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“The Love of God” by Rich Mullins

25 Jul

“The Love of God” by Rich Mullins

There’s a wide ness in God’s mercy

I cannot find in my own

And it keeps this fire burning

To melt this heart of stone

Keeps me aching with the yearning

Keeps me glad to have been caught

In the reckless, raging fury

That they call the love of God

Now I have seen no band of angels

But I’ve heard the soldiers’ song

Love hangs over them like a banner

Love within leads them on

To the battle on the journey

And it’s never going to stop

Ever widening their mercy

And the fury of His love

Oh, the love of God

Oh, the love of God

The love of God

Joy and sorrow are this ocean

It’s in their every ebb and flow

Now the Lord ad door has opened

That all hell can never close

Here I’m tested and made worthy

Tossed about, yet lifted up

In the reckless, raging fury

That they call the love of God

Dear God, I’ve always love this song—the reckless, raging fury. That’s not normally how we describe your love. We want your love to be gentle and warm, but that’s how we love. That’s how mortals do it. The omnipotent brings something else to the table. The perfect father has a love that I cannot fathom. And your desire is to break us down and mold us into the people we need to be.

As I think about the words to this song this morning, I have to confess that my heart is distracted by a difficult situation. I have a difficult thing to do, and it has to be done well. I woke up this morning thinking about it, and what I’m really wondering is how can I do it in love? How can I do it compassionately? What I’m facing feels like part of the ocean ebbing and flowing. It’s part of the sorrow that you use to form me. Oh, how I need you to help me.

Father, guide me. Guide me, please. And don’t let the pain of this situation be in vain. Make it count. Make it count for me and everyone else involved. Help me, please.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Psalm 112:4-6

24 Jul

Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

Psalm 112:4-6

Dear God, there’s just a certain way to live, and one doesn’t need to be a believer in you to know it.

I’ve been a Rotarian for 11 years, and we have what we call the four-way test. If we come across a dilemma or difficult situation, we are to first apply these four questions and let the answers guide us:

Of all the things we think, say, and do,

  • Is it the truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build good will and better friendships?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I like that this starts with the words “think, say, and do.” What are my thoughts? What are my words? What are my actions? It’s not just what I do. It’s not just what I say. It’s starts with what and how I think.

Father, as I go through this and every day, help me to first surrender my thoughts to you. Help me to not be selfish or to sacrifice anyone else’s good for my own. Help me to embrace truth. And help me to point others to you, your glory, and to the freedom and joy you offer.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 24, 2018 in Psalms

 

Matthew 19:13-15

23 Jul

One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

Matthew 19:13-15

Dear God, I wonder how these children’s lives turned out. Their parents too—I wonder how this experience changed them. First, we know we are starting with people who were motivated enough to do this for their children, so they obviously loved them. I guess what I’m wondering is what kind of impact Jesus’ actions here had on everyone’s lives.

Praying for your children is one of those interesting mysteries that I just don’t understand, but I think I’ve started to realize something over the last year or two. Due to the idea that all of us need to be broken down at some point and brought to the end of ourselves, sometimes your answers to our prayers for our children will not look anything like we think they should.

Father, to quote a song, I don’t know where all this is going or how it all works out. Lead me to peace that passes understanding. A peace beyond all doubt.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 23, 2018 in Matthew

 

A Little Down Time, But Not Too Much

22 Jul

No verse.

 Dear God, I’ll admit that it’s been kind of a weird morning. Frankly, if I had woken up 15 minutes earlier I probably would have gone to church with Megan, but instead I stayed in bed all morning. I thought about getting up and going for a bike ride, but I passed that up too. Nope, Just stayed there all morning.

 Perhaps I kind of hit a wall after yesterday. I find that every once in a while I need this kind of a break, but I was thinking recently that it had been a while since I had done it. Then, all of a sudden, today I did it. There is something about it that kind of clears my head a little. It’s almost like my tendency is to always desire that kind of lethargy, but whenever I experience it for a few hours I get tired of it and I’m ready to get going again.

 Megan and I talked yesterday about the idea that we are built to work. You designed us to both work and to give of ourselves. If one of those two things are not in our lives then we do not function as well. If neither of them are part of our lives then we will shrivel up. Yesterday was a good day. I’m getting some of that Sabbath rest today, but it can still be a good day too.

 Father, I’m sorry I missed out on some corporate worship of you today. I should have gone somewhere, but there is a part of me that has no regrets about how I spent my morning. But there is still a lot ahead of me today. There are opportunities to work on some overdue projects, to meet with some friends, and to serve my wife. Help me to do everything you have in front of me today in a way that is both good for me and what you want for those around me.

