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2 Peter 3:8-16

28 Jun

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

Dear God, as an American Christian in 2023, it is hard to read this passage in the right context. I don’t suffer. I don’t know what it means to suffer. Yes, I have pain from rejection and being unmercifully judged, but that’s just from a few people close to me. It’s real pain, but I’m not being persecuted. I’m don’t have people out to get me–trying to kill me. Holding me back just because of my beliefs.

The most devout Christian group in the country are black Americans. In terms of church attendance, it is largely recognized that they lead all other races in terms of church attendance.

I would posit that it is because they experience more persecution and suffering in their daily lives than white Americans do. I remember once when an Hispanic coworker interviewed me one time for a class. The assignment was to interview someone who is from a different social class and background that the student. One of the things we talked about during the interview was white privilege, which is something I believe to be real. But when she wrote about it she said, “John believes there is white privilege, but he doesn’t take advantage of it.” I told her that she got that wrong. I said, “I can’t help but take advantage of it. For example, when my wife and I are driving back from South Padre Island and they just wave us through at the inland border checkpoint after they ask us if we are U.S. citizens I don’t stop and say, ‘Hold it. You need to look at my ID.’ Whereas your family all has to produce IDs when you go through the checkpoint. And that’s just one example.”

My point is, Peter, Paul, and this first generation of apostles knew what it meant to suffer and so they longed for your return. They longed for a new earth. They longed for an end to this age. They didn’t know why you were taking so long. I’m sure Paul would be shocked to know that 2,000 years have now passed and Jesus hasn’t returned to put an end to the old earth yet. But here we are. And while there are plenty of people in the world who suffer and would love to see this new earth arrive today, I don’t feel that same desire. I don’t live the same kind of life Peter and Paul lived. I’m just a guy who tries to discipline himself to worship you and learn more about you even though I don’t have a desperation for respite from this current earth.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please combine to make me mindful of those around me who are, indeed, hurting and longing for you. Help me to understand the role you have for me to play in their lives. Help me to know how to bring you to them. Love through me. Live through me. And I also want to thank you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for caring. And in the suffering I have experience, limited as it is, thank you for being my comforter and for being my reason for living.

I pray all of this in your gracious, powerful, and awesome name,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 28, 2023 in 2 Peter

 

Leviticus 19:17-18

26 Jun

“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Leviticus 19:17-18

Dear God, why? There’s always a “why” to what you commanded. Sometimes, I think the modern church misses that. I think we read something in the Bible that we see you say is wrong, and we just run with it and then go out and judge anyone who is doing that thing. But we forget to take the “why” with us. We forget to meet people where they are and start with the “why” as opposed to starting with the “what.”

In this case, I think every one of these things listed in verses 17 and 18 are for our own good. Nursing hatred is poison to my own soul. Confronting people directly instead of just holding on to the judgment or gossiping about them helps me to be in relationship with people and build something positive (if the confrontation is done in the right way. Letting go of revenge and grudges frees up my spirit to simply love. And loving others is what is good for my soul. Loving you and loving others–the two great commandments.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I worship you this morning. I turn loose of the grudges of which I am aware and lean into you for my comfort where I am hurt. I turn loose of the people who have hurt me or wish me ill. I turn loose of those who have grudges towards me. Set them free, Lord. But not for my sake–for theirs. I can think of a few people who have grudges against me. Set them free for their sakes, not mine. For them.

I pray all of this through the grace you gave me in Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 26, 2023 in Leviticus

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (The Message)

24 Jun

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 (The Message)

 

One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these troublemakers who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.

Dear God, I don’t normally read “The Message” translation, but I happened to see this from 2 Thessalonians 3 today and it really caught my eye. Eugene Peterson seems to have added some stuff here that the traditional translations don’t have. Here are some examples of other translations:

NASB (1995): 3 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

NIV: 3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 

ESV: 3 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.

None of these translations contain even the sentiment of “I’m finding that not all ‘believers’ are believers” that Peterson includes in his translation. They say something to the effect of “not all have faith,” but Peterson puts this description on “believers.” It’s an interesting thing for him to do.

My wife and I were talking earlier today about whether or not there was a difference in being called a “Christian” and being “saved.” Are there people who are called Christians who are not saved? Are there people who are saved who would not be called a Christian? What makes someone saved? What makes someone a Christian? Are the terms synonymous?

