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Psalm 46:1-3

10 Aug

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 
Dear God, this passage makes me think of a conversation I had at work yesterday with someone who was worried about our nuclear posturing with North Korea. I game her Luke 12:25 (who of you by worrying can add a day…). That’s what this is about. You might not save our earthly bodies, but you have our souls in the palm of your hands. 

But that doesn’t stop me from praying about the earthly things. For the person going through an ugly divorce, that all involved will be treated with justice and mercy. For the lonely person who needs companionship. For the hungry person who need food. For the addicted person who needs freedom. For the mourning person who needs comfort. 

Father, to paraphrase a Newsboys song, I don’t know where all of this is going or how it all works out, but please lead us to peace that passes understanding and meet the needs as they fall within your will. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2017 in Psalms

 

Luke 12:1-7

09 Aug

Luke 12:1-7 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 
Dear God, this passage from Bible Gateway’s verse of the day started with the last two verses. I decided to try to figure out the context and realized that Jesus’ attitudes towards the Pharisees were the subject of this talk. It was about hypocrisy. It was about fearing the right thing. “Don’t fear what they can do to you physically. Fear becoming hypocrites like them. Like yeast, their example will lead you to something that is much worse than you body dying. 

Hypocrisy. As I think about it, it’s something that children love to call out in their parents. It’s also something that Non-Christians love to call out in Christians. For children, it’s normally because the parent is trying to hold the child to a standard and the child is trying to fight back. For Non-Christians, I think a lot of it is anger over feeling judged instead of loved. 

Father, help me to love more and judge less. Help me to not get in the way of you trying to draw someone to yourself, but instead to help pave that path for someone. I have a couple of relationships specifically on my mind right now. Help me to be who you need me to be. 

I pray this in the name of Jesus, the savior I need,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 9, 2017 in Luke

 

Isaiah 33:22

07 Aug

Isaiah 33:22 For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. 
Dear God, I have a lot of friends and family in crisis right now. I was praying with my wife yesterday and the list of bot marriages in trouble and individuals who are facing something difficult just seems huge. 

So according to this, you are our judge, law giver, king, and savior. Well, I know some people who are obviously breaking your laws who are in a world of trouble, and I know some who have seemingly done nothing wrong who are facing tragedy. And then there’s me. Where am I on the scale of obedience to your law? Certainly not perfect. Where am I on the scale of facing trouble? I have areas of my life that need your rescuing and redemption, but I know many who are worse off than me. Where am I in submitting to your kingship? Much like following the law, in at least trying, but I’m certainly not perfect. 

Father, help me to keep it simple today. I have some challenges to figure out at work. Make my path straight. I have some problems within my family to address. Make my path straight. I have things I know you want me to accomplish. Make them obvious to me. And please help me to seek your kingship/lordship over my life in every way so that I might face everything in my path for your glory. 

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 7, 2017 in Isaiah, Uncategorized

 

John 16:25-28

06 Aug

John 16:25-28 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” 
Dear God, it’s interesting how routine can breed numbness. Even something like sitting down like this and intentionally journaling through scripture can become mundane. It can become an intellectual discipline, but still be void of love and worship. 
I think of this because of Jesus’ words here about asking in your His name. Well, if I’m really, in my heart, praying to you, worshipping you, and even fearing you, then my heart will be in the right place when I come to you in Jesus’ name. 
Father, help me to not lose my first love. Help me to be mindful of exactly who you are when I come to you. Help me to pray expectantly. Help me to continuously worship you in my heart, mind, body, and soul. And help me to be someone who draws others to you because the fruit of your Spirit grows out of me. 
I come to you in Jesus’ name,
Amen 

 
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Posted by on August 6, 2017 in John

 

Luke 18:31-34

05 Aug

31 Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. 32 He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. 33 They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

34 But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

 

Dear God, the line I developed back during the unemployment was, “God keeps me on a need-to-know basis, and I very rarely need to know.” It’s really true.

I don’t know where he got it, but my dad told me something 30 years ago that I always go back to. He said, “God doesn’t use prophecy so that we will know what is going to happen in the future. He usually uses it so that we can look back and know that He was in control and knew what was going to happen the whole time.” I think that holds true for this passage from Luke. Jesus told them, but they still couldn’t get their mind around it. They didn’t have the context we have now. But, at some point, they were able to look back and say, “Oh, remember when Jesus told us about this? He knew all along!”

