Prayerlogue

New Blog Announcement

2010-04-09T10:35:00.002-04:00

April 2010, Prayerlogue will move to http://www.prayerlogue.wordpress.com

Thank you to everyone who reads this blog, and I hope you continue to follow us there.

This site will remain active for all the archives that are often accessed.

Thank you again
betty

Between the Cross and the Empty Tomb

2010-04-01T06:48:00.003-04:00

In the cartoon “The Wizard of Id” the king is walking out of the church and says to the friar, “You said your Lord descended into Hell?” To which the friar replies, “Well, actually, He just dropped in to pick up the keys!” On the marquee in front of the church are the Scripture references “Matthew 12:40; Ephesians 4:9; and Revelation 1:18.”

So… did Jesus descend into Hell? If so, why? Well (to paraphrase a popular quote) it all depends on what your definition of “Hell” is!

There are 5 words in the Bible (2 in the OT and 3 in the NT) that are translated as “hell” or the place of the dead, in various translations (KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT, etc.) These words are also translated as, “death, Hades, the grave, the pit, destruction, etc, depending on the translation.

In the Old Testament “Sheol” is the most commonly used word. (The other word is “Abaddon” which is most often translated as “destruction” as for what happens to the dead in the place, rather than referring to the place, itself.)

Sheol (it seems) is a sort of a “holding place” for the spirits of the dead. Both the good (Jacob speaks of going there in Genesis 37:35 and 42:38; and David speaks of going there in 1 Samuel 2:6) and the bad go there (Numbers 16:30 and Psalm 55:15 for just 2 examples of many.)

In the New Testament there 3 commonly used words which are all (depending on the translation) rendered as “hell”:

~ Tartaroo is one of the NT equivalents of Sheol. It is only found in the NT in 2 Peter 2:4. It is the part of Hell (or Hades) that is reserved for the fallen angels who are to be held until the final judgment that we read about in Revelation 20.

~ Hades is another NT equivalent of Sheol. It is also translated as Hell in the New Testament (mostly in the KJV.) This is the word that is used in Luke 16:19-31 in the story of the rich man and Lazarus, as well as in describing what will happen to some cities in Galilee which reject Jesus’ teachings (Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:15.) This (seems to be) the place of “disembodied wicked spirits” or “unbelievers.”

~ The third NT word for hell is Gehenna (Gheh-en-nah). This is the place of the lost or condemned. It is a place of torment for both the body and the soul where the “worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44; 46; 48, which is a quote from Isaiah 66:24.) This is what is commonly referred to in Revelation as “the second death.” This is where death and Hades will be thrown after the Great White Throne judgment. This will be the place of eternal punishment of the resurrected body and soul of the unbeliever. (See Matthew 10:28 and Luke 12:5)

Then, there are a couple of additional (more “encouraging”) words for places of the “departed”:

~ The first is “paradise” which is found in Luke 23:43 where Jesus tells the thief on the cross that “today you will be with Me in paradise.” Paul also speaks of “being caught up into Paradise” in 2 Corinthians 12:4, and in Revelation 2:7 “the Paradise of God” is promised to the “overcomer.” The word “Paradise” is from the Greek word “paradeisos” which means “the king’s private garden.” It is the NT equivalent of the Hebrew word “pardace” which is the word used for the Garden of Eden.

~ The second is found (again) in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. In Luke 16:22, Lazarus is said to be carried to “Abraham’s Bosom” after he dies. (According to Vincent’s Word Studies, this is “A Rabbinical phrase, equivalent to being with Abraham in Paradise.”)

So, what does all this mean? Did Jesus descend into Hell or not? Be patient!

The above information is gathered from respected Biblical studies and books, such as Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, The King James Concordance, and The Complete Word Study Dictionary (Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D editor).

The following is what I have gleaned (through prayer and meditation) from this study. But still, it is what “I” believe and is subject to my own growth in the future. And now, having said that, this is what I believe.

I believe there is Biblical support for “levels” of reward for the believer. I have often used the phrase, “saved by faith, and judged by works.” I believe that this is supported by such scriptures as 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 3:8-15 as well as Matthew 5:21-23 to name a few.

So, it stands to reason (at least to me) that if there will be different rewards, there could very well be different “levels” of judgment. It appears that Sheol is the “place” of the dead, and within Sheol, there is (was):

~ Paradise (or Abraham’s Bosom) where the spirit of the OT believer resided before Christ came.

~ Hades – the (current) place where the spirit of the wicked reside (nonbelievers.)

~ Tartaroo which is reserved for the fallen angels (from Lucifer’s fall) and possibly from Genesis 6 (depending on interpretation.) (See 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6)

~ And then finally, Gehenna which is the “lake of fire and brimstone”. This is the place where, after the Great White Throne Judgment, death and Hades will be cast along with the fallen angels (Revelation 14:10; 19:20; 20:10-15; and Matthew 25 41; 46.)

So… to which of these places did Jesus go “between the cross and the empty tomb?”

First of all, most scholars agree that on the cross, Jesus suffered and died. His body was put to death, and His spirit died when He was “made sin”. But, His spirit was resurrected, (Acts 2:31) and He yielded it to the Father. Then, according to 1 Peter 3:19 “between the cross and the empty tomb” Jesus “preached to the spirits in prison.”

This begs the questions, who were these “spirits” that He visited, and what did He “preach” to them?

There are two major thoughts on this subject. Some (very well respected) scholars and commentators believe that Jesus went into Sheol and led all of Paradise (those OT believers who were once held captive) to heaven with Him. This is supported by Ephesians 4:9 and especially by 2 Corinthians 12:4 where Paul talks about being “caught up into Paradise.” (Emphasis added.)

Another train of thought (held by equally respected scholars and commentators) is that Jesus went into Hades, and maybe even Tartaroo, and “preached” to the dead (unbelieving) spirits and/or the fallen angels. If this is true, does it mean that there is a “second chance” for unbelievers? The key here lies in the word “preached.”

When we think of “preaching” we think of “the Gospel” – the “Good News;” however the word itself simply means “to proclaim.” What is “proclaimed” may or may not be good news. In this case, what is “good news” for believers was not “good news” for the spirits in prison! What Jesus “preached” or “proclaimed” was His victory over Satan, over death and over the grave! (See also Colossians 2:15.)

In this regard, Ephesians 4:8-9 means that He symbolically “paraded the captives through the streets” as was a common occurrence in OT times, and that His “subjects” (believers) received the gifts or “spoils” of the battle. (See also Psalm 68:18 and 1 Samuel 30:26.)

So… did Jesus descend into Hell? Yes… and no…

Again, it all depends on what your definition of “Hell” is!

I believe that “between the cross and the empty tomb” that Jesus descended into Hades (and maybe Tartaroo, but not “Hell” or Gehenna, which is the place of final judgment) and proclaimed victory over Satan, death, and the grave. And then I believe He took possession of the keys of Hades, liberated Paradise, and took the OT saints to heaven where Paradise resides today.

I believe that for the child of God, “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.” I believe that the moment a believer dies, he/she is in the presence of God in “Paradise” in “the King’s private garden” awaiting the time when the final judgment will take place, after which the “New Heaven and the New Earth” will appear, and the believer will receive their brand new resurrected body.

And all because of the fulfillment of "First Fruits!" To God be the Glory!

The Fulfillment of the First Three Feasts of the Jews

2010-04-01T06:27:00.006-04:00

There are so many more things going on during the Passover/Crucifixion timeframe than we ever get a chance to cover during the Easter season. In this post I'm going to share what I've called "The Fulfillment of the First Three Feasts of the Jews".

It is during Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread/Feast of First Fruits that the Crucifixion/Resurrection takes place. (For more information on the specifics of the Feasts see Leviticus 23)

We know “somewhat” what Passover is. It celebrates the final plague that takes place while the Israelites are in Egypt. (See Exodus 12-13 and Leviticus 23:5) A “lamb without blemish” was killed and the blood placed on the doorposts so that the Angel of Death would “pass over” their house. (Interestingly, being “Jewish” did not save them – only having the blood on the door. No matter what their race, if they did not have the blood on the door, they were subject to the same plague as the Egyptians.)

Passover is, of course, only a “foreshadowing” of Christ’s shedding of blood for the atonement of our sin. Jesus is the “Perfect Lamb.”

The Jews celebrated Passover every year on the fourteenth of Abib (or Nisan depending on pre or post exilic calendar name) which falls somewhere between our mid-March and mid-April. The Jewish calendar revolves around the lunar calendar – in other words, the phases of the moon. Each “new moon” constitutes a new month. Therefore, Passover can fall on any day of the week, depending on when the full moon occurs.

The Jewish “day” goes from sundown to sundown (remember Genesis 1:5 “And the evening and the morning were the first day”) therefore on (our) Maundy Thursday at sundown, Passover begins.

The next day (Friday at sundown) the Feast of Unleavened bread begins. (See Leviticus 23:6) This feast lasts 7 days. Leaven, in the Bible represents sin and evil. The unleavened bread in the New Testament represents the Body of our Lord. Part of the Jewish Passover ceremony includes burying a piece of the unleavened bread before the day of Passover is over, in other words, before sundown on Friday… and remember, Jesus was buried before sundown on Friday…

Jesus’ followers (those who were left at the cross) wanted His body taken down from the cross and buried before the Sabbath began (at sundown.) What they didn’t realize was that they were actually fulfilling the Feast of Passover by the shed blood of “The Lamb” and burying His sinless (unleavened) body before the day was finished. And for even more “fulfillment” – the “middle piece” of the loaf of bread is what is buried. Jesus is the “middle part” of the Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

The next feast, “First Fruits” takes place on the Sunday following Passover. Since the feast of unleavened bread lasts 7 days, one of those days will be a Sunday. On that day is the Feast of First Fruits. The feast of “First Fruits” is when the Israelites would bring the first offering from the early crops of their spring planting to God. (See Leviticus 23:10-11)

In the year of Jesus’ death, “First Fruits” occurred 3 days after Passover. (Thursday at sundown began day one; Friday at sundown began day two; and Saturday at sundown began day three – three days in the ground - Matthew 12:40.) So, all three of these major celebrations – Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of First Fruits – all “happen” to take place back to back the particular year that Jesus was crucified.

Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 15:23 that Jesus is the fulfillment of this feast. Jesus is the “First Fruit” to be resurrected from the dead. Yes, others were “raised” from the dead, but only Jesus was “resurrected” and given His resurrected body. It was not just “any” day that Jesus chose, but the very day of “First Fruits”. He fulfilled the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, with the appropriate actions, and then finally He fulfilled “First Fruits”

And not only did Jesus fulfill these first three feasts, but He also presented a “First Fruits” offering to God. As Jesus hung on the cross, an earthquake occurred and graves were opened in Jerusalem. When Jesus was resurrected the bodies of “the saints” came out of these tombs. (Matthew 27:52-53.) Thus Jesus “showed the Father the early crops of what will be a magnificent harvest later on.” (From “The Seven Feasts of Israel” by Zola Levitt.)

We miss an important truth by calling our celebration “Easter” instead of “First Fruits” because “first” indicates that there will be others to follow. Paul did not call Him the “only” fruit, but the “First” Fruit. And anyone who believes in Him will someday be given a new life, too.

Palm Sunday - A Sobering Thought

2010-03-24T08:16:00.002-04:00

Continuing in my study of the Psalms, with one Psalm per week, I come this week to Psalm 118. What a (ahem) “coincidence”!

Psalm 118 is the last of 3 Psalms, or songs, that the Israelites would sing every year during the Passover. The phrase in verse 25, “O LORD, do save” is the Hebrew phrase “hoshia-na” or as we would pronounce it, “hosanna”.

So, on that first day of the week, nearly 2000 years ago, when the crowds and children shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” Everyone within earshot would have recognized the words to this Psalm.

On that “tenth day of the month of Abib”, what could be called “The choosing of the lamb day”; when over in the Temple the “special lamb” was being chosen and set aside for each family for the coming Passover meal, our Saviour – our “Special Lamb” was coming into Jerusalem amid shouts of “Hoshia-na!” “Hosanna!” Oh LORD, do save!”

What an “eye-opening” thought.

However, what really touched me this morning was verse 27 of Psalm 118. “The LORD is God, and He has given us light; Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” (NASB)

I read that earlier this week and yes, I recognized that it referred to “the atonement for sin”, which yes, I recognized as Jesus.

But this morning as I read it in the New Living Translation (as I often read scripture in several translations to get the fuller meaning) I read the following: “The LORD is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.” (emphasis added)

And Paul’s words immediately rang in my ears, “You are not your own, you were bought with a price!” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Although I know this doctrine “intellectually”, it has been “sinking into my soul” in the past week or so as I have been reading “The Normal Christian Life” by Watchman Nee. I am really beginning to realize – to understand - that “I” (the “old me”) was crucified in Christ. I am no longer my own, but Christ’s to do with as He pleases.

Not only do my heart and my soul belong to Jesus, but my hands, my feet, my eyes, my mouth, my whole being.

What a sobering thought… Everything I do, everything I say, think or see – I do using His hands, His mouth, His mind and His eyes…

And all I can say is God forgive me for where I’ve put You and how I’ve used Your possession. Forgive me for trying to “take back” something which cost You so dearly. Amen.

Lessons From the Fast

2010-02-22T09:30:00.003-05:00

On "day 30" of the fast, I had a very difficult day. (http://prayerlogue.blogspot.com/2010/02/now-what.html ) And on days "36-37" I had a rough night and day "health-wise" and thus ended the week, not by totally abstaining from food, but by eating a little during the day (it had been a "day-time" fast - only fasting during the day and then eating supper.) But still, I continued to drink only water, black coffee, or unsweet tea.

But, this is what I learned from the fast. (And this only came at the very end.)

I've learned that I must change how I talk. What I have been saying may ultimately "mean" the same thing, but in order to clarify what I'm saying (especially to myself) I need to change my vocabulary. (Mainly, it's an "attitude" thing.)

Background: During the fast, in addition to my other studies, I read Charles Stanley's "Handling Adversity." At the very end of the book he talks about "Jesus living in me." And through that, I came to say that I didn't want to "follow Jesus" anymore (with the emphasis on "ME" doing the following.) Instead, I want Jesus to "live in" me (with the emphasis on HIM doing the doing!)

Then, I read "Experiencing the Spirit" by Henry and Mel Blackaby. The whole book is good, but following on the heels of the Stanley book, I began to see that "I must decrease, and He must increase."

When I've said in the past that I wanted to "serve Him", I think I meant with Him doing the leading, but I must be more deliberate and say, "Use me, Lord" or "Do Your work in me." No longer "what do You want me to do" but "what do You want to do in and through me?"

Take me out of the picture Lord, till others only see You. Just make me the "pipe" Lord, that "through" me will flow Your living water.

It's all a matter of emphasis. And I want none to be on me, and all to be on Him.

When "I am in trouble, Lord!"

2010-02-18T08:06:00.002-05:00

I just had a moment this morning… I was just going to look quickly at my e-Sword (Bible Study software) for just one quick thing because, “I had other things to do…” but…

When I opened the software my “Daily Devotion” popped up, and the words of F.B. Meyer (written in the 1930’s – during the “Great” Depression) caught my heart, and I knew that I had to share them.

He uses as his Scripture Isaiah 38:14b which in the New Living Translation says (rather bluntly) “I am in trouble Lord. Help me!” And then Meyer goes on to say:

"THIS PRAYER is so indefinite that it will suit any emergency, and yet brimful of faith that God will undertake all responsibility. Are you oppressed with the sense of failure, with temptation, with the consciousness of sin?

Or oppressed with poverty, or debt, or the fear of unemployment, or with inability to find work? Or cast down with bitter persecution within or without your home? Or sorely beset and hindered by ill-health, the hopelessness of recovery?

All these eases of oppression are included in this petition, and may be handed over to your faithful Creator, with the certainty that He is as willing as He is able to undertake for you. He is never weary of hearing your cry; the Everlasting Arms are never tired; and our God neither slumbers nor sleeps.

What may we expect from a prayer so simple, yet so comprehensive? We shall know God."

Read the familiar story of Hezekiah’s cry when God (through Isaiah) told him that he was going to die. We remember Hezekiah’s turning to the wall and crying, but we may not know that later in that chapter we are told what he actually prayed.

Meyer goes on to say:
“At the pit we learn God's Love. How can we measure God's love? They say that a man's fist is the measure of his heart. Come and stand beneath the stars! There is God's hand! Now judge His heart! It is illimitable!

By that love He has put our sins behind His back into the ocean depths!

With that love He has drawn us out of the pit of our sins!

By that love He bears with our cold response and languid petitions!

Through that love He will bring us to glory! His is a love that will never let us go!

Then he ends with:
"Take the hand of Jesus to steady you; look down into the hole of the pit from which you have been redeemed, and then look up to the Throne of God to which He passed at His Ascension, and recall His own words: "where I am, there shall ye be also." Trust Him to undertake for your little life!"

Part of his prayer closes with:
"May I trust more than I know, and believe more than I see; and when my heart is overwhelmed within me, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."

To which we add… Amen!

Now What

2010-02-09T14:12:00.003-05:00

So, it's been 30 days (see http://prayerlogue.blogspot.com/2010/01/time-of-preparation.html ) and now I'm feeling like John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:3ff and Luke 7:18ff)

Did I really hear God? Is this really what He wants me to do? I'm cold, I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I'm depressed. (However, I don't think I'm awaiting beheading... maybe not...)

I've been fasting ("daytime" fasts) for 30 days now, and I'm discouraged. Like John, I want, I need to know if I "heard" correctly. I was so sure when I started. And indeed, for the first week I seemed to hear God more clearly in scripture... but now...

Now, I'm back to the same ole struggle. Just what am I supposed to be doing? Where's the door? If God really wants me to serve, then where's the door?

I'm discouraged over our church and our denomination. But, there's nothing I can do about it.

I've told our children over and over, "Just pray about (whatever) God will show you an answer..." And I do believe that... in my heart.

"Lord I believe, help Thou my unbelief..." and forgive me.

There is another prayer

2010-02-02T09:08:00.001-05:00

I used to say that I had to be in the “mood” to write… maybe that meant that I had to be “inspired” to write.

Maybe, I needed to be in God’s presence to write (although I didn’t know it at the time…) Perhaps now, I need to be in God’s presence to really pray.

“God is Omnipresent,” you say. “He’s everywhere. We’re always in His presence.” And maybe we are – but is He in ours?

Every time my mind is “still” (if even for the briefest of moments) my thoughts turn to prayer. I say “Thank You” or “Praise You” or I lift up a name that’s on my heart.

But, is that really prayer?

“Yes it is,” I argue. And I am right; it is a type of prayer. It is, what I call, “a prayer of aware-ance.” I am continually “aware” of the presence of God. But, in this prayer, “I” set the tone and “I” set the time. And I tell God, “Here I am! Let’s talk now.” And then I tell God when I’m finished, and I close the door and get on with “life.”

But… there is another prayer.

And that is the prayer of immersion – where (most times unexpectedly) I feel myself engulfed, surrounded, enshrouded by His Presence. Where God doesn’t just poke His Head into my world, but instead, I am “allowed” entrance into His Court.

It’s like a fog slowly rolling in. At first, you barely “see” it. And then before your mind fully comprehends what is happening, you are embraced with such wonder that first catches your breath, and then makes you want to breathe deeply, and be filled as completely within by His Aura, as you are enveloped without, by His Arms.

At times like these you want to cry out, “Oh God! What an awesome gift of Your Love. Thank You for tearing that curtain down!”

Do we really realize what a privilege we have been given? No, I don’t think we do. At least, not very often…

A Time of Preparation

2010-01-11T06:39:00.007-05:00

God’s been speaking to me in the last few days… No, not audibly, just in the things I’ve been hearing.

Saturday night, I heard Charles Stanley preach on “Obedience to God’s Word.”
Sunday morning, while I was getting dressed for church, Jentezen Franklin was preaching on “Fasting.”
Our Sunday School lesson was on Jesus’ fasting and temptation in the wilderness.
The last verse of our closing hymn during the worship service said, “Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore; let the search for Thy salvation be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving Thee whom we adore, serving Thee whom we adore”.

And what is so chilling is that it came immediately after I was praying in my spirit, “Lord! What should I do? I have been praying to be more understanding and more patient in (this certain situation)… Is that right? Should I be praying that? Or should I be praying for strength to stand strong regardless of what others think? Lord! Tell me what to do!”

And I believe He did…

However, it’s not just a matter of “standing strong”; it’s a matter of preparation.

That Sunday School lesson was on my mind all Sunday afternoon. The actual lesson was on being strengthened in temptation, and how we should draw on the weapons that God has given us. But, I really got to thinking about the time of fasting and temptation itself, and I began asking the question, “Why did Jesus really go into the wilderness…?”

I know… the scriptures tell us that:

“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry…” (Matthew 4:1-2) or
“Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness, and He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan, and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.” (Mark 1:12-13) or…
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)

But, why did He have to go into the wilderness? I know that Matthew clearly says, “…to be tempted by the devil…” but was that the only reason? Was the sole purpose of going into the wilderness, just the testing that took place after the forty days? If that’s so, then what was He doing for forty days?

Both Mark and Luke imply that the testing was on-going during the forty days, but surely it wasn’t nonstop! Surely that wasn’t all that was happening. What else was He doing during those forty days?

This is what I think… I think that during those forty days, Jesus was preparing for His ministry. I think He was fasting and praying and in dialogue with the Father about what kind of ministry He was to have; exactly what He was going to do; and exactly how He was going to do it. I think it was (in today’s terms) a “strategic planning session.”

This was, for all intents and purposes, “a fast in preparation for a new ministry.”

And, I think He was being tempted every step of the way in that preparation, not just after the “fast” was over.

We’ve heard all kinds of sermons on these three temptations. These include:

A comparison to 1 John 2:16 with “The lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life…”
A comparison to a “slippery slope” by their being “not so bad”, “a little worse”, or finally, “off the deep end.” (Literally!)
Or being a “progression” by their being “reasonable” (after all He was hungry); being “plausible” (the scriptures did say what Satan said they did, sorta); and being expedient (this would speed things up, ya know…)

And, I’m sure you’ve heard many other possibilities such as their representing “economic, socialistic, political” or “physical, spiritual and psychological” temptations or maybe even others. But, the more I thought about it (with the mindset of ministry preparation) the more it seemed to be something else as well. The writer of our lesson hinted at another set of possibilities, and this really seemed to fit in with what I was “hearing.”

Just what kind of ministry was Jesus to have in these next 3 short years? Would it be one in which everyone’s physical needs were to be met? Would it be one in which “signs and wonders” would have sovereignty? Would it be one in which “the ends would justify the means”?

I think the temptations reflected the very issues that Jesus struggled with in the wilderness. Just what would be the balance between meeting people’s needs, doing miracles, and getting it all done in the right amount of time? That was the struggle.

I wrote a “snippet” a few years ago that I thought would make a nice chorus to a song. It went:
“He took
No shortcuts.
He said
No ‘yeah, buts’
He was
All God and All man, all the time.”

But, what does this have to do with what God has been saying to me? Just this: Whatever God is calling you or me to do, there has to be a time of preparation. And I think that time must be spent in prayer and fasting. That’s what I’ve heard, and that’s what I’ve been called to do.

But, no matter what we’ve been called to do, throughout the preparation period we’ll face temptations on “how” it should be done that we’ll have to work through until we get a clear picture of the path. And how do we see that path? “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path…” And we all know that the kind of “lamp” this scripture speaks of, only lights one step at a time… but, that’s another sermon for another day!

But now think about this…Once Jesus was past the 40 days, and the “last ditch efforts” of Satan, was it all smooth sailing from then on? Luke tells us in verse 13 that, “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him… until an opportune time.” (emphasis added)

No, Satan still tried to tempt Him all along the way (remember His saying to Peter, “Get behind me Satan”?) And we’ll face temptations all along the way as well. We’ll face times of struggle and doubt. But we can prevail because Jesus went before us and was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

Because He did, we can.

Fast and pray, and listen for His voice in your time of preparation.

Has our Liturgy replaced the Law?

2010-01-05T21:24:00.001-05:00

While doing some reading about John the Baptist this morning, I came across a quote that said, “For a chosen people who hadn’t heard a word from God in four centuries, life was pretty good west of the Jordan. They had covered their insecurities with a blanket of sameness. The absence of a fresh encounter with God had them clutching to what they had left: the Law”

And then it went on to say, “The Hebrew people climbed to the summit of legalism during the silent years that fell between Malachi and Matthew. That’s what really religious people do who don’t have much of a relationship…”

And for some reason, that really jumped out at me and I thought, “Has our Liturgy replaced the Law? Has our ritual replaced our relationship?”

Now, don’t get me wrong… I love the Liturgy. I love the “seriousness” of the Prelude and the Call to Worship and the Opening Prayers and the Prayers of the People…

I love the Apostle’s Creed and the Gloria Patri. I even love the Offering and the Doxology, but I have to wonder… is how we do it, more important than why we do it.

Has following our “Church Calendar” become a substitute for listening for God’s Voice?

And again I feel that I must ask, “Has our Liturgy replaced the Law? Has our ritual replaced our relationship?”

And, the following just flowed from my heart to the paper. Please hear it for what it is – a plea from the depths of my heart, and not a criticism…

Has Our Liturgy Replaced the Law

Do we hold to our liturgy
Like “The Jews” held to the Law?
Has our “must be followed”
Over shadowed our praise and our awe?
Does the “date on the calendar”
Decide the message we hear,
Instead of God’s Voice
Directing our year?
God, remove our blinders
That we may see
Where we could go
If we were free
To hear You…

Many times “the means to the end” loses its focus of “the end”
And stagnates on “the means…”
God forgive us if we’ve done that!

Fourth Sunday in Advent

2010-01-05T21:21:00.002-05:00

I'm sorry I didn't get a devotional written for this Sunday, as well as for Christmas Day... I didn't get one written last year either! With all our services (we had 3 Christmas Eve services), the normal Christmas stuff, and my own business work-load - well, I just ran out of time.

Maybe next year!

betty

Third Sunday in Advent - Joy

2009-12-13T21:25:00.001-05:00

Father, as I pause in my prayers and think of the third Advent candle - joy - I let my mind wander over the many thoughts surrounding “joy” and am surprised to find the phrase, “there is no joy in Mudville tonight, the mighty Casey has struck out…” comes to mind.

And I have to ask Lord, is that a sign of our culture - that our “joy” is dependant on our team winning; on a player getting a hit, or a homerun; or a touchdown, or a free-throw, or any other corresponding phrase for victory? Is it dependant on the marketplace or the world stage? Is our “joy” based on our being “successful…”? Is it that fragile?

I think of Biblical uses of the word, “joy” and find my heart embracing, “weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning” and “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

And I remember that Elizabeth’s son John, “leaped for joy” in her womb upon hearing Mary’s voice. And that Mary’s spirit “rejoiced in God” at Your choosing her as Your Son’s mother…”

And then there is that ultimate, “Behold I bring you good news of a great joy, which shall be for all people, for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord!” and I stop there, and I realize, “this” is the “joy” that the third candle represents. That if not for this one single “joy” no other joy would be possible.

Christ brings the “joy in the morning.” He is the “Good Shepherd” who goes after the one lost little lamb. He is (not to be cliché, but) “the reason for the season”; He is the joy of my life and the salvation of my soul, and You, my Father, made it all possible…

You, are concerned about my joy.

You, want me to be happy.

When I think about all the things that bring me joy - my husband, my children, my family, and yes, even success in the “marketplace” I humbly realize that all of this would be just fleeting fancy without the real joy of knowing Your Son. And I pray Lord; lead me to lead others in knowing this permanent, concrete, solid, never failing, and always eternal Saviour - Jesus - our true Joy!

And it is in His name I pray - Amen

Second Sunday in Advent

2009-12-05T22:59:00.002-05:00

As I mentioned before, this is a "rerun" from 2006, but still relevant, I think.

Second Sunday in Advent: Peace

Father, as our second Sunday in Advent brings the message of peace, I have to wonder - what is peace, really? It’s so much more than the absence of war. It’s more than a shaky truce or a temporary lull. It’s more than a momentary laying down of arms or a brief respite from conflict.

No, true peace wells up within us within times of war, within the ravages of the fiercest actions, and during the times when the whole force of hell assaults our souls. “The Peace of God,” said the apostle Paul “surpasses all understanding.” And Christ, Himself, said, “My peace I give you - not the kind the world gives. So don’t be afraid.”

True peace, Father, comes from You. It’s nothing we can conjure up, nothing we can “talk ourselves into” nothing we can “will” to be - it comes, (yes) comes from Thee.

So, how can we explain the conflict of the shaking hands and the calm heart? How can we understand the fear that ravages our minds while a peace pervades our soul? It doesn’t make sense Lord, but I’ve been there.

I’ve felt my heart cry “Peace! Peace! The Peace of the Most High Sovereign God surrounds you and controls your being!” and all the while my mind is trying to grasp the reality of the moment - the pain that comes with uncertainty and fear, when my stomach turns and my limbs weaken…

And finally, I fall to my knees, grasping the promise that You made to never leave nor forsake me - and peace comes upon me, and I feel Your love.

It doesn’t always “change the moment”; there may still be “bullets” flying all around, whether actual, or figurative (sometimes the “figurative” ones hurt the worst!) But it changes me! And that is, what Peace is.

***************************************************

Grant Your Peace Lord, I pray, upon those in the midst of conflict this Advent season; and indeed, in all seasons. But, there’s just something about the “Christmas” season that makes conflict more - conflicting during this time of the year.

I pray for those in genuine conflict - in battles, and in wars, with actual bullets and all too real blood-letting. I pray “Peace” Lord, knowing, that until You come again - there will be no real peace for this kind of war. So, until then, I pray “safety” instead…

I pray for those in figurative conflict - in battles for their minds and souls. I pray for those who know that “something” ought to be different. But what? And how? I pray “Peace” Lord, knowing, that “this” battle can be won, that guilt and “chains” can be removed. That all that is needed is for the word to be spread. Give me the words, Lord…

I pray for those in spiritual conflict - in battles where the war has already been won, and the prisoners set free, and all that is wanting is for the victory to be claimed…. I pray “Peace” Lord, knowing that they (we) just (sometimes) don’t realize it. Give them (us) Grace, Lord to see the Victory.

I pray “Peace” Lord at this Advent season - and all seasons of the year.

*********************************************************

Father, I have such a sense of peace at this moment in my life. I am so thankful Lord for the gracious and precious gifts You’ve given me. Father, to see my children loving You and wanting to serve You is the most wonderful gift of all.

It is just a beginning, Lord. I understand that. They are young adults and don’t quite grasp the concept of “Lordship” yet, but God, what an answer to prayer and the “desires of my heart” to witness this - these first steps to be taken. I am so humbled, Lord.

Naturally, I don’t want to die Lord, but if my life was called away at this moment I would have to say that I have been given a lifetime’s worth of blessings already. I have a husband, that in his service to You, honors me, and children that love You. What more is there? There is no physical thing I want, no material thing that can compare to the overwhelming fullness I feel at this time.

