Days in Thy Presence

As you press onward to a new year in Christ, be intentional. Seek His will; praise His name; spread His message.

O Lord,

Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in Thy presence,
in Thy service, to Thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from Thee,

But may rely on Thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,

And give me a desire
to show forth Thy praise;
testify Thy love,
advance Thy kingdom.

~ from Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Adore Him

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:

Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You!

He IS the Light

If you worshiped with us yesterday, you’ll remember our focus was on the light of God.

Keep the thought burning--meditate on the passages; sing through the songs; continue to praise our Savior for the illumination of His glory, even in what we call our darkest times. As Stuart pointed out from Psalm 139, our ‘darkness’ is only so because we perceive it to be. In God’s presence, all is light!

What I want for Christmas...

A Christmas List

What I want for Christmas...
I’d like a CD, some clothes, a pair of shoes, maybe a book or two, and a few surprises.

More specifically,
CD of Paul and Silas’ Greatest Hits sung from a Philippian prison cell (Acts 16). What were the words? Psalms I have in my own Old Testament, perhaps? What were the tunes? Did any other prisoners know the words and join in?

Clothes: how about a Clorox-white robe washed in red blood? I want to stay clothed in Christ’s righteousness now and always (Revelation 7). There’s no garment more precious.

Shoes: some hiking boots would come in handy as we travel the mountains carrying good news of peace and happiness and salvation, saying “Our God reigns!” (Isaiah 52).

Book: Maybe a prayer book with the words Daniel prayed as he looked out his window every day, wondering if he was being spied on, but kept on praying anyway (Daniel 6)?

Surprises:
Wouldn’t it be nice to receive the PEACE that Mary felt once she committed to following through with God’s will to carry His Son in her womb (Luke 1)?

And the JOY that the shepherds felt when they heard the good news on that angel-lit night (Luke 2)?

And the LOVE that came wrapped up in a sweet baby’s face that God hand-delivers to us (Luke 2)?

That would make a very Merry Christmas indeed!

For the Heart of Central—give thanks

I’m thankful...

...for quiet servants who don’t wait on programs to organize good works, but see a need and meet it.
...for repentant hearts with authentic confessions and for compassionate hearts that actually forgive.
...for young people excited to be with each other every opportunity they can get.
...for quick fingers that type up prayer requests and announcements so the rest of us can remember to pray.
...for wise ones who diligently lead and teach our children and adults, year after year, with no desire for recognition.
...for enthusiastic voices that learn then lift heartfelt, Spirit-led, truth-filled songs of honor to our Father and encouragement to each other.
...for busy hands that cook for and clean up after preschoolers and college students and senior citizens.
...for friendly faces at the front and side doors to welcome in strangers and greet old friends.
...for organized folks who keep an older (but paid for) building clean and functioning.
...for seeking minds on college campuses wanting a fresh wash in clean blood, and for mature Christians showing them the Way.
...for the sharing of babies and caring for new mothers.
...for the muscles of young and old who set up chairs and take them down every weekend.
...for courageous families willing to live anywhere to share Jesus’ love, and for those at home who pray and pay for them to do so.

...for a million other “little” things that go unnoticed by human eyes but never escape divine ones.

Extraordinary people living out of an extraordinary Spirit.

Partners in the gospel; companions in grace; brothers and sisters in Christ.
That’s a lot to be thankful for.

Father, we offer our thanks...for keeping Your heart at the heart of Central.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
~ Philippians 1:3-5

Election Day 2008

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
~ Romans 12:12

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
~ 2 Chronicles 7:14

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
~ Proverbs 3:5,6

Who Do You See?

Thanks to Kay for agreeing to share an excerpt of her poem (read complete poem here). It came from her personal study of Jesus’ interactions with women, and how His contact with them changed their lives forever.

Who Do You See?

Who do you see, Lord
When you look at me?
What do others see?
Will I be changed? Will I be free?
What will become of me?

You saw Mary
A frightened teenage girl… with a secret
No one could believe her
She surrendered all to you… in trust
And held the Savior of the world in her arms.

You saw the bleeding woman
Suffering in physical pain… 12 long years
No one could heal her.
All she needed was to touch you… and she did.
Your power flowed and her body was healed.