I’m not going to try to answer that question here because I think there are some things that are simply mysteries that we cannot understand them on this side of the death veil. I just don’t know how you see all of this. It’s still so overwhelming to me that I might be saved and/or called a Christian through simply believing in your son and repenting before you. I know that I truly do believe in you, God the Father. I believe in you, Jesus the Son, and I believe in you, God’s Holy Spirit. I know that times like this are critical to my inner core. Communion with you makes all of the difference in the world in my life. Even if life on earth is all I have for these 53-100 years (I’m currently 53) and an afterlife was not part of your plan for any of us, I would still cling to you because I need you for my peace and happiness.

Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me to be a beacon that attracts others to you. For your glory, Oh Lord.

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2023 in 2 Thessalonians

 

“Hypocrite”

21 Jun

Note on April 22, 2024: I originally wrote this prayer in the summer of 2023. This evening, I was listening to the Bible Project Podcast, and in the midst of their series on the Sermon on the Mount, they had a whole episode dedicated to the Word “hypocrite.” They redefined it for me, and I found that I have apparently either been misinformed or misunderstood the definition of the word the translators used to convey Jesus’s message. Apparently, a more accurate definition would be someone who is doing the things they say they (and you) should do, but they are only doing them for show. So it’s not what I thought, which is the old “do as I say, not as I do” definition, but it’s actually something that only God can tell if we are doing it or not. Only God can see our hearts and motives as we do what we do and say what we say. So this is another example of how my interpretation of scripture can be influenced by misunderstandings and my own lack of education. With that said, her is the prayer I prayed with the wrong definition in mind.

Dear God, I noticed that the New Testament reading for today for the Catholic church had the word “hypocrite” a couple of times. Both times, it was Jesus talking. I decided to take the New Living Translation and find out how many times the word is used in the Bible. As it turns out, it came up 21 times. Three times in the Old Testament (one in Psalms and two in Isaiah) and then 18 in the New Testament (13 in Matthew, one in Mark, two in Luke, one in Acts and one in 1 Timothy). So Matthew really seems to have zeroed in on this word and Jesus’s use of it. Therefore, I thought I would look at the instances when Matthew quotes Jesus as using it, courtesy of Bible Gateway.

  1. Matthew 6:2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  2. Matthew 6:5 Teaching about Prayer and Fasting“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  3. Matthew 6:16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  4. Matthew 7:5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  5. Matthew 15:7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  6. Matthew 22:18 But Jesus knew their evil motives. “You hypocrites!” he said. “Why are you trying to trap me? In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  7. Matthew 23:13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  8. Matthew 23:15 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn that person into twice the child of hell you yourselves are! In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  9. Matthew 23:23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  10. Matthew 23:25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  11. Matthew 23:27 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  12. Matthew 23:29 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed, and you decorate the monuments of the godly people your ancestors destroyed. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
  13. Matthew 24:51 and he will cut the servant to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

Jesus seemed to have very little tolerance for hypocrites. Perhaps this is something I should be careful about as I move through this life. Are there areas where I am hypocritical?

I guess hypocrisy is something that requires self-awareness because I know of very few people who are able to see their own hypocrisy in real time. Even now, as I try to search my heart, I try to think of areas where I might be hypocritical, but I can’t think of any. Am I a hypocrite? Almost certainly. Can I identify how? Apparently not.

I think hypocrisy starts with a spirit of judging others. Maybe that’s where I should start. Do I judge others and how do I judge others? If I am judging them for this thing or that, then the odds are probably good that I have some work to do on myself in that area–oh, and I need to stop the judging.

Father, there are six instances in Matthew 23 that includes the phrases “What sorry awaits you…” and “Hypocrites!” I recognize that this is partially Jesus getting the Pharisees riled up so they will crucify him. It’s also getting his last words in with them while he can. But the message is still true. If it is true with me, please reveal it to me. Holy Spirit, please reveal it to me. Jesus, please forgive me.

I pray all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 21, 2023 in 1 Timothy, Acts, Isaiah, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Psalms

 

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Mark 8:34-35

20 Jun

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
Mark 8:34-35

Dear God, there are parts of my life I really want to hang on to. I confess it. Not just admit it–I confess it. I want some things in my life the way I want them, especially as they relate to my family. But I’m slowly getting better. I’m slowly turning loose of it. I’m turning loose of my own way and taking up my cross to follow you. I’m getting there.

