Don't Live Under A Cloud Of Guilt
Psalm (32:1-11)
Your conscience may be invisible but it is certainly not inactive! Who hasn't been kept awake by its pleadings? With incredible regularity, an unforgiven conscience can rob us of an appetite, steal our sleep, and drive us to distraction.
The ancient songwriter David was no stranger to this maddening malady. As we shall soon discover, the longer he refused to come to terms with the enormity of his grinding guilt, the more he became physically ill and emotionally distraught. Only forgiveness can take away that grind.
As we begin to read through this song, two things catch the eye even before we get to verse one. First, we notice this is a Psalm of David. It is a song the man David was led to write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So, at the outset let's remember that the song he writes describes some situation from David's personal experience. Second, we notice this is a "maskil," a term that is unfamiliar to us. Maskil is a transliterated Hebrew word that appears before thirteen of the songs in this ancient hymnbook of the Hebrews. Most likely it is from sakal, a Hebrew verb meaning "to be prudent, circumspect, wise--to have insight;" it has to do with intelligent knowledge gained through reason. According to my English dictionary, "insight" means "the act or power to see into a situation." Putting all this together we understand that the Thirty-second Psalm is designed to give its readers wisdom and insight when dealing with certain situations.
The situation in this case is the grind that accompanies a guilt-ridden conscience. Psalm (51) should be considered along with Psalm (32). Both were written after David's adultery with Bathsheba and his attempt to cover up his sin by arranging her husband's death on the battlefield. Of the two, Psalm (51) was written first, during the anguish of guilt under which David suffered so severely. Psalm (32 ) was written after the anguish, after his forgiveness had been secured and his peace of mind restored. So, the theme of Psalm (32) could be "The Peace Following Forgiveness" and how it can be achieved. We learn right away that this song is incredibly relevant; we live in a world filled with people living under a thick cloud of guilt, a society in desperate need of forgiveness.
As you read the psalm, allow yourself to enter into the feelings of David. It is obvious that he is joyful at the outset, rejoicing in his present state of forgiveness (32:1-2). He then falls into a reflective mood as he thinks back to days past (32:3-5). Twice during this section of the song, he adds the word selah, which most scholars believe is a musical notation indicating a pause, most likely for reflection. When we come across this musical notation, it is best to pause and then read the section again, only this time more slowly and thoughtfully. The next three verses (32:6-8) look ahead to the future, directly addressing anyone who may read these words. David's conclusion (32:9-11) exhorts his readers to live in an upright manner. Here, then, is an outline of the song.
* Expression of Present Joy (32:1–2)
* Reflection on Past Sins (32:3–5)
* Reluctance to confess (32:3–4)
* Willingness to confess (32:5)
* Provision for Future Needs (32:6–8)
* Invitation (32:6)
* Protection (32:7)
* Guidance (32:8)
* Application to Every Believer (32:9–11)
* Don't be stubborn! (32:9)
* Take your choice! (32:10)
* Remain upright! (32:11)
Saturday 30 November 2013
Spiritual Problems
Psalm (119)
The Word of God holds the keys to regaining enthusiasm.
It helps to identify issues that drag us down so we can address them with wisdom from above. After all, a lack of enthusiasm isn't a problem with emotions; it's a spiritual problem that can't be corrected with a pep talk or even a happy experience.
Many well-meaning folks are seeking what I would call a "spiritual high," which is really nothing more than an emotional distraction from the pain of their aching, monotonous lives. As a result, you will find people driving miles and miles to attend nightly meetings or standing in long lines to experience some high-level delight that will send them back home on the crest of ecstasy. But all this inevitably leads to deeper emotional lows.
If we think of the spirit as needing food, the problem is often malnutrition. God's Word-His written Truth-provides the Christian with all the nutrients and true enthusiasm he or she can absorb. Coupled with the indwelling Holy Spirit's motivating power, God's Word can virtually transform a life. But the effects are not instantaneous. You can't reverse the effects of physical starvation with just one meal.
Believers need to get back to the basics! We must be willing to consume a steady diet of truth from His Book and digest the principles it contains. Pore over it. Pray over it. Read it. Study it. Memorize sections of it. Meditate upon it. Let it saturate your thinking. Use it when problems arise. Filter your decisions through it. Don't let a day pass without spending time alone with God, listening to the silent voice of His eloquent Word.
All other attempts to gain spiritual growth lead to frustration. I know; I've tried many of them. With each one my enthusiasm waned; with God's Word my enthusiasm grows. Nothing enables us to live beyond the grind of low enthusiasm like a daily application of His Word to our situation-absolutely nothing!
Psalm (119:97–100). I want to reinforce my point by considering the songwriter's words regarding the benefits of consistent scriptural input.
O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
I once came across a powerful quote by Daniel Webster that illustrates what the composer is saying here in verse 97. In the presence of Professor Sanborn of Dartmouth College, Mr. Webster laid his hand on a copy of the Scriptures as he said, "This is the Book. I have read through the entire Bible many times. I now make it a practice to go through it once a year. It is the Book of all others for lawyers as well as divines; and I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought, and of rules for his conduct. It fits man for life-it prepares him for death."
Psalm (119)
The Word of God holds the keys to regaining enthusiasm.
It helps to identify issues that drag us down so we can address them with wisdom from above. After all, a lack of enthusiasm isn't a problem with emotions; it's a spiritual problem that can't be corrected with a pep talk or even a happy experience.
Many well-meaning folks are seeking what I would call a "spiritual high," which is really nothing more than an emotional distraction from the pain of their aching, monotonous lives. As a result, you will find people driving miles and miles to attend nightly meetings or standing in long lines to experience some high-level delight that will send them back home on the crest of ecstasy. But all this inevitably leads to deeper emotional lows.
If we think of the spirit as needing food, the problem is often malnutrition. God's Word-His written Truth-provides the Christian with all the nutrients and true enthusiasm he or she can absorb. Coupled with the indwelling Holy Spirit's motivating power, God's Word can virtually transform a life. But the effects are not instantaneous. You can't reverse the effects of physical starvation with just one meal.
Believers need to get back to the basics! We must be willing to consume a steady diet of truth from His Book and digest the principles it contains. Pore over it. Pray over it. Read it. Study it. Memorize sections of it. Meditate upon it. Let it saturate your thinking. Use it when problems arise. Filter your decisions through it. Don't let a day pass without spending time alone with God, listening to the silent voice of His eloquent Word.
All other attempts to gain spiritual growth lead to frustration. I know; I've tried many of them. With each one my enthusiasm waned; with God's Word my enthusiasm grows. Nothing enables us to live beyond the grind of low enthusiasm like a daily application of His Word to our situation-absolutely nothing!
Psalm (119:97–100). I want to reinforce my point by considering the songwriter's words regarding the benefits of consistent scriptural input.
O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
I once came across a powerful quote by Daniel Webster that illustrates what the composer is saying here in verse 97. In the presence of Professor Sanborn of Dartmouth College, Mr. Webster laid his hand on a copy of the Scriptures as he said, "This is the Book. I have read through the entire Bible many times. I now make it a practice to go through it once a year. It is the Book of all others for lawyers as well as divines; and I pity the man who cannot find in it a rich supply of thought, and of rules for his conduct. It fits man for life-it prepares him for death."
There are some situations that require one to disassociate oneself from the offender.
What if a male or female was raped? Should he or she try to continue a relationship with his/her raper? No, he/she would forgive and remove himself/herself from the presence of that person.
If you had a "friend" who continually harassed you and caused you to sin, would you want to continue a relationship with that type of person? Of course not! You would forgive them and confront them regarding their behavior and try to work things out.
I think we need to use sound judgment found from reading God's Word and applying it to our lives.
Biblically, we are told to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
Ephesians(4:32). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
It's how we restore Christian fellowship. Paul gives us an example below.
II Corinthians (2:7,10-5) But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent-not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, "lest Satan should take advantage of us "; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Reverend William Bowers
What if a male or female was raped? Should he or she try to continue a relationship with his/her raper? No, he/she would forgive and remove himself/herself from the presence of that person.
If you had a "friend" who continually harassed you and caused you to sin, would you want to continue a relationship with that type of person? Of course not! You would forgive them and confront them regarding their behavior and try to work things out.
I think we need to use sound judgment found from reading God's Word and applying it to our lives.
Biblically, we are told to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
Ephesians(4:32). And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
It's how we restore Christian fellowship. Paul gives us an example below.
II Corinthians (2:7,10-5) But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent-not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, "lest Satan should take advantage of us "; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Reverend William Bowers
Sunday 24 November 2013
Losing Our Lives Following Jesus
Luke (9:23)
Can you recall Jesus's radical philosophy of being a servant to others? The basis of that statement is tucked away in His words: He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Following Christ as His disciple is a costly, unselfish decision. It calls for a radical examination of our self-centered lifestyles. Whew! That's one of those easy things to say but tough to carry out.
Let's see if I can break this down into smaller bite-sized chunks so we don't gag on it. When you look closely at Jesus's statement, a couple of things seem important. First, those who desire to follow Him closely must come to terms with self-denial. And second, this decision to give ourselves to others (taking up our cross) has to be a daily matter. That's costly stuff. Terribly expensive. If we take His words seriously, then it isn't difficult to see some questions that we must ask and answer ourselves, like: Am I serious about being a close follower of Jesus Christ? Do I think of others to such an extent that self-denial is becoming the rule rather than the exception in my life? Is my walk with Him a daily thing?
Our experiences with abandonment and unwanted change are crisis moments when we must decide whether or not to leave behind the life that is gone forever. We can only do that only if we believe in the ongoing creativity of God, who brings light and beauty to the dark chaos of our losses in life.
As pastors, we spend some time with the dying, but we spend most of our schedule with those who are quietly making their way through the ambiguity of daily life.
