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Hebrews 6:1

18 May

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.

Hebrews 6:1

Dear God, I’m sure I’ve read this verse before, and I probably had the same reaction them that I am having now. I think this is one of my problems with the majority of the preaching I hear on Sunday mornings. The lessons that pastors teach are from the same playbook I’ve heard my whole life: God is love. There is grace for you. Love others.

Growing up, the pastor of my formative years really, really, really focused on your grace every week. I am probably being unfair, but my memory is that every week was a call to accept your grace and let go. And that was great as far as it gave me a very healthy attitude about your unconditional love for me. But when I got college I started to hear more sophisticated Bible teaching that encouraged me, challenged me, and helped me to start to enrich myself.

So now I’ve started to think about leading a local Bible study, with a focus being on getting men from a cross section of the community. Some lower class. Some middle class. Even some upper class. I’m not sure what it would look like. I’m not sure who I could get to come—or who you would bring to it. But I’m thinking this might be something for me to consider this fall. If we say we want to bring you to our community and we want our community to embrace you, doesn’t it include something like this?

Father, help me to really hear you and find you through this. I don’t want to do anything that’s not of you, and I don’t want to do it in a way that leaves out your blessing. Guide me, give me ears to hear, eyes to see, and the will to completely submit to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 18, 2018 in Hebrews

 

17 May

A Might Fortress is our God – by Martin Luther

1

A mighty Fortress is our God,

A Bulwark never failing;

Our Helper He amid the flood

Of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe

Doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great,

And, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

2

Did we in our own strength confide,

Our striving would be losing;

Were not the right Man on our side,

The Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is He;

Lord Sabaoth His Name,

From age to age the same,

And He must win the battle.

3

And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim,

We tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure,

For lo! his doom is sure,

One little word shall fell him.

4

That word above all earthly powers,

No thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill:

God’s truth abideth still,

His Kingdom is forever.

Dear God, My wife told me about a funeral She went to yesterday that sounds redemptive and incredible. The young man was apparently plagued by alcoholism and depression and they confronted it head on. The service apparently opened with this hymn. My wife told me it really fit because of how the hymn references all of the demons and how you are our refuge and protector.

So I got to thinking about this hymn and its meaning. Until she mentioned it this morning, I don’t know that I had ever really paid attention to it. And it’s ironic since the best funeral I’ve ever been to opened with this hymn as well, but it was played by a brass quintet.

The two men who had died at each funeral could not have been more different from each other. One was old and had spent his whole life in Christian ministry, although he had struggled with clinical depression. The other was young and had never been able to overcome the alcoholism and depression. But you were turns and still are, in their deaths and afterlives, a mighty fortress to them.

Father, be my mighty fortress today. Be glorified through me. Love others through me. Help me to completely seek you as I handle each issue that comes my way today. In Jesus’ name I pray,Amen

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

Zephaniah 3:17

16 May

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Dear God, I don’t know that much about Zephaniah so I tried to do a little research before praying so I could maybe get some context for this verse. Frankly, it sounds pretty straightforward. The book is about Zephaniah calling the Israelites to repentance. So this verse is letting all of know what you can be if we will do our part in relationship with you.

I think the word savior does not mean necessarily what people think it means. Back then, I think they thought it meant you would save them from trouble. But you being my savior, I think, is more of a long-term statement. Yes, you are interested in my short-term good, but there are times when my short-term struggle is for my long-teen good. So I cannot evaluate your goodness based upon my current situation at any given time.

I love the parts of this where it says you take delight in me with gladness, your love will calm my fears, and you will rejoice over me. I like that a lot. What would it look like for an entire community or nation to live under that?

Father, help me to influence the things I can influence. Of course, it starts with me. Help me to live under you and your authority. Help me to look to you in my times of trouble and then point to you in my times of deliverance. I don’t want to waste any moments or opportunities to give you glory and bring others into your presence. I know I will miss them, but I don’t want to.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2018 in Zephaniah

 

Ecclesiastes 11:5

15 May

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Ecclesiastes 11:5

Dear God, I admit to you that I don’t understand what you’re doing at any given time. And I don’t know as much about even myself as you know. But to my credit, I think I’m getting more comfortable with that. You’re slowly teaching me to lean into my ignorance and accept your unseen path.

I’m thinking this morning about a funeral for a young woman who died suddenly last week. I saw her parents last Sunday, four days after it happened. Oh, it was heartbreaking. I cannot imagine their pain. I don’t know how they could update possibly make sense of anything in their lives right now. They heard me preach on Sunday and as I spoke I measured every word against how they must be hearing it, but I can’t imagine they will even remember that much from Sunday except that they were with their fellow church members.

Father, we’ve actually lost several young people lately. One from a health issue, one from suicide, and two others from a car accident. There’s no way to explain or justify any of it. And then there are the things in my own path that I just don’t understand. Help me to find my way to you and then guide me in each moment so that I might find the correct things to do that will maximize my effectiveness for you and experience your presence.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 15, 2018 in Ecclesiastes

 

Psalm 139:13-14

14 May

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Dear God, there is nothing like being completely known and loved anyway. All my sin. All my weaknesses. All of my mistakes. You know all of this and you love me anyway.

The trick is to allow myself to be completely known to others. My wife. My children. My friends. Shame is a terrible thing. I think it’s one of Satan’s most powerful weapons against us. He can use it to tear us down, make us ineffective, separate us from family and friends, isolate us, and, in the end, bring us to ruin. All because we are too ashamed to let someone else know the truth about us. We have our secrets that must be protected at all costs.