You saw Martha, opening her home
She was concerned about everything being just right… a proper hostess
Everyone depended on her to take care of things
She was distracted by all she needed to do… and missed what was important
You gently reminded her not to worry, but to be with you instead.

You saw the poor widow
She had nothing to live on… except her faith.
Others secretly scoffed at her meager offering
She gave everything she had… and you noticed
You praised her above everyone else for her trust in you.

You saw the woman caught in adultery
She had no dignity left… completely terrified.
Those around stood in self-righteous judgment, ready to stone her
She couldn’t even look at you… didn’t dare to ask for anything
Your probing question dispersed the crowd and you sent her on her way, redeemed and forgiven.

Go and sin no more.

Who do you see when you look at me?
Each woman here… I am all of these.
You look at me
I am full of sorrow… so much pain and regret.
Does anyone know my guilt, my grief? You do.
If only I can rest in the comfort of your love… feel your touch.
You promise to be with me always, to the very end of the age.

Now look at me again, Father
Who do you see?
I am clothed with Christ… it’s Jesus you see!
What do others see?
A sister, a friend… very much in need.
Will I be changed? Will I be free?
What will become of me?
Let my heart be yours alone, Lord… to YOU be the glory!

by Kay Carter

Read the entire poem here

My Battle Cry

by Lisa

Last Wednesday night, the ladies’ Psalms class focused on facing enemies. Using Psalm 3 as our example, we each rewrote David’s prayer in our own words. I offer mine up for the family:

A Prayer for Central

O Lord,
       How big our enemy seems! He is attacking from around every corner. He whispers in our ears: “Your God isn’t big enough; he can’t rescue you from this mess. Not this time.”
       But you, O Lord, are our shield. No enemy ever defeats you!
       So we use our voices to cry aloud to you, and you answer us in your holiness. You have saved us before; you will save us again. We are safe in your protection.
       We need not fear, not even multitudes of enemies. For you, our very God, arise to save. You bless your people. And we thank you, Lord, that by your grace, we are your people.
       Because of Jesus' blood,
       So be it, Amen

More prayers from scripture here on defeating our enemies

Resolve to Control My Tongue

To coincide with Allen’s series on the book of James the past several weeks, here is a list of 20 resolutions from James on how to control our tongue, put together by Sinclair Ferguson.

1. I resolve to ask God for wisdom to speak out of a single-minded devotion to him. (1:5)
2. I resolve to boast only in the exultation I receive in Jesus Christ and also in the humiliation I receive for Jesus Christ. (1:9-10)
3. I resolve to set a watch over my mouth. (1:13)
4. I resolve to be constantly quick to hear and slow to speak. (1:19)
5. I resolve to learn the gospel way of speaking to both rich and poor. (2:1-4)
6. I resolve to speak in the present consciousness of my final judgment. (2:12)
7. I resolve never to stand on anyone's face with the words I employ. (2:16)
8. I resolve never to claim as reality in my life what I do not truly experience. (3:14)
9. I resolve to resist quarrelsome words as evidence of a bad heart that needs to be mortified. (4:1)
10. I resolve never to speak decided evil against another out of a heart of antagonism. (4:11)
11. I resolve never to boast in anything but what I will accomplish. (4:13)
12. I resolve to speak as one subject to the providences of God. (4:15)
13. I resolve never to grumble. The judge is at the door. (5:9)
14. I resolve never to allow anything but total integrity in everything I say. (5:12)
15. I resolve to speak to God in prayer whenever I suffer. (5:13)
16. I resolve to sing praises to God whenever I'm cheerful. (5:14)
17. I resolve to ask for the prayers of others when I'm in need. (5:14)
18. I resolve to confess it whenever I have failed. (5:15)
19. I resolve to pray with others for one another whenever I am together with them. (5:15)
20. I resolve to speak words of restoration when I see another wander. (5:19)

Building Our Own Tower of Babel

by Chloe

Sometimes as I pass through the motions of everyday life, I hear God trying to tell me something. Something big, something profound, something to which I should pay attention. Something to ponder, something to record. For what purpose? That is not always clear in the moment. It is enough to recognize the instruction and to be compelled to obey.