We see lives that are still being created. We are invited to witness 'the unfinishedness of human existence".
What is unfinished is the high drama of Jesus' next invitation and my parishioners next choice. Will this man become Peter, who drops everything to follow Jesus until he discovers that there is no longer an old life waiting for him? Or will this would-be disciple respond like the rich young ruler, who, when confronted with the cost of following Jesus, returned sadly to the life he could not leave?
Saints know what it means to lose their lives in following Jesus. They also know that they find life in losing it. The cost of their veneration is high-higher than they could ever imagined. Had they known the cost going into this deal 'as it were' with God, they would have certainly backed out.
But I as one who has had the high honor of walking alongside saints in the making, I have become convinced that Christianity is fundamentally an experience in losing the lives of our dreams in order to receive the lives Jesus died to give us.
The good news I have for you is: Jesus is your only hope. If Christians are truly willing to leave everything, either voluntarily or involuntarily, either by design or by accident, a day will come when they realise they have only Jesus. If he alone is savior, then we can find our lives only in being his disciples.
We have to abandon all hope that we can hang onto any other dream, any other relationship, any other vocation. For most of us this is asking to much. Given the choice between selling everything to blindly follow Jesus or returning sadly to our old life, we will choose the latter all the time. That is why grace often comes in severe ways. We really don't have to seek abandonment. It finds us easily enough. Usually it comes as God's uninvited angel with the announcement of "good news" that we are about to lose our lives. In one way or another most of us have met that angel. The question is, can we lean into the abandonment? Can we accept it as the savior's invitation to find our lives at long last?
We will probably spend most of life with family, friends, good health and good work. But they are not ours by rights. They are not promised to us. We may have to give them back to God at any moment. Someday we will give them back. The trick is to learn how to do that before they leave us. This allows us to spend the rest of our time enjoying them as the temporary gifts that they are.
Rev William Bowers
Luke (9:23)
Can you recall Jesus's radical philosophy of being a servant to others? The basis of that statement is tucked away in His words: He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Following Christ as His disciple is a costly, unselfish decision. It calls for a radical examination of our self-centered lifestyles. Whew! That's one of those easy things to say but tough to carry out.
Let's see if I can break this down into smaller bite-sized chunks so we don't gag on it. When you look closely at Jesus's statement, a couple of things seem important. First, those who desire to follow Him closely must come to terms with self-denial. And second, this decision to give ourselves to others (taking up our cross) has to be a daily matter. That's costly stuff. Terribly expensive. If we take His words seriously, then it isn't difficult to see some questions that we must ask and answer ourselves, like: Am I serious about being a close follower of Jesus Christ? Do I think of others to such an extent that self-denial is becoming the rule rather than the exception in my life? Is my walk with Him a daily thing?
Our experiences with abandonment and unwanted change are crisis moments when we must decide whether or not to leave behind the life that is gone forever. We can only do that only if we believe in the ongoing creativity of God, who brings light and beauty to the dark chaos of our losses in life.
As pastors, we spend some time with the dying, but we spend most of our schedule with those who are quietly making their way through the ambiguity of daily life.
We see lives that are still being created. We are invited to witness 'the unfinishedness of human existence".
What is unfinished is the high drama of Jesus' next invitation and my parishioners next choice. Will this man become Peter, who drops everything to follow Jesus until he discovers that there is no longer an old life waiting for him? Or will this would-be disciple respond like the rich young ruler, who, when confronted with the cost of following Jesus, returned sadly to the life he could not leave?
Saints know what it means to lose their lives in following Jesus. They also know that they find life in losing it. The cost of their veneration is high-higher than they could ever imagined. Had they known the cost going into this deal 'as it were' with God, they would have certainly backed out.
But I as one who has had the high honor of walking alongside saints in the making, I have become convinced that Christianity is fundamentally an experience in losing the lives of our dreams in order to receive the lives Jesus died to give us.
The good news I have for you is: Jesus is your only hope. If Christians are truly willing to leave everything, either voluntarily or involuntarily, either by design or by accident, a day will come when they realise they have only Jesus. If he alone is savior, then we can find our lives only in being his disciples.
We have to abandon all hope that we can hang onto any other dream, any other relationship, any other vocation. For most of us this is asking to much. Given the choice between selling everything to blindly follow Jesus or returning sadly to our old life, we will choose the latter all the time. That is why grace often comes in severe ways. We really don't have to seek abandonment. It finds us easily enough. Usually it comes as God's uninvited angel with the announcement of "good news" that we are about to lose our lives. In one way or another most of us have met that angel. The question is, can we lean into the abandonment? Can we accept it as the savior's invitation to find our lives at long last?
We will probably spend most of life with family, friends, good health and good work. But they are not ours by rights. They are not promised to us. We may have to give them back to God at any moment. Someday we will give them back. The trick is to learn how to do that before they leave us. This allows us to spend the rest of our time enjoying them as the temporary gifts that they are.
Rev William Bowers
Wednesday 20 November 2013
Losing Our Lives
We just keep losing things: wives, husbands, friends, children, health, the dreams and the security of the past. Nothing stays the way it was.
I have yet to meet an adult who is living the life he or she planned. Some people are thrilled about that: "Thank God life turned out so much better than I had hoped."
Seldom does a week go by, though, that I don't meet with those who are a long way from thanking God for a loss of what was cherished. Nobody wants to be abandoned.
Typically, those who consider themselves abandoned were deserted by something or someone they needed. It could be that a wife comes home to find a note on the table
: "I'm leaving you." Or an employee of twenty years walks into his bosses office to be told he is being laid off that day. Maybe a young woman who undergoes a mastectomy and wonders if she will ever stop crying. These people had counted on a spouse or a career or at least their health. One day these things are gone, and life will never again be the same.
In the course of life, we expect to suffer some necessary losses. Children grow up and leave home. A new job in a different town forces us to say goodbye to friends and family in the place we have to leave. Eventually, one aged spouse places the other in the hands of God. Some abandonments we count on, but that does not mean they are less painful.
One of the most heroic things people do is voluntarily leave their comfortable dissatisfactions with life in order to receive the new opportunity they hope is waiting around the corner.
When that happens, their experience may not be filled with the pathos (Pathos is associated with emotion, such as appealing to an audience's sympathies and imagination. One common way to convey a pathetic appeal is through a narrative or a story that communicates an abstract lesson or meaning through a concrete experience. Values, beliefs and understandings of the arguer are implied and communicated to the audience through the story) of those who are deserted, but their abandoned journey through fear and grief into the new life is no less dramatic.
However it comes, abandonment can always be embraced as the opportunity to receive a new life. A devastated widow can outlive her grief. A hurt, disappointed divorce eventually picks up the broken pieces and begins again. A lost job can become the beginning of a new vocation.
Making the choice to accept abandonment as the opportunity to discover a new life is hard. It is as great a challenge as life ever presents us. Yet is an absolute central dynamic to the Christian life.
If we are planning on spending very much time following Jesus Christ, we can count on a great deal of abandonment. He kept trying to tell that to His disciples. Matthew (16:25) "Only those who lose their lives will find them."
We have a name for this process in the church it's called 'conversion'.
The Bible is a story of men and woman, who have discovered they are not living the life they had planned. Each of them has faced significant loss. Something that they once held dear has been taken away, and that has forced them to make a frightening choice. Will they clutch at something else for their salvation? Or can they leave their hands open long enough to receive the life Jesus died to give them?
Rev William Bowers
We just keep losing things: wives, husbands, friends, children, health, the dreams and the security of the past. Nothing stays the way it was.
I have yet to meet an adult who is living the life he or she planned. Some people are thrilled about that: "Thank God life turned out so much better than I had hoped."
Seldom does a week go by, though, that I don't meet with those who are a long way from thanking God for a loss of what was cherished. Nobody wants to be abandoned.
Typically, those who consider themselves abandoned were deserted by something or someone they needed. It could be that a wife comes home to find a note on the table
: "I'm leaving you." Or an employee of twenty years walks into his bosses office to be told he is being laid off that day. Maybe a young woman who undergoes a mastectomy and wonders if she will ever stop crying. These people had counted on a spouse or a career or at least their health. One day these things are gone, and life will never again be the same.
In the course of life, we expect to suffer some necessary losses. Children grow up and leave home. A new job in a different town forces us to say goodbye to friends and family in the place we have to leave. Eventually, one aged spouse places the other in the hands of God. Some abandonments we count on, but that does not mean they are less painful.
One of the most heroic things people do is voluntarily leave their comfortable dissatisfactions with life in order to receive the new opportunity they hope is waiting around the corner.
When that happens, their experience may not be filled with the pathos (Pathos is associated with emotion, such as appealing to an audience's sympathies and imagination. One common way to convey a pathetic appeal is through a narrative or a story that communicates an abstract lesson or meaning through a concrete experience. Values, beliefs and understandings of the arguer are implied and communicated to the audience through the story) of those who are deserted, but their abandoned journey through fear and grief into the new life is no less dramatic.
However it comes, abandonment can always be embraced as the opportunity to receive a new life. A devastated widow can outlive her grief. A hurt, disappointed divorce eventually picks up the broken pieces and begins again. A lost job can become the beginning of a new vocation.
Making the choice to accept abandonment as the opportunity to discover a new life is hard. It is as great a challenge as life ever presents us. Yet is an absolute central dynamic to the Christian life.
If we are planning on spending very much time following Jesus Christ, we can count on a great deal of abandonment. He kept trying to tell that to His disciples. Matthew (16:25) "Only those who lose their lives will find them."
We have a name for this process in the church it's called 'conversion'.
The Bible is a story of men and woman, who have discovered they are not living the life they had planned. Each of them has faced significant loss. Something that they once held dear has been taken away, and that has forced them to make a frightening choice. Will they clutch at something else for their salvation? Or can they leave their hands open long enough to receive the life Jesus died to give them?
