Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 60
NT: Romans 12
W&W: Psalm 85
Today’s Reflection:
The Psalmist said, “The Lord will indeed give what is good and our land will yield its harvest” (Psalm 85.12).
God gives what is good and the land yields its harvest from what God gives. God plants the good seed of life. We are the land that receives the seed of life. We do not create life. Only God creates life – “And God saw that it was good…”
Pray with me today, “Oh, God, here am I! Give what is good to my land, to my ministry. Without you, without your good gift no harvest will come.”
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Dare we try a whole chapter? If you have been working on this by the week, you will be able to do it! John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Get Results! Praying for Answers
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 59
NT: Romans 11
W&W: Psalm 84
Today’s Reflection:
David said in Psalm 138.3: “When I called, you answered me.” That’s a good thing, isn’t it? David prayed, and God answered. Do you want your prayers answered? That is why we pray, isn’t it? For answers?
Last night I taught on the subject: Get Results! Praying for Answers.
We pray for answers by:
May God answer your prayers!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Dare we try a whole chapter? If you have been working on this by the week, you will be able to do it! John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 59
NT: Romans 11
W&W: Psalm 84
Today’s Reflection:
David said in Psalm 138.3: “When I called, you answered me.” That’s a good thing, isn’t it? David prayed, and God answered. Do you want your prayers answered? That is why we pray, isn’t it? For answers?
Last night I taught on the subject: Get Results! Praying for Answers.
We pray for answers by:
- Praying from a pure heart
- Praying with right motives
- Praying with sincerity and earnestness
- Praying with faith
- Praying until the answer comes
May God answer your prayers!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Dare we try a whole chapter? If you have been working on this by the week, you will be able to do it! John 1.1-10: 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4We write this to make our joy complete. 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Zeal and Knowledge
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 58
NT: Romans 10
W&W: Psalm 83
Today’s Reflection:
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge” (Romans 10.2). He said elsewhere, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good” (Galatians 4.18).
People today are zealous for many things. As I watched the news last night, I witnessed the reaction of people who were zealous for the entertaining ability of Michael Jackson. Stunned by his sudden death, people were scrambling to express their support of and appreciation for his musical talent. But often their zeal was only able to thinly cover concerns about his past. Isn’t it sad that his legacy is tainted by eratic, and eccentric, and quite dubious behavior. That zeal for his music must be tempered by the knowledge of his past?
But that is a fact of life. We need to be aware of what we are zealous for. And, when our zealousness proves to be misplaced, we should not be surprised. I know that I have been disappointed by the recent behavior of conservative leaders, and I’ve been burned more than once by placing hope and trust and public confidence in people…
But, when we are zealous for Christ, the risen Son of God, our zeal will never be misplaced. Such zeal is based on the knowledge of God’s Word and the goodness of God’s purpose. It will never be misplaced! Is your zeal based on knowledge? Is it for a good purpose? Know what you are zealous for!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 58
NT: Romans 10
W&W: Psalm 83
Today’s Reflection:
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge” (Romans 10.2). He said elsewhere, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good” (Galatians 4.18).
People today are zealous for many things. As I watched the news last night, I witnessed the reaction of people who were zealous for the entertaining ability of Michael Jackson. Stunned by his sudden death, people were scrambling to express their support of and appreciation for his musical talent. But often their zeal was only able to thinly cover concerns about his past. Isn’t it sad that his legacy is tainted by eratic, and eccentric, and quite dubious behavior. That zeal for his music must be tempered by the knowledge of his past?
But that is a fact of life. We need to be aware of what we are zealous for. And, when our zealousness proves to be misplaced, we should not be surprised. I know that I have been disappointed by the recent behavior of conservative leaders, and I’ve been burned more than once by placing hope and trust and public confidence in people…
But, when we are zealous for Christ, the risen Son of God, our zeal will never be misplaced. Such zeal is based on the knowledge of God’s Word and the goodness of God’s purpose. It will never be misplaced! Is your zeal based on knowledge? Is it for a good purpose? Know what you are zealous for!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Museum, Mothballed, Cruiseship or Battleship
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 57
NT: Romans 9
W&W: Psalm 82
Today’s Reflection:
On the closing night of SWO Nazarene campmeeting, Evangelist Tim Hancock shared a message comparing the church to four different types of sailing ships.
