Use Your Brain for “No Brainers”

We have to be careful about “no-brainers.” When David first attempted to move the Ark of the Covenant to the capital, he just did the obvious: he put it on a cart. He did not bother to see if there were any special instructions for moving this most sacred object. There were – having been prescribed in the Law of Moses – and David’s neglect cost a man his life and delayed unnecessarily the restoration of the Ark to its central position in their culture and government. In 1 Chronicles 15, however, as David planned the final movement of the Ark, he did it in accordance with the Law.

This teaches us that not only the what but also the who and the how are important to God. Methods are important when they reflect on the character and nature of god. Man’s methods are OK as long as they do not violate God’s nature. We do not do God’s work with man’s methods if those methods contradict God’s holiness, justice, glory or love.

So, I need to consider carefully my service to God. Do my methods reflect God’s nature?

Use Wisdom when Pursuing God's Plan

When David assumed the throne of Israel, he needed to consolidate the kingdom while at the same time restore God to the center of public life. He realized that one thing he could do was to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to the seat of civil and spiritual power. It was one of those obvious things, a “no-brainer” if you will.

Yet, David showed wisdom in pursuing something even this obvious, something even this dear to him, something even this important to the other leaders. 1 Chronicles 13 says that before he did it, he conferred with each of his officers, including them in the decision. Then he went public with his idea and asked the whole assembly what they thought of the idea: Was it a good idea? Was it the will of God? Having obtained the blessing of the leadership core in the capital, he then used this occasion to unite the whole nation. He included the priests in the planning and implementation of this symbolic act, restoring them to a place of influence that they had lost under the previous regime.

This story teaches a valuable lesson. Even in the occasional “no-brainer” that you encounter in leadership:

• Confer with your leaders – individually.
• Ask the assembly of influencers for their input.
• Return spiritual leaders (prayer warriors?) to places of significance.
• Capitalize on the opportunity to bring the people together.
• In the planning and implementation, make sure that you celebrate!

Sure, it's God's plan, but use wisdom in pursing God’s plan!

I’m trying to get back on a normal schedule (daily, M-F) for these postings. It’s been a great holiday season, but a lot of travel (Thank God for fun with family and safety on the road!) has interrupted my routine. I hope you are enjoying a God-blessed season!

A Christmas Prayer

This week the following prayer appeared in “Soul Care” a daily devotional emailed to Nazarene pastors:

Let Your goodness Lord appear to us, that we, made in your image, conform ourselves to it. In our own strength we cannot imitate Your majesty, power, and wonder, nor is it fitting for us to try. But Your mercy reaches from the heavens through the clouds to the earth below. You have come to us as a small child, but you have brought us the greatest of all gifts, the gift of eternal love. Caress us with Your tiny hands, embrace us with Your tiny arms and pierce our hearts with Your soft, sweet cries.
— Bernard of Clairvaux

This is my prayer for you this Christmas. May you experience his presence. Emmanuel.

God Does Have a Plan for You, Pastor

In 1 Chronicles 11, we read that the people came together to anoint David King (vv. 1 and 4) and that David entered into a compact with them concerning his leadership.

As I thought about what took place then, I remembered that God had already chosen and anointed David to be king. God had been using him in prior assignments to prepare him. God had promised him that he would be king. The people – in time of leadership change – simply recognized God’s plan for David to be king. They recognized that their call was preceded by God’s own. They recited how God had said to David, “You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.”

The lesson in this story is particularly helpful to me as a pastor waiting God’s plan to unfold. (It is also instructive for others who are in Christian service – both lay and clergy…) Now, I know that there are some who say, “God doesn’t care where you pastor. He wants to be able to use you wherever you are.” I understand what they are saying, but what comfort to know the call of God to serve a particular body of people does not depend on man’s wisdom but on God’s will.

Let me share my prayer from this morning. I hope it will be encouraging to you:

“God you have a particular place for me to shepherd your people. You have chosen me and anointed me. You have been using me and preparing me. You have promised that that your call is irrevocable. Now, reveal to me the fulfillment of your choice and purpose of your anointing. Reveal to me and to the people who will call me for what particular assignment you have been preparing me. As you have used me in the past, so now use me in a new place. Reveal your plan also to the people who will call me. May they come together and may we make a compact which reflects your will and purpose for pastor and people.”

One other thing I noticed in this passage. God had said to David, “You will shepherd my people,” before he said, “You will become their ruler.” Before he could lead them as king, he was first to shepherd them:

• Protect
• Feed
• Care for
• Lead to pasture and living water

Only when he became their shepherd would he be able to be their leader:

• Expand and establish the kingdom
• Command the military
• Build his capital city
• Administer the kingdom

The implications for a pastor are obvious.

Hope you are having a great Christmas. God is with us!

Brave Prayer Warrior

1 Chronicles 8.40
The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons – 150 in all..

Do you want to have many sons and grandsons in the Kingdom? Be a brave warrior who can handle the bow:

• To bear spiritual descendants in the Kingdom, we must be brave. Go where no one else will go. Face the challenges no one else will face. Do it alone if you have to.
• To have sons and grandsons in the Kingdom, we must be warriors ready to engage in “hand-to-hand combat.” Trained. Fit. Strong. Equipped. Armed. Led. Tough. Sacrificial.
• To bring many to Christ the King we must be able to handle the bow. Perhaps we should pronounce it as in bow in prayer. Send sharp arrows of intercession before we engage in face-to-face evangelism. Pray to pierce hearts. Pray for specific targets. (How many arrows are in your prayer quiver? Fervent prayer. Faithful prayer.

