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Psalm 119:81-88 (Kaph)

31 Jul

Kaph

81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue,
    but I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes are straining to see your promises come true.
    When will you comfort me?
83 I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke,
    but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.
84 How long must I wait?
    When will you punish those who persecute me?
85 These arrogant people who hate your instructions
    have dug deep pits to trap me.
86 All your commands are trustworthy.
    Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause.
87 They almost finished me off,
    but I refused to abandon your commandments.
88 In your unfailing love, spare my life;
    then I can continue to obey your laws.

Psalm 119:81-88

Dear God, wow! Halfway through this psalm it shifts tone and goes from a psalm of orientation to a psalm of disorientation. Was this the plan all along. I’ve been critical of this psalmist for not having suffered, but maybe he was saving it. One of the interesting things about taking this thing slowly like this is that it helps me to notice this trend. When I’m done with this psalm in several days, one thing I’ll do is look at the biblical commentary I use to see what scholars think of this psalm.

With that said, let’s look at these verses one by one.

  • 81 I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. – There is a podcast I listen to that has an intro about making sense during confusing times. The funny thing is, I think everyone thinks their times are either the most confusing or at least particularly confusing. This came to mind because I wonder at what level this psalmist needed rescued. Was it life or death or simply a lament? Was it personal rescue or societal rescue? There are times when I am stressed and times when I am in mourning. I get anxious sometimes. And if I were in Gaza or Ukraine right now, I would be feeling the depths of needing your rescue. Father, please rescue those who call on your name, and have mercy even on those who do not. Use all of this pain to draw us closer to you in some way. Don’t let it be wasted. Make it count.
  • 82 My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? – I have certainly needed comforted. There are still pains in my life for which I need comfort. Help me to take the comfort your give me and give it to others who need comfort as well. I don’t want just comfort for me. I want to know comfort so I can give comfort. Help me to give comfort.
  • 83 I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. – I’ve felt this way before. I’m grateful to not feel it now. I’ve followed you blindly in the midst of pain but not forsaken you. But I do remember the 18-month period when I was in so much pain I didn’t pray like this. I prayed to you silently, but not really meditating on your Word like I am doing now. Thank you for carrying me through that time and teaching me as well.
  • 84 How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? – Again, how personal is this persecution for the psalmist? Is it something that a few people are persecuting him or is he in exile and persecuted as a Jew? And how does your “punishment”–even for the evil–work? Somehow, I don’t think any of us really understand that.
  • 85 These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me. – So this seems pretty personal. Isn’t it interesting that he wrote this and then published it for others to know and sing? Again, he goes back to his theme of your commands and instructions. Some obey and try to follow and some hate and ignore. Help me to be someone who not only follows, but inspires others to follow as well. I’m thinking of one man, in particular, who needs to know your instructions right now.
  • 86 All your commands are trustworthy. Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause. – Again, this is very personal. The phrase “hunt me down” is interesting. I don’t feel hunted by people right now, but I know there are others who do. God, help us all.
  • 87 They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments. – There is obviously some pain in these words. Be glorified, Father, even in this pain all of us feel.
  • 88 In your unfailing love, spare my life; then I can continue to obey your laws. – Quoting Keith Green: “Make my life a prayer to you. I want to do what you want me to. No empty words and no white lies. No token prayers. No compromise. I wanna share the light you gave through your Son you sent to save us from ourselves and our despair. It comforts me to know you’re really there.”

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 31, 2025 in Psalm 119, Psalms

 

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Joy to the World by John Piper – Advent Day 24

24 Dec

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 

1 John 3:7-8

Dear God, first, when I just sat down and saw the words “Joy to the World” for the title of this collection of daily readings, it made me think of the Keith Green song “Easter Song.” The chorus: “Joy to the world! He is risen. Halleluiah!” This is just the beginning of the bigger story. The plan is in motion. It had always been in motion, but now human eyes are starting to see it take shape. You are coming forth from Mary. The incarnation! And you will die. And you will rise again. And Satan will be destroyed along with his works.

I have to say, it doesn’t feel like he’s been destroyed yet. My wife and I cried together this morning over a sorrow in our lives. No, his works are not destroyed. They are still causing all kinds of problems. And we seem to hold onto them.

