important that I find times regularly to love you and put things into my mind and heart that remind me of who you are and who you are calling me to be. You want to remind me to reject selfishness and embrace your authority over me. So help me to do this. Help me to be the man you need me to be for my wife, my children, and everyone else around me. Help me to remember to put “my hope in your word” and “keep the commands of my God!”

 
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Posted by on August 1, 2012 in Miscellaneous

 

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