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Galatians 1:13-17

25 Jan

You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion—how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my best to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors. But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.

Galatians 1:13-17

Dear God, this is the passage for Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest today, but it also really fits with today’s blog from Fred Smith. Since there seems to be a consistency of message here, I’m wondering if you don’t have something for me to see about breaking away from my own paradigms and seeing your reality instead of my own.

In this particular passage, Paul describes how you basically have him no choice but to break away from the religion of presuppositions of his childhood and see who you really are and what you are doing. So that brings me to the question of what errant paradigms and lenses do I use when I filter the world around me into my mind? Do I allow whether a politician has an R or a D next to their name influence how I hear what they are saying or evaluate what they are doing? Do I prejudge people regularly based on their appearance? Do I reject some good ideas because I deem them too risky or unconventional? The list could go on and on.

Father, help me to simply see what you see. Help me to interpret the world around me with your filters and not my own. Help me to do what you need me to do in any given situation, regardless of my own “wisdom.” Make my life count for your glory and the peace of others.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2018 in Galatians

 

Galatians 6:1-3

24 Jan

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

Galatians 6:1-3

Dear God, I love the end of this passage: You are not that important. That’s just something to always remember.

My wife and I talked last night about the whole idea of sharing others’ burdens and how hard that can be. She told me a story of something she had done that day to show kindness to one of our next door neighbors. I was impressed because what she did definitely would have been outside of my comfort zone. As individuals, there are times when we reach out to others, to be sure, but there are many times when our default position is to be insular and miss the needs (a.k.a. burdens) around us. I felt like her thoughtfulness really ministered to and encouraged me because it showed me a practical way of service.

Father, help me to minister to those around me when I have the chance—whether it be as an individual or with my wife. I know that reaching out is something you have for us to do because there’s a lot of joy you give us when we do. And especially show us how you would have us reach out to and love this neighbor.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2018 in Galatians

 

James 1:5-8

23 Jan

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

James 1:5-8

Dear God, there is something about James that has always seemed harsh to me, but maybe I need more harshness in my scripture. In this case, yes, I seek your counsel, but then, of course, I sometimes seek input from others. I feel like the discernment process is where your wisdom comes in.

I have a day full of meetings today. It starts at 7am and goes through to about 6:30pm. Sometimes, I am going to be making some hard decisions. Sometimes I’m going to be discerning between the counsel of others. Sometimes I’ll be leading the room and sometimes I’ll be following the leadership of someone else. This will be a good day to apply this verse and remember to literally pray more today and seek your wisdom.

Father, I just need to be more mindful of your today. Help me to be more in tune with what you are calling me to do. Fill me with your presence and peace and lead everyone today so that your glory will radiate through the work we do and our to our entire community.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 23, 2018 in James

 

Matthew 7:7-11

22 Jan

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

Matthew 7:7-11

Dear God, this has always been one of this problematic passages. It can be misinterpreted or misused. But I think the thing it does, on a macro level, is set up the parameters of our relationship with you. I would imagine the people listening to this never really saw you as their father. They probably saw you as the big God in the sky who didn’t really care about them as individuals, but who expected worship from them. But this talk set up something different. It set up a new paradigm for relationship with their God.

I guess in some ways, maybe the people then didn’t understand that they could have a personal relationship with you. I wonder how many people around me feel that way even now. I have been praying to you on a personal level for so long, I think I forget that others don’t see you like I see you. Or I forget that the idea of seeing you as being like their father is a bad thing.

So, my Father, please help me to be more sensitive to the people around me and express your love for them as individuals. Help me to be courageous and insert myself into situations that need your presence. Help me to be a catalyst for the Holy Spirit to intervene in precious lives around me. Help me to not sin in the things I fail to do.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 22, 2018 in Matthew

 

Substance Abuse

20 Jan

No verse

Dear God, I was perusing some headlines this morning when I woke up and I saw that Tom Petty died of a drug overdose. I clicked it and found a pretty good list of drugs in his system. Frankly, it made me wonder whatever happened to medical privacy. When it comes to death, is it more important that the public know that a death wasn’t homicide so they tell us everything? It seemed like an invasion of his privacy that I should be allowed to read details from his autopsy report.

I guess the reason I’m really talking about this with you now is that substance abuse seems to be impacting our society more and more. I have a lot of opinions about this, but they are largely uninformed or only partially informed so I’m not going to pray to you about them here. But I guess what I do want to pray about is healing for my world, country, state, community, friends, and family in this area. Yesterday, a coworker had to deal with a nephew who was busted for drugs at school and through it they were able to find a pretty significant dealer. I have family member whom, at a minimum, I know abuse alcohol. The clinic where I work has patients who abuse a myriad of substances. When I think about it (and I know there are plenty of Christians who abuse substances) I wonder how many of these people reject the idea of you as their God and embracing a life of submission to you, but go right ahead and try to fill that hole on their heart through the escapism of substances.