Now, I’m not naïve enough to think that we have “arrived” - that from here on out everything will be “hunky-dory.” We live in a fallen world, I know that. Satan is still afforded the freedom of playing havoc on this world and all its inhabitants. But God! I know! YOU are GOD! And no matter what, YOU are in control. He can torment the body, but he cannot take the soul.

The victory’s been won, and my Jesus is Real!

Thank You, Precious Father. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

First Sunday in Advent

2009-12-04T22:32:00.002-05:00

There are so many new readers of this blog that for the Advent season, I thought I'd post a "rerun." I originally wrote these in 2006, and had almost forgotten about them until I was looking through my files. I'm sorry this "First Sunday" one is a little late, I'll try to post the "Second Sunday" one right away.

First Sunday in Advent:

Father, I lift up my heart to You at the “beginning” of this Christmas season. I say “beginning” as in “Church calendar” and not in terms of the marketplace - for in the marketplace, it has already been “Christmas” for a loooong time now…

Being a child of the 60’s, one of the first things that comes to mind is John Lennon’s song of “So this is Christmas, and what have we here…” and I think, “Yeah, what do we have here…?”

We have lists - shopping lists, grocery lists, “to-do” lists and an already “jam-packed to the gills” calendar filled with even more responsibilities.

As a business owner, I have customers depending on me for things on their shopping lists.

As a wife, and mother, I have family depending on me for - well, for being “Honey” and “Mom” and all that entails at any given point in their lives.

And, as a church-member and Sunday School teacher, I have “every time the doors are open” activities, that I’m expected to attend, lessons to prepare, and devotions to give.

But, as a woman, as Your child, I have… peace… yeah, I really do. As I think about it, and all the things I “have” to do in all the other areas of my life, I’m surprised that the word “peace” is what comes to my mind when I think of what I have as Your child…

This hasn’t always been so. And may not always be so, but at this time, in this place, right now I have peace. And I thank You for that, Father.

*************************************************

The first Sunday in Advent begins with the candle of “hope” and so, Father, I lift up those who feel they have no hope. You’ve created our bodies to survive for weeks without food, days without water, and minutes without air, but we cannot survive for a moment without hope.

How, Father, can we bring hope to a hopeless world? The song says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name…”

When the word “hope” is used in the Bible it doesn’t mean “wishing” it means “a certainty”. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” - not the essence of things that we wish would happen, but the very things of which we are certain…

And You Father, are the only One that brings that kind of hope.

And may I, as Your child, reflect that hope this Christmas season.

********************************************************

What a “time” of the year, Lord! No other season or “holiday” creates the conflict and convolution that Christmas does. No other date on the calendar produces more good will and more animosity all in one, than does this time of so-called “peace on earth”… Why is that Lord?

What is it about Christmas that makes it the most selfless and yet the most selfish time of the year? What makes it the most joyous and yet the most lonely, the most filling and yet the most emptying, the most loving and yet the most hateful time of the whole calendar year? Why Lord?

Is it… You… Lord? I suspect it is that whole “inner conflict” thing - that whole “good verses evil” thing, that “darkness verses light” war that has been raging ever since the garden -“both” gardens.... (Eden and Gethsemane!)

It’s always there, isn’t it, Lord? It just comes to the surface more when mankind is “forced” to look You right in the eye, as they are “when the baby cries” at Christmastime, and You “demand” that we either react, or respond…

God help us to respond.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-23T08:02:00.002-05:00

I have “tracker” software on my blog which tells me how many “hits” I have, where they come from in the world, and what “search terms” they have used to bring them to my site.

For a person like myself, who has “detail-itis” it’s interesting to read. Naturally, at this time of the year the most often used “search terms” uses wording having to do with “Thanksgiving” prayers or devotions.

However, there was one hit last night that broke my heart. The “hit” came from Fort Worth, Texas and the “search term” used was, “Thanksgiving prayer when loved ones are gone…”

There are so many times that I wish I could contact the person and ask, “Did I have anything that helped?” How my heart goes out to them, and immediately I think of Fort Hood (however, after looking at a map, I see that Fort Worth is no where near Fort Hood – but still…) And I have to ask, are the loved ones gone due to death, or choice?

Either way – someone has lost someone at this time when we are all celebrating (or are supposed to be celebrating) our thankfulness.

Let us not “falsely” celebrate Thanksgiving. Let us not simply push aside our fears, our pain and our grief, and pretend that everything is fine. However, let us remember Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul doesn’t say to give thanks “for” everything, but “in” everything. Be aware that in even in the darkest times, God is still God, and we belong to Him. Psalm 100 says, “Know that the Lord, He is God. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

Don’t ignore the pain, but instead search for and lift up a “Thanksgiving prayer when…” whatever it is you are facing grips your heart.

Gracious and loving God may we, as the Psalmist said, “Shout joyfully, serve with gladness, come with joyful singing, and know that You are God!”

We are not in control. You have made us, and we are Yours.

May we enter Your door with thanksgiving, come into your garden with praise, and thank You and bless Your holy Name. Because, dear Father, You are good, Your “hesed” Your mercy, is everlasting, and your truth and faithfulness “endures” to all generations – including our own.

May we, in this time of Thanksgiving and in preparation for this Christmas season, lift up those (or even ourselves) who are struggling for whatever reason. Father, let us not ignore the pain; let us not pretend that it isn’t there, that there isn’t suffering on every corner. But instead Lord, may we “in all things” give thanks to You – for You are God. May we cling to the assurance that, You’ll “strengthen us, help us, and cause us to stand. Upheld by Thy righteous, Omnipotent hand.”

For it is in the Name of Jesus, our Saviour we pray – Amen.

A Matter of Perspective

2009-11-11T06:18:00.003-05:00

The other night we were out driving as the nearly-full moon was on the horizon. "Isn't that a beautiful moon?" my husband asked.

"Where?" I said, looking toward what I thought was the East.

"Over here!" he said, pointing out his side of the car.

"Gee, what's it doing over there?" I said. And then we rounded a curve, "and over here?" Then another curve, "and back over there?" (We live waaaay out in the country.)

It was so interesting to see the moon "seemingly" move from one side of the road to the other, and I got to thinking about perspective. What we "see" is all a matter of our perspective.

Over "Reformation weekend" (halloween weekend) we got to hear one of the very best Bible teachers I've ever had the privilege of hearing (in person or otherwise.) Her name is Evelyn Laycock. And if you ever get a chance to hear her - do whatever you have to do to get there.

She was teaching on the Parables of Jesus, but on Saturday night she began by talking about Psalm 137. You remember how it starts, "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion..."

It is a Psalm of Israel when they were taken into captivity in Babylon. You may recognize the beginning, but do you remember how it ends? It ends by saying, "How blessed will be the one who seizes and dashes your little ones against the rock." That is what had happened to their children, and yes, it is what they wished upon their captors. But more than that, it was a prophecy of what would (and did) happen to Babylon.

But a sentiment like that disturbs us. And rightly so. It is the picture of vengeance, of retaliation, and of judgment. Judgment without mercy and grace should disturb us.

As Evelyn taught about it, she mentioned our view of God. She said that many people view the God of the Old Testament as being a harsh "mean" God. And that the God of the New Testament is loving and kind.

"But," she reminded us, "God is immutable. God never changes."

So, how do we reconcile that viewpoint? It is a matter of perspective. Not in that God changes or moves, but that we do - just like mine and Joe's viewing of the moon. The moon did not move, but we did!

Jesus Christ - the Word - became Flesh so that we might be moved from one perspective to another. The "veil" of sinfulness that prevented us from being in the presence of a Holy God was torn away, our eyes were opened and we were/are allowed to see.

In the Old Testament we view God more as Moses did on Mount Sinai - from His "backside" - without understanding.

In the New Testament we view God in the very face of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.

(But, even at that - the "backside" of God is more merciful than we deserve!)

Our loving and gracious Heavenly Father we thank You for sending Your Son, Your only begotten Son to take away our sin. He is our mediator and the One who allows us to "see" Your loving face. It was always there... we just couldn't see it. Thank You for changing our perspective. Thank You for changing our standing.

In Jesus' Holy and Precious Name - Amen.

Commentary on Psalm 94

2009-10-15T11:06:00.004-04:00

Psalm 94 is another of those (what I call) "sleeper Psalms" - that is - one of those "jewels" that we often pass over in our haste.

We have our favorites - the 23rd Psalm; Psalm 42, and 27 and 9 and 119, etc. We're also familiar with and love Psalm 100, "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all ye lands..." (just can't get away from those "memorized" KJV Psalms!)

In my research I’ve found many things about Psalm 94: it is the “Wednesday” Psalm (“A Psalm of David for the 4th day of the week” – Albert Barnes); it is a part of a group called “Kingdom Psalms” (J. Vernon McGee); it’s “The Consolation of Prayer under the Oppression of Tyrants” (Keil & Delitzsch) and it’s “An appeal to God against oppressors” (Adam Clark.)

Some say that David wrote it, but others say it was written much later… I don’t really know, but for me (as per my book "Studying the Psalms with a Simple Heart”) Psalm 94, I think, is a picture of a "relationship prayer." Let me explain.

I see, in this Psalm, a picture of a person (one who has a very deep relationship with God) having a conversation with Him. There is a vast difference between "just praying words" and "sharing in dialogue" with your Heavenly Father.

You can tell, when someone's praying, if they "know" Him or just "know about" Him. (Even with those who aren't comfortable "praying in public" - you can tell if they know "Who" they are talking to or not!)

The psalmist here "knows Him."

As you read the psalm you can see it alternate between the person talking to God, talking to "the wicked" and talking to himself. And, if you've ever been in a time of intense prayer with God, you've done the same thing.

For sake of clarity, the “prayer” portion will be in yellow bold; the “self-talk” will be in red; and the rebuke to the “wicked” will be in orange. (The “version” is NASB)

He begins with a prayer - a cry for help from God (verses 1-7).

Psalm 94:1-7 “O LORD, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth, Render recompense to the proud.
How long shall the wicked, O LORD, How long shall the wicked exult?
They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly; All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.
They crush Your people, O LORD, And afflict Your heritage.
They slay the widow and the stranger And murder the orphans.
They have said, ‘The LORD does not see, Nor does the God of Jacob pay heed.’”

Then he speaks to the "situation" which plagues him (verses 8-10)

Psalm 94:8-10 “Pay heed, you senseless among the people; And when will you understand, stupid ones?
He who planted the ear, does He not hear? He who formed the eye, does He not see?
He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke, Even He who teaches man knowledge?”

He "rehearses" it in his mind… (verse 11)

Psalm 94:11 “The LORD knows the thoughts of man, That they are a mere breath.”

…before going back into conversation with his Father (verses 12-13.)

Psalm 94:12-13 “Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O LORD, And whom You teach out of Your law;
That You may grant him relief from the days of adversity, Until a pit is dug for the wicked.”

Then he reassures his own heart (verses 14-17)

Psalm 94:14-17 “For the LORD will not abandon His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
For judgment will again be righteous, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Who will take his stand for me against those who do wickedness?”
(I tell ya) If the LORD had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

And then returns to "prayer" for the next 4 verses (18-20)

Psalm 94:18-20 “If I should say, ‘My foot has slipped,’ Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.
Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree?”

Verses 22-23 become an "affirmation of his faith" as he again "talks to himself", reinforcing his strength and belief in God and His power.

Psalm 94:21-23 “They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death.
But the LORD has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge.
He has brought back their wickedness upon them, and will destroy them in their evil; The LORD our God will destroy them.”

When you are in "prayer conversation" with God, there is an "ebb and flow" to the prayer, and I wonder... in the times that you are "talking to yourself" is that God's Holy Spirit speaking to you?

You know... I think it just might be!

Father, we pray for the discipline, to take the time to have a "conversation" with You. I believe Lord, that You desire to communicate with us, but You can't (won't) do that if the conversation is all one-sided; if we just "throw words" at You...

May we, instead, "listen" Lord - even as (from our perspective) our minds drift from the prayer, to the situation, back to the prayer, and then to "talking to ourselves".

May we listen for Your words in all of that as (perhaps from Your viewpoint) You "hear our words, then show us the 'current reality', then hear us again, and give us encouragement..."

May we learn how to converse with You, our Father.

And Lord, we pray too, for those who don't really "know" You; those who know all about You; all about Your Word and all about Your Son, but who just don't have the relationship to be able to cry "Abba, Father..." We lift them Lord, and pray that in Your mercy and grace, You'll call them unto Yourself.

We lift this prayer this morning, in Jesus' Holy and Perfect Name - Amen.

New Study Available!

2009-10-01T21:01:00.004-04:00

We just finished a 4 week study on Paul's First Missionary Journey titled, "Goin' Down a New Road".

We taught this as a Sunday night service at the Huckleberry Springs Church building. (Huckleberry Springs UMC merged in 2007 with Riverdale UMC to form the French Broad UMC, but the building is still being used, and hoped by many to open again some day... anyway...)

This is how we promoted the study:

Are you at a new stage in your life?
Are you finding yourself facing things
that you never thought you'd face?
Come along as we begin a 4 week series titled
"Goin' Down a New Road"
based on Paul's First Missionary Journey.

Paul found himself in places, doing things, and facing struggles
that he'd never even dreamed about!
Learn about the People, the Path, the Plan and the Persecution
of his first journey, and see how his struggles might just be similar to your own!

If you'd like a copy of this study e-mail me and request a copy. It includes the manuscript that I taught from as well as a study guide for each week's lesson.

Several folks had asked about getting a copy, so I thought I'd post it here as well.

If you'd rather have a "hard copy" or a CD of the study, the cost is $5.00.

(Ask about other studies we have available.)

How does intercessory prayer overcome free will?

2009-09-17T08:11:00.002-04:00

I spent the morning praying for a friend’s child and their struggles. I prayed that “today” would be a good day, because I know (from long personal experience) that that is how you survive the struggle. You pray for “today” and then tomorrow you pray for “today” as well… and you keep on praying for “today” until that particular battle becomes a skirmish, and that skirmish becomes something that you talk about in the past tense, while praying for the conflict that the new day brings (because every day brings one of its own.)

I prayed this morning for a closer loved one with a struggle, and for a friend whose husband has cancer – very serious cancer… I prayed for her strength and courage “today.”

I prayed for some I know that have made poor choices, that are now being covered by lies and deception, and for others who are overwhelmed by their responsibilities, and for those who are just plain afraid.

But, I kept coming back to “how does intercessory prayer overcome free will?” If my friend’s child chooses to turn away; if my own loved one chooses to react; if my friend chooses to give in, or allows fear to take control of her life… how does my intercessory prayer change anything?

How does intercessory prayer “make” someone tell the truth or give someone a way out, or keep someone from fear?

And the answer is – I don’t really know. All I know for sure is – there have been times in my own life when the only way I made it through was in knowing that someone was praying for me. I remember distinctly driving down the interstate (I can picture it in my mind, even today) and thinking, “Georgia and Ruby said that they were praying for me… that will get me through today…”

So, maybe I should let them know that they are being prayed for… Maybe that’s where intercessory prayer gets its power. Maybe just being reminded that even if you’re powerless; even if you’re the one on “the stretcher” that you have friends that are willing to carry you to Jesus, tear off the rooftop, and lower you down to Him… Maybe that’s where the power really is.

We just need to allow Him to deal with the sin or the heartache or the pain or the fear. I don’t have to (and in fact, can’t) “fix it.” But He can, and will… I only have to pray.

I still don’t know how intercessory prayer overcomes free will. But then, I don’t have to understand – I only have to pray.

And Father, I do pray, today... and leave it in Your hands. In Jesus' Name - Amen.

Busy, busy, busy!

2009-09-14T16:36:00.004-04:00

I can't believe that it's been so long since I posted last. I've been so busy. If you know us, you know that we live on a farm and I own a business http://www.newmanvalley.com where we do chair caning and wicker repair. But, as I often tell folks, during the summer we do much more "canning" than "caning"!

I continue to do a lot of Bible studying as well writing and teaching Bible studies. I'm teaching a Wednesday night study at Bethel UMC (http://holston.org/churches/bethel-umc-french-broad-kodak-tn/programs/wednesday-night-bible-study/ ) on the book of Mark and a Sunday night study at Huckleberry Springs ( http://holston.org/churches/french-broad-circuit-t/programs/sunday-night-faith-lift/ )that we're calling "Sunday Night 'Faith Lift'!"

In our Sunday night study we're doing a 5-week study on the First Missionary Journey of Paul, titled "Goin' Down a New Road." If you're interested in a copy of this study, e-mail me and I'd be glad to send you a copy.

I hope to resume posting right away, but then again, we are coming up on the "Fall Shows"... so, we'll see...

To those of you who check in often - thank you - and I'll try to be back at it soon.

betty

Holston Annual Conference and McKay's Used Books

2009-07-20T07:50:00.002-04:00

(Since “The Call” is still reporting on Annual Conference, perhaps it’s ok for me to touch on this thought one more time…)

A popular illustration for reaching the next generation involves how we listen to music. (It must be popular… I heard it from an evangelist in April and not once, but twice at Annual Conference from two totally different speakers, from two totally different parts of the country! I think I have an idea of where the “original” came from…)

However, as the illustration goes, one is first shown what we “old folks” refer to as an “LP” record. For those who don’t know, that’s the large “albums” that played at “33 1/3” rpms on our record players. (Of course, we could mention the old “78’s” or even the “Victrolas…” if we really wanted to go “back there” but I digress…)

Next we see an “8-track” tape (which brings back loads of memories) followed by a cassette, a CD, and then an Ipod… The whole thrust of the illustration is to say that although the “message” of the Gospel doesn’t change, the “method” for sharing it does.

Many have taken this illustration to mean “out with the old, and in with the new” and if you aren’t on the cutting edge of “worship” then you’re completely missing the boat. If you’re still doing worship the “old way” then there’s no way that you can bring in young folks. Tired old traditions and rituals are out, and new innovation is in.

And while I agree with that to a certain extent, I don’t think we can “throw the baby out with the bath water!” God told Moses numerous times in the “books of the Law” to teach these traditions to the people, and to make sure that they were passed on with, yes, even the keeping of rituals. Paul even told the Thessalonians to stand firm and hold to the traditions which they were taught.

So, tradition – in and of itself – is not wrong. In fact, I think the young folks crave the “concreteness” of tradition and ritual.

The next Sunday after we came home from Annual Conference, I went to McKay’s Used Books with my daughter-in-law. I’d never been to the new warehouse before. I was amazed! To a “read-a-holic” like me, it was like taking a kid to a toy store!

Of course, if you’ve been to a McKay’s, you know that they carry much more than used books. There’s all kinds of music as well as video games and Wii games, plus a whole lot that I’m sure I missed. (The section featuring the commentaries was outstanding!)

So as we left I asked Suzanne, “I saw lots of CDs, but do they take cassettes?” (I’m “old” I tell ya!) She said, “No, but a really big thing now is vinyl. If you’ve got any old record albums that you’re willing to part with, you can get good money for them! The younger crowd seems to really appreciate how music sounds on vinyl...”

Hmmm… perhaps some traditions are worth keeping? Let’s examine our “traditions” before we just get rid of them wholesale. There are reasons some things are still around…

I believe that we must teach the rituals and traditions of the faith. They are not “dry and dusty” – they are as alive as we make them. And they still have power.

Father, lead us to remember the faith of our fathers and our mothers. Help us to combine the “old” with the “new” as You would lead us. Renew in our own hearts the reasons behind the things that we do, so that when our children ask “why do you do this” we can share what You have done in our lives.

Thank You for the precious blood of Jesus, and may we never neglect His call to “Do this in remembrance of Me…”

In His Name – Amen.

Morning Prayer

2009-07-13T10:06:00.003-04:00

A prayer of F.B. Meyer that I have adopted for my own says, “May I be willing, to be made willing, that Thy Will should be done.”

In a time of preparation for prayer one morning the following song came to mind. Many of you know it as our churches sing it often, but many times we find that as we sing, we don’t really “listen” to the words that the Spirit would speak to us. So, this morning… listen…

These precious words are inspired by John 20:22

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love
what Thou dost love,
And do
what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until with Thee
I will one will,
To do
and to endure.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Till all this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire
divine.

Breathe on me,
breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee
the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Dear Lord… what must happen in our world so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in Heaven? What must happen in our churches, so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in Heaven? My Father… what must happen in my life so that Thy Will is done – on earth, as it is in heaven? May I be willing, to be made willing, that Thy Holy and Perfect Will should be done in my life.
In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Down From the Mountain

2009-06-18T09:03:00.001-04:00

Or, this could be subtitled, “Lessons from Annual Conference!” (This could fall under “don’t get me started!” But, if you want to know more – call or e-mail me and I’ll go into more detail.)

I just returned from our Church’s Annual Conference, which is held at Lake Junaluska, NC. It was (as always) an awesome week. The music was uplifting and inspiring. The preaching was amazing. The ordination and commissioning services gave me chills, and touched my heart.

And the teaching was… well… let me just say this – never before have I ever seen an altar call given at Annual Conference, and especially after a teaching session on how to preach and lead worship! Our Bishop was moved to tears (and so were a couple thousand people!)

We left there with our heads swirling and our hearts bursting!

And then we came home.

And maybe it was just me, but the clouds and storms that engulfed us as we left that place seemed to mirror my mood. Maybe I was just tired – after all, the days were long, and the walking… well, let’s just say “thank goodness for the trolley!”

But, my ankles were hurting and then feeling like I’d made a fool of myself didn’t help matters any, and I began thinking of others who’d come “down from the mountain” as well.

When Moses came “down from the mountain” there were the Israelites with that dog-gone golden calf!

When Elijah came “down from the mountain” there was Jezebel and her threats.

When Jesus and “the three” came “down from the mountain” there were those hopeless disciples with that man and his demonic son… does nothing ever change?

And I began thinking about Bishop Marion Edwards’ sermon on Tuesday evening. The title was “Who Will Come and Go with Me?” and his Old Testament scripture was Exodus 14:10-15, where the Children of Israel have left Egypt and have come to the Red Sea.

They have mountains to the right, and mountains to the left, the Egyptians behind them, and the Red Sea in front of them, and they cry out to Moses… “This is all your fault! Were there no graves in Egypt so that you had to bring us out here to die? Is that it?!”

I wrote in my notes, “Leading, when no one wants to follow…” Sometimes that’s what I feel like (and I bet you do too…)

My “Psalm per week” this week is Psalm 77, and once again, God has spoken to my heart.

The “title” for this Psalm in my NRSV Bible is “God’s Mighty Deeds Recalled” and in it the writer cries out to God saying that he is so weary of crying that “my soul refuses to be comforted…”

But then in verses 11-13 he says, “I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work, and muse on Your mighty deeds. Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?”

And with that I call to mind, again, the songs of praise, and the altar call… that gut-wrenching, knees-buckling, soul-humbling, altar call on Tuesday night… and I know, God is in control.

Back to the scripture in Exodus… Moses tried to give the Israelites a pep-talk - “just hang in there… it’ll be ok… but then he turned (where no one could see him, I suspect) and cried out to God. And when Moses cries out to God there on the shores of the Red Sea, God says to him, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward!”

In other words, “Don’t sit around belly-aching about the problems. Go forward!” And the question comes back, “How do you lead when no one wants to follow?” And the answer is, “Lead anyway!”

And so members of Holston (and any other leaders) “Lead Anyway!” Our church is depending on you!

Our Father… it is so very difficult to lead. We just don’t feel adequate for the task. Our enemy attacks us with, “Well, who do you think you are to be leading…” and “Ha! You really made a fool of yourself that time! Why don’t you just keep your mouth shut?”

But yet, You have not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, and love and discipline; not just power, but we are to lead with love, and self-control… Oh God, be in us that power, and that love and that discipline, for “ours” is so very weak.

Bless this Church, O Lord, and all others who stand in their own denominations. We are but cracked and blemished vessels in which You have chosen to pour Your Own Spirit. May we lead with Your Power, Your Love and Your Control… And when no one wants to follow – give us courage to lead anyway!

In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray – Amen.

No Fudging

2009-06-01T17:49:00.002-04:00

It came to me today, maybe why we sinners think that God will “cut us some slack” when it comes to sin. Why we think, “well, it’s just a ‘little’ sin. It’s not as bad as…” (name your comparison); maybe why we think we can “fudge” a little on the “judgment thing.”

Didja ever play marbles? Once you start to shoot your marble, there’s no “fudging” – no moving the marble from its starting place; no “repositioning”; no moving closer to the target for a better shot. And if you mess up… well, the marble has to stay where it is.

I thought about this today as I was driving up I-40 in the middle lane, and cars were passing me on both sides. The speed limit is 60, and I was going 65. Still, cars were passing (literally) right and left!

The thought went through my mind that, “You know… they pretty much ‘give you’ 5 mph before writing a ticket, but this is ridiculous!

Then I thought back to a meeting yesterday (Methodists will understand this.) In our “apportionment” system, knowing that the Conference will never collect 100% of the apportionments allotted for all the churches, they purposely set the amount higher, so that the amount that does come in will be somewhat close to what is needed…

In apportionments as in speed limits, why can’t it just be “set” what it needs to be, and then made compulsory for everybody? No fudging.

We seem to expect to fudge a little on everything. Maybe that’s why we expect the same in our lives before God.

God does not allow “fudging.” As a friend of mine says, “It is, what it is!” Sin is sin, period. If you’ve not murdered anyone, nor stolen from anyone, but have at some point in your life, told a lie – you’re just as sinful as any murderer sitting on death row.

James says, (James 2:10) “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” No fudging.

No rationalizing, no whitewashing, no fudging. The penalty for sin is set in stone, “the wages of sin is death” no exceptions. No setting it higher so that we can get “close enough.” No “padding” it to make allowances. It must be paid. And it was. Purely through the Grace and Mercy of God, by the blood of Jesus Christ are we saved.

The difference is we want to fudge – but God wants to forgive.

Father, open our eyes to see areas of our lives where we’ve made compromises. May we, starting this very hour, remove all “fudging” from our lives. Help us to stand firm, confessing all, and seeking Your forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Prayer preface - Worship

2009-04-18T22:02:00.001-04:00

As my husband goes to the church to work on his music, and I have dishes to do, I think, “This is a good time to pray…”

And I begin…

Oh Lord, I must begin with worship; not because You need my worship, but that I need to say it. I need to affirm it…

Because, O Lord, there is no hurt that I can feel, that You have not already felt.
There is no question I can have, that You don’t already know the answer to; and there is no fear that I can fear that You are not bigger than… because You are God.

You are God, and You know everything - You are Omniscient.
You are all powerful – You are Omnipotent.
You are everywhere – You are Omnipresent.
And, You are GOD!

(And I am overwhelmed with the idea that the dishes will just have to wait, because I need to write this down…)

I just have to affirm that worship. I just have to drink that into my very being.
“Be still…” the Psalmist said, “And know that I Am God.” But what he/He really said was, “Cease striving…” “Don’t kick against the pricks; don’t kick against the goads…”

And I immediately ask, “Lord! What in the world does that mean?” And I find it means “to offer vain and rash resistance which is a proverbial expression alluding to unruly oxen and applied to those who by unruly rage hurt themselves.”

And I cry out, “Oh God! I do do that, don’t I?” In my case (at least at “this” age) it’s not so much “rage” or anger anymore, as it is fear, and discouragement, and an ache in my heart for those I love… but still, it is “vain and rash resistance…” to being still and knowing that You are God.

Help me, O Lord. Help me.

Even in my praise; even in my worship; remind me O Lord, that I am Your child, and You love me.

As I lift up, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. You are Holy, O my Saviour, my Redeemer! You are Worthy to be Praised… and I will praise You, Most Holy One.

And now, Father… “Abba”, let me crawl upon Your lap, lay my head on Your shoulder, and feel Your arms around me while I pray…

Easter Sermon for Children

2009-04-11T16:14:00.004-04:00

I don't do a lot of children's sermons, but this will work for a sermon or if you need to keep the kids occupied while the adults are hiding the eggs! (Which is the reason I wrote this today.)

Children’s Sermon/Story for Easter
(Use for “Egg Hunt” story time or Easter Sunday Sermon)

Do you know what “Special Day” tomorrow (or today) is?

Why do we celebrate Easter?

(Let the children make comments.)

We have a lot of special days, don’t we? Can you name some other special days? (Christmas, 4th of July, Memorial Day, etc…) We celebrate each of these special days for a reason – Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday; the 4th of July celebrates our county’s birthday, etc.

When Jesus was a little boy, (well, when He was all grown up, too) the Jewish people had a lot of special days that they celebrated. They had one called “Passover”; and one called “Hanukkah”; and one called “The Day of Atonement”, and a whole bunch more. But they had one that they celebrated on the very same day that we celebrate Easter… Do you know what it is?

It is called the “Festival of First Fruits.” What do you think that might mean?

Just like our special days’ having a reason for celebration, so did the “Festival of First Fruits.” When God brought the Jewish people into the Promise Land they were mostly farmers and shepherds – they grew crops and raised sheep. Every year when their crops were ready to pick, they were supposed to bring the very first of the produce to God as a “thank you” for His blessing on their crops; they called this the first “fruit” whether it was a fruit or a vegetable or a grain of some sort. So they called the special day, “The Festival of First Fruits.”

Now, I’m going to use a really big word, and see if you know what it means… Do you know what “Resurrection” means? It means to have a new life. Jesus died, but then was given a new life.

In another place in the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:20) a man named Paul calls Jesus the “first fruits of those who have died…” What do you think that might mean? (He is the very first One to be resurrected.)

Do you think He will be the only one to ever have a new life?

Let me ask you this… have any of you ever had a garden? What did you grow? When you picked the very first _____… did you think that would be the only _____ that you would have? Why?

Paul called Jesus the “first” fruit… he didn’t call Him the “only” fruit… This means that someday, everyone who believes in Jesus will be given a new life, too.

I’ve got one more word to ask you about… Do you know what a “witness” is? A witness is someone who has seen something or knows something for themselves. When Jesus was given a new life, a whole lot of people were witnesses to that. A lot of people saw Him over a few weeks’ time. But you know what? Even though we haven’t seen Him, we can be witnesses of Jesus, too.

One time Jesus healed a blind man, and later a bunch of people were asking the man all kinds of questions about Jesus, and the man said, “Well, I don’t know a whole lot about Him, but one thing I know for sure – I was blind, and now I can see. And that’s good enough for me.”

And so, we don’t have to “see Jesus” to be His witness. All we have to see and know are the things He has done in our own lives. One song says, “When I am sad, He makes me glad… He’s my Friend.”

And so, when anyone asks you what Easter is, you can say, “It means that Jesus has a new life, and it means that I can have one, too. And I know that for sure!”

Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for Easter. And thank You for calling me to be a witness that Jesus is the First Fruit, and that I can be one too!
In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

Apology

2009-03-27T11:08:00.002-04:00

Just a short word of apology to those of you who keep checking my blog for something new.

In the past month, my laptop (which I use at home for all my studies) crashed, not once, but twice!