A few days ago I had one of these moments while driving on I-565 past the Space and Rocket Center. It was a moment where I felt that God revealed a profound truth to me ... one of those "light bulb" moments. In an instant, I saw something clearly that I had not realized before. I knew I needed to ponder it, listening for what else might be revealed. I tried to make a mental note to come back to later, when I had time. But later I could not remember, and I felt a profound sense of loss, that somehow carelessly I had discarded something very precious.

How intimately God knows our human frailties! I should not be surprised that He is patient and would simply instruct me again, in much the same way that I repeat myself over and over to my two-year old. So yesterday as I drove down I-565, I heard Him again. Then as I found myself awake in bed this morning in the wee hours, I knew it was time to ponder and write. All is provided ... a quiet house, sleeping children ... and so I meditate on what I heard in the shadow of the towering Saturn V rocket.

Your people in this time are no different than those of old. You squander precious time and resources building your own Tower of Babel. You do this INSTEAD of doing what I have instructed. I created you, I know what you need to have a good life in your time on earth: physically, mentally, spiritually. I have clearly told you what to do. But your people instead neglect the work I have designed you for and pursue your own agenda. You think your way is better than Mine. You dare to believe that you can improve upon My design! You are as stiff-necked a generation as I have ever seen! Rebellious as the Israelites, proud as the Pharisees. You stand in a time where your knowledge of history is unparalleled, yet instead of learning from it you are doomed to repeat it.

[Read the rest here...]

A handle on the inside

He was a POW in Vietnam. A kept-guest in the Hanoi Hilton for 6 torturous years.

Locked in a 5 x 6 cell, you have time to do some serious thinking about suffering and about living and about dying.

Medal of Honor winner Leo Thorsness shared some sobering thoughts in The Huntsville Times yesterday (Sept 7) about being shot down by an enemy fighter in 1967. And about his release in March 1973. And about life since then.

According to Mr. Thorsness, “If a door’s got a handle on the inside, that’s a good day.”

As believers in Christ, shouldn’t we be living with that same attitude every day? Haven’t our grubby hands turned the handle on the beautiful Door to enter the Kingdom? Ever since Peter was handed the keys, he’s left the door unlocked for all who believe in Jesus to walk right through. Can it get any better than that? Isn’t release from our self-made prisons of sin and suffering cause enough for triumphant celebration?

Mr. Thorsness described his day of release this way: “We showed no emotion at all until the airplane broke ground. Then we all let it go; it was total jubilation. I’d waited six years and then to have your freedom, all that emotion was released, it was a phenomenal experience.”

A phenomenal experience indeed. We, too, have our freedom. Total freedom. Let’s praise the Lord every day for being the Door...with a handle on the inside.

Jesus said, “I am the door.
If anyone enters by me, he will be saved
and will go in and out and find pasture.”
~ John 10:9

Did you commit?—Strolling thru the OT

It’s Day 14.

Two weeks ago many at Central took a “Walk thru the Bible” to gain a straighter timeline and a greater appreciation of God’s good purpose throughout history.

Many also made private commitments to stay in the Word daily for the next 30 days. If you’re using the workbook to guide your reading, you’ve been walking through the Pentateuch and reviewing the 77 hand signs each day to imprint the big picture into your head. Stay with it! It is time well-invested.

Are you ready? “Creation—fall—flood—nations--...”

Is this a new song?

Is this a new song?

I’ve heard it before. I’ve even sung it before, as recently as last week. So is it new?

When the valley seems so dark and deep
And the burdens hard to bear
When the storm clouds gather in the east
And it seems that no one cares

Remember you are not alone
Look closely and you’ll see
The Savior watching over you
And He’s watching over me

(more here...)

A lot can happen in a week. We collect new frustrations. New joys. New prayers. New predicaments with others. New encounters with God. So when we hear a familiar song, but we’re not the same person that we were the last time we heard it, is it new?

In one sense, yes.

Each time we gather together, we have new blessings to celebrate from living off of God’s faithfulness for the past 7 days. We have a fresh coat of blood covering our sins from yesterday. When we sing of “storm clouds” that gathered and how our Savior was “watching over me”, we remind ourselves of the new ways that He did do just that, not once upon a time, but a few hours ago. Even now. Fresh memories; fresh mercies.

And next week? He'll do it again. So we'll do it again: Sing an old song like a new song. Again and again.
~ Lisa

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
~ Psalm 40:3

My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:20-23

Pray for China

It's 8/8/08.