Our small town weekly paper does a page this time of year for local pastors to write something for the community. I think there were six pastor messages this year. I read them all. The one I am holding onto today is the last one. He encouraged us to have the faith of Mary. Mary accepted Gabriel’s charge. And yes, she might have had some buyer’s remorse and fear after the angel left, but she still had faith. She still pressed on. And she lived a hard life. And she suffered. She had sorrow. She had pain. A sword pierced her very soul, as Simeon predicted in Luke 2:35.

Father, I don’t understand how you defeated Satan’s plans or what that looks like from your perspective, but I do not have to understand. As I prayed with my wife this morning: I believe. Help my unbelief. I have faith. Help my lack of faith. I worship you. Help me me to worship you well and sin no more. And may it all be for the sake of your name being made hallowed, your kingdom coming to earth, and your will being done on earth as it is in heaven. You have given me more than my daily bread in terms of material needs, but give me my daily bread of emotional needs and healing. Comfort. Keep me from temptation and deliver me and those I love from Satan’s plans. Deliver us all from Satan’s plans. All glory and honor are yours, now and forever, Father.

I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 24, 2024 in 1 John, Advent 2024

 

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“So You Wanna Go Back To Egypt” by Keith Green

04 Mar

Dear God, we’ve learned nothing. I’ve learned nothing. Okay, I’ve learned a little, but just a little. I still grumble. I still complain. I’m so sorry.

But lest I skip the clever lyrics to this song, here they are:

“So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt”

So you wanna go back to Egypt
Where it’s warm and secure
Are sorry you bought the one way ticket
When you thought you were sure
You wanted to live in the land of promise
But now it’s getting so hard
Are you sorry you’re out here in the desert
Instead of your own back yard

Eating leaks and onions by the Nile
Ooh what breath for dining out in style
Ooh, my life’s on the skids
Building the pyramids

Well there’s nothing do but travel
And we sure travel a lot
‘Cause it’s hard to keep your feet from moving
When the sand gets so hot
And in the morning it’s manna hotcakes
We snack on manna all day
And we sure had a winner last night for dinner
Flaming manna souffle

Well we once complained for something new to munch
The ground opened up and had some of us for lunch
Ooh, such fire and smoke
Can’t God even take a joke? Huh? NO!

So you wanna to back to Egypt
Where your friends wait for you
You can throw a big party and tell the whole gang
Of what they said was all true
And this Moses acts like a big shot
Who does he think he is?
Well it’s true that God works lots of miracles
But Moses thinks they’re all his

Oh we’re having so much trouble even now
Why’d he get so mad about that c-c-c-cow (that golded calf)
Moses seems rather idle
He just sits around, he just sits around and writes the Bible!

Oh, Moses, put down your pen!
What? Oh no, manna again?

Oh, manna waffles
Manna burgers
Manna bagels
Fillet of manna
Manna patty
BaManna bread!

By Keith & Melody Green

Oh how I used to look down on the Israelites in the Old Testament. What was their problem? Why did they keep disobeying you? Couldn’t they see everything you had done for them? The miracles? Why did they lose their faith? Then I got old enough to recognize the exact same patterns in myself. I am certainly no better. In fact, maybe I’m worse. They were one of hundreds of thousands of Israelites. I am just one of millions of Christians, but at least I have a Bible to teach me. All they had was Moses and the edicts you gave through him.

It’s interesting how Keith and Melody Green capture the Moses resentment in this song. I was looking at Numbers 12 yesterday and reminded of how Miriam and Aaron rebelled against Moses and started by criticizing the wife he chose–presumably Zipporah. But I think there were probably other resentments too. Kind of a “Who made you the boss of me?” situation.

I don’t know where I’m going with all of this except to say that there are certainly things in my life that do not please me right now. There are aspects that I’m unhappy with. However, I feel like you are slowly growing me and stretching me to the point where I am trusting you more and more. I believe you have a destination in mind for me and those I love. I believe it will be good and part of your plan. I just don’t know the road that leads there. I might not survive until they have completed it. I might never know how it happened. That’s okay. I trust you.