I had just reloaded my e-Sword software, along with some new Bible software that I'd gotten, and had just begun to get back in the habit of writing, when the laptop started making the strangest noise!

I called my "tech-guy" and said, "Listen to this" and held the phone close. He said, "oh-oh... that isn't good..."

So, my only access to this blog is in my studio - which, I could write here... but the "atmosphere" just isn't conducive to studies... so... if you've come looking for "new stuff..." I'm sorry.

Here's an idea! Go back into the archives and read some of the older stuff... and let me know what you think!

betty

Kitchen Table Prayer

2009-02-03T10:25:00.001-05:00

Many times I’ve gone to prayer with the cry, “What do I say, Lord? What do I say?”

Usually this is in response to a deep seated need for my own family or for others who’ve asked me to pray.

However, for a rewarding experience in prayer, try this sometime. If your kitchen is anything like mine (and I’m betting it is) then it is the “nerve center” of the home. It’s where things happen.

Sit down at your kitchen table and just look around. You’ll be amazed at what you see…

I’m not going to share my prayer - it’s too personal - but I’ll tell you some of what I see.

First of all, the table is cluttered with books and papers and such - an indication of our busy lives. I am thankful for each of these “activities” and the health to pursue them.

I see a jar lid that says “A B 88” - that stands for “Apple Butter 1988”. It is in my Mother’s handwriting… I miss her so much, and I am so thankful for how I was raised.

I see a couple of boxes of herbal tea that our younger son brought in, and a western magazine belonging to our older son… I pray for, and am thankful for them. We are so blessed.

On the refrigerator is a photo of my husband - what we have is beyond words. And, there’s a card from my daughter-in-law - such a special gal!

I also see a photo of a friend’s baby, a “Lucy and Ethel” magnet from a very close friend, and a faculty list from our local high school (I often pray for these teachers and school staff.)

Looking on around I see “treen-ware” (wooden spoons) and a handmade “cat doll” and herbal vinegars made by craft/artist friends; each of whom hold a dear place in my heart.

There are gifts from this one, and utensils from that one and items that spark all kinds of memories. And, as those memories roll in, I pray for these folks and thank God for their place in my life.

I am also thankful for the time I can take, with my coffee, before the day begins to meditate on God’s grace and the overwhelming blessings He has given us.

No, our lives aren’t perfect - and I’ve cried many tears at this kitchen table - but this morning, as I look at the bounty from last summer, the cookbooks on the shelf, the antique dishes belonging to my “faith mothers”, and the coats hanging on the chair backs - I am reminded (again) of just how blessed we are.

I didn’t set out this morning to do this. God just opened my eyes at my kitchen table - let Him open yours, today.

God, thank you for opening my eyes this morning. I pray for my friends and those who seek to serve You daily. Use the “little things”, I pray, to spark memories, and bring to mind “faces” of those for whom You would have us pray, today.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.
After this, I don’t think I’ll ever look at my kitchen the same way again!

Ah! So THAT'S Where That's At!

2009-01-22T08:55:00.002-05:00

As much as I love Scripture and the study of God’s Word; as much as I have “hidden it in my heart”; as much as I desire to “walk before the Lord in the land of the living”, still, I am not very good at “chapter and verse.”

I know “what” it says - I just may not be able to tell you where to find it. (Thank goodness for “search functions!”)

This week as I come to Psalm 56 in my “weekly study” of the Psalms, once again I find myself saying, “So that’s where that’s at!”

Psalm 56 is titled “A psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath.” You remember Gath - that’s where the “Anakim” lived... you know, the big people. Goliath was from Gath…

Several years after David slew Goliath, he was hiding from Saul, and the place that he went to hide was in Gath - talk about jumping out of the fat into the fire! (You can find this story in 1 Samuel 21.) And this Psalm is his cry for deliverance, and his statement of faith.

The first section of the Psalm records David’s cry in which he says, (verse 3) “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”

And then in verse 8 he says, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.”

“You have collected all my tears in Your bottle…” This word for “bottle” is not some little ointment bottle, or perfume bottle, but the word for a wineskin; a big bottle. He has them all - every silent whimper, every wail, every body-shaking sob - He has them all!

Last week I gave the message at a funeral for a church member. (See previous post) In it I read the words to the song, “Does Jesus Care?” And we saw that yes, He does!

May He bless and comfort you today.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song,
As the burdens press, and the cares distress
And the way grows weary and long?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when my way is dark
With a nameless dread and fear?
As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
Does He care enough to be near?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed,
To resist some temptation strong;
When for my deep grief there is no relief,
Though my tears flow all the night long?

Refrain

Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
To the dearest on earth to me,
And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks,
Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

Refrain:
Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares,
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary,
the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

Funeral meditation

2009-01-19T09:29:00.002-05:00

Welcome brothers and sisters, we have come this afternoon to honor and celebrate the life of Anna Rhea Lynn.

Our God is an awesome God! He took a man from Illinois, and a woman from the hills of East Tennessee, and had them meet - in California - on a blind date - at a high school football game - in the rain! Now you think God wasn’t in that! :-)

The family shared with me of what a strong and adventurous woman she was. She loved cooking and gardening, even belonging to gardening clubs in Calif. and traveling all over judging competitions.

She was a woman dedicated to caring for her family - doing whatever it took.

She was like those familiar words form the book of Proverbs.

(Read Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-30 NLT)

May your hearts be comforted as we share together today…

(Word of Grace and opening prayer - Rev. Bill Cahill)

Sermon:

I want to share with you from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 NLT. (Read)

This is how we are to comfort one another - we are to remind one another of the hope that we have in Christ, Who was the first raised from the dead. Paul is saying that we don’t grieve as those who have no hope, but one thing he is not saying, is that it won’t hurt, because it will, and it does. Christ certainly expects us to shed tears and feel loneliness as we go though these valleys. But in the midst of our sorrow, there must be the testimony of the living hope we have in Christ

Jesus Himself said to Martha when Lazarus died, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." And then He said to her, “Do you believe this?”

And we have to answer that as well. Do we believe it or not?

But, do you remember what happens next? He weeps. Jesus cries at the tomb of Lazarus; He who knew that He was, Himself, “the resurrection and the life”, cried at His best friend’s tomb.

I believe there are several reasons He cried. First He cried because it was necessary for His friend to die. He had to allow Lazarus to die, and that pained Him greatly.

And second, He cried because those He loved so dearly were hurting. Many times, when it’s just us, we deal with grief pretty well. But when someone we love is grieving, it causes us to cry with and for them.

Yes, we have hope, but it is going to hurt.

There is an old song that asks the question, “Does Jesus Care?”

(Read verses 1, 4 Cokesbury Hymnal #180)

These memorials and funerals are hard, but we are not meant to carry this alone. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Paul tells us that God offers comfort to all.

(Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

Isn’t that encouraging? That we will be able to give one another the same comfort that God has given us! And that is why we are here today. We want to celebrate and honor the life of Anna Rhea, but we also, as a Church, want to comfort and love you.

But, I believe there is another reason that Jesus cried. I believe He cried because He had to bring Lazarus back from heaven.

Can you imagine? Heaven! Paradise! The word for paradise is paradisos - it means “the King’s private garden.” Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise!” Today, you’ll walk in My Father’s garden.

He told the disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

When Bill told me about Anna Rhea doing all that traveling with the garden clubs and the competitions, I thought, “Yeah, that’s where she’s at - she’s “inspecting the gardens!” Her feet aren’t hurting, and her knees are well, and she’s enjoying the garden.

While we’re here on this dying earth, we can rejoice for Anna Rhea who is in the presence of Christ.

Of course you’ll miss her! Of course it’s going to hurt. And you’ll find yourself caught off guard sometimes at the most unlikely thing - a certain flower, a certain sound, a rainy football game, but remember, as we read, the Apostle Paul tells us that we don’t grieve like those who have no hope.

Our parting is not the end - it’s only an interruption. We’ve not “lost” Anna Rhea - we know exactly where she is. She is experiencing Christ’s presence in a place so joyful and wonderful that it is called “Paradise!”

And one day, we’re told, we will be with the Lord forever! “Comfort one another with these words!”
I want to close by reading the words to another old familiar song.

(Read all 4 verses, then chorus of “The Unclouded Day” Cokesbury Hymnal #207)

Closing prayer - Rev. Bill Cahill

Dismiss to Cemetery

Fear Not

2009-01-07T09:07:00.001-05:00

Luke 1:30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God." (NASB)

"Wait a minute!" you say, "It's January already! Christmas is over!"

Bear with me, I've got something exciting to share!

I recently did a word study on the phrase "Fear Not", and found something that greatly touched, and encouraged my heart.

"Do not be afraid", or "Fear Not" is how we often hear and read it (the Greek word is phobeo and we get from it our word phobia) but, the "tense" in which it is said carries all the meaning!

The tense (according to my Key Word Bible and "Bibleworks" software) is "present imperative", which means the phrase is really saying, "Fear not, and keep on fearing not!"

It does not mean, "Oh here, let me pat you on the head and comfort you..."

No, it is a command. It recognizes that fear has started to creep into Mary's heart, but the angel commands that the fear stop... and not start back up again!

It is the same with Zechariah (Luke 1:13) and with the angels (Luke 2:10).

With Joseph however, (Matthew 1:20) the word is the same, but the tense is different. In Joseph's case it is "passive subjective", which means (basically) that the fear or doubt only comes because all the facts are not known yet. Once Jesus is born, there will be no further fear or doubt about marrying Mary.

But the real "kicker" is found in Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. (NASB emphasis added)

It is the very same word, and tense! Fear not, and keep on fearing not!

So yeah, another Christmas season has come and gone, but in many cases, once we come "down from the mountain" the fear "returns" as we settle back into the routines of life.

But, from a borrowed cradle to a borrowed tomb, the "bookends of Faith" say to us, no they Command us, "Fear not, and keep on fearing not!"

May God strengthen and encourage you this new year!

betty

Prayers for the New Year

2008-12-30T06:20:00.002-05:00

I originally posted these prayers 2 years ago for the New Year 2007, but with many new readers of this blog, I decided to repost them for this coming new year.

My prayer for you is, (from Isaiah 55:6) "Seek Him while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."

If we can pray for you, please e-mail us.

Prayers for the New Year… 2009

(Personal prayer)
Father, as I pause to think about praying for a new year, I have to wonder, what is it about changing the date on a calendar that makes us think of “starting over.”? Don’t we realize that every day, yes even every moment is new with You? That at any moment we can surrender ourselves to You and start afresh? Why do we think a “date” must change for us to change?

Or, is it the “season” we’ve just gone through that prompts us to make changes? We have experienced the Advent and the celebration of the Day of the birth of our Lord. Is somehow, that “advent” so ingrained within us that we long for “something new”? That we subconsciously want to “prepare” ourselves to be, what, better? More ready for His coming?

I don’t know the “why” Lord. I just know that we do. My prayer is, as Paul said, “forgetting what lies behind, but reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on to the goal…” And what is my goal, Lord? To know Thee more clearly, to serve Thee more nearly, and to love Thee more dearly… this is my prayer.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

(Universal prayer)
Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God; our Creator, our Adonay, our El-Shaddai, our God Almighty, You are everything we need. You have created us for Your purposes and to glorify You, hear our cries; hear our praises this day…

We lift up to You this day, a new year; a turning of our earthly calendar. Do You laugh at that, God? For to You “a thousand years is as a single day” and yet we turn the calendar with such pomp and circumstance - with such celebrations and resolutions, that one would think that “we” had some control… but, it is all Yours.

We humbly bow at that admission and revelation. It is all Yours! Make of us, Lord, servants of the Most High God, make of us, Father, servants of Your children.

We pray, Father, for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings hope; for those who just want to forget last year and start afresh. We pray that they would come to know that “every” day is new with You.

We pray for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings despair, anxiety and fear; for those who just can’t see how things can get any better. We pray that they would come to know You in all Your fullness, and to recognize that “this world is not their home.”

We pray for those for whom the turning of the calendar brings excitement; for those who know You and just can’t wait to see what You’ll do next. God! That is so exhilarating - just to know the joy of the Lord! But even at that Lord, may we too, realize that “this world is not our home” either. Don’t let us get so caught up with “living” that we forget “life.”

We humbly lay this “year” at Your feet and ask what would You have us do? Where would You have us go? Who would You have us touch? And who would You have touch us?

And may all that we do, glorify You.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

(My prayer)
My Father and my God, so order my steps in this coming year as to only bring honor to that Name I carry - “Christian.”

Lord, I know that means so many different things to different people - and some of it is not good. May I begin to change that!

John (our younger son) once said, “I keep tying my shoe, and it keeps coming untied - it must be something in my step…” Father, no matter how much I try to keep life together, no matter how often “I” tie my shoes, they keep coming untied. “Life” keeps coming unraveled, because that’s how “life” is. And as long as we live as humans, in fallen “containers” it will always be like that.

And so I pray, God, order my steps, control my walk, direct my path, that I may serve You and You alone this new year. That is my plea.

In Jesus’ name - Amen.

My Favorite Christmas Scripture...

2008-12-18T07:45:00.003-05:00

... is Galatians 4:4a. "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman..." (NASB)

"Fullness of time" - what does that mean? It means "perfect" timing.

It absolutely amazes me how God works, not only in the individual lives of men and women, but in "time" (past, present and future) as well. How He "works" everything together just boggles the mind.

The following is excerpted from a piece I wrote titled, "From Malachi to Matthew."

In speaking of the "400 'silent' years", I said:

"Yes, God may have been silent, but that does not mean He was not at work!

The Babylonians carried the Children of Israel into Exile, but it was during that period that the books of the Bible were compiled and the Synagogue system of worship created.

The Persians allowed the Israelites to return to their homeland. The temple was rebuilt and temple worship reinstated.

The Greeks (Alexander the Great) brought the Greek culture or Hellenization to the world. This brought a way of life, trade, diplomacy, and most importantly, the Greek language. It became the language of commerce and thus of the world.

The Romans (the Caesars) were geniuses at "movement" and engineering. They created a system of roads whereby the whole world could travel.

It is into this setting, at what Galatians 4:4 calls "the fullness of time" when the whole known world could travel and could communicate that we find (which, by the way, was written over 700 years before) "…unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace…"

At just the perfect time!"

*************************************************************

I pray that you have a wonderful Christmas season. Watch and listen for God's perfect timing. Remember, God doesn't make mistakes!

betty

Staircase to Heaven

2008-12-05T19:45:00.002-05:00

Oh God, what a picture, what an image, to imagine that great chasm which lies between the man of sin and the Holiness of Your Presence… And then Lord, to picture a staircase, sure and firm though it be, to see that it is built out of “cross-wood”; rough, splintery, blood-soaked, cross-wood.

I see it rising, Lord, and winding past the petty sins of selfishness and greed, and ascending past princes and powers and principalities. I see it climbing up and circling the mount… the blood becomes mingled with gold as it passes angels and thrones and crowns.

It continues past prophets and priests and kings, to come to a throne-room where the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, reaches out His nail scarred hands and bids me come and pour out my heart to Him… He assures me that He has His Father’s ear…

God, I am breathless and awed and humbled to even think about and visualize such a staircase, and to know, that even if there were no other person, He would have built it… and climbed it… just for me…

I praise and exalt His Holy and precious Name… Amen.

Pray Specifically

2008-11-22T17:13:00.001-05:00

I have a new set of CDs from Chuck Swindoll on the Book of Daniel. He has run this series on his radio program for the past couple of months, but I kept missing parts of the lessons, so I just decided to order them so I could hear the whole thing.

The series had (of course, being from Daniel) quite a bit to do with prophecy, but the whole series (both halves of the book) was so relevant to the difficulties of today.

As you may recall, Daniel was taken into captivity with the Israelites as a young man, and rose to great prominence in the land of Babylon (much like Joseph’s captivity in Egypt.) The first half of the book of Daniel is (you might say) “practical” and the second half is “prophecy.” (Personally, I believe that Daniel wrote the whole book - but that’s another debate for another day…)

Again, what really struck me about the radio series was it’s relevance to today.
Rev. Swindoll spoke of elections, and of praying for the nation in times of great difficulties. He talked of wars and terrorist attacks and financial woes. I actually thought we were getting the sermons, pretty much, as he preached them.

Then I got the set in and found that the sermons were originally preached, just before the elections, in 1976! Wow! Thirty-two years ago… The similarities were eerie!

One thing he said really struck me, though. He said, “As Christians, sometimes our answer to difficulties is to look for the Rapture. Just ‘take us out of here’ we cry. But instead, our answer should be, as Daniel’s was, to pray.”

And so I urge you today… pray, pray, and then, pray some more. And don’t pray “generically”; pray specifically! If you don’t pray specifically, how are you going to know when God answers?

And, if you don’t know when He answers, how can you have faith in prayer, and how can you praise His Holy Name?

Precious and Gracious Lord; Father of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and by adoption, our own Abba, Father… we fall on our knees before You and pour out our hearts to You this morning.

God, we specifically name those things that create such terrible weights on our shoulders, and we pray, Lord, that You would lift our burdens.

For each of us, the “names” of the burdens may be different, but the pain is the same; the concern is the same; and the paralyzing fear of uncertainly is exactly the same. We just don’t know what to do next. Show us, I pray.

Lay out a path of direction that is so clear, that it could come from no other but You. And give us peace, Lord. Give us an assurance, an encouragement that our prayers are being heard, even if it’s going to be a long time until the complete answer comes, give us “something” to hold onto until that day. Give us… that peace that we so often hear of… that surpasses understanding.

Father, my personal prayer is for those that I wish (and that each of us wishes) would pray this prayer, but we just can’t seem to convince them to pray. We all have those, Lord; our friends, our family, our brothers and sisters in Christ - who just don’t seem to “get it.”

We pray that their eyes will be opened; we pray specifically that they will hear Your Voice when You call out, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

And we pray specifically that (this person) will respond.

In Jesus’ Holy and Perfect Name - Amen! (and Amen.)

Is the Bible Relevant to Today's Life?

2008-11-14T06:10:00.002-05:00

Biblical Relevance?

The headlines read:

Terrorist Attacks Continue

Economy in Ruins

Many Losing Jobs and Homes - Moving to Find Work

People in Despair

Lack of Faith in God Evident

These are not headlines from your local newspaper. They are from (if there was one) “The Bethlehem Times” during the 12th century BC, during the time of the setting of the book of Ruth.

I recently heard someone on the Bible Broadcasting Network begin a series on the book of Ruth, (95.3 if you’re in the Knoxville, East Tennessee area or http://www.bbnradio.org/ ) and I realized, “You know, I’ve never really delved into the book of Ruth!”

I’ve studied and written about Esther, but not Ruth - and since I’ve started this study, I’ve been amazed at what I’ve found. You think prophecy describes today? You should read the opening chapter of Ruth.

You might title the book of Ruth, “How Difficult Times Affected One Family.”

I’m convinced that Elimelech (whose name means “God is my King”) really believed what his name signified. But, he was a “devout” man, caught in desperate times.

If you could ask him, he would tell you, “No, I didn’t want to move to Moab, but I had to provide for my family. Ya gotta do what you gotta do, you know…” And so he went…

Little did he know that he would never set foot back in his hometown again; nor would his sons…

I intend to write a more in-depth study on the book of Ruth, but my number one goal as a Bible teacher is to give you (what I call) “the ‘want-to’s”.

I want you to “want to” read this for yourself.

If you’ve never studied the book of Ruth - or it’s been a while - read it today. Watch how God’s Hand of providence directed this one family, during a time of national unease, to fulfill His Will.

The key for us is this: He’s done it before… He’ll do it again… Look for it!

Father, I lift up those reading my blog, or on my mailing list. The older I get, the more I realize that every… single… person… has areas of their lives that desperately need prayer. And so I ask, Lord, hear the cries of their hearts - those spoken cries, those unspoken cries, and those cries that don’t even have words to bring them to light.

You promised that Your Spirit would connect with our spirit and take our groans and utterances right to the Throne of Grace - and so we pray for that very thing.

Fill us with the assurance of Your Presence as we live in these increasingly difficult times. And lead us to make right decisions, based on Your Promises and Your Word, and not on what we “think” we need to do to provide for our families.

Help us Father, to remain steadfast and faithful, and to seek to know You better through Your precious Word.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Conversion Isn't a "One-Time" Event

2008-11-04T14:01:00.002-05:00

Isn't it funny how we use words differently inside and outside of the Church?

When we say the word "conversion", if we're "inside" the church, we immediately think of "salvation."

But, if we're "outside" the church, we may more readily think of something like "conversion van" for instance. We think more of something that has been altered or changed in someway to make it useful for another purpose.

A recent S.S. lesson was on Saul's conversion, and it got me to thinking that, in actuality, conversion is a long drawn-out process, that involves a lot of changes.

For instance, the men we call the disciples were converted from their "jobs" to "followers of Christ." Then they were "converted" to disciples, then apostles, Church Fathers, and then most of them, to martyrs.

Actually the opposite of conversion is stagnation. When we stop changing, and growing, we are useless.

In Philippines 3:12-14 (NLT) Paul says, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

In my own life, I've undergone many "conversions." First I was a child, a daughter; then a student, (then a believer) an employee, a wife, a mother, a business owner, a writer a caregiver, a mother-in-law, and a teacher. And now, I am undergoing yet another "conversion" for which I am in daily prayer.

What about you? Have you undergone "conversion" in the "Biblical" sense? That's first and foremost. But then, what about in the fuller sense of the word? Are you undergoing conversion?

If not, are you in danger of becoming stagnant?

Father, I lift up those who genuinely seek conversion; those who seek to so change daily as to serve You in the fullest sense of the word; those who "forgetting the past, are looking forward to what lies ahead."

I pray Lord, that they... we may press on to reach the end of the race, and receive the heavenly prize for which You, through Christ, are calling us.

In Jesus' Name - Amen.

What a Difference a Word Makes!

2008-10-23T07:55:00.002-04:00

Psalm 42 is very familiar to many people, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (“Oh yeah, that one…”)

As I came to read this Psalm again, I found that at sometime in the past, I had titled this Psalm, “A Prayer for a Dead Church.” And indeed it certainly reads like a lonely faithful one’s prayer for their troubled church.

But what really caught my eye this time (and this is a wonderful argument for reading from several translations) is the subtle differences in 2 verses that, at first glance, appear to be identical. This is how it reads in the NASB.

Verse 5 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence.” (Remember, the words in italics aren’t there in the original Hebrew.)

And verse 11 says, “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”

As I was reading this, it was the little word “yet” in verse 11 that jumped off the page at me. It changes the whole tone of the verse from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief; from encouraging “self talk” to expectant hope; from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

As I read this Psalm in several different translations I saw that in many of them this verse doesn’t change. “So why,” I thought, “does it change in the NASB…?

I found that the Hebrew word for “yet” is the same as the word for “shall again”. So, is it “subjective?” Is it the translator’s whim as to which word to use?

No, it has to do with “tenses” (which is waaaaay over my head) that determines how the “tone” of the verse is translated from the Hebrew.

Therefore, the two verses really are different. We really can go from “wishful thinking” to a firm belief. We can go from “encouraging self-talk” to expectant hope. We can go from “someday maybe” to “once again, for sure.”

When our souls long for the “seemingly absent” Presence of the Living God, we can know that we will again rejoice in the comfort of His care.

But there’s one more thing that the word “yet” means. It also means “in spite of.” When we use the word this way we are saying, “No matter what it ‘feels’ like, I still have the assurance of God’s Presence, and no matter what happens, I will praise Him. For He helps how I look at things, instead of how things look to me, and He is my God!”

I pray for you today, to know God’s Presence, and His assurance in spite of the condition of the world around you.

In spite of your job security, in spite of your checking balance, in spite of the last doctor's report; proclaim with the prophet Habakkuk, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet (I imagine him saying with upraised fist) I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” (Emphasis added!)

Who Has Whose Hand?

2008-10-09T06:03:00.001-04:00

When we see an adult, with child of 5 or 6 years old, holding hands as they cross the street - we know who is holding whose hand.

But add 50-55 years to that scene - and now, who has whose hand?

I remember clearly a pastor we had once mentioning during a sermon something about God being at Jesus’ right hand. Now, we all know that Jesus is at God’s right hand, and I know he saw my puzzled look because as we made eye contact, I saw a slight smile come across his face as he continued talking about God at Jesus’ right hand…

Until… he got past the crucifixion, past the resurrection, and to Hebrews 12:2 where he read, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” And then I understood.

God was on Jesus' right hand in mission, and Jesus is on God's right hand in Glory!

That’s been nearly 15 years ago, and I still think of it. (I have notebooks full of notes from his sermons!) I’ve also thought of it several times this year as I’ve studied the Psalms. It’s amazing to me the number of times David has said, “You (God) take my right hand…” (Psalms 16:8; 73:23; 109:31 for example) and then the times he has said, “Let me (David) take Your (God’s) right hand…” (Psalms 17:7; 18:35 for example - actually there are some 35+ Psalms that mention God’s right hand…)

And so we ask, “Who has whose hand?”

Sometimes David has God’s right hand, and sometimes God has David’s right hand… what’s the difference? It’s certainly not that when God has David’s right hand (the hand of strength) that David is “taking care” of God.

It’s the fact that sometimes God is the strength at our right hand (putting us to work) and sometimes He comforts and protects us by keeping us at His right hand (when we’re too weak to work.)

It’s always God’s strength and salvation, it’s just that sometimes He holds our hand, and sometimes, He allows us to hold His…

At least this is my understanding of it…

As Jerry Clower used to say, “Ain’t God Good!”

God, my Father, my Strength, and my Deliverer, take my right hand and lead me into battle… and then, when the battle looms large ahead of me… may I take Your right hand in comfort and protection.

Oh God, this is almost too much for me to understand. I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.

Oh the depths of Your Word - and the heights to which it takes me - it’s dizzying, and at times, gives me cold chills and almost takes my breath.

As I meditate on Your Word, sometimes a warm wash of clarity comes over me, so much so that I scarcely breathe and don’t want to move, afraid that I may lose that understanding that is barely touching my fingertips…

Oh the wondrous joy of Your precious Word! Thank You for the treasure I hold in my hands!

"I'll Be Praying For You"

2008-09-23T21:26:00.002-04:00

A man in our church has just been diagnosed with inoperable cancer. I called his wife at home the other night and while talking to her, I asked if I could pray with her on the phone. She readily agreed.

When I finished, she asked if I'd call her husband at the hospital and pray with him, which I did.

You could tell that they both greatly appreciated it.

I got to thinking - we often tell people that we'll be praying for them, but how often do we let them hear us? I know a lot of people are uncomfortable praying in public - it merely takes experience to get comfortable with it, and you don't get experience, except by doing it.

So, in my weekly e-mail devotional this week, I sent the following "challenge" and "encouragement.'

Maybe this will help you, too.

“I’ll Be Praying for You”

Ever told someone, “I’ll be praying for you” or “I’ll put you on my prayer list”?

What about, “I’ll be thinking about you…” or (and I really hope not) “I’ll send ‘happy thoughts’ your way…”? (Sorry to tell you, but that won’t help a bit!)

If you’ve ever told someone, “I’ll be praying for you” then I’ve got a challenge for you - why not do it right then!

Instead of saying “I’ll be praying for you” say “Can I pray with you now?”

“Whoa,” you might say, “I can’t pray in public! I don’t know what to say.”

Why not? You’re just talking to God… about the person… for whom… you just told that you would! What’s the difference in doing that with them and doing it alone?

Try this - copy this prayer and put it in your purse or billfold and pull it out whenever you need it. You’ll be amazed at how much they appreciate it (and after a while, you won’t need a written prayer!)

Dear God, You know that I’m not real good at this, but I just want to thank you for allowing me to pray for __________.

God, we don’t always know how to pray, but then, we don’t have to; You alone are God. You know _________’s needs - the needs that are apparent, [name them if you want] and the needs that lie beneath the surface. And You know what will bring You Glory. We pray that You will bring those things together.

God, we just want to take this brief moment to share our friendship before You, and pray that You will bless that friendship, and our service to You.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Now just think… wouldn’t you love for someone to pray that with you today?

I just did...

I prayed for you by your name, if I knew it; or by your e-mail address if I didn't - but rest assured, God knows your name.

I prayed for you, where you are at 6:30 this morning - it's Monday... that can be exciting or tough. Some of you are dealing with death in your family today, and some are facing extreme illness - either in yourself, or family or friends. I lift you up.

Many of you are caring for children, or parents, or more likely - both. I know from experience how difficult that can be. I pray for strength, and more importantly sometimes, wisdom - "just what in the world, God, do You want me to do here..."

I know, I've cried those very words.

I pray for pastors, pastor's wives, (or spouses) and church staff. I pray for teachers, staff and support personnel. I pray for students, employers, employees, the self-employed, and the un-employed. God is there.

And I pray for your homes. God knows your every need. I told a group last week, "Everybody thinks that everybody else has it 'all together'... I've got news for you - ain't none of us got it all together!"

Every single one of us feels alone at times; every single one of us is afraid at times; every single one of us needs God. And God created us to need each other.

I've prayed for you... you pray for one another - and don't be afraid to let them hear you pray...

Amen.

What's One Prayer

2008-09-15T06:59:00.002-04:00

Many people believe that we are in the “last days.” I know just enough about prophecy to be dangerous. And like the old saying goes, “I don’t understand all I know about it!”

In the summer of 2005, Mahmond Ahmadinejad was elected as the new president of Iran. He made the statement that he believed the end of the world was 2 or 3 years away… (2005+3=_____)

I have read, heard and watched (in the past week) three completely different programs, conversations, and statements that have said virtually the same thing.

Then, when I read it again, the fourth time, I lowered the book (which was published in 2006) and began to pray, “Oh Lord, I pray for mercy and the forgiveness of Your people…”

But even as I said that, my mind replied, “What good is one prayer?”

We all know the scripture - 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If… My people, who are called by My Name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land…”

We know it so well that it has almost become cliché.

And I cried, “But it says ‘people’ Lord! ‘People!’ People are more than ‘person’! What good is MY prayer? How in the world can my prayer make a difference?”

And my mind went to Moses’ plea, and Paul’s plea. It went to Daniel’s confession and Nehemiah’s confession, and finally to Isaiah’s confession when he said, “I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips…”

All through Israel’s history we see God’s hand of wrath stayed or held back when repentance took place.

I fully believe that God is offering us, in America, an opportunity to repent; an opportunity to postpone the Day of Vengeance.

I believe He is calling us to “stand in the gap”. It is time to take off our camouflage and let the world know who we are and what we believe. It’s time to stop being politically correct, and start being faithfully strong - regardless of the cost.

I believe He is saying (to us, in our day, in this very year), “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”

Will you reply, “Here am I, send me…”

If my “one prayer” of repentance, is added to your “one prayer” of repentance; and your “one prayer” of repentance is added to the prayer of everyone who reads this, and their prayers of repentance - then we’ve gone a long way toward turning that “person” into “people.”

This is my prayer…

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of Your glory!

