ListenDaily – 28 June 2010: Covenant?
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Good morning friends! Lord willing, my wife and I will be closing on a new home today at 1 p.m., and will be moving and cleaning and cleaning and painting and painting and...well, you get the picture. I am not sure when our internet service will be connected at the new house, hopefully soon. Until then, I will be taking a short break from writing, but not from praying. May I ask you to pray for my family, during this time of stress, change, and upheaval, that we keep a 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 covenant with God and each other? Maybe you would like to consider doing it too:
1 - Be joyful always
2 - Pray continually
3 - Give thanks in all circumstances
4 - Remember that this is God's will for us
Thank you, Pastor Jim
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
ListenDaily – 23 June 2010: Is it ever like this?
ListenDaily – 23 June 2010: Is it ever like this?
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
I'm not sure what else to say about "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" but I feel like something else should be said. I mean, this whole idea of honest communication with God is huge. Jesus went on to pray "more earnestly", so much so that He was sweating -- like He was bleeding. That makes me stop and think, do I pray earnestly? I have never gone through anything like what Jesus was preparing to do, but do my prayers even have a fraction of that intensity?
I am not saying every time we talk to God should be like this, nor do I mean that we should try to work up some kind of prayer frenzy, or compare our prayers and circumstances exactly with His. But to have honest prayer. Earnest prayer. Intense prayer. Fervent prayer. ("The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.") So focused going in that we insist upon privacy. So intense that it affects us physically. So incredibly honest that we are saying exactly what is on our mind, without holding back.
And so completely submitted that we are ready to, with all our being, move in the direction that God sends us.
Run to God.
Pour out your heart, all the good, bad, everything.
How He loves you!
Questions:
1. What do the terms "fervent prayer" and "earnest prayer" mean to you?
2. Have you ever prayed in such a way?
3. Should there be times when you do? When?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."
William Carey
"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame." William Booth
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
I'm not sure what else to say about "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" but I feel like something else should be said. I mean, this whole idea of honest communication with God is huge. Jesus went on to pray "more earnestly", so much so that He was sweating -- like He was bleeding. That makes me stop and think, do I pray earnestly? I have never gone through anything like what Jesus was preparing to do, but do my prayers even have a fraction of that intensity?
I am not saying every time we talk to God should be like this, nor do I mean that we should try to work up some kind of prayer frenzy, or compare our prayers and circumstances exactly with His. But to have honest prayer. Earnest prayer. Intense prayer. Fervent prayer. ("The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.") So focused going in that we insist upon privacy. So intense that it affects us physically. So incredibly honest that we are saying exactly what is on our mind, without holding back.
And so completely submitted that we are ready to, with all our being, move in the direction that God sends us.
Run to God.
Pour out your heart, all the good, bad, everything.
How He loves you!
Questions:
1. What do the terms "fervent prayer" and "earnest prayer" mean to you?
2. Have you ever prayed in such a way?
3. Should there be times when you do? When?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness."
William Carey
"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God...This kind of prayer be sure the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame." William Booth
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
ListenDaily – 22 June 2010: A question of honesty
ListenDaily – 22 June 2010: A question of honesty
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
My very good friend Randy responded to yesterday's reading with the following: "I believe the whole of scripture directs us to pray confidently (even boldly) for both our needs and our desires. But our desires must always be subject to pleasing God. Psalm 37 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." If we focus on the desire, then we are not delighting in the LORD. Jesus' heartfelt desire to avoid the coming imputation of sin and separation from the Godhead is indeed understandable ... and it is not sin. Neither is it sin on our part if we find obedience to God to be a fearful thing. And when we pray "yet not my will, but yours be done", it establishes the relationship that God seeks."
Thanks, Randy, and I could not agree more. Further, what else can we say to God but the honest truth? Even if we question whether or not we are in His will. God knows out thoughts, we must go honestly before Him in order to have a meaningful exchange with Him. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was being less than honest with you? How frustrating! Even if our desire is sinful, God knows, and it is good to tell Him. Not that we should be asking for what we know to be a sinful object/event/activity, but confessing to Him that we are struggling with an improper desire.
You might wonder why we confess something to God if He knows it anyway. We do not pray to God to give Him information, but rather to open the line of communication for us to be informed (and encouraged, strengthened, inspired, relieved, etc...) by Him. If you are a parent, you know how it feels to have your child come running to pour out their heart to you.