For the glory of Christ, win the battle for souls. Be brave! Be a warrior! Be a man or woman of prayer!

One Happy Man

1 Chronicles 7.40a
All these were descendants of Asher—heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders.

In Genesis 30.13 we are told how Asher came to get his name. He brought his mother happiness and so she named him “Happy.” That’s not a bad way to be thought of, is it? One who makes others happy? One who is happy himself?

I like how the descendants of Asher are described:

1. Heads of families
2. Choice men
3. Brave warriors
4. Outstanding leaders

I wouldn’t mind being known as:

1. The head of my family – providing spiritual leadership, service and sacrifice in the manner of Jesus
2. A choice man – one worthy to be chosen – by God, by my wife, by my employer, etc.
3. A brave warrior – not one to shrink away from a challenge – even if it involves great personal cost and risk
4. An outstanding leader – out front in matters of faith and following God; distinguishing myself as one above the crowd

That would make me “one happy man.” A true descendant of Asher!

Given Responsibility and Regulations

1 Chronicles 6.31-32
These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

Those who were put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord were followers who were in charge.

• In order to be “put in charge” – to be given responsibility – they needed to be good followers.
• In order to be good followers they needed to be given regulations.

If you are a leader, you would do well to remember these two thing: Give those who follow clear instructions – the regulations for their jobs, the outcomes you expect. Then step back and let them do their job in their way – put them in charge, make them responsible for the outcomes.

Who Wins Your Battles?

1 Chronicles 5.18-22
18 The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped in fighting them, and God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him. 21 They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God's. And they occupied the land until the exile.

In this account of the struggle of God’s people to possess the promise, we read that these tribes had men:

• Ready for military service
• Able-bodied
• Who could handle
• Shield
• Sword
• Bow
• Who were trained for battle

But it was God who gave them victory over their enemies because:

• They cried out to him during battle.
• They trusted in him.
• The battle was God’s

What a great picture of the duality of Christian leadership and service: We must be ready and spiritually fit. We need to take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) in order to engage our community up close and personal. We also must know how to use a bow – a weapon used from further away. We must be trained by our pastors and leaders for the particular battles we face.

But ultimately, the battle is God’s! We must cry out to him and trust in him – in his ways and his power and his outcomes.

Who wins your battles? Do you try to do it all yourself? Do you just sit back and expect God to do it without you? We are in a battle for the souls of men. Yes, the battle is the Lord’s. So let us confidently prepare and then cry out to God as we engage the battle.

That You Would Bless Me

1 Chronicles 4.9-10: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.


The Bible says that Jabez – birthed in pain – was more honorable than his brothers. I wonder - is there a connection between pain and honor? If so, what is there about pain that could lead to honor? I thought of several possible responses to pain which would help focus us and thus bring about honor: Purification... Prioritization... Prayer... Courage... Tenacity... Empathy

Of all these, prayer seems to be the response that brought Jabez to his place of being honorable. Pain taught Jabez to cry out to the Lord. God heard his cry and granted Jabez’ request to:

• Bless him
• Enlarge his territory
• Guide him with his hand
• Keep him from harm
• Free him from pain

When I read this story, a prayer welled up from deep within me: “Bless me, O God!” As I come out of my own valley of pain, may you birth in me such honor and integrity that you can entrust me with...

• Your blessing – oh for your presence and anointing on my ministry!
• Greater responsibility – an enlarged territory for greater harvest and more praise to God.
• More influence on the lives of young ministers and growing lay people.
• Opportunity to love people and care for them in greater ways.
• Making your covenant known to me (Psalm 25.14) – guide me with your hand to where I should go.
• Keeping me from harm as well as my family, my friends, my church, my community.
• Freedom for the painful trials I endure – no ill-effects such as residual bitterness or lack of trust or hardened heart.

God granted Jabez his request as he called out from his pain. May God grant your requests as you call out to him as well.

Dew Drops - II

Once again – as I read 1 Chronicles chapter 2 – I was confronted with a list of names. Were there any dew drops glistening on the family tree? I found one “on” verse 10.

Of the list of Judah’s descendants up until the time of King David, only one was identified as a leader: Nahshon. As a matter of fact, he was called the leader of the people of Judah, not a leader, but the leader. The ancestral head of the tribe – Judah – was not much of a “leader.” The next generations did not produce any who were called leaders. But with Nahshon, the leadership fortunes of the tribe turned around. Nahshon was the leader of Judah.

Verses 11 to 17 provide a few more details into the family tree of Judah. Do you remember Boaz? He was a respected member of his community – Bethlehem. Nahshon was his grandfather. Boaz was also the great-grandfather of David, the second King of Israel. God – through the leadership of Nahshon – had prepared for the coming of the King. Nahshon was used of God to lead the people of Judah to have the kinds of values that Boaz had (Read about him in the Biblical book of Ruth.) and that were passed on to David.

My prayer is that I would be a leader among God’s people – that all my “clan” would be leaders. I do not mean leading in the sense of wielding power or even in garnering respect, but leading in the sense of bringing about God’s kingdom, preparing the way for the King.