The number 8 is significant in Chinese history. As the world focuses its attention on the Olympics beginning at 8 p.m. tonight, may believers worldwide also focus attention on the competitions going on behind the scenes. For souls. It's significant.

This resource, "China Games and Beyond" (PDF) provides devotions and prayers for the church in China, for Chinese athletes, and for their coaches, during both the Olympic games and the Paraolympic games. Also check out "Serving China.com" for other web resources.

Let the games begin...

Who Is Calling Whom? Lessons from Narnia

“Speak your thought, Human Child,” said the Lion.

“I was wondering—I mean—could there be some mistake? Because nobody called me and Scrubb, you know. It was we who asked to come here. Scrubb said we were to call to—to Somebody—it was a name I wouldn’t know—and perhaps the Somebody would let us in. And we did, and then we found the door open.”

“You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,” said the Lion.

“Then you are Somebody, Sir?” said Jill.

“I am.”
~ from The Silver Chair, C. S. Lewis

God called Abram to swap his nationality for a new patriotism in an unknown world. God called Moses to leave Egypt for a magical land flowing with milk and honey. Jesus called his disciples to “Follow me” to places they couldn’t imagine.

What does God call me to do? You to do? For starters: He calls us to be His. To be saints—sacred ones, set apart for His use.

Then we, in turn, call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—leaving behind thoughts of earthly things and setting our minds instead on things above, in a new realm, a new kingdom.

He calls us; we call Him. We find the door open, and Somebody lets us in.

“...to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...”
~ 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
~ Colossians 3:2,3

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
~ Revelation 22:17

If we could see the difference...

Yes, the small things...

"I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers make,
and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect,
and all the consequences of those prayers down through the centuries,
we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.”

--Peter Kreeft, Professor of Philosophy, Boston College

A small thing.

He is so sick; his skin looks awful. I wish I could do something. Why am I thinking like that? He killed my family and brought me here.

His wife is good to me and I like doing things for her. His illness must sadden her. I wonder if she would listen?

They have the weirdest ideas about ‘god.’ ‘Rimmon’, they call him and ‘Hadad’. They claim he is the god of storms. He goes into that temple with the king to worship the silent, still ‘god’ made by men. Why would he listen about some other god? Why would he care about YHWH?

I dare not try and talk to him, he is too important and too busy. He talks to his king all the time about war and fighting and political things. He is too important for me to bother. Perhaps, if I tell his wife she will tell him. But what good would that do? Why would she listen to a girl, and a foreigner at that? Slaves, like children, are to be seen, not heard. And why would he listen to her anyway? She is just a woman.

Why am I even thinking like this? It is none of my concern. What is the tug I feel in my heart? What can I do anyway? Why am I having trouble sleeping – waking up thinking of him and his illness?

It would be just a small thing, just a short suggestion. I guess this will never leave me alone unless I tell her. Who knows; she may just ignore me?

What words can I use? How can I say it quickly and convincingly?
“If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.”
Where did those words come from? They are perfect! Short and to the point. Somehow, I really believe he will be cured. Where did I get that idea? Before I was brought here, I remember seeing many people with this illness but none of them were cured by the prophet. Still, I really believe my master will be cured.

She listened to me, and she told him! My very words! Well, not really my words, but words that came into my head. He told the king!

He is going!

He is back and he is cured! He looks so healthy. His skin looks better than mine – so clear and clean. My mistress is smiling like she never has before. She even smiled at me.

He is telling her about the muddy little river and about deciding to swallow his pride and walk into the water. What did he tell her? It sounded like, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” What did he say about the dirt in the mules’ packs? I couldn’t hear that.

His servants are excited and nervous. They said something about him promising to worship YHWH. Will there be two of us now?

He has called for me! I am to tell him about YHWH.

A small thing?

Really?

~ Posted by Ed Ditto

Is God on Vacation?

Last Sunday in Harvest, Alabama, they loaded god into an elaborately-decorated chariot. The short street along his route ahead was swept clean for his journey by the highest-ranking official present, Governor Bhandare of the state of Orissa in east India.

Where was he going? For a week’s visit to his old home, Auntie’s House, the old Church of Christ building a hundred yards away, remodeled several years ago into a Hindu temple before the larger temple was built in 2005.