 In Jesus’ name I pray,

 Amen

 
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Posted by on July 22, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

“Jesus” by Rich Mullins (performed by Ashley Cleveland)

21 Jul

“Jesus” by Rich Mullins (performed by Ashley Cleveland)

Jesus

They say You walked upon the water once

When you lived as all men do

Please teach me how to walk the way You did

Because I want to walk with You

Jesus

They say you taught a lame man how to dance

When he had never stood without a crutch

Well here am I Lord holding out my withered hands

And I’m just waiting to be touched

Jesus

Write me into Your story

Whisper it to me

And let me know I’m Yours

Jesus

They say You spoke and calmed an angry wave

That was tossed across a stormy sea

Please teach me how to listen how to obey

‘Cause there’s a storm inside of me

Jesus

Write me into Your story

Whisper it to me

And let me know I’m Yours

Jesus

They drove the cold nails through Your tired hands

And rolled a stone to seal Your grave

Feels like the devil’s rolled a stone onto my heart

Can You roll that stone away?

Dear God, this is one of those great songs that it’s a crime isn’t know better. Rich Mullins wrote it shortly before his untimely death. I say untimely, but I suppose everything is in your time. But it sure felt untimely at the time.

Anyway, I love the connection between Bible stories about Jesus and an aching heart here and now. I try to imagine Rich writing it and the emotions he felt that drove the request he makes in the song.

It opens simply enough: “Please teach me how to walk the way you did because I want to walk with you.” The more I become like Jesus the more closely I can be to him. No, that’s wrong. The closer I get to him and you the more I will walk like him and be like him. My salvation is one thing. My discipleship and transformation is another that I must grow into.

Then he moves on to needing healing: “Well here I am, Lord, holding out my withered hands. And I’m just waiting to be touched.” One of the first stages of the walk is seeking your healing. Healing my soul. Chris Pratt recently said in an awards show, “You have a soul. Be careful with it.” Well, a lot of us are careless with our souls, or others damage our souls. It’s really a combination of both. But we need your healing before we can really move along in our journey with you.

The next thing is tuning into you: “Please teach me how to listen and how to obey because there’s a storm inside of me.” It’s interesting that he made a connection between the storm Jesus calmed with listening to and obeying you. I don’t think I would naturally have made that connection, but I can see it. The storms that rage inside of me—the fear, the unsettledness, and the selfishness—all combine to drown out your voice. I need your healing and your calm to bring me to a place where I can hear you.

And finally: “Feels like the devil’s rolled a stone onto my heart. Can you roll that stone away?” Father, I can’t do this myself. I need you to do it. My wounded soul. My stormy heart. My sin. My selfishness. I cannot will it to be gone, and I cannot will myself to be acceptable to you. I am acceptable to you because of Jesus’ sacrifice and because you choose by your will to accept me. Thank you for this freedom.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 21, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Facing death

20 Jul

No verse

Dear God, I want to talk a little about end of life stuff. Through my job yesterday, I came across a woman who is terminally ill. I don’t think she understood the gravity of her situation. She just came in with a couple of diagnoses, either one of which would be a terminal situation, but combined make it nearly impossible to treat. It was hard.

How will I respond when I have to face that conversation for myself or my wife? I think I know how I’d like to respond, but that’s all intellectual. It’s not emotional. I’m going to die one day. So will she. When that day comes, what will my heart reveal about what I really believe about you, life, death, and eternity?

There’s another woman I know with a very serious, likely terminal diagnosis. She is handling it like I would hope I would. She is older—80+. She has had a full life. When she got the news from the doctor, she took it in stride. Yes, there might be some emotions she’s denying through pure will of her intellect, but she is at least coming at it from what I consider to be the right perspective.

Father, I hope I was okay yesterday. I do pray for the woman and her daughter who were in my office and the staff that helped me talk to her as well. Make their path straight. Make this pain count. Don’t let one teardrop be wasted. Give them comfort. Give them peace. Draw them to yourself. Hold them close. Be their Prince of Peace.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 20, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

“I Will Sing” by Rich Mullins

19 Jul

“I Will Sing” by Rich Mullins

I will sing for the meek

For those who pray

With their very lives for peace

Though they’re in chains

For a higher call

Their mourning will change into laughter

When the nations fall

In spirit poor, in mercy rich

They hunger for your righteousness

Their hearts refined into purity

Lord, let me shine for them

Lord, let me sing

Lord, let me shine for them

Lord, let me sing

Dear God, I used to sing this as part of a trio of songs I sang for my children when I would put them to bed when they were little. This was the lead-off song. I hoped at the time it would plant seeds of compassion in them. I still hope it did.

The truth is, there is a lot of suffering in the world that I have zero clue how to address or as to what my role in alleviating it should be. What does “shining for them” look like?

I guess the conclusion I’ve come to is that shining for them is all about following my convictions and callings. There are some things I can do and there are many more things I cannot do. And no matter how much I do, it will not come close to helping even a percentage. But you didn’t call me to solve the world’s problems. You called me to respond to your still small voice. As long as I don’t find myself living in denial, hiding in a cave like Elijah, I am more than likely on the right track.

