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Praying for a Friend

09 Apr

No verse.

Dear God, last night before I went to bed, I got an email from a friend. He told me he had abruptly resigned from his job on Saturday. I don’t know any details. I don’t know if he had had enough and quit, if the leadership over him forced him out, or if it was some sort of combination of the two. What I do know is that I’ve been thinking about him ever since. I woke up briefly in the middle of the night and he and his family, especially his wife and his mother, were the first things on my mind. Then when I woke up again this morning, I thought about all of them again. I also thought about the place he’s leaving and hoped it might go through this process well.

The thing I always thought about and prayed to you about when I woke up didn’t focus on financial provision for them, although I did mention it. I mainly focused on their emotional state. I want you to give them (and by them I mean my friend, his wife, their children, and my friend’s and his wife’s parents) comfort. I want you to give them peace. Give them a sense of your presence, your care, and the assurance that, even though they might not be able to see it now, this will work together for good. I prayed and continue to pray that you will raise up people in all of their lives, including me, who will be your presence to them. Give them peaceful and discerning hearts during this foggy, painful time. In Easter parlance, it might seem like Friday night, but give them faith that Sunday is on it’s way.

Father, I guess what I haven’t prayed until now is that if there is any offense that has been done to my friend or his family, help him to heal from that, to forgive, and to pray for any enemies that he might have. If there are “us versus them” factions, help him to lead those left behind who supported him into reconciliation. Help him and his family to be a complete source of your presence, even in the midst of their own pain, hurt, and anger. Cover my friend and his family. Help them to bathe in the presence of the Holy Spirit. And help them to lead their children well and teach them about you and your goodness through this while still allowing them to be kids and remembering that the kids need to feel the stability that you provide through their parents.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 9, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

Prayin’ for my Preachin’

08 Apr

No verse.

Dear God, today’s the day. I’ve been thinking about and writing about unity and pilgrimages all week. Now I need you to clear my head and help me crystallize it into a 12ish-minute message. I need you to give me what they need to hear. Holy Spirit, I need you to flow over me and through me. I need you to increase and let me decrease.

One of the first things is that I definitely need to let go of my ego. I’ve confessed before, but I confess again now that I was too prideful after my last sermon. I wanted too much praise for me. I sought out compliments. I can be ridiculous.

The interesting thing about sermons is that, as the speaker you hope that you are coming up with something that will 1.) make people think and give them something to talk about while they drive home, 2.) plant a seed that they will always remember and hopefully make them a better person, and 3.) keep all of them from nodding off for at least those 10-15 minutes. Of course, standing up there, the only real-time feedback I get is #3.

Father, be glorified this morning. Help me to tie all of this together so that this group of people will experience something fresh and new as individuals, families, and as a church. And give me what I need out of this experience too.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 8, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

“Waterfalls” – TLC

07 Apr

Dear God, this song is on my “Pop” playlist, and I kind of paid attention to it for the first time this morning. I’ve always liked the sound, but until about 45 minutes ago, I couldn’t have told you what it was about. But this morning, when it came on my iPod, something encouraged me to stop and look at the lyrics. It had so much more meaning that I expected.

Here are the words to the song as well at a link to the music video which was the music video of the year in 1995:

“Waterfalls”
Performed by TLC,
Songwriters: Lisa Lopes / Marqueze Ethridge / Patrick Brown / Raymon Ameer Murray / Rico Renard Wade

A lonely mother gazing out of her window
Staring at a son that she just can’t touch
If at any time he’s in a jam she’ll be by his side
But he doesn’t realize he hurts her so much
But all the praying just ain’t helping at all
‘Cause he can’t seem to keep his self out of trouble
So, he goes out and he makes his money the best way he know how
Another body laying cold in the gutter
Listen to me

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

Little precious has a natural obsession for temptation
But he just can’t see
She give him loving that his body can’t handle
But all he can say is, “Baby, it’s good to me”
One day he goes and takes a glimpse in the mirror
But he doesn’t recognize his own face
His health is fading and he doesn’t know why
Three letters took him to his final resting place
Y’all don’t hear me

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

I seen rainbow yesterday
But too many storms have come and gone
Leavin’ a trace of not on God-given ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
I pray all ten fade away
Seldom praise Him for the sunny days
And like his promise is true
Only my faith can undo
The many chances I blew
To bring my life to anew
Clear blue and unconditional skies
Have dried the tears from my eyes
No more lonely cries
My only bleedin’ hope
Is for the folk who can’t cope
Wit such an endurin’ pain
That it keeps ’em in the pourin’ rain
Who’s to blame
For tootin’ caine in your own vein
What a shame
You shoot and aim for someone else’s brain
You claim the insane
And name this day in time
For fallin prey to crime
I say the system got you victim to your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations
In hopes of comin’ true
Believe in yourself
The rest is up to me and you

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

Don’t go chasing waterfalls
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you’re used to
I know that you’re gonna have it your way or nothing at all
But I think you’re moving too fast

I don’t really want to take the time here to deep dive into each verse, but, instead, I’d like to step back and think about how this song speaks to me.