Think of it as god’s yearly summer vacation. You go to the beach; he goes to Auntie’s House. Then when time is up, he’ll get back into the chariot for his ride back home, and in a ritual descent, enter the newer temple again.

But not without grief, for he left the wife at home during this vacation. And she’ll be none too pleased with him when he returns. She’ll shut the door in his face, and he’ll have to bribe the female gate-keepers before he can reenter their dwelling.

In the Hindu religion, this Festival of Chariots (Ratha Jatra) is wildly popular. The people celebrate in the streets, thrilled with the opportunity to glimpse their god outside of his inner sanctum. They are ecstatic as he rides past them in his chariot.

But I wasn’t there last Sunday to see his chariot go by. I was at another famous festival. A Christian one. One we gather for every Sunday.

We, too, celebrate that our God, Yahweh God, the One God, stepped out of His inner sanctum to come live in ours. We, too, are ecstatic that He journeyed away from His heavenly palace to enter our dusty streets so we could see Him.

But it’s no summer vacation for Him. He has taken up permanent residency in our hearts. His temple is our bodies. We have the pleasure of His presence every second, every day, all year round. In the Christian religion, how much more we have to celebrate!

For God “who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:24,25).

Because we are His living, breathing offspring, we know His divine being is not “like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by heart and imagination of man” (Acts 17:29).

Every day is a festival in Christ!

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD!
~ Psalm 106:48

Move the Dirt

Nine times in the history of Earth people have come back to life and then died again (ten if you count Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones). Have you ever wondered about those people?

What would I do?

Join me as I imagine.

I die, there is a funeral, a grave is filled and, like the Thief, I am in Paradise.

The Thief and I are introducing ourselves along with a man named Lazarus and a young girl who says her dad is Jairus. Suddenly, we are joined by an angel. “Ed, you are wanted back on Earth – back in your old body – alive again.”

“Who wants me?”

“Paul, Elijah, Elisha and Ezekiel.”

“No, thank you. Please tell them that I don’t want to go back. I like it here.”

Gently, from the angel, “Peter asked for you by name.”

“WOW! I am truly honored that an Apostle, Peter, would call my name, but look around at this place. Have you ever been to Earth? Please tell Peter, that I respect him greatly, but I don’t want to go back.”

The angel is gone.

The Thief, Lazarus, the girl, and I are together again. Both Lazarus and the young girl, with knowing looks, tell me “You will go.”

A strong yet gentle soft voice; “Ed, come forth!” It is the voice of the only One to whom I cannot say “No.” It is the voice of the One who, as He is asking me to do, left this place and came to the Earth (that He created). He knows exactly what He is asking. He has earned the right to ask me to come back.

“I am coming but it is scary. What happens when I fail while I am there this time? I am so safe here and so vulnerable there. I will be like I was. I will sin there. I will disobey You again. I will have to die again. I thought all that was past.”

“Yes.”

“Yes?”

“I have not changed, Ed, my grace was sufficient for before and it will be sufficient for now.”

“Tell them to move the dirt.”

“They already have.”

~ Posted by Ed Ditto

What is God singing? (and other random thoughts in the night)

It’s 3:13 a.m.
It’s dark.
And I’m wide awake.

My mind bounces. Barrion’s provoking questions from class last night continue to demand answers. Why do I study the Bible? Why don’t I study the Bible? Wish I had heard Clyde sing his solo in class last week:

“No one ever cared for me like Jesus;

There's no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.”

I sing words in my head from last night’s 6:30 medley:

“...whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You”

“...find rest my soul in God alone”
“...to find our way in the darkest night, let Your light shine on us”

Stuart changed the words on You Are My Hiding Place to better reflect the scripture: “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance. ” ~ Psalm 32:7

So God is singing over me? Surrounding me with HIS songs?

I keeping hearing voice after voice. The teens: Adam working hard for Jesus in New Orleans. Stories of Cody knowing how to paint. Serving; growing; worshiping. Memories from Long Beach, MS: Charlene Tate singing Had It Not Been the Lord—“the water would have engulfed us.”

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
~ Zephaniah 3:17

C.S. Lewis had Aslan sing Narnia into existence. But what does God’s singing voice sound like? A deep bass like James Earl Jones? Or maybe Jim Carrey (please, no)?