Run to God.
Pour out your heart, all the good, bad, everything.
How He loves you!
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. What do you think about telling God what He already knows?
3. Is it a concern for you to 'get right' before you pray?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Better Than A Hallelujah
(Songwriters: Hart, Sarah;Hartford, Chapin)
(See Amy Grant performing this song: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6360145n)
God loves a lullaby in a mother's tears in the dead of night, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
God loves the drunkard's cry; the soldier's plea not to let him die, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The woman holding on for life, the dying man giving up the fight, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done; the silence when the words won't come, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing, better than a choir singing out, singing out
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)
Better than a Hallelujah
(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
My very good friend Randy responded to yesterday's reading with the following: "I believe the whole of scripture directs us to pray confidently (even boldly) for both our needs and our desires. But our desires must always be subject to pleasing God. Psalm 37 says "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." If we focus on the desire, then we are not delighting in the LORD. Jesus' heartfelt desire to avoid the coming imputation of sin and separation from the Godhead is indeed understandable ... and it is not sin. Neither is it sin on our part if we find obedience to God to be a fearful thing. And when we pray "yet not my will, but yours be done", it establishes the relationship that God seeks."
Thanks, Randy, and I could not agree more. Further, what else can we say to God but the honest truth? Even if we question whether or not we are in His will. God knows out thoughts, we must go honestly before Him in order to have a meaningful exchange with Him. Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was being less than honest with you? How frustrating! Even if our desire is sinful, God knows, and it is good to tell Him. Not that we should be asking for what we know to be a sinful object/event/activity, but confessing to Him that we are struggling with an improper desire.
You might wonder why we confess something to God if He knows it anyway. We do not pray to God to give Him information, but rather to open the line of communication for us to be informed (and encouraged, strengthened, inspired, relieved, etc...) by Him. If you are a parent, you know how it feels to have your child come running to pour out their heart to you.
Run to God.
Pour out your heart, all the good, bad, everything.
How He loves you!
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. What do you think about telling God what He already knows?
3. Is it a concern for you to 'get right' before you pray?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Better Than A Hallelujah
(Songwriters: Hart, Sarah;Hartford, Chapin)
(See Amy Grant performing this song: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6360145n)
God loves a lullaby in a mother's tears in the dead of night, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
God loves the drunkard's cry; the soldier's plea not to let him die, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
The woman holding on for life, the dying man giving up the fight, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done; the silence when the words won't come, better than a Hallelujah sometimes
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
Better than a church bell ringing, better than a choir singing out, singing out
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
We pour out our miseries, God just hears a melody
Beautiful, the mess we are, the honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah
(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)
Better than a Hallelujah
(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)
Monday, June 21, 2010
ListenDaily – 21 June 2010: Which is better?
ListenDaily – 21 June 2010: Which is better?
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
This is a tough passage to read over and over, since it's as much my fault as anyone's that Jesus had to go through this. And there are so many things we could discuss; but we will stick with Jesus and prayer. The next verse:
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
There are two things in particular, that I would like to take away from this today; one concerns our wishes, the other concerns God's will. This may actually take a few days to discuss as I think this is a sticking point for many of us in prayer -- how do we know if it's OK to pray for a certain thing.
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Jesus wanted out. For reasons we, as fellow human beings, can certainly understand for He was preparing to go through a horrific physical ordeal. My guess is, the horror in the flesh was only part of it. I believe things were getting ready to happen in the spiritual realm that we could not begin to comprehend. And Jesus wanted to be relieved from the events of the coming days.
But He had a greater desire -- to please God. He also had the knowledge that the final will of the Father would be the absolute best thing that could possibly happen, and so He completely trusted God and moved forward into His will,
Is it OK to pray for healing, recovery, a relationship, a job, or whatever? Of course. It is absolutely the right thing to do to pray for a desire of your heart, that you do not know to be against the will of God. We should obviously never pray for something we know to be sinful, or purely out of greed. But we must have a desire for the will of God to be accomplished above all else, an understanding that His will is the absolute best thing, and a willingness to move forward into His will.
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. What do you think of Jesus' request?
3. How does His prayer in this passage (and the next day's response compare) to your own?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."