Rev William Bowers
Unity In The Body Of Christ
Ephesians (4:1-13)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians (4:4-6)
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We can be united in the purpose of serving Christ, without being uniform in all the details'. The Bible does not call for the uniformity of all believers, but rather teaches the 'unity of all believers'. The fact that others are not with us does not necessarily mean they are against us'. As growing Christians we need to clearly see what Jesus did not say, as well as what He did say". The Lord was not indicating that as long as people oppose us, they are on our side no matter what they do or believe. He was teaching that those who are involved in good works in the name of Christ are not against us but rather for us even though they may not be in complete agreement between their denomination and our denomination. It is easier to respond more appropriately if we recognise that people will sometimes be emotionally volatile. Knowing that conflict is inevitable we must have a peaceful presence. We may not be able to control the response of others, but we can determine before hand that we are going to live a 'Spirit controlled life! Emotional intelligence God calls wisdom".
Our Father, what a great privilege we have been provided by Your amazing grace, that You are making us one together with such a wide and diverse group of people! Thank You for "the mystery" now being made known to Your people, how You have drawn together Jew and Gentile all into one body, to be unified in the family over which Christ is Master and Head. We find great comfort in that because as our Master, Jesus will safeguard us, will care for us, will treat us honorably. Thank You for Your tender mercies, Your compassions that are new every morning.
We find great joy, Lord, in being a body of Your people brought together for transformation and service. We come with various colors and backgrounds and struggles and sins. We stand on a level plane at the foot of the cross. May our unity with other believers be so palpable, our fellowship so genuine, and our hearts so winsome and warm that people without Christ are irresistibly drawn to Your Son, whom we love and adore. In whose name we pray. Amen.
Do you realize how closely unity and humility are tied together? One breeds the other; neither can exist without the other. They're like Siamese twins, perpetually connected.
Personally, I have seen numerous occasions when pride won out (even though it was never called that) and harmony faded away and I mean fast.
Contrary to the stuff you might read today, the words, fight and quarrel, are not apt descriptions of the way to get ahead. They won't ultimately glorify God.
Friends are made by not fighting and by refusing to quarrel.
Commit yourself to freeing others so they can grow and discover on their own. For a change, as much as is possible, walk away from an argument rather than inviting one. Become more of a peacemaker.
Rev William Bowers
Ephesians (4:1-13)
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions. He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians (4:4-6)
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We can be united in the purpose of serving Christ, without being uniform in all the details'. The Bible does not call for the uniformity of all believers, but rather teaches the 'unity of all believers'. The fact that others are not with us does not necessarily mean they are against us'. As growing Christians we need to clearly see what Jesus did not say, as well as what He did say". The Lord was not indicating that as long as people oppose us, they are on our side no matter what they do or believe. He was teaching that those who are involved in good works in the name of Christ are not against us but rather for us even though they may not be in complete agreement between their denomination and our denomination. It is easier to respond more appropriately if we recognise that people will sometimes be emotionally volatile. Knowing that conflict is inevitable we must have a peaceful presence. We may not be able to control the response of others, but we can determine before hand that we are going to live a 'Spirit controlled life! Emotional intelligence God calls wisdom".
Our Father, what a great privilege we have been provided by Your amazing grace, that You are making us one together with such a wide and diverse group of people! Thank You for "the mystery" now being made known to Your people, how You have drawn together Jew and Gentile all into one body, to be unified in the family over which Christ is Master and Head. We find great comfort in that because as our Master, Jesus will safeguard us, will care for us, will treat us honorably. Thank You for Your tender mercies, Your compassions that are new every morning.
We find great joy, Lord, in being a body of Your people brought together for transformation and service. We come with various colors and backgrounds and struggles and sins. We stand on a level plane at the foot of the cross. May our unity with other believers be so palpable, our fellowship so genuine, and our hearts so winsome and warm that people without Christ are irresistibly drawn to Your Son, whom we love and adore. In whose name we pray. Amen.
Do you realize how closely unity and humility are tied together? One breeds the other; neither can exist without the other. They're like Siamese twins, perpetually connected.
Personally, I have seen numerous occasions when pride won out (even though it was never called that) and harmony faded away and I mean fast.
Contrary to the stuff you might read today, the words, fight and quarrel, are not apt descriptions of the way to get ahead. They won't ultimately glorify God.
Friends are made by not fighting and by refusing to quarrel.
Commit yourself to freeing others so they can grow and discover on their own. For a change, as much as is possible, walk away from an argument rather than inviting one. Become more of a peacemaker.
Rev William Bowers
Fulfillment
Ecclesiastes (3:1-4)
There is a time for everything, a time to weep and a time to laugh. Optimists tend to believe that life is mostly good; pessimists, that it's mostly bad. Life is both. And only those who embrace that truth are able to find fulfillment. Why? Because those who accept it but don't embrace it become apathetic, meeting every difficulty with a shrug and a sigh. They may survive, but they won't be successful. To succeed you must be proactive, in bad times as well as good. If you examine the lives of successful people you'll discover they always do what's right no matter how they feel, and by doing right-they end up feeling good. On the other hand, unsuccessful people tend to wait to feel good before they do what's right. As a result, they neither do what's right nor feel good. Often you won't feel like doing the right thing, but you need to do it anyway. Nelson Mandela said: 'I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one finds many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.' If you always do the right thing-despite how you feel, despite what others may say or do in response-you will be satisfied with yourself. And that, at the end of the day, will do a lot to determine whether you feel fulfilled.
Between praying for a miracle and getting one, you'll be tested, you'll grow, and you'll learn to trust God more than you ever thought possible. Plus, here's something else that's important to remember: when you share your experiences with others don't just tell how you started or where you are today; instead, tell them what God brought you through, for those are the very things they're struggling with too. Tell them how your faith was tried in the furnace of affliction before you came forth as gold. Don't leave them feeling frustrated because they claimed God's promise and haven't received it yet. Yes, there'll be times when you'll feel like your life has come to a screeching halt and you're getting nowhere. Maybe that's where you are today. If it is, please know this: God will be faithful to you. Not only will He bring you through, but like Sarah, your joy will return as you watch Him fulfill His promise to you.
There is usually a huge gap between the birth of a dream and the achievement of that dream. The question you have to ask yourself is whether it will be a fulfillment gap or a frustration gap. If it's a frustration gap you'll be miserable most of the days you're in it. And every day that you're frustrated instead of fulfilled, you lessen the odds that you'll be able to keep moving forward toward your dream. This gap between when you set out to do something and when you actually start to see significant results, 'the dip.' The dip represents the adversity you must face, the learning curve you must go through, and the hard work you must be willing to invest between conception and realisation. If the dip you are in seems to be a road without end, here are some Scriptures you need to stand on: 'Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing.' 'Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised' Hebrews (10:35-36). 'So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal' 2 Corinthians (4:18). God has promised you more than just the fulfillment of your dream; He has promised joy in each step you take toward it.
'The ideal is a picture we create of future desirable events and situations that enables us to move forward in time. The ideal does not actually exist outside our minds, nor is it achievable.' Why? Because it depends on everything being perfect. Life is, at best, messy. It's filled with surprises-both good and bad. If you need the ideal picture of your dream to come into being in order to feel fulfilled, you will never be fulfilled. That doesn't mean you should cast aside your ideal vision. It is useful for helping you to establish goals, find internal motivation, and strive for excellence. However, you also need to temper it. Where idealistic dreams expect to be realised immediately, realistic dreams make you appreciate the time it takes for them to become a reality. Where idealistic dreams do not tolerate anything less than perfection, realistic dreams leave room for you to be human and imperfect. Where idealistic dreams set you up for disappointment, realistic dreams set you up for success. The man who never made a mistake, never made anything. Indeed, the man who never made a mistake probably gets his salary from the one who does. The reason God doesn't whitewash His heroes in the Bible is to let you know that in spite of your flaws, He can use you to accomplish great things. You say, 'But am I not supposed to work on my weaknesses?' Yes, but you'll only succeed in what you're called to do by working from your God-given strengths.
Ecclesiastes (3:1-4)
There is a time for everything, a time to weep and a time to laugh. Optimists tend to believe that life is mostly good; pessimists, that it's mostly bad. Life is both. And only those who embrace that truth are able to find fulfillment. Why? Because those who accept it but don't embrace it become apathetic, meeting every difficulty with a shrug and a sigh. They may survive, but they won't be successful. To succeed you must be proactive, in bad times as well as good. If you examine the lives of successful people you'll discover they always do what's right no matter how they feel, and by doing right-they end up feeling good. On the other hand, unsuccessful people tend to wait to feel good before they do what's right. As a result, they neither do what's right nor feel good. Often you won't feel like doing the right thing, but you need to do it anyway. Nelson Mandela said: 'I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one finds many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom come responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.' If you always do the right thing-despite how you feel, despite what others may say or do in response-you will be satisfied with yourself. And that, at the end of the day, will do a lot to determine whether you feel fulfilled.
Between praying for a miracle and getting one, you'll be tested, you'll grow, and you'll learn to trust God more than you ever thought possible. Plus, here's something else that's important to remember: when you share your experiences with others don't just tell how you started or where you are today; instead, tell them what God brought you through, for those are the very things they're struggling with too. Tell them how your faith was tried in the furnace of affliction before you came forth as gold. Don't leave them feeling frustrated because they claimed God's promise and haven't received it yet. Yes, there'll be times when you'll feel like your life has come to a screeching halt and you're getting nowhere. Maybe that's where you are today. If it is, please know this: God will be faithful to you. Not only will He bring you through, but like Sarah, your joy will return as you watch Him fulfill His promise to you.