I’m going to close with the chorus of a Twila Paris song called “Do I Trust You:” Do I trust you, Lord? Does the river flow? Do I trust you, Lord? Does the north wind blow? You can see my heart. You can read my mind. And you’ve got to know I would rather die than to lose my faith in the one I love. Do I trust you, Lord? Do I trust you?” Yes, Father, I trust you. Help my distrust. I believe. Help my unbelief.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2022 in Hymns and Songs, Numbers

 

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Three Easter Songs

12 Apr

“The Easter Song” by Keith Green

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing that you can be born again
Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing Christ is risen from the dead

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah

Hear the bells ringing
They’re singing that you can be healed right now
Hear the bells ringing, they’re singing
Christ, He will reveal it now

The angels, they all surround us
And they are ministering Jesus’ power
Quickly now, reach out and receive it
For this could be your glorious hour

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah, hallelujah

The angel up on the tombstone
Said He has risen, just as He said
Quickly now, go tell his disciples
That Jesus Christ is no longer dead

Joy to the world, He has risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
He’s risen, hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Songwriter: Annie Herring

https://youtu.be/muK1DPKhKJ8

“Sunday’s on the Way” by Carman

The demons were planning on having a party one night.
They had beer, Jack Daniels, and pretzels,
There was red wine, some white.
They were celebrating how they crusified Christ on that tree.
But Satan, the snake himself, wasn’t so at ease.

Well, he took his crooked finger,
And he dialed the phone by his bed,
To call an old faithful, to see if he was dead.
“Hey grave, what’s going on, did my plan fail?”
Grave just laughed and said, “The dude’s dead as nails.”

On Friday night, they crucified the Lord at calvary,
But he said, “Don’t dread, three days’ later I’ll live again, you’ll see!”
When problems try to bury you, make it hard to pray,
It may seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way!

A tranquilizer and a horror filck, couldn’t calm Satan’s fears.
So Saturday night, he calls up the grave, scared of what he’d hear.
“Hey, grave, what’s going on?”
Grave said, “Man, you done called me twice,
And I’ll tell you one-more-‘gin, boss, the Jew’s on ice.”

Satan said, “Man grave, you remember when,
Ol’ Lazarus, was in his grave.
Everything was cool then four days later… BOOM,
Ol’ Lazarus, he was raised.
Now, this Jesus, he is much more trouble
Than anyone has ever been to me,
And this man said he only gonna be dead, for three days.”

On Friday night, they crucified the Lord at calvary,
But he said, “Don’t dread, three days’ later I’ll live again, you’ll see!”
When problems try to bury you, make it hard to pray,
It may seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way!

Sunday morning Satan woke with a jump,
Ready to blow a fuse.
He was shaking from the tips of his pointy ears,
To the toes of his pointy shoes.
“Hey grave, is he alive, I don’t wanna lose my neck?”
Grave said, “Satan, you are a wreck.

Cool your jets Big D, my sting is still intact.
Jesus is dead forever, he ain’t
Never coming back.
So mellow out man, just go drink up or shoot up,
Just leave old grave alone,
And I’ll catch you la… la…
Oh no! Oh no! OH NO! OH NO!
Somebody’s messing with the stone!”

Well, the stone was rolled away,
And it ounced a time or two,
And an angel stepped inside,
And said, “I’m Gabriel, who are you?
If you’re wondering where the Lord is,
At this very hour,
I tell you he’s alive and well,
With resurection power!”

On Friday night, they crucified the Lord at calvary,
But he said, “Don’t dread, three days’ later I’ll live again, you’ll see!”
When problems try to bury you, make it hard to pray,
It may seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way!

Songwriters: Carman Licciardello

https://youtu.be/70qk6tLHht4

“He’s Alive” by Don Francisco

The gates and doors were barred and all the windows fastened down,
I spent the night in sleeplessness and rose at every sound,
Half in hopeless sorrow half in fear the day,
Would find the soldiers crashing through to drag us all away.

Then just before the sunrise I heard something at the wall,
The gate began to rattle and a voice began to call,
I hurried to the window and looked down to the street,
Expecting swords and torches and the sound of soldiers feet,

There was no one there but Mary so I went down to let her in,
John stood there beside me as she told us were she’d been,
She said they moved him in the night and none of us knows where,
The stones been rolled away and now his body isn’t there.

We both ran toward the garden then John ran on ahead,
We found the stone and the empty tomb just the way that Mary said,
But the winding sheet they wrapped him in was just an empty shell,
And how or where they’d taken him was more than I could tell.

