ListenDaily - 26 February 2010: Call them back
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. Exodus 34:29-30
Moses asked for and received a sight of God’s glory…and he was physically transformed. When he came down the mountain his face was aglow, and it scared people. But was it just his appearance? Maybe. But remember, this was shortly after Moses had met God on a mountain, and while he was gone the Israelites made and worshipped the golden calf. Even though they had seen the presence of God, and even though they knew Moses was speaking with God, they participated in such ugliness. A repressed guilt must have been rampant throughout the community.
Then here came Moses, all aglow with the reflection of God on his face.
No wonder they were scared.
But he did not give up on them, instead “Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.” Exodus 34:31-32
If God has shown you something, given you a word for someone, or some insight about something, you may not realize how it has affected you, (“he was not aware that his face was radiant because”). I’m not suggesting your face will be glowing, but you cannot be exposed to God and be unaffected. Or, maybe in your excitement, you put off the person you are meant to speak to. Or maybe they’ve been involved with something they should not be involved with and are uncomfortable with someone who is reflecting God’s presence.
Don’t give up.
Call them back.
Give them what God has given you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell."
C.S. Lewis
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
ListenDaily - 17 February 2010: Rising from the ashes
ListenDaily - 17 February 2010: Rising from the ashes
Today’s edition is coming out a little later in the day than usual, and for that, I apologize…but it has been a busy day. I went to my church at 5 a.m. to set up lights, music, ashes, and oil. We offer the imposition of ashes twice on Ash Wednesday, in addition to tonight’s service. The first setting was from 6 – 7:30 this morning.
The church building is a different place at 5 a.m. And wonderful. Shortly after six, the first person came in to receive ashes, one of my best buddies, Joe. I have been asking God to show me His glory, and as I saw Joe go back to a pew, the only other person in a 600+ capacity sanctuary, God graced me with a glimpse.
This was repeated as others came in, one or two at a time. I was especially moved by the presence of my daughter’s best friend, Emily and her mother, Diane, as they came in to worship together. Each time I gently touched someone’s forehead with ashes and oil, then watched them go to a pew or to the altar and pray, no one watching them, not filling any squares or obligations to other people, simply spending time in the presence of the Holy Spirit, I sensed God saying to me; ‘There you go. That glorifies me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell."
C.S. Lewis
Today’s edition is coming out a little later in the day than usual, and for that, I apologize…but it has been a busy day. I went to my church at 5 a.m. to set up lights, music, ashes, and oil. We offer the imposition of ashes twice on Ash Wednesday, in addition to tonight’s service. The first setting was from 6 – 7:30 this morning.
The church building is a different place at 5 a.m. And wonderful. Shortly after six, the first person came in to receive ashes, one of my best buddies, Joe. I have been asking God to show me His glory, and as I saw Joe go back to a pew, the only other person in a 600+ capacity sanctuary, God graced me with a glimpse.
This was repeated as others came in, one or two at a time. I was especially moved by the presence of my daughter’s best friend, Emily and her mother, Diane, as they came in to worship together. Each time I gently touched someone’s forehead with ashes and oil, then watched them go to a pew or to the altar and pray, no one watching them, not filling any squares or obligations to other people, simply spending time in the presence of the Holy Spirit, I sensed God saying to me; ‘There you go. That glorifies me.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell."
C.S. Lewis
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
ListenDaily - 16 February 2010: Mountain climbing with Moses
ListenDaily - 16 February 2010: Mountain climbing with Moses
Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." Exodus 33: 12-18
There are terms in Scripture that I cannot begin to understand; that’s ok with me. The chronicles of Moses’ encounters with God talk about God’s “Presence” and His “Glory”. I can understand those things to an extent, but these are things that overwhelmed Moses, and blew away the people who saw Moses afterwards.
But, whether I understand it or not – I want to experience something like this. Moses was unique in history, and I would not expect any experience to be like his, I’m just another guy…but…what reason is there to not seek God out in the way Moses sought Him? Before Moses was “MOSES”, he was, well, just another guy. I don’t want to be Moses, but I do want to be the person God wants me to be. Don’t you?
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit would guide, intercede for, comfort, and teach us. We are entering the season of Lent, and whether your tradition has been to observe Lent in some specific way, or not at all, will you come on this journey with me? Will you spend some time, daily, and try to see further, or in a new way, what God’s design is for us to seek His presence, to see His glory?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell."
C.S. Lewis
Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory." Exodus 33: 12-18
There are terms in Scripture that I cannot begin to understand; that’s ok with me. The chronicles of Moses’ encounters with God talk about God’s “Presence” and His “Glory”. I can understand those things to an extent, but these are things that overwhelmed Moses, and blew away the people who saw Moses afterwards.
But, whether I understand it or not – I want to experience something like this. Moses was unique in history, and I would not expect any experience to be like his, I’m just another guy…but…what reason is there to not seek God out in the way Moses sought Him? Before Moses was “MOSES”, he was, well, just another guy. I don’t want to be Moses, but I do want to be the person God wants me to be. Don’t you?