There is usually a huge gap between the birth of a dream and the achievement of that dream. The question you have to ask yourself is whether it will be a fulfillment gap or a frustration gap. If it's a frustration gap you'll be miserable most of the days you're in it. And every day that you're frustrated instead of fulfilled, you lessen the odds that you'll be able to keep moving forward toward your dream. This gap between when you set out to do something and when you actually start to see significant results, 'the dip.' The dip represents the adversity you must face, the learning curve you must go through, and the hard work you must be willing to invest between conception and realisation. If the dip you are in seems to be a road without end, here are some Scriptures you need to stand on: 'Don't be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honor you with every blessing.' 'Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised' Hebrews (10:35-36). 'So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal' 2 Corinthians (4:18). God has promised you more than just the fulfillment of your dream; He has promised joy in each step you take toward it.
'The ideal is a picture we create of future desirable events and situations that enables us to move forward in time. The ideal does not actually exist outside our minds, nor is it achievable.' Why? Because it depends on everything being perfect. Life is, at best, messy. It's filled with surprises-both good and bad. If you need the ideal picture of your dream to come into being in order to feel fulfilled, you will never be fulfilled. That doesn't mean you should cast aside your ideal vision. It is useful for helping you to establish goals, find internal motivation, and strive for excellence. However, you also need to temper it. Where idealistic dreams expect to be realised immediately, realistic dreams make you appreciate the time it takes for them to become a reality. Where idealistic dreams do not tolerate anything less than perfection, realistic dreams leave room for you to be human and imperfect. Where idealistic dreams set you up for disappointment, realistic dreams set you up for success. The man who never made a mistake, never made anything. Indeed, the man who never made a mistake probably gets his salary from the one who does. The reason God doesn't whitewash His heroes in the Bible is to let you know that in spite of your flaws, He can use you to accomplish great things. You say, 'But am I not supposed to work on my weaknesses?' Yes, but you'll only succeed in what you're called to do by working from your God-given strengths.
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Love One Another
Let us love one another 1 John (4:7).
Love is slow to suspect but quick to trust; slow to condemn but quick to justify; slow to offend but quick to defend; slow to expose but quick to shield; slow to reprimand but quick to empathies; slow to belittle but quick to appreciate; slow to demand but quick to give; slow to provoke but quick to help; slow to resent but quick to forgive. Jerry Cook talks about a church where the people make the following pledge to each other: 'I'll never knowingly say or do anything to hurt you. I'll always, in every circumstance, seek to help and support you. If you're down and I can lift you, I'll do that. If you need something and I have it, I'll share it with you. If I need to, I'll give it to you. No matter what I find out about you, no matter what happens in the future-either good or bad-my commitment to you will never change. And there's nothing you can do about it.' 1 Corinthians (13:7) says love: 'Believes all things.' When someone you care about is called into question, love says, 'That's not the kind of person they are; that's not what they meant.' 'Hopes all things.' Love sees people not just as they are, but as they can be through God's grace. And if you let Him, God will download that kind of love into your heart. 'Endures all things.' The word 'endure' is a military term. It means driving a stake into the ground. It's like saying, 'I'll stand my ground in loving you.' Today, take the love that God has given to you, and give it to others.
Let us love one another 1 John (4:7).
Love is slow to suspect but quick to trust; slow to condemn but quick to justify; slow to offend but quick to defend; slow to expose but quick to shield; slow to reprimand but quick to empathies; slow to belittle but quick to appreciate; slow to demand but quick to give; slow to provoke but quick to help; slow to resent but quick to forgive. Jerry Cook talks about a church where the people make the following pledge to each other: 'I'll never knowingly say or do anything to hurt you. I'll always, in every circumstance, seek to help and support you. If you're down and I can lift you, I'll do that. If you need something and I have it, I'll share it with you. If I need to, I'll give it to you. No matter what I find out about you, no matter what happens in the future-either good or bad-my commitment to you will never change. And there's nothing you can do about it.' 1 Corinthians (13:7) says love: 'Believes all things.' When someone you care about is called into question, love says, 'That's not the kind of person they are; that's not what they meant.' 'Hopes all things.' Love sees people not just as they are, but as they can be through God's grace. And if you let Him, God will download that kind of love into your heart. 'Endures all things.' The word 'endure' is a military term. It means driving a stake into the ground. It's like saying, 'I'll stand my ground in loving you.' Today, take the love that God has given to you, and give it to others.
Monday 18 November 2013
Philippians
Be Joyful In All Circumstances
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God will complete what He starts-including you. His work may seem unfair, it may be painful, it may involve changes that cause you to question His goodness. But He knows what is necessary. And He will do it. (1:6).
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Those who affect us the most watch out for themselves the least. They notice
our needs and reach out to help, honestly concerned about our welfare. Their least-used words are "I", "me", "my", and "mine".
They're unselfish. (2:3-4)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. God has called us to be in a spiritual growth pattern. Sometimes we're up, sometimes we're down. Sometimes we're more
victorious than other times. But the progress is a movement forward and higher. (3:13-14).
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Thoughts, positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition. That may explain why so many who are gloomy stay in that mood, and why others who are cheery and enthusiastic, continue to be so, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. (4:8).
If our joy is based on daily circumstances, we might as well ship joy to the North Pole. If our joy is dependent on our circumstances, we will not have joy, because into every life comes pain, some suffering, some displeasure, some discomfort.
It will either be to hot or to cold. We'll be to confined. We'll be lonely. We will have lost something or someone very important.
We will have had people disappoint us and break our heart. We will have had our business go through downturns. We will trust people only to find that they ripped us off when they promised they wouldn't, and on and on.
If you want your circumstances to spawn your joy, forget it! Paul said, in essence, "in spite of my imprisonment, I know people are being strengthened in faith. I want to announce the reason I have joy: I have Christ. To me living is Christ. Dying simply means I get more of Him. The source of my joy, the secret to my joy is Jesus Christ". Paul couldn't separate the reality of living and the reality of Jesus. If our joy is in Jesus, our life withstands all obstacles. If our joy is in our circumstances, we are setting ourselves up for one disappointment after another.
Rev-Minister
William Bowers
Be Joyful In All Circumstances
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God will complete what He starts-including you. His work may seem unfair, it may be painful, it may involve changes that cause you to question His goodness. But He knows what is necessary. And He will do it. (1:6).
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Those who affect us the most watch out for themselves the least. They notice
our needs and reach out to help, honestly concerned about our welfare. Their least-used words are "I", "me", "my", and "mine".
They're unselfish. (2:3-4)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. God has called us to be in a spiritual growth pattern. Sometimes we're up, sometimes we're down. Sometimes we're more
victorious than other times. But the progress is a movement forward and higher. (3:13-14).
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Thoughts, positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition. That may explain why so many who are gloomy stay in that mood, and why others who are cheery and enthusiastic, continue to be so, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. (4:8).
If our joy is based on daily circumstances, we might as well ship joy to the North Pole. If our joy is dependent on our circumstances, we will not have joy, because into every life comes pain, some suffering, some displeasure, some discomfort.
It will either be to hot or to cold. We'll be to confined. We'll be lonely. We will have lost something or someone very important.
We will have had people disappoint us and break our heart. We will have had our business go through downturns. We will trust people only to find that they ripped us off when they promised they wouldn't, and on and on.
If you want your circumstances to spawn your joy, forget it! Paul said, in essence, "in spite of my imprisonment, I know people are being strengthened in faith. I want to announce the reason I have joy: I have Christ. To me living is Christ. Dying simply means I get more of Him. The source of my joy, the secret to my joy is Jesus Christ". Paul couldn't separate the reality of living and the reality of Jesus. If our joy is in Jesus, our life withstands all obstacles. If our joy is in our circumstances, we are setting ourselves up for one disappointment after another.
Rev-Minister
William Bowers
Tuesday 12 November 2013
Spiritual Warfare
Before we can grasp what spiritual warfare is, we must acknowledge what it is not. Unfortunately, in much of the church realm today, we have not gotten a clear picture of spiritual warfare. Let me make something very clear: Spiritual warfare is not shouting, screaming or hollering. It’s not raising the volume of your voice and threatening the devil. If you really have power, you can whisper and demons will tremble. I am not saying that there is one thing wrong with passion and emotion, but none of this is spiritual warfare. "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" 2 Corinthians (4:18).
This struggle is called war because Satan and all of hell are in total rebellion to God. Spiritual warfare can manifest in many different ways. When we are tempted to participate in sin and unrighteous behavior, the fight is on. It occurs when we are wounded, hurt or disappointed by those we love or have confidence in. It’s a spiritual fight not to become bitter, angry and unforgiving. The enemy will orchestrate situations that are engineered to defeat us, and it can become a struggle to remain victorious, joyful and even saved!
Spiritual warfare can take place anywhere-at home, at work and even at church! Never forget: The devil has been known to go to church. Now, it’s important that you understand this truth: There is great spiritual warfare occurring at this very moment. You might be wondering if God is worried, and that answer would be a resounding no. God is in total control and is in no danger from Satan at all.
We are engaged in war, the stakes are enormous and our enemy is Satan. Our enemy is God’s enemy, and that enemy is Satan. In order for you to overcome an enemy, it is of utmost importance to know your foe. When you know your foe, you are on the path to certain victory.