Something strange had happened there but what I did not know,
John believed a miracle but I just turned to go,
Circumstance and speculation couldn’t lift me very high,
Cause I’d seen them crucify him and then I’d watched him die,

Back inside the house again all the guilt and anguish came,
Everything I’d promised him just added to my shame,
But at last it came to choices I denied I knew his name,
Even If he was alive it wouldn’t be the same.

But suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume,
Light that came from everywhere drove shadows from the room,
Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide,
And I fell down on my knees and clung to him and cried,

He raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes,
Love was shining out from him like sunlight from the sky,
Guilt and my confusion disappeared in sweet release,
And every fear I’d ever had just melted into peace.

He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive, He’s alive, He’s alive and I’m forgiven,
Heavens gates are open wide.
He’s alive!

Songwriters: Allen Collins / Ronnie Van Zant

Dear God, sometimes on Easter morning I like to think back on some of my go-to Easter songs. These three are very different, but they always come to mind. I know “He’s Alive is from the 70s. I’m not sure about “The Easter Song” by Keith Green. This one is either 70s or 80s. And then Carman’s “Sunday’s on the Way” is either 80s or 90s. I guess this is my tell for when I was more involved in Christian music.

Each of these songs is so different, I want to look at each one briefly this morning.

“The Easter Song”

This one is just pure celebration. Bells are ringing. The angel is telling us the news we all need to hear. Jesus is no longer dead. What’s an amazing thing for the disciples to learn. Despair to hope to victory. But their victory in Jesus was only the beginning. Now the work began. At this point, their entire lives were ahead of them and they had responsibilities. The news was great, and part of that great news is that they now had purpose. A new purpose. A purpose that all but one of them would die for. I suppose Easter is supposed to be a reminder to us (and to me) that my work is only just beginning too.

“Sunday’s on the Way”

This song is full of all of the bravado that was/is Carman. He had all kinds of songs like this. And it can be kind of fun to poke my finger in Satan’s eye, although I usually avoid doing it. I do not worship Satan. I worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But I do respect Satan and I hide behind Jesus’s blood when he’s involved. But what I think I like about this song is taking the fear of those at the time and relating it to the fear we have now: “When problems try to bury you and make it hard to pray, it might seem like Friday night, but Sunday’s on the way!” This song is a great reminder that you are still God and you are still capable of doing things I cannot even imagine. I just need to rest in you.

“He’s Alive”

Hopeless sorry. Fear. Guilt. Anguish. Shame. These are the emotions the song assigns to Peter as he struggles with the experience of losing Jesus and his actions leading up to the crucifixion. But by the end of the song–after the resurrection–it all melts into peace. You know I like that word as it relates to you and my relationship with you. In your light everything just melts into peace.

Father, as I sit outside in our town square typing this and looking at an empty church on Sunday morning because of this COVID-19 pandemic, I can’t help but consider how this particular Easter is impacting us. How it reminds us that, as one pastor put it, the church isn’t empty, but it’s deployed. How we have work to do. We can rest in the idea that while this particular day might not be our “Sunday” for this situation, but “Sunday” is on the way. And because of what Jesus did 2,000 years ago, all of our fears, guilt, and anguish can melt into peace while we worship you and work for you in faith. Help me to do all of that this Easter.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2020 in Hymns and Songs

 

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Passion Week – The Resurrection of Christ: John 20:1-10

21 Apr

The above image is from Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups by Ned Bustard. It is titled “Christ Risen” and was created by Edward Knippers.

John 20:1-10 [ESV]
And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’s head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Dear God, I’m so grateful this morning. I’ve spent the week trying to sink into the depths of this Passion. Sure, I didn’t really go all the way. I had work. I had other things that took my attention. But I can say that this is likely the most thoughtful I’ve ever been about Holy Week. And here we are.

When I woke up this morning and made my breakfast, I played four songs. “Sunday’s on the Way” by Carman, “He’s Alive” by Don Francisco, “Easter Song” by Keith Green, and then “Gotta Tell Somebody” by Don Francisco. The first three were about Easter and Jesus’s resurrection in one way or another while the fourth was about a grateful father who just had to tell somebody what Jesus did for him. It was fun and worshipful. You are alive! And you have done great things for me.

Father do I “gotta tell somebody?” Have I counted my blessings and shared your greatness and mercy with others? Do I live with the joy that you are alive? Help me to do better. Live through me. Love through me. Let you kingdom come and your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 21, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, John, Passion Week, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, Uncategorized

 

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Matthew 20:17-19

02 Apr

Matthew 20:17-19 [NLT]
17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 18 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man[a] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. 19 Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.”