Last night, I had a conversation that I thought would have messed me up pretty badly, but I think I’m really okay this morning. I think I am. Maybe I’m not, and I’m just in denial, but I think I’m okay. It feels like I given (at least mostly) the forgiveness you’ve told me to give for my own sake. To some extent, I almost feel like I’m outside of this situation looking down on it like a third party. Almost an out-of-body experience. I’m not mad this morning. I didn’t lose any sleep over it last night, although my adrenalin was a little high as I went to bed after the conversation just from the intensity of it so it took me a while to get to sleep, but I wasn’t thinking about it as I went to sleep. My own way that Jesus mentions in verse 34 is not a path to peace. It is a path to angst.

Father, there is a lot of damage that’s been done in the situation to which I’m referring from last night. Some of it really concerns me. Heal hearts. Bring repentance to all involved, including me, for each of our own sakes. I have some people on my heart right now who are really hurting. Please raise up people around them who can be your ears, your voice, and your hands to them. Bring them healing. Ease their pain and make them whole. Help them to deny their own way, turn loose of it, and take up their cross to follow you. Do all of this for their relationships with you and for your glory to come into this world. Please, continue to do the same for me.

I gratefully pray all of this to you, my God, my King, my Savior,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 20, 2023 in Mark

 

Romans 5:6-11

18 Jun

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Romans 5:6-11

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning it made me think of a Phillips, Craig & Dean song “Mercy Came Running.” It also made me think of the “Thank You/F*** You” post I did a few weeks ago. “Utterly helpless.” I really am. I’m just utterly helpless. I cannot fix my sin. I cannot reconcile myself with you. I cannot do anything to reconcile myself to the people I’ve harmed and offended. I need your mercy. I need their mercy. I am helpless.

But “since [I] have been made right in [your] sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly same me from [your] condemnation.” So what is my responsibility now? What am I to do with this amazing gift? Whom shall I love. How shall I love them.

Right now, my wife and I are going to spend the evening with some people we don’t know well. I pray that you will use this evening to glorify your name through us. Glorify your name to us through them as well. I want to be your servant tonight. I want to be very good at being my wife’s husband and being your ambassador. I am sure our hosts want the same. I am sure they want to be your ambassadors as well. Let this be an evening of iron sharpening iron. Let it be an evening of your glory being shone through our weaknesses. Through our sin and your mercy and grace.

I pray all of this through the blessed, holy, taintless blood of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2023 in Romans

 

Water Stories

16 Jun

Dear God, I was looking at a list of upcoming retreats at Laity Lodge this evening and I came across this description of a retreat

Water is one of the most important of scripture’s recurring symbols. As we work our way through the beginning of the Bible and read about the watery chaos depths of creation, the flood of judgment, and Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea, we begin to see that water is associated with chaos as well as cleansing, death as well as deliverance. Mark’s gospel takes up this symbol-theme in creative and sometimes astounding ways. This weekend retreat will undertake a close reading of three different scenes of Jesus and the disciples in a boat on the sea (Mark 4, 6, and 8) to see what they might teach us about following Jesus through the storms of life.

https://www.laitylodge.org/retreats/summer-2023-2/

It made me want to look at the stories in Mark 4, 6, and 8 to see what they were.

The first is Mark 4:1-2,35-41:

1 Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. 2 He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one…

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

The second story is Mark 6:45-56:

45 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. 46 After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.

47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.

53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

The third is Mark 8:1-21, although this one is just a brief mention of being in the boat:

1 About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2 “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

5 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they replied.

6 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd. 7 A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.

8 They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 9 There were about 4,000 men in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten. 10 Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.

11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” 13 So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.

14 But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”

“Twelve,” they said.

20 “And when I fed the 4,000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

“Seven,” they said.

21 “Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

As I look at these–especially the first two–I want to think about “following Jesus through the storms of life,” as the description of the retreat said. The first story is interesting because I’m not sure what the disciples should have done differently. If they had done it right, what would they have done? I’m not sure I’ve ever asked myself this question before. I’ve accepted their correction by Jesus for doing it incorrectly, but what would doing it correctly have looked like? I suppose they should have just sat and prayed. Maybe together. Maybe separately. Maybe holding hands. But I guess, in an ideal world, they would have simply let Jesus sleep and prayed. I suppose they could have sat and talked among themselves during the storm, assuming that as long as Jesus was with them they probably weren’t going to sink, but simple prayer would probably have sufficed. I guess the thing that made what they did really wrong was that they seemed to blame Jesus for their danger. They accused him of not caring.