Oh Father, I am a sinful woman, and I live among a people who are sinful. But You have cleansed that sin, not with a burning coal, but with the blood of Your very own Son.

That Blood was poured out for the sin of the world, but it has been spurned, ridiculed, and rejected by so many, and there will be the Day of Vengeance.

God, we are torn - do we pray for a delay of the wrath, or for the coming of the Bridegroom? We so long to see His Face and triumph of Glory…

But, there are so many lost and hurting, and so we pray, in humility, hear us Father, forgive our sin, and heal our land.

May we seize this opportunity You are holding out to postpone the judgment a season longer, if that be Your Holy Will.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

One prayer + one prayer + one prayer + one prayer…

Where is our care?

2008-09-05T06:22:00.001-04:00

If you knew some food was tainted, would you stop someone from eating it?

If you knew the bridge was out, would you redirect traffic?

If you knew someone was drowning, would throw a life raft?

And if you knew that a soul was perishing, would you call attention to sin?

“It’s none of my business.” we often hear people say. How come we’re “all about” saving lives (or the environment) but not souls?

Whether you believe that we’re in the “last days” or not, still, you must believe that we’re in perilous times.

Sometimes I feel like Jeremiah. He was called (in the vernacular) “Gloomy Gus”. And I have been told (by clergy as well as lay people) to “lighten up!” But then I think of the words of Paul in Acts 20:31 as he spoke to the folks at Ephesus, “Therefore be always alert and on your guard, being mindful that for three years I never stopped night or day seriously to admonish (or warn) and advise and exhort you one by one with tears.” (Amplified Bible)

Oh pastor! Are you praying and crying for your congregation?

Oh lay person! Are you praying and crying for your pastor and your fellowman?

Our prayers seem to be filled with “Fix it, God. Make my life (my spouse, my children, my job and my health) perfect.” Where is our cry with Moses as he interceded with God, time after time after time, from Exodus to Deuteronomy to spare the children of Israel?

Where is our cry with Paul as he said, (Romans 9:2-3) that if it was possible at all, he would give up his own salvation if that would save his fellow Jews...

Where is our word from the pulpit? Our churches have become more like a playground, less like a hospital, and not at all like a sanctuary or a haven of hope…

And our people are perishing for lack of knowledge…

The closing words to E.M. Bounds’ book, “The Necessity of Prayer” ring in our ears. “Prayer and preaching: preaching and prayer! They cannot be separated. The ancient cry was: ‘To your tents, O Israel!’ The modern cry should be: ‘To your knees, O preachers (and laity) to your knees!”

God help us!

For His Name's Sake

2008-08-27T09:34:00.001-04:00

“For His Name’s sake…”

Does that phrase ever bug you?

The other night I couldn’t sleep, so I finally got up and was reading in my Daily Bible (of which I am woefully behind schedule!) And I was reading in the book of Ezekiel.

In Ezekiel 20, God is relating to the elders of Israel (through Ezekiel) about how He brought them out of Egypt, only they kept rebelling and rejecting His laws.

Several times God says that He would have poured out His wrath, but that, “I withheld My hand and for the sake of My Name, I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations…” (emphasis added)

Over and over in Scripture we keep reading “for His Name’s sake…” It sounds like God does things to keep His name “looking good” and just for “the sake of His Name” so that no one will think badly of His Name. In other words, it looks like He doesn’t want His Name “sullied.”

It’s sorta like when parents tell their children “When you go out, you represent this house, so behave for our ‘name’s sake’…”

“For His Name’s sake”, sounds like God is protecting His Name - His Image…

But, that’s not what it means at all.

It means “for the ‘sake’ of His Name.” In the Hebrew, the word for “sake” is “ma-an” and means “intent” or “purpose”. And as an adverb means “on account of.”

In my study software, in the KJV with Hebrew numbers, we are always given 2 Hebrew words for “sake.” One is always H4616, which is ma-an, but the second word corresponds to the subject matter - whether mercy, or righteousness, or pardon, etc, and therefore means “on account of… His mercy” or “on account of… His Righteousness” or “on account of… His pardon…”

In other words, it is because of what His Name is that He “leads me in the path of righteousness.”

Because of what His Name is, He withholds His hand of anger. Because of what His Name is, He pardons, etc.

It is, actually, an indication of God’s very character!

“For His Name’s sake” is our greatest assurance of His presence and love because it is, Who He is!

Father, for Your very Name’s sake, guide our lives this day! In Jesus’ Name… and for His sake - Amen!

Unstillness in Prayer

2008-08-05T10:52:00.003-04:00

You know it's been a long time since you posted to your blog when you have to stop and think about what your password is...

And then, once you've gotten to the page you find it's been almost 2 months! Wow! June and July went by in a blur, what with - new pastors coming in, seminars to host and speak at, friends in very freak accidents, vegetable gardens to be maintained (2 of my own and now my friend's), surprise 90th birthday parties and family reunions to be planned, implemented, and experienced (and then recouped from!)

And now, all the produce from the above mentioned gardens are coming in and need to be harvested and "put up." And this doesn't even take into account my Art and Antiques Studio work... (guess that's what "employees" are for, huh?) Whew - makes me tired just reading all this!

But, in speaking of being "busy", I am sharing a prayer on just that very subject, which an e-mail newsletter sparked. If you love Bible Study, and reading the "classics" on theology and prayer, check out www.ccel.org . (Christian Classics Ethereal Library) You'll love it!

But now...

Unstillness in Prayer

I come this morning, Father, as one who doesn’t know how to pray as she should. I come full of an “uneasiness”; a… trepidation; a… fear…

No wonder people seek to stay “busy”, because if we become still, we are so aware that “we” don’t know what we’re doing.

We “say” we’re so busy, and we are; we truly are! Or at least we’ve allowed ourselves to get that way. We have our work, our homes, our responsibilities, and we are so overwhelmed with all the “stuff” of life…

We are “connected” on every hand, and feel that we must be able to be “reached” at all hours of the day and night. And for many of us, it’s not just an “imagined” need; we have children, or parents who truly need to be able to reach us. They depend on us…

But then again, many times… far too many times, we use this “connectability” as a crutch, or perhaps an umbilical cord, connecting us to the world, not only physically, but emotionally as well.

And so, our minds are so filled with all the things that we’ve allowed (even unconsciously) to fill them, but if we really probe deeply enough, Father, I think we’ll find that this is really the way that we want it to be…

Oh, we “say” we’d like to have more time; we’d like to shed some of our responsibilities. We “say” we’d like to spend more quiet time; more meditative time in solitude… but when those “still” moments come upon us, even so briefly… we become antsy, nervous, and uneasy in being alone with You.

When those of “the world” have these “still” moments, they immediately seek to fill them. Are we any different? Most of the time we do the same thing. But, as we grow in our walk, and we seek to draw closer to You, and we “set aside” time to pray… it is then that we realize how “uncomfortable” silence and stillness really is…

And we realize that we come, as one who doesn’t know how to pray as he or she should…

So, what do we do? Well, if we’re “Scripturally sound” we hold to the scripture that says that we don’t know how to pray as we should, so the Holy Spirit intercedes for us “with groans and utterances too deep for words…”

But quite frankly God, I think that’s a cop-out… Sure, there are times when the feelings are too deep for words, but most of the time, we just simply don’t want to take the time to learn how to pray, or we don’t want to take the time to listen for Your voice…

The “world” speaks of “evolution”, but in actuality, we are devolving… One has only to read the “Church fathers’” writings on prayer; or read “classics” from only a century ago on theology or prayer; or even read prayers from just a generation ago to realize, we don’t have a clue as to what they’re saying.

“Well, ‘language’ is different,” we say. And it certainly is. We have devolved into a society of acronyms and invented words; we coin phrases to reflect our surrounding culture which takes us farther and farther away from being able to read and understand Your Holy Word.

Father, forgive us, and in this fast-paced world (perhaps “spinning out of control world” would be more like it!) help us to come to You as the disciples came to Jesus and say, “Lord, teach us how (and teach us now) to pray…

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

It Begins and Ends With Faith, Which Begins and Ends With the Word

2008-06-10T07:31:00.004-04:00

2Peter 1:3-4 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.
And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. (See 1 John 2:16)

1:5-7 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

1:8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT) (emphasis added)

Remember this: "Nothing happens unless you read The Word!"

When we read God's Word we find promises, and according to F.B Meyer, "The promises excite the faith, and faith reckons upon the fulfillment of promise." (F.B. Meyer from June 9 Daily Devotion.)

The word "reckon" means "to count on" or "believe in" as in "you can count on that" - "you can "believe in that".

In other words - the promises excite the faith, and the faith counts on, or believes in, the fulfillment of the promise.

Verses 5-7 then present us with a royal staircase to become a "useful" Christian - or "Christ-follower." Each "step" takes us closer to being productive and useful. But, the first step on this staircase must begin with faith.

And how do you get faith? Romans 10:17 Faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. (NLT)

Everything starts with reading the Word! When we read the Word it gives us the promises, which in turn excites the faith - and the faith believes in the fulfillment of the promise. And, you get faith from hearing the Word, and (as teachers) we are to: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2Timothy 4:2 (NLT)

Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (NLT) Everything begins and ends with The Word!

The 23rd Psalm

2008-06-06T09:42:00.004-04:00

As we come to “Week 23” (in our “one Psalm per week” study) we come to Psalms 23… What more can one say of the Twenty-Third Psalm…? It is probably the very first scripture many of you memorized. Even if we haven’t “formally” memorized it, still many know it by heart - having heard it so many times.

Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The 23rd Psalm is probably the most paraphrased scripture of all - seems like everyone wants to write their own version of it (and I am no exception…

http://prayerlogue.blogspot.com/2006/09/psalms-23.html ).

We’ve heard it as prayers, hymns, and sermons. (I’ve even read an Indian version of it.) Truly, what more can be said…

The commentators are in disagreement as to whether David wrote this while hiding from Saul, or running from Absalom, or as an aged King looking back over his life, reminiscing of when he was a young shepherd-boy.

However, as I've spent more time studying this Psalm, I began to learn more about (or maybe imagine) David's “mind-set” as he came to write this Psalm.

Who of us has not said, “Lord! Why do I have to go through ‘this’? Why can’t I just ‘do what I do?’” This particular week's study came after a difficult week for me, as I found myself saying, “Lord! Why can't I just go cane my chairs, and frame my pictures? Why do I have to go through all ‘this’?”

And I could just see David, sitting alone on the side of a hill, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands saying, “Lord! How I wish I could just go back and tend sheep! I don't want to be king anymore. I just want to mind my own business. I just want to be a nice, quiet, simple shepherd...”

And knowing how the mind works and how God directs (well, directs my mind, anyway) I could see David’s mind coming around from “I just wish I could be a shepherd again...” to the realization of, “You know... The Lord is my Shepherd... I shall not want…” Or as the NLT puts it, “The LORD is my shepherd I have all that I need…”

As the Psalm continues, if we sit in such a place, or allow ourselves to sit with David in the midst of a very frustrating time, we can follow his “train of thought” as he remembers his days as a young shepherd-boy, and watch as his mind begins to “connect the dots.”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” David says as he remembers directing the sheep to the places where the grass was tender and sweet. “He leads me beside the still waters” as he visualizes the very streams he used to frequent.

I think it is at this time that the “light bulb” comes on and David begins to see the link between “here” and “there.” As he remembers the quiet times of being a shepherd, he can’t forget the difficult times, either. He reflects on the fact that even such an “idyllic” life was filled with hardship and dangers.

We have such a tendency to think back on “the good old days” and never remember the hardships - but now, David does - and he truly makes the connection.

“He restores my soul” Not only does He meet my physical needs; He is concerned about my soul. We oftentimes think God is only concerned about our souls and not our physical needs - but God, Who made us, knows our every need - and meets every one of them.

He “restores” my soul. In the mist of my depression or despair, He brings back to me, my joy, and encourages me.

David, now “gaining steam” in his revelation, sees that not only does God “bring back” to me my joy, but “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.”

The word “restore” tends to remind us of something from the past, while “leads me” turns our eyes to the present and the future.

David seems to realize that (doggone it) the things that he is doing are “right”. This “path of righteousness” may be difficult - but it is the “right” thing to do.

How many times have we “done what is right” and been criticized for it? No, the “path of righteousness” is not easy, but God leads us there “for His Name’s sake” - for the very witness of His Holy Name.

However, one translation puts it this way: “You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.”

Whether God does it “because of” who He is (it is His “nature” to be “right”) or does it “to show” who He is (as a “witness” to His Name) still He is the One doing the leading. We may never really know “why” things happen - but as long as we stand for what we believe to be right - I believe - God will use it to Glorify Himself!

In my mind’s eye, as I am watching David’s faith being restored, and his heart quickening with understanding, I imagine him leaping to his feet with arms uplifted as this personal affirmation of faith now becomes a prayer to God!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

“It doesn’t matter what I’m going through,” he says. “I can be in the deepest, darkest pit of my soul (internally) or be in fear for my life (externally); still I will not be afraid of the outcome, because I know - YOU are with me!”

“I know,” he continues, “that You have all the ‘equipment’ needed to take care of me.”

David remembers how he carried both a rod and a staff when caring for the sheep. The rod is used both for discipline and for protection. It can be used when “stronger” direction or discipline is needed, and to ward off predators. The staff, on the other hand is used when just a “gentle” nudge is needed to correct the course.

And both of these should bring us great comfort as well. There are times when God needs to discipline us with a “stronger” hand. And there are times when a “gentle nudge” is all we need. Our comfort comes in the fact that He is God. As the song says, “When through firey trials thy pathways shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design, thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine…”

Then, I think, David looks around at his circumstances, spreads his arms and says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

He says in essence, “Here I am in the midst of all these trials, and yet, You had Samuel anoint me king. I’ll admit, it may not look like it just now, but I will be king. You said it would happen, and I believe it will. I am just so blessed!”

And we must look around us and say the same thing. “Here I am in the midst of all these ‘enemies’ and yet, Christ died for me and has promised me life with Him eternally, and “anointed” me with His Spirit. It may not look it just now, but I AM a child of the King; and I DO reign with Him. I am SO blessed - “exceeding, abundantly, above, all I can ever ask for, or even dream up!”

By now, David’s heart is bursting with fullness and joy (and I imagine, tears streaming down his face) and his prayer climaxes with clenched fists lifted heavenward in victory as he shouts, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

He knows that no matter what happens; no matter what he has to go through to get from “here” to “there”, God, and all of God’s goodness, will be with him. He knows that, as another song puts it, God will “Hold me close, till the storm passes by…”

“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Whether in the “physical” house, or the “metaphorical” house, he knows that he shall “dwell” there… forever!

One meaning of the word “dwell” is “to settle down and be at home” - or as someone put it, “to be comfortable.” But the Hebrew of the word has a much broader meaning as well. It means “there you are” in other words - wherever you find yourself - there you are!

And no matter where we find ourselves (as David says in another place, “Where can I go from Your Spirit, where can I flee from Your presence?”) no matter where we are, God’s “house”; God’s “dwelling-place”; God’s “family” is there. (Remember, Jesus was of the “house” of David.)

And, in God’s Grace, we shall “dwell in the house of the LORD forever” as well!

In Jesus’ Holy Name - Amen.

In the Presence of the Lord

2008-05-22T06:42:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite fiction authors is Janice Holt Giles. I have read all, or nearly all, her books (at least all that our local library had.) Most of her novels are set in the Green River area of Kentucky, and were written in the 1940’s.

My favorite of these is one titled, “Miss Willie.” Although it has been 20 years or more since I’ve read it, it remains very dear to me.

“Miss Willie” begins with a small boy - 5, 6, or maybe 7 years old - who is enamored by the wondrous sound of the birds singing every morning. He is very close to his mother who shares this love with him. Since none of the “men-folk” ever mention the birds, he is convinced that only he and his mother can hear them.

As the story goes, his mother dies during one summer leaving his father with several children, with this lad being the youngest. He has a very difficult time with the loss of his mother, and an even harder time going to school in the fall as there is a new school teacher - Miss Willie.

Miss Willie isn’t “from around here” as we would say. She is a “do-gooder” missionary woman who has come to the hills to teach at this school.

The young fellow (I don’t remember his name) is even more disturbed when his dad begins to “court” Miss Willie - and then when they eventually marry, he is even more upset and vows to “never love her” although her love for him is clearly evident.

I don’t want to give away the story for those who might want to read it, but one line from the book is etched in my mind (and heart.) Near the end of the book, as the little boy is engrossed in listening to the birds one morning, Miss Willie comes up behind him and says, “Aren’t they beautiful?”

He turns, and with a gasp says, “Oh Miss Willie! You can hear them, too?”

I think of this often when I think of my love for God, and my awareness of His presence. The following is one of the prayers, for one of these times…

You have brought me to a place, Oh Lord, of dizzying heights; a place where my breathing quickens and my heart beats a little faster. I just can’t get my mind “wrapped around it.” It is… I don’t know how to describe it… hyper-awareness of Your Presence and Spirit. I just seem to be engulfed by Your very Being.

Oh God! Even as “life” goes on around it - the washer, the dryer, the telephone - the “spell” is not broken. I am thankful that it is not like the elusive butterfly, where the slightest movement causes it to flutter away. No, Your Presence is all encompassing, ever present, ever near. Thank You for allowing me to be aware of Your Presence - Your Spirit.

God, sometimes I think I’m crazy. Does anyone else in the world sense You as I do? I’m nearly afraid to speak of it; afraid to get “that” look. Either the “look” is a glassy-eyed stare of incomprehension, or a pitying look of condescension. It’s either “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about” or “You poor thing. You really believe that, don’t you…?”

Yes, I do believe it, God. And I pray, my Father, that You will give me words to explain it.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Meditation on Psalm 19:1-4a

2008-05-09T08:06:00.002-04:00

Did you ever notice how active and vocal the birds are very early in the morning? From about 5:45am to about 7:00am or so, it seems like every bird in the universe is singing!

It sounds like an orchestra tuning their instruments before a performance. They are not in tune, nor playing together, but each lost in his own world of preparing.

The birds are like that,too. They are each singing, and seemingly “testing the range” of their voices.

Around 7:00am or so, the singing seems to trail off, but is never entirely silent through the day - for always a few continue to sing - or at least “trade off” singing with one another.

I’ve often thought about that… as to why so very early in the morning it seems like they’re all singing, and then on up in the day you can only hear one or two, now and then.

I’ve come to the conclusion that they simply start their day with praise - and then they “go to work.” And the “daytime” singing? Ah, who can truly go about their work without a “song” of praise on their lips and in their hearts?

Psalms 19:1-4a says (with my commentary added in)
V.1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God (overall); And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (specifically.)

V.2 Day to day pours forth speech, (bubbles up as from an inexhaustible spring) And night to night reveals knowledge. (Which in turn leads to the day, then on to the night, in perpetuity.)

V.3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. The literal translation in the Hebrew (which can be very blunt and to the point) reads, “No speech, no words. Not heard - their voice.” This of course means “not heard in literal words, but…” then verse 4.

V.4a Their line (overall thought or precept) has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances (specific words) to the end of the world. NASB

“Nature” cannot “say” a word, but it speaks volumes about God’s love, power, grace and presence in all of Life. In Romans 1:20 Paul says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

So, the next time someone hands you a line about, “Well, what about those people who’ve never heard of Jesus… Is God going to condemn them, too?” Just smile and say, “Oh, they’ve ‘heard’ about Him, alright. Believe me, they’ve heard!”

And if someone says that they don’t know how you can “see” God in nature, again just smile and say, “Don’t you wish you could?”

“This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings and ‘round me rings the music of the spheres…”

Decoration Service Prayer

2008-05-04T19:39:00.003-04:00

First of all let me say to those who check in to this blog, I apologize that it has been over a month since I've posted. (Man, time gets away doesn't it?)

I have been extremely covered up with work in my business (www.newmanvalley.com) and in other studies as well. I am currently writing a study on the travels of Paul which I will be teaching on Wednesday nights. I hope to post these after a while as well.

Today was "Decoration Day" at the church where I grew up. The cemetery which belongs to the church is where both my parents are buried, as well as my sister, my maternal grandparents, and one of my aunts.

Last year I did the devotion for the service, and this year I just did the opening prayer.

First I will post this year's prayer, then I will post the entire service from last year because as I was searching for prayers online I found that (seemingly) only folks in the South have "Decoration Day" services! And finding anything online was near to impossible. So, I want to make it easier for the next person searching!

2008 Decoration Day Service Opening Prayer:

Oh precious and loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and Creator of all that is, we lift up Your Name in praise this afternoon as we gather in this sacred place.

It is sacred Lord, not because of the building that it is, but because of the prayer that has hallowed it. It is Your House, and it is a House of Prayer.

We come this afternoon Lord as a time of remembrance, lifting to You our prayers of thanksgiving for our friends and loved ones who are in Your Holy Presence.

Oh Father, we call to mind times and places, words and faces, and sometimes tears sting our eyes as the memories flood our hearts, but, we also come Lord, as a time of reminding, a renewing in our souls of the promise of the resurrection that is to come.

As all of nature bursts forth with new life after the death of winter, so we are reminded of the new life that shall burst forth at the appointed time, when the dead in Christ shall rise.

In this hope, then, let our hearts be found holding fast to You, for You alone are faithful in Your promises, and just in Your judgments.

In the Holy Name of Christ who was the First Fruit, the First Born from the Dead, our Sustainer and Redeemer - Amen.

*****************************************************
2007 Decoration Day Service

Huckleberry Springs United Methodist Church
Cemetery Decoration Service
May 6, 2007

Welcome:
Welcome to the Huckleberry Springs Cemetery Decoration Service. As we share in this brief service, may we laugh together, and cry together; may we reminiscence and rejoice together. May we sing songs and hear stories that fill our hearts with memories and our spirits with happiness.

Opening Prayer:
Almighty God, in Whose church we gather for this service of remembrance, bring to our minds, precious memories of Your saints; not perfect persons, not faultless individuals, but striving people, and those who worked in faith to serve Your kingdom here on earth.

May we see them as You saw them, forgiven sinners, and searching pilgrims living in faith in a fallen world.

And may we honestly see ourselves the same way, not as having achieved, but as hungering and thirsting after righteousness. And then, as You promised, may we be filled.

In the Name of the One Who brings fulfillment; in Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Devotion:

I want to look briefly at a portion of scripture found in the book of Joshua - if you have your Bibles, turn to Joshua chapter 4.

A few years ago I was asked to fill in on Memorial Sunday. I really didn’t think much about the date, and prepared a sermon, hymns, prayers, and so forth for the service.

On Saturday night, about 7:00pm, I began to feel a leading in an entirely different direction. I said, “Lord, surely not…” but “surely” so and I kept hearing “memorial, remember, don’t forget…” “memorial, remember, don’t forget…” over and over in my mind. And what I ended up with was a scripture from the last chapter in the book of Joshua. But it seems that a lot of the book of Joshua revolves around memorials, and remembering.

So, for our scripture this afternoon, let me set the stage for you. The children of Israel have spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Only two men, who were above 20 years old at the time of the Exodus, are still living. These are Joshua and Caleb.

Moses was allowed to climb to the top of Mount Nebo and view the Promised Land, but he was not permitted to enter before he died. Joshua is now the leader, and they are encamped on the East side of the Jordan River, getting ready to cross.

During most of the year, the Jordan River was about a hundred feet wide; but at the spring flood season, the river overflowed its banks and became a mile wide. But yet, God told them to cross. They aren’t to look for a bridge, or begin building a bridge, or wait until the waters recede a little. They are to cross then, and there.

The Levitical Priests carried the Ark of the Covenant ahead of the people, and when the Priests’ feet touched the edge of the water, the water stopped flowing and stood like a wall about twenty miles away upstream, more than half way to the Sea of Galilee, and then as what was left flowed on toward the Dead Sea, soon the riverbed was dry as far as the eye could see.

The Priests walk out to the middle of the river, and all the people begin crossing over. And we begin reading in Chapter 4… (read 4:1-9; 15-24)

Let us pray - Father, as we pause on this Sunday afternoon to remember this place and the people who have gone home before us, roll back the curtain of our memories to grasp the pure and true things that we have learned here, and then help us to build a monument so that when our children ask, we will have the stories to tell them. In Jesus’ name - Amen.

If these walls could talk, what stories would they have to tell? We all have an abundance of memories of this place. Even for those of you who’ve only been here a few times, even you have memories of this place.

I have over 50 years of personal memories, and even a few more of things that I’ve been told I said and did. When I was about 3 years old, Mr. Roy Huffaker commented on the pretty ruffles that I had on my socks… where upon I raised my dress tail and showed him “other” ruffles I had as well…

I remember coming from a Sunday School class and sitting with Jean Craig on the back seat before preaching… and my Mother promptly took my hand and led me a few rows closer to the front. Mr. Cox told her, “Why, she’s a good girl. She won’t hurt a thing sitting on the back seat…”

My Mother replied, “As long as I raising her, she’ll not sit on the back seat…” And I haven’t to this day…

Memories… I’m sure you have as many of them as I do about this place and the people who touched your hearts here. I can’t tell you what it did to a 6 year old’s heart when I peeped out the door before a Christmas program and saw my favorite uncle (who I never remember going to church) sitting in the audience, all because “Bets” had asked him to come…

As we’ve been cleaning out Mother and Daddy’s house, I just kept coming across pictures, hymnbooks and Bibles… “Pictures, Hymnbooks, and Bibles” - Someone said I should write a poem about that… I just may do that one day…

But stuck in a lot of these hymnbooks and Bibles were scraps of papers and old bulletins. On these were folks names, and every one evoked a memory.

(Share a few…)

God told Joshua to tell the 12 men to carry the boulders from the middle of the Jordan River to the town of Gilgal and build a monument as a “conversation-starter” so that when the children asked what they were there for, then they could tell them the story of the crossing, and what led up to it.

The Jews were good for that, or at least God was good at prompting them to do that. We read numerous times where they are instructed to “teach the generations…”

And I think we’re called to do that as well. We come together on this Decoration Sunday, one day out of the year, to “Decorate” the cemetery, and to remember. Now, I dare say that most of us don’t spend a lot of time in cemeteries. We know that our loved ones are not there, only the shell that housed their souls and spirits.

And, to be quite honest with you, I am touched more often by memories of Mother and Daddy at, what I call “odd-ball” times - times when “something” sparks the memory. Like on Saturday mornings when Joe says “are you hungry?” Daddy used to say that when they’d be out running around together.

Or once when I was driving down Riverside Drive and came upon a pear tree in full bloom, and I just erupted in tears, because Mother and I had often discussed that tree when we were making the weekly trips to the hospital.

These are the things that touch my soul, but you do that a time or two and your kids will think you’re crazy. And so, I think, cemeteries are actually for future generations. They are our “stones of remembrance.” They are the things that spark our memories of people and places in our lives. They are “conversation-starters” for our children. And oh, if those stones could speak… what stories they could tell…

A few years ago I spent a whole Saturday afternoon with Joe’s niece and nephew traipsing through cemeteries all over East Knox, and Sevier Counties looking for the graves of ancestors. Do you know where your ancestors are buried? Have you been there lately? But, more importantly, do your children know where your ancestors are buried? Do they know the stories - the good and the bad?

The Bible is a real book, and no one’s life is “white-washed.” Our families were real people, there’s no need to be cruel, but there’s no need to gloss over the past either.

When I think of this cemetery, I think of this church. Now I know that many of the “saints” of this church aren’t buried there, but still it reminds me of them. And it reminds me of their impact on me and my faith walk.

At Jack’s funeral, Edna and I were talking of how folks were related. She knew some things that I didn’t, and I knew some that she didn’t, and so that prompts me to issue this challenge to you.

If each one of you will write down, just the names of the people that you know who are buried here at Huckleberry, and how they’re related to you, if they are, and get it to me, then I promise to have something compiled for you by Decoration next year.

You don’t have to write a long story or a genealogy, although anything you want to add will be helpful, but just names and relations. We have a “history” of sorts that was shared at homecoming last year, but that was just about the building and things about it. I think it’d be pretty cool to have something with “names” on it; something that makes the walls, and stones actually speak.

Will you do that? Let us share how these stones speak to us today...

Let us pray.

(closing prayer)

I Love to hear good preaching!

2008-03-25T08:03:00.002-04:00

A "Serm-o-holic"

I think I’m a "serm-o-holic"! I love to listen to sermons! Hearing the teaching and exhorting of God’s Word is so exciting and uplifting to me. Besides attending our local churches, I’m always listening to radio and tv teaching, as well. (Some of my favorites are Chip Ingram, David Jeremiah, Chuck Swindoll, and John MacArthur, to name a few of the many.)

On "Resurrection Sunday" I heard (I guess) 3 or 4 sermons. I heard some things that were very familiar to me and some things that were new to me. And then, I heard some very well known things in a brand new way - a brand new way that was both comforting as well as gently rebuking… God is SO good! His rod (of discipline) AND His staff (of reassurance) they comfort me!

In this particular sermon, the pastor started out by telling about an incident wherein a boat filled with fishermen was in the midst of a storm. The boat was filling with water and (seemingly) in danger of sinking. And the “Master” of the vessel was asleep “on a cushion.” When they called to Him, He simply looked out at the sea and said “Peace! Be still…” and they ask, “Who IS this Man?”

From there the pastor went to the tomb, and the question “Mary, why are you crying…” because Mary, you see, was in the midst of a raging storm… and she couldn’t see her way through it…

That got me to thinking about something I’ve said many times lately - most recently in an e-mail to my Prayerlogue list requesting prayer for a couple of people. In that e-mail I stated, “As I've often said, we know where we are in the "here"; and we know what shall be in the "hereafter" - it's the getting from here to there that worries us.”

It was in that, that I was gently rebuked. It is in the midst of a storm that our Saviour comes, either walking on the waters (walking ON the troubles) or He has been with us all along and when we call upon Him, He simply says, “Hush - be still!” to the storm (and our hearts.)

Jesus is with us in the “here.” Jesus is with us in the “there.” And He is with us every step of the way. We have no need to fear…

After a recent phone call which upset me, my first reaction was, “I must pray!” And that reminded me of an old song that I hadn’t thought of in years - “I Must Tell Jesus.”

Print this out and hang it on your refrigerator door or inside your bathroom medicine cabinet. You need to see this every day!

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Refrain
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Refrain

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One Who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

Refrain

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the victory to win.

Refrain

******************************************
May God comfort you, still your storms, and dry your eyes today! In Jesus' Name - Amen!

Maundy Thursday Devotion

2008-03-20T20:52:00.002-04:00

Wade Out a Little Bit Deeper

St. Augustine, in speaking of the Gospel of John said, “It is shallow enough for a child to wade in, and deep enough that an elephant can swim…”

Our Scripture tonight is from John’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 2-17. I’ll be reading from the New International Version.

(Read John 13:2-17)
13:2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, that he should betray Jesus. 13:3 Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 13:4 he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.

13:5 He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.

13:6 Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 13:7 Jesus replied, “You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.”

13:8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 13:9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!” 13:10 Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” 13:11 (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, “Not every one of you is clean.”)