Father, there’s a Newsboys song called “Lord (I Don’t Know).” I think I’ll close this prayer to you with their words:

“Lord, 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 August 5, 2017 in Hymns and Songs, Luke

 

Return to the Public

05 Aug

It has been almost five years since I publicly posted my prayer journals here. Simply put, my personal life got to a point where I couldn’t pray in these journals in a meaningful way and not invade the privacy of some precious family members. So I prayed privately for a while and then, for three years, I stopped the journals altogether–simply praying in a more conventional way and with my wife.

I’m now at a point where I feel like I can resume posting my prayer journals as daily devotions that others might find occasionally useful. I don’t know that I will post every day. And I don’t know that I will post every journal. But I’m back–at least for now.

Blessings to anyone who is still out there and might be interested.

John

 
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Posted by on August 5, 2017 in Uncategorized

 

Emails to God – Confronting Heresy (John 1:14-18)

13 Dec

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Dear God, why am I afraid to answer the door to a Jehovah’s Witness or Mormon? Why am I nervous about defending my theology to them when theirs is so obviously flawed? I talk about wanting to be a better evangelist, but I won’t even speak out when a heretic comes to my door. What’s up with that?

I was driving to my house the other day when I thought I spotted some Jehovah’s Witnesses about a block from my house. My first set of thoughts were, Get to the house, close the garage, close the blinds, and don’t answer the door. Pretend like I’m not home. But my next thoughts focused around the conversations I have had with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons in the past and the apologetics I have gotten into regarding defending Christianity against their heresy. Could I remember them? Should I meet the challenge at my door?

As it turned out, they never came, but I know that, if they had knocked on my door, I would not have opened it. I would have remained silent until they went away. Is that really the example I want to set for my children? Is that really what you are calling me to? Do you not want them to know the truth, and would you not want to use me to deliver it to them when given the chance?

Father, there are times when I feel so pathetic in this area. There are things about my personality that are great, and there are things that I cannot stand. This area falls into the latter. Please remind me of this moment. As I read this passage and the truth about who Jesus was, is, and is to come, help me to find my confidence and faith in it, and help me to be at peace in the knowledge that, at your core, you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are one God, and I am your servant.

 
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Posted by on December 13, 2012 in John

 

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Emails to God – Counting myself as a shepherd (Luke 2:8-20)

11 Dec

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Dear God, this was the passage on which the pastor preached on Sunday. The story of the shepherds has touched me over the last few years. There are a few things I realize now that I didn’t realize before:

  1. It is possible that the shepherds either knew or knew of Joseph and Mary. Verse 6 says, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.” While they were there. We always get this image of Mary and Joseph coming into town and Mary instantly going into labor. But that isn’t the case. And these are not people who could have afforded to stay in a motel every night. They were likely camping outside of town. They might have met the shepherds. They might have been familiar with the stable where she gave birth, and thought of it at the last minute as an option. In fact, I wonder just how many children were born in similar situations during those days.
  2. The shepherds “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…” They didn’t just show up, meet Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and then leave. They couldn’t contain their excitement over what was going on. They were pumped and they went out to “spread the word.”

The pastor made the point, which I think is a good one, that we are the shepherds in this story. The Holy Spirit has taught us about Jesus (through others and/or directly into our own souls), and we have embraced Him as our God. Now, what will we do? Will we just enjoy the view and leave, or will we “spread the word” concerning what we have learned about this Jesus, our God?

Father, I am not much of an evangelist. Part of it is apathy. Part of it is fear. Part of it is being shy. But I know that you have put people in my life over whom I have influence. They include  coworkers, volunteers, patients, friends, and family members. Help me to share your news with them. Help me to live out your power and grace in my life and to spread the word to them about what your power and grace can do for them. Help me to embrace the role of a shepherd so that others might be “amazed at what [I] said to them.”