"I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
"Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed Him. On reaching the place, He said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" He asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." Luke 22:39-46
This is a tough passage to read over and over, since it's as much my fault as anyone's that Jesus had to go through this. And there are so many things we could discuss; but we will stick with Jesus and prayer. The next verse:
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
There are two things in particular, that I would like to take away from this today; one concerns our wishes, the other concerns God's will. This may actually take a few days to discuss as I think this is a sticking point for many of us in prayer -- how do we know if it's OK to pray for a certain thing.
"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Jesus wanted out. For reasons we, as fellow human beings, can certainly understand for He was preparing to go through a horrific physical ordeal. My guess is, the horror in the flesh was only part of it. I believe things were getting ready to happen in the spiritual realm that we could not begin to comprehend. And Jesus wanted to be relieved from the events of the coming days.
But He had a greater desire -- to please God. He also had the knowledge that the final will of the Father would be the absolute best thing that could possibly happen, and so He completely trusted God and moved forward into His will,
Is it OK to pray for healing, recovery, a relationship, a job, or whatever? Of course. It is absolutely the right thing to do to pray for a desire of your heart, that you do not know to be against the will of God. We should obviously never pray for something we know to be sinful, or purely out of greed. But we must have a desire for the will of God to be accomplished above all else, an understanding that His will is the absolute best thing, and a willingness to move forward into His will.
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. What do you think of Jesus' request?
3. How does His prayer in this passage (and the next day's response compare) to your own?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."
"I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
ListenDaily – 15 June 2010: Don't stop...
ListenDaily – 15 June 2010: Don't stop...
HWJHUP? How Would Jesus Have Us Pray?
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8
There is much to this parable, but for the purpose of this discussion I would like to focus on the purpose of the parable: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
"...always pray..."
Hmmm...what did Jesus mean by "always pray? Maybe it's along the lines of Paul's "pray without ceasing", and it certainly applies. I think the "pray without ceasing" idea has to do with a constant awareness of God's presence, as many of you have heard me say. But looking at the context of this parable, I also think there is a teaching here that the answer to everything comes through prayer. It may be that you get a response in prayer, or that praying prepares you for a situation, but "...always pray..." and therefore, always hear.
"...and not give up." Not give up? Not give what up?
Are you being oppressed? Pray and do not give up. God may change the situation; but you will definitely become aware of His presence and His help through your constant prayer.
Do you have a loved one who is not saved? Pray and do not give up. The decision is ultimately theirs to make, but constant prayer will bring you to the place to know what to say, or other people to direct into their lives. My Grandmother spent decades praying for her husband, and he accepted Christ just days before his death.
These are just a couple of examples, the real-life instances for which we need to pray and do not give up are innumerable. The message is just SO vital. We need to pray, pray, pray -- plead to God, cry out to Him, laugh with Him, listen to Him.
We need to "always pray...and not give up."
Questions:
1. How do you feel about 'always praying'?
2. Is there a situation or person for which you have given up praying?
3. Are you ready to start again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."
"I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
HWJHUP? How Would Jesus Have Us Pray?
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.
And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8
There is much to this parable, but for the purpose of this discussion I would like to focus on the purpose of the parable: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
"...always pray..."
Hmmm...what did Jesus mean by "always pray? Maybe it's along the lines of Paul's "pray without ceasing", and it certainly applies. I think the "pray without ceasing" idea has to do with a constant awareness of God's presence, as many of you have heard me say. But looking at the context of this parable, I also think there is a teaching here that the answer to everything comes through prayer. It may be that you get a response in prayer, or that praying prepares you for a situation, but "...always pray..." and therefore, always hear.
"...and not give up." Not give up? Not give what up?
Are you being oppressed? Pray and do not give up. God may change the situation; but you will definitely become aware of His presence and His help through your constant prayer.
Do you have a loved one who is not saved? Pray and do not give up. The decision is ultimately theirs to make, but constant prayer will bring you to the place to know what to say, or other people to direct into their lives. My Grandmother spent decades praying for her husband, and he accepted Christ just days before his death.
These are just a couple of examples, the real-life instances for which we need to pray and do not give up are innumerable. The message is just SO vital. We need to pray, pray, pray -- plead to God, cry out to Him, laugh with Him, listen to Him.
We need to "always pray...and not give up."