13:12 So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?

13:13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. 13:15 For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you. 13:16 I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 13:17 If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Let us pray - Father, may Your Holy Spirit open our hearts to hear Your Word. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Imagine the strains of “The Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah” - “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords - and He shall reign for-ever and ever (Hallelujah, Hallelujah)…”

Who among us can hear that music without tears and cold chills…

Now, imagine this Very God of Very God; this Creator of the Universe; this Almighty El-Shaddai of the Old Testament, now, takes His cloak off - the cloak without seam, for which soldiers would be gambling in a few hours; He takes it off, lays it aside and begins to wash His disciples’ feet…

What in the world, can this possibly mean?

We’ve talked before about taking Scripture literally and figuratively… Well this time, we need to do both. This is where St. Augustine would say, “Yes, understand it like a child… but don’t be afraid of the deep parts, either…

Jesus, as you know, was a Master storyteller. That’s why His parables are so effective. He has, it seems, a story for every occasion. This time however, instead of telling the story, He acts it out…

Let me set the stage for you…

The events of this night are recorded in all 4 Gospels - albeit from differing viewpoints, as any eyewitness accounts are. Therefore we need to combine the Scriptures in order to get the total picture.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we find the disciples coming into the city of Jerusalem to the home of one of Jesus’ followers where a guest room has been prepared for them to partake of the Passover meal.

When the time arrives for the meal, (about 7:00pm, by the way) Jesus and the disciples make their way to the Upper Room. The atmosphere is tense. The disciples know that something is different about this Passover, but they just can’t quite lay their finger on it. They’re tired, and dusty from the walk in from Bethany, and more than just a little on edge.

Over the past few weeks they’ve argued about “status” - about who is the greatest among them, and in fact, they’ll rehash that again this night as well. Normally when they come into a home where no servant is present to wash the dust from their feet, they would just wash one another’s, but not tonight. No one will take the initiative to do that tonight.

And so, stubbornly they just come to the table, with none of them, except maybe John, happy about where they end up sitting - again in relation to their “status” in their own eyes.

Get this picture in your mind. Jesus, knowing fully well what is about to transpire in the next few hours, literally has the weight of the world on His shoulders and there the disciples are sitting at the table, their feet dusty and dirty, grumbling about just which one of them is the most important to Jesus!

According to Luke’s version, Jesus then tells them that one of them will betray Him.

After the initial shock, and questions of “Is it I, Lord?” The conversation quickly turns to, “Well it couldn’t be me because…” And another one says, “Oh yeah, well it couldn’t be me either… and the arguments begin all over again.

At this point, without saying a word, Jesus rises from the table, takes off His outer garments and wraps the rough scratchy linen servant’s towel around His waist and begins to wash their feet.

Imagine their shocked faces as He silently moves from disciple to disciple, gently, carefully, washing their feet, and then drying them with the towel tied around Him.

There is so much more here than meets the eye initially. Jesus, who is fully One with the Father; Who was adorned with all the splendor of heaven, of His own free will, laid aside the Glory that was His, and put on humanity; and all the pain and suffering that fallen humanity brings with it; from the scratchy straw in the manger, to teething, to all the cuts and scrapes that little boys get. He got tired, and hungry and thirsty and wept as any other human being did - and in just a few hours… He would die… But then, He would put back on that Glory and sit back down at the right hand of the Father. And all of His own free will.

There’s a lot more to this analogy than we have time to get into, but the bottom line is - He became a servant so that we might be made royalty.

Well, He’s washing their feet, and He comes to Peter. And Peter says, “No way. You’re not washing my feet. But it was not humility that caused Peter’s protests - it wasn’t that he didn’t think he was worthy of having his feet washed by Jesus - it was pride - false humility and pride are just two sides of the same evil coin.

Peter was saying in essence, “Don’t You know who I am? I’m one of the leaders. I’m one of ‘inner three’. I’ve been on the mountain top with You. And You want to wash my feet? No Way!”

Jesus says, “Peter, you just don’t understand… if you don’t allow me to do this for you, you can have no companionship with Me…” And then in typical “Peter” fashion he says, “Then wash me all over, Lord! Wash me all over…” But he still doesn’t understand.

We know that Jesus is teaching humility and servanthood. In verse 16 He says, “A slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent, greater than the one who sent him…” The idea of being servants to others is normally the primary focus of this passage, but I think the main reason most folks don’t really understand this scripture is that they don’t want their feet washed. Most people would have no problem if they were the ones doing the washing or the serving - the one in control. But most of us just don’t want to be on the “receiving end” of the service. We don’t want to be the one “without control.”

I came to understand this when my Daddy was in the hospital. One day as I was feeding him he said, “I just hate for you to have to do this…” And of course I replied, “Daddy, I don’t mind.” Then he said, “Well, I do…” I made some remark about “having your feet washed…” But then, like Jesus said to Peter - I just didn’t understand.

While Daddy was in the hospital I was the one “doing” the serving. Then, as the time wore on and I became more and more exhausted, I began to “need” more and more help myself.

I didn’t want to be the one receiving the help. I didn’t want my “feet washed.” But I needed it. I could no longer do it all myself. And that’s when I really began to understand this scripture. Until you’ve been the one on the receiving end, you’ll never know how much an e-mail or phone call, even leaving a message, can mean; how much a meal can mean; how much a loaf of bread and an afternoon of talking can truly mean!

I began to understand that, yes, it is important to “be the servant” but it’s also important to understand humility and to “allow” another the “gift” of being the servant.

One cannot truly be a leader unless they are willing to be a servant. And one cannot truly learn to be a servant unless they are willing to receive service.

Peter didn’t think he “needed” washing - at least not by Jesus. Are you willing to admit that you “need” washing by Jesus? And then, are you willing to wash and to be washed by others?

Are you willing to forgive others, as you’ve been forgiven? You see, we must remember that among that group of disciples, was Judas… and Jesus washed his feet, too.

Let us pray…

Father, as we wind down these hours of Maundy Thursday, may we be mindful of what happens next. As Jesus leaves this meal, He has less than a hour or so of freedom left; and less than 18 hours to live. And yet, in this time of agony, He is still teaching, still caring, still washing His followers, and even Judas…

Oh God, may we do no less than serve our brothers and sisters, including Judas…

In Jesus’ Holy Name we pray - Amen.

Palm Sunday Devotion

2008-03-15T19:49:00.003-04:00

This short devotion is the "Prayer Preface" that I used on Palm Sunday for our "Pastoral Prayer" time.

Psa 118:24-26 (NASB) This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Psalms 118 is the last of 3 Psalms, or songs, that the Israelites would sing every year during the Passover. The phrase in verse 25, “O LORD, do save” is the Hebrew phrase “hoshia-na” or as we would pronounce it, “hosanna”.

So on that day (on this day) nearly 2000 years ago, when the crowds and children shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!” Everyone within earshot would have recognized the words to this Psalm.

“O LORD do save; do save Thou Son of David. BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!”

As we go into our time of prayer, may the words on our lips and in our hearts be, “Hosanna! Do save O Lord; save, restore, and revive our nation, our churches, our community, and our homes.

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Study on Prayer - week 5

2008-03-10T15:23:00.002-04:00

As we finish up our 5 part study on prayer, we come now to the Gethsemane Prayer, Jesus’ last and most intense time of prayer with His Father. Many times as we go through our Holy Week services, we tend to “hopscotch” from the Last Supper, to the cross, to the empty tomb, and we never seem to spend much time on this prayer. But it is here that Jesus reaches the very core of His humanity.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 “He (that is, God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

As we studied “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus last time, we saw that the perspective of that prayer was like it was from “the other side of the cross.” In other words, Jesus prayed like the crucifixion was a “done deal” - like it had already happened. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d think that prayer was being prayed after the Resurrection!

But it wasn’t… and now we have come to the moment of entering the garden, where Jesus is preparing to take on all the sin, of all mankind, of all eternity…

Let us listen in…

I’ll be reading from Matthew’s gospel, chapter 26, verses 36-45, with details (in italics) added from Mark 14 and Luke 22. I’ll be reading this from the KJV. I normally use either the NASB or the NLT, but there’s just something about the KJV that allows us to feel the magnitude of the moment…

Mat 26:36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
Mat 26:37 And he took with him Peter (and James and John) the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Mat 26:38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, (about a stone’s throw) and fell on his face, (and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
and He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.)

Mat 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it… thy will be done.

Mat 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy (and they didn’t know how to answer Him.)
Mat 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

(Then Luke tells us, Luk 22:43-44 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground. )

Mat 26:45 Then, cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Let us pray… Oh my God, we cannot read this and be unmoved. The agony that Christ felt… Though He was fully God… He was fully man, and His fear was so very real. We cannot begin to imagine the terror that He felt on that night, knowing, fully, what lay ahead of Him.

As we look at this prayer, let us stop and think for a few moments what our salvation, what our redemption from an eternity in hell, really cost.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Jesus prayed 3 times that the “cup” might be taken away… There are several differences of opinion of just what the “cup” actually was that Jesus prayed for God to let pass by; some believe it was a premature death right there in the Garden, before He ever made it to the cross (you remember, He said His soul was deeply grieved, to the point of death) or whether it was the cup of God’s wrath, which is a well documented theme throughout the Bible, or possibly as Wesley taught, the cup of terror and fear, or even as some have said, an avoidance of the cross all together. Perhaps we’ll study that in depth at some other time, however what the “cup” actually was is not the subject of this particular study - but what Jesus did with the cup is our concern.

E.M. Bounds, in his book titled, “The Reality of Prayer” says that in the Gethsemane prayer, “Jesus sought to be relieved from that which seemed too heavy to bear. He prayed, however, not in revolt against God’s will, but in submission to that will, and yet He prayed to change God’s plan and to alter God’s purposes.”

Bounds goes on to say, “Simple submission to God’s will is not the highest attitude of the soul to God.” He says, in essence, there is a difference between submitting to God’s will and conforming to His will…

Conformity to God’s will involves submission… But submission in itself falls short of and does not necessarily include conformity.

For instance, think about a cake pan. If I take 2 cake pans and pour water into one and cake batter into the other - both the water and the cake batter have “submitted” to the shape of the pan, but after 30 minutes or so in a 350 degree oven, only the batter will “conform” to the shape of the pan. The water will pour right out.

A prisoner of war may “submit” to his captors, but seldom will he “conform” to their ideology.

“Conformity means to ‘stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.’ It means to delight to do God’s will…"

William Barkley says that “It makes all the difference in what tone of voice a man says, “Thy will be done.”
1. He may say it in a tone of helpless submission, as one who is in the grip of a power against which it is hopeless to fight. The words may be the death-knell of hope.

2. He may say it as one who had been battered into submission. The words may be the admission of complete defeat.

3. He may say it as one who has been utterly frustrated and who sees that the dream can never come true. The words may be those of a bleak regret or even a bitter anger which is all the more bitter because he cannot do anything about it.

4. Or, He may say it with the accent of perfect trust. That is how Jesus said it. He was speaking to one who was “Father”; He was speaking to a God whose everlasting arms were underneath and about him, even on the cross. He was submitting, but he was submitting to the love that would never let Him go. Life’s hardest task is to accept what we cannot understand; but we can do even that if we are sure enough of the love of God.

Let me end by sharing the story of a woman I know who found a lump under her arm as she was putting on her deodorant one morning. It was about 7:00am and so it was about an hour or so before she could call a doctor to make an appointment.

She spent that hour in prayer, in an agony of her own. She had 2 small children and a husband for whom she was deeply worried. The word “lump” strikes a fear in anyone’s heart, and it did hers as well.

She was a Christian, and knew what the outcome of even the worst diagnosis would be - that is, an eternity with Christ - but no one wants to go through pain and suffering.

And so she prayed.

At first her prayer was to beg God that it not be anything serious - but, resignedly ending it as she had always been taught, “nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done…”

Then her prayer progressed to “but if it is serious… if we cannot avoid this suffering…” then with a deep breath she said, “whatever You say Lord, Your will be done…”

She continued to pray and to cry, thinking of her children - her “babies” as she called them, and as she prayed, a calmness came over her; a peace that she didn’t understand.

She saw that her Loving God and Father loved her children more than she herself did; more than she ever could - and that even if the diagnoses was a serious one, God was still God, and would provide… no matter what.

And as she rose from her knees, and reached for the telephone, she confidently declared, “Thy Holy and perfect will be done!”

Jesus spoke like that; and when we can speak like that, we can look up and say in perfect trust, “Thy will be done!” And we will be “conformed” to the image of God.

Psalm 9 commentary and prayer

2008-02-28T13:34:00.002-05:00

When I sent this as my weekly devotional (the prayer only) I titled it "For your struggle today" for seldom is there a day without some sort of struggle - some more difficult than others, to be sure - but as Glida is famous for saying, "It's always something!"

So also for any reader of this blog - in whatever struggle you find yourself today, may I recommend Psalm 9.

Since January 1, 2008, I've undertaken a study of the Psalms by doing 1 Psalm per week. (I know, I know... this is a minimum of a 3 year study - but hey, what else am I gonna do with my time!?)

Anyway, the study for this Psalm came during week 9, hence Psalm 9. As I began the week I noticed that there weren't many notes in my Bible on this one, indicating that I hadn't studied it much.

As I began the study, it was a little difficult to grasp, but I stuck with it. (Let me know if you'd like info on how I'm going about this, and what it's producing...)

An "issue" early in the week opened new insights into this Psalm. I learned that verses 9-10 became an "anchor" to hold on to in the midst of a storm.

Oh - one more thing... let me recommend a radio station (if you're in the East Tennessee area) 95.3fm or online at BBN Radio . This is good stuff - wonderful old hymns, and joyful praise. Don't fill your mind with the "garbage" of the world. Put good stuff in there!

It really spoke to my heart this morning with a beautiful version of "Great is Thy Faithfulness!"And now, Psalm 9...

Psalm 9: 1-20 NASB

Psa 9:1 For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
Psa 9:2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Psa 9:3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You.
Psa 9:4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
Psa 9:5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
Psa 9:6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished.
Psa 9:7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,
Psa 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
Psa 9:9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;
Psa 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psa 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds.
Psa 9:12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Psa 9:13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; See my affliction from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death,
Psa 9:14 That I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.
Psa 9:15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
Psa 9:16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.
Psa 9:17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.
Psa 9:18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
Psa 9:19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You.
Psa 9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.

Commentary

Verses 1-2 gives us a statement of faith in the face of trouble. It is obvious when we read further in the Psalm, that he is in the midst of a struggle, but he begins with what it is that keeps him going - “I will… I will… I will… I will…”

Verse 3 is also a statement of faith in what “will” happen, because of what “has” happened in verses 4-6. Verse 3 is future, verses 4-6 are the past. They are examples of what the Lord “has” done before. So, there is no reason to think that He will not so act in the future - in “this” situation.

Verse 7 is again, a statement of faith of God’s dependability - of God’s faithfulness. And that faithfulness is fulfilled in how God will act in verse 8 - that is, with righteousness, justice, and fairness for all peoples.

Then verses 9-10 are the anchor to which all is tied. “Those who “know” (intimately) Thy Name… You will not forsake…” This brings on the faithful cry of verses 11-14.

Again the technique of “recalling the past to give ground to the hope of the future” is used in verses 15-16, then 17-18.

And the Psalm ends with the cry of petition in verses 19-20.

It can be diagramed like this: 1-2 faith, 3 future, 4-6 past / 7 faith, 8-9 future, [9-10 the anchor and 11-14 faithful cry] 15-16 past, / 17-18 hope/future, 19-20 petition.

The Prayer of Psalm 9

Oh God! I will lift up thanks to You with all my heart; with all that I am and ever will be; I lift to You. I will tell always of Your wonderful works, of Your miracles - both “explainable” and not (as the “world” looks at them) but I know, they are from You. And every memory triggers yet another, as I think of Your presence and Your providence in my life.

I will rejoice and take great pleasure in lifting up Your Name, and I will sing - always be singing, praises to You, oh my Father. No matter what else is going on in my life…

Oh God, when this present “struggle” is over (and I know it will be, in time) I will be able to look back and see how You worked it through for me. You have always worked, always been faithful, always have been in control.

For all the “works” that I am thankful for, there are a thousand more that I’m sure I’ve forgotten. The memory of that particular struggle is just gone… You have erased it.

But You Lord! You are ALWAYS there. You will ALWAYS be the only One to Whom we can turn. You are always “right.” You are always “just.” You ARE my place of refuge. There is no other place; there is no other One to Whom I can turn.

You are my “cleft in the rock.” You are my “shelter in the storm”. You are my “life raft in the shipwreck.” You are my salvation - my only salvation. And I “know” You Lord, or better yet, I am “known” by You. I have cried out, seeking, searching, and You have not ever left me alone; not ever! I can sing, with affirmation and arms uplifted, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand… all other ground is sinking sand!”

I will call on the whole world to praise You. I will be a witness every where I go. You ARE GOD! And You will not forget, nor neglect the cry of Your children.

I cry in the midst of this struggle, Oh Lord. You know what I am facing, what I have faced. Please use this so that I may have even more stories to tell of Your faithfulness.

I know Lord, the “enemy” cannot prevail. Your Word teaches that “whatsoever we sow, we will reap.” And that goes for evil as well as good. “He” or “it” will not prevail… it will not always be like “this.” I cry to You, I hold to You, You will put the “enemy” in his place…

I pray with the assurance of Your Holy Word, and in His Name - Amen.

Study on Prayer - week 4

2008-02-22T06:56:00.002-05:00

As we come tonight to the 4th of our studies on Prayer, we’re taking a completely different track by looking at what is called “The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus” found in John 17. In my studies of this chapter, I really wish we’d done a 4 week study of this chapter like we did of Luke 15. There’s just so much here that we won’t have time to get into. So, this is going to just be an overview of the chapter.

As I told someone the other day - my desire in teaching is to give people the “want-to”! I want you to “want to” read and study God’s Word!

To understand what and why John wrote, you have to know when, and to whom he was writing. The gospel was written around 85 AD., about 10 years before John would be exiled to the island of Patmos. It was written in an era not so different from our own.

To the mostly Gentile-Christian men and women living in the (so-called) “modern” world around the Aegean Sea, the Temple in Jerusalem was just a pile of rubble. Fifty years, 500 years, or 2000 years - old fashioned is old fashioned, and the past is the past and they didn’t see how any of that related to them.

F.F. Bruce in his book “The Message of the New Testament” says, “The climate of opinion by which this generation had its thinking moulded was not greatly concerned about historical fact: eternal truth was the important thing. Historical fact was tied to time and place… and an insistence on historical fact obscured the universal relevance of eternal truth.”

In other words, “why do I need to know that Bible history stuff? Just tell me about Jesus!” Sound familiar?

That’s why John wrote. He said, in effect, “You DO need to know that “stuff.” John’s Gospel was very particular about the things it included. Many people feel that it is just a ‘fill-in” of the things the other gospels left out. No, everything written in it is there for a reason.

In John 20:30-31 he writes, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (Emphasis added)

This prayer that we’re studying tonight is called the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. Do you know why? Do you know the function of a High Priest? Do you know what the “Day of Atonement” is?

We don’t have time to get into all that tonight (that’d make a good study in itself!) But, we do need to know a little. True, we can just read the scripture and see that Jesus is praying for Himself, His disciples, and for us, but unless we understand what His words mean, most of it won’t make sense to us.

On your handout I’ve included scriptures from Leviticus which explains what happens on the Day of Atonement, and from Hebrews which explains how Jesus is that Great High Priest. (By the way, it’s been said that Leviticus is the most “New Testament” of the Old Testament, for what it teaches about Jesus, and Hebrews is the most “Old Testament” of the New Testament for what it teaches of the fulfillment!)

Anyway, this is it in a nutshell - everything about the Tabernacle or the Temple in the Old Testament is just a “pattern” or you might say a “scale model” of Heaven. Everything about…everything, represents some aspect of God’s Holy City - the priests, the Levites, the utensils, the sacrifices, the altar, the incense, the veil - everything is a “likeness” of what will be. I don’t understand it all yet, I just know that it is.

In the Old Testament, the high priest offered the blood of the offering to God for the forgiveness of sin - his own as well as everyone else’s. He “interceded” for the people. And it was on-going.

In the fulfillment of this, Jesus is the High Priest, one completely without sin, interceding for the forgiveness of sin - done once and for all.

In this prayer, Jesus prays for that fulfillment in His own restoration to the Glory of Heaven, (it’s like He can’t wait to get home!) And He intercedes not only for the 11 disciples who are there with Him, but He also prays for us as well. And we’ll look briefly at just what He prays for (which, by the way, gives us an excellent model of how we are to pray for others!)

To set the scene for you…

It is Thursday night of Holy week. Jesus and 11 of His disciples have left the Upper Room in John Mark’s house, and are making their way toward the Kidron valley where they will cross over to the Mount of Olives where a garden with an olive press, called a “gethsemane”, is located (Instead of “The Garden of Gethsemane” it should be “The garden of the gethsemane - it’s a “thing” not necessarily a “place.”…). Jesus often stays here when He is in Jerusalem…

While they were in the Upper Room, they had participated in the Passover meal, what we call The Last Supper, and had their feet washed by Jesus, and then after that Judas left out, but the other disciples didn’t know why. After they sang a hymn they all left out. It was around midnight….

As they walked along, Jesus shared many things with them. He talked almost nonstop - like He has so much to say, in such a short amount of time… and indeed He does.

Then all of a sudden, as they come to the edge of the Kidron Valley, I think Jesus just stops! He lifts His hands toward heaven and just starts praying! I think it caught them off guard. Have you ever been around someone who just, all of a sudden, started praying? And not only that, but as He prays, He is praying for them!

Have you ever had someone pray, specifically, for you? How did it make you feel?

This is a prayer that was meant to be heard. Don’t let anyone tell you that Jesus taught against public prayer. He taught against “showy” public prayer. He taught against “insincere” public prayer, but against public prayer, just because it’s public? No, He never taught against that. There were several times when He prayed that He meant for the prayer to be heard!

Listen to the words of this prayer (read chapter 17) And imagine you’ve been walking with Jesus, listening to His words, and then He stops and begins praying…

I really wish we had time to study this prayer in depth - there is so much here! So we’ll just do a quick overview. First of all we can see that it has 3 parts.

~The first part (verses 1-5) has to do with Jesus’ relationship with the Father. The perspective of the prayer is like it’s from “the other side of the cross.” In other words, He is praying like it’s a “done deal” - like it’s already happened. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d think that it was being prayed after the Resurrection! But it’s not… and in just a very few moments we’ll find Him in the Garden on His face begging the Father to let this cup pass…

But that’s not so far-fetched… how many of us have been in situations where we knew the outcome was going to be victorious, but the meantime was hell? The worst part about losing my Mother was not her death, but the 6 weeks prior to that…

Second, Jesus prays for the disciples. Verses 6-19 gives us His intercession for them as He asks God to “keep them” - keep them (verse 11) in unity; keep them (or give them) (verse 13) joy; and keep them (verse 15) safe, or “from the evil one.”

And why does Jesus pray these things for them? (Verse 18-19) that they may be sent into the world, sanctified in truth…

Third Jesus prays for us. Verse 20 says “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word, that they may be one...”

“…that they may be one…” Jesus also prays for our unity. One writer said that all the disciples were different, and all believers are different. He said there is a difference between unity and uniformity. Unity shows its best in diversity, but uniformity is threatened by diversity.

John Wesley said “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion. Therefore a man must find companions or make them.”

Then, in order to attain that “oneness”, Jesus prays for us to have the “glory” that He had. “What is Jesus’ Glory?”

First, Jesus’ Glory is the cross. Remember, Jesus never talked about being crucified; He spoke of being “glorified…” Therefore, our “cross” is our “glory.” Whatever it is that is our cross, is the thing that shows forth our glory. Now, we don't pray for difficult times, situations, or circumstances, but “when” they come (and they will come), then as Christ works in us, we show the glory that is Him in us.

Second, His Glory is His obedience to God. Philippians 2:8 says He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

And third, His Glory is His relationship to God. He prays in verse 24 that “they may be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory…” In other words, He wants us in Heaven - in Paradise - with Him…

~Another thing we can see in this prayer is how it follows the model that He gave us in the Lord’s Prayer.

In the opening phrases of the prayer, we see Him coming to God as Father in heaven and hallowing His name. In verse 6 He says that “I manifested Thy name” which means that He taught the disciples about God’s character and authority.

In verses 2-4 we see Him declaring “Thy will be done - on earth as it is in heaven.”

And in verse 14 we see Jesus asking for God to protect them from the evil one…

And in the closing verses we see Jesus affirming, “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever…”

~And lastly, we see in this prayer of Jesus’, the model of how we are to pray for other believers. This prayer seeks the glory of God, even when the price is personal suffering. It affirms that whatever brings God’s glory is ultimately for our good - actually for our “best.” If you have a question about whether you should do something, ask yourself, “Does it bring God Glory?”

This prayer asks for divine protection not from suffering, but from Satan, from spiritual opposition, and from defeat. It seeks a greater unity among true believers, and looks ultimately for a reunion with our Lord.

When we pray for one another, in the way that Jesus prayed for us, we will have unity, we’ll have joy, and we will arrive safely in the Father’s arms - and that’s exactly the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

In closing, I want you to think about the hymn “In The Garden” because our next study will be Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. I want you to think about this week’s prayer and where it was that Jesus prayed it - just outside the Garden - just before taking on all the sin, of all mankind, of all eternity…

Study of Prayer - Week Four
Jesus’ “High Priestly” Prayer
AKA “The Real Lord’s Prayer”

Key statement: When we pray for one another, in the way that Jesus prayed for us, we will have unity, we’ll have joy, and we will arrive safely in the Father’s arms - and that’s exactly the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

Scriptures:
John 17 (read it every day - in different translations if possible)
Leviticus 16:3-34 (especially verse 30)
Philippians 2:9-11
Hebrews 4:14-16
Hebrews chapters 8-9 (most important)
Hebrews 10:11-12
(Actually - it would be very helpful if you read the whole book of Hebrews. Read it in an easily understood version such as The New Living Translation.)

Questions:

Do you understand why this is called “The ‘Real’ Lord’s Prayer”? Do you understand why it is called “The High Priestly Prayer”?

Have you ever just “stopped in your tracks” (or dropped to your knees) and started praying? Have you been around someone who did?

How does it make you feel when you are in the presence of someone praying specifically for you?

Do you see portions in this prayer which follow the “model” prayer?

Can you see where Jesus is praying for you, individually, in this prayer? (As the song says, “When He was on the cross, you were on His mind…”)

How does it comfort you to know, that as He was on His way to the cross, He was praying for you?

Praying the prayer of Jesus - John 17

Father, as Jesus came to you on this night of His crucifixion, He was more concerned with us than He was with Himself. As He recounted all that He had done; as He was counting down the hours until His death, His eyes were still on Your glory and our protection; on Your manifestation and our understanding of it.

He seemed so anxious for us. He knew how hard it was going to be for us sometimes, but even with that, He didn’t pray for You to take us out of the world, but to protect us from the evil one. He so wanted us to know the fellowship and “oneness” that He had (and has) with You. He wanted it to be real in our lives, so that other lives may be touched as well.

And so, Father, we pray that prayer as well. The “world” doesn’t know You, but we know You through the person of Jesus Christ, and we pray that the love with which You loved Christ may be in us as He is in us.

In His precious name we pray, Amen.

Study on Prayer - week 3

2008-02-08T07:51:00.000-05:00

We come now to the second part of our study of the Lord’s Prayer, what I’ve titled, “P’s in a Pod, Part Two: Things We Need God to Give Us”.

Last week we looked at the first part of the prayer in the “Things we need to give God” and we talked especially about the holiness of God. We looked at the first set of “P’s” by looking at God’s Paternity and Placement by saying “Our Father who art in heaven”; we looked at Praise when we say “hallowed be Thy Name.”

And, we saw that His Divine Providence took place when we say “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”

Praying that part of the prayer is extremely important; spending time in “worshipful” prayer - in a deliberate time of meditation and study - studying the attributes of God, is what gives us the “privilege” of praying this second part of the prayer

But I think, if we’re real honest, we’ll find that our prayers spend much more time in this “second” portion - in “the things we need God to give us” than in the “things we need to give God.” And yet, God is so gracious… and He keeps on giving us so much!

As we’ve noted, this “model” prayer is found in both Luke 11, where the unnamed disciple asked Jesus - in an urgent tone of voice - to teach them how to pray.

And, the “model” prayer is also found in Matthew 6, as a part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where He is teaching the “attitude” of worship, by teaching about fasting, giving, and praying - what is acceptable, and what is not…

With this study we’ll be focusing on the version found in Matthew as it is closest to what we actually say when we repeat “The Lord’s Prayer.”

(Matthew 6:9-10 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.”)

Before we go on - think about last week’s handout? Did you “ponder” on those questions? What about the scriptures? Could you see the similarity between the OT prayers and the “model” prayer?

(and then verse 11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”)

And now we come to Provision. What do you think this means? The Message translates it as “Keep us alive with three square meals…” (That doesn’t really work for me…)

The Revised Standard Version says, “Give us to-day bread for the coming day…”

There are many ways to look at what “bread” means here - sorta like “it depends on what ‘is’ is…” There’s the bread of the Lord’s Supper, the bread as Spiritual food, and of course, bread as Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life…”

But, sometimes I think we try to get far too theological in reading the Bible. Sometimes we just have to read it with a simple heart. It means, exactly what it says - provision (whether food, or clothing, or housing, or healing) whatever we need “provided” - today.

One of the reasons the early church had a hard time understanding the meaning was that the Greek word which is used for “daily” is a word that for a very long time was found nowhere else in Greek literature - no-where! In fact, many people thought that Matthew had invented the word. Then, not too long ago a fragment of papyrus was found with this word on it. You know what it was? A woman’s shopping list. The things she needed for that day.

Give us this day our daily bread - give us the things we need for this day. Does that mean we sit back and wait for our provisions to just roll in? No, scripture also tells us that God provides for the birds of the air… but like I’ve always said, He doesn’t throw it in the nest for them…

Also notice Jesus does not teach us to say, “Give me this day my daily bread…” The world’s food problem is not with supply, but with distribution… One writer said, “Only when we’ve prayed the “us” with that as the focus, have we prayed it right…”

(Verse 12 “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” )

If we must understand the Provision of the prayer with a simple heart, then we must understand that the Penitence of the prayer exposes our sinful heart.

The theologian and commentator William Barkley said that “Before a man (or woman) can honestly prayer this petition, he must realize that he needs to pray it…

Now, I believe that most of us would readily agree that we’re sinners… but if pressed, and asked, “What sin did you commit today?” How would you answer? Anyone want to share how they sinned today? :-)

The trouble is, we all agree that the drunkard, the murderer, the burglar, and the adulterer are sinners, but… how do we recognize our own sin? We know that Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. And Romans 5:8 says that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners… but just what is sin? And how come in this prayer I have to ask to be forgiven in the same way that I’m willing to forgive? Ever think about that?