Dear God, the biggest thing I think of when it comes to passages like this is that, on the rare occasions when you give us insights into the future (and they are very rare), they are more about comforting and reassuring us than they are about letting us in on the secret. In this case, the disciples didn’t have to know this information in order for it to all happen. In fact, their response to this knowledge might have gotten in the way. But the reason you NEEDED them to know was that you knew that they would need to be able to remember back to these moments and realize that this was part of the plan all along. Twenty or 30 years down the road, as Matthew thought back on this and put pen to paper, he could be assured that this was all okay.

I can’t say that I’ve gotten a lot of words of prophecy from you. One of my many one-liners is that you keep me on a need-to-know basis and I very rarely need to know. But I can almost always look back on events in my life and see your providence, even when, at the time, I felt like all was lost. I have had some trials (no worse than anyone else’s to be sure), but I can almost always look back on them after a good amount of time and see what you were doing for me, for those I love, or within me to grow me into a place where you need me to be.

Father, thank you for your patience with me. There’s a Keith and Melody Green song called “Make My Life A Prayer To You.” In it, there’s a line that says, “I want to thank you now for being patient with me. It’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me. So I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say. Lord, you’re coming again. Coming to take me away.” So to finish this prayer with the chorus of that song, “Make my life a prayer to you. I want to do what you want me to . No empty words and no white lies. No token prayers. No compromise. I want to shine the light you gave through your son you sent to save us from our self and our despair. It comforts me to know you’re really there.”

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on April 2, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, Matthew

 

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“Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green

30 Mar

“Asleep in the Light” by Keith Green

Do you see?
Do you see?
All the people sinking down?
Don’t you care?
Don’t you care?
Are you gonna let them drown?
How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done

“oh, bless me, lord!
Bless me, lord!”
You know, it’s all I ever hear!
No one aches,
No one hurts,
No one even sheds one tear
But, he cries,
He weeps,
He bleeds,
And he cares for your needs
And you just lay back,
And keep soaking it in

Oh, can’t you see such sin?!
’cause he brings people to your door,
And you turn them away
As you smile and say,
“god bless you!
Be at peace!”
And all heaven just weep,
’cause Jesus came to your door,
You left him out on the streets

Open up! open up!
And give yourself away
You see the need,
You hear the cries,
So how can you delay?!
God is calling,
And you are the one
But like Jonah, you run
He told you to speak,
But you keep holding it in

Oh, can’t you see such sin?!
The world is sleeping in the dark,
That the church just can’t fight,
’cause it’s asleep in the light!
How can you be so dead?!
When you’ve been so well famed
Jesus rose from the grave,
And you!
You can’t even get out of bed!

Oh, Jesus rose from the dead!
Come on, get out of your bed!
How can you be so numb?!
Not to care if they come
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done!
You close your eyes,
And pretend the job is done!
Don’t close your eyes,
Don’t pretend the job is done

Come away! come away!
Come away with me, my love!
Come away from this mess,
Come away with me, my love!
Come away from this mess!
Come away with me, my love!
Come away,
Come away with me my love!

Dear God, I have the honor and privilege of getting to preach tomorrow to a group of people who are very precious. So what is it that you need them to hear?

As I was working through the Presbyterian church’s prescribed liturgy for this Sunday, the Old Testament reading was out of Joshua 5, which I journaled about last Sunday to kick this week off. That’s kind of set the tone for the week. The Promised Land. They had arrived. The men got circumcised and they were expected to start supplying their own food from the land–you turned off the supply of manna. Now it was time to go and take the land.

When they first left Egypt, I would imagine that they didn’t necessarily think through what going back to the Promised Land about which Moses told them would cost them. They might have seen it as their reward for years of slavery. But that wasn’t it. This was just the next chapter for them as a people. It would be hard. They would have to devote themselves to you first. They would have to fight. They would have to struggle. That is how their people would survive and how you would eventually bless the world–through Israel as a nation. As much as their lives were not about “them” while they lived generation after generation in slavery in Egypt, their lives were still not about them. They were about you. They were about your plan.