It’s 4:23 a.m.
Still dark.
Still awake.

Thoughts still flit. Will I ever go back to sleep? Will it rain tomorrow—oops, I mean, today? The e-mail from my sister: her friend visited Central on the 5th Sunday Family Night, and loved our singing and scripture sharing.

I hear His voice mingled amidst all these. But I’m listening for a solitary voice. And it’s not my own. It’s His. I want to hear His alone.

So just from Him, just to me, He sings me back to sleep this morning, with:

“I have called you by name, you are mine.”

~ Isaiah 43:1

He continues,

“I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
~ Isaiah 43:3

And more,

“You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you.”
~ Isaiah 43:4

There is no sweeter sound than God singing over me.

It’s 5:28 a.m.
It’s light.
And I’m at rest.

--Lisa

12 Sins We Blame on Others

Author: Ben Reaoch, on Desiring God blog

It started in the Garden. Adam said to God,

The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.
~Genesis 3:12

The first man, caught in the first sin, turns to blame his wife. And he extends the blame to God as well! He implies that he would have remained innocent if God hadn't put Eve in the garden with him.

The blame-shifting in the Garden continues today. Our proud hearts send us desperately looking for someone else to point to every time we're confronted with our own sin. There must be someone else—our spouse, sibling, parent, boss, co-worker, pastor, friend, or God, himself.

We are so desperate to justify ourselves that we become irrational. Here are 12 examples.

1) Anger I wouldn't lose my temper if my co-workers were easier to get along with, or if my kids behaved better, or if my spouse were more considerate.

2) Impatience I would be a very patient person if it weren't for traffic jams and long lines in the grocery store. If I didn't have so many things to do, and if the people around me weren't so slow, I would never become impatient!

3) Lust I would have a pure mind if there weren't so many sensual images in our culture.

4) Anxiety I wouldn't worry about the future if my life were just a little more secure—if I had more money, and no health problems.

5) Spiritual Apathy My spiritual life would be so much more vibrant and I would struggle with sin less if my small group were more encouraging, or if Sunday school were more engaging, or if the music in the worship service were more lively, or if the sermons were better.

6) Insubordination If my parents/bosses/elders were godly leaders, then I would joyfully follow them.

7) A Critical Spirit It's not my fault that the people around me are ignorant and inexperienced.

8) Bitterness If you knew what that person did to me, you would understand my bitterness. How could I forgive something like that?

9) Gluttony My wife/husband/roommate/friend is a wonderful cook! The things they make are impossible to resist.

10) Gossip It's the people around me who start the conversations. There's no way to avoid hearing what others happen to say. And when others ask me questions, I can't avoid sharing what I know.

11) Self-Pity I'll never be happy, because my marriage/family/job/ministry is so difficult.

12) Selfishness I would be more generous if we had more money.

Making excuses like this is arrogant and foolish. It's a proud way of trying to justify our actions and pacify our guilty consciences. And it keeps us from humbling ourselves before God to repent of our sins and seek his forgiveness.

Consider James 1:13-15, which leaves us with no way of escaping our own sin and guilt. We cannot blame God, for he "cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one."

Instead, we have to accept the humbling truth that "each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire." This will end the blame game, and it will send us pleading for Christ's mercy and grace.

A Prayer of Psalm 119

Lord,
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

Amen.

~ Psalm 119:129-133

Be still....in THIS unique moment

Who is God? “I AM”

Where is God? Here

When is God? Now

What is God? Love

How simple He makes it for us—I am here now. To love. To be loved. In this moment—yes, even this one.

Are we too deaf to hear? Too busy to slow down? Too apathetic to care?

“Outlandish as it may sound, the mystery of eternity is wrapped up in daily attentiveness. Communion with God is affirmed by the way we embrace this one day.” ~ Ian Stackhouse

Lord,
in THIS moment,
may we be attentive to You.
Increase our awareness that
every second with You is sacred.

The Season for Fruit

Last year was a bad year for blueberries. Right after the bushes bloomed, we experienced a hard freeze beginning April 1st with temperatures below 20 F for three nights in a row. This resulted in the complete loss of every berry on my bushes. I had to write the year off and wait. This year appears to be a bumper crop year... if it will rain at the right times.

