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The 23rd Psalm – “If I Stand”

17 Mar

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:1-6

Dear God, as I just read this, I was trying to separate out all of the times I’ve heard and read this in my life, and try to see the words from David’s perspective. What was he experiencing at the time? Was he at a high spot, worshipping you, or was he in a valley and trying to remind himself of your goodness? As the modern church we seem to have grasped the “valley” part and adopted it for funerals. In fact, I’m going to a funeral this afternoon and the odds are probably even that I’ll hear it read there.

It made me think about a song by Rich Mullins called “If I Stand.” He said that he wrote it for the times in his life when he was doing great and things were at a high and also for the low times.

(Chorus) If I stand, let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through. And if I can’t let me fall on the grave that first brought me to you. And if I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs. And if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home.”

Things can get awfully confusing in the moment. As a human with a small mind I so much lack perspective. And things can also turn on a dime. I can be feeling great and secure one moment and literally five minutes later be scared and confused. I think maybe one of the things this psalm tells me is that, at the deepest of levels, I can be at peace in any situation. Whether I’m in the green meadow or the valley of darkness or death, I am still you lamb and you are still my shepherd. Ultimately, as my shepherd, you’re going to do with me as you will, but that’s okay with me because you are good and even if your plan for me isn’t what I would choose, I worship you, submit to you, and trust you.

Father, help me to mean and live out what I just said. Help me to be your servant in every situation and to learn what you would have me to do in sharing this with others.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2018 in Hymns and Songs, Psalms

 

Colossians 3:12-15

16 Mar

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15

Dear God, I want to focus on these two verses: “Above all, clothe yourself in love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony…For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.”

What does it really look like to clothe myself in love? First, I can’t REALLY do it without being submitted to and in relationship with you. If I’m not with you then my heart turns selfish and dark. If I’m not examining myself, seeking out my own sin and then repenting of it, then I’m not going to have as much latitude for the sins of others.

Second, I just have to stop and have some empathy for people. The more I try to see the world from someone else’s perspective the more I am able to have compassion for their actions. The vast majority of people see themselves as good and making good decisions. For them, if they aren’t, it isn’t as much on purpose as it is a result of a brokenness in their lives. I know that’s how it seems to work for me.

Finally, there’s my own conscious decision to apply these principles. This is where I am too selective in my application of love. I still judge too much.

Father, I want to clothe myself in love. I want to be a creator of your body and not a destroyer of your body. Help me to be mindful of loving others and give me your courage and strength as I become closer to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2018 in Colossians

 

A need for repentance and vision

15 Mar

No verse

Dear God, of course, my ego has been getting in the way of my worship of you this week. And I have totally lost sight of how the Holy Spirit helped me to preach this last Sunday. I confess to you that I have wanted and sought praise for my performance on Sunday. I am sorry. I know it was the Holy Spirit, upon whose name I called to help me going into the sermon, that worked and spoke through me. If anyone in the audience heard from you on Sunday, it’s because I had the wisdom to know that I was not capable of preaching to anyone without your power. I am sorry for my insecurity and arrogance.

I was thinking this morning as I woke up about the spiritual desert in our community. There is an unchurched segment of our society that no one seems to be reaching. I hear stories of broken lives every day that will only find healing through you. Their families will only find healing through you. We need some good ideas on how to reach them. I have a couple that of like to float to some people. Help me to be discerning in this.

Father, I work on projects, both vocationally and outside of my work, that address symptoms of a fallen world, but I know that more must be done on a spiritual level. Help me to be the Christian, the man, and the human you need me to be in all areas of my life, starting at home and working my way outward from there.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 15, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

Romans 6:20-23

14 Mar

When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:20-23

Dear God, how much shame do I feel for the things I used to do and the things I still do?

On Sunday, I gave a sermon that included the sin of grumbling—especially against leadership. Then the next day I found myself really wanting to grumble about people. In fact, someone who heard the sermon asked me what kind of interactions I’ve had with someone else and I said, “Well, in the spirit of not grumbling, I’m not going to answer that.” Even that was too harsh and mean in nature, but it was truly the nicest thing I could think to say at the time and it’s still the nicest think I have to say.

Father, I must never forget that I have a long way to go before I am even close to being your holy servant. I am still a slave to so much that isn’t holy. I’m sorry. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for what you did through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Thank you for giving me a chance at making my little life on earth something that might make a difference for your Kingdom.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 14, 2018 in Romans

 

Romans 8:26-28

13 Mar

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:26-28

Dear God, my wife and I were talking about one of our children and how things keep going a different direction than we hope. My comment to her was, “Well, we are praying for her so I’m going to assume this is the path God has and things are happening the way they are supposed to happen.”

There have been times in my life where I’ve had no idea what to pray and I’ve been down to groans and just letting the Holy Spirit pray for me and put my hope in the idea that you understand. And I think you always do. Well, I know you always do.

Father, the more experience I get with you the more I am willing to absorb bad times and look beyond my current circumstances to see that there could still be a good outcome down the line—maybe not for me, but for your overall plan. So please help me to remain at peace in all situations and to pass on what I have learned from experience. Help me to also accept what others with a message from you have to teach me. Whether it is a wise friend or any other source, help me to always hear your voice when you are speaking.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 13, 2018 in Romans

 

2 Peter 1:5-7

12 Mar

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

2 Peter 1:5-7

Dear God, I’ve always thought this was a great list, but it’s hard to memorize like I can the Fruits of the Spirit. Maybe if I list it differently. How about if I say, “To build your life, add these things in this order: faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. I’m assuming by knowledge that Peter meant studying the he scripture available to them at the time which would have been what we now call the Old Testament. But did they have access to those scriptures like we do now? Were they literate as a whole?