2 Corinthians (10:4)
'The weapons we fight with demolish strongholds.' In Bible times when an attack was launched against a city, a first strategy was to bring in a battering ram, demolish the gates and defeat the inhabitants. Today you are at war with Satan! Only when you recognise that, is victory possible. And the good news is 'The weapons we fight with-have-power to demolish strongholds.' But you must 'Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians (6:11). It's not something you pick up and wear when you feel like it. And you've got to keep it on, because the enemy never lets up. He wants you to think he's equal with God. He's not! God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; He can do anything, anywhere, anytime. No question, Satan is a formidable foe, but there are limits on what he's permitted to do Job (1:12). Your mind is command central; it's where victory or defeat is decided. Paul told the Corinthians, 'I fear, lest your minds. be corrupted 2 Corinthians (11:3). Satan knows Christ's return is imminent and he's ratcheting up the opposition Revelation (12:12). The way you win the battle is through: Praise, the garment that protects you Isaiah (61:3). Abiding in Christ, your source of spiritual growth and fruitfulness John (15:8-10). God's Word, it's living-active-sharper than any two-edged sword Hebrews (4:12), and it's designed to defeat the enemy. When Satan comes against you, combat his lies with what God says.Walking in love toward others. It's impossible to be victorious when you're wrapped up in yourself.
Before we can grasp what spiritual warfare is, we must acknowledge what it is not. Unfortunately, in much of the church realm today, we have not gotten a clear picture of spiritual warfare. Let me make something very clear: Spiritual warfare is not shouting, screaming or hollering. It’s not raising the volume of your voice and threatening the devil. If you really have power, you can whisper and demons will tremble. I am not saying that there is one thing wrong with passion and emotion, but none of this is spiritual warfare. "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" 2 Corinthians (4:18).
This struggle is called war because Satan and all of hell are in total rebellion to God. Spiritual warfare can manifest in many different ways. When we are tempted to participate in sin and unrighteous behavior, the fight is on. It occurs when we are wounded, hurt or disappointed by those we love or have confidence in. It’s a spiritual fight not to become bitter, angry and unforgiving. The enemy will orchestrate situations that are engineered to defeat us, and it can become a struggle to remain victorious, joyful and even saved!
Spiritual warfare can take place anywhere-at home, at work and even at church! Never forget: The devil has been known to go to church. Now, it’s important that you understand this truth: There is great spiritual warfare occurring at this very moment. You might be wondering if God is worried, and that answer would be a resounding no. God is in total control and is in no danger from Satan at all.
We are engaged in war, the stakes are enormous and our enemy is Satan. Our enemy is God’s enemy, and that enemy is Satan. In order for you to overcome an enemy, it is of utmost importance to know your foe. When you know your foe, you are on the path to certain victory.
2 Corinthians (10:4)
'The weapons we fight with demolish strongholds.' In Bible times when an attack was launched against a city, a first strategy was to bring in a battering ram, demolish the gates and defeat the inhabitants. Today you are at war with Satan! Only when you recognise that, is victory possible. And the good news is 'The weapons we fight with-have-power to demolish strongholds.' But you must 'Put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians (6:11). It's not something you pick up and wear when you feel like it. And you've got to keep it on, because the enemy never lets up. He wants you to think he's equal with God. He's not! God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent; He can do anything, anywhere, anytime. No question, Satan is a formidable foe, but there are limits on what he's permitted to do Job (1:12). Your mind is command central; it's where victory or defeat is decided. Paul told the Corinthians, 'I fear, lest your minds. be corrupted 2 Corinthians (11:3). Satan knows Christ's return is imminent and he's ratcheting up the opposition Revelation (12:12). The way you win the battle is through: Praise, the garment that protects you Isaiah (61:3). Abiding in Christ, your source of spiritual growth and fruitfulness John (15:8-10). God's Word, it's living-active-sharper than any two-edged sword Hebrews (4:12), and it's designed to defeat the enemy. When Satan comes against you, combat his lies with what God says.Walking in love toward others. It's impossible to be victorious when you're wrapped up in yourself.
Hold On To God
Psalm (61:2)
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
We call from a Distance
We feel Lost and confused
We sometimes find ourselves at the ends of the earth-at least our earth.
From the edges and extremes of life.
Where everything seems to come to an end or be at an end.
There are times in life when we really do feel lost and confused.
We find ourselves in the boon-docks, in the Timbuktu of life and don’t know how to get home.
We call to God from what seems like a great distance.
Not sure if he hears, if the call can get through.
We’re not sure if we have drifted so far off the mainland of our faith that God is beyond the reach of our prayer signals.
We feel Alone.
There are moments, sometimes days and even weeks where all we feel is alone.
There are times when we need more than our heads can possibly tell us. We need not only the Truth, but we need love-and we need to experience that love.
In the desert of life’s circumstances there are times when we see nothing but the dust and rocks and snakes and thorns.
This is not faithlessness, it is normal.
It is the place where we begin to understand what Jesus meant when he said “Blessed are those who do not see, and yet believe.” We feel Far Away from God.
We feel without God. Even when we know his promise to never leave us or forsake us.
Yet we feel nothing but our aloneness and forsakenness.
We call out from the ends of the earth, while we imagine God in the heights of heaven.
We’re Losing it. We’re at the end of our Rope. My heart grows faint.
I am about to pass out-or I’m about to give up. The heart is the decision making center. I’m at the end of my rope - at my wit’s end.
Not only do we feel lost, alone and far from God, we’re about to fall apart.
There are times when we are so overwhelmed by sorrow, or pain, that we wonder if they will simply sweep us away. We Call out to God.
In desperation perhaps-not knowing what else to do.
For some not knowing Who He is, but not knowing what else do to either.
In confidence perhaps-knowing that this is the only thing we can do.
For some we call out confident that God hears and hopeful that he will rescue.
Whatever is our understanding, we call out to God for help.
Lead me to Solid ground. The Rock that is Higher than I.
The Rock is beyond our reach. But it is not beyond God’s ability to set us on that Rock.
God Himself is the Rock. He is higher than we are.
We acknowledge that He is above and beyond our experience. We acknowledge His power and love. He is a strong tower and defense against the onslaught of the circumstances of life. Nothing can happen that God can’t handle-even when I can’t, He is with us. We long to be in your Presence.
We know that if God would only open up his tent to us, it will be enough.
If we can’t get out of the desert, as long as God is camping with us-or rather, we with him-it will be enough. The rivers might sweep over us, and the flames lick at us, but God will be with us. If we can only get under the shelter of his wings (like chicks hiding from the heat of the sun and enemies to big for them to fight) it will be enough.
God will protect us, not from all harm, but from all that would destroy us.
God gives me also his people to help me and sustain me.
His people are our heritage-those who have gone before and those who now surround us.
When life’s circumstances blind us to God, He shows himself through His people.
The king is enthroned Forever'.
When God is king, when God’s anointed is on the throne, we are confident that we will survive. The King is ultimately Jesus.
Jesus is enthroned forever. May we find our days filled with the Kingship of Jesus.
May God’s love protect us from whatever would try to hide his love from us.
Now we can Worship! We started out desperate and hanging on to hope with our finger nails. Now that God has gotten a hold of us we can sing praise!
We know God will help us make it!
Psalm (61:2)
From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
We call from a Distance
We feel Lost and confused
We sometimes find ourselves at the ends of the earth-at least our earth.
From the edges and extremes of life.
Where everything seems to come to an end or be at an end.
There are times in life when we really do feel lost and confused.
We find ourselves in the boon-docks, in the Timbuktu of life and don’t know how to get home.
We call to God from what seems like a great distance.
Not sure if he hears, if the call can get through.
We’re not sure if we have drifted so far off the mainland of our faith that God is beyond the reach of our prayer signals.
We feel Alone.
There are moments, sometimes days and even weeks where all we feel is alone.
There are times when we need more than our heads can possibly tell us. We need not only the Truth, but we need love-and we need to experience that love.
In the desert of life’s circumstances there are times when we see nothing but the dust and rocks and snakes and thorns.
This is not faithlessness, it is normal.
It is the place where we begin to understand what Jesus meant when he said “Blessed are those who do not see, and yet believe.” We feel Far Away from God.
We feel without God. Even when we know his promise to never leave us or forsake us.
Yet we feel nothing but our aloneness and forsakenness.
We call out from the ends of the earth, while we imagine God in the heights of heaven.
We’re Losing it. We’re at the end of our Rope. My heart grows faint.
I am about to pass out-or I’m about to give up. The heart is the decision making center. I’m at the end of my rope - at my wit’s end.
Not only do we feel lost, alone and far from God, we’re about to fall apart.
There are times when we are so overwhelmed by sorrow, or pain, that we wonder if they will simply sweep us away. We Call out to God.
In desperation perhaps-not knowing what else to do.
For some not knowing Who He is, but not knowing what else do to either.
In confidence perhaps-knowing that this is the only thing we can do.
For some we call out confident that God hears and hopeful that he will rescue.
Whatever is our understanding, we call out to God for help.
Lead me to Solid ground. The Rock that is Higher than I.
The Rock is beyond our reach. But it is not beyond God’s ability to set us on that Rock.
God Himself is the Rock. He is higher than we are.
We acknowledge that He is above and beyond our experience. We acknowledge His power and love. He is a strong tower and defense against the onslaught of the circumstances of life. Nothing can happen that God can’t handle-even when I can’t, He is with us. We long to be in your Presence.
We know that if God would only open up his tent to us, it will be enough.
If we can’t get out of the desert, as long as God is camping with us-or rather, we with him-it will be enough. The rivers might sweep over us, and the flames lick at us, but God will be with us. If we can only get under the shelter of his wings (like chicks hiding from the heat of the sun and enemies to big for them to fight) it will be enough.
God will protect us, not from all harm, but from all that would destroy us.
God gives me also his people to help me and sustain me.
His people are our heritage-those who have gone before and those who now surround us.
When life’s circumstances blind us to God, He shows himself through His people.
The king is enthroned Forever'.
When God is king, when God’s anointed is on the throne, we are confident that we will survive. The King is ultimately Jesus.
Jesus is enthroned forever. May we find our days filled with the Kingship of Jesus.
May God’s love protect us from whatever would try to hide his love from us.