What, pray tell, does this have to do with memorizing Scripture? Look closer at Psalm 1:3 near the middle of the verse, "...which brings forth it's fruit in season..."

There is a place and time when fruit comes, well, to fruition. It doesn't happen all the time! Yet that is exactly what I expect of my walk with God; a constantly fruitful and rewarding experience for myself.

The truth is everything has a time, including the transformation I undergo by being in His Word. I just need to abide in His Word (like the tree planted by streams of water) and patiently wait for the season for fruit. It will come.

It amazes me how a truth so profound can be so simple and so easily overlooked.

David

Did You Remember?

Is it worth my time?

Why should I memorize scripture?

See if it:

• helps you not sin (Psalm 119:11)
• gives you guidance for life (Psalm 119:105)
• provides words to fight temptation (Matthew 4:4)
• stocks up material to meditate on (Joshua 1:8)
• prompts words of blessings to others (Proverbs 25:11)
• prepares you to explain your hope (1 Peter 3:15)
• equips you to teach others (Colossians 3:16)
• on and on and on (Isaiah 55:11)

Allen has challenged the body to memorize James 1:1-8 (NIV). Here is an audio version you can listen to or download to help you along. While you’re at it, double up and memorize Psalm 1 with a few in David’s Wednesday night class. (And read Stuart's post below for extra insight into that Psalm.) For extra memory motivation and practical tips, read “An Approach to the Extended Memorization of Scripture.”

It takes time to put the Word in your heart. But it is ALWAYS worth it. Try it!

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
~ Psalm 1:1,2

The Blessed Ones - Psalm 1

“Blessed is the man …”

There they are, the very first words of the first chapter of the longest collection of writings in the most widely read, the most widely translated, and [simply put] the most important Book in the history of mankind. You know, the one clearly titled “The Book” (well at least it was in the original language).

In Psalm 1, “Blessed” would sound more familiar to our present day ears as “How Happy!” That’s pretty much at the core of our lives, isn’t it? We gravitate towards those people and activities in life in which we derive delight, joy, satisfaction, enjoyment … all those synonyms for Happiness.

How many books have been written trying to sell the “Secrets to Happiness”? 10,000? 100,000? I decided to see if I was in the ballpark by doing this search on Amazon.com. The result?

Showing 1 - 12 of 274,559 Results
Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill
The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment
Stumbling on Happiness

And on and on the list went …

With page after countless page having been dedicated to the subject, can we really expect the Psalmist to reveal something profound in 6 short verses – a mere 120 words or so?

As Mr. Nance so ably reminded us this past Wed night, God is not trying to hide His Word or His Will from us, to the contrary it should be called the “Message of the Obvious”. There are no secrets to decipher, no puzzles to solve. So what message does the Psalmist have for us?

Is Psalm 1 a blueprint to Happiness?

I think we want it to be … we want to “Stumble” upon it, as one of the books listed above so enticingly promises. Don’t we just want to be able to say the right magic words or participate in the right rituals at the right times and know for certain that Happiness would be waiting in our Inbox later that day – like the confirmation email you get after you sign up on a website? And in case that piqued your interest as it did mine, I’ll save you the trouble - yes, happiness.com is already up and running.

After some reflection, I don’t believe being such a blueprint is the intent of this Psalm, despite our desires to the contrary. We are simply being told the way things are … "I am going to describe the ones who are happy". And what do we learn about them?

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night

The law is so invasive in and pervasive throughout their lives that it directs how and where they walk, stand, sit, and meditate every day and night. Hmmm … that pretty much covers the 24-hour cycle, doesn’t it? And yet somehow, it is not a burden? It is to be delighted in?

Ok, I can hear you from the other end of the internet … “But didn’t you just finish teaching a class about how Christ came to abolish the idea of Law-keeping and to firmly establish the righteousness which comes by faith?”