May you, too, be a leader in bringing the values and the person of Jesus to your community.

(PS – Did you catch any glistening rays off Peleg? I did, and sadly not all rays shed light on positive things. When I read 1 Chronicles 1.19, I was saddened that Peleg was remembered as a divider. I asked God for grace to be a uniter, not a divider…)

Dew Drops

Ever ask yourself, “What can I get out of reading those lists of names and families in the Bible? Try what I do: look for dew drops glistening on the family tree!

Open a Bible to 1 Chronicles, chapter 1. Even when you look at it, you are tempted to think, “There’s not going to be a whole lot of inspiration in my Bible reading today!” Well, outside from the fact that each and every name listed there represents a life that is precious to God, you can find some drops of dew that glisten in the sunlight of God’s love.

Take verse 10 for example. It says, “Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth.”

When I read that, I thought, “Oh, that I may grow to be a mighty warrior!” Then I asked myself, “How can I do that? How can I grow to be a mighty warrior in God’s army?” Quickly the answers came:

• Humility and submission before my Commander
• Total obedience to my Commander
• Deployment according the His plan
• Courage in the face of a brutal enemy
• Nourishment from the supply lines of heaven
• Careful observation and awareness of my surroundings
• Training – to gain skills and to increase stamina and strength
• Rest
• Partnerships with other warriors around me
• Faith in the strength of my Commander
• Fighting through fears
• Tenacity
• Fervor
• Seeking wisdom from my Commander
• Refusing to be defeated – coming back from setbacks

May God help me to grow to be a mighty warrior! May you, too, grow as a warrior in his cause.

(PS – I noticed another dew drop but didn’t examine it closely. It is in verse 19 about Peleg. What do you see there?)

Blag-O-Sphere

Last month I entered the blog-o-sphere with the publication of my first blog: “Who Said It Couldn’t Be Done?” Today I am going to enter the Blag-O-Sphere.

I used to be a resident of Illinois. Yesterday, Rod Blagojevich, the governor of my former state, was arrested on some pretty serious charges. Guilt or innocence will not be determined by the opinions expressed by conservatives, liberals, or moderates. It has already been determined by the actions of Governor Blagojevich. My concern is the state of truth in our day.

“Did he do it” should be replaced with a more serious question: “So what?” If there is no absolute truth, then it doesn’t really matter that a governor attempted to sell a senate seat from his state. It doesn’t really matter that he attempted to extort money from a children’s hospital or get people fired for exercising their editorial freedom. If there is truth of the absolute variety, then that means that our actions can be judged against that truth.

I think that most people, in their hearts, believe that there is absolute truth, a truth that is more than the truth of factual evidence: He did it or he didn’t do it. There is truth that can shed light on the rightness or wrongness of what he did or didn’t do. Which kind of world do you want to live in? A world where everyone makes his/her own truth or a world that is grounded in eternal truth? Think about it:

• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to use the public trust given you to extort money from those over whom you hold power?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to beat to death pubescent prisoners and bury them in the backyard?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to deny a person basic health and dignity issues because of age (pre-born or post-peak), race, sex, religion, or lifestyle?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to expect someone else to take care of you because you don’t want to work?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to run your stockholders’ and employees’ business into the ground while gaining millions of dollars in personal benefit?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to shape the rules of employment such that you can perform in ways that do harm to the health of the company that writes your paycheck and the economy that sustains your job?
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to viciously and falsely attack your political opponent and after the dust of an election clears say, “That was then; this is now?”
• Do you want to live in a world where it is OK to be so consumption-focused that we forget all about the value of the earth from which we derive our goods or the life of the man in the door at Walmart?

What kind of world do you want? I want a world of truth, a world where what we say and what we do matters. It’s the only kind of world worth living in.

So, did he do it? We will certainly find out, but the truth already is. So what?

Called, Chosen, Faithful

In Revelation 17 I recently read how the ten kings “will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers” (v. 14).

I realize that there may be a time when God’s children will suffer under the power of wicked people and policies. But, a day is coming when all that will be reversed. The kingdoms and authorities and rulers of darkness will make war against the Lamb. The Lamb will overcome them because he alone is King of kings and Lord of lords! And, with the Lamb will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers.

Will you be there with Jesus? You can be, and so can your family. Jesus overcomes because of who he is. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12.11). Jesus shed his blood for the sins of the world. If we, by faith, answer his call and confess him as Lord, we become his called faithful and chosen followers.

For me, this means I will be with him! Lana will be with him! Jenny, Eric, Avery and Soon-to-Be will be with him! Emily will be with him! Jaclyn will be with him! Amy and Jon will be with him! Praise the Lord! For, by his grace, we are:

• Called!
• Chosen!
• Faithful!

See you there!

Josiah - Change Agent

After King Hezekiah, who was described in 2 Kings 18 as unique among all the kings of Judah in following the Lord, there came 2 wicked kings, who led Judah into evil for 57 years. Two generations had squandered the results of Hezekiah’s revival. But God raised up a young King, Josiah, who brought about a great returning to the Lord.

I’ve often thought of Josiah as an agent of revival, but as I read his story last week, I realized that he could just as easily be described as a change agent. You can read his story in 2 Kings 22 and 23. in his story, there is much to be learned about leading change.