Now we can Worship! We started out desperate and hanging on to hope with our finger nails. Now that God has gotten a hold of us we can sing praise!
We know God will help us make it!
Thursday 7 November 2013
Worrying Won't Change The Outcome
Luke (12:29-30)
If I told you not to worry, it wouldn't help you very much. In fact, telling someone “don’t worry, be happy” is a little cliche and doesn't have any meat to really help people. It is about as helpful as putting a doggy-door in the ceiling. It only patronizes them.
Jesus gives us our key to break the bondage of anxiety, trusting in the Lord and His Kingdom.
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. If you have been a believer for very long you are familiar with these verses. This principle is found here and in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. According to our Lord, we become what we seek. So He encourages or commands His closest disciples to stop seeking and stop worrying about certain issues. His words are not a suggestion, they are imperatives. Each of us must choose to trust God for those things which are beyond our control.
Someone once said an average person’s anxiety is focused on :
40% — things that will never happen;
30% — things about the past that can’t be changed;
12% — things about criticism by others, mostly untrue;
10% — about health, which gets worse with stress; and
8% – about real problems that will be faced.
It is the Lord’s desire for us to stop grappling with the “what ifs” and allow Him to take charge and care of our daily needs. Our responsibility is to simply make a long term investment in God’s kingdom. This investment happens day by day as we continually turn our life over to Him.
The Bible always encourages us to “fear not.” Yes 365 "fear not's in the Bible, one for every day of the year'. Whenever we start to feel anxious or worried, it means we are on the path to fear. Worry is a faith killer. Before our fears manifest, we worry. The time to do battle over these issues is when worry and anxiety begins, not when they become full-blown fears. Worry is merely a gauge in your spiritual vehicle telling you that you are about to let fear rule the day.
The Bible calls us to be “casters or rollers.” Every believer is faced with burdens and cares too heavy to carry. Our call is to “give our burdens over to the Lord.” 1 Peter (5:7) Why? Because He is the only One who really cares! Others may be concerned, but only God really cares. Our job is to “cast or roll” our cares over to God.
Another translation of this verse (The Living Bible) puts it this way,
“Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”
The point is God is our only source in troubles. When we choose to worry we are carrying our own weight. The question becomes do we want to walk our issues out alone, or do we desire to be free and clear, allowing God to provide for all our needs. Before you can ask God for provisions, your personal worries and fears must be dealt with appropriately.
Have you ever been on an elevator in a high-rise building. I have never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off the ground that never sat well with me. I would worry that something would go wrong.
One day it did. The car I was riding in got stuck between floors way up in the higher floors. Some of the people in the car became frantic. They began to beat on the door hoping to get someone’s attention. Others began to yell in the hopes that their voices would get someone on the surrounding floors to come to their aid. Nobody ever heard their cries or their noises.
Then someone quietly made their way to the front of the car, opened a little door in the wall and pulled out a telephone. Immediately they were connected with someone on the outside. People didn't need to beat on the wall to get their attention. We didn't need to speak loudly in the phone to receive help. We could have whispered and they would have heard us.
“In this world, we’re going to get stuck in places where we aren't comfortable. Some people begin to beat against the walls, others cry out in dismay. But the person who trusts in the power of confident prayer knows there’s Someone on the other end who hears their call and comes to their aid.“
Luke (12:29-30)
If I told you not to worry, it wouldn't help you very much. In fact, telling someone “don’t worry, be happy” is a little cliche and doesn't have any meat to really help people. It is about as helpful as putting a doggy-door in the ceiling. It only patronizes them.
Jesus gives us our key to break the bondage of anxiety, trusting in the Lord and His Kingdom.
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. “For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. If you have been a believer for very long you are familiar with these verses. This principle is found here and in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew. According to our Lord, we become what we seek. So He encourages or commands His closest disciples to stop seeking and stop worrying about certain issues. His words are not a suggestion, they are imperatives. Each of us must choose to trust God for those things which are beyond our control.
Someone once said an average person’s anxiety is focused on :
40% — things that will never happen;
30% — things about the past that can’t be changed;
12% — things about criticism by others, mostly untrue;
10% — about health, which gets worse with stress; and
8% – about real problems that will be faced.
It is the Lord’s desire for us to stop grappling with the “what ifs” and allow Him to take charge and care of our daily needs. Our responsibility is to simply make a long term investment in God’s kingdom. This investment happens day by day as we continually turn our life over to Him.
The Bible always encourages us to “fear not.” Yes 365 "fear not's in the Bible, one for every day of the year'. Whenever we start to feel anxious or worried, it means we are on the path to fear. Worry is a faith killer. Before our fears manifest, we worry. The time to do battle over these issues is when worry and anxiety begins, not when they become full-blown fears. Worry is merely a gauge in your spiritual vehicle telling you that you are about to let fear rule the day.
The Bible calls us to be “casters or rollers.” Every believer is faced with burdens and cares too heavy to carry. Our call is to “give our burdens over to the Lord.” 1 Peter (5:7) Why? Because He is the only One who really cares! Others may be concerned, but only God really cares. Our job is to “cast or roll” our cares over to God.
Another translation of this verse (The Living Bible) puts it this way,
“Let Him have all your worries and cares, for He is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”
The point is God is our only source in troubles. When we choose to worry we are carrying our own weight. The question becomes do we want to walk our issues out alone, or do we desire to be free and clear, allowing God to provide for all our needs. Before you can ask God for provisions, your personal worries and fears must be dealt with appropriately.
Have you ever been on an elevator in a high-rise building. I have never been particularly comfortable on such elevators. There was something about riding up and down in a little box several hundred feet off the ground that never sat well with me. I would worry that something would go wrong.
One day it did. The car I was riding in got stuck between floors way up in the higher floors. Some of the people in the car became frantic. They began to beat on the door hoping to get someone’s attention. Others began to yell in the hopes that their voices would get someone on the surrounding floors to come to their aid. Nobody ever heard their cries or their noises.
Then someone quietly made their way to the front of the car, opened a little door in the wall and pulled out a telephone. Immediately they were connected with someone on the outside. People didn't need to beat on the wall to get their attention. We didn't need to speak loudly in the phone to receive help. We could have whispered and they would have heard us.
“In this world, we’re going to get stuck in places where we aren't comfortable. Some people begin to beat against the walls, others cry out in dismay. But the person who trusts in the power of confident prayer knows there’s Someone on the other end who hears their call and comes to their aid.“
Recovering From Loss
Romans (5:3-5)
I'm convinced that no one can fully recover from loss without allowing
himself or herself to feel and express sorrow completely. Yet one person’s
grieving is not another’s. I've seen some people move beyond a significant loss
in a matter of weeks, while others took many, many months. The length of a
person’s recovery says nothing about his or her spirituality. The mourning
process is just as individual and unique as a fingerprint.
While grief is part of our built-in healing process, it’s also possible for a person to so nurture and nourish grief that he or she keeps it alive like a cherished pet. In time, that individual can lose perspective, lose heart, and in many ways, die before dying.
Embracing sorrow is necessary for healing to take place. Equally important is the decision to put an end to the grief. No one can rush the grieving process, but it’s vital we enter it with the determination to stop it one day. That’s why we must seek specific ways to ensure that the healing process lingers no longer than necessary.
Having faced my own share of tragedy and sorrow over the years, I have found two perspectives to be very helpful. One is looking back at the past, and the other is looking forward to the future—in other words, healthy reflection on the hurt and deliberate expectation of the hope that certainly will come. I find that keeping a journal is the best place to do that. In fact, it’s so effective that many grief counselors prescribe journaling to their clients.
I look back by reading through the journals that I have kept over the years. This often helps me see a consistent pattern of God’s faithfulness through old trials, which gives me confidence that any new struggle I face may be just as difficult and just as temporary. As a result, I find myself enduring hurt with a lot less fear. Journaling has equipped me to grieve the inevitable heartbreaks that come, large and small, without re-opening the wounds.
I look forward by making some decisions-resolutions, if you will-as to how I'm going to use my current trials in the future .
I become disgusted with the state of affairs which compel me, daily and hourly, to think of only such trivial things. I force my thoughts to turn to another subject.
Resolving to use current struggles in a better future gives me a sense of mastery over the circumstances that would otherwise feel oppressive. Apostle Paul, drew heavily on personal experience in affirming that, because of the Holy Spirit, no trial would ever dominate him.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
I have found that resolving to take action in today’s darkness helps me claim the hope that Scripture promises as I press toward a brighter tomorrow.
People enduring a tragedy often need help getting beyond the pain. They may not have the ability to see the hope beyond the hurt. They often need the healthy perspective of loved ones. They may need someone to recount to them past times when God demonstrated His faithfulness. Furthermore, they may have to depend upon the imagination of others in order to envision a future beyond their pain. Many who hurt may not consider processing their thoughts in a journal during the healing process without someone prompting them to start.
Is there someone you know who may be carrying a giant load of sorrow on his or her shoulders?
Is there one coming upon a milestone or a significant transition in life who could use your help in gaining a healthy perspective?
Who might be standing on the threshold of a very challenging future?
Perhaps this friend or loved one hasn't thought to pause and mark the moment. With a glance at the past and a realistic look at the future, maybe you can help him or her see the hope beyond this present hurt. It could be the best gift he or she receives all year.
While grief is part of our built-in healing process, it’s also possible for a person to so nurture and nourish grief that he or she keeps it alive like a cherished pet. In time, that individual can lose perspective, lose heart, and in many ways, die before dying.
Embracing sorrow is necessary for healing to take place. Equally important is the decision to put an end to the grief. No one can rush the grieving process, but it’s vital we enter it with the determination to stop it one day. That’s why we must seek specific ways to ensure that the healing process lingers no longer than necessary.