I have a situation I need to deal with, and my first reaction was to sit and reason through the solution. I was fretting a bit. What will I do? How will I handle this? Will I survive it? Then I mentioned it to a friend and they reminded me that I needed to start with prayer. Wow! One of my biggest failings is that my first response is almost never to come to you in prayer. To bring my situation to you and ask for your Holy Spirit to guide me through it. I lean upon my own “wisdom,” such that it is, and I don’t lean on you.

The second story from Mark 6 is interesting because it does not include a rebuke from Jesus, but comfort. He was going to walk past them, but he saw they needed to know they were safe. I have to admit I’ve never really understood what the plan was here. How did they think he would catch up to them at Bethsaida? Would another group of disciples bring him in a boat? But as they were struggling, they saw him. They didn’t understand and they were scared, but he comforted them and told them to not be afraid and take courage. “I am here.” You are here. Yes, you are here. I can take courage. You are here.

The third story from Mark 8:1-21 isn’t like the other boat stories because the disciples aren’t in crisis. They just don’t understand what Jesus is telling them. I think it’s that I need to stop looking for new signs and just accept that Jesus is already at work all around me. You, Father, are at work all around me. You, Holy Spirit, are at work all around me. You, my Triune God, are at work all around me.

Father, I suppose when I combine the stories, that is the answer. You are here working whether I can see you at work or not. It’s amazing that the God of the universe (which seemingly is getting bigger and bigger than our minds can comprehend) is interested in my puny little life. My role is to worship you with all my heart and love my neighbor as myself. Seek you first and your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, and then I will find the fruits of your Spirit growing in me. Sometimes you calm the storm, but other times you calm me. Either way, I have nothing to fear. Thank you.

I pray all of this under your authority and with so much gratitude,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 16, 2023 in Mark

 

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“Keep Me in the Moment” by Jeremy Camp

14 Jun

I’ve been thinking ’bout time
And where does it go
How can I stop my life from passing me by, I don’t know
I’ve been thinking ’bout family and how it’s going so fast
Will I wake up one morning just wishing that I could go back
I’ve been thinking ’bout lately, maybe
I can make a change and let you change me
So, with all of my heart this is my prayer

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

When I wake up in the morning
Lord, search my heart
Don’t let me stray, I just wanna stay where you are
All I got is one shot, one try
One go around in this beautiful life
Nothing is wasted when everything’s placed in your hands

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

I’ve been thinking about heaven
And the promise you hold
So, it’s all eyes on you
Until the day you call me home

Singing oh Lord, keep me in the moment
Help me live with my eyes wide open
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me
(I don’t wanna miss, I don’t wanna miss)
Singing oh Lord, show me what matters
Throw away what I’m chasing after
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

Keep me in the moment
Oh, keep me in the moment
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me

Keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Oh, keep me in the moment (Keep me in the moment)
Keep me in the moment
‘Cause I don’t wanna miss what you have for me (What you have for me)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Matthew West / Jordan Sapp / Jeremy Camp

Dear God, I guess I have a mixture of emotions processing through right now. I’ve traveled to help some loved ones out. They are having some physical challenges, and I am helping them get packed up and moved home. While I’m here, there is that typical mixture of emotions, as I said before, that you experience when you have a lot of history with people. Of course, there is love, which is the foundation. But then you cannot help but bump up against the scars every once in a while. Past hurts. Current hurts. They are all part of this experience as well as the job at hand—to help, love, and encourage.

So why this song today? I’ve done it before. I’ve prayed to you about the lyrics before. But like a piece of scripture that I’ve journaled on multiple times and almost always gotten something different out of it, so is this song special and meaningful.

It’s funny because I don’t like the actual music video to this song. I intentionally chose the lyrics video so that their interpretation of the song in music video form doesn’t taint what I’m thinking here. The music video I don’t like focuses on the idea of enjoying each moment with your family and such and savoring them. That’s all good and fine, but the song, for me, is much deeper than that.