Do we treat the church as one of the beautiful tall ships of old? Is the church like a museum, holding precious memories and offering nostalgic imaginations?
Does our church resemble a decommissioned warship, a mothballed vessel sitting at harbor and offering regular tours?
Perhaps we liken the church to a cruise liner. Everything on it is designed to make us “comfy” and offer us unimaginable luxury.
Or should we see the church as a battleship? On a battleship, the mission is preeminent over the memories. The members are not visitors coming for regular tours, but are committed sailors who stay with the vessel in safety and storm, in harbor and on hazardous journeys. The battleship, while serviceable, puts function over comfort.
May God enable us to see that the church is like a battleship, that we do have a mission, and that we have been commissioned in the spiritual warfare of the ages. We do not fight with the weapons of this world, nor do we measure success as does this world. Rather our victory comes when we are able to win the hearts and souls of people for whom Christ died and rose again.
All hands on deck! Battle stations!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 57
NT: Romans 9
W&W: Psalm 82
Today’s Reflection:
On the closing night of SWO Nazarene campmeeting, Evangelist Tim Hancock shared a message comparing the church to four different types of sailing ships.
Do we treat the church as one of the beautiful tall ships of old? Is the church like a museum, holding precious memories and offering nostalgic imaginations?
Does our church resemble a decommissioned warship, a mothballed vessel sitting at harbor and offering regular tours?
Perhaps we liken the church to a cruise liner. Everything on it is designed to make us “comfy” and offer us unimaginable luxury.
Or should we see the church as a battleship? On a battleship, the mission is preeminent over the memories. The members are not visitors coming for regular tours, but are committed sailors who stay with the vessel in safety and storm, in harbor and on hazardous journeys. The battleship, while serviceable, puts function over comfort.
May God enable us to see that the church is like a battleship, that we do have a mission, and that we have been commissioned in the spiritual warfare of the ages. We do not fight with the weapons of this world, nor do we measure success as does this world. Rather our victory comes when we are able to win the hearts and souls of people for whom Christ died and rose again.
All hands on deck! Battle stations!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The Sound of the Guns!
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 55-56
NT: Romans 8
W&W: Psalm 81
Today’s Reflection:
In the smoke and dense fog that would surround a Civil War battlefield, it was not always possible to see where you needed to go next. In days of Civil War battles, the good commanders would lead their units to “the sound of the guns.” They knew that this was where they were needed.
What about us in Christ’s army today? Do we go to the sound of the guns? Or, are we more concerned about our own safety and comfort? Isaiah 56 deals, in part, with making sure that the people of God are concerned about those who are strangers to mercy and forgiveness and life in Jesus. God says, “Let no foreigner…say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’ … These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56.3, 7).
God has a big mission! He has engaged the forces of evil to rescue people from sin and darkness. Christ has died on the cross, defeated the grave, and risen from the dead, and now he is working to bring his victory to all nations.
Can you hear the sound of the guns? Leave your comfort and go there. Put on the full armor of God and engage the battle! Christ is calling us to his battlefield of love and sacrifice. He is calling us to do nothing less than change the world!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 55-56
NT: Romans 8
W&W: Psalm 81
Today’s Reflection:
In the smoke and dense fog that would surround a Civil War battlefield, it was not always possible to see where you needed to go next. In days of Civil War battles, the good commanders would lead their units to “the sound of the guns.” They knew that this was where they were needed.
What about us in Christ’s army today? Do we go to the sound of the guns? Or, are we more concerned about our own safety and comfort? Isaiah 56 deals, in part, with making sure that the people of God are concerned about those who are strangers to mercy and forgiveness and life in Jesus. God says, “Let no foreigner…say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’ … These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56.3, 7).