Having faced my own share of tragedy and sorrow over the years, I have found two perspectives to be very helpful. One is looking back at the past, and the other is looking forward to the future—in other words, healthy reflection on the hurt and deliberate expectation of the hope that certainly will come. I find that keeping a journal is the best place to do that. In fact, it’s so effective that many grief counselors prescribe journaling to their clients.
I look back by reading through the journals that I have kept over the years. This often helps me see a consistent pattern of God’s faithfulness through old trials, which gives me confidence that any new struggle I face may be just as difficult and just as temporary. As a result, I find myself enduring hurt with a lot less fear. Journaling has equipped me to grieve the inevitable heartbreaks that come, large and small, without re-opening the wounds.
I look forward by making some decisions-resolutions, if you will-as to how I'm going to use my current trials in the future .
I become disgusted with the state of affairs which compel me, daily and hourly, to think of only such trivial things. I force my thoughts to turn to another subject.
Resolving to use current struggles in a better future gives me a sense of mastery over the circumstances that would otherwise feel oppressive. Apostle Paul, drew heavily on personal experience in affirming that, because of the Holy Spirit, no trial would ever dominate him.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
I have found that resolving to take action in today’s darkness helps me claim the hope that Scripture promises as I press toward a brighter tomorrow.
People enduring a tragedy often need help getting beyond the pain. They may not have the ability to see the hope beyond the hurt. They often need the healthy perspective of loved ones. They may need someone to recount to them past times when God demonstrated His faithfulness. Furthermore, they may have to depend upon the imagination of others in order to envision a future beyond their pain. Many who hurt may not consider processing their thoughts in a journal during the healing process without someone prompting them to start.
Is there someone you know who may be carrying a giant load of sorrow on his or her shoulders?
Is there one coming upon a milestone or a significant transition in life who could use your help in gaining a healthy perspective?
Who might be standing on the threshold of a very challenging future?
Perhaps this friend or loved one hasn't thought to pause and mark the moment. With a glance at the past and a realistic look at the future, maybe you can help him or her see the hope beyond this present hurt. It could be the best gift he or she receives all year.
Wednesday 6 November 2013
Faithfulness In Riding Out the Storms
Luke (8:22-25)
Riding out the storm is a lonely experience. You will never be more alone emotionally than when you are in the whirlwind of consequences. You will wish others could help you, but they can't. They will want to be there, they will care, but for the most part, you have to ride out the storm alone.
Riding out the storm, thank God, is also a temporary experience. It may be the most difficult time in your life. You will be enduring your own whirlwind. On the other hand, you may be the innocent bystander caught in the consequential backwash of another's sin. You'll feel desperately alone, and it may seem that it will never, ever end. But believe me, the whirlwind is a temporary experience. Your faithful, caring Lord will see you through it.
Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them,
Someone once said whether we like it or not, storms do three things for us: Storms educate, enlarge, and expose us. I am referring to both physical and/or spiritual storms. Think about the storms you personally have been through in life. Think about the people and communities which have just endured stormy wrath. Their recovery is still on-going.
Storms Educate Us.
We are reminded every time a major hurricane hits our shores that the ecological system near the shoreline is fragile. In addition, no matter how well built the houses along the shore are constructed, they can be destroyed in moments. The coastal areas are vulnerable to any storm, even small ones.
Every storm we face should re-educate us on how vulnerable we are and how much we need each other and the Lord. Unfortunately, these lessons are short-lived. Years without storms create complacency and self-delusion.
Storms Enlarge Us.
Storms cause us to create and learn more about ourselves. By stretching personal resources, storms cause us to think beyond ourselves. We tend to streamline aid, become more efficient, and learn to multitask.
Storms are supposed to increase our faith and dependence on God. This was the purpose of the storm in Jesus’ day. If we fail to learn these basic lessons, another storm will be arriving shortly.
Storms Expose Us.
Look at how certain areas have been exposed by storms in the past few years. People thought they could depend on certain groups and programs to help them cope and recover. Recent storms only proved and revealed that certain portions of the population were vulnerable and are still vulnerable.
The truth is storms eventually come to all. None of us really want to be educated, enlarged, or exposed. The rains, wind, and lighting eventually reach everyone. When it was all said and done, Jesus’ only question to His disciples was, “Where is your faith?” While they were concerned about life and limb, Jesus was concerned about faith.
Does this sound strange? It only sounds strange if your priorities are twisted. If you have spent the last four hours bailing out a sinking boat. If you have been angry with Jesus for sleeping during the storm. If you have been picturing yourself drowning. If you have lost all hope. Then Jesus’ words sound foreign.
Your faith just might be on life support today, but the day is not over. You can find the last words the Lord spoke to you and get back on course. The Lord is not looking to see if you are still running hard or trying with all your might or fighting the good fight. He is looking for faith. Your faith should be in the last words He spoke to you. Where is your faith? Is your faith in your boat or in your Lord?
Riding out the storm is a lonely experience. You will never be more alone emotionally than when you are in the whirlwind of consequences. You will wish others could help you, but they can't. They will want to be there, they will care, but for the most part, you have to ride out the storm alone.
Riding out the storm, thank God, is also a temporary experience. It may be the most difficult time in your life. You will be enduring your own whirlwind. On the other hand, you may be the innocent bystander caught in the consequential backwash of another's sin. You'll feel desperately alone, and it may seem that it will never, ever end. But believe me, the whirlwind is a temporary experience. Your faithful, caring Lord will see you through it.
Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out. But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them,
Someone once said whether we like it or not, storms do three things for us: Storms educate, enlarge, and expose us. I am referring to both physical and/or spiritual storms. Think about the storms you personally have been through in life. Think about the people and communities which have just endured stormy wrath. Their recovery is still on-going.
Storms Educate Us.
We are reminded every time a major hurricane hits our shores that the ecological system near the shoreline is fragile. In addition, no matter how well built the houses along the shore are constructed, they can be destroyed in moments. The coastal areas are vulnerable to any storm, even small ones.
Every storm we face should re-educate us on how vulnerable we are and how much we need each other and the Lord. Unfortunately, these lessons are short-lived. Years without storms create complacency and self-delusion.
Storms Enlarge Us.
Storms cause us to create and learn more about ourselves. By stretching personal resources, storms cause us to think beyond ourselves. We tend to streamline aid, become more efficient, and learn to multitask.
Storms are supposed to increase our faith and dependence on God. This was the purpose of the storm in Jesus’ day. If we fail to learn these basic lessons, another storm will be arriving shortly.
Storms Expose Us.
Look at how certain areas have been exposed by storms in the past few years. People thought they could depend on certain groups and programs to help them cope and recover. Recent storms only proved and revealed that certain portions of the population were vulnerable and are still vulnerable.
The truth is storms eventually come to all. None of us really want to be educated, enlarged, or exposed. The rains, wind, and lighting eventually reach everyone. When it was all said and done, Jesus’ only question to His disciples was, “Where is your faith?” While they were concerned about life and limb, Jesus was concerned about faith.
Does this sound strange? It only sounds strange if your priorities are twisted. If you have spent the last four hours bailing out a sinking boat. If you have been angry with Jesus for sleeping during the storm. If you have been picturing yourself drowning. If you have lost all hope. Then Jesus’ words sound foreign.
Your faith just might be on life support today, but the day is not over. You can find the last words the Lord spoke to you and get back on course. The Lord is not looking to see if you are still running hard or trying with all your might or fighting the good fight. He is looking for faith. Your faith should be in the last words He spoke to you. Where is your faith? Is your faith in your boat or in your Lord?
Tuesday 5 November 2013
Why Prayer Is Still Important When We Know Circumstances Will Not Change
Lets face it, there are going to be times when prayer will "not" change what’s going to happen. God is still God and we are still His servants. No matter how much we pray, the outcome will still be the same. So, why pray?
The reason for keeping our prayer life current despite the circumstances was exemplified by Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Three times Jesus asked His Father to change His circumstances, three times He was denied a more favorable outcome. Luke (22:39-46) It was far better for you and me that God denied His request. So why pray then? because we still need something from God. Our prayer then becomes more of a confirmation of the known will of God.
don’t think Jesus was praying so much for His circumstances to change as much as He was praying against the circumstances changing Him. We know from the Gospel narratives that Jesus warned and instructed His disciples to “Pray that you enter not into temptation.” This warning was given three times. The disciples fell quickly into temptation’s snare Jesus walked away from the temptation to exit God’s process.
When did this “cup” become so important to the Lord. Jesus had never mentioned having to “drink from a cup.” Let me abbreviate here. Drinking from the cup meant Jesus was choosing for Himself to stay in God’s process every step of the way. No deviation. The “cup” was shorthand describing Jesus’ process. I believe also this “cup” was the Father’s language to His Son. Yes, it can be found it scripture. But in Jesus’ mind it described everything He would be going through in the next few hours. I am sure Jesus had prayed about it numerous times. The cup might not speak to you, it might not speak to anyone, but it sure spoke to Jesus and described precisely what He would be enduring. It is interesting. When God speaks, you start talking like Him!
Why is all this important? Because when you grow in the Lord, it is not about you simply following orders. There is a greater level of obedience. Eventually we each need to grow to a level of choosing for ourselves to be obedient. We stop talking about “God making us do things.” Instead, we are obedient to His word because we want to obey. The Father wants more from us than blind obedience. He wants us to choose His will for ourselves. Every parent longs for the day when their children want to brush their teeth, take a bath, and clean their room on their own. Jesus wasn't simply going to the cross because God wanted Him to go. He was choosing the path of the cross, Himself.
Listen, all Jesus had to do was slip off about 30-40 feet, or even less, and crouch down to pray. No one would have even found Him there. He could have said, “Well, Father, I was there but Judas and his gang didn't see Me, so I was going to do Your will, but they missed me.” You say they could have caught Him later, but then Jesus wouldn't have been crucified directly before the Passover. Jesus made sure that Judas’ crew found Him. He basically delivered Himself into their hands. Why? Jesus drank for Himself the cup His Father placed before Him.