Questions:
1. How do you feel about 'always praying'?
2. Is there a situation or person for which you have given up praying?
3. Are you ready to start again?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him."
"I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Monday, June 14, 2010
ListenDaily – 14 June 2010: Pray for who?
ListenDaily – 14 June 2010: Pray for who?
WWJPF? Who Would Jesus Pray For?
(FWWJP? For my English professors...)
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" Matthew 5:43-46
If getting up early and finding a quiet place seems like a challenge -- then how about this teaching; "pray for those who persecute you"? I was privileged to be in prayer with a friend recently, who prayed for someone who had caused him to lose his job. What a humbling experience that was for me -- and yet, it is something Jesus commanded us to do. So, make a list of your persecutors:
A supervisor?
A coworker?
A neighbor?
Can you do, as Jesus commanded, and pray for them? It might be tough, but I bet you can.
On another level, this would cause believers to pray for racists, hate groups, terrorists, persecutors of the faith...
Wow. Really tough -- but still commanded. We might ask ourselves, or you might ask me, do I think it would make a difference to pray for Osama Bin Laden? Absolutely! Oh, I cannot promise that he would find Christ, but what a blessing that would be. However, Jesus never promised that a prayed-for enemy would cease to be an enemy. The change may come for Bin Laden and it may come for me. But, regardless (and I mean 'regardless' in the strongest sense, without any regard!) of the outcome, I will pray for my enemies because Jesus said to. I don't need further explanation; remember, success = obedience.
Questions:
1. Who is on your list of personal persecutors? Are you willing to pray for them?
2. How about those on the 'bigger' list?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Enemy-occupied territory-----that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign in sabotage." C.S. Lewis
"Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him? No, for loving myself does not mean that I ought not subject myself to punishment----even to death. If you had committed a murder, the right Christian thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged." C.S. Lewis
WWJPF? Who Would Jesus Pray For?
(FWWJP? For my English professors...)
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" Matthew 5:43-46
If getting up early and finding a quiet place seems like a challenge -- then how about this teaching; "pray for those who persecute you"? I was privileged to be in prayer with a friend recently, who prayed for someone who had caused him to lose his job. What a humbling experience that was for me -- and yet, it is something Jesus commanded us to do. So, make a list of your persecutors:
A supervisor?
A coworker?
A neighbor?
Can you do, as Jesus commanded, and pray for them? It might be tough, but I bet you can.
On another level, this would cause believers to pray for racists, hate groups, terrorists, persecutors of the faith...
Wow. Really tough -- but still commanded. We might ask ourselves, or you might ask me, do I think it would make a difference to pray for Osama Bin Laden? Absolutely! Oh, I cannot promise that he would find Christ, but what a blessing that would be. However, Jesus never promised that a prayed-for enemy would cease to be an enemy. The change may come for Bin Laden and it may come for me. But, regardless (and I mean 'regardless' in the strongest sense, without any regard!) of the outcome, I will pray for my enemies because Jesus said to. I don't need further explanation; remember, success = obedience.
Questions:
1. Who is on your list of personal persecutors? Are you willing to pray for them?
2. How about those on the 'bigger' list?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Enemy-occupied territory-----that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign in sabotage." C.S. Lewis
"Does loving your enemy mean not punishing him? No, for loving myself does not mean that I ought not subject myself to punishment----even to death. If you had committed a murder, the right Christian thing to do would be to give yourself up to the police and be hanged." C.S. Lewis
Thursday, June 10, 2010
ListenDaily – 10 June 2010: Still quiet
ListenDaily – 10 June 2010: Still quiet
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35
WWJP? Where Would Jesus Pray?
Jesus sometimes went off to a "solitary place" to pray.
How important was it to Jesus to have a time and place with just Him and God?
Very important. Important enough that even though it was "very early in the morning", and even though it was "still dark", Jesus "got up", He "left the house", and then He "went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Jesus got up early, probably before everyone else, but that wasn't guarantee enough that He could be alone with the Father. So He left and went to a place that took others some time and effort to find Him. It was that important that He be alone with God.
O.K., so I've used the excuses too. My kids get up early, I need more sleep, the dog has to go out, whatever and whatever.
Jesus got up and did what it took to be alone with God because it was necessary.
It still is.
Questions:
1. Do you have a solitary place in which you can pray?
2. Are you willing to make the effort to find one?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.
Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms."