 
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Posted by on December 11, 2012 in Luke

 

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Emails to God – “Better Days” by the Goo Goo Dolls

08 Dec

Okay, for those of you who haven’t heard the Goo Goo Dolls, don’t judge their sound by their name. They are actually a very middle-of-the-road pop group. I was listening to this song the other day and there were a couple of lines that caught my ear. They made me wonder about the spiritual significance of this song and where the leaders of this band might be in their spiritual lives. First, before I go any further, here are the lyrics along with a link to the YouTube video.

And you ask me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days
Cuz I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And desire and love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

And it’s someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And thats faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight
And somehow stop this endless fight
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better days

So take these words
And sing out loud
Cuz everyone is forgiven now
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again
Cuz tonight’s the night the world begins again

So, when I looked at the whole song’s lyrics I started to wonder if it wasn’t a Christmas song (see the first line). Well, thank goodness for Wikipedia. I looked the song up and found that it originally appeared on a Christmas album produced for Target. Who knew? It IS a Christmas song after all. In fact, I encourage anyone reading this to take a look at the Wikipedia page and see how the song has been used in different tragedies over the last 7 years.

Now for the question, how do I feel about the song and its lyrics. I want to zoom in on the second verse (the one that originally caught my ear listening on the radio). There seems to be a lot of theology here. I’ll reprint it again here:

And it’s someplace simple where we could live
And something only you can give
And that’s faith and trust and peace while we’re alive
And the one poor child that saved this world
And there’s 10 million more who probably could
If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

The second and third lines are something that I have felt for a long time. There is more to our faith than the promise of heaven. There is the idea there is something that only God can give: faith, trust, and peace while we are alive. I have friends who are struggling to find peace. Frankly, this has been a rough season for me, personally, and I have had moments of not feeling peace. But the other thing I have learned is that, in the midst of any turmoil I might experience, the only source of peace is God. So here’s my prayer:

Father, I don’t know the spiritual state of this song’s writers, but they left a message/reminder here for me. While they hope for “better days,” I don’t know that that is where my heart is focused. My focus is more on the idea of the idea that I can find peace in you, and there are so many people in the world for whom I need to pray. There are leaders of countries, mobs, terrorist organizations, armies, etc., and so many of them have influence on your world. So use my prayer and multiply it for those whom you know need it. Please guide this world. Represent yourself through your people, and influence the world through us. Influence it through our humility, servant hearts, and work. Bless our work and use it as unto yourself.

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2012 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Emails to God – Supporting My Wife Going Catholic, Part 6

05 Dec

This is the final installment in my pieces accompanying my wife’s writings about her joining the Catholic church. Here is a link to her blog so you can see what she wrote and to what I am responding.

As we wrapped up the Right of Catholic Initiation for Adults (RCIA) classes, I was kind of surprised that Megan decided to be confirmed. As she said at the end of her post about this, there were some aspects of the theology with which she still struggled. I explained in the last post why I didn’t go through confirmation, but she decided to move forward.

Frankly, it was awkward for me to know how to respond to this. When we met twenty-three years ago and married three years later, I just never imagined that we wouldn’t be members of the same church, or worship at the same church. To my surprise, the idea of worshipping separately didn’t bother her, but it really bothered me. At the same time, I could tell (as you can see in how she writes about this in her blog) that this really was important to her and God was meeting a need in her that needed to be filled. So I purposed in my heart that I would follow her as closely as I could.

The kids and I went to her confirmation, and I invited her father too. He is a wonderful man who loves her, and was glad to come. It was a lovely service that seemed to go faster than the 2+ hours that it lasted. As she said today, the kids were supportive, and the service and her experience seemed to touch our son in particular.

Now, we are in mass together nearly every Sunday. I find that I miss communion every once in a while, but other than that I enjoy worshipping there. As we both said in earlier posts, the priest is a wonderful man, and I have found the people I know there to be genuine lovers of God. For what else can I ask? I will confess, however, that if she is out of town on a Sunday morning, I have been known to visit a nice Baptist church down the street by myself. It’s comforting for me to feel that familiarity.

I hope that reading about this process has blessed at least one person out there. Of course, our journey continues and I really don’t know how it will unfold. I guess that is part of the joy in the journey.

 
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Posted by on December 5, 2012 in Supporting My Wife Going Catholic

 

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