When we take God’s Word seriously, as did Josiah, we are not only revived ourselves, but God uses us to change the people we influence. In chapter 22, after he heard the Word of the Lord and repented:

1. Josiah called the elders together. These elders were those whose help he needed to gather the people and whose support he needed to garner the confidence and gain the obedience of the people.
2. Josiah then went up to the temple of the Lord. He knew he needed God’s help to undertake such a task. He wanted the people to be in the presence of the Lord when he introduced the changes to them. He knew that God’s presence moves the hearts of people to respond positively to change.
3. The people – all the people, from least to greatest – were to join the king for this monumental event.
4. Josiah read all the words of the Book of the Law. The change encompassed all of God’s will. It was not to be partial ill-defined.
5. Josiah stood by the pillar. Hallelujah! It is great to know that when we are called to be change agents, we are invited to stand in the strength of our God: his might and majesty, our heritage and history, a foundation of faith.
6. Josiah renewed the covenant – in the presence of the Lord – to: follow the Lord, to keep his commands, and to confirm the Word of God.
7. Josiah’s obedience and faith enabled the people to respond by pledging themselves to a covenant with their God.

Having gone on record, Josiah was ready to begin the works of repentance and revival in daily life. He could only do this with the support and help of the elders and the people. He needed their hearts and hands to be engaged in the change.

Christian leader, be a change agent. Like Josiah, turn to the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength. Do so quickly – before it is too late, before the people are too far gone to effect a change:

1. Call the leaders together. You can’t do it without them. You can’t make changes without the support of the leadership.
2. Go to the temple – pray, worship, wait in the presence of the Lord. Announce the change in the place God’s hearing and in the context of his blessing. Recognize that this change is at root a spiritual, God-driven change. (If not, for God’s sake and the sake of his people, don’t do it!)
3. Invite all the people to participate. Communicate clearly to everyone, not just those you think support the change or will be affected by the change. Include everyone! Value all people equally!
4. Don’t talk about just the parts of the change you think will be popular. Include all the aspects of the change.
5. Know that Jesus stands beside you!
6. Commit yourself to the change – publicly!
7. Call for the response of all the people.

If you do these things, like Josiah, you will be ready to be a Change Agent.

May Your Testimony Be Like King Hezekiah’s

In 2 Kings 20, King Hezekiah was informed that his days were nearing an end. He prayed to God for healing. In that prayer – recorded in verse 3 – we find a wonderful testimony of God’s grace at work in Hezekiah’s life. (It so happens that Hezekiah was given 15 more years of life in response to this prayer, but the real value of the prayer for us is seeing the confidence we can have at the end of life.)

It is my desire that at the end of my allotted days on earth my testimony be like that of King Hezekiah:

• Lord, remember... (nothing to hide).
• Lord, I have walked before you faithfully (without interruption).
• Lord, I have walked before you with wholehearted devotion (without any rivals or regrets).
• Lord, I have done what is good in your eyes. (Actions and work are important and are “measurable” against God’s standards, the only standards that matter.)

By God’s grace, may I come to the end of my journey with a similar testimony. And, may your testimony be like that of King Hezekiah.

Defeating the Enemy

In 2 Kings 18, the King of Assyria - Sennacherib - was threatening to overthrow God's people. His lies were not effective against the people of God. (See yesterday's post...) In the closing verses of 2 Kings 18 and in chapter 19, we see specifically how King Hezekiah overcame the threat of the enemy. If we follow this biblical example, we, too, can thwart the strategy of Satan.

Don't respond to Satan (18.36).

Share your concerns with God's people for encouragement and strength (18.37).

"Repent", mourn, humble yourself, and go to God with these threats from Satan (19.1).

Share with your spiritual advisor and enlist his/her help, wisdom, prayers, and guidance (19.2 ff).

Affirm God's deliverance (19.6 ff).

Pray:

• Lay out the problem before God - all of it (19.14).
• Recognize God's majesty and sovereignty (1915).
• Establish solidarity between you and God in the attack of Satan (19.16).
• Recognize Satan's strength against those who don't trust in God (19.17).
• Note the difference between our God and all other forms of strength (19.18).
• Tie victory to God's name and glory (19.19).
• Receive and believe the answer (19.20).

Let God speak to the enemy (19.21 ff).

God will work it out (19.35 ff).

Victory is yours today! Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Lies of the Enemy

There is an awe-inspiring story of God's victory for his people in 2 Kings 18 and 19. I would encourage you to read it. These chapters contain the story of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah was a good king in Judah, one of the best:

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses (2 Kings 18.5-6).

More often than not, such followers of God are the targets of Satan's strategies. In the case of Hezekiah, Satan used Sennacherib, king of Assyria, to lie to the king of Judah. As we look at the strategy of Sennacherib, we can learn and be prepared to face the lies of Satan. In the story, we see how Sennacherib "lied" to Hezekiah:

1. My many representatives will intimidate and overwhelm you.
2. Your strategy and strength are empty words.
3. Your former allies won't help you.
4. You have displeased God.
5. I'll "bargain" with you (derisively).
6. The LORD himself sent me; I'm doing God's work, exacting his judgment against you.
7. I will paralyze all your friends, allies, and fellow servants.
8. Forget God and his city and follow me to a better life.
9. No god can save from my power, not even yours.