Blaise Pascal
"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35
WWJP? Where Would Jesus Pray?
Jesus sometimes went off to a "solitary place" to pray.
How important was it to Jesus to have a time and place with just Him and God?
Very important. Important enough that even though it was "very early in the morning", and even though it was "still dark", Jesus "got up", He "left the house", and then He "went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
Jesus got up early, probably before everyone else, but that wasn't guarantee enough that He could be alone with the Father. So He left and went to a place that took others some time and effort to find Him. It was that important that He be alone with God.
O.K., so I've used the excuses too. My kids get up early, I need more sleep, the dog has to go out, whatever and whatever.
Jesus got up and did what it took to be alone with God because it was necessary.
It still is.
Questions:
1. Do you have a solitary place in which you can pray?
2. Are you willing to make the effort to find one?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.
Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms."
Blaise Pascal
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
ListenDaily – 09 June 2010: More capable?
ListenDaily – 09 June 2010: More capable?
"They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."
Mark 1: 21-39
WWJP? Where Would Jesus Pray?
Jesus sometimes went off to a "solitary place" to pray.
Why?
Let's look at the order of events:
- Jesus taught and people were amazed
- He got read of some demons
- News about Him spread
- He healed Simon's mother-in-law
- He also drove out many more demons
- He went to the solitary place to pray
- Simon and his companions look for Him, tell Him "Everyone is looking for you!"
- Jesus tells them:
- "Let us go somewhere else..."
- "...so I can preach there also..."
- and, "...that is why I have come."
-He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Sometimes we think of going off to that "solitary place" because of sadness, failure, or loss - when we are in a dark place. There will be a time later when we see Jesus go off to the garden to pray in a very dark time, but this instance is different. Things appear to be going very well. Maybe He was tired. Maybe He needed direction; He did leave for other areas at this point. The point is this -- it was necessary that Jesus go to the solitary place to talk and listen to God. For whatever reason, He went off alone. If Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Most High God, He who came from Heaven...if He needed to spend time alone, just Him and God -- can I expect to need less?
Am I more capable than Jesus of escaping distractions?
Am I more able to hear God's voice than own His begotten Son?
Are you?
Jesus did not always go to the solitary place to pray, but He made a practice of doing it regularly.
We must as well.
Questions:
1. Do you have a solitary place in which you can pray?
2. Is it important that you find one?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.
Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms."
Blaise Pascal
"They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."
Mark 1: 21-39
WWJP? Where Would Jesus Pray?
Jesus sometimes went off to a "solitary place" to pray.
Why?
Let's look at the order of events:
- Jesus taught and people were amazed
- He got read of some demons
- News about Him spread
- He healed Simon's mother-in-law
- He also drove out many more demons
- He went to the solitary place to pray
- Simon and his companions look for Him, tell Him "Everyone is looking for you!"
- Jesus tells them:
- "Let us go somewhere else..."
- "...so I can preach there also..."
- and, "...that is why I have come."
-He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Sometimes we think of going off to that "solitary place" because of sadness, failure, or loss - when we are in a dark place. There will be a time later when we see Jesus go off to the garden to pray in a very dark time, but this instance is different. Things appear to be going very well. Maybe He was tired. Maybe He needed direction; He did leave for other areas at this point. The point is this -- it was necessary that Jesus go to the solitary place to talk and listen to God. For whatever reason, He went off alone. If Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of the Most High God, He who came from Heaven...if He needed to spend time alone, just Him and God -- can I expect to need less?
Am I more capable than Jesus of escaping distractions?
Am I more able to hear God's voice than own His begotten Son?
Are you?
Jesus did not always go to the solitary place to pray, but He made a practice of doing it regularly.
We must as well.
Questions:
1. Do you have a solitary place in which you can pray?
2. Is it important that you find one?
3. How might this affect your own prayer?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"Beware in your prayers, above everything else, of limiting God, not only by unbelief, but by fancying that you know what He can do.
Expect unexpected things, above all that we ask or think. Each time, before you Intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory.
Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things!"
Andrew Murray
"All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for a while each day in our rooms."
Blaise Pascal
Monday, June 7, 2010
ListenDaily – 07 June 2010: An interlude; giving and taking away, in memory of Steven Lausier
ListenDaily – 07 June 2010: An interlude; giving and taking away, in memory of Steven Lausier
We have been, and will continue tomorrow, studying how to listen to God. But, in listening to Him, I have been given a message I feel compelled to share.