As I sat down to pray to you this morning, I wanted to clear my head and get focused so I turned to the Christian music on my iPod. I wondered what I should listen to, and I heard a nudging for Keith Green. Eventually, I landed on this song. I think it’s perfect for what I’m talking about in the spirit of taking the Promised Land. “Asleep in the light.” Isn’t that what a lot of us are? Asleep in the light? Isn’t that what I am a lot of the time?

So what will I preach tomorrow? The message is going to be that it’s time to take the land. This particular church has been in limbo through various setbacks for too long. They are now muddled in fear and frustration. They are mired in lethargy. This might sound harsh, but it feels like it’s true. They are too concerned about what is happening within their doors and not concerned enough with what is happening in the neighborhood around them. The message will be, “God has supplied you with manna and he has given you talents, but now it is time to wean yourselves from the manna and start working for your community. It is time to start taking the land. And it starts with personal commitment (see the mass circumcision in Joshua 5:2-8). What will you do to bring commit yourselves to God and bring your talents to the table? What will you do to see that this church advances into the Promised Land and doesn’t flounder in the wilderness? When will you look around and see the world around you dying?

Father, help me to do this well.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on March 30, 2019 in Hymns and Songs, Miscellaneous, Musings and Stories, Uncategorized

 

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“Make My Life a Prayer to You”

13 Jul

“Make My Life a Prayer to You” by Melody Green

Make my life a prayer to you
I want to do what you want me to
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers. No compromise

I want to shine the light you gave
Through your son you sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair
It comforts me to know you’re really there

Well I want to thank you now for being patient with me
Oh, it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say
Oh, you’re coming again, coming to take me a way

I want to die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave to me
A love that set me free

I want to tell the world out there
you’re not some fable or fairy tale
That I’ve made up inside my head
You’re God the son. You’ve risen from the dead

Oh, I want to thank you now for being patient with me
Oh, it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me
I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say
Oh, you’re coming again, coming to take me away

I want to die and let you give
Your life to me so I might live
And share the hope you gave to me
I want to share the love that set me free

 

Dear God, this song is just great. The lyrics are really a perfect prayer.

I was lying in bed right after I woke up and I read the verse for the day from Bible Gateway (Phil 2:9-11) and, frankly, it really didn’t do anything for me. So then I started looking at YouTube to see if there was anything interesting there while I kind of killed a little time before getting out of bed. As it turned out, a live video of Keith Green playing this song came up and I watched it. I hadn’t heard this song in a long time. He introduced it by saying that his wife wrote it, and it was really something to be able to sing your wife’s song. It made me think I should probably look for opportunities to read my wife’s poetry out loud–even if it’s just for me.

So I listened intently to the words and sang along (I’ve known this song since the 80s). Like I said, it really is a perfect prayer.

Make my life a prayer to you, I want to do what you want me to

Of course. My life as a living prayer. If that were to happen at a 100% level, what would that look like?

No empty words, and no white lies

How much of my communication with others throughout the day is just empty, thoughtless words? I don’t know that white lies are a problem, but certainly empty words are.

No token prayers, no compromise

Yes. I want my prayers to be meaningful, thoughtful, and consistent. I want to live a life that is completely surrendered to you and does not look out for myself.

I want to shine the light you gave through your son you sent to save us from ourselves and our despair. It comforts me to know you’re really there

That’s what it’s all about. When people see me, they should see you and they should see something that they want in them.

Oh I want to thank you now for being patient with me. Oh, it’s so hard to see when my eyes are on me.

Yes. You are patient. You are loving. You expect a lot from me, but you know better than I do the journey I am on in discipleship. If I can turn my eyes from myself to you then I will be able to see a lot more around me.

I guess I’ll have to trust and just believe what you say. Lord, you’re coming again. Coming to take me away.

I have very little thoughts about you coming back in rapture form during my living life, but I will say that I have every confidence that you’ll be there to take my soul when my earthly time is done.

I want to die and let you give your life to me so I might live. And share the hope you gave to me. A love that set me free

Again, this is a song about just getting over myself. I can only imagine what was going through Melody Green’s mind when she wrote this, but I know it must have been a beautiful moment between the two of you.

I want to tell the world out there you’re not some fable or fairy tale that I’ve made up inside my head. You’re God the Son, you’ve risen from the dead.

I am so weak and talking about who you really are and boldly proclaiming you. But may that come as I continue to learn to make my life a prayer to you.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on July 13, 2018 in Hymns and Songs

 

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