As I pondered those lies, I recognized many of them - for Satan has used them against me! And, he will try to use them against you. But we can fight the lies of Satan with the truth of God's Word! Remember this:

1. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (2 Kings 6.16).
2. Our words are powerful! We overcome by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12.11).
3. Even if friends deserted us, "The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength" (2 Timothy 4.17).
4. "I know that you are pleased with me for my enemy does not triumph over me" (Psalm 41.11).
5. "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" (1 Peter 5.8-10). And, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you" (James 4.7-8a).
6. "Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11.14).
7. "It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2.13).
8. We are "looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11.10).
9. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4.4).

Check out tomorrow's blog (from chapter 19) and learn more strategies to overcoming the attacks and lies of the enemy!

Have a wonderful and victorious Wednesday in Jesus Christ!

Shoot, Shout, and Strike!

There is a great story in 2 Kings 13.10-19. King Jehoash of Israel went to see Elisha, when the prophet was nearing the end of his life. As a matter of fact, it is the last recorded incident in the life of the great man of God.
As I read the story, I was reminded of the importance of symbols in our faith. At least three symbols are involved in this story. They are three actions that the man of God tells the king to take.
To symbolize my faith, I must be willing to...

• Shoot! Get a bow and some arrows. (Let God tell you what that means in your journey right now.) Allow God's hands to guide my own. Open the window toward the east (The sunrise, new beginnings, etc...) Shoot at a target I'm not sure of just yet, but still do it in obedience to God. (Remember, in Genesis 12, Abram left home without knowing where he was headed!)
• Shout! The Lord's arrow! It only took one arrow for Jehoash, and if I am willing, to listen, it will only take one for me. I don't need a lot of options to choose from. I need to know the one way that God is leading! Then I can proclaim victory! I can proclaim victory over Aram - honestly confront and name the problems/obstacles - and claim victory!
• Strike! The remaining arrows symbolize taking the solution in hand and seeing it through. God assured victory, but the people of God would need to follow through in real live battles to see the deliverance of the Lord. Striking the arrows symbolized making the commitment necessary to see God's plan completely worked out by God's help and our efforts. It is the leader taking a stand and pressing through on God's agenda. "I'll finish what I start - wherever it takes me - and victory will be more than I can imagine. But I must symbolically and confidently proclaim victory and my intention to go all the way with God!

Shoot! Shout! Strike! You will completely defeat your enemy!

When You Need-to-Know - part II

Last week, we discovered in Revelation 4 that when we need to know we can: “Come up here!” Further, in Revelation 5, the 24 elders did not come before the throne to see what must take place without their harps and singing (without worship). Understanding the will and way of God begins in worship.


But, the elders also had something else in their hands: the prayers of the saints. With these prayers, they sang a new song for the Lamb to open the scroll to reveal and fulfill the will of God in history:


6Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Revelation 5.6-10)


The prayers of the saints are somehow inherently related to the opening of the seals and the working out of God’s will and kingdom in history. So, if you want to discover God’s will, pray! If you want God’s will to be done in and through your life, pray!


Worship and prayer. Two essential ingredients to know and do the will of God. Yet they are not simply means to an end. They are ends in themselves. Worship and Pray. Do it because He is God. Along the way you will not only get to know God, you will get to know his will.

Special Thanksgiving Edition!

Psalm 147 is a great Psalm for Thanksgiving. Read it at the table before you eat:

1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion,
13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

As I read this Psalm, I was thankful that God:

• Builds up my "city" (family and friends)... v 2
• Gathers me to his heart when I feel unwanted... v2
• Heals my broken heart... v 3
• Binds up my wounds... v 3
• Sustains me in my humility... v 6
• Delights in me as I fear (reverence) him and hope in him... v 11
• Secures me with his strength... v 13
• Grants me peace in my relationships and emotions... v 14
• Satisfies me with the Living Bread come down from heaven... v 14
• Reveals his Word to me so that I understand his will... vv 19-20

As you look at these reasons for gratitude, go around the table and briefly respond to them from personal experience. Share your reasons to be thankful before you eat your Thanksgiving meal. Make it truly a celebration of the goodness of God and the gratitude of his children! Then, as you "break bread together" your Thanksgiving will be a time to "Praise the LORD!

When You Need-to-Know - part I

“Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this” (Revelation 4.1)

Do you need to know and be ready for what is next? “Come up here!” Do you need to know what to do after the church is revived (chapters 2 and 3)? “Come up here!” Do you need to know what is next in your spiritual growth and ministry? “Come up here!” Do you need to know how to bring people to Christ and disciple them and incorporate them into the family of God? “Come up here!”

“Come up here!” That is God’s call to us when we need to know. “Come up here!”
Come – Make a decision and exert effort
Up – A high place, a holy life, a lofty goal
Here – A place of worship (See Revelation 4 and 5)

What John was to be shown starts in chapter 6 with the opening of the seals. But first, the disciple is called to a place of worship. If we are in a place where we need to know (and who isn’t?), we must first of all find a place – in our lives, our schedule, our priorities – of worship. If you need to know, “Come up here!”

View tomorrow for a special holiday edition to help you observe Thanksgiving!

Reflecting on a Sunday in the Lord’s House

How thankful I am for the opportunity to speak at Sciotoville Church of the Nazarene the past two Sundays. Thanks to those of you who prayed for me and for the services.

What a blessing it was for me to meet and worship with those fine folks. I came away strengthened in my spirit and encouraged in my soul. God helped us as we worshiped in song, and there was a strong desire on the part of his people just to praise and thank God for his blessings. I heard many wonderful testimonies as I waited to take my turn to preach.