Regardless, it is a good list for me to look at. Start with faith and then move to being moral. That seems to be a key. Plenty of people try to portray themselves as being of you, but they never decide to lay down their immorality. That’s too much to turn loose. That would mean denying themselves, taking up your cross and following you.

Father, I could probably do a journal around each of these items, but today I think I will just work on the morality angle. Help me to think about even the small ways in which I might be immoral. Forgive me and help me to embrace the simplicity of a life yielded completely to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 12, 2018 in 2 Peter

 

The Weight of Preaching

11 Mar

Dear God, how easy is it to sit in a pew and grumble about the preaching on a Sunday morning? Pretty easy. Then you try to do it.

How easy is it to grumble about customer service at a some place? Then you fail a customer at your place of business and there’s no excuse for your failure.

How easy is it to grumble about social or economic problems in our communities? Then we try to be a part of fixing them and we realize the solutions are complicated and often come at someone else’s expense.

How easy is it to judge other people about how their children behave? Then our own children make choices the disappoint us and we are humbled before you.

Judging and grumbling are a great part of our human condition. I’m preaching this morning at a small church in my town. I’m filling in while the church looks for a new pastor. I’m nervous. I’ve spent more time thinking about this 10- to 15-minute talk than I’ve spent on most of my other talks. Why am I so nervous? Because I feel the weight of this responsibility. I have people in front of me who have actually come to hear something from you. Have I heard you this week? Will my words advance your Kingdom in Fredericksburg? Will they impact a life that is sitting in the audience? Will they be as a clanging gong and accomplish nothing? Will I let you down?

Father, help me to love you with all of my heart and to love everyone in that room today. Be glorified through me. Make a difference in my life today. Start with me. And then do whatever you want through me. Holy Spirit, be my counselor. Preach to me and through me. Guide my heart in real time and use the preparation I did this week to bring Glory to the Father, to Jesus, and to yourself.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 11, 2018 in Miscellaneous

 

1 Pete 3:15-17

10 Mar

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!

1 Peter 3:15-17

Dear God, what a nice passage from Peter this is. And it seems pretty basic. Worship Christ as Lord. Be ready to explain your love for Him. Live as a good example.

I heard a woman this week make a passing reference to her broken marriage. It kind of made me wonder what happened along the way. I wonder this a lot about broken marriages. At one time, presumably, the couple was in “like,” in “infatuation,” and in “love.” But time went on. Offenses happened. Bitterness grew. Self pity took over. Then hopelessness. Now it’s just a peaceful (or maybe not so peaceful) coexistence. How many of those marriages could be saved by a little more mutual worship of Christ and living as a good example? In fact, I need to go ahead and order my favorite Christian marriage book today for the woman from this week. It really takes the idea of marriage back to how the individual is doing living for you.

Father, help me to worship you like I should, live as a good example that glorifies you, and then be ready to point others to you at any given time. You give me hope. You give me peace. You give me life. Thank you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 10, 2018 in 1 Peter

 

John 6:53,66-67

09 Mar

So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”

John 6:53,66-67

Dear God, I left our verses 54-65 because I wanted to link the subject to the verb, as it were. Jesus says some hard things here at the end of John 6, but it’s almost like he’s intentionally turning up the heat to clear off the chaff. The problem I have when I read this passage is that I’m pretty sure that, if I had come along with Jesus this far if I had been there at the time, I’m pretty sure this would have been the last straw for me. I would have been wrong, but I probably would have left.

With what was in Jesus’ future, I wonder if he was just really drilling down to see who would be with him post-resurrection after the real disillusionment of the crucifixion had happened. I recently read a book about special forces training in the army and what they put people through mentally, physically and emotionally. The trainee who made it all of the way through said (disclaimer, I don’t necessarily agree with this, but I think there’s some truth to it) that he used to think getting to the end and not quitting was about determination, but after going through it he decided that the people who didn’t make it were the ones who couldn’t make that final decision to not think for themselves and be completely subject to a superior’s orders. Those that made it, on the other hand, were willing to have individual thought completely purged from them and then have it rebuilt in the military’s image. Is that a little of what Jesus was doing here?

Father, this has always been a hard story for me. I know you loved the people who went away. I know you followed through with your plan for them as well as anyone else. But for the job at hand, perhaps you just didn’t need them. I wonder what happened to a lot of them. I guess, as for me, my hope is that you will forgive and allow for my failings.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 9, 2018 in John

 

Ephesians 2:1-10

08 Mar

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:1-10

Dear God, there is a disconnect between what I know your grace has done for me and the lack of sharing that news that I do. Why don’t I tell other people about it more? Why don’t I encourage them to make the same decisions I have and embrace your forgiveness and freedom?

Sometimes I’ve wondered if I would be bolder if I felt I had more of a story to tell. Having pretty much grown up in the church and not really gone through a BIG rebellious stage, embracing your love and grace and submitting to you was really more about experiencing your joy and peace than receiving forgiveness for a debaucherous or hedonistic life. Am I afraid that my lack of story doesn’t give me the right to speak into someone else’s life? Have you given me a different calling? Am I missing your desires for me in all of this, or am I doing what you have uniquely called me to do?

Father, at the end of the day I think I am doing a lot of things that are good, but I am still missing so much. I must do better. I must share your love more. I must be your ambassador to everyone I meet and not just those with whom I am more comfortable. Forgive me for being weak in this area and open my eyes so that I can see the opportunities for sharing your love that you bring to me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 8, 2018 in Ephesians

 
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