In closing, there is a verse of scripture that has always troubled me.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians (10:13)
This verse proves once again that prayer isn't "always" about changing our circumstances and fixing our problems. Sometimes God’s escape plan is being able to endure what is coming our way. Prayer then, is about laying hold of God.
* laying hold of His strength,
* laying hold of His comfort, and
* laying hold of His Will in our lives.
Prayer is just an affirmation of what we know is already true. Jesus prayed three times for His circumstances to change, all to no avail. In the end, when all of His close friends abandoned Him, He had the comfort of knowing He was in the center of God’s will. Jesus’ prayer life confirmed it.
Lets face it, there are going to be times when prayer will "not" change what’s going to happen. God is still God and we are still His servants. No matter how much we pray, the outcome will still be the same. So, why pray?
The reason for keeping our prayer life current despite the circumstances was exemplified by Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Three times Jesus asked His Father to change His circumstances, three times He was denied a more favorable outcome. Luke (22:39-46) It was far better for you and me that God denied His request. So why pray then? because we still need something from God. Our prayer then becomes more of a confirmation of the known will of God.
don’t think Jesus was praying so much for His circumstances to change as much as He was praying against the circumstances changing Him. We know from the Gospel narratives that Jesus warned and instructed His disciples to “Pray that you enter not into temptation.” This warning was given three times. The disciples fell quickly into temptation’s snare Jesus walked away from the temptation to exit God’s process.
When did this “cup” become so important to the Lord. Jesus had never mentioned having to “drink from a cup.” Let me abbreviate here. Drinking from the cup meant Jesus was choosing for Himself to stay in God’s process every step of the way. No deviation. The “cup” was shorthand describing Jesus’ process. I believe also this “cup” was the Father’s language to His Son. Yes, it can be found it scripture. But in Jesus’ mind it described everything He would be going through in the next few hours. I am sure Jesus had prayed about it numerous times. The cup might not speak to you, it might not speak to anyone, but it sure spoke to Jesus and described precisely what He would be enduring. It is interesting. When God speaks, you start talking like Him!
Why is all this important? Because when you grow in the Lord, it is not about you simply following orders. There is a greater level of obedience. Eventually we each need to grow to a level of choosing for ourselves to be obedient. We stop talking about “God making us do things.” Instead, we are obedient to His word because we want to obey. The Father wants more from us than blind obedience. He wants us to choose His will for ourselves. Every parent longs for the day when their children want to brush their teeth, take a bath, and clean their room on their own. Jesus wasn't simply going to the cross because God wanted Him to go. He was choosing the path of the cross, Himself.
Listen, all Jesus had to do was slip off about 30-40 feet, or even less, and crouch down to pray. No one would have even found Him there. He could have said, “Well, Father, I was there but Judas and his gang didn't see Me, so I was going to do Your will, but they missed me.” You say they could have caught Him later, but then Jesus wouldn't have been crucified directly before the Passover. Jesus made sure that Judas’ crew found Him. He basically delivered Himself into their hands. Why? Jesus drank for Himself the cup His Father placed before Him.
In closing, there is a verse of scripture that has always troubled me.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. I Corinthians (10:13)
This verse proves once again that prayer isn't "always" about changing our circumstances and fixing our problems. Sometimes God’s escape plan is being able to endure what is coming our way. Prayer then, is about laying hold of God.
* laying hold of His strength,
* laying hold of His comfort, and
* laying hold of His Will in our lives.
Prayer is just an affirmation of what we know is already true. Jesus prayed three times for His circumstances to change, all to no avail. In the end, when all of His close friends abandoned Him, He had the comfort of knowing He was in the center of God’s will. Jesus’ prayer life confirmed it.
I have recently read an article in The Lakes Mail ( our local paper here in my town Australia)
written by David Stewart'.
Pets Welcome At Church
The third annual blessing of pets to be held at the King Anglican Church, on Sunday morning. Father Ian Howarth expects to again welcome pets of all types. "All walking, climbing, flying, crawling animals are most welcome", he said. Pet blessings are traditionally held at this time of year, to celebrate St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. It's acknowledging that God cares for animals as well as human beings, and also recognises the importance of animals in our lives."
Yes, God made everything that lives on the earth -- including the animals. In the beginning, the Bible says, "God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals.' And it was so" Genesis (1:24).
And yes, the Bible commands us to take care of the animals under our care. One of the signs of a righteous man, the Bible says, is that he takes care of his animals Proverbs (12:10). Even the animal of an enemy was to be treated kindly: "If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him" Exodus (23:4). One reason God commanded His people to rest one day out of seven was so their animals would be refreshed (see Exodus 23:12).
In fact, the Bible says we must never treat any part of God's creation with contempt. When we do, we are indirectly treating our Creator with contempt. Instead, God calls us to be stewards or trustees of His creation, and the Bible reminds us that we are responsible to Him for the way we treat it. We've often forgotten this -- but it's still true, and when we ignore it we not only hurt God's creation but we also hurt ourselves.
Most of all, however, God calls us to put Him first in our lives. He loves us, and our greatest calling is to respond to His love by opening our hearts and lives to His Son, Jesus Christ.
Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.
Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat!
That there are today over 62 million cats in the U.S. attests to the continuing affection that they have for their furry, feathered or finned friends. They have even had a cat called Socks in the White House. Other popular presidential pets range from Abraham Lincoln’s Fido to Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, named Him and Her.
For single householders, a pet can be a true companion. Many people arrive home from work to find a furry friend overjoyed at their return. Many a senior has a lap filled with a purring fellow creature.
The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love.
No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated.
At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:
“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”
written by David Stewart'.
Pets Welcome At Church
The third annual blessing of pets to be held at the King Anglican Church, on Sunday morning. Father Ian Howarth expects to again welcome pets of all types. "All walking, climbing, flying, crawling animals are most welcome", he said. Pet blessings are traditionally held at this time of year, to celebrate St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. It's acknowledging that God cares for animals as well as human beings, and also recognises the importance of animals in our lives."
Yes, God made everything that lives on the earth -- including the animals. In the beginning, the Bible says, "God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals.' And it was so" Genesis (1:24).
And yes, the Bible commands us to take care of the animals under our care. One of the signs of a righteous man, the Bible says, is that he takes care of his animals Proverbs (12:10). Even the animal of an enemy was to be treated kindly: "If you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him" Exodus (23:4). One reason God commanded His people to rest one day out of seven was so their animals would be refreshed (see Exodus 23:12).
In fact, the Bible says we must never treat any part of God's creation with contempt. When we do, we are indirectly treating our Creator with contempt. Instead, God calls us to be stewards or trustees of His creation, and the Bible reminds us that we are responsible to Him for the way we treat it. We've often forgotten this -- but it's still true, and when we ignore it we not only hurt God's creation but we also hurt ourselves.
Most of all, however, God calls us to put Him first in our lives. He loves us, and our greatest calling is to respond to His love by opening our hearts and lives to His Son, Jesus Christ.
Francis, whose feast day is October 4th, loved the larks flying about his hilltop town. He and his early brothers, staying in a small hovel, allowed themselves to be displaced by a donkey.
Francis wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” And there was testimony in the cause for St. Clare of Assisi’s canonization that referred to her little cat!
That there are today over 62 million cats in the U.S. attests to the continuing affection that they have for their furry, feathered or finned friends. They have even had a cat called Socks in the White House. Other popular presidential pets range from Abraham Lincoln’s Fido to Lyndon Johnson’s beagles, named Him and Her.
For single householders, a pet can be a true companion. Many people arrive home from work to find a furry friend overjoyed at their return. Many a senior has a lap filled with a purring fellow creature.
The bond between person and pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. Eye-to-eye, a man and his dog, or a woman and her cat, are two creatures of love.
No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated.
At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. The Blessing of Pets usually goes like this:
“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”
Monday 4 November 2013
Gentleness
Galatians (5:25-6:2)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We are very thankful, Father, that in the process of our spiritual growth You remind us of the importance of gentleness: Your Word not only instructs us in what we're to do, it also shows us how to do it. We remember what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he gently dealt with them as a mother with a nursing child. Help us, Father, to have that kind of gracious, gentle spirit—especially those of us who tend to be impatient with others who are not as quick on their feet or those of us who are healthy and lack compassion for others who are not as strong or those of us who find delight in accomplishments but lack empathy for others who are not as productive. It's so easy for all of us if not verbally, at least in our minds to compete, to look down on others, to complain and to compare. May we, through Your Spirit's power, become more like our gentle Savior, who promised, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Like our Master and Lord, may our encounters with others be easy and bring light. Meet our needs in a very special way, especially our need for a gentle and quiet spirit.
In the name of Your gracious Son Jesus
Amen.
Galatians (5:25-6:2)
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We are very thankful, Father, that in the process of our spiritual growth You remind us of the importance of gentleness: Your Word not only instructs us in what we're to do, it also shows us how to do it. We remember what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he gently dealt with them as a mother with a nursing child. Help us, Father, to have that kind of gracious, gentle spirit—especially those of us who tend to be impatient with others who are not as quick on their feet or those of us who are healthy and lack compassion for others who are not as strong or those of us who find delight in accomplishments but lack empathy for others who are not as productive. It's so easy for all of us if not verbally, at least in our minds to compete, to look down on others, to complain and to compare. May we, through Your Spirit's power, become more like our gentle Savior, who promised, "My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Like our Master and Lord, may our encounters with others be easy and bring light. Meet our needs in a very special way, especially our need for a gentle and quiet spirit.
In the name of Your gracious Son Jesus
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