Father, show me the role you have for me to play in our community and my family. Maybe it’s just praying for people. Maybe it’s addressing it head on. Maybe it’s creating a new program at work to deal with it. I don’t know, but I do know that it’s destroying our society in too many ways to be ignored. Lord, help us.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 20, 2018 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 

Matthew 7:12

19 Jan

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Dear God, this is one of those verses that we see all day of the time, but it is hard to know the depths of what it really means or asks us to do.

I think that one misconception stems from the word “do.” “Do to others…” can be misinterpreted as acting upon someone else. But it can also be receiving from others as well. Sometimes someone else needs me to get over my pride and receive help when I am in a tough situation. They watch me struggle, try to help, and then I reject it. It would frustrate me greatly if I were in their place, trying to help in the midst of a storm and not being allowed. But there I go with my pride, rejecting help.

One of the interesting things about fundraising for a nonprofit is the idea that my livelihood and the livelihoods of my coworkers and the healthcare of our patients relies on me being willing to ask for and receive help from others. When I was younger, I had missionary friends who raised support. I used to be (and still am) a donor to them. But I swore I’d never do that myself. Well, look at me now.

Father, help me to be willing to accept the help that you send to me. If I’m praying for your solution to something, help me to embrace it when it arrives. Help me to do to that person who is trying to help me what I would want them to do to me.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 19, 2018 in Matthew

 

Philippians 2:14

17 Jan

Do everything without complaining and arguing,

Philippians 2:14

Dear God, this can be a hard one, but so powerful if done well. I’ve always admired the people that, when they die, people say about them, “She/he never had a negative thing to say about anyone.” Unfortunately, I don’t think that will be said of me when I die. I’m better about it than I used to be, but I still enjoy a little gossip or criticizing others. It feeds something in me that is insecure and wants to get the love of the person with whom I am dishing.

Then there’s the complaining. Yes, I can complain too. I don’t think I complain about my personal life as much, I can can certainly join in the griping about politics or others I know in the community. Then there are the friends who complain to me about others (and they often have legitimate complaints) and I sometimes just join them in their pity party instead of helping them find their way out.

Father, help me to live up to the words and spirit of this verse. Help me to move through my day without complaining or arguing. Help me to be an instrument of your peace. And if an argument comes my way, help me to meet it calmly and deal with it gracefully.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 17, 2018 in Philippians

 

Galatians 5:13-16

16 Jan

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Galatians 5:13-16

Dear God, letting the Holy Spirit guide my life isn’t necessarily as easy as it sounds. There are time when it is. Usually it is time when I’ve been in community with other Christians and we have been thinking and talking about you. Outside of that, I have to be pretty intentional about spending my alone time thinking about you and praying to you. Like this Daily time I get with you is pretty intentional, it is good, but if I’m not getting time in Christian community then I am missing something and not acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s place in my life like I should.

Father, help me to be intentional about spending time with you and your Holy Spirit when I am alone, help me to be intentional about bringing him into my everyday conversations, and help me to be intentional about seeking out Christian community. I cannot do my marriage, parenting, work, or friendships without you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 16, 2018 in Galatians

 

John 8:31-34

15 Jan

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.

John 8:31-34

Dear God, I don’t think people usually link “the truth will set you free” to being a slave to sin. But that’s the whole idea of Jesus’ grace. Cutting the knot of our sin and setting us free. But when I have a sin that is hidden and protected then that sin has a power over me.

Although I worship in a Catholic Church, I am not Catholic. And although I don’t believe reconciliation (a.k.a. confession) is necessary theologically, I do think there is something to be said for it psychologically. One, it forces someone to consider what exactly their sins are and name them, and, two, it helps the person articulate it and confess it to someone else.

Father, in my life, my wife’s life, and in my children’s lives, I pray against the secrets and ask that you free all of us from the different types of slavery we might have allowed ourselves to be subject to. Give us the courage to confess our sin to you and to others, and help us to turn to you as our savior and redeemer.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 15, 2018 in John

 

Appropriate Vulnerability

14 Jan

No verse

Dear God, what will you have for me today? Of what I heard yesterday at this retreat, my favorite part was when the guy telling his story mentioned the letters we all get from friends at Christmas talking about their perfect lives. As he mentioned it in a snide tone, everyone, including me, laughed. In fact, he probably got the biggest laugh of the weekend so far with that. There was truth there and we all knew it.

It left me wondering how to communicate truthfully with people while still respecting my family’s privacy. Is there a way to let my distant friends and family, those whom I don’t see but every few years, know that they are not alone? That, if nothing else, at least the Fredericksburg Willomes can relate to any struggles they might have? That we are not to be revered because of our perfection, but approached for the love and acceptance we can offer?

Father, help me to be an instrument of your peace and encouragement. Help me to be appropriately vulnerable with others. Help me to be the husband and father I need to be. And help me to be the best worshipper of you that I can.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on January 14, 2018 in Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories

 
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