God helped me as I preached from John 1.12-13: “To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” My topic was Children of God are born, not made. Though the visible “response” was not intense, there was a sense that God was planting seeds of truth in the hearts of many. And, I am thankful for the response of those who came to pray at the altar. God helped them in definite ways. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness!

Also, I want to thank God for the wonderful Sunday school class that Lana and I were in the past two weeks. Both lessons were just what I needed to hear. The teacher this past Sunday – Pastor Ed – reminded us that though we pray and God promises, there may be (may very well be!) a delay in the fulfillment of our prayers and God’s promises. This does not mean that our prayers are ineffective nor does it mean that God’s promises are not certain. It means simply that we don’t see all the particulars and the myriad connections that make up the will of God. As Pastor Ed taught, my mind went to a scripture that has been a refuge for my soul in the last year: “I am still confident of this – I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27.13-14). Lana and I are in a position of waiting, and I needed the reminder that came through the Spirit in class.

Lana and I are thankful for the Sciotoville Nazarenes who graciously welcomed us as guests in their services these past two weeks. And we are thankful for the small role that we were allowed to play in the ongoing fulfillment of God’s purposes for that congregation.

Have a great Tuesday! Oh, I heard something on the radio this past week about doing a little more exercise this week so you don’t gain the 2 pounds that are typical for Americans celebrating Thanksgiving. So maybe we should all just take a hike!

Who Can Stand?

What a contrast! In Revelation 6 we read:

12I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

A few verses over, in Revelation 7, we find quite a different picture:

9After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."
13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb have the confidence and the desire to stand before the Lamb. Are you standing? I trust that you are.

May God give you a great Monday!

Hearts and Hands

"Are you in accord with me as I am in accord with you?... If so, give me your hand... Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD" (2 Kings 10.15-16, NIV).

"Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?... If it be, give me thine hand... Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD" (KJV).

I don't understand everything about this story in the Bible, nor do I condone what Jehu was doing. The simplest way for me to process this is to realize that Jehu was simply a part of the fulfillment of the prophecy against the house of Ahab. Ahab's sins had caused his family to suffer. Be that as it may, Jehu's assignment was difficult and misunderstood. As a leader he looked for help and support where he could find it. When he happened upon Jehonadab, he found one upon whom he looked for encouragement. He must have sensed (from their past history or from Jehonadab's reaction when they met?) that Jehonadab was sympathetic to the cause of righteousness. So he said to him (paraphrased), "Is your heart right with me? Mine is with you. And with the LORD. Let's join hands in the work."

As I read this story, I was reminded that all leaders encounter hard things. When you are in a hard place, making hard decisions, doing hard works - you will need the hearts and hands of loyal and faithful friends and followers. These friends must be in your company where they can witness your zeal for the LORD and where you can witness theirs. May God grant every leader in his work the friends and followers that are necessary for the encouragement of His servant and the accomplishment of His purpose.

Many of you are those hearts and hands of support with me. Thank you. (Please continue to pray for this week's service at Sciotoville... May souls come to know Christ!) And, may God give you hearts and hands to encourage you, too.

Have a great weekend!

Point of Personal Privilege

This morning I am introducing a new “label” for my postings. In blogs labeled “Point of Personal Privilege,” I share matters concerning my ministry and family. I hope you will enjoy them.

I preached last week at Sciotoville Church of the Nazarene (Ohio) and will return there this week. I am going there as “pulpit supply.” I think that’s a technical term meaning – “We couldn’t find anybody else so will you do it?”!

I don't want this to be just two weeks of fill-in for Sciotoville and for Pastor Scott. I want supernatural results because we have trusted and we have obeyed God. I believe that God made this appointment between preacher and people. My excitement about this Sunday’s service is growing. God is ready to do something! I can hardly wait to see what it is!

Join me in fasting a meal today or tomorrow or Saturday. Encourage others that you know to pray for the service. Pray for the people of that church to be Spirit-empowered to invite their unchurched family and friends. Pray that unbelievers will respond to these invitations. Pray that God moves powerfully on the hearts of these invited people leading up to and in the service. Pray that the presence of God moves everyone in the service. Pray that I and the Christians there will be sensitive to the leading of the Spirit. And especially pray this for those who will come to the altar to pray with people. I believe these folks are hungry for a move of God. The Holy Spirit reminded me yesterday that they “have said yes to God and want to go forward.”

“Pray also for me that I may fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should” (Ephesians 6.19-20). “Pray for me, too, that God may open a door for my message, so that I may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” Colossians 4.3-4).

I am reminded of what one preacher said to me: “God didn’t call me to preach to pews!” So, I’m praying for a packed house this week. I want – for God’s glory and their good – God’s house to be full. It’s amazing how exciting this prayer is when I am not in a position to do anything about it or to receive anything from it. May God pour out revival on his church in this day! I would be humbled to witness his hand of grace and his heart of love moving at the Nazarene Church in Sciotoville, Ohio.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’"

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him!”

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and the hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briars the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed.”

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

“And afterward I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days… And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!”

Why am I feeling this way about this Sunday's service? Our God is moving in my soul! As I said above, I believe God has appointed these two services together for his purposes and glory. I feel as if God has been just waiting to do something wonderful in my life and in that church in these two weeks. I have a sense of anticipation and the confirmation of faith that God will do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine.