Father, bless the work of my hands. Help me to know what to do, what not to do, and to do everything through your leadership and for your glory. Help me to be shrewd and wise. Help me to be encouraging and to point people to you. And help all of us through these difficult worldly times.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 19, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

Psalm 119:1-8

18 Jul

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don’t give up on me!

Psalm 119:1-8

Dear God, when I read this passage this morning it made me think of the verse that says to obey is better than to sacrifice. I looked it up and it turns out that those words are the ones Samuel spoke to Saul when God rejected Saul as king for doing a sacrifice at the wrong time without Samuel. All of these things are said under the “old covenant,” before Jesus earthly life, but it doesn’t make their words and message any less true now.

I just did a little search because it seems like Jesus references this passage somewhere in the Gospels, but I didn’t find it. I did find Proverbs 21:3. It’s a pretty common message, and it makes sense.

Father, thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice. It makes it possible for me to even be here this morning, talking to you. But help me to simply obey. It is for my own good anyway. Help me to obey you. Help me to glorify you. Help me to decrease as you increase through me. I love you and need you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 18, 2018 in 1 Samuel, Proverbs, Psalms

 

Romans 1:16-17

17 Jul

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:16-17

Dear God, I think 98% of Christians need training in how to share the Gospel. I’m included in that group. We either don’t know or over time we forget what we are “selling.” In fact, I know there are people in church every Sunday who are there because they’ve heard about this hope, but they still leave having never heard the message: There is hope! There is peace! There is freedom! All you have to do is let go of yourself, accept this wonderful gift of Jesus and then begin a life of discipleship.

I’ve been asked to preach at this one church every month for the last few, and now I’ll be there twice in August. Up until now, I’ve been following the passages the national church assigns for the day and then preaching from that—usually the Old Testament lesson. But now I’m really feeling led to take the second one in August and do an old fashioned Gospel message.

There’s a son by Dennis where the chorus says, “And I wish I could take your heart into my heart. I wish I could show you just how good it feels to let go of the pain you know is killing you and cling to the only one who can heal. But I know if I did then it wouldn’t be you. Because you, you’re the only one choosing for you. It’s true.”

Father, teach me to share the Gospel and make me your messenger. Remind me of the need that you met in my life over 30 years ago and guide me deeper into your presence.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 17, 2018 in Romans

 

“Growing Young” by Rich Mullins and Beaker

16 Jul

“Growing Young” by Rich Mullins and Beaker

I’ve gone so far from my home
I’ve seen the world
And I have known
So many secrets
I wish now I did not know
‘Cause they have crept into my heart
They have left it cold and dark
And bleeding
Bleeding and falling apart

And everybody used to tell me
Big boys don’t cry
Well, I’ve been around enough to know
That that was the lie
That held back the tears
In the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
Well, we are children no more
We have sinned and grown old
And our Father still waits
And He watches down the road
To see the crying boys
Come running back to His arms
And be growing young, nah, nah
Growing young, nah, nah, nah, nah

I’ve seen silver turn to draw dross
I’ve seen the best there ever was
And I’ll tell you, it ain’t worth what it cost
And I remember my father’s house
What I wouldn’t give right now
Just to see him
And hear him tell me that he loves me so much

And everybody used to tell me
Big boys don’t cry
Well, I’ve been around enough to know
That that was the lie
That held back the tears
In the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
Well, we are children no more
We have sinned and grown old
And our Father still waits
And He watches down the road
To see the crying boys
Come running back to His arms
And be growing young, nah, nah
Growing young, nah, nah, nah, nah

And when I thought that I was all alone
It was your voice I heard calling me back home
And I wonder now Lord, what was it that made me wait so long
What kept you waiting for me all that time
Was your love stronger than my foolish pride
Will you take me back Lord
Take me back and let me be your child
Because I’ve been broken now, I’ve been saved
I’ve learned to cry and I’ve learned how to pray
And I’m learning, I’m learning even I can be changed

And everybody used to tell me
Big boys don’t cry
Well, I’ve been around enough to know
That that was the lie
That held back the tears
In the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
Well, we are children no more
We have sinned and grown old
And our Father still waits
And He watches down the road
To see the crying boys
Come running back to His arms
And be growing young, nah, nah
Growing young, nah, nah, nah, nah

 

Dear God, I first heard this song nearly 25 years ago, and although I loved it at the time, I never knew how much it would come to mean to me. At the end of the day, we all need to have our wills broken to the point where we are willing to submit to you. And it comes easier to some that it does to others. The harder the heart, the more time it takes to break.

I have those in my life now for whom I pray this song and the sentiments of this song. Some are relatives. Some are friends. And I am in there too. You are still working on my heart and drawing it into yourself. I’m still learning to get over myself. I’m still learning to repent and pursue holiness. I’m still learning to look to you for my happiness and fulfillment.

Father, I’m willing to cry, so that’s a start. I’m willing to express my hurt and my faults. That’s a start too. The last 25 years have brought wounds and scars, but they have also brought me compassion, wisdom, love, and humility. Be glorified in me and please help those whom I love.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 16, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

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