Father, help me to seek out accountability. I want to be accountable to you, but I also need accountability to others. My wife. My board. My children. My friends. I pledge that I will endeavor to humble myself and try to make myself known. And then you can not only keep me free from the bondage, but you can also be a blessing to those who know my truth.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 14, 2018 in Psalms

 

Pain on Mother’s/Father’s Day

13 May

No verse.

Dear God, it seems that one of the side effects of my painful times is that it brings me into tune with the pain of my fellow humans. For example, I never thought much about miscarriages until we experienced one. Now, I am incredibly touched whenever I hear about one and I try to appropriately reach out to the parents involved.

Ten years ago, I used to really enjoy Father’s Day and Mother’s Day and I didn’t really understand the pain that some others experience on this day. Maybe they lost a child. Maybe they lost a parent or a spouse. Maybe they have children or a parent with whom they have not relationship. Several years ago, my wife’s and my worlds kind of crumbled in a way that made Mother’s Day and Father’s Day very painful. Neither of us wanted the other to acknowledge our respective day. We would avoid social media so we didn’t have to see all of the posts. It hurt too much. But now I am, at least to some extent, in touch with some of the pain that people feel on days like this.

Father, as I prepare to preach to a congregation this morning, help me to offer your comfort and your hope. Help me to offer community for the injured pilgrims. And help me to bridge the gap between those who have suffered and those who haven’t. Most of all, help me to lead all of them to the foot of your cross so that they might be healed–so that I might be healed too.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 13, 2018 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill

12 May

“Charm is Deceitful” by Kim Hill (Proverbs 31)

Charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
In a world where we see with our eyes
I pray for eyes that see the heart
‘Cause flesh is unfaithful
And is of no gain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears the Lord
And I know that when He sees me
It won’t be beauty that He longs to hold
It’ll be the love that He finds inside my heart
‘Cause charm is deceitful
Beauty is vain
But a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised
A woman who fears
Yes a woman who fears
A woman who fears the Lord

Dear God, Proverbs 31 was the verse of the day on Bible Gateway, so I thought I would bring out another Kim Hill song today. I think this one was on her first album as well (along with Psalm 1 that I did earlier this week). This one doesn’t follow the proverb as closely as the other one follows the psalm, but it’s certainly conveys the same message.

I assume Bible Gateway did this because Mother’s Day is tomorrow. I have to tell you, I couldn’t have more respect for my wife and the woman she is than I do right now. She loves others very well. She sacrifices for her family and friends when she needs to. She takes care of her soul, mind, heart, and body. She fears you. She spends so much time praying for others. I told her last night that I absolutely cannot imagine being more compatible with anyone else.

So, Father, I thank you for my wife. I thank you for making me a better man because of her. I thank you for the friendship and instruction that you give me through her. I thank you for the love and acceptance. Please give her a great portion of your blessing, peace, joy, and strength. Help her to tangibly feel you around her. I really do love her.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 12, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Proverbs

 

John 17:6-19

11 May

“I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, for I have passed on to them the message you gave me. They accepted it and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me. “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are. During my time here, I protected them by the power of the name you gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.

John 17:6-19

Dear God, I love how specific this prayer is. Jesus has zeroed in on his close followers and talked about his desires for them. He will move on to future believers in a bit, but for now, in this moment, he was focusing on the needs of the people to whom he is the closest. What did Jesus request for them?

  1. That their unity would be protected
  2. To not take them out of the world, but to protect them from Satan
  3. Make them Holy
  4. Teach them with your word

Father, I would like to embrace this prayer and ask it for myself and for those I know and live. Make me one with your community and my fellow believers. I don’t want to be removed from the world, but I want to be your presence in the world. I need your protection. Please forgive me of my sins and wash me in Jesus’ blood. And please continue to teach me so that I will be as close to knowing you as possible by the time my life on earth is done.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 11, 2018 in John

 

Psalm 1

10 May

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

Psalm 1

Dear God, as I was reading this psalm this morning I remembered that there is a son by Kim Hill from close to 30 years ago called “Psalm 1.” I had forgotten she did that. I looked it up and it was a nice refresher for that being a nice song. I think it might have been the first track on her first album.

As I thought about this psalm’s message this morning the other thing that occurred to me is that this is the psalm that the ancient organizers thousands of years ago chose to be first. A lot like “Holy, Holy, Holy” is almost always the first song in the Baptist Hymnal, this is the first psalm in the Jewish Book of Psalms. The organizers wanted to emphasize being righteous and pursuing righteousness. They wanted to condemn those who judge, mock, and do evil things. This was the first message they wanted to emphasize.

Father, help me to remember this lesson. Help me to plant myself by your living water so that my life might grow to be of most service to you. Be glorified in me so that others will be drawn to you and experience your living water for themselves.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 10, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

Thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

09 May

No verse.

Dear God, thank you for last night. We had a fundraising dinner for the nonprofit where I work and you showed up. I prayed that you would show up. I prayed that the night would not be as much about money as it would be about you speaking to people’s hearts, and you really did that.

It’s an amazing thing when people get up and share the challenges from their lives. Their mistakes. Their hard times. Even their sins. When done in a spirit of giving you glory it always touches others. The keynote speaker last night told me afterward that she really struggled as to whether not not to share some of the more vulnerable parts of her life, but afterward she was glad she did. Yes! Those were the parts of her story that spoke to the crowd the most.

Father, help me to keep that focus today. Help me to decrease as you increase. Let your Holy Spirit flow through our building and our work. Help me to lead and help all of us to let go of our pain, fear, bitterness and even our rights and embrace the opportunity to love others in an unreasonable way. And do it all for your glory.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 
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