Ask largely, my friends! Ask largely!

A Well-to-Do Woman

I have a friend or two who is looking for a well-to-do woman. Also some who are looking for well-to-do men! But this is not e-Harmony, so if that's what you're after you might want to look elsewhere!

The Bible talks about a well-to-do woman in 2 Kings 8. This morning, as I read that chapter, two verses seemed to push their way into the front of my brain:

1. "Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years."
2. "Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now."

We were first introduced to this woman in 2 Kings 4, where we find her: supporting the work of the man of God, becoming a mother at an improbable time (She was married to an older man so in her culture this represented security for her.), trusting God in the darkest hour of her life (the death of her son), receiving back her son from death.

Later, God in his concern for her - through the prophet Elisha - provided for her and her family and protected her from the famine. Then he arranged the circumstances around her return and her request for the king to restore her land. Through the king, God gave her back her land and even all the income from it - not just the owner's portion, but all of it. God stirred the heart of the king to assign an official to her to ensure that his decree was fulfilled.

Consider the very real possibility that had she stayed on her land she might very well have lost the land permanently during the famine. Instead, she trusted God and left all her wealth in His hands. She abandoned her land and her claim on it, the safety and security of it. When she returned, she did so in humility - without any claim other than mercy: she begged.

When faced with a setback, remember the well-to-do woman of Shunem! God did not forget her and he will not forget you!

How old will you be in seven years?

Turn Around!

As I read Revelation 1 during my prayer time this morning, several thoughts came to me:

1. Verse 9 says, "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the Island of Patmos..." I thought about how nice it was to have a companion in suffering and endurance. Now, it immediately occurred to me that I'm not worthy to really be called a companion of that generation of Christians who suffered for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. After all, John was on Patmos - a prison - and I'm at home comfortable and free. John had been persecuted for not worshiping Caesar, and I'm often given respect for leading others to worship Jesus. John was separated from family, friends, and church while I enjoy the company of my wife and friends daily and conversations with loved ones on the cell phone. John's very life was at risk, and I'm safe and protected. Having said that, however, I can -as I think about it - find in my life parallels to John's experiences of suffering. I'm sure you can, too.
2. Oh, that we might see Jesus in these times! Verse 12 says John turned to see Jesus. Today, turn to see him! That you might hear his voice! That you might fall at his feet in worship! That you might be overwhelmed by the glory of his presence "like the sun shining in all its brilliance" (v 16).
3. In that moment when Jesus comes to us in our suffering, he says, "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" (vv 17-18). I "heard" Jesus say to me this morning: "Don't be afraid. Yes, it was as though you were dead, but you are alive!" Though I may feel (and you can put your sufferings in this thought...) - at times - that my ministry and my influence and my effectiveness are dead, Jesus - who came back from the dead - will make them all alive again! For ever and ever! He who holds the keys will lock up death and Hades and will unlock life and power and strength!

So no matter where you are or what trial you are going through. Turn around! You'll see Jesus!

Have a great Tuesday!

Soul Trouble Doesn't Have to Be Troubling

As I was cleaning up my desk this past weekend, I came across the following article by Charles Spurgeon, taken from "From Lessons to My Students." It was intended for ministers and ministry students, but is actually helpful for all who may be experiencing a "dark night of the soul." Enjoy and be enriched.

The lesson of wisdom is, be not dismayed by soul-trouble. Count it no strange thing, but a part of ordinary ministerial experience. Should the power of depression be more than ordinary, think not that all is over with your usefulness. Cast not away your confidence, for it hath great recompense of reward. Even if the enemy’s foot be on your neck, expect to rise and overthrow him. Cast the burden of the present, along with the sin of the past and the fear of the future, upon the Lord, who forsaketh not his saints. Live by the day—aye, by the hour. Put not trust in frames and feelings. Care more for a grain of faith than a ton of excitement.
Trust in God alone, and lean not on the reeds of human help. Be not surprised when friends fail you: it is a failing world. Never count upon immutability in man: inconsistency you may reckon upon without fear of disappointment. The disciples of Jesus forsook him; be not amazed if your adherents wander away to other teachers: as they were not your all when with you, all is not gone from you with their departure.
Serve God with all your might while the candle is burning, and then when it goes out for a season, you will have the less to regret. Be content to be nothing, for that is what you are. When your own emptiness is painfully forced upon your consciousness, chide yourself that you ever dreamed of being full, except in the Lord. Set small store by present rewards; be grateful for earnests by the way, but look for the recompensing joy hereafter. Continue with double earnestness to serve your Lord when no visible result is before you. Any simpleton can follow the narrow path in the light: faith’s rare wisdom enables us to march on in the dark with infallible accuracy, since she places her hand in that of her great Guide. Between this and heaven there may be rougher weather yet, but it is all provided for by our covenant Head.
In nothing let us be turned aside from the path which the divine call has urged us to pursue. Come fair or come foul, the pulpit is our watchtower, and the ministry our warfare; be it ours, when we cannot see the face of God, to trust under the shadow of his wings.

I Call You Friends

In the worship service I mentioned yesterday (Fairmont, WV), the pastor preached a wonderful message on being a friend of Jesus. He made many good points, and I wanted to share some of them with you. His text was from John 15...

John 15.9-17 (NIV): 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.

