[I'm posting this on behalf of Jim. The following are his thoughts.]
Scripture: Psalm 16:8-11
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Observation:
The Lord is always before standing where He knows I should be, holding out His right hand to me. With my right hand in His right hand my heart will be made unshakable and be made glad, I will rest secure and know my Father will not abandon me. He will be make known the path of life, fill me with joy in His presence and let me know of eternal pleasures at His right hand.
Application:
My Heavenly Father stands were He wants me to be, holding out His good right hand. If I will put my right hand in His right hand He will:
Always be set before me.
I will not be shaken.
My body will rest secure because He will not abandon me.
He will make known the path of life.
I will be filled with joy in His presence.
I will be filled with eternal pleasures at His right hand.
I must come nearer to my Father, reach out, and offer (allow Him to take) my right hand and then be ready for a ride of a life time.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for standing in Nias, where you knew I should be and holding out your good right hand to me. I thank you for helping me have the strength, faith, and courage to submit my right hand to your good right hand. Also I think it was a good stuff for You to use the President of Indonesia and his Foreign Minister (men of a different faith) to finalize my commitment to Nias. Please continue to expand your blessings on the TEARS work (Your work) in Nias. Please help me to always give you the glory for Your work plus what every small things I might do.
How will I be different today because of what I have just read?
I will continually check and observe to determine that my Father and I have our right hands joined.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The Service of the King
"Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling." (Psalm 2:11-12).
This is far from the casual Christianity of many church-goers. Where is the awe? Have we so domesticated God that serving his mission is no longer a compelling responsibility? How has the service of the King of the universe, who holds our very lives in his hands, become subject to the spirit of American volunteerism: "I'll do it if I want to--if it pleases me to do it."
I love that statement, "rejoice with trembling." It totally debunks the controversy about whether worship should be celebratory and lively or reverent and subdued. In Scripture, those responses are never seen as mutually exclusive. God is so awesome that he inspires all out celebration for who he is and what he has done (or is doing, or will do) that brings us to our feet to clap our hands in joy. And then he also confronts us in ways that quiet us and send us to our knees in confession and surrender.
This exhortation from Scripture is tells me that if I really know God, he will unleash in me both an unbridled joy coupled with a profound awe. I know I will stand accountable to the King for the way I have approached his service and his worship. And I don't ever want to hear him say, "Chris, you did what you did half-heartedly."
This is far from the casual Christianity of many church-goers. Where is the awe? Have we so domesticated God that serving his mission is no longer a compelling responsibility? How has the service of the King of the universe, who holds our very lives in his hands, become subject to the spirit of American volunteerism: "I'll do it if I want to--if it pleases me to do it."
I love that statement, "rejoice with trembling." It totally debunks the controversy about whether worship should be celebratory and lively or reverent and subdued. In Scripture, those responses are never seen as mutually exclusive. God is so awesome that he inspires all out celebration for who he is and what he has done (or is doing, or will do) that brings us to our feet to clap our hands in joy. And then he also confronts us in ways that quiet us and send us to our knees in confession and surrender.
This exhortation from Scripture is tells me that if I really know God, he will unleash in me both an unbridled joy coupled with a profound awe. I know I will stand accountable to the King for the way I have approached his service and his worship. And I don't ever want to hear him say, "Chris, you did what you did half-heartedly."
The Good Life
I'm beginning to feel like I'm blogging alone. Is anybody out there?
We've started reading from the Psalms. The very first psalm vividly contrasts two lifestyles. One leaves a person dry, brittle and without anything to show for his life. I think Kansas must have gotten their metaphor of "All we are is dust in the wind" from this passage. But the other lifestyle is one rich in spiritual nourishment that comes from an openness and eagerness to be led by God. "Blessed is the man . . . whose delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." In that kind of life is stability, fruitfulness and a future. Far from "dust in the wind," this kind of person is "like a tree planted by streams of water."
This psalm reminds me that wanting to be led by God takes intentionality. To want it isn't enough. I have to put myself in the position to hear from him. Meditating on God's word needs to be a part of my daily routine if I want the good life. This kind of meditating is a lot different than eastern meditation practices. They do it to clear their minds. I do it to fill my mind. Meditating is letting something simmer. It's like putting the tea bag in the water and letting it start to change the whole flavor of things.
If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. It just means to mull something over in your mind. The object is just to switch the content from anxious thoughts to God's truth. This discipline of journaling from Scripture is a great way to meditate on the word of the Lord. I am being richly blessed by doing it. And I know that it is guarding me from being misdirected by the values and ideals of "sinners" that masquerade as icons of success.
We've started reading from the Psalms. The very first psalm vividly contrasts two lifestyles. One leaves a person dry, brittle and without anything to show for his life. I think Kansas must have gotten their metaphor of "All we are is dust in the wind" from this passage. But the other lifestyle is one rich in spiritual nourishment that comes from an openness and eagerness to be led by God. "Blessed is the man . . . whose delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." In that kind of life is stability, fruitfulness and a future. Far from "dust in the wind," this kind of person is "like a tree planted by streams of water."
This psalm reminds me that wanting to be led by God takes intentionality. To want it isn't enough. I have to put myself in the position to hear from him. Meditating on God's word needs to be a part of my daily routine if I want the good life. This kind of meditating is a lot different than eastern meditation practices. They do it to clear their minds. I do it to fill my mind. Meditating is letting something simmer. It's like putting the tea bag in the water and letting it start to change the whole flavor of things.