Well yes, I did. The texts are numerous and very direct. Here is one concise example:

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law,
has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
~ Rom 3:21

And yet, the Apostle Paul lets us know there was a purpose for the Law to act as a tutor, to teach us the language of covenant, the A-B-C’s of a relationship with God, if you will:

So also, when we were children,
we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world.
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, …
that we might receive the full rights of sons.
~ Gal 4:3-5

Even though we have moved on to adulthood through Christ’s work, we don’t forget those fundamental principles we learned as children do we? Sin and its consequences, the Holiness of God, Sacrifice, Promise, Deliverance, and at the very core, Love:

The entire law is summed up in a single command:
"Love your neighbor as yourself."
~ Gal 5:14

And now that the time has fully come, we can understand and commune with the Law-giver in a way that was previously unknown. In a way that frees us from any burden to justify ourselves in His presence, because He has taken the curse of the Law on His shoulders. We are free to have direct, continual access to Him:

… we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place
by the blood of Jesus
~ Heb 10:19

And by faith we know that is where we want to be, where we desperately need to be … in His presence. How does Happiness flow from there? I honestly don’t know. I daresay it is Indescribable. Immeasurable even. It must be dynamic and unique to each of His children – in each of our specific circumstances and stages of life. I don’t think we have to know how it “works”, but rather:

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

We are simply called to put down deep roots with Him. Delight in Him and drink from His Spirit ... continually, with the full expectation that He is sufficient.

“Blessed is that man” indeed.

~ Posted by Stuart

How Sharp Is Your Sword?

" …Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
~ Ephesians 6:17

“I need to liven up my daily Bible reading.”

“I really have no clue on how to study the Bible; I’ve never done it.”

“How can I avoid boredom from re-reading the same stories I’ve read a million times?”

“I can’t stay awake to read the Bible.”

Can you relate to any of these? We can. We spoke them all tonight—in a class coordinated by David Nance, “Improving Your Personal Bible Study”, held on Wednesday nights this summer to address these very issues and more.

The Lord has placed us in a community of believers to learn from each other and to help each other grow. Opportunities such as these provide extra encouragement as well as new skills to nurture our individual relationships with God, and consequently with each other.

Take the first challenge to the class: commit to reading the Bible every day this quarter (now through August). Even when you don’t understand the prophecies, even when you’re in the boring genealogies, even when you’ve read it before. Read it anyway. At least a little. Every day.

“I want encouragement by seeing how excited other people are about studying.”

“There are people I don’t know, and I can get to know them in this way.”

“I imagine we’ll see that the Word is a lot bigger than we individually experience it.”

Let the Scriptures come alive to you and lead you into the very heart of God. There’s no better place to be!

"For the word of God is living and active,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
~ Hebrews 4:12

"Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts."
~ Jeremiah 15:16

Death of a Soldier: A Tribute of Honor

We lost one of our own last week...one of the good ones.

Henry Bragg sailed home early Saturday morning. But he left something behind.

A legacy of honor. It can’t be buried; it won’t be entombed. Henry’s life of integrity and value will live on in a place of highest honor in our memories.

Because he honored others, from the least to the Greatest, we return the favor to him. We join in the celebration of his victory, of the laying aside of his fighting uniform, to join his King in the homeland.

No more weariness; no more pain.

The battle is over.

Look at one tiny snapshot: of those asked to participate in his funeral service on Tuesday, to speak words or pray blessings or sing songs, there was an overwhelmingly common reply:

“It would be an honor to do so for Henry.”

Repeated so often, it doesn’t go unnoticed.

Not only was Henry a patriotic sailor from World War II, but he was a valiant warrior in the on-going battle we all fight between flesh and spirit. His greatest joy came in honoring his Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ.

As stories were shared at his funeral, this theme trumped all others. Henry knew how to glorify the Lord through his conversations with friends as well as strangers, through his defense of the Truth, and through the giving of his energy, finances, and time.

At Maple Hill Cemetery on that rainy Tuesday afternoon, the ceremonial U.S. flag covering Henry’s casket was folded, saluted, and handed to Henry’s wife, Gloria. This sentiment was expressed to her:

"On behalf of the President of the United States, a grateful nation and a proud Navy, I present this flag to you in recognition of your husband’s years of honorable and faithful service to his country."

May it be our honor to echo this same expression for our fellow comrade, Henry Bragg:

"On behalf of the family of grateful believers in the heavenly Kingdom, we recognize our brother’s years of honorable and faithful service to His God."

With amazing grace, his precious Lord took his hand. And so it is well with his soul.

He rests in peace. On the winning side. We will miss him.

~ In memory and honor of
Henry V. Bragg
December 14, 1923, to May 24, 2008