There are 5 Greek terms in the New Testament that relate to sin. Debt which is used here means a moral or spiritual debt or “owing.” Sin means missing the mark. Trespass is falling or slipping - more from carelessness than from intentional disobedience. (Notice that only these three words are used in The Lord’s Prayer.) Then there’s transgression which means crossing the line or going beyond limits prescribed by God. This one is more conscious and intentional. And then there is lawlessness, which is even more intentional and flagrant. It is direct and open rebellion against God and His ways.

Remember we said in the first week that this prayer is given to those who were (and are) already believers; who were (and are) already saved from the judgment, so the debts referred to here are those committed by us when we “owe a debt” to God, or “miss the mark” or “slip up.” And we all “owe a debt”, “miss the mark” and “slip up.”

And we have all been “owed” a debt. And we’ve all had someone “miss the mark” with us, or “slip up” with us…

But, for me, the word “trespasses” has the most impact - “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…” The reason is, when I think of “trespass” I think of “no trespassing” signs. And what that means is “no crossing.”

I may not think of anyone to whom I owe a debt, or against whom I’ve sinned, but I can certainly think of people I’ve “crossed” and especially of those who’ve “crossed” me, and in that regard, the prayer hits a little closer home.

Barkley again says that the literal translation is “forgive us our sins in proportion as we forgive those who have sinned against us. This is the only phrase of the prayer that Jesus gives further details about in verses 14 and 15. But note! This does not affect our salvation! This has to do with fellowship. It is our continued sinning that breaks our fellowship with God, and it is refusing to forgive another person that disrupts our fellowship with them.

Asking forgiveness implies confession. Feet that are not presented to Christ can’t be washed, and sins that aren’t confessed can’t be forgiven, or rather a better term might be can’t be “cleansed.” Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus, but if we don’t confess them, they can’t be cleansed or removed from us. We will carry the guilt and weight of that sin if it is not confessed.

To confess means to agree with, and when we confess our sins, we agree with God that they are wicked, evil and defiling, and have no part in those who belong to Him. It’s not easy to confess sins. Oh, we might say, “God, forgive me of my sins today.” Or sing the song, “If I have wounded any heart today, if I have caused one foot to go astray, if I have walked in my own willful way - Dear Lord, forgive.” But when it comes right down to naming our sins, not saying “if” I’ve done anything, but “as” I have done something; then it is much harder.

By the way, when I think of that song, I often think, “Yeah, if I have wounded a heart, or caused a foot to go astray, or walked in my own way, I know I can be forgiven, but what of the consequences of my actions? What about the one I hurt? What about the one I caused to falter? Because of my willful way, what’s going to happen to them? The consequences of our sins are extremely far reaching.

The last phrase of the prayer brings us to Protection.

(verse 13 “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]” )

We have just prayed to be forgiven of our sins, and now we pray that we not return to the folly of sin, nor may we be tempted to do it. But, the Greek word for temptation is basically a neutral word, which means it has no connotation of either good or evil, as does our English word “temptation.”

We always think of something evil, or of doing something wrong when we hear the word “temptation” (I’m “tempted” to eat that last piece of cheesecake) but the root word means “testing or proving” which doesn’t have to be doing something wrong. (However, we seldom say, “I’m tempted to help someone today…”)

In Genesis 22, in the KJV it says that “God tempted Abraham.” But in nearly every other translation it says that he was “tested…” Testing something proves how strong it is.

1Co 10:13 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.

But, I don’t know about you, but I don’t particularly want to know how strong I am! And so when we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” it is an appeal to God to place a watch over our eyes, our ears, our mouth, our feet and our hands - that in whatever we see, hear, or say, and in any place we go and in anything we do, He will protect us from sinning.

We pray that He will not allow us to go there because if we continually allow ourselves to be placed in tempting or sinful areas, it is only a matter of time until we give in.

And then, there’s that “evil one…” Nearly every commentary I read translates “deliver us from evil” as “deliver us from the evil one.” And believe me, there IS an “evil one.” He is not a cartoon character dressed in a red suit with horns, a pointed tail, and a pitchfork. The Bible tells us that he is like a roaring lion going about seeking whom he may devour. He is an accuser, and deceiver, and a liar - and he wants to destroy you…

Paul gives us the way to “stand” against the wiles of the devil - and that is by putting on the whole armor of God found listed altogether in Ephesians 6:10-18 - but really, it’s found all through out the Bible. (We don’t have time to go into what each piece is and how it is used at this time, but I do have an additional handout on that if anyone wants one. Just e-mail me and ask for the “Dressed for the Battle” handout.)

As we finish this part of our study on prayer, I want to share one more thing from the book that I began with, “A Pilgrim’s Guide to Prayer.”

If you pray this prayer seriously, then you see that it is not a “warm and fuzzy” prayer, but actually denotes a struggle, or a conflict.

Listen to the words:
If we pray, asking that God’s Name be hallowed - we are implying and admitting that it is not always so honored.
By praying “Thy Kingdom come” shows that it hasn’t come fully, yet. And sometimes, quite honestly, it looks like it’s not gonna happen anytime soon, either…

“Give us our daily bread” is there because of constant threats to our existence.

And “Forgive us” must be prayed because as David said, “My sin is ever before me…”

Crying “lead us not into temptation” (or testing) shows failure and ruin are out there waiting to get us and without God’s help, we’re bound to lose out in the struggle. And we all beg to be delivered from the evil one…

We saw in our first study that the unnamed disciple said, “Lord, teach us now to pray…” And for “such a time as this” we need to make that same request…

Our Father, teach us now to pray. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

************************************************************

Study of Prayer - Week Three:
“P’s in a Pod, Part Two: Things We Need God to Give Us”

Key statement: Our prayers spend much more time in this portion than in the “things we need to give God.” And yet, God is so gracious… and He keeps on giving us so much!

Scriptures to read this week:
Deuteronomy 8:3
John 6:31-51
Matthew 18:21-35
Psalms 66:18
Mark 1:12-13
James 1:13-14
Ephesians 6:10-18

Questions to ponder this week:
(*Hint* Take one question a day and “ponder” on it. Jot down your impressions and thoughts to reflect back on them later.)

P - Provision: Why do you think Jesus told us to ask for bread? Do you think He was talking about food in particular?

P - Penitence: Have you ever had to forgive anyone? Do you still hold it against them in your heart?

Which translation helps you understand the verse better - “debts”, “sins”, or “trespasses?”

P - Protection: Do you believe God, does indeed, “lead” us into temptation?

Does saying, “Deliver us from the evil one” make this statement easier to understand?

What do you do to avoid temptation?

Prayer:
Upon Sitting in the Mall Food Court

I see a young black woman feeding an apparently handicapped white man. I am at a distance and can’t tell if he’s blind, or just can’t feed himself - and so, I begin to pray…

Father, bless this young woman in her ministry, her servanthood. May she receive a great blessing from her service.

As I look at all these people, I lift them up. What are their joys, what are their fears? I am old enough to know that within each of their lives, there is some pain - either within their own life, or someone very close to them.

I pray for them, Lord. May they know You and Your care, and Your love.

As I look, I know that You know each one of them. You made them. You know their fears, their joys, their concerns, and most importantly, You know their hearts. Do they know You, Lord? Is this young woman’s servanthood out of love to You, or does she not recognize You yet? Has she not responded or even heard Your call yet? I pray that if she hasn’t, she will.

I see a young mother with little children. Do they know You? Are these children being raised in a Christian home, or what kind of environment will they grow up thinking is “normal.”? I pray for this family Lord. If they know You, that they’ll be strengthened for the trials to come as the children grow older. If they don’t, that they’ll hear Your call and come to know Your love.

Father, the colors and nationalities, the physical, emotional, financial and educational differences represented by these Your children are many. Their ages are many and their experiences are many. We are all different, we are all loved by You. And now, may we all love and live to serve You.

In the Name of the One who died for even the least of these, I pray… Amen

Betty J. Newman ©May 2004

Next week: The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus - John 17
(This is the real “Lord’s Prayer”. This is the one He prayed for us!)

Study on Prayer - week 2

2008-02-01T23:13:00.000-05:00

Week 2: The Lord’s Prayer - “P’s in a Pod” Part 1 - Things we need to give God

For Christmas, 2006, Joe bought me a Chronological Bible. I had always talked about wanting to read a chronological version of the Bible - one in which all the events are written in the order in which they happened. So he got this for me.

The one I have is set up to be a “one-year” Bible. It’s broken down into daily readings, so that in one year you’ve read through the Bible.

The reading for October 19 happened to include Luke 11 - Luke’s version of The Lord’s Prayer. And as I read this: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (NIV) it jumped out at me that this was like “Peas in a Pod!”
“Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come” - this is praise;
“Give us each our daily bread” - this is provision;
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” - this is penitence;
“And lead us not into temptation” - this is protection! “P’s in a Pod!”

As I began to study it more in depth, I saw how it could be broken down even further, and we’ll get into that more as we go along, but that’s how this study came to be.

The “Lord’s Prayer”… Luke’s version and Matthew’s version are quite different. Matthew’s is closer to what we pray, but it has been argued by many that neither version was meant to be merely “recited.” As we said last week, there is a difference between “saying” prayers and “praying” prayers - it all has to do with “attitude.”

What is your earliest or your fondest memory of “The Lord’s Prayer”? (For me - as a child, we always prayed the Lord’s Prayer every night beside Mother and Daddy’s bed. Also hearing our own boys pray it for the first time in church.)

It can easily become rote - something that is said strictly out of habit. Now, a habit can be both a blessing and a curse - the “habit” itself, is neutral - it’s what it happens to be that is good or. bad.

A habit can be something that is so ingrained in us that it becomes a part of us; or it can be so ingrained in us that we do it without even thinking about it… I have a “good” habit of always praying every time I hear an ambulance - that’s just a part of who I am. But, I have a “bad” habit of biting my fingernails - I do it without thinking!

As we look in depth at what the Lord’s Prayer is, we also have to look at what it is not. For instance, it is not a “sinner’s prayer”, it is a “child’s or a believer’s prayer.” Jesus makes that very clear in the Sermon on the Mount. Most of chapter 6 of Matthew is spent teaching about “attitudes” of worship, including fasting and giving, as well as praying. This is teaching for the child of God, not someone who has not yet come to Him.

It is also not our Lord’s “personal” prayer. He never needed to ask for forgiveness. But, it IS a “model” prayer, and in that regard, He did model it when He asked for our forgiveness on the cross. And, by the way, we’ll look at other ways He modeled it when we look at the “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17, and Jesus’ prayer in the garden…

The prayer, as it unfolds is like a “funnel” in shape - from the largest (most universal and far reaching) to the smallest (most personal and intimate) and, as we are studying it in this series, it can be broken into two parts - “Things we need to give God”, and “Things God gives to us.”

First (as it should be) “Things we need to give God…”

For this week’s study we’ll be using Matthew’s version of the prayer, (Read Matthew 6:9-13.)

Matthew 6:9b “Our Father who art in heaven…”

This opening phrase says so much. It was scandalous for the Jews, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees, to even think about saying God’s name, let alone call Him “Father.” But this phrase gives us God’s “paternity” or our “personal relationship” in leading us to say “Our Father.” And it calls on our faith in God’s “position” by giving us His “placement” as “in heaven.”

However, the concept of God as “father” was not entirely new. Isaiah 63:16 and 64:8 speaks of God as the Father of Israel. And faithful Jews had known of God as their Father in several ways. They saw Him as Father of Israel, but they also saw Him in an even more intimate and personal way as their Spiritual Father and Savior. You can find that concept first used in Exodus 4:22 when Moses is receiving his call from God. God tells him, “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, "Israel is My son, My firstborn.” Well, if Israel is the “son” then God is the Father.

We also see it in the Psalms, such as Psalms 103:13 “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”
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But over the centuries, because of their disobedience to the Lord, most Jews had lost the sense of God’s intimate Fatherhood. Jesus reaffirmed to them what their Scripture taught and what faithful and Godly Jews had always believed: God is the Father of those who trust in Him.

AND, it is most likely that Jesus, speaking Aramaic used the term “Abba” which is an intimate form of “Father” closer to what we would call “Daddy.”

It’s interesting to note that Jesus used the title Father in all His prayers except the one on the cross when He cried “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” emphasizing the separation He experienced in bearing mankind’s sin.

To be able to go to God as our heavenly Father means many things to us. For example - it means the end of terrifying fear. Remember, the pagans feared their gods. However, the Hebrew word that is translated “fear” when it speaks of the “fear of God” means reverence or worship. It’s an entirely different word than the one that means to be afraid of.

Next, knowledge of God’s Fatherhood gives hope. If an earthly father (“normal” earthly father) will give help and protection to their children, how much more will God love and protect His children.

Also, knowing God as Father does away with loneliness. Everyone else may leave us, but God never will.

Then, knowing God as Father should settle the matter of selfishness. There is not, nor cannot be, anything selfish about this prayer because no where is there a “personal” pronoun. It is “our” Father, give “us” this day “our” daily bread, lead “us” not into temptation, and deliver “us” from evil. It is a prayer for the “family” of God.

As Paul wrote, knowing God as our Father brings us blessing in abundance. (Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”)

And, knowing God as Father settles the matter of obedience. Jesus gave up the riches of Heaven and was obedient, even unto death. Obedience to God is one of the supreme marks of our relationship to Him as His children. “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

Yet in His grace, God loves and cares even for His children who are disobedient. Remember how He provided for Adam and Eve - God gave first! And then there was Cain, and Abraham when he messed up, and Jacob when he was deceitful, and David in his sin, and… well, we could go on and on…

By allowing us, teaching us, and leading us to believe and say “Our Father” Jesus is indicating God’s eagerness to lend His ear, His power, and His eternal blessings to the prayers of His children.

Next: It teaches us “praise” or “priority” when we “hallow” His name.

Matthew 6:9c “…hallowed be Thy name.”

Hallow is an old English word which means holy. God’s people are commanded to “be” holy, but God is acknowledged as “being” (already is) holy. The Good News Bible translates it as “May Your holy name be honored.”

According to the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, the word “name” has a significance in the Bible as meaning “authority” or “character.”

Everything Jesus did on earth manifested, or lived up to God’s name and His authority. When we sanctify Christ (or make Christ holy) in our hearts, we will also sanctify Him in our lives. We hallow his name when we acknowledge that He exists. We also hallow his name when we have and seek a true knowledge about him.

We must also have a constant awareness of His presence. To truly hallow His name and His authority, is to consciously draw Him into every daily thought, every daily word, and every daily action. David said in Psalms 16:8 that “I have set the Lord continually before me.”

We cannot worship or revere a God whose character and will we do not know or care about, or Whose authority we deny. To live in disobedience to His will is the same as taking His name in vain. It’s as bad as if we used the vilest profanity we could imagine.

And then, to hallow God’s name is to attract others to Him by our commitment, to “let our light shine before others in such a way that they may see our good works and glorify our father who is in heaven.”

Psalms 34:3 sums it up, “Oh magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!”

Next, in our “Pod of P’s”, The Lord’s Prayer speaks of calling for His Divine providence in mankind’s existence. Or as John MacArthur calls it, “The Program” and “The Plan.” (Somebody else saw “P’s in this Pod!” :-)

Matthew 6:10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Hank Hanegraaff’s book, The Prayer of Jesus” says, “One of the most comforting thoughts that can penetrate a human mind, yielded to the will of God is that He who has created us also knows what’s best for us.”

But let’s face it - whose kingdom and whose will are we most concerned with, most of the time? Our own, of course. How self-centered our prayers usually are, focused on our needs, our plans, our wants.

Even problems and issues outside of ourselves can cloud our concern for God’s Kingdom. It is our responsibility to pray for our families, pastors, neighbors, and worldly issues, but our prayer FIRST should be that God’s will be done in and through those people - that they would think, speak, and act in accordance with God’s will.

The Talmud, which is the book that contains the body of the Hebrew laws, says that “if a prayer does not name the kingdom of God, then it is not a prayer.”

The word “come” (as in Thy kingdom come) in the Greek is in an imperative tense - It could read Come! Thy Kingdom, or “Let Thy kingdom come Now!”

So, how does this kingdom come? It comes by conversion and by commitment.
First, it comes by conversion. As we pray for the salvation of souls, the kingdom grows.

And second, it comes by commitment. Those who already believe should respond to the rule of the Lord in their lives now so that He rules in them as He rules in heaven.

Then there is that matter of “Thy will be done…”

Notice, the prayer doesn’t say, “Thy will be known” it says “Thy will be done!”

It’s almost like saying “Amen” Do you know what the word “amen” means? It doesn’t mean “That’s all folks!” It literally means “so be it” or “may it be in accordance with the will of God.”

But, sometimes we don’t want to say “amen.” We don’t want to say, “So be it.” There is a tension between God’s sovereignty and man’s will. God is sovereign, but He gives us choices. God is sovereign, but He tells us to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Our prayer should be that every person and thing on earth be brought into conformity with God’s perfect will.

To pray for God’s will to be done, is to stand against the worldly idea that sin is normal and inevitable and therefore should just be accepted. To pray for righteousness is to pray against wickedness. And finally, to pray for God’s will to be done, is to pray (by extension) for Satan’s will to be… undone.

As we end this first section, “Things we need to give God”, we have looked at the first 5 lines of this prayer. Which is most difficult, or demands the most faith from you?

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We closed the study again this week with comments and questions, then prayer. And as always, I urge you to e-mail me with your comments and questions.

The following is the handout for week 2. I encourage you to read the scriptures, ponder the questions, and spend time in prayer and meditation with your Heavenly Father. He loves you SO much that He gave His Son to die for your sins!

To God be the Glory!
Amen

Next week: The Lord’s Prayer - “P’s in a Pod” Part Two - Things We Need God to Give Us.

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Study of Prayer - Week Two:
“P’s in a Pod, Part One: Things We Need to Give God”

Key statement(s): “Only those who received Jesus and believed on His name have the right to refer to God as ‘Our Father’.”

“And, how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening.” 1 John 5:14 The Message

Scriptures to read this week:
Psalms 31 (A prayer of Faith, written by David, probably as Saul sought to kill him.)
Isaiah 63:16
Romans 8:14-17
1 John 5:14-15
2 Chronicles 20:3-12

Questions to ponder this week:
(*Hint* Take one question a day and “ponder” on it. Jot down your impressions and thoughts to reflect back on them later.)

Do you see any parallels between Jehoshaphat’s prayer (2 Chronicles 20:3-12) and the Lord’s Prayer?
(Hint: V:6 - “Our Father, Who art in heaven, and Your will be done”; V:8 - “hallowed be Your name”; V:11-12a “deliver us from evil”; V:12b “Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory…”

Are there parallels between your prayers and the Lord’s Prayer?

P - Position: Does it seem radical to you to call God, “Father”? What about calling Him “Daddy”?

P - Praise: What other names of God can you recall from the scriptures? Do you see “authority” in them?

P - Providence: What does “The Kingdom of God” mean to you, and do you pray for God’s Kingdom to come?

Does it ever frighten you to pray, “Your will be done.”?

Do you see how these are “things we need to give God”?

Prayer: (From the book “One Minute Prayers” by Hope Lyda)

I know your name so well, Lord. I whisper it in times of sorrow. I hold it close when entering a place of fear. I shout its praise during times of celebration. You have carved it on my heart so that I will never forget the Creator of my soul. I do not go anywhere without being covered by your name, for it is powerful.

When I experience doubt, Lord, remind me that, “he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” You are all these things to me, Lord. Let me never to forget to call on You, the One who does not forsake me but leads me to higher places.

Another short prayer: “Oh Lord, Thy Will - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!”

The Hebrew Names of God

Elohim: Creator - Genesis 1:1
El Elyon: God Most High - Sovereign - Genesis 14:18-20
El Roi: The God Who Sees - Genesis 16:13-14
El Shaddai: The All Sufficient One - Genesis 17:1-8
Adonai: The Lord or “My” Lord - Genesis 15:1-2
Jehovah: The Self-Existent One - Genesis 3:3-6
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Will Provide - Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Who Heals - Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord My Banner - Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-Mekoddisheem: The Lord Who Sanctifies You - Exodus 31:12-13
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Is Peace - Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts - 1 Samuel 1:11
Jehovah-Raah: - The Lord My Shepherd - Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness - Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord Is There - Ezekiel 48:35

Study on Prayer

2008-01-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

This is the first of a 3-part series on Prayer - specifically, what we know as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

I taught this series in our Wednesday night services. This particular study is comprised of the text I taught from, and a handout that I gave to use during the week.

This is the first time I’ve ever posted a study like this on this blog - so we’ll see how it goes. Please feel free to e-mail (bnprayerlogue@cs.com) me with comments or questions.

I hope you enjoy it.

Betty

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Week one - introduction

I have heard it said that “Nothing intimidates Christians more than prayer.” We all know we should do it, but none of us, I think, are quite sure about just how to do it…

I know for myself, it has been a life-long struggle. Let me ask you this… how many of you struggle with prayer? What are some of the things you struggle with? Praying enough - how much is enough? What to say? How to listen? How to be effective? How to know when the answer is no?

Me, too… I used to think I was the only person who struggled with how to pray; and not only how, but sometimes even “why” to pray.

A search on prayer on Christianbook.com (where I order a lot of my books) turned up a list for 6,764 different books or resources on prayer… I believe it’s the number one concern of Christians.

I’m sure that as we go through this next few weeks, you will hear me say things that you’ve heard me say before because for more than 30 years as I’ve taught, written, and preached, prayer is probably the number one subject that I’ve dealt with…

You may even hear me say things that you’ve read in other places, or heard other preachers and teachers say. The reason is - I’m not that smart. I just have good resources, and I listen a lot. And I want to share what helps me - as you’ve also heard me say before, I’m just one beggar telling other beggars where I’ve found bread!

For the past 3-4 years or so I’ve done my studies on my laptop, but I also have a big manila envelope with copies of nearly all the talks and sermons that I’ve done for 25 years or so before that. And going through that envelope, the one thing that amazes me is how many times the topic is prayer. As much as I love the Old Testament, you would think that something from the OT would be the most frequent. Or perhaps the parables - lay speakers love the parables, but no, I’ve spent more time and study on prayer than any other area, and I still have struggles with it!

Like I said, I thought I was the only Christian with this problem; enough so that I was almost ashamed to talk about it, or admit it.

But what I’ve come to understand is - if you’re not struggling with prayer, then you’re not praying enough!

Let me say that again, if you’re not struggling with prayer, then you are not praying enough! Only someone who spends much time in prayer knows that they don’t know how to pray, as they ought; and not only that, but as one commentator put it, “Nor do these anxieties subside, but rather deepen, with the depth and ripeness of our spiritual experience.” In other words, it doesn’t get any easier either!

Did you ever notice that the only thing the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them, was to pray? They never asked Him to teach them how to witness. They never asked Him to teach them how to heal. They never asked Him to teach them how to preach. The only thing they ever asked Him to teach them - was how to pray.

There are probably as many “methods” for prayer as there are writers who write about it. For instance, one that is making the e-mail circuit is the “Five Finger Prayer.” (Let me know if you’d like a copy of this.)

Another method for praying is to use the acronym A.C.T.S. - this stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

A variation on that is F.A.C.T.S. Hank Hanegraaff in his book, “The Prayer of Jesus” gives this as standing for Faith, and then Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

Yet another was the acronym P.R.A.Y. This stands for Praise, Repentance, Asking for others, and praying for Yourself.

To use either of these methods, you spend time praying, using these “topics” as “prompts” to guide your prayer.

Other methods include praying the scriptures; praying the Psalms, specifically; praying the Names of God or the Names of Jesus; and one I love, praying hymns - a lot of the words to the old hymns are simply prayers set to music…

But the most important thing to know about prayer, we can find in the Nike slogan… Just do it!

For this study I encourage you to get a folder so that you can keep the handouts and any notes you take. I also encourage you to get a notebook or something so that you can keep a prayer list and especially so that you can keep answers to prayers… It is so exciting to go back and read of answers to prayers…

This is going to be a relatively short study on prayer - only a few weeks - so we won’t have time to study much about prayers in the Bible, but I’ll be giving you some scripture references that you can read during your own prayer time. Reading prayers, before you begin to pray, really begins to focus your mind on God - it gets you into the “groove” or “posture” of prayer…

For these last few minutes of tonight’s study, we’re going to look at - “What about this prayer that Jesus gave…”

Let us begin with prayer….

[Father, as I taught this study, and now as I’m posting it on the World Wide Web via a medium known as a blog, I can’t help but be amazed at Your hand in all this technological communication. No matter how advanced “man” becomes - You are still God! And You are still in control!

Father, I pray for everyone who will read or copy this study. I pray, Lord, that in some way, You will use this to benefit someone. You have blessed me with a passion to study and to write - and so Lord, I pray that you will use me for Your Glory and Honor.
In Jesus’ Name - Amen.]

Our scripture text for these first 3 studies will be from Luke 11, plus we will also compare this version of Jesus’ model prayer with the version from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6.

If you have your Bible, turn to Luke 11. As I said earlier, the only thing the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them, was to pray. They never asked Him to teach them how to witness. They never asked Him to teach them how to heal. They never asked Him to teach them how to preach. The only thing they ever asked Him to teach them - was how to pray.

(Read Luke 11:1)

Luke 11:1a: “while He was praying in a certain place, after He had finished…”

Luke gives us more instances of Jesus praying than any other Gospel. Luke 3:21 At His Baptism; Luke 5:16 in the wilderness; Luke 6:12 at the appointment of the apostles; Luke 9:18 when He asked “Who do men say that I am; Luke 9:28-29 at His transfiguration; Luke 11:1 here and; Luke 22:39-45 in the garden of Gethsemane.

I have said many times before that instead of praying in between teaching, ministering and healing, Jesus taught, ministered, and healed in between prayers! It has more to do with attitude than action!

The disciples had walked with Jesus nearly 3 years by now, they had watched Him go from being extremely popular, to extremely unpopular. Many commentators believe that this takes place while Jesus is in Peraea. If that is true, He is less than 6 months away from the Crucifixion…

The disciples are not blind, nor are they stupid. They can see what is happening. And so as they once again watch Him praying, when He finishes one of them (I suspect, Peter) steps up and says:

Luke 11:1b “Lord, teach us to pray…”

I have often said that one of the drawbacks to reading scripture is that we can’t determine “tone of voice.” It’s hard to know what one really means without tone of voice or body language. It’s like reading an e-mail when someone means something sarcastically, but it comes across as mean and hard. If you don’t know how they meant it - it can read entirely different.

But I was wrong. We do have a way to know “tone of voice” in the Bible. That is by studying the original languages. I mentioned in my last sermon that I have desires in my heart today that I didn’t put there - that 5 years ago would have never crossed my mind? Well… I want to learn Greek. In the original Greek there are tenses and moods in the language that tell us exactly what the tone of voice was, and exactly what it meant.

Here the phrase reads, “Lord, teach us to pray…” but in the Greek, the verb “teach” is in the “imperative” which makes it really say, “Lord, teach us NOW to pray!”

Why now? After 3 years, why now? (Why do you think they asked now?)

Several commentators said that they didn’t think Jesus would have ever verbalized this prayer if they hadn’t asked. He did, of course, give a version of it in His Sermon on the Mount, but that was within the course of a sermon when He was teaching on attitudes of prayer.

Matthew Henry says: “Lord, teach us to pray", is itself a good prayer, and a very needful one, for it is a hard thing to pray well and it is Jesus Christ only that can teach us, by his word and Spirit, how to pray. “Lord, teach me what it is to pray; Lord, excite and quicken me to the duty; Lord, direct me what to pray for; Lord, give me praying graces, that I may serve God acceptably in prayer; Lord, teach me to pray in proper words; give me a mouth and wisdom in prayer, that I may speak as I ought; teach me what I shall say.”

And when you couple that with “Teach us now to pray” it adds a sense of urgency to its importance.

Next, verse one says:
Luke 11:1c “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”

We usually think of John the Baptist as a prophet and martyr, and yet Jesus’ disciples remembered him as a man of prayer.

Having just come off the Advent season, we remember John as the “miracle baby” of Elizabeth and Zechariah, who was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born, and yet he had to pray.

John was given the privilege of introducing the Messiah to Israel, and yet he had to pray. In Luke 7:28, Jesus said that John was the greatest of the prophets, and yet John had to depend on prayer. If prayer was that vital to a man who had these many advantages, how much more important it ought to be to us who do not have these advantages!

At least a couple of Jesus’ disciples were first, disciples of John. In John 1:35-40 we read about Andrew and an unnamed disciple, who we know to be John, following Jesus after John declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…” So we know that they, at least, had first hand knowledge of John’s prayers.

We know that the scribes and Pharisees prayed, but their prayers were mostly ritualized, or were doxologies. The priests prayed the Psalms. But, there was something different about John’s and Jesus’ prayers that made the disciples want to learn how to do it.

Jesus had taught them by precept, or word in the Sermon on the Mount. And He taught them by example time and again, but especially when in Luke 9:29 we read that “While He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming…” But, somehow the example of Jesus on this occasion stirred them to fresh interest in the subject, and to a revival of interest in John’s teachings.

There are those who “say prayers” and those who converse with God. The disciples wanted to converse with God!

Someone has said that many people pray like sailors use their pumps - only when the ship is leaking…

What is prayer? There is an out of print book titled “A Pilgrim’s Guide to Prayer” by Edward C. Briggs (I think it can still be found online, though.) It is one of the very best books on prayer I’ve ever read.

In the introduction, Rev. Briggs says: “Real prayer is like wrestling. It’s a struggle, a sort of work. It’s Jacob beside the Jabbok as a desperate dawn begins to break. It’s Christ in Gethsemane. It’s Paul in Romans 7 bemoaning the hold of sin on his life. It’s Moses saying, ‘Blot me out of Your Book, O Lord, if I can’t save this nation!’ (Ex.32:32)

Prayer is for the souls what food is for bodies, gasoline for cars, money for retirement, film for cameras. In other words, it makes life work, and without it things grind to a halt.

Prayer isn’t tame. Anything that’s tame or loose or half-hearted can’t be called prayer. Prayer sweats, cries and gripes. It shouts, but never yawns. Nothing that yawns can be called prayer…

That strange and wonderful Baptist, John Bunyan had it right. He said, ‘When thou prayest, rather let thy heart be without words, than thy words without heart!’”

And I fully agree.

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We closed the study with comments and questions, then prayer. And again, I urge you to e-mail me with your comments and questions.

The following is a the handout that we wrote to go with this study. I encourage you to read the scriptures, ponder the questions, and spend time in prayer and meditation with your Heavenly Father. He loves you SO much that He gave His Son to die for your sins!

To God be the Glory!
Amen

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Study of Prayer - Week One Handout:
“Lord, Teach Us Now To Pray”

Key statement(s): “Jesus knew that His disciples would never properly understand examples of prayer without first understanding principles of prayer.”

“The Secret to Prayer is secret prayer.”