If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate. It just means to mull something over in your mind. The object is just to switch the content from anxious thoughts to God's truth. This discipline of journaling from Scripture is a great way to meditate on the word of the Lord. I am being richly blessed by doing it. And I know that it is guarding me from being misdirected by the values and ideals of "sinners" that masquerade as icons of success.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Lasting Legacy
Get this picture:
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. . . . Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. (Dan. 12:2-3)
Life is headed somewhere. Every person in every place will eventually be lumped into one of two groups: the saved and the condemned. Eternity is looming. That is why the work of sharing the message of Jesus is so crucial.
I want my lift to leave a lasting impact for good that will outlive me. As I share my life and love with others so that they find the relationship with Jesus that sets them free, my legacy will shine on forever! That, my friends, is significance. I will make it my aim to help people move even one step closer to the cross.
Jesus, lead me to lead more people to you. I'm available and willing for you to use me, even today. Amen.
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. . . . Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. (Dan. 12:2-3)
Life is headed somewhere. Every person in every place will eventually be lumped into one of two groups: the saved and the condemned. Eternity is looming. That is why the work of sharing the message of Jesus is so crucial.
I want my lift to leave a lasting impact for good that will outlive me. As I share my life and love with others so that they find the relationship with Jesus that sets them free, my legacy will shine on forever! That, my friends, is significance. I will make it my aim to help people move even one step closer to the cross.
Jesus, lead me to lead more people to you. I'm available and willing for you to use me, even today. Amen.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
I Stand With Sinners
"We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name . . ." (Dan. 9:5-6)
What had Daniel done wrong? Even the archangel calls him "highly esteemed" (v. 21-23). This guy is about as tuned into God as they come. Yet his confession of Israel's sins is spoken as one of them ("we"). God's people who wear his Name (v. 19), but don't live in his ways need not my condemnation but my intercession. But rather than setting myself above them, as if I am more righteous, I need to identify with them and confess our guilt as a people. This exemplifies the true oneness of God's people as he sees us.
Father, we have sinned and failed to listen to your messengers, especially to Jesus. We wear his name, but so feebly and reluctantly walk down the path in which he leads us. Please forgive us. Please show mercy. May we bring glory and praise to your name again as a people instead of scorn. Amen.
What had Daniel done wrong? Even the archangel calls him "highly esteemed" (v. 21-23). This guy is about as tuned into God as they come. Yet his confession of Israel's sins is spoken as one of them ("we"). God's people who wear his Name (v. 19), but don't live in his ways need not my condemnation but my intercession. But rather than setting myself above them, as if I am more righteous, I need to identify with them and confess our guilt as a people. This exemplifies the true oneness of God's people as he sees us.
Father, we have sinned and failed to listen to your messengers, especially to Jesus. We wear his name, but so feebly and reluctantly walk down the path in which he leads us. Please forgive us. Please show mercy. May we bring glory and praise to your name again as a people instead of scorn. Amen.
Beyond Understanding
I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for several days. . . . I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding. (Dan. 8:27)
Daniel's often celebrated wisdom and insight as a man full of God's Spirit did not give him perfect understanding of God's will. Even this outstanding man of God wrestled with deep questions and periods of confusion and even depression. God's ways and plans are in many cases "beyond understanding." Things that he allows to happen may be "appalling" to our sensibilities. But these are questions that arise out of faith, not unbelief. God reserves the exclusive right to all knowledge and understanding.
I have to admit that I once thought I had God and his will all figured out. Nice, neat answers. Everything cut and dried. No mysteries. Then God humbled me. I will trust him with all that I don't understand. And I will be real with him when I am torn up with confusion about the way life unfolds.
And yet I will remember that you, Lord, are God alone, and I am not. Amen.
Daniel's often celebrated wisdom and insight as a man full of God's Spirit did not give him perfect understanding of God's will. Even this outstanding man of God wrestled with deep questions and periods of confusion and even depression. God's ways and plans are in many cases "beyond understanding." Things that he allows to happen may be "appalling" to our sensibilities. But these are questions that arise out of faith, not unbelief. God reserves the exclusive right to all knowledge and understanding.
I have to admit that I once thought I had God and his will all figured out. Nice, neat answers. Everything cut and dried. No mysteries. Then God humbled me. I will trust him with all that I don't understand. And I will be real with him when I am torn up with confusion about the way life unfolds.
And yet I will remember that you, Lord, are God alone, and I am not. Amen.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Don't Even Try
I was struck by what was said in Daniel 7 about one of the most powerful men in world history:
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. (Dan. 7:25)
The operative word here is "try." Though earth's powers will attempt to thwart the plans and purposes of God, they will never succeed. In spite of their hatred of the people of God, the text assures that all "the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High." (v. 27)
Even when all appears to be lost, when it seems like evil has won the day, I will remember that God rules. The reign of evil is a temporary state and even a puppet state at that, for Gopd uses it to accomplish his ultimate ends.
Lord, I receive gratefully your rule. Please bring your Kingdom to its fullest expression. Amen.
He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. (Dan. 7:25)
The operative word here is "try." Though earth's powers will attempt to thwart the plans and purposes of God, they will never succeed. In spite of their hatred of the people of God, the text assures that all "the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High." (v. 27)
Even when all appears to be lost, when it seems like evil has won the day, I will remember that God rules. The reign of evil is a temporary state and even a puppet state at that, for Gopd uses it to accomplish his ultimate ends.
Lord, I receive gratefully your rule. Please bring your Kingdom to its fullest expression. Amen.
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