God has a big mission! He has engaged the forces of evil to rescue people from sin and darkness. Christ has died on the cross, defeated the grave, and risen from the dead, and now he is working to bring his victory to all nations.
Can you hear the sound of the guns? Leave your comfort and go there. Put on the full armor of God and engage the battle! Christ is calling us to his battlefield of love and sacrifice. He is calling us to do nothing less than change the world!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My Prayer Is Not Whimpering or Begging!
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 54
NT: Romans 7
W&W: Psalm 80
Today’s Reflection:
I mentioned in yesterday’s post a quote from Nikos Kazantzakis in the Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer, pp 115-116. I want to continue it here:
My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.
My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: this is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.
My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but un-subdued, we ride and converse.
“Leader!” I cry. He turns his face towards me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.
Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at he same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life.
May God bless us so that we can love him with this kind of fervent and hearty love!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
OT: Isaiah 54
NT: Romans 7
W&W: Psalm 80
Today’s Reflection:
I mentioned in yesterday’s post a quote from Nikos Kazantzakis in the Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer, pp 115-116. I want to continue it here:
My prayer is not the whimpering of a beggar nor a confession of love. Nor is it the trivial reckoning of a small tradesman: Give me and I shall give you.
My prayer is the report of a soldier to his general: this is what I did today, this is how I fought to save the entire battle in my own sector, these are the obstacles I found, this is how I plan to fight tomorrow.
My God and I are horsemen galloping in the burning sun or under drizzling rain. Pale, starving, but un-subdued, we ride and converse.
“Leader!” I cry. He turns his face towards me, and I shudder to confront his anguish.
Our love for each other is rough and ready, we sit at he same table, we drink the same wine in this low tavern of life.
May God bless us so that we can love him with this kind of fervent and hearty love!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Grrr!
Today’s Scripture Readings:
OT: Isaiah 52-53
NT: Romans 6
W&W: Psalm 79
Today’s Reflection:
I had lunch with a new friend (and her family) on Father’s Day: Jess, a young lady who is going on the mission trip to Guatemala that our church is sponsoring. Anyway, as we were talking, she shared with me a ministry she is involved in in Lexington, through the church where she worships at college. It is a very “front-line” ministry. I was so proud of her as she told me about it. And I just told her to growl, “Grrr!” because I saw her as a tough warrior on the battlefield in the cause of Christ.
In my message yesterday, I shared the following from Nikos Kazantzakis in the Saviors of God: Spiritual Exercises, as quoted in A Guide to Prayer, pp 115-116:
I put my body through its paces like a war horse; I keep it clean, sturdy, prepared. I harden it and I pity it. I have no other steed.
I keep my brain wide awake, lucid, unmerciful. I unleash it to battle relentlessly so that, all light, it may devour the darkness of the flesh. I have no other workshop where I may transform darkness into light.
I keep my heart flaming, courageous, restless. I feel in my heart all commotions and all contradictions, the joys and sorrows of life. But I struggle to subdue them to a rhythm superior to that of the mind, harsher than that of my heart – to the ascending rhythm of the Universe.
The Cry within me is a call to arms. It shouts: “I, the Cry, am the Lord your god! I am not an asylum. I am not hope and a home. I am not the Father nor the Son nor the Holy Ghost. I am your General!
You are not my slave, nor a plaything in my hands. You are not my friend, you are not my child. You are my comrade-in-arms!
Hold courageously the passes which I entrusted to you; do not betray them. You are in duty – bound, and you may act heroically by remaining at your own battle station.
Love danger. What is most difficult? That is what I want! Which road should you take? The most craggy ascent! It is the one I also take: follow me!
Learn to obey. Only he who obeys a rhythm superior to his own is free.
Learn to command. Only he who can give commands may represent me here on earth.
Love responsibility. Say: ‘It is my duty, and mine alone to save the earth. If it is not saved; then I alone am to blame…
May God give us hearts like that, the kind of heart that will growl! Grrr!
This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Put 1 John 1.5-10 together: 5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