1. A servant insists on keeping his life separate from his master, but in love, a friend lays his life open before his friend.
2. A servant has to be watched in order to assure his obedience, but a friend willingly does what is commanded.
3. A servant keeps his distance, but a friend "abides" in relationship.
4. A servant uses the relationship for what he can get out of it, but a friend bears fruit from the relationship.
5. A servant doesn’t know but must be told, but a friend knows his master's business.

The pastor urged us to move from servant mentality into friend mentality with Jesus. That is an exciting prospect, and I urge you to do so. But what I wanted to share with you today has to do with leadership.

As I looked over the differences between being a servant versus being a friend of Jesus, I saw my personal leadership style emerge before me. Many people have told me that a leader can't be a friend to those whom she/he leads. But, I've never quite fully understood that. I have always wanted to be friends with those who work together with me in the kingdom. Only last Sunday did it become clear to me that this was Jesus' preferred model, too.

In today's fast-paced, results-oriented world, this type of leadership is undervalued. I think we need more of it - especially in the church. Re-read the passage from Joohn 15, and look over those five points above. Why are we afraid of them? Why do we think we need to be something different from Jesus?

I admit that I don't know what this means fully, and I would like to "hone" these thoughts. Your comments would be appreciated!

Have a great weekend! I trust you will find yourself among like-minded people in a house of worship. We need that discipline to keep our lives centered!

Can you take it up again?

This week I was worshiping with a church in Fairmont, WV, and the Holy Spirit gave me one of those "Aha Moments." It was very meaningful to me so I thought I would share it with you. As the pastor was finishing up his sermon he said something about Jesus laying down his life for us. In an instant, the Holy Spirit very clearly reminded me that Jesus said he not only laid down his life but he took it up again.

I thought about how difficult it was for Jesus to lay down his life – all that it meant to die for us, the agony he suffered, the stain of sin he bore, the separation from the Father he endured. How wonderful is his love for us! But that wasn’t the point the Holy Spirit was making in my mind and heart. I remembered what Jesus had said – in the King James Version – I have power to lay it down and power to take it back up again. That echoed in my soul like a thunderclap.

Jesus was given power to lay down his life. Jesus was given power to take it up again. He had to choose to do both. He had to choose to die in his body. He had to choose to live again in his body. I wonder how hard it was for him. I wonder if – humanly speaking – he thought, “You know, this living in the flesh hasn’t proven to be the most enjoyable thing I could have gone through. I wonder if I come back in the body if more of this suffering is in store for me… Maybe I’ll just skip the resurrection of the body. Maybe I won’t take up my life again…” Jesus may not have felt that at all, but we do.

Like Jesus, I, too, have the power to lay down my life and, if I choose, the power to take it up again. Yes, I recognize that I have laid down my life. I am not trying to sound spiritually smug or self-satisfied: God has given me grace to lay down my life in the service of the gospel. God has enabled me to keep the right spirit of service and faithfulness in the face of Satan’s attacks. Laying down my life, I have tried to live the way Jesus would have, “answering not a word.” I have gained a sense of satisfaction from that. God needs to help me in that, I know, but I have felt that my spirit has been pleasing to our Jesus.

What the blessed Lord spoke to my heart last Sunday is this: Don’t be satisfied with the first part only. Be like me in the second part, too. Take up your life again. I have given you the power to do it, but you must do it, you must take it up again. I cannot be satisfied with just having laid down my life. To this point, that has been the “easy” part. (Perhaps I should say the less difficult of the two…)

As I said, Jesus may not have struggled with taking his life back up again, but I know that I am face with the very real temptation to think: “Is it worth it? Do I really want to be a minister? A pastor? Can I take up life again? Trust again? Believe again? Love again? Serve again? Lead again? Pastor again? Even pray again?” The answer was and is a resounding “Yes! Jesus took his life up again, and I will too!”

It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Thank you, Lord, for giving me power not only to lay down my life but also for giving me power to take it up again. No one took it from me, but I laid it down of my own choosing. And no one will make me take it back up, either. I alone have the power and authority to take life back up. I will begin today and continue every day to embrace life with great expectation.

Hope you are having a great Thursday!

Who said it couldn't be done?

This is the first posting on my blog. Who said it couldn't be done? (But quite honestly, "Someone needs to help the boy!")

I read a chapter in Eugene Peterson's A Long Journey in the Same Direction this morning. The chapter was based on Psalm 126 and was about JOY.

Psalm 126 (NIV)
A song of ascents.
1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Peterson translates the center sentence in the Psalm: “We are one happy people!” What a great description of the people who know and follow God! May it be said of you!

In Peterson's chapter, there were several quotes I wanted to share with you. First:

• I have read that during the process of canonization [naming a person a saint] the Catholic Church demands proof of joy in the candidate, and although I have not been able to track down chapter and verse I like the suggestion that dourness is not a sacred attribute. (Phyllis McGinley)

Another one. I really laughed at this one:

• He was entirely unselfish, and in his long life he never committed a pleasure. (Ellen Glasgow)

One more that I hope can be said of me:

• His smiles were fraught with greater meaning than his sermons. (Elie Wiesel in Souls on Fire, speaking of Hasid Levi-Yitzhak)

I hope these quotes will again remind you that our God gives us “greater joy than when their grain abounds…” (Psalm 4)

Thanks for reflecting with me!