Scriptures to read this week:
2 Chronicles 1: 6-13
Matthew 6: 9-13
Luke 11:1-4
Luke 18:9-14
2 Samuel 7:18-29

When King David goes before God in 2 Samuel 7:18, many commentators believe that when it says he “sat before the Lord” it indicates that he sat there for some time meditating on what to say before he began praying. How much time do we spend “listening” to, or just thinking about, God before we begin praying, or even while we’re praying?

In this passage of scripture, when David says, “Who am I, O Lord God,” the Hebrew word for “God” is one we’re familiar with - “Jehovah”. But the word for “Lord” is “Adonai” which means “My Lord” and is a more personal confession than simply saying “God.” It is more as we will be studying in these lessons, a familiarity as intimate as saying “Our Father…” but it means much more - it means “Lord”, “Master”, even “Owner”. Before we can fall on our knees before God, we must bow to Him as Adonai, our Lord and Master. Acknowledging Him as Lord has to be something more than mere words. It’s a relationship, and how can you develop a relationship with someone other than spending time alone with them?

Questions to ponder this week:
(*Hint* Take one question a day and “ponder” on it. Jot down your impressions and thoughts to reflect back on them later.)

Is prayer really important to me?

When do I pray?

Why do I pray?

What do I pray about mostly?

Where do I pray?

Do I really spend time “communicating” with God?

Does your prayer life shape your daily life, or does your daily life shape your prayer life?

If you don’t already have one, create a prayer list. It can be a few or a lot of names. If you’ve told anyone that you’d pray for them (or be “thinking” about them) put them on the list. This is one way to pray for them.

Prayer List Prayer

Father, I lift up to You today, Your servants of the Kingdom. I lift up those who are doing battle - those who are fighting the good fight; those who are running the race, who are staying the course.
I lift up those who are striving on to perfection, those who are children in the faith, and those who are unaware, or worse, uncaring.

I lift them up by name:
(Look at your list. Read off the names, remembering and praying for each person’s need as you know it.)

I lift them up by occupation:
(As you’re looking at your list, pray for others of their occupation. For instance, if someone on your list is a nurse, lift up other nurses, members of the medical field, and those for whom they will be caring this day. If someone is a teacher, lift up teachers of all kinds and their students, etc.)

I lift them up by affliction:
(If someone is sick, lift up others with the same sickness. If someone is traveling, lift up others who are traveling for business or pleasure. If someone is an unbeliever, lift up other unbelievers.)

Father, as I see faces with each name, I know that you see hearts, spirits and souls. Touch them I pray. Speak to their hearts and meet their needs. Strengthen their spirits, and comfort their souls. May they hear Your call and come to know the Joy of the Lord.
Father, I pray that in all we say and in all that we do, Your Name may be praised and glorified.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Next time: The Lord’s Prayer - “P’s in a Pod” Part One - Things we need to give God.

Now What: The Song of Action (Simeon's Song)

2008-01-06T22:17:00.000-05:00

On the last Sunday in 2007, I had the opportunity to bring the message at our two churches. The following is the text of that sermon.

If you’ve attended the Wednesday night Chapel services or any Bible study when I’ve taught then you’ve heard me say that I like to teach using the inductive study method of “What, So What, and Now What.”

“What” is “what is the scripture saying?” “So What” is “how is the scripture interpreted?” And “Now What” is how can I apply it to my daily life…?

Our last “song” if you will, in the First Christmas Carols is “Now What: The Song of Action.”

Scripture: (Read: Luke 2:22-40)

Prayer: Father, thank you for Dr. Luke and his attention to the details of our Saviour’s life. May we see in the events surrounding His birth what our response to His coming into our lives should be as well. In His Holy Name we pray - Amen.

A woman pulled up to a traffic light that had just turned red. There was one car in front of her, and as she waited, the light turned green, but the car in front didn’t move. She began waving her arms and shouting, “It doesn’t get any greener” among other, um, “choice” words and phrases…

The light turned red again, and the lady was furious by now. In her anger she didn’t notice there was a police car behind her. Suddenly she heard a peck on her window and there stood the officer… She rolled down her window, “What do you want?” she shouted. “It’s not against the law to shout in my own car!”

He asked her to step out of her car, and she continued raving… “You can’t arrest me for being angry… Didn’t you see that that car wasn’t moving… You don’t know where I’ve got to be…” on and on she ranted. He cuffed her and put her in the back seat of his car.

After about 30 minutes of waiting (and growing angrier by the minute) the officer finally let her out and took the handcuffs off. She lashed out at him, “You haven’t heard the last of this! I knew there was no law against shouting in my own car…”

To which the officer sheepishly replied, “Well, I didn’t detain you for shouting or being angry. As I sat behind you I thought, ‘Look at that lady! What a jerk, but it’s not against the law to be obnoxious,’ but then I noticed the cross hanging from your rearview mirror, and the “Got Jesus?” bumper sticker on your bumper. Then I saw the “choose life” license plate and the fish emblem on your trunk and, well, I just concluded that you’d stolen the car!”

Professing one thing and doing another…

Have you ever been lied to by someone professing to be a Christian? Have you ever been swindled, or taken advantage of by someone professing to be a Christian?

We once knew a man who often said, “Forget Christians, just give me a good ole honest heathen to do business with!”

Professing one thing and doing another…

My SS class and my family has heard this story… As I was going up to Gatlinburg to make a delivery one day, a huge pickup truck came up on my bumper going up Hwy 66. I mean he was right on my bumper. Finally he passed me and whipped back in front of me causing me to slam on my breaks to avoid hitting him. Well, that made me angry, but what really hit me was the sticker in his back window which showed a picture of Christ and the words, “Forgiven…”

I followed him all the way to Gatlinburg, hoping that he’d pull into some parking lot so I could pull in behind him and tell him that he’d destroyed his witness by acting like such a jerk!”

Professing one thing and doing another…

But now I have to ask… Do you, Christian, lie? Do you, Christian, treat people badly? Do you, profess one thing and do another?

During this Advent season, in both Jimmy’s sermon series and in our adult SS lessons, we’ve looked at the individuals involved in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. In the SS lessons, we’ve looked at what they’ve been called to do - called to believe, called to be a vessel, to proclaim, to rejoice, and then in today’s lesson, called to witness. In the sermons we heard the songs they sang as the first Christmas carols. We heard the Song of Faith, the Song of the Reversal of Fortunes, the Song of Restoration and the Song of Peace… And so we continue as we read about Simeon and Anna this week, with the Song of Action.

There are several things that all these main characters in the story have in common. First of all, there was their character - their “righteousness…” Thayer’s Dictionary of Greek Definitions describes righteousness as: “the state of him who is such, as he ought to be”.
Luke 1:6 tells us that Zechariah and Elizabeth were “both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.”

Luke 1:30 tells us that Mary “found favor with God” which indicates her righteousness. And even Joseph, whom we haven’t studied, we find in Matthew 1:19 was “a righteous man.”

Simeon continues that character trait. We read in verse 25 that he was “righteous and devout.” And Anna embodies her righteousness in her “worshiping day and night with fastings and prayers.”

And all of these (except for Joseph) were said to either be “filled with the Holy Spirit” or that the “Spirit came upon them…” or in the case of Anna, we are told that she was a prophetess which indicated her possession of the Holy Spirit.

Now it’s important to remember, that before Christ was born and walked among us; before His death and resurrection; before His Holy Spirit was sent at Pentecost, not everyone had access to the Spirit of God. Today, after Pentecost, anyone who has submitted their life to Christ, is indwelt with God’s Holy Spirit. If you have made that profession of faith, then you are filled with the Spirit.

So for our remaining time today I want to look at just what it means to be “righteous”, to be “such as we ought to be” and what it means to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

In fact, not just for today, but as a theme for this coming year, when I have an opportunity to bring the message (unless the Lord directs otherwise) I hope to continue looking at just what “being a Christian” really means.

As we saw, there is a difference between “professing” and “doing”. We may profess in our Affirmation of Faith on Sunday morning that we “believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord…” but do we “do” this belief in our daily lives?

As we’ve looked at the other characters surrounding the event, we’ve seen how they lived their daily lives, while serving God. They lived out, what they professed to believe…

So, how do we do that? I believe we can see, in Simeon’s life, 4 things we can do in order to live out what we profess to believe.

~~ First of all, Simeon was said to be “righteous and devout.” Not only was he “such as he ought to be” in his daily life, but he was “devout” as well. Luke is the only writer in the scriptures who uses this word. It’s like “righteous” magnified! If righteousness is doing what you ought toward others, devout is doing what you ought toward God.

What made him that way?

Luke tells us that he “was looking for the consolation of Israel.” Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” says that he was “a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel.”

Do you live in “prayerful expectancy”? In other words, do you pray, expecting God to answer your prayer; expecting God to help?

We see this same word in Paul’s letter to Titus when he says about Jesus: (Titus 2:11-14 NLT)
“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, (see the words “righteousness and devout” there)
while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

So we live what we profess when we are expectant in our prayers, while living with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.

~~Next we see in verse 26 that “it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”

In other words, he knew he would see the Messiah before he died…

Many people take it for granted that Simeon was an old man from what he said in verse 29 about dying in peace, but we don’t really know that for sure. There are many instances in the Bible where people are said very old, or to be near death, but then they live a long time after that. For instance, in Genesis 27, Isaac is said to be near death, but he lived another 60 years.

It has more to do with seeking a fulfillment in life than with age.

It’s like, in the movie “Sister Act”, one of the nuns upon learning that the Pope is coming to visit says, “Oh I’m dying, I’m dying…” Now of course, she wasn’t really dying, she is indicating that her life-long ambition has been realized, and everything else now would be (as we say in the South) “gravy.” Everything after this is just “extra good”…

Luke tells us that “it was revealed to him” that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. This indicates that in his expectant prayer, he received assurance. In other words, he believed it would happen. And so he was anticipating it.

Hebrews chapter 11, that great chapter of faith gives us a huge list of men and women who believed that the Messiah would come, but who died without seeing Him. Verse 13 of chapter 11 says “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it.”

So #2: We live out what we profess when we believe and have faith that God will do what He says He will do. (If you’re following on your insert - “He looked for answers to his prayers.”)

~~Simeon was told that he would see the Messiah before he died. And now, Simeon’s greatest goal was fulfilled. And what did he do next? He began worshiping God!

In continuing the Christmas Carol theme, Simeon sings a song of worship and salvation, as he praises God for keeping His promise of sending a Messiah, and allowing him to see Him.

Verse28 says (from The NLT) Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised.
I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!”

Like Mary and Zechariah, Simeon sings a song that is filled with OT associations. And with that last line, “He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!” Simeon is quoting a series of prophecies from Isaiah indicating that the Messiah would be, as the angels told the shepherds, good news of great joy which would be, not just for the Jews, but for all people!

So thirdly, we live out what we profess when we recognize answers to prayer and praise God for his faithfulness.

But there was another “verse” you might say, to Simeon’s song.

Simeon also prophesied that the Messiah would bring division. Paul would later characterize Christ as being a “stumbling block to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, foolishness.”

There are times when following Christ - when living out what we profess to believe - will bring division. Simeon said that, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but He will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose Him.”

Warren Wiersbe writes: “Jesus Christ is God’s miracle; and yet, instead of admiring Him, the people attacked Him and spoke against Him. His birth was a miracle, yet they slandered it (Joh_8:41). They said His miracles were done in the power of Satan (Mat_12:22-24) and that His character was questionable (Joh_8:48, Joh_8:52; Joh_9:16, Joh_9:24). They slandered His death (Psa_22:6-8; Mat_27:39-44) and lied about His resurrection (Mat_27:62-66). Today, people are even speaking against His coming again (2 Peter 3).
But the way people speak about Jesus Christ is evidence of what is in their hearts.”

After Simeon, came the prophetess Anna. We don’t know what she said about the Christ Child, but we can see in her actions that she too:
Was expectant; she fasted and prayed.
She believed; she had practically lived at the Temple for 84 years.
She praised God and told everyone she came in contact with about the Child.
And as her very life attested, that it hadn’t been easy.

If we propose to live out, in this coming year, what we profess to believe, we must realize that it may not always be easy. As I said earlier, in this coming year we will be focusing a lot of our study on what it really means to be a Christian. Much of our text will come from Paul’s letters and Romans 12 in particular. In verse 2 of Romans 12 it says “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

And there’s only one way to do that - and that is by living it.

Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography about his efforts to convince the city of Philadelphia to light the streets at night. His words didn’t work, so he bought an attractive lantern, polished the glass and placed it on a long bracket that extended from the front of his house.

Each evening as darkness descended, he lit the wick. His neighbors soon noticed the warm glow in front of his house; and passersby found the light helped them avoid tripping over the rough pavement.

Soon others placed lanterns in front of their homes as well, and eventually the city recognized the need for having well-lit streets…

John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred people who love God with all their hearts, and fear nothing but sin, and I will move the world!”

Professing belief in Christ will not change the world, but living for Him will…

Prayer: Father, as we have looked at the lives of these Saints that transition us from the Old Testament to the New, may we see, by their examples, ways in which we can stand strong and live out what we profess to believe.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen

As we come to this last Sunday of 2007 I want you to think about your New Year’s Resolutions. For many of us they’re a joke. We know that any we make will be broken by January 2nd. But on the handout in the bulletin, I’ve listed a place for you to write down your New Year’s Resolutions, based on Psalms 37:4 which says: “Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Now, this doesn’t mean “delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you everything your little heart desires…” what it means is that when you delight yourself in the LORD, He will place in your heart, the desires that He wants to be there.

If you truly want to live out what you profess to believe (and believe me, that’s the only way for your witness to be effective) then your heart must be filled with the desires that God longs to put there… And the only way to do that is as our closing song indicates is to say, “I Surrender All…”

If you’ve never bowed your knee before the Lord - now is the time.

Upon disagreeing with another

2007-12-24T12:50:00.000-05:00

My Father and my God, as I bow at the throne of grace, I pray for one with whom I stringently disagree; for one who also calls You, "Father." God! We can’t both be right for we are diametrically opposed.

God, I pray, please don’t let me misunderstand your Word - please don’t let me mis-believe. This is not a matter of "un" belief - but of "mis" belief. One of us is wrong… If it is me - please open my eyes!

God, this man has more credentials after his name than I can ever hope to achieve. I am an uneducated woman, with my only education coming from being on my knees with Your Book in front of me…

My Father, I cannot understand the mystery of how Your Son can be fully God and fully man, but I believe that He was. I believe He made no errors. I believe He was infallible. I believe, Lord, that He had NO sin until He took mine upon Himself. I believe He is the ONLY way to salvation…

If this man is right, and I am wrong, then I’m still ok. For he says that You are too loving to condemn someone simply because they believe differently than Your Word states.

But If I am right… and Your Word is true (in entirety) then how many, oh Lord are being misdirected because of his words…?

God, my heart aches and my stomach churns as I wrestle with this. How can I have words to answer what I know to be true in my heart? I do not know how to answer! I have not been taught how to respond! God… how do I give an accounting for what I believe?

I (in my simplicity) go to Your Word - but that’s the problem. He does not believe in the accuracy of Scripture.

And so, I state again Lord. Please! Don’t let me misunderstand… don’t let me mis-believe… I have no where else to turn; no one else to whom I can turn. As Peter said to Christ, "to Whom shall I go? You alone have the gift of Life…"

And as the old song states, "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly cling to Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand… All other ground is sinking sand…"

In His precious Name I plead, and pray - Amen.

You Just Had to Be There

2007-12-15T21:31:00.000-05:00

(My Version of Luke 2:1-19)

We’ve heard the “Christmas Story” all our lives - from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to “homegrown” pageants and plays in our own churches. In fact, we’ve heard it so many times that we “think” we know what happened.

But now, clear your mind, and prepare a “clean slate”. Allow yourself to experience the story - like a friend relating to you the fact that, “you just had to be there!”

Along about 3:00pm, Mary and Joseph were passing through Bethany. They still had about 3 miles to go to reach Jerusalem, and then another 5 miles on to Bethlehem. It would be dark by the time they reached Bethlehem, and they were both already so tired, but Joseph knew, and Mary’s eyes told him that they needed to reach Bethlehem tonight.

It had been nearly a week since they left Galilee. It was a hard 80-90 mile trek to Jerusalem. They had to travel east from Nazareth to the caravan route that led south down the Jordan River valley to Jericho. Then once they got to Jericho, they headed back west, winding up the arduous Jericho Road toward Jerusalem.

Since Caesar Augustus had declared that a census was to be taken of the entire Roman Empire, and that everyone must be registered in the town of his ancestors, the roads were packed with people traveling to their hometowns. A quicker route, of course, would have been to go directly through Samaria - but no Jew would travel through Samaria…

As they traveled, Mary thought about the last time she made this trip - almost exactly 9 months ago when she came to see Elizabeth… my, oh my, how much had happened since then.

Up until the census decree had been announced, it had never crossed Joseph or Mary’s mind to make such a trip. Of course they knew the prophecy that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, but they could ill afford such a trip to “make” the prophecy fit their lives. No, they would stay in Nazareth, close to home… even if it meant enduring the glances and the whispers.

They knew what people thought - but they alone knew what had really happened, and so they carried on with life as best they could. Then word of the decree came, and traveling to Bethlehem became, not a choice, but a mandate, for Joseph was, well, they both were, of the “house” of David and had to be registered in Bethlehem. And so they set out - fearful, yes; but confident, too. After all, this was God’s Son. And He would see that they made it safely.

As they topped the hill overlooking Jerusalem, they both caught their breath. With the late afternoon sun shining on the Temple and reflecting off the golden columns with the massive carvings all along the walls, it was an impressive sight, to be sure. There were no words magnificent enough to describe it. Mary was secretly glad that she hadn’t come to Jerusalem when she visited Elizabeth and Zachariah. To view it for the first time, together with Joseph, filled her with such joy that for a few minutes she forgot about her aching back.

Then, as if someone snapped their fingers, they both realized that the sun was quickly setting and they still had over 5 miles to travel to Bethlehem. It would be dark by the time they got there, and with all the people… they were unsure about finding a place to stay.

As they headed south west from Jerusalem, they passed by the hillsides covered with sheep. This late in the day, the shepherds were calling the sheep together to prepare for the night. The shepherds were an interesting lot. On the one hand they were shunned by the pious Jewish leadership for their unorthodox lifestyle, and their inability to keep the multitude of laws and ordinances. But, on the other hand, without their careful tending of the sheep, there would be no animals for the sacrifices. Mary smiled as she remembered that their greatest ancestors, Abraham and David, were both shepherds…She knew that Abraham was called a “friend of God” and David was “a man after God’s own heart…” so, there must be something good about them, she mused.

As they were nearing Bethlehem, Joseph began to feel a growing dread in the pit of his stomach. There were so many people… “maybe they aren’t all going to Bethlehem” he told himself. But deep down, he knew. Yes, they were all going to Bethlehem…

It was dark as they came into Bethlehem. Joseph was as disappointed over the size of Bethlehem as he was awed over the Temple. “Surely”, he thought, “it would be larger than this!” But it wasn’t, and the little city was packed with people. They seemed to be everywhere - from makeshift campsites along the way, to some men just sleeping by the side of the road. How would he ever find a place for them to stay?

Finally he located the one and only inn. He left Mary for a moment to talk to the innkeeper. “Please”, he begged. “My wife is about to have a child. Don’t you have any place we can stay?

The innkeeper was not a bad man - it was just, when there were no more places, there were no more places! There wasn’t anything he could do about it. But he saw the fear and a hint of moisture in Joseph’s eyes and his heart softened.

“Well,” he said, “There is the stable area, back in the cave behind the inn… I suppose we could move the animals around and make a little spot for your misses. It is rather cold and damp to be having a baby out in the open air.” He tried to lighten the conversation a little to ease Joseph’s heart. “Don’t worry, son. You’ll have some privacy there.”

No sooner had they prepared a place than Mary let Joseph know that it was time. And the Child was born. Mary took “swaddling” that is, strips of cloths that she had brought along for this very reason, and wrapped the Child and laid Him in a makeshift cradle, which just a few hours before had been the feeding trough.

At that very moment, as the shepherds on the hillsides around Bethlehem were beginning to settle in for the night, keeping the watch over their sheep, something happened that would change their lives forever!

Suddenly an angel appeared before them with a glory of light that lit up the whole night sky. The shepherds were too afraid to look, but too amazed to look away!

“Do not be afraid” the angel said. “For I bring to you such good news and a great joy which shall be to all peoples, all over the world. This day - right now - a Saviour has been born in Bethlehem; a Saviour, Who is Christ the Lord.

And this is how you will know; you will find him, wrapped in the normal swaddling, but He will be lying in a manger.”

No sooner had the angel said this, than the sky was just filled with angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth, peace to those with whom He is pleased!”

Slowly the sound faded away as the angels disappeared from their sight.“Whoa!” said the shepherds, “We gotta see this!” So they quickly headed off toward Bethlehem.

As they came into the city they expected to see a great celebration going on, but instead all they found were sleeping pilgrims. They asked a few people where they might find the Christ, but the weary travelers, simply asked “What Messiah?” That is, if they answered at all. Most just turned away in disgust, muttering under their breath something about “the shepherds having too much wine…”

Finally they found the innkeeper. Surely he would know. But in his exhaustion he merely gestured toward the back of the inn toward the cavern where he kept his animals.

The shepherds approached quietly. Could this really be the Christ - the Messiah? Did He really come as a baby?

Mary and Joseph were preparing to get some sleep. It had been an awfully long day. But when the shepherds told them about the angels, and how they wanted to worship Him, Mary told Joseph to let them come in. What mother doesn’t want everyone to see her perfect baby? And this one really was Perfect!

The shepherds timidly came into the stall area and peered at the baby. There He was - just as the angel had said He would be, lying in a manger. Almost without thought, they fell to their knees. This really… was… God! They were torn between amazement and absolute delight. God! It really was God! But at the same time, it was a beautiful newborn baby. And what man’s heart is so calloused that the sight of a newborn doesn’t just melt it.

After a few moments of etching this scene into their memories, they rose, and not being able to contain themselves, began telling everyone they saw that the Christ had been born! But all the masses could do was wonder about what these shepherds were saying.

Mary could hear them going down the street telling everyone what they’d just seen, but she just smiled, and snuggled her baby a little closer, it had been an exhausting day. And as she settled down into the straw to get some sleep, she knew, she would treasure, and remember this day, for as long as she lived…

Have a Wonderful and Merry Christmas!

Betty J. Newman
December 2007

I Love the Book of Romans

2007-12-06T08:22:00.000-05:00

I love the book of Romans - I just love it; so much “meat”; so much “practical living” and so much encouragement - I do truly love to read it.

This morning as I was reading Romans 5, I came to verse 3 and it practically jumped off the page at me. I had just read in verse 1 and 2, “…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”

And then I came to verse 3, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings…” and then it goes on to teach the progression that says “because we know that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character; and character, hope…

But that phrase “we also rejoice in our sufferings…” really grabbed my attention. “Rejoice in our sufferings????” Why in the world would one “rejoice” in sufferings?

First of all it is the “will of God” as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we are to “rejoice always; pray without ceasing; and to always give thanks in everything for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

But since when do we always “do” the will of God?

The scripture reminded me of a song I hear occasionally on Christian radio - “Bring the Rain.” The chorus of the song says:
Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain…

We often say (only half jokingly) “Don’t pray for patience, God will put you in a situation to cause you to cultivate patience.”

There have even been times when I said, “I’m afraid to ask ‘how much more’. Instead I pray ‘when’s it gonna let up?’”

We’re afraid to say “Send me, Lord” because we’re afraid He will send us to some deep dark jungle somewhere.

But you know, if we really want our lives to reflect God’s Glory; if we really want to submit to Him; if we really trust Him, then we’ll know that whatever He does will be for our good and His Glory.

He won’t hurt us. He loves us, and even our “sufferings” can be cause for rejoicing.

God, through trembling hand and shaky voice, (and if I’m real honest) with my heart in my throat, I pray, “whatever is the thing that brings You Glory… that is my prayer…” Do with me, what You will…and may I cry out with Isaiah, “I heard the voice of the Lord, and I said, “here am I… send me…”

In Jesus’ Holy Name - Amen.

My Personal Thanksgiving Day Prayer

2007-11-21T07:46:00.000-05:00

Oh Father… prayer, praise, and thanksgiving… It has been said* that praise and thanksgiving are so nearly alike that they are virtually indistinguishable… And so it is with praise and thanksgiving that I lift my prayer to You on this “day” set aside for “Thanksgiving.”

Father, I am so thankful for this gathering of family. Our “circles” intertwine through birth and marriage, but our hearts join together through love - love for each other, and love for You. And we thank You for that.

Lord, there are no “ill feelings” in this room today. And we thank You for that, too. We have so much to be thankful for. The bounty of food that we have is amazing, but what is so overwhelming is that we are blessed with the ability and the freedom to have this much every day if we so desired.

And our health… Lord, we all have our aches and pains, but we are here… and not sitting in a hospital room, or planning a loved one’s funeral…

God! Who are we to have been so blessed?

So Lord, as we pause to pray, to praise, and to give thanks, let us remember to lift up those for whom the day is a hellish nightmare; and those who will struggle with finding enough food for this one day; and those who, for whatever reason, are away from their families this day.

As we eat and laugh and enjoy one another’s company this afternoon, let us remember that this day (as every day) is an undeserved gift that You’ve given us. Let us not take that for granted, but let us lift our hearts in prayer, and praise and thanksgiving to You this and every day.

In Jesus’ Name - amen

*From E.M. Bounds “The Essentials of Prayer.”

Thanksgiving Prayer 2007

2007-11-17T11:15:00.000-05:00

It has amazed me that the highest "count" of hits on this blog has been on, and around Thanksgiving Day. It seems that the whole world is looking for Thanksgiving Prayers and Devotions.

As I meditated on this thought, and of writing a Thanksgiving prayer, I thought about the massive numbers of people and situations represented, and how I couldn't possibly understand what they were going through... and so my Thanksgiving Day Prayer is prefaced by a "Pre-Thanksgiving Day" Prayer.

Whoever you are, wherever you are - as you read these prayers, know that I have prayed for you. God knows you... He loves you and sent His Son for you. If you were the only person alive, He still would have done it... If you don't know Him, know this - He knows and loves you.

Find a church and get connected. Find a man or woman of God to pray with you - and open your heart to Jesus. He is standing at the door of your heart now... knocking to come in...

And now - the prayers...

Pre-Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Father, as I set out to write a prayer of thanksgiving, I remember the multitude of circumstances that are represented by the people around the world who read this blog. Many find themselves in loving families, but possibly even more find themselves in not so loving situations.

How do I offer a prayer for them, Lord? I cannot relate, nor understand the anguish that they must feel. But, I know that You do. And so, I simply lift them to You, and pray that You will touch their hearts and hold them in the warm embrace of Your arms.

Father I pray, that each of us, in whatever place in life that we find ourselves, will look for the things for which to be thankful. There is always something. May we seek it like gold, and when we find it, hold it to our hearts and bow our heads, praising You - for You alone are God, and You alone gave the greatest Gift of all - Your own precious Son.

So, at Thanksgiving, and every day, may we, no matter our circumstances, thank You for Jesus. As it is in His Name we pray… Amen.

Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Precious Lord, we pause today, if but for a brief moment, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. For each of us, the things that we are thankful for are different; for our families - their safe trips in traveling; for healing in times of sickness; or for strength in the midst of struggles.

For our loved ones, whether near or far, whether “estranged” or dearly held in our hearts, our prayer is lifted to You - for their safety, for their health, and for their blessing.

We are thankful for the bounty of the meal before us, and the hands which prepared it - whether it be at a table well stocked, or a meager gathering; whether the hands were “loving” or just “dutiful” in their preparation - still we are thankful and pray for them.

Father, we realize that if we have anything at all, we have much for which to be thankful. When we stop and think of the multitudes for which this is just another day of struggle for survival, we are ashamed at our thanklessness at times. Remind us, dear Lord, of our overwhelming blessing.

And now, we cannot neglect to pray for those men and women around the world who are away from their loved ones by way of military service. No matter on which “side” of any given war they find themselves, if it is war, it is war, and they believe themselves to be “right.”

We long, Father for the day when all will serve You, and every knee will bow to Your Son Jesus Christ. For only in that day, will there truly be peace. And Thanksgiving Day will truly be a Day of Thanksgiving! In Jesus’ precious Name we pray - Amen.

Prayer for our Nation

2007-11-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

After reading Lamentations, chapters 4-5 this morning, I just began praying, and this is where it went...

Oh Father, I pray for this nation. I pray for the leaders of our nation. Today and every day, fill them with Your spirit and Your guidance.

Father, as we are going into a time of elections, as the debates and the “positioning” has begun… open our eyes as we seek whom we should vote for, lead us in our choice of leaders, and decision makers…

But oh Lord, even as we pray this prayer, as we cry out, we are afraid that You will give us what we “deserve.” That in giving us what we “need” You will allow us to be carried into “captivity” as You did those who bore Your very Name.

But in many ways, we are already in captivity - the captivity of our souls and our hearts. How? By the “prince” of this world? No, we don’t even recognize that there is such a person.

By the “things” of this world? No, for we “need” every thing we have… so we think.

Really?

Fifty million dollar yachts? Million dollar “second” homes? Several hundred square-foot closets!? Oh God! Forgive us!

And even for us to whom such spending seems vulgar - may we take a long and hard look at our own spending… for “he who is unfaithful in little, will be unfaithful in much…”

Father we realize that it isn’t the money, or the earning of money that is evil - it is what we do with it! We are entrusted with such a huge amount of the world’s resources, and yet… still… the world is hungry… And we must ask ourselves, is my neighbor hungry?

Please Father, don’t give us what we deserve. Don’t give us what we need. Have mercy on us, and forgive us. And lead us to elect a leader who will bring us back to the place of righteousness… unless we have gone too far…

God I pray for revival in this land, in our churches and in our own hearts. I pray that we Your people, who are called by Your name, will turn from our ways, and pray, and that indeed, You will heal our land…

In Jesus’ Name - Amen

My Mother's Legacy

2007-10-19T06:59:00.000-04:00

(Or at least one of them…)

My Mother loved hymns. Although she (like I) couldn’t “carry a tune in a bucket”, still she loved to sing hymns.

I remember singing songs with responses (where you sing one line and another repeats it or sings a reply) while we were making beds. One we sang often was “No Setting Sun.”

“Life’s evening sun (life’s evening sun)
is sinking low (is sinking low)
a few more days (a few more days)
and I shall go (and I shall go.)
To meet the deeds (to meet the deeds)
that I have done (that I have done)
where there will be (where there will be)
no setting sun (no setting sun…")

When planning a service of some type I’ll give Joe (my husband and our song leader) or our pastor the hymn list that I want to use and many times they (who both sing so well) will say, “I don’t know this one…” And I’m confused. How can someone who can’t sing a lick, know so many songs that seasoned singers don’t? And I’ve realized - it is my Mother.

When I look in the mirror I see that I am becoming my Mother (except for the long hair and hat, of course!)