The first thing that hit me was the frustration of a parent. At any stage of life I wanted to be so much more than I could be for my children, but it’s just not possible. At this point, I have 48 years of living and they have 22 and 19, respectively. I’ve learned things that I simply cannot impart to them. Of course, there’s still so much that I don’t know and still have to learn. They have to learn all of it for themselves. And sometimes the mistakes they make will be irreparable. Even worse, sometimes things will happen to them to harm them that are beyond their control. What is in their control is how they will respond to them. Will they let me, my wife, or someone else help them? More importantly, will they turn to you for comfort, guidance, and freedom, or will they allow it to break them?

The second thing that I take from this song is that we all have choices to make. From the mother in the first verse, to her son, to the man in the second verse, and then to his girlfriend/wife, each person is responding to their life and what they will seek for happiness and peace, and how they will choose to love a person who is destroying themselves. In the first verse, the son decided to make money through selling drugs and she decided to be next to him whenever he was in a jam. In the second verse, the woman’s love wasn’t enough her him and exposed both of them to HIV/AIDS. The mother, in particular, strikes me Does she make a mistake by always being by his side when he gets in trouble? Was more “tough love” needed. Or is that cruel. Did the song writer include those words intentionally?

Father, I could go on and on, but at the end of the day, this song is about fallen humans (all four of them) needing to reach out to you That’s what it comes down to for me as well. I am fallen. My wife is fallen. My children are fallen. None of us has anymore standing in your eyes than the other. So I guess my prayer is, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on April 7, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Uncategorized

 

John 25:14-30

06 Apr

14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
16 “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. 17 The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.
19 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. 20 The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
22 “The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’
26 “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate,27 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
28 “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 30 Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14-30

Dear God, this is an interesting story for Jesus to tell. It’s one of the last parables Matthew records. This harshness on the part of God is a little out of character for Jesus to represent. But it’s followed up immediately by the story of those who are at the final judgment and told that they ignored the hunger, thirst, loneliness, etc. of those around them. I think the two need to be read together. I think that’s how Matthew intended them to be digested. That’s one of the problems with having our Bibles separated into not only chapters and verses, but also with little subheadings for the stories so they are easier for us to find. Our brains tend to take those artificial divisions and apply them to the text when the author might not have intended for there to be a separation between those two stories at all.

When I think of what you expect from all of us as your believers, followers, and disciples, I think you expect us to take the “talent” you give us and then do something for your kingdom with it. And some of us will have more than one talent. I met a woman last night who seemingly has a lot of money and I know that she is generous with it. And it would be easy for her to sit back, write checks to people, and accept their gratitude. But that wasn’t her spirit. She also has construction contracting ability. She has bookkeeping ability. I talked with her last night about a big project we are working on to build a shelter for domestic violence victims. Can she write a check? Sure. But her eyes lit up when she talked about the other things she can bring to the table. You gave her more than one talent. You gave her five. And the spirit I saw in her was a desire to bring all of them to the table to see what kind of return you kingdom can get from them.

Father, help me to evaluate the talent that I have, bring all of it to the table for your glory’s sake (NOT mine), and multiply it for the good of your kingdom, our community, and at least one individual life. Help me to do it with joy and an attitude that desire my own decreasing and your increasing.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2018 in Matthew, Uncategorized

 

John 16:31-33

04 Apr

31 “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:31-33

Dear God, no matter how hard we try, our sinful human nature just won’t let us really perform at our best until the chips are down and we are facing adversity. I can’t think of a time when my truly best work was done in the midst of good fortune and easy times, but I can think of many times when crisis put me into action and through it I came up with some of my greatest successes.

I was at a meeting yesterday where we got bad news. This is a very professionally run group of people, but realities in their business are making them respond and raise their game. The same is true for where I work. I try to keep us moving and doing good work, but the fact remains that we do our best work when we are facing adversity.

How much of that can be said of my private life as well? All of it, of course. I am at my best as a husband/father when we are facing adversity. I am at my most productive as just an individual when I have to raise my game to meet a specific challenge. And I am at my best as a Christian when I am being pressed because, although I try to discipline myself to come to you regularly when things are good, my heart kicks it up to 11 when I am under pressure.