It reminds me of the 15th letter in Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. In the 15th letter, the demon Screwtape tells his apprentice nephew demon Wormwood that one of the ways to torment his human “patient” is to keep him, essentially, out of the moment. Make him think about the past and his hurts and resentments. Make him think about the future and what he thinks he’ll dread or what he’s anticipating that will be better than today is. But don’t let him be solely in the current moment because the current moment is the only place in time that touches eternity and you, God (referred to by Screwtape as “The Enemy”). The moment is where I find you.

Father, as I go through this entire day, thank you for this reminder to find you in each moment. In this moment, when I am sitting in bed and typing this. In the next moment, when I get up and do what’s next. In each moment, keep me completely in your presence. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me. Love through me. Bless through me. Heal me and heal through me. Forgive me. Help me to forgive. Lead me not into temptation and deliver me from Satan’s plans. You are my great God, and I have nothing without you.

I pray all of this through the grace and authority of what Jesus did for me and the world,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 14, 2023 in Hymns and Songs

 

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What does my sin cost?

13 Jun

Dear God, I was listening to a sermon from Andy Stanley this morning, and he used an illustration that was excellent. He was trying to frame the idea of what my sin costs God and how I can’t relate to it, and he used an illustration of his daughter from when she was three years old. Apparently, he had bought a new car and it was a really pretty deep green. He came out one morning and saw scratches on the hood. They were deep scratches that went all of the way through the paint. He was certain one of his children had done it through he process of elimination, so he marched the three kids out to the garage and put them next to the car. That’s when his three-year-old daughter looked at him and said (in a three-year-old voice), “Daddy, I practiced my letters on your car with a rock.” Stunned he sat there and wondered how to communicate the value of her mistake to her. He looked closer and could see that the scratches were capital A’s. How could she understand what it would cost him to fix this? There was no way for her to pay for it. There was no way for her to comprehend it. He said he knelt down and simply told her, “Please, don’t practice your letters on Daddy’s car again.” She said, “Yes, sir, Daddy,” and went away to play.

Father, I am this simple child. I have no idea how to even know what my sin really costs you in the way of how I harm others, myself, or your plan. But I will do my best to take your instruction from your Holy Spirit as I go and be grateful for the forgiveness Jesus offers through his life, death, and resurrection. Thank you, Father. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I pray all of this through that grace which you so richly gave me,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 13, 2023 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

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2 Thessalonians 3:7-9

12 Jun

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9

Dear God, I was reading the June 12 devotion from Gary Thomas’s Simply Sacred devotional book, and it included this verse. He talked about setting an example for our children and pointed to the temerity Paul had to tell people to be like himself. That’s a bold thing to get tell people: “I’m doing it right. Be more like me.”

I don’t know that I am much of an example. I think some would see me as one and others would not. I was watching a two-hour interview with Tom Hanks yesterday, and it was really good. He is, overall, a seemingly great guy without a lot of guile or pretense. He doesn’t portray himself as a great, noble, honorable person. It just comes out naturally through his speaking. But then I wondered how his children and wife see him. I wonder what they think of how the public sees him. I live in a small town where I know a lot of people and they largely have a positive opinion of me. This can really be a burden for my children. I don’t try to portray myself as something I’m not. I’m not disingenuous, but I would still say that people can overestimate my “goodness.” I sometimes wonder if that doesn’t get in the way of my children wanting to follow my example because the way the community sees me isn’t realistic.

Father, I have a ton of insecurities when it comes to my children and how they see me. I feel like I failed in many ways even though I did my best not to fail. I told my wife recently that children never know how much their parents love them. We were talking about another set of parents we know, but it could apply to us as well. Our son gave us a great compliment one time, and I don’t think he meant to. When his girlfriend asked him before we met her what he thought we would think of her, he told her, “All my parents are going to care about are that I’m happy and doing well.” That was so true. That’s all we want for our children. Of course, that includes a life lived growing closer to you, but regardless, we just want our children to be happy. Sometimes that can include getting them to do things, like summer jobs, that they don’t want to do, but we know will be good for them in the long run. I guess all of this is to say, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, help me be the man you need me to be in my home with my wife, for my grown children, for my extended family, for my friends, and for my community. Don’t let me miss any opportunities you are laying out for me.

I pray all of this through the grace of Jesus,

Amen

 
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Posted by on June 12, 2023 in 2 Thessalonians

 
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