Oh God! If only I could become my Mother in her heart and faith! I keep finding that I owe her so much more than I ever knew. God help me to impart this to others. In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Pray without ceasing

2007-10-01T09:11:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago as I did my weekly e-mail devotional, I wrote asking prayer for an answer to the question of “Where to go and what to do.”

A few days later, I received an e-mail from an “online friend” in Texas that said in part, “When I read your title I immediately thought ‘Where to go - go to your knees!” What to do - pray without ceasing!”

And of course, that is THE answer!

On Sunday morning I filled in for our pastor and my message was on this very thing. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he said (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks for this (that is doing this) is the Will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

So, you want to know what God’s will for your life is? This is it - rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks.

Many people will say, “That’s too simple!” Well, sometimes the toughest things to do are the very things that seem too simple. (Just ask Naaman! 2 Kings 5.)

We saw that in the Greek, these three things are “commands” which means, they cannot be based on “feelings” (as feelings cannot be commanded) but were instead based on resolve.

I am in the process of reading a set of “classics” on prayer. This is a set of 8 small books by E.M. Bounds (written in the 1800’s.). In my opinion, these are the best books on prayer ever written. Last night I read about “asking, seeking, and knocking” and something was opened to me that I’d somehow overlooked before. This is not just three terms of “request” - this is a progression! When praying, this is becoming increasingly more intense!

Bounds said, “Prayer is the helpless and needy child crying to the compassion of the father’s heart and the bounty and power of a father’s hand.” He goes on to say, “God’s willingness to answer our prayers exceeds our willingness to give good and necessary things to our children.”

He said that Jesus’ command to “ask, seek, and knock” was so forceful because He knew that if we did not receive immediate answers, that our “spiritual sloth” would come in under the guise of ‘submission’ and say ‘well, it is just not God’s will…”

He said, “Ask! And if asking does not get, then seek! And if seeking does not secure, let seeking pass on to the more energetic and clamorous plea of knocking! We must persevere!” In other words - ask, seek, knock and knock, and then knock some more!

“Praying without ceasing” is the hardest form of praying you’ll ever do - but be assured - it is, indeed, God’s will for your life!

The Woman with the Jowls!

2007-09-09T22:02:00.000-04:00

Who’s that woman with the “jowls” looking back at me from the mirror?
They weren’t there yesterday!
(At least, I don’t think they were…)
And that chin!
(Make that chins; where did they come from?)
Is that my Mother looking back at me?
Man, it looks like her (except for the long hair and hat, of course…)

We’re not the “youth” anymore - my husband and I. We’re not even the “young adults” either. We’re middle age - my parents have “gone home” and I am the “elder” these days. I am who the young adults and young married folk look to as “one of the older ones…” And I think - “God! What would You have me do? What a responsibility, to be the elder, the parents, the “responsible” adult, the “decision makers…”

When they look to someone for advice, we’re the ones they look to - God! What would You have us say?

I think about the ones I looked to when I was young. They seemed so wise, so… together. Were they as confused as I am sometimes? Did they question? Were they in awe of their responsibility? Did they feel… old, at times? And did they wonder at what that meant?

Father God, You have brought me to this point in my life - You have brought me to this place of obligation; of duty; of responsibility - now, give me wisdom, and may I serve You…

Lead that woman with the “jowls”, the chins, the gray hair and the few extra pounds to lay all that aside and turn her attention to the experience those things bring and not focus on the appearance they present.

As the “Preacher” said, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.”

That is my prayer.

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Psalm 42

2007-08-09T09:22:00.000-04:00

As I continue in my struggle with the “what, the wherefore, and the how-to” of prayer, my “thoughts” brought me this morning to Psalm 40 and 42.

As I read Psalm 40, I thought, “Wow! What a prayer!” But then, when I read 42, I cried out, “Oh God, You have heard the cry of my heart…”

Psalm 42:1-11 NLT
Psalm 42:1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.

I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of yours?"

My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God!

Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you -- even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.

I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

“O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?”

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon says, “Although David is not mentioned as the author, this Psalm must be the offspring of his pen; it is so Davidic, it smells of the son of Jesse, it bears the marks of his style and experience in every letter. We could sooner doubt the author-ship of the second part of Pilgrim's Progress than question David's title to be the composer of this Psalm.

Subject - It is the cry of a man far removed from the outward ordinances and worship of God, sighing for the long-loved house of his God; and at the same time it is the voice of a spiritual believer, under depressions, longing for the renewal of the divine presence, struggling with doubts and fears, but yet holding his ground by faith in the living God.
Most of the Lord's family have sailed on the sea which is here so graphically described.
It is probable that David's flight from Absolom may have been the occasion for composing this Maschil.” (emphasis added.)

If you’ve ever longed for “the way it used to be.” If you’ve ever said, “My heart is breaking…” or “Now I am deeply discouraged…” then this Psalm is for you. For David said, “Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again - my Saviour and my God!”

David repeats this phrase in verse 5, and then again in verse 11. I think, the first time, on his knees in desperation, and the second time with fists uplifted in triumph and victory!

Did the circumstances change? Did the “situation” suddenly correct itself? No, but David changed.

The old saying is, “Prayer changes things…” but most often, prayer changes us!

Father, hear the cry of Your children - hear our cry when we are in despair, and hear our cry when we cling to the very hope of Your promise and Your salvation.

Change our circumstances when that is what brings You glory, or change us instead, when Your glory must come from another avenue.

And always, oh always may our hearts “long for You as the deer pants for streams of water…”

In the Name of the One who “arose while it was still early” to commune with You - in Jesus’ name - Amen.

Prayers for Teachers and School Staff 2007

2007-08-06T05:56:00.000-04:00

I attended a luncheon recently at our local high school. Invitations were sent from the school staff to churches within the community. Anyone (pastors, staff, and laity) in the church, who wanted to come, was welcome.

Prayer cards were given out with 6-8 names of staff members on each. The people attending were encouraged to take the cards back to their church and to pray for them.

Everyone took a card… I wonder how many prayed for them. I stopped by the office and got a list of ALL the names…

How do you pray for your “prayer list”? Do you have a prayer list? How do you pray?

Oh Father… when Jesus taught us to pray, He started us out with “Our Father…” So, no matter “how” we come to the throne room - whether we come dragging ourselves as someone “dying of thirst” might drag themselves across the desert; or whether we come “peeping around the corner to see if the coast is clear”; or whether we come leaping and laughing and dancing - happy just to be in Your presence - we come as Your children - and that in itself is comforting…

But immediately after that He added “Who art in heaven…” and “hallowed be Thy Name…” so we can’t forget the majesty of who You are. You, and You alone, are GOD!

And so we struggle with the conflicting emotions of familiarity verses magnificence. We want to bow at Your feet, and yet at the same time, we want to climb up on Your lap, snuggle in, and rest ourselves in Your loving embrace…

And with You God, we can do all these things…

We bring You our praise, and our concerns. We bring You every tear and every giggle and everything else in between.

We bring You, sometimes, as now, just a list of names. For some we do, but for many we don’t know their needs, their concerns, or their joys - but You do. And so, we just bring the names.

This time it’s people who touch our children’s lives - who teach them and reach them in ways that we can’t. We pray for the “all”, in the “each” of them.

We pray for the “them” that sits down to pay the bills each month, and wonders how to make it “stretch.”

We pray for the “them” that goes to doctors’ appointments after school or on days’ off.

We pray for the “them” that worries or fears or bears a burden.

We pray for the “them” that cares for home, or children, or parents, or more likely, all at the same time, and we pray for the “them” that they bring to school - the part of them that they partition off and try not to let the other “thems” overwhelm.

I know, Lord. I’ve worn many hats, and been many things to many people. Sometimes (as You well remember) there were so many “hats” that I even lost “me” for a while…So, I pray for them, Lord - for all of each of them, that they keep a private part of themselves continually in Your presence, so that all that they are, can serve You.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do - do all unto the Lord…”

We lift up teachers, administrative staff, support staff, office staff, guidance staff, athletic staff, lunchroom staff, and maintenance staff - every single person who has the opportunity to smile at a child - we pray for the heart and the home life behind that smile…

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

The Study of Malachi

2007-07-31T06:40:00.000-04:00

FINALLY FINISHED!

The Bible study on the Book of Malachi titled, “The Last Word” is finished. Our ladies’ study group really enjoyed the study, and I trust your study group will as well.

The cost of each study folder is $15.00. That includes shipping. Order 10 or more and the cost drops to $12.00 each. This is a 6-week study (including the introduction week) from the book of Malachi. Each week covers a segment of the book with an in depth study of each verse, and sometimes of individual words in the verse. It’s essentially a “devotional study commentary” on the book of Malachi.

Each folder contains over 60 pages of study copy plus maps, charts, and other “goodies.”

If you’d like to order a copy, want more information, or would like to view a sample day’s study, please e-mail me at bnprayerlogue@cs.com.

I can tell you this. This is the most humbling thing I’ve ever done. It has absolutely “wrung me out!” I swore that when I got through it, I’d never do that again…

But, doncha know - I’m planning the next one!

Isn’t our God an awesome God!

The Gift of Giving

2007-07-12T07:42:00.000-04:00

During a recent Bible Study, a dear friend remarked that she was sometimes “convicted” that she didn’t feel “called” to go on mission trips. That, she gladly gave so that others could go, but that “going to the Dollar Store and buying crayons and goods doesn’t really ‘cost’ me anything…” she said.

As I thought about that later I was reminded of Paul’s teaching on the “gifts of the Spirit.” One of these very real gifts, tucked right in there between exhortation and leadership, is the gift of giving…

Paul says (Romans 12:6-8) “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Oftentimes a person will have many of these gifts, but the “gift of giving”, I believe, is coupled with the ability to make money - not that one is “independently wealthy” but that one’s needs are met, and their eyes opened to see other’s needs as well.

I have a couple of friends whose gift is truly that of making money. They just seem to do it very well - and they give very well! Not many people know about their giving. They live in a modest home and drive modest vehicles - but they give a lot away!

That is a very real gift. Ministries thrive and succeed on such gifts. For some, their gift is teaching, or preaching, or serving, but who do you think pays for those ministries? The one with the “gift of giving…” Your giving allows them to do what they do without worrying about paying the bills!

Sometimes, if “something” is easy for us to do, we don’t see the “big deal” in it, but believe me, others see it and appreciate it immensely!

So, don’t sell yourself short. If that is one of your gifts, or perhaps the word “ability” might be more easily understood, then do it - and do it with liberality!

Ask God to open your eyes to what your gift is - and then “exercise it accordingly!”

Father, thank You that You made each of us with different gifts and abilities. Help us to see where You would have us serve, knowing that we all make up the “body”, and that none of the “parts” are more important, nor less important than the others. And may all that we do, glorify You!

In Jesus’ Name - Amen.

Who Shepherds the Shepherd?

2007-07-08T21:49:00.000-04:00

Who shepherds the shepherd?
Who leads the leader?
Who guides the guider?
Who feeds the feeder?

James 5:17 says that Elijah was a man “of like passions” as we are… and goes on to speak of his faith in prayer.

I’ve often looked at that as Elijah was a “flesh and blood man”; a human man like we are, but didn’t give a whole lot of thought to just what that meant.

But the older I get, the more I see that even being the great prophet; the great leader that he was, he still had his ups and downs, just like we do.

He had questions, he had fears;
He had troubles, he had tears…

The only difference is, once you become a leader, you can’t go back to just being a follower. You just can’t.

So where does that leave us? When you’re being “looked to” where do you look?

“I look to the mountain, where does my help come from? It comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.”

Oh, that I could just hear that “still small voice” tonight…

James 5:17 goes on to say that Elijah “prayed earnestly”, which the commentators tell us that in the Hebrew idiom it means he “prayed with prayer.”

He “prayed with prayer…” He didn’t “say” a prayer. He didn’t “lift up” a prayer. He “prayed with prayer.”

Are you a shepherd; a leader; a guider; a feeder? To where, or to Whom do you turn?

Are you “praying with prayer?”

Prayer for A Desire to Know God

2007-06-23T10:25:00.000-04:00

God, as I sit reading Your Word, I begin to feel a stirring in my soul. And the farther I read the more troubled I become, until I can be still no longer.

Tears come to my eyes as I cry out GOD! - My God, and my Father. Teach me Thy Word! Teach me an understanding of Thy Word!

My soul is burdened Lord. Why is there so little emphasis in our church, put on knowing Thy Word? How else are we to know You?

Why Lord, did I get to more than 50 years old before I learned of “paradisos” - “the king’s private garden” - my King’s private garden… Your “paradise”…

Where is the teaching in our church, Lord? This is but one example of what we’re not being taught.

Oh God, I want to know You. I want to know Your Son, Jesus Christ. I want to know Your Holy Spirit. I want to serve You, my God and my Saviour! How Lord? There is so much I don’t know…

And if I don’t know - with the hours of study I put in, and with the desire I have to know, how much less do those know who have no desire to seek on their own…?

Does the fault lie within our pulpits? Or does the fault lie within the hearts of men (and women.) Which comes first, Lord? Must the pastors create the desire by the ever teaching of the Word? Or must the desire come first to seek out Your precepts?

Paul said, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent?”

GOD! Which comes first… which… comes… first?

As I meditate on this I realize… Paul was right. He was writing by Your inspiration and the “breath” of Your Holy Spirit. One cannot call upon You without the stirring of Your Spirit in their soul. But how can they call upon You if they don’t believe that You “are.”

And how can they believe that You “are” without hearing of You? And how can they hear of You without someone telling them? And how can someone tell them unless they are sent, and how can they be sent unless they know and listen to You?

God, I pray for our pastors, and anyone who fills our pulpits or stands behind our lecterns. What an awesome privilege, what an awesome responsibility You have called us to. If we are called by Your name, we are called to share Your message.

God grant us an ever burning desire to know You more clearly, to love You more dearly, and to serve You more nearly - and then Lord, fill us with a burden to share that passion so that all the world may desire to know You as well

In Jesus’ Holy Name - Amen.

To Serve or to Be Served

2007-06-06T19:26:00.000-04:00

For those of you who check in occasionally, I apologize for not having posted in a while. I am in the process of writing a Bible Study on the book of Malachi titled, "The Last Word."

It will be available for purchase when it is finished. I expect the cost to be $15.00 including shipping. It is being written and promoted as a "Ladies' Bible Study", but will be usable for both men and women's studies. It will be divided up as a 5 week study

Please e-mail me if you'd like more information on it

As for now, I'm posting a sermon that I preached last month when our pastor was out of town.

I'm posting it all in one post, and it is rather long, so grab a coke or cup of coffee and enjoy!

To Serve or to Be Served

As I have often said, I am thankful for the opportunity to fill the pulpit when our pastor is away, not so much for the opportunity to preach, as for the opportunity to teach.

I have set, or felt led to set, (at least for a while) a “theme” of sorts for my sermons or lessons, of a “connection” or an “interaction” between the Old and New Testaments. This began last fall when I taught a “Pre-Advent” lesson using the scripture from the Gospel of Luke concerning the two on the road to Emmaus. As you’ll remember, Luke tells us that “beginning with Moses and the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” And we saw that meant going all the way back to the book of Genesis.

And so, I have wanted to look at the prophecies concerning Jesus - prophecies made, and prophecies fulfilled.

This morning’s scripture comes from the book of Hebrews, located in the New Testament. And I have discovered, as I have found in most of my studies, enough exciting information for several weeks of sermons, or lessons. So, I will try to just give you a quick overview, and then share something that has been on my heart for several weeks now.

Hebrews is an interesting book for many reasons, but one, being that no one knows who wrote it. Everyone has an opinion, but no one knows for sure. In fact a quote by one of the early Church Fathers says, “Who wrote the Epistle, God only knows…”

This is a book that begins like a treatise, reads like a sermon, and ends like a personal letter. Some of it sounds like Paul, some of it sounds like Peter, and some of it reads like Luke’s writing. Others have thought perhaps Barnabus wrote it, or Aquila or possibly even Priscilla.

Personally I believe that it is Luke’s composition, combining one or more of Paul’s sermons and Paul’s teaching. If you’re interested, I can tell you why later.

The book or letter was written, as the name implies, to the Hebrews. These were Jewish men and women who had converted to Christianity, and were perhaps now questioning that decision. Not questioning it so much as to whether or not Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but whether or not they may be able to just combine the two. They seemed to be missing the “pomp and circumstance” of the Jewish religion. They missed the rituals of the daily sacrifice, the parading of the High Priest, the tradition and elevation of Moses and the Old Testament prophets and angels. This “new” religion seemed rather “bland” compared to what they were used to… After all, its ministers were just lowly Galileans - most of them uneducated fishermen…

And so, the writer addresses all that. He teaches that Christ is above the Angels. He is greater than Moses and greater than the High Priests. He teaches that Jesus is the final sacrifice.

In fact, it has been said that the book of Hebrews is the most “Old Testament” of all the New Testament books because it teaches and clearly shows the fulfillment of all the Old Testament laws, rites, and rituals. As Jesus cried out on the cross, “It is finished!”

And so, that brings us to our text for today, Hebrews chapter 13 - the last chapter in the book (or sermon, or letter… however you want to categorize it.)

As this letter comes to a close, the writer does what most of us do when we write a letter. And although folks seldom write formal letters anymore, still when we begin to wind something down, we throw in several loosely connected “snippets” as sort of “after thoughts” or concluding remarks - sort of like “P.S.’s” or “by the way’s” or “don’t forget’s”… And he says:

(Chapter 13:1-9)
Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited.

And then he latches onto another thought with verse 10 and says:

(v 10-16)
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.

Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Then he adds a couple more “by the way’s”:
(v 17-19)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. And I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you the sooner.

And then gives the benediction in verses 20-21, only to add another P.S. after it.

(v 22-25) But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you.

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. Grace be with you all.

He has, it seems, so much to say, and just a short time to say it.

Preachers today don’t spend much time on the book of Hebrews; after all, we’re not “Hebrew.” And if we want “pomp and circumstance” or “formality” all we need to do is go to a Catholic church, or an Episcopal church, or even one of our more “high church” Methodist churches. No, we kinda like our informality, our hugs, our singing and clapping, our raising of hands and praising and laughing… we just don’t get the big deal with “ritual.”

Maybe that’s just it… we don’t get it. Look at verse 10. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.

What do you mean - we eat from an altar that “those who serve the tabernacle” can’t eat from? What’s that all about? Remember, this was written to the Hebrews; the Jews. They would know exactly what this meant. In the Jewish religion, during the offerings, portions of the animals were burned on the altar, portions were given to the priests for their food, and during the thank or peace offering, the family bringing the offering were even given a portion of it back to eat (for those of you in the current Bible study, watch for this when we study Hannah.)

What our writer is saying is, “for you who believe that Christ is the sacrifice, you don’t need to be doing that any more. It’s fulfilled, it’s finished, you can’t serve two religions, and you can’t serve two masters.”

“But,” he also says, “if you believe that Christ is the sacrifice; you are now “the church” and you have other obligations.”

Just because we are exempt from the rites and rituals of the Jewish religion; just because our sacrifice has been made; just because we no longer have to strive to fulfill the requirements of the Law, doesn’t mean that “nothing” is required of us. In some ways, now even more is required of us…

Look at verses 11-14. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Trust me, when you decide to truly follow Jesus, when you make a commitment to become His Church, it will “cost” you…

What did Jesus envision His Church to be?

I have a little booklet titled “Who Is This Jesus” by Michael Green and in it he uses Jesus’ prayer in John 17 to give us a list of the things that Christ’s true church will consist of. (Read that scripture later and see that Jesus actually prayed for YOU, before you were ever born. The saying is true that says, “when He was on the cross, You were on His mind!”)

He says:
1. The true church will consist of people who know God and Jesus - not just know about them, but truly know them. They are people who genuinely believe that Jesus came from God and that God sent Him for His unique mission. Jesus was not just a great teacher; He was not simply a “good man”. He was, and is, uniquely God. He is, “the way, the truth, and the life…”

2. The true church will consist of people who set out to purposely glorify Jesus, just as He glorifies the Father… That’s a deep word - “glorify” - it means to “give glory” and the word glory has to do with light. It means brilliance, or splendor. And so, when the church glorifies God, it becomes a reflection of the light or brilliance of God. In other words, just as the moon reflects the glory of the sun, so the church is meant to reflect the glory of the Lord.

3. The true church will consist of people who keep His Word. By this He means they will observe His teaching and honor it, and strive to obey it, rather than looking for ways to challenge it; rather than looking for ways to say, “yeah, but…”

4. The true church will consist of people who are united in the same way as Jesus is united with the Father. This unity doesn’t necessarily mean uniformity. It doesn’t mean we will look alike, think alike, dress alike, or even love alike, but it does mean we will love one another regardless of our differences… regardless of whether we actually “like” one another or not… Liking someone is a personality issue. Loving someone is a choice and a mandate.

5. The true church will consist of ordinary people who live ordinary lives in the world, but who are not OF the world. They are ordinary people who display the extraordinary power and love of Christ. They are people who do not sit comfortably in church on Sunday morning, and then wait for the repeat performance the following Sunday. As Jesus was sent - so are we.

6. And coming back to our Hebrews scripture, the true church will consist of people who can face the music. People who will “stick to their guns” even when the going gets rough.

The writer of Hebrews says in verse 13 and 14 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

The true church consists of people whose home and priorities are not bounded by this world. We are, in a sense, aliens and exiles here, as Jesus was. That doesn’t mean we’ll hunker down and become hermits. It doesn’t mean that we’ll hide out and ignore the plight of the world - no, it means we will deliberately set ourselves apart from all that we know to be wrong, in order to be of service to our friends and acquaintances who are yet strangers to Jesus. He did that for us, and He expects to see that attitude mirrored in us.

So, how do we do that? How do we do all these things that a “true church” is expected to do? The next couple of verses tell us how. (verse15-16) Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

“Sacrifice of praise”, huh? “Well, how hard can that be?” we might say. “Clap our hands a little, wave our arms a little, hold our hands up and sway when someone is singing… - hey, I can ‘praise’ with the best of ‘em!”

Oh really? Think there’s no “sacrificing” connected to praising Jesus? Well, think again - just ask the students at Virginia Tech after the most horrific day in the history of the school - indeed in the history of education everywhere! Ask any mother or father who’s lost a child; a wife who’s lost a husband, a child who’s lost a parent…

But, praise Him, they must… indeed, we must. He is our “thank offering.” He is our hope of redemption and of new life. He is the “first born of the dead.” Because He lives, we shall live, too.

But then we have to go back and read verse 13 again So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

If we go to Him; if we carry His name, we will bear His reproach. It is becoming more and more apparent that anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus is shunned and ostracized.

The name of “God” is brandished around with great ease - because no one has to “explain” what they mean by “God”… It can mean anything (or nothing when it’s used in vain.) The Muslim says it, the Buddhist says it, the mystic says it, the Jew (orthodox or not) says it… even the nonbeliever says it…

But, one cannot say the Name of Jesus and remain neutral. JESUS CHRIST! We more often than not hear it as a curse, rather than a praise. But He IS our Saviour. This morning we sang “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! There’s just something about that name.” But folks, There is nothing “neutral” about that Name.

The Hebrews to whom this letter was written were in great danger of trying to combine the two religions of Judaism and Christianity. We today are in great danger of trying to combine the two religions of Christianity and secularism. We are trying to hold on to Jesus in this hand and the “world” in this hand; to the church in this hand and to be accepted by everyone else in this hand. You cannot live with a foot in each world, it will tear you apart!

The best example of this is found in Peter’s life. In the last chapter of the Gospel of John, you may remember the story…

Easter is over, the Resurrection is past, Jesus has appeared to the remaining 11 disciples, and Thomas has touched His hands and seen His side. And they’ve been told to wait in Jerusalem for the “power” that is to come upon them.

Somehow, or other, they wind up back in Galilee - back at their hometown. And Peter says, “Well, ain’t nothing happening here, I don’t know about you boys, but I’m goin’ fishing!” So 6 others decide to go with him.

They go out to the Sea of Galilee and fall right back into it like nothing has ever happened. It’s like riding a bicycle, they can still cast that net like they always did…

Only problem is, they don’t catch a thing - not a thing. And long about daybreak this Guy comes walking along the shore, and He says, “Eh boys! Ain’t catching anything are you?” They mumble "no.."

And He says, “Throw your nets out on the other side of the boat…” Now, this is beginning to sound familiar… And so, they do. And their net fills to capacity - so much so that it is taking all of them to drag it in!

And John, remember he’s the youngest, so he most likely has the best eyes, says, “Hey! It’s Jesus!” And Peter immediately grabs his shirt and dives overboard and swims to shore. And when he gets there he finds that Jesus has built a fire and cooked some fish and bread.

And he’s got to have remembered the last time he stood at a fire, in the early morning air, and looked into Jesus’ eyes…

But before anything can be said, the others have rowed to shore, so Peter busies himself with getting the fish out of the boat while the others are greeting Jesus.

The scriptures don’t give us any of the conversation they have over breakfast, I imagine it’s mostly small talk - “You sure do cook good fish, Jesus.” “Yeah, well, anything’s good when you’re hungry…”

But then after the meal is over Jesus, through some sort of body language, or motions, indicates to Peter that He wants to talk to him…

As they walk away from the others Jesus says, “Simon, son of John…” - not Peter, not Cephas, Peter’s not a “rock” now, it’s “Simon, son of John…”

“Do you love Me more than these?”

Now, we don’t know what the “these” are. We don’t know if they are the other disciples, “Do you love me more than you love them?”

We don’t know if it’s the fishing or the boats or the lifestyle, “Do you love Me more than these - worldly things?”

Or if it’s as I suspect, “Do you love Me more than these disciples love me?” Remember, Peter is the one who decried, “Oh my LORD! All the others may leave You, but I never will…” And of course he does.

“But wait,” you say, “he was forgiven of that.” Yes he was. We’re not talking about salvation here - just service and loyalty.

I say this because of the words that were used. Jesus said, “Do you love me?” Now the word used here is ag-a-pao’ the Greek word for total and complete allegiance or surrender - we know it as Agape. “Do You ag-a-pao Me more than these?”

And Peter says, “Yes Lord, You know that I “fi-lelo” You” I have a strong affection for You. I am fond of You. I really like You…” but he doesn’t say, “more than these…” Jesus says “then feed My lambs.”

Jesus asks him again, “Simon, do you ag-a-pao Me?” And this time He doesn’t mention anything about the others…

“Yes Lord, I just really like you a lot!” And Jesus says, “take care of my sheep.”

And the third time… “Simon, do you even really have a great affection for Me?” This time Jesus Himself uses the word filelo. And Peter is cut to the core, and he says, “Lord, You know all about me, and You know that I am doing the best I can.” And Jesus says, “Tend my sheep…”

In other words, “Rely on Me, and not on yourself.” You see, the difference between Agape love and Phileo Love is the difference between the heart and the head. Phileo love says, “I have to figure it out.” Agape love says, “It doesn’t make sense, but I will do it anyway…”

Our heads will say, “It doesn’t make sense to praise God when all hell is breaking loose!” But our hearts will say, “but praise Him, we must.”

The writer tells the Hebrews that “we have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat…” And we, brothers and sisters, have an altar at which those who deny the very Name of Jesus, have no right to kneel. Anyone who will kneel is welcome. Those who will not will perish.

“That sounds hard…” you might say. It IS hard! I heard someone say the other day, “there are some things you can be dogmatic about - there are some things you can be bulldog-matic about” and this is one of them. There is only one name by which mankind can be saved. And that is Jesus.

How about you? Are you willing to offer the “sacrifice of praise” and claim the Name of Jesus, regardless of what it costs you…? Have you bowed your knee to Christ? And then, when you do - (verse 16) And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

How will the world know? They will know we are Christians by our love… There are still some sacrifices that God requires…

Let us pray…

Jesus! My Master and my LORD! Your very Name should be the authority in our lives. Father God on the throne; Jesus my sacrifice; my redeemer - the Holy Spirit within my heart… God! It is too much for me to comprehend - but understand it or not. We must believe it. We must bow our hearts; bow our souls, and bow our knees to the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose Name, and by Whose Authority we pray… Amen.

(We sang “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.)

You may or may not know our closing hymn. It’s an old song, so it wasn’t in any of our modern hymnbooks. The words are found in the bulletin. If you don’t it, I’m sure you’ll catch on pretty quickly - the words are easy and it’s a catchy tune.

But I’m going to ask you, if you’ve not already made that decision, make it today. If you have made that decision - then it’s time to get serious about it.

Will you take a stand for Jesus Christ? Remember, He took the cross for you!

Praying the Prayer of Hannah

2007-05-21T09:33:00.000-04:00

Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 is, of course, prayed in response (in my opinion) to seeing her baby, little Samuel at probably age 3 or so, fold his chubby little hands together and worship the Lord.

Verse 27-28 of 1 Samuel 1 says: “For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him.
So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (emphasis added)

There is debate about who that last “he” in verse 28 is - whether it is Elkanah, or Eli, or Samuel. And I believe it was Samuel. How else could Hannah so “easily” give up this child for whom she had prayed so desperately? After all, Eli hadn’t done such a great job with his own boys, and now she is going to leave a baby with him - a child who must be taught the things of God…?

We don’t have Hannah’s prayer after she is told God will answer her prayer. We don’t have it when she conceives, or even when the child is born, but when Hannah sees her baby boy clasp his little hands together and worship the Lord, she knows in her mother’s heart, that she has done what God would have her to do, and that God Himself will raise this child.

However, when we look at this prayer outside of that context, it is still a great prayer of victory and comfort. The following is a paraphrased prayer of 1 Samuel 2:1-10 to be used at anytime in any situation…

My heart rejoices in the Lord God.
In the Lord, and in Him alone - my strength is lifted up.
I can now claim victory over my enemies, regardless of internal or external enemies; they have no power over me anymore. God, my Saviour has delivered me!

There is no one Holy like our God.
My God, there is no one to compare to You; there is no Rock - nothing to hold to, like the resting place, the secure place, that You give.

You command the proud to shut up! You silence those who are arrogant! For You GOD, are the God who is omniscient, and by You, everything else in the world is examined.

Those who are strong in their own eyes, You will make weak, and yet, those who rely on You will have all the strength they need, in Your omnipotence!

Those who thought they had everything will find that they have nothing. And those who were empty will be hungry no more… Yes, those who were empty, will be filled with abundance, and for those with much, You have said, even what they had will be taken away.

You are the LORD GOD, and You control life and death, feast and famine, defeat and victory. You send empty wells and running water, You drag down, and You lift up.

The poor and weak who cry out to You, You elevate from the very pit, and seat them with the exalted ones.

The world and all of creation is Yours, and You are in control of everything. You will lead and protect those who are Yours, but those who deny You will be silenced with darkness and disgrace.

We can do nothing by our own strength, and anyone who opposes (or ignores) You will be devastated in the end. Ultimately You will judge the earth and all its inhabitants, and Your judgment will rain down with a vengeance.

But to Christ Your anointed, You will give that privilege of judgment, for Christ alone is sinless having lived as God, having lived as man. And His name will be glorified forever! Amen!