This past Saturday, I attended a funeral, a celebration of life, which is sometimes a trite phrase, but in this case, it really was a celebration. I so appreciate the pastors of Grace Church in Dover, Delaware, as well as the young men and women who shared in the service for making it so. Steven Lausier was the 22 year-young man who had just a few days before left his family and a group of devoted friends, including my son Thomas, after a long battle with cancer.
During the service we sang Matt Redman's "Blessed Your Name", a beautiful song with great lyrics (below), with the singer choosing to bless God's Name, regardless of current circumstances. The song includes the lyrics: "You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name", which is taken from Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
It struck me during the service, perhaps a nudge from the Holy Spirit, that we often hear "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" concerning death, inferring that God has just taken someone away.
It made me think. It could be easy to be angry with God for taking Steven, if that is how we perceive it.
But, all the evil in this world, all the illnesses, all the bad stuff comes from the fact the we live in a fallen world, where man by choice, stepped away from the paradise God created for him. I am not trying to debate, or create a semantic argument here; I am just trying to offer a perspective that maybe, just maybe, we could see that God was giving here, not taking away. Or maybe, that He was taking away, but taking away something bad. Steven, like anyone who endured a long illness, was given a new life the day he left this one. He was given health, freedom from pain, and an eternity with his Savior. All the bad in his life was , in the twinkling of an eye, taken away.
That he was taken away from those who love him is due to the evil in the world, which causes death here to occur at all. God's initial perfect will would have been for us to have always lived with Him. It is vital that we remember that all God's gives is, perfect and anything He takes away is something we shouldn't have. That is not to say that you shouldn't have had Steven, but that you should no longer have him the way he was being forced to live. And in fact, you still have him, he has just relocated, and is waiting for you to join him. He is living now with all the good that the Lord "giveth", and without any of the bad stuff at all, for God has "taketh away" all the bad.
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. Do you see death as God giving or taking away?
3. Will you pray, right now and in the days to come, for Steven's family?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redmond
Blessed Be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be, blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name
We have been, and will continue tomorrow, studying how to listen to God. But, in listening to Him, I have been given a message I feel compelled to share.
This past Saturday, I attended a funeral, a celebration of life, which is sometimes a trite phrase, but in this case, it really was a celebration. I so appreciate the pastors of Grace Church in Dover, Delaware, as well as the young men and women who shared in the service for making it so. Steven Lausier was the 22 year-young man who had just a few days before left his family and a group of devoted friends, including my son Thomas, after a long battle with cancer.
During the service we sang Matt Redman's "Blessed Your Name", a beautiful song with great lyrics (below), with the singer choosing to bless God's Name, regardless of current circumstances. The song includes the lyrics: "You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name", which is taken from Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
It struck me during the service, perhaps a nudge from the Holy Spirit, that we often hear "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" concerning death, inferring that God has just taken someone away.
It made me think. It could be easy to be angry with God for taking Steven, if that is how we perceive it.
But, all the evil in this world, all the illnesses, all the bad stuff comes from the fact the we live in a fallen world, where man by choice, stepped away from the paradise God created for him. I am not trying to debate, or create a semantic argument here; I am just trying to offer a perspective that maybe, just maybe, we could see that God was giving here, not taking away. Or maybe, that He was taking away, but taking away something bad. Steven, like anyone who endured a long illness, was given a new life the day he left this one. He was given health, freedom from pain, and an eternity with his Savior. All the bad in his life was , in the twinkling of an eye, taken away.
That he was taken away from those who love him is due to the evil in the world, which causes death here to occur at all. God's initial perfect will would have been for us to have always lived with Him. It is vital that we remember that all God's gives is, perfect and anything He takes away is something we shouldn't have. That is not to say that you shouldn't have had Steven, but that you should no longer have him the way he was being forced to live. And in fact, you still have him, he has just relocated, and is waiting for you to join him. He is living now with all the good that the Lord "giveth", and without any of the bad stuff at all, for God has "taketh away" all the bad.
Questions:
1. How does this perspective strike you?
2. Do you see death as God giving or taking away?
3. Will you pray, right now and in the days to come, for Steven's family?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May we keep listening. Jim.
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redmond
Blessed Be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be, blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering, blessed be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)