Father, I would ask that you forgive me for my failings in this area, but, frankly, you seem to completely understand this and allow for it in your love for me. So help me to be who you need me to be. Help me to love those around me who need my love. Help me to seek your face and really bathe in your Holy Spirit. And help me to dig in and do good work today for the sake of those who it helps, for my sake, but most of all for your Kingdom’s sake.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 4, 2018 in John

 

Hebrews 12:1-2

03 Apr

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Dear God, the cloud of witnesses is a beautiful thought. I wonder who is watching me? I wonder what they can see that I don’t see. For example, I often wonder about the daughter my wife and I lost while my wife was newly pregnant. Whenever I’m going through something with one of our kids now, I picture her praying for all of us. I’m sure she loves her brother and sister and is rooting for them. I know we’ve told them about her, but I wonder if they will be surprised to meet her one day on the other side. Even though I have this head and heart knowledge about her, how surprised will I be.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about other relatives who have passed and are cheering me on. Compared with my wife, I haven’t lost that many, but I think of my grandparents, my mother-in-law, my grandmother-in-law, and others who are for me. Frankly, especially with our daughter, the thought of her cheering for me and being concerned about me gives me some level of accountability. I think about her watching me—especially when I’m struggling as a father. I even talk to her sometimes. I should probably acknowledge all of them more. I am grateful for their love. I’m grateful for your love too, and I know you are watching me.

Father, I will run to finish the race you laid out for me. You have been good to me, and I am grateful. Now I must press on. It’s not time to step back. It’s time to throw myself into you. It’s time to be there for those you have put around me. It’s time for me to love mercy, live justly, and walk humbly with you. I’m doing it for you most of all, but part of me is doing it for them too. I don’t want their love for me to be in vain.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 3, 2018 in Hebrews

 

Acts 9:17-19a

02 Apr

17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Acts 9:17-19a

 
Dear God, the thing that strikes me about this story is how Paul went from really proud just days before to completely humbled. He carried a righteous indignation about persecuting Christians in your name. He arrested, at least was complicit in a killing, and reviled so many people. One of the interesting things about his transformation is that you were able to use the zealous part of his personality to great effect, but his anger seemed to subside. He no longer hated people who disagreed with him (although he was now on the other side of the fence). He loved them in a new way. In addition to his humility, your grace brought love to him too.
 

There are a lot of times that I am so prideful. Before I started working for nonprofits and depending upon the charity of others for my livelihood and the livelihood of my coworkers, I used to say that I could never be a missionary and live on the support of others. I also tend to get very proud of my political views, my religious views and my judgments on how others live their lives. But your grace is molding me. And it really does feel better to let go. There is freedom in letting go of any kind of façade that I might put on for someone else. Just as Paul experienced freedom and grace, so too have I felt more joy when I let go of my own life and simply embrace you and the reality that you give to me.

 
Father, help me to love well, worship you, and root out the remaining areas in my life where my pride rules me. Forgive me of my arrogance and help me to understand embrace humility—if for no other reason that my being humble makes it easier on the people who love me.
 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

 
Amen

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2018 in Acts, Uncategorized

 

John 20:19-20, 24-25

01 Apr

That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”

John 20:19-20,24-25

Dear God, pobrecito Thomas (poor Thomas). I don’t think John intended to single him out as a “doubter,” but as someone expressing what they were all feeling. What were they feeling? Despair. Frustration. Fear. Uncertainty. Lack of direction/confusion. Anger. Really, the list I am coming up with here is limited only to the amount of time I am willing to give to it—and then I would still miss some. But my point is, I think John felt the same way Thomas did.

There’s a fun, campy song by Carman called “Sunday’s on the Way.” There’s a like that says, “When problems try to bury you and make it hard to pray, it may seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way.” “Sunday” is the unknown moment that we won’t know when it comes until after we’ve passed it. In the midst of overwhelmedness, confusion, despair, fear, anger, etc., my hope isn’t in a specific outcome. My hope isn’t in a timeline. My only hope is that you are in your heaven and all is right with the world.

Father, to quote another 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 April 1, 2018 in John

 

The Last Supper & Confusion

31 Mar

Dear God, I was at a church service Thursday night (the night before Good Friday), and I got to thinking about The Last Supper. I started to think about the real-time confusion the disciples must have experienced. There were things going on that they had no way of understanding. Jesus was saying things they didn’t understand. They were assuming things would play out in one way, but things were actually on a much different course—a course for which they had no paradigm. So I’ve decided to sit down and try to make a list of everything that happened that evening (as represented in all four Gospels combined), starting with Jesus washing their feet and ending with their walk to the Garden. Here’s what I came up with:

  • Jesus washes their feet and asks if they get what He’s teaching them (John 13:4)
  • Jesus wants to eat Passover with them before his suffering begins (Luke 22:15)
  • One of you will betray me (Matthew 26:21) Jesus says he’s telling them that so that they will know, after the fact, that He is who He says He is (John 13:19)
  • Jesus labels Judas as the traitor, but “no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.” (John 13:28)
  • Jesus says He is leaving soon and they cannot follow (John 13:33)
  • Disciples are troubled because Jesus tries to comfort them: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (John 14:1)
  • They ask about the way to where Jesus is going. Jesus answers vaguely that He is the way…” (John 14:6)
  • Jesus tells them He is sending the Holy Spirit (John 14:16)
  • Jesus does some last-minute teaching about being the vine and branches (John 15:1)
  • Love one another and ignore hate for them (John 15:17-18)
  • Telling them this so they will not go astray (John 16:1)
  • Tries to explain Holy Spirit (John 16:5-16)
  • The disciples are openly confused and talking among themselves about what He means (John 16:17)
  • Jesus prays for Himself (John 17:1)
  • Jesus prays for His disciples (John 17:6)
  • Jesus prays for all believers (John 17:20)
  • Breaks bread as body and wine as blood for sins and covenant (Matthew 26:26-28)
  • Jesus will not drink wine again until in Father s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29)
  • Disciples argued about who would be greatest in Kingdom (Luke 22:24)
  • Everyone will scatter and abandon Jesus (Mark 14:27)
  • After  raised from the dead  Jesus will meet them in Galilee (Mark 14:28)
  • Get money, travel bag and a sword (Luke 22:36)
  • Peter’s denial predicted (Mark 14:30)

When I went through this exercise I either realized for the first time or remembered some interesting facts about this that I had forgotten. And they are all mainly about John’s version of the story. First, John gives us so much more about the conversation between them that night. There’s a lot of detail there. Second, John’s version of the story is five chapters long (chapters 13-17). Third, John makes zero mention of breaking the bread and pouring the wine. That part of the evening was apparently unimportant to him when compared with the other parts—and yet, as Christians of different denominations, we allow something like how we do communion divide us and count it as of the utmost importance. Are we missing something there? Has Satan used something beautiful as a way to divide us? But I digress.

The real point of all of this is to show that, even when Jesus spoke plainly to them about what was happening (e.g. pointing to Judas as His betrayer), they had no clue. They couldn’t see it. They were about to go through a horrific 72 hours and it seems that they were not prepared for it. Or were they?

Father, at the end of the day, you give us what we need to get through a crisis. It might not look the way we want it to look. It might all go bad. Things might get very dark, and we will need to find our way, moment by moment, with no light. We might be scared, confused, and overwhelmed. We might even feel like giving up. But you call us to press on in the valley of the shadow of death, fearing no evil (Psalm 23:4). And you will give us little remembrances of you and your words. So as my wife and I go through a current confusing time, and as we love some different relatives through their own uncertain times, help us to take your peace with us, embrace the confusion and overwhelmedness (is that a word?), and look forward to what we will have learned from this when it is all over.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 31, 2018 in John, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Psalms, Uncategorized

 

Psalm 133

29 Mar

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.

Psalm 133

Dear God, I ran across this Psalm this morning, and it was so nice and short I thought I would just spend some time with it. Maybe I’ll even try to evaluate it as my wife would a poem.

First, I try to imagine what David was experiencing when he wrote it. Thankfully, the text gives us a hint. Before the Psalm starts it says, “A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.” So it’s not a song ABOUT pilgrims. It’s FOR them. David loved them. He loved his fellow Israelites, and he felt a kindred brotherhood with them. He appreciated their unity. He gave them a song to sing to help encourage their camaraderie and bind their spirits together. Since it was a pilgrimage (perhaps to celebrate the Passover), perhaps it was about worshipping you and remembering what you have done for all of them. Regardless, it was the unity of spirit that touched him and he wanted to say something about it.

Harmony is repeated a couple of times. It is precious. It is refreshing. Precious as the anointing oil poured over Aaron. Harmony often has to fight out sinful nature. We have our own brilliant thoughts and when people don’t agree with us we lose that harmony. But when we can find a common cause around which to rally, it can be “wonderful” and “pleasant.” David is making sure they don’t overlook how precious this experience is because it doesn’t happen all of the time.

“Refreshing as dew.” I wonder how much dew Israel gets. It’s so dry there, does it often get humid enough / cold enough to leave dew in the mountains? Is it unique? I always think of dew as kind of messy. It messes up my shoes when I walk through wet grass. It keeps me from mowing on a cool morning. But David calls it refreshing. And he calls this unity refreshing. When is the last time I experienced unity with a group of people? Whenever I do, refreshing is a good description of how it feels. Energizing would be another word.

And over all of this, in the midst of this unity, you pronounce your blessing. You love it when we come together. You anoint it. You encourage it. You redeem us in it and remind us that the world is not about us.

Father, this psalm should probably be read at the beginning of every Christian retreat, every church service, and every holiday gathering for family. It reminds us of how tying our hearts and purposes together with others and joking together for a common goal can a beautiful experience through which you can bless us with your peace and joy.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 29, 2018 in Psalms

 
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