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, and that the Spirit would guide, intercede for, comfort, and teach us. We are entering the season of Lent, and whether your tradition has been to observe Lent in some specific way, or not at all, will you come on this journey with me? Will you spend some time, daily, and try to see further, or in a new way, what God’s design is for us to seek His presence, to see His glory?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell."
C.S. Lewis
Monday, February 15, 2010
ListenDaily - 15 February 2010: Mountain climbing
I have a thought, and presented it in part, during worship yesterday morning (audio file attached, if you are interested). Elijah and Moses climbed mountains to seek the presence of God, and God came to them. Moses specifically asked God to show His glory.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountaintop, and there met Moses and Elijah, and saw the glory of God.
Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophet, living pre-Messiah, found the glory of God in His presence. (Old Testament, if you will)
The three disciples, obediently followed Jesus, and saw God’s glory. (New Testament)
Now here we are. God hasn’t appeared in a burning bush or pillar of fire since the Israelites trekked through the Sinai. Jesus has ascended and not yet returned. Where does that leave us? Is there any presence for us?
We are entering the season of Lent. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, Easter is 04 April, six weeks from this coming Sunday. Whether your tradition has been to observe Lent in some specific way, or not at all, will you come on this journey with me? Will you spend some time, daily, and try to see further, or in a new way, what God’s design is for us to seek His presence, to see His glory?
Take some time today and read Romans 8. (Click here to read it online: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell." C.S. Lewis
Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the mountaintop, and there met Moses and Elijah, and saw the glory of God.
Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophet, living pre-Messiah, found the glory of God in His presence. (Old Testament, if you will)
The three disciples, obediently followed Jesus, and saw God’s glory. (New Testament)
Now here we are. God hasn’t appeared in a burning bush or pillar of fire since the Israelites trekked through the Sinai. Jesus has ascended and not yet returned. Where does that leave us? Is there any presence for us?
We are entering the season of Lent. This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, Easter is 04 April, six weeks from this coming Sunday. Whether your tradition has been to observe Lent in some specific way, or not at all, will you come on this journey with me? Will you spend some time, daily, and try to see further, or in a new way, what God’s design is for us to seek His presence, to see His glory?
Take some time today and read Romans 8. (Click here to read it online: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quiet time questions:
1. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to give you His Spirit?
2. Will you ask God, every morning until Easter, to show you His glory?
3. Will you make these pleas from your soul, not rote repetitions?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling 'darkness' on the wall of his cell." C.S. Lewis
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
ListenDaily - 02 February 2010: How still?
ListenDaily - 02 February 2010: How still?
God says: “Be still and know that I am God." [Psalm 46:10]
I wonder, how still do I have to be? I talk about a little less TV, a little less running around -- but how still is still enough?
To be honest, some days are better than others. Some days I get up and grab my Bible, pray, read, and pray some more. I probably don't do that enough. Some days are relaxed, contemplative, and I get a sense of God's love and peace in that.
Then there are 'other days', days of appointments, classes, and meetings. Run, run, run. Yesterday and today are like that. Last night we held a viewing for an eight year old boy; today I will try to offer some words of comfort to his family, then we will leave the church and ride to the cemetery. Hundreds and hundreds of people came last night, and will today. It will be busy, and sad, and...
...and as I sit here in my office, my very messy office, taking the few extra minutes I have today to write to you, God has given me a great gift. He is here. He is allowing me, maybe causing me, to be still. And in this stillness I know God. I know Him. And, not because of my efforts, but like the Casting Crowns song says:
"Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because of who you are."
My prayer for you is for your stillness...for your knowing.
Amen, may it be so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please pray for Ethan's family and friends, especially the children. http://dmvobits.com/posts.cfm?st=9&obit=31213
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How long has it been since you took time to “be still” before God?
2. Is it hard for you to “be still” for a length of time?
3. Do you ever feel like you know God?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Human things must be known to be loved: but Divine things must be loved to be known."
Blaise Pascal
God says: “Be still and know that I am God." [Psalm 46:10]
I wonder, how still do I have to be? I talk about a little less TV, a little less running around -- but how still is still enough?
To be honest, some days are better than others. Some days I get up and grab my Bible, pray, read, and pray some more. I probably don't do that enough. Some days are relaxed, contemplative, and I get a sense of God's love and peace in that.
Then there are 'other days', days of appointments, classes, and meetings. Run, run, run. Yesterday and today are like that. Last night we held a viewing for an eight year old boy; today I will try to offer some words of comfort to his family, then we will leave the church and ride to the cemetery. Hundreds and hundreds of people came last night, and will today. It will be busy, and sad, and...
...and as I sit here in my office, my very messy office, taking the few extra minutes I have today to write to you, God has given me a great gift. He is here. He is allowing me, maybe causing me, to be still. And in this stillness I know God. I know Him. And, not because of my efforts, but like the Casting Crowns song says:
"Not because of who I am, but because of what you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because of who you are."
My prayer for you is for your stillness...for your knowing.
Amen, may it be so.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please pray for Ethan's family and friends, especially the children. http://dmvobits.com/posts.cfm?st=9&obit=31213
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How long has it been since you took time to “be still” before God?
2. Is it hard for you to “be still” for a length of time?
3. Do you ever feel like you know God?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Human things must be known to be loved: but Divine things must be loved to be known."
Blaise Pascal
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